A True and full Relation of the horrible and hellish plot of the Iesuits Popish Priests and other Papists in Ireland, for the Massacring of the two cheife Iustices, and all the Privie Councell and Protestants in that Kingdome.
THe Lord Keep [...]r declared unto the House of Commons, that the Lord Deputy of Ireland had received a Letter from the two Lord Cheife Iustices and Privie Counsell in Ireland, of the discovery of an Ho [...]rible Plot by the Iesuites, Popish Pr [...]sts and other Papist in the Kingdome of Ir [...]land, for the murthering of the two Cheife Iustices and all the Priv [...]e Couns [...]l and Prote [...]tants o [...] [...]re [...]and, as also to se [...]z [...] on all the Ki [...]gs [...]irs, C [...]stles and M [...]g [...]en whats [...]e [...]er an [...] [Page 2] moreover, that they would murther all persons that should oppose them in any of their intentions and desires, which were these.
1. First, to have their Crowne not to bee dependant upon England, nor to be a conquered Nation.
2. Secondly, to have their Irish Lawes established, and such as should bee made hereafter.
3. Thirdly, to have free liberty of the exercise of their Relegion.
The Earle of Leicester declared the same also, adding that hee had the originall of a Proclamation which was made there, and had caused the same to bee coppied out. The Letter beares date the twenty third of October, 1641. declaring that Hugh Ocorett went to Dublin unto the lodging of Hugh Maymubawne his very good friend, and he and his friend going to the lodging of the Lord Marques, understood great store of Noble men and strangers had beene there, but they were all gone abroad, and they could not finde them; wherefore they returned backe againe to his friends lodging, where his friend revealed unto him the whole Plot; but swore unto him he should not stirre till it was put into execution, and therefore his friend commanded his servants to looke narrowly to him: but after a while he fained some excuse of necessity for his going downe, which [Page 3] his friend gave way too, but sent his servants with him: when he was come downe, the servants not being so carefull to watch him as they might have beene, he leaped over a wall in the yard, and made an escape, and went to Sir Iohn Burlacy, and discovered to him the whole Plot, which was this.
That at nine of the Clocke the next morning, the Irish Rebels (amongst whom the Lord Marques was on of the chiefest) intended at one hower and moment of time, to massacre and murder all the English and Protestants in the Kingdome of Ireland, likewise to murder the two Lord chiefe Iustices, and all the privy councell at Dublin, and at the same time, to seaze upon all the Kings Castles, Forts, and Magazens throughout the whole Kingdome of Ireland, as also the Castle of Dublin, and that if they should finde any of the Citie that would not submit to them, then they would shoote downe from the Castle, the tops of the Chimnys to affright them, and if that did not prevaile, they would then batter downe their houses about their cares. Hereupon the Lord chiefe Iustice and the rest of the privy Councell of Ireland, sat all night in consultation, and tooke the best course they could immagine of for the safeguard & security of themselves; together with the Castle and City of Dublin. The next morning they apprehended [Page 4] great store of these Trators and Rebells, together with the Lord Marquise, who was gone from his lodging before day and hid in a Cockloft, and at his lodging they found great store of Chaines, Hammers, and Hutchets without halves. The same day they had notice of severall places and Forts seased upon in Conno and Monno and other places, together with severall Villages plundered by the Rebells; but they wrote word that they did not beleeve that distemper was so generall as was reported to be, and then they made no question but they should with care and paines bring all to a good issue; to that end they had sent for five hundred of the Horse to come and guard them at Dublin, and had likewise raise five hundred English for the sucuring of themselves and the City, and that out of those five hundred they had chosen an hundred to be put into the Castle under the command of Sir Francis Welloughby, who they hoped would give a good accompt to his Majesty of the place fees two Monthes: And in the meane time for feare least there should be some further and worser plots then they knew of, they did desire that the Parliament in England would send them downe their Lord Lieftenant with m [...]n, money and Amunition. They further gave [Page 5] us to understand, that they had taken order for their Army of old Souldiers, to bee in a readines and to mare in opposition to any of the Rebels that should draw to a head.