A DECLARATION SENT TO THE KING of France and Spain, From the Catholics or rebels in IRELAND: with a manifesto of the Covenant or Oath they have made and taken for the defence of the Catholic League against the Protestants in that kingdom.  
Wherein is discovered their treacherous practices under the pretence of Religion, and their bloody Actions full of Cruelty and barbarism.  
Published in Paris, April the 24 1642. And translated out of French by R. C. Gent.  
London, Printed for I. T. 1642.   

News from France.  
The laws newly established, by the▪ Catholics of Ireland now in arms with the form of their new Oath taken for the maintaining of their league.  
IRreland being to this day the Sole Right and a country subject to the government of the King of great Britain where the war now is, which is the principal subject of this history; and the Parliament of England imputing to that war one of the causes of the division with his majesty of Britain, as if some Manifesto had interressed him in it, it will be important not only for the illustration of the Historic but also for the discussing of the truth of that objection, & because they condemn the Irish to live without rule and discipline, and to exercise many cruelties against the Protestants, to understand what laws they are under which they live, and the Articles of their new confederacy.  
To the better understanding whereof, we are to presuppose that Ireland having been sometimes governed by five several Kings (every one of which reigned in one of those five Provinces▪ in the ye●re ●●●●●here arose a division betwixt two of those Kings namely he of Lageny whose royal 〈…〉 e was at doubling, and was called Di●rm●th Omorochon, & he of Connaught who was called Ochonnoch. Donn, the first whereof having called the English to his succour, Richard de Strongbow repaired to him who behaved himself so valiantly that joining with the King of Lageny, he made himself Master of one part of that Island, and became an Introduction to Henry the second, than King of England, who came thither with a great Army, which the other Provinces perceiving, they willingly did submit unto him to be delivered by him from the calamities that did attend their civil war; but as new plantions do seldom agree with the ancient Inhabitants whose lands they came to usurp and to possess, these two Nations had always some difference, which traversed daily the success of the Irish, and hindered them that they could not retire themselves from their obedience to the English, especially at that time when Oneale Earl of Tyrone took arms for the maintaining of the liberty of the Catholics against the Protestants in that great and universal subject of division which the diversity of religion had caused to arise throughout all Christendom, who did encourage and conduct them as discreetly and as valiantly as all other people, and added to the first and great difference which arrose in that country between the natural Irish and those who were called English-Irish, that is to say descended from the English and the Inhabitants of Ireland, another difference to it of Catholics and Protestants, which now is grown so strong as to make them forget their ancient quarrel, and to recombine all those into the same body which are found of the same belief, two Lords only excepted, to wit the Earl of Clenricard, and of Antrim, Catholics both in their profession, and are not yet openly joined to the catholics now in arms, but remain as neutrals, although they impute the cause to the Estates they have in England, the first being Earl of S. Albans, & invested with the honours of three other baronies, the other with the rich dowry of the Duchess of Buckingham his consort. Now there being no society which can subsist without laws, behold those which they have lately published to entertain their mutual correspondence and military discipline with the oath taken by them to the same intent.  
1. It shall not be lawful for any under pain of death to take away the Catholics goods, or to do any damage to them, whither they be Irish, English, or Scots, or of any other Nation whatsoever inhabiting within this realm, those only excepted who shall be declared enemies to the common cause, or shall refuse to take arms for their defence, in which last case it shall not be lawful under the former pain to endamage the said Catholics without express order from the Lords, Directors, or Intendants of justice established in every County, or in the greatest part of them.  
2 If any either of the one or oath sex which to this present hath made profession of the Protestant Religion, shall reconcile himself to the holy Church of Rome, provided that he persevereth in it he shall suffer no damage either in his Body or his goods, howsoever to prevent deceits the Castles and strong places which shall be found to appertain unto them shall remain six months in pleage in the hands of the directors or of those who shall be committed to that charge who shall give them an account of the revenues of the said places.  
3. If the Husband be a Catholic and his wife a Protestant they shall suffer no damage in their goods, movable or immovable, but if the Husband be a Protestant, and his Wife a Catholic, the thirds of the goods shall be taken from the disposing of the Husband, for the lively hood and maintenance of his wife, and from them both a third remaining shall be taken according to the arbitration of the abovesaid directors for the education of their children.  
4. The Tributes, revenues, Rites, and temporal prerogatives of this King of great Britain shall exactly be preserved and maintained, and all subjects and tenants precisely constrained to pay them into the hands of the Farmers and ordinary receivers for his majesty for the use and service of him.  
5. There shall be no distinction between the natural Irish and the ancient English Irish or any other true Catholics whatsoever, but they shall indifferently be considered and advanced to offices according to their deser●s, being faithful to the King and preserving and promoting with all their power the common cause of the foresaid Religion.  
6. It sh●ll not be permitted to any to depart beyond the confines of his own County to go to foreign without order from the directors.  
