93 He had in the December before seized sir Robert Stewart, and sent him prisoner into England. He soon after secured major Areskyn, who unwittingly and unwillingly was made instrumental to ensnare sir Robert; colonel Mervyn, who for particular ends had been concerned in that affair, and imagined himself a favourite, was likewise apprehended, and sent in the next ship to the parliament. Coote did not like the chief officers of sir W. Cole's regiment, and therefore about the same time (Dec. 22) issued a warrant for seizing lieutenant colonel W. Acheson, major Graham, captain Hugh Rosse, and others of the garrison of Eniskilling. Those gentlemen were seized and clapped up in the castle of the place, pursuant to the order; which was not attended with those consequences that the authors of it expected. These officers were exceedingly beloved by the soldiers, as well as by their brother-officers; and had not been many days in prison, before all the regiment, meeting with a favourable opportunity, took arms in their behalf, seized sir W. Cole, and made themselves masters of the town and castle of Eniskilling. The officers being released, took upon them the command of the place and regiment, and sending captain Rosse to the lord lieutenant, obtained from him proper commissions for that purpose, Acheson being made colonel of the regiment, and the rest advanced in their order.

94 This encouraged major Galbraith, and the officers of 60 sir Robert Stewart's, colonel Mervyn's, and other old Scotch regiments in the north, to resolve upon the like insurrection, and to send to the marquis of Ormond for commissions to authorize, and for a body of one thousand horse to support their undertaking. Captain Gerard Irwing was sent to assure him of their duty to his majesty, and of a powerful body of forces, unanimously devoted to the king's service, and sufficient to put him in

b X. 222, 55, 326, 336, 337. W. 321. Y. 3, 84, 100, 101, 199.

possession of all the country about the Laggan, except the forts of Derry and Cullmore; which being in sir C. Coote's hands, made it worth while to invite, and (if possible) to gain him over to the same cause. John Lesly, the learned and loyal bishop of Raphoe, was at the head of this engagement of the Laggan officers, and the first that signed the letter to the lord lieutenant. His excellency was always persuaded of the loyal affections of those gentlemen, but till he saw the issue of the peace, he could not invite them to a declaration thereof, nor assure them of needful assistance. He was agreeably surprised with this address from them, sent the commissions they desired, and assured them that the lord Inchiquin should be by the end of the month (March) with four thousand foot at Athlone, ready to march to their assistance; but the horse designed to join with him could not be drawn together till grass was come up, without the ill consequence of being made useless for the rest of the year. However, as they had communicated their resolutions to some that had not failed to send notice of them into England, it behoved them to be quick in putting them in execution, before fresh forces arrived from thence; and they might depend upon all the supplies and assistance that himself or lord Inchiquin, who would be nearer them, could give. This advice had scarce reached those officers, before they found themselves in the last week of March necessitated to take arms, and block up sir C. Coote in Derry.

95 The lord lieutenant, when he entered upon the exercise of his government over the Roman catholics, had great difficulties to struggle with. It was no small one to satisfy the expectations and ambitions of different persons for places of command in the army. Lord Clanrickard had observed so much in this respect whilst he was at Kilkenny, that as soon as he returned home, with

