more intolerable then this of Garments is that universal practice of wearing Silk-hoods and Scarfs which every mean mans Wife and Servants c. yea Carmens and Porters Wives put on which increaseth the number of the former double But compute these sorts of Silken Heads and Shoulders worn by these Gammers to sixty thousand persons and compute that expence but at twenty Shillings each person a year it consumes of the Wealth of this Kingdom sixty thousand Pounds per ann Besides it turnes â—elt-making one of the expensivest Manufactures of Wooll in the Countrey and consequently one of the profitablest For it did not only manufacture a great proportion of our Woolls but employed therein a great number of industrious people And suppose the same number of Servants and mean mens Wives and Daughters c. that now wear Silk-hoods and Scarfs wore Hats or Searge-hoods at five Shillings each the Wooll being nor valued above half the price the profit of the Countrey by the labour of the people that is now lost would amount unto seven thousand five hundred Pounds per. ann So that by this one consumption of foreign Silk-Manufacture with its prevention of consuming of our own damnifies this Kingdom sixty seven thousand five hundred Pounds per ann Obj. If this be so how comes it England and France that much exceed Ireland's expence in Garbs and yet both flourishing Kingdoms in Trade and Wealth Answ First it is not granted they exceed Ireland the quantity and quality of the people considered for these Countreys are not only much more populous but far more wealthy and although the Nobility and Gentry of France are expensive yet the Peasant or ordinary People are restrained both by Law and Custom to wear the most ordinary product of their own Countrey And as I observed before the State of France gains rather than loses by the Garbs of particular persons For they sell more to others than pays for the foreign matter they manufacture for themselves But let us compare our selves with England the State and Garb whereof being more generally known to us than that of France and we shall find we much exceed England in the profuseness of our expences this way if the quality and quantity of persons be considered First England must be considered as a Family after many years gathering by great pains and good husbandry in possession of a great well-setled Estate but Ireland as a young Beginner if it have yet begun in the way to get Wealth And if a Gentleman of a thousand Pounds per ann will keep the Port and spend at the rate of another of ten thousand Pounds per ann the mischief of the Parity will soon appear and England does not only possess ten times the Wealth of Ireland but drives ten times his Trade and twenty to one is great odds in expences Secondly if England must be Irelands pattern in Garbs and Expences then review Englands Garb and Expences when its state was more sutable to Ireland and you will find it very mean and homely to what Ireland is now and as it increased in Wealth so in the expensiveness of its Garb and Port and so soon as the people began to break bounds on that hand the wisdom of those times saw reason to restrain them by sumptuary Laws as in the 17th of Edward the Third the Parliament ordained Rules for the Apparel of all Ranks and Degrees of persons as followeth First The Apparel of the Servants of Lords c. was not to exceed the value of twenty six shillings and eight pence their Wives and Children suitable and to wear no Deils above the value of twelve pence Secondly Handicrafts and Yeomen their whole Garment not to exceed the value of 40 shillings no Silk nor Silver c. their Wives Daughters suitable in their Vesture and Apparel to wear no Veil of Silk but of Yarn made within the Realm no Furs but Lamb Coney Cat and Fox Thirdly All Gentlemen under the state of a Knight having not above a Hundred pounds Rent per annum their Apparel not to exceed three pounds six shillings and eight pence if Rents of two Hundred Marks per annum and above they might wear Cloth to the value of Five Marks with Cloth of Silk and Silver their Wives and Children any Furs but no Ermines c. Fourthly Citizens worth Five Hundred Pounds to the value of Knights of One Hundred Pounds per annum if worth 1000 l. they might wear in the manner of Knights and Gentlemen of Two Hundred Pounds Rent per annum none of their Servants to exceed the value allowed to the Servants of Lords before mentioned Fifthly All Knights and Ladies that possess Lands or Rents above the value of Four Hundred Marks per annum to a thousand may wear their pleasure except Ermines and Iewels only on their Heads Sixthly all Ecclesiastical persons according to the custom of their Dignity or proportionably to their yearly Revenue by the former Rules of Knights and Gentlemen Lastly all Labourers and other people not worth forty Shillings are to wear Cloth not above 12 pence per yard These Rules were strengthned with the penalty of forfeiting all things worn contrary to them and by the same Statute Clothiers are injoyned to make their Clothes sutable to the Rates These Laws with some addition and increase of Penalties were again confirmed by Parliament the â—â—ard year of Edward the Fourth being near one hundred years after with power given to the Justices of the Peace to see the Statutes observed annexed to this Preamble Prayeth the Commons Assembled in Parliament to our Soveâ—â—â—â— Lord the King to call to his gracious Remembrance that in the times of his Noble Progenitors divers Ordiâ—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 Statutes were made in this Realm of England for the Apparel and 〈…〉 Commons of the said Realm no â—â—ll Men 〈◊〉 Women so that none of them ought to use or wear ony inordinate and exâ—ensive Apparel but according to their Degrees which Statutes are not observed to the great displeasure of God and impoverishing this Realm c. And again in the twenty second year of the said King in Parliament Regulated and Confirmed with severe Penalties annexed to this Preamble Because that our Sovereign Lord the King hath conceived by a Petition made unto him by the Commons that divers Statutes and Ordinances touching restraint of excessive Apparel c. by their not due executions his said Realm is fallen into great misery and poverty and like to fall into more unless there be better Remedy provided c. Again in the seventh year of Henry the 8th these Laws were corrected and inlarged with more severe Penalties and all the former Acts repealed annexed to this Preamble Forasmuch as the great and costly Array used within this Realm contrary to the good Statutes thereof made hath been the occasion of great impoverishing of the Kings Subjects and provok'd divers of them to Rob and do Extortion and other unlawful deeds to
Health increaseth and that this is Irelands present case is manifest for if it be considered that before the last Rebellion the Irish Interest was potent 1. The Irish were far the greater number of Proprietors of Land possessing ten Acres for one whereas now of the Ten millions eight hundred sixty eight thousand nine hundred forty nine Acres returned by the last Survey of Ireland the Irish Papists are possest but of Two millions forty one thousand one hundred and eight Acres which is but a small matter above the fifth part of the whole and as the Proprietors of Lands so is it in their Plantations for where there was one English Planter before the last Rebellion 1641. it is judged there is three now and in several of the principal Counties next adjacent to England as Wicklow and VVexford where there was ten Irish Papists to one English Protestant the odds now lies on the other hand 2. Before 1641. their Interest in the Lands and Popularity of the Inhabitants necessitated the Government to admit them to all County-Offices as High Sheriffs Justices c. wherby they had opportunity to encourage the Irish and discountenance the English but now not one Irish Sheriff or Justice in the Kingdom 3. Before the Rebellion the chief Inhabitants of all principal Cities and strong Towns were Irish Papists who bore all Offices and managed the chief Trade of those places all which places are now planted or at least governed by English Protestants 4. Before the Rebellion those Freeholders and Proprietors of Lands there were in Ireland were not the Kings Tenants but derived their Titles from the Irish Noblemen and Gentlemen which contracted an immediate dependence upon them and kept an awing influence over them for though the Kings of England were owned as Lords of Ireland yet the Lords of Ireland ruled as Kings and were so stiled by the Kings of England as is observed by Sir John Davis out of several Records saith he They governed their people by their Brehon Law they made their Magistrates and Officers they pardoned and punished all Malefactors they made War and Peace one with another without controlment and this to the Reign of Queen Elizabeth pag. 13 14. So Hovendon p. 312. and were not entirely subjected to the English Laws until the 9th of King James but had that learned Observer lived until the 12th of Charles the Second he would have admitted Ireland was never entirely subjected to the Crown of England nor the Lands of Ireland never properly called the Kings Land until the Act of Settlement then past as Sir Audley Mervin then Speaker to the House of Commons in his Speech to the Duke of Ormonde called that Act Irelands Magna Charta it exceeding all former Grants of the Kings of England and former Submissions of the body of the People of Ireland in these particulars 1. As a free Act of Grace when His Majesty was under no politick Obligation but what meer Grace and Bounty mov'd him to which never any Grant before was for though they were still stiled Acts of Grace yet Reason of State interposed for them which will be easily granted if the State of England and Ireland be compared at the time of those former Royal Confessions when the Irish still treated with their Swords in their hands or at least hid where they knew how to find them if they were not answered in their expectation as in the History of Desmonds and Tyrones c. Rebellion is manifest 2. Former Grants did only dispose of some Countrys or Lordships to some few persons who depended upon the Crown and all others upon them but this of the whole Land that was not before disposed of whereby there is more Tenants to the Crown settled by this Act above forty for one than by any former Grants 3. Not only the Lands of Ireland but all the Cities and strong walled Towns are secured in hands true to the Crown of England by this Act that never were before 4. By this Act there is a Revenue secured to the King sufficient to maintain a compleat Army to preserve the Peace which never was before Therefore I argue the state of the Interest not only of the Crown but of the Kingdom of Ireland is altered as to the Freehold Interest above double nay treble to what it ever was before the English being in possession by that Act of four millions five hundred sixty thousand thirty seven Acres and the Irish but in two millions three hundred twenty three thousand eight hundred and nine so that if the majority of Proprietors may give the denominations to a Country which usually it doth Ireland is become West England Besides this the governing party universally professeth and only incourageth the English publick Worship it is governed by English Laws enacted by English Parliaments and administred by English Judges guarded by an English Army and governed by English Ministers of State to that degree it never was before and all this administred by the absolute Commission from the King of England and must it yet be kept under and esteemed of as an Irish Interest and Country when the very Nature and civil Constitution of Ireland is altered and proportionably ought the Wealth and Prosperity of it to be promoted by England for these Reasons 1. It is the Interest both of the Crown and People of England to enable the English Interest of Ireland not only to support its self in peace but to defend its self in war which nothing but promoting its Trade and Wealth will do especially the Wealth of its Cities and walled Towns for the increasing its Wealth in the Fields doth rather increase its danger by enouraging the needy Natives the rather to rise when they observe how easily they can possess themselves of so great a Booty but the Wealth of the Cities and strong Towns which is the trading Stock of the Nation is secure and ready to be imployed in the defence of their King and Countries Interest when in danger besides they are the only security and refuge to the distressed English when banished from their Country Habitations and these places of strength cannot subsist without Trade and Manufacture but by more chargeable Garisons than the Revenue of Ireland will bear And what Ireland cannot do in order to its safety England must supply to prevent its own danger for if ever an Enemy surprize and possess Ireland especially the French England must maintain a greater standing Force to secure themselves than would have preserved Ireland if imployed in its Defence it is not a groundless proverb He that would England win must with Ireland first begin and if the French who hath already the opposite Coast and Harbours from Dunkirk to Brest ever obtain Ireland they will then surround three parts of four of England and a great part of Scotland so near that in a few hours they may invade what part they please which would necessitate England to be at the charge of
Stephen and Miles Cogan Adventurers with Strongbow in the first Attack and possessors of Lands for their Service succeeded him next to them succeeded Hugh de Lacy and Robert le Power both interested persons in Ireland Le Power being then Governor of Waterford and Wexford was possest of a great Estate in those Countries * Cambden of Ireland and Hugh de Lacy marrying the Daughter of Rodorick King of Connaght had a considerable Interest in Ireland by her right the King still approving interested persons fittest to govern Ireland that designing to send over his own Son John he first made him King of Ireland to give him a peculiar Interest in that Kingdom †Hovenden p. 77. from his time being anno Dom. 1185. until Lionel Duke of Clarence 1361. near 200 years that Edward the Third's Son was sent over who by right of his Wife was Earl of Ulster and Lord of Connaght I find Ireland governed for the most part by Butlers of the House of Ormonde Fitz Morris Fitz John Fitz Gerralds c. of the Houses of Kildare and Desmond with Woggans Barrys Powers Bourkes Burminghams c. and in intervals by Dignitaries of the Church or other Ministers of State in Ireland I find very few but either had considerable Interest in Ireland or otherwise settled on them at their sending over or purchased by them in the time of their Service and settled there with their Families In all which time we read of very few Factions until that of Desmond who raised a Dissention betwixt the English of Blood and English of Birth which bred such ill Blood in his own Families Veins as boyled up to the ruine of it afterwards in the Queens days 1583. and from the time of the Duke of Clarence 1361. until 1385. the Earl of Oxford was created Duke of Ireland and Marquess of Dublin at his coming over of Twelve Lord Lieutenants and Deputies c. in that time not above two or three at the most but Butlers Gerralds c. Next Richard the Second sent over Mortymer Lord Lieutenant but first created him Earl of Ulster Lord of Trim Clare and Connaght 1398. from him until the year 1449. I find not above four or five viz. Sir John Stanly Scroop Sutton de Gray c. and they but short times but persons of Ireland viz. Talbots Gerralds and Butlers the later six times in this short space of about fifty years Then was Richard Duke of York being Earl of Ulster Lord of Connaght and Meath by Descent from Lionel Duke of Clarence Lord Lieutenant But for a more distinct Account of Irelands Chief Governours since the Conquest I shall refer the Reader to the ensuing Catalogue as I find it recorded by Borlacy Spencer Campian Hanmer Marlburroughs Hooker c. wherein I have only noted some few remarkable things that happened under some of their Governments designing only a brief Catalogue of both sorts to make good my Position that the Policy of England hath still found it best to govern Ireland by its own Members or persons peculiarly interested in its prosperity But this is observable when Noblemen c. were sent out of England to govern Ireland it was not of choice but rather of necessity as in these and the like cases First to ballance Factions amongst the English Lords of Ireland when their animosities grew so high that Interest of State required a more indifferent Hand at the Helm which proceeded from their great Power ruling their Tenants c. as Soveraign Princes over large Teritories by the Brehon Laws whereby multitudes both of English and Irish more depended upon their Favour than the Kings but that sort of Lordship is utterly extinguished root and branch the greatest Lords of Ireland are as subject to the Kings Laws as the meanest man and the whole Militia of the Kingdom under the Kings immediate Commission and Pay therefore that Reason ceaseth Second Reason was to ballance Factions in the Court of England especially in the Barons Wars and in the Contest betwixt the two Houses of York and Lancaster c. but the two Roses now are not only graffed but so well grown upon one stalk that danger is over Thirdly in times of considerable Rebellions when either of these two Reasons swayed 1. When the Work required persons of greater Experience in Martial Affairs than it it was supposed Ireland afforded but Ireland is now so well furnished with Noble persons of approved Courage and Conduct that it is able to supply England if the Kings Affairs should require it with Officers from the Truncheon to the Halbert to conduct a Royal Army 2. When the great Lords of Ireland were in Factions one against the other especially those of English Race as the Geraldines and Butlers c. which two Houses mantained an inveterate Feud for several Generations yet by turns were chiefly employ'd by Henr. 7th and 8th till the 20th year of the Raign of Henry the Eighth Thomas the Son of Gerrald Earl of Kildare then Prisoner in the Tower broke out into Rebellion from which time the King sent over English Governours during his Life as Skeffington the Lord Gray Brereton St. Leger c. which course his Son Edward the Sixth and both his Daughters Mary and Elizabeth imitated him in for the most part the like King James and Charles the First but the reason thereof must be attributed to the Change or rather Reformation of Religion most of the Noble Families of Ireland capable of chief Trust still adhering to the Roman Superstition and consequently uncapable of promoting a Protestant Interest which case is now otherwise most of the ancient Nobility of Ireland are Protestants as may appear in my Schedule of Irelands Nobility and as that reason of State is ceased so hath the practice since About two years after the Rebellion Jan. 1643. James then Marquess now Duke of Ormonde was sworn Lord Lieutenant since which time being 39 years Jan. last he hath born the Honour of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland except from the 18th of September 1669. the Lord Roberts entred until the â—4th of August 1677. the Earl of Essex surrender'd not full eight years so that the Duke hath born the Honour 31 years and actually exercised the Regency 19 years being interrupted about 12 years viz. from December 1650. he left Clanrickard Deputy until the 28th of July 1662. when His Grace was again sworn Lord Lieutenant and as he hath exercised the longest Regency so hath he had the most difficult Work of any chief Governor since the Conquest First Commander of an Army for some years under great wants the hardest task to a noble spirited General Secondly Fighting against a people he desired and endeavoured the Welfare of that would not believe him until they found it to their cost that their Ingratitude and Treachery to him and their Princes Interest that he asserted sell upon their own pates Thirdly Fighting for a Prince in no capacity to support him
