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BY WILLIAM CRAWFORD, A. M.
One of the Chaplains of the FIRST TYRONE REGIMENT.

VOL. II.

BOLAZE THORG

STRABANE

Printed by JOHN BELLE W.

M.DCC.LXXXIII.

03-27-28

MRS

Boghallen
1-41-28
15861

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HISTORY

O F

IRELAND.

THO

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 first parliament, fufpicious of his unconstitutional designs, with respect to the liberties of the nation, was likely to encrease his difficulties. Encouraged by these circumstances 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 prospects were about to open to their view. Lord Falkland, who was continued in the government, and the council, having penetrated their fentiments, became uneafy that the military strength of the king

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dom was fo inconfiderable. In confequence of their reprefentations, his Majefty encreafed 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 ftretch 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 fituation 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 transmitted 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 should not extend farther back than to fixty years; that recufants who held of the crown should be permitted to fue their liveries, oufter le main and other grants in the court of wards; that their lawyers should be permitted to plead at the bar upon taking an oath, inftead 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 subject 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

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vernment.

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 fhould exempt ecclefiaftical lands from contributing to the fupport of goThat the demands of the reformed clergy were to be duly reftrained and regulated. These 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 fubject. But the fanction of the parlia ment 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, discovered a difposition 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 promifed fubfidy. Pleased with this proof of their loyalty and folicitous to engage their affiftance in carrying into execution the designs which he had formed against the liberties of his English fubjects, he gave inftructions not to enforce with severity the penal ftatutes. 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

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