warm-hearted, and generous, to an extraordinary and
enthusiastic degree. Not alone were the Marquis and
Lord Herbert deceived by the machinations of the wily
monarch, but so likewise were the whole Roman Catho
lic community. Had it been otherwise we might suspect
undue measures would have been adopted, but wherever
such were carried into effect they were on the side of the
Crown and not of the subject. Charles the First s duality
of character in this respect has never been, nor can be,
successfully refuted. Embarking, therefore, in his
Majesty s cause, in Ireland, we cease to be surprised
that the Earl of Glamorgan should, consistently with
his faith, be in constant consultation with the Nuncio
and conform to proffered oaths. In short, had he
adopted any other course than that which he pursued,
his negociations would from the first either have ceased,
or merged into the dilatory measures attending the
168 LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOUKS [1646-7.
Lord Lieutenant s previous course, which it was ex
pected by the King that the Earl would be able to out
run and overmatch. But his utmost diplomatic skill was
insufficient to grapple with and satisfy the grasping
party on his own side ; and he was equally unsuccess
ful placed in opposition to such practised politicians
as Ormond, Digby, and others. And above all, a su
preme difficulty must have been, the condiicting of his
entire system to accord with the subtleties and secrecies
of the King s personally communicated and private
counsels. He was thus placed in many painful straits,
but which his ardent, vigorous temperament determined
him to overcome. In his position, however, the Earl
felt a compulsory necessity to maintain great secrecy ;
negociating with many mental reservations. He had
to satisfy the King, while he did not wish to dis
oblige Ormond, and although there was a natural
bond of sympathy between himself and the Eoman
Catholic party, he could neither wholly accede to the
Nuncio s measures nor satisfy the Council. To the
best of his ability he consistently and conscienti
ously employed the vast powers delegated to him for
the good of his King and his country through his
own party ; so that no historian, not his most bitter,
sarcastic enemies, can point to any single fact that
could cast the slightest taint on the rectitude of his con
duct throughout the unfortunate and unhappy transac
tions into which it was his misfortune to be drawn
by a too sanguine, hopeful, but helpless monarch.
On the 3rd of April the Earl wrote to the Marquis
of Ormond : *
" MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,
With many thanks for your letter delivered me
by Sir Vivien Molineux, give me leave to congratulate
* Bod. Lib. " Carte Papers, 1634-1637, Ireland, 63." No. 172.
1646-7.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 169
your Excellency s happy escape from the mischievous
intentions against you by the wicked enterprise for the
taking of the castle of Dublin. And as nobody joys
more in your deliverance than I do, so cannot any one
wish more heartily than I, that all the warnings which
your Excellency hath had might prevail to persuade
you, in whom you might totally best confide, and of
whom to beware ; and then with a stedfast resolution
to adhere to your truest and most real friends. Amongst
whom, if your Excellency afford me not a place, I dare
boldly say that it is not for want of having already
endeavoured to deserve the same by serving you, with
as great expressions, both public and private, as my
wish and will could possibly obtain unto. Neither
shall my future actions be inferior to what is past, but
shall (God willing) enact those things wherein my good
will only can yet be seen : for upon the ground work of
my professed reality and affection unto your Excellency,
and of your noble and friendly acceptance thereof, have
I ever thought to build a fabric of my future services
to his Majesty and most real friendship to yourself,
whose subsistence I tender as mine own. And if your
Excellency s first begotten and expressed confidence in
me had not been retarded by some unknown means
unto me, though I humbly and thankfully acknowledge
you never suffered it to be extinguished ; give me leave
to aver with truth, that your Excellency ere this should
have seen the remarkable effects thereof. But this is
so copious a theme, as that I fear already I have been
too prolix, I will therefore abridge myself, and not ex
tend unto the latitude, which the truth of this subject
prompts me unto.
