, a distinguished military officer in the 17th century, was the
, a distinguished military officer
in the 17th century, was the eldest son of Sir Charles
Coote, who was created baronet in April 1621. He was a
gentleman of great consideration in Ireland. Upon the
breaking out of the rebellion, in 1641, he had a commission
for a regiment of foot, and was made governor of Dublin.
From this period to the year 1652, he was engaged in a
great number of important services for his country. In
almost all the contests of which he took a part, he
was successful. After Ireland was reduced to the obedience
of the parliament, sir Charles was one of the court of justice in the province of Connaught, of which he was made
president by act of parliament. Being in England at the
time of the deposing of Richard Cromwell, he went post
to Ireland, to carry the news to his brother Henry Cromwell, that they might secure themselves; but when he perceived that king Charles the Second’s interest was likely to
prevail, he sent to the king sir Arthur Forbes, “to assure
his Majesty of sir Charles’s affection and duty, and that if
his Majesty would vouchsafe to come to Ireland, he was
confident the whole kingdom would declare for him; that
though the present power in England had removed all the
sober men from the government of the state in Ireland, under
the character of presbyterians, and had put Ludlow, Corbet,
and others of the king’s judges in their places, yet they were
generally so odious to the army as well as to the people,
that they could seize on their persons and the castle of
Dublin when they should judge it convenient.
” The king
did not think it prudent to accept the invitation. In a short
time after, sir Charles Coote, and some others, so influenced
the whole council of officers, that they prevailed upon them
to vote not to receive colonel Ludlow as commander in
chief, and made themselves masters of Athlone, Drogheda,
Limerick, Dublin, and other important places, for the service of the king. He immediately caused colonel Monk
to be made acquainted with the progress of the king’s interest in Ireland, who urged them by every means not to
restore the suspended commissioners to the exercise of
their authority. Soon after, sir Charles Coote and others
sent to the parliament a charge of high treason against colonel Ludlow, Corbet, Jones, and Thomlinson. He likewise made himself master of Dublin castle; and apprehended John Coke, chief justice of Ireland, who had been
solicitor-general at the trial of king Charles I. Notwithstanding this, parliament thought themselves so sure of him
in their interest, that he received their vote of thanks on
the 5th of Jan. 1659-60. On the 19th of the same month
he was appointed one of the commissioners for the management of the affairs of Ireland. Before those commissioners declared for king Charles, they insisted upon certain
things relating to their interest as members of that nation.
On the 6th of September 1660, sir Charles Coote, on account of his many and very valuable services for the royal
cause, was created baron and viscount Coote, and earl of
Montrath in the Queen’s county. He was also appointed
one of the lords justices of Ireland, but he did not long
enjoy these marks of his sovereign’s favour, for he died in
December 1661, and was succeeded in his estate and titles
by his son Charles, the second earl. Dr. Leland asserts that
Coote and his father had engaged in the parliamentary service not from principle, but interest. Dr. Kippis, however, doubts the assertion, upon the ground that the Cootes
were zealous presbyterians; and therefore he thinks it
highly probable that they were influenced, at least in part,
by their real sentiments, civil and religious, and especially
by their aversion from popery.