some others attainted for the Insolencies he had done during his Deputyship Which Act was repealed in the 11 year of Queen Eliz. the Earl of Kildare's Brothers and Sisters being thereby restored to their Blood as in King Edw. 6. his Reign Gerald Earl Thomas's Brother was restored to his ancient Inheritance and by Q. Mary May 14. 1554. to his Honour and Baron of Offaly who returning the same Year into Ireland was received with great Applause by the people though his Brother had been beheaded and 5 Uncles hanged at Tiburn Febr. 3. 1537. And it was further also enacted in this Parliament that the King his Heirs and Successors should be Supream Head of the Church of Ireland prohibiting also Appeals to Rome This Lord Gray was in the Year 1541. beheaded on Tower-hill about June 25. for having as it was conjectured joined with Cardinal Pool and others of the Kings Enemies notwithstanding his good Service against O-Donnel and O-Neal as also in France and other places the Council of Ireland with whom he often wrangled having much prejudiced him in the Kings thoughts At his going for England 1540. Sir William Brereton afterwards Marshal of Ireland Ancestor of the Breretons of Brereton in Cheshire since Baron of Laghlin in Ireland was left Justice who died the same year at Kilkenny in his journey towards Limerick and was buried in St. Canicus's Church in Kilkenny 1540. Sir Anthony St. Leger a Kentish man Vnus Nobilium Secretioris Camerae Regis July 25. Lord Deputy sworn in Trinity Church in Dublin in this form viz. YOu shall swear that you shall faithfully and truly to your power serve our Sovereign Lord the Kings Majesty in the Room and Authority of Lord Deputy and Chief Governour of this his Realm of Ireland you shall maintain and defend the Laws of God and the Christian Faith You shall to your power not only keep his Majesties Peace amongst his People but also maintain his Officers and Ministers in the execution and administration of Justice You shall defend his Majesties Castles Garrisons Dominions People and Subjects of this Realm and repress his Rebels and Enemies You shall not consent to the Damage and Disherizen of his Majesty his Heirs or Successors neither shall you suffer the right of the Crown to be destroyed by any way but shall let it to your power and if you cannot let the same you shall certifie his Majesty clearly and expresly thereof You shall give your true and faithful Counsel for the Kings Majesties Profit and his Highness Council you shall conceal and keep All other things for the preservation of his Majesties Realm of Ireland the Peace amongst his People the execution of his Justice according to his Majesties Laws Vsages and Customs of this his Highness Realm you shall perform and do to your power So God you help and the Contents of this Book Before whom a Parliament was held at Dublin June 13. the 33 of H. 8. in which it was enacted that the King and his Successors should be Kings of Ireland not but that before by the name of Lord of Ireland they had all Sovereign Jurisdiction and Preheminence but as a Title more repleat with Majesty ut dum colit terras ipso nomine titulo Regis Consecraretur which Title the 7 of the Ides of June 1555. Paul the 4. Bishop of Rome confirmed not being able to take away that which H. 8. had before decreed To him the Irishry and degenerate English make their several submissions by Indenture as formerly to H. 2. to King John to Edw. 1. to Richard 2. and now to Sir Anthony St. Leger in 33 of H. 8. 1543. Sir Anthony going into England leaves Febr. 10. Sir William Brabazon Lord Justice 1544. Sir Anthony St. Leger Kt. of the Garter August 11. the second time arrives at Dublin Lord Deputy who going for England 1546. Leaves Sir William Brabazon the second time Lord Justice who took his Oath in Christ Church Dublin April 1. Sub EDWARDO VI. 1547. The said Sir Anthony St. Leger continued Governour first under the title of Lord Justice the Deputy He overcame the O-Birns c. To him was sent from England Sir Edward Billingham unus è nobilibus Secretioris Camerâ— Regis titulo Capitanei Generalis Viâ— fortitudine militari scientia clarus with 600 Horse and 400 Foot whâ— so powerfully pursued the O-More and O-Connars as they submitted tâ— the Deputy for which Service he was Knighted and made Marshal oâ— Ireland 1548. Sir Edward Billingham landed at Dalkie in the Vigils oâ— Whitsontide and the second day after received the Sword in Trinity Church Dublin Brian O-Connar and Patrick O-More great Lords of â—â—ix and Offaly whom he had formerly subdued St. Leger takes with him into England to whom the King gives a yearly Pension of 100l â— piece O-More dies at London within the year the ensuing year Billingham being maligned by some â—f the Council is called into England at whose departure the Council of Ireland offered him Commendatory Letters to which he replied that Credo Resurrectionem â—â—rtuorum if my innocency cannot protect me subterfugies shall not do it my Enemies may kill me but not conquer me He died in England the year following more of grief than a disease after that he had cleared himself of the accusation and it was resolved to have sent him again Deputy into Ireland He was a fervent Protestant and an excellent Governour spending his whole allowance in Hospitality calling thâ— same his dear Masters meat none â—â— his own cost He took Ship aâ— Houth Decemb. 