The first Answer.

IN this first Quere, the Querist desire's to have it inferred, and also granted, that the Irish Inhabitants, as they now stand in opposition to England, are an entire Nation, and that they were [Page 2]the first and sole Proprietors of Ireland, as given unto them by God and nature, whereas in truth they are a people compo­sed partly of the old Britains, the first Inhabitants thereof, partly of Scythians and Gothes, sent thither out of Biscaie in Spain, partly of Danes and other Easterlings, som sent in by the Kings of Britain, and others intruding themselvs, and principallly of English sent thither, by the Kings of England in several ages, as in the ensuing discours shall appear, so as the fraud and fallacie of this first Quere being cleerly laid open, strike's farr to the answering of all the rest.

And first to say somthing of the soil and Island, now called Ireland, which by several ancient writers hath been rendred by several other names, signifying (for the most part) that it is a Western part of Britain, which the very name now given unto it by the Irish, viz. Eirin, signifying a western Countrie, doth much demonstrate, and besides, at this day a part of Mounster in Ireland is called Hiermoun, in English, West-Mounster, which shew the name Eirin to bee derived from Hier, which is west, as appear's plainly by M^r Cambden (a faithful relater of the best antiquities extant:) the ancient Geographer writeth in these words, of Islands for greatness, the Indian Taprobane is prime and principal, next after it, Britain, and in third de­gree, another British Island called Hibernia, (that is Ireland) whereupon Ptolomie in his writings of Geographie, call's it in plain words Britannia parva, the old Geographers called it the Britains Island; Strabo called the Inhabitants Britains. Diodorus Siculus termed Irin a part of Britain, and Aristotle in his book de mundo, Cap. 3. hath these words as they stand translated, viz. Ibi sunt Insulae, quae quantitate maximae habentur, numero verò duae sunt, Britanicae dicuntur, Albion & Hibernia. By all which it fall's cleer that by the most ancient and authentick writers, the Island of Ireland was ever taken and accounted a British Island, only be­longing to great Britain, neither is it found in any approved Writer or Record, that ever any King or Potentate claimed right or interest in the soil or Land of that Island, save only the Kings of great Britain, in right of their Kingdom, now cal­led England, which in several ages they have not failed to doe, by reducing and subduing the unjust rebellion, and usurpation [Page 3]of those unrulie Inhabitants, and if you look into Monuments or Records of later time, you shall never finde it called a King­dom or a Realm, till in the reign of Henrie the 8. when by Act of Parlament, it was made and styled a Kingdom, and that King declared, and confessed King thereof, unanimously agreed by all the Inhabitants of that Island. But that by all Acts of Par­lament in that Land, and other Records, it was alwaies till then, for 400 yeers or thereabouts called the King's land of Ireland, and by several Acts of Parlament, viz. one Act in the twentie eighth yeer of that King, Henry the 8 reign Cap. 2. That Land is declared to be appending and belonging to Eng­land; And by another Act there made in that King's reign, the said Island is declared to be a Member, appending and right­fully belonging to England, and united to the same; and in se­verall other Acts there the same in substance is asserted, and or­dained, and all this agreed and assented unto by the very An­cestors of those now in Arms there against England, and the Governors thereof; and yet by this Querist it is esteemed to bee an Original, entire Nation, distinct from any Conque­ror, yea such, as hee scruple's to have them call'd Rebels.

Thus having given you the opinion and report of the anci­ent and som modern proofs of the denomination, and full re­lation of that Island to Great Britain, it will bee requisite, that by the like ancient and modern evidence the just right and pro­prietie of the English to that Land, and to the dominion there­of, and to the naturall subjection of all the Inhabitants thereof to England, bee also manifested and avowed, the better to let the world see the Querist's fraud, and subtiltie in this general vast Quere, and indeed throughout all the rest of his abusive Queres and insinuations.

M^r Cambden, that faithfull searcher into Antiquities, affir­meth that most of the best approved and knowing Writers out of Antiquities, do determin that the first known Inhabitants of Ireland, were Britains sent thither, by the Kings of Great Bri­tain, of which opinion he conclude's himself to bee, but that they could not send sufficient Inhabitants, to replenish such a Con­tinent, and that by a great mortalitie happening among them, they were much diminished; and you may perceiv by a Statute [Page 4]made in Ireland, in the 11. yeer of Queen Elizabeth, that Gor­mond (by som Writers called Gorgund) Son to Belin King of Great Britain, was Lord of Biscaie in Spain, (as his posteritie long after him continued) and having occasion to com into Britain, his Father being dead he voyaged into Denmak, and in his return a great multitude of his Subjects of Biscaie met him at Sea, (being streightned for relief in their Countrie) and humbly besought him to assign them som place for habi­tation, whereunto (by advice of his Council, he assented, and directed them to his Island, now called Ireland, which wanted people, and sent with them guides, to bring them thither, where finding a fertile soil, they encreased abundantly, bringing their language with them, and being then the greater number of people, after the new access, involved the British-tongue into theirs, (yet in som sort mixed) as may appear by many new words and names of things, well understood by the Welsh. It being of dailie experience, that the Welsh do much more soon and easilie learn Irish then the English can do, and that much of the Irish is understood by them.

Giraldus Cambrensis called these Biscayners, Besclenses, and Cambden write's very largely of their Ancestors coming into Spain, at the confluence of the Northern Nations into those parts, alleging that part of them were Scythians, and part Gothes, and to add to the truth of this relation, their so com­ing thither is specified in many of the rude, (yet ancient) Irish annals, both in Irish and Latine.

The British Histories, and som of the English Chronicles do make mention of Hiberus and Hermion, then Captains of those Besclenses, and their Bards (who to this daie keep, and at all feasts and publique meetings, do chaunt and publish the Pedi­digrees and Acts of the Irish) do derive the most ancient Irish from those that came out of Spain, rather choosing to glorifie themselvs in them, then from the Britains, from whom so ma­nie of them are descended, and from whom they had permission to dwell there: For, doubtless, there are manie evident demon­strations, that much of the East part of that Island, continued still inhabited by Britains, and that those Besclenses, most inha­bited the more Western parts of Mounster, and Connaght, where [Page 5]their former neighbors and friends might most easily eom to them, yet dispersed as they found caus; those in the Western parts speaking more broad, do hardly understand much of the language of the other: And to shew further, that the Britains had a good share in the Original ancestrie of the an­cient Irish, the verie Officers which the Irish have from age to age used for their pedigrees, and Annals are to this daie cal­led Bards, which were the same in office and denomination, imploied by the ancient Britains; And for their manner of holding Land, it was till the first year of King James, by Gavelkind, as the ancient Britains held theirs, though so corrupted in Ireland, as when the Laws came to bee setled in the begining of King James his time, it was adjudged a bar­barous and unreasonable custom, and so abolished; Also their Irish Custom of Tainestrie, which they called their Law, is de­rived from British, for, amongst them the word Tane, or Thane signified an Elder, Governor, or Lord of a territorie; And the same word amongst the Irish had the same sence, and therefore the second person to the Lord of the Countrie, who was to succeed (if a stronger force interpos'd not) was called the Tanaist setled upon him, as Seniori & digniori, and hee had Lands and Impositions on the Countrie assigned to him in right of that Office; The Lord also of the Countrie beeing put into Office by the same Law (where force did not overbear it) all which, is now also abolished as unlawful. It appear's also by antiquitie, that the Irish agreed with the Bri­tains in the custom of observing the time of Easter, both then, therein differing from the Church of Rome.

The first known Inhabitants beeing thus sent into, and setled in Ireland by the Britains, they so continued in subjection to the King of great Britain for several ages, the contrarie whereof hath appeared in no memorie; And to enter into further Inquisition thereinto is not much material, no other King, Prince or Potentate, having at anie time made claim unto them, until the Romans entered Britain, and held the same by conquest, after manie and often conflicts; In all which time, during their strugling against, and subje­ction to the Romans, the British could not have that care [Page 6]and over-sight of them, as formerly they had, so as in that time they took head, and set up amongst them, in a barba­rous waie, Rulers and pettie Kings; which Rulers and Kings Giraldus Cambrensis calleth Tributaries, and what kinde of Kings those then were, and afterwards continued to bee, till King Henrie the second's entrie into Ireland, may much appear in an ancient Manuscript, called the Book of Christ-Church in Dublin, (then a priorie) lately a Cathedral Church; In which Manuscript are these words concerning them, viz. Isti Reges non fuerunt ordinati solemnitate alicujus ordinis nec uncti­onis Sacramento, nec jure hereditario, vel aliquâ proprietatis succes­sione, sed vi & armis quilibet regnum suum obtinuit: In all which time of the Roman's power in great Britain, neither the an­cient Britains in Ireland, nor those permitted new-com Besclen­ses, could extinguish or alter the original right, which the Kings of great Britain undeniably had to their dominion there, or to those Inhabitant's subjection.

