THe House of Commons having recei­ved a Message from His Majestie of the 13th of August last, whereby they are required to retract an Order made by them for the borrowing of One hundred thousand pounds of the Ad­venturers Money for IRELAND, supposing that Order very prejudiciall to the affairs of Ireland, and contrary to an Act of Parliament made this present Session; Do in the first place Declare, That these dire­ctions given by His Majestie for the retracting of this Order, is an high breach of Priviledge of Parliament; And that they cannot without a deep sence of sorrow, call to minde how Popish and Prelaticall Counsells did so far prevail with His Majestie, that two Armies were brought within the bowels of this Kingdom, and two Protestant Nations ready to welter in each others blood; That when both those Armies had been a long [Page 7]time defrayed at the charge of the poor Commons of England, and at length by Gods blessing upon the en­deavours of the Parliament quietly disbanded, the same wicked Counsells (prevented of that design) did soon after raise this bloody and barbarous Rebellion in Ire­land: The suppressing whereof (for the better-colour) was recommended to the care of the Parliament, who, out of a fellow-feeling of the unspeakable miseries of their Protestant Brethren there (not suspecting this horrid Plot, now too apparant) did cheerfully under­take that great work, and do really intend and indea­vour to settle the Protestant Religion, and a permanent Peace in that Realm, to the glory of God, and the great honour and profit of His Majestie, and security of His three Kingdoms: But how they have been discouraged, retarded, and diverted in and from this pious and glori­ous work, by those Traiterous Counsells about His Majestie, will appear by many particulars, some whereof they shall upon this just occasion call to re­membrance.

That when the Lords and Commons had upon the first breaking out of the Rebellion, immediately pro­vided & sent over Twenty thousand pounds, & ingaged themselves and the whole Kingdom for the reducing of the Rebels: Yet His Majestie after His return from Scotland to London, was not either pleased by Word or Message to take notice of it, untill after some in the House of Commons had truly observed how forward those mischievous Counsellours were to incite His Majestie against His Protestant Subjects of Scotland, and how slow to recent the proceeding of His Papist Traitors in Ireland.

That although the Rebels had most impudently sti­led themselves, The Queens Army; and profest that the cause of their rising was, to maintain the Kings Prero­gative, and the Queens Religion, against the Puritan Parliament of England. And that thereupon both Houses of Parliament [...]d humbly and earnestly ad­vice His Majestie to wipe away this dangerous scan­dall, by proclaiming them Rebels and Traitors to His Majestie, and the Crown of England, which then would have mated and weakned the Conspirators in the be­ginning; and have incouraged both the Parliament here, and good people there, the more vigorously to have opposed their proceedings: Yet such was the power of those Counsells, that no Proclamation was set forth to that purpose, till almost three Moneths af­ter the breaking out of this Rebellion, and then com­mand given, that but 40 should be printed, nor they published till further directions should be given by His Majestie.

That after both Houses of Parliament had found out a probable way to reduce the Kingdom of Ireland, by the Adventure of private men, without any charge to the Subject in generall, and which they are very con­fident would have brought in a Million of Money (had His Majestie continued in or neer London) those mali­cious Whisperers, that durst not hinder the passing of the Bill, which was so specious in it self, and so gene­rally approved: Yet have by practise, by drawing His Majestie from His Parliament, by keeping Him at this distance, and advising Him to make war upon His peo­ple, so intimidated and discouraged the Adventurers [Page 9]and others that would have adventured, that they have rendred that good Bill in a maner ineffectuall.

That the Parliament and Adventurers had long since designed five thousand Foot, and five hundred Horse for the relief of Munster, to be sent as a Bri­gade, under the command of the Lord Wharton; had made choice and listed all the Commanders, and prepared Money, Arms, and other Provision for that Expedition, and all to be at the charge of the Ad­venturers: And when nothing was wanting but a Commission to the Lord Wharton, to enable him for that service, such was the power of those Counsels, that no Commission could be obtained from His Ma­jesty; by reason whereof Lymrick was wholly lost, & the Province of Munster is now in very great distresse.

That when divers pious and well affected persons had prepared twelve Ships, and six Pinnaces, with a thousand or more Land-forces, at their own charge, by way of Adventure for the service of Ireland, and desired nothing but a Commission from His Majesty to enable them thereunto, that Commission, after twice sending to York for the same, and the Ships lying ready to set Sail for three weeks together, at the charge of neer three hundred pound a day, was likewise denyed; and those Adventurers (rather then to lose their Expedition) were constrained to go by vertue of an Ordinance of both houses of Parliament.

That although the Lords Justices of Ireland have three months since earnestly desired to have two Pieces of Battery sent over, as very necessary for [Page 10]that service, yet such commands are given to the Of­cers of the Tower, that none of His Majesties Ord­nance must be sent to save His Majesties Kingdom.

That although whilst the Earl of Leicester stayed here in the Service of the Parliament, and in pro­viding for his long-expected Voyage into Ireland, a Message was sent to the Parliament from His Maje­sty to hasten him away, and Letters were written to the said Earl from His Majesty, that he should make no stay at York for his dispatch, but that his Instructi­ons should be ready for him against he came: And although it is notoriously known, That the Affairs of Ireland do exceedingly suffer by wanting the per­sonall assistance of a Commander in chief, to give both life and motion to the Army there; yet the said Earl hath been stayed with His Majesty in the North a month and more, and as yet can get no dispatch.

