Biography of Roger Boyle 1st Earl Orrery 1621-1679
Paternal Family Tree: Boyle
Maternal Family Tree: Catherine Fenton Countess Cork 1585-1629
Roger Boyle 1st Earl Orrery and Margaret Howard Countess Orrery were married. She the daughter of Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk and Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk. He the son of Richard Boyle 1st Earl Cork and Catherine Fenton Countess Cork.
On 25 Jul 1603 [his father] Richard Boyle 1st Earl Cork (age 36) and [his mother] Catherine Fenton Countess Cork (age 18) were married.
On 26 Oct 1620 [his father] Richard Boyle 1st Earl Cork (age 54) was created 1st Earl Cork. [his mother] Catherine Fenton Countess Cork (age 35) by marriage Countess Cork.
On 25 Apr 1621 Roger Boyle 1st Earl Orrery was born to Richard Boyle 1st Earl Cork (age 54) and Catherine Fenton Countess Cork (age 36).
On 16 Feb 1629 [his mother] Catherine Fenton Countess Cork (age 44) died.
In 1642 [his daughter] Elizabeth Boyle Viscountess Powerscourt was born to Roger Boyle 1st Earl Orrery (age 20) and Margaret Howard Countess Orrery (age 19).
On 15 Sep 1643 [his father] Richard Boyle 1st Earl Cork (age 76) died. His son [his brother] Richard Boyle 2nd Earl Cork 1st Earl Burlington (age 30) succeeded 2nd Earl Cork.
On 24 Aug 1646 [his son] Roger Boyle 2nd Earl Orrery was born to Roger Boyle 1st Earl Orrery (age 25) and Margaret Howard Countess Orrery (age 24) at Dublin [Map].
In 1648 [his son] Henry Boyle was born to Roger Boyle 1st Earl Orrery (age 26) and Margaret Howard Countess Orrery (age 25).
In Sep 1660 [his son-in-law] Folliot Wingfield 1st Viscount Powerscourt (age 17) and [his daughter] Elizabeth Boyle Viscountess Powerscourt (age 18) were married. She the daughter of Roger Boyle 1st Earl Orrery (age 39) and Margaret Howard Countess Orrery (age 38).
In Sep 1660 King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 30) rewarded a further tranche of those who supported his Restoration ...
On 04 Sep 1660 John King 1st Baron Kingston was created 1st Baron Kingston of Kingston in Dublin.
On 05 Sep 1660 Roger Boyle 1st Earl Orrery (age 39) was created 1st Earl Orrery. Margaret Howard Countess Orrery (age 38) by marriage Countess Orrery.
On 05 Sep 1660 Oliver St George 1st Baronet was created 1st Baronet St George of Carrickdrumrusk in Leitrim in the Peerage of England.
On 06 Sep 1660 [his brother] Francis Boyle 1st Viscount Shannon (age 37) was created 1st Viscount Shannon. Elizabeth Killigrew Viscountess Shannon (age 38) by marriage Viscountess Shannon.
On 06 Sep 1660 Richard Coote 1st Baron Coote (age 40) was created 1st Baron Coote.
On 10 Sep 1660 Charles Gordon 1st Earl Aboyne (age 22) was created 1st Earl Aboyne.
In 1662 [his daughter] Barbara Boyle Countess Donegall was born to Roger Boyle 1st Earl Orrery (age 40) and Margaret Howard Countess Orrery (age 39).
Pepy's Diary. 13 Aug 1664. Mightly pleased with this I to the office, where all the morning. There offered by Sir W. Pen (age 43) his coach to go to Epsum and carry my wife, I stept out and bade my wife make her ready, but being not very well and other things advising me to the contrary, I did forbear going, and so Mr. Creed dining with me I got him to give my wife and me a play this afternoon, lending him money to do it, which is a fallacy that I have found now once, to avoyde my vowe with, but never to be more practised I swear, and to the new play, at the Duke's house, of "Henry the Fifth"; a most noble play, writ by my Lord Orrery (age 43); wherein Betterton (age 29), Harris (age 30), and Ianthe's (age 27) parts are most incomparably wrote and done, and the whole play the most full of height and raptures of wit and sense, that ever I heard; having but one incongruity, or what did, not please me in it, that is, that King Harry promises to plead for Tudor to their Mistresse, Princesse Katherine of France, more than when it comes to it he seems to do; and Tudor refused by her with some kind of indignity, not with a difficulty and honour that it ought to have been done in to him.
