\
6 *
i 1
N fr1'
V > -V
•N-\X
itt
// THE
Irifh Rebellion:
OR, AN
HI S TORY
Of the Beginnings and firft
Progrefs of the General Rebellion
raited within the Kingdom of I r e l a n d ,
upon the three & twentieth day of
in the Year 1641.
TOG ETHER
With the Barbarous Cruelties and Bloody
Mailacres which enfued thereupon.
By Sr J o h n Temple K1,
Mailer of the RolJes, and one of his Majeilies
moft honourable Privy Council within the
Kingdom of Ireland.
LONDON,
Printed by R. White for Samuel Gellibrand,
at the Brafen Serpent in 'Pauls Church-yard, 1679.
- . tzzhJL,
THE
PREFACE
TO THE
READER.
Have here adventured to prefent unto pub-
lick view, the beginnings and firft progrefs of
the Rebellion lately raifed within this King¬
dom of Ireland. And although I cannot but
take notice of fuch a multitude of imperfedli-
ons in my felf, as render me very unfit for the
performance of this fervice: As alfo, that I fliall thereby
raife up much malice, and private difpleafure, as well againft
my perfon, as my undertakings herein: Yet fuch is my zeal
and mofl earnefl: defire to appear in this caufe, as being now
laidafide, and for the prefent difabled in any other way to be
further ufeful to this unhappy Kingdom, I refolved to deny
my felf, and wholly departing from my own interefts, to im-
ploy my weak endeavours, in fetting down the fad ftory of
our miferies. I might peradventure with much more advan¬
tage to my own particular have looked back (as far wifer men
have done in their troubles} and palled my time in foreign
[ a 2 ] col-
The Preuc e.
collections, or penning fome ftory of times long fincepaft,
where the chief ACtors are at red:, and their unquiet fpirits lb
furely laid, as they are not to be moved with the fhapeft
charge that can be laid on their memories: Nulli gravis
eft percnjfus Achilles. Moftmen are great lovers of themfelves,
and fuch conftant admirers of their own aCtions, as they think
they do well to be angry at any thing that shall (though
never fo truly) be reported to their diladvantage. Theycon-
fider not their own natural imbecillities, their paflions, de-
(tempers, or ill affedtions which lead them on toadvifeor adl
things of an ill fame ; but are ready to fly in the faces ofthofe
who fliall even in the faireft characters reprefent or leave any
impreffions of them. Hence it is that the truth of things comes
quite to be overfliadowed with falfe colours, and fo to remain
as it were buried alive, or otherways to appear extreamly dis¬
figured through grofs errours, bafe flattery,or wilful miftakes.
For moftmen that are prefent adventurers in this kind, are
wife enough to apprehend their own danger and thereupon
departing from the common intereft that every other man
hath in their ftory, reflect only upon their own particular, and
fufler themfel ves to be over-awed with the humour of the pre¬
fent times; orfofar tranfported, either with the benefits or
private injuries received from particular perfons, as they
tranfmit very imperfeCt and weaker relations, or otherwise
fill them up with fuch counterfeit ftufF, as pofterity will owe
little to their information.
Monfieur du Fleffis, a perfon of extraordinary abilities and
learning , a great Minifter of State under that glorious King
Henry the 4th. of France, undertook as it appears by a Letter
of his to Monfieur Languet , to write a Story of thofe times
wherein he lived. But I cannot find that he ever fuffered that
work to come to the Prefs* whether by juft apprehenfions dis¬
couraged from publication, or whether it otherwife mifcar-
ried, I cannot fay. But fure I am, in the fame Letter he bitterly
declaims againft the humour of the times , and there plainly
tells
7 he Pre face.
^ncepft cells us, chat after one hath writ an Hiftory, he dares not ad- dc
venture the publiihing of it. Sinonquil allegepour caufe dun duPieffis,
effetl ce que ria pas efte, comme tine caufe genereufe, au lieu de fil 4f-
i im gray; pamour dlunefemme, & dune querelle de bordeau. Such was
°ithemfchej then the iniquity of thofe times, fo abominable and (hameful,
^astheythinl the true caufes of the imbroilments in that Kingdom, that
] ' (tty thofe wars ("as the Court was then governed) had for the moft
^•Iteycoii part their firft beginnings from fome ill placed affection, or a
XF«» 4 private quarrel in an infamous place. And further fpeaking
todvifeoraf on thisfubjeft, he intimates how dangerous it is to fet forth
'^acesoftto! the aft ions of men in their true colours $ and how bitter and
rawbeat corroding to the confcience of an Hiftorian to difguifeor
ofthgscot make them appear otherwife to the world, then they were in
bfotoraii their firft original.
fMlyl To fpeak truth exaftly is highly commendable in any man,
- itlmiilal efpecially in one that takes upon him to be a publick informer:
t blind,: to raze, to corrupt a Record is a crime of a very high nature,
^thereup and by the laws of the Land moft feverely punifhable. Hifto- cicero de
eiyotbi ties are called Teftes temporum* lux veritatis , vitd memo-°rat
Micutp ride: and certainly he doth offend in an high degree, who fhall
ouroftkf; either negligently fuffer,or wilfully procure them to bring falfe
tetaefc evidence 5 that fhall make them dark Lanthorns to give light
m, 2Mtf but on the one fide, or as Ignesfatuf to caufe the Reader to
jf otW wander from the truth , and vainly to follow falfe fhadows, or
jfjrik: the faftious humour of the writers brain. To be falfe, to de¬
ceive , to ly, even in ordinary difcourfe, are vices commonly
bilit'm branded with much infamy, and held in great deteftation by
r/toffing 2-11 good men. And therefore certainly thofe that arrive at
raletter fuch a height of impudency, as magifterially to take upon
ifetimes them,not only to abufe the prefent,but future ages,muft needs
redthat render themfelves juftly odious. They ftandrefponfiblefor
onsdtf other mens errours,and whereas in all other notorious offend-
mifor- ers » their fin and their life determines at fartheft together the
fytferly fin of thefe men is perpetuated after their deceafe, they fpeak
plainly when they are dead, make falfe infufions into every Age, and
reft [a 3] court
The Preface.
court every new perfon that fhall many years after caft his
eyes upon their ftory to give belief to their lyes. Therefore
for my own part when I firft undertook this task, 1 took up
with ita refolution moft clearly to declare the truth. I have
call: up my accounts, I have fetupmy reft, and determine
rather to difpleafe any other man then offend my own con¬
fidence. 1 have neither private reflexions, nor foreign ends $
I am now as it were reduced into my firft principles, and
have taken this work upon me, meerly outofpublick confide-
rations. All that I aim at is, that there may remain for the
benefit of this prefent age , as well asofpofterity, fome cer¬
tain Records and Monuments of the firft beginnings and fatal
progrefs of this Rebellion, together with the horrid cruel¬
ties moft unmercifully exercifed by the Irifh Rebels upon
the Br it ifh, and Proteftants within this Kingdom of Ireland\
That when Gods time is come of returning it into the bofoms
.of thofe who have been the firft plotters or prefent AXors
therein, and that Kingdom conies to be re-planted with
Britifh, and fetled in peace again, (which I have even in our
loweft condition,with great confidence attended,and do now
moft undoubtedly believe will ere long be brought topafs)
there may be fuchacourfetaken, fuch provifionsmade, and
fuch a wall of reparation fet up betwixt the lrifh and the
Britifh, as it fhall not be in their power to rife up (as now
and in all former Ages they have done) to deftroy and root
them out in a moment, before they be able to put themfelves
into a pofture of defence, or to gather together to make any
confiderable refiftance againft their bloody attempts.
I fhall not pretend to entertain the Reader with political
Maxims, grave Sentences, or flourifhing Orations : That
which I hope will cover over a multitude of imperfeXions,
is the unqueftionable truth of what I fhall fet down in a plain
and brief narration of all the caufes and proceedings held in
the raifing, as alfo in the firft Counfels and undertalungs for
thefuppreffion ofriiis hideous Rebellion.
And
The Preface
tercaj^ -And that I might in fome meafure compafs my defign
fbef0? herein, and give fatisfa&ion even to themoft curiousinqui-
m Uoob ^ltors a^ter trut^** did with great care and diligence turn over
4 ^ the very Originals or authentical Copies of the voluminous
id Jeternir examinations remaining with the publick Regifter, and taken
nyown cor uPon oat^> by virtue of twofeveralCommiffions ifliiedout
foreign under the Great Seal of this Kingdom, to examine the lodes
1!lclJes of the Britifh^ the cruelties and horrid murders committed
,c^g by the Irifh in the deftruCtion of them. I haveperufed the
'publick difpatches, aCts, and relations, as likewife the private
: I Letters and particular difcoutfes fent by the chief Gentlemen
ce out of feveral parts of the Kingdom, to prefent unto the
Lords Juftices and Council the fad condition of their affairs.
And having been made acquainted with all the mod: fecret
Paflages and Counfels of the State, I have, as far as I could,
I , , without breach of truft, and as the duty of a Privy Coun-
\ .? cellour would admit, communicated fo much of them as I
', ,' conceived neceffary and proper for publick information. And
le" fetting afide the particulars contained within the firft Pages,
leading on by way of introduction to the infuing troubles,
which I have taken up on truft: out of the rnoft approved
Authors both ancient and modern, who have written the
nsmaM fl-ory 0f [reiand> I may confidently avow, that I have been fo
jijhm cur jous jn gathering up my materials, and fo careful in putting
■up (am them together, as very few paflages will be found here infert-
royanta ecj whjch have noc either fallen within the compafs of my
ttlmk own knowledge, or that 1 have not received fro m thofe who
:omatai were chiefly intrufted in matter of aCtion abroad} or that
n came not to my hands attefted under the oaths of credible
Apolitical witnefies, or clearly aflerted in the voluntary confefflons of
is: Ik the Rebels themfelves.
feciions, Every man 1 believe will eafily aflent unto me, that out of
in a plait thefe Fountains we may prefume with moft certainty to
shekU draw truth , and that if we bound our inquiries within
kin^for this circuit,we may well hope to arrive at the true knowledge
of
The Preface. .
of the main particularpaflages of this late Rebellion. And
therefore though I fhall not obtrude every thing as infal¬
lible, whichbyaftriCtandmoft fevereinquifition 1 have taken
upon the grounds before mentioned (confidering how fub-
jeCt men are through forgetfulnefs and humane imbecillity to
err in the ordinary courfe of their relations) yet thus much
I fuppofe I may confidently fay. that no man could imagine
how to make collections with greater certainty, and more
clear unqueftionable probabilities of truth then I have here fet
down.
Now as for the examinations here mentioned, howfoever
they were taken with all the care and circumfpeCtion that
could poffibly be ufed in fo great a work, yet are they mod
commonly decried, and held by the Irifh as very injurious
to their Country-men. Thus much I fhall be bold to aver
and fhall here fpeak it for the better authority and credit of
the evidence brought in by them.
Fir ft, That as the Commiflions for taking thofe examina¬
tions were after mature deliberation ifiued out by fpecial
order from the Lords Juftices and Council $ fo they were
in great wifdom defigned by them for no other ends then
to have fome general account of the loftes fuffered by the
Britifh, and the cruelties exercifed by the Irtfh upon them
inthefeverall parts of the Kingdom. And this courfe was
firft fet on foot in the very height of our troubles, when the
fury of the Rebels fo defperately raged, as they were in no
condition to think of the attainting of their perfons, and
therefore onely aimed at the difcovery of their treafon. Out
of which refpeCt chiefly the Commiftioners made choice of
for the performance of this fervice, were fix ofthe CJergy,
all perfons of known integrity 5 and fuchas by reafon of their
profeflion, wouldin all probability gently proceed on in their
inquifitions, and truly fet down the bloody Relations given
in unto them. The perfons examined were of feveral con¬
ditions , mod ofthem Britifh, fome of Irif h birth and ex¬
traction
The PllUACf.
tracftion, very many of good quality, and fuch as were of
inferiour rank were nor rejected if they were known fuflerers,
and came freely in to declare what they could fpeak of their
own knowledge. Few came but fuch as had been in the hands
of the Rebels, and could with forrowful hearts make the fad
relation of their own miferies. And fo they having been
eye-witneftes, their depofitions are for the moft part out of
their own knowledge; and what is given in by them upon
hear-fay, they for the moft part depofe, that they received it
out of the Rebels own mouths while they were in reftrainc
among them. Laftly, many of thefe miferable perfons thus
examined, came up wounded, others even almoft famiflied;
or fo worn out with their fufferings, as they did not long out-
live the date of their examinations: So as thefe teftimonies
being delivered in their laft agonies, we are in charity to be-
m lieve that they would leave behind them with all duecircum-
fM, fiances, a clear atteftation of fuch cruelties as they then be¬
queathed unto us with their laft breath.
Bur it is not much to be wonder- Mr. Creighton in his Examina-
ed, if they who had it in defign to tion depofeth, That he heard many
deftroy all the publickRecordsand bitter words cafl out againjlthe Ci-
ancient Monuments in the King- tvof Dublin, That they would burn
dom, to banifh both the Englifli andruine it, deftroy allRecords>and
Law and Government, do fo bit- Monuments of theEnglishgovern-
terly declaim againft thefe eviden- ment\ Make Laws againft Jfeak~
c ces of their cruelty, and lively at- Englifh, and that all names given
teftations given in to perpetuate by Englifh to places, should be abo-
? the memory of them to their eter- lished, and the ancient names re-
nal infamy. flored
0fl* thei. ^ c0u^ *magine which way to filence, or by what
oni!1. ' means to blaft the credit of thefe examinations thus fo-
on^ lemnly taken , and prevail according to their moft im-
petuous defires upon the late Treaty of Peace , to have
all the indidlments legally put in againft the principal Re-
The Preface.
bels and their adherents, taken off the file and cancelled, they
would not be out of hope, as thefe times now are to palliate
their Rebellion with fuch fpecious pretences, as that their
barbarous cruelties, afted beyond all parallel being forgotten,
it fhould with great applaufe pafs down to pofterity, under
the name of a holy andjuftwar for the defence of the Catho-
lick Caufe.
And now in order to thisdefign, they have taken all oc-
cafions to proclaim the huge preflures which they pretend
to have fuffered under the late government in thu King¬
dom , and fpare not to term it tyrannical : they fpeak
as if their oppreffions might be parallel'd with the If-
raelitifh envaflalage in the Land of o'Egypt* and their per¬
fections for Religion equalled to thofe of the Primitive
times. And then they further fay , That thereupon onlyfome
Catholicks, confidering the deplorable and defperate condition
they were in, and apprehending the plots laid to extinguish
their Religion and Nation , did take armes in the North in
maintenance of their Religion, and for the prefervation of
life, liberty, andeftate $ together with his Majeflies rights.
x^Andthat the Lords and Gentlemen dwelling within the En¬
glish Tale, were likewife by the great rigour and J ever it y ufed
by the State towards them, enforced to take up armes for their
own defence.
%an«Tof" Thefe are the expreffions and the language ufed in the late
grievances Remonftrance given in to his Majefties Commiflioners at
tohisMa^e- Trime»to be prefented tohisMajefty in behalf of his Catho-
fly in be- lick Subjects in Ireland. Wherein there are pieced together
c'thoH'ks many vam inconfiderable fancies, many fubfequent pafla-
of Ireland,ges a&ed in the profecution of the war, and fuch bold, noto-
iTtfhT r'ous' ^a^e aflertions, without any the leaft ground or colour
Majefties of truth : as without all doubt they abfolutely refolved, firft,
noners1 at to ra*^e ^ebellion, and then to fet their Lawyers and
Trimc, ^ Clergy on work, to frame fuch reafons and motives as might
g?"- with
Xjg*/
The Preface.
with fome colour of juftification ferve for arguments to de¬
fend it. And it is indeed, to fpeak plainly, a mod infamous
Pamphlet, full fraught with fcandalous afperfions call upon
the prefent government, andhisMajefties principal Officers
of State within this Kingdom. It was certainly framed with
moft virulent intentions, not to prefent their condition and
prefent fufferings to hisMajefty, but that it might be difperfed
to gain belief among foraign States abroad, as well as difcon-
tentedperfons at home > and fo draw affiftance and aid, to
foment and fttengthen their rebellious party in Ireland.
But I do not much wonder they ffiould take thus upon
them to abufe the world with fuch fcurrilous difcourfes, and
thereby endeavour to raife fome ground or belief that they
hadjuft caufe to enter into fo defperate a Rebellion. This hath
been an ordinary courfe ever held in all defigns of this nature.
And it is well obferved by T?olybitis, that there are common¬
ly to be found in all fuch great undertakings, Caufte(uaforia,
and caufa juftificte. Thenrft, fuch as are the true natural cau-
fes and really firfl: in the intention $ the other , fuch as are
mod commonly obtruded to the world by way of cover and
juflification. Now as the nature of water is moft clearly feen
in the firfl Fountain, where it remains pure and unmixed,
without any drofs or foil that it afterwards contracts, as it
pafleth along in the ftreams derived from it: So certainly the
quality of all humane adtions is beft underftood , and moft
clearly difcerned, when we look upon them as they appear
in their firfl original, before the inconveniencies and fatal
mifcarriages which afterwards come to be difcovered, awake
the firfl Projectors, and teach them new artifices wherewith
tho difguife and colour over their abortive,'or otherwife
unfortunate counfels. Now as for the true Suaforian caufes
£ if I may fo term them) which induced thelrifli to lay the
plot of this Rebellion, and were indeed really firfl in their
thoughts, they will fufficiently appear in this enfuing Story.
[b2] And
The Preface.
And for the juftifical reafons of their rifing in armes, if any
one hath a mind to take them up on truft from themfelves, let
him feek no further than theRemonftrance before mentioned^
whereof much more is to be faid than 1 fliall give my felf liber¬
ty to fpeak in this place: well knowing that thofe notorious
untruths and wicked impoftures contained in it when they
come to the tefi will be quickly difcovered, and the varnifh
they have put upon them foon fail away of it felf.
If any one hath been ignorantly deluded hereby,and defires
to be rectified in his own judgement, let him be pleafed to
turnover thisenfuingStory,
Verum eft index fui & obliqui r
There needs certainly no other confutation of their falfe
and virulent fuggeftions, than a true impartial relation of the
firfl: beginnings and progrefs of this Rebellion: which for
what was aCted within the fpaceofthe firfl; two months after
the breaking out of it, I prefume I may fay without vanity, he
fliall certainly find here. It is true, I have principally applyed
my felf to give an account of what was done about 'Dublin,
the chief City ofthis Kingdom, and the place where the Lords
Juftices and Council continued ufing their utmoft power and
endeavours to oppofe the fury of the Rebels. Yet as all other
parts of the Kingdom were under their government, and their
care and counfels ("as far as their general diflraCtions would
admit^ extended to the whole, what was aCted in all other
places of the Countrey, comes properly to be touched upon,
and the miferable condition of them to be reptefented in this
following Story.
I fliall not here trouble the Reader with any further Apo-
logy for my felf, or with excufes for the multitude of my
own imperfections, which will here appear in large Chara¬
cters and will be peradventure looked upon with a Multi-
plying
The Pre fa c e.
plying Glafs by thofe who are not pleafed with what I have
here expofed to publick view. I do not at all pretend to fi-
lence the bitter expreffions of malevolentfpirits: As I fliall
with great patience compofe my felftobear the utmofl: that
their malice can put upon me: So I fhall be always ready
with much meeknefs to fubmit to be reformed by any perfon
whatfoever, who can make it appear , that I have either
through ignorance or negligence ( for I am fure wilful mifta-
kes they will find nonej) mifcarried in the relation of any
particular here fet down: Sins of ignorance found a very
eafie expiation under the Old Law, I will not fay they had
a pardon of courfe. But if 1 have fo carried my felf, as that
no greater tranfgreffions can be laid to my charge, I fhall be
much fatisfied, and may perad venture be further encouraged
to proceed on to a continuation of this Story, and therein
to tranfmit down to pofterity the noble atchievements and
great Victories already obtained by fmall numbers of the
English forces over huge multitudes of thefe Irish Rebels.
THE
[b il
V; \r
THE
TABLE.
T. He Original ofthe Irish. fol x
Thefirjt enterprize ofthe English <?/'I re-
land, made by private adventurers of King
Henry thefecond, King ^England. 2
Chriftian Religionfetledin Ireland, in the fourth Age, after
the birth ofour Saviour. 4..
The numbers 0/Britifh and Trot eft ants murdered, or other*
wife dejlroyedfince the beginning of the , unto the time
of the making of the firfl Ceffation of arms with the Irifh
Rebels.
The ancient malice born by the Irifh towards the English. 6
The royal endeavours of Queen Elifabeth for the reducing of
Ireland. 8.
The miferable condition ^/Ireland when King James came to
the Crown ofEngland. 10
The Irilb Commiffioners prefent their grievances to King
Charles: His great readinefstoredrefs them. 12
The Earl0/Leieefter declaredL. Lieutenant ^/Ireland. 1 3
The happy condition ^/Ireland, at the time the breaking
out of the Rebellion. 1 f
The manner of the di[cover yof the Confpiracy of the Irifh,
for the feizing upon the Caftle and City ^Dublin, 17
The
The Table.
The rifingofthe Irish within the Province 0/Ulftet. 2 3
kALetterfrom the Lords Juflices and Council to the Lord
Lieutenant. 2 7
gap yf Proclamation ijjiied out for thefatisfaClion of the Lords
X (; and chief Gentlemen of the English Pale. 3 3
The names of the chief Rebels in Ulfter^ fever al Forts and
^ places ofjlrength fuddenly fur prized by them. 3 4
Several policies ufed by the Irifli to prevent the rifingofthe
Englifli againftthem. 3(5
6ir Phelim O Neals proceedings in Ulfter. 3 9
EThe fecond difpatch of the Lords Juflices and Council into
England. 41
TheProceedings of the Parliament in England upon thefirfl
y advertifements brought unto them of the Rebellion raifed in
Ireland. 42
J fV' Order takenfor victualling the Caftle ^/Dublin, and for the
: ' fafetyoftheCity. 46
y J The fad condition of the City of Dublin. 54
The particulars of thefirfl plot of the Rebellion. 5 8
j The plot for a general Rebellion in Ireland of an ancient date.
The plot for this late Rebellion firfl difcovered to the Lord
Mac-Guire, upon Mr. JohnBeliewes return out ^England,
withCommijfiontocontinue theParliamentIreland. 62
That the Lords of the Englifli Pale were engaged in thefirfl
Flat, k very probable. 6f
The Romish Clergy, and the Irifli Lawyers, great infru-
\ ments in raifing the Rebellion. 68
K The means ufed by them to fir up the people. 70
Therefolutionofthe Irifli to root out the Britifli out of Ire-
1 land. 76
l] Upon their firfl rifing they feize upon all the Englifli-rnens
goods and cattle > 'next flrip them naked, andfo turn them out of
^ their doors. 79,80
AP articular enumeration offever al bloody Majfacres and
J/ horrid
Jtt
THE TABLE.
horrid cruelties exercifed upon the Britifh; all teftified upon
oath, and taken out of fever al examinations * inferted in the
margin. 82
The Remonftrance ofthe Trot eft ants of Munfter. 92
The examinations of fever al perfons inhabiting within the
fever al Provine es of this Kingdom taken upon Oath: wherein
are depofed fever al particulars concerning the murders and
cruelties ufed by the Rebels to the Britifh in all parts of the
Country. 107
Several examinations concerning the Apparitions at Portne-
down Bridge. 125
The cruelties aBedby the Irifli upon the Britifh, were before
any provocation given them. 126
Concerning the adjournment of the Parliament in Ireland.
129
The approach of the Rebels to T redagh, and the defeat of the
Englifh forces fent for the relief ofthat Town. 140
The defection of the Lords and chiefGentlemen ofthe English
Pale, 143
The manner of their conjunction with the Northern Rebels.
Their refufal to repair to the Lordsjuftices and Council. 148
Their proceedings after they had joynedwith the Northern
Rebels, 15-3
The Kingdom 0/Scotland fends Commiffioners to treat with
the Parliament ^England concerning the relief of Ireland.
1 f6
T heir propofition s debated in the Houfe of Pears. 158
The revolt of the Province ^Munfter. 159
A Letter from the Lordsjuftices and Council to the Lord
Lieutenant. 162
i
The
'II
>lUn
if
- V
15I
if!
1 tit I*
1
ft
The Irifh Rebellion:
OR,
An H iftory of the beginnings , and firft
progrefi of the general Rebellion railed within the
Kingdom of Ireland, in the Year 1641.
H E Kingdom of Ireland (which hath for almoft five
hundred years continued under the Sovereignty of the
Crown of England) was prefently after the firft con-
queft of it, planted with English Colonies, long fince
worn out,or for the moft part become Irish. And there¬
fore it hath again in this laft Age been fupplied with
great numbers of people drawn out of England and
Scotland, to fettle their habitations in that Country. Now the moft exe¬
crable plot laid by the Irish, for the univerfal extirpation of all thefe British
and Proteflants, the bloody progrefs of their Rebellion within thecompafs
of the firft two months; their horrid cruelties, in moft barbaroufiy mur¬
dering , or otherwife deftroying many thoufands of men, women and chil¬
dren, peaceably fttled, and fecurely intermixed among them, and that with¬
out any provocation, or confiderable refiftanceat firft made, I intend
shall be the prefent fubject of the firft Part of this enfuing Story.
The Irish want not many fabulous inventions to magnify the very firft The original
beginnings of their Nation. Whether the Scythians, Gauls, ^Africans5 01 1 ie Irish"
Goths, or fome other more Eaftern Nation that anciently inhabited Spain,
came and fate down firft in Ireland, I shall not much trouble my felf here
to enquire. If we should give credit to the Irish Chronicles, or their Bards
A (who
z
The Irish Rebellion.
(whodeliver no certain truths) we might find ftuflf enough for an ancient
pedegree, made up out of a moft various ftrange compofure of the Irish
Nation. But to let thempafs, there are certainly a concurrence of divers
manners and cuftoms, fuch affinity of feveral of their words and names,
and fo great refembfance of many long ufed rites, and flill retained ceremo«
nies as do give us fome ground to believe that they do not improbably de¬
duce their firfb original from fome of thofe people. It may very well be
conjectured (for infallible Records I find none) that as the Eaftcrn parts
* rook of the Ireland, bordering upon England were firft planted by the old Britair.s:
old Brittain ¥ Toole, Birne , & Canvenagh tne ancient Septs, and flill inhabitants of that
huuoumr* part of the Country, being old British words. And as the Nothern parts
Bimetof Br in, of Ireland were fir 11 inhabited by the Scythians, from whom it was called
SV°°dS b of ** Scytenland, or Scotland: So the Southern and more Weftern parts
tdf ftrong thereof were peopled from the Maritime parts ofSpain, being the next con-
The view of tinent, not by the now Spanish Nation, who are ftrangely compounded of
fyencer. $. a different admixture of feveral people: But as I faid , perad venture by the
* * Ireland is Gaules, who anciently inhabited all'the Sea-coafts of Spain, the Syrians, or
slot?a ^me other of thofe more Eaftern Nations, who intermixing with the na-
araong an- tural Inhabitants of that Country, madeatranfmigrationinto/rc/^W, and
C[ttile7andan ^ome Colonies there.
cientiy di- The whole Kingdom of Ireland was divided into divers petty pro¬
vided imo cipalities, and of later times there were five principal Chieftains , wa.
prindpaHties. <JM,ac-AIorough of Lemjler, *JAEac-Cartye of Mtinfier, 0 Neal of Ulficr,
ijti regcsnin O Connor of Conaght, & O iJA€alaghlm of <_jMeath. For fuch were the
^ZafoicrZta- denominations , and I do not find they were called Kings till about
te aiicujus oj- the time of the coming over of the English , Giraldus Cambrenfs who
Iw nftcra'' camc *nto Breland in t Retime est Hen. z. of England, being the fir (I wri-
Menioy^ecjure ter that gives them that Title, Befides, as they came not in either byhe-
bsreditario, reditary right or lawful Election, lo their Inveftiture was folemnized nei-
therby Undion , or Coronation, they made their way by the Sword, had
eeffione, fid vi certain kinds ol barbarous ceremonies ufed at their Inauguration , kept up
Tbe7TegnTm their power with a high hand, and held the people moll monftroufiy en-
fuum obtinuit. (laved to all the lavage cuftomes praclifed under their dominion. And
bonkof1** duis they conti nued until the Reign of Hen. z. King of England in whofc
chriftchurch time the undertakings for theConquefl: of Ireland were fuccelsfully made
in Dublin,it is by moll powerful, though private adventurers upon thisoccafion.
Manufcript Dermott <Jfytac-iJ?v'£orough, King of Lemfier (being by the Kings of
kept there. Conaght & t5\Eeath enforced to fiie his country) 'made his repair di-
terjHiftofthe re<^ty to Hen- 2* °h England, then perfonally attending his Wars
Bngiiiba^on in France, and with much earnefinefs implored his aid for the recovery
by'lt ate*C 0^ ^errhones in Ireland, moll: injurioufiy, as he pretended, w relied out
adventurers. ^
3r an anciei
ni
4®^ gracioufly recommended the juftice of his caufe to all his loving Subje<fts,
The Irish Rebellion. 3
of his hands. The King refufed to imbarque himfelf in this quarrel: yet
'tiaiis
^inedccitmo
and by his Letters Patents affured them that whofoever would afford
the faid zJfytac-Morougbafliftance towards his refettlement, should not
_ onely have free liberty to tranfport their Forces, but be held to do very
, acceptable fervice therein. Hereupon Earle Strangcbow hrft engaging Se wfiram ad
J , himfelf, determined as a private Adventurer to endeavour his reftituti- \umZwu
^ : on with the utmoft forces he could raife, he lying then very conveniently yn<tm lice*-
;v* at Bnftol 3 where ^JAFac-^JAForough came unto him, in his paffage back olu»crt
rnPJC from the King into Ireland \ There were certain conditions agreed upon bren. ex™u
between them, and a tranfadion made by zJWac-Morough of his King- gnat.Hib.c.i-
Nit was cA
cot
UUi'
P1' domo£ Lemfler unto the Earl, upon his marriage with his onely daughter
Eva. And fo he being defirous to return fpeedilyinto his own Coun¬
try , palfed to St. Davids in South-Wales, from whence is the shorteft paffage
out of England into Ireland, and there he further engaged Fitz,- Stephen and
(k Spa/, t
e witli tb
Fit*,- Gerald, private Gentlemen, in this fervice : Thefe, by their power
among their Country-men in thofe parts, having gotten together a party
o/rck/,fi of49omcn, tranfported them in three ships into Ireland ^ landing at the-Cdmhr'(df*°
Banne, a little Creek near Feat herd in the county of Wexford, and there
ts petty p joyning with fbme Forces brought unto them by zJWac-eJfyCorough, made
their firft attempt upon the town of Wexford * they were gallantly feconded
m
Wtf Wjfo by Earl Strange bow, who followed prefently after with no very confiderable
liichwerc: forces: and yet by the power of their arms, within a very short time
instill A. prevailed fo far in the Country, as they made them (elves mafters thereof,
Miwfiin and fo gained the poffeflion of all the maritime parts otLemfter.
thefriw King Henrj upon the news of their profperous fuccefsin the fudden K.Henry the
either bjt reducement of fo large a territory by fuch in confiderable forces as they
lemiieh carried with them; defirous to share with his fubje&s in the rich fruits, as Utnd. An. 1171
eSwordjk well as in the glory of fo great ,an atlion, undertook an expedition in his
ion,kpff own perfon into Ireland the year following. Andfoftrangc an influence
1irJf® - had the very prefence of this great Prince into the minds of the rude lavage
lion. Anc Natives, as partly by the power ofhis arms, partly by his grace and favour
<i inwhof in receiving of them in upon their fained fubmiflions moft numbly tendred
fullymad unto him, he eafily fubdued a barbarous divided people,
n. The flr ft beginnings of the Conqueft of this Kingdom were thus glo-
e Kings® riouflylaid by this King, in the year ofour Lord 1172. NowfortheLand .
; repair di- it (elf, he found it good and flourishing with many excellent commodities,
0 W- plentiful in all kinds ofprovifion, the Soil rich and fertile, the Air fweet
e recover and temperate, the Havens very fafe and commodious, feveral Towns and
reikis little Villages fcattered up and down in the feveral parts of the Country;
1 but the Buildings fo poor and contemptible, as when that King arrived at
A 2 Dublin
4
The Irish
Hoyedcn Dublin their chief City, and finding there neither place fit for receipt or
"egium~ entertainment, he fet up a long houfe made of fmoothed wattles after the
miro Artificio manner of the Country, and therein kept his Chriftmas. All their Forts,
d7tis*dw'' ^aftles> buildings and other edifices were afterwards ereded by the
English, except fame of their maritime towns which were built by the Oft*
manni or Eafterlings who anciently came and inhabited in Ireland.
^ch'rifti'an8' Moreover, He found likewife by feveral mounments of piety, and
Religion fet- other remarkable teffci monies, that Chriftian Religion had been long fince
kd inIreland, introduced and planted among the inhabitants of the Land. It is not
certainly without fome good grounds affirmed by ancient writers, That
in the Fourth age after the incarnation of our bleffed Lord and Saviour,fome
holy and learned men came over out of Foreign parts into Ireland, out
of their pious defire to propogate the bleffed Gofpel throughout the King-
By seduiius, d°m 3 ^ Sedulifts, Palladia*, and befides feveral others Patricias the famous
Fai/adiujtPa- Irish Saint, (A Britain born at a place now called Kirck^Patrtck^ near Glaf-
fourthaggrf! cow in Scotland, then the utmoft boundary of the Britains dominion in
tet the birth thofe parts) whooutof meer devotion came andfpent much of their time
of our san- among the Irish, and out of their zealous affedions for the converfion of a
barbarous.people,applied themfelves with great care and induftry to the in-
ftruding of them in the true grounds and principles of Chriftian Religion i
And with fo great fuccefs, andfuch unwearied endeavours did S. Patrick^
travail in this work, as (if we will give credit to fome writers) we muft
believe that the Church olArmagh was by him ereded into an A rchiepifi
copal See, three hundred and fifty Bishops confecrated, great numbers of
Clergy-men inftituted, who,(notwithftanding the notorious impiety and
continued prophanels of the common fort of people) being moftof them
Monks by vow andprofeffion, ofgreat learning, veryauftere andftrid
in their difcipline, were lo much taken notice of in thofe rude igno-
Kex Anglo- rant by other Nations, as in refped of them fome gave unto the
rum Hen. »#»- Ifland the denomination of Infula SanStorum. But fo quickly did the power
bolinels decay in the land , as the name was foon loft , and even the
\tns vgavit very priflts and charaders thereof among the very Clergy themfelves obli-
papamAciria- terated; the iifeofthe people fo beaftly, their manners fo depraved and
cent "tifberni* barbarous, as that King Henry , when he entertained the firft thoughts of
infuUmintra- transferring his Arms over into Ireland, made fuit unto the Pope, that he
wou^ give him lea veto go and conquer Ireland, and reduce thole beaftly
w* homines men unto the wayof truth.: Anfwerable whereunto was the tenor of Pope
Bull, as appears at large in Parifanfis, whereby he gave him li-
viAmnditcere berty to go over and fubdue the Irish Nation. Afufficient demonftration
ventam,Mat. Gf the condition ofthat people, and what opinion was held of them , as
i 156.An* by their holy Father the Pope, as other Princes. And the King at his
,'il, , x^j,uji„ii 1 "mi1 '■ v arrival
The Irish Rebellion. 5
f ^ — = ~
i0r receipt- arrival found them no other then a beaftly people indeed. For the Inhabi¬
ts afterti tants were generally devoid of all manner of civility, governed by no fet-
All tkir Foits led laws, living like beafts, biting and devouring one another, without
'to&dtyj rules, cuftoms , or reafonable conftitutions either for regulation of
)uttytle(j property, or againft open force and violence, mod notorious murthers,
rapes, robberies, and all other ads of inhumanity and barbarifm , raging
11 without controul or due courfe of punishment. Whereupon, He, without
;^etl4(ic! any manner offcruple, or farther inquifition into particular titles, refol-
ving as it feems to make good by the fword the Popes donation, made a
liters, Tb general feizure of all the lands of the whole Kingdom, and fo without other
iSivburfe ceremony took them all into his own hands.
1 0: And that he might the more fpeedily introduce Religion and civility, i\exantequam
and fo draw on towards the accomplishment of that great work which
^tlefi/Dou he had lo glorioufly begun, he Firft, in a great Counfel held at Lijfemore, hum congrega-
cauled the Laws of England to be received and fetiedin Ireland, then he *p^dpf-
f dominion ii afterwards united it to the Imperial Crown of England, making large
iofttti diftributions.jCQ .his followers by particular grants, allotting out in great °*»»ibusgra-
onverfoool" proportions the whole Land of Ireland among the English Commanders, ^epZ&jma.
iftrytotkin who made eftates , and gave feveral shares to their friends and com- tori* c«uti»»e
ianMgiot militants that came over private adventurers with them. But before I
did i km pafs further,, I shall take the liberty here to infert oneobfervation out of Paris. An.
js) wem\i Giraldm Cambrenfis concerning the caufes and reafons of the profpe- I)^land diy?
an Ardikpi rity of the English undertakings in Ireland, He faith that a Synod, or dedbyK.w™.
nnumb: Counfel of the Clergy , being there aftembled at Armagh , and that ^ among h;s
isimpiep: point fully debated, it was unanimoufly agreed by them all, that the fins othe^a"^
no/lofta of the people were the occafion of that heavy judgment then fallen up- tturercrs.
re u/idilii: ori their Nation, and that efpecially their buying of English men from
;/bei'gti Merchants and Pirates, and detaining them under a moftmiferable hard Pis concilia, &
iveuntoi bondage, had caufed the Lord by Way of juft retaliation, to leave them
[(ltkpi to be reduced by the English to the fame flavery. Whereupon they made pJbikesutZ
limfa a publique a<ft in that Council , that all the English held in captivity tHm '•ut
lives obi throughout the whole Land, should be prefently reftored to their former ftiaZfilZZ
raved anc liberty. Iffo heavy a Judgement fell then upon the Irish for their hard tis vinculo
loughtsoi ufage of fome few English, what are they now to expecft I or what expiati- ^ftmamr?-
, on can they now pretend to make for the late effufion of fo much innocent wcentw u-
ifebealf English blood, after fo horrid, defpiteful and execrable a manner ? There cambTx0^'
0fPope being fince the Rebellion firft brake out, unto the time of the Ceflation nib. cap?"!.'
xcUi' .o&de Sept. 15.1645. which was not full two years after, above 300000. ^enmabers
litM British & Prot eft ants cruelly murthered in cold blood, deftroyed fome &
\mt g other way, or expelled out of their habitations, according to theftri&eft deftroyed
mthii conjecture and computation, of thofe who feemed beft to underftand the Rc~
m'i A 3 numbers
6 The Irish Rebellion.
numbers of English planted in Ireland, befides thofe few which perished
in the heat of Fight, during the war.
The fru'tlefs J<itig Jdhn camfedntp Ireland during his minority, though to little
expeditions purpofe, but after, about the twelfth year ofhis Reign, upon the gene-
&k Richard ra' deletion of the Irish, he made a Second expedition, and during his
2. into ire- flay there, built feveral Forts and ftrong Caftles, many of which remain
W. unto riiis day, he ere&ed all the Courts of Judicature , and contributed
very much towards the fettlement of the English Colonies, as alfo of the
Civil Government. -King Richard the Second made likewife in the time
of his Reign* upon the fame occafion two other expeditions into Ireland
in his ownperfan. But both thofe Princes out of adefire to fparc the
effufionof English blood, as alfo the expence oftreafure, being likewife
hsftned back by the diftempers of their own Subje&s in England, were
both Content to fuffer themfelves to be again abufed by the fained fub-
milfions of the Iriih 5 who finding theiro'wn weaknefs, and utter difabi-
lity torefift the power of thole two mighty Monarchy came with all
humility even from the fartheft parts of the Kingdom, tcPfubmit to their
mefcy : And yet it is well obferved by Tome that fay they returned back,
not leaving one true fubje<5t more behind them, then they found at their
firft arrival. HowfoCver by the very prefence of thefe Princes, and by
the careful endeavours of the Governours fent over by other of the Kings
o£ England, thofe that were Adventurers in the firft Conqueft, andfuch
other of the English Nation as came over afterwards took poffeflion by
virtue of the former grants of the whole Kingdom , drove the Irish in a
manner out of all the habitable parts of it, and fetled themfelves in all the
plains and fertile places of the Country , efpecially in the chief Towns,
Ports, and upon the Sea-coafts. A nd to fuch a height of power and great-
nefs had fome of thofe firft Adventuring Commanders raifed themfelves
here by reaion ofthe addition of new titles of honour, the unlimited jurif-
didtions and priviledges enjoyed by them, the great rents they received,
the numerous dependance they had, As that they began to look upon their
own poifeifions as circumfcribed within too narrow limits, to entertain
private animofities again ft each other, to draw in the Irish (whom they
had driven up intd the mountains, and ever efteemedas their fnoft deadly
enemies) to take part in their quarrels, being not ashamed to ufe their afti-
ftance for the enlargement of their o vn private territories, as alfo to curb
the too exorbitant power, as they thought, of their oppofites, though
their own compatriots and jointenants in the pofTeflion of that good land.
The ancient Thz Irish were very glad to entfertain this occafion and did ever foment by
malice ofthe their utmoft power* and artifice thefe unnatural broils and diffentions
ingiisL1 e among the English, whom they moft mortally hated : For they living in
The I k I s He Rebellion.
AcVferij
u?°n thegQ
} fflddnriw
:^ko/^
fmtofp®!
jQuinfjne /»-
miitM.O Heale
O Ccnnot dc
Conacia.
0 Brien de
Thorn or. din,
?JlilC-\loroi<n •
J ^
ue Ldgeyia.
JUKI
j' came v/ith
AllttOtl
MUM
Winces, ®|
que/1,
ivctkM:
mfdvesiwft
'chieiJm
msndpt
Id themfel1
nlimitedjur,
they m
viftitki
to enterti
irfdeal
ife their i
alfo to ciL'
;es, thoB
It £00$®
difatf
evlivinf
2B0
a manner out of the reach, as well as out ofthe porte&ion of all the English
Laws and Government, were always accounted not only as aliens, but
*meer enemies; And befides thode Septs of Irish' which were termed the
Ouincfpte famdla (who notwithstanding the great priviledges they enjoyed
by the protection of the English Lawsever shewed much averfenefsboth
to the English, and their Laws) No other perfons of any Irish families, de
from the very firft conqueft of Ireland in the time of Hen. i. until the reign
of King Hen. 8. were admitted into the condition of Subjects, or received
any benefit by the English.Laws, but fuch as purchafed Charters of Deni¬
zation. It was no capital-offence "to kill any of them, the Law did neither
procedt their life, nor revenge their- death. And fo they living upon the
mountains in t e beggs and woods, though at firft after fome fort divided
from the English, did take all occalions to declare their malice and hatred
again ft the English colonies planted near unto them.
But howfioevcr the English were in all ages infefted with their Irish
enemies, yet were they certainly in point of intereft and Universal pof-
feifion, Owners, and "Proprietors ofthe whole Kingdom of Irel&idi They ^
kept themfclves in entire bodies almoft for the firft hundred years after Js made aT
their arrival, not fuffering the Irish to live promifcuoufly among them , Kilkenny by
by which means they failed not to make good their footing, and by a high ofc/arence
hand to keep them under in due obedience and fubjeclion to the Crown of l. Lieqtc-
England. And when afterwards they began to be more carelefs of their faJdh/hc'
habitation , and to fuffer the Irish to intermingle with them, and their time ©f E'.'w,
English followers to familiarize themfelves into their beaftly manners and Aliia?ce
cuftoms (for prevention of which mifchief, many fevere Laws were nLTuVe'of '
enadled-in after ages) yet for fome time they made good the rights and pof- infants, and
feftions they had gotten by conquefl, and went on, endeavouring to
civilize the people, introducing the English Laws, language, habit, and ajehigj
cuftoms long ufed among them. Now although thefe, and all other cour- if
fes were taken by them , which might reclaim fuch as feemed any ways man should
inclinable to civility, or would take out Charters of Denization : yetTuch J*re the Iriih
ever was, and ftill is the rough rebellious difpofition ofthe people, their /wJ/Tnfme,
hatred fo implacable , their malice fo unappeafeable to all the English ot Irish ^p-
Nation, asnoLaws or gentle Conftitutions would work, no publick
nefits attemper, or any traCt oftime reconcile and draw them to any tole- befeifedon,
rable patience of cohabitation; But they have in all times continued to take
all advantages, as well fince they were admitted into the condition of Sub- was to fuffer
je&s, as while they were efteemed and treated as enemies, moft perfi- imPri^n-
dioufty to rife up and imbrue their hands in the blood of their English J,?chiv. in
neighbours : So as Ireland hath long remained a true Aceldama , a field caP6
K'f^entjy.
of blood, an unfatiated fepulchre gf the English Nation, For what by Statutcscf
reafon
8
The Irish Rebellion.
lathatfpacc reafon of their own inteftine broiles, after they had (as foon they did,
whiSwas w^n they began to admit the intermixture of the Irish) moft barbaroufly
between the degenerate into all their manners and cuftoms; and what by reafon of the
s^/T°ani hatred and mifchievous attempts of the Irish upon them : We shall
th^ Jyea" not find that the English, from their firft accefs into Ireland, unto the be.
of Edyv.%. ail ginn;ng Qf the reign of Queen Elizabeth, (a trad of time containing above
giTsh cofo*-" 3 80. years) had any fetled peace or comfortable fubfiftence, but were in
nics in m«»- moft perpetual combuftions and troubles, fo extremely harafled and over-
an<d w/Sf* worn whh mifery, as they were not long likely tofurvive the univerfal
and more' calamity that had overfpreaa the face of the whole Kingdom,
then a Third whereupon that blefled Queen, out of her pious intentions, and good
^"became aife&ions to her people , applied her felf with great care to redrefs the
degenerate, cliforders of her Subjeds in Ireland. And in the very beginning of her
Reign , fending over prudent and religious Governours, the work of
Crown of Reformation was much advanced, by many wholefom Laws enaded
fhe English* again ft the barbarous cuftoms of the Irish; and the execution ofJuftice
pale remain- (which a long time continued within the limits of the Pale) began now
underthc to extenckd ^nto c-onA^ot > lifter and other remote parts of the Land
obedience of at fame intervals of quiet times. The Irish Countries were reduced into
the Law. shires, and Sheriffs with fome other Minifters of Juftice placed in them:
endeavours31 The pretended Captainships, and thofe high powers ufurped by the Irish,
ofqueenEh'v together with all the extortions, and other fearful exorbitances inci-
for thocf/r^du" dent to them, were now put into fuch a way of declination, as they could
Und.° e not long continue. Seignories and Poftelfions were fetled in a due courfe
of inheritance ; thofe moft deftrudive cuftoms of * Taneftry and Gavel-
belon in3tldS began to be deprefled; The two Prefidential Courts of Mmfler and
to thf^hh Conaght were then inftituted , and fpecial order taken that Free-fchools
w«£U" miglit be ereded in the feveral DiocefTesthroughout the Kingdom, for
vwai terri- the better training up of Youth. But thefe ads, and other courfes tending
t0tieSh v to ^ie advancement true Relegion , and Civility, were highly dif-
ums in l" pleafing, and moft incompatible with the loofe humours of the Natives,
every Irish . , ^ ,
Country were divided into feveral Septs or Lineages. In every Irish Counrry there was a Lord or
Chieftain, and a Tanift, which was his fucceflbr apparent. None could be chofen Tanift, but one iflued out of
one of the chief Septs. TheSeignOry and Lands belonging to the chief Lord, did not defcend from Father
to Son, or upon default of iflue to him that was next of kin : But he that was moft adve, of greateft power, and
had moft followers, always caufed himfelf to be chofen Tanift ; and if he could not compafs his defires by gentle
means, then he ufed open force and violence ; and fo being declared as it were heir apparent, came into pofleflion
upon the death of che chief Lord Nowforthe inferior Septs, they held their lands at the will of the chief
Lord, after a fort i For after the death of every one ofhis Tenants which held any land under him, heaflembled
the whole Septs, and having put all their pofTellions together in hotch potch , made a new partition among them,
notaflignin* to the Son of him that died , the land held by his Father, but altering every mans poireflkm at his
own pleafure, and according to his own difcretion : he, upon the death of every inferior Tenant, madeagcneial
remove, and fo alotted to every one of the Sept fuch part as he thought fit. And this was the Irish Gavelkind. Sir
John Davits Rep. fol, 49.
who
The Irish Rebellion.
who apprehended even the moft gentle means of reformation, as sharp
corroding medicines; And thereupon pretending the burthen of the Eng¬
lish government moft infupportable , began defperately to ftruggle for
their liberty. Several plots were laid, lome even by thofe who were them- dm, in Lage~
lelves of the old English by cxtra&ion : divers Rebellions and petty Re-
volts raifed during Her Majefties moft happy reign : That of Shan 0
Nealy the Earl of Defmond-> Vifcount Baltinglas, O Rurhe, and feveral Pantm ex ^
others at other times, were all fet on foot for this very end, and all timely ZT/JL
fupprefled, partly by the power of the Queens forces, partly by hergra- p*rtmex»fa
cious favour in receiving the Chieftains to mercy. And she, as moft
unwearied with their never cealing provocations, ftill went on with all confrere'c«-
gentle applications and lenitives, for the withdrawing ofthe people from PerantadPr°-
their barbarous cuftoms : As, fe veral of the great Lords who had been out ffriuZZppri-
in Rebellion, were reftored to their lands and pofiellions, others she fuf- ™enduM^c*7
fered to enjoy their Commands in the Country, upon others she bellowed »Zfii»?e?ci'
new titles of Honour. And being very unwilling to put the Kingdom ofPie»d«™.
England to fuch an excelfive charge, as the full conqueft of Ireland would
moft neceflarily require; no fair means were left untried , that could «»»»• e medio
minifter any hopes of civilizing the people, or fetling the prefent diftra-
cftions ofthe Kingdom. An.i2.
But all was in vain; the matter then wrought upon was not fufceptible ^ ZtQbttl
of any fuch noble forms, thofe ways were heterogeneal, and had no Ximedby"
manner of influence upon theperverfe difpolitions ofthe Irish : the ma- semlc
lignantimpreffionsof irreligion and barbarilm, tranlmitted down, whe- means<
ther by infufion from their anceftors, or natural generation, had irrefra-
gably ftiffned their necks, and hardned their hearts againft all the moft
powerful endeavours of Reformation : They continued one and the fame
in all their wicked cuftoms and inclinations, without change in their af-
'uriestena fe<f}-jons or manners, having their eyes enflamed, their hearts enraged with
eTvc malice and hatred againft allj of the English Nation , breathing forth no-
theiwc thing but their ruine , deftruction, and utter extirpation.
m a Lotd And that they might at once dif- impeller themfelves of their unpleafing Tyrone, rebel-
company, and disburthen the whole kingdom of them and their poll erity, lion*
they ftill entertained new thoughts, andhad now brought unto perfection
adefignlong meditated in their breafts, whereby they refolved at once
clearly torefcue and deliver themfelves from their fubjeClion to the Crown
oI England. And this was that defperate Rebellion raifed almoft through
the whole Kingdom, by Hugh Earl olTyron, who after titles of Honour,
received a Command given by the Queen unto him both ofHorfeand Foot
in her Pay, great proportions of Land, and other Princely favours con¬
ferred Upon him ; Revolving at once to cancel all thofe Royal obligations of
1 B gratitude
IO
The Irish Rebellion,.
&
f;."
gratitude and fidelity, broke out and drew along with him moft of all the
Irish Septs and Families, together with many degenerate English through¬
out the Kingdom , into rebellion againft fiis moft gracious undoubted
Sovereign. And thefe all, as being univerfally a&uated with the vene-
mous infufions of his malevolent fpirit, uniting their whole in terefts and
forces into a firm conjuncture with him, raifea all their dependants, and
moved in feveral places according to the feveral orders and directions they
received from him:and to fill up the full meafure of his iniquity,he drew in a
foreignNation at the fame time with confiderableForces to invade theLand,
The ill effe&s So as the Queen now found by woful experience, that Ireland was no
of the Tub- longer to be dallied with, one Rebellion ftil begot another, and this laft
theS °{ was more dangerous then any of the former, it being more deeply rooted,
more generally fpread within the Kingdom, more powerfully fomented
from without. She well difcerned how much her great clemency had been
abufed in fuffering former rebellions to be fmothered over and loofely pieced
up with protections and pardons; that the receiving of the Irish upon their
fubmiffions, to avoid the charge of a war,did inevitably redouble the charge,
and perpetuate the miferies of war: therefore she now refolved no lon¬
ger to trifle with them , but vigoroufly to fet to the work, and making
choice of fome of her moft renowned English Commanders, committed to
their charge the conduCt of an Army Royal, compleatly armed, and well
paid, wherewith they began theprofecution ofthat Arch-traitour Tyron,
and with great fuccefs in a short time, though not without the expence of
much English blood, and above a million of mony, brought him upon
his knees : And howfoever before this glorious work was fully accom¬
plished , it pleafed God to put a period to her days, yet lived she long
enough to fee juft vengeance brought down upon the head of that unnatural
difturber of the peace of the Kingdom, himfelfin a manner wholly defert-
ed.,his Country moft miferably wafted, and a general defolation and famine
brought in, mightily confuming what was left undevoured by the fword.
The mifera- It is very eafie to conjeClure in what a moft miferable condition Ireland
"jon then was, the English Colonies being for the moft part barbaroufly rooted
when k" out, the remainders degenerated into Irish manners and names, the very
james canae themfel ves moft mightily wafted and deftroyed by the late wars, and
thereby much of the Kingdom depopulated, in everyplace large monu¬
ments of calamity and undifcontinued troubles. King James of blefled
memory found it, athisfirft acceffion to the Crown ox England, in this
deplorable eftate; whereupon he prefently took into his care the peaceable
fettlcment of Ireland, and civilizingofthe people : And conceiving that
the powerful conjunction of Englana & Scotland would now over-awthe
Irish, jndcontain them in tfyeir due obedience, He refolved not to take
any
The Irish Rebellion.
ittiii.
any advantage ofthofe forfeitures and great confifcations which he was moft H5» lenity
juftly intitled unto by Tyron *s Rebellion ; but out of his Royal bounty /^rtbds,
and Princely magnificence, reftored all the Natives to the entirepoffefhon and his cn-*
of their own lands. A work moft munificent in it felf, and fuch as he had
reafon to believe would lor the time to come perpetually oblige their obe- matioR.
dience to the Crown o£ England. And in this ftate the Kingdom continued
under forne indifferent terms of peace and tranejfcility , until the fixth
year ofhis Reign: Then did the Earl of Tfron take up new thoughts of
rifing in arms , and into his Rebellious defign he eafily drew the whole
hisplo
he finding himfelf not able to get together any confiderable forces, he with
Province of Vlfter, then entirely at his devotion; But his plot failed, and
the principal of his adherents, quitting the Kingdom, fled into Spain,
leaving fomebufyincendiaries to foment thofe beginnings he had laid for
a new Rebellion in Ireland and promifing fpeedily to return well attended
with foreign fuccours to their aid : But by the great bleflingof Almighty
Cod upon the wifeCounfels of that King, and the careful endeavours of
his vigilant Minifters, the diftempers occafioned by the noife of that com¬
motion were foon alayed, and Tyron never returning, the peace of the
Kingdom much confirmed and fetled. King James hereupon being now fb
juftly provoked by the high ingratitude of thofe Rebellious Traitours,
caufed their perfons to be attainted, their lands to be feized, and thofe fix
Counties within the Province ofVlfter which belonged unto them, to be
furveyed, and all (except fomefmali parts of them referved to gratify the
well affe&ed Natives) to be diftributed in certain proportions among
British undertakers, who came over and fetled themfelves and many other
British families in thofe parts: By this means the foundations of fomegood
Towns, foon after encompafled with ftone-walls, ware prefently laid ,
feveral Caftles and Houfes of ftrength built in feveral parts of the Country,
great numbers of British inhabitants there fetled, to the great comfort and
fecurity of the whole Kingdom. And the fame courfe was taken fikewife
for the better affurance of the peace of the Country, in the plantation of
feveral pars ofLemfler, where the Irish had made incurfions, and violently
expelled the old English out of their poffeffions. But howfoever the King
was by due courfe of Law juftly intitled to all their whole eftates there; yet
he was gracioufly pleafed to take but one fourth part of their Lands, which
was delivered over likewife into the hands of British undertakers, who with
great coft and much induftry planted themfelves fo firmly as they became
ofgreat fecurity to the Country, and were a moft efpecial means to intro¬
duce civility in thofe parts: fo as now the whole Kingdom began exceed¬
ingly to flourish in coftly buildings, and all manner of improvments,
the people to multiply and increafe, and the very Irish feemed to be much
* B 2 ' fatis.
X z
The Irish Rebellion.
:L
fatisfied with the benefits of that peaceable Government, and general tran¬
quility which they fo happily enjoyed.
k. charits, \ N D now of late fuch was the great indulgence of K. Charles our So-
great readi- f\ vereign that now reigncth, to his Subjects of Ireland. , as that in .thp
dreft/hc" year 1640. upon their complaints, and a general Remon I trance fen t over
grievances unto him from both Houfes of Parliament then fitting at Dublin , by a
fahimbvUn" Committee offour temporal Lords of the upper houfe, and twelve Mem¬
bers of thehoufe ofCommons, with inftructions to reprefent the heavy
preffures they had for fome time fuffered under the Government of the Earl
of Strafford , He took their grievances into his royal confederation > de¬
fended fo far to their fatisfadtion , as that he heard them himfelf and made
prefent provifions for their redrefs: And upon the deceafe of Mr. Wands-
ford , Mafter of the Rolls in Ireland > and then Lord Deputy here under
the laid Ea rl of Strafford, who fill continued Lord Lieutenant of this
Kingdom (though then accufed of high trcafon , and imprifoncd in the
Tower of London , by the Parliament of England) His Maj'efty fent a
to him by
the Irish
GommUlio-
nets, 1640/
The Lords.
L. Vicount
Gormanjlone,
L. Vicount
J{Ur/idloc,
L. Vicount
Coflelo,
L. Vicount
CBaltinglas,
^Lemfter. Commiflion of Government to the Lord Dillon ofKilkenny Weft, and Sir
phm\et, Wdliams Parfim Knight and Baronet, Mafter of the Wards in Ireland, Yet
%thard Bith- ^oon a^ter finding choife of the Lord Dillon tobe much difguftcd by
garret, N ic. the Committee, he did at their motion caufe the faid Commiftio.n to be
Sarnewaii, cancelled, and with their confent and approbation placed the government
Munfter. upon Sir William Parfons, and Sir John Borlace Knight, Mafter of the
%vcHirdrefs Ordnance, both efteemed perfons of great integrity; and the JV1 after of
die Wards, by reafon ofhis very long continued imployment in the State,
Doumgb his particular knowledge of the Kingdom, much valued and well beloved
^Gon'agiit. among the people. They took the fword upon the 9. of Febr. 1640.
Robert Lix.cW, And in the firft place they applied themfel ves with all manner of gentle leni-
r^ves t0 mollify the sharp humours raifed by the rigid paflages in the former
uifter. government. They declared themfel ves againft all fuch proceedings lately
ffj™ tifed, as they found any ways varying from the Common Law; They
tnes "Mongo-
mety.
gave all due encouragement to the Parliament then fitting, to endeavour
the Eeafonable eafe and contentment of the people, freely aflenting to all
fuch A<5is as really tended to a legal reformation : They betook themfelves
wholly to the advice of the Council, and caufed all mattersas well of the
Crown, as Popular intereft, tobe handled in His MajefHes Courts of
Juftice, no v/ays admitting the late exorbitances (fo bitterly decried in.
Parliament) of Paper-petitions or Bills, in Civil caufes, to be brought be¬
fore them at the Council-board, or before any other by their authority:
They, by His Majefties gracious dire&ions, gave a way to the Parliament
tenement'o' toa^ate t^ie Subfidies (theregiven in the E. of Straffords time, and then in
thepeppie. collection) from 40000. Ji. each Subfidy 3 to 12000, li. apiece, folow did
they
Sir W U. Par
Jons fk Sir
John Borlace
made Ju-
ftices
They apply
them Pel ves
The Irish Rebellion.
