This eminent person filled in his own time so prominent a position, and his writings are so frequently referred to in ours, that details regarding him, even somewhat beyond our accustomed limits, will not, we feel convinced, be deemed either irrelevant or uninteresting. James Ware was b. at his father's house in Castle Street, Dublin, on the 26th November, 1594. At the age of sixteen he entered at the university of Dublin as fellow-commoner. Upon leaving college the peculiar bent of his mind, which was directed to the elucidation of Irish antiquities, recommended him to the notice and friendship of the illustrious Usher, then Bishop of Meath, who was gratified to find in the young student an active and enthusiastic mind, intent upon pursuits congenial with his own. Stimulated by so distinguished an encouragement, our young antiquary began to collect with the greatest zeal early Irish manuscripts, as well as to make historical and genealogical compilations from the registries and cartularies of cathedrals and monasteries. He also visited London, where, through the medium of his friend Dr. Usher, then promoted to the Archbishopric of Armagh, he was introduced tô Sir Robert Cot- | ton, whose rich store of ancient manuscripts incited him to still further exertions in his patriotic attempts to rescue from oblivion the historical relics of the sister-island. The first fruits of these exertions made their appearance in the form of three consecutive memoirs, which treated of the Archbishops of Cashel and Tuam, of the Bishops of Dublin, and of the Cistercian monasteries of Ireland. After the publication of these works hè revisited England, and, while he renewed his acquaintance with Sir Robert Cotton, to whose library he made some valuable archæological presents, he had also the satisfaction of forming a useful friendship with the learned Selden. The contributions which James Ware was thus rendering to the ancient ecclesiastical history of Ireland made a forcible appeal to the gratitude of his country. In 1629 he received the honour of knighthood, even while his father, who possessed a similar title, the reward of past services, was living.

seat in the Privy Council. But, besides these distinctions for services rendered to the state, Sir James Ware appeared before his countrymen as a mild, prudent and affectionate son of the reformed church; which disposition was not lost upon the hierarchy of the establishment, who were also deeply impressed with the profound knowledge exhibited in his writings of the ecclesiastical affairs of Ireland; and hence their successful recommendations to the king that he should be appointed one of the commissioners for the settlement of certain impropriations in the possession of the crown on a resident clergy. Although Sir James was thus variously occupied, his public functions did not so entirely engross his time as to leave him without any leisure for the prosecution of his beloved literary pursuits. He printed, from a manuscript which fell into his possession, Spencer's View of the State of Ireland, a most valuable work, which he followed up by editing Meredith Hanmer's Chronicle, and Campion's History of Ireland. He also published, in 1639, his important bibliographical memoir, in two parts, De scriptoribus Hiberniæ. These several labours were considered of such national importance, that the learned body most capable of appreciating it, returned him member of the House of Commons for the University of Dublin.

The great troubles of Ireland were now fast approaching. In 1640 the Earl of Strafford hurried to England to consult with his royal master, and, in the mean time, the Catholic party took advantage of his absence to impeach not only him, but likewise certain eminent individuals in the possession of the Lord Deputy's confidence. If the earnest pleadings of the friends of the unfortunate nobleman eventually proved unsuccessful, a different result awaited the powerful and eloquent appeal made by Sir James Ware against the impeachment of Sir George Radcliffe and others, which caused the charge to fall to the ground. Soon after this event, in the year 1641, the great rebellion broke out, when the cool advice of Sir James Ware is acknowledged to have greatly aided the numerous cabinet The younger Sir James Ware soon began councils which were consequently held. In to relax from the severity of his literary 1643 he took a great share in the question studies. The consideration of an increasing entered into with the Irish insurgents touchfamily brought him by his marriage with ing the expediency of a suspension of arms; Miss Newman, the daughter of an influen- and being appointed a member of the countial citizen of Dublin, suggested to his at- cil of seventeen for arranging the terms of tention the lucrative nature of state occupa- the armistice, the treaty became so disturbed tions; and when, in the year 1632, by the with the numerous jarring prejudices and death of Sir James Ware the elder, he suc- interests which it involved, that, eventually, ceeded to the office of auditor-general, so Sir James was appointed one of the three assiduously were its arduous duties per- commissioners instructed to repair to the formed by him, that upon the arrival in Ire-king at Oxford, and to confer with his maland of the Lord Deputy Wentworth, after-jesty relative to a final peace with the conwards Earl of Strafford, he was called to a federated rebels. It is to be presumed that

