The Desires and Propositions of the Lord Inchequin
About this text
Introductory notes
The pamphlet outlines the propositions of Murrough o’Brien, Earl of Inchiquin (1614-74), leader of the Munster Protestants who defected in favour of Charles I. Inchiquin was made governor of Munster in 1642, but was hampered by the lack of funds. The defection of the Munster camp was triggered by anti-Independent sentiment, and resentment of the actions of Philip Sidney, Lord Lisle and those who supported his governance of Ireland in 1646-47. There were also concerns about parliamentary privileges and the question of supply, as this and other similar pamphlets complained. Inchiquin held considerable sway in southern Ireland, and maintained control of Cork, Kinsale, Youghal, Baltimore, Castlehaven, Crookhaven, and Dungarvan, fortifying their harbours and preventing parliamentary ships from anchoring there. This pamphlet particularly highlights the condition of Inchiquin’s army because of delays in the supply of provisions. Negotiations around provisioning armies and towns were likely to be complicated further by the poor harvests of 1647 and 1648.
The
DESIRES
AND
PROPOSITIONS
OF THE
LORD INCHEQUIN
IN
Ireland, to the Parliament of Eng
land Assembled at Westminster; with his Decla-
ration concerning Charles , King of great Brittain,
and his Resolution to defend and maintain His Royall Crown and Dignity, and to
oppose and bring to subjection, the
Popish party in Ireland, who
have now declared for the
King of Spaine.
ALSO,
A great Fight, and the Lord INCHIQUINS
taking of divers strong Holds of the Rebels.
LIKEWISE,
The proceedings of the Royalists at Bristol, and their de-
claring for God and King Charles.
LONDON: Printed for R. W. MDCXLVIII.
PUBLISHED FOR R.W.
1648
1. The
DESIRES
OF
The Lord Inchequin in Ireland, to the Parliament of ENGLAND; With a relation of the affaires and conditions of that Kingdome, as it was certified by Letters fromDublin.
ALl things here are still in a distracted condition, and all sorts of provisions very scarce and hard to come by; Wee looke uponEngland, as a storehouse, or reserve, on which we confide as the chiefest earthly meanes to keep and preserve us from utter ruine and destruction; but the disturbances which are noysed to be inEngland, is a great discomfort to us, and a sadnesse to every well affected heart.
The Lord Inchequinstill keepts compliance with [Page 3] Rebels, and the conditions made between them, are as yet on both parts kept unviolated, the Rebels to shew that they confide in the Lord Incheqin, have delivered and surrendred up into his Lordships hands, many of their holds and places of strength, some of them being of consequence.
Also, it is with confidence said, that the LordInchequinedesires to make some overtures to the Parliament of England, and to desire the Parliament for moneys, and an ordinance of Indempnities
Also the Lord Inchequine pleads, that what he did was to act by that faction and partie of Catholikes in Ireland, which did acknowledge the King of Englands right and title there, to destroy the other that are for the King of Spaines interest in that Kingdom; but whether the Rebels will begin, and fight with the King of Spaines party, it is not yet known, but what their intentions are, a little time will m [...]ke appeare.
Here hath lately been a fight at Sea betweene some Waxford, Frigots, and certaine Barks which were laden with corne and provision, the Waxford Frigots after a short encounter tooke five Barkes laden as aforesaid, and the Passengers are come to this C [...]ty not anything worth.
April the 18 a party of the Rebels attempted a garrison of ours, named Kildare; and with eight scaling Ladders, so large that 8 might goe up a breast, they ascended the Walles halfe an houre afore day ; Some got into the towne, but were presently put to the Sword, the Rebels beaten off, and three or foure score left dead in the place, besides many others mor [Page 3] tally wounded, which got away; on our part, two Lieutenants and a Serjeant were slaine, and about twent [...] common Souldiers, and Captaine Dison wounded, one of the Lieutenants, was Lieutenant Brewerton.
We have yet great hopes, that if convenient supples come from England, much good may be done this Summer, against those bloody Rebels; for if the Protestants party were but thorowly furnished with provisions, and some aditionall Forces, whereby they might be able to ingage with the enemy, upon all occasions, or to keepe the Rebels close within these places which they command, the famine would consume them, all sorts of livelyhood is so exceeding scarce amongst them: Many of the beast which they have, dye so extreamly, with a Murraine which is amongst them, that all sorts of Cattell will be very scarce, many of ours dye also; Collonell Jonesintends to improve his utmost ability against the Rebels, and hopes to give the Parliament a good account of his proceedings this Summer. Dublin.
