AS no Nation in the World hath been exerciſed (in ſo ſhort a tract of time) with more prodigious Revolutions then England; ſo is it as admirable to obſerve the manifold aſtoniſhing Providences that are the Concomitants of ſuch marvellous and frequent Alterations in this State and Commonwealth. The Spirit of the living Creature hath moved in this great Wheel: This Buſh hath been often a fire, but hitherto not conſumed: God doth often threaten and ſhake his angry rod over, yet ſeems unwilling to ruine theſe Nations. And albeit the firſt Part is always acted on the Engliſh Stage, the Iriſh and Scotiſh Nations are ſo far influenced thereby, that they become participants more or leſs in her Peace or War, in her proſperity and adverſity. To demonſtrate this truth, We having (as we hope) been ſet on work by the Lord, in the contriving and execution of the late Change in Ireland, by the evil reports we have heard of that ſervice, ſince our repair to this City, finding it neceſſary, have thought it our duty to expoſe to publike view this Narrative of the dealings of God with the Iriſh Nation; to prevent and remove thoſe diſingenuous Miſinformations caſt upon that action, by ſundry diſaffected perſons to the Parliaments cauſe and intereſt, and whoſe malevolent aſpects did eminently contribute to their late Interruption, or to the continuance of it. And waving all former actions, ſhall only reflect upon thoſe that have been immediately previous, or attending, or ſucceeding that great Enterpriſe in Ireland. And this we ſhall do faithfully, and ſuccinctly.

The laying aſide the Single Perſon, was the bringing in the Parliament; which after ſome years diſcontinuance, was in May 1659. reſtored to the exerciſe of their power by the Army in England, and after owned with general acclamations and Addreſſes from all places, and particularly from Ireland. The honor of which univerſal compliance from the Army to the Parliament, was ſnatched away by a ſort of people, whoſe affections to the wages of unrighteouſneſs, hath characterized them in all the three Nations; and did appropriate that to themſelves alone, blaſting as Malignants others really zealous in that great work: They who were beſt affected to the Parliament, and moſt forward in their Addreſſes, being by thoſe men branded as Enemies to the Parliament, under the notion of having once adhered to the Single Perſon, although the owning that power in the Single Perſon, had been in them nothing more then what had been in the generality of the three Nations, and that after (to a general ſatisfaction) obliterated by an Act of Indempnity: And notwithſtanding that having had preferments and advantages above others by the Single Perſon, none had been more forward in adoring that very power in the Single Perſon, then thoſe very men, who after ſo upbraided it as a crime in others. Theſe very men were they, who above others rejoiced in the diſſolving the Parliament by the Protector in the year 1653. And theſe were they who were for the Riſing Sun, and were eminently induſtrious in framing and carrying on Addreſſes to it, from all places; after all which, having with the Adulterous woman wiped their mouths, they ſay, We have done no wickedneſs. And ſtrange it is, even to aſtoniſhment, how they gained belief with that very Parliament, on which they (even they) had ſo trampled: And that notwithſtanding all the evils, then, and after breaking out upon the Nations, flowed from themſelves actually, or occaſionally; yet were they eſteemed Children of peace, nay Sufferers, and all thoſe evils charged upon others. And it is to be admired (theſe things conſidered) by what artifices they ſhould ſo winde themſelves into almoſt a Supremacie of power in Ireland, kept under them in very vaſſalage, whereby in the after-change England it ſelf might have been hazarded. Nor will it be from the purpoſe, to obſerve in part the Method artificially proceeded in, for carrying on their deſtructive deſigns, almoſt unobſerved until the three Nations had been in the evils thereof well-nigh overwhelmed.

Firſt, they laboured the ſecuring to themſelves the Army in Ireland, in the modelling thereof in England, they having the nomination, and preſenting all Commiſſion Officers, who were ſuch as for the moſt part were fixed to their Intereſts, in whatſoever Changes; ſo as of more then forty Field-Officers, there were but a very few but what carried on their deſigns; In the mean while excluding by miſinformations (ſecret and at diſtance) Sir Hardreſs Waller, Sir Charls Coote, Colonel Ingoldsby, Colonel Theophilus Jones, Colonel Flower, Colonel Redman, Major Eyres, Lieutenant Colonel. Bret, Major Read, Major Stanley, and others of known integrity, and all this by falſe ſuggeſtions of Colonel Axtel, Colonel Barrow, Colonel Sankey, Mr. Roberts, Doctor Worſley, Doctor Harding &c. then in London, and moſt of them after haſtening into Ireland, for compleating there what remained of the modelling that Army, as to inferior Officers.

