348 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

chap. under which they themselves labored, why theivI. parliament.was unwilling to fend supplies to an

M43. army, which, though engaged in a cause muchfavored by them, was commanded by theirdeclared enemies. They even intercepted somesmall succours sent thither by the king.

The king, as he bad neither money, arms,ammunition, nor provisions to spare from hisown urgent wants, resolved to embrace anexpedient, which might at once relieve theneceflities of the Irish protestants, and contributeto the advancement of his affairs in England.A truce with the rebels, he thought, wouldenable his subjects in Ireland to provide fortheir own support, and would procure him the *assistance of the army against the English parlia-ment. But as a treaty with a people, soodious for their barbarities, and still more fortheir religion, might be represented in invidi-ous colors , and renew all those calumnies,with which he had been loaded; it was neces-sary to proceed with great caution in conductingthat measure. A remonstrance from the armyWas made to the Irish council, representing theirintolerable necessities, and craving permistion toleave the kingdom : And if that were refused,We must have recourse , they. said, to that first and'primary law , with which God has endowed allmen , we mean the law of*nature , which teachesevery creature to preserve itself ,7 . Memorials both

* 7 Ru/hworth, vol. vi. p. ;