A DECLARATION OF THE General Convention, OF IRELAND, WITH The late proceed there, Newly brought over by a Gentleman, to the COUNCIL OF STATE IN ENGLAND.  
LONDON; Printed for Henry Crips, in Popes-head- Alley, 1660.   

A DECLARATION OF THE General Convention OF IRELAND.  
WHereas the high extremities of Ireland necessarily requiring it, this General Convention is assembled to consider of and apply remedies to redeem the Nation from those extremities; And whereas it is visible to all the Kingdoms and Nations throughout Christendom, and most lamentably felt by the three Nations of England, Ireland and Scotland, that the horrid violence offered to the authority and dignity of the Parliament of England in December, 1648. did let in all the miseries and calamities in Church and State, which have ever since afflicted and distracted these Nations, and have plunged them in a gulf of sorrows and confusion, under which they have long suffered, and that not without secret designs and great endeavours utterly to extinguish the true reformed Protestant Religion, to eradicate Parliaments, to subvert the fundamental Laws of the Land, to take away the Rights, Liberties, Freedom and Propertyes of the people, and to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government over these Nations.  
And whereas the just consideration of those sad confusion brought upon these Nations, moved the Council of Officers of the Army in Ireland, by their Declaration Dated the sixteenth day of February 1659. to Declare for a Full and Free Parliament in England, wherein they have since had the General concurrence of all the Army in Ireland, This General Convention doth not only approve of the said Declaration of the Council of Officers of the Army, but doth also Declare that this Nation is resolved (by the blessing of God,) to join with the said Council of Officers & Army in Ireland, and with their brethren in England and Scotland, who have joined or shall join, for the accomplishment of the good and public ends therein expressed, and to contribute cheerfully and readily to the charges requisite thereunto by all good and Lawful ways, hoping by the mercy of God to be no less prosperous in this undertaking then the cause is just.  
And whereas (after the said Declaration of the Council of Officers of the Army in Ireland, and since the assembling of this Convention,) there came advertisement of the sitting of the late excluded Members at Westminster, for which this General Convention, doth most humbly and thankfully acknowledge the great and extraordinary Providence of God, & his Mercies therein to these Nations; And doth Declare that this Nation doth Resolve (by the blessing of God) constantly to adhere to the present Parliament, and future Parliaments of England in the preservation of them in Fullness and Freedom.  
And this Convention doth also Declare and assert, that as for several hundreds of years last passed, by the Laws and laudable Custom and constitution of this Narion, Parliaments have been usually held in Ireland, and that in those Parliaments Laws have been Enacted, and Laws repealed, and Subsidies granted, as the public occasions required, So that Right of having Parliaments held in Ireland, is still justly and Lawfully due and belonging to Ireland, and that the Parliament of England never charged Ireland in any Age with any Subsidies, or other public Taxes or Assessments, until after the violence offered to the Parliament of England in December 1648. since which time; they who invaded he Rights of the Parliaments of England, Invaded also the Rights of the Parliament of Ireland by imposing Taxes and Assessments upon Ireland.  
And because some of those who have been instrumental in drawing on and increa●ng the Miseries, Calamities, and Desolations of these Nations, particularly, the late Lt: Gen. Edmond Ludlow, Col. John Jones, Miles Corbet Esq and Col. Matthew Thomlinson, and others of turbulent spirits, have laboured, and do labour to asperse this Nation falsely and scandalously, as if the people of Ireland did by their necessitated proceed intent to divide or separate from England, Therefore this Convention for vindicating this Nation from that fowl and unjust calumny and aspersion, and for satisfaction as well of our brethren in England, as of all the World, doth surther Declare, That the People of Ireland, are so far from designing or intending to divide or separate from England, as that they conclude such a Division or Separation would be absolutely destructive to the Nation, and is that, than which there is nothing that Ireland more abhors, they being Generally bone of their bone, and flesh of their flesh, and therefore that they do Resolve (by the Mercy of God) for ever to adhere to England, as that Nation which hath derived to Ireland such and so great Comforts, Benefits and Advantages, and all in so high a degree, as the welfare and Interests of England and Ireland are so infeparably interwoven as the good or evil of either, must necessarily become common to both.  
And this Convention doth also Declare, That they will use their best endeavour, that a Pious, Learned and Orthodox Preaching Ministry of the Gospel and no other, may be settled throughout Ireland, and that only in a Parochial way, and encouraged and supported by Tithes and other Legal maintenance, and Universities and Schools of Learning countenanced and cherished; And that all Arrears of the Army, as well those due to such as have been Officers or Soldiers of the Army of Ireland before the fifth of June 1649. as those since, may be satisfied; And that all the Estates and Interests of all Adventures, their Heirs and Assign's, who by virtue of the Act of 17. Carol, for satisfaction of Adventurers, have had forfeited Lands assigned to them by Lot, and possessed by them accordingly, may be confirmed to them; and that care be had for the just satisfaction of Adventurers, who have not yet had satisfaction pursuant to the said Act; and that such Officers and Soldiers as are or have been of the army in Ireland, heirs their Executors, administrators and assigns, and have had forfeited Lands ordered or set forth unto them, and possessed by them accordingly, may have the same confirmed to them.  
And this General Convention having discharged their duty herein to God, and to their Country, do in the greatest humility Implore almighty God so to guide and dispose all things as may tend to the Glory of his Name, the advancement of the true Reformed Protestant Religion, and the Unity, Peace and Tranquillity of the three Nations of England, Ireland and Scotland.  
Dated at Dublin the 8. of March 1659. Mat. Barry, Clerk of the General Convention of Ireland.  
The 12. of March, 1659.  
Ordered by the General Convention of Ireland that this Declarabe forthwith Printed and Published.   

