XIX. Some profpect of mitigating the rigour of the popery laws. 284 XX. The catholics of Ireland ftate their grievances in an No.I. A brief declaration of the government of Ireland— II. Remonftrance of divers Lords of the pale to the king, concerning the Irish parliament in 1613. III. The humble petition of the knights, citizens and burgefes of the counties, cities and ancient bo- IV. Abstract of the report and return of commiffioners fent by the king to Ireland, to enquire into the griev ances and complaints of the Irish in 1613. V. The remonftrance of the catholics of Ireland, deli- vered to his majesty's commiffioners at Trim, 17th VI. Extract of a collection of fome of the maffacres and murders committed on the Irish in Ireland, fince the 23d of October, 1641. VII. Extract of the acts of the general congregation of XI. The heads of the causes which moved the northern Irish, and catholics of Ireland to take arms, anno 1641. XIII. To the king-The faithful proteflation-of the Ro- man catholic nobility and gentry of Ireland. XIV. Extract of Dr. Gorge-his letter to Colonel Hamilton. 379 XVI. The feveral arguments of Sir Theobald Butler, Coun- fellor Malone, and Sir Stephen Rice,-February AN The Marquis of Ormond returns to Ireland. HIS excellency having arrived at Cork, on the 29th of September, 1648, was there received with general acclamations of joy; and on the next day, the general affembly fitting at Kilkenny, gave a very fignal proof of their real defire to be again received under his government,' by fixing a public brand on the two principal oppofers of the late peace, the Nuncio Renuccini, and General Owen O'Nial. For they proclaimed the VOL. II. B latter ■ Cart. Orm. vol. ii. fol. 42. a Dr. Leland, from Mr. Carte, gives us the following character of this general: "Owen O'Ñial had served in the Imperial and Spanish armies with reputation. He was governor of Arras, when the French befieged this town in 1640; and, though 2 latter a rebel and a traitor; and upon entering into a treaty of peace with the marquis, they drew up a charge against the former, "reprefenting the manifold oppreffions, tranfcendent crimes, and capital offences, which he had been continually, for three years paft, acting within the kingdom, to the unfpeakable detriment of their religion, the ruin of the nation, and the dishonour of the See of Rome." This heavy accufation met with no oppofition, even from fuch ecclefiaftics as were prefent in that affembly. "It seems exceedingly strange to me," fays the Nuncio himself, in a letter to Cardinal Panzirolo on this occafion, "that although there were eight bishops present in this affembly, which offered fuch violence to my authority, and paffed an order, that none fhould hereafter obey my commands, not one of them did protest or declare against it, or depart from the place in which it was held; or even make an apology, by a letter to his Holinefs, or myself, for their conduct; affirming only, that therein they followed the example of those of Portugal, 2 Cart. Orm. vol. iii. 3 Nuncio's Memoirs. though obliged to furrender upon honourable terms, yet his defence gained him the respect, even of his enemy. Experience had formed him to an able and skilful foldier; quick in difcerning, diligent in improving any advantage offered by the enemy; more circumfpect than enterprizing; of a genius peculiarly fuited to defence, and excellent at protracting a war; qualities of efpecial use in that fervice which he was now to undertake. His knowledge of the world, his prudence, his fobriety and caution, appeared to greater advantage, as they were contrafted by the ignorance and rudenefs, the intemperance and levity of Sir Phelim. To the fecret mortification of this his kinfman, Owen was unanimoufly declared by the northern Irish, head and leader of their confederacy." Carte's Orm. Lel. vol. iii. p. 178. There were in this affembly, "two archbishops, ten bishops, three earls, twelve viscounts, feven barons, twenty baronets, the principal gentlemen out of the three provinces of Leinster, Munster, and Connaught, befides fome of the chief nobility of Ulfter." Bishop of Ferns's Lett. to the Nuncio. Vindic. Catholic. p. 180. Portugal, who drove Cardinal Palotto out of the kingdom, and imprifoned his auditor." With the above mentioned charge, Sir Richard Blake, chairman of the affembly, fent him notice, by their order, that there was a declaration and protestation preparing against him, which were to be fent to his Holiness, to the end that his lordship might prepare for his journey, and for his defence; and that, in the mean time, he should not intermeddle, by himfelf or any of his inftruments, directly or indirectly, with the affairs of the nation, on the penalty which might enfue, by the law of God and nations." c d The Nuncio, accordingly, left Ireland on the 23d of February following, to the great joy of the principal nobility and gentry, and the most refpectable ecclefiaftics of the kingdom. Yet while he was preparing for his departure, the lord lieutenant fent him a private message, by two of his particular friends, the Bishop of Ferns and Nicholas Plunkett, Efq; "that if he would then,' at parting, take off his excommunication, and difpofe the people to an abfolute obedience to the peace, and the king's authority, he fhould not only receive all poffible civility from him, at his departure from Ireland, but that he would make a very advantageous mention of him to the queen, whose diftreffed condition," he faid, " would certainly gain fome credit to her at Paris, if it was not worse than London." But the Nuncio did not wait their coming; for on the night before, he went to fea in his own B 2 frigate, "Notwithstanding this meffage, he remained four whole months afterwards in the kingdom; and then left it of his own accord, and without any further meffage from the general affembly, when things feemed to be inclining to fome kind of peaceableness between thofe of his party, and the other confederate catholics." Vindic. Catholic. in Hib. p. 174. "The court of Rome," fays Mr. Carte, "though it was contrary to their maxims to fix a public mark of cenfure on the conduct of their minifters, disapproving his conduct, sent him orders to make hafte thither." Orm. vol. ii. fol. 56. frigate, and, on the 2d of March, landed at St. Vaast, in the Lower Normandy. At his return to Rome, he was but coldly received by the Pope; and after having been told," that he had carried himfelf rafhly in Ireland," inftcad of being honoured with a cardinal's hat, as he expected, he was banifhed to his bifhoprick, and principality of Fermo; which he found in a distracted condition, by juft fuch another infurrection of the people against their viceroy, as he had himfelf raifed and fomented against the king's lieutenant in Ireland. Thefe difappointments of his own, and the distractions of his people, affected him fo fenfibly, that he foon after died of grief. To what defperate courfes General O'Nial was driven, by the affembly's proclaiming him a rebel and a traitor, shall be hereafter related. CHA P. II. His excellency treats of a peace with the confederate catholics. 66 THE lord lieutenant' being invited to Kilkenny, by the general affembly, October the 28th, in order to a more expeditious fettling of the points in difpute, made his entry into that city in a fplendid manner; having been met at fome diftance from it by the whole body of the affembly, and by all the nobility, clergy. and gentry in the neighbourhood. He was received into the town by the mayor and aldermen, with all thofe ceremonies and honours, which fuch corporations ufed to pay to the fupreme authority of the kingdom, and was lodged in his own caftle, with all his own guards about him." • Walfh's Hift. of the Irish Remonstrance. 'Cart. Orm. vɔl. ii. f. 45. The "The malice and headiness of Owen O'Nial and his party afterwards, was as much, and in truth more, against the confederate Irish, than the king." Borl. Irish Rebel. f. 269. |