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THE
HISTORY OF IRELAND,
ANCIENT AND MODERN,
TAKEN FROM THE MOST AUTHENTIC RECORDS,
AND
DEDICATED TO THE IRISH BRIGADE.
BY THE ABBE MAC-GEOGHEGAN
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH,
BY PATRICK O'KELLY, ESQ.,
Author of a History of the Irish Rebellion of 1798, &c.
"Let Erin remember the days of old,
Ere her faithless sons betray'd her:
When Malachi wore the collar of gold,
Which he won from the proud invader;
When her kings, with standard of green unfurl'd,
Led the Red-Branch Knights to danger;
Ere the emerald gem of the western world
Was set in the crown of a stranger."
MOORE.
NEW YORK:
D. & J. SADLIER, 58 GOLD-STREET.








PREFACE
ONE of the most important works that have ever been written respecting
Ireland, is the history of the Abbe Mac-Geoghlegan. It may be a matter of
surprise to'the unthinking, that this most valuable and interesting history has
not before this been translated into English; but this surprise must be lessened
when we reflect, that, besides the distracted situation of this country, and the
passions that have agitated her different sects and parties, there were other more
powerful causes which might have prevented the publication of the great truths
contained in this rare history of Ireland.
Under such circumstances it cannot be wondered at, that an impartial history,
which has made known to France and to the Continent the wrongs and the
sufferings of Ireland, and one that has accurately displayed the conduct of her
enemies, and the struggles of her friends, should, even to this period, be unknown
to the English reader.
The elegantly written calumnies of Hume have been generally circulated,
while the plain truths of Mac-Geoghegan have been suppressed.
The circumstances which have given an impetus to the circulation of fiction,
and the discountenancing of fact, are now at an end. The bad passions of Irishmen are subsiding, and the settlement of a great question (Catholic Emancipation)
has taken away from all parties an interest in the concealment of what was just,
while it has given to the people of all classes an inducement to know the truth
alone, and nothing but the truth. With these objects solely, the translation of the
work of the Abbe Mac-Geoghegan has been' undertaken.
The history of Ireland is generally complained of even in Ireland, while the
ignorance of it in England has entailed upon Irishmen great and innumerable
calamities. It is only by a knowledge of our country, that Englishmen can
know how to estimate its worth, and, until a full and accurate knowledge of all
its circumstances are attained, can the country expect justice to bce done te it.
Those, therefore, should be deemed the best friends to Ireland, who exert




iV                             PREFACE
themselves to induce their fellow-men to study her character, to know her situation,
and to appreciate her value.
With such objects has the author of this Translation undertaken the risk of
giving to both countries the work of the Abbe Mac-Geoghegan; and from Irishmen at least, he looks with confidence for that support and patronage which
patriotism alone should induce them to afford him.
He begs the liberty, therefore, of subscribing himself their very humble and
devoted servant,
PATRICK O'KELLY.
N. B. Some portions of this valuable history were unavoidably omitted in the
former edition, translated by Mr. O'Kelly, but they shall be inserted in this
edition, which has been carefully revised and corrected by the Translator.




DEDICATION
TO THE IRISH TROOPS IN THE SERVICE OF FRANCE.
GENTLEMEN,
To you I owe the homage of my labor; you owe to it the honor of your
protection. The history of Ireland belongs to you, as being that of your ancestors; it is their shades that I invoke in a foreign land; it is their glory that I recall.
The records of their exploits and virtues, which fill a space of so many ages, I
here bring to your review.
Among all the virtues, whereof you shall see so many brilliant examples, you
will remark two that were peculiarly dear to your ancestors, viz., an ardent
zeal for the true religion so soon as they were made acquainted with it, and an
inviolable fidelity to their kings: such are the qualities, gentlemen, which still
characterize you.
Europe, towards the end of the last century, was surprised to see your fathers
abandon the delights of a fertile country, renounce the advantages which an
illustrious birth had given them in their native land, and tear themselves from their
possessions, from kindred, friends, and from all that nature and fortune had made
dear to them; she was astonished to behold them deaf to the proposals of a liberal
usurper, and following the fortunes of a fugitive king, to seek with him, in foreign
climes, fatigues and danger, content with their misfortune, as the seal of their
fidelity to unhappy masters.
France, which among so many virtues (of which she is a model) places in the
first rank loyalty to her kings, was delighted to see those strangers dispute with
her the glory of it: she gladly opened to them a generous bosom, being persuaded
that men so devoted to their princes, would not be less so to their benefactors;
and felt a pleasure in seeing them march under her banners. Your ancestors have
not disappointed her hopes. Nervinde, Marseilles, Barcelona, Cremona, Luzara,




6                                 DEDICATION.
Spire, Castiglione, Almanza, Villa Viciosa,* and: many other places, witnesses of
their immortal valor, consecrated their devotedness for the new country which
had adopted them. France applauded their zeal, and the greatest of monarchs
raised their praise to the highest pitch by honoring them with the flattering title of
"his brave Irishmen."
The example of their chiefs animated their courage; the Viscounts Mountcashelf and Clare,' the Count of Lucan,~ the Dillons, Lees, Rothes, O'Donnels,
Fitzgeralds, Nugents, and Galmoys,ll opened to them  on the borders of the
Meuse, the Rhine, and the Po, thile career of glory, while the O'Mahonys, MacDonnels, Lawlesses, the Lacys, the Burks, O'Carrols, Craftons, Comerford,
Gardner, and O'Connor, crowned themselves with laurels on the shores of the
Tagus.
The neighboring powers wished to have in their service the children of those
great men; Spain retained some of you near her throne.  Naples invited you to
her fertile country: Germany called you to the defence of her eagles.  The Taffs,
the Hamiltons, O'Dwyers,T Browns, Wallaces, and O'Neills, supported the majesty of the empire, and were intrusted with its most. important posts.  The ashes
of Mareschal Brown,`* are every day watered with the tears of the soldiers to
whom he was so dear, while the O'Donnels, Maguires, Lacys, and others, endeavored to form themselves after the example of that great man.
Russia, that vast and powerful empire, an empire which has passed suddenly
from obscurity to so much glory, wished to learn the military discipline from your
corps.  Peter the Great, that penetrating genius and hero, the creator of a nation
which is now triumphant, thought he could not do better than confide that essential
part of the art of war to the Field Mareschal de Lacy; and the worthy daughter
of that great emperor, always intrusted to that warrior the principal defence of
the august throne which she filled with so much glory. Finally the Viscount
Fermoy,tt general officer in the service of Sardinia, has merited-all the confidence
of that crown.
But why recall those times that are so long past?  Why do I seek your heroes
in those distant regions? Permit me, Gentlemen, to bring to your recollection
that great day, for ever memorable in the annals of France; let me remind you
of the plains of Fontenoy, so precious to your glory; those plains were in con* M. de Vendome, called the Chevalier de Bellerive, who had a particular esteem for that warlike
nation, at the head of whose sons he had fought so many battles and gained so many victories,
confessed that he was surprised at the dreadful feats that these army-butchers (as he called them)
had performed in his presence.-Camp de Vendome, p. 224.
t. M'Carthy.           t O'Brien.            ~ Sarsfield.          II Butler.
IT General O'Dwyer was commander of Belgrade.
** He was nephew of General Brown.
it Roche, otherwise de la Roche.




DEDICATION.                                 7
cert with chosen French troops, the valiant Count of Thomond* being at your
head, you charged with so much valor an enemy so formidable; animated by the
presence of the august sovereign who rules over you, you contributed with so
much success, to the gaining of a victory, which, till then, appeared doubtful.
Lawfeld beheld you, two years afterwards, in concert with one of the most illustrious corps of France,t force intrenchments which appeared to be impregnable.
Menin, Ypres, Tournay, saw you crown yourselves with glory under their walls,
while your countrymen, under the standards of Spain, performed prodigies of
valor at Campo Sancto and at Veletri.
But while I am addressing you, a part of your corps is flying to'the defence
of the allies of Louis,t another is sailing over the seas to seek amidst the waves
another hemisphere, the eternal enemies of his empire.~
Behold, gentlemen, what all Europe contemplates in you; behold herein the
qualities which have gained esteem for you, even from your most unjust enemies.
Could a compatriot to whom the glory of Ireland is so dear, refuse to you his
admiration? Accept, gentlemen, this small tribute of it.
Honor with your support a history, which the love for my country has
caused me to undertake; your protection and patronage will render this work
respectable, and may merit some indulgence for its defects; it should have
none, were my labor and zeal equal to render it worthy of those to whom I
dedicate it.
I am, with profound respect,
Gentlemen,
Your very humble and most obedient servant,
J. MAC-GEOGHEGAN.
* At present Mareschal of France, Knight of the Order of the Holy Ghost, Commander of Lan.
guedoc.
t The King's Regiment.
$ The regiment of Fitzjames, composed of Irish cavalry, in the army of the Prince of Suabia,
distinguished itself at the battle of Rosbach, against the Prussians.
~ General Lally, with his regiment, embarked for Pondicherry.








INTRODUCTION
To observe order and system in writing this history, I have thought proper to
divide it into three parts, the objects of which appeared to me equally interesting.
The first comprises the times which had passed from the establishment of the
Scoto-Milesians in Ireland, down to the first century; that part, therefore, during
which the island had been buried in the darkness of paganism, I call " Pagan
Ireland."
The second commences with the beginning of Christianity in that country in
the fifth, and continues until the twelfth century: this part I call " Christian
Ireland."
Lastly, the third comprises the different invasions of the English, their establishment in that country, and all that has occurred down to our time.
In the first part, or Pagan Ireland, will be seen, first, the natural history of
the country; second, a critical essay on the antiquities of the Milesians; third,
the fabulous history of the Gadelians; fourth, the religion and customs of the
Milesians; fifth, their civil and political government; sixth, their domestic and
foreign wars; seventh, the different names under which that country has been
known to the natives and to strangers; eighth, its general and particular divisions,
its dynasties, and territories; also, the names and origin of those who were the
proprietors of it.
In the second part, or Christian Ireland, will be seen, besides its profane history,
the great progress that religion and learning had made from the fifth to the ninth
century; the confusion caused to the state, and the disorder which prevailed in
the church for some time, by the invasion of the Danes; tranquillity restored, and
the exercise of religion re-established in its ancient splendor after the final defeat
of those barbarians, which happened in the beginning of the eleventh century,
until the arrival of the English towards the end of the twelfth.
Lastly, in the third part shall be described the manner in which some English
colonies came to establish themselves in Ireland in the twelfth century; the wars
which they made upon the old inhabitants of the country during four hundred
years; the reunion of the two people in the reign of James VI. of Scotland and
I. of England; finally, we shall conclude by giving a detail of the strange revolutions which have, since that time, arisen to Ireland.








BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
THE AUTHOR,
THE times in which the writer of this work was born, form so remarkable an
epoch in the History of Ireland, that, before I enter into any account of his early
life, it may not be amiss to make some remarks upon the principal features by
which they were characterized. Ireland was then, in very truth, suffering,
prostrate, trodden to the earth, and ground down by every kind of oppression, the
most iniquitous and tyrannical. Every vestige of freedom was obliterated, and
the remnants of her ancient glory still visible, bearing the marks of recent violence, spoke but too eloquently of the past, while they seemed but little calculated
to awaken hopes of future amelioration. Every thing bore an aspect drear and
desolate; whole towns and villages were forsaken.  Here stood the dilapidated
tower; there the ruined abbey, its altar desecrated and its shrines polluted;
while its -inmates, hunted like the game of the hills; endeavored
-   "in a strange land to find
That rest, which at home they had sought for in vain."
The war that placed William firmly on the English throne, and banished his
imbecile and wretched predecessor, the unfortunate James, from the realm of his
fathers, had been brought to a close before the walls of Limerick-" City of the
violated treaty." The illustrious leader of Ireland's armies, Patrick Sarsfield,
created " Earl of Lucan," and the other commnanders, made their last stand within
the walls of this city, where the articles of treaty were entered into, and in a
short time after so basely violated, although ratified and sanctioned by the
solemnity of an oath. And thus the " Island of the Betrayed," foolishly confiding in the honor of a monarch of England, having, besides, the apparently good




12                          BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
security of his solemn oath, fell, the victim of perfidy, perjury, and broken faith,
into the ruthless hands of the worst and the wickedest of tyrants. Every species
of persecution was had recourse to against the professors of the Catholic faith,
and every inducement held out to allure the people from the religion of their
fathers. To prevent the education of future ministers, and deprive the people of
a priesthood-the only safeguard of a faith, and the true source for its conveyance
from generation to generation-all the iniquitous laws of Elizabeth were strictly
enforced against the ecclesiastical institutions for the diffusion of theological and
philosophical information.  In a word, the bloody tragedies of Henry and his
virgin daughter's reigns were reacted, with every addition which the improved
taste, sharpened by the experience of the actors, could suggest.
The dreadful manner in which the Catholic clergy and people were treated,
elicited the sympathy and commiseration of the rest of Europe. Among the
many letters of condolence addressed to the clergy and people of Ireland during
these times of horror, there is one from the then Supreme Pontiff, Innocent XII.,
dated at St. Mary Major, on the 10th of June, 1698. In this letter the holy
father, after speaking in feeling language of the ordeal of persecution the church
of Ireland had undergone, exhorts the prelates and people to confidence in the
mercies of Him who suffered so much for the salvation of sinners.  "Nor" (says
he) " are your sufferings like those of yesterday; they are the sufferings of centuries; your nation, renowned for sanctity, has preserved for ages the glory of
the faith, to your eternal honor, and the salvation of your souls. Therefore,
suffer all things with Christian patience, knowing that the Lord will not permit
any being to be tried beyond his strength.-As to us, our prayers shall be
unceasing before the throne of mercy."  Thus was Ireland situated in the reign
of William. In the latter end of that reign, about the year 1698, the subject of
this sketch was born, in the neighborhood of Mullingar, in the province of
Leinster.  His father belonged to that class commonly designated as "substantial
country farmers," and finding in his son a desire to enter a college and prepare
himself for the ministry, he determined to part with him, "it might be for years,
it might be for ever," and procure him that education in a foreign college, which
unjust laws deprived him of at home. Thus braving every danger, at a tender
age the young aspirant embarked for France, and entered the college of Rheims,
then celebrated for the learning and ability of its professors.
From the time of Mr. Mac-Geoghegan's entrance into this celebrated institution to the time of his ordination, I can find but very scanty means of information




OF THE AUTHOR.                           13
as regards his progress. This alone is certain, that he distinguished himself as
a student of Philosophy, and obtained, in his general examination in Theology,
the first prize afforded by the faculty at Rheims. Having obtained his sacerdotal
ordination, he continued still in the College, acquiring further knowledge, and
preaching occasionally in the churches of the city. About the year 1736, our
historian went to England as chaplain to an English gentleman, whose name I
have not been able to ascertain. During Mac-Geoghegan's engagement with this
gentleman, he found means to travel into Ireland, and visit his native place. We
may well imagine what were his feelings at the sight of the manifold sufferings
and dreadful persecutions under which his poor countrymen were laboring.
Having travelled through countries where his faith was triumphant, where respect
was paid to conscientious conviction, where men were not " hanged and quartered" for worshipping God, where license was not given to a libertine soldiery
to satiate their base appetites in defenceless villages, and there murder, in cold
blood, large crowds of men, women, and children, he must have contemplated, in
bitterness of heart, the melancholy scenes poor Ireland then presented.  We
next find Mr. Mac-Geoghegan in Paris, attached to one of its churches, actively
engaged in the duties of the ministry. At this time his historical labors seem to
have commenced: a time when exiled Irishmen displayed to the world their
valor, their piety, and their prowess. In those days France numbered among her
armies a corps, which none, even the most inveterate enemy of Ireland, dared
deny to be the flower of chivalry, the saviours of France, the terror of England," The Irish Brigade."  The illustrious "Dillon," foremost of the first, best of
the good, bravest of the brave, witness to the broken treaty of Limerick, together
with many others of his countrymen, went over to France, and there formed the
gallant band of which he was unanimously appointed leader. In this place it is
unnecessary to say any thing more about the "Irish Brigade."  Their deeds of
valor are matters of history: and the well-fought field of "Fontenoi," where,-at
the soul-stirring watchword from  the lips of Dillon, "Irishmen, remember
Limerick!"-the tyrant Saxon persecutor bit the dust, or fled in confusion, before
the thundering charge of the glorious exiles of poor Ireland, will be, while the
wrorld remains, the monument of their valor.
To this Brigade our historian had the honor of being chaplain. It was in very
truth an enviable position. With what great and good men did it not give him
perpetual intercourse! There was Dillon, Purcell, Cusack, Butler, and a host
of others, in whose society Mac-Geoghegan spent much of his time. At the




14                       BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
earnest request of many of the Irish exiles then in France, he compiled the
present work in the French language, and dedicated it to the " Irish Brigade."
As regards the merit of the work, one opinion has always prevailed, that among
the many works already written on the subject, that by Mac-Geoghegan is
unrivalled for discrimination, sound judgment, and freedom from all prejudice.
Besides this, no writer could have within his reach better sources of testimony.
The libraries of Paris, stored with the best works on Ireland, were perfectly at his
disposal; and as to the important affairs connected with the reigns of James the
First and Second, there could be no better means of acquiring information than
those within the immediate reach of our writer. Mr. Mac-Geoghegan did not
long enjoy the well-earned fame acquired by his literary labors. In the discharge
of his holy duties a fever attacked him, and he died in the year 1750, regretted
by his friends, (he had no enemies,) and was buried in Paris, where a simple slab
records his name.




THE
HISTORY OF IRELAND9
ANCIENT AND MODERN.








PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.
THE nation which forms the subject of their arms, not only with the Picts, the Brithis history is, without doubt, one of the tons, and neighboring islanders, but with
most ancient in Europe.                  the Romans themselves, who were then the
An idea of its history must be agreeable masters of the world.  The expeditions of
to such as are desirous of exploring its anti- Eocha the Second, of Aongus Ollbuagach,
quity. The situation of Ireland having ren- son of Fiacha the First, Aongus the First,
dered it dillicult of access to invaders, her Ugane-Mor, Criomthan the First, Nial the
inhabitants lived during many ages free from Great, Dathy, and the dreadful devastations
all insult from their neighbors.  They cul- which they committed among the Britons,
tivated the arts, sciences, and letters, which (of which Gildas complains,) furnish sumithey had borrowed from the most polished cient proofs of it.
people of their time, the Egyptians and   The warlike character of the Scoto-MilePhoenicians; and the patronage which their sians appeared again, with splendor, in the
princes afforded to learning, joined to the long wars which they maintained against the
esteem in which they held those who made Danes, and which lasted with doubtful suca profession of it, contributed much to its cess, from the beginning of the ninth cen-.
advancement.  A  system  of government tury till 1014, when those barbarians were
founded on the laws of nature and humanity, totally defeated at Clontarf by the valiant
influenced their morals. Some princes, pos- Brian Boroimhe, the monarch of the island;
sessed of a justice worthy of the first Chris- while they abandoned to them some other
tians, appeared like so many stars in an provinces, to free themselves of so formiobscure night, from time to time upon the dable an enemiy.  Merit was not left unthrone, and gave vigor to the laws enerva- rewarded among them: the nobles were
ted by the weakness of their predecessors.* distinguished from each other, and they again
Ollam  Fodla, one of their monarchs, sum- from the people, by the number of colors,
moned a triennial assembly at Teamor,t in which each wore according to his rank.
order to regulate the affairs of the state, and Enna the First ordered silver shields to be
to examine into the genealogies of families. given to those chiefs who distinguished themHe established schools for the cultivation of selves in war; Muinemon added.to them
literature and philosophy, which the people chains of gold, and Aldergode decreed gold
had received from the ancients.  Ugane- rings as a reward to those who would disMor, Aongus Tuirmeach, and Eocha Felioch, tinguish themselves in the arts and sciences.
who had re-established the pentarchy, ren-   Lastly, the antiquaries, doctors, bards, or
dered jurisprudence vigorous, added new poets, called also "Fileas," were rewarded
lustre to the laws, and granted a particular withlands, which had been assigned for them.
privilege to learning.  Fearadach the Just,   During the fifth century, Christianity preFeidlim the Legislator, Cormac Ulfada, and sented new scenes in Ireland. That nation,
Cairbre the Second, surnamed Liffeachair, so attached to the superstitions of paganism
followed the example of their predecessors. and idolatry, and versed in the theology of
The learned in jurisprudence who flourished the Druids,became afterwards, bythepreachin the different reigns, assisted the princes ing of the Gospel, the theatre of religion,
by their counsels.                       and a seminary for strangers, while Gothic
Learning was not the sole occupation of ignorance spread itself over the face of Eu
the Scoto-Milesians; without mentioning rope.  Thus, it may be said, that the four i
their domestic wars, they often measured first ages of Christianity were the most brilliant, both of the ancient and modern histo- i
* Ante C. 720.    t Afterwards called Tara.  ry of that people; but the harmony of the
3




I13                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
government and glory of Christianity became i and at the same time too obvious for us not
eclipsed in the ninth century, by the frequent to feel how absurd such an accusation must
invaasions  of the northern barbarians, who be. A nation that wishes to enslave others,
had overrun, about the same period, the generally treats those who will not submit to
greatest part of Europe.  Their incursions its laws as savages: a little attention, howcontinued for two centuries with doubtful ever, paid to the state in which Ireland then
success; the barbarians were often defeated, was, and to the pretensions of the English,
and in the end totally expelled.         will easily destroy the imposture. More than
The constitution of the state had been so two thousand years had already elapsed,
shaken by this war, that it could never be during which that people, commanded by
re-established, notwithstanding the efforts native princes, were governed by their own
which had been made. A decay in religion, laws; consequently they would not receive
and corruption in the morals of the people, those of strangers, in whom they discovered
from their intercourse with the barbarians; neither character to inspire them with awe,
the interruption to the legitimate succession nor power to make them obey.  Although
to thle throne, which occurred about the time part of Ireland had at first submitted to the
of Malachy the Second, by the intrusion of English, still more than two-thirds of it, far
the provincial rings; and the different fac- from  bending under a yoke that seemed
tions always attendant upon  usurpation, odious to them, were always under arms, to
brought insurmountable obstacles to its re- defend both their lives and properties against
establishrient, and were favorable circum- those tyrants.  If he that repels an enemy,
stances to the anbition and cupidity of a who comes armed to invade his patrimony,
neighboring nation.                      should be treated as a barbarian or a savage,
Although history iwas cultivated among the most. polished nations and the most
the Scoto-Milesians, more than among any magnanimous merit the same appellations.
of their contemporaries, notwithstanding also Gerald Barry, a priest, and native of the
their great care to preserve to posterity the country of Wales, in England, called in
remembrance of their exploits; yet that peo- Latin, Canmbria, (fronm whence is derived
pie were but little known to the learned be- the name of Cambrensis, under which he is
fore Christianity. Strabo, PolAponius Mela, known,) was the first stranger who underSolinus, and other wrmiters, have made their took to write the history of Ireland, in order
ignorance appear, by giving arbitrary de- to perpetuate the calumnies which his counscriptions of this island, and by their exag- trymen had already published against its
gerated representations of the rudeness and inhabitants.
barbarity of its inhlabitants.              Circumstances required that they should
The English, having, in the twelfth cen- make the Irish pass for barbarians.  The
tury, put an end to the Irish monarchy, and title of Henry the Second was founded only
wishing to give a color of justice to their upon a bull obtained clandestinely from
usurpation, and to the tyranny. which they Pope Adrian the Fourth, an Englishman by
exercised against the inhabitants of the coun- birth.  The cause of this bull was a false
try, have, without any other title than a statement which Henry had given to the
fictitious bull of Adrian the Fourth, and the Pope of the impiety and barbarism of the
t right of the strongest, represented the Irish Irish nation. Cambrensis was then ordered
as savages, who inhabited the woods, and to verify, by writing, the statement upon
|who never obeyed the laws, as if these titles which the granting of the bull had been
were sufficient for stripping them  of their extorted.  He did not fail to intermix his
properties.t What! thatpeople sorenowned work with calumnies, and groundless abhin the first ages  of Christianity for their surdities; however, the credit of a powerful
piety and learning, and among whom the king knew how to make even the court of
Anglo-Saxons themselves went, according Rome believe them.  It was in this spirit
to their own historians, to be instructed, that Cambrensis wrote his history, and from
during the centuries which preceded the in- thence the English authors have taken the
vasion of the English, are all of a sudden false coloring under which ancient Ireland
reduced to the condition of savages!t  The has been represented. Passion and interest
metamorphosis is too difficult to be admitted, made them pass over the recantation which
Cambrensis felt himself obliged to make, in
Ca7 Sdlvestdes HLopbern. 3the latter part of his life, of several false
They retired hither, for the sakeCd. edit.her of di-,3a  s     w       i    i
I t " They retired imitier, for time sake either of di-and clumnious imputations, with which his
History, b. 3, c. 27.                    possess the necessary requisites for an histovn s     r-  a m  Ca di




PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.                            19
rian. History is not a nsere production of five books in Latin, the three first under the
the mind:'it is an assemblage of facts, the title of " Topography of Ireland," and the
arrangement of which depends alone upon other two under that of " Ireland conquered
the author. To write the history of a country by Henry the Second."  Those are indeed
it is essential to know it, likewise the cha- pompous titles, but are not at all applicable
racter and genius of its inhabitants, and to to so imperfect and weak a production; the
be capable of consulting its annals. Cam- title of Topography is unfitly applied to the
brensis possessednone of these qualities with description of a whole kingdom, and the
respect to Ireland, the history whereof he name of Conquest does not belong to an
undertook to write.  It is true, that he had agreement made between Henry the Second
been twice in that country, first through and a part of that nation. It was under such
curiosity, in 1171, to witness the advance- titles, however, that he had the presumption
ment of his relations and friends; secondly, to begin, and promise, not only the history
as preceptor of John, Earl of Mortagne, son of the actual state of Ireland, but also of its
of IHenry the Second, to whom the king his antiquities.
father had given the title of Lord of Ire-   It is not to be wondered at that Cambrenland. In those two voyages he remained but sis has succeeded so ill, and that his work
eighteen months in Ireland, and saw about deserves not even the name of history. He
one tbird of it, which alone obeyed the Eng- was prejudiced against the Irish people, and
lish; he could not with safety put his foot his ignorance of their language rendered him
into any other part of the kingdom. Being incapable of consulting their annals.  He
incapable of consulting the records of the had seen but the few cities which were in
country, (written in a language to which he the power of the English, and continued in
was altogether a stranger,) he was obliged the country too short a time to make the
to substitute, instead of truth, falsehoods, necessary researches; that care he commitand the productions of a prejudiced mind, ted to his friend Bertrand Verdon, who reto swell his volumes. Could a stranger, after mained in it but six months after him; therespending some months at Paris, without fore the collection of materials, which could
knowing either the language, consulting our serve as a basis to his pretended history
historians, or visiting the learned men of the of Ireland, was so inconsiderable, and so
country, be capable of writing a history of filled with fiction, that he never gave even
France? If he chose to describe the morals the description of a county, town, or village,
and customs of the lowest among the people, not even of that part* of it which he had
without even alluding to the heroic virtues seen.  He gives us for a history the fabuof our kings, the bravery and generosity of lous narrative of four fountains, three islands,
our nobles, and the acknowledged merit of three lakes, and the sources of four rivers,t
an infinite number of our fellow-citizens; if of which the Shannon, the most considerahe dwelt, in fine, on what was most vile, ble, discharges itself, according to him, into
without speaking of the civil and military the North Sea. He scarcely mentions who
government, or of the fundamental consti- were the first inhabitants of the country. As
tution of the state, could such a man aspire to the Scoto-Milesians, who were the peaceto the title of historian?  Would it not be ful possessors of it for more than two thouthe true means of rendering the author con- sand years before his time, he contents himtemptible, together with his work?  Such self by saying, that there had been a conhas been precisely the disposition and ca- tinued and uninterrupted succession of one
pacity of Gerald Cambrensis. Have not the hundred  and eighty-one monarchs, who
Irish an equal right to complain of him, as reigned over that people, but says nothing
Josephus (in his first book against Appion) of their history, laws, government, or of
complains of some Greek authors who un- their wars; neither does he furnish any catdertook to compose the history of the Jew- alogue of their kings. He, in a few words,
ish war, the destruction of Jerusalem, and says that the six sons of Muredus, king of
captivity of the Jews, from hearsay, without the province of Ulster, had made a descent
having been ever in the country, or seen the upon Scotland. The invasions and wars of
things of which they wrote, and who, he the Danes in Ireland he touches upon very
said, imprudently assumed to themselves lightly, but is grossly deceived, as much in
the title of historians?
Our ambitious author, wishing, as he him- dictions of the prophets contain in them any truth,
self says, to acquire glory and immortalize I will live by fame through every age."-Cambrenhis name' by a description of Ireland, wrote sis, Preface.
Grat. Luc. cap. 10, page 100.
* "I will be read by the people, and if the pre-  t Grat. Luc. cap. 2, page 6.




20                               HISTORY OF IRELAND.
reference to the period of their first landing be but the effect of his ignorance, or hatred
in that country, (which he fixes in the year for the Irish nation. They were not astray
838,) as he is respecting the name, exploits, for the cause of that hatred; besides the
and country of Gormnundus.  Such reveries private quarrel which he had with A-ubin,he has no doubt borrowed from Geoffrey of O'Molloy, monk of the order of Citeaux,
Monmouth.  Like certain animals, which and abbot of BaltingIass, in which he was dewallow in mire, and prefer it to the sweet- feated, and which excited his anger against
est flowers,* he attached himself to what- that nation, he wished' for the ruin and deever he could discover meanest and most struction altogether of the Irish, who might
vile among the people; unsupported like- prove an obstacle to the aggrandizement of
wise by any written authority, or the evi- his relations and friends, as appears from
dence of any correct or impartial man, he his second book on the conquest of thiat peocomposed an absurd collection of old wo- ple. Nothing tends to discover* more easily
men's, sailors', and soldiers' stories, which the malignity and inconsistency of Cambrenhe seasons with scandalous aspersions, sat- sis' mind, than the extremes into which he
ires, and invectives against the nation; nei- lets himself be carried.  Sometimes he exther prince nor people, clergy, secular or reg- tols with warmth the merit of his relations,
lar, are spared: he respects nothing; every newly established in that country; again he
thing becomes the object of his calumnies exclaims violently against the English and
and detraction.f  Having spent five years in Normans, engaged with them  in the same
composing this fine work, the five books of cause, against the Irish.
his pretended history of Ireland came forth.   While king Henry II. lived, that prince
In raptures with that new production of his was, according to him, " the Alexander of
genius, and unable to conceal his vanity, the west," "the Invincible," " the Solomon
Cambrensis repaired to Oxford,t where, in of his age,"' "the most pious of princes,"'
presence of learned doctors and the assem- who had the glory of repressing the fury of
bled people, he read, after the example of the the gentiles, not only of Europe, but likeGreeks, his topography, during three suc-' wise of Asia, beyond the Mediterranean.
cessive days, giving to each book an entire The most extravagant phrases which the reday. To render the comedy more solemn, he fined flatterer could invent were not spared
treated the whole town splendidly for three in:extolling  him, contrary to reason and
days: the first was appropriated to the popu- common sense; for example, he did not
lace; the second to the doctors, professors, blush to say of that prince, that his victoand principal scholars of the university; and ries and conquests were limited only by the
lastly, the third day he regaled the other circumference and extremities of the earth.
scholars, soldiers, and citizens of the town: However, so soon as the king was dead, (as
" a noble and brilliant action," says Cam- David Powell remarks,) he broke forth into
brensis himself, " whereby the ancient cus- a thousand invectives against his memory,
tom of the poets has been, for the first time, in the book entitled " The Instructions of a
renewed in England." But unfortunately for Prince," and gave free vent to his ancient
him, tne success did not answer his expecta- enmity against him.  That alone should
tions: it was easily seen,particularly at court, suffice to characterize this author, and to
that the bad choice he had made of the mate- show to what little credit every thing else
rials whereof his history had been composed, which he advanced is entitled.
and the fables he had introduced into it, could   The reproaches which were  directed
against Cambrensis for having inserted in
his writings so much fabulous matter, obliged
"He hath defiled his writings with the filthi- him to recant what he had advanced, both'
ness of the rabble: he resolved to stuff the whole
nation with the imperfections of the populace, re- b  an apology, inserted in the prefce to his
corded by himself, like the spider which draws poi- book, called " The Conquest of Ireland," and
son from the thyme, fiom  which the bee extracts in a treatise on c" Recantation."  In these
honey. He has thus formed, from among th  he   acknowledges that, although he had
abandoned of the Irish, a package; leaving those learned from men of that country, worthy  of
things which he found most eminent, unnoticed.    e  m 
Whatsoever filthl ide discovered, appeared as a gem bellef, many things which he mentions, he
1to him; with it, as if most precious, has he ar- had followed the reports of the vulgar in
ranged his productions and work, so that, like the many others; but he thinks as St. Augustine,
swine, he delights more in the dunghill than to en- in his book on " The City of God," that we
joy himself amidst the sweetest odors."-Gratianus should not positively affirm, nor absolutely
Lucius, p. 5, c. 41.      
f Grat. Lucius, cap. 5, p. 38.
t Usser. Silog. edit. Par. Epist. 49, p. 84, et 85.  Grat. Luc. c. 7, p. 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, &c.




PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.                              21.
deny, the things we have only from hearsay. same air as he, they were animated by the
Sir James Ware, in his "6 Antiquities of Ire- same spirit, and have inherited all his hatred.
land,' knew how to appreciate with justice against the Irish.
the merit of our author.  The following is   It is then "hut reasonable that every stranthe opinion he holds of him: " Cambrensis," ger of good discernment should distrust all
said he, "has collected into his topography that has appeared on the affairs of Ireland
so many fabulous things, that it would require from the pens of such authors, and from those
an entire volume to discuss it correctly." In who have followed their footsteps; it is a
the mean time he warns the reader to peruse rare virtue in an enemy to render justice to
it with caution; he then adds, "That it his adversary, and there are none from
astonishes him how men of his time, other- whom we could less expect it than from the
wise grave and learned, could have imposed. English.  Their natural presumption, inupon the world, by giving as truths the fic- flamed by success, has caused them to act
tions of Cambrensis.'                      at all times as if they were exempt from
But, notwithstanding these incontestable following the ordinary rules of justice and
proofs of the fallacy and imposture in the humanity towards those whose bad fortune
writings of this discredited author, and al- had submitted to their laws.  For the truth
though they had lain 400 years in obscurity, of this statement we can call upon the testiuntil 1602, when Camden had them publish- mony of the Welch, the Scotch, and other
ed at Frankfort, allwho have spoken of the nations, over whom they have ruled during
Irish since that period, but particularly the some time. As to Ireland, we can assert that
English, have no other foundation for their they have never ceased to govern it with a
abuses against them  than the authority of rod of iron.  Would it be, then, reasonable
that impostor.  The evil has become so to attach belief to all that such masters have
general throughout Europe, that in most disseminated throughout the world in order
books and geographical treatises, wherein: to palliate their own injustice?
there is mention of the maanners and customs   The same motives which actuated Camof nations, we find upon the Irish only the brensis in the twelfth century, have guided
poisoned darts which Canmbrensis had di- the pens of the English historians since the
rected against them.t                       Reformation.  The Irish could never bring
After the character now drawn of Cam  thesmselves to renounce the religion of their
brensis, let the judicious and impartial reader: forefathers, or embrace the new maxims of
judge if he can be considered as a grave the reformlers; their perseverance in the
historian, arnd one worthy of credit; or if he simplicity of the primitive faith has become
should not, on the contrary, be looked upon a pretet for dispossessing them of the patas a libeller and impostor, who sought, by rimony of their ancestors, and for turning
amusing the public with absurd tales.,  o ther most: un-offending acts into pretended
disgrace, against all truth and justiee,  an causes for condemning them.  When the
entire nation. All others among the English strong man has resoled to oppress the weak,
who have undertaken to write the history of, it is easy to find a cause for his oppression,
Ireland, particularly since the Reformation, and give to it an appearance of justice.
-have, "like the asp that borrows the venom    The history of Lord  Clarendon would
of the viper,"' taken the same tone as Cam- appear to merit some respect in public estibrensis, and faithfully followed his tracks; mation, by the rank of state minister, which
among that rumber are, Hanmer, Campion, he held under the kings Charles I. and II.;
Spencer, Camden, &c.  By breathing the but every prepossession in his favor will
lose much of its weight when it is known,
that that minister contributed nuch to the
* M, any things eoncerning Ireland could be no- dreadful fae of the father,  and intended
ticed in this place as fabulous, which Cadrbrensis
hath heaped together in his topography. To analyze also to ruin the son; by the excessive regard
or descant upon each would require a whole tract. he rmanifested through life for the parliaCaution should be particularly applied by the reader nerntarians, anrd the strong aversion he ento his topography, which Giraldus himself confesses. tertained towards the Catholics. His appreI cannot but express my surprise, how men now-a-                      uthority of the
days, otherwise grave and learned, have obtruded hen
on the world the fictions of Giraldus for truths." —- parliament annihilated by a victorious king,
Ware's Antiquities of Ireland, c. 23.      caused him to use all his influence and artif Grat. Lue. c. 1, page 4.               fice with Charles I. to divert him from the
t "' They are borne by a similar propensity to tra-gd  se  he should have made of his victoduce the Irish, (as it is expressed in the proverb,)  he                      s 
the ass borrows poison frinm the viper."-Gratiasnls ies,  His hated to the Catholics made.Iueius, e. 1, p. 3.                       him thwart every offer of service which the




22                            HISTORY OF IRELAXDY.
confederates of Ireland continued to make to foreign countries, that of Rapin Thoiras
the,king against his rebellious parliamrent, merits a preference, bot]h for the order and
offers' of service for which they asked no'perspicuity of its details, and arranrgemlent
other recompense than a moSerate liberty:of its materials. It should rot be matter for
in the exercise of their religion. Although surprise to see an author, whyo had been
the king had, on various occasions, consent- brought up in the Presbyterian principles,
ed to receive them, that minister, with his avow himself on every occasion, opposed to
associates, contrived to render them uravail- the pontifical authority; it is but acting ining.  Clarendon displayed anew, urnder genuously according to his own maxims and
Charles II.,  hlien restored, the surprising opinions; tlhe enlightened reader cannot be
effect of the two passions which guided him. mIistaken in that. The effiorts. which he has
The wicked Cro.mwevltians, who merited the used for preserving the appearance of rn'heaviest punishments that could be infficted, partiality between the- factions that had torn
were rewarded at the expense of the faithful; the state under the reign, of Charles-.,
Irish, the properties of a great number of merit our regardl. Although he appears to
whom were sacrificed to the detestable max- favor the parliamentarians, the royalists
im which Clarendon,'in order to cover his lmay derive great advantage frolm w'hat the
flagrant injustice, influenced the young king, force of truth had drawn from the mouth of
too easily led, to adopt; it -was, "' Win youre an advocate pensioned by thei-r opponents;
enemies by doing good to them: you will we discover in him much less acrimorny upon
be always sure of your friends." The above the affairs of Ireland, than armung the genefacts had passed before Clarendon wrote his. rality of English historians; he furni:shes
history; he was obIiged to adopt everythirg manry arguments that cou-ld be well applied
that malice and sel-f-irnterest could excite in vindication of that country.
among the Cromwellans, for the purpose   Father D'Orleans is' far less' excusable for
of blackening the Irish, and palliating hisl the little justice he has done to Ireland, in
own conduct.                            hi-s superficial and mutilated account of the
Doctor Burnet found it too much his in- wars in that country, with which he clo-ses
terest, in the revolution, which happened in his history of the revolutions in England.
the reign of James II., not to give to that There is muchcause for suspectingthatthis
event the most specious coloring.  Ulnalbe fther let himself be guided by some one
to amass a fortune by an upright course, he interested to advance the honorof England.
became a preacher and firebrand of sedition. Surely, t'he vigorous defence which Ireland
The rich bishopric of' Salisbury was too con- s-ustainrred for three years, ought to imake that
siderable a reward fbr a venal writer, who country blush for having surrendered itself
was not curbed by the reins either of probity to the prince of Orange, without striking a
or religion; still the refusal given him by blow to oppose him.
the prince of Orange, of the archbishopric   Thomas Irnnes, a Scotch priest, published
of Canterbury, armed him against his bene-'at London, in 1729, a critical essay on the
factor, and caused him tco unveil truths that ancient inhabitants of Nofrth Britain. This
were not honorable to that prince's memory. work shows the author to have been a man
lHow much vanity and self-interest guided of letters. The connection that was between
the haughty and insatiable mind of that pre- the Scots and the ancient Scoto-Milesians,
late, it was quickly discovered by his ingra- engaged him in a criticism on the antiquities
titude. The stranger will perceive what of the latter, in which he makes use of but
esteem can be due to his writings, from the common-place topics. He says much, and
sound refutation given to his two first books proves little; he strives to insinuate that
on the Reformation, by Joachim le Grand, in, all the aciounts concerning the Milesians
his history upon the divorce of Henry VIII. are founded merely on the fabulous narration
and Catherine of' Aragon: it was published of bards, without any tribunal having been
at Paris, in three volumes duodecimo, in appointed to examine them. No distinction
1688; that author took in it the defence of is drawn between the mercenary rhymers,
Sanderus against him.                   who went from. house to.house and those who
Every thing which I lave said concern- were employed by the state, whose writings
ing the characters of Clarendon and Burnet, were subjected to theojudgment of the assemwill be admitted by every honorable man in bly at Teamor. This writer upbraids also the
England. The memoirs of Higgins, an Milesians, with the contradictions of their
English gentleman of acknowledged probity, historians, concerning their antiquities, and
bear ample testimony of it. Among all the the epochs of their history; but ought we to
histories of England which have appeared in suspect the authority of the Bible, because




PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.                          23
the calculations of the Hebrews, the Greeks, from revolutions that had happened in other
and the Latins, all differ with regard to the countries, without losing sight of the paralyears of the world, since the creation up to lel between the Scots and the Franks.  lie l
the Christian era? This author would have quotes Ptolemy, and some other writers of
to answer the same objections for the writers antiquity, without deriving from them any
of his own country. Fordun, Major, Boyce, real advantage; but the silence of foreigners
Buchanan, and others, are not in accordance regarding the name " Scot," before the third
upon every subject. But it was reserved for or fourth century, makes him triumph in his
our author to contradict them all, and to sap expedient. Must we not know a people bethe foundation of every thing they advanced fore we can tell them by their nalme? The
concerning their antiquities.  From a chain Scoto-Milesians were, without contradiction,
of possible propositions and self-conjectures, better known to the ancient Greeks and
he asserts with confidence that the Scots Phoenicians than to the modern Greeks.
were a people different from the Milesians, The latter, weakened by the great wars they
who established themselves in Ireland about had to maintain against the Persians, the Mathe time of the Christian era. His words cedonians, and the Romans, were obliged to
are the following:                      neglect that commerce which their prede" It is possible," he says, " that the Mile- cessors had kept up with the Mlilesians; and
sians might have been established in Ireland the Romans, who never made a descent upon
many centuries before the Incarnation, and their island, knew them only by the incurthat there had been among them, as among sions which they, in conjunction with the
other people, a succession of kings of their Picts, made into Britain, and from thence
race, since Heremon, without the Milesians foreigners call them indiscriminately " Iihaving been properly the same as those who berni"' and" Scoti;" names that were then
were afterwards called Scots, and without synonymous, and which, in the sense of the
the latter having been established in that authors who used them, signified the same
island before the Incarnation, at which period people. Lastly, all the strength of the arguthey settled there as conquerors, and made ments of Innes, is founded upon false printhemselves masters of the government, as ciples, and tends but to overturn, by conthe Franks had done in Gaul, the Goths and jectures and negative arguments, a system
Suevi in Spain, the Vandals in Africa, and adopted by the most learned historians of his
the Saxons in Britain."  Behold a system nation. Against the antiquities of the Milefounded upon possibilities; he wants only to sians, he advanced again many other diffigive reality to it; it is that which embarrasses culties, which I shall examine in the course
our critic; " because he finds no contempora- of these memoirs.
ry writer to attest it, not even among the Mi-   The author of the age of Louis XIV. gives
lesians, who possessed (according to him) a description of the last wars in Ireland,
neither monuments, nor the use of letters, with but little advantage to her inhabitants.
before the time of St. Patrick."  Our critic Besides the impressions which this writer
has no apparent respect for M'Kenzie, his has received among the English, incapable
countryman, who is equally as he entitled of doing justice to any people whom they
to credit; and affirms that he saw -many oppress, he has too scrupulously followed
ancient Irish manuscripts; among others a the accounts given in Holland by the refuhistory of the kings of Ireland, written by gees, who were equally attached to the glory
Carbre Liffechair, monarch of the island, of the prince of Orange as to the interests
about the time of the Incarnation, and conse- of a religion, the support- of which was apquently long before St. Patrick. The infer- parently the motive for his usurpation and
ence which he draws from the real conquests tyranny.  His prejudices have influenced
of the neighboring countries by the barba- him to represent the Irish, whom he allows
rians, to establish a chimerical conquest of to be good soldiers in France and Spain, as
Ireland in the first century by the Scots, a people that always fought badly at home;
is a false reasoning.  On one side they are the passage of the Boyne by the prince of
supported by monuments which cannot be Orange, he describes as one of those bold
doubted, and by the unanimous consent of enterprises which should astonish the world,
all the world; on the- other, it is founded, and compares it to the passage of the Granaccording to the declaration of our critic, on icus by Alexander the Great, or of the
conjectures only, and inferences that are Rhine by Louis XIV.
merely plausible. For want of authority he   Although the lively representations and
raises other batteries, and draws from con- brilliant style of an author may darken truth
sequences, results which were inseparable in the eyes of a reader whom they charm,




24                           HIISTORY OF IRELAND.
they have not always the same effect upon to chase away two regiments of dragoons
the minds of a more enlightened and less who were guardingthat passage; but every
prejudiced world. The Irish are equally opposition became unavailing. The king did
brave in every country. If they appear to not wait the event of the battle; escorted
be more so in France and Spain than at by some chosen troops, he took the route for
home, it arises from this, that they are bet- Dublin, where, stopping for a day, he proter trained in foreign countries, where they ceeded thence to Waterford-, and there emenjoy the advantages of learning the milita- barked for France. The rest of the army,
ry discipline, for which they have a natural seeing themselves without a chief, marched
turn, which opportunity is denied to them towards Limerick; the brigade of Suliauin their own country. Their conduct in the ben formed the rear-guard, which the prince
last wars of Ireland, about which our author of Orange did not dare to attack. The other
appears as little informed as Bhe is about their French troops took the road for Cork and
supposed want of resistance at the battle of Kinsale, and embarked there. Thus ended
the Boyne, takes nothing from their valor; without a battle the passage of the Boyne,
King James had, according to the author's so much boasted of by English and Dutch
acknowledgment, but about twenty thousand historians, of whom our author is but the
men, viz., nearly six thousand French and echo, and which, in truth, should not add
fifteen thousand Irish. The latter were much to the laurels of the prince of Orange.
troops newly raised, undisciplined,- badly   Our author says nothing of the first siege
provided, and still worse armed. The prince of Limerick, so glorious to the Irish, who
of Orange had thirty-six thousand veteran overthrew the enemy, already in possession
troops, all English and Dutch.  The river of the breach and part of the city; they
Boyne, which is always fordable in summer, drove them back even to their camp. This
and has often not more than three or four action made the prince of Orange raise the
feet of water in many places, was no great siege, and make to his troops this reproachobstacle to their passing it. The reader, ful remark, which was as glorious to the
therefore, may judge of the disproportion besieged, as it was humiliating to the beand inequality of the two armies. The fate siegers; —" Yes," said he, "if I had this
of the day could be easily foreseen. On the handful of mnen who defend the place against
one side were twenty thousand men, three- you, and that you all were within, I would
fourths of whom  scarcely knew  how to take it in spite of you."  His retreat was so
handle a musket, and commanded by a king precipitate that he set fire to the hospital,
who, naturally kind-hearted, felt some com- to cover the shame of having abandoned his.
passion for the English, whom he considered sick and wounded. The battle of Aughrim
as his subjects, though armed against him; which was fought the year following, and
on the other, an army much superior in where the Irish troops, though vanquished,
numbers and experience, commanded by the performed prodigies of valor, and the second
prince of Orange, who, although more ac- siege of Limerick, the obstinate defence of
customed to lose battles than to gain them, which obtained a capitulation, the most imwas a very formidable enemy in the present portant and advantageous that has been ever
conjuncture. As our author affects to be witnessed, were equally honorable to the
silent on every thing that passed favorable Irish nation - but our author passes suddento the Irish nation during this war, he makes ly from the Boyne to the second siege of
no mention of a singular action which oc- Limerick, without mentioning the glorious
curred while the English were crossing actions that occurred in the interval. Perthe river: three or four Irish gentlemen, haps he was ignorant of them, or if not,
having advanced into it with pistols in their that he wished to minister to the honor of
hands, shot Marshal Schombergh, in the this hero; it has been long since said of him,
midst of the English army, having taken what Camden* said of tBuchanan, that he
him for the prince of Orange. He omits was a better poet than a writer of history;
also to mention the resistance made by the "i Buchananus poeta optimus."
Clare dragoons and other troops against the   The memory of these events is too recent,
army of Schombergh, at the passage of Old- and there still exist too many livingwitnesses
bridge; they were forced on the second of the valor of our people on that occasion,.
attack to give way, after having left a num- that false representations should gain credit
ber killed upon the spot. As to the prince in our days; but posterity cannot avoid
of Orange, who proceeded up the river to adopting the errors which they will find difSlane, with half the army, which he commanded in person, he had no great difficulty     X Brit. edit. Lond. p. 89.




OF PAGAN IRELAND.                                 25
fused throughout the writings of prejudiced
and ill-informed historians, if there be not               PART  I.
placed now before their eyes matter wherewith to undeceive them.  How can it be
supposed that the stranger will be upon his    OF   P A GA N   IRE LA N D,
guard against the dishonorable imputations
with which these authors have loaded their
writings against the Irish, if it be not made
known that those who have robbed the Irish
of their possessions are likewise interested             CHAPTER  I.
to rob them of their honor.
It is to be regretted, that among so many     NATURAL HISTORY OF IRELAND.
learned men, of whom Ireland justly boasts,
none have taken the trouble of writing a   IRELAND, one of the most considerable
regular history of their country. It appears islands of Europe, is situated in the Atlantic
that the Danes, who, by their invasions, Ocean to the west of England, and extends
infested Ireland for two centuries, had de- from the 50th to the 55th degree of north
stroyed part of her ancient monuments; those latitude, and from the eighth to the'twelfth
barbarous invaders taking delight to destroy degree of west longitude. Its form is nearly
churches, abbeys, and other places which oval; from Fair-head in the north to Mizenserved as depositories of learning.  Ireland head in the south, its length is about three
had hardly time to breathe, after having hundred miles;* in breadth from  east to
shaken off the yoke of the Danes, when she west, it is one hundred and sixty miles, and
fell under that of the English.  These new about 1400 in circumference; it contains
masters made it a maxim of their policy to about eighteen millions of.acres, English
abolish the use of the language and of let- measure. The distance of Ireland from Great
ters among the Irish. These reasons, added Britain varies according to the inequality
to the little encouragement given, since the of the coasts of the two countries: some
invention of printing, to a nation oppressed of the northern parts are but fifteen miles
andoverwhelmedwith the weight oftyranny, from Scotland; however, the general dishave caused those venerable remains of anti- tance from England is forty-five mniles, more
quity to lie buried in obscurity. The interest or less, according to the different position
which I take in every thing that concerns of the coasts.  Ireland is two hundred and
Ireland, makes me often sigh for the addi- twenty miles distant from France, four huntional misfortune which the general igno- dred and forty from Spain, and about fourrance of its history produces, and has long teen hundred and forty from New France in
since inspired me with a desire of remedy- America. In the northern parts, the longest
ing that evil.                             day is seventeen hours twelve minutes, and
In writing the history of Ireland, I have no in the most southern, sixteen hours twentypretensions farther than to give an abridg- five minutes.  From  its being situated in
ment of it: too happy shall I feel, if able to one of the temperate zones, the climate is
smooth the way, or give emulation to others mild and agreeable. Although less extended
who may have more leisure or capability than Britain, says Orosius, " Ireland is,
than I. My desire is to give to the stranger from the temperature of its climate, better
an idea of its history, and to preserve in his supplied with useful resources."t  Isidore
mind the sorrowful remembrance of an ex- says, " It is smaller than Britain, but more
piring nation. It is for him I write, in order fertile, from its situation."t  The venerable
to efface from his thoughts the bad impres- Bede confirms the opinions of these writers:
sions he may have received of it.  It is he he observes, that " Ireland greatly surpasses
whom  I am  ambitious to satisfy, through Britain in the healthfulness and serenity of
gratitude for the protection given to the its air."~  Cambrensis adds, that "of all cliexiled portion of that nation, against which
tyranny has pronounced this dreadful sen-  * Stanihurst, de reb. in IHib. gest. 1. p. 15.
ten1 This is more peculiar to Britain: in its extent
tence,                                of land it is narrower, but in heat and climate it
takes precedence."-Orosius Hist. book 1, c. 2.
"Veteres migrate coloni;"         t "It is narrower in extent, but more fruitful,
from its situation."-Isidorus in his Book of Orin
and from whom the remembrance of Sion gins, c. 6, book 14.
~ " Ireland is, by far, superior to Britain, from its.
often draws a sigh —" Flevimus cum recor. serenity and salubrity of climate."-Bede's Church
daremur Sion."                             Hist., book 1, c. 1.




26                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
mates Ireland is the most temperate." "Nei- attacked by these disorders, the natives
ther extraordinary heat in summer is felt generally escape, and live to an advanced
there, nor excessive cold in winter.*  That age.  Men have been often discovered to
country," he adds, " is so blessed in these have lived to a great age in that country,
particulars, that it seems as if nature looked whom sickness had seldom visited before.
upon it with a more favorable eye than on death.  "The climate of that country," says
any other."t                               Cambrensis, "is so temperate, that neither
The testimony, however, of Cambrensis infectious fogs, nor pestilential winds are
appears somewhatdoubtfuland exaggerated. felt, so that the aid of doctors is seldom
Rain, snow, and frost, are not unfrequent looked for, and sickness rarely appears, exduring the winters in Ireland; from its ex- cept among the dying."*
posure to the exhalations of an immense   Ireland is intersected by a great number
ocean, and those which the westerly winds of rivers and lakes.  In the province of
from America bear to it, and which are not Leinster we find the Barrow, which takes its
interrupted in their course by any other rise in the mountains called Slieve-Bloemy,
land, nor opposed by the contrary action of in the Queen's county, formerly Leix: it
the continental winds, it must naturally be runs through part of the county of Kildare
subject to such vicissitudes of climate.  It and Carlow, and empties itself into the sea
must be observed, that the English writers at Waterford, with the Nore and the Suire.
have always endeavored to heighten the   The Nore has its rise in the Queen's
excellence of the climate of Ireland, and county, waters that of Kilkenny, and then
fertility of its soil, not forgetting at the same loses itself in the Barrow, some miles above
time to lower the merit of the inhabitants, Ross.
and to render them contemptible. We shall   The Boyne, which rises in the King's
have an opportunity to discuss hereafter county, runs through Castlejordon, Ballytheir motives for this two-fold exaggeration. bogan, Clonard, Trim, and Navan, in East
Cambrensis, who extols so much the fertility Meath: its waters are increased by many
of that island, represents the inhabitants as other small rivers, and it falls into the sea
a people without morals, comparing them at Drogheda.
to undisciplined savages, that will not sub-   The Liffey has its rise in the county of
mit to be governed by laws.  Camden, an- Wicklow, and makes a circuitous course
other English author, says, that " if that through the county of Kildare, where many
country had sometimes a bad character, it small rivers unite their streams with it.  At
arose from the rudeness of its inhabitants. Leixlip, within seven miles of Dublin, a very
We shall not at present reply to the invec- high cascade is formed, where the waters
tives of these writers; we will have an op- tumble from the top of a sharp rock; in the
portunity of doing it in another place.  If language of the country it is called " Leimferocity and rudeness go generally hand in en-Uradane," in English " The Salmon's
hand, does it become the English to dis- Leap."  The country people say, that when
parage their neighbors with such epithets the salmon strives to reascend the river in
of abuse?                                 that place, it leaps holding its tail between
The moisture of the Irish climate, to- its teeth, in order to pass the rock: but if it
gether with the great number of lakes and fail in the attempt, which frequently happens
bogs that are to be found throughout that from the height of the rock and rapidity of
country, caused by the stagnation of the the water, it is caught in baskets, which the
waters after the tillage and culture of its fishermen are careful to place at the bottom
lands had been interrupted, in the ninth to take them.  The Liffey passes through
and tenth centuries, by the frequent inva- Lucan and Palmerstown, and, after forming
sion of the northern barbarians, must, it some smaller cascades in its course, empties
would appear, render that country unwhole- itself into the sea at Dublin.
some, and be the cause of rheumatism, dys-   The Slaney takes its rise in the county
entery, and other distempers: they are only of Wicklow, and, after running through
strangers, however, that are subject to be Baltingglass and Enniscorthy, falls into the
sea at Wexford.
* "Of all countries it is the most temperate.   Lastly, the Iny and the Brosnagh, the
Neither the burning heat of summer impels to the
shade, nor the rigor of the winter invites man to the   * "So great is its temperature of climate, that
fire. - At all seasons a peculiar mildness of climate neither the infectious cloud, nor pestilential air, nor
prevails."-Topography of Ireland, c. 25.   noxious blast, requires the aid of the physician; few
t " Nature has bestowed on Ireland a mildness men, except the dying, will be found infected with
of look and climate." —Cambrensis, p. 727.  disease."-Topography of Ireland, 1, c. 27.




OF PAGAN IRELAND.                             27
first of which rises in Lake Ennil, the latter Tirfiacria in the county of Sligo, on its right
in the King's county, lose themselves in the bank, and Tiramalgad in the county Mayo,
Shannon, one in the lake called Lough Ree, upon the left.* The Suck runs between the
the other near Banagher.               counties of Roscommon and Galway, and
The chief rivers of Ulster are: the Bann loses itself in the Shannon near Clonfert.
which rises in the county of Down, and toge- The Gill, a little river in the county Galway,
ther with the river Tonwagee, runs through discharges itself into the bay of Galway.
the great lake called Lough Neagh; having   The rivers in the province-of Munster are:
then the county of Antrim to the right, and the Suir, which, taking its rise in the county
Derry on the left, it forms in its course a of Tipperary, on the borders of Ossory,
more considerable cataract than the Liffey passes through Thurles, Cashel, Clonmel,
at Leixlip: it passes then through Coleraine, Carrick, and Waterford, and from thence
and falls into the ocean. This river is con- flows with the Barrow into the sea.
sidered to be one of the best in Europe for  Avoine Duff or Avoine More, in English
its fishery of salmon, eel, and other fish.*  "Black water," has its source in the county
The Morne flows from the county of Ty- of Kerry, and after watering Mallow and
rone, and being joined by the Derg and the Lismore, falls into the sea at Youghal.
Finn, which have their sources from two   The rivers Lee and Bandon, in the county
lakes of the same name in the county of of Cork, discharge themselves into the sea,
Donegal, they run in the same channel, and the one below Cork, the other at Kinsale.
after crossing Strabane and Derry, fall into   The Leane and the Cashon, in the county
Lough Foyle, and from thence into the ocean. of Kerry, empty themselves into the ocean,
The Earn, the source of which is on the the first in the bay of Dingle, the other at
borders of the counties of Longford and the mouth of the Shannon.
Cavan, crosses the latter, and falls into a   The most considerable lakes of Ireland
lake of the same name, in the county of are the following: Lough Neagh; (lough
Fermanagh, and from  thence passes, by signifies lake.)  It is thirty miles long and
Ballyshannon, into the ocean.          fifteen broad; its waters are celebrated for
The Swilly,'in the county Donegal, falls the quality they possess of changing wood
into a lake of the same name, which com- into iron and stone.f  Lough Foile, and
municates with the ocean.              Lough Earne; these being joined by a canal,
The river Laggan, in the county Down, form two lakes. Lough Swilly, and Lough
passes through Dromore, Lisburn, and Bel- Cone, at present Strangford,] in the profast, and falls into Carrickfergus Bay.  vince of Ulster. There are also some other
The Newry, after having served for limits lakes less considerable in this province, viz:
to the counties of Armagh and Down, falls Lough Finn, Lough Sillin, Lough Ramor,
into the sea at Carlingford.           Lough Reagh, Lough Eask, and Lough
The Shannon, which can by a fair title be Dearg; the last is famed for the devotion
termed a river, is the chief one not only of of the faithful, who resort there to perform
Connaught, but of all Ireland, and deserves a pilgrimage.
to be classed amongthe first rivers of Europe.  The most considerable lakes of ConIt is called Senna by Orosius, and has its naught are: Lough Corrib, Lough Mask,
source in a mountain of the county of Lei- Lough Conn, Lough Ree, Lough Boffin,
trim, called Sliew-Nierin, which is so named and Lough Allen, in the Shannon; Lough
from the mines of iron that are found in it. Gara, Lough Aarow, and Lough Rea.
Its course from where it rises to its mouth is   The lakes to be met with in Munster are
nearly one hundred and forty miles: many called: Lough Ogram, Lough Oulan, Lough
other rivers fall into it, and it forms several Kerry, Lough Lene, and Lough Derg.
very considerable lakes. It waters Lanes-   There are in West Meath, Lough Ennil,
borough, Athlone, and Banagher, separating Lough Hoyle, Lough Derrevarragh, &c.
West Meath and Leinster from Connaught.  In Ireland we meet likewise with mounFrom Banagher it flows to Limerick, from tains, promontories, and capes. The highwhence it bears ships of the greatest burden est mountains, generally called the Curlew
into the Western Ocean, a distance of about Hills, are in the county of Wicklow; those
fifty miles.      -in the Queen's county are Slieve Bloema,
The other rivers of Connaught are not and in the county of Mayo, the mountains
considerable. The Moy, in the county of of Cruachan.
Mayo, falls into the ocean at Killala, having
* Ogyg. part 3, cap. 3.
t Wareus, Antiq. Hib. cap. 7.
O Qgyg. part 3, cap. 3.          Ogyg. part 3, cap. 49, 50.




28                              HISTORY OF IRELAND.|
There are many bogs in that country,*   The woods with which that country was
where the people cut turf with narrow formerly covered, fed great numbers of
spades for fuel; it abounds with all kinds of fallow-deer; there are stags, boars, foxes,
grain-wheat, rye, barley, oats, peas, &c.,t badgers, otters.  Wolves were likewise in
every thing grows there in abundance; its Ireland, but have been entirely destroyed
pastures are considered the best in Europe, within the last century.*
both for the quality and quantity of their   The plains and bogs of Ireland are full
grass, which caused Bede to say, that it of all kinds of game; hares, rabbits, pheawas " an island rich in milk and honey;" sants, partridges,woodcocks, snipes, plovers,
" dives lactis et mellis insula."t It appears quails,water-hens, ducks, and wild geese, are
too, that in his time the vine was cultivated in abundance, as well as every other species
there; " nec vinearum expers."             of fowl. There is a particular wild bird in it
Fruit-trees thrive well in Ireland, such as that resembles the pheasant; it is called in
pear, apple, peach, apricot, cherry, plum, the Irish language "Keark-Frihy."  Some
gooseberry, and nut trees.~  It is true, they think that it is the same as the heath-cock;
are not met with in the fields and on the there is indeed an analogy from the name,
roads, as in France, Flanders, and other as Keark-Frihy signifies heath-hen; howcountries, being generally planted within ever that be, this bird is not known, or at
enclosures, and in gardens.                least very rare in France.  Marshal Saxe
Ireland is rich in her herds of oxen, and had some brought from Ireland, to stock the
flocks of sheep, goats, and swine: it is said, plains of Chambord; he sent also to that
that the cows will not give their milk without country for horses and mares, and had them
the calves, and that to succeed in getting it, brought to supply his stud. The rivers and
it is necessary to deceive them by showing lakes of this countryf are filled with fish of
a skin filled with hay or straw. The sheep all kinds; salmon, trout, pike, tench, perch,
are shorn twice a year.ll They yield a great eel, carp, and shad, are very common, withquantity of wool,l but it is not so good nor out mentioning the sea-fish, which are taken
so fine as in other countries."* The horses in great quantities.
called hobbies by the English,tt which were   If we search into the bowels of the earth,
first brought from the Asturias, are bred in treasures will be found in Ireland.t  AcIreland; they are excellent both for the cording to the historians of the country,~
saddle and the draught. Their saddle-horses the first gold mine was discovered near the
have a certain gentle and regular movement, river Liffey, in the time of Tighernmas, the
called " amble," but are very quick at the monarch;Il afterwards one of silver was
same time.f:  The rider might, while seat- found at Airgiodross,~ and a foundry estabed upon his horse, when walking, bear a lished on the borders of the river Barrow,**
full glass of liquor in his hand without in which coats of mail, bucklers, and.other
spilling it.~~                             armor were made,tt and given by the kings
Paulus Jovius, according to the account to suchwarlike men as distinguished themgiven by Ware, saw twelve Irish hobbies, of selves in battle.  A mint was also founded
a dazzling whiteness, caparisoned in purple, for manufacturing gold chains,tt which the
with silver bridles and reins: they were led kings and other nobles wore upon their necks
in parade with the trains attendant upon the as marks of distinction; rings, likewise,
Sovereign Pontiffs.                        which were presented to those who distinEagles, falcons, and other birds of prey guished themselves in the arts and sciences.
are likewise in Ireland; greyhounds, and   Thus it can be said that gold and silver
other hunting-dogs, are there in common. were in general use in Ireland, even in the
Bees are so plenty that swarms are found most remote ages.of paganism. This abuneven in the trunks of trees.               dance of wealth was increased, in the early
periods of Christianity, by the riches the
* O'Sullevan. Hist. Cathol. Hibern. Compend. inhabitants gained from the frequent voyages
lib. 1, cap. 6.                            they made into Britain and other countries.
t Petr. Lombardus de regno Hib. Comment, cap. 8.
I Lib. 1, cap. 1. ~ Grat. Luc. cap. 10, page 104.
H1 "Here the snowy fleece is shorn twice a year;  * Petrus Lombar. cap. 10.
and twice each day the flocks bring back their  t Pet. Lomb. Comment. cap. 7.
udders distended."-S. John.                  t Idem. cap. 9.    ~ Keating, page 64, 66, 74.
~ Pet. Lombard. Comment. cap. 8.           1 Anno. M. 3085. Ante C. 915.
Ale Idem. cap. 10.  tt War. Antiq. Hib. cap. 7.  ~' Ogyg. part 3, cap. 21.
It " Their pacing is gentle, by the alternate ex-   * Grat. Luc. cap. 8, page 59, 62.
tension of their legs."-Plin.                tt Ogyg. part 3, cap. 28, and 33.
~~ Camd. Brit. p. 727.                    It Keating on the reign of Eadna Dearg.




OF PAGAN IRELAND.                                    29
The immense treasures that the Normans have been always opposed to the increase of
plundered from the churches and monaste- their wealth and the working of their mines.
ries of this country, as well as the annual Quarries of stone, resembling a hard freetribute of an ounce of gold, called " airgiod- stone, are also found, besides coal mines, alafroin," exacted from the natives by the bar- baster, and marble of several kinds, such as
barians, during their dominion over them, red, black, striped, and some mixed with
furnish incontestable proofs of its wealth at white; there is another likewise of a grayish
that time.                                    color, which becomes azure when polished:
We know, that in the time of Denis, the houses in Kilkenny are built with this
Christian, and Gregory, who were abbots last kind, and the streets paved with it.
successively in the abbey of St. Benedict,   The produce and growth of the island,*
established  at Regensburgh  (called also and those articles which form its chief trade
Ratisbon) for the Scoto-Milesians, (which and export, are oxen, sheep, swine, leather,
was the old name of the Irish,) the kings tallow, butter, cheese, salt, honey, wax, furs,
and princes of Ireland, particularly Con- hemp, wool, linen-cloths, stuffs, fish, wildchovar O'Brien, king of Munster, had sent fowl, lead, tin, copper, and iron.  Ireland
by three remittances, about the beginning produces every thing necessary and useful,
of the twelfth century, considerable sums of and could do well, without the aid or intergold and silver, to rebuild their houses, then course of any other country.
falling into ruins.  After the abbey had been    Its situation for trade with other nations
entirely rebuilt, and property purchased in is peculiarly favorable;t her harbors are
~the city and neighborhood for the support more numerous and more convenient than
of the monks, there was a sum still remain- those of England.t  They were formerly
ing.*  I shall not speak of the rich presents frequented by the Phmnicians,~ the Greeks,
from the same king of Munster to the Em- and the Gauls.  "Ireland," says Camden,
peror Lothaire II. to assist in the holy wars.t "is to be admired both for its fertility, and
Cambrensis himself bears testimony to the the advantageous situation of its sea-ports."fl
wealth of that island, in the age which suc- Still the commerce of that country is inconceeded the devastations of the Normans: siderable, owing to the restrictions and nar" Aurum   quoque  quo  abundat insula."t row limits imposed upon it by a neighboring
Mines of quicksilver, tin, lead, copper, alum, nation, which has tyrannized over it for some
vitriol, sulpliur, antimony, and iron, are dis- centuries, and prevents its wealth to proscovered there in great quantities; this last per and increase.~
metal is manufactured in the country, and    In that happy country, the works of nature
found to be not inferior in quality to that of which are seen, excite our wonder; few
Spain.  However, the English government examples of the same kind are in any other
having made it a part of her policy to keep country of Europe.  By a peculiar blessing
the Irish in subjection and dependence,~ to Ireland,** its land is entirely exempt from
all venomous reptiles; some serpents, ad-* "Isaac and Gervasius, who were descended ders, lizards, and spiders are indeed to be
from noble parentage in Ireland, being endowed seen there, as in other places; but by a
with piety, learning, and eloquence, were joined strange singularity, they have not the poisonby two others of Irish descent, viz., Conradus ous quality inseparable from their nature in
Carpentarius, and Gulielmus; they came to Ireland, other countries,tt except in the island of
where, after paying their respects to Conchur
O'Brien,.the kiing, they explained to him the objects Clete.  When they are brought from other
of their coming. He received them  hospitably, places, says Bede, they die when approachand after a few days sent them back to Germany, ing that sacred land.tt  " Nullus ibi serladen with gold, silver, and other precious gifts.
With this wealth the abbot purchased several farms,  Y War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 7.
towns, and country-seats; and in the city of Ratis-   t Petr. Lombard, cap. 2.
bon, bought many lots, houses, and sumptuous     "Trhe harbors of Ireland are better known for
buildings. After all this, there remained a large their commerce and traders, than those of Britain."
sum of that which was given by the king of Ireland; -Tacitus in his Life of Agricola.
this the abbot Gregory resolved to apply to the   ~ War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 1.
sacred utensils of the temple, and with it he also  I1 " Whether you consider the convenience of its
built a new one ornamented and finished with car- sea-ports, or fertility of the soil, the country is
ved stone; likewise a monastery of great extent, blessed with many advantages."-Ceamden, p. 680.
after taking down the old one which was falling   ~,, If thou hadst not been too near to a faithless
into ruins." —Chronicles of Ratisbon, by Gratianus nation, there would not be upon the globe a more
Lucius, c. 21, p. 162.                        happy people." —S. John, in his ancient poem on
t Walsh, Prospect of Ireland, sect. 6, p. 447.   Ireland.
t Hib. expug. lib. 2, cap. 15.               A*  Pet. Lombard, Comment. cap. 6.
~ Pet. Lomb. ibid. cap. 9.                    it War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 7. tt Lib. 1, cap. 7.




30                              HISTORY OF IRELAND.
pens vivere valeat."  "Neither serpents, surface of another, without altering its subnor any venomous things," says Camden, stance.  In the petrifaction  attributed to
" are to be met with."  "Nullus hic anguis, Lough Neagh, the changing of a piece of
nec venenatum  quicquam."  This happy wood into stone is effected by the total
exemption from  poisonous insects is again change of the inner part, and in that the
expressed in some verses of Adrianus Ju- difference of bodies consists, as the matter is
nius, wherein the island is introduced as alike in all.  Pieces of wood, after having
speaking of its own advantages.*            lain a certain time in that lake, are taken
The wonders of two celebrated lakes in out either partly or entirely petrified; some
Ireland, Lough Neagh and Lough Lene, possess the properties of the stone, its heaare well known to the learned by the dif- viness, hardness, and solid cohesion of the
ferent dissertations published upon them; parts, which make their separation difficult;
among others, the philosophical lectures of while another retains the quality of wood,
Richard Barton, printed at Dublin in 1751.tf which is that of being fibrous and combusLough Neagh, situated in the north of tible.
Ireland, is bordered on the northeast by   There are two sorts of petrified wood:
the county of Antrim, by Tyrone upon the one is white; it appears on the outside to
west, and Armagh upon the south; is thirty be wood, but is in reality a stone without
miles long, and fifteen broad; its waters any mixture.  This kind being porous, is
possess a petrifying quality, which changes incomparably lighter than the common stone;
wood  into  iron  or stone.  Nennius, an it is susceptible of being cut, and is useful
English author, makes mention of it,t and for whetting edged tools.  The other, being
it has been celebrated in some beautiful less porous, is black, harder, and more
lines, bythe author of the Ogygia.~ "Every weighty: a mixture in it is sometimes disthing which is thrown into a certain lake in covered, either on the surface or in the
Ireland," says Tollius, "is changed into interior of the stone.  The two kinds are
iron or stone, if it fall to the bottom."ll  alike in this, that they split like wood, and
M. de Buffon mentions that " a lake is strike fire like the flint-stone; they will
said to be in Iceland, which petrifies."~[ resist the strongest fire without being cal"The lake Neagh in Ireland," continues he, cined or vitrified.   It has been likewise
"possesses the same quality; but these remarked, that the second sort, after passing
petrifactions caused by the waters of the through the fire, becomes also white and
lakes are certainly nothing more.than in- light, as there will be voids remaining after
crustations, such as the waters of Arcueil the particles of wood which composed part
produce."   Experience  does not accord of it are consumed.  In those mixed bodies
with the opinion of that celebrated natural- *a matter is discovered, which is solid and
ist.  Incrustation is caused by concretion, transparent, resembling crystal.  The celeand the application of a strange body on the brated Boyle makes mention of them in his
essay on the origin and virtue of precious
X "I am that icy lerne formerly so called by the
Greeks, and well known to the mariners of Jason's north of Ireland, which, like any other,
ship. To me God, the benign source of things abounds with fish.  At the bottom, rocks
created, has given the same privilege as to Crete, are discovered with masses attached to them,
where the thundering and mighty Jove was brought which are clear and transparent as crystal.
up: there, if the terrific serpent were brought, lest
it should pour'from its hissing tongue the black They are of several colors, some white
poison of Medusa, daughter of Phorcus, the chops brown, and amber."
become compressed, and life together with its poi-  It is not well known, what kind of iwood
soned blood becomes extinct."-Barton's Phil0oso- it is that petrifies in Lough Neagh h; accordphical Lectures, p. 85.                    ing to the general opinion, it is the holly;
t Barton, Philosophical Lectures, p. 85o.                                     
t[ "There is another lake, named Lough Eachac, but it has been observed, that the grain of
which changes wood into stone after a year. Men the petrified wood, after being polished,
cleave the wood and shape it when put in." —Ogyg. becomes variegated, whereas the holly does
Wonders of Ireland.
~ " In Ulster there is a lake called Lough Neagh. not.  It would be more reasonable, in my
If-wood be affixed in it to the bottom, after seven opinion, to say, that petrifaction operates
years that which is at bottom is changed into iron, upon the wood (which is the oak, broom,
in the water it becomes a whet-stone, and above and yew tree) that grows on the borders
the surface a tree."-Ogygia, part 3, c. 50.  of the lake, or its vicinity; the agreeable
il " In a lake in Ireland, every thing which is smell which it produces would make one
thrown into it is changed into iron, or becomes a
stone." —Tollius, Hist. of gems and stones.  think it to be cedar.  As to the tlie requi1 Barton, ibidem.                         site for this petrifaction, it has not been




OF PAGAN IRELAND.                                31
ascertained; some branches of holly are the air as it regards petrifaction, we mnust
seen, which, it is said, were petrified in consider the different circumstances of that
seven years: as to the precise time which element.  The phenomenon cannot be atmight be necessary, it matters not, but the tributed to the exterior air which forms the
truth of the phenomenon is incontestable.  atmosphere of the globe; it being a much
It is observed, that petrifaction is pro- lighter fluid than water, its degree of rareduced, not only in Lough Neagh, but also faction and motion is therefore too great to
within its environs, to the distance of eight support the particles of petrifying matter,
miles, even upon high and sandy soil to which and conduct them to the equilibrium necesthe waters of the lake do not appear to have sary for petrifaction.*  Petrifaction is proaccess.  This discovery, by destroying the duced in the earth, consequently it is more
system which attributed the virtue of it to the effect of the interior than the exterior
the water exclusively, seems to affix it to air; the earth, like the animal body, receives
the soil, or at least to supply it with that much matter, and is purified in proportion,
quality by the power of the rain, or vapors which, according to the season or climate,
which arise fro-m the lake.                causes the different phenomena of thunder,
Although the phenomenon of petrifaction, rain, fever, plague, and other epidemic dislike many others which we perceive in na- orders.  It receives likewise into its caviture, be extraordinary, it is not supernatu- ties much of the same kind of air which surral; however, as it is not allowed man to rounds the globe; but as the situation of
fathom into all things, the cause of it is per- the interior air is different from that of the
haps sought for in vain.  The learned at- exterior, in regard to the variety of matter
tribute it to the water or to the air. Water which it generates, and the causes which
being fluid, is capable from  its condensed sometimes rarefy, sometimes condense it,
gravity, of conveying strong particles in its without being subject to the violent agitacurrent.   The same may be said of the tions produced by storms and hurricanes, to
vapors which come forth from  the earth. which the exterior air is exposed, it must
It is easy to conceive that pieces of wood naturally produce different effects.  Thus,
which have lain for some time horizontally without offending against the laws of physics,
under the earth, having preserved the pores we may imagine it to be capable of bearing
and tubes which served as conduits to the particles of stone or other petrifying matter
juice that nourished them during vegetation, into the pores and tubes of wood which it
easily admit into these tubes the fluid bodies, meets in its -course.  This is sufficient to
and that the particles of stony matter with awcount for the phenomenon of petrifaction.
which they are loaded being of a sulphu-   The waters of Lough Neagh are also
reous and saline nature, separate them- considered to be very salutary for such as
selves in their course, and penetrate into are attacked by scrofula, and other like disthe sides of the tubes when the movement tempers.
of the liquids is gentle, whereas too rapid a   In the bogs of Ireland, whole trees are
motion is injurious to petrifaction.  In the often found lying horizontally some feet
course of time, a more abundant concretion under the  earth, without being petrified.
of these particles is formed into a solid body, These have fallen, either by the violence of
which by its corrosive quality is substituted the waters of the deluge, which had torn
for an equal quantity of wood, by changing them  from  their roots, or more probably
the form of those bodies, and introducing which the Normans had felled in the valleys
that of stone.  It, is nearly thus that the that were then covered with wood, in order
changing-of iron into copper is accounted to impede the efforts of the Irish coming to
for, which a fountain of running water, near attack them; it is a stratagem of war, practhe copper-mines of I-Hemgrunt in Hungary, tised even to this day.  Those trees are
and at Newsohl in Germany, produces. sometimes seen burned at the thick end, no
Great advantages arise at present to Ire- doubt because the barbarians not having
land from  this phenomenon; bars of iron, sufficient axes, made use of fire to fell them.
that lie in a stream of water which flows It is easy to suppose, that trees covered with
from  the copper-mines in the county of
Wicklow, become  changed  after seven   * "According to the laws of hydrostatics, heavy
weeks into copper, which is caused by the bodies do not swim in fluids which are less weighty;
great quantity of vitriol accompanying the that is to say, the bodies whose surface contains
particles of copper, and prepares a recep- more matter than an equal surface of fluid, must
partles for them by consuming heiron.    verge to the bottom, so that these bodies become
tacle for them by consuming the iron.      diminished, according to the greater proportion berTo be able to judge of the influence of tween the surfrace and matter which it encloses.."




32                               HISTORY OF IRELAND.
branches and leaves, and heaped one upon spot.  On the top of this mountain is a lake,
another, might have stopped the mire, which the depth of which is not known; in the
the waters that ran in the valleys carried language of the country it is called " Poullealong with them, and in succession of time i-feron," which signifies " Hell's hole."  It
have formed banks sufficient to prevent the frequently overflows, and rolls down in
running of the waters, and cause them  to frightful torrents.'  Lake  Lene contains
overflow  the neighboring lands.  Lakes several islands, which resemble so many
and bogs are of course formed by the stag- gardens; the arbutus takes root among the
nation of those waters loaded more or less rocks of marble in the midst of its waters.
with strange bodies; the matter whereof Nennius says, in his treatise upon the wonthey are composed is an accumulation of ders of Ireland, that "there are four mines,
dried herbs, hay, heath, roots, and other namely, tin, lead, iron, and copper, which
things produced by stagnant waters, and form four circles around the lake."  He adds,
forms in its mixed state but one spongy that "pearls are found in it, which kings
substance, which easily admits the water, wear for ear-rings."t There are indeed some
and covered in course of time those trees precious stones in this lake, and in its neighaltogether, that had  contributed  to  its borhood mines of silver and copper, more
growth.  Some of the bogs in Ireland are especially the latter, which at present makes
twenty feet deep from  their surface to the of itself a great branch of trade.
bottom, which is a kind of potter's clay or   The Giant's Causeway in the county of
sand.  Thousands of acres are seen in dif- Antrim, in the north of Ireland, where the
ferent districts of that country, which con- coast is elevated above the level of the sea,
siderably deduct from  the produce of the is another wonder, that merits the attenisland; otherwise it is extremely fertile. tion of the curious.  This causeway, which
The only benefit to be derived at present is in the form of a triangle, extends from
from the bogs in Ireland, is the turf which the foot of a mountain into the sea, to a
is cut for fuel.                            considerable distance; its apparent length,
Lake Lene is not less remarkable than when the waters retire, is about six hundred
lake Neagh: it lies to the southern extremity feet.  It consists of many thousand pillars,
of the island, in the county of Kerry. It is which are pentagonal, hexagonal, and hepdivided into the upper and lower lake, and tagonal, but irregular, as there are few of
contains in the whole about three thousand them of which the sides are equally broad;
square acres: it is bounded south and east their size is not unifdrmly the same, varyby-the mountains Mangerton and Turk, west ing from 15 to 26 inches in diameter, and
by Glena; to the north of ii is a beautiful in general not more than twenty. All these
plain, ornamented with fine country-seats, pillars touch one another with equal sides,
and on the northeast is the town of Killar- which are so close, that the joints can be
ney.  These mountains are covered from  scarcely perceived; they are not all equally
the base to their top with the oak, yew-tree, high; they sometimes form  a smooth surholly, and the arbutus,* which represent in face, and sometimes are unequal.  These
their different degrees of vegetation  an pillars, none of which are of a single piece,
agreeable variety of colors, green, yellow, are composed of many unequal ones, from
red, and white, forming an amphitheatre, one to two feet high; and what is still more
which recalls in winter the charms of the singular, these pieces are not joined by
spring.  Somne cascades are formed by the plain surfaces, being set one into the other,
falling of the waters from  the summit of by concave and  convex outsides, highly
these mountains, particularly from  Man- polished, the same as the sides of the adgerton, whose murmurs being repeated by joining pillars. There are some places where
echoes, add still more to the charms of this this colonnade is elevated above the earth
thirty-two, and even thirty-six feet, but we
* "The strawberry-tree, in Latin the arbutus, is
a shrub which in some countries becomes a tree. In  " It is usual to see some lakes on the tops of
the mountains of Lough Lene it grows to the height mountains, in Ireland, the waters of which fall preof 20 feet; its leaves, like the laurel, are always cipitately into the valleys, where rivers are formed.
green, and at the end of a purple color; its flowers On Slieve Donart, in the territory of Mourn, and
hang like grapes; are white, and of an agreeable the county of Down, this is met with; also at Bansmell, resembling the lily; its fruit resembles the try, in the county of Cork, and at Powerscourt, in
strawberry in shape, but much larger; it is round, the county of Wicklow."
sour, and yellow, before ripe, it then becomes red;  t "There is a lake called Lough Lene, surexquisite ill taste, the inhabitants eat it as they rounded by four circles; in it many gems are found,
would apples, but it is fit to drink water after it, which kings wear in their ears."-Nemnnius, his
otherwise it would be unwholesome."         Wonders on Ireland, Ogyg. c. 5.




OF PAGAN IRELAND.                               33
are ignorant of its depth. People have dug racing, wrestling, and other like exercises,
at the foot of one of the columns, to the form  still their usual amrusements. WVe
depth of eight feet, and it was found to be attribute to Lugha Lam Fada,a one of their
the same all through.                     ancient kings, the institution of military exThe stone, as to the substance, is a homo- erciscs, at Tailton in Meath:tf those exergeneous body, which admits of no mixture, cises consisted in wrestling, the combats of
and is extremely hard; when broken, it is gladiators,. tournaments, races on foot and
found to have a fine and shining grain; it on horseback, as we have seen them instiis heavier than other kinds of stone, resists tuted at Rome a long time after by Romnutools of the best temper, and of course, can- lus in honor of Mars, which were called
not be cut; still it dissolves in the fire.    " Equiria."  Those games at Tailton, which
Besides the Giant's Causeway, some other Gratianus Lucius and O'Flaherty call " Ludi
colonnades of the same kind are discovered Taltini,"t were celebrated every year, duon the land side; the nmost considerable is ring thirty days, that is, fifteen days before
composed of fifty pillars, whereof the mid- and fifteen days after the first of our month
die one is forty feet high, and the others, of August.  On that account, the first of
on the right and left, diminish like the pipes August has been and is still called in Ireof an organ; it is on that account the inhab- land, " Lah Lugh-Nasa," which signifies a
itants have given them the name of " The day in memory of Lugha.  These olympiads
Organ."                                   always continued among the Milesians until
Is the Giant's Causeway a wTork of nature the arrival of the English.~  We discover
or of art?  That is a question of contro- to this day some vestiges of them, withversy, among the learned of England and of out any other change than that of time
Ireland.  Those who maintain that it is and place.  Wrestling, which we call in
the effect of nature, prove it according to France, " le tour du Breton," the exercises
the rules of geometry; they cite a proposi- of gladiators, and races on foot, are still on
tion out of Euclid, according to which festival-days their common diversion in
"there are but three figures which can form various districts of Ireland, and the cona plain and continued surface, viz., six equi- querors generally receive a prize.  The
lateral triangles, four squares, and three plains of Kildare are celebrated for the
hexagons.  But they say these rules of art great concourse of nobility who assemble
have not been observed in the Giant's Cause- there every year.  Race-horses are brought
way, which is composed of polygons having there from  every province in the kingdom,
unequal sides, although they are very wvell likewise from England and other countries;
adapted to the opposite side of the adjoin- considerable wagers are bet on these occaing pillars, which cannot be attributed but sions, and more noblemen are ruined by
to a superior Intelligence."  It is added, them than by any other mode of gaiing.'the joining of those pieces which compose'"The Irish,") says Camden, " are warthe pillars appears to be a work of nature; like, witty, and remarkable for the just prowhereas in all other columns, both ancient portion of their limbs.  Their flesh and
and modern, the pieces are joined by flat muscles are so supple, that the agility which
surfaces, and it cannot be conceived how they possess is incredible."l Good, an Engthe joining of the stones that form  this lish priest who wrote in the sixteenth cencauseway, could have been made without an tury, after having been for many years in
infinite number of instruments which are not Ireland, a professor of humanity, gives the
known to us."                             following description of its inhabitants:
This system of reasoning, though plausible, " They are a nation," he says, " to be praised
is not satisfactory; for besides our not be- for their strength, and particularly for the
ing able to deny a thing because we cannot activity of their bodies; for a greatness of
conceive it, it is certain the arts have had soul: they are witty and warlike, prodigal
their revolutions, and that there have been of life, hardy in bearing fatigues, cold, and 
many which formerly prevailed that have hunger; prone to loose pleasures, courteous
not come down to us.
The inhabitants of Ireland are tall and   X Keating on the reign of Lugha.
well made:* the strong exercises which   + Ogyg. par. 3, cap. 13.
tend to fortify the nerves, and render the   t Gratianus Lucius, cap. 9, p. 85.
body vigorous, were at all times practised   ~ Ibidem, cap. 8, p..58.
among them.  Hunting, horse-racing foot-  II "They are warlike, witty, and remarkable for
the just proportion of their limbs. Tlheir flesh and
muscles are so supple, that the agility which they 
* Petrus Lombardus, cap. 12.     possess is incredible."-CGamden Brit., p. 680.. 




34                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
and kind to strangers, constant in their of Alexander the Great. Their historian Malove, hating also, seldom forgiving, too cred- netho, supported by the pretended inscripulous, greedy of glory, and quick to resist tions on the pillars of Hermes in the land of
injuries and insults."'                    Seriad, describes the succession and reign
"Of all men," says Stanihurst, " the Irish of their kings for many thousand years before
are the most patient in fatigue, the most the timne of the creation, as established by
warlike; rarely do they suffer themselves Moses. The Chaldeans ascend still higher:
to be cast down even in their heaviest afflic- they pretend to have made astronomical
tions."t                                   observations, during four hundred thousand
years. The Chinese count upon a revolution
of forty thousand years, and pretend to have
made observations long before the creation.
The learned consider these chronologies
fabulous, and the pretended observations of
CHAPTER II.                  the Egyptians and Chaldeans, to have been
unknown to ancient astronomers. It has been
CRITICAL ESSAY UPON THE ANTIQUITY OF proved that the history of the pillars of
THE SCOTO-MILESIANS.            1Hermes is but a fiction which falls of itself,
whereas it is the opinion of every one, that
NOTHING has more engaged the minds Hermes was the first by whom  characters
of historians than the researches they have were invented, and thatC the land of Seriad
made on the origin of ancient countries, and was not known to the ancient geographers.
there is nothing in which they have so little As to the chronology of the Chinese, it has
succeeded; so much of the marvellous has been shown, that their pretensions have been
been introduced into the writings of the contradicted by the ephemerides. The most
ancients upon these subjects, that it is with ancient observations, acknowledged by them
difficulty the small portion of truth found in to be authentic, as has been made to appealr,
them, can be distinguished from the fables: are those of two fixed stars, one in the winter
which vanity has caused them  to insert. solstice, and the other in the vernal equinox,
Sacred history, therefore, can serve as the in the time of the King Yao, who reigned
only infallible guide in the knowledge oi after the universal deluge. If their historians
antiquity.  It has become so much the cus- give to their empire a duration of forty
tom of every people to endeavor to ennoble thousand years, it can be founded but upor
their origin, and establish it upon an ancient an equivocal and uncertain tradition; whereand illustrious foundation, that it would as, according to their own acknowledgment,
appear new  and obscure beginnings have their books were all consumed in the flames,
something in them  dishonorable: to give about two thousand years ago, by order of
to them  some brilliancy in the midst of their Emperor Zeo, and no monuments rethe darkness Which surrounds them, fable is main among them  more ancient than that
often made use of instead of history: they period.
prefer to lose themselves in an abyss of anti-   Similar ravings have found credit among
quity, rather than candidly avow themselves the Arcadians, who boast that they are more
to be of modern mediocrity.                ancient than the moon, and among the SicilThe Egyptians reckon a period of forty- ians, who pride themselves on the foundation
I eight thousand years, and pretend to have and antiquity of their cities: they pretend,
i seentwelve hundred eclipsesbefore the reign for instance, that Palermo was founded int
the time of the patriarch Isaac," by a colony
The whole. nation of the Irish ale strong in of Hebrews, Plihnicians, and Syrians; alnd
their persomms, peculiarly active, possessing -a brave that Saphu, grandson of Esau, was governor
and elevated mind; sharp in their intcllects and of a tower named Baych in the same city.
warlike. Life is not regarded in their propensities; After the example of Manetho, they cite
labor, cold, and hunger are overlooked; their pas- some  ncient inscritions, not better estbsions are strong in love; they are hospitable to lished than those of the colus of Hermes.
strangers, sincere in their attachments, and in their lshed than those ofthe columns of Hermes.t
quarrels implacable: too credulous, greedy of glory, We can form the same opinion on the prethey will resist insult and injustice, and most ardent tended antiquity of Messina, which they say
in all their acts."-Camden, p. 789.        was enlarged by Nimrod.
t "As has been already remarked, the Irish are   The   in   f the omans  not beter
extremely hospitable, good-natured, and beneficent.
X  Of all men they arle the most patient in suffering,
i and rarely overcome by difficulties."-S-tanihu-st,   * Fazell. Hist. Sicul. decad. 1, part. prior. lib. 8.
i b. 1, p. 48.                                 t Reinr, Notizie Istoriche di Messina.




TIlE SCOTO-MILESIANS.                              35
established, as authors do not agree upon duces itself to the following question, viz.,
that point. Some attribute it to the Trojans; to know if the ancient Milesians carefully
others give to them different founders: but transmitted to posterity, since  a certain
without seeking after such distant prodigies epoch, some features of their history. Before
of antiquity, the offspring of vanity, have this matter be farther examined, it is pruwe not the history of Brutus, forged by dent to lay it down as a principle, which
Geoffry of Monmouth, an English monk of should be admitted, that all ancient nations
the twelfth century? This fria.r, zealous for have had their obscure periods, both fabuthe glory of his nation, and wishing to give lous and historical.
to it an illustrious beginning, introduces the   Varro distinguishes, after the manner of
story of a certain Brutus, great grandson of the Greeks, three different eras —
AEneas, the Trojan, having peopled Britain,   The first, from the creation to the deluge,
and by this happy discovery, finds for it, at which is, he says, obscure and uncertain,
the same time, an origin and a name.  This because we are ignorant of all that passed
system did not succeed: it was rejected even during that time.
by those whose interest it was to uphold it, The second, from the deluge to the first
particularlyby Nubrigensis, Polydore Virgil, olympiad, which he calls fabulous, from the
Buchanan, Camden, Baker, and others.    many fables that have been related concernThe higher we ascend towards the source ing that epoch.
of ancient history, the more obscure we dis-   Lastly, the third, from the first olympiad
cover it to be. It is probable that the ancient till our time, which he denominates historical.
Milesians had been addicted to the marvel-   Although the different periods characterious as well as other people who were their ized thus by Yarro, undergo some difficulty
contemporaries.   The  great antiquity to by referring to the authority of the sacred
which they aspire, will no doubt appear writings; though Josephus, in his first book
astonishing.  It is difficult to conceive that against Appian, assures us that the histoa people obscure and almost unknown, can ries of the Phoenicians, Egyptians, and
trace their origin and genealogy to times so Chaldeans, set forth with truth and accuremote, while the most considerable coun- racy many things concerning the reign of
tries of Europe are new, and still scarcely their kings, and that they contain the prinunderstand their origin.  It is a paradox, I cipal events which happened in their counallow, but it must be likewise granted, that tries before the first olympiad, even before
the thing is not impossible. The genealogies Abraham  and Moses; and although  he
of the house of Austria, of the dukes of praised so highly Dion the Phoenician, and
Ascot, and of some other princes, have been, Berosus the Chaldean, for the correctness
it is said, traced so far back as the deluge. and authority of their histories; and accord\TWe have an example of it among the Jewish ing to him, that these two historians have
people.  Although God conducted witli a treated of the events which happened in the
peculiar care the pens of the holy writers, in second distinction of time, named fabulous
everything regarding the laws, the prophe- by Varro, particularly Berosus, who has
cies, canticles, the history of the creation of spoken of the deluge, of the ark, the Armethe world, and all that was above human nian mountains where it rested, and that
understanding; the same writers have treat- he has continued his history from  Noah,
ed of the genealogies of families, and have and the first kings who reigned after the
given an account of historical facts, which deluge; yet the distinction of time, made by
they had known from the study of tradition; that learned Roman, ought to be admitted
and which were known to all who wished into the histories of almost every people.
to be instructed in them.                    It is possible that some nations have preAfter the precautions which are adopted served from tradition a general and confused
in France, and other countries, by deposit- idea of their origin, and of their first founding in their courts of justice, and registries, ers; but if it be required of them  to fix
returns of the baptisms, miiarriages, and their dates, or to examine in detail the form
burials, as also their plan'of keeping the of their governments, they will either tell
registry of their nobles, which is called us nothing of these things, or speak of them
heraldry, can it be hereafter a matter for as mere chimeras.
surprise, if, after the lapse of two thousand   The ancient bards have preserved to us
years, genealogies make their appearance, the memory of different colonies,which came
and ascend from generation to generation successively to establish themselves in Hiup to us?                                bernia, before Jesus Christ. But can we not
The matter is therefore possible, and re- suspect the truth of the accounts which they




36                               HISTORY OF IRELAND.
have left us?  The bards were held in high Japhet.  It is also probable, that, while
esteem  among the Milesians, who called men were, in the early ages of the world,
them in their language " Fileas," or " Fear- near their original stock, and lived to be
danas," that is to say, philosophers.  They very old, without being distracted by that
enjoyed great privileges,, and sat by right of variety of sciences and arts which luxury
suffrage in the assemblies of the state; pos- has produced in latter ages, nor by the knowsessions were given them from the liberality ledge of so many fine but often useless dis.of the monarch, by the provincial kings and coveries which at present occupy the minds
private lords.                             of men: fathers took care to instruct their
Strabo* and Lucan called them poets, or children in that which formed the chief obprophets.  Pomponius Festus says that a ject of their studies, namely, the genealogy of
bard is a singer, who celebrates, in verse, their families. All this seems like the truth;
the praises and exploits of great men. Dio- we need nothing more to found our conjecdorus Siculus calls a bard a composer of tures upon; but that is not sufficient to
canticles.                                 maintain historical truths, particularly in
The bards were, as O'Flahertyt and some referring to a period of antiquity, when peoancient authors say, both poets and philoso- ple had not yet known the use of letters,
phers.  They were masters of arts and "without the aid of which," says Newton,
sciences: their knowledge did not consist in "they could with difficulty transmit or conthe harmony of words to flatter princes. tinue the memory of the names or actions
They described, like the Arabs and ancient of men, after death, beyond eighty or a hunGreeks, philosophy, the laws, and history, dred years."*
in verse, which style being more concise,   The bards were in general mercenary
was, at the same time, more easily retained.. men, who gave themselves up either to the
The bards of Wales, as David Powell extremes of exaggerated praise, of which
remarks, were employed for preserving the they were lavish, or to sharp satires, which
heraldry and genealogies of their nobles: they darted against those whose honor they
the profession of a bard was, among the had some motive for assailing.  If, in spite
Milesians, for the same end.{  This office of the regulations made and established by
enjoined him to write the annals, genealo- the assembly at Tara, for the purpose of
gies, alliances, wars, voyages, and transmi- restraining the Milesian bards, and limiting
grations of that people, who, in tracing them their enthusiasm, they had been often obliged
from father to son up to Milesius, are de- to pronounce the sentence of banishment
scended, according to the bards, from Japhet against them, to repress their insolence, (a
and Magog.  This has caused Camden to sure proof that all they related ought not be
say, that if every thing their historians re- received for historical truths,) what belief
late concerning their antiquity be true, it is should be then attached to those of a more
with justice that Plutarch calls that island distant antiquity, whom  nothing restrained,
Ogygia, which signifies very ancient. They and who pursued with impunity whatever
draw, continues the same author, their his- passion dictated?  Can their correctness in
tory from the most remote antiquity, so that the details which they have given of the orithat of other nations is new when compared gin of the Milesians, the genealogies of their
to theirs.l  chiefs, and the succession of their kings, be
It is certain that every man then, as those relied upon?  Can we subscribe to their
of our time, were descended from  one or affected precision, in marking the day of the
other of the three brothers, Sem, Cham, or month, the week, or of the moon, and the
precise place of their arrival in the island, at
a time when chronology was so imperfect?
t Geog. lib. 4.                             Let us strive to discover a  standard
t Lib. 5. Ogyg. par. 3, cap. 27.
{ Newt. Chronol. chap. 1, p. 44.         whereby to avoid in this history, a boyish
~ "They were philosophers in reality, and poets credulity, in admitting things that are imin name, but it need not be doubted, whether as probable, as well as a forced diffidence, by
philosophers or poets, they have written best on rejecting what is well founded. Let us, with
divine subjects. The character of the poets among Varro distinguish the different epochs, and
the ancients, swas that of wisdom, and, as in our            t
days, their knowledge did not consist in the meas- unravel, as much as possible, the truth from
ure and scanning of words, nor in their flatteries of what is false.
the great."-Ogyg. part 3, e. 30.              The Ante-Milesian history, which signiI1 " From the deepest sources of antiquity, the fies all that is related of the first colonies who
history of the Irish is taken; so that in comparison
to them, that of other nations is but novelty and a
beginning."-Carnd. p. 728.                          * Introduct. to Chron. page 7.




THE SCOTO-MILESIANS.                                37
were in possession of the island before the which is certainly not derived from any that
arrival of the Milesians, may be carried to is spoken in Europe, and to the singularity
times that are obscure, doubtful, and un- of its characters, which have no prototype;
known.                                      also to the powerful motives which had inWe can likewise bring back to fabulous fluenced the Milesians in preserving their
times, the accounts of the,. origin of the history.
Scoto-Milesians, the voyages and transmi-   Languages have generally their origin
grations of their ancestors, the Gadelians, among the people by whom they are spoken.
in different regions, and of various circum- Those who maintain that the Milesians are
stances which accompanied their voyage descendants of the Gauls, strive to discover
from Spain to Ireland, until their complete the root of the Irish language in the Gallic;
establishment in it, some time after their ar- but as the result cannot be more true than
rival.                                      the principle from whence it is taken, it is
In the mean while, let us allow that there more natural to refer, on that subject, to the
are no positive reasons for opposing such traditions and ancient monuments of the
accounts; all the arguments that can be Milesians.  By these it is discovered that
adduced against them are negative, and con- the Milesians are descended from a colony
sequently insufficient; besides, the objects of Scythians,* who, after many migrations
being at too remote a period to be able to into different countries, came to settle and
distinguish them, it is perhaps as well to establishfthemselves in Ireland; that their
credit as to reject them.  All judgment language also, which they call Gaelic, from
should be suspended  upon what is not Gaodhal, one of their ancient chiefs, has
proved to be absolutely true, or decidedly been at all times the peculiar language of
false.*  That is the maxim which Camden, that colony, not only since their establishan English author, has judiciously adopted; ment in Ireland, but even from  their going
his moderation in this instance cannot be out of Egypt. A people who are victorious
attributed to a love for Ireland.t I shall ob- usually introduce into the conquered counserve the prudent counsel of that historian, try their religion, laws, customs, and lanand will give in the following chapter, un- guage: of this truth the Scots and Saxons
der the title of fabulous history, w hat writers will afford an example; the former of whom,
say concerning the primitive ages, both to consisting of some colonies of the Scotopreserve the thread of their history, and; Milesians, who in spite of the Picts estabmark my respect for ant;quity.t             lished themselves in a canton of Albania,
As to the Seoto-Milesians, if we consider have preserved their language, viz., the
them to have been established in Ireland for Scotic, which is still in use among them.t
some ages before the Christian  era, and   The Britons, having called the Saxons to
composing a body of people governed by their aid against the Scots and Pictfs,t expelaws, living tranquilly,  and, being separated rienced the perfidy of their allies, who forced
from  the continent, beyond the reach of them  to seek an asylum  in Wales.  The
insult from strangers, which period we may Saxon language prevailed therefore, and the
place before the reign of Ollam Fodla, (about Bretonnic ceased in England, except within
seven or eight centuries before Jesus Christ,) the narrow confines of that province occupied
we can fix the date of the Milesian history by the Britons. It is not probable, therefore,
in the third degree of time, called historical that the Gadelians, during their sojourn in
by Varro.  Their annals, since then, merit Spain, or the Milesians, their descendants,
belief as much as any ancient history of other established in Ireland by right of conquest,
nations that we read of.  Of that truth we and who had never borne a foreign yoke, had
shall be readily convinced by paying atten- ever changed their language in changing
tion to the antiquity of the Irish language, their country, unless they could abandon
their native tongue by substituting a strange
"I do not think that what is fofinded on con- one instead of it.  The error of authors,
jecture, which borders upon truth, or what is sup- which I have to combat here, arises from
ported by tradition, concerning the origin of a people, shouid be rejected.'-Bluchanan, Scotch Records, b. 1, p. 54.                           * Ogyg. part 2, page 63.
t "-6 That which it is neither my inlention to refute   t "They brought their language from Ireland
nor miaintain, should receive indulgence for the *into Britain.' —Joan. Major, de Gest. Scot. b. 1, c. 9.
character of its antiquity."'-B rit. page 7 128.  t "They were forced to send for the Saxons into
"t  Its authority should be conceded to antiquity, their country, which turned to their own destrucand noit repelled by vain conjectures, Unless better tion. The English or Angli were very strong, but
and more authentic documents can be adduced."-  not at all faithful"-Polydorua Virgil, Eng. Hist.
Ogyg. part 1, p. 2.                         b. 3, p, 131.