It appeareth in M^r Cambden's and other Chronicles, and Hi­stories, that during the Roman's power in great Britain, the Norweyans and other Easterlings, by waie of piracie, and in­cursion infested those inhabitants of Ireland; and though often beaten off, yet manie got footing there, the Monuments of whom remain to this daie; and in after times when the Saxons warred in Britain, they several times came over again, and so setled on manie of the Sea-coasts, as they built of the walled Sea-Towns, excluding from amongst them the Irish, not ad­mitting them entrance, other then with great caution for Merchandise onely; And whereas the Querist would have it believed, that the Irish, as an entire Nation, were originally impropriated in Ireland by God and nature, for manie hun­dreds, and some thousands of years, without anie others laying claim to have special right to the same, which (hee seem's to insinuate) did so continue to these times; It doth and will ap­pear aswel by what is formerly here remembred, as what shall follow in this ensuing tract, that it is a ridiculous and illusive surmise; for it must not bee forgotten (especially appearing by good Historie, that soon after the Roman's departure out of great Britain, the noble Prince Arthur obteined that Land, [Page 7]who beeing a man of great action, aswel at home as abroad, passed into Ireland, and reduced those Inhabitants to their an­cient Subjection; In proof whereof, having som years after occasion for a time to keep his Court at Carlion, in great Bri­tain, hee summoned the Governors, and pettie Kings of Ire­land (of whom one, viz. M^r Gellomurroe, or Mr Gillemurry is by name recorded, to appear before him at Carlion aforesaid) there to do their homage to him; who thereupon came and performed the same accordingly, which was don in the year after our Saviour's nativitie, 579; and this prove's a claim at least, made by the Kings of great Britain to the Island of Ireland, as part of their dominions; Afterwards, as is known to all men of anie reading, the Saxons and Angles out of Ger­manie invaded great Britain, and by manie contests in Arms, and bloudie Battels obteined the Dominion thereof, dividing it into several Kingdoms amongst themselvs, which continued for manie years; In all which times the Irish Inhabitants took more Libertie to root themselvs in their barbarous usurpati­on and tyrannie: for wee cannot finde, that then, before, or since they established anie certain Government, either regal or otherwise, neither are there extant anie authentick me­mories, of anie certain or passable Laws ordeined by them, for the regulating of anie Christian people; yet soon after, the Saxon's Heptarchie was reduced into an Entire Monar­chie; It is manifest by good Historie and Record, that Edgar King of great Britain (then and now called England) not unmindful of that Kingdom's ancient right and interest in Ireland, labored, and obteined another reducement, and had the possession of most of that continent, as appear's by the Books of that excellent writer Judg Cook, extracted out of Records of the Tower; Afterwards, when the Danes obtein­ed the Rule and power in great Britain, they so little forgot the ancient and just challenge to Ireland, as that they sent thither good numbers of men who gained large footing in se­veral places of the best parts of the Island, of whom there yet remain manie visible Monuments, as their intrenchments, and Fortifications to this daie, called Danes Mounts, or Rathes, in Irish Lisses, and round slender high Towers, yet [Page 8]called Danes Steeples, or Danes Towers, yea, the best and largest Suburbs about Dublin is yet called Ostmantown, which term the Saxons gave to the Danes as Easterlings, and doubt­less, it is their then access, and som former incursions made by them as aforesaid, which left manie of them there fixed, who were the ancestors to the now pretended original Nation, as pretended to bee given to them by God and Nature; After­wards, the Norman William, the Conqueror, became possessed of the Dominions of England, it is universally known what business hee had, aswel to settle that so gained Land, as to content his Allies, and parties brought with him, and to preserv what hee left behind him in France, to which retrospect hee was enforced by manie disturbances and attempts; neither is it unknown, how unwarrantably his three next successors came to the Crown in England, and against what counter­workings, and heart-burnings, they held Regencie there, besides their distractions in their affairs, and from their neigh­bors of France, beeing not free from incumbrances of Scots, and Welsh, whereby all judicious men may conclude, that none of them could safely embrace the restitution of Ire­land, howsoever it concerned them. But assoon as one lineal descent had setled the Crown of England upon King Henry the second, who was great Granchilde of the said William, the Norman; and who is recorded to bee the most powerful Eng­lish Monarch, both in England, and France, since the Normans coming in; That King applied to the Pope for his consent, to regain his said Land of Ireland, who consenting thereunto, to the end it might bee brought into orderly Government, as well Ecclesiastical as Civil, Hee yet suspended all action thi­ther for som years, beeing interrupted by his affairs in France, and the disobedient combinations of his sons; But after, an occasion hapning by the invocation of one of the Irish pettie Kings, hee permitted manie of his Subjects of England and Wales to pass thither, who by their valor, possessed them­selvs of a good part of that Island; Then in the year 1172 did that King with a competent Armie repair thi­ther in person, and resumed into his hands his ancient right of Dominion and interest there, without much bloudshed, and [Page 9]was therein confirmed by the absolute and free submissions of all the pettie Kings, and other Rulers, aswel Ecclesiastical as Temporal, and by all others then of anie value there, which they delivered unto him under their Seals; There did hee also receiv the Homage, Fealtie, Allegiance, and subjection of all those pettie usurping Princes, and others as his Liege Subjects; There did hee hold a great Council, or general Assmblie of all the Prime inhabitants of that Island, at Lismore, which they called a Parlament, and gave them the English Laws. Ʋbi Leges Angliae ab omnibus sunt gratanter receptae & juratoriâ cautio­one praestitâ, confirmatae. There did hee send his Mandats to the Archbishops, Bishops and Clergie of Ireland, to assemble in a Synod at Cashel, wherein Cbristianus Bishop of Lismore was President, in which Synod that King's entrance, actions and atchievments there were declared to bee lawful; and it was there also concluded, that it was most meet, that as Ireland by God's appointment had recovered a lawful Lord and King from England; so also they should from thence receiv a better from of living; they also then established that all Divine Offices of holy Church, should from thenceforth bee handled in all parts of Ireland, according as the Church of England did observ them: In that Synod also, they made divers other Canons, con­cerning the Church-Government there, which Acts were ra­tified by the Regal Autoritie of the same Henrie the second: To the same purposes, another general Synod was soon after held at Armagh in Ʋlster, where the same things, and others for right ordering of that Government were resolved and agreed upon: There was also placed Hugh Lacie Justice of Ireland for the Government of that Land, wherein that Land then seemed to bee formally setled in a peaceable subject con­dition to England, as it ought to bee. Thus may the Querist, and all others see that that Land, and supposed original Na­tion did not continue manie hundreds or thousands of years, nor was enjoied till these times, without anie others laying claim to have right to the same. It may bee demanded (though standing thus) how might King Henrie the second seiz all that Land into his own hands, and grant it to adventurers (as after hee did) To this the answer is easie; For, in a short [Page 10]time after, that King and the greatest part of his Army with­drew into England; Then did all those pettie Kings, Rulers, and men of value, and the other Inhabitants falsly and traite­rously join in a Confederacie and action to extirpate, and expuls all the English and Welsh, then left there, and did cast aside their dutie and obedience to England, and the good order and Laws, so freely and lately entertained by them, breaking all Faith and Allegiance to him, to whom they had formerly sworn it; they murthered as manie as they could take at advantage, and at last besieged Dublin, and other Towns, intending to destroie all the English; But the valor of those men left there, and the vigilance of that King to reliev them did stoutly beat them off, and frustrated their unchristian intention. Then that King finding them so em­barked in their former rudeness, and barbarisme, as there was no faith or dutie to bee exspected from them, and that they could not sit down in anie civil societie, Hee, by advice of his Council confiscated all their Estates, and adjudged and de­clared the Irish generally to bee enemies and aliens, (in which condition they continued long after) as is manifest by the Records, and Statute-Laws of those times,) And then hee set his Subjects of England and Wales at full Libertie, to win what they could in that Land, towards the reducement there­of, to his just Subjection: for better accomplishment whereof, hee made chois of ten special persons of qualitie and power in his other Dominions, to whom, by grant of inheritance, hee divided the Lands of that whole Island, who drawing to­gether their several Alies, friends, and other adventurers; they by that King's countenance and assistance so bestirred themselvs, as within few years they became Masters, and pos­sessors of the whole Island, and so continued quietly, possessed for almost one hundred years, without anie offence to England, forcing the perfidious Irish (who were then few in number, after manie conflicts with them) into Mountains, Bogs, and boggie woods, there to wander up and down, with the re­main of their Cattel, not daring to bee seen, or to graze in anie of the more habitable parts, where the English had foot­ing; special Statute-Laws prohibiting the same; Laws also [Page 11]were made, that upon pain of fellonie, no Merchant, or, other liege person should trade with the Irish in market, or other­wise; It was also made fellonie to succor anie of the Irish ene­mies; from the time of the foresaid division forward, was that Island onely called the King's Land of Ireland, till the reign of King Henrie the eighth, as appear's by Acts of Parlament, and all Records mentioning the same; The division hee made was as followeth, viz. To Richard Earl of Pembroke, of Strigil, called Strongbow, he regranted the Kingdom, or Territories of Leimster (surrendred to him by the said Earl Richard, whose it was pretended to bee, in right of his wife, sole daughter and heir of the last nominal, or tributarie King thereof, ex­cept Dublin, and som lands thereunto lying, part whereof is yet called the King's Land; and beeing divided into Man­nors, the Free-holders paie chief rents into the Exchequer to this daie, and except som maritim Towns, Castles, and som lands about them which hee reserved to himself; To Bobert Fitz-Stephens and Myles Cogan, hee granted the Terri­tories called the Kingdom of Cork, the Citie of Cork, and som lands thereunto lying reserved, as aforesaid excepted (the heir of Cogan is yet possessor of som of those lands) To Phil­lip le Bruce, the Territories called the Kingdom of Limerick, with donation of Bishopricks, and Abbeies, except the Citie of Limerick, and a Cantred of Land adjoining, reserved as aforesaid; To S^r Hugh de Lacie Justice, or (as som write) Custos of Ireland, the territories called the Kingdom of Meath, then of far greater extent, then the name Meath now import's; To S^r John de Coursie all Ʋlster, which beeing a large continent, was quietly possessed by him, and his English tenements ma­nie years; After his death (without heirs) it was granted to Hugh Lacie, who held it, till forfeited; then was it granted by King Edward the first, to Walter de Burgo from whom it de­scended to William de Burgo; And after those Lands and Sig­nories were by Edward the fourth adjoined to the Demesne, and Crown-Lands of England.

To William Fitz-Adelme de Burgo all Connaght, except a small part for life given to Rotherick, formerly nominal King thereof, after whose death that Land also was by King Henrie the [Page 12]third, granted to Richard de Burgo, heir to William, except the Cantreds of Roscomon, Randon, and two or three other Cantreds neer Athlon; All which were after granted by succeeding Kings to other English, onely Roscomon remained in the Crown, till Queen Elizabeth granted the same to one M^r Malby; This whole Countrie came after to the Crown, by the marriage of Lionel Duke of Clarence, son to King Edward the third, with the Daughter and heir of de Burgo; To S^r Thomas Clare of the stock of the Earl of Glocester, all Ghomond, now the Countie of Clare which was confirmed to the same Familie, by grant from King Edward the first, to Robert le Poer, all the Countie of Waterford (except the Citie and cantred about it) the chief of the Familie, of which Poers is now a Baron; to Otho de Grandison all Tipperarie.

Afterwards King John having intelligence, that the English began to bee at variance amongst themselvs, by reason that the Laws were not so spread, and administred as they should bee, made a voiage in person thither, with a competent force for his honor and safetie, and then did hee divide the whole Land into Counties, as they for the most part stand at this daie, though Connaght and Ʋlster since are much subdivided, hee carried over with him divers learned men for civil and ecclesia­stical Notion, hee ordered and established the Courts of Justice, as in England, viz. the Chancerie, the Kings Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer, and other Ecclesiastical Judicatures, and setled competent Judges in them; hee appointed Justices Itine­rant, and all other Officers for Law and execution of Justice; and four tearms in the year to bee kept as in England, by which the people became subject to Law (the Irish beeing still held as enemies and Aliens) were better governed, lived in peace and great prosperitie manie years, save what ruptures it endured by their own dissentions, as hereafter appeareth. So as by what is above specified, it appear's the English were made lawfully inheritable, and became possessed of the whole conti­nent, wheresoever they could finde places anie waie fit for ha­bitation; And to prove their possessions as well as their grants, besides that in all the ancient Records, taking cognizance of all the habitable parts of that Land, in which those English [Page 13]are named, you shall finde no Juries upon Inquiries, or trial of anie causes whatsoever, Capital, Criminal, or common, where is mentioned anie Irish name, but all English: All their Officers and Ministers of Justice beeing the same, and beside several Statute-Laws do assert their universal possession. It is un­deniably evident, that generally all the now Freeholders of several great continents in that Island are English, either de­scendents, or deriving from those first adventurers, or by an­cient grants from the Crown upon their forfeitures, though the truth is, manie of their laborers, underfarmers and ten­nants, which they call Churls, are and still were Irish, the territories and Countries which those English, and som of late settlement did, and do possess, are, viz. in the Countie of Down, the Countries of little Ards, the Duffrey, Lecale, Mourn, the Newrie, and several other places of lesser note; all the Countie of Lowth, the whole Countie of Dublin, the entire Countie of Meath; the best and greatest part of the Countie of Westmeath, all the Countie of Kildare, the greatest and best part of the Countie of Catberlagh, part of the Coun­tie of Wickloe, the greatest and best part of the Coun­tie of Wexford, all the Countie of Waterford, the greatest and best part of the great Countie of Cork, the greatest and best part of the Countie of Limerick, a great part of the Coun­tie of Kerrie, the better half of the Countie of Tipperary, all the Countie of Kilkennie, all the Countie of Galwaie, a good part of the Countie of Roscomon, the most part of the Coun­tie of Maye, besides the large territories of Leix and Ophalie, in the Queen's Countie, and King's Countie, planted in Queen Maries, and the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reigns, up­on the Rebellion of the Mores, and Conners, the surnames of these old English, so manie (as of manie hundreds more can here bee remembred) are annexed towards the end of this An­swer to the first Quere. Of these sirnames manie are spread into verie numerous Families, and persons, of which manie are advanced to degrees of Honor, and verie manie possessed of great estates; and further to prove that those English were so possessed of all those Lands, King Henrie the second, and som other succeeding Kings granted unto manie of those Adven­turers [Page 14]Countie Palatines, and unto manie other verie large Franchises and immunities, for the better ordering of the Co­lonies: those Adventurers divided the Lands generally into Mannors, particular Freeholds, and other English holdings; which (for the most part) do so continue to this daie; they granted all those Lands for easie rents and services to their Co­militants, except som small parts which they kept in their own hands, who, or others deriving from them, do still hold the same, pro parte conquestus, as generally appear's in their an­cient evidences.

Yet further, to prove the English great and general possessi­ons there; it is an apparent and unquestionable truth, that the English and strangers onely did build all the Castles, and stone-buildings, which then, and for som hundreds of years after, were to bee seen in anie part of that Island, neither had the Irish anie stone buildings of their own erecting, till about the reign of King Henrie the eighth, when som of them gained estates from the Crown, howbeit it is related in Historie, that the English built Castles from Sea to Sea, beeing enjoined thereto by Law, beside what was don by Kings, great Lords, and other principal adventurers.

