THE Sad and Lamentable Condition OF THE PROTESTANTS IN IRELAND.  
BEING An Account of the Barbarous Proceedings of the Natives against the ENGLISH.  
AS ALSO Of the Facility of rescuing those Distressed PROTESTANTS out of the Hands of the Bloody PAPISTS, provided there be a speedy Supply from ENGLAND.  
LONDON, Printed, and are to be Sold by Randal tailor, near Stationers-Hall, 1689.   

THE Sad and lamentable Condition OF THE PROTESTANTS IN IRELAND. With an Account of the Barbarous Proceedings of the Natives against the ENGLISH, &c.  
THAT the Protestants in Ireland are under very great and lamentable Calamities, there is nothing more certain, from the daily repeated, most sad and miserable Relations of their Condition. It is a sad thing for them that are upon the spot, to see Tyrconnil and his Adherents so Triumphantly carrying all things before him, disarming whom he pleases, imprisoning whom he pleases, and preparing all things among the Protestants for an absolute Irresistance against Extirpation and Massacre; which is a sufficient Testimony of the Barbarity and Inhumanity of those Priests and Jesuits, who animate and encourage them to such Acts of Cruelty and Irreligion. But when we consider that Ireland has been, as it were, set up for some years against England, and what Levies and Reinforcements have been sent for thence, in all probability to assist the bringing of Popery and Slavery into England, it is not to be wondered at, that there should be so much Virulency among the Irish against the English. It is not the first time that the Question has been solemnly debated among the Irish, What Course should be taken with the English, and all others that were found in the whole Kingdom to be Protestants: And by their subsequent Practices it appears, That no less than another general Massacre is intended. For no Man can be ignorant of the Contrivances of the Popish Clergy in Ireland, ever since the Conquest of that Kingdom, to shake off the English Government; nor of the horrid and barbarous Cruelties they have practised thereunto. For their Ignorance produces so blind a Superstition to the Popish Religion, that they will most willingly venture their Lives, and whatever their many Rebellions have left them, to farther any thing which they are made believe, tends to the Honour of Holy Church. On the other side, their Malice to the English, who possess good part of their Estates, is so great, that they would be content to be in a worse Condition to a Foreigner, so that they might but gratify their Revenge so far, as to have the English equal Sufferers with them.  
And yet it is as Evident that the Romish Clergy of Ireland, have had, both publicly and privately, the Enjoyment and exercise of their Religion, according to the Church of Rome, more freely since the Reign of CHARLES the First, than in several Years before, by the extraordinary Indulgence of the late Governours. They have had their Titular Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, Vicar General, Provincial Consistories, Deans, Abbots, Priors, &c. who all lived Free, though somewhat covertly among them, and exercised their Jurisdictions over the People without control. They had also their Priests, Jesuits and Friars of late years multiplied into swarms, and in great numbers returned out of Italy, France and Spain, and other Foreign Parts, where the Children of the Natives, devoted that way, were usually sent to receive their Education, much to the Damage and Disadvantage of the Protestants, and no less of the Papists themselves, would they but consider what Miseries they have endured, and may again be precipitated into, by the means of the ignorant Popish Priests, who know no other Religion but the Enjoyment of their Glebes and Monasteries.  
But that which causes the greatest Admiration, is, That the Noblemen, Private Gentlemen, and others, that are Roman catholics, and enjoy great part of their Estates, if not all, should be so infatuated and misled by such a parcel of bloody and designing Hypocrites, to act contrary, not only to their Allegiance, but their Honour and their Interest to boot; forgetting the Calamities, by their Means and Industry, brought upon the Kingdom of Ireland, to the utter ruin and Destruction of many Thousands of the English, but of many of their own Nation and Relations.  
To bring about these barbarous designs, to extirpate the English Nation, the Irish had great expectations from the French, who were to have Landed by Instructions, either in the County of Kerry or the Province of Munster, and to have had Limerick, and all the Forts and Castles of these parts of Ireland put into their hands; and now having the same expectations from the French to be Headed by the late King, their great Friend and Patron, is that which carries them to those extraordinary heighths of insolences wherein they now reign. 'Tis certain, that the disorders, which the bad Counsels given to that Person, brought England into that disorder and confusion, which render it uncapable to give that speedy aid which the present condition of Ireland requires; but they consider not in the mean time how often the French have deceived them, and what little encouragement they have to give their assistance, in a Country where their friends must bring all their subsistence along with them, all their Arms and Ammunition, and without continual supplies, will find but could comfort in the depopulated Bogs of Ireland.  
