THat having this Eighteenth day of June, received in Bed, where he had continued for above a Month last past, ve­ry much afflicted with the Gout, and deprived of the use of Hands and Leggs, and by reason of Pains and Sicknesses getting little rest, which he hath reason to believe was well known to the Duke of Ormond; your Majesties Order in Council of the Seventeenth, with a Copy of the Representation of the said Duke an­nexed, and Command to attend your Majesty in Council on Fry­day next, at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon at White-Hall, which he resolves by Gods Blessing to do if he shall be in a Ca­pacity of Health and Strength to be carried thither, without Pe­ril of his Life; which he doth not believe that the Duke him­self thinks, after a year and halfs concerning himself in this Con­troversie, is to be adventured to gratifie a hasty proposal, upon his changing his way of proceeding.

In the mean time, That your Majesty may not be under the least prepossession by what the Duke hath represented with heat, and sharpnels against the said Earl, he doth humbly offer to Con­sideration, That though the Duke appear before your Majesty, as a Representer, the said Earl cannot but look upon him as a Petitioner, the Title by which all Subjects that complain, Address to your Majesty, and for want of which he hath observed many Suitors rejected with their Requests.

And therefore your Majesty is desired to be informed in the first place by a deduction of all that hath passed between the Duke and the Earl in this Affair, which is as followeth.

The Book complained of was written about two years ago by meer Accident of the Earl of Castlehaven's sending his Printed Me­moirs, to the Earl then at Blethington in Oxfordshire, where having read the same, and conceiving the English, and Protestants to be un­justly dealt with therein, and the Irish foul Cause professedly justi­fied, though the most Execrable Rebellion that ever was in the World; the Earl could not digest the same, but upon a bare Old Memory without help of Writings or Notes, immediately put pen to [Page 6] paper and the Eighth of July wrote a Letter to the said Earl of Castlehaven, which he believes his Lordship hath yet to shew, tho' when it appeared afterwards in print, about October, 1680. one was sent to his Lordship taking Notice thereof, and asking him what he had done with the said Letter, who then Confessed he had lent it to a Friend, but he would recover it again. The Letter be­ing thus Printed, the Duke of Ormond had soon sight of it, for in his Letter to the Earl of Anglesey of November the 12th. 1681. he takes Notice that he had seen it a Year before, and writes his Pleasure of it so Satirically, that the said Earl returned his An­swer of the 7th. of October following, which the said Duke takes Notice of in his said Representation, though he never before ac­knowledged the Receipt thereof, nor was pleased to make any Reply to it, though it gave him sufficient occasion: thus (when the said Earl expected a Reply) things stood till the said Com­plaint made to your Majesty, which he humbly submits whether it be fit to be received or proceeded upon in Council, after so open a litigation thereof in Print, wherein the said Duke had appealed to the People, and accused the Earl with as much Acrimony as it was possible for the Duke's sharp Pen to do, it being as the said Earl conceives, below the dignity of Your Majesty and the Board, after the Duke has proceeded so far in a private Quarrel of his own ma­king, without Success, (and that those the Duke had appealed to seemed generally satisfied that the Earl had fully Vindicated him­self from the Aspersions laid upon him by the Duke's said Letter) for your Majesty to be Addressed to so late, and in a Cause so con­cluded; wherein the Earl had justified himself in the method the Duke himself lead him, and is ready to proceed further so to do, if the Duke shall please to Reply in maintenance of his Printed Charge.

However the Earl not knowing what course in this Affair will be pursued, or directed, saith that he doth not disown the Book mentioned in the Duke's Representation, so far as he hath ac­knowledg'd the same in a Letter written by him to the said Duke.

But denies that in the said Book or Letter, there are divers, or any passages and expressions which are not only untrue, but reflecting in a lugh degree upon his Late Majesties Government, and particularly in Relation to the Rebellion and War in Ireland, and to the several Cessations and Peaces made by his, and your Majesties Authority and Command, which the said Earl hath formerly intimated in writing to the said Duke in Answer to a Letter of his insinuating the same thing, and urging for particulars which the said Earl could never yet obtain.

[Page 7] The said Earl is no further charged with malitiously calumni­ating and aspersing the said Duke, and insinuating several parti­culars to that purpose, but the passages in the said Books of that import are still reserved, and not thought fit by the said Duke, to be expressed so as the Earl may know what, or how to Answer.

