1613. Vol. 616, p. 122. 142. The PETITION of certain of the nobility of Ireland to SIR It pleased you this last summer to give some public notice of the King's pleasure touching a Parliament to be held in this kingdom, of which great joy was conceived by all, both because his affection to the good of this poor realm was thereby expressed, and relief for many grievances of the subjects expected. As the petitioners by their rank and place are of the Grand Council of the kingdom, they expected to be made acquainted with the public Acts to be transmitted to the King, a favour which might well have been extended unto them considering the present prosperity of Ireland. To this they cannot but add the omitting of many of the ancient nobility, and the summoning of others to have voice and place in Parliament, who are already parliant in other kingdoms, howsoever others, having new creations here, may be called lawfully. "And howbeit those observations may seem to favour, and of a privacy, yet being io-joined with the subsequent (which arise in present occasions) we may not, as members of this commonwealth, but offer all in bulk to your Lordship's consideration, without distinctive respect, as matters highly touching and concerning the public good and justice of this kingdom." First. That new corporations are created not only within the late plantations but also elsewhere, and many (if not mot) of those since the summons of the Parliament; and clerks and others here, who have little or no estate in the kingdom, and in special within any of the corporations are to be returned as burgesses to have voice and place in Parliament. Secondly. The preposterous courses held by sheriffs and others of note in the election of knights, citizens, and burgesses, the rejecting of burgesses returned by ancient boroughs, and many of the ancient boroughs omitted, much to the amazement and discontent of the natives and inhabitants, who claimed by their right a better usage and fairer carriage in matters of this quality. Thirdly. Both they and we may not but observe and fear the conceit that may be taken of the assurance of our loyalty, when in time of perfect peace such numbers of armed men are appointed to attend the sitting. And the holding of Parliament in the principal fort and castle of the kingdom, and that in a part thereof where the powder and munition lieth under, which will not only aggravate the former conceit of doubt and suspect, but also strike fear into the sitters by the late example of England, which they wish you to prevent. And as these particulars are such as future times make dangerous precedents of, and former ages afford none such, whereby they have more occasion to put you in mind, 1613. they pray that your Lo. will license and recommend some of them in the behalf of the rest as suitors to the King for relief. Signed: Gormanston, David Rupe and Fermoy, Mountgarrett, Buttivante, Delvin, Ed. Slane, Trimleston, Louth, Dunboyne, Cahyr. The DEPUTY'S ANSWER. The King's pleasure concerning this first clause was delivered unto all the nobility and gentry there present in this city, in Michaelmas term, 1611. We prayed them at that time to afford us their counsel and advice in what they thought most convenient to be propounded for the good of this kingdom, and at their own request we gave them time to think, and to bring their conceits in writing unto us in Michaelmas term following, which they promised to do, but did not perform. They demanded of us by Sir Thomas Bourke and Sir Theobald Dillon sight of what we had drawn unto heads, wherewith we refused to acquaint them. And whereas they seem to conceive that they ought to be made acquainted with the bills or heads of Acts before they were first sent over to his Majesty and the Lords of the Council to be viewed, and that it belongs unto them as the Grand Council of this kingdom tohave it so, I answered that I had no precedent for it, neither did I conceive that they were that Council meant by the statute. There is not one of the ancient nobility omitted but those under 20 years, unless they insist upon the Lo. Bourke, who is not called for the respects expressed in the King's letters. And for those other noblemen, who being Lords of Parliament in the other kingdoms are now called also to this, it was but the King's pleasure to do them that honour and to make them peers also of this realm, his power and will in that behalf being such, as that they ought not to envy the same. It was simply to do them honour, and for that they had great states in this kingdom, and not to strengthen the house in voices, for they were not enjoined to appear, nor are they come over. The new corporations were made by the King's express order, thinking it would be injurious to his good subjects of the new plantations in Ulster and other plantations in the realm to exclude them from having voices in his present assembly of Parliament, since the affairs therein treated concern the whole realm and their posterities. But if any of the charters have ensued since the summons of this Parliament and not before, it was but the omission of some of those that were long trusted with the expedition of that business, for the corporations of Ulster and others were set down, when the Lord Carew was here, by the King's own approbation. By like authority some other good plantations were thought meet to be incorporated in other parts of this kingdom; as 1613. the King's bounty is common to all. The election of quality attending the State, and of some clerks likewise, is no new thing; neither was it ever hitherto excepted against. The House is to judge of the miscarriage of the sheriffs and abuses committed in the elections. Touching the ancient boroughs enabled to send burgesses, none are omitted to my knowledge. If any be, name them, and they shall have a writ of summons. The great numbers of armed men here spoken of are but one hundred foot, and they were brought into this city as well for the honour of the state as for its defence, and against the tumultuous outrages of the ruder part of the citizens, who lately drove their mayor from the Tholsel and forbad him to repair unto us for succour. And were we apt to cast doubts, or to be astonished at the unusual coming hither of numbers of men their followers, I must say that we had cause to doubt our safeties, they being three for every one that was called hither, at which I take no exceptions, neither do I fear their force. The castle was appointed for the place by the King's special letters, and it is a great honour done the nation to allow