" And to the second part of your Excellency s letter,
give me leave to thank you for your tenderness in not
accepting the 2500 from me ; but also your Excellency
may know, that it is upon a reliance thereon, that the
170 LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOUES [1646-7.
Council offered you the 3000, and for the performance
thereof I am enforced to this journey, without which
against the prefixed time I could not have supplied
them with the money. Now to the latter part of your
letter, wherein you promise I should at large hear
farther from you, as upon Friday last ; but yet have
received.no other your commands, which I expected,
before I thought it necessary to answer yours of the
24th of March. But receiving no other your directions,
I think it opportune to let your Excellency know, that,
of three vessels which I sent for a convoy unto the
Prince, Sir Nicholas Crispe, and Mr. Hasendanke, the
merchant, I have but one return, Captain Allen being
taken and stript. And I hear a packet of your Excel
lency s, as well as letters, thrown overboard without
weight, were taken up ; which I look for shortly to
have in print.*
" By the sole return which came unto me, I received
notice from the Prince and those about him, in how ill
a condition he was enforced to retire into the Isle of
Scilly, where he now is ; and made use of Hasendanke s
frigates to transport himself, whereby I was not only
disappointed of what I hoped for by the Prince, but
also of his.
" Sir Nicholas Crispe indeed offers to send me three,
but they were not then with him, and he desires a
return from me first, so that only my Lord of Antrim s
frigates are come ; and a ship with 18 pieces of ordnance,
which is hourly expected, and bought by me at Galway.
Two Hollanders there are likewise at Waterford, and
two frigates likewise of Captain Antonio s, and the
Spanish agents, which carry ordnance. These are all
of force, and truly I conceive, might, for so short a cut,
be a sufficient convoy, were not Chester taken, the
Prince in so bad a condition, and some defeat of my
* See page 124.
1646-7.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 171
brother s forces in Glamorganshire spoken of. But
upon these considerations, how hazardous it will be to
send away a part of the army only. I humbly offer to
your Excellency, not speaking anything of a great dis
heartening and discouragement some take at a pretended
declaration of his Majesty against me, though I myself
value it so little, as that, could I, without shortening
much more advantage to his Majesty s service, go my
self in person with 6000 men, I should no ways boggle
thereat. And as it now stands, to give testimony that
my zeal is not lessened to his service, and that you may
have further assurance of my care to your person, I
make this offer, that if you please to join, and together
with the Supreme Council assure me, that against my
return I may have 10,000 men in readiness for his Ma
jesty s service, I will immediately go and bring back
with me twenty sail of good shipping at the least, well
furnished for men of war ; 40,000 ready money ;
10,000 musquets, 2,000 case of pistols, 800 barrels of
powder, and a gallant train of artillery.* For I shrink
not at this instant from pain and expenses out of dimi
nution of zeal to his Majesty s service, as by the present
difficulties propounded may perchance be surmised by
others, though not by your Excellency, who (I am
confident) will make a right construction, and how I
only would willingly retire myself from further present
charge, as a ram doth to take a greater vease. For I
am not so much frightened at the bugbear declaration,
but that, if I could go myself with a considerable force
* This statement agrees pretty nearly with that occurring at page 160, and in
" The Earl of Glamorgan s instructions to me, to be presented to your Majesty,"
signed by Edward Bosden, 21st of March, 1644, viz. :
" That, God willing, by the end of May or beginning of June, he will land with
6000 Irish, &c. &c.
" That to advance these his undertakings, he hath 30,000 ready, 10,000 muskets,
2000 case of pistols, 800 barrels of powder, besides his own artillery ; and is ascer
tained of 30,000 more, which Avill be ready upon his return." See the " King s
Cabinet opened," 4to. 1645. And Birch s Inquiry, 1756, p. 57.
172 LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOURS [1646-7.
and provisions, it should not any ways deter me, from
the confidence I have in his Majesty s justice and good
ness. It is true that two days since I have sent to take
myself off from paying demurrage, which would have
amounted to one hundred or two hundred pounds a day.
But the shipping are still under an embargo, and the
soldiers designed for England no other ways disposed
of, who may in the interim until my return be useful
unto this kingdom, assisted by the Nuncio s purse. If
therefore your Excellency resolve upon my journey, I
pray send me immediate word by this messenger, whom
I have sent of purpose, assuring that the shipping I
speak of shall also attend this coast. And if (which
God forbid) the King should be already joined with the
Parliament, and that my services for him there be con
sequently rejected, I shall endeavour to serve his Ma
jesty at my return in preserving your Excellency and
this kingdom for him ; and nothing but an extraordinary
confidence in your Excellency s goodness, and an infinite
zeal unto my master s service, could make me take this
resolution ; which I humbly submit to your better
judgment, and ever remain,
" Your Excellency s, &c.
