Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light, Floating text 21 – Letter 58
My humble Opinion concerning a Parliament, in this your Majesties Kingdome of IRELAND.
ALbeit the calling of a Parliament in this Kingdome, is at no time of so much hazzard (where nothing is propounded as a Law, before it first borrow motion from your Majesties immediate allowance under your Great Seale…)Note. as it is in England, where there is a Liberty assumed to offer every thing in their owne time and Order: And this Subordination whereunto they have been led by the Wisdome of former times, is ever to bee held as a sacred Prerogative not to bee departed from, in no piece to bee broken or infringed; yet is the Proposition alwayes weighty, very necessary to bee considered with great deliberation, whether the present conjuncture of Affaires doth now advise a Parliament, or no? And after a serious discourse with my selfe, my reason perswades mee for the Assembling thereof.
For the contribution from the County towards the Army ending in December next, your Majesties Revenue fals short twenty thousand Pounds sterling by yeere, of the present charge it is burthened withall; besides the vast debt of fourescore thousand pounds Irish upon the Crown, which yeerly payments alone, are impossible by any other ordinary way to be in time supplied, but by the Subject in Parliament. And to passe to the extraordina…y, before there bee at least an attempt first to effect it with ease, were to love difficulties too well; rather voluntarily to seek them, then unwillingly to meet them. And might seeme as well vanity in the first respect, so to affect them, as faintnesse to bow under them, when they are not to be avoided.
The next inclination thereunto ariseth in mee from the conditions of this Country, growne very much more civill and rich, since the accesse of your Royall Father of blessed memory, and your Majesty to the Crowne; That all you have here, is issued out againe amongst them for their protection and safety, without any considerable reservation for other the great affaires and expences abroad: That this great charge is sustained, and this great debt contracted, thorough imployments for a publike good, whereof the benefit hitherto hath been intirely theirs. That there hath been but one Subsidie granted in all this time, nor any other Supply but this Contribution; in exchange whereof your Princely Bounty returned them Graces as beneficiall to this Subject as their Money was to your Majesty; so as their substance having been so increased, under the guard of your Wisdome and Justice; So little issued hence from them; The Crowne so pressed only for their good; And so modest a calling upon them now for a supply, which in all Wisdome, good Nature and Conscience, they are not to deny; should they not conforme themselves to your Gracious will, their unthankfulnesse to God, and the best of Kings would become inexcusable before all the World, and the Regall Power more warrantably to be at after extended for redeeming and recovering your Majesties Revenews thus lost, and justly to punish so great a forfeit as this must needs be judged to be in them.
Next, the frightfull apprehensions which at this time makes their hearts beat, le…t the Quarterly Payments towards the Army, continued now almost ten yeeres, might in fine turn to an Hereditary Charge upon their Lands, inclines them to give any reasonable thing in present to secure themselves of that feare for the future; And therefore according to the wholsome Counsell of the Physitian,Note. Dum dolet accipe.
And lastly, if they should meanly cast from them these mighty obligations, which indeed I cannot feare: Your Majesties affaires can never suffer lesse by their starting aside, when the generall Peace abroad admits more united Power in your Majesty,Note. and lesse distracted thoughts in your Ministers to chastise such a forgetfulnesse to call to their remembrance, and to inforce from them other and better duties then these.
In the second place, the time your Majesty shall in your Wisdome appoint for this meeting imports very much, which, with all submission, I should advise might not be longer put off, then Easter or Trinity Term at furthest; And I shall crave leave to offer my reasons.
The improvements mentioned in my dispatch to the Lord Treasurer, (from which I no wayes recede) would not be fore slowed, wherein wee lose much by deferring this Meeting. A circumstance very considerable in these straits, wherein if surprized, might be of much disadvantage, in case the Parliament answer not expectation. And to enter upon that worke before, would bee an Argument for them to scant their supply to your Majesty.
Againe, a breach of a Parliament would prejudice lesse thus, then in winter, having at the worst six moneths to turne our eyes about, and many helps to be gained in that space; where in the other case the Contribution ending in December next, wee should be put upon an instant of time, to read our lesson at the first sight.
Then the calling of a Parliament, and determining of the quarterly payments, falling out much upon one, might make them apprehend there were a necessity inforcing a present agreement, if not the good one wee would, yet the best wee could get: And so imbolden them to make, and flatter themselves to gaine their owne Conditions; and Conditions are not to bee admitted with any Subjects, lesse with this People, where your Majesties absolute Soveraignty goes much higher, then it is taken, perhaps, to doe in England.
