SInce the Iriſh Army in May laſt was disbanded, (which was done with much reluctation of the multitude, being very unwilling to lay down their Arms,) and the Romiſh plot for civill Warres (and bloody battell practiſed by the lurking Jeſuits, and their adherents, the Romaniſts in generall) between our gracious Soveraign, and his Subjects of Scotland tooke none effect; and the opportunity and means of taking away root and branch of the Proteſtants, both Engliſh and Scotiſh in Ireland was avoided. It is clear and manifeſt, that this new way of Treaſon and Rebellion, was by the diſloyall and perfidious Romaniſts, the Incendiaries of all Chriſtendome, at ſome frequent Conventicles and meetings, principally at a Friary called Multifornam in the County of Weſtmeath, where many hundreds of them met and conſulted for many daies together this laſt Summer (proviſion being brought in unto them by the Countrey) where they thus plotted, contrived, and put in execution as followeth, videlicet. That on the 23. day of October laſt, moſt of the Kings Forts and Caſtles throughout the Realm, ſhould be by ſelect men ſet out and allotted to every particular Fort and Caſtle to be by them ſurprized; and the Governours and Keepers thereof ſlain, or kept priſoners.

Accordingly many Caſtles and Forts were then ſurprizes; the Surprizers under colour of neighbourhood and friendſhip, inviting themſelves to breakfaſt or dinners to the Governors and keepers thereof, where themſelves, their Wives, Children, and Servants were robbed, ſpoiled, and ſtripped of all their monies, plate, jewells, goods, corn, Cattell, Houſholdſtuffe, and Apparell, and ſome ſlain or hanged, and ſome kept priſoners, and barbarouſly handled.

For ſurpriſall of his Highneſſe principall Caſtle and City of Dublin; where the reſidence of this Princely government is, was allotted and aſſigned the Lord Macguire Baron of Eneskelim, the two Macmoghans, and others. The Lord Macguire to that purpoſe repaired to Dublin ſome few daies before; and the Macmoghans, and the reſt, the two and twentieth of October, with intent to ſurpriſe the Caſtle on the morrow at the opening of the Gates, and letting downe the Draw-bridge, and to act their intended tragicall maſſacre of the Proteſtants, on the twenty fourth day of October being Sunday.

To that purpoſe had they gathered together a multitude of deſperate ſavage barbarous fellowes out of their remote Countries into Dublin: of whom (upon the diſcouery of the conſpiracie) the Lord Macguire, the Macmoghans, and many others were apprehended and tooke the Caſtle the ſame day; but not ſo early in the morning as they intended, and are yet there in durance. And many hundreds more were neere approaching to the City of Dublin on the three and twentieth day of October; but upon the noiſe of the diſcovery, Retreated.

And moreover about foure hundred men having divers Moneths lien on Shipboord in the Port of Dublin in two of the beſt Ships furniſhed with Guns, frequenting that Port, hired under pretence of tranſporting thoſe foure hundred men, being levied and Shipped by his Highneſſe Letters of Licence for Spain were upon the diſcovery neglected, and no further care taken for their tranſportation, or victualling. But the Friar, one Mallun, that had been the chiefe agent in victualling, and for the pretended tranſportation of thoſe foure hundred men, hid himſelfe from further examination and inquiry; and the men were thereupon ſet on ſhore.

