the forces under Lord Fairfax. During his imprisonment lie engaged in a disputation with Dr. John Bastwick [q. v.], who published an account of the controversy, under the title of 'The Church of England a true Church,' 1645.
He remained a prisoner in the Tower until July 1647, when he was allowed to go 'on good bail' to Tunbridge to drink the waters for two months, and he obtained from time to time further extensions of this privilege. Finally, on 31 Aug. 1649, the House of Commons resolved that he, Sir John Winter, and Sir Kenelm Digby should depart this nation within ten days, and should not return upon pain of death and the confiscation of their estates.
Soon afterwards Montagu, by the interest of the queen-dowager of France, was made abbot of the Benedictine monastery of Nanteuil in the diocese of Metz, and subsequently obtained the rich abbey of St. Martin, near Pontoise. He was frequently consulted on affairs of state, and was for a time on friendly terms with Cardinal Mazarin, but a quarrel between them followed. Montagu had, says Dodd, the ear of three great princesses the queen-mother of France, Mary de Medicis, Henrietta Maria, queen of England, who had retired to France in 1644, and Henrietta's daughter, the Duchess of Orleans, being almoner to the two last. In 1654 Charles I's son, Henry, duke of Gloucester, was committed by Henrietta Maria to Montagu's care at Pontoise, and Montagu, at the queen's instigation, pressed upon the young prince, with the utmost assiduity although without success, the claims of the catholic religion [see under Henry, Duke of Gloucester 1639-1660]. Towards the close of 1660 he came secretly to England on a visit to his brother, Edward, earl of Manchester.
Queen Henrietta Maria died in 1669, and in the following year Montagu was requested by the French government to resign his office of abbot of St. Martin in favour of the young Cardinal Bouillon. He was, however, allowed to remove his furniture, and continued to enjoy the revenues of the abbey. His income as commendatory abbot amounted to 5,000l. sterling, and this sum, augmented by the charities of well-disposed persons which passed through his hands, enabled him to give pecuniary aid to many of his poor countrymen, both catholics and protestants, whom the civil war had forced into exile (cf. Wood). He passed his latter years in Paris, where he died, in the Hospital of Incurables, on 5 Feb. 1676-7 (Foley, Records, v. 604). He was buried at Pontoise.
Montagu had literary tastes, and verses by him are prefixed to 'Theophila, or Love's Sacrifice,' by Edward Benlowes, 1652. He also published 'The Accomplish'd Woman,' translated from the French, London, 1656, 12mo, and dedicated to the Duchess of Buckingham; and was author of 'The Shepheard's Paradise, a Comedy [in five acts and in prose]. Privately acted before the late King Charls by the Queens Majesty, and Ladies of Honour,' London, 1659, 8vo. Of this piece there is a copy in the British Museum, with a new title-page, bearing the date 1629, probably a misprint for 1659, as 'the late King Charls' is mentioned in the title. It is not entered in the books of the Stationers' Company for 1629. This comedy is ridiculed by Sir John Suckling in his 'Session of the Poets' (cf. Addit. MS. 24491, v. 234).
His other works—political or theological—are:
- 'The Coppy of a Letter sent from France by Mr. Walter Montagu to his Father, the Lord Privie Seale [giving his Reasons for embracing the Roman Catholic Religion], with his Answere thereunto. Also a Second Answere to the same Letter by the Lord Falkland' [London], 1641, 4to; another edition, printed with Lucius Gary, viscount Falkland's 'Discourse of Infallibility,' 1651; 3rd edit. 1660.
- 'The Letter sent by Sir Kenelme Digby and Mr. Mountague concerning the Contribution,' Printed with 'A Coppy of the Letter sent by the Queenes Majestie [Henrietta Maria] concerning the Collection of the Recusants Mony for the Scottish Warre,' London, 1641, 4to.
- 'Miscellanea Spiritualia: or Devovt Essaies,' London, 1648, 4to; second part, 1654, dedicated to Queen Henrietta Maria.
- 'An Exposition of the Doctrine of the Catholique Church,' translated from the French of Bossuet, Paris, 1672, 12mo.
His portrait has been engraved by Marshall.
