Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/99

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DILLON. 95 commissioned, with others, to distribute the forfeited es tates in Munster, and joined in many other commissions of public utility during the queen's reign. He married Jane, daughter of James Bathe, of Athcarne and Drum conoragh, Esq. chief baron of the exchequer, and had issue, seven sons and five daughters; and was buried in Newtown. ROBERT DILLON, Second Earl of Roscommon, was a nobleman of courage and bravery, and served his king and country with integrity and affection. In 1627, King Charles I. made him a privy counsellor, and on the 18th of August, 1628, appointed him a commissioner for the re-granting of a l l lands then becoming the possession o f the crown i n Ulster. I n 1629, h i s lordship and Michael, second son o f Henry, Lord Folliott, had a licence for their respective lives “to keep taverns, and sell a l l manner o f wholesome wines, and t o make and sell aqua vitae, b y retail o r i n gross, i n the town o f Ballyshannon. He was also a member o f the House o f Com mons; and o n the 26th o f May, 1638, was made keeper o f the great seal, i n the absence o f the Lord Chancellor. On the 12th o f September, 1639, h e was created one o f the lord justiciaries o f Ireland, i n which high post h e continued until the Earl of Strafford's arrival on the 18th o f March following

upon whose departure, and the death o f his deputy, Wandesford, h e was once more, together with Sir William Parsons, appointed lord justiciary, prior t o which, however, many weighty exceptions were made t o his lordship, and, amongst others, “that when h e was lord justiciary before, h e had committed several people for selling unsealed tobacco, had been often a referee upon paper petitions, and that h i s son had married the Earl o f Strafford's sister.” These charges were argued the next day before the king i n council, and Lord Dillon was removed i n the February following. Being thus b y his enemies deprived