BOYLE applied to Sir Charles Coote, who had great power in the north of Ireland, when he was summoned by the commis- sioners to appear before them at the castle of Dublin. His friends on this advised him to stand upon his guard, and not put himself into the power of his enemies ; but be thought himself not sufficiently strong to take such a step, and therefore went to Dublin, taking his own troop with him as a guard, which he left in the suburbs. The day after his arrival, he appeared before the commissioners who informed him that he was suspected of plotting against the state, and that they had orders to confine him, unless he would be answerable with his life and estáte that there should be no commotion in Munster, where his interest principally lay. Lord Broghill was much surprised at this proposal; he saw himself in the power of his enemies, who would take advantage of his refusing the security required, by immuring him in a prison, and who, if he gave the securities, might themselves raise some commotion. He requested some time to consider, but they insisted on his immediate answer; when he requested to know if they intended to put the whole power of Munster into bis hands; if they did, he was willing to enter into any secu- rities whatever; but if they did not, they could not expect him to be answerable for the bebaviour of people over 146 whom he had no control. This question so much embarrassed the commissioners, that they ordered him to withdraw, and fell into a warm debate how they ought to proceed with him; and at length it was resolved by the majority, that he should be sent back to his command in Munster, with every civility, and suffered to retain it till they had farther orders from Eng- land. In consequence of which he was invited to dine with the commissioners, who assured him that they had so high an opinion of his honour and integrity, that they would require him to enter into no engagements whatever, and dismissed him with the greatest. respect. On his return to Munster, Lord Broghill easily saw through the mean-