And the said Duke is not ignorant that malitious Calumny or Scandal against so great a Person as the Duke of Ormond, is se­verely punishable by Law.

What to say more herein the said Earl knows not, till the Duke gives more clear and particular occasion.

Whosever shall take Notice of what the Duke Asserts of his and the Earls free Converse and Friendship for above twenty years, and which the Earl adds (and the Duke cannot forget) the real and adventurous friendship with the Earl, hath ingaged in with and for the Duke, he cannot but wonder as others do, that they are so easily cancell'd and turned into rancor and ill returns, without demonstrating a change in the Earl, which may satisfie inquiring men the Duke hath a Cause.

For else it seems wonderful and past belief to intelligent men, that the Earl who professeth that he bears Malice to no Person living, nor ever had quarrel with any man, that counts it his great misfortune in his Old Age, when he was preparing to go to his Grave in Peace and in perfect Charity with all men, he should be Attacqued by one who hath professed friendship to him above these twenty years, and as he finds by Letters and other­wise was intimatly a friend to his Father: As it is miraculous to the same degree, that the Earl in his circumstances should willingly be drawn into controversie with so great and fortunate a man, and so antient a friend as the Duke of Ormond.

But since it hath been the Dukes pleasure or humor so violently, and so many ways to assault the Earl, he must not take it ill that he cannot bear wounds patiently, and without just resentment.

The Duke complains further, that in the course of above twenty years free and friendly acquaintance and correspondence with him, the Earl never thought fit to give him any intimation of his intent to write a History of the Wars of Ireland, and other Transactions there.

The said Earl cannot recollect with certainty whether he did or no, but he very well remembreth that many years ago he acquainted Sir George Lane then the Duke's Secretary, and now Viscount of Lanesborrow (and who told him he had the custody of all the Duke's Papers and Writings of publick Affairs) [Page 8] with his intended History of Ireland, who promised him the assistance of them, but he could never yet obtain any from him: Nor from the Duke himself since he made a free offer and pro­mise of them by his Letter of the 12th. of November, threatning to appeal from the Earl as a partially ingag'd, and unfaithful Histo­rian if he accepted them not, he being as he wrote, more desi­rous to prevent than rectifie Errors and mistakes. The Earl ha­ving this noble encouragement from so great a person, (and who was to make so great a part of it) to proceed in his History by his Letter of the Seventh of October, acknowledged and ac­cepted the Duke's favour, expecting the performance thereof, but never heard since from the Duke till by his Representation to your Majesty, wherein he seems to forget or retract all that had passed, tho' the Earl had given him all the Assurance a man of honour could do, that he would be exactly faithful and impar­tial in the History, and now shews that he is unwilling any History should be written by the Earl, whose candor and impar­tiality he will yet allow to be but pretended, and therefore pro­poseth that your Majesty will prevent the Credit which they, his great place, and supposed knowledge (especially in the Affair of Ireland) may give to his Writings in these and future times, never considering that himself hath greater Places. Yet the Earl doth not apprehend their giving Credit to any thing the Duke hath or shall write against the Truth, which the Earl is resolved to tye himself strictly and authentically to, if he be suffered to go on, and not discouraged in his Design with which he inten­ded to close his Labours in this Life, for the good of England, and the Safety of that poor Kingdom of Ireland, harrassed by Rebellions and Massacres, and which must expect and undergo more (still preparing) unless prevented by wise Councils here, upon the warnings that a true Account of former times and failings may give us.

And since the Earl hath been versed above forty years in publick Affairs, without blemish or dishonour, and intends by your Majesties permission, to Dedicate his History to your Self, which sure he would not be so weak as to offer, if any thing were to be in it of the nature the Duke presageth, the Earl therefore hopes the Duke may at least trust your Majesties wis­dom with the publishing of what you shall have the perusal of if you shall judge it worth your reading before it go to the Press, be­ing intended both for the Honour of the Late King and of your Majesty, and not to gratisie any private humor or party, or to disguise or cover the Errors or Miscarriages of any Subject what­soever.