Sir James Ware would now have at his command far less literary leisure than formerly: it is evident, however, that his favourite pursuits did not even then cease to hold an important influence over his mind and actions. His detention at Oxford gave him full opportunity of conversing with many learned men, and he made numerous extracts connected with the early state of Ireland, from the manuscripts contained in the libraries of the university. The sense which Oxford entertained of the national benefits which Sir James had conferred upon his country, were evinced by the honorary degree with which he was complimented of doctor of laws. His return home was followed by a serious disaster. Being taken prisoner at sea by one of the ships in the service of the Parliament, he was sent a prisoner to the Tower of London, where, to beguile a tedious imprisonment, he wrote an imaginary voyage to an Utopian island, which, having never been published, is now regarded as lost. At length, after a painful detention of ten months, an exchange of prisoners was agreed upon, which obtained the release of Sir James Ware, whose return to his native country was hailed with great satisfaction. His excellent qualifications for public business were again called into requisition:-for although he lived at a period when party prejudices and feelings ran to a height unknown to Ireland even in her later times of trouble, his political conduct ever assumed a mild form, calculated, if not to completely resist, at least to soften down the asperities of the age. The first proof of the trust reposed in him was his being conjoined with two distinguished noblemen in a committee of enquiry relative to the Earl of Glamorgan, who, it was imagined, had exceeded his commission in patching up a clandestine peace with the disaffected Irish.

tered into an union with the army of the supreme council, led to his banishment. He was ordered, as an object of formidable mistrust, to transport himself beyond the seas to any country, save England, which suited his pleasure. To ordinary minds an exile in a foreign and distant land ever presents a revolting aspect. But to Sir James Ware it was an exchange of troublesome functions for the still and soothing occupations of science, which ever afforded to his enquiring mind the most delightful of solaces. Accompanied by his eldest son, he set sail in the spring of 1649 for France, where St. Maloes, Caen and Paris, became his successive places of residence. In the French cities he cultivated an acquaintance with eminent literati, but more particularly at Caen, with a savant of kindred, archæological pursuits, the ardent and indefatigable Bochart. At the expiration of a four years' exile, when the political horizon was considered more clear, Sir James had the liberty conceded to him, upon the urgent plea of his presence being indispensable to the well-being of his estates, to revisit Ireland. He had kept a written journal of his foreign exile, under the title of Itinerarium Gallicum, which was never published. It now holds a place in the shelves of the Cottonian library. The first care of Sir James upon his return, and after arranging his private affairs, was to add to his extensive collections of national and ancient manuscripts, for which he spared no cost; and, as he did not himself understand the speaking of the Irish language, though he could make a shift to read it, he constantly kept in his house an Irish amanuensis, of the name of Dudley Firbisse, to aid him in the translation of dubious passages. At length he was enabled to prepare for the press his master-piece, which he published under the title "De Hibernia et Antiquitatibus ejus In 1647 the Marquis of Ormond surren- disquisitiones." Its success even advanced dered the metropolis of Ireland, in obedi- his reputation, high as it already was, in the ence to the King's order, to the Parliament, republic of learning. Among other gratewhen Sir James Ware, along with the Lord ful effects, it recommended him to the intiRichard Butler, afterwards Earl of Arran, macy of the English antiquary Sir William the Earl of Roscommon and Colonel Arthur Dugdale. A second impression of this celeChichester, became hostages for the faith-brated work being demanded, it appeared, ful performance of the conditions of surren- at the expiration of five years, with an addider. The consequent detention of Sir James tion of records relative to the affairs of Irein London, which did not perhaps exceed land during the reign of HENRY VII. And, the term of one year, again allowed him in 1656, he illustrated, with valuable notes, literary leisure, and the society of the Eng- the ecclesiastical works usually ascribed to lish savans. Upon his return to Dublin he St. Patrick. found that the reins of power had passed into the hands of rancorous enemies, and that his long and unshaken adherence to the royal cause had rendered him obnoxious to the new governor of Dublin, Michael Jones. He was deprived of his office of auditorgeneral, while his well-known intimacy with the Marquis of Ormond, who had then en

The restoration of CHARLES II. and the recall of the Marquis of Ormond to the viceroyalty of Ireland, under the title of Duke of Ormond, interrupted for a time these literary labours. Sir James Ware, the tried and faithful adherent of the royal cause, and the confidential friend of the restored Lord Lieutenant, was invited to resume his for

and the fatigue of rank, with the habits of the savant, it may be justly questioned, whether, under any conditions he would have been inclined to risk, from mere personal motives of ambition, the great object of all his worldly desires, which, to adopt his own expression, was "to enquire into the dark mazes of Irish antiquity, that the knowledge of them might spread, not only at home, but abroad." Independently, how

peculiar domestic circumstances affecting his posterity, (to be explained hereafter), which alone furnished an irresistible argument for the refusal of the proffered dignity. Declining, therefore, the honour intended for him, yet anxious that his royal master should not misconstrue the motives of his refusal, he requested, in lieu of a Peerage, two blank patents of Baronetage, which he filled up with the names of two friends, whose posterity, Walter Harris assures us, have continued to his day to enjoy the hereditary distinctions.

