IT is the nature of Truth that though it be long suppressed and obscured with humane policie, yet being gotten out of the clouds, it shines with clear beams, & doth appear more evedently to every common understanding, so that the guard which his Majesty is pleased to raise in the the North, doth now seem to be an army against Parliament, and shewes what was in the thoughts of His evill Counsellors, before Hull or the Militia or any thing of that nature was in question. And besides there are ma­ny reasons to fortifie opinions, that the Rebellion in Ire­land was a plot deepely laid, they grounding their confi­dence on a true supposition that their designe was favou­red by some chiefe persons of England, and by their bold carriage therein have drawn the King into the suspition of a newtrality or at least a coldnesse in the Protestant Reli­gion, confirmed since by his adheering to the Counsell of the Malignant party, being most of them Papists, for is it not a miracle that a King who might be so strong in the affections of his Subjects, should endeavour to persecute his subjects with the destroying sword, and to make them suffer in his undeserv'd displeasure, by laying close siege un­to diverse Towns and Citties, and battering them with [Page 2]Cannons. How cleare and free from aspersion might hee be if he would embrace the love of his Subjects? how safe from transporting errours, if hee would confide in the knowledge and uprightnesse of his loyall Parliament? while on the contrary, being violently led on by pernici­ous Councellors, his actions doe not redound to the im­provement of his Royall dignity, but only to the encrea­sing of the fears, jealousies, and amazements of this King­dome, who though loath to offend through remerity of judgement, yet, when the appearance in what a strange way of violence matters have been carryed, though the Parliament hath with all humility besought a reconcile­ment, and how the ill-affected party hath embe [...]ed His Majesty in the cruelty of a civill warre, the [...]enesse whereof kill and disanimate the hearts of all true loving Subjects, these considerable reasons have plunged many into distracted opinions, as that the Parliaments destru­ction under a colourable and close pretence, hath bin the intended ayme of many precedent actions, that Hull and the Militia were not the chiefe grounds of distance be­tween the King and Parliament, but that something else of more high consequence did foment and cherish this se­paration, and made the disaffected party withdraw the K. to remote parts, there to ripen designes, which being for­merly premeditated do now break out with apparent vi­olence, it being very difficult to hide affection though shadowed under the fairest pretences. But that which doth beget the greatest and newest admiration, is, that the rebels in Ireland should proceed to such a miraculous boldnesse, that being not contented to have perpetrated such unheard of cruelties against the English, to have made mothers spectators of their own childrens murther, to have shewd their inveterate tyranny in the bloody ma­sacre [Page 3]massacre of the Protestants, making the whole Land to overflow with innocent blood, what blinded presumpti­on should make them dare to become petitioners unto the King in such an audacious manner as they have lately done, for it is most certaine that being led on with a hope that thereafter will be seasonable according to the distra­ctions of the present estate of England, they have adven­tured with a world of impudence to present unto the K. a disgracefull tender of their service, that seeing his Maje­sty is ingaged in a civill war, and by diverse reasons neces­sitated therunto, they would beseech his gracious favour to accept of their good wils in assisting him against his Parli­ament and Subjects, and knowing that their miseries hi­therto endured were not by his Majesty procured nor al­together allowed, they in all willing obedience to vindi­cate the Kings honour, and advance [...]ll his [...]roceedings and intents, will be ready, if his Majesty would give them leave, to transport themselves over into England, so to aid and assist his Majesty, and by strength to carry on all his designs til they arrive at a prosperous end, & that they joyning with the Papists here in England (which are a great and considerable number) do not doubt but to curb the insolence of the Protestants, to plant againe the despi­sed popish Religion, to reunite to all the errours of the Church unto the Catholike unity, to vindicate the Kings supremacy, & stare him in an unlimited arbitr [...]ry govern­ment. Thus much in effect the Rebels of Ireland do inti­mate to the King by way of petition, & whence this bold­nesse should proceed is doubtful to imagine, unlesse some secret familiarity with the Kings inclination gave them this confidence, how can they that are rebels condemned to the Kings mercy, presume to offer him the helpe of their hands in a warlike assistance, who have already by [Page 6]their Rebellion forfeited their heads, this seemes most strange, neither can the wonder be taken off, unlesse it be admitted that they have some ground to hope that their offer should be accepted, but how they should proceed to present this petition to the Kings Majesty is full of myste­ry, and doth discover many close affections and conceale contrivances of policie, and doth imply that they have some reason unto them formerly knowne, which makes the popish cruell Rebels to prostrate their service to the King, in a bold and unexpected manner in the forme of the aforesaid petition.