Page:Studies in Irish History, 1649-1775 (1903).djvu/204

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James II

44 "'Twas their rule to have in the great cities, who were most English, one-third Protestants and two-thirds Papists." Secret Consults. "The persons everywhere named for aldermen and burgesses of the new charters being above two-thirds Papists." King, III., 5, *6.

45 Macaulay says that in the corporation of Londonderry "there was but one person of Saxon extraction, and he had turned papist." His sole authority for this statement is a mock-heroic poem called Londeriados, in which we are teld that there was "In all the corporation not a man Of British parents except Buchanan," and that Buchanan was "a knave all o'er, For he had learnt to tell his beads before." This curious poem is printed in Hempton's Siege and History of Londonderry. There is a list of the aldermen and burgesses of Londonderry in King's Appendix. In this list nothing is said as to the religion of the parties, but it is evident from the names that the corporation contained a considerable number of Englishmen.

46 "At this time also, viz., under King James, the Government having made choice of some Friends to serve in corporations and as magistrates, and some few having accepted thereof, though it was not of their own seeking, a paper of tender advice was drawn up, by order of a general meeting, to Friends who were so concerned." History of the Rise and Progress of the People called Quakers in Ireland, from the year 1653 to 1700, by Thomas Wight, p. 155. See also a letter of George Fox in the same place. "A remarkable thing never to be forgotten was that they that were in government then seemed to favour us and endeavour to preserve Friends." Ibid., p. 156. A detailed account of the sufferings of this unfortunate sect during the reign of

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