Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light, Floating text 19
To the right Honourable the Lords Justices and Counsell.
The humble Petition of the Protestant Inhabitants both Clergy and L…ity within the county of Cavan.
In all humble manner sheweth unto your Lordships:
WHereas your Lordships were pleased to send directions unto the Sheriffe of this Country, bearing date the 12. of February last 1632. stilo Anglia, &c. for the levying of certaine summes of money towards the maintainance of the Army or contribution for the last three months ending the last day of March last; and that your Lordships directions were grounded upon the signification of his Majesties pleasure, which summes were plotted and collected by the Collectors without the consent of the Protestants in this County, and partly by force, by laying of souldiers upon the County by the Sub-Sheriffs warrant being a Recusant▪ without any warrant from your Honours to that effect.NOTE. We doe humbly pray your Lordships, that this money so collected and now paid in according to your Lordships directions, it may not be prejudiciall unto us and our posterity and successors in time to come; and that your Lordships will be pleased favourably to forbeare any further imposition of any such burden upon us▪ untill your Lordships shall represent these humble Remonstrances unto his Majesty, at whose hands we have full confidence, out of his accustomed elemency, to find reliefe.
1. That whereas about foure yeers last past, Sir Andrew Steward and Sir Arthur T…rbosse deceased, Knights and Barone…s, were appointed Agents to treat with his Majesty for the easing of this Province of Ulster, of the burden of the Army, which was then imposed; the said Agents exceeding their authority did condescend with the Recusant Agents to the imposition of six score thousand pounds sterling, upon this Kingdome to be paid within this Kingdome.
2. That the said summe, though heavily pressing the conformable Subjects, especially the Plantators and poore Clergy, was by them satisfied and payed according to his Majesties directions, with hope that thereupon they should not be further charged with the like impositions.
3. That since that time the undertakers and plantators have renewed their Patents, paid great fines, and doubled their rents to his Majesty, to their great charg… especially in the deare yeeres that have been by the murren of Cattell, and unseasonablenesse of the times.
4. That the Country hath been and a…e still at excessive charges, in building of Castles and Bawenes, Goale-houses, Shire-houses, Bridges and High-wayes, and now are called upon to re-edifie their Churches, which are for the most part altogether r…ined.
5. That where the Plantators are lately by direction from his Majesty to be trained in Bands under Captaines and other Officers by Sir William Grahayme, twice a yeer, for which be receiveth due entertainment from them, they conceive that not only they shall be able to serve his Majesty in his and their owne defence, but to approve their …idelities against any other if occasion of trouble should be.
6. That if any be feared, it seems hard that others no way doubted of,NOTE. should be in worse condition by reason of their dangerousnesse.
7. That whereas your Lordships doe intimate a proffer made by a great number of Noble-men of this Kingdome, to continue their contributions; We humbly desire, that it may be considered, that though they be many in themselves, yet are they but few, being compared with the rest, and that their proffers seem probable to be for their owne ends, which will be a meanes to weary the Plantators.
8. That those who now make these propositions were the chiefe opposer… of the payment of the late contribution into the Exchequer, least it should grow to be esteemed a revenue of the Crowne, and be required of Posterity: whereby it may appeare it is for their owne ends.
9. That as in the former contribution his Majesties graces did solely redound unto the Recusants, so it is now sought in like manner,NOTE. that they may have all the ease and thanks, though the burden lye as heavy on others as on them: All which much tending to the disheartning of good and conformable Subjects, we desire your Honours by your mediation to his Majesty to prohibit.
Doctor Bedle Bishop of Kilmore (with two more Bishops) among others subscribed this Petition at the request of the Gent▪ of that County, and (as appears by his Letters to the Lord aDated Novemb. 5. 1633.Deputy and Arch-bishop of Canterbury) did very much qualifie the complaints and grievances therein contained by altering the first draught presented to him, from a smart Letter unto an humble Petition; yet notwithstanding he was specially complained of to the King, for setting his hand to this Petition, and opposing his Majesties service in Ireland, touching the levy of moneys upon Recusants and others to maintain the Army; The like accusation of him came to the now Arch-bishop of Canterbury, who thereupon writ a sharp Letter of reproofe to him concerning it, dated October 13. 1633. to which this Bishop returned an answer on the 5. of November following relating the truth of the fact, and justifying his action; and withall he writ another Letter of the same date to the Lord Deputy of Ireland (a …opy whereof he sent the Arch-bishop inclosed in his Letter to him) to excuse, and justifie what he herein did; in which Letter there are these memorable passages, touching the extraordinary increase and boldnesse of the popish Bishops, Priests, Monks, Recusants, in Ireland at that time; the copy of which Letter under this Bishops owne hand and Seale, I found in the Arch-bishops Study, thus indorsed with Master Dells owne hand; Rece…. December 24. 1633. The Lord Bishop of Kilmore, William Bedle, his letter to the Lord Wentworth, Lord Deputy of Ireland, about the maintainance of the Army and the Cavan Petition.