BY WILLIAM CRAWFORD, A. M. 21 VOL. II. STRABANE: Printed by JOHN BELLE W. M.DCC.LXXXIII. 7932 A HISTORY O F IRELAND. TH LETTER I. HE inaufpicious reign of Charles the First commenced in the year fixteen hundred and twenty five. UPON his acceffion, he found himself involved in a war with Spain and engaged in hoftilities with the house of Austria for the recovery of the palatinate. The temper of his firft parliament, fufpicious of his unconstitutional defigns, with refpect to the liberties of the nation, was likely to encreafe his difficulties. Encouraged by thefe circumftances and by a bull addreffed to them by Pope Urban, in which he ftrongly diffuaded them from taking the oath of fupremacy, the Roman Catholics of Ireland flattered themselves with the hope that more agreeable profpects were about to open to their view. Lord Falkland, who was continued in the government, and the council, having penetrated their sentiments, became uneafy that the military strength of the king A 2 dom |