OBSERVATIONS ON THE ARTICLES OF PEACE Between James Earl of Ormond for King Charles the Firft on the one hand, and the Irish Rebels and Papifts on the other hand: And on a Letter fent by Ormond to Colonel Jones, Governor of Dublin. And a Representation of the Scots Prefbytery at Belfaft in Ireland. To which the faid Articles, Letter, with Colonel Jones's Anfwer to it, and Reprefentation, &c., are prefixed. ORMOND, A PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS articles of peace are made, concluded, accorded, and agreed upon, by and between us, James lord marquis of Ormond, lord lieutenant general, and general governor of his majesty's kingdom of Ireland, by virtue of the authority wherewith we are intrusted, for, and on the behalf of his moft excellent majesty of the one part, and the general affembly of the Roman Catholics of the faid kingdom, for, and on the behalf of his majesty's Roman Catholic fubjects of the fame, on the other part; a true copy of which articles of peace are hereunto annexed: we the lord lieutenant do, by this proclamation, in his majesty's name publish the fame, and do in his majefty's name ftrictly charge and command all his majesty's fubjects, and all others inhabiting or refiding within his majesty's faid kingdom of Ireland, to take notice thereof, and to render due obedience to the fame in all the parts thereof. And as his majesty hath been induced to this peace, out out of a deep fenfe of the miferies and calamities brought upon this his kingdom and people, and out of hope conceived by his majefty, that it may prevent the further effufion of his fubjects blood, redeem them out of all the miferies and calamities, under which they now fuffer, reftore them to all quietnefs and happiness under his majefty's most gracious government, deliver the kingdom in general from those flaughters, depredations, rapines, and fpoils, which always accompany a war, encourage the fubjects and others with comfort to betake themselves to trade, traffic, commerce, manufacture, and all other things, which uninterrupted may increase the wealth and ftrength of the kingdom, beget in all his majesty's fubjects of this kingdom a perfect unity amongst themfelves, after the too long continued divifion amongst them: fo his majesty affures himself, that all his fubjects of this his kingdom (duly confidering the great and ineftimable benefits which they may find in this peace) will with all duty render due obedience thereunto. And we, in his majesty's name, do hereby declare, That all perfons, fo rendering due obedience to the faid peace, fhall be protected, cherished, countenanced, and fupported by his majefty, and his royal authority, according to the true intent and meaning of the faid articles of peace. Given at our Cafile at Kilkenny, GOD SAVE THE KING January 17, 1648. Articles of peace, made, concluded, accorded, and agreed upon, by and between his excellency James lord marquis of Ormond, lord lieutenant-general, and general of his majefty's kingdom of Ireland, for, and on the behalf of his moft excellent majefty, by virtue of the authority wherewith the faid lord lieutenant is intrufted, on the one part: and the general affembly of Roman Catholics of the faid kingdom, for and on the behalf of his majefty's Roman Catholic fubjects of the fame, on the other part. HIS majefty's Roman Catholic fubjects, as thereunto bound by allegiance, duty, and nature, do moft humbly and freely acknowledge and recognize their fovereign lord lord king Charles, to be lawful and undoubted king of this kingdom of Ireland, and other his highnefs' realms and dominions: and his majefty's faid Roman Catholic fubjects, apprehending with a deep fenfe the fad condition whereunto his majesty is reduced, as a further teftimony of their loyalty do declare, that they and their pofterity for ever, to the utmost of their power, even to the expenfe of their blood and fortunes, will maintain and uphold his majefty, his heirs and lawful fucceffors, their rights, prerogatives, government, and authority, and thereunto freely and heartily will render all due obedience. Of which faithful and loyal recognition and declaration, fo feasonably made by the faid Roman Catholics, his majefty is graciously pleafed to accept, and accordingly to own them his loyal and dutiful fubjects: and is further graciously pleased, to extend unto them the following graces and fecurities. I. IMPRIMIS, it is concluded, accorded, and agreed upon, by and between the faid lord lieutenant, for, and on the behalf of his most excellent majesty, and the said general affembly, for, and on the behalf of the faid Roman Catholic fubjects; and his majesty is graciously pleased, That it fhall be enacted by act to be paffed in the next parliament to be held in this kingdom, that all and every the profeffors of the Roman Catholic religion, within the faid kingdom, fhall be free and exempt from all mulets, penalties, restraints, and inhibitions, that are or may be impofed upon them by any law, ftatute, ufage, or custom whatsoever, for, or concerning the free exercife of the Roman Catholic religion: and that it fhall be likewise