IF in the undertaking of a just designe, it were only requisite that the hearts, and consciences of the undertakers were satisfied, we should not need to publish this Declaration. But lest our E­nemies should traduce the candor of our actions, and intentions, we have made this manifesta­tion of them, which will acquaint the world with their malice, and our innocence.

Wee are confident that all Christendome hath heard of the bloudy Rebellion in Ireland; And we are as confident the Re­bells, and Popish Clergy have so palliated and disguised it, That many are fully perswaded they had reason for what they did; but we believe all men of judgement will change that opinion, when they shall know that though they were a conquered people, yet the Lawes were administred unto them with asmuch equity as to the English; That they enjoyed their Religion, though not by Toleration, yet by Connivence; That their Lords (though Pa­pists) sate in Parliament. And that the election of the Knights of the Shire and Burgesses was free, and though of a contrary Religion were admitted into the house of Commons, yet for all [Page 5] these, and many other vast favours and priviledges, when every one was sitting under his Vine and Fig-tree, without any pro­vocation, they resolved upon a generall extirpation both of the Protestants, and their Religion, which without doubt they had effected, had not God beene more mercifull then they were wick­ed, and by a miracle discovered this divelish designe; Whereof, though we had notice just time enough to secure our maine Ma­gazine at Dublin, yet we could not prevent the butchery of mul­titudes of innocent soules, which suffered at the first in the Pro­vince of Ʋlster, and since they have continued this Rebellion with such perfidiousnesse, and bloudinesse, that though we had been as guilty, as we are innocent; yet the prosecuting of the VVar with that barbarousnesse, had rather been a sinne then Ju­stice. But by Gods great providence, when the Rebellion brake out first, the Parliament of England was sitting, unto whom His Majesty communicated so much of his power over this Kingdome, as we shall hereafter mention, and gave them great encourage­ment to prosecute the VVar against the Rebells by granting lands unto such as should adventure money for the maintenance of the VVar. Whereupon the Parliament (who were most willing to advance so good a cause) sent us at first large supplies, which had so good successe that the Divine aswell as humane Justice did proclaime them Rebells, for indeed God Almighty (since the de­liverance of the children of Jsrael from the Egyptians) never appeared to visibly as in this VVar. But the unhappy misunder­standing betweene the King and Parliament did so hinder the continuance of those supplies for this Kingdome, that all we re­ceived in nineteene moneths amounted not to five weeks enter­tainement, so that the Army which was sent to relieve us, lived upon us. And truly we may with Justice professe, That the forces of this Province did feed as miraculously as fight, being never able to prescribe any certaine way of subsistence for one moneth together; But when the poore Inhabitants were absolutely beg­gered, and no meanes for the forces to subsist on, left, a cessation of Armes was made for a twelve moneth with the Rebells, which our necessity (not inclination) compelled us to beare with, and the rather out of a firme hope that the Almighty out of his in­finite goodnesse would within that yeare settle a right understand­ing [Page 6] betweene the King and Parliament, That then they would un­animously revenge the crying bloud of so many thousands of innocent soules; And untill God blessed us with the sight of that happy Union, we might keep our Garrisons (which otherwise we could not) the better to enable them to prosecute so just, and honorable a designe. But the Cessation was as fatall to us during the time of Treaty, as afterwards it was ill observed; or they knowing what agreement they would enforce us to condescend unto, did privately send one or two persons to every Castle that we had demolished, which under pretence of being by that means in their possession, they ever since detaine, though it be contrary to the Articles. And which is more injurious, they have at all times since entered upon what Lands they have thought fit, and detain­ed them also; and their devilish malice having no bounds, they [...]id place guards upon the high wayes to interrupt our Markets, and punished divers of their owne party for comming with pro­visions to us, thereby to deter all from bringing any reliefe to our Garrisons▪ that so they might statue us out of those places, that neither their fraud, or force could get from us; which that they might the better accomplish, they murthered divers of the poore English, that presuming on the Article of free commerce, went abroad to buy victualls, which certainly would have caused them to have declined that course of seeking food, if hunger threatning them with more certaine death had not forced them thereunto. And whereas we trusted that these notorious infide­lities in them and infinite sufferings in us, would have been so visible to His Majesty, that nothing could have induced Him to make a peace with so perfidious a people, who through their fawning and insinuating with His Majesty, and by the counsell of some who re­present, that there is no way left for the securing the remainder of English, but by a peace. We find His Majesty being deluded by the first, and believing the last to be conducing to the pre­servation of His Majesties Protestant Subjects, is concluding of a Peace which will againe admit those Irish Rebells to be members of Parliament; so that that Court which should afford reliefe for our grievances, will by their overswaying Votes be our greatest grievance.