7. They who shall appropriate to themselves the goods of their kindred of the contrary party shall be constrained to leave them to the administration of the directors, or to give them an account of them or to bring in unto them the greater part; in which first case the Directors shall dispense unto them a fitting & considerable recompense, and the usurpers who shall be convinced to have dealt falsely with them shall be condemned to pay unto the common cause the double of the value of the said goods.  
8. It is forbidden to all on the forfeit of their lives, either under the pretext of war or under any other pretence to invade any house whatsoever it be, no not of those who make open profession of the protestant religion, or are not yet declared open enemies to the cause if they have not a sp●ciall warrant from the Directors, and for the time past, if any one hath so offended, he shall be bound on the first demand to restore the goods of him or them from whom he hath usupt them.  
9 All indifferently and of whatsoever condition they are shall proportionably contribute of the goods which they poss●sse within every County to the necessities of the affairs of the said Counties those sums which the Directors or the greatest part of them shall appoint under the penalty of paying amends by them the said Directors so appointed.  
10. None onthe pain of Death sh●ll ravish or offer violence to any married woman, widow, or Catholic maid or Protestant, or shall go about to take away any habit from the body of any man, maid or woman of whatsoever Religion they are.  
11. As often as any Castle or strong place shall be taken by composition, it shall be a capital crime to break the Articles and condition of the Treaty▪ or to enter into it with a greater number than was accorded too, to hide or take away any of their goods, and to employ them to his particular use, but all shall be left to the free disposition of the Directors to be employed for the subsistence of the soldiers, and that with as much justice as possible can be.  
12. No soldier or any other shall be so bold, as to steal, pillage, burn the fruits or the houses of the Enemies themselves, or to commit any preiudicialle offence without the express commandment of the Directors.  
13. But above all things it is forbidden under the same penalty es to steal from, or make any trespass on the bodies or goods of Tradesmen or merchants, in this Country exercising their Art and commerce, and the directors do take them into their protection and special safeguard so long as they shall not be found guilty of any treason against the common cause, but shall follow their honest exercise.  
14. It is forbidden on the same penalty to all labourers, shepherds or other persons not intolled and being not under the charge of any, and who are no members of any of the Catholics' armies to renounce their condition to carry arms, but they shall be enjoined to stay at home to continue the exercise of their arts and manufactures, if they bear not with them a certificate from some person of quality containing the place from whence they came, & whether they would go.  
15. They shall proceed against the Catholics refusing to assist the common cause, as if they were but Protestants, which nevertheless shall not be done but by the order from the Directors.  
16. All the tenants of the Catholics of whatsoever Religion they are shall be grievously chastized according to the arbitration of the said Directors, in case they shall defer or refuse to pay their rents and annual duties.  
17. Every twelfth day, provided it falls not upon a Sunday or upon a festival day, which if it doth the assignation shall be then remitted to the day following, the Directors shall be bound to assemble themselves in a conv●nient place chosen by them to determine all differences, to appease all commotions and to avoid all confusions which are too ordinary in all new designs.  
18. Lastly, it is fo●bidden under pain of death to carry or cause to be carried any provision or ammunition into places where the enemy doth quarter, or to have any intelligence or commerce either by word or pen with any captain or soldiers of theirs to the prejudice of the cause.   

The form of the Oath of the Irish Catholics now in arms.  
IN the name of the Father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost, I promise; vow & swear, to advance and defend with all my power the holy Catholic Rom●n Faith & never under hope of recompense or for re●enge to carry or wilfully suffer to be carried any thing that may prejudice a Roman Catholic, an Irish or Scottish Catholic or of any Nation whatsoever who freely hath exposed his goods, his liberty and life to preserve that union; And withal I shall repute all wrongs done to any whatsoever, who shall oblige himself by this present Oath as done unto myself and I will procure with all my power that satisfaction shall be given which shall be due to a person so offended. I acknowledge also and with my conscience I do attest that Charles our most Excellent King and Master is the lawful and sovereign Lord of this realm▪ and that I will maintain him, his lawf●ll heirs and successors, the true faith, subjection and obedience, that I will defend and conserve him with all my force, as likewise his lawful successors within the due prerogatives and right of the crown against all forces, Princes, and foreign States, as also against all treachero●s▪ sacralegious, and domestic plots.  
I promise also to observe all the laws and Statutes made for the good of this kingdom, and for the liberty of the Subjects, intimating withal that they shall not be contrary to the Catholic Roman Religion and I will give no occasion as much as in me lies to change any thing without the authority of our Parliament.  
As also to employ myself withal my endeavours to deliver my country from the oppression of evil governors, and to make no distinction betwixt the ancient English, and the true ay rish, or whatsoever nation that shall be comprised with in this union, in which maugre the devil & all the gates of hell I will stand unshaken till the last drop of my blood. I promise also to bring no damage to the said Catholics, neither to attach or impair their patrimony, nor to make any extent upon their lands during he time that the wars shall last, and in case I had a process against them to prorogue and void the same until those troubles be past over.  
I promise in the end the better to embrace the common cause to acquit during the said troubles all particular quarrels, jealousies and other differences which already are or shall arise.  
So God shall help me, and the holy Evangelists, on whom I willingly do take this Oath.  
FINIS.