What the ſecret intended intended Plot was, as well touching thoſe foure hundred men, as alſo touching thoſe two armed Ships, the occurrences and conſequence being compared, I leave to the judicious to diſcern; many delayes being made againſt Articles of Charter-party, to hinder the Maſters and Navigators of the ſayd Ships from hoiſing ſaile when the winde ſerved. Notwithſtanding, it pleaſed that Almighty and omniſcient God, that hath been alwayes propitious, benigne, and gracious to our gracious King, in reſcuing and delivering him; as alſo his gracious Father of famous memory, and famous Queene Elizabeth their predeceſſor, from many malicious, wicked, and bloody Romiſh deſignes; As the Queen from piſtolls, poiſons, and poniards, and the Armado of Spain, in the year 1588. King James, and our gracious King Charles from the Gunpowder-Treaſon, and ſince, in bringing back our gracious Soveraigne Lord, and King, out of the jawes of Spain, and Rome; by defeating, and preventing the maſſacre of his Majeſties Royall Siſter, and her Royall iſſue in Holland; from the Spaniſh Armado, in the year 1639. overthrown by the Hollanders, without his loſſe or coſts. From inteſtine and civill wars between him and his Subjects of Scotland, laboured by that Arch-devill, Arch-juggler. So now by his ſecret and mighty power and providence (as the manner of diſcovery will make appeare) to prevent the imminent ruine, and utter deſtruction and loſſe of the whole Realme of Ireland, and his Highneſſe people the Proteſtants, which muſt have followed; if the Caſtle or Dublin, whereby all his Highneſſe ſtores and proviſions of all manner of Arms, Ammunition, and inſtruments for War, being then no ſmall quantity had been ſurpriſed. Yet the reſt of the Conſpirators in moſt of the Counties throughout the Realme being confident of the good ſucceſſe of the Lord Macguire in ſurpriſing the Caſtle, and City of Dublin. (And well they might be confident thereof, for the good ſucceſſe of the Catholike cauſe was prayed for at their Maſſes;) went on with th • ir traiterous and bloudy reſolutions; and the neighbouring Iriſh in moſt Counties, ſlew the neighbouring Engliſh; Debtors their Creditors Tenants their Landlords, ſome Lords of lands their Tenants, Mortgagers their Mortgagees, Servants their Maſters, and ſeverally poſſeſſed themſelves of their ſeverall lands and goods, Money, plate, jewels, apparell, houſholdſtuffe, corn, and cattell, and thruſt them, that they let live, out of doores naked. Many great mens ſervants being Iriſh, ran away from their Maſters with their beſt Horſes to the Rebels. The Rebels further proſecuting their traiterous and rebellious deſignes; ſurpriſed every day more and more of his Highneſſe Forts, Caſtles, and Towns, partly by fraudulent and treacherous inſinuation, partly by force, partly by promiſes of faire quarter to thoſe his Highneſſe Subjects, who had upon the noiſe of the Rebellion betaken themſelves thereunto for ſafegard of themſelves and their goods, that upon rendition they ſhould carry away bag and baggage. Behold, all ye that paſſe by, and read this relation, how theſe promiſes of quarter were performed!

No ſooner came his Majeſties ſubjects out of thoſe Holds, but they were all, by the Rebells, ſtripped naked; ſome bloodily wounded, even to death, but left alive languiſhing; their bellies being ripped, and guts iſſuing, caſt upon dung-hils; ſome butchered and cut into gobbets; ſome men, ſome women hanged, yea many hanged, or otherwiſe put to death by them, when they returned from ſome skirmiſhes with leſſe.

No degree of Laity, or of, or belonging to the Clergy ſpared; but Ladies, Gentlewomen, women great with childe, yea, children, very infants and ſucklings, as well as men, all robb'd, and ſtripped naked, and expoſed to extremity of winde and weather, in a cold winter ſeaſon, and forced to lie on the cold earth in the fields, in their travell towards Dublin; over whom, being driven together in Herds and Flocks, the Salvages inſulted, and upbraided them, ſaying, Now are ye wilde Iriſh as well as we, and ye may go to Dublin, if ye will; but ye will finde little ſuccour there, for we are ſure the Caſtle and City are taken. Whither thouſands of them repairing from farre, being ſore ſmitten with hunger and cold before they came thither; many of them, after ſeverall reliefs upon the high way, having been thrice ſtripped by the unmercifull Salvages (it is true) found but ſlender ſuccour; for indeed it is not there to be had, howſoever ſome particular men have been very bountifull in their Alms and contribution.