16. And 1549. The Chancellor and other having the Kings leave elect Sir Fâ— Brian Marshal of the Army the King Favourite Lord Justice during thâ— Kings pleasure who in Christ Church Dublin was sworn Decemb. 29. Anâ— Febr. 2. he died at Clonmel advancing against O-Carol and was buried in the Cathedral Church iâ— Waterford in great State 1549. February 2. Sir William Brabazon Vice Treasurer was made Lord Justice the third time who effectually pursued Charles Macart Cavenach who of late had flown again into Rebellion Brabazon died the 7. of the Ides of July in the Tents in Vlster and was buried in Trinity Church Dublin and his Heart carried into England 1550. Sir Anthony St. Leger about September 10. arrived at Dubâ—â—n the fourth time Lord Deputy â—â— whom Charles Mac-art Caveâ—â—ch submitted himself solemnly renouncing before him the Council â—â—d many Lords the name Macâ—urrogh On the surrender of Bulâ—in to the French they paid a considerable sum 8000 l. of which â—ame for Ireland with 400 men with a charge that the Laws of England should be there administred and the Mutinous severely suppressed and saith my Author it may seem strange that among all the horrible Hurries in England Ireland was then almost quiet which must be imputed either to the Kings withdrawing much People thence which otherwise would have disquieted affairs at home or else
the Judicious may as the Lord Bolton truly observes Historically discern both the State of the Church and Common-wealth therein In as much as few Presidents of a well Modelled and excellent Government can be found more rational and advantagious to the Natives or less partial allowing the soverainty of England heretofore somewhat jealous of a Conquered People than those Laws are in their Constitution and Sanctity whereby the English as well as the Irish the Lord as the Kern is amesnable to the Law and may be punished for any offence whatsoever by the ordinary course of Common Justice All that I aim at herein is to make good the Title which in respect of the Governours who bear the Image of their Master and every true English mans Interest in the Conquest deserves not less Registring than the Chancellors Bishops Judges Sheriffs and other Officers of England of which there are particular Catalogues generally well accepted Some I confess as Geraldus Cambrensis Hoved. Mat. Par. Walsingham Holinshead Hanmer Campion and others have as their matter lay made an Essay at this Work So Reverend Camden crediting the Lord William Howard of Nayworths MS. too easily hath attempted the same in his Annals of Ireland yet so scatteringly and confused as if it were no great concern whether it were reduced ad Vmbilicum However I must own these in many things though a direct series of the Governours was never in a Body traced to the Present till now Nor did those who aimed at this Work ere touch on the Families from whence they came or excepting a few take notice of their Decease In which circumstances I have been a little curious though the length of time since the Conquest the unacquaintedness with some Families lost in their Original or confused in their Branches and the backwardness of others as if there were an obligation in it to inform one hath made me less certain than otherwise I would have been though generally most of these pass not without some Remark which I rather offer than impose And here I cannot well pass by this Epithite Chief which some accustomarily annex to the Governours of Ireland if Justices or Justice as if it were an honourable or necessary distinguishment of them from others usually so called whereas Chief is properly applied to the Chief Justice of the Kings Bench the Common Pleas or to the Chief Baron of the Exchequer others of the same Ranke being in competition with their Power but not to these they being Justices or Justice not onely in the Concreet but Abstract So Philip Basset was said to be Justitia Angliae In whom the Soveraign Power for the time is lodged without need of additional Epithites to amplifie or discriminate their Title In pursuance of which all Letters or Writs are directed to them from the King Justiciariis nostris vel Justiciario suo Hiberniae And in that Act the 33 of Hen. VIII which Authorizes the State of Ireland at the Avoidance or Death of the Kings Governour there to chuse an other in his room it is Enacted that they shall elect a Justice but speaks nothing that he should be stiled Chief Justice