Although they had many grievances, being, almost without exception, Catholics, the Lords of the Pale, and most of the Anglo-Irish nobility and gentry elsewhere at first hesitated to join the revolt. On their treatment by the Government authorities their future action would, to a great extent, depend. The Lord Justices, by so wording their first Proclamation as to make it appear that they considered the conspiracy as one of the ” Irish Papists ” in general; by receiving with marked coldness the professions of loyalty of some of the Palesmen, and by denying to several the arms which were absolutely necessary for the defence of their homes and families, certainly showed little discretion ; but their position was, without doubt, a difficult one.
They were aware that these men had little reason to feel attachment to the English Government; that the relatives of many of them were in actual rebellion, and they knew not whom to trust.

The determining factors which induced so many of the Anglo-Irish to throw in their lot with the insurgents were probably : first, the ruthless murders and destruction of property of which the Government troops were guilty ; secondly, the constant insults to their religion, and threats of persecution of it, uttered in the English Parliament and else¬where ; thirdly, the inclusion of the estates of many of them in the list made by the English authorities of the land to be confiscated after the repression of the rebellion (February, 1642).

In December, 1642, seven of the Pale Lords met by appointment five delegates from the insurgents, headed by Rory O’More, on the hill of Crofty near Drogheda. O’More stated the grievances which had induced them to rebel. He protested that they were not disloyal to the King, and begged the Palesmen to join with them in the cause of their country and their religion.

Above : Charles Blount, New Deputy

So far, the Irish leaders had found adherents almost exclusively amongst the country or rural population. Up to this period, the’Irish towns had played a comparatively small part in the national life. Their inhabitants were largely of Anglo-Irish race, and even the Celts who dwelt within them were to a great extent cut off from the influences which acted on their brethren, and freed from the ties which bound these to their chiefs. In religion alone were they united, for the Reformed Doctrines had won little more support amongst the town-folk than they had elsewhere. If Ireland was to oppose a united front to the enemy, the support of the towns was necessary, and this support O’Neill now endeavoured to win. It was on the ground of their common Faith that he appealed to them in the manifesto which he issued in November 1599, ” To the Catholics of the Towns of Ireland.” He told them that he was in arms in defence of Catholicity, and he begged them to range themselves on his side. The appeal met with no response.