By the Lord-Deputy and Council.&Mdash;A Proclamation

From Derry and Enniskillen in the Year 1689 by Thomas Witherow

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APPENDIX 4

BY THE LORD-DEPUTY AND COUNCIL.—A PROCLAMATION.

TYRCONNEL.
Forasmuch as several persons in the Province of Ulster and town of Sligo, in this His Majesty's kingdom, have entered into several Associations, containing no less offence than high treason; and thereupon formed themselves into several parties, dividing and marshalling themselves into several regiments, troops, and companies, marching well armed up and down the country, to the great terror of the King's liege people, in manifest breach of the law and of the peace of this realm: And having resolved within ourselves to prevent the effusion of blood, as long as it was possible, by using all peaceable means to reduce the said malefactors to their obedience, have of late issued out a Proclamation setting forth the said disorders, requiring all the said parties to disperse, and repair to their several habitations and callings, assuring every of them of His Majesty's pardon and protection: And whereas we see the said offenders, instead of complying with our said Proclamation, still do persist in their wickedness by continuing in actual rebellion, breaking of prisons, and discharging of prisoners secured by due course of law for robberies, felonies, and other heinous crimes; by seizing upon His Majesty's arms and ammunition, imprisoning several of His Majesty's army, disarming and dismounting them; killing and murdering several of His Majesty's subjects, pillaging and plundering the country, and daily committing several other acts of hostility: And finding no other way to suppress the said rebellion, We, the Lord-Deputy, have caused a party of His Majesty's army, under the command of Lieutenant-General Richard Hamilton, to march into the Province of Ulster, to reduce the rebels there by force of arms, the consequence whereof cannot but be very fatal to that country and the inhabitants thereof, and will inevitably occasion the total ruin and destruction of that part of His Majesty's kingdom: The consideration whereof has given us great disquiet and trouble of mind, that a country well planted and inhabited should now, by the insolency and traitorous wickedness of its own inhabitants, be brought to ruin and desolation, which we are still willing to prevent, if any spark of grace be yet remaining in the hearts of those conspirators; hereby declaring, notwithstanding the many affronts by them put upon His Majesty's Government, notwithstanding the several acts of hostility by them hitherto committed, that if they will now submit and become dutiful subjects, His Majesty's mercy shall be extended to them, excepting the persons hereafter excepted:

And in order thereunto, We, the Lord-Deputy and Council, do strictly charge and command all such persons in arms in Ulster or the town of Sligo forthwith to lay down their arms, and that the principal persons among them now in the North, do forthwith repair to Lieutenant-General Richard Hamilton, and deliver up to him their arms and serviceable horses, and to give him hostages as an assurance of their future loyalty and obedience to His Majesty, and that all their adherents do deliver up their arms and serviceable horses to such person or persons as he, the said Lieutenant-General Richard Hamilton, shall appoint to receive them.

And we do also further charge and command all the principal persons of other commotions and insurrections in Sligo, to repair forthwith either to us, the Lord-Deputy, or to Colonel Macdonald at the Boyle, and to deliver up their arms and serviceable horses, and to give hostages as security for their future peaceable deportment; and their adherents to lay down their arms, to be delivered up together with their serviceable horses to the said Colonel Macdonald; We, the Lord-Deputy, hereby giving safe conduct to such of them as will submit according to this our Proclamation.

And we do hereby further declare, that such of the said persons as shall give obedience to these our commands, except the persons hereafter excepted, shall have His Majesty's Protection and Pardon for all past offences relating to the said commotions and insurrections; but in case they shall be so unhappy as to persist in their wicked designs and treasonable practices, We, the Lord-Deputy, do hereby command all His Majesty's forces to fall upon them wherever they meet them, and to treat them as Rebels and Traitors to His Majesty.

Yet, to the end the innocent may not suffer for the crimes of the nocent, and that the committals of inhuman acts may be prevented, We do hereby strictly charge and command His Majesty's army now upon their march to the North, and all other His Majesty's forces, that they or either of them do not presume to use any violence to women, children, aged or decrepid men, labourers, ploughmen, tillers of the ground, or to any other who in these commotions demean themselves inoffensively, without joining with the Rebels, or aiding or assisting them in their traitorous actings or behaviours.

But in regard, Hugh Earl of Mount-Alexander, John Lord Viscount of Massareene, Robert Lord Baron of Kingston, Clotworthy Skeffington, Esq., son to the Lord Viscount Massareene, Sir Robert Colville, Sir Arthur Rawdon, Sir John Magill, John Hawkins, Robert Sanderson, and Francis Hamilton, son to Sir Charles Hamilton, have been the principal actors in the said Rebellion, and the persons who advised and fomented the same, and inveigled others to be involved therein, We think fit to except them out of this Proclamation, as persons not deserving His Majesty's mercy or favour.

Given at the Council Chamber of Dublin, March 7th, 1688/9.

A. FYTTON, C.	WILL. TALBOT.
GRANARD.	THO. NEWCOMEN.
LIMERICK.	RICH. HAMILTON.
BELLEW.	FRAN. PLOWDEN.1

¹ From Leslie's Answer to King, App. No. 5.

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