A Letter desiring a just and merciful regard of the Roman Catholics of Ireland, given about the end of October 1660. to the than Marque … 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Duke of Ormond, and the second time Lord Lieutenant of that Kingdom.  
My Lord,  
SInce I had the honour of speaking last to your Excellence, I reflected (by occasion of several Discourses had this week with Persons of quality) on the daily increase of the Fears and jealousies of my Countrymen: Which is the Reason, That instead of waiting on you this morning about private Concernments, (as I intended) I chose rather out of my unalterable affection to yourself, to give first this Paper, and therein my thoughts and my desires relating to the Public, that is, to yourself, and to His Majesty, and his Kingdom of Ireland.  
My Lord, I thought fit to tell you, That considering the general fear seized already almost on all the Nobility, Gentry, and others here of that Nation, and reflecting on the vast difference betwixt my own belief and theirs, it seems to me, I behold (in us particularly, who have for so many years so much relied on your word and virtue) somewhat fulfilled, not unlike the mysterious extinction of all the Lights to one in the Ceremony of Tenebrae in holy week. For, my Lord, I observe in the generality of the Catholics of Ireland here, even (I say) of those who have been so long as well your constant believers as your passionate sticklers, a dimness and darkness seizing their judgements; even your fastest friends heretofore, losing at present their faith of your future appearance for them, and hopes of their delivery by you at any time evermore: Some through ignorance of State affairs, and intrigues obstructing as yet: others through inconsideration of those ways you take much wiser, though slower, than folly and rashness could chalk out: and some out of prejudice or an evil passion, which blinds them and makes them abuse the timorousness and credulity of all they can, to lessen your esteem and your dependencies, all they are able.  
My Lord, these are thoughts, which more and more trouble me daily: because I have daily new occasions to reflection them. And therefore would not longer but give them your Excellence, even in this method and in writing, that they might take the deeper impression; as very much concerning you, since your own welfare, and the Kings and Peoples (in my judgement) very much depends on a good esteem of so great a Minister, as your great deserts have made you.  
But withal, My Lord, I will give your Excellence my most earnest, and most humble desires that you delay no longer than shall be necessary, to clear these clouds of darkness: and clear them in this present conjuncture, by an effectual demonstration of that justice and favour you intended the Catholics of Ireland in your Articles of 48. when they so freely put themselves and their power into your hands. I am not ignorant that some have after transgressed in a high nature. But you know, my Lord, there are many thousands of Protestants in the three Kingdoms, who have been far more heinously criminal, both against his Majesty and against his Father, of blessed memory, and who have contributed, or intended as little for bringing home his Majesty, as the most wickedly principled of he Roman Confederates of Ireland. And we all know (my Lord) that all the Protestants are not only pardoned (except a very few of the most immediate Regicides) but equalled in all capacities with his Majesty's most faithful and approved subjects. Yet if these unfortunate Catholic transgressors must be alone, in this general Jublie of the three Nations, held unworthy to rejoice in the King's restauration; if they alone, besides their most grievous and most unparallelled sufferings under tyranny these eight or nine years past, must anew suffer, and yet a more heavy judgement, under the most clement Prince on earth; if they alone must experience all the rigour of his law and judicatures for their offences after the Peace of 48. (which offences however criminal were not bloody) your Excellence may be nevertheless pleased to consider the Transplantation cannot be continued on any such account, nor on any other which may stand either with those Articles, or with the equity of the Laws, and such less with the justice of a Prince whom God hath restored to redeem the oppressed from the yoke of tyranny, to lead captivity captive, and give gifts to men. And yur Excellence may be further pleased to consider That the Corporations generally cannot be excluded on this account, nor on any other may stand with his Majesty's gacious concessions in these Articles. Neither do I think there can be any reasons of State may accord with the dictates of a good conscience to exclude them. I confess, my Lord, the undutifulness of some, two or three peradventure, deserved punishment, and Limerick a severe one. But this, my Lord, is long since inflicted by the hand of God and man. The plague and famine, the sword and gibbet, even by the power of tyrants destroyed them, and revenged your quarrel; though, I am sure, you asmore divinely principled than to mind your own revenge on any. Besides, my Lord, your Excellence knows th●re have been very many faithful subjects in these town seven in the most criminal of them.  
