A LETTER IN ANSWER TO A FRIEND, Upon Notice of a Book Entitled, A Short View of the Late Troubles in England, Wherein in the VIII th'. Chapter the Occasion of the Execrable Irish Rebellion XLI. is egregiously mistaken.  
SIR,  
AS soon as I received Yours of the 26 th'. Instant, I immediately enquired for The short View of the Late Troubles in England, which I found at our Stationers: I fell presently on the Eighth Chapter, which (as you have observed) ought to be Corrected; the Author endeavouring to make the Grand Conspirators in the Long Parliament 41. a Great Occasion of the Irish Insurrection, though not of their Counsel and Contrivance.  
I have nothing to plead for those Conspirators, the Event of their Counsels being Shame and Confusion. But there are those alive (writes an Illustrious Person) that know how far (at first) their Souls abhorred, what afterwards neither Policy or Power could restrain. When (as his Majesty from Breda observes) Through Mistakes and Misunderstandings Many Inconveniencies were produced, which were not intended. However, we are told, That the Parliament is not to be excused from giving great Occasion of Rebellion, besides Suspicion of a Design. Though the Earl of Castlehaven (in his Epistle to his Memoires) which ought however to be reflected on, is so just as to confess," That the Irish Rebellion broke forth in a" time of settled Peace, without the least Occasion given; which comes now to be considered.  
The Method the Author takes I am sorry to find, being, That he makes the Conspiracies and Plots that were charged on those of the Irish Profession in England, to be mere Forgery; whence the Irish took a suspicion, lest they too should be debarred of a Religion derived from their Ancestors 1300 Years.  
What was suspected of the English Romanists, I shall not here insist on; it being Notorious that the late Plot (so uneasy to the King, so desperate to the State) hath been like the Dragon in the Apocalypse, long watching to devour the Protestants, though great Subtlety hath been used, both in the Chair and Pulpit, to decry what hath been foretold thereof: As if all the Complaints against Popery, these Fifty or Sixty years, had been as Properties only to colour the neglect of more weighty Business, and affront the Government, till the Event had almost justified the Augurism.  
But as for the Irish, I must say, if to prevent an Evil (as a great Father of the Jesuits will have it) One may assume Arms, ruin States, invade their Neighbours, and that merely on a Suspicion. I know not who may be secure; otherwise none ever enjoyed with greater Freedom not a Connivance only of their Religion, but a thorough Practice of it at that day, till their Presumption looked Authority in the Face. Having Archbishops, and Bishops for all their Seas, most of whom the Pope had ●ade not long before, and in all likelihood for this Occasion. They had ab●● 〈◊〉 hundred ●hown Convents of several Orders in that Kingdom, and their Prie●s, in all parts of it, freely exercising their Function. So as in reference to their Religion, they had no reason to expect a Storm, much less That That and their Nation should be extirpated: Which from a Rumour raised at an Assize (as 'tis feigned) from Sr. William Parsons and Sr. Adam Loftus, That an Army of 10000 Scots was to arrive in Ireland, to force the Catholics to change their Religion, and that Ireland could never do well without a Rebellion, to the End the Remnant of the Natives might be extirpated, hath begot some Credit, though on so improbable grounds, that 'tis not like that men of such Estates in Ireland, who had been so signally Instrumental to the settlement of that Kingdom in Peace, and had such a Numerous Progeny, should ever hope for a Disturbance there, where the Result must be their certain Ruin: No! This Rumour was hatched, as the Rebellion, First to raise Tumults, and then by unjustifiable and improbable Pretences to ground their assuming Arms thereon. It must be confessed, the Irish were ever zealous asserters of their Religion; it may be (as we are told) 1300 years; but That was not, as the Learned and Incomparable Archbishop Usher affirms, what is now owned, the Ancient Religion of the Irish. However; before the Rebellion broke forth, was there ever any thing declared against the Connivance which had been used in that Kingdom ever since the Reformation, of which we have spoke something before? No! Nothing but their inbred hatred to the English tended to make it a National Quarrel; from whence, if many proved to be eradicated, their own Gild begat the Event.  