%Kriltrt they thinckfitto reduce them: And they were further content (becaufe
they fa\v His Majelly moft abfolutely refolved to give the Irish Agentsfuil
eWjtoiirf fat2sftSion) to draw lip two Ads to be paffed in the Parliament, moft
' iit] impctupf!y dehrcd by the Natives; The one was the Act ofLimitations y
'iiranccfentov: which unqueftionably fetledalleftates of land in the Kingdom, quietly
enjoyed without claim or .interruption for the fpace, of fixty years imme-
^twelve - diateJy preceding; The other was for the relinquishment of the right and
title which His Majefty had to the four Counties in Conaght, legally found
for him by feveral inquifitions taken in them, and ready to be difpofed of,
upon a due furvey, to British undertakers; as alfo to fame. territories ofgood
extent in Mmfter, and the County of Clare , upon the fame title.
ofMr,^ Thus was the prefent Government moft fweetly tempered, and carried
lUty here iitie on with great lenity and moderation; the Lords J uft ices and Council*
utoitoft wholly departing from the rigour of former courfes, did gently unbend
fined j/](j themfelves into a happy and j uft. compliance with the feafonable defires of
Mijefjfot - the people, And His Majefty-, that he might further teftifv his own fetlcd
f/ftaajj refolution for the continuation thereof with the fame tender hand over
inlriUj them, having firft gi ven full fatis£j<ftion in all things to the faid Committee
of Parliament ftill attending their difpatch, did about the later end of May, T^e Earl of
ftfA 1(541. declare Robert Earl of Leicefier;, Lord Lieutenant General of the clarcdLord
govern Kingdom of Ireland. He was heir to Sir Philip Sidney his Uncle, as well as Lieutenant
Hikoft\ ; to.Sir Hen. Sidney his Grandfather, who with great honour and piuchintc- ^^641
JeMifert grhy long continued chief Goyernour^f. W^ duritig the ; feign of
itintkk Queen Elizabeth • and being a perfon of excellent abilities by nature, gr<§at
wUbek acquifitions from his own private induftry and publique implovment a~
EFfk 4 broad, of exceeding great temper and moderation , was never engaged in
xen[l{fffi^any publiqueprefTuresof the common-wealth > japd therefore moft likely
inthdm to Prove a j uft and gentle Governour, moft pleafing and acceptable to the
xdimhti Pe°p-ie- 1 . _ • . .
Ljw 1 Tl Moreover, the Romish Catholicks now priyately,,enjoyed the free Thepapifia-
t0eojafs exercife of their religion throughout the whole Kingdom, according to the p^tetyto
ywtoi Doftrine of the Church of Rome. They had by the over great indulgence enjoy the
rierofelvf c^e ^ate Governourstheir ti tular A rchbishqps, Bishops, Vicars general,
welloltl Provincial confiftories,, Beans, Abbots, Priors, Nuns, who all lived gion.
^0lim; frely, though fomewhat covertly among them, and \vithout control
jecrje£j exerciled.a.voluntary jurildidion over them, they had their Priefts, Jefuits >
ro lull andFryars, who wereoflate years exceedingly multiplied, and in great
Jor numbers returned out of Spam, Italy and other forreign parts, where the
Children of the Natives of Ireland that way devoted, were fent ufually to
inJthni receive fheir educations. And thefe without any manner of reftraint, had
? A quietly fetled themfelves in all the chief Towns, Villages, Noblemen and
' tk * " ' B 3 private.
14 The I R I s h Rebellion.
private Gentlemenshoufes throughout the Kingdom. So as the private
exercifeofall their religious rites, and ceremonies was freely enjoyed by
them without any manner of difturbance, and not any of the Laws put in
execution, whereby heavy penalties were to be inflided upon cranfgreffours
in that kind.
The good And for the ancient animofities and hatred which the Irish had been ever
betwixuhc °t>ferved to bear unto the English Nation, they feemeed now to be quite
irisb & En- depofitcd and buried in a firm conglutination of their affedions and Natio-
of the obligations pafled between them. The two Nations had now lived
Kingdom/ together 40. years in peace, with great fecurity and comfort, which had
in a manner confolidated them into one body, knit and compaded toge¬
ther with all thofe bonds and ligatures of friendship, aliance , and confan-
guinity as might make up a conftant and perpetual Union betwixt them.
Their intermarriages were frequent, gdflipred, foftering (relations of
much dearnefs among th e Irish) together with all others of tenancy neighb¬
ourhood , and fervice interchangeably paffed among them. Nay, they
had made as it Were a kind of mutual tranfmigrationinto each others man¬
ners , many English being ftrangely degenerated into Irish affedions
and cuftoms', and many Irish, efpeciaily of the better fort, having taken
up the English language, apparel, and decent manner of living in their
private houfes. And fo great an advantage did they find by the Englisk^om-
rnerce and cohabitations in the profits and high improvements of their
Lands and Native commodities, fo incomparably beyond what they ever
formerly enjoyed, or could exped to raife by their own proper induftry,
as Sir Phelim ONealy and many others of the prime-leaders in this rebellion,
had not long before turned their Irish tenants of their lands, as fome of
them faid to me (when I enquired thereafon of their fo doing) even to
ftarve upon the mountains, while they took on English , who were able
to give them much greater rents, and more certainly pay the fame. A
matter t?hat was much taken notice of, and efteemed by many, as mod
highly conducing to the fecurity of the English interefts, and plantation
among them. So as all thefe circumflances duly weighed , together with
the removal of the late obftrudions, the great increafe of trade, and many
otherevident Symptoms of a flourishing Common-wealth, it was believ¬
ed even by the wifeft and belt experienced in the affairs of Ireland, that the
peaceand tranquility of the Kingdom was now fully fetled, and moft likely
in all humane probability to continue, without any confiderable interrup¬
tion, in the prefent felicity and great profperity it now enjoyed under the
government of His Majelly that now reigneth.
The pdriid- In t^AngUjl, itfM- the Lords Juftices and Council finding the Popish
nedParty *n ^ Houfes of Parliament to be grown to fo great a height, as was
1641. * fcarcely
The Irish Rebellion. i 5
® the jji; •■■■■' —— ——
iyttpfl fcarcely compatible with the prefent Government, were Very defirous to
have an Adjournment made for three months, which was readily afflented f
unto and performed by the members of both Houfes. And this was done
not many days before the return of the Committee formerly mentioned -,
it out of England : They arrived at Dublin about the latter end of Angufl, The iA$h
low to ^ and prefently after their return they applied themfelves to the Lords Jufttces commiffio-
■ions andN;; and Council, defiring to have all thofeA&s and others Graces granted by outo'f&I^
Wtioit, Majefty, made known unto the people by proclamations to be lent and
him down into feveral parts of the Country; which while the Lords JufticeS
took into their coniideration, and lat daily cornpofingof A6ts to be palled
the next Seflion of Parliament, for the benefit of His Majefty, and the
good of his Subje&s, they feemed with great contentment and fatisfa&ion
to retire into the Country to their feveral habitations^ that they might
there refresh themfelvesin- the mean feafon.
acWa« The difcovery of the Confpiracy of the Irish, to
feiz upon the Caftle and City of Dublin ; and
their general Rifing at the fame time, in all
the Northern parts of this Kingdom.
, having ti
fthehz-
SUch was now the {late and prefent condition of the Kingdom of Ire- The happy
land,fuchthegreatferenicy through thegentle and happy tranfaftion
ittinsrixfe ol" publick affairs here; As that the late Irish Army raifed for the inva- time of the
^ ^ fion of the Kingdom ofScotland, being peaceably disbanded, their Arms
^ and Munition , by the lingular care of the Lords Juftrces and Council' i^oLk '
1 " brought into His Majefties {lores within theCity of Dublin T there was-* $• 1641.
no manner of warlike preparations, no reliques of any kind of diforders
( proceeding from the late Levies,, nor indeed any noife of war remaining
J K ; within thefe eoafts. Now while in this great calm the British continued
111 Pj j in a mofl deep fecurity, under the affurance of the blclfed peace of this
mar land; while all things were carried on with great temper and mode-
^ ^ ration in the prefent Government, and all men fat pleafantly enjoying
J ^. the comfortable fruits of their own labours, without the leafl thoughts or
w ' 1' apprehenfion of either tumults or other troubles, the differences between
. His Majefly, and his Subje&sof Scotland being about this time fairly com-
JinPj pofed and fetled : There brake out upon the 2 5. of Ottober, 164*1. a moft
d un er ^efperate ancj formidable Rebellion , an univerfal defection and general
^ n Revolt, wherein not only all the meer Irish, but almoft all the old En-
$sh that adhered to the Church of Rome, were totally involved. And be-
Qufe it will be neceflfary to leave fome monuments hereof to pofterity,
ki ^ - - 1 ishk
m
i 6
The Irish Rebellion.
I shall obferve the beginnings and firft motions, as well as trace out the
progrefs, of a Rebellion fo execrable in it felf, fo odious to God and the
whole world, as no age, no Kingdom, no people can parallel the horrid
cruelties , the abominable murders, that have been without numfier, as
well as without mercy committed upon the British inhabitants through¬
out the land, of what fex or age, of what quality or condition foever
they were.
And firft I muft needs fay, howfoever I have obferved in the nature of
the Irish fuch a kind of dull and deep refefvednefs, as makes them with
much filence and fecrecy to carry on their bufinefs: yet I cannot but con-
fider with great admiration how this mifchievous plot which was to befo
generally at the fame time, and at fo many feveral placesaded , and there¬
fore necelfarily known to fo many feveral perfons, should wi thout any noife
be brought to fuch maturity, as to arrive at the very point of execution
without any notice or intimation given to any two of that huge multitude of
perfons who were generally defigned (as moft of them did) toperish in it.
Forbeiides the uncertain prefumptions that SiiWtUiaw Cole had of a com-
T.'.i. h 11• f.
^ The firft plot
for the rebel¬
lion carried
on with fo
great fecre¬
cy, as none
of the English
had notice of
it before it
was ready to
be put in ex¬
ecution.
motiontobe railed By the Irish in the Province of'Vlfier about a fortnight
before thkrebellionfbrake^penly out, and Tome certain intelligence which
he received ofthfi&me two days before xhe Irish role , X could never hear
that any English manreceived any certain notice of this confpiracy , before
the very evening that it was to be generally put in execution. It is true, Sir
Wiiliam Cole upon the very firft apprehenfions offomething that he conceiv¬
ed to be hatching among the Irish, did write a Letter to the Lords Juftices
and Council, dated th£ 11. of Ottob. 1641. wherein he gave them notice
of the great refort made, to Sir Phelim ONeal, in the County of Tyron,
asalfo to thehouieof the'Lord Mac-Guire, in the County of Fermanagh
and that by feveral fulpeded perfons, fitinftruments for mifchief. As alfo
that the faid Lord Mac-Guire had oflatc made feveral journies into the Pale,
and other places, and had fpent his time much in writing Letters, and fend¬
ing difpatches abroad,. Thefe Letters were received by the Lords J uftices
and Council, andtheyinanfwerto them required him to be very vigil art t
and jnduftrious to find out what should be the occaftonof thofe feveral
meetings, and fpeedily to advertife them thereof, or of any other particular
that he conceivedmight tend to the publickfervice of the State. And for
that which was reveiled to Sir William Cole upop the z 1. of Otlob. the fame
month by John.Gormacke ,. & FI arty Mac Hajh , from Brian Alac-
Cohanaght, Mac-Guire, touching the refolution of the Irish, to feize upon
his Majefties Caftleand City of Dublin, to murder the Lords Juftices and
Council of Ireland, and the reft of the Protectants there, and to feize upon
dl the Caftles, FortsSea-ports, and holds that were in pofTeffion of the
— N Pro-
,The Irish Rebellion. 17
Proteftants within the Kingdom of Ireland, I find by the examination of
John Cormacbe , taken upon oath at Weftminfter Nov. 18, 1644. That
the faid Sir William Cole did difpatch Letters to th&Lords Juftices and Coun¬
cil the fame day to give them notice thereof. But I can alfo teftify that thofe
sty Letters (whether they were intercepted, or that they otherways mifcarried,
ion fo I cannot fay) came not unto their hands, as alfo that they had not any cer¬
tain notice of this general confpiracy of the Irish, until the 1 z. oPOElob. in
: the very evening before the day appointed for the furpriz of the Cattle and
by City of Dublin. Then the Confpirators being many of them arrived within
the City , and having that day met at the Lion Tavern near Copper Alley,
and there turning the Drawer out of the room, ordered their affairs to¬
gether,drunk healths upon their knees to the happy fuccefs of the next morn- °w 0 c«~
ings work: Owen O Conally a Gentleman of a meer Irish family, but one y^thecon-
that had long lived among the English, and been trained up in the true Pro- fpiracy ofthe
teftant religion, came unto the Lord Juftice Parfens about nine of the clock ^'ofd pj^?f
that evening, and made him a broken relation of a great confpiracy for the the very"*
feizing upon His Majefties Cattle of Dublin : He gave him the names of
fome of the chief confpirators, aflured him they were come up exprefly to bcexecuted?
the Town for thefame purpofe , and that next morning they would un¬
doubtedly attempt, and furely effe&it, if their defign were not fpeedily
prevented, and that he had underftood all this from Hugh Mac-Mahon,
one of the chiefconfpirators, who was then in the T own, and came up but
the very fame afternoon for the execution of the plot; ar.d with whom
indeed he had been drinking fomewhat liberally, and as the truth is, did
then make fuch a broken relation ofa matter that feemedfo incredible in it
felf, as that his Lordship gave very little belief to it at firft, in regard it came
from an obfeure perfon , and one as he conceived fomewhat diftempered at
that time. Buthowfoever the Lord Parfens gave him order to go again to
Mac-Mahon, and get out of him as much certainty of the plot, with as
many particular circumftances as he could, ttraitly charging him to return
back unto him the fame evening. And in the meantime , having by ftri<tt
commands given to the Conftable of the Cattle, taken order to have the
gates thereof well guarded, as alfo with the Major and Sheriffs of the City
to have ttrong watches fet upon all the parts of the fame, and to make ftay
of all ftrangers, he went privately about ten of the clock that night to the
Lord Borlace's houfe without the Town, and there acquainting him with
what he underftood from Conally, they fent for fuch of the Council as they
knew then to be in the Town. But there came onely unto them that night,
Sir Thomas Roiheram , and Sir Robert Meredith , Chancellour of the
Exchequer , with thefethey fell into confultation what was fit to be done,
attending the return of Conally. And finding that he ftaid fomewhat longer
C then
i 8
The Irish Rebellion.
then the time prefixed, theyfent outinfearch after him, and found him
feized on by the watch, and fo he had been carried away to prifon, and the
Borlace's houfe. Comlly having fomewhat recovered himfelf from his
diftemper,occafionedpartly, as he faid himfelf, by the horrour of the plot
reveiled to him , partly by his too liberal drinking with Mac-Mahon, that
he might the more eafily get away from him (he beginning much to fufpecl
and fear his difcovering of the plot) confirmed what he had formerly re¬
lated , and added thefe farther particulars fet down in his Examination, as
followeth.
The Examination of Oiven 0 Conally Gentleman,, taken
before us whofe names enfue, Oflob. 22. 1641.
T T T Ho being duly [worn, and examined, faith > That he
V V being at Monimore, in the County of London-Deny
on T uefday lafl, he received a Letterfrom Colonel Hugh Oge
Mac-Mahon, defiring him to come to Conaght in the County of
Monaghan, and to be with him on Wednefday or Thurfday
lafl, whereupon he this Examinate came to Conaght on
Wednefday night laft, andfinding the faid Hugh come to Dub¬
lin , followed him hither: He came hither about fix ofthe clock
this evening, and forthwith went to the lodging of the faid
Hugh, to the houfe near the Boat in Oxman Town, and there
he found the faid Hugh, and came with the faid Hugh into the
Town, neartheTillory, tothe lodging of the £WMac-Guire,
where they found not the Lord within, and there they drank a
cup of Beer, and then went back again to the faidWuffx his lod¬
ging. He faith, that at the Lord Mac-Gu ire his lodging, the
faid Hugh told him that there were, and would be this night
great numbers of Noblemen, and Gentlemen ofthe Irifh Tapifts
from all the parts of the Kingdom in this Town, who with him¬
felf had determined to take the Caflle ^Dublin, andpojfefs
themfelves of all His Majeflies Ammunition there to morrow
morning, being Saturday, an
The Irish Rebllion. i p
t^°e ^°*mn*es °fthe faid Town, and ifthe City would not yield,
then to batter down the houfes, ^72^/0 to cut off all the Trote-
the motion | ftants that wouldnotjoyn with them. He further faith, that
n to the! the faid Hugh then told him, that the Irifh prepared men in
allparts of the Kingdom 3 todejlroy allthe Englilh inhabiting
- /Am1 to morrow morning- by ten of the clock>&that in alltheSea
:.Urr' - ' - — ^ - - - — - -
ports,andother Towns in the Kingdom,all the Trotejlants should
be killed this night ^and that all theTofts that could be, not
prevent it: further faith, £ W ^ moved the Jaid Hugh to
forbear executing of that bufinefs^andto difcover it to the State,
for thefaving of his own eflate^whofaid he could not help it. But
~ ' faidy that they did owe their Allegiance to the King 3 and would
nan, if Pat him aU his Rights, but that they did this for the Tyrannical
j^r Government was over them3 and to imitate Scotland, who got a
priviledge by that courfe.Andhe further faithythat when he was
i) 7k with they^/WHugh in his lodging the fecond time >t hefaidWwgfi
i Jon-Den fwore that he should not go out of his lodging that night ybut told
'HujfiOjj: him that he should go with him the next morning to the Caflle,
tCmlnj and [aid, if this matter were difcovered, fome body should die for
rlWij It, whereupon this Examinate feigned fome necejjity for his
Imji: eafement > went down out of the Chamber, and left his/word in
mtt) M fawny andthefaidHugh fent his man down with him3 and
'of tilth when this Examinate came down into the Tard, andfinding an
ofthek opportunity 3 he 3 this Examinate leaped over a Wall, and two
»
ifitlth
WMtti
T'
Pi&r 3 /a rto the Lord Juftice Parfons.
Oftob.ii. 1641.
William Parfons.
Tho. Rotheram. 0wen0 Conalb
Rob. Meredith.
tk
I
gm
nhotii
HErcupon the Lords took prefent order to have a Watch privately fet
upon the lodging of Mac-Mahon, as alfo upon the L. Mac-Gmre,
and fo they fate up all that night in confultation, having far ftronger
preemptions upon this latter examination taken, then any ways at firft they
C % could
*0
The Irish Rebellion.
could entertain. The Lords Juftices upon a further confederation (there
being come unto them early next morning feveral other of the Privy Coun¬
cil ) lent before day, and feized upon Mac-Mahon, then with his Servant
in his own lodging; they at firft made fomelittle refiftance with their
drawn fwords, but finding themfelves over-maftered, prefently yielded,
and fo they were brought before the Lords J uftices and Council ftill fitting
at the Lord Borlace s houfe: where upon examination he did without much
fan confef~ difficulty confefs the Plot refolutely, telling them, That on that very day
all the Forts and ftrong places in Ireland would be taken , That he with
the L. Mac-Guire, Hugh Birft, Capt. Brian O Neal, and feveral other Irish
Gentlemen, were come up exprefly tb furpriz the Caftle of Dublin, That
twenty men out of each County in the Kingdom were to be here to joyn
with them, That all the Lords and Gentlemen in the Kingdom that were
Papifts were engaged in this Plot, That what was that day to be done in
other parts of the Country, was fo far advanced by that time, as it was im-
poffible for the wit of man to prevent it; and withall told them, That it
was true, they had him in their power, and might ufe him how they plea-
fed , but he was fure he should be revenged.
By this time the noife of this Confpiracy began to be confufedly fpread
abroad about the Town , and advertifement was brought unto the Lords
Juftices then in Council, that great numbers of ftrangers had been obferved
to come the laft evening, and in the morning early unto the Town , and
The Lord moft of them to fet up their horfes in the fuburbs: whereupon the Lords
with feveral having in the firft place taken order for the apprehenfion of the Lord Mac-
other of the Gmrey removed themfelves for their better fecurity unto the Caftle, where
SifedTno.018 r^e body of the Council then in Town attended them at the ordinary place
of their meeting there. In the firft place they caufed a prefent fearch to be
made for all fuch horfes belonging to ftrangers as were brought into any
Inns, and by that means they difcovered fome of the owners, who were
prefently feized upon and committed to the Caftle of Dublin^ having al¬
ready delivered over to the cuftody of theConftable there the Lord cJTfkr-
Gptire, and Hugh zybtac-Mahon', Hugh Birn, and Roger Moor, chief of
theconfpirators, efcaped over the River in the night, Colonel Plmkety
Captain Fox, with feveral others found means likewife to pafs away undift
cerned; and of the great numbers which came up out of feveral Counties to
be A&ors in taking of the Caftle and City of Dublin^ there were not,through
the flack purfuit and great negligence of the inhabitants, above thirty feized
upon, moft of them Servants andinconfiderableperfons, thofe of quality
having fo many good friends within the Town, as they had very ill luck if
apprehended. The fame day before the Lords rofe from Council, they took
order for this Proclamation which herefollpweth to be made and published.
The Irish Rebellion.
z I
By the Lords Juftices and Council.
W. Parfons. John Borlace.
THefe are to make known and publish to all
His Majefties good Subjects in this Kingdom
,,(t: of Ireland,that there is a difcovery made by Us the
«»)! Lords Juftices and Council, of a moft difloyal and
deteftable Confpiracy intended by fome evil-affedted
wit Irish Papifts, againft the lives of Us the Lords Juftices
and Council, and many other of His Majefties faith-
!t ful Subjects, univerfally throughout this Kingdom,
y/pie and for the feizing not only of His Majefties Caftle of
Dublin, His Majefties principal Fort here, butalfo
of the other Fortifications in the Kingdom: And
feeing by the great goodnefs and abundant mercy of
Almighty God to His Majelty, and this State and
Kingdom, thofe wicked Confpiracies are brought
to light, and fome of the Confpirators Committed
to the Caftle of Dublin, by Us, by His Majefties
Authority, fo as thofe wicked and damnable Plots are
now difappointed in the chief parts thereof, We there¬
fore have thought fit hereby not only to make it pu-
blickly known, for the comfort of His Majefties
goodand loyal Subjects in all parts of the Kingdom,
but alio hereby to require them , that they do with all
confidence and cheerfulnefs betake themfelves to their
6wn defence, andftand upon their guard, fo to render
C 3 the*
2.2,
The Irish Rebellion.
the more lafety to themlelves, and all the Kingdom be-
fides, and that they advertife Us with all pofiible {peed
of all Occurrents, which may concern the peace and
lafety of the Kingdom,and now to shew fully that Faith
and Loyalty, which they have always shown for the
publick lervices of the Cro wn and Kingdom, which We
will value to His Majeflyaccordingly, and a Ipecialme¬
mory thereof will be retained for their advantage in due
time. And We require that great care be taken that no
levies of men be made for forrein fervice, nor any men
luffered to march upon any fuch pretence. Given at
His Majefties CaftleofPa^/m, 2.3. OFlob. 1641,
R. 'Dillon. Ro. Digby. A I. Temple. Tho.
theram. Fr. Willoughby. Ware. Ro. Meredith.
God faye the King.
Imprinted at Dublin, by the Society
Of Stationers.
This
The Irish Rebellion. z 3
T His Proclamation was prefently Printed , and feveral Copies fent
. ^ downby exprefs meffengers unto the principal Noblemen and Gentle-
' men in feveral parts of the Country , where they caufed them to be
| P^divers waysdifperfed , hoping that when the timely difco very of this con-
7 tliat Fa ^piracy , and the happy prevention in a great part, should fully appear
' r abroad, it would prove fo great a difcouragment to fuch of the contra¬
ctors as had not yet openly declared themfelves, as that they would there-
^llk^by be contained within the bounds of their duty and obedience to His
L: i Majefty. The fame night the Lord Blaney arrived with the news of the
f furprifal of his houfe, his Wife and hisChildren, by the Rebels of the xhe irtih rife
M^itliCounty of tJMonaghan: Next day came advertifement from Sir oArthnr firft in the
buki Tyringham , of the taking of the Neivry • and then the fad relations of^*1""^
burning, fpoiling, and horrible murders committed within the Province there bum,
WMpli'o tVlfter, began to multiply, and feveral perfons every day and aim oft
;( every hour in every day for a good while after , arrived likej^ melfen-^.
gers, telling the ftory of their own fufferings, and the fearful maffacres of
'fyh the poor English in thofe parts from whence they came. Thefe things
wrought fuch a general confirmation and aftonishment in the minds of all
! m the English and other inhabitants well-affedrd within the City, as they
'."were much affrighted therewith, expecting every hour when the Irish al-
w/i ready crept into the Town, joyning with the Papifts there, should make
the City a Theater whereon to ad: the fecond part of that Tragedy moft
bloodily begun in the Northern parts by them.
And it added moft extremely to thefe prefent fears, that feveral un- Fa!ferum_
happy rumours (the great tormentors of the weaker fex) were vainly ours fpread
fpread abroad of the fuddain approach ofgreat numbers ofRebels outof °frheBfbels
the adjacent Irish Counties unto the City: Some would make us believe the city of-
way that they were difcerned at fome diftance already marching down from DMn.
the mountain fide within view of the Town ; a report fo credibly deliver¬
ed by thofe who pretended to be eye-witneffes, that it drew fome of the
State up to the platform of the Caftle to behold thofe who were yet in-
vifible , though there were there that would notbeperfwaded but that
they faw the very motions of the men as they marched down the moun¬
tains. It was at the fame time alfo generally noifed abroad, that there
were ioooo. of the Rebels gottten together in a body at the Hill o STarah>
a place not above fixteen miles diftant from the Town, and that they in¬
tended without any further delay to march on and prefently furpriz the
fame. Thefe falfe rumours being unluckily fpread, and by fome fomented
II out of evil ends , exceedingly increafed the prefent diftra&ions of the
people, andraifed fuchapanick fear among them , as about fevenof the
clock at night, the LordsJuftices and fome of the Council being then in
the
The Irish Rebellion.
The L6fds
Jufticesand
Council con-
fult what
courfe to
take for the
fupprelling
this Rebel¬
lion.
No mony m
the Exche¬
quer.
the Council chamber within the Caftle, there came in to them a Gentle¬
man of good quality, who having not without much .difficulty, as he pre¬
tended , recovered the Gate of the Caftle, caufed the Warders then attend¬
ing to draw up the bridge, alluring th^m that the Rebels gathered toge¬
ther in great numbers, had already ppfleffed themfelves of a good part of
the Town, and came now with great fury marching down the ftreet that
leads diredtly towards the Caftle Gate. But this fear was quickly removed
by Sir Francis Willotighby, who being that day made Governour of the
Caftle , caufed the draw-bridge to be let down , and fb found this to be
afalfe Alarm occafioned by fome miftakefallen among the people, who
continued waving up and down the ftreets, prepofTeffed with ftrange fears,
and fome of them upon fome (lender accident drawing their fwords,
others that knew not the caufe thought fit to follow the example, and fo
came to appear to this Gentleman who was none of their company, as fo
many Rebels coming up to enter the Caftle.
Thefe were the firft beginnings of our forrows, ill fymptomcs, and fad
preparatives to the enfuing evils: Therefore the Lords finding by feveral
intelligences, though fome purpofely framed, that the power of the Re¬
bels was fuddenly fwollen up to fo great a bulk, and likely fo faft to mul¬
tiply and increafe upon them, thought it high time to confider of the re¬
medies , and in what condition they were to oppofe, fince they could not
prevent fb imminent a danger. The Rebellion now appeared without all
manner of queftion to be generally raifed in all parts of the North, and
like a torrent to comedown moft impetuoufly upon them: befides, it
was no ways improbable that all other parts of the Kingdom would
take fire and follow their example , they had the teftimony of cJtyCac-
tJfyfahon politive therein. The firft thing therefore which they took into
confideration, was, how they were provided of Mony, Arms, and Muni¬
tion ; Then, what Companies of Foot, and T roops of Horfe of the old
Army they were able to draw prefently together, as alfo what numbers
of new men they could fuddenly raife. For the firft, they had this short
accompt from the Vice-treafurer, That there was no mony in the Exche¬
quer. And certainly it was a main policy in the firft contrivers of this
Rebellion, to plot the breaking of it out at fuch a time when the Ex¬
chequer should be empty, and al 1 the Kings Revenues both certain and ca-
fual, due for that halfyear, as well as the Rents of all the British through¬
out the Kingdom , should be found re&dy either in the Tenants or Col¬
lectors hands in the Country, and fo neceftarily fall under their power, as
they did to their great advantage. For Arms and Munition, the Stores
were indifferently well furnished at this time : Befides feveral Pieces of
Artillery
The Irish Rebellion.
KDfflt
Oi|
xxfe
h:
riant
ilea
Artillery of divers forts, moft of them fitted for prefent lervice, there were
Arms for near ioooo men, 1500 barrels of Powder, with Match and
Lead proportionable, laid in by the Earl of Strafford late L. Lieutenant ,
not long before, and defigned another way, but fo opportunely referved
for this fervice, as the good providence of God did exceedingly appear
therein, but principally in the miraculous prefervation of them out of
the hands of the Rebels, who made thefurprizal cf thefe provifions,
then all within the Caftle of Dublin (the common ftore-houfe of them)
a main part of their defign. The old Handing Army, as appears by
this Lift, confiftedonly of 41 Companies of Foot , and 14 Troops of
Horfe.
zs
r iwc
t, a A Lift of His Majefties Army in , 1641. Before
nj,i the Rebellion began.
Foot-Companies confiftingof fix Officers, viz,. Captain, Lieutenant,
, ami Enfign, Chirurgion, Serjeant and Drum, and fourty four Souldiers each
Company.
LORD Lieutenants Guard
Sir Robert Farrar n—
Sir Thomas wharton ■ —
Sir George Saint-George ——— —
Cap. Francis Butler ———
Sir Will Saint-Leguer
Lord Docvjra
Lord Blany ■■
Sir Robert Steward
Lord Vifcount Rannelagh
Lord V ifcount Baltinglas
Sir John Vaughan ■
Cap. George Blount —
Sir Hen. Tichbourn ————
Sir Frederick Hamilton ——
Lord Cajlle-ltewart
Sir Lorenzo Cary
- +4
-44
-44
-44
-44
•44
44
Cap. Chichefler Forte/cue
Sir John Gifford
Cap. John Barry
Sir John Nettervile ———
■44
44
44
'44
'44
44
-44
■44
44
44
44
'44
44
44
Cap. Thomas Rockly ~
Sir Arthur Tyringham
Cap. Philip Wenman -
Cap. Charles Price —
Sir Charles Coot —
Cap. Thomas Games —
Sir Francis WiUoughby -
Sir JohnBorlace
Cap. Robert Batly -
Sir Arthur Loftus —
Cap Will. BiUingfly
The Lord Ffmond —
The Lord Lambert -
Sir George Hamilton <
Lord Folliot
! Sir Will. Stewart -
I Cap. Robert Biron
Sir John Sherlock
The Earl otClanricard
Cap. John Ogle
'44
■44
44
44
44
44
44
44
"44
•44
•44
44
"44
•44
•44
•44
44
•44
44
44
Thefe Companies contain Officers
Souldiers ■ >
—24.6
ZOfl
} In all}
"97-
Hors*
%6
The Irish Rebellion.
1
Hors-Troops.
THE Earl of Leicefter Lord Lieu¬
tenant General, his Troop con-
fifting of Captain, Lieutenant, Cor¬
net, and Hors-men
The Earl ofOrmonds Troop,
Officers, and Hors-men
108
like
107
like
The Earl of Straffords Troop,
Officers and Hors-men 58
Lord Dillons Troop, like Officers
and Hors-men 58
Lord Wilmots T roop
and Hors-men —
, like Officers
,8
Sir Will. Saint»Leguer,
dent of Munftery the like
Lord Preii-
58
Lord Vifcount Moor, the like
Lord Vifcount Grandifon, the like 58
Lord Vifcount Cromwel of Lecale,the
like — 58
Cap. Arthur Cloiceftery the like — 58
Sir George Wentivorthy the like 58
Sir John Borlace, the like —58
Lord Vifcount Convsay y the like— 58
Sir Adam Loftus> the like « ■ - 58
Thefe Troops contain Officers
Hors-men .
"+2£lnall
Pox S
1
m
Thefe were fo ftrangely difperfed moft of them into the remote pants
of the Kingdom, for the guard of feveral Forts and other places, as it fell
out to be in a manner moft impoftible to draw a confiderable number of
them together in any time , either for the defence of the City , or the
making head againft the Rebels in the North : and befides it was much
to be fufpe&ed, the companies lying feverally fo remote, and ill furnished
with munition, could with little fafety march to Dublin. Yet the Lords
fent Potents prefently away to require feveral Companies of Foot, and fome
Troops of Hors prefently to rile and march up from their feveral Garrifons
towards the City of Dublin. And now it was held high time to give an
accompt unto His Majefty, then at Edenburgh in his Kingdom of Scotlandy
and to the Lord Lieutenant continuing ftill at London fthe Parliament ftill
Letters from filing there) of the breaking out of this Rebellion, the ill condition of the
the Lords Ju- Kingdom, the wants of the State, and the Supplies abfolutely necelfary for
their prefent defence and prefervation. And becaufe the Letter to the Lord
Lieutenant doth moft clearly reprefent feveral particulars which may much
conduce to the knowledge of the affairs, I have thought fit to infert a true
Copy of it, which here folio weth.
ftices and
Council to
the Lord
Lieutenant.
May
I
The Irish Rebellion.
■
May it pleafe your Lordship,
OiV Friday the two and, twentieth of this months after nine of the clock at
night, this hearer Owen Conally, fervantto iSVrJohn Klotworthy
Knight , came to me the Lord J aft ice Parfons to mj houfe 3 and in great ficre-
cy(as indeed the caufe did require) discovered unto me a mofl wicked and damn¬
able conjpiracj/yplottedrfontrivedintended to be alfo aided by fome evil-ajfecled
Irish Papifls here. The plot was on the then next morning, Saturday the 23 of
Odtober, being St. Ignatius day, about nine of the clocks to furpriz, His Ma-
jefties Caftle ofD ublin, His Alajeflies chiefStrength of this Kingdom , wherein
alfo is the principal ^[Cagazine of his sjfytajefties <*Arms and fWtunit ion, and
it was agreed itfeems amongfl them, that at the fame hour all other His Ma¬
kefiles Forts and Magazines of Arms and Munition in this Kingdom , should
be far priced by others of thoje Confpirators, and further, that all tbe Prote-
ftants and English throughout the whole Kingdom, that would not joyn with
them y should be cut off3 andfo thofe Papifls should then become pojfefled of the
Government and Kingdom at the fame infant.
Affoon as I had that intelligence, I then immediatly repaired to the Lord
Juflice Borlace, and thereupon We infantly ajfembled the Council , and
having fate all that night3 as alfo all the next day 5 the 23 October *
in regard of the short time left us for the confutation of Jo great and weighty >
a matter, although it was not pofflble for us upon fo few hours warning to pre¬
vent thofe other great mifchiefs which were to be aided, even at that fame houry
and at fo great a distance as in all the other parts of the Kingdom. Yetfuch was
our induftry therein, having caufed the Caflle to be that nightftrengthned with
armed men, and the City % uarded, as the wicked Counfels of thofe evil perfins>
by the great mercy of God to us3 became defeated , fo as they were not able to Aft
that part of their Treachery3 which indeed was principal, and which, if they
could have ejfetted3 would have rendred the reft of their purpofes the more eajy.
Havingjo fecuredthe Caftle, We forthwith laid about for the apprehenfon of
as many of the Offenders as We could, many of them having come to this City
but that night, intending it feems the next morning to acl their parts in thofi
treacherous and bloody crimes.
Thefirft man apprehended was cne Hugh Mac-Mahon Efquire (Grandfon
to the Traitour T yron) a Gentleman of a good fortune in the County o/Mo-
naghan, who with others, was taken that morningin Dublin 5 having at the
time of their apprehenfon offered a little reftfiance with theirJwords drawn 3 but
finding thofe We imployedagainft them more in number, and better armed -> yield¬
ed. He upon his Examination before us atfirft denyed all, but in the end 3 when
hefaw we laid it home to him , he confeffed enough to deftroy himfelf, and im¬
peach fome others, as by a Copy of his Examination herewith fent, may appear
D 2 to
z8 The Irish Rebellion,
to your Lordship, We then committed him until We might have further time to
examine him again, our time being become more needful to be imploded in Acti¬
on for fe curing this place, then in examining. This Mac-Mahon had been
abroad, andferved the K. of Spain as a Lieutenant Colonel,
Upon conference with him and others, and calling to mind a Letter We receiv¬
ed the weekj?efore from Sir William Cole, a Copy whereof We fend your Lord-
ship here inclofed, We gathered that the Lord Mac Guire was to be anattor in
fur pricing the Caftle of Dublin , wherefore We held it necejfarytofee ure him
immediately, thereby alfo to ftartle and deter the refl, when they found him laid
fafl. His Lordship observing what we had done, and the City in tArms, fled
from his lodging early before day, it feems dijguijed, for we had laid a watch
about his lodging yfo as we think, he could not pafs without dtfguifing himfclf, yet
he could not get forth of the City ,foJure ly guarded were all the Gafes.
There were found at his lodging hiddenfome Hatchets {with the Helves newly
cut ojfclofetothe Hatchets, and many Skeans, and fome Hammers,
In the end the Sheriffs of the City, whom we imployed in frill fearch of his
Lordship,found him hidden in a Cockloft, in an obfeure houfe far from his lodg¬
ing , where they apprehended him, and brought him before Us,
He denyed all yyet fo, as he could not deny but he heard of it in the Country,
though he would not tellus when, or from whom ; and confejfed that ho had,
not advertifed Us thereof, as in duty he ought to have done. But We were fo
well fat i fled of his guiltinefs by all ci r cum fiances, as We doubted not upon fur¬
ther examination when We could be able to fpare time for it to find it apparent:
wherefore We held it of abfolute necejfity to commit him Clofe-prifoner, as We
had formerly done Mac-Mahon, and others: where We left him on the three
and twentieth of this month in the morning, about the fame hour they intended
to have been Mafters of that place, and thu City.
That morning alfo We laid wait for all thofe fir angers that came the night
before to Towns and fo many were apprehended whom Wefind reafbn to believe to
have hands in this Con/piracy, as We were forced to difperfe themintofever al
Gaols: and Wefencefound that there came many Hors-mcn in to the Suburbs that
night, who finding theplot difcovered, difperfed themfelves immediately,
When the hour approachedywhich was dejignedfor fur pricing theCafi ley great
numbers of fir angers were obferved to come to Town in great parties fever al
ways y who notfinding admittance at the Gaets, /laid in the Suburbs, and there
grew numerous 3to theterrour of the Inhabitants. Wcthcrefore to help ihatydrCW
up infant ly andjigned a Proclamation, commanding all men3rtot dwellers in the
City or Suburbs,to depart within an hour, upon pain ofdeath, and made it alike
penal to thofe that should harbour them\ which Proclamation the Sheriff's imme¬
diately proclaimed in all the Suburbs by Our commandment: which being accom¬
panied with the example and terror of the committal of thofe two eminent men,
andothersy occajionedthe departure of thofe multitudes; and in thu cafe > all our .
livt»
The Irish Rebellion. 2.9
Jj , * lives andfortunes, and above all, His tJATajefitespower and regal authority
' being ftill at the flake > We mufi vary from ordinary proceedings, not only in
ktttrWrti
>k
it win
fytofmi
d(tili m
LL^r.w -
executing martial law as We fee caufi, to alfo in put ting fome to the Racl»tofind
out the bottom of this Treafon, and all the contrivers thereof, which we forefic
,evi , will not otherwifi be done.
-ff: On that 1 3. of this month, conceiving that as foon as it should be
known that the plot for foiling Dublin Caflle was difappointed, all the Conjpi-
rators in the remote parts might be fomewhat disheartned , as on the otherfide
the good Subjects would be comforted, and would then with the more confidence
ftand on their guard; did prepare to find abroad to all parts of the Kingdom
this Proclamation which we fend you here inclofid: andfi having provided that
the City and Caflle should be fo guarded as upon the fudden We could promifi ,
We concluded that long continued confutation.
On Saturday at 12. of the clockjit night the Lord Biany came to Town and
brought Us the ill news of the Rebelsfitting with two hundred men his houfe at
Caftle Blanythe County 0/Monaghan, and his Wife, Children, and Ser¬
vants , as alfo a houfe of the Earl ofEffex called CarrickmacroE with two hun¬
dred men, and a houfe of Sir Henry £pots wood in the fame County, with two
hundred men, where there being a little Plantation of British, they plundred
the Town and burnt divers houfes, and itfince appears that they burnt divers 0-
ther Tillages; and robbedandfpoiled many English, and none but Protefiants j
leaving the English Papifts untouched as well as the Irish.
On Sunday morning at three of the clock We had intelligence from Sir Arthur
Terringham, that the Irish in the Town had that day alfo broken up the Kings
ft ore of arms and munition at the Newry, where the ft ore of arms hath lien ever
fince the peace, and where they foundfourfiore and ten barrels of powder, and
armed themfielves, and put them under the command of Sir Con. Magennis
Knighty and one Creely a Monk > ttndplundred the English there and dijarmed
the Garrifin. And this, though too much, is all that We yet hear is done by them•
However We shall ft and on our guard the bed We may to defend the Caftle
and City principally, thofi being the pieces of moft importance. But if the
Conjpiracy befio Umverjal as Mac-Mahon faith in his Examination it is, na¬
me y, 7hat all the Counties in the Kingdom have conftnred imt, which We
admire should fo fall out in this time ofUniverfalpeace, and carried with that
fecrecyrhat none of the English could, have any friend amongft them todifclofi ity
then indeed We shall be in high extremity, and the Kingdom m the great eft dan¬
ger that ever it underwent, corfideringourwantofmen, mony, and arms,
to enable Us to encounter fi great multitudes as they can make, fall should joyn
againfl Us, the rather 3 becaufi We have pregnant caufi to doubt that the com¬
bination hatlo taken force by the incitement cft bfefuites, Priefts and Fryers.
All the hope We have here%is3the old English of the Pal c^andfiome other parts,
will continue conflant to the King in theirfidelity, as they did informer rebellions.
D 1 And
3°
The Irt.sh Rebellion.
now in thefe (baits, IVe mufl under God depend on ay a forth cf Eng¬
land our prefent fapply with all Jpeed, ejpecially many, We having none,
and arms which we shall exceedingly want; without which, We are very doubt'
ful what account We shallgive to the King of his Kingdom.
But if the Con/piracy he onely o/Mac-Guire andfome other Irish of the kindred
and friends of the Rebel T iron and other Irish in the Counties of Down . Mo-
naghan, Cavan , Fermanagh & Armagh , and no general revolt following
thereupon, we hope then to make head againft them in a reafonahle meafure if
We he enabled with monyfrom thence , without which We can raije no forces,
Jo great is our want of mony as we have formerly written, and our debt Jo great
to the zs4rmy: nor is mony to he borrowed here, and if it were, we would en-
gage all our eft at esfor it: neither have we any hope to get in his Adajefties rents
andfubfdies in thefe dijlurbances y which add extreamly to our necejfties.
On Sunday morning 14. We met again in C ouncil, andfent to all parts of the
Kingdom the enclojed Proclamation> andijfued ^Patents to draw hither feven
Hot s-tr oops as a farther ftrength to this place, and to be with us in cafe the Re¬
bels shall make head and march hitherward, Jo as we may be necejjitated to give
them battel. We alfo then fent away our Letters to the Prefident of both the Pro¬
vinces of Munfter & Conaght : sstnd we likewifi then fent Letters to the
Sheriffs of the five Counties of the Pale to confult ofthe befl way and means of
their own prefervation. That day the Lord Vice Com. Gormanfton , the Lord
Vice Co. Nettervile, the Lord Vice Co. Fitz Williams, and the Lord o/Houth,
andfincetloe Earles ofKxldtfQ, and Fingal, and the Lords of Dunfany and
Slane, all Noblemen of the English Pale came unto us, declaring that they then
■and not before heard of the matter , And profejfed Loyalty to his <Jf\€aje(ly, and
c oncurrence with the State, but faid they wanted Arms > whereof they defired
to be fupplied by Vs, which we told them we would willingly do, as relying much
on their faithfulnefs to the Crown : but we were not yet certain whether or no
we had enough to arm ourflrengthfor the guard of the City and Caflle; yet we
fupplied fuch of them as lay in moft danger with a fmall proportion of Arms and
zJfyCunition for their houjes, lefi they should conceive we apprehended any jealoU'
Jy ofthem. oAbnd we commanded them to be very diligent in fending out watches ,
and making all the difcoveries they could, and thereof to advert ife us, which
they readily promifed to do.
And ifit fall out that the Irish generally rife 3 which we have caufe to fufi
petl 3 then we muft ofnecejfity put Arms into the hands of the English Pale in pre-
fint,and to others asfaft as we can> tofight for defence of the State and themfelves.
Tour Lordship wrw fees the condition wherein we ft and, and how necejfary it
isfirft that we enjoy your preface jpe eddy for the better guiding ofthofe and other
the publickjtjfairs of the King and Kingdom. zsfnd fecondly, that the Parlia¬
ment there be mtved immediately to advance to us a good fum of mony, which
being
_____ The Irish Rebellion. 3 x
'fjfj being nowjpeedtly fent hither.may prevent the expence of very much treafure &
\ n f blood in a long continued war. And if your Lordship shall happen to flay on that
11 ' fide any longer time-five mufl then defireyour Lords hip to appoint a Lieutenant Ge-
, , neral to difcharge the great and weighty burthen of commanding the forces here.
fj{ ff Amidfl thefe confufions and difcords fallen upon Vs , We bethought Vs of the
Parliament, which was formerly adjourned to November next-, and the term
now alfo at handy which will draw juch a concourfi of people hither and give
opportunity under that pretence , affembling and taking new Councils yjeingthe
/ former feems to be in fome part difappointed, and of contriving further danger
vwifltiti,
Hfio this State and People: We have therefore found it of unavoidable necejfity to
prorogue it accordingly, and to direUthe Term to be adjourned tothefirflof
1 Hillary Term, excepting onely the Court of Exchequer for haftning in the Kings
mony if it be pojfible. We defire upon this occafionyour Lordship will be pleafed
to view our Letters concerning the plantation ofConaght, dated the 14 April
"J^r|n lafi , dire bled to Air. Secretary Vane in that part thereof, which concerns the
County o/Monaghan, where now thefe fires do firfi breakout.
K In the lafl place we mufl make known to your Lordship, that the Army we
* have 9 confifling but of 2000 Foot and 1000 Horfe, are fo difperfedin Garri-
tit Limit; fom in feVeral parts , as continually they have beenfince they were fo reduced, as
tfthey be all fent for to be drawn together , not only the places whence they are to
Moil, tilth be drawn , {and for whofe fafety Wey lie there) mufl be by abfence diflrefed;
AfHog but alfo the Companies themfelves coming info fmall numbers may be in danger
'Qutifcj ?. to be cut of in their march; nor indeed have we any mony to pay the Souldters
jitWfji to enable them to march, z/fndfowe take leave and remain from his tJfyCaje-
flies Caftle ofD ubin z 5 e/O&ober, 1641.
;rej fit Tour Lordships to be commanded
tfrtlji Up William Parfons. JohnBorlace.
mMtti Richard Bolton. Can. R.Dillon, Anthony Midenlis, John Raphoe, R. Digby,
ICJ/r r Ad. Loftus, Ger. Lowther, John Temple, Tho. Rotheram, Fran. Willoughby,
' Ja. Ware, G. Wentworth, Robert Meredith.
Mil Arm _ ^ ^ ^
POSTSCRIP T.
THefatdOwen Conally, who reveiledthe Confpiracy is worthy of very
w great consideration, to recompence that faith and loyalty which he hath Jo
extreamly to his own danger exprejfed in this bufinefs; whereby under God there
10fttills b°Pe ^ftus of deliverance of this State and Kingdom , from the wicked
purpofes ofthofe Conjpirators. And therefore we befeechyour Lordship that it be
taken into confideration there 5 Jo as he may have a markI °f his Alajeflies mofl
l Royal bounty which may largely extend to him and his pojlerity-> we not being
(now able here to do it for him. W. Parsons*
' .[tljePtf, To the Right Honourable our very good Lord ROBERT
1 Earle of Leicerter, Lo. Lieutenant Gen. and General
0V l Goyernour gt the Kingdom of Ireland.
?!
ISl i
m
fr
3 x
The Irish Rebellion.
He difpatchientto his Majefty was addrefTed to Sir Henry Vane, Prin¬
cipal Secretary , and carried by Sir Henry Spot/wood, who went by
Sea directly into Scotland : And the Letters to the L. Lieutenant were fent
to London by Owen O Conally, the firft difcoverer of the Plot.
The Lords The Lords now with all care and diligence applied their further endca-
juftices caufe yours towards the preventing as much as was poffible,the deftru&ion intend-
madonfto ed againfl: all the British inhabitants of the Kingdom , as well as the fecurity
bedifperfed, of the City and the places round about it. A work of large extent, and
wrht^nand6 wherein they met with many difficulties, by reafon of their own wants
other means both of men and mony. They having formerly fent away and difperfed
to be ufed for tj-je Proclamations into feveral parts of the Country, now fent Letters by
[ion of die" exprels Meffengers unto thePrefidents of Mmjler & Conaght, and to fe-
rifing of the verai principal Gentlemen in thofe two Provinces; as alio to others within
Irish in the - 1 - - ■ - -
North , but
2r,sh m ^ the Province of Lemfier, giving them notice of the difcovery of the Plot,
all to no pur- and advifing them to Band upon their guard, and to make the beft provifion
£°k' they could for the defence of the Country about them. They fent another
exprels to the Earl of Ormond, then at his houfe at Carick^ with Letters to
the fame eifed; and withall defired his Lordship prefently to repair unto
tbem at Dublin with his Troop of Hors. They lent likewife Commif-
fions to the Lords Vifcounts of Clandeboys, & of the Ardes^ for railing of the
Scots in theNorthern parts,and putting tnem into A rms,as they did alfo foon
after to Sir William Stewart, & Sir Robert Stewart, & feveral other Gentle¬
men of quality in the North. And as they gave them order for prolecution
The Lords of of theRebels with fire and fword,fo they gave them power to receive fuch of
the Engiuh them in as should fubmit to his Majefties grace & mercy. But thefe difpatch-
fhe council esthey were enforced to fend all by Sea , the Rebels having flopped up the
board, and paffages,and hindred all manner of entercourfe with that Province by Land,
the^r LoyaT^ Lords of the Vale having been at the Council-board,and there declared
affe&ions to to the Lords Juftices, with great proteftations, their Loyal affections unto his
his Majefty. Majefty ; together with their readinefs and forward concurrence with their
The En^ish Lordships "in this fervice, came unto them again within two or three days
circuit3of^C a^er witb a Pention ; wherein they offered u nto their Lordships, the deep
Land poflcf- fen^e they had of an expreffion in the late Proclamation fet out upon the dif-
fed at the covery of this great Confpiracy intended, as is there fet down. By fome evilaf-
time of the feBed Irish Fapijls> which words they feared might be by fome mif-interpret-
firftconqueft ecj} anc} fuch a conftruclion put upon them, as might refledt upon their per-
thtEnziish i f°ns^ comprehended under them. Whereupon the Lords Juftices and Coun-
ever fince in- cit thought fit, to defcend fo farto their fatisfadlion, as not only to remonftrate
habitedby the clearnefs of their intentions towards them , butthgt it might appear unto
themjit con- the world, they entertained not the leaftjealousthoughtsofthem. they caufed
Counter-- a new f>1'oc^araafi°n to be fet out by way of explanation of the former, which
^Counties f have thought fit here toinfert, that it may appear how far they were from
of Dublin, giving any of thofe Lords and Gentlemen occafion to break out into thofe
Meatbitwtb, rebellious courfes, they loon afterwards took to their own deftrucUon.
■Kjldare, &C. py
-
The Irish Rebellion.
1 went
ot.
irfiirdiereri
fcdionintg
tkfecij
33
^Letters;
tootkrswit
^]At,
iwiiLette
iiii
icwife Corn
ejm:
lotkGem
orpkw
recdvek!
M\
tfdi
wkebylt
dthereded:
:dions«
encewitbr
o or thiee:
shi/tf; tbeii
nif-intetpi
ponthcirp
;csand Co
) remonft
t appears
ijtheycafl
rraer, d
q0tiit
ootiow
idioa.
By the Lords Juftices and Council.
W. Tarfons. John Borlace»
WHereas a Petition hath been preferred unto Us by di¬
vers Lords and Gentlemen of the English Tale, in
behalf of themfelves and the reft of the Tale, and other the
old English of this Kingdom, shewing that whereas a late
Confpiracy of Treafon is difcovered ofill-affedted perfons of a Proda-
theold Irish, and that thereupon a Proclamation was pub- S'for the
liflied by Us; wherein among other things, it is declared
that the faid Confpiracy was perpetrated by Irish Tapifts and Gen- *
without diftindtion of any $ and they doubting that by thofe t^EngiSh
general words of Irish Tapifts, they might feem to be in vol v- Palc*
ed, though they declare themfelves confident that We did
not intend to conclude them therein, in regard they are none
of the old Irish, nor of their fadtion, or confederacy $ but are
altogether averfe and oppofite to all their defigns, and all
others of like condition $ We do therefore to give them full
fatisfadtion, hereby declare and publifh to all His Majefties
goodSubjedts in this Kingdom, That by the words, Irish
Tapifts , We intended onely fuch of the old meer Irish in the
Province of Ulfter, as have plotted, contrived,and been adtors
in this Treafon, and others who adhere to them j and that We
did not any way intend, or mean thereby any of the old
English of the Tale, nor ofany other parts of this Kingdom,
We being well aflured of their fidelities to the Crown, and
having experience of the good affedtions and fervices of their
Anceftors in former times of danger and Rebellion. And We
further require all His Majefties loving Subjedts,whetherPro~
teftants or Papifts to forbear upbraiding matter of Religion,
one againft the other, and that upon pain of His Majefties in¬
dignation.Given at His Majeft.Caftle o{T>ublinyi^ Off. 1641.
R.Ranelagh, R. Dillon, Ant. jMidenfis, Ad.Loftus, Gto. Shtirly,
Gerrard Loivther, I. Temple, Fr. JVillotigby, J a. Ware.
God fave the King.
if Imprinted at Dublin, by the Society of Stationers.
the Jax sh Rebellion.
B
Ut to return now to the Northern Rebels, who fo clofelv purfued on
their fir ft plot, as they beginning to put it in execution in moft of the
chief places of ftrength thereupon the 13 .ofOttob.xhe day appointed for the
furprizal of the Caftle of Dublin, had by the latter end of the lame month
gotten into their poffeftion all the Towns, Forts, Caftles, and Gentlemens
The greater houfes within the Counties ofTyron, Donegal, Fermanagh, Armagh, Cavany
poift^dbv^ London Derry, Monaghan>8t hair the County of Doivnyexcepting the Cities
the Northern of London Derrj & Coleraign , the Town and Caftle of Encibillin, and fome
Rebels.. other places and Caftles which were for the prefem gallantly defended by
the British undertakers, though afterwards for want of relief furrendred
into their hands. The chief of the Northern Rebels that firft appeared in
the execution of this Plot within the Province of Vlfler were Sir Phelim
0Neal, TurloghO JSfeal, his brother, Roury Mac-Quire brother to the
ofche ch^ef" k°r<^ Mac-Qmre , Philip O Rely, MulmoreO Rely, Sir Conne Mac-Gemuy
Rebels in Col. Mac-Brian, *JfyCac-Mahon ; thefe having clofely combined together,
Trifittn w[th feveral other of their accomplices , the chief of the feveral Septs in the
feveral Counties, divided their forces into feveral parties; and according to
a general affignation made among themfelves at one and the fame time,
several Forts furprized by treachery the Town and Caftle of the Neivry, the Fort of
and other Dongannon , Fort Mont joy, Charlemont, Tonragei, Caricke Mac-RcJJe ,
deniy furpri- Cloughcuter, Caftle Blany , Caftle of Afonagban.; being all of them places of
zed by the considerable ftrength, and in feveral of them companies of foot, or Troops
of Hors belonging to the ftanding-army. Befides thefe they took a mul¬
titude ofother Caftles, Houfes of ftrength, T owns, and Villages, all abund¬
antly peopled with British inhabitants, who had exceedingly enriched the
Country as well as themfelves by their painful labours. They had made
for their more comfortable fubfiftence,handfome and pleafant habitations,
abounding with corn, cattel, and; all other commodities that an induftrious
people could draw, out of a good inland foil. They lived in great plenty,
and fome of them very well ftored with plate and ready mony. They
lived likewife in as great fecurity , being quiet and carelefs, asthepeople of
Laish, little fufpe&ing any treachery from their Irish neighbours. The
English well knew they had given them no manner of provocation; they
had entertained them with great demon ftrations of love and affedion. No
ftorycan ever shew that in any Agefince their intermixed cohabitation,
theyrofe up fo fecretly to do them mifchief. And now of late they lived fo
peaceably and lovingly together as they had juft reafon moft confidently
to believe, that the.Irish would never upon any occafion generally rife up
again to their deftru&ion. This i take to be one main and principal reafon
that the English were fo eafily over-run within the Northern Counties,
and fo fuddenly fwailowed up, before they could make any manner of
; - ..—_ —v reft-
The Irish Rebellion.
