IT has been for a hundred years past a most undeniable Maxim , by woful experimental Knowledge ( frequently ) confirmed , that let what Government soever be established in England , the old English of Ireland never had better Treatment , than an Invasion of their Properties , a Confifcation of Estates , and a Desolution of their Rights ; neither must the new English much longer expect to be better used ; for as their Minority hitherto protected them , riper years will shew them , that as one Peg drives out another , so always a newer sort of English will drive out their elder Brethren , until that Kingdom , through the general discontent of all Parties ( 't is to be feared ) becomes a Prey to Foreigners .

If the Grounds of the last Wars in Ireland be but rightly considered , it is humbly supposed that the old English and Irish , who are one People , have not been so culpable , but some room may be found to excuse their Crimes from being interpreted unpardonable , they have not broke through any ancient Law , Statute , or Record , but had all the fundamental Laws in force then , in both Kingdoms ( when they received Commissions , and took up Arms , as well in their Justification , as likewise in the defence of their own Civil , and Religious Rights , then threat'ned by a foreign Invasion ) to fortifie , back , second , and guide them through that War ; these things seriously weighed , and impartially consider'd , may give all unbiass'd Persons just cause to say , that it would be imparalell'd hardship , to take away the Subjects Lives , Liberties , and Estates , for acting in their own defence , and for making the Laws of their Country their Guide .

Now admitting it was a Fault in the old English to adhere unto , and to be guided by the Laws of this Hereditary Monarchy , according to its ancient Constitution , and that the old English have been since made sensible of their Errors , and since again upon their Submissions acknowledged King William , and the late Queen Mary for their lawful King , and Queen , and that King William , and Queen Mary received them into Subjection , and Protection , and staked down their Publick Faith as Pledges and Securities ( of the highest Sanctimony ) as well for to protect , as also to preserve them in the peaceable Posession and Enjoyment of their Lives , Liberties , and Properties , in as full , and in as ample a manner as they were protected , and preserved , in their Liberties , and Privileges , in the Reign of King Charles the Second . These were certainly the Terms , and Conditions , granted by King William , and Queen Mary , and upon which the People submitted , who have not from that day , to this , acted otherwise , than as became faithful Subjects ( in Allegiance to King William ) and if any be found among them that gave any cause of offence , let him be proceeded against by the same Law he so offended ; and how far it may seem fit to the Parliament of England to keep Publick Faith with such People , is most humbly submitted to higher , and better Consideration .

It seems there is a Clause in the Bill for Resumption of Irish Forfeitures , which imports , that all Persons , not proceeded against hitherto , shall be prosecuted to Outlawries , and Attainders , excepting those adjudged within Articles . This is an odd distinction , that the same Publick Faith given to the Protectees , for their Security , and Protection , s●all be violated ; and , of the other hand , the same shall be performed to the Article-men . Now , with Submission , it should seem that the Protectees are preferable to King William , and Queen Mary's Publick Faith , before the Article-men , ( not to have the latter excluded by any means ) for the Protectees had so much confidence in the great Security , and Pledges , tendered unto , and by them accepted of , that they have immediately submitted themselves to King William , and Queen Mary , and where so many thousand Families , without force , or compulsion , have yielded , and never deviated , nor varied since from the Allegiance they contracted upon themselves , by their said Submissions , I humbly say , and offer , that Common Justice in those Cases , together with the Laws of Nations , requires Publick Faith to be kept , performed , and in every part maintain'd with such a People ; and the obligation of performance is so much the greater , because they have not put King William to the Charges of their Reduction , but freely submitted themselves to the Power , and Authority then , and now established : Whereas the Article-men contracted abundance of Expences by their prolonging the War , and holding out against England ; and that the same Faith broke with the former , shall be maintained to the latter , is , but in a manner , excusing the one , and condeming the other , when at the same time , they have both equal Right to Publick Faith . It is very observable that it was upon such a pernicious distinction , the Crown of Spain lost the Netherlands ; For Alexander Farnesse , Duke of Parma , during his Government of the Low Countries , kept his Faith very inviolable with the Inhabitants , and the Subjects likewise in due obedience to the Crown . But when the imperious Duke of Alva enter'd that Government , he made large Protestations to the People in behalf of his Master : But when he thought himself vested of all the Power , he broke all his Promises , and would not perform a tittle , but what should be produced in Writing under his Hand and Seal But here observe , ☜ that upon his non-performance of Publick Faith the People of the Netherlands all revolted , shaked off their Subjection to Spain , and since grew from a much more despicable , and ●ontemptible Subjects , than the old English , and Irish are at this juncture of their greatest Tribulation , until the former became a Free People , and are at this time well known to be the most potent Republick in the Universe , and Spain but a drooping Monarchy : Whereas if Faith had been kept with them formerly , 't is believ'd they would be as great Slaves to Spain , until this day , as the old English are to the Irish Parliament , at this time .

