As soon as the troubles in Scotland began it was natural that Charles should expect help from Ireland. The first proposals came from Tyrone's grandson, Randal MacDonnell, second Earl of Antrim, whose handsome person had recommended him to the widowed Duchess of Buckingham. Having conformed to the State Church to please her first husband, she reverted to her original faith to please her second. The marriage of his friend's wife was displeasing to Charles, and perhaps this made her second husband the more anxious to do some signal service, or at least to have the credit of intending it. Antrim was a man of much ambition and some cunning, but his practical abilities were small, and neither Strafford, Ormonde, nor Clarendon rated him highly. He had been 'bred in the Highland way, and wore neither hat, cap, shoes, nor stockings till seven or eight years old,' and a Highlander he remained to the end. His extravagance at Court had involved him in debt to the enormous amount of 80,000_l._, and Wentworth believed that the sale of his whole estate would not fetch such a sum. Hatred of the Campbells was his strongest passion. In July 1638 he asked Wentworth to supply him with arms to be kept in a magazine in Coleraine ready to use in case of an invasion by the dreaded clan, and six months later he credited Argyle with the intention of getting a law passed 'that to the end of the world no MacDonnell should be allowed to enjoy a foot of land in Scotland.' Charles was doubtful how far it would be wise to entrust a magazine of arms to one of Antrim's creed, but desired the Lord Deputy and Council to 'favour him as much as anyone of his profession in religion.' In February Wentworth told the King that the demand for arms had not been pressed, 'my lord of Antrim perceiving I am not ignorant of his great want of money, his credit to be so low, as not able at this very instant to take up in Dublin poor three hundred pounds.' Charles, however, wrote to Antrim, encouraging him to fit out an expedition against the Scottish isles by way of making a diversion in his favour. Windebank prudently sent a copy of the letter to Wentworth, who was thus prepared for a sudden visit from Antrim on March 9. The Lord Deputy's caustic criticism had taken some effect, and the proposed 20,000 men were reduced to 5400, but the conditions of even this modified plan might have displeased a much more patient man than Wentworth. Among Antrim's demands were the right to appoint his own officers, power to cut timber in the royal woods, a loan of 20,000_l._, and four of the King's ships under his own command. Twelve field pieces, bows and arrows, muskets, carbines, pistols, swords, armour, and buff coats were all to be provided by Government, and more barrels of powder than the royal stores contained. One hundred old soldiers were to be detached to drill the new levies, and Antrim talked of bringing Irish officers over from Spain.[246] [Sidenote: Antrim's plan is abandoned.]