THE EIGHTH DUKE OF BEAUFORT 



uncertain will, Lord Herbert does not seem a likely 

 man for the king to summon to his aid. But 

 Charles chose his agents rather because of their 

 personal relation to himself than for their fitness for 

 the task they were to undertake. He doubtless 

 selected Herbert for the mission to Ireland because 

 he was a Catholic, and Charles wished to counter- 

 balance Ormond's Protestantism, and because he 

 was the heir of a wealthy house and his money 

 was required to prop the king's failing fortunes. 

 Charles believed in his own unlimited ascendancy 

 over Herbert, and underrated the latter's ability 

 and insight into character. There is no doubt 

 that the king thought he could employ Herbert 

 in the delicate negotiations he had in hand, and 

 disavow him with impunity if he should be un- 

 successful. Large claims were therefore made on 

 Lord Herbert and his father for pecuniary help, in 

 return for which the Earl of Worcester was created 

 a Marquis in 1642, and two years later Lord Her- 

 bert was raised to the dignity of Earl of Glamorgan. 

 It was as Lord Glamorgan then that Herbert 

 entered on his perilous mission to Ireland, on which 

 he set out in 1644 ^^ ^^^ beginning of the following 

 year. About the exact time of his departure there 

 seems to have been some doubt. 



Some four years before this, Lord Herbert had 

 contracted a second marriage with Margaret, 

 daughter of Henry O'Brien, Earl of Thomond, so 

 that from the king's point of view he had the added 



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