That Clause in the Bill of Resumption , which directs the Protectees to be proceeded against , as spoke of before , carries so much destruction along with it , that 't is as killing as the War it self was , because nothing can be termed more destructive , than to revive old Rancour , and Malice , by laying open those old Wounds healed up , after so long a time , which is refreshing , and bringing upon a Publick Stage the former Animosities , which would much better suit the optimacy of any Government to bury such Cruelties in oblivion , than to revive 'em de novo , and to go about to ravish from a ruined People , ( who have rescued themselves , their Wives , Children , and Families , with the remainder of their broken Fortunes , out of the Ashes , and Embers of War , and Rapine ) the Fruits of their eight or nine years labour , and industry , and all that time in the peaceable Protection of King William , and who thereby proposed to protract to themselves a poor contemptible Livelihood to support Nature ; whereof , if the said Clause be not altered , they must be deprived , and drove to all manner of Exigencies . The Clause in the Bill spoke of , will not only exclude thousands unheard , but it will affect the little Children sleeping in the Loins of their Ancestors , and cause the little Babes ( scarce a span long ) crawling in their Mothers Bellies , by their Out-cries , in the inarticulate Language of Nature to wish themselves born Abborts , rather than live to succeed their Parents to be eternized to Bondage , and Slavery , which they must certainly expect , if the said Clause be neither mollified , mitigated , or totally abolished ; for it involves the Lord , the Lady , the Gentleman , the Gentlewoman , the Widow , the Orphan , as well as the Lame , the Blind , the Distracted , and the Super-annuated , with the poor Labourer too , without any distinction , or exception , but all mingled together , in one calamitous Common Ruine .

And as the Offences imputed to the distressed old English and Irish proceeded from the Impulse of Self-preservation ( an indelible Character wrote , and imprinted in every Man's mind by the very hand of Nature ) rather than from Love to Rebellion , or Aversion to the English Government . So it is hoped therefore , that some Hero's are in both Houses of Parliament , that in so extensive a Calamity ( like Original Sin cleaving through Generations ) will find the way to stop the Current , by early applying of some wholesome Rem●dy , against so growing , and coming a Malady , whereby the renowned Memory of such Worthies may pass through the Alembick of Common Fame ; and that , by their extending so generous a Sympathy towards the Relief of their Fellow-Subjects , ( now under the greatest Duress , and who must inevitably be condemned to perpetual Bondage , if not early rescued from the Jaws of a living Mortality ) they may acquire to themselves Glory , Honour , and Renown , by their shewing of Mercy , when 't is in their Power to destroy .

And as a Motive to induce the Parliament of England into a moderate Compliance , and to bury all former Dissentions in oblivion , and to re-unite the Divisions among us , so as we may all be upon one Basis . The old English of Ireland have most insupportably suffered by the Pressures of the Irish Parliament , and , at this time , covets nothing more ( under God ) than to cast off that Yoke , and , in imitation of their English Ancestors , submit to the Laws , Statutes , and Ordinances made , or to be made in England : And as both Kingdoms are governed It was so from the 5th of Ed. 3 to th● 10th of Hen . 7. by one Monarch , so they may have but one Parliament ; And the old English to signifie their real Intentions , and that they are in earnest , for the Honour , and Interest of England , so they are all ready at home , and abroad , with hearts , and hands , to acknowledge , and submit unto the Authority of the Parliament of England , in open defiance of all the new English in Ireland , who are not one in ten at home , or abroad , to the old English , and Irish , who are both one Body , and one People , and inseparably united in one entire Interest , and equally desirous to embrace the immediate Laws and Edicts of the English Parliament , in Ireland .