The st [...]ate of the things is something unsetled here as wel as in other places, which makes the Malignants bold to say & do somethings which may prove cleerly prej [...]uditiall to the Kingdome, if not timely prevented, Here are some royalists privately listing with whom many take part, they declare th [...]ere undertakeings to be for God and King Charles, the Auxille [Page 4] ries do n [...]ot yet comply with them, nor take part against them, also the Trai [...]ned Bonds are not so carefull, [...]so it were fitt they ho [...]uld to sup [...]presse them, b [...]ut let things as it were ha [...]ng at hazard and suspence; but if pr iv [...]ate mettings and listing o [...]f Malignants be not supprest by some speedy course, it may ca [...]use sad effects, both here and in other parts of the Kingdom, and then those negligent people, when they feele the smart, will wish they had prevented tho [...]se Messengers which they may then suffer, if they wil wilfully neglect the prevention thereof, having opportunity and power so to do,Bristoll, April 19. 1648.
It is reported that Poyer is beaten, and 16. of his Colours, with many prisoners taken.
A letter containing a perfect Relation of the condition and state of things in South-wales, with the Declaration of the Earl of Carberie, Sir Richard Price, and others against Poyer , who have deserted him, although formerly of the Kings Army, and how the Welch Smiths have cut down their Bellowes, and many left their Habitations upon advance of the Parliaments Forces.
The Malignants from many places do yet come i [...]n unto Poyer, & use their indeavours to streng [...]then him, and what they can they perswade the Welch to assist them, and to that end, many lyes and fiction, are scattered and spread abroad, the better to animate and incourage the simple misled Welch, to joyne with them, as that the City of London hath d [...]eclared against the Pa [...]rliament, and that the Armies are divided, and ready to ingage the one against the ot [...]her, with many [Page 5] to this purpose; but it is hoped that their assistance wil not be nothing so great as they expect, for the Ea [...]rl of Carbery who hath once been ingaged against the Parl. [...] and formerly a Commander in the Kings Army s also Sir Richard Price & others, have withdrawn themselves out of their society, and also out of that Countrey, which may happily by their example move others to do the like.
The Earl of Carbery [...] and others, have likewise declared, their [...]d slikes of their undertakings, and would not have that there should [...]be so much as any suspition, that they will either joyne with them, or associate with them, for they do declare and ingage [...] their honour, that they will neither joyne with them nor assist [...] them, neither shall any of [...]their finds as farre forth as they can perswade or hinder them; but on the contrarie, they will ingage with, and assist the Armie against them. His Lordship hath also voluntarily explained many other tokens of love and good affection to the Parl. and Army.
Yet, the mores the pitty, some of those parts are [...]universally bent to oppose the Parl. and Army, what [...]forces soever comes, as appeares by this, [...]for as the Parl. forces march forward, they make away, and carry away with them their wives, their Children, and drive away their Cattell, with what good they have, or can get together, and [...] are fled into he Woods, and into the [...]Mountains, leaving their houses empty, many [...]of their Smiths are also gone, they themselves having cut own their Bellowes before they went; for they being a piefullmischievous people, have in many places [...]spoiled and carried away what [Page 6] they conceive may be of use to the Parl. Forces, and in some places there is neither a [...] Horseshooe to bee bad, nor a place to make it if one would give 40 s. to have an Horse [...]shod. Therefore some extraordinary and unusuall course must bee taken to end this trouble, and bring downe the stomacks of these litle lesse then barbarous people.
It is supposed and reported that Ma. Gen. Laughorne is come [...]in unto Poyer, but whether it [...]were he or not, we cannot tell, but the Welch [...]l tly [...]shot off all their Guns, to welcome some person of quality. The Welsh care not for fighting, but upon passage, and scarce then nei her, except they have a good opportu-nity, for the Welsh [...]hav alwaies been observed to be cowards, and seldome act but upon advantage. Colo-nel Horton hath taken fifty of the Welsh Souldiers prisoners, whereof ten are Gentlemen, and were ta-ken fortifying a house at Broshock, for whose ex-change, a Drummer hath been sent into Wales unto Poyer.
This present Munday, being the 8. of this [...] instant May, it was commonly rumored up and downe the Towne, that there hath beene another late fight in Wales, betwixt the Forces commanded by Colonel Horton, and the Forces commanded by Colonel Rice Powell , and that Colonell Horton hath obtained a great Victory, taken 16. Colours and divers prisoners ; The truth whereof, few daies will make manifest.