But such is the violence of the Popish Priests and Jesuits in Ireland, that their fury and bloodthirstiness cares not how it precipitates to the worst of Actions. How sad a thing it must be for the Protestants to be such sufferers, and how cruel for the Papists with such unrelenting Hearts to behold their miseries, but more especially to be actors in them? What a sad face of a City must that be, where Guards are set in every street, at every door of the several Houses, and then for the Protestants to be required to bring forth their Arms upon pain of lying at the mercy of the Souldiers, both Lives and Goods? If this be not the fore-runner of a Massacre, what can be thought other?  
To justify this, Tyrconnil Declares, That being certainly informed of the P. of Orange's intentions to Invade Ireland, and that upon Landing, he will endeavour to possess himself of all the Arms, Ammunition and Horses in the custody of private Persons, as well to strengthen his own Party, as to weaken his Masters Interest, he thought fit to seize upon all the Arms and serviceable Horses in the City and Suburbs of Dublin, and commanded all the Inhabitants to repair with all their Arms, of what nature soever, to the Parish Churches, and there deliver them to appointed Receivers: Declaring farther withal, That if any such Arms should be found, upon search, in the Houses of any Protestants, after the publishing of his Orders, the Persons where such Arms should be found, must run the risk of the ill consequences, by disorders from the Souldiers.  
And thus the game, under specious pretences, is about to begin; for, it is but conveying a Pistol or a Baggonet into the House of any eminent Protestant; which so soon as it shall be found, upon a pretended search, then the Souldiers and the Rabble shall be all let loose together to cut the Protestants Throats.  
Other Ravages of the same nature are daily committed in the Country, and managed with more severity, and they that make opposition are plundered of all. Even they who had the Lord Deputy's Protection and Licence to keep Arms to defend their Houses, were besieged and more hardly used on that very score; in so much, that Sir Arthur Longford, Mr. Barton of Carrickna-Cross, and Mr. Price, lost all their Goods, and some of them were made Prisoners. Sir Thomas Newcomen too is said to be in the same Condition; it being certainly reported, That though he had a Protection and Licence for Arms for Twenty Men, the Irish Papists broken into his House, and did not leave the worth of a Groat.  
In a word, the sad and lamentable Condition of the Protestants in Ireland, by the Violences of the Irish, exceeds all the Relation that can be given of it. For these barbarous Villains not only quarter upon the poor Protestants, but rob and spoil them of their Money, Goods and Cattle. On the 25th. of the last Month, about Midnight, a great number of Irish Horse and Foot entred into Cork; they disarmed all the Protestants in the Town, and the next day seized all their Horses, and broken into the Houses of several of the principal Citizens, from whence they tookgreat sums of Money, committing the same Villainies in all the Villages of that Neighbourhood. Neither fare the Protestants better in Munster, Lemster and Connaught; for there they have not only dizseized them of their Inheritances, but also have plundered them of their Arms, Goods and Horses; and not content with depriving them of all their subsistence, have put many of the chiefest of them in Prison. In Dublin the Protestants are all disarmed, their Horses taken from them, and many of them plundered and cruelly treated by the Souldiers, who have also seized on both the Cathedrals and the College; stoping all the Ships, and the poor distressed Passengers that offer to make their escape out of the hands of these bloody Monsters.  
But we need no other instance of the Barbarity and Treachery of the Irish, than the ill Treatment of the worthy Captain boil by Lieutenant-General Macarty; who, on the Twenty sixth of the last Month, with a considerable Body of Horse, and two Field Pieces, marched towards Castlemartir, the House of the said Captain boil, who had with him about One hundred and forty Gentlemen and Servants to defend themselves against the Violences of the Irish. But being persuaded to make no Resistance, upon the Promise of the Lieutenant General, That neither their Persons or Estates should be molested; yet notwithstanding this, without having any regard thereto, Macarty caused the House to be plundered, and Captain boil, with many of the Gentlemen to be carried Prisoners to cork.  
