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From
A Compendium of Irish Biography, by Alfred Webb 1878.
Hamilton, Sir James, Viscount Claneboy, a Scotch gentleman,
was, in 1587, with his
friend James Fullerton, sent to Ireland by James VI. of Scotland
(afterwards James I.), "in order to hold a correspondence with
the English of that kingdom," writes Lodge, "and inform
his Majesty, from time to time, of the state, condition, inclinations,
and designs of the Irish in case of Queen Elizabeth's death; they
disguised the cause of their errand (that they might execute it
the better) by taking upon them to teach school." Their place
of instruction was the Corporation City Free School, possibly for
the children of freemen only; it was situated in Schoolhouse-lane,
near Christ Church. James Ussher, afterwards the celebrated Archbishop,
was one of their pupils. [In 1603, Fullerton was appointed Clerk
of the Cheque and Muster-Master General; within a couple of years
he was made Commissioner of Wards and Liveries, was knighted, made
Ambassador to France, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, in 1630.]
Hamilton was made a Senior Fellow of Trinity College, and received
still higher honours and rewards than his companion, being made
a Sergeant-at-Law, Privy-Councillor, and named Commissioner of Wards
and Liveries and Commissioner for the plantation of Longford. "In
1622, he was raised to the peerage with the titles of Claneboy and
Hamilton.
He lived to be 84 years old, having had 'three ladies, the two
first of whom proved but little comfort to him.' He had large estates
at Bangor, County Down, where he built a church inside the ruins
of the old abbey, in which he was buried in 1643. He had on his
(estates six parishes, which he planted with pious Scotch ministers;'
and while he sheltered his own chaplains from the Episcopal constables,
it is remarkable that he continued the persecution of the other
Irish northern Puritans." His son James was created Earl of
Clanbrassil. |