*■7
rllle| refinance in rhe very firft beginnings of this Rebellion. For moft of the Thegreatfe-
Enghsh having either Irish T enants, Servants, or Landlords, and all of them confidence
ppomtedfo: ^riS^ neighbours their familiar friends: as fbon as the fire brake out, and °f the English
leiamer whole Country began to rife about them , fome made their recourfe
wdGentlfn Prefently to their Friends for prote&ion, fome relying upon their Neigh- of their fu«t-
Amh^ hours, others upon their Landlords, others upon theirTenants and Servants
for prefervation, or at leaffc ,prefent fafety; and with great confidence put
;i?42jr. their lives, their Wives, their Children, and all they had, into their power. The tnguh
But thefe generally either betrayed them into the hands of other Rebels, murdScdby
or moft perfidioufly deftroyed them with their own hands. The Priefts their wish
had now charmed the Irish, and laid fiich bloody impreffions in them , as it ^
weflrPJ. waS ' accorchngt0 the maxims they had received, a mortal fin to give Tenants,
f Wfefo't any manner relief- or prote&ion to any of the English. All bonds and
m,^ ties of faith and friendship were now broken ; the Irish Landlords made
^'1^1 a prey of their English Tenants, Irish Tenants and Servants a Sacrifice of
r' their English Landlords and IMafters, one Neighbour cruelly murdred
by another; the very Irish children in the very beginning fell to ftrip and
kill English children: all other relations were quite cancelled and laid afide,
dmk
1 and it was now efteemed a moft meritorious work in any of them that
,c ; could by any means or ways whatfoever, bring an English man to the
.? ; flaughter. A work not very difficult to be compaffed as.things then ftood. the English
yFor they living promifcuoufly among the British, in all parts having from ana°n& the
1 [ i their Priefts received the Watchword both for time and place, rofe up, MufeofX'it
:1 „ ^ as it were a&uated by one and the fame fpirit, in all places of thofe Counties d«-
before mentioned at one and the fame point of time; and fo in a moment ru on°
fell upon them, murdring fome, ftripping onely, or expelling others out of
•. their habitations. This bred fuch a general terror and aftonishment among
the English as they knew not what to think, much left what to do, or which
aninduinc way tQ tum {Femfelves. Their fervants were killed as they were ploughing
ngreat p jn the fields, Flusbands cut to pieces in theprefence of their Wives, their
fliony. T Childrens brains dashed out before their faces, others had all their goods
z'W[ and cattelfeized and carried away, their houfes burnt, their habitations
fonts. Ti waft 5 ancf aj] as jt weT€ at an inftant before they could fufped: the Irish
iition; ti: for tfieir enemies, or any ways imagine that they had it in their hearts, or in
kdion. - their power, to offer fo great violence, or do fuch mifchiefunto them,
jhabitatio: Now for fuch of the English as ftood upon their guard, and had gathe-
heylivec rcc| together, though but in fmall numbers, the Irish had recourfe to their
confides: ancient ftratagem; which as they have formerly, fo they ftill continued
erallvi to make frequent ufe of in this prefent Rebellion. A nd that was fairly to
nc/plreai. offer unto them good conditions of quarter , to aflure them their lives,
nCbiffltf their goods, and free palfage, with a fafe condu<5t intowhatplacefoever
■ ii* E i they
3 C The Irish Rebellion.
The Irish fai- they pleafed , and to confirm thefe Covenants fometimes under their
oaths^and Hands and Seals, fometimes with deep Oaths and Proteftations; and
proteftacions then as foon as they had them in their power, to hold themfelves dif-ob'
^vtandafcec bged ^rorn promifes, and to leave their Souldiers at liberty to de-
■quartergiven fpoil, fbrip, and murder them at their pleafure. Thus were the poor£«.
veraT'uces <2^ treated, who had shut themfelves up in the great Cathedral Church
murder and at Armagh by Sir PhelimO Neal, and his brother Turlogh. Thus were
deftroy them, foch 0f the English ufed by Philip O Rely , who had retired themfelves
to Belterherty the beft planted Town in the County of Cavan. And af¬
ter the fame barbarous manner were fuchof the English drawn out to the
daughter, as had gotten into the Caftlesof Longford, the Caftle of TuU
logh in the County of Fermanagh, or the Church of Newtown in the
fame County , and feveral other places; as appears by feveral examina¬
tions taken upon Oath, from perfons that hardly efcaped thence with their
ciTr ufedby1" ^ves# And befides thefe other policies they ufed , fome to diftrad
the irisb to and difcourage them, others to dif-inable them to Hand out to make any
I™™1 defence. A sin feveral places the Irish came under divers pretences, and
lifing againft, borrowed fuqh Weapons and Arms as the English had in their houfes;
®r the scots anc| no f00ner got them into their hands, but they turned them out of
their defence, their own doors, as they did at Glaflougb in the County of Alonaghan:
And by the fame means they very gently and fairly got into their poffef-
fion all the English Arms in the County of Cowan • The High Sheriff
there being an Irishman andaPapift, pretending that he took their Arms
to fecure them onelyagainft the violence of fuchof the Irish as he under-
ftood to be in Arms in the next County. And that they might the more
cafily effect the deftru&ion of the English,. and keep off the Scots from
giving them any affifiance , they openly profeffed tofpare, as really they
did at the firft, all of the Scotish Nation ; and pretended they would
. fuffer them , as likewifeall English Papifts, to live quietly among them-j
hoping thereby to contain all of that Nation from taking up Arms , till
they had maftered all the English , and that then they should be well
enough enabled to deal with them. Thus were the poor English prepa¬
red for the daughter, andfo exceedingly diftra&ed with the tumultuous
rifingofthe/n'j^ on all fides about them , as they could never put them-
the defence felves into any pofture of defence. And although in many places they
vatehoufes" rTU<^e Parties' an£^ betook themfelves into feveral Churches and
wkhoutUjoyn. Caftles, fome of which were moft gallantly long defended by them,, yet
ing together did they not draw together in any fuch confiderable body , as would en-
wherebythey able them to. make good their party m the field, again ft the numerous
gave great forces of the Rebels. The truth is, they did not very readily endeavour,
tfaeiubeU'J0 or dexteroudy attempt it in any partof th^t Province, as Icould hearofj
every;
37
rtati61 every man betaking himfelf the beft he could to the care of his own
M p 110115 houfe, and feeking how to fave his own family, his goods within , and his
lt nVes '' Cattei without. And fo while they kept fingly apart, and fingly flood
l[][] up for their own private prefer vation, not joyning their forces together
yi i?fj: for the common fafety, they gave the Rebels a fair opportunity, and a
lingular advantage, to work out with great facility their common de-
J'j, ftru&ion. Whereas, if they had deferted their houfesupon thefirft no-
> ^ tice of the riling up of the Irish , and in the feveral Counties put them-
k felves into feveral bodies, under the commands of the chief English
Qentjemen round about them, they had undoubtedly (how ill foeVer
^Caltleof? they were provided of Arms and munition) been able to have encountred
in the Irish, and to have beat them out of many parts of the Country, or
atleaft, to have put them to fomefland in their enterprize. Whereas,
tacejftl by the courle they took, they moft readily, without almoft any refiftance,
p to fe expofed themfelves to the mercilefs cruelty of the Irish, who at the
kttsmfc very firft (for fome few days after their breaking out) did not in moft:
*p«s,i places murder many of them: but thecourfe they took, was to feiz upon
i tfeir hot ali their goods and Cattei, to ftrip them, their Wives, and Children na-
kbot: ked; and in that miferable plight, the weather being moft: bitter cold
of Mow, ahdfrofty , to turn them out of their houfes, to drive them to the Mount-
iwheirpol ains, to wander through the Woods and Bogs; and if they by any means
tHigl-Skprocured any other clothes, or but even ordinary rags to cover their
ihfidt k nakednefs, they were prefently taken from them again, and none fuffer-
jkked to give them any kind of shelter by the way, relief, or entertain-
^ktb ment, without incurring the heavy difpleafure of their Priefts and chief
tie Scots! Commanders. And fothey drove fuch of the English) whole lives they
asKailye thought fit at that time to fpare, clear out of the Country. Some of them
Ithey wotook their journy towards Carigfergus, others towards Coir aw, Derry,
imongtkand other of the Northern Ports. Many who had gotten together and
pArms, ftood upon their guards, came to compofition with their bloody alfai-
HouldWants, and gave them their goods, plate and mony, for leave to come
fyM-pqilp to the City of Dublin, And having bought their licenfe at fo dear a
rumultucrate, had Palfes and Convoys alfigned them by the chief Captains of the
ir piutk Rebels, and fo came on of their way in great Troops of Men, Women,
places tt and Children. Out of the County of Cavan, as M. Creighton, who by his
lurches i charitable relief of great numbers of them, preferved them from perish-
them, ing) teflifies in his examination, there pafTed by his houfe in one compa-
sWDulJiny 1400 perfons, in another 500. from Newtown in the County of
fini}0 Fermanagh, in others lefler numbers; all without any weapons , or any Mamchym
endeai thing elfe but the very clothes on their backs, which they fuffered them examiiiauafls
Jjheiti not to carry away with them; but many were moft barbaroufly ftripped
erf E 1 of
3°
7he Irish Rebellion.
of them , by thofc who undertook to give them fafe condud:, or perfidi-
oufly betrayed by them into the hands of other Rebels, by whom fome
were killed, others wounded: and all in a manner whatfoever they had to
cover their nakednefs, taken from moft of them; as may appear by the
examination ofnAdam Clover oiSlonoJy in the County of Cavan-> who being
duely fworn, depofeth inter alia, That this deponent and his company that
were robbed, obferved, that $o,perfons or thereabouts, were then moft
barbaroufly murdred and (lain outright, and about i 50 more perfons
cruelly wounded; fo that traces of blood i,filling from their wounds, lay
upon the High way for 1 z miles together, and many very young Children
were left and perished by the way, to the number of 60 or thereabouts;
becaufe the cruel purfuit of the Rebels was fuch, that their Parents and
friends could not carry them further. And further faith, that fome of the
Rebels vowed, That if any digged graves wherein to bury the dead Chil¬
dren , they should be buried therein themfelves : So the poor people left
the moft of them unburied,expofed to ravenous beafts and fowls, and fome
few their Parents carried a great way to bury them. And this deponent
further faith, that he faw upon the way a woman left by theRebels ftripped
to her fmock, fet upon by three women and fome Irish Children , who
miferably rent and tore thefaid poor English woman, and ftripped her of
her Smock in a bitter froft and fnow, fo that she fell inlabour under their
hands, and both she and her Child died there. Thus did their mercy in
(paring thole miferable fouls in this manner prove by much a far greater
cruelty then if they had fuddenly cut them off, as they did afterwards many
thoufands of British that fell into their hands. For now they ftarved and
perished in multitudes upon the ways as they travelled along ; and to
thofe that oudived the mifery oftheir journy, their limbs onely ferved to
drag up their bodies to Chriftian Burial there denied unto them. For many
of the Men, and moft of the Women and Children that thus efcaped, either
to Dublin or other places of fafety in the North , not long outlived the
bitternels of their paffage; but either overwhelmed with grief, or out-
wearied with Travel, contra<fted thofe difeafes which furthered by hunger,
cold, nakednefs, ill lodgings, and want of other necefTaries, ftruck deeply
into bodies that had lived long at eafe with much plenty, and foon brought
them with forrow to their graves.
THefe were the firft-fruits of this Rebellion which now began to dilate
it felf into the other Provinces, having covered over the Northern
Partsofthe Kingdom with fearful defolations,. The firft Plotters were
yet undifcovered, but the great active inftruments appointed for the exe¬
cution of this horrid defign fully appeared, and had already deeply imbruec
their hands in the bloody maffacres of the English. Sir Phelim O Neal
being
y The Irish Rebellion. 3 t
^ : -
' °rPtf being the chief of that Sept, and now the p.erlon remaining of neareft alliance sir 0
to the late Earl ofTyron, affirmed to himfelf the chief power among the ^dings?"
■ ttneyk Rebels in Vlfter; and by his diredions guided the refl of his complices on,
^appearbj fn the deffrudion of all the English there. He was one of very mean parts
!**k without courage or condud; his education for a great part of his youth
■1Scoupan- was jtl England, he was admited a Student of Lincolns Inn , and there „
Wtttfa j trained up in the Proteftant Religion, which he foon changed after, ifnot
More^before his return into Ireland, lived loofely, and having no conjiderable
fluids, efiate, by rcafon of the great engagement upon it, became of very little
Chili eftee m in all mens opinions. Yet fuch were the over zealous affedions of his
)rfeeaboiCountrymen in this caufe, their fecrecy in attempting, their fuddennefs in
^httntsiexec/dting-, as by their forwardnefs to deftroy the English and get their
^t(bmeofj goods, he quickly over-run that part of the Country. He had prevailed fo
■yWsfCifer within feven days after he firft appeared in this Rebellion , by feizing
treacheroufly at the very firft upon Charlemont, where the Lord
'Mwifc Caufield lay with his Foot- company, the Forts of Dongannon & Alontjoy,
dthisdep® as t'hat in his Letter written to Father ParrickJ) Donnell his Confeflor,
KeMri bearing date from <JAIontjoy, the 30. of OHob. he was able to brag of great
Mren, and many vidories. And prefently after he had gotten fuch a multitude
Urippedfe of rude fellows together, though in very ill equipage, as he marched down
jurujifc with great numbers of men towards Lijhagaruj, near the chief Plantation
fertj of the Scots, (for that part of their plot to fpare them., as they did in the
1A jtt beginning, they found now too grofs to take, therefore they refolved to
eirak fall upon them without mercy) and yet left fufficient forces to come up
qW into the Pale, to take in Dondalke in the County of Lowth* Which was
kj>; ri a Frontier Town in the laft wars againft Tyron, and fo well defended it felf, Dtndal,
weljfera as with all the power he had, he could never recover it into his hands, taken by the
m, Form There lay now a Foot company of the old Army, but the Lieutenant who
fapWtt commanded it, having neither his men in readinefs, nor Arms or Munition, ning cf n0-
owkd made little or no refinance, eafily giving way to the forward affedions of rjemb> ,^r-
grief, ore the inhabitants who delivered up the Town into the poffeffion of the Re-
Is about the beginning of November , 1641.
kkdeef The Rebels prefently after their taking in of Dondalke marched on
^brouffurtherinto the County otLowth, and poffeffed themfelves of zArdee, a The Rebels
little Town within (even miles of Tredagh, anciently called Drohedagh. march upto-
,aantodi[S° as it was now high time to provide for the fafety of that Town. The Tred'
ie^0rt|{Lord Moor had already retired thither from hishoufeat Milhfont, and g '
jotteBr there remained with his troop of horfc and two companies of foot. One
fords®was unc^er the command of Sir John Nettervile, eldell Son to the Lord
I Vifcoiint Nettervile. He difcovcred in the very beginning much viru-
lency in his affedions, by giving falfe frights and railing falfe rumours
4°
The Irish Rebellion.
and making all manner of ill infufions into the minds of the Townfmen,
who as it afterwards appeared, were but too forward to take part with
the Rebels. It is verily believed they had in the very beginning fome plot
to cut off the Lord Moor and feiz upon his Troop 5 and that Sir John
Netterviles part was to begin a mutiny, which he attempted that night
he was to be upon the watch, by giving ill language, and endeavouring
to make a quarrel with his Lordship, which he very difcreetly pal&d
over, and fo carefully looked to the guard of the Town, as they could
take no advantage to put on their defign. Howfoever the Townfmen
were extreamly frighted with the thoughts of their prefent danger, and
the greater part of them being Papifts, were ready to declare themfelves
The ill con- for the Catholick caufe ; only their defires were, things might be fo orde-
w^"repre-~ re<^5 as would adminifter unto them fpecious pretences of neceflityforthc
fenced by the fame. The L.Moor gave prefent advertifement unto the Lords Juftices
theL^Tufttces anc* Council> &e condition and moft imminent danger he found
u ic s ^ Yown to be then in, that it was not poffible to preferve it out of
the hands of the Rebels without further ftrength both of hors and foot,
That in cafe the enemy should make any fudden approaches, or attempt
to furpriz the Town, he found fuch poor preparatives for defence with-
in, fuch apparent figns of difloyalty in the Townsmen, and all thing!
in fuch adefperate confufion, as they should not be able by the beften-
deavours they could ufe to give any good account of that place. Here-
a Regiment uPon t^r Lordships prefently refolved, to leavyinthe City of Dublin a
mi fed by the Regiment of foot, and to place them under the command of Sir Henry
~ Tichborn for the defence of Tredagh. And for this purpofe there was
ftheR1
u
k
f^ralb
Peers, t<
ivM
ftntdownd very opportunely in the hands of the Vice-treafurer 3000! li. inareadi-
bitamsi
fiveCoi
Ik prih
moft bn
an&to
That rt
kid
Lrnii
eoderhd of ne^S to- at t^lat t*me ^ent over *nto for the fatisfa&ion of a
S?r^Hmry ° publick engagement there. This the Lords thought fit to make ufe of,
Tichbom„ for for the leavying and letting out of thofe men which Sir Henry Tichborn
XQfTrfdagb. got together in very few days , and having a Com million of govern
Hcivemb.^. mentfor the Town, with fome other private inftru&ions, he marched
away with great alacrity and diligence the 3. o£November , andhapily
arrived next day at Tredagh
a Regiment ^or<^s granted another Commiflion to Sir Charles Coot to levy a
raifedbysir thoufand men more, which he moft carefully endeavoured, and within
Charles Coot. a very short time made up his Regiment, wherein very many of the En¬
glish , who came up ftripped and deipoiled out of the North , lifted them¬
felves ; for moft of the men which efcaped from thence with their lives,
being better able tofuffer then the women and children, outlived the mi-
feries of their journy, and putting themfelves into feveral companies,
fome of them had the contentment to revenge the barbarous cruelty ufed
by
cW 1
Ma
theC":
was
until
Ma;<
for lei
be
The Irish Rebellion. " 41
—by the Rebels towards them.
^ Tow'nfe T JP°n the *5 of November, the Lords made their id. difpatch unto His dyr^t^cond
Majefty, ftill at Edenbiirghm Scotland-. At the fame time they nt made by the
jinoiogfom feveral Letters into England, to theL. Keeper, Speaker of the houfe or Juftices
Peers, to the Speaker of the houfe of Commons, to the Lords of His Ma-
and all r
jefties moft Hon. Privy Council, and to the L. Lieutenant of Ireland; in 5-
all which they did with much earneftnefs declare their prefent dangers,
together with the neceflity offending fudden relief. In their Letter to the
Lords of the Council they did more particularly fet down the miferable
eftate of the whole Kingdom, and the large progreft that the Rebellion had
Dtj in few days madefinceit broke out. They reprefented unto their Lord-
ships the great outrages the Rebels had committed upon the British inha-
upUr bitants in Vlfier, that they had feized upon all their eftates and houfes in
" 1 five Counties of that Province, polfeiTed their Arms, detained many of
the principal Gentlemen prifoners; That they had already (lain many ,
moft barbaroufly hewed fome to pieces, that they have expofed thouf-
^ ands to want and beggery , who had good eftates and lived plentifully:
rveitji That the Rebellion began then to dtffufe itfelfinto the Counties of Long-
5311 .f°rd and Letrim, and^ to threaten the English plantations in the King
,',orat i and Queens County: that the inhabitants of the Counties oftJMeath and
f ^''C£ Lowth began to fall upon the English near about them: that they con¬
ceived there could not be lefs then 30000 who had already openly de~
, clared themfelves in this Rebellion, and were aflembied together in fe-
plicth veralgreat parties; that they underftood their defign was, having got
Dondalke, to take in Tredagh, and fo to come up immediately tobefiege
Ut&l the City and Caftle of £)/*£//«: that they gave outpubUckly, their purpofe
pole that wa$ to extirpate the English & Proteftants, and not to lay down Arms
li. innt until the Romish Religion were eftablished , the Government fetled in
[Mo/I the hands of the Natives, and the old Irish reftoredto the lands of their
maM fuppofed anceftors That they held it their duty to acquaint their Lord-
cnrjTid ships with the lamentable eftate wherein the Kingdom ftood , that his
aofjwf Majefty and the Parliament might underftand it, and fo fpeedily provide
Jtium for fending over to their relief 10000 Foot, 1000 Horfe, together with
1 sndhap fome able Commanders, 100000 1. in mony, and further provifionsof
A rms : That unleft thefe were prefently fent to them (they craved leave to
Mfto Id repeat it again and again) the Kingdom would be utterly loft, all the English
and wr & Proteftants in Ireland deftroyed, the peace of the Kingdom o I England
^ of the. difturbed by the Irish from thence,and fo England enforced to make a new
liftedi conqueft of it, for that a Politick reformation would then be impoftible*
, their lit But now before I pafs further, I shall here give an accompt of the ar-
iyedtk rival ofthefeand the former Letters of the zy o£Ottober , addreffed by
compii the Lords Juftices and Council to the L. Lieutenant of Ireland. Owen
vfytf " • B . 0
4i
The Irish Rebellion.
The proceed- q Conallj , the hippy difcoverer of the firft Plot ( who carried the firft
Parliament Letters over) arrived at London the laft day of Ottober , and late in the
of England evening delivered thofe Letters to his Lordship, who having read them
advertife-filft over» atlc* received from him full information of ail other particulars
ments within his knowledge, repaired the next morning to the Council-board ,
themof"he0 anc^ having there acquainted the Lords of His Majefties Privy Council
Rebellion with them, he was required by their Lordships to communicate them unto
lu»f m ht~ the Lords of the upper houfe of Parliament, which he did accordingly
the very fame morning : And they confidering the high importance of
them, asfoon as they had perufed them , Ordered that they should be
prefently fent down to the houfe of Commons, by the Lord Keeper, the
L. Privy Seal, L. High Chamberlain, L. Admiral, L. Marshal, L.Cham¬
berlain , Earl of Bath, Earl of Dorfet, Earl of Leicefler, Earl of Holland,
Earl of Berks, Earl of Br if of L. Vifcount Say, E. ALandevile, L. Goring,
L. IVilmot, all of them being of His Majefties moft honorable Privy
Council. There were Chairs provided for thefe Lords in the houfe of Com¬
mons, and they fat down there till the Letters were read , and then having
informed the houfe of fuch other particulars as they had received concern¬
ing the general Rebellion in Ireland, they departed without any further
conference or other debate upon them, leaving the hou6 of Commons to
confider further of them: Who prefently Ordered,
That the Houfe forthwith should be refolved into a Committee, to take into
confideration the matter offered concerning the Rebellion in Ireland, as likewife
to provide for thefafety of the Kingdom of England.
This being done, they fill into a moft ferious debate of this great bu-
fincfs then before them, they fully confidered what means were fitteft
to be ufed at prefent for the prevention of the further fpreading of that
hideous Rebellion in Ireland, as well as flopping of the ill influence it
might make upon their affairs in England, where great troubles even then
began to appear within view. Ana after much time fpent in this debate,
they came to thefe fe veral Conclufions, which being put to the queftion,
were aflented unto by the Committee, and fo refolved as followeth,
1 That 50000.1. be forthwith provided.
2 That a Conference be defired with the Lords, to move them that a
feled Committee of the Members of both Houfes may be appointed to
go to the City of London, and to make a Declaration unto them of the
ftateof thebufinefs in Ireland, and to acquaint them that the lending of
monies at this time will be an acceptable fervice to the Commonwealth.
And that they propofe unto them the Loan of 50000. 1. and to aflure
them that they shall be fecured both of the Principal and Intereft, by Ad
of Parliament.
3. That
The Irish Rebellion. 4 3
3 That a fele<ft Committee may be named of both Houfes toconfider
of the affairs o £ Ireland.
4 That Owen 0 Conally, who difcovered this great treafon, shall
have 500. 1. prefently paid him, and 200.1, per annum penfion, until pro¬
vision of land of inheritance of a greater value be made for him.
5 That the perfoasof Papifts of quality within this Kingdom, may be
fecured within the feveral Counties where they refide.
6 That noperfon whatfoever, except thofe who are Merchants, shall be
admitted to go over into Ireland, without Certificate from the Com¬
mittee of both Houfes appointed to confider the affairs of Ireland.
Thefe with feveral other particulars concerning Ireland, and tending in
order to the fafety of the Kingdom of Enoland, were refolved upon the
queftion, and Mafter Whltloch^ appointee! to report them to the Houfe
as heads of a conference defired with the Lords concerning the affairs of
Ireland, which was accordingly had with their Lordships the fame day ,*
At; which conference the L. Keeper did exprefs the very great fenfe the
Lords had of the exceeding great care taken by the houfe of Commons
for the prevention of the further fpreading of the Rebellion in Ireland.
And his Lordship by command of the Lords did further let them know,
that their Lordships did think fit to agree with them in all thofe particulars
prefented unto them by the houfe of Commons without any material
u(lli alteration, only adding fuch further things as they conceived might
ferve to further and expedite their defires in the more fpeedy putting them
in execution.
n\ The houfe of Commons having proceeded thus far in the affairs of Ire-
!rejj!; land, upon the two firft days after the difcovery made unto them of the
j oiC Rebellion there rai fed, did notwithftanding their own prefent diftra&ions,
'ueK fet apart fome portion almoft of every day that they fate, during the whole
tnl| month of November, for the confidering of the affairs of Ireland; and fo
^ upon the third and fourth of the fame, refolved upon the queftion, and
jl accordingly ordered thefe particulars following:
1 That the Houfe holds fit that 20000. li. be forthwith fupplied for the
prefent occafions of Ireland.
^ 2 That a convenient number of ships shall be provided for the guarding
|{£(j oftheSea-coafts of Ireland. •
o|, 3 That this Houfe holds fit that 6000 foot and 2000 hors shall be rai-
,° fed with all convenient fpeed, for the prefent expedition into Ireland.
4 That the Lord Lieutenant shall prefent to both Houfes of Parlia-
^ ment, fuch Officers as he shall think fit to fend into Ireland, to command
f| any forces to be tranfported thither.
5 That Magazines of victuals shall be forthwith provided at Weft-
Tl F t chejler
1111,
44
The Irish Rebel/ion.
chefter to be fent over to Dublin, as the occafions of that Kingdom shall
.require.
6 That the Magazines of Arms, Ammunition, Powder, now in Car«
Itjk , shall be forthwith fent over to Knockfergus in Ireland.
7 That it be referred to the Kings-council, to confidcr of fome fijt
way, and to prefent it to the Houfe, for a publication to be made of rewards
to be given to fuch as shall do fervicein this Expedition into Ireland; and
for a pardon of fuch of the Rebels in Ireland as shall come in by a time li¬
mited , and of a fum of mony to be appointed for a reward to fuch as shall
bring in the Heads of fuch principal Rebels as shall be nominated.
8 That Letters shall be forthwith fent to the Juftices in Ireland to
acquaint them how fenfible this Houfe is of the affairs of Ireland.
9 That the Committee of Irish affairs shall confider how, and in what
manner this Kingdom shall make ufe of the friendship and aftiftance of
Scotland in the bufinefs of Ireland.
That directions shall be given for the drawing of a Bill for the
io
prefling of men for this particular fervice ofIreland.
Theie particulars, together with feveral others, being refolved upon
the queftion, they palled an Ordinance of Parliament, enabling the Earl
of Leicefler Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to raife 3 5 00 Foot, and 600 Hors,
for the prefent fervice there. And they further expreffed their refolution,
not to make ufe of the aftiftance offered unto them by their Brethren
of Scotland further for the prefent, then for the furnishing them with
1000 Foot, which they defired might be tranfported out of Scotland into
the North of Ireland. And on the fame day they ordered, that the Mafter
of his Majefties Ordnance should deliver to the L. Lieutenant of Ireland
the number of 1000 Arms for Hors, & 8000 Arms for Foot, and ten Laft of
powder , to be prefently lent into Ireland. And that the Lord Admiral
should fuddenly provide shipping for the tranfporting of Men, Arms,
and Ammunition, and other provillons according to the former refolu-
tions of the Houfe.
Now while both Houfes of Parliament were taking Order for railing
men, mony * and fending provillons and other neceflari«s for Ireland,
there arrived thofe other Letters of the 5 o^November, formerly men¬
tioned, which being addrelfed to the Lords of his Majefties Privy-council,
were communicated to both Houfes of Parliament, and after a conference
upon them, took further refolutions for the fpeedy lending away fupplies
into Ireland. And fuch were the forward affections and zeal of the Houfe of
Commons,to promove what concerned the fervice of Irelandy as they there¬
upon voted 200000 li. to be raifed forthefuppreffingthe Irish rebellion,
& for fccuring of the Kingdom ofEngland, & payment of the publick debts.
And
B
The Irish Rebellion.
45
And that they might facilitate this great work of railing fuch a fum
of mony, upon the credit of an Ad: of Parliament, before the mony could
1 becolleded throughout the Kingdom; they thought fit - for the better
,r encouragment of the City of London, and lor the giving them full fatis-
. f0,rE fadion in point of fecurity for the monys formerly lent themto make
^Shis Order following. * '
, ^' TP Lie Lords and Commons in thisprefnt Parliament ajfembled, having a due
/ p A regard to thegoodaffeft ions of the City of London, exprejfed upon fundry
^ occafionSy by the advancing and lending cfgreat fums of mony, for the jervice of
f this Common-wealth : and particularly the fum of 50000 /;. lent for the Irish
1 affairs ■ and theJum of ^cooo It. more lent by the faid City unto the Peers
A' attending his Majefty in the Northern parts before the beginning of this pre-
fent Parliament, which are not yet paid, or otherways fecured, shall be fully fa-
taer tisfiedand repaid unto the faid City of London, with inter eft of 8 //. percent.
for one year, out of fuch monys as are or shall be raifed by Authority ofPar lia-
1 1 ment. And for that purpofe an Atl of Par liament to be paffed with all expedition.
Provided alwayes that this prefent Ordinance shall not in any ways be prejudi-
®ed lift cial to any Members of the faid Houfe of Commons, who have formerly lent any
fums of mony to this Parliament, nor to the Northern Counties, nor to any
ndfooHrc perfons whatfoever, to whom both Houfes of Parliament, or the faid Houfi
irrefok?. of Commons have formerly ordered the payment of any fums of mony, nor
'I ktkt to any fecurity given to them, before the making of this Ordinance.
tkm; '
(jtWiti "D Ut I shall now return to the affairs of this Kingdom, and the ferious
nkMi JD confultations and means ufed here by thejuftices and Council forth®
Dt ofM fecuring of the City and Caftle of Dublin, which by reafon of the prefent
lien Lai confufion, weaknefs, and wants, were in very great, and moft apparent
rd Admit danger of a fudden furpriz.
SjAi® And firft for the Caftle, Sir Francis Willoughby being made Gover¬
ns idol: nour , had a Company of an 100 men well armed , afligned for the con-
ftant guard of that place, befides the ordinary Warders, who gave their
lifual attendance there. And becaufe the Lords conceived it might be
ilnld dangerous in fuch defperate times to admit fuch a multitude of fuitors of
lerlymecall forts into the Caftle, as had daily occafion to attend the Council-
pcoundboard , they prefently transferred the place of their meeting in Coun-
:onfereK cil to Corlg Houfe, where they continued to fit a good time after, not
y CuppS withftanding the great danger their perfons were continually expofed
iHoute unto, by the confident refort in great numbers of feveral Lords, Gen tie-
heytkfl men and others, who within few dayes after declared themfelves Rebels,
rebellion and fb went out among them. " It was Gods immediate providence that
icift prelerved them, and fuffered not thofe perfons, who foon after became
Aiy F $ fuch
46
The Irish Rebellion.
fuch bloody Rebels, to lay hold on that opportunity. For certainly, they
might with great eafe have taken out of the way the Lords Juftices and
Council; and fo have left all things in fuch confufion as would have brought
on their long defired ends without any further contention or trouble.
The next care was to provide vi&uals for the Caftle in fuch proportions
as might enable it to endure a fiege, in cafe the Town, either through trea¬
chery within, or by forces from without, should come to be furprized
by the Rebels, who now carried all things fo clearly before them in the
North , astheymoft confidently gave it out they would fuddenlv come
down and make themfelves mafters of it. How to compafs this, feemed a
matter of great difficulty , in regard there was no mony to be had for the
performing this work foabfblutely necelfary initfdf, and at that timefo
nighly importing the fafety and prefervation, even of the whole Kingdom.
Order taken Thefore the Mafter of thtRolles > upon whom the Lords werepleafedto
forvi&nai- impofe this fervice of vi&ualling the Caftle- took the advantage of the
ftrange frights, fears, and little fafety , all the English & Proteftam^
conceived both themfelves and their goods to remain in at that time. He fent
prefently for fome of the chief Merchants that were Proteftants in the T own,
and clearly reprefcntcd unto them, the high necefti ties of the State, the
great danger of the Town, the publick benefit, and their own private
fecurity, in laying into the Caftle fuch of their provifions as they had lying
by them, even in unfafc places of the City. Thefe impreftionstook , and
they rightly apprehending the common danger, that they could not out¬
live the ruines of the Caftle ; partly out of their own good affe&ions to the
fervice, partly out ofa prudent care to fecure their goods, were content to
bring in great quantities of Beef, Herrings, and Corn upon the Mafter of
the Rolles undertaking to fee them fatisfied, in cafe ufe were made of them,
or otherwife certain reftitution in kind to the feveral owners. So as there
wereprefently laid in by the English and Dutch Merchants, within the
Verge of the Caftle, above 2000 barrels of Beef, 2 000 barrels of Herrings,
and a good proportion of Wheat; provifions fufficient, not onely to victual
the Caftle for many months, but which did ferve to maintain the whole
Army billeted in the City a long time after, and their mony they received
within few months after , by certificate from hence upon the Chamber
of London; according to an Order made by both Houfes of Parliament
in England; for prefent payment to be made to fuch as laid in any pro¬
vifions for the Army in Ireland. There was then further Order taken to
new dig and clear an old Well long fince flopped up within the walls of
the Caftle ; and to provide all other neceffaries fit for a fiege. This was
the firft ftep to the fafety of this place, and gave great comfort and fecu¬
rity to all the English & Proteftants.
The
X
The Irish Rebellion. 47
mainly, :
^Juflice The Caftle being thus happily provided for, the Lords took it next into the l. jufti-
their care how to fecure the City in fome fort, againft any fudden attempts, provide for
onroublc, And this proved a work not eafy to be effected, not onely in regard of the the fafcty of
lch proper crazinefs of the walls, the large Suburbs, and weaknefs of the place; £^tyaf
but much more in refpedt of the corrupt ill affections of the Popish inha¬
bitants within the City : So ftrangely were many of them deluded with
)re them; the ill infufions of their Priefts, as they did certainly (as we found after-
luddeirlvc wards by woful experience) do all that in them lay, to promovethe re-
thif, Je® bellious defigns then fet on foot (as they believed) onely for the re-fettle-
x hadfei men t of their religion, and recovery of their liberties, They were thein-
atthat tin ftrumonts to conveigh away privately moft of the chief Confpirators,
wleKingd who would have furprized the Caftle on the 23. ofOttob. They fecretly
mpU entertained many of the Rebels that came out of the Country, they like-
i&fipoif wife lent them relief that were abroad, by fecret ways, conveighing as
1 Powell Ammunition, as intelligence of all paffages from hence. And fuch
:tiitie.He ffrc>ng av^erflons had they againft all contributions for the maintenance of
inthelo HisMajefties army; as in the very beginning of the rebellion, when the
kStat Lords fent for the Major and Aldermen, and laying before them the high
towl]pr: necelfi ties of the State, together with the apparent danger of the City and
lev I# whole Kingdom, defiredto borrow a confiderable Turn of mony for the
istook Prefent' which they undertook to repay out of the next treafure that should
arrive out of England. The Popish party among them was fo prevalent,
as that after a moft ferious confulation and very folemn debate among
themfel ves, they returned this anfwer, that they were not able to furnish
tkltt ab°ve 4°* ar,d Part r^at was to ke brought in in cattel.
ij(feofi There remained at this time imbarquea within the harbour of Dub-
, I'm four hundred Irish Souldiers , ready , as was pretended, to fet fail barqued
'^r for Spain , under the command of Colonel John Barry , who with fome
,offlerf! other Irish Gentlemen had procured leave from His Majeftyto leavycer- cLrie/'imo
tain numbers of voluntiers to be tranfportedover for theferviceoftheKing Spain, atthe
ie of Spain. And thofe levied in other parts, as well as at Dublin, were brought the fira* °f
• together juft at the very timedefigned for the execution of the great plot, breaking out
alI The pretence was fpecious, but certainly their intentions how finely foever Rcbel~
;e covered over, were to have thole men in a readinefs together, atthe very
time appointed for the firft breaking out of thefe unnatural troubles. And as
in an! for thofe men which lay within the Harbour of Dublin, they were fo great a
er 3 terrour to all the Proteftant inhabitants in the City,as it exceedingly perplex-
ed the Lords how to difpofe fo of them as might prevent the mifchief juftly
£l!) feared, in cafe of their landing. Their Commanders had fo handfomely
* ordered the matter, as though they were defigned for a long voyage, yet
ftay on ship-board any longert hey could not ,by reafon they had no vi¬
ctuals,
OTIS tO1
■I
48
The Irish Rebellion.
Several Pro-
®lamations
iflued out by
the L. Jufti¬
ces and
Gouucil.
<5buals, not even enough to curry them out of the Harbour; and no man
had order in the abfence of Colonel B.irry (who retired himfelf fom?
few miles out of the T own, the very evening before the Caftle should
have been taken) to provide for the further fupplying of them. To fuflftr
them to land, was to add fo many inftruments of mifchief to thofe alrea iy
gatehred within and about the City. Therefore it was refolved that the
Captain of the Kings Pinace thenin the Harbour should by force keep them ,
from landing, which he did feveral days together, till it was apparent they
would inevitably ftarve, ifa courfe were not fuddenly taken to afford them
fbmerelief. Whereupon the Lords having no means to visual them
aboard, gave them leave to land, bavingfirft taken order they should not
come into the City.
The Lords Juftices & Council thought fit within very few days after
the landing of thefe men, the more to deter them, and all other ifi-affe&ed
perfons from repairing to the City of Dublin ^ toiffue out a Proclamation
for the difcovery and prefcat removal of all fuch-as did or should come and
continue there without j uft or necelTary caufe. But fo careful were they in
this * and all other their a&ions > not to give any diftafte to the Irish or other
inhabitants of the Country, as they forbare to in Aid any punishment upon
any that continued in the City contrary to their Proclamation , (paring fe¬
veral perfons whom they had not onely j u(l caufe to be jealous of, but who
were brought before them, and convinced to have uttered fpeeches clearly
difcovering their ill affedions. And having by late Proclamations prorogued
the Parliament, and adjourned Michaelmas Term, that under pretence of
repair to either of them, unneceftary concourfeof ftrangers might not be
brought unto the Town , they proceded on to fbme other Ads, whichas
they conceived would not only render great fecurity to the City, but leffen
the diftempers abroad, bring fafety to the Pale, and keep the dangers at
diftance, and far oif from them. And for this purpofe they being informed,
that a multitude ofthe meaner fort of people were ignorantly involved in
the guilt of this rebellion, and by the wicked feducement of the firft Con-
fpirators had been drawn on to defpoile their English neighbour,they iftiied
out a Proclamation about the beginning of the month ofNovember , declar¬
ing unto all fuch as were not Freeholders within the County of Meath,
Vfeft-meath, Loivth, & Longford; that if they would come in and ful>
mit, makereftitution of the goods fo taken , they should be received to
His Majefties mercy, and no further profecution held againft them.
Much about the time ofthe fending forth of this Proclamation, fomeof
the chief of the Sept ofthe Re lyes, and other prime Gentlemen in the County
of Cj%van lent up a kind of Kemonftrance to the Lords Juftices andGquncil.
Where unto they returned them a very fair anfwer, alluring them of their
readmeS
1
The Irish Rebellion. 45)
readinefs to give them all juft redrefs of their grievances exprefled therein, fo A Remon-
they would in the mean time retire peaceably to their houfes, reftore as they upTo^he*
were able the English-mens goods, and forbear all further Acts of rapine Lords jufti-
and violence. And they did prefently fend over their Remonftrance to the council*
Lord Lieutenant, to be prefented to His Majefty, according to their de- from the Rc-
(ires. But thefe ways of moderation and peaceable perfwafions, pro ved of
very little effec5t,they had no manner of influence into the refolved miudsof
the Leaders, or of operation upon the hardned hearts of the people; they
were too deeply engaged , fo fleightly to retire. They had now drenched •
themfelves in the blood of the English, and were greatly enriched with their
fpoiis. It was not poflible for them to make reftitution, and they hoped to .
go through with the work & by the united power of the Kingdom to draw
the whole managment of the affairs into their own hands.
And now likewifethe Lords Juftices and Council, that they might
shew the great confidence they had in the Lords and chiefGentlemen of
thePale, and give them both opportunity and means to exprefs their loy- Commif-
alty and affections to His Majefliesfer vice, refolved (according as the con- fi.onsofmar-
ffitution of their affairs then required) to do fome fuch A<5ts as might grantedunto
clearly perfwade them of the great trufl: they really repofed in them. And feverai p«-
therefore'firfl: they gave out feveral Commiflions of Martial Law, for exe- Lordsb jufti-
cuting (without attending a proceeding according to the ordinary courfe ces.
of the Common Law) of fuch Trai tours and Rebels as should be appre¬
hended doing mifchief in any parts of the Country about them. And
thefe they directed to the mod: a&ive Gentlemen , though all Papifts,
inhabiting in the feveral Counties, As, To Henry Talbot in the County of
Dublin, JohnBellew Efq; in the County of Lowth, Richard Dalton and
James Tmt Efq; in the County otWeft-meath} Valerian Wejley in the Coun¬
ty of ALeath, James Talbot in the County of Cavan.
Next they made choice of the chief perfons of quality refiding in the f10nS™fg0_
faid Counties of the Pale, and others adiacent to them, to govern and vernment of
command fuch forces as should be raifed by them, and armed by the counties*
Rate for the defence of the Country, and iffued out from the Council- within the
board feveral Commiflions of government unto them. As, One to the
Earl of Ormond and the L. Vifcount Montgarret, for the County of Kil- Lorcis and
kenny; to Walter Bagnall Efq; for the County of Caterlagh; Sir Jam. Dil- Gentlemen,
Ion the elder, and Sir James Dillon the yoqger for the County of Long for d", ft,naion of
J®, L. Vifcount Cofteloe for the County of Maio, Sir Robert Talbot & Garrat Religion.
1, foff Birne for the County of Wiclow; Sir Chriftopher Bellew for the County of
heCo'- Lowth; Earl of Kildare for the County ofKildare\ Sir Thomas Nugent for
the County of Weft-meath', Nicholas Barnwall for the County of Dublin;
01 L. Vifcount Gormanfton for the County of Meath. All thefe were made
id G choice
5 o The Irish Rebellion.
choice ofwithout diftindtion ofreligion ; the Lords holding it fit at that
time to put the chief perfons of power in the Country into thofe places
of trufthoping they might prove good inftruments to oppofe the thread¬
ing incurfions of the Northern Rebels which they knew them well
enabled to perform if they would really joyn in thefervice, or at leaft be
kept by this their great confidence in them, from giving any entertain¬
ment or afliftance to their rebellious dehgns.
TheCommiflion directed to the L. of Gormanfion, I have thought fit
here toiniert. It was found afterwards in his ftudy by fome of His Maje-
ftiesarmy, when he and all the reft of the Governours that were of the
Romish Religion, thus chofen , deferted their houfes, and openly declared
themfelves in actual rebellion. The other Commiftions were all of the
the fame tenour.
The Irish Rebellion.
'"fen. By the Lords Tuftices and Council.
•° thole
. W. Par Cons. John Borlace.
;w the®, J J
°r3tlii yj Ight trufty and well beloved, We greet you well,
^eoteu Jfv Whereas divers moft dilloyal and malignant perfons
[etj, within this Kingdom have traiteroufly confpired againft His
Majefty, His Peace, Crown, and Dignity; and many of them
hereof in execution of their Confpiracy, are traiteroufly aflembled
inlydecb together in a warlike manner, and have moft inhumanely
raeaM made deftrudtion and devaftation of the perfons and eftates of
divers of His Majefties good and loyal Subjects of this King¬
dom, and taken, {lain, and imprifoned great numbers of them.
We out of our care and zeal for the common good, being de-
firous by all means to fupprefs the faid treafons and traitors ,
and to conferve the perfons and fortunes of His Majefties lov¬
ing Subjedts here in fafety; and to prevent the further fpoil
and devaftation of His Majefties good people here, do there¬
fore hereby require and authorize you, to levy, raife and
aflemble, all, every, or any the forces, as well Foot-men as
Hors-men with in the County of Meath, giving you hereby
the command in chief of all the faid.forces, and hereby further
requiring and authorizing you as Commander of them in
chief, to arm, array, divide, diftribute, difpofe,condudt,
lead, and govern in chief the faid forces , according to your
beft Difcretion * and with the faid forces to refift, purfue, fol-
i low, apprehend, and put to death, flay, and kill, as well
by battel as other ways, all and Angular the faid Confpi-
rators, Traitors and their Adherents, according to your Dif¬
cretion; and according to your Confcience and Difcretion to
proceed againft them, or any of them, by martial law , by
hanging them or any of them till they be dead, according as
it hath beenaccuftomedin time of open Rebellion ; andalfo
to take, wafte, and fpoil their, or any of their Caftles,
Holds, Forts, Houfes, Goods, and Territories, or other-
G 2 wife
The Irish Rebellion.
wife topreferve the lives of them, or any of them, and to
receive them into His Mijefties favour and mercy , and to
forbear the devaftation of their, or any of their Caftles, Forts,
Houfes, Holds, Goods, and Territories afore mentioned,
according to your difcretion : Further hereby requiring and
authorizing you to do, execute, and perform all and fmgular
fuch other things for examination ofperfonsfufpe&ed, dif-
covery of Traitors and their adherents, parlying with, and
granting Protections to them or any ofthem, takingupof
Carts, Carriages, and other conveniences, fending and
retaining efpials, victualling chefaid forces, and other things
whatfoever conducing to the purpofe afore mentioned,as you
in your Difcretion fhall think fit, and the neceffity ofthe
fervice require, further hereby requiring and authorizing
you, as commander in chief, to conftituteandappoi.nt fuch
Officers and Mi nifters refpeCtively, for the better perform¬
ance and execution of'all and fmgular the premifes, as you in
your Difcretion fhall think fit. And We do hereby require
and command, all and fmgular His Majefties Sheriffs, Offi¬
cers, andMiniflers, and loving SubjeCts, of and within the
County of cJWeath, and the borders thereof, upon their
faith and allegiance to his Majefty, and to his Crown, to be
aiding, helping, and affiftingto you, in the doing, and execut¬
ing of all and fmgular the premifes; This our Commiffionto
continue during Our pleafure only ♦, and for thefo doing,
this fhall be your fufficient Warrant. Given at His Majefties
Caftle ofD u b l i n , Novemb. 164,1.
R. TDiUon. Io. Temple.
la. Ware. Rob. Meredith.
T o our very good Lo. Nicholas
Vic. Com. Gormanftown.
In
The Irish Rebellion.
53
IN thefe Commiffions it is very obfervable , that there was power
given to thefe Lords and Gentlemen to whom they were dire&'ed,
not only to life fire and fword, for the dcftru&ion of the Rebels and
their Adherents, but alfo to prefcrve the lives of any of them, to receive
them or any of them , into his Majeilies favour or mercy. This plainly
shews the very great confidence the Lords were plea fed to repofe in them;
j as alfo their defires to make them inilruments, to deliver thofe multitudes
it of people that engaged themfelves in this Rebellion, from the power,
,; either of his Majefties arms, or civil juftice. They intended nothing but
(. the reducing of a rebellious Nation ; and they at the firft applied lenitives,
which failing in the cure, they were afterwards then enforced to have
recourfe to more violent medicines.
That thefeGovernours thus conftituted, might be the better enabled munftiemde-
according to the authority and power given unto them by their feveral livered out
CommilTions, to undertake the defence of the Country in this high ex- and^chlef^
tremity of the near approaching dangers; The Lords took order to Gentlemen
have delivered unto them a certain proportion of arms, to beimployed Tuftices
for the arming of fomemen to beraifed in each County for the common council!
fifety, befides the Arms they gave them, and other Gentlemen, for the
defence of their own private houfes. As to the Lord of Gorwanftone
there were delivered Arms for five hundred men, for the County of
Jlleath. There were alfo delivered Arms for three hundred men for the
County of Kildare. Arms for three hundred men for the County of
Lowth. Arms for three hundred men for the County o£ Weft-meath*
Arms for three hundred men for the County of Dublin. And about the
fame time there were fent down four hundred Muskets, to the Lords of
the s4rdes&c Clandeboys , for the arming of the Scots in the County ofDown.
All of thefe had powder, lead, and match, proportionable to their Arms,
at the fame time delivered unto them.
Several
But now the poifon of this Rebellion which had hitherto contained it Counties
|f.f within the Northern Counties, and the confines of them, began to be within the
diffufed into other parts of the Kingdom. It had already infected the
ounties of Letrim , Longford, Weft-meath, Lowth, lying contiguous clarethem-
unto them. And upon the 12 of Novemb. the Irish in the County [heRebels
Wiclow brake out moft furioufly, defpoiling, robbing, and murtherjng
all the English inhabitants within that territory. They burnt all their
fair well-built houfes, drove away their Cattel, and laid fiege to Fort
Carew, wherein was a foot company of the old Army. The news being
brought to the Lords Judices thereof, they well confidered the impor¬
tance of the place, and that if it were in the hands of the Rebels, and
G x that
54
The Irish Rebellion.
that whole County in their pofteflion, they could exped little quietnefs,
or even fafety in the City , by reafon of their near neighbourhood.
Whereupon they were moft delirous to have fentdown forces for the re¬
lief of it. But when they came on the other fide to confider their want
of means for the performance of that fervice, that they had no mony,
but few men , and many of them not to be trufted; that it would be very
dangerous to divide their fmall forces, and fo to leave the City in a man¬
ner unguarded , they were enforced to lay afide that refolution, and with
great grief to fit ftill and fuffer the poor English in thofe parts to be expofed
to the mercilefs cruelties of thole barbarous Rebels who went on furioully
with the work, and quickly cleared all that County of the English inhabi¬
tants. Within few days after, the Irish in the Counties of Wexford and
Cater Ugh began to rife likewife, and to follow the bloody examples of their
neighbours. There were now alfo great apparencies of tbedifloyalty of the
County ofKildare^ho with large proteftations under the pretence of doing
fervice had gotten into their hands the arms and munition defigned for them
by the State. And fo myfterious and doubtful was the carriage of the Lords
and chief Gentlemen of the English Pale, giving no manner of intelligence
to the State of the proceedings of the Rebels, nor making any kind of prepa¬
ratives againft them,as their affedions began even then to be j ufily fufpeded.
So as the City of Dublin being the receptacle of phe whole State, the
The fad con- Magazine of all the arms, munition and other provifionsfor the army , and
dition of the the chief fanduary of all the English and dejpoiled Proteftants, was now
reduced to a very fad condition , delperately encompalfed on every fide,
the Northern Rebels being come down in twofeveral parties with great
forces, within 20 miles of it on the one fide , and the Rebels of the County
olWiclow infefting it on the other fide: which with the great relortof
ftrangers, and the continual rumours of new plotsand devices to furpriz the
Town, poflefled the Proteflants with extraordinary fears of their prefent
danger. But that which made their condition appear much more formidable
unto them, was the daily repair of multitudes of English that came up in
troops, ftripped, and miferably defpoiled, out of the North. Many per-
Ions ofgood rank and quality, covered over with old raggs, and lome with¬
out any other covering then a little twifted ftraw to hide their nakednefs.
Some reverend Minifters and others that had efcaped with their lives, forely
wounded. Wives came bitterly lamenting the murders of their Husbands,
Mothers of their children barbaroufiy deftroyed before their faces, poor
infants ready to perish and pour out their fouls in their Mothers bolom:
fome over-wearied with long travel, and fo furbated, as they came creeping
on their knees; others frozen up with cold / ready to give up theGhoftin
the ftreets: others overwhelmed with grief, diftraded with their lolfes, loft
alfo
^ The Irish Rebellion. 55
poui alio their fenfes. Thus was the T own within the compafs of a few days after Thc rc*°rt
ces feti; the breaking out of this rebellion filled with thefe moft lamentable fpedfcacles multltudes 0
a % i men, women
ler fct offorrow, which in great numbers wandred up and down in all parts of the and children
!(l Bom City, defolate, forfaken, having no place to lay their heads on, no clothing £^c^y°f
wulifei to cover their nakednefs, no food to fill their hungry bellies. And to add to moft m'ifer-
ity inat their miferies, they found all manner ofrelief very difproportionable to abiepofturc,
)Ji, and? their wants, the Popish inhabitants refufing to minifter the Ieaft comfort
tobeexp unto them r fo as thofefad Creatures appeared like living Ghofts in every
takfa ftreet.Many empty houfes in the City,were up by fpeciai direclion taken up
f°r them: Barns, Stables, and out-houfes filled with them , yet many lay
Ferford; in the open ftreets, and others under flails and there moft miferably perish-
nplesofited. The Churches were the common receptacles of the meaner fort of them,
opltjol: who flood there in a moft doleful pofture, as objedfs of charity, in fo great
xeofdoi multitudes, as there was fcarce any paflage into them. But tnofe of better
dfont quality, who could not frame themfel ves to be common beggars, crept into
oftheLt private places, and fome of them that had not private friends to relieve them,
'intelli even wafted filently away, and fo died without noife. And fo bitter was the
indofpit remembrance of their former condition, and fo infupportable the burthen
lyfufpei of their prefent calamity to many of them , as they even refufed to be
> $t3K| comforted. I have known of fome that lay almoft naked, and having clothes
fent, laid them by, refufing to put them on. Others that would not ftir to
VJS ^ fetch themfelves food, though they knew where it flood ready for them.
^{j| But they continued to lie naftily in their filthy rags, and even their own
iJL dung, not taking care to have any thing clean, handfbme or comfortable
about them. And fo even worn out with the mifery of their journy and
^ ref0r crud ufage, having their fpirits fpent, their bodies wafted, and their fen-
^fes failing, lay here pitifully languishing; and foon after they had reco-
leirprei vercd this Town , very many of them dyed, leaving their bodies as monu-
foinij| ments of the moft inhuman cruelties ufed towards them. The grea~
CMe[]t teft part of the women and children thus barbarouflly expelled out of their
ju' habitations, perished in the City of Dublin : and fo great numbers of
them were brought to their graves, as all the Church-yards within the
nayn, whole Town were of too narrow a compafs to contain them. So as
ve$ ^ the Lords took order to have two large pieces of new ground 3 one on
each fide the River , taken in upon the out-Greens, and fet apart for
^ , burying places. Thefe were the memorable fpe<ftades of mercy, and of
^ y, the great commiferation the Rebels ufed to thofe English > to whom they
^ gave their lives for a prey. But what their fufferings were, before they
could get out of the hands of thofe bloody Villains, what ftrange horrid
,|l"i inventions they ufed to wards them, torturing and maffacring thofe they
0j there murthered, is referved to be more fully related in its proper place.
They
5 G
The Irish Rebellion.
They are left upon record to pofterity , under the oaths of many that
efcaped, and mentioned here to no other purpofe, then to shew the ftrange
horror and amazment the beholding of them bred in all the English and
Proteftant inhabitants of the City. They feing the Rebels prevail fo
mightily , expeded if they continued here to be undoubtedly expofed to
the fame cruelties. And they now underftood by thofewho were come
up from among them , that their defign was; As foon as they had taken
mTredagh, to come and feiz upon the City and Caftleof Dublin, and
fo to make a general extirpation of all the English , root and branch ; not
to leave them name or pofterity throughout the whole Kingdom.
It is eafy to conjedure what a fad confufed countenance the City then
had : what fears, terror, and aftonishment, the miferable fpedacles with¬
in, and the approaches of the Rebels without, raifedinthe minds of an
affrighted, diftraded people. The English inhabitants looked upon all
.the horrid cruelties exercifed abroad, all the calamities and defolations
fallen upon their Country-men in other parts of the Kingdom, asarriv-
The fears edatthefe gates, and now ready to enter : the Avenues all open , neither
to lit!
in A®
«<
rife
and diftra- nor means y neither Rampires nor Trenches to keep them out. Not-
in the city withftanding the careful travels.and endeavours ufed by the Lords Jufti-
ofDublin, ces and Council to make provifion for the common fafety , no mcny
could be raifed, few men gotten together: the Papifts well furnished with
arms clofely conceiled, and defperately animated by their Priefts to all
manner of mifchief: no Fortifications about the Suburbs,, nor any man¬
ner of defence for the City, but an old ruinous Wall, part whereof fell
theC(
Vif) 1
fc
ml
fide t!
tkCi
down in the very height of thefe diftradions. And fo carelefs were the
Citizens, and fo flowly went they about the making up that breach , as
under pretence of want of mony, they let itly open till the Lords fent
unto them 40. li. toward the reparation. All things tended to a fudden
confufion ; the very face of the City was now changed,' and had fuch a
ghaftly afped , as feemed to portend her near approaching ruin: the
means of fafety appearing very flender and inconftderable : the applica¬
tions by reafbn of the ftrange averfions of the Popish party of a very flow
and weak operation. Every man began to confider himfelf and his own
private prefervation. Thofe that lived in the Suburbs removed, with their
families into the City. The Privy Councellours and perfons of quality
into the Caftle , which became a common repofitory of all things of
value. The Rolles were by fpecial order removed thither : the Records
offeveral other Offices were likewife brought in. But upon the Rebels
advance fome what nearer, and their frequent alarms, man v of thole who
had there taken fanduary, began to fufped the ftrengthof thofe old crazy
walls, and therefore to make fure, refolved to quit the Kingdom, im-
barquing
W(
mi
The Irish Rebellion.
57
^7^ barquing themfelves and their goods with all poflible fpeed. Some who
"J® were detained with contrary winds in the Harbour chofe rather to en-
dure all extremities on shipboard, then to hazard themfelves a shoar
f/ V again. The.Scatish Fishermen, who lay with their Boats in great num-
Jpftii :bers within the Bay, fishing for Herrings, having with muchforward-
5ejfi nefs made an offer to the State to bring 500 of their men a shoar to be put
J°W{; jn Arms and doprefentfervice (apropofititton at that feafon moft accep-
n Wt table) were fo ftrangely affrighted one evening with a falfe alarm, as that
in the night, on a fudden, they put to Sea, and quite disappeared on
thefe Coafts till the year following. ThePapiftson the other fide being
'a moft confident that the City would be taken and fack'd by the Rebels,
e City I and fearing, left happily they might be miftakeninthe tumult and fierce
naclcsi execution, removed themfelves and their goods with the fame fpeed into
the Country. And that which heightned the calamity of the poor English
ft! upon] was, their flight in the Winter, in fuch a difmal, ftormy, tempeftuous
ttlati. feafon, as in the memory of man had never been obferved formerly tc
h as® continue fo long together. Yet the terror of the Rebels incomparably
kmc prevailing beyond the rage of the Sea, moft of thofe who could pre
mi I vide themfelves of shipping, though at-nevcr fo exceftive rates, deferted
Lords]! the City : and fuch was the violence of the winds, fuch continuing im-
> noir petuous ftorms, as feveral Barques were caft away; fbme in three months
whek after their going from hence could recover no Port in England: and ah
ieds to * moft all that then put to Sea, were in great danger of perishing. The mh
om]i quities of the English Nation, which were very great in this Kingdom,
whereof were now full: Heaven and Earth ftemed to confpire together For the
iefs were- punishment of them. God certainly declared his high indignation againft
M them for their great fins werewith they had long continued to provoke
Lords! him in this latid, and fuffered thefe barbarous Rebels to be the inftru-
!oafud( ments of mifchief and cruel executioners of his fierce wrath upon them.
Ufcj Bui becaufe they have taken vengeance utith a dcjpightfal heart to deflroy
g ruin:: them, for the old hatred, He will certainly in His awn time execute great 17*
km vengeance upon them with fur hue rebttkes, as he threatned the Philjftins
iceiydo5 in the like cafe.
id his 0!
withtf
of qui ■ ^ ,
1 thins) .
e Rear; ,
the Re:
tfi1 • H The
ioldc |j
|doni)i;
jfj
■ ■■
The Particulars of the firft Plot oft he
Irish Rebellion : Together with a brief Narration
of the moil notorious Cruelties and bloudy Mafiacres
which enfued in feveral parts of this Kingdom.
Concerning
the firft Plot
of the Rebel¬
lion.
Who were
the plotters
ef it not yet
clearly dil
coveted.
Hus we fee what agreat height this Rebellion was
growrr up unto , within the (pace of lefs then one
month, after the very firft appearance of it: What
horrid murders, cruel outrages and fearful deflati¬
ons it had already wrought in one Province, and what
a powerful operation the cruelties there a<ftcd had upon
other parts. But before I pafs further, or come to
declare the univerfal dilatation of it throughout the whole Kingdom, and
how it pleafed God even miraculoufty toblcfs the painful endeavours ol
the State, in the prefefvation of the City and Caftle of Dublin, till the
arrival of their long expe&ed fuccours out of England: I hold it notamifs
to look back, and" fas far as the late difcoveries and dark glimmerings we
have into the fir ft plot will admit) to trace it up to the firft beginnings we
find ofit within this Kingdom of Ireland.
Concerning the firft Original of this great Confpiraey, as like-
wife the firft plotters and contrivers ofit , I muft ingenuoufly con-
fids, that I am my felf much unfatisfied in the firft conceptions of this
monftrous birth , and therefore shall not now be able clearly to re-
folve others therein : I cannot yet determine who were the very firft
Contrivers, where the firft debates were entertained, or who firft fate in
Council about it. This, as all other works of this nature * had its foun¬
dation laid in the dark, and fealed up no doubt with many execrable
Oaths, the great Engines of thefe times, to bind up the Confidences as well
as the tongues of men from difcovery : Befides, they knew well enough,
that the Plot being moft abominable in it felf, to be carried on with fuch
de-
\
The irish Rebellion. 5 9
deteftable cruelty, should it take and be fully executed (which commonly
gives to all other treafons applaufe and higheft commendation) would cer¬
tainly render the firft A uthors, as well as the bloudy acftors, moft odious
and execrable to allPofterity: Therefore it is not much to bewondred,
that the firft beginnings fo myfterious and oblcurely laid , remain as
yet conceiled with fo great Obfiinacy : But yet I am very confident,
that upon view of feveral examinations , any reafonable man will
conclude with me , that the very firft principles of this inhumane
Con {piracy , were roughly drawn and hammered out at the Romish
Forg , powerfully fomented by the treachery and virulent animofi-
ties of fome of the chief Irish Natives, and fo by degrees, by them moulded
into that ugly shape wherein it firft appeared : There certainly it received
the firft life and motion, whether at Rome, whether in Ireland, or in
any other place , I cannot yet determine; But my meaning is, it was firft
hatched and fet on foot by thole moft vigilant and induftrious Emifiaries,
who are fent continually abroad by the power of that See with full Corn-
million, per fas & nefas, to make way for the re-eftablishment of the
Romish Religion in all parts where it hath been fupprelfed. Great numbers
ofthefe wicked Inftruments (the Laws againft all of the Romish Clergy> be¬
ing oflate laid afide, and tacitely fufpended execution) came over into Ire¬
land : The main ground-work, and firft predifpofitions to a Rebellion in
general, were moft undoubtedly with great dexterity and artifice laid by
them; their venemousinfufions taking fuch deep roots in the minds of a
blind, ignorant, (uperftitious people, as made them ready for a change, the
great ones mifchievoully to plot and contrive , the inferiour fort tumultu-
oufly to rile up and execute whatfoever they should command.
And if we will give credit to feveral examinations taken , many of f lie general
them from thofe of their own, we muft believe the plot for a Rebellion Plot for a Re¬
in Ireland, of a very ancient date, as well as of a large extent: It had 7rcr/J°j^f aA
been long in contriving, and howfoever> peradventure firft thought on ancient date,
in Ireland, yet received large contributions towards confummation out
of England and other Forreign parts.
I have feen an Examination of one, who affirms he heard it confidently
averred by Malone a Prieft , one that ftiled himfelf Chaplein Major within
the Pale, that he himfelf had been feven years imployed in bringing on this
plot to perfe&ion, and that he had travelled into feveral parts about it.
Mafter Goldfmith a Minifter in Conaught told me, that he did , a full
year before the Rebellion brake out, receive a Letter from a Brother of his
refidingat Brujfels, wherein he gave him notice thereof, though fo ob-
fcurely, as he well underftood it not till afterwards.
Patrick^ 0 Rrjan, of the Parish of Galloom, m the County of Ferma-
H'2 nagh,
nagh, affirmeth upon Oath , that all the Nobles in the Kingdom that
werePapifts, had a hand in this Plot, as well as the Lord tJfyCac-Guire
lain by
Fr<t ich S»t-
ckeveril Efq j
h s Esaml-
nition.