-38                           IHISTORY OF IRELAND.
their affected ignorance of the true history there are some words common to both lanof the Milesians.  Contrary to the spirit of guages, and which have the same signifithis history, these authors appear to con- cation.. We discover' an example in the
found thle Milesians w;ith a number of other numeral nouns, anon, do, tri, ceatrlar, and
colonies  who came at different periods into which appear the same as un-zs, cuou, tres,
Ireland, with the consent of the first inhab- qztatzor,. whic1b the Latins. make use of to
itants, and w-lho learned and adopted the express numbers. These words are in relanguage of the country, viz., thle Bretonnic, ality the same, and differ only in idiom. On
which did not undergo any- material change that subject I have two replies, which are
by the mixture of different nations.    alike unanswerable.
The arg unents which Camden and oth-   First-WVords are arbitrary signs, invented
ers draw from a pretended connection or to express the thoughts. and commnunicate
analogy of marny Irish words with the B-re- the ideas. These signs consist in a combitonnic, or Gallic, by proving that the Irish is nration of letters, or of syllables, and which
derived from either of them, woul d equlally may' be found the same in different idioms.
prove the contra]y to ltheir assertions. It is  Second-The Scotic lanugage being more
well known that neighboring nations which ancient than the Latin, why should wve suptrade together, (languages being subject to:pose that it has take-n fmin the Latin some
corruption and change,) borrow some words: of its. words, rather than think the contrary?
from each otLer, without either being an,The trade which the Scoto-Milesians had
original source for the other to derive its with the Romans from  the beginning of
language from. For example, the Frenclh Christianity, the veneration in which they
and English langLuages are alike in mnarny hPeld their apostle and every thing that came
words common to both, without the one be- from him, even the language in which he
ing derived fram the other. Comnmerce was had instructed them, could not these make
frequent between the Scoto-Milesians and us tIhink that they might have adopted some
the Britons: if either nation was rendered., Latin words, and have, imrperceptibly, forfrom subj ection, like the other, it was thelot of gotten their old ones, without the two lanBritain at tha't time.  The Scato-Milesians. guages having, on that account, any affinity
held over- them a superiority of genius, of between them?
riches, and of armns, as a celebrated poet.  The learned, who have undlertaken the
gives at present to the English, fram his awn task of fathoming and examining the nature
autLhority. They frequently brought war in- and difference of languages, have always
to their country, and carried away prisoners; put in thne number of the mother' tongues of
the dreadful devastations which were com- Europe, the Scotic, and the Bretonnic, bemitted by them, accordirng to Gildas and tween whiich there has been no analogy.*
Bede, furnish proofs of it. The Scoto-Mi-  Joseph Scaliger counts eleven mother
lesians were at that time a free people, goyv- tongues in Europe; the Latin, Greek, Teuerned by their own laws, while the Britons, tonie, Sclavonic e, Epirotie, Tartarian, HunGaiuls, and Spaniards were slaves, subject gnrian, Finlandish, Irish,  Welsh, and the
to a foreign power, and forced sometimes to Biscayan or Cantabrian.  The number of
seek an asylum in Ireland, to rescue them- t1te mother lanrguages in Europe, of the least
selves from the tyranny of the Romans.? It extent, says Nicholas Sanson,f is better
is known, besides, that the Firboigs and the known to' us than of the other parts of the
Firdomnians, whose language was perhaps world, and may be reduced to six, viz., the
a dialect of thle Celtic, had a continual trade Irish, Finlandish, the Bretonnic or Welsh,
with the Scoto-Milesians, who, after they the Biscayan, Hungarian, and Albanian.
had conquered the island, assigned them The Irish language (continues he) is, besome lands in it. Nothing more was neces- sides in Ireland, still spoken' in the north of
sary to cause somne mixture of the two lan- Scotland. The Finlandish is used in Scanguages, and contribute to the supposed co.n- dinav-ia, which comprises Finland and Lapnection of the Scotic with the Bretonnic or land.  The Bretonnic, which is the lanGallic, although they are fundamentally dif- guage of Lower Brittany, in France, is likeferent one fiom the other.              wise called Welsh, being the native language
We might say, that from the same cause of Wales, a province  of England.  The
the Scotic is derived from the Iatin, because. Biscayan comprises. Lower Navarre, with
Labour, in France, and Biscay, in Spain.
" After the Romans had extended their empire
over almost all countries, many flocked to Ireland  " Grat. Lue. cap. 3I
out of Spain, Gaul, and Britain, to escape frin the  t Introd. a la Geograph. 2 part, fivre 3, chap. 5,
Roman yoke." —Camd. Brit. p. 728.       des Langues.




THE SCOTO-MILESJANS.                            39
The Hungarian is the language of Hungary with his own hand, he adds that this same
and Transylvania, which countries belong Fiech was sent some time before into Conto Turkey in Europe, and the Albanian is naught by Dubtach, whose disciple he was,
thus named from Albania,. a country also of to present some poems of his own compoTurkey in Europe.                        sition, in the Scotic language, to the princes
To refuse to a nation the use of letters, of that province.  He also speaks of a hymn
displays a wish for sapping the foundation in that tongue, which Fiech had composed
of its history, and depriving it of the means in honor of St. Patrick.  Lastly, that Fiech
of transmitting its tradition to posterity.  It had made so great a progress in the Roman
is possible that some facts of history have language, that in less than fifteen days he
been preserved by oral tradition, as it is said knew the entire psalm book, which could
the works of Homer had been, during many never be possible without a previous knowages, preserved by the memory alone; but ledge of other characters.  Wvard* tells us,
such tradition, without the aid of letters, that Benignus, a disciple of St. Patrick, and
must be very imperfect.                  his successor in the see of Armagh, had
Bollandus was the first who refused to the written a book, partly in Latin and partly
Milesians the advantage of characters.  He Irish, on the virtues and miracles of that
says, that, like the Germans, the Pagan saint, and that Jocelyn made use of it in
Irish had not, before the time of St. Patrick, writing his life. If letters had been unknown
the use of letters, nor any method of pre- to the Scoto-Milesians before that time, as
serving upon paper or other matter, the Bollandus asserts, how could Fiech and
memory of their deeds; that among all the Benignus have been able, says Harris, to
liberal arts, they knew but a sort of rhyming write so elegantly and poetically in that
poetry, which was in great esteem  with language, and make use of characters that
them, and served instead of memoirs and were not till then known to them?
annals:- and that St. Patrick,who was versed   Casar, Pliny, and some other authors, in
in Roman literature, was the first that in- speaking of the druids, inform us, that they
troduced among them the use pf letters.    were learned; that they knew theology,
It appears that Bollandus, an enlightened philosophy, and other sciences; and that
man in other respects, has not sufficiently those of Gaul who wished to attain perfecexamined this criticism. His error has arisen tion in the knowledge of their mysteries,
from a false deduction, drawn from what he went into Britain to be instructed in them.
had road in Nennius, Colgan, Ward, and Caesar says, that they did not commit their
others., concerning St. Patrick. These authors mysteries to writing, but that in all other
say, that the saint had given the "abjectoria," affairs, whether public or private, they made
or, as Nennius has it, the f' abjectoria," that use of Greek characters.t
is to say, the alphabet, to those whom he   It is certain that their order was estabhad converted. The Roman characters were, lished in Hibernia, in the time of Cesar, of
in fact, not known to the Milesians before which Ware bears testimony.t  It is also
the time of St. Patrick; but this truly apos- certain that the druids of Hibernia were
tolical man, wishing to strengthen the new connected with thiose of Britain, and that
converts in the faith, by reading the Holy they enjoyed the same advantages in the
Scriptures, and to render that infant church sciences, letters, and in every other thing.
conformable to the universal one, in the   The characters made use of by the Mirites and manner of celebrating the divine lesians, long before St. Patrick, are herein
mysteries, and in the use of other writings subjoined.  It is only necessary to discover
of the church, took the opportunity of giving whether they were Greek or Phoenician;
them the Roman characters, that they might that, however, shall be examined in course.
be able to learn that tongue; and the trans- But what need for resorting to authority?
lation of these works from the Latin into the A moderate idea of the elements of the Scotic
Scotic language would have been difficult for language, of the figure, order, and the
a man that had not been perfectly instructed number of its characters, also the mysterious
in the latter.  But these authors, in speaking manner which the ancient Milesians made
of the Roman letters, do not take from the
Milesians all kinds of characters; on the    Wardeus, Vit. Rumoldi, p. 317.
contrary, they suppose that they possessed   t "o They were said to learn, there, a great numsuch as were suited to their language; ber of verses. Neither do they consider it lawful
whereas, in the same chapter in which Colgan to commit their mysteries to writing, though in alwher e~-la s,. Patrick had given to FiecKmost all public and private affairs they make use
says that St. Patrick had given to Fiech, of the Greek letters."-Caesar in his Gallic Wars.
one of his disciples, the alphabet, written   I Antiq. Hib. cap. 5.




40                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
use of in writing, will be sufficient to prove  9 C C  Coll,    Corylus,    Hazel.
their antiquity, and the peculiarity of these 10 MO2t Muin,   Vitis,      Vine.
characters.  Those ancient characters are, 11 G'5 Gort,    Hedera,    Ivy.
in their figure, different from the other lan- 12 P t  Peth-boc,Not explained.
guages of Europe.  The alphabet of the 13 R p2 Ruis,    Sambucus,  Elder.
Greeks, and the abecedarium of the Latins, 14 A. Alm,   Abies,          Fir Tree.
sufficiently point out the order of their letters 15 0     nn,    Genista,  Broom,
by their initials-A. B. of the Greek tongue, 16     Ur,      Eix, or Eriaeath,
and A. B. C. of the Latin.  In like manner,
the Bobelloth, or Beith-Luis-Nion of the 17 E.     Egdhadh,Tremula,    Aspen,
Milesians, express the order of their letters 18 I  J Idho,   Taxus,      Yew.
by their initials, B. L., or B. L. N. The
alphabet of the Milesans has this in common   Besides these simple characters, there are
with the Hebrew, that, in both languages, some diphthongs and unnecessary consothe name of the letter is a substantive. For nants, erased from the modern alphabet; if
example, in the Hebrew, " Aleph" signifies the h also, which is but an aspirate, be taken
guide, or conductor; " Beth," a house, &c. away, the alphabet will consist of but sevenThus in the Milesian, "6 Beth" is the name teen letters.
of the birch tree, " Luis" signifies the wild   This order has been changed a few cenash, and "Nion" the true ash.  There is turies ago, and in the Beith-Luis-Nion,which
this difference, however, that the Hebrew is at present used, the letters are arranged
letters derive their names from all kinds of as in the Latin alphabet.  Before the invenvarious objects, whereas those of the Mile- tion of parchment, the Milesians made use
sians represent only different names of trees; of birchen boards, on which they engraved
because the druids, who were the wise men their characters with a style or punch: they
of ancient times, and who lived in the woods, were called in the Irish language " Orauin,"
thought they acted conformably with nature or "Taibhle Fileadh," that is, philosophical
in giving to their characters such names as tablets.  Their characters were also called
might be retained, in order to impress their by the ancients, "Feadha,"~* that is, wood.
disciples with the ideas they wished to in- Other people, as well as the Milesians, had
spire.  We must remark here, that in the the custom  of engraving their letters on
Beith-Luis-Nion, or alphabet of the Milesian wood.  It is that to which Horace alluded,
language, the N., at present the fifth letter, in saying " leges incidere ligno;" and the
was the third in ancient times: it is also to prophet Isaiah,t "scribe  super buxum:"
be observed, that the characters such as are from this is derived the word codex, which
here represented, have greatly degenerated, signifies book, from  iaudex, the trunk of a
and are no longer what they had been in tree.
the times of paganism, and in the first ages Besides the characters which were in conof Christianity.*                          mon use,the Milesians had a mysterious manner of writing, which was called " Oghumcrev," and " Oghum-coll," that is to say, a
BEITH-LUIS-NION;                 writing which represented the branches of
trees, particularly the hazel. "I have," says
OR                     Ware, "a book of parchment filled with
this kind of characters."t  Such mysterious
ALPHABET.                    writing was permitted to be used only by the
druids, and some antiquarians, who made
Irish,   Latin,     Englishe.    use of it for the purpose of transmitting to
posterity certain things which they wished
1 B b Beithe, Betulla,  4Birch.          to conceal from the knowledge of the people.
2 L.   Luis,  Ornus,       Wild Ash.  This mystery in their writings consisted in
3 F T  Fearn, Alnus,        Alder.       the position or situation of certain lines or
4 S $ Suil,   Salix,        Willow.
5 N  H Nion,  Fraxinus,   Ash.
6 H 1) Huath, Oxiacanthlus, White thorn.  *  enned. Preface,. 
t Chap. 30. v. 8.
7 D 0  Duir,  Ilex,         Oak.;' IBesides the common characters which the
8 T  C Timne, Not explained.             ancient Irish made use of, there were secret or artificial forms for committing their mysteries to writing,
which they called Oghum: I have a little book of
* Ogyg. part 3. cap. 30.       parchment filled with them."-Ware's Antiquities.




THE SCOTO-MILESIANS.                             41
figures in relation to the principal one; the lishment in Hibernia. O'Flaherty quotes
following will serve as an example of it.  the following hemistich as a remnant of his
~.' O c. g;:            poetry:*
IWI.Jl.l1 lll1iiJ. II.nen~.r    r c"Eagna la heagluis adir; agus fealtha laflaithibh."
j   Which he thus renders into Latin: " Aris
praepositus fit doctior, aptior armis."
C.Ageff. ". ~,                          Ethrial MacIrial Faidh, that is,t Ethrial.~b~a~s, e.. a, o~ son of Irial the prophet, monarch of Ireland,
0.fWI.Ue,7 I eaW o,.                   had written, according to Keating, the his-'I  11 i 111 j-~l  ~: =.  tory of the voyages and migrations of the
Wl. AZ                Milesians up to his time; besides a great
number of tracts on various subjects, viz.,
a~ 2.e e.,& a?.    oz,      history, the genealogies of families, medi-   cine, philosophy, the laws, &c. O'Flaherty.1-11i a   1. I.mentions three celebrated poets under ConA little reflection on the Beith-Luis-Nion, chovar, who began to reign in Ulster some
and the Oghum  of the Scotic language, years before the birth of our Saviour. These
which has been explained, will suffice to poets, whose names are, Forchern Macconfound Bollandus. A language, and conse- Deagh, Neidhe MacAidhna, and Aithirne
quently the elements of it, are either original, MacAmhnas, composed many works upon
or derived from some other which has served poetry and the laws; they were likewise the
as a model to it.  Let Bollandus show us authors of precepts, or celestial judgments,
this other language from which the Scotic is which O'Flaherty calls " judicia celestia."
derived, and upon what model its characters All these were revised, enlarged, and pubhave been formed. We challenge him to do lished by Kenfolae MacOlill, antiquarian,
it: let him inform us at what time and by in the seventh century, under the reign of
whom, the Beith-Luis-Nion, composed of a Donald the Second.4
number of letters different in their figure   Jocelyn, in his panegyrics on Dubthach
and order from those of other alphabets that O'Lugair,~ a celebrated poet, who was conare known, and the Oghum, which is a verted by St. Patrick,II says, that " the talmysterious manner of writing, and unknown ents he had used before his conversion, to
in the other languages of Europe, were in- celebrate the praises of the false gods, were
troduced into Ireland?  According to his afterwards applied by him  to praise the
system, it was not before the conversion of true God and his saints."'  The characters
Ireland, whereas the Scoto-Milesians (as he which he made use of were the Scotic,
avers) had not the use of characters: if because he had then known no other.  A
introduced since that period, let him tell us treatise on. the " Education of a Prince,"
by whom that manner of writing was intro- written by Cormac Ulfada, monarch of
duced, and for what purpose? And as they Ireland in the third century, addressed to
had already received from St. Patrick the his son Cairbre Liffeachair, may be added
Roman letters, much more easy, why did to the above.  This tract was found in a
they adopt others? Why did they take away collection of ancient monuments by O'Duvefrom the Roman alphabet five or six letters? gan. O'Flaherty, in fine, assures us, upon the
That is what he cannot explain, because, as authority of Dualdus Firbissius, an ancient
Harris says, no alphabet can be found after antiquarian, that in the time of St. Patrick,
the most rigorous research, not even the one hundred and eighty volumes concerning
Runic, whose elements resemble, in figure the doctrine and discipline of the druids
and order, those of the Beith-Luis-,Nion, or were condemned and burned.**
-the Oghum.  The great number of authors   The epoch of the use of letters among
whose works were written in the Scotic language before Christianity, is an unanswera-  * Anno Mundi 2292.  t Anno Mundi 3025.
ble proof against the assertions of Bollandus.  t War. de Script. cap. 1.
Keating on the reign of Laogare II., and   ~ Ogyg. part 3, cap. 30.
Gratianus Lucius, in the 20th chapter of his  II Harris, vol. 2, cap. 3.
"Cambrensis Eversus," quote many of them..  As The verses which he had formerly composed
The first is Amergin, brother of Heber and in praise of his false gods, now changing to a better
purpose his thoughts and language, he composed
Heremon, who was poet and supreme judge more renowned poems and sermons in praise of the
of the colony,* in the beginning of its estab- omnipotent God and of his saints."-Jocelin in his
Life of St. Patrick.
* Ogyg. part 3, cap. 30.         ** Ogyg. part 3, cap. 30, p. 219.
6




42                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
the Scoto-Milesians may be placed about  As to the druids, it is not proved that they
the time of their passing from Spain into had come from Greece. It may be thought,
Ireland. All circumstances are favorable to for sake of argument, that they had received
this opinion: the only difficulty is to know their characters from the Phocians, the first
from whom they had received them, whether Greek colony that settled at Marseilles, about
from the Phoenicians, or from the Greeks. six hundred years before the Christian era.
" The druids," says Caesar, " never com- However, a difficulty still remains; the ceremlitted their mysteries to writing, except in monies of the druids, and the care they took
their public acts, in which they made use to conceal their mysteries, would appear to
of Greek characters."  This gave rise to a have a greater reference to the ceremonies
belief, that the ancient Britons and the Mile- and hieroglyphics of the ancient Egyptian
sians had borrowed the characters of the priests, than to those of the Greeks. Thus
Greeks, through the channel of the druids, nothing prevents us to imagine that the first
which supposes a commerce to have been druids came from Egypt into Spain, with
between the Greeks and the islands of Bri- the Gadelians, and that they followed the
tain.  Saint Jerome, indeed, in accordance Milesians into Ireland, from whence they
with ancient authors, informs us that the spread themselves subsequently into BriGreeks had spread themselves over the tain, Gaul, and other countries of Europe.
whole of Europe, along the coasts and   The opinion of those who think that the
neighboring countries, as far as the British Milesians had received their characters imisles. But we must understand that Saint mediately from  the Phoenicians, appears
Jerome, and the authors whom he follows, more like the truth, on account of the trade
allude to the ancient Greeks. Herodotus those people had together, either in Spain
tells us that those parts of Europe were not or Ireland.  The analogy which Caesar
known to the modern Greeks.  Polybius, discovers between the characters of the
who lived after him, says, that neither the druids and those of the Greeks, does not
Greeks nor Romans were acquainted with at all, affect this opinion; as, being derived
the islands of Britain. Dion of Nice assures from the same source, they must be exus that in the third century it was doubted tremely alike.
if they were not a continent. We cannot  We know that the Phenicians were masattribute the commerce alluded. to to the ters of almost all the nations of Europe, but
modern Greeks, who, being exhausted by particularly of Asia Minor, Greece, and the
long wars, were more like subjects than al- nations bordering on the Mediterranean.
lies to the Romans, and unable therefore to They sailed, said Newton, in the times of
attempt such enterprises. Thus if we wish David and Solomon,* upon the Mediterrato believe that there had been a commerce nean Sea as far as Spain, and beyond it;
between the Greeks and the islands of Bri- they introduced everywhere the sciences,
tain, we must ascend to much earlier periods, particularly navigation, astronomy,- and letviz., to the times of the most ancient Greeks, ters; and the coasts of Ireland, says Ware,
as Camden calls thepc, "Graeci vetustissi- after Bochart, were known to them.t  The
mi," * who frequented, he says,whether in the Spanish origin which ancient authors give
character of pirates, or as traders, the islands to the Scoto-Milesians, and the epoch of
of Britain. It is not certain, however, that the their passing from Spain into Ireland, being
Greeks ever had an established or regular compared with these circumstances, are a
trade with the islands of Britain. It might be, strong indication that letters were in very
that chance had driven some of their vessels early use among this people, and support
thither, as it did the fleet of the Argonauts, firmly the opinion of those who think that
which is supported by the assumed authority they had received them  rather from the
of Adrianus Junius; or it might be, that a Phoenicians than from the Greeks. The
storm had cast upon the coast of the country use, therefore, of letters, added to a taste for
some merchant-ships.  But if the Greeks history, and the necessity of preserving the
were at any time masters of the above island, genealogies in all their purity, to regulate the
or traded thither, can it be imagined that succession to the throne, afford a strong prethey would have been so ignorant of them sumption that history prevailed among them.
in the time of Herodotus?  Or if they had   The Scoto-Milesians had, like the Jews,
been established there at a later period, how powerful motives to influence them to precould they have doubted, as Dion of Nice serve their history, and the genealogies
says, whether they were a continent or not? of their chief families. The means which; Brit. p. 20.             * Chron. p. 12.     t Antiq. Hib. cap. 1.




THE SCOTO-MILESIANS.                             43
they made use of in handing down their   The annals of Ulster, named "IUltonitraditions, bespeak a nation equally lettered enses," by Usher, written partly in Irish,
and polished.  By a fundamental law of and partly in Latin, and finished in the
state, it vwas necessary to be of the house of sixteenth century, by Roderick Cassidy,
Milesius to possess the throne, the sover- archdeacon of Clogher,* who had written
eignty of the provinces, or to fill high military the last part of it.
posts, or the magistracy.  The interests of   The annals of Tigernach, of Cluan-Macthe princes and of the people, respectively, Noisk, -written in the Irish language and
required them to take measures to prevent characters, in the eleventh century.
deception; very wise laws were enacted in   The annals of Innisfail, written in the
regard to those rights.  Ollam Fodla, who thirteenth century, and the Synchronisms of
reigned about three centuries after the Flannus a Monasterio. The greatest part of
establishment of the colony in Ireland, these writings are still entire. We discover
founded the triennial assembly at Tara: he other eitracts scattered in the writings of
created the offices of antiquaries in the Lecan, and those  of Molaga, Mholing,
different provinces, to watch over and pre- O'Duvegan, Mac-Egan, Moel Conry, O'Broserve the exploits of their heroes, and thd deen, O'Dorau, O'Duneen, &c.
genealogies of families.  He ordained that   All these authors have written one after
the genealogical and historical records of the other; they have transmitted age after
those antiquarians should be examined in age, and as if from hand to hand, the thread
the triennial assembly, by commissioners of the history of the Milesians, from the
appointed for that purpose; he decreed heavy beginning.  Scarcely an age passes without
penalties against those who might be discov- some who write the history of every country.
ered to prevaricate in the discharge of their The last historians, if general, always renew
duty. Lastly, he enacted that copies of such and relate, besides the present, whatever
private registries as were thus examined might be contained in the ancient monuments
and made pure, should be inserted in the of a country; so that, should the original
great book or registry, since called the ones be lost, or consumed by time, their sub"Psalter of Tara," which was written in stance is still preserved in modern works.
verse, after the manner of the ancient Arabs.   The reality of the monuments of the MileThis regulation was frequently renewed sians cannot be doubted; they are quoted
and confirmed by other princes; and that by authors that are well known and incaassembly was continued up to the time of pable of imposing them by substituting chiChristianity.                             meras for the true ones.  Keating, Colgan,
Besides those registries, we have, since Gratianus Lucius, Walsh, O'Flaherty, Kenthe time of paganism, the "Black Book," nedy, and others, quote them in every page.
and that of " Conquests," the whole of which Usher speaks of the annals of Tigernach,
is given in the " Psalter of Cashel," and in and of those which he calls " Ultonienses."f
other modern works.  Cairbre Liffeachair, Ware quotes the psalter named " Narran,"
monarch in the third century, composed the written in the eighth century, half Irish and
" History of the Kings," his predecessors, a half Latin, by Aongus Kelide, or Colideus.t
copy of which had been preserved until the He praises the " Psalter of Cashel, and its
last century, in the abbey of Icolm-kill; and author, Cormac-Mac-Cullinan,, bishop of
Sir George M'Kenzie, in his " Defence of Cashel, and king of the province of Munster,
the Royal Line of Scotland," speaks of in the beginning of the tenth century; he
having seen it.                           says, that this book is highly esteemed, and
Since the time of Christianity, we have that its author was both learned and well
the book called "Na-Gceart," written half versed in the antiquities of his country."~
in Irish, and half Latin, by Saint Benignus,   Sir George MacKenzie, a Scotchman, in
disciple of Saint Patrick. The psalter called the advertisement prefixed to his " Defence
" Na-Rann," those of Cashel, Armagh, of the Royal Line of Scotland," printed at
Cluan-Mac-Noisk, Cluan-Aigneach, and of Edinburgh in 1685, speaks of some Irish
Gravala; the books of Fiontan of Leix, manuscripts inthe abbey ofIcolm-kill, which
Glandaloch, Roscrea, and Kilkenny. The
"Martyrology" of Marianus Gorman, written    War. de Seript Hib.
t Primord. 15 et 16, passim.
in the eleventh century, besides many ancient  t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 17 et 21.
Irish  manuscripts, of Cluan-Mac-Noisk,  O~ 1 He was a man most learned and skilled in
translated into English in 1627, by Conall the antiquities of Ireland, and wrote in his native
6    yMac-Geoghegan.  language, a history commonly called the Psalter
of Cashel, which is still extant and held in high
~ Ogyg. Epist. p. 10.         esteem."-Antiquities, c. 2.




44                              HISTORY OF IRELAND.
he speaks of having seen. The following other Irish manuscripts, in the cabinet of
are his words:                             the Duke of Chandos, in England, who has
" Since I have commenced this work, a had them since the death of the Earl of Clarvery ancient manuscript of the abbey of endon.
Icolm-kill has fallen into my hands; it was   The late king of England, James II., had
written by Cairbre Liffeachair, who lived a large manuscript volume in folio, called
six generations before St. Patrick, and about Leavar Lecan, taken from  the library of
the time of our Saviour; an exact account Trinity College, Dublin; it was afterwards,
is given in it of Irish kings, from whence I by order of the prince, who had an act passed
infer, that as the Irish had manuscripts at before notaries for the purpose, deposited in
that period, we must certainly have possess- the archives of the Irish college in Paris,
ed them likewise."  There are, in the same and is carefully preserved.  The style of
book, many things added by the druids of this manuscript is so concise, and the words
that time.  "I have seen," continues Mac- so abridged, that it is difficult to find any
Kenzie, "an ancient genealogy of the kings among the learned in that language able to
of the Scots in Albania, which agrees with decipher it.  The translator of Keating's
what has been said in our history on the history into English, printed at Dublin in
crowning of Alexander II., and which is 1723, and afterwards in London, informs us
preserved at Icolm-kill as a sacred deposite. in his preface, that there is in the library of
I have," he says, "likewise seen another Trinity College, in the same city, among
ancient manuscript, which sets forth that the other monuments, a volume in folio, written
Dalreudini of Albania have been established upon parchment many centuries ago; that
here (in Scotland) six generations before this volume contains  extracts from  the
Eire, whom  Usher calls the father of our Psalters of Tara, Cashel, Armagh, and other
kings.  From  the same manuscript it is monuments of antiquity; and in order to
discovered, that Angus Tuirtheampher had obtain the reading of it for six months, that
reigned in Ireland five hundred years before he had been obliged to give security to the
our Feargus I., and that after his time, the amount of one thousand pounds sterling.
Albanian Scots had separated from those in Would he have dared to publish and to have
Ireland, which accords with our histories, printed in the same city that account, and
that say the Scots inhabited this country give the name of Doctor Raymond, during
for a long period before Feargus established his lifetime, who had been, he says, his sehimself in it. These same Irish manuscripts curity, if he feared that he could be contraagree also with the history -of Cairbre, dicted?  That is not probable.
whereof mention is made above: these are,   The monuments to which we have been
in fact, the additions made to his book by alluding, besides many others preserved in
our ancient senachies."  Such is the formal the cabinets of some lords of the country,
and positive testimony of MacKenzie in sup- are fragments that have escaped the fury
port of ancient Irish manuscripts.         of the Danes; they can be compared to
The annals of Ulster, of Tigernach, of inscriptions engraven upon columns injured
Innisfail, which are mentioned in the cata- by time, which are at present useless in a
logue of English  and Irish  manuscripts country where the language is in its decline.
printed at Oxford,* are found, with many From such sources, those who have treated
"The annals of Ulster is a book of most an- of the subject within the two last centuries,
cient character, and has been written partly in have been supplied: whenthe language was
Irish and partly in Latin, but in the Irish charac- better understood than at present, it was
ters; it commences with the year of our Lord 444, then possible to consult these monuments;
and ends A. D. 1041, in which Rodericus Cassideus, but those opportunities will disappear the
archdeacon of Clogher, died; he wrote the latter more as time advances.
part of said annals." —Vol. 2.
" The annals of Tigernachus (according to Ware)   The value of history is sustained by the
Cloninacnaisensis, are mutilated in the beginning. materials of which it is composed; but it is
The author touches on universal history till the not in the writings of foreigners that these
coming of St. Patrick; after this he describes the materials should be looked for; they must
affairs of Ireland till the year of our Lord 1088, in
which he died: the book is in the Irish characters    t frm the   uet of th    to
and language."-Vo/. 3.                     which is to form the subject of the history.
"In the annals of themonastery of Innisfail, the The Milesians were very jealous of their
author lightly touches on universal history, from the antiquities: the regulations made in their
creation of the world to the year of our Lord 430. assemblies at Tara, for the purpose of preAlter this he describes, with great accuracy, Irish  s at Tara, for the purpose of preaffairs to the year of our Lord 1215, in which he serving their annals, convince us easily of
lived."- Vol. 26.                          this.  Although their monuments be written




TIHE SCOTO-MILESIANS.                              45
in a language which is strange and un- obliged to send some colonies into the neighknown to the other nations of Europe, that boring countries, and of course into Spain
does not take away from the truth of the on account of its proximity, and that the
facts which are contained in them.         descendants of these colonies had perhaps
I am well aware that there are some passed subsequently from Spain to Ireland.
among those who take the honorable name We see that this mode of reasoning is foundof Irishmen, as well as among foreigners, ed upon conjectures only. Criticism affects,
who seek to enfeeble the authority of the after the manner of Ptolemy, to discriminate
monuments of the Irish.  Both are influ- and divide into tribes the ancient inhabitenced by different motives, but their attempts ants of Ireland, under the names of Cauci,
are supported by negative arguments, and Menapii, Brigantes, Gangani, Luceni, &c.,
conjectures drawn from doubtful and obscure and to discover the origin of these people in
principles.                                the different countries with which they think
If evidence and authority are essential to those names had reference or affinity. The
support historical facts,* they are not less Cauci, it is thought by critics, were from
requisite, when the question to subvert them  Germany, the Menapii from  Belgic Gaul,
is debated: criticism  likewise, when two the Brigantes from Great Britain: the Gansuch means are wanting, will fall of itself.  gani and Luceni are represented to be from
Neither are mathematical nor legal proofs Spain, and according to Camden and Silius
necessary to maintain historical facts: moral Italicus to be of Scythian origin.
ones ought to suffice: reason does not permit   But besides Ptolemy's not being able to
us to seek but what are merely proportioned know the Milesians at a time when cornto the nature of the subject.  The certainty merce was rare between nations that were
of history cannot be more than a moral far apart, he could therefore know them but
certainty, founded upon the tradition of a through the imperfect report of sailors, who
people, upon their ancient monuments, upon had perhaps scarcely seen the coasts of the
grounds that are probable, or upon the island.  We know that the Greeks and antestimony of men who are worthy of belief. cient geographers were in the habit of corThe historians even of our time have never rupting, or changing altogether the proper
seen, of themselves, the one-thousandth part names of countries, nations, and even of
of what they relate.  We must presume as cities, and of giving new names to them acmuch upon the tradition of an entire people, cording to their own fancy.'
as upon the testimony of two witnesses in a   The several nations named by Ptolemy,
private cause, the truth of which is founded are, as O'Flaherty says, strange and as little
only upon the presumption that they do not known to the Milesians, as the most distant
perjure themselves, so that the most solid parts of America; " so that it is astonishing,"
support of the history of a country is the continues he, " that men so discerning in
general opinion of its inhabitants, from whoni other things, could dwell on such absurdistrangers ought to derive every thing that ties, and make, in foolish conjectures, a disthey wish to know concerning them.         play of their ignorance of our history."t
Critics think that they are competent to   It is certain that the ancient monuments
judge of things which they probably have of the Milesians, to which alone we should
never seen, and which perhaps they would refer in every matter that concerns them,
not be capable of understanding, even though make no mention of such a mixture of people.
they should see them.                      They inform us of the Milesians, or of the
The first class of critics, as above, strive Scots, as the only possessors of the island,
to find the origin of the Milesians among many centuries before Jesus Christ, and that
the Gauls, and by dint of calculating and they were of Scythian origin.  Is there any
combining the ideas which they have drawn thing in that impossible or extraordinary?
from the writings of Caesar, Strabo, Tacitus, What could be their motive for imposing
and Ptolemy, they say, that Gaul, so fertile upon the world a desire of being descended
and abounding in fruit, was not less so in from a barbarous nation, and so distant as
men; that it had been, from tinie to time,
X Joseph. lib. 1. cont. Appian. Camd. Brit.
I "There are two things, viz., reason and au- p. 17.
thority, which tend to confirm or impugn all mat-  t " Great surprise seizes me, that men otherwise
ters: but in the study of antiquities, authority and most sagacious, should make such follies of great
the knowledge of past events are most powerful, moment, when laboring to develop them: they have
and are supported, not on account of reasons addu- sacrificed their time, and, during these foolish and
ced, but by the authority of writers."-Canmd. in his prophetic efforts, betrayed their ignorance of our
epistle on the Ogyg. p. 6.                 affairs." —Ogyg. part 1. p. 16.




46                              HISTORY OF IRELAND.
that of Scythia, rather than from  more   It appears that there was a custom forneighboring nations?   Would it not be merly common to every nation, of affixing
equally glorious for them to have had their to each in their turn the name of barbarians.
origin from  Gaul, or any other nation on In the opinion of the Egyptians, the first
the continent?  Certainly it would.  But Greeks were barbarians; the latter desigit is more fit that children should follow the nated the Romans by the same title; the
traditions and writings that they have re- Romans reproached the Carthaginians with
ceived from their fathers, rather than attach their bad faith, " fides punica," which became
themselves to conjectures which are desti- proverbial among those who were themtute of proofs.                            selves wanting in good faith to all the world.
As to those who pretend that the Milesians In fine, all those (whom we would at present
had theuse of characters before St. Patrick, more politely call strangers) were looked
what has been explained concerning the lan- upon by the Romans as barbarians, among
guage and characters of that people should whom  they did not discover either their
satisfy them.                             religion, customs, or a quick submission to
The use of letters among a people pre- the power of their arms.  Some moderns
supposes polished manners and cultivated have borrowed from the ancients, of whom
minds: it cannot (say the critics) be ima- they are but the echo, the ideas they had
gined, that such qualities could belong to the formed of the Milesians; they have even
Milesians, whom  Strabo, Pomponiuis Mela, outdone them  in the portraits which they I
and other ancient authors represent to have have drawn to the disadvantage of that
been ferocious, rude, and barbarous before people, according as their own interest reChristianity.                             quired it.
The Romans, who never had been masters   Gildas Britannicus, surnamed the wise,*
of Ireland,* had not therefore the opportu- the first British author of whom we have
nity of being judges of the morals of its in- any account, wrote in the sixth century a
habitants.                                 treatise," De Excidio Britanniae;" he seems
Polybius, more ancient, by two centuries, to doubt if his countrymen, the ancient
than Strabo, assures us, that the British isles Britons, left any monuments or manuscripts
were scarcely known, and that every thing to transmit to posterity the remembrance of
which could be said of them, was but the their origin, as he says that he was obliged
effect of the imagination.t               to follow in his writings the accounts given
Dion of Nice agrees, that in his time it of his country by foreigners. This doubt of
was still doubted if they were islands or a Gildas is further strengthened by the silence
continent. In the first century also, Agricola observed by Caesar, who makes no mention
was ignorant whether Britain was an island, of any custom  of writing history to have
until he had sailed round the Orkneys with been among the Britons.  If these (say the
his fleet.  By this it appears, that in the critics) had not in the sixth century any
time of Strabo, who lived in the first century, historical monuments, what pretensions could 
Ireland was not known to the Romnans,j and, the- Scoto-Milesians have to them, whose 
as Nicholson in his Irish Library asserts, dates are much higher than the Christian
those authors, not knowing what to say of era?
it, have ventured to give some accounts of   The weakness of the comparison will be
that island which they had perhaps received felt, by attending a little to the situation of I
from sailors cast upon its coasts, where the both countries at that time.  The Scotoinhabitants might have been what they are Milesians, free and independent, lived within
at present, among the most polished nations, themselves, and were separated by their incruel and ferocious to those who are ship- sular situation, from the rest of the world;
wrecked upon their shores.                 while the Britons were slaves, trampled
The candid avowal of Strabo himself shows upon by a foreign power, and often harassed
it: he agrees that he had no witnesses worthy by the Picts and Scots. The Scoto-Milesians
of belief for all that he had said.~      held a superiority over them in every thing:
they made war upon them  in their own
"  But I cannot be induced to think, that this country; they carried away prisoners; and,
country ever fell into the power of the Romans."- in fine, were a lettered people, which cannot
Canzd. Brit. p. 729.                      be said of the Britons.  Shall it be then
f " They dream, if they either speak or write pretended, that, because there were not in
concerning them."-Polyb. b. 3, p. 88.
$ Chap. 1. p. 1.                        relate are unfounded, from the want of witnesses
~ "Concerning Ireland I have nothing certain worthy of belief."
which I can say. The things indeed which we   * Camd. Brit. edit. Lond. p. 788.




THE SCOTO-MILESIANS.                           47
the time of Gildas, any historical monuments mixed with fables and anachronisms, " fabuamong the Britons, the neighboring nations lis et anachronismis mire admixta." Two
must have been also without any?  The things in this must be observed: first, that,
inference cannot appear to be a just one.  from the acknowledgment of the author,
But they say that the modern critics there were some kings the predecessors of
(English of course) have. despised and re- Laogare, and monuments which speak of
jected those chimeras of antiquity to which them; second, that these monuments were
the Milesians aspire, as well as the authori- mixed with fables and anachronisms. I. have
ties they produce to support them. It is no doubt but his criticism is just; this is a
evident that those critics should not be be- fault common to all ancient histories. What
lieved in respect to the monuments of that can be known of antiquity, if all history be
people: they were unacquainted with the rejected which contains any thing that may
language in which they were written; it was be false, fabulous, or supposed?  Is not
altogether impossible for them to know it. IHerodotus, the father of history, called also
There are but few even among the natives the father of falsehood?  Why has he put
capable of deciphering their ancient wri- forth things that are doubtful, nay untrue,
tings: it is by a particular study only, of the according to Manetho, in regard to Egypt
abbreviations, punctuations, and of the an- and the Egyptians, upon the testimony of
cient characters of that language, and the Vulcan's priests, whom he had met with at
Oghum, that they can attain to it. The old Memphis?  Is he correct in the accounts
Scotic language, which was spoken two he gives of the manners and customs of the
thousand years ago, and which is made use Scythians, Amazons, and other countries,
of in their monuments, was entirely differ- from hearsay?  Have the author of the
ent from what is now, and has been spoken, Cyropedia, Titus Livy, Quintus Curtius,
within the last few centuries; and has be- and others been free from the lash of criticome-a jargon by the adoption of many Latin, cism?  Have the more modern historians,
English, and French words. Are these Camden, Buchanan, de Thou, Mezeray, and
not difficulties, which it is impossible for a Pere D'Orleans, escaped. censure?  Is not
stranger to surmount, who attempts to write Voltaire convicted of repeated mistakes in
the history of that country? If the primitive his " Age of Louis XIV.," in his history
Irish language be scarcely known by the of Charles XII., and in his history of the
bulk of the nation itself, what knowledge can empire?
an Englishman have of it after the short so-  If the historians of our days were obliged
journ of a few months, during which he mixes to warrant every thing that they advance in
but with those who speak his own language? their writings, their embarrassment would be
If he be able to collect a few imperfect frag- very great.  How many things, either from
ments written in the Scotic language and a spirit of partiality or ignorance, would be
characters by some ignorant bard, he returns found to be suppressed! How many would
to his country as much pleased as if he appear darkened or disfigured, from a desire
possessed the most authentic monuments of of transferring to those whom they admired,
that nation, and his native prejudice against the merit of some. whom they disesteemed!
the Irish furnishes him with matter to amuse If the history of the late campaigns in
his readers at their expense, with accounts Flanders be written, it will with justice be
that are both ridiculous and absurd.    said, that the French were conquerors at
Camden himself was not better informed, Fontenay, Rocoux, and Lawfeld; it will be
as appears from the imperfect sketch of the admitted that they took the cities of Menin,
history of Ireland, which he has introduced Ypres, Mons, Namur, and Burgenopzoom;
into his "Britannia." Spelmuan, Stillingfleet, but will the several circumstances and parNicholson, &c., are of the same stamp   ticular facts be correctly detailed?  Shall
nevertheless, such are the witnesses that are there be mention made of those who gave
at present questioned upon the antiquities way before the enemy? Will they who, by
of the Scoto-Milesians, and the critics that not obeying their officers, contributed to the
are adduced and scrupulously copied after. loss of the advantages gained, be likewise
The judicious Ware, it is true, begins his introduced?  Shall justice be done to such
antiquities of Ireland with the reign of Lao- as were instrumental to the gaining of their
gare, and the apostleship of Saint Patrick. battles, and to the taking of the cities?
I-e assigns it as a reason for not taking Lastly, will both parties agree in their acthem from an earlier epoch, that most of counts of the various operations of their
what had been written concerning -the pre- campaigns? I am of opinion that they will
decessors of that monarch, was exceedingly not. Have we not frequently witnessed the




48                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
singing of the "Te Deum" by both parties quence, poetry, and other fine arts, were
when the battle was over?  The history very limited in the knowledge of history.
of it will be written when the facts will be   Josephus, in his book against Appian,
almost forgotten, and no person found to asserts, that to have a knowledge of antiquicontradict them.  The productions of the ty, we must not seek it among the Greeks,
imagination will then take the place of truth; whose writings, he says, are imperfect, new,
the historian will flatter some at the expense and doubtful; it appears therefore that hisof others; the coward will be immortalizeld tory was not the ruling passion of that people,
in his writings, while those will be suffered although most polished in other respects.
to lie buried in perpetual oblivion, who had   As to the Romans, they are more modern.
merited the best of their country.         The use of letters, says Livy, was rare
Are not the gazettes themselves, which among the ancient Romans, the memory
are published by authority, often filled with being their only depository of time, in the
falsehood, and the editor obliged to retract first ages of the republic.  If their priest,
what he had already made public in the in succeeding ages, transmitted some monuordinary course?  Let four men from  dif- ments, they were lost in the burning of the
ferent quarters of Paris be summoned to city;X and if we attach belief to Vossius on
give testimony of what had happened in the subject, Fabius Pictor was the first who
the middle of the city, will they agree upon wrote the history of the republic, in the
what each will tell of it in his own quarter; year of Rome 485.t
and will their accounts, after having passed   Orpheus of Crotona, in his poem of the
through many. mouths, and returning to the Argonauts, and Aristotle in his book " Of the
first author, be intelligible?  What can be world," dedicated to Alexander,t make menconcluded from this, but that there are very tion of Ireland, under the name of Ierna,
few  histories which are not mixed withli from whence Usher takes the opportunity
truth and fable?                          of saying, " that the Romans could produce
To return to Ware; can we not with no testimony so authentic for the antiquity
some degree of justice say, that he was not of their name."~  The comparison of Usher
a fit judge in this affair? He did not know is not mnadein allusion to the soil or land of
the primitive language of Ireland, so as to Rome, nor to that of Ireland, the two counbe competent to explore the first periods of tries being in that respect of equal antiquiits history.  H-le had no opportunity of con- ty; the question is with respect to those
sulting the Psalters of Teamor, and other who inhabited the two countries, of which
monuments necessary for such an under- we have a more authentic testimony for
taking; he saw but some books of annals, their antiquity than the other: thus, in the
written half in Latin and half in Irish, the opinion of Usher, the Scoto-Milesians had
dates whereof ran no higher than the Chris- a better title to it than the Romans.
tian era; in a word, every thing antecedent   The strength of this reasoning will be felt
to that period, is accused by him, of con- still more forcibly, if, with Camden, we containing fables and anachronisms: by these sider that the name Ierna, and others which
means he exonerates himself from mnaking strangers give to that island, are derived from
the researches to which he did not feel him- Eire, " ab Erin ergo gentis vocabulo origiself competent.                            natio pretenda;"11 a name which has been
It is farther objected, that, because the peculiar to it since the Scoto-Milesians have
Romans, and also the Greeks, the most been in possession of the island, and which
civilized in their time of any people of Eu- is derived from  Ire, one of their ancient
rope, had not historians more ancient than chiefs.  If it be then allowed us to think,
Herodotus, who lived about four hundred with Usher, that the Scoto-Milesians were
years before" the Christian era, the pretensions of the Milesians, with respect to the    " "The writings in these days were few. The
epoch of their history, cannot be maintained. mcmory of exploits was the only guardian of them;
Should we suppose with those critics, and if any things had been co.m mittcd by their
which  is but a mere conjecture ofthe truth, priests to be preserved in monuments, they must
wthat Herots  was the first historian among t   have perished in the conflagration of the city."that Herodotus was the first historian among Livy, b, 6.
the Greeks —for it is possible there were   t De historia Lat. lib. 1, cap. 44, et lib. 2.
others more ancient, whose works have been   I Newton, Introduction to Chron. p. 6.
lost-the comparison is still weak, and noth-   ~ "Of such antiquity, that the Romans theming can arise from it but a negative proof.  selves could not prodnee an author to bear similar
Wenowth G ee, wh     testimony of their name." —Usher, Church Hist.
WVe know  that the Greeks, who excelled     a. 724.
in the art of government, philosophy, elo-  11 Card. Brit. edit. Lend. p. 726.




THE SCOTO-MILESIANS.                           49
established in Ireland before the Roman It ought to satisfy us that Keating, Colgan,
name was known, we may likewise suppose Gratianus Lucius, Bruodine, O'Flaherty,
that, from being a lettered people, the dates and many others, who have made use of
of their histories are much higher than those and understood the Irish manuscripts, can
of the Romans.                    I     warrant them, and say that they bear every
The obscurity of the monuments of the mark of the remotest antiquity, and that the
Milesians is again objected to. It is a mat- extracts which they have given from them
ter of astonishment (people say) that among are faithful.
so many learned men whom  Ireland has   The same difficulties are not met with in
produced, none have undertaken to translate the antiquities of other nations of Europe;
and publish, in some known language, the their ancient monuments are not many; there
ancient monuments of that country, while are but few of them that mount so high as
other nations have been careful, since the the Christian era, and are written in laninvention of printing, to collect and submit guages and characters which are known to
to the view of the critic all their titles to an- all the learned: whereas, those of the Mitiquity which they have been able to dis- lesians are unknown, not only to foreigners,
cover; the Milesians are apparently diffi- but even to most of the Irish themselves.
dent themselves of the truth and authenticity   How  many authentic manuscripts are
of their monuments, as they are afraid to there remaining in the libraries of the Vatimake them appear before the world.      can, of the king at Paris, and the Bodleian at
Of that objection I feel the full force, and Oxford, which were never published! A catsee the necessity there would be for having alogue of the English and Irish manuscripts
their monuments published, in order to afford which had never been printed, was published
to the learned the opportunity of judging of a few years ago in this city, (Paris.)
them; but I see at the same time the great  Those who had the history of their coundifficulties that await the undertaking. That try first printed, have taken their materials
nation, being always engaged in wars since from manuscripts that were never printed,
the twelfth century to the present time, es- the dates of which run much higher than
pecially since the invention of printing, has the period when printing was invented; still,
never been in a state to undertake such a no lawsuits were instituted against them for
project.  The various revolutions which not having previously published such wrihave happened since the reign of Elizabeth, tings. The rareness of a manuscript has
both in religion and general government, as never been a cause for esteeming it the less,
well as in the fortunes of individuals, par- and the printing, which is but a copy, gives
ticularly the Milesians, who are alone inter- to it an authority so far as that it becomes
ested to have their antiquities made known, thereby more generally known.
have produced so great a discouragement   The authors who have in the last three
among them, that they only thought of the centuries given their attention to the history
present, and their greatest concern has been of Ireland, and that are best known, are
to save from shipwreck, and to preserve some Stanihurst, Peter Lombard, Keating, Mesportion of the patrimony of their ancestors, singham, O'Sullivan, Ward, Clery, Roth,
without troubling themselves about times Usher, Colgan, Ware, Bruodine, Gratianus
that are so long past.                  Lucius, Belling, Walsh, O'Flaherty, O'ReilThose who make the objection do not ly, Porter, Molyneux, Kennedy, &c.
weigh the difficulties which await the at-   Richard Stanihurst, a native of Dublin,
tempt. To translate from the Irish lan- but of English descent, having made his
guage into others, the learned in that lan- studies at Oxford and at London, wrote, in
guage should be chosen from  among the the Latin language, a small volume in quarto,
natives of the country, which would create a which was printed at Antwerp, in 1584,
diffidence and doubt of the capability and under the title of "De rebus in Hibernia
correctness of the translators; and to judge gestis, libri quatuor," with notes upon some
of the affair, the Irish themselves would be extracts taken from  Cambrensis.    This
both the judges and the party.          author, being from his youth under the guiThe matter would be less difficult were dance of men badly disposed tdwards the
the Irish manuscripts less numerous. In Irish nation, lent his pen to disparage a peoorder to render the enterprise useful, more ple whom he did not know, and whose monthan fifty volumes should be translated and uments he was unable to consult, being writpublished, each of which, though differing in ten in a language whereof he was altogether
object, have an essential connection one with
the other relative to the history of that nation.  * Keating's Prmef. page 9.
II~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




50                              HISTORY OF IRELAND.E
ignorant; it cannot be, therefore, a matter vinces of Ulster and Connaught, where he
of surprise that his book is filled with er- was denied access to their monuments which
rors, and that his descriptions of the Irish would be essential for his history, and the
nation, which make the subject of his work, want of which has rendered it less copious
are altogether false.' Stanihurst, seeing his and complete than it would otherwise have
history censured by the world, and burned been.  This history, written in the Irish
by orders of the Inquisition in Portug'al, language, which was principally spoken at
promised, at a more advanced age, when he that time, has been since translated into
had entered into holy orders, to recant his English, and become thereby open to critiwritings by a public avowal, but was pre- cism. Those who think themselves interestvented by death before he could accomplish ed in degrading the Irish people, whose anhis purpose.   tiquity appears to them insupportable, severePeter Lombard was born in Waterford, ly censure the history of Keating;* while
and being brought up from  his youth at others, more moderate and impartial, conWestminster, under the eyes of the learned sider it a valuable collection of antiquities.f
Camden, he displayed great proofs of capa- It must, however, be acknowledged, that if
city for the sciences: he afterwards came the English translation of this history be a
to Louvain-where he completed his stu- faithful one, which is not very certain, there
dies, and received the doctor's cap.  The are many anachronisms in the work, and acprovostship of the cathedral of Cambray was. counts which seem to be fabulous, and abafterwards conferred on him; lastly, he was surd tales. However, these should be attribappointed archbishop of Armagh, and pri- uted rather to the credulity of the author,
mate of Ireland.  Among his other works, who has too closely followed, on some occahe has left a commentary in Latin on the sions, the fictions of the ancient bards, than
history of Ireland, which was highly es- to any previous intention of degrading the
teemed, and was printed after his death, in history of the Irish nation. Among all its dequarto, at Louvain, in 1632.t              fects we discover many. good and interesting
Geoffry Keating was born in Ireland, in things, which make that work essentially
the sixteenth century, during the reign of useful; provided it be read with caution,
Queen Elizabeth.  Being intended for the much information may be derived with reecclesiastical state, he left his country in spect to the origin of the Milesians, their esconsequence of the persecutions that were tablishment in the island, their wars, govcarried on against the Catholics, and came ernment, and the succession of their kings.
to France, where he received the degree of   Thomas Messingham, a priest, and native
doctor in theology.  Returning afterwards of the province of Leinster, also apostolical
to his native country, and being perfect mas- prothonotary, and superior of a community of
ter of the Irish language, he collected every Irish in Paris, published in that city in 1624,
thing that was possible for him from  the a small folio volume in Latin, entitled " Floancient monuments of Ireland, and formed rilegium  insulae Sanctoram."  It contains
the design of reducing themn into the shape the lives of many of the Irish saints, taken
of history; two motives induced him to un- from the best of authors.
dertake it, as he himself says in his preface.   Philip O'Sullivan, a gentleman of the noFirst, to draw from  obscurity a people who ble family of O'Sullivan Barry, in the county
were equally ancient as they were generous of Cork, being compelled by the misfortune
and noble, by preserving from the ravages of the times, in the reign of Queen Elizaof time, a methodical history of their monu- beth, to fly from his country, withdrew to
ments.  Secondly, to develop the injustice Spain, where, after having completed his
of some authors, who, without consulting studies at Compostello, he composed several
them, propagate against the Irish their false works in Latin; among others, an abridcproductions, which may be termed satires ment of the history of Ireland, which had
rather than history.  He adds, that every for its title, " Historicae Catholicae Hiberni 
thing which he advances in favor of Ire- Compendium," dedicated to Philip IV. king
land arises from his love for truth, and that of Spain, and printed at Lisbon in 1621.
his testimony should not be suspected, being The fabulous account of St. Patrick's purhimself of English origin.  This qualifica- gatory, introduced into his history, after the
tion, however, raised suspicions from many Viscount Lamon de Parellos, a Spanish lord,
quarters against him, particularly in the pro- has been injurious to it. In his description!     Harris, Irish Writers, vol. 2, chap. 13.  -' Cox, Talbot, Welsh, Pref.
t O'Sullivan, Hist. Cath Hiber. compend. tome  f Approbation of Doctor Finlay, prefixed to KeatI, lib. 4, cap. i.                        ing's Hist. London ed.




THE SCOTO-MILESIANS.                               51 
of the island, its antiquities, the invasion in two volumes quarto, called the Annals of
of the English, the fifteen years' war under Donegal, and sometimes the Annals of the
Queen Elizabeth, and the persecution under Four Masters.  Those two, which are not
James I., he appears to be correct. He has yet printed, are taken from the annals of
drawn upon himself the censure of Usher, Clon-Mac-Noisk, of Innisfail, of Senat, and
who treats him as a faithless author, on ac- many other ancient authentic monuments of
count of a tract written against him, under the country. The first comprises its ancient
the title of " Archicornigeromastix."      history from  the earliest periods till the
Hugh Ward, or Wardeus, a native of the twelfth century; and the second, after leavcounty Donegal in Ulster, was first brought ing a chasm of about one hundred and sixtyup at Salamanca, where he became one of four years, begins with the fourteenth and
the order of St. Francis, in 1616; he after- ends with the seventeenth centuries.  O'wards completed his studies at Paris, from Flaherty* taxes these annals with an error
whence he was called and nominated lec- in their chronology, but they are followed
turer in theology, and afterwards warden, by Gratianus Lucius,f and Colgan.$t
at Louvain.  As he was very learned and   David Roth, a native of Kilkenny, doctor
versed in antiquity, he took the resolution of theology in the college of Douay, and
to write a universal history of the saints of bishop of Ossory, was, according to Usher,
his own country; for that object he sent well skilled in the antiquities of his country.~
Michael O'Cleary, a monk of his order, to He was an eloquent orator, a subtile philoscollect materials necessary for it.  In the opher, a profound theologian, and a learned
mean time he composed several works that historian.11 Various works were published
were afterwards very useful to John Col- by him  in Latin, under borrowed names,
gan, who undertook, after his death, to finish and among others his " IHibernia Resurhis intended history.                      gens," which was printed at Rouen, and at
Michael O'Cleary, a native of the prov- Cologne, in 1621.~[
ince of Ulster, and monk of the order of   James Usher, or Usserius, was a native
St. Francis, was sent, as has been observed, of Dublin and well known in the republic
into Ireland by WVard, to make the researches of letters by his erudition and the great
necessary for the work he had contemplated. number of his works, which are a proof of
This monk performed his commission with it.  The writings of this learned man that
all possible attention, without his patron have any reference to our history, are his
having derived from  it any benefit, being " Veterum Epistolarum Hibernicarum Sylprevented by death.                        loge," and" iBritannicarum Ecclesiarum AnO'Cleary having formed a taste for that tiquitates."  The first contains fifty letters
kind of employment, troublesome indeed, upon the Irish people, with some notes from
but very useful to the public, and being the editor.  This small volume was printed
joined byother antiquarians of the country, first in Dublin in 1630, and reprinted at
particularly Ferfessius O'Conry, Peregrin Paris, 1665. The second, which was printO'Cleary, and Peregrin O'Dubgennan, col- ed at Dublin in 1639, and at London in 1687,
lected a quantity of materials to serve for treats of the origin of British churches.
an ecclesiastical and civil history, and re-   John Colgan, a native of the county Donduced them into order. Some ancient mon- egal in -Ulster, and monk of the order of
uments he purged, by comparing them with Saint Francis in the convent of Saint Anold manuscripts, of the errors which had thony of Padua, at Louvain, where he was
crept in by the ignorance of the copyists.  professor in theology, was learned in the
The first of these monuments is an his- language and antiquities of his country; he
torical abridgment of the Irish kings, their undertook to write the lives of the Irish
reign and succession, their genealogies and saints, and was the more capable of underdeath.                                     taking it, from being aided by the researches
The second is a tract on the genealogies which Ward had got made for the same
of their saints, called " Sanctilogium genea- intention.  In 1645 a volume in folio was
logicum."                                  published by him, at Louvain; it contained
The third treats of the first inhabitants, the lives of the saints for the first three
and different conquests of that island; the
succession of her kings, their wars, and oth-      * Ogyg. prolog. p. 43.
er remarkable events, from the deluge until        t Cambr. Evers. cap. 8.
the arrival of the English in the twelfth cen-      Act Sct. 16, p. 737.
tury.  This book is called, " Leabhar Gab-         11 Syllog. epist. p. 725.
haltas.'" Our author composed another work        ST Messinlgham, Florileg. p. 87.




52                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
months of the year, under the title of " Acta The troubles produced to his country by the
Sanctorum Veteris et Majoris Scotie "  A war of the parliamentarians, and tyranny of
second volume was published at Louvain Cromwell, obliged him to leave it. In 1652,
in 1647, which had for its title, " Triadis he came to France, and published among
Thaumaturgae, &c.;" it contained the lives other works, a volume in folio, printed in
of St. Patrick, Saint Columb, and Saint 1662, under the title of "' Cambrensis EverBridget. We have likewise a treatise from sus," and under the borrowed name of " Grahim on the country, life, and writings of tianus Lucius."  Our author with much
John Scot, called the subtile doctor, printed judgment and solidity refutes the calumnies
in octavo, at Antwerp, in 1655. There are, that Cambrensis had advanced against his
in fine, many manuscript volumes at Lou- country.  In the chronology he is not very
vain, of this author, which speak of the correct, and though his book be not, properly
apostleship and mission of many Irish saints speaking, a history of Ireland, many interin foreign countries.                    esting facts, taken from the antiquities of,Sir James Ware, or Wareus, a native of that country, are found in it.
Dublin, made many researches useful to the   Sir Richard Belling, a native of the county
history of Ireland, both in the registries and Dublin, has left us a volume in duodecimo,
cloisters of the churches and monasteries of printed in Latin, at Paris, in 1650, under the
the country, and in the libraries of England. title of " Vindiciarum Catholicorum HiberHe published first in Dublin in 1639 a trea- nime libri duo," and under the borrowed name
tise in Latin, upon the Irish writers.  In of" Philopater Irenweus."  In the first book
1654, and 1658, he had the antiquities of of this volume we discover a sufficiently
Ireland published in London, under the title exact account on the affairs of Ireland,
of " De Hibernia et Antiquitatibus ejus Dis- from the year 1641 till 1649.  The second
quisitiones."  In fine, he has furnished a is a refutation of a work written by a monk
commentary on the Irish prelates, from the named Paul King, on Irish affairs.
conversion of that country down to his time.   Peter Walsh was a native of Moortown
This work has been printed at Dublin in in the county Kildare; being admitted into
1665, under the title of " De Prwesulibus the order of St. Francis, he studied at LouHibernite commentarius."  All these have vain, where he became professor of theology.
been translated into English, and printed in There are many of his works in English,
folio at London, in 1705, to which is sub- concerning the affairs of his time.  The
joined a discourse from  Sir John Davis, first part of his prospectus of Ireland has
wherein he examines into the cause of the been given, and printed in duodeciino, at
delay of the conquest of Ireland by the London in 1682.  In this he begins with
English.  Ware's researches on the found- the history of the country, to end it with the
ation of the churches, the names and suc- twelfth century; but though the recital of
cession of their prelates, the establishment facts contained in it be sufficiently correct,
of monasteries and religious houses, and the still the want of order and system discoverlearnedwriters of that country, are extremely able, makes the reading of it irksome. The
interesting.  His works which relate to Ire- second part, which he promised, has never
land, from the invasion of the English, are appeared.
in general excellent, and worthy a man of   Roderick O'Flaherty, aln Irish gentleman,
his merit; but his treatise on its antiquities was born at Moycullin in the county Galis of small moment; he was not sufficiently way; it was the patrimony of his ancestors
acquainted with its language, to be able to for many ages, but confiscated in the troubles
consult the monuments of that people, so which had arisen in 1641; he was a man of
that he has, at a small expense, acquired letters, and profoundly skilled in the history
for himself the title of antiquarian.    of his own and foreign countries.  He has
Anthony Bruodine, a native of the county left us a large volume, in Latin, composed
Clare in Ireland, was a recollet and professor from  the most authentic monuments, and
in theology in the convent of that order at which he dedicated to the duke of York,
Prague.  Among other works he composed who soon afterwards became king of Great
a volume in quarto, entitled, " Propugnacu- Britain, under the name of James II. It was
lum Catholicae veritatis, pars prima histor- printed in quarto at London, in 1685, under
ica, &c.," printed at Prague in 1668.    the title of " Ogygia," wherein he treats of
John Lynch, priest and archdeacon of the ancient history of Ireland before ChrisTuam, and native of Galway in Connaught, tianity. In this book he displays great eruwas learned in the language of his country, dition, and a deep knowledge of chronology,
and ably conversant in all kinds of literature. as appears from the testimony of two great




THE SCOTO-MILESIANS.                            53
men, Loftus and Belling, whose approvalsl  William Molyneux was born in Dublin,
are found printed at the head of his work. and has published many excellent works.
Stillingfleet also cites him  with eulogy.* Among others, one upon "The State of
The second book of his Ogygia is still in Ireland," was dedicated by him to the prince
manuscript, without being printed.       of Orange: he proves in it, that that country
Hugh O'Reilly, an Irish gentleman and was never conquered by Henry II.; that he
native of the county Cavan, was master in granted, according to treaty, a parliament
the court of chancery, and register to the and laws to the people of Ireland; that the
council under James II.  Having followed ecclesiastical state in that country was indethe fortunes of that prince into France, he pendent of England, and that the English
was nominated his chancellor for the king- could not bind the Irish by laws made where
dom of Ireland. In 1693 O'Reilly published the people had not their deputies.
a small volume in English, which has for its   Matthew O'Kennedy, an Irish gentleman,
title, " Ireland's case briefly stated," that is and doctor of laws, master in the court of
to say, an abridgment of the state of Ireland, chancery, and judge of the admiralty, in
since the reformation, wherein the things Ireland, has written a small volume in Engwhich happened in that country, are repre- lish, printed at Paris, in 1705: it contains
sented without disguise.  He reproaches an historical and chronological dissertation
Charles II. with want of gratitude to his on the royal family of the Stuarts, who are
Irish subjects for their services: he shows (he says) of Irish descent, through the colothe injustice and bad policy of that prince, nies that were sent at different periods into
for having confirmed the murderers of the Albania.  This treatise has not escaped
king his father in their possessions andj criticism; it has been abused by Father De
wealth, as rewards for their regicide; the old la Haye, an Anglo-Scotchman, in a letter
proprietors were for those objects stripped to the duke of Perth, wherein there are
of their fortunes, whose only crime was their more invectives against Kennedy and his
faithful allegiance to their king. He speaks, country, than proofs against his dissertation,
in fine, like a man who, in pleading his own the object of his attacks, as appears by Kencause, pleads that of his country. His com- nedy's reply, in the shape of a letter, to
plaints it appears were well founded, where- what De la Haye had advanced; this was
as the king his master, to whom he commu- printed at Paris, in French, in 1715, with
nicated the purport of his writings before the letter of that father subjoined to it.
they would be printed, was pleased to say,   Walter Harris, counsellor, has published
that "they contained but too many truths." two volumes in folio, in English, on the
Francis Porter,. a native of the county of history of Ireland, under the title of " The
Meath, and monk of the order of Saint Works of Sir James Ware on Ireland,
Francis, was for a long time professor of revised and augmented."  The first volume
theology in the college of Saint Isidore, at was printed at Dublin in 1739, and the
Rome, and president of it for some time. second in 1745; a third which he promised,
Among other works, he has left us a volume has not yet appeared. The Irish people are
in Latin, and printed in quarto at Rome, in deeply indebted to this learned man, for the
1690, under the title of "' Compendium An- pains he has bestowed, and the interesting
nalium'Ecclesiasticarum Regni Hiberniae." researches he has made to complete that
After his description of the kingdom, and a work, which he has considerably enlarged
list of its kings, he speaks of the war of the and enriched with many tracts that escaped
Danes: the remainder relates to the affairs the vigilance of his prototype, and which
of the church.                           merit for him the title of author instead of
Louis Augustin Allemand, a lawyer in editor, which he has modestly taken.
the parliament of Paris, published in that   The dissertations upon the ancient history
city, in  1690, "L'Histoire  Monastique of Ireland, giveninEnglandby ananonymous
d'Irelande," in the French language, and writer, and published at Dublin, in 1753,
dedicated it to James II., king of Great through the care of Michael Reilly, display
Britain and Ireland. The learned author an extensive knowledge in the antiquities of
follows with great exactness those who have that country.  This work is flowery in its
written on the same subject before him, viz., style, and the matter handled with peculiar
Usher., Ware, Colgan, and others, and it delicacy and neatness.  I wish that author
can be affirmed, that, for a stranger, who had continued his writings upon that subject;
had never seen the country of which he the nation will lose much, should he repose
writes, his work is very correct,        beneath the shade of his first laurels.
l*  Prel ad Orig. Brit.     al  Such are the principal authors that have
P ref ad Orig. Brit.e




54                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
treated on the history of Ireland, within the those colonies; they do not however agree
three last centuries: the greater part of upon the origin of those people.  Some conthem are of English extraction, and cannot sider them  to have been originally from
be suspected of being partial to ancient Scythia, others from Thrace,* or Migdonia;
Ireland, no more than those English authors, but the opinion of those who suppose that
whom I have made use of.  Such are tile they came from Britain and Gaul, appears
sources from whence I have taken the mate- more natural, without being subject to the
rials that compose this history, without same improbabilities.  Those authors foladopting the fables of some, or following lowing this principle, that all nations had
the exaggerated criticism of others.  Anti- been peopled one from the other succesquity ever deserves respect; " Sua detur sively,t say, that according to order and
antiquitati venia;" nor should the caprice reason, Asia Minor, being nearest to the
of the envious be a sufficient cause to dis- cradle of the human race, must have been
pute it.                                 peopled by the descendants of Japhet before
Greece, Greece before Italy, Italy before
Gaul, Gaul before Britain, and Britain before Ireland; that therefore those countries
must have drawn their first inhabitants one
CHAPTER III.                from the other, from Asia to Ireland: by
such gradation they pretend that Ireland
FABULOUS HISTORY OF THE GADELIANS.  received her first inhabitants from Britain,
or from Gaul. The conjecture is a strong
IT is more than probable that Ireland one. The analogy that is between the name
remained desert and uninhabited from the of those people and the inhabitants of Belgic
creation to the deluge.  No history, not Gaul, and other nations, either of Gaul or
even that of Moses, offers any thing which Britain, added to the proximity of those
can lead us to suppose, that before the countries, gives to it an appearance of plausiuniversal deluge, men had discovered the bility.  The Fomorians and Firbolgs  may
secret of passing from one country to another have been descended from the Belgae of
that was separated by water.  The ark, Belgic Gaul, and the Tuatha de Danains
which was constructed by order of God from the Danmonii, an ancient people of
himself, and which served to preserve man Cornwall in Britain.  Whatever truth may
on the watery element, is the first vessel of be in these conjectures, Partholan having
which we have any knowledge. Consequent- landed with his colony in Ireland,t divided
ly the story of the three Spanish fishermen, the island between his four sons, Er, Orbha,
who were driven by contrary winds on the Fearon, and Ferghna; but his posterity, after
coast of Ireland, some timebefore the deluge, three hundred years' residence in the counand the account of Keasar, daughter of Bith, try, perished miserably by the plague, at
according to others niece of Noah, who, by Binneadair, at present Howth, near Dublin;
means of a vessel which she had built after after which time the island continued uninthe model of the ark,* retired to that island, habited for the space of thirty years, until
to save herself from the waters of the deluge, the arrival of the second colony commanded
should be rejected as a fiction, and unworthy by Nemedius.
of being admitted into a serious history.   It is said that Neivy, or Nemedius,~ great
There are some old collections of charters, grand-nephew of Partholan, having learned
with many other monuments in writing, of by some means the disasters and tragical
the church of Cluan-Mac-Noisk, in Latin end of his relations in Ireland, and wishing,
" Cluanensis," cited by O'Flaherty in the as heir of Partholan, to succeed him in the
dedicatory epistle of his Ogygia,t which fix possession of that island, embarked with
the arrival of the first colonies in Ireland, thirty-four transport vessels, carrying each
under Partholan, in the year of the world thirty persons, without counting Macha, his
1969,: three hundred and twelve years after wife, and his four sons, Starn, Janbaneal,
the deluge; this colony was followed by the Annin, and Fergus, who followed his fortune
Nemedians, the Fomorians, the Firbolgs, and in the expedition.'Macha died after twelve
the Tuatha de Danains.~  Although most years, and was interred in a place since
historiansll who speak of the first inhab- called from her name, Ardmach.
itants of Ireland after the deluge, mention
-* Camd. Brit. edit. Franc. p. 12.
X Ware, cap. 2.  t Page 10.  t Ware, cap. 2.  t Ogyg. part 1, p. 7, part 2.
~ Ogyg. part 2, p. 65; part 3, p. 2.     f Walsh, Prospect of Ir. part 1, sec. 1.
I1 Ogyg. part 2, p. 73.                  ~ Ogyg. part 2, p. 65.




FABULOUS HISTORY OF THE GADELIANS.                   55
Nemedius was not long in peaceful pos- with little interruption till the twelfth censession of his new kingdom, when he was tury.  Slaingey, governor of Leinster, was
disturbed by the Fomorians or Fomhoraigs. the chief of the pentarchy, and monarch of
Nemedius fought some successful battles the whole island. The people were known
against them: the first was near the moun- by three different names, viz., Gallenians,
tain called Slieve Bloemy; the second at Damnonians, and Belgians; but the last
Rossfraochin, in Connaught, where Gan and was the general name of the whole colony;
Geanan, the principal commanders of these their dominion lasted about eighty years
strangers, were slain; the third at Murbuilg, under nine kings, who were, Slaingey, Rory,
in the country since called Dalriada, other- Gann, Geanan, Sengan, Fiacha, Rionall,
wise Route, in which Starn, son of Neme- Fiobgin, and Eogha, who married Tailta,
dius, lost his life. But the fourth battle was daughter of a Spanish prince, who gave
fatal to him, his whole army having been name to the place of her burial, still called
cut to pieces. His son Arthur, who was Tailton, in Meath.*
born in the country, and Jobean, son of  In the reign of Eogha, the colony of the
Starn, were found among the slain.*  Ne- Tuatha de Danains, whose ancestors had
medius, unable to survive so great a misfor- been conducted into the north of Germany
tune, died of grief some short time after- by Jobath, grandson of Nemedius,t as we
wards at Oilean-Arda-Neivy, at present have already said, made a descent upon IreBarrymore, in the county of Cork; after land under the conduct of Nuagha Airgiodwhich the Fomorians easily made them- lamh, who immediately gave battle to the
selves masters of the whole island.  Those Firbolgs, commanded by Eogha their king,
of the colony of Nemedius who had escaped at Moyturey near Lake Masg, in the territhe last defeat, after some few unavailing tory of Partrigia, otherwise Partry, in the
efforts, being unable to bear the tyranny of county of Mayo.T  The latter lost in one
those new masters, resolved to abandon the day the battle and possession of the island,
country.  Jobath, grandson of Nemedius, and were so reduced as to seek an asylum
led a part of the colony into the north of in the islands of the north. Nuagha, having
Germany, from whence are descended the lost one hand in the action, had one made
Tuatha de Danains.F  Briotan Maol, grand- of silver, whence the name of Airgiodlamh
-son of Nemedius by Feargus, established is derived, which signifies silver hand.
himself with his tribe in Britain,f called, ac-  It is said that the Tuatha de Danains
cording to the Psalter of Cashel, from his were very skilful in the art of magic, which
name, and his posterity settled there under was the theology of those barbarians.  Bethe name of Britons.  This opinion, which fore they landed in Ireland, they passed
is supported by a number of ancient Irish through Norway and Denmark, where their
chronologists, agrees as to the time, with diabolical science procured them respect.
Henry of Huntington, who says, that the They brought from that country the famous
Britons came into Britain in the third age stone called, " Lia-Fail," in Latin, " saxum
of the world, "Brittones in tertia mundi fatale."  This stone, which gave to Ireland
retate venerunt in Brittaniam;" this account the name of " Innisfail," that is to say, the
merits at least as much credit as the fable island of Fail, was used at the coronation of
of Geoffry of Monmouth about Brutus, which their kings: it is pretended, that during the
has been opposed and rejected by his own ceremony an astonishing noise issued from
countrymen.                             it, like the statue of Memnon in the Thebaid,
In some time after, the Firbolgs or Bel- from which a distinct sound was heard, when
gians, another people of Britain, to the num- struck by the first rays of the rising sun.
ber of five thousand men, commanded by But the coming of the Messiah, which made
five chiefs, either by the defeat or desertion all those pagan superstitions vanish, caused
of the Fomorians, took possession of the this stone also to lose its virtue. There is
island.  Those five leaders were, Slaingey, aprophecy, likewise, which says, that whereRughruighe or Rory, Gan, Gannan, and soever the stone should be preserved,a prince
Sengan, all brothers, and children of Dela, of the race of the Scots should reign; which
of the race of the Nemedians. They divided gave rise to the following lines:
the island into five parts or provinces, which   Cineadh Scuit saor an fine,
gave birth to the pentarchy, which lasted        Munab breg an fhaisdine.
| Ogyg. part 3, cap. 7.                          a Ogyg. part 3, cap. 9.
pt Keating.                                      t Ogyg. part 2, page 81.
t Walsh, Prosp. of Ireland, part 1, seet. 1.    t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 10.




56                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Mar a bfhuighid an Lia-fail,    and Eire;* but the latter was more used,
Dlighid flait heas do ghabhail.  as it was in the year of the reign of Keahur,
and consequently when the island was called
which are found thus translated into Latin Eire, that the children of Milesius conquierin the History of Scotland, by Hector Boe- ed it.
tius:                                     Those first inhabitants of Ireland, having
Ni fallat fatum, Scoti quocumque loeatum  been destroyed successively, at last gave
Invenient lapidem, regnare tenentur ibidem.   way to the Scoto-Milesians, and were forced
to yield to them the possession of the island.
In the beginning of the thirteenth century   Some of our modern authors give us, after
of Christianity, Feargus the Great, son of their ancient Fileas, the following detail of
Earcha, having been elected by the Dal- the origin, voyages, and transmigrations of
riads of Albania for their chief,* and seeing the Scoto-Milesians.
that he was able to get himself crowned   Japhet, one of the sons of Noah,f had
king, sent to ask this stone from Murtough, seven sons, who were the first of the human
then monarch of Ireland, in order to render race in Europe, and a part of Asia; viz.,
the ceremonyofhis inauguration more solemn Gomer peopled Gaul and Germany; Magog
and august, and to perpetuate the diadem in occupied Scythia, at present Tartary, Madai
his own family; the monarch readily grant- and Javan established themselves in the
ed the request of Feargus, who got him- several provincesof Greece, Thubal in Spain,
self crowned first king of the Dalriads of Mosoch in Italy, and the countries which
Albania, on that stone which was preserved extend from the Mediterranean as far as bewith veneration in the abbey of Scone, till yond the river Ister; and Thyras possessed
the thirteenth century, when it was forcibly himself of Thrace.  "Ab his divisae sant
carried off by Edward I., king of England, insule gentium in regionibus suis."}
and placed in the chair which is used at the   According to the " White Book," called in
coronation of the kings of England, in the the Scotic language, " lesvar-drom-sneachabbey of Westminster, where it is, they say, i ta," and that of"' Conquests and Invasions,"
still preserved.                        both written in the times of paganism, and
The colony of the Tuatha de Danains, cited by Keating,{ Magog, son of Japhet,
thus called from three of their chiefs, bro- had three sons, viz., Baath, Jobath, and
thers and children of Danan, daughter of Fathochta.  From the first was descended
Dealboith, of the race of Nemedius, was in Fenius Farsa, king of Scythia, from whom
possession of that island, according to the the Gadelians and Milesians derived their
Psalter of Cashel, for the space of one hun- origin; the second was chief of the Amnadred and ninety-seven years governed by zons, Bactrians, and Parthians; the third
seven kings successively, namely, Nuagha was ancestor to Partholan, and consequently
Airgiodlamh, Breas, Lugha-Lamh-Fada, in of the Nemedians, the Firbolgs, and Tuatha
Latin " Longimanus," Dagha, Delvioth, Fi- de Danains, who were the first inhabitants
agha, and the three sons of Kearmada, name- of Ireland.
ly, Eathur, Teahur, andKeahur: who reigned   Fenius Farsa, king of the Scythians, had
alternately, a year each, for thirty years. two sons, viz.,.Nenual, the elder, heir to his 
Those three brothers were married to three crown, and Niul, who being very learned in
sisters; they took surnames from the differ- the languages multiplied by the confusion of
ent idols which they worshipped. Eathur, Babel, made a voyxge into Egypt, where he
who had married Banba, was called Maccuill, married Seota, daughter of king Pharaoh
from a certain kind of wood which he adored. Cincris, and established himself in the counTeahur espoused Fodhla, and worshipped try of Capacirunt on the borders of the Red
the plough; he was called Mac-Keaght. Sea. Niul had by the princess his spouse, a
Keahur, husband of Eire, displayed better son whom he named Gaodhal, who, at the
taste than his brothers, as he took the sun time that Moses was making preparations
for his divinity, and was thence named Mac- to draw the people of Israel out of captivity,
Greine, that is to say, the son of the sun.  having been bitten by a serpent, was preIreland, which, until the reign of those sented by his father to the holy patriarch,
three brothers, had no other name but that who cured him by a touch of his wand; but
of Inisfail, or Iniselga, changed it with her there remained always a green spot in the
king, and was called by the name of the
reigning queen, alternately, Banba, Fadla,  yg. pa, ap. 5
t Gen. cap. 10.
t Ibidem, ver. 5.
* War. Antiq. Hiber. cap. 5, Ogyg. part 1, p. 45.  ~ Page 53, et seq;..~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Pg 3 tsq




FABULOUS HISTORY OF THE GADELIANS.                     57
place of the wound, which caused him to be called in their language, " Gaethluighe,"
called Gaodhal-Glas, otherwise Gadelas, the which some think to be Gothia, or Gothland;
word glas in the Scotic language signifying but more probably, according to O'Flaherty,*
green. Moses foretold, on curing him, that Getulia, in Africa, conformably to this verse
the land which would be inhabited by his from Propertius in Camden:t
posterity, who were called, and even to thise Britannia Hurru.
day are called, Clanna-Gaodhal, or Gadelians, that is, the children of Gaodhal, would   They remained in that country during
be free from serpents, and all venomous rep- eight generations, under the command of
tiles, which has been verified in regard to eight chiefs, the descendants of Lamphion,
the islands of Crete and Ireland.       viz., Heber-Glun-Fion, Eibric, Nenuaill,
The posterity of Niul, in the third gene- Nuagatt, Alluid, Earchada, Deaghatha, and
ration, became numerous, and were conse- Bratha.  By the last they were led into
quently suspected by the Egyptians, who, Spain, inhabited at that time by the descendunder the orders of Pharaoh-En-Tuir, their ants of Tubal, son of Japhet.
king, formed the resolution of making war   These new-comers, under the command
against those strangers. Finding themselves of Breogan, son of Bratha, made war with
unable to oppose the superior forces of the success against the old inhabitants, and beEgyptians, they embarked under the conduct came masters of the northern provinces,
of Sur, son of Easur, son of Gaodhal, and where Breogan built a city, which he called
after a few days sailing, landed in the island Brigantia, or Braganza, after his own name.
of Crete, where their chief died, and was   This captain had ten sons, namely, Cusucceeded in the command by Eibher, other- ailgne, Cuala, Blath, Aibhle, Nar, Breagha,
wise Heber-Scot, his son. From this flight Fuad, Muirtheimhne, Ith, and Bille. This
of the Gadelians out of Egypt, we must last was fatherof Gallamh, otherwise Mileagunderstand what Washingham, an English Espaine, in Latin, Milesius, the ancestor of
monk and historian in the fifteenth century, the Milesians or ancient Irish; Ith had a son
says in his book called, c" Ypodigma." " The called Lugadg, or Lugadius. Milesius, after
Egyptians," says he, " having been swallow- whom the ancient Irish were called Clannaed up in the Red Sea, those who survived Mileag or Milesians, became in his turn
that disaster expelled a certain noble Scy- chief of the colony of the Gadelians, and
thian, fearing lest he should usurp a power after having secured and extended by many
over them. Being thus driven away, to- victories the conquests of his predecessors,
gether with his family, he came to Spain, he made peace with his enemies, and formed
where he lived for many years; his race the resolution of visiting the country of his
was multiplied exceedingly, and from thence ancestors.  He left part of the colony to
they came to Ireland."*                 guard his new kingdom, and embarked with
Heber-Scot, having the command of the the remainder for Scythia, where he was
Gadelians, departed from the island of Crete, honorably received by Riffloir, then king;
and sailing through the /Egean and the who knew that this prince was, as well as
Euxine seas, he arrived in the river Tanais himself, descended from Fenius-Farsa, with
in Scythia, the country of his ancestors, this difference, that Riffloir had his origin.
where his colony settled for some time; they from Nennual the elder, and successor to
were commanded after his death by his de- the throne of his father; whereas, Milesius
scendants successively from father to son; was descended from Niul the younger.
viz., by Agnamon, Tait, Adnoin, and Lam-   Milesius became by his courtly manners
Iphion. A persecution however was raised so great a favorite with the king, that he I
through jealousy of the Scythians against appointed him his first minister, and general
them, and they were compelled to take refuge and chief over his troops; as a greater proof
among the Amazons, having Adnoin for their of his confidence, he gave him his daughter
chief.  After sojourning there for some time, Seaug in marriage, by whom he had two
they departed, under the conduct of Lam- sons, Donn and Aireach, surnamed Feabhrua.
phion, the son of Adnoin, for the country But the death of his wife, added to some
difference he had with the king, caused him
X "The Egyptians being drowned in the Red to leave Scythia.  He embarked with his
Sea, those who remained drove from among them two children and little troop of faithful
a certain noble Scythian who lived in the country, Gadelians, for Egypt, where the king, Phalest he should usurp dominion over them. After raoh-Nectonebus, gave him the command of
being driven out, he with his family came to Spain, 
where he lived for many years; and from thence
came to Ireland." —Ad. ann. 1185. -        Ogyg. part 2, cap. 67. t Edit. Lond. p. 87..i came to Ireland," —Ad.  ann. 1185.




58                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
his army in a war in which he was engaged board, besides rowers and sailors, he set out
against the Ethiopians.                 with Ludgadh, his son, to make the discovMilesius acquitted himself of that cornm- ry to which he had been appointed.  On
mission as usual, with honor, and -Scota his arrival in the north of the island, he
the king's daughter was given him in mar- offered sacrifices to Neptune, and inquired
riage, as a reward for his services. He had from the inhabitants what the name of the
by this princess in Egypt, Heber-Fionn and country was, the people who inhabited it,
Amhergin.  During his residence in that and likewise the prince who ruled there:
country, he caused twelve young men of they told him that the island was sometimes
his suite to be instructed in the different called Innisfail, sometimes Inis-Ealga, and
arts and sciences then in use, in order that that it was governed by three princes who
they might, on their return to Spain, instruct were brothers, and children of Kearmada of
their countrymen in the same.           the nation of the Tuatha de Danains; that
Milesius thinking it time to put an end to they were then at Oileag-Neid, at present
his labors, and to join once more his rela- Inish-Owen, in the northern part of the protions and friends in Spain, to enjoy with vince, since called Ulster. Ith, conducted
them the sweets of repose, after a residence by a guide, and escorted by one hundred of
of seven years in Egypt,* took leave of the his soldiers, took the road to Oileag-Neid.
king and all his court, to return with the On his arrival he was presented to the
princess his wife, his children, and attend- princes, who received him honorably, and
ants. After arriving in an island called Irene, seeing him possessed of much wisdom, they
on the frontiers of Thrace, Scota was deliv- appointed him arbiter of their differences,
ered of a son, whom they called Ir.t During namely, on whom should the right of suctheir voyage she had another, to whom they ceeding. Kearmada, their father, devolve.
gave the name of Colpa; and at length, Ith having acquitted himself on this occasion
after many fatigues and dangers by sea and to the satisfaction of the parties concerned,
land, they arrived in Spain, where this great he exhorted them to peace and union among
captain, after appeasing some troubles which themselves, congratulating them  on their
had arisen during his absence, and having happiness in possessing so fertile a country,
had two more sons, Aranann and Heremon, and situated in so fine a climate; he then
ended his days in peace.                set out to join the rest of his men, whom
The family of Breogan, of which that of he had left to guard his vessel.  The three
Milesius king of Gallicia, his grandson, princes began to reflect on th' praises which
formed the most considerable branch, was Ith had bestowed on their country, and conbecome numerous.4  A drought of several ceiving a mistrust towards him, they looked
years, followed by a want of grain and all on him as a man of an enterprising turn,
kinds of provisions, having caused a famine, and capable of coming with a more numerous
ruined and compelled them to seek a reme- force, to conquer a country which he thought
dy for so pressing an evil. All the chiefs so fine. In order to obviate that danger they
of the tribes assembled at Braganza, to de- dispatched a force of one hundred and fifty
liberate on what should be done. The re- chosen men, commanded by MacCuille, in
sult of the conference was, to abandon their pursuit of him; they attacked him at a place
settlement in Spain, and seek for one in since called after his name, Moy-Ith, in the
some other country; particularly as Caicer, county of Tyrone. The combat was bloody,
the druid, a famous prophet among them, and the resistance on the side of the Gadehad foretold long before, that their descend- lians obstinate, till at length seeing their
ants should be possessed of the most wester- commander Ith dangerously wounded, and
ly island in Europe.~  But as it was of im- unable to withstand the superior force of
portance to learn where that island lay, be- their enemies, they reached their vessel with
fore they should bring the whole colony difficulty, and embarked for Spain, but had
thither, the assembly intrusted the discovery the misfortune, during their voyage, to witof it to Ihy, otherwise Ithe, (son of Breogan ness their commander expire of his wounds.
and uncle of'Milesius,) a man of'prudence During the interval of Ith's expedition, Mileand consummate experience. Ith having ac- sius, after a reign of thirty-six years in
cepted the commission, equipped a vessel, Gallicia, died, universally regretted by the
-and taking one hundred and fifty soldiers on whole colony; but the arrival of Lugadius,
who presented to them the dead body of Ith,
Lecan. fol. 13, p. 2, col. 1.
t Keatn. fpo. 80, et seq. 2, ol.his father, added considerably to their afflic$ O'Sull. Compendium, vol. i. lib. 3, cap. 1.   tion. With eyes bathed in tears, and lan~ Keating.                            guage the most energetic which the grief of




FABULOUS HISTORY QF THE GADELIANS.                      59
a son (who loved his father tenderly) could however, having abated, and being succeed-s
make use of, he displayed the perfidy of ed by a calm  Heremon, more fortunate than
those three princes of the western isle, and his brothers, reached Invear-Colpa, and at
forcibly impressed upon them, that, as the the same time Heber-Fionn, Amergin his
death of his father had been the effect of his brother, with all their attendants, disemzeal for the common cause, he trusted, that barked at Invear-Skeiny, at present Bantry,
an attempt whereby the law of nations had in the county of Cork, or rather the county
been violated, and an insult that might re- of Kerry.*
flect upon the entire colony, should not be   This account, says Keating, is taken from
left unpunished.*                       an ancient poem of Eochaid O'Floin, beginThe Gadelians, affected bythe just resent- ning with those words: " Taoisig Na-Luing
ment of Lugadius,t prepared themselves for Sinter lear," related inthe Psalter of Cashel.t
revenge, resolved to shed in sacrifice to the   Heber-Fionn had no time to rest after his
manes of Ith, the last drop of their blood, fatigues; for at the end of three days he
and without loss of time had a fleet of sixty was attacked at Sliave-Mish,t at present in
sail equipped with every thing necessary for the barony of Truchanaimy, in the county
so important an expedition.  The little fleet of Kerry, by a party of the Tuatha de Dabeing provided with all things, and ready to nains, commanded by the princess Eire,
sail, the entire colony, that is to say, the de- wife of Mac-Greiny, who, after losing a
scendants of Breogan divided into different thousand men, was put to flight by the
tribes, embarked with their wives and chil- Milesians.
dren, their vassals, a number of soldiers,  The princess Eire, after collecting the
artisans, and laborers of every kind, under remains of her army, led them to Tailton,
forty chiefs, of whom the principal were the where the princes being assembled, she gave
eight sons of Milesius, namely, Donn, Ai- them an account of her defeat.  The Milereach, Heber-Fionn, Amhergin, Ir, Colpa, sians lost three hundred men in the action,
Aranann, and Heremon, with their mother besides Scota, the widow of Milesius, Fais
Scota.  After coasting along part of Spain, a lady of quality, some druids, and several
Gaul, and Britain, they at length arrived on officers who had fallen. Scota and Fais were
the southern coast of the western island, buried at the foot of a mountain, in two
which had been promised to them by their valleys, which were called after their names,
druids.  While they were preparing to dis- Glean-Scoithin and Glean-Fais.
embark, they were overtaken by a violent  Heber, after this first advantage, having
storm, which soon changed their hopes into refreshed his troops, advanced into the coundespair.  The heavens were darkened; a try to make further discoveries, in hopes of
wind from the southeast swelled the waves; meeting some of the colony that were scattheir confusion was great and the danger tered by the storm  some time before, and,
inevitable, so that in a little time the fleet after a long and fatiguing march, arrived at
was scattered, and out of sixty ships of which Invear-Colpa, where he found Heremon with
it was composed, not two of them remained his division, by whom he was informed of the
together.  The first victim  to Neptune's disasters that had befallen his brothers Aiwrath was Donn; he perished with his entire reagh and Colpa, who had perished on that
crew, on the western coast of the island, at coast. The brothers nowiiniting their forces,
a place called after his name, Teagh-Duinn. formed their plans of operation for a camAranann was driven to sea by a sudden gust. paign.  They determined to go in quest of
Ir was shipwrecked upon the southern coasts, the enemy, who, according to the reports of
his body was found upon the strand, and their scouts, was not far off.{  They began
buried in a craggy island, called Skeilg- their march, and after a few days came up
Mihil, within a few leagues of Dingle in the with the three princes of the Tuatha de
county of Kerry: it is called, in Mercator's Danains, in the plains of Tailton, with a
map of Ireland, Midelskyllighs.  Heremon, formidable army ready to meet them.ll  The
Aireagh, and Colpa, were driven by the storm action began, and this battle, which was to
towards the north.  The two last, with the decide the fate of both parties, was for a
whole of their attendants, perished.  Colpa long time doubtful, the troops on both sides
being wrecked at the mouth of the river, making extraordinary efforts; the latter to
afterwards called the Boyne, the place was
named Invear-Colpa, that is, the bay of Col-  X Ogyg. part 3, cap. 10.
pa, below the city of Drogheda. The storm,  t Ogyg. part 2, page 82 and 83.
$ Ogygia, part 2, page 86.
~ Gratianus Lucius, cap. 8, page 58.
X Keating.     t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 16.  11 Walsh, Prosp. of Ireland, part 1, sec. 1.




60                              HISTORY OF IRELAND.
defend their patrimony against the invaders, with the division that was made between the
who wished to wrest it from them; the for- two princes, she influenced her husband to
mer, less to revenge the death of their coun- do justice to himself by force of arms. Prince
tryman, than to obtain the possession of an Heber, weak and condescending, yielded to
island which had been destined for them, ac- the importunities of his wife, and declared
cording to the prophecy of the druids.'At war against his brother Heremon.*  War
length the three princes of the Tuatha de being now commenced, the two armies met
Danains, together with their principal offi- uponthe plains of Geisiol, the frontier boundcers having fallen, the army was put into aries of the provinces of Leinster and Mundisorder, and the rout became so general, ster.t  The battle was bloody and obstinate,
that more were killed in the pursuit than on but Heber and his chief officers being slain,$
the field of battle.  That day, so fatal to the Heremon, like a second Romulus, became
Tuatha de Danains, decided the empire of sole possessor of the island, over which he
the island in favor of the Milesians.      reigned forthirteenyears.~ This is confirmed
Heber-Fionn and Heremon, brothers and by the authority of Aongus Celide or Colichildren of Milesius, as chiefs of the colony, deus, an author of the eighth century, cited
divided the island between them.  Heber by Ware in the second chapter of his Anpossessed Deisiol Eirionn, that is, the south- tiquities of Ireland.ll  The foregoing is a
ern part, afterwards called the province of. slight sketch of what ancient and modern
Munster, where he built a palace. Heremon histories set forth respecting the origin of the
enjoyed the sovereignty of Leinster, and had Milesians; let us now view the difficulties
the palace of Rath-Beothaig built at Air- whichwouldbe advanced againstthe voyages
geodross, upon the banks of the river Nore, and transmigrations of the Gadelians.  The
in the county of Ossory; at the solicitation first is, to reconcile a point of chronology on
of his wife Thea, daughter of Lucha, son of the subject of Gaodhal, who, according to
Ith, he afterwards built the palace of Tea- the manuscripts followed by Keating, was
mor, which signifies the residence of Tea. the sixth descendant from Japhet, and conThey gave the northern parts of the island, temporary of Moses, which made the fourat present the province of Ulster, to Heber- teenth or fifteenth generation after Shem.
Donn, son of Ir, and to some other chiefs. Keating injudiciously supposes that he has
The descendants of Heber-Donn, called the smoothed a difficulty by imagining Niul or
Clanna-Rorys, built in the county of Ar- some of his ancestors to have lived for many
magh the palace of Eamhain-Macha, which ages, in order to make the sixth descendant
lasted for almost seven hundred years, and on one side fall in with the fourteenth on the
was possessed by that tribe till the time of' other; but if mankind lived then to a great
the three brothers, called the three Collas, age, the supposition is equally applicable to
by whom that superb edifice was destroyed. the ancestors of Moses, as to those of Niul.
They conferred on their cousin Lugadh, son It is more natural to think that the anachroof Ith, the sovereignty of Corca-Luidh.* The nism has arisen through some copyist of the
fiefs and lordships throughout the various
provinces were, in fine, distributed among the
other chiefs, according to their rank and   * War. Antiq. cap. 2.  t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 17..merit; and in consideration of the services   t Grat. Luc. cap. 8, page 58.
~merit;  and in consideration of the services    " After several battles and doubtful events of
which the remaining party of the Firbolgs war between the brothers, victory fell at length to
had rendered them in the conquest of the Heremon, and in one of these battles Heber, his
island, they bestowed on them the province brother, being slain, Heremon became sole master
of Connaught, which their descendants re- of the kingdom, and was the first monarch of the
Irish people, who inhabit the kingdom to this day."
tained till the third age. of Christianity.  I — Gerald Camb. Topography of Ireland, c. 7.
do not find that any portion was given to  I "s The island Hibernia was divided between the
their brother Amhergin, who was still living, two princes of the army called Milesians, and into
and a druid by profession; he was probably two parts. Heber obtained the southern parts, and to
treated like the tribe of Levi, who possessed Heremon fell the northern, together with the monarno share in the land promised to the Israel- chy. Heremon was the first of the Scots who ruled
over the whole of Ireland, during 13 years, and had
Xtes.                                      5 sons elected, 4 of whom governed the kingdom
The two brothers Heber-Fionn and Here- for 3 years, and Jarel, the prophet, during 10. Of
mnon reigned together during the space of a the descent of IHeremon, 58 kings ruled over Ireyear; but the ambition of Heber's wife be- land before Patrick had preached the doctrines and
the cause of her ruin.  Not content sufferings of Christ to the Irish. After the time
came the cause of her ruin.  Not content of Patrick, 50 kings of the above lineage ruled
over Ireland."-Ware's Antiquities, and Ogyg. p.
t Ogyg. part 1, page 11.        3, c. 7.




FABULOUS HISTORY OF THE GADELIANS.                     61
manuscripts of the Milesians, who might the second of the name, and king of Egypt,
have omitted some generations between Ja- having equipped a fleet on the Red Sea, had
phet and Niul. As to the histories of those Phmnician pilots brought to command it.
times so far remote, there are many things This fleet, after having coasted along the
in them very obscure, and several difficulties Red Sea, entered the ocean, and crossing
therein hard to be resolved. Do we not see the Torrid Zone, doubled the Cape of Good
the learned differ about theking thatreigned Hope, and after sailing round Africa, rein Egypt in the time of Moses, and who was turned to Egypt through the Straits of Gibdrowned in the Red Sea?  Some pretend raltar, by the Mediterranean Sea; so it is
that it was Amenophis, father of Sesostris, more than probable, that from the earliest
while others say that it was Pheron, son of times, and immediately after the deluge, manthe latter. The Hebrews, the Greeks, and kind had discovered the art of building ships,
the Latins disagree concerning the number from the model of the Ark, which had saved
of years that elapsed from the time of the their ancestors from the waters of the deluge.
creation to the coming of the Messiah;   But it may be asked, why did they not
their differences, however, do not affect the establish themselves in some part of the
truth of the events which are recorded to continent, rather than expose themselves to
have happened at that time, viz., the crea- so many dangers by sea, to seek after an
tion of the world, the deluge, the genealogy island in the Atlantic Ocean, and separate
of Abraham, whether in ascending up to themselves forever from all intercourse with
Adam, or descending down to Moses. A mankind?  The weakness of that question
similar anachronism with respect to Gaodhal will be perceived, when we consider that a
and Moses, ought not to destroy the. truth taste for voyages and emigrations prevailed
of the history of the Gadelians, as to their in the early ages of the world. Men had
origin and genealogy.                   not been sufficiently settled, nor property in
It will be perhaps again objected, that the possession of lands established as it has
navigation being unknown at those early since become.  For besides, a colony of
periods, it cannot be believed that the Gade- Tyrians, who, having coasted along Asia
lians had been able to make such distant voy- Minor, Greece, Italy, Gaul, and the several
ages by sea, as from Egypt to Crete, from countries which surround the MediterraCrete to Scythia, from Scythia to Africa, from nean Sea, without stopping in any, sailed
Africa to Spain, and from Spain to Ireland. through the Straits of Gibraltar into the
This difficulty will vanish if we but con- ocean, established themselves in the westsider that the art of sailing had been at all ern coast of Spain, and built the city of
times in use, at least since the deluge. We Cadiz, long before Utica and Carthage.
know that long before Solomon, the Phmeni- Moreover, there were colonies sent into difcians, Egyptians, and Greeks possessed the ferent countries by the Egyptians, Phoeniart of navigation.  The Phoenicians, says cians, Greeks, and Carthaginians, who were
Herodotus,* who traded to all countries, themselves a colony of Phoenicians.  Carwith the merchandises of Egypt and Assyria, thage herself, after having founded three
arrived at Argos, a trading city in Greece, hundred cities on the coast of Africa, and
and after disposing of their merchandise, finding herself still overcharged with inhabthey carried off the wives of the Greeks, toge- itants, sent Hanno with a fleet and thirty
ther with Io, daughter of king Inachus, who thousand volunteers, to make discoveries on
I reigned at Argos about the year of the world the coast of Africa beyond the Pillars of Her3112; after which, some Greeks trading to cules, and to establish some colonies there.*
Tyre, carried away in their turn, Europa,  The Scythians, from whom the Gadelians
daughter of the king of Tyre, to be revenged were descended, and who were masters of
for the insult their countrymen sustained by the vast regions which extended from the
the carrying off of their wives from Argos. Boristhenes to the country of the MassageWe find that David, after conquering and tes, and from the Saces to the east of the
reducing the kingdom of Edom into a pro- Caspian Sea, had neither cities nor houses;
vince of his empire, established commerce they were continually roving, and lived in
at Elath and at Asiongaber, two ports on the tents, sometimes in one country, sometimes
Red Sea. But Solomon carried it still far- in another.
ther, for in his time they traded from the  * The learned are divided about the time of the
Red Sea along the coast of Arabia, Persia, expedition. Strabo supposes it to have been a few
the Indies, and as far as the western coast years after the Trojan war; but Vossius, who beof Africa. History informs us that Nechao, lieves Hanno to be more ancient than Homer, asserts that it took place at least a century before the
* Lib. 1.              taking of that city.




