^{page 9 note a} Digby, wayward and inconsiderate but romantic and generous, was at this time endeavouring to aid the marquis of Ormond in effecting a treaty with the Roman Catholics of Ireland, by which Charles was to receive assistance out of that country. But, whilst Ormond and Digby were proceeding in the ordinary course of diplomacy, Glamorgan, acting upon extraordinary powers secretly given to him by the king, effected their object, but at what was considered equivalent to the sacrifice of Protestantism in Ireland. The indignation which ensued rendered it impossible for the king to avail himself of the assistance which the Roman Catholics had agreed with Glamorgan to render; it even induced the king to disavow the authority under which Glamorgan had acted. This subject is again alluded to in several places in these letters.