the superlativeness of his Power being in the Title Justice The vicissitude of Governours hath been observed by some to be exceeding prejudicial to the Publick private Respects often introducing notable change 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 Othertimes to the alienating of the Irish by their severity from the benefit of a well tempered and orderly Government both equally destructive to the Princes service 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 create 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 such variety of Interests though the most who have miscarried there have fallen through other mens Interests rather than their own failing What touches on the Person or Government of any is not writ as a History of their Times this Work was no such attempt onely as a brief and honourable mention of such as deserve the fairest Character What is more being rather to difference this from a meer Catalogue than to engage any in a History As to the late Insurrection in Ireland touching which in the first Sessions of Parliament after it brake forth there was hot disputes whether it should be termed a Rebellion or qualified more mildly such Catilines were within the House I have revived nothing in Reproach no I wish the Inhumanity of that Age may be forgot as well as pardoned though such as have had a deliverance thence and have the least sense of what the Protestants and British suffered in that sad and miserable time cannot stifle their silence without Passion since some bold Pens have avowed that there were not above xvij killed in the beginning of that horrid Massacre whereas such as will read Sir John Temples History of the Beginnings and first Progress of the General Rebellion in Ireland Printed MDCXLVI a Book writ without Passion on unquestionable Proofs by an honourable Person no ways interessed further than Truth and Conscience engaged him may there discover the Motion Cruelties and Surprizals of that unhappy Insurrection dislodging in few Weeks one hundred and forty thousand souls which I glance at onely Historically that the Serenity of the Present Times might be illustrated by the Ruggedness of those To which I should add something of the Cessation scarce by any save his Excellency inviolably observed but I am obliged to contract At first I intended not to have exceeded a Catalogue but matter flowing in my Omer hath filled an Ephah Yet I have been abridged too of what I thought the Age might have born however I do not much regret these Parings it being safer Vt veritas quamquam perutilis desiderabilis aliquamdiu suppressa lateat quam in lucem cum majorum offensâ praeproperè pariter Periculosè prorumpat all as this writ without Periods or Cadences that Truth not Rhetorick might be most prevalent In pursuit of which that Time might pass over with some cheerfulness I have with
the prey they got VVith thunder and with lightning they proclaim Their Gospel as the Jews receiv'd their Laws VVith Mahomet's zeal they advance their Cause And to convert the Land they set it on a flame Your Father soon to stop their fury came Lest all the Land should be to ashes turn'd But whilst he quench'd the fire himself almost was burn'd VII Now the blest smiles of Peace and Love All frowns and animosities remove Nothing is left behind of VVar But here and there an ugly skar Great Ormond was the Augustus whose command To perfect Loyalty and Peace reduced the Land Ormond our great Apollo whose Renown Did best deserve the Muses Crown VVho rules in VVar and Peace with equal fame And all his faithful services justly claim A loyal Subject's and true Patriot's Name Brave Essex in his Power succeeds Fam'd for his own and his great Fathers deeds VVhose gallant Death and Actions do inspire His soul with such Heroick fire As flam'd in the young Graecian's breast when he Did a fam'd Generals Statue see So well this Hero fills his Princes Throne That he deserves to rule a Kingdom of his own VIII Here Sir you stop and now we may look back On all the various Scenes you track Here we the Historians Art may justly praise And there the History may our wonder raise VVith truth and eloquence you write Of Truth the strong Materials are made And the Foundation firmly laid On which a solid structure you erect VVhich is with Language aptly deckt You neither are with fear nor flattery led But in the paths of truth severely tread Truth which we often hate and will not find Because with Interest and Envy we are blind As the damn'd spirits of Eternal Night Dread the least Glimpse of Light And often Truth so hides her face That Errours we for Truth embrace And Truth in the dark seat of Errour place So when a glorious Comet here Doth after various turns of Heaven appear The Wise know 't is an harmless Star but all The long mistaken Vulgar call This Star a Meteor and its influence fear But when a flaming Meteor from a far Falls down the People then call it a Falling-star Z. Isham ERRATA PAge 2. Verse 2. sed for p. 7. l. 2. Beckly for Becktiâ— p. 17. in the close of that page add Mariscus being â—â—nt for into England quits the Government p. 20. custoâ—iae for custodia p. 10. dele the Quotations of Camd. and â—anmer p. 32. in the margent read Pryn in his Hist p. â—8 l. 14. dele he p. 40. l. 6. Robert for Roger. p. 72. l. 4. Decemb. â— for 21. p. 84. l. 17. England for Ireland p. 97. l. 19. 