The later contributions of Sir James Ware to the early history of Ireland, were confined to ecclesiastical affairs. He edited two epistles of the venerable Bede, in illustration of the more ancient customs of the British churches, and preparatory to the last commentary published by him, when he was seventy years old, relative to the bishops of Ireland, from the dawn of the Christian faith, down to modern times. And even when he was approaching still nearer to the very advanced term beyond which human existence is rarely prolonged, he contemplated the publication of divers other researches connected with Ireland. These were frustrated

mer office of auditor-general. To this confirmed sentiment of public approbation the university of Dublin responded, by electing Sir James, for a second time, one of their representatives in Parliament. And, lastly, when the government appointed a chosen council for the peaceful settlement of the affairs of the kingdom, and for the satisfaction of the several interests of adventurers, Sir James Ware was, by the king's special instructions, included in the quorum indis-ever, of these considerations, there subsisted pensible to the validity of every act of the royal commission. With this renovation, and even accession of political power entrusted to him, Sir James never allowed himself to be urged or betrayed to acts of harsh retaliation towards a fallen party. An anecdote to this point is preserved :a valuable dwelling-house in Dublin, forfeited by an act of rebellion on the part of the deceased owner, had been gifted to him by the government. But he found that the acceptance of the grant would inflict upon a bereaved family a more than common degree of suffering; sending, therefore, for the widow and children under affliction, he instantly replaced them beneath the tutelar protection of their family roof. While his conduct, however, towards old and bitter opponents could be only manifested by acts of self-denial, his kindly feelings towards his old political associates less fortunate than himself, whom the crown had neglected, or had not the means to reward, was not of a contingent, but of a positive character: it was systematically displayed in acts of solid friendship, or in the hospitality of a plentiful table, to which the decayed cavalier was ever made welcome. These generous acts could not fail to command the esteem of his fellow-by his decease, which took place on the 1st citizens, whose frequent testimonials in his favour, were acknowledged by the corresponding solicitude which he evinced in promoting their municipal interests. When, for instance, the chief magistrate of Dublin was dignified with the title of Lord Mayor, the influence of Sir James Ware, with the Duke of Ormond, procured from the crown a grant to the city of five hundred pounds per annum, for the support of the new dignity. Amidst these varied political duties and avocations it may easily be supposed, that Sir James would find the opportunities afforded him for indulging in his usual literary occupations much diminished. He published, however, in 1662, the annals of Ireland, during the reign of HENRY VIII.; to which, two years afterwards, he added those of the subsequent reigns of EDWARD❘ VI. and Mary.-As a reward for these immense labours, political as well as literary, it was proposed to create Sir James a Viscount of the kingdom of Ireland; but, as he must have well known from experience, how incompatible is the formal splendour

December, 1666, in the seventy-third year of his age. When CHARLES II. was informed of his death, he was heard to exclaim, with much apparent feeling, that he had lost a faithful servant. But it is less for the political, than for the literary services which he has rendered to his country, that his name will be perpetuated among the worthies of the sister kingdom.-He has been properly designated, THE CAMDEN OF IRELAND.

Sir James Ware, in his will, had directed that his body should be deposited under the tombstone in St. Werberg's church, Dublin, where his father, mother, wife, and some of his children lay buried. This was done in the most unostentatious manner; neither stone nor monumental inscription marking the place where his remains were interred. "But he had taken care," remarked his biographer, "to erect a monument for himself by his labours, more lasting than any mouldering materials."

Sir James m. first, 31st December, 1620, Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Newman, esq.

distinguished editor of Sir James Ware's works. One daughter, Mary, was the issue of this marriage.

HENRY WARE, D.D. of Dublin, successor to his brother, m. Anne, daughter of Wrightson Mundy, esq. of Markeaton, Derbyshire. He died in 1778, and left issue, described in vol. i. p. 26.