It is further true, that all the Cities, Towns, and Corpora­tions throughout that Land, are entirely English, and onely and originally endowed with Charters, Franchises and Lands by the English; And howsoever som of the Maritim towns were at first planted (as is traditioned from the Ancients) by Owstmen or Easterlings, who fully submitted to the English Law, (not suffering anie Irish to dwell amongst them) yet those first Inhabitants were after either so retracted or so worne out, as the Inhabitants became wholly English, as they undoubtedly remained till the reign of Henrie the eighth, and are for the most part hitherto the same, where they have not in som parts of Ireland been ruined, and corrupted by Irish Rebellions and insurrections.

It is true likewise, that all the bridges and passages were built and made onely by the English of old, and of late by the Eng­lish autoritie; And also that all Monasteries, Religious Houses, and Churches of anie good structure were founded, built and [Page 15]endowed by the English, only som few despicable Cels of Monks there were, and some few poor Chappels dispised, specially in some poore Islands thereof.

These being evident demonstrations of the universall possessi­on of the English in that Island, it is further verified by some of their Laws in that Land wherein mention is made of beautifull Cities and Townes, planted by the English in that Island, but destroyed by Irish Commotions and garboils.

And more particularly by the Statute of Absentees in tempore Henrie 8 and other Statutes, wherein are expressions declaring the tranquillitie and good order of the English in that Land, that the English long defended it in due subjection, against the Irish enemies.

It is also much to be observed, that it is not to be seen, before the time of King Henry the 8 That the Irish had either Char­ter, evidence or authentick writings for any Lands or pos­sessions, neither could they have Interest, they being no other till then, but enemies and Aliens, neither had they distinctions or degrees of honor or Gentrie, neither Armenor other Enfigns or Officers of honours or gentrie, as Duke, Marquess, Earl, Vis­count, Baron, Knight of any Order, Esquire, or Gentleman, till the English introduced them, neither had they Governors of any legal or orderlie form, or Judges or Officers of any cer­taine Law or judicial cours, neither had they Migistrates of a­nie Cities, Burroughs or other Corporations or Courts of Ju­stice Ecclesiastical or Civil, or seals either of Justice or honour, or other species of civil or certain Reglement.

And to give you these truths, of the ancient and modern right and possession of the Britains and English in and to Ire­land, (somwhat further ratified in all the parts of interest in ju­risdiction, and dependence) it appear's by good antiquities that long before the entrance of William, the Norman, into England, the Arch-Bishops of Canterburie had primacie over all Ireland, and that the Bishops of Ireland, according to the ancient usage and custome, (as is written) received their consecrations from the Metropolitan of England, it being declared in the time of the said King William and his Son, that Canterburie was the Mother Church of England, Scotland and Ireland, and other Islands adja­cent, [Page 16](there being no Arch-Bishops in Ireland, till about the yeer 1152. In justification of what is before premised, it is recorded, that Gotherick one of the pettie Kings in Ireland, did write to Lanfrank Arch-Bishop of Canterburie, for consecration to be granted, to Patrick, nominated for a Bishoprick: Also that the said Arch-Bi­shop Lanfrank, out of his authoritie there, did write to Thurdel­nack, another pettie King there, wherein he laie's to their charge, That the Irish men at their pleasure did forsake their wedded wives without canonicall caus, and match with any others, even such as were neer a kin to themselvs or their abandoned wives, and that if an­other man with like wickedness, cast off a Wife, her also rashly, and hand over head, they joined withal by lawes of marriage, or rather for­nication, an abuse worthy to be punished.

Also that Murchertagh another pettie King of Ireland, and the Citizens of Waterford addressed to Anselmus Arch-Bishop of Can­terburie, Anno Dom. 1095. for erecting and ordaining at Water­ford a Bishop, where no Bishop had been, and for consecrating a Bishop there, whose name was Malchus, hee also wrot for consecra­ting another to be Bishop of Dublin, much about the same time; also that the Citizens of Dublin sent Gregorie (chosen to bee Bi­shop there) unto Ralph Arch-Bishop of Canterburie, suing to him in these words, viz. Antecessorum vestrorum magisterio, &c. that is, Ʋnto the Mastership or chief rule of your Ancestors, wee willingly submit­ted our Prelats, from which (wee remember) that our Prelats have received their ecclesiasticall dignities, &c. All which, and other applications of like nature, doe cleerly evince the submission of the Irish Clergie, to the rule and superintendencie of the Arch-Bishop of Canterburie, their then acknowledged Metro­politan.

And to proceed yet a little further, to prove the antient Eng­lish Title to Ireland: In the Statute of the 11. Reginae Elizabethae, for granting lands in Ʋlster to that Queen, her heirs and Successors; It is declared, That the Crown of England had ancient and authentick Titles to the State and possession of the Land of Ireland, conveied farr beyond the linage of the Irish. Also By a Statute tempore Philippi & Mariae, for vesting the two large Territories of Leix and Ophalie in the Crowne: It is there again declared, That the Crown of England had good right thereunto before, and that the Irish had entred into those lands [Page 17]by force, and wrongfully usurped the possession thereof, Which Sta­tutes were enacted by the immediate Ancestors of that supposed Nation now in Rebellion; the one made under a Popish Prince, the other under a Protestant, Other Statutes and Records make like mention of the antient right of England, to the Land of Ireland; and where there is mention above made of about one hundred yeers quiet possession of the English over all that Island, in the time of Henry the second, and after, it may be demanded how afterwards those despicable Irish so gain'd upon the Eng­lish, as in somtimes they did, and how they obtained such large possessions, as in later times they had: A cleer and obvious An­swer to all that well know Ireland may be given, That those English Lords Adventurers, having jura Regalia, and other great priviledges, and authorities within their Counties Palatine (being eight in number at one time) and therein power to par­don, make Chancellors, Barons and Knights, to make Judges, Sheriffs, and all Officers within themselvs (the Kings having few Sheriffs any where, except in the Crosses or Tipperarie in Mounster, neither was there much Law executed by the Kings immediate Authoritie) those Lords received great yeerlie reve­nues, and some of them often advanced to the government of that Land, by the King's favour, the Colonies under them being rich, and spread all over the Land. Those Lords being com to the height of prosperitie, and not able wisely to manage and applie to their own good, those great powers, endow­ments, and Graces of their Kings, fell into jealousies and emu­lations one against another, whereupon ensued sharp and bloudie contentions, they having power to make peace and warr at pleasure, without the licens or authority of their chief Gover­nors (which power was afterwards taken away by several statutes) they entred into sundrie violences one against another, and combined Parties against Parties; to maintain which, they called in to their Assistance, their known enemies, the Irish, (then grown up into som numbers) and so farr were they trans­ported with their blind envious surie that they put Arms in­to the hands of the Irish and conducted them to their battails as hired Souldiers: they assumed power to lay Taxes, Cesses, and Impositions upon their English Colonies, Tenants, and Depen­dants, [Page 18]and by that meanes supported both their English and Irish Soldiers, to the oppression of the other English, but Lords countenancing and strengthning of the Irish, besides training them in Martiall actions. These dissentions and animosities be­gan in the reign of King John, as is before touched, but they rose not to much virulence, till towards the end of the reign of King Henrie the third, and so continued by fits in the reign of King Edward the first, as that King's greater actions in France, Scotland and Wales averted him from the more special care of that Common-wealth; they conflicted in this manner many times, one against another, to the great consumption of their English Tenants, who served under them, as the Lacies of Meath warred against Courcie of Ʋlster, the foresaid Lacies after, against the Bourks of Ʋlster and Connaght, the foresaid Lacies against the Marshals of Leimster, who held that Countrie in right of the daughter & heir of the bovsaid Richard Earl of Pembroke of Stigil, married to Marshal: The Garaldines of Mounster & Leimster against the Butlers, the Garaldines against the Bourks, the Bourks, against the Verdons of Meath, & Lowth; the Bourks against the Clares; the Bri­minghams against the Verdons and other English in the Pale: The Garaldines, Butlers, and Briminghams against the Bourks and Po­ers, and indeed all the English Progenies, by part-taking and private Offences given, and taken, were imbroiled in the same quarrels, the Irish looking on, and siding wheresoever they thought best, striving by their cunning and malicious insinua­tions, to enlarge and blow everie spark of discord amongst them into flames of hostilitie: Hereupon start up that de­structive and wicked custom of Coigne and Liverie, which was hors-meat, mans-meat, and money taken by the Soldiers upon the Colonies, and English Inhabitants, which custom and ex­action, was afterwards by some Statutes made Felonie, and by other Satutes made treason, one whereof hath this expres­sion, Viz. At the request and supplication of the Commons of this Land of Ireland, &c. Whereas of long time there hath been used & exacted by the Lords and Gentlemen of this Land, many and divers damnable customs and usages, which have been called Coigne and Liverie, that is, hors-meat and mans-meat, for finding their Hors-men and Foot-men, and over that four-pence a day for every of them, to be had and paid, of [Page 19]the poot earth-tillers and tenants, inhabitants of the same Land, without anie thing doing, or paying for the same, besides mante Rob­beries, murthers, rapes, and other manifold extortions and oppressions by the said horsmen and footmen, daily and nightly committed and don, which bee the principal causes of the desolation and destruction of the said Land, and hath brought the same into ruine and decaie, so as most part of the English Freeholders and tenants have been de­parted thereof, som into the realm of England, and som into other strange Lands; Whereupon the aforesaid Lords and Gentlemen have intruded into the said Freeholders and tenants inheritances, and the same kept and occupied as their own, and set under them in the same Lands the King's Irish enemies, to the diminishing of holy Church-rights, the disherison of the King and his obedient Subjects, and the utter ruine and desolation of the Land; For Reformation whereof, bee it enacted, &c. By this and manie other like Laws, it is apparent, how the Irish thrust themselvs into great quan­tities of the English Land, and afterwards as in the sequel ap­peareth, made themselvs owners of them; Another waie of their entrance was by frauduent force and incursion, as when by these broils one Colonie had ruined another, the Irish (bee­ing in favor with the English Lords by their deceitful service) seized upon the weaker Colonie, and forced out the inhabitants, which the English Lords allowed of for the time, receiving the Irish as tenants at will, (though they afterwards turned the Lord's themselvs quite out) Becaus the Irish would seem to af­ford far greater rents, then the old British Freeholder, and also yeild for the time more Subjection, and (basely) also they committed their goods, estates, wives, and children, to the will of those Lords (as formerly, and afterwards they did to the Irish Chieftains) another waie of their entrance was, that the English Lords (now strangely degenerating, and taking liking to their licentious, sordid, and barbarous cours of liv­ing) made them manie times their Officers in their Countries, as Seneshals, Marshals, and other Officers, (becaus they would slavishly obeie their wills, who by extortion and oppression, in short time forced out the English tenants, and in after times held the land as their own, against the verie Lords.

