"My Lord,

"The resolution of those Gentlemen in denying to contribute unto the supplying of the army, sent hither for their defence, doth put me in mind of the Philosopher's observation, That such as have a respect to a few things, are easily misled: The present pressure which they sustain by the imposition of the Souldiers, and the desire they have to be eased of that burthen, doth so wholly possess their minds, that they have only an eye to the freeing of themselves from that incumbrance, without looking at all to the desolations, that are like to come upon them by a long and heavy war, which the having of an army in readiness, might be a means to have prevented; the lamentable effects of our last wars in this Kingdom, do yet freshly stick in our memories: neither can we so soon forget the depopulation of our Land, when besides the combustions of war, the extremity of famine grew so great, that the very women in some places by the way side, have surprised the men that rode by, to feed themselves with the flesh of the horse, or the rider: And that now again here is a storm towards, wheresoever it will light, every wise man may easily foresee, which if we be not careful to meet with in time, our State may prove irrecoverable, when it will be too late to think of, Had I wist.

"The dangers that now threaten us, are partly from abroad, and partly from home; abroad, we are now at odds with two of the most potent Princes in Christendom; and to both which, in former times, the discontented persons in this Country have had recourse heretofore, profferring the Kingdom it self unto them, if they would undertake the conquest of it: for it is not unknown unto them that look into the search of those things, that in the days of King Henry the Eighth, the Earl of Desmond made such an offer of this Kingdom to the French King, (the instrument whereof yet remains upon record in the Court of Paris) and the Bishop of Rome afterwards transferred the title of all our Kingdoms unto Charles the Fifth, which by new grants was confirmed unto his Son Philip, in the time of Queen Elizabeth, with a resolution to settle this Crown

upon the Spanish Infanta: Which donations of the Pope's, howsoever in themselves they are of no value, yet will they serve for a fair colour to a potent Pretender, who is able to supply by the power of the sword, whatsoever therein may be thought defective. Hereunto may we add, that of late, in Spain, at the very same time, when the treaty of the match was in hand, there was a book published with great approbation there, by one of this Country birth, Philip O'Sullevan, wherein the Spaniard is taught, that the ready way to establish his Monarchy (for that is the only thing he mainly aimeth at, and is plainly there confessed) is, first to set upon Ireland, which being quickly obtained, the conquest of Scotland, next of England, then of the Low countries, is foretold, with great facility will follow after.

"Neither have we more cause in this regard to be afraid of a foreign invasion, than to be jealous of a domestick rebellion. Where, lest I be mistaken, as your Lordships have been lately, I must of necessity put a difference betwixt the inhabitants of this Nation; some of them are descended of the race of the ancient English, or otherwise hold their Estates from the crown, and have possessions of their own to stick unto, who easily may be trusted against a foreign invader, although they differ from the State in matter of Religion: For proof of which fidelity in this kind, I need go no further than the late wars in the time of the Earl of Tyrone, wherein they were assaulted with as powerful temptations to move them from their loyalty, as possibly hereafter can be presented unto them: For, at that time, not only the King of Spain did confederate himself with the Rebels, and landed his forces here for their assistance, but the Bishop of Rome also, with his Breves, and Bulls, solicited our Nobility, and Gentry, to revolt from their obedience to the Queen, declaring that the English did fight against the Catholick Religion, and ought to be repugned as much as the Turks, imparting the same favours to such as should set upon them, that he doth unto such as fight against the Turks; and finally, promising unto them, that the God of Peace would tread down their

enemies under their feet specdily. And yet for all the Pope's promises, and threatnings, which were also seconded by a declaration of the Divines of Salamanca and Valladolid, not only the Lords and Gentelmen did constantly continue their allegiance unto the Queen, but also were encouraged so to do by the Priests of the Pale, that were of the Popish profession: who were therefore vehemently taxed by the traytor O Sullevan, for exhorting them to follow the Queen's side; which he is pleased to term "Insanam, & venenosam doctrinam, & tartareum dogma; a mad and venemous doctrine, and a hellish opinion." But besides these, there are a great number of Irish, who either bear a secret grudge against the English, planted amongst them, or having nothing at all to lose upon the first occasion, are apt to joyn with any foreign invader; for we have not used that policy in our Plantations, that wise States have used in former times. They, when they settled new Colonies in any place, did commonly translate the ancient inhabitants. to other dwellings. We have brought new planters into the land, and have left the old inhabitants to shift for themselves; who being strong in body, and daily increasing in number, and seeing themselves deprived of their means and maintenance, which they and their ancestors have formerly injoyed; will undoubtedly be ready, when occasion is offer'd, to disturb our quiet; whether then we cast our eyes abroad, or look at home, we see our danger is very great.

