1687. Neagle, the Lord-Deputy's Two grand Counsellors, advis'd him to write to the Lord Sunderland, which he did accordingly, fetting forth Sheridon's Briberies, and other finifter Practices, not taking notice of Sheridon's Contrivance against himself. Afterwards he fent for Sheridon into his Clofet, and in the Prefence of several Perfons, demanded of him, whether or no he had written any thing against him to London? Sheridon confidently anfwer'd, He had not; but that he had heard that his Excellency had writ against him; which fo enrag'd the Deputy, (who was a Man that could not contain his Paffion) that he call'd him Traitor, Cheat, and other abufive Names; and pulling out Sheridon's Letter, ask'd him if that was not his Hand? Which for the prefent put him into great Disorder; but after fome Recollection he began to juftifie himself, and to enter into a Capitulation with the Lord Deputy; at which Tyrconnel rifing in Excefs of Fury to kick him, Sheridon was turn'd out. Tyrconnel and his Party held a Jong Confultation how to proceed in this nice Affair: They dreaded not Sheridon's Intereft, or Accufation fo much, as this Opportunity of awakening his Excellency's Enemies at Court; after various Debates 'twas at laft agreed, That Daly fhould take Sheridon to task, and fo accommodate the Matter, as to ftifle any farther Noife of it, which Sheridan was ready enough to embrace; but at the fame time both the Lord-Deputy and he ftrove who should firft entrap his envious Competitor; Tyrconnel to execute his Revenge upon the titular Primate, for fiding with Sheridon, revived the Quarrel that the Irish Clergy had with the Primate, efpecially the titular Archbishop of Cafhell, which happen'd in this manner. Upon an Affembly of the titular Popish Bishops of Ireland, great Debates arofe concerning the Priority of their Jurifdictions, in reference to which, the Primate ufurp'd over them all, not diftinguishing the Archbifhop, which he of Calbell, refenting as an Indig. nity, inflam'd the Difference to a great height, and caus'd the Affembly to break up abruptly,

and

and in great Difcontent with one another. This 1687. Quarrel had been dormant for fometime, nor did it now continue long upon the Stage, for Tyrconnel foon receiv'd a fevere Reprimand from Father Petre' for this rafh Action, which tended to expose and ruin their Party.

Sheridon to pursue his Defigns against Tyrconnel, follicited an Order from the King for his going over, which having obtain'd, and being arriv'd at London, he foon found by the cold Reception he had from Sd, that there was no Expectation of removing Tyrconnel; for he was fortified with the French Intereft, and was, in a manner, Deputy to Lewis, not James; it being faid in Paris, when News came there of Tyrconnel's being ftruck out, That there was none in England durft move him. Sheridon wanted not those who were Well-wishers to his Delign against the Deputy, as Castlemain, Powis, and fome others; but they durft not truft him with their Sentiments, but fent fome of their Confidents to animate him with general Promifes, without naming any Body. He had not continued Three Days in London, when he was follow'd by the Lord Dongan, Son to the Earl of Lymerick, who brought Letters to Sd and others, fetting forth Sheridon to great Difadvantage; which Negotiation fo fucceeded, that even Father Petre, his Wife's uncle, would admit him no longer to his Prefence; and foon after being return'd to Ireland, by Sentence of the chief Judges he was dif- Sheridon's mifs'd from all his Employments: A juft Reward for his former Apoftacy from the Church of England.

Fall.

Another Blow came from Rome against Tyrconnel, Vain Enwhich requir'd the Affiftance of his beft Friends to deavours to divert: The Earl of Castlemain had for fome time fupplant been return'd from his Embatfie to the Pope, but Jefferies was advanc'd to noPreferment, which he complain'd and Tyrof to his Holinefs, and was feconded by Father connel. Petre. Upon the Receipt of their Letters the Pope writes over to his Nuncio, to addrefs to the King in Castlemain's Behalf; nor would his Holiness's Recommendation have prov'd ineffectual, had

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there

1687. there been a Vacancy. But to fupply that, Father Peters takes Opportunity to ftrike at Jefferies, the Lord Chancellor, for tampering in the Bufinefs of Magdalen-Colledge: In order to which, he acquaints the King, that the best courfe to accomplish his pious Defign of establishing the Catholick Religion, was to let his prime Minifters understand, that no Pretence of Service done fhould protect 'em, if they fail'd in the minutest Circumftance relating to the Catholick Caufe. This Argument was fo purfued with conftant Vigour, that 'twas brought *Dec. 17. to the Cabinet, and it was refolv'd that Jefferies $687. fhould be put out, and that Three of the Lords of the Treafury fhould be made Lords Commiffioners of the Broad Seal, and that Castlemain fhould be Lord-Treasurer. This Refolve continued not Ten Days, but upon the fudden the Scene chang'd, and Jefferies was more fix'd than ever. The true Cause of this was never known, but 'twas ob ferv'd that the Queen and Sd adhered to him. This gave fresh Caufe of Difguft to Castlemain, and to the Church-Party; for now it began to appear that Affairs mov'd by the French Intereft, in Oppofition to that of Rome: Such infuperable Difficulties had the Eafinefs and Bigottry of the unfortunate King James expos'd him to: His Zeal and Affection led him to adhere to Rome, but his Dependance was intirely built upon France.

