The life of the Honourable Robert Boyle / By Thomas Birch.

  • Thomas Birch
Date:
MDCDXLIV [i.e. 1744]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The life of the Honourable Robert Boyle / By Thomas Birch. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/492 page 6
    rebellion were paft over. Then Rodert earl of E/- fex was defigned for the government of this king- dom, into whofe fervice | was recommended by Mr. Anthony Bacon. Whereupon his lordfhip very nobly received me, and ufed me with favour and grace, in employing me in the ‘1ffuing out his | patent and commiffions for the government of Jre- land; whereof Sir Henry Wallop, treafurer, having notice, and being confcious in his own heart, that I had fundry papers and collections of Michael Ket- tlewell’s his late under-treafurer, which might dif- cover a great deal of wrong and abufe done to the queen in his late accounts; and fufpecting, if 1 were countenanced by the earl of Effex, that I would bring thofe things to light, which might much pre- judice or ruin his reputation or eftate, although {I vow to God, until I was provoked, I had no thought. of it ; yet he, utterly to fupprefs me, re- newed his former complaints againit me to the queen’s majefty. Whereupon, by her majefty’s fpecial directions, I was fuddenly attached and con- veyed clofe prifoner to the Gate-Hou/fe ; all my papers feized and fearched; and although nothing could appear to my prejudice, yet my clofe reftraint _was continued till the earl of Effex was gone to Treland, and two months afterwards; at which time, with much fuit, I obtained the favour of her facred majefty to be prefent at my anfwers, where I fo fully anfwered and cleared all their objections, and delivered {uch full and evident juftifications for my own acquittal, as it pleafed the queen to ufe thefe words, viz. ‘* By God’s death, thefe are * but inventions againft this young man ; and all his fufferings are for being able to do us fervice, « and thofe complaints urged to foreftal him there- - in. But we find him to be a man fit to be em- “ ployed by ourfelves ; and we will employ him SOW cin
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3