The Earl of Clanricarde had distinguished himself by his courage and fidelity at Kinsale, and had enjoyed the especial favour of Queen Elizabeth. He had afterwards married Walsingham's daughter, the widow of Sidney and Essex. His services thus entitled him to consideration, and his connections secured him friends at Court. In 1616 James I., after a full inquiry by two secretaries of state, had made him governor of the county and town of Galway in such a manner as to make him independent of the president of Connaught. This patent expired with James, but it was amply renewed by his successor for the life of the Earl and his eldest son. These facts were perfectly well known to Wentworth, but he advised the King to break his word and revoke the patent on the purely technical ground that a judicial office could not be granted in reversion. Clanricarde died within the year, and it was reported by Wentworth's enemies that hard usage had broken his heart. 'They might as well,' said the Lord Deputy, 'have imputed unto me for a crime his being threescore and ten years old.' There was more reason for imputing to him the death in prison of Martin Darcy, the unfortunate sheriff of Galway. 'My arrows,' he said on this point, 'are cruel that wound so mortally; but I should be more sorry by much the King should lose his fine.' The King did not revoke the patent for the government of Galway, and the young Earl of Clanricarde, who was to play so important a part in the civil war, seems from the first to have enjoyed much influence at Court. The Galway jurors were tried in the Castle-chamber in May 1636, and sentenced to pay £4,000 each as a fine, to be imprisoned until payment, and to acknowledge their fault at the assizes upon their knees and in open court. The fine was afterwards reduced at Clanricarde's request, and the difficulties with Scotland began before any real progress could be made with the new settlement.[219] [Sidenote: Nature of Wentworth's policy.] [Sidenote: There was a substantial breach of faith.]