repeated infringement of their liberties. Another army must be raised to fupport his caufe, and he wanted the means. In this difficulty, he looked to Wentworth for aid, and to engage him to exert himfelf 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 refpect 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 eafieft and moft popular expedient for procuring a fupply 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 vaftly more liberal aid, if his Majesty'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, mustered 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 unreasonable impofition, and diffatisfied with the fervice to which they were to be applied, in general, refused to comply. The influence of the puritans encreafed, who were certainly the beft friends of the conftitution, and who took pains to encrease the public difcontents. Recufants were urged to consult their own intereft by exerting themselves, on the

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

TH

LETTER

Adieu.

VI.

HE fecond feffion of the Irish parliament was of a complexion very different from that of the first. 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 fpirit. 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 redrefs; they prefented a remonftrance on the subject to Wandesford, who had been appointed deputy by Strafford during his absence. 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 fhould be reduced to a fum proportionable to the abilities of the people.

THE third feflion dicovered still 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

exceeding the tenth part of it's value. This refolution was fo very offenfive to the King, that by one of those violent ftretches of prerogative, by which his government was peculiarly distinguished, he commanded it to be torn from the journals. But they were about to give a convincing proof that they were not to be intimidated.

THE friends of liberty in both countries now refolved, that the demerits of Strafford fhould no longer escape punishment. Ireland had been a principal fcene of his iniquities, here it was determined that the charge against him should originate.

A REMONSTRANCE, fetting forth his misconduct in this country, was prefented to parliament, which, among other particulars, complained, that under his government, exorbitant duties had been impofed on articles of merchandise, to the great decay of trade and distress of individuals; that in civil matters, arbitrary decifions had been given by him and the council, contrary to the law and. Magna Charta; that the fubjects were, through his influence, denied the benefit of the graces; that extrajudicial opinions of the council board, had made void letters patent, under the fanction of which, Irish subjects should have held their eftates; that he had made a monopoly of tobacco, forced that article from the proprietors at a low price, and fold it at an advanced price, to the ruin of thousands of his Majefty's fubjects; that he had been inftrumental in erecting a high commiffion court, defpotic in the principles of it's conftitution; that, under his direction, the Attorney General had deprived several ancient boroughs, of their right of fending members to parliament; that members of parliament had been abridged of their juft privileges. THIS

B3

THIS remonstrance, notwithstanding the oppofition of Wandesford, was fupported by the parliament, who appointed a committee to go over to England, to conduct the charge againft Strafford, in the name, and by the authority of the Irish houfe of commons. Upon their arrival in London, they united, in the management of this bufinefs, with the English commons, by whom a committee had alfo been chofen, to enquire into the grievances of Ireland.

AT this time, Wandesford died; in whofe place, the Earl of Leicester was created lord lieutenant of Ireland. As the state of affairs would not admit of his leaving England, Sir John Borlace and Sir William Parfons were appointed lords juftices. They had been members of the council during the adminiftration of Strafford, and fupported him in all his unconstitutional meafures, but they changed with the times and were now of the popular party. Such men were very disagreeable to the King, but his power declined, and he was obliged to fubmit to the appointment.

LETTER

Adieu.

VII.

ANUARY the twenty fixth, the Irish parlia

JAN

ment again assembled. They entered upon the confideration of national grievances with renewed 1641. warmth, and a more determined resolution to

exert themselves to obtain redress. In the house of lords, the fame fubject was taken up, and a number of articles tranfmitted to England, by certain of their members, whom they authorized to affift the committee of the other houfe, in their exertions for the public good. Perceiving that the caufe of li berty was likely, every day, to receive new support,

the

the commons impeached the Chancellor, the Bishop of Derry, Chief Juftice Lowther, and Sir George Rate cliffe as abettors of the injuries done under the late administration, to the fubject and to the conftitution. After this affair had been for fome time agitated, the delinquents were admitted to bail, and the profe cution dropped. That of Lord Strafford now com menced, before the English houfe of lords. Of the articles of his accufation which were numerous, fixteen related to his conduct in Ireland. The principal of them have been mentioned. Some articles of the charge were groundless, but more than fufficient remained to justify the fentence of death which was paffed upon him. It was executed. An awful lef fon! from which minifters of ftate, more especially thofe who are difpofed to gratify their pride and ambition at the expence of the libertics of their country, may derive the moft wholefome inftruction.

THIS ftriking example of national juftice produced, immediately, falutary effects. Those whom Strafford had deprived of their rights were reinstated. The illegal courts were afraid to exercise their jurif diction, and the judges durft not, in favour of pre rogative, determine caufes in a manner contrary to law, and the principles of the conftitution,

OUR parliament had been adjourned to the eleventh of May. It then met. Charles, obliged by the neceffity of his affairs, had given orders to the Irifh privy council, that his fubjects here should enjoy the benefit of all his graces. This was making them to reft, illegally, upon his own prerogative; the parlia ment entreated his Majeftv, that they might be fer cured by the fanction of the legislature and that, until this was done, they fhould not be prorogued or dif Colved.

A QUESTION