Secondly, they ſingled out, and gained perſons to be entruſted with the Government of the Army and Nation fitted for their turn, ſuch were Lieutenant General Ludlow, Colonel Jones, Mr. Corbet, and Colonel Thomlinſon, by which their Inſtruments (rather then Maſters) they in effect ruled, and thereby fixed in themſelves, and in the hands of their Confidents the principal places of ſtrength in the Nation, victualling each place with three months proviſion, together with the County Militiaes, and even the management alſo of civil things, as to Sheriffs, Juſtices of Peace &c. By all which, 'tis moſt apparent, Ireland was intended for their place of refuge, in their diſtreſs elſewhere, and ſo had it been found to the diſturbance of the three Nations, had Lieutenant General Ludlow in this juncture been admitted (as he hoped) into his former command, he having been ſent for to that end from London, by that party in Ireland, and ſent thence to that purpoſe by expreſs orders from the Lord Fleetwood.

Thirdly, that part of the Army in England under their apoſtatized General, having contrary to all Faith and Allegiance in October laſt, again diſturbed the Parliaments ſitting; it was then the time for that party in Ireland, to put in practice what had been before deſigned; whereunto indeed they ſeemed to be now neceſſitated, for their new created General had ordered by his Letters to the Commander in cheif of the Parliaments forces in Ireland, that ſubſcriptions ſhould be taken throughout the Army, for owning the Lord Fleetwood as General, and Colonel Lambert as Major General &c. though in direct oppoſition to the Parliament, who enacted and declared to the contrary; it being further by ſuch ſubſcriptions intended that the Army in Ireland ſhould be engaged for the Army in England againſt the Parliament.

The Lord Fleetwood had then required as aforeſaid an Election of Agents out of each Regiment, to be ſent into England for aſſiſting with others in framing, propoſeing and impoſing a new Model of Government for the three Nations &c. to the ſubvertion of the fundamental Laws, and the very being of Parliaments, and the Liberties of the good people of theſe Nations in Parliament.

Herein is Lieutenant General Ludlow active in London, by his Letters to his ſubſtitute Colonel Jones, and to others in Ireland; herein are Colonel Jones, Mr. Corbet, and Colonel Thomlinſon, concurring and acting vigorouſly; therein falſifying their Faith to the Parliament, contrary to the high truſt as Commiſſioners of Parliament repoſed in them, which their former Title of Commiſſioners of Parliament, they caſt off, aſſuming another of Commiſſioners of the Commonwealth, that their Guilt be not read in their Forehead, and in the Front of publick Declarations &c. And by all of them orders tranſmitted into the ſeveral Quarters for haſting the ſubſcriptions and Elections mentioned.

For prevention whereof, or giving at leaſt ſome ſtop to ſuch their pernicious actings againſt the Parliament, and for preſerving (if it might be) the Parliaments intereſt in Ireland, about October laſt it was from the Lord on the Spirits of his Servants (ſome diſſenting Officers about Dublin) to conſider of ſome probable meanes to that purpoſe.