[Page 9] As to the Duke's Reflection, that the Earl chose rather to seek for Information from the Earl of Castlehaven than from him, the contrary doth appear ever since the Earl had any hopes giv­en him of the Duke's Assistance, with such Authentick instru­ments and writings as may contribute to the History, which the Earl cannot but yet expect and he never desired other informati­ons from the said Earl of Castlehaven, than in the Military Actions wherein the Duke employed him as a General, and never thought of making other use of them than as they concur'd with, clear'd and confirm'd the true Account the Earl was possessed of in those Affairs before.

As to the Duke's insinuating (where he mentions the War of Ireland and other Transactions there, wherein they had both a great part) that they were of opposite Parties, since he accounts it ser­viceable to his design of aggravating to the utmost against the Earl, the occasion is willingly imbraced to give your Majesty a brief and true Information of the part the Earl had both in Ireland and Eng­land, in the late unhappy Time.

The Earl was (under the Authority his Late Majesty had entrusted both Houses of Parliament with for Ordering and Governing the Af­fairs in Ireland, after the horrid Rebellion begun) instrumental there to preserve the Brittish and Protestant Interest, Countries and Garrisons, from being swallowed up by Owen Oneill's Barbarous Army, or falling into the Bloody Irish Hands. He also held Correspondence with, and offer'd Assistance to the then Marquess of Ormond, to Preserve the English and save the City of Dublin, and other English Garrisons and Quarters from the Treacherous Irish, who broke all Faith with the Marquess.

He likewise sent to the Marquess the Late King's Majesties posi­tive Prohibition in Writing, against making any Peace, or hav­ing at all further dealing with the Irish, and used his most earnest per­suasions herein, foreseeing it would be destructive to the English, and mischievous to the Late King; and still offer'd Assistance to the Mar­quess to encourage him in vigorous opposing the Irish, and to enable him to disappoint their Treachery, and the Consequence of their Faith-breaking.

The said Earl after the Peace notwithstanding made with the I­rish Confederate Rebells, and their Shameful and Treacherous Breach of it, with design and endeavor to Surprize the Marquess and all the English Garrisons in Lemster, and after they had so handled their business as to get the Commissioners of Parliament, (which were Arrived at Dublin by the Marquesses invitation, to receive the City of Dublin, and all other Garrisons and Strengths under his Command, [Page 10] and secure them against the Irish, for which end they had brought Forces, Shipping, Provisions, and Ammunition of all sorts with them) to be rejected and sent away by the Marquess.

He upon a second Invitation of the Marquess to the Parliament, (upon the Irish Rebells continued Breaches and Treacheries) went again for Ireland, after he had used all his Interest to persuade them to send again, though they were very unwilling, and it was much opposed by reason of the former unexpected disappointment.

And was the chief employed in Commission from the Parlia­ment with an Army of Horse and Foot, furnished with all things necessary to deliver the Marquess and English from the Irish Trea­cheries and Designs, and to receive the City of Dublin and other Garrisons, into the Parliaments Custody, who were trusted, and able to preserve the same for the Crown, if we could agree up­on Articles for that purpose, which by the Blessing of God the Earl did to the Marquess and the late Lord Chancellour Eu­stace, (whom the Marquess chiefly Trusted therein) to their great Satisfaction, as well as his own and the English and Protestants; and after He and the rest of the Commissioners had received the City of Dublin and other Garrisons, and Conveyed the Marquess with the Honor due to his Quality, to the Sea side to take Shipping for En­gland, as the Articles gave Leave; and had spent some time to lay the Foundations which after happily succeeded, for the total Redu­ction of the Irish, and breaking their Cursed Confederacy and Pow­er for Treachery, and Final Subduing them to the Crown of Eng­land, with the Forfeiture of all their Estates, for the Satisfaction of Adventurers and Soldiers, and the vast Encrease of the Revenue of the Crown.

The Earl returned for England as he had Leave to do, before he went, where by his Interest in Parliament he secured to the Marquess the Thirteen Thousand Pounds, &c. Agreed by the Articles for the Surrender of Dublin, &c. to be paid to him, though much endeavour was used by the Lady Vicountess Moore and others; upon legal pretences to deprive him of it; So that he lost not one Penny of it, and then the said Marquess thought, and held the said Earl his Real Friend, and a punctual Performer of Publick Faith.