" GLAMORGAN.
" Waterford, the 3rd of April, 1646."
The reply made by the Marquis of Ormond,* to this
noble offer, only three days after, shows that he did not
esteem it as being in any way extravagant or impossible ;
he writes :
" MY LORD,
u I receive your gratulations and devices for my
future security as evident testimonies of your continued
favour to me; and I am much joyed to find, that the
accidents fallen out concerning your Lordship have not
* Bod. Lib. " Carte Papers, 1634-1637, Ireland, 63." No. 175.
1646-7.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 173
left any impression on you, to the prejudice of the real
affection you give me to bear you.
44 My Lord, I had, according to my promise, given you
a larger account of things here 5 but that, at the conclud
ing of the articles, we found ourselves so straitened
in time, that many material parts of the agreement
were fain to be put in another way than was first thought
of; and at this instant I am so pressed with important
despatches from Kilkenny, that I shall be able but
shortly and confusedly to give you a return to the
main parts of your Lordship s [letter] of the 3rd of this
month, which came to my hands yesterday about noon.
Touching the noble and large offer you are pleased to
make of shipping, arms, ammunition, and a train of
artillery for the King s service, in case you may receive
assurance from those in power among the confederates,
and from me, that ten thousand men shall be ready
against your return, to be transported to serve the King
in England. I return your Lordship this answer, that
I shall, and by this letter do, cheerfully oblige myself
for as much as shall lie in my power, either in my public
or private capacity, to have that number of men in the
readiness you expect ; and to compass it, am contented
all the remainder of my fortune should stand engaged.
If your Lordship can procure as much as this from the
other party, I conceive you will proceed in your intended
voyage with satisfaction, and return (I hope) with
success ; which is earnestly wished by
44 Your Lordship s, &c.
44 ORMOND.
"Dublin Castle, the 6th of April, 1646."
The following letter from the King, dated the 20th
of July, 1646,* originally written in cipher, while it
* A Latin copy is in the Nuncio s Memoirs, and in Italian in Vittono Liri s Mer
curic, Vol. vii. p 97, 98. Translation in Birch s Inquiry, 8vo. 1756, p. 244.
174: LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOURS [1646-7.
shows the estimation in which he justly held the Earl of
Glamorgan, only throws a darker shade on his own
mysterious and inexplicable line of policy. The Earl s
zeal and unbounded confidence in his Royal Master
(determining rather to die in his service than to break
faith with him), served, as they well might to continue
him in his favour :
" GLAMORGAN,
" I am not so strictly guarded, but that if you
send to me a prudent and secret person, I can receive a
letter, and you may signify to me your mind, I having
always loved your person and conversation, which I
ardently wish for at present more than ever, if it could
be had without prejudice to you, whose safety is as dear
to me as my own. If you can raise a large sum of
money by pawning my kingdoms* for that purpose, I
am content you should do it ; and if I recover them, I
will fully repay that money. And tell the Nuncio, that
if once I can come into his and your hands, which ought
to be extremely wished for by you both, as well for the
sake of England as Ireland, since all the rest, as I see,
despise me, I will do it. And if I do not say this from
my heart, or if in any future time I fail you in this,
may God never restore me to my kingdoms in this
world, nor give me eternal happiness in the next, to
which I hope this tribulation will conduct me at last,
after I have satisfied my obligations to my friends, to
none of whom am I so much obliged as to yourself, whose
merits towards me exceed all expressions, that can be
used by
" Your constant Friend,
" CHARLES R.
" From Newcastle, July 20th, 1646."
On receipt of this letter in Ireland, a copy of it was
sent to the Pope, who is related to have shed tears, with
* Being empowered by the King s Commission of the 1st April, 1644.
1646-7.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 175
mingled feelings of gratification and sorrow, the King s
circumstances being so desperate ; while at the same
time his determination to favour the Irish and English
Roman Catholics in all their demands was, to all appear
ance, proportionably increased. The Earl of Glamorgan,
on his part, sent his suggestions and devised a plan for
his Majesty s safe conduct to Ireland ; but the scheme
either failed or was abandoned.
