The English rogue described, in the life of Meriton Latroon, a witty extravagant Being a compleat discovery of the most eminent cheats of both sexes. Licensed, January 5. 1666.

CHAP. II.

A short Account of the general Insurrections of the Irish, Anno 1641.

But though the mercy of these inhumane Vil∣laius extended to the saving of our Lives, yet they had so little consideration and commiseration, as to expose our bodies (by stripping us) stark na∣ked to the extremity of a cold Winter Night, not so much as sparing my tender age. Thus without Shooes or Stockings, or the least Rag to cover our nakedness, with the help of our Guide, we tra∣velled all night through Woods as obscure as that black darkness that then environed our Horizon. By break of day we were at Belfast; about enter∣ing the skirts of the Town, this honest and grate∣ful servant, (which is much in an Irish man) be∣ing then assured of our safety, took his leave of us, and returned to the Rebels.

Here were we received with much pitty of all, and entertain'd, and cloth'd, and fed, by some charitable minded Persons; to gratifie their souls for what they had done for my mothers body, and those that belong'd to her, my Father frequently preacht, which gave general satisfaction, and con∣tinued thus in instructing his hearers, till the Sark or Surplice, was adjudged by a Scóttish Faction, to be the absolute Smock of the Whore of Babylon. Then was he constrain'd to flie again to Linsegarvy, taking his charge with him.

Before I proceed, give me leave to digress a little, in giving you a brief account of the Irish Rebellion, Not two yeares before it broke out, all those ancient Animosities, Grudges, and Ha∣tred, which the Irish had ever been observed to bare unto the English, seemed to be deposited and buried in a firm Conglutination of their Affecti∣ons, and National Obligations, which passed be∣tween them. For these Two had lived together forty Years in peace, with such great security and comfort, that it had in a manner consolidated them into one body, knit and compacted together with all those Ligatures of Friendship, Alliance, and Consanguinity, as might make up a constant and everlasting Union betwixt them there. Their In∣ter-marriages were near upon as frequent as their Gossippings and Fosterings, (relations of much dearness among the Irish) together with all Tenan∣cies, Neighborhoods and Services interchangea∣bly passed among them. Nay, they had made as it were a mutual Transmigration into each others manners, many English being strongly degenerated into Irish Affections and Customes, and many of the better sort of Irish studying as well the Lan∣guage of the English, as delighting to be Appar∣rel'd like them. Nay, so great an advantage did they find by the English Commerce and Cohabita∣tion, in the profits and high improvements of their Lands, as Sir Phelim O Noal, that rebellious Ring∣leader, with divers others eminent in that bloody Insurrection, had not long before turn'd off their Lands, their Irish Tenants, admitting English in their rooms; who were able to give them far great∣er Rents, and more certainly pay the same. So as all those circumstances duly weighed and consider∣ed

with the great increase of Trade, and many o∣ther evident Symptoms of a flourishing Common∣wealth; It was believed even by the wisest and most experienced in the Affairs of Ireland, that the Peace and Tranquility of that Kingdom was fully settled, and most likely in all humane probability to continue, especially under the Government of such a King as Charles the First, whom After-ages may admire, but never match. Such was the se∣renity and security of this Kingdom, as that there appeared not any where any Martial preparations, for reliques of any kinde of disorders, no not so much as the least noise of War whisperingly car∣ried to any ear in all this Land.

Now whilest in this great calm, the Brittish con∣tinued in the deepest security, whilest all mon sar pleasantly enjoying the fruits of their own labors, sitting under their own (Vines, without the least thoughts of apprehensions of Tumulcs, Troubles, or Massacres, there brake out on October the Twenty third, in the Year of •…•…our Lord, sixteen Hundred forty and one, almost desperate, direful, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 Rebellion, an Universal Desection 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, wherein not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the meer Native 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 almost all those English that profest the 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 were totally involved 〈◊〉〈◊〉 solved by me to give you a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the most remarkable Transacti∣ons and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my life, it will be also necessa∣ry to acquaint you with the beginning and first mo∣•…•… Neither shall I omit to trace the Progress of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Rebellion, since therein, I shall relate sum∣•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and what others underwent, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Irish, and their abomi∣•…•… committed, as well without number,

as without mercy, upon the English Inhabi∣tants of both Sexes, and all Ages.