An account of the chief Occurrences of Ireland.  

Wednesday, Feb. 22.  
THe womb of this day, no less than others, was pregnant with joyful tidings: nor was there ever more reason for the whole Nation to congratulate one another with Songs of Thanksgiving, there being so sweet a harmony of many prosperous events tuned by the Almighty hand of Providence: so that we are are confident ere long the world will see a good Account of God's merciful dispensations about the ways and and's for which we have lately engaged. Nor despair we of convincing if not satisfying our very enemies, being men many of them, in whose Ignorance, the world may read in legible characters, the hatred of Universities: in their avarice and self-giftedness, the extirpation of Ministers and Ministry: and in a strange complication of ambition and fear, rightly apprehending that Justice never dies, their implacable malice against a Free Parliament.  
The most remarkable chractey of this day was given by Sir Hardress waller's departure, whose pretty affronts by the private Soldiers were highly redeemed by the civility of the superior. Officers: and so he was conveyed away to Athlone.   

A Letter from W. Lord Caulfield to the right Honourable Sir Charles Coot, dated at Charlemount, Feb. 20. 1659.  
May it please your Lordship,  
AT my coming to this place, I immediately acquainted the Officers and Soldiers here with your Lordships and the Armies Proceed and Declaration, whose general concurrence I had both from the Horse and Foot, with great rejoicings and acclamation; and this day the chief Gentlemen of the Country do meet here, from whom I hope your Lordship will receive a speedy Address and congratulation for that most acceptable service your Lordship hath been pleased to enterprise, and which hitherto God hath blessed with success. Before I came down, the Anabaptists party were very high, and spoke big words, being confident of a sudden change for their advantage: but now they are more dejected then ever. I beseech your Lordship think upon settling the Militia, which if it be placed under the charge of faithful men, would by the blessing of God be as considerable a strengthening to your Lordship's hands as the whose Army. If any thing shall occur in these parts worthy of your Lordship's knowledge, I shall not fail in my duty to your Lordship, in the mean time I beseech your Lordship impose your commands upon  
Your Lordship's most humble and most faithful servant, W. CAULFIELD.   

Friday, Feb. 24.  
Another Letter to the right Honourable Sir Charles Coot, etc. From Capt. Whaley, Dated at Nenaugh, Feb. 22. 1659.  
THe sum of it is to declare, how himself and others were always ready to observe his Lordship's commands, and in perfect obedience to his late declaration signed by the Council of Officers at Dublin. the rest may be omitted about his judhement of the Anabaptists, and some wholesome reflections on the tyranny of the Quakers. Thus without determining which is a greater preparative to the common destruction, their first Tyranny, or their fifth Monarchy, he tells his Lordship in haste, that he remains his Lordship's most humble and faithful servant, etc.   

A Letter from the Mayor of Droghedah to Sir Charles Coot.  
Right Honourable;  
IN Answer to your Honour's Letters and Declaration to the Mayor of this Town directed, which came to his hands on Lordsday in the morning last, which on Monday being the Nineteenth instant about Eight of the Clock in the Morning, was Proclaimed in three several places of this Town by beat of Drum; And this day all the Inhabitants of the said Town being Summoned, did Meet, and unanimously did own the same, and the said Declaration is Ordered by the said Assembly to be Registered in the Assembly book of the said Town, as a Record for future Ages of your Honours, and the rest of the Officers Care and Pains therein, and the Town in their Names desire me to return Your Lordship thanks.  
Droghedagh the 21. of February 1659. ED. MARTIN Mayor.   

Monday, Feb. 27.  
THursday much joy was occasioned among us by the Lord Broghils coming to Dublin: he having first been complemented by the Lord President and other persons of quality meeting him on the way. This day the convention met at the Tholsell, but nothing was done but to adjourn the Convention to Friday next ensuing, in expectation of a full confluence of all the Members.   