And lastly, there being some of your Majesties Graces, which being passed into Lawes, might bee of great prejudice to the Crowne: and yet it being to bee feared they will presse for them all; and uncertaine what humour the denying any of them might move in their minds; I conceive, under favour, it would bee much better to make two Sessions of it, one in Summer, the other in Winter. In the former to settle your Majesties supply, and in the latter, to enact so many of those Graces, as in Honour and Wisdome should bee Judged equall; when the putting aside of the rest might bee of no ill consequence to other your Royall purposes.
All the Objections I am able to suggest unto my selfe, are two. That it might render fruitlesse the intended improvement upon the concealments, and prejudice the Plantations of Conn…gh and Ormond. The firster, may easily be helped, by a short Law propounded in my dispatch to my Lord Treasurer. And, posito, that there no other Law passe the first Session; the second, is likewise sufficiently secured.
Then it is to bee foreseene what your Majesty will demand, how to induce and pursue the same, for the happy settlement of the Regall Rights and Powers in this more subordinate Kingdome.
My humble advice is, to declare at the first opening of the meeting, that your Majestie intends and promises two Sessions. This former for your self▪ that latter in Michaelmas Term next, for them. This, to ascertaine the payments of your Army, and to strike off the Debts of your Crowne; that, for the enacting of all such profitable and wholsome Laws, as a moderate and good people may expect from a Wise and Gracious King.
That this being the order of Nature, Reason, and Civility, your Majesty expects it should be intirely observed, and your selfe wholly intrusted by them; which they are not onelyonly to grant to bee fit in the generall case of King and Subjects, but ought indeed to acknowledge it with thankfulnesse due to your Majesty in particular, when they look back, and call to mind, how, for their ease, you were content to take six score thousand pounds (which their Agents gave to bee paid in three) in six yeeres: and not barely so neither: but to double your Graces towards them the whil'st, which they'have injoyed accordingly, much to their advantage, and greatly to the losse of the Crown.
And that considering the Army hath been represented over to your Majesty from this Counsell, and in a manner, from the body of this whole Kingdome, to bee of absolute necessity to give comfort to the quiet minds in their honest labours, to containe the licentious Spirits within the modest bounds of sobriety; it consists not with your Majesties Wisdome to give unto the World, no not the apparence of so much improvidence in your owne Counsels, of so much forgetfulnesse in a case of their safety; as to leave that Pillar of your Auctority and their Peace, unse… for continuance, at least, one six moneths before the wearing forth of their Contribution.
Therefore your Maiesty was well assured, in conformity to the rules of Reason and Judgement, they would presently grant three Subsidies to bee paid in three yeeres, to disengage the Crowne of fourscore thousand pounds debt: and continue their Quarterly payments towards the Army foure yeeres longer: in which time it was hopefull, (suitable to your Gracious intentions) some other expedient might bee found out to maintaine the Army, without further charge to them at all. VVhichWhich Law passed, they should have as much leisure to inact for themselves at after as they could desire, either now or in winter: Nay, your Majesty … be graciously pleased with the assistance of your Counsell to advise seriously with them, that nothing might remaine either unthought of, or denyed, conducing to the publike good of this Kingdome. But if they made difficulty to proceed with your Majesty in this manner, other Counsels must be thought of, and little to bee relyed or expected for from them.
I am not to flatter your Majesty so farre, as to raise any hope on that side that all this should be granted, but by pressing both, and especially the continuance of the quarterly payments to the Army, which they dread above any earthly thing: I conceive it probable, that to determine & lay asleep (as they think) the contribution; and in acknowledgement of your Majesties happy accesse to the Crown, they may be drawn to a present Gift of three Subsidies payable in three yeares, which alone would keep the Army on foot during that time; and if my calculation hold, almost discharge the debt of the Crowne besides.
For thus I make my Estimate, the contribution from the Country is now but twenty thousand pounds sterling by the yeere, whereas I have good reason to trust each Subsidy will raise thirty thousand pounds sterling. And so there will bee ten thousand pounds for three yeeres over and above the establishment, which thirty thousand pounds sterling, well and profitably issued, will I trust, with Honour to your Majesty, and moderate satisfaction to the parties, strike off the whole fourscore thousand pounds Irish, which in present presseth so sore upon this Crown.
