7 Deireadh Fómhair [1666]
Bandiúc Ormonde – ag scríobh ó Chill Chainnigh – chuig a gaol Coirnéal William Legge
Cousen kilkeny the 7 of october
The same day that I sent a way my Leter of the 4 of this Month I fortuned to reseve one from you of the 16 of the Last, that Mentions the ressept of Mine by my Nephue Hambelton and that My Sone was gone unto Sir william Portmans from whense Corronell Pigott whoe Came Latlie over tells mee that hee went and was Entertanede twise at Sir John wards House, where thay spent ther time a dansinge and were very Merye but what hopes My Sone John has of the yonge Ladys favour I know not, for I never heard word from hime sense I saw you, but doe beleve well, if hee follow your advise and derections as I doe hope hee will, as to the Mache proposed for your Daghter My Last Leter will with othars that was then sent you, will Sufisentlie satisfie you that theris nothinge my unkell, and all his relations soe much desiers as the Mach may goe on, as will apiere by his owne Leter, to my lord in hopes wherof, hee has broke ofe that treatie that hee was upon when wee came to Bristoll, soe as I referr you to that accompt, which I asshure my selfe is with you or willbee befor this cane come unto your hands and remayne very asshuredlie
your Cousen and Sarvant
E:ormonde
My daghter Arran is Mended beyond Expectatione by the Phisicke shee has takene and Louks beter then Ever I saw hir I pray turne the Leafe
I desier you will remember mee to My Cousen Lege and to My Cousen Mall and Let hir know that My Lord is resolved sense hee Cannot Danse at hir wedinge hee will prepare a Balladt; and send it hir and hee hopes as good a one as that hee Made for hir at Moore Parke
Léiríonn an litir seo ról an bhandiúic maidir le maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar chaibidlíochtaí pósta a leanaí agus léiríonn sí a freagracht as na mná a phósann a mic.
Dírítear i sraith litreach chuig an gCoirnéal William Legge i 1666 ar na caibidlíochtaí pósta a raibh droch-chríoch leo idir an mac is óige a bhí ag an mBandiúc, an Tiarna John, agus an banoidhre saibhir Elizabeth Malet, a phósfadh an file clúiteach, iarla Rochester, níos déanaí. Bhí aithne fhorleathan ar an bpósadh ionchasach i gciorcail chúirte mar a admhaíonn an dialannaí Samuel Pepys:
Ach ba dheas a fheiceáil mar a d’éirigh gach duine ina seasamh nuair a tháinig mo Thiarna John Butler, mac Diúc Ormond, isteach sa log i dreo dheireadh an dráma, a bhí ina sheirbhíseach do Bhean Uasal Mallet, agus rinne sé meangadh gáire léi, agus rinne sise meangadh gáire ar ais leis.
Fear gaolta i bhfad amach ab ea Legge a ghníomhaigh mar bhróicéir pósta don teaghlach. Is léir go ndearna an Bandiúc maoirseacht ar a chuid oibre. Léiríonn an litir seo an bhaint a bhí aici le póstaí a dhaingniú do dhaoine eile i ngréasán gaolta níos leithne an teaghlaigh, lena n-áirítear iníonacha Legge féin. Agus í ag súil le ceiliúradh na bpóstaí seo, luann an bandiúc gur chum an diúc beagán filíochta é féin. Trí ‘bailéid’ a lipéadú ar a chuid filíochta agus ag tagairt go magúil dá n-iarrachtaí roimhe sin, tugann sí le fios go mb’fhéidir go raibh buanna a fir céile i réimse eile.
Tugann an litir léargas freisin ar chaidreamh Elizabeth le bean a mic. I 1664 phós a mac sa lár, Richard, Iarla Arran, Mary Stuart, iníon an Diúic Richmond agus neacht an Diúic Buckingham. Pósadh thar a bheith tairbheach a bhí ann d’Arran agus do mhuintir Ormonde. Ní raibh Mary ach 13 nuair a phós sí agus mar sin mhair sí le teaghlach a fir chéile sular bhunaigh sí a teach féin.
Bhí grá mór ag Elizabeth agus a fear céile do bhean a mic. Fuair Mary bás i samhradh na bliana 1668, ceithre bliana tar éis a pósta, agus bhí neart ‘Galántacht agus Mórgacht’ ag baint lena sochraid dar le duine na linne sin. Luigh a corp faoi ghradam stáit i mBaile Átha Cliath agus ansin tugadh go Cill Chainnigh é lena adhlacadh. Agus an diúc agus an bandiúc i mbun gnó sa chúirt, ba í deirfiúr chéile Mary, Amelia, an Chuntaois Ossory, a bhí ina príomhchaointeoir.