Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/161

 BOYLE 160 In proof of his assertions, to the great surprise of all who were present, he produced original papers, signed by the supreme council of the catholics, of which Sir Nicholas Plunket himself was one. This unexpected blow decided the contest in favour of the protestants, and his majesty dismissed the catholic commissioners with more severity than he commonly made use of. Shortly after this, his lordship with Sir Charles Coote, who had been created Earl of Montrath, and Sir Maurice Eustace, were appointed lords justices of Ireland, and commissioned to hold a parliament for the settlement of the nation. On tbis occasion Lord Orrery, with his own hand drew up the famous Act of Settlement, which was looked upon when it passed as evincing the most con- summate skill and address. The partial interpretation, however, which was afterwards put upon it by the judges, gave rise to much clamour and complaint, and completely deprived the measure of that conciliating effect, which had been intended by it, in restoring many of the catholics to their hereditary possessions. When the Duke of Ormond was appointed lord-lieutenant, Lord Orrery retired to his presidency of Munster, where he heard and determined causes with such judgment and impartiality as acquired him the general approbation and esteem of that province, and induced the king, after the fall of the Earl of Claren- don, to offer him the seals. The gout, however, with which he was now almost continually aflicted, induced him to decline a situation which required so regular an. attendance. During the first Dutch war in which France acted in confederacy with Holland, he defeated the scheme formed by the Duke de Beaufort, admiral of France, to get pos- session of the harbour of Kinsale; and taking advantage of the alarm of the neighbourhood, he had a fort erected under his own directions, which was named " Fort Charles." He afterwards interested himself in an inquiry which was attempted, into the king's revenue from Ireland; but