THe Earl of Clanrickard titular Deputy of Ire­land, for the titular King of Great Brittain, upon receit of the Duke of Lorrains Agree­ment with the Irish Agents, sends out his Summons to assemble the States of Ireland, that He may communicate to them the said Agreement, and some other matters of publick concernment. One Copie of his Summons to the County of Gallway follows here verbatim.

By vertue of this Summons, a Generall Assembly was to meet at James-Town in Connought, Novemb. the 6th. last: but the appearance probably was then very slender, and the power of the English did (as it had done before at Longh Reagh) dis­appoint the formall concluding of any matters of impor­tance. In Leynster, Munster, Ʋlster, all the Cities, Burroughs, Towns, and places Habitable (almost) were in English hands, if any Messengers could be found to deliver Summons, no competent Electors could be found to observe the same: And even in Connought the Two head Cities were at once besieged, and the besiegers of each were so fearles of being raised or disturbed by all the Forces of Ireland, that divided as they were, they yet further subdivided themselves, and marched abroad constantly to seek out Enemies, and take in Garri­sons, all that lay within any reasonable distance. It must needs be therefore a very hard matter for Clanrickard driven to such straits as He himself was, out of a Nation so far subdued as Ireland, then was to call together any thing, that might in any construction be admitted to be a Generall Assembly: or any Representative fit to conclude of generall Affairs.

Howsoever a Copy of that Agreement which had been completed betwixt Charles the 4th. D▪ of Lorrain on the one [Page 3] part, and the Lo: Taaffe, viscunt Sir Nic: Plunket▪ Knight, and Geff: Brown Esquire of the other part, shall be here inserted faithfully. Some abbreviation shall be used, as to those tedi­ous, superfluous repetitions, which the Lawyers stile intruder as necessary, but I shall not recede from the sense, and sub­stance in the least: for that I appeal to the enemy himself. The Copy follows.

Here is discovered a strange sodering, and patching toge­ther of contrary interests, by four severall parties on the one side, only that England may be undermined; and betrayed by the conjunction of their Counsels, and Forces on the other side. Here is the pretended Vicar of Christ, the pretended King of Ireland, the pretended Duke of Lorrain, and the pre­tended Plemipotentiaries from the Generall Assembly of the I­rish, and all these make their adverse pretentions reconcilea­ble [Page 6] to each other, in this transaction, that they may appear against England, like the Foxes which Absolon coupled toge­ther, with firebrands in their tailes, when he intended to burn Joabs standing Corn. The Pope would certainly govern Ire­land intirely, and imediately by his own substitutes, if it were possibly to be obtained, rather then admit of these conditi­ons for the King or Duke: but since all cannot be obtained, He will lay hold of what share he can. The King likewise can­not affect such rivals as the Pope and Duke: nor can the peo­ple of Ireland voluntarily envassal themselves to so many Sig­niors: nor would the Duke of Lorrain take the whole burthen of this rugged adventure upon himself, without better secu­rity▪ but al of them bearing a joynt spight against the English, for the satisfying of that common spight, are willing, though against their wils, to daub up their own particular concern­ments with morter, altogether untemperd. It is not worth while therefore to inquire at present, what it is that all these treat for here joyntly, tis the dividing of Englands spoiles, as appears by the 6t.. 11th. 15th. Articles, but let us a little in­quire what that game is, which every one of these Treators hunts after, and pursues severally.

The Popes ends are to be found in the 2d. and 1 [...]1▪ Articles▪ That help, and benediction which is expected from Rome, is not to be bestowed in vain: if the Pope will now set to his as­sisting hand, and by his holy croisadoes, and other devote spells, contribute treasure to this work, Ireland shall a­gain return to his obedience, nay Ireland being happily re­duced, England, and Scotland shall be attempted in the next place. We see the stuped old Bishop dos not yet despair: though God has already powrd out some vials of his wrath upon his seven-hilled See, and rent away from him more then a 3d. part of his Territories, and though there are more viale yet remaining, that must discharge more indignation shortly upon his Throne: Yet all this dos not quite deterr him from looking after new acquisitions, and re-installments. Well: let him morgage a good part of Heaven to raise money, and let him imbarque that mony in this expedition of the Duke of [Page 7] Lorrayn, we are still confident his Empire is in its declination, and those cups of blood which have been lately fild to Him, by his Command in Ireland, are the last that he shall ever quaffe in such excesse.