It was carried with such secresie, that none un∣derstood the Conspiracy, till the very evening that immediately preceded the night of its general execution. I must confess there was some such thing more than suspected by one Sir William Cole, who presently sent away Letters to the Lord Chief Justices, but miscarried by the way. Omen O Co∣nally (though meer Irish, was notwithstanding a Protestant) was the first discoverer of this general Insurrection, giving in the Names of some of the chief Conspirators. Hereupon the Lords conve∣ned and sate in Council, whose care and prudence at that time was such, that some of the Ring∣leaders were instantly seized, and upon examina∣tion, confest that on that very day of their surpri∣zal, all the Ports and Places of strength in Ireland, would be taken; that there was a considerable number of Gentlemen and others, twenty out of each County, were come up expresly to surprize the Castle of Dublin. Adding further, that where was to be done in the Countrey (where Mercury the swist Messenger) could neither by the wit of man, or by Letter, be prevented. Hereupon a strict search was made for all strangers lately come to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and all Horses were seized on, whose owners could not give a good account of them. And notwith∣standing, there was a Proclamation disperst through all Ireland, giving notice of a horrid Plot designed by Irish Papists, against English Protestants, in∣tending thereby a discouragement to such of the Conspirators, as yet had not openly declared themselves. Yet did they assemble in great num∣ber, principally in the North, in the Province of

Ulster, taking many Towns, as the Newry, Drum∣moore, &c. burning, spoiling, and committing hor∣rible murthers every where. These things wrought such a general consternation and astonishment in the mindes of the English, that they thought them∣selves no where secure, flying from one danger into another.

In a very short time, the meer Irish Northern Pa∣pists by closly persuing on their first Plot, had got∣ten into their possession most of the Towns, Forts, Castles, and Gentlemens Houses, within the Coun∣ties of Tyron, Denegal, Fermanah, Armab, Canan, &c. The chief that appeared in the Execution of this Plot, within the Province of Ulster, were Sir Phelim O Neal, Tourlough his Brother, Roure Mac Cuire, Phillip O Rely, Sir Conne Mac Gennis, Mac Brian, and Mac Mahan, these combining with their Accomplices dividing their Forces, and according to a general Assignation, surprized the Forts of Dongannon, and Mon•…•…joy, Carlemont, with other places of considerable strength. Now began a deep Tragedy: The English having either few other than Irish Landlords, Tenants, Servants, Neighbors, or familiar Friends, as soon as this fire brake out, and the whole Country in a general Conflagration, made their recourse presently to some of these, ly∣ing upon them for protection and preservation, and with g eat confidence trusted their lives and all their concerns in their powers. But many of these in short time after, either betrayed them to others, or destroyed them with their own hands. The Po∣pish Priests had so charged and laid such bloody impressions on them, as it was held according to their Doctrine they had received, a deadly sin to give an English Protestant any relief.

All bonds of Faith and Friendship now fractur'd, Irish Landlords now prey'd on their English Te∣nants; Irish Tenants and Servants, made a Sacri∣fice of their English Landlords and Masters, one Neighbor murthering another; nay, 'twas looked on as an act meritorious in him that could either subvert or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 an English man; The very Children 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the cruelty of their Parents, of which I shall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a mark with •…•…e to my Grave, given me 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 by one of my Irish Play∣fellows. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 high time to flie, although we knew not 〈◊〉〈◊〉; every place we arriv'd at we thought least 〈◊〉〈◊〉, wherefore our motion was continual; and that which heightned our misery, was our frequent stripping thrice a day and in such a dismal stormy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 season, as the memory of man had never observ'd to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so long to∣gether. The terror of the Irish and Scorch incom∣parably prevailed beyond the rage of the Sea, so that we were resolved to use all possible means to get on Shipboard. At B•…•…fast we accomplisht our desires, com•…•…ing our selves to the more merciful Waves. This Relation being so short, cannot but be very imperfect, yet if I dare credit my mother, it is not stain'd with falshood. Many horrid things (I consess) I purposely omitted, as desiring to wave any thing of aggravation, or which might occasion the least Animofity between two, though of several Languages, yet I hope both •…•…ited in the demon∣stration of their consrant Loyalry to their Soveraign Charles the Second.