1646-7.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 173 



left any impression on you, to the prejudice of the real 

 affection you give me to bear you. 



44 My Lord, I had, according to my promise, given you 

 a larger account of things here 5 but that, at the conclud 

 ing of the articles, we found ourselves so straitened 

 in time, that many material parts of the agreement 

 were fain to be put in another way than was first thought 

 of; and at this instant I am so pressed with important 

 despatches from Kilkenny, that I shall be able but 

 shortly and confusedly to give you a return to the 

 main parts of your Lordship s [letter] of the 3rd of this 

 month, which came to my hands yesterday about noon. 

 Touching the noble and large offer you are pleased to 

 make of shipping, arms, ammunition, and a train of 

 artillery for the King s service, in case you may receive 

 assurance from those in power among the confederates, 

 and from me, that ten thousand men shall be ready 

 against your return, to be transported to serve the King 

 in England. I return your Lordship this answer, that 

 I shall, and by this letter do, cheerfully oblige myself 

 for as much as shall lie in my power, either in my public 

 or private capacity, to have that number of men in the 

 readiness you expect ; and to compass it, am contented 

 all the remainder of my fortune should stand engaged. 

 If your Lordship can procure as much as this from the 

 other party, I conceive you will proceed in your intended 

 voyage with satisfaction, and return (I hope) with 

 success ; which is earnestly wished by 



44 Your Lordship s, &c. 



44 ORMOND. 



&quot;Dublin Castle, the 6th of April, 1646.&quot; 



The following letter from the King, dated the 20th 

 of July, 1646,* originally written in cipher, while it 



* A Latin copy is in the Nuncio s Memoirs, and in Italian in Vittono Liri s Mer 

 curic, Vol. vii. p 97, 98. Translation in Birch s Inquiry, 8vo. 1756, p. 244. 



