The grievances of the peers and gentry of Ireland
- Reference: MS 840, fols 025r-026v
- County:
- Date: 25/3/1642
- Type: Miscellaneous
- Nature of Deposition: Arson, Military Action, Multiple Killing, Robbery, Words, Miscellaneous
- How to Cite
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61
The generall Greivances of the Peeres and gentry of this Kingdome of Ireland which cheefely consisteth of three
1. of Religion which was resolved (before ever Wee tooke armes) to bee suppressed among vs as appeareth by theis circumstances
1.That the English and Scotts combyned and joined in a petition to his Majestie to bee lycenced for to come into Ireland with the Bible in one hand, the Sword in the other for to plant their Puritan Anarchicall Religion amongst vs, otherwise after to distroye vs,
2.That many hundred of Protestants and Puritans of Ireland did joine in a Petition to Parliament in England for to plant that Religion amongst vs and to extirpat vs,
3.That in all or most of the speeches and other proceedings of this last Parliament in England they inveighed against Catholicks in generall by the name of Papists, and especially against the Catholicks of this Kingdome chargeing them traiterously to have conspired with the Lord Strafford (a Protestant) for to extirpat the whole scept of the English many Libels published by their directions against Catholicks and orders thereby to bring them into dislike with his Majestie and otherwise adviseing to lay the Axe at the very roote of Poperie for their extirpation chargeing the King to have comitted Armes into our hands,
4.That vpon the first coming of the said Lord Strafford into this kingdome it was mainely vrged that an act of Parliament should passe against munition and Armes to bee enjoyed by any of vs, and that haveing failed heerin they supplied the same by Act of Councell in this Kingdome, thereby to leave vs nacked naked and disinable vs to defend ourselves against their wicked interprises and resolucions
5.That Persecution against Religion hath been of late Dayes threatened and practised by some of the Cheife Governors of this Kingdome with a full resolucion to proceede therin, had not this Majestie out of his an bountifull mercie by his gracious direction prevented them/
6. That by severall penall statuts established in England the Catholiques
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there are to suffer for their Religion, the punishment, some as Traitors others as felons, wherin it is to bee considered that the Parliament of England beeing of opinion that the Statuts in England shall binde the Natiues of this kingdome contrary to Lawe and the liberties and freedome of this Kingdome, Wee cannot expect better measure at their hands then those of England, beeing their owne flesh and blood, have had and are daily Subject vnto ,
2.Of the Kings Prerogatiue whereof hee is wholly abbreviated and our gratious Queene wronged and abused in a highe degree, which appeares by theise Circumstances
1.First by the late Statute of a Trieniall Parliament forced vppon his Majestie in that Kingdome of England, where as there is noe Prerogative soe incident as the Summoning P r ou g ing prorogueing and dissolveing of Parliaments,
2.To take the aucthoritie of Leavying of Armes and pressing of Soldiers and Comanders from his Majesties to their Parliamentary juris jurisdiction onely
The late Act of abolishing and pulling downe Bishops and Bishopricks, likewise enforced vppon his Majestie,
4.The violating of the Articles concluded on in marriage betweene our Royall and Gracious King and Queene
5.That they possessed themselves of all or most forts and strong holds in England with out the Kings aucthoritie,
6. That some of our Agents imployed over to his Majestie long since are not yet returned whereby Wee suspect, and the constant rumor goes that they are stopped by the Parlaiment as others that had his Majesties passe to come over into Ireland,
7. That by depriueing his Majestie of these and many {
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heerin not mencioned they endeavour to disinhable him for to grant those graces and priviledges vnto vs, which allwaies Wee found him inclinable and redy to grant
That though his Majestie by his Prerogatiue may dispense with all penall statuts, the same Royall Power is likewise taken away from him by the Parliament of England.
3. For our Countries libertie whereof Wee had been allwaies abreviated as in theise particulars besides those alreadie sett forth by others may appeare
1. That all the Catholicks of this Kingdome are debarred of publicke Catholick free schooles Colledges and vniversities for education of their Children
2. That bare Proclamacions made at Councell Board in this Kingdome have the force of confiscating subjects goods at pleasure
3.That noe Cleargie man of the Catholick Religion of what degree soever in this Kingdome hath any Ecclesiasticall benefice onely liveing vppon the Charitie of Native Catholiques, who by reason of their many oppressions suffered, by the meanes of it [
4. That these and severall other our greivances beeing exhibited vnto the Subordinat ministers of the State in this kingdome who were desired to make the same knowen to his Majestie they not onely failed therin, but alsoe deprived vs of the way and meanes wherby the said grievances might come to his Majesties audience, soe as by their meanes together with those of their faction of the Puritans of England Wee are altogether debarred of makeing our grievances knowen to his sacred Majestie but to other Nacions have endeavoured of late as much as in them lay to brand vs with false and scandalous libells, and that those of their factio, in this Kingdome intending a generall dearth and extirpacion have not spared by killing and murdering of men women and Children and burning
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of their howses and Corne where ever their strength could prevaile.
5.That Those in places of aucthoritie in this Kingdome of later times enforced divers of their faction to bee Members of the Parliament against the freedome and constant rules of Parliament and lawes of this Realme wherby the better to enable themselves to make and ordeine Acts of Parliament for the Captivating of our consciences and suppression of our liberties,
6.That none of our Catholick Nobilitie or Gentrie are advaced to any Places of promocion or Dignitie as Deputy, Chancellor, Justices etc.
7.That many of the Subjects cannot enjoy the benefitts of their grants from his Majestie vppon pretences that his Majestie was either deceived in his grant or knewe not what hee had granted
8.That Jurors are enforced by the Judges contrary to their Consciences sometimes to finde verdicts in prejudice of the Subjects and others refusing to finde the verdict are fined in more then they are worth and also imprisoned and disgraced with papers about their heads in Pillory
9. That vppon tryall of life and death the testimonie of a Malefactors and Rebells are received by the Judges procurement against the subjects and vppon such testimonies convicted
This inclosed in L: Mountgarratt lettre
to the Earle of Ormond dat: 25 March
1642
Ex per Ma: Barry
Mathew Barry