A true copy of a second letter, sent from the Lord of Inchiquine to the honorable Collonell Michaell Iones: commander in chiefe of the Parliaments forces in Leinster, and governor of the citty of Dublin, vvith Colonell Iones his answer, to the Lord of Inchiquines saied letter.

My Lord.

YOur Lordships of this date I re••ieved, it being in pur∣suance of your former of the 20^th instant, Therein I finde a large recollection of what had been once and againe forme••ly offered and urged by the Lord of Ormonde, endeavouring the diverting mee from my course by laying before mee the late proceedings in England.

The cunto and to your Lordship is the Answer the same sum∣marily, which was formerly given on the like occasion. That in all that, the service heere is noe way concerned: only as to a Christi∣an fellow feeling of each others suffering, And in what this service hath suffered by those unhappy differencies obstructing those supplies, whereby the worke heere had been before now finished, otherwise I see not how from those distractions in England is to bee concluded (either in Honour or Reason) what you intend my giving up to the Rebells and their adherents this place and Charge committed mee: which by Gods grace I shall never doe.

Your Lordship now againe press••th that Conference defined in your former. And particularly, you except to my saying, That is

prudence it was not to bee admitted in matters of this consequence, you tell mee; that if advice and deliberation bee necessary it is in matters of moment and consequence.

(But my Lord) it is not understood of advising with Enemies whose Councells, although never soe specious, are to be suspected. Nor was it said that advice was not necessary in matters of conse∣quence: but that discourses and a verball Conference (which was that spoken of,) and that at the distance wee are with each other, was not in prudence to bee admitted especially in causes of this con∣sequence. The Lord of Oxmonde soe apprehended it, whole trans∣actions first with the Irish and after with the Parliament Commi∣ssioners passed not in discourses but in writting, and that as to very circumstances. writeing (surely) not conference is the prudent and cleare way for such proceedings. let not therefore my de∣clining that your way be apprehended as proceeding either out of diffidence of my cause; or from a Resolution to bold the conclusion without respect had to the premisses; or out of any distrust of your ingenuity: but as not being a way secure and fatisfactory. Neither am I enabled by the Parliament to dispute and debate their intrests otherwise then in the way wee now are, by the Sword: wherin I doubt not of a good conclusion the Lord asisting mee.

It troubles you much that I mention the Lords blessing this his owne cause with us; you say, that God blesseth men in evill cour∣ses. A good cause (I know) may some time suffer. Yet is it not incongruous (Circumstances considered) to conclude the justice of a cause from Gods blessing it: seeing his blessing is expected and assured to his worke by speciall promise, the sinnes of those there∣in instrumentall not interposing. But it seemes very strange what you say, (and the Stranger, if it bee the sence of those Divines with you) that God blesseth men in evill courses. Gods suffering them for a time to proceed in evill succesfully, is not a blessing of them in evill courses, there being to evill none of Gods blessings appropriated. But for us, it is our comfort that wee can and doe thus boast of the Lords blessing this his worke in our hands, wherein hath been mightily, & visibly magnified the Glorie of his power and truth and goodnesse even in the lowest of our Condition, to

us an Evidence of his owne cause with us. And in soe concluding I but assume the same freedome, which your Lordship hath done: you having (in effect) soe concluded from the succesfullnes of your Sword: And this our cause is the same with that which your Lord∣ship seemed then to hold.

Your Lordship justifieth your joyning with the Rebells by way of Recrimination; objecting the same to others. If to mee you intend it, I speake it plainly, it is a Charge very unjust, (to say no more)

But as to your selfe, you stick not openly to professe and justify your proceedings in that kinde, asserting it a Christian act: for therein (you say) you Received penitents; strange Penitents are they, who after soe much blood, and spoile of Innocents are now soe farre from satisfiing their wrong doings, that they professe themselves not guilty: and whose Penitence is only in that they failed in accomplishing their evill in fullnes; which in the now setling them in that power given in your Christian union with them, they may haue hereafter fitting opertunity to accomplish to the uttermost, soe, as they may not need further Penitence in that Particular.

You smile (you say) at that Charged to you of your Changing. At it (my Lord) do your Enemies smile: but griefe it is to your friends, and all well affected. who your friend, can smile at your falling away and (to speake plainely) at your betraying that trust reposed in you? can you smile at you turning that sword put into your hands by the Parliament, against those who have soe trust∣ed and maintained you? were you called out against these bloody Rebells, and for the Protestants, and can you smile to see your selfe now in the head of those very Rebells or with them, and for them, and that, against even English and Protestants? can you smile (my Lord) in your betraying those poore English (your Care and trust,) and in offering them up (in time) a sacrifice to the malice of their mortall Enemies, having first removed (and by their hands alsoe, which is intended) those here, who pitty them, and by whom they might bee from those evills rescued. You tell me, that you have not changed your Cause but your Party, and what was your Cause then (I beseech you) and what is it

now? was not the prosecution of this Warre against the Rebells then your Cause? this was surely your Trust and (for any thing ap∣pearing) was it that only or principally in your trust? and are you not now taken of from this? is this your Cause now? are you not now changed to the quite contrary? your Cause (you say) is the maintenance of the King, of Laws, of Religion, and of the Liberties of Parliament. so indeed in your Covenant. But your sticking unto these (if unto them you sticke) excuseth you nothing, as to your failing in that principally Committed to you in that Province, the employing those Armes and powers given you against the Rebells our common Enemies. There is not the meanest Covenanter who pre∣tends not equall intrest with you in these common engagements; but you were, besides all hese, eminently called above others to that high trust, from which you have soe fallen as your Honour is no way salved no•• vindi••ated by a pretended adheiring to other your profession. your doing somethings, excuseth not your failing in that principally expected from you.

You object to us new raised Heresies &c. wee detest them as much as you or any; neither account we them any part of our Doctrine, and of the Religion now professed in the Church of England I wish some of your Lordships Divines now with you (whose pennes are parhapps in this Charge to us) were not chargable with corruption in that kinde, makeing way for Heresies, and even for Popery it selfe alsoe, being thereby, with others of like straine, authors of those evills this day covering the face of Church and State, where∣of they may bee in due time sensible.

Much more (you say) might bee said in your defence I beseech your Lordship to re••erve it for some time of better leasure, and for some other person fitter for such debateings. Wha•• I have now done, was for shewing my selfe nothing satisfied with any thing yet by your Lordship delivered, and that others might not bee abused in suffering yours to passe me unanswered. But for the future, I desire, your Lordship would be pleased not to trouble your selfe not mee in thi•• kinde any further. I am otherwise emploved then

to spend time in answering some there, whose penns are at better leasure then either yours or mine at present. So I remaine

My Lord

Your Lordships humble Servant Mic: Iones.

Dublin Iune 23^th 1649.

For the Lord Baron of Inchiquine These.

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