THE PETITION AND DECLARATION OF Sir PHILOM ONEAL KNIGHT, General of Ireland, to the High Court of Parliament now assembled in England, and the Lords and Nobility Commanders of the Army of the Catholics of Ireland.  
Averred by Tho. Etherington Clerk.  

The Names of the Rebels.  
Oneal,  
Ormund,  
Antrim,  
Mountgarret,  
Neterfield,  
Dillon, etc.   
LONDON.  
Printed for W. Neal, 1641.   

THE PETITION OF THE Rebels of Ireland, to the High Court of Parliament, now assembled in England.  
Declareth,  
TO this Honourable and High Court that there hath been several Petitions formerly delivered to the Lords of the Council in this Kingdom; wherein our grievances and oppressions have been at large ser forth, our great desire expressed by the same for the Relief of our sufferings, and our humble demands for toleration in our Religion and Liberty in the exercise thereof, and the confirmation of our ancient Laws and Privileges, by former Acts of Parliaments Enacted and granted to us, in the Reigns of former Kings and queens of England. But the same Petitions have been rejected, and no favour showed to us, but all security that possible could, in execution of the Laws of latter times made against those of the Roman Catholic Religion; which enforced our taking up Arms for the defence of the same. There hath likewise been humble Remonstrances and Declarations, aswell presented to your Lordships, as published publicly in this Kingdom; but the same hath been also disregarded, and rejected, not so much as obtainiug any answer thereto▪ as may any way give us hopes of the future enjoyment of our Religion, Laws, and Liberties; by which, being brought to despair of any relief of our Grievances, and many Oppressions wherewith we have hitherto been overburthened; Yet notwithstanding our Requests could not be hearkened unto, but in both Kingdoms, and by both Counsels repulsed: that we might clear ourselves of obstinate refusal, to use and lay all lawful and dutiful means, that may be to the King and His Parliaments, for the obtaining our just desires. Even to the uttermost, we are agai●●●●●●ced in the behalf of ourselves, and 〈◊〉 of the Roman Catholic Religion, to present this humble Declaration, and Petition, to your Lordships, and the House of Commons: In which we declare.  
1. That whereas they have since the time of their taking up Arms, been by divers false Papers and Pamphlets, declared to have used inhuman and savage Cruelties, and most bloody Massacres, against the persons of such whom they have overcome in skirmishes, that have opposed and endeavoured to destroy not only our religion, but lives and fortunes, which by the Laws of God, of Reason, and Nature, we are bound to maintain and uphold, by which we have been make infamous to all men, even in foreign nations, for which we are much grieved? We therefore to clear ourselves of this scandal and defamation, say, and protest, that since our taking up arms, we have not used any cruelty to the adverse Party; otherwise then hath happened to fall by the sword in the Battle, of which we have tasted, or if we have taken prisoners, we have preserved and kept them with respect, as in war used; till we have seen the usage of our men taken by the other Party, and even as they have been dealt withal, so have we; which we conceive to be but just and congruent to the Law of Arms: but for dismembering, disjointing, ripping up women with child, and slaying of Infants, we are innocent, concerning the same as to ourselves, and if any of the ruder sort of soldiers have been guilty of the same, when we were acquainted therewith, we severely punished them; as for example; one Drahone for ravishing a woman with child, and after ripping her up, was contented to be hanged in chains for his vile fact; which was accordingly performed, and others have been punished in the like kind.  
2. That by Order from the Parliament all Declarations, Papers, Writings, or Pamphlets, whereby we are called Rebels, and Traitors to our King and Country, may be restrained, and called in; and whereby we are scandalised and disgraced, and maliciously and falsely abused.  
3. That our desires are not to withdraw ourselves from the subjection of our lawful King, or to any Laws by his Majesty and Parliament, made for good Government, that destroys not our Religion, Laws, and Liberties, for the exercising of the same, according to the Ordinances of the Roman Catholic Church, but only to vindicate the same, to the loss of our lives and fortunes.  
4. That we are ready and willing to submit ourselves to His Majesty, upon any lawful, honourable, and reasonable conditions. But no conditions being propounded by his Parliament, that may be any ways safe for us to yield unto, And perceiving the distractions and divisions between the King and His Parliament; whereby they co●●●● together not so well as is desired, we are unresolved what to do in any way of submission, till there be a Concurrence and Agreement between King and People in the mean time, we must be enforced to do what we can to preserve ourselves and Estates▪  
5. And lastly, that the Parliament would be pleased to admit and appoint a meeting between the Lords and Nobility of our Army, and the Lords Commanders on the English Army; whereat Conditions of Truce, and Cessation of Arms between both may be offered and concluded for a certain time, which shall be thought convenient to settle the present and particular divisions between the King and His Parliament: and in the mean time, to consider of Articles and Propositions whereby a final and perpetual pacification may be made and confirmed by the States of both Kingdoms.  
These our desires, and humble Requests, we pray may be taken into the consideration of the High Court of Parliament with all expedition, and our answer of the same returned, by which we may know what to trust to,  
And we shall pray, &c Oneal, Ormund, Antrim. Mountgarret, Neterfield, Delos, etc.  
FINIS.