1644.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 81 



you in your judgment shall deem fit, we promise on 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. 



&quot; Given at our Court at Oxford, under our signet and 

 royal signature, the 12th of March, in the twentieth 

 year of our reign, 1644.&quot; 



It is generally asserted that the visit of the Earl of 

 Glamorgan to Ireland was of a personal nature, having 

 by his marriage become allied to some of the first Irish 

 families ; but no one can doubt that the important com 

 mission he had received from the monarch swayed all 

 other considerations. He was then about 43 years of 

 age. His royal master was profuse in the professions 

 of the most sincere attachment to the person of his 

 Lordship ; his acts and words being such as were best 

 calculated to ensnare an honourable man quite inca 

 pable of insincerity. But the King, after his own fashion, 

 had sound reasons for his conduct ; the Marquis of 

 Worcester was still rich, and might continue his liber 

 ality; and, as belonging to the Eoman Catholic faith, the 

 son might promote his measures in Ireland. He only 

 felt it necessary to flatter without serious meaning 1 , 

 and to promise without feeling the duty of performing, 

 should expediency cause him to change his views. 



To Ormond, however, from whom he was not seeking 

 any favour, yet whose suspicion he desired not to 

 awaken, the royal diplomatist made light of this visit 

 to Ireland u having business of his own&quot; there; 

 spoke sneeringly of the Earl u I will not answer for 

 his judgment ;&quot; and yet employed him on matters of 



G 



