afterwards turned into a royal commission, with Prince Rupert at its head, and very full powers of inquiry were given as to the settlement of Ireland.[93] [Sidenote: Lady Clanbrassil.] Lord Berkeley was much under the influence of the beautiful and witty but most unscrupulous Countess of Clanbrassil. He had her worthless and foolish husband made a Privy Councillor. Whether she favoured the Roman Catholics or not, she was certainly hostile to the Presbyterians, having had one of their meeting-houses pulled down. She occupied rooms in the Castle, and was much in favour with Lady Berkeley, as well as with the Lord Lieutenant, who was by no means young. Patrick Adair records with evident pleasure that she was hurt by the fall of the gallery when present with the viceregal party in the Smock Alley Theatre on St. Stephen's Day. Adair says the play was called 'The Nonconformist,' wherein 'the poor shadow of a nonconformist minister is mocked and upbraided.' It was Ben Jonson's _Bartholomew Fair_, which Pepys thought an admirable play, 'but too much profane and abusive.' Robartes had suppressed the players 'as well as other vicious persons,' but that did not last long. The theatre had been built by subscription in 1662, and Adair says the bishops contributed largely, 'though they refused at the time to give countenance or assistance for building a church at Dame Street, where there was great need.' The house was repaired and continued to be used as a theatre until near the end of the eighteenth century.[94] [Sidenote: Inefficiency of the Government.] Berkeley went to England in June 1671, was well received, and had the honour of entertaining the King and Queen at his house at Twickenham. Lady Clanbrassil went with him. 'She thinks,' says Lord Conway, 'to trip up Nell Gwyn's heels, and you cannot imagine how highly my Lord Arran and many others do value themselves upon the account of managing Lady Clanbrassil in this affair.' Whether Charles admired her or not does not appear, but she certainly did not get the better of Nell Gwyn. Pending promotion she amused herself with Harry Killigrew, and her intimacy with the Berkeleys continued as long as they stayed in Ireland, whither she returned with them in September. Sir Nicholas Armourer, the jovial governor of Duncannon, thought her beautiful and dangerous, but did not admire the administration of which she was so bright an ornament. 'An army fifteen months in arrear, the Treasury locked up, and a mutinous city, a country in apprehensions for their Act of Settlement. What shall we say unto these things?'[95] [Sidenote: The dispensing power exercised.]