The Irish
have had it
long in de-
fign to shake
off the Eng¬
lish Govern
meat.
and Hugh Oge AF'ic-AFihown; that they expeded aid out of Sp,
Owen Roe 0 Meal, and that Colonel Pluncket, one of thofe that was to
be an ador in the furpriz of the Caftle of Dublin, told him, that he
knew of this Plot eight years llnce, and that within thefe three years
he hath been more fully acquainted with it. Francis Sacheveril Efq ;
hath depofed, that at feveral times shortly after the beginning of this
Rebellion, he hith heard four feveral Popish Priefts, viz,. Hugh Rely
of the County of Down, Edmund OTunnah of the County of Armagh}
AForice AFac-Credan of the County of Tyron , and James Hallegan of
the County of asFrmagh, fay, That the Priefts, Jefuits and Fryers of
England, Ireland, Sprain, and other Countrys beyond the Seas, were
the plotters, projectors and contrivers of this Rebellion and InfurreCtion,
and that they have been thefe fix years in agitation and preparation of
the fame, and that the faid Priefts did then exprefsa kind of joy that the
fame was brought to fo good effect: He alfo further depofeth, That at
feveral times Ever Boy AFac-Gennis in the County of Down Gentleman ,
and Hugh O Hagan in the County of ^Armagh Gent, did brag and fay, that
they doubted not but that they should shortly conquer the English in the
Kingdom, and enjoy the fame quietly to themfelves, and that they would
not reft fo content but they would raife ftrong Armies to invade and
conquer England. Roger Moor one ofthe prime Confpirators, told Mafter
Colely, then prifoner with him, that the Plot had been in framing feveral
years, and should have been executed feveral times, but they wereftill
hindred. By Letters lent from Rome to Sir Phelim O Meal-, and the Lord
" Mac-Guire, which were intercepted and brought to the Lord Parfons,
though the Fryer that writ them doth not exprefs any certain knowledge
of this very Plot, yet thus much appears by them , that they had long
defired to hear of the rifing of the Irish , that the news of Sir Phelim
DNeal's taking Arms was very acceptable to the Pope and his two Car¬
dinal Nephews, alluring him of all aftiftance from thence, and further
deli ring him to lend over an Agent to Rome, and to imploy feveral perfons
of his own Nation, whom he there named, then refiding at AFadrid > Paris,
and with the Emperour they being fit Inftruments, andfuch as he might
make ufe of for the procuring fuccours from thofe Prince*, whom he allur¬
ed him- would joyn to give him all aftiftance in this aCtion.
Belides thefe, we have very many other preemptions that the Irish
ftnee they found their own ftrength, and that they were able to draw
together lo great numbers of men , as their feveral Septs fo ftrangely
multiplied during the late peace.canmow afford', have long had it in de-
' '/<j.iiii fign
fiat!
i*1
ilS,!'
0
itleli
iteG
irrect
rao
edo
fill
The Irish Rebellion. c i
kltlF?® fign to shake off the English government, to fettle the whole power
^ of the State in the hands of the Natives, and to re-poffefs them of all
I W the Lands now enjoyed By the British throughout the Kingdom: And that
1! | in this plot they did but go about to a&uate thole confufed general noti-
l®' ^ ons, and to put them in a way of execution. Now they fuppofed there
lreeF could never be offered unto them a fairer opportunity then this moft un-
f happy conjundure of the affairs of great Britain, when Scotland lately in
BlnS"0^ Arms, had by their own power and wife managments, drawn his Majefty
to condefcend to their entire fatisfadion, as well in their Church difciplioe,
j as the liberties of that Kingdom. And in England, the diftradions being
Mjb grown up to fome height, through the great mifunderftanding betwixt the
Fryen: King and his Parliament, Ireland was at thistime left naked and unregarded,
t the Government in the hands of Juftices, the old Army difperfed in places
wedioi of fo great diftance, as it could be of little advantage, the common Soul-
diers moft of them Irish, and all the old Commanders and Captains, except
>ytht fome few, worn out and gone: This, as the firft plotters thought, was the
h Til time to work out their own ends, and masking their perfidious deftgns
^tl« under the publick pretences of Religion, and the defence of his Majefties
%■; Prerogative, they let loofe the reins of their own vindicative humour and
Id ini irreconcileable hatred to their British Neighbours,
ff/ra! I will not prefume to fay, they knew what would fall out in Eng-
Tandy or what miferablc embroilments that Kingdom was ready to break
Uli out into ; for undoubtedly the firft plot was laid, and moft exaclly form-
ingfevr ed many months before the War brake out betwixt the King and his people*
jwt But thus much i shall be bold to affirm, that upon the very; firft break-
■tle lis ing out of this Rebellion, they did ftrangely conje&ure, and beyond
"Par], all appearence of reafon, even fomewhat poli tively divine, of the difmal
Mk| breach and fearful diftempers which afterwards followed to the difabling
rUfa ofthe Kingdom of England from applying remedies'towards the reduce-
SirA.' ment of Ireland. For the atteftation of this truth , i could produce
mti the general concurrence of feveral circumftances, many private difcour-
/fartl> fes and advertifements, as alfo a particular Letter which i had long by
iljitrfc me, written as it feems, from a very intelligent Papift, a great Zealot in
the caufe, unto a Nephew of Sir Toby Matthews, then in Dttbltn, who,
he mi; though lately converted ,retained yet agreat friendship among them. He
heaf tells him in the beginning of the Letter , that he wasdefired from fome
well wishing friends, to advife him > as he tendred his fafety and fee urity ,
0 upon the fight of thofe inftantly to forfake and abandon that troublefome
toil! and moft unfortunate Kingdom, for God and man had fpeedily refolved
foot to affiid: and punish the overgrown impieties of thefe prophane times,
01 all heartland hands happily confpiring to its and that he should be as
H t fpeedy
6 2.
The Irish Rebellion.
rfi
time i|
i(u^'
iaitifl
the Plot for
a Rebellion
ifi
difcovered to
the Lord
Mdc-Guire &
others,about
the time of
M after John
Bclleivs re¬
turn out of
England yWilh.
commiffion
to continue
rheParlia-
mentin Ire¬
land , which
was in fan.
1640.
fpcedy in his parage as was poffible, and rather, as the cafe flood, hazard
all dangers by Sea, then theleaflat Land, tobefurenot to flop in Eng.
land, efpecially at London, that fink of fin (as he calls it) and center of
difbrders, for by that time he arrived there, he should be fure to find
nothing but troubles, fadionsand defperate diflempers; that he should
difpatch therefore for Paris, or rather Brujfels, where there should be
order taken for the removal of all miflakes betwixt him and his Uncle.
This Letter was written about the beginning of November, 1641. which
was fome few days after the breaking out of this Rebellion, and full fix
months before the taking up of A rms in England.
Now for the very time when this great Plot received its'firfl form,
though I conceive it of fomewhat a more ancient date, yet by all the
examinations I have hitherto feen, I can carry it up no higher then the
month of January, 1640. and that it was about that time communicated
to fome of the chief Gentlemen o fVlfter , the Lord *JMIac-Guire doth
fufficiently teflify as well in the relation written with his own hand in the
Tower, and delivered by him to Sir John Corners , then Lieutenant, to
be prefented to the Lords in Parliament , as alfo in his Examination taken
before the Lord Lambart & Sir Robert ^teredith Knight, in Ireland,
<JlCarch 26. 164.2. In both thefe he acknowledgeth , that he being in
Dublin in Candlemas Term , about the time when Mafler John Bellew came
out of England with the Commiffion for the continuance of the Parliament
in Ireland; Roger ^JtyCoor acquainted him, that if the Irish would rife,
they might make their own conditions for the regaining of their Lands,
and Freedom of their Religion; and further faith, that he had fpoken with
fundry of Lemfler to that purpofe, who would be ready to joyn with
them, as. likewife a good part of Conaught, and that he found all of them
willing thereto, if fo be they could draw to them the Gentlemen oPVlfter.
Now for the manner of putting this Plot in execution, the faid Lord
tJMac-Guire, doth further teflify in his relation aforefaid, that the faid
Roger Moor having the next day acquainted Philip O Rely, Turlagh 0
Neal brother to Sir Phelim O Neat, MaflerCofloe, and Mac-Mahon
herewith, did propofe, that firfl every one should endeavour to draw
his own friends into that A <51, at leafl thofe that did live in one Coun¬
try with them, and that when they had fo done, they should fend to
the Irish in the Low-countries and in Spain, to let them know of the
day and refblution, fo that they might be over with them by that
day , or foon after with fupply of Arms and Munition , that there
should be a fet day appointed , and every one in his own Quarters
should rife out that day and feiz upon all the Arms he could get in
his own County , and this day to be near Winter , fo that England
could
if
/U«
f I
pi
torh
sirtso
kne
dial
bndj
IWj
IUC
(irr
iltlt
sr.
The Irish Rebellion.
could not be able to fend Forces into Ireland, before <JfyCay, and by that
^'5 time there was no doubt to be made, but that they themfelves would be
fupph'ed by the Irish from beyond the Seas. Then he told them further,
{ that there was no doubt to be made ofthe/r/>^ joy ning with them, and
Oreto- that all the doubt was in the Gentlemen of the Pale • but he faid , for his
^4 own part, he was really alltired, that when they had ri fen out, the Pale
■m>: Gentlemen would not flay long after, at leafl they would not oppofeany
, 5 ft thing ; and that in cafe they did, that they had men enough in the King-
^[, lt dom without them : Moreover , that he had fpoken to a great man (who
^ 6i then should be namelefs) who would not fail at the day appointed, to appear
and to be fecn in the A <51, but that till then he was fworn not to reveil him,
fftfort but yet that upon their importunity, he afterwards told them, it was the
Lord of Mayo, who was very powerful in the command of men in thefe
?r parts of Conaujht, where he li ved: He further faith, that in Lent foliow-
luuoia ing, Mafter Moor , according to his promife , came into Ulfter, but
Wfdt that nothing was done there, but all matters put off till May foliow-
Widin ing, where they met at Dublin, it being both Parliament and Term time,
* and that from thence they difpatched one Tooly Conley , parish Pricffc
liooti to Mafter *JMoor , to Colonel O Neal, in the Low - countries, who
iiIrk within few months after arrived with this anfwer from the faid Co-
efe lonel, dtfiring them not to delay any time in riling out, but to let
'ha him know of the day when they intended it, and that he would not
irBd fail to be with them within fourteen days of that day, with good ayd ;
Ail alio defiring them by any means to feiz on the Gallic of t)ubiin if they
rlfflj could. And further he faith, that during the time of thefe their private
oknvr meetings, there landed at Dublin, Colonel Birn, Colonel Plunket, Cap-
o/fl i: tain Brien O Neal, and others, who came with directions to carry men
loltk away , and that thefe were acquainted with the Plot, and did offer their
ofl'ljl; fervice to bring it on , and that they would raife their men under colour to
iid Lc: carry them into Spain, and then feiz on the Caftle of Dublin, andwiththe
ittk:: arms found there, arm their Souldiers, and have them ready for any
tytyk action that should be commanded them. Hefurther alfo faith , that they
had di vers pri vate confultations about the carrying on of this confpiracy,
to dra1 not onely at Dublin, but in feveral other places in the Province ofVlfiery
i Cor that they had fet down feveral days for the putting of it in execu-
tM tion, but meeting with fome obftacles, did not come ro conclude of
j/oft the certain time till about the beginning of September , and that then
hi they peremptorily refolved on the 23. of OUober , for the day to exe-
iattf; cute this long defigned plot in ; and that they had refpedt unto the
Qpr: day of the week, which did fall on Saturday , being the Market-day,
lc ©n which there would be the lefs notice taken of people up and
P , rlnirn
down the ftreets; that they then fetled what numbers of men should be
brought up out of the feveral Provinces for the furpriz of the Cattle, and
what Commanders should lead them on , that feing the Cattle had two
Gates, that the Lemfler men should u ndertake to feiz upon the little Gate,
which lay neareft to-the place where the arms and munition was placed j
and that the great Gate should be undertaken by thofe of Vlfter , and that
Sir Phelim O Neal should be there in perfon ; but that heexcufed himfeif,
becaufe he refolved at the fame time to feiz upon London Derry, and that
thereupon by the importunity of the undertakers, it was impofed upon him
the faid Lord Mac-Guire, to be there in perfon at the taking of the Cattle
of Dublin. That it was further refolvedwhat number of Forces should be
brought up out of the other Provinces, to make good thofe places ifpof-
feffed by fhem , and that Sir James Dillon did undertake to be there with
loop men within four days after the taking of the Cattle ; as alfo
that it was refolved that every one privy to that matter in every
part of the Kingdom , should rife out that day and feiz on all the
Forts and Arms in the feveral Counties ; as likewife on all the
Gentry , and make them prrfoners , the more to aflure themfelves
.againft any adverfe fortune, and not to kill any but where of neceflity
they should be forced thereunto by oppofition. Thefe particulars,
together with many other circumftanccs very conttderable , are fet
down in the relation given in by the Lord <JWac~Guire, while he remain¬
ed prifoner in the Tower of London; but I have thought fit to for¬
bear to relate them at large , becaufe I find that relation published by
authority , and fo prefented to the common view. We shall find al¬
fo, that zSWac-n^Cahon in his examination taken when he was firft ap¬
prehended by the Lords Juftices and Council here, doth teftify that
all the chief of the Nobility and Gentry in this Kingdom were ac¬
quainted with the firft plot , and particularly , that all the popish
party in the Committee fent into England , as likewife in both houfes
of Parliament knew of it: In the Examination of William Fitz, Gerald,
it is thereaffirmed, That Sir Phelim 0 Neal fending for him five days
after his rifing in Arms , told him , what he did was by diredions
and confent of the prime Nobility and Gentry of the whole King¬
dom ; and that what he had done in the Northern parts, the fame
was executed at Dublin , and in all other Forts and Towns through¬
out Ireland : As being a courfe refolved upon among the Lords and
Gentry, for the prefervation of His Majefties Prerogative, their own
Religion and Liberties, againft the Puritan fadion in England, Scot-
land & Ireland ; and that the Lord of Gormonftone knew of this plot
while he was in England , is teftified by Lieutenant Colonel Read in
his
The Irish Rebellion., c c
101 sto| ; 1 •
ieCaftJe, his Examination, as alfo by the Lord *JAtac-Guire in his relation; who faith,
'AU that Colonc 1 Plunket tola him, that he being at L ondon, had acquainted
ke fait fbme of the Irish Committe,and particularly the Lord of GormanPtone, with
Mtasflt this plot, and that they approved it well: Colonel Plunket in his Letter to
frr, jci Father PatrickJBarmval,Lord Abbot olMellifont (as he fliles him) doth feem
njfedliiiji much to glory in the means he had ufed to incite the Lords and Gentry of
rrj) ^ thePale to appear in that blefled caufe(as he terms it)and aflures him that the
Wtlpt Lord ofGarmonft one ^vhom he there calls LordGeneral, will go bravely on.
'oitkCi And now it will be no difficult matter to refolve what were the
ftfouM fecondary fteps and motions of this great plot , as well as by what
jljcesif; perfons it was wrought out in Ireland , and carried on to the very
: there? point of executiqn. And firft it is to be obferved , that howfoever
kiss: Sir Phelim O Neal, the Lord Mac-Guire, Philip O Rely, Colonel Mac-
r in ft- Brian, Hugh HM>ac-Mahon and their adherents, chief of the Irish Septs
on all in Vlfter , and other Counties near adjacent , did firft appear upon Rebellion
3n all: the ftage , and by their bloudy execution notorioufly declare them- did not firft
thei felves chief A dors in this horrid Tragedy : Yet this Rebellion was ^~
ifnecef either altogether not originally plotted by them , moft of them had
anpli but fubordinate notions of it, and they as other of the chief Nobility and
( jk; Gentry throughout the Kingdom , had feveral parts affigned them to a61
hem: at feveral times, in feveral plages, and did but move according to the firft
| tP jh refolutions taken, and fuch dire&ions as they had received from the firft
jyyi Confpirators: I take it to be moft probable, after the general plot came
jjjy to be reduced into form, that as the Lord of Gormanjlone was one of
[J$y: the firft and chief movers in it, fo he and the chief of the Pale joyned
M: together to draw in (as they had done in all former Rebellions) the
mt principal Septs of the old Irish , to engage themfelves , and to appear
iepo! firft in the buiinefs: And after they had joyned together, andfo finely
^ ^ ordered the matter, as they had made it a general rifing,as Sir Phelim O Neal
^ terms it, of all the Catholiks throughout the Kingdom, with the gene-
)IU ral confent of the prime Nobility and Gentry thereof; then, as it were,
y[C ^with one general voice, they founded forth from all the four Provinces of
e j^;. Ireland the fame language, they ufed the fame Remonftrances, and made
^ the very fame pretences for their juftification , they began the very felf-
fame courfe, firft in ftripping, then banishing and murdring the Brit-
ish & Proteflants, onely in the North, they drove onfomewhat more
furioufly , and fpilt much more innocent bloud , then in any of the
ie" other three Provinces : They agreed likewife in recalling their Com-
^ manders, all the four Provinces had their particular Emiflaries abroad:
[ ! Thofe of Lemfier brought back Colonel Preflon, a Branch out of the
Houfe of Gormanflone , who had long lived with good reputation in
I Flanders,
66
■■ ■ —I "■■■■■ '>u*l
The Irish Rebellion.
Flanders, and him they made General of their Forces there ; but of
Vlfler they fent into Flanders likewifo for Owen Roe 0 Neal, upon
whom they conferred the fame charge in that Province: The Mu after men
brought over Garrat Barry, whom they made General of their forces:
And thofe in Co naught drew back one of the Burks, to whom they gave the
chief command offuch men as they were able to draw together for the ad¬
vancement cf the common defign : All thefe held a due correfpondency,
and in all their actions had a juft concurrency towards the main end.
The great inftrumept chiefly imployed in this work of drawing
thechiefFer- t^e rneer Irish into a firm combination with the old English ( as
ion imployed appears by the Lord *JWac-Guire's relation before mentioned ) was Ro-
conjundtion g*r M°or hfquire, a perfon of a broken fortune , by defcent meerly
between the Irish, and iffued out of the chief family of the O floors in the Coun-
ry of Leax, but by inter-marriages allied to fome of the principal Gent-
Hfhtbrrai^ lemen of the Pale; He Treated with them about the AiTociation ; he
^gaKebel- broke the deflgn to the Northern Irish > he was the man that made
feveral journeys in Lemfter, into Vlfler & Conaught: Sundry meffages
were interchangeably fent and returned the Summer before the brea¬
king out of the Rebellion by his means and entercourfe between them;
Ana all things were fo ordred for their agreement, as they were to>
go hand in hand together 5 fome of the principal Gentlemen of the
Pale, as Colonel P'lunket, Captain To*, and others, were deflgned to
joyn with the Lord *Jbtac- Guire, <JWac - ^lahon, Brian O Neal, Con
ONealf Hugh Birn, for the furpriz of his Majefties Cattle of Dublin.
Cartan zJWajor Domi to Owen O Neal in Flanders , in his Examina¬
tion taken February 164.1. tells, among many other remarkable paffa-
ges, of feveral preparatives to this Rebellion ; as that Con 0 Neal,
brother to Daniel O Neal, was font by Owen O Neal into England, and
that while he refided there he received letters from the Prefident Rojfe
(which was Sir Pheltm O Neal) and that he allured him hewent on very
well in hisbufinefs; for Brabant & Faience werejoyned together, which
as he affirms , fignified in thofe Ghara&ers Vlfler & Lemfler, and that
he cxpe&ed the coming of Lewes Lenoy, viz,. Daniel O Neal: Belidcs, as
JamesTalbot Efq; teftifies in his Letter of the 9 of November 1641 writ¬
ten to the Lords Juftices out of the County of Cavan, that he underttood
from Philip Mac Mulmore O Rely, that there were certain Covenants patted
between the Lords of the Pale- and the Northern Iruh , for the ad¬
vancing of the Rebellion; and that the Remonttrance from the princfo
pal Irish in the County of-Cavan y unto the Lords Juftices and Coun¬
cil font by Dean-Jones , and Maflter PPaldrone, there then Prifoner, was
framed ia*the Pale and brought unto the faid /w/? by Colonel Plmketr
one
—i
The Irish Rebellion. 6j
one of their own : And this was in the very beginning of the Rebellion,
long before any jealoufies were entertained by the State of the adherence
or conjunction of the old English with the Irish. What thofe Covenants
orContraCts were, I cannot lay, but it is moft certain, fome there were,
and fome Covenants alfo entred into, between the Northern Irish, and
the Lords and Gentlemen of the chief of both the other Provinces, as well
as Lemfter, and thefe were figned with their bloud, as DoCtor Maxwel
teftifies in his examination, he heard Sir Pheltm O Neal fay on the i ^ of
December 1641 in his own houfe, and in the hearing of Mafter Jofeph
Tr avers and others: If the Lords and Gentlemen (meaning the Papifts of
other Provinces) then not in Arms, would not rife, but leave him in the
lurch for all, he would produce his Warrant, figned with their own
hands, and written in their own bloud, which should bring them to the
Gallows. And certainly, had there not been fome very ftrange and ex¬
traordinary engagments, and more then I can well imagine, it had not
been poifible that fo many perfons of quality, having great pofleflionsand
many Children , should have declared themfelves, after they faw the
main part of the plot for the furpriz of the Caftlc of Dublin to fail, and
the power of the Northern Rebels begin to decline, that the Parliament
of England had with great alacitry and readinefs undertaken the War, and
not only engaged themfelves to his Majefty to fend over powerful fupplies
both out of England & Scotland but by their publick Order of both
Houfes, fent over to the Lords Juftices, and Printed at Dublin in the
Month of November , fully declared their refolutions for the vigorous
profecution of the war of Ireland : Nay, the Cities of Galway & Ltmeric,
kept their defigns very covertly, not doing any open ads of hoftility, till
after the arrival of fome Forces at Dublin out of England, and that the
fiegeof Drohedagh or Tredagh was raifed , and thofe bold perfidious Trai-
tors beaten back into the North, the Lords of the Pale banished by force of
his Majefties Arms out of their own habitations, which were all fpoiled
and laid wafte.
Now that then they should declare themfelves , is more then a Mi¬
racle to me, and fuch a myftery, as I should not know what to think
of, but that I find in the Lord Mac-Guires relation before mentioned,
that they were acquainted with the firft beginnings of this great Plot,
and had a particular intcreft from time to time in the carriage of it
on , fo as I think I shall not wrong them pofitively to determine, that
they were too deeply engaged (lightly to retire ; and that howfoever
upon the failing of it in the main piece , they at firft ftood at a gaze,
and were put to take up fecond Counfels; yet fuch was the ftrength
of the conlpiracy , and their great confidence in the power of their
I z Armss
The Irish Rebellion.
Arms, as made them appear in due time to entertain their feveral afligi
nations, andacttheir parts with great diligence and induftry. The wife
of Philip O Rely in the County of Cavern, told James Talbot (as he openly
related it to the Lords Jufticesat the Council-board) that she wondred very
much the Lords and Gentlemen of the Pale did not rife and joyn with them
in the very beginning of this Rebellion, adding thefe words, or to this
effed; That if they would have let us alone, and not fet us on, we were
fo well at eafe, as we would never have begun this troublefom work. It
cannot certainly be imagined, that thofe of the English Pale (unlefs they
had been the firft proje&ors, or deep adventurers) would have yielded that
the meer Irish should have feized upon the City and Caftle of Dublin,
places of refuge for them in all former troubles, and which would now
nave given them prote&ion and fafety againft the incurfions of the
Irishi ■
But I hold it not neceffary to produce further evidence in this par¬
ticular ; I purpofe now to declare how thofe great Inftruments of mifchief,
that were the fupream condu&ors of this wicked defign, moved forwards
fofuccefsfully in the beginning, toward the accomplishment of their long
intended extirpation of all the British & Proteflants out of the King¬
dom. I find two forts of perfons who did moft eminently appear in laying
thole main fundamentals whereupon their bloudy fuperftru<ftions were
_ afterwards eafily reared up : And thefe were fuch of the Popish Lawyers
in the as were Natives of the Kingdom, and thofe of the Romish Clergy offever-
firft plott.ins al degrees and Orders. For the firft, they had in regard of their know¬
ledge in the Laws; of the Land, very great reputation and truft, they
now began to ftand up like great Patriots for the vindication of the liber¬
ties of the Subjeft , and redrefs of their pretended grievances , and
having by their bold appearing therein , made a great party in the
houfe of Commons , here then fitting-, fome of them did there ma-
gifterially obtrude , as undoubted maxims of Law , the pernicious
fpeculations of their own brain , which though plainly difcerned to
draw a great be full of virulency and tending to fedition , yet fo ftrangely were
Houfeofhe many the- Proteftants and well meaning men in the houfe blinded
commons to with an apprehenfion of eafe and redrefs, and fo ftupified with their
tferrTr° hold aecufations of the Government,- as moft thought not fit, others
durft not ftand up to contradidl their fond- aflertions ; fo as what
they fpake was received with great acclamation , and much applaufe
by moft of the Proteftant Members of the houfe ; many of which
under fpecious pretences of publick zeal to this Country , they had
inveigled into their party : And then it was, that having impeach¬
ed Sir Richard Bolton-, Lord Chanceliour of Ireland> of high Treafoo,
x together
The Rymisb
Clergy and
the Popish
lawyers
great inftru
ments
firft P
and carrying
on the Re
bell ion.
The Irish
Lawyers
m
The Irish Rebellion.
£<>
ivcrii j" together with other prime Officers and Minifters of State that were ofEng-
\ Oslo birth , fomeofthole great Mailers took upon them with much con-
asheof;- fidence to declare the Law, to make new expofitions of their own upon
ondred,. the Text, to frame their Queries, challenges fitter to be taken to a long ,
iwithtk wilful, over-grown mifgovernment, then to be made againft
, or tod an Authority, that had for many years ftruggled againft the beloved irre-
n, ve- gularities of a ftubborn people, and which had prevailed far beyond
iVory former times, towards the allaying of the long continued diftempers of
^ the Kingdom: they difdained the moderate qualifications of the Judges,
eldei&i w^° gave them modeft anfwers, fuch as the Law and duty to their
fD^ Sovereign would admit. But thole would not ferve their turn, they
fQnjd^ refolveduponan alteration in the Government, and drawing of it wholly
llK0^ into the hands ofthe Natives, which they knew they could not compaS
in a Parliamentary way , and therfore onely made preparatives
t|' r there , and delivered fuch defperate maxims , which being diffufed
y-j.!; abroad would fit and difpofe the people to a change : As they declar-
^ ed it to be Law, That being killed in Rebellion, though found by mar-
:tharl" £er°frecor<^' would give the King no forfeiture ofeftates: That though
many thoufands ftood up in Arms in a Kingdom, working all man-
ner ofdiftrudlion , yet if they profelfed not to rife againft the King, that
it was no Rebellion : That if a man were out-lawed for Treafon , and
■ I his Land thereby veiled in the Crown or given away by the King,
^ his heir might come afterwards and be admitted to reverfe the Out-
lawry, and recover his Anceftors eftate. And many other pofitions of
a perilous confequence, tending ta fedition and difturbance, did they
^ continue to publish during that Seffion , and by the power and ftrength of
" their party , fofar did they prevail at laft, as they prefumed to attempt
ces! ~ a fufpenfion of Poymngs A <51, and indeed intended the utter abrogation of
Y ' that Statute, which remains as one of the greateft ties and beft monu-
1 Jl mcnts the English have of their entire dominion over the Irish Nation, and
Pj" the annexion of that Kingdom to the imperial Crown of England. They
' further affiumed power of J udicature to the Parliament in criminal and capi-
t-al offences: A right which no former age hath left any prefident for, nei-
,1V ther wpuld this admit the example.
And thus carrying all things before them , they continued the Seffion
1 ot, of Parliament begun in May, till about two months before the firft
' ® ^ breaking out of this Rebellion ; it being very ill taken, that even then they
were adjourned. And this they have fince aggravated as a high crime
°|1 againft the Lords Juftices, and as one of the chief moving caufes to the tak-
7 ' ing up of Arms generally throughout the Kingdom.
,(Br But to let thofe things pafs, how finely foever th efe proceedings
Tr "" -It " were
tf, r_
?o
The Irish Rebellion.
The means
ufed by the
were carried onr and being covered over with pretences of zeal and publick
atte&ion, patted then currant without any manner of fufpicion; yet now
die eyes of all men are opened, and they are fully refolved that all thefc
paflages, together with the other high conteftations in Parliament, not
to have the newly raifed Irish Army disbanded, the importunate foli cita¬
tion of their Agents in England, to have the old Army in Ireland cashiered,
and the Kingdom left to be defended by Trained Bands of their own
Nation. As likewife the Commiflions procured by feveral of the moft
eminent Commanders now in Rebellion , for the railing men to carry
into Spain, were all parts of this Plot, Prologues to this enfuing Tragedy,
Preparatives, fuch as had been long laid to bring on the fuddain execution
of this moft bloudy defign , all at one and the fame time throughout
the Kingdom.
Now for the Jefuits, Priefts, Fryers, and all the reft of the viperous
fraternity belonging to their holy Orders; who, as I laid, had a main
jtffl
priefts and^ par|. ^ ancj jlave not fajjej great a(hduity and diligence to
mi
Jefuits to 1 _ _
up the people difcharge the fame. They loft no time, but moft dexteroufly applied
t0 rebel* themfelves in all parts of the Country to lay fuch other dangerous impref-
fions in the minds, as well of the meaner fort as of che chief Gentlemen, as
might make them ready to take fire upon the firft occafion. And when this
Plot was fo furely, as they thought, laid, as it could not well fail, and
the day once prefixed for execution; they did in their publick Devotions
long before, recommend by their Prayers, the good fuccefs of a great
defign, much tending to the profperity of the Kingdom, and the ad¬
vancement of the Catholick caufe. And for the facilitating of the Work,
and ftirring up of the people with greater animofity and cruelty to put
it on at the time prefixed ; they loudly in all places declaimed againft the
Froteftants ; telling the people that they were Hereticks, and not to
be fiiffered any longer to live among them ; that it was no more (in
to kill an English-man, then tctkill a dog ; and that it was a moft mor¬
tal and unpardonable fin to relieve or protect any of them. Then alfo
they reprefcnted with much acrimony the fevere courfes taken by the
Parliament in England , for the fupprefting of the Remish Reli¬
gion in all parts of the Kingdom , and utter extirpation of all pro-
feflbrs of it. They told the people that in England they had caufed the
Queens Prieft to be hanged before her own face , and that they held
her Majefty in her own perfon under a moft Severe Difcipline:
That the fame cruel Laws againft Popery were here ordered to be put
fuddainly in execution ; and a defign fecredy laid for bringing and feizing
upon all the principal Noblemen and Gentlemen in Ireland upon the
of November next enfuing , and fo to make a general Maflacre
of
0!
7 he Irish Rebellion. j i
7^ of ali that would not delert their Religion and prefently become Pro-
^ teftants.
f And now alio did they take occafion to revive their inveterate ha-
^ tred and ancient animofities againfl: the English Nation , whom they
c reprefented to themfelves as hard Matters under whofe Government, The friskre-
' how pleafant, comfortable and advantageous fo ever it was, they would v!vetheiJ:3^-
:c^ have the world believe they had endured a mod miferable captivity and en- fiSs TgZft
• vaflalage. They looked with much envy upon their profperity, confider- thc EnlUih^ fill
ing all the Land they pofletted (though a great part bought at high rates of ' I,
,a:° the Natives,) as their own proper inheritance. They grudged at the great
■ % multitudes of their fair English Cattcl; at their goodly Houfes, though
^ built by their ov/n induttry at their own charges; at the large improve-
i ments they made of their Eftates, by their own travells and careful en- ' Ji
deavours. They fpake with much fcorn and contempt offuch as brought
little with them into Ireland, and having there planted themfelves, in a
little time contraded great fortunes : they were much troubled, cfpecially 1$
in the Irish Countrys, to lee the English live hanfomely , and to have
):: every thing with much decency about them, while they lay nattily bu-
^ ried, as it were, in mire and filthinefs; the ordinary fort of people com-
monly bringing their Cattel into their own ttinking Creates, and there
^' naturally delighting to lie among them. Thefe malignant confiderati-
- ons made them with an envious eye impatiently to look upon all the
W British lately come over into the Kingdom. Nothing lefi then a general
^extirpation will now ferve their turn ; they muft have reftitution of all
^ the Lands to the proper Natives, whom they take to be the ancient
W" proprietours, and onely true owners, molt unjuttly defpoiled by the
English y whom they hold to have made undue acquifitions of all the Land
they pottefs by gift from tlie Crown, upon the attainder of any of their
Buoi Anceftors.
raorj And fo impetuous were the defires of the Natives to draw the whole The ends
noilf Government of the Kingdom into their own hands , to enjoy the y
Tba publick profeflion of their Religion , as well as to disburden theCoun- plotters of
bj ctry of all the British inhabitants feated therein, as they made the whole the"bclhoni
b Rf body of the State to be univerfally difliked ; reprefented the feveral
all p members as perfons altogether corrupt and ill affeded ; pretended the
ufed ill humours and diftempers in the Kingdom to be grown to that height
leykas required Cauteriers, deep incifions ; and indeed nothing able to
apfc work fo great a cure , but an univerfal Rebellion. This was oertain-
ibeftly the difeafe , as appears by all the fymptoms ^ and the joynt
i/fir' concurrence in opinion of all the great Phyfitians* that held them»
wifclves wife enough to propofe remedies, and prefcribe fit applications
'dk to
7*
The Irish Rebellion.
to fo defperate a Malady. In thofe Inftru&ions privately fent over into
England by the Lord Dillon of Cofteloz,, prefently after the breaking out
of the Rebellion, the alteration of the Supream power in the government
andfetling of it in the hands of the Earl of Ormond, giving leave to the
Grand Council of th*e Kingdom to remove fuch Officers of State, as they
thought fit, and to recommend Natives to their places, were there pofi-
tively laid down to be a more likely means to appeafe thefe tumults then a
confiderable Army. In the Remonftrance of the County of Longford,
prefented about the fame time to the Lords Juftices, by the fame Lord
Dillon, as alio in the frame of the Common-wealth, found at Sir John
Dftngars Houfe, not far from Dublin, and fent up thither out of Conaught
to be Communicated to thofe of Lemfler; pieces which publickly appeared
(oon after the breaking out of the Rebellion; the main points infilled
rhe true cau- upon in them and feveral others, were reflauration of the Publick pro-
Rebellion feffion of the Romish Religion ; reflitution of all the Plantation-lands
unto the Natives, and fettlment of the prefent Government in their hands.
AlltheRemonflrances from feveral parts, and that came out of the feveral
Provinces of the Kingdom do concur in thefe Propofitions, with very
little or no difference. And therefore that the defires with the firff inten¬
tions of thofe who are now out in Rebellion, may more clearly appear?
I have thought fit here to infert them as I found them, Methodically di-
geftedinto certain Propofitions, termed.
The Means to reduce this Kingdom unto
Peace & Quietnefs.
1 ^"1 Hat a general and free pardon without any exception be granted to all
JL His Majeflies Subjects of this Kingdom ; and that in purjuance
thereof, and forftrengthning the fame, an of Abolition may pafs in the
Parliament here.
2 That all marks oflsTational diftinttions between English andlnsh. ma]
be abolished and taken away by Att of Parliament.
3 That by feveral Abls of Parliament to be rejpettively pajfed here and
in England, it be declared that the Parliament of Ireland hath no fubordi• ■
nation with the Parliament of England , but that the fame hath in it felf
Supream JurifdiElion in this Kingdom , as abfolute as the Parliament of
England there hath.
4 That the aAtl of iz Henry the five nth, commonly Called Poynings
nAcl > and all other Atts expounding or explaining the Jam , may be re¬
pealed,
5 That
The Irish Rebellion.
5 That as in England therep aft an (Met for a Triennial Parliament, there
may pafs in Ireland another for a Sexennial Parliament.
6 That it may be enabled by Parliament ^ that the Met of the id. of
Queen Elizabeth in Ireland j and all other Mbls made agatnfi Catholicks,
or the CatholickReligion>fince the twentieth year of King Henry the eighth may
be repealed.
7 That the Bishopricks, Deanariesand all other Jpiritual promotions of
ithis Kingdom, and all Frier ies and Nunneries, may be reflored to the Cat ho-
Hck^ owners, and hkewife all impropriations of Tythes, and that the Scits *
Mmbits, and PrecinBs of the Religions houfes of the Monks, may be reflored
to them; but as to the reft of their temporal pofiejfions, it is not dejigned to be
taken from the prefent proprietors, but to be left to them untill God shall other-
wife incline their mm hearts.
8 That fetch as aye now entitled Catholick Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots,
or other Dignitaries in this Kingdom by donation of the Pope, may, during their
lives , enjoy their (piritualpromotions ; with proteftation neverthelefe, and
otherfit claufes to be laid down for prefervation of his Majeflies rights of Patro¬
nages , Ftrfi-fruits, and twentieth-parts in.manner and quantity, as now his
Highnefe receives benefit thereby.
9 That all inquifitions takenfince the year I <534 to entitle his ^Cajefty to
Conaught, Thomond, Ormond, Eliogarty, Kilnemanagh, Duheara,
Wicklo w and Idvagh, may be vacated, and their eflates fecured, according
to his Majefties late graces.
10 That an Att ofParliament may pafs here for the fee uring theSubjeUs
title to their fever al eflates againflthe Crown, upon any title accrerwed unto it
before €0 years, or under colour or pretext of the prefent commotions.
11 That all Plantations made fence the year 1610 may be avoided by
Parliament, if the Parliament shall hold it jajl > and their poffejfions refto-
red to them or their Heirs, from whom thefame were taken, they neverthelefe
anfwering to the Crown the Rents and fervicesproportionable , referved upon the
undertakers.
11 That the transportation of all native Commodities to all places of the
world in peace with his Majejly, maybe free and lawful, his cuftoms fir ft
paid, and that the Statutes 0/10,11 ^13 of Oueen Elizabeth, for re¬
drawing the exportation of native Commodities be repealed.
13 That all preferments Ecclefeafticaf Civ Hand Martial in this King¬
dom , that lie in his Majefties gift 3 may be conferred on Natives of this King¬
dom onely, fitch as his Majefty shall thinkmeet, without any diftinttion for Re-
ligon, Provided alwayes that upon the Princes of his blond of England, he may
beflow what places he shall thinkjneet.
14 That a ^Marshal and Admiral of this Kingdom may be defied in it, to v
K have
*-!—S
74
The Irish Rebel/ion.
have perpetual fuccefflon therein with the fame preheminence , authority
and jurifdtttion as they refpettively have in England , and that the Jaid
places be ever conferred upon Noble-men, Natives of this Kingdom.
i 5 That there may be Trained Bands in all Cities, Towns Corporate > and
Counties of this Kingdom , Armed and provided at the charge of the feveral
Counties, Cities, and Towns, and commanded by the Natives of the fame >
who shall be na med by the Counties, Cities and Towns rejpettively.
16 That his Adajefly may releafe all Tenures in Capite and by Knight-
fervice ; in confederation whereof, he shall receive a fit led revenue of
12000 li. per annum, being double the fum which he cafually receives by
them ; Reliefs, Seifenes, Lieenfes for Alienations, Efeuage and Aids ne¬
ver thelefs to remain.
17 That all Monopolies may be for ever taken away by AEl of Parlia¬
ment.
i 8 That fuch new Corporations as have not the face of Corporate-
Towns y and were eretted to give voices in the Parliament, may be dijfolved,
and their Votes taken away, and hereafter no fuch to be admitted to Voices
in Parliament.
19 That there may be Agents chofen in Parliament or otherwife, as
thought meet to attend continually his Majefly , to reprefent the grievances of
this Nation, that they may be removeable by fuch as did elehl them ; and in
cafe of death or removance, others may be for ever fuccejfevely fubflituted in
that place y and that fuch Mgents may enjoy the freedom of their confeience in
Court y and every where elfe.
Thefe are the means propofed by thefe Catbolick Remonftrants, for
reducing of the Kingdom to peace, thefe the great obftru&ions they
would have removed , and the conftant Counfel they would have fol¬
lowed , in fetling the tranquillity and prefent government of this
Land ; fo as we need feek no further evidence, nor make any more cu¬
rious enquiries into the fecret caufes of their firft riling : we have here
enough out of their own mouths, to refolve the mod fcrupulous un-
Wishmeafof kchever t^r 6rft m°tives to this Rebellion. And now for the
the Remi*b matter of Religion , howloever I am very confident they ever really
Kehgicn only intended the re-eftablishment of that of the Church of Rome, with all
the6 Rebel-1 Rdtes an<i Ceremonies thereof, together with the utter extirpation
lion. of all of the Reformed profeflion : Yet confidering the large indul¬
gence and free liberty they univerfally .enjoyed at that time in the
full exercife of that their Religion throughout all the parts of the
Kingdom ; it may be mod jultly fufpe&ed (how zealoufly foever
they now obtrude it) that this was onely the bare outward cover¬
ture
The Irish Rebellion.
75
ture made ufe of by the principal undertakers, to draw on a poor ig¬
norant fuperftitious people to facrifice their lives in this quarrel. Nei¬
ther can it by any reafonable man be ever prefumed, that fuch perfons as
made no Confcience of committing Treafon , fo many cruel Murders,
and all other kind of abominable Villanies, not to be parellefd in any other
Country , could be drawn meerly out of Confcience towards God,
to ad thefe for the regaining of the free and publick profeffion of their
Religion.
This certainly was no more the true and main caufe of their taking
up Arms, then the redrefs of their pretended grievances, whereunto his ^"gdom1 C
Majefty had condefcended, and out of his inclinations for their pre- rocketed bc-
fent relief, had given much more fatisfadion to their Agents lately Jj^iVnbukg
in England, then ever they could in any other time exped to receive our.
or hope to enjoy. Yet we fee how little effed thofe great graces brought
over not above two months before this Rebellion brake out , took
among them : for prefently after the return of their Agents with
them, this raoft deteftable confpiracy, which had been long in hatch¬
ing, began to work, and to be put in execution. And if we shall confi-
der their main defign and chief ends therein , as they appear in their
firft principles , or will give credit to the feveral fpeecnes and paf-
fages that we meet with among the Rebels, in the very beginning of
their breaking out ; as alfo to feveral other teflimonies that have
fince privately fallen from fome particular perfons among them,
we muft believe that their defign clearly was to deftroy and root
out all the British & Proteftants planted within this Kingdom ,
to cut off the Sovereignty of the Crown of England, and fo to de¬
liver themfelves from their long continued fubjedaon to the English
Nation.
But to come to one main particular, taken into debate by the
prime Movers and chief Incendiaries in this horrid Rebellion , they ^0c^u/da"
had a moft ferious confultation what courfe to take with mod fafety whether it'
to themfelves , for the disburdening of the Kingdom of thofe mul- wilibebeft
titudes of English, which were in very great numbers difperfedly oniytol^0*
planted among them. Some were of opinion that they should fpare nish all the
their lives , not render themfelves guilty of the fpillling of fo
much innocent bloud , but that they should feiz on their goods, ex-
pell them their habitations , and after banishing them out of the
Kingdom , proceed as the Spaniards did with many hundred thou-
fands of the Moors, whom, as it were in a moment, they cleared out
of their Dominions. Others there were who much oppofed this kind
of lenity and moderation , remonftrating the high inconveniences
K i which
I
1
7 -6
The Irish Rebellion.
which would inevitably redound to themfeives thereby. Firft , That
the British were in To great numbers, as they could not either by difi
arming , imprifpning, or any other means- poffible , ever hope to fe-
cure them from mifchief: Then that if they onely expelled them
out of the Kingdom , they would remain uill as fo many fit in-
ftruments to be entertained itr England, and from thence returned
back full of revengeful thoughts to recover their lofTes ; that by
their long experience and knowledge in the Country they would be
Better guides , more deeply engaged to profecate the War ; and
having their bodies inured to this Climate , would prove much more
able Souldiers then any new men that could be raifed , or any other-
ways brought over. How they determined this particular I shall not
undertake to declare; my intelligence fails me, and I am able to de¬
liver no more of the refult of this great Council then appears in the
bloudy effe&s and horrid executions a&ed in the firft beginnings of
their Rebellion, Itismoft probable they came to no pofitive conciiifion ,
But left the chief A&ors in this particular at large, to do as should feem
good to themfeives. We find their firft proceedtngs>and outrages com¬
mitted upon thqEnglish very various andmuch differing' in feveral places;
fome onely ftripping and expelling of them ; others murdring Man,
Woman and Child without mercy. But this is certain , and of moft
unqueftionable truth, that by one means or other, they refoived uni-
Thc re_ verfally to root aff the British & P rot eft ants out of Ireland. And that
fbive to root thefe were the firft thoughts and'bitter fruits of the long premeditated
malicious intentions , fufficiently appears By their Adlions, as well as
by their virulent expreffions uttered upon their firft riding, when they
thought the Kingdom their own: They then fatd openly, that they meant
to deftroy the English, and that they had made a Covenant no English-
man should fet hooting among them. Some of the Irish would not
the English
Out of Ire¬
land.
Matter
Creighton in
his Exami¬
nation.
The Irish
endure the very found of that language * but would have penal¬
ties infii&ed upon them that
many places hilled English' Cows and fpake English , and all the
in
Sheep mserly becaufe they were English; in fome places English names of pi aces chan-
they cut off their legs , or took^out a piece out of their ged into the old Irish deno-
huttccks v -and fi let them remain fill alive-. The Lord ruinations: others profefled
Montgarrat, Alafter Edward Butlar , tht Baron of that they would not leave an
Logmoutb went with their Forces into Munftcr a- English man or woman alive
bout the beginning of the r'tfing of the Irish there, and in the Kingdom, but that all
while they remained about Callen and Mallow , they should be gone, no not fb
confumcd no le/s then 50000 others fay 100000 much as an English Beaft, or
English Sheep, bejidesa great abundance of English any of the breed of them.
James
The Irish Rebellion. 7 7
t James Hallegan the Priefl Cattely and fuch as they could not eat, yet they killed and
rb<, did read an Excommunica- left in great multitude, finking, to the great anoyance
,tionin the Church, which, of the Country. 77?/* teflified by Henry Champart in
■ as he alledged, came froqj his Examination taken before Sir Robert Meredith
ny f, . their great Irish Metropoli- Knight, &c.
, tane,andterrifying his Pari-
slyoners therewith he told James Shaw a Minifier depofeth , That after the
fhem , that from that day Cejfation, divers of the Rebels confejfed the Prtefls had
. ;Jorth, wholoever did har- given them the Sacrament, upon condition they should
, ^,bour or relieve any Scot, not /pare Man, Woman nor Child that were Proteflants;
English or IVelchman, or give and that he heard dtvers oft hem fay, in a bragging man-
them Alms at their doors, ner, that it did them a great deal of good to wash their
should be excommunicated, hands in the bloud of the Proteflants whom they had Jlain.
, . whereby asMafter Sachcveril J urat. J an. 7. 164 3.
teftifies in his Examination
many wereitarved and died- Thon\as Johnfon Vicar of Tullah, of the County
V , for want in thofe parts. We of Mayo, depofeth, that he heard Stephen Linoh Prior
have it from Matter Creigh- of Strade, bemg askgd if it were not lawfulto kill thts
ton, a reverend Minifter, one Deponent becau/e he would not go to ^VbCafs 5. anjwered,
long detained prifoner with- That it was as lawful for them to kill htm, as to kill a
' in theColinty of Cavan, that Sheep or a Dog : and dtvers of the rebellious Souldiers told
the Fryers exhorted the peo- htm t<yhts face, that they would no more care to kill him s
pie with tears to fpare none then they would do a Pig,
of the English; that the Irish
were refolved to deflroy John Addte of theCounty of Wcft-meath depofeth,
them out of the Kingdom; That Robert Magohagan Priefl , Jaid to this Deponent,
that they would devour ( as That it was no mote pit) nor Confcience to M^cEnglish-
• Cj; their very word was ) the mens lives orgoods from them, then to take a bone out of
feed of the English out of a Dogs mouthy Jurat. July zi. 164.1
Ireland, and when they had
r rid them there, they would go over into England, and Hot leave-the Me-
zu morial of the English Name under Heaven.
And fo fond and vain were their imaginations', and to fuch a height
f^'of madnefs were they grown , as they could not terminate their
' thoughts in the redudion of Ireland under the power of their own
' Nation. But. as foon as they had begun their Rebellion-there, they
•faV£ fpake confidently in all places of tranlporting their Arms into
iml>"England, That they would lend 30000 men over into that Kingdom,
:: and that they would draw in forreign Auxiliaries thither to joyn
not with them; and lb by a high hand ellablish the free exercife
A of the Romish Religion within that Kingdom. A defign cert-
tk® "•— —1—— K 3 ainly
L
7'8 The Irish Rebellion.
V,i
tainly which the Priefts and Jefuits had taken up in their own thoughts ,J<
and by their correfpondencies abroad intended powerfully to bring
about, as foon as they had fetled their affairs in Ireland. And if it had "wd,
not pleafed God in an Extraordinary way to bring the firft Plot to rob
light, and fo to blefs the weak endeavours of the State here, as liitk
to enable them by the affiftance of thofe fmall Forces they confufedlyinfi)!
gathered together, to hold out till the arrival of the Succours lent cutlrfe
of England; I leave it to everyone to confid&r with how much advan¬
tage they might have gone on at.that time towards the accomplishment
>f f
of fo defperate a Projed. And for my felf, I muft profefs that I am
Qlearly refolved, that had they at firft overmaftered the unexpected diffi-
offe^
D3HDK
Ik |
- hi
e|Proti
culties and fatal impediments they met withall at home,an d pofleffed them-fcpo
felvesofthe Arms and Munition within the Caftle %of Dublin, and fo Lc
flesht and bloudedin the (laughter of many thoufands of the English Na-< ijtbt
tion , had tranfported a numerous Army of Irish Rebels, and fuddainly ^
landed them in fome good Port within the Kingdom of England: They
would have prevailed very far towards the miferable defolation and
ruine thereof. It muft be remembred in what a moft unhappy
difcompofure the affairs were at that time there; what a difeafed body
the State then had, and what high diftempers then ftrongly work
ing foon after brake out; what a ftrong party they might have
found within, and with what great reputation they would have march-i^
ed on under the glory of their late vi&ories atchieved in Ireland, u
fignalizing the power of their Arms with fuch horrid cruelties and )3t
bloudy butcheries, as would have wrought a ftrange terror among the A-
people.
Thus we fee what were the Caufes and firft Motives to this unna¬
tural Rebellion ; as likewife who were the chief A&ors and the
great inftruments defigned by the firft Plotters to predifpofe the
people to a readinefs to take Arms for the rooting out of the Bri- , ffl
tish Inhabitants from among, them. The Preparatives being all r
made, the Plot in all points ripe for execution , it was carried on ...
to the very evening before the day appointed for the taking of the ^
Caftle of Dublin without difcovery. And though it pleafed God tof
bring it then to light (as hath been declared) and fo happily to dif- ^
appoint it in the main Piece, yet it took in the Northern parts, be|La,
ing that very day fully executed in moft of the chief places of
ftrength within the Province of Vlfter. And whereas the Priefts did ^
■ lest
sofi
long before in their publick Devotions at Mafs pray for a bleffing
fo
ypon a great defign they had then in hand; fo now, as I have
heard>
The Irish Rebellion. 7
^TT'heard, they did in many places, the very day before the breaking
out of this Rebellion, give the people a difmifs at Mafs, with free
7;1 liberty to go out and take polfeflion of all their Lands, which they
: ; pretended, unjuftly detained from them by the English; as alfo to
'v ftrip, rob, and defpoil them of all their Goods and CatteL They
\\s'-"had without doubt, by one means or other, either private or publick
; f ! inftrudions, not to leave to the English any thing that might afford
^ ! :he leaft comfort or hope of longer fubfiftence among them. This was J0hdes Enfcsft
:he main bait ufed to draw on the common people; and this wrought fentedtothe
ar more powerfully then all other perfwafions, fictions or wild Chi- ^ ^
nerds that they infufed into them. It is molt apparent , that the [0 miteXm
Hbrime Gentlemen in all parts, as well as their Clergy, preffed them on "p
™ll defpoil the English of all the Goods and Cattel, well knowing their then1,
Avaricious humour and greedy defires to get them into their poffeffion,
that they could not poflibly find out any other thing that would
ci['iingage them more readily to undertake, or more defperately to execute
* all manner of villanies, then the hopes of enjoying fo rich a prey now
atun
)(1 i
prefented unto them. The pCCpie
made believe
^ The people being now fet at liberty , and prepoflefled by their Priefts p^iefls that it
with a belief that it was Lawful for them to rife up and deftroy all was a Meri-
V the Proteftants, who, they told them, were worfe then Dogs;
M!fiat they were Devils, and ferved the Devil; alluring tliem the killing EngiUh.
® hfof fuch was a meritorious
:ruete Act, and a rare prefervative John Parry <?/Deurmosh, in the County d?/Armagh,
t amoiagainffc the pains of Purga- depofeth, that O Cullan a Priett, told his Auditors
tory, gathered themfelves at Mafs, that the bodies of fuch as died in this quarrel,
together in great numbers, should not be cold before their fouls should afc end upinto
enabling in feveral com- Heaven , and that they should be free from the pains of
B aripanies through the feveral Purgatory.
difjrarts of the Northern Coun-
ofie ties, with Haves, fithes Margaret Bromly in her Examination depofeth, that
tog and pitch-forks, for at fir ft fomeofthe Rebels wouldfaj, after their cruel butcheries,
Citothey had not many better that they knew if themfelves should now die, their fouls
ing ofweapons: And fo in a moft should go to Heaven , and that they were glad of the re-
3d Gciconfuled manner, they be- venge they had taken of the English,
pilyrgan tumultuoufly to drive
parti away at thefirft onely the Cattel belonging to the English , and then to ^XlTlfcive
fpks&eak into their houfes , and feiz upon their goods. It is true, there away au the
Prief:> were fome murders committed the very firft day of their riling, and fome cattel be-
i tohoufes fet on fire, but thefe as I conceive, were for the moft part out thc£»Jwl°
35 \£> ' of
to . *—— N
8 o The Irish Rebellion.
of private fpleen , or where they had particular instructions fo taprC
do , as they had from the Lord Mac-G Hire , to kill Mafter Arth&$>1
Champion\ a Juftice of Peace in the County of Fermanagh , who with :toat
feveral other of his neighbours were murthered at his own houfe upon ltt0^
the 23. of Coluber in the morning. But certainly that which theypfe
mainly intended at firft , and which theymoft bufily employed them- ^
felves about, was the driving away the EngUsh-mens Cattel, and pofTetTinjpW
The Irish their goods : Wherein the common people were not the onely A&omp®^
^(Tefsthem- ^ut even Gentlemen of the Irish in many places, mod noto- ^
feives ofthc rioufly appeared, and under plaufible pretences of fecuring their goods FT
Goods be- from the rapine and fpoil of the common fort, got much peaceably in. m tl
thel^l/A, to their hands : And fo -confident were the English of their good *
under pre- dealing at firft , as many delivered their goods by retail unto them,
curing0them §ave rhem particular Inventories of all they had , nay digged up fuch
of their beft things as they had hidden under ground , to depofite in Wo?
their cuftodv. Much likewife they got by fair promifes and deep en
engagements to do them no fruther mifchief, to fuffer them, theirW
Wives and Children quietly to retire and leave the Country : But^
others , and efpeciaily the meaner fort of people fell more rudely
io!es,
tG work, at the very firft, breaking up of their houfes, and ufing
all manner of force and violence , to make themfelves Mafters of thek
Goods.
The next Ad "^n<* having Aus feized upon all their Goods and Cattel, ranfacM
wasto fttip Aeir houfes, gotten their perfons under their power 5 The next thing 1)1
theZngiish* they did , was to ftrip man , woman and child , many of them ftark
^Tchiidman naked , and io to turn them out of their own doors , not permit-
ftark naked, ting them in fome places fo much as to shelter themfelves under
and to turn Bushes, or in the Woods, and ftridlly prohibiting all the Irish under
their own°f great penalties to give them entertainment or any kind of relief , as
manm of* Pa^e(^ on uPon t^e high - way s. And certainly their defign inn
refiefforbid- t^lls' 1110ft notorioufly appears to have been no other then that all fuch lot!
den to the as they would not lay their hands upon , and cruelly murder in cold m
they ptiTed hloud , might miferably perish of themfelves through cold , nakednefs ft
upon the and want '■> and therefore as faft as any of them fo ftripped got old rags
h«gh.way to cover their nakednefs, they endeavoured to ftrip them again and sjg|;
defpodedof again ; as may appear by the Examination of John Guurly , who ifc
all they had. depofeth, that fome were ftripped twice, fome thrice, as faft as they ih
could get any old rags to cover their nakednels, the next Irish-worton jem
er even the Children that met them would take them off : And he
and his Wife further depofe , that when their houfe , together with :
the Town of Armagh, were fet on fire by the Rebels, she was ftripped
The Irish Rebellion.
of her clothes (even fever.il times after she cot other clothes ; and at tIk m3nn<*
. „ . .. . . „ S . • . t i , r>f
, length , they left her not fo much as her fmock or hairkee, .and that she t°hfe^,p^s
i i WJ|j( - - - - - - * - - 11 • 1 i /"\c l — j i ■*— — - *— — —» — ~ — i —— J i. _
got to a place and hid her felfin a hutch for three or four days, and after
went to find out her Children, two of which had thefmall Pox vifibly
upon them. Jurat. Novembi%.\6^z.
How infallibly this courfe fucceeded'y and how furely they com-
[Ted their devillish ends hereby, is but too. well known; The English
leaving fufficient monuments in the High-ways as they palled, as well
» as in the Towns wherein they arrived, of the difmal mortality it bred
Vki i among them. And for the fuller fatisfa&ion of any one who shall
doubt thereof , I have thought fit to infert thcfe two enfuing Exami- Thcm'rcri«
hi ■ . d o and mortality
*mi\ nations. it brought
.UntO t i among them.
James Redfern^ of the County of London Derry > depofeth, That ill
q!j| the T own of Colerain , fincethe Rebellion began, there died of robbed
Bind! and ftripped people .that fled thither for fuccour, many hundreds, be¬
ta,) fides thofe of the Town who had anciently dwelt there, and that the
untry:| mortality there was fuch, and fogreat, as many thoufands died there
more r. in two days, and that the living, though fcarce able to doit, laid the
i, d| Carcafes of thofe dead perfons in great ranks j into vaft and wide
label holes, laying them foclofe and thick, as if they had packed up Herrings
together.
id, \tyi
amif. *JfyCagdalen Redman , late of the Dow is m the Kings County, Widow,
ofW being fworn and examined , depofeth and faith , That she this De-
, notjjj ponent and divers other Proteftants her Neighbours , and amongft
nfelves^ the reft zz Widows, after they were all robbed were alfo ftript ftark
etiI naked, and then they covering themfelves in a houfe with ftraw, the
oft#, Rebels then and there lighted the ftraw with fire , and threw amongfl
dr m them , of purpofe to burn them , where they had been burned or
n tbatil fmothered , but that fome of the Rebels more pitiful then the reft,
whm commanded thefe cruel Rebels to forbear , fo as they efcaped : Yet
f, oife the Rebels kept and drove them naked into the wild Woods , from
[gotoil Tuefday until Saturday , in froft and fnow , fb as the fhow unmelted
:nupl long lay upon fome of their skins , and fome of their Children died
mlj, 1° their Arms : And when as the Deponent and the reft endeavoured
M t0 ^ave gone away for refuge to the Burre , the cruel Rebels turned
them again , faying, they should go towards Dublin; and when
j. they endeavoured to go towards Dublin , they hindred them again,
and faid , they should go to the Burre ; and fo toiled them to and
f^jj fro : Yet at length , fuch of thofe poor ftripped people as died not
L before
/
82.
The Irish Rebel/ion.
before they got away out of the hands of the Rebels, efcaped to the Burre,
where they were harboured and relieved by one William Parfins aCquire:
And yet there died at the Burre of thofe dfipt perfons, about fourty men,
women and children. And this Deponent and thofe other dript people that
furvived, lived milerably at the Burre aforefaid, until they with the reft,,
had quarter to come from thence to Dublin*
Jur. 7 March 1642,
Jokk Wat fin.
Will. aAidrich.
Ifabel, the reli(ft of Chrijlopher Porter, late of Dowris in the Kings,
County, fworn and examined, depofeth and faith, in all the particu¬
lars above mentioned as Magdalen Redman before examined , being her
Neighbour.
Some of the moft notorious Cruelties, and
barbarous Murthers committed by the Irish Rebels,
attefted upon Oath as they appear in feveral Examina¬
tions annexed in the Margin.
A particular
enumeration
of feveral
bloudy Maf-
facres and
horrid cruel¬
ties,exercifed
upon the£//7-
ifh, all tefti-
fied upon
Oath,and ta¬
ken out of
feveral Exa¬
minations ,,
which are in-
ftrted in the
Margin
WE may in thefe poor fouls, as it were, in large Characters, be¬
hold the miferies of all thofe multitudes of Men , Women and
Children, that were in all parts of the Kingdom thus inhumanely dript,
and fo expofed to the fame want, cold and nakednefs. The mercies of
the wicked are cruel; how bitter was their compadion to all thofe Brit¬
ish that thus fuffered I How horrid, barbarous, and infupportable was-
the commifcration they thus cxprefled towards them ? Yet thefe were as
they told them at fird, but the beginnings of their forrows: For when
the Northern Rebels began to find their own drength , and that partly
by treachery, partly by force they had pofleffed themfelves of all the
chief places of drength in Vlfter, difarmed the English , robbed them
of rheir Goods and Cattel, dripped them of their Clothes, and had
their perfons now under their power, and all this without any confi-
derable refidance made by them ; then they could contain themfelves-
no longer but in a mod fierce outragious manner, furioufly broke out,
aCting in all places of that Province, with mod abominable cruelty, thofe
horrid maflacres and execrable murders , as would make any Chrifti-
an ear to tingle at the fad commemoration of them: Then they began
fte
to
The Irish Rebellion.
till
Wy»
At ft
83
to appear in their own colours, and with great delight to fatiate their ancient
implacable malice, in their long wished and often plotted deftru&ion of all
the British Inhabitants. Within the County of Fermanagh multitudes Mtlltimdes
were prefently killed in cold bloud, fome taken at the Plough, others as killed in cold
they fate peaceably in their own houfes, others travelling upon the ways, bloud'
all without any manner of provocation by them given, fuddainly furprized
and unexpectedly cut off.