from thence to Dublin to whom all the petty Kings and great Lords of Ireland submit and swear Fealty the King returns for England and leaves Hugh Lacy Lord Justice to interest him gave him Meath in Fee Irish English Henry the Second  Anno 1172. Hugh de Lacy Lord Justice Spell 331. Orourk Prince of Meath c. rebels Lacy in great danger rescued by Maurice Fitz Gerald vvho killed Orourk Hanm. 139.  1173. Earl Strongbow L. Warden of Ireland By right of his Wife Prince of Leinster found all in confusion but with the aid of Raymond le Grossreduceth them to subjection Hanm. p. 140. 1175. Strongbow dies Camp 64. Donald Prince of Leinster rebels all in confusion Camp 65  1177. Raymond Le Gross L. Protector Brother in Law to Strongbow subdues Donald and relieves the Citie of Dublin  1177. Fitz Andelm L.J. Courcey Fitz Stephen and Miles de Cogan his Counsellors Han. p. 157. The Ancestors of the Bourks now Earl of Clanricard Cambrensis chap. 17. Courcey subdued Vlster the Kingdom of Cork setled on Fitz Stephens and Cogan in Fee Fitz Stephens the Ancestor of the Barrysof Cork  1179. Hugh Lacy and Robert le Power L.J. Power the Ancestor of the Powers of Waterford  1181. Hugh de Lacy Governor Hollinshead O Connor King of Connaght rebels with 2000 men Lacy subdues him and marries his Daughter after s lain by a Scologh in Meath Hook p. 60. 1181. John Constable of Cheshire and Richard de Peck Justices Hovend p. 685.  1184. Philip de Brees Governor 1185. Earl John the Kings Son made King of Ireland and sent Governor Hovend 1187. This young Prince with his Counsellors ran all into confusion Young Arms make good Souldiers but young Heads ill Couns ellors Witness Rehoboam c.  1185. John de Courcey Earl of Ulster Gov. Chose by the King to be his Champion against a Frenchman who quitted the Stage and run being frighted by the grim looks and great limbs of Courcey Hanmer p. 181.  Richard the First  1189. Hugh de Lacy the younger L.J.  1190. Dublin burnt to ashes Hanm. 179.  1191 William Marshall and William Pettit Just Marshall by right of his Wife Strongbows Daughter Prince of Leinster who built the Castle of Kilkenny and gave the Town a Charter Hanm. 183.   1197. Hamo de Valis L.J. King John  1199. Myler Fitz Henry the Kings Son Governor Han. p. 183.  1210. K. John in person Composed all Differences settled Affairs and returned Camp 75.   1210. John Gray Bishop of Norwich L.J. He reformed the Irish Coin to the Standard of England 1213. Henry Laundres Arch-Bp of Dublin L.J. Built the Castle of Dublin  Henry the Third  1214. St. Patricks Church founded by Comin Arch-Bp of Dublin Camp p. 76. 6000 Scots under Bruce invade Ireland  1215. Geoffery Marisco Keeper of Ireland with Sir Edmond Butler L.J. Connaghtup in Arms Fitz Gerald built the Castle of Sligo  1219. Bishop Laundres and Maurice Fitz Gerald L.J. Han. p. 189.  1220. Meath in Arms the Castle of Trym builded the Irish generally rebel 11000 slain in Connaght by the Bourks and Berminghams Bruce routed near Dundalk Bermingham for his good Service created Earl of Louth Baron of Ardee and Athenrie  1227. Rich. de Burgo L.J.  1230. The Provost of Dublin made Mayor  1232. Maurice Fitz Gerald L.J.  1233. Richard Marshall Brother to William L.J. Slain in Battel near Kildare  1245 Sir Jo. Fitz Geoffery L.J.  1247. Theobald Butler Lord of Carick and Joh. Cogan L.J.   1255. Allen de la Zouch L.J. O Neils of Vlster and Mac Cartys of Munster rebel 1259. Stephen de Long Espee L.J.   1260. William Dean L.J.  1261. Rich. de Rupella L.J.  1266. A great Earthquake Hook p. 62. 1267. Sir David de Barry L.J. Who subdued the Mac Cartys   1268. Sir Robert de Ufford L.J. A great Dearth Mortality  1269. Ricardus de Exonia L.J. 1270. Sir James Audley Constable of Ulster L.J.  1272. Maur. Fitz Maurice L.J.  1273. Geoffery Lord Genevil L.J. Lord of Meath by right of his Wife  1276. Sir R. de Ufford the second time L.J.  1279. Bish of Waterf L. J  1280. Dublin burnt Strongbows Tomb spoiled by the fall of Christ-Church when on fire Camp p. 78. Meath rebels  1282. Stephen de Fulborn L.J.  1288. Arch-Bp of Dublin L.J.  1290. Will. Vesey L.J. Who to interest him in the prosperity of Ireland had given him the Manner Lords hip of Rahangan c. in the County of Kildare but engaging himself against John Fitz Gerald Baron of Ophaly lost himself and the Baron sent back first Earl of Kildare and Veseys Estate conferred on him  1307. Knights Templers for their Debauchery dissolved Knights of the Road constituted Camp p. 80. Connaght in Arms.  1308. Lord Bourk L.J. The Ancestor of the House of Castle Connel and Leitrim  1309. Lucan Bridge built  1312. Sir Edmond le Butler Deputy He unites the Earls of Vlster and the Geraldines who caused great troubles and subdu'd the Rebels of Connaght Camp 82.  1314. Lord de Verdon L.J. Had a great Estate in Meath in right of his Wife Hook 62.  1314. Sir Edmond le Butler Earl of Carrick L.J. Subdued the Irish at Castle-Dermot ..  1317. Roger Mortimer L.J. but the Lord Bermingham General Bruce invades Ireland Vlster joins with him overrun the Kingdom soon after subdued  1318. Will. Fitz John L.J.  1320. Earl of Kildare L.J. He built Loghlin Bridge the Pope granted the priviledge of an University to Dublin  1321. Lord of Athenry L.J. Slain with others by Mac Gohagon   1322. Ralph de Gorges L.J. 1323. Sir Jo. Darcy L.J. The Irish universally rebel vanquished by JamesEarl of Ormond Bermingham hanged Camp 88.  1327. Earl of Kildare L.J.  1328. Prior of Kilmainham L.J. In his time the Geraldines Butlers Bermingham at variance with the Powers and Bourks a Parliament s ummoned to accord them  1329. Sir John Darcy a second time L.J. Irish of Leinster in Rebellion Camp 87.  1330. Prior of Kilmainham L.J.  1331. Sir Anthony Lacy L.J. A great slaughter by the English of the O Conners c. in Leinster Marleborough 210.  1332. Sir John Darcy a third time L.J. Great slaughter on the Obrians Mac Cartys in Munster Marl. p. 211.  1333. Thom. de Burgh L.J.  1336. On St. Lawrence day ten thousand Irish slain in Connaght Marlb p. 212.   1337. Sir John Charleton L.J. The Irish generally rebel are quell'd by the Earl of Kildare and Desmond Camp 88. 1340. Prior of Kilmainham L.J.   1341. Sir John Maurice L.J. 1344. Sir Ralph Ussord Husband to the Countess of Ulster L.J. Desmonds first discontents Vssord died unlamented by his ill
1544. the 35 th of his Reign proclaimed Gold to 48. and Silver at 48. the Ounce in value and at the same time coyn base Mony to wit pieces of 1 s. 6 d. 4 d. 2 d. 1 d. and continue currant at that rate until the 5. of Edward the 6. when they were brought down the Shilling to 9 pence the Groat to 3 d. c. and so continued until the 2. of Elizabeth and although the Queen was exceeding curious in the affairs of her Mint and tender of her Honour therein yet was convinc'd by her Council there was a necessity of debasing her Mony for Ireland the Irish War against Tyrone that cost her 160000 l. per ann would drain England dry of Coyn the Arguments Buckhurst Lord Treasurer c. used were 1. It would abate the Charge of the War a fourth part when her Shilling currant in Ireland was not worth above 9 pence 2. It would much weaken the Hands of the Rebels who drew most of the good Mony into their power for Provisions c. and made use of it to supply themselves with Arms and Ammunition c. from Foreigners which a course Coyn would prevent 3. It would discourage Foreigners from aiding them when they considered they must receive their Pay in bad Mony c. Upon which consideration the Mony she after sent was debased in iâ— Allay a fourth part Brass the Irish shilling currant being but nine pence intrinsique value Errata per contra Pag. in line 4. for 36 s. 9 d. read 3 s. 9 d. in line 6. for Silver at 48 s. the Ounce r. Silver at 4 s. the Ounce And it is notorious that France Holland and most part of the Hance Towns in Germany as they have had as good Mony as the world affords so they have as bad which stands them in great stead as to their petty Commerce that the Tradesmen oft times give Exchange to have the Rix-Dollar turned into base Mony of currant value though not the sixth part of the intrinsique so that although Monsieur Bodin and others of his opinion deserve the esteem of knowing and judicious persons yet I judge the contrary Practice of all Princes and States we have any account of may ballance them that such may be the state of a Common-wealth that debasing and enhancing Coyn may be not only expedient but necessary 1. In case of War as before 2. If other Neighbour Princes inhance or debase their Coyn as in the Examples mentioned 3. In case of Scarcity and thereby increase of the rate or value of Bulloin for if England had not enhanced their Coyn as Bulloin rose from 26 in Edward the thirds time to 60 pence in Queen Elizabeths it is not reasonable to believe England would have had a Silver spoon or a six pence left and if Bulloin should yet increase in value to six or seven shillings per Ounce if we enhance not our Coyn proportionably it is not rational to believe we shall have a penny left 4. In ease of the wrong Ballance of Trade there is a necessity to do something to alter it or the Kingdom 's drained of its Coyn for so much as we buy more than we sell must be paid for in Mony as is shewn in that Chapter and there is but two ways to reform the Ballance of Trade which is either to increase the Quantity and improve the Quality of our natural Growth or restrain Consumption of Foreign Goods the first is a work of time and the latter difficult to effect and the most rational Expedient to stem the Tide till it turn is to make our Mony a worse and our Commodity a better Commodity for Transportation for the Merchant only considers what is most gainful and whilst our Coyn is the best Commodity to export he will not meddle with our Goods but if Gold and Silver were the best Commodity to import and the worst to export there would need no other Law but the Common Law of Interest to preserve and increase Coyn. And although it might be more convenient for me to keep to generals and leave Expedients to those more concerned and capable to reform yet considering I may be misunderstood I judge it necessary to explain my self more particular in this case there being extreams on both hands for the having of no good Mony in the Body politick would be as dangerous as no good Blood in the Body natural First I would propose that all our good Mony either English or foreign Coyn that is near the intrinsique value it goes for viz. Gold of two in twenty four and Silver of one in twelve Allay may inhance five per Cent. above its current rate in the Countries where we Trade which cannot fall heavy upon any but future Cofferers and I think Five per Cent. is too low a Fine upon them and its increase of value would bring out all Mony now coffered Secondly that all our course Mony may be altered in its specie and coyned in Shillings Six pences and Threepences to its present intrinsique value viz. the first rate in Shillings the second in Six pences and the worst into Threepences whereby all persons will have their own at the same current and intrinsique value they delivered it into the Mint and the Mint deducting the Charge of Coyning which is so inconsiderable the Mony will be little the worse and yet the Interest of all persons secured Thirdly A certain Sum as the Government may judge convenient of very course Mony about the Allay of the Dutch double Stiver be coyned in Twopence and Penny pieces Fourthly That the like proportionable Sum be coyned of Copper or rather Tin compounded with Copper it being our own Material in Halfpence and Farthings these three last sorts of Mony we shall be sure to keep which of themselves will be sufficient to manage our Home-trade if our best Mony should be drained from us and if our native Growth and Manufactures will not furnish us with foreign Commodities sufficient for our necessary Consumption we are better without them If we had fewer Silk-Shops and Taverns it would be no great Grievance whilst we want not Drapers and Mercers Shops and Ale-houses c. and no Country in the world less depends upon Foreign supply than Ireland for Necessaries and it is improvident to consume our selves in Superfluities THE SUPPLEMENT Objection IF the Government of Ireland by its own Members be of so great advantage as you affirm Part 2. Chap. 3. to the Trade and Wealth of that Kingdom whence was it the Trade c. were no more promoted under the Justices 1661 1662 and why did not the Duke of Ormond in his seven years Government no more improve the Trade and Wealth of Ireland Answer 1. Though the then Justices were members of Irelands Common-wealth and consequently interested in its common Good yet the various Interests of Ireland being undetermined all they could do was to keep all quiet by keeping each
c. at Court the charge of new Honours and Offices p. 88 The charge of Educating the Sons of Noble Persons c. in Foreign Vniversities and Inns of Court p. 87 The whole Charge of Ireland in the several Branches computed to nine hundred and thirteen thousand four hundred sixty five pounds four shillings per annum And amounts to for the period of 15 years to thirteen millions five hundred and twelve thousand six hundred and sixty pounds thirteen shillings and ten pence THE CONTENTS OF THE SECOND PART CHAP. I. OF Banks and Corporation-Trade the several kinds of Banks p. 1 2. Land or dry Banks most suitable for Ireland p. 3. Ireland's great damage by Insolvent Bankers p. 4. The Method of this dry Bank p. 5. Holland and Venice c. raised themselves by Banks and Company Trade p. 6. The Constitution of the Dutch East-India Company p. 7. The benefit of the Bankers by their joint Stock in Trade p. 8. The Royal Countenance necessary to secure the Credit of the Bank p. 9. The benefit of this Bank-Credit to a Countrey in General p. 10. It will lower Interest ibid. Lower Exchange p. 11. Propagate Manufactures p. 11. Banks will inable Trades-men with small Stocks to manage great Trades p. 12. Secure the Peace as well as increase the Wealth of Ireland p. 12. Banks c. will rescue our Trade out of the hands of Foreigners p. 13. Banks c. will increase our Shipping and promote the Fishing Trade ibid. Bank Security more safe more ready and less troublesome than any other Specialty p. 14. Banks a great conveniency 1. To Gentlemen possessing Estates in several parts of the Kingdom securely to return their rent c. p. 15. A great encouragement to young Merchants with small Stocks ibid. To Clothiers Tanners Chandlers c. where Markets fail p. 16. To persons surprised by Judgments before they can raise Money ibid. A great conveniency to the Nobility and Gentry ibid. To the poor and needy p. 17 The Hans-Towns of Germany raised their Trade by Banks ibid. The great Trade of the Guild of the Hance in the Stillyards in London erected and managed by Banks p. 18 England Ireland's best example which was as low in Trade as Ireland is now till improved by Banks ibid. The Kings and Parliaments of England have encouraged and augmented their Trade by countenancing the old and erecting new Corporations of Trade p. 19 No Expedient but this one can promote the Trade of Ireland p. 20 Corporation-Trade opposed in England by whom and with what success p. 21 22 By Company-Trade the English and Dutch c. have diverted the Trade of Venice c. and sell Persian and Indian Commodities where they used to buy p. 22 25 The Indies unknown until Company-Trade discovered them p. 23 England and Holland obtain'd their great Trade and their true Religion together by sheltering persecuted Christians ibid. Spanish c. Inquisitions a persecution drove away their Trade ibid. When the Dutch and English sent their first Fleets to the East-Indies p. 24 27 Corporation-Trade hath enrich'd all places of its residence p. 25 26 When England prohibited the Transportation of Wools and Importing foreign Cloath p. 25 The Original and great Wealth of the East-India Company at London p. 27 His present Majesty hath Confirmed the Companies He Founded and Erected the Affrican c. Honoured it with Royal and Noble Members and Dignities p. 28 The inconveniency of a confused Trade in the hands of particular Merchants to themselves and the Countrey p. 29 30 The Authors Experience of it in Tallow and Wools c. p. 31 32 Why though England c. divides their Trade into several Companies Ireland should have but one p. 33 Why the ancient Guild of the Hance after above 300 years flourishing was dispriviledg'd p. 33 34. The Solvency of Bank-Security p. 35 36 37. The method of managing the Bank p. 37 38 To place the Authority of the Bank c. by Act of State on the Statute Staple until a Parliament meet p. 39 46 The only Expedient to prevent the Transportation of our Wools p. 39 40 41 42 The Original of the Guild of the Hance very ancient p. 43 The great benefit the Kings of England made of the Staple and how it was mov'd from place to place and striven for by all places p. 44 45 CHAP. II. The Interest of England to promote the Prosperity of the English Interest of Ireland 1 ARgued from the different Constitution of Ireland now to what it was before the last Rebellion p. 1. The English the greatest Proprietors of Land and chiefly inhabiting Cities and Wall-Towns p. 48 The last Act of Settlement differs from all former Royal Grants in several considerable particulars to the advantage of the English Interest p. 50 Ireland under the sole Government of English Magistrates p. 51 England can in nothing so much promote the prosperity of the English Interest of Ireland as by countenancing its Trade p. 51 Englands only way to secure its self against Foreign Invasions and ruine of its Trade is to promote the Potency of the English Interest in Ireland p. 52 Englands neglect herein was the cause of the late Massacre and Rebellion p. 53 The neglect hereof hath cost England more Money c. than Ireland is worth ibid. Lord Deputy Sidney of the same opinion p. 54 Neglecting Trade and Manufacturie the cause of the degenerating of the English and why p. 55 Multitudes of Irish Papists are now English Protestants p. 55 56 58 Mr. Spencers and Heilins opinion of the best way to promote the Protestant Religion in Ireland p. 56 57 Ireland now so constituted it cannot fail of an English Protestant Parliament p. 58 The names and numbers of the Corporations of Ireland sending Members to Parliament p. 59 to 63 A Catalogue of the present Peers of Ireland summon'd to Parliaments in two Columns by which may be observ'd the Protestant Peers far exceed the Papists in number and interest p. 63 to 67 A Catalogue of the Nobility of Ireland anno 1571. And another 1641. by which may be observ'd the antiquity and precedency of the present Noble Families of Ireland p. 70 to 73 It is the interest of the Irish Papists to promote the Potency of the English Interest of Ireland p. 73 Though the subduing of the many Rebellions hath cost England dear yet the Irish at last paid the reckonings p. 73 Englands ancient claim to the Sovereignty of Ireland and the Legality and Justness of their Title by Conquest p. 73 to 75 The weakness of the English Interest of Ireland the cause of the many Rebellions since they deriv'd their States and Honours from the Crown of England p. 75 The degenerate English more dangerous Rebels than the Native Irish p. d6 The Popes Instigation and Encouragement to Desmond and Thomas Fitz-Geralâ— to rebell and to root out the Protestanâ— Religion as a mad and venomous Dâ—ctrine and hellish Opinion p. 76
