Page:Irish minstrelsy, vol 2 - Hardiman.djvu/179

Rh bread for 54 years!" Oh! calumniated Prince of Orange, comparatively pusillanimous exterminator, who, after this, will think thee worth noticing as the pigmy murderer of Glenco? It is time that posterity should do justice, and that the memory of this infamous earl should, at length, be consigned to the eternal immitigable execration of mankind. It avails but little as to his exculpation, that the hideous project was not then realized. In England it was unattended to, because there they were otherwise employed. In Ireland, however, he pressed it on the Lord's justices, and they, particularly, the notorious Parsons, proceeded far towards carrying it into execution. This appears from a letter of the latter to the execrable proposer, dated, Dublin, 20th June, 1643, wherein he tells him, "I am of your mind that a thorow destruction must be made, before we can settle upon a safe peace. I pray you spare none, but indict all of quality or estate. We have done so hereabouts to many thousands, and have already executed some." —I shall add no more. The soul sickens at these dreadful recitals, which not even the sanguinary archives of the Turk can equal. Sufficient, however, has been given to shew, that there was abundant cause for the feelings and expressions of the Minstrels, who mourned over the afflictions of their native land.

The Reformation, and its offspring, the Gunpowder Plot, were sources of innumerable evils to Ireland. The latter, particularly, arrayed the people against each other, and originated those violent feelings of hatred and animosity in the Protestant mind, against the Catholics, which, even yet, are not entirely allayed. But that this was a Protestant and not a Popish plot, few well informed persons of the present day entertain the slightest doubt. From a careful inspection of all the original documents connected with this dark transaction, preserved in the State Paper Office, London, and without reference to any