The widest Inlet they found, was about the tenth year of [Page 20]King Edward the second, when Edward Bruice brother to the King of Scots entered into Ʋlster with a power of Scots, (sto­ried to bee six thousand) and there committed great slaughter of the English, both men, women and children; These gave one overthrew to Richard de Burgo, or Bourk, and at another time took William de Burgo brother to Richard, prisoner; they ruined Towns, Castles, houses and Churches, wheresoever they came, and upon these events, the Irish there (who for­merly durst little shew themselvs, living in the least habitable parts by sufferance of the English) rose and joined with the Scots, making all the destruction they could of the English; with this addition Edward Bruice proceeded further, through the parts of Leimster (the Irish from all parts gathering to him) and from thence marched into Mounster, as far as Cashel, then did the Irish lift up their heads on all sides, following the train of Bruice, spoiling and destroying the English as far as they could; then the said Bruice finding that the English began to assemble in som numbers against him, retired into the lower parts of Meath (now Westmeath) and to the borders of Ʋl­ster, making it his Master-work to secure that Province within his own power, (though hee often made roads into other parts) which is the first caus and ground why Ʋlster became so destitute of English, and grew wholly Irish, beyond anie other of the Provinces; the Irish beeing as zealous as hee to rid themselvs solely of the English: In this posture hee conti­nued about three years in Ireland, and caused himself to bee proclaimed King by the Irish, and about the end of the said three years, making an expedition to invade the English of the Pale, hee was in the Countie of Lowth encountered by Bri­mingham (after created Earl of Lowth) and other good forces of the English, where the said Bruice, and manie of his Com­manders were slain, and his Armie totally defeated and rent; Som of the Scots returned home, but manie remained there who joined with the Irish; in that time the said Bruice, and the Irish had much dispeopled, and forced most of the English out of the Limits and Countries now called the Counties of Do­nagal, Fermanagh, Cavan, Tirone, Londonderry, Monorghan and Ardmagh having sealed their malice by much devastation also, [Page 21]within the Countries of Autrim and Down, lying between the Sea on the East, and the great Lough called Lough Eaugh, and the River of Baun in the West, hardly accessible by the Irish, yet did William de Burgo hold up a face of power in Ʋlster by help of other neighbouring English, until about the seventh year of King Edward the third, when hee was amongst them murther­ed, leaving onely an heir female, who after married with Lio­nel Duke of Clarence, third son to King Edward the third, soon after the death of the said William, Hugh ô Neil taking upon him superioritie amongst the Irish (now grown strong through the actions of Bruice, and the decaie of the English) adventured to break over the Ban, and made great havock in the Colonies of the Rowt Clandebois, Ardes, and others within that cir­cuite, who in truth, never in anie degree of their former bee­ing recovered themselvs after; and thus you see in a manner the full ruine of the English in Ʋlster. Another enlargement gained by the Irish, upon English men's Lands, was soon after the departure of Bruice out of Mounster, when Morrice Fitz-Tho­mas Garaldine of Desmond, having taken into his alliance and service manie of the Irish, made eruption into the Counties of Kerry, Limerick, Cork, and part of Waterford, and in short time destroied and banished great parts of those Colonies, and there placed his followers (more Irish then English) and forced most of the rest to join, or submit to his will; Soon after did the Irish upon the Shanon side advance themselvs, and setled in the large Countrie of Ormond in Tipperary, then entirely the inheritance of the Earl of Ormond (by acquisition of his ancestors) whereof som small parts were after recovered by the succeeding Earls of Ormond, which now they hold, the rest re­mained with the Irish, paying som small acknowledgment by composition.

The Irish also then entred into several other Wood-land Countries in Tipperary, whence terrifying and forcing out the English, they seated themselvs there. About the end of the reign of King Edward the second (in the absence of the English Lords of Leimster, Donald M^r Art Covenagh a bastard branch of Der­mot ne Gall, late reputed King of Leimster (so called in the Welsh, and other Irish of those parts) brake out, and im­broiled [Page 22]those Clonies, renting from them great parts of the Wood lands and mountainous Countries, soon after Lisagh Moor, and one of the Conners in the heart of Leimster, disco­vered themselvs in open enmitie; The said Lisagh (taking eight Castles in one evening by surprize) defaced the Castle of Donamase, the Earl of March his chief hous in Leix, and upon the ruining of the English in those Countries, the one called himself ô Moor, Lord of Leix, and the other ô Conner, Lord of Ophalie.

After the death of the said William de Burgo, above menti­oned, certain of the most active men of the Irish in Connaght, joining with som degenerate branches of the Bourks (who had formerly assisted in the destroying, and rooting out of the English, in the Southern parts of Ʋlster, next unto Connaght) entered into all the goodly possessions of the said William, in Connaght, expelled the English, and made themselvs Masters of all; One of the said Bourks seating himself in the Countie of Galway (of whom is descended the Earl of Clanrickard, an­other fastned himself in the Countie of Mayo; and both took upon them Irish Captain-ships; the one by the name M^r William Eighter, and the other by the name of M^r William Oughter, re­taining with them manie of the Irish to inhabit the Land, and fully finish the extirpation of the English Freeholders, the rest of the Irish Partisans fell into the more northern parts of Connaght, as the Counties of Sligo and Leitrim, and also the Northern parts of the Countie of Roscomon, who so fully accomplished the expulsion of the English, as in the time of King Charls, an intention beeing to plant that Province) upon Inquirie made into everie particular man's holding, there could not bee shewed anie antient Evidence for anie Land holden amongst them, as in the other Provinces of Mounster and Leimster, are to bee shewed in great numbers.

About the twentie fifth year of King Edward the third, was Richard de Clare murthered by the men of Thomond, at what time, and after, the Irish so insulted there, as the English were either in short time massacred, or forced into other parts for their more safetie:

And thus is plainly evidenced in brief, part of the means of [Page 23]the great incroachments of the Irish upon the English possessi­ons, especially in the remote parts, and now were the English Lords, and such of the English Freeholders as they could draw or force with them, arrived at a great height of degene­ration; Now had they for the most part betaken themselvs to the Brehan or Tanistree Law, as they called it, and other Irish usages and customs (so destructive to themselvs) and repudiated the English Laws brought with them, under which they happily lived, and under which the people of England had, and have so manie ages florished, and been famous through providence, except what remained in the five shiers of the Pale, and in som small circuits about the walled-Towns, which reteined in som measure the English Laws: Now did they generally em­brace the Irish garb of licentiousnes and tyrannie over the in­feriors; They erected amongst themselvs Captain-ships in their Countries, after the Irish fashion, and unwisely suffered the Irish to do the like, where they had gotten footing, ap­plauding them in all things, whereby the Irish were raised in­to a kinde of Dominion; they little obeied or regarded the Governors sent out of England (though for their onely good, and manie times to rescue them from the Irish outrages and furie, and reconcile their own unnatural jars) they suffered not the King's Writs to run in their Countries, but they would undertake in a summarie waie, to answer for their followers, as they now call them, for what wrong or crime soever com­mitted; they assumed Irish nicknames, as the chief of the Burks, M^r William Brimingham, M^r Yoris Mangle, M^r Costelo Dexeter, M^r Jorden Archdeacon, M^r Odo Condon, M^r Maiog, one of the Garaldines, M^r Gibbon, and som hundreds the like in that Land, and this they did in contempt of the English name and Nation; They went to the wars in Irish furniture to their horses, and Irish arms defensive and offensive, shearing their horses mains after the Irish manner: Insomuch, as afterwards there was necessitie by Laws to enforce them to ride in saddles; the Irish riding onely on small quilted pillions, fastned one­ly with a sursingle; they combined in sull complacencie for cours of life with the Irish in all things, even to rebellious actions, several times, yea, so far were they sunck in this base [Page 24]degeneration and defection, as the Earl of Desmond claimed privilege, never to com to Parlament, or within walled Town, but at his own pleasure, (which privilege hee in Queen Elizabeth's time surrendred and renounced) And it was resolved amongst them, that becaus they by violence and oppression had in­truded into the Lands of the inferior English, and given the Irish libertie to dwell there first at will, (though it proved otherwise after) and finding the power out of England slack to controul them, by reason of other imploiments; They at length judged it most preservative to incorporate with the Irish, and so cast off the English Law and Loialtie, presuming thereby, the better to keep what they had so ravished, know­ing well, that if the English Law gained concurrencie amongst them, the parties wronged, or their descendents removed as aforesaid, would (doubtles) recover their own, and so shor­ten the great revenues and cuttings, wherein they thought they had ascertained a compleat interest, by those waies of confu­sion; But it fell out otherwise in shor time, for by God's just avengement on their wickedness, the Irish, (who manie years lived in the Island as aforesaid, by their sufferance, nei­ther of force, nor anie waie deterred by the English; daily increasing in numbers, actuated in Martial Discipline, possessed also (though but at will, of great quantities of Land) they, as opportunities offered, (part whereof is after herein expres­sed) rose up against their Lords, especially in the Wood­land Countries, and called the Lands their own; and in short time became formidable to the English, who began now to finde their error, in so prodigiously forgetting themselvs, their no­ble ancestors and originals, and the glorious Kingdom from whence they came, putting themselvs, in a manner, into the hands of their slavish enemies, and (as may bee said) were transformed into another people: These disorders, fractures, and insolencies, and the great pressures and detri­ments of the English crying loud into England, at last the no­ble and victorious Prince, King Edward the third, pitying their deformed and lapsed condition, in the thirtie sixth year of his reign (though his forrein engagements were great and heavie at that time) sent thither as his Lieutenant, Lionel Duke [Page 25]of Clarence his third son above mentioned, with a competent strength, to reduce things to some better form; this young Lord continued there (for the most part) seven yeers, brought with him a good and honorable Council, both for peace and warr, set himself with all zeal and affection, specially to reor­der the English Colonies, if it might be, to reintegrate them in their pristin estates, freedom and government, himself having good interest there as is above touched. To this Livetenant manie of the Irish made submissions, as they had manie times don before to King Henrie the second, King John, and after to King Richard the second, and others, authorised by the Kings of England, he had sundrie conflicts with the Irish, verie manie of the English (after a short time) siding with him.

About the 40 yeer of King Edward the third, he held that famous Parlament at Kilkenny, wherein plainly appear's (by the Lawes made there, and som others formerly enacted by Rockes­by, Justice of Ireland 25 E. 3) the great degeneration and de­formitie of the old English above specified (Laws and Statutes being the best Dictates of the maladies of times) and that the principal labour was to reform, and bring into temper and rule of Law, the old English Colonies, Som particulars of which Laws were, viz. Against Parlies with the Irish without leave; That Chieftains should assist and apprehend Felons; Against barbarous Fees and extortions of the Lord's Officers called Marshals; Against the English calling the Irish to help them in their quarrels; Against the Lords distreining contrarie to the English Law; That the English should only use the English Law, and not the custom called the Brehan Law, or Marcheor Law.

That if anie of the English race, should use an Irish name, Irish lan­guage, Irish apparrel, or anie other guise or fashion of the Irish, his Lands should bee seised till hee conformed, Or (if he no Land) then other mulcts were appointed; That the Lords should not disturb the King's Officers in executing their Offices; That Serjeants Bailiffs should exe­cute the commands of the King and of the Sheriffs, that the Sheriffs and Serjeants of Franchises, should give acquittances for the Kings money received of Debtors, and receiv and pay by Indenture: That no She­riffs should hold Courts contrarie to the Common Law; That the Eng­lish [Page 26]should not marrie, nor Gossip with the Irish; That the English should use the English language and nurture; That old and new English should all alike be called Lieges of the King; That no English should use Irish or barbarous sports; that no Irish Pipers, Rimers, bablers, Ske­laghs, Ferdanes, Carraghs or news-tellers, should bee suffered to com a­mongst the English: That no Kearns, Hoblers, nor idle men should range, take meat, &c, of the people against their wills, but hue and crie to be made after them.

That no Irish should be admitted to benefits, or entred into religious houses: That Judges should travel half yeerly to enquire of offences, and to execute the Law: That four Justices of peace, of and in each Coun­tie should charge the Inhabitants with hors and foot to defend themselvs against Irish enemies. That robberies committed in the guildable, should not be protected in the franchises, and so on the contrarie, but the theeves to be delivered up to the proper officers; and many other like Laws, were then made towards restauration, and recomposing of the then deformed and adulterated English; and for the further redress, divers other Laws (som before, and som after) were made, viz. One to take away protections, which with frequent par­dons were observed to be pestilent Remora's to the English restitution and secure peace, insomuch as King Edward the third, towards the later end of his reign, sent two Ordinances into Ireland, viz.

First, Justitiarius Hiberniae non concedat pardonationes de morte hominis, nec de roberiis, seu incendiis, et quòd de caetero certificet domi­num Regem de nominibus petentium.

Secondly, Item quòd nec Justitiarius, nec aliquis magnas Hiber­niae, concedat protectiones alicui contra pacem regis existentis. And the experience of the common dammage by such pardons, and protections ever since, prove's the malignancie of them, that be­ing charged by divers good authors (conversant in Irish affairs) to be the dishonour and ruine of the Common-wealth: Other Laws were also made, viz. One to distinguish betwixt the English and Irish, by the cutting off their beards: Another, against the ta­king of amends for the murther of a friend: Another That no man should stirr up the Irish to assist in their warr: Another, Against ta­king Theeves into Comerick (in English) protection: All which Laws at Kilkenny were after confirmed, and revived by another Law made in the tenth yeer of King Henrie the seventh Chap. 8, Wherein are these words, viz. As long as those Laws were [Page 27]put in ure and execution, this Land continued in prosperitie and honor, and since they were not executed, the people re­belled and digressed from their obedience, and the Land fell to ruine and desolation, &c. And the truth is, it appear's by good Histories of those times, and more authentically by Records, both of the Exchequer & Common-pleas of those yeers, that by practice of these Lawes, and the industrie & travel of the said Lionel, notable alteration was made, in the manners of the people, and much don of value towards the restitution of the English Government, in the English Colonies; That the Crown-Revenues, both certain and casuall, were duly accomp­ted for in all the Provinces, and that the King's Writ did run, & the Common-Law executed in all parts amongst the English.