Bishop Usher in his Speech to the Assemblies of the States of Ireland April 1627 asserts this opinion that it is the Intereâ—â— of the Papists to promote the potency 〈◊〉 the English Interest in Ireland p. 77 to 80 Henry the 4 th of France refuseth but Phâ—lip of Spain accepts of the Donation 〈◊〉 Ireland from the Pope The Spaniarâ— never throve since p. 77 Bishop Usher's Prophecy of dismal times 〈◊〉 come on the Protestants by the Papists yet though sharp will be but short p. 81 82 The English great Plenty and Debaucheriâ— made them ripe for destruction p. 82 A hint of the most barbarous Tortures anâ— inhumane Cruelties of the Irish upon thâ— naked secure English p. 82 83 The excellent natural temper of the Irish evidenceth that the barbarous Crueltieâ— proceeded from the bloody Principles infused into them by their Priests p. 85 86. Their observation of the weakness of the English as to Arms their great Encouragement to rise p. 85 The Dismal destruction God brought on the Irish by the Sword Plague and Famine p. 87 88 The most sober of the Irish approved this Notion in the year 1651 1652. that it is their interest to promote the Potency of the English Interest p. 88 All Irish Papists are not infected with Jesuitical bloody Principles but many of them good Subjects and good Neighbours p. 89 It is the interest of the Irish Papists in any capacity to live to promote the English Interest to that Potency as all attempts to disturb it might appear irrational and desperate p. 90 It would encourage their Industry in Planting and Trading p. 90 It would incline the the most sober Papists to enquire into the differences about Religion if from under the dread of the Potency of the Popish Clergie p. 91 Their ignorance of the Scriptures the reason of their Errors p. 92 The novelty of the rebellious bloody Principles rejected by the ancient Roman-Church above 600 years after Christ p. 93 94 The equal Peace and Prosperity Honour and Trust Love and Friendship Irish Papists not Jesuited might enjoy if they would secure the English against the fear of Massacres c. p. 94 95 Sect. the second p. 96. asserts it above all other the Protestants of Ireland are obliged to promote the Potency of the English Interest there But in regard through mistake the Pages are not figured I can only refer to the supposed Letter of the Alphabet which the Reader may soon perform with his Pen. The Argument to secure themselves against the miseries of 41. being repeated p. 96. 1st Expedient to plant our Wall'd-Towns and erect new where needed to be done without charge by Manufacturies p. A. 2. To Institute Laws against single life with the reasons p. A. B. C. 3. Above all other Expedients to endeavour a right understanding betwixt all Protestants sound in Fundamentals c p. C. Bishop Bramhall's opinion concerning Criminal Schism p. E. Bishop Bramhall Taylor Sanderson and Hall c. differ from our fiery Zealots who esteem all Separations Criminal Schism and more sinful than Drunkenness Swearing Whoring c. it is the Jesuits not the Protestant Divines opinion p. F. The sober Dissentors agree with the Church in all Fundamentals both Positive and Negative p. F. and G. They maintain not only Internal but External Communion with the establish'd Church in all Essentials p. G. The Jews had their several Sects yet all esteemed Israelites while they adhered to Moses Law The German Lutherans and Calvinists more differ yet esteem each other Protestants p. H. It is a preposterous Zeal like Hell hot without light that makes different Opinions different Religions saith Bishop Bramhall p. E. The Papists who glory much in their Vnity are much more divided in Doctrine c. and yet esteem each other Catholicks p. H. I. If the Protestant Dissenters were as malignant against the Church as the Papists yet they could not be dangerous p. I. K. L. Irrational for Dissenters Papists or others to expect protection from a Prince oâ— State to whom they will not give aâ— Security in their power for their Loyalty p. L. M. Dissenters ought to avoid all occasions 〈◊〉 appearing or being engaged in any Fâ—ction in a State or reflecting on the Râ—ligion established asserted from Scripture Instances p. M. N. O. Errors in Schism more sinful than Error in Conformity p. O. P. The Authors Apologie for his Essay to Vnâ—on with his reasons how much the safeâ— and prosperity in Trade and Wealth dâ—pend on it p. Q. R. CHAP. III. ASSerts Irelands Interest in its own Government in what cases excepted p. 96 97 â—he most expeditious and effectual way to secure and plant Ireland with English is by the Armies and how to be managed p. 97 98 â—he neglect thereof the ruine of the English the last Massacre p. 98 〈◊〉 what cases by the Civil list c. Preferments Ireland may be advantaged by sending persons from England p. 99 â—hat reason of State there was heretofore to Govern Ireland by Ministers of State out of England c. are ceast now p. 100 101 â—easons why persons unacquainted with the humour and state of Ireland cannot so well secure its Peace nor promote its Prosperity as its own Members p. 102 to 114 â—hat are the discouragements to persons in England from setling upon their Estates in Ireland p. 105 106 â—esidents both ancient and modern of Princes c. Governing their Tributary Provinces by their own Princes and Nobles p. 107 It hath been the practice of the Kings of England since the Conquest to Govern Ireland by Interested Persons p. 108 109 Cases excepted when England had reason to send over persons disinterested but are all now removed p. 110 111 The Duke of Ormond hath enjoyed the longest Regency and undergone the greatest difficulties of any Vice-Roy since the Conquest and why p. 112 113 His Loyalty not only applauded by the King c. but his Service in Ireland approved by the English Parliament who offered him great rewards if he would have accepted of them p. 113 Mr. Spencer of my opinion p. 114 So Giraldus Cambrensis p. 115 So Sir Hen. Wooten p. 107 The Objection answered why I term English Protestants aliens to Irelands Interest p. 115 116 117 The case of the English in Ireland differs from all other Tributary Countreys they being not the Conquered but the Conquerors by vertue of whose blood and the blood of their Ancestors Ireland was subjected to the Crown p. 118 They are more obliged to secure the interest of the Crown than that is to protect them ibid. 1000 men raised in Ireland worth 2000 fresh-men brought from England for that service ibid. The sufferings themselves and their Progenitors have undergone deeply engageth them to be true to and resolute in defence of the English Interest above all others p. 119 Spencer of the same opinion p. 120 So Livy p. 121 A Catalogue of the Lord Lieutenants c. in two Columns to
VII Jesuitical Principles the cause of Irelands mischiefs and miseries therefore their interest to explode them above all the Papists in the World p. 258 A brief Narrative of all the Jesuits Treasons against their English Sovereigns from Hen. 8. to this time wherein is observ'd not only the miseries in Ireland but Englands and Scotlands troubles were promoted by them p. 259 to 264 Their Oath of Confederacy in their last Plot p. 265 The pernicious influence of that Plot though disappointed 266 267 His Majesties great tenderness and indulgence towards Dissenters for 20 years past p. 267 268 Dissenters respect to the Protestant Church of Ireland as now established how far p. 269 Dissenters the most dangerous Hereticks in Ireland to Papists p. 270 The great advantage Vnity in Loyalty would be both to Papists and Protestants in Ireland p. 271 An Alphabetical Table of the principle things in the first Part. A. ADventurers and other estated Absentees drain Ireland of Cash p. 84 85. Apparel extravagant ruines a Country pag. 20 21. Apparel of Silks destructive to Ireland Apparel spruce and costly in the meaner sort many ways inconvenient besides its Charge p. 27 28. Apparel spruce and rich contemned by many wise and potent Princes p. 30 31. Ale-topers their Charge to Ireland p. 55. B. Baronets when instituted and how to be qualiffed p. 16 17. Bastards their great Charge to Ireland p. 45 46. C. Court of Wards well regulated useful to Ireland and for what p. 12 13. D. Debaucheries their Charge to Ireland p. 37. Drunkenness the grand Wealth-consuming Debauchery p. 51. It s Trade ruining and Wealth-wasting influence p. 54 to 57. Drinking to excess is as sinful in them able to bear drink as others sooner distempered p. 60. Drunkards c. are the proper Fanaticks p. 61 62. Drunkenness disdained and grievously punished by Turks and Pagans p. 63. Drunkenness the ruine of States and Armies p. 64 to 69. E. England no pattern for Ireland in Expences and why p. 22. Effeminacy attends Debauchery p. 48 49. F. France gains by their fantastick Garbs and why p. 19. G. Gentry their bad Payment to Tradesmen ruines Trade p. 10 11. Gaming its pernicious Effects p. 42 43. H. Holiness-Ceremonial crowded Holiness-real out of the Church p. 70. Honour when disgrac'd p. 14 15 Healthing the great provoker of Drunkenness p. 58 59 Its sinful p. 60 I. Ireland not setled till when p. 2 3 4 Jesuits their under ground work p. 3 L. Laws Sumptuary p 23 24 Needful in Ireland p. 26 Laws Mercanture necessary to govern Trade p. 10 Laws Common too delatory for Trade ibid. Laws against Absentees p. 86 87 M. Merchants Honourable p. 8 9 Merchants few wealthy in Ireland and why p. 7 Merchants low esteem in Ireland lowers c. Trade p. 8 Manufacturies ruined by Silk worn in Ireland p. 20 Merchants Forreigners their damage to Ireland p. 81 82 N. Nobility when ignoble are the shame and ruine of a Country p. 12 13 14. O. Oaths prophane their provoking destructive nature p. 38 39. P. Perjury its sad Effects p. 41 42. Prophane Swearing the mother of false swearing p. 40. Perjury abhorred by Pagans first tolerated by Popes p. 41. Perjury will never be esteemed a mortal sin whilst prophane swearing is esteemed venial p. 42. Pagans their cruel Laws against Adultery p. 49 50. Prophaneness of Christendome whence p. 69. Prophanenists their Faith blasphemous and fanatical if any they have p. 74 75 76. R. Rome the Fountain of all Prophaneness and Debauchery of Christendom p. 72 73. Revenue farmed to Foreigners great loss to the Country p. 80. S. Swearing prophane its sad Effects p. 38 39. Superfluities not regulated ruines a Country p. 18 19. Strumpets to be prescribed their Apparel p. 29 30. Shipping foreign a great Charge to the Country p. 83. T. Trade its Impediments p. 1 to 11. Trade Ireland not capable of till when p. 4. V. Victuals their Plenty obstructs Trade and Manufacture p. 5 6. W. Whoring its Charge and Damage to Irelands Trade and Wealth p. 44. Destructive to Kingdoms and States pag. 48 49. Wine-bibbers their Charge to Ireland p. 5. ERRATA BY mistake of the Author and mislaying of some Papers occasioned by Business which took up his time delayed the Publication of this Book there are some Errors escaped the Press which is made good by reprinting such Leaves over again or where any were left out as between p. 95. and p 96. the several pages are denoted in the Contents by p A and p B c. calling the first p. A the second B c. which the Reader is desired to mark with his Pen. And for Miss-spellings or other Literal escapes I shall leave to his courtesie to correct and only note what harms the Sense which the Reader or rather Bookseller may soon correct with his Pen. PART I. Page 20. for families read females p. 17. for Couler r. Coller PART II. Pape 29. for confine read consigne p. 57. for Minister r. Ministry p. 190. line ult for Object r. An Answer p. 234. for 1612. r. 1600. ibid. for 812. r. 800. p. H. for momentary r. momentous p. 115. for Stilling fleet 106. r. Stillingfleet 206. Advertisement to the Binder At the end of ** in the Epistle Dedicatory there wants the Direction viz. Plebeius g g the Quarter sheet in G Part 1. is to be placed after f f in Part 2. E e the first leaf to be cancelled the last leaf of F f to be cancelled the last leaf of M m to be the first of E e N n fol. 195 196 and 199 200. to be cancelled O o fol. 213 214 217 218 221 222. to be cancelled the said leaves of N n and O o being reprinted THE INTEREST OF IRELAND In its TRADE and WEALTH Stated CHAP. I. The Reasons why Ireland being so long under the Government of England whose Policies in Trade are inferior to few Countreys should yet be so little improv'd in Trade and Wealth 1. FRom the Impediments or Obstructions Ireland hath met with and is subject unto not common to other Countreys The first and chief Impediment proceeds from the unsetledness of the Countrey as to its subjection to England's Government for though they have long prosest Allegiance to England's Crown yet they have paid but a grudging partial obedience to its Scepter And upon all occasions less or more general have been attempting to draw their necks out of England's Yoke as it s briefly but fully evidenced by Sir John Davis in his Intelligent Book dedicated to King James Intituled A Discovery of the true cause why Ireland was never intirely subdued to the Crown of England and he determines until the 9th of King James Ireland was never fully setled in subjection and obedience to the English Law and Government And if we take a view of the State of Ireland since then and allow the Reign of King James and part of King Charles the First to be
Essentials in Worship agreed and maintain'd by Conforming and Nonconforming Protestants p. G. F. Fishing how to increase p. 13 Friars their several Orders whence and why instituted p. 212 213 Fundamentals agreed to by Dissenters with the Church p. G. G. Governors of Ireland unacquainted with the Country not capable of well managing its Affairs and why p. 102 to 107 This hath been the opinion and practice of our Kings from its first Conquest of which instances p. 108 109 In what cases excepted p. 110 111 I. Ireland's English Interest potent above what it was before the last Rebellion p. 47 48 Irelands Interest in being Govern'd by its own Members p. 47 to 96 Irish Papists their interest in the potency of the English Interest in Ireland p. 73 to 94 Ignorance in the Scripture the cause of Papists Rebellion p. 91 92 Judges and Juries of Ireland much more ingaged to suppress Sedition and Rebellion in Ireland than those of England can be and why p. 105 106 Jesuits their inhumane bloody principles from their own Authors p. 195 to 203 Papists reflections and glosses on them p. 204 to 207 Jesuits their Original and Characte p. 211 to 214 Jesuits by what Authority their Order Instituted p. 214 Jesuits banished and their Tenents exploded by whom p. 222 to 225 Jesuits the natural consequence of their Principles p. 225 They abrogate the Laws of Humanity Morality and Divinity p. 226 Their dexterity in fathering their Brats on innocent persons p. 227 Jesuits their suitable practices to their bloody Principles p. 231 to 240 Jesuits imployed by the Pope to destroy the Greek Church p. 236 Jesuits bloody work in the West and East-Indies p. 238 L. Lands of Ireland most possest by English Proprietors p. 48 Loyalty evidenc'd in many of the Irish Papists p. 89 to 203 Lutherans and Calvinists in Germany more differ than English Protestants yet esteem each other Protestants and unite against Popery p. H. Laws against single life useful in Ireland and why p. A. B. C. M. Massacre of Ireland how inhumane and barbarous p. 81 to 87 Militia of Ireland is its great Security p. 98 Militia neglected the cause of the easie massacring the naked Protestants 1641 p. 81 Manufacturies of Ireland by whom incouraged and erected how ruined p. 188 to 191 Mystical Babylon who in the opinion of Papists p. 220 N. Nobility or Peers of Ireland most English Protestants p. 63 to 67 Nobility their Catalogue 1571 and 1641 p. 67 to p. 73 Non-residents enjoying Salleries a great loss to Ireland p. 99 O. The Original of most Noble and Worshipful English Families of Ireland were from Offices p. 96 Ormond Duke the longest Regency over Ireland under the greatest difficulties and why p. 112 113 Ormond the great confusion he found Ireland in at his access to the Government 1662. and how soon composed p. 182 to 188 P. Parliaments of Ireland altered in their Constitution from an Irish to an English Interest p. 58 to 63 A good Plea for Irish Papists against their Jesuited Priests that shall again instigate them to rebel p. 88 Planting of Ireland discouraged by restraint of Trade and being liable to be tried for capital Offences by Judges and Juries in England to whom they are unknown c. p. 106 Poysonings and Stabbings the Popes arguments to convince gainsayers instances p. 228 229 Principles of the Jesuits inconsistent with the just power and right of Princes p. 240 R. Religion Protestant condemned as a venomous Doctrine and Hellish Opinion by the Papists p. 76 Religion Protestant why no more received by Irish Papists p. 90 91 Rebellion and bloodiness of Popery above all other Religions in the World whence p. 193 194 Rome can be no Mother-Church nor Superior to others why p. 218 Rome hath only the primacy of Apostacy from the principles of the Primitive Church p. 218 to 222 Rome c. always promoted and encouraged the rebellions of Ireland p. 76 to 85 Romes struggles with the Greek Church for Supremacy reduced them to Turkish Slavery p. 237 S. Statute Staple its original use and method p. 43 to 47 Souldiers who are best for Field-Armies p. 98 99 to 120 The Statutes of the 10 th of Hen. 7. and 23d of Hen. 8. no bar to persons born in Ireland from being Lord Lieutenant c. p. 100 101. Souldiers 1000 bred in Ireland worth 2000 bred in England for Irish Service and why p. 118 Subsidies of Ireland their establishment p. 164 to 173 Supremacy from the Pope from whence p. 208 209 Supremacy a Tallent so well improved by the Pope that he deserves it p. 234 Schism Criminal when p. D. E. T. Trade of England ingrost by the Guild of the Hance p. 18 Trade in Companies countenanc'd by the Kings and Parliaments of England since Edward the Third p. 20 Trade to the East-Indies when first obtained p. 24 Treasure the vast summ Ireland hath cost England above what it was ever worth p. 53 Table reducing Plantation Acres into English p. 162 1â—â— Trade why no more improv'd under the Government of the Justices and Duke of Ormond p 181 Tyrants are those Princes over their own Subjects who are Slaves to the Pope p. 235 Turkish Slavery of the Greek-Church the Product of the Popes Supremacy p. 2 7 Trent Council illegal c. p. 217 U. Usher Bishop his opinion declared it was the Interest of Irish Papists to support and strengthen the Interest of the Crown of England in Ireland p. 77 to 81 Usher Bishop Prophecies of the Irish Rebellion 40 years before it was and 〈◊〉 great trouble to the Protestants by thâ— Papists yet to come p. 80 81 Vengeance of God dreadful on the Irish foâ— their bloody Massacre 1641 p. 86 87 Vnity though boasted of by Papists yet arâ— they much more divided than Protestants p. H. I. Vnion of Papists chiefly in Errors and Immoralities Vnion in Religion how far necessary amongst Protestants to promote the Prosperity and secure the Peace of Ireland p. C. D. W. Weaving Broad cloath when first set up in England p. 25 Wools first prohibited their transportation p. 25 Wools may easily be prevented transporting expedients proposed p. 39 to 43 Wools transporting the ruine of our Clothing Trade p. 39 Wall'd-Towns to be increased and well planted to secure the safety of English Protestants in Ireland p. A. Women drunk with the blood of the Saints Rev. 17. who in the Papists opinion p. 219 221 Y. Guild of the Hance its Antiquity and great Trade p. 43 Their dissolution and why p. 34 Z. Zeal preposterous like Hell hot without light that makes different Opinions different Religions saith B p. Bramhall p. E. Zeal Popish and Jesuitical that esteems all Separation Criminal Schism ibid. Books lately Printed A Judgment of the Comet which became first generally visible to us in Dublin Decemb the 13th 1680. By a person of Quality Foxes and Firebrands or a Specimen of the Danger and Harmony of Popery and
