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.

(N^o 13.) Lord Mountjoy's Circular Letter, on his going to France.

Gentlemen,

Dublin, 10th. January 1688.

YOU had an Account how long I staid on the Way, after I left you, and the Reasons which made me since go forwards: And whatever any Jealousies were at my first Ar∣rival, I am now satisfied at my coming; and, with God's Blessing, I hope it will come to good to us all. As soon as I saw my Lord Deputy, he told me, he designed to send me to the King jointly with my Lord Chief Baron Rice, to lay before him the State of the Kingdom; and to tell him, That if he pleased he could Ruine it for him, and make it a heap of Rubbish; but it was impossible to preserve it, and make it of use to him; and therefore to desire leave to treat for it. The Objections I made to this, were Two; My being not so well qualified, as a Northern Roman Catholick, whom in all likelyhood the King would sooner give Credit to: And the improbability of being able to perswade the King, who is now in the French Hands, to a Thing so plainly against their Interest. To the First of these, I was answered what is not fit for me to repeat; and the other is so well answered, that all the most knowing Englishmen are satisfied with me, and have desired me to undertake this Matter, which I have done this Afternoon; my Lord Deputy having first promi∣sed me, on his Word and Honour, to perform the Four Par∣ticulars in the within Paper. Now because a Thing of this Nature cannot be done without being Censur'd by some, who perhaps would be sorry to have their Wishes in quiet means; and by others, who think all that Statesmen do are Tricks, and that there is no Sincerity amongst them. I would have such to consider, That it is more probable I and the most in∣telligent in this Place, without whose Advice I do no∣thing, should judge right of this, than they who are at

greater Distance; and as it is not likely we should be Fool∣ed, so I hope they will not believe we design to betray them, our selves, and the Nation. I am morally assured, this must do our Work without Blood, or the Misery of the Kingdom. I am sure it is the Way proposed in England, who depend so on it, that no Forces are appointed to come hither; and, I am sure, what I do, is not only what will be approved of in England, but what had its beginning from thence. I do therefore conjure you, to give your Friends and mine this Account, and, for the Love of God, keep them from any Disorder or Mischief (if any had such Design, which I hope they had not;) and I am fully satisfied, eve∣ry Man will have his own Heart's Desire. I will write to this Effect to some other Places, and I desire you will let such in the Country, as you think fit, see this. Let the Peo∣ple fall to their Labour, and think themselves in less Danger than they believed, &c.