My Lord, you are more just than to involve the just in the punishment of the wicked. God himself, whose power cannot be limited by Laws, would not punish the just, not even when he was most incensed by the most criminal Cities that ever stood on earth. He assured the Prophet Jemy, That could he find but one just man in all Jerusalem (when most sinful and reprobate, and by his revenging justice designed for a general desolation) he would fine out that man from the wicked and save him (for to our translation reads) nay, for his sake be merciful to the whole City (if your Translation be right.) When the ding sins of Sodom and Gomorrha forced open the floodgates of heaven to power down those prodigious flames of fire and brimstone, we read in Genesis, yet would ●he justice of God permit execution, before he had put in a place of safety one just man that was found in Sodom And, which is yet more observable, was further pleased assure Abraham, That he was so far from intending to involve the just in the destruction of the wicked, That if in these great places designed for so great vengeance, he 〈…〉 men, he would 〈…〉 pardon all the rest, that is, not Sodom alone, but the five Cities, and the whole Pentapolitane region annexed. My Lord, our gracious King hath in imitation of this mercy of God, Pardoned for some just men's sake all the Protestant Cities of his Dominions. And will He not pardon the miserable remainders of one poor Catholic Town? or two? or three at most? if perhaps there be so many that have any way offended. I am sure, whatever th●●r offence hath been, it hath been these many years passed sufficiently punished: and hath been, even of the most criminal, incomparably less than what may be charged o● most of all his Majesty's Protestant Cities. And I am sure there have been in the very worst of them, and in the most disobedient more than fifty (the greatest numb Abraham proposed for mercy to Sodom) just men (I say) to his Majesty, and your Excellence; than which you take no further cognizance of justice in this particula And what besides, may render them unfit objects of the general mercy, if not perhaps their Religion? Which nevertheless, being so Christian, and allowed by Articles an be no exception. Yet, it notwithstanding all this, the few and miserable Survivors and Heirs of the dead in the general desolation, must suffer again, and under is royal justice: I beseech you (my Lord) Let not the tables of Sylla and Marius, Let not their general proscriptions or confiscations be renewed on this occasion, or aixed in the Courts and Judicatures of the British Monarchy. Let not these bright days of universal joy, be rendered to the Irish Catholics alone dark, sad, and distal. Nor let these days be infamously memorable to posterity for a distinction so unequal. Even the greatest and worst of Delinquents, amongst the Catholics of Irelnd, even of those very Corporations or Cities, that have been most refractory, were so far from being Regicides, or any way inclined unto them, (and only such, add but very few of such, because only some of the 〈…〉 have fought against them even to despair: and fought against them that have been most refractory, were so far from being Regicides, or any way inclined unto them, (and only such, add but very few or such, became 〈…〉 most immediate actors, have been hitherto thought fit to be excluded a share in this joy) that they have fought against them even to despair: and fought against them when England and Scotland, and the Protestants of Ireland, wholly deserted the Royal cause: and fought against then as well in defence of his Majesty's rights, as under the title of his subjects; till at last by long sieges, and multitudes over poured, and through God's unsearchable judgements, and their desertion by friends abroad, and home-divisions they lost themselves and their Country.  
Nevertheless, my Lord, far be it from my thoughts to desire the obstruction of any lawful and honest course may e justly taken to secure the peace of that Country from rational dangers; if any such can be in our days from the Catholic Natives. What I humbly beg is, That if sneeze Catholics must be always so unfortunate as to be thought unworthy his Majestly's graces and favours to Protestants that fought against him, when they fought foe him, or of such as he vouchsafes; even Presbyters, Anabaptists, Quakers, Fift-monarchy-men, Independents (the greatest enemies to regal power in some tenets, whrein the Roman Catholics are the surest friends) his Majesty may be at least graciously pleased to let them have the benefit of his Concessions articled with them: Add what I beg, my Lord, is That his Majesty not so much regard the power of our Adversaries as the justice of our cause. My Lord, their power is no greater at this tim, than his Majesty is pleased to continue or make it. There is a huge difference betwixt their influence on the meaner Officers and common Soldiers now, and that it wain the time of the Long Parliament, or in the days of tyranny and anarchy. In a word it will signify a mere nothing, if once uncommissioned by his Majesty, and the ommon Soldiers paid.  
