But I should be more sorry by much the King should lose his fine.* The jury, a second time, petitioned to be discharged, offering to acknowledge the Deputy's justice and their own errors of judgment on condition that the inhabitants of the county of Galway should be put on the same footing with the other planted counties-the rule being that a fourth part of the land should be taken from the natives, and an increased rent put on what remained to them; but Galway should be planted "at a double rate," in other words, half of it should be confiscated," on account of its refractoriness." They were told that they should be set free only by admitting that they had been guilty of actual perjury in their verdict. Such terms they rejected with disdain. At length, after suffering all the hardships of imprisonment for more than three years, they obtained their liberty, and had the fines reduced by the interposition of Lord Clanrickarde.† Among the grievances voted "real" by the House of Commons, when Wentworth was about to be impeached, was one which has been supposed to refer to the treatment of the Galway jury, “that jurors, who gave their verdict according to their consciences, were censured in the Castle Chamber, in great fines, sometimes pilloried, with loss of ears, and bored through the tongue, and sometimes marked in the forehead with an iron, with other infamous punishments."

Wentworth published a proclamation, in which he ascribed the conduct of the jury to a plot. The reasons he assigned for their averseness to his Majesty's designs," were: 1. There was scarce a Protestant freeholder in the county, being in a manner altogether compounded of Papists, with whom the priests and Jesuits, who abounded in Connaught in far greater numbers than in other parts, had so much power, that they did nothing without consulting them. 2. The counsellors, being all Catholic recusants, showed themselves over busy, even to faction, in this service against the King; by their advice the jury was very much guided. 3. All the county depended on the Earl of Clanrickarde, whose great estate, together with his widespread kindred, the great relation both priests and lawyers had with his lordship, he being, moreover, governor of the town and county of Galway, in nature little less than a county palatine, rendered him so powerful that nothing could be done without him.§

The result of the inquisition and the causes of its failure were dispatched to the King by Wentworth. He besought his Majesty "to act with firmness" and to disregard the verdict of the jury, his title being above all law. Upon the well-governing of this occasion would depend the good or bad not only of this but of all future plantations, which, under God and his Majesty, must be the only means to reform this people as well in religion as in manners.

*Letters, &c., II. 13.

† Hardiman, “ History of Galway,” p. 105.

If

Curry, "Review of the Civil Wars of Ireland," I. 154. This writer proves from Wentworth's letters that Carte's account of these transactions ("Life of Ormond," I. 82) is far from correct. A historian who makes a hero of the Duke of Ormond is hardly a safe guide in disputed points of Irish history.

§ Letters, &c., I. 451.

followed by just severity, the opposition would prove of great use to the Crown, as any one thing that had happened since their plantation was first proposed. It would make a considerable addition to the revenue, bring security to this county, which of the whole kingdom most requires it, and make all the succeeding plantations pass with the greatest quietness that could be desired. Whereas, if this froward humour was negligently or loosely handled, it would not only blemish the comeliness and honour of that which was effected already, but cut off all hope of any future plantation. For if the contrivers escaped herein undisciplined, it would so encourage the natives in their natural averseness to these services, as they would never in these cases find any title for the Crown hereafter."

He had still a hope that the Earl of Clanrickarde might disown the acts of his nephew, and offer to make some composition. He asked that no assent, by way of submission, should be accepted from him, unless he admitted the King's absolute right to all the lands in question; and if he did not conform to the proclamation within the time therein specified, that he should not be received on any terms. And lest the Earl should come to Ireland, and by his presence add to the rebellious spirit which showed itself there, he asked that an order should be issued, forbidding him or his son to leave England without special warrant. The fort of Galway needed repairs; the outlay would be at least £1,000. Four or five companies of foot should be put in it, to awe the inhabitants of the town; the same number of foot and a troop of horse should be sent to Athenry, a walled town about eight miles distant from Galway. The command of these troops should be given to Lord Dillon, "who, by reason of his ready services and affections, well deserved this honour, his Majesty being most willing to encourage him according to his devotion." All the troops under the command of Lord Clanrickarde and his son should be removed from the infected county to distant stations, and reinforcements should be sent from other regiments.f