This Duke built the wals of Catherlagh, hee also reduced much lands in Connaght and Ʋlster, into the English mens hands, and this good order continued all the residue of that King's reign, and part of the reign of King Richard the second, but towards the middle of his time, the Irish and som farr degene­rate English, hearing of the Duke of Clarence his death in Italie, and finding great dissentions to arise in England, combined themselvs to the fresh annoiance of the English, and prosecuting their long intendment to exstirpate them: And now did the English finde caus to rais themselvs into defens against the Irish, which they were afterwards dangerously put unto: there­upon that King having received repuls in his affectation to bee Emperor, and desirous to act somthing of glorie, and satisfacti­on to his people, about the 18 yeer of his reign, undertook a roial expedition into Ireland, transporting with him 30000 foot, and 4000 men at Arms, as the Chronicles relate, whereat the Irish being terrified, fell into their old lock of submissions (the verie gulf which hath hitherto swallowed up all the es­saies and labors of reformation there) hoping thereby to dis­solv that force, and frustrate his good design; and to insist on the verie truth, that cours of pardons upon submissions of the Irish, hath for at least three hundred yeers past, bottomed all the combustions and insults of the Irish.

That King being not in case to be long absent, was perswa­ded to accept of their submissions, which hee did from all the [Page 28]powerful men of the Irish, and som degenerate English Lords, those Irish of Leimster taking Oath to leav the Land to his free dispose by a certain time.

Great quantities of the Leimster land were granted to Sir John de Bellomonto, and others, whose issues long after enjoyed it, he also conditioned with the Irish of Connaght and Ulster up­on their submissions, to restore the Lands to the English, which the Irish never performed: So this young Prince abused by the frau­dulent submissions of the Irish, (as others before, and after were) returned with his men into England, leaving the English in Ire­land, in but a little better case then he found them: Soon after his departure the Irish brake forth, and stood up for their ends, as high as ever, whereupon ensued great conflicts between them and the English, in one of which was slain Mortimer Earl of March the King's Lievtenant; thereupon did many of the Eng­lish (overhaled with burthens and harrowings) relinquish their estates, and resort into England, to side with Parties there, as their affections did lead them, though Lawes were in Ireland, and Ordinances in England, as well to stop their going, as to return them back.

It is not recorded nor known (as is conceived) that in the reigns of King Henrie the fourth, or King Henrie the fifth, (who were much taken up in other business) any forces were sent into Ireland, whereby the Irish inlarged much, partly through the departure of the English, and chiefly by the great devastations they formerly suffered, besides what diminutions they endured by several Kings, transmitting great numbers of them to assist in the warrs of France, Scotland and Wales, in se­veral times.

In the former part of the reign of King Henrie the sixth, Ireland continued In the same posture; the English beeing now put to their defence in all parts, but the greatest and most re­markable decaie, and ruine of the prosperitie, and possession of the English in Ireland began in the later end of the reign of King Henrie the sixt, and in the beginning of King Ed­ward the fourth; For after the middle of the reign of King Henrie the sixt. Richard Duke of York beginning to whisper his right to the Crown more audibly then before, hee was [Page 29]soon after sent into Ireland Lievtenant, which was somtimes usual, as a removal of such as were dangerous, or pretended trouble; There hee had given him much regal autoritie more then might bee consonant to right reason, had they well con­sidered the place, or the consequences, hee was continued there nine or ten years by himself, and his Deputies, himself making starts into England, which, as it was handled, ampli­fied his power in Ireland, hee had power to dispose the King's revenues, as hee thought fit, hee had power to grant and let the King's Lands in Ireland, to place and displace officers, and to wage what men hee thought good: This Lord (esteemed there a person of high blood) having an eie more upon events in England, then the reducement of Ireland, applied himself for the most part towards his own pretentions, hee enter­tained both parties, English and Irish in a plausible waie, travel­ling in his secret thoughts to fasten parties to him, against the time hee might have use of them; Hee tolerated the Irish to hold what they had formerly intruded unto, not sparing favors where hee observed reason to oblige, and they regarding som­what his high birth (a thing they seem most to adore) were by those means held more quiet then in former times, hee con­teined the English by courtesie and fair entreatie, and by be­stowing of imploiments, so as hee found great adherence by waie of personal affection, hee made som journies into Eng­land, always accompanied with som of the Gentrie of Ireland, to propagate and ripen confederacie; In England hee endured the changes of war; At last hee was forced into Ireland, where hee gather's more strength, and hearing that Warwick and Salisburie had taken the King, hee com's over, attended with good numbers of the English Lords and others, and som of the Irish, Hee obtein's his ends in Parlament; The Queen flie's into Scotland, and coming back, the Duke of York meet's her at Wakefield, where hee was slain, and manie of those of Ire­land with him; the Earl of Ormond on the other side, beeing a professor to the hous of Lancaster, passed into England about the same time, with manie of the English, and som Irish, the Earl of March encounter's him, and others at Mortimer's Cross in Wales; there is Ormond and the rest defeated; and manie of Ireland [Page 30]slain: So as what by the companies which at times passed over with the Duke of York, and what by such as voluntarily led themselvs into England, on both sides, during those combu­stions, great consumptions of those of Ireland could not but bee the consequent, especially, the Gentrie and best men: Hereupon did the Irish on all sides exspatiate, and fasten upon the English possessions, where they could reach, and indeed in short time so dilated themselvs, as they for the time forced the English into their strengths, and into narrow rooms; they confirmed themselvs in their formerly erected and usurped Captainships, which before the reign of King Henrie the eight, were far to manie, and most of them so continued, till the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, therein exercising an absolute tyrannical power over all inferiors, aswell all such Eng­lish as hazarded to continue amongst them, as the Irish; And here may the Querist, and all others take full view of the pro­gress, foot-steps, and means of the Irish incroachments upon the English possessions, though it is true, that in after times manie of the English became repossessed of much of their an­tient Lands, except in Ʋlster and Connaght, in which Pro­vinces manie of the old English are now as barbarous as the meer Irish, hardly to bee distinguished; yet by what is above written, it grow's more lucid and cleer, that the Inhabi­tants of that Island, who now stand in arms against England, (who in several successions setled them there) are not such an entire nation fixed there by God and Nature, free from anie other power and challenge, as the Querist propound's them, and where the entiretie of such a Nation (footed there as is pretended) is to bee found, (as things are before discovered) will require a verie wearisom scrutinie, and at last satisfie no understanding man. Nay, it is avouched by several good writers, and may bee truly asserted in the experience of such as well understand Ireland, that setting aside the first Inhabi­tants from Britain, and other Nations inserted there by the permission of the Britains, and such as had power in Britain, and such as of themselvs intruded before the entrance of King Henrie the second, promiscuously laced amongst them, who all now pass under the Notion, and style of the old Irish, the [Page 31]verie English sent in thither by King Henrie the second, and other Kings succeeding him before King James, and who at the beginning of this Rebellion were really stated, and vested in Lands in that Island, (though not in numbers and bodies of men (becaus most of the Churls, and laborers as afore­said, were Irish) nor perhaps in quantities and extents of Lands, yet in true value and command, over others) did far exceed, and were far more estimable and powerful in that Island, then those, denominated the old Irish, besides the the great towns, which (as is above said) are wholly, in a manner, English: for consider their present composure of per­sons, and affairs, even after this late horrid and inhumane eradication of the new English and protestants:

First, Their Nobilitie (now in rebellion) are all old English except a verie few, which were, and yet are both weak in power and strength.

Their supream Council (as they call it) and other Pro­vincial, and Countie Councils, and their general Assemblie are for the most part old English, most of the best Commanders in the war are of the same; most of their hors and manie of their foot, (who have been most daring in the Rebellion) are of the same; the whole frame of their new-Modelled-Govern­ment was at first digested, and is ever since countenanced, and enlivened by the old English, they seem in their constituti­ons to put themselvs for the most part (in waie of policie at present) into the frame of the English Laws, becaus they well know, how uncertain and barbarous their supposed Irish Laws were, (though verie manie of them rather desire the old Irish Tyrannie, and rude exorbitancie) And were it not that the old English were, and still are, that the bodie of their order and connexion, even apparently managing their whole par­tie, as to war and Government, the rest would soon dissolv into their old Kearnish habit, both in fight, and onely con­fidence in bogs and woods; And which seem's most of amaze­ment in this business, the old English (shewing themselvs of late years in manie things, much more swelling and envious against the Protestant Religion, and the English Government and conversation then the meer Irish) were the principal con­trivers, and ripeners of this destable Rebellion, and Assassina­tion, [Page 32]without whose incitement and flexible concurrence, (as Ireland at the begining of the Rebellion stood furnished with multitudes of new English in all parts, (except Connaght, where they were fewest) and strengthned with the old English, if they had stood loial to their own Nation, or really sensible of their own happiness (as in nature and all prudence they should have don) the Irish no waie durst have entered upon such an attempt against the English and Protestants, especially a Parlament then sitting in England, who they might well believ would so far dis­taste such high and unparaleld Ravages, and horrible effusion of bloud (without caus or provocation) committed upon som of their own flesh and bloud, and also such savage indignities of­fered to the English Nation, as that they would speedily bend their power to redress and revenge the same; And yet it may bee considered, that the opportunitie of the attempt of the Irish will not appear so strange; when wee consider their animation, and incouragement to have its rise from manie of the Native Inhabitants of England, of the same Religion with the Irish Re­bels, who made it their work to feel the puls, and finde the di­stempers of England to that end: And the Commissioners pro­cured for the Irish to secure the persons and Estates of the Eng­lish Protestants of Ireland was to speak effectively) to command them to destroie both, which (if not speedily executed) might have exspired or been rewaked upon discoverie, which is most obvious; it wee reflect upon the several journies of the popish partie of those Agents imploied by the Parlament in Ireland, to the eminent Popish Families in England, as Brown, and Plunket have often (with oftentation) acknowledged, besides the con­stant Negotiation of M^r Brent, an English Papist and expert ma­nager of such a business) to manie of the active Papists of England at the same time, doth fully manifest the same with suits, with the constant expressions of the Rebels, in all parts of Ireland, affirming there could bee no exspectation of anie considerable, or seasonable relief out of England. It is also too well known, that when the Cavalier interest had life in it, the English Romanists would often boast of this their Ma­ster-piece their managing the Irish insurrection (as they termed it) at that season wherein it should finde least oppositi­on from England, and so most successful for the improvement of the Catholick caus.

