صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

THE LIFE OF

JAMES BUTLER, DUKE OF ORMOND,

Including the MEMOIRS of the

EARL OF OSSORY.

AMES BUTLER, the feventh earl,

J and firft. duke, of Ormond, was born in

1610, and, at the age of three years, paffed over into Ireland, a year before the death of the old earl Thomas, whofe figure and careffes he always after remembered.

In 1619, his father Thomas, eldest son of Walter, earl of Ormond, being drowned in his paffage to England, he was called lord James, as heir-apparent of his grandfather. The year afterwards he was brought by his mother to England, and lived, for a fhort time, with a popifh fchoolmafter, who bred him in the errors of the Romish church till king James, who confidered him as a ward of the crown, placed him in the houfe of archbishop Abbpt: but having, at that time, feized upon his grandfather's eftate, allowed him only forty pounds a year for the fupport

of

of himself and his fervant; and made the archbishop no allowance for his maintainance or education: which was probably one reason why he was taught nothing -A neglect which might have deprived the age of one of its greatest ornaments, had not diligence and capacity found means to fupply the want of education.

At the age of fixteen he left Lambeth, and lived with his grandfather, who had now recovered his liberty and a great part of his estate and now, being no longer confined to his former penurious allowance, he engaged in the amusements and diverfions of young men, and was particularly delighted with the performances of the theatre; fo that most of the eminent players had the honour of his acquaintance: but he did not loofe in his diverfion that regard to his fortune and interest, which becomes a rational and prudent mind; for feeing the eftate of lord Preston, which had been with fo much violence forced from the houfe of Ormond, now wholly devolved to an heirefs, he found means of marrying her, and fo put an end to the differences which had given fo much disturbance to both families, and by which his grandfather had fo feverely fuffered.

In 1632, about two years after his marriage, he became, by the death of his grandfather, earl of Ormond; and, being naturally of an active and enterprizing character, foon engaged in public affairs; and grew, by the

[blocks in formation]

countenance of the earl of Strafford, then lord-deputy of Ireland, one of the chief actors in the house of peers.

The regard which the deputy, who was remarkably well qualified to judge of men, thought it always proper to fhew him, was begun by a very odd occurrence. The animofity in the Irish parliament had risen fo high, that there was danger left their debates fhould terminate in blood; and left, as it has been related of popish affemblies, they should appeal from argument to the fword. For this reafon, the lord-deputy published a proclamation by which he forbad any man to fit in either house with his fword; a precaution which had been used in former times, and in other places where ufages were now fettled; and the chief governor was more reftrained, and fo was, by no means, unjustifiable in this cafe.

When the lords therefore entered the house, their fwords were delivered by them at the door to the usher of the black-rod, who stood ready to receive them; but, when the earl of Ormond was about to enter, he refused to deliver his sword; and told the ufher, who, with the ufual confidence of momentary power, enforced his demand with fome rudeness, That, if he had his fword, it should be in his guts. The deputy, imagining his authority treated, by this refufal, with contempt, fent for the earl, and demanded the reafon of his difobedience; but was anfvered, by being VOL. VII, E prefented

prefented with the writ in which he was fummoned, as earl of Ormond, to fit in parliament girded with a fword. The deputy had. nothing ready to offer as a reply, and the earl therefore was difmiffed, not only without cenfure, but with fuch efteem of fpirit: (which was, indeed, on this occafion, more confpicuous than his prudence, that the lord-deputy had him, ever afterwards, in particular efteem; and, when he returned to England, recommended him to the privy-council as, one who was likely to prove a great and able fervant of the crown.

In 1640, an army being thought neceffary to be raised in Ireland, the care of making the levies, and afcertaining their maintainance, from the funds which the, parliament had provided, was repofed in the earl of Ornond. This army was to have rendefvouzed at Carrickfergus, and to have been tranfported. from thence to Scotland, but this pacification which foon after followed, prevented the execution of the defign.

The next year broke out the terrible and bloody Irish rebellion, made for ever memora ble by a rage of cruelty fcarcely ever exercised on any other occafion, and which filled that unhappy country, for many years, with flaughter and defolation. The most cruel, and moft furious, though not the ableft leader of this rebellion, was Sir Phelim O'Neil, who began the defign on the twenty-fecond of October, the day appointed for the general infurrection,

furrection, by the feizure of the castle of Charlemount, a very important fort upon the pass of Blackwater.

The perfidy with which he tranfacted this first part of his fcheme, was a natural prelude to the barbarities which he practifed in the profecution of it. He fent word to the lord Charlemount, who was governor of the fortrefs, that he would that day be his gueft; and an entertainment was accordingly provided'; to which, as was not uncommon in thofe times, great numbers reforted, as to a general feftival. Lord Charlemount had one' company of foldiers in his garrifon; but they not fufpecting danger, and being equally inclined with the ftrangers to pafs the day in plenty and merriment, laid afide their arms, and mingled with the company. The table was fpread, the guests were gay, and all was jollity and civility till towards evening, when" Sir Phelim finding all his accomplices entered, and all dangers of refiftance removed, feized upon lord Charlemount, and his family, while his followers murdered or fecured the foldiers, and took poffeffion of the caftle.

On the fame day, many other chieftains raifed their fepts, and endeavoured to take poffeffion of the towns in their neighbourhood; at fome of which they fucceeded, and at others were disappointed. They grew, however every day stronger, as they were abfolute lords. of all that was to be found in the open country, and had therefore fufficient means to

E 2

tempt

« السابقةمتابعة »