the Account cleared without receiving or paying a peny of Money The which is also practicable in most other cases and all these Assignments have the security of a Bond of the Staple whereby not only the hazard and trouble of Moneys as before but the hazard of disappointment and the charge and delay of Law-suits is wholly prevented and this is not only as to intire sums but the 100 l. may be as easily assigned to 20 persons with a little more trouble in writing and will not only be useful in this case of Traffick and prevent the hazard and charge many Merchants now undergo by the ignorance or unfaithfulness of their Casheers but also accommodate other persons that have occasion to pay or receive Money As for example A Gentleman having an Estate in several parts of the Kingdom far distant from his dwelling may order his Rents to be paid in the next adjacent Bank and being there lodged he may transmit it to any other Bank in the Kingdom and thou assign a Debtor or other person to receive it And this sort of payment being all visible in Bank will be a more certain Discharge or Acquittance than any other that can be given and will wear all other Specialties much out of use and prompt all men to choose Bank-Security before any other where he may have his Money on Rebate at any time before it 's due Besides this Bank-credit will be a conveniency and great incouragement to young Merchants who may be both ingenious and industrious yet their small Stocks being lodged in Goods which they cannot dispose by reason the Market is cloyed or other accidents whereas upon the security of these Goods they may have Credit in Bank to keep up their Trade and pay off such Debts out of the product of such Goods as they can dispose of them to their best advantage Or suppose a Clothier Tanner or Chandler c. have disburst their Stocks in providing Cloath Leather or Tallow and Markets fail at the season expected the charge of Ware-Houses and Servants c. lye upon them though they have no free Stock to keep them at work are thereby eaten up but if they have this Bank to come unto proportionable to the quantity of their Commodities they are supplyed with Money or Credit to go on chearfully in their Callings Or it may happen an honest and sufficient Man may be indebted upon a Statute or Judgment and cannot raise the Money by the time limited nor the Creditors occasions for his Money suffer him to forbear it the Credit of one is preserved and the Want of the other supplyed without extremity of charge and damage to either since the Bank upon Security answers the Money And besides the general benefit to the Kingdom by increasing Trade and Commerce there will not be a person of the highest or lowest Rank but will find a conveniency and benefit by the Bank A Nobleman of 10000 l. per ann may have occasion for 500. or 1000 l. more or less some short time before his Rent come in but without Mortgaging part of his Estate and paying six months Interest no man will trouble himself to pay and receive Money whereas if himself or any friend of his have Credit in Bank he is supply'd for what weeks or days he pleases And so a poor man ingenious and industrious could put himself into a way to maintain his Family comfortably could he procure but a smal Sum of Money if he goes to Pawn-brokers it is ordinary with them to demand Six pence or Four pence a week for every Pound which for a year is more than the Principal whereas by the Bank Lumber he may be supplied if not gratis yet at less than legal Interest and by this the Jews and Dutch preserve themselves from Beggers the feeblest amongst them if not bed-rid are put into a capacity to get their livelihoods and for others Hospitals are provided Therefore let not this Bank Traffique be rejected as an unpracticable notion for it is beyond contradiction that England c. have raised themselves from little to great Trade thereby and so may Ireland if not wanting to it self This expedient of Banks and Company-trade were the first foundation of the great Traffique of other Countries flourishing in Trade as Venice Florence Belgia c. where the very Constitutions of their Government are form'd principally for the promotion of Trade their Princes and Nobles being their chief Merchants and their Senates Councils of Trade And the Hans-Towns of Germany raised their Trade by this means who were the first Corporation of Trade we read of above sixty Towns and Cities united their Stocks and Policies of which Lubeck Brumswick Danzick and Cullen were the chief places of their Residence and so great was their Trade and Credit under that Constitution that all Princes granted them Priviledges and they kept their Courts by their Deputies and Councils at Bergen Novagrade Antwerpe and London where King Henry 3. granted them great Priviledges and the Still-yards for their residence which they enjoyed near 300 years and managed their Trade by an Alderman and Council c. called the Yeild of the Hans ingrossed the Trade of England for Grain Cables Mast Pitch Tar c. until by their example each Country learnt the knowledge of Trade themselves and dismissed them And in the year 1551. being the 5. of Edw. 6. upon complaint of the English Merchants their priviledges were seised into the Kings Hands and the Trade ever since enjoyed by the Merchants of London to the great enriching of that famous City And the best president I can lay before Ireland is England who untill the Reign of Hen. 3. was as confused and consequently as low in Trade as Ireland is now but hath been especially for these last 140 years the most flourishing Kingdom in Trade in the world and they must commence the rise and growth of their Trade from their beginning to trade by united Stocks and Policies for which a Patent was first obtained by the Merchant Staplers from Edw. 3. from which time we find our Statute Books crowded with excellent Laws for the encouraging and regulating Trade which yet did not arrive to its height and splendor until about the beginning of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth who did not only confirm what was done by her Predecessors but augmented and greatly enlarged the Priviledges of that ancient Company of Staplers and confirmed the Charter of the Muscovy Company newly granted by Philip and Mary and ordained in her time three new Corporations for Trade which enlarged the Trade of England abundantly viz. the East-India the Levant and Eastland Companies the Priviledges of all which have been confirmed and enlarged with great respect by all her Successors in Parliament and His Majesty that now is hath added the African and Canary Companies that if we had no other Argument to prove united Stocks and Policies in Trade the great if not the only means to
promote and increase Traffique and Commerce the Examples of so many prudent Princes and States and the Experience of the Kings and Parliaments of England for this 300 years past might serve But I shall demonstrate by good reason and unquestionable authority when opposed that this one expedient shall remove all the considerable impediments of Trade in a short time dam up the current of much of our Expence upon Foreign Growth shall reduce our confused Trade to a method improve the native Growth of the Country to its height as to Value at home and Credit abroad shall rescue our Trade managed by foreign Stocks into our own hands shall increase His Majesties Revenue and enable his Subjects of Ireland to farm it upon terms more to the Kings profit and conveniency and the Kingdoms benefit and content and to advance considerable Sums upon the Security of any Branch of His Majesties Revenue when his Affairs shall require it And I will further undertake to demonstrate that all other Expedients without this shall never attain these Ends let a Parliament pass all the Statutes of England for the incouragement of Trade in Ireland it shall signifie no more than good Laws without Courts of Justice to execute them for though Interest prompts people to Industry yet it neither qualifies nor governs them in right methods to attain their ends A stragling Trade managed by particular persons each striving to advance his private Interest though to the ruine of the Trade in general and obstructing it in other particulars can no more make a Country flourish in Trade than a stragling Army without Discipline and Order can preserve its peace But designing brevity I shall only assert that Ireland is now much more able to erect govern such a Trade than England was about 300 years ago when Ed. 1. incourag'd it and Ed. 3. established by Charter the Company of Staplers or Merchant Adventurers which was the Mother Company of England and all it enjoy'd until Philip and Mary erected the Muscovy Company yet that one Company removed the Staple from foreign parts to our own ports and soon after the Clothing Trade from Flanders whereby the Growth of England especially the Wools were improved to 5 and 7 and in some cases after the Worsted-trade of Stuffs and Stockings was attained to ten times its value I am not unsensible that this Work will meet with opposition from some particular persons whose private Interest may seem to be invaded by it for so did that ancient and beneficial Company of Staplers in England as a Monopoly intrenching upon the Liberty of the Subject to the Parliaments in Hen. 4. Hen. 7. Edw. 6. and Queen Maries time yet all parties being heard those Complaints were quash'd and the Priviledges of the Companies ratified and enlarged Yet again in Queen Elizabeths time the importunity of the Clothiers prevailed against the Company but after a short tryal the Clothing Countries were ruined to that extremity that in the 29th of Elizabeth the Lords of the Council sent for the members of the Company and desired them to reassume their Priviledges and cheerfully proceed in their Trade and they should receive all possible countenance and assistance So in the Reign of King James Alderman Cocken of London c. prevailed to have the Company dissolv'd but after two years confusion Trade so miserably languished that the King published his Proclamation Anno 1617. for the Restitution of the Company to its ancient Priviledges In like manner King Charles the first observing the decay of Trade from the confusion intruding Interlopers brought upon it publisht his Proclamation Dec. 7. 1634. Whereas we have taken into our Princely consideration the manifold Benifits that redound to this Kingdom c. and finding how much Government and Order will conduce to the increase and advancement of the same We have thought fit with the Advice of our Privy Council to declare our Royal Pleasure herein c. and then positively and largely prohibits any to intrude upon the Companies Priviledge upon pain of his high Displeasure and of such Punishments as the Court of Star-Chamber whom We especially charge with the Execution of our Royal Pleasure herein shall think fit to inflict for such Contempts After this the 11th of March 1643. both Houses past an Ordinance intituled For the Upholding of the Government of the Fellowship of Merchant Adventurers of England c. near to the same effect as His Majesties Proclamation before recited And as Corporation Traffique hath procured all the flourishing Trade England now enjoys so the Portugals Dutch c. have thereby altered the whole course of Trade that Venice had with India Arabia and Persia Venice being the ancient Mart for the Commodities of those Countries now buy of us so the English Levant Company hath wrested the India Trade from the Turks and now sell where Venice used to buy And that which gives England and Ireland the advantage in Traffique is the staple Commodities they sell necessary for Life as Flesh Fish c. for the Belly Cloth Stuffs c. for the Back that in most Countries England trades with they wear Englands Woollen Livery eat in English Pewter Seasons and Sauce with Englands Indian Spices shod with English Leather there is no Clothing in Spain esteemed like the English Bayse and Stuffs nor no Food exceeds the English Herring and Pilcher Sweden Denmark and all those cold Northeast Countries within the Sound to the bottom of the Baltick keep themselves warm by English woollen Cloth and all this obtained by vertue of Englands Trade by united Stoks and Policy For in little above 100 years Europe was so far from trading with the East and West Indies the West were unheard of as I shew in my Treatise of Traffique and the East unknown otherwise than by report to our Mariners and Merchants Italian and Spanish Merchants were esteemed great Adventurers until the Turkie and East India Companies were incorporated by Queen Elizabeth who God made instrumental not only to reform Religion but to regulate and advance Trade Englands and Hollands true Religion and potent Trade came together God grant they never go together it is worthy our observation how the mighty flourishing Monarchy of Spain since Charles the 5. and his Son Philip the 2. hath dwindled away and decayed in Fame and Potency since they erected their barbarous Inquisition which banished their Trade and Wealth to England and Holland that Antwerpe and Sevils Ebb tide in Trade hath made it full Sea at London and Amsterdam and as England and Holland hath gained their Trade and Wealth by being Receptacles and Shelters of persecuted Protestants so will the contrary lose it the Italians have a proverb He that would improve Italy must destroy Milan that is disperse the multitude of Artists there setled to the other Cities that want them which nothing so naturally effects as Persecution Let them beware they lose it not by persecuting them and driving them away The
grows not rich as well as the Country benefited and as the best of Trades may be made bad by too many of the same Faculty in one City so the best expedient for Foreign traffique may be rendred unsuccessful by erecting more Corporations than the commerce of the Country will bear for Traffique like Water runs with the deepest and strongest current when it is by banks reduc'd to a narrower channel and when it begins with Nilus to overflow its banks it is time enough to increase its channels as I shew in the Chapter of the Progress of Trade and from hence it was after London began to gain a further inspection into Foreign traffique they grew so soon weary of the Yeild of the Hance which from the time of our Henr. 3. to Philip and Mary were not only permitted but courted and encouraged in their Commerce with us enjoying great Priviledges and paying small Duties from which time their Customs were enhanced from one to twenty per Cent. the Hance not only complain'd but clamour'd aloud for breach of their ancient Priviledges confirmed unto them by long prescription from thirteen successive Kings of England the which they pretended to have purchased with their Money King Philip undertook to accommodate the business but Qeen Mary dying and he retiring nothing was effected complaints being afterwards made to Queen Elizabeth she answered that as she would not innovate any thing so she would protect them still in the immunities and condition she found them hereupon their Navigation and Traffique was suspended a while which proved very advantagious to the English Merchants for upon this they tryed what they could do themselves herein and their Adventures and Returns proving successful they took the whole Trade into their own hands This so nettled the Hance that they devised all the ways that a discontented people could to draw upon our Staplers the ill opinion of other Nations and States but that proving of too small a force to stop the current of so strong a Trade as they had got footing into though they applied themselves to the Emperor as being a Body incorporated to the Empire and upon complaint obtained Ambassadors to the Queen to mediate the business but they returned still re-insecta hereupon the Queen caused a Proclamation to be published that the Merchants of the Hance should be treated and used as all other Strangers within her Dominions in point of Commerce without any mark of distinction which they so ill resented they quit the Country and so ended the Yeild of the Hance after 200 years flourishing Obj. Is there not a great hazard in this affair to the principle Bankers in the mismanagement of it either for want of skill care or fidelity in its ministerial Officers c. Answ There is no humane affair but is subject to injury a Prince runs some hazard in the choice of his Counsellors and a State in the election of their Senators and since there proceed no Angels from Adam the best of men will be subject to err But this constitution of Corporation-trade is as capable of a solvant rational security as is in the power of man to devise and to that height we never heard nor read it ever failed any Undertakers these 400 years in England or elsewhere but on the contrary as it hath raised many Principalities and States as is before observed from poor and low condition ro great wealth and potency so many particular Families hath it raised from low and mean to worshipful and honourable Ranks for the method of managing this Society gives so clear and full an inspection into its constant state that each of its principle Creditors may inform himself at pleasure by the Comptrollers Books whether its Capital decays or increaseth and what profit or loss the Return of every Ship at the end of her Voyage produceth besides at every Quarter Assembly the Governours c. are to give an account of the whole Transaction since the last Assembly and themselves receive an account every month of the proceed of the Officers and how they observe the Instructions and Institutions of the general Assembly which are always recorded in the Office Then the general Assembly of the original Bankers c. at their annual Meetings have the whole transaction of the year past with its product presented to them fairly ingressed by the Register of which as many of them as desire it may have Copies and at the same Meeting they elect their Governor his Deputy and Counsel of Assistants for the ensuing year and regulate what they find deficient in the last years Transactions and make a new Establishment for the ensuing years Proceed from which the Governor c. must not vary without first summoning a general Assembly and proposing the matter to them at which Assembly the Divident is to be made of the past years Profit which every man may either receive or otherwise have it added to his Capital in Bank and so increase his Stock there So that upon the whole the Stock in Bank is never out of the owners possession nor view but lieth as ready and as visible as his Cash in his own coffer And although the original Bankers cannot withdraw their Stock to the weakening of the grand Capital yet they may assign it to others which the Company will be obliged to accept or otherwise give the same Rate others offer for the Interest so that a Stock in Bank will not be subject to so much hazard as in a Merchants own hands managed by his own Factors or Servants or in a Gentlemans hand managed by his Steward c. in regard few persons are capable of keeping a dayly check upon their private concerns either in respect of capacity or time to perform it Thus having not only proposed the erecting a Corporation who by united Stocks and Councils will propagate and improve the Trade and Wealth of Ireland but also strengthened my Proposition with Examples of all Kingdoms and States flourishing in Trade who have greatly increased their Trade and Wealth thereby and answered such Objections as I conjectured might arise against it I shall only speak of its Method and submit the whole to the consideration of the publick spirited Judicious Object If we were informed at least something of the Method of managing this Bank it might further give satisfaction Answ The Method for managing this Bank c. to be settled by common consent of the original Bankers according to the Rules of the English or Dutch East India Companies or such other Method as they shall agree upon 1. That the Persons to manage this Affair viz. the Governor Deputy and Council of Assistants be annually chosen by the original Bankers who shall be enjoyned to observe such Rules and Methods as shall be given them from time to time â—nd the said Governor and Deputy c. to propose â—nd the general Assembly to approve of their Register Treasurer c. 2. That the Trade
