Gods Providence in a Voyage for Ireland, Account 2
BRIEFE OBSERVATIONS concerning the VVarre, AND The State of Ireland, both for the raiſing and laying the REBELLION.
1.
IT is eaſily noted that the ſeeds of the ruine of a State are ſowne in the dayes of greateſt proſperity; and that peace breeds plenty, plenty breeds pride, and that brings forth Warre, and that runs againe the former round.
2. Popery ſuffered among the Iriſh, and prophaneneſſe amongſt the Engliſh, have been the Parents of this Monſter; though it might have other Midwives and Nurſes.
3. Though we are aſſured 1000000. Engliſh have beene murdered, and we hope many more Iriſh ſlaine; yet miſchiefe may be ſo fomented that it may know no limits nor bounds.
4. Popiſh deluſions carry ſuch ſtrength with them, eſpecially when they meet with an ignorant ſpirit, that knowne truths and common Principles have the dores bard againſt them.
5. By all wee could gleane in all the providence met with by Sea or Land for intelligence, we ſee that the worke now in hand and the queſtion is Religion, and Religion Papiſt and Proteſtant, cover'd under Puritane or Round-head and good Subject.
6. An Iriſh Rebel and an Engliſh Cavallier in words and actions we found as unlike as an egge is to an egge.
7. It is moſt true, that from the higheſt to the loweſt, from the Regular to the ſecular, from the Capitives we had to the Freemen that came to Parley with us, from the Man to the Woman, from the living to the dying, they profeſt unto us they fought by the Kings Order for the Kings Honour, that wee were his enemies not they; which made us profeſſe a new quarrell againſt them for prophaning his Majeſties name, and entitling him to all their murders and miſcreant practiſes.
8. Three things are found, are by the Iriſh as I wiſh: viz. to have their Religion free, and their Religion in their owne hands, which the wiſeſt we met with aſſured us is promiſed them, and that you ſhall read in their Eccleſſaſticall Parliament held at Kelkenny which is now printing for you, where you may ſee their end and their meanes conducing thereunto.
9. The unfaithfulneſſe of moſt of our Miniſters, the ſcurrility and monſtrous ignorance of our Engliſh, have adminiſtred oyle to their Flame in abundance, and brought downe wrath from Heaven, nor in our civill Government there without many ſad aſperſions from them, wherein Dublin ſuffers much, not onelyonly the toleration but complyances with Romiſh Idolaters, hath made them impudent and ours careleſſe; eſpecially many pieces of our worſhip ariſing from the ſame fountaine, and running in the ſame Sea with theirs as Dioceſan Biſhops, their Courts, Officers, Revenews and Attendants, Church-cenſures, Burialls, Chriſtenings, Liturgie, Holy-dayes, Faſts, hallowed Places, Images, Veſtures, Geſtures, &c. Truth it is, the continuance of Ireland in its former condition would have trenched upon Gods honour; where one Miniſter had 24. Livings, and the place many times ſupplyed by Ale: drapers at 40. l. per Annum.
11. Without all queſtion, as the long continuance of ignorance there, (the people being unchatichized) hath led in more of this barbariſme, ſo I feare the former rebellion had never a thorough cure, I will not ſay that many of the engliſh planters that went over were de faece; foundation-ſtones ſhould bee Saphyres, ſo that is no marvell if many that have fled thence, have left the country worſe than they found it.
12. As our Prieſts doe now more ſtrengthen the rebellion, not, ſo on our ſide, men that call themſelves overſeers of churches, opened a doore unto it, rhat you may conclude there was never any grand miſcheife brooched in the world, but ſuch as have beene marked by clergy-mens fingers, and the warre now in Europe all over is Epiſcopall.
In the Cure note theſe things.
1. A bucket of water ſhall quench that at firſt, which many tuns cannot, after loſt opportunity. It is not cunctation but expedition, not Fabius, but Hanniball muſt ſtill be rebellious.
2. If credit may be given to rebels, they generally profeſt that two words from his Majeſties owne hand by a knowne meſſenger to them, ſhould command downe all their Armes.
3. Had the country riſen in any conſiderable bodyes of engliſh at firſt, and every man either not given rebels too much credit, or truſted to his owne private guard, it had beene ctuſhed in the egge which is now growne a flying ſerpent.
4. The Lieutenant or Generals perſonall appearing there upon the death of the former, muſt needs have given a checke to many of their barbarous proceedings, and encouraged the engliſh there in reſiſtance, want of governement makes engliſh odious, that their very cattell are loathſome to theſe monſters, one of their Armie ſpoyling in five dayes forty ſeven thouſand engliſh ſheepe, and in time they would devoure one the other, were our neceſſity capable of ſo much patience.
5. If the vaſt expence of this kingdome had beene rightly imployed both for ſhipping and land forces, this bogge muſt needes have been dryed up by Gods bleſſing.
6. Our engliſh comming over freſh and hearty, were better to be hazarded upon ſome of the enemies Townes, then there detained to eate our men garriſons, and moſt of them periſh with the country-diſeaſe.
7. If Galloway, Lymrike: Wexford and Waterford were recovered, the whole rebellion is ſhaken, which is iriſible with halfe our forces there maintained, the ſtate here being nine hundred thouſand pounds charge already.
8. It may then be reduced when ſouldiers and commanders there ſhall rather attend the preſent work, than the continuance of their trade.
9. The Iriſh Lords and Gentry that are found faithfull muſt be encouraged, who will force about them, accompanied with good markes of authoritie and truſt from hence, will draw in the common people, who already curſe their Prieſts and Gentry.
10. Ships and ſea-men are of ſingular uſe, both in ſea and land ſervice, provided that good intelligence bee kept from Spaine, France, and Dunkirke, in which worke, and much of the land matters, ten honeſt faithfull merchants but united, ſhall doe more than many Committees of State, who are (through much other work) taken off from attending ad idem, to which I add the neceſſary uſe of horſe, without which little can be done.
11. The Preſidents of Provinces and Countries, muſt be deſired not to ſuffer great Armies to bee kept guarding of their Townes and Demeſnes, but imployed about the generall worke, upon our comming thither, we met with no conſiderable man, but had moſt need of us.
12, One faithfull, honeſt, able miniſter is worth five hundred men if planted there, the people being as ignorant of their duty, as ſenceleſſe of their miſery,
I am bold to thinke if the preſent advantage were taken of the Adventurers ſhips lying by Lymrike and Galloway, the places might ſoone be ours, their domeſticke combuſtions betwixt the old and young merchants, in either being well knowne unto us. This onelyonly I will adde, let England here be quiet, and Ireland will not long bee rebellious, which the good God grant for his Sons ſake. Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Hugh Peters, Gods Providence in a Voyage for Ireland (1642)