The state of the Protestants of Ireland under the late King James's government in which their carriage towards him is justified, and the absolute necessity of their endeavouring to be freed from his government, and of submitting to their present Majesties is demonstrated.

SECT. XIV. Ninthly, Shewing King James's Methods for destroying the Pro∣testant Religion.

1. THE design against the Lives and Fortunes of the Pro∣testants is so apparent from the execution thereof, especially by the Acts of the late pretended Parliament, that they themselves can hardly deny it; nay some were apt to glory in it: and to let us know that it was not a late design, taken up since the revolt of England (as they call it) from King James, they thought fit to settle on the Duke of Tir∣connel above 20^m. Pounds per Annum in value, out of the E∣states of some Protestant Gentlemen attainted by them, as a∣foresaid, in consideration of his signal Service of* 1.1 Twenty Years, which he spent in contriving this Work, and bringing it to pass, as one of their most eminent Members exprest it in his Speech in Parliament, and the particular Act which vests this Estate in him shews.

2. But it may be thought that King James was more tender in the matter of Religion; and that he who gloried so much in his resolution to settle Liberty of Conscience wherever he had Power, as he told his pretended Parliament, and set forth al∣most in every Proclamation, would never have made any o∣pen Invasion on the Consciences of his Protestant Subjects. But they found by experience that a Papist, whatever he profes∣ses, is but an ill Guardian of Liberty of Conscience: and that the same Religion that obliged the King of Spain to set up an Inquisition, could not long endure the King of England to maintain Liberty. If indeed King James had prevailed with Italy or Spain to have tolerated the open exercise of the Protestant Religion, it had been, I believe, a convincing Ar∣gument to England to have granted Roman Catholicks Liber∣ty in these Dominions; but whilst the Inquisition is kept up to the height in those Countries, and worse than an In∣quisition in France, against the publick Edicts and Laws of the

Kingdom, and against the solemn Oath and Faith of the King, it is too gross to go about to perswade us, that we might expect a free exercise of our Religion, any other way than the Protestants enjoy it in France, (that is under the Discipline of Dragoons,) after the Papists had gotten the Arms, the Offices, the Estates, and Courts of Judicature into their Hands.

3. The Protestant Religion and Clergy were established in Ireland by as firm Laws as the Properties of the Laity: The King by his Coronation Oath was obliged to maintain them: Their Tithes and Benefices were their Free-holds; and their Priviledges and Jurisdiction were settled and confirmed to them by the known and current Laws of the Kingdom; accord∣ing to which the King was obliged to govern them, and whereof he was the Guardian. The Clergy had beside all this, peculiar Obligations on him, and a Title to his Protection; for they had espous'd his Interest most cordially. Whilst Duke of York, they used their utmost diligence to perswade the People to submit to Gods Providence, and be content with his Succession to the Crown, in case his Brother dyed before him: and they prest that point so far, that many of their People were dissatisfied with them, and told them often with heat and concern, what reward they must expect for their pains if ever he came to the Throne: they saw their danger, but could not imagine any man would be so unpolitick and ungrateful as to destroy such as had brought him to the Throne, and could only keep him safe in it; and therefore they ventured all to serve him; and many of them by their Zeal for him, lost the Affections of their People, and their Interest with them. It was chiefly due to their diligence and care, that his Title, from the beginning, met not the least opposition in Ireland, tho the Army in it were intirely Protestant. Had they and the rest of the Protestants in this Kingdom been in any measure disloyally principled in the time of Monmouth and Argile's Rebellion, they might easily have made an Insurrection more dangerous than both those; and the least Mutiny or revolt a∣mongst them, could hardly have failed to have ruined King James's Affairs at that critical time: but they were so far from

attempting any such thing, that they were as ready and as zealous to assist him, as his very Guards at Whitehall; which he himself could not but acknowledge: how he rewarded them I have already shewn; and how grateful he was to the Clergy that thus principled them, will appear by the Sequel.

4. First therefore when his Majesty came to the Crown he declared that he would protect the Church of England in her Government and Priviledges; under which we suppos'd the Church of Ireland to be concluded: And accordingly the Cler∣gy and People of this Kingdom return'd his Majesty their Ad∣dress of Thanks; though they very well knew that this was no more than was due to them by the Laws, and by the King's Coronation Oath in particular: But they were soon told by the Roman Catholicks, that his Majesty did not intend to in∣clude Ireland in that Declaration; and that it must be a Catholick Kingdom, as they term'd it. Every discerning Protestant soon found by the method they saw his Majesty take, that he in earnest intended to settle Popery in England, as well as Ireland; but he thought himself so sure of effecting it suddenly in Ireland, that his Instruments made no scruple to declare their intentions; nay, they were so hasty to ruin our Religion, that they did not so much as consult their own Safety; but even before it was either seasonable or safe, in the opinion of the wiser sort amongst themselves; they began openly to apply all their Arts and Engines to effect it. 1. By hindring the Succession and Supplies of Clergy-men. 2. By taking away their mainte∣nance. 3. By weakning, and then invading their Jurisdicti∣on. 4. By seizing on their Churches, and hindring their Religi∣ous Assemblies. 5. By violence against their Persons. And 6. By slandering and misrepresenting them and their Prin∣ciples.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See Appen∣dix, N. 3, 4. & 17.