SEeing it is common and natural in all persons of what condition soeuer , to speake and iudge variably of all new and sudden accidents , And that the flight of the Earles of Tyrone and Tyrconnell , with some others of their fellowes out of the North parts of our Realme of Ireland , may haply prooue a subiect of like discourse : Wee haue thought it not amisse to deliuer some such matter in publique , as may better cleare mens iudgements concerning the same ; not in respect of any worth or value in these mens persons , being base and rude in their Originall ; but to take away all such inconueniences as may blemish the reputation of that friendship which ought to be mutually obserued betweene vs and other Princes . For although it is not vnlikely , that the report of their Titles and dignities , may draw from Princes and States some such courtesies at their first comming abroad , as are incident to men of extraordinary rancke and qualitie : Yet when wee haue taken the best meanes wee can to lay them open in euery condition , wee shall then expect from our friends and neighbours all such iust and noble Proceedings , as stand with the rules of Honour and friendship , and from our Subiects at home and abroad , that duety and obedience ( in their carriage toward them ) which they owe to vs by inseparable bonds and obligations of Nature and Loyaltie , whereof we intend to take streight accompt . For which purpose we do hereby first declare that these persons aboue mentioned , had not their creations or possessions in regard of any lineall or lawfull descent from Ancestors of Blood or Vertue , but were onely preferred by the late Queene our sister of famous memory , and by our selues for some reasons of State before others , who for their qualitie and birth ( in those Prouinces where they dwell ) might better haue challenged those Honours which were conferred vpon them . Secondly we doe professe , That it is both knowen to vs and our Counsell here , and to our Deputie and State there , and so shall it appeare to the world ( as cleare as the Sunne ) by euident proofes , That the onely ground and motiue of this high contempt in these mens departure , hath been the priuate knowledge and inward terrour of their owne guiltinesse : Whereof because we heare that they doe seeke to take away the blot and infamie by diuulging that they haue withdrawen themselues for matter of Religion , ( a cloake that serues too much in these dayes to couer many euill intentions ) adding also thereunto some other vaine pretexts of receiuing iniustice , when their rights and Claimes haue come in question betweene them and vs , or any of our Subiects and them , Wee thinke it not impertinent to say somewhat thereof .

And therefore , although we iudge it needlesse to seeke for many Arguments to confirme whatsoeuer shall be said of these mens corruption and falshood , ( whose hainous offences remaine so fresh in memorie since they declared themselues so very monsters in nature , as they did not only withdraw themselues from their personall obedience to their Soueraigne , but were content to sell ouer their Natiue Countrey to those that stood at that time in the highest termes of Hostilitie with the two Crownes of England and Ireland ) yet to make the absurditie and ingratitude of the Allegations aboue mentioned , so much the more cleare to all men of equall Iudgement , We doe hereby professe in the worde of a King , that there was neuer so much as any shadowe of molestation , nor purpose of proceeding in any degree against them for matter concerning Religion : Such being their condition and profession , to thinke murder no fault , mariage of no vse , nor any man worthy to bee esteemed valiant that did not glorie in Rapine and Oppression , as We should haue thought it an vnreasonable thing to trouble them for any different point in Religion , before any man could perceiue by their conuersation , that they made truely Conscience of any Religion . So do we also for the second part of their excuse affirme , that ( notwithstanding all that they can claime , must be acknowledged to proceed from meere Grace vpon their submission after their great and vnnaturall Treasons ) there hath neuer come any question concerning their Rights or Possessions , wherein we haue not bene more inclinable to doe them fauour , then to any of their Competitours , except in those Cases wherein wee haue plainely discerned that their onely end was to haue made themselues by degrees more able then now they are , to resist all lawfull Authoritie ( when they should returne to their vomit againe ) by vsurping a power ouer other good Subiects of Ours , that dwell among them better borne then they , and vtterly disclaiming from any dependancie vpon them .

Hauing now deliuered thus much concerning these mens Estates and their proceedings , Wee will onely end with this conclusion , That they shal not be able to denie , whensoeuer they should dare to present themselues before the Seate of Iustice , that they haue ( before their running out of our kingdom ) not onely entred into combination for stirring Sedition and intestine Rebellion , but haue directed diuers Instruments , as well Priestes as others , to make offers to foreine States and Princes ( if they had beene as ready to receiue them ) of their readinesse and resolution to adhere to them , whensoeuer they would seeke to inuade that kingdome . Wherein amongst other things , this is not to be forgotten , That vnder the condition of being made free from English gouernment , they resolued also to comprehend the vtter extirpation of all those Subiects that are nowe remayning aliue within that kingdome , formerly descended from the English race . In which practises and propositions , followed and fomented by Priestes and Iesuites ( of whose function in these times the practise and perswasion of subiects to rebell against their Soueraignes , is one speciall and essentiall part and portion ) as they haue found no such incouragement as they expected and haue boasted of : so We doe assure our selues , that when this declaration shall bee seene and duely weighed with all due circumstances , it will bee of force sufficient to disperse and to discredit all such vntrueths , as these contemptible creatures so full of infidelity and ingratitude , shall disgorge against vs , and our iust and moderate proceeding , and shall procure vnto them no better vsage then they would wish should be afforded to any such packe of Rebels , borne their Subiects , and bound vnto them in so many and so great obligations .