ALthough the many Calumnies and dismal Stories, by which Our Enemies have endeavour'd to render Us and Our Government Odious to the World do now appear to have been advanced by them, not only without any Ground, but aganst their own certain Knowledge; as is evident by their not daring to attempt the proving these Charges to the World, which We cannot but hope hath open'd the Eyes of Our good Subjects, to see how they have been imposed upon by designing Men; who, to promote their own Ambitious Ends, care not what Slavery they reduce Our Kingdoms to: Yet, We cannot but rejoyce, that We have had an Opportunity to demonstrate the Falsness and Malice of their Pretences, since Our Arrival in this Our Kingdom of Ireland; by making it Our chief Concern to satisfy the Minds of Our Protestant Subjects: The Defence of their Religion, Priviledges and Pro­perties, is equally Our Care with the recovery of Our Rights. To this end, We have preferred such of them, of whose Loyalty and Affection We are satisfied, to Places both of the highest Honor and Trust about Our Person, as well as in Our Army. We have, by granting Our Royal Protection to such whose Minds were shaken by the [Page] Arts of Our Rebellious Subjects, dispell'd their Apprehensions, and effectually secured them against the Attempts, even of their private Enemies. Our Ear hath been always open to their Just Complaints; And so far hath Our Royal Mercy been extended, to those who were in Arms against Us, that We have actually Pardoned several Hundreds of them; and most Notorious Criminals are kept in an easie Confinement (as they them­selves acknowledge.)

We have taken Care that Our Subjects of the Church of England be not disturbed in the Exercise of their Religion, the Possession of their Benefices and other Proper­ties; and all Protestant Dissenters enjoy Liberty of their Conscienes, without any molesttation. And out of Our Royal Care for the Prosperity of Our People, We have recommended to Our Parliament, as the First Thing necessary to be dispatched, to settle such a Security and Liberty, both in Spiritual and Temporal Matters, as may put an End to these Divisions, which have been the Source of all Our Miseries; Being resolved, as much as in Us lyes, to entail Liberty and Happiness upon Our People so far, as to put it out of the Power of Our Successors to Invade the one, or Infringe the other. And this, We take God to Witness, was always Our design; of which We see Our good Subjects here are more and more convinced, by the great Numbers of those, who having been Seduced, or Frightned, by the restless Importunities of Our Enemies, are returned to their Country and Habitations; and who assure Us, daily more would fol­low, if the Ports were open: But the Vsurpers know too well the sincerity of Our Intentions; to permit a free Passage of Our said Subjects; fearing nothing more than that their Experience should undeceive the rest, who are restrained more through Ig­norance than any ill Intention: And therefore deny them that Liberty which We afford to all, whose designs We are satisfied tend not to the disturbance of the Peace.

By this Our Gracious and Royal Care of Our Protestant Subjects here, (where the greatest part of Our Nation is Catholick) and have, as well as We, received the highest provocation from their Fellow-Subjects of contrary Persuasions: So that nothing, but Our Own inclination to Justice, and desire to see Our People Flourish, could move Us to such a Proceeding. We hope Our Subjects in England will make a Judgment of what they may expect from Us: And We do hereby promise and declare, That nothing shall ever alter Our Resolutions to pursue such, and no other Methods, as by Our said Subjects in Parliament shall be found proper for Our common Security, Peace and Happiness. And that none may be debarr'd of assisting Us in recovering of Our Rights, and redeeming Our People from their present Slavery, out of any apprehension from past Miscarriages; We do hereby assure all Our Subjects, of what Quality soever, let theirt Crimes against Us be never so great; That if in Twenty Days after Our appear­ing in Person in Our Kingdom of England, they return to their Obedience, by desert­ing Our Enemies and joyning with Us, We will grant them Our full Pardon, and all past Miscarriages shall be forgot: So little do We delight in the Blood or Ruin of Our People. But if after this Our Gracious condescension, they shall yet continue to assist Our Enemies and Rebels, We do before God charge all the Blood which shall be af­terward shed, upon Them and their Adherents. And, We doubt not, by the Blessing of God upon Our Arms, to force the most Obstinate to their Duty: Though, as We have made appear in reducing Our Rebellious Subjects in this Kingdom, We desire to use no other than Lenity and Mercy.

Given at Our Court, in Dublin-Castle, the Eighth of May, 1689. in the Fifth Year of Our Reign.

God save the King.