Commerce of this Society be prescribed by the major part of its Members at their annual Councils at which time the Governor c. are to give an account of their whole Transactions for the time past and to propose to the general Assembly what they shall think fit to be then considered for the Proceed of the Company the ensuing year 3. That a known place be provided near the Exchange and the Office to be open from nine to twelve in the forenoon and from three to six in the afternoon and as business increaseth so the time to be enlarged 4. That a Bank Lumber be erected to supply the occasions of the poorer sort with small sums of Mony upon Pawns at reasonable rates 5. That the whole Constitution of the Bank and Corporation with its Priviledges and Securities be confirmed by Act of Parliament 6. For the mutual Security not only against each other but also betwixt the Bank and all persons it shall give or receive Credit from that they do agree that all their Bills and Tickets do bear the force of Bonds of the Staple by prevailing with the City of Dublin c. until a Parliament meet that the Governor of this Society to be still chosen Mayor of the Staple the profit of all Statutes acknowledge for Debt not relating to the Bank-trade to be still entred in the City Book and paid to the City Treasurer or whom they shall appoinâ— to receive it as also all their Entries and Certificates to bear the Credit of a Publick Notary by swearing one Clerke of the Office in that capacity which will strengthen the credit of their Security and facilitate all their transactions Besides this Affair upon the Foundation of the Law of the Staple will give a legal stamp until the Kings Patent be obtained and a Parliament of Ireland meet to enact the same It may be serviceable to both Kingdoms in executing the Laws against Transporting our Irish Wools into Foreign parts which hath been the bane of the Clothing Trade of England as well as Ireland for by the advantage of our Irish Wools both France and the Low Countries have been able to work up their own Wools to the height of our English Staple which otherwise they were not capable of for as the Wools of Spain and the more southerly parts of France are too tender and fine for strong thick Cloth so the Northerly Wools are too course and harsh to produce it but mixing our Wools with either they produce Cloth of what sort they please by which advantage the great Trade for Woollen Manufacture of the Hamborough Eastland and Muscovy Companies are much damnified who vended the greatest proportion of our Northern course and middle Cloths c. Poland Silesia c. having not only much increased the number of their Sheep but improved the Staple of their Wools of late years and encouraged great numbers of the English Weavers c. to settle amongst them besides the Prince Elector Palatine hath carried over into his Country many thousands of English Families all Artists in the Woollen Manufacture within these twenty years But if the transporting of our Irish Wools could be prevented it would put a violent check to their progress for which we have good and severe Laws only want persons interested to prosecute and execute them and it would be the interest of this Corporation to use their utmost diligence therein both in order to increase their own Manufactures for the supply of their Exportations and discourage foreign Manufactures to preserve their Market And as it would be much their Interest so will they be in a capacity to effect it above any other Judicatures by the advantage of their Factors and Correspondents in all Ports who will easily discover all attempts of that kind especially having the Authority and observing the method of the Staple which 1. Limits the Transportation of staple Commodities to certain known publick places to be bought and sold as Newcastle upon Tine York Lincolne Norwich Westminster Canterbury Chichester Winchester Exeter and Bristol in Ireland at Dublin Waterford Drogheda and Cork and for Wales Carmarthen where all Wools Wool Fells Leather Led c. were to be brought and weighed at the Kings Beam and every Sack or Bag of Wool to be sealed by the Mayor of the Staple c. 2. As they are by the said Act confined to places for Markets so to Ports for Shipping as for York at Hull Lincoln at Boston Norwich at Yarmouth Westminster at London Canterbury at Sandwich VVinchester at Southampton to be again weighed at the Ports before the Customers and an Indenture signed betwixt the Mayor of the Staple and the Customers all which with the Weight and Custom paid to be express'd in the Cocket at that time every Sack of Wool paid six shillings eight pence two hundred Wool Fells twenty shillings a Last of Leather thirteen shillings four pence and every Sow of Lead three pence Foreigners paid a third more besides the Merchant to take an Oath before the Mayor of the Staple c. that they should hold no Staple beyond the Sea of the same Commodities according to the 27th of Edward the Third Chap. 1. State Staple Now if our Ancestors found reason to keep this methodical Check upon the Transportation of Wools only to preserve the Kings small Duty before England attained the Woollen Manufacture much more ought there now to be a stricter Check observed when not only the Kings great Duty but Manufacture which is the Wealth and Glory of the Country depends upon it And for Ireland the Staple being confined to the four Ports beforementioned all upon the English Sea both for Markets and Shiping if it were now observed with these following Rules added they could never wrong us of a Bag of Wool 1. That as our Ports are prescribed so the Markets of the Staple appointed as before observed in England and every Town prescribed its Port to ship that the Staplers at every such Market should maintain a sworn Weigher who should certifie to the Staple Port the Quantity and Quality of the Wool then weighed and to whom sold 2. That no person be permitted to buy or sell Wools c. but a Brother of the Yeild of the Staple who upon their Freedom are sworn not to transgress its Laws If Foreigners to give Security to observe the Staple Rules 3. That no Ship be permitted to transport Wool that do not belong either to the Port where it was taken in or the Port in England it is consign'd to 4. That no Security be accepted but known substantial Inhabitants of the Port the Goods are ship'd from 5. That the Clerk of the Licenses register every License and issue no more to that person until he bring a Certificate or a Copy of the Cocket from the Custom-house of the due shiping of the former to be â—il'd That the Certificate of its true landing be returned in six months after the date of the
Cocket to the Customer and he to send a Copy of it to the Clerk of the Licenses or otherwise the Bonds be deliver'd to the Mayor of the Staple to be put in suit These Rules being observed I dare undertake to answer for every pound of Wool wrong transported and without some such Expedient the Manufactures of England as well as Ireland will be ruined by the Transportation of Irish Wools to foreign Markets This Company of Staplers being the first Corporation of England for the Regulation of Trade it was dandled and hugg'd by the State as that which contained the spirit and life of all the Traffique of the Kingdom not only to regulate the abuses of Trade but to recover their Trade out of the hands of Foreigners especially the Yeild of the Hance beforementioned who by reason of their great Stock and Credit from so many foreign Cities incorporated with them ingrossed the chief Trade of England particular Merchants being not able to thrive under their shadow which was the reason the Staple was so often removed from Country to Country and City to City still to way-lay and interpose betwixt the Yeild of the Hance and the Trade of England The original or beginning of the Yeild of the Hance I find not but Fitz Stephen a Monk of Canterbury who wrote in the time of King Stephen observes that Merchants of all Nations had their distinct Keys and Wharfs in London the Hance or Dutch had the Still-yards the French for the Wines the Vintry c. William of Malmesbury who wrote in the time of the Conqueror called London a Noble City frequented with the Trade of Merchandizes from all parts of the World Malmesbury cites Clifford declaring the same in Edward the Confessors time 1042. and how long before is uncertain but so long it was that they had ingrossed the chief Trade of England c. and had taken such deep root it cost the State great trouble and the Staple great labour before they could loosen them Edward the first began it at Westminster then removed it to Canterbury in Honour of Thomas Becket then to Bruges in Flanders from thence to the divers places in England and Ireland beforementioned next to Calice in order to strengthen and support that Garrison at which time the King had granted him in Parliament the twenty sixth of his Reign Fifty shillings upon every Sack of Wool transported for six years and at the same time there were yearly transported more than one hundred thousand Sacks of Wool that during the six years the said Grant brought into the Kings Exchequer one Million five hundred thousand pounds sterling In the 37th of Edward the third it was granted to him for two years to take twenty six shillings and eight pence upon every Sack of Wool transported and the same year the Staple notwithstanding the Kings Oath and other great Estates was ordained to be kept at Calice and twenty six Merchants the best and wealthiest of all England to be Farmers there both of the Town and Staple for three years every Merchant to have six Men of Arms and four Archers at the Kings cost he ordained there also two Mayors one for the Town and one for the Staple and he took Mala capta commonly called Mallorth twenty shillings and of the said Merchants Guardians of the Town forty pence upon every Sack of Wool In the 44th of Edward the third Quinborough Kingstone upon Hall and Boston were made Staples of Wool which matter so offended some that in the 50th year of his Reign in a Parliament at London it was complained that the Staple of Wool was so removed from Calice to divers Towns in England contrary to the Statute appointing that Citizens and Merchants should keep it there and that the King might have the Profits and Customs with the Exchange of the Gold and Silver that was there made by all the Merchants in Christendom esteemed to amount to Eight thousand pounds by the year the Excharge only and the Citizens and the Merchants so ordered the matter that the King spent nothing upon Souldiers neither upon Defence of the Town against the Enemies whereas now he spent Eight thousand pounds by the year in the 51th year of Edward the third when the Staple was settled at Calice the Mayor of the Staple did furnish the Captain of the Town upon any Road with one hundred Bill-men and two hundred Archers of Merchants and their Servants without any Wages In the year 1388. the 12th of Richard the second in a Parliament at Cambridge it was ordained that the Staple of Wools should be brought from Middleborough in Zealand to Calice In the 14th of his Reign there was granted forty shillings upon every Sack of Wool and in the 21th was granted fifty shillings upon every Sack transported by Englishmen and three pounds by Strangers c. It seems that all Commodities of the Realm are staple Merchandizes by Law and Charter as Wools Leather Wool Fells Led Tin Cloth c. King Henry the sixth had six Wool-houses within the Staple at Westminster those he granted to the Dean and Canons of St. Stephen at Westminster and confirm'd it the 21. of his Reign Thus much for the Staple have I shortly noted out of Stows Survey of London fol. 496 497. Now by this account of the Staple it is easie to imagine of what a high value it was both to the Kings and Parliaments of England for upwards of 200 years no new Corporations for Trade were constituted and as they increased in Trade it abated of its ancient vigor and splendor after it had worn out all Foreigners and rescued the Clothing Trade from the Dutch that the Wools of England were prohibited the Transportation of which being its chief support But Ireland yet transporting most of its Wools it can lay the Foundation of a Corporation for the Increase of its Foreign Traffique upon no better basis the Statute Staple being yet in force in Ireland it will make their Constitution legal until a Parliament be called and no better Methods and Rules can be contrived than what the Statute Staple institutes CHAP. II. The second Expedient to recover Irelands Decays in its Trade and Wealth is to endavour to convince England that it is the Interest both of King and Realm to promote it 1. THat it is the Interest of England that the English Interest in Ireland should grow and flourish in Trade and Wealth is manifest though it hath been its ruining fate to have it otherwise apprehended by Statesmen of England both in Court and Parliaments which must proceed from taking wrong measures of the English Interest of Ireland especially since the suppression of the last Rebellion For it is with Politick as with Natural Bodies whilst the peccant Humour that seeds the Disease is most predominant the Body must be kept low but so soon as the natural Strength gains the dominion over the Distemper the more ye nourish it the faster
had they been permitted quietly to enjoy this small part they so rightfully possest they had gone no further But instead thereof Roderick King of Connaght then sole Monarch of Ireland raiseth the whole Kingdom to drive out Mac Morrough and his Welshmen upon which he appeals to Strongbow and renewes former contracts who hasts over with about 1200 fresh Men by them wars with the Waterfordians who were in Arms against him took the City and married the Kings Daughter with an assurance of the Reversion of the Kingdom and soon after disperses his Enemies then surrendred all his Conquests to the King who came over with a new Force to secure his Interest which so terrified the Irish that all their Kings and great Lords proffered to to be tributary and swore Allegiance and had they so continued they had felt no farther damages But no sooner was the Kings back turned but they are again up in Arms to disposess the English of what they had so justly atchieved who still subdued them and gained ground of them and obtained Grants of their new Conquests until all the Irish Kings and great Lords were vanquished and their Lands c. possest by the English Victors the Heirs of Ulster and Connaght married to the Kings Subjects whose successive Heirs in process of time were married unto the Royal Family and so their Lands and Honours came Hereditary in the Crown who of right disposed of them at pleasure Now had it not been the Interest as well as the Duty of the Irish to have submitted to their first Concessions Then Dermot Mac Morrough had sustained no wrong his right Heir had enjoyed his Dominion and the rest of the Irish great Lords had enjoyed their particular Rights none pretended to disturb them until constrained in their own defence So if we take a further view of their many Insurrections and perfidious Rebellions since they held their Honours and Lands from the Crown of England it will appear they were tempted to it by the weakness of the English Interest as in times of troubles in England by the Barons Wars and Struggles betwixt the two Roses c. When the Kings of England drew over part of their Army for Ireland some taking one side and some the other which did not only weaken Englands Strength in Ireland but divided what were left into powerful Factions betwixt the great English Lords of Ireland which became the cause of the ruine of that great Family of Desmond with several others of good Rank who though degenerated from their English Civilities yet after they turned Rebels against their Prince they fell wholly off to the Interest Manners and Customs of his and their own former Irish Enemy whereby Ireland was to be new conquered and replanted for the degenerate English were more stubborn Rebels and with more difficulty subdued than the rebellious Natives for although their Minds and Manners were degenerated they had so much English Blood left in their Veins as gave them English Courage and Resolution whereby Tho. Fitz Giralds and Desmonds Rebellions became harder work to subdue than any before them they also receiving great Incouragements and Aids from the Pope and King of Spain upon the account of Religion they became obdurate the same Indulgences that were granted to the Souldiers fighting against the Turk in the holy War being sent them whereby their Consciences were not only released from their Obligations of Allegeance to their Prince but strongly engaged on the behalf of holy Church to extirpate that mad and venemous Doctrine and Hellish Opinion as the Protestant Faith was then termed in a Pamphlet then publish'd intituled A Declaration of the Divines of Salamanca and Vallidolid dispersed through Ireland by O Sullivan a Spanish Priest which with divers other practices of the Irish to shake off the English Government is rehearsed and press'd by that pious Prelate Primate Usher the Glory of the Irish Protestant Church in his elegant Speech to an Assembly of all the States of Ireland April 1627. in which he defends my Assertion that it is the Interest of the Irish to aid and support the Prosperity of the English Interest amongst them and had they had Grace to have believed him some thousands of Irish Families now utterly ruined might have been in a prosperous state And after he had minded them of their traiterous tendering the Regency of Ireland to the French King and upon his refusal to the Spaniard which was by him accepted for although Henry the fourth of France was not Apostate enough to invade his Protestant Neighbours yet Charles the fifth of Spain and his Son Philip were Papist enough to admit the Popes Donation which the Irish obtained for them Title good enough not only to claim Ireland and invade it with several Armies of Italians and Spaniards who landed at Kinsale and Kerry to their cost but also to attempt England by their supposed invincible Armado in 88. but the invincible just God did not only deliver us from their power the Sword destroying his Land Souldiers in Ireland and the Sea swallowing up his Naval Force assayling England but also from that time blasted the Counsels and Successes of that aspiring Monarch that their Fame and Potency hath ever since dwindled away Portugal and the Low Countries soon after revolted and the stately Don who then talk'd and acted as proudly as Monsieur doth now was so far from beeing able to invade his Neighbours he hath been put to his shifts to secure his Hereditary Countries and as old as I am I hope to live to see it the case of Monsieur who though now stiled the most Christian King hath declared himself the most inveterate Enemy to the most Christian Faith and Profession in the Christian World and let but the Defender of the Faith turn his Subjects loose with his Commission in their pockets they would soon covince him of it and let him know that the English Blood that inspired their Ancestors at the Battel of Agincourt c. is boyling hot in their Veins and that Charles the Second may be as dreadful to France as ever was Henry the fifth c. when he pleaseth if our God hath not given us up for our impious provocations to be a prey and a spoil as he did Israel to the Assyrians a bitter and hasty Nation But to return to my Argument that it is the Interest of the Irish Papists to further the Protestant English Interest in Ireland I shall return to my reverend Author saith he They put me in mind of the Philosophers Observations that such who have a vehement respect to a few inferiour things are easily misled to overlook many great things so saith he they have so deep a sense of their present burthen of contributing small matters towards the support of the Kings Army to secure us from foreign Invasions that they overlook all those miserable Desolations that will come upon them by a long and heavy War which the having of an
