Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-04-27
PACK OF CARDS SAVED IRELAND

In the year 1857 Queen Mary. at the
instance of Dr.. Cole, issued a co,,,
MISSION ordering immediate persecu-
tlon OF the Protestants of Ireland
lie commission, duly signeu bv the
queen, was to be carried by Dr.. Cola
nihlsell; and overjoyed at his trust--
LOT he was relentless prosecutor hat-
ed by Catholics and Protestants aliLa
ne set OH on December 10, 1857, prom
lsllS a merry Christmas to Irish her.
cues. On the way he had to stop ono
night at Chester, where he found lodq-
lnSS at the house of Mrs. Edmond.
AS queens messenger anu a church
man OF distinction, he was visited nv
Ihe mayor OF the city, to whom he
oodStihSly SAID, Here is commission
mat snail lash the heretics," at the
same time drawing a box ont of his
CLOAK bag and displaying the small
square parcel the commission formed
NOW 1t CHANGED that the landladv
heard what was Sai6, and as she was
Protestant and had a brother in Dub
I'm she was much alarmed and upset.
NOT long before she had been rating
her son for gambling, and had taken
from him pack of cards of which he
was the proud possessor. The size Of
the packet produced to the MAYOR nv
Dr.. Cole was exactly that of nacl,
Oh cards and gave the good woman an
ldea OF how she might render the per
secutors journey futile. Her chance
came when the mayor left and Dr..
oole, with great ceremony, attended
MN downstairs to the door to take
leave. She quickly seized the box.
winch was upon the table, took out
TIE commission, slipped off the oilskin
coverings, and put them over the pack
OF cards which she placed in the box
while she put the commission in her
pocket When the doctor came back
to his room he had no suspicion of
what had happened but put the box
again INTO his cloak bag ana next
morning set forth on his journey. He
arrived in Dublin on boxing day. and
having notified his arrival at the cas-
tie, the Lord Deputy Fitz- Walters sum
moned the privy council to hear Dr..
coles mission. The doctor made a
long speech in which he explained the
OBJECT or his coming. and then present
ed the leather box with its contents to
the loru deputy. When the DEPUTY
opened it for the secretary to read the
commission his surprise and Dr. Coles
confusion may be imagined when moth
ing appeared but pack of cards with
the knave of clubs face uppermost.
Inc doctor assured the lord deputy
and the council that he hau a commits
sion but knew not how or where it
Goulo be gone. Then" said FitZ-
Walters, you go back for another
commission, and we will shuttle the
cards in the meanwhile. " The doctor
withdrew in great trouble of mind. and
eventually made his way back to Eng
lana Here he was soundly rated and
abused and not till ctober, 1913, lid
ne get the fresh commission WIKI
This, however, he dallied some time be-
tore starting, and just as he was about
10 sail Marys death rendered it nul!
and voin. That is how at Christmas
time pack OF cards saved ireland
from the trouble Of persecution, and
why the hnave OF clubs was for a long
time known as "Iyelands friend.
Elizabeth Edmonds. who burned Tue
commission. was soon afterwards mar
rieu to man named Mathershead. and
Queen Elizabeth, sending for the tvo
TO court. gave them pension of forty
pounds year for Pumping the trick
of the enemy.