Confederation of Kilkenny. Cromwell. Adventure Act. Treasonable Plots.

**Chapter VII.

**1644-1685.

Bolton’s Treatise - The Catholic Confederation of Kilkenny in 1642 - Cromwell in Ireland - Parliament in Chichester House - Sir Audley Mervyn, Speaker - His Speech - The Adventure Act applied to Ireland - The Confederate Army fight for King Charles I. - Forfeiture of the Estates of the Confederates - The Protestant Bishop of Cork obtains good Terms for the Cromwellians - He receives Thanks of the Lords - Court of Claims - Treasonable Plots.

Immediately on the death of King James I., his son Charles I., then a popular and pious prince, succeeded to the throne. By the death of an elder brother, Henry, who was educated by George Buchanan, a very eminent Scotch tutor, Charles became heir; and though it was feared he was too much under the influence of Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, and not of strong intellect, his quiet, gentle disposition made him beloved. He selected as viceroy for Ireland a faithful friend, Sir Thomas Wentworth. In 1639 a Parliament met, and a more orderly election for the Speakership of the Commons took place. Lord Wentworth was viceroy for Charles I.; and the Commons elected Mn Serjeant Eustace, Speaker, being a wise, learned, and discreet man, of great integrity. On the 26th March, having attended with as many of the members of the House of Commons as wished, he appeared at the bar of the House of Lords. The viceroy sat in state, the peers in their robes, the bishops in lawn. After the usual formalities, the learned Speaker then at great length, with elaborate eloquence, harangued these patient, grave, and reverend seigniors.

Wentworth was soon created Earl of Strafford, and built a large mansion near Naas, in the County Kildare, called at this day the Black Tom’s Castle. As he knew he could best serve his royal master, King Charles L, around whose throne the Puritan republicans were hovering, by making grants of land to those likely to support the king, and as Queen Elizabeth had been able to make immense grants in Munster by the forfeiture of the Earl of Desmond’s estates, and James I. had driven the natives forth ruthlessly from the fertile province of Ulster, and in these days of arbitrary power of the Crown, Strafford issued a Commission to ascertain defective titles in Connaught, the object being to nullify the titles of the estates throughout Connaught, in order they might be vested in the Crown. The sheriffs of counties were directed to have proper - that is to say, obedient - persons ready for the Commission, and willing to find for the Crown. The plan succeeded in many places; but when the Commission reached Galway, the sheriff had not a jury packed, and those empanelled would not be obedient. The result was the jury were fined heavily. The unfortunate sheriff was both fined and ordered to be confined until he paid the fine, which was so heavy he died in prison. The Irish Parliament was so incensed at the conduct of the lord chancellor, the judges, and the Privy Council, who aided and abetted the inhuman viceroy, they resolved on their impeachment. Another motive also actuated them. The Earl of Strafford was to be tried in England for his conduct, and as it was supposed he would summon many of the Privy Council in Ireland to give evidence on his behalf, the Irish House of Commons prepared articles of impeachment against Sir Richard Bolton, Lord Chancellor; John, Lord Bishop of Perry; Sir Gerard Lowther, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas; and Sir George Ratcliffe, knight. On the 27th February 1640, a committee of 44 members was appointed by the Commons to prepare the charges, and they lost no time; for on the 4th March they had the following articles drawn up:-

First, that they, the said Sir Richard Bolton, with the others as above named, intending the destruction of the commonwealth of the realm, have traitorously confederated and conspired together to subvert the fundamental laws and government of the kingdom; and, in pursuance thereof, they, and every one of them, have traitorously contrived, introduced, and exercised an arbitrary and tyrannical government against law throughout this kingdom, by the countenance and assistance of Thomas, Earl of Strafford, then chief governor of this kingdom.

Secondly, that they and every of them, the said Sir Richard Bolton, knight, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and the others, have traitorously assumed to themselves, and every of them, royal power over the goods, persons, lands, and liberties of his Majesty’s subjects of this realm; and likewise have maliciously sent a petition to the House requiring that their characters should be cleared from these grave accusations; and after a full debate it was resolved that the House should proceed no further upon the said articles of accusation against the said lord chancellor and chief justice, and thus the formidable impeachment ended.

More important impeachments were carried to a more successful issue. But these events, namely, the impeachment of Strafford and his royal master, do not form the subject of this work. Pym, who had been the intimate friend of Sir Thomas Wentworth while he advocated republican principles, on finding that Wentworth espoused the royal cause, said to him, “So you have left us; I will never leave you while your head remains on your shoulders.” The headsman’s axe which struck the head off the king and Strafford proved the earnestness of the stern republican promise.

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