A BRIEF and MODEST REPRESENTATION OF THE Present State & Condition OF IRELAND. 1. March: 1688/9.  
Licenced, Febr. 27. 1688/ 9  
IT is manifest, and well known to all the World, that Ireland (which is subordinate to, and part of the Dominions of England) hath for many years been kept in Obedience to the Crown of England, by a constant and great Expense of English Blood and Treasure, the frequent Rebellions of the Irish, and their many Attempts wholly to extirpate the English, necessarily requiring a continual supply of Men and Money from England, to support the British Interest in that Island, which could not be effected without a standing English Army there.  
And it is as plain, that the Irish taking the Advantage of the Reducing the English Army there to too small a number, and of the Civil Discords at that time in England, did on the 23 of October 1641, (without cause or provocation) enter into the most barbarous and bloody Rebellion that ever was known, in hopes to rescue themselves from subjection to the Crown of England.  
And although when that Rebellion was suppressed, the English Government did not inflict National Punishments for those National Crimes, as in justice it might have done, but on the contrary, restored near five Millions of English Acres of Land, to the Irish Papists, which to this day are in their actual possession.  
Nevertheless England did not so far forget its proper Interest of keeping Ireland in subjection, and of protecting and encourageing the English Plantations in that Kingdom, but that (amidst all the Mercies and Favours it dispensed to the Irish Papists) a considerable Protestant Army was still kept on foot, and all Power Civil and Military was put into the Hands of English Protestants; and herein England was so careful, as to incert a Clause, in all the Chief Governors Commissions, (even in the Earl of Tyrconell's) not to dispose the considerable Offices of Trust, except to such as were de Stirpe Anglicana.  
By these Means Ireland grew capable to make some returns to England for its great Concern and Charge, and the Public Revenue which Anno 1641, did not much exceed 6000 l. improved to that Degree, that it was farmed at 240000 l. in the year 1679. and since that time yielded 300000 l. per Annum in some years after, insomuch, that besides several Considerable English Pensions that were paid out of that Revenue, King Charles the Second, and the late King James had 30000 l. per Annum paid to the Privy-Purse for several years together.  
But of late, all those solid and Fundamental Maxims have been subverted, the Conquering English have been put under the power of the Conquered Irish, both the Civil and Military Government of that Kingdom have been put into the Hands of Irish Papists, even of such forfeiting Papists as cannot be restored, but by the expulsion of the English, and whose Interest as well as Inclination, drives them to endeavour the Ruin and Extirpation of all English Protestants; The English Army was Disbanded, and the Militia Disarmed, and all the Power of that Kingdom was under the Administration of such as were Irreconcilable Enemies to England, and the Protestant Religion, (which, it was much to be feared, was the Model designed for another place) by those means the flourishing Protestant Interest was exposed to the Mercy of such Enemies as had given but too many Instances of their Implacable Cruelty. But as if all this was not enough to destroy the Protestants, the Irish have of late been let lose, vast quantities of Arms and Ammunition have been given them out of the Stores, they are every where Arrayed and Listed, so that there are at least 50000 of them at this time in Arms, and under Discipline, in Troops, Companies, and Regiments.  
This Numerous Army could not be supported without Rapine, Freequarter, and all the Exhorbitancies incident to such a Licentious Multitude.  
The Consequences whereof are, that Trade in that Kingdom is extinguished, and that Multitudes of the Miserable English have already been forced to fly to England, others to flock together in Cities, Towns, and Castles, leaving their Cattle and Personal Estate exposed to the Mercy of that Ravenous Army, which have already seized all the Castle in the County of Longford, and above 12000 Head of Black Cattle in the County of Cork, besides infinite Numbers in other parts of the Kingdom.  
In this deplorable Condition are the English Protestants in most parts of Ireland at this day, every Minute expecting to be Massacred, by their Numerous and Inveterate Enemies, who are Garrisoned in the very Towns and Cities the Protestants are fled to for Sanctuary, nor is their danger less of being starved, though they should escape the Sword, and they are without Question beggared and undone, though they should, by the miraculous Providence of God, escape the dangers both of Sword and Famine.  
Nevertheless, this Miserable People, even as they are few in Number, in Comparison of their Adversaries, and destitute of Arms and Ammunition, and other Means of Defence, have not totally disponded, but rather (like true Englishmen and Protestants) have raised their Courage as their Distresses increase, and will not believe but their Brethren in England will send them seasonable Relief.  
And they well hope, that even moderate Assistance from England, if sent before it be too late, would put them in a Capacity to Live and Defend themselves, and the Places they are possessed of, until greater Supplies can be sent, which may enable them to reduce that Nation to a perfect and entire Obedience to the Crown of England, since the Irish, how insolent soever they are at this Conjuncture, are nevertheless the same People they have so often Conquered.  
And though the Province of Ulster (where the british are more Numerous and Strong) is in a far better Condition than the rest of that Kingdom, nevertheless, the Irish not Considering that, nor the Ruin, Desolation and Famine, that will be the Natural Consequence of their Rashness, do daily threaten the Destruction of the Protestants, and many of them have proceeded to that degree of Folly and Insolence, as to Menace, even Invasion of England itself.  
And therefore, I could hearty wish, that that unfortunate Island were buried in the Sea, but since God and Nature have placed it above Water, in a situation that may render it so disadvantageous to England, (lying as it doth in the Line of Trade) I must use my utmost Endeavours (as every good Englishman ought to do) that Ireland may not be a Thorn in our Side, nor prove so fatal to the Trade and safety of England, as it would certainly be, if the Harbours of that Kingdom were in an Enemy's Hands.   

Printed for W. Nott in the Pall Mall, 1688.