And then Sir, after that, in Michaelmas Terme, all beneficiall Acts for the Subject be thought of, as many, no fewer, nor no more inacted, then were fit in honour and wisdome to be granted: If for a conclusion to this Parliament, we could gain from them other two Subsidies, to buy in Rents and Pensions to ten thousand pounds yearly value; (a thing they are inclinable unto, as is mentioned in my dispatch to the Lord Treasurer) I judge there were a happy issue of this Meeting; and that it should through Gods blessing appeare to the world in a few yeeres,Note. you had without charge made a more absolute Conquest of this Nation by your wisdome, then all your Royall Progenitors have been able to accomplish by thei… Armies, and vast expence of Treasure and Blood.
These being the ends, in my poore Opinion, which are to bee desired and attained; the best meanes to dispose & fit all concurring causes thereunto, are not to be forgotten: and therefore as preparatives, I make bold to offer these insuing particulars.
It seemes to mee very convenient, a Committee bee forthwith appointed of some few of us here, to take into consideration all the Bils intended when there was a Parliament to have been called in the time of my Lord Falkland; such as shall be judged beneficiall, to make them ready; such as may be of too much prejudice to the Crown, to lay them aside; and to draw up others which may chance to have been then omitted: this worke may bee by the Committees either quickned or fore-slowen, as the Parliament proceeds warmer or cooler in your Majesties Supplies.
Next, that your Majesties Acts of Grace directed to my Lord Falkland the foure and twentyeth of May, 1628▪ may bee considered by such of your Counsell in England, as shall please your Majesty to appoint, there being many matters therein contained, which in a Law would not futurely so well sort with the Power requisite to bee upheld in this Kingdome, nor yet with your Majesties present pro…t, which hath perswaded me to except against such, as I hold best to be silently passed over; and to transmit a Paper thereof to my Lord Treasurer.
It is to be feared, the meane… sort of Subjects here, live under the pressures of the great …; and there is a generall complaint, that Officers exact much larger Fees, then o… right they ought to doe: To help the forme…, if it bee possible, I will find out two or three to make examples of. And to remedy the latter, grant out a Commission for examining, regulating, and setting downe Tables of Fees, in all your Courts, so a… they shall find your Majesties goodnesse and justice watching and caring for their protection and ease both in private and publike respects.
I shall indeavour the lower House may bee so composed,Note. as that neither the Recusants, nor yet the Protestants shall appeare considerably more one then the other, holding them as much as may bee, upon an equall Ballance, for they will prove thus easier to governe,Note. then if either party were absolute. Then would I in private discourse, shew the Recusant, that the contribution ending in December next, if your Majesties Army were not supplyed some other way before, the twelve pence a Sunday must of necessity bee exacted upon them: Shew the Protestant, that your Majesty must not let goe the twenty thousand pounds contribution: nor yet discontent the other in matter of Religion, till the Army were some way else certainly provided for: and convince them both, that the present quarterly payments are not so burthensome as they pretended them to bee. And that by the graces they have had already more benefit then their money came to: thus poysing one by the other, which single might perchance prove more unhappy to deale with.
I will labour to make as many Captaines and Officers Burgesses,Note. as possibly I can, who having immediate dependance upon the Crowne, may almost sway the businesse betwixt the two parties which way they please.
In the higher House,Note. your Majesty will have, I trust, the Bishops wholly for you: The titular Lords, rather then come over themselves, will put their Proxies into such safe hands, as may bee thought of on this side: and in the rest your Majesty hath such interest, what out of duty to the Crown, and obnoxiousnesse in themselves, as I do not apprehend much, any difficulty amongst them.
To these, or to any thing else directed by your Majesty, I will with all possible diligence apply my selfe, so soon as I shall understand your pleasure therein. Most humbly bes…ching you will take it into your gracious Memory, how much your Majesties speedy resolution in this great businesse, imports the prosperity of your affaires in this place; and in that respect vouchsafe to hasten it as much as conveniently may be.
Upon these Reasons a Parliament was accordingly summoned in Ireland the yeere following, the Lord Deputy recommending by his Letters Burgesses of his owne nomination to most Townes, who had little or no courage to deny any Burgesses of his recommendation. Among others, hee recommended one of Secretary Windebancks Sonne… (then waiting on him in Ireland) to bee a Burgesse there; as is evident by this Copie of his Letters of recommendation, found among Windebancks papers, who (as appeares by*Secretary Windebancks to his Son from Hampton Cou…t, 27 October. 1634. Wherein thus hee writes. Now you are become a Parliament men, I hope you will in acknowledgement of the great Honour my Lord Deputy hath done you, endevour …o doe his Majesty the best service you can▪ other Letters) was accordingly elected.
