WHereas heretofore many of the Clergy and Laity did in their actions and proceedings expresse much discon­tents and divisions of minde, grounding the same on the late dif­ference of Opinion happened amongst the Prelats and the Lay­ty, by which the Nation was not so well united, as was neces­sary in this time of great Danger, wherein all, as with one heart and hand ought to oppose the Common Enemy. We the Archbishops, Bishops, and Prelates of this Kingdome met motu proprie, at Clonmacknose 4 Decembris 1649, having re­moved all differences among us (not entring into the merits of diversities of former opinions) thought good for removing of all jealousies from our owne thoughts, hearts and resolutions, and from others, who had relation, or were adherent to the for­mer diversity of opinions, to manifest hereby to all the world that the said divisions, and jealousies grounded thereupon, are now forgotten, and forgiven among us on all sides as aforesaid. And that all and every of us, of the above Archbishops, Bishops, and Prelates are now, by the blessing of God, as one body united. And that we will, as becommeth charity and our pastoral charge stand all of us as one intire body, for the interest and immunities of the Church and of every the Prelats and Bishops thereof, and for the honour, dignity, estate, right, and possession, of all and e­very the said Archbishops, Bishops and other Prelates. And we will as one intire and united body forward by our coun­sailes, actions and devises the advancement of his Majesties Rights, and the good of this Nation in general and in particular occasions, to our power, and that none of us in any occasion whatsoever concerning the Catholicke Religion, or the good of this Kingd. of Ireland, will in any respect single himself, or be, or seem opposite to the rest of us, but will hold firme and intire [Page 2]in one sence as aforesaid; hereby detesting the actions, thoughts and discourses of any that shall renew the least memory of the differences past, or give any ground of future difference among us, And do in the name of Iesus Christ exhort all our flock to the like brotherly affection and union, and to the like detestati­on of all past differences or jealousies as aforesaid, arising hither­to among them. And we desire that this our declaration be prin­ted and published in each Parish by command of the respective Ordinaries. ut videant opera vestra bona & glorificent Patrem ve­strum qui in Caelis est.

WEE the Archbishops, Bishops, and other Ordianries, and Prelats of the Kingdome of Ireland, having met at Clo­nemacnose proprio Motu the fourth day of December in the year of our Lord God 1649. to consider of the best meanes to unite our flocks, for averting Gods wrath fallen on this nation, now blee­ding under the evills, that famine, plague and warre bring af­ter them, for effecting a present union, decreed th' ensuing Acts.

• [Page 3]1 We order and decree as an Act of this Congregation, that all Archbishops, Bishops, and other Ordinaries within their re­spective Diocesses, shall injoyn publick prayers, fasting, Gene­rall Confession, and Receiving, and other works of piety toties quo­ties to withdraw from this Nation Gods anger, and to render them Capable of his mercies.
• 2 We order and decree as an act of this Congregation, that a Declaration issue from us letting the people know how vaine it is for them to expect from the Common Enemy commanded by Cromwel by authority from the Rebells of England, any assu­rance of their Religion, Lives, or Fortunes.
• 3 We Order and decree as an Act of this Congregation, that all Pastors and Preachers be injoyned to preach amity. And for inducing the people thereunto to declare unto them the absolute necessity that is for the same, and as the cheife meanes to preserve the Nation against the extirpation & destruction of their Religion and Fortunes resolved on by the Enemy. And we hereby do mani­fest our detestation against al such divisions between either Provin­ces or Families: or between old English and old Irish, or any the English or Scots adhering to his Majesty. And we decree and or­der that all Ecclesiasticall persons fomenting such dissentions, or unnaturall divisions, be punished by their respective Prelats, and Superiours, Juxta gravitatem excessus, & (si opus fuerit) suspen­dantur beneficiali & Pastores a beneficio & officio ad certum tempus, Religiosi autem a Divinis juxto circumstantias delicti. Leaving the Layty offending in this kind, to be corrected by the Civil Magi­strate, by Imprisonment, Fine, Banishment, or otherwise, as to them shall seem best, for plucking by the root, so odious a crime; the execution whereof we most earnestly recommend to all those having power, and that are concerned therein, as they will an­swer to God for the evills that thereout may insue.
• 4 We Decree and Declare excommunicated, those high way robbers commonly called the Idle Boyes, that take away the goods of honest men or force men to pay them Contribution, and we likewise declare Excommunicated all such as succour or harbour them, or bestow or sell them any victualing, or buy Cattle or any other thing else from them wittingly, Likewise all Ecclesiasticall persons ministring sacraments to such robbers, [Page 4]or Idle boyes; or burying them in holy grave, to be suspended ab officio & beneficio, si quod habent, by their respective superiours juxta gravitatem delicti. This our decree is to oblige within fifteen dayes after the publication thereof in the respective Dio­ceses.