[Page 7]Moreover we are too truely enformed by divers of their owne party (whose names if we should publish, would be as great an in­gratitude as folly; The first, in betraying those that obliged us, The last, in depriving our selves of all future intelligence by them) that they have vowed never to submit to an English, or Protestant Government, except they have liberty to exercise their Religion in Churches; That the Forces of the Kingdome may be Trained-Bands of their men; And that likewise those of their owne Re­ligion may be admitted to places of trust in the Common-Wealth, which they call modest, and moderate demands, though we hope they cannot seeme so to any but themselves, and their Clergy, who, we find doe not thinke them enough, being they may not have all the Churchlivings. For we have certaine intelli­gence that they have made a strong Faction, as well among my Lord of Castlehavens Souldiers, as in all other parts of the Kingdom so that they are five parts of six, who will fly out into a new action, when they see a convenient time to execute, their design, which as yet they determine to forbeare, untill they see a peace concluded, supposing that then the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland will intermix Irish and English without distinction, to oppose the Scots, and that by that meanes there wil be a sufficient number of their party in our garrisons to master them, which, when they find an oppor­tunity for, they will certainly seize into their owne hands; Upon notice whereof the Faction abroad will with all expedition appre­hend the English in all parts, and having accomplished this part of their designe, they will manifest that they are weary of the King of Englands Government, and that they will trust none of his Pro­testant Subjects among them; For we are certainly enformed that they will invite a forraigne Prince to take them into his protecti­on, Unto whom they will deliver possession of what he pleases, and will become his Subjects.

And lest that Princes Treasure should be exhausted by warres in other places the Clergy have with the Popes assistance, raysed a­mongst those of their owne calling, and divers of the Gentry in I­taly, one hundred thousand pounds in money, and a quantity of Armes, and Ammunition, that are now ready to be [...] hither [...], And they have imployed one Doctor Daye [...] to goe forthwith thi­ther for it, As also to get his holinesse to settle a course for the ray­sing [Page 8] of more money, to be imployed for the advancement of that which they call Catholique cause.

Therefore out of a true sence of our injuries already suffered, and unredressed, with a right apprehension of inevitable ruine, not only to our lives, and estates, but likewise to the English Nation, and Pro­testant Religion, we have reassumed our Armes, according to our duty to God, our King, and Country, with inviolable resolution to dye, or frustrate this divelish designe.

And since those that dye acting for the Gospell, are as perfect Martyers, as those that dye suffering for it, Wee cannot but with joy embrace any effect that proceeds from so glorious a cause.

Neither can this act be esteemed a crime in us, since his Majesty up­on the Rebels first insurrection his treasure being exhausted, gave his Royall assent for the passing of an Act of Parliament, wherin he gran­ted (to all his Subjects that would adventure mony towards reducing of the rebells) Lands proportionable to the sum adventured, which would fall to the Crowne when the conquest should be finished; and the better to secure the adventurers, his Majesty obliged him­selfe to make no peace with the Rebels, but with the advice and approbation of the Parliament of England; And by that Act com­municated to the Parliament that power, which before was solely in himselfe, So that they not condescending to this peace, Our im­ploying of their Aids, and reassuming of those Armes put into our hands by King and Parliament joyntly, cannot be esteemed contra­dictory to his Majesty, in regard that their joynt Act is so ab­solutely binding, that neither of them severally can annull it, as is evident in the Lawes of the Realme.

Therefore if this war were only offensive, yet even slander it selfe must acknowledge us innocent, having so just a cause, so pious an intention, and so lawfull an authority, much more it being defen­sive and the Law both of God and nature allowing every one to defend himselfe from violence and wrong.

