that he knew “no subject in England upon whose favour and authority with his majesty they can better rely than upon his lordship’s, nor ... with whom he (Ormond) would sooner agree for the benefit of this kingdom.”—­Birch, 62.  And another to Glamorgan himself on Feb. 11th, in which he says, “Your lordship may securely go on in the way you have proposed to yourself, to serve the king, without fear of interruption from me, or so much as inquiring into the means you work by.”—­Ibid. 163.  See also another letter, of April 6th, in Leland, iii. 283.]

[Sidenote a:  A.D. 1645.  August 25.]

To the surprise of all who were not in the secret, the public treaty now proceeded with unexpected facility.  The only point in debate between the lord lieutenant and the deputies, respected their demand to be relieved by act of parliament from all penalties for the performance of the divine service and the administration of the sacraments, after any other form than that of the established church.  Ormond was aware of their ulterior object:  he became alarmed, and insisted on a proviso, that such article should not be construed to extend to any service performed, or sacraments administered, in cathedral or parochial churches.  After repeated discussions, two expedients were suggested; one, that in place of the disputed article should be substituted another, providing that any concession with respect to religion which the king might afterwards grant should be considered as making part of the present treaty; the other, that no mention should be made of religion at all, but that the lieutenant should sign a private engagement, not to molest the Catholics in the possession of those churches which they now held, but leave the question to the decision of a free parliament.  To this both parties assented;[a] and the deputies returned to Kilkenny to submit the result of the conferences to the judgment of the general assembly.[1]

But before this, the secret treaty with Glamorgan, which had been concealed from all but the leading members of the council, had by accident come to the

[Footnote 1:  Compare Carte, i. 548, with Vindiciae Cath.  Hib. 11, 13.]

[Sidenote a:  A.D. 1645.  Nov. 11.]

knowledge of the parliament.  About the middle of October, the titular archbishop of Tuam was slain in a skirmish[a] between two parties of Scots and Irish near Sligo; and in the carriage of the prelate were found duplicates of the whole negotiation.  The discovery was kept secret; but at Christmas Ormond received a copy of these important papers from a friend, with an intimation that the originals had been for some weeks in possession of the committee of both nations in London.  It was evident that to save the royal reputation some decisive measure must be immediately taken.  A council was called.  Digby, who looked upon himself as the king’s confidential minister, but had been kept in ignorance of the whole transaction, commented on it with extreme