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severall times told both myself and divers others (I believe I could recover it under his hand writing) that his Majtie had to him declared his resolution in this perticular, that though Hee would admitt the Romanists to Trade in Corporacions, yet hee never intended they should bee Magistrates there, all wch is exactly conformable to Mr. Secretary Nicholas Lie before-recited.

I might take ye advantage of these expressions in these 2 Lres of ye 13 of Aug: 1661, and of ye 17th of Aug: 1670, wch have never yet bin contradicted, and wth out consulting wth any in England impose ye Rules wth an express clause for taking these oaths, but in all cases of moment or difficulty (where time will admit ye sending for it) it shall ever bee my rule to inquire his Majties Pleasure, and my practise to conforme exactly to it.

From my self I have only this to say wch I humbly offer to his Majties consideration, that if his Majtie should by these rules dispence wth ye Oath of Supremacy all of ye Roman persuasion will immediately bee capacitated to bear Offices of Magistracy in all ye Corporacions of this Kingdome, and his Majtie engaged by these rules to make this Priviledge good to them, whereas on ye other side, though these Rules should require the taking of this oath, yet by connivance his Majtie may, (as in case of Justices of Peace hee doth) allow such as shall please him from time to time to dispense with from ye taking this Oath, and admit them by his special favor to enjoy this Priviledge. Besides, I doe really believe that if Romanists bee admitted to ye Magistracy in Corporacions, it will upon ye whole bee a hindrance to trade here; For I am confident 'tis not in jest that I hear from all hands that if this should once bee allowed many wealthy Trading Protestants would upon that score withdraw themselvs and their stocks. And upon this occasion give mee leave to tell y' LoP that I already begin to find how differently many matters have bin represented to mee when I was in England, from what I now upon ye Place perceive to bee ye Truth; 'Tis my method to refuse ye speaking with no man, what ever I learn that is proper to bee communicated to your Lop you

may be fully assurd shall wth all candor and impartialite bee imparted to your Lop.

I humbly desire an Answer to this Affaire wth as much speed as conveniently you can, and that it may bee positive and clear; if his Majtie shall in his wisedome think fitt to consult his Privy Councell in this matter tis most agreeable to that wch hath bin done by himself in yo like case as you see by one of ye Lres enclosed. And I thinke it may not bee unworthy in an affaire of this importance to send an express with the Aunswer, who for more certeynty may goe through Scotland by Port Patrick, for many times ye winds at this season of ye year continue for some weeks constantly in ye west, wch if it should now happen, wee cannot hear from England by ye ordinary Post. I am ye more earnest for an Aunswer in regard I must of necessity goe suddenly on wth ye dispatch of this business, that ye Advantages of ye Crowne by this Regulation bee not overslipt. The time by y Act expiring at Michaelmas next, and in case no Aunswer should come, I can doe no other than proceed according to ye significations of his Majties Pleasure in these enclos'd Lres wch have as yet received no Countermand.

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The Councell here are almost all unanimous in this matter, and will I believe wth some warmth press ye imposinge ye Oath of Supremacy in all ye Corporacions.

X. THE EARL OF ESSEX TO THE EARL OF ARLINGTON.

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I had lately a Lre from my La Orrery, wherein hee desird my Licence for the keeping of six Iron Guns a wch hee saith are his

a See Letters VI. and XV. Essex's refusal (August 20) and Orrery's letter of remonstrance (August 23) are both in the MS.

owne, and now planted in the Castle of Ballimartyn. I have absolutely refus'd this Licence, and since that I have recd another Lre from him upon the same subject, wch tells mee hee has a Patent under ye Great Seale to fortifie Charleville (another house of his) wth Forts and Bullwarks, and to mount and use Great Guns on the said Fortifications. My Lord of Orrery, as yr Lop knows, is a person with whom I have had a long acquaintance, and one to whom I shall all waies bee ready to make expressions of civilitie and friendship, yet in a case of this nature I thinke it my duty to acquaint yr Lop with ye matter that I may receive his Majties commands, for wth out his Majties especiall Commission I will never, while I command here, suffer any private men to have possession of a regular fortified Place, furnished with Guns, and if my opinion bee asked upon this subject I thinke it may prove of more dangerous consequence to have it otherwise then at first sight it may seem, for if one noble man bee allowd a strong place, another great man may desire and cannot well bee denied ye like Priviledge, and if many noble men should have them four or five of these great men, combining, may give the King the same trouble as the Barons of England have in former times their Kings.