For the one halfe of the City and Suburbs are Papiſts, and will not, or dare not relieve a Proteſtant for fear of Romes curſe, which is denounced againſt them, if they do relieve. Of the other halfe two parts of three, are poore, and not able to give; and halfe a third part are departed with their eſtates into England for ſafety; inſomuch as the diſtreſſed poore robbed people dye there on heaps, as before they did in the fields upon their travell.

It is now little more than two moneths ſince this Rebellion burſt out, during within, and ſince which time the Traitors and Rebels have ſo beſtirred themſelves, that they have not left an Engliſhman ſubfiſting in any part of the Realm, except in the Province of Conhaught; where they are beholding the goodneſſe, loyalty, • nd fidelity of the noble Earle of Clenricard, and the care and vigilancie of the Right Honourable the Preſident of the ſame Province, for their being: And in ſome parts of the Provinces of Munſter and Ʋlſter; the firſt whereof is in part planted with Engliſh, being the portion of the noble Earle of Corke, and the laſt with Scots, being the portion of divers noble and generous Scots (who have behaved themſelves bravely, and ſtoutly againſt the Rebels; as alſo ſome of the Engliſh Chiefe • ains have, who (I doubt not) ſhall reape the due merit of their courage and valour;) and in ſome other few fortified Towns, Caſtles, and Forts, able for a while to defend themſelves from the rage and fury of the multitude, who have dared to ſtop up all the high-wayes and paſſages from Dublin to remote parts, thereby to prevent all poſtage of Letters, and meſſages from the State to any Town, City, or County, Governour, Lievetenant, or Commander, to lay ambuſhes for his Highn • ſſe Forces, Men, Arms, and Ammunition, and to ſurpriſe the Arms, and ſlay the men, to rob and ſpoile all the Engliſh within two myles of the City of Dublin, and to bring up their forces ſo neere, and to skirmiſh with his Highneſſe Forces, they having gotten at leaſt 3000, or 4000 Arms of his Majeſties by force, or fraud, but moſt by treachery.

They have dared above a whole moneth to beſiege his Majeſties Towne of Drogheda, both by Sea and Land, the ſame being but twenty miles remote from Dublin; inſomuch as both Towns are already ſtraightned for victuals: Drogheda having had for all that time no market at all, and Dublin a very ſlender and thin market; therein appeering now ſcarcely either pound of freſh butter, or cheeſe, Turkey, Gooſe, Hen, Capon, Chick, Egge, or Pigge, or any manner of Sea-foul • ; and little Fiſh; all which were wont to be very plentifull, and at cheape rates. It is ſuppoſed that moſt of the Fiſher-men are become Rebels. The prices of Corn, Beife, Mutton, Veale, and Porke are already doubled to that they were at the begining of the Rebellion. For in very deed, the Rebels have ſurpriſed, or do detaine from market, or are poſſeſſed of all the Corn and Cattle almoſt in the whole Realm.

At the firſt, and for one moneths ſpace after the Treaſon and Rebellion brake out; it ſeemed to be none other, but ſuch as was plotted, ſtirred, and enterprized only by ſome Male-contented old Iriſh, againſt the Engliſh; whoſe Anceſtors and themſelves▪ had poſſ • ſſed their Anceſtors lands, and Revenues, and the cauſe not Romiſh, and univerſall; but it had been poſſible to have been conceived, that if the Caſtle of Dublin had been ſurpriſed; the cauſe would have proved not onely diſcontent for diſ-inheritance, but the Catholike Romiſh cauſe a Kingdome, and a new Cath • like King.