The Dukes ends are provided for in the 1. 5. 7. 8. 10. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 18. 20 Articles. He is by Title to be Protector Roy­all of Ireland, and by that Office to assume regal power to him­self, and Deputies: the administration of civill, and judiciall affairs is to be left to a Generall Assembly, as formerly, or to the Kings Deputies, and Ministers: but this in time of War a­mounts to nothing: because the military sword is absolutely, and independently girt upon the Dukes thigh; and tis well enough known, that in times of war the power military over­awes the civill as much, as the civill ought to overaw the mi­litary in times of peace. Moreover, the War is not to be de­termined till the Duke pleases, and if any dispute arise in the mean time betwixt Power, and Power, here is a particular re­servation of authority to the Duke to apply remedy: what that means: I leave to conjecture. Besides, the Duke is to have some share in the civil administration also, and the issuing of the Treasure, & managing of the publick Revenue is prima­rily in Him: and till his disbursements be satisfied (of which there is not yet no Auditor but himself) for principall, and provenue. All Ireland is his morgage: yea divers of its chief Ci­ties, and Fortresses are to be his in possession, for more speci­all securance, and caution. Upon promise of this security be­fore the signing of the Treaty, the Duke sent 20000 l. to Gal­loway, and since the full signing of the same, some other sup­plies of the like value have been sent from the same hand, and questionles, if the Irish Commissioners were able to grant e­nough to the Duke, the Duke has contracted warily enough for himself, but the main thing contracted for is yet in English hands, such as regard neither of the treating parties. So in conclusion, the Duke is his own security: all that he has trea­ted for with the Irish, is but a crackt Title: his own coffers must still purchase that which is to replenish his Coffers: and the expence of his Militia, must recover that which is to re­pay [Page 8] him for the expence of his Militia; It behooves the Duke therefore now to lay all at stake, and not to dally away his Treasure in Crums, (especially since He is dismist of the Duke of Newburghs entertainment,) for all the body of his mercina­ry Larro [...]s, (if he had swimming Carriages, sufficient to their march,) and all the plunder, and hire that that body has in­richt him withall, are scarse sufficient to ensure this one I­rish bargain to him.

The yong titular Kings ends are condition'd for, in the 3. 4. 9. 11. Articles: The Duke promisses him fair, but leaves him nothing else to depend upon, besides bare promises. Yea, and the Commissioners also (to whom the Duke has promist a re­signation of the Crown after all demands satisfied, and debts paid) treat by a Commission from the Kingdome and people of Ireland, not so much as mentioning Him: if then the yong Titular King was privy, & consenting to this Transacti­on: so directly threatning the extirpation of Protestants here cald Hereticks, and the confusion of England here made the Pray of so many Hunters; we may safely conclude, that he has abjurde both Religion, and Country; nay we▪ may con­clude further, that having postponed all other things to pri­vate aimes of his own, in the pursuing of those aimes, He is rather transported with counsels of blood, and revenge, then of hope and advantage. But if his consent was not past to these Articles, so dishonourable, and injurious to himself, his Irish Subjects are not so loyall, and faithfull to him, as sometimes they would faine professe themselves to be, and as his tame complyance with them seems to merit at their hands. How wise his Councellors are, I cannot apprehend; for when I consider that the Scots, and the Irish have been perpetually courted by him, and gratified with condiscentions against his Religion, against his Honour, against his Conscience, a­gainst his inclination: and yet nothing was ever hitherto held out to the Governing party in England, but the red Flagg of defiance: his Counsels seem to me unfathomable.

The advantages of the Irish are now lastly to be look't af­ter, in the 1. 2. 6. 12. 13. 15. 19. Articles. For they are not on­ly [Page 9] to be restored to their own forfeited Estates: but rewarded also for their bucheries, and outrages with all that pertains to the English. They are to have negative voices in all Truces, and Treaties of peace. They are to be governd by a Catho­lick Prince, and in his absence by a Catholick Deputy: till the Duke declares himself fully satisfied, and continued. They are to have the Popes Crosier as predominant amongst them as ever formerly. In brief, they are to have Popery secured to them for ever, by vertue whereof, they shall be absolved of all blood by them already drawn, and enabled to shed, as much hereafter upon all occasions offred, for since they have not pawnd, but really sold themselves in fee to the Duke of Lorrain, (knowing, and foreseeing their Countries insolven­cy, and that the Dukes pretences are never probably to be answerd in this age, though right reckonings might be ex­pected) that dear Religion of theirs, which so sweetned to them by the sacrificing of Hereticks, must needs be indefeasi­bly establisht amongst them.

Now all these things sumd up together, need no Commen­tary to be made upon them: every English man, that knows what belongs to an English man, will be a sufficient Commen­tater to himself. In observing of the Irish especially (for the other 3. Treators are forrein to us) and their sincerity in Treating, no man can be deficient: for they we see here, whilst they are professing fidelity to the Parliament, and seeking free­dome of their own consciences, yet are Articling with the Duke of Lorrain, and other Potentates at the same time, to root out the very name of English, and Protestant from the face of the earth: and though they have alwayes made their Kings Cause a principall part of their quarrell against us, notwithstanding that He is our profest enemy: yet upon all advantages they are ready to casheir him, though He he hath always followed his Fathers steps in this, in keeping a secret, strict, and servile correspondence with them: yea, and Espou­sing so much guilt of blood for their sakes, as all the water in the Sea betwixt England, and Ireland, will never wash off from his unhappy Family.

[Page 10] About the beginning of Novemb: Limerick yeelded to the Lord Deputy upon such Articles, as shew what distresse the Town was in: but the Articles have been Printed and publisht already, and therefore I forbear here to insert them. Howso­ever presently after, the Lord Deputy sent his summoning Letters with offers of fair Termes to Galway, Copies where­of you shall now have.