62                                HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Whatever truth may be attached to what We can likewise add to this the authority
I have now related with regard to the voy- of an ancient Latin manuscript in Gothic
ages and transmigrations of the Gadelians characters, of which Harris speaks:* it was
in different countries, it appears at all times discovered a few years ago, in the archives
indisputable, that that people derived their of a monastery in Gallicia, by Sir John
origin from the Scythians; their name Kinea Higgins, counsellor of state, and head phyScuit, or Scota, denotes it.*  The accounts sician to Philip V.  This manuscript is
of foreign authors and those of their Fileast entitled c" Concordantia Hispanime atque Hiconfirm it.  Newton,t with Appina and oth- berniae a Sedulio Scoto genere Hiberniensi
ers, says, that Greece and all Europe had et Episcopo Oretensi," and is attributed to
been peopled by the Cimmerians or Scythi- Sedulius the younger, who lived in the
ans from  the borders of the Euxine Sea, eighth century.  The subject of it is, acwho, like the Tartars in the north of Asia, cording to Harris, as follows:  Sedulius
led a wandering life.  Spain had perhaps having acquired a high reputation by his
her share in peopling a part of Europe, and commentaries on the Gospel of St. Matthew,
consequently the ancient Spaniards were and the Epistles of St. Paul,t Pope Gregory
descended from  the same Scythians.  Al- II. sent him into Spain, having nominated
though the Milesians claim the glory of hav- him bishop of Oreto, to allay some troubles
ing come directly from Egypt to Spain, they that had arisen among the clergy of that
do not at the same time lose sight of their nation.  Sedulius, meeting with some oppoScythian origin.  They call themselves at sition from the Spaniards in consequence of
all tines the descendants of the Iberians or being a stranger, wrote this treatise, wherein
Scythians of the Euxine Sea.~  They pre- he shows, that, as an Irishman, and being
tend that the colony, after having been led descended from  the Spaniards, he should
into different countries by their princes, es- consequently enjoy the same privileges as
tablished themselves at last in Spain. How- they did.  He continued therefore to enjoy
ever, if they pass themselves for the children his bishopric, until driven from  it by the
of Magog, rather than of Gomer, from whose Moors.  The pope afterwards nominated
posterity Gaul, Germany, and other countries him titular bishop of Great Britain, and in
of the north had been peopled, it is a matter that quality he assisted at a council at Rome,
which is of itself but of little importance.  against unlawful marriages.1
The truth of the Scoto-Milesians having   The testimony of the Spaniards thempassed from  Spain to Ireland is supported selves, particularly of Alderetus, in his Anby proofs that are equally strong.  Foreign tiquities of Spain, and of Florianus del
authors are in perfect accordance with the Canpo, joined to a tradition  among the
monuments of that people on that head; people, who look upon the Irish as their
this constitutes a certainty beyond all doubt. children, and as a colony which had left
Among the number are Nennius of the ninth their country, in consequence of which they
century, Walsingham, Henry of I-unting- are treated as inhabitants -of the country,
ton,ll Buchanan,%[ and others.  The opinion particularly in Gallicia, and the northern
of these authors, says Camden, accords with parts of the kingdom, where they enjoy the
the opinion of the Irish, who gladly call them- same privileges as the natives; these are
selves the descendants of the Spaniards.?* conclusive proofs on the subject, although
Camden pretends that it was ambition made
War Antiq. Hibern. cap. 1, page 3.       Florianus del Campo say, that the Brigantes
Chron. Dublin edit. page 10.              had passed from  Spain into Ireland, and
T Chron. D~ublin edit. page 10.
~ Ogyg. part 2, page 66 et 82.            from thence into Britain.
11 "The Britons came into Britain during the   The great difficulty consists in settling
third age of the world, and the Scoti into Ireland the time of the transmigration of the Scotoin the fourth age. Whereas those matters are un- Milesians from Spain to Ireland, on account
certain, it is indubitable, that they came fiom Spain of the different calculations of the annalists.
to Ireland, and emigrating from thence, they added
a third nation in Britain to the Britons and the Following the ancient monuments, Keating
Picts." —Huntingdon, pp. 88, 729.           fixed it 1300 years before the birth of Jesus
~[ "There is a prevailing report, which says, that Christ.  Cambrensis, and the author of the
a great number of Spaniards, who were either driven Polychronicon, reckon 1800 years fiom their
from the country by the great ones, or from a re- arrival in the island,~ till the mission of St.
dundancy of population, went of their own accord,
and passed into Ireland.'"Buchanan, b. 4, c. 5.
*A  " To this opinion, prevalent among the Irish,  X Irish Writers, vol. 2, c. 5.
may be added, i. e.' they confess most freely,' that  t Usser, Primord. cap. 16, page 780.
they are descended frontm the Spaniards." —Irish   t Binii Concil. tome 5. Baleus, Cent. 14, n. 28.
Writers, vol. 2, c. 5.                        ~ Q Walsh, Prospect of Ireland, page 393.




RELIGION AND CUSTOMS OF THE MILESIANS.                     63
Patrick in the fifth century, which agrees troduced idolatry among them.  The same
pretty nearly with the calculation of Keat- histories inform  us,* that that unhappy
ing.  The number of kings who reigned in prince was, together with a great number
Ireland from Heremon to the twelfth age of of his subjects, struck dead by an invisible
Christianity was 181. The epoch of their hand, on the day we call " All Saints,"
commencement in the time of Heremon de- while they were employed in worshipping
pends upon the length of their reign; if we the idol, called in their language, "Cromallow to each a reign of fourteen years, we Cruadh," in the plains of Moy-Sleachta, near
must necessarily ascend from  the twelfth Fenagh, in the barony of Mohill, territory
century upwards to the epoch fixed upon of Briefny, at present the county of Leitrim:
by Keating; but if with Newton,* we give that, till then, their ancestors, the Gadelians,
to each a reign of eighteen or twenty years, had' a knowledge of the true God,t and folwhich, in a warlike nation, is not probable, lowed the religion of the patriarchs, having
we must ascend much higher than that era. received that divine impression from Moses.
Camden, as well as Nennius, presumes that and the Israelites, with whom they had some
we should search for their migrations in more connection before the passage ofthe Red Sea.
modern times; this, however, is not conclu- However this be, no nation was ever more
sive. O'Flaherty, who was much more capa- superstitious afterwards than the Milesians:
ble than those foreigners of fathoming the and though they neither worshipped cats,
antiquities of his country, has in accordance dogs, crocodiles, nor the vegetables which
with ancient monuments, defined the time their gardens produced, as the Egyptians
that each Milesian king reigned, from the did; still they had many gods of various
arrival of the colony in Ireland until the sorts and orders.  This inclination to idolbirth of our Saviour, and places it in the atry, common to them with other nations,
time of Solomon, that is, about 1000 years (not excepting the people chosen and imbefore Jesus Christ.t  This account agrees mediately governed by God himself,) was
with the period of the conquest of Spain, strengthened by the example of the Tuatha
by Sesac or Sesostris, of which Newton de Danains, their immediate predecessors in
I speaks,:  and which, according to Buchanan, the possession of the island, who worshipped
was probably the cause of the flight of that the sun, the moon, sometimes the ploughl,
colony, "A pot'ntioribus domo pulsam."   and other things made by the hands of men;
We might, perhaps, with a greater ap- but as these divinities, resting upon the capearance of truth, place that event a century price or inventions of man, could not fix the
later, that is, in the time of Melcartus, or mind, the objects of this worship were freHercules the Tyrian, who was, according quently changed.
to Newton, the second conqueror of Spain,   Great honors were paid to the druids
and the founder of Carteia, particularly as and bards among the Milesians, as well as
thait learned man thinks, that they had not to those among the Britons and Gauls..
taken distant voyages (such as to Britain or The first called Draoi in their language,+
Ireland) before the time of that conqueror. performed the duties of priest, philosopher,
legislator, and judge.  Cesar has given, in
his commentaries,~ a well-detailed account
of the order, office, jurisdiction, and doctrine
of the druids among the Gauls. As priests,
CHAPTER IV.                 they regulated religion and its worship;
according to their will the objects of it were
OF THE RELIGION AND CUSTOMS OF THE  determined, and the divinity often.changed;
MILESIANS.                to them, likewise, the education of youth
IT is not easy to define the religion of the was intrusted.  Guided by the druids, the
ancient Milesians; it appears, however, by Milesians generally adored Jupiter, Mars,
their history, that Tighernmas,~ the seventh Mercury, Apollo, the sun, moon, and wind;
king of that race, was the first king who in- they had also their mountain, forest, and
river gods.ll These divinities were common
X Chron. Dublin edit. chap. 1, p. 55 and 57.   to them, and to other nations of the world.
t " The best among the Irish writers are agreed,
that it was during the reign of Solomon the Scoti  * Ogyg. part 3, cap. 21, 22.
passed from Spain to Ireland." —Ogyg. part 2, p.  t Grat. Luc, cap. 8, page 59.
83.                                        t War. Antiq. Hibern. cap. 5, Ogyg. part 3,
S Chron. Dublin edit. page 17.         cap. 22.
~ Keating on the  reign of Tighernmas, A. M.  ~ Lib. 6.
3085.                                      II War. Antiq. Hibern. cap. 5.




64                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
It is known that Augustus had a temple in their profession; but whether those of
raised in Gaul, in honor of the wind Cir- Britain owed the origin of their order to the
cius.*                                   Milesians, or they to the Britons, is a matter
According to the Annals of Ulster, cited of little moment, and upon which I do not
by Ware; the usual oath of Laogare II., king pretend to decide; however, there was this
of Ireland in the time of St. Patrick, was difference between the druids of the Gauls,
by the sun and wind. The Scythians swore the Britons, and those of the Milesians,
by the wind, and sometimes by a cimeter that the last communicated by means of the
or cutlass, in use among the Persians, upon oghum mysteries, which the others never
which was engraven the image of Mars. It committed to writing.
is mentioned by Jocelin, an English monk   It is certain that after the confusion of
of the order of Citeaux, in his life of St. tongues at Babel, and the dispersion of
Patrick,t written in the twelfth century, that mankind, every family or colony formed for
the same Laogare, before his conversion, itself a system of religion in the different
adored an idol named Kean Croithi, which countries where they settled, and that, for
signifies, " Head of all the Gods."  In the the exercise of it, a society of men intrusted
register of Clogher, there is mention made with its duties was necessary to be formed.
of a stone ornamented with gold by the These ministers were known throughout a
pagans, which gave oracles.t  From this great part of Europe, by the name of druids.
stone the town was called Clogher, which They were known among the Greeks by the
signifies " golden stone." Charles Maguire, name of Sophoi, or philosophers; among
prebendary of Armagh, and dean of Clogher the Persians, Magi; the Indians, Gymnoin the 15th century, says in his notes on the sophists; and Chaldeans, among the Assyriregistry of Clogher, that that stone was still ans.*
preserved at the right of the entrance into   The different nations among whom relithe church.  Ware, in the same chapter, gion was administered by the druids, endeaspeaks of the fatal stone called Liafail, or vor to discover in their languages, the origin
"saxum fatale," which the Tuatha de Da- and etymology of the'word "' Druid."  In
nains. brought with them  to Ireland, and "dru," which signifies faithful, the Germans
which groaned when the kings were seated think to have found it.  The Saxons derive
on it at their coronation.  That stone, he it from  " dry," which means magi.  In
mentions, was sent into Albania to be used Armorica the word " deruidhon" was in use.
at the coronation of Fergus; that Keneth The Milesians, who apply the word "'dryhad it placed -in a wooden chair, in which ithy"t to signify druid, take it from " dair,"
the kings of Scotland sat at the time of their which means oak, with which their island
coronation, in the abbey of Scone, whence was formerly covered, from which the anit was transferred by Edward I., king of cients called it, " Insula nemorosa."t The
England, and placed in Westminster Abbey. Greek interpretation of the word druid adds
The superstition of the druids and the probability to the opinion of the Milesian.
authority of the oracles were in as high Agg5 in Greek, signifies oak, a tree sacred to
veneration among the Milesians as among Jupiter,~ because the druids chose the forests
other people, until the birth of our Saviour, of oak, to celebrate in them their superstitious
which put an end to all such illusions.  mysteries, to which Lucan, lib. 1, alludes,
As legislators and judges, the druids wereemoa alta e
arbiters in all public affairs, and were in-    Incolitis lucis,"
vested with a power to reward or punish.                                           l
Every kind of privilege and immunity was or because they made use of the mistletoe 
conferred on them; they were also exempt of the oak in their religious ceremonies.
from contributing to the necessities of the Ovid makes allusion to it, when he says,
state. Their doctrine was a kind of theology   Ad viscum druidue, druidue clamare solebarit."
and philosophy; they professed the magic
art, and the knowledge of futurity.~       Pliny is explicit and clear upon this
The druids, says Caesar, are indebted for matter: there is nothing, he says, so sacred
their origin and institution to Britain, and among the druids, (it is thus the Gauls call
those of Gaul went thither to be perfected their magii,) as the oak and the mistletoe,
* Ibidem.      t Cap. 56.                       * Diogen. Laert. prologue.
$ War. Antiq. Hib. cap. 5.                      t Droiii.
~ Euseb. praep. Evang. lib. 5, Suidas, Niceph.  t " The woody island."
Calixt, Eccles. Hist. lib. 1, cap. 17.            ~ Claud. lib. 1..   _.                  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I




RELIGION AND CUSTOMS OF THE MILESIANS.                   65
which that tree produces. They chose forests   There were two divinities whose worship
of oak wherein to celebrate their religious was universal among the Milesians; the first
ceremonies, whence the name druid-is most was BeuI, the same perhaps as Bel among
probably derived from the Greek interpreta- the Asiatics. We discover in their histories,
tion. Every thingwhich that tree produces, that, in the reign of Tuathal Teachtmar,*
is, according to them, a gift of heaven, and a portion of land was taken from each prova sign of its being chosen by the gods. The ince to appropriate it as a demesne for. his
priest, (continues Pliny,) dressed in white, use.  Assemblies were held each year in
climbs the oak, and with a golden knife the dismembered portion of Connaught.t
detaches from it the mistletoe, which was In this general assembly of all the states,t
thought to be a sovereign antidote against called the meeting of Uisneach, in the barall distempers.  The most ancient and ony of Rathconra, in Westmeath, animals
celebrated oracle in Greece, was consulted were sacrificed and offered to Beul, when
under the oak, in the forest of Dodona. invoking his protection for the fruits of the
God himself, in the time of the patriarchs, earth; and to render the festival more solappeared to men in woods of oak; temples emn, it was ordained, that in every territory
were erected in them to his honor, and cov- of the'island, two fires should be kindled;
enants made between God and man; sacri- and that between them a number of beasts
fices were also offered in them, and angels of every kind should be made to pass, in
announced to man the commands of the order to preserve them against all infectious
Lord. When the Jews had apostatized, and distempers for the ensuing year. The day
abandoned the worship of the true God, they fixed upon for the ceremony agrees with
sacrificed upon high mountains, and beneath our first day of May, which was, and is still
the oak theyburned incense, " Subtus univer- called by the Irish, " Lha-Beul-tinne," which
sam quercum frondosam," so that according signifies the day of Beul's fire, the Irish word
to sacred and profane history, the oak was iha signifying day, and tinne fire.~
held in great veneration by the ancients.*    The same monarch ordered another meetThe Milesian bards, called Filea or Fear- ing to assemble every year at Tlachta, in the
dana,were not less esteemed than the druids; portion appropriated for that use, in the provthey enjoyed high privileges, and sat, with ince of Munster; it is now called the barony
a right of suffrage, in the assemblies of the of Clanlish, in the King's County.  The
state. Possessions and property were given sacred fire was lighted there, to apprize the
them by the monarch, provincial kings, and druids and pagan priests that they were to
the private lords.  Strabo and Lucan call assemble on the eve of the first of November,
them poets or prophets.t Pompeius Festus and consume in it the sacrifices offered to
says,T that a bard is a man who sings in their household gods.  It was forbidden,
verse the praises and deeds of great men.~ under penalty of a fine, to kindle a fire in
Diodorus Siculus calls a bard a composer of any other place on that night, which was
hymns.ll  David Powell informs us, that the not taken from the. sacred fire.
Welsh bards were employed in preserving   The second divinity that was worshipped
the genealogies and armorials of their no- among the Milesians, which continued till
bles: the Milesians had those of their own the time of Christianity, was the Golden
country similarly employed.  That matter, Calf. Keating gives us, on the reign of
as Ware observes, is largely treated of in the Cormac Ulfada, an example of that impious
laws of Hoel-Dha:~ he says, too, that among devotion, in the conduct of Maoilogann the
the number of the bards was the celebrated druid, towards that prince, who, having
poet, Dubtach-Mac-Luglair,*'" Poeta egre- resigned the crown, withdrew to a small
gius Hibernicus," who composed many po- country-house at Anacoille, near Tara, to
ems in honor of the false gods; but that devote himself to the worship of the true
after he had been, by the preaching of Saint God, whom he had already known. The
Patrick, converted to the true faith, he appli- minister of Satan came to seek him in his
ed his talents to the praises of the Almighty retreat, and proposed to him the worship of
and his saints.tt                       the Golden Calf; he reproached him for
having withdrawn himself from a religion
~ Ezech. cap. 6, v. 13.         that had been so long established, and whiclh
t Geograph. lib. 4.              his predecessors down to him had professed.
t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 27.
~ Lib. 1.          II Lib. 5.      * Keating on the reign of Tuathal Teachtmar.
~ Antiq. Hiberm cap. 5.           i- Ogyg. part 3, cap. 56.
R* Ibidem.'                       f Anno Domini, 130.
tt Jocelin, cap. 45.               ~ Ogyg. part 2, p. 62.
9




66                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
The pious prince answered him with a mild- in the time of Augustus, says, in his epitome
ness and resolution worthy the first heroes of Trogus Pompeius, when speaking of the
of Christianity, that he adored but the one heroic actions of the Scythians, that they
true God, the Creator of heaven and earth; never underwent a foreign yoke; that they
that as to those gods made by the hands of routed with disgrace Darius, king of the
men, he knew them not.  This profession Persians; and that Cyrus and his whole
of his faith cost him his life, for the night army were destroyed by them: that Zopyfollowing he died, by an unnatural death, rus, general of Alexander the Great, together
after he had ordered that he should not be with the whole of his forces, fell beneath
buried among the pagan kings, his predeces- their blows; and that they heard of the Rosors, because he wished his ashes not to man arms without having ever felt them.'
mingle with idolaters.                       Egypt has been in like manner always
It requires but a slender knowledge of looked upon among the ancients as the most
history to discover the changes which a renowned school in matters of government
long interval of time and place produces. and wisdom, and the cradle of the arts and
Those who at present inhabit a country live sciences. So convinced of this was Greece,
far differently from the ancient inhabitants that most of the great men, as Homer, Pythaof the same country; but few ages are suf- goras, Plato, and her two great legislators,
ficient to make that difference perceptible. Solon and Lycurgus, went into Egypt to perThe French, now-a-days, differ widely in fect themselves, and draw from thence the
their taste and manner of living from those rarest knowledge in all kinds of erudition.
that have gone before them but a few cen- Of the wisdom of the Egyptians, God himturies. In the age we live in, what analogy self bears a most glorious testimony, in beis there between our customs and those of' stowing praise upon Moses for his having
the surrounding nations?  If then we com- been-instructed therein.t
bine these two considerations, it cannot sur-   Those are the sources from whence the
prise us that men who lived two or three Milesians have taken the first rudiments of
thousand years ago, in countries apart from their governm;ent, manners, and customs;
us, had customs different from ours.  We having their origin from the Scythians, and
need only ascend 800 years from the present their education from the Egyptians.
time, and it will be found that every country   The trade which the Phenicians carried
was then less rich, and the people less pol- on with that people did not a little contribute
ished; and the farther we proceed thus, the to its perfection.T  Newton observes that
poorer the country will appear to have been, the Edomites, when scattered and subdued
and the inhabitants of it more barbarous.   by David, withdrew, some to Egypt, another
The Milesians have had their origin from part to the coasts of the Persian Gulf, and
the Scythians, and their customs from the that others of them came and settled upon
Egyptians.  These two rival nations were, the coasts of the Mediterranean, where
no doubt, in their time the most polished of they fortified Azotus, and took possession
any in the world.  Scythia was shortly after of Sidon.
the deluge erected into a kingdom; it lasted   They carried with them to all the countill the tyrannical sway of the kings of Baby- tries to which they went the sciences and
Ion, and was so polished, that other nations arts, particularly those relating to astronomy,
borrowed their laws, and the form of their navigation, and the use of letters,which they
government from it.  From  these circum- were in possession of in Idumea, before the
stances an emulation arose between them time of Job, who makes mention of it.  It
and the Egyptians, and in their struggle for was among them that Moses learned to cornpre-eminence, the Scythians had always luit the law to writing.  They changed the
the advantage.* Herodotus loads them with name Erythrcea into that of Phoenicia, and
praises when speaking of the rash expedi- called themselves Phoenicians: the country
tion undertaken against them by Darius, to along the coasts of Palestine, from Azotus
revenge some hostilities committed by them
when  ursyians the Cimmerians intinued either
when pursuing the Cimmerians into Asia, without being invaded or invincible; they routed
and for putting down the empire of the Darius, king of the Persians, and forced him to fly
Medes, who were then masters of that part from Scythia in disgrace; the Scythians slew Cyrus
of the world. Justin, an excellent historian with his whole army: and Zopyrus, general of
Alexander the Great, they overcame and destroyed
* "There was a long dispute between the Egyptians with the entire of his forces. They heard of the
and Scythians, in which controversy the Egyptians Romans only by name."-Chron. page 12.
were defeated, and the Seythians appeared to be  t Acts vii., 22.
the more ancient."-Polydorus, b. 1.         $ Chron. page 12.




RELIGION AND CUSTOMS OF THE MILESIANS,                       67
to Sidon, was called Phoenicia. They after- This custom prevails at present among the
wards spread themselves along the shores Hottentots, and other inhabitants of Africa.*
of the Mediterranean as far even as Spain, Saint Jerome says that he saw in Gaul, the
where the Milesians, who were then inhab- Scots, a people of Britain, feed on human
iting that country, had an opportunity of flesh.t
forming an intercourse with them.  The   Dempster, a Scotch writer, and a man
trade between these two people was not very zealous for the glory of his country,
confined to Spain alone; it extended itself to makes use of all his talent to turn from his
Ireland, where they traded with those Mile- countrymen the disgrace of the above imsians who had made themselves masters of putation:t but as he finds himself confoundthe island. Thus, it is probable that the lat- ed by the weight of the authority of Saint
ter may have received their characters from Jerome, he seeks to avoid the blow by evathe Phenicians, and that Fenius Farsa,* from sion, and observes, that instead of the word
whom, it is said, they are descended, is the " Scotos," which is generally met with in St.
same as Phenix or Phaenius, who was among Jerome's text, it should be read " Gothos,"
the Phoenicians the first inventor of letters.t and as the words " Gentem Britannicam,"
Notwithstanding all these advantages, it are characteristic of the Scots of Albania,
is natural to think that the Milesians had and evidently distinguish them  from  the
been, like other people who were their con- Scots of Ireland, he pretends, on the authority
temporaries, rude and barbarous in their of Erasmus, that the words are not found in
manners.                                   the ancient editions of that father's works:
Pomponius Mela, and Strabo, represent but Usher confutes him  on his assumed
them  as a nation ignorant of every virtue, authority from Erasmus, and moreover adds,
and who lived upon human flesh.  These that all the editions of St. Jerome, and partraits appear to have been mere conjectures ticularly the Basle edition in the year 1497,
without any foundation,s as Strabo himself contain the words " Gentem Britannicam."~
acknowledges, ", Horum etiam, quwe comme-   Has any custom ever been more barbarous
moramus, dignos fide testes non sane habe- than that of sacrificing children, which premus."  It is true that their histories have vailed so generally among the Phlenicians,
left us one example of the barbarous custom  Carthaginians, Gauls, Scythians, Greeks,
imputed to them by Strabo, in the conduct and Romans — nations in every other respect
of a nurse,~ in the times of paganism, who very polished?  It was a custom with the
being intrusted with the care of a young kings of Tyre, to sacrifice in times of great
princess, fed her with the flesh of children, calamity, their sons, in order to appease the
thinking, from a diabolical superstition, that anger of the gods.l[  Individuals, likewise,
such food would give her additional charms.ll when they endeavored to rescue themselves
But does not this affectation of their histo- from any great misfortune, resorted to the
rians, by recording so inhuman an act, lead same, and were as superstitious as their
us to discover that the barbarity ascribed princes, so that those who had not children
to the nurse was the crime of an individu- of their own, purchased them from the poor,
al, and not a custom common to an entire that they might not want the merit of such
nation?  Such inhumanity, attributed by a sacrifice.  The same custom  continued
Strabo to the Milesians, was not peculiar to for a long time among the Phoenicians, and
them: it prevailed likewise; according to the Canaanites.  The children who were
him, among the Scythians, Gauls, Spaniards, inhumanly burnt, were cast either into a hot
and other nations.~f
Polvbius informs us, that Annibal rejected,
with horror, the cruel proposal which the   * Pet. Lom. Comment. Hib. cap. 13, p. 131, et
Gauls made to him of eating human flesh.**   t   What shall I say of other nations, when I
myself, while very young, have seen in Gaul a
A Samuel Bochart Cadomensis apud War. Antiq- British people who had been Scots, feed upon huHib. cap. 1.                               man flesh." —Hieron. b. 2, against Jovinianus.
t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 30, p. 219.           t Apparat. ad Hist. Scotic. lib. 1, cap. 4.
t Camd. Brit. edit. p. 788.                ~ " Dempster himself was not able to show that
~ War. Antiq. Hib. cap. 2.               these words were inserted in a certain ancient book,
Il Keating.                              much less in all; neither has Erasmus written, at
1 " It is said to be a custom among the Scythi- any time, such a thing. All the editions of the
ans to feed on human flesh, and that the Gauls, works of St. Jerome (particularly that published
Spaniards, and many others, when pressed by at Basle in the year 1497) have, in this place, disfamine during a siege, have practised the same played to us the British nation." —Usher, Church
thing."-Strab. b. 4.                       History, cap. 15, p. 589.
Ad Rollin, Hist. Ancienne.                 Il Philo.




68                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
furnace, or shut up in a statue of Saturn, their faces with it;* that the mothers pres
which was set on fire?' In order to stifle sented, upon the point of a sword, the first
the cries of the unhappy victims during this food to their male children, praying that
barbarous ceremony, the air resounded with they might not die in any other way than in
the noise of drums and trumpets.  Mothers war, or with arms in their hands. It is very
made it an honor and a point of religion, to probable that Solinus is not better informed
assist at the cruel spectacle, without shed- on the subject than Strabo, who cannot
ding a tear, or uttering the least lamenta- vouch, by witnesses worthy of belief, for all
tion.t  They were so callous and inhuman that he advances. We need but examine,
as to caress their children and appease their at present, into the habits of other people
cries, lest a victim offered with a bad grace, of antiquity, and they will be discovered to
and in the midst of tears, might be displeas- have been rude and barbarous.
ing to the gods.                            The inhabitants of the Balearic islands,
The Carthaginians retained till the de- accustomed themselves from their earliest
struction of their city, the barbarous custom youth to the use of the sling.  Mothers
of offering up human victims in sacrifice:t placed upon the branch of a very tall tree,
it was, however, suspended for a few years, pieces of bread intended for the breakfast
lest they might bring on themselves the of their children, who were to continue fastwrath and power of Darius the First, king ing until they could strike them down from
of Persia, who had forbidden them to offer the branch. It is therefore an injustice to
human victims, and had likewise enjoined reproach a nation for barbarous manners, at
them not to eat the flesh of dogs.  During a time when the evil generally prevailed in
the battle which was fought in Italy, between other' countries.
Gelon the tyrant of Syracuse, and Hamilcar   The ancient Irish, called Milesians, or
the Carthaginian general, which lasted from Clanna Mileag, that is to say, the children
morning till night, the Carthaginian general of Milesius, were divided into four tribes,
did not cease to offer up in sacrifice to their namely, those of Heber, Heremon, Ir, and
gods, living men in great numbers, by having Ith.  They preserved their race pure, and
them  thrown into a burning furnace; and made no alliances with the lower orders, nor
seeing, says Herodotus,~ his troops give with their vassals, who had followed them
way, he cast himself into it not to survive from Spain. Theyformed four great families,
his shamne.ll In times of pestilence, children who were descended from the same father.
were sacrificed in great numbers to their They preserved their genealogies carefully,
gods, without pity for an age which would and knew the whole line of their ancestors,
excite compassion in the most creel enemy, down to the chief of their tribe.  This preby which a remedy for their evils was caution was essential in regard to the sucsought in crime, and barbarity made use of cession to the throne,because it was required
to appease the gods.                     that those who aspired to it should be deWhen Agathocles laid siege to Carthage,~ scended from one of the tribes.  Each tribe
the unfortunate inhabitants of that city as- possessed, in thebeginning, their own portion
cribed their misfortune to the just anger of of the island, and each portion was divided
Saturn against them for having sacrificed, into lands and lordships, possessed by the
instead of children of the first quality, (to different branches of the tribe. Each tribe
which they had been accustomed,) those of had a number of vassals or farmers to cultistrangers and slaves.  To make amends for vate their lands, and conduct their numerous
their supposed crime, they offered up in flocks of cattle, which formed their chief
sacrifice to Saturn, two hundred children wealth. Every one was called by his name:
of the first families in Carthage, besides they did not take the name of castles or
three hundred citizens, who, thinking them- villages, like the nobles of the present day,
selves guilty of the same crime, voluntarily but they usually added to their names that
sacrificed themselves likewise.          of their fathers, with  the adjective  Mac,
Solinus says, that the ancient Irish had which signifies son, as Laogare Mac-Niall.
the custom of drinking the blood of those The custom of the people of the east, says
whom  they had slain, and of besmearing M. Rollin, was to add to the name of the
son that of the father; for instance, Sarda* Plutarq. de Superstitione, p. 171.   napalis is composed of S ardan and Pal, which
t Tertull. in Apollog. Quint. Curt. lib. 4, cap. 3. means Sardan, son of Pal.  This custom
I Plut. de Sacra Vindicatione Deorum   was followed by the Greeks and Romans.
~ Lib. 7.
II Justin, lib. 17.
I' Diodor. lib. 20                                     * Lib. 20.




RELIGION AND CUSTOMS OF THE MILESIANS.                          69
It is observed, even to this day, in Muscovy, he adds, that it was a very handsome Scotic
where Wits is sometimes addedto the names structure.* Their chariots, whether for war
to signify the son of such a one, as Petrowits, or travelling, and the great number of ships
the son of Peter, Jeannowits, son of John. that they made use of, as well for fishing
The Fitz made use of among the Saxons in (which was largely carried on among them)
England, implies the same thing; for in- as for the frequent expeditions which they
stance, in the names Fitzgerald, Fitzmaurice, made into Britain and other countries, prove
F'itzsimon, Fitz signifies son, and is the same that they must have had mechanics to conas the son of Gerald, the son of Maurice, struct them.  In ancient times, they made
the son of Simon: we discover also in the use of little boats built of light wood,t or of
same country the Thompsons, the Johnsons, osier, which they covered with the skins of
which names signify the sons of Thomas, of horses, oxen, or of some wild beast, and
John, &c.  The tribe which usually bore these boats- they called curraghs.t  With
the name of their chiefs, sometimes changed those small vessels they easily crossed the
them, to take that of some one among their Scythian valley, which signifies the sea that
chiefs, who was renowned for some great separates Ireland from  Britain.  But acaction, as the tribe of Ir, which took the cording as they became perfect in the arts,
name of Clanna-Rory, which signifies the they built much larger and more solid veschildren of Rory.                            sels, to transport their armies and colonies
There was among the Milesiarns, great to Albania.,
simplicity without refinement, proportioned   The manufacture of cloth, stuffs, and every
to the time in which they lived, but not thing necessary to cover and preserve them
always without that mixture of vice so coin- from the inclemency of the weather, was in
mon among other people.  We discover very general use among the ancient Irish.ll
among them  neither those pompous titles The men, says Cambrensis, wore trousers
of nobility invented within the last seven or or " braies," in Latin, " braccae," whence a
eight centuries, nor that multitude of ex- part of Gaul was called 1" Gallia Braccata."
penses, nor luxury, the necessary cause of The Persians, Scythians,~ Sarmatii,** the
many new fashions, which tend to the ruin ancient people of the Palatinate, called
of many families.  This great simplicity, Vangiones, the Batavians,tt  Hebrews,fl
joined to a general prejudice that that which and almost every nation had the same cusis most ancient is always most imperfect, toms.
easily convinces us that they were rude in   Among the Irish, the tunic, drawers,
their manners.                               leggings, and boots, were composed of one
The arts and trades were not unknown to
the Milesians:* having discovered among
them mines of gold, silver, tin, lead, and iron,  A "A Scotic work very handsome."-Gratianus
they had learned to melt and manufacture Lucius, c. 8, p. 62.
them.t The forges of Airgiodross,t of which   X Grat. Lue. cap 8, p. 62.
I Ogyg. part 3, cap. 34.
their historians speak; the arms which they   ~ "Claudianus clearly proves, that the Irish
made use of, such as the sword, the lance, afterwards were provided with better feets; when,
the axe, and other instruments,~ show  us he says,'The Scot moved all Ireland, and the sea
that there were among them workmen who foamed with the hostile oar.'"
knew  how to make use of the hidden threas-  "An army of Scots, on board a number of ships,
passed into Britain, and Niellius being monarch of
ures with which nature had enriched their Ireland, six sons of Muredus with a large fleet
island.  Their churches and houses were seized upon the northern parts of Britain. These
generally built of wood, which is a proof foul flocks of Scots and Picts came forth from their
that there were carpenters among them. curraghs in which they crossed the Scythian valley."-Solinus, Cambrensis, and Gildas, in Grat.
Their churches, says Bede, were not built ofL. c. Y 12, p. la5.
stone, but of oak-wood artificially wrought.j  1J Grat. Luc. cap. 12, p. 112.
Saint Bernard, in speaking of an oratory   I,, With skins and sown trousers, they drive
which Saint Malachy caused to be built in away pinching cold, and the face alone of the whole
Ireland, says that it was made of polished person appears."-Ovid, b. 3.
woodsolilpauth,'t The whole body is enveloped in trousers,
wood solidly put together; to this remark and even the face (except the eyes) is covered." —
Mela, b. 2.
* Keating on the reign of Tighernmas.        if' "The Sarmatians, Vangiones, and savage Bat Idem, oa the reign of Enna, surnarned Air- tavians imitate thee with loosened trousers."gheagh.                                      Lucan. in Glrat. Luc. e. 13, p. 123.
i Grat. Lac. cap. 8, p. 59.                 t$t "These men were bound, and with trousers
~ Ogyg. part 3, cap. 21 et 28.            and cap, were cast into a burning furnace."-Dan"Not P  of stone, but of wrought oak."   iel, e. 3, ver. 21.




70                              HISTORY OF IRELAND.
piece,* and so tight, that the form  of the evinced a taste for building houses and
body appeared, by which they differed from towns.*  Stones were not used in their
those of other people, who wore this dress buildings, the use of which was not known
loose and flowing.  Besides this the Irish to the Britons and Gauls.t  Their houses
wore a cloak of purple, which they called were built of wood, their furniture was very
"falling," like the 6" pallium" of the Greeks, plain, and all their vessels made of wrought
and the "' toga" of the Romans.  They con- wood, according to the taste of the times.
sidered it as befitting the gravity of man to   The Irish were remarkable for their hoswear those cloaks. The English called them  pitality.f  The unfortunate always found
mantles, from " mantelum" and " mantele," refuge amongthem.~ The Spaniards, Gauls,
mentioned by Plautus and Pliny. Mantles, and Britons, sought an asylum in that counmantelets, and mantillas, have undoubtedly try, to secure themselves from the tyranny
derived their etymology  from  the  same of the Romans;l princes who were persesource.  They wore their hair long, and cuted in their ow-n country, found there a
allowed the beard to grow on the upper lip:t safe retreat.  Dagobert II., son of Sigebert,
their head-dress consisted of a cap raised to a king of Austrasia, having been expelled his
point, of the same materials as their clothes; kingdom by Grimoald, mayor of the palace,
this cap  was called, in  their language, was received with distinction in Ireland,
"barredh," perhaps from  the  6'biretum," where he remained in exile during twentyworn by the Gauls; but more probably from five years.tf  Oswald, king of the Northum"barr," which signifies'top, and from  the brians,** with his brothers and several lords,
word" eda," which means clothing. Finally, found refuge among the Scots, that is to say,
on their feet they wore sandals, or soles the Irish, " apud Scotos exulabant," among
tied with many strings.  The Irish women whom  they remained for sixteen years, till
dressed themselves with much modesty. A the death of the tyrant whose fury they
small mantle of cloth, embroidered or trim- wished to avoid.
med with fringe, according to the quality of   Alfred, king of the Northumbrians, and
the person, which hung down to the knees,> one of the successors of Oswald, having been
covered their other dress. Their head-dress, driven from  the throne of his ancestors,
called in their language, 1" fileadh," con- withdrew into Ireland,tff where he made a
sisted of a piece of fine linen, with which considerable progress in the study of literathey enveloped the head in a spiral form, ture, and in the art of governing.  Bede
and thus made a kind of veil tied behind. mentions a number of Englishmen, both noThe unmarried women, as a mark of distinc- bles and others, who went to Ireland in the
tion, wore long hair platted, and interwoven time of the holy bishops Finan and Colman,
with ribands.                              to be instructed in divine learning, and to
The different classes among the Irish perfect themselves in the practice of a mowere distinguished by the number of colors nastic life.t:  He adds, also, that the Scots
in their dress.~  The mechanics and work- supplied them, gratis, with every thing neing classes wore but one color, the soldiers cessary for their support, even with books
two; officers three; those who exercised for their studies.~~
hospitality four;l the nobles five; the historians and learned six;[ which shows the   * War. Antiq. Hib. cap. 22.
esteem in which men of letters were held:  t Grat. Luc. cap. 10, p. 99.
lastly, the Ikings and princes of the blood   I " They are indeed the most hospitable ofmanlastly, the Icngs and pinces of the blood kind. You cannot gratify them more, than either
wore clothes of seven colors.  The plaid, or to visit them of your own accord, or invite them to
robes of different colors, which  are still visit you in turn."-Stan. Irish Hist. b. 1, p. 33.
worn by the Scotch Highlanders, are prob-  ~ Petr. Lombard. cap. 12, p. 111.
ably the remains of this ancient Milesian SI "Many, no doubt, passed into Ireland, from
Spain, Gaul, and Britain, to draw their necks from
custom.                                    the iniquitous oppression of the Roman yoke." —
In the earlier periods, the Milesians slept Caind. Brit. edit. p. 682.
under tents, after the manner of the Scythians  ~r Hist. Ececlesiast. deo Fleury. Abreg6 Chron.
their ancestors; however, as soon as they de Calmet.
were well secured in their possessions, they    " Abrege Chrot. du Pres. Hayn.
ft Bede, Hist. Eccles. Irb. 3, cap. 1 et seq.
II Bede, Malmsburiensis, et Harps feldius apud.
* Grat. Luc. cap. 13, p. 122 et seq.     Grat. Lue. c. 14, p. 128.
t Idem, cap. 13, p. 125.                   ~~ " All of whom the Irish most freely received,
t Grat. Luc. cap. 12, p. 112.            and afforded them daily food without payment:
B Keating on the reign of Tighernmas.    they likewise supplied them with masters and books
i Grat. Luc. cap. 8, p. 59, et cap. 10, p. 105.   without remuneration.-"-B-ede's Church Hist. e.
~ Ogyg. part 3, cap. 23.                 27, b. 3.




RELIGION AND CUSTOMS OF THE MILESIANS.                       71
The love of hospitality was not confined kept his history and genealogy; the musito individuals, it was the general taste of the cian amused him during his repasts, and in
nation; as there were lands assigned by the his hours of recreation; lastly, the stewards
government to a certain number of persons, received the revenues of the crown, and
who were appointed to exercise it in the managed the affairs of the household. These
different provinces.  They were named officers continued till the eleventh century,
"Biatachs," from " Bia," in Latin, Victus, in the reign of Brian Boroimhe, except that
which signifies all kinds of food. The office in the time of Christianity, in the place of
of Biatach was considered honorable by the the druid, a bishop was substituted, and was
Irish.* In order that it might be discharged confessor to the king.
with dignity, none but nobles were appointed   Giraldus Cambrensis bears the following
to it; besides the lands assigned by the state, testimony to tho Irish music.  This nation,
they should be the lords of seven boroughs says he, particularly excels and surpasses
or villages, feeding seven herds of one hun- all others in musical instruments, on which
dred and twentyoxen each,without counting they perform with precision and lightness,
the produce in grain, after seven ploughs and draw even from discordance the most
everyyear. The Hospitalers took care never melodious harmony.*  The harp was their
to be taken unprepared.  Large pots, filled most general instrument,f there was one in
with all kinds of meat, supplied in abundance every house, either for their own use, or for
every thing to satisfy their guests. The fare those strange musicians who passed the way.
was plain and frugal: they were unacquaint-   The city of Tailton, now a small village,
ed with sauces and ragouts: their general in the county.of Meath, was renowned not
food was flesh, fish, bread baked in the only for the games and military exercises
ashes, milk, butter, honey, and herbs, prin- which were celebrated there,$ but also for
cipallywater-cresses;whichweremuch used the assembly which was held every year
by them, as well as by the ancient Persians. relating to marriages.~  The fathers and
Hospitality, when confined to the limits mothers who had children of either sex to
prescribed by prudence, is a virtue belong- settle in life, repaired thither from the differing to charity; but among the Irish it was a ent parts of the kingdom. The young men
vice which might be called prodigality, and and the females lodged in separate quarters,
tended to the ruin of families. For besides the and the parents met and treated together in
hospitable institutions established by public the public squares, and stipulated for the
authority, the houses of private lords were marriage of their children.
like inns, where every one was welcome,   The care of nursing and bringing up
particularly the bards, or Fileas, who were children of rank among them was confided
equally loved and feared, on account of their to people of independence, or wealthy farmsatirical genius, as they were lavish of praise ers, whose wives suckled them, or in case
or cutting satire, according to the good or of any obstacle, had them suckled by others
bad reception they received.t             under their own eye.  The honor of nursAmong the Milesians, music formed part ing a child of rank, joined to the protection
of a good education; every one was desirous which they expected from them, was conof knowing how to sing or play on some in- sidered as ample recompense.  They took
strument.t The office of music-master to the more care of them than of their own childking, was among the number of those created ren, and procured them  every thing that
in the third century, in the reign of Cormac- could flatter their good or evil propensities.
Ulfada.~ These appointments consisted of There were likewise landlords whose title
a gentleman companion, a druid, a judge, a depended on nursing one or more of the childdoctor, a poet, historian, musician, and three ren of the lord from whom they held the land.
stewards.  Those who filled these offices   The descendants of Fiacho Suidhe, broalways followed the court; the gentleman ther of the monarch Conn-Keadcahagh, from
was companion to the king; the druid superintended the affairs of religion; the judge   * "I discover that this nation (i. e. Ireland)
interpreted the laws, and decided all con- pays a laudable and industrious regard to their mutroverrsies among the people; the doctor sical pursuits, and excel, in this particular, every
troversies among te  people; the doctorther people. Their movements in music are quick
watched over the king's health; the poet and sweet, their melody and concord are in comcelebrated his great deeds; the historian plete harmony."-Girald.. Cambr. list. c. 19.
t " They (i. e. the Irish) are devoted to music and
* Grat. Luc. cap. 14, p. 130.         the harp; they strike harmoniously the strings, which
t Petr. Lomb. cap. 12, p. 111         are of brass, with their nails."'-Gamd. p. 714.
t Keating on the reign of Cormac-Ulfada.  I Keating.
~ Ogyg. part 3, cap. 63.                ~ Ogyg. part 3, p. 46.




72                    -       HISTORY OF IRELAND.
whom the O'Fallans derive their origin, be- refreshments were prepared; these women,
ing lords of Deasia, a territory comprising who relieved each other every hour, continalmost the whole county of Waterford, un- ued this ceremony as long as the corpse redertook in the beginning of the third century mained exposed. The day being appointed,
to nurse and educate Eithney-athach, daugh- and every thing ready for the interment, the
ter of Eana-Kinsealach, king of Leinster, body was carried to the place of burial, achoping, as the druids had prognosticated, companied by the same women, making the
that the marriage of that princess with Aon- air resound with their cries. This custom,
gus, son of Madfroach, king of Munster, however barbarous it may appear, not being
would tend to aggrandize their fortune. in unison with the present taste, was not
The prediction of the druids came to pass without a precedent.  Among the Jews,
accordingly; Aongus gave them an exten- those who followed a funeral bewailed with
sive territory to the north of the river Suir, a loud voice, as appears by the burial of
extending from the side of Clonmel and Abner: there were women who made it a
Cashel, called " Deasia Tuasgirt," or north- profession to cry on those occasions.; and
ern Deasia.                             hymns were composed to be used as funeral
The attachment of the young people for orations to illustriotus persons, such as David
those who had nursed them, sufficiently composed for Saul, and that of the prophet
marked their gratitude; they loaded them Jeremiah for Joshua.t The ancient Romans
with favors, considered them as deserving also employed professed mourners at funeimplicit confidence, and often preferred them rals, which is proved by its being prohibited
to their near relatives.*  The nurses gene- in the laws of the twelve tables.+
rally shared the love of their children with   The ancients paid particular respect to
the mothers. They were received by them the remains of their deceased relations and
with tenderness and respect, and sat at the friends. The Greeks burned them, to pretable, whatever company might be present. serve their ashes in urns. The Hebrews
If these children had any cause of discontent buried the lower orders of the people, and
in the paternal mansion, they sought refuge embalmed persons of rank, to place them in
with their nurses, who received them with sepulchres; they sometimes burned peropen arms; the latter often entered with too fumes on the dead bodies. The Egyptians
much facility into their ambitious views, and embalmed their dead, surrounding the body
encouraged them sometimes to revolt, not with drugs of a drying quality: they were
only against their brothers, but also against then placed in sepulchres; they sometimes
their parents, which was often productive covered them with fine linen and dissolved
of troubles in families, and civil wars in gum, and preserved them in that state in their
the state.                              houses.: The Romans, Gauls, Germans, BriThe funeral ceremonies of the Milesians tons, and people of the north, sometimes burnsavored of the barbarism  of the ancient ed their dead, and sometimes buried them.
times. When any person of distinction or Poemponius Mela asserts that it was the cusa chief of their ancient families died, they tom among the druids, who were the priests
prepared feasts, and kept open houses for all and legislators of most of these nations.tl
those who assisted at the funeral.t The   A  number of caves or subterraneous
wives of their vassals, who were much at- vaults, (called by the Greeks " hypogme," by
tached to them, or other women who were the Latins "1 Conditoria" or " requietoria,")
professed mourners of the dead,t like the which have been discovered within a few
"Praeficme," mentioned by Servius, came in centuries in Ireland, would make it appear
crowds, and entering one after the other, with that the Milesians anciently burned their
every appearance of despair, the hall where dead. These caves were constructed of flat
the corpse was exposed, they uttered loud stones, sometimes of marble, some of which,
cries and lamentations, reciting the geneal- raised perpendicularly, supported the others,
ogy, and singing in verse, with a plaintive which were placed horizontally over them,
and melancholy voice, the virtues and ex- forming a kind of centre, without plaster or
ploits of the deceased, and those of his earli- any other cement. The bodies were deposest ancestors. This kind of elegy, or rhym- ited in those vaults; after which they were
ing funeral oration, being ended, they were covered with earth in the form of Pyramids,
brought into another hall, where all kinds of
* Reg. 3, ver. 31, Jerem. 8, v. 17t
f 25 Reg. 1, v. 17.
* Grat. Luc. c. 11.                         t War. Antiq. Hib. cap. 32.
f Stanihurst, de Rebus Hib. lib. 14, p. 47.  ~ War. Antiq. Hib. eap. 32.
X Grat. Luc. c. 13, p. 122.                )I Geograp. lib. 3.




CIVIL AND POLITICAL GOVERNMENT OF THE MILESIANS.               73
which were sometimes flattened on the top lished the use of graves, as more convenient,
like a Dutch cheese, and are called " moats" and more conformable to the respect due to
by the people of the country. Ware says, the dead, which custom has been since folthat some of this kind are still to be seen at lowed.*
Naas, in the county of Kildare, and at Clonard, in Meath; so that those vaults, first
constructed on the surface of the earth, were
in course of time completely covered with it.
Virgil and Lucan alluded to those pyramids           CHAPTER  V.
in speaking of the. heaps of earth which
were raised over the ashes of kings.*   OF THE CIVIL AND POLITICAL GOVERNMENT
The caves enclosed in those pyramids dif-        OF THE MILESIANS.
fered in size; some were six feet long, others
but two. Entire skeletons, and urns filled   HEBER and Heremon, brothers, and chilwith ashes, were sometimes found in them. dren of Milesius, king of Gallicia, having
In 1646, a sepulchre of black marble was conquered the Tuatha de Danains, reigned
found buried in a hill in the neighborhood together in Ireland for the space of one
of Dublin; its length was fourteen feet two year, but some differences having arisen
inches; and its breadth two feet one: this between them, Heber was killed at the battle
sepulchre contained a quantity of ashes and of Geisiol, in that part of the country at
bones.  Molyneux, in his treatise on the present called the King's county, and left
" Danish mounts," describes a subterraneous his brother sole master of the island,t who
vault which was discovered at New-Grange, established amonarchical government, which
in the county of Meath.t This vault, which lasted, with scarcely any interruption, till
was of an irregular form, was nineteen or the arrival of the English in the twelfth
twenty feet high, and ten in diameter. There century, that is, about 2200 years.
were three caves or niches formed in the   The government, however, experienced
side of the vault, each about ten feet in some change under Eocha IX., surnamed
length, five in breadth, and the same in depth. " Felioch," or the "melancholy."T  This
The great vault contained two skeletons, monarch was the first who established the
which were found lying on the ground. The pentarchy, and erected the provinces of Ireentrance was through a small hole, in a kind land into kingdoms,~ the investiture of which
of gallery or conduit, eighty feet long, three he conferred on the chiefs of the tribes,
feet wide, and unequal in height, as far as who were at that time in possession of them,
the opening of the vault, where it was ten on condition of paying an annual tribute.lj
feet high. The whole, that is, the vault, In his time the Irians, descendants of Ir,
cave, and gallery, was built of large stones, were still in possession of Ulster.T  The
covered over with earth in the form of a hill. Heberians, descendants of Heber, and the
Many others, of the same description, have Dergtines, of the race of Lugadh, son of Ith,
been discovered in Ireland within the last were possessed of the two Munsters, which
century. Caves of different sizes have been they governed alternately; but their posfound, some six feet in length, others but session had been disturbed some time before
two. The former were intended as a burial the reign of that monarch, by the establishplace for those bodies that had not passed ment of the Deagades of Lough Earn, of
through the fire; the latter to contain the the race of Heremon. Leinster was under
ashes of such as had been burned. These the dominion of the Heremonians, descendmonuments were only built for people of ants of Laogare Lore, son of Ugane More;
rank, as much to perpetuate their names, as and Connaught belonged to the Firdomnians,
to distinguish them from the lower classes, of the race of the Firbolgs, who were divided
who were buried under heaps of earth and into three branches,the chiefs ofwhichwere,
gravel. But these customs were abolished at that time, Fidhac, Eocha Allat, and Tinsome time before the birth of our Saviour, ne.**  In whatever light this government
by Eocha X.,t surnamed Airive, who estab- of the Milesians is considered, it cannot be
* "There was the tomb of king Dercennus built,  * Grat. Luc. page 8, p. 65.
beneath a high mountain, with a mound of earth;  t A. M. 2992.
it was covered by an old laurel and a shading oak."  t Keating on the reign of Eocha Felioch.
-Virgil, _Eneid, b. 11.                   ~ A. M. 3989.
"And let the ashes of kings repose beneath a  11 Ogyg. part 3, cap. 40.
raised mound of earth."                   ~ Grat. Luc. cap. 8.
t Page 197.                             * Idem.
$ Keating on the reign of Eocha Airive.                 10




74                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
called a pentarchy, as Cambrensis has it. the three sons of Milesius, Heber, Heremon,
From the time of Heremon till the reign of or Ir. A successor was appointed to the
Eocha IX., a thousand years, this people crown during the monarch's lifetime, as the
were governed sometimes by one king, and king of the Romans was elected in the emsometimes, but seldom, by two together, af- pire; this heir, who was his son, brother,
ter the manner of Sparta. From Eocha IX., uncle, or his nearest relation capable of
till the twelfth century, the provincial kings governing, was called " Tainiste," from the
had, to a certain degree, divided the govern- name of the ring finger; and, as this finger
ment of the island between them; but their by its place and length is next to the middle
subordination to, and dependence on the mo- one, so that prince was next to the monarch
narch, completely excludedthe idea of apen- in rank, dignity, and power. It is from
tarchy, which implies, among the princes thence Davis and Ware give the name of
composingit, an equality and independence of " Tanistry" to the law concerning the sucone another, as was the case with the Saxon cession of the crown in Ireland.*
princes, in the time of the English heptarchy.   The candidate was obliged to prove his
This division of the supreme power by origin by the registries of his family, and the
Eocha, contrary to all rules of good policy, Psalter of Tara; whichinduced the Milesians
by increasing the discord which had always to preserve the genealogies of their families
reigned amongthe Milesians, weakened con- with as much care and precision as the
siderably the sovereign power, so necessary Hebrews. The family of Ith, uncle of Mito keep the people in subjection. The link lesius, was not absolutely excluded from the
of the general welfare being broken,'the crown, as we find the names of three of them
interests of the chiefs who ruled in the in the list of the Irish kings. Besides his
several kingdoms were separated, so that birth, the candidate should be a knight of
they often took up arms one against the the golden chain, called in their language,
other, and sometimes against their general- " niadh-niask," as we should say, "Eques
in-chief.                               Torquatus," from a chain of gold which was
Cambrensis, with his usual confidence, worn on the neck.t This order was instiasserts, that it was a custom with the kings tuted by king Munemon, and was the only
of Ireland to take possession of the govern- title of honor used by the Milesians after
ment of the whole island by force of arms, that of king.1  The pompous titles of duke,
without the solemnity of coronation, or any marquis, earl, and baron, introduced within
right, either by inheritance or succession. the last few centuries, to flatter the amHowever, we may judge of the belief which bition of men, and often conferred on peoshould be attached to this author, and all ple whose only merit consisted in being the
those who have imitated him, by the char- favorites of princes, were unknown to them,
acter I have drawnof him in the preliminary as well as to the Greeks, Romans, and
discourse on this subject. Harris reproaches other nations of antiquity.
Ware, whose works he translated, of having   Notwithstanding the wise precautions
given but a very imperfect idea of the an- adopted by the Milesians in the election of
cient government of Ireland, and of having their kings, those candidates who thought
too closely copied the calumnies of Cam- themselves unjustly excluded, roused by the
brensis, without sufficiently fathoming the ambition of reigning, and supported by the
truth.*                                 factions of their vassals, (not, however, withThe crown was neither absolutely heredi- out any right to the succession, as Camtarynorpurely elective among the Milesians. brensis asserts,) often, at the expense of the
The sondidnotalways succeed tohis father's public peace, decided by their arms what
throne, and the younger often reigned to the was, in their opinion, unjust in the choice of
prejudice of the elder; in case of the chil- the electors.~
dren being minors, the brother, uncle, or   We do not discover in the ancient monucousin of the deceased kingwas called to the ments of the Milesians any vestiges of the
throne, or the nearest relative capable of ceremonies used before Christianity, at the
governing  alone, and  commanding the coronation of their monarchs, whether it be
armies.t The same laws which excluded that the registries and acts in which these
minors, excluded also from the throne all ceremonies should be noted have been lost,
those who were not descended from one of or fallen into the hands of those who wish
* Harris, vol. 2, cap. 10.              * Ogyg. part 1, page 57 et 58.
t Petr. Lomb. Comment. de Hibern. cap. 3, page  t A. M. 3271.  t B. C. 729,
45 et 46.                                ~ Ogyg. part 1, p. 58.




CIVIL AND POLITICAL GOVERNMENT OF THE MILESIANS.                  75
we should be ignorant of them: however, as the first examples of which we discover
their historians have preserved some parti- among the Hebrews, did not exist, accordculars of the inauguration of the provincial ing to Onuphrius Panvinius, among the emkings, it is probable there were still more perorsofthe Eastbeforethe time of Justinian,
august ceremonies for the coronation of their or of Justin his son, about the year 565.*
monarchs.                                 It was introduced, according to that author,
It cannot be denied that crowns were used into the west by Charlemagne, in 800:
by the Milesians, of which frequent mention however, we discover in history, that Pepin,
is made in their annals: we discover in them his father, had been consecrated and anointed
that the Asion, that is, the crown of the king of the Franks,-by Boniface, Archbishop
queen of Cahire-More, was stolen at the of Mayence, in virtue of the power granted
assembly of Tara;* that Donogh O'Brien, him for this purpose by Pope Stephen II.
king of Munster, and partly of Ireland,t had   In the first ages of this rising monarchy,
taken the crown of his ancestors with him, that is, till the reign of Ollave Fola, the
when he made a voyage to Rome. Ward, Milesians, like many other people in those
a respectable antiquarian, says that the Irish ancient times, followed the laws dictated by
kings appeared in all solemnities, even at nature.t  Their government was not yet
battle, with the crown on their heads.t This founded on fixed laws, or their laws were
mark of distinction was fatal, according to too general to embrace private cases that
Marianus Scotus, to the monarch Brian might arise between the king and his subBoroimhe, at the famous battle of Clontarf, jects, or between the subjects themselves.4
where he was recognisedand killed by some The Greeks and Romans labored for a
Danes that were flying.~ According to Hec- considerable time under the same inconvetor Boetius, the kings of Scotland, from Fer- niences, for the Athenians formed. a nation
gus I. to Achaius, who died in 819, wore a long before the time of Draco and Solon,
crown of plain gold, in the form of a palli- their first legislators, and the Roman people
sade or rampart, "Militaris valli forma."ll had existed three hundred years, before they
There can be no doubt of their having bor- received from the Athenians the laws of the
rowed this ensign of royalty from their an- Twelve Tables.
cestors the Milesians, as they were descend-   During this interval, the Milesians laed from them.~[  The following fact leaves bored with emulation, princes as well as the
no doubt on this subject. In 1692, a crown people, in cutting down the forests with
of gold, in the form of a cap, was found ten which the island was covered, in cultivating
feet deep in the earth, by some laborers the land, and preparing it for tillage and
who were cutting turf in a bog at Barnanely, pasture, in order to derive from  it every
otherwise "the Devil's Bit," in the county thing necessary for their subsistence.
of Tipperary, in Ireland. This crown, which   Ollave Fola directed his thoughts to obweighs five ounces of gold, is tolerably well jects more elevated and more worthy of a
wrought; it resembles the crowns of the king, convinced that it would in some manemperors of the East, composed of a helmet ner be degrading to mankind, to think only
and diadem, according to the description of sustaining life.~ He knew that men born
Seldon gives of it.**  It has neither cross, for society had need of laws to regulate
nor any other mark of Christianity, which their morals, and to exercise distributive
gives rise to a belief that it was made in justice.  He conceived the design of acthe time of paganism. This curious piece of complishing it, and after having collected,
antiquity was sold to Joseph Comerford, and and reduced to the form of a history, all the
by him preserved in the castle of Anglure, in monuments of his ancestors, down to his
Champaign, which estate he purchased.    own time, as Eithrial, one of his predecesIt does not appear that the anointing, sors, had done before him, he convened a
which now constitutes part of the coronation triennial and general assembly of all the
ceremony of the European princes, had been states, in form of a parliament, at Tara, in
in use among the Milesians.tt This custom, Meath, which afterwards became the usual
residence of the monarchs. I
Ogyg. p. 46.                     This assembly was called in their lant Idem, p. 47.
$ Vit. Rumoldi, p. 170.            * De Comitiis Imperatoriis, cap. 2.
~ In the year 1014.                t A. M. 3320. B. C. 680.
II Lib. 2 et 10.                   $ Ogyg. part 3, cap..30.
1 Keat. preface.                   ~ Lecan, after Feirchirtne, an antiquarian who
** Tit. Hon. part 1, chap. 8.   lived more than 100 years before Jesus Christ.
tt Ogyg. part 1, page 47.         ll Keat. on the reign of Ollave Fola.




76                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
guage Feis-Teamrach, signifying the assem- referred to the triennial assembly.  The
bly of the nobility, druids, historians, and historian's office was to preserve in writing,
other learned men. It was held in a great their genealogies, alliances, and noble achall in the palace -of Tara, at the time an- tions; and to present every three years to the
swering to our months of October and No- general assembly, the annals and anecdotes
vember. The most perfect order was pre- of his patron, to undergo the criticism of a
served, every one taking his place according committee of nine, viz., three princes, three
to his dignity. It was on this occasion the druids, and three historians. Those acts thus
king ordered coats of arms to the chief of examined and corrected, if necessary, were
each family, according to his rank, to dis- registered in the great book generally called
tinguish them one from the other, and to the Psalter of Teamor or Tara; a formality
serve as a rule for the master of the cere- absolutely necessary to give them validity.
monies, whose office was to mark the rank To obviate also prevarication, and prevent
of each member in the assembly; which he the errors which might afterwards be introperformed by hanging the buckler and coat duced into those annals, through bribery or
of arms of each person on the wall opposite seduction on the part of the lords; through
to the place intended for him.* It must be flattery or a hope of reward, on that of the
observed that, until then, the different fam- antiquarians, the delinquents were subjected
ilies composing the colony of the Milesians, to heavy penalties: so that if one of them
had no arms peculiar to them; they had were convicted of evasion, either by cononly a banner bearing as an escutcheon a cealing or adding any fact or circumstance
dead serpent and a wand, in memory of the contrary to the truth, he was punished in
cure of Gaodhal their ancestor, which served proportion to his crime; sometimes by the
as an ensign to the whole colony.t The confiscation of his property, the loss of his
Gadelians had borrowed this custom from place, or a shameful expulsion from  the
the Israelites, whose different tribes carried assembly, and sometimes by death; so that
different banners, to avoid confusion in their the fear of those penalties was an effectual
march in the desert, as our regiments march curb, which rendered them vigilant and atunder their respective colors.          tentive in the discharge of their duties. This
In the first session of the assembly atTara, custom of examining the annals of private
it was established as a fundamental law of families, and enrolling them in the Psalter
the state, that every three years the king, of Tara, lasted without interruption till the
nobility, and principal men in the kingdom twelfth century of Christianity, and without
should, under certain penalties, repair in any change, except that when the pagan
person, or, in case of sickness or any other priesthood was abolished by the preaching
obstacle, send deputies to Tara at the time of the gospel in the fifth century, the three
appointed, to deliberate on the necessities druids were replaced by three bishops to
of the state, to establish laws, and confirm or examine these memoirs, with the three
change the old ones, as'the general welfare princes and three chronologists; so that
might require. The princes and other lords Saint Patrick, the apostle of Ireland, having
were then confirmed in the possession of assisted as judge, with other bishops, at one
those lands and lordships which they had of those assemblies, he had all the ancient
received in the division made by Heber and books of the Milesians brought before him,
Heremon, after the conquest of the island and having examined them, he approved of
over the Tuatha de Danains.  It was after- the Psalter of Tara, with several other hiswards decreed by the assembly, that each tories, written long before his time, and
lord should maintain, at his own expense, burned 180 volumes filled with the supera judge and historian, to whom he should stitions of the pagan and idolatrous religion,
assign a portion of land sufficient for the which the Milesians had till then professed;
maintenance of their family, so that being a proof that they knew the use of letters
free from all domestic embarrassments, they before the time of that apostle.*  This cusmight devote their time exclusively to their tom of keeping public registries to preserve
employment. It was the duty of the judge, their history was not confined to the Milecalled in Irish " brehon," to watch over the sians; it was common to the Chaldeans and
observance of the laws in his lord's posses- Egyptians. There were learned men inthose
sions, and to administer justice; in some countries, who wrote and preserved in their
cases an appeal against his decisions was archives every event. Josephus, in his first
book against Appian, assigns it as the cause
* Keat. on the reign of Ollave Fola.
t The annals of Leath-Cuin               * Ogyg. part 3, cap. 30, page 219.




CIVIL AND POLITICAL GOVERNMENT OF THE MILESIANS.                77
of the antiquities of the Chaldeans and having the power of pardoning the guilty,
Egyptians having been so well preserved, as he had given up, in favor of justice, this
while, from a contrary cause, few vestiges portion of the royal prerogative.  Copies
of antiquity remain among the Greeks.    of this were then distributed, by order of
The book or registry of Tara is called, the assembly, among all the private judges
in the Irish language, " Psaltuir Teavair," in the kingdom, to serve as rules in the adthat is, the Psalter of Teamor or Tara, ministration of justice.
being written in verse, or a kind of rhyming   Such was then the civil and political
prose, like the ancient Arabs, who wrote government, early formed among the Miletheir histories in verse.  Measured words sians, founded on laws dictated by Ollave
are always the most easily retained, which Fola, the Solon of his time.  Carthage and
reason induced the Hebrews to compose Rome, two celebrated rival cities, were, at
hymns on all considerable events, such as that time, but coming into existence. Sparta
the hymns of Moses, of Deborah, of the and Athens had scarcely seen the splendid
mother of Samuel, and the Psalms of David.* days of Lycurgus and of Solon. It was, unSince the time of Christianity, several copies doubtedly, this antiquity which made Pluof them were taken by public authority, and tarch give the name of " Ogygia" to Ireland.
deposited in different cathedral churches in   Ollave Fola, having arranged by those
the kingdom, under care of the bishops, wise regulations every thing concerning the
both for the convenience of those who might government of the state, turned his thoughts
want to consult them, and in case any acci- to the arts and sciences. The Milesians had
dents might arise either from fire or war. already some slight knowledge of them,
Those copies were also called Psalters, which they had acquired in Egypt, where the
after the original, as the Psalter of Ardmagh, Gadelians, their ancestors, had sojourned'
and the Psalter of Cluan-Mac-Noisk, of for some time.  During the voyage which
which some copies are still extant.      Milesius afterwards made into Egypt, where
Besides the public offices, created in the he remained for seven years, he had twelve
assembly of Tara, every lord had a physi- young men of his suite instructed in all the
cian, poet, and musician, to each of whom he sciences of the Egyptians, and who afterassigned a certain portion of land.  These wards served as masters to such of the
lands, as well as those of the judges and colony as he had left in Spain.  But these
historians, were considered sacred and ex- first impressions were soon lost; the Mileempt from all taxes and impositions, even in sians, occupied during the first centuries in
time of war, like those of the pagan priests cultivating their lands and new inheritance,
in Egypt.  These offices, and the lands be- neglected the arts and sciences.  This wise
longing to them, were confined to certain monarch, wishing to remedy that neglect,
families.  We see an example of the same founded schools of philosophy, astronomy,
custom in the fourth chapter of -Genesis. poetry, medicine, history, &c., at Teamor.
And none were allowed to study medicine Those schools, called in their' language
among the Greeks, but those belonging to Mur-Ollavan, " the houses of the learned,"
the family of Esculapius.  Nevertheless, were protected by the monarchs his succesto excite emulation, they were conferred on sors, particularly by Cormac-Ulfada, who
merit, without regard to the degree of rela- had their foundations enlarged.
tionship, in order that each member of the   Tuathal-Teachtmair,*  having ascended
same family should endeavor to perfect him- the throne which his father had lost together
self in his profession; a convincing proof with his life, in a revolt of the lower orders,l
of the taste of the Milesians for the arts and convoked the assembly of Teamor, as his
sciences, even in those barbarous times.t In ancestors were accustomed to do, on their
fine, wise laws were enacted in this assem- accession to the throne;t and having rebly, to maintain the public peace, and to pre- ceived the faith and homage of his subjects,
serve to the subjects the secure possession of he convened two other assemblies, one at
their properties and liberty.  All violence Eamhain, in Ulster, and the other at Cruagainst members of the assembly during the achan, in Connaught.~  In these assemblies
sessions, was prohibited under pain of death; the decree of Ollave Fola was renewed, for
the same sentence was pronounced against the continuance of the triennial assembly at
those guilty of robbery, murder, rape, and Tara, with the investigation and registering
other similar crimes, without the monarch
* In the year of our Lord 95.
X Exod. 15, Deut. 32, Jud. 5, 1 Reg. 2.  t Keating on the reign of Tuathal-Teachtmair.
t. u15,c.cap 32,    5,  og.           Grat. Luc. cap. 8, p. 68.
t Grat. Luc. cap. 3.                   6 Ogyg. part 3, cap. 56.




HISTORY OF IRELAND.
the annals, which had been interrupted by reign some years before the Christian era,
the usurpation of the lower ranks of the Forchern and Neid-Mac-Aidnha, two celepeople.  A celebrated regulation was insti- brated poets, composed a dialogue on the
tuted for mechanics.  They appointed sixty laws.*  The same, with Athirne, chief poet
of each trade in every district in the island, of Conquovar, were the authors of the axito inspect and govern the others.*  No one orns of the laws, called "judicia Ccelestia,"
was allowed to work at any trade without as the axioms of the sages of Greece were
having been approved of by these commis- called- " Dicta Sapientium."t  Fearadach,
sioners, who were called, in the language the monarch, and Moran his judge, were celeof the country, " Jollanuidh," which signi- brated for their justice, and their writings on
fies, expert in their art or profession. Such the laws.t Modain-Mac-Tolbain, judge unwas the first plan or origin of the bodies of der Constantine, surnamed Keadcaha, made
trades and mechanics in Ireland.              a collection of laws, called " Meillbreatha."~
About the time of our Saviour, the learned Fiothall, or Fithic Fiorgothia, one of the
in the jurisprudence of the country began legislators at Tara, under Cormac, surnamed
to make collections of the laws, and to corn- Ulfada, has left a treatise upon laws entitled
mit them  to writing, several of which are Fiondsuith.  King Cormac, and Cairbre his
mentioned by their historians.t  In the time son, made a code of laws, called " Dula,"
of Conquovar, king of Ulster, who began to which was divided into three parts, and
which contained regulations on various mat* Grat. Luc. cap. 12, p. 113.
t " In the reign of Conchovar, king of Ulster,   All those works on law, with many others
there were two poets of great celebrity: Forch- of the same nature, were collected in the
emus, son of Deagas, (from whom the Deagadoe eighth century, and formed into one body of
of Munster.were descended,) and Nedius, son of laws, by three brothers, Faranan, Boethgal,
Adnaus, and grandson of Uthirius, composed a and   oetu, the first of whom was a bishop,
dialogue on the laws. The same Forchernus com- and Moetul, the first of whom was a bishop,
mitted to writing, at the palace of Emania, in the second a judge, and the third a poet and
Ulster, rules on poetry and various kinds of verse. antiquarian.   This  collection was called
This book, called Uriaceacth-na-Negio, which signi-    Brathaneimhadh," signifying sacred judgfies precepts for poets, Kenfoela, the son of Olillius,.  The matter it contained is briefly
in the reign of Donald, king of Ireland, revised, me.        atter it contained is briefly
after several centuries. The same Forchernus, explained in the following Irish lines:
also Nedius, and likewise Athneus, chief poet of
King Conchovar, inserted among authors who have       Eagluis, flatha Agus filidh
written axioms on the laws which are termed           Brcitheamb Dhios gacbdligh,'Ccelestia Judicia,' as among the Greeks, the         Na bruigh fo aidh dar linn,'sayings of wise men.' Morannus, son of Car-          Na saor agus na gabhan.
breus, king of Ireland, and supreme judge under
Feradachus, king also of Ireland, produced like- which are thus translated  into Latin by
wise' celestia judicia.' Cormac, king of Ireland, Gratianus Lucius:~[
(whose studies on the law, and those of the son of
Carbreus, in the reign of his successor, are still " Quid sit jus Cleri, Satrapae, vatisque, fabrique,
extant.)  Fithelus, judge of King Cormac, and   Nec non agricole, liber iste docebit abunde."
Finnus, son of Coballus, general and son-in-law of
the same Cormac. Among other authors of' celestial axioms,' are numbered Factnaus, son of Sen- Eugenius, son of Darthactus, have been celebrated.
chaus, grandson of Coelclinius; Serchaus, son Those of Achaus, son of Luctaus, king of Munof Olillius; Nereus, son of Fincollaus; Rognius ster; those also of Carithniathus and Nemthenius,
Rosgadhach, poet, son.of Hugonius, king of Ire- were nearly equal to Conchovar. Feradachus, king
land; Manius Nilnessius, poet; and Ethna, daugh- of Hibernia, under whom  Monannus flourished.
ter of Armalgadius.                           He was celebrated for his writings; Modanus, son
"Similar' judicia' also the Christian king, Dub.- of Sulbanus, in the time of Quintus Centimachus,
thacus O'Lugair, who had been, on the arrival of king of Ireland, composed a book of laws. I shall
St. Patrick, a heathen, practised. Of him Jocelin pass over Conlaus, a celebrated judge of Connaught,
makes mention, c. 45; and Sanchanus, Torpes- who contended with the druids in his writings;
tius, in the time of Guarius, king of Connaught. also Senchaus, son of Coelclinius, father of FactKenfoela, son of Olillius, of whom we made men- naus, whom we mentioned above; and Kinethus
tion above, composed together a work from the O'Commid, and other pagans, whose names and
writings of the ancients, entitled'Celestia Judicia.' epochs there is not at present an opportunity
These were three brothers of O'Burechanus, i. e., of introducing." —Ogyg. part 3, c. 30, pp. 217,
Ferananus, bishop; Boethgalus, judge; and Mal- 218.
tulius, poet, when Cathaldus, of Fingunius, was   e Ogyg. part 3, c. 30.
king of Munster.                                t In the year of Christ 70.
"A little before Conchovar, when Fergusius, son   t Grat. Luc. c. 20, p. 175.
of Ledeus, was president of Ulster, Seannus, son   ~ Anno 148.
of Agius, flourished as a writer; he composed  l] Anno 234. Ogyg. part 3, cap. 69' Fonn Seanchuismhoir.' The' Celestia Judicia' of   f Grat. Luc. cap. 20, page 157.




WARS OF THE MILESIANS.                               79
Gratianus Lucius mentions his having seen similar examples in the neighboring counseveral large volumes on Irish laws, written tries.  In Germany, Rudolphus, Albert,
in large characters on parchment.  In the Henry VII., Frederick III., Louis of Baspace between the lines, there were words varia, Charles, nephew of Henry, and Gonwritten in small characters to explain what- ther, all perished either by conspiracy or
ever might be obscure in the text, with com- poison.*  Italy was long torn by the facmentaries on the margin, like the books of tions of the Guelphs and Gibelins. In Spain,
civil and canon laws.*                    Alphonso III. and Alphonso IV. deprived
their own brothers of their eye-sight. Peter,
_______________________           the legitimate son of Alphonso XI., was deposed and assassinated by Henry his natural
CHAPTER  VI.                  brother; Garzias was massacred by Sanctius,
and Sanctius by Vellidus; finally, all Spain,
THE WARS OF THE MILESIANS.           under Roderick, saw herself betrayed and
given up to the Moors, by Count Julian, a
WAR was the ruling passion of this people. Spaniard, whom Bodin calls prince of CeltiWe see by their histories, that, for the most beria: which treachery, in the space of
trifling cause, they declared war and fought fourteen months, caused the blood of seven
the most bloody battles. They were scarcely hundred thousand Spaniards to flow. Durin possession of their new conquest, when ing the heptarchy in England, twenty-eight
the two brothers, chiefs of the colony, de- Saxon kings were murdered, the most of
dared war against each other, which ended them one by the other, not to mention those
in the death of one of them; and it may be who were deposed.  In the kingdom  of
said, that of the great number of kings who Northlumberland alone, four kings were asgoverned them for more than two thousand sassinated, and three deposed, within the
years, more than two-thirds of them perished space of forty-one years; so that this peoon the field of battle.  According to the cus- ple remained without a king for thirty years,
tom of ancient times, the crown of the van- no one daring to assume the title or the reins
quished was the prize of the victor, which of government.t  What dreadful cruelties
was a proof of their martial and warlike and evils were committed in the wars of the
genius, and also of a spirit of discord, which barons, under the kings John, Henry III.,
was finally the cause of the destruction of and Edward II.; the last of whom was detheir monarchy, and the loss of their liberty. posed, and then assassinated, by order of his
The same disorders prevailed in all times own wife and son.  The wars between the
and in all countries, particularly where the houses of York and Lancaster, were not less
crown was elective.  Not to speak of the fatal. The assassination of Richard II., and
empires of Babylon, of the Egyptians, the of Henry VI., with several thousand men
Medes and the Persians, Rome, that eternal killed on both sides, were the fruits of these
city, was founded in blood; that empire, in unhappy broils.  It would be endless to reother respects so polished, was at one time late all the atrocities and cruelties of which
torn by the factions of the Triumvirs, and at that people afford an example.  If, as is but
others by those of Caesar and Pompey, of too certain, so many awful excesses have
Octavius and Antony.  If, among the Mi- been committed in England, in times so relesians, he who imbrued his hands in the cent, not to add the catastrophes of a simiblood of his king succeeded to the throne, the lar kind which occurred in other countries,
same thing is discoverable among the As- it should not appear astonishing that Ireland
syrians, and the kings of Israel.  We see underwent certain revolutions, the dreadful
also in Rome, that Otho having killed Gal- effects of which were but partially felt; it
ba, succeeded him in the government, and would therefore be very unjust to impute to
Vitellius succeeded Otho, the former of the people of Ireland alone, tragical events,
whom fell by the hands of Vespasian.      of which so many other nations have afforded
In more recent ages, we discover many such dreadful examples.
From the time of Heremon,t the first ab* "I myself have seen many thick volumes of solute monarch of the Milesian race, Ireland
Irish laws, written on parchment, and among them was governed by kings descended from one
the text written in large characters, having the of the three sons of Milesius,~ Heber, Herelines moderately separated, for the more easy interpretation of the words compressed in smaller let-  * Bodin. Meth. Hist. p. 450.
ters. We see more copious comments introduced  i- Math. Westmonas, lib. 1, cap. 3
in the page, having the text the same asin books of  t A. M. 2996.
laws." —Gratianus Lucius, c. 20.            ~ B. C. 1008.




80                             HISTORY OF. IRELAND.
mon, and Ir, and sometimes from Ith, son ceremony to have been observed at the reof Breogan, uncle of Milesius, for about se- ception of the sons of the king; and as they
ven hundred years, till the construction of were sometimes admitted at a very tender
the palace at Eamhuin, in Latin " Emania," age, the size of the lance was in proportion
in the province of Ulster, by Kimboth, the to their strength.*   This. order became
monarch, and until the age of Ugane More, illustrious among them, as none but members
who reigned a short time after.*         of the royal family could aspire to it.  AlThe most celebrated princes that reigned -dergode, son and successor of Munemon,
in Ireland during this interval of time, were, ordered rings of gold to those who excelled
Tighernmas, who, according to the book of in the arts and sciences.
Lecan, was the first who introduced idolatry   Ollave-Fola, who reigned as monarch
into the island: he also discovered gold and about seven centuries before the Christian
silver mines in this country, and established era, A. M-. 3324, B. c. 680, was the father
the difference of rank bythe number of co- of letters; he convoked a general and trienlors worn in.the clothes.t  By this decree, nial assembly of the states at Tealnor, or
the learned men held a distinguished rank, Tara, in Meath. This assembly was celebeing next to that of king.              brated for the wise laws enacted there for
Eocha II. led some troops into Albania, the administration of justice, and the general
and forced the Picts to renew their alliance, government of the state.  This may be
and pay the tribute stipulated for by their termed the epoch and beginning of a polished
ancestors with Heremon.                  and steady government, founded on laws,
Aongus or Eneas, surnamed Oll-Muccagh among the Scoto-Milesians.  This monarch
and Oll-Buagagh, on account of the success loved the sciences, and protected the learned;
of his arms against his enemies, undertook he founded a college at Tara, in which he
an expedition into Albania for the same pur- established antiquarians and professors for
pose.  He won thirty battles over the Picts the instruction of youth.  To this prince
and Orcadians, who, notwithstanding the was given the name of Ollave Fola, which
alliance concluded with Heremon, wished to signifies the doctor of Ireland; "Ollave"
shake off the yoke, and free themselves from meaning learned, and Fola being one of the
the tribute they were obliged to pay to the ancient names of this island; the college was
kings of Ireland; on his return, he defeated called Mur-Ollavan; " Murus su habitahis rebellious subjects in four different ren- culum doctorum," the asylum of the learned.
counters, and was at last killed at the bat-   Rotheact II. was the first who invented
tie of Sliave-Cua, in Munster.           chariots, to hide the deformity of his legs;
Enna I., surnamed "Airgeah," which as Virgil speaks of Ericthonius,t fourth king
signifies rich or wealthy, had cuirasses, or of Athens, althoughthe poet does not express
bucklers of silver forged. at Airgiodross, the motive.
which he distributed among the great men   Seadna II., who was succeeded by Simeon
of the kingdom, and those officers who had Breac, established the payment of the troops.
distinguished themselves in battle.        Enna II. had money coined at AirgioMunemon, the monarch, to excite emula- dross.
tionamonghissubjects,institutedthe military   The reigns of Conang, surnamed Bogorder of the Golden Chain.  This order was Aglach, signifying the fearless, and Duach
the only title of honor known among the II., surnamed Laighrach, are celebrated in
Milesians, after that of king.  The knights the annals of the Scoto-Milesians, A. M.
of this order, like the Roman knights, wore 3753, B. c. 431.  The former was renowned
chains of gold on their necks.  They were for his bravery, justice, and the moderation
called Ni-adh-Niask, in Latin "Eques-Tor- of Hlis government, which gained him the
quatus."  To be received into this order the love and affection of his people; the latter
candidate was obliged, besides the proofs of for his promptitude in the administration of
his nobility, to give some, also, of his skill. justice, and in punishing the guilty; so that
A buckler was tied to a post in the middle those princes carried the government to great
of a plain: he was more or less honored, perfection.
according to the number of lances he broke   The relation which exists between war
on the buckler in running, and admitted and those who are the actors in it, requires
into the order, or rejected if the number was mention to be made of the militia, and arms
not sufficient. Froissart mentions the same
* Gratianus Lucius, chap. 13, p. 124.
t " Ericthonius was the first who ventured to join
Ogyg. part 2, page 86.       the chariot to the steed, and victoriously display
t Fol. 290, page 2, col. 2.    himself on the rapid wheel."-Virg. Geor. b. 3.




WARS OF THE MILESIANS.                             81
of the Milesians, before I speak of their the nation, the history of which he is
wars. Keating attributes to Sedna II., mon- writing, and thus diminishes the authority
arch of Ireland more than four hundred of his most authentic monuments.  Ware
years before Jesus Christ, the formation of mentions that there had been, among the
a corps of militia, which was always ready Milesians, two kinds of foot-soldiers, differto defend the country against'foreign inva- ently armed;* the first was called the Galsion, and to preserve peace and tranquillity loglasses; they wore helmets, and coats of
at home.  The same prince provided for mail which covered their bodies:t their
their subsistence by allowing them pay; he arms were the pike, sabre, and axe, like the
afterwards regulated their discipline.* This ancient Gauls of whom Marcellin speaks.t
militia was composed, in time of peace, of The others, called Kearns, were light-armed
three legions, and each legion of three thou- troops, with javelins, lances, or cutlasses,
sand men; but in time of war the numbers called in Irish, " skeynes," and slings for
were increased, in proportion as the public throwing stones, which they used with aswelfare required it.t  Each legion had a tonishing skill.  They had also some cavcommander, equal nearly in rank to our alry; they used no saddles, like the ancient
colonel: each of whom had captains, lieu- Gauls, Romans, and Numidians, whose cavtenants, and other subaltern officers under airy was formerly so much esteemed. Their
him, and the three legions were commanded arms were lances and arrows.  They had
by one general. This cohort was in garrison foot-soldiers in their suite called Daltines,
during the winter, visited the coasts in sum- who were armed with darts, and whose duty
mer, and maintained the public peace.  To it was to mind the horses of the cavalry.
be received into it, the candidate should be There was also light cavalry, called by
of an honest family, irreproachable in his Ware, " Hobellarii," or light-horse.~  They
morals, and his parents were obliged to be used chariots, not only in travelling, but
responsible for his conduct; he should be also in war, of which their history gives many
of a certain height, strong, robust, supple in instances.1  Thadeus, the ally of Cormacbody, and ready to die rather than fly before Ulfada, and who assisted to place him on the
the enemy. In order to prove his courage, throne, was seated in a chariot at the battle
he was placed in a plain, armed with a of Crionn-Chincomar: he received as much
buckler and cimeter, and at the distance of land as he could drive over in his chariot in
ten paces were nine men, who all darted one day as a reward for hisservices. In the
their javelins against him at the same time; sixth century Diarmod the monarch, wishif he had the skill to ward off the blows with ing to take revenge on the family of Saint
his arms, he was reputed worthy of being Columb, for the threats and freedom  of
received into the corps; but if he had the manner in which that saint had spoken to
misfortune to let himself be wounded, he was him, assembled a considerable army, comexcluded forever.                          posed of chariots, cavalry, and infantry.~[
This militia was kept up for a long time, " Collecto grandi exercitu in curribus, et
and was called, in the first ages of Christiani- equitibus, et pedestribus," &c.
ty, Fionna Erionn, from Fionn-Mac-Cumhal,   The arms of the Milesians were made of
a descendant of Nuagha-Neaght, king of brass, like those of the ancient Greeks.**
Leinster, who had the command of it. The They took particular pride, says Solinus, in
romances of the ancient bards concerning the neatness of them: the handles of their
this militia, have afforded to some late swords were made of the teeth of marine
writers an opportunity of giving of it ex- animals, which they rendered as white as
travagant and absurd accounts, by ascri- ivory.tt Their bucklers of osier, their bows
bingd to those who composed it a gigantic and small arrows, showed their connection
stature of fifteen cubits, while they were with the Scythians from  whom  they had
but ordinary men, distinguished indeed from derived their origin.  Like them they used
others by their acknowledged bravery, and
an inviolable attachment to the service of   X Antiq. Hibern. cap. 12.
the state.  Romances and fables have been   t Cared. Brit. edit. Lond. page 718.
Stanihurst de Rebus Hib. lib. 1, p. 40 et 41.
composed at all times and in all countries,  ~ Antiq. Hibern. cap. 7.
to amuse the credulous and the ignorant.  11 Id. cap. 12.
An author who introduces them into a seri-'r Usser. Primord. Eccl. page 902.
ous history, is only casting ridicule upon   *d Grat. Luc. c. 13, p. 113 et 114.
tt " Those who study neatness indent the hafts
of their swords with the teeth of marine animals,
* Ogyg. part 3, cap. 33.                for they approach to the whiteness of ivory; men
t Walsh, Prosp. of Ireland, sect. 2, p. 51.  glory in the use of arms."-Solinus, c. 24.
11




82                              HISTORY OF IRELAND.
a martial cry, which was, farad, farah, asi  Usher, in his treatise on the antiquities
we should say, take care.  Those kinds of of the churches in Britain, gives different
cries were used by the Greeks and Romans; opinions on the origin of the Picts.*  He
the former, according to Plutarch and Suidas, says that the north of Europe, namely, the
used the word eleleu: Marcellinus tells us, Cimbrian Chersonesus, and Scandinavia, inthat c" Barritus" was the cry of the Roman habited by' the Danes, Goths, and Vandals,
soldiers going to battle.  The god Pan, it and known to the ancients by the name of
is said, was the author of this military cry, Germanic Scythia, was called by Procowhich, having caused the precipitate flight pius of Cwesarea, " Thule," and inhabited
of the enemy in the middle of the night in by the Picts, according to Claudian in his
the expedition of Bacchus into India, gave panegyric on the fourth consulship of Honorise to the saying of panic terror.*  Instead rius,t which has made many believe that
of drums and cymbals, the Milesians, like the Picts of Albania derived their origin
the Lacedemonians, made use of the flute from them.  But Usher himself seems to
and pipe in their armies.V                  doubt if it were Scandinavia or some of the
As the Picts were the first enemies whom northern isles that was called " Thnle,".j:
the Scoto-Milesians had to encounter, it is which doubt appears the better founded, as,
necessary first to investigate their origin and according to the map of the Atlantic Island,
establishment in the north of Britain.  Kea- drawn bythe Sampsons, eminent geographers
ting, O'Flaherty,'and most Irish  authors, of the last century, Thule is an island situafter the Psalter of Cashel, fix the arrival ated in the arctic circle, in the same latitude,
of the Picts in Ireland, and their passage in- but to the west of Scandinavia, now known
to the north of Britain, in the reign of Here- by the name of Iceland. However, were we
mon.t   We find the following narrative to suppose with Procopius, that Scandinavia
concerning that people,-in the ecclesiastical was called c" Thule," and say with Claudian
history of the venerable Bede.              that it was inhabited by Picts, colonies per" The Britons, having taken possession of haps of the Scandinavians and the Dacians,
the greater part of that island, (Britain,) the who paintedtheirbodiesbymakinlg incisions,
Picts, who came originally, it is said, from and introducing colored substances between
Scythia, had embarked in long vessels on the skin and the flesh, with which they formed
the ocean, and having been driven by the
winds beyond the coasts of Britain, found
themselves on those of Ireland.  Having ships, the force of the winds driving themr around,
landed in the northern part, they asked per- arrived in Ireland, after passing every coast of
mission of the Scots to settle among them   Britain; they landed on the northern coast, and
whichswas refused-the   Scots*to selayingithw having discovered there a nation of Scots, sought
which was refused —the Scots saying it was likewise for themselves permission to settle in those
impracticable, the island being too small to parts, but being unable to obtain it, the Scots
contain both; however, said they, take this replied that the island would not contain both; howsalutary advice which we give you; not far ever, we may give you a wholesome counsel which
hence is an island lying to the east, which we you can pursue; we know another island which is
ca discover i finewathenear to ours, it lies to the east; we are accustomed
can diSCOVer in fine weather; go and settle to see it in bright days. If you wish to go thither,
there; if any one oppose you, you may rely you can make it habitable for yourselves, and if
on succor from us. Thereupon the Picts you meet with opposition apply to us for aid. The
sailed towards Britain, and began to inhabit Picts after this began to inhabit Britain in the
the northern parts, the Britons being in northern parts, whereas the southern were in possession of the Britons. When the Picts applied to
possession of the south. The Picts having tihe Scots for wives, because they had no women,
no women, determined to ask some from the they granted thern their request, on the following
Scots, who consented to grant their request conditions, viz., if any doubt should arise to which
on condition, that in case any doubt should descendant, male or female, (being of royal lineage,)
the crown should belong, the decision should be
arise to which of the descendants, male or made in favor of the latter; such is the custom to
female, of the royal family, the  crown this day among the Picts." —Bede's Churc]h.ist.
shodld belong, he. who established a claim  b. 1, c. 1.
by the female line should be preferred.  * Cap. 15, p. 578.
This condition was accepted by the Picts,   t "The Orkneys were moistened with the blood
Thsaccepted by the Pi..s, of the routed Saxon, and Thule was heated by that
which custom still prevails among them."~ of the Picts."-c. 15, p. 578.
t " He implies by obvious and explicit remarks,
* Ogyg. part 3, page 47.                  that pirates of the Saxons possessed the Orkneys,
t Aulus Gmeius, lib. 1, cap. 11.          as the Picts did Thule, whether that were Scandit Ogyg. part 2, page 86.                  navia, or whether it might have been another of the
~ " It happened that a race of Picts from Scy- northern islands, as the Scots were in possession
thia, having entered on the ocean with a few long of Ierna."-Usher, c. 15, p. 579.




WARS OF THE MILESIANS.                               83
all kinds of figures; it does not follow that of Man, or of "Thule," to which the expea colony of Scythians established in the ditions of Agricola, Severus, and others,
north of Britain, and called, long after, Picts might have contributed: and that the return
by the Latins, are descended from those of to their country might have been confoundScandinavia, particularly as this custom of ed with their first settlement, A. rA. 3149.
painting the body was common to different   Eocha II. was the first of the kings of
nations.' It must however be acknowledged, Ireland, as I have already remarked, who
that the situation of Scandinavia with re- crossed over to Albania with his troops, and
spect to the north of Ireland, where it is obliged the Picts to renew their alliance with
said that people had landed, is fvorable to him, and pay the tribute stipulated between
this opinion, and renders it more probable their ancestors and Heremon, B. c. 851.
than that of Keating, who says they came But Fiacha I., successor of Eocha, sent over
from Asiatic Scythia, by traversing the vast Angus, surnamed Ollbuatgach, his son, a
countries which separate it from the west- warlike prince, who defeated them in several
ern coast of Gaul.                        rencounters, and obliged them to acknowUsher also gives the opinion of several ledge their dependence on the Irish crown.*
others concerning the time of the arrival of Finally, Angus I. completed their defeat,
the Picts in Britain; he does not, however, having routed them  in thirty battles, with
seem to adopt them: he mentions, among their allies the inhabitants of the Orkneys
others, that of Meevinus, or Melkinus Acal- and other islands. This expedition of Angus
lonius, and of Harding, who say that Gadela, was followed by a peace that lasted near five
and Scota his wife, had conme into Albania,!:undred years between those two nations,
with the Picts, in the year of Jesus Christ which was at length interrupted by the invaseventy-five.t But these authors differ from sions and hostilities committed by Reactha,
Eumeneus the Rhetorician, who, in his pan- surnamed Righdearg, in the north of Britain.t
egyric on Constantius Chlorus, mentions   The palace of Eamnhuin, so celebrated in
the Picts and Irish as the common enemies the history of Ireland, was built by order of
of the Britons, before the time of Julius Kimboaththe monarch, or his queen Macha,
Cresar: " Pictis et Hibernis assuetos hos- in the barony of Oneland, county of Ardtibus."t Others, not having well understood mach, in the year of the world, 3654, to
the opinion of Gildas and Bede, place the serve as a place of residence for the princes
first settlement of the Picts in Britain in the of the race of Ir, who commanded at that
fifth century, under Theodosius the younger; time in the province of Ulster.t  From the
as Bede, having spoken of the dreadfuld wars of the Milesians with the Picts, till
ravages committed by the Scots and Picts the foundation of this palace and the reign
in Britain, adds that the latter had stopped to of Ugane More, I discover but little worth
recruit themselves for the first time in the relating: the monuments of the Irish before
extremity of the island.  " Picti in extrema that period are both uncertain and doubtful;
insulae parte tune primum et deinceps requi- the plan which I have proposed to myself to
everunt."{  However; those words, in the follow not allowing me to enter into an
natural sense of the author, only represent exact detail of all their private wars, I leave
a cessation of hostilities, and a truce on the it to those who have it better in their power
part of those barbarians, " cessante vasta- than i, to examine the ancient monuments
tione hostili," and by no means their first set- of the country.~ Besides, as objects viewed
tlement in the island, asthose'authors assert. [ at too great a distance become almost inIt is also possible, that when the Romans visible, it is nearly the same with facts
had increased their power in Britain, the relating to such distant times; their great
Picts might have been forced to confine antiquity renders them  at least obscure:
themselves to the inaccessible parts of Cale- objects should be brought near, the better
donia, and sometimes to withdraw  them- to distinguish them.
selves to the Orkneys, the Hebrides, the Isle
* " Herein it must be noticed, that the Picts had
* Plin: lib. 22, cap. 1.                 settled then, for the first time, in the northern part
1t  "If we attach belief to the words of John Har- of the island, and continued afterwards in that
dinge, who says that Gadela and his wife Scota, country, after the devastations and cruel subjection
the illegitimate daughter of king Pharo, came with (as Gildas had already described) had ceased in
the Picts into Albania, in the year of Christ 75."- Britain."-Usher, p. 609.
Usher's Church list. c. 15, p. 180.          Walsh. Prosp. d'Irl. part 1, sect. 1.
t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 18.                  $ Ogyg. part 3, cap. 37.
~ Ward, Vita in Sancti Romuldi. p. 369 et 370.   ~ Tigernachus Cluanensis, autor XI. saculi,
11 Ogyg. part 3, cap. 18.               apud Ogyg. part 3, cap. 86.




84                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Ugane More, descended from Heremon prince of Ulster, succeeded to the monarchy
in the twentieth degree, reigned in Ireland A. M. 3913, B. c. 87. It was from him this
about three hundred years before Jesus tribe took the name of Clanna-Rory, that is,
Christ, A.M. 3700.  On his accession to the children of Rory. They were again conthrone, he convoked the assembly at Tara,: firmed in the possession of this province by
in which he received hostages and the oath the monarch Eocha IX., when he created
of allegiance from his subjects, who con- the provinces into kingdoms, and gave to
firmed his election,f and enacted a law by the chief of each tribe who had till then
which the crown was declared hereditary in possessed it, the title of king, A. M. 3986. By
his family, in order to prevent the disorders this new regulation, the first king of Ulster
caused by elections, and too great a nuinber was Fergus, son of Leighe, and grandson
of pretenders to the throne.: This monarch of Rory the Great.*  He was succeeded
was surnamed More, or the Great, from his by Fergus Boigh, son of Rossa-Ruah, son
having conquered a number of islands lying of Rory, who, having been dispossessed by
to the west of Europe.  He had several Conquovar, otherwise Connor, surnamed
children by Keasair, his wife, daughter of a Nessan, son of Facthna, and grandson of
king of Gaul; among others, Laogare Lorc, Rory, took refuge in the province of Conand Cobtagh, Coel Breag, who reigned suc- naught, then governed by Queen Maude,
cessively.  These two princes were the where he placed himself at the head of the
ancestors of all the kings of the branch of Connaughtmen and those malecontents who
Heremon, who afterwards reigned, and of had followed his fortune, and waged war
all the illustrious families of that race.~ against his province, which lasted for seven
Laogare Lorc having been murdered by his years.t  During his stay in Connaught, he
brother Cobtagh,Jl who seized on the crown, had three sons by Maude, namely, Kiar,
Maion, afterwards called Lavra-Loinseach, Corc, and Cormac, of whom we shall hereson of Oilioll Aine, and grandson of Lao- after have occasion to speak.:  The empire
gare, fled from Corcaduibhne, now Corca- of the Clanna Rorys in Ulster was at length
guin, in the county of Kerry,5 where he shaken by the war which Colla-Huais and
had been spending some time with Scoriat, his brothers carried on against them in the
king of that country, and took refuge in fourth century.
Gaul, with the relations of Keasair, his   Munster was governed alternately by the
grandmother; he was honorably received descendants of Heber and Ith, who formed
there by the king, who gave him the com- two tribes, called Deirghtine and Dairine,
mand of his troops.  He acquitted himself from the settlement of the Milesians in Ireof this commission with so much bravery, land, to the time of Duach-Dalta-Deagadh,
that, as a reward for his services, the king who introduced into this province the Eargranted him two thousand two hundred men, nochs of the race of Heremon,~ A. M. 3950.
to enable him to lay claim to the crown of B. c. 50. Deaga, and Tigernach-Teadbanhis ancestors; with this succor he embarked, nach, his brother or cousin, chiefs of the
and having arrived in the bay of Lough- colony of the Earnochs, having usurped the
garm, now Wexford, he was informed that government of the province after Duach,
the usurper was holding his court at Dion- were confirmed in their possessions, with
riogh, near the river Barrow, in the county the title of kings, by the monarch Eocha
of Carlow; he marched thither with all IX., which interrupted the succession of the
possible diligence, and having surprised and legitimate princes for some generations, till
defeated his rival, he ascended the throne. Modha-Nuagadh, chief of the Heberians,
While the children of Ugane More divided put an end to their usurpation, in the reign
the sovereignty of the island, sometimes of the monarch Con Keadcaha, towards the
between themselves and sometimes with the end of the second century.
descendants of Heber, the princes of the   Leinster was always governed by princes
race of Ir governed in Ulster without inter- descended from Laogare-Lorc, son of Ugane
ruption, from the founding of the palace of More of the race of Heremon.  Its first
Eamhuin, to the time of Rory the Great, king, by the regulation of Eocha IX., was
the chief of that tribe, who, from being Rossa-Ruah, son of Feargus-Fairge.
Connaught was in the possession of the
* Keating on the reign of Ugane.  Firdomnians, the remains of the ancient
t Grat. Lmuc. 3, 8, p. 63.
t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 38.                 * Ogyg. part 2, p. 127, 128.
~ Keating on the reign of Laogare.       t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 45, 46.
11 Grat. Luc. cap. 8, p. 64.             X Ibid. cap. 46.
~ Ogyg. part 3, cap. 39.                 ~ Ibid. part 2, p. 122.