And as for the Irish Committee's being constrained (after his Majesty's going for Scotland the 10th. August 41.) to return without any Redress. It's such a Mistake, as there was nothing which this Committee requested, which was not fully granted; His Majesty (as to the Favour this Committee had with the Parliament) expressy declaring Also, That those of the Parliament of Ireland, by whom that Rebellion was hatched, were (by the Members of the Parliament of England) countenanced in their Complaints and Prosecutions. Yea the Lord Keeper in his Speeches in the Banqueting House the 21th of April 40. acquaints the Commons (as an Argument to trust the King if they would supply his late Necessities) That the Irish had all that they did desire granted, and had it with Advantage. So as the Irish (how confident soever the View of the Late Troubles in England will have it) can never be said to be exasperated, That under Colour of suppressing them as Rebels (from which all the Water of the Sea cannot wash them) they might b●●●tterly destroyed or eradicated: Indeed I cannot say, but when the Rebels were in Arms, the least Proceed against them (how just soever) might be Incentives sufficient to blow up the Sparks in others, which wanted not predisposed Fuel for Rebellion. But that which the Parliament did then should encourage the Rebels, is a Suggestion so improbable, that those who read the Order of the Lords and Commons in Parliament in England, concerning Ireland, reprinted at Dublin, the 12th. of Nou. wooing the Rebels to Submission, allowing Rewards to such as should do service to the State, and the States frequent offers to the same purpose, must conclude the Parliament neither gave Occasion of (nor had a Design in) the Irish Rebellion: It's wished that those, who cover that Rebellion with these Fig-Leaves, work not in the same Loom.  
I cannot say but the Scots were willing to have had larger footing in Ireland than they then had: Yet I do not find (by any Attempt they made) That they ever endangered the Shouldering of the Natives out. Nay! So far was the Care of the State remarkable before the Rebellion, lest the Scots (menacing England) should offer any Violence on the North of Ireland, as the State Anno 39 sent an Army down thither purposely to awe the Scots, under a Command that very prudently managed that Affair. And Anno 40. the Earl of Strafford ordered his New-raised Army to keep their Rendezvouz in the North, intending to have landed them near Dunbar Frith in Scotland, the better to divert the Scots from attempting Ireland; Than which there cannot be a greater Proof that the Insolences of the Scots (how maliciously soever enforced) could never be able to have Eradicated the Natives.  
But we are told in the next place, That the Eager Prosecution of the Act for the Confiscation of the Rebels Lands was not without suspicion, That the Members at Westminster urged that Act to provoke the Rebels: Whereas, (as Affairs then stood) no other expedient could then readily be found, or, if there could, could any thing have been more just, than that the English (by the forfeiture of the Irish Estates) might thereby have been somewhat repaired, and for the future secured in their Station? In reference to which (after his Majesty had proposed, Whether it were seasonable to declare Resolutions, before the Events of a War be seen: He gave them thanks for their Care and cheerful Engagement for the Suppression of that Rebellion, upon the speedy effecting whereof the Glory of God in the Protestant Profession, the Safety of the British there, His Honour, and that of the Nation so much depended.  
As for the hindering of his Majesty to go over, the Reasons the Parliament gave were so obvious, as his Majesty acquiesced therein; replying in his Answer to the Parliament on that Subject, That he was glad to find the work of Ireland so easy as they seemed to think it; It not appearing when He sent his Message, and therefore He would stay some time, to see the Event of those great Successes they mentioned, till he had given them a Second Notice.  
And as for the getting of the War into their Own Hands, It's Evident that few would have adventured (at that time of Fears and Jealousies) to have advanced large Sums, had they not had a Gracious Commission from his Majesty; impowering such persons as were recommended to Him by the Parliament," To advise" order, and" dispose of All things concerning the Government and Defence of that Kingdom; In such a way as should be thought most effectual by the Wisdom and Authority of Parliament! It being known that the Irish won Ground, when the Parliament every hour withered in his Affections.  
It's generally reported (and thence some have made a Conclusion) That if the 8000 disbanded Irish had been permitted (as promised) to have been transported for Spain, the Irish might have wanted an Encouragement to have proceeded in their desperate Enterprise. It cannot be denied but that the Irish (who were trained up in that Army) were very serviceable to the Rebels at their first Adventure: And some have thought it an ill Policy in the State There, That the Irish should be instructed in Arms. But certain it was, that the whole 8000 were never designed to be sent abroad; and for those that were hindered, it was more the Artifice of the Romish Members of Parliament in Ireland, who by very many plausible and insinuating Arguments importunately urged their stay, than any Motion Enforced by the English Parliament, more than that they might be made good Husbandmen at home, of which that Kingdom had great need.  
