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fon, upon this fhameful undertaking. By overuling influence, by cajoling and other scandal1635. ous arts, the juries were either awed or prevailed with to find for the King in the counties of Leitrim, Mayo and Rofcommon. But the juries of Galway, fuported by their lawyers and encouraged by the protection of their governor, the Earl of Clanricarde, brought in their verdicts in oppofition to the claims of the crown. Wentworth enraged at this disappointment, punished them and the sheriffs, with imprisonment and a heavy fine. Not contented with this, he compelled them, on their knees and in open court to confess the crime they had committed, a crime which confifted in their prefuming to do juftice, in obedience to the dictates of their confcience, and that in a matter wherein the property, the all of multitudes was concerned. So violent was the oppofition made to this plantation, that government, fome time after diffolved the commiffion and dropt all thoughts of proceeding with it.

GRIEVOUS complaints were made in England of Wentworth's unjust administration. But he defpifed them. Intoxicated with power, the gratifications of which highly delighted his pride, his vanity and ambition, he determined to perfevere in a course which was too violent, even in the opinion of the arbitrary Laud.

As the nation, at large, fmarted under the preffure of his haughty and imperious government, individuals did not escape the fcourge of his oppreffion. In a particular manner, his most indecent and unjust treatment of Sir Piers Crosby, of the Earl of Kildare, of Lord Mountnorris, and the Chan1636. cellor, rendered him exceedingly obnoxious. But the zeal with which he entered into, and pro

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moted the views of the King, rendered him fecure against every complaint, whether of a public or a private nature.

NOT difcouraged with the difficulties he had encountered, in the business of the Connaught plantation, in August sixteen hundred and thirty seven, he proceeded to establish his Majefty's claim to the lands of Clare, and that part of Ormond which lay in the county of Limerick. The people afraid of the confequence of resistance, submitted, and the title of the crown was recognised. But adventurers were unwilling to engage, and the fettlement made little progrefs.

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LETTER V.

Adieu.

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HE fame fpirit which he had discovered with respect to this country, prompted Charles to introduce epifcopacy into Scotland. Instead of tle means, he endeavoured to force the measure by a stretch of authority. Animated by a laudable zeal, in fupport of the rights of confcience, the Scots, with determined firmness, opposed the attempt, and the more effectually to defeat it, drew up, fubfcribed, and published the folemn league and covenant. Wentworth, alarmed by the apprehenfion that the Presbyterians of Ulfter, connected with Scotland their parent state, by the fame form of religion, and by a constant intercourse, would follow it's example, infifted upon their fwearing to an engagement, difapproving of the conduct of the covenanters, and expreffive of their duty and allegiance to the King. Those who refufed the oath felt the feverest effects of his difpleasure.

VOL. II.

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By the covenant, the Scots being united in the common caufe, took up arms in defence of it. The danger to which Charles was now exposed by his precipitate conduct, roused the Deputy to the most vigorous exertions in his behalf. He remitted to him, from the revenue of Ireland, thirty thoufand pounds, and fent over to his affiftance five hundred men. To keep the Scots in awe, he marched the army to the North, where, by his vigilance, he difcovered a plot to deliver up the caftle of Carrickfergus to the Earl of Argyle.

FROM another quarter, Charles was encouraged to entertain hopes of affiftance. In the late reign, Randal Mac Donnel, upon his fubmission to government, received a grant of the extenfive district of Rout, was created Viscount Dunluce and Earl of Antrim. His fon, a man of weak understanding, but vain of his title, of his fortune, and of the honor and connexions he had acquired, by marrying the Dutchefs Dowager of Buckingham, and ftill more vain of his fuppofed confequence in Ireland propofed, with the King's permiffion, to raife in this country a body of men, which, in the prefent emergence would de him effectual fervice. His offer was accepted by the King. In confequence, the Earl came over to Ieland, and began to recruit among the clans of Ulfter, and the Mac Donalds of the Ifles, but an accommodation with the Scots was concluded, before he had taken any effectual fteps, towards the accomplishment of his foolish undertaking.

UPON the pacification with the Scots, the King had disbanded his army, whilft they, fufpecting his fincerity, had kept theirs together. They foon found it neceffary to recommence hoftilities. At the fame time, the parliament and many of the people of England were greatly difcontented with Charles's repeated

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repeated infringement of their liberties. army must be raised to support his caufe, and he wanted the means. In this difficulty, he looked to Wentworth for aid, and to engage him to exert himself with more activity in his caufe, gave him the title of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, created him Earl of Strafford, and made him a Knight of the Garter.

HAVING called him 'over to England, to confult with him in respect to the measures moft proper to be taken; by his advice, the King was prevailed with, to convene the parliament of both kingdoms, as the easiest and most popular expedient for procuring a supply for his neceffities.

THE Irish parliament met the fixteenth of March fixteen hundred and forty, in which the members favourable to the intereft of the crown, were pretty numerous. Four fubfidies were granted, and a declaration made, that they would give vastly more liberal aid, if his Majefty's fituation fhould render it neceffary. Having performed the fervices to the King, the Lord Lieutenant returned to England, to aid the King with his influence, at the meeting of parliament. In a fhort time, the active zeal of the King's friends here, muftered an army of eight thousand foot, and a thoufand horfe. But, in raifing the money neceffary to pay them, unexpected difficulties arofe.

UPON attempts being made to collect the first proportion of the fubfidies, the people, confidering them as an unreafonable impofition, and diffatisfied with the service to which they were to be applied, in general, refused to comply. The influence of the puritans encreased, who were certainly the beft friends of the conftitution, and who took pains to encrease the public discontents. Recufants were urged to confult their own interest by exerting themselves, on the

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present occafion, in opposing the measures of government. Charles had convened the English parliament, refused to redress the grievances of which it complained, and diffolved it. This new proof of his defpotic intentions, increased the diffatisfaction of both kingdoms.

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LETTER VI.

Adieu.

HE fecond feffion of the Irish parliament was of a complexion very different from that of the firft. During the interval, the members had time to reflect upon their conduct, faw how very unpopular it had been, and how prejudicial to the public intereft. The example of the English parliament taught them to be ashamed of the principles on which they had acted, nor was Strafford in the kingdom to direct their proceedings by his overuling influence. They now determined to behave with spirit. Accordingly, it was their first business to confider the grievances by which the nation had been fo long oppreffed. Complaints were not the only means which they used for their redress; they presented a remonftrance on the fubject to Wandesford, who had been appointed deputy by Strafford during his abfence. They complained, that the fubfidies granted in the former feffion, were exorbitant, afferted the precedent to be dangerous, declared that only the first fubfidy fhould be levied, and, with refpect to the reft, determined, that they should be reduced to a fum proportionable to the abilities of the people.

THE third feffion dicovered ftill more diffatisfaction. They refolved, with refpect to the fubfidies already voted, and to all future affeffments, that no eftate, real or perfonal, fhould be taxed in a fum exceeding

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