And when everything was made ready to enforce the King's will by arms, he proposed to confiscate the lands of the offending jurors, and of all others who would not "lay hold of his Majesty's grace, and take steps to declare his title." In their place he would plant English settlers. "There is now," he wrote to the King, "a fair opportunity to lay a sure foundation for reducing and securing the county of Galway-of all four by much the greatest-by fully lining it and planting it with English; which could not have been so thoroughly done as for the public safety it is necessary, if the pretended owners of lands in this country have not a greater portion of them taken from them than is appointed by the articles of plantation to be applied to his Majesty's benefit in the three other counties." Of course, there were not wanting "planters" to seize on the confiscated lands. The Provost and scholars of Trinity College, Dublin, demanded to have allotted to them such a proportion of land as would amount to £388 15s., per annum, for the use of the said college for * Letters, &c., 450. † Ibid. 453.

ever, in lieu of a pension of the same amount granted by the late King of happy memory.* Lord Kircudbright besought Laud to obtain for him the lands of O'Hara Reagh and O'Hara Buidhe, lying in the county of Sligo and barony of Lynee-the said O'Haras and their ancestors having ever been rebels to the Crown of England-in return for services done by him to the Crown during twenty-two years, more especially for having transported to Ireland, eight years before, 50 horse and 100 foot at his own charge, which stood him at least £2,000. At that time he was promised, that if he could find any land in his Majesty's gift, it would be given to him. The Marquis of Hamilton besought the Deputy to let him know whether he could obtain more than 1,500 acres for his brother, Sir George Hamilton, who, he was anxious, should live and make a fortune under the government. Lord Erskine craved for himself and his Scotch dependents a portion of the spoil, the King having declared that he would hold him in special consideration if any plantation should fall out in Ireland.f

The King's title was now declared good to the whole of Connaught. An Act in Council was passed, ordaining that all who were possessed of lands in the several counties thereof in virtue of letters patent from the Crown, should enjoy their estates as fully as if they had been specially found in the Great Office, provided they produced their patents or the enrolments thereof at the Council Board before the next Easter term. Several patents were brought forward which had passed under a Commission issued in 1613. But it soon became proverbial that no title could stand against the Deputy. The ingenuity of the Crown lawyers found flaws in nearly all these grants; in one morning, one hundred and fifty were set aside by the court.‡ Resistance was in vain. The owners submitted, and by the payment of large sums of money obtained new patents.

Wentworth, when entering on the government of Ireland, had obtained a promise from the King that no one should be allowed to leave Ireland without his permission, and that no appeals from his judgments would be received. Yet in spite of these hindrances, many, who were the victims of his tyranny, went to England to seek redress. Three agents, Sir Roger O'Shaghnessy,§ Darcy, and Martin, were sent by the inhabitants of Galway to complain of the harsh treatment they had received. The Deputy asked that the "priestly agents" should meet with the reception they deserved; thus the possession of Galway would be confirmed to the Crown, and such a victory over

† Ibid. 117.

Curry, I. 155.

* Letters, &c., 436. Sir Roger was the head of the sept O'Shaghnessy, cujus nobilitatem, antiquitatem, et integritatem qui non novit, Hiberniam non novit. (De Burgo, Hib Domin. p. 505). He was later a leading member of the Council of the Confederate Catholics. By a special clause of the Act of Settlement he got back a part of his estates. His grandson, Roger, fought at the Boyne, and was attainted. His estates, including Gort, Inchgoree, and several other townlands in the barony of Killartan, county Galway, were given in custodiam to the first Baron Hamilton, and afterwards transferred to Sir Thomas Prendergast, ancestor of the Gort family. A suit was carried on for many years in the law courts by Roger's heirs to obtain the restoration of their property. A bribe of £20,000 to Lord Mansfield decided the case.

the most zealous part would be a victory over all, and that too in the matter of religion. A conformity of religion would follow in due course; this he hoped to bring about rather by quiet means than by persecution, for attempts of this kind, he knew, would end in failure. Therefore he besought that they should be summarily dealt with, that they should be sent back as prisoners, and left in the hands of himself and of the Commissioners. Such a course of public agency he thought most indecent and uncomely; besides, there was the prospect of bringing on "round fines in the Castle Chamber, not alone from the agents, but from the other confederates, who were neither few nor of low condition."* The prospect of the "round fines" held out to the King induced him to be faithful to his promise. The agents demanded an audience. A day was appointed when they should be heard; they were ordered to bring a statement of facts in writing. But before the day named, two of them were dismissed, with orders to wait on the Deputy, immediately; on their return to Ireland, they were committed to prison. The third, Martin, was retained in England for some particular service. Soon after he petitioned to be restored to his practice in the courts of law. The Deputy and the Lords of the Council "thought him a fit object for his Majesty's mercy, for he expressed much sense of his transgression, having been. brought into it by the principal bonte-feu, Darcy; he counselled all to submit to his Majesty's title to Galway; nay more, he persuaded those of Clare lately to do the like, and of himself brought in all the records he had concerning the title; and lastly, he drew up a petition for Clare, and advised it to be signed before the arrival of the Commissioners."t