enacted, That the faid Roman Catholics, or any of them, shall not be queftioned or molested in their perfons, goods, or eftates, for any matter or cause whatfoever, for, concerning, or by reafon of the free exercise of their religion, by virtue of any power, authority, ftatute, law, or ufage whatfoever: and that it fhall be further enacted, That no Roman Catholic in this kingdom fhall be compelled to exercise any religion, form of devotion, or divine fervice, other than fuch as fhall be agreeable to their confcience; and that they shall not be prejudiced prejudiced or molested in their perfons, goods, or estates, for not obferving, ufing, or hearing the book of common prayer, or any other form of devotion or divine fervice by virtue of any colour or ftatute made in the second year of queen Elizabeth, or by virtue or colour of any other law, declaration of law, ftatute, cuftom, or ufage whatsoever, made or declared, or to be made or declared: and that it fhall be further enacted, that the profeffors of the Roman Catholic religion, or any of them, be not bound or obliged to take the oath, commonly called the oath of Supremacy, expreffed in the statute of 2 Elizabeth, c. 1, or in any other statute or ftatutes: and that the faid oath fhall not be tendered unto them, and that the refufal of the faid oath fhall not redound to the prejudice of them, or any of them, they taking the oath of allegiance in hæc verba, viz. "I A. B. do hereby ac knowledge, profefs, teftify, and declare in my confcience, before God and the world, that our fovereign lord king Charles is lawful and rightful king of this realm, and of other his majefty's dominions and countries; and I will bear faith and true allegiance to his majefty, and his heirs and fucceffors, and him and them will defend to the uttermost of my power againft all confpiracies and attempts whatsoever, which fhall be made against his or their crown and dignity; and do my best endeavour, to disclose and make known to his majefty, his heirs and fucceffors, or to the lord deputy, or other his majesty's chief governor or governors for the time being, all treafon or traiterous confpiracies, which I fhall know or hear to be intended against his majefty, or any of them: and I do make this recognition and acknowledgment, heartily, willingly, and truly, upon the true faith of a chiftian; fo help me God, &c." Nevertheless, the faid lord lieute nant doth not hereby intend, that any thing in these conceffions contained shall extend, or be conftrued to extend, to the granting of churches, church-livings, or the exercife of jurifdiction, the authority of the faid lord lieutenant not extending fo far; yet the faid lord lieutenant is authorized to give the faid Roman Catholics full affurance, as hereby the faid lord lieutenant doth give unto the faid Roman Catholics full affurance, that they or or any of them fhall not be molefted in the poffeffion which they have at prefent of the churches or churchlivings, or of the exercife of their respective jurifdictions, as they now exercise the fame, until fuch time as his mas jetty, upon a full confideration of the defires of the faid Roman Catholics in a free parliament to be held in this kingdom, fhall declare his further pleasure. II. Item, It is concluded, accorded, and agreed upon, by and between the faid parties, and his majefty is further graciously pleafed, that a free parliament fhall be held in this kingdom within fix months after the date of these articles of peace, or as foon after as Thomas lord vifcount Dillon of Coftologh, lord prefident of Connaght, Donpogh lord viscount Mufkerry, Francis lord baron of Athunry, Alexander Mac-Donnelefquire, fir Lucas Dillon knight, fir Nicholas Plunket Knight, fir Richard Barnwall baronet, Jeffery Brown, Donnogh O Callaghan, Tyrlah ONeile, Miles Reily, andGerrald Fennell,efquires, or the major part of them, will defire the fame, fo that by poffibility it may be held; and that in the mean time, and until the articles ofthefe prefents, agreed to be paffed in parliament, be accordingly paffed, the fame thall be inviolably obferved as to the matters therein contained, as if they were enacted in parliament: and that in cafe a parliament be not called and held in this kingdom within two years next after the date of thefe articles of peace, then his majesty's lord lieutenant, or other his majesty's chief governor or governors of this kingdom for the time being, will, at the request of the faid Thomas lord viscount Dillon of Coftologh, lord prefident of Connaght, Donnogh lord viscount Muskerry, Francis lord baron of Athunry, Alexander Mac-Donnel efquire, fir Lucas Dillon, knight, fir Nicholas Plunket knight, fir Richard Barnwall baronet, Jeffery Brown, Donnogh O Callaghan, Tyrlah O Neile, Miles Reily, and Gerrald Fennell, efquires, or the major part of them, call a general affembly of the lords and commons of this kingdom, to attend upon the faid lord lieutenant or other his majesty's chief governor or governors of this kingdom for the time being, in fuch convenient place, for the better fettling of the affairs of the kingdom. And it is further concluded, |