205 censures; that they knew those censures to be an invasion of the king's authority, yet a public declaration of that kind from them might hinder their prevailing with the bishops to recall them, endanger the union which was necessary to preserve the nation, and would not be so effectual, as if it came from a general assembly, which they besought his excellency to call, and if in the mean time those censures were revived, they would not fail to publish such a declaration against them; and that they would give him satisfaction in the other points, to the utmost of their power." The lord lieutenant, though he had small hopes of success, gave leave to the commissioners to go to Galway, to treat with the bishops that composed the committee of the congregation. The bishops were desired "to consider the state of the nation, which could not be preserved without keeping the king's authority amongst them, for as soon as that was taken away, the most considerable among them would instantly make their conditions with the enemy, and that there was no hopes, either of the lord lieutenant's staying to keep that authority, or of his leaving it, or of the marquis of Clanrickard's accepting it, unless the excommunication and declaration were revoked; which they pressed in the strongest manner, but all in vain." The bishops replied, that the king by his late declaration had cast the Irish nation from his protection, and thereby withdrawn his authority; that they had nothing to do but to return to their old oath of association, and that they would not revoke their excommunication and declaration, nor give the assurances desired. 206 No remedy was now left for the disorders of the nation but a general assembly; which the lord lieutenant called to meet on Nov. 15. As soon as they met, he acquainted them with his intentions of leaving the kingdom, and required them to consider of the most probable C. C. 437, 440, 441, 450, 451, 452, 457. ways of preserving it from utter ruin; to which he would gladly, before his departure, contribute his best endeavours. Many of the bishops and other members not arriving at the day appointed, the marquis's letter was not delivered till the 25th, when sir R. Blake was chosen chairman. The assembly was very full, and composed of the principal nobility and gentry of fortune and interest then left in the kingdom; far the greatest part of them being well affected to the crown, and very averse to the proceedings of the clergy. Several of the most learned and pious, both of the secular and regular clergy, heartily detested the late measures of the congregation of James Town; and even some of the bishops, whose names were put to the declaration and excommunication, declared against them, as being obtruded on them by the major vote, or done by their proxies, without their assent or knowledge. It was expected that the assembly would call upon the bishops to know their meaning in those late acts of theirs; and before they avowed them, it was thought proper for the lord lieutenant to make an answer to them in form, though the matter thereof had been already refuted in his answer to their pretended grievances. The marquis of Ormond did not think it needful to make any reply to such a collection of notorious falsehoods as were contained in the declaration; which, however it had an effect on the ignorant commonalty, who blindly followed the directions of the seditious clergy, was abominated by all men of sense, knowledge, and integrity throughout the nation. But submitting to 136 the judgment of those, who (he knew) wished well to the kingdom, and desired the preservation of the royal authority, he sent to the assembly on Dec. 5 a letter dated the 2nd, containing a full and clear refutation of all the calumnies with which the said acts of the clergy were stuffed. 207 The king, out of his great concern for the marquis of Ormond's safety, and out of a just apprehension that his boundless duty and affection to the crown might make him stay longer than was consistent with it in the kingdom, had on Nov. 11 despatched Mr. Digby to him from Perth, with an account of his own miserable situation in Scotland, and renewed instances for the marquis's taking care of himself by a timely quitting of Ireland. "The hazards (says he in his letter of that date) and dangers (besides the trouble) I hear you do expose yourself unto upon all occasions, makes me take this opportunity to entreat and command you to have a care of your person, in the preservation of which (I would have you believe) I am so much concerned, both in my interest and affection, that I would not lose you for all I can get in Ireland. If the affairs there be in such a condition, as it will be necessary for you to quit the country and retire into France, then I do very earnestly desire and entreat you to repair to my brother the duke of York, to advise and assist him with your counsels; upon which I have such a confidence and reliance, that I have wrote and sent instructions to him, to be advised by you upon all occasions. And I doubt not of his cheerful and ready compliance, and that you will find all good satisfaction from him." 208 The marquis hereupon had determined to quit the kingdom; but was not yet resolved to leave the king's authority behind him; fearing it might be insulted in another's hands, after the same manner it had been in his own. The clergy, when they sent the bishop of Dromore and dean Kelly to require him to depart the realm, had given them instructions to insist upon his delegating the royal authority to certain persons of their nomination. They named for this purpose two out of each province, g D. D. 510. h Nuncio's Memoirs, fol. 2984-2987. 209 sir N. Pluncket and Terence Mac Coghlan of Leinster, Philip O'Reily and Turlogh O'Boile of Ulster, the marquis of Clanrickard, (whom they could not avoid mentioning, but were satisfied he would not act with the rest,) and Dermot O'Shaghnussy of Connaught, and the viscount Roche and Geffrey baron of Munster. Out of these they were willing his excellency should name one out of each province, if he was not willing to appoint all the eight; but still insisted, that by all means sir N. Pluncket should be one of the four, (if that number was most acceptable to the lord lieutenant,) he being so universally agreeable to the nation, and so well versed in the affairs of the kingdom, that the rest might perhaps err if he was excluded. If these were appointed, the bishops were ready to assist him; but would protest against any others whom his excellency should invest with the government. I must here do justice to sir N. Pluncket's character, so far as to say, that though he was too much of a bigot, and by that means too much governed by the clergy, for which they thus insisted on his being named, iyet he was a lover of his country, and well affected to the king, and in this assembly asserted the royal authority on all occasions, and did eminent service, in reconciling the minds of the members, and uniting them for the defence of the kingdom. The view of the clergy who insisted on this delegation, was to have the government of the nation in their own power, under colour of its being vested in persons that were entirely their creatures, and would not fail to follow 137 their directions. Had the persons named been never so free from exceptions, such a delegation would have been very improper, power divided into several hands being always weaker than when united in one, and less able in this juncture to oppose the encroachments likely to be made on it by the clergy. The marquis of Ormond was resolved i Lord Clanrickard's letter, D. D. 313. 210 to intrust the royal authority in nobody but the marquis of Clanrickard (the only person in the kingdom fit for so high a trust); but was still irresolute about leaving it in his hands, for fear it should not be obeyed. The assembly of Loghreagh were very sensible of the invasion made by the late acts of the clergy, as well on the liberties of the kingdom as the authority of the crown, and desirous to vindicate both. They saw plainly the terrible distraction into which the nation would fall, if the lord lieutenant departed without leaving them under a settled government; and that the consequence would be a ready submission upon any terms to the rebels. In a sense hereof on Nov. 30 they acknowledged the great testimony which his excellency had given of his affection to the nation in calling them together, and entreated him, since he was departing, to leave the king's authority in some hand, acceptable to the people, and faithful to his majesty's service and interest. The marquis of Ormond, in answer to this address, told them," that when he should understand they had by some public instrument vindicated his majesty's authority from the affronts already offered it in his person, and had provided for the future, that the person to be intrusted with it should not be subject to the like, he should readily condescend to their request; and as he was confident they would not be wanting to themselves in manifesting their just dislike of the late proceedings of the clergy, so he expected their speedy sense thereof, before the wind turned favourable for his sailing." Assemblies, by reason of their necessary forms, proceeding slowly in their debates and resolutions, and the wind setting fair on Dec. 6, the marquis of Ormond resolved to embark. Before he went on board, (which he thought not fit to defer, lest some parliament ships should come to block up the harbour, Ireton, from whom he had re k C. C. 467, 466. D. D. 3, 5, 10, II. |