"Neither may you, My Lords, and Gentlemen, that dif fer from us in point of Religion, imagine that the community of profession will exempt you, more than us, from the danger of a common enemy. Whatsoever you may expect from a foreigner, you may conjecture by the answer which the Duke of Medina Sidonia gave in this case in 88; That his sword knew no difference between a Catholick and a Heretick, but that he came to make way for his Master; And what kindness you may look for from the countrymen that joyn with them, you may judge, as well by the carriage which they ordinarily use towards you and yours, both in the Court, and in the Colledges abroad, as by the advice not long since presented by them unto the Council

VOL. I.

G

of Spain, wherein they would not have so much as the Irish Priests and Jesuits, that are descended of English blood, to be trusted, but would have you and yours to be accounted enemies to the designs of Spain. In the Declaration published about the beginning of the insurrection of James FitzMorice, in the South, the Rebels professed, it was no part of their meaning to subvert "Honorabile Anglorum solium;" their quarrel was only against the person of Queen Elizabeth, and her Government: But now the case is otherwise, the translating of the throne of the English to the power of a Foreigner, is the thing that mainly is intended, and the re-establishing of the Irish in their ancient possessions, which by the valour of our ancestors were gained from them.

"This you may assure your self, manet altâ mente repostum, and makes you more to be hated of them than any other of the English nation whatsoever. The danger thereof being thus common to us all, it stands us upon to joyn our best helps for the avoiding of it; only the manner how this may be effected is in question. It was wont to be said, Iniquum petas, ut æquum feras, and such, perhaps, might be the intent of the project the other day propounded unto you; but now I observe the distaste you have conceived against that hath so far possessed you, that hardly can you be drawn to listen to any equal motion. The exceptions taken against the Project, are partly general, made by all; partly special, that toucheth only some particulars: Of the former there are two, the quantity of the sum demanded, and the indefiniteness of the time, which is unlimited. For the proportion required for the maintenance of 5000 Foot, and 500 Horse, you alledge to be so great, and your means so small, that in undertaking that which you are no ways able to perform, you shall but delude his Majesty, and disappoint the army of their expected pay. And although the sum required were far less, and for a time able to be born by you; yet are you fearful that the payment, being continued for some number of years, may afterwards be continued as a constant revenue to his Majesties Exchequer, with which perpetual burden you are unwilling to charge your posterity.

"The exceptions of the second kind, are taken against the Grants annexed unto the former demands: the granting whereof seemed rather to hinder than further the service, as not so agreeing with the rules of equity. For first, some have the full benefits of the grants, and have their charge little augmented, as the countries which pay compositionrents, which by those grants during the time of the new payments are suspended. Secondly, others that have the charge of the payment imposed upon them to the full, are not partakers at all of the benefit of the grants, as the British planted in the six escheated counties of Ulster. Thirdly, such as are the most forward to further his Majesties Service; and to contribute with the most, are troubled in conscience for yielding thereto upon the terms proposed, especially for that condition, whereby the execution of the Statute against Recusants is offer'd to be forborn.

"Wherein, if some of my Brethren, the Bishops, have been thought to have shewed themselves more forward than wise, in preaching publickly against this kind of toleration; I hope the great charge laid upon them by your selves in the Parliament, wherein that Statute was inacted, will plead their excuse. For there, the Lords Temporal, and all the Commons, do in God's name earnestly require and charge all Arch-Bishops and Bishops, and other Ordinaries, that they shall endeavour themselves, to the utmost of their knowledge, that the due and true execution of this Statute may be had throughout their dioceses; and charged, as they will answer it before God, for such evils and plagues as Almighty God might justly punish his people, for neglecting these good and wholesome laws. So that if in this case they had holden their tongues, they might have been censured little better than atheists, and made themselves accessary to the drawing down of God's heavy vengeance upon the people.

"But if, for these and such like causes, the former project will not be admitted, we must not therefore think our selves discharged from taking farther care to provide for our safeties. Other consultations must be had, and other courses thought upon, which need not be liable to the like