+ This second marriage, omitted by Harris, is recorded in all the peerages, and also in the pedi1. Elizabeth, m. to Walter Harris, esq. the gree of the Revetts, of Hertfordshire.

sor might exist at the time. With this very
possible contingency, the mind of Sir James
Ware was duly impressed, when it was pro-
posed to create him a viscount of the king-
dom of Ireland. He too plainly perceived,
that a proper lineal successor, if born to a
peerage, or even to a baronetage, would
have very precarious hopes indeed of being
able to support his title with befitting dig-
nity. This reflection therefore, must of it-
self, have fully justified his refusal of any
hereditary distinction intended for his fa-
mily. But this was not the only consequence
resulting from the improvident proceeding.
The creation of a general entail, upon the
marriage of the elder son having been fatal
to the younger son's expectations, demanded
every possible reparation. All the addition
of fortune therefore, which Sir James Ware,
in the later years of his life could save, was
conscientiously added to the provision pre-
viously reserved by him, for the support of
the said younger son, so that eventually
Robert Ware enjoyed a greater share of
property than usually falls to the lot of a
cadet. A dernier result of the unfortunate
entail thus raised upon the marriage of an el-
der son, was only felt in its full force, when
this son contracted a second marriage. The
comparative situations therefore under which
the children of each marriage were left, re-
main to be traced. James Ware m. for
his first wife, on the 11th February, 1650,
a niece of his mother-in-law, namely, Eli-
zabeth, daughter of Dixie Hickman, esq. of
Kew, and sister of Baron Windsor, after-
wards Earl of Plymouth, upon which mar-
riage, for reasons explained, there was
raised a general entail of the bulk of Sir
James Ware's estates. The issue from this
marriage were,

1. James, named in Sir James Ware's
will, of the date of 1665. He was
the only son of his father's first mar-
riage, and was consequently, born
with considerable expectations of
fortune. But he died without issue.
1. Mary, b. 5th March, 1651, the only
surviving child of her father's first
marriage. In succeeding to her bro- |
ther, James, of whole blood, she be-
came heir of the entire estates which
had been the subject of the general
entail created. When under age,
she encountered a fate too common
to rich heiresses, being forced away
and married against her consent by a
Mr. James Shirley, but by a decree
of the Consistory of Dublin, the mar-
riage was dissolved. She subse-
quently wedded Alexander Fraser,
esq. After his death she entered a
second, or, more properly speaking,
a third time into the state of wed-

lock, with Sir John St. Leger, knt. one of the barons of the court of Exchequer in Ireland, in whom, according to the assertion of Walter Harris, "the estate of the family vested." See HARRIS'S WARE, vol. ii. p. 156. 2. Jacobetta, to whom Sir James Ware left a legacy of five hundred pounds, but she died an infant.

Elizabeth, the first wife of James Ware, d. 4th November, 1667, and on the 24th of November, following:

"The funeral baked meats "Did coldly furnish forth the marriage table." James Ware m. secondly, Miss Barbara Stone, in whose favour he subsequently made a settlement to three trustees, viz. to William Jones, esq. of Dublin, (whose wife Jane, was sister to Barbara Stone,) Sir Humphrey Lewis, knight, and Richard Chappell, esq. The issue of this second marriage were,

1. JAMES, his heir, (a former son of that name, by the first marriage having died.)

1. Barbara, b. 2nd February, 1669, d. young and unmarried.

2. Jane, m. to Sir John Sandes, baronet, in 1692.

3. Elizabeth, m. to Andrew-Francis Cheney, gentleman.*

James Ware died on the 6th May, 1689, in the city of Chester, whither he had fled during the short period of civil commotion in Ireland, attending the last effort of King JAMES II. to regain his throne. Independently of a previous settlement in favour of his second family, he made a nuncupative will, declaring that all which he had in the world, he left to his son,

the children resulting from the second marJAMES WARE, esq. The limited fortunes of riage of their father, appear to have been

derived from a residuum of the family estates which had escaped the alienating tendency of the entail created by Sir James Ware, conjoined probably, with the savings of the father, from his office as auditor-general of Ireland. By virtue of two deeds, the last of which was dated March 8th, 1683, James Ware, the father, after having reserved a provision for himself, and for his wife, Barbara, during their respective lives, settled most of his property upon his son, with the excep

It is impossible to acquit Walter Harris, in his professed genealogical history of the family of Sir James Ware, on the score of ignorance for withholding every mention of the second marriage of the historian's elder son and the issue resulting from it, as the very will of his father-in-law, Robert Ware, makes mention of his nephew, James Ware, and his nieces, the Lady Jane Sandes, and Mrs. Eliza Ware.