~IIIdly~, Though it may, perhaps seem to some Politicks, that this
Restoring the Roman-Catholick Religion and Clergy here to their Livings,
Churches, Jurisdiction and Privileges, may be inconsistent at present
with the Prospect of Your Majesty’s Affairs in ~England~, and may
alienate the Affections of the Protestants there, from giving a helping
hand, as may be expected, towards Your Majesty’s Restauration; yet, with
submission, we conceive that this Objection carries more seeming than
solid Reason; for when did it ever prove successful to Your Majesty,
or to any of Your Royal Predecessors, so far to humour the Protestants
of ~England~ in Concerns of this nature relating to the Glory of God,
and good of Souls? What return did they make in these latter times to
Your Majesty’s manifold Condescentions and Indulgences to them? Did not
they, even their Chief Clergy, bring in Foreign Power to invade Your
Throne, without regarding the Loyalty and Allegiance they swore unto
You? Moreover, if those Protestants, Laity and Clergy of ~England~,
or any of them, be now turn’d really Loyal, and well-affected to Your
Majesty; surely they will not in any reason be displeased, or grudge,
that in this Your Catholick Kingdom, always Loyal, Your Majesty should
establish, as aforesaid, the Roman Religion, as also the Clergy thereof,
who always preach and teach Loyalty and Obedience to their King, to be
an essential Maxim of the Religion and Law of God. Neither will the said
Protestants upon that consideration of Your Majesty’s Gracious Restoring
the Roman-Catholick Religion and Clergy as desired, flinch off, or desist
from co-operating to Your Majesty’s Restauration, no more than the
~Irish~ Roman-Catholicks have done, when deprived of their Estates, and
brought under severe Laws against their Religion, yet always kept touch
to their Loyalty and Allegiance in defending Your Majesties Cause. On
the other side, if the said Protestants be not sincerely Loyal, but only
Act for their own Temporal Interest under the pretext of Religion, in
their usual manner, how can Your Majesty much rely upon their assistance,
or after Your Restoration, (which God send soon and happy) expect that
they will give You any way, but rather all imaginable hindrance to
establish, as you purpose, the ~Roman~-Catholick Religion and Clergy, in
this Your Kingdom of ~Ireland~, in that full manner aforesaid?