Page:Studies in Irish History, 1649-1775 (1903).djvu/112

Charles II his favourite Talbot, rendered a change in the government of Ireland the inevitable complement of those events. Lord Robartes, a nobleman of whom we know little but his name, succeeded Ormond in the Viceroyalty, and, after a brief and uneventful administration, was in turn succeeded by Lord Berkeley of Stratton.

The instructions with which this nobleman entered upon his office scarcely confirm the theory, widely believed at the time and frequently repeated afterwards, that he was appointed at the instance of the Court of France in order to effect a revolution in the Roman Catholic interest. Lord Berkeley was ordered to promote, to the utmost of his ability, the interests of the Established Church; to reform her abuses, which, in truth, were sufficiently scandalous; to support the party of the remonstrants; and to execute the laws against the Roman Catholic hierarchy. It is probable, however, that these instructions were framed for the purpose of deceiving those members of the English administration who were not in the full confidence of the Court. It is certain that they were completely disregarded. The Catholic prelates performed their functions with less reserve than at any previous period. After an interval of many years Catholics were again admitted to the 100