THE Sad Estate and Condition OF IRELAND, AS, Represented in a Letter from a Worthy Person, who was in Dublin on Friday last, to the Honourable Sir— Together with the DECLARATION OF THE Earl of Tyrconnel, FOR THE Disarming all Protestants, and preventing their Escape out of that Kingdom.  
LONDON, Printed for Richard Baldwin, near the Black-Bull in in the Old-Bailey. 1689.   

CHESTER, March 4. 1689.  
I Have at last (I thank God) tho' with much Hazard and Difficulty, escaped the Ruins of my Country, for Major Arthur Dillon (who is just recovering from a Fit of Sickness) having procured a Licence to be transported, with his Servant; in that disguise, and under the Name of his Man George, I got away. And as I cannot approve of the overhasty Flight of many of our Nation, whose dissertion has perhaps put our Affairs in a much worse Posture there, so, I believe, you will judge, I rather stayed a little too long, by the following sad but true account of that unhappy Island.  
After the Dragoons and other new raised Soldiers had (with Connivance) destroyed the Cattle and plundered several private Persons, in most Placer of the Country; last Sunday was Seven-night, ten thousand of the neighbouring Troops and Companies were ordered privately to draw near the Town, and the Design was managed with more Secrecy and better Conduct than one could expect from their usual Prudence and Politics; for on Monday Morning by break of Day, without any Alarm of Drum or Trumpet, they seized all the Skirts of the City, and planted themselves at the Heads and Turning of every Street: At seven a Clock three select Companies, commanded by Captain Talbot, marched silently towards the College; and some who went before, by an Irish Stratagem (that is by telling a Lie to the Porter) got admission into the Gate; which they presently seized, and drew their Men into the Court. They came prepared to meet with Opposition, having a Basket of Hand-Granadoes, ready charged, and Orders to kill every Man that resisted. The Captain (having called for the Vice-Provost and Fellows) declared, How he was commanded by my Lord Deputy to search strictly for Arms and Ammunition, being assured, That there was a considerable Magazine of both lodged among us. We attended him and his Officers to every Chamber, where they examined all Places, and found but very few Arms: They quartered upon us all that Day and the next, and kept strict Guards upon our Gates and Passages: While this was doing in the College, others were employed in the same Work in all Parts of the Town, and used the Citizens more barbarously than we were; who had the good Fortune to have a civil Officer. About two Hours after the Search for Arms the Dragoons and Horse-Granadiers, went about and broke open all Stables, and seized the Horses, which were driven to several Quarters of the Town, and there divided by Lot among the Officers and Troopers. I lost my two Horses, which were too low, I am sure, for any Service, but nothing would secure them. The Arms that were taken, were lodged in the Parish Churches, with Guards upon them, where they continued for some time; at last when all this hurry was a little over, which was not acted without much violence and pilfering, and some blood, a Declaration was published (the Copy of which I here enclose) which most Protestant's looked upon as a snare, and specious pretence to plunder their Houses, because if upon search hereafter any Arms be found (and how easy is it for Soldiers in such Confusion to drop Arms, and say they found them there) such Houses are exposed to the extravagancy and rapine of the Soldiers. In the Country things were managed with more severity, and some few who, made opposition, were plundered of all, Nay, even those who had my Lord Deputy's Protection, and Licence too keep Arms to defend their Houses, were besieged, and more hardly used on that very score: Among others Sir Arthur Langford, Mr. Barton of Carrickmacross, and Mr. Price (formerly Treasurer) are sad instances, having lost all their Goods, and some of them made Prisoners; Sir Thomas Newcomen too (I fear) is in the same Circumstances, being told, that (though he had a Protection and Licence for Arms for twenty Men) they broke into his House, and have not left him worth a Farthing: I could tell you one hundred melancholy stories of this sort, for every day brought in fresh account; And on the other side, you cannot imagine how much this success has flushed the new Soldiers and my Lord Deputy's Party, they talk with contempt of your English Succours, despise your new Government, laugh at your Divisions, and speak loudly of Invading you within a few months; Indeed (if the loser may may be allowed to speak) most of our Miseries are owing to the daily promises and expectation of Forces from England, for as those hopes encouraged our Friends in the North and Sligo to Associate; and consequently expose the poor remnant of Protestants in Leinster and Connaught to the mercy of their Enemies; So this tedious disappointment will (I fear) make them desperate, and accept of any Conditions from the Government, and lay down their Arms, since they find they are so much neglected and forgotten in England. I forgot to tell you that while all this was doing in Dublin, Soldiers were put on board every Ship, and placed at all the Passages by Rings-End, to prevent any one's escaping; these Guards yet continue, and 'twas dismal to see how many poor people were turned back by the Soldiers after they had been first rifled and barbarously used; Some endeavouring to escape, were shot at and wounded, and lest any Ship should steal away the Sails of most of them were taken to Town; last Thursday Orders were sent to Sheriffs of every County to seize the Real and Personal Estates of all Persons now out of the Kingdom. Yesterday a solemn Procession of the Host was to be made through the principal Street of Dublin, for a blessing upon their Designs; they talked too that a Proclamation would suddenly be issued for Persons to bring in their Plate to be Coined; and that the Forces would this day march towards the North. The King has long been confidently expected, and we have 2 or 3 times had false Alarms of his Landing in Munster, and made Bonfires on that occasion, but on Friday, when I came away, there was no such thing, though my Lord Dungan and Captain Arthur (who Landed in Ireland a week ago) said he was at Sea. What frightened me most away was the assurance I had that a new Test or Oath would be imposed on all persons which no Protestant could take with a safe Conscience.  
