A DECLARATION OF THE Resolutions of His Majesty's Forces, published by the Marquis of Clanrickard against the Parliament of ENGLAND ALSO A DECLARATION signed by the Officers in ULSTER. And a copy of a Letter from Colonel Jones to the Lord INCHEQUEEN. C R DIEV ET MON DROIT HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE royal blazon or coat of arms London Printed for A. H. n●er Pie-corner, 1648. My Lord, YOur letter of May 2. together with your Lordships, therein enclosed Declaration, came to my hands the 27 of the same, being here delivered by the Lady Dungar. Concerning which you desire I should give my Resolution by some Gentl. expressly employed to your Lordship, rather than by Letter, but I have fixed on this course of writing rather, this being the way less subject to misconstruction. In that your Letter and Declaration, I find your Lordship resolved on a Sessation, with the Rebels (grounded as is presented) on misgovernment in England, and on those short supplies thence, made over to your Lordship, and that Army under your command. I pass by what causeth those grievances pretended as from England, whereof, as none here can be competent Judges, so, can I not conceive why the interest in this Service may not be performed and prosecuted, without our over-neer prying into the grounds or parts, in this more remote distractions, whereunto none here are called out, as to be engaged. As for your Lordship's discouragements in the service, in your so great want of supplies, and for so long time, I have my Lord, laboured under the same perplexities, being every way, and as long, and as nearly pinched with the like evils. Yet as nothing of all that want, though much more, could draw me to resolutions of expecting a subsistence from the Rebels, by compliance with them: So, could I never cast the retarding of our supplies out of Engl. on any sinister designs or disaffections of the Parliament towards us, but on the home distractions rather of Engl. which I beseech God, the God of peace, to make up, as in his good time I nothing doubt, but he will perfectly do. The good beginning whereof, even now very hopefully appearing, and we hear at present gathering the comfortable fruits thereof, in those plentiful supplies designed for us, and more daily expected. And I am very confident your Lordship had before now found the like, and as fully, had not those obstructions been most unhappily cast in, which I doubt not but your Lordship may yet remove in your timely application to the Parl. which I most hearty desire you would do, and wherein you cannot want those in Engl. who will very really & effectually serve you. As to those your Invitations given me, for running that course in joining with the Irish in Lemster & Munster; may be avenged the blood of those in whose quarrel we have fought; and those just ends accomplished which we ever proposed to ourselves. The Lord Taffe & his adherents being content to subscribe (as your Lordship saith) in Declaration for His Majesty, & a free Parliament in Engl. Your Lordship also adding; that upon perfection of the Articles between you; provisions should be made for me or any of the Protestant profession who shall adhere to the agreement. Wherein I am nothing satisfied how the Munster and Lemster Rebels (being by their Oath of association; professed enemies of the Protestant Religion) and involved in the same guilt of blood equally with others of their party; and appearing in the present horrid Rebellion, & that principally & above others of that party in other Provinces; should be thought notwithstanding fit instruments to avenge the blood of those in whose quarrel we have fought, & for accomplishing those just ends by the Parl. propounded. As for myself therefore; I shall rather hazard; that in your Lordship's Declaration of your resolution to your best power; to give opposition to all such as shall not cooperate with you in this your intended way. For; as I nothing fear any opposing powers; God assisting me in his own cause; so shall no advantages; or by-respects whatsoever; draw me off from that principle of fidelity; whereunto I am resolved to stand unmoveable: In order whereunto I am my Lord, Your Lordship's Most humble servant. M. JONES. Dublin june 26. 