The deranged state of his Majesty's affairs, which were now growing desperate from the continued advantages of the rebels in Ireland, and his still more violent and fanatic subjects at home, rendered it necessary that some sacrifices should be made to conciliate the Irish Catholics; as he would thus procure a powerful and efficient force to aid him against the Covenanters. In proof of his anxiety on this subject, there were no less than eight letters written by the king himself, beside those of his secretaries, pressing for a speedy adjustment of the differences that had so long agitated the sister kingdom. The first commission under the great seal was dated the sixth of January, and furnished the Marquis with full power to levy any number of men in Ireland or elsewhere; to make governors of forts, &c.; and to receive the king's rents. Upon the twelfth of March following, the Marquis received another commission, equally as extensive as the preceding; a copy of which is preserved by Rushworth, in his Collections, which we here subjoin. "CHARLES R. "CHARLES, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c., to our trusty and well beloved cousin, EDWARD Earl of Glamorgan, greeting. We, reposing great and especial trust and confidence in your approved wisdom and fidelity, do by these presents, as firmly as under our Great Seal, to all intents and purposes, authorise, and give you power to treat and conclude with the confederate Roman Catholics in our kingdom of Ireland, if upon necessity any be to be conscended unto, wherein our lieutenant (the Earl of Ormonde) cannot so well be seen in, as also not fit for us at present publicly to own. Therefore we charge you to proceed according to this our warrant with all possible secrecy; and for whatsoever you shall engage yourself, upon such valuable considerations as you in your judgment shall deem fit, we promise, upon the word of a king and a Christian, to ratify and perform, the same that shall be granted by you and under your hand and seal; the said confederate Catholics having by their supplies testified their zeal to our service: and this shall be in each particular to you a sufficient warrant. "Given at our Court at Oxford, under our Signet and Royal Signature, the twelfth of March, in the twentieth year of our reign, sixteen hundred and forty-five."[2]