By The supreme council OF THE confederate Catholics OF IRELAND  
ALthough we find ourselves much afflicted, for the expressions we are forced to make, of the Lord Nuncio his violent proceedings, against the government of the kingdom, & the just liberties of the Nation; yet being obliged to render an account to God and man, of the trust reposed in us, & seeing his lop: squares his actions by principles, apparently contrary to the interest of this Nation: we must (in opposition to the Course he steers) manifest to the world our dislike of his actions, and express some part of those jealousies and distrusts, which (Upon just grounds) we have entertained of his proceedings, in the ensuing reasons, by which we are induced at present to inhibitt the meeting of a national Synod appointed by his lop: to be held at Galway the fifteenth of August next.  

1. First, it is not unknowen, that the Lord Nuncio hath made such use of a declaration drawn from a few prelates against the Cessation concluded with the Lord Barton of Inchiquin, and of the unjust censures temerariously issued there upon, that he hath introduced a civil ●ar among the Confederatts, & thereby exposed the Catholic Religion and this kingdom to apparent hazard of destruction. And now observing many Prelatts, all the Nobility and men of interest, and all the cities and towns Corporat with in our Quarters, resolved with us to suppress those in arms opposing the government, who are supported by his Countenance, & the aids sent for maintenance of our cause, which (contrary to his holiness pious intentions) are applied to foment and increase dissensions, he (by the assistance of a few seditious persons) calls this national Synod, intending [by that unlimited power which he assumes unto himself] and the terror of his judgements, which are already extended [to the uttermost of severity on the persons of Father George Dillon, and Father Valentine Browne, for no other reason, then that they are not of his opinion, concearning the Cessation; to force an approbation of his most unjust and unexampled proceedings against those adhering to the government, and to anticipate [as much as in him lieth) his Holiness, [to whom we have appealed) his judgement of our Cause.  
2. Secondly, he conuenes it at Galway, a place inconvenient, as being seated in a remote part of the kingdom, unsafe in the way to it, & in a province, which is now made the seat of war: A place where inuectives, against authority, are frequently preached by his allowance, where his lop: by his, and the influence of some seditious cleargymen, upon a part of the ignorant and misled multitude, have already affronted the magistrate, and best men of that town.  
3. T●●●dly, we have just cause to fear some practice for surprisal of the town, at such a time, when some ill affected persons in the neighbourhood of it, have rebelliously taken arms, in opposition to our authority; and are countenaced in it, & (already by seizing & piladging some Castles belonging to men of galway) do express their disaffection to the inhabitants, and their inclinations to the plunder of that town. What opportunity will such a meeting (to which all men are promisscuously invited by offer of safe Conduct, in the summons) afford to such a design in these distracted times, when perhaps the town may be declared to have incurred the Censures, because it submitts to our authority; and the act of plundering it, therefore esteemed meritorious.  
4. fourth, the Lord Nuntio, having made himself a party, and adhering to own o neil, now actually in arms against the authority established by the confederate Catholics, what indifferency can be expected by the Nation, in a Synod wherein he is to praeside?  
5. It is improper a Synod, should be called at such atyme, when no corner of the kingdom is freed from the horrid effects of war, and all places are full of inexpressable distractions, and none exempt from the misery of famine wherein that town, and the adjoining country, suffer in a high measure.  
6. The general Assembly (the hig hest authority among the confederate Catholics) being now conuened, and the body of the kingdom being to meet, the fourth of September next, we hold it necessary they should be first consulted with, in so great an affair.  
7. Wherefore, It is ordered, and (by virtue of their oath of Association) it is straightly charged and enjoined, that no confederate Catholic, either of the clergy or of the laity, of what degree, quaility, or Condition sooner, do repair to the Synod or meeting, summoned by the Lord Nuncio, to be held at galway the fifteenth of August next, or shall remain there (if already gone thither, but shall depart thence immediately, and shall not send his, or their Proxies thither; and shall revoke his or their said proxy (〈◊〉 already sent) upon pain of being put out of the protection of the confederate Catholics, and further proceeded against, as fallen from our union and oath of Association: Whereof the general Commanders, Mayors, magistrates, and other Officers, subject to authority, are to take notice, and proceed accordingly in interrupting and stopping all and every person and persons, going to any such meeting or Synod, at the place or time aforesaid, as they will answer the contrary.   
given at Kilkenny ●astle the 28 day of July 1648, and in the 24. year of the reign of our sovereign Lo: Charles by the grace of ●od King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland. 

Dounboyn,  
Lucas Dillon,  
Richard Blake,  
Richard Bellings,  
Gerald Fenell,  
John Walsh,  
Patrick Bryan,  
Robert Devereux,   GOD SAVE THE KING.   

Printed at Kilkenny in the year of our Lord, 1648.