Page images
PDF
EPUB

ence of the puritan faction in the English parliament, often in derogation of his majesty's commands, caused the parliament to be adjourned for three months." Which adjournment the catholic members, who were principally aggrieved by it, “ afterwards aggravated against the justices,13 as one of the chief moving causes of the taking up of arms generally throughout the kingdom."

Soon after this fatal and enforced adjournment, the parliament's agents arriving in Dublin,14 « presently applied," says Temple," to the lords justices and council, desiring to have those acts and other graces, granted by his majesty, made known to the people by proclamation." This was promised, and an instrument drawn up, and presented to their lordships for that purpose; but "they,15 as it seems, desiring rather to add fuel to the fire of the subjects discontents, than to quench the same, did forbear to give any notice thereof to the people."

CHAP. X.

The same subject continued.

THIS general disgust was not removed or lessened by the next meeting of parliament, on the 16th of November following, the day to which it had been adjourned. On the contrary, by the manifest reluctance with which the justices suffered it to meet even then, and by their sudden prorogation of it for two months longer, it was greatly increased. This prorogation, says Mr. Carte," gave a particular distaste to the Roman catholics, who were like to be the greatest suf

*

[blocks in formation]

*«November 17th (1641), it was ordered, that the persons undernamed are appointed forthwith to withdraw themselves into the innerroom of this house, and draw up a declaration of the humble desires of this house, for the continuance of this present session of parliament, with out either adjournment or prorogation.-Appendix to Com. Jour. vol. i. fol. 17.

Yet Borlase impudently affirms, "that both houses readily assented to this adjournment."-Irish. Reb. fol. 17.

ferers thereby, and to lose the benefit of those graces, which were intended for their particular relief. The earl of Ormond, lord Dillon of Costelloe, and some others, urged, among other things, against the prorogation, that all the nation was in expectation of the graces, and would be strangely uneasy, if they were not confirmed in parliament. But the justices were deaf to all such remonstrances; for, as they had been with difficulty prevailed upon, by the importunate solicitations of the lords and gentry of the pale, to suffer the parliament to meet even on the aforesaid 16th of November, so they then took especial care to limit the session,3 in such a manner, that no act of grace, or any thing else for the people's quiet or satisfaction, might be propounded or passed. For well knowing that the members of both houses, throughout the kingdom (a few in and about Dublin only excepted), would be absent from parliament, they published their proclamation for the meeting but two days before the time; whereupon, only a few of the lords and commons appeared in the houses; who, on their entrance at the castle bridge and gate, and within the castle yard, to the door of the parliament-house, were environed with a great number of armed men, with matches lighted, and muskets presented even to the breasts of the mem

[blocks in formation]

* "Tis pleasant to observe Dr. Warner's serious remark on this occasion, viz." that this guard of musketeers was not to infringe the freedom of the debates, but to secure the persons of those who met, as well as the safety of the castle.”—Hist. of the Irish Rebel. p. 129.

Adverse writers affect to have it thought, that “ these members were all along concerned in the rebellion, or engaged with the first contrivers of it:" but that would" be to make them (says lord Castlehaven) not only the greatest knaves, but the veriest fools on earth; since otherwise they could not have been so earnest for the continuation of the parliament, while sitting in the Castle, and under the lords justices guards, who upon the least intelligence, which could not long be wanting, had no more to do but to shut the gates, and make them all prisoners, without any pos sibility of escape, or hopes of redemption."-Memoirs.

These members so tenderly commiserated the sufferings of the protes tants, who then flocked from all parts of the country to Dublin, in the utmost distress, that notwithstanding the shortness of the session, and the multiplicity of other business, they passed the following order, Novem ber 16th 1641;

"It is ordered by the free consent of the whole house, that every

bers of both houses; none being admitted to bring one servant to attend him, or any weapon about him, within the castle bridge. Yet how thin soever the houses were, and how much soever overawed, they did both jointly supplicate the lords justices and council, that they might for a time continue together, and expect the coming of the rest of the members, to the end, they might quiet the troubles in full parliament; and that those acts of security, granted by his majesty and transmitted under the great seal of England, might be passed, to settle the minds of his majesty's subjects. But to these requests, conducing so much to his majesty's service, and the settlement of the kingdom, a flat denial was given. Nay their lordships dismissed the houses, after only two days sitting, without saying a word of the graces from the king, or giving them any assurance, or even a faint glimmering hope, that they should be passed in another session."