As ſoon as thoſe of the vicinity of Dublin, Lords, knights and Gentlemen of the Pale, the old Engliſh, had by their cautelous inſinuations, and proteſtations of loyalty and fidelity to the King, and Crowne, ſeverally obtained from the Right Honourable, the Lords, Juſtices, ſeverall Arms and Ammunition out of his Highneſſe Store-houſe, in his Caſtle of Dublin, for their pretended private defence againſt the Rebels: and had afterwards declared themſelves, by laying aſide thoſe ſeverall Arms and Ammunition together, for a publike offence againſt our Soveraigne Lord the King, his Crowne and dignity, to be their confederates, Then it apperred manifeſtly that the cauſe was not only private diſcontent of ſome particular men, but Univerſall, Romiſh, and devilliſh, even for a Kingdom. For what did, or could the laſt Committee of Parliament crave of his Highneſſe for enlargement of their juriſdictions, immunities, and liberties, which was not liberally of his free Grace granted. Let the whole World behold, and ſee the free Grace, and bounty, of a Royall, Virtuous, and pious King; and the diſloyall ingratitude, and heatheniſh immanity, of a perfidious, and Rebellious people, who have ſo Traiterouſly requited his King-like clemency and benignity. For they have not only deſtroyed, and made deſolate his Kingdome in two moneths, which hath been fourty years implanting ſince the laſt civill Wars; but they have alſo robbed him of his Rents, Revenues, and Cuſtomes, and part of thoſe Subſidies which themſelves had helped to confirm by Act of Parliament, and robbed, ſpoiled, and murthered many of his Liege-people, which ſhould, and would have cheerfully payed thoſe Subſidies. For they have deſtroyed all Merchandize and Trade throughout the Realm, wherby even many of themſelves, and their impions faction, muſt of neceſſity ſuffer infinitely; millions of gold will not countervail the dammage on all ſides. One thing more in particular, touching thoſe of the Pale neer the City of Dublin, and the confines is worthy to be related, videlicet, that when ſome of them had obtained Arms, and Ammunition for 500. men, with pretence to reſiſt the Rebels: beſides thoſe a forementioned for their private defence, they returned anſwer, that they could not levy ſo many men, who would fight againſt the Rebels: and therefore they would return the Arms, and Ammunition, and ſo did, but not to the Caſtle of Dublin, whence they received them, but to the Town Droghedath, which is now beſieged, between which and Dublin, the ſ • me men nowly with an Arm •… , expecting doubtleſſe, ſhortly to have all thoſe Arms again.

For the beſt of them, who appeared moſt in getting forth thoſe Armes, have ſince refuſed to come in upon Proclamation, th • y have joyned themſelves with the Rebels, they have taken the Kings Subjects priſoners, they have again r • leaſed them, and given them paſſes from th • Iriſh Army, coloured with pretended authority in the Kings Name, with their own names, and a Romiſh Prieſts, or Fry • rs ſubſcribed. Was not this a neat Romiſh trick? Let all theſe conveyances, and occurrences be laid together, and then let all the Princes, and Nations of Europe judge, and cenſure, whether Religion can warrant ſuch fraud, and treachery, treaſon, and rebellion, robbery, ſpoil, rapine, bloudy cruelty, and murders.

The primitive perſecutions were exquiſite torments of divers kindes full of tyranny, and cruelty; but they were ſhort, and made a ſpeedy end of life; but this new found way of perſecution by cold, and hunger, much more terrible, and exceedeth them all, becauſe it is a long lingring, and languiſhing torment, and ſo much the more cruell, becauſe exerciſed on women, yea women great with childe, Infants, and Sucklings.

Theſe tyrants, and bloudy minded men, certainly are not Kings, nor Governours; by what authority then exerciſe they ſuch cruelty upon their fellow Subjects? What can they ſay for themſelves, if they ſhould anſwer before their King? If they pretend religion, though there be a mulct of ninepence, each Sabbath upon every perſon of competent age abſenting himſelf from Divine Service by a Statute Law enacted in the Realm, they cannot alledge that it was put in execution, or that they had not freedom for their Romiſh ſuperſtitions, which to endeavor to convince them of by argument is but folly. For their pretended Catholike cauſe, which already appeareth to be the mother of treaſon, and rebellion, the ſin of witchcraft, murder, and all other abominations, and will ſhortly appear, even to themſelves to be the daughter of Antichriſt, and Antichriſtianiſme, muſt by an inevitable divine decree, be convinced by fire, and ſword. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give the glory, for thy loving mercy; and for thy truths ſake.