23 â—or 33. p. 98. l. 20. read in Kild p. 102. l. 4. 1538 for 1528. p. 104. l. 9. Garny for Grany p. 109. after April 1. add St. Leger the 4 of August returns Vice Roy. p. 119. l. 4. add with that Power p. 145. l. 10. add Loftusios p. 149. l. 1. Minister for Master p. 159. l. 17. Laxtoviae for Laxtoniae p. 168. l. 4. coequal for coeval p. 172. l. 2. read a Dysent p. 174. l. 4. extitial for exitial p. 180. l. 13. dele being p. 183. l. 6. Carey for Carew p. 197. l. 12. Hiberniae for Hibernia p. 198. redeat for reddat p. 204. l. 10. Consilii for Concilii in the Plate read In utroque fidelis p. 213. l. 12. Majestatis for Majeâ—â—ati so in p. 217. p. 251. l. 18. add who had it from p. 258. l. 13. dele in p. 274. l. 21. add and some Seculars p. 230. l. â—3 for some read both Other Omissions or Errata's if any are obvious to an easie Correction if the common favour may be indulged A DISCOURSE Introductive to the CATALOGUE of the Governours of IRELAND THe Rise and Growth of Kingdoms have been no less the Subject then the Industry of the ablest Pens yet their Original after the strictest Inquiries have in most things been found so obscure as if the dark side of the Cloud were still towards us no Nation being so meanly descended but that they something in their Temper which vaunts to be more ancient and noble then others thereby as Sir Walter Rawleigh observes thinking to glorifie their own Nations hence their innate affections to their Country leaves Truths too often dark and sullied to Posterity Of which Spirit the Irish Chronicles participate too much yielding few Tracts of their Original before the Conquest by Henry the second but what seems fabulous and vain most of the History of the Ancients as well as their Philosophy which indeed was their Theology being delivered to Posterity by no better then Bards Sic honor Nomen Divinis vatibus atque Carminibus venit Hor. de Art Poet. in as much as when I read their Chronicles so many absurdities appear as I am in doubt whether I should take them for a Legend or an History to avoid which I shall impose nothing but the plain Story on the Reader It seems strange scarce credible that after so many years possession of Ireland any should dare question the right of England to that part of its just Empire And yet such have been the insinuations of some whose spirits like the foaming Sea are unwilling to be confined that I have of late seen many Queries started to enfeeble if possible this Right And Walsh in his Vindication of the Loyal Formulary will tell you of one Mahony a Jesuite his Apologetical Disputation De jure regni Hiberniae pro Catholicis Hybernis adversos Haereticos Anglos maintains that no King of England nor Crown nor People nor State of that Kingdom had at any time any kind of right to the Kingdom of Ireland or any part thereof with many other damnable positions condemned to be burnt by order of the National Congregation at Kilkenny which if he had not mentioned might happily have been unknown to the Natives at this day who forsooth conceive themselves descended from a Progeny much injured by being imposed on by the Laws and Customs of England whereas nothing is more evident then that Ireland was at first inhabited by the Britains the Scythians Goths Spaniards Danes and other Easterlings falling in afterwards as the vicissitude of time administred opportunity though if there had not been this Title to the Dominion of Ireland yet Conquest had been a sufficient one especially since it was at first undertook against a Nation meerly Pyrates Barbarous and Inhumane against the Laws of Nature and Nations which the Lord Verulam in his Considerations touching a War with Spain as Grotius in his excellent Piece De jure Belli Pacis notably well argues But Jephtes Plea to the Ammonitesâ—ustifies â—ustifies England at this day the Bishop of Romes own Proctors having not more to produce then Prescription for their Masters right to Rome it self of which I should saymore but though some cherish other thoughts â—ew as the Scene now lies have the