AFter our heartie commendations. Whereas by order of the Commons House of Parliament that corporation of I…ishe by reason of a double election of the person chosen there, is now to proceed to a new election of a Burgesse to serve at the next Session of Parliament to commence the fourth of November next. And for as much as Francis Windebanke Esquire, is one well knowne unto us to bee able to serve you therein, as a person well affected to his Majesties service, and the welfare of his people, wee have thought fit to recommend him to you to bee elected by you for one of the Burgesses upon this occasion: wherein as you shall gaine advantage and benefit to your Corporation in such a choyce, hee being one that will serve you therein without expecting any recompence towards his charges; so wee, for our part will take it in good part at your hands, as a testimony of the due regard you have to one recommended unto you from us, which we shall take an opportunitie in fit time to let you know for your advantage; And so expecting your due performance hereof, wee bid you farewell. From his Majesties Castle of Dublin this 26▪ of September, 1634.
Copia vero ex…m. Your loving Friend …
That this Parliament was equally ballanced with Protestants, and Papists, & how farre the said Deputie pursued, obtained his forementioned designes thereby to inslave that Realm, is so well known to most, that I shall not insist upon it: onelyonly I shall observe that this connivence and underhand fomenting of that faction made them grow so insolent, that they raised a strong mutinie even in Dublin it selfe▪ against the Archbishop, the Mayor and Justices, and rescued two Priests from them, which they had taken in a religious house saying open Masse, and were like to stone them to death, so as they were enforced to retire to the Castle for Sanctuary, as appeares by this extract out of Sir Thomas Duttens Letter among Windebanks papers.
I presume you will heare at large the relation of our battill of stones at Dublin, where the Archbishop of that towne, and the Major and Captaine Cary, and the Sergeant at Armes, and the two pursevants escaped narrowly to have beene stoned to death on Saint Stephens day last: for the two Justices sent them in a peaceable manner to surprise certaine Priests at Masse in a Religious house in Cock street, Note.where they tooke away their habits and pictures in peaceable manner, and then laid hold of two of the Priests to bring them to the Justices to answer their exercising of Popery in so publique a manner, contrary to the Kings Proclamation; they were no sooner come out into the street, but all the multitude of mechanicks & common people fell upon them, and tooke away the two Priests from them by force, and followed the Mayor and the Archbiship, and the rest so fast with stones all along the high street, as they were forced to house themselves in Skinners Row, till the Justices and wee all came from Church and rescued them, and so orderly wee all went through the multitude to the Castle, and in our passage there was but one stone call out of a window, which lighted betweene the two Justices. Wee presently made Proclamation for all people to keepe the Kings peace and their owne Houses; and since, have committed to prison some of the Aldermen and their Deputies and Constables for not doing their duties, and many other ordinary persons whom we found to bee Actors in this Ryot, wherein many were hurt, but God bee thanked none were slaine.
But to leave Ireland for a time, and returne to England, you have seene before in the Articles of the marriage, that the Queene was to have a Bishop, and 28. Priests in her house as her Chaplaines, and that this Bishop should have and exercise all Epis…pall jurisdiction in matters of Religion. After those Priests and the Bishop were accordingly come over and setled here; Father Philips the Queenes Confessor, and others of them grew so insolent that they began to practise and …each,Note. That the Pope upon the Treaty of marriage resumed to his owne or his Delegates jurisdiction, the Queens whole Family, especially the institution and destitution of the Ecclesiasticks: That the King of England …ad no power to intermeddle therein; for that hee was an heretick; the Pope threatning to declare all Apostates who should seeke their establishment from the King. They likewise maintained the lawfulnesse of deposing Kings that were hereticks; & concluded to excommunicate all such a… should oppose this doctrine, or take the oath of allegiance; in which action one Muske… a Priest, and Trollop the Popish Viear in the North were very active, which caused some combustions in the Court even among the Roman Catholicks, and the businesse grew so high, that some private advises were given to his Majestie concerning these particulars, expressed in these three insuing Papers (seised among Windebankes writings, who was privie to all their counsels… as you shall heare anon.)