Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/629

 WARE. (525 to Dublin, living in a private situation, as he was deprived of his office, till Michael Jones, the governor of Dublin, jealous of his character and consequence, sent him a peremptory order to transport himself beyond seas into any country he pleased, except England. He retired to France in April 1649, where he spent some time at Caen, and afterwards at Paris, contracting an acquaintance with the most learned men in both places. His exile, however, was not of long continuance; in 1651 he came to London, by licence of the parliament, on private business, and two years afterwards went to Ireland to look after his estates. The leisure which he now enjoyed was devoted to his favourite studies, the return to which was consoling as well as gratifying ; and he reinained in Ireland till the Restoration, with the exception of occasional journies to London, to superintend the publication of his works; the art of printing being then in a very low condition in Ireland. In 1654, he published the first edition of his Antiquities, of which an enlarged and improved edition appeared in 1658, together with a collection of the works ascribed to St. Patrick. During the exile of Charles II. Ware had assisted him with a considerable sum of money; and Charles, not so forgetful of him as of many others, immediately on the Restoration, replaced him in his office of auditor-general. In the parliament which was immediately summoned, he was unanimously elected for the university of Dublin; and was shortly afterwards made one of the four commis sioners of appeal in excise causes, and one of the commis sioners under the king's declaration for the settlement of Ireland. So great indeed was his favour at court, princi pally, we imagine, through the interest of the Duke of Ormond, that his majesty offered to create him a viscount of the kingdom of Ireland, which he refused. At his request, however, the king granted him two blank patents of baronetcy, which he filled up for two friends, whose posterity, Harris says, “to this day enjoy the honours;” but he does not mention their names. - WOL. i. i. SS