Ireland under the Stuarts and During the Interregnum, Vol. 2 (of 3), 1642-1660Bagwell, Richard
History
Ireland under the Stuarts and During the Interregnum, Vol. 2 (of 3), 1642-1660
Bagwell, Richard
Ireland -- History -- 17th century
[Sidenote: His answer.]
[Sidenote: The Irish Government horror-struck.]
A copy of the Glamorgan treaty came into Ormonde's hands, and was shown
to Digby, who was in Dublin before the end of November. Glamorgan
himself reached the Irish capital on Christmas Eve, and on St.
Stephen's Day he was arrested at Digby's instance, and closely confined
to the Castle, 'yet with needful attendance and accommodation,' and
not as Rinuccini heard, 'without even a servant left to attend him.'
The prisoner being brought before the Council, Digby produced copies
of the treaty, of the 'pretended authority' of March 12, 1644-5, and
of the oath taken by Glamorgan. The King complained at this time that
Ormonde had been long without writing, the fact probably being that
he knew just enough to make him cautious and not enough to enable
him to advise. The fatal papers were read to the Irish Council, Digby
declaring that the commission was either forged or obtained by fraud,
or at the very least limited by other instructions. It was 'destructive
both to his regality and religion,' and such as the King would
never grant to save his Crown or life, or the lives of his wife and
children. Next day Glamorgan was examined on interrogatories, framed
so as to shield Charles while accumulating blame upon his agent. It
was not sought to prove that he had forged the King's commissions of
January 12 and March 12, for probably both Ormonde and Digby knew in
their hearts that they were genuine, though they had not seen them
before the conclusion of the treaty. The fourth interrogatory was as
follows: 'Did your lordship grant, conclude, and agree, on the behalf
of his Majesty, his heirs and successors ... that the Roman Catholic
clergy of Ireland should and might from thenceforth for ever hold and
enjoy all and every such lands, tenements, tithes, and hereditaments
whatsoever by them respectively enjoyed within this kingdom, or by
them possessed at any time since October 23, 1641, and all other such
lands, tenements, tithes, and hereditaments belonging to the clergy
within this kingdom, other than such as are now actually enjoyed by his
Majesty's Protestant clergy?' In reply Glamorgan acknowledged the words
of the treaty, while considering them 'not obligatory to his Majesty.'
He was afterwards allowed to add the words 'and yet without any just
blemish of my honour, my honesty, or my conscience.' At the end of four
days Glamorgan was released from close imprisonment, but confined to
the walls of the Castle for more than three weeks longer. In reporting
to the King the Lord Lieutenant and Council confess that they were
'stricken with most wonderful horror and astonishment to find so sacred
a majesty so highly scandalled and dishonoured.' And, said Ormonde for
himself, 'it is manifest that the retarding of the peace is no way
on the part of me the Lieutenant, but ought rather to be attributed
to that underhand dealing of the said Earl, whereby that party have
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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