the naked English were massacred therefore it is the Interest of this Kingdom it should be penal in the Officers of the Army to inlist and muster any of the settled Inhabitants capable of serving in the Militia for thereby the Country is weakned in its Military strength and the King disappointed of a marching Army whereas were all persons thus qualified disbanded and the Officers prohibited listing such without special License from the General you would soon have the Foot Companies filled with young brisk Lads who would throng out of England for Entertainment which would more tend to increase and strengthen the English Interest in Ireland than any other Expedient that can be proposed As it is the Interest of Ireland to give incouragement to English Protestants to come and enjoy Military Imployments and Preferments among them so is it the same for Civil and Ecclesiastical Imployments provided still they settle and abide with us But that which is the Grievance of this Kingdom is that either Military or Civil Imployments should be enjoyed by Nonresidents or otherwise persons who only come over to enjoy the Profit of their Office and so soon as they have received what Benefit it affords to return for England and carry their Gains with them of which sort Ireland has most suffered by English Chief Governours and English Farmers and Commissioners of the Revenue and their Attendants and Dependants coming and returning with them the Damage sustained by this Kingdom in the period of 15 years thereby is computed in the Chapter of Irelands involuntary Charge and Expence And that which I shall further endeavour to demonstrate is that it is not only its damage in respect of the Charge Ireland sustains but many other ways inconvenient and prejudicial 1. For the chief Governour though there might be some reason of State in times past why they should not only be of English Blood but English by Birth and Interest yet the case is altered now and the Act of Parliament in the 10th of Hen. 7th that none but such as were born in the Realm of England should be Constables of the Castles of Dublin Trim Athlone Leistipe Carlingford Wicklow c. had no respect to the civil politick Government but the Execution of penal Laws upon Offenders those Castles being made use of as Prisons to secure dangerous persons in which is declared in the body of the Statute viz. Which Castles have been negligently kept and such as have been committed to the Constables or Keepers of them for Treason Felony c. suffered to escape wilfully to the great prejudice of our Soveraign Lord and of all the said Land therefore be it ordained and enacted c. so that other Act 23d of Hen. 8th to regulate the Election of the chief Governour by the Council on the death of the Lord Lieutenant c. until the Kings pleasure was known did not respect preferring English by Birth before English by Blood but to secure the Sword from unfit Hands who by their powerful Interest might awe their own Election and be mischievous before the King could declare his pleasure as appears by the said Act * Irish Stat. fol. 214 215. as followeth The said Counsellours have full Power and Authority by vertue of this Act to elect and chuse one such person as shall be an Englishman and born within the Realm of England being no spiritual person to be Iustice and Governor of this Realm of Ireland during the Kings Highness Pleasure if there shall be at that time any such person within this Realm c. if not then to elect and chuse two persons of the said Council of English Blood and Sirname being no spiritual person c. which I cite to refute that vulgar Error that the Lord Lieutenant c. must be born in England because otherwise he is not capable of governing in the Castle of Dublin whereas the Office of Constable is a distinct inferior thing from the Governor of the Castle but whatever reason of State former times might have the case is otherwise now for as it is shewn in the Chapter of Englands Interest in Irelands Prosperity the state of the English Interest in Ireland is changed from a weak infirm state that needed Physick to a strong healthful state that only requires Food the Propriety of Lands the Plantation of Cities and strong Towns inhabited and governed by English the Countries so planted with English as all our High Sheriffs Justices of the Peace c. all English and the English Laws are duely and equally in all parts executed by English Judges and Officers c. 〈◊〉 â—jâ—rity of both Houses of Parliament Engl◠〈…〉 was never the case of Ireland â—â—fore that 〈◊〉 â—ow needs nothing but diligent 〈…〉 câ—â—roborate and improve its advantag◠〈◊〉 which none but such who are acquainted with 〈…〉 and Constitution and thoroughly 〈…〉 prosperity are capable of 〈…〉 1. Being unâ—â—quâ—iâ—â—â—â— with intelligent persons of the several Parties they 〈◊〉 understand the various and different â—â—â—nouâ— and Interests of the people indeed if the Inhabitants were all Irish Papists or all English Protestants or were these two grand parties of entire Interest among themselves their work were more easie but as they have each their grand Interest and bond of Friendship the Papists the Interest of their Church by whose aid and countenance they expect their Succour and the Protestants the Interest of their Prince by whose Authority and Favour they enjoy all they possess yet they have each amongst themselves their different and peculiar Interests both Religigious and Civil as I shall after shew And a Chief Governour unacquainted with persons and things will find it difficult work to carry himself to the equal satisfaction of all parties with Security to the Government and Incouragement of Trade c. 2. The short continuance sometimes two sometimes three years rarely four we had three in less than eight years viz. from the Lord Roberts entring September 18th 1669. to the Earl of Essex's surrender August 24th 1677. so that by that time they understand their Work they are called from it saith Borlacy The vicisitude of Governours hath been observed by some to be exceeding prejudicial to the publick private Respects often introducing notable things in the State according to their Interests who governed not the publicks diversi Imperatoribus mores diversa fuêre studia sometimes to the degenerating of the old English into the Irish customs through their negligence and indulgence other times to the alienating the Irish by their severity from the benefit of a well tempered and orderly Government both equally destructive to the Prince And yet too long a Residence in so eminent a Place may over-heat a great Spirit if not bounded with excellent Principles Whence the Romans those great Masters of Government rarely admitted their Vicegerents to brood on a Province that their Continuance there might not increase Self-interest The longest time any continued in this Government how
honourable soever was never made up with Happiness suitable to the anxiety of their Mind and Body Sir Henry Sidney who left as clear a Fame as any man that enjoyed the Place parted with it with the words of the Psalmist When Israel came out of Egypt and the House of Jacob from a people of a strange Language Judah was his Sanctuary and Israel his Dominion intimating how little satisfaction could be took in so slippery a Place amongst such a people whose Language he knew not and variety of Interests though the most that have miscarried there have fallen through other mens Interest rather than their own failing And I judge the three last Noble persons sent out of England to govern Ireland will set to their Seals that it is not a short and easie work to understand their Humour and Interest none of them could please all and others of them very few although they were persons of eminent Parts and great Integrity both to the Crown and English Interest yet the Interest of our Trade and Manufactures so withered under their Shadow that they languish to this day of fourteen hopeful Manufactures they sound thriving they left but the stumps of one standing which hath put such a Damp upon the hopes of Success none have attempted either to erect new or revive the old since 2. They oft come with a prepossession of the danger of Irelands encroaching upon the Trade and Wealth of England and from thence rather fear than design Irelands prosperity in Trade and what our chief Governor fears we have little ground to hope for 3. As the proverb is New Lords new Laws so new Governors new Councils it is to be observed the Successor very rarely elects the Favourites of his Predecessor to be his Confidents and then that natural Emulation the Heart of man is addicted to diverts them from building on Foundations laid by others whereby some publick undertakings after a hopeful progress have miscarried to the great discouragement of future Attempts as several notable Instances might be given if it were convenient 4. By reason of their immediate Relation to and probable sudden Return for England they are most concerned so to manage the Affairs of Ireland as may consist with the present advantage of their Credit in England Now though we honour a Lover of our Country as being Englishmen our selves and glory in its Honour and Wealth as younger Branches in the Honour and Wealth of the elder House of their Family yet we may expect a younger Brothers Portion and to be trusted with the Conduct of our own Estates in Subjection to our politick Father and not under the Tutelage of our elder Brother When Abraham sent his Sons he had by Keturah from Isaac Eastward and gave them Portions he left them to manage their own Affairs We do not read that ever the Sons of Isaac or Jacob were entrusted with the Affairs of the Children of Ishmael and Esau though they enjoyed the Birthright and Blessing and it is none of the least Discouragements to English Gentlemen that have great Estates in Ireland from coming to live upon them than that by quitting their Dwellings in England they quit their Priviledge as Englishmen both in respect to their Liberty of Traffick to several parts of the World which they before enjoyed and also their Interest in Magna Charta of being being tried for their Lives and Estates by a Jury of known honest men of their Neighbourhood whereas Noblemen or Gentlemen of Ireland may be impeached in England sent for over in custody and there arraigned before Judges put upon their Tryal by Jurors whose Faces they never saw before and unto whom they are altogether unknown further than the Evidence then given in Court describes them which is an Issue few would be pleased with when it comes to be their own case especially considering the moral impossibility for persons of ordinary Estates to bear the Charge and of small Interest to prevail with necessâ—â—y Witnesses c. to go from Ireland to England to give their Testimony in their behâ—â—â— and to imagine that either Judges or Jurors of England can be equally concern'd to suppresâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 and Sedition tending to the disturbance of the Peace and Safety of the English 〈◊〉 in Ireland with English Judges and Juroâ—â— Ireland appears very improbable to such as admit 〈◊〉 safety is a stronger motive to all people than Neâ—â—hbors welfare and though England may be grieved to hear of Irelands Troubles yet the English in Ireland must certainly more sensibly feel the Misery that befalls themselves A Merchant on 〈◊〉 may be grieved to behold a Ship wherein he hath some Adventure sinking by a violent storm at Sea but the Merchants and Mariners aboard that see no way to escape from perishing with her must be under a different consternation which represents the true state of the different case 2. As there is much Reason of State against Irelands being governed by Foreigners to its peculiar Interest so have we many Presidents both ancient and modern of Soveraign Princes governing their Tributary Provinces by their own Countrymen the King of Spain discerning the Genoua's were discontented at his governing them by Spaniards c. and impatient for a King of Naples and Duke of Milan born in Italy to secure his Interest without that hazard he borrowed of them vast Sums of Mony they being great Usurers designing thereby to keep them in awe lest they should lose their Mony so the Kings of England could never satisfie the Welshmen until Edward of Carnarvan being their Countryman born was made Prince of Wales which hath since been the Title of the Kings eldest Son God himself promiseth it as a chief part of Israels Prosperity after their return from their Captivity that their Nobles should be of themselves and their Governours should proceed from the midst of them Jeremiah 30.21 which Promise was performed in Ezra's Nehemiah's and Zerkabal's Government so Moses appointed understanding and wise men who were known amongst their Tribes to be Rulers in their respective Tribes Deut. 1.13 Saith a great Statesman to King James To hold Ireland in better obedience let there be sent over such a Lord Deputy as is well acquainted with their Humours and Customs and well beloved of the people * Sir Hen. Wootens State of Christendom p. 2.18 saith the same Author The Spaniards lost the Low Countries by sending Spaniards or other Strangers to govern them having engaged to govern them by men born in their own Country * Sir Hen. Wootens State of Christendom p. 17. And how much this hath been the practice of the Kings of England to place persons peculiarly interested in the State of Ireland in chief Government our Histories give us ample examples Earl Strongbow the first Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1176. was Prince of Leinster by right of his Wife Reymond le Gross who married the Earls Sister succeeded him as Justice John Courcy Robert Fitz
much less to reward him yet when his Princes State and Affairs were at the lowest ebb his Loyalty was at hihgest at full Sea rejecting the greatest proffers of Liberty and Estate from the Parliament and chose Poverty in Exile with his Prince before it as is elegantly express'd by Orinda fol. 150. You who three potent Kingdoms late have seen Tremble with fury and yet stedfast been Who an afflicted Majesty could wait When it was seemingly forsook by Fate Whose settled Loyalty no storms dismaid Nor the more flatt'ring mischiefs could disswade Yet their Proffer did him so much right as to declare to the world his Services in Ireland were esteemed by Englands Commons in their worst humour to the Royal Interest that he served as useful to the English Protestant Interest there but from these and the like causes the Crown of England hath had its Counsels more perplexed and its attempts for Irelands Reduction and Settlement more obstructed by its own people in Ireland than by the Irish themselves since the time of Edward the Sixth viz. by the viciscitude of its Government being so often under the Regiment of persons that were Aliens to its peculiar Interest and strangers to its Humours and Customs it is not rational to suppose the most judicious States-man in the world can understand the Interest and Humour of a Country he never saw before proportionable to another that hath track'd it from end to side who must see by others eyes where to place Garrisons and Quarters for the most Safety and Quiet of the Country how to understand the humour and capacity of persons fit to be imployed in the Kings Service civil or military who are the most dangerous persons which the most disquiet people to have an eye upon c. I say there are many necessary points for a chief Governour to know not to be learn'd in three or four years time the usual length of our Lord Lieutenants c. Regency and where persons have neither time to understand their Work nor to fit and whet their Instruments they must work by what performance can rationally be expected In Spencer Eudox proposeth to Iren how many Men would be a competent Army to reduce and keep Ireland he demandeth ten thousand Foot and one thousand Horse saith Eudox Where will you garrison and quarter them for the safety of the Country saith Iren Perhaps I am ignorant of the places but I will take the Maps of Ireland and lay them before me and make mine eyes my Schoolmasters to judge of the place and then proceeds to garrison and quarter his Men by the Map Saith Eudoxus This might do if you knew where to find the Enemy but it is well known he is a flying Enemy hiding himself in Woods and Boggs c. from which he will not be drawn forth but into some streight passage or perilous soâ—rd there will he lie in wait till he find an advantage and then will endanger your Army therefore to seek him that still flincheth and to follow him that can hardly be found were vain and bootless Spencer pag. 68. So Geraldus Cambriensis Chap. 38. to the same purpose compares the Difference between the French and Irish Wars shewing how far Souldiers trained up in Campaign Countries fighting pitched Battels with their Enemies always in sight would be to seek in Ireland where the Enemy rarely imbodies but at great advantages but must be driven out of their Fortresses of Woods and Boggs c. where heavy Armour and Weapons were more cumbersome than useful But saith he such Souldiers as are in the Marshes of Wales who by reason of continual War are of great experience and valiant who can endure any pains and travels who can abide watching hunger and thirst c. such kind of Souldiers were they who first conquered Ireland and by such must it be fully subdued and kept Obj. Why do you term English Protestants Aliens to Irelands Interest are we not all the Subjects of one King and Members of the same Commonwealth Answ We may be the first and not the second though the Scots are Subjects to the same King yet Members of a distinct Commonwealth that as England makes Laws to secure their Trade from Scotch Invasions so doth Scotland for the securing theirs from English Retrenchments So the twelve Tribes of Israel were all the Children of one Abraham and the Subjects of one David yet had they their distinct Interest peculiar to each Tribe the members of one Tribe were never admitted to bear rule or enjoy the beneficial Offices of another the Mosaical and judicial Law were expresly against it Numb ch 1. v. 4. And with you there shall be a man of every Tribe every one Head of the House of his Fathers ch 13. v. 2. ch 34. v. 18. Deut. 1.13 which Statutes of Israel were observed in Davids time 1 Chron. 8.1 and by his Son Solomon 2 Chron. 8.2 and so continued to the end of that Kingdom which were no ways ceremonial but moral that every man and every Country that had not forfeited their Birthright might enjoy the priviledge of it And not only Divine but Humane Laws and Policies have still observed the same where the Interest of the Prince or State was not hazarded the most ancient Monarchies as the Assyrian Persian Grecian and Roman practised it in all their tributary Countries still committing the management of the civil and military Governments of their new conquer'd Countries to the Colonies they sent to plant and guard them though they consisted not of their own Countrymen as for instance the new planting of Samaria was by people of divers Nations Ezra names nine ch 4. v. 9. as the Dinaites the Apharsathchites the Tarpelites the Apharsites the Archevites the Babylonians the Susanchites the Dehavites and the Elamites and the rest of the Nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over and set in the Cities of Samaria yet these several Nations being upon the place incorporated into one common Interest against the Jews were all intrusted with the Government and Safety of the Country as appears by their joint Letter sent to the King to inform him of the danger of his Interest in that Country if he suffered the Jews to repair the Walls of Jerusalem he would not only lose his Revenue but his Dominion in Samaria vers 13. compared with the 16th which they esteemed themselves bound to inform him of being maintained from the Kings Palace that is they enjoyed the profitable Offices and Imployments of the Country for which they received their Salaries out of his Exchequer And from hence it was Paul pleaded the priviledge of a Roman Acts 22.25 who was no otherwise a Roman but as he was born of a member of a Roman Colony sent to Tarsus to plant and secure the Country to the Roman State and thereby were endowed with the priviledge of Roman Citizens to oblige them to Fidelity and Serviceableness against the Natives who were never