magnis meis negotiis Hiberniae nunc autem ad vos mitto Willielmum filium Audelm Dapiferum meum cui commisi negotia mea tractanda agenda mei loco vice Quare vobis mando firmiter praecipio quod ei sicut mihime intendatis de agendis meis faciatis quicquid Ipse vobis dixerit eâ— parte mea sicut amorem meum desideratis per fidem quae mihi debetur Ego quoque ratum habeo firmum quicquid ipse fecerit tanquam egomet fecissem quicquid vos feceritis erga eum stabile habeo Test Galfrido Archidiacano Cantuariensi Richardâ— Archidiacono Pictaviae Richardo Constabulario apud Valon Audelm the next Year builds Vice mandato Regis St. Thomas Court near Dublin in expiation as it was thought of the murther of Thomas Becket Afterwards our Governour growing somewhat unquiet with his Equals his temper was disliked having done neither honour to his King or good to his Country And he was recalled into England when 1179. Hugh Lacy was again made Governour sub titulo Generalis Hiberniae Procuratoris Robert le Poer the Kings Marshal then Governour of Waterford and Weshford from whom immediately proceeded the Barons of Curraghmore who flourished near Dungavon a long time after the Conquest being joined as an Assistant to him 1181. John Constable of Cheshire Baron of Halton Castle and Richard de Peche Bishop of Chester or rather Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield Chester not being made a Bishops See till 1539. in the 30 Year of H. 8. who converted the Monastery of Monks there into a Cathedral about the Calends of May were sent over Governours of Ireland in Lacies room he having raised jealousies in the King by marrying the Daughter of Roderick King of Connaght without his Licence John Constable of Cheshire died 1190. at Tyre in Jerusalem in the Voyage to the Holy Land Richard Peche was son of Robert Peche Bishop of Coventry who succeeded his Father in the Bishoprick 1162. He was buried in St. Thomas Church near Stafford of which he was Founder Anno 1183. 1181. Hugh Lacy having given security to the King for his Allegiance was with Robert of Shrewsbury of Salisbury saith Hanmer a Clergy-man made Governour Lacy was a singular good Governour and established many Laws for the good of the Weal-publick He was murthered at an unawares with a Pickax Anno 1189. whose death the King was not sorry for being always jealous of his greatness His body was buried in the Monastery of Beckly and his head in S. Thomas Abbey at Dublin 1184. Philip of Worcester called by Hoved. Philip de Breos alias Brause Vir dapsilis militaris about the Calends of September Procurator in Hiberniam fuit missus with Horse and Foot the better to prepare the way for the Kings Son 1185. The King gave Ireland to his younger Son John afterwards King of England by the name of King John and made him King of Ireland writes Hoved. which as it is well observed by Sr. Peter Leceister in his Description of Ireland I take to be no more then constituit â—um Dominum Hiberniae which is King in effect the Supream Power being thereby imployed and from thence we see he assumed the Title of Dominus Hiberniae afterwards which was declared to be as much as in the future was comprehended in the Title of King 33 H. 8. Whence my Lord Coke in the third part of his Institutes writes That albeit the Kings of Ireland until the Statute before cited were stiled by the name of Lords of Ireland yet were they supream and absolute Domini and had a Royal dominion and authority else their Consorts could not have had Aurum Reginae And albeit there was such a grant to the Kings Son yet by the Law the King by his Letters Patents could not grant so Royal a Member of his Imperial stile which happily the King being sensible of takes with him into Normandy Octavianus a Subdeacon Cardinal of the Roman Church and Hugo de Nunant to whom Pope Vrban commisit Legatiam in Hiberniam ad Coronandum ibi Johannem filium Regis by which the King disappointed the Coronation and it is observable that the Seals fixed to many Charters at Dublin have only this Inscription Sigillum Johannis filii Regis Angliae Domini Hiberniae This Year Earl John went into Ireland but soon returned having built Tibrach Lismore and Archsinan alias Ardsivin Castles Constituting in his place 1185. John de Curcy whom we find every where spoken of with so much respect principle Governour and for ought I could yet discover in which circumstance I have been vigilant he did so continue till that Sir Hugh de Lacy the younger the Year is omitted in the History was sent over Lord Justice into Ireland with absolute command of the Realm and he continued his Government to the second Year of Richard the First if not so long afterwards as Hanmer would have him Curcy after having endeavoured fifteen times to go for Ireland was still beaten back as a judgment say the Historians for his impiety to Ardmagh Church and then went into France and there died He claimed a priviledge after his first obeisance to be forthwith covered in the Kings presence The like I find in Fullers Church History granted by H. 8. and confirmed by Act of Parliament to Francis Brown of Tollethorp in Rutlandshire Esq Ancestor of Robert Brown Head of the Brownists giving him leave to put on his Cap in the presence of the King or his Heirs And the present state of England p. 281. mentions the same priviledge to Henry Earl