this Remonftrance, fubfcribed by the Lord Viscount Gormanfton, Sir Lucas Dillon, Knight, Sir Robert Talbott, Bart. and John Walsh, Efq. authorised by, and in the behalfe of the recufants of Ireland, to prefent the fame unto us, to be tranfmitted to your facred majesty, dated the 17th day of March, 1642.

WHEREAS his majesty's most faithful subjects, the confederate Catholics of Ireland, were enforced to take arms, for the preservation of their religion, for the defence of his majesty's just prerogative and rights, and for the maintenance of the rights and liberties of their country, laboured to be destroyed by the malignant party; and whereas his majesty in his high wisdom, and in his princely care of his faid fubjects welfare and fafety, and their humble suit, that his majesty might be gracioufly pleased to hear their grievances, and vouchfafe redrefs therein, did direct there fhould be a ceffation of arms, and thereupon did direct the Right Honourable the Marquis of Ormond, to treat of, and conclude the faid ceffation with the faid confederate Catholics; Know ye, that the fupreme council, by exprefs order and authority of the faid Catholics, by them conceived and granted in their general affembly at Kilkenny, on the 20th day of the last month of May; and in pursuance of the said order and authority, repofing special truft and confidence in the wifdom, circumfpection, and provident care, honour, and fincerity of our very good lords, Nicholas Lord Viscount Gormanstown, Donough Lord Viscount Muskerry, and our well-beloved Sir Lucas Dillon, Knight; Sir Robert Talbot, Bart. Tirlagh O'Niel, Efq. Geoffry Brown, Efq. Ever. Macgennis, Efq. and John Walsh, Efq. have conftituted, appointed, and ordained the faid Nicholas Lord Viscount Gormanstown, Donough Lord Viscount Muskerry, &c. our commiffioners; and do by thefe prefents give and grant to our commiffioners, or any five or more of them, full power and authority to treat with the faid Lord Marquis of Ormond, of a ceffation of arms, for

one

one whole year, or fhorter, and to conclude the fame for the time aforefaid, upon fuch terms, conditions, or articles, as to the commiffioners aforefaid, in their judgments, confciences, and difcretions, fhall be thought fit and expedient; by these presents ratifying and confirming whatever act or acts our commiffioners shall do or execute concerning the said ceffation. Given at Kilkenny, the 23d of June, 1643.

The KING to the MARQUESS OF ORMONDE, fent by MR. BRENT. (P.145.)

ORMONDE,

THIS honeft bearer, Mr. Brent, going about my special fervice, I thought it neceffary to recommend him and his business to you. It is chiefly for a fupply of powder, which, on my word, is of more confefor fervice, than is fit for me to tell you by writing. I fhall fay no more for this time; but that very shortly you shall have full power and inftructions to make the Irish peace, by Brian O'Neile. So I reft, Your most affured, conftant, real friend,

quence

my

Bewdly, 13 June, 1644.

CHARLES R.

The KING to the MARQUESS OF ORMONDE, Jent by SIR BRIAN O'NEIL. ORMONDE,

I AM not ignorant how hard a part I put upon you in transferring to you the treaty, and the power to conclude peace with the Irish: nor would I have you ignorant of that neceffity in the condition of

my

my
affairs here, which inforces me to it; and therefore I have commanded
Digby to inform you more at large. I fhall only fay thus much to you,
that I confider you as a perfon fo entirely addicted to my fervice, as that you
will not be deterred by difficulties from what may fo much conduce to it, as
the eafing me at prefent of that treaty; wherein if I fhould do that here,
which perhaps may be neceffary there (even to the prefervation of the king-
dom), it might, through indifpofition here, be of dangerous confequence to
the main of my affairs. And I am very confident, that you will be secured
from all apprehenfions concerning yourfelf in the refolution to run the same
fortune with me, which if it please God, that it prove good, you may promife
yourself fuch a part in, as may be obtayned by your having me for
Your moft affured, conftant friend,

Bath, 17 July, 1644.

CHARLES R.

The KING to the MARQUESS OF ORMONDE, fent by the EARL OF

ORMONDE,

GLAMORGAN.