Pepy's Diary. 28 Sep 1664. So to dinner, and after dinner by coach to White Hall, thinking to have met at a Committee of Tangier, but nobody being there but my Lord Rutherford, he would needs carry me and another Scotch Lord to a play, and so we saw, coming late, part of "The Generall", my Lord Orrery's (age 43) (Broghill) second play; but, Lord! to see how no more either in words, sense, or design, it is to his "Harry the 5th" is not imaginable, and so poorly acted, though in finer clothes, is strange. And here I must confess breach of a vowe in appearance, but I not desiring it, but against my will, and my oathe being to go neither at my own charge nor at another's, as I had done by becoming liable to give them another, as I am to Sir W. Pen (age 43) and Mr. Creed; but here I neither know which of them paid for me, nor, if I did, am I obliged ever to return the like, or did it by desire or with any willingness. So that with a safe conscience I do think my oathe is not broke and judge God Almighty will not think it other wise.
Pepy's Diary. 13 Oct 1664. After being at the office all the morning, I home and dined, and taking leave of my wife with my mind not a little troubled how she would look after herself or house in my absence, especially, too, leaving a considerable sum of money in the office, I by coach to the Red Lyon in Aldersgate Street, and there, by agreement, met W. Joyce and Tom Trice, and mounted, I upon a very fine mare that Sir W. Warren helps me to, and so very merrily rode till it was very darke, I leading the way through the darke to Welling, and there, not being very weary, to supper and to bed. But very bad accommodation at the Swan. In this day's journey I met with Mr. White, Cromwell's chaplin that was, and had a great deale of discourse with him. Among others, he tells me that Richard (age 38) is, and hath long been, in France, and is now going into Italy. He owns publiquely that he do correspond, and return him all his money. That Richard (age 38) hath been in some straits at the beginning; but relieved by his friends. That he goes by another name, but do not disguise himself, nor deny himself to any man that challenges him. He tells me, for certain, that offers had been made to the old man, of marriage between the King (age 34) and his daughter (age 26), to have obliged him, but he would not1. He thinks (with me) that it never was in his power to bring in the King (age 34) with the consent of any of his officers about him; and that he scorned to bring him in as Monk (age 55) did, to secure himself and deliver every body else. When I told him of what I found writ in a French book of one Monsieur Sorbiere, that gives an account of his observations herein England; among other things he says, that it is reported that Cromwell did, in his life-time, transpose many of the bodies of the Kings of England from one grave to another, and that by that means it is not known certainly whether the head that is now set up upon a post be that of Cromwell, or of one of the Kings. Mr. White tells me that he believes he never had so poor a low thought in him to trouble himself about it. He says the hand of God is much to be seen; that all his children are in good condition enough as to estate, and that their relations that betrayed their family are all now either hanged or very miserable.
Note 1. The Protector wished the Duke of Buckingham (age 36) to marry his daughter Frances (age 26). She married, 1. Robert Rich, grandson and heir to Robert, Earl of Warwick, on November 11th, 1657, who died in the following February; 2. Sir John Russell, Bart (age 24). She died January 27th, 1721-22 [Note. Other sources day 1720], aged eighty-four. In T. Morrice's life of Roger, Earl of Orrery (age 43), prefixed to Orrery's "State Letters" (Dublin, 1743, vol. i., p. 40), there is a circumstantial account of an interview between Orrery (then Lord Broghill) and Cromwell, in which the former suggested to the latter that Charles II should marry Frances Cromwell (age 26). Cromwell gave great attention to the reasons urged, "but walking two or three turns, and pondering with himself, he told Lord Broghill (age 43) the King (age 34) would never forgive him the death of his father. His lordship desired him to employ somebody to sound the King (age 34) in this matter, to see how he would take it, and offered himself to mediate in it for him. But Cromwell would not consent, but again repeated, 'the King (age 34) cannot and will not forgive the death of his father;' and so he left his lordship, who durst not tell him he had already dealt with his majesty in that affair. Upon this my Lord withdrew, and meeting Cromwell's wife and daughter, they inquired how he had succeeded; of which having given them an account, he added they must try their interest in him, but none could prevail"..