VVE the Archbishops, Bishops, and other Or­dinaries and Prelats of this Kingdome of Ireland, having met at Clonmacnose proprio motu, on the fourth day of December, in the yeare of our Lord God 1649. taking into our consideration among other the affaires then agitated and determinated for the preser­vation of the kingdome, that many of our flock are mislead by a vaine opinion of hopes, that the Com­mander in chiefe of the Rebels Forces, commonly cal­led the Parliamentaries, would afford them good con­ditions, and that relying thereon they suffer utter de­struction of Religion, lives, and fortunes, if not pre­vented. To undeceive them in that their ungrounded [Page 5]expectation, we do hereby declare as a most certaine truth, that the Enemies resolution is, to extirpate the Catholique religion, out of all his Majesties Domi­nions, as by their severall Covenants doth appear, and the practice where-ever their power doth extend, as is manifested by Cromwels Letter of the 19 of Octob. 1649 to the then Governour of Rosse. His words are: For that which you mention concerning liberty of Religion, I meddle not with any mans Conscience, but if by liberty of Conscience, you mean a liberty to exercise the masse, I judge it best to use plaine dealing, and to let you know, where the Parliament of England have power, that will not be allowed of. This ty­rannicall resolution they have put in execution in Wexford, Drogheda, Rosse and elsewhere. And it is noto­riously known, that by Acts of Parliament, called The Acts of Subscription, the Estates of the Inhabitants of this kingdome are sold, so as there remaineth now no more, but to put the purchasers in possession, by the power of Forces drawn out of England. And for the common sort of people, towards whom if they shew any more moderate usage at the present, it is to no o­ther end but for their private advantage, and for the better support of their Army, intending at the close of their conquest (if they can effect the same as God for­bid) to root out the Commons also, and plant this land with Colonies to be brought hither out of Eng­land, as witnesse the number they have already sent hence for the Tobacco Islands, and put enemies in their places.

And in effect this banishment or other destructions of the c [...] mon [Page 6]people, must follow the resolution of extirpating the Ca­tholique Religion, which is not to be effected without the mas­sacring or banishment of the Catholique Inhabitants.

We cannot therefore in our duty to God, and in discharge of the care wee are obliged to have for the preservation of our flocks, but admonish them, not to delude and loose themselves with the vaine expectation of conditions to be had from that mercilesse Enemy. And consequently we beseech the Gentry, and Inhabitants, for Gods glory, and their own safety, to the uttermost of their power, to contribute with patience, to the sup­port of the Warre against that Enemy, in hope that by the bles­sing of God, they may be rescued from the threatned evils, and in time be permitted to serve God in their Native Country, and enjoy their Estates, and fruits of their labours, free from such heavy levies, or any other such taxes as they beare at present: Admonishing also those that are inlisted of the Army, to prose­cute constantly according to each mans charge the trust reposed in them, the opposition of the Common Enemy, in so just a Warre, as is that they have undertaken for their Religion, King, and Country, as they expect the blessing of God to fall on their actions. And that to avoyd Gods heavy judgement, and the indignation of their Native Country, they neither plunder nor oppresse the people, nor suffer any under their charge, to commit any extortion or oppression, so far as shall lye in their power to prevent.

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