At the Caftle of [1] Lifgool [1] Thomas Wenflaw & John Simpfon , of t'joe
within that County above County of Fermanagh, Gentlemen, depofe andfay, That
si-
S, I
ieis,
3-
/omen
iceljiiji
mm\
UeM
rcfeveij
kpM
of alii
abed tk
, and k
any col;
theirf1
jnM
itf-Ml
M
150men, women and chil¬
dren almoft all con fumed by
fire. At the Caftle of [ 2 ]
Moneah , near 1 00 British
there flain all together: And
the fame bioudy company
of Rebels were no fooner
admitted into the Caftle of
[3] Tullah, which was deli¬
vered up into the hands of
RouryMac-Guire, upon com-
pofition, and faithful promi-
fes of fair quarter, but that
within the very court they
began to ftrip the people, and
molt cruelly put them to the
fword, murdring them all
without mercy. [4] At Lif-
fenskeah they hanged or
otherwife killed above 100
perfons, moft of themofthe
Scotish Nation; for after once
in the Caftle of Lifgool, there were 1 51 men, women
and children burnt, or fmothered, when the faid Caftle
was Jet onfire; not above two or three efcaped, as ap¬
pears in their Examinations. Jurat. Jan. 12,. Anno
Dora. 1641.
[1] Thomas Wenflaw further depofeth, that at the
Caftle of Moneah, there were ninety Proteftants more
Jlain and murdred: And that from the [ 3 ] Caftle
of Moneah, the Rebels marched to the Caftle of Tul¬
lah , where by their own confeffton, they promifedthoje
Proteftants that were there fair quarter: But when
they had delivered up their Arms and the Caftle; thofi
Rebels in the Bawn of the Caftle , firft ftrtpped them
all of their clothes, and then, and there moft cruelly mur¬
dred them.
Richard Bourk , Batchelour in Divinity, of the
County of Fermanagh depofeth, That he heard and ve¬
rily believeth the burning and killing of one hundred
at leaft in the Caftle of Tullah , and that the fame
they had the English in their was done after fair quarter promifed. Jurat. Jul. 12®
power, they fpared none of 164 3.
them , but ufecfall the Scots
with as much cruelty as they
did theEnglish.Tkixs County [ 4 ] Rowry Mac-Guire, upon the 24 of OCtob.
was very well planted by the 1641. came wuh-bis Company unto Liffenskeah, and
British undertakers, and all deftred in a friendly manner to [peafwtth Mafter Mi-
of them and their Tenants in dleton , who had the keeping oftheCaftde. The firft
a very short fpace after a thing he did, as foon as he was entred therein, was to
moft horrible manner quite burn the Records of the County, whereof Matter Mi-
L 1 deftroyed
alii
- I
mm
I i>
dieton was the keeper y being Clerkj>fthc Peace, which deftroyed, or utterly bani-
he enforced htm to deliver mto him ; as Itkewifi we shed from their Habitations.:.
thoufand pounds he had in his hands of Sir William In the Counties of Armagh
Balfours; which as faon as he had> he compelled the and Tyron, where the British
fitid Midcileton to hear Adafi, fwear never to alter were much more numerous,,
from it, and immediately a fier caufed him, his wife and and Sir Phelim 0 Tfeal and
his children to be hanged up, and hanged' and murdred
one hundred per fins befides, at leaft in that Town. Thefe
particulars and feveral other fit down at large in a Re¬
lation fint me in by Sir John ■ Dunbar Knight, one
of the luftices of Peace, within the County of Fermi-
nagh
other Relations give it in,.
[ 6 ] four thoufand perfjns
were drowned within the
his Brother Turlagh 0 Neat,
the principal acftors, the
murderers of the n British
were much more multiplied
and committed with greater
cruelty, if it were poftible,
then in any other places.
There were [5] one thoufand men , women and Children carried out at
feveral times in feveral troops, and all unmercifully drowned at the Bridge
of Portnedown, which was broken down in the midft, and fo driving and
forcing them on, threw
. ra 1000 Men , women and children drowned in one, them into the River: And as
place. Tpu number is depofid in DoPlor Maxwcls Exami¬
nation taken the 2 2 of A ug. 1 6^2.
[6] This number of fa many perfons drowned within
the County 0/ Armagh, is depofid by Thomas Green feveral parts of that County.
and Elizabeths wife, as appears by their Examinations [7] The Rebels in a mod:
taken Novemb. 10. 164$, barbarous manner drove on
many of thofe miferable
[7] William Clerk of the County of Armagh ftripped Chriftians unto the
Tanner,faith, That he with 100 men, women and chit- place of their fufFerings like
dren, or thereabout, were by the Rebels driven like hogs
about fix miles, to a River called the Band : in which
Jpace the forefaid Chriftians were moft barbaroufty ufed,
by forcing them to go faft with Swords and Pikes, thruft-
ing them into their fides , and they murdred three by the ten hafteningon the reft ei-
way, and the reft they drove to the River aforefaid, and ther by killing or wounding
there forced them to go upon the bridge, which was cut fome of their fellows in the
down y and with their pikes , and /words, and other way.
weapons, thru ft them down headlong into the faid River
and immediately they perished, and thofe who a fayed tofwim to the shore, the Rebels ft ood
and shot at. ] urat. J an. 7.164 r.
Swine, and if any were ilack
in their pace,they fometimes
pricked them forwards with
their fwords and pikes, of-.
fit!
Mary the wife of Ralph Corn depofeth, That 180 English were taken by the Irish j.
and driven like Cattelfront Caftle Cumber to A thy«
""" Other
rs]
The Irish Rebellion.
8
5
:wM
'tilling
srfi*
wtky
renuntJ
'Hi
Arc, j
ikk/i;
:nidW
R&fltfll
[8] Other companies they
carried out under pretence
of giving them fafeoondudt
out of the Country, and fo
got them to go cheerfully on
by virtue of Sir Phelim 0
TVWrPafsmntil they came at
lome place n.t for their exe¬
cution.
9]
rplrn
HM
irivingal
ID, k
vet: A i
give iti: \
iofytrU
within tti
tCwrcl
'mm
erdrover i
: miferli
Mtoi
cniM
v&Qj
(ometill
mm'
k irfff
0$is
iwiri
drowned them , then they
had fome prepared to shoct
or knock down with Poles
any fuch as could fwim , or
ufed any other means to
efcape out of the water. [ i o]
Amongft many other, a
Gentlewoman whofe name
was Miftris Cambell, being
forcibly brought by them
fury, fuddainlyclafped her
arms about one of the chief
rebels that was moft forward
to thruft her into the water,
& as I find it credibly re¬
lated upon Oath,carried him
to the bottom with her, and
fo they were both drowned
together. [ 11] The Cathe¬
dral Church and Town
of Armagh were burnt,
many Towns laid waft,
all the fair Plantations made
by the British left deio-
[ 8 ~] Elizabeth the Wife of Captain Rue Price of the
Town and County of Armagh, depofeth, Thatfive of her
Children, together with no other Prot eft ants out of the
Parishes of A rmagh, Laugaul, and other places werefent
away with pafiesfrom Str Phelim O Neal with promife
to be fafely conveyed over to their friends in England.
That their Conductor was Captain Manus O Cane and
his SenIdiers , who having brought or rather driven
And if they them like sheep or Beafis to the Bridge cf Portnedown ,
ik0
1 Pt
there forced or threw all thoje poor pr if oners into the
water,together with the Deponents five "children, and then
and there drowned mofi of them. [c>] zsdnd thofe who
could fwim and come to the shore, they either knocked
them on the head, andfo after drowned them , or elfe shot
them to death in the water. Jurat. Jan. 29.1641.
Chriftian Stanhaw, the relttt of Hen. Stanf^wJ
of the Parish of Laugalle, in the County of Armagh
depofeth, That upon the drowning of 140 Protefiants one
time at Portnedown -Bridge, after they had throovn them
to the Ri ver>and she finding income of them fwimming to the shore jheRcbels with their
110 means to efcape their muskets knocked out their brains. Jurat. July 1$.1 642.
[10] James Shaw of Merket-hill in the County of
A rmagh,depofeth the manner of Mtftrefi Cambelspulling
the Rebel into the water, and how he was drowned with
her. Jurat. Aug. 14. 1 642.
[11] Captain Parkin depofeth} That Sir Phelim O Neal
flying from Dundalk , went to A rmagh, where he began
htsblondy ma fiacres, caufing Manus O Cane to get toge¬
ther all the Profeftants which were left thereabouts, to con-
duSl them to Colerain; but before they were fcarce a
days journy fiom him, they were all murdred3 andfo
werefever al others by fecial direction from Sir Phelim O
Neal, and his Turlagh, notwithfiandingthey were
protected by them. Sill the aged people in Armagh were by
the fame directions carried away , but murdred alfo at
CharJmount. esfnd prefently after, his Brother and he
wi: h thdr adherents, malicioufly fit onfire the goodly Cathedral Church 0/A rmagh, and
Town of Armagh, and murdered and drowned there 500 perfonsyoung and old. <tAt
the Parish of Killaman 48 Families <were then tnurdred by directions from Sir Phelim,
who had remained prot c bled by him three quarters of a year, J urat. March 8. 164 3.
$
late y
8<T
The Irish Rebellion.
late; in fome Parishes [i a~|
[12] Jane Grace the wife of Nicholas Grace late two hundred Families mur-
of Kilmore, in the County of Armagh, depofeth, That dred and deftroyed, the
there were two and twenty English Proteftants burned\ whole County , as it were, a
in one Houfe, within two unites of Kilmore; and that common Butchery, & tho-
the Rebels [tripped killed, or murdred all, or the mofi rough all parts of it very
of the English of that Parish, which confifled of two
hundred Families. That they fet many in the Stocks
until they confejfed their mony, and when they could get
no more, that then they murdred them.
fo
jivff
many thoufands perished in
short time by Sword, Fami¬
ne, Fire,Water, and all other
manner of cruel deaths, that
rage & malice could invent.
But before I leave this Subject, I shall pafs a little further, and out of fome
Examinations (taken here upon Oath, which I have perufed) prefent a brief
colledion of fome other horrid inhuman cruelties, which I find were ufed
in the murdring of many poor innocent fouls. To many, thefebloudy
villains shewed fo much favour as fuddainly todifpatch them out of their
pain, by no means allowing
[13] Edward Saltinglafs of the County of Armagh Gen- them leave, or [ 1 3 ] time
tleman, depofeth, and faith,That George Lawlis arebel to make their prayers ; for
of thefaid County, refolvingtokfil JohnCowder, told others, they held a fudde-n
him he would kill him , but bid him fir jl fay his Prayers ; death too eafy a punish-
whereupon the faid Cowder Reeling down to pray, the ment : Therefore they
faid Lawlis inftantly cut off his head as he was upon his imprifoned [14] fome in
fci
ijsft
rM§
ik
itk
piii
Some horrid
inhuman
cruelties
exercized
upon parti¬
cular jjer-
fiOf
arth
i
fons.
ni
life
k:
nees.
mofi beaftly Dungeons,
full of dirt and mire , and
their clapping bolts on their
heels , fuffered them to
perish at leifure ; others
they barbaroufiy [15]
mangled , and left lan¬
guishing upon the High¬
ways , crying out but
Jurat. Jun. 1. 1642.
Elizabeth Price depofeth , That when as divers
of the English were about to be murdred, and defred
the Rebels on their knees fir [I to admit them to make their
prayers to God ; the Rebels have often, in her the depo¬
nents hearing , in Irish anfwered and faid, bequeath
your foul to the Devil', and at other times the Rebels
would fay, why should you pray, your foul is with the
Devil alreadyand with tho/e words in their mouths
would flaughter and put them to death. Jurat, ut fupra.
[14] Edward Banks t^Calfel, in the County of Tipperary, Clerks depofeth, That
the Rebels there on thefirfl day of January killed fifteen men and women, all English
Proteftants, at Cafiell, and that they entredand tookjhe Town, and having the fame,
that they tookjhis deponent and other Clergy men, and then and there forthwith caufedthem
to be put in the Dungeon, where they continued twelve weeks in mofi miferablefiavery.
Jurat. April 21.1642.
[15] John Cregg in the County of Armagh, Teoman, depofetb, That in the
Parish of Levilegish, there were divers English-men cruelly murdred, fome twice,
—^—,—.—„ for
0(
I
8?
J1
iry,^
ttofi]
r>mo&
Ms,ti
'dim
. for fo much mercy as to be fome thrice hanged up, and others wounded and left half
iff delivered out of their pain. dead, crying out lamentably for fome to come and end
Others they buried [i<5] their miferiesby killing of them. Jurat.Jan. 7.1(541.
alive, a manner of death they [16] William Parkinfon of Caftle Cumber in the
uftd to feveral British in feve- County of Kilkenny Gent, depofeth, That by the cre-
rai places: and [ 17] at Clertv- dible report both of English andfome Irish, who affirm-
nis within the County o (FerA ed they were eye-witneffes of a bloudy murder committed
^ managhfFiere were feventeen near Kilfeal in the Queens County^ upon an En-
perfons, having been hanged glrsh-man, his wife, four or five children , and a
till they were half dead, caft maid. zMil whieh were hanged by the command of
together into a Pit, and be- Sir Morgan Cavanah , and Robert Harpool, and
irig covered over with a little afterwards put all in one hole, the yonngeft child being
doutoifc; earth, lay pittifully, fending not fully dead, put out the hand and crying Mammy ,
5™trt out moft lamentable groans mammy, when without mercy they buried him alive ,
wo! for a good time after. [18] Jurat. Feb. 11. 1(541.
mm fome were deadly wounded Elizabeth Price depofeth , That Thomas
out of 1 and fo hanged up on Tentor- Mafon , an English Proteftant 0/Laugal, being ex-
eansaioit hooks. [19] Some had ropes treamly beaten and wounded, was carried away by hit
' L1] jput about their necks, and fo wife and fome others', for revenge of which, the Rebels
praps;!: drawn thorow~ thewater ; mofi cruelly hacked, flashed and wounded them : and
leldaw f0me had withes, and fo that done, dragged the faid Mafon unto a hole, and
fipm drawn up and down thorow then and there threw earth, ft ones and rubbish upon
fore tfe Woods & Bogs; others were him, and with the weight thereofkept him under, Jo as
the faid Mafons-wife told this Deponent, he cryed out
Dur.geoi; & languished till his own wife, to put him out of his pain, rather then hear him cryft til:
tjed her handkerchief over his mouth , and therewith flopped his breath, fo -as he died.
jolts00 & j urat.Jun.2 9. 1 64 f.
{themw [17] This particular, concerning the feventeen men buried alive at Clewnis , was
re; otk teflified unto me by Miflrefi Aldrich , who was then kept prifoner in the Town by the
3y [if Rebels, and heard their pittiful cries.
id left lJ [18] William Parkinfon, late of C aftle Cumber*# the County of Kilkenny de-
theHii pofeth, Thathefaw Lewis O Brenan, with hisfword drawn in thefatdTown, pur fits
■ 0 fa after an English boy of eight or nine years of age, or thereabouts, by name Richard
Bernet, into an houfe, and faw the faid Lewis lead the faid boy forth of the houfe, thebloud
1 iftthft running about his ears, in a Hair rope, and led the boy to his Fathers tent or s, and there
all M hanged him with J ohn Banks another little boy. J urat. ut fupra.
igtliij [19] Edward Saltingftone, of the County of Armagh Gent, depofeth, That Man us
cat ft' OCane, Bryan O Kelly, Shan ONeil, Neil OgeONeil, Gent, did take William
abitp Blundel of Grange, in the County of Armagh Teoman, and put a rope about his neck >
and threw him into the blackjwater at Charlmount & drew him up & down the water to
fm- make htm confefs his mony, who thereupon gave him 21 pounds, yet within 3 weeks after
hanged
88
The Irish Rebellion.
with many flashes and cuts
they made the experiment
with their Swords how many
blows an Englishman would
endure before he died. Some
had their [21] Bellies ript
up,and foleft wkh their guts
running about their heels.
But this horrid kind of cru¬
elty was principally refqwed
he > his Wife, and feven Children were drowned by the hanged up and taken down
Rebels: ssdndfurther faith} that Samuel Law o/Grenan, and hanged up again feveral
in ihe Parish of Armagh, was by the faid Neil Oge O times, and all to make them
Neil, and others , brought to a Wood, and that then, confefs their mony , which
they there put a With about his neckL* and fo drew him up as foon as they had told,they
and down by the neck^i until he was glad toprofttifeikem then di (patched them out of
ten pounds. Jurat, ut fupra. the way. [20] Others were
I Margaret Fermeny in the County of Ferma- hanged up by the Arms, and
nagh , depofeth , That the Rebels bound her and her
Husbands hands behind them , to make them confefs,
their mony , and dragged them up and down in a
rope, and cut his throat in her own Jig,ht with a skein ,
having firfl knocked him down and Jfripped him , and
that being an aged woman of 7 5 years old, as she came
up afterwards to Dublin, she was gripped by the-Irish
feven times in one day , the Rebels bidding them go
and look^ for their God, and bid him give them cloaths.
Jurat*
[20] Edward Wilion of the County of Monanghan bythefe inhuman Monfters
depofeth, That among other cruelties ufed by the Rebels for [22] Wojpen, whofe fex
to the English , they hung up fome by the arms, and they neither pitied nor fpared,
then hacked them with theirfwords ^tofee how many blows hangi ng up feveral Women,
they could endure before they died. Jurat. many of them great with
[21] Ann the Wife c^Mervin Madefly , late of
the City of Kilkenny , Gent, fworn and examined > depofeth , That fome of the Re¬
bels in Kilkenny afore faid , ftruck^ and beat a poor English woman until she was
forced into a ditch, where she died , thofe barbarous Rebels having firfl ript up her
child, of about fix years of age, and let her guts run about her heels. J urat.
James Geare of the County of Monaughan depofeth , That the Rebels-at
Clewnis murdred one James Nettervile, Prottor to the Minifter there , who , al¬
though he was diverfly wounded, his belly ript up , and 'his entrails taken out and
laid above a yard from him, yet he bled not at all, until they lifted him up and car¬
ried him away ; at which this Deponent being an eye-witnefs, much wondred; and
thus barbarouflytheyufedhimafrcr they had drawn htm to go to Mafs with them , Jurat.
April 6. 1642.
[22] Owen Frankland of the City of Dublin, depofeth, That Michael Garray
told this Deponent, that there was a Scotish man who being driven by the Rebels out of
the Newry, and knockt on the head by the Irish, recovered himfelf, and came again into
the Town naked : Whereupon the Rebels carried him and his wife out cf the Town, cut
him all to pieces , and with a skein ripped his wives belly , fo as a child dropped out of her
womb. J urat. July 23. 1642.
child,
\
i - - j it" - - m
The Irish Rebellion.
chiId,whofc[23]belliesthey [23] <±At Ballimcolough within four miles of the
ripped up as they hung, and City ofR. ofle in April 1 642. John Stone of the Graigc
fo let the little Infants fall his fon, his two fens in law , And his two daughters,
out; a courfe they ordinarily were hanged, one of his daughters being great with
took with fuch as they child, her belly was ript up , her child taken forth, and
found in that fad condition, fuch barbarous beaflly attions ufid to her, as are not fit to
[24] And fometimes they be mentioned.
gave their Children to [24] Philip Taylor, late o/Portnedown depofeth,
Swine; [2 5] Some the Dogs That the Rebels killed a Dyers wife oJ~Rofle trever, at the
eat;and fome[2 <5]taken alive Newry, and ript up her belly, she beinggreat with child of
out of their M others bellies, two children, and threw her and her children into a ditch ,
they call into ditches. And and that he this Deponent, drove away Swine from eating
for fucking children, and one of the children. Jurat.
others of a riper age; Tome f 25 ] John Montgomery, of the County of Mo-
[27] had their brains knockt naghan, fworn and examinedfaith, That one Brian Mac
out; others [2 8] were tram- Erony, ringleader of the Rebels in the County of Fer-
pled under-foot to death. managh, killed Enfign Floyd, Robert Worknum ,
and four of their fervants, one of which they having
Wounded, though not to death, they buried quick- alfio, that he was credibly infor¬
med, that the daughter in law of one Foard, in the Parish of Clownish, being delivered
ofdchild in the fields, the Rebels, who had formerly killed her husband and father,
kfiled her and two of her children, andfujfered the dogs to eat up) and devour her new born
Child. Jurat June 2 6. 1641.
[2 6] Katherine, the relitt o/William Coke, of the County o/Armagh Carpenter, de-
pofeth, That the Rebels of thefaid County robbed,ft ripped and murthered a gyre at company of
Protefiants ,fome by burning ,fome by the Jword, fome by hanging, and the reft by /larving,
and other deaths. And this Deponent, to shun their rage, and Jfave her poor life, hid her
felfin a ditch of water, andfate there among high rushes fo long, as that she was almoft
frozen and (larved to death, and then crawled away fecretly. oAndfurther faith, that
fome of the Rebels that efc aped and fled from the battle 0/Lifnagaruay, meeting one Mtftris
Howard and Ahftris Frankland , both great with child , and fix oftheir children with
them, thofe Rebels then and there with their pikes killed and murdred them all, and after
ripped open the Centlewomens bellies, tookjout their children, the one of them being quick ,
and threw them into a ditch in the fight of J ane this Deponents daughter, who eftaped bccauft
shejpakelrish, and faid she was an Irish woman. Jurat. Feb. 2 4,1643.
[27] James Stevenfbn, County of Letrim, depofeth, That the Rebels
there tookIfabel Stevenfon, a young child, left at Foftering, with one Hugh Mac Arran
and enquiring whofe child it was, they told him it was a Schotish-mans child , whereupon
they tookjhe child by the heels, and run andbeatthe brains of it out againfl a Tree. Jurat.
April 20. 1643.
[28] Ann Hill, wife of Arthur Hill, in the County of Caterlagh, depofeth, That
M Some
5>o The Irish Rebellion.
asshepajfedthy ough theCounty ofWicklow, Williamt/;e Plafterer', with nine or ten Re¬
bels more, pulled of her backjtyomg child of one year and a quarter old, threw it on the
ground, trod on it that it died, ftripped her Jeff and four fmall childrenwho by the cold they
thereby gotyfince died. Jurat.
[28] John Stubs of the County of Longford, Genu [28JSomethey cut in gob-
depofeth, That he heard by fame of the Sheriffs men, that bets and pieces, [29] others
Henry Mead and his wife, John Bigel, William Stell, they ript up alive; [ 30] fnme
and Daniel Stubs the Deponents brother, were put to death were found in the fields,
by Lifagh Farrols, and Oli. Fitz Gerrals men, who fucking the breafts of their
hanged them upon aWindmil, and when they were half murdred Mothers; others
dead, they cut them to pieces with their skeins. J urat, lay ftifled in Vaults and Cel-
Novemb. 21.1 <s4,.
El. Price depofeth, that a great number of poor Proteftants , efpecially of women
and children, they pricked andftabbed with their Skeins, Pitch-forks and Swords , and
wouldflash, mangle and cut them in their heads, breafts, faces, arms and other parts of the
body, but not kftl them out-right, but leave them wallowing in their blond, to languish,
ftarve, and pine to death; and whereas thofe fo mangled dejired them to kill them out of
their pain, they would deny it; but fome times after a day or two, they would dash out their
brains with ft ones, or by fome other cruel way, which they accounted done asafavour, of
which she hath in many particulars been an eye-witnefs. Jurat. J une 29.1641.
[29] William Parkinfon ©/"Kilkenny Efquire, depqfeth, That the wife ©/John Har¬
vey told him, that she being at Kilkenny, and having there turned to Maft tofave her Ife,
was notwithftanding ftripped again, together with her children, and one Purcell a Butcher,
after he hadftripped her daughter, of five years of age, ripped up her body till her intrailes
fell out, whereof she died that night; whereof she complaining to the Major of Kilkenny,
he bid away with her and di(patch her, fo as not only the Butcher, but many others did beat
and wound her,ftyas she hardly efcaped with her life. J urat. ut fupra.
[30] ElifabethChampion late wfe of Arthur Champion in the County of Ferma¬
nagh Effy, depofeth > that when the Caftle of Lifgool was fet on fire by the Rebels, a
Woman leaping out of a window, to fave her felffrom burning, was murdred by the Re¬
bels , and next morning her child was foundJucking her breaft, and alfo murdred by them.
Jurat. April 6. 1642.
Charity Chappel late wife of Richard Chappel Efquire , of the Town and
County ©/"Armagh* depofith, That as she hath credibly heard the Rebels murdred great
numbers of Prot eft ants, and that many children were feen lying murdred in Faults and
Cellars, whither theyfled to hide themfelves. Jurat July 2.1642.
Thomas Fleetwood late Curat of Kilbeggan in the County of Weft-meath de¬
pofeth, That he hath heard from the mouth of the Rebels themfelves of great cruelties
atled. by them: And for one inftance, that they ftab d the Mother, one Jane Addis by
name-> and left her little fucking child, not a quarter old, by the dead corps; and then they
put the breaft of its dead Mother into its mouthy and bid it fuckflingYish-baflard, and fo
lars:
.. ... .. kv
The Irish R91
!£jrte' lars: others [3 ij flarved in left it there to perish. Jurat. March 22.1642.
Caves, crying out to their [3 1] Mary Barlow depofeth, That her Husband be-
'Mil Mothers rather to fend them ing by the Rebels hanged before her face, she and fix chil-
out to be killed by the Re- dten were ft ripped (lark^naked y and turned out a begging
'CUM bels, then to fuller them to in fofi and fhow; by means whereof they were almofl
[ty]m ftarve there. flawed , having nothing to eat in three weeks, while
:i[jo]f(*B Multitudes of [3 2] men, they lay in a Cave, but two old Calf-skins, which they beat
thefe women, and children were with flones, and fo eat them hair and ally her children
ifeoftt] found drowned , call: into crying out unto her, rather to go out and be killed by the
ts; otk ditches, boggs and turf-pits; Rebels then toftarve there. Jurat.
tsandCe! theordinarySepulturesofthe [32] John Duffield of the County 0/Armagh, Gent.
Brinish Nation. Thou- depofeth , That the Rebels wounded John Ward and
fandsdied of cold and want Richard Duffield, fo as they thereof died, and that
in all parts of the Country, their wives and the find John's fix children, being all
fmstfm being neither permitted to ftript, died of want and cold. And further faith, that
0 bp- depart, nor relieved where many thoufands of Proteflants, men, women and chil-
iL it they were enforced to flay, dren, being flripped df their cloaths , died alfo of cold
dm: * Multitudes enclofed in and want in feveral parts of the Country. Jurat. Aug.
'mty houfes, which being fet on 9.1642.
fire, they were there moft *Jane the wife ofGabriel Conftable, lateofDmm-
fJoMi milerably confumed. [33] cad in the County of Armagh Gent, fwornand examined
whrlfi Some dragged out of their faithyThat her husband and his mother about 8 8 years old,
akkj an^ hi* Brother being murdred by the Rebels in the Parish of Kilmore, that a great
kri«wi number of Proteflants were about Candlemas 1641. by the means and inftigatiou of
ffci Joan Hemskin formerly a Proteftant, but a meer Irish woman, and lately turned to
thiriiM Mafs * and of divers other her afltftants, forced and thruft into a thatcht houfe within
the Parish of Kilmore, andthen and there, the Proteflants being almofl naked, covered
f[{fag With rags onely, the fame houfe was by that bloudy woman andher barbarous afliftants, Jet
u&Wsj on fire wfiwral parts thereof> the poor imprifoned parties (who were by armed parties
^ k ikli &pt there lockt in) were miferably burned to death , and at length the houfe fell upon them;
ktlkt* wdthecombuftible part of the houfe being confumed before the bodies of all thofemiferable
wretches were burned to ashes, the bodies of many of them lay there in holes, to the great
ym 01 terrour of the beholders that were Proteflants, three only efcaped out of a hole of the houfe,
rWf1 reft t^oat attemPted t0 eftnpe theflames, were then and there forced and thrown in
y0l a M again, andfo burned to death. J urat .June 16.164 2.
[3$] Catherine Mad efon of the County of Fermanagh, depofeth, That they drew
; ^ fome lying ftck of Fevers, out of their beds and hanged them; and that they drove
J\ 0- before them of men, ^omen and children 3tothe number offixteen, and drowned them in a
pP Boggy-pit, knocking fiich on the head with poles as endeavoured to get out.
^ M fick.
pn
m' '
iil.H
It
5>2.
The Irish Rebellion,
[34] Thomas Green in the Parish of Dumcres in fick-bedstotheplaceofexe-
the County of Armagh Teoman, and Elizabeth his wife, cution, [■$ 4] children enfor-
Jworn and examined, faith, That the Deponent Thomas ced to carry, their aged pa-
Green hardly efcaped away with his life , but that the rents to the places debgned
I
Itfty
for their flaughter; [3 5]nay,
fome children compelled
mofi unnaturally to be the
executioners of their own
Parents, wives'tohelp to hang
their husbands,[3 tfjmothers
to call their own children
into the water ; and yet after
thefe enforced adts, which no
doubt were performed out
of hopes and aburance to
have their own lives laved,
other Deponent and fx children were all left among the
Rebels, and fo firipped of their cloaths , and hun^erftarv-
ed , that five of the children dyedy and she this Depo¬
nent being put to beg among the mercilefs Rebels, was at
length refined from them by the Scotish Army: She
further faith, that the Rebels did drown in a bog 17 men y
women and children at one time within the faidparish ;
and she is verily per[waded that the Rebels at fiveral
times and places within the C ounty of A r magh, drowned
above 4000 P'rot eft ants, enforcing the fins and daughters
°f t ho(e very aged people, who were not able to go them-
felves, to take them out of their bed.s and houfes and
to carry them to drowning , efpecially in the River of alwayes murdred. And fitch
Toll, in the Parish o/Loghgall. Jurat. Novemb. 10. was the malice and moftde-
1643. tellable hatred born to the
[35] JohnRutledge depofeth , That fuch were the English by the Irish, as they
barbarous and inhumane cruelties of the Rebels, that taught their [37] children
fometimes they enforced the wife to kill the husband, the to ki 11 Englishchildren, and
fin to kill the father, and the daughter to kill the mother, and then they would hang or
put to death thelaft blonds hedder. He further faith, That of his /knowledge the Rebels in
the Town of Slego, forced one Lewes the younger, to fill his father^ and then hanged the fin;
and in Mogne, in the County ^Mayo, the Rebels forced one Simon Lepers wife to filther^
husband-,, and then caufid herfin to fill her, and t hen they hanged thefont
[3 6] This depofid in Aiafier Goldfmiths Examination, which.is fit forth at large in-
the pages following. ,
[3.7] Ann Read the relitt of Helchiah Read, of the County of Letrim, depofeth, !
That she beingft ripped out of all she had, fome of her children dyed of want and famine > '
and that.one of her fins called Stephen Read, being about fix years of age, was about the
1 o ^February, 1 641. in the houfi ofJames Gray, of the County of Cavan , and going
forth to play, there then gathered about himfix Irish children of that Town rwho fuddenly
fell upon hitn , and in juch manner, that fome with flicks and fome with ft ones put out his
eyes and bruifed his body extreamly, fo that he by means oftkofe children (which were
none of them as she is perfwaded above eight years of age)not long after died, and had
been filled outright in the place , had not an English woman come thither, whotoofiup
the dying child from them, faying she wondred they couldfind in their hearts fo to dealwith
a poor child j but they anfwered, they would do at much for her if they were able*] urat.
T 2m I 642,.
--- the
ft
IS
in®
0
ucntic
Hi
ko
I 0
upwit
top
1h'/i
jurat j
[jf
fmth,
I if
mn
I4f
iftrtb
M
T
ki
■a
The Irish Rebellion. <? 3
:pkeof[j the [38] Irish women did £$§] Dennis Kelly, of the Count j of Meath, depo-
'Mrcy naturally expreis as much feth. That Garret Tallon of Cruifetown in the faid
heir aged ^ cruelty as the chiefeftRebcls County, Gent, (as it is commonly reported) hired two
acesdelir among them. men to kill Ann Hagely, wife to Edw. Tallon his Son
ter;[jj\| If thefe be not fufficient, a Papift 3and at that time abfent fiom homeand the faid
1 comptfl fet us over-look the partial- two men did in mofl bloudy manner,- with skeins, kdl
lytoiic] lar ends of fome particular thefaid Ann Hagely and her daughter, and her daugh-
tkh perfons, and we shall yet in ters two children3 becaufe they would not confent to go to
hlptok them behold more horrid A/aft, and after they would not permit them to be buried
cruelties then thefe before in a Church or Church-yard, but they four were buried in
mchild,? mentioned. What [39]shall aditch. Jurat. Aug. 23.1643.
mdyetI we ^ay to a boyled to John Griffel of the Queens County, depofeth,
Midi death in a cauldron, a [40] That the women and children m thofeparts, were as cruel
mi c; woman hanged on a tree, and forward as the men Rebels, the children, though
jjmce. and in the hair of her head young s being very bold in their robberies, bidding this
ve$|J her own daughter hanged Deponent and the reft of the English be gon, orelfethey
■ AiiSli UP ^er' a woman [4l ] should be hanged.
dmo|J miferably rent and torn Elizabeth Baskervilc depofeth, That she heard tha
ornr to P*eces> [42] fome ta- wife of Florence Fitz Patrick find much fault with her
(^aS[L husbands fouidiers , becaufe they did not bring along with
j them thegreafe ofMftrefs Nicholfon,^'>6<7/z? they hadJlain for her to make candles withalt,
Sreo,aR. Jurat. April 16. 1643.
(|^Jj Martha Culm depofeth , That she heard feme of the Irish them(elves detejl thd cruelty
hMti °fthe women whofolloyved their Camp, and put them on in cruelty, faying, fare neither
witlM man-> woman, mr child. Jurat.
[39J This particular depofed by Margaret Parkin , as alfe by Elizabeth Burfel, who
faith, That the child was of twelveyears of age > bewgthe child of Thomas Straton of
ttltrff Newtown. Jurat. Jan. 19. 1641..
[40] The wife ^ Jonathan Linn and his daughter were feiz,ed upon by the Rebels
uj, near theTown tf/Caterlagh, carried by them into a li t tie wood-> called Staple town wood,
\ r and there the mother was hanged, and the daughter hanged in the hair of her mothers head,
Jy. as is depofed by James Shaw, Vicar of old La ugh fin. Jan. 8. 1643.
V" [41] -Adam Clover depofeth , That he Jaw upon the high way a woman left by the
, y. Rebels, ft ripped to herJmock»fet upon by three WGmen andfeme children, being Irish , who
miferably rent and tore the faid poor English woman, and ftripped her of her fmockjn a
# bdterftoft andfnow, Jo that she fell in labour in their hands, and both she and her child
Vj died there. Jurat. Jan.4. 1641.
[42] This cruelty was ujed to feme English in the Province of Conaught, as was
^ teftifled by the Lords fuftices and Council, as doth appear by their Letters.
Tho. Fleetwood Curate o/Kilbeggan, in the County of Weft-meath, depofeth
r that the L. Pr eft dent o/Conaught, caufed an English worn cm who could feeak^ Irish, to go.
M- 3 - ken
9 4
The Irish Rebellion.
toward Dublin with a letter, but she was taken within ken by the Rebels, their eyes
Jive miles of the Town of Athlone, brought back and ftoned plucked out, their hands cut
to death by the women of the Town, dwelling on the hither off,and fo turned out to wan-
[ide oft he bridge. J urat. der up and down; [4 3] others
[43] James of HacketsTown in theflounty ofCz- ftoned to death; [44] a man
terlagh depofeth, That an Irish Gentlewoman told htm wounded and fet upright in a
and others, that she turned an English woman away hole digged in the earth, and
who was her Jervant, and had a child, and that before fb covered up to the very
the poor woman and child were gone half a mile, divers chin,there left in that mifera-
Irish women few them with ftones. Jurat. April 21. ble manner to perish: a [45]
1543. mans feet held in the fire till
[44] John Clerk of Knockback Gent, depofeth, he was burnt to death, his
wt hen*
tUtf
10
ft fa
U>j
W l)
WJffi
IfflEt
That he heard credibly from Mafter Lightboun., Mini- wife banged at his door: [46]
fler of the Naas, that the Rebels shot a parish Glerkjiear a Minifter ftripped ftark na«
Kildare, through both his thighesand afterward digged ked, and fo driven like a beafl §■ i
fomeg
Imam
efcape out of the flames were
taken by Tome of the Rebels
who flood by , cut them in
pieces with fithes, and focafl
them into the fire again.
a deep hole in the ground, wherein they fet him upright thorough the Town of
on his feet, and filled up the hole in the earth., leaving Cash ell, the Rebels following
out onely his head, in which flate andpoflure they left the and pricking him forward
poor wounded man, till he pined > languished, and fo died. with darts and rapiers: [47] a
Jurat. Oftob. 24.1643. company of men , women
[45] Katharine, the relickpf William Coke, of the and children put into a houfe,
County of Armagh, depofeth, That many of her neigh- and as they were burning,
hours who had been prifoners among the Rebels, faid and fome children that made an
affirmed, that divers of the Rebels would confefs, brag,
and boafi, how they toofian English Proteftant, one
.Robert Wilkinfon at Kilmore , and held his feet in
the fire until they burned htm to death : <±And the fame
Robert Wilkinfons own Son was prefint, and a pri-
foner when that cruelty was exercifed on his Father.
Jurat. February 24.1643.
[46] Mt Cashel in Munfter, befide many Minifters which they there hanged after »
moft barbarous manner, theyfir ipt Gne naked and drove him through theTown , pricking
him forwards with Darts and Rapiers , andfo purfuinghim till he fell down dead. J urat.
utTupra.
[47] Chriftian Stanhaw, the relift of Hen. Stanhaw, late of the County of Armagh
Eftf depofeth , That a woman that formerly lived near Laugale, abfilutely informed this
Deponent, that the Rebels enforced a great number of Proteftants, men, women and
children, into a houfe which they fet on fire purpojely to burn them ,as they did, and fill
as any of them offered to come out, to shun thefire, the wicked Rebels with fithes, which
they had in their hands, cut them in pieces, and caH them into the fire and burned them
.with the reft. J urat. July. 2 3.1 <$4 2.
Neither
:'fe y
M
Mji
fai]
jrojt I
w
fm
Mi
her 1
win
Davi(
j Uu
any
J lure
IMBI
The Irish Rebellion.
eMiE:; Neither did thefe horrible [48] Adam Clover i f the Ccmty of Cavan depofeth,
flt-W tortures which they put That he objerved thirty perfons to be mojl barbaroufty
iontiolthefe poor innocent Chrifti- murdered, and about 150 more cruelly wounded 3 ft) that
ans unto aflack their fury, traces cf blood tjfuingfrom them, lay upon the high way
their malice towards them for twelve miles together, and many very young chit-
t upjjoL did not determine with their drert were left and perished by the way , to the number of
ieearli, breath. But after fo many fixty, or thereabouts, becaujc the cruelties of the Rebels
toij feveral bloudy ways and were fitch, that their parents and friends could not carry
1 tbfjji,! cruel inventions wherewith them further. *Andfurtherfaith, thatfome ofthe Rebels
isl:^ they rent their fouls from vowed, that if any digged graves wherein to bury the
tilth; their wretched bodies, even dead children , they should be buried therein themfelves:
fat,, to their [48 J dead carkafles, fo the poor people left moft of them unburied, expo fed to
sdooj:, *n fo^e places, they denied ravenous beafts and fowls. J urat. fan. 4. 1641.
jfjy' all manner of burial; fome [49] Edward Saltinftale depofeth , That the Rebels
leak [49J they caff into ditches, killed William Loverden when he was naked, his wife
Tom others[5o]thcy left to be de- and children looking on, and cutting off his head held
Isfolb vouredby dogs&fwine, o- it up to his wife and children, and his forrowful wife
m -fc: thersby Fowls;and ravenous' taking his corps and burying of it in a Garden, Patrick
^ birds;nay [51 ] feveral which- O Dally a Rebel, toolkit up and threw it into a ditch.
1,f: had been formerly buried, Jurat.utfupra.
itoih they digged up and left them [50] Thomas Green and Elizabeth his wife depoft,
krm r° Petrify above ground; That the Rebels at feveral times murdred,. kftled and
itmak deftroyed the mofi part of the Prot eft ants in the Parish of Dumcres, being about 300
hesr and indeed mo(l of the Proteftants in alt the County thereabouts did they kfll and deftroy
.y by drowning, hanging, burning, thefword, ftarving, and ot her deaths, expofing their
{laughtred bodies to be devoured by dogs, Jwine, and other ravenous creatures : And 1 his
hjJJoq Deponent Eli zabeth ,faw the dogs feed upon thofe dead carcaffes. J urat. Nov. 1 o. 164 3.
p, IT1] Richard Bourk Batcheiour of Divinity depofeth, That he was informed, that
r" Mafter Lodge, Arch-deacon o/Killalow, being buried aboutfix yearsfince, and divers
other tJMwifters bones were digged out of their graves as patrons of herecy, by direUion-
mm °f_ t^e wular Bishop of Kill alow, and Robert fones a Minifter was not admitted Chri»
' m ftmn Atrial, by direction of fome Popish prieft. J urat. July 12. 164 3."
j David Buck depofeth, That in the parish of Munrath , in the Queens County,
the Rebels digged up a number of English mens graves, and left the corps above ground
r J to be abufed by dogs, hogs, or any other ravenous creatures.
(T And thefe truly are but [52] Arthur Agmoughty depofeth, That during
fome of thofc ways, among the ftege cjfCaftle Forbez, the Rebels killed poor chiU
^ many others which with dren that went out to eat weeds or graft; and that a
' moft exquifite pains & cruel poor woman whofe husband was taken by the Rebels,,
tortures, wereufed by thefe went to them with two children at her feet & one at her
mercilefs [52] Rebels to let breaft, hoping to beg her husbands life, but they{lew her
JUIU
If#
orij
gbi
and her fucking child, broke the neckjof another of her in death among an innocent,
children, and the third hardly eftaped. Jurat.Sept. 23. unprovoking , unrefifting
164$. people,that had always lived
[ 53 ] Mafler Creighton depofeth in his Examina- peaceably with them, [53]
tion, That fometimes the chief of the Irish would make adminifiring all manner of
heavy moan for the evils they perceived were coming helps and comforts to thofe
on their Country and Kindred, and faid, they faw utter who were in diftrefs, that
deflruflion at hand for that they had covered fo great a made no difference betwixt
bitter nefs fo long in their hearts againfl the English, them and thofe of their own j ^
and now fo fuddenly broken out againfl them, that had Nation , but ever cherished
brought them up, kept them in their houfes like chil- them as friends, and loving
aren, and had mad,e no difference betoveen them, their neighbours, without giving
English friends & kindred 3 by all which the English had any caufe of unkindnefs or 1®
fo well deferved of them, and they had requited them fo diftafl: unto them. It is not :i(l
evil, that the English would never truft them hereafter; poffible to re-colle6t or ex- p[i
and now it remaineth, that either they mufl defray the prefs the wickedncfs of their
English,ir the English them. Jurat, ut fupra. mifohievous inventions, or
horrour of their bloudy executions , a&uated with all kind of circum-
ftances that might aggravate the height of their cruelty towards them.Alafs,
who can comprehend the fears, terro urs, anguish, bitterneis and perplexity
oftheir fouls, the defpairing paflions and confirmations of their mind!
What ftrange amazed thoughts muft it needs raife in their fad hearts
to find themfelves fo fuddainly furprized without remedy, and inex- pfe1
tricably wrapt up in all kind of outward miferies which could pofli-
bly by man be inflidted upon any humane Creatures! What fighs,
groans , trembling , aftonishment! What fchriches , crys and bitter
lamentation of wife and children , friends and fervants , howling and
weeping about them , all finding themfelves without any manner of
hope or deliverance from their prefent mifcry and pain I How inexo-
[54] Francis Barbour o/Dublin Gent. depofeth fThat rable were their barbarous
at the beginning of the Rebellion, he heard feveralofthe tormentors that compafled
Rebelspublicly fay, That now the day was their awn, and them on every fide with- hp
that they had been flavesto the English a longtime, but out all bowels of compaf-
that now they would be revenged to the full, and would fion,any fenfe oftheir fuifer-
not leave before Chriftm as-day, ^English Proteflant ings,or the lea commifera-
rogue living, with other like bitter words. Jurat. Jan. 5. tion and pity, the common
1643. comforters of men in miferv.
[54J Jane the relibiof Gabriel Conftable depofeth , It was no fmall addition to
That the Rebels having half killed one Ellen Millington, their farrows, to hear [54]
and then put her into a dry hole made for a Well, and made the bafe reviling fpeeches
her fafl in with flones, whereof she languished and died, ufed againfl: their country &
coun-
m,
ft
ft
iki
nuoaj
itn, i
'mil
The Irish
97
Itginim;
') ii
wijIfM
itktbj
J all nmri
mforts toi
i irdl'i
feoffc
mm
m Jtl|
:o!led ork
iveote
Istto
indperpfe.
'their r
rfidki
'Mm
could H
Whi
/jdH'
towfe i
'/01M
How't ■
ir bifi
]t CODip • ;
of com;,
tkirf- -
com®"
:be co®:
0
[is.
fp'
■CO0 I
country-men , fome loudly own, and that they had been flaves to the English a long
threatning [5 5.] all should time 3 but that now they would be revenged to the full 3
be cut off and utterly de- and would not leave before Chrif mas-day, an English
Eroyed that had one drop of Vrotefiant rogue living 3 with other like bitter words.
English bloudin them ; the Jurat. Jan. 5.164$.
Irish women crying out to [55] Elizabeth the wife of Thomas Green depofeth,
fpare neither man , woman That she heard the Rebels jay , the English were meat
nor child that was English ; for dogs, that there should not be one drop of English bloud
that the English was meat left within the Kingdom, and that they would dejlroy all,
for dogs, and their children the very English children, whom they called baftards.
baflards. Jurat. Novemb. 10. t 64 3.
How grievous and infup- Richard Cleybrook depofeth, That he heard Luke
portable mull; it needs be to a Toole Jay , That they would not leave an English man
true chriflian foul, to hear a or English woman in the Kingdom , that they would not
bale [56] villain boaft, that leave an English Beafl alive, or any of the breed oft hem.
his hands were fo weary with Jurat.
killing and knocking down Samuel Man , of the County of Fermanagh Gent.
Proteftants into a bogg, that depofeth, That he heard fome of the Irish fay, That there
should not be one English man, woman or child left in the
Kingdom. Jurat.
Elizabeth Dickinglbn depofeth, That she heard fome
of the company of Roury Mac Guire fay, That the Irish
had command to leave never a drop of English bloudin
Ireland. Jurat. Novemb. 17.1642.
Katherine Madefon of the County oft ermanagh depofeth, That she hath often heard
the Rebels fay 3 that they would drive all the English and Scotish out of the Kingdom3
and that both man , woman and child should be cut ojf and deftroyed. Jurat. Novemb.
17. 1642.
[56] Elenor Fullerton the relitt of Will. Fullerton , late Par/on of Lougall depofeth,
That in Lent 1641. a young roguing Cow-boy 3 gave out and affrmed in this Deponents
hearing, That his hands were Jo weary in killing and knocking down Protejlants into a
bog-pit ,that he could hardly lift his arms to his head. Jurat. Septemb. 16. 1642.
OwenFrankland depofeth, That he heard Hugh O Can, late fervant to Mi-
ftris Stanhaw calling to his fellows, in a boa/ling manner , risking them what they had been
doing at home all the day 3 that he had been abroad and had killed fi xteen of the rogues, and
shewed them fome mony. Jurat, ut fupra.
[57] Elizabeth Champion , late wife of Arthur Champion in the County of Fer¬
managh Efquire, faith, That she heard the Rebels fay, That they had killedfo many English
men, that the greafe or fat which remained upon t heirJwords and skews, might wellferve
to make an Irish candle. Jurat. April 14.1642.
he could not lift his arms up
to his head ; or others to lay,
[57] that they had killed fo
many English men , that the
sreafe or fat which remained
D
N
on
*8
The Irish Rebellion.
jp
two [58] young Cow-boys :
should have it in their power i ^
to murder 3 6 Proteftants. ^
Whofoever shall ferioufly' ^
fe>
bp
le/
b)
tiffi
!ftl'
Mt
[58J John Birn late ofDongannon in the County on their fwords or skeins,
§f Tyrow depofeth, That he heard fome of the native might have made an Irish
Irish that were fomewhat more merciful then the reft, candle ; or to confider, that
complain , that two young Cow-hoys within the Parish
«/*Tullah, had at feveral times murdred and drowned
y6women and children. J urat. Jan. 12. 1643*
[59] James Shaw a Mtnifter depofeth , That after
thecejfation made with the Irish , divers of them con- weigh thefeparticulars, will
fejfed , the Priefts bad given them the Sacrament, upon not much wonder that fo
condition they should not (pare man > woman or child that great numbers of British and
were Proteftants, and that he heard divers of them fay in Proteftants, should be de-
a bragging manner, that it did them much good to wash ftroyed in fo short a time
their hands in the bloud of the Proteftants which they had after the firft breaking out
/lain. J urat, Jan. 7. 164 3. of the Rebellion , as Matter
Cunningham [59] depofeth V
in his Examination: He there faith, That the account of the perfons killed '
by the Rebels from the time of the beginning of the Rebellion, Ottob. 23. ^
1641. unto the month of April following, was as the Priefts weekly gave
it in, in their feveral Parishes, one hundred and five thoufand. Jurat,
sslpril 22.1641.
[60] Elizabeth Champin depofeth, That when the When the Caftle of Lifgool
Rebels had fit the Caftle of Lifgool on fire upon the Pro- [60] was fet on fire by the
teftants there enclofed, and faw the faid houfe fo burning, Rebels, and fo many British
they faid among themfelves rejoycingly, Oh how fweetly as are before mentioned con-
do they fry. Jurat, ut fupra. fumed in the flames, thofe
f>] William Lucas of the City of Kilkenny de- mifchievous villains that
pofeth, That although he lived in the Town till about five had done that wicked facft,
or fix weel^s paft in which time he is a/fur ed divers cryed out with much joy,
murders and cruelatts were committed, yet he durft not how fweetly do they fry !
go abroad to fee any of them: But he doth confidently How did the Inhabitants
believe, that the Rebels having brought feven Prote- [6i]ofiG7%w*y,(aCityplan-
frants heads , whereof one was the head of Afafter Bing- ted with old English, where
ham a Aiinifter, they did then and there as triumphs of civility and good manners
their vittory , fet them up on the Alarket-croft on a feemea to flourish) folate
xJMarket-day > and that the Rebels fiasht, ftafrd and and pleafe themfelves in abu-
mangled thofe heads, put a gag or carret in the /aid Mafter fing moft unchriftianly the
Binghams mouth, flit up his cheeks to his ears, laying heads of a Minifter and fix
a leaf of a Bible before him 9 and bid himpreach, for his other Proteftants, brought
mouth was wide enough, and after they had fo folaced in a kind of triumph into
themfelves, threw thofe heads in a hole in Stunt James that Town : Certainly it is
Green. Jurat, Aug. 16. x 643 . not to be imagined, much
—. in
m
fa
W,
.
The Irish Rebellion.
ordsorj exprefTed, with what [61 ] Julian Johnfon,//^ relitt o/John Johnfon of the
madeg fcorn and derifion they County of Gallaway depofeth, That after the Jlaughter
:ocon(l(jf,. sded thefe great cruelties of fome English, she heard one O Moloy a Frier, fay in
JUngCojv upon all Iritish which they a triumphing manner, It was a brave jport, to fee the
it in [|]g:. had gotten into their power j young men (meaning fome of the English then {Lain)
jtfpro(; with what joy and exulta- defending themfelves on every fide, and their two eyes
sialic tion their eyes did behold burning in their heads. <tAnd further , that she heard
)artjcu|r the fad lpe6tacle of their mi- fome of the cruel Souldiers then and there brag and boafi
feries, what \fii] greedy de- of the brave (port they had, by putting fire to the fir aw
light and pleafure they took which a firipped English woman had tyed about her->
in their bloudy executions; faying, how bravely thefire then made the English jade
] stat r w^at ]makce and hatred to dance. Jurat. Feb. 8.1643.
they exprefled towards Joan Conftable, thereliU 0/Gabriel Conftable de-
}n ,.j them, many with thelaft pofeth , That the outcries, lamentations, and Jpeeches
j ' ftroke of death giving them of the poor Protefiants burned in a thatcht houfe in the Pa-
in their laft agony [64] that rish of Kilmore, in the County 0/Armagh, were exceeding
on Q[j{i loud and pitiful, yet did nothing prevail to mollify the
Is wed hardned hearts of their murdrers, but they mofl boldly made brags thereof, and tooffridc
:: and glory in imitating thofe cries, and in telling the Deponent and others, how the children
'' gaped when the fire began to burn them, andthreatned and told her this Deponent, that
(UeolLi ^€fore **werc ' s^e an^ t^e reft °f the Protefiants should fujfer the like deaths. And
1 fire d fHrt^erfilthy That the Rebels within the County of Armagh did all and commit divers other
I bloudy, barbarous cruelties (betwixt the time of the beginning of the Rebellion and her efcape
ntior ft°m imPrfonment out of thefaid County) by burning, drownings hanging, the Jword,ftar-
\ vingyand other fearful deaths: That they did drown at one time betwixt T inon & Kinnard,
rill]r British women and children, their rcjpetlive husbands andfathers, all their male
iwM frit^ds that were men being murdred before: And that they did in the fame water at
mud jj
)ky
InUi
another time, drown one Mifiris Maxwel, the wife of Mafierjamos Maxwel, when
she was in labour, andfofor ward therein, as fome of thofe bloudy all or s t old and bragjd 10
her y this Deponent, That the very childs arm appeared and waved in the wat e r, thee htld
being half born when the mother was drowned. J urat. ut fup,ra«
[63] Henry Brinkhurft of the County ofMayo depofeth, That after the Maffacre of
Shreul, one of the Rebels that had ailed his part there, came into a houfe with his hands and
cloths all bloudy 3 faying, It was English bloud; That he hoped to have more cf it, and that
his skein had pin eked the clean white skfns of many at Shreul, even to the hilt ther eof, and
that amongfl others, it had been in the body of a fair complexioned man, whofe name was
Jones. At which time of his difcourfe, the wife ofthe faid Jones with four of her {mall
, children, fate by and durft not cry out, but ftriving to fupprefs her extr earn grief, fell int 0
!' r afwoony and was conveyed out of the room, for fear he should have done the like by her
^' and her poor children. Henry Brinkhurft. Jurat. Mar. 11.1643.
'fl [64 | This particulardepofedin the Examination of Dr. Maxwel and Mrs. Price.
. N z fearful
W) ft
d man;
A) I
im
iftianlj
Ita
I oo
The Irish Rebellion.
fearful valediction , in Irish-
Anim a duel, Thy foul to the
Devil.
But it is no wonder that
they carried themfelves after
this barbarous manner to
thefe poor innocent Chri-
ftians, when they fpared not
moft fearfully to belch out
their rage againft their
maker.What open [65] hel¬
lish blafphemies were utter¬
ed by thefe wicked mifcre-
antsf [66] with what indig¬
nation and reproach , did
[ 65 ] Margaret Stokes the wife of Hugh Stokes
duly fworn and examined, depofeth intet alia , That
when the Rebels, or any of them had killed an English
man in the Country, many others of them would come
one after another, and every cf them in moft cruel man¬
ner dab, wound and cut him , and almofl mangle him,
and to shew their further malice , would not Jujfer or
permit any to bury them , but would have them to lie
naked, for the dogs} beafts, and fowls of the air to
devour them. <*sfnd further faith , when they had fi
kfled the English, they would reckon up and account
the number of them, and in refiycing and boafling man¬
ner would fay, 7 hat they had made the Devil beholding
to them 3 in finding fi many fouls to him to hell. J urat.
coram Sir Gerard Lowther.
Edward Dean of Oct ism in the County of Wicklow > Tanner, depofeth, That
the Irish Rebels made Proclamation, that all English men and women that did not depart,
the CouWry within 2 4 hours, should be handed, drawn and quartred, and that the Irish
houfis that kept any of the English children should be burned. aAnd further faith, That
the find Rebels burned two Proteftant Bibles, and then faid, That it was hellfire that burnt.
Jurat. Jan. 7. 1 64 t.
[66] John Kerdif, Clerfiofthe County oj^Tyron depofeth inter alia. That Frier
Malon of Skerries, did take the poor mens Bibles which he found in the boat, and cut them
in pieces and cajl them intq the fire, with thefe words, Tnat he would deal in like manner
with all Proteftant and Puritan Bibles. J urat. Feb. 18.1 64 ?.
Henry Fisher of Powerscourt in the County of Wicklow depofeth, That the Re¬
bels entred the Parish Church at Powerscourt, and burnt up the Puesy Pulpit, Chefts and
Bibles belonging to the faid Church , with extream violence and triumph, andexprejfing
of hatred to Religion, jurat. Jan. 25. 1641.
Adam Clover of Slonofy in the County of Cavan, duly fworn , depofeth, That
James ORcly , Hugh Brady , and other Rebels, dtdoften take into their hands the Pro¬
teftant Bibles, and wetting them in the dirty water, did five or fix fiveral times dash the
fame on the face of this Deponent and other Proteftants,faying3 Come, 1 know you love a good
lejfon, here is an excellent one for you, come to morrow, and you shall have as good a Sermon
as this; and ufid other fiornful and difgraceful words unto them: And further faith,
That dragging divers Proteftants by the hair of the head, and in other cruel manner into
the Church, thereftripped, robbed 3 whipped, and mofi cruelly ufid them, faying, If you
come to morrow you shall hear the like Sermon.J urat, Jan. 4. 1641.
EdwardSlack of Gufteen in the County of Fermanagh Clerk, depofeth, That the
R.ebels there too f his Bibley opened it, andlayingthe open fide in a puddle ofwater, leaped
and trampled upon itJaytng, A plague on it, this fiible hath bred all the quarrel, and that
they
The Irish Rebellion.
! he hoped within few weeks all the Bibles in Ireland should be ufed as that was, or worfe, and
■ L" that none should be left in the Kingdom, Jurat Jan. 4.164 r.
they tear, trample under their feet the ficred Word of God ? How def-
s If'' pightfully did they upbraid the profeffion of the truth to thofe bleffed fouls,
TlC whom neither by threats nor terrours, pains nor torments, they could draw
n;r:; to foriake their Religion.
But I shall not here touch any further upon thofo who dyed thus glo-
< p rioufly; this will be a worthy work for fome more able pen to undertake y
1 f and indeed fit for a IVlartyrology. If we shall take a furvey of the primi-
y ^ five times, and look into the foflferings of the firft Chriftians that fuffered
TO under the tyranny and cruel perfecutions of thofe Heathenish Emperours,
rati we chaH not certainly find any one Kingdom, though of a far larger
continent, where more Chriftians fuffered, or more unparallefd cruelties
mini wcre acted in many years upon them, then were in Ireland, within the
p C fpace of the firft two months
j1' ft after the breaking out of this [67] Alexander Creighton o/Glafiough in the
Rebellion. Andhowfoever County of Monaghan Gent, depofeth, That he heard it
'J [ 67] fome by outward in- credibly reported among the Rebels afore/aid, at Glaf-
'^liS fli&ions and tortures were lough, that Hugh Mac O Degan , a Priefl , had done
' drawn to profefs the change a mofl meritorious all in drawing betwixt fourty &fifty
of their Religion, and had English and Stotish in the Parish of Ganalley, in
it hi prcfontly their reward; for the County of Fermanagh , to reconciliation with the
era many of thofe they fud- Church of Rome, and after giving them the Sacrament
m denly difpatched with great demanded of them whether Chrifts body was really in
fcorn, faying, it was fit to the Sacrament or no; and they faid^ Tea: uindthathe
ml: fencJ tFem OUf Gf the world in demanded of them further, whether they held the Pope
hp that good mood ; [68] yet I to be fupreame head of the Church ? They likewife an-
f{! dare fay wer shall find many fevered, He was: Find that thereupon he prefently told
them, they were in a good Faith; andfor fear they should
1 • fall from it, and turne Heretick* > he and the refithat were with them, cut all their
throats. Jurat. March 1.164.1.
^ [68] John Glafs 0/Montwrath in the Queens County , fworn and examined faith,
df That Florence Fitz Patrick, of the faid County, Efqutre, having received Mafter
)fr» John Nicholfon , and his wife Ann Nicholfc n , unaer his protection did endeavour all
> he could to turn them to AJafs or the prefent Rebellion; buth they both profejfed, that rather
0 then they would either forfake their Religion, or fght againfi their Countrymen they
would die the death; the husband profejfing how much they abhorred it, and his wi fe even
shewing greater rejolution: Tlsey would have had her burnt her Bible ; but her anjwer
was, before shewould either burn her Bible, or turnagainfi her Countrymen, she would
f die upon the 'feint of the feword; which was made good by them; for on a Sabbath-day
I"' in the morning before Mafs, they were cruelly butchered and murdred, by the com~
1 rhqs
I'll
. jl f
•J m
-S™
It 1
'
m ■■■'
ioz
The Irish Rebellion.
mand of the /aid Florence Fitz Patrick: The infra- thus cruelly put to death,1
ment that ailed the villany, was one John Harding, equal to Tome of thofe an-
who Jince hath been beyond all exprej/lon, tormented in cient Worthies for their pa-
his conference, and with continued apparitions of them tience, conftancy,courage,
{as he conceived) in fitch lively manner as he murdered magnanimity in their fuife-
them; Jo as he is even now confitmed away with the her- rings, not accepting delive¬
rer^//, as is mofi frequently reported among the Rebels, ranee, but triumphing and
Jurat. April 8.1642. infulting with their laft
breath, over the infolcncy,
rage and malice of their moft inhumane and cruel perfecutors.
