December Document of the Month
State paper signed by Charles I, May 1628. Ref. NAI/2006/79
On the accession of King Charles I in 1625, the wealthier Catholics who sat in the Irish House of Lords and the Irish House of Commons moved to have anti-Catholic legislation reformed.
By September 1626, there were 26 concessions being offered; they were around issues relating to the Church, legal title to land, freedom of trade, and the Oath of Supremacy. It was not a smooth negation. In April 1627, it was felt that the Irish would prefer to substitute a militia commanded by themselves rather than financing Charles’ standing army.
Finally, in May 1628, the Irish nobility agents appeared before the King’s council in London. In exchange for 51 ‘Graces,’ they agreed to provide £42, 626 12s.3d.per annum for three years.
This signed document details the breakdown and instructions about the size, composition, organisation command, payment, personnel, and army administration. See here for the complete document.
