James Butler, Lord Ormonde, was born 1610. He stood tall with a pale, clear complexion, fair hair and a small fair moustache. Ormonde was meticulous in all his matters, living to a strict and sober routine. His sense of humour was as simple as his tastes, he would laugh uncontrollably at an amusing poem about food fights and his favourite dish was a boiled leg of mutton. He drank alcohol with moderation. With women it was the same, Ormonde’s only recorded distraction being with Lady Isabella Rich, to whom he had a son. Once married, he remained strictly faithful. Ormondes childhood was difficult and helped little in making the great man of his adulthood. He lost his father at nine and was declared a Royal ward, growing up at James I’s court, in the Archbishop of Canterbury’s household. The Archbishop did not fulfil his duty with regards to Ormonde’s education and he was left without the usual nobleman’s tutoring. The only major thing to come from the Archbishop’s care was to create a strong sense of Protestantism in Ormonde, which never left him. His family was respected and distinguished in Ireland and had a Catholic branch to it. At 24, he was present at the Irish Parliament, when the English Lord Lieutenant referred to Ireland as, “the conquered nation.” Ormonde was brave and outraged enough to threaten Lord Strafford, never to refer to Ireland as that again. This brought the young man to Strafford’s attention and it was not long before Ormonde again threatened Strafford. This time it was by refusing to leave his sword behind when in Parliament. Ormonde topped the icing on the cake by saying, “If you shall have my sword, it shall be in your gut!” Ormonde became Strafford’s friend and played an important part in the government of Ireland. Strafford obviously recognised his assets of loyalty, honesty, intelligence and courage, combined with a good understanding of Ireland. First Civil War Ormonde saw action in the English Civil War earlier than any of the other two commanders. In 1641, the Catholic Irish rose up in rebellion Being commander in Ireland, he fought a battle with the rebel Irish in April 1642, winning the battle of Kilrush. Again in 1643, he defeated a force twice the size of his own at Old Ross, which was commanded by General Thomas Preston. Ormonde showed his courage and strength, sleeping on the ground like the rest of his men, something he would make a point of doing. Ormonde unlike Rupert and Montrose, had duties apart from being a soldier. He was the King’s representative in Ireland, which made him responsible for diplomatic and governing tasks, hence he fought fewer battles than the other two. Ormonde got the sensitive job of negotiating a truce with the Catholic rebels, just after the Civil War had commenced in England. The rebels claimed they rose up against Parliament, not the King. King Charles hoped that he could negotiate the truce, freeing up Ormonde’s men to come to England and fight for him. The added bonus was that the Irish rebels might also come to his side, against his aggressive rebel Parliament. Ormonde succeeded at the truce and was able to send a few thousand men over to the King, landing them at Chester. In 1644 Ormonde was finally given the position of Lord Lieutenant, a job he had been doing since Strafford had left Ireland and what Strafford had urged the King to do long ago. After fighting a losing battle despite his determination, Ormonde was forced back to Dublin by the rebel Irish. The King told him to surrender to English Parliamentarians rather than the Irish and Ormonde sailed for Bristol in 1647. He travelled to Hampton Court where the King was being held prisoner and kept close to his master’s captivity. He left England in 1648, going to the Queen in France and was commissioned to return to Ireland to resume his position. Ormode left in August 1648 where he raised nearly eighteen thousand men, taking Drogheda and Dundalk, before sieging Dublin. Practically all Ireland was under his control, but his army was meanly provided, whereas the English in Dublin had plentiful supply from England. Cromwell arrived soon after and defeated his army, moving on to take the other towns by storm and with bloodthirstiness, which has never been forgotten to this day. It was with innate sadness that he learned of King Charles Is execution. Ormonde sailed from Ireland in 1650, to attend the new King Charles II, until the restoration, when he returned to England. He received a Dukedom, grants of land and money and positions at court. He was confirmed again as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, bringing it time and care to heal its wounds. King Charles rewarded him with a Dukedom, positions at court, money and estates and even a gold dinner set, making him very rich and powerful, but despite this, he was still ever as austere and honest. In 1669, his enemies intervened to get him dismissed from Ireland, but soon enough his loyalty was rewarded. King Charles II observed as Ormonde walked away after being dismissed, “He continues to be loyal to me no matter what.” That pretty much sums up the greatness of the man. Adventure and Escape A further adventure came one night in the late 1660’s, when Ormonde was returning from a party. His guards got rather too far ahead of his coach and before he knew it, a small handful of men had hijacked the coach, forcing him out and ruffling him up. Near to his sixties, Ormonde remained calm and collected, whilst the leader, Colonel Blood, vetoed a plan to murder him there and then. He planned a more elaborate way, but hanging him from London’s prime criminal gallows at Tyburn. Going on with his followers, a man tied Ormonde to his back, so they were facing back to back on the horse. Galloping along, Ormonde managed to get his foot into the stirrup, jarring them both off the horse and to the ground, where they could do nothing more than roll around. This allowed his coach to speed off to the nearest house to raise the alarm and Ormonde was saved. Curiously enough, no one has managed to find the reason behind Blood’s rather outrageous attempt on the life of perhaps the most powerful man in the kingdom under the King, but a man who was steadfastly honest, loyal and brave. He was restored to his position in 1677 right through until 1685.Ormonde lost his wife and eldest son, before he himself died in 1688, leaving his efforts and achievements as a tribute to his ability, in his beloved Ireland. Back to Table of Contents -- King or Parliament #3 Back to King or Parliament List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2002 by Mark Turnbull. 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