night, and left not a man in or about his house, but he hath dispatched in several ways; and he hath sent me this way to Tirlagh Oge, Mac Hugh, and others also, with letters, charging them to be with his lordship this night at his house.

Of which passage I would have given your honours sooner notice, but that I deemed it fit to be silent, in expectation that a little time would produce some better ground to afford me more matter to acquaint your honours withal.

Whereupon this day I understood by one Hugh Mac-Guire, that the said Tirlagh Oge, Mac-Hugh, Con-Connaght, MacShane, Mac Enabb, Mac-Guire, and Oghie O'Hosey, reported themselves to have been appointed captains by his lordship to raise men, and that he had the nomination of seven other captains to do the like, for to serve under the king of Spain in Portugal; and that one of the said captains, namely, the said Con-Connaght, entertained twelve men. What authority or commission there is for this is not here known, but it makes some of us that are of the British to stand in many doubts and opinions concerning the same; and the rather, for that those three men so named to be captains, are broken men in their estates and fortunes, two of them being his lordship's near kinsmen; and that if any evil be intended, they are conceived to be as apt men to embrace and help therein as any of their degrees in this country.

These matters seem the more strange unto me, for that they are so privately carried, and that upon Friday last I heard sir Frederick Hamilton say, that the colonels, that at my last being 36 in Dublin were raising of their men to go for Spain, were since stayed by command out of England.

I have now therefore sent this bearer purposely by these to make known to your lordships what I have heard in this business, which I humbly leave unto your honours' consideration, and desiring to know your pleasures herein, with remembrance of my most humble service unto your lordships, I will end these, and be ever

Eniskillin, 11th of
Otober, 1641.

Your lordships in all duty to be commanded,

WIL. COLE.

XXX.-Endymion Porter, esq. to the earl of Ormond.

MY MOST HONORED LORD,

I WOULD I had as much power and worth in mee to serue your lordship, as I haue ambition to bee knowne to you; then I am sure the obligations I owe you should not bee long vnrequited, nor I faile in that which I soe much desier. But your lordship hathe a gallant disposition, that lookes vppon truthe and good will with equall eies; and therein my condition maye bee comparde with the best, for no man can loue your lordship better, nor honor you more then I dooe.

This gentleman will acquaint your lordship how the affaiers stand here, which rather recoyle then aduaunce to his majestie's seruice. But what fate it is that rules vs, I know not; sure it must bee an vntoward one, that hathe putt three kingdoms into such a tottering disease, as at this daye the king himselfe cannot saye that hee is absolute ouer either of them. And if the newes which is braught hither of a reoult there bee true, vnless his majestie make vse instantly of your lordship's courage and wisdom to saue Ireland, it will quite bee lost at once, whilst the other twoo moulder awaye. But I am no statesman; my cource is in a lower sphere. I can wish well and praye for his majestie; and whensoeuer your lordship shall bee pleased to commaund mee, I am by conquest and free will

Your lordship's most deuoted humble seruaunt,

Edinburghe, this 29th

of October, 1641.

ENDYMION PORTER.

XXXI.-The king to the earl of Ormond.

ORMOND, though I am sorry for this occasion I haue to send vntoe you, which is the sudaine and vnexpect rebellion of a great and considerable part of Ireland; yet I am glade to haue soe fathfull and able a seruant as you are, to whom I may freely and confidently write in soe important a busines. This is therfore to desyer you to accept that charg ouer this, which you lately had ouer the former army; the which, though you may haue some reason to excuse, (as not being soe well acquainted with this lord lieutenant as you was with the last,) yet I am confident that my desyer, and the importance of the busines,

will easily ouercome that difficulty; which laid aside for my sake, I shall accept as a great renewed testimony of that affection which I know you haue toe my seruice.

Soe referring what I haue els to say to captaine Weemes relation, I rest

Eden. 31 Oct. 1641.

Your most assured frend,

CHARLES R.

XXXII.-Mr. secretary Vane to the earl of Ormond. 37 MY LORD,

CAPTAINE Weemes will represent vnto your lordship how vnwelcome and vnexpected is happened this general reuolt in Irland to his majestie; I meane of his majestie's ill subiects of that kingedom, itt beinge fomented by the priests and Jesuists. God's miracolously discouery of itt but the eue before the execution makes mee confident the traytors will haue their iust reward; and hauinge fayled of their enterprise vppon the castle and cittie of Dublin, by the wisdomes of your lordship and the justices, this storme will blowe ouer. Howeuer, his majestie's care and affection is such of his faithful and louinge subiects, as all possible diligence is vsed; and orders are already sent out for supplies of men and money out of England, and men out of Scottland, to reinforce the lordes of Ardes, Chichester, and Clandebois in the north.

