Legislation of the Parliament
Above : King James I, King Of The Time
In October, 1614, the Parliament reassembled, and the Members now seemed disposed to work together amicably. The Catholic party was even anxious to gain the favour of the Government by adopting a deferential and submissive attitude. When a Bill for the attainder of Tyrone, Tirconnell and the rest of the fugitive chiefs was introduced, no voice was raised in their defence, although, in point of fact, nothing save that they had quitted the country without obtaining permission to do so from the King or the Lord Deputy, had been proved against them. The passage of this Bill without protest through the Irish Houses gave great satisfaction to the Government. It was expected that foreign princes, who might think of taking up the cause of the exiles, would be discouraged by what appeared a proof that they would be likely to meet, in their native country, with little or no support.
As almost a necessary corollary to the Bill of Attainder, an Act was passed confirming the title of the King to the confiscated Ulster lands. The pecuniary distress of the Government, or it might be more correct to say of James himself, was relieved by a subsidy of £20,000 ; the first regular Parliamentary subsidy that had ever been obtained from Ireland.
The King condescended to thank the Irish Parliament for its liberality, and declared that he would henceforth safeguard the interests of his Irish subjects with especial care. Notwithstanding this profession of good will, when the Catholics asked for some concessions—the remittance of the Sunday fines, and the restoration to their professional status of some lawyers who had been forbidden to practise in the courts because they refused to take the Oath of Supremacy—their requests were not granted.
In November, 1614, the Parliament ended its second Session, but in the following April it met again and sat till October.
At the end of October (1615), James dissolved it. Like all the Stuarts, he had no love for parliaments and, having obtained from this one all the money and legislation that he desired, he was anxious to get rid of it as soon as possible. No fresh Parliament met in Ireland till the reign of his successor was well advanced.
