A declaration of the Lords and gentlemen, and others of the provinces of Leinster and Munster, of their intentions towards the English and Scottish Protestant inhabitants in this kingdom
Whereas we are informed that it is generally conceived and believed by the English and Scots Protestants, inhabitants of this kingdom, that we, the Lords, gentry and others of the said provinces have taken arms and raised forces for the banishing and extirpating them out of this kingdom, thereby to acquire to ourselves their goods and estates; we therefore, desire that we may be rightly understood, for we hereby declare that we never intended nor consented, nor ever intend nor will consent to any such act, but do utterly disclaim therein, but that each man known to be a moderate and comfortable Protestant may, as well as the Roman Catholics, respectively enjoy the freedom of their own religion, and peaceably and quietly possess their estates, so far forth as they or any of them shall join with ours in doing and performing the contests of the oath following.
I, A.B. do in the presence of Almighty God and all the angels and saints in heaven, and by the contents of this bible promise, vow, swear and protest to bear faith and true allegiance to our Sovereign Lord, King Charles, and the heirs and successors of his body begotten, and will defend him and them as far as I may with my life, power, and estate, against all person as shall attempt anything against his or their royal persons, honours, estates, or dignities; and that I will, with the exposing of my life, power and estate, join with the Irish army, or any other, to recover unto his Majesty his royal prerogative, forcibly wrested from him by the Puritan faction in the Houses of Parliament of England, and to maintain the same against them and all others that shall directly or indirectly endeavour to suppress it or do any act or acts contrary to the regal government; and also to maintain Episcopal jurisdiction and the lawfulness thereof in the Church, the power and privileges of Prelates, and the lawful rights and privileges of the subject; and that I will do no act or thing directly or indirectly to hinder the free and public exercise of the Catholic Roman religion in any of his Majesty’s dominions; and that I will join with and be assisting to the members of common-weal, for redress to be had of the grievances and pressures thereof in such manner and form as shall be thought fit by a lawful Parliament; and, to my power and as far as I may, will oppose and by all ways and means endeavour to bring to condign punishment, even to the loss of life, liberty and estates, all such as shall either by force, practice, counsels, plots, conspiracies, or otherwise, do or attempt any thing to the contrary of any article, clause or thing in this present oath, vow, and protestation contained; and neither for hope of reward nor fear of punishment, nor other respects whatsoever. I shall relinquish this oath, vow and protestation. So help me God.