However, my Lord, their power cannot be so dangerous, as their un just demands of biased interest and pretended zeal, if complied withal by his Majesty, and by a breach so notorious and so great of our Articles. For, besides that such proceed would, in all probability, estrange the hearts of the Irish Catholics from his Majesty, and by a consequence of reason (how strange soever this may appear at first sight) kindle and raise in all judicious Pritestants who have ever fought in any of his Dominions, either against himself, or against his Father, even in the very Demanders (how much soever blinded at present by proper interest) perpetual jealousies, and distrusts of their own safety, notwithstanding any Declaration from Breda, or Acts of Westminister passed in this present Parliament: they would (which is most of all to be feared as the worst of evils, and may Providence divert it in obstructing the cause) turn the heart of God from our good Prince, and bring his judgements on him. My Lord, never or scarce ever did public breach of public faith escape very public and very dreadful judgements, even in this world, I mean. Histories profane and sacred are full of sad examples of both kinds. And for the people's breach, our Irish Nation these fourteen years passed so wonderfully scourged beyond almost all example, for their breach of their first articles, those of forty six, with you (my Lord) will be recorded in after ages as one of the saddest. But for a Prince's transgression of this nature, and judgments following, even such as are in fallibly known to have been for this only cause inflicted, and by God's own immediate execution for the greatest part, and th' rest by his good will and pleasure, that of the 21. of the 〈◊〉 of Samuel is pertinent and formidable. The very first of faithful Kings, elected by God's immediate ordinance, anointed by God's immediate commandment, appointed by him Ruler of his peculiar people and Champion on earth of his Church against Infidels; even this beloved of God for a time, this dear darling of Heaven for some years, no sooner attempted against Articles, on the poor Gibeonites, and their four Cities, but those most fearful and Exemplar judgements, recorded by Samuel, were decreed against him, and, for this very fact alone, against his posterity, and against the whole Kingdom of Israel. Neither could all the miseries of his own life after, nor the ignominy of his own death, and of the best of his children, which followed very soon, nor the army of God perishing with him by the swords of Idolaters, exprate this public breach of public Articles. Not although they were his own Subjects with whom he broke, and not Subjects only, but slaves born, and by covenant; nor slaves alone, but Amorites, whose Towns and Lands, and fortunes had been the free gift of God to the Children of Israel, in his promise to Abraham 700 years before, and long after appropriated the second time unto them by the Law of Moses, and by his particular command for extirpation of the ancient Inhabitants, and of the Amorites by name, and for never entering any League or Peace or Covenant with them. Not although these Gibeonites, when they articled by their Predecessors, were Insidels, enemies of one true God, and their articles made with true believers, and believers infallibly such, and not with Saul, but with Josue, 300 years before the Reign of Saul, and never by him ratified. Nor although, what is more observable, these articles were obtained of Joshua through his ignorance of the people that treated with him, and by their lies and circumvention of him. Nor finally, although these Articles were assented unto by Joshua only, and his twelve chief Captains; the whole multitude (concerned in this business) not consenting otherwise; as appeared within three days after the Conclusion, by their general murmur against the Prince. My Lord, none of all these extenuating circumstances, nor altogether, not even backed with zeal for the people of God (the Scripture noting particularly that Saul sought to slay the Gibeonites in his Zeal to the Children of Israel and Judah) no excuse, no pretence whatsoever could obtain so much mercy of the great Justicier of Heaven, as to inflict the punishment of this article-breaking on the person of Saul alone; not even together with his beloved Jonathan's, or on his Legions, and People in his own days only. The vengeance of God must pursue his Posterity and Kingdom, long after his death, and for this cause alone. A mortal Famine of three years' continuance must consume the twelve Tribes of Israel, even in the reign of his Successor; and for this very Sin only, as God himself revealed to holy David. Nor would the Famine cease, till by David's commandment seven of Saul's Children and Nephews were delivered to the Gibeonites; and by the hands of these very men whose Articles he broke, crucified alive upon a Mountain, to expiate this public and horrid sin, even in the face of the Sun. May Providence, and the King's Righteousness, and your sage Counsel (my Lord) obstruct all occasions of reflecting on this (and so many other examples of God's revenge of Article-breaking) any further than that the best of Kings may see the worst of evils attending the Counsels of our Adversaries: and that their power, whatever it be, cannot be so dangerous as their demands against our Articles.  
My Lord, I conclude here, but with my hearty wishes, That in the House, and at the Counccls of our great King, your Excellence may both appear and approve yourself hereafter what you are in part already, another Joseph. That by the best of Advices you may preserve the best of Princes, and all his people of so many different Nations of the British Monarchy. May it be so, my Lord! And may the Catholics of Ireland in particular own you a great Deliverance! as I cannot but confidently expect from you in due time; for my light in the triangle cannot be extinguished. But (my Lord) may not innocent beloved Benjamin alone, nor friendly Reuben only, but even Simeon and Levi, and their Complices against you heretofore, have cause to bless God for you hereafter. May they all find in effect, that you have the bowels of Joseph, to forgive and compassionate them, and his power to deliver them, and his faith to believe. That God permitted their evil against you, even in forcing you twice away from them, of purpose to preserve you for their good; and that you might return, even this second time, their great Deliverer. Propitious Heaven, and your own good Genius, my Lord, second my wishes! And may your faithful Believer see with his own eyes the full accomplishment! that he may employ all his days after, and all his Labours in consecrating to Posterity your Name, with this Eloginm of Joseph, The Saviour of his Brethren, and of his Country, and of all the people. And these are the hearty wishes of  
(My Lord) Your Excellency's most humble, most obsequious, and most devoted Servant, P. W.