For if the Lord himſelf had not been on our ſide, now may we, that ſurvive ſince the day of diſcovery of their abominable treaſon, and rebellion, ſay, when they roſe up againſt us; they had ſwallowed us up quick, th • y were ſo wrathfully diſpleaſed at us. Praiſed be the Lord, which hath not given us over as a prey unto their teeth. The ſnare is broken, and we are delivered. It may be collected that King David, in theſe precedent words of his, prophecied of theſe later times, and the Romiſh perſecution. For how were the ſnares broken, and we delivered, when there was but tenne houres left unrun out from catching us in their ſnare? Meerly by the providence of God, as the many formerly mentioned deliverances were. It appeareth manifeſtly, that the conſpiracy had been long in hatching, and contriving with true Romiſh ſecrecy. For the honeſt man Owen O-Connely, the diſcoverer being an Iriſh man, but a Proteſtant (as he hath declared to divers of his familiar friends) having obſerved by diſcourſe among the Iriſh, that there was ſome enterprize in hand prayed for, at their Maſſes, in furtherance, and good ſucceſſe of the Catholike cauſe, Although he had diſſembled his Religion, and frequented their Maſſes in places remote from his habitation, where he was not known, could never obtain a true diſcovery of the particular, untill the very evening of the two and twentieth day of October, when Hugh Mac-Moghan, one of the conſpirators, intending to expreſſe his love to Owen O Connely, and to reſcue him out of the approaching danger, and to that end having invited him by Letters, and an expreſſe Meſſenger to ride with him a long journey to Dublin, upon earneſt affairs, they with the reſt being thither come; opening his minde to Owen, told him what the enterpriſe was, videlicet, the ſurprizall of the Caſtle of Dublin, and Maſſacre of the Proteſtants, and enjoyned him ſecrecy, and fidelity.

Owen could do no leſſe for his own ſafeties ſake, then give conſent, and promiſe fidelity, and ſecrecy. But withall he diſwaded Hugh Mac-Moghan from the enterprize, but did not prevail. For Hugh Mac-Moghan anſwered, that it was too farre gone, he was ſo deepely engaged, that he had vowed perſeverance, or to that effect. If it be ſo, replied Owen, let us go on, I will do my beſt, or to that effect.

Notwithſtanding his verball conſent, the good man moved with the fear of God, love of his King and Country, and commiſeration of his fellow Subjects, Chriſtians, and Proteſtants, whom he well ſaw, and knew were ſure to be loſt, and ruined if the plot ſucceeded, wiſely reſerving to himſelf his compunction of heart, and loyall affection, kept company with the Traytors, ahd revelled with them in Taverns, untill he had drunk too much; but in the end watching his opportunity, ſlipt away, from them, into one of the Lords Juſtices houſes, and diſcovered unto the Lord Juſtice the conſpiracy; to which the Lord Juſtice gave little credence at firſt, becauſe he perceived that Owen had drunk too much. But the vehemency, and importunity of Owen, moved him to embrace, and take the information to heart, and immediately it being then late in the night to go to councell with his Peers, and to take courſe for prevention of that wicked, and damnable Treaſon, and for apprehenſion of the conſpirators, who were eight or nine of them attached, within eight or nine houres after; a little before the prefixed hour of their intended miſchief, and the Lord Macguire about the midſt of the ſame day.

For every particular of the manner of diſcovery, it is not materiall to ſet out; Owen O-Conney beſt can, and hath already told his own tale.

Herein is given only a brief touch of it, whereout may be gathered, that the finger of God was in it, in framing the heart of Hugh Mac-Moghan towards Owen O-Connely, and to diſcover that to him in the very point of time, which he had ſo buſily, and induſtriouſly long ſought after. Therefore let glory be given to God the principall diſcoverer.