All places of strength ought certainly to bee in the King's, and in no other hands, wch I shall keep entirely soe while I remain in this Kingdome, unless his Majtie order the contrary.

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XI. THE EARL OF ESSEX TO LORD CLIFFORD."

MY LORD,

[Stowe 499, fo. 28.]

Dublyn Castle, Aug. 31, 1672. Yr Lop may bee pleased to remember that near the time of my departure from London, upon ye closing of ye Establishmt for this Kingdome, five hundred Pounds a year were reservd with intention that, if I should find cause to move the King in behalf of this City of Dublyn, it should be restored to them agen. The unhappy differences wch have bin among them, and were by his Majties orders of Refference referd to my self and the Councell here, I find to bee one of ye uneasiest parts I have to compose at ye entrance of my Governt, and, let it be determind wch way it will, must leave a very considerable part of this City much distracted. I have, therefore, thought it most conducing to his Majties service to make a composure of ye matter, and having employed some persons to try what either Partie doe insist upon, wee have brought them so neer one another, as I am perswaded it may bee ended, to the satisfaction of both Parties, wch being done I confess I should bee glad if I might bee instrumentall in procuring the restitution of ye five hundred pounds a year to this City, and to that end I desire yr LoP will bee pleasd to mind his Majtie of it, and that I may have an Order to insert them into the Establishmt, wch, if I shall see that by their compliance upon this occasion they doe meritt, I will put it in execution, but if not, I will suspend doeing any thing in it.

a Lord High Treasurer. On the same day Essex writes to Arlington expressing the fear that he may be thought slow, but he is taking time to avoid mistakes. On Sept. 21 Clifford tells him that "there appears to us here another face on all the affaires of that kingdom since your L'ps arrival than there hath done for many years before."

XII.-CHARLES R. TO THE EARL OF ESSEX.

[Vol. i. fo. 192.]

[Essex is to prepare, but not to issue, a proclamation for raising or abating foreign money as he thinks best. The king thinks that the new coining of farthingsa in England, which are to be current in Ireland, will remedy the difficulty Essex mentioned in Letter VII. All licenses for taking money out of the kingdom have been revoked, the Duke of Ormond giving up his voluntarily. The despatch then proceeds.]

CHARLES R.

As to ye matter of regulating Corporations, wee have considered of ye principall points represented by you to have beene drawne up & reported to ye Councell by ye Comittee appointed in that businesse, & are of opinion & accordingly Our Pleasure is, That as to that concerning ye Oath of Supremacy to be taken in all Corporations it bee fixed as a Generall rule, that noe person whatsoever bee admitted into any Place of Magistrature or Government in any Corporation within that Our Kingdome till hee shall have first taken ye Oath of Supremacy, except such as Our Lieutenant for yo time being, or other Chiefe Governor for ye time being shall think fitt for some particular reasons to dispense wth in that behalfe, & suitable to this Our Pleasure is, that you doe even forthwith & at ye same time that you shall execute this rule in ye generall towards Corporacons make use of ye Power of dispensing in this particular of ye Oaths with such persons in any Corporations as you shall find qualified for that grace by their Loyalty, Sobriety, prudence, estate in trading, or other particular considerations. And as to ye encouragement to bee given to Forreigners to come & settle themselves in that Our Kingdome, wee think it of great advantage to Our said Kingdome, & accordingly Our Pleasure is, That you doe

a The Lucas-Farthings. See Parl. Hist. vol. iv. p. 474, 1671, Feb. 22.

b The Declaration of Indulgence, which claimed the dispensing power, was issued on March 15, 1672.

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