WARS OF THIE MSILESIANSo                           85
Firbolgs, to whom the Milesians had given   The birth of Jesus Christ preceded the
some lands, in gratitude for the services they death of Herod, as the edict of death prohad received from themn iln the conquest of the nounced by that tyrant against infants, was
island over the Tuatha de Danains.* O'Fla- the cause of the flight of Saint Joseph, with
herty distinguishes three different branches the child Jesus, into Egypt. Herod died in
of this race who governed Connaught in the the month of March, before Easter, and his
time of Eocha IX., namely: the Fircraibs, death was preceded, according to the calcuwho were in possession of the southern lations of astronomers, by an eclipse of the
part of the province, on the side of Limer- moon on the night of Friday to Saturday,
ick, the chief of whom was Fiodhach, son that is, from the ninth to the tenth of Januof Feigh; the Gamranrads, who inhabited ary, of the Julian year 4713: the year of
Irras in the west, now Galway, as far as Rome, according to Varro, 753, and the third
the confines of Ulster, governed by Eocha- of the 194th olympiad.*  The epoch of the
Allet; the Tuatha-Taidheans, who possess- Christian era was fixed by Dionysius the
ed the rest of the province on the side of Lesseer on the calends of the succeeding
Leinster, had Tinne, son of Conrathh, for month of January, after the Julian year
their chief. These three chiefs were called1 4714.t    This period is at least two years
kings by Eocha IX., each in his own ter- later than the real birth of our Saviour,
ritory; the triumvirate lasted but a short which, according to O'Flaherty, is sufficient
time. Tinne having married Mew or Maude, to reconcile the opinions of the book of Ledaughter of the monarch, was created sole can and of Flannus de Monasterio, concernking of the province.  After the death of ing the king who reigned in Ireland at the
Tinne, Maude, queen of Connauglht, rmar- time of the nativity.
rled Oilioll More, son of Rassa Ruah, king   In the reign of Conare the Great, the
of Leinster, by whom she had seven sons, provincial kings were: Conquova-r-Nessan,
called the seven Maines.t  Oilioll was at son of Feachna-Fatagh, and grandson of
length killed by Conall Kearnagh, son of Rory the Great, of the race of Ir, in UT1Amergin, a prince of the race of Ir, and ster;:  Carbre-Nia-Ferr, son of Rossa-Ruah,
descended in the fourth degree from  Rory and grandson of Feargus-Fairge, of the race
the Great. Maude having reigned 98 years of Heremon, in Leinster;~ Oilioll-More,
in Connaught, sometimes a widow, and some- brother of Carbre, with Maude his wife,
times under the power of a husband, died at daughter of the monarch Eocha-Felioch, in
an advanced age, leaving the crown to Maine Connaught; Eocha-Abraruah, in southern
Aithreamhuil, one of the seven sons she had Munster, and Cury-Mac-Daire, grandson of
by Oilioll More. The latter was succeeded Deaga, chief of a branch of the Earnochs in
by Sanbus, of the race of the Firdomnians, northern Munster.  Angus-Ossory, whose
who long after lost his life ir a battle aganst patrimonr y L still called Ossory, from  his
the monarch Tuathal.t                      name, married Kingit, daughter of CuryAfter the deafth of Eocha IX., Eocha- Mac-Daire.ll
Airive succeeded to the monarchy, and af-   The reign of Conare was long and happy,
ter ten years was replaced by Ederskeol, of peace and abundance were universal; it was
the race of Heremon, and of the tribe of the the Augustan age of Ireland.  He was, in
Earnochs, who, -from being king of Munster, fact, contemporary of Augustus, Tiberius,
was raised to the dignity of monarch of the &c.~  The only war in which he was enwhole island.  The book of Lecan fixes gaged during his reign, was against the
the birth of our Saviour in the reign of this Leirster people, to revenge the death of
monarch:'Ederscolio regnante Christus Ederskeol, his father, who was killed at
natus in Bethlehehm Juda:"~ but Flannus de Alien, by Naud-Neacht, prince of that provMonasterio places it in the reign of Conare ince., who succeeded him for six mllonths.:
the.Great. O'Flaherty discovers the means He defeated them  at the battle of Cliach,
of makling them agree, by supposing that the imposed an annual tribute on them, and dereal birth of our Saviour took place in the creed the separation of Ossory from Leinlast year of the reign of Ederskeol, and by
commencing the general Christian era with   * Joseph. Antiq. Judmor. lib. 17, c. 8, pp. 9
the reign of Conare the Great, his son.lI   and 10.
f Ogyg. proloq. p. 39, et part 2, p. 131
e Dgyg. part 3, cap. 11, et 43.           t Ogyg. part 2, 131.
t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 47.                  ~ Id. part 3, c. 45.
t Idem. part 2, p. 139. Idem. part 3, cap. 46.  1f Kennedy, p. 71.
~ Fol. 295, aorso.                        1 Ogyg. part 3, c. 44.
t Ogyg. part 2, p. 129.                   * Idem. cap. 45.
J~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*  d~.cp  5




86                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
ster, to be forever annexed to Munster.* to any office under the government —chilThis monarch, having reigned thirty years, dren were obliged to fllow the profession of
unfortunately ended his days by fire, in his their fathers, which was that of the servile
castle of Bruighean-da-Dhearg, in Meath, and mechanic arts; the liberal arts, such as
which was set on fire by robbers, A. D. 35.t history, judicature, music, and the profession
His successor, after an interregnum of five of arms, medicine, &c., being reserved for
years, was Lugha-Riadearg, grandson of the inferior branches of the Milesians. They
Eocha Feliogh, who killed himself in a fit of were excluded from all share in the supreme
despair, by falling on the point of his sword, power, which was confined exclusively to
A.D. 58. He was succeeded by Conquovar- the descendants of Milesius.  In fine, the
Abraruah, grandson of Rossa-Ruah, king nobility never degraded themselves by low
of Leinster; the latter was succeeded by and shameful alliances; and people of the
Crimthan-Nianair, son of Lugha-Riadearg, lower order never attained the first dignities
A. D. 39.                               of the state, as is but too often the case at
The Milesians began already to be known present. The plebeians groaned for many
in Britain by the name of Scots.t  Gildas ages under the weight of their vassalage;
Britannicus, an author in the sixth century, but at length, weary of servitude, they made
and after him Bede, mention their incur- an effort to free themselves, and shake off
sions into Britain, conjointly with the Picts; the yoke which appeared to them insupport"Scotorum a circio, Pictorum ab aquilone."'~ able. As they required a chief, they fixed
Crintham, on his return from an expedition upon Carbre, surnamed Kin-Cait, which siginto Britain, from whence he brought im- nifies the head of a cat, as it is said he had
mense riches, died of a fall from his horse, A. the ears of one, to head them in the rebellion.
n. 56, having reigned sixteen years, and left This man was a descendant of the Firbolgs,
his crown to Fearadach, his son, who after- a decided enemy to royalty and nobility, inwards died a natural death at Tara, A.D. 70. triguing, and capable. of great enterprises.
Fearadach was succeeded by Fiatagh (One Cromwell is able to overthrow the
Fin, of the race of the Earnochs, from best-established government.) The rebellion
whom the tribe of the Dal-Fiatachs derived broke out in the reign of Fiacha TV. The pletheir name; the latter was killed in battle'beians, not daring to raise openly the standby Fiacha V., surnamed Finola, son of ard of revolt, had, by the advice of Carbre,
Fearadach, of the race of Heremon, who their chief, recourse to treachery, in order to
succeeded to the throne, A. D. 73.      accomplish more securely their perfidious
The first remarkable civil war broke out design.  For this purpose they prepared a
among the Milesians at this time; it was magnificent banquet at Moy-Cru, in the provcaused by the revolt of the plebeians, and ince of Connaught, to which they invited the
had almost proved fatal to the ancient con- monarch, princes, and all the nobility in the
stitution of the state. They were the de- kingdom.* This banquet, which lasted nine
scendants of the soldier, mechanics, and days, terminated tragically for the guests,
laborers of every kind, who had accompa- who were all murderedt in the banquetingnied the children of Milesius from Spain to hall, by armed men whom the conspirators
Ireland, and who had shared their fatigues had engaged for that barbarous purpose,
in the conquest of the island. The remains contrary to public faith, as it occurred some
of the Firbolgs and the Tuatha de- Danains, centuries after to the Britons, who were maswho had escaped the sword of the Milesians, sacred by the perfidious Saxons on the plains
and who had been permitted to remain by of Salisbury. The rebels being delivered of
submitting to the conquerors, joined the ple- their tyrants, (as they termed the monarch
beians. After the island had been subdued, and nobility,) chose for their king the monthey received no share in the lands, with the ster who had so well abetted them in their
exception of a few families of the Firbolgs, rebellion. Carbre did not long enjoy his rewho were established in Connaught. They gicide —he reigned but five years. Moran,
always remained a body of people, and a his son, too just a man to continue the usurpdistinct tribe of inferior rank to the Mile- ation, having abdicated the throne, was sucsians, and were not allowed to intermarry ceeded by Elim, who reigned twenty years.
with them.  They were not suffered to   O'Flaherty does not agree with Keating
emerge from a state of vassalage, nor aspire concerning the order and succession of the
monarchy fromr Crimthen-Nianair, to Tuat Ogyg. part 2, cap. 38.
X Idem. part 3, cap. 52.                 Grat. Lue. cap. 8, P. 66.
~ Bede, cap. 12.                       t Anno. 80.




WARS OF THE MILESIANS.                           87
thal-Teachtmar; but they are in accordance tura.*  The law, enacted some centuries
as to the number and names of the monarchs before, in favor of Ugane-More, one of his
who occupiedthethrone duringthatinterval.* ancestors, was renewed to perpetuate the
O'Flaherty seems also to insinuate, on the crown in his family.
authority of the annals of Tigernach, that  Nothing less than the total annihilation of
the monarch Fiacha V. was put to death by the chief could quell the rebellion.  Elim
the provincial kings of Tara. However this kept the field with an army determined to
be, Tuathal, son and heir of' Fiacha, to support his claims.  Tuathal immediately
save himself from the fury of the plebeians, collected what troops he could, and marched
withdrew into Albania, to the king of the forward to meet the enemy, whom he came
Picts, his grandfather, by Eithne his mother, up with at Acaill, near Tara. The two
till, like a second Demetrius, he was re-, armies being in sight of each other,.the
established on the throne of his ancestors. signal was given and the action began. The
Agricola was sent about this time to Bri- rebels were unable to make a long resistance.
tain, in the capacity of prefect; he fortified The presence of the legitimate prince inthe isthmus formed by the two seas, from spired the royal troops with courage, as
Edinburgh in the east to Dunbarton in the much as it depressed that of the enemy, who
west. "Proesidio firmavit," says Tacitus, could not withstand the first onset; they
"summotis velut in aliama insulam hostibus." abandoned the field to the conquerois,
Some time after he sailed round Britain having lost several men, with their chief.
with a fleet, discovered it to be an island, Tuathal, elated at this success, pursued the
and conquered the inhabitants of the Ork- rebels everywhere; and having gained sevneys.                                   eral victories over them, (to the number, it
During this usurpation Ireland was torn is said, of eighty-five,) crushed a rebellion
by opposite factions.  On one side, the ple- which. had lasted twenty-five years. Being
beians being in possession of the supreme then in peaceable possession of the kingdom,
power, practised unheard-of cruelties against and having no longer any thing to fear from
the nobility; on the other, a few nobles, at the rebels, he convened the general assembly
the head of their troops, ravaged the country, at Tara, in order to revive the old constitudestroying all by fire and sword, and in their tion of the state.  He began by restoring
pursuit of the plebeians gave themno quarter. the ancient proprietors, particularly those
The most dreadful consequences ensued; who had been the companions of his misformechanics gave up their work to run to tunes, to the possession of those lands from
arms; laborers abandoned their fields and which they had been expelled, and with
leftthem uncultivated: famine was the result. which the tyrants had re-warded the rebels
In this confusion, the people began at length who had supported them in their usurpation.
to open their eyes to the misfortunes of the This prince, although a pagan, did not think
state: they considered that the only remedy that the estates of his faithful subjects should
was to recall the legitimate heir, and place become the pay of iniquity or the reward of
him upon the throne of his fathers. A depu- regicide, as has been the case in the same
tation was sent to Tuathal, who was attended country within the last century.
by a number of faithful subjects, the fol-  The reign of Tuathal was long, and filled
lowers of his misfortune.  He received the with troubles and disorders. He had several
embassy with kindness, and embarked for children by Bann, his queen, daughter of the
Ireland, with the generous resolution of de- king of Finland, and among others two
livering his country from tyranny and re- daughters, Dairine and Fithir, the former of
storing peace, whereof little remained but whom was married to Eocha Ainchean, king
a slender remembrance and a deceitful sha- of Leinster. This barbarous prince, either
dow.  Having landed at Irras Domnoin, in tired of his wife, or the younger sister having
Connaught,t a considerable body of troops, more attractions for him, confined the former
commanded by Fiacha Caisin, joined him, in a castle, put on mourning, as if she had
with whom he marched directly to Tara, been dead; and having repaired to the court
where he was received by the nobility, de- of his father-in-law, Tuathal, at Tara, apnominated the saviour and liberator of his peared inconsolable for the pretended loss of
country, and proclaimed king, with the his wife, and acted his part so well with the
usual ceremonies, by the name of Tuathal- credulous monarch, that he obtained from
Teachtmar, in Latin, Tuathalius Bonoven- him the other sister, to console him for the
loss of the deceased. The marriage having
* Ogyg. part 3, cap. 55.
t Ogygia, part 3, cap. 55.               * Ogyg. part 3, cap. 56,
-...  -— ~~~~~~ —. —------------— c~~~~~~~~




88                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
been concluded to the satisfaction of all Britons, who had revolted. The emperor
parties, Eocha took leave of his father-in-law Antoninus, having harassed them, removed
and the whole court, and returned to his the wall of Adrian as far back as the Forth,
province with his new queen. However, his which Agricola had fortified some years bejoy was soon changed into sorrow. The two fore, and by this means extended the fronsisters were much surprised to see each other tiers of the empire.
rivals; and having discovered the treachery   After a reign of thirty years Tuathal was
of Eocha, they died a short time after of killed at the battle of Moyline, in Dalradie,
grief, without the slightest anger towards a part of the province of Ulster, by Mal,
each other.  Tuathalhaving learned the tra- king of that province, who, by this victory,
gical end of his daughters, resolved to punish succeeded him in the monarchy. In the life
the perfidy of Eocha, and published mani- of Agricola, by Tacitus, we find an account
festoes throughout the island, to show the which throws considerable light on the hisjustice of the war he was going to undertake tory of Ireland of that time, fixes its period,
against the king of Leinster, to avenge the and deserves to be investigated.  "In the
affront he had received in the person of his fifth year of the campaigns of Agricola,"
daughters. The provincial auxiliary troops says Tacitus, " one of the kings of Ireland,
havingjoinedhim, he entered Leinster,laying expelled by an intestine commotion, fell into
waste the country as he passed. Eocha, not his hands; the general detained him in his
finding himself able to defend his country, camp under the guise of friendship; but
nor face an army so superior to his own, had watched him closely, as one who might, on
recourse to negotiation, which succeeded, the first opportunity, become a useful inafter many humiliations on his part.  The strument in the design he had formed of
monarch, naturally disposed to peace, and attempting the conquest of Ireland."* Taciwishing to spare the people, who suffered tus adds, " that he saw this prince in Rome,
so much bywar, listened to his proposals and and heard him  say, that with one legion
consented to grant him peace, on condition and a few auxiliary troops he could reduce
of a tribute, payable every two years to him the whole country to subjection."t
and his successors on the throne of Ireland.   By some reflection we may discover the
The king and people of Leinster submitted relation that exists between the account of
joyfully to the conditions, and peace was Tacitus, and the history of that period. This
restored.  This tribute, called in their lan- prince of whom Tacitus speaks, was an unguage " Boroimhe Laighcan," and which fortunate king exiled by a civil commotion.
consisted of six thousand ounces of silver, The history of Ireland of that period only
with a certain number of oxen, sheep, &c., mentions Tuathal to whom this account can
having caused  many wars between the relate, and chronology also favors it; the
monarchs who required the payment of it, expedition of Agricola into Britain is fixed
and the people of Leinster, who wished to in the year 82, and the massacre of the
shake off the burden, was abolished in the monarch and nobility by the plebeians in
seventh century by the monarch Fionnach Ireland, about a year before this period.
II., at the request of Saint Moling.*     Agricola, says Tacitus, posted troops along
In the reign of Tuathal, the emperor the coastof Britain, next to Ireland. Tuathal
Adrian had a wall built in Britain, with was obliged to-conceal himself from  the
stakes fixed in the earth and sods of green plebeians, to take refuge with the king of
turf, which extended from  Newcastle and the Picts, his grandfather.  It was undoubtthe mouth of the river Tyne in the east, to edly in this flight that he was taken by the
near Carlisle in the west, in order to check vanguard of Agricola, and carried off by
the irruptions of the  Scots and Picts. force in irons by this Roman general.  In
This wall, which was eighty-two miles in effect the word exceperat means as much
length, was eighty miles south of the limits that he was taken by surprise, as that he
fixed by Agricola, by which the empire lost
eighty square miles *of territory.  But as  * "In the fifth year of Agricola's expeditions, he
the adherents of the Scoto-Milesians, not- received one of the princes of the country who had
withstanding the intestine wars so frequent been driven out by an insurrection of the people,
and retained him under a show of friendship. That
in the reign of Tuathal, continued to make part of Britain which lies opposite to Ireland, he
irruptions from time to time into Britain, the furnished with troops more from hope than alarm."
Romans were obliged to keep troops there -Tacitus' Life of Agricola, p. 499.
to repress them, as well as the Picts and,,'  I have often heard him say, that with one
legion and a few auxiliaries, the country (i. e. Ireland) might be subdued."-Tacitus' Life of AgriX Ogyg. part 3, cap. 56         cola, p. 499.




WARS OF THE MILESIANS.                           89
went of himself to implore the assistance of   The merit of Tuathal conspires also to
Agricola. The massacre of the monarch favor our conjectures.  We see that on his
and nobility of Ireland was committed, ac- return, he displayed not only that courage
cording to Gratianus Lucius, in the year and valor which characterized his nation,
65; and should we suppose, as he does, that but in all his actions,the prudence, discipline,
Tuathal was not then born, but that the and successful designs that distinguish a
queen Eithne,his mother, who was then with man formed in the best schools, which were
child, had fled to Albania, to the king of the those of the Romans at that time. It was
Picts, her father, where she was delivered of only at Rome that he could have received
that prince, it would nearly agree with our the happy education which the histories of
calculation, as the prince would be then 26 the country ascribe to him, and acquire that
years of age, at the time of the expedition -intelligence which made him a consummate
of Agricola into Britain. As it was not general, from his first entrance into the
without some design on Ireland, that Agri- career of arms. Thus every thing leads us
cola had posted troops along the coast of to believe, that the king mentioned by TaBritain, opposite to this island, it is probable citus was Tuathal, and never did conjecture
that he offered to serve the captive prince, more closely resemble the truth. According
by proposing to re-establish him  on the to this calculation, he ascended the throne
throne of his ancestor, and that Tuathal, towards the end of the first century.  He
seeing the unhappy state of his affairs, had reigned thirty years, and died in 125, so it is
listened to him with eagerness; but the pro- in this year we should fix the beginning of
ject failed. Agricola was recalled in 85, the reign of Mal, his successor.*
and brought his captive with him to Rome:  Mal was descended from Rory the Great,
it was there, according to the testimony of of the race of Ir; he reigned but four years,
Tacitus, that this prince had said, that with and was killed by Feilim, surnamed Reachtone legion and a few auxiliary troops he mar, son of Tuathal, who thus revenged on
could easily reduce Ireland.  It may be him the deathofhisfather. Feilim governed
observed, that at this same time, Agricola Ireland in peace for the space of nine years,
sent against the Caledonians three legions, and was commended for his great justice.
8000 Britons, and 3000 horsemen, making in He established the law of Talion, of which
all about thirty thousand men; Ireland is an example is found in the book of Kings.
larger than Caledonia, better peopled, and This penalty, which generally consisted of
more warlike.  How then could one legion money, and was proportioned to the crime,
reduce it to subjection?  It is not difficult was called " Eruic" by the Irish.  Feilim
to explain the paradox, if we suppose that died a natural death, leaving several children,
there was an understanding formedto second who were Fiacha-Suidhe, the ancestor of the
foreign forces. What understanding could Deasies; Conn, surnamed Keadcaha, who
be more powerful than the just obedience afterwards became monarch; Eocha-Fionn,
which a lawful prince would require from father of the Fotharts; the three Conalls,
his old subjects, the cries of those always and Luagne.
ready to submit to their legitimate sovereign,  About this time the Munster people inthe striking image of a virtuous prince in- vaded Leinster, andthe king of thatprovince,
voking the rights of justice, compassion, called Cuchorb, assembled all his forces, of
nature, and his throne?  And who but the which he gave the command to Lugadhlawful heir to the crown could flatter himself Laighis, son of Laoighseach-Kean-More,
with conquering a powerful kingdom with a and grandson of Conall Kearnach, who was
single legion?  We may: readily imagine the most skilful captain of his age.t
that a prince dethroned by the intrigues of   Lugadh, to prove himself worthy of the
a usurper, and the cabals of a few rebel confidence of the king of Leinster,began his
subjects, always has a number of faithful march, and coming up with the Munster
people attached to his interests. Those are army at Athrodain, now Athy, in the county
certainly the circumstances which made the Kildare,. he made a dreadful slaughter of
king, expelled from Ireland by a domestic them, and obliged them to repass the Barrow.
sedition, mentioned by Tacitus, say, that one The enemy having rallied at Cainthine,
legion and a few auxiliary troops would afterwards calledLaoighise, Lugadhattacked
suffice to reduce the whole country to sub- them again, with the same success as before;
mission; and those circumstances naturally but they were completely defeated at Sligheindicate Tuathal, who was reinstated a short
time after in the kingdomof his ancestors, by   * Ogyg. part 3, cap. 57.
his own subjects, without any foreign aid.    t Keating on the reign of Cormac Ulfada.
12




90                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Dhala, now Bealach-More-Ossory, and ren- made of yew-tree; fifty chariots of exquisite
dered incapable of continuing the campaign. workmanship; fifty  chess-boards;  fifty
The king of Leinster, in gratitude for the tables used by wrestlers; fifty trumpets;
services of Lugadh, conferred on him the fifty large copper boilers, and fifty standards,
country called after him, Laoighise, Leix, with the right of being a member of the counor Leis, of which Maryborough, in the cil of state of the kingof Leinster. Lastly, he
Queen's county, is now the capital.*  This bequeathed to the king of Leix, a hundred
territory was in the possession of the O'Mor- cows; a hundredbucklers; a hundred swords;
dhais, in English Moore, his descendants, a hundred pikes, and seven standards.  Catill the reign of Queen Elizabeth.     thire, having reigned thirty years, was killed
Cathire More,t of the branch of the Here- at the battle of Moyacha, near Tailton, in
monians, who governed Leinster, succeeded Meath.
Feilim; he had thirty sons, ten of whom,  Conn-Keadcaha, son ofFeilim-Reachtmar,
that left posterity, were the ancestors of the and of Ughna, daughter of the king of Denkings who reigned in Leinster till the twelfth mark, succeeded Cathire-:More, in the year
century, and of many other families of that 148: he was surnamed Keadcaha, from the
province.                               hundred victories he had gained over his
The will of Cathire More, cited by O'Fla- enemies.  Gratianus Lucius calls him, in
herty, who mentionstohave seenit inwriting, Latin, Constantius Centimachus;* he is
and to which Rossa Failge, his eldest son, calledby O'Flaherty,t Quintus Centimachus,
was executor, is the only thing curious in the and by others Centibellis.  The reign of
reign of this monarch. I. merely introduce this monarch presents a scene of blood and
it here to show the singular taste of those carnage. I shall not relate the great number
ancient times: this will contains the different of battles by which he acquired the surname
legacies he had left to his children, and the of Keadcaha, but confine myself to the prinnobility of Leinster.t To Breasal-Eineach- cipal war which he waged with Modhaglass, his son, he left five ships of burden; Nuagat, king of the province of Munster,
fifty embossed bucklers, ornamented with a and in which he had least success. To
border of gold and silver; five swords with understand the cause of this war, it is necesgolden handles, and five chariots drawn by saryto refer to earlier times. The Deagades,
horses. To Fiacha-Baikeada, another son, a branch of the Earnochs, of the province
he left fifty drinking-cups; fifty barrels made of Ulster, having been expelled by the
of yew-tree: fifty piebald horses, with the Clanna-Rorys, were kindly received by.
bits of the bridles made of brass. He left to Duach, one of the ancestors of Modha. These
Tuathal-Tigech, son of Main, his brother, new-comers, not content with the lands and
ten chariots drawn by horses; five play possessions which they had received from
tables; five chess-boards; thirty bucklers, the liberality of that prince, usurped the
bordered -with gold and silver, and fifty sovereignty of the province after his death.
polished swords. To Daire-Barrach, another Modha Nuagat, a prince of the race of Heof his sons, he left one hundred and fifty ber, and true heir to the crown of Munster,
pikes, the wood of which was covered with seeing with regret three princes of the tribe
plates of silver; fifty swords of exquisite of the Deagades established in this province,
workmanship; five rings of pure gold; one disputed the sovereignty of it with them;
hundred and fifty great-coats of fine texture, and not being of himself able to support his
and seven military colors. To Crimothan claims, he had recourse to Daire-Barrach,
he bequeathed fifty billiard-balls of brass, son of Cathire-More, and prince of Leinster,
with the pools and cues of the same material; whose friend he was, they having been
ten tric-tracs of exquisite workmanship; brought up together.  Daire, who knew the
twelve chess-boards with chess men. To justice of his cause, made an alliance with
Mogcorf, son of Laogare Birnbuadhach, he him, and gave him a body of troops to enable
left a hundred cows spotted with white, with him to establish his right. With this succor,
their calves, coupled together with yokes of Modha returned to his province, and meeting
brass; a hundred bucklers; a hundred red the enemy, commanded by Angus, brother
javelins; a hundred brilliant lances; fifty of Luigh-Allatach, at Vibh-Liathain, in the
saffron-colored great-coats; a hundred dif- county of Kerry, he gave him battle; the
ferent colored horses; a hundred drinking action was very brisk, but at length victory
cups curiously wrought; a hundred barrels declared in favor of Modha, who cut a
* Ogyg. part 3, cap. 51.
t Anno. 144.  Cap. 8.
i Ogyg. part 3, c. 59                    t Ogyg. part 3, c. 60.




WARS OF THE MILESIANS.                           91
number of the enemy to pieces, and put the   During the reign of Modha-Nuagat, in
rest to flight. In this extremity, Angus Munster, a general famine prevailed throughimplored the assistance of the monarch, out Ireland: this king was warned of it
who sent him fifteen thousand men. With some time before by a famous druid belongthis reinforcement he endeavored to retrieve ing to his court. To obviate this disaster,
his affairs, but his fate was the same as be- he appointed stewards and economists to
fore, being defeated at Crioch-Liathain, in prevent too great a consumption of grain.
the county of Kerry, by Modha, who after His subjects were compelled to limit their
those two victories made himself master of expenses; and a certain portion of the prothe province, and ordered all the Earnochs ductions of each year was, by order of the
who would not submit to his government to king, collected into granaries. The time
leave it.                               of the calamity having come, Modha availed
This war was followed by another still himself of the opportunity to make the other
more bloody and more obstinate. The as- provinces tributary to him. He sold his
sistance which the monarch had afforded grain at an advanced price; and instead of
the Earnochs, excited the anger of the king ready money, he required of the purchasers
of Munster to such a degree, that he re- an annual tribute for assisting them in their
solved upon taking revenge by force of arms. wants; by which means he increased his
Hostilities began on both sides; but the power considerably.  During thee wars of
king of Munster not feeling himself in a Conn-Keadcaha with the king of. Munster,
condition to make head against the superior the Deagades or Earnochs still formed a
forces of the monarch, wisely withdrew from considerable tribe, commanded by Mogalama,
the contest, and retired to Spain, where he whose son, named Connare, married Saraid
remained for nine years, and married Beara, or Sara, daughter of Conn. The monarch
daughter of Heber-More, king of that coun- formed this alliance with Mogalama in order
try.*  This alliance procured him assist- to raise friends, and create a kind of diverance; he returned to his country with foreign sion in the province of Modha, his enemy.
troops, and began hostilities anew against He afterwards gave Sabia, his second daughthe monarch.   During the many years ter, widow of Mac-Niad, of the race of Ith,
which this war lasted, the devastation was (by whom she had a son called Lughaidh,
dreadful; the consequence of which was, otherwise Mac-Conn,) in marriage to Oiliollthe division of the island between the con- Olum, only son and heir of Modha. By this
tending parties; and the monarch, after double alliance he reconciled the Deagades
losing the battles of Broisne and Sampaite, with the Heberians, and smoothed for Conare,
in the King's county; of Greine, in the his son-in-law, the way to the monarchy, his
county of Waterford; Athlone, in the county own son being yet a minor, and consequentof Roscommon; Gabhran and Usnigh, in ly, according to the fundamental laws of
east and west Meath, and some others, was the state, incapable of reigning. The third
obliged to submit.  This division was daughter of this monarch was Maoin, wife
called by the Irish " Leath-Cuin," and of Inchade, son of Fionn-Chada, grandson
" Leath-Modha," which signifies the half, or of Ogamain, king of Ulster, and mother of
portion of Conn, which was the northern part the three Ferguses, one of whom, surnamed
of the island, and the half of Modha, which Dovededagh, was afterwards monarch.
was the southern.t  After this division,  After the arrival of the Milesians in IreModha raised some fresh cause of conten- land, the form of government in Munster untion, which gave rise to another war, and derwent many changes. It was sometimes
showed that nothing but the government of governed alternately by the two tribes of
the whole island could satisfy his ambition. Deirghthine, and Dairine: the former of the
The two armies met in the plains of Moylena, race of Heber Fionn, the latter of that of
in the country of Ferakeall.  Before the Ith. While one commanded as sovereign,
engagement began, the king of Munster was the other filled the office of chief justice, or
murdered, in the morning, in his bed, by Golle, supreme judge. It was sometimes divided
son of Morn, a descendant of Sanbus, king into two parts, forming two kingdoms;
of Connaught. Conn, delivered from so for- namely, northern and southern Munster.
midable a rival, resumed the title of monarch This government was interrupted by the
of the whole island, without respect to the Deagades for more than two centuries; that
divisions, which never afterwards took place. is, from the death of Duach-Dalta-Deagha,
till the time of Modha-Nuagut,* and the
m Ogyg. part 3, c. 6Q.
t Grat. Luc. c. 8.                 *- Keat. on the reign of Art-Aonhir.




*92                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
reign of Oilioll-Olum, his son, who was the tioned by the venerable Bede.* His defirst absolute king of the whole province, scendants, who had not gone over to Albania,
and of the race of Heber.*  This king had first settled in Kiery-Luachra, and in Orery,
three sons by Sabia, daughter of Conn- near Muskerry,t from whence they afterKeadcaha: Eogan-More, Cormac-Cas, and wards went to Ulster,t and formed a new
Kiann.  The first was killed at the battle establishment in the county of Antrim, which
of Moy-Muchruime, and left a son called was called Dalrieda, at present Route.~
Fiacha-Mulleathan, who was ancestor of the   In the reign of Conare, Ogaman, of the
Mac-Cartys, and other collateral branches. tribe of the Dalfiatachs, of the race of HereCormac-Cas was chief of the O'Briens, and mon, succeeded Teobraide-Tireach in the
other branches, which derive their origin government of Ulster, which till then had
from them.  From  Kiann are descended been governed by princes of the race of Ir.
the O'Carrolls, of Ely, and others.  Oilioll-   Conare II. having been killed in the
Olum, having secured the crown in his seventh year of his reign by Neivy-Macfamily, made a law whereby the succession Straivetine, his brother-in-law, Art, surwas rendered alternate between the descend- named Anofhir, son of Conn-Keadcaha, beants of Eogan-More and those of Cormac- ing of age, laid claim to the crown of his
Cas, which law was religiously observed for ancestors, and was proclaimed king without
many centuries.t  In the reign of Conn, the opposition. His first care was to banish his
emperor Severus built a wall in Britain, to paternal uncle, Eocha-Fionn-Fothart, and
check the irruptions of the barbarians..his whole race from Meath, to punish them
This monarch, after a long reign, filled for the death of Conla and Crinna, his browith troubles, was betrayed by Eocha-Fionn- thers, and for their perfidyto Conn-Keadcaha
Fothart, and Fiacha-Suidhe, his brothers, his father, whom they had betrayed to the
and assassinated near Tara, by fifty robbers assassins employed by the king of Ulster.ll
disguised as.women, whom Teobraide-Ti- Eocha, being stripped of his possessions
reach, son of Breasal, and king of Ulster, near Tara, took refuge with his family in
had employed for this purpose.$  He was Leinster, where he was kindly received by
succeeded by his son-in-law, Conare II.   the kinsmen of his wife, grand-daughter of
Conare II. was son of Mogalama, of the Cathire-More; they gave him  estates on
tribe of the Deagades of Munster,~ de- both banks of the river Slaney, in the county
scended, in the sixth degree, from Conare of Wexford, which were called, from his
the Great, monarch of Ireland at the time name, "the Fotharts," and remained for
of the birth of our Saviour.  His mother several centuries in possession of his dewas Eithne, daughter of Lughaidh, son of scendants, the O'Nuallans.~[
Daire, of- the tribe of the Coreolugaidhs,  Inthe reign ofArt, hisnephew, Lughaidheof the race of Ith, and paternal aunt of Mac-Conn, of the tribe of Dairine, race of
Lugaidhe-Mac-Conn, who succeeded to the Ith, and son of Saive (afterwards wife of
monarchy some time after.ll              Oilioll-Olum) by her first husband, being
Conare had by Sara, daughter of Conn- judge of the province of Ulster, was deprived
Keadcaha, three sons, called the three Car- of office, and afterwards driven into exile by
bres;~[ namely, Carbre-Musc, whose de- Oilioll-Olum, as well for some injustice he
scendants, as well as the country they had committed in the fulfilment of his duty, as
possessed in the county of Tipperary, from for having (notwithstanding his prohibition)
Ballaigh-More-an-Ossory, as far as Carrick, espoused the quarrel of Neivy against the
on the river Suire, now known by the name three Carbres, who wished to revenge the
of Ormond, took the name of Muscraighe, death of their father.  Mac-Conn withdrew
or Muskerry-;** Carbre Baskin, to whose into Albania, where he established a colony,
descendants Corca-Baskin, in the western the command of which he gave to his son
part of the, county of Clare, anciently be- Faha-Canan.**  The ambition of reigning,
longed; and Carbre-Riogh-Fada, otherwise and a desire of taking revenge for the disRiada, who was chief of the tribe of the grace of being driven into exile, induced him
Dalreudini of Ireland and Scotland, men* Lib. 1, cap. 1.
* Ogyg. part 2, p. 174.                  t Kennedy, p. 107, after the book of Lecal,.t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 65.              fol. 112.
t Idem. cap. 62.                         t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 63.
~ Anno. 183.                             ~ Usser. Primord. cap. 15, p. 611.
ll Ogyg. part 3, c. 63.                 11 Anno. 194.
~ Grat. Luc. c. 8. Walsh, Prosp. of Irel. sec. 6.  i Ogyg. part 3, cap. 64,
~ Keat. p. 115, Lond. edit.              * Ogyg. part 3, cap. 67.




WARS OF THE MILESIANS.                            93
to form an alliance with a British prince, against the usurper. Thadee was a very
who supplied him with troops to execute his powerful prince, lord of the vast domains of
design. With this succor he embarked, and Ely, on the frontiers of Leinster and Munafter a few days' sailing reached the bay of ster.  He received this persecuted prince
Galway, where he disembarked his forces, with all the distinction due to his birth, and
and was there joined by several of his adhe- the tenderness of a near relation.  He furrents.  After resting his troops for seven nished him with troops to support his right
days, he began his march and came up with to the throne, which Fergus possessed so
the monarch Art, accompanied by the nine- unjustly, and to take revenge, at the same
teen sons of Oilioll-Olum, and an army time, for the death of his father.  Every
ready to meet him, at Moymucroimhe, near thing  being  prepared, the two princes
Athenry, eight miles from  Galway.  The marched at the head of the army towards
action was bloody, and the resistance obsti- the frontiers of Ulster, and came up with the
nate on both sides;.but the monarch having monarch and his two brothers, also called
been killed, with Forgo, king of Connaught, Fergus, who were waiting for them with
and seven sons of the king of Munster, the considerable forces, at Crionn-Chin-Comar,
royal army was defeated.  The king of in the territory of Breigia, (Breagh,) in
Connaught was succeeded by Kedgin-Cru- Meath.  Both sides fought for some time
achna, his paternal uncle.  After this vic- with equal success, and victory appeared
tory, Lugaidhe-Mac-Conn had himself pro- doubtful, till Thadee, with a body of reserve,
claimed monarch of Ireland.*             by one effort decided the fate of the day.
During the reign of this monarch, Cormac, The loss of the enemy was considerable:
surnamed Ulfada, son of Art, wishing to Fergus and his two brothers were found
secure to himself the crown which Mac- among the number of the slain.  After this
Conn had wrested from his father, endeavored battle, Cormac was universally acknowtoattachfriendstohiscause.t Withthis view ledged monarch of the whole island; and to
he invited Fergus, surnamed Dovededagh, requite his kinsman and ally for the services
of the tribe of the Earnocths, king of Ulster, he had rendered him in this war, he granted
to a feast at. Breagh, on the river Boyne, in him large possessions, extending from DamMeath, near the frontiers of Ulster.  But liagh, now Duleek, as far as the river Liffey.
Fergus, jealous of the merit of this young This territory, which remained for a considprince, or rather of his right to the monarchy, erable time in the possession of his descendto which he himself aspirel, ma.dle his ser- ants, called the!Keniads, from Kiann his favants insult him by setting fire to his beard ther, was known by the name of Kiennacte.*
with a torch.t  Cormac seeing plainly his   Fergus was succeeded in the government
life was in danger, sought shelter by flight, of Ulster by Rosse, son of Inchad, of the
and withdrew into Connaught.  It is assert- race of Ir, A. D. 234, who was succeeded
ed by O'Flaherty,~ after the book of Lecan,ll the following year by Aongus-Finn, son of
and other ancient monuments, which he Fergus-Dovededagh.   Fergus-Fodha, of
quotes, that Lugaidh was already deposed the race of Ir, succeeded Aongus two years
and expelled from Tara by Cormac, and had after, who reigned seventy-five years, and
retired to Munster; and that he was after- was the last king of that race who reigned
wards assassinated by a druid, called Comain- at Eamhain.t
Eigis, in a place named Gort-Anoir, near   In the reign of Cormnac, the descendants
Dearg-Rath, in the plain of Magh-Feimhin. of Fiacha-Suidhe, son of Feilim-Reachtmar,
However this be, the result proved the one of the brothers of Conn-Keadcaha, still
ambition of Fergus.  After the retreat of possessed an extensive territory near Tara,
Cormac, he marched with an army towards called Deasie-Teamrach, now the barony of
Tara, and having gained two victories over Deasie.t Thoseprifices,thoughnearlyallied
Kiann and Eocha, both sons of Oilioll-Olum, to the monarch, declared war against him
who opposed his claims, he was declared on some feigned cause of dissatisfaction.
monarch, but did not long enjoy his elevation. The monarch was unfortunate in the first
Cormac being still a fugitive, had recourse battle, having lost an eye, and Keallach, his
to Thadee, son of Kiann, to whom he rep- son, being killed; but in the second the rebels
resented the dreadful situation of his affairs, were cut to pieces, and forced to abandon
and implored his protection and assistance Deasie.~  They sought refuge in Munster,
* Ann. 224.                              * Ogyg. part 3, cap. 68.
t Keating on the reign of Fergus.        t Ogyg. part 2, p. 152.
t Ogyg. part 3, c. 68. Grat. Luc. c. 8.  t Keating on the reign of Cormac.
~ Ogyg. part 2.    11 Ad. an. 254.       ~ Ogyg. part 3, cap. 69.




94                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
where Oilioll-Olum, king of that province, dence, and renewed the laws concerning
who was still living, received them  favor- the Psalter of Tara, and the registering of
ably, and gave them a territory in the coun- the history of individuals.  Finally, he sent
ty of Waterford, which they called Deasie, a considerable fleet to Albania, which ravafter that which they had lost near Tara by aged that country during three years.*
their revolt.  This territory was in the   Eocha-Gunnait, grandson of Fergus.Dovepossession of the O'Fallons, their descend- dedagh, of the tribe of Dalfiataghs, race
ants, till the twelfth century.          of Heremon, succeeded Cormac, A. D. 258;
About a century after their first establish- he reigned but one year.
ment in this country, they extended their   Carbre Liffeachair, son of Cormac-Uldominion, through the liberality of Aongus, fada, succeeded Eocha, A. D. 264.  During
son of Nadfraoch, king -of Munster, who the reign of this monarch, Aidhe, son of
gave them  the plain of Moy-Femen, or Garadh, succeeded Lugadh-Niamor, on the
Machair-Caissil, on the side of Cashel and throne of Connaught.  He was the last of
Clonmel, which was called North Deasie. the race of the Firdomnians who reigned in
Aidhe, grandson of Conall-Cruachan, who this province.
had succeeded Kedgin-Cruachan, on the   The Irish militia having revolted against
throne of Connaught, having incurred the the monarch,t after the death of Fionn-Macresentment of Cormac, was vanquished at Cumhail, their chief, he tools Connaught
the battle of Moy-Ai in the county of Ros- troops into his service,t with whom  he
common, and afterwards deprived of his defeated his rebel subjects in seven different
crown by the monarch, who nominated engagements.~  But at length Modh-Corb,
Niamor, son of Lugne, his brother, in his son of Cormac-Cas, and grandson of Fionstead; but the latter having been assassi- Mac-Cumhail, by Samuir, his mother, being
nated a short time after by Aidhe, whom he then king of Munster and chief of the Dalhad succeeded, the monarch was so highly caiss, put himself at the head of the rebels,
incensed, that he nearly annihilated the and marched to Tara, where the monarch,
race of the Firdomnians, and placed Lu- and Aidhe, king of Connaught, were ready
gadh, brother of Niamor, on the throne of to receive him.  The battle was fought at
Connaught.*                              Gabhra, near Tara, in Meath, in which the
Cormac had several wars to maintain monarch, after defeating in single combat
against the provincial kings. Gratianus Lu- Osgar, son of Ossine, and grandson of Fionn,
cius, after the annals of Tighernmach, sayst who was then commander of the militia, was
he defeated them in thirty-six battles, con- killed by Simeon, son of Keirb, of the tribe
queredthe Ulster people twice near Granard; of the Fotharts.  The king of Connaught
killed a considerable number of them, with having survived this engagement, gave battheir king, Aongus-Finn, son of Fergus tie a second time to the king of Munster at
Dovededagh, at the battle of Crinn-Fre- Spaltrach, in Muscry, and by the death of
gabhail; banished several to the Isle of Modh-Corb, revenged that of the monarch.
Man and the Hebrides; punished the Lein-   During the reign of Carbre, Carausius, a
ster people for some crimes they were guilty native, it is said, of Menapia, in Ireland,ll
of, and renewed the Boroime, or tribute, assumed the regal dignity in Britain.~[ He
which Tuathal had imposed on them some was a man of low birth, but warlike, and an
years before. He defeated the Munster peo- experienced mariner.**  " Vir rei militaris
ple in several engagements, but was repulsed peritissimus," says Eutropius, whom the em-,
by Fiacha-Mulleahan, successor to Oilioll- perors Dioclesian and Maxiinian had apOlum, who died in 250, and Cormac-Cas, pointed to defend the maritime parts of Gaul
his paternal uncle.  He was also obliged to against the incursions of the Franks and
repair the losses caused by his army in that Saxons;tt but his love for wealth having
province. This prince was great and magni- instigated him to act contrary to the public
ficent both in peace and war: " Vir tam welfare, he was declared an enemy to the
marte quam arte, tam bello quam eruditione state, and condemned to death; whereupon
clarus."t During the wars in which he was
engaged, he was not forgetful of literature,   * Ogyg. part 3, cap. 69.
and enlarged the establishment founded at      t Keating on the reign of Carbre.
Tara by Ollave Fola, instituted academies      $ Grat. Luc. cap. 8.
for military discipline, history, and jurispru-  ~ Ogyg. part 3, cap. 70.
II Camd. Brit. edit. Lond. p. 748.
X Ogyg. part 3, cap. 69.           11 Usser. p. 584.
t Grat. Luc. c. 8, p. 70.'        A* Wareus, c. 10.
t Grat. Luc. c. 8, p. 70.          tt Ogygia, part 3, cap. 71.




WARS OF THE MILESIANS.                            95
he gothimself proclaimed emperor of Britain, left the kingdom with his two brothers, and
and, in spite of the Roman power, supported about three hundred men who followed his
himself in this rank for seven years, till he fortune, and took refuge in Albania, with the
was killed by Alectus, who, after acting the king of the Picts, his kinsman, who received
samle part for the space of three years, was him honorably.
defeated by Constantius Chlorus.          Muireadhach-Tireach, son of FiachaFaha-Airgeach, and Faha-Cairpeach, bro- Streabthuine, already king of Connaught,
thers, and children of Mac-Conn, reigned became, by the flight of Colla-Vais, monarch
together for one year after Carbre: the for- of the whole island, A. D. 320. His mother
mer having murdered the latter, he shared was Aife, of the tribe of the Gallgaodhals or
the same fate himself, as he was killed by Gadelians of the Hebrides.  He married
the militia at the battle of Ollarbha, a river Muirion, daughter of Fiacha, king of Kinat Moylinne, in the county of Antrim, A.D. nleal-Eoguin, now Tyrone.
284.                                      Notwithstanding the kind reception the
Fiacha-Streabthuine, son of Carbre Lif- three Collas had met withfrom the king of the
feachair, succeeded those two unfortunate Picts, they considered their separation from
princes, A. D. 285.*  He was. surnamed their native country as a most insupportable
Streabthuine, from Dun-Streabthuine, where exile: so that, hearing of a general amnesty,
he was nursed.t  He had one son, Muirad- granted by the monarch of Ireland to all
hach-Tireach, and a brother, Eocha-Dubh- those who had been concerned in the late
lein: this brother had three sons by Glean, revolution, they embarked for their country,
daughter of the king of the Picts, called accompanied by but twenty-seven men of
Cairioll, Muireadhach, and Aodh; better the three hundred they had brought to
known by the name of the three Collas, Albaniaj leaving the rest after them.  On
namely, Colla-Vias, Colla-Da-Crioch, and their arrival in Ireland, they appeared before
Colla-Meann.  In the reign of Fiacha, the monarch with every mark of sorrow for
Conde, of the tribe of the Corcofirtres, suc- their crime, and easily moved a prince, who
ceeded Aidhe, in Connaught, after whose was naturallyinclined to clemency, to forgive
death the sceptre of this province devolved them. As those princes had no possessions
on Muireadhach-Tireach, and remained in to support their rank or the dignity of their
his posterity till the. twelfth century.  birth, the monarch advised them to make an
While Muireadhach-Tireach, son  of establishment in some part of the country,
Fiacha, fought with great success against either by right of conquest or otherwise. Ite
the king of Munster, from whom he carried told them that the insult sustained by Coroff both captives and booty, his father had mac-Ulfada, one of their ancestors, from
encamped with another army at Dubhcho- the people of Ulster, and the murder of
mair, near Tailton, in Meath. The three Conn-Keadcaha by the orders of TeobraideCollas, jealous of the reputation of Muiread- Tireach, had never been revenged; that it
hach-Tireach; their cousin, and fearing lest, would be a specious pretext for them to
if he became monarch, he should resent an enter this province sword in hand, and esinjury they had done him, took advantage of tablish themselves by right of conquest, and
his absence to make war against his father, that he would furnish them with troops. The
and thus secure the crown for themselves. three brothers, filled with gratitude, accepted
With this view, they collected what forces the proposal, and set out for Ulster at the
they were able; and having bribed some head of a body of troops furnished them by
officers of the monarch's arlmy, they gave the monarch.  On their arrival they were
him  battle, in which  he unfortunately joined by inalecontents to the number of
perished. Colla-Vais, the eldest of the three seventhousandmen, headed by a few nobles.
brothers, was then proclaimed monarch, With this help, which sufficiently proved
A. D. 315. Muireadhach-Tireach being in- the disposition of the people, and was a
formed of this sudden revolution, marched happy omen of their success, they marched
with a considerable body of troops towards to meet the enemy, who were at CarnTara, where he gave the usurper battle, the Eocha-Leath-Dearg, in the territoryof Fearsuccess of which equalled the justice of his moy, in Monaghan.  The action began, and
cause.  After a reign of four years, Colla- the resistance was so obstinate on both sides,'Vais was dethroned; and dreading the that they fought for seven successive days.
punishment which his crime deserved, he At length the king, Fergus-Fodha, being
killed, and his army cut to pieces, the field
Keating on the reign of Fiocha.  remained in possession of the conquerors: it
t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 73, 75, et 76.  cost Colla-Meann, one of the three brothers,




96                           fHISTORY OF IRELAND.
his life. The victorious army then pillaged might have retained. This generosity inthe palace of Eamhain, the residence of the creased considerably the esteem in which
kings of Ulster.* Thus ended the reign of the monarch held him; and Core having
the Clanna-Rorys in this province.  The died some time after, Connol reascended
Collas banished the people of Ulster to the the throne.
north of lake Neagh, and took possession   After an expedition which Crimthan had
of a large tract of country, which they called made into Albania, Britain, and Gaul, from
Orgiell, named by the English Uiiel, or whence he had brought immense booty, he
Oriel; it has since been divided into counties, was poisoned by Mung-Fiona, his sister, at
namely, Louth, Armagh, Monaghan, and Inis-Dorn-Glasse, an island in the river
part of the counties of Down and Antrim, Muade,* who hoped by that means to place
peopled by their numerous posterity.  Mui- Brian, her son, whom she loved tenderly, on
readhach-Tireach was killed at the battle of the throne in his stead; but she was disPortriogh, near lake Dabhal, in the twenty- appointed in her -expectations; for having
sixth year of his reign. He was succeeded tasted of the poisoned cup before she preby Caolvach, the last monarch of the race of sented it to her brother, she died the first;
Ir.  The first year of his reign was -the last so that the whole race of Brian was excluded
of his life, having been assassinated.  He from the monarchy, except Roderick O'Con-was succeeded by his murderer, A.D. 350.   nor, and Terdelach, his father.t
Eocha XII., surnamed Moy-Veagon, son   Niall the Great, son of Eocha-Moy-Veaof MuireadhachTireach,tkingofConnaught, gon and Carthan-Cas-Dubh,t succeeded
succeeded to the monarchy.j:  He had four Crimthan on the throne of Ireland, A.D. 379.
sons by Mung-Fionn, daughter of Fiodhuig, He was surnamed Noygiollach,~ as we
descended in the sixth degree from Oilioll- should say in Latin, " Noviobses," from the
Olum, by Eogan-More; namely, Brian, Fi- nine hostages which he had forced his eneachra, Fergus, and Oilioll. The succeeding mies to give him. He had one son named
kings of Connaught were descended from Fiacha, by Inne, his first wife, who was deBrian and Fiachra. Eocha had a fifth son, scended, in the sixth degree, from Ferguscalled Niall, well known in history, by Dovededagh, the monarch: and seven by
Carthan-Cas-Dubh, daughter of a king of his second wife, Roigneach; namely, LaoBritain.~  This monarch was continually at gare, Eogan, Eanna, Cairbre, Maine, Conwar with Eana-Kinsealach, king of Leinster, all-Gulban, and Conall-Creamthine.
and son of Laurade, great-grandson of Ca-   The monarch was a valiant and experithire-More. After being defeated in thirteen enced warrior, as appears by the number of
battles, the monarch died at Tara, and was captives he had taken from the Picts, Brisucceeded by Crimthan, his brother-in-law, tons, and Gauls, and the immense booty he
son of Fiodhuig, and brother of Mung-Fionn, carried away. I1 We must, however, examine
of the race of Heber, A.D. 360.         the origin of the Scots, or Scotch, before we
The throne of Munster havingbeenvacant speak of his expeditions beyond sea; the
in the reign of this monarch, he gave pos- relation which exists between them and the
session of it to Connol-Eachluat, of the Irish making this investigation necessary.
branch of Cormac-Cas, contrary to the re-   The histories of the Milesians mention
gulation made by Oilioll-Olum, concerning several colonies which they had sent at difthe succession to the crownofthat province,ll ferent times to Albania, in the first ages of
which incensed the princes of the branch of Christianity; from which the Scots of AlbaFiacha-Mulleahan.  They represented to nia, atpresentthe Scotch, derive their origin.
Connol, that it was their turn to reign, ac- They are descendedfrom the colonies which
cording to the regulation of Oilioll-Olum, went from Ireland to Britaif, and settled
who decided that the two branches of Cor- with the Picts in the northern parts of that
mac-Cas, and Fiacha-Mulleahan, should island,whichwas atthattime calledAlbania.
reign alternately, and that, therefore,.Core   The first colony of the Scoto-Mvilesians,
was real heir to the throne.  Connol, as a
just and disinterested man, left the affair to
arbitrators, who having decided in favor of  X Grat. Luc. cap. 8., Ogyg. part 3, cap. 81.
Core, Connol abdicated. a throne which he   t Keat. on the reign of Niall.
~ Ogyg. part 3, cap. 85.
* Ogyg. part 3, cap. 75.            11 " He was a man very valiant, most skilled in
t Keating on the reign of Eocha.   war. He overcame in several engagements the
t Grat. Luc. cap. 8.               Albanians, Picts, and Gauls, and carried off great
~ Ogyg. part 3, cap. 79.          numbers of prisoners and of cattle."-Gratianus
il Keating on the reign of Crimthan.  Lucius, c. 8, on the reign of Nellius.




WARS OF THE MILESIANSo                              97'which was established in Albania, was corn- — " Besides the Britons and Picts, a colony
mnanded, in the beginning of the third cen- of Scots having left Ireland under the comtury, by Cairbre, otherwise Eocha-Riada, mand of Reuda, from whom they were called
son of Conare II., monarch of Ireland.* The Dalreudini, settled in Britain with the Picts,
emigration of this colony could not have either peaceably or by force."* The second
taken place before the year 211; as the opinion is true, if we mean thereby the perterritory inhabited by this colony on its first feet establishment of the Scots in Albania,
settlement in Albania, was, at the time of forming a people governed by kings.
the expedition of Severus into the north of   Riada, with his colony, having taken posBritain, (which Usher fixes in the year 208,)t session of a territory to the north of the gulf
in possession of the Dicaledonians, a tribe of of Dumbarton, which was in the possession
the Picts, so called from their proximity to of the Dicaledonians in the time of Severus,
the wall of Adrian, which divided them from and ceded to him by the Picts in considerathe Meaths in the south, as the Grampian tion of his aid against the Britons, gave
or Drum-Albin hills (called by Fordonius the command of it to Kinta, his son; after
" dorsi-Britannici") divided them  from the which he returned to Ireland, where he died.
Vecturians, another tribe of the Picts, occu- This commencement of the Scotch nation in
pying the north.4                          Albania, though weak at first, became afterIn this expedition, in which Severus lost wards very powerful.
flfty thousand men, he extended his conquests   To throw more light on this history, we
to the northern extremity of the country; must trace it back to its source, and examine
however, it is not said he had any other the origin of Eocha-Riada, mentioned by
enemies to contend with than the Meaths, Bede, under the name of Reuda.
Caledonians, and Vecturians. He died three  AEngus III., (called _Eneas by O'Flaherty,)
years afterwards at York, as he was pre- surnamed Turmeach, monarch of Ireland,
paring for a second expedition against the had two sons, namely, Ennius, Enna, Eadna
Meaths and Caledonians, who revolted.~    or Eanda, surnamed Aighmach; and Flacha,
Eumenes the Rhetorician is the first who, A. M. 3870, B. c. 130.t  By the former, who
in the panegyric he delivered a century after was legitimate, he was ancestor of all the
at Treves, in presence and in honor of kings of Ireland who succeeded him.t  By
Constantine, spoke of the inhabitants of the latter, the fruit of the incest he committed
Albania by the name of Picts, whom  he with his own daughter, or sister, in a state
divides, with Ammianus MIarcellinus, into of intoxication,~ he was ancestor of the EarCaledonians and Vecturians, after comparing nochs,II Dalfiatachs, Deagades, Dalriads, and
the state of affairs in Britain, under Julius consequently of the Scotch, as we shall hereCaesar and Constantius Chlorus;ll so that after see.~
in the whole of this history, given by Usher, ZEngus was surnamed Turmeach, signifying
after Herodian and Dio, no mention is made shame, for, although a pagan, he was always
of a nation of Scots established in Britain. so much ashamed of the infamous action he
We muist therefore fix their arrival in Alba- had committed, that he endeavored to connia later than the year 211, which agrees ceal it from the knowledge of the world, by
with the time of Conare II., father of Riada, committing the child, which was the fruit of
whose reign began in Ireland in 212.       his crime, in a little boat, to the mercy of the
Usher and O'Flaherty  assert, that the winds and waves, in hopes of its perishing.
colony of Cairbre-Riada had first settled in But like another Moses, the innocent child
the north of Ireland, and it was not till the was preserved by some fishermen, who gave
beginning of the sixth century that they him thesurname ofFearmara. Fiacha-Fearwent to Albania with Fergus, three hundred mara had a son called Oilioll-Earn, who,
years after the death of Riada; but the
former opinion seems more in conformity   * "In the course of time Britain, after the
with Bede, who says that Riada went in per- Britons and Picts, admitted a third nation, the Scots,
son. The following are his own expressions: among the Picts, who under the guidance of Reuda,
left Ireland, and claimed, from either friendship or
by the sword, a settlement among them, which they
Kennedy, pp. 105 and 106.              thus far hold; from that leader they retain to this
t Index. Chronol. p. 1079.               day the name of Dalreudini."-Bede's Church
t Usser. appendix, pp. 1021 et 1022.     Hist. b. 1, c. 1.
~ Usserius, Index Chronol. p. 1080.        t Ogyg. part 3, c. 40.
If "I do riot allude, among his other numerous   t Lecan, fol. 294, p. 8, col. 3.
exploits, to his conquests over the Caledonians and   ~ Keating on the reign of AEngus.
Picts, besides whom there were others of that name   11 Grat. Luc. c. 8, p. 64.
as well as Vecturians."-Usher, c. 15, p. 586.  T Kennedy, p. 44.
13




98                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
with the consent of the tribe of Irn which   Forgo.           Forgso.
then possessed Ulster, settled it with his vas-   Main.       Man.
sals near lake Earn, from whence his de-   Earndail.          ArindiI.
scendants, forming a considerable tribe, were                 Rowein.
called Earnochs.  After Oilioll Earn, the   Rothrer.          Redher.
tribe was successively governed by Feara-   Threr.            Ther.
dach, his son, and Forgo, his grandson.   Rosin.              Rosin.
Sir George M'Kenzie, in the preface to   Sin.               Syn.
the reader, which he has affixed to his De-   Deaga.          Dechach.
-fence of the Royal Lineage of Scotland,  Kiar.               Jair.
mentions having seen an ancient manuscript   Olill.           Eliala.
belonging to the monastery of Hy, in which   Eogan.           Ewan.
it was said that ZEngus-Turteampher (the   Ederskeol, monarch
same undoubtedly as our ZEngus-Turmeach)     of Ireland.      Edherskeol
reigned in Ireland five generations before   Conar-More, monarch
their Fergus I., and that it was under him    of Ireland.      Conere-More.
the separation of the Scots of Ireland from    Carbre-Fin-More.   Carbre-Find-More.
those of Albania took place.. This manuscript   Dare-Dorn-More.   Dara-Deomore.
agrees perfectly with the genealogy of Forgo,  Corbre-Crom-Chion. Corbre-Edancrum.
who, according to the ancient monuments of   Luigh-Allatach.  Lughtach-Etholac.
the Milesians, is the fifth descendant in a   Mogalama.       Mogalama., direct line from _Engus III., surnamed Tur-   Conare II., monarch
i meach. Would the conjecture be rash, were   of Ireland.      Conare.
we.to say that this Forgo, son of Fearadach,  Eocha-Riada.    Ethad-Riad.
is-the same as Fergus, son of Ferchard, who,
i according to Buchanan, was first king of  It is evident, that in these two columns
Scotland?  Thenamesareverynearlyalike; the names are fundamentally the same, and
and the only difference arises from the Latin that if there are a few letters, mate or less,
termination which Buchanan gives them, or or any transposition of letters, it creates no
from this author's ignorance of the ancient essential difference, and the error should
language of his country, in which those only be attributed to the copyists. The
names were originally written.  However, addition of the name Rowein, which is in
Forgo never left his country, but became, the catalogue of the Scotch antiquarian, is
after his father, chief of the tribe of the probably derived from  "Roghein," which
toEarnochs of lake Earn. In this rank he was signifies " to be born of;" and the antiquary
perhaps called king, through courtesy, as it having found it between the names Earndail
was general among the Milesiansto give that and Rothrer, to show that Rothrer was son
title to princes, and lords of extensive pos- of Earndail, he took it for a proper name,
sessions.  This conjecture will be much thus adding a generation.
I strengthened, if we compare the descendants   By special privilege, or rather by a license
of Forgo, down to Eocha-Riada inclusively, belonging only to poets, Buchanan deviates,
forming twenty generations, with the gene- in this catalogue of the kings of Scotland,
alogy of the kings of Scotland, delivered by from the genealogy left by this antiquarian.
a Scotch antiquarian, at the coronation of He has obscured and disfigured the names'i Alexander II.. and quoted by John Major, of the kings, so that very few of them agree
in his history:* it will be seen that those with it, although the antiquarian lived three
genealogies correspond exactly,in the names, hundred years before him, and consulted the.
pronunciation, and manner of wTiting them, ancient monuments, unknown perhaps to
in their order and number; except that the Buchanan, for this genealogy; but the latter
Scotch antiquary, or perhaps the authorwho made up the deficiency by fiction. May we
published it, adds one more.            not reproach him as Camden has done in a
These two genealogies are represented in like case, that he preferred deliberating with
the two following columns: the left gives the subtlety of his wit, to thinking justly with
I the genealogy of Forgo, according to the others? "Maluit cum sun acumine delirare,
Milesians, and the right that of the kings of qualm cum recepta. lectione recte sentire."*
Scotland, according to the antiquary above   With regard to the separation of the two
mentioned.                              people, mentioned in the manuscript of
M'Kenzie, and from which this author claims
l' De Gest. Scot.; Brit. page 62.




WARS OF THE MILESIANS.                             99
some advantage in favor of his system, it Saraid three sons, who became chiefs of
should be considered less a local than a three considerable tribes; namely, Carbregenealogical separation of the two branches, Musc, Carbre-Baskin, and Carbre-Riada.
the chiefs of which were Ennius and Fiacha, According to the book of Lecan, those three
without either of them  having gone to Al- brothers were also known by the namre of
bania.                                   Angus, Oilioll, and Eocha.*.
Deaga, the ninth descendant in a direct   The tribe of Carbre-Muse were called
line from Oilioll-Earn, was chief of the tribe the Muscrys; and their possessions, in the
of the Earnochs.  The Clanna-Rorys, who county of Cork, are still known by the name
had granted them an asylum, some time be- of Muskerry.  Dal-Baskin, that is to say,
fore, in their kingdom, taking umbrage at the tribe of Cabre-Baskin, possessed Corcatheir growing power, declared war against Baskin in the county of Clare; and the part
them, forced them to quit their establish- of the tribe of Riada who remained in Irement at Lake Earn, and-seek their fortunes land, settled in Kiery-Luacllra and Orrery, in
elsewhere.                               the neighborhood of Muskerry. Some comDeaga led them  into the province of motions which afterwards arose in Ulster,
Munster, where Duach III., then monarch between the Clanna-Rorys and the three
of the island, surnamed Dalta-Deagaigh, brothers, called the three Collas, the latter
being the adopted son of Deaga, granted having invaded a part of this province, which
them a retreat in the northern part of the they erected into a principality or kingdom
province, now called the county of Kerry, under the name of Uriel, was a favorable
A. M. 3950, B. c. 50.  This territory was opportunity taken advantage of by this demicalled  after their chief, Luaghair-Deag- tribe of Riada, then commanded by Fergushaigl.*                                  Ulidian their chief, and fifth descendant, in
After the death of Duach, Deaga suc- a direct line, of Carbre, to form a new esceeded to the monarch of the whole island; tablishment in the north of the island, which,
he had three sons, Hiar, Dair, and Conal, according to Usher,t was called Dalrieda;
to distinguish them from  another tribe of at present Route, in the county of Antrim.
the Earnochs, who descended firom Eocha,   Eocha-Riada, as we have already seen,
brother of Deaga, and took the name of having established his son at the head of a
Dalfiatachs, from Fiatach, monarch in the colony in Albania, called also the D alriads,
first century; it was called the tribe of the there always existed between them and the
Deagades, from the name of their chief, Dalriads in Ulster a league of friendship,
which, according as they increased, were and close connection; although separated by
subdivided into other branches, as the Clan- a small portion of the sea, they were always
Chonaires, Muskrys, Baskins, and Dalriads. considered as the same tribe, and were long
The Deagades became so powerful in governed by the same chiefs. Encouraged
Munster, that they frequently disputed the by the success of the.Dalriads, several others
sovereignty of it with the ancient proprietors, went to Albania, in the same and succeeding
the Heberians.  They governed sometimes centuries, either to settle there, or to second
alternately with them, and sometimes alone, the Dalriads in the incursions theymade from
till their power was limited by Modha- time to time into Britain.  The principal
Nuagaid.  Though this king had humbled chiefs of those first colonies were Mac-Conn,
them in war, their chiefs always preserved who, having succeeded to the monarchy of
the rank and dignity of princes, till the Ireland, left the command of the colony to
marriage of Conare, son of Mogalama, with his son, Caha-Fanan, ancestor of the MacSaraid, daughter of Conn-Keadcaha. This Allans, Campbells, &c., and Colla-Vais.,
marriage, by which Conare became son-in- from  whom'the Mac-Donnels, and many
law to the monarch,'and brother-in-law of other illustrious families, both in Ireland
Oilioll-l0um, heir of Modha-Nuagaid, king and Scotland, derive their origin.  Criom- 
of Munster, who had married Sabia, sister than, son of Fiacha VII., and many others,
of Saraid, revived the expiring glory of the brought colonies there.  Such was the state
Deagades.  Art, son of Conn-Keadcaha, of affairs of the Dalriads of Albania. They
was a minor at the death of his father; and possessed a small portion of the country,
being incapable of reigning, according to the which served as an arsenal and' a retreat for
fundamental laws of the state, Conare, his their friends in Ireland, who camne to, join
brother-in-law, was raised to the monarchy, them.  They did not yet form a kingdomnor
by the name of Conare II.  He had by
* Fol. 200, p. A. Fol. 112, p. B. col; 1,.2, 3,.
* Ogyg. part 3, cap. 42.         1 Prim. cap. 15, p. 611.




100                               HISTORY OF IRELAND.
state independent of Ireland; their little raised a powerful army and led it into Briterritory was nearly like Calais, which did tain.  It was to those preparations, and to
not form  a state independent of England. this armament of Niall, that Claudion alWhen this place was in the power of the luded in the subjoined verses, by introducing
English, the inhabitants were looked upon Britain as speaking for herself.*
as English, and subjects of England-even    Niall, discovering that the Britons lived
the children born there.  The Dalriads of without apprehension, and placed too much
Albania received from  those of Ulster as- confidence in the defence of the wall and
sistance  both in men and money; they intrenchments which Severus had built to
enriched themselves with the spoils of the protect them from the insults of the barbaBritons, and began to live independent of rians, ravaged their lands and possessions,
the Picts, which excited the jealousy of the in conjunction with the Picts, and continued
latter against them, and made them deliberate the devastation for several years.t It was at
on some means of checking their increasing this time that the Britons sent a deputation
power.*                                     to Stilico, a Roman general, who granted
The Dalriads, justly alarmed at the storm them  one legion; but this succor proved
which threatened them, implored the protec- ineffectual against the barbarians, who hation and aid of the monarch of Ireland, whom  rassed the Romans by frequent skirmishing.
they still considered as their sovereign.f    Even this legion was recalled to Rome,4
Niall, being anxious to preserve this por- where Alaric, king of the Goths, was wagtion of his empire in Albania, crossed the ing war in the centre of the empire, having
sea at the head of his army, and having given them battle at Pollens, and afterwards
reduced the Picts to reason, forced them to laid siege to their capital.
give up the territories of Cantire and Argyle   The fleet of Niall coasted along Britain
to the Dalriads, and to live in peace with during, the time of this expedition,~ and
them.t  Having appeased the troubles in afterwards sailed with him  to Armorica,ll
Albania, he entered Britain with his forces, where he was killed, on the banks of the
and ravaged the whole country, A. D. 388. river Loire,~ by an arrow  discharged by
He then  embarked  for Armorica, from  Eocha, son of Eana-Kinseallach, king of
whence he brought considerable booty, with Leinster,** who thus took revenge for some
several captives, in the number of whom was affront he had received from the monarch.
Patrick, afterwards apostle of Ireland, who It was in the reign of Niall, that the six
was sixteen years of age, and his two sisters, sons of Muredus, king of Ulster, with a
Lupidia and Darerca.~                        considerable fleet, took possession of the
The first of the three devastations com- northern part of Britain, where they foundmitted by the Scots and Picts in Britain, ed a nation catled Scotia.lt
mentioned by Gildas Britannicus, began in
the reign of Niall, I who, encouraged by his
former success, and by the retreat of Maxi- forces and rulers, (though great,) and a number of
her youth, (who, after accompanying the footsteps
mus the tyrant,s[ who abandoned this island, of the tyrant, never returned,) she was unskilled
by removing not only the Roman troops,** altogether in the practices of war, and was now
but also all the youth capable of bearing trampled upon by two nations from  beyond the
arms,tt whom  he had taken with him into seas-the Scots from the west, and the Picts from
Gaul, (of which Gildas himself complains,)t: the north. In this state of stupor and suffering has
she continued for many years."-Usher on Gildas,
c. 15, page 593.
* Petr. Lombard. Comment. de Hibern. cap. 2,  * " Stylicho, she says, hath fortified me when
p. 31 et 32.                                 perishing by neighboring nations: when the Scots
t Keat. on the reign of Niall.            put all Ierna into motion, and the sea foamed with
Walsh. Prosp. of Irel. part 1, sect. 1.  the oar of the enemy."-UUsher.
~ " At this time, a fleet from Ireland was ravag-   t "- The British people, living unguardedly on
ing the country in which St. Patrick was tarrying, account of the security of the wall which was built
and, according to a custom among the Irish, many by Severus Cmsar, were attacked by two nations,
were ied into captivity, and among them Patrick, viz., the Picts from the north, and Scots from the
who was then in his sixteenth year; also his two west, who laid their country waste, and oversisters, Lupida and Darerca.  St. Patrick was whelmed them with misery, for many years."carried prisoner into Ireland in the ninth year of Usher, c. 15, p. 594.
Niall's reign, who ruled Ireland during 27 years,  t Usser. c. 15, p. 595.
and laid waste Britain and Gall." —Usher on the   ~ Keating'on the reign of Niall.
Life of St. Patrick, c. 17, p. 828.           11 Grat. Luc. cap. 8.
11 A. D. 393.                               I Ogyg. part 2, p. 159.  *H Ib. part 3, c. 85.
J Usser. Primord. Eccles. c. 15, p. 595.   tt " When Niellus the Great was monarch of
** Grat. Luc. c. 8.   it Ogyg. part 3, c. 85.  Ireland, the six sons of King Muredus of Ulster,
It ".After this, Britain being stripped of her seized, with a powerful fleet, upon the northern




WARS OF THE MILESIANS.                                  101
Dathy, son of Fiachra, brother of Niall,   Valentinian III., now  emperor, sent to
succeeded  him, and was the last pagan their relief the legion which ZEtius had left
monarch of Ireland, after being king of at Paris. This cohort of disciplined troops
Connaught, the throne of which he gave to repulsed the barbarians, and killed many of
his brother Amalgad, who gave his name to them. The Romans after this announced to
Ter-Amalgad, otherwise Tyrawly, a terri- the Britons that they could no longer undertory in the county of Mayo.  In the time take such distant and fatiguing expeditions;
of this monarch, Nedfraoch, of the race that they themselves should learn the use of
of Oilioll-011um,   by Eogan More, governed arms and military discipline, in order to deMunster, having succeeded Cork, Ihis father. fend themselves against their enemies. The
The king- who reigned in Leinster at that Romans,  before their departure, had a wall
time, was Eocha, son of Eana-Kinseallach, built of stone, eight feet in thickness and
who had killed Niall-Noygiollagh in Armo- twelve in height, to check, if possible, the
rica; he was succeeded by his son Ran- incursions.of the barbarians.  This wall
dubh.                                         was raised upon the same foundation as that
During the reign of Dathy in Ireland, which the emperor Severus had constructed
the Roman empire was torn on all sides. In of earth two centuries before. Towers were
Britain, Gratian had himself acknowledged placed at regular distances, on the south side
emperor;* however, his reign lasted but for of Britain, to defend it against the incura short time,t for, at the end of four months sions  of the Scots, who were generally
he was killed by the militia, and Constan- hovering around the coast with their fleet.
tine put in his place. The latter drew with The Romans having regulated the affairs of
him into Gaul the few troops that the tyrant Britain, took their last leave of the island.*
Maximus had left in Britain, and by this   In this interval, Dathy, monarch of Iremeans the island was abandoned to the fury land, and a warlike prince, who followed the
of the barbarians.  The Burgundians and footsteps of Niall, his predecessor, entered
Franks made their irruptions into Gaul; Britain in person, at the head of a large
Rome was besieged by Alaric; the Vandals, army;t from  thence he went to Gaul, and
Swedes, and Alani, fell upon Spain; the taking  advantage of the consternation in
Goths, with Attalus and Atulphus at their which the Romans were,t on account of the
head, entered Gaul, so that the empire be- number of enemies they had to encounter,
came the prey of all these barbarous nations. he extended his conquests to the Alps,~
The Scots and Picts, always the impla- where he was killed by lightning, after havcable enemies of the Britons, availed them- ing gained several battles over those who
selves of these disorders to make their usual disputed  his  passage.]l  His body  was
incursions into Britain. It was at that time
that the second dreadful devastation men-   "When their former enemies discovered that the
tioned by Gildas (and which Usher speaks Roman forces were withdrawn, they, aided with
of, to have occurred in 426) took place, and their fleet, invade the country, and put all to the
caused the Britons to send deputies to Rome sword; they mow down and trample upon every
rcaused te  Britons to send reputies to Rome  thing in their march. The Britons dispatch amin order to implore relief, that their country, bassadors to Rome, supplicating aid with tears and
so long a Roman province, might not be to- lamentations, saying, not to suffer their unhappy
tally destroyed and effaced.J;                country to be entirely blotted out, nor that which
had so long borne the name of a Roman province
to be extinguished by wicked nations."-Bede's
parts of Britain, and a people who were descended I-istory of the Church, b. 1, c. 12.
from them were called Scotch."-Cambrensis in        "TI'he Romans then announced to the Britons
Topography.                                   that they could no longer undertake painful expedi* Beda, lib. 1, c. 11.                      tions for their defence: they advised them to run1
t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 87.                   to arms, and attack the enemy with eagterness; be-  i; "From these things we have collected the sec- sides, they considered (as they were now forced to
ond devastation, and the second persecution, which abandon them as allies) that this would benefit
Gildas: remarks to have happened in Britain about them, viz., to construct a wall from sea to sea, to
the year 426. Sabellicus thus briefly describes the be built of solid stone, where Severus formerly
history of these events:' When the Burgundians made a rampart. On the southern parts adjoining
were ravaging Gaul, _Etius was forced to recall his the ocean, where their ships were kept to watch
troops from the island. He put all his forces into the enemy, they built towers at proper intervals,
motion against the Burgundii, except one legion, towards the sea, and thus bid adieu to their allies,
which was left to guard the Parisians and their intending never to return." —Bede's Church Hist.
neighbors to the south of them.' The Scots, after b. 1, c. 12.
the departure of the legions, rise up, together with   t Keating on the reign of Dathy
the people of Albania, and make their attacks with   I Grat. Luc. cap. 8.
fire and sword, upon the maritime towns of Bri-   ~ Ogyg. part 2, cap. 160.
tain." —Usher, c. 15, p. 603.                  iI Ogyg. part 5, cap. 87.! _ _ _,, _,,, _,,,.. _ _ _ _,, _, A _ _,,,.   -~ ~~~~~~~~~~~.




102                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
brought to Ireland, and interred at Cruachan, the- time of the emperors Tiberius, Calithe burial-place of the kings of Connaught. gula, Claudius, and till the tenth year of
It is, not astonishing that foreign authors Nero.
have not mentioned those rapid expeditions,   The progress of Christianity was so
the only fruit of which was the devastation rapid, that there was no nation from east to
of the provinces, without leaving any colo- west, not only on the continent but also in
ny who might be interested in preserving the islands in the middle of the sea, in
to posterity the remembrance of the deeds which the gospel was unknown after thirty
of their ancestors, like the Burgundians, or thirty-five years.*
Franks, and others, who profited by their   Grave authors assert, that the gospel had
conquests.  There were also but few wri- been preached in the Britannic isles by
ters in those ages of trouble and darkness; some of the apostles; they do not agree,
and the name of Pharamond would perhaps however, respecting the names of these
have remained unknown, were it not for the apostolical missionaries.  Nicephorus in
colony which he established in Gaul.        his ecclesiastical history,t says that " SiThe relation of this expedition of Dathy, mon Zelotus had carried the gospel as far
mentioned in all the Irish writings,* agrees as the Western Ocean and the British isles,
with the Piedmontese tradition, and a very and that this apostle was crucified  in Briancient registry in the archives of the house tain."t:  This opinion is supported by the
of Sales, in which it is said that the king of Greek menologists., but is contradicted by
Ireland remained some time in the castle of the Roman Breviary and martyrology, and
Sales. I received this account from Daniel by Bede, Usserius, and Ado, who fix the
O'Mulryan, a captain in the regiment of martyrdom of that apostle in Persia, on the
Mount Cashel, who assured me he was told 28th of October.~
it by the Marquis de Sales, at the table of   Simon, the Metaphrast,[l after Eusebius,
Lord Mount Cashel, who had taken him says, that St. Peter undertook that mission,
prisoner at the battle of Marsaille.  The who, according to him, had been a long time
army of Dathy, which was composed of se- in Britain, " where he drew  many to the
lect troops of the Scots from  Ireland, and faith of Jesus Christ, founded  churches,
Dalriads from Albania, were obliged (when ordained bishops, priests, and deacons."'
they lost their chief) to disperse, and seek Others assert that it was St. Paul, and othsafety in flight and disorder.              ers St. James, son of Zebedee, who, accordThe Christian religion was not altogether ing to Vincent of Beauvais, had preached
unknown in Ireland in the reign of Dathy.
Thle first sound of the Christian name spread from India to Britain, were; even from the cold
itself, it is said, in the island in the time of regions of the north and the south Atlantic; so
Conquovar Nessan,f king of Ulster, through great were the multitudes of men from all nations."
Conal Kearnach, a celebrated wrestler,t -St. Jerome.
who, travelling for many years in foreign   *', Not islands, nor a continent, nor three parts
countries, arrived at Jerusalem  at the time which nature hath assigned to men."-Usher.
>of the passion  of our Lord.  O'Flaherty  "P The word of God has been preached not only
of the passion of our Lord.  O'Flaherty on the continent, but even in those islands lying in
relates that this account accords with a tra- the midst of the sea; they are full of Christians, and
dition frequently mentioned by the antiqua- of the servants of God. The sea does not separate
rians of that country;{ but he appears to him who has made it. Cannot the words of God
doubt it himself, as well as the prophecy of approach where ships approach?" —St. Augustin.
"So great was the progress in virtue, that the
Bacrach the druid, who foretold, as the Romans, the Persians, the Medes, the Scythians,
sybils had done, the miraculous birth and the Ethiopians, Sarmatians, Saracens, and every
shameful death of a divine person, who was race of men embraced the yoke of truth in a space
to be the Saviour of the human race.        of 30 years."-Usher an St. Paul, p. 1053.
" Being made preacher of the word of God, he
Indeed, it is not surprising that the gospel gained the reputation of his faith, teaching both in
should have been introduced at an early pe- the east and in the west. Coming to the boundariod into this island.  The Scoto-Milesians ries of the west, and undergoing martyrdom, decreed
were much inclined to travel; and the by princes against him, he thus passed from the
apostles had preached the gospel freely to world." —St. Clemens, disciple of Paul, according
apostles had  preached the gospel freely to  to Usher.
all nations, from India as far as Britain,Ii in   t Lib. 2, cap. 40, apud Usser. primord, cap. 1,
p. 7.
* Kennedy, p. 137.                          t Ogyg. part 3, c. 48.
t Keating on the reign of Conquovar.        ~ Tom. 2, Antig, Lect. Henr. apud UTsser. ibid.
t Usser. Primord. cap. 16, p. 739.         11 Metaphrast, Comment. de Petro et Paulo, ad
~ Ogyg. part 3, cap. 48.                 diem 29 Junii.
i1 "Where men from every part of the world,  I[ Baron. Annal. vol. 1, art. 61, Usser. ibid.




WARS OF THE MILESIANS.                              103
the gospel in Ireland:* according to others, Dempster, always eager for the glory of his
it was there that the canonical epistle was country, and desirous that it should have the
written, of which, in the general and more honor of giving birth to this saint, quotes
probable opinion, James the younger, who the first line of Adso, in which he is simply
was bishop of Jerusalem, was the author.t called a Scot, " protulerat quemdam  geneAll the history of his preaching in Ireland rosum Scotia natum, Mansuetum," but supand in Spain will fall of itself, if, as the presses the following stanza,* which plainly
critics say, he had been put to death by indicates his country to have been Ireland,
Herod, before the separation of the apostles. anciently called Scotia, and implies, that, in
Although it be, among so many different the time of this saint, his country abounded
opinions, difficult to discover the truth, it is with true worshippers. Dempster possesses,
probable that the gospel had been preached in an admirable way, the talent of approat an early period in those islands:t Gildas priating to himself what does not belong to
Britannicus bears testimony for his own him,t like the bird in the fable which decks
nation, and the Christians whom  Ireland itself with borrowed plumes; and by means
produced in the first ages of Christianity are of the analogy of the-names Scotia and Scoti,
a proof in favor of this island.  But as the claims, says Usher, every character celedivine word had fallen in a barren and un- brated for learning or piety mentioned by
grateful soil, and that it did not please God the ancients under the name of Scots, at a
to give strength to it, those nations soon re- time when the Scoto-Britons were confined
turned to their former worship.            to the narrow limits of Dalriada, forming
Among the number of the first Christians but an inconsiderable canton in Albania.4
in Ireland, is St. Mansuy, in Latin, Man-   The modern Scotch follow the example of
suetus, a disciple, it is said, of St. Peter, Dempster, and load the Irish with those rewho having preached the gospel in Lorraine, proaches which they themselves have reason
by order of this apostle, became first bishbp to expect from  this nation.  Abercromby,
of Toul, where he is honored as first patron. one of their authors, says gravely, " that he
According to the present critics, the inhab- is sorry to reproach Ireland with the robitants of Toul were not converted till the bery not only of flocks and cattle, but also
third or fourth century, in which case this of a number of great men.  He must be
saint could not have been a disciple of St. poor indeed," adds he, " who boasts of what
Peter.  However this be, St. Mansuy is does not belong to him."
always acknowledged first bishop of Toul,   These are high-sounding words, which
and was canonized in the eleventh century prove nothing; Abercromby should have
by Pope Leo IX., who was before bishop of begun with the source, by laying it down as
this see.                                   an indisputable principle, and proving by
Several ancient writers mention the sanc- authentic monuments, that the Scotch montity and country of St. Mansuy,~ extracts archy had been founded previous to the
from whose works are to be found in the year 503: that this people alone were known
history of the Gallican church, written by by the name of Scots, before and after this
Francis Bosqtiet, pretor of Narbonne, and period, till the ninth century, and the republished in Paris in 1636. The most cele- duction of the Picts; and lastly, that modbrated of those writers is Adso, abbot of ern Scotland had been celebrated in the
Montiers-en-Derf, who wrote, in the tenth first ages of Christianity for piety and learncentury, the life of this holy saint, by order ing, while ignorance  and  irreligion preof Gerrard, who was then bishop of Toul;1I vailed in  Ireland, but, unfortunately for
but the verses which were placed at the head
of his work, in which he sings the praises of  * Inclyta Manusueti Claris natalibus orti
the saint, are omitted in the Bosquet edition.    Progenies titulis fulget in orbe suis,
Insula Christicolas gestabet Hibernia gentes.
Unde genus traxit et stratus unde fuit.
e In Spec. Hist. lib. 8, c. 7. Usser. p. 5.  t " The origin of IMansuetis descended of illust Hug. Archipresbyter Toletalus in Chronic. trious parentage, shines in the world; the island of
apud Usser. primord. cap. 16, p. 743.       Hibernia has borne a Christian people, and hath also
t Britannorum inaccess Romanis loca, Christo borne him." —Ware.
vero subdita, Tertull. contra Jud. cap. 7.    I "And from thence, as many of the Scoti as he
~ " From the annals of the Tullenses, St. Man- had discovered of celebrity among writers (when
suetus was bishop and a disciple of St. Peter: he the Scoto-Britanni were confined within the narrow
was from the nation of Scotia." —Us/er.     boundaries of Dairieda) to be drawn in crowds: he
II "Of Toul in Gaul, St. Mansuetus, a native of transfers them to the lesser Scotia, confines them
Scotia, was bishop and a disciple of St. Peter."- to an angle, and confounds all in a mass." —Usher,
Usher                                      c. 16, page 738.




104                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
him, the contrary has beenfrequently proved. history of the life, country, and mission of
The judicious reader may infer what degree these holy men.  Declan, he says, son of
of belief the Scotch authors, after Fordun, Erc, prince of Nandesi, of the royal race of
merit* (who was the first to forge their chi- the kings of Tara, (who was apparently of
merical antiquity, in the fourteenth century) the race of Fiacha-Suidne, brother of Conin comparison with Bede, Giraldus Cam- Keadcaha,whose descendants werebanislied
brensis, Luddus, Camden, the bishop of from Meath by the monarch Cormac UlfaSt. Asaph, Stillingfleet, Usher, Ware, and da, on account of their revolt,) having been
so many others, who were foreigners, and not baptized by Colman, a priest distinguished
interested in this dispute.  The learned El- for his sanctity, and afterwards, appointed
finstone, bishop and chancellor of Scotland bishop, was instructed in the Christian reliunder James the IV., was so little pleased gion by Dymma, who had lately returned to
with the historical chimeras of his country- the country, of which he was a native. The
men respecting ancient times, that he re- young proselyte made so rapid a progress in
fers the curious to the ancient monuments the doctrine, that he drew after him a great
of the Irish, to acquire a more ample know- number of disciples; among others, Mochelledge of them.t  Buchanan himself was so loc, Bean, Colman, Lachnin, Mob, Pinddiffident of this, that he confessed it was lugue, and Caminan, each of whom built a
with difficulty he had determined on writing cell or chapel in the environsof Mag-Scethih,
the history of his country.t But what should otherwise " Campus-Scuti," in the territory
confound those plagiarists, and prove the of Nandesi and county of Waterford, which
vanity of their pretensions respecting the was the place where St. Declan resided.
missionaries and learned men mentioned by The desire of becoming perfect induced our
foreign authors, under the name of Scots, saint'to go to Rome, with some of his disciis the obscurity of that people before the ples.  He wished to take, from the source
ninth century, and their neglect in those itself, the spirit and morals becoming his
early days, as Innes, one of their modern station, and to receive from the Vicar of
historians, allows.  Camden, who describes Jesus Christ, the orders and mission necesScotland and Ireland in his Britannia, says sary to preach the gospel.  On his arrival
nothing of the religion of the Scotch, while at Rome, he was received with distinction
he gives the highest praise to the Irish, both by the pope, St. Cyricius; and his noble,
for their piety and learning: he says that mild, and affable deportment rendered him
Ireland was called the Island of Saints, on the admiration of the Roman people.  After
account of the rapid progress Christianity remaining some time at Rome, St. D eclan
had made in it, and that it supplied all Eu- was ordained bishop by the pope, and sent
rope with swarms of missionaries.         back to his own country, with full power to
Usher, Colgan,~ Ware, and others, mention preach the gospel.
four holy bishops, called by Usher the pre-   We discover in the life of St. Declan that
cursors of St. Patrick, as they had preached he met St. Ailbeus at Rome.*  The latter
the gospel in Ireland{l some years before was a native of the territory of Eliach, otherPope Celestine had sent him to convert this wise Ely-b-Carroll, in the province of Munisland.~[ Those saints were Declan, Ailbeus, ster, but now in Leinster.  His father and
Kieran, and Ibar.** Usher gives an abridged mother were Olenais and Sandith.  In his
youth he was instructed and baptized by a
X See Chapters VI. and VII. of the first part of Christian priest, sent by the holy see as misthis history.                             sionary to Ireland.
t See the Preface of Stillingfleet, p. 53.  After some time St. Ailbeus went to
t "Therefore I have long withheld myself from Rome, where he perfected himself in the
becoming one of that body, lest by admiring fables, holy Scriptures, under the guidance of bishop
as others, I should become puerile."-Buchanan in Hilarius, who having witnessed the sanctity
Camd., p. 85.
~ Colg. Triad. Thaum, append. 5, cap. 15.  of his life, and purity of his doctrine, sent
1I Ware de Praesul. et Antiq. cap. 29.  him to receive orders from the hands of the
I~ Ogyg. part 3, cap. 85.               pope.  The sovereign pontiff receied him
m* " Before St. Patrick, four very holy bishops pope.  The sovereign pontiff received him
came to Ireland and preached the doctrine of Christ. with joy and after keeping him for some
-Ailbeus, Declanus, Ibarus, and Kieranus; who time with him, consecrated him bishop for
drew, in the net of the gospel, many to Christ. In the mission of Ireland, his country, where
the meanwhile the Christian faith was advanced in
Ireland, by the preaching of three other holy bishops, (besides Kiaranus,) before the arrival of St. holy prelate Declanus, in his own district, called
Patrick: Bishop Ailbeus preached in various places, Nandesi." —Usher, Church Hist., c. 16, p. 781.
also St. Ibarus, who was bishop, and that most  * Usser. Ind. Chronol. ad ann. 397.




WARS OF THE MILESIANS.                             105
he found an abundant harvest.  It is said out to him by St. Patrick, and having disthat he wrote rules for the monks.        covered it on the confines of Munster and
St. Kieran was born in Ireland, of noble Leinster, in the country of Heli, at present
parents, about the year 352, according to the barony of Ballybrit, he had a small cell
the calculation of Usher.*  His father was built there, and led in it the life of a hermit.
Lugny, descended in the ninth degree from This cell became afterwards enlarged, and
Aongus-Osraige, who had given his name was surrounded by a town: it was then
to the territory of Ossory, and was chief of converted into a monastery, and an episcothe Fitzpatricks.t  Liedan, his mother, de- pal see, of which St. Kieran was first bishop;
rived her origin from Lugaidge-Mac-Ithy,4 itwas called Sayghir, otherwise Seir-Kieran.
whose descendants were the O'Driscols, This see was probably transferred to Aghalords of Corco-Luidhe, a maritime district voe, in Upper Ossory; whereas in the anin southern Munster, comprising the barony nals of Leinster, on the year 1052, a church
of Carbery, in the county of Cork, with the is mentioned to have been built at Aghavoe,,
adjacent isles.                            where the shrine of St. Canice was deposThe authors of the life of this saint do ited.   "Templum  Aghavoe constructumn
not agree concerning the place of his birth: est, et Cannici scrinium ibi collocatum."
some say he was born in Osraige, and others Canice, son of Laidec, a celebrated poet,
in the territory of Corco-Luidhe, the country was the founder and first abbot of the abof his mother.  However this be, Kieran bey of Aghavoe, where he died the fifth of
dedicated the first thirty years of his life to the ides of October, in the year 599 or 600.
God in Clere island, called, in the Irish lan- The episcopal see was at length removed
guage, "Innis-Clere," on the borders of Cor- from Aghavoe to Kilkenny, towards the end
co-Luidhe, in practices of abstinence and of the 12th century, by Felix O'Dullany,
every moral virtue, without having been as then bishop.
yet baptized.  Having thus performed his   The talent which the Lord confided to
novitiate, and the name of Christianity hav- Kieran produced good profit; he drew many
ing reached him, he left his retreat with the from the darkness of paganism and idolatry,
intention of seeking, in the Christian reli- particularly in the country of Ossory.  His
gion, what was wanting to his perfection. doctrine was confirmed by a great number
For this purpose he went to Rome, where of miracles, as related by Colgan.*  Ware
he received baptism, and devoted twenty says, " He was a man greatly celebrated
years of his life to the meditation of holy for his sanctity and his learning. I cannot,
books.  He was ordained bishop by Pope however, (continues he,) assert for truth that
Anastasius, and set out on his return to he was the Quirinus to whom, as to other
Ireland, accompanied by five ecclesiastics bishops of Albania, Pope Gregory I. adof his own country, who were, Lugaid, dressed his 61st epistle,t which is still in
Columban, Meldan, Lugace, and Cassan, the ninth book of the registry of that pope,
about the year 402.                        although the great celebrity of Kieran, the
Before Kieran left Italy, he met St. long life he enjoyed, and the analogy of the
Patrick going to Rome, and the saints of God name, induce us to believe it.++
were rejoiced, says the author of his life.~   Indeed, the old Irish did not make use
At that time St. Patrick was not bishop, nor of K and Q; the C among them was pronominated apostle of Ireland.  Colgan, ac- nounced like those letters: as Ciaran (it is
cording to an old manuscript of Kilkenny, thus the Irish write this name) was prosays that St. Patrick had on that occasion nounced Kieran or Quiaran, as Cicero was
spoken to St. Kieran in these words:-  among the Romans, Kikero: in the same
" Continue your journey to Ireland; in the manner Ciaranus, Kiaranus, and Quiaranus,
middle of that country you will discover a bear a strong analogy to Quirinus; this adds
fountain, called Fuaran; you will there strength to the conjecture of Ware.  But
cause a monastery to be built, and in thirty chronology is opposed to him; for by supyears I shall visit you there."  After this
the two saints blessed each other with the.the two saints blessed each other with the    In vita Kiarani. t Usser. Vet. Epis. Syl. epis. 2.
kiss of peace, and then parted.              t" He was a man of great influence, on account
St. Kieran's first care, after his return of his sanctity and doctrine. I do not, however,
to Ireland, was to seek the fountain pointed venture to affirm that Quirinus was the same as
he to whom the 61st letter of Gregory I. was writ* Usser. primord. Eccles. Britan. cap. 16, p. 788. ten, as well as to other bishops in Ireland. The
t War. de Praesul-Hib.                   letter is still extant in the registry of Gregory;
t Colgan, Act. Sanct. Hib. p. 458.      though the name of Kiaranus, his great age, and
~ Usser. primord. cap. 16, p. 791.      eminent sanctity, would incline us to it." —Ware.
14
l.                                               _~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




106                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
posing that Saint Kieran died in 549, we happened, according to the catalogue of the
should also suppose that St. Gregory had archbishop of Cologne, in the year 393; but
written this epistle in his youth, and long as that was the year in which Julian died
before his elevation to the pontificate, which in Persia, it is better to place the martyrdom
did not happen till 590.                  of the saint in 360, when that emperor went
Saint Kieran ended at length his mortal into Gaul and was declared Augustus by the
career, at an advanced age, the 5th of March, army, particularly as he suffered, according
549; so that we do not confound him with to Rupert, in conformity with the martyroSaint Kiernan, abbot of Cluan-Mac-Noisk, logies of Bede, of Ado, and the Roman, the
who died this same year.  The place of his 6th of October, in presence of the emperor
death is uncertain; according to some Eng- himself, on the banks of the river Vere,
lish martyrologists, it was in the county of between the cities of Toul on the north, and
Cornwall in England; and Dempster, with Grands, an ancient city of southern Lorraine.
his accustomed license, places him in the   The body of the saint was buried upon a
calendar of the Scottish saints.          mountain at some distance from the place.
The five companions of St. Kieran, who of his martyrdom, called after him, Mount
followed him  from  Rome, were ordained St. Eliph, from whence it was transferred by
bishops, and labored with great zeal for the Bruno I., archbishop of Cologne, and deposconversion of souls, particularly in Leinster, ited in the church of St. Martin Major,
where they founded churches, viz., those which formerly belonged to the nation of
of Cill-Airthir, Cluain-Ernain, Cluano-Cre- the Scots.  Rupert also mentions Euchar,
ma, Ferdrum, and Domnach-Mor in the bishop and martyr, brother of St. Eliph, and
plain of Magh-Echnach.*  Lastly, St. Ibar, his three sisters, Menna, Libaria, and Susana,
called in the Irish language Ibuir, a native who suffered for the faith of Jesus Christ.
of the province of Ulster, preached the   According to the Roman martyrology, the
gospel with success in different parts; of festival of St. Gunifort, martyr, is kept at
Ireland, particularly in the territory of Gei- Pavia, the twenty-second of August.  The
siol  He there founded a celebrated monas- acts of this saint's life are found in Momtery in an island called Beg-Erinn, which britius, tom. 1; in the catalogue of the saints
means little Ireland, on the borders of Hua- of Italy, by Philip Ferrarius; and in the
Kinseallagh, at present the county of Wex- Sanctuary of Pavia, by Guallas. This saint
ford, where he ended his days with a high was descended of noble parents in Scotiareputation of sanctity.  This place was where he was converted to the Christian
much frequented in succeeding ages by a religion. Although persecution against the
great concourse of the faithful, who went Christians was strong in his own country,
thither'for their devotion.               still, being under the care of powerful paAbout this time is recorded the martyr- rents, he had not the opportunity to indulge
dom of St. Eliph, whose acts are written at the desire he had of martyrdom: it was this
full length by Rupert, abbot of the abbey of that made him undertake to leave his counDuitz, near Cologne, and briefly mentioned try with his brother Gunibald and his two
by Mersceus Cratepolius, in a small treatise sisters, and come into Germany, where his
on the saints of Germany.                 sisters gave a glorious testimony of their
Saint Eliph, says he, son of the king of faith in Jesus Christ, by their sufferings,
Scotia, (Ireland,) having given up vast pos-   It is difficult to determine the time in
sessions in his own country, persuaded that which these saints lived.  The persecution
it was delightful to serve God in poverty, which Ireland underwent in their time would
came to Toul, followed by thirty-three dis- induce us to suppose that it was before St.
ciples, where he was cast into prison as a Patrick, and the complete conversion of the
traitor to the country; but he was delivered
that night by the grace of God, and in a having abandoned vast possessions, was delighted
u  m r  ae t    p to serve Christ the Lord God in poverty. In the
miraculous manner: after this he preached city of Toul, together with thirty-three of his
everywhere with zeal the word) of God, faithful companions, being betrayed, he was thrown
and converted in a short time more than with them into prison, but, by the goodness of God,
four hundred persons, whom  he baptized; was miraculously delivered in the night. After
this irritated the emperor Julian the Apos- this, he himself preached with constancy and fer-.. avowed enemy to the Christian. vor, and made a great harvest in the vineyard of
tate (an avowed enemy to the Christian the Lord: he converted in a short time and baptized
name) so powerfully against him, that he 400 persons. But the emperor Julian the Apostate,
had him seized and beheaded.t  This event being incensed against him because he boldly proclaimed the glory of Christ, of whom he was
* Usser. Vet. Epist. Syllog. epist. 2.  envious, caused him to be arrested, and had him
t "Saint Eliphius, son of the king of Scotia, beheaded, A. D. 350."-Usher, c. 16, p. 785.




WARS OF THE MILESIANS.                               107
island. The place of their martyrdom is been contemporary of Theodebert, and Clolikewise uncertain.                          thaire, who reigned in Gaul at the beginning
Dempster, who, in his doubtful acceptation of the sixth century.
of the name Scot, wishes to make them his   Laogare, son of Niall-Noygiollach, and
countrymen, falls into strange contradictions cousin-german to Dathy, was his successor
on these two points. He first says, in book I. in the supreme government of Ireland, A. D.
of his Ecclesiastical History, that the two 428.
sisters of these saints suffered martyrdom a   According to Usher, the third devastation
year before their brothers, that is, in 419; of the Britons happened in the year 431,
but he appears to forget himself when he and consequently in the reign of Laogare.
says, in his fourth book, that St. Dardaluch, The Scots and Picts having learned that the
one of the sisters, whose festival is observed Romans refused assistance to the Britons,
at Fressing in Bavaria, on the calends of assembled all their force, and advanced to
February, and whom  he imagines to have the side of the famous wall which the Romans
been Scotch, had gone with her brothers caused to be built, extending from  sea to
from Scotland in 420, a time when a Scotch sea, with the towers at proper distances, in
kingdom  had not been yet known to be which sentinels and armed men were placed
founded in Britain.  The contradiction is for its defence.  This barrier, defended by
still more obvious when he says, in the the undisciplined Britons.,,held out but for a
seventh book, that the two brothers had short time. The sentinels were dragged by
suffered martyrdom  in 417, one at Como, the barbarians from the walls by means of
and the other at Milan, in the time of the hooks.*  A breach being afterwards made,
emperor Theodosius, as if the Christians they entered the country, and committed
had been persecuted at Milan, or in any every species of cruelty, forcing the poor
part of Italy, in the time of that emperor.*  Britons who escaped the sword, to seek for
On the calends of December, the festival safety in caverns and other hiding-places, to
of St. Florentinus, priest and confessor, and conceal themselves from their fury.t It was
a native of Ireland, whose life is taken from  on this occasion that -the Britons wrote to
the ancient monuments of the church in the ZEtius, the Roman consul, to representto him
city of Amboise, according to the martyrol- the deplorable state of their affairs, and to
ogy of Usuard, is kept.t  That saint after seek for some assistance from him.  They
leaving his country, made a voyage to Rome, mentioned among other things, "that the
and was thrown into prison by order of the barbarians drove them into the sea, and that
emperor Claudius.  During his imprison- the sea drove them back on the barbarians;
ment, he baptized ninety-six persons, both so that they had only the choice remaining,
men and women, in the number of whom  of being eitherput to the sword, or drowned.":
was Asterius, the jailer; he then sent them  This letter did not produce the effect the
to pope Calixtus to be confirmed. Although Britons expected: the Romans had to defend
this event be considered to have occurred in
the third century, it is not easy to determine   * "The hooked weapons of the enemy cease
the epoch with precision, on account of the not; the undisciplined defenders being miserably
difference of about fifty years, discoverable dragged from the walls, were dashed against the
between the pontificate of Calixtus and the ground."-Bede, b. 1, c. 12.
reign  of Claudius.  A  farther difficulty   t'" The Romans having withdrawn themselves
arises by supposing that, according to the from Britain, the Scots sally forth from their curraghs, in which they were carried over the Scythian
subsequent part of this saint's life, he had valley, these foul flocks united with the Picts,
though differing in custom, were agreed in a similar
* "That these things had been divided into pe- thirst for blood; in the 8th year of Theodosius, the
riods without distinction of time, the arrangement Roman army being taken out of Britain, and their
of the years, which is incongruous and discordant, denial to return having become known to the Scots
proves; but this it confirms, that Cunibaldus was and Picts, these return and attack the whole counput to death at Canara or Comi, for Christ; but try from the north as far as the wall. The guards
Gunifortus was said to be put to death at Milan by being either slain or entirely routed,. and the wall
the arrows of unbelievers; as if Theodosius, who partly broken down, the cruel robbers triumph in
ruled as emperor at Milan, rendered the times pa- their career."-Bede and Usher.
ganl and not Christian."- Usher's Chuzrch History,   "In the 8th year of the Emperor Theodosius,
c. 16, p. 795.                               the Roman army being withdrawn from Britain, the
t "Florentinus, a glorious confessor of Christ, Scots and Picts return and attack the entire co.untry
was born in Ireland, and being brought up under from the north to the wall." —Chronicles of Usher.
the care and solicitude of his parents, Theophilus   t "' The barbarians drive us into the sea, the sea
and Benigna, became worthy of the grace of God drives us back upon the barbarians, so that between
from his earliest youth." —Usher's Church History, this two-fold destruction, we are either drowned or
p. 760.                                      put to the sword."-Bede's Church Hist. b. 1, c. 13.