First , Let it be considered , that the old English , alone , are the primier Quality , the first Rank of Gentlemen , the greatest , and the most considerable Body , and therefore , the most to be valued in Ireland .

Secondly , that they are the Race of those English , and British Hero's , that first conquered that Kingdom , and ever since kept it in Subjection to the Imperial Crown of England ; and that in the last War when it was in their power to subject themselves to France , and nothing more desired , nor coveted then by Vide French Fidelity to King James all Treachery . the French , than to have all the Forts , and strong Holds in Ireland put into their Power , having offered the old English to resettle them in all their Ancient Rights , in as ample , and full a manner , as they , or their Ancestors , were possessed of all such since the Conquest to that time . But the old English ( who tho' ill , and most barbarously used at home ) having the English Blood of their old Ancestors running in their Veins , chose rather to be Slaves ( as they are this day ) than accept of all the high Terms offered to become Subjects to France , and thereby be the Masters of their own Fortunes .

As for the new English , they are a new People that were planted in that Kingdom by Oliver Cromwel's Usurpation , a People ever since supported by the Parliaments of England in the Possessions of the old English , and the People likewise , that contended but some months since with the English Parliament for Privileges , and Superiority , and would have no more Mercy upon the Members thereof ( if in their Power ) at this time , than they have upon the old English , whom they seek by all unlawful means to extirpate Root and branch . In the first place , the new English are a People of so obscure Births , that the Heralds of England know them not : Secondly , all the Estates they hold in Ireland , they enjoy by the Favour , and Courtesie of the English Parliament : And , thirdly , the new English have largely transgress'd , by their joining with foreign Interest , or new Grantees , composed of mercenary Foreigners , and of immoral English Favourites , against the Interest of England , as appeared by their unanimous Consent given , for to compose , print , publish , and present to King William , Mr. Mollineux's Book , a Pamphlet stuffed with Romances , and Fables , in order ( as it was per●iciously intended ) to establish in Ireland the English Staple , advance the Irish Rents , lower the English ones , and , in short , to make Ireland independent of England , and so ruine the English Trade : A Project never thought of , from the Conquest of that Kingdom ( by the old English ) to the late Revolution , which is somewhat above five hundred years : And to see a People of about Forty five years standing so imperiously attempting the Invasion of old English Rights ) when the same People can call nothing their own , but what may be legally taken from them , when the English Parliament shall think fit ) implies , that the longer they are protected , the more insolent they will grow , and the better they will b● enabled to execute their Designs .

Now Quere , Whether the Peace , and Tranquility of England , doth not require to smother the Ambition of so imperious a People , and to favour , and promote the old English , and make them the Balance to weigh down the new English , and the Irish Scots , as also to curh the insulting French , whose Insolence is unsupportable , so as neither of the Three , now in Conjunction together , may be left capable to join any other Interest , considering how much they conceive themselves equally injured by the Parliament of England : And as the new English are weary of being subjugated to the English Parliament , so the old English are res●lved with all Vigour , Action , and Motion , to accept of , and embrace , all the Laws , and Statutes made , or at any time hereafter to be Enacted , in England , as mentioned before , as well for to rescue themselves , and their Posterities , from the Drudgery intail'd upon them , by the new English Irish Parliament ; as also , to shew by their future Practices , that they are imbib'd with the Principles of their old English Ancestors , who never looked but one way , which was , to promote , and propugn , the Honour , and Grandeur of England alone , and to secure to themselves their Rights , and their Liberties , upon that only Foundation : All which is most H●mbly Submitted to the Honourable the Commons of England in Parliament , unto whom the old English at home , and abroad , appeal for Equity , Compassion , Protection , and Pardon . And the Author likewise , if he has any ways transgressed in the foregoing Discourse , he most humbly submits , and begs the Commons of England Pardon , for his high Presumption .