On the other side, the Proceedings of Tyrconnil cannot choose but flush the new-raised Souldiers and all the Popish Party, who finding the Forces and succours promised to the Protestants in England so long delayed, pamper themselves up that a day of account will never come, and therefore speak with contempt of the Irish Succours, despise the alteration of Government in England, and talk loudly of Invading even England itself within a few Months. More than this, they were so bold, as upon a report of the late King's being Landed from France at Kingsale in Munster, the Papists took the Alarm in the North of Ireland, and Three Regiments of Horse of Tyrconnil's Crew, quartering in and about Belturbet, in the County of Cavan, were resolved to execute their fury upon the Protestants thereabouts. To which purpose, Orders were presently given to the said Three Regiments to March, under the Command of mayor Reily, a notorious Papist, though a cowardly fellow, toward Castle-sanderson, which is about three Miles distance from the said Town; where Captain Sanderson, and Captain Williams, both good Protestants, and Men of undaunted Courage and Resolution, together with most of the Protestants in that County, and as many Forces as they could raise, were retired for safety. Who having Intelligence of the design, drew up their Men upon a Plain before the Castle, and formed them into Troops and Companies, to the number of Four Hundred Horse, and Eight hundred Foot, the most of them pretty well Armed, declaring they would die upon the Place before they would yield to Tyrconnil's Party; and were as good as their Words: For as mayor Reily appeared with his Horse the next day in the Afternoon, the Protestants boldly advanced toward him and his Party, gave them an utter Defeat, took himself and Four of his Captains Prisoners, viz. Captain Gutre, Captain Mac-mahon, Captain Reily, and Captain Foy; the rest fled, leaving most of their Arms and Horses behind them; while Captain Sanderson sent Four of his Troops, and possessed himself of Belturbet, and all the Provisions which the Papists had left in the Town. By which it appears, that while the same Courage remains in the Hearts of the Protestants, and the same Cowardice possesses the Minds of the Papists, by timely Assistance from England, it would be no difficult thing to reduce that Kingdom to his Majesty's and the Protestant Interest. Nevertheless the disadvantage will be very great to those who are under the full Force and Power of these blood-thirsty Rebels.  
This little Prospect therefore between the Courage of the Protestants, and the Defect of Valour in the Popish Irish, notwithstanding Tyrconnil's bravadoes upon uncertain Hopes, one would think should draw the Irish Papists, were they not infatuated by their Priests and Jesuits, into a consideration, whether they have Force enough and Courage of their own to defend their Country from the Power of the English, and those of their own Country, when Associated together. For if they have not, it would be certainly their most prudent way to lay down their Arms in Season, and submit to that Government, under which they have always lived in Peace and Security, but when they themselves disturbed and provoked it. When they had butchered several hundreds of peaceable Protestants living among them, though they had the Pope's Blessing and his Bulls of Pardon, and his Nuncio to Head them, and Promises from Spain to Assist them; and though they started their Rebellion at a time when Scotland, and, presently after, England, by the Arts of the same jesuitical Incendiaries, that blew them into a flamme, were engaged in a common Combustion, and consequently in the Eye of Reason were unable to yield any Assistance towards the crushing their Hellish Designs: they cannot forget that Providence was pleased to defeat their Projects, to blast their Enterprises, and give them up to so total a Conquest, that at last they became the Scorn of all the World, and there wanted but little to render them as odious and contemptible, and as Jews.  
As for Foreign Aid, the Irish would do well to consider, how little there is to be expected from France, that has its hands full already, and is every day in Expectance of more work, and when they have engaged themselves beyond going back, they must expect to depend upon the Charity and Discretion of their Assistants whether they will Aid them or no; at least their Supplies will be but faint and small. wherever the King of France Assists he loves always and designs no other than to get good Footing for himself; and then as the Duke of Medina Celi said, They will find his Sword will know no difference between a catholic and a heretic, but that he comes to make way for himself; and that though they themselves are catholics, the French will look upon their Estates to be heretics. Though on the other side, suppofing that the King of France in pure Charity and Commiseration of their Condition, should put an Army into his Fleet, with an intention to Land in Ireland, unless he were Prince of the Air, and could command the Sea and Tempests, he is not sure to Land them. So that since there is no Confidence to be put in the Power of any Foreign Prince, as it would be their Duty, so it would be their Wisdom to rely upon the Goodness of their now Natural Prince, whose Mercy and Indulgence is so well known.  