I believe I have tired you with this long Melancholy Letter, I have not now time to write to others of my Friends, but I know you will communicate this account, I thank God I am come to a Country, where I can plainly tell all this Story, and once more subscribe my Name, and own myself  
Your most obliged humble Servant, A. A.   

By the Lord Deputy-Genral, & General-Governor of His Majesty's Kingdom of Ireland; A DECLARATION.  
TYRCONNEL,  
WHereas having been certainly informed, That the Prince of Orange intends to invade this His Majesty's Kingdom; Who upon the Landing of his Forces, will endeavour to possess himself of all the Arms, Ammunition and Horses in the Custody of private Persons, as well to strengthen his own Party, as to weaken His Majesty's Interest; and having found that several with Horses and Arms went out of this City to the North of Ireland, and other Places of this Realm, to join with the Rebels there; for the prevention whereof, and to prevent the Anger that may happen in leaving Arms and Horses in the Hands of those that are not of the Army, have thought fit for His Majesty's Service, to seize upon all the Arms and serviceable Horses within the City of Dublin, and the Suburbs thereof; and to that end, have given Orders to several Officers of the Army, with several Parties of Horse, Foot and Dragoons, to seize the said Arms and Horses for His Majesty's Use: And to prevent any Disorder that might be committed by the Soldiers in searching for Arms in private Houses, We have directed the Lord Moyor and several of the Common-Council of the City to give notice to the several Inhabitants of Dublin of Our said Intention. And though We are certainly informed that the Inhabitants of this City have a considerable Quantity of Arms and Ammunition; yet to frustrate Our Intentions, have concealed them, so as very few are produced, to the great prejudice of His Majesty's Affairs; We do therefore strictly charge all Inhabitants, Dwellers, and all other Person or Persons whatsoever within the City of Dublin and the Suburbs thereof, and within the Liberties of St. Thomas Court, and St. Sepulchre, being not of His Majesty's Privy Council, or of the standing Army, forthwith to repair with all their Arms, Ammunition, Swords or Baggonets, to the Church-Door of every Parish where they severally dwell, and to deliver them to the Officers there appointed by Us to receive the same, as they and every of them shall answer the contrary at their Peril: Hereby declaring, That if any Person or Persons whatsoever shall in contempt of these Our Orders, neglect producing their Fire-Arms, Ammunition, Swords, and Baggonets, according to the Directions aforesaid, their Houses and all secret Places therein, shall be searched by the Soldiers with all the Care imaginable; and if upon search made, any Fire-Arms, Ammunition, Swords and Baggonets shall be found therein, We do hereby declare, That such Person and Persons where any such Arms shall be found, shall not only be punished as Contemners of these Our Orders, but must run the Risque of the ill Consequences which may fall upon them by Disorders of the Soldiers; hereby further declaring and assuring, that all Persons who shall comply with these Our Commands, shall be protected in all other their Goods without the least Molestation or Prejudice; excepting out of this Order the Swords of all Persons of Quality and Gentlemen, who may keep the same for their own Wearing.  
Given at His Majesty's Castle of Dublin, the 25th. Day of Febr. in the 5th. Year of His Majesty's Reign, and in the Year of our Lord 1688. W. ELLIS. 
 God save the King.