11 Bealtaine 1660
Banmharcas Ormonde; – ag scríobh ó Theach Dhún Mór – chuig a fear céile, an Marcas Ormonde
My Deare Lord
I beleve it will sime strange to you to reseve an avowede address from mee, whous misfortune and Sufferings has bine such, as besides my 8 yeares absense from you; it was made penalle for mee to write, or reseve Leters from you, That by the great and good providense of God that Bondage under which the three kingdoms as well as my selfe has Sufferede, shouldbee now by his Mercye removede, and our Longe wisht for Blessinge of the kings restoratione at the Length Establishede to uss, is such a motive of admiratione and Joy to all; and perticularlie to mee, as is unexpresabell, and indeede hardlie to bee contaynede within moderate [bo]unds, soe as I suspect my selfe not to write sense, though however, I supposs you [a]re sattisfiede that I mene well and have soe much affectione for you, and dewtye for your Master, that I mene well to you Bouth; though my reveranse unto the one, forbides the presomtione of anye Congratulorye addrese, but That, which with all humilitye and hartye zeale, I shall and doe offier upe to heavene for Longe life, and Prosperitie to unto his Sacrede Magesty, which I hope you willbee Soe Just to mee, as to Let hime know, untell I may have the honner to kiss his hands, which I shall indevour, with all the Spiede I cane, as what I Covete beyond all the things of in this world, next That of Seeinge you, which expretione, I know to bee Less a compliment, but more of Truth; then if it were Mixt with Flaterye, and in that respect beter, then if mixt with flateries
My Lord
This Nobell Person My Lord of the Ards, whoe beinge the first, that intends to pay his dewtie by the personall tender therof unto his Magesty, soe has hee has bine one of the forwardest of anye heare, upon all ocations unto the uttermost of his power to testifie his Loyltye unto the uttermost of his power and affectione unto his Intrest; and one that has continowede great respects to you, and your Relations, and is soe considerabell for his worth, abbilitye and Intrest, bouth in this Contrye and the estime hee caryes amongst the chife Nobilitie of his owne; as I think it is a dewtie I owe unto his Magestie, and your Selfe, as well as Justise to hime, to give you this Carracture of hime, whous desiers are, what all honnorabell and honnest Men dous ambitione at this time, which is to see, and bee admitted unto the kings presanse, and Likwise to bee presented by you, whoe I doe asshure my selfe willbee very forward to doe hime that Sarvise, as I desier you would anye othar allsoe wherin you may oblidge soe desarvinge a Person, as hee is by all acknowledged to bee, and is perticularlie soe Estimede, by the impartiall observatione made of his Carrage By
your Most affectionat wife
From Dunmore the 11 of May E:ormonde
Léiríonn litreacha, ar nós an ceann seo, a sheol an banmharcas chuig a fear céile tar éis Athghairmithe Rí Séarlas II i mBealtaine 1660, na bealaí inar ullmhaigh sí do na hathruithe a bhí i ndán di féin agus dá teaghlach.
Is í seo an chéad litir ‘dhearbhaithe’ a sheol an Banmharcas go dtí a fear céile tar éis di an nuacht faoi Athghairm Shéarlais II a chloisteáil. Is léir go bhfuil áthas uirthi faoin tionchar a bheidh aige seo ar a teaghlach agus ar a cairde. Tá sí ag súil go mór le bheith ar ais lena fear céile agus ar ais sa chúirt ríoga nuair a fhillfidh an chúirt ar Londain. Cuireann sí in iúl an dulagas atá uirthi i leith an rí agus iarrann sí ar a fear céile é sin a chur in iúl don rí mar mothaíonn sí nach féidir léi scríobh chuige go díreach. Mothaíonn sí aonarach agus scoite ón gcúirt tar éis di a bheith as láthair ar feadh tamall fada agus tá sí ag brath ar a fear céile chun cabhrú léi filleadh ar an gcúirt.
Sna litreacha a sheol an banmharcas go dtí a fear céile, agus í ag ullmhú chun bheith ina theannta i Londain, feicimid meascán de lúcháir, mearbhall, agus imní de réir mar a smaoiníonn sí ar na hathruithe ollmhóra a bheidh i ndán di féin, dá teaghlach agus na do trí ríocht Stuart – Sasana, Albain agus Éire. I litreacha eile ón am seo, is léir go bhfuil imní uirthi filleadh ar Londain agus an rírá a bheidh ann tar éis bheith ar a shocracht i nDún Mór.
Éilíonn sí ar a mac is sine agus ar a bhean céile a dteach féin a fháil mar tá sí tar éis dul i dtaithí ar an saol ciúin agus níl sí sí sásta go mbeidh teaghlach eile ina chónaí léi. Is cúis imní di freisin go bhfuil beatha an rí agus an mharcais féin faoi bhagairt ag daoine nach bhuil sásta leis an Athghairm.
Go príomha, baineann na litreacha chuig a fear céile le pátrúnacht a dháileadh, agus tógann an banmharcas an fhreagracht uirthi féin cliaint in Éirinn a mholadh dá fear céile sa chúirt athbhunaithe. Luann sí i gcónaí cé chomh dílis is atá a cliaint dá fear céile agus don rí, agus tarraingíonn sí aird ar an ról atá acu leasanna an rí in Éirinn a chothú. Tugann sí le fios gurb ise an duine is fearr is féidir na hÉireannaigh seo a aithint, fir ar chóir cúiteamh a thabhairt dóibh as a seirbhís dhílis. Go minic, iarrann sí ar na cliaint is ansa léi litreacha a thabhairt dá fear céile chun aird an fhir chéile a tharraingt orthu, mar a dhéanann sí anseo leis an Tiarna Ards.
Tá aistriú tábhachtach ar siúl leis an litir seo i saol na lánúine mar feictear go n-aistríonn cothromaíocht na cumhachta ón mbean go dtí an fear céile. An spás ómósach a bhí in easnamh sna litreacha inar scríobh sí mar ‘JH’, filleann an spás sin sna litreacha ina scríobhann sí faoina hainm féin de réir mar a théann sí i mbun a cuid dualgas arís mar bhean chéile.