146 LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOURS [1646. 



besought her assistance, to which she answered that my 

 going so hastily was not material whatsoever I con 

 sidered of it, for that there were others gone with dupli 

 cates of business to her Lady ship s knowledge, of whom 

 her cousin Will. Winter was one, and he had no rela 

 tion to the Lord Marquis of Ormond, but was her hus 

 band s friend. To which I answered that my Lord was 

 her Lord s very good friend, as I was very much his 

 servant, but if his Majesty s business be done I care 

 not by whose hand it is ; but I thank your honour, 

 for now I know wherefore I am stayed here ; and from 

 her Ladyship I went to my Lord Charles, and told him 

 that by his neglect his Majesty might be undone, and 

 that to acquit myself I must lay the blame on those that 

 deserved it ; but if his Lordship would yet give way 

 Captain Spite would undertake to do the business with 

 twenty horse. His Lordship answered, that he took 

 my importunity ill, but would impart it to the Council 

 of War, and take their advice, which he did indeed, but 

 that caused so general a knowledge, that the country 

 was laid for me and my business, as I had very good 

 intelligence ; and thereupon the Protestant party 

 showed themselves to be much discontented, insomuch 

 that Colonel Butler, Major Butler, and others quitted 

 the Castle the next day, being the nineteenth of my 

 stay there. My Lord sent a party, who bringing the 

 despatches, I desired my Lord, in obedience to his 

 Majesty s Warrant to afford me a convoy, or if not, two 

 guides, one to ride before me to discous [discover or 

 discourse ?] and the other to direct me in my way, 

 both which he refused because, as he said, I had no 

 letters to his brother. Thereupon I went discontentedly 

 away to Aburgainy [Abergavenny] with Colonel 

 Eatcliffe Jarrard, Colonel Butler, and Major Butler, with 

 whom I advised, and sent with their approbation for a 