On the 30th of August, the Earl addressed a long
letter to the Lord Lieutenant,* when he must have been
unaware of the fate of Eaglan Castle :
" MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,
" I have this long time expected your commands,
which to receive, having sent two expresses, I verily
believed would have come ere this into my hands;
trusting likewise to Mr. Walsingham s solicitations ; but
as yet I have neither heard from him nor your Excel
lency, one word since his departure, and receiving an
earnest desire from the Nuncio to speak with me; as
understanding likewise how prejudicial it might be to
me, and especially to my brother who is in Italy, if the
dean whom he hath sent thither, should depart without
satisfaction from me of so pressing an occasion, as was
by my Lord Nuncio pretended unto me. I repaired
thither on Saturday last, with so much the more content
ment as that I persuaded myself that your Excellency
would be at Kilkenny, and I so much the nearer to kiss
your hands ; but I now return to the county of Clare,
there to expect your commands. Yet let me not forget
to give you an account of the business I was sent for.
The rumour being spread that the Concessions (which
some call mine) were to be printed and published at
Bod Lib. " Carte Papers, 1634 1637. Ireland, 63." No. 202.
17G LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOURS [1646-7.
Kilkenny, as I have absolutely disowned any such
thing to my Lord Nuncio, and denied to patronise the
same 5 so I think myself bound to acquaint your Excel
lency, and by your means the Council Table, how
mindful I am of the favours I there received, so as not
to incur the least censure of yours and theirs by enacting
anything, for which I had already a check. And cer
tainly it cannot be imagined that the Supreme Council
which was, could expect or desire any such thing at my
hands, since they never urged to take off my recogni
zance, which through innocency I also neglected, and I
joy to be disengaged from so perilous a business, pro
testing before Almighty God, that since that time I have
entered into no new engagements unto them ; and what
hath passed before (conditions not having been held
with me), none of the Commissioners themselves can
think them obligatory, all other reasons also considered.
Besides, when they had first thought to make use of
them, it was resolved, that after the completing of con
ditions with your Excellency, they might bear a true
date subsequent thereunto ; and how invalid they are
without the same is sufficiently evident, abstracting from
the King s declaration, which (though enforced upon
him), I esteem it yet a waming for further proceedings
therein, and fit only for great persons, who can maintain
the same, to go contrary to the intimation of his Majes
ty s pleasure, though never so compulsorily granted.
For as I never have, nor will esteem, and be frighted
at the contradiction of any others, when the intimation
of his Majesty s pleasure continues to me in any parti
cular unrevoked ; so, on the contrary, can I never be
drawn, for any man s pleasure, to go immediately con
trary to what proceedeth from him, deeming it not my
part to enter into dispute which way his Majesty is
induced, when I see his positive act extant. Let this,
1646-7.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 177
therefore (I beseech your Excellency), give you and the
world satisfaction, that I no ways countenance the
standing upon any articles heretofore treated of by me,
who am no more tied to make anything thereof good,
than any man is to deliver up the possession of his lands
for which he never received the consideration agreed
upon. Besides, in order to the King s subsistence, one
man was then more considerable than three now. In
fine, having washed my hands of that business, verify I
will that proverb that the Child burned dreads the
fire. And those noble Lords, who stand my bail, may
be confident, I shall never deservedly put them in fright,
or myself in danger to save them further harmless ; or
to show such ingratitude to your Excellency and the
Council as to own those concessions which they so much
endeavoured to prevent. And thus fearing to have been
too tedious, I abruptly kiss your Lordship s hands and
ever remain
" Your Excellency s, &c.
" GLAMORGAN.
" Waterford, the 30th of August, 1646."
Ormond replied under date, Dublin Castle, the 2nd
of September, 1646, saying " I must profess myself
exceedingly satisfied with the prudence of your Lord
ship s carriage at Waterford, and with the wisdom of the
resolution you have taken in the particular of those things
now endeavoured to be fastened upon you;" ..... and
which course he designates " a thing so much to your
Lordship s honour and advantage."
