in London in 1653, during the interregnum, he resided in Spain, being in partnership as a wine merchant at Puerto Sta Maria with Anthony Upton, Secretary Thurloe's brother-in-law; Sir Benjamin Bathurst [q. v.], afterwards succeeded him in the firm. More loyal than patriotic, he communicated to the court of Madrid intelligence (obtained through Upton) of the movements of Blake's fleet (1656–1657), and used the interest which he thus made to facilitate the recognition of Henry Bennet (afterwards Lord Arlington) [q. v.] as the accredited representative of the king of England (1658). Through Bennet's influence he obtained on the Restoration the consulate of Cadiz and Puerto Sta Maria; and while holding this post provisioned, at his own risk, Lord Sandwich's fleet and the town of Tangier during the interval between the cession of that place to the British crown and its occupation [Montagu, Edward, first Earl of Sandwich; Mordaunt, Henry, second Earl of Peterborough]. He also furnished supplies and recruits to the garrison after the occupation. Resigning the consulate, he returned to England in 1663, and was sworn in as gentleman of the privy chamber in extraordinary (December). He also held for a time a commissionership of prizes, and the consulate of Malaga, San Lucar, and Seville, the latter post as a sinecure, for he continued to reside in England until his death, which took place in London in March 1690. He was buried at All Saints, Fulham, on 28 March. His younger brother, Thomas, acted as his deputy, and afterwards as consul at San Lucar, where he died on 19 Jan. 1705–1706.
Henry Rumbold married twice, in both cases according to the rite of the catholic church. His first wife, married in 1663, was Isabel de Avila; his second, married shortly before his return to England, was Francisca Maria, daughter of Bryan I'Anson, merchant of Cadiz and grandee of Spain, second son of Sir Bryan I'Anson, created baronet by Charles II in 1652. A son by this marriage was grandfather of Sir Thomas Rumbold [q. v.]
By his first wife he had issue a son, Henry Rumbold (d. 1689), who served with distinction as a cavalry officer in Tangier between 1662 and 1671, when he was sent home as escort to Lady Middleton. An engagement of marriage which he formed on the voyage with a daughter of Sir Robert Paston, was apparently broken off by the lady's family. He was, however, twice married, and his widow remarried John Cotton Plowden, younger brother of Francis Plowden, comptroller of the household to James II.
[Sir Horace Rumbold's Notes on the History of the Family of Rumbold in the Seventeenth Century (Roy. Hist. Soc. Trans.); Thurloe State Papers, vi. 582; Angliæ Notitia, ed. 1682 ad fin.; Pepys's Diary, 29 Oct. 1660, 8 Dec. 1661, and 8 March 1662–3; Hist. MSS. Comm. 1st Rep. App. p. 128, 4th Rep. App. p. 234, 6th Rep. App. p. 369, 7th Rep. App. pp. 409, 795, 831, 10th Rep. App. pt. vi. pp. 195–214; Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1648–70, Colonial, American, and West Indies, 1661–74; Lysons's Environs of London, ii. 368; Private Diarie of Elizabeth, Viscountess Mordaunt, ed. Lord Roden, p. 64; Hutchins's Dorset, i. 297–8.]
RUMFORD, Count. [See Thompson, Sir Benjamin, 1753-1814.]
RUMOLD, in Irish Ruthmael (d. 775?), bishop of Mechlin, born in Ireland, was consecrated a bishop, and laboured some time in Ireland early in the eighth century. He has been incorrectly called bishop of Dublin. There were no dioceses in Ireland at that time, but he may have been a bishop in Dublin, that is in one of the monasteries which were in Dublin or its vicinity in that age. For though the Danish city was of later origin, yet Ath Cliath, as it was and still is called by the native Irish, is mentioned in the seventh century by Adamnan and others.
Becoming dissatisfied with the results of his ministry in Ireland, Rumold resolved to go abroad, where his countrymen were then much valued. Crossing over to Britain in a coracle or skin-boat, ‘after the manner of his nation,’ he passed to Gaul, and ‘wherever he went he was always speaking of Jesus, and instructing the people about God and life everlasting.’ Crossing the Alps, he visited Rome, and saw with wonder the city ‘whither all the demons of the world used to congregate.’ Returning through France, he settled at Mechlin, near the Scheldt. The chieftain Ado and his wife, who were then in authority there, were grieved at being childless, and requested his prayers on their behalf. In answer to his prayers a child was born to them, who was named Libertus. The boy some years after, having fallen into the sea and been drowned, is said to have been restored to life by Rumold. Ado offered him a sum of money for this service, but he declined it, and said he would be content with some waste land. This Ado gladly bestowed on him, and here he formed a settlement from which ultimately grew the city of Mechlin. In due time he set about the erection of a church dedicated to St. Stephen the first martyr, but some of his workmen killed him by a blow on the head; his death is said to have taken place on 24 June 775 (Dict. Chr. Biogr.) Rumold's day is given