Moreover, the King must never expect any obedience from the Irish, but what proceeds either from their Interest, or fear. Through the first of these, neither His Majesty, or we can hope for assurance, for not granting them all their desires, their Interest (which is more powerfull with them then their loyalty) will make them throw off their subjection and to become absolute, not scruple to destroy us: [Page 9] then to expect any security by their feares, were frivolous; for though we have found their hearts as ill as their cause, yet they can­not be apprehensive of two or 3000 ill armed, and unprovided men, having all things necessary, and so numerous a people at their devo­tion.

And lest our Enemies should scandalize us with breach of faith, in violating the pretended Cessation, or with cruelty in expelling the Irish Papists from our Garrisons, who hitherto seemed adhering to us.

Concerning the first, we declare, That although our necessities did induce us to submit, supposing the Cossation would have produced other effects, as is before mentioned; yet that we had no power, (without authority from King and Parliament joyntly) to treat or yeeld to it; or if it had been in our powers, yet by the Rebels dai­ly breaches of it, we are disengaged from it.

Concerning the second, We declare, That our Garrison cannot be secured, whilst so powerfull and perfidious Enemies are in our bo­somes; Powerfull, being foure to one in number more then the English; Perfidious, in their constant designes to betray us, some whereof we will instance, to convince their owne consciences, and satisfie the world of our just proceedings.

One Francis Matthewes, a Francisean Fryer (being wonderful­ly discovered in an enigmaticall Letter, and as justly executed) be­fore his death confessed, that he had agreed to betray the City of Corke to the Lord of Muskery, which must necessarily inferre, that the chiefest and greatest part of that City were engaged in this con­spiracie, for otherwise he could not so much as hope th'accomplish­ment; And if this had taken effect, it had consequently ruined all the Protestants in the Province of Minister, that being our chiefe Magazine, and greatest Garrison; Besides upon this occasion, other Fryers being examined upon Oath, confessed that in their daily Masses within that Towne, and all other of our Garrisons, (where Papists did inhabite, they prayed for the advancement of the Catho­lique cause; which they believed the Rebels fought for.

And lastly, Wee have lately discovered, that the now Major, and Corporation, had conbined with the Rebells to betray the Towne to them and for that purpose an Army was drawne to all the parts adjoyning to our Garrisons. In the three chiefest whereof, we are [Page 10] confident, the Rebells had their partie; but by divine providence, before the Plot could be executed, the Major presuming on his speedy successe, contemned the Lord of Inch [...]quins authority, by opposing the levying of the monyes granted by the English, for the maintenance of the Souldiers, just about the nick of time that the treachery was to be effected.

And he being committed upon this occasion, The Rebels appre­hending their designe to be discovered, with drew their Forces, And lest this should be judged as an act of the Major onely, as a private person; Wee desire the world to take notice, that as soone as our Army, which forced their obedience, was removed into England, the Papists generally resisted what ever could be propoun­ded for our security, and would have disenabled us to continue our Garrisons had not the poore stript English taken all that burthen up­on themselves.

Nay, they were so insolent, that they laboured to get Armes in­to their hands, and to cause us to disband our Souldiers, which they affirmed to be kept as an unnecessary charge upon the King, that so they might with more facilitie receive the Irish and ruine us.

In a word, since they pretend the ground of this Warre to be for Religion, and that this is confessed by those who seemed to adhere to us; what faith can be expected from such a people, whose Religi­gion permits them to hold none with us?

By this preceding Relation, it is evidently seene, that unlesse we reassume our Armes, we betray the trust committed to us by God, the King and Parliament, and become slaves both of bodies soules. And therefore we have resolved to performe our dutie though with apparent hazard of our lives: And likewise maintaine that which is a thousand times more deare unto us, our Religion, and also defend our Garrisons for the Kings just use.

These we take God to witnesse are our Intentions, and we be­seech him to punish us as strangely as his [...] he hath preserved us, if we decline at all from these loyall and religions resolutions; And we firmely hope that the world will by this declaration, be as fully satisfied of the justinesse of our proceedings, as we our selves are; Then though we all lose our lives in this cause, we shall give o [...] friends occasion to rejoyce; and our Enemies to envie at so blessed an and.