Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/304

BUTLER. 293 of Ireland. The party, which had lately been kept under, having now, in a great measure, engrossed the king, to whom they had long before his accession made their court, were resolved to lay the axe to the root, and to put it out of the power of their opposers, ever, for the future, to break in upon their possession of the royal favour; in consequence of which the duke was impeached of high treason by Mr. secretary Stanhope. Several spoke in be- alf of his grace, among whom was Sir Joseph Jekyll. The duke, however, did not think it advisable to attempt weathering a storm which he saw levelled all before it, but withdrew privately from his house at Richmond to France; prior to which, by authentic acts, he resigned the chancellorship of Oxford and the high-stewardship of Westminster; to both which dignities his brother, the Earl of Arran, was elected. His grace has been censured for thus quitting England ; but he knew too well who were his persecutors. He was thoroughly acquainted both with their principles and views; and was too wise to trust his head, not to their merey, but to their disposal. As soon as it was publiely known that the duke had withdrawn himself, on the 5th of Augast, articles of impeacbment were read against him in the house of commons; and, shortly after, a bill was brought in to summon him to surrender by the 10th of September, and on default thereof to attaint him of high treason ; which passed both houses, and received the royal assent.The Duke, having neglected to obey this summons, the house , of lords ordered the earl marshal to erase his name out of the list of peers, His arms also were erased; and his achievements, as knight of the garter, were taken down from St. George's chapel at Windsor. The commons of Ireland also brought in a bill to attaint bim; and offered a reward of 10,000. for his head. Inventories were taken of all his personal estate; and both that and his real, vested in the crown. His grace, stripped of all support, and in a foreigu country, was under the necessity of entering some service