HISTORY : : OF. BY WILLIAM CRAWFORD, A. M. VOL. II. STRA BANE: M.DCC.LXXXIIT. T HE inauspicious reign of Charles the First 1 commenced in the year fixteen hundred and twenty five. Upon his accession, he found himself involved in a war with Spain and engaged in hostilities with the house of Austria for the recovery of the palatinate. The temper of his first parliament, suspicious of his unconftitutional designs, with respect to the liberties of the nation, was likely to encrease his difficulties. Encouraged by these circumstances and by a bull addressed to them by Pope Urban, in which he strongly dissuaded them from taking the oath of supremacy, the Roman Catholics of Ireland flattered themselves with the hope that more agreeable prospects were about to open to their view. Lord Falkland, who was continued in the government, and the council, having penetrated their sentiments, became uneasy that the military strength of the king dom nicliale A 2 |