The earl of Castlehaven, who sate in that parliament, after having recited the loyal and unanimous protestation of both houses," that they would, if necessary, take up arms, and with their lives and fortunes, endeavour to suppress the rebellion;" informs us, "that in order speedily to bring the rebels to condign punishment, they fell immediately to consider of the most effectual means to do the work. But this way of proceeding," adds his lordship, " did not, it seems, suit with the lords justices designs, who were often heard to say, that the more there were in rebellion, the more lands would be for. feited; and therefore, in the very height of the business, they

4 Castlehaven's Memoirs.

5 Warner's Hist. of the Irish Reb. p. 128.
6 Memoirs.

Carte, &c.

knight of the shire, now present, shall give forty shillings forthwith ; and every citizen serving out of a city which is a county, thirty shillings; and every burgess twenty shillings; to be collected and received by Dr. Cooke, Mr. Recorder of Dublin, Mr. Anthony Doppinge, and Mr. Stephen Stephens, or any or either of them, for the present relief of such poor people as have been robbed, and are come distressed to this city. And that all such of the members of this house as are now absent, shall likewise give the like benevolence, to be collected and received in the manner and for the use aforesaid, upon notice of this order given; and the same money to be disposed of by the persons aforesaid, or any three of them."—Appendix to the Commons Journ, fol. 14.

resolved upon a prorogation; which the parliament understanding, viscount Costelloe, and myself, were sent from the lords' house, and others from the commons, to desire the continuance of parliament, till the rebels, then few in number, were reduced.* But our advice was slighted, and the parliament next day prorogued, to the great surprize of both houses, and the general dislike of all knowing and honest men."

CHAP. XI.

Further misconduct of the lords justices.

AS it evidently appears, from divers circumstances, that the justices, Parsons and Borlase, rather wished for and promoted, than endeavored to prevent this insurrection,† so it is still more manifest, that all their subsequent proceedings tended only to

Sir Wm. St. Leger, president of Munster, confessed in a letter to the earl of Ormond, that even in the following month of December, "the insurgents in that province were only a company of ragged, naked rogues, that with a few troops of horse would be presently rout ed."— Carte's Orm. vol. iii. fol. 44.

+ Lord Clanrickard, in a letter to the duke of Richmond, giving an account of the causes of this insurrection, informs him, that "all (the Irish) generally were discontented with those that managed the affairs of state there; whom they charged with secret practicing both there and in England, before the commotions began, to raise parties and factions to destroy their religion, to divert and hinder the king's graces intended towards them, by that means to put them into desperation, that they might forfeit their lives and fortunes. And that since the distempers began, they had so disposed of affairs, as if the design was laid to put the whole kingdom into rebellion.”—Memoirs, Eng. ed. f. 63.

There is no doubt but that the notice sent by sir Henry Vane, in 1640, to these lords justices, concerning an intended rebellion in Ireland, as he was informed, was received by them with total disregard. Dr. Borlase informs us, that "this letter of sir Henry Vane was delivered to lord justice Parsons, and since his death found in his study; and by Sir James Barry, lord baron of Santry, presented to his majesty Charles II. who looked upon it as a precious jewel, discovering his father's royal thoughts towards the preservation of his protestant subjects and people. But how far (adds he) it was at first communicated is uncertain.”-Hist. of the Irish Ret el. f. 7, 8.

increase and extend it, for their own iniquitous private purpose.r Sir Robert Talbot, of Castle-Talbot, in the county of Wicklow, repaired to Dublin in the beginning of the troubles; and offered to sir William Parsons in the presence of dean Bulkely, who lived to attest it after the restoration, to secure the chief heads of the Byrnes, Tooles, and other septs in that county,* who, as their lands had been planted some years before, were the likeliest men to rise and begin a rebellion in Leinster, if he would give him commission to do so; insisting that they would not stir while their chiefs were in custody, as so many hostages for their fidelity. But sir William Parsons absolutely refused to give him a commission;t and these septs soon after breaking

1 Cart. Orm. vol. i. "

It is also certain, "that on the 11th of October, 1641, an express from sir William Cole, a gentleman of Enniskillen, informed these justices of an unusual and suspicious resort of various Irish to the house of sir Phelim O'Neil; of many private journeys made by lord Macguire; of dispatches sent to their different friends; of an extraordinary solicitude for levying men; and other circumstances alarming to the friends of government. That even on the 21st of that month, Cole dispatched a full account of the conspiracy, which had, by this time, been revealed to him by two accomplices; yet that this last instance of his zeal proved as ineffectual as the former."-Lel. Hist. of Irel. vol. ii. f. 107.

"About the beginning of the English parliament in 1640, the independents insisted openly to have the papists of Ireland rooted out, and their lands sold to adventurers."-Walker's Hist. of Independency, p. 200.

And if we reflect on the intimate connection between these lords justices, and that parliament, no doubt will remain but "a combination between them, at first lighted up, and afterwards spread abroad, the flames of this rebellion."-Ib.

The above discovery was made to sir William Cole by Bryan Macguire, probably of the same family with lord Macguire, the principal leader in this insurrection; for which Bryan's grandson, in the year 1662, was, by the interposition of parliament, restored to his grandfather's estate; which, notwithstanding that memorable service, had, it seems, been forfeited."-See Com. Jour. vol. ii, fəl. 163.

The Byrnes in the county of Wicklow did not begin to stir till November 12th (1641), nor the Tooles and Cavanaghs in that and the adjacent counties of Wexford and Catherlogh, till the 21st; nor those of any other province but that of Ulster."-Carte's Orm. vol. i. f. 210.

"Had the lords justices," says Dr. Warner, " acquitted themselves like men of probity and understanding, there was time enough given them to suppress an insurrection, which for six weeks almost was confined to the province of Ulster, without any chief that was so considerable as sir Phe

« PreviousContinue »