But however, if they will continue in their wicked and horrid Practices, there is no question to be made but the same care and means will be used by Authority which has been formerly observed, as well to recover so large a Portion of the English Dominions, to punish the Obstinacy of the Rebels, and to secure it against all Foreign Power whatsoever, by cutting off their Correspondence with any Foreign Prince or State; by keeping up convenient Garrisons; by the Execution of wholesome Laws to alter their mischievous Constitutions; by a Ministry well settled to Civilize and Instruct them; and by taking strict care to punish all Priests and Jesuits, that are the Nurses of Rebellion, Disturbers of State, mortal Enemies to all Protestant Government, and more especially the common Incendiaries of the Kingdom of Ireland.  
'Tis very true, that it is a French Maxim, That a Man ought not to be a Slave to his Word; that Interest is Right, and all things lawful that make for Princes Glory and Grandeur. Suppose therefore he should permit some of his Forces to go over into Ireland, as he did to the Succour of Portugal against the Pyrenean Treaty, and that the Irish Papists should join with them, it will most assuredly, as far as the Prospect of human judgement will reach, prove their Confusion and ruin. Considering how early an Army may be transmitted out of England and Scotland into Ireland, and what an obstinate Defence the Protestants, who are already there embodied will make, before they will depart from their Estates, which they now enjoy, and which they have acquired with so much expense of Blood. The French have Reason to understand and remember the English Gallantry. Or, if they have forgot, let them but call to mind poitiers, Agin-Court, or Crecy, and they will inform them. But in Case the French King should own the Action, and vigorously appear in their Defence; without Question there are some so highly concerned in point of Interest, considering the present Alliances of England, and the Situation of that Kingdom, that he will draw upon him the greatest Naval Power of Europe; and of what pernicious Consequence that may be to his Glory, is suitable to his judgement to consider: Except he could Post his Naval as he used to do his Land-Forces, that they could not be Attacked; and yet that Imagination was confuted at the Relief of Mons. Moreover, in Case the French King should Transport an Army into Ireland, the Conquest of it would not prove to be in an Instant, but a Work of Time; and the more Forces were sent thither, the Irish, for want of Provision would be the sooner undone, in regard that a Famine has always put a period to all Invasions and Rebellions in that Kingdom; nor can it be rationally conceived that the French can be able to relieve them by Sea, when they are like to have so great a Power against them. For that if the French King keep the Sea, they will certainly be fought with; and then let them consider the Consequence. Or if they keep within breast, which is the only Port of France, from whence the Irish can expect Relief, they have no small Reason to expect to be blocked up, and that their Ships may be Fired in the Port. And indeed the Glory of that Action of black, at the Canaries, is worthy of their great Consideration, who entred their Port, and Fired all their Ships in Harbour, notwithstanding there were Thirteen Block-Houses, Castles and Works, where an innumerable multitude of Cannon were planted, and Fired most furiously upon the English Ships. For where there is a good Wind and Tide, and noble Resolutions, as they need not Question but to find among the Irish, there is but little occasion to fear any Artillery whatever. And more than all this, let the Irish call to mind the Success which they had, when they were encouraged by the Spaniard, and assisted by the Pope to Rebel; the Spaniard being then the most Potent Prince in Europe.  
So that it is not rational for the Irish to think, that France will ever give them any rational Assistance, but may engage them in a Rebellion, and then leave them to shift for themselves; and so their Rebellion will be no more than a means to bring ruin and Extirpation upon themselves and their Posterity. The Irish would do well to consider the late, but never to be forgotten Case, of the Messineses, who fled to the Protection of the French; who after they had by their Taxes and Oppressions drained away all their Money, deserted them, and left them exposed to the displeasure of the enraged Spaniard, and to all the Miseries and Calamities that Revenge could bring upon them. The Irish would do well to let this Example be an Answer to all the French Charms their Priests shall lay before them; and to make them take time to consider, that if they will be so imprudent, and desperately Wicked, as to cast off their Obedience to a Good, a Just and Gracious Prince, whether the same Fate and Calamities may not attend them as have done the Messineses.  