C

X. 252. Y. 23, 54. X. 376, 248, 284, 209, 276. Y. 230, 5, 258.

a disinterestedness in what related to himself, and a zeal for what concerned the king's service, (in which qualities he had no superior,) he sent to the lord lieutenant to quit his claim of lieutenant general of the army, resigning it absolutely to his excellency's disposal. The generals of particular provinces were now suppressed, so that there were fewer posts of that nature to be disposed of; and fewer persons could be gratified in the disposal. The earl of Castlehaven and lord Taaffe were in the general assembly competitors for that of general of the horse; it was decided in favour of the former, who had been named to it upon conclusion of the peace in 1646. The latter's merits were very great, and he was not a little disgusted at the preference given to his rival; but his great affection to the king's cause made him reserved in expressing his discontent, which had no ill effect but the loss of a man formed and bred for action, and who might have been usefully employed in the service. But there were other persons of quality more dangerously discontented, both in regard of their neighbourhood and alliances with Ulster, and because their judgments and affections were not so well settled. Such were the earl of Westmeath and some others. From one of these, who formerly, and as yet seemed to observe the government, the nuncio, a little before his embarkation, received a letter, importuning him to make a longer stay, and undertaking to raise as great a disturbance as had been formerly in the kingdom. The marquis of Ormond was not in the least 61 accessory to these discontents, which there was no pretence of imputing to him; but in truth it was not possible to please all who had pretences of great interests and suitable ambitions. These discontents were the more dangerous, because the regular clergy already threatened to be troublesome, the nuncio having taken care to get Ulster Irish made provincials of the several orders, who assembling the most factious spirits in chapters, took

96

upon them to censure those who were well-affected; and endeavoured to inflame matters against the time that the nuncio should (as he had promised) return with greater powers. The bishops had been frequently informed of these proceedings; but took little care to prevent the mischief.

It was another disadvantage to the marquis of Ormond, that he was utterly ignorant of the condition of the confederate party; so that as soon as the peace was made, he was obliged to inquire into the place and state of their magazines, the stores, the train of artillery, and the officers thereof, the lists of men, the pay and quarters of the army, which was to be continued on foot, the condition of their garrisons, and the persons, interests, and dispositions of the governors of cities, towns, and forts. Lord Inchiquin was allowed the sole command and ordering of the forces and garrisons he brought with him to the king's obedience; and had almost the whole province of Munster assigned him for their maintenance. The confederates had engaged to keep on foot an army of fifteen thousand foot and two thousand five hundred horse. Under pretence that there were a greater number of forces in pay than the provinces could support, they disbanded a considerable number of men, (most of which ran to O'Neile and listed in his troops,) and would have had Inchiquin's army likewise reduced. The marquis of Ormond in January desired, that provision might be made for the constant maintenance of five thousand of these forces in proper garrisons on the frontiers, that he might draw a party from thence for any service by the first of March. The quarters of the forces had been horribly wasted, and yet the country would much rather have maintained them upon an equal division of the army into each county, than be obliged to raise the money charged on them by way of applotment, which was the method that the commissioners liked, and which brought money into

their pockets. Eight of these commissioners were of the burnt and wasted countries, which paid nothing to this charge of money, so that their own ease seems to have been consulted in the case. They seemed more intent on getting honours, places, and employments for themselves and friends, than on the public service; took very little care either to raise the money applotted, or to fill the magazines which the lord lieutenant proposed to erect at Ross and Athlone with corn and provisions for the army. They had applotted sixty thousand pounds on the kingdom; but in March, when his lordship proposed to take the field, and it was necessary for the king's service to enter upon action, they pleaded that it would require a great deal of time to collect it, and proposed to borrow money of particular persons, cities, and places, by mortgaging to them (not any part of this applotment, but) the king's own revenues, particularly the tenths of prizes. They were so dilatory in their proceedings, (the natural consequence of several persons acting in commission, which requires a certain number to join in every act,) that Mr. Terence Coghlan, a gentleman by his long experience, great abilities, and entire affection to the king's service, very well qualified for the employment, was soon weary of his post of commissary of the victuals; and at the end of March, when lord Inchiquin was to be with his forces at Athlone, scarce any provisions were sent to that magazine.

97 All that the marquis of Ormond had in his own power was the private revenue of the crown; and with this (if with any thing) he was to make the best provision he 62 could for an early campaign, on which the success of all his measures chiefly depended. Other ways failing, he endeavoured to borrow money upon the security of the customs of seaport and trading towns within the Irish quarters, for he had nothing to do in lord Inchiquin's. Thus in the last week of February, going to Waterford, by the assist