108                           HISTORY- OF IRELAND.
their own frontiers against the Huns, and grand-daughter she was.*  All those tribes,
could not send them the succor which they united by the ties of a common origin, aftersought.  But they found a remedy for their wards formed a numerous and powerful
misfortunes in one noble effort, often the people.  Besides Cantyre and Argyle, the
result of despair.  Seeing themselves aban- residence of their fathers before their retreat,
doned by their old protectors, the Romans, they possessed the territories of Knapdal,
and on the eve of perishing with famine, or Lorn, Brunalbain, and Lenox, with all the
falling into the hands of the barbarians, they islands on the western coast of Albania;t
formed the bold resolution of leaving their but still something was wanting to the perretreats, and to risk their lives in order to fection of this colony.  The Dalriads had
deliver themselves from slavery: they at- till that time been divided into tribes, without
tacked the Scots and Picts unawares, and laws, or any other form  of government,
made a dreadful carnage among them. The commanded only by a chief, whose attention
Scots or Dalriads, alarmed at this resolution was divided between them and the Dalriads
of the Britons, and not being supported as of Ulster.  To obviate the disadvantages
hitherto by the Scots of Ireland, abandoned arising from so imperfect an administration,
their settlement in Albania, and withdrew to they thought on electing a king: the lot fell
Ireland, having Eocha, surnamed Munraver, on Fergus, son of Erc, descended in the
for their chief, and the Picts took refuge ninth degree from Eocha Riada. Ferguswas
among the mountains of Albania.*  It was in Ulster at the time of this election; he
on this occasion that Bede, after Gildas, departed immediately with a new colony,
said, that those daring robbers, the Irish, accompanied by his brothers, to take posreturned home, intending to go back in a session of his kingdom, where he was solshort time.  Is not the dissolution of their emnly crowned on the superstitious stone,
pretended monarchy, mentioned  by  the which Mortagh-Mac-Earca, his grand-neScotch, contained in the above account? phew, had sent him for this purpose.1 KiMay it not be supposed that Eocha, who nal-Loarn derived his name from  Loarn,
commanded the Dalriads in this shameful eldest brother of Fergus, from whom  are
flight, Erc, his son, who led them back from descended, by Ferguard-Fada, the Mac
Ireland to Albania some years afterwards, Lanes, the Mac Kenseys, and several other
and Fergus, son of the latter, who became distinguished families in Scotland.
their king, are the same as Ethac or Echo-   Usher says that the Scots had returned
dius, who, according to Fordon, withdrew to Ireland, their country, after the third
with his son Erth to Ireland, at the time of consulship of iEtius, that is, in 446; that
the edict of Maximus, and Fergus, son of they soon afterwards returned, and settled'Erth, who re-established the monarchy?   again in the north of Britain, which was, he
Although these refugees were well re- says, effected by Fergus, whose reign, acceived by the Dalriads of Ulster, their kins- cording to the Scots of Ireland, agreeably to
men and allies, they did not relinquish the the arguments of Gildas and Bede, was subdesire of recovering their patrimony in Alba- sequent to the consulship of /Etius.~  In
nia. They returned after some time, com- his chronological table, he fixes the passage
manded by Erc, son of Eocha, theirlast chief, of Fergus and his brothers from Ireland to
whom Usher calls the father of the Scotch Albania, in the year 503.  He afterwards
kings: "Qui Scotiaeregibus deditoriginem."S refers to the life of St. Patrick, written in
They were soon followed by Maine-Leavna, the twelfth century by Jocelin, an English
son of Core, king of Munster, who settled monk, in which it is said that Erc, a prince
with his colony in a territory, called after his of the Dalriads in Ulster, dying, had left
name, Mor-Mor-Leavna, now the duchy of twelve sons, of whom Fergus was the youngLenox.  The six sons of Muireadh, son of est; that the latter, seeing himself despised
Eogan, and grandson of Niall, namely, the by his brothers, and excluded from particitwo Lodains, the two Aonguses, and the two pating the right to succeed his father, had
Ferguses, with their vassals, followed the   * Ogyg. part 3, cap. 39.
example and fortune of their countrymen   t Usser. Primord. c. 15, p. 612.
the more willingly, as Erca, their mother,  t Lecan. fol. 119, p. A. col. 2.
was of the family of Erc, then chief of the   ~ s After the third consulship of Etius, in the
Dalriads, by Loarne, his eldest son, whose year 446, the Scots returned into their own country, (Ireland,) and after a short time fixed a settlement in North Britain. This, it is thought, was
* Kennedy, p. 138.                     effected through means of Fergusius: his reign,
t " These daring robbers, the Irish, return home, according to the Scots of Ireland, as Bede has it,
purposing to come back after a short time."-Bede, was later than the consulship of XEtius." —Ushe?'s
b. 1, c. 14.; Primord. cap. 15, p. 689.  Church Hist. c. 15, p. 609.




WARS OF THE MILESIANS.                                 109
recourse to St. Patrick, and entreated him to country was not yet called Scotland: "as
make them do him justice; that the saint, neither Dalriada," says Usher, " which was
knowing the justice of his claims, inter- the seat of the British Scots until 840, nor
ceded with his brothers, and made them re- even all Albania after the defeat of the Picts,
store to him the portion which belonged to had taken the name of Scotland, which did
him  by right; that having given him  his not take place until the eleventh century,
benediction, he foretold that, although he when those two people, united together,
then appeared humble and despised by his formed but one and the same nation.  There
brothers, he would soon be their prince; cannot be produced (continues Usher) any
that his descendants wouldbe powerful kings author who has described* Albania under
who would reign not only in Ireland, but the name of Scotland, before that period."t
also in a distant region.*  The prophecy,   When the English had given the name of
says Jocelin, was literally fulfilled, Fergus Irish (in Latin Iri or Irenses) to the Scots
obtaining the sovereignty in Albania, where of Ireland, and that of Ireland to their isle,
his posterityhave since reigned. Usher again this name was then adopted by the Germans,
quotes the annals of Tigernach, which fix the French, the Spaniards, the Italians, and
the reign of Fergus in the beginning of the the Arabians, (which did not happen at first,
pontificate of St. Symmachus, about the year for the name, Ireland, was not yet generally
498; according to these annals, Fergus- used among strangers,t as Adam de Breme,
More-Mac-Erca, which signifies Fergus the who lived in the eleventh century, and NubiGreat, son of Erca, with the Dalriads, pos- gensis, in the twelfth, were the first who
sessed a part of Britain, where he died.t mentioned it;)~ the name of Scotland was
Speaking afterwards of Ethach or Eocha- lby degrees appropriated to Albania,li which
Munravar, father of Erc, who, the modern was for some time called Scotia Minor, to
Scotch historians say, was brother of king distinguish it from Ireland, which was called
Ugene, and who was killed according to Scotia Major,~ the inhabitants of which did
them by Maximus; he says that Camden, not lose, all of a sudden, the name of Scots';
after a more ancient autior, affirms him  to they are so clled, in the eleventh century,
be descended from Chonarus, and not from  by Hermann, in the first book of his chroa doubtful line of the preceding kings.4 nicle, and by Marianus Scotus, whom  Flo"Fergus," says Camden, "was the first that rentius Wigorniensis mentions in his annals;
reigned in Albania, from Brun-Albain as far when speaking of 1028, he says, " in this
as the Irish sea and Inch-all, antid from that year was born nMarianus, probably a Scot
time, the kings of the race of Fergus reigned from Ireland, by whose care this excellent
in Brun-Albain, until the time of Alpine, chronicle has been compiled from  several
son of Eochal."~  This kingdom, which did histories.""**  We discover the same thing in
not comprise one-fourth of the present Scot- a chronicle in the Cottonian library.tt Theoland, remained in this state, governed by
kings who were the descendants of Fergus.' "Dalrieda had not been, in the year 840, the
The Picts, whopossessed the restof Albania, seat of the British Scots, neither had it the name
had also their kings until the ninth century, of Scotia; nor did Albania itself, after the defeat of.hes thei rnias orthw thenir mnarcy, the Picts, and until the two people formed but one
when the D alriads overthrew their monarchy, body, receive the name of Scotia, which happened
made themselves masters of all Albania, and in the eleventh century after the nativity of Christ."
suppressed even the name of Picts; but the — Usher, c. 16, p. 734.'             
t "Thus we think, that no one can be named
" Though you may appear humble and despised among those who have written in former years, that
now by your brothers, you will be in a short time ever gave to Albania the name of Scotia."-Usher.
their prince. From thee the best kings will come   t Hist. Eccles. cap. 217.
forth, who will rule not only in their own, but also   ~ Geograp. Arab. part 2, Climatis 7.
in a distant and foreign land." —Usher's Church  11 Petr. Lombard. Comment. Hib. cap. 2, p. 34,
H1ist. c. 15, p. 609.                        cap. 13, p. 116.
t "' Fergus-More-Mac-Erca, with the people of   f' "It appears there were two Scotias, the greatDalriada, held a part of Britain, and died in it;" — er and the lesser. Ireland is designated by the
Usher's Church Hist. p. 610, c. 15.          name of' Scotia Major,' and that part of Britain
l     Camd. Brit. edit. Lond. c. 15, p. 610.  called by some Albania, and now in common,' Sco~ " But a more ancient author, cited by Camden, tia,' was known by the name of Minor. So that
mentions the descent of Fergus not from-that doubt- the Albanian Scots flowed as it were from a river,
ful race of preceding kings, but from  another out of Ireland, to the land which they now inhabstock. Fergus, he says, the son of Eric, was the it."-Stanihurst, b. 1, p. 17.
first who, from the seed of Chronarus, ruled over   * "In this year was born Marianus, an Irishman;
Albania, as far as the Irish sea and Inch-Gall, (the he was probably a Scot; by his labors and study,
Hebrides) and from thence were kings of the seed these excellent chronicles were condensed and
of Fergus, who ruled over Brun-Albain, till Alpinus formed from different works."-Usher, c. 16, p. 735.
son of Eochal." —Usher, c. 15, pp. 610, 611.  tt" Marianus the chronographer, a Scot, was born




110                  -HISTORY  OF IRELAND.
doric, abbot of the monastery of St. Trudon, the northern part of Britain, and founded a
in the neighborhood of Liege, who wrote, nation called Scotia.*
in the beginning of the twelfth century, the    " It is certain," says Camden, " that the
life of St. Rumold,* mentions this saint to Scots went from  Ireland into Britain; for
have been from theisland of Scotia, " Scotiae Isidorus calls that island  Scotia, from  a
insulam," separated from Britain by the sea, nation of Scots who inhabited it."  Orosius,
which can only have reference to Ireland. Bede, and Eginard, bear indisputable testiSt. Bernard, in his life of St. Malachy, dis- mony, that Ireland was inhabited by the
tinguishes this island from British Scotland, Scots.t  Besides, he calls the Irish the anby calling it " Ulterior Scotia;"t and when cestors of the Scotch.  " Hiberni Scotorum
St. Malachy wished to build an oratory of atavi."t
stone, in the monastery of Benchuin, in U1-   The same author again expresses himself
ster, St. Bernard alludes to some envious in a manner which leaves no doubt on this
person who said to the saint, "Oh, good subject.  If all history were lost, and that
man, why do'you think of introducing nov- there remained no possibility to prove by
elties amongst us?  We are Scots, and not writing, that the Scotch are descended from
Gauls."t                                      the Irish, the unity of the two languages
According to Bede, the building of stone common to these' people would convince us
churches was at that time unknown not only of it more easily than the authority of the
in Ireland but also in Britain.~  Lastly, we greatest historians.{
have the testimony of Caesarius d'Heisterbach    However, it is not necessary to have rein the thirteenth century, who makes use of course to the English to  prove what is
the name " Scotia," to designate Ireland,I allowed by the Scotch themselves.  " It is
saying that if any one doubted the existence proved  by many  arguments," says John
of purgatory, he need only go to Scotia, Major, "that we have derived our origin
where he would find the purgatory of St. from  the Irish.  We are told it by Bede,'Patrick.                                     and our very language proves it; nearly
The claims of the Milesians respecting the half the Scotch speak Irish, and it is not long
migrations of their colonies, which gave rise since a still greater number spoke it."  Imto the Scotch nation, are supported by the mediately after this, when speaking of the
authority of a number of celebrated authors. Irish: " they have conveyed," says he, " their
Bede says, thatbesides the Britons and Picts, language  from  Ireland  to Britain, which
there was a third nation of Scots in Britain, appears by our annals, and which authors
who having left Ireland under the conduct of have not omitted to observe, on this head.
Reuda, their chief, took possession, either Thus, I say," continues this author, " that
by force or peaceably, of the habitations the Scotch derive their origin from the same
which they had till then preserved, and were source as the Irish, though in an indirect
called from his name, Dalreudini.~           line."ll
Giraldus, surnamed Cambrensis,** says,
that in the reign of Niall the Great in Ire-      " 44 Scotia is called the northern part of the
land, the  six sons of Muredus, king  of British island, because that nation was originally
Ulster, with a considerable fleet, seized on propagated by them, and are known to inhabit that
country. The analogy of their dress and arms, as
well as of their habits, proves it to this day."in Ireland; he composed the chronicle of chroni- GiraldEs Cam. in Stanihurst, and in Uslher, c. 17,
cles."-Ushmer, c. 16, p. 735.                 p. 245, c. 16, p. 725.
X Vit. Rumold. lib. 7.                        t " It appears indeed that they passed from Iret " From the further Scotia, he continnued till he land into Britain, for Isidorus calls Hibernia'Scodied."-Ush7er, c. 16, p. 376.                tia,' from the nation of the Scots. Arid that the'$ "O good man, what hath induced thee to Scots inhabited Hibernia, the testimony of Bede
introduce into our country this novelty?  We are and Eginarius is above all disputation." —Caned.
Scots and not Gauls." —Usher, c. 16, pp. 736, 737. p. 36.
~ I-list. Eccles. lib. 3, cap. 25. Hib. 3, cap. 4.  $ Camd. Brit. edit. Franco. p. 59.
Dialog. lib. 12, c. 38.                         ~ "Who are indeed allied by a similarity of
1 " He who doubts of purgatory, let him go to language, and that they have been of one origin, I
Ireland and enter the purgatory of St. Patrick."- think no one will deny. Even if every history had
Usher.                                       failed, and that no one had committed to writing
IT "Britain, after receiving the Britons and Picts, that the true. Scots had been produced from Ireland,
received among the Picts a third nation, the Scots, their language being one and the same, would prove
who, after leaving Ireland, secured for themselves, it more ably than the authority of the most grave
either by friendship or the sword, those parts which historians." —Camnden.
they still possess, and are from their leader Reuda,  II " From various arguments it is admitted, that
called Dalreudini." —Bede's Christ. Hist. b. 1, c. 1. we have drawn our origin from the Irish, and this
~* Topog. Hib. dist. 3, cap. 16.            we have learned from Bede, an Englishman. A




WARS OF THE MILESIANS.                              1 1 
Buchanan is not less decisive on this sub- in Ireland, where they became extremely
ject: saying, as Orosius, that all the inhab- numerous, under the name of Scots: from
itants of Ireland were called Scots in the hence many spread themselves through the
beginning: he adds, "-Our annals make neighboring islands, without a king, or any
frequent mention of the transmigration of form of government.  In the interval, a fleet
the Scots from Ireland to Albania."*  Im- of Germans, or Scythians, according  to
mediately after, he refers to the distinction Bede, without either women or children, was
made between these two people, both called cast by a tempest on the coast of Ireland.
Scots.  " Formerly," says he, "when both, Those new-comers, after a long voyage,
that is, the inhabitants of Ireland and the being destitute of every thing except their
colonies which they had sent to Albania, arms, sent to ask permission of the Scots to
were called Scots, the former were called settle among them. The answer given them
the Scots of Ireland, and the latter the was, that their own numbers were already
Scots of Albania, to distinguish one from too great for the island, from which, in conthe other;"t and in another place, speaking sequence of its numerous population, they
of the Scots of Albania, he says, " at the had been obliged to send colonies to the
time that they were called Albini or Albains, neighboring isles.  However, being struck
their neighbors gave them the name of Scots, with compassion for the deplorable state of
a name which denotes that they derived their those strangers, they advised them to go to
origin from the Irish."t                    Albania, where they might easily make a
Although the Scotch agree with the settlement among a people disunited by civil
Milesians or Scots of Ireland, concerning war, and the opposite factions of several
their origin; they, however, differ widely pettyprinces who commanded them. Pleased
as to the time of the transmigration of the with the advice, and promises of aid from
first colonies from Ireland to Albania.     the Scots in case they met with resistance,
As a modern origin is not flattering to they set out for Albania, where, after some
pride, and as every nation desires to be con- battles in which they were victorious, a
sidered ancient, the Scotch authors of latter considerable part of the eastern coast of
times have formed a system of antiquity for Albania was surrendered to them, and they
themselves, by fixing their migration, and were long after called Picts, by the Romans
the beginning of their monarchy, a few and other neighboring people.
centuries too early, and by multiplying the   "The Picts, confiding in the happy omen
number of their kings.                      of future friendship from the Scots, obtained
" Fame has given us to-understand," says wives from them, and thereby contracted so
Buchanan,~ "that a great number of Span- close an alliance, that they seemed to form
iards, either forced to quit their country, or but one people; so that the passage between
leaving it of their own accord in order to the two countries being free, a number of
relieve the state, which was already over- Scots came and settled among the Picts,
burdened with inhabitants, came and settled who received them with joy. The pleasure,
however, at first produced by the arrival of
similarity of dialect - proves it. A great part of these new guests, soon gave way to jealousy;
Scotland speak the Irish language, and lately the they saw, with pain, that they were becoming
greater portion of Scotch spoke Irish; from Ireland powerful; and began to dread their future
they carried their dialect into Britain; this is aggrandizement;   so that distrust'as  soon
manifest by our annals, in which our writers were
not remiss. I say, therefore, that from whomsoever productive of quarrels, which ended in the
the Irish have taken their origin, the Scotch have separation of the two people that were
received from them their beginning, as a grand- friends so recently.  The Scots withdrew
son derives his from  a grandfather."- Joannes to the mountains, and the Picts remained in
Major.
" Nor is it only once that, as our annals say, possession of the fertile lands on the coast
the Scots passed from Ireland to Albania."-Buch. of the German Ocean.
b. 2, p. 55.                                  "The Britons, equally hostile to both
t " But when both in the commencement, i. e. parties, beheld their separation with pleathe inhabitants of Ireland and their colonies who
had been sent into Albania, might be distinguished sure, and being desirous to take advantage
by some mark, one from the other, they began to of it, did all in their power to increase the'
be called Irish Scotch, and the Albanian Scotch." discord which had already prevailed among
-Butchanan, b. 2, p. 55.                   them: they even offered to assist the Picts
t " Though they call themselves Albanians, their against their enemies. The Scots seeing the
neighbors the Irish call them Scotch, by which danger which threatened them, and fearing
name their descent from the Irish is implied." —
Buchanan, p. 64, b. 2.                      they should be crushed by the united power
~ Lib. 4, Rev. Scot. page 97, et seq.     of the Picts and the Britons, thought of de



112                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
fending themselves; but as their chiefs could   Such is the account which Buchanan, and
not agree about the command, each thinking nearly all of the historians of his country,
himself as well qualified as his neighbor, give of the origin of the Scotch, and the
they sent to Ireland for a considerable body foundation of their monarchy in Albania, by
of troops, under the command of Fergus, Fergus, son of Ferchard, which leaves no
son of Ferchard, an experienced general; doubt concerning it; they almost agree on
and to interest him  still more, he was de- this point with the Milesians. The greatest
dared king with unanimous consent. Being difficulty respects the time, and the real or
invested with this dignity, and to justify the affected  error of the Scotch concerning
high opinion entertained of him, Fergus col- Fergus I.
lected his troops with all possible diligence,   They assert that their monarchy began
to march against the enemy.  Both armies under Fergus, son of Ferchaid, three hunbeing come in view of each other, a rumor dred years before Jesus Christ;* that it
was spread in both camps among the Scots lasted under thirty-nine kings, till the year
and Picts, which prevented them coming to 360; that Eugene, who was at that time
an engagement.  It was reported that the king, was killed in a battle by Maximus, a
Britons were equally opposed to both; that Roman general,i who, at the instigation of
they excited discord among them  for the his allies, the Picts, pronounced sentence
purpose of weakening and subsequently over- of banishment against all those who had
throwing them.  The Scots and Picts being escaped in the battle, and that in obedience
justly alarmed, hostilities ceased on both to this edict, Etach, brother of the deceased
sides, and they began to treat of peace, that king, with Erth, his son, and many others:
they might unite against their common ene- of the same nation, took refuge in Ireland,
my.  The Britons being thus disappointed, and some in Norway, and the neighboring
resolved to take immediate revenge. They islands.t
assembled all the troops that they were able,   John Major fixes this event in 353,~ Buand invaded the territory of the  Scots, chanan in 377, Hector Boetius in the sespreading terror everywhere they marched; cond year of the reign of Julian the Aposbut they were soon checked by the Scots tate,ll that is, in the year of Christ 362 or
and Picts, who attacked them  by surprise 363.  After this dispersion, which, accordduring the night, and made a dreadful car- ing to Fordon,~T lasted about forty-three
nage among them.  The greater part of the years, the Scots regained the patrimony of
British troops, with their king, Coilus, per- their ancestors in Albania, in 403, through
ished on this occasion, which prevented the the valor of Fergus II., son of Erth, and
Britons from disturbing the Scots and Picts, grandson of Etach, brother of Eugene, their
after this, in their possessions.  After this last king.
victory, Fergus again received the homage   The Milesians, on the other hand, take
of his subjects, who confirmed, by oath, the off a few centuries from this antiquity of the
succession of the crown to his descendants. Scotch; they maintain that Fergus, son of
He then returned to Ireland, to allay some Earcha, (who was, we are sure, the same
troubles which had arisen during his ab- as Fergus, second son of Erth, mentioned
sence; but being desirous of going back to by Fordon,) who is only the fortieth in the
his new kingdom, he unfortunately perished, catalogue of kings, according to Buchanan,
in the twenty-fifth year of his reign, having was first king and founder of the Scotch monbeen shipwrecked on a rock, called, from archy, towards the end of the fifth, or behis name, Carrig-Fergus. The arrival of
Fergus in Albania, is fixed in the time that
Fergus in Albania, is fixed in the time that under subjection, he passed over to Ireland, to supAlexander the Great took Babylon; that is, press by his influence, an insurrection, and this
about three hundred and thirty years before being accomplished, after sailing out of the harbor,
Jesus Christ."*                            for the purpose of returning, he was overtaken by
a storm, and perished on a rock, which was thence
called Fergusium; this happened in the 25th year
"In the first place a story incessantly prevails, of his reign. His arrival in Albania is placed in
st-rengthened by numerous discoveries, that a num- thesame year that Alexander, of Macedonia, took
ber of Spaniards, whether driven from the country Babylon, almost330 years before the birth of Christ."
by their more powerful masters, or from a redun- -Buchanan, b. 4, p. 97.
dancy of population, went of their own accord,  * Walsh, Prosp. of Irel. sect. 6.
passed over to Ireland, and seized upon the adjoin-  t Usser. prim. Eccles. c. 25, p, 592.
ing parts of that island. To 3Fergusius, who was  t Fordon. Scoti. Chronic. lib. 2, p. 45.
victorious, and to his posterity, the Scots, on his  ~ Buchan. Degest. Scot. lib. 2, c. 1.
return, confirmed by an oath his title to that king-  j1 Rev. Scotie. lib. 5.
dom. After this, having brought matters in Scotia  ~T Scot. Hist.




WARS OF THE MILESIANS.                             113
ginning of the sixth century; that the thirty- and Hibernians or Irish, were synonymous
nine kings who had preceded Fergus, son till the eleventh century, and designated but
of Erth, in the government of Scotland, ac- one and the same people, leave no doubt as
cording to the catalogue of Buchanan, were to the opinion of this learned man on the
indeed his ancestors in genealogical order, subject.  Although those authors had frewithout having ever been kings of Scotland quent occasion of mentioning the Scots,
or elsewhere, with the exception of a few respecting their exploits and enterprises
who reigned in Ireland.  I could quote against the Romans and Britons, they all
many Irish books in support of this state- describe them as a wandering people, havment; but the authority of Camden and ing no settled residence in Britain.  No
Usher, two celebrated authors, who have mention is made, in any of their writings,
thoroughly investigated this subject, is suf- of any people called Scots but those who
ficient; the former, an Englishman, and came from Ireland.  They knew no Scotch
incapable of resorting to a falsehood for nation established in Albania before the
the purpose of heightening the glory of the Dalriads,-or Dalreudini, as Bede calls them;
Irish nation; the latter, though born in Ire- which is evident from the distinction made
land, was of English origin, and being nei- by Gildas Britannicus, an author of the sixth
ther a Milesian nor a Scotchman, quite century, (who had an opportunity of knowdisinterested in the dispute.              ing his neighbors,)-between the two enemies
Camden, after refuting these two misera- of the Britons.  First, at the time of their
ble arguments, (it is thus he describes them,) attack on Britain, he calls them  Scots and
one drawn from a panegyric, the other sup- Picts; then, speaking of the retreat of these
ported only by mere conjectures, which barbarians, he says that the daring robbers.
Buchanan, an excellent poet, advances in the Irish, had returned home to Ireland with
favor of the pretended antiquity of his count- the intention of coming back in a short time.
try in opposition to Humphry Lhuid, a good and that the Picts had remained in the northantiquarian, says, that the name of Scotch ern part of Britain.*  Usher observes three
is not discoverable in any author before the things in this passage of Gildas:t first, that
time of Constantine the Great.*  He adds, the Picts had rested, for the first time, in the
that the accounts in which it is said the north of Britain; that is, they had for the
name and kingdom  of the Scotch already first time ceased to ravage Britain; secondly,
made a figure in Britain, many centuries be- that the Scots were the inhabitants of Ireland,
fore Jesus Christ, are all fabulous.t  " Let as observed, says he, by Polidore Virgil;t
us then learn," continues he, " the time of and thirdly, that the return of the Hibernians
their first settlement in Britain, A. D. 379, to Albania from Ireland, and their establishfrom  Giraldus Cambrensis, who says, that ment in that country, were subsequent to the
in the reign of Niall the Great, king of the consulship of MEtius, and in the year 446.
province of Ulster, the six sons of Muredus   It appears that Le Nain de Tillemont
came to settle in the North of Britain, where was not well acquainted with this history,
they founded a nation under the name of whereas he, as well as Bollandus, insinuScotia.  These people, who till then led ates that all the Scots had passed into the
a wandering life, according to Ammianus, north of England, to establish the kingdom' cum antea per incerta vagantes,' settled in of Scotland, and that they were distinguished
Britain, which happened, says Camden, at from the Hibernians, and raised above them,
the time of the decline of the Roman em- &c.  It was, it seems, reserved for Tillepire under Honorius."                      mont to make observations not known to anThe number of authors quoted by Usher, cient or modern authors who have treated on
in the fifteenth and sixteenth chapters of his this subject; those authors speak, not of the
treatise on the antiquities of the British
churches, to prove that the name of Scots,  * "From two verycruel nations beyond seas-the
Scots from the west, and Picts from the north —
Britain suffers and sighs during many years. The
"  e will never remove from writers the name daring robbers, the Irish, return home, intending to
of Scots, before the time of Constantine the Great, come back in a short time. The Picts then settled,
which because Lhuidus asserts, he rushes on the for the first time, in the north of the island."man, attacks him, and endeavors to stab him with Usher, c. 15, pp. 593-609.
two miserable arguments, the one a panegyric, the   f Usser. Prim. Eccles. c. 15, p. 609.  I
other a conjecture."-Camden, p. 61.          X "This being known, the Scots, influenced
t " These are trifles which are written by the either from a hope of booty or an eagerness for a
Scots, viz., that the name and kingdom of the Scots revolution, flew from Ireland, as Gildas relates,
flourished in Britain many centuries before Christ." with precipitancy against the island."-Virgil, b. i
-Camd. p. 62                               3, p. 122.
15




114                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
whole nation, but of some colonies of Scots, who reject the history of Fergus I., and the
who had gone to Albania; they make use foundation of the Scotch monarchy in the
indiscriminately of the names'Hibernians time of Alexander the Great; and who, as
and Scots, to signify the same people.    well as Luddus, Camden, the bishop of St.
A  foreigner, writing of a people with Asaph, Usher, Stillingfleet, Du Chene, le
whom he is unacquainted, is often liable to Pere Labbe, Thomas Rose, and others, fix
mistakes, and easily falls into error, when this event in the year of Jesus Christ, 503;
he follows his own ideas in preference to but his spleen is more strongly excited
authority; aiming at being a critic, he has against Kennedy, who maintains this opinsometimes need of being set to rights ion in his genealogical dissertation, in which
himself.                                   he proves that the royal family of the StuThe Scotch writers of our days artfully arts are descended froml the Scots of Ireland.
circulate their doubts about their origin, He gives a brief sketch of some principles,
and affect to render it uncertain.  They or rather some circumstances quoted by
differ not only from the authority of all for- Kennedy, to support the authority of the
eign writers on this subject, but even from ancient monuments or manuscripts of his
that of- their ancestors.*                 country-; but he displays his insincerity,
Abereromby, who published  in Edin- by giving those principles in a mutilated
burgh, min 1711, " The Military Exploits sense, and quite different from what they
of the Scotch," says, that according to are in the writings of Kennedy, in order to
most antiquarians of his country-among make them  appear ridiculous, and thereby
others, Fordon, Boetius, and Buchanan-  apply to them this verse from Horace:
the Scots, or Scotch, having derived their     Spectatum adm         teneatis a
origin from, ec'1and Egypt, and having    "Spectatum admissi, risum teneatis amici."
origin from Greece and Egypt, and having
passed through Spain to Ireland, came from    " Sir George M'Kenzie'has (says our
thence to Albania.  But the conjectures of author) already, in a great measure, provSir W. Temple appear to flatter him  still ed from Irish manuscripts; and the Right
more.  HI-e confidently decides, that the Honorable the Earl of Cromarty promises
Scotch have their origin from the Scythians (and what one of his lordship's high rank,
of Norway, from a pretended conformity of and still more eminent qualities, is pleased
manners, and a similarity which he supposes to promise, will, no doubt, be performed) to
to have discovered in their customs.  This show from records and writers of the same
supposition, says Abercromby, is supported nation, that the Scots were settled in Albaby many observations and arguments taken nia long before the birth of our Saviour."'
from  ancient and modern authors, which   But will a system  established on such
make it a problem whether the Scots of proofs be received?   Mouldy and conIreland derived their origin from those of temptible manuscripts,t (it is thus AberAlbania, or the latter from  the former. cromby describes those cited by KenneHowever, the testimony of Orosius, Isido- dy,) constitute the basis and proofs which
rus, Bede, Eginardus, Henry of Hunting- M'Kenzie gives us of the antiquity of his
don, Cambrensis, Camden, Usher, and so country'.  Still the proofs are imperfect:
many others, who assert that the first Scoto- and the promise of the earl of Cromarty
Britons derived their origin from the Irish, should be considered as real and unanswerought to outweigh the surmises of a few in- able proofs.  Might we not rather apply
dividuals.  Abercromby was so well aware here the words ef Horace?of this difficulty, notwithstanding his inclining to the contrary opinion, he is forced to
acknowledge that history and tradition are   In order to judge of the strength of
on one side, and mere conjecture on the M'Kenzie's testimony, we should examine
other.t                                   the link of the tradition and history of the
Our author complains of the antiquarians Scotch, according to Abercromby;   there
were," he says, " both priests and druids in
" When I speak of the Scotch, either here, or Britain:t they have probably written the
in any subsequent part of this history, I do not pretend to attack that nation, rendered respectable  story of their own times; and even if
by the many rare qualities with which they are en- they did not, men lived then to so advanced
dowed; and whose origin is common with that of an age, that twelve generations could perpetthe people of whom I write; I only complain of the uate from father to son the tradition of eight
injustice of some of their authors." —Abbe 11'tG.
t Pages 2, 3, and fol.                    * Page 5.
t Abercromby on the life of Fergus I., b. 1, c. 1,  t Aber. Life of Fergus II., lib. 1, c. 2, p. 92.
p. 28.                                      t Pages 5, 6.




WARS OF THE MIIESIANS,                          115
hundred years; namely, from  Fergus I., to say, that if the Scots had formed a nation,
who lived three hundred years before Jesus governed by kings for the space of eight
Christ, till 503 of the- Christian era; which, centuries, till the time of Gildas, as asserted
according to the opposite party, was the by the modern Scotch, that author would
time the monarchy had been founded. Be- have known them, and not have been obliged,
sides, until Fergus I., the antiquarians were in order to acquire a knowledge of their hisaccustomed to deliver the genealogy of kings tory, to have recourse to the Scots of Ireat their coronation.                    land, or to the Romans, who are probably
" The first monks succeeded the druids. those strangers to whom he alludes.  But it
The monastery of Hy, or Icolm-Kill, was is not surprising that this inconsiderable kingfounded in 560, and was the.burial-place of dom, which was only beginning to emerge
the kings of Scotland till the reign of Mal- from obscurity in the time of Gildas, and
colm-Can-More. The monks of this monas- the extent of which was confined to three or
tery, as well as those of Paislyscoon, Plus- four small territories in the western part of
cardin, Abercorn, &c., always wrote and Albania, had been unknown to Gildas, at a
preserved the history of Scotland, and the time whenthere was so little trade and inlives and history of her kings. Verimond, tercourse between the different nations.
a Spanish priest,. and archdeacon of St.  Abercromby derives but little advantage
Andrews, composed, in 1076, his history of from Nennius in favor of his system. " This
Scotland, which he copies from those of the author," says he, " who lived in the begindruids and monks. Verimond was copied ning of the eighth century, had composed his
in the fourteenth century by Fordon, and- history partly from that of the Scots.  The
Fordon by Bo-tius, Lesley, Buchanan, &c." Scots, therefore, had historians at that time."
Such is the link and order of the Scotch Who doubts it?  Before he proclaims vichistory according to Abercromby. It ap- tory, he should remove all ambiguity, and
pears that we have no proof but the author- prove, that in the ages which preceded the
ity of Verimond, for all that happened in time of Nennius, his ancestors alone were
that country before the eleventh century; called Scots, even exclusive ofthe inhabitants
it is the spring on which the whole of their of Ireland, known by the ancients as the true
history is supported, and the only means Scots.  He then says, that Nennius affirms
whereby M'Kenzie can fathom the antiqui- that the nation of the Scots is as ancient in
ties of his country.                    Britain as the supposed king Brutus.  Such
But besides that this history is not at pre- far-fetched proofs, however, avail but little,
sent in being, and the existence of the author whereas, according to Baker,* this Brutus
is doubted by many learned men-a circum- lived a thousand years before Julius Casar,
stance well known to Abercromby, from his that is, about seven hundred years before
having appealed to Chambers of Ormond, the period in which the Scotch fix the founand others, to support, bytheir testimony, that dation of their monarchy by Fergus I.: it
the author and his works have existed, how also appears that this passage in Nennius
could a Spaniard' read and understand the is obscure, as Usher thinks Brutus to have
manuscripts of a language so difficult and lit- been the first Roman consul.t
tle known, that the natives themselves could   After Gildas and Nennius, he calls the
scarcely decipher it? How could a stranger venerable Bede to his aid, and uses all his
be judged more capable of this undertaking subtlety to serve his interest. He confounds
than the inhabitants, who had the advantage the facts related by this respectable author,
of possessing the language in which those and inverts the chronology and order of his
ancient monuments were written?       -history.  " Bede," says he,' "reckons the
Abercromby discovering, as is seen, the Scots among the most ancient inhabitants
insufficiency of the tradition of his country,* of Britain:" he says, "that the Britons
has recourse to Gildas, Nennius, and Bede. having at first possessed the southern parts
Gildas, who wrote in 540, " acknowledges," of the island, the Picts afterwards settled in
he says, " that he knew nothing concerning the northern, and that after the latter, the i
theScots, except what he had borrowed from Scots, under Reuda, their chief, founded a
strangers."  He thence infers, that if the third nation with the Britons and Picts."
Scots had not been established in Britain He then introduced the Romans as a fourth
before the year 503, Gildas would have had colony, notwithstanding that Britain was not
some knowledge of them. Itseems,however, known to them till the time of Julius Caesar.
that the inference would have been more just
% Chron. p. 1.
* Page 7                          t- Primord. cap. 15, p. 612.




1 16                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
"The Scots therefore were settled in Brit- the Scots and Picts, the former of whom
ain," says Abercromby, " before the inva- were a wandering people, having no settled
sion of the island by that conqueror."     residence in Britain,* or, perhaps, some canBut, with his permission, the order of tons of the Britons, who, dissatisfied with
events does not always follow the order of the yoke of the Romans, sometimes revolted
the chapters in which they are related; an against them. But when Bede, after Gildas,
historian is sometimes obliged, according to speaks, in the twelfth chapter, of the transthe matter he treats of in a chapter, to marine or foreign nations, and adds the folderange facts, and extend his narrative be- lowing reflection, which is not in Gildas,
yond what is contained in the chapter which namely, that those nations were not so called
follows.  It is thus that Bede, speaking of on account of having been established out of
the colonies which had settled in Britain, Britain, but only because they were separmentions the Scots after the Picts, and before ated from  it by two arms of the sea; he
the Romans, although Usher and others fix speaks only with respect to the situation of
their establishment in the island in the be- the affairs of the Britons with the Scots and
ginning of the third century. He indeed in- Picts in the fifth century, when the Roman
troduces the Scots after the Picts, not imme- power began to decline in Britain, and in
diately, as Abercromby insinuates, but long other parts, under Honorius, as he says in
after, and in succession of time, "procedente the preceding chapter: "Ex quo tempore
autem tempore."  His naming them imme- Romani in Britannia regnare cessarunt."
diately. after the Britons and Picts, arises Then Bede's remark on the epithet, " transfrom his having considered them as a colony, marine," which Gildas gives to the Scots
which had, like them, made Britain their and Picts, is applicable to the former, who
country, and whose posterity still existed in began, in the third century, to form  settlehis time, and formed a body of people.  It ments in Britain, without, however, constiis not so with the Romans, whom  he con- tuting a kingdom or making a state distinct
siders less as a colony than as conquerors. from that of Ireland. Gildas and Bede speak
It was not customary withthis people to settle of those foreign nations when mentioning the
colonies in conquered provinces, nor to dis- dreadful ravages committed by those barpossess the old proprietors,but were satisfied barians in Britain, in the beginning of the
with their submission, and a tribute which fifth century.  They first call them Scots
they levied to defray the expenses of a pre- and Picts, and particularize the countries
fect or legate, and of the troops;which they from  which they came.  They say, " the
maintained in them  to keep the people in Picts came from  the north, and the Scots
obedience, and defend them against the in- from the west"-" Scotorum  a circio," or,
cursions of their enemies. Abercromby has according to Fabius Ethelwerdus, " Scoti ab
an admirable turn for bringing facts together, occidentali plaga," that is, from  the west;
when his interest is concerned; and applies which can only refer to Ireland, and by no
to the second century what belongs to the means to Scotland, which is immediately in
fifth. " Severus," says he, still quoting Bede, the north of Britain, or, to  speak more
"caused a wall to be built, to serve as a plainly, constitutes the northern part of the
rampart against the  unsubdued  nations, island.  Those Scots who came from the
namely, the Scots and Picts, two foreign west, are called by the same authors, at the
nations, thus called, not that they were es- time of their retreat, Irish, " revertuntur
tablished out of Britain, but because they impudentes grassatores Hiberni domum."
were separated, by two arms of the sea, from    This account agrees with the comment'that part which was subject to the Romans." affixed to the manuscript of Gildas, in the
It is true that Bede says all this, but at library of Cambridge, in which it is said
different times, and under different circum- that the passage in Gildas, "a duabus gentistances.  He says, in the fifth chapter, that bus transmarinis,"f should be rather applied
Severus, who lived in the second century, to the Scots, whose love of pillage made
constructed, not a wall, as Abercromby af- them come every year from Ireland to Britfirms, but a ditch, with pallisades, to check ain, than to those already established by
I the unsubdued nations,' which he does not
name; but we may suppose that they were   * "As it may appear, that these times were in
the reign of Honorius Augustus: whereas then, ac* "Where after many severe battles, the part of cording to Ammianus, they had no settled abode,
the island which he had recovered, he thought should that they had long harassed Britain and the parts
be distinguished from the other unconquered parts, designated by limits, but they appear to have settled
not by a wall but by a rampart."-Bede's Church in Britain." —Camd. p. 63.
Hist. b. 1, c. 5.                            t Petr. Lombard. Comment. cap. 15, pp. 27, 28.
f1         ____    ___    ________________ ____________        _______________ ____




WARS OF THE 3MILESIANS.                             117
Reuda, according to Bede, in Albania, "quia the fate of the Britonls, Gauls, and so many
Scoti tunc temporis in Hibernia habitabant, other nations conquered by the Romans.
et Picti in Scotia, id est, ab aquilone."*    Their fear, according to Peter Lombard,
It would still be repeating the same things was one of the motives which induced themn
were we to follow  and repeat the proofs to make war against the Britons and Rowhich Abercromby advances in favor of his mans, plundering the formner, whom they resystem.  All that he can say on this sub- garded as enemies to the Picts, their allies;
ject has been as often refuted as proposed. and forcing the latter to stop in Britain, in
His arguments are generally founded on order to divert them from the idea of wishsophisms and false principles. He always ing to reduce Ireland into a Roman prosupposes that the ancients who spoke of vince, as they intended.*   Accordingly,i
Scotia, or the Scots, plainly indicated his they ceased hostilities against the Britons,
country, though most of those authors ex- as soon as they had nothing to fear from
press themselves differently on that head. the Romans; " Cessavit vastatio hostilis."f
He often conten.ds with phantoms, by sup-   The great reputation of Bede, Luddus,
posing that they dispute with him the exist- Camden, Usher, and others, whom  Aberence of the Scots in Albania before the cromby would have here to contend with,
foundation of their monarchy in 503, though intimidate, and prevent him from undertaBede, Cambrensis, Camden, and Usher, to- king to refute them. He-attaches the blame
gether with historians of Ireland, repeatedly solely to Kennedy, who is not, however,
mention that the Dalreudini, and many other more criminal than they are; invectives are
colonies from the same country, had settled the strongest arguments which he uses
in Albania in the third and fourth centuries. against him andhis nation-arguments which
It is also known that their adherents and generally supply the place of reasoning with
vassals, allured either through their alliance ignorant and hasty  en.t  Hie reproaches
with the Picts, or by the hopes of plunder, them with the obscurity of their origin, of
~crossed the sea to attack the Britons in their which, notwithstanding, they lhave no reaown country, even before the time of the son to be ashamed, says he, no more than
Roman.s, as appears by the panegyric deliv- their neighbors; their savage customs, un-.ered by Eumonius on the emperor Con- til the reign of James VI. of Scotland, and
stantius,t in which he says, that when the I. of England; the instability of their goBritons were conquered by Julius Casar, vernment; the nmultiplicity of their kings,
they were rude and ignorant in the art of always at war with each other; their want
war, having till that time contended only of commerce with foreign nations; their ill
with the Picts and Irish.  Hegesippus,t in success against the superior forces of the
his treatise on the destruction of Jerusalem, Danes; their submission to the English;
says that Joseph Ben-Gorion, wishing to their idleness, and the poverty which is indivert the Jews from going to war with the separable from it; in fine, the negligence in
Romans,~ the conquerors of the world, tells the cultivation of their lands, and in buildthem  that even Scotia trembles at the ap- ing with stone and cement.  Such are the
proach of their arms: " Tremit hos Scotia calumnies which Abercromby has published
quae terris nihil debet."  But, says Aber- against the Irish nation, (not sparing even a
cromby, this passage cannot, as Camden number of ancient English families, who
asserts, relate to Ireland, which was never have constituted part of it for -more than five
invaded by the Romans; as if a conqueror, centuries:) these aspersions deserve rather
who had already entered the neighboring to be despised than refuted; he attacks a
country, was not to be feared: " When a whole nation for the supposed error of an
neighbor's house is on fire, we become individual.  Kennedy proves, by the most
alarmed for our own safety." Besides,these authentic monuments, that the Scotch are
words,]L " que terris nihil debet," naturally the descendants of colonies which went at
indicate an island separated from the rest of differernt periods from Ireland to Albania;
the world.I   The Scots of Ireland dreaded that their monarchy was not founded till the
" Usser. Primord. Eccles. c. 15, p. 593.   * " That they might restrain the Romans, and
t Page 258.     t Camb. Brit. edit. Lon. p. 89. keep them from passing over to Ireland."-Peter
~ Usser. Prim. c. 16, p. 726.            Lombard, c. 2, p.'22.
{f Petr. Lombard, c.2, p. 19.              " They had a hope, and if opportunity presented
ST "By the name Scotia, he obviously means itself, to conquer it." —Tacitus in his Life of AgriIreland, which he makes an island, neither joined cola.
nor connected with any other land, which Camden   t Bede, lib. 1, cap. 14.
himself admits.'"-Usher, c. 16, p. 726.      t Abercromby, vol. 1, c. I, p. 14.




118                             -HISTORY OF IRELAND.
sixth century, as had already been affirmed who, he says, was not ashamed to affirm, in
by Bede, Camden, Usher, and others.  He his letter to Cardinal Barberrni, (who was
mentions that the Stuarts derive their origin afterwards Pope, under the name of Urban
from  Ireland, by those same colonies; is VIII.,) that Ireland was never called Scotia,
there any thing in that dishonorable or ex- " Hiberniam nunquam Scotiae nomen habutraordinary for the Scotch nation, of which isse asseverare non puduit;" thou'gh he himthis author otherwise speaks with respect? self acknowledges that, according to IsidoIt appears that the assertions of Kennedy rus and Bede, Ireland *was the country of
should not have drawn on his nation those the Scots: and to deprive Scotia Major,
bitter invectives with which Abercromby as- that is, Ireland, of every character celesails it, and which were only heightened by brated for learning and piety, mentioned by
a foolish apology on his part.  He says the authors under the name Scots, even
"' that he is sorry to be obliged to expose a those who had preceded the year 840, when
people whom he esteems on account of their the Scoto-Britains were confined to the naro
acknowledged bravery, particularly in for- row  limits of Dalrieda, which constituted
eign countries, their inviolable attachment but a small part of Albania.*   "When
to justice, and so many other good qualities, Dempster," continues Usher, " endeavored
which are too numerous to mention here." to deceive Philip Ferrarius, who was cornWould it not appear that he makes allusion, posing a supplement to the Roman martyrin this tirade, to the fidelity of the Irish to ology, and to make him an accomplice in his
their legitimate princes and their religion, plagiarism, by givinrg him a list of the saints
in which he does them more justice than he of Scotland to enrich the martyrology, this
intended?  In fine, since the union of the learned Italian having discovered the fraud,
ancient and modern Irish,.and their submis- added an advertisement to his work, in which
sion to the kings of England, until the ac- he says that, having followed certain authors,
cession of James I. to the throne, (a fatal he attributed some Irish saints to Scotland,
period for them,) so far from betraying their because, according to the ancients, Ireland
lawful prince, they sacrificed all they pos- was formerly called Scotia, and the inhabitsessed to preserve his crown.  The loss of ants Scots, and that he thought fit to aptheir property and liberty is a decided proof prize the public of it, on account of certain
of their loyalty, and the number of those authors who have robbed that island of her
who retained the Catholic faith, after a per- saints."  It is thus he speaks of Dempster
secution of two centuries, pleads strongly in and his partisans.f
favor of their attachment to religion. Aber-   But what can be the advantages which
cromby appeals to the testimony of Ware Abercromby derives from  the history of
for all he advances against the Irish;* and Ware to authorize his calumnies?  This
after flattering this author highly, he quar- learned man begins his history of Ireland
rels with him, and says he dishonored him- with Laogare, son of Niall the Great, and
self, to the great astonishment of the learned, monarch of Ireland in the beginning of the
(of Scotland apparently,) by affirming that fifth century.  He says that he does not
the most celebrated writers, missionaries, mention the predecessorsof this monarch,
and saints, that Scotland had produced from as almost all that has been said of them is
the fifth to the sixteenth century, were Irish,
solely on account of their being called Scoti,
or Scots.  But why have all authors, even       After this he transfers, in crowds, from our.or Scts.  But why have all authors, even Scotia Major into Scotia Minor, and shoves and
the ancients, who have treated upon this confines them also in an angle, all Scots whom he
subject-except the Scots of latter times, discovered celebrated by writers for their piety and
whose evidence should not be admitted, in learning, even those who flourished in the year 840.
their own cause-fallen into the same error The Scoto-Britanni Dalriads were confined to very
as Ware, and deserved the same censure narrow limits." —Usher, c. 16, p. 738.'  1 "Of this plagiarism, while Dempster was
from Abercromby? It would seem that this endeavoring to make Philippus Ferrarius an Italian
author wished to anticipate the reproaches a participator, the discovery of the Irish saints being
he deserves himself.  Usher, having tho- made known to him; this learned man, having at
roughly investigated this matter,t declares length discovered the fraud, took care to prefix for
that all he has said was necessary to repress his readers the following admonition:-' I have
th     at all he has said was necessary to repress thought fit to apprize you, that copying after other
the insolent audacity of Thomas Dempstert writers, I have attributed to Scotland or England
some Irish saints, which it was the more necessary
* Pages 12, 13, 14.                      to inform you, in order to be guarded against robt Usser. Primord. c. 16, p. 737.         bers:' such was the name he affixed to Dempster
I " That the insolent audacity of Thomas Demp- and his confederates, pointing them out as robbers
ster might be repressed."                  of the saints." —Usher, c. 16, p. 738.




DIFFERENT NAMES OF IRELAND.                            1 19
fabulous, or, at least, mixed with fable. from any respectable author; particularly
There were, then, from the acknowledgment as he suggests, in the twenty-third chapter,
of Ware himself, kings in Ireland before that the Topography of Cambrensis should
Laogarel and histories which make mention be read with caution, and expresses his surof them; and though they were intermixed prise, that men in his time, otherwise grave
with the fabulous, as he asserts, he would have and learned, could have imposed on the
dated his history much farther back than public, by giving for truth the fictions of
Laogare, if the' undertaking had not been Cambrensis.*
too difficult for a man, who, not knowing the - Abercromby draws inferences injurious
language of the country, was unable to to the authenticity of the histories of the
fathom its antiquities sufficiently.  Besides, ancient Irish, from those barbarous customs,
this mixture of truth and fable is a vice com- so called from not being conformable to the
mon to the ancient historians of every coun- customs of the present day.  He thinks to
try.  Ware also says, that they considered annihilate thereby the authority of mannit praiseworthy to seize on the property of scripts, which are made use of to combat the
strangers, as it tended to the public welfare,; assumed antiquity of his monarchy: he has
but he also adds, that they imitated therein not, however, gained his cause, having to,the Gauls and Spartans. - He says that their contend with enemies, who being better
judges, called" Brehons," distributed justice known are the more formidable.  Such are:and decided lawsuits in the open air, and on the authors whom  I have already quoted,
high mountains, and that bastards frequently and whose authority is so respectable. I
succeeded to the property of the father with might here add very many remarks on the:the legitimate children. It would be indulg- means which Abercromby makes use of in
ing in trifles to reproach a people with the favor of his system.  I do not pretend that
-ridiculous customs of their pagan ancestors, this subject has been exhausted; but, as that
at a time when all nations were barbarous.: is not the chief object in view, I leave the
Lastly, he says, they had no walled cities; matter to others.
that their houses' were built of wood, and
-covered with thatch, or straw. Those people
who always fought in the open field, needed
no fortified cities, and would have considered          CHAPTER  VII.
it as cowardice to conceal themselves behind
walls in order to defend themselves against  oN THE DIFFERENT NAMES OF IRELAND.
the enemy.  With respect to their houses, it
is unfit to reproach them with a custom    IRELAND was not unknown to the Phcenicommon to all other nations.  Cambrensis cians nor Greeks. Orpheus of Crotona, conspeaks of the castle of Pembroke* to have temporary, according to Suidas, of Pisisbeen built in the time of. Henry I., with tratus the tyrant,t who died in the sixtyI branches of trees and greenturf, by Arnulph third olympiad, and of Cyrus the Great,
l de Montgomery.  The Britons, says Caesar, about 543 years before Christ, in his poem
gave the appellation of "'a city,",to a wood on the Argonauts, and Aristotle, in his Book
surrounded with a ditch and a hedge.'t of the World to Alexander, mention it under
There are still to be seen in France, (which the name of " Ierna," whence Usher says
surpasses.every other nation:in, refinement that the Roman people could produce no
and good taste,) whole towns built of wood, testimony so authentic for the antiquity of
and covered with thatch and -straw.   their name..t
We easily discover the bad faith of Aber-  Ju-enal, Pomponius Mela, and Solinus,
cromby, who ascribes to Ware  sentiments call this island " Juverna;"~ Ptolemy, " JuVery foreigt to him, concerning the succes- ernia;" and Diodorus Siculus, " Iris."  It
sion to the monarchy, and the inauguration is called " Iren," in the life of Gildas Badoof the kings of Tyrone and Tirconnel, which nicus,ll who went, says the author, to Iren
he only relates historically, after Cambrensis,
as an imposition strange  and incredible,'  "I cannot but wonder, how men otherwise
[ miram  videatur, 9et vix  credibile quod grave and learned, could have imposed upon the
rd t Giadus.,ennot  n histor ical  q c world for truths, the.fictions of Giraldus."- Ware's
tradit Giraldus,"t and not an historical fact Antiquities, e. 23.
taken from the registries of the country, or  t Ogyg. part 2, page 95
t " Of a similar antiquity, neither the Romans
themselves could produce a testimony." —Usher,
X Itim Cambrie,: lib. 1, cap. 12.  p. 724.
t De Bello Gall. lib. 5.             ~ Peter Lombard, Comment. cap. I
t Cap. 4, p. 17.                     11 Lib. 5, p. 309, cap. 6.
t~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~,.




120                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
(Ireland) to consult the doctors in philosophy ron Ire," signifying the land of Ire, and the
and theology;* whence it arises, that we call English word " Land."
the Milesians, or Irish, "Irenses,"  and   It is absurd to seek the derivation of pro"Iri."t                                    per names among foreigners.*  Every one,
Claudianus, Strabo, and Stephen of By- should know the name of his own land or
zantium, call it " Ierne."                 patrimony, better than his neighbors.
Rufus-Festus Avienus, in his book entitled   Pliny informs us,t that we should seek
"Orae Maritimme," Maritime Coasts, which the proper and natural name of a country,
he composed after the most ancient Greek among the learned in the language of the
geographers, calls it the Sacred Island, country itself.  The  natural name of a
" Insula Sacra;": so that this island, which country is that which is acknowledged and
was one day to become, and bear the name adopted by the inhabitants, and which has
of "the island of saints," in the time of its root in their language, and not that which
Christianity, was called in the times of the caprice of strangers may give it.  The
paganism, by the heathen themselves, "the following are the observations of the histosacred island," which, perhaps, originated rians of the country on this subject'from its nurturing no venomous reptile.~      Keating,$ copying after the ancient monuPlutarch, in his book " De facie in orbe ments of this nation, says, that at the time
lunma," calls Ireland " Ogygia."  The poets, of the first colonies, Ireland was sometimes
says Rhodogonus, call every thing that is called "Inis Alga," signifying the noble
ancient " Ogygium," from Ogyges, an an- island;~ sometimes "Inisfail,"Jl that is, the
cient king of Thebes.l1  Egypt was also island of Fail, from an enchanted stone called
called " Ogygia"~T for the same reason, the in them  " Lia-Fail;" and "' Saxum Fatale,"
Egyptians having been considered the most by Hlector Boetius, which the Tuatha de
ancient people, and the inventors of most of Danains had brought thither.~T
the arts and sciences, from whom the Greeks   This island. was afterwards, and immethemselves had borrowed them.              diately before the arrival of the Milesians,
Caesar, Pliny, Tacitus, Orosius, and gener- called sometimes Eire, sometimes Fodla,and
ally all the Latins call it " Hibernia." The sometimes Banba, the names of three queens,
derivation of this name is unknown. Some sisters, that married three brothers who
assert that it is derived from the Iberians,** governed this island alternately; but Eire
a people of Spain who inhabited this island, was at all times, and still is, the most general
or from  Iberus, a river in that country, or name, and the inhabitants are yet called in
from Iberia, which was sometimes the name their language " Eirinachs," signifying naof it.  Others say that the name of Hiber- tives of Eire, in Latin " Erigena."  I-t was
nia is derived from Heber, one of the sons in this acceptation of the word that John
of Milesius, or from Heremon, his brother. Scot, an author of the ninth century, was
Lastly, this island was called by the Eng- generally called " Scotus Erigena."
lish, within the last six or seven centuries,   Camden agrees, that Erin (which is the
Ireland.tt  The derivation of this word is same as Eire) is the real name of this island;
manifest, as it is evident that the word Ire- he says, that the names lerna, Juverna,
land has been composed of "Iris," or" Fea- Juernia, Iris, Hibernia, and Ireland, are derived from it.  " Ab Erin ergo gentis vocabulo originatio pretenda."**  But he is mis* " He went to Ireland that he might find out taken in his conjectures concerning the derithe opinions of other doctors of philosophy and vation of the word Erin, which he supposes
divine learning."-Life of Gildas, c. 6.    to have discovered in the Irish word " Hiar,"' Odericus vitalis, ann. 1098.  Hist. Eccles. signifying the west, as Ireland is the most
lib. 10. Elnothus Cantur vita Canuti, cap. 10.   westerly country in Europe. The name of
I " From this the ancients have given it the
name of Sacred Island; it possesses a deep soil Erin was given to this island by the inhabamidst the waters. The Hibernians (Irish) are its itants themselves: if we derived it from
most extended possessors; an island of the Albions " Hiar," it would be giving the island a name
lies near and open." —Festus Avienus in Camden.
i " Which name, on account of its happy soil,
has been given it; likewise because no venomous  * "It is vain to deduce the cause of its name
reptile lives in it."-Ogyg. part 1, pp. 21, 22.    from any other language."-Camden.
I " The poets call that' Ogygia,' which is sig-'  Hist. Nat. lib. 1.
nified to be most ancient."-Rhodogonus. b. 15,  X Book of Emigrations.
c. 33.                                       ~ Psalter of Cashel.
iT Ogyg. part 1, p. 22.                    11 Lecan and others.
H* Peter Lombard, Comment. c. 1, p. 9.    ft War, Antiq. Iib. c. 1.
tt Philip O'Sullevan, lib. 1, cap. 1.      * Page 677.




DIFFERENT NAMES OF IRELAND.                               121
which implies, that it lies to the west of   We have the testimony of Paulus Orosius,
itself.  Besides, O'Flaherty, a man learned in the fifth century, who says, in his descripand ably conversant in the language of the tion of this island, that it was inhabited by
country, rejects this conjecture of Camden the Scots; "a Scotorum gentibus colitur.'"
as an absurdity.*                             St. Prosper, speaking of the pastoral soliThis island was also called by the Mile- citude of Pope Celestine for the British
sians " Scotie, or Scuitte," in Latin Scotia,t isles,t in destroying the heresy of Pelagius
and the inhabitants Kinneadh-Scuitte, or in Britain, and causing the gospel to be
Clanna-Scoitte, from  Scota, daughter of preached among the Scots by Palladius,t
Pharaoh, king of Egypt, wife of Milesius, distinguishes the island of Scots, by the
and mother of the Milesians; or, according appellation of barbarous, from Britain, which
to others, from the word Scythia or Scythe, he calls the Roman Isle.~  The island of
(Scythians,) of whom this people were a Scots, in the acceptation of the word by
colony.                                       Prosper, can only refer, says Usher, to ScoWhatever be the derivation of this name, tia Major, that is Ireland, and by no means
it is certain that the island was known to to Albania, which was not then called Scoforeigners by the name of Scotia,t and the tia, and is not an island, as it forms a part
inhabitants by that of Scoti or Scots, from  of that of Great Britain.lthe third till the eleventh century.~  The    In the sixth century we have the authority
number of authors quoted by Usher, to sup- of Gildas, a British author, who, after sayport, the truth of this statement, forms a link ing that Britain had been trampled on by two
which nothing can sever.ll                   barbarous nations, namely, the Scots, who
Porphyrius, the philosopher, whose words came from the west, and the Picts, from the
St. Jerome quotes, in his epistle to Ctesi- north, adds that the daring robbers (the
phon, against Pelagius, a Briton, and Celes- Irish) had returned home, with the design
tinus, a Scot, makes mention, in the third of returning in a short time, and that the
century, of Britain, a province fruitful in Picts had settled in the northern extremity
tyrants, and of the Scotic nations, which, of the island.~[  It is manifest that Gildas
he says, were unacquainted with Moses here mentions the Scots and Irish as the same
and the prophets.  "Neque enim Britannia people; which is the inference that Usher
fertilis provincia tyrannorum, et Scoticae draws from it, adding that Cogitosus, in the
gentes.......... Moysen Prophetasque cogno- life of St. Bridget, agrees with Gildas.**
verant."   Usher here  corrects Erasmus,   In the seventh century, Isidorus Hispawho affirms, that in some copies he had lensis says, that Scotia is the same as Ireread " Scythicme gentes," instead of Scotice.
The Picts and Irish, called by Eumenius   * Hist. lib. 1, c. 2.
the Rhetorician, towards the end of the   t Petr. Lomb. Comment. c. 2, p. 16.
same century, in his eulogium on Constan-   I Grat. Luc. c. 25, p. 213.
tius, the general enemies of the Britons, are   ~ "Nor with less care has he rescued the British
designated by Ammian and Claudian, in the isles from the same distemper, when he secretly
followino century, by the names of Scots and excluded some who occupied the soil of their birth,
following century, by the names of Scots and from that part of the ocean, and a bishop being orPicts; which proves, according to Usher, dained for the Scots, while he labors to keep the
that Ireland should be acknowledged as the Roman isle Catholic, he made that which was
country of the ancient Scots; in confirmation Christian, barbarous." —St. Prosper in Usher, c.
of which, he quotes the lines of Claudian, 16, p. 797.
wherein this poet represents the Scots as is  "And Prosper distinguishing eloquently this
wherein this poet represents t he Scots as  isl;and of the Scots from the Britons, must be necesthe inhabitants of the country called Ierne.~ sarily understood to mean Scotia Major to be Ireland, and not the Minor Scotia, which is Albania,
- "As much as the east is distant from the (which was not Scotland at that period, neither is
west, so much does Ere, Hiar in the Irish lan- it an island, but forms a part of Great Britain.")guage, which implies westerly, differ in its mean- Usher's Church Hist. c. 16, p. 798.
ing."-Ogyg. p. 20, part 1.                          F "From two very cruel nations beyond seast Philip O'Sullevan, Hist. Cathol. compend. cap. 2. the Scots from the west, and Picts from the north
t Petr. Lombard, Comment. cap. 1, p. 5.    -Britain suffers and sighs during many years.
~ Idem. cap. 2, p. 15.                     The daring robbers, the Irish, return home, intendUsser. Prim. Eccles. cap. 16, p. 728, et Ogygia, ing to come back in a short time; the Picts then
part 3, cap. 72.                              settled, for the first time, in the north of the island."
~ " It proves that Hibernia was the country of -Usher, c. 15, p. 593-609..
the ancient Scots, as is confirmed by the following   ** "Where he takes the Scotsj and Irish for
lines from Clodianus:' The icy Ierne bewailed the one and the same people; this is also observed by
heaps of the Scots; when Scotia and all Ierne Cogitosus, as well in his prologue as in his epiwere moved, and the sea foamed from the hostile logue upon the life of St. Bridget." —Usher, c. 16,
oar.' "-Usher.                                p. 729.
16




122                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.                                   -
land; "Scotia eadem et Hibernia."*  The upon Britain; "necnon Scotorum  qui Hi-.
abbot Jonas affirms, in the life of St. Colum- berniam insulam Britanniae proximam incobanus, that the saint was born in the island lunt:" he says that this prelate knowing that'
of Ireland; which island was inhabited by a the Scots were in error concerning the obnation of Scots; that this nation, though not servance of the Easter, had written a letter
governed by the same laws as others, was to them, exhorting them  to preserve unity
remarkable for its fervor in Christianity, with the Church of Rome; this letter was
and surpassed all the neighboring countries entitled  " Dominis charissimis, fratribus
in its faith.t  We-may add the authority of Episcopis vel Abbatibus per universam ScoAldhelm, abbot of Malmesbury, in his epis- tiam."  It is remarkable that in the title, he
tle to Ealfrid, and that of Adamnanus, abbot uses the word Scotia to indicate the same.
of Hy, in the Life of St. Columb.  Those country which he had shortly before named
holy men always make use of the names Hibernia. Bede says elsewere,* "that Pope
of Irish and Scots, Ireland and Scotia, as Honorius sent letters to the Scots, who were
synonymous.  -                             in error concerning the celebration of Easter,
The venerable Bede, who lived "in the as mentioned above, exhorting them  not to
eighth century, and whose'authority is so think themselves more enlightened than
respectable, bears.testimony to the truth of every other church in the world, particuthis statement'; to be convinced of which, it larly as they formed but a small nation,
is only necessary to read, with attention, his situated at the extremity of the earth."
Ecclesiastical History'.  According to the   "Misit Papa Honorius litteras genti Scotitle of his first chapter, he proposes to treat torum, quas in observatione sancti paschae
of the situation, and ancient inhabitants of errare compererat juxta quod supra docuiBritain and Ireland, " de situ Britanniac, vel mus." It is plain from these words of Bede,
Hibernie, et priscis earum incolis;" and in "juxta quod supra docuimus," and which
the same chapter introduces the Scots as are an incontestable proof of it, that the letthe inhabitants of Ireland, without mention- ters of Pope Honorius, and that of Lawrence
ing the name of Irish.  We discover, in the of Canterbury, were intended for the same
sequel of his history, the distinction he people, that is, for the Scots of Ireland, who
makes between the Scots.of Ireland and were in error concerning the Easter, which
thoseofAlbania. He frequentlymentionsthe they celebrated from the fourteenth to the
former, whom  he simply calls Scots; and twentieth of the moon.  In speaking of
designates their country by the names, Sco- Oswald, king of Northumberland,t he says,
tia and Ireland. He says that the Picts had that " this.prince, seeing himself in peacediscovered the nation of the Scots in Ire- ful possession of his kingdom, and eager.
land,~ " inventa ibi gente Scotorum," and that for the conversion of his subjects, sent to the
Ireland was their country, " haec autem pro- Scots, (among whom he and his attendants
pria patria Scotorum est.'"l  He distinctly had received the grace of baptism,) to recharacterizes them in the second chapter of quest* that they would send him  a prelate
his second book, when speaking of the pas- capable of instructing his subjects.  The
toral solicitude of Lawrence, archbishop of Scots attended immediately to the pious reCanterbury, for the churches of the Britons, quest of Oswald, and sent over Aidan, a
English, and Scots, who inhabited Ireland, man remarkable for his mildness, piety, and
which he points out as an island bordering zeal in the cause of God, but not better instructed than his countrymen in the celebration of the Easter, which, as I have often
X Origin. lib. 14, cap. 6.               mentioned, (continues our author,) was from
t "Columbanus was born in Ireland, an island the fourteenth to the twentieth of the moon.
of the sea: this is inhabited by the Scots, a people
though differing in their laws from every other na- I as thus' says Bede, that the northern
tion, are strong and flourishing in the doctrine of Scots and the whole nation of the Picts,
Christ, agreeing herein with the neighboring na- celebrated.the Easter; but the Scots of the
tions." —Usher, c. 16, p. 729..             southern provinces of Ireland, he says, had
"From this cause, we discover in Aldhelm, already, by the admonition of the apostolic
abbot of Malmesbury, in the epistle to Ealfirid, that
the Irish and Scots, Ireland and Scotia, are sy- See, conformed to the canonical rite."t To
nonymous terms, and in Adamnanus, abbot of Hy,
who writes of St. Columb. He makes use of the  Lib. 2, cap. 19.
words, Scotia and Hibernia, (Ireland,) signifying   t Idem. lib. 3, cap. 3.
that they are one and the same." —Usher, c..16, p.  i  "In this way the northern Scots and the whole
729.                                       nation of the Picts celebrated the Easter at that
~ Lib. 1, cap. 1.                        time. Besides this, the Scots who inhabited the
II Grat. Luc. c. 14, pages 126 et 127.   southern parts of Ireland, had listened to the admoa




DIFFERENT NAMES OF IRELAND.                           123
wards the end of the same ehapter, he men- Canterbury, had addressed a pastoral letter
tions " that Aidan was a monk and bishop; respecting their observance of the Easter,
that he came from  the monastery of the "which I have often mentioned,"says Bede.
island of Hy, and that this island had been "Cujus saepius mentionem fecimus." "The
given to the Scots by the Picts, in gratitude Picts (continues this author) labored unfor their having preached the gospel among der the same error as the Scots."  Besides
them."*  In the beginning of the following the proximity of those nations, separated by
chapter, he plainly. indicates the country of an arm of the sea but fifteen miles in breadth,
the Scots, by saying, " that there came from  and besides the commerce whichhad always
Ireland a monk called Columbanus,t emi- existed between them, the Picts received
nent for the austerity of his life; that he from them the ligtit of the gospel; so that it
preached the gospel to the northern Picts, is not surprising that they inhaled:the venand that they granted him the island of Hy, om of the error with which their apostles had
where he built a monastery."  The venera- been infected.  "There came from  Ireland
ble Bede expresses himself otherwise about (continues Bede) a holy man named Fursy,
the country of St. Columbanus. In his chro- (and resutming the narrative towards the end
nological table, he says " that this -great of the same chapter,) who, afterpreacliingthe
man came from Scotiato Britain to instruct word of God for many years in Scotia, quitthe Picts."''   We should then misinterpret ted this island, of which he was a native."7*
the history of Bede, if we did not discover Finally, Bede tells us that Ecgfrid, king of
that, according to this author, the terms the Northumbrians, had sent an army into
Scotia and Ireland, Scots and Irish, are sy- Ireland, under the command of Berte, to
nonymous, and signify the same nation and destroy an unoffending people. In the same
the same people; that St. Columbanus, the- chapter, he again quotes this passage of hisapostle of the Picts, and founder of the mo- tory, where he again makes use of the word
nastery of Hy, was a Scot from Ireland;: Scotia, instead'of Hibernia, which he had
that Aidan, the apostle of the Northum- used in the beginning.t  With respect to
brians, and first bishop of Landisfarn, was the Scots of Albania, this author having
from the same country, namely, from  the ranked them with the Picts, as forming, long
province of the northern Scots, who were afterwards, a third colony in Britain, "proinvolved in the error of the Quartodecimans, cedente autem  tempore,"I they are seldom
among whom Oswald had received baptism; mentioned by him; and he carefully distinthat this northern province which Bede dis- guishes them from those of Ireland, by calltinguishes from the southern Scots, on ac- ing them sometimes Dalreudini, sometimes
count of their difference in opinion respect- the Scots, who possessed, together with the
ing their observance of the Easter,~ is the Picts, the north of Britain, "Pictorum quonorth of Ireland, comprising the neighbor- que ac Scotorum gentes qum septentrionales
ing islands, among others that of Hy: were Britanniae fines tenent;"~ and frequently the
it otherwise, there would be a want of Scots who inhabited Britain; " Scoi qui
precision in the account which he gives; Britanniam incolunt."'H  He also speaks of
besides, it is obvious, according to the plan Edan, king of the Scots, who inhabited Britand thread of his history, that he always ain, without alluding to a kingdom of Scotmentions those Scots as inhabitants of Ire- land in that island; " Edan, rex Scotorum,
land, to whom  Lawrence, archbishop of quiBritanniam inhabitant."~ Although Bede
nition of the Holy See, and conformed to the Ca-   * "A holy man named Fursius came from Ire.
nonical observance of the Easter." —Bede, b. 3, c. 3. land, and (to resume the narrative) he preached,
* "Aiden was monk and bishop, anid was ap- for many years afterwards, the word of God in
pointed to the island of Hy: as a present from those Scotia, and left the island of which lie was a na:g
Picts who inhabit these tracts of Britain Hy was tive." —Bede, b. 3, c. 19.
given to the monks who had preached among them   t " In the year of the Redemption 684, Ecgfrthe faith of Christ."                       dus, king of the Northumbrians, sent an army to
t " There came from Ireland, in the year of our Ireland, under the command of Bertus. He devasLord 565, the holy monk Columbanus, about to tated the country, and inflicted great miseries on a
preach the word of God to the northern Picts, from people, who were innocent and most friendly to the
whom he received the island, and permission to English. The preceding year, he would not listen
found-a monastery."-Bede, b. 3, c. 3; 4.    to the most reverend Egbertus, lest he should not
$ "The presbyter, saint Columb, came from carry war into Scotia; a country which did him no
Scotia into Britain, to instruct the Picts, and in injury." —Bede, b. 4, c. 26
the island of Hy he founded a monastery.' —EPito-  Lib. 1, cap. 1
me, p. 244.'                     ~ Lib. 2, cap. 5.
~ Peter Lombard, c. 15, p. 185.             11 Lib. 5, c. 24.       Y Lib. c. 34.




124                              HISTORY OF IRELAND.
says Usher, carefully distinguishes the Scots Gal, says he was a native of Ireland, "de
of Ireland from those who, in his time, in- Hibernia insula;"* and again, that he was
habited a part of Albania; he allows, how- of the nation of the Scots, " de gente Scotoever, but of one Scotia, which is Ireland.*  rum."t
Alcuin, disciple of the venerable Bede, fol-   Ninius, a British author, affirms that the
lows his example on this subject, in speaking Scots came from Spain to Ireland; "Novisof St. Willibrord, bishop of Utrecht, whose sime venerunt Scoti a partibus Hispaniae ad
life he wrote; and in saying that this saint Hiberniami."
was a native of Britain, and studied divinity   Rathrannus, a monk of Corbie, assures us,
in Ireland, he uses indiscriminatelythe names in his fourth book against the Greeks, that
Ireland and Scotia, which, according to him, the Scots, inhabitants of Ireland, were acsays Usher, signified, in the time-of Charle- customed, in their monasteries and other
magne, the same nation  and the  same religious houses, to fast till sunset, (the usual
people.t                                    time of their repast,) except on Sundays and
Eginhard, secretary to Charlemagne, or, holydays.t
according to some, his son-in-law, in his   In the tenth century, Hucbald, a monk of
annals on the year 812,t informs us that the the Abbey of St. Amand,~ and the abbot
naval forces of the Normans landed in Ire- Adso, in his poem on St. Mansuy, (in Latin
land, the island of the Scots, and having Mansuetus,) to Girald, bishop of Toul, use
given them  battle, in which they were de- indiscriminatelythe names Scotia and Hiberfeated, that those barbarians who escaped nia, to signify the same country.
shamefully took to flight, and returned to   Fabius Ethelwerdus,ll and the Anglotheir country.~                             Saxon  annals, mention three Scots from
This fact is supported by the authority of Ireland, "tres Scotos de Hibernia," who
several writers of that century, mentioned came in the year 891, to Alfred, king of
by Usher: as the monk of Angouleme, who England; theirnames were Dufslanus, Macwrote the life of Charlemagne, and Erme- bothus, and the third Magilmumenus, who
noldus, by whom the annals of Fulda were was well versed in the arts and sciences,
compiled, who says in a few words, that the and a celebrated doctor among the Scots:
Danish fleet having attacked Ireland, was " Artibus frondens, litterfa doctus, Magister
defeated by the Scots.'i                    insignis Scotorum."
Rabanus, archbishop of Mayence, says, in   We discover in the life of Charlemagne,
his martyrology on the eighth of the ides of written in the same century by Notker le
July, "Ireland is the island of the Scots:" Begue, a monk of St. Gal, that two Scots
and in another place, " Scotia and Ireland from Ireland, deeply conversant in sacred
signify the same country."~                 and profane learning, came to France, with
Wa-lafrid, in his preface to the life of St. some British merchants.~
The? same author, in his martyrology on
* SThough  Bede distinguishes with care the the sixteenth of the calends of April, fixes in
Scots who inhabit Hibernia, (Ireland,) and the Scots Scotia the birth of Saint Patrick, a bishop
who inhabit Britain, still Scotia is to him (as we and native of Brittany, who preached the
have shown) always one and the same."-Usher's gospeltothe Scots inthe islan'd of Ireland:**
C. Hist. b. 4, c. 23.                       on the fifth of the ides of June in Scotia, the
t " A man powerful invirtue, full of divine love, decease of St. Columb, surnamed Columbeloquent, vigilant, and ardent in acting, came to
thee, O happy France, in the days of Pepin; fruitful Kill, on account of having been founder and
Britain was his mother, and the learned Hibernia
nurtured him in sacred study; he was named Wil-  * Lib. 1, cap. 2.     t Lib. 2, cap. 46.
brordus. As I have already pronounced, fertile   t "The nation of the Scots who inhabit the
Britain was his mother, and the country of the island of Ireland, have a custom in all the monas.
Scots his illustrious instructor.  He obviously teries and religious houses, to fast every day, except
shows, that Hibernia and Scotia were one and the on Sundays and holydays, and to take food only at
same in the time of Charles the Great."-Usher noon, or in the evening." —Rathrannus Corbeieus,
Syllog.                                     b. 4, against the Greeks.; Pres. Hain. Abreg6 de l'Hist. de France, p. 43.  ~ In vitA Lebuini.
(~ "A Norman fleet having attacked Hibernia, the  I] Ethelwerd. Chron. lib. 4, cap. 3.
country of the Scots, a battle was fought between   1' "It happened that two Scots came from Hiberthe Normans and Scots, they were shamefully put nia with British merchants, to the shores of Gaul,
to flight, and returnedi with a part only of their who were most learned in sacred as well as in proforce."-Annals of Eginardu.s, on the year 812.  fane writings."
11 "A fleet of Danes.are overcome by the Scots  ** St. Patrick, bishop, died in Ireland, where he
in battle."-Fulden's Annals.                first preached the gospel of our Lord to the Scots:
a' "Hibernia, the island of the Scots, is the same he was of the nation of Brittany."-Notker le
as Scotia."-b. 12.                          Begue in Usher.




DIFFERENT DIVISIONS OF IRELAND.                         125
rector of several churches and monasteries:*
and on the eighth of the ides of July, the              CHAPTER VIII.
passion of St. Kilian, first bishop of Wirtzburgh, and of his two disciples, Colonat a ON THE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS OF IRELAND.
priest, and Totnan a deacon, who came from
Ireland, the island of the Scots, and after   IRELAND was at all times divided accordreceiving their mission from the holy see, ing to the views and interests of those who
preached the gospel in the same place, and possessed it.  Partholan divided it into four
the adjacent country.t  An ancient author of parts, in favor of his four sons; Nennius,
the life of St. Kilian, quoted by Usher,t says for the same reason, divided it into three,
that Scotia, which is also called Ireland, is an and the Firbolgs into five.  The children of
island in the ocean, the soil of which is very Milesius, on their accession to the governfertile; but that it is still more celebrated ment of this island, made a new division of
by the illustrious saints to whom  it gave it: Heber, with the descendants of Ith, had
birth; among that number are St. Colum- this southern part, called Munster; Leinster
banus, who gave lustre to Italy, St. Gal, and Connaught fell to Heremon; and the
to Germany, and St. Kilian, to Teutonic northern part, called Ulster, to the children
France.~                                    of Ir.  Ugane the Great, who lived three
The unanimous opinion of so many re- centuries before the Christian era, divided
spectable authors, during seven or eight cen- this island into twenty-five parts in favor of
turies, should be an incontrovertible proof his children.*  But the most celebrated diof the truth of what I assert.  It appears vision of the island, which was confirmed by
that the Abbe de Fleury had thoroughly Eocha IX. before the time of Jesus Christ,
investigated this matter, as in his Ecclesias- and which still partially exists, was that of
tical History, when speaking of Scotia, and the four parts orprovinces, and the separation
the Scots or Scotch, he always takes care to which was shortly afterwards made of a ceradd, "that is, Hibernia and Hibernians," and tain portion from each province, by Tuathal
sometimes ireland and Irish.  Had the au- Teachmar, to form  the king's domain,t
thor of the abridgment of the history of called in their language Fearon-BuoirdFrance, by question and answer, published Riogh-Erinn, which signifies, " domain of
in Paris some years ago, informed himself the king's table," at present the counties
more accurately on the subject, he would of East and West Meath.:  Those parts
have been more explicit respecting the name answering to our provinces{ were called, in
of the country to which Dagobert, son of their language, Coigeadh, which implies a
Sigebert III., king of Austrasia, was sent fifth.  It would appear that the king's doby Grimoald, mayor of the palace; he would main formed the fifth part of this division,
not have simply said that it was to Scot- or that one of the other four was, at some
land; he would have added, like the Abbe time, subdivided into two, as Munster was
I Fleury, "that is, to Ireland."              divided into Eastern and Western Ireland,
and was long after divided into two parts, by
* "In the island Hibernia, or Scotia, the decease Conn, monarch of the island, and Mogha,
of Saint Columb took place: he was surnamed king of Munster.  The line of separation,
Columb-Kill, on account of the number of cells,er Riaa, extene fro
monasteries, and churches, which hle had founded. calla,
— Notker le Begue, in Usher, c. 15, p. 687.  the east to Galway in the west. The northt " The martyrdom of Saint Kilianus, the first ern part, which fell under the dominion of
bishop of Wurtzburgh, and of his two disciples, Co- Conn, was called " Leath Coinn, or the half
lonatus a presbyter, and Totnatus a dean, who of Coinn,"andthesouthern, "LeathMogha."
coming from Hibernia, the island of the Scots, hav-   The venerable Bede alludes probably to
ing received their authority from the apostolical The venerable Bede alludes probably to
see, preached the name of Christ in that place and this division, when he mentions the norththe surrounding country." —Notker le Begue, in ern and southern Scots.Il
Usher, c. 16, p. 732.                         Besides those general divisions which
T Prim. Eccles. cap. 16, 733.             were made eitherbythewisdom oflegislators
~ " Scotia, called also Hibernia, is an island in
the ocean, very fruitful in its soil, but still more or by force of arms, Ireland was anciently
renowned for the sanctity of its people; from divided by the Milesians into territories, that
among them, St. Colemnbanus gave lustre to Italy, is, into principalities and dynasties, as it has
St. Gal to Germany, and Kilianus to Teutonic been since by the English into counties and
France."-Usher, c. 16, p. 733.
* Ogygia, page 18.
t Peter Lombard, Comment. de Hib. cap. 3, page
41.          t Grat. Luc. c. 8, p. 68.
~ Ogyg. part 3, cap. 46.  11 Ogyg. part 1, p. 24




126                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
baronies.  The chiefs of those territories, the very ancient poem of O'Douvegan, are
and the families who possessed them, were arranged in alphabetical order, in the difchosen from the tribe. The dynasties formed ferent provinces, at the end of. this chapter,
about thirty burghs or villages, comprising with the names and origin of the ancient
nearly the same extent of land as the baro- proprietors, as far as they are known.
nies among the Anglo-Saxons, and the princi-   There are some territories, the names
palities were the same as our counties. Their alone of which have been preserved, while
chiefs were elective, and chosen by their those of the proprietors are unknown; and
own tribes, for life only; they were subor- others, the names and proprietors of which
dinate to the chief of the province, as the are known, but their situation and extent
latter was to the monarch.  Those chiefs cannot be ascertained, owing to the bounwho naturally convey to us the idea of the daries and ancient names having been contitles of duke, earl, and baron, were called founded and changed by those strangers who
Taoiseachs,* that is, lords: Thane among have usurped them.  We shall, however,
the Anglo-Saxons, signifies the same thing, subjoin them, in the form of a supplement,
namely, the chief of the tribe.            to those territories which are better known
The ancient names of those territories had in each province, and distinguish them by
a strong analogy and connection with the an index.
names and origin of their possessors, who   The province of Ulster remained, from
were sometimes called kings through cour- the settlement of the Milesians in Ireland, in
tesy, according to the extent of their pos- possession of the descendants of Ir, known
sessions, and the number of their vassals: by the name of Clanna-Rorys, or Rudrimen never'took the names of their lands; cians.*  This province underwent many revon the contrary, they generally gave to their olutions; the reign of the Rudricians was
patrimonies names that indicated the pro- disturbed for the first time,t in the beginning
prietors, which are still preserved among of the third century, by the policy of the
the people, notwithstanding the efforts of monarch Conare II.,] who, dreading the
the English to obliterate them  by giving power of those people, placed Ogaman, a
foreign names to the lands and lordships prince of the tribe of the Dalfiatachs, of the
which they usurped.                        race of Heremon, on the throne; but they
To understand more clearly the analogy received the severest blow from Colla-Huais
between the names of the dynasties and the and his brothers, princes of the race of
names and origin of the proprietors, we Heremon, in the fourth century, who deshould observe that the words Dal, Hy or stroyed the palace of Eamhain,~ put an
Ibh, Sioll, Clan, Kinall, Mac, Muinter, end to the sway of the Clanna-Rorys, and
and others, are adjectives frequently used in founded the small kingdom of Orgiell, which
the Milesian or Irish language, and which, comprised the counties of Louth, Ardmach,
in their primitive signification, denote the and Monaghan.ll
chiefs of families, and sometimes the dif-   The tribe of the Magennises, chiefs of the
ferent branches; but taken in a wider sense, Clanna-Rorys, though excluded from  the
they are applied to their territorial possessions.                                       * From the Clanna-Rorys, are descended the
The word Dal, according to Bede, means MacGenises, the MacCartans, the O'Mordhans, (in
part of a thing,t and  may be used to signify English, O'More,) O'Conners-Kerry, O'Loghlins,
O'Ferralls, MacGranuills, or MacRanells, Mac-ana portion of territory, or the branch of a Bhairds, (in English, Ward,) O'Lawlors, Magillafamily; but in its most natural signification, gans, Scanlans, Brosnaghans, O'Cathils, O'Con.
Dal means tribe or race, as Dal Riada, or ways, Casies, Tiernys, Nestors, O'MarCachains,
tribe of Riada;t Hy or Ibh, signifies " of;" O'Tyns, O'Hargans, O'Flahertys, Dorcys, O'Huallachains, MacSheanloichs, O'Morains, O'Rodaand Sioll, Clan, Kinall, Ml1ac, Muzinter, &c., chains, (in English, Rody,) O'Duains, O'Mainings,
the race or descendants of any one.(       MacGilmers, O'Kennys, O'Kenellys, O'KeitherThe ancient territories of Ireland,11 ac- nys, MacEochaids, O'Carrollans, the Mac-ancording  to  Keating,  Gratianus  Lucius, Gaivnions, (in English, Smith,) and others.
O'Flaherty,~ and others, after the ancient  t Ogyg. part 2, p. 146.
monuments of the country, among others   ~ Ogyg. part 3, cap. 75, 76.
1I The race of those brothers were numerous,
* Ogyg. part 1, pp. 24, 27, et 57.  and formed many noble tribes,'such as the Mac
t Hist. Ecclesiast. lib. 1, part 1.  Donnels of Ireland and Scotland, the MacMahons,
f Ogyg. part 3, cap. 63.           Maguires, O'Hanluans, Magees, O'Floinns-Tuirtre,
~ Id. part 3, cap. 76.             O'Ceallaigs, or O'Kelly, O'Madaighins, or O'Mad11 Cambrens. Evers. cap. 3.        din, O'Niallains, MacEagains, Neachtains, or NorIf Ogyg. part 3, passim.           tons, Shiehys, Dowels, Kerins, and the Nenys, &c.
JI




DIFFERENT DIVISIONS OF IRELAND.                            127 
crown of Ulster, made at all times a consid- ster, of his race, in the time of St. Paterable figure in the province, and possessed rick, was Criomthan, son  of Enna-Kinthe principality of Dalaradie, so called from  sealach.
Fiacha-Araidhe, one of the chiefs of that   Oilioll-Olum, of the race of Heber, first
tribe, and king of the province in the third absolute king of the two Munsters after the
century: it is now the county of Down.   expulsion of the Earnochs, in the beginning
Eogan and Conall Gulban, sons of Niall of the third century enacted a law renderthe Great, and brothers of Laogare the Mon- ing the succession to the crown of the provarch, took possession of Tir-Eogan, (Ty- ince alternate between the descendants of
rtone,) and Tyrconnel, so called after them  his two sons, Eogan and Cormac-Cas, callin the beginning of the fifth century.*       ed after those two chiefs, the Eoganachts,
Though the kingdom of Orgiell was con- and the Dalcaiss.  In the time of St. Patfined to narrow limits, being surrounded by rick, the sceptre was held by the descendthose principalities, which were so many ants of Eogan.  Aongus, son of Nadfraoch,
sovereignties, it existed for a considerable of this race, governed the province, while
time in this state.t  Eocha, son of Mure- Carthan Fionn, son of Bloid, of the race of
dach, son of Forga, son of Dallan, of the Cormac-Cas, was prince of Thuomond, and
tribe of the Dalfiatachs, ruled over it in the chief of the Dalcaiss.*
time of St. Patrick; but his impiety and op-   In the beginning of the fourth century,
position to the gospel having drawn on him
the malediction of that apostle, the sceptre of the O'Connors-Faly, the O'Dempsies, O'Dunns
was transferred to Carell, his brother, and his O'Branains, O'Riagans, MacColgaine,Clan-Carbrys,
descendants, to the number of thirty-five.t  O'Maolchiarains, O'Bearras, O'Hartaigs, O'Floinus.
Leinster was possessed by a branch of   From  Fiacha-Baiceada, the youngest, are dethe Heremonians.  This race had formed scended the royal family, and the other consideratwo branches by Cobthach, surnamed Caol- ble tribes of this province, as the MacMoroughs,
(Cavanaghs,) O'Morochus, (Murphy,) O'Broins,
breagh, and Laogare Lorck, his brother, O'Tuathails, (in English O'Byrnes and O'Tools,)
both sons of lTgane-More, who lived about O'Dowlings, O'Moel-Ryans, O'Kinsealaghs, -O'Multhree hundred years before Christ.  Most duins, O'Cormacs, O'Duffys.
of the monarchs who followed, derived their   From Dair-Barrach, another son of Cahire-More,
origin from  Cobthach: the descendants of are descended the O'Gormains, O'Moonys, Muillins
or O'Maolans; and from Cuchorp, are descended
Laogare reigned in Leinster.                  the O'Feadhails of Fortuath. The noble tribes of
Cathoir, otherwise Cahire-More, of the the Duibhidirs, or O'Dwyers, with the O'Donogains
race of Laogare, from  being king of Lein- and the Maegiolla-Phadruigs, (in English Fitzpatster, became monarch of the whole island rick,) formed two collateral branches of his race,
nthe sbecod cntury, a   lef ae n d some generations beyond Cahire-More. The former
in the second century, and left a numerous derive their origin friom Conchorb, ancestor of the
posterity;~ the king who reigned in Lein- monarch, and the latter with the O'Braonains,
~ from Broasal-Breac, one of his ancestors in the
twelfth degree.
* The descendants of Eogan were the illustri-   * The descendants of Eogan, after the illustrious
ous tribe of the O'Neils, divided into three principal tribe of the MacCartys, chiefs of this race, are the
families; namely, that of Dungannan, that is Ty- O'Sullevans, MacAulifs, O'Callaghains, O'Keefs,
rone, which was the first, Clanneboy, and Fews. O'MIahonys, O'Mariartys, O'Donoghoes, O'DonoThe collateral branches are the Maglachluins, vans, O'Conaills, O'Dalys, O'Cuilleans, O'Hehirs,
O'Cathains, (O'Kean,) MacSuibnes, (MacSwiny,) O'Meighans, Devorens, O'Treasaighs, O'Garvans,
O'Gormleaghads, (Gormly,) O'Heodhasas, O'Con- MacFinnins.-Ogyg. part 3, cap. 81.
nallains, O'Craoibhes, (Creagh,)  O'Madagains,   From Cormac-Cas descended the illustrious tribe
(Mulline'ux,) O'Mulvihils, O'Horins, O'Donallys, of the O'Briens, chiefs of this family, O'Kenedies,
O'Cathmhaoils, (Caulfield,) MacGiollkellys, O'He- MacMahons, MacCoghlains, O'Finallans, O'Regertys, and the O'Dubhdiarmas. Conal Gulban gans, MacCraiths, O'Hogans, O'Shannaghains,
gave birth to the illustrious tribe of the O'Donnels, O'Meadhras, Artureighs, (Arthur,) O'Henraghtys,
O'Dohartys, O'Galaghers, O'Boyles, and the O'Da- O'Hicidhes, (Hickys,) Loinsirhes, (Lonsy,) Seaslys, or Siol-Ndala.                           nains, (Sexon,) Huainins, Cormucains, Ryadys, Sla-'t Vit. Tripart. lib. 3, cap. 63, not. 92 et 93. in trys, MacNemaras, Hurlys, O'Mullownys, O'Keareund. lib.                                    nys, O'Hliffernans, O'Henegains, O'Neaghtains,; It appears from this historical fact, taken from Conrays, (King,) O'Deas, O'Brodys, Gradys, Clan:
Colgan, that the O'Carrols, kings of Orgiel, de- chys, O'Cuins, Keilliochairs, O'Beolains, O'Speascendants of Carrell, of the race of Dalfiatachs, lains, O'Hanraghains, O'Siodhachains, (Sihan,)
should not be confounded with the O'Carrolls of Maceineirys, Congalaighs, O'Tuama, (Twomy,)
Elie, who derived their origin from Heber, by Oilioll- Murronys, Healys, and the Hartagans.-Idemn, cap.
Olum, and his son Kiann.                      82, Grat. Luc. cap. 3.
~ This monarch had thirty sons, twenty of whom    From Kiann, third son of Oilioll-Olum, are dedied without issue: the two most distinguished were scended the O'Carrols of Ely, O'Connors, KianRossa-Failge and Fiacha-Baiceada.             achtas, O'Meaghairs, O'Haras, O'Garas, O'FlanaFrom the first are descended the noble families gans, Dulchontas, Corerans, O'Casies.




128                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Connaught was wrested from the Firdom- the patrimony of the O'Cahans, of the race
nians, a branch of the Firbolgs, who had of Heremon, bythe monarch Niall-Noygiolpossessed it until then with the good will lach and Eogan his son.* Towards the end
of the Milesians.  Muiradach-Tireach, son of the thirteenth century, Magnus, brother
of Fiacha-Straivetine, was first king of Con- of O'Cahan, possessed that part of the
naught, of the'race of Heremon; which re- country now  called the barony of Colemained in the possession of his posterity for raine, situated on both sides of the river
many ages.*  Eocha-Moy-Veagon, his son, Bann, at that time called Douhy Clannasucceeded him; who, having become mon- Magnus.  His eldest son, named Henry,
arch, left the province to his sons, namely, gave to his posterity the name of MacBrian, Fergus, and Oilioll.  The two first Henry.  His second son settled on the
were the ancestors of the Hy-Brunes, and river Buash, in Route, in the county of AnHy-Fiachras, whose posterity reigned in trim, and his descendants always preserved
this province till the twelfth century.t   the name of O'Cahan; they were called
Lastly, from  the beginning of the fifth Clann Magnus na Buasha, to distinguish
century,t Meath remained in the possession them  from  the Clann Magnus na Banna,
of the southern Hy-Nialls,~ that is, the who, though the eldest branch, bear the name
descendants of Laogare, Conall-Crimthine, of Mac-Henry. O'Cahan was dispossessed
Fiach, and Maine, son of the monarch in the beginning of the seventeenth century,
Niall the Great, of the race of Heremon.ll and Mac-Henry in 1641, by Cromwell.
Such was the general state of the prov-   Ardes, an ancient territory, now a barony
inces of Ireland, and its inhabitants, in the in the county of Down, forming part of lower
first ages of Christianity.  We shall now Clanneboy, is a peninsula, eighteen miles in
examine the particular distribution of the length. This territory belonged to a branch
island into dynasties, and the families to of the O'Neills.
whom they belonged.                           Boylagh, a territory, now a half-barony,
in the county of Donegal, the patrimony of
IN ULSTER.                  the O'Buidhills, otherwise O'Boyle, a colArachty-Cahan, a territory  comprising lateral branch of the O'Donnels.
nearly the whole of the.county of Derry,   Breifne, Briefnia, or Brenny, formerly
comprised the counties of Leitrim and Ca* Ogyg. part 3, cap. 73.                  vant  Aod-Finn, of the race of the Hyt The O'Connors Don derive their origin from  Brunes, was prince of this country about
the illustrious tribe of the Hy-Brunes, of which the year 572; his race was called Sliocht
they were chiefs; the collateral -branches are the Aodha-Finn.  This country was divided
O'Connors-Roe, O'Connors-Sligo, O'Rourks, O'Rag- into two territories  namely  eastern  and
hallaighs, (O'Reilly,) MacDermots, MacDonaghs,     o territories, namely, eastern  an
O'Flahertys, O'Malys, O'Floinns, (Flynn,) O'Flan- western Briefne, in favor of the two prinegans, O'Hanly, MacMaghnus, O'Fallons, Mac- cipal branches of this race, the O'Rourkes
Kiernans, MacBradys, O'Donallans, O'Gairbfhias, and the O'Raghallaighs, (Reilly.)  Eastern
(O'Garvy,) O'Brins, O'Malons, MacBrenans, Maol- Briefne, also called MuntirMaol-Morda, at
lallas, or Lally, O'Creans, Maol-Breanoins, MaolMocheirges, O'Faithaigs, (Fahy,) O'Camhins, present the county of Cavan, was the patriO'Domhleins, O'Breislins, MacAodhs, O'Cosnam- mony of the O'Reillys.
has, MacSamhragains, MacOirioghtaig-Tumal-   Clan-Bressail, a territory to the south of
taghs, O'Gealbhuidhes, Cruadlaoch, (O'Crowly,) Lough Neagh, in the barony of O'Neland,
O'Concheanains,  O'Fionnagains,  O'Hallurains, in the county of Admach; it fomely be
O'Muirgheasas, O'Mahadys, O'Cnnnrins.      in the county of Ardmach; it formerly beO'Muirgheasas, O'Mahadys, O'Currains.
The descendants of the tribe of the Hy-Fiachras, longed to the Mac-Canns, of the race of
are the O'Dowds, O'Sheagnassys, O'Heyns, Kill- the Dalfiatachs.
kellys, Kearaighs, O'Cleirighs, O'Braonains, Cho-   Clanneboy, or Clan-Hugue-Boy, a terrimaltains, Chedaighs, (Cead,) Cathmhoghas, (Caf- tory which takes its name from  the defuoighs,) Chreachains, Leanains.
t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 85.                  scendants of Hugue Boy O'Neill, and was
~ Ogyg. part 3, c. 85, Trias Thau. not. 1, in lib. divided into two parts, one northern, and
2, Vit. 4. S. Brig. p. 564.                 the other southern, belonged formerly to
11 The O'Conlivans, or Kindellan, O'Maoleach- the different branches of the O'Neills, of
luins, owe their origin to Laogare, and Conall- the race of Heremon.
Crimthine; Fiacha gave birth to the Maolmhuadhs, (Mulloy,) Mac-Eochagains, (Mac-Geoghe-   Southern Clanneboy comprised part of
gan,) Mac-Cullins, and the Huiginns. The descend- the territory of Ardes, with the land which
ants of Maine are the O'Sionachs, (Fox,) O'Hagains, O'Ronains, Magawlys, O'Braoins, O'Dalys,      Phill. O'Sull. Compend. Hist. Cathol. tom. 3,
O'Quins, Mac-Conmeies, Slambains, Mulcornys, lib. 1, page 115.
Ciobliochains, Shiels, Cathalains, Murrys, and the   t Act. Sanct. Hiber. vit. S. Berach. ad. 15.
O'Deignans.-Ogyg. part 3, c. 85.            Februar. note 20, et seq.




