more.’  The foregoing proclamation was issued from Rathfarnham on September 10.  On November 9 following, another proclamation of a general nature was published and widely circulated in order to justify the course the Government adopted.  According to this document it was known to all the world ‘how infinitely’ the fugitive earls had been obliged to the king for his singular grace and mercy in giving them free pardon for many heinous and execrable treasons, above all hope that they could in reason conceive, and also in restoring the one to his lands and honours justly forfeited, and in raising the other ’from a very mean estate to the degree and title of an earl, giving him withal large possessions for the support of that honour, before either of them had given any proof of loyalty, or merited the least favour.’  Even in the point of religion, which served as a cloak for all their treasons, they got no provocation or cause of grievance.  For these and other causes it was announced that his majesty would seize and take into his hands all the lands and goods of the said fugitives.  But he would, notwithstanding, extend such grace and favour to the loyal inhabitants of their territories that none of them should be ’impeached, troubled, or molested in their own lands, goods, or bodies, they continuing in their loyalty, and yielding unto his majesty such rents and duties as shall be agreeable to justice and equity.’  This assurance was repeated again emphatically in these words:  ’His most excellent majesty doth take all the good and loyal inhabitants of the said countries, together with their wives and children, land and goods, into his own immediate protection, to defend them in general against all rebellions and invasions, and to right them in all their wrongs and oppressions, offered or to be offered unto them by any person whatsoever, etc.’

CHAPTER VIII.

THE CASE OF THE FUGITIVE EARLS.

Before proceeding to notice the manner in which these promises of justice, equity, and protection to the occupiers of the land were fulfilled, it is well to record here the efforts made by King James and his ambassador to discredit the fugitive earls on the Continent, and the case which they made out for themselves in the statement of wrongs and grievances which they addressed to the king soon after.  There was great alarm in England when news arrived of the friendly reception accorded to the Irish chiefs by the continental sovereigns through whose dominions they passed, and especially by the King of Spain, who was suspected of intending another invasion of Ireland.  Consequently the most active preparations were made to meet the danger.  In every street of the metropolis drums were beating for recruits, and large detachments were sent in all possible haste to reinforce the Irish garrisons.  Sir Charles Cornwallis was then English ambassador at Madrid; and lest his diplomatic skill