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CHAPTER V.

FATHER AND SON (1666-1667).

THE Penns were fond of county Cork, in which they had already spent some years, and as their new estate when it was free to them-would be larger than any one they could hope to buy in either Somerset or Essex, Admiral Penn was scheming for a settlement of his family in that picturesque and fertile shire. His kinsmen wished him to recover Penn's Lodge near Minety; but the place was small, and he had grown too great for the ambition of a country squire. His house at Chigwell was too paltry for the dignity of a peer. Shangarry Castle, with the lands which had been set apart for him at Rostillon and Inchy, gave him what he could not find in England,—an address, a residence, and a rental of a thousand pounds a-year. His eyes were therefore turned towards county Cork, as likely to become his future home.

Penn sailed for Dublin; where he waited on the Duke of Ormonde. Before going down to Cork, he was to see Sir George Lane, the Irish secretary, and make as many friends as he could win at court.

Lord Ossory, the Duke's eldest son, was absent from Dublin, but Lord Arran was at home, and he and William Penn became fast friends. The Duke was pleased with Penn, and in a week or two accounts were sent to the Admiral assuring him that in separating his son from his London associates he had turned the current of his thoughts. Instead of moping in his room, the youth was always in the circle, gay and bright, with pretty foreign manners, and a spirit to attempt the boldest things. The Butlers were a family of soldiers, and the pomp and circumstance of war were topmost in the thoughts of Arran and his comrades. Penn was not behind these youngsters. While he was in Dublin, waiting on the court, a mutiny took place at Carrickfergus (May, 1666), where the insurgents seized the castle and alarmed the country-side from Antrim to Belfast. To Arran was assigned the duty of suppressing this revolt, and Penn took service with his friend. The mutineers fought well, but bit by bit were driven into the fort, and then the fort itself was stormed. Young Penn was talked of as the coolest of the cool, the bravest of the brave. Lord Arran was delighted with him; for the young swordsman of Paris had become the proud soldier of Carrickfergus; and the Duke at once wrote off to tell the Admiral he was ready to confer on his son William that command of the company at Kinsale, which they had talked about for him before the lad returned from France.

Though Penn could not be made into a boon companion, a friend of comedians, and a partner in

the romps and jinks of the Navy Gardens, there was still a chance of seeing him grow up into a soldier of his country and a bearer of his cross,-a hero of the stamp of Thomas Grey. The glory won at Carrickfergus made him long to get his company. The fit was on him, and he wanted to appear at Kinsale as Captain Penn instead of Clerk of the Cheque. His zeal amused and gratified his parents; but the Admiral had begun to change his plans. Affairs were looking ill at court; Sir William saw no chance of going to sea again; and he was talking of retiring to Shangarry Castle and his government of Kinsale. If they should go to Cork, it would be well to keep the offices they had got; but if his son received his company of foot he must lose his highly profitable Clerkship of the Cheque.

'Well, Sir,' said the Duke of Ormonde to his guest before his courtiers, 'has Sir William given you his company at Kinsale?'

'He has promised it, your grace,' replied young Penn; and your lordship has promised to favour his request when made.'

'But has he written nothing?'

'He is far from London, and is busy fitting out the fleet.'

The Admiral affected to regard his son as being too young for such a post as Captain at Kinsale. When Penn was eager, he requested him to live a 'sober life,' and told him in the plainest terms he was too 'young' and 'rash.' Heroes of forty-five are apt to rail at heroes of twenty-two. The veteran, when he told his son not to let his 'desires'

outrun his 'discretion,' forgot that he was himself a captain at twenty-one. Before the vision of a life in camp and field was gone for ever, Penn had himself painted with his harness on his back. It was the only portrait for which he ever sat; and thus the single record which the world possesses of a man whose name is Peace displays him in a coat of shining steel.

When he had warned his son to live a 'sober life at Kinsale, the Admiral gave him hints about doing his duty to the crown, yet making money in his office of the Cheque.

The post was one of some account. A Clerk of the Cheque had to deal with captains of ships; to keep the poll-books; and to certify the accuracy of all accounts. He had the charge of government stores and property, civil and warlike. He had to give out rations and supplies, and to see that the musters on board each ship agreed with the entries on the books. As Clerk of the Cheque Penn would live in county Cork, within easy reach of the family estate, which also needed his constant

care.

Sir William's old friend, Roger, Earl of Orrery (known among the literary and scientific Boyles as poet and dramatist), was living at Cork as President of Munster, and in this able and brilliant nobleman Penn soon found a steadfast friend.

Penn resided chiefly at Kinsale, attending to the duties of his office; giving out rope and tar, paying seamen's wages, counting tallies, and living, as the Admiral wished him to live, a 'sober' life. His supe

riors in the King's service were well pleased with him; Lord Orrery gave him the rank of Ensign in a company of horse; and during the darker days of the Dutch war we hear of Ensign Penn running to and fro; fitting out ships, throwing chains across the harbour, rallying soldiers in the fort. It was still on the cards that William Penn might come to be Captain Penn.

While Ensign Penn was running to and fro about the business of his post, he kept an eye on his own affairs at Shangarry Castle. As in every other grant of forfeited lands, a multitude of suits sprang up; the royal warrant was disputed; and the tenant, Colonel Wallis, was a man who would not yield to either duke or king. In vain the Lords Justices showed him the King's own words. "The King has no right to give away these lands; the law alone can say if they were forfeit to the crown.' Much prudence was required in dealing with Colonel Wallis, but the young and soft negotiator brought the fiery old soldier to a calmer frame of mind.

In London things were jogging on as usual. Margaret Penn had found a servant' in Antony Lowther, of Maske, in Yorkshire; a man of good family, wealthy, and devoted to her. Sir William was either at the court, the Navy Office, or the playhouse daily, with Sir William Coventry, Admiral Batten, or some other comrade, pushing his fortunes and deserving all he got. The Admiral was liked by all his equals; and enjoyed the highest favour of the King and Duke of York. Though