'Tis true, there was a Horrid Massacre of the English, committed by the Irish, after they had lived together for Forty Years in the greatest Security and Happiness imaginable. Yet afterwards, notwithstanding such a Massacre, they were so broken by the English, that there was scarce an Irish man in Ireland that durst hold up his hand against them, and the Kingdom became so depopulated, that considering the vast number of People that were destroyed by those Three great Judgments of Heaven, the Sword, Famine and Plague, there did not remain alive above the eighth part of the English Nation, the whole Country being wasted and consumed. So that for sometimes Ten, sometimes Twenty Miles together, all the Kingdom over, a Traveller should not behold either Man, bide or Beast; the very Fowls of the Air and wild Beasts of the Field being either Dead, or having forsaken those unfortunate Desolations. While Thousands of the Irish lay daily starving for want of Food, but what in their Extremity they got by feeding on the Souldiers Horses, for which they paid many times with the loss of their Lives. Nay, the Famine at last grew to that height, that they not only fed upon Horses, but upon dead Bodies. digged up again out of their Graves. A sad Tragedy, which it is hearty wished may never be acted over again; more especially since his Majesty has with so much Grace and Compassion to the Irish Nation, expressed in several of his Declarations, his Royal Intentions, to restore them to all Enjoyments, which good and dutiful Subjects can expect under so good and merciful a Prince. Therefore, at such a Juncture as this, to imbrue their Hands in the Blood of their Fellow Subjects, and rebel against a Prince so clement and so faithful to his Promises, and so bring upon themselves the same Calamities or worse, if possible, by betraying the Kingdom into the Hands of a foreign Power, are Acts so full of Horror and Amazement, that no Men, one would think, could be so ungratefully wicked.  
Now that the Lord Tyrconnil may be enabled to beware by other mens Harms, we shall give him these following Hints.  
Con o'neill, surnamed Bacco, or the Lame, was such an enemy to the English, that he left a solemn Curse upon his Posterity, if ever they sowed Wheat, spake English, or built Houses: To him succeeded Shane o'neill, who not content with the title of Earl of Tyrone, conferred upon his Father by Henry VIII. would make himself greater by a barbarous kind of Election, throwing up his shoe over his Head, and taking upon him the Title of o'neill, took up Arms against Queen Elizabeth; but finding himself too weak, he went into England, attended by his Guard of Gallowglasses, bare-headed, curled long hair, yellow Frocks died with Saffron or Urine, long Sleeves, short Coats, and shaggy Mantles. And thus attended, he fell down at the Queen's feet, confessed his Crime and Rebellion, with howling, and so obtained his Pardon.  
However, he continued not long in his obedience, but ingratefully scorning the Title of Earl of Tyrone, Baron of Duncannon, conferred upon him by the Queen, he would again of his own head assume the great Name of o'neill, vaunt himself K. of Ulster, levy Forces, and offer the Kingdom of Ireland to Mary Queen of Scots; and so hated the English, that he built a Castle upon the Lake Eaugh, which he called Foughnegal, or hatred to the English. Nay, he hanged some of his own Men because they eat English Bread. Thus he created some troubles; but at last, in his Cups, was stabbed by those he most confided in.  
Fitz-Morrice was so hunted from place to place, by the valour and industry of Sir John Perrott, Lord President of Munster; that being at last forced to submit himself to the Queen's Mercy, he found out the President then at Church at Killmalock, and with a hideous howling and crying, besought his Pardon. Perrott caused the Rebel to take the point of his naked Sword in his hand, and set it to his own breast, in token that he had received his Life at the Queen's hands.  
Stukely, who  told Queen Elizabeth, that he would rather be Sovereign of a Mole-hill, than the highest Subject to the greatest Monarch in Christendom, shipped himself for Italy, where according to his nature, boasting of his own worth and actions, he carried himself so cunningly, that at last by his own commendations and flatteries, he wrought himself into the esteem and favour of pus the V. whom he persuaded, that with 3000 Men he would drive the English out of Ireland, and fire all their Fleet.  