We shall find in the Roman Story, during the feveral cruel contefta-
tlons betwixt tJfytarins and Scilla, when their fa&ious followers filled the
whole CiiyotRome withftreams ofbloud, ftrange and moft incompara¬
ble paflages of friendships; one expofing himfelf to all manner of dangers
for the prefervation of his friend of a contrary fa&ion; fervants willing¬
ly facrificing themfelves to fave the lives of their beloved Mafters. But
here on the contrary, what open violation of all bands bf humanity and
friendship; no contra&s, no promifes obferved; quarter given in the
moft folemn manner with the greateft oaths and fevereft execrations,
under-hand and feal fuddenly broken. The Irish Landlords making a
prey of their English Tenants; the Irish Servants betraying their English
Mafters; and every one efteeming any ad wherein they could declare
their hatred and malice moft againft any of the British Nation , as gallant
and truly meritoribus. It is not to be denied, but that the firft and moft
bloudy executions were made in the Province of Vlfler, and there they
continued longeft to execute their rage and cruelty; yet muft it alfo be
acknowledged, that all the other three Provinces did concur with them,
as it were, with one common confent to deftroy and pluck up by the roots
all the British planted throughout the Kingdom. And for this purpofe
theywentonnotonely murdring, ftrippingand driving out all of them ,
Men, Women and Children : but they laid wafte their Habitations,
burnt their Evidences, defaced in many places all the Monuments of civi¬
lity and devotion; the Courts and places of the English Government;
nay, as fome of themfelves exprels it, they refolved not to leave them either
Name or Pofterity in Ireland.
How they proceeded on in this work , or how far they
cooperated each with other , will be a task of a lajge fize, and
more proper for another place in this Story ; I shall Jiere conclude
this Difcourfe concerning the cruelties exercifed upon the British
and
-
^ The Irish Rebellion. i o 3
^t0 and Proteftants with thefe following Examinations. They are eight in num-
le ^ tliofr - ber, two Witneffes, as it were, taken out of each Province, to declare mirations"
eM°r t tjie[r Cloudy proceedings: I shall begin with tJAlunSler, from whence we taken upoa
Wcy>co!t| have yet very few Examinations brought up , the chiefeft of them having °a/hh^r1iedvc"
been mofl unhappily carried another way. Therefore I have thought fit, murders aa4
for the more full exprefling their Miferies, to infert their general Remon-
lonipjiij, ftrance, made upon the conclufion of the late Ceffation, in the year 164$. eitics adc d
h tk:_ The two next enfuing are concerning the Province of Conaght, then thofe ^in lrhc
tola of the Province of Vijier; and laftly , two Examinations taken of fome ads
of cruelty committed within the Province of Lemfter. I have made choyce,
for the mofl part of them, offuchashave been put in by perfons, of good
^ cowef: quality, of known integrity and credit. They are all upon Oath, as all the
to Halt other Examinations concerning cruelties before mentioned likewife are. I
kouipx, shall leave the feveral particulars to the confideration of fuch as shall pleafe to
oMatigf take the pains to read them over. And I may well fay of them, in refped of
ttswillif the former cruelties inferred, as was faid to the Prophet Ez>ek[el in ano-
fe, 1- thcr cafe • Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt fee greater abominations Ezck.g.ij.
manitjd _ then thefe.
ivenini
MOB; " ' " "
r"4" A general Remonstrance of the
1diftrefled Protestants in the Province
£13 ofMUNSTER.
fat? i
Mo; ^ Eting forth5 from the gafping condition of their mofl fad
i tk anddiflreffedfouls, That whereas the Provinee ^Munfter,
to through the vafi expence of Englifh treafure and bloud, was
■V reduced from the height ofBarbarifm, to fuch a degree of Ci-
^ vility, that the power and dignity of the Englifh Crown was
0f C1! much advanced and extended, by thefure(l and nob left bonds of
mm' ci flourishing people 5 thofi^ of Religion, Civility and Profit.
mi Of Religion , witneffed by the enlarged Congregations both in
Cathedral and Parochial Churches. Civility , by the many
coflly Plantations, fair andftrong Buildings; plentiful Mark¬
ets , and bountiful Ho(pit ality. And Profit, bythefreeTrade
'f and Commerce throughout Chriflendom. Landsfully improved\
p abounding with herds and flocks of all forts of the befl Englifh
i " " Cattel,
t 04
The I
R I S H
Rebellion.
Cattel s which enabled us to advance great fums to His Ma-
je flies Cnfloms , contribute large Subfidies, and to fupply the
JVeJi, of England with fuch a confiderable proportion ofWooll and
Cattel, that a great part of the Trade of thofe parts fubftfed
thereby. And this begun at the great charge of the Englifh Un¬
dertakers , in the time of Queen Elizabeth, of famous memory 5
fince whenfew parts of Chriftendom from their beginning {in fb
short (pace) had fuch a Rife and growth j which wots not alone
to our felves, but the very Natives muflconfefs, that their
Eflate-were hugely augmented by our improvements. And there¬
fore let it notbewondredat, that when we ccnfider from what
we are fain, to what we are fain 5 if the pain oflofs ftrive to
equal that of fenfe and if the depth of our Miferies have not
funk our fouls toflupi'dity, we may compare our fVoes to the fad-
deft parallel of any Story. Our Temples demolished, orworfe,
prophanedby facrifices to Idols \ our Houfes and Caftles become
ruinous heaps; our Nation extirpated, deftroyed*. No quality,
age, fix priviledged from Maffacres and lingring death \ by
being robbed andflript naked , through cold orfamine, Taffa-
ges of a notable piece of Clemency and CMercy. The famished
infants of murdredTarentsfwarm in our Streets, and for want
of Bread perish before our faces 5 and many ofour, yet, mife-
r able remnant, which lived plentifully and relieved others, are
forced to ask relief, and thofe they ask of, conftrained by want
to refufe them 5 So as undoubtedly ourprefent CMiferies are not
far difl ant of thofe of Samaria's Siege -> and all, thofe caft upon
us by this unparalleUed Rebellion , at a time when we were moft
confident andfecure > more and greater Immunities and Boun¬
ties beinggranted by his UMnjefty that now is, then ever was
by his Royal Progenitors; for what caufe, offence, or leaf
feeming occafion of provocation, our Souls never imagine {Sin
excepted) fave that we were Trot eft ants, and his Majeflies
loyal Subjetls: and could not endure their poifonous breaths to
belch out fuch prophanenefs, as in a deep meafure pierced and
wounded thefacred fame ofour King 5 and to colour this, we
mufl
w
111!
M
(»
4
k
Gi
The Irish Rebellion,» 10 5
to fij mtftgo under the notorious names offir (I Puritans, <2^ 0/
/fli Roundheads for particular inftances, wouldfail,
W, length weary the Reader. But we are altogether confident to
Isjif: make it manifeft, by abundant inftances , 27?^* Depopula-
nglii /»this 'Province 0/Munfter do well and near equal thofe of
thewhole Kingdom. The particulars whereof, as of the mul-
initio titude of inhuman cruelties were collected and reduced to fe¬
rn k veral inftances , with ample proof, by the many Mon ths endea-
fattk wars of a Reverend Divine, one Arch-Deacon Bisse,
Initk thereunto authorized by virtue of a Commiffion under the Broad
romrt of this Kingdom 5 ^£0 moft barbaroufty murthered by
the Irifh, expr effing that to be the caufe. And becaufe it may be
\m thought requifttetotouch fomething of the Demeanours of the
ojj^ Irifh ftnce the Ceffiation, as well as before$ many Englifh have
been murthered as they Travelled, with other expreffions
him °f ^at utter deteftations of the Englifh, that if any remain
rm (whichfew do') nor furely will do, that can but breath elfe-
y. where 5 then muft they be in a degree worfe then any known
ftavery : And likewife for other parts of the Cejjation, they
■msl} have been tot ally broken, and our Quarters, being of large ex-
forj tent, univerfally taken from us, even to the walls of our Gar-
. rifons; wherein we have often called to the chief of them forju-
Lf. Jlice $ which being denied (or which is worfe) delayed, want of
\Lm means to juftify our felves , leaves us without remedy. AH
]m which we pour forth our griefs and Supplications, above, to
Godalone$ and here on earth, to our Dread Sovereign.
wii\
IBm
otk
km
Iiufi
nth1* .
win
$f
©
The
rctt>
The Irish Rebellion.
' s*«
T
The Examination of Ann the late Wife of d
" John Sheering, late of the Territory of Ortnond , near
the Silverivorks in the County of Tipper ary, aged about
2. 5 years, Sworn and Examined, Depofeth and Saith,
0
Hat about Cand el mas was two years, the fald John Sherring her 0
then husband, going from his Farm, which he held from Maher jtr
John Kenedy Efquire , near to the Silverworks, one Hugh Kenedy, one
of the brothers of the faid John Kenedy, a cruel Rebel, together with a <nfe
great multitude of Irish rebellious Souldiers, then and there fiercely
aflaulted and fet upon her faid husband, and upon one William Broc^
William Laughlin , Thomas CoHopm, and eight more English Protelhnt
men , and about ten women, and upon fome Children in their company,
and then and there ft ript them oftheir cloths, and then with ftones, pole-
axes , skeins , fworas, pikes, darts, and other weapons, mo ft barba-
roufly maffacred and murdered her faid hufband , and all thofe Proteftant
men, women and children : In the time of which Maftacre, a moft loud!
and fearful noife and ftorm of Thunder, Lightning, Wind , Hail-
ftones and Rain began : The time being on a Sabbath-day , about an
hour before night, the former part of that day being all very fair,
but that Thunder , Lightning and Tempeft hapning fuddenly after the
Maftacre was begun, muchafrightcd and terrified this Deponent and many
others, ittfomuch as thofe murderers themfelves confeftedittobea iignof
Gods anger and threatningofthem for flich their then cruelty; yet it deter-
fed them not, but they pcrfifted in their bloudy a&, until they hadmur-
dred thofe faid English Proteftants and had hackt, hewed, flashed, ftab'd
and fo maffaeixd them, that many of them were cut all to- pieces ; and her
husband for his part, had thirty grievous wounds then and there given
him (viz,.) fome through or near his heart, ten mortal wounds in his
head, three in his belly, and in either arm four, and the reft in his thighs,
legs, back and neck: and that murder done , thofe barbarous Rebels tied
wyths about their necks, and drew them out of the refining Mill (where
indeed they, flew them) and threw them or moft of them into a deep hole
(formerly made) one upon another, fo that none of thofe 23 men,
women nor children did efcape death. Howbeit oneTho. Eadell a Scottish-
man , and one George Keljy, who then and there endured and had many
grievous wounds and being left on the ground for dead, crawled up (after
the Rebels were gone away) and with much difficulty , cfcaped with their
li ves: A nd further faith, that fuch was Gods j udgment upon the faid Hugh
Kenedy
The Irish Rebellion.
107
Kenedy for that bloudy fad , that he prefently fell into a molt defperate
madnefsand diftradion , and could notreff day nor night; yet coveting
to do more m ifchief upon the English', but being prevented and denied to
do it > he about a week after drowned himfclt in the next River to the
Silverworks , but his barbarous and wicked Souldiers went on in their
wickednefs, and afterwards bragged how they had killed a Minifter and
his Wife and four Children near the City of Limrickj and this Deponentis
too well allured , that thofe and other Irish Rebels in that part of the
C ountry,exercifedand committed great number of bloudy Murders, Rob¬
beries and Outrages upon the perfons and goods of the Proteftants, fo as
very few efcaped with their lives, and none at all faved their goods. And
further faith, that all the popish Gentry in the Country thereabouts, elpe-
cially all thofe of the Septs and Names of the O Brians , & the Coghluns,
and the Kenedies^ert^Xl a&ors in the prefent Rebellion againfi: hisMajePy;
and either acted, aflifted, incited, or confented to all the murders, rob¬
beries , cruelties and rebellious acts aforefaid. And she further faith , that
by means of the faid Rebellion, her faid husband and she were at Werin<wood
about Candlemas T 641. robbed and deprived of their Cattel, Houshold-
ftuff, Corn, Mault, Provilion , ready mony, debts, the benefit of
their Leafe, and other their Goods and Chattels of the value, and to their
lols of one hundred and threescore pounds at the leaft, and that the faid
John Kenedy Efquire , their Land-lord , was the man that fo deprived and
robbed them thereof, and the other Rebels ftript her ftark naked, Jurat*
Feb. 10. 1645.
Henry Jones.
Henry Brer eton.
Ann Sherring.
The Examination otJohnGoldfmithVzxton
ofBrashouh in the County of Mayo, S worn and
Examined, faith.
The PvovinSi
o/C^naghs.
THat the Lord ofcJWayo being to convoy all thofe of Caftle Burre to
Galuay, viz,. Sir Henry Bingham, with all his company, and the
Bishop of KllalU with all his company, with many of the neighbour¬
ing English 1 being about threefcore in number, whereof there were feme
fifteen Minifters, covenanted with one Edmund Bourhjor the fife convoy
ofthe fame parties upon a certain day; and the faid Lord of Alayo appoi nted
them all to meet him at Belgharah, having firft feparated this Deponent from
them to attend his Lady in the work of the Miniftry. 'At which day, the
Q i titulary
M
io8
The Irish Rebellion.
titulary Archbishop and the Lord of meeting with their whole
number, went on their journy to Shreui; at which place the Lord of Majo
left them in the cuftody of the faid lad: named Edmund BourlBut, as one
Matter Bringhurft told the Deponent, the Lord of Maje was not gonefar
from them, but the faid Edmund Bowl'i drew out his fword, directing the
reft what they should do, and began to Maftacre thofe Proteftants, and ac¬
cordingly fome were shot to death, fome ftab'd with skeins, fome run
through with pikes, fotnecaft into the water and drowned, and the women
■ail
Ilk
U<
I IL
that were (tripped naked, lying upon their Husbands to fave them, were
fe
run through with pikes, and very few of thofe English then and there efca-
ped alive, but the moft part were murdred in the place: Amongft the reft,
the Bishop ofKillaila efcaped with his life; but was then and there wounded
in his headand one Mafter Crowd a Minifter, was then and there fo beaten,
Ilk
with cudgels on his feet, that he died shortly after. And this Deponent
further faith, that in the Town of £//£<?, four ty perfonsof English andScotish
were by theRebels ftript and lockt up in a cellar, and about midnight, a
Butcher which was fent unto them on purpofe, with his Axe knocked
them all on the heads, and fo then and there murthered them: which But¬
cher coming afterwards to Caftle Cur re, did there confefs his bloudy fa£L
In Tirawly within the County of about thirtv, or fourty
English (formerly turned Papifts ) had their choice gi ven them , whe¬
ther they would die by the fword , or drown themfelves: They making
choice of drowning , were brought to the Sea-fide by the Rebels, who
had their skeins drawn in their hands, and forced them to wade into the
Sea: The Mothers, with their Children in their arms (crying for drink)
having waded to the chin , at length caft or dived themfelves and children
into the Sea,yielding themfelves to the Maftry o fthe waves, and fo perished.
The torments the Rebels would ufe to theProteftants to make them
confefs their monys, were thefe , viz,, fome they would take and writh
withs about their heads, until the bloud fprang out of the Crown of their
heads:others they would hang until they were half dead,then they would let
them down, and do the fame fo often over,until they confefted their monies.
And this Deponent further faith , that a young youth of about fifteen
years of age, the Son ofMaftereJ^T^/^o^o^the Minifter meeting witha
bloudy Rebel, who had been his School-mafter: This Rebel drew his skein,
and began furioudy toflashand cut him therewith; the Boy cried unto
him, Good Mafter do not kill me, but whip me as much as you will;
meverthelefsthe mercilefs and cruel Rebel then and there moft barbaroufly
murdred him.
A Scotchman travelling in the high-way , with his wife and children
were befet by the Rebels who wounded and ftab'd
him
i
Tow
\m
lire
iii(
. ibi
'A
m
nor,
»\v
'k
The Iris h Rebellion. 109
4a|, __ — ,
eloriofi h;m with their pikes, put him alive upon a Car, brought him to a ditch,
^ By and buried him alive, as the poor wife afterwards (with great grief) told him
fasnotfi this Deponent.
, dkL The Vicar of Vrras turned Papift, and became Drummer to Captain
bnrs,; Bourk, ^nd was aftermurdred for his pains by the Rebels,
s, Another Scothman near Ballehen was hanged by the Rebels,
iieijjj Jurat. 30 Decembris 1643.
f Henry Jones. J oh. Goldjmith.
ttfrf : Henry Brereton.
iniSm
refoU The Examination of Jane the wife of Tho¬
mas Stewart, late oftheTown and County ofSltgo, Tht pyrs)lnct
Merchant, Sworiv and Examined before his Ma- */conaught.
2! ' jeftiesCommiffioners, in that behalf Au-
Aicfe thorized : Depofeth and Saith,
londjt. Hat after the prefent Rebellion was begun, viz,, about the beginning
orfe §_ Gf December i 6$1. her faid Husband living, as a Merchant in the
^ Town aforefaid, with her this Deponent, as for twenty fix years he had
fmh■' done, in very good eftate and condition, and having continually furnished
is,i the Inhabitants of that part thereabouts with all forts of Wares and
e Bitot Merchandize; and by that courfe having acquired and gained to himfelf
fordrii, an eftate 01 good value: He the faid Thomas. Stewart, and she thisDepo-
f k nent, then polfeffing that Eftate, were then at Sltgo aforefaid, by Andrew
paids Crean of Sligo Efquire , then high Sheriff of that County, Neil O Hart
k fi of Donelly in the faid County Gentleman , Roger O Conner ofSkarden in the
lAw fame County Gent. Donnel O Conner of Gent, brother in law to
of i1 Teige O Conner , Sligo Richard O Crean of Ttrreragh Gent. John O Crean
Mil! Efq; and a J uflice of Peace, Son to the faid ylndrew Crean , Anthony
* Screan of near Ballyshanny Gent, forcibly deprived, robbed
'fe and defpoiled of their Houshold-goods, Wares, Merchandize, Spccial-
>witt ties, Cartel, Horfes, Plate, Mony, and other goods and Chatties, of
issk the value of one thoufand two hundred pounds Sterl. or therabouts: Which.
robbery and outrage was committed in or about the beginning of December
into' aforefaid, at the very time of the Rebels furprizing, robbing and pillaging
)3!Dii of all the English and Scots of the Town or Sltgo. In the doing whereof ,
not onely the perfons, Rebels before named, but alio Teige O Conner Sligo
iA now of the Caftle of Sligo, general of the Rebels in thofe parts; James
W Trench of Sltgo aforefaid Efq; ajuftice of the Peace (a notorious and
: cruel Rebel) Brian 0 Conner of Drttmcleer Gent. Captain Charles O Con-
. P 3 -
si S O
The Irish Rebellion.
ner a Frier , and Captain Hugh O Comer, all three Captains, and bro. *
thers to the faid Teige O Conner Shgo, Captain PatYick^Plmket near Killoonj P
in the fame County (a Juftice of the Peace) Captain Phclim 0 Conner, Cap-
divers others whole names she cannot for the preftint remember, were moft m
forward and cruel a&ors; and thofe R.ebefe-having altogether deprived 1J!
and Gripped all the British of all their Eftates they had, she this Deponent, 0
^nd her Husband , and many other British were left in that Town, and f '
amongft the reft, there were left there, which she can well remember, viz* 3
William Braxton, the Deponent and her Husband and fix Children, James *:01J
.Scot and his Son of the age of four or five years, Sampfon Port and his wife,
.Mary Port and her Father (ofthe age of feventy years, or thereabouts) m
John Little, Arthur Martin, William Dow ht tie and his wife and chi Idren, oW
William Carter, andjohn Le^es, and Eh^abeib his wife, Robert Scyens, 7
Elizabeth Harlow, and one woman then was great with child , and within F
a month of her time, Ifabel Beard, who was great with child , and very ®
near her time, and others whom she cannot name; which British people 1
(although they were promifedfair quarter, and taken into the protection H
of the faid Tage O Conner Sltgo, who promifed them a collection ) yet they ^
were daily threatned to be murdred, ifthey would not turn Papifts in one fti
month, then the next afrer ; which for fa ving of their lives, they were F
enforced to do: Notwuhftanding which, about the fixth of January P
then next following, the faid O Conner sligo, (having before called a meeting M
of his followers and kindred, in the Counties of Sligo & Letrim, and
confidered with them, and with a Covent of Friers of the Abby of Sligo
for three days together, where they fat in Council) all the men, women
and children of the British that then could be found within the fame Town
(faving this Deponent, who was fo fick that she could not ftir) were
fummoned to go into the Goal, and as many as could be met wit-hall, were ^
carried and put into the Goal of Sligo , whereabout twelve a clock in the fc
night they were ftripped ftark naked, and after moft of them were moft P
cruelly and barbaroufly murdred with fwords, axes and skeins, and par- M
ticularly, by two Butchers, mmed James Buts and Robert Bats of Sligo 9 »«£
who murdred many of rbem, wherein alfo were ACtors Charles O Conner p
the Frier, and Hugh O Conner aforenamed, brother to the faid Teige, 0 „
Conner Sligo, and Teige 0 Sheiie, Kedagh O Hart Labourer, RicbardWalsb
and Thomas Watsh, the one the Taylor, the other a Butcher, and divers J
others whom she cannot name: A nd fiith, that above thirty of the British,
which werefo put into the Goal, were then and there murdred: befides,
Robert Gamble, then Provoft of the faid Town of Shgo, Edward Ntwsham,
and Edward Mercer who were wounded and deft for dead amongft the
reft,
ft.
dei
id]
7 he Irish Rebellion.
11 i
,s) 4 reft, and Jo. Stewart this Deponems Son, which, four being the next day
toft found alive , yet all befmeared with bioud, were fparcd to live. All which
particulars, the Deponent was credibly told by thofe that fo efcaped, and
wttt,i by her Irish fervants and others of the Town and faith, that fome of the
'»women fo murdered being big with child (by their wounds received) the
dtjsf. very arms-and legs of the children in their wombs appeared , and were
isOip* thruft out; and one woman, viz,. Ipbel Beard, being in the houle of the
lowii,.: Friers, and hearing the lamentable cry that was made, ran into the ftreet,
fflto,! and was purfued by one of the Friers men unto the River, where she was
barbaroufly murdred, and found the next day, with the childs feet ap-
ifeVi pearing, and thruft out of her wounds in her fides. And further faith,
torealxw thatonthefaidfixtdayofjktf^T? there were murdred in the ftreets of the
dcliifc Town of 5//^, thefe British Proteftants following, viz,. William Sheiles
krtfyi and Jvhn Sheiles his Son, William Mapwell and Robert And the
fid fid Deponent further faith(as she was credibly informed by the perfons before
warned that the inhuman Rebels after their murders committed in the
gj ftidGoal,laidand placed fome of the dead bodies of the naked murdred men
proti ltPon naked bodies of the women in a moft immodeft pofture, not fit for
) p chaft ears to hear: In which pofture they continued to be ften the next mor-
piintt ning by thofe Irish of the Town that came into the faid Goal,, who were de~
ht lighted and rejoyced in thofe bloudy murders and uncivil adlions: And that
'Jm: they of the Irish that came to bury them, ftood up to the mid-leg in the
bloud and brains of thole that were fo murdered , who were carried out
i and caft into a pit digged for that purpofe, in the Garden of Mafter Ri-
byob crofts > Minifter of Sligo. And she further faith, that whereas the River
0jWg of Sligo was before very plentiful of Fish, it did not for a long time after
thofe murders, afford any Fish at all : And this Deponent faw the Friers
jrj in their white habits, in great companies in proceflion, going to fandifiy
the water, cafting thereinto holy water : She faith alfo, that the Prior
of the Covent of Sligo, after the murder of the faid woman in the River 3
wereii
fell fi antick, and ran fo about the Streets, and continued in that frenzy
for three or four weeks ; and faith, that of her fix children, three were
flarved and died, after her releafe of imprifonment, which had been for
OOf eighteen months amongft the Rebels.
% Jurat 11. u4prilis 1644. Signnmpraditt. WV. Janx
Hemy Jones. Stewart alias Menize.
I!1"L Hem) Brereton.
jtlbtf -
0 "
0 Captain
4i ...
II z
The Irish Rebellion.
Captain Anthony Stratford of %
mount in the County of Armagh Efquire, aged threefcore L
years otherrabouts $ fworn and examined before his is
Majefties Commiflioners,by virtue ofaCommifllon J*
in that behalf, directed under the great Seal of
Ireland: Depofeth and faith, f,.
T
m
Hat thefe Proteftant Minifters following, about the beginning of
the prefent Rebellion, were murdered in the Counties of 7"y
tzsfrmagby viz. Matter John Matthew, Matter/?/^, Matter//**///
Matter Smith, Matter Dnrraghy Matter Birggy and eight more, wuuie
names this Deponent bath forgotten , by the Rebels, none of which 1
would the Rebels permit to be buried; the names of fuch as murdred,
this Examinant knoweth not; his caufe of knowledge of the Bid murders
i jsgr
mi
is, that lome of his, this Deponents fervants, who were among the ^
Rebels, did give him the relation, and he verily believeth them;"'and l"'
befides, this Deponent heard the fame confefted and averred by many of •
the Rebels themfelves, and by fomeof thofe Protettants that had efcaped; r;
and that he, this Deponent, was a prifoneramongtt the Rebels at Caftle J1'
Caujkld near the place of thofe murders where he continued fourteen J
months. And further faith, That in Dnngarinon, in the County of Tyron, J
or near thereunto, the Rebels murdred three hundred and fixteen Prote- 0
ttants, and between Charlmottnt and Dmgannony above four hundred,
that were murdred and drowned at, and in the River by Benburb, the f
Black-water, between the Counties of Armagh and Tyron, two hundred 1
and fix Protettants , and Patrick^ Mac Crew of Dnngannon aforefaid,
murdred thirty one in one morning, and two young Rebels, viz,. John
Begbrian, Hary, murdred in the faid County of Tyron, one hundred
and fourty poor women and children that could make no refiftance, and W
that the wife of Brian Kelly of Loghall in the County of Armagh (on e of the
Rebels Captains) did with her own hands murder fourty five. And this
Deponent further faith, That one Thomas King, fometimes Serjeant to the ^
late Lord Canljields Company (which this Deponent commanded) he ;
being enforced to ferve under the Rebels, and was one of their Provoft J
Marshals., gave the Deponent a Littof every housholders name fo mur¬
dered, and the number of the perfons fo murdred; which Li ft this De¬
ponent durft not keep : At Portado^n there were drowned at feveral
rimesabout three hundred and eight, who were fent away by about fourty,
ox fuch like numbers at once , with convoys, and there drowned:
There was a Lowgh near Loghgall aforefaid, where were drowned above
two
)1\!
two hundred, of which this Deponent was informed by feveral perfons ,
L |- and particularly by the wife of Do&or Hodges, and two of her fons, who
: ^ were prefent and defigned for the like end, but by Gods mercy that gave
l0re ®' them favour in the eyes of fome of the Rebels, they efcapcd ; and the faid
liflll Miftris Hodges, and her fons gave the Deponent a Lift of the names of
1 of many of thole that were fo drowned, which the Deponent durft not keep;
and faith that the faid Do&or Hodges was imployed by Sir Phelim 0 Neil to
make Powder, but he failing of his undertaking, was firft half hanged,
^0;,. then cut down, and kept prifbner three months, and then murdred with
■y/rj forty four more within a quarter of a mile of Charlmount aforefaid, (they
;r|y.? being by Tirlogh Oge O Neil, brother to Sir Phelim, fent to Dungamon pri-
3re> J foners, and in the way murdred ) This Deponent was shewed the pit where
i uf r they were all caft in. At a Mill-pond in the Parish ofKilUmen, in the County
offyron, there were drowned in one day three hundred;and in the fame Pa-
jfflr; rish,there were murdred ofEnglish and Scotish one thoufand and two hun-
JKlor dred, as this Deponent was informed by Mafter Birge, the late Minifter of
the faid Parish,who certified the fame under his hand,which note theDepo-
nent durft not keep : The faid Mafter Birge was murdred three months
after; all which murders were in the firft breaking out of the Rebelli-
r\r> • knf fkm fimor fntr rpmPmKpr nPlthPt
i fount1
itm
eente
itkri,:
/obi:
afcfi
vk,}t
mce,r
(oneo'i
Ant
antto:
M
irPi
lefou
ilfi-
at fr
IDtktf
l0»:-
Jab1
on ; but the particular times this Deponent cannot remember , neither
the perfons by whom they were committed: This Deponent was cre¬
dibly informed by the faid Serjeant and others of this Deponents lervants
(who kept company with the Rebels and law the fame) that mainy
young children were cut into quarters and gobbets by the Rebels, and
that eighteen Scotish Infants were hanged on a Clothiers tenterhook ,
and that they murdred a young fat Scotish man, and made Candles of
his greafe ; they took another Scotish man and ripped up his belly,
that they might come to his fmall guts, the one end whereof they tyed
to a tree, and made him go round until he had drawn them all out of his
body, they then faying, That they would try whether a dogs or a Scotch
mims guts were the longer.
•
Depojed^JfyCarch9. 1643. before us9
Henry Jones.
Henry Brereton• ^Anthony Stratford,
The
H4
The Irish Rebellion.
The Province
a'Ulfter.
The Examination of Robert Maxwell Clerk,
Arch-deacon of Down 5 fworn and examined,
depofeth and faith inter alia,
THat by command from Sir Phelim 0 Neil, the Rebels dragged the
Deponents brother, Lieutenant James Maxwell out of his bed in
the rage and height of a burning Feaver; and left any of his acquaintance
or friends should bury him, they carried him two miles from any Church,
and there cruelly butchered him, when he neither knew what he did or faid;
and thus Sir Pheltm paid him two hundred and fixty pound which he owed
him : And his wife Grijfel*JMaxwell being in Child-birth , the Child half
born and half unborn, they ftript ftark naked, drove her about an arrows
flight to the Blackwater, and drowned her: The like they did to another
English woman in the fame Parish, in the beginning of the Rebellion,
which was little inferiour, if not more unnatural and barbarous then the
roafting of Mafter Watfon alive, after they had cut a Collop out of either
Buttock. And farther faith , that a Scotch woman was found in the G7/«-
ivood, lying dead, her belly ripped up, and a living Child crawling in her
womb , cut out of the Cawl; and that Mafter Starry, School Mafter
at ^Armagh, he a Gentleman of good Parentage and Parts, being upwards
of an hundred years of age , they ftript naked, caufed two of his Daugh¬
ters, Virgins, being likewife naked: to fupport him under each arm, he
being not able to goofhimfelf: And in that pofture carried them all three
a quarter of a mile, to a turf-pit, and drowned them, feeding the lufts of
their eyes, and the cruelty of their hearts with thefelf-fame obje&sat the
fame time. At the fiege o iAugher, they would not kill any English Beaft,
and then eat it, but they cut Collops out of them being alive, letting
rhem there rorc till they had no more flesh upon their backs, fo that fome-
rimes a Beaft would live two or three days together in that torment;
die like they did at ^Armagh, when they murdred Hugh Echlin Efquire,
they hanged and murdred all his Irish fervants which had any way
proved faithful or ufefulto him during this Rebellion: And as touch¬
ing exemplary conftancy in Religion, this Deponent faith, That Henry
Cowell Efquire, a gallant and well bred Gentleman, was murdred be-
caufe he would notconfent to marry a beaftly Trull, <JAtary Ny Neil,
a near Kinfwoman of Sir Phelim's: He was profered his life , without the
Bloiife , if he would have gone to Mafs, but he chofe rather to die then
to do cither. There was madethelike profferof life forgoing to Mafs to
Robert Ecklin, a Child of eleven or twelve years of age, but he alforefu fed
it, faying, He faw nothing in their Religion for which he would change
his own. And this Deponent further faith, That very many of the Rrittish
Pro*.
The Irish Rebellion.
11 5
Proteftants the Rebels buried alive, and took great pleafureto hear them
fpenk unto them as they digged down old ditches upon them; except
thofe whom they thus buried, they buried none of the Proteftants,
neither would permit any who furvived to perform that duty for them:
And further faith, That the Rebels would fend their Children abroad
in great Troops, efpccially near unto Kinnard^ armed with long wattles
and whips, who would therewith beat dead mens bodies about their privy
members, until they beat, or rather thrashed them off, and then would
return in great joy to their Parents, who received them for fuch fervice as
it were in triumph. And further faith, that if any women were found dead
lying with their faces downwards, they would turn them upon their backs,
and in great flocks refort unto them, cenfuring all parts of their bodies,
but efpecially fuch as are not fit to be named , which afterwards they
abufed fo many ways, and fo filthily, as chafte# ears would not endure the
very naming thereof.
Many of the Proteftants the Rebels would not kill out-right, but being
half-dead would fo leave them, entreating for no better favour at their
hands two or three days after, but to kill tlrem out-right, which fometimes
were granted, fometimes denied.
A young youth having his back-bone broken , was found in a field
having like a Beaft eaten all the grafs round about him ; the Deponent
could not learn that they killed him out, but that they removed him to a
place of better Pafture, fo that in thofe moft bloudy and execrable wretches,
that of the holy Ghoft is clearly verified, The very mercy of the wicked is
cruelty: And further faith, That the Rebels themfelves told him, this
Deponent, that they murdred 954 in one morning, in the County of
«Antrim; and that befides them, they fuppofed that they killed above
1100 or 1200 more in that County: They told him likewife, that Colo¬
nel Bryan O Neil killed about one thoufand in the County of Down, be¬
fides three hundred killed near Killeleigh, and many hundreds both before
and after in both thofe Counties.
At Sir Phelims return from Lifnegavy fome of the Souldiers forced
about 24 British into a houfe, where they burned them alive, whofe
terrible out-crys they defired very much to imitate and exprefs unto
others: And faith, That he heard Sir Phelim likewife report, that he
killed 600 English at Garvagh in the County of Derry; and that he had
left neither man, woman nor Child alive in the Barony o f^JfyCunterlong
in the County ofTyron, and betwixt Armagh and the Newry, in the
feveral Plantations and Lands of Sir Archibald Atchejon, Iohn Hamilton,
Efquire, the Lord Caufield, and the Lord Norrice: and faith
alfo, that there were above two thoufand of the British murdred for the
p z moft
II 6
The Irish Rebellion.
xnoft part in their own houfes, whereof he was informed by a Scotchman,
who was in thofe parts with Sir Phelim, and faw their houfes filled with
their dead bodies. Inthe Glinwood towards Dromore, there were flaugh-
tred, as the Rebels told the Deponent, upwards of twelve thoufanditi
all, who were all killed in their flight to the County of Down : The num¬
ber of the people drowned at the Bridge of Portadown , are diverfly
reported according as men ftaid amongft the Rebels, this Deponent who
Raid as long as any, and had better intelligence then mod: ofth e English
amongft them, and had beft reafon to know the truth, faith, There were
(by their own report) 190 drowned with Mafter Fnllerton : At another
time they threw 140 over the faid Bridge; at another time $5 or 3 7 and
fo continued drowning more or fewer, for feven or eight weeks, fo as
the feweft which can be fuppofed there to have perished, muft needs be
above 1000 befides as many more drowned betwixt that Bridgeand the
great Lowgh of Mont joy, befides thofe who perished by the fword, fife
and famine, i nCoubraffil, and the Englts k^hxitmons adjacent : Which
in regard there efcaped not 3 00 out of all thofe quarters, muft needs
amount to many thoufands.
Near unto the Deponents houfe thirty fix perfons were carried to the
Cure-bridge at one time, and; drowned. At another time fix and fifty,
Men, Women and Children ; all of them being taken out of the De¬
ponents Houfe; and at feveral other times feveral other numbers; Befides
thofe that were drowned in the Black-water at Ktnnard. In which Town
and the Parish of Tinon (whereof the Deponent was Re&or) there was
drowned, flaughtered and died of Famine, and for want of Clothes,
about fix hundred. The Deponent might add to thefe many thoufands
more; but the Diary which he this Deponent wrote amongft the Rebels,
being burned, with his Houfe, Books and all his Papers; he referreth
himfelf to the number in grofs, which the Rebels themfelves have upon
The numbers
of 'British
deftroyed
with;n rhe
Province of
Tjier.
inquiry, found out and acknowledged ; which notwithflanding will
come short of all that have been Murdred in Ireland; there being above
one hundred and fifty four thoufand now wanting of the British within the
very precind of Vlfter.
And this Deponent further faith , That it was common Table-talk
amongft the Rebels, that the Ghoft of Mafter William Fullerton, Timothy
Jrf&es, and the moftof thofe who were thrown over Portado^-bridge,
wenNaily and nightly feen to walk upon the River, fometimes fingingof
Pfalms, fometimes brandishing ofnaked Swords, fometimesfcriechingin
a moft hideous and fearful manner. The Deponent did not believe die
fime at firft, neither doth he }7et know whether to believe it or no; but
saith ..thai divers of the Rebels allured him that they themfelves did dwell
■—-
near
The Irish Rebellion.
117
}H near to the fame River, and being daily affrighted with thofe apparitions,
icsM but efpecially with their horrible fcrieching, were in conclufion inforced
4 to remove' further into the Country : Their own Priefts and Friers could
etHt not deny the truth thereof. But as it was by the Deponent Obje&ed unto
: \ them ; fafd it was but a cunning flight of the Devil to hinder this great
aredj^ work of propagating the Catholick Faith, and killing of Hereticks ; or
; that it was wrought by Witchcraft. The Deponent himfelf lived within
ffe • thirteen miles of the Bridge, and never heard any man fo much as doubt
Hats of the truth thereof. Howfoever, he obligeth no mans faith, in regard he
dfanot' faw it not with his own eyes; otherwife he had as much certainty as morally
could be required offuch a matter.
4,1: And this Deponent further faith ; That the degnerate Pale-English,
feafe were moft cruel amongft the British Proteftants, being beaten from their
vjod § own Lands; and were never fatisfied with their bloud, until they had in
Mi, a manner feen the laft drop thereof ; affrighting Sir Phelim 0 Neil
: % everyday with their numbers, and perfwsding him, That whileft they
life ("meaning the Proteftants,) lived, there would neither be room for them ,
nor fafety for him. It was eafy to fpur on the cowardly and bloudy Rebel;
iedtoL yet nofooner were the Proteftants cut off, but contrary to their expeft-
njgj ation, themeer Irish took prefent poffeftion, of their Lands and Houfes;
to' whereat the Pale-English much grumbled ; and faid, Sir Phelim had not
kept promife with them ; howfoever, they were forced to fwallow thofe
iTfe and many other injuries.
fe And further faith , That he knew one Boy , that dwelt near unto him-
Qotta felf, and not exceeding fourteen years of age , who killed at Kinnard, in
y£: one night, fifteen able ftrong men with his Skein, they being difarmed ,
j^,; - and moft of their feet in the Stocks. 1
eferret Another not above twelve years of age, killed two women at the Siege
> ofaXngher.
fe Another that was a woman and Tenant to this Deponent, killed feven
men and women, of her fellow English T enants, in one morning. And
fe it was very ufual in all parts , for the Rebels children to murder the
Proteftants children ; and fometimes with Lath-fwords heavy , and well
sharpned , they would venture upon people of riper years, cruelties not to
p, be believed, if there were not fo many eye-witneffes of them.
Depo/cd11. of <zAvgu[l, 1642.
Henry Brevet on. William a/fldrkk.
P 5
The
if
r
r
*
£
11 8
The Irish Rebellion.
The Privince
o/Lemfter.
The Examination of Dame wife
f
M
II:;! < i,
I S
unto Sir Thomas Butler of Rathealin in the County
of Catherlagh Knight, duly fworn 5 JDepofeth,
THat after Walter Baortal of Dunhckny, in the County of Gather- ft
lagh , Efquire, Walter Butler with a great number of men, had in a :'
violent manner entred this Deponents Houfe , they notable to refill: '
they fet ftri& guard over this Deponent * her Husband and family, and
Pi
hit
brought them from their fetled dwelling unto Loghlin-bridge , where
they kept her felf , and Husband and Children in reftraint for two
weeks , and from thence conveyed them with ftrid guard to the J ^
Town of Kilkenny ; and there were brought before the Lord JATonnt k
Garrot; where Walter Bagnal and James Butler , brother to the Lard
^tytount Garrot did ufe all means polfible to move the faid Lord, to put
this Deponent her Husband and family to death and torture; alledging
that they were rank Puritan Protectants , and defperately provoking, -;v
ufed thefe words, faying, There's but one way, we or they, meaning '
Papifts or Proteftants , muft perish. To which malicious provocati- f
on the faid Lord did not hearken. And this Deponent further de- ft
pofeth, That Walter Bagnal, with his rebellious company , apprehen- Co
ded Richard Lake an English Proteftant, and his fervant, with his wife m
and four children, and one Richard Taylor of Lo^hlin-bridge, his wife j
and children, Samuel Hatter of the fame, his wife and children, an En-
glish-woman, called Jone, and her daughter, and was credibly inform¬
ed by Dorothy Renals, who had feveral times been an eye-witnefs of
thefe lamentable fpctttacles , that she had feen to the number of five
and thirty English going to execution , and that she had feen them
when they were executed, their bodies expofed to devouring.Ravens, ft
and not afforded fo much as burial. Another English-woman who was
newly delivered of two children in one Birth , they violently com- m
pelled her in her great pain and ficknefs , to rile from her child- "
bed, and took the infant that was left alive, and dashed his brains ^cr
againft the ftones, and after threw him into the River of the Barr<m> \ tl[
and having a piece of Salmon to dinner, Matter Brian Cayanaghs wife
being with her, she the faid Miftris Cavanaqh refufed to eat any part of the
Salmon, and being demanded the rcafon, she faid she would never eat any H
Fish that came out of the Barrow, becaufe she had feen Icveral infants ;tl:
bodies ,and other Carkafes of the English taken up in the Wear.
And this Deponent faith, that Sir Edward Butler did credibly inform :t
her, that James Butler of Finyhinch, had hanged and put to death all the ^
• English
mStm
%
m
The Irish Rebellion.
11
English that were at Goran and Wells, and all thereabouts. And further
/ ' Depofeth, That she being in Kilkenny a prifoner in reftraint, and having
intelligence that fome of her own Cattel were brought thither by Walter
k, Bagnal, she petitioned (being in great extremity) to the Lord of Mount
Garrot, to procure her fome of her own Cattel for her relief; whereupon
ty c: he recommended her fuit to the Major and Corporation of Kilkenny; who
nenj; concluded, Becaufe she and her family were Proteftants, and would not
Me to- turn to Mafs, they should have no relief. Jane Jones, fervant to the Dc-
y, ponent, did fee the English formerly fpecified, going to their execution;
j?, ind as she conceived, they were about the number of five and thirty;
int f0I and was told by Elizabeth Homes that there were fourty gone to execution,
^ Jurat. 7 Septem. 1642. zAnn Butler.
odd John Wat Jon.
>rd, m
. ^ -
pr^The Examination of Jofeph Wheeler of Stan-
] p cartj in the County of Kilkenny Efq$, Elizabeth, the relidt Th[cPy^a
furtk of Lieutenant IViUiam Gilbert-, of Captain Ridgways 0 Lcm e1,
1 fit! Company 5 Rebecca Hill, the relidt of Thomas Hill, late
ifer Lieutenant to the faid Captain Ridgway $ Thomas
Lewis, late of Kilkenny Gent. Jonas PVheelerofStan-
carty aforefaid, Gent, and Patrick Maxwel of the
Graige in the fame County Gent, fworn and
fa oil ■; examined , Depofe and Say,
fa J
«^TTpHat about Eajler 1642. one Richard Philips and five others, who-
JL were old Garrifon Souldiers, then under the command of Captain
J!! Parrel, a Captain on his Majefties party, were, by the command of the
f ■ Lord Mount Garrot, at the end of a houfe in Kilkenny, hanged to death by
f tthat cruel and bloudy Rebel and Provoft Marshal Thomas Cantwell of
, Cantwfll-court, Efquire, or fome of his fervants or Souldiers inhispre-
lt 1 fence, who would hardly fuffer them to fay their prayers after they were
taken out of the prifon before they were put to death, thofe poor men
ying very patiently and refolutely, in the maintenance of the Proteffant
eUp Faith; but one of them becaufe he was an Irish man , was offered his life
Jj if he would turn PapifR but he chofe rather death, which he quickly had
with the other five: And further faith, That a little before Chrijtmas 1* 641.
.' m Mafler William Hill, of the Abby of in the Queens County,
' Efquire ?
Kit 31:
e*f
I 10
The Irish Rebellion.
Efquire, and the faid Lieutenant Thomas Hill his (on, coming, to Kilkenny, ^
to fetch home Mary Hill, the wife of him the faid William Hill, and the W
faid Rebecca; one of thefe Deponents were then and there fentfor by the P*
Lord Mount Garrot, and by him committed prifoners to the Goal of P"
Kilkenny; where they continued in a dark dungeon bolted for two mon ths, ' 1
but were offered freedom if they would joyn with the Rebels, and be- P
come Papifts; but they refufed, and after the faid Lord Mount Garrot \ p
was gone into Munfler with his Forces, (which was an example to all the $
reft of the wicked Irish there to rife unto Rebellion) one Florence Fitz, $
Patricks of Caftletown in the Queens County Efquire, a Captain of Rebels, S
and his Souldicrs came to Kilkenny, and then and there (without refiftance
of any) broke open the Goal there, and forcibly took and carried away .
with them into OJJory aforefaid , the faid William and Thomas Hill, where p
they kept them in miferable durance for fome time, and then hanged p
them both; and a poor young Girle being fent from the Town of Balline- ^
kill to fee what was become of them, the faid Florence Fitz, Patrick^ ih
meeting her, caufed her to be half hanged, then letten down, and after
to be buried quick: And by report of one Jone Grace (that fdid she p
was an eye-witnefs) the Rebels threw the dead body of the faid William tip
and Thomas Hill, into a Saw-pit, leaving them fofar unburied, that their P
heads and legs lay bare, until she came and covered them with earth, w
about a week after: And further faith, that they have credibly heard ^
and believed , That the faid Florence Fitz, Patrickl having enticed a rich pi
Merchant of Montr ath to his the faid Fitz, Patrick* houfe, to bring thither ht
his goods which he promifed should belafely prote&ed, and fafely re- p
delivered; he, the faid Florence Fitz, Patrick , poffefting thole goods, M
afterwards caufed the laid Merchant and his wife to be hanged; and they kit
have credibly heard , that the faid Florence Fitz, Patrickjtfo hanged Lieu- < flok
tenant Keies and his fon , one Hughes a School - mafter, and di vers p
other Proteftants: And thefe Deponents further fay, that Mafter Edmond hi
Butler, eldeft fon to the Lord Alount Garrot, Edward Butler his lecond tat
fon, Captain Garret Blanckfield, and divers other rebellious Comman- rog
ders and fouldiers, to the number of 6 or 700 horfe and foot a little before m
Michaelmas 1642. marched from Balhragges near to the Iron Forge of jfoc
Ballinekill, and there met with Lieutenant Gilbert aforenamed Enfign, ilk
William Alfry theyounger, Mafter Thomas Bingham the Minifter, Robert p
Graves , Richard Bently, and about fixty more of the English Souldiers,
both the fame parties joyned in Battel; but the English Souldiers, though . w
fighting valiantly, and killing many Rebels (and one Walter Butler, a Jin.
Captain among the reft) were at the laft fo overcome with multitudes of. :o£
the Rebels, that then and there they, the faid Lieutenant Gilbert, •%
William Ih
jjjjjjj The Irish Rebellion. in
Ujj " "
! t. William -El fry, Thomas Bingham, Robert Graves, Richard Bently, and r wo
Cf: other English Souldiers were abfolutely {lain, and the heads of all thole
' k fevencarried to Kilkenny by thofcRebels (theirpipes for joy playing be-
[^3;: fore them on hors-back) and on a market day which hapned to be on
the next day following, thofe heads as triumphs of their Victories, there
brought out and fet upon the Market-crofs, where the Rebels, butefpe-
M cially the women there, and amongft the reft Elice Butler, a reputed
hit motner of feveral baftards, yet the daughter of the faid Mount Gar rot,
^flk flab'd, cut and flasht thofe heads, the {aid Elice Butler drawing her
skein 5 flasht at the face of the faid Willi am sEfry-, and hit him on the
arriedar- nofe, and thofe that could but get a bio w or ftab at thole heads, fecmed
to account themfclves happy: And the Rebels then and there put a gag
knU in the mouth of the faid Thomas Bingham the Minifter, and laying the
I ofjJ leafofa Bible before him, bad him preach, faying, His mouth was open
ink and wide enough, and one of thofe leud virago's that had no weapons,
i, art ft ruck one of the heads fo with her hand, that the fame night her hand
hat fe grew black and blew, rankled, and she was extreamly lame with it a
id fa quarter of a year after, and that lamenefs and the fwelling thereof growing
, tfc to an ilfue, is like to continue till she die: and another of thofe women
filimj that with great rejoycing went and faw thofe heads, did quickly after the
'blfk fight thereof fall into fuch an aftonishment and diftrafhon, that for three
xdinc or four days after she could not deep nor reft, but cryed out that ftill she
Agile faw thofe heads before her eyes, which heads being faid by the Rebels
;£■: to be the heads ofHcreticks, were not afforded Chriftian Burial, but
lofep; buried without the City in a crols high-way all together in a hole; the
; jflisj buriers chopping and cutting the heads with their Spades as they threw
dlit mold upon them. And to make the manner of their burial, and the heads
!d k themfelves yet more contemptible; the Rebels ( over the hole where the
nEit heads were laid) let up a long ftick, whereto they fixed papers, that all may
y;I tale notice of the place : And after and from that time, the rebellious
roguish Boys, took up, and frequently ufed an Oath, By the Crofs of the
ftkbi fiien devils heads buried on Saint James Green. And further fty, that
potg; upon the teftimony of a roguish Boy, that an English man that was a
I Maulfter to one Richard Sham of Kilkenny, had laid, He mould believe the
|£r i Devil as foon as the Pope; the cruel Rebel, the Provoft Marshal Cantmell
^ afore-named, fuddenly took and hanged him up in an Apple-tree till he
. died: And further faith, That one Vncil Grace, and divers other Rebels
in Kilkenny , broke open the doors of the Cathedral Church there, and
,0 robbed the fame Church of the Chalices, Surplices, Ornaments, Books,
Records and Writings there being ; and made Gunpowder in Saint
Patrick* Church, and digged the Tombes and graves in the Churches
' Q in
I It
♦
.4C I
M
— ■ > - * - i .
I RI s Rebellion.
in Kilkzwy , un^^ftdour of gettinRup molds whereon to make Gun¬
powder : AnofM|Kponents have credibly heard, and verily believe,
that the Rebek&t iflBftook z 5 Proteftants, men, women and children,
and pretendingand promifing to them a Convoy to Dungannon, hanged
them dead in the way, in a Wood near Newrofs, and that the Rebels
half hanged live more Proteftants at Balliragget, by the command of the
faid Captain Edward Butler, and the laid ThomasCantweH the Marshal,
and letting them down again before they were dead fuffcred them fome-
what to recover, and then buried them quick: And thefe Deponents
Thomas Lewis, Patrick^Maxwel further fay, That as they have been
credibly told by Walter Archer of Ktlkenny a Rebel, that a poor English
mans wife that went out to gather fticks, at a place about two miles from
Kilkenny, was taken and hanged up by the Rebels: And the Deponents
Elizabeth Gilbert, Patrtck^Maxwel further fay, That a poor woman and
two children, she being the wife of one Harvy of BallmekU, coming to
Kilkenny about Candlemas was twelve month, were then and there alfault-
ed and fet upon by the rebellious Inhabitants of that City, and hunted,
baited, and drawn with dogs, cruelly ftab'd with skeins, and fo mife-
rably ufed, that one of the children died prefently (having the guts pluckt
out) and the Deponent Patrick^Maxwel further faith , That there were
taken out of Graige by the Rebels, and hanged to death , one John Store
and his wife and his fon , William Valentine, Robert Pym and his wife,
one of their children of a year and a half old, and Thomas White a Mer¬
chant and his wife, who being great with child, had her belly ripped up
after she, was hanged, fo as the child fell out of the cawl alive; Walter
Sherly, MiReis Jqw Salter an ancient Widow, one John a fervant to
Stone aforenamed; the Rebels that hanged them were Garret Forejlal of
Knockjve, and Gibbon Forreftal of 7 myhinch, and the eldeft fon of Richard
Barron , alias Fitz, Geraldm of Knockeen aforefaid , and divers others
whom she cannot name, all of the County of Caterlagh ; which faid
Robert Pym after he was hanged up twice, proved ^ive in his grave, and
ftruck his hand upon his breaft faying, Chrift yeceive myfouT and with
thofe words in his mouth was then and there buried quick; and one of
tftofe poor Proteftants at Goran, by name Frifloram Robinfon, the Rebels
hanged him twice, thruft him through with darts, but he ftill continuing
alivq, andfpeaking, they buried him quick: And this Deponent Jonas
Wheeler farther faith, That one old English Proteftant, who wasaShcp-
heard, and his, wife going)from Kilkenny towards Balhdownel, the Rebels
hinged up the poor old man , and going a little off, his wife perceiving
breath in her Husband, faid unto him, Oh joy you are alive yet; frhich
when forne of the Rcbelsovor-hearing, hanged him out-right, and dragged
him
A
The Irish Rebellion.
iz5
i»Cs:
'Mn
idfc
Mjitf
Dlfoyf
'epciiffli
vch
M|
iesfroi
J
DM
M-1
:re to
A
kid®
ave, ill
Wwfc
loneo®
»Mui|
nt J*
asaShfp
hcRdi;
K!0!
;t; rfct
him up and down until his bowels fell out, then his wifedefiring them to
hang her too, but they refufed. And faith, That this Deponent asking
the Rebels of Kilkenny, how they durfldo what they did, confidering
the King was againfl them ? They anfwered, That if the King would not
hold with them, they could have fourty thoufand to come to affift them
out of France and Spain, and bring ammunition and arms enough, and
all things necelfary, and fight againfl: the King and the English. And the
Deponent Elizabeth Gilbert further faith,That she heard one James Euftace,
a fervant to the Rebel Colonel Cullen, (ay publickly in Mailer Jofeph
Wheelers houfe in Kilkenny, Let the King take heed , for if they ("meaning
the Irish ) had not their own defires they would bring in aforreign King;
and one Triflram Dyer a Proteflant was (as his wife told this Deponent)
murdred in a Wood with his own Hatchet, and covered with Leaves and
Mofs.
Examinations touching the Apparitions at
Tortnedown-bridge, within the Province
of ULSTER.
Issfmes Shaw of \Jfytarket-hill in the County of Armagh, Inn-keeper,
depofeth, That many of the Irish Rebels, in the time of this Depo¬
nents reflraint, and flaying among them, told him very often , and
it was a common report that all thofe that lived about the bridge of
Portnedown, were fo affrighted with the cries and noife made there of
fome fpi rits or vifions for revenge, as that they durll not flay but fled away
thence; foastheyprotclled, affrighted to JfyCarket-hill, faying, They
durfl not flay nor return thither for fear of thofe cries and fpirits, but
took grounds and made creats in or near the Parish of Mullabraek. Jurat.
iAng. 14. 1642.
Joan the reli<5t of Gabriel Conflable, late of Drtimard in the County
of Armagh, Gent, depofeth and faith, That she hath often heard the
Rebels, Owen O Farren, Patrick^O Conellan, and divers others of the
Rebels at Drnmard, earneflly fay , protefl and tell one another, that the
bloud of fome of thofe that were knockt in the heads, and afterwards
drowned at Portnedown-bridge, flill remained on the Bridge, and would
not be washed away; and that often there appeared vi fions or apparitions,
fometimes of men, fometimes of women, breafl-high above the water,
Q 1 at
ill
1
i Z4
The Irish Rebellion.
at or near Portnedoivn, which did moft extreamly and fearfully fcriech and
cry out for vengeance againft the Irish that had murdred their bodies there*
and that their crys and fcrieches did fo terrify the Irish thereabouts, th.t
nonedurft flay nor live longer there, but fled and removed further into
the Country, and this was a common report araongftthe Rebels there,
and that it palled for a truth amongft them, for anything she ^ouldever
obferve to the contrary. Jurat, Jan. 1.1643.
Katherine the relief of William Coke, late of the County of Armagh;
Carpentcr,fworn and examined,faith,That about the 20 oWecemberj. 641.
a great number of Rebels in that County, did moft barbaroufly drown
at that time one hundred and eighty Proteftants, men, women and children
in the River at the Bridge of Portnedown; and that about nine days after¬
wards , she faw a vifion or fpirit in the shape of a man , as she apprehended,
that appeared in that River, in the place of the drowning, bolt upright
breaft-high, with hands lifted up , andftood in that pofture there, until
the latter end of Lent next following ; about which time fome of the
English Army marching in thofe*parts, whereof her Husband was'one
( as he and they confidently affirmed to this Deponent) faw that Spirit or
vifion ftanding upright, and in the pofture aforementioned* but after
that time the faid Spirit or vifion vanished and appeared no more, that she
knoweth. And she heard, but faw not, that there were other Vifions
and Apparitions, and much .fcrieching and ftrange noyfe heard in that
River at times afterwards. Jurat. February 24.1 <543.
Elizabeth the wife of Captain RicePrice,0$Armagh,dcyolcth. & faith,That,
she and other women, whofe Husbands were murdred, hearing of di vers
Apparitions and Vifions which were feen near Portnedown-bridge, fince the
drowning of her Children, and the reft of the Proteftants there, went
unto the Bridge aforefaid about twilight in the evening ; then and there
upon a fudden there appeared unto them a Vifion or Spirit, affirming the
shape of a woman, waft-high upright in the water, naked, with elevated
and clofed hands, her hair hanging down, very white, her eyes feemed to
twinkle, and her skin as white as fhow; which fpirit feemed to ftand ftraight
up in the water, often repeated the word Revenge, Revenge, Revenge;
whereat this Deponent and the reft being put into a ftrong amazement and
affright walked from the place. Jurat. January 29.1642.
Jirthm
The irish Rebellion. i 2.
<ss4rthur Culm of Clowoughter in the County of Cavern, Efquire , de-
poleth, That he was credibly informed by feme that were prefent there,
that there were thirty women and young children and feven men flung into
the River of Belterbert, and when fome of them offered to fwirn for their
lives, they were by the Rebels followed in Cots, and knocked on the
heads with poles; the fame day they hanged two women at Turbert; and
this Deponent doth verily believe, that Mulmorc O Rely the then Sheriff,
had a hand in the commanding the murder of thofe faid perfons, for that
he faw him write two Notes which he fent to Turbert by Bryan Rely, upon
whofe coming thefe murders were committed : And thofe perfons who
were prefent alfo affirmed, that the bodies of thofe thirty perfons drowned
did not appear upon the water till about fix weeks after paft; as the faid
Rely came to the Town, all the bodies came floting up to the very Bridge;
thofe perfons were all formerly flayed in the Town by his prote&ion,
when the reft of their Neighbours in the T own went away.
Elizabeth Price wife of Afichael Price, of the JVewrj, depofeth, That
Sir Con Mac-Genni* fuftered his Souldiers,the Rebels, to kill Mafter Turge,
Minifter of the Ntivry, and feveral other Proteftants; and he the faid
Sir Con sJWac-Gennis on his death-bed was fo much affrighted withappre-
henfion that the faid Mafter Turge fo flain, was ft ill in his prefence, as
that he commanded no Proteftants from that time should be flain, but
what should be killed in battel; and after his death, Sir Con tJfyCac- Gennis
his brother, would have obfervedhis directions, but one cJohn
Gennis the young Lord of Evah and MonkCrely were earneft to have all
the reft of the Proteftants put to death.
Mafter George Creighton, Minifter of Virginia, in the County of Cavan,
depofeth, among other particulars in his Examination, That divers women
brought in to his houfe a young woman almoft naked, to whom a Rogue
came upon the way, thefe women being prefent, and required her to
give him her mony or elfe he would kill her, and fo drew his fword; her
anfwer was, You cannot kill me unlefs God give you leave, and his will
be done: Whereupon the Rogue thruft three times at her naked body
with his drawn fword, and yet never pierced her skin; whereat he being,
as it feems, much confounded, went away and left her; and that he faw
this woman, and heard this particular related by divers women, who
were by and faw what they reported,
b
Q 3 - Upon
i I R i s h Rebellion.
u
Pon the view of thefe Examinations all taken upon Oath , it may %
eafily be conjectured how fatally the fird plot took, how furioufly ^
the Rebels throughout all 4Parts of the Kingdom proceeded on in their ^
barbarous bloudy executions, and what were the courfes they held to ,!J
bring about lb fuddenly the univerfal dedru&ion of all the British and iSl.ji
Protedants there planted. It is mod true that in Letnfter and <JfyCnnfter
( and yet one would fcarce believe it that confiders the horrid particu-
«Si
lars related in the fore-recited Examinations of thofe two Provinces)
they were not generally fo bloudy, neither did they begin their work '
fo early as in the Provinces of Vljhr & Conaught. The ill fuccefs
of the enterprife upon the Cadle of Dublin did cool them for a time, 0
put them to a dand and caufed them to take up new Counfcls; But
when they had once declared themfelves, they did in very few days j
drip and defpoil all the English fettled among them, and drove great 1
numbers of them even (lark naked to feveral Ports on the Sea-fide, there h
to provide themfelves paffagefor England, or otherways mod miferably ^
to darve and perish, as many of them did , beinginhumanely denied
The cruelties any kind of relief in thofe Towns under the command of the Rebels. And
/^upon*16 ^ere * mu^ not f°rgetto interpofe this certain truth, That in all the four
il
the 'B/uUh Provinces the horrid cruelties ufed towards the British either in their bloudy
were before Maffacres, or mercilefs defpoiling, dripping, and extirpation of them,
anyprovoca- , . rn & r 1 i t r • • t
tion given were generally acted in molt parts of the Kingdom before they could
them. gather themfelves together, to make any confidcrable refidance againd
their fury; and before the State had aflembled their Forces, or were
enabled by the power of his Majedies Arms to make any inrodes into the
Counties poflefled by the Rebels: A circumdance which totally dedroycth
all thofe vain pretences and fond recriminations, which they have fince
mod falfely taken up to palliate this their mod abominable Rebellion.
