dom was fo inconfiderable. In confequence of their reprefentations, his Majefty encreased the army to five thousand foot and five hundred horfe. To defray this additional expence, no conftitutional provifion had been made. Charles had recourfe to an eafy and a fimple method of obviating this difficulty. Supplying the place of law by a stretch of prerogative, he quartered his troops on the people whom he obliged to fupply them, not only with lodging, but with money and other neceffaries. The Catholics refolving to avail themselves of the King's present situation made him an offer of a hundred and twenty thousand pounds to be paid in three years, provided he extended to them the benefit of certain graces which they specified. Charles, though all denominations of Proteftants warmly oppofed the measure, complied with the propofal and tranfmitted the graces to Lord Falkland and the council, engaging, under the royal fignet, that they should be confirmed in the enfuing parliament.

THE principal of the graces were, that his Majefty's claim to any lands in Ireland fhould not extend farther back than to fixty years; that recufants whe held of the crown fhould be permitted to fue their liveries, oufter le main and other grants in the court of wards; that their lawyers fhould be permitted to plead at the bar upon taking an oath, instead of the oath of fupremacy, that they acknowleged and would defend Charles as their lawful King; that the people of Connaught who had furrendered their lands and whofe patents had paffed the great feal, but through the neglect of an officer of the court, not enrolled, and therefore fubject to forfeiture, fhould be allowed to enrol them and exempted from all future claims; that the exactions and outrages of the foldiers were to be reftrained and that perfons ob

noxious

vernment,

go

noxious to law were not to be protected; that the fees of the King's officers and the power of the court of wards were to be limited within proper bounds. That no pretended privilege should exempt ecclefiaftical lands from contributing to the support of That the demands of the reformed clergy were to be duly restrained and regulated. Thefe and the other graces, too numerous to fpecify, though purchased at fo expenfive a rate, were quite equitable in themselves and calculated for the relief of the subject. But the fanction of the parliament was wanting to give them due force and efficacy, which, feemingly with this view, was fummoned to meet upon the third of November following. But the causes and confiderations, as enjoined by law, had not been previously transmitted. This omiffion was urged and the parliament did not affemble, In the character of Charles, difingenuity was a leading feature. He gave orders that the parliament fhould be convened; this in appearance, difcovered a difpofition to please the recufants. A neceffary form was omitted which defeated that defign; this gratified the oppofite party. Thus the graces were to reft upon the King's unconftitutional prerogative.

MEAN while the recufants, determined to fulfil their part of the agreement with the King, were active in their endeavours to raise the promised subfidy. Pleased with this proof of their loyalty and folicitous to engage their assistance in carrying into execution the designs which he had formed against the liberties of his English subjects, he gave inftructions not to enforce with severity the penal statutes. Falkland chearfully obeyed an injunction fo agreeable to his own gentle, benevolent difpofitions. But though the Deputy was benevolent, policy, which often warps the mind from the ingenuous and honourable

A 3

path

path of rectitude, prevailed with him to publish a proclamation forbidding the Roman Catholic clergy to exercise their religion in the open and public manner to which they had been encouraged by the indulgence of government. This proclamation occafioned by the complaints of zealous, indiscreet Proteftants, was not enforced, yet it occafioned difcontent in the minds of a number of the Popish party. Discontent produced complaints of Falkland, in refpect to this and other measures of government. He was 1630. recalled; and Richard Earl of Cork and Lord Viscount Ely were appointed, in the capacity of lords juftices, his fucceffors.

Ir the Roman Catholics were diffatisfied with the late Deputy, they had now much more cause to complain. The laws against them were executed, by the new governors, with feverity. As an inftance of which, they ordered Saint Patrick's purgatory, fituated in a small ifland of Lough Derg and held in great veneration by the Catholics, to be dug up and totally effaced. It was an act of unmanly intolerant bigotry, inconfiftent with the benign fpirit of the Gospel and with the dictates of all the kind feelings of the heart. When his Majesty became acquainted with them, the lords justices were ordered to defift from these proceedings.

T

LETTER II.

Adieu.

HE time of paying the last proportion of the fubfidy was now at hand. So many were the wants of government that a new fubfidy was neceffary. It was demanded, but the Roman Catholics, whofe grievances, notwithstanding his Majesty's pofitive engagement, had been very partially

1632.

partially redreffed, refufed to comply. The King declared, that, if they continued obftinate, the graces should be entirely withdrawn. In confequence, twenty thousand pounds were added to the former contribution, to be paid in four separate proportions.

CHARLES perceiving the difficulties in which his affairs were likely to be involved and that it would be of much importance to his intereft were the government of Ireland under the direction of a man of abilities and on whofe principles he could entirely depend, had fome time before committed that office to Thomas Lord Viscount Wentworth. Among the friends of liberty and their country in that distinguished age Wentworth had been confpicuous in his oppofition to the unconftitutional measures of Charles. But totally deftitute of that noble principle, which raises the mind above felfifh views where the public interest is concerned, he acted this part, tơ give himself confequence with government to which he looked up for the gratification of his vanity and ambition, the predominant paflions of his heart. Whenever he had fo far gained his point as to be taken notice of by the King, he threw off the mask, deferted his old friends and enlifted in the service of ministry. In reward of his proftitution, he was made prefident of York, received other proofs of the kindness of government, and, as a higher mark of royal favour, was made Deputy of Ireland. He was fworn into office the twenty fifth of July fixteen hundred and thirty three.

NEVER was the Irish nation ruled by a governor fo artful, fo haughty and tyrannical. That Ireland was a conquered country, that with refpect to the privileges it enjoyed, it was altogether dependent on England, were the ideas which he entertained of this kingdom. His ideas and the principles on which he

determined

determined to act, foon appeared very confpicuoufly. In his treatment of the council, he affumed a ftately dignity and an infolent demeanour to which they had been little accustomed.

THE calling of a parliament, a measure to which the defpotic principles of Charles made him very averse in both kingdoms, became quite neceffary in Ireland to procure fupplies and fettle them on a more permanent foundation.

THIS measure being determined, Wentworth took every step to render it conducive to the wishes of his Majefty. It had been usual with the Deputy to fummon the lords of the pale to council that they might have an opportunity of giving their advice with respect to the time proper for the meeting of parliament and the business to be tranfacted in it. To this cuftom, which was friendly to the liberties of the nation, Wentworth paid no regard.

THE Council on meeting to confider of the bills to be transmitted, wished that certain bills, agreeable to the defires of the people and conducive to the public welfare, fhould accompany the bill of fubfidy, and that the sum to be granted fhould be fuch as the country could bear and be particularly specified. "Your fole object," replied the imperious Wentworth, "must be to please the King; I will admit of no bargain, the fubfidy bill must be tranfmitted with a blank to be filled up by his Majefty, at pleasure ; if the parliament does not comply with his Majesty's defires, I will obey him fhould he order me to put myself at the head of the army and there either die or force the people to do what is fit and reasonable." The council were astonished, but instead of being roused into indignation by language deteftable in a free country and which no man could use but the fervile minion of a defpot, they tamely fubmitted.

GREAT