Pepy's Diary. 03 Apr 1665. Thence home and to dinner, and then with Creed, my wife, and Mercer to a play at the Duke's, of my Lord Orrery's (age 43), called "Mustapha", which being not good, made Betterton's (age 29) part and Ianthe's (age 28) but ordinary too, so that we were not contented with it at all.
Evelyn's Diary. 06 Apr 1665. In the afternoon, I saw acted "Mustapha", a tragedy written by the Earl of Orrery (age 43).
Pepy's Diary. 17 Nov 1665. That being done, I got my Lord to be alone, and so I fell to acquaint him with W. Howe's business, which he had before heard a little of from Captain Cocke (age 48), but made no great matter of it, but now he do, and resolves nothing less than to lay him by the heels, and seize on all he hath, saying that for this yeare or two he hath observed him so proud and conceited he could not endure him. But though I was not at all displeased with it, yet I prayed him to forbear doing anything therein till he heard from me again about it, and I had made more enquiry into the truth of it, which he agreed to. Then we fell to publique discourse, wherein was principally this: he cleared it to me beyond all doubt that Coventry (age 37) is his enemy, and has been long so. So that I am over that, and my Lord told it me upon my proposal of a friendship between them, which he says is impossible, and methinks that my Lord's displeasure about the report in print of the first fight was not of his making, but I perceive my Lord cannot forget it, nor the other think he can. I shewed him how advisable it were upon almost any terms for him to get quite off the sea employment. He answers me again that he agrees to it, but thinks the King (age 35) will not let him go off. He tells me he lacks now my Lord Orrery (age 44) to solicit it for him, who is very great with the King (age 35).
Pepy's Diary. 25 Feb 1666. After dinner to talk to and again, and then to walke in the Parke, my Lord and I alone, talking upon these heads; first, he has left his business of the prizes as well as is possible for him, having cleared himself before the Commissioners by the King's commands, so that nothing or little is to be feared from that point, he goes fully assured, he tells me, of the King's favour. That upon occasion I may know, I desired to know, his friends I may trust to, he tells me, but that he is not yet in England, but continues this summer in Ireland, my Lord Orrery (age 44) is his father almost in affection.
Evelyn's Diary. 18 Oct 1666. This night was acted my Lord Broghill's (age 45) tragedy, called "Mustapha", before their Majesties (age 36) [Note. and Catherine of Braganza Queen Consort England (age 27)] at Court, at which I was present; very seldom going to the public theatres for many reasons now, as they were abused to an atheistical liberty; foul and indecent women now (and never till now) permitted to appear and act, who inflaming several young noblemen and gallants, became their misses, and to some, their wives. Witness the Earl of Oxford (age 39), Sir R. Howard (age 40), Prince Rupert (age 46), the Earl of Dorset (age 44), and another greater person than any of them, who fell into their snares, to the reproach of their noble families, and ruin of both body and soul. I was invited by my Lord Chamberlain (age 64) to see this tragedy, exceedingly well written, though in my mind I did not approve of any such pastime in a time of such judgments and calamities.
Pepy's Diary. 19 Oct 1667. At the office all the morning, where very busy, and at noon home to a short dinner, being full of my desire of seeing my Lord Orrery's (age 46) new play this afternoon at the King's house, "The Black Prince", the first time it is acted; where, though we come by two o'clock, yet there was no room in the pit, but we were forced to go into one of the upper boxes, at 4s. a piece, which is the first time I ever sat in a box in my life. And in the same box come, by and by, behind me, my Lord Barkeley (age 65) [of Stratton] and his lady (age 29); but I did not turn my face to them to be known, so that I was excused from giving them my seat; and this pleasure I had, that from this place the scenes do appear very fine indeed, and much better than in the pit. The house infinite full, and the King (age 37) and Duke of York (age 34) was there.