And this is not to be denied, Though it be alfo true that thofe Britkh whom
they differed to live among them either upon condition of change oftheir
Religion , out of private intered , or fuch as they kept in prifon, were R
The cruelty not put to the fword, until the Rebels in the feveral encounters they had P
of the Irhb • i 1 • n /i • n • r- ,-rr , /- , • 1 i
of the imb wjtj1 Majedies Forces differed lofs of their men, and fo being enraged
in murdring
thofe Prote- therewith at their return home after any difader, they fell furioufly to
remaLed1Ch ta^e revenge uPon ^*uc^ British, whether men, women, or children, as they
amongthem held in mod miferabie Captivity with them. How far their madnefs,
time1 they' anc^ mo^ implacable malice, did after the manner of bruit Beads
received any tranfport them towards the dedru&ion of thofe miferabie harmlefs fouls
lofs by the they detained amongthem , doth clearly appear by feveral particulars ex¬
ec/. *' °l prefled in feveral Examinations. I shall here inlert fame of them taken upon
trud
The Irish Rebellion.
117
truft from perfons of good quality and credit, who were long prifoners
I, ilj among them.
I find in one part of Do&or Maxwels Examination ( which I thought
on j;, not fit wholly to infert, becaufe it is ofgreat length, and many particulars
eyif in it, nothing tending to that purpofe for which it is formerly mentioned)
kii- That about Aiay 1641. when the Scotish Army under the command of
JJ4 General Major Monro had marched down from Carickfergus, taken in the
j(jj)j, Newry, beaten the Irish out of thofe Parts with the (laughter of many of
>rovjK, them ; Sir Phelim O Neal caufed 5000 British whom he detained in
air^Armagh, Tyron, and other Parts of the North, to be mod: miferably
1 yliufdred in the fpace of three days: James Shaw of Market Hill in the
jjjj. County of ^Armagh, depofeth and faith, That during the time thisDe-
Jjj. 1 ponent was in reftraint, and flayed among the Rebels, he obferved and
^(j, well knew that the greateft part of the Rebels in the County of Armagh
went to befiege the Caftle of Atsgher where they were repulfed, and
£ ^ divers of the Rebels of the Sept of O-Neals (lain : In revenge whereof, the
fojyjpand Rebel Sir Phelim O Neal gave direction and warrant to one Mnlmory
\y{mJMac Donel, a mod cruel and mercilefs Rebel, to kill all the English and
a ^ Scotish within the Parishes ofMullebrack^ Logilly and Kilclnney, whereupon
lljjjLthe fai d Rebeldid murder z7 Scotish 8c English Proteftants within Musket
.jjjjy.shot of this Deponents own houfe; and further faith that in thofe three
/^Parishes there have been before that and fince, by killing, drowning, and
E» w.ftarving, put to death above 15 00 Proteftants within the faid three Parishes.
Willtam Tit ^-Gerald a Clerk, of Irish birth, dwelling near Armagh,
qi rand there refiding when this Rebellion brake out, depofeth and faith, That
'^aII places of the North where Sir Phelim O Neal under the name of General
je)rof the Catholick Army commanded, were filled with murders of the
m j.Proteftants: And that when at Afigher, Lifoagarue, or any other places
1 tkllijre Rebels received lols of their men , thofe that efcaped, exercifed their
^.cruelty upon the Proteftants everywhere at their return: And that about
JU firft of May 1642. when Sir Phelim O Neal had notice of the
!on raking of the Newry by his Majefties Forces, he retired that night in all
to the Town of Armagh , and the next day as well the Town of
, ^Armagh as the Cathedral Church there, and all the Villages and Houfes
nouf^n the Country round about together with all provifions were fired by the
n [^Rebels; and many men, women and children murdred as well in the Town
, as in the Country round about.
T There is much more to be faid on this fubjed:, but I shall forbear to
, r ;rake further into many other foul circumftances, which would make this
Rebellion appear fir more odious and deteftable I shall now return to
^'take up the publick affairs of the State, where I left them in the hands of
® I ' .
i 28 The Irish Rebellion.
the Lords Juftices and Council, who finding the City to grow daily more
and more impeft red with ftrangers by reafon of the refbrt of great numbers #
of ill-affe&ed perfons that daily made repair thereunto; They iflucd out ^
feveral other Proclamations to prohibit the accefs of all ftrangers to the §«
Town,and to require fuch as remained in the City without calling or fettled ^
habitation, to depart. j,,
somcTroops sir Henry Tichborn being di (patched with his Regiment of foot to Trcdack ^
pigments as 1S formerly mentioned, the Lords Juftices took further order for the ,;fff
of foot raifed prefent railing ofother foot Companies; as likewife fome Troops o fhors •
lufticc^and w^ith might ferve for the defence of the City of Dublin, now in mfcft L
Council imminent danger by reafon of the approaches made by the Forces of the c
Rebels. Sir Charles Coot had a Commiftion for a Regiment, which he
quickly made up out of the poor ftript English, who had repaired from T
divers parts even naked to the Town, and upon thecngagements^of the (|)1
State procured deaths for them. The Lord Lambert to whom a Com-
million alio was granted for the railing of an other Regiment, began alfo ^
to get fome men together. The Earl of Ormond was now arrived in
Dublin, and brought up with him his Troop confifting of xoo Curaffiers •,
compieatly armed; Sir Thomas Lucas who had long commanded a Troop L
of hors in the Low-Country s, and Captain Armftrong fometime after, 4
yet very feafonably came thither: Botn of them had mony imprefted, f .
Sir Thomas Lucas to compleat his Troop already brought out of England, f r
Captain sArmflrong to raife a new Troop ; Captain Tamer alfo arrived
foon after at Dublin, he was fent out of England by the Lord Lieutenant 1
b
krt,
to raife and command his Troop, which in a very short time he made
up about 100 Hors, many perfons then living in the Town being defirous
to put themfel ves and their Horfes into that Troop : Not long after Colonel
Graford came over alfo, and bringing with him Letters of Recommen¬
dations from the Prince Elettor then attending his Majefty in Scotland,
under whom he had formerly the command of a Regiment of Dragoons
in Germany: The Lords Juftices thought fit to give him a Regiment , p.
which they were then taking order to raife and arm out of fuch T o wnsmen .
as were fit to bear arms within the City of Dublin; none were to be ad-
mittedinto it but Proteftants, and out of them they made choice not jrj
sir charies onely pftheSouldiers, butofall the Officers belonging-to the feme. And
Coot made
further for the reprefling of the diforders daily appearing within the City,
ofThTchy and reftraining the ill-cffe&ions of the Papifts there inhabiting, they ^
of butiin. made Sir Charles Coot Gpvernour of the City, and gave him an allowanceL
of 40 S. per diem for the prefent. Now while thefe Colonels and Captains ■ 'J
arebeftirringthemfelves in getting their men together under their feveral r "
commands, and in training them up to the ule ©f their arms: and the
—Go-
The Irish Rebellion.
1x9
W dji||
U
ittorj
it;
pojjj
ifi i»
rces of:
wttj
a/redy
'mrf!
luGjj
beoffll
rf
)Ul
cdaTir
ioicfe
mprehi-
km
o (
IfoilJi'i
Licutaj
iekii.
;ode
.Stod^
'Drf
if
001
tobt
hokf;
me. I
itW
cJ
;aP: •
ffifl
ifel
an: ■
Governour ot the i own taking iui£t order for conftant Watches within,
and Guards without toreftrain the repair of all fufpicious and ill-affcdted
perfons: I shall in the mean time give an account of the adjournment of
the Parliament according to the late Prorogation made by the Lords
Jufiices, which fome of the ill-affe<5led members of bothHoufes endea¬
voured to make ufe of for the railing of further troubles.
In the Month of zAuguft before the Rebellion brake out, the Parliament
was adjourned to the 17 of November next enfuing: Now upon the
difcovery of the late confpiracy for the furprife of hisMajefviesCaftle of parliament.
Dublin , the ordinary place of meeting for both Houfes of Parliament;
the Lords finding that the fire was begun in the North, and fearing a general
revolt of all other parts of the Kingdom , Refolvcd as a matter highly
tending to the fafety and fecurity of the City and Caftle to prorogue the
Parliament, which they did by Proclamation then fet out, until the zq of
February, But two or three days before fuch of the Lords and Commons
then in the Town were to meet ofcourfein their feveral Houfe for declaring
the faid Prorogation, it was generally noifed abroad that,the putting off
the Parliament was extreamly ill taken by the Popish Members of both
Houfes. Mr. Burli who was one of the Committee lately employed into
England, came to the Lord Dillon of Kilkenny Weft, and highly com¬
plaining of the injury which (he faid) was done thereby to the whole
Nation,hir.dring them from expreffing their loyal affedions to his Majefty,
and shewing their defires to quell this dangerous Rebellion , and that they
had reafon to refent it fo far, as to complain to the King thereof, as a point
of high injufiice; His Lordship having acquainted the Board herewith,
Mr. Burk^ was prefently fent for, and he ufed the fame language in effedl
there, though with much modefiy.
Hereupon the Lords fell into debate what was fit to be done , and how rhe Popish
far it might be thought reafonable in them to condefcend to their defires: fomented
Some were of opinion that it was fit to difannulthc Prorogation , and to at it.
give them leave to continue the Parliament according to the firfi: adjourn¬
ment made rhe beginning of asFuguft. They urged the very ill con¬
dition of the whole Kingdom in regard ofthe Northern Rebellion, and
that thole of the Counties of Wiclow and Wexford , as well as fome other
Counties in Conaght had already joyncd themfclves to them ; that this
Prorogation might peradventure fo irritate the Pale, and have fiuh an
influence into Munfier as might raife them into Arms, ar.d fo put the
whole Kingdom into a general combufticn. Others of the Board Voted
fhongly for the holding of the Prorogation according to the time pre¬
fixed by the Proclamation , grounding their opinion upon rliefc
reafons firfi:, That it would highly trench upon the gravity and wifdom
R of
♦ ;,
The Irish Rebellion.
r
of the Board to alter a refoiution fo folemnly taken up, after a molt ferious
debate and publickly made known throughout the whole Kingdom by
Proclamation; That it would be of moft dangerous confequence to bring
lb great a multitude of people to the City in fuch dangerous times, that the
Proteftantsand well-affe&ed Members of both Houfes were for the moft
part either deftroyed, difperfed, or fo shut up as they could not repair to
the prefent meeting, and that therefore the Irish would be fuperiour in
number and voices, and fo wholly carry all things according to their own
humour, that considering the fmall Forces then in the City, fuch great
numbers as might take occafion under colour of coming to the Parliament,
to repair thither, could not be admitted without apparent danger and
difturbance, and that peradventure they might there find as ill affe&ions
as they brought, and fo both joyning together they might eafily deftroy
the State with the poor remainders of the English Nation in thefe Parts:
Whereupon the Lords thought fit to hold to their Prorogation, yet to
endeavour fo to attemper and fweeten it, as thofe who were moft averfe,
might in iome meafure reft fatisfied therewith. And therefore after a long
debate of all particular circumftances, they came at length to this refoiution,
that the Earl of Ormonde the Mafter of the Rolls, and Sir Pierce Crosby
three Members of the Board , should have a meeting with Mr. Darcy,
Mr. Bm\, and fome others of the moft a&ive and powerful Members
of the Houfe of Commons, and that they should let them know from
the Lords, that they have underftood of their good affietftions and defires
todofomewhatin tne Houfe that might tend towards the fuppreftion of
this prefent Rebellion, that they approved extream well thereof: And
that howfoever they could by no means remove abfolutely the Proro¬
gation , yet that they would defcend fo far to their fatisfa&ion as to limit
it to a shorter time, and that at prefent they would give them leave to fit
one whole day in cafe they would immediately fall upon the work of mak¬
ing a clear Proteftation^galnft th t Rebels: As alfo, that they should have
liberty if they plea fed to make choice of fome Members of their own Houfe
to fend down to Treat with the Rebels about laying down of Arms : And
for their grievances that their Lordships would with all readinefs receive
them, and prefently tranftnit them over to his Majefty for a fpeedy
redrefs: All this was accordingly performed, The meeting was in the
Gallery at CVj^Houfe; Thofe of the Houfe of Commons feemed atfirft
to be extreamly troubled when they found there was no poftibility of
altering the prefent Prorogation: But upon a further debate when they
came to underftand how ready the Lords were to yield to their fatisfacftion,
and that the time of the Prorogation should be shortned, they feemed
to reft indifferently contented, undertook to make the Proteftation in
fuch
pill
l!f
y
I®*
m
HtO
i'lk P
k,
ki
pi
\m
&
i
'«*
tk
The Irish Rebellion. 131
inioftil —■— • — —
BriJ fuch full and ample manner as was defired, and that they would fall im-
icoce^ mediately upon it and make it the work of the whole day.
116,41 CJpon ^e 17 of November, the Lords and Commons met inParlia-
fort|. ment which was held in the ufual place of his MajeftiesjEaftle of Dublin:
Dot it And for the better fecurity of the place as well as of the perfons of thofe that
fijptijjj were to meet, there was a Guard of Musketiers appointed to attend
0 tt during the time of their meeti ng, but fuch care taken that they should carry
fucL themfelves fo free from giving any offence, as no manner of umbrage
ft® might be taken at their attendance there. The Houfes were both veey
anoe[ thin, there were only in the Koufe of Peers fbme few English Lords,
jjfx three or four Lords of the Tale, and fome two orrhree Bishops. In the
UjI Houfe of Commons, they took into their confederation upon their firfl:
^j).. meeting the framing of the Proteftation againft the Rebels, But thofe
, " of the Popish party fpake fo ambiguoufly, and handled the matter fo
\f tenderly, as they could not be drawn to ftile them by the name of Rebels :
;er2jc, fo as they fent up unto the Lords a very meager cold Proteftation againft
them, which being in their Houfe taken into debate, it was ftrongly
r[jy contefted by the Proteftant Lords that they should be (filed Rebels , but
r£, that as ftiffely oppofed by the others. They therefore fell upon a mean
betwixt both which gave a kind of accommodation, faying, They had Re-
; belhoufly and Tr(literoufly raifed A rms; and fo both parties being reafonably
fatisfied, the Proteftation was drawn up and returned back to the Houfe
^ of Commons in this Tenour as folio wcth,
)f: I , , •
ie Put
istofe -
2 The Proteftation and Declaration of
* the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons
• in Parliament aifembled.
Ih'lfl
'm '■
fjtf TIT Here as the happy and peaceable Eft ate of this Realm
sir VV hath been of late,and is fill interrupted by fundry
J"' perfons ill-affecled to iheTeaceandTremquilhty thereof, who
* contrary to their Duty and Loyalty to His andagainfi
^ the Laws of God, and the fundamental Laws of the Realm,
it have Trayteroufly and Rebeliieujly raifed Arms,
iooi upon Jome of His Majefhes b oits and Cadlesy
if R many
1 —
13z The Irish Rebellion.
vi
0
many of His MajeJlies faithful Subjects , of their Houfes9
Landsand Goods, and have (lain many of them, and committed
other cruel and inhumane Outrages, Acts of Ho/iility
within this Realm.
The faid Lords and Commons in Parliament afjernbled, te'wg*
juftly moved with a right fenfe of the faid dtfloy at Rebellious
Proceedings and actions of the perfons afore faid, hereby
proteft and declare that they the faid Lor ds andCommons from
their hearts , do deteH and abhor the faid abominable Alti&ns,
they shall and will to their uttermoftpower maintain j
the Rights of his Majefties Crown , and Government of this ;kl
Realmand Peace and Safety thereof, well againft the if
perfons of ore faid, their Abettors, Adherents, againft all 'ft
for rein Princes, Potentates, dW*/ other perfons, Attempts J,
whatfoever and in cafe the perfons afore faid do not repent of J
their afor efaid AH ions,and lay down Arms, ^ ^ become humble ^
Suitors to His Majefty for Grace and Mercy, convenient )
//w j manner andform as by his Majefty, Ll
chief Governour or Governoursand Council of thus Realm
shall be fet down $ faid Lords and Commons dofurther pro-*
teftand declare, will take up Arms, will with
their Lives and Fortunes fupprefs them, Attempts, in
fuch away,as by the Authority oftheP arliament of this King¬
dom , the Approbation of his mo ft Excellent Majefty , or of m
bus MajeJlies chief Governour or Governour s of this Kingdom m
shall be thought mo ft effectual.
Copia vera Exam, per Phil. Percival
on
• 1
Cleric. Parliament. 1L
Both Houfes of Parliament fate two days, and the time of the Proro¬
gation being shortned unto the 11 o(Jan. The Lords made choice ofthe
Lord Vifcount Coftelo to go into England, to carry over their deft res to his [t
Majefty, concerning the means they thought fit to be ufed for the quench- i0
ing this prefent Rebellion: And befides thofc inftru&ions^ formerly £
men-
The Irish Rebellion. i ? j
mentioned, he had (as I heard) from the Popish Lords home, more pri¬
vate which were to negotiate the haying fuch Forces as were intended to
be fent out of England for that end.
Both Houfesjoyned together to appoint certain Lords and fomeMcm- ThcHoufcs
bersofthe HoufeofCommonstogodown to the Northern Rebels, toun- ofpariia-
derftand the caufe of their rifingin Arms; and referred them to the Lords "yrcc"lt^t0'
Juhicesfor their ioftru&ions, which accordingly they received together the
with a Commiffion under the Great Seal. But the Rebellion having afar
deeper root then was at that time difcovered; this Commiffion was of little
operation, and the intended Treaty foon vanished. The Northern Rebels
were then fo puffed up with their late victories over the poor furprized ,
unrefiifing£«^/h/7 in thofe Parts, and had fo deeply drenched their hands
in the bloud of thofe innocents, as they thought to carry the whole King¬
dom before them, and therefore would yield to no Treaties, but in a mod:
barbarous manner tore the Order of Parliament together with the Letter
fent unto them, and returned a moll fcornful Anfwer, fully expreffng
thereby how far they were from any thought of laying down Arms, or
emertaming any o\ ertures towards an Accommodation.
Within fewdayes after the adjournment of tile Parliament, the Lord
Dillon otCoftelo accompanied with the Lord Tajfe imbarqued fox England,
but by a mod impetuous florm were driven into Scotland, where they
landed and went up to London. At the Town of Ware, their papers were
feized upon by directions from the Parliament of England , and their
perfons committed unto fafecuftody. Mr. Thomas Bark went over much
about the fame time, and certainly upon the fame errand : When the
unhappy breach began firft betwixt th King and the Parliament of England,
and that his Majetty thought lit to retire to thofe two Lords found •
means to make an efcape , and all three conftantly followed the Court,
where in thofe high diftempers that afterwards happed in England, they
eafily found means to ingratiate themfelves at Court , and had the
opportunity to do thofe good offices for their Country-men which brought
on the Ceflation of A rms with them in due time.
The Lords JufHces and Counil by their Letters bearing date about Letters ^ilu
the 20 of November, gave unto the Lord Lieutenant a more certain and ten to the
full account oftheftate of the Kingdom , then they could any ways do at Lieut®**
the firft breaking out of the Rebellion , and thereby making known the
very ill condition of their ptefent affairs they moved that the fupplies of
men , mo'ny , Commanders and Arms, mentioned in their former
Letters , mignt be with all fpeed fent over unto them, and that his
Lordship would prefently repair hither in his own perfon to undertake
the management of the war. About' the enth of the Month of Novem-
R 3 berr>
134 Ihe Irish Rebellion.
her, their Lordships received an Anfwer from the Lord Lieutenant to their
former Letters of the 2 5 of Ottober; whereby he gave them to underftand,
that he had communicated their Letters to the Lords of his Majeftiesmoft
Honourable Privy Council 3 and that by Order from their Lordships, he
had acquainted both Houfes of Parliament with them ; that he had alfo fenrt
to his Majefty (till continuing at Edenborough in Scotland, to reprefent the
condition of their affairs, and that he underftood his Majefty had received
fome advertifements out of the North of Ireland of the prefent Rebellion
there : His Lordship alfo farther let them know , that his Majefty had re¬
ferred the whole bufinefs of Ireland to the Parliament of England, that
they had undertaken the charge and management of the war, that they
had declared they should be fpeedily and vigoroufly aftifted and had de-
figned for their prefent fupplies the fum of 500001. and had taken order
for making of all further Provilions neceffary for the Service» as may ap¬
pear by the Order of Parliament made there at that time, and tranfmitted
over by the Lord Lieutenant, together with his faid Letters unto the Lords
Juftices, by whofe command it was re printed at , November 11.
1641. asherefolloweth, being intituled,
An Order of the Lords and Commons in this prefent
ParliamentinE^g/^<A concerning Ireland.
THe Lords and Commons in this prefent \Valiament, be¬
ing advert ifed of the dangerous Con (piracy and Rebellion
in Ireland , by the Treacherous and wicked lnftigation of
RomifhPriefts^^JefuiteS)/?rf^ Bloudy Majfacre andDe-
ftruEiion of allRroteflants living there > and other his Majefiies
Loyal Subjects of English bloudy though ofthe Romish Religion,
being ancient Inhabitants within feveral Counties, and arts
of that Realm, who have always, in former Rebellions,given
Teflimony of theirfidelity to this Crown: Andfor the utter de¬
priving of his Royal GAlajeHy, and the Crown ^England,
from the Government of that Kingdom, (underpretence offet-
ting up t he Vopifti Religion) Have thereupon taken into iheir
ferious Confederation, how thofe mifchievous Attempts might
be moft[peedtly, andejfeElually prevented^ wherein the Honour,
fafei
—
The Irish Rebellion. i ^
Safety and Interefl oft bis Kingdom , are moB nearly and fully
concerned Wherefore they do hereby declare, That they do in¬
tend to ferve his Majefly with their Lives and Fortunes >>for the
fuppr effing of this wicked Rebellion, in fuch a way, as shall be
thought mojl tffeBual, by theWifdGmand Authority ofFar La¬
ment : andthercupon have Ordered andFrovidedfor aprejent
Supply ofMony, andraifirgthe number offix thoufandFoot 9
andTwothoufandHorfe, tobefent from England , being the
fullproportion dtfiredby the Lords Justices, and his CAlajeflies
Councilrefident in that Kingdom, with a Refolutionto addfuch
further Succours, as the neceffiit y of thofe Affairs shall require.
They have alfo refolved of providing ffidrms, and CMunition >
jw onely for thofe Men, likewifefor his CMajefties faithful
Subjects in that Kingdom, with Store ofViBuals,
Necejfaries, j W/occafion, Frovifions
may more conveniently be tranfported thither, they have ap¬
pointed three fever al Forts of this Kingdom, &r £0 7^/,
Briftol, Weftchefter, and one other in Cumberland, where
the Magazines , andStore-houfes shall be keptfor the Supply of
the fever alparts ofIreland. They have likewifeyefolvedto be
humble Mediators to His mofi Excellent Majefly, for the en¬
couragement of thofe Englifli, or Irifli, who shall upon their
own charges, raife any number of Horfe 5 or Foot, for his Service
again ft the Rebels, r hat they shall be honourably rewarded with
Lands of Inheritance y in Ireland, accordingtotheirCMerks.
%^Andfor the better inducing the Rebels to repent of their
wicked Attempts, they do hereby commend it to the LordlAzxx-
tenant of Ireland , or in his abfence to the Lord Deputy > or
Lords Jufiices there} according to the power of the Commifiion
granted them in that behalf, to beftow his Majefties gracious
Far don, to all fuch as within a convenient time-> (Jo be declared
by the Lord Lieutenant, LordDeputy, or Lords Jufiices, and
Council of that Kingdom*) shall return to their due obedience;
the great eft part whereof they conceive have beenfeduced upon
falfe Grounds, by the cunning and fuhtlepractices of fome of the
mofi
*3*
The I r i s h Rebellion,
moft malignant Rebels, Enemies to this State, and to the Re¬
formed Religion; andlikewife to beflow fuch Rewards, as shall
bethoughtJit j and pub lis ht by thefaid Lord Lieutenant, Lord
Deputy, or Lords fufiices and Council 3 upon all thofe who shall
arrefltheRerfons, or bring in the Heads of fuch Traytors* as
shall be perfonally named in any Rreclamation published by the
State there, Andthey do hereby exhort, andrequire all his Ma-
jeflies loving Subjects, both in t his , and in that Kingdom, to re¬
member their duty and confcience to God, and his Religion, and
the great and eminent danger which will involve this whole
Kingdom in general, and th emfelves in particular, if this abo¬
minable T reafon be not timely juppreffed and therefore w/th all
readinefs > bounty, andchearfulnefs to confer their ^AJfijlance
in their Rerforts, or EJlates, to this fo important andnecejfary a
Service for the common good of all.
Jo Brown Cleric Parliament.
Commiffion About the fame time the Lord Lieutenant finding that he couldnot
•heVari of procure fo fpeedy a difpatch of all things necefTary for the fervice ofIre-
Ormondftobc Land, as would enable him prefently to repair thither in his own perfon,
GeneraTof made the Earle ofcOrmond Lieutenant General of the Forces there, and
the Forces in fent him over a CommilTion for the fame. And the faid Earl didwith-
ZreUnd. jn pew ap*ter reccjve a Letter from his Majefiy out of Scotland,
wherein he was gracioufly pleafed to let him know it was his pleafure to
confer upon him that charge. There was then likewife brought over
the fum of .20000 1. from the Parliament; the Coyn which arrived
lire was all in Spanish pieces of eight which went for 4 d. in a piece here
more then in:England, and this gain rhe Parliament was content the Merch¬
ants that undertook the tranfportarion should make at that time in regard
of the charge and venture they undertook to (land to : It arrived moft
Commiffior.s feafonably even when all that little mony they had was quite fpent in raifing
Redout for and paying the new Companies, and that they were wholly deftituteofall
tion^pon3 means to draw in any contributions towards the relieving of their prefent
oath of the neceflities.
There continued daily to repair unto the City of Dublin, great nnmbers
the cruelties of poor diftrefted English , who had been moft barbaroufly ftripped ,
the^Sf ub- r°khed > and defpoiled of ail their goods and fubftance, by the Rebels, Now
•n them. that
The I R i s H Rebellion. 137
that it might appear what their lofies were, what cruelties were acted,
what murders committed, and whc'tyere the chief actors in them through¬
out the leveral Provinces; The Lords Juftices and Council thought fit to
ifiue out a Commifiion under the Great Seal, directed to certain of the
Clergy to take upon oath thefeveral Examinations of all fuch perfons, that
having fullered by this prefent Rebellion would think fit to repair unto
them, as will appear by the Commifiion itlelf, a Copy whereof I have
thought fit toinlert,
CHarles by the grace of God King of England, France,
andlrehnd,Defender of the Faith ,&c, To our well-be-
lovedHzncy Jones Dean 0/Kilmore, Roger Puttock, Wil¬
liam Huthock , Randal Adams , John Sterne , William
Aldrich, HenryBrereton, andJohnWatfonsClerks* Gree¬
ting > Where as divers wicked and difloyalpeople, have lately ri-
fen in Arms in feveralparts of this Kingdom, and have robbed
and(foiled many of our good Subjects, British and Troteftauts,
who have been jeparatedfrom their (everal habitations, ana
fcattered in mofl lamentable manner $ And for as much as it is
needful to take due Examination concerning the fame \ Know ye
that we repofing [fecial truft and confidence in your care diligen¬
ce , andprovident circumffeclion,have nominated and appointed
you to be our Commijfioners, and do hereby give unto you or any
two or more of you, fullpower and authority, from time to time
to call before you, and ex amine upon Oath on the holy Evan-
gelifts ( which hereby we authorize you or any two or more of you
to admimfter} as well all fuch perfons as have been robbed and
de(foiled, as all the witneffes that can give te(limony therein,
what robberies and fpoiles have been committed on them fince
the 2 2. e^Odtober laft, or shall hereafter be committed on them,
or any of them, what t he particulars were or are, whereof they
innfc were or shall hefb robbed or (polled, to what value, by whom,
tutcoj wfjaf their names are, or where they no w or laft dwelt that com-
lfPret mitted thofe robberies, on what day or night the faidrobheries
10b 07 fp°^es committed, or to be committed, were done: what
lii Traiterom or difloyal words, fpeeches, or actions were then or
liNtf. S at
i ■ '
i j 8 The Irish Rebellion.
at any other time uttered or committed by thoje robbers or any of ~
them, and how often, and another circumfiances concerning i
the faid particulars and every of them: And you our J aid Com U
mijfioners are to reduce to writing all the Examinations which
you or any two or more of you shall take as aforefaid$ and the
fame to return to our Juflices and Council of this our Realm of 1
Ireland, under the hands and feals of any two or more of you as ...
p
afore faid. IVitnefs our right trufly and welbeloved Counfellours
Sir William Parfons Knight and Baronet, and Sir John Bor-
lace Knight, our fuffices of'our faid Realm of Ireland: Du¬
blin 2 3. ^December in the fevent eenth year of our Raign.
tail
Carleton,
p
The Commiffioners above nominated, did very ferioufly addreis rhem- •
felves to this work, employing their pains therein with great diligence f
and faithfulnefs; and have fo well performed the charge impofed upon ^
Thern a3 that by feveral Examinations, many principal Gentlemen of good ^
eftates were difcovered to be the chief Actors in the depredations of the |
British , and to have committed many moft horrid murders and other
notorious cruelties, which through their ir.duftry will now remain upon
Record , but had otherways been concealed from Pofterity , and wrapt
up in oblivion. The like Commiffions were in a short time after lent :
into ijAUmsier'and Ulster : In the Province of sjfytunfter, the Com- ^
m
in
miffioners took great care in the Execution of it, many Examinations of
high concernment were taken by vertue thereof, though they remain as
yet concealed and not returned up according as is required by the faid
Commiffions. J
AwkiyFaft Towards the latter end of Navember, the Lords Jufticesand Conn- }j
theLordj^ considering the miferable defoliations brought upon the whole King- ^
fticcs°and " dom , and the further calamities threatned by War and Famine , did
Council. by a Proclamation fet forth in print, give ftrid: charge and command;
That upon every friday a publick and religious faff riiould be devout- •
ly and pioufly obferved, inandtborow the whole City and Suburbs of £"
Dublin, by all his Majefties people therein, and that Divine Service and 'U
Sermons be celebrated and heard upon the faid day weekly, in every Ca- j?
thedral , and other Church and Chappel in the faid City and Suburbs
thereof: And thisto be prrformedas isexprefled in the faid Proclarna- J
don, to the end that t he fevere wrath and indignation of Almighty God, ^
may
The Irish Rebellion. 139
may be averted from this Kingdom , his divine aid and afliftance im¬
plored, and that fome relief in thefe calamitous times, may the better be
afforded to fuch miferable perfons as thefe Tray tors, by their rapine and
cruelty, have deprived of their fortunes, andfent naked and almod fa¬
mished up to this City.
The Lords Judices and Council being advertifed of the near ap- The approach
proach of the Rebels to Tredagh , prepared to fend down fupplies both ff^redat^
of men and munition, for the re-inforcement of that Garrifon: There
were already defigned 600. Foot and a Troop ofhorfefor that fervice, and
they were almod inareadinefs to March when anexprefs from Sir Hen¬
ry Tichbourn came up to theEarle ctOrmond, to let him know txhe Re¬
bels had that day, being then, ofNovember, appeared within fight of
the Town. He conceived they would prefently have fet down before
it, but they advanced no further that day, only while their Forces made
a dand there, they fent down a Party of 1300. Foot to Milltfond, the Lord
Moores houfe, which their defign was fuddenly to furprrfe; but contrary
to their expedition, they found there 24. Musketiersand 1 5. horfemen,
who very doutly defended the houfe as long as their powder laded : The
horfemen when they faw themfelves befet fo as they could be no further
ferviceable to the place , opened the gate , iffued out and made their
pafTage thorow the midft of the Rebels, and fo, notwithftanding the
oppofition they made, efcaped fafe to Tredagh : The foot having re¬
filled to accept of the quarter at the firft offered , refolved to make good
the place to the lad man ; they endured feveral aflaults, flew 140. of the
Rebels, before their powder failed them : and at lad they gave up the
place upon promife of quarter, which was not kept, for fome of them
were killed in cold blood , all were dripped , and two old decrepite men
fiain , the houfe ranfacked , and all the goods carried away.
Upon the receit of Sir Henry Ti Mourn's Lett rr, the Lords prefently supplies both
took order for the marching away of the fix hundred men, together with of horfe and
a Troop of Horfe towards Tredagh: They left not the Town till the 27. therefor
of November, and fuch was the negligence of the Captains anddiforders Tredagh.
of the Souldiers, asnotwithdandingtney had been three days in readinefs
to march, they went no further that night than Swoords a Village fix miles
didant from Dublin: The command of the foot was committed to Ser¬
jeant Major Roper, and of the horfe to Sir PatrickJVeames, who was ap¬
pointed with 50. of the Earle of Ormnnds Troop to march with thofe fix
Companies to Tredagh. The very day of their departure from Dublin, there
was an advertizement brought unto the Lords, that fome Forces of the
Rebels were drawn on this fide the River ofthe Borne, and attended with
defign to intercept their pafTage: Whereupon the Earle of Ormond by di-
S 2 re&ion
140 The irish Rebellion.
redtion from the Lords difpatched an exprefs to give them now upon their
March notice thereof, and after to pais on to Sir Henry Tichboum to let him
know as much; and that the Recruits defigned for the re-inforcement of
his Garrifon being now upon their rfiarch, it highly imported him to take
fpecial carc for the fecuring of their paffage. And next day his Lordship
received an Anfwer from him of that Letter , with affurance that he
would hot Fail to march out with competent Forces to meet them
upon the way, which he did that very day accordingly perform but they
marching no further than Balrudry, andfo lying that night eight miles
short o ETredagh, he miffed of them , andfo went not out (by what ac¬
cident or upon what rcafon I know not) the day following till the news
of the defeat met him at the very gate of the Town where he flood with
his men in a readinefs to march towards them : The men being altoge¬
ther untrained and unaccuftomed to travel, and failing ofprovifion by
the way , which for their money they could not by any means procure
from the Country people as they marched along, were very much dis¬
contented , and being fomewhat tired with their journey went on next
day ? but in much diforder, focarelefs, and fo little apprehenfive of any
danger, as fome had arms, but no munition about them; others for their
own eafe committed the carriage of both to the Carts. As they palled
through Garmanflon, the Major went in to give a vifit to the Lord of
Garmantton . who told him that there were fome Numbers of men lay
in the way with an intent to interrupt their Paffage. And this his Lordship
knew very well, for the very night before (as Mr. Crei^hton affirms in his
examination) one ofhis grooms went to Slaine where the Rebels were then
lodged, and called them out of their Beds to be in a readinefs to come and
ancounter the English Forces now upon their march. The Major had like-
wife other advertifements to the fame purpofe, which he negledled, net
fo much as acquainting his Captains therewith , as fome of them afterwards
affirmed; He only caufed three Scouts out of the Troop to be fent abroad
to make difcovery whether the paffage were clear; two of them returned
back a little before hefcame| to the bridge of Julians Town, affuring him
all was clear; the other went on to a houfe within one quarter of a mile of
the place where the Rebels lay, and while he attended there for his break-
faft, a boy belonging to the houfe, took his Horfe, and riding to the Re¬
bels gave them notice of the near approach of our Forces: The Horfe
pafted the Bridge, and the Foot following turned up into a field on the
Ti defeat of hand t^ie Fane, where by reafon of a great mift that fuddenly fell,
the forces *thcy difcovered not the Rebels, till they were aim oft within Musketshot
fenr for the Gf them. The Major drew his men prefently into Battalia , but the Horfe
ircZ.l. (as f°me of the footthatefcaped affirm) wheeled about without charging
^7
any part of the Rebels Forces, who now furioufly approached with a
great shout; and a Lieutenant giving out the unhappy word of Counte-
march, all the men poffefledas it were with a Pannick fear, began fome-
what confufedly to march back, but were fo much amazed with a fecond
shout given by the Rebels (who feeing them in diforder followed clofe
on) as notwithftanding they had gotten into a ground of great advantage,
they could not beperfwadedto (land a charge, but betook thcmfelves to
their heels, and (o the Rebels fell sharply on, as their manner is upon the
execution.
Sir Patrick^Tfeames without the Iofs of one Horfe palled on fafely
unto Iredagh : The Major with two/of the Captains more, and about
ico. of their men made an cteape thither likewife : The other three
Captains with all the reft of the Souldiers that were English were there
cutoff, they fpared very few or none that fell into their hands, but fuch
as were Irish , whofe lives they preferved : The Armes of the whole
fix hundred they polfclfed themfelves of, as likcwife of all their Muni¬
tion and Carriages : and fo highly were the Rebels encouraged with
this defeat given to his Majefties Forces, as the whole Pale began pre-
fently to waver , they thought the Kingdom their own, and that the
English would in all parts fall before them, as thofe poor ill conducted
sheep had unhappily done. And this is a true Relation (as near as I
could collect it from the mouths of thofe that were prefent) of that
famous vi&ory fo much boaftcd of by the Irish, whereunto the inex¬
perience of the English Commanders, and the diforders of the com¬
mon fouldiers, who were then but newly taken up and had never fecn
any fervice , contributed far more than any skill or courage shewed
by the Rebels, which they had only opportunity at that time to exprefs
by a loudshout. Befides, they were treble their number, and had for their
leaders Roger <JMoore, Hugh Birne, and Philip 0 Rely, thetwolaft per-
fons who hadbeen trained in the Wars abroad under the Spanish Difcipline,
and were ofgreateft experience among them : they brought down a great
part of thofe Forces out of the Counties of Cavan and %JMonaghan, and as
foon as they came within the River ofBoyne, great numbers of the ordinary
churles of the Pale adjoynec) themfelves unto their men , and fo made up a
body fufficientto perform *hat fervice.
The news of this unhappy defeat was brought the very fame day
being munday the 29 oi November at evening, to the Lords Juftices as
they fate in Couucil : It troubled them very much , and as it was a
matter of great rejoycing among the Popish Inhabitants of the City, fo
it bred a general forrow and confternation among the English and
Proteftants : It hapned in a very ill feafonr , the late made Colonels
$ z were
The Irish Rebellion.
- •
were but then in railing of their men : And fuch Companies as were $\
. compleated , were by the Lords the fame day of the marching of the vji
600 men to Tredagh , commanded out under Sir Charles Coot into the
Sit Chdrles _ , & ,r m . • « • -
c»ots Expedi- County of Wtclew, for the reprefTiing the infolencies of the Birnes and the ; i
count^of6 Tooles towards the poor English , whom they began to fall upon mod ^
° furioufly, (tripping, murdering, and driving them all out of that Terri- v(j
Jiff
m
tory as foon as they had taken in the Kings Fort, in that County cal¬
led Careivs Fort, and poflefled themfelves of the chief places of ftfength
belonging to the English Gentlemen there: He marched to the Town ,r
k Ik
y
all
H
tV
oiWicloiv , where he caufedlbme few men and one woman to be executed,
they being found upon Examination guilty of the late fpoiles committed
mod: barbaroufly upon the English there, and the very cloaths of an En¬
glish woman that was ftripped, being found upon the back of that Irish
woman that was there hanged. In his return Lake Toole with near a i coo
Irish under his command encountred him , but he quickly made them
flie and take to the next Bogge with the lofs of fome few of their men: And
fo he returned with all poflible fpeed to Dublin , the Lords having fent him
notice of the late defeat given to the Forces fent to Tredagh : As loon as he
arrived, he applyed himlelf very carefully to the fecuring of the Town,
which now began to be more defperately threatned then ever , by the near
approaches of the Rebels: And fo great were the dilorders then in the City,
fo inconfiderable the Forces railed , the English Inhabitants fo ftrangely
difmayed , the Papifts fo highly raifed in fpirit and courage, as had the
Commanders of the Rebels drawn thole .Forces together as they had in rea-
dinefs on both fides the River of Bojne for the fiege of Tredagh, and To
marching up to Dublin > had taken the advantage of the prelent diftradi-
ons, and forward affedions which they would have undoubtedly found
there to aflift them; They had in all humane probability made themfelves
Mailers of the City, and might fo flraitly have begirt the Caftle, as would
within a very short time have endangered the furrender of it; But it pleafed
God to infatuate their Counfels: The ftrong opinion they had that they
should prelentiy carry Tredagh, and lo pofiels themlel ves of all the A rmes
and Munition they had in that Town, caufed them to fix their refolutions
there , and to fet up their reft upon the obtaining that place. In this as in
many other wonderful ads of divine providence which I then obferved
with great admiration, it pleafed God to appear even miraculoufly in the
prefervation of the City and Caftle of Dublin with the poor remainders of
English and Proteftants, who had there taken fanduary.
And now the Lords and Gentlemen of the Pale , thought it high
time to difcover themfelves and their affedions to the caufe: They cer¬
tainly had not only long entertained a defedion in their thoughts,but were
as
7he Irish Rebellion.
*43
Vinj
*m|
,U()Otj
u
ofy
(lie In
®C[i[;
ommij
ofani
kii
IT 3 ill
ade d;: •
gfok:
fowl
cTor
I'tllfK!
'kCilJ
frangeh
Uti
idiors
'j anc';
difel
IjM
t era
Md
:itplc£
that tT
hek
fofutid
thisas
indcrs
as thefcveral foreinentioned Examinations teftifie, the firft contrivers and Tlie defeat
bringers in of the Northern Rebels into this execrable Plot; they had now Lords and
likewife drawn them into the Pale, and therefore they could not hope chiefGemie-
now much longer to walk under a mask, and entertain the date with fur-
fher profeffions of their loyal ty; They had gotten a competent proportion p«ie. ^
of Armesand Munition out ofhisMajefties Lore into their own pofleflion:
They faw now the Northernadvanced within the River of Boyne,
with very considerable Forces to ftrenghthen their Party, and by the late
encounter and fuccefsful vi&ory they -had therein , theypleafed their fan¬
cies with confident conceits of certain prevailing, if they would now de¬
clare themfelves by a publick conjun&ion in the common caufe, and rai¬
ling fuch numbers of men and quantities of provifion , as the plentiful cir¬
cuit of the Pale did afford, would profecute the war fo happily begun and fo
fuccefsfully managed hitherto.
Thefeandfeveral other confiderations working very powerfully among The mannci
the Lords and chief Gentlemen of the Pale. they did within very few ?fthe
dayes after the late defeat folemnly proceed on to the a&ual con {animation [hcL^dsand
of their long meditated revolt ; For the manner, place, time, and all chief Gentle-
other circumftances » I shall refer the Reader to this enfuing Relation
given in upon Oath, March 1641. before Sir Robert Meredith Knight, withth.Nor-
Chancellour of the Exchequer, in the Examination of Edward Vewdall thcrn^f/V
Efquire a Gentleman of the Pale, one very well efteemed among them, thcExami-*
one that was prefent at all their meetings, and deeply engaged in all their nation of
counfelsand adtions. ?
He depofeth that fome four or five dayes after the defeat of the En¬
glish fouldiers at the Bridge of Gellianftown , there iflued a Warrant
from the Lord of Gormanfton to the Sheriff of the County for a gene¬
ral meeting of all the County at Ltilich^ : But the place of meeting
was afterwards changed to the Hill of Crofty , where all the Lords and
Gentry of the Country met, viz,. The Earl of Fingale , the Lord
Vifcount Gormanfton, the Lord of SUine, the Lord ofLowth, the Lord
o£ Dmfany, the Lord Trimble ft one, the Lord Nettervile: And of the
Gentry Sir Patrick^ Barn-wall Sir Chriftopher Bellow , Patrick^Barmvali
ofKilbrew, Nicholas Darcy of Plattin, James Bath of <±Acharn, Garret
Atlmer the Lawyer, Cufake of Gormanfton , iVilliam zJMalone of Lefmul-
lin , Redgrave of Kileglan , Linch of the Knos, Lynam of Adam,ftown,
Laurence Doudal of tAthlftmney , Nicholas Doudall of Brownftown this
Examinates brother , and him this Examinate with a multitude of
others, to the number of a 1000 perfons at the leafi:, whofe names he
this Examinate cannot for the prefent call to mind. And after about
two or three hours (pent upon the faid Hill of Crofty by the Lords and
Gentry
i H
■
1
Si
11
i
:
144
The Irish
Northern
Rebels.
Gentry aforefaid : There came towards them , Colonel Mahoivne^
fomc%fthe Philip O-Rely , Elugh Boy-Rely ^ Roger *T\loor*, Hugh Birne, and Cap-
chiefLeaders tain Fox, attended on with a guard of Musketiers: And this Examinate
tmong the faith 3 That as foon as the parties drew near unto the faid Hill , the
Lords and Gentry of the Pale rode towards them , and the Lord of
Gcrmanflone, being one of the firft, fpake unto them, and demanded of
them, Why, and for what reafon, they came Armed into the Pale; Unto
which Roger tJMoore made prefent Aufwer, That the ground of their com¬
ing thither, and taking up Armes, was for the freedom and liberty of
their con fciences, the maintenance of his Majefties Prerogative , in which
they undcrftood he was abridged, and the making the fubjedts in this
Kingdom as free as thofe in England were whereupon the faid. Lord of
Gormanfiondefired to underftand from them truly and faithfully, whe¬
ther thofe were not pretences, and not the true gounds indeed of their
fo doing, and likewifej whether they had not fome other private ends of
their own; which being by all denyed, upon profeftion of their finceritv,
his Lordship the Lord of Gormanfion then- told them: Seeing thefe be
your true ends, we wililikewife joyn with you therein : unto which courle
all agreed. And thereupon it was publickly-and generally declared , that
whofoever should deny to joyn with them , or refufe to aftift them
therein, they would account him as an Enemy, and to the utmoft of
their power labour his definition. And this Examinate faith, That af¬
ter the agreement fo made as aforefaid, There iffued an other Warrant
totheSheriff of the County of *JfyUeath, to fummon all the Lords and
Gentry of the County o{<JWeath, to be at the Hill o {Turagh about a
week after ; and accordingly there met at the fame place the Earl of
Fingale , the Lord of Gormanfion, and the reft of the Lords and Gentle¬
men aforenamed , together with Sir Thomas Nugent, and Nicholas
Plmket the Lawyer, Btrford the Lawyer, and a multitude of others, and
the work of that day was firft: to make Anfwer to a Summons made by the
State for thecaliing of the Lords unto Dublin, which Anlwcr was brought
ready drawn by the Lord ofGormanfion , and prefented by his Lordship,
and being perufed by the faid Council at Law was figned by the Lords.
In this manner was this great tranfadtion moft folemnly confummated
betwixt Lernfter and ZJlfter j palenee and Brabant , as Sir Pkelem
O-Nealeftilesthem in his Charaftereftical Letter before mentioned, lent
to Given Roe O-Neale in Flanders, were now publickly united together
in that great Aflembly. The Lord Vifcount Gormanfion on the one fide,
and Roger Moore on the other, had both been long tampering about the
drawing ofthis moft important work to the form it now received, ihey
had at length brought it unto peifedtion, they two had the glory of it,
and
The Irish Rebellion.
and appeared the great publick inftrumentsof this powerful union.
The Lords and chief Gentlemen of the Pale , having thus far de- jhof«
clared themfelves became fo high and prefuming , as they litrle valued of the Paie
what was done or commanded by the State at Dublin: they now whol- t°ftrcngth<*
\ r 1 11 their party
lyapplyed their endeavours to make fuch preparatives towards the war, againft the
as might ftrengthen their party , which as is now flood in con) un<fture P°^r ofthc
with the Northern Rebels they beheld as invincible, and their power not
to be refifled by the inconfiderable Forces drawn together by the Lords
Juflices and Council at Dublin'. Several Gentlemen who in the feveral
Counties of the Pale were made Captains , and had received Arms
from the State for their Companies, departed from their obedience, and
addrcfled themfelves and their Companies wholly to the fervice of the
Rebels. Nicholas White Efquire Son and Heir to Sir Nicholas White of
Lijhp , was the firft that gave the example about the fecond of Decem¬
ber : but he carried the matter fo handfomely , as his Company ran
away to the Rebels, as he pretended , without his confent or even his
knowledge any longer time before their departure, than to give him op¬
portunity to come and acquaint the State therewith, and his own difability T])C Rcafons
to hinder the fame: But before it was poftible to ufe any means of pre- why the state
vention , the men were all gone with their Arms and Munition to the
Rebels: Many of the other Captains defired no fuch fine cover for their council of
intentions, but delivered themfelves and their Arms up to be difpofed as
they should direct without any further fcruple or complement to the ana others
State ; Whereupon the Lords finding how notorioufly they were abufed then iryh«
by the very great confidence repoled in fuch Gentlemen of the Pale, as be.
ing made Captains, had received Arms from them, and perceiving what
courfe they began now to flear, and how they were refolved to imploy
their own Arms againft them, they took fuch order, and with fuch cele¬
rity and diligence madeftay of feveral of thole Arms, which were deli¬
vered out for the ule of the Pale, as of the 1700. Arms diftributed among
the feveral Counties thereof they recovered again into their hands 5150.
And now by reafon the Northern Rebels had fettled their Camp within
the River of Boyne, and fo lay betwixt Tredagh and the City of Dublin,
all entercourle in the Pale was interrupted, the paftages ftopt up, and the
Lords Juftices and Council underftood very little or nothing of any pro¬
ceedings held there. They therefore finding their dangers daily to encreale
through the near approach of the Rebels unto the City of Dublin , the
continual affronts, and new fcorns the State dayly received from them ,
their own want offtrength to reprefs their bold attemps, or to preferve
the poor English round about them out of their bloody hands, reiblved
now in thefe their high extremities, to try the effe&s of thofe large prote*
T ftations
146"
The Irish Rebellion.
A Copy of
the letter
written by]
the Lords
Juft ces and
Council to
the Lords of
the Pale.
ftations and great profeflions of loyalty the Lords of the Pale had lately
made unto them , and to give them a fair opportunity of rendringa moft
acceptable fervice to his Majefty and the ftate here. For this end therefore
they determined to call a grand Council of all the Lords which refided
within any convenient diftance of the City of Dublin: clearly and freely
to reprefent unto them the ill condition of their affairs, and how highly it
imported them in refped of their own particular fafety, as well as for the
prefervation of the whole Kingdom, not only to contribute their beft ad¬
vice and counfel, but euen all the Forces they could any ways raife to¬
wards the beating of the Northern Rebels out of the Pale. Several Letters of
Summons were accordiugly writ and fent away to the Earle of Fingale,
the Lord Vifcount Garmanflon, and the reft of the Lords of the Pale, the
tenour of them here enfueth.
AFter our very hearty commendations to your Lordship, for
as much as we haveprejent occafion to confer with you,
concerning the prejent ejiate of [the Kingdom, and the fafety
thereofin thefe times of danger : We pray andre quire your Lord¬
ship to be with us here on the eight day of this Month, at which
time others oft he Veers are alfo to be here: And this being to no
other end\ we bid your Lordship very heartilyjar ewe I. From his
Majeflies Caflle of Dublin the third ^December, 1641.
Your very loving friends
To our very good Lord
George Earle of
Kildare.
Willam Tar [on. John Borlacy.
Ormondojfory. Ant Medenfis.
R. TAillon. Ad. Loft us,
Ge. Shirley. J. Temple.
Rob. Meredith.
The like Letters eodem die y to thefe fcveral
Perfons following:
Earle of Ormond. Wtf.Gormanfton. Lord Dan/any.
Vif. Net er vile.
Vif. Fitzjwilliam.
Lo. Trmblejlon.
Earle of Antrim.
Earle of Ftn<rale<
o
Lord Slaine.
Lord of Hoath.
Lord Loivth.
Lord Lambert.
Thefe
The Irish Rebellion.
147
Thefe Letters were prefently fent away: But the Lords of the Pale
being otherways engaged, and having before or much about the time
they came unto their hands ( though\he Lords knew very little, and
that very uncertainly of it) made that publick combination with the
Vljler Rebels before mentioned, durft no more adventure their perfons
within the City of Dublin: But after their meeting at the Hill of Crcfiy,
appointed an other meeting at the Hill of 7^/?, and from thence they
fent an Anfwer unto the Lords,which as Mr. Drowdall teftifies, was brought
thither by the Lord of Gormanflon ready drawn up, and there only figned
and fo fent away. The Copy of the Letter herefolloweth .•
w
May it pleafe your Lordships,
E have received your Letters of the third ofthis infant, The
intimating that you had pre fent occaftonsto confer with of the Lords
us, concerning the prefent State of the Kingdom, and the fafety t°hci ofdTju°
thereof in thefe times of danger, and requirmg us to be with you ftlC€s*
there on the eighth day oft his infant-> we give your Lordships to
under ft and, that we have heretofore prefented ourfelves before
your Lordships, andfreely offered our advice andfurtherance to¬
wards the particulars aforefaid, which was by you negletled,
which gave us caufe to conceive that our Loyalty wasfuffeLted
by you. We give your Lordships further to underftand, that we
have received certain advertijement, that Sir Charles Cooc
Knight,at theCouncilBoard,hath utteredfomeJpeeches tending
to apurpofe and refolutiou> to execute upon thofe of our Religion
a general Maffacre, by which we are all deterred to wait on your
Lordships, not having any fecur ity for our fafety from thefe
threatned evils,or thefafet y ofour lives'fut do rat her t hink it fit
to ft and upon our be ft guard until we hear from your Lordships
how we shall befecur edfrom thefeperils. Neverthelefs ? we all
proteft that we are and will continue bothfaithful advifers$ and
refolutefuriherers of his Majefties fervice concerning t he prefent
State of the Kingdom, andthefafety thereofto our beft abilities,
andfo with thefaid tender of our humble fervice we remain.
To the Right Honourable out very Your Lordships humble Servants,
good Lords the Lords Juftices ,
and Council of Ireland. , IV, Oliver
Dublin, Decemb. 7. Received 1 x. 1641. Lowtb,
T 2 In
The Irish Rebellion,
In Anfwer to this Letter, the Lords Juftices and Council, out of
their unfeigned defires to give unto thofe Lords all due fatisfadlion , and
to remove thofe jealoufies and great mifunderftanding now grown up
A proclaim- between them > thought fit by way of Proclamation to publish and de-
tion iflfued clare to them and all others of His Majefties good Subjedts of the Ro-
Lords^ Tufti mis^^xon > That they never heard Sir Charles Coot, or any other ut-
^cTand ter at the Board or elfcwhere , any fuch fpeeches tending to a purpofe
Gomel for or refolution to execute upon thofe of their profefiion , or upon any
kkmofVhe other a general Maffacre or any Maffacre at all, and that they never in-
Lords of the tended lo to dishonour his Majefty and this State , or wound their own
Pllle° confciences as to entertain the leaft thought of adting fo odious , impi¬
ous r and dc.tcftable a thing upon any perfons whatfoever; and that if any
proof can he made, of any fuch words fpoken by any perfon whatfoever,
that he shall be feverely punished. And therefore that they did pray and
require the faid Noblemen to attend them at the Board, on the 17. day
of December, that they might confer with them: And for the,fecurity
of their repair unto them, they did thereby give to all and every of thofe
Noblemen, the word and affurance of the State, that they might then
fecurely and fafely come unto them without danger of any.trouble or flay
whatfoever, from them who neither had nor have any intention to wrong
or hurtthem.
But now it began to appear unto the Lords Juftices and Council,
how far they were engaged with the Northern Rebels, By the Exa¬
minations taken of fome English, who made their efcape out of thofe
parts , the news of their folemn contradf and Affociation before men¬
tioned was brought up to Dublin : And they then well enough difcerned
the main obftrudtion in their coming, the caufe of their tergiverfati-
ons, and what good reafon they had to find out excufes to palliate their
dijloyalty, They then expedted no other fruits of their Proclamation
than what it produced : Neither indeed had it any other effect and ope*
ration among them , than that they did with great boldnefs and confix
several pre- dence by way of Anfwer thereunto , write back a Letter to the Lords
Lords ofthe Ju^ces wherein they pretend themfelves fo juftly affrighted with.
pale to colour Sir Charles Coots feverity and deportment , as that they dare not ad-
then refil'ai venture themfelves within the confines of his Government : They
the^rds0 heavily impofe upon him the inhumane adls perpetrated as they term
juftices and them in the County of Wiclow, the Maffacre of Santry and the burning
Council. Mr. Kings houfe and his whole fubffance at Clantarfe, and with a little
kind of cunning, they feem to pretend a breach of the publick faith, but
would transfer the blame from the Lords Juftices to Sir Charles Coot,
and thereupon defire no finjfter conftjrudtion may be made of their ftay,
~ T ~and
The Irish Rebellion.
14 9
and that they may have fome Commiflioners appointed to confer with
them, and lo conclude with fome profeflions of their Loyalty and readi-
nefs to give their advices for the advancement of his Majelties fervi^e, and
the common peace of the Kingdom.
This was an Anfwer, fuch as might juftly be expeded to come from per- The great in-
fons fo deeply now invol ved in the guilt of fo high a Rebellion. It is no won- £u!gteh"c£"rf|k
der that they were thus put to their shifts, and enforced to take up fuch fond jufticcs and
excufes, and imaginary pretences for their difloyalty : For they could not in council to-
thcir own conferences, but be mofl: fenfible of the very great indulgence uled Lords ofthe
by the Lords towards them : They had not failed in feveral particulars to
manifefi: the great confidence they had in their good affections: They had
refrained from giving them any manner of pro vocation or jealoufie. They
had forborn the doing fome ads ofhoftility for a time upon fome Rebels
among them, becaufe they would not give them any the leaft caufe of com¬
plaint. And however, it appeared by the Examination of Mac Mahone and
feveral others, that they were privy to the firff plot, yet the Lords proceeded
with fo much caution and tendernefs towards them, hoping that now the
Confpirators had failed in the main part of their defign which was the fur-
prifal of the Caftle of Dublin ,rthat they might yet reclaim them thereby, &
draw them into a jufi concurrence with them , for the prelervation of the
Kingdom out ofthe hands of thofe bloody Northern Rebels, who in the be¬
ginning were the only appearers in the caule: But all was to no purpofe, they
were too deeply engaged to recede • therefore they ran now violently on5and
drew along all the chief Gentlemen likewife of the Pale with them.
And now it shall be declared, how the chief Gentlemen of the Pale began
and proceeded on to ad their parts: About the beginning of December, pre.- Vlle and o-
fently after the late defeat given to the English fouldiers in their march to
Tredagh,Luke Nettervile fecondSon to the LardVifcount Ntttervile,caukd men of the
a Proclamation to be made in the Market place of Luskj requiring all the chief
Gentlemen and other Inhabitants thereabouts, not to fail upon pain of death, quarter them
prefently to repair unto Swoords, a Town within fix miles of the City of w!*hin hx
Dublin. And within few days after, did meet there the faid Luke Nettervile, S'tyof* °
George Blackney Efq; George King, Job. Talbot, Rich. Goldingy 7 ho. Ruffe I, Dublin.
Chrijlopher Ruffe I, PatrickCaddel, Will.Tr avers, Rich. Barnwell, Laurence
Bealing, Holywood of Artaine , and feveral other Gentlemen who began to
gather great numbers ofmen about them , & putting fuch Arms into their The GemI ■
hands as they had in readinefs, at the prefent made their provifions to enter- men of the
tain a fettled Camp within that place. The Lords underftanding of this^4/p recluirel
unlawful tumultuous Aflembly, and deeply apprehending the mifchievous juftices anV
confequencesthatmight enfue thereupon, lent this Warrant following in a Council to
fair requiring thereby their prefent repair unto them.
T 3 %
M
I ■
1
i
ijo
The Irish Rebellion.
in J
By the Lords Juftices and Council.
William Parfons. Jo. Burldce.
