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XXIV. Some reflections on the foregoing acts..
XXV. A dangerous confpiracy of the puritans.
XXVI. The Duke of Ormond apologizes for the favour he

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The Marquis of Ormond returns to Ireland.

IS excellency having arrived at Cork, on the 29th of September, 1648, was there received with general acclamations of joy; and on the next day, the general affembly fitting at Kilkenny, gave a very fignal proof of their real defire to be again received under his government,' by fixing a public brand on the two principal oppofers of the late peace, the Nuncio Renuccini, and General Owen O'Nial. For they proclaimed the VOL. II. B latter

■ Cart. Orm. vol. ii. fol. 42.

a Dr. Leland, from Mr. Carte, gives us the following cha racter of this general: " Owen O'Nial had served in the Imperial and Spanish armies with reputation. He was governor of Arras, when the French befieged this town in 1640; and,

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latter a rebel and a traitor; and upon entering into a treaty of peace with the marquis, they drew up a charge against the former," "reprefenting the manifold oppreffions, tranfcendent crimes, and capital offences, which he had been continually, for three years past, acting within the kingdom, to the unspeakable detriment of their religion, the ruin of the nation, and the dishonour of the See of Rome." This heavy accufation met with no oppofition, even from fuch ecclefiaftics as were prefent in that affembly. "It seems exceedingly ftrange to me," fays the Nuncio himself,3 in a letter to Cardinal Panzirolo on this occafion, "that although there were eight bishops present in this affembly, which offered fuch violence to my authority, and paffed an order, that none fhould hereafter obey my commands, not one of them did protest or declare against it, or depart from the place in which it was held; or even make an apology, by a letter to his Holinefs, or myfelf, for their conduct; affirming only, that therein they followed the example of those of Portugal,

2 Cart. Orm. vol. iii.

3 Nuncio's Memoirs.

though obliged to furrender upon honourable terms, yet his defence gained him the respect, even of his enemy. Experience had formed him to be an able and skilful foldier; quick in difcerning, diligent in improving any advantage offered by the enemy; more circumfpect than enterprifing; of a genius peculiarly fuited to defence, and excellent at protracting a war; qualities of efpecial ufe in that fervice which he was now to ndertake. His knowledge of the world, his prudence, his fobriety and caution, appeared to greater advantage, as they were contrafted by the ignorance and rudeness, the intemperance and levity of Sir Phelim. To the fecret mortification of this his kinfman, Owen was unanimoufly declared by the northern Irish, head and leader of their confederacy." Carte's Orm. Lel. vol. iii. p. 178.

There were in this affembly, << two archbishops, ten bifhops, three earls, twelve viscounts, feven barons, twenty baronets, the principal gentlemen out of the three provinces of Leinfter, Munfter, and Connaught, befides fome of the chief nobility of Ulfter." Bishop of Ferns's Lett. to the Nuncio. Vindic. Catholic. p. 180.

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