Historical account of the Macdonnells of Antrim

27O THE MACDONNELLS OF ANTRIM.
or Scotland. (30) From 1646 to the end of 1649, the marquis was employed generally in opposing
the disastrous policy of Ormonde, especially as exhibited in the surrender of the Castle in Dublin,
and of the government, to parliamentary agents in 1647. Among the family papers preserved at
Glenarm castle, there is one containing a summary of the principal events in his public life, from
the commencement of the war of 1641, until the coming of Cromwell in 1649. The following is a
correct copy of the original, which is here printed for the first time : —
" Information concerning the Marquis of Antrim his Deportment from Anno 1641,
untill 1648 and 1649.
" i° In 1 641, the Marquis was liveinge in Dublin, or thereabouts, where hee remained untill
Aprill, 1642. (31) Att which time he was sent by his Ma tie to the North of Ireland, to draw Maior
Generall Monroe to the Kings partie. (32) Alsoe to accommodate the King's Interest with the
Irish, (33) and to releeve the Protestants of Colerane, which imployment, with the Observations
thereof, will appeare by the Queens Ma ties Certificat, and one from the Maior and Corporation of
Colerane, (34) and other places, (35) which were releeved by the Marq : In discharging of which
trust the said Marq : was taken prisoner by Monroe, from his house at Dunluce, and carried to
Carrickfergus, from thence he escaped to the Marquis of Newcastle's Armey, then in the North of
England. (36) See pp. 73, 76, 261, 263, supra.
" 2d. Immediately after that, upon the Arrivall of the Queens Ma tie att Yorke, (37) the Marq
then being there, was by her Ma tis comand againe returned into Ireland, in obedience thereunto,
he arrived at Newcastle, (38) in the county of Downe, And was by the said Monroe again taken
tary stores brought there by the marquis of Antrim. On (34) Colerane. — It is to be regretted the certificate
the 17th of April, 1646, lord Antrim wrote to sir E. from the mayor of Coleraine is lost. It probably recorded
Hyde, "explaining his inability to lend lord Digby the among other items, the facts that Antrim sent into the
frigates he asked for. Believes that the Marquis of town 100 beeves or fat cattle, and 60 loads of corn from
Ormond and himself will shortly be reconciled. Refers his own resources. He also obtained for the towns-
him to Lord Digby for the state of Ireland. Expresses people a circuit of three miles round Coleraine on which
his readiness to serve the prince." On the 26th of Oct. to graze their cattle.
following, the prince of Wales writes to Antrim that he (35) Other places. — Among these was Ballintoy. See
"has been assured of his zeal and merits in the king's p. 63, supra.
service by the Earl of Crawford. Accepts the offer of (36) England.— The marquis of Newcastle was son of
his services and assistance. Desires him to keep his men sir Charles Cavendish of Walbeck in Nottinghamshire,
in readiness. Captain Alex. Blackader carries this and nephew of the first duke of Devonshire. He was
letter." See Calendar of Clarendon Papers, vol. i., under created earl of Newcastle in 1628, and, on the breaking
Macdonnell, Randal. out of the great civil war in England, he seized and held
(30) Scotland. — Of the documents abovementioned two Newcastle for the king, when his majesty had not pos-
are preserved among the papers in Glenarm castle — one session of another sea-port in the kingdom. Newcastle
headed, Reasons propounded by the Alarqicisse of Antrim also raised troops, and in conjunction with a few other
to be considered by the Counsell and Comitlec ; the other nobles, held the northern counties at a trifling expense,
a favourable reply By the Generall Assembly of the Con- For this service he was created a marquis in 1643, but
federate Catholiques of Irelande. See Appendix XIII. after the battle of Marston-Moor in 1644, he quar-
(31) Aprill, 1642. — See pp. 257 — 260, supra. relied with prince Rupert and retired abroad, where
(32) King's partie. — The idea of tampering with he spent his days in the cultivation of music, poetry, and
Monro's allegiance to the covenant is here for the first, horsemanship. In 1664 he was created a duke, and died
and, indeed, the only time, expressed in the Antrim papers. in 1676. See Nicholl's Autographs.
Monro, however, like several other rabid covenanters, and (37) Att Yorke. — On this occasion, the queen Henrietta
Cromwellians, died a staunch royalist. Maria had returned from France, bringing with her con-
(33) The Irish. — This object, no doubt, with some siderable stores of arms and ammunition.
other minor considerations, carried him to meet sir Felim (3S) Newcastle. — Colonel James Macdonnell, in his
O'Neill at Moneymore, on his way to Dunluce, see p. 259, account of the Scottish expedition, see p. 76, supra, states
supra. that the earl was seized on the shore, at or near Green-