[Sidenote: Qualifications of Berkeley.] John Lord Berkeley of Stratton had long been specially attached to the Duke of York. Soon after the Restoration the King suggested that he might be made Deputy of Ireland, if no better could be had. 'Do you think,' said Clarendon, 'you shall be rid of him by it? for that is all the good of it.' 'The truth of it is,' replied Charles, 'being rid of him doth incline me something to it; but when you have thought round, you will hardly find a fitter person.' He had generally failed in all employment requiring tact or discretion, but his services as a soldier were respectable, and when he was made a peer at James's request he took a title from the battle he had helped to win in 1643, for he did not possess an acre of his own. Being without fortune, his great object was to gild the coronet and so to put money in his purse by the most dishonest means. He thought himself fit for the highest place and was a loud and boastful talker. When Mountrath died towards the close of 1661, it had already been decided to make Ormonde Lord Lieutenant, and Berkeley applied for the Presidency of Connaught, with a view to making money of it. He had not the least intention of doing the work or of living in exile at Athlone, and Ormonde complained bitterly that the Presidency was a mere hindrance, and that he could not be held responsible for the government of Ireland, when one quarter of the island was in such hands. The duties were at least partially performed, sometimes by Berkeley's nephew, Sir Maurice, and sometimes by Lord Kingston, who became joint-president in 1665, the office being granted to him and to Berkeley for life. The latter was content with the profits and took no further interest in Ireland until he was sent to govern it five years later.[89] [Sidenote: Berkeley and his secretary.] [Sidenote: Corruption of the latter.]