Arthur Annesley

son of Sir Franc. Annesley Baronet, Lord Mount-Norris and Viscount Valentia in Ireland, was born in Fish-Shamble street in S. Johns Parish within the City of Dublin, on the tenth day of July, an. 1614, became a Fellow Commoner of Magd. Coll. in 1630, or thereabouts, continued there under the tuition of a careful Tutor three years or more, and having laid a sure foundation in literature, to advance his knowledg in greater matters, he returned to his native Country for a time. In 1640 he was elected ((a))((a)) List of the names of the Long Parliament, an. 1640. likewise of the Parliam. holden at Oxon 1643. Lond. 1659. oct. Knight for Radnorshire to serve in that Parliment which began at Westm. 3. Nov. 1640, but his election being questioned, Charles Price Esq. then elected also, was voted by the Committee of Elections to stand as more lawfully elected, yet soon after he left that Parliament and followed the K. to Oxon, where he sate in that called by his Majesty. In the time of the rebellion our author Annesley was entrusted by both Houses of Parliament, or appointed by them one of the Commissioners for the ordering and governing the affairs in Ireland, an. 1645 or thereabouts, and became ((b))((b)) True account of the proceedings betwixt James Duke of Orm [•] nde and Arth. Earl of Anglesey, &c. p. 9. instrumental there to preserve the British and Protestant Interest, Country and Garrisons from being swallowed up by Owen Oneill’s barbarous Army, or falling into the body of Irish hands, &c. Afterwards he went into England, complied with the Parliament, Ol. Cromwell and his party, took the Oath called the Engagement, as before he had the Covenant: But when he saw that K. Ch. 2. would be restored to his Kingdoms, he then, when he perceived that it could not be hindred, struck in and became instrumental for the recalling of him home, as many of his perswasion did, and thereupon they soothed themselves up and gave it out publickly, that they were as instrumental in that matter, as the best of the Royal party, nay they stuck not to say, that if it was not by their endeavours his Majesty would not have been restored. At that time he was made a Privy Counsellour, and, to shew his zeal for his Majesties cause, he procured himself to be put in among the number of those Justices or Judges to sit first at Hicks-hall and afterwards at the Old Bayly on the Regicides, where one of them, named Adrian Scrope, did reflect upon him, as ’twas by all there present supposed, and of others too, as having before been misled as well as himself, as I have told you in Anthony E. of Shaftsbury, under the year 1682. In the year following, (1661) a little before his Majesties Coronation, he was by Letters Pat. bearing date on the 20 of Apr. created a Baron of this Kingdom by the title of Lord Annesley of Newport-Paynel in Bucks. (of which Town one Thom: Annesley Great Uncle to Sir Franc. Annesley before mention’d had been High Constable) as also a Count by the title of Earl of Anglesey, as comming more near to his name, than another place, or Town. Afterwards he enjoying certain Offices of trust, was, at length, made Lord Privy Seal about the middle of Apr. 1673, and kept it till Aug. 1682, at which time, he was deprived of it (some have thought unjustly) for several reasons, as I shall anon tell you: whereupon retiring to his Estate at Blechingdon in Oxfordshire, which he, some years before, had purchased, vindicated himself by writing an account of the whole proceeding of that affair, as I shall tell you by and by. He was a person very subtle, cunning and reserv’d in the managery and transacting his affairs, of more than ordinary parts, and one who had the command of a very smooth, sharp and keen Pen. He was also much conversant in books, and a great Calvinist, but his known countenance and encouragement given to persons of very different perswasions in matters of Religion, hath left it somwhat difficult, at least in some mens judgments, peremptorily to determine among what sort of men, as to point of Religion, he himself ought in truth to have been ranked. Yet it is to be observed that he did not dispense his favours with an equal hand to all these, the dissenting party having still received the far largest share of them, who did all along generally esteem him and his interest securely their own, especially after the Popish Conspiracy broke out, when then, out of policy, he avoided and shook off his numerous acquaintance of Papists, as it was notoriously observed by them, and of other pretenders to Politicks, meerly to save themselves, and to avoid the imputation of being Popishly affected. As for his published writings they are these,

The truth unvailed, in behalf the Church of England, &c. being a vindication of Mr. Joh. Standish’s Sermon (on 2 Cor. 5.20) preached before the King and published by his Majesties command. Lond. 1676 in 3 sh. in qu. This being an answer to some part of Mr. Rob. Grove’s Vindication of the conforming Clergy from the unjust aspersions of heresie, containing some reflections on the said Sermon; was replied upon by the said Grove in a treatise intit. Falshood unmask’d, &c. Lond. 1676 in 3. sh. and an half in qu.

Reflections on that discourse which a Master of Arts (once) of the Univers. of Cambridge calls Rational. Presented in Print to a person of honour, an. 1676 concerning Transubstantiation—Printed with Truth unvailed, &c. Which discourse was also answer’d by another, in a piece intit. Roman tradition examined, as it is urged as infallible against all mens senses, reason and holy Scriture, &c. Lond. 1676. qu.