• [Page 33]Archbalds
• Ashes, aliàs de fraxineto
• Almers
• Allens
• Arthurs
• Archers
• Ailworth or Ailward
• Audleys
• Archdecons
• Arundels
• Butlers
  6 Noble men of the name.
• Bourks
  5 Noble men.
• Barries
  1 Noble man.
• Breminghams
  1 Noble man.
• Barnwels
  2 Noblemen.
• Brownes.
• Bagnals
• Burnels
• Baathes
• Bellow alias Bedlows
• Blakes
• Belins
• Bagots
• Blackneys
• Brandons
• Blanchfeilds
• Bensons
• Balfe
• Boise
• Brewer
• Bale
• Brian
• Busher
• Burford
• Brereton
• Barret
• Benfeild
• Baron
• [Page 34]Birt alias Britt
• Barington
• Basgravile
• Beard
• Courcies
  1 Noble man.
• Cheevers
• Cusacks
• Cogan
• Cadels
• Colleys
• Cosby
• Cods
• Cruces
• Chamberlain,
• Chaceys or Caseys
• Clintons
• Clinches
• Comerfords
• Cosgraves
• Colbies
• Cosbies
• Condon
• Cossen
• Conron
• Cashell
• Cardiff
• Colclogh
• Crolie
• Carey
• Coffie
• Coppinger
• Comins
• Clundake
• Dillons
  2 Noble men.
• Dowdales
• Dungans
• Darcies
• Devereuxes
• Daltons, Drilands
• Dormers
• Donnels or M^c-Donnels
  1 Noble man.
• Downes
• Denn, Dixon
• Dromgool
• Daniel
• Dobbin
• Deering
• Delamares
• Deece
• Davels
• Draicot
• Dardes
• Drakes
• Dexeters
• Elliots
• Evers alias Ewre
• Eustacks
• Esmond
• Everard, English
• Fitz-Garalds
  1 Noble man.
• Fitz-Morris,
  1 Noble man.
• [Page 35]Fitz-VVilliams
  1 Noble man.
• Fitz-Simons
• Fitz-Harries
• Frends, Fians
• Fennels
• Fitz Stephens
• French
• Font or Fawnt
• Fitz Zery
• Fitz-Leones
• Flemings
  1 Noble man.
• Flatsburie
• Foxes
• Forestal
• Forlongs
• Fitz Nichols
• Forsters
• Finglasses
• Fottrels
• Fanings
• Faies
• Frenches
• Garnons
• Grants
• Garvies
• Grahams
• Gerons
• Graces
• Goldings
• Goghes
• Galtrims
• Galwaies
• Hores
• Harpenies
• Hussies
• Hassans
• Hides or de la Hides
• Hardins
• Holliwoods
• Hetheringtons
• Howlins
• Harpools
• Handcock
• Hays
• Hadsors
• Hurleys, Hopps
• Harries, Harrisons
• Herberts, Horis
• Harold.
• Jordans
• Jans
• Joices
• Jacobs
• Itchingham
• Kings
• Keatings
• Kents
• Laulis, Lenard
• Luttrels, Lanfant
• Lacies
• Lanes
• Linches
• [Page 36]Lovels
• Leicesters
• Ledwiches
• Longs
• Locks
• Lamports
• Moores
• Missets
• Mastersons
• Morris
• Martins
• Mandevils
• Meilers
• Moilers
• Malpas
• Masons
• Mellins
• Netervils
  1 Noble man.
• Nugents
  1 Noble man.
• Nangles
• Nottinghams
• Nevils
• Ovingtons
• Plunkets
  3 Noble men.
• Prestons
  1 Noble man.
• Powers
  1 Noble man.
• Purcels
• Peirce
• Pigot
• Pendergafts
• Philips
• Peppards
• Penteins
• Petits
• Prowdfoots
• Roches
  1 Noble man.
• Rogers
• Rices
• Reinolds
• Rochforths
• Roceter
• Russels
• Rooths
• Remond
• Reinolds
• Stantons
• Sentlawrences
  1 Noble man.
• Sarsfields
  1 Noble man.
• Skelton
• Strong
• Sedgraves
• Sinnots
• Shortels
• Sempes
• Sankies
• Sigen
• Samonds aliàs S^t Amonds
• Scurlock
• S^t John
• Sherlock
• Stanleys
• Stapletons
• [Page 37]Soars
• Stephens
• S^t Michael
• Silvester
• Suttons
• Stritch
• Staffords
• Swords
• Scallann
• Skiddies aliàs Scudamore
• Sermons
• Smiths
• Sentlegers
• Savages
• Talbots
• Tints
• Taffs
  1 Noble man.
• Turnors
• Tirrels
• Trawnt
• Travers
• Tallon
• Ushers
• Verdons
• Verden
• Veal
• Walshes
• Wolverstons
• Wogans
• Wottons
• Whits
• Waddings
• Walters
• Wises
• Westons
• Wellesley
• Workley
• Whitties
• Wickens

THere are 29 Families more, not there named of la­ter discent, which have every one a Noble man thereof, whose Estates are in Ireland. And there are but eight noble men in Ireland of meer Irish.

So that the Nobilitie of English descent (not recko­ning those that live in England, who onely have honors and no estates there) are seven to one of the Irish.

And there are in all about ninetie two Nobilitie of Ireland.

I had almost forgotten one thing of considerable value, which is this, admitting that the pretended antient title of the meer Irish were (as it is not) good to the Lands of Ireland, yet nothing is more true then that great parts thereof have been bought at dear rates, by the English from the Irish, and more would have been, had the Irish frequent proffers a little before their last Rebellion been accepted of by the English, to whom the Querist must need's allow a cleer interest in the Lands so pur­chased; as also to their personal estates, and those that deprive them of such their Civil Right, can bee no other then thievs and robbers, and at once root out God's Law, man's pro­pertie, and National Equitie, so just is this Querist to God and Nature, on whom hee would father the Irish depredations and murthers; And this may in som measure suffice for an An­swer to the first Quere, at least to shew how the Querist seek's to blinde inadvertent men with a far fetched supposition, which want's substance in everie particular (when examined) yet framed as an Engine to retard all succors for Ireland, then at the point to bee lost.

The second Answer.

THe Irish are not such a people or Nation, so setled, have not a power to establish all Laws, Government, &c. But the people of England, to whom Ireland belong's, are, and have such a power to establish all Laws, Government, Offices and Officers in Ireland, their own Dominions, and to oppose and execute all such, as shall endeavor to impose and obtrude in their said Dominions, Laws, Government, Offices, and Officers, without, or against their consent.

The third Answer.

GOd and Nature hath so given Ireland for a possession and Government to the Inhabitants, and people of England, [Page 40]from the beginning, as in the Answer to the first Quere is cleer. And this Quere more properly relate's to the English just title against the claim of the Irish, who were not the original In­habiters of Ireland, and so no claim from God and Nature for such a possession of theirs; and therefore the Irish invasion and expulsion of the English, depriving them of much of their Lands; framing Laws, Government, and Officers in the Eng­lish Dominions, or against the English consent, is no other then robberie in the Irish Invaders, and it is the just right of the Invaded (and part conquered) English to cut off their Irish enemies, and to procure theirs and their Brethren's free­dom, to regain their own lawful government and inhe­ritance.

And for further resolution, this Quere, as it is stated, is not the case of the Irish: For as before is truly said, the permission of the British planted, and gave them first footing there, and the several Conquests (or rather reducements of them) by the British there, was no invasion, but a bringing of the re­belling Irish to due obedience, and Christian-like submission to their supreme Governors, whose right onely it is, to impose Laws, Governors, and Officers upon them, and therefore no robberie for the English to enter on their own Land, but most just to punish, and disseis them, who by their frequent Rebel­lions were no more to bee trusted with them, then a mad-man with a sword: yet the indulgence of the English Government hath alway as been so great, as to take but a part of the Rebel's estates, whereas they had forfeited all by their iterated former rebellions; Then where is the caus or right of the Irish, to cut off the English in cold blood, in time of peace, and in the best Government, and improvement the Irish ever injoyed?

The fourth Answer.

LEngth of time cannot privilege, or discharge a people ori­ginally subordinate to another, from their due conformi­tie, and obedience to the Laws and Government of those, by whose permission they were received into the Verge of their dominions, as the Irish were into the dominions of the British in Ireland, neither are the Irish Rebels (as now composed) a distinct Nation of themselvs, nor so distinct in descent from those, who at all times lawfully reduced them. But that the now most ruling, and powerful partie of the Re­bels are descended of English lineage, as aforesaid; and neither they, nor the other old degenerate English can justly pretend to anie Land there, but what hath been passed unto them un­der the great Seal of that Land, and therefore their freedom and right cannot bee anie wise said to bee swallowed up by the English; for, from anie other they cannot truly derive either their Freedom, Lands or possessions, as beeing granted unto them by the English, and the meer Irish (as is abovesaid) not beeing half of the Inhabitants of Ireland, nor of anie conside­rable riches, strength or policie.

The fift Answer.

THe Inhabitants of Ireland, now in Arms against the power and just right of England, are no better then perfidious re­bels, intruders, and inhumane blood-suckers, not onely for the causes before shewed, but for their iterated Rebellions, and former massacring of the English, and have been well known to bee such brutish enemies for divers ages past; And if it should bee allowed, that they at their wills and pleasures might shake off the yoke of obedience, and to perpetrate the inhu­mane cruelties, semblable to their former, then would they at length (as it were) change their shape of men into the state of Divels.

The sixt Answer.

HEre might I now suspend further labor (as superfluous, in contesting with extravagant impertinencies, having ex­pended much time upon the main. But I have alreadie (as I conceiv) irrecoverably thrown down the fals foundation, up­on which this presumptuous Impostor doth rear the whole fa­brick of his insnaring Queres. In the fall whereof they are slaughtered, as I may saie, in the mother's bellie, resolved, be­fore well objected, and may bee left as dead, and buried in their first ruines, yet since the easiest part of my task is now behinde, I will wave the trouble I might justly avoid in beeing filent, and crave leav to proceed in the solution of the remain­ing interrogations to their utmost borders, lest by such silence I should give advantage to the contriver of them, to surfet with conceit of his supposed unanswerable suggestions.

By this question that now look's so big, stare's us in the face, and speak's so loud; the Querist may drive som of mean Judg­ment into amazement, though indeed hee manifesteth but a weakness in that his endeavor, to render the English title du­bious, and make our Nation, persons, and interest, odious by an infamous indicting of us under the notion of thievs, rob­bers, invaders, &c. Onely for our credit thus much, hee ar­raign's with us, or us with them, the great Conquerors of the world, Julius Caesar, Alexander the great, and William the Norman, in whom (indeed) all the great Rulers of the earth are concerned and comprehended by this pernitious stickler for Irish Rebels; of whose ridiculous follie beeing senfible enough, I give him no other Answer then a flat and express [Page 44]denial to that hee aim's to gain by a confession on our part, and what hee is not able to prove on his own; But I laie hold up­on that which (undesired) hee grant's unto us in the que­stion, and then to answer the Quere.

Taking him therefore upon his own confession, hee who els-where strongly endeavor's to smother our original proprietie, and interest, doth there beslow upon us a four-fold good ti­tle (if other things should fail) to that Land, unto which they the Irish so unjustly pretend; As in his several Queres, first a conquest; Secondly, a prescription, and actual possession in the British; Thirdly, a Legislative power; fourthly their sub­jection, (though a distinct people, yet living amongst us) unto the English Government.

The Answer now followeth, which is reduced to these affir­mative positions.

First, that the Conquerors therein mentioned, and com­prehended, ought not to carrie the character of lawless thievs.

Secondly, that titles and dominions atchieved by conquest, are not robberies, but justifiable titles and possessions.

The first of these concern's the person of the Conqueror, the second the right of the things possessed. Might wee but propound one Quere to this bold Assertor, it should bee this.

What Autor can hee produce for this prophane and absurd Language? the worst of prophane histories afford no pattern to these expressions.

Is a Conqueror no more then a Bandetto, a Pirate, a Bar­rabas, or one of the Arabian fraternities? Must the actions of publick persons impowred by God, acted by divine im­pulsions, and oftentimes executing for God an unknown Commission against the Inhabitants of the world for their transgressions, bee stained with, and carrie the black Character of Lawless thievs; Surely no, this is not the language of the servant of the living God, but of the servant of the lying spi­rit, the fals accuser.

What if the actions of these Conquerors bee chargeable with som irregularities, and personal vitiosities usually concurrent [Page 45]in victories. They may bee matters of lamentation to the world, and sad accounts too; but no ground for such deno­minations.

To instance.

Let us pitch upon Nebuchadnezzar that Babylonian Monarch, called The hammer of the whole earth, the great destroier of Nati­ons, Dan. 2.7. Jer. 50.23. was hee not one of the worst of Adversaries unto the people of God, witness Sion's complaint against him,Jer. 51.34; 35. yet was ever this infamous title attributed to him by anie of the captivated people.

Nay, doth not God speak of him in tearms of honor, looking on him as an instrument to act his own design, beeing one of the rods of his anger, and the staff of his indignati­on, styling him oftentimes My servant, and his work his service, Jer. 25.9. Jer. 27.6. Ezek. 29.18, 19, 20. Dan. 6.21. Dan. 2.37. and one unto whom God for his own work assigned Egypt for the wages of his Armie; And doth not Daniel the servant of the living God, and a Captive of the blood Roial, honor him with the awful tearms and title of Magistracie in these words; O King, live for ever.