The severity of Wentworth's conduct alarmed his friends and gave to his enemies ample ground for complaint. But he affected to feel indifferent to fear or censure. When Lord Holland, in the English Privy Council, declared that the taking of so much as half their lands from the proprietors might induce them to call over the Irish regiments out of Flanders, Wentworth replied that if the taking of one half would move the country to rebellion, the taking of one third or one fourth would hardly ensure their allegiance to the Crown; and if they were so rotten and unsound at heart, wisdom would counsel to weaken them and line them thoroughly with English Protestants as guards upon them. The death of the Earl of Clanrickarde increased the popular odium against him; it was attributed to the vexation conceived by this nobleman at the attempts against his property by an insolent governor, who took possession of his house at Portumna, and in his hall held court to impeach his title to his lands.§ Laud, his staunchest friend, thought it his duty to warn him of the danger. "My lord," he wrote, "I find that, notwithstanding all your great services in Ireland, which are most graciously accepted by the King, you want not them who whisper and speak louder than they think they may against your proceedings in Ireland, as being overfull of personal prosecutions against persons of quality;

* Letters, &c., I. 493. † Ibid. II. 68.

Ibid. II. 33. § Leland, B. V. C. I.

and they stick not to instance in the Earl of Clanrickarde; and though I know a great part of this proceeds from your wise and noble proceedings against the Romish party in that kingdom, yet shall that never be made the cause in public, but advantages taken, such as they can, from these and the like particulars, to blast you and your honour, if they be able to do it. I know you have a great deal more resolution in you than to decline any service due to the King, State, or Church, for the barking of discontented persons; and God forbid you should. And yet, my lord, if you could find a way to do all these great services and decline these storms, I think it would be excellent well thought on."* A rumour was spread abroad industriously, that he was out of favour with the King; the withholding of new titles was looked on by many as a proof of its truth. In May, 1636, he asked and obtained permission to go to England. A sudden attack of illness made him put off his journey for a few weeks. About the middle of June he reached London. His first act was to present himself at Court, and to give to the King an account of his stewardship. In presence of the Privy Council he described the state of the country as he had found it, and its present condition. He showed what improvements he had wrought in the Church, the army, the revenue, and the administration of the law. He then refuted, one by one, the evil reports that had been spread against him. To his friends in Ireland he wrote: "I met with a most gracious reception from his Majesty. In all this, I was far from assuming to myself any more than the glory of obedience. I did acknowledge I had been a dead instrument in the hands of his Majesty, without motion or effect further than as I had been guided by his direction in the course of my employment." When he was about to defend himself against the charge of severity in dealing with the sheriff and jury of Galway, the King cut him short, saying, that this was no severity, but rather he wished to be served in that way; and if things were carried on otherwise, he would not be served as he expected. "He was pleased to express his approbation of all I had done. So I kneeled down, kissed the King's hand, and the Council rose, all acknowledging that the King had never been served so before in Ireland." Again he asked, through his friend Laud, that some special mark of the royal favour might be conferred on him, in such a way as should render it "comely and public." Instead of a title, he received from the King a letter full of high moral advice and friendly warnings.

A year later he caused two Commissions to be issued, one to inquire into the King's title to the county, the other to the town of Galway. The Commissioners met at St. Francis' Abbey, under the presidency of Lord Ranelagh, on the 5th of April, 1637. The county jury, terrified at the ill-treatment their predecessors had received, without hesitation found that the King was seized in fee, in right of his crown, of the whole province and dominion of Connaught. town jury brought in the same verdict the following day.‡

+Ibid. II. 213.

*Letters, &c., I. 479.
+ Hardiman,

History of Galway," p. 105.

66

The