❧ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation touching the earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnell.  
SEeing it is common and natural in all persons of what condition soever, to speak and judge variably of all new and sudden accidents, And that the flight of the earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnell, with some others of their fellowes out of the North parts of our realm of Ireland, may haply prove a subject of like discourse: Wee haue thought it not amiss to deliver some such matter in public, as may better clear mens judgements concerning the same; not in respect of any worth or value in these mens persons, being base and rude in their original; but to take away all such inconveniences as may blemish the reputation of that friendship which ought to be mutually observed between us and other Princes. For although it is not unlikely, that the report of their Titles and dignities, may draw from Princes and States some such courtesies at their first coming abroad, as are incident to men of extraordinary rank and quality: Yet when wee haue taken the best means wee can to lay them open in every condition, wee shall then expect from our friends and neighbours all such just and noble Proceedings, as stand with the rules of Honour and friendship, and from our Subiects at home and abroad, that duty and obedience( in their carriage toward them) which they owe to us by inseparable bonds and obligations of Nature and loyalty, whereof we intend to take streight account. For which purpose we do hereby first declare that these persons above mentioned, had not their creations or possessions in regard of any lineal or lawful descent from Ancestors of Blood or virtue, but were onely preferred by the late queen our sister of famous memory, and by ourselves for some reasons of State before others, who for their quality and birth( in those provinces where they dwell) might better haue challenged those Honours which were conferred vpon them. Secondly we do profess, That it is both known to us and our counsel here, and to our deputy and State there, and so shall it appear to the world( as clear as the sun) by evident proofs, That the onely ground and motive of this high contempt in these mens departure, hath been the private knowledge and inward terror of their own guiltiness: Whereof because we hear that they do seek to take away the blot and infamy by divulging that they haue withdrawn themselves for matter of Religion,( a cloak that serves too much in these dayes to cover many evil intentions) adding also thereunto some other vain pretexts of receiving injustice, when their rights and claims haue come in question between them and us, or any of our Subiects and them, Wee think it not impertinent to say somewhat thereof.  
And therefore, although we judge it needless to seek for many Arguments to confirm whatsoever shall be said of these mens corruption and falsehood,( whose heinous offences remain so fresh in memory since they declared themselves so very monsters in nature, as they did not only withdraw themselves from their personal obedience to their sovereign, but were content to sell over their native country to those that stood at that time in the highest terms of hostility with the two Crownes of England and Ireland) yet to make the absurdity and ingratitude of the Allegations above mentioned, so much the more clear to all men of equal Iudgement, We do hereby profess in the word of a King, that there was never so much as any shadow of molestation, nor purpose of proceeding in any degree against them for matter concerning Religion: Such being their condition and profession, to think murder no fault, marriage of no use, nor any man worthy to bee esteemed valiant that did not glory in Rapine and Oppression, as We should haue thought it an unreasonable thing to trouble them for any different point in Religion, before any man could perceive by their conversation, that they made truly Conscience of any Religion. So do we also for the second part of their excuse affirm, that( notwithstanding all that they can claim, must be acknowledged to proceed from mere Grace vpon their submission after their great and unnatural Treasons) there hath never come any question concerning their Rights or Possessions, wherein we haue not been more inclinable to do them favour, then to any of their competitors, except in those Cases wherein wee haue plainly discerned that their onely end was to haue made themselves by degrees more able then now they are, to resist all lawful authority( when they should return to their vomit again) by usurping a power over other good Subiects of Ours, that dwell among them better born then they, and utterly disclaiming from any dependency vpon them.  
having now delivered thus much concerning these mens Estates and their proceedings, Wee will onely end with this conclusion, That they shal not be able to deny, whensoever they should dare to present themselves before the seat of Iustice, that they haue( before their running out of our kingdom) not onely entred into combination for stirring Sedition and intestine Rebellion, but haue directed diuers Instruments, as well Priestes as others, to make offers to foreign States and Princes( if they had been as ready to receive them) of their readiness and resolution to adhere to them, whensoever they would seek to invade that kingdom. Wherein amongst other things, this is not to be forgotten, That under the condition of being made free from English government, they resolved also to comprehend the utter extirpation of all those Subiects that are now remaining alive within that kingdom, formerly descended from the English race. In which practices and propositions, followed and fomented by Priestes and Iesuites( of whose function in these times the practise and persuasion of subiects to rebel against their Soueraignes, is one special and essential part and portion) as they haue found no such encouragement as they expected and haue boasted of: so We do assure ourselves, that when this declaration shall bee seen and duly weighed with all due circumstances, it will bee of force sufficient to disperse and to discredit all such vntrueths, as these contemptible creatures so full of infidelity and ingratitude, shall disgorge against us, and our just and moderate proceeding, and shall procure unto them no better usage then they would wish should be afforded to any such pack of Rebels, born their Subiects, and bound unto them in so many and so great obligations.  
given at our Palace of Westminster the fifteenth day of november, in the fifth year of our reign of Great britain, France and Ireland.  
God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent majesty. ANNO DOM. 1607.