A Letter from a person of honour in the Country, written to the Earl of Castlehaven: Being observations and reflections upon his Lordships Memoires ((c))((c)) Printed at Lond. 1681, in octav. concerning the Warrs in Ireland. Lond. 1681. oct. Which Letter coming into the hands of James Duke of Ormonde, and finding himself and his Government of Ireland therein, reflected upon, with great disadvantage, as he thought; he wrot and published a Letter to the E. of Anglesey, dated at Dublin, 12 Nov. 1681, to vindicate himself. Anglesey thereupon made a reply in another, and printed it with Ormonde’s Letter at Lond. about the beginning of Apr. 1682, both contained in two sh. in fol. Ormonde therefore represented the case in writing to the King, on the 17 of June following: which being read openly before the Council then sitting at Hampton Court, his Maj. declared that he would hear the matter thereof in Council; and did order that a copy of the said Representation should be delivered to Anglesey, and that he appear and make answer thereunto, at a Council to be holden at Whitehall, on the 23 of the said month. In obedience to this, Anglesey, tho much troubled with the Gout, appeared, made a short speech to his Majesty in vindication of himself, bandied the matter with Ormond, and then put in his answer to Ormond’s representation or complaint against him. These things being done, another Council was held 13 July, at which time Ormond delivering a paper to the Board containing several charges against him, it was then ordered that a copy of it should be sent to Anglesey, and that he return an answer thereunto on the 20 of the said month, at Hampton Court. But no Council being then held, (notwithstanding Anglesey had made answer to Ormond’s particular charges against him the next day) the matter was defer’d till the 27 of the same month. Another Council being therefore there held on that day, the charges and answers were debated. Which done, and the Lords concerned being withdrawn, this resolution passed by the Council on Anglesey’s letter to the Earl of Castlehaven, viz. That it was a scandalous libel against his late Majesty, against his now Majesty, and against the Government. When the Parties, or Lords concern’d, were called in again, the Lord Chancellour only told Anglesey that the King conceived him faulty in the clause, pag. 32. of the said Letter to the Earl of Castlehaven, wherein the Committees of the Parliament of Ireland were mention’d as having been in at the intrigues of the Popish Faction at Court. After which a farther hearing was appointed to be on the 3 of Aug. following, but Anglesey continuing extream ill of the Gout, and finding himself prejudg’d by the Lords of the Council on the 27 of July, he wrot a Letter on the 2 of Aug. to his Majesty; which being openly read in Council the next day, he did in some manner (as ’twas said) resent it for some passages therein, yet nothing appear’d entred to be done thereupon. Afterwards the Earl of Castlehaven (James Touchet) was called in several times and question’d about his Memoires; which he acknowledging to be his, the said book in conclusion was by his Majesty and Council judged to be a scandalous Libel against the Government. On the 9 of the said month of Aug. 1682, the Privy Seal, by command from his Majesty, was taken away from Anglesey by Sir Leolin Jenkins Principal Secretary of State, without any farther hearing, and was given to George Marquess of Halyfax. Besides the aforesaid Letter of the E. of Anglesey written to the Earl of Castlehaven, containing Observations, &c. was another book published intit. Brief reflections on the Earl of Castlehavens Memoires, &c. written by Dr. Edm. Borlase, (Author of The Hist. of the execrable Irish Rebellion, &c.) and printed at London 1682. oct. But the said Author, who commends Anglesey’s Letter, was not regarded. Afterwards our Author Anglesey wrot,

A true account of the whole Proceedings betwixt James Duke of Ormonde and Arthur Earl of Anglesie before the King and his Council, &c. Lond. 1682, in 18 sh. in fol. and

A Letter of Remarks upon Jovian. Lond. 1683. in two sh. in qu; which Jovian was wrot by Dr. George Hicks Dean of Worcester. In the beginning of the year 1686 he began to be admitted into the favour of King James 2, but being about that time seized with a Quinsey in his throat, died soon after as I shall anon tell you, leaving behind him

The History of Ireland, MS. and

The Kings right of indulgence in spiritual matters with the equity thereof asserted.—Which book being put into the hands of Hen. Care, he caused it to be published at Lond. in Nov. 1687. in 10 sh. and an half in qu. with the date of 16S8. put at the bottom of the title. So that that person, who in the time of the Popish Plot had shew’d himself the most bitter enemy in the Nation against the Papists, and Duke of York, by publishing The weekly Pacquet of Advice from Rome, and other things, was, when the said Duke came to the Crown, taken so much into favour, as to be made a Tool to print matters for the abolishing of the Test and Penal Laws, the publishing of which book was one. At length after our Author Arthur Earl of Anglesey had acted the part of a Polititian, for more than 45 years, he gave way to fate in his house in Drury-lane within the Liberty of Westminster, on Easter Tuesday,1686. the 6 of Apr. in sixteen hundred eighty and six: whereupon his body being conveyed to Farnborough in Hampshire, where he had an Estate, was buried in the Church there. He left behind him a choice Library of Books, which were exposed to sale, by way of Auction, in Oct. Nov. &c. following.