A. D. 1641. 419 



have fixed at lafl in England with their fortunes, and have thereby laid 

 the foundation of many great families. And it is the peculiar honour 

 of Barbados, that it is to this day the nobleft and beft cultivated fpot of 

 ground in all America, and produces the fineft, and alfo the greateft 

 quantity of fugar of any of our iflands, the large ifland of Jamaica only 

 excepted. 



On Saturday the 23d of Odlober (a day dedicated to St. Ignatius 

 Loyola, the founder of the fociety of Jefus) broke out the dreadful re- 

 bellion and general defedl;ion of the Irifh, and even of mod of the old 

 Englifh papifts in Ireland, who by a general malTacre attempted to ex- 

 tirpate the whole race of proteftants, and in the firft three months de- 

 ftroyed 154,000 proteftants with great cruelty, the defign not being dif- 

 covered till the night before. 



The Irifh papifts had lived quietly ever fince Tyrone's rebellion was 

 fupprefled, at the clofe of Queen Elizabeth's reign ; but in the begin- 

 ning of this year they -had formed the execrable plot of cutting the 

 throats of all the Englifh throughout Ireland, leizing on all fortified 

 places, and abfolutely fhaking off the Englifh yoke. In all parts at any 

 dillance from Dublin the plot was executed on the above day, but the 

 projedt of feizing the caftle of Dublin on that day was difcovered the 

 night before, otherwife their infernal fcheme would probably have been 

 rendered efFedual. We jufl briefly mention this horrid mafliicre, purely 

 as it had a bad influence on commerce ; and we fhall only farther note, 

 that it had alfo a great influence on the Englifh parliament and people, 

 to the detriment of King Charles and his popifli bigotted queen. The 

 parliament fent fuccour and fupplies to Ireland in fuch flender quanti- 

 ties, and with fuch deliberation, as teflified that they believed the king's 

 aim was to drain England of troops, and to engage the parliament in an 

 Irifli war, to keep them from meddling with his prerogative, and lef- 

 fening his power ; fo the breach between the king and his parliament 

 became every day wider. For the effectual fuppreflion of this rebellion 

 an act of parliament paffed in this year [c. ^;^'\ for difpofrng of two mil- 

 lions and an half of acres of lands belonging to the rebels to Vv-ell-affedl- 

 -ed lenders of the following fums, viz. a thoufand acres of good land in 

 the province of Ulfter for L200, the like quantity in Connaught for 

 L300, in Munfter for L450, and in Leinfler for L600, all freehold ; 

 paying quit-rents in Ulfter of one penny per acre, in Connaught three 

 halfpence, in Munfter twopence firthing, and in Leinfler threepence 

 per acre. Thofe lands to be laid out to the fubfcribers by lot. And 

 thus were a great number of well-afteded proteftants fettled on the lands 

 of lazy and bigotted papifts, very much to the improvement of that 

 kingdom. 



1642. — A treaty of peace and friendfhip was concluded at London 

 on the 29th of January (foreign ftile) between King Charles I and 



^G 2 