that his principal house should be employed for this present assembly, for which I thought that they should have been thankful. Concerning powder being under the room it is merely imagined, for it was lately removed to places of more safety. Let it be remembered of what religion they were of, that placed the powder in England, and gave allowance to that damnable plot, and thought the act meritorious, if it had taken effect, and would have canonized the actors. We must suffer with them if anything should so happen as they unworthily imagine. I know no impediment, but is removed, saving that which sticks so long in them, the doctrine of Rome and dregs of Anti-Christ. Signed: Arthur Chichester. Dated 17th May 1613. To the LORD DEPUTY of IRELAND. The petition of the knights, citizens, and burgesses of the counties, cities, and ancient boroughs of this realm. Where we preferred a declaration of the abuses and violence proferred to the Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament elected by us, and of the terror put into our hearts in the miscarriage of that business; we offer you, that if we may by your means be secured in our persons, and have the benefit of the laws of the kingdom and of the ancient freedom and customs of former Parliaments held herein, with the censuring of the unduly elected, or that have unlawfully intruded into the Lower House, with the determining of the abuses therein committed, we will be ready to repair thereunto and to May 21. Vol. 616, p. 124. 143. 1613. May 26. Vol. 616, p. 126. 144. present our Speaker, and after proceed as shall be requisite to the uttermost of our endeavours. 21° May 1613. Certificate of Sir Arthur Chichester. Albeit you have neither cause of fear or doubt, yet in answer of your petition, you and all the members of the House of Parliament shall be secured in your persons, and shall have the benefit of the laws of the kingdom, &c. All which I promise in the name of the King, and therefore repair to the House and do your duties and we will be in the Upper House to receive the Speaker. Signed: Arthur Chichester. We, the underwritten persons returned out of the counties, cities, and ancient boroughs of this realm, certify that upon the 18th day of May, the first day of the Parliament, we assembled with others in the Lower House, and sitting there did elect Sir John Everard, Knt., to be Speaker of the said House, and protest that in respect of the terror impressed in us by the violence and forceable pulling of the said Speaker out of his chair, and because of the quality of the place, we dare not for fear of our lives present him, as we were required by the Lord Deputy, nor sit in the House appointed for us. Witness whose names are subscribed this 20th day of May 1613. Signed: Daniel O'Brien, Brien McMahon, Robert Talbott, William Bourke, with others. Copy. Pp. 2. PETITION from some of the Recusant Members of Parliament to the Lord Chichester of Belfast, Lord Deputy General of Ireland. We have delivered to you the reasons which moved us to withdraw ourselves from the society of those who were unduly returned to this Parliament, granted as we conceive upon the lawless courses held in the very first action thereof; and the same causes still remaining, the same reasons might also serve to free us from all imputation and give you satisfaction for our dutiful carriage in this our purpose. Yet because the late command laid by Parliament upon us to attend in the Parliament House on Thursday next, a particular means to frame an answerless objection seems to be wrought by those, that we except unto for being unduly elected, against us, we took occasion to bethink ourselves of a special answer hereunto. It is commonly hinted that the late proclamation tended to summon us to repair to the Parliament House to recognize the King's right and title to the Imperial Crown of these kingdoms, and that our holding back at the time fixed will cast an aspersion upon our loyalties, infamous to 1613. Vol. 616, p. 127. 145. all posterities, and justly hateful, as though the same should proceed in us from neglect of duty. But so far are we from any such wicked imagination, that we can avow before God that such undutiful apprehension never once possessed our thoughts. In demonstration whereof as we acknowledge the King's undoubted right to the Imperial Crown of this kingdom, so are we ready to give attestation with heart, tongue, and sword upon all occasions, without respect of life or lands, against all princes and potentates whatsoever. And as we are ready to express this acknowledgement, so we will not fail to give our attendance in the House as commanded, if the same be freed from those that are come hither by lawless courses, until the objections made against them shall be judicially determined; removing likewise Sir John Davies, until his election shall be legally tried. Signed: Walter Butler, Tho. Plunkett, William Bourck C. Walys. Endorsed: 26 May 1613. Copy. P. 1. The CONDITIONS of the UNDERTAKERS of ULSTER. Points requirable at the hands of undertakers now in force as well by bonds as patents. Conditions in a bond of 400l., viz., that he, his heirs or assigns, shall, within three years, build one dwelling-house of brick or stone with a strong court or bawne about the same, upon the proportion of land called the great proportion of 2,000 acres for defence of residents. Middle proportion in 300l., same condition. Small proportion in 2007., to build a bawne. A servitor-undertaker to perform, viz., rent in the patent 167. per annum English, at the feast of Easter 1614, and so rateably for the middle and small proportion. Covenants in his patent, viz., to have ready in his house 12 muskets and callivers, 12 hand weapons for the arming of 24 men, 600 acres in demesne, and that he can alien all other premises. British undertakers are to perform conditions in a bond of 4007. viz., within three years from Easter 1610, to erect and build a dwelling-house of stone or brick with a strong court. Within the said three years to plant or place upon the said proportion 48 able men, aged 18 years or upwards, born in England or inward parts of Scotland. Also during the five years after the Feast of Michael the Archangel 1610, to be resident in person, or by some other, as shall be allowed, &c. Shall not alien the said proportion or any part thereof during the said five years but unto his under-tenants whom he is to plant. Rent in patent for 2,000 acres, 107. 138. 4d. sterling; to begin as aforesaid and so rateably. Covenants in patents.-To allow timber to others within |