A PROCLAMATION published by the Lords Justices and Council OF IRELAND, To annul and make void all Protections unduly granted to the Rebels by certain Commissioners in divers Counties in Ulster, etc. contrary to their instructions and the intention of the State.  
Printed at Dublin by William Bladen, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty, and now reprinted at London for Edward Husbands, 1642.   


C R  HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon or coat of arms  
❧ A Proclamation, Published by the Lords justices and Council of Ireland, to annul and make void all Protections unduly granted to the Rebels by certain Commissioners in divers Counties in Ulster etc. contrary to their Instructions, and the intention of the State.  


W. Parsons,  
Jo. Borlase.    
WHereas in the beginning of this hideous and detestable Rebellion, We the Lords justices and Council, desirous, if it might be, to give some sudden stop thereunto, so to prevent the spreading thereof, and the growth of it to that height to which it hath since risen, and conceiving that at that time the multitude was by evil Council or false rumours, seduced to partake in that Rebellion, who not knowing the truth and depth of the combination, We did think, could not so wretchedly fail in their duty and loyalty to their most gracious King and Sovereign, as so universally to persist in their course of disobedience to His Majesty's authority, but would with treatable and fair admonitions, laying before them their great danger and the iniquity of their enterprise, have returned to their obedience; We therefore on the 27 of Oetober last authorised divers persons ot quality and trust for the several Counties of Down, Antrim, Armagh, Monaghan, Cavan, Tirone, and Fermanagh (amongst other powers then entrusted with them) to parley with the Rebels, or any of them, and by Proclamation, or otherwise, to proffer his Majesty's grace and mercy to them, or any of them, and to receive such of them into his Majesty's grace and mercy as should submit themselves and desire the same. Yet We held it fit then to accompany the said Commission with our letters to the said Commissioners, wherein we signified to them, that although by the said Commission we gave them that power, yet we did then let them know, that for those who were chief amongst the Rebels, and Ringleaders of the rest to disobedience, that we adjudged them less worthy of favour than the others, whom they had misguided. And therefore for those principal persons we required them to take care not to be too forward (without first consulting this Board) in proffering or promising mercy to those, unless they the said Commissioners saw it of great and unavoidable necessity: which power entrusted by Us with the said Commissioners was then granted, in respect of the comuncture of affairs at that tune, and to answer the then sudden extremities in the public service. And whereas we have now received information that a long time after the said power entrusted with them, and when the state 〈◊〉 the Country was far different from 〈◊〉 Condition wherein it stood, at the issuing of the said Commission, and after the general Conspiracy was fully discovered; and that the Rebels of all degrees and conditions had with hateful and bloody obstinacy declared their purpose to extirp the British throughout the whole kingdom, without hope of reconcilement, other then by the strength of his Majesty's forces; some of the said Commissioners (notwithstanding the premonition given them by our said Letters, & without consulting this Board therein) have given Protections of late to many of the said Rebels, being principal persons & Freeholders, which protections are (in sundry respects) found to be a mighty hindrance to his Majesty's service in those parts, and tending to his Majesty's loss and disadvantage. And albeit we are informed that those persons so protected, have by their mis-behaviours since the protections granted to them, violated the express, or employed conditions of all protections, which besides the unseasonableness of the granting of them, contrary to the intent of our direction in our said Letters, might justly give cause to have those Rebels immediately fallen upon and cut off. Yet in regard we who are entrusted here by his Majesty for the government of this his Kingdom and People, are so tender of his Majesty's honour, as we neither have done, nor will do any thing, that by any construction, can be interpreted a breach of any word given by Us, or any other authorised by Vs.  
We think fit before we proceed to the just correction of those Rebels, hereby to publish & declare, that all the said Protections granted since the first of March last to any person or persons whatsoever, in the County of Down, or other Counties above named, shall at the end of ten days next after the publishing of this Proclamation at Down-Patrick or Strangford in the said County of Down, or at any other public place in any of the said Counties respectively stand vo●d and be annulled, repealed and revoked. And we do hereby accordingly from and after the said ten days revoke, repeal, make void and annul them, and every of them, to all intents and purposes, as if they had never been granted, and do order that from and after the said ten days, they be of no force, nor derive any benefit, protection or security to any of the parties to whom they were so granted. And this Proclamation We require the Sheriff of the County of Down, and the several Sheriffs of the said several Counties respectively, to cause to be proclaimed and published at Down-Patrick and Strangford aforesaid, and at some public places in the said several Counties respectively, that so all persons whom it may concern may take notice thereof, and that hereafter when by the power and Strength of His Majesty's Army the said Offenders receive due punishment for their high transgressions, they may not have any colour to pretend the least breach of word in this Seat or any the Ministers thereof:  
Given at his Majesty's Castle of Dublin the 19 day of August. 1642. 

La. Dublin.  
Ormond Ossory.  
Cham Lambert.  
Ad. Loftus.  
I. Temple.  
Tho. Lucas.  
ja. Ware.  
Rob. Meredith.    
FINIS.