But the Danger being evident that there ſhould be meetings of ſuch who declared diſſatisfactions and diſſented from ſuch acting, and proteſted publickly againſt ſuch deſignes againſt the Parliament; therefore the ſaid diſſenting Officers for giving ſome colour to their waies, with leſs jealouſie, pretended the carrying on a Petition to the Commander in chief, Colonel Jones, for a generall Councel of Officers to meet at Dublin to conſider of thoſe great and weighty affairs, wherein three Nations were ſo highly concerned; by which general Councel (if meeting) it was hoped that a check might be given to the other party, and that the hands of the diſſenters might be ſtrengthned for the Parliament; or if ſuch a general meeting of Officers on ſuch an occaſion ſhould have bin denyed by the Commander in Chief, it would probably returne on him and his wayes with greater diſadvantage; and in the mean time it was conceived that the private meetings of the ſaid Diſſenting Officers, might be with leſs ſuſpition, ſuppoſed to be in order to the matter only of their Petition mentioned: And for giving yet more countenance to this their deſigne, it was by them concluded, that Sir Hardreſs Waller the Major General, ſhould be moved to appeare in the head of them, before the Commander in chief and the Commiſſioners of Parliament, for ſetting forward that deſire for a general Councel of Officers; which he freely promiſed to do, And for gaining to themſelves a party abroad under the ſame covert of a Petition for a general Councel of Officers, the ſaid Diſſenting Officers ſent out into the ſeveral Quarters a Petition to be ſubſcribed to that purpoſe▪ whereby they gained as to ſo much with their friends, with whom they elſe where Correſponded; they alſo thereby hindred in a great meaſure thoſe Subſcriptions p • omoted by the Lord Fleetwood, and his Inſtruments in Ireland.

Thereupon Colonel Iones the deputed Commander in chief, well foreſeeing what might be the Iſſue and Sequel of ſuch Actings; and underſtanding the Inconvenienc •• s of not Aſſenting to that Councel of Officers deſired, (which had bin on the firſt motion rejected); taking new Co •• cels, he reſolveth on a Complying with that therein propoſed by the Diſſenting Officers before the Petition was delivered; Yet to make it inſignificant to their ends, he had fixed for that purpoſe on the meeting of thoſe new elected Officers appointed for the meeting in England, who within few dayes were expected in Dublin, and were ſuppoſed perſons made for that purpoſe, and that by this meanes alſo his ſo yielding to the Petitioners, might prove an expedient for ſtopping their further proſecution of that their Petition in other places, that hereby the ſaid Diſſenting Officers might be rendered ſecure, until they ſhould be ſurpriſed and laid up ſafe; which he intended at the coming in of his Juncto of Officers, whom he expected; for he the ſaid Colonel Jones had to that end adviſed with General Fleetwood, who by his Letters intercepted, ordered the ſecuring them the Diſſenting Officers, and the diſarming all others in the Nation not of their party.

The ſaid Diſſenting Officers being now awakened and ſenſible of the danger to themſelves, but principally of that threatned to the three Nations, and the Parliaments Intereſt therein, they thereupon found it neceſſary to put ſpeedily in Execution, although but with few hands, what had bin before reſolved; in order whereunto on the 12. of December laſt they fixed their Reſolution, for acting the very next day to the ſeizing, and ſecuring the Caſtle of Dublin; and of thoſe the Parliaments Commiſſioners ſo Perfidiouſly acting againſt their truſt.

Some difficulties interpoſed in the manner, particularly that of five Companies of Foot Quartered in Dublin, four being of Colonel Lawrences Regiment, and three Troops of Horſe brought in by Collonel Jones for the ſecurity of the Caſtle and thoſe of his party, not any one of them had bin hitherto prepared for the work. The perſons alſo managing that work to Execution were but few (viz) Colonel Bridges, Major Edward Warren, Leivtenant Colonel John Warren, Captain Abel Warren, Leivtenant John Thompſon, Colonel Theophilus Jones, Captain Jeonar, Captain Daniel Liſle, Colonel Warden, and Captain Bond, by whoſe Foot Company then upon an outgard the Caſtle was ſurpriſed; notwithſtanding which, and many other difficulties, the Perſons mentioned committing the Parliaments Cauſe in their hands to the Lord, and willingly offering up themſelves, and all deare unto them for a reaſonable Sacrifice to the publick, according to former reſolutions on the 13 December about five of the Clock in the afternoon they firſt Surpriſed the Caſtle, wherein but the very day before was laid up 500. Barrels of Powder newly landed, beſides the former ſtore, and intended for other ends; they afterward ſecured Colonel Jones, Cheif Baron Corbet, and Colonel Thomlinſon, the Commiſſioners before mentioned; and having declared for the Parliament throughout the City of Dublin, they were met with general Acclamations from the higheſt to the loweſt, both Army and others, expreſſing all joy, except ſuch as were of the Adverſe party; and all this through mercy without one drop of Blood, or ſo much as Tumult. This whole work was begun and perfected within leſs then two houres, and within leſs then ſo many weeks, in like manner almoſt throughout the whole Nation; And the very ſame night Colonel Edmond Temple, received Orders for imbodying of five Troops of Horſe, with which he afterward reduced Collonel Pritty, then ſtanding out againſt the Parliament in Catherlo Castle.

