Mr. G. Brown, to treat with Lorrain, in conjunction with Taafe, on whose loyalty Clanricard implicitly relied. Plunket and Brown arrived at Brussels about the middle of June, when Taafe was in Paris. There they found French of Ferns and Rochfort in high favour, and, already so far advanced in a private treaty of their own, as to have engaged, that if the Queen, the D. of York, and Ormond, should deny their consent to the mortgage of the kingdom of Ireland, they themselves would, in virtue of the power delegated to them by the Bishops, put what remained of the kingdom into the Duke's hands !*

French went even so far as to disclaim all connection with Clanricard's Envoys. He himself, he said, was the accredited Agent of Ireland; he had his commission signed by the Bishops; and who could be so impudent as to controvert his authority? He added, that Clanricard and his abettors were excommuni

See the Conclusion of these sheets.

cated by the Nuncio, as well as by all the Bishops of Ireland, assembled in the Synod of Jamestown; that neither he, nor any of his party was ever absolved; and how could so pious a Prince as the D. of Lorrain, pay any other attention than that of hostility, to men who were enemies to the Holy See?

163. Overwhelmed by the spiritual audacity and power of a Court favourite, Plunket and Brown began now to consider that they must keep measures with a man who was determined to persecute them in a foreign land! He talked of nothing less than the holy office; and they represented to him their willingness to accede to any reasonable measures for the salvation of their Country.

Gentlemen, said he, you must confess your error in resisting the Father of Christendom.— Prostrate yourselves before the Minister of the Holy See, and, on the behalf of all Ireland, demand, entreat, supplicate for absolution; then, and then only, can you make such an agreement with the D. of Lorrain, as will be acceptable to God.-You may be assured that

God never will grant success to any treaty with Clanricard, or to any of his aiders, who are withering under excommunications!"

Seduced by the plausible air of affected piety, from which this exhortation seemed to proceed, Plunket and Brown yielded, and the episcopal battle was won! They signed a treaty with Lorrain, in Taafe's absence, July 12, 1651, by which the Duke was invested with the absolute sovereignty of the kingdom; and Plunket was persuaded by Ferns to sign a petition to the Pope, by which, on behalf of all Ireland, he demanded absolution, and professed unlimited submission to the See of Rome !

Brown refused to subscribe this second instrument, though he had signed the first; and Lord Taafe's name was annexed in his absence, and without his knowledge or consent!-Forgery was added to sacrilege; and the spiritual power of the keys, that sacred authority which was committed equally to all Bishops, by the voice of inspiration, for the benefit of immortal souls, and in reference to eternity, was made

subservient to ambition, instrumental to malignity, and prostituted to intrigue!*

• These expressions may appear strong; but the following letter, written by French, at this very time, to Plunket and to Brown, then at Brussels with him, will justify their severity.

"Brussels, July 20, 1651.

"I do with all sincerity offer my own opinion, that you "would immediately, with humble hearts, make a submission "to his Holiness, in the name of the nation, and beg the "Apostolical benediction. The necessity of doing this is the

46

greater, that the person from whom you come with authority, (Clanricard) is for several causes excommunicated, a "jure et homine, and is at Rome accounted a great contemner "of the authority and dignity of Churchmen, and persecutor "of my Lord Nuntio, &c. Do you think God will prosper "a contract grounded upon the authority of such a man? "Go therefore, even immediately, to his Holiness's Inter"nuncio in this city, to make this happy submission," quia "nescit tarda molimina Spiritus S. Gratia."-This being done,

go on cheerfully with your contract with this most Catholique Prince, (Yes!-who was then living in a state of "adultery) who, did he rightly know the business, without "such submission, would never enter upon a bargain to pre

serve, or rather to restore holy religion in a kingdom, with "Agents bringing their authority from a withered, accursed "hand.-For my part, upon the denial to hear my humble

prayer, which I hope will not happen, I will withdraw "myself, a man despairing of any fruit to come from an "unsound trunk, where there is no sap of grace, and am

What start at this! when sixty years have spread
Their grey experience o'er thy hoary head!
Is this the all observing age could gain?

Or hast thou known the world so long in vain ?
"An nihil in melius tot rerum proficis usu?

164. The first article of the treaty stipulated that the D. of Lorrain should be vested with the royal authority, and title of Protector Royal of Ireland!-The second declared that -constant, perpetual obsequiousness of duty and fidelity shall be paid to his Holiness, and the Apostolic See.

The fourth article, indeed, required that, whenever Ireland should be restored to its primitive state, the Duke or his heirs should resign in favour of the King of England; but the fifth declared that neither he nor they should ever resign, until reimbursed in all expenses; and that, until then, the kingdom

"resolved to communicate no more with you on this affair, "but rather to let the Prince know, &c."

Compare Carte's Originals, D D. 274, &c. 411, 436, 454, 496, 499, with the Nuncio's Memoirs, fol. 3130, 3157, 3213, 3224, and Carte's Orm. v. 2, p. 150, &c. with the Extract in Cox's Ch. II, p. 59. Clarend. Ir. Rebel. p. 271, &c.