Wednesday, Feb. 29.  
Among all the days since the first stone laid in Ireland the testimony of God's mercy hath not revealed itself to this Nation, than in the news of this day sent from England. For we shall ever acknowledge. That the birth day of the English liberty in readmitting the excluded Members to sit in Parliament; and the Christening of it in committing the military affairs of the three nations to the valour and fidelity of General Monk, is a blessing, of which we have nothing to complain, but our unworthiness to receive it.  
This evening was ended with abundance of bonfires ringing of bells, acclamations of joy throughout the whole City of London.   

Friday, March 2.  
This day being the second Session of the Convention at Dublin, after the adjournment. First the Members in great solemnity met at Christs-Church, to lay the foundation of their future councils inconsulting with the Oracle. Here M. Cox an eminent Preacher of the City, entertained them with a Sermon full of piety and discretion; neither forgetting the Magistrate in laying his duty before him, nor himself, in running beyond the bounds of the Gospel, to plunge himself over head and ears in matters of State, or another cognizance. He was observed to have many Lessons and two Whips. First for buyers & sellers, turning all mechanical & unordained Preachers out of the Temple: and then, for another sort of men, who more desparately whip the Temple itself out of the Temple, by gethering Churches out of Churches. So that after much winnowing, nothing is, lest the poor Parish but the windy chaff and excrements of Christianity; the good grain being purified keeps close together in a comfortable private combination. Thus the Preacher. He having with great approbation concluded, the honourable Members of the Convention departed to the place of their Meeting, and there fell upon the necessary work of their Generation.  
This day Sir James Barry was much talked of for a noble speech made by him in the Convention, which is elsewhere to be Printed; it being thought worthy to stand alone, that it may receive the admiration of the eye in a single encounter, which is lost in a crowd of other businesses.  
After this Speech of Sir James Barry, many others inflamed with the success of his fortunate eloquence have since played the good Orators in the Convention, where without popularity aiming only at the good of the people, (the natural end of artificial speaking) they all as it were with one spirit, shown the various perfections of their art, in beautifying one common Theme, to wit, That the benefit of Ireland is chief contained in a subordination to the authority of Parliament now sitting in England. This argument is further confirmed by the greatest Topick of the nation, the authority of the Convention; by whose Order a Declaration is already prepared to be made public. Note also, that the late Declaration of Sir Charles Coot and the rest of the Officers of the Army, instead of a laurel, the trivial ensign of out forefather's glory, hath been more remarkably crowned with a full and ample approbation from the House.   

Saturday, March 3.  
Devotion opened the womb of this morning, and the first thing it was delivered of, was Prayer: which duty was performed by Mr. Cox, and afterwards the first thing ordered was, That thanks be given Mr. Cox for his great pains in the Friday Sermon, desiring that he would constantly perform the duty of Prayer in the House every morning: and Ordered that Sir Theo. Jones, Col. Ar. Hill and Dr. Loftus repair unto him with the thanks of the House, and signify their desires that he would print this Sermon.  
Ordered, That the Lord Broghil, Dr. Jones, Sir Paul Davis, Sir William Bury, Dr. Loftus, Major Aston, Mr. Recorder Byss, Mr John Temple, and Sir John Clotworthy or any four or more of them, be & are appointed a committee of this convention to prepare a draught of a Declaration for a day of Humiliation to be kept in the City and Suburbs of Dublin on Friday next being the 9 of this instant March, and in the other parts of the Nation on Friday three week's next, being the 30 of this instant March.  
Ordered, That Mr. Cox and Mr. Charnock be and are desired by this Convention to preach in Christ-Church on the said Humiliation day.  
Ordered, That every Wednesday at two of the clock in the afternoon, the House do resolve into a grand Committee, to consider of the maintenance of Ministers, and the University and Schools.  
Ordered, That the House be resolved into a grand Committee every Thursday at two of the clock in the afternoon, to consider of the matters relating to trade.    

At the General CONVENTION of IRELAND  

Monday, March 5.  
Lord Broghil being returned for the University of Dublin, and County of Waterford, his Lordship made election to serve for the University.  
William Hancock Esq being returned for the County of Westmeath, and Burrough of Athlone, he made election to serve for the County. Sir George Atcheson Knight & Baronet being returned for the County of Ardmagh & Burrough of Ardmagh; he made election to serve for the County.  
Ordered, That new Orders do issue for electing new Members in such places where the Members of the Convention, being doubly returned, have refused to serve for; and that it be intimated under the Clerk's hand, to those places that have not yet returned members to this Convention to make their rerurns with speed.   