The Church-Cabal embrac'd the Opportunity of the Lord Deputies and Sheridon's Quarrelling, to recommend Castlemain as a fit Perfon for the Government of Ireland, reprefenting in lively Colours how injurious thofe fcandalous Impeachments of Tyrconnel and Sheridon had been to the Catholick Caufe, and how much they had retarded its Progrefs; farther urging, That Tyrconnel had proceeded by too flow a Motion, and that he had effected nothing but the turning out of a few Soldiers, and frightning away the induftrious English, who might by Indulgence and Encouragement be alJur'd to turn Converts; and that Castlemain was a Man of great Parts, and of an infinuating Carri

age,

I

age, for the accomplishing of fuch a Work, as the 168.7 reducing of Hereticks.

This was foon fent to Tyrconnel, and by his Penfioner in London communicated to Paris: To prevent the impending Danger, the Lord-Deputy and his Two grand Politicians, Rice and Neagle, fit up Night and Day, and confulted what Apology they fhould make for their small Proficiency in profelyting Men to their Religion; and what Method they fhould take, for the future, to endear Prote ftants to the Efpoufal of the Romish Caufe and Intereft. They confider'd that whilft the English were Malters of their Lands, they fear'd not the Government; but that if they were touch'd in their Eftates, they would either run into Treafon or Converfion; and therefore upon mature, Deliberation Rice and Neagle were order'd to draw up the Subftance of an Act, whereby the Lands of the whole Kingdom were, in a manner, given into the Power of the King; and altho' the Catholicks were to have but half of their Eftates, yet the other part was to be under fuch Qualifications, as that the King might difpofe of it to fuch as he found to be obedient Sons. This, if the King would have pursued, a Parliament they could have had when they pleas'd, fitted for their Turn, all Corporations being already put into Popish Hands, and all the Sheriffs of the Counties being Papilts, would not fail to make Returns to their Advantage. This Confult being come to this Ripenefs, 'twas concluded that Rice fhould go over as Plenipotentiary in negotiating this Affair, and Chief Juftice Nugent obtain'd Leave to accompany him, tho' 'twas not thought fit to intrust him with the fecret Intrigue. The Irish Ambaffadors, (for fo they were call'd here in England,) being come over, Rice made his firft Court to the Lord Sid and was fo active and induftrious in advancing the Defign that Father Petre was influenced to join in it, tho' at firft he could not be prevail'd upon to hear of it: For he was abfolutely biafs'd by Ca Atlemain's Intereft; and being no Politician, but of a vain, imperious Temper, was wont to contemn every

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1683. every thing that was not to his Humour; how. ever this Project being to convert or confound the Hereticks, he at laft embrac'd it, and fo 'twas concluded, that he and Sd thould wait on the King with it. But notwithstanding Father Peter's Adherence to this Defign, yet did he continue in his former Inclinations for removing Tyrconnel; and 'twas believ'd that happy Difference among the feveral Romish Factions, was the prime Occafion of diverting this fatal Blow defign'd for Ireland.

The Business was in the Clofet fully difcours'd to the King by Sd and Petre; and His Majefty was foon inclin'd to the thing; but how to pafs it in the Council, there lay the Strefs of the Difficulty; for he was very apprehenfive that fuch as were oppofite to Tyrconnel's Continuance in the Government of Ireland, would be more violent againft his being there with a Parliament, too great for fuch a Man whom the Council had in Contempt. Father Petre thought he could easily remove that Obstacle, by introducing the Pope's Recommendation of Castlemain; but that was cancell'd by the powerful Protection the King of France afforded to Tyrconnel. Amidft thefe Difficulties 'twas hard to form a Refolution; but however 'twas agreed to, that the Two Judges fhould be publickly introduc'd to the King with their Project for calling a Parliament in Ireland, and to reprefent to His Majefty the deplorable Condition of his Catholick Subjects, occafion'd by the Inju ftice and Oppreffion of the Act of Settlement. All this was done accordingly, and they brought to Whitehall, where the King receiv'd their Project in writing, and told them, he would advice with his Council about it.

The first Council-Day the King brought this Project to the Board, and in few Words acquain ted them with its Importance and Contents, and by whom it was prefented to him. No Man fpoke a Word, either in Favour of, or in Oppofition to the thing, but defir'd it might be read; which being done, the Lord Bellafis, in a Guft of Paffion in

veigh'd