Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/37

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COX 33 fession with great and deserved success. He was a zea lous advocate for the protestant cause, on which account foreseeing the storm that was about to fall on the protes tants, he quitted both his clients and his estate, (which at that period amounted to about 300l. per annum,) and sought shelter, with his wife and five children, in England. He took up his abode at Bristol, where being well known, he obtained practice sufficient to support his family gen teelly; and occupied his leisure hours by compiling the “History of Ireland,” the first part of which he published soon after the revolution in 1689, under the title of “Hi bernia Anglicana; or, the History of Ireland, from the Conquest thereof by the English, to the present time.” And at the Revolution, he distinguished himself by a small publication, to prove the necessity of making the Prince of Orange King, and of sending speedy relief to Ireland. When the prince arrived in London, Mr. Cox quitted Bristol, and repaired to the metropolis, where he was made under-secretary of state; and when King William went to Ireland, he accompanied him in the quality of secretary to Sir Robert Southwell. Having given great sa tisfaction to the king in the discharge of his office, he was, immediately after the surrender of Waterford, made recor der of that city. His services and attachment to William's party were likewise rewarded by the post of second justice of the court of common pleas, to which office he was ap pointed on the 13th of September, 1690. He was also employed as a commissioner for various purposes; and in April 1691, made military governor of the county and city of Cork. In this situation of judge and military governor, he evinced himself an active and zealous servant of the crown, but treated the individuals who came under his jurisdiction, with a rigour which has been loudly ex claimed against, but which certainly had a very consider able effect in keeping his government quiet. Indeed so vigilant was he in this situation, that, during the whole time of h i s sway a s military governor, though h e had a frontier o f eighty miles t o defend, and twenty places t o WOL. II. D