The annals of King James and King Charles the First ... containing a faithful history and impartial account of the great affairs of state, and transactions of parliaments in England from the tenth of King James MDCXII to the eighteenth of King Charles MDCXLII : wherein several material passages relating to the late civil wars (omitted in former histories) are made known.

A Letter to the Lords Justi∣ces, and Council of Ireland.

BY your Letters we understand how the Seditious * 1.1 Riot, moved by the Fryars and their Adherents at Dublin, hath by your good Order and Resolution been happily supprest; And we doubt not but by this occasion, you will consider how much it concerneth the good Government of that Kingdom, to prevent in time the first growing of such evils. For where such Peo∣ple are permitted to swarm, they will soon make their Hives, and then indure no Government but their own, which cannot otherwise be restrained, than by a due and seasonable Execution of the Laws, and such Directions as from time to time have been sent from his Majesty and this Board. Now it redoundeth much to his Majesties Honour, that the World shall take notice of the Ability and good Service of his Mi∣nisters there, which in Person he hath been pleased o∣penly in Council, and in most Gracious manner to approve and commend, whereby you may be suf∣ficiently incouraged to go on with like Resolution and Moderation till the Work be fully done, as well in that City, as in the other places of that Kingdom. The Carriage whereof we must leave to your own good Dis∣cretions, whose particular knowledge of the present state of things, can guide you best when and where to carry a hard or a softer hand; only this we hold ne∣cessary to put you in mind, that you continue in that good Agreement among your selves, for this and other Services, which your Letters do express, and for which we commend you much. That the good Servant of the King and State may find encouragement equal∣ly from you all, and the ill-affected my find no support or Countenance from any, or other Connivance used, than by general Advise, for avoiding further evils, shall be allowed. And such Magistrates or Officers, if any shall be discovered, that openly, or under-hand, favour such disorders, or do not their duties in sup∣pressing them, and Punishing the Offenders, you shall do well to take all fit and safe Advan∣tages,

by the Punishment or Displacing of a few, to make the rest more cautious. This we Write not as misliking the fair course you have taken, but to ex∣press the Concurrence of our Judgments with yours. And to assure you of our Assistance in all such Occa∣sions, wherein for your further Proceedings, we have advised, and His Majesty requireth you accordingly to take Order, First, That the House where so many Fryars appeared in their Habits, and wherein the Re∣verend Arch-Bishop and the Mayor of Dublin recei∣ved the first Affront, be speedily Demolished; and be a mark of Terror to the Resisters of Authority: And that the rest of the Houses erected, or Imployed there, or elsewhere in Ireland, to the use of Superstitious So∣cieties, be Converted to Houses of Correction, and to set Idle People on work, or to other publick uses, for the Advancement of Justice, good Art or Trade. And further, that you use all sit means to discover the Founders, Benefactors, and Maintainers of such So∣cieties and Colledges, and Certify us their Names. And that you find out the Lands, Leases, Rents or Revonues applied to their uses, and dispose thereof ac∣cording to the Law. And that you Certify also the Places, and Institutions of all such Monasteries, Prio∣ries, Numeries, and other Religious Houses, and the Means of all such Persons as have put themselves to be Brothers or Sisters therein, specially such as are of Note, to the end such evil Plants be not Permitted a∣ny more to take root in that Kingdom, which we re∣quire you to take care of. As for the supply of Mu∣nition, which you have reason to desire, we have taken effectual order that you shall receive it with all Conve∣ntent speed. And so, &c.

Signed by

• Lord Keeper.
• Lord Treasurer.
• Lord President.
• Lord Privy Seal.
• Lord High Chamberlain.
• Earl of Suffolk.
• Earl of Dorset.
• Earl of Salisbury.
• Earl of Kelley.
• Lord Viscount Dorchester.
• Lord Newburgh.
• Mr. Vice Chancellor.
• Mr. Secretary Cook.
• Sir William Alexander.

Mr. Chancy Minister of Ware, and Mr. Palmer Minister of St. Alphage in the City of C••nterbury, were now questioned in High Commission Court, the former for that in his Sermon he had said, That Idolatry, Athcism and Popery, was crept into the Church, and that the Gospel was likely to be Supprest. He was ordered by his Diocesan the Bishop of Lon∣don, Submission, which he performed; the other had never read the Prayers of the Church, nor u∣sed the Surplice, and therefore he was removed from his said place.

At this time there came from beyond the Seas several Exile Ministers out of the Palatinate who were there Relieved: His Majesty under the Broad Seal Commending their Distressed Estate and Condition very Pathetically to all his Loving Subjects.

And now God having given his Majesty Peace on all hands, he takes care of the Interest of his only Sister the Queen of Bohemia, and of her Children, their Antient Patrimony being taken from them by the Emperour, and given by him to the Duke of Bavaria, he therefore Leagues himself with the French King to mediate a Peace betwixt the King of Poland and Sweden, then in open Hosti∣lity, which was speedily Accomplished by the two Kings, the one hereby Intending a new Enemy for the Austrian Family, and our King the Recovery of the Palatinate: The Sweed finding his Army ready for any Enterprise of War acquaints them an intended Expedition into Germany, for the restoring Peace and Liberty to the Distressed Pro∣testants Estates and Princes there, which they like very well; pre ently after he sends his Embassa∣dour hither with the King and Queen of Bohemi∣a's Letters to our King for Assistance in so good a cause; with whom his Majesty Complies and Agrees to send him 6000 Men under the Com∣mand of the Marquiss of Hamilton; yet so as these were sent and raised only out of good will by his Subjects, that so no umbrage might be given to the Emperour by the action of the Kings, and ac∣cordingly there were made certain Stipulations and Agreements betwixt the King of Sweden and the Marquiss; which afterwards were made Pub∣lique.