As to the want of a Lord Lieutenant in Ireland, (the Earl of Strafford not being long before taken off) it must be acknowledged, that he was an Eminent Instrument of State, and had as great an Insight into the Temper and Condition of the Irish, as happily any that preceded or may succeed him. Yet it must also be allowed, that the times were of themselves quiet, and the several Humours were not so angrily gathered together as to force a Crisis, so as imperfect Plots were easily broken; whereas if he had lived to the Season, there being at that time Complications both of Encouragement and Connivance, the Rebellion might have outwatched his Providence; Nothing by the Governors, then in place, being attempted like those Incitements which the Conspirators (from his Lordship's Government) avow as the Rise and Growth of all their Complaints and Grievances. Besides, within few days after that the Earl of Strafford was beheaded, the Earl of Leicester (who had been employed in most of the considerable Embassies abroad) was designed for that Government; Being thought by his Knowledge in Martial Affairs, and other his great Abilities, to be abundantly capable to reduce the Irish to due Obedience: And certainly had he gone over, the Civil and Martial Power having been lodged in One hand, there would have been that Expedition in the work, as others, taking measures from their Interest, unfortunately prolonged.  
Other things, as The Insurrection of the Scots, from whence the Irish might feign a Precedent, but justly could make That no Example: And The Parliaments unwillingness to levy men, till the King had disclaimed his Power of Pressing; The Parliaments making use of the Money for the Relief of Ireland, might here be insisted on: But what are these to the Motives or Occasion of that Rebellion fully discussed in the Treaty at Uxbridge? Indeed it may be said that those who in These, or other respects wrought their own Ends, were Obstructers of that War: But nothing appears so plain, as that the unhappy difference betwixt the King and Parliament then, was the chief Obstacle. And for that Particular so much enforced, That Orders were made by the House of Parliament in England, encroaching upon the Privileges of Parliament in Ireland, I must confess I am ignorant; unless as to Sr. George Radcliffs Case, who being a Member of the Commons House of Parliament in Ireland, was sent for thence, After a long Debate, whether it would not be a Breach of Privilege of the Parliament there, to demand by Order of the Commons of England a Member thence? Which was unanimously agreed on to be no Breach of Privilege, for that being impeached of Treason, there was no doubt but he might be sent for Thence: No Privilege of Parliament neither Here nor There being sufficient to Protect him; And accordingly the King writ to his Deputy, that Expedition might be showed in that Business, which effectually was done. And I find Sr. John Vaughan (late Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in England) in Craw's Case versus Ramsey fol. 292. makes it evident," That Ireland is not absolute Sui Juris, declaring amongst other things," That the Parliament There cannot make itself not subject to the Laws, and subordinate to the Parliament of England; which, in that Ireland is a Conquered Nation, may easily be allowed, and not thought much of by any whose Interest is English, or their Hearts Loyal, after such an expense of Treasure, and so much Blood as the English have been prodigal of to subdue that Kingdom.  
To conclude, We are told, That the Northern Parts of Ireland were given up to the Scots, and a small Body of the English were sent to preserve the South. That a considerable Force of the Scots went thither is certain, but what Service they did there more than live upon the Country, is to be enquired. Indeed those who were there before acted well, and 'twas thought that the New Scots were sent thither more for Conveniency (the Passage being short) than for any Confidence reposed in them; His Majesty very materially taking notice, That some of the Articles (by which they came thither) employed too great Trust for Auxiliary Forces, though to prevent greater Delays in the necessary Supply of Ireland, He would not further insist on any thing that would delay them. And as for the English in the South, their Courage and Conduct every way appeared remarkable, the Cessation being made to their Prejudice and the Causes of it (necessity) evidenced lately (by an Excellent Pen) to be disputable, if not fictitious; serving rather to give the Irish more Security, than advance the English Interest, That the Confederates might Reign alone.  
Thus I have run o'er the Eighth Chapter you commended to my view in the Short View of the Late Troubles in England, and that not with so severe a Reflection as it required, It being like to be Favoured, when I may not be heard: But in maintenance of the English Interest in Ireland; the State's Integrity there, and what was holdly attempted by the Irish; you shall ever have the Affection of  
SIR, Your Faithful Humble Servant. The last of April 1681.   

LONDON, Printed for Randall Tailor in Amen-Corner. 1681.