of Turrey Sub RICHARDO I. 1189. Sir Hugh de Lacy the younger Lord Justice 1191. William Petit Justicer William Marshall Lord Justice a Relation of the Earl Marshals of England Seneschal of Leinster supposed by some to decease at London and buried by his Father in the New Temple others think at Kilkenny 1231. in the Monastery there Militiae flos temporum Modernorum though I have some doubt whether this Elogie be intended for this person or others of his name 1197. Hamo de Valois aut de Valoniis vel Valoineis of an ancient Family in Suffolk Lord Justice acknowledged by Prynn in his History of King John as also by Ware De praesul Hib. Sub JOHANNE 1199. In the beginning of whose Reign I find that Hugo de Lacy was Governour but the certainty of his continuance is not specified and all agree that in this Year Miler Fitz Henry son of the base son of H. 1. was Lord Justice He died Anno 1220. on whom Glynn hath this Epitaph in the Abbey of Conal in the County of Kildare which Abbey he founded 1202. Conduntur tumulo Meyleri nobilis ossa Indomitus Domitor totius gentis Hibernae 1210. King John comes into Ireland
Ireland 1640. Christopher Wansford Master of the Rolls took the Oath of Lord Deputy April 3. and died suddenly Decemb. 3. following passionately as it was thought affected with the imprisonment of the Earl of Strafford whose intimacy had been of ancient date Nor were his apprehensions the less for that not long before the Parliament sitting at Dublin some Instructions were agreed on by the House of Commons for a Committee to be sent into England which reflecting on the Earl of Strafford he caused as it was generally reported to be razed out of the Journal Book An example of which he had observed in the 19 year of King James Anno 1621. when the Protestation of the House of Commons was defaced by the Kings own hand and enjoined the Agents then appointed not to repair to the Court without the Kings License which notwithstanding they did some from one Port some from another He was buried in Christ Church Dublin A Gentleman certainly of excellent Parts a clear Orator and One regained from the Popular Partie of the House of Commons in England to serve his Prince in the Secrets of State On his death 1640. Robert Lord Dillon of Kilkenny-West and Sir William Parsons Knight and Baronnet Master of the Court of Wards Decemb. 30. were sworn Lords Justices But the Lord Dillon a person of great abilities and a shrewd reach well esteemed of by the Earl of Strafford being excepted against by some of the Irish Committee of Parliament then in England he was displaced Yet that no business for the advantage of Ireland might be delayed through the misdirections of Orders from his Majesty he was pleased by his Letters January 4. in the 16 year of his Reign directed to his Privy Council in Ireland and to Sir William Parsons and Sir John Borlase Knights then designed to be his Justices of that his Kingdom to grant amongst other things that his Subsidies there should be reduced to a lesser rate than formerly and that all Letters directed to the Lieutenant Deputy Justices Chief Governour or Governours or to any other Officers or Ministers of that Realm either concerning the Publick Affairs or private Interests of any Subject there might be entered into his Signet Office in England to the end that they may be upon occasion found to take Copies of for the Subjects better Information in such publick things as may concern them as also that all Dispatches from Ireland should safely be kept apart that like recourse may be had to them for the better satisfaction of the Subject who shall be concerned therein And whereas in the former Governours time there were endeavours to hinder some Agents of Parliament to have recourse into England his Majesty takes notice that for as much as the Committee of the Parliament of Ireland John Bellew Esquire and Oliver Cassel with others imployed thence have repaired into his Kingdom of England to represent their Grievances he hath manifested his gracious condescentions to them admitting them into his Royal Presence forbidding his Counsellors in Ireland or any other Officers or Ministers of that State to proceed any wise against them or any of them for the same and that any of his Subjects shall have Copies of Records Certificates Orders of Council publick Letters or other Entries for the Declaration of their Grievances made so open was his breast to the Complaints presented to him from the Parliament in Ireland that if there had not been a general Defection long anvilled in the minds of that People the event of so horrid a Rebellion as few Moneths after happened could not have been the Issue of such Remarkable condescentions At the Lord Dillons going off 1640. Sir William Parsons Master of the Court of Wards long experienced in the Affairs of Ireland and Sir John Borlase Knight Master of the Ordnance well known to his Majesty by