trusted with the Safety of the Victors Interest in their own Country unless they submitted and became Tributaries under Compact before conquered Not only these ancient but our modern Monarchs practice the same as the Grand Seignior and the German Empire consisting of many distinct Principalities and States yet all governed by their own Princes and Senators except what are in slavery and they by those Colonies sent to plant and keep them under the like are the Principalities and States of Italy under the Papal Regency which I hint to vindicate my Assertion from Novelty it having been the universal Policy in all Ages and Countries as all that are acquainted with History must grant But the case of the English in Ireland is far before these other cases they are not only English by priviledge as Paul was a Roman but English by Blood and many of them English by Birth they are so far from being a conquered or a tributary people that they are the Conquerors by vertue of whose Blood and the Blood of their Ancestors the Scepter of England is there swayed and the chief Security the Crown of England hath for its Regency is the Strength and Potency of the English in Ireland 1000 men raised for the Defence of Ireland of its own Inhabitants is worth two for the suppressing a Rebellion of new raised men out of England for besides their subjection to the Diseases of the Country at first which usually destroy a great part of them before they have been six months in the Field they have no motive to encourage them nor Interest to fight for but Honor and Profit whereas the other who have their Title from the Crown for every Acre they possess in Ireland are more engaged to secure the Interest of the Crown than the King himself is theirs few of the forfeiting Irish look so far as the King who reassumes and disposeth of their Estates but eye with indignation the present possessors as was manifest in the last horrid Massacre whilst they barbarously murthered the possessors of their Estates they both by Addresses and publick Remonstrances asserted their Loyalty to the King and though the Kings Interest at present suffer yet the Recovery of it is secure so long as England and Scotland can raise Souldiers to pour in upon them But the Subjects whose throats are cut and their Houses and Improvements destroyed Wives and Daughters ravished and Children murthered can have no reparation in this world and such as do escape with their lives are utterly ruined in their Fortunes oft constrained to sell a good part of their wasted Lands in the Irish Quarters for a third part of its value to procure Mony to preserve them and theirs from starving Now the Survivors to these Families are doubtless above all other people engaged to preserve and recover the Interest of the Crown in time of War and consequently most merit to enjoy the profitable Imployments of the Country in times of Peace being every way more engaged and better qualified for the Kings Service there than pro tempore persons who have no obligation upon them but their present Honour or Profit that if the Kingdom be lost under their Conduct if they can but preserve their Lives and Honours they lose nothing that pincheth afterward whereas the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Ireland some of which having Princely Estates may be reduc'd to extremity of want of which we had many woful presidents the last Rebellion and all the Politicks I have read esteem desperate hazard and danger will make a Coward valiant therefore advise to make a slying Enemy a golden Bridge much more engage the Hearts and Hands of persons of Honour and Courage when they they do not only fight for the King and their Country but for their VVives and Children their Houses and Lands as Nehem. 4.14 they cannot forget how many of their Wives and Daughters were ravished and innocent Children murthered in the sight of their dearest Relations and Friends and from thence will rather dye than fall into the Hands of such bloody miscreants whose tender mercies are cruelties which is not the case of new English Spencer pag. 8. treating of Military Officers puts a great weight upon imploying Officers acquainted with the Country saith he The Reducing of Ireland will ask no long time nor great charge so as the effecting thereof be committed to men of trust and sound experience in the Country but if left to such raw Captains as are usually sent out of England c. it will fall to the ground c. for before they have gather'd Experience they shall buy it with great loss to Her Majesty either by hazarding their Companies by ignorance of the places and manner of Irish Service or by losing much time to take out their lesson c. besides saith he there is a great wrong done to the old Souldiers when the Advancement due unto them is cut off by shuffling in these new cutting Captains into the places for which they have long served and well deserved To say the truth saith he me thinks it is meet before men be made Captains they should be first Souldiers pag. 84. for men throughly acquainted both with the state of the Country and manners of the people should be still continued pag. 85. Saith Livy The Romans could perform nothing memorable in their Conquest of Sicilia whilst they frequently changed the Commanders of their Army because new Commanders spent so much time in their new preparations chusing their Ground and insinuating themselves into the old Souldiery they had no time left for the management of their Affairs before they were removed but to prevent their Consuls from being removed from the head of their Armies being annually chosen they chose a Dictator Liv. Supplement 79. And that this hath been the Opinion of all our Kings of England since the Conquest of Ireland will more evidently appear by the ensuing Catalogue formed in two Columes to distinguish betwixt English and Irish Chief Governors only note that such of them as are in the English Colume 1. If they be sent again we esteem them of Ireland and place them in the Irish Colume supposing they were therefore sent because of their experience in and knowledge they have gained of the Country by their former Service c. 2. I do also esteem all of the Royal Line interested persons and therefore place them in the Irish Colume A Catalogue of the Chief Governors of Ireland from the first Conquest to the Year 1680. by which may be observed that persons related to and acquainted with and interested in Irelands Welfare have been most imployed in its Government by the Kings of England FFrom 1167. unto 1170. was spent by Strongbow and his Assistance in vindicating the Quarrel of Mac Murrogh King of Leinster c. 1171. The King jealous of Strongbows potency comes towards Ireland Srongbow meets him at Glocester surrenders all his Conquests to his Dispose returns with him to VVaterford
Government Hook 71.  1346. Sir Roger Darcy L.J.  1346. Sir John Maurice L.J. In whose time Desmond made a dissention between the English of Blood and English of Birth  1348. Sir Walter Bermingham L.J. John Archer Dep. Camp 90.  1349. Sir Walter Bermingham L.J.  1349. Baron Carey L.J.   1349. Sir Tho. Rooksby L.J. Whose saying was he had rather drink out of Wooden Cups and pay Gold and Silver for his Liquor than drink out of Gold and make wooden payment a man of sincere and upright Conscience saith Camp 91. he would be deemed a precise Fop in these days 1351. Bishop of Lymerick L.J. The Vlsters rebel and subdued by the Savages Camp 30.  1355. Earl of Desmond L.J.  1356. Sir Tho. Rooksby a second time L.J.   1357. Sir Almerick de Sancta L.J. 1359. James Butler Earl of Ormond L.J. He married the Grandchild of Edw. the first for which his Son James was stiled by way of preheminence the Noble Earl  1360. Earl of Kildare L.J. Appointed 500 l. per ann Salery and required out of that to maintain 20 great Horse for War Hook 72.  1361. Duke of Clarence Lord Lieutenant The third Son of Edw. the third Earl of Vlster and Lord of Connaght he vanquished the Obrians c. and conquered the County of Clare from which he derived his Title of Clarence  1364. James Earl of Ormond L.D.   1365. Sir Thom. Dale Governor 1367. Earl of Desmond L.J.   1369. Sir William de Windsor L.L.  1370. A great Mortality in Ireland 1371. Earl of Kildare L.J.   1372. Sir Robert de Ashton L.J. 1374. Sir William de Windsor L.L.  1376. James Butler Earl of Ormond L.L.   1379. John de Bromwhich L.J. Richard the Second  1381. Dean of St. Patricks and Lord Chancellor L.J.  1383. Philip de Courtney L.L.  1385. Robert Vere Earl of Oxford Marquess of Dublin and Duke of Ireland L. ◠Of whom Cambden records he died in great anguish and penury leaving nothing to his Tomb but Titles nor to the World but matter of talk of his ill life  1385. Sir John Stanley L.D.  1387. Bish of Meath L.J.  1389. Sir John Stanley L.J.  1392. James Earl of Ormond L.J.  1394. Duke of Glocester L.J.  1394. King Richard the Second in person He landed at Waterford with four thousand men at Arms and thirty thousand Archers left Roger Mortimer Earl of Vlster Lord of Trym Clare Connaght L.L. slain by the Obrians   1398. Roger Grey L.J. 1398. Duke of Surrey the Kings Brother L.L.  1399. King Richard 2. the second time Who came to avenge Mortitimers Death In this Year broke out that bloodie War betwixt the Houses of Lancaster and York from which time not only England but Ireland were divided into two powerful Factions the Geraldines stood by the House of York and the Butlers by the House of Lancaster the King returns soon after loseth his Kingdom and Life   Henry the Fourth  1399. Sir John Stanley L.L.  1401. Stephen Scroope L.D. to Thomas of Lancaster the Kings Son 1403. James Earl of Ormond L.J. Chose by the Noblemen of Ireland  1405. Gerald Earl of Kildare L.J.  1406. Stephen Scroop L.D.  1407. James Son of the former Earl of Ormond L.J.  1408. Thomas of Lancaster the Kings Son L.L. left Thomas Butler Dep. The Sword given to the City of Dublin the Provost made Major  Henry the Fifth  1413. The said Butler continued L.J.  1413. Sir John Stanley L.L. The Ancestor of the Earls of Derby  1414. Crawley Arch-Bishop of Dublin L.J.  1414. Sir John Talbot L.L. In whose time Ireland supplied the King with 1600 men to assist him in his Wars with France  1419. Richard Talbot Arch-Bishop of Dublin L.J.  1420. James Butler Earl of Ormond L.L. His Grandsire James sirnam'd the Chast near Athy vanquished the Armie of the O Moorsand Mac Morroughs c. quelled the Obrians in Leinster the Bourks Mac Mahons c. in Thomond in three months time Camp 97.  Henry the Sixth  1423. Earl of Ulster L.L. And died of the Plague  1425. John Lord Talbot L.J.  1426. James Butler Earl of Ormond L.J. And died at Ormond-Place in London  1427. Sir John de Grey L.L.  1428. Edward Dantsey Bishop of Meath Dep.  1428. Sir John Sutton L.L. Sir Tho. Strange his Dep.  1432 Sir Christopher Plunket L.D.  1435 Sir Thomas Stanley L.L.  1436 Talbot Arch-Bp of Dublin L.D.   1438 Lyon Lord Wells L.L. 1440 James Earl of Ormond L.L.   1441 Sir William Stanley L.D.  1441 Stephen Scroop L.D.  1442 Will. Wells Dep. to Lyon Lord Wells 1443 Earl of Ormond L.L.   1446 Earl of Shrewsbury L.L. 1447 Talbot Arch-Bp of Dublin L.J.  1449 Duke of York L.L. In Meath the Rebels burnt several Towns and Villages destroyed Men Women and Children without mercy Camp 99.  1450 Earl of Ormond and Wiltshire Lord Treasurer of England L. Dep. to the Duke of York  1454 Arch-Bishop of Ardmagh L.D.  1454 Earl of Kildare L.D.  1454 Sir Edward Fitz Eustace Lord Deputy to the Duke of York  1456 Earl of Kildare Lord Deputy  1459 Richard Duke of York Earl of Ulster and Lord of Connaght Lord Lieutenant Who contracted with the King for Two thousand Pounds per annum with the Irish Revenue to support the Government ten Years The Nobility of Ireland increasing in Factions betwixt the Houses of York and Lancas ter many destroyed whereby the Irish grew troublesome forcibly possessing the Estates of the Engli sh in Ulster Munster and Connaght  Edward the Fourth  1460 Earl of Kildare Lord Justice  1461 Sir Rowland Fitz Eustace Lord of Portleister and Viscount Baltinglass Lord Deputy to George Duke of Clarence  1463 Thomas Earl of Desmond Deputy to the Duke of Clarence Beheaded for exacting Coin and Livery   1467 John Lord Tiptoft Earl of Worcester L.D. 1471 Thomas Earl of Kildare L.D.  1475 Bishop of Meath Dep.   1478 Lord Grey L.D. 1478 Sir Robert Preston L.D.  1479 E. of Kildare L.D.  1483 Edw. 5. Rich. 3.  1485 The said Earl of Kildare L.D. to John de la Pole Earl of Lincoln L.L. The Imposture Lambert Simnell made a Disturbance in Ireland  Henry the Seventh   1491 Duke of Bedford L.L. 1492 Fitz Simons Arch-Bishop of Dublin L.D.  1493 Preston the first Lord Viscount Gormanstown L.D.   1494 Sir Edward Poynings L.D. Sent over to quell the Imposture Perkin Warbeck who in a Parliament at Drogheda the 10. of Henry the Seventh past that Act called Poynings Act quell'd the O Caryls Mac Nemarras and Obrians in the County of Gallaway received the Honor of the Order of the Garter
party in expectation matters might go better with them upon the Settlement than they feared the chief Contrivances of the people of each Faction being how to wipe themselves clean with each others foul Clouts by alledging something to extetenuate their own and aggravate others Offences 2. The great Confusion the Duke found that Kingdom in at his landing all Interests being unsettled and Minds unsatisfied both which were necessary to be composed and determined before the Improvement of the Kingdom by Trade could be thought on for till men knew their Interest in the Country as to their real Estates they had little reason to be much concerned in improving their personal Uncertain Titles to Lands are always attended with certain omissions of Improvements for men are not willing to build Houses for others to dwell in nor to improve Lands for others to possess Which was then more notoriously the state of the Inhabitants of Ireland in general than usually befalls a Country which will appear if you do but weigh the many distinct and contrary Interests producing several violent opposite Factions and Parties that Ireland was under at the Dukes access to the Government And for your Information or Satisfaction herein take this brief view of the state from the year 1660. to the year 1662. the Duke arrived 1. The Irish themselves notwithstanding the body of them could not be unsensible of their Guiâ—â— in the bloody massacring of so many hundreds oâ— thousands of English in cold blood yet they alledge their Displeasure was not against the King nor against the Kings good Subjects but for theiâ— own preservation against the fury of the Puritâ—â—â— party then so much favoured by the Parliament of England and therefore they hoped the worst construction would not be put upon their Actions but that the edge of that sharp Law of Decimo Septimo against their Estates passed by the King under some sort of necessity to satisfie the discontented people of England might be blunted A second sort of them that pleaded they were not concerned in the bloody Massacre and first Rising for they tendred their Service to the Crown till they observ'd the Commotion to be so general and themselves so far suspected they were not trusted that they had only choice which party they would be ruined by and therefore fell in with the rest of their Country men hoping by their Interest in their Councils to prevent further Extremities and to keep them in a capacity of accepting reasonable terms of Submission to the Government of England A third sort pleaded they accepted of the Cessation 1643. and closed in with the Peace in the years 1646 1648. and from that time were faithful to the Crown and bore Arms in the defence of its Interest against the Usurpers and many of them after they could do the King no further Service in Ireland served under the Banner of his Friends beyond Sea without the least defect until the time his of Majesties happy Restoration and from thence they concluded they had made amends for all their former faults There were a fourth sort who though least in number yet most deserving that pleaded Innocency as without any defect in the whole Transaction and they expected not only their own Estates but Reparation for past Sufferings And as these several Interests and Factions of the Irish thus divided them into parties so was it with the English Protestants 1. The unspotted Royalists that both in the English and Irish War never served under other but the Kings Banner they expected to be both first and best provided for who had a special provision made for them though not what they expected by the Act of Settlement under the denomination of the Forty nine Men. 2. Such who had served the King faithfully in his Wars in England and Ireland until the Kings Government was removed and then accepted of Imployments under the Usurpers in Ireland and these were generally known by the denomination of the Old Protestant party 3. They which seemed to be the most considerable both for Number and Interest being possest of the chief Imployments both Military and Civil at the Kings Restoration was the new Interest of Adventurers and Souldiers the first claiming Propriety by the Act of Decimo septimo and the other by their Service against the Irish in which they alledged they had done the King good Service though by his Enemies Commissions and they being suspicious the Lands of Ireland would not hold out to satisfie the Expectations of all those Interests it begat Factions both between the Adventurer and Souldier and between each party among themselves Those Adventurers that had payed their Subscriptions in due time pleaded Priviledge before those who failed in that point then the original Subscribers found themselves aggrieved the douâ—â—â—ng Ordinance men should invade their first Security so amongst the Souldiers those then in Arms pleaded in consideration of their good Services in the Kings Restoration they deserved to have the Kings Favours in the the Act of Settlement limited to such as were mustered in the next Muster after the Kings Interest was avowed but the others alledged they never intended to bring in the King until they had run themselves into such confusions in their Counsels and Convulsions in their State they knew not what to do which gave a fair opportunity to those Royallists amongst them in that shuffle of the Cards to turn up the Kings Interest Trumps Now these many different Interests rendred the work of Irelands Settlement both tedious and difficult that required both a skilful and tender Hand to compose for these contrary Interests produced contrary Humours which until the â—â—ke of Ormond landed work'd to that height 〈◊〉 opposition that every Eye was filled with envy and every Brow with indignation one against the other that if they met on the Road or passed by eâ—â—h other in the Street contempt and prejudice to a strange degree might be read in their deportment yet all the Factions unless that termed Fanatick bore up with a competent confidence but the generality of that party seemed to be much dejected every day more and more withering in their hopes in so much that many of them were preparing for voluntary Exile some to Plantations in America others into Holland or such parts of England as they supposed obscurity might give them most quiet and safety and in order thereunto sold considerable Interests in this Kingdom at very low rates some giving one moyety some loss to Favourites at Court to secure the Remain to themselves But soon after understanding that the Act of Settlement was neer perfected and that His Majesty was gratiously inclined to make no considerable distincton of Interests therein nor exception of persons included in his gratious Act of Indemnity â—â—d that the Duke of Ormonde who of all men had been most disobliged by the late Powers they feared would have been their greatest Enemy was the most concerned to secure their Interest