His majesty in his royal letters to your lordship, written with his owne hand, will tell you the valewe and esteme hee hath of you, and of your fidelitie and affection to his person, in a time thus conditioned. Hee reposes much of the safety of that kingedome in your conducte; and that by your meanes next vnder God you will bee able to beate downe and dissipate this soe dangerous a conspiracie in the budd. My lord, goe on prosperously in itt; for itt will bee honor and glorie, which you will accquire both from kinge and your countery, to bee an instrument to stopp the issewes of blood from runninge as att a ful sea, which cannot bee auoyded, if not timely preuented.

I am sorry that such an occasion hath preuented you from wayttinge of his majestie; but since God hath appointed itt soe, I shal beeseche you to command my seruice in any thinge that ORMOND, VOL. V.

S

may concerne you; in which I shal serue your lordship as faithfully as your owne hart, and euer rest

Holyrood-House,

first of November.

Your lordship's most humble seruant,

H. VANE.

This bearer hath been as carefull of all that concernes you, as if your lordship had been heare your selfe.

XXXIII.-Sir George Wentworth to the earl of Ormond.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP;

I AM thus farre on my retreate (towards our poore Yorkeshire retirement) with this disconsolate family of ours; and if content be not our owne, we are masters of litle else besides misery. For not onely behind vs, but, if report may be credited, in these kingdomes two, there wants not eclipses to threaten vs; and if it doe noe more, it is well: but some of the discreter sorte conceaue danger to be in it. And indeede distracted times neuer failes of persons fitted for ill attemps; and that our climates are seasoned with such spiritts there are two greate assurances, the particulars whereof will come vnto your knowledge before these haue the honour to attend you, (I assure myselfe,) and therefore I shall lessen your trouble.

My lord, these are actiue times, and I knowe your power will be called upon, in assistance, to better these disquietts; your counsells desired to file into some eauenes these breaches; your iudgment and fidelity to be relyed on, noe subiects more; and therefore, good my lord, in a just consideration of my obligations, of your owne merits, suffer this boldnes in me, that hath nether ability nor experience to iustifie soe large a presumption, nor 38 any other thinge but harty affections to serue you with; in the strengh of which I humbley intreate to be crowded in the multitude of those that haue the honour to march vnder your commande, as a gentleman that can with as greate a chearefulnes die at your foote as liue with any other subiect whatsoeuer. And since we are all likely to try our fortunes in that kingdome, deare my lord, let me not be soe vnblessed as to be sheltred vnder any other couert then your owne; but chalenge me soe farre to your selfe, as one whose actions (I trust) shall neuer

committ any thinge vnworthy that relation I had to a freind of yours and brother of mine, that is with God Almighty; but in all waies of justice and honour buckle my selfe to your call, and with all the faith possible sacrifise my life to serue you, as a person that am then richest in my owne content, if in any one thinge I can appeare gratefull to your exceedinge freindships to our family. My lord, admitt me your fauour in these, and, if crowned with your commands, I shall valewe it soe highly, as nothinge in this world can more glade

Your lordship's truly faithfull and most humble seruant, Chester, the 8th G. WENTWORTH.

of November, 1641.

XXXIV.-Sir William St. Leger, president of Munster, to the earl of Ormond.

MY SINGULER GOOD LORD,

I SHALL humbly desire your lordship's pardon, for that I am by the bearer's hast constrayned to make vse of the pen of my

servaunt.

This lynes serue to no other purpose then to giue your lordship a confident assuraunce, that if it should please God any commotion should arise in theis parte, (of which as yet I thanke God there is no manner of apparaence,) I should seriously indeavor to doe your noble sweet lady, your mother, and my sweet god-sonne as much service as possibly in mee lay; betwixt whom and any daunger I should not faile to interpose my owne person for their safety and defence. But the lords justices haue bin pleased, not only to depriue mee of the meanes wherewith to serue my freinds, but haue in manner left mee naked and defenceles, hauing withdrawne all the foot companyes out of the province; then which no greater incouragement can bee given to ill-affected persons to moue in the disquiet of this commonwealth.

In which act their lordships will find little advantage to arise vnto their designe vpon the enemy; for that hee is only to bee beaten downe with the horse troopes; and that hee may bee most fezibly, being only a company of ragged naked rogues, that with a few troopes of horse would bee presently routed. To which purpose I could hartely wish my self with your lordship, if there were no danger in my absence from theis parts;