Tuesday, March 6.  
Ordered, That the Declaration for the day of Humiliation being read with the Amendments, do pass as the Act of the House, and be forthwith printed and published.  
Ordered, That M. Patrick Adare and M. Bains be and are added to M. Cox, and M. Charnock in carrying on the work of the day appointed for the City of Dublin, by the Declaration of this Convention for days of public Humiliation and Fasting, to be observed throughout Ireland.  
Ordered, That it be recommended to the Committee appointed to consider of the maintenance of Ministers, and the Universities and Schools of Learning, to send for Ministers out of all parts of the Nation to advise with.  
Ordered, That directions issue for a new election for the Burrow of Cavan instead of Richard Aylet Esq who is lately deceased.   

March 8.  
The Committee appointed to consider of the Declaration in the name of the General Convention of Ireland, make report by Sir Paul Davis. Resolved, That the Declaration do pass as the Declaration of the Convention.   

Friday, March 9  
This being the day publicly set apart, and for six hours together in Christ-Church, solemnly spent in the exercise of Humiliation. First, Mr. Cox in a Sermon never to be forgotten, dischargeth his conscience, and finding in the whole Scripture no words more agreeable to his principles against Church-separation, he takes the 19 Verse of Judes' Epistle for his Text, Thus, These be the who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.  
At the naming of the words, presently there fell a kind of spirit of Prophecy upon all the Auditors, supposing by the very bending of his bow in the text, what the mark was, at present, and partly present, at which he principally aimed. And so he proceeded to discover the naked beauty of truth so long concealed. After many judicious and pious Observations about the circumstances of his Text, he fell plainly to work, telling us that in the notorious and general iniquity of separation, the people of God were extremely guilty, and how that the gatherings of Churches out of Churches, under the fantastic notion of non-communion with the unregenerate, had in it, not so much of Serpent's head, it being against all reason, as of his tail, in the obliqne wind of avarice, pride and indiscretion, the counterfeit champions of Devotion. Then he informs, when this sin of Separation took beginning, and putting a disparagement upon its pedigree, he quarter's it with the Levitical coat of Corah, and the rest of his damnable Separatists. But with some supposed differences: they only aiming at equality among their brethren, these at superiority. They devoured by the earth, these in their large possessions, devouring more earth than indeed the moderation of the former Ecclesiastical Laws, allowed to be Canonical.  
After this he descends to his Exhortations of the Magistrate, and the concerned people. The Magistrate to pluck the branches of Separation out of the fire, (a work to be done rather then spoken of.) Then the concerned people, that they endeavour to quench the flames, upon a double account: for first, they are generally branded, besides this, which will be matter of amazement in settled times, these fires are of their own particular kindling, exclusively to the public authority of the Magistrate. And to speak plainly, without a compliment to Church Interest, the fire of martyrdom, this directed to the communion, the other to the division of the Church, is in conscience more capable of election, supposing that Christ and Mammon are two distinct persons.  
When Mr. Cox had run his race in this present occasion, the work of Humiliation was carried on by Mr. Adare in prayer, with much ardency of zeal effectually to God's Glory.  
After him Mr. Charnock ascends, who after the sweet incense of his prayer to God, turned himself upon the Auditors in the oblation of this Text, viz, Isaiah 1.25, 26.  
After many holy observations, the principal part of his devotion, agreeable to the nature of the times, was to affert the necessity of a fixed and standing magistracy, since the honour of public authority is never less triumphant than when it rides in a chariot whose wheels being always turning, the people find nothing but overturnings, in the predominant resolutions of sundry factions; Here he inserted many documents, as to the spiritual interest of Church and State. Then applying himself to the Learned Universities of our Nations, (they being as the fountains of the deep and the windows of Heaven) he seemed to ground on their corruption, an unavoidable danger, that a deluge of error may overwhelm the face of our Nations, especially in these times, where there is more danger threatened by the overflowing of the waters, then care taken in the building of an Ark for the preservation of common interest.  
To this exercise of Humiliation, the sacred Seal was affixed by Mr. Bains in prayer, of whose words the best account that can be given, will manifest itself in the heavenly blessings of our proceed. Only thus is noted of him, that in the Pillar of the wilderness, when nothing but the cloud appears, he follows his conscience. But when the other face is turned, with light he follows reason.  
March 9 Ordered, That Sir John Clotworthy, Dr. Jones, and Col. Hill be and are hereby appointed a Committee to return the thanks of this Convention to M. Cox, M. Charnock, M. Adare and M. Bains, for their pains in carrying on the work of this day in Christchurch, Dublin: and that M. Cox and M. Charnock be desired to print their respective Sermons this day by them delivered before the Convention.  
March 10. Ordered that the Committee appointed to consider of the maintenance for Ministers, Universities and Schools, do meet on Monday in the afternoon.  
FINIS.