Papists do I offer these things to their consideration c. 1. Because whilst they tolerate or indulge them they will never be safe as is asserted in Part. 2. pag. 73. all those miserable Desolations that have befallen them since F. Allen and Parsons were sent over to Desmond and Tyrone with consecrated Banners to encourage them to rebel were the product of these Principles which operated to the ruine and utter desolating many Noble and Worshipful Catholick Families besides multitudes of common people vid. Spencer Campion Sir John Davis Stainhurst c. 2. If they would but consider the many traiterous Attempts that have been made against the Regency and Lives of their English Soveraigns since Henry the Eighth cast off the Popes Supremacy they may easily guess what deep impressions of jealousie and dread that Nation from the Throne to the Plough retains of them as for instance Henry the Eighth was excommunicated and deposed the Kingdom interdicted and tendered to whomsoever could conquer it The Pope in his Bull sent to James King of Scotland declared him deprived of his Kingdom as an Heretick a Schismatick an Adulterer a Murtherer a sacrilegious person and lastly a Rebel and Convict of Le se Magistratis for that he had risen against him the Pope who was his Lord. vide Speed l. 9 c. 21. Innocent Edw. 6. was filled with troubles from them and strongly suspected to be poysoned by their Contrivance Their cruel Persecution by burning c. of five eminent pious Prelates and one and twenty other eminent Divines and many good people in their short Reign by Queen Mary The many Attempts made against the Life and State of that pious Queen Elizabeth against her State in England by that invincible Armado in 88. against her State of Ireland by invading it with an Army of Spaniards and Italians 1580. contriving to bring her Title in question and raise up the Title of Mary Queen of Scots to the Crown of England Campion Parsons and Haywood the three first Jesuits that came for England saith Sir Henry Baker I wish they had been the last made it their business to hire Assassinates to destroy the Queen Summervil to kill her 1582. the like Parry 1584. L. Luce Hist 429 c. Moody hired by the French Ambassador of the Guisin Faction to poyson her ann Dom. 1592. Holt the Jesuit hired Patrick Coleman an Irish Fryar to kill the Queen who of all Fryars love the work after Dr. Lopez Her Majesties Physician hired with 50000 Crowns to poyson her 1593. again ann Dom. 1594. Williams and York c. conspired to fire her Navy ann Dom. 1595. Edward Squire an Officer in her Stable hired by Walpoole the Jesuit to poyson the Pummel of the Queens Saddle after all this their Colledge at Salamanca sent over Winter the Jesuit with Instructions to raise an Army to make war against the Queen who by the aid of fifty disguised Jesuits in England listed 25000 Popish Souliers Winter assuring them the Jesuits of Spain had a Million of Crowns already collected for the Service and many of the Catholick Princes engaged to aid and assist but her God who had wonderfully preserved her all her long Reign took her to himself and so ended hers but not Englands troubles Luc. Hist pag. 405. to 509. King James was designed to be destroyed the day of his Coronation Luc. Hist p. 509 510. And his Title to the Crown rejected as being no Catholick and on that account Waterford Limerick Kilkenny and Wexford c openly opposed his Proclaiming until forced by the Lord Deputy Mountjoy after the several Attempts to rebel as is hinted Part. 1. p. 2 3. But all these hellish Plots by Gods Mercy being frustrated Garnet Catesby Fawx c. contrived to do their work throughly by the Powder Plot November 5. 1605. A Project not presidented in History for horrid Cruelty and hellish Treachery to kill King Queen Prince Lords and Commons at a Clap and then to have charged it upon the Puritans under which Character they would have destroyed the Body of the most stanch Protestants in the the Kingdom and then who should oppose what they would have done Yet Invincible Father Garnet was not discouraged but was at other Devices but was taken 1608. and executed and so ceased plotting Luc. Histor p. 513. yet the King having further Evidence of their plotting his Destruction publish'd his Declaration June 1610. to banish the Jesuits and Priests Luc. Hist 513. Yet did they so swarm in England that Jo. Gee a converted Priest by the fall of the Mass-house at Black Fryars where he narrowly escap'd his Life in his Book called the Foot out of the Snare printed in the year 1624. doth give an Account of a Congregation of Jesuits de Propagando Fide and how some of them boasted they contrived the poysoning of King James vide Prynnes Royal Favorite pag. 54. and Romes Masterpice p. 34. yet in the Reign of Charles the first they were still active anno Dom. 1627. they kept their Colledge at Clerkenwell and behaved themselves so insolently the House of Commons petitioned the King to put the Laws in Execution against them Romes Masterpiece pag. 34. and Prynnes Introd p. 88 89. they were the Fomentors of the Wars betwixt England and Scotland 1639. Prynnes Compl. Hist fol 449 450. and were preparing an Army to invade the South of England whilst the King with his English strength was engaged against the Scots in the North but the Hollanders fought and dispersed their Navy on the English Coast before they landed vide Prynnes Preface to his Vindication of Fundamentals Part 1. but all Projects sailing in England they remembred the proverb He that would England win Must with Ireland first begin They managed their Consults for the Irish Massacre vid. Sir John Temples Preface to the History of the Irish Rebellion And at the same time plotted the poysoning of the King discovered to Sir William Boswel the Kings Agent at the Hague vide Romes Masterpiece And this General Rebellion and bloody Massacre in Ireland did not only lay that Kingdom desolate but also influenced England into that unnatural War that cost it so much precious Blood and Treasure for until the news of that unsuspected amazing destruction of so many innocent Souls in Ireland there was not the least appearance of a breach betwixt the King and his Parliament all things in Scotland were so well pacified by the Kings presence there that when His Majesty upon advice of the Irish Rebellion suddenly hasted for London it became a common speech amongst the Scots Never did a more contented King part with a more contented People and so far were the Parliament at Westminster or the People from the least Jealousie of the King that he was received into London with all imaginable expressions of Joy and Gladness But such an impression did the news of that horrid Massacre make it begat a spirit of Indignation against the Papists and
such a dread of the like Miseries that might be perpetrated in England by them moved the Parliament to desire of the King the Ordering the Militia on pretence for the better security of the Nation against Papists and speedier Suppression of the Irish Rebellion upon which Head arose that woful Breach on which that unnatural War with all its dismal consequences succeeded from that time began the rude Tumults of London Apprentices c. and all other misbehaviour as you may read in Scobels Collections of that years Transactions And on that occasion succeeded that Petition and large Remonstrance from the Parliament presented to the King December 14. 1641. which laid the foundation of all our succeeding Miseries so that all Englands Scotlands and Irelands Troubles since Henry the eighth shak'd off the Papal Yoke have arose either from the Papists Struggles to recover their tyrannical Dominion over these Kingdoms or the Divisions they have made amongst Protestants by their wily sleights And what their Plots have been against the Life of Charles the second and the Peace of England of late we are wearied with reading the Discoveries and Evidences in Print I shall only insert their Oath of Secresie which will serve for an Epitome of the whole Plot at least the Design of it and indeed it is the truest Explanation of all their former Oaths of Confederacy extant In this the Monks Hood is thrown by of defending and maintaining His Majesties just Rights c. They here clearly renounce and disown any Allegiance and do swear to help his Holiness's Agents c. to extirpate and root out and destroy the said pretended King of England c. The Oath of Secrecy given by William Rushton to me Robert Bolron February 2. 1676. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen I Robert Bolron being in the presence of Almighty God the blessed Mary ever Virgin the blessed Michael the Arch-Angel the blessed St. John Baptist the holy Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul and all the Saints in Heaven and to you my Ghostly Father do declare and in my heart believe the Pope Christs Vicar General to be the true and only Head of Christs Churh here on Earth and that by vertue of the Keys of Binding and Loosing given his Holiness by our Saviour Christ he hath Power to depose all Heretical Kings and Princes and cause them to be killed Therefore to the utmost of my power I will defend this Doctrine and his Holinesses Rights against all Usurpers whatever especially against the now pretended King of England in regard that he hath broke his Vows with his Holinesses Agents beyond Seas and not performed his Promises in bringing into England the holy Roman Catholick Religion I do renounce and disown any Allegiance as due to the said pretended King of England or Obedience to any of his inferour Officers and Magistrates but do believe the Protestant Doctrine to be Heretical and Damnable and that all are damn'd which do not forsake the same and to the best of my power will help his Holinesses Agents here in England to extirpate and root out the said Protestant Doctrine and to destroy the said pretended King of England and all such of his Subjects as will not adhere to the holy See of Rome and the Religion there professed I further do promise and declare that I will keep secret and private and not divulge directly or indirectly by Word Writing or Circumstance whatever shall be proposed given in charge or discovered to me by you my Ghostly Father or any other engaged in the promoting of this pious and holy Design and that I will be active and not desist from the carrying of it on and that no hopes of Rewards Threats or Punishments shall make me discover the rest concerned in so pious a Work and if discovered shall never confess any Accessaries with my self concerned in this Design All which I do swear by the blessed Trinity and by the blessed Sacrament which I now purpose to receive to perform and on my part to keep inviolable and do call all the Angels and Saints in Heaven to witness my real intention to keep this Oath In testimony whereof I do receive this most holy and blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist By this Oath it is evident Popelings are no Changelings Hildebrands Principles commencing an Dom. 606. are here repeated in their full strength above a thousand years after and why these treasonable Plots and Principles were not since the time of this Oath effectually perpetrated is so notoriously manifest in the multitudes of Prints published on that occasion it evidenceth it was not for want of good will on their parts And although God hath gratiously and wonderfully preserved the precious Life of the King and in him the Lives of us all that value our Religion Yet have these Incendiaries not lost their labour but have accomplished that which is next to cutting all our Throats viz. the fomenting a Misunderstanding and Jealousie betwixt the most indulgent and compassionate Prince and his faithful and loyal Subjects A doleful consideration it is to all serious loyal Hearts to observe a Prince so lately received with all expressible passions of Joy not only by those that expected Gain and Advancement but by others that knew they should suffer Loss as to their private Fortunes yet were so weary of their past and then present Confusion and so well satisfied in the Kings Gratious Declarations and Intentions they could and did say as Mephibosheth to David For as much as our Lord the King is come again in peace let Zibah take all let Royalists but not Papists take our Crown and Bishops Lands our Regiments and Troops c. our Hearts shall joyn with our Hands to lift the King into his Throne which we defie all other Hands to do without us so England c. may be once more settled And with what mutual content both King and People have enjoyed each other till the very day this last Hell-hatch'd Plot broke out is notorious to all Europe as well as Great Britain and Ireland till then we heard of no Court nor Country Parties no Whiggs nor Tories c. but in Irelands Boggs c. no Petitioners Abhorrers or Addressers but what the King was pleased with no executing penal Laws on Dissenters but on the contrary Subjects entirely and universally endeared to a Prince in his own nature compounded of of Tenderness and Sympathy pleading with Parliaments against penal Statutes and proposing to their Consideration that some Provision might be made to enable him to dispence with such Protestants who through misguided Conscience could not conform to the Ceremonies Discipline c. of the Church vid. Speeches Octob. 26. 1662. and again Mar. 6. 1678. His Majesty did not only press the House but also commanded the Lord Chancellor to commend to their consideration not only what might tend to preserve the Protestant Religion in general but for an
maintain their 〈◊〉 Arrayes be it therefore Ordained by the Authority of this present Parliament It is true as England increased in Trade and Wealth so the rigour of these Laws slackned not that it was best they should do so but indulged as a more tolerable evil which the Realm was better able to bear yet to this day the middle sort of people in England are much more modest and sparing than those of the same Rank in Ireland Now whether it may not be convenient so far to revive Sumptuary Laws as may give some Restraint to the great Extravagances of this National Consumption that so threatens the Impoverishing of this Kingdom is worth the Governments Consideration And when Ireland arrives to the same state of Trade and Wealth of England then these Enormities will be more tolerable but as the case now stands the same Reason that governed our Ancestors herein ought to bear sway with us But this Extravagancy in Garb is not only thus ruinous and destructive to the Wealth of Ireland but also is accompanied with many other intolerable Inconveniences First The most God-provoking Sin of Pride for which the most dreadful Judgments of God hath laid waste and ruined Nations as Esay 3 c. is manifested by this Immoderateness in Garb. Secondly This Extravagancy of the meaner sort provokes the Nobility and Gentry to that height of Excess herein to the weakning of their Estates that the same Patrimony their Ancestors lived plentifully on kept noble Houses did many good Works and yet increased their Estates without raking their Tennants they cannot live on without running greatly into Debt some of them till Tradesmen will trust them no more and all to keep themselves distinguished from their Inferiours Thirdly It ingenders Emulation or rather Disdain in the minds of those of higher Degree against the meaner sort when they observe they cannot put themselves into any Garbe or Mode but they will be in it nay out do the gravest of them Fuller tells us of Sir John Collthrop a Norfolk Knight in the Reign of Henry the 7. sent to his Taylor at Norwich as much Cloth of the Mode-colour as would make him a Garment which a Shoomaker seeing imployed the Taylor to buy him of the same which so vext the Knight that he caused the Taylor to pink his Garment full of Holes which cured the Shoomaker of his proud Humour he vowed never to be of the Gentlemans Fashion again But let the Knight now change his Fashion once a month the Shoomaker will vie with him if all the Shooes in his Shop will pay for it Fourthly It abates and wears off that due Reverence and Respect Inferiours owe to Superiours for my Gaffer thinks himself as good a man as my Lord when he observes himself as fine and where neither of them are known shall contract as much Observation and Respect Fifthly This unlimited Extravagancy of the meaner sort is the chief cause of our intolerable consumption of Foreign Manufacture for the Nobility and Gentry are not the twentieth part of the number that consume our Foreign Silks and Modes and their Consumption would not be felt by the Nation if the other were restrained and injoyned to wear our own Manufacture it would treble the damage by imploying our own poor and consuming the Growth of the Country which would inrich the Tennant and proportionably raise the Rents and value of Land Sixthly It necessarily raiseth the Wages of all Artists Labourers and Servants for they may better afford to work for two thirds of their wages and live better of it if it were not for the excessive increase of the Charge of their Families by this vanity of living higher and being finer And this increase of Wages is the greatest Tax on the Nation though the receiver is made no richer only sprucer and lazyer Seventhly This spruce Garb of both Sexes especially the Female is the greatest inticement to those filthy Lusts of the Flesh this age wallows in as that Debauching Custom of Healthing is the great provoker to the swinish sin of Drunkenness so this spruceness of Garb and Apparel is the great allurement to those abominable Adulteries so shamelessly practiced amongst us For when the Debauches of a place observe mean mens Wives and Daughters adorned above the Ranks and Estates of their Parents or Husbands they fancy they are designed for Invitations to incourage them to attaque their Chastity and find themselves not always mistaken That it would be seasonable to revive that Law or Custom in use amongst the Hebrews that all persons convict or notoriously fâ—med for Strumpets should wear one sort of Attire which custom made Judah suspect his Daughter in Law Thamor when he saw her in the Attire of an Harlot to be one And in the year 1353. the Parliament of England on the Petition of the Mayor and City of London past an Act that no infamous Woman should wear any Hoods or other Attire upon her Head but stript Cloth of divers colours Stows Survey of London p. 553 We have not only abundant testimony in the Old Testament of these notorious Remarks put upon lend Women in the Jews Common Wealth but the Heathen themselves by Light of Nature provided against the same evil The Romans had their Law Oppia that no Woman of what degree soever might have any Ornaments or Jewels bove half an ounce weight of Gold nor wear any rich or gorgeous Attire c. which Law was made when the Punick Wars were at the height in the Consulship of Fabius about the time Annaball won the Victory at Canne and distressed Rome but about 20 years after in the time of Portius Cato c. the Roman Dames clamour'd against it In the defence thereof Cato made a large and vehement Oration what would they have saith he marry this that they may glister in their Golden Jewels and shine in their purple Robes c. that they may not be stinted in their excessive Expences in dissolute Profusion in costly Varieties and Supefluities c. Many a time saith he ye have heard me complain of the wastful and sumptuous Bravery of Women and as often have you heard me inveigh against the lavish spending of men not only private persons but Magistrates also and how this City of ours is sick of two contrary Diseases to wit pinching Avarice and superfluous Prodigality two Plagues I say that have been the bane and overthrow of all great Monarchs and flourishing Empires c. To conclude saith he my opinion is that at no hand the Law Oppia be repeal'd and so I pray all the Gods to vouchsafe a Blessing on you †Titus Livius p 1686. c. Oh! what miserable Christians are such that are so far from Modesty or Shame that they glory in those enormities moral Heathens were ashamed of that would rather let Common Wealth sink and Posterity be ruin'd than abate their Prodigality and Excess Zalencus the Lawgiver of the Locrians made