That notwithstanding the bleeding condition of Ireland, yet divers Commanders and Officers in pay, and in actuall employment there against the Rebells, have been called away from that important Service, by the expresse Command of His Majesty, as Charles Floyd Engineer and Quarter-Master Generall of the Army in Ireland, and divers others.

That Captain Green Comptroller of the Artillery, a man in pay, and principally employed and trusted here by the Lord Lievtenant of Ireland, for the providing and ordering the Train of Artillery which was to be sent to Dublin, and who had recei­ved great Sums of money for that purpose, was [Page 11]commanded from that employment and trust, to serve His Majesty in this most unnaturall Warre against His loyall and best-affected people.

That the Parliament having made great provision of clothes for the poor Souldiers in Ireland for their present succour, and sending six hundred suits, part thereof towards Chester the last week, the man that undertook the carriage of them, one William Whitaker by name, was assaulted by His Majesties Cava­liers, then lying about Coventry, who took away these six hundred suits of clothes, and the Waggon and horses of the poor man, although they were told that the six hundred suits of clothes were for the Souldiers in Ireland; and notwithstanding the poor Catryer was five times with the Earl [...] of Northampton, to beg a Release of his Waggon.

That three hundred suits of clothes, with a Chi­rurgions Chest of Medicaments, being likewise sent for Ireland by one Richard Owesi [...]ds, who was employed by the Parliament to carry them to Chester, a troop of His Majesties Cavaliers, under command of one Captain Middleton, [...]me [...] with them upon the Road, and took away the clothes, and Chirurgions Chest, together with the poor Car­ryers horses and Wagon, for His Majesties pretend­ed service here.

That a great number of draught horses prepared by the Parliament for the Artillery and Baggage of the Irish Army, were sent to Chester for that pur­pose; and being there, attending a Passage, are [Page 12]now required by His Majesty, for His said present service in England.

That His Majesties Forces are so Quartered in and about the common Roads to Ireland, that neither Money, Clothes, Victualls, or other Provision, can passe thither by Land with any safety.

That Captain Ketleby the Admirall, and Sir Hen­ry Stradling the Vice-Admirall of the Ships which were directly to lie upon the Coast of Ireland to an­noy the Rebells, and to prevent the bringing to them Ammunition and relief from Forraign Parts, are both called away from that imployment by His Majesties command, and by reason of their depar­ture from the coast of Munster, to which they were designed, the Rebells there have received Powder, Ammunition, and other relief from forreign parts; by which, and many other particulars too long to re­late, it may seem, as if those Barbarous Irish-Rebells are kept on foot and countenanced there, of designe to assist the Northerne Cavaliers, and according to the Earle of Straffords unheard of advice, to have an Army in Ireland with which His Majesty may reduce this Kingdome, especially considering those confi­dent Rebells have presumed, very lately, to send a Petition to His Majesty, intituling themselves His Majesties Catholike Subjects of Ireland, and com­plaining of the Puritane. Parliament of England, and desiring, that since His Majesty comes not thither according to their expectation, that they may come into England to His Majesty; Which Petition wee [Page 13]may justly feare, is but a Prologue to that Tragedie they have designed to act here, in case their coming over be not prevented by the care and vigilancy of the Parliament and good people of England. But lest the House of Commons might seem to excuse the making of this Order by a way of Recrimination, They, for satisfaction to the world, do protest before Almighty God (the searcher of all hearts) That they have as great compassion and sorrow for the present sufferings of their distressed brethren in Ire­land, as if themselves were in their case (into which they are confident those horrid Traytors, those Monsters of men about His Majesty do labour to bring this Kingdom) That they have, and shall ever really endeavour by all means possible (with a due regard to the present estate of this Kingdō) to supply & support them in this their great affliction, notwith­standing the malice and obstructions of all opposers.

That the House of Commons lively apprehend­ing the imminent danger of this Kingdom, and find­ing that whilst they were active here to subdue the Rebells of Ireland, there were Papists, Traytors and Delinquents more active in the North, to con­quer and destroy the Parliament and good people of England, Thought it necessary to provide for the safety of both, by preparing a competent Army for the defence of King and Kingdom. And although multitudes of well-affected persons had cheerfully brought in great store of Plate for that purpose, yet in regard the Plate could not be coyned with such [Page 14]expedition as the Importance of the service did re­quire, and well knowing that One hundred thou­sand pounds might for a short time be borrowed out of the Adventurers Money for Ireland, without any prejudice to the Affairs of that Kingdom, whose subsistence depends upon the well-fare of this, and resolving to make a reall and speedy re-payment of what Money should be so borrowed, did make this Order; which, that it may appear to all the world to be neither mischievous, illegall nor unjust (as His Majesty by the instigation of those malignant whis­perers is pleased to tearm it) the House of Commons thought fit to recite it in haec verba; and in stead of re­tracting the Order, to re-p [...]y the Money with all possible speed.