DIFFERENT DIVISIONS OF IRELAND.                       129
extends from the bay of Dundrum, to the called from Carthen, great-grandson of Colla
bay of Carrick-Fergus, in the county of Huais, to whom  it belonged, and whose
Down, that is, the baronies of Castlereagh descendants were the Mac-Carthens, the
and Kinalearty.                          O'Colgans, and the O'Conaills.
Northern Clanneboy is a territory in the   Hy-Meith-Tire, a territory in the county
county of Antrim, bounded on the east and of Ardlmach,* at present the barony of Orior,
south by the bay of Carrickfergus, and the the country of the O'Hanluans, (O'Hanlon,)
river Lagan; on the west by the territory of of the race of Heremon, by Colla da Chrioch.
Kilultagh, and on the north by the countries   Northern Hy-Niellia, so called from the
called Route and Glinnes, now the baronies descendants of four of the sons of Niallof Kilconway and Glanarm.                Noygiollach, monarch of Ireland, to whom
Conal-Muirthemne, an ancient territory, it belonged, comprised part of the counties
comprising nearly the whole county of of Tyrone, Tyrconnel, and other territories.
Louth.* This territory was also called Hy-   Hy-Turtre,f a territory on the borders of
Conal, and Machaire-Conal, from  Conal- the counties of Antrim and Down, east of
Kearnach, to whose posterity it belonged. lake Neagh, the patrimony of the O'Floinlns
Dalaraidie, an extensive territory which and O'Donnellans, of the race of Heremon,
comprised part of the county Antrim on the by Colla Huais, and his grandson Fiacha
south and southeast, and most of the county Tort.
of Down: this territory, which was some-   Hy-Veach, oi Iveach, a territory of antimes called Ulidia, was divided into several cient Dalaradie, in the county of Down,
smaller ones.                            now forming part of the baronies of upper
Dalrieda, otherwise Reuta and Route, a and lowerIveach, with some other territories
large territory of thirty miles extent, in the in the same county, the domain of the Macounty of Antrim, from the river Bush to gennises, of the race of the Clanna Rorys,
the cross of Glenfrinaght. This territory by Conall-Kearnach, and his son Irial or
was so calledfrom the demi-tribe of the Dal- Vriel.t
riads, which had been established there in the   Inis-Eoguin, a territory, at present the
fourth century by Fergus Ulidian. descended barony of Ennis-Owen, that is, the isle of
in the fifth degree from Cairbre-Rieda; the Owen, (being a peninsula formed by the
other demi-tribe, mentioned by Bede under ocean on one side, and Lough Foyle and
the name of Dalreudini, had already settled Lough S willy on the other,) in the county of
in Albania. To this territory has since been Donegal, the patrimony of the O'Doghertys,
given the name of the country of Mac-Surley- a younger branch of the O'Donnels.~
Boy, that is, of the Mac-Donnels, of the race   Kinel-Conail, otherwise Tirconnell, now
of Heremon, by Colla-Huais, to whom it the county of Donegal, the domain of the
belonged.                                O'Donnells, of the race of Heremon, and of
Dufferin, at present a barony in the county the monarch Niall, by his son, Conall-Gulof Down, forming a part of the country of ban. This territory was divided into several
the Mac-Cartans, of the race of the Clanna- dynasties, inhabited by the differentbranches
Rorys.                                   of this name.
Fanid, a territory, now the barony of Kil-   Kinel-Eoguin, a territory of northern HyMacrenan, in the county of Donegal,t the Niellia, comprising the county of Tyrone,
patrimony of the Mac-Sweenys, a collateral the domain of the O'Neills, of the race of
branch of the O'Donnels.  The territories Heremon, and of the monarch Niall-Noyof Tueth and Banach in the same county, giollach, and Eogan, his son; this territory
were possessed by other branches of the was divided into several dynasties belonging
Mac-Sweenys.                             to the different families of this name, of
Fermanagh,$ an ancient territory, now a whom Dungannon was the chief, and in case
county, the patrimony of the Maguires of the of his dying without issue, one was chosen
race of Heremon, by Colla da Crioch.~    from Clan-Hughboy, or the Fews.
FeWs, at present a barony in the county of   Maghinis, or Moy-Inis, a territory in the
Ardmach, the patrimony of a branch of the county of Down, now the barony of Lecale;
O'Neills.                                which formerly belonged to the Magennises.
Hy-Macarthen, a territory on the borders   Mugdorne, now the barony of Mourne, a
I of Lough Foyle, in the county of Derry, so territory in the county of Down, bounded on
* Ogyg. part 3, c. 47.                   X Ogyg. part 1, c. 66; Keat. Geneal.
t O'Sull. Comment. tom. 3, lib 1, page 115.  t Ogyg. part 3, c. 76.
I Ogyg. part 3, c. 76.                   t O'Sull. Comment. tom. 3, lib. 1, page 115.
~ Keat. Geneal.                          ~ O'Sull. ibid.
17




130                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
the south by the bay of Carlingford, and   Hy-Semnia, a territory in ancient Dalabelonging to the descendants of Colla- radie.
Maine.                                      Kenelmoigne, the patrimony  of the
Oilean-Magee, a peninsula in the county O'Gormlaids.
of Antrim, north of Carrickfergus bay, the   Kiennachta-Glenngemlhin, a territory in
patrimony of the Magees, of the race of the county of Derry, whence O'Connor
Heremon, by one of the Collas.           Kiennachta had taken his name.
Orgiel, Oriel, or Uriel, was an extensive   Kilwarlin, a small territory in the county
territory, comprising the counties of Louth, of Down, forming part of the ancient terriMonaghan, and Ardmach, sometimes gov- tory of Iveach, now the barony of lower
erned by feudal kings.*  Monaghan, called Iveach.
in the language of the country, Uriel, be-   Kilulta, a small territory in the county of
longed to the Mac-Mahons, who were divided Antrim, on the borders of lake Neagh,
into several branches, descendants of Here- extending southward into the county of
mon, by Colla-da-Chrioch.                Down.
Ulidia, see Dalaradie.                   Magh-Murthemne or Machaire-Conaill,
Uriel, see Orgiel.                    the same as Conal-Murthemne.
)j  Calrie, a territory in eastern Breifny,t   Muintir Birne, see Hy-Bruin.
the patrimony of the O'Carbhaills, of the   Oirther, a territory in the county of Ardrace of the Hy-Brunes, from whom are de- mach, the same as Hy-Meith-Tire.
scended the Mac-Bradys.                    Route Reuta,* see Dalrieda.
Clancarne, in the county of Orgiel, the   Sioll-Eoghuin, see Inis-Eoghuin.
patrimony of the O'Heagnys.                 Tirconnel, see Kinel-Conaill.
Clanfogartaid, a territory in Orgiel, the   Tirmaccarthuin, a territory in the county
patrimony of the Mac-Cartans, of the race of Tirconnel, the patrimony of the O'Maoof the Clanna-Rorys.                     logains.
Cualgne, a territory in the county of   Tirmbrassail and Tirtiole, in the same
Louth.                                   country, the patrimony of the O'DonnaDonamaine, a territory in the county of gains.
Monaghan, the patrimony of the O'Nenys,   Tuaithratha, a territory in Orgiel, the
of the race of Colla-da-Crioch.          patrimony of the O'Flanagans.
Glinnes, a territory between the bay of   Ulidia or Ullad, see Dalaradie.
Oldfleet and Route, adjoining the barony of   Uriel, see Orgiel.
Glanarm.
Hy-Bruin, a territory in the county'of               IN LEINSTER.
Tyrone, commonly called Muinter Birne.
There are other territories of this name, the   Annaly, at present the county of Longford,
situation and extent of which are unknown, anciently called Conmacne, the country of
though mentioned in history, as Hy-Blrin- the O'Ferrals, of the race of Ir, by Feargus
Ay, Hy-Bruin-Brefne, and Hy-Bruin-Scola. Roigh, and Maude, queen of Connaught.
HIy-Cormaic, a small territory in the county Clan-Malugra, otherwise Clenmalire, lying
of Derry, on the borders of Lough Foyle, on both sides of the river Barrow, in the
enclosed by the territory of Hy-Macarthen. King and Queen's county, and including the
Hy-Conall, or Conall-Muirthemne, in baronies of Geashill and Portnehinch. This
Louth.1                                  territory was in the possession of different
Hy-Fiachria, a territorybetween the coun- branches of the O'Dempsies, of the race of
ties of Tyrone and Derry,~ on the river Heremon, by the monarch Cahire-More and
Derg, which comprised the ancient bishopric  his son Rossa-Failge.
of Ardsratha, afterwards united to that of   Coille-Culluin, a territory on the frontiers
Derry.                                   of the counties of Wicklow and Kildare, the
Hy-Meith-Mhara, a maritime territory in patrimony of the O'Culluins, of the race of
the county of Louth, near Carlingford.   Cahire-More, by his son, Fiacha Baicheada.
Hy-Niellain, a territory near Ardmach, This noble tribe possessed another large
the patrimony of the O'Niellans, of the race tract of land in the vicinity of Dublin, on
of Colla-da-Crioch.                      which part of this city has been built.
Crioch-Culan,t a territory in the county
of Wicklow, including part of the baronies
* e Ogyg. part 3, c. 76.        of Arklow and Newcastle, possessed by the
t Grat. Luc. c. 3.
t Ogyg. part 3, c. 66.                   * Ogyg. p. 3, cap. 59, 46.
~ Ibid. cap. 76.                         t Ogyg. part 3, c. 59.




DIFFERENT DIVISIONS OF IRELAND.                      i31
O'Kellys, descendants of Maine Mal, bro- hire-More, and his son Rossa Failge, but
ther of Cahire-More.                     belonging anciently to the O'Regans.
Ely O'Carrol, formerly a territory in the   Idrone, a territory, at present a barony in
province of Munster, at present in the King's the county of Carlow, on the river Barrow,
county, including the baronies of Clonlish, the patrimony of the Mac-Murroughs or
Ballybrit, and probably that of Eglish, the Cavanaghs, of the race of Heremon, by
domain of the O'Carrols of the race of Heber, Cahire-More and Dirmuid Na-Nagall, king
by Oilioll-Olum,* and his son Kian.  This of Leinster, by whom the English were interritory was called Ely, from Eile Riogh- troduced into Ireland in the twelfth century.
Dearg, one of the ancestors of this tribe   Imayle,* a territory in the county of
who lived in the fourth century.t        Wicklow, the ancient possessors of which
Fothart, a territory on the banks of the were the O'Tuathails, (O'Toole,) of the race
river Slaney,: in the county of Wexford, of Cahire-More,byhis sonFiacha-Baikeada.
the patrimony of the O'Nuallans, descend-   Idough, at present the barony of Fassaants of Eocha-Fionn-Fothart, brother of the Dining, in the county of Kilkenny, the anmonarch Conn Keadcaha.  The barony of cient patrimony of the O'Brennans, a branch
Forth, situated in this canton, still preserves of the Fitzpatricks, of the race of Heremon.
some vestige of that name.                  Lagisia, Lesia, or Leix, an extensive terHy-Failge,~ or Offaly, otherwise Douhy- ritory in the Queen's county, including the
Faily, that is, the patrimony of Failge, an baronies of Maryborough, otherwise Porteextensive territory, including part of the loise, Cullinagh, and other tracts of land
King and Queen's county and that of Kil- which formerly belonged to the O'Mordhas,
dare, bounded on the west and south by (in English, Moor,) of the race of Ir, by
Kinalyach, Fearcall, Hy-Regan, and Clen- Rory the Great, Connal-Kearnach, and his
malire, on the north and east by part of the son Laoiseach-Kean-More.
county of Meath, the barony of Carbury,   O'Moerough, a maritime territory in the
and the great bog of Allen, and comprised county of Wexford, in the barony of Bebpart of the county Kildare, towards the river laghkeen, commonly called the Murrowes,
Liffey.  This territory belonged to a tribe forming part of Hy-Kinseallagh, the ancient
of the O'Connors-Faly, of the race of Cahire- patrimony of the O'Murchudas, otherwise
More, by his son Rossa Failge, from the O'Murphys.
second till the last century, and was divided   Osraigh, or Ossory,t an extensive terriinto several fiefs; part of it still remains in tory in the Queen's county, now a barony,
the county of Kildare, erected into a barony belonged to the Mac-Giolla-Phadruigs, or
under the name of O'Phaly.               Fitzpatricks, descendants of Heremon,J by
Hy-Kinseallagh, a territory comprising a the monarch Ugane-More, Breasal-Breac,
considerable part of the county of Wexford, and ]Engus Ossory, the first of that race
from the Barrow to the river Slaney, and who settled in this territory in the first cenfrom thence towards the east.  This terri- tury.~
tory formerly belonged to the O'Kinseal-   Ranilough, also called Colconnel, or the
laghs, the Murchedas, (O'Murphy,) and the country of Fiagh-Mac-Hughs,ll a territory in
O'Dowlings, of the royal race of Cahire- the western part of the county of Wicklow,
More, by his son Fiacha-Baikeada.        belonging  to  different branches of the
Hy-Mairche,ll or O'Mairche, a territory in O'Birnes of the race of Cahire-More, by
the Queen's county, at present the barony his son Fiacha-Baikeada.
of Slieve-Margie, on the river Barrow,   Feargualuin, the patrimony of the O'Cosbounding the counties of Kilkenny, Carlow, craidhs.
and Kildare, the patrimony of the Mac-   Fingall, a country in the county of DubGormans, of the race of Cahire-More, by lin, in the possession of a colony of Danes
his son Dair-Barrach.                    before the twelfth century.
Hy-Regan, or O'Regan, a territory in the
Queen's county, now the barony of Tine-                IN MUNSTER.
hinch, the patrimony of the O'Duinns~[ of
the race of Heremon, by the monarch Ca-   Aradh-Cliach, a territory north-east of
Limerick, probably the half-barony of Arra,
* Keat. Geneal. of O'Carrol.
t Ogyg. part 3, c. 68, et 87.           * Walsh, page 287.
t Idem. c. 59.                         t Keat. on the reign of Cahire-More.
~ Idem. c. 59.                          t Idem. Geneal. of the Mac-Murroughs.
11 Grat. Luc. c. 3, et c. 26, page 242.  ~ Ogyg. part 3, c. 27.' Ogyg. part 3, c. 59.               1I A. M. 3700.




132                          HISTORY OF IRELAND,
in the county of Tipperary, belonged to a   Hy-Kierin, or Ikerin, a territory, now a
lbranch of the O'Briens, of the tribe of the barony in the county of Tipperary, bounded
Dal-Caiss.                              on the west by Upper Ormond, on the south
Beare, a territory in the western part of by the barony of Eliogurty, and north and
the county of Cork, now forms part of the east by the King and Queen's county, bebaronies of Beare and Bantry, the domain longed to the O'Meaghairs, of the race of
of O'Sullivan-Beare, of the race of Oilioll- Heber, by Kiann, son of Oilioll-Olum.
Olum, by his son Eogan-More.              Ivreagh, a territory, now a barony in the
Carbury, a territory in the southern part county of Kerry, the domain of the Macof the county of Cork, now the baronies of Cartys-More, chief of the Eoganachts.
east and west Carbury, the patrimony of   Kierrigia-Luachra, or Ciaruidh, a territhe Macartys-Riaghs, divided into several tory, comprising a great part of the county
branches, and descendants of Oilioll-Olum, of Kerry, the patrimony of the O'Connorsby his son Eogan-More; the O'Donavans, Kerry, descended from Ir, by the monarch
a branch of the Mac-Cartys, had extensive Rory the Great, and his grandson Feargua
possessions in the neighborhood of Ross.  Roigh, and Maude, queen of Connaught.
Coillnemanagh, now the barony of Kill-   Kinel Meaky, now a barony in the county
nemanna,* in the county of Tipperary, the of Cork, the patrimony of the O'Mahonys,
domain of the O'Dwyers, of the race of He- a branch of the Mac-Cartys.
remon, by Ugane-More and Breasal-Breac.   Muscraighe,' an extensive territory in the
Corco Baskin, a territory in the county county of Cork, now the baronies of Musof Clare, now the barony of Moyarta,t the kerry, Barrymore, and other dynasties,
patrimony of the Mac-Cartys, a branch of which belonged for more than two thousand
the Dal-Caiss.                          years to different families of the Mac-CarCorcumruaidhe, now the baronies of Cor- tys,* the descendants of Oilioll-Olum, by his
cumroe and Surrin,t in the county of Clare; son Eogan: this territory comprised seveits ancient proprietors were the O'Connors ral smaller ones, as Muscrighe-Breoguin,
and O'Loghlins, of the race of Ir, by Fer- Muscrighe-Mitine, &c.
gus-Roigh, and Maude queen of Connaught.   Muscraighe-Thire, a territory in the counDesie, or Nan-Desie, now a barony in the ty of Tipperary, now the baronies of Upper
county of Waterford, the ancient patrimony and Lower Ormond, the ancient patrimony
of the O'Faolans, otherwise Phelans, of the of the O'Kennedys, of the race of Oiliollrace of Heremon.  Some ancient authors Olumn, by his son Cormac-Cas.
describe this country as being more exten-   Oneagh, a territory, now the barony of
sive, and divide it into Desie-Tuasgirt, that Owny, in the county of Tipperary, the patis, northern Deasie, including all those rinony of the O'Moel-Ryans, of the race of
plains which extend from the river Suire Cahire-More, by his son Fiacha-Baikeada.
and Clonmel, by Cashel, towards Thurles,   Poble-Hy-Brien, a territory, now a barony
and Desie-Discerat, or Southern-Desie, ex- in the county of Limnerick, belonging to diftending from the river Suir, on the south, ferent branches of the O'Briens.
as far as the sea, and comprising the entire   Thuomond, or Towoin-Hy-Brien, which
county of Waterford.                    comprised a large portion of the counties of
Douhallow, a territory, at present a bar- Limerick and Clare, the patrimony of the
ony in the county of Cork, the patrimony O'Briens, chiefs of the Dal-Caiss.
of the O'Keefs, a branch of the Mac-Cartys.,)]    Aghadeo, a territory in the county
Dunkeron, now a barony in the county of of Kerry, near Lake Lene, the ancient patKerry, the domain of the O'Sullivans-More rimony of the O'Connels.
of the race of Oilioll-Olum, by his son Eo-   Balli-Mac-Eligod, and other lands in the
gan-More.~                              barony of Truchanacmy, in the county of
Hy-Fogarta, a territory, now the barony Kerry, the patrimony of the ancient family
of Eliogurty, in the county of Tipperary, of the Mac-Eligods.
the patrimony of the O'Fogarthys, or O'Fo-   Cloinifernain, a territory of Thuomond,
gartaidh, a branch of the tribe of the Eogan- the patrimony of the O'Cuinns, of the race
-achts.ll                                of the Dal-Caiss.
Corca-Eathrach, a territory in the county
X Ogyg. part 3, c. 51.                of Tipperary, which includes the city of
t Ogyg: part 3, c. 46.                Cashil.
$ Grat. Luc. c. 3.
~ Hist. Cath. Hiber. Compend. tome 3, lib. 1,  * Ogyg. part 3, p. 68.,c. 2.                                           Keat. Geneal. et Ogyg. c. 46.
Ii Grat. Luc. page 28.                         A. M. 3950, B. C. 50.




DIFFERENT DIVISIONS OF IRELAND.                    133
CoTcaoichaidh, the patrimony  of the present the county of Leitrim, was the patO'Scanlans, of the race of the Eoganachts. rimony of the O'Rourkes, a branch of the
Eoganacht, a territory in the county of Hy-Brunes.  This territory, like that of the
Tipp eary, between Cashil and Thurles.  It O'Reillys, is known in ancient histories by
was so called from Eogan, eldest son of the names of Brenny-O'Rourke, and BrennyOilioll-Olum, to whose descendants it be- O'Reilly; part of Annally, the country of
longed.  There were six other territories the O'Ferrals, was also called Brenny.
of this name in Ireland, but their situation   Calruidhe, or Calrigia.  There were sevis unknown.                             eral districts of this name in Connaught,
Fera-Muigh-Fene,  a territory in the coun- the precisre situation of which is not knowAn,
ty of Co3rk, now the barony of Fermoy.    as, Calrigia-Luirc, Calrigia-ArAnchala,  Cal]linn, and other -territories in the envi- rigia-Inse-Nisc.  There was also Calrigia
rons of Lake Lene, the ancient patrimony on the borders of Lough-Gill, forming a
of the O'Donoghoes, of the tribe of Eogan- part of the barony of Carbury, in the county
achts.                                  of Sligo, and Calrigia-Muighe-Murisk, in
Hy-Conuali-Gaura, also called Fearmore, the barony of Tyrawly, in the county of'
a territory in the county of Limerick, in the Mayo.
barony of Conniloe.                       Clan-Fergail, an ancient territory on the
Hy-Finginte, a territory comprising part borders of Lough - Corrib, now the barony of
of the baronies of Connilloe in the county Clare, in the county of Galway, in which
of Limerick, and Iraghticonnor and Clan- the town of Galway is situated: this disMorris in the county of Kerry.          trict belonged to the O'Hallorans, a branch
Hy-Liathain, a maritime territory in the of the Hy-Brunes., southern part of the county of Waterford,   Cloin-Moelruan, also called Slive-Hyin the, barony of Desie.      -Flion, a territory inthe barony of DuneImocuille, a territory, at present the bar- more, in the county of Galway, extending 
ony of Imo-Killy, in the county of Cork.  into the county of Roscomamon, the patri- 
Muighaghair, a territory in Thuomond, mony of the O'Flyns, a branch of the tribe
the patrimony of the Mac-Con-Maras, or of the Hy-Brunes.
Macnemara, of the race of the Dal-Caiss.   Conmacne, otherwise Muinter-Eolas, in
Keating calls them the Macnemaras of Ross- the county of Leitrim, a territory belonging
Ruadh, and Sioll-2Eda.                 to the Magranuills, or Ranalds, who were
Mus-cri-Mithaine, a territory which be- descendants of IT, by  Feargus-Roigh.*
longed to the O'Donnogains, the O'Cule- There are many other districts of this name
namins, and the O'Floinns.              in Connaught, as Conmacne of Kinel-DubO'Flaithry, the patrimony of the O'Ca- hain, or Conmacne of Dun-Mor, at present
thails or Cahill.                       the barony of Donamore, in the county of i
O'Gearny, the patrimony of the O'Kear- Galway: the principal town is Tuamn, which
naidhs, otherwise O'Kearny, of the race of is an archbishopric.
Dal-Caiss.                                Conmaene-Mhara, in the county of GalOnachach, or Poble-Hy-Callaghan, in way, now the barony of Ballinahinch: and 
the county of Cork, the patrimony of the Conmacne-Cuiltola, the barony of Kilmain,
OIKeallachains, or Callaghan, a branch of in the county of Mayo.
the tribe of the Eoganachts.              Coolavin, at present a barony in the
Ormond; see Muscraighe-Thire.         county of Sligo, forming part of ancient
Oweney-Hoiffernan, a territory in the Coranne, which has been since the fourth
county of Limerick, the patrimony of the century the patrimony of the O'Garas, of
Hiffernans, of the tribe of the Dal-Caiss.*  the race of Heber, by Kiann, son of OiliollOlum, king of Munster.jIN CONNaAUSHT.                Coranne, a territory, now a barony in the
county of Sligo, the patrimony of the MacAidhne, a territory in the southern part Donoghs, of the race of the Hy-Brunes.4
of the county of Galway, now the barony of   Corcaehlann, a territory in the northern
Killtartan, the patrimony of the O'Seagh- part of the county of Roscommon, an annassys, of the race of the Hy-Fiachras, by
Dathy, monarch of the island in the beginning of the fifth century.
Breifne, Brifnia, or western Brenny, at  t Ibid. cap. 95.
t Keat. Geneal. of O'Connor Roe. Ogyg. part
* Grat. Luc. e. 3.         3, cap. 69.




134                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
cient patrimony of the O'Hanlys and O'Broe- an extensive territory including the baronies
nans, a branch of the Hy-Brunes.*       of Roscommon and Ballintobber, under the
Dartry, or Dartrigia, a territory in the dominion of the O'Connors-Don, chiefs of
barony of Carbury, near Lough-Gill in the Hy-Brunes and Clan-Murrays, of the
the county of Sligo, formerly the patri- race of Heremon, by Eocha-Moy-Veagon,
mony of the Maglanchys, of the race of and his son Brian.
Ith.t                                     O'Fiochrache, a territory in western
Deabna-Feadha, now the barony of Moy- Breifny, the patrimony of the O'Dubhas,
cullin, in the country called Tir-Da-Loch, otherwise O'Dowd, of the race of Hyfrom its being situated between two lakes, Fiachras.*
namely, Lough-Corrib on the north, and   Partry-Kiara, or Partry-on-Loch, someLough-Lurghan, or the bay of Galway, on times called Couilleagh, a territory in the
the south. This territory belonged anciently county of Galway, at present the barony of
to the posterity of Gnomer and Gnobeg, of Kilmain, the patrimony of the Mac-Allins,
the tribe of Dal-Caiss, from whom are de- by corruption Mac-Nally, of the race of Ith,
scended the Mac-Conrys; and since the by Lugha-Mac-Conn, monarch of Ireland
ninth century to the O'Flahertys, a branch in the third century, and his son Fahaof the Hy-Brunes.                       Canan, chief of the Mac-Allins and MacHy-Maine,t or Mainech, a territory in the Cambels of Argyle in Scotland, of whom
county of Galway, and patrimony of the they are a branch.
O'Kellys, otherwise O'Ceallaighs, of the   Siolanamchad, or Silanchie, a territory in
race of Heremon, by  Colla-De-Crioch. the county of Galway, at present the barony
This territory was so called after Maine- of Longford, on the banks of the Shannon,
More, from  whom  the O'Kellys are de- and patrimony of the O'Madagains, or Madscended, and who was the first of that tribe dins, of the race of Heremon by Colla-dawho settled there towards the end of the Crioch.
fifth century; his descendants extended   Siol-Murray, a territory in the environs
their conquests beyond the river Suck, in of Sligoe; it includes a considerable part
the county of Roscommon, and were di- of the barony of Carbury, formerly called
vided into several branches, the chief of Crioch-Carbury, the patrimony of O'Conwhich was O'Kelly of Aughrim, who lost nor-Sligoe, a younger branch of the O'Conhis possessions.                        nors-Don, divided in the person of BrienHy-Malia, Umalie,~ a territory southeast Laighneach, son of Tourlough-More, and
of the county of Mayo; it included the brother of Cahal-Crob-Dearg.
barony of Morisk and part of Carragh, the   Tir-Amalgaid, an ancient territory now
patrimony of the O'Maileys, a branch of the the barony of Tirawly, in the county of
tribe of the Hy-Brunes.                 Mayo, and patrimony of the O'Haras, of
Hy-Onach, a district in the county of the race of Oilioll-Olum, by his son Kiann.
Roscommon, comprising Elphin; it ancient-   IT Cloincathail,t a territory on the
ly belonged to the eldest branch of the Hy- frontiers of Roscommon and Sligoe, near
Brunes.                                 Elphin, and patrimony of the O'Flanaghans,
Luigne, a district in the county of Sligo, a branch of the Hy-Brunes.
at present the barony of Leny, forming part  Cloinfearumoigh, a territory in western
of ancient Coranne, and patrimony of the Breifny, the patrimony of the Maccagadons,
O'Haras, of the race of Oilioll-Olum, by his or Mac-Eogans, of the race of Colla-dason Kiann.ll                            Crioch; another branch of his name had
Moy-Lurg, a territory in the county of possessions in northern Clan-Diarmada.
Roscommon, on the right bank of the river   Cloinmbrassail, a territory, and patrimony
Shannon, at present the barony of Boyle, of the O'Donnelans, a branch of the Hyand patrimony of the Mac-Diarmuids, or Brunes.
Macdermots, a branch of the Hy-Brunes,   Cloinuadach, a territory and patrimony
who were subdivided into several branches. of the O'Fallumhoins, or O'Fallons, of the
Moy-Noy, or Maghery-Connoght, called race of the Hy-Brunes.
"Planities Connachtiae," by O'Sullivan,    Coranne, an extensive territory in the
county of Mayo, including Galang, at pres* Ogyg. part 3, cap. 79.              ent the barony of Galang in the same
t Ibid. cap. 76.
t Ibid. cap. 76.
~ Ibid. 79.
Idem. cap. 69.                                   * Grat. Luc. c. a
~ Hist. Hibern. Compend. tom. 3, lib. 1, c. 1.     t Ibidem.




DIFFERENT DIVISIONS OF IRELAND.                      135
county, with the baronies of Lugne, Leny, the barony of Moy-Cullin.  See Dealbnaand Coranne, in the county of Sligoe.   Feadha.
Deabhna-Nuadhat, a territory in the   Tirm-Bruin; see IFy-Bruin-Sinna.
county of Roscommon, between the rivers
Shannon and Suck, forming the baronies of              IN MEATH.
Athlone and Moycarme.
Dunamon, a territory in the barony of   Clan-Colman, a principality in Meath, on
Ballymoe, in the county of Galway, ex- the left bank of the river Boyne,* extending
tending towards Glinsk, the patrimony of as far as Taylton; it belonged to the
the O'Finaghtys of the race of the Hy- O'Moelsachluins, or O'Maoleachluins, of
Brunes.                                 the race of Conal-Creamthine, son  of
Gregagie, a territory in the county of Niall the Great. The eldest sons of this
Sligoe, on the border of lake Techet, other- illustrious tribe were styled kings of Meath,
wise Lough-Gara, comprising the barony of and frequently succeeded to the monarchy.
Coolavin.                                  Crioch-Leogaire, or Hy-Leogar,t an exHybh-Sen, or Hy-Orbsen, a territory in tensive territory on the banks of the river
the county of Galway, on the borders of Boyne, which extended from  Belatruim
Lough-Corrib, or Lough-Orbsen, extend- (Trim) to Tara, and belonged to the deing into the baronies of Moy-Cullen and scendants of Laogare, monarch of Ireland
Glare.                                  in the time of St. Patrick, the chiefs;:of
Hy-Bruin-Ratha, a territory in the county whom were the O'Caoindealvains, or Kinof Galway, in the barony of Athenry.    dellans.
Hy-Bruin-Sinna, a territory in the county   Cuircne,t or Machair-Cuirckny, a terof Roscommon, formerly called Tirmbruin. ritory in Westmeath, now the barony of
Hy-Fiachria-Aidhne, a territory in the Kilkenny-West, and  patrimony  of the
county of Mayo, on the river Moy, near O'Tolargs.
Killala, now the barony of Erris, belonged - Dealbna, or Delvin,~ (so called from
formerly to a tribe of the Firbolgs, and Dealbhaodh, of the race of Heber, and
since divided into dynasties, which were in tribe of the Dalcaiss, whose posterity inthe possession of other families.       habited these parts of the country,) a terIrrosdomhnon, a territory in the county of ritory, now a barony in Westmeath, the
Mayo.                                   ancient patrimony of the O'Finellans, who
Ivediarmada, the patrimony of the O'Con- were dispossessed under Henry II., in the
chanains, of the race of the Hy-Brunes.  twelfth century.
Kierrigie-Ai, a territory in the county of   Dealbna-Eathra, an extensive territory,
Roscommon, afterwards called Clan-Ke- now in the King's county, extending from
theren.                                 Banaghir as far as the frontiers of WestKierrige of Lough-Nairn, a territory in meath, the patrimony of the Mac-Coghlans,
the county of Mayo, now the barony of Cos- of the tribe of the Calcaiss, who were subtelo, the country of the Mac-Costelos; this divided into several branches.
territory is sometimes called the barony of   Fearcall, a territory, formerly in Meath,
Belahaunes.                             at present in the King's county, including
Kinel-Cairbre, a territory in the county of the baronies of Bally-Cowan and Bally-boy,
Sligoe, now the barony of Carbury, extend- and belonged since the fifteenth century to
ing towards Lough-Gill.                 the O'Molloys, of the race of Heremon, by
Moenmoye, an ancient and extensive ter- Nioll-Noygiallach, and his son Fiacha, who
ritory in the county of Galway, since called were subdivided into many other branches.
Clanricard, including the six baronies of   Fertullagh, a territory, now a barony in
Clare,  Dunkellin,  Loughrea, Killartan, Westmeath, the ancient patrimony of the
Athenry and Leitrim.                    O'Dubhlaidhs, or O'Dowlys, of the race of
Muinter-Eolas; see Conmacne,         IHeremon. 1
Partry, a territory in the county of Mayo,   Hy-Machvais, Hy-Macvais, a territory on
now the barony of Carra, belonged to the the river Inny, in Westmeath, now the barShoyaghs, (Joice,) and other families.  ony of Moy-Goish, the ancient patrimony
Teallachindumhe, a territory in western
Brefny, and patrimony of the Mactieghernains, or Mac-Kiernans, of the race of the    * Keat. Geneal. Grat. Luc. c. 3.
t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 85.
Hy-Brtwo launes. i the county of Galway, now  IdeGrat. cap. 81.
Tir-da-Loch, a territory situated between  ~ Idem. cap. 81,
two lakes in the county of Galway, now       I1 Grat. Luc. page U5.




136                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
of the Mac-Vais, or Mac-Voys, of the race a large territory, extending from Duleek to
of Collavais.*                           the river Liffey: it was also called, on
Kinel-Enda, or Kineal-Aodha, a territory account of its situation and beauty, Moyin Westmeath, in the barony of Rathcou- Breagh, which signifies "beautiful field."
rath, at the foot of the hill of Usneach, or This territory belonged to the Keniads, deUsny, and patrimony of the O'Broenans, scendants of Kiann, son of OiliolI-Olulm,
of the race of Enna, son of Niall-Noygi- king of Munster.
allach.f                                    Luighnie, the patrimony of the O'Bruins.
Kinel-Fiacha, by corruption Kinalyagagh,   Moynalta, the patrimony of the Biataghs,
signifying the children or race of Fiacha, believed to be a noble and ancient family of
an extensive territory in Westmeath,f which Danish extraction.
includes, besides the.barony of Moycashel,   Those principalities and dynasties which
part of those of Raconrath, Mulingar, and are now changed into counties and baronies,
Fertullach. This territory was divided into still retain some vestiges of their ancient
several fiefs, and belonged since the fifth names; they belonged to the same families
century to the different branches of the from the first ages of Christianity. Their
Mac-Eochagains, or Mac-Geoghegans, of possession was first interrupted about the
the race of Fiacha, son of the monarch end of the twelfth century by a colony of
Niall-Noygiallach.  The chief of this tribe English, who usurped the properties of
is, Mac-Geoghegan of Moycashel.  The several of the ancient proprietors, particufiefs belonging to the different branches are larly in the provinces of Leinster, MuRster,
Donore, Castletown, Sionan, Newtown, and Meath. Many others were dispossessed
Drommore, Lochanleonact, Larrah, Lou- in the different provinces, in the reigns of
hertan, Ballycommine, Couletor, &c.      Elizabeth and James I.; but under the
Teffia, or Teamhfna,~ an extensive ter- tyranny of Cromwell and the Prince of
ritory, including, with half of Westmeath, Orange, the plunder was almost universal.
nearly the whole county of Longford; it However, notwithstanding these  several
contains several small territories, namely, revolutions, notwithstanding the repeated
Caleroy and Muinter-Hagan, now the bar- snares that have been so artfully laid to
ony of Kilcourcey, the  country of the force them to rebel, and thereby furnish a
O'Sionachs, otherwise Fox, Mac-Hagains, pretext for confiscating their properties,
MagawIys, &c.  Bregmuin and Cuircne, there are still many ancient proprietors who
now the baronies of Brawney and Kilkenny- enjoy the inheritance of their ancestors by
West.  Those territories belonged to the an uninterrupted possession of ten, twelve,
descendants of Maine, one of the sons of fifteen, and eighteen centuries; a possession
Niall the Great.  Teamhfna, in the county which, for duration, has few examples in the
of Longford, was divided into northern and other nations of Europe.
southern; northern Teamhfna, also called   The nobility of the Irish cannot appear
Carbre-Gaura, included the environs of doubtful to those who take the trouble of
Granard: southern  Teamhfna was near comparing this length of possession, with
Ardagh, an episcopal see.                what is said in the critical essay on their
)U'Bregia or Breagh, and Bregmagia, antiquity and traditions.  Genealogists ditwo territories in Meath, the former near vide nobility into three classes; the first is
Tara, the latter in the environs of Athruim. that of knighthood, the origin of which
Broghe, the patrimony of the O'Mulledys. cannot be' ascertained; the second, though
Corcaduin, the patrimony of the O'Dalys, ancient, may still be traced to its commencein Irish, Sioll-Ndala.ll                 ment; and the third, a new nobility, which
Dealbna-Teanmoy, a territory in Meath. has not yet numbered three generations.
Desies, now the barony of Deece.       Nobility is one of those things not, easily
Fearbile, a territory, now a barony in defined; however, it manifests itself by the
Westmeath, the patrimony of the O'Han- prerogatives which it confers; it is looked
biths.                                   upon by some as a mere chimera, and by
Finfochla, the patrimony of the O'Ru- others in an opposite light.  Juvenal, a
adhrys.                                  pagan writer, says it consists  in virtue
Kiennachta-Bregh, or Kiennachta-Ard,~ alone: "Nobilitas sola est atque unica
virtus."  Whatever be the origin and nature
* Ogyg. part 3, cap. 76.               of nobility, it tends to establish subordinat Idem. cap. 85.                       tion in the state,, and distinction of rank in
t Keat. Geneal. Ogyg.part3, cap. 85.   society, by selecting from  the crowd a
I Ogyg. part 9, c. 85.  IT Ibid. cap. 68.  certain number of men, who are raised




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CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            137
above others, and invested with preroga- light as their ancestors; and, provided they
tives. Nobility was not, in ancient times, can prove the purity of their blood, and
as it now is, founded on letters patent: ac- regular descent from  the chiefs of their
cording to the'general opinion of men, a houses, I see no reason why they should
long possession of lands and lordships con- be excluded from the privileges of nobility,
stituted nobility, as they thereby acquired any more than others of the -same blood,
certain subjects whom they called vassals. more favored by fortune, and who have preA family which has for several centuries served their properties.  In the latter part
kept possession of the same lands, and of this history I shall enlarge upon this
maintained itself in a certain degree of subject, when there will be an occasion to
rank, without contracting any degrading al- speak of many illustrious families, originally
liance, and of whose ancestors are recorded from England, and who are well deserving
a long succession of those virtuous actions the title of ancient nobility.
which attract the attention of mankindsuch a family, I say, deserves to be placed
in the first class of nobility, and should be
considered as such, in every nation in the
world.
The constitution and first establishment  CHRISTIAN  IRELAND.
of the Irish nation, were of a nature to give
rise to nobles of the above description.                PART II.
We have already seen, in the preceding part
of this history, and in the beginning of this
chapter, that the children of Milesius had            CHAPTER IX.
formed tribes, of which they were the chiefs,
by the division they made of the island be-   THE throne of Ireland being vacated by
tween them.  According as the population the death of Dathy, the last pagan monarch
increased, the tribes were multiplied, and in of this island, as we have observed in the
time divided into many branches. The last, sixth chapter of the first part of this history,
and most permanent division of those tribes the sceptre returned to the family of Niall,
into dynasties, which has lasted to the pre- surnamed Noygiallach, in the person of his
sent time, took place in the third, fourth, son Laogare, who began his reign in 428,
and fifth centuries.  The names of the and continued in it, except in one instance,
dynasties, and those to whom they belonged from that, period until the eleventh century.
in the fifth century, are mentioned by the   Though we have seen, in the first part,'
historians of the country, and the different that there were Christians in Ireland in the
authors of the life of St. Patrick, when first century, and long before the mission
speaking of his apostleship in Ireland.  of St. Patrick; that, independent of CorEach of those tribes or dynasties had mac-Ulfada, monarch of this island in the
its chief, who was either the eldest of the third century, whose piety and religion had
tribe, or the most capable of governing it; rendered him odious to the pagans, several
and the collateral branches who possessed had left their native country on hearing of
lands and fiefs, acknowledged his authority. the Christian name; and that having become
Though divided into different bodies, like perfect in the knowledge of the evangelical
the Israelites, they never forgot their com- doctrine, and the discipline of the Church,
mon origin: they were all more or less some had preached the gospel in the difnearly allied in affinity, and by intermarry- ferent pagan countries in Europe; others,
ing they all enjoyed a mutual inheritance; filled with zeal for the salvation of their
so that unless the whole tribe were extinct, fellow-citizens, had successfully expounded
there was always a legitimate heir to the to them the word of God; still the nation
dynasty; on which account those great was not yet considered as converted: this
families were never confounded one with grace was reserved for the reign of Laogare,
the other.  Though several of those ancient and the pontificate of St. Celestine I. This
proprietors were deprived of their posses- great pope, seeing the pious inclination of
sions in the last century, on account of their those people,* and the success of private
religious zeal, and their fidelity to their le- missionaries among them, thought of sendgitimate princes, and consequently have ing them an apostle invested with full aufallen from that ancient splendor which can
only be supported by riches, they are still  * Usser. Primord. Eccles. Brit. cap. 16, page
looked upon in the country in the same 797, et seq.
18




i 1 38                         HISTORY OF IRELAND.
thority to complete a work so happily be- himself on the year 431, by saying that St.
gun.*                                      Palladius had been sent to Ireland.
The first whom he sent to Ireland, with   We need only read the sixth and seventh
all power requisite for his mission, was Pal- chapters of the first part of this history, to
ladius, an archdeacon of the Roman Church, discover the error of those authors, in which
who, having been ordained bishop, or rather it has been proved that the Scots had no
archbishop of all Ireland, set out, accom- fixed dwelling, or any monarchy founded in
panied by twelve -missionaries, all equally Britain, before the beginning of the sixth
inspired with the apostolical spirit, and pro- century, and that the terms Scots and Irish
vided with several volumes of the Old and were synonymous till the eleventh.
New  Testament, and some relics of the   We may, however, mention here the auapostles St. Peter and Paul, and of some thority of St. Prosper, whom I have already
other martyrs.  On landing in the province quoted, as he expressly speaks of the misof Leinster, he began his mission by preach- sion of St. Palladius.  This father, when
ing the faith of Jesus Christ; but he was praising the zeal of Pope St. Celestine for
badly received by the pagans.  Jocelin the conversion of the British Isles, says,
quotes a proverb, common in the country, that when he was endeavoring to preserve
signifying that " God did not reserve for the purity of the faith in the Roman Isle,
Palladius, but for Patrick, the conversion of he ordained a bishop for the Scots, and conIreland."  However, he baptized a few per- verted to Christianity that island which had
sons, and founded three churches, the first been barbarous.*  St. Prosper here menof which was called " Kill-Fine," the second, tions Palladius, as he says in his Chronicle,
"Teach-na-Romanach," or House of the that Pope Celestine had ordained him bishop
Romans, and the third, "Domnach-Arte." of the Scots who believed in Christ: " Ad
After a short mission of a few months, he Scotos in Christum  credentes ordinatur'a
was expelled from Ireland by Nathi, son of Papa Coelestino Palladius."  He also disGarchon, a prince of this country.  This tinguishes the island of Scots, which he
holy missionary withdrew into Britain, and calls barbarous, (a name given by the Rodied some time after at Fourdoun, in the mans to all those who were not under their
country of the Picts: others assert that he dominion,) from Britain, which he designates
suffered martyrdom in Ireland.             by the name of the Roman Isle. The island
The origin and country of St. Palladius of Scots, as mentioned by Prosper, can only
have been the subject of much disputation. refer, says Usher, to Scotia Major, that is,
John Sichard asserts that he was a native of Ireland, and by no means to Albania, which.Ireland; Anthony Possevin, in his Sacred was not at that time called Scotia, and is
Compendium, calls him  a Briton; Trithe- not an island, as it forms part of that of
mins, in his Catalogue of Ecclesiastical Great Britain.t
Writers, and others, copying after him,   Lastly, we may add, that as St. Patrick
affirm that he was by birth a Greek, con- succeeded St. Palladius in the same mission,
founding  him, probably, with Palladius, they both preached the gospel to the same
bishop of Helenopolis, in Bythinia, who people, namely, the Scots of Ireland.t
died before the year 431, the time of the   St. Prosper places the mission of St. Palmission of St. Palladius among the Scots. ladius in Ireland under the consulship of
However this be, there is another question Bassus and Antiochus; which corresponds
more interesting, as being more closely
connected with the object of this history,  * "With equal care he rescued from the same
namely, to know who were those Scots for distemper the British isles, when those who were
whom St. Palladius had received his mis- enemies to grace, and occupying the soil of their
sion.  The Scotch authors, namely, John birth, were shut out by that secluded part of the
Major, Boetius, Lesly, and Dempster, on ocean: a bishop being ordained for the Scots, while
the double acceptation of the name " Scot," he is eager to preserve the Roman isle Catholic, he
rendered that which was Christian, barbarous."
assert that he had been sent to the Scots   t c" And Prosper, distinguishing eloquently this
of Britain; in which account they are fol- island of the Soots from the Britains, must be neT
lowed by Polydore Virgil, the author of the cessarily understood to mean Scotia Major to be
English  Martyrology, and by Baronius in Ireland, and not the Minor Scotia, which is Albania, (which was not Scotland at that period, neither
his Annals on the year 429; but the latter, is it an island, but forms a part of Great Britain.")
after a more minute investigation, corrected -Usher's Church Hist. c. 16, p. 798.
t,, It is plain, that Palladius had been appointed
for the same Scots to whom Patrick had been af-'t Trias. Thaum. vit. S. Patr.   terwards sent."-Usher.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                              139
with the year 431 of the Christian era. The who embraced too many objects to succeed
venerable Bede fixes it in the eighth year of in all.  It is, besides, an incontestable fact,
the empire of Theodosius the younger.* that in those ages, which immediately sucBaronius says the date of the latter should ceeded the preaching of St. Patrick in Irebe corrected by thatof St. Prosper; he does land, that country was celebrated for its
not, however, observe, that Bede and Pros- knowledge in the sciences and literature.
per are in perfect accordance, as they count Therefore it is not probable they would have
the years of the reign of Theodosius from been so long without writing the annals and
the death of Honorius, which happened in lives of the saints of that people. The re423, as well as the elevation of Pope Celes- mark of Bollandus, that there were no lives
tine to the pontificate; while that celebrated of the saints of Ireland written before the
annalist (Baronius) dates from the time that twelfth century, is therefore highly incorrect.
those two emperors began their reign to- This learned author seems to confound some
gether.                                    copies taken from the original lives, in the
Bollandus and le Nain  de Tillemont twelfth century, in order to preserve them to
seem to doubt that there were Christians posterity, as well as the original ones; as if
in Ireland before St. Palladius.t  " The we were to say, that the life of St. Patrick
Irish," says Tillemont, "give the histories hadnot been written till the twelfth cenof several saints of their country, many of tury, because Jocelin, an English monk, had
whom  were bishops, and assert that they not taken extracts from every ancient life of
had preached the gospel in their country, that saint, written many ages before.
and converted many persons long before St.   Usher, continues Tillemont, desirous of
Patrick, even in the fourth century.  Usher supporting the historians of his country,*
quotes, continues he, many fragments of the among whom we discover many bishops sent
lives of those saints, in which can be easily to Ireland before St. Palladius, adduces, in
discovered several very improbable things. opposition to himself, St. Prosper, who says
We might judge far better of those lives, if that St. Palladius was the first sent there in
we had them complete; however, it suffices 431: he thinks to destroy, says he, this unthat Bollandus, who it appears has seen deniable authority, by remarking that the
them, affirms that none were composed word "primus" is not in the Duchesne edibefore the twelfth century, and that most tion. The above criticism is unjust; Tilleof them are by very fabulous authors."     mont suppresses the other explanations
The above is a severe, as well as an ill- which Usher gives of the word " primus,"
founded censure.  Bollandus, on account of which, according to him, signifies the first of
a few hyperbolical phrases used in the lives the two, namely, Palladius and Patrickwhom
of those saints, or some improbable facts, Pope Celestine sent to Ireland, with full
(the common result of the enthusiasm  of apostolic power as archbishop or primate
ancient  writers,)  without distinguishing of the whole island.t Besides, these words,
truth from  falsehood, saps the foundation "Ad Scotos in Christum  credentes ordinaof their history, which he treats of as fabu- tus ai Papa Ccelestino Palladius Episcopus
lous.  However, without injuring the repu- mittitur," used by St. Prosper in his chronitation which Bollandus has so deservedly cle on the year 431, and by Bede in the
acquired among the learned, Usher, who thirteenth chapter of the first book of his
quotes those fragments as respectable monu- Ecclesiastical History, evidently indicate
ments of antiquity, was as judicious a critic, that there were Christians in Ireland, and
and a much more competent judge in this consequently pastors, before the mission
matter, though he was of English extraction, of St. Palladius.  Bollandus himself acand of a different religion from  the saints knowledges it, as he says that St. Palladius
whose lives he quotes, (two things which had found in Ireland more Christians than
should remove all suspicion of prejudice on
his part:) having been born and educated
in Ireland, he had it better in his power to   * Notes sur S. Patrice.
see and judge, than Bollandus, a stranger,  t "But although four former bishops be mentioned
to have been ordained before the pontificate of Celestine, for the mission, it might appear that Pope'" In the year 423 of our redemption, Theo- Celestine appointed Palladius first bishop, and that
dosius the younger reigned for 27 years, in the Patrick had been sent the second, or primate to the
eighth year of whose reign Palladius was sent by Episcopal seat. So that, although our island had
Pope Celestine, as first bishop, to preach to the other bishops, still Palladius was the first archScots who believed in Christ."-Bede, b. 1, Church bishop, and Patrick the second." —Usher's Church
Hist. c. 13.                               Hist. c. 16, p. 800.
t M6moires, tom. 16, Vie de S. Patrice.




140                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
he made.*  There never was an instance, by himself, in which he gives an account of
says Colgan,t of the Roman Church specially his life and conversation, principally during
ordaining a bishop for any nation, or send- his youth, and commenced with these words:
ing a solemn mission to a country in which " Ego Patricius peccator."  Very few mirathe Christian religion was totally unknown. cles are recorded in it; several visions are
Lastly, it was not affirmed by Usher, nor mentioned by the saint himself, and he says
any other historian of the country, that Ire- that God frequently imparted to him, in a
land was converted before the time of St. very extraordinary manner, what he was to
Patrick. A kingdom is not considered to be do.*  We may also add, that in those visions
converted till the king and princes, and most which St. Patrick mentions having seen,
of the people, have received baptism; which there was nothing that was not grave, holy,
did not take place in Ireland till the time of and worthy of God. This volume, says Colthis apostle.  This did not prevent the con- gan, is to be found in the library of the monversion of some in different parts of the astery of Saint Vast, in Artois,t and also, acisland, by the private missionaries men- cording to Ware, in the library of Sarum,
tioned by Usher.                           or Salisbury, in England,t if it is the same
As soon as the death of St. Palladius was (which is most probable) that Colgan quotes
known at Rome, Pope St. Celestine thought under the title of " Patricius de vita et conof providing a successor to him.  The lot versatione sua;" the beginning, " Ego Pafell to Patrick, who being at that time at tricius peccator," &c. &c.,isthe sameinboth
Rome, was ordained bishop of Ireland by copies.
the pope, and was sent to this island invested   The subject of St. Patrick's letter to Cowith apostolic authority, and loaded with the rotic,~ was a cruel and barbarous action
benedictions of the holy father.  This pope committed by this tyrant, who reigned over
died a short time afterwards, and his suc- some canton in Wales.
cessor, St. Sixtus III., confirmed the mission   This petty prince, having made a descent
of St. Patrick, and associated with him upon Ireland during the festival of Easter,
other evangelical missionaries, to assist him. ravaged the canton where the saint then was,
Before we enter into a detail of the life and where he had just administered the holy
and mission of St. Patrick, we should here chrism to a great number of converts, that
examine the several histories written on this were still clothed in the white robes of their
subject.                                   baptism. Corotic, though a Christian, withThe number of histories which have been out the slightest regard for the sanctity of
composed on the life of St. Patrick, has, in the sacrament, massacred a great number,
a great measure, tended to darken the know- and carried off others, whom he sold to the
ledge we should have of the truth of what Picts.  The atrocity of this action roused
concerns him.  According to Usher, and the zeal of the saint to such a degree, that,
ancient monuments in the libraries of Oxford on the day after the massacre of those innoand Cambridge, there were sixty-three, or cent people, he sent a letter to Corotic, by
sixty-six.1  However, we must confine our- a holy priest whom he had brought up from
selves to the most genuine, and those which his infancy, and by some other ecclesiastics,
appear the most authentic, and least liable to request of him to restore the Christians
to contradiction; which are, the Confession whom he had carried into captivity, and a
of Saint Patrick, his letter to Corotic, and part, at least, of the booty.  However, the
his life, written by some of his disciples.  saint's letter not producing the desired effect
The Confession of St. Patrick was written on the mind of Corotic, and his answer proving unsatisfactory, he resolved to write a
second, in form of a circular, which he pub-, "Palladius thought it sufficient to have two of lished, instead of addressing it to Corotic,
his brethren, Sylvester and Solonius, to assist the lished, istead  of addressing it to Corotic,
few Christians whom he had found, and it is probable and it is that which has been preserved until
that he found more than he had made, on account our time. In this letter he complains loudly
of the short time he remained. After consecrating of the action of Corotic, and particularly of
three oratories for their use, he set sail waith his his having sold the Christians to infidels.
companions, and being driven by a storm (perhaps He declared to the church, that this tyrant,
by the Divine will) around North Britain, he landed
in the eastern part of the country of the Picts, and the other fratricides who had been acwhich he held, and died in it."-Bollandus in his complices in his crime, should be separated
Life of St. Patrick, p. 581.
t Triad. Thaum. Append. 5, cap. 15, pag. 250.    * Tillemont, Vie de Saint Patrice, art. 2.
At   ll the books which have been written on the   t Append. 4, part 3, de Script. Act. S. Patr.
life of St. Patrick are 66 or 63." —Usher, C. Hist.  t De Script. Hib. lib. 2, cap. 2.
e. 17, p. 816.                               ~ Tillemont, Vie de Saint Patrice.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                                141
from  him  and from  Jesus Christ, whose in Irish and partly in Latin, by his four
representative he was; that none should disciples, St. Benignus, his successor, St.
eat with them, nor receive their alms, until Mel, and St. Luman, bishops, and St. Patthey should have satisfied God by the tears rick, his godson.*
of true repentance, and restored to liberty the   St. Fiech, of the race of the monarch
faithful servants of Jesus Christ.  He de- Cahire-More, by Diare, surnamed Barrach,
dared that whosoever should hold converse was a disciple of St. Patrick, and bishop of
or communication with them, and flatter Sletty, formerly Slebte, in the barony of
them  in their sins, would be judged and Sliev-Margie, territory of Leis, now  the
condemned.by  God.  The  above is the Queen's county; he has left a hymn writexcommunication pronounced by St. Patrick ten in thirty-four stanzas, in the Irish lanagainst Corotic and those who were accom- guage, containing the most remarkable events
plices in his crime.                        of that apostle's life.  This hymn, and the
The Confession of St. Patrick, and his Latin translation, are in Colgan, among the
letter to Corotic, are quoted with praise by lives of St. Patrick, and should be rather
Usher, Bollandus,Ware, Colgan, and others.* considered a panegyric than a life of this
Those two productions bear the name of the saint.t
saint, who frequently speaks in them of him-   St. Kienan, of a noble family in Conself, and appear truly worthy of him. They naught,f or rather (says Colgan) of the
are both in the same style and character.  race of the Keniads, descendants of OiliollThe Confession is quoted by all the an- Olum, by his son Kiann, and lords of a tercient authors of his life, which proves, at ritory in Meath, called Kiennachta,~ having
least, that it is more ancient than they are; taken orders in the monastery of St. Martin,
and there seems to exist, throughout, a at Tours,it returned'to Ireland, and was
character of truth, which supports it, even nominated by St. Patrick bishop of Damhwere it not quoted by any author.  Cave liah, now Duleek, in the territory of Bregh,
himself admits that this confession, and the in Meath.  According to the calendar of
letter to Corotic, are ancient writings.f   Cashil, he wrote the life of St. Patrick,
The principal authors of the life of St. whose disciple he was.
Patrickt are, Saint Secundinus, or Seagh-   St. Evin, or Emmin,~ abbot of Ross,
lin, bishop  of Domnach-Sechnaild, now otherwise Ross-Mac-Treoin, adjoining the
Donseachlin, in Meath; he was a disciple of river Barrow, is thought to be the author of
the saint, and his nephew by his sister Da- the life of St. Patrick, written in Irish and
rerca;~ and composed a hymn in honor of Latin, divided into three parts, and called
his master, which may be seen in Colgan.ll by Colgan,** "Vita Tripartita Sancti PaSt. Loman, his disciple, and nephew by tricii."tt
his sister Tigrid, bishop of Athrum,T now    Saint Ultan, bishop of Ard-Brecain, in
Trim, in Meath; St. Mel, bishop of Ardach, Meath, and St. Tirechan, his successor in
his disciple and nephew also, brother of St.
Secundinus; and a second St. Patrick,**
to whom the saint gave his own name while   * "The greatest number of the books or tracts
holding him  over the baptismal font; all (which were 65) treating of the miracles which he
three wrote the acts of his life.  The last, wrought, were consumed by fire in the reign of
retired to the Gurmondus and Turgesius. Four books, however,
after the death of his uncle, retired to the which treat of his virtues and miracles, written
abbey of Glastonbury, or Glaston, in Somer- partly in Irish and partly in Latin, by St. Benignus
setshire in England, where he ended his his successor, St. Mel, bishop, St. Lomnanus, archdays.                                       bishop, and St. Patrick, his godson, who returned
Saint Benignus, (in the Irish language after the death of his uncle to Britain, where he
9  Bngs  i  h    i   lnugdied and was buried in the church of Glasconensis,
Binen, signifying gentle,)tt who succeeded with honor."-Jocelin, in his Life of St. Patrick.
St. Patrick in the see of Ardmach, is reck-   t Colg. Triad. prima Vita. page 4.
oned among the authors of his life.  Those   f Usser. Primord. page 1070.
four lives, says Jocelin, were written partly   ~ Idem. Ind. Chron.page 1108.
II Colg. Triad. Thaum. Append. 4, part 3, de
Script. Act. S. Patr.
* Tillemon. not. sur S. Patrice.   t Page 336.  ~1 Usser. Primord. cap. 17, et War. de Script.
I Usser. Primord. Eccles. Brit. cap. 17, pages 825 Hib. lib. 1, cap. 3.
et 826. -                                        Colg. Triad. Thaum. Append. 4, part 3.
~ War. de Script. Hib. fl Triad Thaum. App. 3.  tt St. Elvinus, influenced like St. Patrick, com~T Usser. Primord. c. 17, p. 816, seq.    piled in one book, written partly in Irish and partly
I   Usser. Ind. Chron. p. 1121.          in Latin, his history, any portion of which that I
tt Colg. Triad. Thaum. App. 4, p. 3, de Script. deemed worthy of posterity, I have carefully selectAct. S. Patrie.                             ed and introduced into this work.-Jocelin, c. 186.




142                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
that see,* wrote on the same subject in the thing has been written on St. Patrick except
seventh century; the latter left two books, his miracles, the most of which are highly
which were in the possession of Usher, and improbable, as well as many of those aswhich he quotes in pages 829, 835, 848, cribed to the other saints of Ireland.  In853, 887, and 889.                       deed, the history of his life written by
Usher, Ware, and others, make mention Jocelin contains several, some of which
of St. Aileran, surnamed the Wise, St. have little appearance of truth; it was the
Adamnam, abbot of Hy, St. Muccuthen, St. taste of the writers of those ancient times,
Colman, St. Kieran, surnamed the Pious, and we should not on that account reject
abbot of Belach-Duin, St. Ermead, bishop the groundwork of his history.
of Clogher, and St. Collait, a priest of   However, we ought not to doubt of his
Druim-Beilgeach, all of whom had written having performed many miracles that are
on the virtues and miracles of St. Patrick. true.  God had necessarily given him that
Nennius published in the ninth century a power, to convert an idolatrous nation. The
history of Great Britain, wherein he quotes difference between the twelfth and present
several facts alluding to the apostle of centuries is, that in the former and preceIreland.t                                ding ones, people were too credulous, and in
Probus, an Irishman, wrote in the same the latter have become quite the contrary;
century two books on the life of St. Patrick, both extremes are equally dangerous, and
dedicated to Paulinus.  Those books are to equally to be dreaded, one being the result
be met with in the third volume of the works of ignorance, the other of incredulity.
of Bede, without the name of the author:   The succeeding ages produced panewe discover his name, however, in the epi- gyrists on the virtues of that apostle.*  In
logue of the second book, by the following the thirteenth century, Vincent de Beauvais,
words: " Ecce habes, frater Pauline, a me in his Historical Memoir, notices in a sumhumili Probo, postulatum nostrae fraternita- mary manner, and in few words, the actions
tis indicium."  Usher, after Gabriel Pen- of St. Patrick.t
notus,] and Stanihurst,~ says that the works   In the fourteenth century, James de Voof those two authors, namely Nennius and ragine, bishop of Genoa, in his Golden LeProbus, are filled with absurd accounts, gend, and John of Tinemuth, an Englishand with things that are obviously untrue, man and Benedictine monk, in his book on
whether they emanated from themselves or the deeds of the saints of Great Britain and
have been added to their works by others. Ireland, the manuscript of which is preserved
The life of St. Patrick, written in Latin in the college of the Benedictines at Camin the twelfth century by Jocelin, a Cambro- bridge, speak of the memorable actions of
Britain and monk of Fumes, is, according that saint, as Stanihurst and William Tirto Usher, the most ample and correct that rey, bishop of Cork, have done in the last
has been published.ll  This author had fol- centuries.
lowed the other lives of St. Patrick which   Various opinions are entertained concernhad been written before his time; he had at ing the country which gave birth to St. Patleast seen some of them, as he quotes the rick.t Matthew of'Westminster, known by
four books of the four disciples of that the name of Florilegus, and Baronius, say he
saint, namely, of St. Benignus, St. Mel, St. isanativeofIreland, "natione Hibernensis:"
Luman, and St. Patrick, with that of St. Evin. Sigebert de Gemblours, the martyrologies
He composed his history, as he himself as- of Bede, Usuard, Rhabanus, Ado, and the
serts, at the solicitation of Thomas or To- Scotch writers, call him a Scot, "xvi. Kal.
multach O'Connor, archbishop of Ardmach, April, in Scotia natale S. Patricii."  But it
Malachi, bishop of Down, and John Courcy, is known that in the style of martyrologists,
prince of Ulidia, after those original lives, the day of a saint's death is considered to be
from which he extracted every thing that that of his birth, and that Ireland alone was
was worthy of being related.  Alford com- known by the name of Scotia in the time of
plains,~f says Tillemont, that scarcely any St. Patrick.  Lastly, others assert that he is
of a different origin.  However, according
War. de Script. Hib. lib. 1, cap. 3; et Colgan, to the most general, and at the same time
Triad. Thaum. Append. 4, part 3.         most probable opinion, he was a native of
t Usser. Primord. cap. 17, p. 819.     Great Britain.  He was born in a village
t Pennot. in Clericorum Canonic. Hist. lib. 2, c. which he himself calls, in his Confession,
35, sect. 4.
~ In Praefat. ad Vit. S. Patr.           * Colg. Triad. Thaum. Append. 4.!I Primord. cap. 57, page 816.           t Lib. 20, cap. 23, et seq.
l~ Alf. 430, sect. 2.; Usser. Prim. cap. 17, p. 820.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                                143
Banyaven," in the territory of Tabernia, "in years, and that his death happened in493:*
vico Banaven Tabernive," in the northern if we deduct 120 years, there remain 373,
extremity of Britain,t and, according to which is accounted the year of the birth of
Probus, not far from the western sea, "De that saint.  St. Patrick was of a respectable
vico Bannavae, Tiberniwe regionis, haud pro- family, as he himself observes in his epistle
cul a mare occidentali."t Jocelin interprets to Corotic, "'ingenuus fili secundum  carthe name of Tabernia by "Tabernaculorum  nem;"t his father was Calphurnius, a deacampus,"~ the field of the tabernacles or con, son of Potit, a priest, who had taken
tents, the Roman armies having been, ac- orders after the death of their wives:t
cording to him, encamped there. He also Conchessa, his mother, was sister or rather
adds, that the dwelling-place of Patrick's niece of Saint Martin of Tours.~  As Saint
father was Empthor, on the coast of the Martin was a native of Sabaria in Pannonia,
Irish sea. These topographical descriptions it is probable, says Usher, that his sister was
have made Usher fix the birthplace of St. from the same country, and had followed him
Patrick at Kirk-Patrick, or Kil-Patrick, so into Gaul, where she married Ochmuis, by
called from his name, between Alcuid, now whom she had, among other children, ConDumbriton, and Glasgow. This district was chessa; that the latter having been brought
also called at that time Valentia, by Count a captive into Britain, married Calphurnius,
Theol>osius, who had retaken it from the and became mother of our saint,1I Sanannus,
enemies of the Romans.l          [          the deacon, and five daughters, namely,
The error of those who say that St. Pat- Lupita, Tigris, Liemania, Darerca, and Cinrick was born in Scotland, arises from their nenum.~
not sufliciently discerning the periods of the   The apostle of Ireland was called at his
di-ferentt.changes of the frontiers of Britain baptism, Succath, signifyingwarlike, " fortis
and Scotland, nor observing that this terri- in bello;""' it was Pope Celestine that gave
tory, which in the time of St. Patrick formed him the name of Patricius.tt Patrician was
part of the Roman province, was long after a title of honor among the ancient Roannex ed to Scotland.[                      mans, and a dignity to which high privileges
The time of the birth and death of this were annexed, according to Dionysius of
saint, and the number of years he lived, are Halicarnassus:tt some ofthe kings of France
not less a subject of dispute than the country have not disdained to bear the title of Roman
which gave him birth.  William  of Malmnes- Patrician.~~
bury, Stanihurst, and others, after Probus,   The authors of the life of this saint, say
fix his birth in the year 361; Probus says thatheperformed some miracles in his youth.
that he lived 132 years, and died in 493; Fiech, his contemporary, makes no mention
Malimesbury fixes his death in 472, in the of them; he himself, in his Confession, attrin
llth year of his age: Henry of Marleburg butes his captivity to his ignorance of the
says he was born in 376, Jocelin in 370, and true God, and disobedience to his laws.  He
Florence of Worcester in 372.  The calcu- was, however, carefully brought up by his
lation of the latter is followed by Usher, parents; the mildness of his disposition and
who says he sees no reason to differ from it: purity of his morals, rendered him the admi" A quibus quare alii discesserint, justam  ration of all who knew him.
adhuc causa-n non videmus."**  Lastly, the   Patrick was in his sixteenth yeariljj when
most general opinion, which is in accordance brought a captive into Ireland and sold like
with Usher,tt is, that St. Patrick lived 120 a second Joseph.~[  The authors of his life
e Page 1.                                   * Colg. App. 5, ad Vit. S. Patr. c. 67.
t War. de Prasul-. Hib. Vit. S. Patr.       t Confess. page 1.
t Prob. Vit. Patr. lib. 1, c. 1.            I Usser. Primord. cap. 17, page 822.
~ Vit. S. Patr. cap. 1.                     ~ Jocelin, Vit. S. Patr. cap. 1.
WI " Whereas the native spot of St. Patrick, was  11 Usser. Primord. cap. 17, p. 824.
that part situate between the canmp called Dun-   I Scholia in primam Vit. S. Patr. apud Colgan,
Britannicum  and the city of Glascuensis, called note 5.
from his name Kirkpatrick, or, as at present, Kil-  -X*  Usser. Primord. c. 17, p. 821.
patrick. This remote part belonging to the Ro-  tt Ibid. page 841.
mans in the province of Britain, was called, four  It Antiq. Rom. lib. 2, cap. 2.
years before Patrick was born and recovered from   ~~ War. de Presul. Hib. Vit. S. Patr.
the enemy, Valentia, by Theodosius."-Usher's  II11 Confess. page 1.
Church Hist. c. 17, p. 819.                       t[ "This illustrious youth was in his 16th year
If Usser. Primord. cap. 17, p. 20.        when taken, with several of his countrymen, by
** Usser. Primord. page 823.              pirates, and was carried a prisoner into Ireland. He
tt Usser. Ibid. p. 879, ad. 887.          was there sold as a slave to one Milchon, who ruled




144                              HISTORY OF IRELAND.
are not in accordance concerning his cap- ful," he says, " to lead my flocks to pasture,
tivity; some say that St. Patrick, having and prayed frequently during the day: I
gone to Armoric Gaul, since called Lower always became strengthened in the belief,
Brittany, with his father, mother, brother, love, and fear of God, and prayed at least a
and five sisters, to visit the parents of his hundred times a day, and as often during the
mother Conchessa, was taken,* with his two night.  When I inhabited the forests and
sisters, Lupita and Tigrida, by some British mountains, I performed my prayers before
pirates, who brought them  prisoners into daylight, and never experienced, either in
Ireland;t others, with more appearance of frost, snow, or rain, that negligence which I
truth, say that the Romans having abandoned now feel, as I was then fired with the spirit
Britain, it became the prey of the Scots, and of God."*  In the beginning of the seventh
that Patrick was carried a captive to Ire- year of his slavery, he was warned inadream
land by robbers from  that country.t  WVe to prepare for his return; he accordingly
are induced by all these circumstances to made his escape fromthe house of his master,
fix the captivity of this saint in the reign of to whom he had been sold, and reached the
Niall the Great, surnamed Noygiollach. sea-shore, where there was a vessel ready
This monarch, as we have observed in the to sail.  The captain at first refused to take
first part of this history, having crossed the him on board, but, on consideration, he adsea with his army to.quell-some disturbances mitted him, and after a dangerous voyage of
which had arisen in Albania, between the three days they landed in Albania, now
Scots and Picts, and after laying Britain called Scotland. However, his fatigues were
waste in 388, embarked with his forces for not yet at an end; he had to perform  a
Armoric Gaul, from whence he brought con- journey of twenty-eight days through deserts
siderable booty, and some prisoners.  As and impassable roads, where he suffered
Patrick was, at the time of his captivity, severelybyfatigue, hunger, and thirst, before
entering upon his sixteenth year, which cor- he arrived in the territory of Tabernia, his
responds with the year 389, having been native country.  A. D. 396.  The authors of
born in 373, this period is in perfect unison his life mention his having fasted during
with the time of the expedition of Niall.  I twenty  days, and his having performed
do not pretend to decide whether he was several miracles to procure subsistence for
taken in Britain or in Armoric Gaul; but it his fellow-travellers.t  It is also said that
is a certain fact that he was carried to Ire- he underwent a second captivity, which
land, and sold to Milcho-Mac-Huanan, a lasted. but for two months.t
petty prince of Dalaradie in Ulster, who   After undergoing many dangers both by
gave him the care of his flocks, in a valley sea and land, Patrick arrived in his native
at the foot of a mountain, called in the lan- country, where he-was tenderly received by
guage of the country, Sliev-Mis; his two his parents.  Having remained some time
sisters were sold at the same time, in the with them, a man from Ireland appeared to
country then called Conaill-Muirthemne, at him in a dream. carrying a bundle of letters,
present the county of Louth.  Our saint, one of which he gave him to read, beginning
who was destined by Divine Providence to with those words: " Vox Hibernionacum,"
convey the light of the gospel into Ireland, the voice of the Irish.  While reading the
whichwas also called Scotia, was earlyquali- letter, he thought he heard the cries of the
fled for the fatigues of the apostleship, by inhabitants of the neighborhood of Foclut
the hardships of captivity; and allowed by forest, in the territory of Tiramalgaid, now
God to be a slave in a country which was the barony of Tirawly, in the county of
one dayto be delivered, through his ministry, Mayo, entreating him with one voice to go
from the bondage of Satan, by affording him to them; by which he was so much affected,
an opportunity of learning the language, and
becoming habituated to the customs of that:s "Every day I fed the flocks, and prayed frecountry.  In his Confession he gives an quently during the day; my loveof God increased
account of the use he made of his time, more and more, and my fear and faith in him were
during his captivity.Q "C I was always care- augmented, so that in one day I prayed almost a hundred times, and as often in the night: while I tarried
on the mountains and in the woods, I was roused to
in that district, the northern part of the island, in pray both in the snow, frost, and rain; neither did
the same manner as Joseph had been sold into I feel any pain from it nor lassitude, as I think,
Egypt."-Jocelin, c. 13.                     because my soul was then ardent." —Usher, c. 17,
* Vit. Tripart. S. Patr. 1, c. 16.        p. 830.
t Usser. Primord. c. 17, page 827, et seq.  t Vit. Tripart. S. Patr. apud Colgan.
t Baillet, Vie de St. Patrice, au 17 Mars.  t Jocelin, Vit. S. Patr. cap. 18; et Usser. Pri~ Vit. Tripart. S. Patr. apud Colgan.     mord. cap. 17, p. 832.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                               145
that he was unable to continue reading the St. Germainfi before he went to Tours: we
letter, whereupon he awoke.*                should either suppose that he had been under
Struck with this vision, which brought the discipline of St. Germain before he was
back to his remembrance his sojourn in Ire- made bishop, which is improbable, or that
land, Patrick secretly formed the design of he had not seen St. Martin, who died at least
returning thither, to labor for the conver- sixteen years before the episcopacy of St.
sion of those islanders. To prepare himself Germain.
to discharge so holy an undertaking, he   He lived at Auxerre for many years, under
resolved to leave his country, and seek in the discipline of that illustrious bishop, and
foreign countries the light and knowledge prepared himself, after the example of such
required for that apostleship, without being a master, for the ministry of the church,
influencedbythe repeated solicitations which and the attainment of every virtue of a true
his parents used to keep him at home.       pastor. A. D. 421.
At that time he was about twenty-three   The love of perfecting himself in the callyears of age, A. D. 396.  He went first to the ingof a religious life which he had embraced,
monastery of Marmoutiers, which was built influenced him to retire into the monastery
near Tours, by St. Martin, bishop of that of the isle of Lerins: he continued in it for
city, and uncle to his mother Conchessa; he nine years, both under the instruction of St.
received from him the clerical tonsure and Honoratus, who was the founder of it, and
monastic habit.  We should not dwell on the abbot St. Maximus, his successor, still
Baillet's calculation, which advances that adhering to the counsels of his dear master,
that prelate died a year before the arrival of St. Germain, to whom  he imparted all his
Patrick.t                                   intentions and desires. A. D. 430.
Patrick spent some time at Tours, in the   After his leaving Lerins, he returned to
practice of piety and monastic discipline, and Auxerre, and was then thirty-eight years old.
St. Martin having died in 397,J or, according When the news of St. Palladius' death had
to Severus Sulpicius, in 402, he set out for reachedthem, St. Germainsenthimto Rome,
Rome, where he was admitted among the withinstructions uponthe mission to Ireland,
students or regular prebendaries of St. John and gave him letters of introduction to Pope
of Lateran, A. D. 403.  He was then thirty St. Celestine, who received him with every
years of age.  He applied himself to study, mark of kindness and respect.  Celestine
and made a considerable progress in the himself then consecrated and appointed him
knowledge of sacred literature and ecclesi- archbishop of Ireland, and sent him, invested
asticaldiscipline.~ He afterwards visitedthe with all apostolical authority, to preach the
holy places and servants of God, the monas- gospel to the inhabitants of that island.
teries and hermitages of the islands in the Twenty priests and deacons were likewise
Mediterranean; and attached himself par- ordained, who were to accompany St. Patrick
ticularly to the barefooted hermits of the in his mission, and officiate under his direcorder of St. Augustin.  The high character tions, "ut sub ipso Domino ministrarent."
of St. Germain, who was nominated bishop Among the number, there were some preof Auxerre in 418, induced him to go to that bendaries of St. John of Lateran, who were
prelate.  It appears that this was his first eminent for their piety. The new apostle of
visit, although some among the authors of Ireland returned to Auxerre to take leave of
his life affirm that he spent four years with St. Germain, who gave him  many salutary
admonitions to render the success of so great
an undertaking possible and easy: he also
X "And there I saw in a vision during the night, made him presents of chalices, ornaments for
a man coming from the west; his name was Vic- the priesthood, books, and every thing necestoricius, and had with him many letters; he gave saw for the ecclesiastical worship and minme one to read, and in the beginning of it was a
voice from Ireland. I then thought it to be the voice istry.   All things being prepared for his
of those who inhabited near a wood called Foclut, voyage, he. set out for Ireland at the end of
adjoining the western sea; they appeared to cry out
in one voice, saying, Come to us, O holy youth, and
walk among us. With this I was feelingly touched,     " He hastened now towards Ireland, together
and could read no longer: I then awoke."-Con- with twenty men eminent for their wisdom and
fession of St. Patrick in Ush/er, p. 9, c. 17, p. 832. sanctity, appointed by the pontiff himself to assist
t Vit. de S. Patr. au 17 Mars.            him in the mission. He turned, however, to St.
Usser. Primord. c. 17, p. 844.          Germanus, his guardian and instructor; from him
~ "In this place he signifies that he was skilled he received chalices and sacerdotal vestments, a 
in sacred learning, and endowed with the knowledge quantity of books, and every other thing requisite
of ecclesiastical rules and discipline."-Usher, c. 17, for the ministry of the church."-Jocelin's Life of
p. 835.                                     St. Patrick, c. 26.
19
i~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



146                            HIISTORY OF IRELAND.
the year 432, after naking some converts in little success which the preaching of St.
the counties of Cambridge and Cornwall, Palladius produced in Ireland, should be
western provinces of Great Britain.*     attributed to the persecution raised against
Before we enter into the particulars of the him by a prince of Leinster, which ended
apostleship of St. Patrick, we should observe in the banishment of the saint, and to the
the state of the island at that time. The want of a perfect knowledge of the language
fundamental laws which had been enacted and marnners of the country; the intercourse
many centuries before by wise legislators, of the Dalriads of Ulster, who formned but
were enforced under a imonarchical govern- an inconsiderable body of people, with those
ment.  Laogare, son of Niall, surnamed of Albania, and the dilTerent emigrations of
Noygiallach, had been monarch of the whole the former into the latter country, could not
island since the death of Dathy in 428. The derange the system of a nation where peace
four provinces had also each their respective prevailed, and where the monarch was in
kings.                                   perfect harmony with the provincial kings,
Baillet formed wrong ideas of the history as the latter were with each other.  Such
of this nation, from the slight knowledge he was the state of Ireland when St. Patrick
had of it, when he emphatically observes landed on the eastern coast of Leinster, in a
that St. Palladius had found all Ireland in canton called" Crioch-Cuallan," and which
a state of disturbance,f caused by the emi- Probus calls 1" Regio Evolenortm;" Jocelin
grations from the country, of those people and others, " Inbher-De," that is, the port of
who were then called Scotch or Scots, and the river Dee, which falls into the sea, and
had gone at that time to the north of Britain. is now called Kilmnantan by the Irish, and
This passage in Baillet would seem to imply Wicklow by the English.  It was in 432,
that the whole nation of the Scoto-Milesians and the fourth year of the reign of Laogare,
had left the fertile and rich lands of Ireland, monarch of the island, that this apostle
to go and settle in the barren mountains of began his evangelical functions in the same
Albania.  All those enmigrations were con- province that St. Palladius had failed in the
fined to the demi-tribe of the Dalriads, who precedingyear. He soon had the consolation
inhabited the small territory of Route, in of reaping the fruits of that ardent zeal with
the north of Ulster, and who, always forming which he was inspired for the conversion and
one body with those of the same tribe already salvation of those islanders, since the time of
settled in Albania, and considering them- his captivity; and the joy of seeing, that
selves as the same famLily, frequently crossed God, supporting his ardor and conducting
over, accompanied by voluiteers from the his steps, co-operated in his labors by imother provinces, as they had probably done parting his grace, and confirmed his doctrine
this year, to join the Picts in their incursions by the signs and miracles which followed his
into Britain. This was the third devastation discourses. The first he baptized was Sinell,
committed by the Scots and Picts in Britain, grandson of Finchad, of the royal race of
and which Usher, after Gildas and Bede, the kings of Leinster,* descended in the
fixes in the eighth year of the reign of Theo- eighth degree from Cormac-Cucorb, king of
Idosius the younger, counting from the death that provincet This new convert advanced
of Ho-Inorius, in 431, the year of the apos- so much in sanctity, that he was afterwards
tleship of St. Palladius in Ireland.t    placed in the catalogue of Irish saints.
"That saint," adds our author, " was soon   Saint Patrick was vainly opposed by Naobliged to leave Ireland, and follow those thi, son of Garchon, a prince of this country,
colonies to New Scotland, where he hoped who had expelled St. Palladius the preceto be more successful."  However, those ding year.  The apostle having advanced
people, who were solely intent upon pillage towards a castle called Raith-Inbheir, which
and devastation, were but little disposed to Usher thinks was the same as Old-Court,
listen to this evangelical preacher: besides, on the sea-shore, near the mouth of the river
New Scotland lasted but for a short time; Bray, was attacked by the pagans of that
the Britons seeing themselves abandoned by district, and obliged to return to sea.  He
the Romans, maie an effort, and forced those set sail, after leaving sonme of those preachrobbers to return to Ireland, their country, ers who accompanied him, to comfort and
as the venerable Bede, after Gildas, men- strengthen the new Christians, and reached
tions on this occasion; " Revertuntur impu- an island on the coast of the territory of
dentes grassatores HIiberni donmum."  The Dublin, towards the north, called, after him,
* Usser. Primord. Eccles. Brit. p. 840, et seq.
|t Vie de St. Patr. au 17 Mars.  Usser. Primord. c. 17, p. 846.
t Primord. Eccles. Brit. c. 15, p. 606.       t Trias Thum. secund. Vit. not. 35.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             147
Inis-Phadruig, or the island of Patrick, baptism, which they afterwards received.
where he and his crew rested from their fa- Guasact became afterwards bishop of Gratigues.  He left Inis-Phadruig, to repair to nard, in the territory of Teafna, now the
a district in the north of Ireland, called Ul- county of Longford;" and his two sisters
lagh, or Ulidia, and after a few days arrived took the veil in a monastery which St.
in the bay of Ibher-Slaing, at present the Patrick had founded at Cluain-Broin, a few
bay of Dundrum, in the county of Down. miles from that city.t  St. Patrick was so
Dichu, son of Trichem, of the noble tribe much afflicted by this act of Milcho, that he
of the Dalfiatachs, lord of the territory of remained several hours without speaking,
Decale, now a barony, having been inform- and shed a flood of tears; he afterwards
ed that pirates had entered his territory, is- returned to Dichu, in the territory of Lesued forth with his armed vassals, to-drive cale, anciently called Magh-Inis, where he
them back; but being struck with respect, preached, and converted almost all the inon meeting St. Patrick, who announced to habitants of that district to the faith of Jehim the word of God, he believed, and was sus Christ. We may infer from those facts,
baptized, with all his family: this was the what a progress the divine word made in
first conversion, under God, that was made this country through his ministry. The harin Ulster, through the preaching of this vest increasing every day, he was obliged to
apostle. In gratitude for so great a benefit, multiply his laborers; and in many places,
the new  convert consecrated to God the ordained both bishops and priests.
spot on which lie had been converted: a   After providing for the necessities of that
church was built on it, two miles from the portion of the rising church, Patrick took his
city of Down,' which was called Sigibol, leave of Dichu, and embarked on board his
or Sabhall-Phadruig, signifying the granary vessel, to return to Meath.t  He landed in
of Patrick, having been built on the same Colbdi, below Drogheda, where the Boyne
place that the lord of the district had a falls into the sea, and left his little ship in
granary to preserve his corn. This church, care of Luman, his nephew, and a few sailbuilt at the solicitation of Dichu, from north ors,~ with orders to wait for him for forty
to south, according to the plan of the gra- days, during which he would preach the gosnary, was afterwards changed into a monas- pel in the interior of the country.11 His inI tery of regular canons.                  tention was to go and celebrate the festival of
Our saint, by particular feelings of grati- Easter ire the plains of Magh-Breagh, where
tude and compassion, added to his charity to- the city of Tara, the usual residence of -the
wards all men in general, undertook, among kings, was situated. He wished to be within
other conversions, that of his old master, reach of the court at the time of the assemMilcho, to whom  he had been sold, and bly, which was to be held that year by the
who had kept him, as his slave, in care of monarch, composed of the princes, druids,
his flocks during the six years he had be- and pagan priests; well knowing, that whatlonged to him.t With this intention he left ever impression he might produce at court,
Sabhall in the beginning of the year 433, would necessarily influence the provinces:
and proceeded to Clanebois, in the territory with this view he armed himself with zeal, to
of Dalaradie, where Milcho lived.t  Ilow- take advantage of so favorable an opportunity.
ever, in this instance it pleased God to   Our saint having met on his way with
check the course of that grace which ac- Sesgnen, the lord of a territory in Meath,
companied his words, and leave that man in who invited him to partake of his hospitalhis obduracy,~ who, ashamed of allowing ity, he entered his house announcing the
himself to be persuaded in his old age to word of God, and baptized him, with all his
abandon the religion of his ancestors, by a family.  This lord had a son, to whom the
man who had been his slave, threw himself holy bishop gave the name of Binen, or Beinto a fire, which had by some unknown nignus, at his baptism. This young convert
accident broken out in his castle, and was became attached to the saint, accompanied
unfortunately burned to death, with his whole him everywhere, and made so great a profamily, except Guasact his son, and his two gress in piety and virtue, that he considered
daughters, both called Emeria,1 whom God him worthy of being appointed to the see of
in his mercy had chosen and reserved for Ardmach, which he surrendered to him.
* Usser. Primord. c. 17, p. 846.             * Ibid. lib. 2, cap. 137.
t Idem, page 847.                            t Trias Thaumn. 2. Tit. lib. 1, c. 29.
t Jocelin, Vit. S. Patr. c. 14, 36.          i Usser. Prim. cap. 17, p. 847, et seq.
~ Trias Thaum. 2. Vit. S. Patr. pp. 14, 23.  ~ Vit. Tripart. lib. 2, c. 1, et seq.
11 Vit. Tripart. S. Patr. lib. 1, c. 20, et lib. 2, c. 20.  [I Jocelin, Vit. S. Patr. cap. 39, et seq




148                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
After leaving the house of Sesgnen, the preserved.through the care of John Picard,*
apostle proceeded towards Tara, and arrived a regular canon of St. Victor's in Paris,
the day before Easter at a place called Firta- and published in that city in  1624, by
Fir-Feic, now Slaine, on the left bank of the Thomas Messingham.t  Lastly, the queen
river Boyne, where he had a tent erected, and several nobles of that assembly emto prepare for the ceremonies of the follow- braced the doctrine of Jesus Christ, and
ing day.                                    though the monarch opposed it for some
When the monarch convened an assem- time, he received baptism in the end.t
bly, or held any festival at Tara, it was cus-   The preaching of this apostle was here
tomary to make a bonfire on the preceding supported by many miracles, mentioned by I
day; it was prohibited to have one in any the authors of his life.~  There never was,
other place, at the same time, in the territory in reality, a circumstance in which signs
of Breagh. Patrick, who was perhaps igno- were more necessary, than in an assembly
rant of, or despised so superstitious a prac- composed of the chiefs and learned men of
tice, caused a large fire to be lighted before the whole nation.
his tent, which was easily seen from Tara.   St. Patrick having completed his mission
The druids, alarmed at this attempt, carried at the court of Tara, repaired to Tailton,
their complaints before the monarch, and where the military games, mentioned in
said to him, that, if he had not that fire the first chapter of the part of this history,
immediately extinguished, he who had kin- were celebrated every year.  He did not
dled it, and his successors, would hold keep the talent which his master intrusted
the sovereignty of Ireland for ever; which him with unemployed: he always sought
prophecy has been fulfilled in a spiritual large assemblies, in order to turn it to adlight.                                      vantage.
The monarch sent an order to the stranger   The season of those military exercises,
to appear before the assembly the day fol- which was the last fifteen days of July, and
lowing,* in order to account for his conduct, the first fifteen days of August, being near,
and he forbid that any should rise through he repaired to Tailton,ll where he preached
respect for him.  Erc, son of Dego, was the doctrine of Jesus Christ to Cairbre and
the first who disobeyed the orders of the Conall, brothers of Laogare tile monarch,
monarch;t at the approach of the saint, with different success: the former continued
that lord rose up, offered him  his place, obdurate and unchanged; the latter, having
and having listened attentively to the word attended to his instructions, was baptized,
of God, embraced Christianity, and was and in gratitude he conferred land on the
afterwards nominated bishop of Slaine by saint, upon which he built a church.  He
I that apostle.  Patrick, always eager to do spent the rest of that year in the territories
I every thing that could tend to the salvation of Meath and Leinster, where a great numI of mankind, presented himself the day fol- ber were converted, among others the two
l lowing, with two of his disciples, before the princesses Ethne and Fedeline, daughters
assembly, where he preached the faith of of Laogare, with the druids Mael and CapJesus Christ, in presence of the monarch
and all his nobles, with a freedom  which   X Florileg. in Pass. S. Guigneri, page 208.
was truly apostolical.  Dubtach, archpoet  t "This young prince having been disinherited
of Laogare, submitted to his preaching, and and banished by his father, through his hatred for
the talents which he had employed before the Christian religion, which he had received from
bere    St. Patrick, and obliged to leave his native country,
his conversion in celebrating the praises of united himself with several young men of rank,
the false gods, were afterwards turned to who went for his sake into voluntary exile; having
glorify God and his saints.t  Fiech, his set sail, they landed after some time in Brittany,
disciple, followed  his example, and after- where they remained till the death of Clito. Having
wards became bishop of Slettyx              no longer any thing to fear, this prince returned to
wATTs became bishopofletty. * * *   Ireland, where he beheld, with joy, that Christianity
We may here mention the conversion of was established everywhere. The desire of becomFingar, son of Clito,~ whose life, written by ing perfect having induced him to renounce his
St. Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury, was claims, he left his country, accompanied by Piala,
his sister, and seven hundred men, seven of whom
were bishops, all converted by St. Patrick. How* Usser. Primord. c. 17, page 849, et seq  ever, after landing in Hull, in Cornwall, they were
t Jocelin, Vit. S. Patr. c. 41.           massacred by order of Theodoric, king of that counI "' The hymns which he composed while young, try, for fear they should preach the gospel to his
in praise of his false gods, he now changed to a subjects."-Usser. Primord. cap. 17, pages 851, 869.
better purpose, viz., to the praises of God and his   i 2 Vit. S. Patr. ultimo.
saints."-Jocelin.                             ~ Trias. Thaum. Passim.
~ Usser. Prim. c. 17, pages 861, 869,      11 Usser. Primord. cap. 17, page 852, et seq.




CHRIST'IAN IRELAND.                              149|
lait, to whom their education had been in- thie attachiment of this prince to the supertrusted.*                                   stition of his ancestors, made him  deaf to
St. Luman, whollum St. Patrick had left at the word of God.*
Colbdi, weary of his malster's absence, pro-   Saint Patrick was more successful with
ceeded up the river Boyne as far as Ath- Eana: this prince, who was in possesTruim, which signifies the ford of Trim, sion of tin extensive territory, called after
where Feidhlim, son of the monarch Lao- him  Kinel-Eana, or Kinel-Enda, extending
gare, had a castlet  This prince sent for from  Kinaliach to the river Shannon, was
him, and asked why he came into that dis- more docile than his brother.  After wittrict: the saint answered, that he had come nessing some miracles which  the saint
with Patrick to convert the Irish; then performed in his presence, he listened to
availing himself of this opportunity, he an- the word of God, and received  baptism
anio-ainced to him the faith of Jesus Christ, with his whole family; and in acknowledgand baptized him, with the princess, his ment for so great a favor, he presented to
~ wife, dau.ghter of a British king, Fortchern, God and to the church a ninth of his prohis son, and all his family.  This pious perty, together with his son Cormac, who
prince, in gratitude for so important a bene- was yet a child, and who became bishop
fit, dedicated to the church all the lands he of Athruim, and afterwards archbishop of
possessed on that side of the river, together Ardlmach.
with his son Fortchern, and passed with his   Our saint went from thence to the counhousehold to the opposite side, where he try of Teafana, called by the Latin authors
fixed his residence.  In concert with St. Teflia; this territory comprised part of
Patrick, the saint had a church built there, Westmeath, and extended into Analy, now
of which he was the first bishop, and was the county of Longford; and was divided
succeeded by Fortchern.                     into northern and southern Teafun.  SouthSt. Patrick, calling to mind the vision he ern Teafna belonged to Maine; this prince
had in Britain on his return from his cap- was converted by tlh  preaching of St.
tivity in Ireland,t considered himself more Patrick, who founded in his district the
particularly called lpon to convert the in- episcopal see of Ardagh, which still exists,
habitants of Tir-Amalgaid: moved by this and the first bishop of it was St. Mel, the
impulse, he proceeded to Connaught in the disciple and nephew of that apostle, by his
beginning of the year 434.  On his way sister Darerca.t  He afterwards proceedfrom  Tara, he visited the southern  Hy- ed to northern Teafna, sometimes called
Nialls, that is, the principalities belonging Cairbre-Guara, belonging to the children of
to the four princes, children of the mlonarch Carbre, one of the four brothers of the
Niall, surnamed Noygiallach, brothers of northern Hy-Nialls, who had been always
Laogare, who was at that time monarch, opposed to the gospel.  But those young
and their descendants; they were called princes, more fortunate tthan their father,
-southern Hy-Nialls, from their settlement received the saint with respect, and granted
in the south of Meath, as the other brothers him  the territory of Granard, where he
were called the northern Hy-Nialls, where- built a church, the care of which he conas they inhabited the north of Meath, with fided to Guasact, son of Mileho his old
the principalities of Tyrone, Tirconnel, and master, and consecrated him bishop for that
other territories in Ulster.                purpose.  He then visited western Brefny,
The princes of the southern Hy-Nialls at present the county of LIeitrim, whert,
were, Laogare, Conall-Crimthine, Fiacha, after destroying the impious worship of the
and Maine.~ The holy apostle first addressed idol Cronm-Cruach, in the plain of Moyhimself to Fiacha,1t prince of a part of West- Slecht, he founded a church, called in the
meath, near Mount Usnlach, called after him language of the country Domnach-Mor, to
Kinel-Fiacha,~T signifying the race of Fia- which he appointed St. Mauran, his kinscha.*   But the prejudice of education, and man, pastor.
- Vit. 4, Patr. apud Colgan, cap. 55.     place called Uisneace; there were two brothers
t Colg. Act. Sant. Hib. 17, Feb.          called Fiachus and Enda, who ruled in that place:
$ Usser. Ind. Chron. ad an. 434.          from the former the neighboring mountain was
~ Act. Sanct. Hib. ad 17, Feb. p. 358.    called Kinel-Fiacha; to this day the posterity of
1] Jocelin, Vit. S. Patr. cap. 100, notes 113, 114, Fiachus retain the nobility of their family, but not
115.                                      the power. The descendants of this Fiacha are
~r Vit. Tripart. lib. 2, e. 17, et seq. notes 50, 51, the ancient tribes of MacGeoghegans of Kinallach,
52.                                         and the O'Molloys of Fearcall."'** " With the intention of building a church,  e Vit. 4, Sanctm Brig. note 1, in lib. 2, page 564.
the servant of Christ turns to a very celebrated   t War. de Praesul. Hib.




150                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
After leaving Brefny, St. Patrick crossed emption of this island from all venomous
the Shannon to enter Connaught.*        reptiles.* However, Solinus, who had writlHe first applied to Ono, a prince of the ten some centuries before the arrival of St.
race of the Hy-Brunes, by Earca-Dearg, Patrick in Ireland, makes mention of this
son of Brien, and lord of a considerable ter- exemption; and after him Isidore, bishop of
ritory in Maghelye-Connaught, called Hy- Seville, in the seventh century, and Bede, in
Onach. This prince, struck with the sanc- the eighth, speak of it without assigning any
tity and miracles of Patrick, generously gave cause. It appears that Jocelin is the first
him the land of Inmleach, since called Oil- who gave this account; thus it is probable
finn, or Elphin, where he founded an epis- that it proceeds from the climate, or the
copal see, which is still in being, and nomi- nature of the soil, rather than from any sunated Asicus, his disciple, first bishop of it. pernatural cause.
He afterwards visited Hua-Nolella, other-   Our saint having ended his retreat upon
wise Tir-Oilill, in the county of Sligo, be- the mountain, came down to the plain tolonging to the descendants of Oilill, whose wards the end of Lent, where, after preachgreat-grandson, called Maine, he baptized, ing and converting a considerable number
and afterwards nominated him bishop. He of people, he celebrated the Easter in the
founded two churches there: the first was church of Achad-Febhuir, which he had
Sencheall Dumhaighe, where he left several founded before Lent in the territory of
of his disciples; the second, Tamnache, of Umaille; he afterwards visited the country,
which he made Carell, of the race of the as far as Tir-Amalgaid, where he met with
kings of Ullagh, bishop. Having completed the seven sons, or, according to others, the
his mission in those districts, the holy apostle twelve sons of Amalgaid, assembled in counturned his thoughts towards the Hy-Brunes. cil with the nobles of the province about
On arriving in the territory of Moy-Seola, the succession to their father's crown.
now the barony of Clare, in the county of   To Amalgaid, son of Fiachra, belonged
Galway, he met with some of the sons of the territory called after him Tir-Amalgaid,
Brien, who were all opposed to him except that is, the country of Amalgaid; the sceptre
Duach, the youngest, from whom are de- was at that time held by the tribe of the Hyscended the O'Connors, who was baptized. Fiachras. His brother Dathy, king of ConThe saint foretold this prince that he and naught, having succeeded to the monarchy
his descendants should possess the crown of of the whole island on the death of Niall'the
the province, which was afterwards verified. Great, left him the crown of that province.
The saint then founded the church of Dom- The right of succeeding to the crown after
nach-Mor, or Domnach-Phadruig, on the his death, was the object of this assembly,
border of Lake Sealgo, now Lough Hacket. where St. Patrick preached the gospel, and
He continued his route through Partrie and converted many. This account is variously
Umaille, in the western part of the province, related:t some authors say that the brothers,
which belonged to- Conall-Oirioson, from finding it impossible to agree about the sucwhom the noble family of the O'Mailles, or cession, had chosen Laogare the monarch,
O'Malys, derive their origin, where he and Eogan his brother, as arbitrators of their
founded the church of Achad-Fobhuir, the dispute; that Enda-Crom, the eldest of the
first bishop of which was St. Senach.   brothers, being unable to accompany them
At the approach of Lent, St. Patrick to Tara, had intrusted this commission to
withdrew  to a high mountain, near the his son Conall, a young man of great talent,
western coast of that province, formerly but being opposed by the intrigues of his
called Cruachan-Aichle, or Aichuill, now uncles, had recourse to the influence of St.
Creagh-Phadruig, in the barony of Morisk, Patrick, who was then at Tara, to gain adin the county of Mayo, and there spent the mittance for him to plead the cause of his
Lent in contemplation and prayer.       father. They add, that this prince, being
The authors of his life say, he spent the indebted to the apostle for his successes at
forty days without taking any food.t Jocelin the court of Tara, induced him to go with
likewise adds,t that he collected all the him to Connaught, and preach the gospel to
serpents and venomous reptiles of the coun- the inhabitants of this district. The saint
try upon this mountain, and cast them into accepted this proposal the more willingly,
the ocean,~ to which he ascribes the ex- as he was thereby enabled to execute the
design he had formed of visiting that people.
X Vit. Tripart. lib. 2, cap. 35, et seq. A. D. 434
t Vit. 4, c. 59.
t Jocelin, cap. 171.                           * Vit. Tripart. lib. 2, c. 63.
~ Vit. 5, lib. 2, c. 19, 20.                   t Vit. Trip. cap. 77.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             151
However this be, the authors of this saint's from the hands of St. Patrick, but the latter
life affirm, that in one day* he converted had persisted in his obduracy; so that the
and baptized the seven princes, sons of saint, in his passage through their country,
Amalgaid, besides twelve thousand persons,t had met with a very different reception
and that those conversions had been sup- from those two lords.  Carbre was strongly
ported by manymiracles, which God wrought opposed to his doctrine; but Conail received
in favor of that apostle, to confound the him with that respect due to the man who
druids and pagan priests, who were opposed had drawn him from the darkness of idolatry
to his doctrine.  He founded a church for and paganism. During his stay with Conall,
the new Christians, of which he nominated he-resolved to go to Ailech-Neid, a castle
Mancenus bishop, a very pious man, and in the peninsula of Inis-Eoguin, or Iniswell versed in the holy scriptures.t      Owen, and residence of Eoguin, another
On leaving Tir-Amalgaid, he proceeded brother of the monarch, and Conall, chief
towards the north, along the river Moy, of the illustrious tribe of the O'Neills.  He
making converts everywhere as he passed. generally applied to the great, convinced
On the left bank of this river, where it dis- that the people commonly follow the examcharges itself into the sea, he built a church ple of the prince: with this intention he
called Kil-Aladh, at present Killala, an proceeded towards Inis-Eoguin, through the
episcopal see, the first bishop of which was extensive plains of Bearn-Mor, Tir-Aodhe,
St. Muredach, the disciple of that apostle.~ and Magh-Ithe, a small territory on the
It is said there were forty-seven churches borders of the river Finn.  His time was
in that province founded by him, among always well employed; he gave instructions
which was Cassioll-Irra, in the county of in every place, and at all times, even while
Sligo, the first bishop of which was St. he was travelling.  On his way he founded
Bron.li                                  a church which he called Domnach-Mor,
This apostolical man, after spending seven in Magh-Ithe, and then continued his route
years in visiting the several parts of Con- to Inis-Eoguin.
naught, and establishing the Christian reli-   Prince Eogan being informed of the
gion in the most inaccessible places of the arrival of the apostle in his territories,*
province, at length quitted it in 441, to visit went to meet him, and received him with all
Ulster, of which he had yet seen but a very possible marlks of honor and respect; and
small portion.                           having attended with humility to the word
On leaving Connaught, St. Patrick pro- of God, was converted, with all his houseceeded on his way to Sligeach,~[ through hold and vassals; the saint left Inis-Owen,
Drumcliabh and Rossclogher, as far as and crossing the river Febhail or Fewal, at
Magh-Ean, a large plain, situated in the present Foyle, between the lake of that
southern part of Tirconnel, between the bay name and the city of Daire-Calgach, now
of Donnagall and the rivers Earn and Drab- Derry, he preached the gospel in the neighhois, the latter of which has its source in borhood of the river Fochmuine, at present
lake Melve, and discharges itself into the Faughan, in the territory of Oireachtybay of Donnagall, near Bundroose: he Cahan, for nearly two months, and founded
preached the gospel there for some time, and some churches there. He again returned to
founded the church called Disert-Phadruig. the peninsula of Inis-Owen, to complete a
Having crossed the river Earne, between mission so happily begun: he remained in
Eas-Ruad and the ocean, his preaching was this place for the space of forty days, and
everywhere attended with success. The founded two churches. The first at the recountry of Tirconnel belonged to Conal- quest of Aidh, son of Coelbad, and grandGulban, son of Niall the Great, brother to son of prince Eogan, who made him a present
Laogare, the monarch who was then reign- of land for that purpose; this church, the
ing, and chief of the illustrious tribe of the first bishop of which was Mac-Carthan, the
O'Donnels.  His brother Carbre was lord disciple of St. Patrick, was called Domnachof a district on the banks of the river Earne. Mor-Muige-Tochuir. The second, which
The former had already received baptism he called Domnach-Bile, was situated near
the river Bredach.  He. afterwards crossed
X Jocelin, Vit. Patr. e..59.          the strait through which lake Foyle dist Usser. Primord. Eccl. Brit. cap. 17, page 854. charges itself into the ocean, and coasted
CWnf. dat. page 19Hb.                 along this lake, through the territories of
fi Trias. Thaurn, pag. 270, et seq.    Dagard, Mag-Dola, and Duncruthen, as far
ii Trias. Thaum, pag. 270, et seq.
11 Vit. Trip. lib. 2, c. 108,. et not. in Vit.
Tripart. 154.                                    * Vit. Trip. lib. 2, cap. 118, et seq.




