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Francis. He found some ecclesiastics shameless and mercenary enough to write in order to prove the nullity of his first marriage; and used pressing instances at the court of Rome to get it declared void. All arguments and solicitations hitherto failing, he imagined that engaging in defence of the Roman catholic cause in Ireland would be an act of so much merit as might engage the pope to annul the former, and make valid the second marriage. This was his first view in sending succours to Ireland; though possibly the suggestions of the bishop of Ferns, and the faction of the clergy, might make him also entertain thoughts of becoming one day sovereign of that kingdom. He had likewise a daughter by the princess of Cantecroix, but that illegitimate child was not three years old when lord Taaffe proposed a marriage between her and the duke of York. The duke of Lorrain seemed fond of the affair, and in case it was agreed on, declared he would furnish money, men, and other necessaries sufficient to recover Ireland, if the king would consent to the marriage, and the duke of York go over thither immediately in person. The princess of Cantecroix had a sister, called mademoiselle de Banners, who had an 148 estate of two thousand five hundred pounds a year inheritance, (which in that country would sell for above sixty thousand pounds sterling,) besides what her brother would give her. She was about ten years older than lord Ossory; yet Taaffe, in his usual way of undertaking, would needs set on foot a treaty of marriage between her and that young nobleman; but the marquis of Ormond thought it too early to think of any thing of that nature, till the marriage of the duke of York was concluded. He desired that matter might rest till this proposal was either pursued or laid aside; which last soon proved to be the case.

x

The marquis of Clanrickard was much perplexed at

* D. D. 197, 199, 209, 221, 228, and 245.

y D. D. 274, &c.

the Abbé de St. Catherine's landing with letters of credence, not directed to him as governor, but to the estates of the kingdom, which was endeavoured to be excused by the duke of Lorrain's ignorance, that there was a person left therein intrusted with his majesty's authority. The marquis was uneasy till he could learn the substance of the proposals which the envoy brought; and was more so, when he found from F. George Dillon that they were such as, in his judgment, were no better than a total transferring of the crown from his majesty to a foreign prince. It was impossible for him to come any thing near those proposals, and yet if he rejected them, such were the necessities of the kingdom, and so eager were the people's expectation of supplies, (which were much enlarged by reports,) that he would presently have been censured as a betrayer of the nation. In these difficulties he judged it the best way to debate them by a public treaty, and to call in the commissioners of trust, and such of the bishops, nobility, and gentry, as could be got together to assist in the transaction. These being met, advised by all means an agreement with the duke of Lorrain as necessary to save the kingdom, upon the terms of receiving him for protector of the nation, and giving cautionary towns for security of such aids of men, money, arms, and ammunition as he should ascertain and furnish; but this to be done, without prejudice to the king's right and interest in the realm, without interruption to his majesty's government, or hurting the liberties and properties of corporations, and the people of the kingdom. They had received from the envoy (who was probably put upon such high demands by the suggestions of sir James Preston, Rochfort, and other disaffected persons) a paper of proposals to this effect. They had debated these among themselves, without sending the paper to the lord deputy; they had admitted improper persons to be present at their debates, and had altered the com

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mittee, appointed by him to manage the treaty, and put others in their stead, without his consent. He complained as well of these proceedings, as of the overtures made in the name of the duke of Lorrain, which, after all his professions of assisting the king, were plainly calculated to overthrow his government, and extinguish his authority for ever. He represented to them, "that it was neither in his nor their power to dispose of the kingdom; that matters were not yet desperate in England and Scotland, but some revolution might be there expected in his majesty's favour; that no necessity could justify the accepting of such proposals; and that the duke of Lorrain might probably afford them succours on more reasonable terms, if not misled by disaffected persons." He observed that the envoy had declared he had no power to conclude in Ireland about further supplies, so that a treaty for them must be carried on abroad; and proposed, that if the Abbé de St. Catherine would advance a considerable sum to enable him to draw out an army into the field, he would venture to give a security for the money on the towns of Limerick and Galway, and this offer being accepted, he would send an agent abroad, to 149 be joined with lord Taaffe, to treat with the duke about further supplies.

The bishops and gentlemen, without trying the success of the lord deputy's proposals, still insisted that there was no way to preserve the nation but by agreeing to the envoy's demands, which were, that the duke of Lorrain, his heirs and successors, should (with a saving to his majesty's rights, and the liberties, estates, and property of the subjects) be accepted as protectors of the kingdom, should, whilst there resident, be subordinate to no superior, and should have the whole government of the militia in his hands; and in case of abuses, have power to call a general assembly, till he was repaid all his disbursements. The marquis of Clanrickard required

the persons who gave this advice to sign it before he gave any answer to it; and to get likewise the envoy to declare under his hand, either that he would not agree on less terms, or if he would admit of any qualifications, to specify what they were. The bishops and gentry did not care to sign their advice; but the envoy giving in his lowest demands, insisted on his master's having the protection and military power of the kingdom; and if he did not come thither in person, to have the appointment of what Roman catholics he thought fit to command the forces of the kingdom; and to assist in his name in the council of state, with the same power as other counsellors authorized by his majesty; to have the estates of rebels and delinquents applied to his own repayment or the maintenance of the war, and to establish garrisons in all places where he should deem it necessary; and in consideration hereof, he offered to advance twenty thousand pounds (including six thousand pounds already received by F. G. Dillon) for a present supply. The bishops and commissioners recommended an agreement upon these terms; but the lord deputy absolutely rejecting them, would not so much as admit the envoy to take leave of him, after offering such an affront to the king's honour and interests by his proposals; of which he should give an account to both their masters. A message to this effect was sent to the Abbé de St. Catherine in writing, and joined with the instances of the prelates, had such an effect, that he agreed to advance the twenty thousand pounds upon the security of Limerick and Galway, and to refer the other articles about the protectorship and military power of the kingdom, and further supplies, to be settled in a treaty at Bruxelles. An agreement was accordingly concluded on April 4 to this effect, between the lord deputy and the envoy: in consequence of which the former sent over sir N. Pluncket and Mr. G. Brown to treat (in conjunction with lord Taaffe) with

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the duke of Lorrain in Flanders, enjoining them not to proceed in the treaty (except with regard to the procuring of more supplies upon caution) otherwise or further than they should be directed in writing by the queen, the duke of York, and the lord lieutenant.

When these commissioners came about the middle of June to Bruxelles, they found there the bishop of Ferns in great favour with the duke of Lorrain, and treating with him in virtue of a private commission from the disaffected clergy and their faction in Ireland. That faction had long laboured to bring the nation to the necessity of calling for a Roman catholic protector, from which office to absolute sovereignty the way was short and easy and that necessity being now evident, and the king's authority in a manner destroyed, they imagined they should easily effect their scheme. Rochfort and others were also sent over by the remaining towns, as well as the clergy, to join with Ferns, and assure the duke of Lorrain, that if her majesty, the duke of York, and the marquis of Ormond should not give free way to the pawning of the kingdom to him, they were able and ready to put all that was left of it into his hands. They 150 had the less difficulty in their way, because the new commissioners, Pluncket and Brown, being resolved to get supplies at any rate, determined not to follow their instructions, and shewed the duke of Lorrain an authority which had no limitation of acting only by the directions of the queen, duke of York, and lord lieutenant. Lord Inchiquin was with the duke of Lorrain when they shewed him their authority, and was much surprised to find in it none of those limitations which he had seen mentioned in lord Clanrickard's letters; and could not forbear (in a letter from thence of June 21 to the marquis of Ormond) expressing his fears, lest an advantage should be taken of Taaffe's journey to Paris, by the other z D. D. 454, 436.