What shall wee saie of Cesar Octavius, under whose Go­vernment the Saviour of the world was born, by whose power the Jewish Nation were kept in subjection, doth not the Evangelist S^t Luke put that Romane stamp of dignitie (Augustus) upon him: Nomen quasi Sanctum & veneratione dig­num, saith Burgensis, The Jews gave him the title of a lawful Magistrate, and a King, saying, wee have no King, but Ce­sar. Augustine had reverend language towards the Cesarian Ar­mies, affirming this, Autores belli Dei ministri; and in his Epi­stle to Boniface a militarie Commander in the Romane Legi­ons useth these words: Nequaquam putare debes eos qui rei-publi­cae inserviunt, Deo placere non posse: John the Baptist (who lost his head for the freedom of his Language) when the Cesarian souldiers of the meaner rank frequented his Ministrie, did not bid them laie down their Arms as unlawful, or frown upon them as thievs, or discourage them with such Dialects, but discipline's them as Scholars for the School of Christ. Do violence to no man, and bee content with your wages. John. If God from the mouth of the holie son, style's them servants; If holie [Page 46]men taught by the Spirit of God, and religious knowing men never took up such vilifying Language against the great Con­querors of the world, and the hammers of the earth the Assyri­ans, the Persians, the Grecians, and the Romans to whom the supreme Lord of all gave the Kingdoms and Domi­nions of the earth; how unwarrantable will it bee for the sons of men to open their mouths contumeliously against the Ministers of the Lord of Hosts, into whose hands hee hath put the revenging sword, and crowned it with victorie, there­by declaring the secret purposes of his good pleasure, con­cerning those people against whom they are sent, and preor­dained for Justice and Judgment.

Having thus setled the unquestionable title of honored Ma­jestie upon such Conquerors, and vindicated them from the black infamie (the Language of hell, and not of Saints) which the Querist would intail upon them, I now com to make good my second Position, in answer to this sixt Quere.

A title or dominion atteined by Conquest is not robberie, as the Conquerors are not lawless thievs,Jer. 27.4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Dan. 2.37.39. Isa. 36.10. 2 King. 18.25. God putting all their acquirements by Conquests upon the accompt of his own free donation, and not upon robberie or theft.

Take a short view of mutations in the world made by Con­quests in former ages: May not the same bee affirmed from thence, and other paralel Scriptures, that the mutations and revolutions of Crowns and Kingdoms, Governments and Governors, the breaking in and casting out of Nations, are the effect of divine ordination, managed and brought to pass by exorbitant and irregular motions of men, publickly im­powred, and by extraordinarie provocations raised up to the attempting of actions, above the rank and sphere of ordina­rie dispensations.Dan. 4.17. Is not the power of God still the same, to give his kingdoms of the earth, when, and to whom hee pleaseth.

It was the Judgment of Peter Martyr, writing de Jure belli, Non tantùm à principio mutationes factas esse, sed in posterioribus, tem­pore belli; Later ages will produce Mutations in times of war, aswel as former.

And then why may not befal to those Inhabitants of Ireland (which challenge the Land to bee given them by God [Page 47]and Nature) that which hath betided other Nations, by the secret counsels of that God, in whose hands the Inhabitants of the earth are tossed as a ball?

Did not Eneas by conquest of the Latines settle his posteritie in Italie? did not the Franks, by invasion and conquests take possession of Gallia (now their native habitation)? was not Britain in France surprized by the power of the English Sax­ons, and from them denominated, continuing in their pos­session to this daie? Did not the Huns becom Masters of Pan­nonia (now of them called Hungarie;) And to conclude, is not Conquest an universal title throughout the world? Is not that Jus gentium quod ubique valet; And if this Jus Belli stand for a Plea for them, why may not wee then saie as the Civil­lians fully resoly the lawfulness and proprietie of things got­ten by war in this known Maxime, Ea quae ab hostibus capiuntur, jure gentium statim fiunt capientium.

I cannot omit som material instances, and so conclude the Answer to this Quere, whereby the present acting power of a Conqueror is allowed, and approved in an usurper by the Lord Jesus Christ, who was born under an usurping power to teach us, as a judicious Commentator observ's, Indicat deinde ipsâ nativitate se non pellere magistratum ordinarium adventu suo, imò approbare, who, besides his universal title to all the world, had an indubitable title and claim to the temporal Kingdom of the Jews, then under the Romane usurping power, (Witness that antient Manuscript, Michael Nauclerus de Monarchia divina, ex libro vaticano) yet did so far submit unto the title of Conquest, and his intrusion, that hee the lawful heir was contented to becom a Subject in his own Land, Eodem tempore quo mu [...]ti Tyranni occupabant; though all power was his, and hee that little stone foretold that hee should bee cut out of the Mountain, &c. yet hee neither smite's them with tongue,Dan. 2.45. nor opposeth them by practice, but practically useth and teacheth obedience by paying tribute, yea, becom's an Advocate for Cesar's interest; Give unto Cesar that which is Cesar's, and in a word was so far from exclaiming against that Romane (though usurping) autoritie, that hee looking up to Heaven, affirm's the invader's powers to bee of God, and therefore afterwards submit's [Page 48]to an unjust Sentence of death, whose steps, the holie Apo­stle following, and filled with the Spirit of the same Christ, the onely blessed potentate doth in express terms, without exclusion,Rom. 13. v. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. enjoin submission to all sorts of powers, &c. Hee saie's not, they have no title, they came in by Conquest, they are thievs, Robbers, but honor's them with the title of lawful Ma­gistrates, and command's the conquered Subject upon pain of damnation, to afford obedience unto them as the Ministers of God, using these words, that all powers that bee, are of God.

And for the later part of this Quere, viz Whether it bee not altogether as unjust to take our neighbor's Lands and Liberties from them, as our neighbor's goods from our own Nation? I [...] is answered, that although the Irish have verie long usurped the possession of the Lands and Liberties of the English in Ireland (beeing the Lands and Liberties in the neighboring Countrie, which the Querist meaneth, and which of right, and from antiquitie, and so until this daie do truly and justly belong to the Engliish, as in the first Quere is resolved:) Yet neither when this pre­sent Rebellion brake out in Ireland, nor of a number of yeers before, were anie Lands or Liberties unjustly taken, held, or deteined from anie the Rebels of Ireland.

And hee can pretend to nothing but dull ignorance, that know's it not to have been still consistent, with the Laws and Customs aswel of England, as of other civil Nations of the world, to seiz, and take the goods and liberties of such neigh­bors of their own Nation, as would not stoop to obedience, but Rebel against the known Laws of anie Land where they lived, especially, wilful Law-breakers, such as should first be­gin, and attempt depredations, and surprising of the goods and estates of the obedient parties; the like Laws beeing for such contemners and Rebels also, in such cases to lose their lives.

The seventh Answer.

GOd at the last daie will justifie all men, that zealously ex­ecute the work of his own righteous justice, and that are instrumental in the propagation of his truth and glorie, as the English now are, and as (I am confident) they will persist in Ireland (their own Countrie) against, and upon the wicked Inhabitants thereof, the Irish Rebels, who for their abomi­nations, as I may boldly saie, stink in the nostrils of the Lord, and of all his servants, and must at last (without doubt) bee brought to an account for all their ungrateful, inhu­mane, bloodie and barbarous actions, wherein the hand of the Lord is most visible unto us, having alreadie brought manie to the sword, destroied som by famine, but far more by pe­stilence, and other waies of his Justice, and now those, whose persons as yet met not with those Judgments, and proudly triumphed over, and stood upon the necks of the de­plorable,This at large ap­pear's by the exami­nations ta­ken at Dub­lin, upon oath. and infinitely distressed English, do like dust before the winde flie from the faces of our English Protestant soul­diers, not daring to justifie the least of their acts or underta­kings, but for refuge flie to Mountains, woods, bogs, and other obscure and unaccessible places, cursing now the first plot­ters, contrivers, and beginners of their Rebellion, and hellish designs. [Page 50]And doth not the Querist think that manie of these bloud­suckers in this world, and the rest in the world to com shall meet with condign punishment suitable to their demerits?

The eighth Answer.

THe condition of the conquered is not Ireland, beeing (as aforesaid) not a distinct nation and people, but the greatest part of them consisting of English, or those from thence extracted: And the several Conquests of them, but reduce­ments to legal and civil obedience, to the just and proper right and interest of England. Nor can the condition of the Con­querors of them bee, as over an absolute Nation: therefore the Inhabitants of Ireland, now in arms against the just rights and proprietie of England, are properly and palpably Rebels, and their caus unjust, and England's a legal power, right and Government, and their caus altogether just, beeing for God and Nature; For God, to punish the rebellious, wicked, and obstinate, to root out Idolatrie, to plant and dress the Lord's [Page 51]Vineyard, by holding out the glorious light of the truth, and not suffer it to bee covered or trampled on: For Nature, such as all judicious, conscientious men will assist, and bid God speed unto, beeing to redeem their brethren, the dispoiled Protestants in Ireland, restore them to their just and lawful possessions, vindicate the robberies, murthers, tortures, rapes, and inhumane cruelties, barbarously executed on them, and reduce that Countrie to Peace and quietness.

The ninth Answer.

IT is the dutie of everie honest man, by all earnest, zealous, and lawful means, to endeavor the encouragement and fur­therance of the State of England, for their prosecution of their so just a caus, especially to undertake all means, and to run through all difficulties, whereby hee himself might promote the same, and shew his willingness unto, and good liking of it, and hee neither is, nor can bee a good Christian, that will not contribute to the suppression of these Idolaters, mur­therers, and apparent enemies of God.

The tenth Answer.

THose that contend for their freedom (as the [...]aglish now) who are backt and seconded by original just Principles, fundamental Laws, inherent Rights, legal and due grants, and acknowledgment of their rights from their former accept­ed Governors, make's the resolution flatly opposite unto, and inconsistent with the rebellious Inhabitants of Ireland; who have neither original Principles, fundamental Laws, inherent Rights, legal and due grants, and acknowledgments of their rights, from their former rightful Governors, in anie sort or manner, distinct and separate from the right, power, and Go­vernment of England over them; But as a member to the bodie, so is Ireland to England; And therefore England need's no ex­cuse, but is everie waie justifiable to rectifie, or cut off a cor­rupt, rebellious and gangren'd member, who never had im­posed on it, or reteined anie other defect, restriction, or freedom then the whole bodie suffered. And if the indeavors of Eng­land [Page 53]have been so candid, as to make Ireland a fellow-mem­ber of its own freedom, and enjoyment of Laws and Libertie, equal with it self, in such of the Inhabitants as are capable and deserving the same, it is a special note and characterizing badg of a true Pattern of freedom, to bring such as belong to them into the like condition of themselvs, and to suppress those in Ireland, aswel as those in England that oppose the same.

The eleventh Answer.

IF Traitors, murtherers, ravishers, robbers, cruel inhumane persecutors of true Christians, sacrilegious, abominable Idolaters are justifiable, then are the Inhabitants of Ireland, now in arms against the English, to bee justified; But if by the [Page 54]Law of God and man, such of their partakers, Abettors, and countenancers are to bee prosecuted and punished by those, into whose hands God hath put the sword of legal power, and just Government, as now in the English; Then in Judgment and conscience, the said Inhabitants of Ireland deserv sharp prosecution and just condemnation, and the rather, for that they (to uphold themselvs in their mischief) have against their dutie and Ioialtie to the lawful Government and right of England assisted, and sought assistance from such as are, and alwaies have been England's professed enemies, and therefore, for the English to endeavor the acquifition of their own just rights, and to punish those rebellious, obstinate, and inhu­mane inhabitants of Ireland, is but their dutie, and so, con­science, not crueltie, equitie and just right; not usurpation. They deserving the greatest severitie for their falshood and trea­cherie, who so exorbitantly abused the greatest freedom that ever anie Nation enjoied, and were not made slaves to the will of the English Protestants, but for manie years past, had as much freedom (and far more) then their evil manners ren­dered them capable of.

The twelfth Answer.

THe English never dispossed nor tyrannized over the Irish, either in Ireland, or England, but contrariwise were ever indulgent and loving to them; and now as the English will account nothing severe enough (if warrantable by God's Law) for them to execute upon the rebellious Irish, if they should dispossess the English in England, and tyrannize over them here, as they, the Irish, have most unlawfully don over English Protestants in Ireland: So it is warrantable by God's Law to recover their right in Ireland, and by the same Law (if they get the upper hand) severely to prosecute and punish the blood-guiltie Inhabitants of Ireland, it beeing a dutie and trust imposed on them by God, against such Idolaters and murtherers, and none ought, (without great offence) but prosecute such a cause with effect.