W Here as we have received information, that Luke Net-
tervile Efquire, Blackney of Rickenhore Efqnire,
George King ^Clontarfe Gentleman ; Gentlemenof
the County ^Dublin, with great numbers ofmen are ajfembled
together in a body at S woords audthere aboutsjwithinfix miles
of this City ,for what intent we know not, but apparently to the
terrour of his Majeftiesgood Subjefls, and although, confidering
the unfeafonablenes of this time chofen for fuch an afl without
our privity (wh atfoever theirpretence is) a conflruclion might
be made thereof to their difadvantage; yet we being willing to
make an indulgent interpretation of'their actions in regard of
the good opinion we have of the Loyalty ofthofe Gentlemen who
([it feems) are principals amongjl them in that AJfembly, and
conceiving there may be fome miflaking in that enterprife, we
have chofenthe rather hereby to charge the faid Luke Netter-
vile, Blackney , King, and all the perfonsthere Ajfembled with
them, upon their duties of Allegiance to his Majefiy, immedi¬
ately upon fight hereof to feparate, and not to unite any more in
that manner without direction from us: and that the faid
Nettervil, Blakney, King, andfix others oftheprincipalper -
fons ofthofe who are fo ajfembled atS woords or thereabouts as
aforefaid, do appear before us to morrow morning at ten of the
Clock, to shew the caufe of their ajfembling in that manner,
whereof they may notfail at their extream perils. Given at his
CMajefties Caftle ^Dublin 9 December 1641.
Ormond Oilory, Rob. Dillon,
Cha. Lambarc, Jo. Temple,
Charles Coot.
But
1 r-'
The Irish Rebellion. i 5 1
. '! But they were fb far from rcndring obedience to the commands they
received from the Board, as they kept the Meflenger in reftraint a day and
a night, threatning to hang him, and after returned a fcornful peremptory
Anfwer, fignifying unto their Lordships, That they were conftrained to The
meet there together, for thefafety of the tr lives, that they were put in fo great ™ade ^
a t err our bythenfing out ofjomehorfc Troops and foot Companies ^/Dublin, Lords war-
who hilled fur Catholicksfor no other reafbn, than that they bore the name rant*
flirt, rfthat Religion, as they durft not, as they pretended, flay in their houfes, and
ttltm therefore refolved to continue together, till they were ajfured by their Lordships
g of the fafety of their lives before they run the hajard thereof, by ma'mfefting
1 their obedience due unto their Lordships. Thefe were the very words and
•/t'1 expreflions ufed by thofe Gentlemen in their Anfwer: And accordingly
^ they ftill continued together, encreafing their number of men and threat-
tfk ning to come down and encamp themfelves at Clantarfe, a little Village
;g|; ftanding upon the very Harbour of Dublin ; where fome of their fol-
nni([ lowers had already at a low water feifed upon a Bark lying there, and
carried away all the Commodities they found in her ; a great part
whereof they had put into the then dwelling houfe of the laid King,
frf to whom that Village did belong. This was an ad: of fo high a drain,
Wl and fo eminently tending to the prefentruine of the City, as it required a
1//,^ hidden remedy; Delayes were dangerous in a matter of fuch perilous con-
jU|| fequence; and the Lords Juftices and Council, plainly perceived that if
the Rebels were differed to come down and lodge there , that they might
V . without much difficulty make themfelves mafters of thofe few Barks then
in the Harbour (the State having at that time no Ships of force to guard
mth\ them ) anj f0 pllt themfelves in a fair way if they could bring the Wex-
iMill ford Ships about to joyn with them to block up the Harbour, and flop the
{fild coming in to their relief all fuch fuccours as should bedefigned in England
Mtffto Land at that Port. Whereupon the Lords finding that the fsiaKing
^ continued ftill with Luke Nettervile and thofe other Gentlemen at
Swoords, that they carried themfelves with fuch high contumacy, as that
' difdaining to render any obedience to their Warrant, they neither made
r their departure from that place, disbanded their men, nor fo much as pre-
m tended to repair to them according to their commands at the time prefixed
therein : It was thought high time to take fome other courfe with them;
And therefore about four days after, the day firft fetdown by the Lords
: for their appearing before them, and the very next day after, another Pro-
[, clamation published for their immediate feparation , the Lords Juftices and
Council made this enfuing Order, directed to the Earl of Ormond Lieute¬
nant General of his Majefties forces in Ireland.
By
wtit
The Irish Rebellion.
By the Lords Juftices and Council.
William Parfons. Jo. Burlace.
A Warrant
from the
Lords Jufti
ces and
FOrafmuch as divers of thelnhabitants <?/Clantarfe, Raheny
^w^Kilbarrock, have declared themfelves Rebels, andha-
Council for vint? robbed andfp oiledfome of his Majeftiesgood Subjects, are
fmgof!theef~ now aJfembled thereabouts in Arms in great numbers, muftering
Rebels of and training of their Rebellious multitudes, to the t err our and
"hc 1 tile' danger of his Majefties goodfubjeEls, as well at Land as at Sea,
which their boldnefs is aLtedinfuch manner as to put [corns and
affronts upon this State andGovernment, they acting fuch de¬
predations even before our faces and in our own view as it were
in defpight ofus\ It is therefore ordered, that our very good Lord
the Earl 0/Ormond and Oflory Lieutenant Generat oft he Ar¬
my , do forthwith fend out a party ofSouldiers of horfe and foot,
to fall upon thofe Rebels at C lantarfe and thereabouts, who in
fuch dijdainful manner, Jland to outface and dare us, and to en¬
deavour to cut them off ,as well for punishment as terrour to 0-
t hers,and to burn and fpoile the Rebels houfis and goods: And to
prevent their further annoying of the shipping, going out and co¬
ming in and lying in harbour, thofe Souldiers are to bring up or
caufetobe brought up to the new Crane at Dublin, fuchofthe
Boats and Veffels now lying there as they can upon the fudden,
and to burn, fpoile and fink and make unferviceable the rett.
Given at his Majeflies Cafile ^Dublin. December 14. 1641.
-eh
b
OrmondOfiory, Rob. Dillon.
Cha. Lambart , Ad. Loftus,
Jo. Temple , Cha Coote,
Fran. Willoughby. jp
The Irish Rebellion.
According to their Lordships diredions, the Earle of Ormond gave
prefent order to Sir Charles Coot to march out privately with fome Forces
unto Clantarfe , which he did without any noife, and meeting there
with no oppolition , he only fuffered his men to pillage the Town , s;r charlet
whereof they burnt fome part , as alfo part of Mr. Kings houfc , in c60t Marches
out with
Forces
') mi
which much of the goods were found that had been taken out of the Bark
before mentioned: And this was the firft expedition that the Forces newly to cia»tarfe.
raifed in Dublin, made after the defeat of the 600. men in their paffage
to Tredagh : As for the MafTacre at Santry mentioned in the Anfwer Thc ^ue Re-
from the Lords of the Pale, and obtruded to the World, as a juft pre- thc
tence to deterr them from waiting on the Lords at Dublin , it was no Maflacre at
other than this : Information was given to fome of the Officers of the Santr>
Army, that there had been a robbery newly committed by certain Re¬
bels at the houfe of one Smith called the Buskin , within five miles of
the City : And that if a Party of Souldiers might be fent forth, the In¬
former offered to bring them upon thofe Rebels , as alfo upon other
Rebels, who had lately murdered one Mr. DerickJIubert a Dutch Merch¬
ant at the Skerries; whereupon two Officers with 40. foot were fent out
with direction to fall upon thofe Rebels: They went diredly to Santry, and
there finding fome ftrangers with weapons lodged in fufpicious places', they
flew four of them who as was conceived were criminal Offendours, and
one of them after upon further enquiry found to be a Proteft ant.
But how fairly foeVer this matter was carried , yet they relblved to The procecd-
make ufe of it for the prefent, by way of j unification of their difloyalty: *{JfLords and
And having fo far publickly declared themfelves, they held it not fit to fit
chief Gcntlc-
idle any longer, but began to put the whole Circuit of the Pale into a °^e
pofture of Warr, and to make all fuch preparatives as might enable them afte"they had
by the powerful.afliftance they had out of the North, prefently to take injoynedwith
Tredagh, and afterwards to march up to Dublin, and there make them- jjj^°rthcrn
felves Matters of that City and Cattle: A work as now it flood reprefen-
ted unto them not likely to prove lefs glorious than fuccefsful, and eafie to
be atchi'eved: They had for this end many publick meetings among them¬
felves , as alfo with the chief Commanders of the Northern Rebels.
In the firft place, they declared the Lord Vifcount Gormanftone Ge¬
neral of the Forces to be raifed in the Tale , Hugh Birne Lieutenant
General , the Earle of Fingale General of the horfe : Then they gave
power to thofe Lords to nominate Captains in fcveral Baronies to
he refpedively appointed out ofthem, and likewife to raife Souldiers. in
every fuch Barony, viz,, eight Souldiers out ofa Plowland-land ("which
contains according to the ancient eftimation 120. Acres) arid every
Plow-land to maintain the Souldiers to be fet out by them : The Ba-
V rony
x J 4 The Irish 'Rebellion.
rony of Duleek. was afligned to the Lord of the Barony of '
Screene and Dejfe to the Earle of Ftngale, the Barony of Slaine to the Lord ^
of Slaine, the Barony of the Navan to the Lord of Trimbleftone, Kells to
the Lord Dun/any, Ratogh and Dttnbome to Sir Richard Bar new all of Gricke* ; 1
ft own Baronitc, and Patrick^ Barnwell of Cilbrew; and by thefe perfons, 'ir
feveral Captains were appointed, and numbers of Souldiers railed according ft
to the orders let down at the General meeting: There were alfo Warrants
iflued out by the Lord Gormanfton, whereby thofe perfons appointed to
raife the men, and to furnish them with provifions for their entertainment, ^
were required upon pain of death to fend them out: Other Warrants were
likewife fent out to other perfons who were appointed Overfeers for the ?'
threshing out of all the Proteftants corn , which was afligned generally ;:i'
through the Pale to be applycd towards the maintenance of their Army.
The next work was to make a conftant provifion of all manner of neceflarics ::::
for the entertainment offuch Forces as were already brought down out of r
the North, as well as thole raifed in the Pale, and fet down at the fiege of ^
Tredagh. And for this fcrvicc they fefled the whole Country thereabouts, K111
and ordered what proportions of corn and numbers of Cattle should be
brought down out of every part for the victualling of thole that lay encamp-
ed about the Town: There was allotted ro every Company conlifting of M
a hundred men > for their daily allowance, onebiefe, and half a barrel of :1
corn : And that they might with the more facility bring in the Country
people to furnish their Army with thefe proportions; they made not only ':;
prohibitions that no corn should be carried to Dublin, but fo blocked up
the ways as the poor churles that lived fomewhat diflant from the City, |P
could not carry their corn thither without apparent danger; whereby the !I!I
Market began to be very ill provided ,and great want and fcarcity was much p
feared by reafon of the large acceflion of people come from feveral parts of ®
the Kingdom up unto the City for fafety. Whereupon the Lords Juftices F
and Council made Proclamations to be published * That all fuch as had fn
corn remaining within fome few miles diftance, should as their ufual ™
manner was, bring it to the Market at Dublin, and they should receive tl
ready mony for the fame in cafe they did not that, they would prefently -
fend out Parties and burn their corn as it flood in the haggards, and fo 1
prevent the ufc the Rebels intended to make of it for the vidualling of their ^
Army. By this means the City was indifferently well fupplied all that ^
winter with corn, the Country people though otherways very malicious ^
againft the English & Proteftants, being content though with much hazard,
to adventure the bringing their corn, where they fold it at a good rate for 1£
ready mony,rather than to fuffer it to be threshed out by Warrants from the ^
Lord of Gormanfton for the ufe of the frith Army then lying before Tredagh. :
But
The Irish Rebellion. i j j
But while they continue their fruitlefs and unprofitable attempts there, Thc fadcon-
having neither skill, courage, experience, nor any means to bring about their p^"kofa^c
impetuous defires and fond endeavours for the taking in of that Town , fairs of the
i I shall briefly reprefent a view of the fad eflate of our affairs in Dublin: It wasStat0,
^ -now almoft full two Months fince the breaking out of this Rebellion; The
accor: Lordsjuftices andCouncil out of their deep apprehenflonsofa general revolt
Wans of all tne huh through the Kingdom 9 did in the very beginning with much
oifflt! earneftnefs follicite the prefent lending over of Succours out of England: A nd
in* as foon as they began to make a little further difcovery into theTirength of
nut thisConfpiracy,and found their own wants and utter difabilities to make any
sfor; long or confiderablc oppofition againft the univerfal power of the whole
jtnaj body of the hish, as it then began to appear unto them, firmly uni ted wi th
•k almoft all the Old English that were of the Romish Profeflion incorporated
refi into their party throughout Ireland, they did with much more earneftnefs
soot by their frequent Letters and feveral Agents, reprefent unto His Majefty
ficgf and the Parliament of England, the very ill even defperate condition they
i were in; and therefore defired that fuppliesboth of men, mony and all kind
so§ of warlike provifions, might be fent away with all fpeed into them, declaring
^ that unlefs they received them prefently, and that in great proportions, they
jit- were not able longer to fubfift as they ftood now environed on all fides with
Jj multitudes of the Rebels, but had juft reafon to apprehend their own prefent
]m: ruin, and the inevitable lofs of the whole Kingdom: And becaufe they con-
)r ceived the Levies in England could not be fo fuddenly made ,nor the men fb
cy eafily tranfported from thence into the North of Ireland (where the Rebels
lef,j appeared in greateft numbers, and had by their moft unparalle'Id cruelty
Tu towards the English done moft mifchief) as out of Scotland: They made a
jJ propofition to the Lord Lieutenant, to move both His Majefty and the Par-
r.;:; liament, that 10000 Scots might be prefently raifed and fent over into thofe
i|c Parts. This they prefled with much earneftnefs, reprefenting the very great Thc rcncj.B
3J . terrour the meer Irish had ofthat Nation,that their bodies would better fort of iogoo"^
jr ^ with that Climate, endure more hardship, and with lefs diftemper undergo sIc'ttlsa^to f
;f, the toil and miferies of an Irish war, that the tranfportation would be made fed \y th""
u with much more facility and lefs charge, it being not above three or four Loi<k Jutt-
hours fail from fome parts of Scotland into the North of Ireland, That the council.
c::. Kingdom of Scotland had been lately in Arms, and fb had all provifions ne-
;jcefTary for the furnishing of their men for this expedition in readinefs: And
laftly ,they having fo good a foundation in the multitude of their ownCoun-
j,,^ try men fo advantageoufly fettled there already, would no doubt undertake
" ' the work with all alacrity,and vigoroufly profccutc the war w*'th fuch sharp-
nefs, as might teftifie their deep refentment of the horrid cruelties exercifed
V upon fo many thoufands of their own Nation by that barbarous people.
1 V 2
i 5 £ The irish Rebellion.
comwiffio- Thefe Letters arrived very opportunely about the time of the Kings re- 5
ners fent out /- i » i . i V. V r ^ , , i
of Scotland to tum fr°m Edcnbnrgh to the Parliament of England then fitting at Weft-min
Treat with
fter: And there beitlg even then two Scotish Lords come out of the King- •
thetarha- ^ Q£ Scotland^ to Treat with the Parliament of England concerning !l
land concern the lending Forces from thence for the relief of Ireland. His Ma>efiy fent ¥
of/t/r 7hef to ^ie Lords and Commons to give them notice of their arrival, and withal If
defired, that certain Commiflioners appointed by himfelf, and both Hou- -
fes of Parliament, might be prefently named to T reat with them, and from
Erne to time, give an account of their proceedings to His Majefiy and both
Houfes. This motion was with very great readinefs yielded unto, and it :
was ordered, that the Earle of Beaford) the Earle of L rd Lieu- =
tenant of Ireland, the Lord Howard of Efiric; nominated by the Houfe of
Peers : And Nathaniel Fiennes Efquire, Sir Willtam Ermin Baronite,
Sir PhilipStapleton Knight, John Hampden Efquire, nominated by the ::
Houfe of Commons , should Treat with the Scotish Commiffioncrs con¬
cerning the affairs of Ireland) and that there should be a Commifiion granted
unto them to this effedt, under the great Seal of England-, together with
particular Xnftru&ions to regulate the manner of their proceedings.
In the propofitions given in by the Scotish Commiflioners, they did in the
PropofLions fir It place make offer of i oooo men i n the name of the Kingdom of Scotland:
the parntt0 t^at t^iey might be enabled to fend them fpeedily away, they defired
ment of£«?- an advance of 50000. 1. of the brotherly afliftance afforded unto them
by the Kingdom of England, and that what Arms and Munition they fent
land for the
.wf he~ *nt0 he'knd) might in the fame proportion be returned unto them with
all expedition.
Next they defired that fome ships of War might be appointed to guard
the Seas betwixt Scotland and Ireland, to waft over their Souldiers which
they defigned to tranfport in fmall veffels.
And then that upon landing of their men in Ireland, there should be a
100 horfe ready to joyn with every 1000 foot that they should fend thither:
And that they should receive Inftru&ions and Orders, and in every thing
obey the Scotish General.
Thefe propofitions being taken into confideration in the Houfe ofCom-
mons, after they had duly confidered of them, and weighed the high ne-
ceflities of this Kingdom, that the Scots had 2 5 00 men ready raifed, and that
they could not fo fuddenly make provifion any other way for the faving
Ireland-, as by fending thefe Forces out of Scotland,they readily condefcended
unto them,and having voted them feverally,they fent them up to the Houfe
of Peers, with their defires for a fpeedy concurrence in them.
Thefe beginnings gave great hopes of the fudden relief of Ireland,, and it
was now generally believed , that confiderable Forces wouldbe tran^orted
within
The Irish Rebellion.
57
within a very short time out of ScotUnd for the defence of the Northern
parts of this Kingdom ; efpecially confidering with how much eameftnefs
his Majefty in his Speech made to the Lords and Commons in Parliament
on the 14 of December, in thisprefent year, had preffed them to take to
heart the bufinefs of Ireland, and offered unto them whatfoever his power,
pains orinduftry could contribute to the good and neceffary work of redu¬
cing the Irish Nation to their true and wonted obedience.
But alas thefe great expeditions were foon dashed, and the Forces defigned
for Ireland, as well out of England as ScotUnd ftrangely retarded by feveral illundtt-°f
obftrudnons which daily arofein the tranfadion of the Irish affairs.
For firft, his Majefty in the fame Speech, wherein he conjured them, by
all that was dear to him or them , to go on chearfully and fpeedily for the
reducing of Ireland, did take notice of a Bill for preflingSouldiersfor/reted
depending in the Houfe of Peers, and declaring his diflikeof putting it in
that way, told them he would pafs it fo there were afalvo jure put into it
both for the King and people, but withall, told them that he thought
himfelf little beholding unto him whofoeveric was , that began thisdifpute
fo far trenching upon the bounds of his ancient and undoubted prerogative.
Thefe paffages in his Majefties Speech were deeply refented, not only by
the Lords , who were more particularly concerned in them , but by the
Houfe of Commons: And therefore hisMajefly had no fooner ended his
Speech and left their Houfe, but that the Lords fell into confederation of the
fame, and refolved that the King by taking notice of the debate in their
Houfeofthe Bill, concerning prefling of Souldiers, had broken the fun¬
damental priviledges of Parliament. And prefently a Meffage was brought
unto them, likewife by Mr. Ilellisfrom the Houfe of Commons, to delire
a conference with their Lordships by Committees of both Houfes touching
the Priviledges of Parliament: At the conference they fully expreffed the
deep fenfe they had of the high injury offered unto them , by his Majefty in
invading their Priviledges, and proceeded fo far as to come not only to Pe¬
tition his Majefty, and to defire that he would be pleafed to make known
that perfon who had given him information fo unduly of what had paffed in
their Houfe: but alfo, to make a Proteftation concerning their Priviledges:
This took up fome time, and the great mifunderftanding even which then
began to appear betwixt his Majefty and the Parliament, had fo ftrong an
influence into the bufinefs of Ireland, as notwithftanding the high neceffities
of this Kingdom , and the great affedions expreffed by the Kingdom of
England for our hidden relief here, the refolutions were flow, and the
preparations went fo heavily on , as it Was long before the Houfe of Com¬
mons could find means to enable the Lord Lieutenant to fend fo much as
one Regiment awav out of England) for the defence of the Caftle and
y 3 city
tarded.
ij8
The Irish Rebellion.
theHouft of
Peers.
City of Dublin, then much diftreffed by the near approach of the Rebels.
And now for the Forces to be fent out of Scotland into the Northern
The debate ^arts r^s Kingdom' t^iey mect fevend obftru&ions likewife. For
ofthepropo- firft, the Commifli oners of Scotland had not power given them from the
fitiom pre- §tate there to Treat for the fending over a lefTer number than i oooo men,
scMcomt which the Lords here were very unwilling to condefcend unto. But this
roiifi oners in obftacle was foon removed by the zealous affedions of the Houfe of Com-
^ mons, who as foon as the Propofitions brought in by the Scotish Com-
miflioners for the relief of Ireland, were prefented unto them , voted their
alTent to Treat for the fending of the number of i oooo men out of Scotland,
according to the inftrudions given to the Commiflioners by that Kingdom,
and fent up a Meflage to the Houfe of Peers by Sir Philip Stapleton Knight,
to lay before theirLordships,the miferable eftate of the Kingdom of Ireland,
and to let them know that the Houfe of Commons conceived the beft way
for the prefervation of it out of the hands of the Rebels, was fpeedily to
to difpatch the Scots into the Province of and therefore defired that
they would joyn with them in the Propofitions received from the Scottish
Commiilioners.
Upon the rcceit of this MefTage, the Houfe of Peers fell upon the faid
Propofition, and after a long debate, it was at length agreed that ioooo
Scots should be fent into Ireland, if the Houfe of Commons would con¬
defcend that at the fame time there might i oooo English men be as fpeedily
fent likewife thither, and thereupon defired a conference with the Houfe of
Commons, that they might fully undcrftand their refolution therein ,
which beiug yielded unto by the Houfe of Commons, The Lords at the
conference preffed with much earneftnefs, that they might be allured of
the fending over of i oooo English at the fame time that the Scots were to be
fent away: whereunto the Houfe of Commons replyed, that they were ndt
to be capitulated withall, that their adions were free as well without condi¬
tions as capitulations, that they thought they had given fufficient certainty
already of their refolution to fend that number of English into Ireland,
and therefore defired that their Lordships would Vote the fending away
of i oooo Scots by it felf without any relation to the English fpoken of by
them.
This took up a large debate in the Houfe of Peers, and was one main
caufe of the flow proceeding on of the Treaty with the Scotish Commiffio-
ners. i shall not undertake to determine at fo great a di fiance from whence
thefe obftruftions grew, but I am very fure we could here eafily find, that
there were fome fuch fecret workings underhand again ft the good affedions
expreffed by the Houfe of Commons, and by the Lords who were well
affe&ed to the fervice of Ireland, as that this T reaty was very much retarded
thereby.
The Irish Rebellion.
thereby, and was not brought on to any conclufion in many Months after.
So as in the mean time, all the British planted troughout this Kingdom,
were defpoiled, driven out of their habitations, or mod cruelly murdered
within their own doors: and the Irish ftrengthned themfelves in all parts
of the Country and prevailing every where, drew many to joyn with them,
that had hitherto kept themfelves in a kind of Neutrality, asfuppofing that
the State here would be altogether deferted, and no Forces at all fent out of
England for the fupprefling of the Irish as had taken lip Armesin this quarrel.
The whole Province of Munfitr about the midft of this Month of De¬
cember , began to declare themfelves in open Rebellion. The Lord Prefi-
dent there, had ufed hisutmoft endeavours to fupprefs their very begin- the Province
rungs, but by reafon of his wantofftrength was now able to Contain them of
no longer : He did with all diligence and carefulnefs labour to prevent the
joyning together of any numbers of the Irish in any of thofc parts: And
when he underftood how they began in fome places of the Province to
defpoile the English , and that they had near Water ford gotten away many
of the English mens Cattle, and were carrying them out of the limits of his
government, he thought it not fit longer to fit ftill, but gallantly purfued
thofc Rebels in his own perfon, being accompanied only with his own
Troop of horfc, and fome few Gentlemen of the Country, who joyned
with them, and after a long and tedious march came upon them unawares,
ilew i oo of thofe Rebels, reftored the cattle to the English that were owners
of them, and took fevaral prifoners whom he hanged for a grea' er terrour
to all fuch as should adventure afterwards to follow their example : As
loon as he had done this fervice, his Lordship retired back to CV^, having
neither Forces nor'means to make any further profecution: which the Irish
well enough underftood, and therefore drew together in feveral places of
that Province, and though they did not in that barbarous manner, as they
in Vlfter, hew down, cut in pieces, hang, drown or prefently murder all the £7
English among them: yet many horrid murders they committed, ufed theEngtubin
feveral kinds of cruelty to many particular perfons, and for all the reft that MHnM-
fell into their hands, they robbed and violently deprived them of all their
goods and cattle, moft paiferably ftripped them out of their cloaths and
leaving them quite naked, fuffered moft of them in that lamentable pofture
to pals to Cork, Tonghall, Kinfale and other Ports there to embark their mife-
rablc Carkafles for England where few arrived fafely, and I am furelmay
well fay few, in refped of thofe multitudes who perished through want,
cold and famine, before they could get to thole Towns, orotherwayes
dyed after their arrival in them, or were by ftormsatSeacaftaway. And
for the English who ftood upon their guard and immured themfelves up in
feveral Caftles of good ftrength in thofe Parts, they endured many
Months
i go The Iris h Rebellion.
Months fiege, fufFered much want and mifery, and having bravely refilled
allthealfaults and attempts that the Irish made with great multitudes upon
them, and in many places caufed them to raife their lieges with great lofs
and (laughter of their men, yet they were afterwards, finding themfelves
without all hope or poflibility of relief, enforced to deliver thofe places
together with the multitudes of English they had received, into the hands
of the Rebels, upon fair quarter folemnly promifed by them: And in many
places no fooner had they by that means gotten entrance into them, but
that they moft perfidioufly broke the quarter given, defpoiled them of
that little remainder of their fubftance they had then left, and fent them
away in great want and mifery to find relief among other English Garri-
fons. But the whole Country being wafted and deftroyed, and the poor
English that lived in them, defpoiled of all their fubftance, were able to afford
them very little relief or comfort, befides pitty and compaftion which
could not fupport or keep alive thofe languishing gaftly Creatures, fo as
multitudes dyed, fome in ditches, fome travelling on the high-wayes,
fome under hedges, and fo left their Carkaffes as fearful fpectacles to the
beholders, and fad monuments of the inhumane cruelties exercifed on
them by thofe bloudy Rebels, who yet under pretence of mercy fpared
their lives, but tookup a rcfolution as they were not ashamed to declare,
to put them to a more lingring death, and therefore left them in fuch a con¬
dition as inevitably brought on their miferable ends with much more
difcomfort and forrow.
But this shall fufiice to shew the beginning of the riling of the Irish in
^Uunfter; the particulars whereof shall be clearly and at large fet down
in the following Relations of their firft proceedings within that Province,
where it shall be declared likewife, how all the great Town in Lemfter,
except Dublin and Tredagh, did about the fame time begin to ftrip and expel
all the British and Protectants , that either inhabited in them or fled out of
the Country near about to shelter themfelves there, from the barbarous
cruelties of their Irish neighbours.
Dublin di- ^or t^ie of Dublin it began now toBe much more ftraitly encont-
ikefled. palPed by the Forces of the Rebels, much encrealed through their late con¬
junction with the English Pale. And in cafe of their want of power to force
it, yet they having made their approaches lo near and having fo abfolutely
flopped up all the avenues, as we had great reafon to apprehend their keeping
back ofprovifions would drive the City into high neceflities, and quickly
occafion great want there. And here I cannot without much grief of heart
call to mind the lamentable complaints and bitter out-crys, which until
this time, were continually fent up unto theLordsJuftices and Council,
while they remained in this pofture, out of feveral Parts of the Country,
where
where the English Inhabitants being by the Irish driven out of their habi¬
tations , had for their prefent fafeguard put themfelves into Houfes or Caftles
of fome flrength; they there enduring much want and mifery, made shift
though not without great difficulty by feveral Meffages and Letters to make
known their condition to the State, as alio that they were refol ved as many
of them did, to fuffer the utmoft extremities out of hope of relief, and
a confident expedition offuceoursfrom them.
But Alas all was in vain, they were able to afford them no other comfort
than what their pitiful commiferation of their forrowful condition would
adminifter; they were themfelves reduced fo low, as witlVthe greatcfl
power they could raife, they durfl not adventure to fend any ways five
mi les out of the City, their fupplies out of England were not arri ved , they
had neither place nor means to raife men, but only within the virge of the
City ,and fuch as they ordinarily took up there, were either Irish, whereof
many ran prelently away with their Arms to the Rebels, or poor ftripped
English and Inhabitants of this City who were raw men, and though they
afterwards being well exercifed and trained to the ufe of their Arms, proved
very good Souldiers; yet for the prefent they were very unfit for fervice:
As appeared in that little expedition Colonel Craford made out with his some Forces
men to FingUs, a little Town two miles diflant from the City at the fcnt out to
fame time, when Sir Charles Coot marched forth to beat Luke Netter- the^X",
vile with his undifriplined Regiment out of his quarters at Santry, who who lodged
having timely notice of his coming faved him the labour, for he prcfently rce
upon the rumour thereof, diflodged and fled in fomuch hafte, as he left Dublin.
fome of his befl equipage and all his provifions behind him : But that
Party of Rebels Colonel Craford found at Finglas, having placed themfelves
with good advantage behind great ditches, flood better to their work,
and carried themfelves fo floutly , as our new raifed men began to shrink,
and had not the Colonel and fome other of his Officers behaved themfel ves
very well that day, their men had made a mofl dangerous and shameful
retreat. This was the greatefl: expedition the Forces in Dublin were able to
undertake at that time, which no man will wonder at, if he doth confider
as it hath been related, how the Town was in a manner furrounded on
every fide by feveral Parties of the Rebels gathered together; all commerce ^Xdon
was interrupted, all provifions brought out of the Country for the fupply every fide by
of it intercepted, as alfo, that all the chief of the English Inhabitants had tIie ^elt-
tranlported themfelves, their goods, apd their Families into England,
many of the Papifls had upon other reafons retired themfelves, and what
belonged unto them into the Country, and there taken up their habitations
within the Rebels quarters; no manner of intercourfe with any perfons what-
foever that made their abode without the diftance of two miles from any
X part
The Irish Rebellion.
part of the City, no intelligence to be had upon any terms from among
the Rebels, all courfes taken for it difappointed , feveral Meflengers hanged
up; and yet on the other fide, all our defigns dilclofed, our weaknefs
difcovered, and the mod private refolutions by one means or other com*
municated unto them. The Parties of the Rebels that lay near about the
City , were thefe following ; Luke Nettervile being beaten from Santry ,
lay with near 2000. men at Swoords, a Town fix milesdiftant, and pof-
feffed himfelf of theCaftle of Artaine, and fome other places within two ■
miles of the City; On the Weft-fide of the City at Tajfagard Rath-coole ,
Caftle Lyons, and other little Villages within the compafs of fix miles, there
lay 2000. more of the Rebels who were come down out of the Counties of
Carter Ugh, Kings County, 10 Liar e, and other Parts under the command
of Roger zJ/i'Coore , and Sutton , Eujlace of Caftle-tJMartm , and others.
The Clan don ells, Birnes and looles were alio come down in great numbers
out of the County of Wiclow, and had lodged themfelves in fome Caftles
towards the Sea-fide, and in fome Villages at the foot of the Mountain,
not above three or four miles diftant from the Town on the South fide :
How defperately thefe Forces threatned our ruine an«l fudden deftruction
will appear by this enfuing Letter bearing date about the midft of December,
written from the LordsJuftices and Council, unto the Lord Lieutenant
then attending for his difpatch.
A Letter from the Lords Juftices and Council
to the Lord Lieutenant.
.
May it pleafeyour Lordships,
BY our Letters of the third of 2) ecembertwe made known
to your Lordfliip, that M. Hawtri^e was then newly
arrived with the Treafure fent us from thence,which came but
fixteen thoufand five hundred fourfcore and ten pounds,
toafupply ofTreafure farihortof that which is now become
necefiary to perform any confidcrable fervice here againft
the Rebels, whofenumbers are increafed wonderfully, in-
fomuch as the Forces they have ikowtDrogheda on all fideS
it, and between Drogheda and this place , reaching even
within four miles of this City, are upon very credible report,
conceived to be aboye twenty thoufand men , and befides
thole
I <jZ
The Irish Rebellion.
thofe numbers who are fo united between this and TDrogheda
and thereabouts > there arc many thoufands of them difperfed
the whole Kingdom over, for the meaner fort of people firft
rife generally 5 and then thofe of better quality follow after $
and the fire which was firft kindled in Ulfler , and lay a while
fmothered In other parts begins now to break out fo generally,
as the defection now appears to be univerfal throughout the
whole four Provinces fo ftrangely rooted was the combina¬
tion , and that ftrengthned under the fpecious fhew ofa Warr
for Religion 5 for although before and fince the Caution we
had from your Lordfhip, We have on our part endeavoured
not to give any apprehenfion to the Irish, that England doth
intend to-make it a Warr of Religion, yet as we formerly made
knpKVn to your Lordfhip, the Rebels labour mainly to have it
founderftood. Nay, they now go fo far as they call themfel-
Ves generally the Catholick Army, a Title which hath drawn
many thoufands to their party, and yet many joyned with
them for no other reafon than becaufe they faw our Succours
expedted forth of England and Scotland deferred, they rightly
judging, that without thofe Succours, we are not able to de¬
fend them our felves, and indeed until thofe Succours come,
they muft and will ftill encreafe 5 but if our men and arms were
once arrived, the very countenance of their coming would
draw many from them to us , and give fome flop to the fury,
with which they yet carry all before them whither -foever
they come.
They continue their rage and malignity againft the English
& Proteftants: who if they leave their goods or cattle for more
fafety with anyPapifts, thofe are called out by the Rebels ,
and the Papifts goods and cattle left behind 5 and now upon
fome new Councils taken by them, they have added to their
former, a further degree of cruelty, even of the higheft nature,
which is toProclaime, That ifany Irish fhall harbour or re¬
lieve any English, that be fuftered toefcapethem with his
life, that it fhall be penal even to death to fuch Irish 5 andfo
X 2 they
i 64
The irish Rebellion.
they will be fure though they putnotthofe English actually
tothefword, yet they do as certainly and with inore cruelty
cut them off that way, than if they had done it by the fword 5
and they profefs they will never give over until they leave not
any feed of an English-man in Ireland.
Nor is their malice towards the £«g-/^expreffed only fo,
but further even to the beads of their fields,and improvements
of their hands, for they deftroyall Cattle of English breed,
and declare openly, that their reafon is, becaufe they are
English 5 fo great is their hatred , not only to the perfons of
the English, but alfo to every fpecies of that Nation, and they
deftroy all improvements made by the English, and lay wade
their habitations.
We formerly fignified to your Lordfliip, that to take away
all jealoufie from the Papids of the English Tale, we would
furnidi them withfome Armes, and the rather becaufe we
well know that in thelad great Rebellion mlreland, xht En¬
glish Tale dood firm to the Crown of England and that the
Rebel Tyrone in the height of his power and greatnefs> was
never abletogetinto the Tale with his Forces whiled he was
in Rebellion 5 and upon this occafion, the Noblemen and
Gentlemen of the Tale, making deep profeffions of their Loy-
alty to his Majedy, in imitation of their A ncedors, and with
expredions feemingto abhorr the Contrivers of this Rebelli¬
on here againd whom they offered their power and drength,
fo as they might have Armes $ and we being well afiured,
that if we could gain their concurrence with us, it would much
facilitate our work ^ we did at their earned fuit iffue for them
Armes for one thoufand feven hundred men, wherewith di¬
vers Companies were armed by them, and fome of themfel-
ves were appointed Governours of the Forces ofthe Counties,
and Captains of their Companies: but fo many of thofe Com¬
panies revolted to the Rebels, and carryed away their Armes
with them, as we have recovered back but nine hundred and
fifty Armes > fo as thofe whofe loyalty we had reafon to ex-
The Irish Rebellion.
M pedt would help us, are now through their difloyalty turned
againft us, and are ftrengthned with our own Armes 5 and
'Wj without all queftion, ifthofeof th£ English Tale had done
their parts as became good fubjedts with their A rines they had
from us, and thofe they might gather amongfl: themfelves,
)fllj[J they might with our help not only have defended the jPale
m againft the Rebels,but might alfo have prevented the ruine and
breed, deftrudtion wrought by their Tenants and Neighbours on the
kept! poor English and Proteflants amongfl: them 5 for the Noble-
foist' men and Gentry fate ftill and looked on, whiieft the English
id tie and Proteflants were ruined before their faces -y the Papifts in
'Hi the mean time remaining fecure without the lofs of goods, or
anything elfe.
iar When we faw the power and ftrength of the Rebels ftill gro-
wof wing upon us more & more, and approaching by degrees mo-
nfet! re near to us, and the English and Proteflants robbed and fpoi-
liefj. led even within two miles of this City, in difdain and affront
of this State, which are fcornes of fo high a nature as we could
;|b| not endure, ifvve had ftrengthfufficient to reprefs their infla¬
te g lencics ♦, and when we obferved the retarding of our Succours
J ofmen and armes from England or Scotland, neither ofboth
'[0j, Succours being yet come, nor as we heard fo much as in view
igj there or in Scotland, and when we found apparently that for
yj want of thofe fupplies, we became in a manner fo contempt!-
a ble, as we were in danger to be fet upon for taking from us this
y City and Caftle before our aides (hould come,we bethought us
y ofall the means we could of gaining time, being confident that
fa wc ^nnot befodefertedby the State of England, but that
ftj,( fome fupplies may yet come unto us: And therefore on the
y. third of 'December^ we cliredted our Letters to divers of the
ntje- Nobility of the Kingdom who were nearefttous, and moftof
^ them being of the English Rale, to be with us here on the
eighth day ofthis Month,that we might confer with them con¬
cerning the prefentftate of the Kingdom, and we hoped by
\t their help, to handle the matter fo as we might gain a few days
x 3 time
I 66
The Irish Rebellion.
time before our furprifal here, by which time in all likelihood ^
our Succours might arrive, although-it be boldly given out (fi
by the Rebels, that We fhall have® no Succours from thence, fo
which they divulge to embolden their party, and toftrike ter- in
rour and difcouragement into the well affe&ed , amongft jh
whom there are many fo weak, as to apprehend from thence p
too much fear, whereby many are fled the Kingdom p
On the eighth day of this Month, the Earl of Kildare, the d
Lord Vifcount Fitz, Williams, and the Lord Baron of Month p
came unto us, but the refl of the Noblemen not coming defer- r;
red our conference, and on the eleventh day of this Month we m
received Letters from feven of them, namely, the Earl of Fin- i
gale, the Lord Vifcount Gormanfton, the Lord Vifcount Net* pi
tervile, and the Lords of Slaine, Trimbleftone, Munfany and a
Lowth, dated the feventh day of this Month, and ftgned by ®i
them , pretending a fear of a Maffacre on thofe of their Religi- ^
on , and that therefore they are deterred, to wait on us, but hi
do rather think it fit to (land upon their guard , and how that fa
refolution of their's may ftand with the loyalty they profefs, fa
we humbly fubmit to his Majeflies excellent judgement, for \)
whole royal view we fend you here inclofed, a Copy of their
faid Letters.
When we received thofe Letters , we did admire whence
their fears ofcoming to us fhouldarife,but afterwards we heard
that they had been in confultation with the Rebels, which alfo fe
as to moftofthem is confirmed by the enclofed Examination
of ChriflopherHampton, and indeed we know no caufe offear L
they have of us, unlefs their own guilts begot in them the fear L
they pretend; and they fpare not though unjuftly to charge us h
with a negled: of their advices, whereas not one of them to h
this Houfe offered to us any advice or real afliffance towards k
Pacification of thefe troubles. g
It became then publick ^nor could we keep fecret that h
which they had publifhed toothers) that thofe Noblemen fo H,
far fided with the Rebels as they now flood on their guard 5 we j
there- v
The Irish Rebellion.
therefore adjudged it fit for vindicating the State from the
afperfion which we found fo publickly endeavoured to be laid
upon us,to publifh the enclofed Proclamation, as well to fatis-
fie to the world as thofe Noblemen, who certainly are abun¬
dantly fatisfied in their own fecret thoughts, that we never in¬
tended to Maffacre them or any other^that being a thing which
we and all goodProteflantsdo much abhor, whatever the
practice of their Religion is, and hath been found to be by
vvoful experience in other parts, whereof we confefs we are
now in great danger, if our long expe&ed Succours come not
the fooner to us$and it may be gathered from that unexampled
tyranny which the Rebels have already exercifed towards
thofe of our Nation and Religion, who fell into their hands,
what we for our parts may expert from them, but the difho-
nour and fhame which may refledt upon the English Nation by
expofing this State and Kingdom to fo apparent ruinc, and
with it the extirpation of Gods true Religion, afflidfs us more
than the lofs of our own lives and fortunes, when all might be
Paved by fending feafonably thofe Succours.
We lately received Letters from the Lady Ofaly,and a Letter
containing moftinfolentMenaces inclofed therein, fent her
from the Rebels, to which flie fent them a noble Anfwer, Co¬
pies whereof we fend here inclofed.
One of the Rebels (tiling himfelfChaplain Major and Over-
feer oftheCoafts and Harbours, lately fent a Summons in a
proud and vaunting manner, to one Edward Leech, that was
entrufted to keep the Ifland of Lamb ay, requiring the delivery
up of that Ifland to the Rebels , which being done, he gave
Leech aPafs, wherein he ftiles the Rebels Forces theCatholick
Army: A Copy of which Summons andPafswe fend your
Lordfhip here inclofed 5 and Leech told us that that mighty
Chaplain declared openly to him, That he was Plotter of this
Rebellion,, That he hadfpent in Travel and Profecution of
that defign beyond Seas four thoufand pounds^ and that all the
Kings in Chriflendom,excepting the King of England,and the
King of Denmark, have hands in this bufinefs. A Caftle
I
111
Rebellion.
A Caftle in the Town ofLongfori,held by the Englishwho
flood out awhile againft the Rebels, being in the end through
want of victuals neeeffitated to be rendred up to them upon
promife of quarter, a Popifh Prieft (landing with his Skean in
his hand , watching for the coming forth of a Minifter then
amongftthe English, did by thrufting that Skean into theMi-
niflers guts, and ripping up his belly, give thatasafignal uo
the Rebels, for falling upon the reft of the English, which they
did accordingly, afloonas the Minifter was murdered, killing
fome, and hanging the reft mod perlidioufly.
On the ninth of this Month, we received advertifement,thac
great numbers of men were gathered together in Warlike
manner at Swoords'm the County of'Dublin within fix miles of
us,they having the Army of the Rebels behind them on this
fide Urogheda^ whereupon we then immediately fent out our
Warrant, commanding them to difperfe: A Copy whereof
we fend your Lordfhip here inclofed, which was not obeyed:
but a Letter fent us from Luke Nettervile Son to the Lord Vif-
count Nettervile and others of them: A Copy whereof we
likewife fend here inclofed -> whereupon we publifhed the in¬
clofed Manifeft, for vindicating this State from theirafperfions
alfo: Anditisobfervable, that thofe Gentlemen at Swoords
could even on that very Tuefday night, wherein they alledge
they were fo affrighted at their Houfes, aflemble twelve hun¬
dred men together in that moment of time, to have in readi-
nefs againft any attempt from the State, whereas for many
days before, they could fit ftill and look on, whilftanArmy
TP
p
U
ftp
m
tie
iii
p
f
kr,
j]
in
I
ill
m
of the Enemy lay behind them, betwixt them and Dregheda
fome
ifi'.ia \
.
and whi left lome of them openly declared Rebels, and many
of their neighbours, who doubtlefs hold under-hand intelli¬
gence with the Rebels , robbed and fpoiled the English on all
parts round about them $ and yet thofe Gentlemen could not
in all that time be either fo affrighted by the Rebels, or fp com¬
panionate of their poor English neighbours, as to affemble any
men for the defence of themfelves, or thofe their poor English
neigh-
The Irish Rebellion.
169
neighbours 5 and certainly thofe Gentlemen might have been
as believing in this State who have always ufed lenity and
mildnefs towards them, as in the Forces of the Rebels which
lie fo near behind them, and who they know have murdered
many of His Majefties good and innocent Subje&s, and for
ought they know (if there were not fecret intelligence bet¬
ween them) might have ufed them alfo in like manner.
Eut the truth is,we conceive thofe Gentlemen had a mind to
joyn with the Rebels, and do now take up pretences to cover
their difloyalty, and caft fcandal on this Government.
The Rebels in thzRale as in other parts,have caufed Maftes to
be faid openly in the Churches, expelled theMinifters from
Officiating in their Churches, and forced divers perfons for fa¬
ying their lives and goods to become Papifts,openly profefling
that no Proteftant fhall be fuffered to live in Ire land,and. whilft
they infult thus over all the English and Proteftants,deflroying
them for no other reafon, but for that they are Proteftants and
English, we let fall nothing againft them touching Religion,
and yet they feign things againft us , tending that way to give
fome colour to their cruel proceedings.
The Rebels ofthe County of Kildare have taken the Naas
and Kildare in the County of Kildare T he Rebels of Meath
have taken Trint> and Ashboy in the County of Meath,and di¬
vers other places 5 The Rebels of the County of Dublin, have
poflefted Swoords and Rathcoole, and fpoyled all the English
and Proteftants even to the Gates oiTDublin, and now about
fifteen hundred ofthe Rebels of/F/V/^areinand about TP0-
werfcait^ andabout ten miles from this City; Therearealfo
between this and the Naas within fix or feven miles of us a
thoufand of the Rebels of Kildare, and the Borders of Wiclow
and ©«£//w,fo as we are in this City invironed by them on all
fides by Land, and they begin to ftop acceftes to us by Sea-, for
the Fifhermen on the Sea-Coafts being all Irish and Papifts
Inhabitants in the Vale, brake out alfo into Rebellion with the
multitude, and have robbed, fpoyled and pillaged even with-
Y in
•si
i
The Irish Rebellion.
in the Bay of TTublin feveral Barks coming hither forth of |
England. And if to revenge this villany on the Fifhermen at f
Clantarfe and thereabouts, fo near us, we fend forth a Party of
Souldiers to burn and fpoyl thofe Rebels houfes and corn, the
Gentlemen of the 'Pale will immediately take new offence^ K
but that we will adventure upon; for now there is no dalliance [
with them, who fo far declare themfelves againft the State,not
caring what fcorns are put upon the Government, wherein is 1
obfervable, that the Landlord of Clantarfe is one of thofe f
Gentlemen rifen in Arms at Swoords.
Your Lordship now fees not only the neceflity ofhaftening ®
with all poffible fpeed our Succours of men and Arms both 1
out of England and Scotland, in greater numbers than thofe at
firfl: defigned, feeing the breach appears to be far greater, and
the defection more general than at firfl was conceived $ and ^
yet fo as fuch of them as are ready be not forced to ftay for the ?
reft, but that thofe may be fo ordered as to come after, for no /
flesh can imagine, unlefs they faw it as we do , the greatnefs of -:;
our danger, who are but a handful in comparifon of the mul¬
titudes rifen againft us: And we defire that the ten thoufand ^
defigned to come from Scotland > may be wholly fent away, P
as well the five thoufand intended to be left there in readinefs 11
as the reft, with diredlion to land as near ^Dublin as they may, P
and wherefoever they land to march to ^Dublin if poftibly they j®
can; And tofendaway with all fpeed theShips appointed fork (
guarding thefe Coafts, is alfo very necefiary to be haftned, j1
and that two or three Ships of good ftrengthfollow after: (
doubtlefs thefe Rebels expedl a very great fupply of Arms and
Munition from forraign Parts, either Spain or Trance,
And although out of the fore-fight we had of this extremity c
fince thefe troubles began,we have endeavoured to get in fome j
provifions of vidlual and corn , yet we have not been able to
provide our felves fufficiently to ftand out any long fiege, nor
can we now get inany more, our Markets being almoft taken ■)
away,and the ftrength of the/J^/jfurrounding.us fo as we can
The Irish Rebellion.
r foitj fetch in no more provifionsjwherefore we befeech your Lord-
Winj ship that theMagazins of Victuals defigned to be fetled on that
iPaji fide, may be fetled with all fpeed , if it be not done already,
:onj whereby we and theSuccours we expe&.may not be in diftrefs
olt ofVi&ualsforourfelvesorthem, oroatsforourhorfes. Our
diiliij- want of Vittuals is the more in refpeft of the daily accefs of
Sd,, the English fpoyled in the Country,
ita The neceffity of the defence of the Province of
o(t]fl quired the immediate raifing of a Regiment of Foot confiding
of one thoufand men, and two Troops ofHorfeof threefcore
iffl. each Troop, which threefcore we appointed the Lord Prefi-
is It dent to raife, and for the payment and arming of them, we
lioft humbly advife,feeing we cannot do it,that money and arms be
fent from thence to Toughall,with a further fupply of Arms
d a and Munition for the ftores in that Province now much want-
U ing there.
jn And as the Rebels which havebefet us and this City on all
jjfs, fides by Land, do threaten to cut offour Market at ,
m. which we begin to feel already: fo they boldly declare, that
they will within a day or two cut offthe watercourfe, which
JE brings water to this City and Caftle $ and that done, that their
ju multitudes will immediately burn our Suburbs and befiege our
m Walls,which we confefs we yet want ftrength to defend, and
;/,( mull want till our Supplies come forth of England or Scotland
(djj or both; for here we have but about three thoufand men, the
y reft of the old Companies being difperfed in feveral needful
jj' Garrifons in the Countrey (excepting feven Companies of
... them furprifed,and cut off by the Rebels at their firft rifing in
Ulfierand other Parts) and about two hundred horfe by pole
#ji of the old Army,whereof many are fo as confidering the
fpacioufnefs of this City & Suburbs to be defended,the fmall-
nefs of our number to defend them, and the great numbers of
Papifts Inhabitants in this City and Suburbs; andlaftly, the
very great numbers of the Rebels,v<\\o are foftrong as to ap¬
proach this City with many thoufands, and yet leave many
Y 2 thou-
The Irish Rebellion.
thoufands alfo at the fiege oiT)rogheda,\vt cannot expedf to be
able to defend this City for any long time againfi; them, with¬
out the arrival of our expedted Succours.
The Earl of Caftle-haven on the tenth of this Month, pre-
fented at this Board the inclofed Oath tendered unto him by
the Rebels to be fworn by him , which he faith he refufed to
fwear and we hear they fend it to ail Parts to be tendered to the
people, prefling them to take the Sacrament thereupon.
We did lately in hope to gain fome time until our fupplies
might come3liften to an offer made by fomePopishPriefts to go
to the Rebels and Treat with them3as you may perceive by the
inclofed: But fince we find there is little hope of it-, for fome of
the Priefts are returned, nothing being wrought thereby.
However it is fit yout Lordship should know what we do;
we muff now crave leave to declare to your Lordship, that
things being rifen here to this height, threatning not only the
shaking of the Go vernment,but the lofs of the Kingdom,as the
Supplies of men, Arms and more T reafure,are of great neceflity
to be haffned away hither 5 foisit alfo needful that we enjoy
your Lordships prefence here, forthecondu&in your own
perfon of the great and important affairs of this State,as well in
the Martial as in the Civil Government, which do neceffarily
require it in this time ofgreatimminent danger wherein fo far
as we may be able to contribute any afliflance with you, we
shall be ready to difcharge our duties therein, with that loyalty
and uprightnefs of heart which we owe to his Majefly, and the
particular refped: due from us to your Lordshi p 5 but we hope
you will bring that ftrength with you, which may befit the
greatnefs of the King ourMafter to fend with his Lieutenant
againfi: fo numerous enemies as thefe Rebels are become,as well
for the honour of his Majefly,as for the terrour of thofe Rebels.
By what we have heretofore and now humbly reprefented to
your Lordship,you may in part fee the greatnefs of the publick
danger wherein this Kingdom now ftands,and particularly this
City and Caflle, the principal place thereof, that if thofe be
lolj
The Irish Rebellion.
*73
loft (which we now again aflure your Lordship, were never in
fo great peril to be loft fince the fir ft Conqueft df this Kingdom
by the Crown of England} the whole Kingdom muft quickly
follow, that the danger which muft thereupon arife to the
Kingdom of England, is very great in many refpetts. There is
nopoflibility to prevent thofe evils with honour andfafety to
England but by Succours from thence or Scotland,or both,and
that if thofe Succours come not fpeedily,it cannot be avoided,
but the Kingdom muft be loft. And if notwithftanding all this
fo often and truly made known by us to your Lordship , we
shall perish for want of Supplies, we shall carry this comfort
with us to our graves or any'other burial we shall have, that
your Lordship can witnefs for us to the Royal Majefty and to
all the world that we have difcharged our duties to God, to his
Majefty, to that Nation, and to this, in humbly reprefenting to
his Majefty by yourLordship,the chief Governour of theKing-
dom, the extremities and dangers wherein his Kingdom and
peopleftand, and theneceflity ofhaftningSupplies hither, by
all poflible means for prefervation of both, fo as whatever be¬
come of our perfons,our memory cannot be juftly ftained with
fo wretched a breach of faith and loyalty to the King our Ma¬
tter, as to forbear reprefenting thither the extremities wherein
we are, whether we have the credit to be believed or no $ and
that we write truth, and moft needful truth, will be found true,
when perhaps we shall perish,and which is more confiderable,
the Kingdom alfo for want of being believed and fuccoured in
time. And fo we remain
Your Lordships to be commanded,
Willi am Tarfons. Jo. Bur lace.
OrmondOffory. R. Dillon. Char. Lamb art.
Ad Loftus. John Temple. Charles Coot.
Francis Willoughby. R. Meredith.
FromhisMajefties Cattle of Dublin,
j±T)ecember i 6&i.
Y 3 Pott:
r "
The Irish Rebellion.
Poflfcript.
BY Your Letters to'your Lordship of the 11 of November, We did defre to be
in formed from thence, whether the Parliament here being once Prorogued,
may not again be prorogued by Proclamation before they fit^or whether it be ofne-
cejjity that they mufi fit again, and the Parliament to be Prorogued the Houfefit¬
ting. And now that this Rebellion hath over-Jpread the whole Kingdom, and that
many members of both Houfes are involved therein, fo as the Parliament cannot
Jit. We humbly defire to know his Majeflies pleafure therein, and if his ALajefiy
shall thinly fit to Prorogue it 3 which in prefint we held expedient, that then we
may receive his commandment for Prorogation, and that the doubt concerning
that be cleared; for to ajfemble at that time cannot be with fifety.
Our Letters of the third ^December, have been hitherto with-held on this
fide by contrary winds.
In this mofi: miferable condition, the Lords Jufticesand Council conti¬
nued shut up within the City of Dublin, ftrugling with all their power for a
sh<5rt prefervation from thofe difmal calamities which had generally over-
fpread the whole Kingdom: Their care,travel,and endeavours, had hitherto
in fomemeafure extended to the mod: remote parts; how they might af-
fwage the fwelling diftempers, or yield lome relief to the lamentable com¬
plaints and bitter out-cryes daily brought up unto them. But now the evils
abroad were grown pad: their cure, and their own dangers lo multiplyed as
they were enforced to Ipend their time almoftin a perpetual confutation,
never at reft,fometimesraifed in the night by fudden advertifements,alwayes
in conftant perplexity and trouble, defperately threatned on every fide, fo as
what through treachery within or from without, they had jult reafon to
apprehend the lofsof theCity andCaftle wherein they had enclofed themfel-
ves,and fo confequently the ruine and deftru&ion of all the Brittish and Pro-
teftants throughout all other parts of the Kingdom. And thus they conti¬
nued until the mod: happy and welcome arrival of that truly valiant Gentle-
The arrival man an^ gallant Commander Sir Simon Harcourt, who being defigned Go¬
of sir simm vernour of the City ofDublin, was difpatched away by fpecial Order of Par-
^th Force s ^ament whh his Regiment for the prefervation of that place, and landed here
out of£»£- on the laffc of December^ 6 \\.io the great joy and comfort of all hisMajefties
uni. Proteftants,and well affe&ed Subje<5s,and to the terrour of thole Rebels now
in Armes, who had made themlelves believe that no Succours would be
fent out of England towards thefuppredingof their notorious Rebellion.
And now my intentions were to have proceeded further on in fetting
- down what hath fallen out within the next foUr Months, and then to have
added a brief account of all fuch particular pafTages as have been a died during
the fpace of thofe fixMonths within all the feveral Counties of thisKingdom,
and
The Irish Rebellion.
l75
'iik
H
VtHlln
mm
arm
tW
and fo having recolle&ed and prefcntedasit were at one view the publick
calamities and miferable defolations of all the four Provinces there, to have
fatdown and made the firft period of this Story.
But I muft here take up being unexpectedly called away; I refolve there¬
fore patiently to attend the reftoringof this Kingdom and the refettlement of
our affairs, and thenifl findnot this work undertaken and perfected by
fome more skilful hand, I shall hope to get the reft of my tailing together ,
and make fuch further provi honor all other materials as may enable me to
go through with the fame.
In the mean time it will not be amifs to take notice, that the Rebels within
very few Months after their fir ft breaking out, had (bordered their affairs,
as that by their fudden furprifes, their sharp and bloudy executions, their
barbarous ftripping, and defpoiling of all forts that fell into their hands, they
had cleared the Inland Counties of all the British Inhabitants: And except
fome few Caftles and other places of ftrength which they held feverally be-
fieged, and had mod of them fuddenly after furrendred for want of relief,
they had in a manner made themfelves abfolute Mafters in all thofe Parts of
the Kingdom. And for the Maritime places, there were only fome of the
chief Cities which were held out againft them, befides fome few other Forts
and places of no great importance: As in the province of Lemfter, the City of
Dublin^ and in the Province of Munfter, the Cities of CorhJYotighall, and Kin-
fiile\ in Vlfler, London-Derry, Colraine and Caregfergus: And all thefe they
held either befieged,much diftreffed,or they were otherways fo overpeftred
with the multitudes of poor ftripped people fled to them for fafety, as they
were confident they could not long hold out, but that either open force >
treachery , famine, or ficknefs would within a short time inevitably put
them into their hands.
Thus it pleafed God to humble his own people in this Land, and for their
fins to give them up into the power of their cruel Enemies, who began now
to facri fice to their own nets,to celebrate the memory of theirVidtories: And
upon theprofperity of their undertakings and late fuccefs,they were become
fo confident of prevailing even to the total extirpation of all the British and
Proteftants out of this Kingdom, as they proceeded to fet down a certain
form of Government, nominated the perfons whom they intended to en-
truft with the management of their affairs , what Laws they would have re-
yoked , what Statutes newly enadted: And in the mean time they eredted
aCouncil which they ftiled the Supreme Council,which they invefted with
abfolute Power and A uthoriry, to order and govern the whole Kingdom.
This confifted of certain Noblemen,Gentlemen,three or four Lawyers,and
one Phyfitian, who being elected unto this charge , had the place of their
refidence appointed unto them at Kiike-i iy, a ' itv in the Province o£Lem-
fiery where they fat ordinarily for the difpatchofall the great and weighty
\ affairs
The Irish Rebellion.
affairs of their State : They there ere&ed feveral Courts of Judicature,
they made a new broad Seal, appointed feveral great officers of State,
coyned mony , fettled an excife upon all kind of commodities, and per¬
formed many other acts of regal power.
Now how they proceeded on in the ordering thcfe their great affairs,
what Councils they took , what means they ufed to enable themfelvcs to
makeoppofitionagaind the Forces fent over by the Parliament of England
into all the four Provinces of Ireland, I shall here forbear to fpeak of Thefe
particulars muff be referved for the enfuing part of this Story, where they
will mod properly fall in to be related: And where likewife, we shall find
fo ftrange a turn, fuch a remarkable declination of their power , their
hearts failing them for fear, their Councils infatuated, their defigns bladed,
their Forces routed, their fieges raifed, fuch a general defaillance andin-
profperity in all their undertakings, as we muff: needs give glory to our
Maker, and acknowledge that God hath mod wonderfully wrought for
the deliverance of the poor fmall remnant of his people, which were here
shut up afid defigned to the flaughter.
For after a conflderable number of Horfe as well as Foot fent over by the
Parliament of England arrived at Dublin, and had in fome petty encounters
thereabouts tried the metta! of the Rebels, and found their fpirit ofa poor
and bafe allay, they began extreamely to difvalue them, and would be no
longer abufed with the fabulous reports of their great drength or numbers
which with much advantage they had long madeufeof: Therefore now
they began to feek them out in all places, and wherefoever they came to meet
with them , they always prevailed even with fmall numbers very often
againd great multitudes of them, fparing not many times to purlue them
into the midd of their greated fadneffes, and made the very bogs and woods
unfafe receptacles for their broken Troops. And with fo great fuccefs, was
the war profecuted by the English from the fird landing of their Forces out
of England until the Treaty of that moft unhappy Ceffation concluded in
Sept. 164$. as that in all the incounters they had with the Rebels during that
time, they never received any fcorn or defeats, but went on Vidlorioufly,
beating them down in all Parts of the Kingdom : And fo they carried 011
their work before them without any abidance either from the meer Irish or
the English Irish: For I can not my felf remember any Gentleman of quality
throughout the whole Kingdom that was there born and bred up a Papid
that puthimfelf into that fer vice, ordefired tobelidedas a member of the
English Army. It is true, fome of the common Souldiers there, were of the
English Irish that came in , and though they were not confiderable for their
number, yet they did good fervice and dill with much fury and sharpnefs
followed on upon the execution.
f i sr 1 s
I
L
It
M
ill
mil
to i
gW
isk
db
m
orti1-
eto®
fj ofe
luetb
:ceTs,«
toot
it
jringi
jriouf
arriedct
j Irish
oFqoJit?
f"