1648. For the Lord Inchequin. The Declaration of the Lord Marquis of Clanrickard. Whereas I have often before now: since the beginning of the commotion; interposed my best endeavours without regard of fortune; pains; or health; by all the ways I could possibly conceive (for integrity and candour of intention therein, I appeal to God the true searcher of hearts) for the composing the grieving; and still growing distractions of this kingdom; my Native Country; and to reduce the same and the interest of religion; loyalty; and just liberties; thereby pretended; to the best and happiest condition I could; being constantly of opinion that a long continuance of war; would at last prove fatal and ruinous to the Natives (as by the present woeful experience of dearth; famine; and civil contentions doth to every one appear) then destructive to the foresaid; by them pretended; protested and sworn ends; though through mine own & the Natives sins: or some secret judgement of God; produced no other effect then the increasing of jealousies and misconstructions; which at length forced me into the resolution of banishingmy self from my Native Country; and all that was dear unto me therein▪ rather than be a spectator of its increasing calamities; or at leastwise not to intermeddle with its public affairs until their own ways and wilfulness made them sensible of their omission and lost opportunities: Yet notwithstanding the feeling sense I have of the now threatening ruins; or rather present irrecoverable destructions; like to fall generally on all parts of the kingdom; as well by the power and invasion of his Majesty's present; and the kingdom's professed enemies; the Parliament of Engl. Forces; and their adherents; as they yet stand in opposition to his Majesty's just rights and authority, as by the sad effects of civil discord arising between the Natives themselves; the consequence whereof (if not timely prevented by a speedy reconciliation; or suppressing) will soon root out Religion; divert the due course of Loyalty; and instead of just liberty bring slavery on the Subjects; besides all kind of incident losses and miseries. After a deep and serious consideration and recollection of the premises; and especially of the desperate & deplorable condition this Province of Connought is in now; questionless intended to be made the seat of War; and civil dissension. I do hereby declare my settled and unalterable resolution, to assume the command in chief of the Forces of this Province, both by former commission immediately derived from his Majesty, and the power and authority or the Supreme Council of the confederate Catholics of this Kingdom, entrusted to be over the party in this Province, by their Letters bearing date the twenty eight of May last and do take upon me so far forth, as my ability can extend the defence thereof, against all His majesties known Enemies, and all other unauthorised invaders, and intruders, until His Majesty's pleasure for the happy settlement of this Kingdom, and advancement of his service be made known. I do likewise protest and declare, on the word and honour of a Peer, so God vouchsafe to bless my actions and intentions, that even as I had grace of being bred, and entrusted (as also my Ancestors before me) in the truth of the Roman Catholic Religion, so I shall till death persevere in the same, and to the uttermost of my power, by all just honourable and fit ways, advance the same, and preserve its splendour, and lawful interest, and uphold and maintain His Majesty's Rights, Power and Prerogatives, and of the Crown of England in this Kingdom, preserve the Rights and due Liberties of the Subjects therein. And I do further declare that I do fully agree and concur in opinion with the supreme Council, and the Generality of this Kingdom, that the late Cessation by them concluded, with the Lord Baron of Inchequeen is of present great advantage to the Kingdom, and for the further advantage of these ends above expressed, the said Council for quieting tender Consciences, having provided by an appeal, in the behalf of the confederate Catholics, from the Lord Nuntio, his proceeding in point of Ecclesiastical censures, and by him allowed of, I shall endeavour to have the said Cessation accepted, and admitted in all parts of this Province, according to the Directions and Orders of the said Council, to those in authority over their party therein, and will to the best of my power oppose any Forces, that shall attempt to enter into this Province, and to suppress all persons, that shall presume to raise Forces there in, without public Authority. Given at Portumne June 10. 1648. Clanrickard. A Declaration by Eugenious O Neale General of the confederate Catholics of Ireland of the Forces of Ulster and the rest of the Commanders of the same Forces. WE might be held prodigal of our own honour and give occasion of suspicion of our loyalty to our Sovereign if in the midst of the multitude of calamities & impostures that are belched forth against us, we should neglect to appologize for our integrity, we have by free and full consent without any reluctancy, in the view of the whole World taken the oath of Assotiation appointed by universal Vote, to be taken by all the Confederate Catholics of Ireland, wherein we have manifested our Religion towards God, and secure our loyalty towards our Sovereign, this Oath we have as frequently, and freely iterated, as any the rest of our Confederates in this Kingdom, We have also avowed that Solemn Protestation made by the Catholic Clergy of the same confederacy, protesting to give unto Caesar what is due