MY Lord Herbert having bufinefs of his own in Ireland (wherein I defire you to do him all lawful favor and furtherance), I have thought good to use the power I have, both in his affection and duty, to engage him in all poffible ways, to further the peace there; which he hath promifed to do. Wherefore (as you find occafion) you may confidently ufe and truft him in this, or any other thing he fhall propound to you for my service; there being none, in whofe honefty and zeal, to my perfon and crown, I have more confidence. So I reft,

Your moft affured, conftant friend,

Oxford, 27 Dec. 1644.

CHARLES R.

To this letter was added the following poftfcript in cypher:

His honesty or affection to my service will not deceive you; but I will not anfwer for his judgment.

The KING to the MARQUESS OF ORMONDE.

ORMONDE,

UPON the great rumours and expectations which are now of a peace, I think it neceffary to tell you the true ftate of it, left miftaken reports from hence might trouble my affairs there.

The rebels here have agreed to treat, and most affuredly one of the first and chiefeft articles they will infift on, will be to continue the Irish war; which is a point not popular for me to break on; of which you are to make a double use; first, to hasten (with all poffible diligence) the peace there; the timely conclufion of which, will take off that inconvenience, which otherwise I may be fubject to, by the refufal of that article upon any other reafon. Secondly, by dexterously conveying to the Irish the danger there may be of their total and perpetual exclufion from thofe favours I intend them, in cafe the rebels here clap up peace with me upon reasonable terms, and only exclude them; which poffibly were not counsellable for me to refuse, if the Irish peace should be the only difference betwixt us, before it were perfected there. Thefe, I hope, are fufficient grounds for you to perfuade the Irish diligently to dispatch a peace upon reasonable terms, affuring them, that you having once engaged to them my word in the conclufion of a peace, all the earth shall not make me break it. But not doubting of a peace, I muft again remember you to prefs the Irish for their speedy affiftance to me here, and their friends in Scotland; my intention being to draw from thence into Wales (the peace once concluded) as many as I can of my armed Proteftant fubjects, and defire, that the Irish would fend as great a body as they can to land about Cumberland; which will put thofe northern counties into a brave condition. Wherefore you must take speedy order to provide all the shipping you may, as well Dunkirk, as Irish, bottoms; and remember, that after March it will be most difficult to transport men from Ireland to England, the rebels being mafters of the feas.

So expecting a diligent and particular account in anfwer to this letter, I reft, Your moft affured friend, CHARLES R.

9th June, 1644.

The

ORMONDE,

The KING to the MARQUIS of ORMONDE.

I AM forry to find by Colonel Barry the fad conditions of your particular fortune, for which I cannot find fo good and speedy remedy as the peace of Ireland (it being likewife moft neceffary to redress my affairs here); wherefore I command you to dispatch it out of hand; for the doing of which, I hope my public dispatch will give you fufficient inftruction and power, yet I have thought it neceffary (for your more encouragement in this neceffary work) to make this addition with my own hand.

As for Poyning's Act, I refer you to my other letter; and for matter of religion, though I have not found it fit to take public notice of the paper, which Browne gave you, yet I must command you to give him, the Lord Muskery and Plunket particular thanks for it, affuring them that without it there could have been no peace, and that sticking to it, their nation in general, and they in particular, fhall have comfort in what they have done. And to fhew, that this is more than words, I do hereby promife them (and command you to fee it done) that the penal ftatutes against Roman Catholicks fhall not be put in execution, the peace being made, and they remaining in their due obedience. And further, that when the Irish give me that affiftance, which they have promised, for the fuppreffing of this rebellion, and I fhall be restored to my rights, then I will confent to the repeal of them by a law.

But all those against appeals to Rome and Præmunire must stand. All this in cypher you must impart to none but thofe three already named, and that with injunction of ftricteft fecrecy.

So again recommending to your care the fpeedy dispatch of the peace of Ireland, and my neceffary fupply from thence, as I wrote to you in my laft private letter, I reft

Oxford, 18 Jan. 1644-5.

Your moft affured conftant friend,

CHARLES R.

In cafe, upon particular mens fancies, the Irish peace fhould not be procured upon the powers I have already given you, I have thought fit to give you this further order (which I hope will prove needlefs), to endeavour to renew the ceffation for a year; for which you fhall promife the Irish (if you