Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/139

 128 RICHARD BOYLE, CELEBRATED for his attachment to the unfortunate family of the Stuarts in all their distresses, was born at the college of Youghall, on the 20th of October, 161e. He was the second son of Richard Boyle, the great Earl of Corke, and Catherine, the only daughter of Sir Jeffery Fenton, master of the rolls for Ireland; of whose court- ship the following account is so curious, that we cannot avoid inserting it:-One morning, paying a visit to Sir Jeffery. Fenton on some business of consequence, that gentleman, being very busy in looking over some papers, did not come down so soon as usual. Finding, however, when he came down, that Mr. Boyle had waited for him, he apologizes for his neglect very handsomely, saying, that had he known he was waiting, he would have come down immediately. Mr. Boyle smiled, and told Sir Jef- fery, that he did not by any means think the time long, having been diverting himself with his pretty little daugh- ter, (who was then in arms, and about two years old) and added, that he had been courting her to become his wife. On this, Sir Jeffery told him pleasantly, that so young a widower would be loth to stay so long for a wife; but Mr. Boyle seriously affirmed he would, if Sir Jeffery would give his consent; which he accordingly did; and they both fulfilled their promises. This curious and appa- rently trifling incident gave rise to a connection which afterwards formed the principal happiness of the life of that great man; and from her are descended the whole of the numerous family of the Boyles, which has since shone with so much lustre both in the field and in the senate. His earlier years were passed in the acquirement of use- ful knowledge under the care of Mr. Marcombes, in which he made considerable progress, as is evident from the qualities he afterwards displayed; as well as from his re- eeiving the honour of knighthood from the hands of Lord