And now at Ausburgh the Exercise of the Prote∣stant Religion was quite Abolish'd by the Empe∣rours Edict, and the Act of his Commons, as al∣so at Halbersteedt, and their Ministers Banished; and likewise the Catholick Bishops are Restored in those places, to Exercise Ecclesiastical Jurisdi∣ction as formerly. The Dukedome of Mecklen∣burgh was likewise taken by the Emperour from the lawful Duke, and bestowed upon Wallestein his old General, and he Invested therewith, of all which Violent Proceedings, the Sweeds being Ad∣vertised and desirous to find work for his Vete∣rane Army (but whether he ever intended the Liberty of Germany or not, only God knows, most certain it is he was not over kind or just to the Palsgrave, when God had put an opportunity in∣to his hand, as we shall afterwards hear;) he makes ready for his German expedition, expecting the Supplies under the Marquess to meet him in Germany, according to Orders and Appointment. And thus ends the Year, 1629.

This Year beginning, Died William Earl of * 1.2 Pembroke Kt. of the Garter, and Chancellor of the Universitie of Oxford, a proper person and full of Graceful Deportment, and of a Truly Gene∣rous mind, of the Antient Stock and manner of our Nobility, a person always Adverse to Men of Forein Mode and Manners, and an Enemy to the Scotch Faction at Court: he left his Ho∣nour to his Brother Phillip Herbert; and his Chan∣cellorship of the University of Oxon to Dr. Land Bishop of London, who was chosen thereto by that University, and presently afterward install'd at London by the Vice-Chancellor and Convoca∣tion.

About this time the Arch Bishop and Mayor of Dublin, Seize upon several Priests in that City in the Act of Massing, their Trinkets were taken from them, the Images Battered and Destroyed, the Priests and Friers were delivered up to the Souldiers, whom some Papists endeavour to Rescue, but in Vain, for a far stronger Power appearing with the Magistrates, they were Repelled, 12 Popish Aldermen were Imprisoned for not Assisting the Mayor, and upon their Misbehaviour

and mutiny 15. Houses were seized and forfeited to the King, the Friers and Priests were ordered to be prosecuted, and two of them to avoid Ju∣stice hang'd themselves in Prison; And yet not∣withstanding all this, some would have us believe that Popery was connived at, nay tolerated in Ireland in their times, and that by the Governours and Government of that Kingdom, but how tru∣ly such things are said, may sufficiently from hence appear.

The Ministers of the City of York now Peti∣tion the Board for augmentation of their respe∣ctive Salaries to the sum of Twenty Four pounds per Annum, referring to some instances in the like Cases in the Cities of London and Norwich, which was granted by the Councel accordingly and an order was sent to the Lord Archbishop of York, for the encrease of maintenance out of e∣very mans House-rent.

The Lords of the Councel in Ireland, as well for the encrease of his Majesties Revenue, as for the securing mens Estates as to defective Titles, put forth a Proclamation declaring the Kings will to confirm to his Subjects their defective Ti∣tles and appointed Commissioners to treat with the Kings Subjects about that work, which they did accordingly.

The Earl of Essex, of whose divorce from the Body of Kat.Howard you have formerly had an am∣ple account; had some thoughts after his re∣turn from the VVars in the Netherlands of a second marriage, and accordingly he set his affe∣ctions on Madam Paulet, a Lady by extraction of the Family of the Marquess of Winchester, of whom this account was given, by one who was acquainted with the Court in those days. That pretty she was, but poor, Beauty hath price enough, and a good Fortune would not be Courted by him; In March he was Married, but being mistaken in his abilities, finding' tis thought some defects in himself, he retired out of the Town, and thereby gave occasion to others to Court his Countess, proposing to himself [be like] the ad∣vantage of another Divorce whereto he might possibly be drawn, by some of his Dependants and Servants, whose design it was to watch their Countess, who was thought wanton enough for such a Husband, and by a Ladder to her Chamber Window, saw so much as made them bold to force the Door, where they found Mr. Udall sitting upon her Reds side very late, and unbooted, who was said to have followed in pursuit of her Sister into the Countesses Chamber where he went to seek her, but the Conclusion is reported to have been Divorce, though her innocency was plead∣ed and sealed with all possible protestations, and so generally believed until she proved with Child, &c. But enough of this Story, which I had not men∣tioned, but that another saith, these matters had been charged to the account of the best of Kings, and in revenge the Earl became the Head of an Army, giving his Soveraign battel in a pitcht Field; which Act of his, the Act of Amnesty hath par∣doned, and I shall no further mention it.

On the Twenty Ninth of May Prince Charles our now Gracious Sovereign was born about One of the Clock P. M. at whose Birth there ap∣peared a Star visible at that very time of the Day when his Majesty his Father, was going to St. Pauls Church, to render thanks to Almighty God for so great a blessing to Himself and Na∣tion, and for the safe delivery of her Majestie; who wrote to the Bishop of London to give him notice of it as followeth,

Notes

• * 1.1

  A Letter from the Privy Council in England to the Lords Ju∣stices in I∣reland, a∣gainst the Convents of Friars, Nuns, &c. erected in Ireland.
• * 1.2

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