unto Caesar, and to God what is due unto God, as we never resolve to violate this Oath and Protestation, so do we resolve never to adhere to any that have, or shall endeavour to suppress the one or the other, such boast most of loyalty, but are most conscious of disloyalty, who have by this Cessation given to the Kings sworn Enemies, two entire Counties in Munster, which were in the possession of the confederate Catholics without receiving any assurance of his Loyalty or the restitution of the same Counties after the expiration of the Cessation, they have (as if they were Lords Paramount of the Subjects living) disposed as well of the spiritualty as temporalty without the Subjects consent, and to the use and maintenance of the King's Enemies, Kilkenny and other quarters belonging to the confederate Catholics, they have actually delivered unto that great personage, whom their souls knew to be wholly disposed to betray the Kingdom, unto the Parliament, unto this great parsonage, they do still adhere, notwithstanding those horrid treasons committed in the delivering over to the Parliam. the Castles of Dublin, Drogheda, Trime, Dundalke, all those Garrisons remaining in his quarters: For him all industry is used to procure vast sums of money, even in the Quarters of the confederate Catholics, by way of Loan, mortgage, and otherwise, as the 11th. and 12th Articles of the unwarant●ble Cessation do abundantly insinuate, yet these would need be held Loyal Subjects, and all others who oppose their smister practices though therein bound by oath, must be held disloyal, if we have as freely and as often as any other our fellow Catholics bond ourselves with ligatures of Loyalty since these commotions, unless the depraved judgement of the disloyal (to choke their own crimes) will censure it disloyalty in us, to defend with Christian resolution the freedom of our Religion, the Prerogatives of our Sovereign, and Liberty of our Free born Nation, whereby we are obliged unto the present observance of this Oath and Protestation, The Sea apostolic, by its apostolical Missions frequently exhorted us, and to second our endeavours therein, hath sent to the Catholic confederates frequent Subsidies, so far is it from truth, that either his holiness or we, is against the Allegiance due by Subjects unto their Sovereign, others who look upon state policy more than Religion, and continue no longer in allegiance then the condition of time will permit, have no longer adhered to their Sovereign, then while they were necessitated, necessity being taken away they have sided with the King's Enemies (the Parliament) against their Sovereign, We auplice cord, unto such we may not unless we wilfully violate our Oath, and adhere without some assurance of their Loyalty and Engagement, not to prejudice the Catholic Faith, for which two points the late Cessation made by the Malignant party, of the supreme Council, and of the whole Clergy, hath not so well provided as we could wish, who for their own mischevous ends endeavour to set forward the same Cessation, by blemishing our integrity, and by that means to draw upon us the indignation of all such as either seemly or really are for His Maje. for not being capable to move the heavens, to second their Designs, they make their recourse to Archeron, unto these that truly and really adhere unto His Majesty, without prejudicing of our Religion we do and ever shall adhere to those who only counterfeit such adherents to avoid the Force of the Catholics we may not adhere, and upon this resolution not only we, but all the confederate catholics, together with these corporal Towns that christianlike resolved to observe two branches of their Oath, denied to yield obedience on unreasonable and prejudicial cessation, Therefore our Armies are taken to defend ourselves as well against those distressed exiled catholics that depend upon us against all others that have actually declared themselves against his Majesty and are known to continue still in resolution, beseeching the Lord of Hosts who penetrates the secrets of our hearts never to bless our Designs longer than we intent truly and unfeignedly, even without respect of private ends, to observe that command of our Lord Jesus, give unto Caesar, what is due unto Caesar; and give unto God, what is due unto God, for accompishing whereof we conjure all the confederate Catholics, together with those faithful Subjects, of what Religion soever) that unfeignedly adhere to His Majesty to join with us against all Parliamentary Rebels and all factionists, who for their own ends comply with them to the violation of their Oath, the prejudice of our Sovereign, and ruin of the distressad Nation, Signed, Henry O Neale, Lew●s Moor, Bryon O Neale, Arthure Mac Genes, Phil. O Neal, Owen O Doharty, Owen O Neal, Hugh O Neale, Rory Mac Guire, Con, O Neale, Phillip O Realy, James Mac Donn●ll, Arthere Fox, Milo Swily God save the KING. FINIS.