I Thought fit to Order your Attendance, and to give you my Sentiments upon the present State of Affairs; and as 'tis a matter of great Consequence, so (assure your selves) I am not precipitately carry'd into these my last Resolutions, but have consulted both my Reason and my Honour, how far they are consistent with such Resolves, together with the Nature of our Ʋnhappy Master's declining Cause.

I am satisfy'd (Gentlemen) of your Loyalty and Bravery, and cou'd yet wish (if it were not too late) That there was a Proper Subject to imploy 'em upon; I mean not al­together so hazardous and desperate as This we are involv'd in; and I hope I may use a Soldiers Freedom, and yet modestly affirm, That I have no way betray'd my Commission, or acted unworthy my Trust, by a Mismanagement of it; but have discharg'd every Post and Station I have past through, both as to my Imploy in France, and these late Revolutions; which last, (though not so successful as the former) cannot with Justice be attributed to the Defects of my Conduct.

It is not unknown to some of you, how the Calumny of some Persons (who perhaps, had more of Envy than Loyalty) Summon'd my Attendance at the Court in England; where my Sincerity to our Religion and Liberties appear'd so Conspicuous, that instead of receiving a Check for my Actions, I return'd with greater Honour, and was made Lord Deputy of this Kingdom, where I so manag'd Concerns, (I wish I could say, with as great Success as Loyalty) that my Royal Master was very well satisfy'd, especially in sending him over a Supply of well Disciplin'd Forces, to assist him against the [falsly stil'd] Invasion in 1688; for now it plainly appears an Act of Heaven: Providence oftentimes ordering Affairs against the Determinations of Humane Prudence; and 'twas no common Change of Fate that attended the immediate Abdication, yet under all that Misfortune, my Loyalty stood firm and unmov'd; nor cou'd the falling Crown diminish my Duty, al­though it was enough to shock a Common Loyalist.—My Seizing Towns and Forts, my Disciplining you in the Honourable Art of War, (when England call'd me Rebel for't) my bolder Loyalty and Zeel; nor wou'd I shew'd my Sword for England's Decla­rations, believing that perfidious, Self-designing Monarch of France, was real in his Preten­ [...]ions to our Unhappy Abdicated Master; especially when he first sent the Marquess du Pont, [Page]to know the State of our Affairs, in order (as was pretended) to assist and re-establish him in his Throne; but it appears, (by taking a View of the late Measures) that 'twas his own Grandeur, and not a Princely Pity, or a Rightful Justice that was the Motive. Nor has the Fate of Monsieur St. Ruth, (whose Cruelty and Ambition every one knew) give a fairer Testimony, if we may be allowed to make any Judgment of Causes by Effects for it looks a Natural piece of Justice, that such Cruelty and Treachery as he us'd to some Parties in France, shou'd be repaid by their Brethren here in Ireland; only here's th [...] difference, That he treated them with base Massacres, and they him with an Ho [...]nourable Death in the Field.

I might add, That some, (if not all) of you are sensible that in one of the Councils call'd in Dublin, I gave 'om to understand, That we were threatened from England, at branded with the Odium of Traytors, if we proceeded; That we own'd only K.J. who sent [...] no such Orders; That we had Promises of Supplys from France; That we shou'd have O [...] Royal Master's Presence with us speedily.—I also gave 'em Notice, That we had Seize the Protestants Effects, and yet wanted a greater Fund; That we must borrow from our selve to serve the King, and the Catholick Cause; That Unity of Mind was necessary; and That [...] Master's Rights, Misfortunes, Commands, and Religion, ought to challenge our Care, and e [...] ­deavour in order to a Retrieve.

But I mention not this (Gentlemen) to boast of my Services, which wou'd be ver [...] Ridiculous, in these reduced Circumstances: But to Convince you, that there's no Misfor­tune,—wherein there cou'd be the least hope of regaining our declining Privilege which could make me desist my Endeavours, even from our first Losses before Lond0 [...] Derry, to the last Overthrow we received at Aghrim, and the Surrender of our only [...] cruiting Sea port of Gallaway; whereby all Communication of Assistance was cut off, a [...] now we have but a handful of Men to oppose a Numercus, Victorious Army. And yet con'd still lead on our little Strength, and hope for Victory, if we had only Flesh an Blood to Engage; But now we must expect to struggle with Famine, and fruitless Exp [...] ­ctation of further Relie [...]: Nor is there any avoiding these Miserys at home, if we consult ho [...] little our Dependancies must be from abroad, What shall we say about the Election an [...] Inauguration of Pope Innocent the XIIth, which is yet a deeper stab to our Cause? Ki [...] Lewis, if he wou'd be real to our Royal Master, has now enough to do to secure himse [...] The Concluding Treaty betwixt the Turk and Emperour; the Quieting of Scotland; an [...] our own Losses at the Boyne, Athlone, &c. together with our present Circumstance have no promising Indications of Hope or Liberty: And what is yet more than all this by our Obstinacy we seem to fight against Heaven, who (in such a peculiar manne [...] Blesses both the Cause and Arms of their present Victorious Majesties of England, by happ [...] Reformation of Manners at Home, and Successes Abread: So that my last Resolves a [...] To Submit upon as Honourable Terms as can be got; and I am yet farther fixt in this my R [...] solution, by the Advices sent me from Monsieur Dussone, late Governour of Gallaw [...] who has also Submitted, and obtained for them that were with him, the Benefit of th [...] Lords Justices Proclamation, which gives them their Estates and Liberties.

Gentlemen, I thought it convenient to mention these things to you; and I hope you will follow my Example, and Advice, and make use of your Interest in perswading [...] under you to a general Resignation to Their Majesties, by laying hold of the Proclam [...] tion, whereby you will divert the Misery of a Siege, and prevent the Effusion of mor [...] Blood; for 'tis no longer a prudent Valour, but an inconsiderate Rashness to be Obst [...] nate.sAnd now (Gentlemen) I think nothing remains, but that we use our Re [...] son in this Extremity, by consulting what Terms and Proposals may be made before [...] too late. These are my Sentiments of things, as they now stand. Your Advice an [...] Counsel is only wanting, and in my Opinion, 'tis necessary you come to a speedy Determination, whilst there's opportunity to do it; for 'tis in vain to think, that We on [...] can prescribe Laws to Necessity, or the establisht Designs of Heaven, about the Revolutions [...] Crowns and Kingdoms.