several Imployments at home and abroad as Collonel in the Low-Countries and Lieutenant General under the Lord Vere one of the most expert and fortunate Captains in the World were the 10 not the 9 as some write of February sworn at the Council Board Lords Justices who jointly endeavoured to smooth the rugged Passages of those Times obtaining from his Majesty more Graces than was thought would have been indulged the Irish in as much as a most Honourable person a noble Peer in the House of Lords avouched that the Lords Justices had always chearfully received their Requests and Messages and were ready to comply with them desiring that it might be entered in their Journal to the end that the memory of so even a Government might remain to Posterity Yet such then were the contrivance of the Irish to Rebellion that though as one says the Design was many times discontinued yet it bore an ancient date and was subtlely pursued in Parliament the Session before it brake forth when they pretended by a Committee of both Houses to search his Majesties Stores as if some Plot had been framed there to destroy the Parliament the House of Parliament being then over part of the Store and on that pretence they would fain have seen all his Majesties Store of Ammunition and Arms. But the Lord Borlase Master of the Ordnance under whose charge those were boldly denied their Requests as his Majesties choicest Jewels not to be discovered without his especial Orders which they took ill and Octob. 23. 1641. the Rebellion sadly broke out in its vigour and extremity raised for the Restauration of the publick Profession of the Romish Religion the Restitution of all the Plantation Lands unto the Natives and settlement of the present Government into their hands On which pretensions it went on currantly though the night before Owen O-Canally a meer Irish man but trained up in the Protestant Religion who out of a sense of his Duty and Loyalty to his Majesty and for the preservation of his good People and as an Effect of that Religion he was trained up in had discovered it first to the Lord Parsons and then not accounting himself to be sufficiently credited to the Lord Borlase at whose House the Council such as could be raised from their Beds met and securing the Castle and City with such strength as they had the Lord Mac-Guire Collonel Hugh Oge-Mac-Maâ—one some of them afterwards hanged at Tiburn and others were convened before them who yet made so slight a business of their Plot being discovered and their persons apprehended as the Relator saw Mac-Mahon and others draw Gibbets in Chalk with men hanging on them in several places in the Lord Borlases Hall as the best death the English could expect from them In the Interim Dublin by a strange Providence was secured though afterwards infested with so many inconveniences such streights as these Justices Government was under a perpetual trouble and anxiety being at the best but uncertainly supplyed out of England though such was the Resentment that the Parliament then sitting had of Ireland and the outrages committed
for which and his integrity he bears the Papal Frown having manifested only that the Vicar of the Church hath no Soveraignty over Soveraign Princes in their own Dominions in Civil and Temporal Affairs A Tenent so necessary that the contrary in History is marked with a black Coal Nor can it be otherwise no Pope willingly allowing Subjects any other Obedience to their Prince than what is in subordination to their See upon which the greatest dissentions in the World have ensued so that indeed to talk of Obedience in Civil and Temporal Affairs only is in truth nothing the Ecclesiastick Authority wiping off at pleasure the other Cobweb pretended Subjection The 26 of October following his Graces arrival at Kilkenny the Parliament which had been long put off by many necessary Prorogations fell into consideration of the Explanatory Bill of Setlement which took up much time as it had long before exercised his Graces Solicitations Interest and Studies in England At length it passed though not without some doubts by the Commons in Parliament which his Grace with the advice of the Council the 15 of December 1665. having satisfied he past into an Act which I am the willinger to mention that what Niceties soever one may raise thence the Faith of this Illustrious person given in its defence may bear up its honour and validity though some thought notwithstanding the utmost extent of the Investing Clause the whole was short of what might be expected for Money so long subscribed the charge the Souldiers and Adventurers had been at for surveying maintaining and defending their Lots the passing of Patents and the great Rents payable thence which considering the State of Affairs could hardly be avoided As it may well be concluded by this that after five years pains taken by the King by his Councils and by his two Houses of Parliament the State was got no farther than into the Prospect of a Settlement All which and more you will find in his Graces Speech to both Houses of Parliament at his giving the Royal Assent to the Grand Act of Settlement 1665. to which I must refer you as being the support of his Graces confidence in the Settlement and may well be others whoever is most concerned in the Adventure At his Return for England near three years after he was chosen Chancellor of Oxford on Dr. Sheldon Lord Archbishop of Canterburie's rie's Resignation August 4. 