But this Pope dying, Gregory the XIII. succeeded him, who being carried on with the same desires, bare the same favour to poor Stukely, hoping to get the Kingdom of Ireland for his own Son, John Buon Campagno, whom he had made marquis of Vineola; and of this Royalty, Stukely assured him to that degree, that the proud Bastard began to think of nothing but Crowns and sceptres. And thus the Pope and his Son were full of hopes of a new Kingdom; and the better to countenance that boasting Factor, as if all Ireland were his own, honours him with the Titles of Baron of Ross, Viscount Morough, Earl of Wexford and Caterlogh, and Marquis of Lemster. And thus with a Muster of Titles, and a Band of Eight hundred Italian Foot, with a Plenary Indulgence for Stukely's Soul to avoid Purgatory, the Irish Champion, with his Titles and Followers, arrives at the Mouth of the River Teio in Portugal; at what time King Sebastian was setting forward for Africa. Sebastian hearing of his Arrival, would needs go to see him, and persuade him to venture his Fortune with him, in his Mauritanian Expedition. And Stukely's vain Glory was such, that forgetting his Irish Affairs, he suffered himself to be over-ruled by the young Prince, and was slain with him in the same Battle; and so Buon Compagno lost his Kingdom, and he all his Titles.  
And now, James Fitz-Morrice, that had been so lately received into the Queen's Favour, steals into France, and addressing himself to Henry III. offers him the Kingdom of Ireland; only desires a small Force to beat out the English, and subdue the Nation to the French Obedience. But Henry, straightened between the Guisians and the Hugonetts, rejects his Proposition.  
Philip the Second of Spain lends him a more gracious Ear, sends him to Gregory XIII. and joins with one Saunders, and alan an Irish Man, both Doctors and Priests. The first was by the Pope declared his Nuncio for Ireland, and Blessed with a consecrated Banner, to be known by its Cross-Keys. Thus Sanctified with an Infallible Authority, and a little Money in their Fists, with Letters of Recommendation to the Spanish King; they hasten into Spain, thence Ship for Ireland, and Land in Kerry.  
The Irish informed of the coming of their Spanish and Papal Friends, rise up in Rebellion, in which Desmond was not the least; who for the greater advantage of the Cause, murdered Henry Davils, an old English Gentleman, and a brave old soldier, his intimate Acquaintance, whom he used to call Father; together with his Servants; all whom he butchered in their Beds, when they least dreamed of any such Treachery. Which Saunders commended as a sweet Sacrifice in the sight of God.  
As for Fitz-Morrice, he thinking to raise the Rebels in other places to his Assistance, took a particular Road; but his Horses tiring upon the way, he plundered fresh Horses from one William Burgh's Plough. Whereupon Burgh's Sons follow him to rescue their Father's Goods, Charge Fitz-Morrice and kill him. Fitz-Morrice thus slain, Desmond takes his Place, fights the English, but is routed, and alan the Priest, who had assured them of Victory by virtue of the Pope's hallowed Banner, is slain.  
The Italians and Spaniards who had Landed in Kerry, began to fortify themselves in a Place which they called the Fortress of Gold. Against them March the Lord Grey Lord Deputy, and the Earl of Ormond; and by a Trumpet sent to demand of them who they were, and what their Business was there? They answered, That they were sent from the Pope and the King of Spain, to whom the Pope had given Ireland; for that Elizabeth had justly forfeited her Title to the Kingdom, and therefore they would keep what they had got, and get more if they could. But their Courage was soon cooled, for they were forced to yield upon Mercy; the Captains being only saved, the rest put to the Sword.  
As for Saunders, he seeing that neither the Pope's Blessing, nor his consecrated Banner, no his legantine Power, nor his foreign Associates, nor native Rebels could prevail against the Fortune of the English, rambled up and down among the Woods and Mountains for his own Security, and died miserable. And such we hope will be the ill Success of all those that resist the lawful Sovereignty of King William and Queen Mary.  
FINIS.