It now behoving thoſe thus ingaged to put themſelves into that order whereby the work in their hands might be carryed on (by the bleſſing of the Lord) the more Proſperouſly, and conſidering the countenance they might have in that action by the Major General, if he would own them in it, they thereupon deſired his heading them, and that by his hand Orders might paſs upon all occaſions, he being the viſible Superior Officer then in Ireland, whereunto (they, and that undertaking appearing for the Parliament) he aſſented: he having been ſome weeks before prepared by ſome general diſcourſe concerning it.

After upon the Fourteenth of December, was publiſhed the Declaration for the Parliament, which being tranſmitted by the Poſt into all parts, with the particulars of the ſucceſs, which the Lord was pleaſed to give unto them his poor weak Inſtruments in his Service, they had thereupon daily returnes of joyfull approbations, and the owning of their work and profeſſion for the Parliament againſt all oppoſition; and herein is to be remembred to the honor of the City of Dublin, the readineſs and alacrity manifeſted in this work by the Mayor and Citizens, generally, both in the firſt taking of the buſineſs, the very firſt night, and afterwards drawing the City Militia into the field, which conſiſted of about 2000 foot, beſide horſe, for the ſervice of the Parliament, and ſtill holding on with that faithfulneſs and zeal which can be expected from them.

Alſo Sir Charles Coot Lord Preſident of Connaught, having caſt off the Subſcriptions expected from him and his Forces in that Province, his Lordſhip with his party declared for the Parliament, and ſecured the Town of Galway, and thoſe therein, refuſing to joyn with him in owning the Parliament; his Lordſhip did after reduce Colonel Brafield, rendezvouzing and holding out the Caſtle of Athlone againſt the Parliament, and in a ſhort time, ſetled the whole Province, and ſignified by Letters to the Officers in Dublin, that he was ready with his forces, for what ſhould be further for the Parliaments ſervice.

The like Affairs of the Province of Munſter, was carried on by the management of the Lord Broghill, who with great care and dilligence, ſecured Youghall, Bandon, Kinſale and other places conſiderable: The City of Cork alſo declared for the Parliament, by meanes of the Citizens and private Soldiers, notwithſtanding that Colonel Phayer the Governor there, with Colonel Wallis, and others of that party, had laboured much to the contrary, was ſecured by Major Wilſon, whoſe behaviour was eminent: Alſo Limerick and Waterford by Lieutenant Colonel Leigh, who appeared faithful to the Parliament in that great ſtreight.

As to Vlſter, Londonderry being ſecured by Colonel Gorges, there was little remaining in that Province of conſiderable oppoſition; all there being ſoon quieted, eſpecially on the deceaſe of Colonel Cooper, Governor of that Province, who died in his Chair about the 21. of December.

Matters being thus, through the Bleſſing of God, in ſome goodmeaſure ordered at home, the Councel of Officers in Dublin, now ſettle themſelves on diſpatches abroad, as for giving a right underſtanding of themſelves and their Proceedings, ſo for ſtrengthning as they hoped, the hands of their Friends elſewhere, cooperating in the ſame cauſe with them, and accordingly they did by ſeveral Expreſſes, give a particular accompt to General Monck in Scotland; alſo to the Parliaments Commiſſioners of the Army in Portſmouth, and to the Lord Mayor of London.

And for the better carrying on the work, the Lord Broghill, and the Lord Preſident of Connaught, were deſired by the Council of Officers to repair to Dublin, on whoſe Judgment and prudent management of affairs they much depended; by whoſe coming were their Councels and actings more enlivened, and all others better ſatisfied. And for ſecuring the Army to the Parliaments intereſts, and that the endeavors of thoſe attempting the contrary might be prevented, It was for that end concluded as abſolutely neceſſary, that the Army in Ireland ſhould be forthwith ſetled, by removing thoſe from Commands who were diſaffected to the Parliament, and placing others in their room, of whoſe good affections to the Parliament they might be confident. Therefore did the Council of Officers ſet themſelves upon a temporary modeling of the Army, until the Parliaments pleaſure ſhould be therein known; hoping that their end in it (purely the Service of the Parliament) would be accepted: In which their ſaid Model were laid aſide only ſuch as oppoſed the Parliament in the Revolutions in England, or here, or of whoſe not acting againſt the Parliament they could not be ſatisfied: And ſuch only as ſhewed themſelves friends to the Parliament, were imployed.