1669. as one best able to protect that place and the Theatrum Sheldonianum a Piece if not exceeding emulating the stateliest Monuments of Antiquity yet he was not sworn till August the 26. at Worcester-House London in a Convocation there held by Dr. Fell Vice Chancellor a most obliging and vigilant Governour and others of the University in their Formalities 1668. April the 25. the Earl of Ossory was again sworn Lord Deputy in the absence of the Duke his Father who embarqued the day before for England he having passed over his Government with general satisfaction resigned The right Honourable John Lord Roberts of Trâ—ro Lord Privy Seal Lord Lieutenant General and General Governour of his Majesties Kingdom of Ireland one of the Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council Anno Domini MDCLXIX 1669. To John Lord Roberts Baron of Thruro Lord Privy Seal the 18 of September who landed at Houth and was that day honourably conducted to Dublin and sworn at the Council Board Lord Lieutenant who on the access of the Lord Barkley to the Government gave up his Power with this short Speech My Lord I will not detain you long from the great Charge now placed upon you Action is the life of all Government I have no more to say But I received this Sword in Peace and will deliver it so to your Excellency For whom I have seen this Inscription written by one who knows as well what Men are as the Language wherein he is excellent to express them in Hic jacet aut habitat Recti Pertinax Honoratissimus Dominus Dominus Johannes Barkley Baro de Stratton Locum Tenens Gubernator Generalis Hiberniae necnon Serenissimo Principi CAROLO Secundo Angliae Scotiae Franciae Hiberniae Regi Fidei Defensori c. tam Anglia quam Hibernia e Consiliis Secretioribus 1670. May the 21. John Lord Barkley Baron of Stratton landed privately at Rings End by Dublin scarce then expected and was that day sworn Lord Lieutenant at the Council Board Who going for England 1671. June the 12. Dr. Richard Boyle Archbishop of Dublin and Lord Chancellor and Sir Arthur Forbes Barronet a Member of the Privy Council and Captain of a Troop of Horse were sworn Lords Justices Archbishop Boyle was one of the twelve Bishops consecrated in St. Patricks Church in Dublin the 27. of January 1660. in that solemn Order as since the Reformation the like hath not been observed with so much Formality and State a Procession yet not so solemn as amazing To the Euge of which was that ingenious and celebrated Anthem designed entituled Quam deâ—â—o exaltavit Dominus Coronam Composed by the then Dean of S. Patricks Dr. William Fuller since Bishop of Limerick now of Lincoln and that no question might be raised as to the Legitimacy of this Ordination some who in the late Wars moved excentrical to their Functions were not admitted to lay on their hands though the eminency of their Parts and the strictness of their lives are exemplary The Justices 1671. The 23 of September delivered up their Power to John Lord Barkly Lord Lieutenant then returned out of England who with much tranquility continued his Government till that His Excellency Arthur Earl of Essex Viscount Maldon Baron Capel of Hadham Lord Lieutenant of the Counties of Hertford and Wilts one of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council Lord Lieutenant General and General Governour to his most excellent Majesty King CHARLES the Second of his Kingdom of Ireland in the 24 year oâ— his Reign MDCLXXII 1672. August the 5. Arthur Lord Capel Earl of Essex Son of Arthur Lord Capel the Victim arrived at Dunlary near Dublin and that afternoon was sworn at the Council Board Lord Lieutetenant A person so acceptable to the Nation as Obedience is their Sacrifice and Honour his Rule FINIS In his Dedicatory Epistle before the Statutes of Ireland C. Vel. Patere p. 11. Veter Epist 50. Hiber Sylloge p. 118. Fol. 737. Fol. 353 Spel. Gloss fol. 336. Fol. 346. Spel. Gloss fol. 331. Alias Dominus de Chepstow Earl of Ogie in Normandy Earl of Leicester Earl Marshal of England Vicegerent of Normandy Lord Lieutenant as is said of Ireland and Prince of Leinster in the right of Eva his wife sole heir of Dermot Mac-Morogh King of Leinster Hoveden Is est inter Caesarem Populum constitutus Judex ita ut quicquid ab eo Negotiorum Imperialium justum est perinde habeatur ratum ac si ab ipso Caesare fuerit peractum L. Funestella De Magistratibus