The thirteenth Answer.

IT is the part and dutie of the English Nation rather to prose­cute, and force the rebellious member Ireland to repent their [Page 56]oppression, usurpation and intrusion into the right and Go­vernment of the English, and for their violent depriving them and their harmless neighbors of their Liberties, lives, goods, Lands, and other Estates, and for the English to recover their own rights, (in all ages made good by the expence of their fore-father's blood and treasure) and with a high hand to pur­sue the designs of the opposers; and where the English never oppressed, usurped, or intruded upon the Irish, there they need no repentance.

The fourteenth Answer.

IF they, the English, now in the nick of time pursue the Irish Rebels, considering the present power and posture that Eng­land is in, and the great number of its able bodies fit for emploi­ment, which on a setled peace at home cannot bee better im­ploied or bestowed, then in so conscionable a service, con­ducing to the honor and glorie of God, the peace and quiet of all the Dominions of England, the advance of Trade, the terror of England's enemies, the gaining of a most fruitful and plentiful receptacle for a flowing off-spring, (if now so enabled) they shall effectually pursue the service against the Rebels in Ireland, (beeing so disseminated and scattered as they now are) it will not maintein a lasting chargeable war. For now but a competent number to bee sent out of England, with those faithful and noble ones, their Commilitants now there will (doubtless) by God's gracious assistance, do the blessed work of reducing them, and remove the largest and strongest footings the enemies of England have gotten, render the Na­tion of England to bee true Lovers of Freedom, and the noble preservers of that part of their bodie and dominion; This al­so will take away all occasion from the enemie to blaspheme, since the true worship and service of God will bee advanced in place of idolatrous Popetie, (so much of late years hazarding the peace of England) make our Religion (that true one in­deed) beautiful, lovely, and delightful; free our Seas from the brood of Dunkirkers, Pickaro's, and others of the like stamp (Irish Pirats) when they shall have no place of harbor, or re­tirement amongst us, whereby trade will bee advanced; And so in a short time, may a firm and lasting peace and safetie bee ac­quired, the gain whereof will not onely equipoiz, but out­ballance all the charge that can bee spent, for obteining of the same. The blood that may bee spilt therein is in the dispo­fing of the Lord Armipotent, the God of Battel, from whom our small handfuls of men have not onely met with glorious, and most strange, and often deliverances, far transcending the [Page 58]thoughts of natural man, in all their former ingagements, but maie (doubtless) exspect it still; and for those that fall in the Lord's ba [...], they die not, but to live eternally in and with him, the true knowledg of whom teacheth us, that all our daies are numbred, and that not one life shall bee lost, but by his fore purpose and divine appointment, who will still especially in our greatest weakness, cover us with his shield in the daie of battel, and enable us to trample on the necks of his, and our enemies, and which is far more excellent, they shall sure­ly bee members of the Church, and live amongst the Saints tri­umphant, whose death shall happen in a caus so just (God's caus.) And here it may bee noted that the Irish Rebels by their last immane cruelties, filling up the measure of their iniquitie seem to bee a people adopted by providence, to an utter exstir­pation. Whereunto all faithful English-men have a call from Heaven, in vindication of that innocent bloud, there most profusely spilt, without leaving that detestable brand of Astorgism upon the English Nation to perpetuitie.

The fifteenth Answer.

THe whole Quere is affirmatively confessed, and therefore it is hoped, that Ireland (a Countrie appropriate to this [Page 59]Nation, and the major part of Inhabitants there of English descent will bee looked on, not as the honors and profits of particular men, but as a general concernment; the desertion whereof will redound to the honors and profits of particu­lar men, enemies to the peace and welfare of England, the most malignant of its enemies, the Papists; and therefore particu­lar, peaceable, wel-affected men ought in an humble and peace­able manner, to present their thoughts thereof to the State for a general good.

The sixteenth Answer.

IF the State of England should now in their full strength pro­claim Ireland a free State, and do further, as in the Quere is propounded: yet our true knowledg and experience of the Rebel's disposition promonisheth that they will bee still (espe­cially upon anie occasion of advantage) forward and readie to the uttermost of their powers, and malice, to cut their benefa­ctor's throats, besides it would bee the most prejudicial act that could bee imagined against the State, and people of Eng­land; For set aside the honor due to almightie God, in giving up that Countrie from his true worship and service, to Idola­trie and prophaneness; set aside their guilt of the innocent blood of our brethren, kindred, and Nation there, barba­rously poured out, which will doubtless hang over the heads of the Pardoners; set aside the utter overthrow, and loss of ma­nie thousands of Families, their goods, and Estates, and the giving up the poor (yet considerable) remain of the English Protestant partie there, to the disposition of their most cruel enemies; Set aside the bloud and treasure there spent out of England, since the rebellion, wherein not a Family in England but is interessed, and which they exspect not to bee ren­dered fruitless, to the dishonor of the whole Nation; Set all these aside: yet humane reason and policie dictate's, that the Hous cannot bee safe so long as the back door is open. The father wrong's his posteritie, if hee lavishly give away halfe his inheritance, the regaining whereof, hereafter may bee a cause of ten fold loss of blood and treasure, to what it may cost in preservation; that it is neither safe or just in the Law of Nature, to fling away anie part of our Arms, or defence, though at present cumbersom, which may advantage the enemie by taking possession of, and using (as the popish partie will) against us: And saie the right and interest of England to Ire­land, were not so great, cleer, and undeniable as it is: yet the late revolutions considered, England must never exspect to bee advantaged, or anie waie bettered by deserting Ireland, and [Page 61]giving it up to the Rebellious Inhabitants; A people so foul­ly and lately treacherous to the Protestants, and later English. Which people are neither so formidable in their best arms, defences, and power to keep themselvs in such a proclaimed condition or freedom; Nor is it the aim, or mark of their new Grandees to effect and maintein it, whose divisions and contrarie inclinations amongst themselvs, are, and will ever bee a readie and open gap for anie England's enemies to enter in at: And saie they have no realitie in them to a kingly claim, (as without doubt they have not, they having now of late made amongst them so manie new Kings) yet it were an Act of destructive and dangerous consequence, to give Ireland to the disposal of the Pope, and hee to the Spaniard (his dear childe) which the Inhabitants of Ireland are not much against, but contrariwise, manie of them desire it, and which un­doubtedly (if not prevented) would happen: And so that bit bee brought into the mouth of the Spaniard, which hee hath so long gaped after to swallow and devour.

And admit that Ireland were of the Protestant Religion, as well as England, and thereby the above inconveniencies avoid­ed: yet were it neither safe nor commendable, to quit the de­pendance of that Island on England, by proclaiming the Inha­bitants thereof a free State; since what such a State might do upon verie slender grounds and mistakes, let Scotland wit­ness.

The resolution therefore is; that to do as this Quere pro­pound's, is extreme loss, hazard, and disadvantage to the people of England, and the reducement of that Countrie to its lawful dependance and Government of England, by a full conquest of the present Rebels (let the charge bee what it will) is more honorable, safe, profitable and advantagious to England, then to proclaim them a free State, who are not in a capaci­tie to make and keep themselvs so, nor are or ever were a distinct Nation, as is before said, and here take notice, how the Querist propound's a suitable reward indeed for the State of England, to bestow upon the Re [...] of Ireland, for murder­ing their kindred and allies, acknowledging the said Rebels a free State, and in amitie with them, and thereby for ever to [Page 62]quit their own undoubted interest, establish the worst of their enemies, becom guiltie of the unparalel'd murthers of those, that were flesh of their flesh, and bone of their bone, and leav the remnant of the poor English there, continually open to the ra­pine of those whose mercies are cruelties. So as the Querist would work the State of England into an impious unprovi­dent, and unnatural desertion of the caus of God, their own interest and National quarrel.

The seventeenth Answer.

BEcaus the Rebellious Inhabitants of Ireland have cast off their obedience to the government of England, and (as is too well known) have plotted, and, as farr as they could, in­deavored the utter ex [...]tirpation of the English Protestants, have in coolness of bloud (and without any provocation gi­ven [Page 63]them) maliciously and most barbarously murthered, som hundreds of thousands of them, driven the rest from their habi­tations, robbed them of their Estates, wounded, maimed, and most miserably intreated great numbers of others, have burned their houses, Casiles and Churches, and have elected and made to and amongst themselvs several new Kings, viz. the Pope, the King of Spaine, Owen M^c Art O Neil, S^r Phelim O Neil, The Lord Maguire (since deceased) O Conner Dun of Sligoh, Philip Mc Hugh M^c Sane O Rely, Dermot M^c Doolin Cavenagh, and one O Shergil; as doth and will fully appear in the examinations taken in that behalf, and becaus also those rebellious Irish have declined all English government, returned to their barbarous manners and customs, have set up a new government, have vowed (and many of them taken the Sacrament) to destroy not only all the men, women and children of the English Protestants, but also all irrational Creatures of the English breed, and becaus also they have in a most high manner, & as farr as they could, prophaned the Chur­ches, books and daies of God's true worship, have brought to death as many Professors of his truth, as they could possiblie surprise, and have dilated their power and strength, in the act­ing and perpetrating of any crime destructive to the English Protestants; and which might render themselvs uncapable of mercie, protection or safetie from the people of England, there­fore none ought to be given them; nor ought the sword (now justly and upon necessitie drawn out against them) be returned to the Scabbard, before that destruction they denounced, and resol­ved to execute upon the English, be retaliated upon themselvs, & least such mercie be recompenced with a curs as the holie Ghost by the Prophet, in a case such semblance, pronounced Jer. 28.10. Cursed bee bee that doth the work of the Lord negligently, and cursed bee hee that keepeth back his Sword from bloud.

But I wonder from what the Querist mean's they should be protected, saved or defended; if hee intend it to bee from that punishment, they have so justly merited, by their Rebellion and wickedness past, according to that protection, and those Con­cessions they lately had by Compact with Ormond, grounded up­on a Commission from the late King Charle; To that I an­swer, [Page 64]That if the indulgent English should grant it to them, no doubt they would accept, and make use of it, so long as they should finde it to promote and be consistent with their own ends, and surely they would to themselvs take up no little glorie to meet with such a color of justification, as they might there­by transferr their odious guilt upon the Protectors, so much e­levate the policie and wit of the old Serpent (their dread Lord and Master) above the English Protestant genius; and bee there­by also the further enabled to destroy the remaining Partie of the Protestants in Ireland (too precious wee hope) to bee the price of their securitie. But for further resolution,

These rebellious Inhabitants of Ireland, are so contemptuous to the English laws, so opposite in profession to the English Protestant, so hardned in their wickedness, envie and hatred against God's truth, and them, for the truth's sake, and so wil ully bent to per­sist, as, till suppressed, they will not omit, but contrariwise with greediness, draw into their confederacie, countenance and assi­stance any, whether forreign Prince or other person, and never think themselvs in good condition or safetie, until (if possible) they have sounded the dreinings of the English veins, to their abyss, through their deepest lakes of bloud, and have brought the undestroied part of the English to the lowest ebb of tran­quilitie, which they will endeavour to effect and hasten on, as well by Sea as Land, and have in most esteem all malignant Parties, lending a hand, and enabling them to effect it. But the Lord prevent them.

Something may bee said concerning Edmond Gawre, who de­livered the formerly recited and answered cavilling Queres to M^r Theodore Jennings, who delivered them over to the Lord President of the Council of State, as that it is verie like lie he is an Irishman, and one whom (by credible information) doth or lately did co­vertly & cnnningly shelter among the soldierie, in or about Londor, and is a Jesuitical Papist, for the verie Queres themselvs smel of the breath of a Jesuit, the truth whereof may do well, if found out by inquisition after his present being, parentage and education, which is left to the discretion of those eminent persons in an­thoritie, the Impostor [...]s then present drift being to retard and hinder (if possible) forces and succors from our Partie in Ire­land at that time, when the Land was in greatest danger to bee [...]ent and taken from us.