On the 31. of December, came into the Bay of Dublin Lieutenant-General Ludlow, who from aboard the Oxford-Frigat ſignified his being there, and expected admittance to the head of the Army as Commander in chief, which he had by Commiſſion from the Parliament before its interruption. Whereunto, for the reaſons before mentioned, as alſo for many other cauſes, all expreſſed in a Charge already exhibited againſt the ſaid Lieutenant-General Ludlow and others to the Parliament; It was therefore reſolved, That it was not conſiſtent with the ſafety of the Parliaments Intereſt in Ireland, that Lieutenant-General Ludlow ſhould be received into the Head of the Army, until the Parliaments pleaſure, on hearing of what ſhould be objected to him, ſhould be ſignified concerning him.

And in regard of his ſo hovering in the Bay of Dublin, whereby he was at hand in order to diſtractions in the City, which was threatned and expected by his party there, who might be conſiderable if headed by thoſe Officers then priſoners at Dublin, ſecured for their oppoſition to the Parliament, and conceived dangerous by reaſon of their intereſts and diſaffection to the Parliament; therefore did the Council of Officers conceive it neceſſary, that the priſoners then in the City ſhould be diſperſed and diſpoſed into places more remote, particularly Colonel John Jones was thereupon removed to the Caſtle of Athlone, and others elſwhere.

And whereas Miles Corbet Eſquire, and Colonel Thomlinſon, had in their reſtraint the favor of a confinement to their houſes, until the Parliaments pleaſure concerning them ſhould be known, reſpect being had to the Charge to be preſented againſt them alſo; and that he the ſaid Mr. Corbet had fled to Lieutenant-General Ludlow then in the Bay of Dublin; thereupon was Colonel Thomlinſon removed, and for better ſecurity of his perſon, reſtrained in the Caſtle of Dublin.

And having thus far proceeded in ſetling and ſecuring the Parliaments Intereſt and Authority in Ireland; It was alſo judged expedient by the Major-General and Council of Officers there, during the Parliaments interruption, to take ſome ſpeedy order (in regard of the preſſing neceſſity of the Army, then ſixteen moneths behind of their pay) for the raiſing of money for the preſent maintenance of them. The Council of Officers did adviſe, That two perſons of each County, and the like number of each City and chief Town, ſhould be elected by the Proteſtant inhabitants of the ſaid places, and the Electors and Elected to be ſuch perſons as always manifeſted their good affections to the Parliament, and not then in Arms; who were to meet in Dublin ſo to raiſe money by way of Loan, for the temporary ſupply of the Forces, that ſo they might not periſh, nor be expoſed to the many temptations that ſuch a condition may leave them open unto, and alſo to prevent the Free-quartering of the Army upon the Inhabitants of the Country, a grievance not long to be borne. But within a few days after, they having received information of the Parliaments ſitting, which came to them ſome days before the meeting of that Convention; the Council of Officers ſent forth their Diſpatches into all Counties and places to ſtop ſuch meeting, which was accordingly done. And this is the true accompt of the proceedings in this affair, which hath made ſo great a noiſe in this City, as if they in Ireland were ſetting up for themſelves, and calling a Parliament to govern and manage the affairs of that Nation, in oppoſition to the Parliament of England.

And for giving the Parliament a due repreſentation of the State of theſe Affairs in Ireland, the Council of Officers there have choſen, and ordered us to be their Commiſſioners to attend the Parliament for that purpoſe; and to indeavour to rid that Army from the inſulting Pride and Bondage, under which they had groaned by an Anabaptiſtical, and Notionall Party, from whom proceeded all thoſe confuſions, and revolutions this Parliament and Commonwealth have been exerciſed, which for ſome years paſt, whoſe caſting out as to their over-ruling Power in Ireland, (if owned by the Parliament) may be (it is hoped) to the other Nations, a deliverance alſo from the like future evils by that kinde of men.