[ 152                          HISTORY O'F IRELAND.
as the small river now called Roewater. in the territory of Latharne, where the body
Several churches were established in this of Mac-Lasse is deposited; Gleanne, Indistrict, among others Dun Srutehn, the care deachta, and Imleach-Cluana, in the terriof which was confided  to St. Beoadh or tory of Semne, which contains the remains
Beatus, who was the first bishop of it.  The of St. Goeman; and Rath-Easpuic-Innic, in
apostle passed through the territory of Kien- the territory of Hua-Dereachein, barony of
nacte, where he made several converts, and Antrim, the first bishop of which was St.
built many churches.  Sedna, one of the Winnoc.
lords of that country, having presented him-   The  holy  apostle  afterwards  passed
self before him, received baptism, with his through the country of Hy-Tuirtre, on the
wife, his children, and his vassals.* Sedna borders. of Lough Neagh, which was in the
was son of Trena, and grandson of Tiger- possession of two brothers named Carthen:
nach, of the race of Kiann, son of Oilioll- he was repulsed by the elder, but the
Olum, king of Munster.  He had a son, younger received him  with respect, and
called Kienan, whom he placed under the embraced the Christian religion, with all his
discipline of our saint, and was afterwards people.  The saint founded some churches
bishop of Damliag, now Duleek, in Meath. in this territory, where he left a pastor called
St. Patrick having completed his mission Connedus, one of his disciples.  He next
in the districts bordering uipon lake Foyle, preached in the territories of Hymeithecrossed the river Bann to Cuilrathen, at Tire, and Imchlair: in the former, which
present Coleraine. He preached the gospel belonged to the descendants of Colla-dafor some time in the territory of Lea, on the Crioch, he founded the bishopric of Teagright bank of the river Bann: he then pro- Talain, which he confided to the care of his
ceeded through the country of Dalrieda, disciple, Killen.  In the second, situated in
now Route, in the county of Antrim, to the Tyrone, he settled the priest St. Columb, as
castle of Dun-Sobhairche, in the northern pastor.  At some distance from  these he
part of that country, and on his way founded founded the episcopal see of Clogher,* of
several churches and religious houses, to which he himself was first bishop;t he afterwhich he appointed bishops and priests; wards resigned this church to Mac-Carthen,
from thence he went to Dalaradie, an exten- his disciple, and the companion of his lasive territory, comprising the whole county of bors.t
Down, and the southern part of the county   Our saint being intent on founding a rmeAntrim.  This country was, at that time, tropolitan see, which would be head over
divided into twelve parts for the twelve sons the other churches in Ireland, proceeded
of Caolbhach, the last monarch of Ireland from Clogher to Druim-Sailech,~ so called
of the race of the Clanna-Rorys. Caolbhach from the quantity of willow trees which grew
was son of Croin-Badhraoi, and grandson of there;11 this place was, and is still called
Eachach,t from whom this country, which Ardmach, from its elevated situation,s or,
recently belonged to the Magennises, de- according to others, from  Macha, wife of
scendants of that prince, afterwards took Nievy,** who was buried there, as menthe name of Iobh-Eachach, by corruption, tioned in the third chapter of the first part
Iveach.  The chief of those brothers was of this history. Whatever be the derivation
Saran, from whom  the Mac-Cartains are of this name,tt Daire, surnamed Dearg,
descended; but this unhappy prince brought son of Finchad, grandson of Eogain, son of
on himself the malediction of St. Patrick, Niellain,4t of the race of Colla-da-Crioch,
by his opposition to the gospel.t Conla, lord of this territory, consecrated that spot
being more docile than his brother Saran, to God, at the request of St. Patrick,~~ who
presented himself respectfully before the laid in it the foundation of a city and church
saint, and conferred on him  a handsome in 445.  He caused monasteries to be built
tract of land, where he built the mon- there, and founded schools, which afterastery of Mag-Commuir, in the diocese of
Connor, for regular canons.  He  also
founded several other churches in that  X Jocelin,Vit. S. Patr. cap. 143
country: among others those  of Dom-  t Usser. Primord. c. 17, p. 856.
t Vit. Tripart. lib. 2, cap. 123, not. in 2 lib.
nach-Mor, and Rath-Sithe, in the territory   ~ War. de Prasul. Hib.
of Mag-Damorna, where he settled two of  II Jocelin, Vit. S. Patr. c. 165.
his disciples; those of Tulachen and Gluaire   ~ Usser. Prim. cap. 17, page 857.
** War. de Praesul. Hib.
* Not. 191, in 2 part. Vit. Tripart.      tt Vit. Trip. lib. 3, c. 68.
t Not. 206, ad c. 131, 2 part. Vit. Tripart.  $t Jocelin, Vit. S. Patr. c. 161.
I Keat. Geneal.                           ~~ Ogyg. part 2, cap. 76.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             153
wards became celebrated.*  During this in- Lateran, who had accompanied him from
terval, St. Mochte, a Briton by birth, found- Rome.*  The charity of Patrick would not
ed a church in the city of Lugha, or Ludha, allow him to neglect a single province or
at present Louth, of which he was bishop. district in Ireland.  He had not yet visited
The harvest still continued great, and the Munster, depending on the zeal of the holy
laborers had become few, from the great missionaries, Declain, Ailbe, Kieran, and
number St. Patrick had placed, during fif- others, who labored in that vineyard for some
teen years, in the different churches he had years.  He had been but in one district
founded in Ulster, Meath, and Connaught. in Leinster, on his arrival in the island, and
The number of foreign missionaries whom had made some converts in it; wherefore,
lihe had brought with him  to Ireland not having settled the affairs of the church of
being sufficient, it was necessary to prepare Ardmach,t he proceeded towards Leinster,
some among the natives of the country, through Meath, where he converted the
which was an undertaking difficult to be ac- people of Fera-Cuil and Hisegain, and
complished. This people had their peculiar founded the church of Bile-Tortan, near
language and characters, as has been proved Ardbrecain,t which he confided to the care
in the second chapter of the first part of this of Justin, a priest, his disciple, and greathistory. Having been always free and inde- grandson of Breasal, lord of the country.
pendent of the empire of the Romans, they Having crossed the river of Finglass, he
were unacquainted with the Roman language arrived at Bally-Ath-Cliath, " oppidum super
and its characters; there were, therefore,but crates,"~ a city so called from the hurdles
two courses to adopt; either to translate the which were used, either to secure the founholy books into the language of the country, dations of the houses, or to strengthen the
and celebrate the divine mysteries in it, roads on the marshybanks of the river Liffey,
which would have been contrary to the cus- which waters it; this city has been since
tom of the church, or to teach the characters called Dubh-Lin, at present Dublin, from
of the Roman language to those who were the black and muddy bottom of that river.
to instruct others: the holy apostle adopted   The high reputation of sanctity which St.
the latter course.  We see in his life that Patrick had acquired, added to the number
he gave the alphabet to those whom he in- of miracles he wrought everywhere, having
tended for holy orders, which gave rise to made him known and respected even by the
the error of Bollandus, who denies that the pagans, the inhabitants of Dublin went out
Irish people had the use of characters be- in crowds to meet him.  These appearances
fore the time of St. Patrick.            were a happy omen of the faith they were
To supply the want of ministers to assist about to receive from this saint.  He baphim in his mission, our saint, after com- tized them all, with Alphin, son of Eochaid,
pleting his metropolitan city of Ardmach, who was at that time their king:j11 the cerewent to Great Britain in 447, which he found mony was performed in a fountain near the
to be infected with the heresies of the Pe- city, called since that time the fountain of
lagians, and Arianism.  He opposed those St. Patrick, and became an object of devoerrors for some time with success, and tion to the faithful for many centuries, till it
brought back a considerable number of his was filled up and enclosed within a private
countrymen to the true faith.  He met with dwelling in the beginning of the sevenmany learned and pious ecclesiastics in teenth century.  The saint had a church
that island, who were desirous of assisting built near this fountain, which afterwards
him in his mission to Ireland, thirty of whom became a cathedral, bearing his name.
he appointed bishops.  With this aid he   The authors of the life of St. Patrick
embarked for Ireland; but on his voyage mention some miracles wrought by God to
stopped at the Isle of Man, where he confirm his mission, which had hastened the
preached the gospel, and left Germain, one conversion of that city.  It was, no doubt,
of his disciples, as bishop.t            the admiration which those miracles had
The holy apostle returned to Ardmach in inspired, that influenced the prince and his
the beginning of the year 448, and having people to bind themselves and their heirs to
visited that church, held a synod with
some bishops, among whom were Auxil and   * The canons of this synod are among the works
Isernin,:  regular canons of St. John of ascribed to St. Patrick, published by Sir James
Ware.
* Usser. Prim. c. 17, p. 854.            t Jocelin, Vit. S. Patr. c. 68, 70, 71.
t Usser. Primord. Eccles. Brit. cap. 15, pages 642,  t Not. 23, 24, 25, ad lib. 3, vit. Trip.
643.                                       ~ Camb. Brit. edit. Lond. p. 750.
t Usser. Primord. c. 17, page 841       I[ Usser. Primord. cap. 17, pp. 862, 86-3.
20




154                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
pay to that apostle and his successors for surrounds Cashel, since called Gowlinever, in the see of Ardmach, three ounces Vale, from a village of that name on the
of gold yearly.                          river Suire, and by corruption Golden-Vale;
Our saint spent the whole of that year he received him with every mark of distincpreaching the faith in Leinster, where he tion and respect, and brought him to his city
founded a great number of churches.*  He of Cashel, where he heard the word of
began his mission in that province by the God, and was converted, together with his
conversion of two princes,t sons of Dun- whole court.*
lainge, who held the principality of the   A singular fact is related of the Christian
northern part of the province,: on the banks fortitude and patience of Aongus, during the
of the river Liffey, the capital of which ceremony of his baptism.  The holy bishop
was Naas.  He founded two churches in having leaned on his pastoral staff,t which
that part of the country; the first, which he was pointed with iron, it pierced the king's
intrusted to the care of the bishop Auxil, foot, who suffered the pain without comwas called Kil-Ausaille, in Latin, "Cella plaining, till the ceremony was ended.:
Auxilii," by corruption, Kill-Ussi, in the The apostle hearing of the accident, asked
plains of tilhe river Liffey, near Kildare. him why he had not complained; the king
The second was called Kill-Cuilinn, the first answered respectfully, that he thought it
bishop of which was Issernin, and after him formed part of the ceremony.  This prince
Mactal.                                  was pious and firmly attached to the religion
St. Patrick afterwards visited the districts he had embraced: out of a great number of
of Leix, Ossory, and Hy-Kinseallagh,~ as children of both sexes, he devoted one half
far as the southern extremity of the province, to the service of God, and always supported
working miracles, and  malking converts in his palace two bishops, ten priests, and
everywhere.  Among others, he baptized seventy-two religious persons, who served
Criomthan, son of Eana-Kinseallagh, of the as his council in religious affairs.
race of Cahire-More, who was at that time   The four precursors of Saint Patrick,
king of Leinster.  This prince was very namely, Ailbe, Declan, Kieran, and Ibar,
pious, and a liberal benefactor to the church. having come to Cashel to see the saint, and
He built seventychurches in Hy-Kinseallagh to congratulate their king upon his converand in the eastern part of the province, which sion, assisted at the synod which that apostle
he liberally endowed. He granted the tract had convoked. Some difference arose about
of land called Slebte, now  Sletty, on the the primacy, which those saints, who like
banks of the river Barrow, to Fiech, at the him had received their mission from the holy
request of St. Patrick. II Fiech had a church see, would not acknowledge in St. Patrick.
built there, of which he was first bishop, However, their charity stifled every sentiwith the title of arch-prelate of Leinster.~ Inent opposed to the cause of Jesus Christ.
Criomthan was unfortunately killed by Aon- Those saints were confirmed, at that synod,
gus, or Euchodius, brother of St. Fiech, in in the possession of the churches they had
revenge for having been banished with his founded; that of Inmleach-Jobhuir, otherwise
brothers, by the king, from that province.++ Emly, in Tipperary, founded by St. Ailbe,
Having established Christianity in Lein- was made the metropolitan of the whole provster on a solid basis,tt St. Patrick proceeded ince: it was united to Cashel in the sixth
to Munster, where there were already some century.~ That of Ardmore, in the territory
Christians, and a few churches founded by of Desie, in the county of Waterford, was
his precursors.  He went directly towards adjudged to St. Declan, by whom those peoCashel, in the territory of Eoganach, the ple were converted; this church was afterplace where king Aongus, son of Nadfraoch, wards annexed to Lismore. St. Kieran was
at that time resided.  This prince being confirmed in the see of Saigre, or Seir-Kieinformed of the sanctity and virtues of the ran, in the territory of Ely, which see was
holy apostle, came forth to meet him in the afterwards transferred to Aghavoe, and from
plain of Femyn, which is a territory that thence to Kilkenny.  Lastly, Ibar was appointed bishop of Beg-Erin, that is, Little
* Vit. Tripart. jib. 3, c. 18.     Ireland, an island on the coast of Wexford.
t Not. 39, 40, in 2 Vit.              Having settled with the other bishops the
$ Usser. Prim. cap. 17, pp. 826, 827.  affairs of the church of Cashel, St Patrick
~ Vit. Tripart. lib. 3, cap. 19, et seq.
It Usser. Primord. cap. 17, pp. 863, 864,    Vit. Tripart. lib. 3, cap. 29.
~ Vit. Tripart. lib. cap. 24.            t Idem. cap. 30.
i Not. 47, in eundem lib.               t Usser. Primord, cap. 17, page 863.
t Usser. Prim. c. 17, p. 863.            6 Ibid. page 866.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           155
took leave of Aongus, and continued his   The holy apostle having established the
mission through Muscraighe-Breogain, Ara- church of Ireland on a solid basis, and having
cliach, and Lumneach, as far as the river ordained pastors for the several churches,
Shannon.*                               set out for Rome, to give an account of his
The inhabitants of Thuomond showed asi labors to the holy and learned Pope Leo,
much zeal as those of the other districts, in surnamed the Great, to consulthim on various
hearing the word of God. Having learned matters, and to prove the doctrine he had
that the holy apostle was in their neighbor- taught to his people, by that of the first
hood, they crossed the river to hear him pastors of the church, in the centre of its
preach, and were baptized, with Carthan unity, where the common oracle of the
Fionn, son of Bloid, their prince.  This Christians resided. He obtained this pope's
apostle continued to preach on the left bank approval for his having made the church of
of the river, and visited the country of Ardinach the metropolitan;' which was
Ciarruidh-Luachra, now Kerry, and all the afterwards supported by the honor of the
southern part of the province; and having pallium, and the title of apostolical legate in
drawn many to the faith of Jesus Christ, and Ireland, to him and his successors.
founded several churches, where he estab-   We cannot but admire the omnipotence of
lished pastors, he returned through Desie God, and power of his grace, in the rapid
to Cashel, having spent several years in the conversion of this idolatrous nation.  So
conversion of that province.            sudden a change can only be attributed to
The time of our saint's departure from him who has the power of softening the most
Munster being near, the princes and great callous hearts; for it can be said with truth,
men of the province assembled, placed them- that no other nation in the Christian world
selves under his protection,s and, in gratitude received with so much joy the knowledge of
for the services he had rendered the pro- the kingdom of God, and the faith in Jesus
vince, they undertook to pay an annual tax Christ.  Nothing can be found to equal the
to him and his successors in the see of Ard- zeal with which the new converts lent their
mach; which tax, called in the Irish lan- aid to St. Patrick, in breaking down their
guage, Cain-Phadruic, was regularly paid for idols, demolishingtheirtemples, and building
some centuries. The high veneration in churches.  We may likewise add, that no
which he was held in that province, made other nationhas preserved its faith withmore
them carefullypreserve a stone which he had fortitude and courage, during a persecution
used in celebrating the holy mysteries, or of two centuries.
some other religious ceremonies: it was
called Leach-Phadruic, and the succeeding
kings of Cashel considered it an honor to
sit on it during their coronations                   CHAPTER X.
In the year 455 St. Patrick left Munster,
to return to the north of the island.  In   WHILE St. Patrick devoted his time and
passing through Leinster, he preached the care to establish in Ireland the kingdom of
gospel in the district of Hy-Failge, which Jesus Christ, peace was preserved in its
belonged to the descendants of Rossa-Failge, temporal kingdom under the government of
and Daire-Barrach, brothers and sons of the Laogare. Religion and the principles of
monarch Cahire-More. The former, from Christianity, by correcting and softening the
whom are descended the O'Connors-Failge, ferocious manners of the inhabitants, conlistened to him with respect, and were bap- tributed largelyto the happiness of the prince
tized, but he was repulsed by the latter. He and the people. The subject learned, that
then continued his way towards Ulster, op- as all power emanated from God, his first
posing everywhere the darkness of idolatry and most important obligation was, loyalty
with the light of the gospel.          to his lawful prince; and the prince learned
Our saint spent six years in visiting the that he ought to govern his people, not as a
churches of Ulster, consoling and confirming tyrant, but like a true father.  In order to
the new Christians, and converting those preserve this harmony in the government,
who had persevered in idolatry; and the the monarch convened a general assembly
better to watch over the churches in general, of the states at Tara,t where Saint Patrick,
he resigned the see of Ardmach to St. Binen, together with other bishops, took their seats
or Benignus, his disciple and successor.  in place of the druids:  the customs and: Vit. Tripart. lib. 3, cap. 43, 44.    * Jocelin, in Vit. S. Patr.. 166.
t Vit. Tripart. lib. 3, c. 29, et 53.   t Keat. on the reign of Laogare.
t Vit. Tripart. lib. 3, page 29.        t Walsh, Prospect of Ireland, p. 46.




156                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
laws of the country were reformed; every lach-Dabhuill, near the Liffey, in the county
thing bordering on pagan superstition was of Kildare. A. D. 463.*
abolished, or regulated according to the   It is morally impossible to discover the
spirit of the gospel. The antiquarians sub- number of episcopal sees in the church of
mitted to the inspection of the holy apostle, Ireland before the twelfth century.  If the
the register of Tara, and other monuments number equalled that of the bishops whom
respecting the history of the nation, and the St. Patrick had consecrated, we should reckgenealogies of the principal families; which on 350 according to Jocelin, and according to
he declined, alleging as a reason, the slight Nennius 365; but it is very unlikely that the
knowledge he had of the antiquities of the saint had consecrated that number of bishops
nation, and requested them to follow the for so many different sees.t  Were it not
ancient custom in those kinds of inquiries. that several succeeded each other in the
Accordingly, a committee of nine persons same sees, we should admit that almost
was appointed, three of whom were kings, every village had its bishop. However great
three bishops, and three antiquarians. Those we may suppose the number to have been,
three kings were the monarch, and the kings it was considerably lessened before the
of Ulster and Munster; the bishops were twelfth century, several sees having been
St. Patrick, St. Binen, that apostle's suc- united together.
cessor in the see of Ardmach, and Cairnach;   We have already seen, in the life of St.
and the  antiquarians were  Dubththach, Patrick, that besides the churches founded
Feargus, and Rosa.  Having completed the by his four precursors, and erected into biinquiry, and cleared the monuments of.every shoprics at the synod of Cashel, the aposerror, the deputies made their report to the tle, and after him his disciples, had founded
assembly, and the monarch ordered that a great number of churches and monasteries.
those monuments, which had been till then   I here give an account only of the cathepreserved in the archives of Tara, should be dral churches which still exist, though at
confided to the care of the bishops, who present belonging to a different religion, and
made several copies of them, to be deposited the religious houses suppressed in the latter
in the different churches in the kingdom, ages by the supposed reformers; I shall
both for the convenience of individuals who place them under the different reigns, as far
might wish to consult them, and prevent as I am acquainted with the time of their
the accidents that might occur either by fire foundation.
or war. In this examination of the manu-   The cathedral churches founded in the
scripts of the Milesians, the holy apostle fifth century, that still exist, and the time
caused a great number of volumes to be of the foundation of which corresponds with
burned, which treated of the superstitions of the reigns of Laogare, Oilioll-Molt, and
the pagan religion, which the Irish had till Lugha VII., are Ardmach-which, though
then professed.                         not the most ancient, I mention first on acThe only war in which Laogare was en- count of its pre-eminence-Ossory, Emly,
gaged during his reign, was against the peo- Ardach, Elphin, Killala, Clogher, Kildare,
ple of Leinster, about the Boroimhe or tri- Down, and Connor.
bute which Tuathal Teachtmar, one of his   Ardmach is the head of the churches in
predecessors, had imposed on them in the Ireland, and is styled the metropolitan.:
second century. They had often made in- St. Patrick having filled this see for the
effectual struggles to rid themselves of this space of ten years, resigned it to Saint Biburden, which furnished Criomthan, son of nen, (Benignus,) his disciple, son of Sesgnen,
Eana-Kinseallagh, who was king of Lein- a rich and powerful man in Meath, who was
ster at that time, with a pretext to declare converted, with his family, by St. Patrick,
war against the monarch. Wars were but whom he hospitably received when this saint
of short continuance in ancient times; one was going to the court of Laogare.  The latbattle often sufficing to terminate the dis- ter resigned it in favor of Iarlath, and died
pute.  Both parties having come to an en- three years afterwards at Ardmach. A. D.
gagernent at Ath-Dara, in the county of
Kildare, Criomthan was victorious, and Lao* Vit. S. Patr. cap. 185.
gare taken prisoner: he recovered his liberty   t War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 16.
only on condition of relinquishing his claim   I " He built a cathedral church in the same city,
on that province, a promise which he after- that it should be the metropolitan and mistress of
wards considered as void, having been ex-all Ireland."-Jocelia.
He fortified the metropolitan church of Armagh,
torted by violence. He was killed some for the salvation of souls, and to protect the city
time afterwards by a thunderbolt at Greal- and kingdom.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             157
465, or, according to others, at Ferlingmor, ledge of the holy Scriptures, and theology.
in England,* from whence, it is said, his He was appointed by St. Patrick bishop of
relics were removed in 1091, to the abbey Athruim, in east Meath, from whence:he
of Glastonbury, in the county of Somerset; was removed by the same saint to the see
but the annals of Innis-Faill fix his death at of Ardmach, vacant by the death of Iarlath.
Rome, in the year 467.                    He died the seventeenth of February, having
Iarlath, or Hierlath, disciple of St. Pat- been at the head of that church for fifteen
rick,t successor to St. Binen, and third bish- years, and was interred at Trim, where his
op of Ardmach, was son of Trena, or Trien, memory is held in high veneration, as well
prince of Mudhorn, now  the barony of as at Ardmach.  Dubtach, or Duach, sucMourne, in the county of Down, of the race ceeded Cormac; he is called, in the life of
of the Dalfiatachs.t  Although Trena lived St. Tigernach, the venerable Duach, and
sufficiently long to have heard the word of celebrated archbishop of the see of St. PatGod from St. Patrick, still he died an ob- rick.  He died in 513, after an episcopacy
durate pagan; his example was not followed of sixteen years.
by his two sons, Iarlath and Sedna, who   Ailild, or Ailil, son of Trichen, of the
conceived a particular regard for the holy royal race of the Dalfiatachs,* princes of
apostle, and became zealous imitators of his Eastern Ulster, was archbishop of Ardmach
virtues.  Iarlath, although  younger than during thirteen years; he died the 13th
most of the disciples of this apostle, was of January, 527.  He was succeeded by
considered worthy, by his wisdom and piety, another of the same name and family,t who
to be nominated to the principal see in the governed that church till his death, which
island, after Saint Binen.  He died after an happened the 1st of July, 536, and was sucepiscopacy of eighteen years, the eleventh ceeded by Dubtach, or Duach the second, of
of February, 482, though his decease is fixed the race of Colla-Huais, who died in 548.
a year sooner in the annals of Ulster, that   The episcopal see of Ossory, founded in
is, in the year 481.  " Quies Tarlathi, filii the beginningof the fifth centuryat Sayghir,t
Trena, Epilscopi Arimlchanli:" " The de- in the country of Ely, as has been already
cease of larlath, son of Trena, bishop of mentioned, by St. Kieran,~ one of the four
Ardmach;" and according to another copy: precursors of St. Patrick in the mission of
" The decease of Iarlath, son of Trena, Ireland, is incontestably the most ancient in
third bishop of Ardmach:" " Tertia Episcopi Ireland.  St. Cartach the elder, (so called to
Ardmachani."                               distinguish him from Cartach, first bishop of
Iarlath of Ardmach is not the same as Lismore,) son or grandson of Aongus, king
Iarlath,~ founder and first bishop of Tuaim- of Munster, who had been converted by St.
da-Gualand, now  Tuam, in Connaught.ll Patrick, succeeded St. Kieran in the see of
The sees of Dublin and Cashel were not Sayghir, having been his disciple,ll and subfounded till some centuries after, and were mitted to a penance of seven years in a formade metropolitan churches, with Tuam, in eign country, which that saint had imposed
the twelfth century.~                      on him in expiation of a crime he had comAfter the death of Iarlath of Ardmach, mitted, by endeavoring to seduce a nun.
St. Patrick appointed Cormac, bishop of On his return to his country, he gave such
Trim, to succeed him; so that this holy strong proofs of virtue, and the sincerity of
apostle lived to nominate three bishops, one his conversion, that he became the wellafter the other, to the see of Ardmach. beloved of his master, St. Kieran, and was
Cormac, nephew of Laogare the monarch, considered worthy of succeeding him. He
by his brother Eana, to whom belonged, in died the 6th of March, in the year 540.
the time of St. Patrick, the territory extend-   St. Sedna, or Sedonius, succeeded St.
ing from Kinaliagh in West-Meath as far hs Cartach.  He is expressly called bishop of
the river Shannon, and who gave his son and Sayghir, in his life, mentioned in Colgan, on
the ninth part of his property to the holy the 10th of March.~l
apostle, was instructed by St. Patrick and   Among the number of those prelates are
his disciples for some years; and made a
considerable progress in virtue, the know-  * Usser. Primord. p. 874.
t Usser. Ind. Chron. ad an. 526.
* War. de Presul. Armach.            $ War. de Preesul. Ossoriens.
t Ibidem.                            ~ Act. Sanct. Hib. ad 5 Mart. in Vit. Kieran, p.
t Colgan, Act. SS. Hib. ad 11 Febr.    438, et seq.
~ Ogyg. part 3, cap. 46.            11 Act. Sanct. Hib. ad 6 Mart. Vit. S. Cartach, p.
[[ War. de Prmsul. Hib.           473, et seq.
19 Colg. Act. SS. Hib. ad 11 Feb.'1 Act. Sanct. Hib. de S. Sedna, page 572.




158               ~HISTORY OF IRELAND.
also reckoned St. Killen-Mac-Lubney,* who of Ardagh.  It is said that he wrote a book
had assisted at the synod held in 695, by on the virtues and miracles of St. Patrick,
Flan-Febla, archbishop of Ardmach, the who was living at that time.
acts of which Colgan mentions to have seen;   St. Melucho, brother of St. Mel, succeeded
Cormac I., who died in 867, and Cormac him in the see of Ardagh; the other bishops
II., in 997.                               were but little known before the time of the
The bishopric of Emly is one of the most English.
ancient in the kingdom.  This see, situated   Elphin, or Elfin, formerly called Imleachin a delightful and fertile country, was Ona,* from Ono, grandson of Erca-Dearg,
founded by St. Ailbe, one of the four pre- brother of Duach-Galach, chief of the Hycursors of St. Patrick, mentioned by Usher.i Brunes, a fertile territory in Connaught, was
This saint was looked upon as another St. given to St. Patrick by Ono, to whom  it
Patrick, and a second patron of Munster.   belonged.t  The saint founded a church
Various opinions prevail on the time that there, near a little river formed by two
St. Ailbe had preached the gospel in Ire- fountains in the neighborhood, the care of
land.  Ware, on the authority of Tirechan, which he confided to Asicus, a man of an
and the author of that saint's life, seems to austere and penitent life, who was first bishop
favor the opinion of those who assert that of it, and who founded a monastery there.
St. Ailbe came after St. Patrick, or at least Like St. Eloy, he wrought in gold, silver,
had received the order of priesthood from and copper, and ornamented his church
him; but Usher reckons St. Ailbe among with his workmanship.  He died at Raththe precursors of that apostle. The judicious cunge, in the country of Tirconnel, where
Harris says that he does not mean to com- he was interred.  His festival is held the
pare the authority of Tirechan with a numn- 27th of April, but the year of his death is
ber of ancient writers, who affirm that St. unknown.
Ailbe had preached the- gospel, and made   The bishopric of Kill-Aladh, now Kilseveral converts in Ireland, before the arrival lala, on the left bank of the river Moy, where
of St. Patrick.  That great saint died at an it falls into the sea, was founded by St. Patadvanced age, accordingto Usher and the an- rick before the middle of the fifth century.
nals of Ulster and Innisfail, the 12th Septem- The first bishop of this see was Saint Mureber, in the year 527. The successors of St. dach, son of Eochaid.  His festival is celeAilbe in the bishopric of Emly, and before brated the twelfth of August; the year of
the time of the English, are mentioned by his death is unknown.  His successors, beWare in the account of the prelates of that fore the time of the English, are unknown,
see.  Emly was finally united to the see of except Kellack, great-grandson of OiliollCashel in the sixteenth century.           Molt, the monarch, who filled that see in
The cathedral of Ardagh, in the county the sixth century, under the reign of Tuathalof Longford, founded by St. Patrick, is also i Maolgarb.  This prelate was assassinated,
one of the most ancient churches in the for which his assassins were afterwards torn
island; the first bishop of which was Saint asunder by four horses.  O'Mwelfogamair is
Mel, a native of Britain, and son of his sis- also called bishop of Tir-Amalgaid and
ter Darerca.  Some say that it was St. Mel O'Fiachra in the twelfth century.  The
himself who founded it.  However this be, bishopric of Killala is so called, by the histohe was both bishop and abbot of that church, rians of the country, from the surrounding
it having been customary in this country, in territories of Tir-Amalgaid, or Tyrawly and
the first ages of Christianity, for the same O'Fiachra Mui.  Lastly, Imar O'Ruadan
person to be invested with the dignities of is called bishop of O'Fiachra, that is Killala,
bishop and abbot; as bishop he governed who died in 11'77.
the diocese, ordained priests, placed. cu-   The church of Clogher, in Tir-Eogain,
rates, and exercised his other episcopal was founded by St. Patrick, before that of
functions, and, as abbot, was at the head of Ardmach.T The first bishop of this church,
the monks.  St. Mel, says Jocelin, lived by after St. Patrick, was  St. Macarthen.~
his labor, like St. Paul.  He died the 6th This saint was known by three or four difof February, 488, five years before his uncle, ferent names;ll his first name, which was
St. Patrick, and was interred in his church given him by his parents, was Aeb, or Aib;
X Vit. Trip. part 2, cap. 37, 38, 39, 40, 41.
* Act. Sanct. Hib. ad 5. Mart. App. ad Vit. S.  t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 79.
Kiaran, c. 4, p. 475.                       t Usser. Prim. c. 17, p. 856
t Prim. Eccles. cap. 16, p. 781, et seq. cap. 17,  ~ War. de Presul. Hib.
p. 866.                                     II Colgan, Act. Sanct. Hib. page 737 et 740.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             159
his second name was Fer-Dachrioch, signi- his life, in consequence of which the crown
fying the man of the two countries, having devolved to his rival, A. D. 483.*
been successively abbot of Darinis, an island   Saint Patrick, whom we had left at Rome,
on the coast of Hy-Kinseallagh, near Wex- having returned to Ireland, felt himself exford, and afterwards bishop of Clogher; hausted by the labors and fatigues he had
Jocelin calls him Kerten, which is only a undergone for the sake of Jesus Christ.t
patronymic name, designating the son by the He had, in the whole, spent sixty years in
father; lastly, he was called Macartin, or his mission, the first thirty of which were
Macaerthen, signifying the son of Caerthen. occupied in continual labor; he was obliged,
This saint belonged to the noble family of however, during the last thirty years, to lead
the Arads of Dalaradie, and was one of a more tranquil life, which he spent, somethe oldest disciples of St. Patrick, and his times at Ardmach, and sometimes in his
companion in his apostolical labors and first monastery of Sabhall, where, not convoyages into foreign countries; for which tent with assisting his disciples and other
reason he was called the staff of the old age ministers with his prayers and advice, he
of that holy apostle.  St. Macarthen found- watched over the whole administration with
ed, by order of St. Patrick, a monastery at equal vigilance and solicitude; he preached
Clogher, after which he died, the 6th of Oc- every day, and held his councils each year.
tober, 506, and was interred in the ceme-   St. Patrick having gone with St. Olcan
tery of his church.                      into the country of Dalrieda to visit the new
Tigernach, or Tierne, called legate of Christians, he met with Feargus, the youngIreland in the registry of Clogher, suc- est of the twelve sons of Erc, son of Eoceeded Macarthen; he' made the church of cha Munravar, prince of that territory, who
Cluan his cathedral, from whence he was complained of the injustice of his brothers,
called bishop of Cluanois, or Clhines.  He that wished to deprive him of all share in
is perhaps the same as Tigernach of Clon- the succession of their father Erc, who had
macnoisk. He founded an abbey at Clunes, lately died.,   The holy prelate,~ moved
in Monaghan, for regular canons, which he with compassion for the young prince, and
dedicated to the apostles St. Peter and knowing the justice of his claims, used his
Paul.  Usher fixes his death on the fifth of influence for him, with his brothers, and
April, 550,* others in 549, and the annals prevailed on them  to restore to him  his
of the four masters in 548.t             right.  Filled with gratitude for so signal a
Oilioll, surnamed Molt, son of Dathy, of service, Feargus offered him the half of his
the race of the Hy-Fiachras of Connaught, inheritance for the use of the church, which
succeeded Laogare, A. D. 463.  This mon- offer the saint had too much delicacy to acarch being intent on renewing the tributes cept; he asked him only to confer some
which his predecessors had exacted from land on his companion Olcan, whereon to
the people of Leinster, gave them battle at build a church: in consequence of this the
Tunia-Aichair: the action was bloody, but prince gave him Airther-Muighe, one of the
not decisive.  The most disastrous war in principal towns in the district, and its dewhich he was engaged was with Lugha, pendencies, where St. Olcan or Bolcan built
son of Laogare; this prince, who looked the church of Dercon, of which he was the
upon Oilioll as usurper of the supreme gov- first bishop.  Prince Feargus afterwards
Ierminent of the island,t made an alliance became first king of the Albanian Scots,
with sonle other princes of the country, who according to the prophecy of St. Patrick.
furnished him with troops to support him in   Notwithstanding the labors of his aposhis right to the monarchy.  Those princes tleship, our saint relaxed in none of the
were Miortough-Mac-Erca, Feargus-Kerbe- austerities or spiritual exercises which he
oil, son of Conall-Crimthine, Fiachra-Lonn, practised.  He always travelled on foot;
son of Laogare, and king of Dalaradie, and slept on the bare ground; recited the PsalCriomthan, son of Eana-Kinsealleagh, king ter, besides a number of hymns and prayers
of Leinster.  Lugha, at the head of the every day; at length, rich in virtue, and
confederate army, gave battle to the monarch happy to witness the prosperous state in
at Ot-.Lha,~ in Meath, wherein the latter lost which he had placed the kingdom of Jesus
Christ in Ireland, he went to receive, in
X Primord. cap. 17, p. 856.
t In. Indice, Chron. p. 1140.            * Usser. Ind. Chron. p. 1118.
$ Trias Thaum Vit. 4. S. Brig. lib. 2, cap. 12, et  t Baillet, Vie des Saints, au 17 Mars.
seq. eum. notis.                           t Colgan. Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Olcan.
~ Trias Thaum. not. 8, in lib. 2. Vit. S. Brigid.   ~ Vit. Tripart. lib. 2; c. 135.




160                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
heaven, the reward of his labors, after hav- Dalriads of Ulster to Albania, to have taken
ing, it is said, built three hundred and sixty- place in the time of Lugha VII.  They
five churches, consecrated almost as many were headed by the six sons of Erc, namebishops, and ordained nearly three thousand ly, the two Laornes, the two Aonguses, and
priests.  The piety of the faithful contrib- the two Fearguses.*
uted largely to those holy works, by resign-   Giraldus Cambrensis affirms that this
ing a tenth part, not only of their lands, expedition was commanded by the six sons
fruits, and flocks, in order to found churches of Muredus, king of Ulster, under the reign
and monasteries, but also a portion of their of Niall the Great; however, it is impossichildren, both male and female, to make of ble that those princes could have been capathem monks and nuns.*                      ble of leading a colony to Albania in the
The saint died in 493, aged 120 years, reign of their great-grandfather, their father
in the reign of the monarch Lugha VII., being son of Eogan, and grandson of that
and the pontificate of Saint Gesalius.t He great monarch.  This anachronism  arises
was interred, not in his monastery of Sab- from the inaccuracy of the author, who has
hall, where he died, nor in his church of confounded both time and persons.
A.rdmach, where he wished to die, but in   The Scots of Albania, as has been obthat of the city of Down, in the diocese of served in the first part of this history, whose
which was Sabhall.  His body remained in first founder, in the third century, was Cairit for a long time, known and honored by the bre, otherwise Eocha-Riada, whom  Bede
people on account of the miracles and graces calls Reude, were obliged to qurit their setgranted by God through his intercession.   tlements in Cantyre and Argyle, two territoIn the time of Lugha VII., son of Lao- ries in Albania called Dalrieda, from Reuda,
gare, who began his reign after the battle their first chief, and to return to Ireland in
of Ocha, A. D. 483, a dreadful war broke the beginning of the reign of Laogare.
out between the different provinces of the " Revertuntur impudentes grassatores Hikingdom.t Aongus, son of Nadfraoch, hav- berni domum,"t says Bede. Their chief, at
ing reigned thirty-six years in Munster, was that time, was Eocha-Munramar, descended
killed, with  his queen, Eithne-Vathach, in the seventh degree from Cairbre-Riada,
daughter of Criomthan, last king of Lein- and in the third from Fergus Ulidian, who
ster, and grand-daughter of Eana-Kinseal- led part of the tribe that had remained in
lagh, at the battle of Kill-Osnach, in the Munster to the north of Ireland, where he
plain of Moy-Fea, near Leighlin in the formed a settlement called Dalrieda, which
county of Carlow.                         he erected into a kingdom, with the good
Duach-Galach, son of Brien, and grand- will of the monarch.  Those two people,
son of Eocha-Moy-Veagon, king of Con- namely, the Dalriads of Albania, and those
naught, was killed at the battle of Seaghsa. of Ulster, considered themselves as kinsFraoch, son of Fionchad, king of Leinster, men; and, though separated by an arm of
lost his life at the battle of Graine.     the sea, formed but one tribe, commanded
The principal belligerents, besides the by the same chief.
provincial kings, were, Mortough-Mac-Ear-   Eocha-Munramar having died in Ulster,
ca, who became monarch after Lugha; left two sons, Erc and Olcu; from the latter
Oilioll, son of Dunluin, prince of Leinster; were descended the Dalriads, who remainand Cairbre, son of Niall the Great, with ed in that province; and the former, being
his son Eochad.  Those wars were fol- desirous of retrieving the fortunes of those
lowed by an open rupture between the Hy- of the tribe who had left Albania under the
Nialls and the people of Leinster, which command of his father Eocha, led them
terminated in the battle of Loch-Moighe, back to their ancient possessions, about the
in which a great number of lives were lost. year 439.  Marianus Scotus fixes the perAll the ancient monuments of the Mile- manent establishment of the Dalriads in
sians mention the last expedition of the Albania in the year 445; to which the
venerable Bede alludes when he says of
* "Making monks therefore of all the males, them, as well as of the Picts, that they had
and holy nuns of all the females, he built a number rested there for the first time  " Tun  priof monasteries, and assigned for their support a mum et deinceps quieverunt."
tenth part of his lands and flocks." —Henricus An-   After this expedition, Erc, whom Usher
tissidorus, c. 174.                       calls the father of the kings of Scotland,
t Usser. Primord. Eccles. Brit. c. 17, p. 880,
et seq.
t Trias Thaum. Vit. 4. S. Brigid. lib. 2, cap. 12.  * Usser. Primord. p. 1029.
et seq. cum notis.                              t Usser. Prim. cap. 15, p. 608, et seq.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             161
returned to Ulster, with the title of chief of   St. Conloethl, Conlaidh, or Conlain, was
the Dalriads; this he retained till his death, founder and first bishop of this see.* Cogiwhich happened in 474.  About 29 years tosus, in the life of St. Bridget, makes menafterwards, that is, in 503, six of his chil- tion of Conlait, whom he calls archbishop
dren, as we have already observed, led, and high priest.t  IHe died the third of
under the reign of Lugha, a new colony to May, in the year 519, and was interred in
Albania,* where Feargus the youngest was his church of Kildare, near the great altar;
elevated to the dignity of king, and solemnly his relics were enshrined in the year 800,
crowned some time afterwards.t           in a shrine of silver gilt,, ornamented with
Although the Christian religion was uni- precious stones. St. Aed, surnamed Dubh,
versally established in Ireland in the time that is, the Black, is the first bishop of Kilof Saint Patrick, and both the princes and dare, after St. Conlath, of whom we have
the people worshipped the true  God, it any knowledge.t  According to Colgan, he
appears that the monarch had apostatized; took the monastic habit, after having been
as we are informed in history, that his death king of Leinster, and became abbot; he was
was caused by a thunderbolt at Achacharca, afterwards made bishop of that see.  He is
in Meath, and his descendants were ex- in accordance with the annals of the Four
cluded from the throne, as St. Patrick had Masters on this subject.  Cogitosus, who
foretold: such were the chastisements for lived before the year 590, asserts that the
his impiety and opposition to the gospel.  succession had remained uninterrupted till
The recollection of a miracle which God his time.~  Walsh makes mention of Maelhad wrought through the intercession of St. coba, bishop of Kildare, under the year
Patrick, to restore this unhappy prince to 610';11 probably confounding him with anolife, was not capable of changing his heart. ther of the same name who was bishop of
St. Patrick and some other bishops being at Clogher, having, according to Gratianus
dinner with the queen, mother of Lugha, the Lucius, abdicated the throne of Ireland.9T
young prince became so suddenly ill at table   The bishoprics of Down and Connor were
that they believed him to be dead; the queen, founded towards the end of the fifth cenfilled with despair on seeing her son in that tury; the former by St. Cailan, and the
state, implored the intercession of the holy latter by St. ZEngus Macnise.
apostle with God, for his recovery; the saint   The first bishop of Down, in Latin Duordered the body to be carried into an ad- num, so called from its being situated on a
joining hall, where he prayed till the child hill, and formerly called Aras-Cealtair, and
was restored to life.  Transported with joy sometimes Dun-da-Leghlas, capital of Daland gratitude, the queen ordered that a part radia, was Cailan or Coelan, abbot of Nenof what was daily served at her table should drum.**  Allemand having confounded, in
be given to the poor.  As this miracle was his Monastic History of Ireland,tt this abwI ought on St. Michael's day, it gave rise bey with that of Neddrum, founded in the
to a custom, which has since prevailed, and twelfth century, asserts that Usher errs
is still practised among old Irish families, against chronology, by saying that Cailan,
of killing a sheep on St. Michael's day, the first bishop of Down, in the fifth century,
greater part of which is given to the poor. was abbot of a monastery, six hundred years
This offering is called, in the language of before its foundation: however, Allemand
the country, Cuid-l}ihil, signifying the share forgets that Usher calls the abbey of St.
of Michael; others call it Coiro-Mtihil, or Cailan  sometimes Noendrum, and NenMichael's sheep: so true is it that those drum, names very different from Neddrum.tt
ancient customs, which, for want of know- The mistake is too obvious to be attributed
ing the cause of them, appear extraordinary, to so great a man.
and even ridiculous, have been founded on
some motive of piety.
In this reign were founded the bishoprics  * War. de Pr&esul. Hib.
of Kildare, Down, and Connor.              t Note 7, in Prolog. cap. 29, note 14.
Kildare, one of the most ancient bishoprics     Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Aed. ad 4 Jan.
in Leinster, derives its name from Kill, sig-  0 " How, without intermission, the archbishop of
nifying ellsorchurch, aerives  Dsaiefl, whic h the Irish bishops, rules over them by perpetual
nifying  cell or church, and Daire, which succession and custom." —Colgan's Life of St.
signifies oak, as the first foundation was laid Bridget, p. 518.
there by St. Bridget, near a wood of oak.    1I Prosp. page 224.
~fI Cambren. Evers. p. 302.
** War. de Episc. Dunens.
X Usser. Ind. Chron. page 1117.    it Page 156.
t Usser. Ind. Chron. page 1122.    1: Usser. Prim. page 954, et 1065.
21




~162                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
St. Feargus succeeded St. Cailan in this hermits of Mount-Carmel or Thebais; which
see; he was son of EnLgus, of royal blood, is not without some appearance of truth. St.
beingdescendedfrom Caolvach, lastmonarch Ailbe, St. Declan, St. Kieran, and others,
of the island of the race of Irc. He had been, had really travelled in Italy; and St. Patrick
it is said, abbot and founder of the monastery himself, after being a regular canon of St.
of Kill-Bian; he died the 30th March, 583. John of Lateran, had visited the islands in
The succession of prelates of the bishop- the Mediterranean, as far as the Archipelago,
ric of Down, was interrupted till the twelfth where several of those regulations were
century, and the episcopacy of St. Malachi established, not only at that time, but long
O'Morgair, whose life has been written by before.  Those regulations were perhaps
St. Bernard.                               afterwards blended with those of St. AugusiEngus Macnise, as we have already ob- tin, and St. Benedict, which had prevailed
served, was founder and first bishop of Con- throughout the west.
nor, a city in the county of Antrim.  His   In those early ages, thirteen orders, or
father was called Fobrec, and contrary to particular rules, prevailed in Ireland, namely,
general custom, he took his surname from those of St. Ailbe, St. Declan, St. Patrick,
his mother, and was simply called St. Mac- St. Columb, St. Carthach, St. Molua or
nise.  His death is fixed on the 3d Sep- Lugidus, St. Moctee, St. Finian, St. Columtember, 507, or according to others 514. banus, St. Kieran, St. Brendan, and the
His successors are but little known till the order instituted by St. Bridget for females.
arrival of the English, or at least till the   All those orders differed not only in their
episcopacy of St. Malachi O'Morgair, who dress, tonsure, food, and retirement, but
was appointed to this see in 1124, from likewise in those who had been their foundwhence he was removed to Ardmach, which ers, and also the abbeys and monasteries
he resigned some time after in favor of connected with them: and as the union of
Gelasius, to retire to Down. Those churches all those particular orders with those of St.
had each a chapter, consisting of a dean, Augustin and St. Benedict, is very ancient,
archdeacon, chorister, treasurer, chancellor, we cannot exactly determine to what rule in
and of some prebendaries. Those sees were particular each convent formerly belonged.
reunited in 1442 by Pope Eugene IV., at   The order of St. Columbanus was the
the request of John, then bishop of Connor; only one among the thirteen which submitted
in consequence of which there were letters to that of St. Benedict; the others professed
patent from  King Henry VI., in the year the order of the regular canons of' St. Au1438, wherein this union was approved of. gustin, which has been the most consideraMonks were established almost as early ble in Ireland, the Benedictines not having
as the Christian religion in Ireland.  The appeared till the seventh century.
monastic state, says Camden, although in   In the fifth century there were many holy
its beginning, had attained a high degree abbots in Ireland, who founded abbeys.
of perfection in that country.  The monks The most eminent were  St. Endee, St.
desired to be in reality what they appeared; Moctee, St. Senan, St. Rioche, St. Canoc,
their piety was neither affected nor dis- and the great St. Bridget, who was abbess
guised; if they erred in any thing, it was and the foundress of several monasteries.
more through simplicity than obstinacy or   The sixth century was not less fruitful in
bad intention.*                            saints who founded monasteries, and some
It is not easy to decide to what order of whom introduced particularorders.t The
these monks belonged in the first ages of most celebrated were, the great St. Columb,
Christianity.  That of St. Benedict, and the the two St. Finians, the two St. Brendans,
regular canons of St. Augustin, as they are the Saints Colman, St. Colmanelle, St. Broat present, were not then known; it is there- gan, St. Coman, St. Congall, St. Edan, or
fore probable that the monks in Ireland had Maidoc, St. Fachnan, St. Carthach, St. Cromade certain regulations for themselves, or nan, St. Laserian, or Molaisse, St. Sinelle,
that they had brought the rules of St. An- and many others.
thony, St. Pacomius, or St. Basil, from the   We also discover in the seventh century,
Levant; or perhaps those of the celebrated several abbots, celebrated for the sanctity of
their lives, as St. Dubhan, St. Fechin, St.
" The monks, although recently established, Columbanus, St Munchin, and St. Rodan.
and their order new, wished to be in accordance   There were likewise many saints in the
with their character. They acted without disguise
or pretence. They possessed simplicity, but nothing bordering on obstinacy or malice." —Camden,  * Act. Sanct. Hib. note 7, ad Vit. S. Fursei.
page 730.                                    t Usser. Primord. Eccl. Brit. cap. 17, page 909.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                               163
eighth, ninth, and tenth centuries, of whom  Christianity in Ireland, some of which have
we shall have occasion to speak in the been mentioned in the life of St. Patrick;
course of this history.                     several of these monasteries were, at the
This island was called, by way of pre- same time, bishoprics and abbeys, and the
eminence, from the number of saints it had dignities of bishop and abbot were frequentproduced, the island of saints, "Insula Sanc- ly united in the same person; which, actorum."  The number indeed was so great, cording to Pere Mabillon, was practised in
that Colgan observed, not without reason, several cathedrals in Europe, in which there
in the preface to his life of the Irish saints, were friars; there was a bishop and abbot
that what is at present said of them  is at the same time, and sometimes the bishop
scarcely credible.*                         was abbot.  Some of these monasteries
Besides, Ireland can, in comparison with were also  changed into  cathedrals, and
the rest of Europe,t boast of having been others into parish churches.
at that time a seminary of sanctity, whither   The first monasteries deserving of ouri
the Christians of other nations came in consideration in the fifth century, are those
crowds, to learn the practice of Christian founded by the four precursors of Saint
virtue,t and from  whence a considerable Patrick, namely, the monastery of Saighirnumber of saints went forth daily and dis- Kieran, in the territory of Ely, founded by
persed themselves throughout the different St. Kieran; this saint was not only the first
parts of Europe,~ where they founded fa- of the Irish apostles, but was also called, by
mous abbeys, the glorious monuments of way of distinction, the first-born of the
which are still to be seen,Jl so that Ireland saints of this island: " Primlogenitus sancmight be called in that golden age, " In torum Hibernime."  It is said that this saint
aureis illis seminate Fidei primordiis," the established a bishopric there in 402, the
Thebaid of the west.~[ It even appears, see of which was afterwards transferred to
says Allemand, that at that time it was suf- Aghavoe, and from thence to Kilkenny.
ficient to be an Irishman, or to have been in Some authors affirm  that St. Kieran had
Ireland, to be considered holy, and become lived  three  centuries:  although  Colgan
the immediate founder of some abbey.** proves the possibility of it, still he does not
While the rest of Europe was a prey to the appear to attach credit to it himself; he
most dreadful catastrophes, and astonishing says that this error arises from this saint
revolutions, Divine Providence bestowed having been born towards the end of the
upon this peaceful island graces and bless- fourth century, having lived the whole of
lugs, which strangers went thither to be the fifth, and died in the beginning of the
partakers of.                               sixth, which has made some' authors say
There were a great number of monas- that he lived three hundred years.
teries founded on the first establishment of   The monasteries of Emly, in the county
of Tipperary, and Ardmore in the territory
* he foreign reader will wonder, perhaps, of Desie, in the county of Waterford, whic
(who is not well conversant in our history,) that were afterwards made  bishoprics, were
so great a number of saints are represented to go founded by St. Ailbe and St. Declan.
forth from one island, and that so many apostles   Beg-Erin, or little Ireland, an island on
of nations could go from one nation, who were of the coast of Kinseallagh, now Wexford, was
the same name, and cotemporaries, and frequently celebrated for an abbey w. Ibar, or
from the same convent, and from the same master, celebrated for an abbey which St. Ibar, or
and to gain a place among the saints." —Preface Ibhuir, had founded there, and the schools
of t/he Acts of Ireland.                    he had established in it,* where he was abbot
t Bede, Hist. Eccles. passim; et Cambd. Brit. and professor of all the sciences;' he was
page730. Prnot only a saint, but so learned that some
+Usser. Prim. Eccles. cap. 16, 17.
~ War. de Prmsul. Hib.                    authors call him  the doctor of Beg-Erin:
11 Colgan, Act. Sanct. Hib. et in Triad. Thaum. "' Doctor Begerensis;" and his abbey was
1 Allemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irlande.      not less celebrated for the college or uni* Allemand is mistaken in saying that the ter- versity he had established there, which proritory of Elia-Carolina was so called from Charles duced so many learned men, than for the
V., husband of Mary, queen of England and Ire.
land. First, it was not Charles V., but his son great number of saints who had left it.
Philip, that had been married to Mary. Second,   Sgibol or Sabhall-Phadruig, that is, the
this territory was called, in the Scotic language, granary of Patrick, was a celebrated abbey
Ele-Hy-Carrouil, from the O'Carrols, to whom it
formerly belonged, long before the invasion of the
English; and Latin authors have called it Elia-  * Usser. Prim. Eccles. Brit. Ind. Chron. ad an.
Carolina. See Allemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irlande, 420, et pages 714, 1061, 1063.
page 24.                                     -t Allem. Hist. Monast. d'Ireland, pages 16, 54.




164                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
founded by St. Patrick, the apostle of Ire- ford, by St. Columb; the abbey of Inis-Boland, towards the middle of the fifth cen- Fin, in Lake Ree, in the same country, by
tury, in the peninsula of Lecale, in the St. Rioche; the abbey of Inis-Cloghran, in
county of Down. The land was given him the same lake and country, by St. Dermod;
by Dichu, lord of that district, whom he had the priory of Iniscath, an island in the river
converted some time before. This house Shannon, in the county of Limerick, by St.
was afterwards occupied by regular canons Senan; the priory of Inis-Lua, an island in
of the order of St. Augustin.          the river Shannon, in the territory of ThuoAt Trim, in East Meath, there was a mond, by St. Senan;* the monastery of
monastery and bishopric founded, and dedi- Aran, or Arn-Na-Naemh, signifying  the
cated to the blessed Virgin, by St. Loman, island of saints, was founded in 480 for
in the time of St. Patrick. This monas- regular canons, by St. Endee, who was first
tery was long afterwards converted into an abbot of it.t  This island, which is situated
abbey of regular canons of St. Augustin, on the confines of the provinces of Munster
by the Danes.                           and Connaught, was given to St. Endee by
At Damliagh, now Duleek, in the same Aongus, son of Nadfraoch, king of Munster;
county, there was a house of regular canons the monastery of Cluain-Fois in the county
of St. Augustin, founded by a bishop of of Galway, founded by St. Iarlath, who
Damliagh, who is thought to be St. Kianan, founded another at Tuaim-da-Gauland, in
first bishop of it in the fifth century.  the same country, of which he was afterSt. Patrick founded also a great number wards bishop; the abbey of Kil-Chonail, in
of monasteries in this island, besides those the same country, founded by St. Conal;
that had the title of bishopric.        the priory of Inchmore, in lake Ree, in the
The most considerable are, the monastery county of Roscommon, founded by St. Liof Slane, in East Meath; the abbey of berius; t the priory of Gallen, or Galin, on
Druim-Lias, in the territory of Calrigia, the banks of the river Brosnagh, in the tercounty of Sligo; the monastery of Rath- ritory of Dealbhna-Mac-Coghlan, founded
Muighe, in the territory of Dalrieda, county in 491 for regular canons, by St. Canoc, or
of Antrim; the monastery of Coleraine, in Mochonoc, son of Bracan, of the royal race
the territory of Arachty-Cahan, county of of Leinster, and Dina, daughter of a Saxon
Derry; the monastery of Druim-Inis Gluin, prince.~
in the diocese of Ardmach; the abbey of   The number of monasteries for females
St. Peter and Paul at Ardmach; the mon- in Ireland is so inferior to that of the conastery of Kil-Auxille, or Kil-Ussail, in the vents for men, that it is likely the acts of
plain of Kildare, founded by St. Auxille, some of their foundations have been lost,
and the monastery of Mungarret, in the or they have not been transmitted to us,
county of Limerick.*                  - through the inaccuracy of historians; parThere were also many other monasteries ticularly as the devout sex has always disfounded in the same century, by different covered as much zeal and fervor for a
persons.                                religious life as the men.
The priory of the blessed Virgin at Louth,   The first nunnery that we discover in
founded by St. Moctee; the abbey of Nen- Ireland in the fifth century, is that of Killdrum  in Dalaradie, now  Down, by St. Liadan, founded by St. Kieran for his nioCailan; the priory of Lough-Derg, or Lough- ther Liadan, near his monastery of Saire,
Gerg, in Tirconnel, (where the celebrated in the territory of Ely.
purgatory of St. Patrickl is situated,) by St.  St. Patrick founded some; among others,
Daboec, or, as some say, by St. Patrick;t those of Cluain-Bronach and Druimcheo,
the abbey of our Lady, of Clogher, in the in the country of Analy, (Longford.)  At
territory of Tyrone, by St. Macarthen, bishop A rdmach he founded the monasteries called
of Clogher; the monastery of Cluain-Daimh, Temple-Bride, and Temple-Na-Fearta, that
in the plain of Kildare, by St. Sinchelle, or is, the Temple of Miracles, of which his
St. Ailbhe; the monastery of Ahad-Abla, sister Lupita was first abbess; he also
in the territory of Kinseallagh, county of founded the monastery of Kilaracht, in the
Wexford, founded by St. Finian;: the pri- territory of Roscommon, for his sister Athory of Inis-More, in lake Gauna, in the ter- racta; and lastly, the monastery of Cluainritory of Conmacne-Analy, at present Long- Dubhain, in the country of Tyrone.
* Act. Sanct. Vit. St. Auxil. ad 19 Mart.    * War. Antiq. Hib. cap. 26.
t Act. Sanct. Hib. not. 22, Vit. S. Canoe. ad 11  t Allem. Hist. Monast. d'Irlande.
Febr.                                          I Act. Sanct. Hib. ad 11 Febr.
t Act. Sanct. Vit. S. Finian. ad,23 Febr.    ~ War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 26.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                                165
The abbey of Lin, near Carrick-Fergus, expressed  by Edme O'Dwyer, bishop of
in the territory  of Dalrieda, (county of Limerick.*  She died, and was interred in
Antrim,) was founded by Darerca, sister of her abbey of Kildare, from whence her body
St. Patrick, of which she was the first abbess. was transferred, some time afterwards, to
The  monasteries of Ross-Oirthir in the Down, in Ulster, where it was deposited
county of Fermanagh, and Ross-Benchuirmin with the bodies of St. Patrick and St. ColumbThuomond, were founded, the one by St. Kill.1
Fanchea, sister of St. Endee, and the latter   The eminent charity, and the great numby St. Conchea.                             ber of miracles which God had wrought
Lastly, St. Bridget founded at Kildare, through her intercession, caused her to be
in 480, the celebrated abbey of which she placed, immediately after her death, among
was abbess.  This holy virgin was born in the most illustrious saints.  Parents were
a village called Fochart, in the territory of emulous to give her name to their female
Conal-Murthumne, now the county of Louth, children.  The church erected altars, and
towards the middle of the fifth century;* her dedicated temples to her, which honors were
father was Dubthach, a powerful lord in surpassed by those which she received fronm
Leinster, of the race of Eocha-Fionn, bro- posterity.  Ireland considered her as her
ther of the monarch Conn-Keadcaha, whose patroness; and her reputation soon spread
tribe settled in this province.t            itself beyond the narrow limits of that island.
Although Bridget was the fruit of a crim- All Europe participated ill this devotion.
inal intercourse of Dubthach with  Brot- Her name is invoked at Seville, Lisbon,
seach, God, who can draw the most heroic Placentia, Tours,  Besanron; at Namur, in
virtues from  crime itself, compensated for the abbey of Fulda, in which are some of
the sinfulness of her birth, by such abundant her relics  at Cologne, where one of the
graces, that she became a vessel of election, principal churches in the city is dedicated to
and a rare model of perfection.             her;1 and lastly, in London, where there is
Having received the veil, with several of still a church that bears her name.
her companions, from the hands of Machi-   This devotion was strengthened by an
lenus, a bishop and disciple of St. Patrick, office of nine lessons, in honor of this saint,
St. Bridget retired into a territory in Lein- which is to be met with in several Breviaries.ster, where, in a forest of oak, she founded in Europe; in an ancient Roman one printed
a monastery, which was head of its order, at Venice, in 1522; in that of Gien, (in
and where she established particular rules. Breviario Giennensi,) in Italy; in that of
This place has been since called Kil-Dare, the regular canons of Lateran; in an ancient I
"Cella roborum," signifying the chfrch in Breviary of Quimper in' Armorica; in a
the oaks.  It was there that this holy virgin church bearing her nanme at Cologne, of
displayed all those virtues that she possessed which she is patroness; and finally, in a
in so eminent a degree, of which the love of chapel dedicated to her in the territory of
God and our neighbor formed the basis of Fosse, diocess of IMaestricht.  We find an
-every other.  This divine love with which office to St. Bridget in the Breviaries and
her heart was inflamed, was represented by Missals of Maestricht, Mayence, Treves,
a natural fire, which she caused to- be kept Wirtsburg, Constance, Strasburg, and other
up for the relief of the poor; it was after- towns of Germany.
wards called inextinguishable, from its haying lasted for many ages; and though from been increased."-Giraldys Cambrensis, Topog. c;
its beginning a large quantity of wood and 24.
other combustible materials had been used to   * "The hearth burns with Bridget's incessant
feed it, it is extraordinary that the ashes fire, but the ashes is not increased thereby. What
never incre  ed.t This miracle is elegantly  means that burning pile?  Is it the emblem of an
neverhereased.: Tmiracle s elegantlyrdent soul? Is living love marked by the living
flame? If this flame, while Bridget feeds her fires,
Usser. Primord. Eeeles. e. 15, pp. 627, 705, t 706. continue without becoming extinct, it will not die."
-1 Trias. Thaum. Vit. S. Brigid. ad 1 Febr.  t In Burgo Duno, tumulo tumulantur in uno
" Kildare, a city of Leinster, the glorious    Brigida, Patricius, atque Columba pius.
Bridget hath rendered illustrious by her many mira-   "In Down, Bridget, Patrick, and St. Columbties, which are worthy of being recorded; and Kill, are buried in one tomb."
among the first is Bridget's fire. This, they say, was   i "iThe fifth is the parish church, dedicated to the
inextinguishable, not because it could not be extin- holy Virgin Bridget. This parish being joined to
i guished, but the nuns and holy women anxiously that of St. Martin the elder, on one side it is joined
supplied the material for the fire, so that during so to Lank-Gasin-street; it was erected in honor of
many years, the fire continued without becoming ex- the aforesaid Bridget who was a Scot, and a holy
tinct; and notwithstanding the heaps pf wood con- virgin. Her festival is on the first of February."samed for so long a period, the ashes had never Erhardus Winheim.




166                              HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Mortough, otherwise Murchertach Mac- lished his see at Clonard, on the river Boyne,
| Earcha, succeeded Lugha VII:* his father in Meath, where he founded a school, oruni-! was Muiredach, son of Eogan, and grand- versity, celebrated for the great concourse of
son of the monarch Niall the Great.f  He students, amounting sometimes to three thouwas called Mac-Earca,t that is, son of Earca, sand, among whom were a great number of
from the name of his mother, who was daugh- subjects celebrated for their sanctity and
ter of Loarne, the eldest of the six brothers learning.  Of this number the two St. Kierwho had led the colony to Albania.~ In the ans, the two Brendans, the two Columbs,
reign of this monarch, Oilioll, son of Mor- namely, Columb-Kill, and Columb, son of
I tough, reigned  in  Leinster, and Cormac, Crimthan, Laserian, son of Nathfrach, Caindescended in the eighth degree from Oilioll- ec, Moveus, and Ruadan; and as this school
Olum, by Eogan-More, in Munster.             was called "a wonderful sanctuary of wis-.
This prince was not less remarkable for dom," by the author of his life, " totius sahis Christian piety, than for his valor as a pientiae admirabile sacrarium," so this saint
wIarrior.l[ He afforded particular protection was called Finian the Wise.
to religion, as well as his wife, Sabina, who   It appears from the registry of the church
died with a high reputation for sanctity.    of Meath, quoted by Usher, that the terriIn the beginning of Christianity there tory of Clonard was given to St. Finian and
were several bishoprics in Meath, namely, his successors, by St. Kieran the younger,
those of Cluan-Araird, or Clonard, Dam- to whom it belonged.*
liag, or Duleek, Ceannanus, now  Kells,   Usher discovers some difficulty respecting
Trim, Ardbreccan,  Donseaghlin,  Slane, St. Kiaran-Saighir, who is said to have asFoure, and others.  All those sees, except sisted at the school of St. Finian; according
Duleek and Kells, were united towards the to his calculation he was born in 352.t We
beginning of the twelfth century, to form  should then suppose that he lived to the age
the see of Clonard: Duleek and Kells after- of 168 years: this would not have been imwards shared the same fate.                  possible, as many instances of the same ocSt. Finian, or Finan, sometimes also called curred in after ages.  Whatever might have
Finbar,~ son of Fintan, a subtle philoso- been the time of his birth, Ware fixes his
pher, and profound theologian, was first death in 549, and Usher himself inl 552.t
bishop of Clonarci; he was of the noble race Besides, according to the author of St. Kierof the Clanna-Rorys, and his piety added an's life, he was humble, and fond of hearing
new lustre to his birth. Having been bap- the holy Scriptures expounded; so that neitized by St. Abhan, he was placed under the ther his old age, nor his great learning, not
guidance of St. Fortkern, bishop of Trim, even the episcopal dignity, made him ashamwhere he remained till the ageof thirty years, ed of being called a pupil of St. Finian.~
continually profiting by the instructions of   According to some, St. Finian died the
this holy bishop.  He afterwards went into 12th of December, 552, and according to
Britain, and became attached to St. David, others, in 563, and was interred in his church
bishop of Menevia, in Wales, by whom he of Clonard.  The annals of the four masters
was particularly beloved for his piety and fix his death in 548. Usher, who calls him
learning;* he remained thirty years in Brit- the first of the saints of the second order in
ain, where he founded three churches.tff
Having returned to his own country, and    "St. Kieran gave to his teacher, St. Finian,
being consecrated bishop in 520, he estab- and to his successors, the lordship of Clonard, and
small farms annexed to it."'-Usher, C. Hist. c. 17,
* Keat. History of Ireland.                p. 909.
t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 93.                     t Primord. Eccles. cap. 16, page 788.
Wt ar. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 4; et Usser. passim;   t De Episc. Ossor. et Ind. Chron. page 1140, ad
et Bruodin, Propug. lib. 5, cap. 13.         ann. 552.
~ Colg. Vit. S. Brigid. Prmuf. ad lectorem.  ~ " St. Kiaranus was very humble in all things;
11 "A man renowned in war, he routed the enemy he loved to hear and learn the divine Scripture, till
in 17 battles, notwithstanding which he practised he became enfeebled by old age. It is said of him,
piety, and adorned by holy works the Christian faith that he went, with other saints of his time, to the
which he had received." —Grat. Luc. c. 9.    holy and wise Finianus, abbot of the monastery of
~f Colg. Act. Sanct. Hib. ad 23 Febr.      Clonard, and in his old age read the divine writings.
** Usser. Prirnord. cap. 17, page 912.     in his holy school. After this the holy Kieranus
tt " Finianus having left Irldand, his country, is called, as well as other saints in Ireland, the diswent to Britain, to David, with whom, the writer of ciple of Saint Finianus. Though he himself was
his life says, that he had found two other holy men, old, wise, and a learned bishop, still he took pleasure
Gildas and Cathmalius; that he spent 30 years in it, to learn at the feet of another, for the sake of haand had founded three churches."-Usher, C. Hist. mility and his love of wisdom."-Usaher, C. iHis.t.
ad ann. 491.                                 c. 17, p. 909.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                              167
Ireland, says that he died in 552.; but he founded in 550, on the ground which Derapparently forgets what he says in another mod, son of Kerveoil, and monarch of the
place, of the penance which St. Finian had island, had given him for that purpose.
imposed on St. Columb-Kill, for having been The city of Kells was formerly considered
accessary to the battle of Cuildreimne,which one of the first in the kingdom,* and celetook place between Dermod the monarch, brated both for the abbey of Saint Columaband the tribes of the Conalls, on the con- Kill, and for having been the birthplace of
fines of Ulster and Connaught, in 561.*    St. Cuthbert, bishop of Landisfarne, in EngThe church of Duleek was founded in land, as appears by his life, which is prethe time of St. Patrick, by St. Kenan, or served in the Cottonian library at Oxford.t
Cianan, who was first bishop of it.t  He The abbey of Foure, founded by St. Fechin
was of the royal race of the kings of Mun- in the seventh century, was afterwards made
ster, having been descended in the sixth de- a cathedral church.t  The first bishop was
gree from Kiann, son of Oilioll-Olum.  He St. Suarlech, who died the 24th of March,
was baptized by St. Patrick, who had adopt- 745. We discover but one successor to this
ed him for his son, and having instructed prelate, who was Aidgene, who died the
him in divine literature, and in virtue, he first of May, 766.  It is likely that this
became a man of rare sanctity.  The an- church remained without a bishop, with the
thor of this saint's life, quoted by Usher, title of abbey as before.
gives a different account of him;t he says   The churches of Trim and Donseaghlin,
he was a pupil of the monk Nathan, and were founded bythe nephews of St. Patrick;
adds, that in his youth he had been one of the former by St. Luman, the latter by St.
the five hostages the princes of the country Secundin, or Sechnall; those of Slane and
had sent to the monarch Laogare: and that Ardbraccan, by St. Erc and St. Ultan, the
having been delivered from tyranny through former of whom died in 513, and the latter
the intercession of St. Kieran, he went to in 657.  As these saints had founded those
France, where he remained for some time in churches, they were also their first bishops.
the abbey of St. Martin of Tours, and had All those sees were afterwards united, and
himself instructed in the monastic discipline. have formed for a long time but one bishopOn his return to his country, he converted ric, which is that of Meath, first suffragan
several to the Christian religion in Con- of Ardmach.
naught and Leinster, and founded a church   Ross, formerly Ross-Ailithsi, on the seain the latter province, in a place called after shore,~ in the territory of Carbury, in
him Coll-Cianan, which signifies the wood the county of Cork, was celebrated in the
of Kenan.  He afterwards visited the coun- sixth century for the monastery which St.
try of Tyrone, which belonged to Eogan, Fachnan,11 a wise and. moral man, "Vir
uncle of his mother Ethne; in this territory sapiens et probus," had founded there, and
he broke an idol, and in the place where the the famous school he established.Tr  In the
ahar stood, which was dedicated to it, he Scotic language, Ross signifies a verdant
founded a church, to which he appointed plain, and  Ailithri a pilgrimage; from
his well-beloved disciple, Congall.  It is whence is derived the name of this place,
mentioned in a manuscript in the library of which was formerly much frequented by pilCambridge, which contains the office of this grims. - There is some doubt respecting the
saint, that he had built a stone church at time of the foundation of the cathedral of
Damleagh, which signifies, in the Scotic
language, a house of stone. Our saint died
the 24th of November, 488 or 489, the day   * Usser. Primord. Eccles. cap. 17, page 945.
on which his festival is celebrated at Du-  t War. de Script. Hib. c. 3, Act. SS. Hib. Vit.
S. Cuthbert, ad 20 Mar.
lleek.                                      t Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Fech. ad 20 Jan.
It is not exactly known at what time   ~ War. de Episc. Rossens.
Ceannanus, or Kells, was made a bishop-!l Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Mochoem, ad 13 Mar.
ric, nor who was first bishop of it; it et note 7, et 8.
was probably after the building of a cele-       " There was another excellent establishment
was probably after the building of a cele- for literature at Ross, in Carbry, which was an.
brated abbey which  St. Columb-Kill had ciently called Ross-Ailithri, and was founded in the
6th century by Saint Fachnanus, of whom the
TJsser. Primord. Eccles. c. 15, page 694, et biographer of St. Mocoemogus thus speaks:' Saint
cap. 17, pages 902 —904, 1035, 1026.       Fachnanus lived in the southern part of Ireland,
t Trias Thaum. Vit. Tripart. S. Patr. page 146, near the sea, in his own monastery, which had been
cap. 126, note 191.                       founded by him; a city sprang up there, in which
t Primord. Eccles. p. 1070, Idem Ind. Chron. ad scholastic studies flourished-it was called Rossann. 450.                                  Ailithri.' "-Ware's Antiquities, c. 15.




168                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
this bishopric, and the name of the first ebrated for the great number who received
bishop; it is, however, likely that it was their education in it; among others, St.
founded by St. Fachnan, as he is called Brendan, founder and first abbot of the
bishop in an ancient martyrology on the abbey of Clonfert, and St. Colman, founder
14th of August, the day on which his and first bishop of Cloyne. He also founded
memory is honored at Ross-Ailithri, and at the cathedral of Tuam, which was afterDar-Inis, where he had been abbot; but the wards dedicated to his mnemory, and called
year of his death is not known.          in the language of the country, TempullThe episcopal see of Ardfert is situated in Jarlath, which signifies the temple of lare
the county of Kerry: formerly called Ciar- lath.  After governing the church of Tuamn
ruid:* this was the native country of St. for a long time, this saint ended his days,
Brendan, abbot of Clonfert, to whom the at an advanced age, the 26th of Decenmber,
church of Ardfert is dedicated.  St. Bren- or, as some assert, the 11th of February;
dan made his first studies in his own country the year of his death is not so well known;
under the bishop Ert; he afterwards went, according to Colgan, it took place about
with the consent of his parents and master, the year 540. His relies were enshrined
to Connaught, where he applied himself long after his death, in a silver shrine, and
closely to the study of theology, under St. deposited in a church in Tuam.  The sees
Jarleth, bishop of Tuam.                 of Mayo, or Magio, and Enaghdune, were
It is not sufficiently ascertained that Ert united to Tuam in the latter ages.
was bishop of that see; still, his sojourn in    The bishopric of Achonry, otherwise
the country is a strong ground for supposing Achad, or Achad-Conair,* in the territory of
it, particularly as no opinion is opposed to Luigny, now the barony of Leny, in the
it. According to the historians and public county Sligo in Connaught, was founded
registries of the country, the bishops of that about the year 530, by St. Finian, bishop
see were sometimes called bishops of Kerry, of Clonard.t  The lord of the district, one
and sometimes of Iarmuin, which signifies of the ancestors of the noble family of the
western Munster.  Ardfert meansa marvel- O'Haras, having granted him  a suitable
lous elevation, or the height of miracles. portion of land, he built a cathedral church
That place is at present called Ardart.  upon it, which he soon afterwards resigned
The bishopric of Tuam, anciently called to his disciple Nathy, a man commendable
Tuam-Da-Gualand, in Connaught, had for for his sanctity.f  St. Nathy was also called
its founder and first bishop, in the begin- Comragh or Cruimthir.  The author of the
ning of the sixth century, St. Jarlath, son life of St. Finian gives him only the title of
of Loga, a descendant of Conmacne, son of priest; but he who wrote the life of St.
Feargus-Roigh, of the race of the Clanna- Fechin, calls him prelate of Achad-Conair.~
Rorys, and of Maude, queen of Connaught, His festival is celebrated the 9th of August,
some time before the Christian era.t  He and the cathedral church acknowledges him
was a native of the territory anciently called as its patron.
Conmacne of Kinel Dubhain, and after-   St. Moinenn, or Moenenn, is looked upon
wards Conmacne of Dunmor, where Tuam as the founder and first bishop of Clonfert,
is situated, in the county of Galway, the situated in Connaught, at some distance from
country of his ancestors.t He was disciple the river Shannon.ll  According to Colgan,
of St. Binen, who succeeded St. Patrick in St. Brendan was the founder of this bishopthe see of Ardmach, from whom he received ric, which he afterwards resigned to St.
holy orders about the end of the fifth cen- Moinenn, who was bishop after him.~
tury.  Jarlath was a man of such profound   However this be, it is always admitted
learning, and his piety at the same time so that Brendan, son of Finloga, who was
great, that it is difficult to determine in pupil, in his youth, of bishop Ert, in the
which of them he excelled.               county of Kerry, of which he was a native,
Having left his master St. Binen, he with- and contemporary and fellow-student of St.
drew to Cluanfois, near Tuam, in the territory of Conmacne of Kinel Dubhain, his na-  * War. de Presul. Achadens.
tive country, where he founded a monastery   t Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Fechin, ed. 20 Jan.
and established a school, which became cel- not. 7.; Act. Sane. Hib. Vit. S. Finian, ad 23 Feb. c.
* War. de Episc. Ardfertens.           26, not. 29.
t War. de Prtesul. Tuamens.; Usser. Prim. Ec-  ~ Act. Sanct. Hib. 2, Vit. S. Fechin, ad 20 Jan.
cles. c. 16, p. 914; Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Jarlath, cap. 7.
ad 11 Feb.                                II War. de Praesul. Clonfertens.
t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 46.                 ~ Act. Sanet. Hib. Vit. S. Moen. ad 1 Mart.




— f
CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            169
Brendan of Birr, was founder of an abbey in the county of Cork, was founded for
at Clonfert, near the river Shannon, in 558, regular canons by St. Fachnan, who was
of which he was abbot.  It is also well first abbot of it.* That place was celebrated
known that he died the 16th of May, 577, for learning, as we have already observed:
at Enaghdune, aged 93 years, and that his " Magno florebat honore, ob antiquam ibi
body was removed from thence and interred Musarum sedem."
in his abbey of Clonfert.*  His life, which   The abbey of Inis-Muighe-Samh, in an
was written in verse, is preserved in the island in lake Erne, in the county of FerCottonian library at Westminster.        managh, was founded by St. Nennidius.t
The annals of the country make mention   The abbeys of Ross-Tuirck, and Cluainof St. Moenenn, bishop of Cluain-Ferta, and Imurchir, in the territory of Ossory, were
fix his death on the 1st of March, 570, during founded by St. Brecan, or Brocan.t
the lifetime of St. Brendan, who died, accord-   St. Abban, son of Cormac, king of Leining to the same annals, in 576 or 577.t The ster, founded during this reign the abreal name of our saint was Nennius, or Nen- beys of Druim-Chaoin, Camross, Magherenio, but he was commonly called Mo-Nenn. Muidhe, Fion-Magh, Disert-Cheanan, &c.,
The monosyllable Mo, signifies My; and it in the county of Wexford; the abbey of
was often added by the ancient Irish, from Kil-Abbain, in Meath; Kil-Abbain, in Clenregard or respect, "observantiae causa," to malire; the abbeys of Cluain-Ard, Cluinthe names of the saints whom they held in Find-Glaise, and Killachuid-Conch, in the
greatest veneration.                     territory of Cork.
The following monasteries were founded   The monastery of Kil-Na-Marbhan, which
during the reign of Mortough Mac-Earca. signifies the church of the Dead, in the terThe abbey of Lismore, or Kilmore, county ritory of Nandesi, and county of Waterford:~
of Ardmach, was founded by St. Moctec. It the monastery of Cluain-Combruin, in the
is said that he established a particular order territory of Mac-Femhin, county of Tipin it.t                                  perary.
The abbey of Kilcomain in the territory   Lastly, this saint founded two monasteries
of Hy-Failge, in the county of Kildare, for females; namely, that of Kil-Aillbe, in
which is now but a parish called Gesille, Meath, and Burneach, in the territory of
was founded by St. Colman, son of Brecan, Muscraige, or Muskeri-Mitine, in the diocese
a prince of the royal race of Ireland, and of of Cork, of which St. Gobnata was first
Dina, daughter of a Saxon prince.  Colgan abbess.II
observes that there were two churches of this   The abbey of Cluain-Eraraid, now Cloname which were not convents; one in the nard, on the left bank of the river Boyne, in
islands of Arran, diocese of Tuam, and the Meath, was founded by St. Finian. This
other in ancient Dalrieda in Ulster.~    abbey was rich, and celebrated for the school
The monastery of Eadardruim, in the- or university which this saint, who is called
territory of Tuath-Ainlighe, in the diocese the master of most of the Irish saints, (the
of Elphin, county of Roscommon, was most considerable of whom have been his
founded by St. Diradius, son of Bracan, disciples,) had established there.
brother of St. Coeman, and of several other   The monasteries of Kilboedan, afterwards
saints of both sexes, one of whom was mother Kiloscoba, was founded by St. Boedan, son
of St. David, bishop of Menevia in Wales. 11 of Eugene, and descended in the fifth degree
The abbey of Clune, otherwise Cluan- from  Oilioll-Flan-Beg, great-grandson of
Eois, or Clonish, in the territory of Mon- Oilioll-Olum, king of Munster:~ he was
aghan, was founded and dedicated to the sixth son of Eugene; he and his five brothers,
apostles St. Peter and Paul, by St. Tigernac, namely, Becan, Culan, Emin, or Evin, Dera bishop.~[                              mod, Corbmac, and Boedan, were all reThe priory of Ross-Ailithri, or Ross- markable  for their contempt of worldly
Cairbre, situated in a territory of that name greatness, and the number of monasteries
they had founded in the different provinces
of Ireland.
* Usser. Prim. Eccles. Brit. cap. 17, p. 955, et
Idem, Ind. Chron. ad an. 577.
t Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Moinenn. ad Mart.    War. de Antiq. cap. 26.
not. 1.                                    t Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Nennid. ad 18 Jan.
t Act. Sanct. Vit. S. Moct. ad 24 Mart.  t Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Abban. ad 16. Mart.
~ Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Canoc. ad 11 Feb.   not. 40.
[] Ibidem, et Allemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irlande.  ~ Allemand, Hist. Monast. p. 56.
1f Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Moinen. ad 1 Mart.  11 Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Gobn. ad 11 Feb.
et Usser. Prim. cap. 17, p. 856.          If Act. Sanct. Vit. Boedan. ad 23 Mart.'22




170                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Tuathal II., surnamed Maolgarbh, great-   The abbey of Cluain-Inis, in lake Erne,
grandson of Niall the Great, by Cairbre, in the county of Fermanagh, was founded
succeeded Mortough, A. D. 533.          by St. Sinelle, who flourished in 540.*
Although the greater part of this monarch's   The abbey of Ireland's Eye, an island
reign was peaceful, the people of Leinster north of the bay of Dublin, was founded
made war against prince Earca, son of about this time by St. Nessan, who spent his
Oilioll-Molt, and chief of the tribe of the life there in fasting and prayer.t
Firearcas, who lost his life at the famous
battle of Tortan.* The battle of Sligo was
fought, some time afterwards, between the
two princes Feargus and Domhnall, sons
of Mortough Mac-Earca, and Eogan Beal,              CHAPTER XI.
king of Connaught, who was unhappily slain
in it.                                    DERMOD succeeded to the monarchy after
After a reign of eleven years, Tuathal was the death of Tuathal, A. D. 544: " Totius
killed by Maolmor, foster-brother of Dermod, Scotiae regnator Deo autore ordinatus est.":
for whom this regicide wished to open the This prince was descended from Niall the
way to the throne; he did not, however, Great, by Conall Crimthine and Feargus
triumph in his crime, having been pierced by Kerveoil. He began his reign by pious dothe blows of the king's attendants.t    nations; he founded the church of CluanThe founding of the following abbeys can Mac-Noisk, gave St. Kieran the younger
be traced to the reign of Tuathal II.   some land near Mount-Usnach in West
The abbey of All Saints, in an island in Meath, and to St. Columb, the territory of
lake Ree, territory of Longford, founded by Keannanus, in East Meath. He frequently
St. Kieran the Younger.$  Colgan observes assembled the states at Tara, where he made
that this abbey was called " Monasterium very useful laws for the state, which he
Inisense, or Insulense;" and that there was caused to be executed with great rigor, as
aregular canon of this house, called Augustin he condemned his own son Breasal to death
Magraidin, who was a celebrated writer of for having violated them.
the lives of the Irish saints, and that he had   In the reign of this monarch, Oilioll, son
composed a chronicle of Ireland, down to of Mortough, reigned in Leinster, and Cor1405, when he died.                     mac, descended in the eighth degree from
The abbey of Angine, which is another Oilioll-Olum, by Eogan-More, in Munster.~
island in the same lake, called holy or sacred   The quarrel between the two princes
from the great number of monks who inhab- Feargus and Domhnall, children of Murited those islands, was founded by the same tough Mac-Earca, and the princes of ConSt. Kieran.                             naught, still continued, and was not ended
Allemand here reproaches Usher with an till after a second action, called the battle of
anachronism, who says that this abbey was Cuill-Connaire, in which Oilioll was killed,
founded by St. Kieran in the middle of the with his brother Aodh-Fortamhail.
sixth century, that is, in 554, and agrees in   A love of justice engaged this monarch in
another place that St. Kieran was born in a war with Guaire, king of the Hy-Fiachras
the island of Clare, at the entrance of the of Connaught, about some act of injustice
bay of Baltimore, in 352; therefore, con- of which that prince had been guilty towards
tinues he, if St. Kieran had built an abbey, him. The monarch having marched with
it would follow that this saint lived nearly his army towards the river Shannon, Guaire
two centuries, &c.                      assembled his troops, with some allies of the
However, this pretended anachronism is province of Munster, to meet them. The
founded only on an error of fact on the part two armies having encamped on both banks
of this critic, who makes no distinction, as of the river, disputed  its passage; the
Usher does, between St. Kieran, surnamed monarch's army, however, being superior in
Saighir, born towards the end of the fourth numbers and strength, put the provincial
century, and St. Kieran the younger, sur- troops to flight, and made a dreadful slaughnamed Itheir, who was born inthe beginning ter of them. After this defeat Guaire, having
of the sixth, and who was founder of the made submission to the monarch, was reabove-mentioned abbey.                  stored to favor, and thus the war ended.
* Usser. Passim.
t Triad. Thaum. lib. 2, et Vit. S. Patr. c. 27,  * Allem. Hist. Monast. d'Irlande, p. 106.
28, et Grat. Luc. c. 9.                   t Idem, page 8.
t War. Antiq. Hib. cap. 26, and Allemand, Hist.  t Cambr. Evers. cap. 9.
Monast. d'Irlande, p. 48.                ~ Colgan, Vit. S. Brigid. Praefat. ad lect.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                              171
Dermod was not so fortunate in the oth- the cathedral, the kings and princes caused
er wars in which he was engaged;* the nine other churches to be built afterwards
battle of Cuildreimne, which he fought with to serve as sepulchres: O'Meolaghlin, king
the two princes Feargus and Domhnall,was of Meath, O'Connor Don, king of Confatal to him: he lost the flower of his army, naught, O'Kelly, Macarty-More, Mac-Derand was obliged to save his life by flight.t mot, and others, had each their churches in
The cause of this battle was the death of it.  All those, together with the cathedral,
a nobleman who had been killed at Tara, covered a space only of about seven acres.
during  the  assembly, by  Conman-Mac-   This cathedral was formerly very rich,
Hugue: the murderer, dreading the indig- and was celebrated likewise for its burialnation of Dermod, sought safety with the place; also for the tombs of the nobility
princes Feargus and Domhnall, who were and bishops, and a number of monuments
at that time powerful in Ulster, and receiv- and inscriptions on marble in the Scotic
ed him under their protection; he found the and Hebrew languages.
same protection from Columb-Kill, who was   In the Synod held by cardinal Paparo,
then celebrated for his sanctity and illustri- lagate in 1152, this see was placed among
ous birth.  The monarch, always active in the number of the suffragans of Tuamn;
the distribution of justice, caused the cul- but after many disputations between the
prit to be arrested, and condemned him  to archbishops of Armagh and Tuam about this
death, which gave rise to the war between see, the court of Rome adjudged it to the prohim and those princes.t After this war, the vince of Ardmach: it was at length united
monarch perished unfortunately at Rathbeg, to the see of Meath, in the sixth century.
in a house which had taken fire; it is as-   The number of churches founded during
serted by some that he was killed by Hugue this reign, denotes both the piety of the
Dubh, son of Suibhne, prince of Dalaradie. faithful and the liberality of the prince.
It is affirmed by Gratianus Lucius, after   St. Columb, surnamed Kill, signifying
O'Duvegan, that he was the greatest, hand- Church, founded  more than  a hundred
somest, most powerful, and skilful legislator churches and religious houses.* This saint
of all the Christian kings of Ireland.(   was of the royal race, having been deSt. Kieran, or Cieran, the pupil of St. scended in the fourth degree from the monFinian in the schools of Clonard, and sur- arch Niall the Great, by his son Conall
named the Younger to distinguish him from Gulban, prince of Tirconnel, and chief of
St. Kieran Saighir, who was called the an- the noble tribe of the O'Donnels.t  The
cient, with respect to time and the length of noble birth of this saint received additional
his life, founded the abbey of Cluan-Mac- lustre from the austerity of his life, his huNoisk in 548, in a territory on the banks of mility, and the great number of temples
the river Shannon, formerly called Tipraic, which his piety induced him  to raise in
or Druim-Tipraid, which Dermod the mon- honor of God;: but that which heightened
arch had granted him for that purpose. He his glory was the title of apostle of the
was of the race of the Arads, and son'of Picts, which the conversion of that barbaBoenand, who was called the Carpenter,II rous nation had gained him.~ Having been
having exercised that trade, rather through obliged to leave his country to perform the
taste than to earn a livelihood: he was penance which Saint Finian of Clonard,
known by the name of Kieran-Mac-Itheir, his old superior, and St. Molaisse, prior of
signifying son of the artisan.  This saint Dam-Inis,[l had imposed on him  for havdied in the flower of his age in the reputa- ing been accessary to the battle of Cluiltion of sanctity, having governed his abbey dreimne,~ in which many lives were lost,
for one year, and lived thirty-three.     he went with twelve disciples to Britain,
The church of this abbey was afterwards where he preached the gospel with great
made a cathedral, but the exact time is un- success to the northern Picts,** who were
known.  If it be true, as some believe, that separated from those of the south by steep
St. Kieran was a bishop, there is no doubt and frightful mountains.tt
respecting the origin of this see.  Besides   X Trias Thaum. Vit. S. Columb.
t Usser. Primord. Eccl. Brit. cap. 15, page 639.
* Keating on the reign of this monarch.   t Usser. Ind. Chron. ad an. 563.
t Grat. Luc. c. 9, and Walsh, Prosp. d'Irl.  ~ Usser. Prim. Eccles. Brit. cap. 15, page 687,
sect. 3.                                  et seq.
t Caput 9.                                I! Act. Sanct. page 406.
~ War. de Presul. Clonmacnois, and Usser.  I Usser. Prim. c. 17, p. 903, 904.
Prim. cap. 17, pp. 909, 956.                ** Trias Thaum. Vit. 5, S. Columb, lib. 2, c. 5.
11 Idem, Ind. Chron. pp. 1126, 1140.      it "In the year of our Lord 565, a presbyter and




172                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
This people, filled with gratitude for the ries from whence a great number of mongraces which God had bestowed upon them  asteries, founded by his disciples, both in
through the ministry of St. Columb, gave Britain and Ireland, were peopled; but the
him  the island of Hy to build a monastery monastery of Hy, in which his remains are
for himself and his fellow-laborers in that deposited, holds the first rank.*
mission.*  This island, which is one of the   St. Columb  also  founded  the  priory
Hebrides, situated on the western coast of of Inchmacnerin, formerly called EasmacScotland, is known to geographers under Neire, in an island in lake Alyne, through
the name of Hy, Iona, and Y Columb-Kill. which the Shannon passes near its source,
This saint founded a celebrated abbey in some miles from  the abbey of Boyle.t
Hy, governed by a rector or abbot, who Ware says, that this monastery was situshould be a priest having jurisdiction over ated in an island called Loughke, in the
the whole province, ahd, by an unusual or- county of Sligo, and that Alyne is in the
der, says Bede, over the bishops them- territory of Leitrim.  Lastly, he founded
selves.  He was succeeded in it by men the abbey of Swords, four miles from Dubwho were remarkable for their chastity, lin, called " Monasterium  Surdense," over
divine love, and the regularity of their con- which he appointed St. Finian, surnamed
duct.t                                      Sobhar, or the Leprous, to preside.  This
Before St. Columb left Ireland, he found- saint, worn out with the fatigues of the
ed several monasteries, the principal of apostleship, and a life of mortification, endwhich was the monastery of the Blessed ed his days in his abbey of Hy, in 597,
Virgin, at Durrough, or Dearmagh, in Latin, aged 77 years.
"campus roboris," in Clenmnalire.  Ware   The celebrated abbey of St. Peter and
affirms that they preserved in this monas- Paul was founded in a valley called Glentery a version of the four gospels by St. da-Loch, in the territory of Kilmentain, now
Jerome, the cover of which was ornament- the county of Wicklow, by St. Keivin, or
ed with large silver plates, and that the Coemgene.1
Latin inscription was written by St. Columb   The abbey of Cluain-Damh, which signihimself; but Usher maintains that this ver- fies a meadow for oxen, on the banks of the.
sion was by St. Columb, and that it was river Liffey, in the plain of Kildare, was
preserved in the abbey which this saint founded by St. Senchella, or Sinell.~ There
had founded at Keannanus, now Kells, in are several abbeys in Ireland called Cluain,
Meath, to which the priory of Drumlahan, which signifies valley or retired place; as
in the county of Cavan, belonged.           those situated in the woods were called Daire,
St. Columb also founded a celebrated that is, oak.  The priory of Holy Cross of
abbey at Daire Calgac, at present Derry, Killeighe, in the King's county, was foundin the county of that name.t  This place ed for regular canons by the same saint.ll
was sometimes called Daire-Maig, from the   The priory of Dam-Inis, or Devenish,
word Daire, which, in the Scotic language, which signifies the island of the ox, in
signifies oak, of which there was a consid- lake Erne, in the county of Fermanagh, was
erable quantity in that district.  Bede calls founded by St. Laserian, or Moelasse, who
it the noble monastery.  The monasteries was not the same as St. Laserian of Laghof Dearmach and Hy, he adds, were nurse- lin.~  It is said that he established a particular order: but his successors followed that
abbot, remarkable for his life and habit as a monk, of the regular canons of St. Augustin.*
whose name was Columbanus, came from Ireland
to preach the word of God to the northern provinces
of the Picts, who are separated from the southern   * "But before he would come to Britain, he made
by mountains, the tops of which are lofty and ter- a noble monastery in Ireland: it was called, from
rific."-Bede, b. 3, c. 4.                  the quantity of oak contained in it, Dearmach,
* " From whom he received the aforesaid island, which, in the Irish language, signifies the field of
for the purpose of raising a monastery in it. It is oaks. From this, several monasteries were founded
not large, and according to the English, but 5 miles by his disciples both in Ireland and Britain. In all
in extent."-Bede.                           which that insulated monastery in which his body
t "The island was always accustomed to be un- reposes, holds the chief rank."-Rede.
der the guidance of an abbot, and an elder, to whose   t War. ae Antiq. Hib. cap. 26, and Allemand,
rule the entire province and the bishops, a thing so Hist. Monast. d'Irlande, p. 86.
unusual, should be subject. This we have as cer-  t Usser. Primord. Eccles. Brit. cap. 17, p. 956.
tain, concerning him, that he left his successors re-  ~ Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Senchel. ad 26 Mart.
markable for their chastity, divine love, and the  11 Allemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irlande, page 29.
regularity of their institutions."- Bede.     I Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Aid. ad 28 Feb. cap.
I War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 26, and Allem. Hist. 37, and Usser. Primord. Eccles. cap. 17, p. 962.
d'Irlande, p. 95.                             ** War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 26.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                                173
The abbey of Druim-Mac-Ubla, on the rous, from a disorder to which he was subfrontiers of Leinster and Ulster, was found- ject.* He was of the noble race of Kiann,
ed by St. Sidonius.*                        son of Oilioll-Olum, king of Munster, and
The abbeyof Kil-Managh-Drochid, "Cel- disciple of St. Columb-Kill, who appointed
la Monachorum," in the county of Kilkenny, him to the abbey of Swords, near Dublin.t
was founded by St. Natalis.t  There was   The abbey of Kil-Modain, in the county
another of the same name founded by St. of Longford, was founded by St. Modan,
Fechin, in the county of Sligo.             bishop of Carnfurbhuide in Connaught.T
The abbey of Movilla, or Maigevile, in   The abbey of Beanchuir, otherwise Banthe district of the Dalfiatachs, county of chor, or Bangor,~ formerly called the valley
Down, was founded for canons of the order of Angels, situated on the southern shore of
of St. Augustin, by St. Finian, of the royal Carrick-Feargus bay, in a territory called
race of the Dalfiatachs of Ulster.j  This Ardes, was founded according to Ware in
saint, who was known by the names of Fin- 555, and four years later according to Usher,
nian, Fridian, Frigian, Frigidion, and Find- for regular canons, by St. Congal, who was
barry, was head and founder of one of the first abbot of it, and who lived to see more
most ancient congregations of regular canons than four thousand monks of his order. l
of St. Augustin, called the congregation of This abbey was the principal one of the
St. Frigidian, whose principal house was order, and one of the most celebrated in IreSt. Frigidian of Lucca, in Italy, of which land, and perhaps of the western church, to
place this saint was bishop.~  It was he which St. Bernard bears a glorious testiwho reformed the congregation of the reg- mony in the life of St. Malachi.[ " There
ular canons of St. John of Lateran, and was, (says he,) under the first St. Congall,
founded also the abbey of Maghile in Derry, a very noble monastery, inhabited by sevof which we shall have occasion hereafter eral thousand monks, and head of several
to speak.                                   other abbeys; a place truly sanctified, and
The monastery of Birr, in the territory so fruitful in saints, yielding abundantly to
of Ely, King's county, was founded by St. God, that St. Luanus, or Evanus, son of
Brendan the elder, son of Luaigne.ll        that holy congregation, had, himself alone,
The abbeys of Dromore and Machavie founded one hundred monasteries.""**  In
Lyn, in the territory of Dalaradie, were another place, still speaking of this abbey,
founded by St. Colman, of the noble family he adds: "Its disciples not only filled Ireof the Hy-Guala or Gaille-Fine, in Ulster; land and Scotia, but swarms of its saints
the former was afterwards made a bishopric spread themselves through foreign countries,
and the latter a parish church.             among the number of whom was St. ColumThe abbey of Dairmore, which signifies banus, who went to France, where he
a large forest, in the territory of Ferkeal in founded the monastery of Luxen.tt
Westmeath, was founded by St. Colman.~   St. Finian had also founded the priory of
This place is probably the same as Land- Inis-Fallen, or Inis-Fathlen, in an island
Elo, or Linall, mentioned by Usher.
The abbey of Muckmore, in the county
of Antrim, was founded and dedicated to   * Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Finan, ad 16 Mart.
the blessed Virgin, by Saint Colman-Elo.**   t Allemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irlande, page 65.
The abbey of Roscommon was founded   $ Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Modan, ad 4 Febr.
a p of St. Finian o af    ~ Usser. Prim. cap. 6, p. 132, et c. 13, pp. 441,
by St. Coman, disciple of St. Finian of 911, 917, 919, 956, 958, Ind. Chron. ad an. 559.
Clonard.ff                                   II Act. Sanct. Hib.-pp. 192, 233, 234, 352, 354,
The monastery  of Ard-Finan, in  the 405, 413, 791.
county of Tipperary, was founded by St.'I War. Antiq. Hib. cap. 26, and Allem. Hist.
Finian, surnamed Lobhar, that is, the Lep- Monast. p. 89.
v s* "There stood a most noble monastery, under
the first father Congellus, inhabited by many thouAllemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irlande, page 8.   sand monks, and the head of many monasteries.
t Act. Sanct. Vit. S. Senam, ad 8 Mart. et Vit. The place was truly sanctified, abounding in saints,
S. Natalis, 17 Jan.                         abundantly fruitful to God; so that one of the sons
t Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Brigid. ad 18 Mart. et of this holy congregation, Luanus, or Evanus, was
War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 26.               said to be the founder of an hundred monas~ Allemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irlande, p. 191, and teries."
Trias. Thaum. note in 1 Vit. S. Columbre.    tft "Its disciples not only filled Ireland and
II Usser. Prim. Ind. Chron. page 1145..   Scotia, but swarms poured like a torrent into for~ Usser. Primord. c. 17, p. 960.         eign countries, and from among them St. Colum** War. de Antiq. Hibern. c. 26.          banus hath visited our shores of Gaul, where he
tt Act. Sanct. Hib. page 405, and War. de An- founded the monastery of Luxen."-St. Bernard,
tiq. Hib. cap. 26.                         in his Life of Malachy.




174                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
in Lake Lene, in the territory of Desmond, ther of the same name, of which we have
for regular canons.*                     already spoken.
The abbey of Congbail at Gleann-Suilige   The priory of Lurchoe, or Lothra, a small
in the district of Tirconnel, was founded by town near Lough Derg, in the river ShanSt. Fiacre, disciple of St. Finian of Clo- non, and county of Tipperary, was founded
nard.t                                   by St. Ruadan, who was the first abbot of
Botchonais, an ancient monastery of reg- it, and had one hundred and fifty monks
ular canons, situated in the diocese of Derry, under him.*  This house was called from
was founded by St. Congal.               his name, Ruadan-Lothra: he died there
The monastery of Clonfert, on the banks in 584.t
of the river Shannon, in the county Galway,   A  monastery for females, called Killcalled "de portu puro," was founded about Chere, Kill-Creidhe, or Kilchree, in the
the year 558, by St. Brendan, son of Find- territory of Muscraige, and county of Cork,
loge, who was the first abbot of it;t he es- was founded by St. Cera, descended from
tablished a particular order, in which there Conare II., monarch of Ireland in the second
were three thousand monks, both in this century.t
house, which was apparently the principal   The monastery of Kill-Rignaigh, in Clenone of the order, and in the others which malire, was founded by St. Regnacia, sister
he had founded.  Those monks were a bur- to St. Finian of Clonard.~
den to none, as they subsisted themselves   Feargus III., and Domhnall I., powerful
by their labor.  This same saint likewise princes in Ulster, and, as we have observed,
founded the monastery of Inis-Mac-Hua- descended from Niall the Great, succeeded
cuinn, in an island in lake Oirbsen.~    Dermod,ll A. D. 565.  These princes were
The monastery of Inis-Kealtre, an island warlike, as appears by the wars they had to
in lake Derg, in the river Shannon, was maintain against the princes of Connaught,
founded towards the middle of the sixth and the monarch himself, over whom they
century, by St. Camin, of the race of Eana- were always victorious. After their accesKinseallagh, king of Leinster, and brother sion to the throne, they were engaged in a
by his mother, of Guaire, king of Con- war with the people of Leinster, which ternaught.l[  Colgan says that St. Camin flour- minated in the famous battle of Gabhra-Liffe,
ished in 640: he also affirms that he was in the territory of Kilmantain, now Wickbrother of Guaire; but as the historians of low, in which the provincialists lost a great
the country say that Guaire was contempo- number of men, and were defeated. Those
rary of Dermod the monarch, who reigned two princes died a short time afterwards,
about the middle of the sixth century, we having reigned about one year.~
should, of course, fix the foundation of that   Eocha XIII., son of Domhnall I., sucmonastery in the reign of this monarch.   ceeded his father and uncle, A. D. 566; he
The abbey of Clonenagh, or Cluain-Ed- made his uncle Baodan partner in the
nach, in the district of Hy-Regan, founded government.  These princes, after a reign
by St. Fintan, was afterwards made a parish together of nearly three years, were killed
church;~ this saint also founded, in the at the battle of Glingevin, by Cronan, son
same country, the abbey of Achad-Ardglais, of Tigernach, prince of Kiennachte.
otherwise called Achad-Finglass.           In the time of this monarch, the monastery
St. Fola was abbot of the abbey of Ard- of Enach-Dune, in the territory of Huabrecain; he is probably the same that Col- -Bruin, county of Galway, was founded and
gan calls bishop of Ardbrecain, who, ac- dedicated to the Blessed Virgin by St.
cording to him, died in 593.  He likewise Brendan of Clonfert, for his sister Brige,
mientions another St. Fola, who died in 793. who was the first abbess of it.''
The abbey of Macbile, in the peninsula   Ainmire, descended in the fourth degree
called Inis-Eoguin, or Inis-Owen, was found- from Niall the Great, was chosen monarch,
ed by St. Frigidian, who had founded ano- A. D. 568. He was strongly attached to religion, and very strict in causing its rites and
* Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Finan, ad 16 Mart.
and War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 26.           * Act. SS. Vit. S. Finian, ad 23 Feb. c. 24, et
t Allem. Hist. Monast. d'Irlande, page 58, and War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 26.
Act. Sanct. page 406.                      t Allem. Monast. Hist. d'Irlande, p. 68.
T War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 26, and Allem. Hist.  I Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Cerim, ad 5 Jan.
Monast. d'Irlande, p. 69.                  ~ Ibid. Vit. S. Finian, ad 23 Feb.
~ Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Moen, ad 26 Feb.  1I Keat. History of Ireland, lib. 1.
l1 Ibid. Vit. S. Camin. ad 24 Mart.     1' Grat. Luc. cap. 9.'F Act. Sanc. Vit. S. Fintan. Abbat. ad 17 Feb.  ** Usser. Primord. p. 955.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             175
discipline to be observed.  After a reign of all who had the weakness to dread their
three years, he was killed by Feargus-Mac- satirical attacks, assumed to themselves the
Neill, at Corrig-Leime-an-Eich; his death title of bards.  Another object of the aswas revenged the year following by his son sembly was, to consider the measures necesAodh.                                    sary to be adopted in order to make the
In this reign the abbey of Seamboth, in Dalraids of Albania pay that homage and
Hy-Kinseallaghl, was founded by St. Col- tribute, called Eiric, which were due to the
man O'Fiachra.                           crown of Ireland; it was intended, also, that
St. Comgan, of the noble race of the Dal- theywouldproposethat Scanlan-More, sonof
caiss, was abbot of Glean-Ussen; it is not Kean-Faoladh, prince of Ossory, should be
certain that he was founder of this abbey.* deposed for having failed in payment of the
Allemand says that Dermitus was abbot of tribute due by his principality to the monit, and afterwards St. Comgan.           arch, and to place his son Jollan in his stead.
The priory of the Blessed Virgin, at The assembly was grand and numerously
Drumlahan, in Brefny, at present the coun- attended: among the princes present were
ty of Cavan, was founded for regular canons Criornthan-Cear, king  of Leinster, and
of St. Augustin, by St. Edan, -or Maidoc, Finghin, or Florence, son of Hugue Dubh,
who was afterwards archbishop of Ferns.t and grandson of Criomthan, king of MunThe abbey of Roscrea, in the territory ster, besides many other princes from the
of Ele, county of Tipperary, was founded different provinces.  Columb-Kill, abbot of
by St. Cronan.t                          Hy, attended by several bishops and other
The monastery of Cluain-Credhail, near ecclesiastics, repaired thither with Aidan,
mount Luachra, in Meath, was founded for who was at that time king of the Dalraids
females by St. Ita, of the race of Fiacha- of Albania.*  The first subject of deliberaSuidhe, brother of Con, surnamed Keadca- tion was, the necessity of banishing the
ha, whose tribe had settled in the territory bards, the number of whom had become
of Deasie.~                              burdensome to the state; but St. Columb
Baodan, son of Nineadha, and cousin- and St. Colman, who took an active part in
german to the last of that name, succeeded the deliberations of the assembly, proposed
to the throne A. D. 571; his reign was short, that it would be more prudent to reduce
having died after one year, of a violent death. them to a limited number, than to deprive
H-ligue II., otherwise Aodh, son of Ain- the state of so many subjects, some of
mire, succeeded Ba6dan, A. D. 572.  This whom might become useful: which wise
prince was a liberal benefactor tothe church; counsel was adopted by the assembly, and
he granted to Columb-Kill the territory of regulations were made to confine them to
Doire, now Derry, to build a monastery, the exercise of their profession.
which he generously endowed for the sup-   The claims of Aidan upon the Dalraids of
port of the monks.                       Ulster, formed the subject of another matter
The reiterated complaints which were of debate.  It has been already observed
urged against the poets, or fileas, the great that the Dalraids of Albania and those of
number of whoml had become a burden to Ulster, having been descended from Cairbrethe people, obliged this monarch to convene Rieda, considered themselves as one family
a general assembly of the states at Drom- and one tribe; governed by the same chief,
keat, in the territory of Doire, A. D. 516, to at the pleasure of the monarch of Ireland.
endeavor to remedy an evil which affected An intercourse of friendship subsisted bethe state in general and every individual in tween them that was founded on the ties of
particular.  In this there were no allusions, consanguinity, which in appearance ceased
made to those bards, or fileas, who were when Albania was made a kingdom.  It
employed by the state to preserve its annals, was with the view of renewing this right
to whom great privileges were granted, and over the Dalraids of Ulster, that Aidan, as
whose writings were submitted to investi- chief of both people, presented himself begation: it was intended only to suppress a fore the assembly of Dromkeath, as well as
number of idle men, who, strolling through to dispel a storm which threatened him, on
the country, and exacting contributions from the part of the monarch, who intended sending troops to Albania to oblige him to pay
X Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Ite, ad 15 Jan. not. the contributions which he required.  After
12, p. 418, et ibid. Vit. S. Comgan, ad 27 Feb.    much debate, it was determined that the
t War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 26, et Allemand, Dalraids of Ulster, being subjects of the
Iist. MIonast. d'Irlande, p. 109.
t Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Cron.
~ Ibid. Vit. Itm, ad 15 Jan.               * Trias. Thaum. Vit. 5, S. Columb. lib. 3.