Under date of llth of September, the Earl again
addressed the Lord Lieutenant :*
* Bod. Lib. " Carte Papers, 1034-1637. Ireland 63." No. 207.
N
178 LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOURS [1646-7.
" MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,
" I think myself very happy in that the resolu
tion which appeared in my letter unto you proved so
acceptable, as by the noble expressions of your letter
and of my Lord Digby s I find it is, and do humbly
acknowledge infinite thanks for your Excellency s great
desire of seeing me ; and had the self-same letter in
formed me of any service I could have done you, I
should have been far from taking the resolution which
I now have put on, correspondent unto my expressions
in my last unto your Excellency, and unto the sense
for which the commendations given me by you (I con
ceive) do proceed : which was to keep myself free from
having any part in those most unfortunate and newly
occasioned distractions, from which the further I with
draw myself, and the sooner, suits best with my dispo
sition. Besides, my intentions wherewith I came into
this kingdom were first to serve his Majesty and it ;
and next to serve your Excellency above all his sub
jects, and my own friends, which being now frustrated,
that part only remains which can only die with myself,
which is Omnibus viis et modis, to endeavour to pro
mote his Majesty s service, finding myself more capable
and more probable for to do it elsewhere for this pre
sent, than in this kingdom. I hasten towards the sea
side, where I am informed some conveniency of ship
ping will afford ; . . . yet I could not omit to send
a person of trust and confidence, by whom your Excel
lency may send unto me before my departure such
notions as perhaps you may think not fit to put to
paper. And if, either by word of mouth or writing sent
by so trusty a person as Mr. Joyner (by whom I have
sent you the reasons, that debar me of the happiness
to kiss your Excellency s hands in transitu], I find my
self thought capable by you to serve his Majesty or
1646-7.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 179
your Excellency longer in these parts, and more advan
tageously than what I am now going about, you may
be confident to receive such a return from me as may
best stand with my duty to his Majesty and my affec
tion to your person, to whom my professions have been
ever real ; and had my ambition and only thoughts
taken place, I dare boldly say, I should have vied with
the nearest person in blood or affection you have in
Ireland, in the reality of being ever,
" Your Excellency s most really
" affectionate kinsman and
" devoted servant,
u GLAMORGAN.
"Limerick, the llth of September, 1646."
Among the Carte MSS. in the Bodleian Library, from
which the foregoing letter is taken, there occurs a
curious undated letter written in cipher, which it is just
possible may be the writing above named u sent by so
trusty a person as Mr. Joyner." The annexed engrav
ing is a facsimile of an endorsement at the back of it
N 2
180
LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOURS [1646-7.
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1646-7.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 181
in the Earl s own hand- writing, affording the only
specimen approaching to an autograph exemplifying
his use of the title of Glamorgan* yet made public :
every effort to obtain it in any other form having
proved unavailing. And on page 180, an exact copy
is given of the letter itself, as traced from the original.
The Nuncio wrote from Kilkenny on the 21st of
September, 1646, to Cardinal Pamphilio at Eome,| as
follows :
" Among other patents and commissions signed
by the King, and brought by the Earl of Glamorgan
from England, there is one, appointing him Lord Lieu
tenant of Ireland, upon the expiration of the Marquis
of Ormond s term of holding that post, or in case the
Marquis should, by any fault, deserve to be removed
from it. For this reason, I was of opinion, that the
Earl, who had designed to go to Rome, should stay for
the present in this kingdom, imagining, that a way
might perhaps be opened for accomplishing this affair.
And in fact the way seems open for us, since the
Marquis of Ormond is now publicly negotiating with
the Parliamentarians, and consequently making a treaty
with the King s enemies. Upon which occasion, the
Earl, being desirous of advancing himself to the Mar
quis s post, has begun to solicit the consent of the
kingdom, and believes, that he has the interest of the
two Generals, and all the Congregation of the Clergy
and the New Council. I have thought it the more
proper to promote this affair, since when Dublin shall
be taken, it will be immediately necessary for the king-
* The autograph of Glamorgan is said by Dr. Lingard to have attested a copy
of his Wai-rant of 12th January, 1644 ; possibly the one originally handed by him