Pepy's Diary. 23 Oct 1667. Thence to Mrs. Martin's, and there staid till two o'clock, and drank and talked, and did give her £3 to buy my goddaughter her first new gowne.... [Missing text: "and I did hazer algo con her;"] and so away homeward, and in my way met Sir W. Pen (age 46) in Cheapside [Map], and went into his coach, and back again and to the King's playhouse, and there saw "The Black Prince" again: which is now mightily bettered by that long letter being printed, and so delivered to every body at their going in, and some short reference made to it in heart in the play, which do mighty well; but, when all is done, I think it the worst play of my Lord Orrery's (age 46). But here, to my great satisfaction, I did see my Lord Hinchingbrooke (age 19) and his mistress (age 23), with her [his brother] father (age 55) and mother (age 54); and I am mightily pleased with the young lady, being handsome enough-and, indeed, to my great liking, as I would have her. I could not but look upon them all the play; being exceeding pleased with my good hap to see them, God bring them together! and they are now already mighty kind to one another, and he is as it were one of their family. The play done I home, and to the office a while, and then home to supper, very hungry, and then to my chamber, to read the true story, in Speed, of the Black Prince, and so to bed. This day, it was moved in the House that a day might be appointed to bring in an impeachment against the Chancellor (age 58), but it was decried as being irregular; but that, if there was ground for complaint, it might be brought to the Committee for miscarriages, and, if they thought good, to present it to the House; and so it was carried. They did also vote this day thanks to be given to the Prince and Duke of Albemarle (age 58), for their care and conduct in the last year's war, which is a strange act; but, I know not how, the blockhead Albemarle hath strange luck to be loved, though he be, and every man must know it, the heaviest man in the world, but stout and honest to his country. This evening late, Mr. Moore come to me to prepare matters for my Lord Sandwich's (age 42) defence; wherein I can little assist, but will do all I can; and am in great fear of nothing but the damned business of the prizes, but I fear my Lord will receive a cursed deal of trouble by it.
Pepy's Diary. 01 Apr 1668. Up, and to dress myself, and call as I use Deb. to brush and dress me..., and I to my office, where busy till noon, and then out to bespeak some things against my wife's going into the country to-morrow, and so home to dinner, my wife and I alone, she being mighty busy getting her things ready for her journey, I all the afternoon with her looking after things on the same account, and then in the afternoon out and all alone to the King's house, and there sat in an upper box, to hide myself, and saw "The Black Prince", a very good play; but only the fancy, most of it, the same as in the rest of my Lord Orrery's (age 46) plays; but the dance very stately; but it was pretty to see how coming after dinner and with no company with me to talk to, and at a play that I had seen, and went to now not for curiosity but only idleness, I did fall asleep the former part of the play, but afterward did mind it and like it very well.
Pepy's Diary. 01 Apr 1668. Thence called at my bookseller's, and took Mr. Boyle's (age 46) Book of Formes, newly reprinted, and sent my brother my old one.
Pepy's Diary. 03 May 1668. Thence Pen and I to Islington [Map], and there, at the old house, eat, and drank, and merry, and there by chance giving two pretty fat boys each of them a cake, they proved to be Captain Holland's children, whom therefore I pity. So round by Hackney home, having good discourse, he [Pen] being very open to me in his talk, how the King (age 37) ought to dissolve this Parliament, when the Bill of Money is passed, they being never likely to give him more; how he [the King (age 37)] hath great opportunity of making himself popular by stopping this Act against Conventicles; and how my Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (age 57), if the Parliament continue, will undoubtedly fall, he having managed that place with so much self-seeking, and disorder, and pleasure, and some great men are designing to overthrow (him), as, among the rest, my Lord Orrery (age 47); and that this will try the King (age 37) mightily, he being a firm friend to my Lord Lieutenant.
Pepy's Diary. 10 Aug 1668. Up, and by water to White Hall, and thence to Sir W. Coventry (age 40), but he is gone out of town this morning, so thence to my Lord Arlington's (age 50) house, the first time I there since he come thither, at Goring House [Map], a very fine, noble place; and there he received me in sight of several Lords with great respect. I did give him an account of my journey; and here, while I waited for him a little, my Lord Orrery (age 47) took notice of me, and begun discourse of hangings, and of the improvement of shipping: I not thinking that he knew me, but did then discover it, with a mighty compliment of my abilities and ingenuity, which I am mighty proud of; and he do speak most excellently.
