March 16th, 1640
The Parliament 1640–1649, also called Parliament 1639–1648 using an unadjusted Old Style (O.S.) calendar, was the second of the two Irish parliaments of King Charles I of England. It voted taxes in 1640 and was then overshadowed by the Irish Rebellion of 1641. It was legally dissolved by the King’s death in 1649.
The Parliament was called by the Earl of Strafford, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, because of King Charles I’s need to raise funds and men to fight against the Scots in the Second Bishops’ War. The main item on the agenda therefore was taxation.
1st session
Parliament was opened on 16 March 1640 by Christopher Wandesford, whom the Lord Lieutenant Strafford had appointed his Lord Deputy.
On that same day the parliament elected Sir Maurice Eustace, one of the two members for County Kildare, as speaker.
Strafford arrived two days later. The parliament then unanimously voted four subsidies of £45,000 (about £8,500,000 in 2021) to raise an Irish army of 9000 for use by the King against the Scots in the Second Bishops’ War.
On 31 March Strafford prorogued parliament until the first week of June.
On 3 April 1640 Strafford left Ireland.