Pepy's Diary. 08 Dec 1668. Up, and Sir H. Cholmly (age 36) betimes with me, about some accounts and moneys due to him: and he gone, I to the Office, where sat all the morning; and here, among other things, breaks out the storm W. Hewer (age 26) and I have long expected from the Surveyor, [Colonel Middleton.] about W. Hewer's (age 26) conspiring to get a contract, to the burdening of the stores with kerseys and cottons, of which he hath often complained, and lately more than ever; and now he did it by a most scandalous letter to the Board, reflecting on my Office: and, by discourse, it fell to such high words between him and me, as can hardly ever be forgot; I declaring I would believe W. Hewer (age 26) as soon as him, and laying the fault, if there be any, upon himself; he, on the other hand, vilifying of my word and W. Hewer's (age 26), calling him knave, and that if he were his clerk, he should lose his ears. At last, I closed the business for this morning with making the thing ridiculous, as it is, and he swearing that the King (age 38) should have right in it, or he would lose his place. The Office was cleared of all but ourselves and W. Hewer (age 26); but, however, the world did by the beginning see what it meant, and it will, I believe, come to high terms between us, which I am sorry for, to have any blemish laid upon me or mine, at this time, though never so unduly, for fear of giving occasion to my real discredit: and therefore I was not only all the rest of the morning vexed, but so went home to dinner, where my wife tells me of my Lord Orrery's (age 47) new play "Tryphon", at the Duke of York's (age 35) house, which, however, I would see, and therefore put a bit of meat in our mouths, and went thither; where, with much ado, at half-past one, we got into a blind hole in the 18d. place, above stairs, where we could not hear well, but the house infinite full, but the prologue most silly, and the play, though admirable, yet no pleasure almost in it, because just the very same design, and words, and sense, and plot, as every one of his plays have, any one of which alone would be held admirable, whereas so many of the same design and fancy do but dull one another; and this, I perceive, is the sense of every body else, as well as myself, who therefore showed but little pleasure in it.
Pepy's Diary. 16 Apr 1669. Up, and to my chamber, where with Mr. Gibson all the morning, and there by noon did almost finish what I had to write about the Administration of the Office to present to the Duke of York (age 35), and my wife being gone abroad with W. Hewer (age 27), to see the new play to-day, at the Duke of York's (age 35) house, "Guzman", I dined alone with my people, and in the afternoon away by coach to White Hall; and there the Office attended the Duke of York (age 35); and being despatched pretty soon, and told that we should not wait on the King (age 38), as intended, till Sunday, I thence presently to the Duke of York's playhouse, and there, in the 18d. seat, did get room to see almost three acts of the play; but it seemed to me but very ordinary. After the play done, I into the pit, and there find my wife and W. Hewer (age 27); and Sheres got to them, which, so jealous is my nature, did trouble me, though my judgment tells me there is no hurt in it, on neither side; but here I did meet with Shadwell, the poet, who, to my great wonder, do tell me that my Lord of [Orrery] (age 47) did write this play, trying what he could do in comedy, since his heroique plays could do no more wonders. This do trouble me; for it is as mean a thing, and so he says, as hath been upon the stage a great while; and Harris (age 35), who hath no part in it, did come to me, and told me in discourse that he was glad of it, it being a play that will not take.
On 16 Oct 1679 Roger Boyle 1st Earl Orrery (age 58) died. His son [his son] Roger Boyle 2nd Earl Orrery (age 33) succeeded 2nd Earl Orrery. Mary Sackville Countess Orrery (age 31) by marriage Countess Orrery.
The Black Prince is a Restoration historical tragedy written by Roger Boyle 1st Earl Orrery.
[his daughter] Margaret Boyle Countess Inchiquin was born to Roger Boyle 1st Earl Orrery and Margaret Howard Countess Orrery.
[his daughter] Daughters x 2 Boyle was born to Roger Boyle 1st Earl Orrery and Margaret Howard Countess Orrery.
Father: Richard Boyle 1st Earl Cork
Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Fenton
GrandFather: Geoffrey Fenton
Mother: Catherine Fenton Countess Cork