176                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
monarch, should pay to him, and to no other, founded by St. Lugidus, or St. Molua, who
the taxes and imposts due by subjects to is said by St. Bernard, in the life of St.
their natural prince; but as those two people Malachi, to have been founder of a hundred
(namely, those of Albania and Ulster) were abbeys, as well as St. Columb-Kill.*  There
connected by blood, they should also con- was another abbey of this name founded by
tribute to the penalties which were imposed. St. Brendan in the same city; the latter was
for murder; which, according to the laws on the right bank of the river Shannon, in
established among them, condemned the Connaught, and the former on the left bank,
family of the person who would kill or mu- in Leinster.
tilate any person, except in self-defence,   The abbey of Liath, or Liath-Mlore, or
"cum moderamine inculpatae tutelae," to pay Liathan-Ele, and the monastery of Inisto the injured party a sum of money propor- Lannaught, in the county of Tipperary,
tionate to the offence.                  were founded by St. Pulcherius, or MochoWith respect to the monarch's claim on mocus.t
Albania, St. Columib influenced him to aban-   The abbey of Annatrim, or Enachtruim,
don it, and the two princes separated in at the foot of the mountain, called in the
peace; he was, however, inexorable about Scotic language Slieve-Bladhma, in the
Scanlan-More, whom he detained in a dun- district of Hy-Regan, was founded by St.
geon, notwithstanding the'solicitations of the Coeman, and afterwards converted into a
saint, who left him with displeasure, and parish church.t
obtained by prayer the liberty of that prince   The monastery of Achad-Ur, in the terin a miraculous manner.  Thus ended this ritory of Ossory, was founded by St. Laccelebrated assembly of Dromkeat, after hav- tin.~
ing lasted for fourteen months.             The monastery of Rath-Aodha, or RathIn the time of Brandubh, king of Leinster, Edha, now the parish of Rahugh, in the
of the race of Cahire-More, by Feidhlim, territory of Kinel-Fiacha, in West Meath,
son of Eana-Kinseallagh, from whom the was founded by St. Aodh, or Aidus, of the
noble tribes of the O'Murphys and the race of Fiacha, son of the monarch Niall
O'Dowlings are descended, the monarch the Great, on a piece of ground, which,
endeavored to exact the boirive, or tribute, with a castle, was given him by the lord of
which had been imposed upon that province. the place, II of the same race of Fiacha, and
He marched with his army towards Wex- one of the ancestors of the tribe of the
ford, and coming up with the provincialists Moelmoys and the Mac-Eochagains.~
at Beallachduin, or Duinbolg, he gave them    The abbey of Rathene,** in the territory
battle, in which he lost his life, the ninth of Fearcal, which belonged to the tribe of
of January, A. D. 599, aged sixty-six years, the O'Molloys, of the race of Fiacha, son
having reigned twenty-seven. He was sue- of Niall the Great, was founded by St. Carceeded by Hugue III., surnamed Slaine.  thagh, descended, by his father Findall,
Many abbeys were founded during this from Kiar, son of Feargus, from whom the
reign.  That of Teagh-Mun, in the terri- noble tribe of the O'Connors Kerry derive
tory of Loughgarme, at present'Wexford, their origin. His mother, whose name was
was founded by St. Munnu.*               Meadh, was descended from the lords of
The monastery of Leighlin was founded Corcoduibhne, in the county of Kerry. This
by St. Gobban, although some authors say abbey, situated in the neighborhood of the
that St. Lasrean was its founder; he was monastery of Land-Elo, founded by St. Colindeed the first bishop of it; and his life man, and eight miles front the abbey of
even proves that St. Gobban was abbot of
it, before he settled there.t  It is true, that  * Usser. Prim. Eccles. Brit. Ind. Chron. page 1155,
in the time of St. Lasrean, this monastery Allem. Hist. Monast. d'Irlande, page 30.
acquired so great celebrity that he was said   t Act. Sanct. Hib. ad 12 Mart. page 855.
to have founded it: the celebrated assembly   I Ibid. Vit. S. Gild. Badon, ad 29 Jan. note 13,
of the clergy which was held there in 620, page 192.
concerning the observance of the Easter,  ~ Ibid. Vit. S. Lactin, ad 19, et Mart. Vit. Mochoem. ad 13 Mart. note 13.
contributed largely to the renown of that  II Vit. S. Aid. ad 28 Feb. cap. 39, note 3, et seq.
monastery.                               and Allem. Hist Mon. page 39.
The  abbey of Cluainferta-Molua was  IF "c From this Fiachus, son of Neill, that part of
Meath which is called Kinel-Fiacha, received its
name; from his seed two noble families, called
~ Act. Sanct. page 272, cap. 32.       O'Molloys and M'Geoghegans, were descended."t Ibid. Vit. S. Gobban, ad 62 Mart. and Alle- Usher, Church Hist. c. 17, p. 910.
mand, Monast. Hist. d'Irl. p. 20.         B* Allem. Hist. Monast. p. 43.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                              177
Dearmach, founded by St. Columb-Kill, was try, was founded in an island of that name,
celebrated for its sanctity, and the number by-St. Molanfide.*
of its monks, amounting sometimes to nine   The abbey of Cluain-Choirphte, county of
hundred.  But as virtue frequently becomes Roscommon, was founded by St. Berach,
the object of envy, our saint was forced to disciple of St. Coemgene of Glen-Daloch.t
leave Rathene, where he had lived for forty   The monastery of Cluain-Claidheach, in
years, and retire to Lismore, where he the territory of HuarConaill, county of Lonmfounded a cathedral, of which he was the. neach, (Limerick,) was founded by St.
first bishop.  Colgan says that he took with Maidoc, archbishop of Ferns.t
him more than eight hundred monks, who   The abbey of Druim-Thuoma, now the
lived similarly to those of La Trappe, living parish of Drumhone, in the territory of Tirupon herbs and vegetables, which they cul- connel, diocese of Raphoe, was founded by
tivated with their own hands.  After the St. Erman, of the race of Niall the Great,
death of their holy founder, most of them by his son, Conall-Gulban.~
dispersed throughout Ireland, England, and   The abbey of Rosglas, formerly RossScotland, where they founded several reli- Mic-Treoin, near the river Barrow, in Hygious housesunder the order of St. Carthach, Kinseallagh, was founded by St. Evin, one
which afterwards submitted to that of the of the six sons of Eugene, of the race of
regular canons of St. Augustin.            Oilioll-01m, king of Munster. l
Cambos, a monastery founded on the left   The abbey of Inbher-Dagan, on the coast
bank of the river Bann, at its outlet from of Wexford, was founded by St. Dagan.[
Lough Neagh, by St. Congal, was after-   The abbey of Fedh-Duin, in the county
wards converted into a parish church.*     of Tipperary, was founded, according to
The abbey of Cluain-Fiachal, five miles Colgan, by St. Maidoc, or Momoedoc, of the
from Ardmach, was founded by St. Lugadius, royal race of Leinster, and son of the queen,
of the race of Niall the Great.t           St. Radagunda.**
The monastery of Rathmat, near lake   The abbey of Teagh-Moiling, otherwise
Orbsen in the county of Galway, founded St. Mullens, territory of Carlow, was founded
by St. Fursee of Peronne, of the race of by St. Moling, who was abbot of it.
Lugha-Laige, brother of Oilioll-Olum, king   The abbey of Disert-Moholmoc in East
of Munster, was changed into aparish church Meath, was founded by St. Colman.
under the name of Kilfursa.t                  The monastery of Mothil, county of WaThe monastery of Kill-Cuanna, in the terford, was foundedby St. Brogan, who was
district of Tir-Bruin,inthe diocese of Tuiam, first abbot of it; he was succeeded by St.
was founded by St. Cuanna, brother by his Coan, or Coanus.tt
mother of St. Carthagh of Rathene, and   The monastery of Enach-Midhbreuin,
son of Midarn, of the royal race of Niall the county of Tipperary, was founded by MacGreat, by his son Eana.~                   Briccius.
The monastery of Rachlin, an island on   The bishopric of Dromore in Dalaradie,
the northern side of Dalriada, in the county at present the county of Down, was founded
of Antrimn, was founded by Lugaid-Laithir, by St. Colman, of the race of the Arads,
a disciple of St. Columib-Kill.ll          first abbot of Muckmore, in the county of
The abbey of Cnodain, near Eas-Ruaidh, Antrim, and afterwards first bishop of Droon the banks of the river Erne, in the terri- more.+t  I-He is called Colmanel by Jocelin
tory of Tirconnel, was founded by St. Conan, in the life of St. Patrick, in which he menwho was afterwards bishop.~                tions a prophecy of that apostle respecting
The abbey of Disert-Nairbre, in the ter- him.~~ He is also calledMocholmoc, by the
ritory of Desie, and district of Portlargi, at
present Waterford, was founded by  St.    War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 26, and Allemand,
Maidoc of Ferns.*                          Hist. Monast. d'Irlande, p. 83.
The abbey of Dar-Inis in the same coun-  t Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. Berach, ad 15 Feb.
t Ibid. Vit. Sanct. Maid. ad 31 Jan.
~ Ibid. Vit. S. Ernan. ad 1 Jan.
* Ibid. p. 93.                            [I Act. Sanct. Hib. p. 215, not. 1, and Allemanld,
t Act. Sanct. Hib. pp. 193, 606, et id. in Vit. S. page 15.
Lugad. ad 2 Mart.                           N' Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Dagan, ad 12 Mart..
$ Ibid. Vit. S. Fuersi ad 16 Jan. et 26 Mart. not. 14.
page 749.                                    Ad Allemand, Histoire Monast. d'Irlande, p. 19.
~ Ibid. Vit. S. Cuan. ad 4 Feb.            tt War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 26.
11 Usser. Prim. p. 958, et Act. Sanct. Hib. p. 193.  t: War. de Episc. Dromrior. and Usser. Primord. p. |
1' Act. Sanct. Vit. S. Conan, ad 8 Mart.  1065.
*~ Ibid. Vit. S. Maidoc, ad 31 Jan. c. 22, not 23.  ~~ Caput 96.
23




l 1 78                        HISTORY OF IRELAND.
scholiast of the AEngusian martyrology.* gave him the city of Ferns, to found a bishColman lived in the sixth century; he died opric in it.
the sixth of June, but the year is not known;   After the foundation of the church of
some say it was in 610, others in 600.t Ferns, Brandubh, kingof the province, conThe successors of St. Colman, before the vened a synod, at which it was decreed that
arrival of the English, are not known, except the metropolitan dignity of Leinster should
Malbrigid Mac-Cathasaige, who died in 972, be always continued to the see of St. Moedoc,
and Rigan, who is said to have died in 1101.$4 in consequence of which that saint was
It is probable that this see remained without declared archbishop of Leinster.*
a bishop for some centuries, and that during   In the early ages of Christianity, the title
that time it was governed by the metro- of archbishop in Ireland, except that of
politan.~                                Ardmach, was not attached to any particuSaint Colman, son of Lenin, disciple of lar see; this title belonged sometimes to one
St. Finbarr, bishop of Cork, a learned and city, sometimes to another, according to the
pious man, was founder and first bishop of merit of the bishop, and his reputation for
the church of Cloyne towards the end of sanctity; it was thus that St. Fiech, bishop
the sixth century or in the beginning of the of Sletty, was called archbishop of Leinster
seventh; he died the fourth of November, by St. Patrick; which dignity was success604.  Cloyne, situated in the county of ively conferred on Kildare and Ferns.  In
Cork, was formerly called Cluain-Vanian, like manner, Saint Ailbe, bishop of Emly,
or Cluain-Yama, which signifies a cell or was called archbishop of Munster; and the
place of retreat.                        bishops of Tuam were called, in the annals
The church of Ferns acknowledges St. of the country, archbishops of Connaught,
Edan, otherwise called Moedoc, as its patron long before the distribution of the palliuls
and first founder;ll he was son of Sedna, by cardinal Paparo.
descended in the eighth degree from Colla-   The see of Ferns was filled for fifty years
Hluais, monarch of the island about the be- by St. Edan, or Maidoc, who, having founded
ginning of the fourth century.if His mother several other churches, and wrought many
Ethne was descended from Amalgaid, king miracles, was transferred to a happier life,
of Connaught in the time of St. Patrick. the 31st of January, 632, the day on which
He was born at Inis-Breagmuin, in Brefny, his festival is celebrated, and was buried in
now the county of Cavan; in his youth he his church of Ferns.
formed a strict friendship with St. Laserian,   The bishopric of Kil-Mac-Duach, in Conabbot of Damninis, or Devenish, in lake Erne. naught,t was founded by St. Colman, son of
According to some authors, he was, before Duach, of the noble race of the Hy-Fiachras,
his voyage to Britain, one of the hostages who was descended, in the eighth degree,
whom the princes of Brefny had given to from the monarch Eocha-Moy-Veagon, by
Ainmire, monarch of Ireland, which is at his son Fiachra.t  The surname of Macvariance with chronology; St. David, with Duach was given him as a distinction from
whom our saint had spent some time,** died several of his coteniporaries, who, like him,
in 544, and the monarch Ainmire began only bore the name of Colman.  As he was
to reign, according to Colgan, in 566, or attached to a pious and secluded life, he
according to others in 568; so that we should spent seven years with one companion alone,
refer the captivity of this saint to the reign in solitude, from whence he was taken and
of Tuathal II., surnamed  Maolbarg, who was invested with the episcopal dignity. He then
cotemporary of Saint David, and died the chose a suitable place to build a cathedral
same year as he.  However this be, it is church upon it, which was called, after him,
admitted by all th-at Saint Edan went to Kil-Mac-Duach, that is, the church of the
Britain, where he spent some time to perfect son of Duach.  Being nearly related to
himself with St. David; after which he re- Guaire, who was at that time king of Conturned to his own country and was kindly naught, his church was considerably enriched
received by Brandubh, king of Leinster, who by the bounty of that prince.  Our saint
lived towards the end of the sixth century,
* Not. 106.                            or the beginning of the seventh; we can
t Usser. Primord. Eccles. p. 1126.     therefore nearly determine the time of the
t War. de Script. Hib. et Annal. 4, Magistr. de foundation of his church.  The year of his
an. 972.,} Colg. Act. Sanct. Hib. p. 387.        * Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Maidoc, ad 31 Jan.
1I War. de Episc. Fernens.             p. 211, not. 29.
Wt Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Maid. ad 31 Jan.'t War. de Praesul. Duacens.' Colgan, not. 7, in Vit. S. Edan, p. 216.  t Act. Sanct. Vit. S. Colm. ad 3 Feb.




CIRISTIAN IRELAND.                              179 I
death is not known; but his festival is held ritory of Fertullach in Meath, was founded
the third of February.  His successors for by St. Libren, son of Aidius, prince of
many ages are unknown.  We discover in Orgiell, of the race of Colla-da-Crioch.'
the beginning of the ninth century St. In-   Hugue IV., surnamed Variodnach, son
drect, bishop of Kil-Mac-IDuach, and Rug- of Domhnall, and grandson of Murtoughnad O'Ruadan, who died in 1178.*           Mac-Earca, succeeded Hlugue Slaine, A. D.
The bishopric of Fenabore, in the lan- 605.  This prince was renowned for his
guage of the country, Kil-Fenoragh,t situ- justice, and deemed very brave, notwithated in the territory of Corcumroe, in Thuo- standing his delicate state of health.  His
mond, now the county of Clare, was the reign was-disturbed by the war in which he
smallest and poorest of the Irish bishoprics; was engaged against prince Aongus, son of
it contained but thirteen parishes: neither Colman, who was totally defeated with his
the time of its foundation nor the name of army, at the battle of Odbha, in which
its first founder is known, unless we ascribe Connall Laogbreag, son of Hugue Slaine,
it to St. Fachnan, patron of that cathedral. lost his life.  This monarch died at Tara,
In the distribution of bishoprics by cardinal after a reign of seven years.
Paparo, this see was placed among the num-   Limerick, called Lumneach in the Scotic
ber of the suffragans of Cashil; but since language, acknowledges as its first bishop,
Charles II. it has been annexed to the arch- St. Munchin, son of Sedna, who founded a
bishopric of Tuam.                         church there, to which he gave his own
Hugue Slaine, son of Dermod the mon- name; it was formerly a cathedral, but afarch, made his kinsman, Colman Rimidh, terwards made a parish church.t The time
son of Baodan, and grandson of Murtough- that this saint lived has been made the subMac-Earca, partner in the government, A. D. ject of much disputation among authors: some
599.  Those princes having governed the say that he lived in the time of St. Patrick,
island in peace during six years, were killed and was the same as Mancenus, whom that
at a battle near Lochseimdighe.            apostle placed in the district of Tirawly;
The abbey of Fathen, situated near the others assert that he was the same as Manborders of Inis-Owen, in that part of the chenus, who died in 651; that bishopric,
diocese of Derry which extends into the however, was restored by the Danes, and
territory of Donnegall, was founded, during the cathedral rebuilt in the twelfth century,
the above reign, by St. Murus, or Muranus, by Donald O'Brien, king of Limerick.
in the Scotic language Mura, of the race of   The priory of Moethel, now Mohill, in
Niall the Great, and particular patron of the the district of Conmacne of Muinter-Eolas,
tribe of the O'Neills.+                    the ancient patrimony of the Mac-Granvills,
This monastery was held in high venera- was founded in this reign by St. Manchene.t
tion, not only on account of the memory of This saint also founded the abbey of MeneSt. Muran, its patron, but also for the valu- drochaid, in the territory of Loise, at preable monuments of antiquity which were sent the Queen's county.~
preserved in it for many centuries: among   Maolchaba, son of Hugue II., and grandothers, there was a small volume written in son of Ainmire the monarch, ascended the
Scotic verse by St. Mura, and a large book throne A. D. 612; he reigned but three
I of chronology, filled with many historical years, having been killed by his successor
passages concerning the nation in general; at the battle of Cath-Taod.
this work was much esteemed, and is fre-   It is affirmed by some writers, that this
quently quoted by the antiquarians of the monarch, having abdicated the throne, becountry; there still remain some fragments came a monk, and  died bishop of Clogher.1j
of it, says Colgan, which have escaped the   St. Laserian (not St. Laserian, abbot of
fury of the reformers of latter ages.      Daminis in Lake Erne) was first bishop of
The monastery of Cluain-Dachrann, in Leighlin, commonly called Old Laughlin, a.
I the territory of Fearkeal, was founded by town situated in the territory of Carlow, at
St. Cronan, or Mochua, son of Mellan, and a short distance from the river Barrow.
disciple of St. Cartagh of Rathene.~         St. Laserian was sometimes called MoThe monastery of Cluan-Fode, in the ter- laisre:[ he was son of Cairel and Blitha,
* Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Indrect, ad 5 Febr.  X Ibid. Vit. S. Libran, ad 11 Mart.
not. 3.                                     t War. de Episc. Limmericens.
t War3. d Episc. Fenabor.                 t Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Manch. ad 14 Feb.
+ War. de Epise. Fenabor.   Usser. Primord. cap. 17, page 969.
t Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Muri, ad 12 Mart. Usser. Primord. cap. 17, page 969.
Allemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irlande, page 97.  - War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 26.
~ Act. Sanot. Hib. Vit. S. Cron. ad 11 Feb.  1 Grat. Luc. c 9.
~ War. de Episc. Leighlin.




180                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
and brought up in his youth by the abbot St. his relics were afterwards deposited, in a
Murin, to whom his mother, Blitha, daughter silver shrine.*  In his time there was a
of a king of the Picts, had intrusted him. celebrated school at Cork, which produced
He went to Rome, where he remained four- a great number of saints and learned men.
teen years, during which time he attended According to Dempster, he was the author
particularly to the expounding of the holy of the epistle on the ceremonies of baptism,
Scriptures by St. Gregory, pope, from whom which is generally ascribed to Alcuin;
he received the order of priesthood, and   Suibhne, surnamed Mean, son of Fiachra,
returned to his own country.  He visited and great-grandson of Murtough-Mac-Earca,
Gobban, abbot of Leighlin, some time after- succeeded Maolchaba, A. D. 615. He reignwards, who voluntarily resigned to him his ed thirteen years, and was killed by Congal,
monastery, and sought an establishment in son of Scanlan, king of Ulster, at the battle
another place for himself and his monks.   of Traigbhrene, leaving the  sceptre  to
The monastery of Leighlin became cele- Domhnall, brother of the monarch Maolbrated under St. Laserian; there were chaba.
monks in it to the number of 1500.*  The   Domhnall II., brother of Maolchaba, and
celebration of Easter was, at that time, the son of Hugue II., of the race of Niall the
subject of frequent debates; a synod was Great, by Conall Gulban, ascended the
convened on the banks of the Barrow, be- throne, A. D. 628. This monarch was both
tween Laughlin and Sliev-Margey, to take a good Christian and a wise king; he govit into consideration.  This matter was de- erned his subjects with much prudence,
bated between St. Laserian and Munnu, and gained several victories over his eneabbot of an abbey called Teach-Munnu, mies. His humility was so great, that when
which he had founded in the territory of he asked St. Fechin for the penance, and
Kinseallagh.  As each was inflexible in his remission of a crime he had committed, he
own opinion, the synod terminated without prostrated himself upon the earth, and aldeciding upon any thing; wherefore St. lowed the saint to walk on him. T'he crime
Laserian returned to Rome, where he was was,the revision which that monarch wished
honorably received by Pope HIonorius I., to make of the boundaries and dynasties
who consecrated him bishop and sent him belonging to the southern Hy-Nialls, and in
back to Ireland in the capacity of legate, consequence of which he made war against
with instructions for the faithful respecting them.
the Easter.t  He succeeded so well in this   Meath, which had been the domain of
mission, that he brought back the southern the monarchs of Ireland from the reign of
Scots to the observance of the true Easter.: Tuathal-Teachtmar in the second century,
He died the 18th of April, 638, and was was divided into territories and dynasties in
interred in the church of Leighlin, which the reign of Niall, surnamed Noygiollach,
he had founded.                          at the end of the fourth century, and divided
The bishopric of Cork was founded by St. between his eight sons;I whose descendBarr, or Finbar, called Lochan at his bap- ants, called the Hy-Nialls, were formed intotism; he was from the province of Con- two tribes, namely, the northern and southnaught.{  This saint founded a cathedral ern Hy-Nialls, from the situation of their
church in the seventh century; and after respective territories.
being bishop of it for seventeen years, ac-   The northern Hy-Nialls, namely, the four
cording to some but seven, he died at Cloyne, sons of Niall, called Eogan, Conall-Gulban,
fifteen miles from his cathedral, on the 25th Eana, and Carbre, with their followers, inof September; the year, however, is un- vaded Ulster, where they seized upon the
known.ll  His body was brought to Cork vast districts of Tir-Eogan, Tirconnel, Tirand honorably interred in his church, where Eana, Carbre-Gaura, and the environs of
Lough Erne.
* Usser. Prim. Eccles. Brit. cap. 17, page 926.   It appears that those princes had pret " Pope Honorius sent letters to the nation of served their possessions in Meath for some
the Scots, whom, in their observance of the Easter, time: we discover that in the time of St.
he had found to be in error."-Bede's C. Hist. Patric, Carbre was in possession of Tailb. 2, c. 19.
t "Moreover, the Scots who inhabited the south ton and the parts adjoining; that some lands
of Ireland, had, long before this, paid attention to in West-Meath and in Connaught, belonged
the pope's mandate, for their observance of the
Easter."-Bede.
~ Usser. Ind. Chron. note ad an. 630. War. de  * Act. Sanct. Hib. ad 14 Mart.
Epist. Corcagiens.                         t Act. Sauct. Hib. Vit. S. Fechini, ad 20 Jan. c.
11 War. de Antiq. c. 29.               24, cum notis.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                              181
to Eana; the same may be supposed of the ment was administered to him every Sunother two.*  Their great possessions, how- day, A.D. 642.*
ever, in Ulster, made  them  afterwards   The bishopric of Lismore was founded
abandon those in Meath, which were not about the beginning of the seventh century,
so considerable, and which became, by de- by St. Carthagh, who was also called Machgrees, blended with the possessions of the uda.t   This saint was descended from
southern Hy-Nialls.                       Fergus, of the race of Ire, father of Kiar,
As the monarchs were sometimes chosen from whom the county of Kerry derived its
from one of those tribes, and sometimes from name.
another, the recovery of those ancient pos-   Carthagh having left his native country
sessions, by placing the northern Hy-Nialls in his youth, founded a monastery at Rathnearer to the court of Tara, where the elec- ene, in Westmeath: he was first abbot of it,
tions took place, would have enabled them and it is said that he was at the head of a
to secure the votes in the elections for a great number of monks there for forty years,
monarch.'hose were the political motives who at one time amounted to 867.t  He
which influenced Dolihnall, and the secret established a particular and very rigid order
cause which induced him to march an army for this house; the monks lived by their
into Meath, in order to oblige the southern labor, and on the vegetables which they culHy-Nialls to accede to his wishes. Alarmed tivated with their own hands, like those of
at this step of the monarch, the southern La Trappe.  This order was afterwards
Hy-Nialls assembled their vassals, made blended with that of the regular canons of
them take up arms, and prepared to defend St. Augustin.
themselves; but on seeing that they were   The high reputation for austerity and
inferior in numbers to the royal army, they sanctity of the monks of Rathene, drew
implored the mediation of St. Fechin, abbot uppn them the envy and displeasure of those
of the abbey of Fouar, in Westmeath, of of another monastery in the neighborhood,
which he was the founder.  This saint was and obliged them  to leave their establishof noble descent, but was still more cele- ment.  Carthagh led them  to the district of
brated for his virtues, and high reputation Desie, near Portlargi, (Waterford,) where
of sanctity.  Having complied with their he was received with respect by the prince
request, he went to meet the monarch, who of the territory, who assigned him a place
was advancing with rapid strides at the head called Dunsginne, and since Lismore. Havof his army, and reproached him with his ing settled his monks there, he founded a
rashness and injustice, in endeavoring to cathedral, of which he was first bishop, and
disturb a possession of two hundred years. a celebrated school, which was much freThe monarch was at first deaf to his remon- quented, not only by the natives, but likestrances; but the saint having recourse to wise by a number of foreigners, who applied
prayer, God displayed such prodigies as themselves in it to the study of true philomoved the monarch, whose conscience was sophy.~
timid, and already under the influence of   The historians of the country affirm, that
religion; thus, seeing hereby that the ele- St. Cataldus, afterwards bishop of Tarentum,
ments appeared to vindicate the will of had been for some time over the schools at
Heaven, he relinquished his enterprise, made Lismore; Bartholomew Moron says the same
peace with the southern Hy-Nialls, and thing in his life: St. Cataldus must therehumbly submitted to the penance which the fore have lived in the seventih century, after
saint imposed on him.  He spent the re- St. Carthagh, who had founded the schools,
mainder of his days in the practice of pen- rather than in the second, as Moron adance and virtue; among other good works,
he endowed -the monastery of Cong, which      War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 4, Grat. Luc. c. 9.
St. Fechin had founded, and which Grati-  - t War. de Epise. Lismor.
anus Lucius calls " C2enobium Congense."   t User. Prim. c. 17, p. 910. Act. Sanct. Hib.
This pious monarch died in the odor of 10 Feb. in not. ad Vit. S. Cron.
sanctity, at Artfothad, since called Rath-~ "  Lismore is a holy city, into the half of which,
there being an asylum, no woman dare enter: it
Domhnall, in the district of Tyrconnel, after was filled with cells and holy monasteries, and a
a reign of fourteen years, and an illness number of holy men are always in it. The religious
which confined him, for the space of eighteen flow to it from every part of Ireland, England, and
months, to his bed, in which state the sacra- Britain, anxious to emigrate to Christ; and the city
7months, to hi bed inwichtatehe itself is situate on the southern bank of the river
formerly called Nem, lately called Aben-Mor, i. e.
e Jecelin, Vit. S. Patr. C. 53, et Vit. Trip. lib. 2, a great river in the district of Nandesus."-Allecap.4.                                    mand's Mloonastic History of Ireland.
j.-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




182                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
vances; no Christian schools having been abdicated the throne, became a monk, and
as yet, either at Lismore, or in any other founded a monastery for regular canons at
part of Ireland. The great number of Chris- Kildare, of which he was abbot, and aftertians who (he says) had been in this coun- wards bishop.*
try in the time of St. Cataldus, proves that   St. Fechin, an abbot and anchorite, was
he was mistaken  respecting the age in celebrated for the retired life he led, and the
which that saint lived.                  great number of religious houses which he
Killaloe, situated in the county of Glare, founded in this and the two following reigns.
on the right bank, and west of the river His father was Coelcharn, of the race of
Shannon, near the famous cataract above Eocha-Fion-Fuothairt, brother of ConnLimerick, which interrupts the navigation of Keadcaha and his mother Lassar was dethe river, derives its name from St. Molua, scended from the kings of Munster.l
who had founded a church there in the be-   This saint founded the monasteries of
ginning of the sixth century, of which he Easdara, Bile-Fechin, Kill-Na-Manach, and
was abbot.*  In the annals of Innisfail, and Druim-Ratha, for regular canons, in the
in most of the histories of the country, this diocese of Achonry, where he was born; the
place is called Kill-da-Lua, which signifies abbey of Kill-Na-Garban, in the territory of
the church of Lua, which was the real name Coistolo; the abbey of Gong, between the
of that saint.  St. Flannan, son of king lakes Mask and Corrib, on the frontiers of
Theodoric, and disciple of St. Molua, was the counties of Galway and Mayo.
consecrated first bishop of this see about   This house was built and endowed by
the year 639, at Rome, by Pope John IV. Domhnall II., who became monarch of the
During his episcopacy, Theodoric endowed island four years afterwards.  Cong was a
this church liberally, and was interred in it celebrated place, for having been the resiby his son, the bishop having died at.n dence of the kings of Connaught, and a
advanced age.                            number of fine churches, as may be discovThe monastery of Achad-Garvan, now ered by the extensive ruins which remain.
Dungarvan, in the territory of Desie, was   The monasteries of Inaidh and Ard-Oilen,
founded by St. Garban, or Garvan, son of two islands in the river Shannon.  He also
Finbarr, and disciple of the great St. Barr, founded the monastery of Tibraid, in the terbishop of Cork.t                         ritory of Maine, that is, in southern Teafna,
The monastery of Teach-Molaige, or which comprised a part of Westmeath and
Tulach-Mhin, in the territory of Fera- Analy, now the county of Longford, and that
Muighe, in the county of Cork, was founded of Tulach-Fobhair, near Naas, in the county
by St. Molagga.:                         of Kildare.
The abbey of Tirdaglass, diocese of Kil-   Lastly, St. Fechin founded the monastery
laloe, on the river Shannon, was founded of Foure, in the territory of Dealna-Mor, in
by St. Colman-Stellan.~                  a pleasant valley called Fobhair, or Fovar,
In this reign we may place the founda- in which there were 300 monks under the
tion of two monasteries for females by Saint rigid order of that saint.  Mortification was
Darerca, surnamed Maenen, of the race of practised in it to a high degree. Cambrensis
the Clanna-Rorys, the first of which was says that women were not allowed to enter
that of Fochard, in the territory of Conall- the convent, nor even the mill belonging to
Murthemne, in the county of Louth, in me- it.t
mory of St. Bridget, who was born in that   Saint Fechin died in 664, of a plague,
place: there have been canonesses to the called in the Scotic language, "Buidhenumber of one hundred and fifty in that Chonnaill," which had carried off a great
house.1l The second was that of Kilsleve, number, both of the clergy and the people,
or Kilslebe, in the territory of Ardmach, without sparing even the crowned heads.
founded by the same saint, whom Colgan Blathmac and Dermod II., who governed the
takes care not to confound with the abbess island together, Cais, or Caius Gan-Mathuir,:
of Lin, who was sister of St. Patrick, and
also called Darerca.
also calledan, or  Adus, surnamed        * Trias. Thaum. App. 5, ad Vit. S. Brigid. p. 629.
St. Aedan, or Aidus, surnamed Dubh,  t Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Fechin, App. c. 2.
that is, the Black, king of Leinster, having; "In Meath, at Fovar, there is a mill which holy
Fechinus excavated with his own hands, out of the
* War. de Episc. Laonens.              side of a rock. Neither into this, nor into the
t Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Garvan, ad 26 Mart. church of the saint, entered a woman; the mill
t Act. Hib. Vit. S. Molag. ad 20 Jan.  was held in equal veneration by the natives, as one
~ Ibid. pp. 12 et 14, 142 et 247.      of the churches of the saint."-Alleemand's MonasII Usser. Prim. Eccles. Ind. Chron. ad an. 630. tic History of Ireland, page 41.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                              183
king of Munster, and several other princes,   The monastery of Inis-Bo-Fin, a marifell victims to this contagion, which is men- time island on the western coast of Contioned by Bede, in accordance with the his- naught, was founded in 664 by St. Colman,
torians of the country.*                   bishop of Lindisfarn, in England.*
Conall, surnamed Claon, son of Maolcha-   The abbey of Mayo was first founded by
ba, of the race of Niall the Great, by Cofiall St. Colman, for regular canons of St. AngusGulban, succeeded Domhnall, A. D. 642. tin, and afterwards finished by his disciple
This prince, according to the general cus- St. Gerald, abbot of Winton in England,
tom of the time, shared the government with who accompanied that bishop to Ireland,
his brother Kellach. They reigned in peace, whom  Ragallach, king of Connaught, supbut ended their lives differently; the former plied with funds for this purpose.t  The
having been lilled in a combat against Der- same St. Gerald founded the abbey of Elymod, and the latter died a natural death at theria, or Templegerard, in the county of
Brugh, on the river Boyne.                 Mayo, for regular canons.t
St. Sacer, otherwise Mosacer and Mo-   Lastly, St. Gerald founded a monastery
sacra,.of the race of the Clanna-Rorys, at Mayo for nuns, of which his sister, St.
founded in the reign of these princes the Segresia, was abbess.
monastery of Teach-Sacra, near Taulaght;   Seachnusach, son of Blathmac, succeedwithin three miles of Dublin.              ed his father and his uncle, and was killed,
The monastery of Glasmore, in the terri- after a reign of six years, by Dubh DTin, of
tory of Desies, was founded about the same Kenel-Cairbre, A. D. 671.
time by St. Cronan, known by the name of   Kionn-Faola, brother of Seachnusach,
St. Mochua, disciple of Saint Carthagh, for succeeded him on the throne, A. D. 671; he
regular canons of St. Augustin.  St. Cronan reigned but four years, having been killed
was killed in his abbey of Glasmore, with at the famous battle of Kealtrach, in the
all his monks, by Danish or Norwegian pi- territory of Thuomond, A. D. 675.
rates, who made a descent on the country   Fionachta, surnamed Fleadhach, which
in the seventh century.t                   signifies hospitable, son of Dunchada, and
We may also place about this time the grandson of Hugue III., surnamed Slaine,
foundation of a monastery in the territory succeeded Kionn-Faola.~ This pious prince
of Hy-Cairbre, county of Lomneach, (Lime- being desirous of renouncing the world, and
rick,) called Kil-Mochelloe, or Kilmallock, of devoting himself to the service of God,
from the name of St. Machelloc, of the race retired into a monastery about the twelfth
of Conare, monarch of the island, by whom year of his reign; the affairs of state, howit was founded.~                           ever, joined to the solicitations of the great
Blathmac and Dermod, surnamed Ruaidh- men, induced him to leave the convent benaigh, brothers, and children of Hugue III., fore the end of his novitiate, and resume
ascended the throne, A. D. 854; and after a the reins of government.
reign of ten years, were carried off, with a   This monarch gave battle to the people
considerable number of their subjects, by a of Leinster, at Lochgabhair in Meath, near
plague which ravaged the whole island, Kells, in which several of the provincial
A. D. 665.U1                               troops lost their lives; he then, at the reThe abbey of Cluain-Dolchain, in the quest of St. Moling, suppressed the tribute
countyof Dublin, near the frontiers of Meath, called'"Boiroimhe-Laighean," which the
was founded in this reign by St. Machua.~ monarch Tuathal-Teacht-Mar, one of his
ancestors, had imposed on that province in
* " In the 664th year of our redemption, on the the second century, and which had caused
3d day of May, about the tenth hour, in which year so much blood to flow.l
there was a sudden pestilence, whereby the southern parts of Britain were depopulated, and also extended into the province of Northumberland. This the English, by order of Ecgfrid, king of
plague spread itself still more widely, and destroyed the Northumbrians, made a descent upon
in its ravages great numbers of people."-Bede's Ireland.  In the year of the Incarnation of
Church History, c. 27, b. 3.
t Act. Sanet. Hib. Vit. S. Sac. ad 3 Mart. Al- our Lord 684, (says Bede,) Ecgfrid, king of
lemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irlande, page 8.
I Act. Sanct. Vit. S. Cronan, ad 10 Feb. Allem.  * Bede, Hist. Eccles. lib. 4, c. 4.
Hist. Monast. d'Irlande, page 52.            t Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. Gerald, ad 13 Mart.
~ Ibid. Vit. S. Mochelloc, ad 26 Mart. Allem. War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 26.
page 60.                                     t Allemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irlande, page 78, et
J1 Bed. lib. 3, e. 26, et Act. Sanct. Hib. p. 603.  seq.
~ Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Ferfugill. ad 10 Mart.  ~ Grat. Luc. cap. 8. Keating's Hist. of Ireland.
Allemand, Hist. Monast. page 8.             11 War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 4.




184                           HISTORY -OF IRELAND.
the Northumbrians, having sent General same century, by the same St. Donan; this
Berte with an army to Ireland, plundered priory belonged to the house of Corball,
that unoffending people, (who had been which we have just mentioned.
always friendly and well-disposed towards   Loingseach, son of Aongus, grandson of
the English,) without sparing either churches Domhnall II., and great-grandson of Hugue
or monasteries; however, the Irish used all II., surnamed Slaine, of the race of Heretheir efforts, and repelled force by force. mon, succeeded Fionnachta-Fleadhach.
Thus, this attack of the Saxons was attend-   In the reign of that monarch the Britons
ed by no other result than the pillaging of and-Saxons made an attempt upon Ireland;
some villages on the coasts of the island.  they laid waste the plain of Muirtheimne, at
In the reign of this monarch, Cumasgach, present the county of Louth; but they were
king of the Picts, invaded this island with repulsed by Loingseach, and forced to abanall his forces; but he was killed by the don their enterprise. They were afterwards
islanders at the battle of Rathmore, in Meath, totally defeated by the Ulster troops at
in the barony of Lune, and his army cut to Moigh-Cuillin, or Ire-Conaght, in the county
pieces.                                  of Galway.
After a reign of twenty years, Fionnachta   There was in this reign a dreadful murlost his life, together with his crown, at the rain among the cattle, followed by a famine,
battle of Greallach-Dolling, A. D. 695, and is that lasted for three years.  After a reign
placed in the martyrology, on the 14th of of nine years, this monarch was killed, with
November, the day on which he is honored his three sons, Ardgall, Consac, and Flan,
as a saint.                              at the battle of Cornmin, by Kellach, son of
In the reign of this pious monarch, some Ragallach, king of Connaught, A. D. 704.
religious houses were founded; namely,   Congall, surnamed Kionmaghair, son of
the abbey of Lusk, in the county of Dublin, Feargus-Fanuid, and descendant of Niall
by St. Colga.t                           the Great, by Conall-Gulban, ascended the
The abbey of Achadh-Dubtuigh, in the throne.  He took delight to put away every
district of Ly, on the banks of the river year the hostages which the provinces were
Bann, in the county of Antrim, was found- accustomed to give the monarchs, in order
ed by Saint Guaire, or Goar, of the race of to reclaim them by arms.  He was always
Colla-Huais.t                            at war with the people of Leinster to avenge
The abbey of Both-Chonais, in the dis- the death of Hugh II., (son of Ainmire, his
trict of Inis-Owen, county of Donegal, was great-grandfather,) who had been killed by
founded by St. Congellus, of the race of them  at the hattle of Beallach-Dunbolg.
Eogan, son of Niall the Great, from whom This unhappy prince became at length a
the illustrious tribe of the O'Neills are de- persecutor of the church and clergy; but
scended.  This saint is not the same as he the divine vengeance arrested his career by
who had founded the abbey of Beanchuir, a sudden death, A. D. 711.
in the county of Down.{                    Feargall, son of Maolduin, and greatThe priory of Inchenemeo, (an island of grandson of Hugh IV.,surnamed Vairionach,
Lough-Derg, in the river Shannon,) which succeeded Congall.  The inhabitants of
signifies the island of the living, called the Britain, who frequently made their attacks
priory of St. Hilary, was founded by Saint on Ireland for the sake of plunder, arrived,
Donan.  This house, which consisted of during the reign of this monarch, in Ulster,
regular canons, was removed to Corball, or where, after a bloody engagement fought at
Kilbara, a small place on the borders of that Cloch-Mionuire, they were entirely routed
lake.ll                                  by the Dalriads and other tribes of Ulster.
The priory of Thome was founded in the   Although Fionachta forgave the people of
Leinster the tribute which they were obliged
"  In the year of our Lord 684, Egfridus, king to pay to the monarch, it appears that some
of the Northumbrians, sent, under the command of of his successors still laid claim to it. FearBertus, an army to devastate the country, and gall, being irritated with the Leinster men,
destroy an unoffending people, who had been most whether from their refusal to pay the tribute,
friendly to the English; neither churches nor mon- or from some other motives of
asteries were spared: they were repulsed by the rom some other motives    ofssatction,
natives."-Bede.                          entered their country with an army of 21,000
t Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Colg. ad 20 Feb.    men.  Mourough-Mac-Broin, king of the,  Ibid. in Vit. S. Maidoc. ad 30 Jan. Append. c. province, at the head of but 9,000, met the
2, page 223.
~ Allemand, Hist. Monast. page 94. Act. Sanct. monarch at Almhuine, at present Allen, in
Hib. Vit. S. Christie, ad 3 Mart.       the county of Kildare.  The disproportion
II Allemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irlande, page 67.  of the two armies would seem, at first view,




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           185
to decide in favor of the monarch; but a Hugue, a general officer in the service of
panic spreading on a sudden through his her majesty, the empress queen, well known
soldiers, lost to him the victory and his life, for his military exploits, not only in the last
besides one hundred and sixty lords, of his war against the Turks, but also in the presattendants.  The historians of the country ent war with Prussia.
make the loss, on both sides, amount to   Hugue V., surnamed Ollan, son of Fear7,000 men, A. D. 722.                   gall the monarch, of the race of Niall by
Fogartach, son of Niall, and grandson of Eogan, took possession of the throne which
Kearnagh, of the race of Niall the Great, by had become vacant by the abdication of FlaConall-Creamthine, Dermod, and Hugh III., hertach.  This prince was learned, and a
surnamed Slaine, obtained the supreme gov- severe revenger of any injuries committed
errment of the island; but he saw, almost against the Church.  He held an assembly
at the same time, the beginning and end of at Tirda-Glass, in the district of Ormond,
his reign, as, about the. close of the year, at which Cahall, son of Fionguine, king of
he was killed at the battle of Delgan, or Munster, and several other princes, were
Kindelgin, A. D. 724.              i   assembled respecting the payment of St.
Kionath, son of Jargallach, and descend- Patrick's tribute throughout the whole isled from Niall the Great, by Conall-Cream- and. In the reign of this monarch a disasthine, Dermod, and Hugh-Slaine, was suc- trous war broke out between the provinces
cessor to Fogartach.                    of Munster and Leinster; the two armies
This monarch fought a battle with prince having engaged at Beallach-Feile, in the
Flahertach at Dromorcain, where his army King's county, the success was for a long
was entirely defeated, and himself found time doubtful; but at length victory declared
among the slain.*                       in favor of Cathal, king of Munster, and
He was succeeded by Flahertach, A. D. Keallach, prince of Ossory, was found
727: this prince was son of Loinseach the among the slain. The battle of Athseamonarch, of the royal race of Niall the nuigh, which was fought some time afterGreat, by Conall Gulban.  In the reign of wards between the people of Leinster and
this monarch, Hugue, surnamed Ollan, at the the monarch, was more fatal to the Provinhead of his vassals declared war against cialists, having lost the greater part of their
the Clanna-Nialls of Ulster, which was nobility, with Hugue, son of Colman their
ended by the battle of Fotharta, in the ter- king, and about 9000 of their best troops.
ritory of Muirthiemne, (Louth,) in which   Cahall, son of Fionguine, king of MunHugue Roin, king of that province, lost his ster, and Hugue Balve, king of Connaught,
life.  The cause of this war was the sacri- contemporaries of this monarch, both died
lege committed by Hugh Roin in several in his reign. He himself ended his days,
churches in the diocese of Ardmach, which some time afterwards, at the battle of Keanhe had pillaged, and the complaints advanced nanus, in Meath, which his successor had
against him by Congus, then archbishop and gained over him.
confessor of Hugue Ollan, in a poem which   Domhnall III., son of Mourrough, dehe had composed on that subject.t       scended in the eleventh degree from Niall
Flahertach, regardless of the royal dig- the Great, by Conall Crimthine and Dernity and splendors of the world, withdrew, mod the monarch, ascended the throne, A.
after a reign of seven years, to Ardmach, D. 743; his reign was long and peaceful.
A. D. 734, where he embraced the monastic In his time the Picts made incursions into
state, and spent the last thirty years of his Leinster; they were, however, totally delife in the practice of austerities.t  This feated by the Leinster troops at Rath-Beacircumstance occurred while Congus was thach, in the district of Ossory, where Caarchbishop of that see.                 hasach, their king, was slain.
Flahertach was the last monarch of Ire-   Domhnall being a prince endowed with
land of the race of Conall-Gulban, son the love of religion, was induced, through
of Niall the Great; the O'Domhnaills, or piety, to make a pilgrimage to the island
O'Donnels, the eldest branch of that illus- of Hy-Columb-Kill, where he died in peace,
trious tribe, have always supported the after a reign of 20 years, A. D. 763.
splendor of hereditary princes of Tyrcon-   We may place in this reign the foundanel. The present chief of that very an- tion of two religious houses, one for men
cient and noble family is O'Donnel, son of and the other for females: namely, the ab* Trias Thaum. 7, Vit. S. Part. cap. 7, p..130. bey of Taulacht, three miles from Dublin,
t War. de Archiepisc. Armach.         which Colgan calls " Monasterium Tamlact Trias Thaum. page 294.
24




186                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
tense," founded by Saint Moelruan;* and   Without speaking of the three first ages
a monastery for females at Doire-Mell, in of Christianity-a period in which we find,
eastern Brefny, now Cavan, founded by St. in other parts of Europe, Scoto-Milesians
Tigernach for his mother Saint Mell.t    who were eminent for the sanctity of their
Niall, surnamed Frassach, son of Fear- lives both as bishops and monks; who had
gall, and brother of Hugue V., succeeded been fortunate enough to leave their own
Domhnall A. D. 763.                      country, which was still in a state of idolThe peace which the kingdom enjoyed atry; unacquainted also with Christianity,
during his reign was embittered by a gen- except what they learned from the accounts
eral famine and frequent earthquakes, which of travellers-the fourth century gave birth
spread desolation throughout the land.   to the four great precursors of St. Patrick,
This prince, who ardently desired to lead namely, St. Ailbe, St. Declan, St. Ibar, taad
a more perfect life than what is generally St. Kieran. These holy men, who converted
spent upon a throne, abdicated it, after a several districts in the island, founded some
reign of seven years, and withdrew to the considerable abbeys, of which they themisland of Hy, where he passed the last eight selves were abbots, and afterwards bishops.
years of his life in the practices of penance,  -Usher, according to an ancient authenA. D. 770.                               tic manuscript, discriminates three different
Donchada, son of Domhnall III., govern- classes of saints in Ireland, which correed the island after Niall; and after a reign spond with the fifth and sixth centuries.*
of twenty-seven years, spent in peace and   The first class, called very holy, existed
the practice of good works, he died a natu- in the time of St. Patrick, who, after Jesus
ral death, A. D. 797.                    Christ, was head of them; this class, comWe may here introduce the foundation posed of three hundred and fifty celebrated
of the priory of Damliag, or Duleek, in the bishops, was filled with the holy spirit, and
territory of Bregh in Meath, dedicated to were all the founders of churches; they had
the blessed Virgin, of which St. Cathmas the same mass, the same liturgy, and the
was abbot in this reign.                 same tonsure from  one ear to the other.
The abbey of Clontuoskirt was founded They celebrated Easter on the fourteenth of
about this time for regular canons of St. the moon, after the vernal equinox. WhatAugustin, by St. Boadan, who was first ab- ever was excommunicated by one church,
bot of it.t                              was the same by all: neither did they
shun the assistance nor the conversation of
women, because, being founded by Jesus
Christ, as upon a firm rock, they never
dreaded the breath of temptation. In fine,
CHAPTER XII.                this class, which consisted of subjects from
different nations, but principally Scoto-MileAs we have now come to the period of sians, lasted during the reigns of four monthe invasion of Ireland by the Danes, we archs successively, beginning with Laogare.
must interrupt the history of the succession   The second class consisted of priests to
of her kings to verify the real state of reli- the number of three hundred, among whom
gion among the Irish at that time; it will there were some few bishops.  They acbe found in the following chapter, together knowledged but one head, namely, Jesus
with the wars of those barbarians.       Christ; they had different liturgies and difThe church of Ireland was already well ferent masses; they celebrated the Easter
founded, from the time of the apostleship on the fourteenth of the moon, as those of
of St. Patrick, and the Christian religion the first class; they had likewise the same
well established in this country.  There tonsure from  ear to ear; but they never
were bishops and  pastors everywhere; spoke towomen. This class continued also
every canton had its church, and every for four reigns, beginning with Tuathal.
church its pastor.  It is probable that a   The principal saints of this class were
diocese was not then considerable; where- the two Finians, the two Brendans, Jarlath
as, in the time of St. Patrick, there were of Tuam, Congall, Coemgin, Kieran, Comore than three hundred bishops in this lumb, Cannech, Lasren, Eugene Mac-Laisisland, where at present there are not forty. re, Luge Cormac, Colman, Nessan, Lasrea,
Barrinde, Coeman, Conan, Ende, Aide, BerX Act. Sanct. Vit. S. ZEnguss. ad 11 Mart,
t Act. Sanct. Vit. S. Mell, ad 31 Mart.  chan, and many others.
t Act. Sanct. Vit. S. Mell, ad 31 Mart.
t War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 26. Allem. Hist
Monast. d'Irlande, page 77.                * Usser. Primord. Eccles. Brit. cap. 17, p. 913.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                               187
The third and last class'comprised several   The Lord having heard his prayer, first
holy priests, to the number of one hundred, presented to his view an island as if all on
among whom  there were some bishops: fire, and covered with a flame which raised
they inhabited the woods and desert places, itself to the skies; he afterwards beheld only
drinking nothing but water, and lived upon the tops of the mountains burning.  Those
herbs, which they cultivated themselves, in first visions may be applied to the four first
nearly the same manner as the monks of La ages of Christianity in that island, when
Trappe. They possessed no property; fol- religion was still in all its splendor.  But
lowed different rules and different liturgies; the eclipse occasioned by the incursions of
had different tonsures-some were shaved, the barbarians of the north in the ninth and
and others wore their hair; they also dif- tenth centuries, is strongly represented by
fered in the celebration of the Easter, some the darkness which, according to the vision,
observing it on the fourteenth day of the had succeeded to the light, and by the thinlymoon, others the thirteenth, and some on scattered sparks which the saint beheld in
the sixteenth.  This class likewise lasted the valleys, and the still lighted coals which
during four reigns, till the time of Hugue lay concealed beneath the ashes. The light
III., surnamed Slaine, in the beginning of which the apostle saw  coming from the
the seventh century.                       north, and which, after dispelling the darkThe principal bishops of this class were ness, lighted the whole island, implies the
Petran, Ultan, Colman, Edan, Loman, Se- re-establishment of religion after the expulnach, and others; the priests were Fechin, sion of the Danes; which that author asFoilan, Coman, Colman, Ernan, Cronan, cribes to the zeal of the learned Celse,
and many others.                           otherwise Celestine, Ceallach, or, in the
The sanctity of those three classes is char- language of the country, Kellach, who was
acterized in the monument quoted by Usher. archbishop of Armagh in the beginning of
The first class, he says, was very holy, the the twelfth century, and of his successor, St.
second less so, and the third still less than Malachi.*  Jocelin here mentions, that the
the second.* However, those who composed English claim  the merit of having revived
the last class, though. inferior to the others religion in that island; but the decision of it
in perfection, would be looked upon in the he leaves to the judgments of God; the
present age as inimitable models of mortifi- vanity of their claim on that head we shall
cation and sanctity.                       discover in the subsequent part of this hisUsher quotes a second manuscript which tory.
he had seen, that mentioned those three   The difference which prevailed in the
classes or orders of saints in Ireland; the liturgy and tonsure, caused no schism in the
first order, according to this manuscript, was church of Ireland.
as brilliant as the meridian sun in all its   The first and most ancient liturgy of this
force; the second pale like the moon, and new church took its origin from St. Mark;t
the third shone like Aurora.t              it was introduced into Provence, Languedoc,
Although it may be supposed that those and some other provinces, by St. Cassian
three different classes of saints should belong and St. Honoratius; St. Germain and St.
to the two centuries which followed the Loup established it in Gaul; and St. Patrick
preaching of St. Patrick, still, if we compare brought it into Ireland, where it has been
them with the vision of that apostle, quoted scrupulously observed by his disciples.
by Jocelin, we may apply them allegorically   This liturgy afterwards underwent some
to the different states of religion in Ireland, changes, both in this and other private
from  the preaching of the gospel till the churches, in which we discover different
twelfth century, and the arrival of the Eng- rituals and ceremonies.  There were many
lish in this island.:                      other rites in this as well as in the Greek or
St. Patrick, says Jocelin, filled with ap- Eastern church, and that of the Romans; all
prehensions for the church he had founded, these different liturgies continued in use for
offered up a fervent prayer to God, to know a considerable time, even till the end of the
what its destiny would be in future ages. eleventh century, when Gilbert, bishop of
Limerick, and apostolical legate, wrote a
The first order was mostholy, thesecondorder treatise on the manner of celebrating the
more holy, and the third holy; the first was ardent
as the sun, the second as the moon, and the third as mass and the divine service according to
a star."
t " The first, like the sun, was warmed by the
fervor of its brightness; the second, pale as the   * War. de Archiepisc. Armach.
moon; the third shone as Aurora."-Usher.     t Usser. Primord. Eccles. cap. 17, page 916,
$ Vit. S. Part. cap. 175.                et seq.




188                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
the Roman ritual, disapproving of every been duly weighed and examined into, the
other.*                                    fathers of the council agreed to observe the
With respect to the tonsure, it is affirmed Easter on the same day, and ordained that
that it had been instituted by St. Patrick in it should be fixed upon the Sunday immeorder to distinguish ecclesiastics from people diately after the fourteenth of the moon,
of the world, by bearing an image and like- which was nearest after the vernal equinox,
ness of the crown of thorns of our Saviour, as it is indubitable that our Lord arose from
or perhaps to afford them thereby the oppor- the dead on the Sunday nearest to the passtunity of practising humility, and rendering over of the Jews.
them contemptible in the eyes of the Romans,   The more easily to discover the first day
who considered those crowns as marks of of the moon, and consequently the fourteenth,
bondage and slavery, because slaves were the council ordained that the cycle of ninesold by having a crown on their heads, teen years should be made use of, as at the
"sub corona vendere solebant," to indicate expiration of that time the new  moons
that the prince authorized the sale.       return on nearly the same days of the solar
The tonsure of St. Peter and the western year.  Notwithstanding this decision of the
church, consisted in shaving the top of the council, there still remained some Quartohead, as the bishops, priests, and Mandians Decimans firmly attached to the celebration
do at present; while the tonsure of the of Easter on the fourteenth; among others,
eastern church, which was that of St. Paul the schismatic Audians in Mesapotamia.
and St. James, adopted bythe Benedictines,   In the west there were only the ScotoCelestines, and Bernardines, consisted in Milesians, Picts, and a few  Britons, who
shaving the whole head, leaving only a small continued in error respecting the Easter,
circle all around.                         which they celebrated from the fourteenth to
Small tonsures were condemned by the the twentieth of the moon. Their error was
council of Toledo as an abuse introduced not concerning the day, but the week, as
into  Spain by the heretics.t  The Irish they always celebrated their Easter on a
monks applied all those different tonsures, Sunday:* in this they were not Quartowhich are still in use among the monks and Decimans, although the Romans have been
friars in Europe.  There were also some pleased, says Usher, to suspect them of it,
who let their hair grow like the Nazarenes upon false representations.t
and modern Greek priests.                     The letters of Laurence, archbishop of
The difference which prevailed among Canterbury, Pope Honorius, and John IV.,
the Scoto-Milesians respecting the cele- one of his successors, quoted by the venerbration of the Easter, was of much greater able Bede, prove the obstinacy of the Scotoimportance than that of the liturgy and the Milesians in that custom.
tonsure. The question concerning the Eas-   Laurence having succeeded St. Augustin,
ter, which was the subject of much debate the apostle of England, his zeal was not
in the time of popes St. Anicetus and St. confined to the English alone, whose chief
Polycarp, and afterwards under pope St. pastor he was; he knew  that the ancient
Victor, was one of the reasons for convening inhabitants of Britain, and the Scots of Irethe council of Nice, as the churches of Syria land, were in error respecting the E-aster,
and Mesapotamia still followed the custom which they celebrated from  the fourteenth
of the Jews in celebrating the Easter on the to the twentieth of the moon; he wrote to
fourteenth of the moon, without considering them, in conjunction with the other bishops,
whether it was Sunday or not; the other a pastoral letter, exhorting them to preserve
churches, particularly that of the west, cele- peace and unity of discipline with the unibrated Easter on Sunday. This affair having versal church of Jesus Christ.t
X "At the request and desire of many among   * "Translated from line 13 to 17." —Bede's
you, O most illustrious brethren, I have endeavored Church Hist. b. 3, c. 4.
to write a canonical rule for the hours and perform-  t " And still the Romans were pleased to call
ing the office of the entire ecclesiastical system; de- this not only a heresy, but even a new one from the
sirous to obey not an arbitrary but a most pious in- old.  According to Bede, they suspected (regard
junction on your part, in order that the different and being had to the old Quartodecimans whose opinion
schismatical communities with whom almost the being renewed by the Scots) that they had been
whole of Ireland abounds, may submit to the Roman deceived by the reports of some." —Usher's Chumrch
Catholic discipline. What indeed can be named more Hist. c. 17, p. 940.
indecorous or schismatical, than that the most learn-  $ "He applied his care not only to the new
ed of an order should become the idiot and layman church among the English, but he likewise disof another church."-Syllogisms, No. 30, p. 54.  played a pastoral solicitude both for the old inhabt Concil. Toletan. 4, can. 40.          itants of Britain, and to the Scots who inhabit




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                                  189
Pope Honorius exhorts them to follow oned some of their greatest saints, viz., St.
the decisions and the decrees of the councils Columbanus, St. Columbus, St. Aidan, St.
respecting  Easter: he says that a small Finian, St. Colman, the monks of the abbey
number of the faithful, in the most remote of Hy, and many others among the northern
part of the earth, should not think them- Scots; those of the south had already subselves more wise than all the churches of the mitted to the authority of the sovereign
world.*  John IV., successor to Severinus, pontiff.*
supported by the apostolical authority with    This species of schism did not break the
which he was invested, addressed to them a link of charity between the saints and the
letter full of erudition, concerning the sub- other churches. Their consciencemadethem
ject of the Easter; he strongly proves in it follow, in part, the example of St. John, who
that, in conformity with the council of Nice, observed the law of Moses, without considthe Easter should be celebrated from  the ering that, in the time of this apostle, the
fifteenth to the twenty-first of the moon; he church still adhered in many things to the
also upbraids them that the Pelagian heresy Jewish law, the apostles not being able to rewas springing up anew  among them, and ject at once all the observances of a law which
exhorts them to be guarded against its poi- God himself had given.  The different cysonous effects.t                              cles that were in use at different periods,
It appears, however, that this error was might otherwise have caused a change in the
new among the Irish, and that there were observance of the Easter, particularly in a
but some individuals among them  that con- distant church, and not having the opportuformed to it;t among that number are reck- nity to consider the customs of the mother
church. Even at Rome the cycle of eightyfour years was a long time in use; the Scots
Ireland, neighboring on Britain. If he knew that had adopted it, with this difference, that they
among the Scots in their own country, or the Brit- counted from the fourteenth to the twentieth
ons in Britain itself, there were some who lived a
less ecclesiastical life, particularly in their celebra- of the moon, instead of which, the Romans
tion of the l':astel, whlen they practised its observ- calculated from the sixteenth to the twentyaice from tile 14th of the moon to the 20th, as the second, whereby the one exceeded, perhaps,
Sunday of the resurrection of the Lord, he wrote, the bounds that were prescribed by the countogether with the other bishops, ain epistolary ex- cilof Nice, as well as thatthe otherhad taken
hortation to them, wherein he advises them to keep
peace and unity in that Catholic Church which is precedence in it.
spread over the world. The fol!owving is the be-   The customi of the Alexandrine cycle of
ginning of his epistle:-' The bishops Laurence, nineteen years, as explained by Denis le
Mellitus, and Justus, servants of the servants of Petit, (according to which they made their
God, to their dearest brethren, the lords bishops and
abbots throughout all Scotia.' "-Bede's Church calculations from the fifteenth to the twentyHistory, b. 2, c. 4.                          first of the moon,) being still new among the
* " The same bishop Honorius sent letters to the Romans, might not be known to the Scotonation of the Scots, whom he found in error in their Milesians, and therefore their opposition to
observance of the holy festival of Easter, exhorting it could not affect their sanctity.    They
them not to consider the paucity of their numbers,
settled in a remote corner of the world, more wise performed miracles; they drew a great numthan the ancient or modern churches of Christ ber of souls to God, whom they loved withwhich were spread over the world, and to celebrate out affectation, and with simplicity, accomno other Easter than that approved of and practised panied with goodness of intention; and their
according to the synods of the popes." —Bede's hearts were so inflamed with the grace of
Church History, b. 2, c. 19.
t " The same John who succeeded Severinus; charity, that they were worthy of being inafter being elected to the popedom, (in order to cor- structed upon that point of discipline.4
rect the same error,) sent letters full of authority and
erudition, plainly pointing out that the Sunday of
Easter should be from the 15th to the 21st of the sprang tip among them, and some of the whole namoon, according to the councilof Nice. Likewise tion had been implicated in that heresy." —Bede's
that the heresy of Pelagius, which he understood Church History, b. 2, c. 19.
had been revived among them, should be guarded   * " Moreover that the nation of the Scots, who
against and rejected. Of that epistle the following inhabited the south of Ireland, had long since hearkis the beginning:-' To the dearest and most holy ened to the admonitions of the pope in their observThomrnianus, Columbanus, and the other doctors as ance of celebrating Easter."-Bede, b. 3, c. 3.
well as abbots of the Scots, Hilarius, arch-presby-   t " Neither do I think that this observance of
ter, holding the place of the holy apostolical see, Easter could cause any obstruction to them, as long
John Diaconus, and in the name of God being as none had come who could point out what decrees
elected, &c.' " —Bede's Church History, b. 2, c. of a more perfect institution they might follow." —
19.                                           Bede's Church History, b. 3, c. 25.
t " In the beginning of this epistle, it is clearly   t " But as they had not laid aside their fervor in
pointed out, that, in very latter times, this heresy charity, they have merited that the knowledge of




190                              HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Adamnan, a priest from Ireland, and priest of the history of Ireland rested exclusively
and abbot of the abbey of Hy, was one of upon the writers alone of the country itself,
those whom God inspired to bring back his there would be cause sufficient to reject it,
countrymen, the Scots, to the canonical ob- as of doubtful authority; but the united
servance of the Easter.*  Having been sent testimony of a crowd of foreign authors,
by his country, says Bede, to Alfred, king ancient as well as modern, from the time of
of the Saxons, in Northumberland, he stop- the venerable Bede down to the present age,
ped for some time in the province, and had furnishes proofs that raise it beyond all
himself instructed in a matter which, at that doubt.
time, had caused so much uneasiness.t The   Besides the number of monasteries that
learned of the country whom  he met with, had been founded in Ireland, and which were
advised him not to join in obstinacy with a peopled with saints and learned monks not
few people in a distant corner of the earth, inferior to the fathers of the deserts for the
against the universal custom of the church, austerity of their lives and total abandoneither in the observance  of the Easter, ment of the world,* this country supplied
or in any other matter which had been set- all Europe, during these ages, with swarms
tiled.                                       of zealous missionaries, who announced the
Adamnan being convinced from authority, name of Jesus Christ among some nations,
(as he was wise and very learned in the holy and among others caused it to revive: such
Scriptures,) returned to his own monastery have been St. Fridolin, St. Cataldus, Celiusof Hy, with an intention of reclaiming the Sedulius, St. Columb-Kill, St. Columbanus,
monks from  their error; but meeting with St. Gal, St. Fiacre, St. Fursey, St. Arbogast,
some difficulty in the undertaking, he passed St. Maildulphus, St. Aidan, St. Colman, St.
over to Ireland, where he was more success- Ultan, St. Foilan, St. Kilian, St. Virgil, and
ful. The northern Scots he reclaimed almost others.  Camden says, on this head, that
entirely, and brought back to the true ob- Christianity made so rapid a progress under
servance of the Easter those religious houses the disciples of St. Patrick, the country was
which were not dependent on that of Hy. called, in succeeding ages, the island of
He then returned to his island, where he saints.t 
died soon afterwards, with deep regret for   By following the chronology of Usher and
the continued obduracy of his monks.         Ware, we may refer the apostleship of St.
The priest Ecgbert succeeded better: Cataldus, at Tarentumn, in Pouille, and the
after having spent some time in Ireland, in history of the great Sedulius, to the fifth
the study of the holy Scriptures, he went to century.
the isle of Hyt where he was honorably
received, and having made known there how
the Easter should be observed, had the con- every kingdom of Europe, for her pursuits in relisolation of seeing the monks relinquish their gion and learning."-Usher's Church History, c. 17,
unbending obduracy, and whose zeal might, P. 899.
in the words of the apostle, betermed di-   * " So great was their contempt at that time for
in the words of the apostle, be termed di- riches and the things of the world, that they never
vine.  Thus matters were, says Bede, dis- sought them, but even rejected them when offered,
posed of by Providence, that the very Sax- even though their inheritance. Columbanus himons who had been indebted to the Scots for self, as the abbot Walafridus writes, replied to Sige-.their knowledge  of the true religion, found *bertus, king of the Franks, who made him large
their knowledge of the true religion, found promises not to leave his kingdom, (the same thing
an opportunity of contributing in their turn as is mentioned by Eusebius concerning Thaddeus,)
a something to the happiness of their bene- viz., that those who had given up their own passesfactors.                                     sions for the name of Christ, should not embrace
It is almost beyond conception how dis- riches which belonged to others." —Cmnd. p. 730..I   thslmost beyna ti.onhdeome both in   t " The disciples of Patrick made so great a protingsluie d this  nation had become both in gress in Christianity, that, in the following age, Irereligion and knowledge of the sciences, in land was called the island of saints; and none could
those ages which immediately followed the be more holy and learned [han the Irish monks,
apostleship of St. Patrick.~  If this portion both in their own country and Britain, who sent
swarms of most holy men into all Europe. To
them, Luxovium, in Burgundy, Bohiense, in Italy,
this should be made known."-Bede's Church His- Hornipolis, in Franconia, S. Gallus, in Helvetia,
tory, b. 3, c. 25.                           Malmesburia, in Lindefarn, and many other monHist. Eccles. lib. 3, cap. 16.           asteries in Britain owe their origin. The following
t Usser. Primord. cap. 15, page 700, et cap. 16, saints were from Ireland:-Celius Sedulius, prespp. 729, 730; Idem, Ind. Chron. ad ann. 703.    byter, Columba, Columbanus, Colmanus, Aidanus,
$ Bed. Hist. Eccles. lib. 5, c. 23. Usser. Prim. Gallus, Kilianus, Maidulphus, Brendanus, and many
c. 15, pp. 701, 702, et Ind. Chron. ad an. 716.    others, who were renowned for their sanctity and
~ " Ireland at that time was pre-eminent above learning." —Casmd. page 730.
[        ~ __________________




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                                  191
The history of the life of St. Cataldus found in it, with this inscription, "Cataldus
was written in prose, accordingto the ancient Rachav," engraved on it, and that it was
records of the church of Tarentum, by Bar- tied to the statue of silver, which the inhabtholomew Moron, a native of that city; and itants of Tarentum had erected in honor of
in verse by his brother, Bonaventura, under him.
the title of " Cataldiados libri sex," address-   A singular prophecy is ascribed to St. Cated to his fellow-citizens, the beginning of aldus, respecting the destruction of the kingwhich is herein quoted;' both these works dom of Naples.*  Usher and Waret mention
were printed.at Rome in 1604.                 it in the following manner, after Alexander
The birth, life, and country of St. Cataldus ab Alexandro, who lived in 1500:-" It is
are detailed in the above-mentioned history. true that in the reign of Ferdinand I., king of
He was born in Ireland; his parents were Naples, when the kingdom  and city were
Euche and Achlene; he made his studies at enjoying the sweets of peace, Cataldus, a
Lismore in Munster, where he was the de- religious man, who was bishop of Tarentum
light of the Gauls, English, Scots, Theu- a thousand years before, where he is still
tones, and other strangers who resorted honored as the patron  saint, having apthither to hear him.t  Having performed peared during the night to a virtuous ecclethe functions of bishop of Ratheny, or Rach- siastic who had lately received holy orders,
uen, in the same province, for some years, commanded him to have a book sought for,
he undertook a voyage to Jerusalem, to visit (this was filled with divine mysteries, and
the holy sepulchre, and returning through written during his life, and was concealed
Italy, he re-established the true religion in a certain place,) and to present it to the
among the Tarentines, who had already king; but the ecclesiastic paying no regard
abandoned it and returned to the impious to this vision, which was frequently repeated,
worship of idols.[                            Cataldus again appeared in his pontifical
This history is in perfect accordance with robes, with the mitre on his head, in the
the legend of this saint,~ and the office which morning, while he was alone in the church,
is sung in honor of him  in the church of and ordered him, under pain of punishment,
Tarentumn,ll in which  it is affirmed, that to seek for the book of which he had already
when Drogon, archbishop of that city, had spoken to him, and to present it to the king;
caused the tomb in which the body of the whereupon the ecclesiastic assembled the
saint reposed, to be opened, a gold cross was people the next day, and went in procession
to the place pointed out, where he found the
The icy erne bewails that so  an orna- book enclosed in plates of lead, and fastened
"'he icy Ierne bewails                    withat so great an orclasps..
ment of the west, second to none in piety, and cele- with  ron clasps.  This book contained a
brated in the ancient laws of Phalantus, should be prophecy on the destruction of the kingdom
sent to forieig   nations: O muse, relate, and permit of Naples,  and the calamities and unforme to take from  his paternal roof, a youth so tunate period whichwe have unhappily lived
flourishing, who beheld the borders of Jundea, and to witness."t
visited the monument of the holy sepulchre, to
where the admonitions and commands of God, and
his care for a falling people, bring, as their father,
during every age to coine." —Us/er's Chlurch i His-     Genialium dierum, lib. 3, c. 15, apud Usser.
tory, c. 16, p. 751.                          Prim. c. 16, p. 758.
t " A youth, endowed with a liberal discipline,   t War. de Script. Hib. Col. Act. Sanct. Hib.
soon attained to that excellence-in instructions, that p. 550.
the Gaiuls, English, Teutones, Scotch, and other   t " While the kingdom of Naples was most
neiglhboring people ewho came to Lismore, flocked flourishing under Ferdinand the First, king of Arato hear himiin."-Usher.                       gon, it appears that Cataldus, a holy man who had
"Cataldus, bishop, from some part of Ireland, been a thousand years before archbishop of Tarenwas son of Euchus and Athena."                turn, and whom the Tarentines worship as their
T " In the 160th year of our Lord, the Taren- patron saint, appeared, in the dead of night, to a
tines, returning to their worship of idols, as a dog certain minister who had been initiated and brought
to the vomit, (Anicetus Syrus being pope,) the holy up in the sacred mysteries of religion, and comCataldus, born in Ireland, brought them back to the manded him to dig up and bring to the king a small
ancient faith."-Joannes Juvenis in Usher.     book which had been written by him while living,
~ " The holy Cataldus was from a part of Ire- and was secreted in a private place: that divine
land which glories ini her saints, as she glories in mysteries were contained in it. Little attention
the Lord; she rejoices in her saints, in Catandus, a was paid at first to this vision, which appearing
town of Eumenia. Cataldus was the son of Euchus again more frequently in his sleep, and again while
and Athena."-Ushlcr.                          the minister was alone in the temple, very early in
11 " Rejoice, O happy Ireland, for being the coun- the morning, Cataldus himself, robed in the pontitry of so fair an offspring; but thou, Tarentum, ficals which he wore when living, and covered with
rejoice still more, which enclosest (within a tomb) a fillet, appeared and commanded him, as soon as
so great a treasure."-Usher.                  possible on the next morning, to dig up the little




192                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
This prophecy was discovered in 1492, Hibernia; but that it appears by a manuand Ferdinand, after reading it, cast it into script in the Ambrosian library, and the
the fire.                                  letters of Father Leslie, a capuchin, that he
Ferdinand, struck with terror on the ap- was born in the isle of Hy.
proach of the French army, died suddenly.   This claim of Dempster, says Usher, is
He was succeeded by his son Alphonso, imaginary, ridiculous, and contradictory.*
who was no sooner in possession of the If this saint was born in the mountains of
crown, than Charles VIII., at the head of a Scotland, as he first says, how could he have
formidable army, laid waste his country, been brought up in the supposed monastery
forced him to fly, and to pass the remainder of St. Philan, who lived some centuries after
of his days in exile; after this, Charles him-?
made a victorious and triumphal entry into   Usher proves the absurdity of Dempster's
Naples with his imperial ensigns.           system, by the ancient and modern offices of
Moron fixes the arrival of St. Cataldus at the saint, which mentioned his having been
Tarentum  in the year 170: however, if we born in a town in the province of Munster,
observe all that is related of him during his in Ireland, called Catande, at a short disstay in Ireland, the great number of Chris- tance from  Lismore, another town in that
tians that were in his time in the island, and province, according to Bartholomew Moron.
in the schools of Lismore, which were not He adds also, that neither the mountains of
known in the history of the country before Scotland, nor the isle of Hy, were ever
the time of St. Patrick, we should place called Hibernia.t
this event some centuries later; it is mel-    Abercromby, in order to maintain the
tioned by Usher and Ware to have taken system of Dempster, pretends that the Scots
place in the fifth century, according to An- of Albania had been sometimes called Hithony Caraccioli, who had promised, in his berni; the derivation of which he thinks to
edition of the " Italian Chronologists," pub- have discovered in the name of a territory
lished at Rome in 1626, to write a treatise in Albania, which was formerly called Ierne,
exclusively on that subject.                at present Strathern.
It is likely that the zeal of St. Cataldus   To make this conjecture appear probable,
was not confined to the city of Tarentum he should have proved that Strathern formed
alone, as he had been honored, according part of Dalrieda, the ancient patrimony of
to Volaterranus, at Geneva, on lake Leman, the Scots, as a people are not generally
as bishop and professor; he must therefore named after a country which does not belong
have passed through that city, and made to them. But the different situation of those
some stay in it on his voyage to the holy two cantons, one of which (Dalrieda) is on
land.*                                     the western coasts of Albania, and the other
Dempster, who  always  endeavors to towards the eastern shores of the same counenrich his calendar at the expense of his try, which the Picts were in possession of till
neighbors, says that St. Cataldus was a the ninth century, is opposed to the above
native of Knapdale, and had been brought conjecture, otherwise, what analogy is there
up in the monastery of St. Philan; that he between Hibernia and Strathern?  The one
was thought by some to have been an Irish- derives its name from Hibernia, aname which
man, because he was born in the mountains the Latins had always given to Ireland, and
of Scotland, which were sometimes called which has its root, as well as Juverna, Ierna,
(the Ierne of the Greeks,) in the word Erin,
a name always peculiar to that country.$
book which he had already told him of, which had The etymology of Strathern is naturally disbeen written and secreted by himself in a certain coverable in the word straitle, which signifies
place, and to bring the same to the king without
delay, threatening him with heavy punishment if it valley, and Erin, the name of a river that
were not done. The day following, this minmister,
accompanied in solemn procession by the people,
proceeded to the place where the little book lay   A Qua partim commcntitia sunt, partim ridicula
concealed for so long a timne, and found it sealed et secum invicem pugnantia. Usser. Prim. Eccles.
with tablets of lead, and locked with clasps. It cap. 16, page 753.
foretold to the king that the destruction of the   t " To say nothing of the mountains of Scotia,
kingdom would happen; that the times were preg. who ever heard that Ireland was called the isle of
nant with sorrow, misery, and distress, which Jonas?"-Usher.
things soon after this came to pass. We have wit-  t " Hibernia, Juverna, &c., have sprung from
nessed that to be largely rewarded, which furnished Ierna; but that Ierna, the same as Iris, Juerdhon,
an experiment to men."                     and Ireland, and Erin from the inhabitants."* Raphel Mafmus Volateranus, Comment. Ur- Camd. p. 726.
ban. lib. 3, 27, apud War. de Scriptor. Hib.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                                 193
waters it, and flows from  thence with the ledge of which has not reached me.  He
Tay, and falls into the German ocean.*        was at length, says  Sigebert, ordained
Eumenius and Marcellinus use indiscrim- bishop, but he does not say of what see. He
inately, in the fourth century, the terms flourished under Theodosius, in the year of
Irish and Scots to designate the same peo- our Lord 430."*
ple, but they say that they came from  Ire-   If we can attach belief to the chronicle
land, " Scotorum  a Circio:" they mention attributed to Dexter, under the year 428,
that they had been till then a wandering Sedulius had been bishopof Oreta, in Spain,people, without any fixed dwelling in Brit- and although Damian a Goez and Sebastian
ain, " cum anteia per incerta vagantes."t    Munster, in the description of Spain, reckon
Moron makes mention of St. Donatus, a Sedulius among  the number of Spanish
bishop in Italy, who was brother of St. Ca- poets, Francis Bivarius says he was born in
taldus, with whom  he had led, for some Ireland.t  The testimony of Sedulius himtime, a solitary life.t                       self, who says he was a Scot, " Sedulius
Ireland gave birth to Sedulius, so cele- Scotigena," in the beginning of his epistles,
brated for his writings, which have gained leaves no doubt on this subject; and the
him  the attention of a great number of au- title of his annotations on the epistles of
thors, both ancient and  modern.   Some Saint Paul, published according to a very
writers —among others, Sigebert, a monk ancient copy in the abbey of Fulde, by John
of the abbey of Gemblours in Brabant, in Sichard, in which he is called a Scot from
his treatise on Illustrious Men-place him  Ireland, "Sedulii Scoti Hiberniensis in omin the fourth century, under Constans and nes Epistolas Pauli collectaneum," naturally
Constantius: "Claruit tempore Constantis
t Constantii, filiorum primi Constantini Im-    * " Sedulius, presbyter, a native of Scotia, was
peratoris."  Trithemius, with perhaps more disciple, from his earliest youth, of Heidebertus,
reason, says he lived in the fifth century, archbishop of the Scots; he was conversant in
under Theodosius the younger; Usher and divine learning, and very skilled in profane literaWare, for other motives, place him  about tore; he excelled in poetry and prose, and leaving
the end of the same century, and distinguish Scotia (Ireland) for the sake of informing himself,
he came to France; after this he traversed Italy,
him  from  another Sedulius from  Ireland, Asia, Achaia, from whence he proceeded to Rome,
whom they suppose to have been the author where he became illustrious for his erudition.  He
of the Annotations on the Epistles of St. wrote several small works both in prose and verse,
Paul.                                         from among which I have discovered the following:
to a work eminently written to the abbot of MaceAt whatever time Sedulius may have lived, donia, comprising a series of the gospel, he gave the
we have the following history of his life by title of'paschal poem and pasehal feasts, in 4
Trithemius: " Sedulius a priest, a Scot by books;'' 14 books in prose on the epistles of P;aul;'
birth, and from  his most tender youth the'apostolical words;''one book on the miracles of
disciple of Hildebert,  archbishop  of the Christ;''From  the East, 1 book to Theodosius
emperor, while conductor of the famed Romulus:'
Scots, was very learned in sacred and pro-' book 1, On the larger volune of Priscianus;'' book
fane literature, and had a particular taste for 1, on the second edition of Donatus;'' book 1, exprose and poetry.  The desire of becoming hortation to the faithful;''let us sing, 0 companperfect in his studies induced him to leave ions, to the Lord;'' book 1, on many epistles to
his country; hie  w     ent to France, and fros  various people;'' Sedulius an Irishmlan;''two
his country; he went to  France, and fromh books on the miracles of Christ, written in prose.'
thence to Italy, Asia, Achaia, from whence Besides these, there were some other works which
he set out for Rome, where he shone by his have not come to be known. HIe was at length, as
astonishing  erudition.  He wrote several Sigebertus writes, made bishop, but of what city or
works in prose and verse, of which I have place, it is not mentioned. He flourished under
Theodosius, anno 438."-Trithenius itz Usher, c.
only been able to discover the following. 16, p. 769.
There were other works of his, the know-   f- 4 Isaac, a monk of Palestine, succeeded Fretadius, archbishop of Toul; he kept him there and
his friend Sedulius, also Bishop Orelanus, for the
I "It is called Straith Erm, which, in the ancient sake of preaching; the latter was eminent as a
language of the Britons, signifies the valley of preacher, and composed many books."-Usher, p.
Ern." —Camden, p. 765.                        770.
t Camd. Brit. Edit. Lond. Tit. Scot. p. 90.   $ " After this we have Sedulius Oretanus, who
{ " Others think that Cataldus, before he would was bishop *in Spain, but he does not say that lihe
come to Tarentum in Japygia, travelled with Do- had been born in Ireland, as many think. lsici!!s
natus, whom they make the first bishop of Lupa, himself, who was bishop of Toul, had been a monk
and brother of St. Cataldus. At the same time, of Palestine, and there was also a monk Palestinls.
he led a most solitary life, near a little town which But whether there were two Seduliuses who were
afterwards derived its name fiom St. Cataldus."-  renowned for poetry, or but one, we shall not conBartholomy Moron in Ushe-r, p. 760.'         tend it in this place."-Usher.
25




194                              HISTORY OF IRELAND.
indicates his country, which was Ireland; cated to St. Hilary, for whom this saint had
notwithstanding the surprise of Dempster a particular devotion.  Lastly, he founded
that the theologians of Cologne should have a monastery for females in an island in the
added the word Hibernensis to Scotus, in Rhine, called Seeking, or Secane, where he
the last edition of the library of the holy was interred in 514.  According to Baleus,
fathers,* the same title is at the head of the he wrote some works of piety which have
Basle edition of this author's works, and been lost.
also of that which is in the library of an-   Dempster ascribes other works to him;
cient writers, edited in Paris.             but as he is the only one who mentions
The works of Sedulius were highly es- them, his testimony must appear doubtful.
teemed by the ancients; to which a coun-   Modern Scotch writers place St. Fridocil, composed of seventy bishops, assembled linus in their calendar.  Some foreigners,
at Rome during the pontificate of Gelasius, and among others, Arnold Wion, Menard,
bears a favorable testimony.  We think and Wilson, have not doubted their integrity,
highly, said the fathers of the council, of butr antiquity proves the contrary.  Besides
the paschal work written in heroic verse the Irish authors wvho claim him, but whose
by the venerable Sedulius.t                  veracity might be disputed, Baltherus, a
Hildephonsus, archbishop of Toledo, says monk and canon of Secking, and the most
of our author that he was an evangelical ancient author of the life of St. Fridolinus,
poet, an eloquent orator, and a Catholic calls him  a native of Ireland.'  Gaspard
writer: " Bonus ille Sedulius podta evange- Bruschius affirms that he was son of an
licus, orator facundus, Scriptor Catholicus." Irish king.t  Canisius affirms that ancient
Lastly, the church inserted, "A  solis historiains agree that Fridolinus was of royal
ortfis cardine,"and  "Hostis Herodes impie,:' blood in Scotia, which is called Ireland.t
(taken from the writings of Sedulius,) in the St. Fridolinus, says Guilliman, an Irishmlan
breviary of hymns; the first at the nativity by birth, of noble descent, and a monk by
of our Saviour, and the last at the Epiphany,:profession, having  come to Switzerland,
with the " Salve, sancta parens, enixa puer- preached the gospel there and in the neighpera Regem," which is used as an Introit boring countries.~  Fridolinus, the traveller,
at the masses of the blessed Virgin.         says Possevin, a son of the king of the Irish
St. Fridolinus, son of an Irish  king, Scots, wrote, it is said, some pious exhortahaving embraced a monastic' life, left his tions.ll   Gesnerus, Baleus, Flanmerus,  and
country and travelled through several parts others, whose integrity cannot be questioned,
of Germany and France, about the end of say the same thing. To have a more copious
the fifth century, and in the time of Clovis, detail of the life of St. Fridolinus, we must
first Christian king of the Franks; on which have recourse to the chronology of the Geraccount he was called " Fridolinus the trayv- manic monasteries, by Gaspard Bruschius,
eller," by Judocus, Coccius, Possevin, and and an anonymous author published in 1606,
others.t  After preaching the gospel in different parts of Gaul, he withdrew for some' "It is not doubted that St. Fridolinus was born
time to the monastery of St. Hilary, at in a distant part of Scotia; the inhabitants of HiPoitiers, of which he was created superior. bernia (Ireland) are called Scotigenw." —Life of
Having been encouraged by the monarch,  t. FridolinuLs, c. 1.
caused this monastery to be rebuilt,       "The convent of Seeking was commenced by
he caused this monrastery to be rebuilt, St. Fridolinus, who was son of a king of the Scots;
whither he removed the body of St. Hilary. he was eminent for his. studies in philosophy." —
He afterwards founded several religious Bruschins on German Monasteries.
houses in Thuringia, Alsace, Strasbourg,    I " Old historians are agreed in this, that Fridoand on the frontiers of Switzerland; Col- linus was of royal descent-that he was born in
b - lower Scotia, which is called Ireland."-Peter Cagan reckons eight, six of which were dedi- nisius, Life of St. Fridolinus.
~ " Before these three, under Clovis, first Christian king of the Franks, Fridolinus, an Irishman
* "That Dempster may not feel surprise how by birth, and of royal lineage, spent a long time in
theologians of the colonies have been placed in the Switzerland, and planted in it the name and faith
last edition of the library of the Holy Fathers, and of Christ, where he likewise performed many mira.
that the adjective HIiberniensis was added to Sco- cles.  He converted the country of Claronensis,
tus." —Usher, c. 16, p. 771.                and the neighboring parts, some of which he
t " A paschal work of the venerable Sedulius, strengthened  in their faith." —Guillimnanus on
written in heroic verse, is entitled to our praise." — Swiss A4airs.
Usher, c. 16, p. 777.                        1 " Fridolinus, the traveller, was son of a king
t Act. Sanct. IIib. Vit. S. Fridolin, ad 6 Mart. of the Irish Scots: he is said to have written some
War. de Script. Hib. lib. 1, cap. 1. Serm. S. Petr. pious exhortations; he lived anno 595." —Possej Damian, de tranilat. S. Hilar.             vinus.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           195
among the Germanic writers, by Melchoir venerable man, and ably conversant in the
G oldastus.                             holy Scriptures.
St. Columb, surnamed Kill, of whom I   Columbanus made such a rapid progress
have already spoken, after having converted under this skilful master, that, thlough very
the northern Picts, founded the abbey of young, he wrote an elegant explanation on
Hy, or Jona, on the coasts of Great Britain,* the book of Psalms, and many other instruccelebrated both for the multitude of saints tive works; he afterwards placed himself
who received their education there, and for under the guidance of St. Congall, in the
having been the burial-place of the kings of abbey of Beanchuir, or Bangor, from whence
Scotland, who had chosen it through re- he departed, with twelve disciples, among
spect; and the great number of monuments the number of whom was St. Gall, to go to
of antiquity, written in the Scotic or Irish Britain, and from thence to Burgundy, where
language, which were preserved there.    he arrived in the reign of Sigebert, then king
St. Colulmb composed several works in of Austrasia and Burgundy, who received
prose and verse; among others, a rule for him with much honor and respect.  The
monks, —which still exists, commonly called prince, perceiving his inclination for a rethe rule of Columb-Kill;t the life of St. tired life, gave him the choice of a suitable
Patrick; and a hymn in praise of St. Kie- place in his states, and begged of him earran, abbot of Clonmacnoisk.             nestly to select in his kingdom, instead of
He also composed three hymns, the first seeking an asylum  in the neighboring
of which begins thus:                   countries.* This saint, filled with gratitude,
withdrew with his companlions into the des"Altus Prosator, vetustus dierum et ingenitus."  erts of Vosge, and stopped in a place called
This hymn was presented to Pope St. Anagrates, where there was one old ruined
Gregory, who thought it very fine, except castle, in which he remained for some time;
that the author had spoken with too much but his reputation for sanctity having atreserve of the blessed Trinity; which gave tracted a number of persons who were derise to the following hymn, in which he is sirous of living dnder his discipline, he was
more explicit on that subject, and begins oblged to seek a more commodious habitawith-                                   tion. Luxeu, in the same desert, at the foot
of the mountains of Vosge, appearing to him
"In te Christe, credentium."    a suitable place, he founded a celebrated
monastery, where he established his order;,
St. Columb composed a third hymn, be- and the perpetual psalmody  by different
ginning with the words-.
choirs, who relieved each other day and
"Noli, Pater, indulgere."     night.  He was the first who established
the monastic order among the French.t
There are also several works of piety and The order of St. Columbanus was then conprophecies under the name of this saint, of sidered as the model of a retired life, and
which Colgan gives an account in his life. Luxeu as the centre of perfection. The
St. Columb died in his abbey of Hy, the number of persons, of every rank and con9th of June, 597, where he was interred, dition, who wished to submit to the law of
leaving as his successor in that house, Bai- St. Columbanus, was so great, that, in order
then, who lived but two years.  According to lighten the burden on the house of Luxeu,
to the Irish tradition, the relics of St. Co- he was obliged to found another at Fontaine,
lumb were removed in the beginning of the in the same country.
ninth century to the monastery of Down,   Columbanus had been, for nearly twenty
in Ireland, and deposited with those of St. years, at the head of the monastery of Luxeu,
Patrick and St. Bridget.t               when he was expelled through the influSt. Columbanus, a native of the province ence of Brunehaut.  This ambitious queen
of Leinster, applied himself in his youth to shared the government of Burgundy with:
the study of grammar and the liberal arts, her grandson Thierry II., who was king.
in which he made considerable progress; Fearing that the marriage of this prince
he afterwards attached himself to Senell, a would diminish her authority, she endeav- 
ored to dissuade him from it by procuring, Bede, Hist. Eccles. lib. 3, cap. 44.  him  illicit pleasures; which excited the
t Trias. Thaum. Vit. S. Columb. Append. 3, part zeal of St. Columbanus, who reproached him
2 et 3.
Jonas Abbas. Vit. S. Columban. apud Mes-  * Camd. Brit. page 730.
singh. War. de Script. Hib. cap. 3. Act. Sanct.  t Jonas, Vit. S. Columb. cap. 9, et Breviar. PaHib. Vit. S. Deicol. ad 18 Jan.         risiens, ad 21 Nov.




196                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
severely for the shameful life he led. The by Messingham, according to an ancient
prince, who had a high opinion of the sanc- manuscript in the abbey of Bobbio; epistles
tity of St. Columbanus, heard him patiently, to different persons, some of which were
but the intrigues of Brunehaut, who had published by Goldastus; "Carmen Monasprejudiced all the nobles of the kingdom tichon," or a monastic poem, copied from
against him, forced him to yield to the storm, an ancient manuscript of Freisingen, in Baby leaving his monastery at Luxeu.         varia, by Henry Canisius; the monastic rule
Notwithstanding this disgrace, our saint which this saint had introduced into France,
was favorably received by Clothaire II., published by Messingham, after the original
king of Suissoins, to whom he foretold that manuscript in the abbey of Bobbio; a book
in three years the French monarchy would of the daily penance of the monks; a manube united in his person, which prophecy was script in the abbey of St. Gall in Switzerafterwards accomplished; Theodebert II. land; an epigram on the form  and manner
having been defeated by his brother Thierry, to be observed in the prescribing of penance
and talien at Cologne, where he was assas- on the seven deadly sins, and on the vanity
sinated by order of Brunehaut.*  Thierry and miseryof human life, written in verse.
died of a dysentery, when going to make Lastly, he wrote two epistles to Pope Boniwar against Clothaire, and Brunehaut was face, which are still in being, and his apolput to death by order of the latter.       ogy respecting the celebration of the Easter,
St. Columbanus having preached the word when he was summoned to attend the synod
of God in several provinces in France, and of Mracon.
confirmed his doctrine by miracles too nu-   St. Gall, who was born of noble parents
merous to be introduced here, went to Italy, in Ireland, was placed at an early age, ac-.where, with the approbation of Aigilulph, cording to his life, written by Wallafridus
king of the Lombards, he founded the abbey Strabo, an author of the ninth century, unof Bobbio, in Milan, over which he pre- der the guidance of St. Columbanus, with
sided but one year, having died there on whom he made considerable progress in the
the 21st of November, 615, and was suc- study of the Holy Scriptures, the liberal
ceeded by a native'of Burgundy, called At- arts, grammar, and poetry, and in the practala.                                      tice of regular discipline; having received
The Augustine monks affirm that St. Co- the order of priesthood in obedience to his
lumbanus was of their order; but Reyner master's wishes, he was his constant comsays that he was a Benedictine.t   It is, panion in his travels through Britain, France,
however, certain, that this saint had estab- and Germany, when he was expelled from
lished a particular order, and introduced it his monastery of Luxeu by the intrigues of
into France;t his disciples afterwards con- Queen Brunehaut.* Having arrived in Gerformed to the rule of St. Benedict, which many, and being desirous of settling in a'had been established some years before at place called Tucconia, near Lake Turicin,
Glan-Feuille, by St. Maur, still preserving or Tigurin, now called the lake of Zurich,
the statutes of their father Columbanus.   in Switzerland, St. Gall, moved with zeal,'
St. Columbanus wrote many works in set fire to a temple in which the pagans
Latin, which are quoted by Ware and oth- were sacrificing to demons, and caused their
ers: namely, a book of commentaries on the offerings to be thrown into the neighboring'Psalter; a work against the Arians, which lake.  The pagans, exasperated at the conJonas calls, "a work of flowery erudition;" duct of the saint, resolved to put him  to
I" Contra quos etiam libellum  florentis sci- death, but he had the good fortune to esentire edidit;"~ thirteen homilies published cape from their hands, with St. Columbanus,
and to reach the castle of Arbona, or Arbon,;*" Abre~g6 Chron. doe IHistoire de France.  situated on a river of that name which falls
t Crusenius. Monast. Augustin. part 2, c. 11, into the lake of Constance, where theywere
Apostolat. Benedict. in Anglia, page 156.  hospitably detained for seven days by the
$ "The monks being therefore settled in these priest Willimar.  During this interval, they
parts, he mixed in his turn among them, and filled sought a suitable place for a retreat; Wilpwith the holy spirit, he composed the regulationss oug ht   a suitable place for a retreat;  lwhich they should keep."-Abbot Jona's Life of lumar informed them  of an old building,
St. Columb. c. 9.                          called Brigantium, in Rhoatia, at present
~ "This father of wonderful sanctity, labored
among the most zealous: he shone gloriously among:worldlings by his miracles, and taught by the holy   - Wallafrid. Strabo, Ab. Augiens, Vit. S. Coll,
spirit; he established monastic regulations, and was apud Messingh. Martyrol. Notkeri. Balbut. ibid.
the first who delivered them to the Gauls." —Ode- Petr. de Nata lib. de Gest. Sanct. lib. 9, cap. 72,
iijcus Vitale's Church Hist. b. 8.         ct War. de Script. Hib. cap. 3.




CHRISTiAN IRELAND.                               197
Bregent, in tie country of the Grisons; he   The cell of St. Gall became afterwards
furnished' them with a boat, and every thing a celebrated abbey, from the renown of its
necessary for their voyage, and a deacon to patron and the liberality of Sigebert II.,
escort themr. Having found in that place an king of Austrasia, and some neighboring
ancient oratory dedicated to St. Aurelia, princes. A large and populous town, which
but apparently converted into a pagan tern- still bears the name of St. Gall, was built
ple, they broke in it three bronze idols, in the samte place.
which formed the object of the worship of   The abbot of St. Gall is prince of the
the people who frequented it, and to which empire; he sits, with right of' suffrage, in the
they sacrificed,-as the tutelary gods of the general diet: his jurisdiction is very extencountry.  Those saints, having repaired this sive, and his annual revenue estimated at
church, which had been profaned by the pa- 100,000 ducats: he has a mint, and when
gatls, dedicated it anew to its former patron. the Helvetic diet has need for his aid, can
St. CGll preached the gospel to the inhab- raise an army of 12,000 men.
itants of the canton, several of whom  he   The life of St. Gall has been written in
convert.ed; but the pagan party being too verse by Notquer le Begue, part of which
strong, he was obliged to abandon his un- was published by Henry Canisius.  Dempdertaking.                                 ster, as was usual with him, numbers this
The two saints then resolved to go to- saint among the Scots of Albania, but his
gether to Italy; but St. Gall having been assertionis opposedby Wallafridus, Strabo,*
prevented by a fever, they separated.  St. Notquer le Begue,f Petrus de Natalibus,`  t
Colunmbanus set out for Italy, and St. Gall Vollateran and others, who maintain that he
returned to the priest'Willinmar, with whom  was an Irishman. We have some of St. Gall's
he remained till he was perfectly recovered. works, viz., a sermon which he preached in
The desire of leading a retired life, induced the church of St.. Stephen of Constance, at
him to return to the' desert; he chose a the ceremony of the consecration of St.
habitation on the banks of a small river, John, bishop of that city —some epistles
called Steinaha, now Stinace, nearlake Con- published by Henry Canisius-a discourse
stance, where he built a cell.            -upon the church government, which he proThe bislhopric of Constance being vacant, nounced in presence of the bishop of Conp)ririce Gunzo wrote to our hermit, to beg of stance, the original manuscript of which is
him to assist at a synod which was to be preserved, accordilng to Possevinus, ii the.
held for the election of a successor in that library of St. Gall; his Psalter, of which
see.  The saint repaired tlhither, attended Joachim  Vadiarnus speaks, in his treatise
by a deacon called John, who had been his of colleges and monasteries in Germany,.disciple for three years, and another named and which he mentions to have been transMagnoald.                                  lated into German by N'otquer le Begue.
The great reputation for science and vir-   Bollandus published, with notes, the life,tue which St. Gall had acquired, gained him  of St. Deicol, written, as he calculates, more
the suffrages of the whole assembly, to fill than eight hundred years ago, according to
the see of Constance; but his great humility memoirs in the monastery of Lured~  This
not allowing him to accept of that dignity, saint was a native of Ireland,1J and called in
he proposed in his stead his deacon Johnl,
who was received by the meeting, and con-   * "WMle this illustrious Saint Columbanus was
secrated bishop of Constance.  St. Gall engaged in Ireland, the noble parents of the sanchaving spent seven days with the new pre- tified Gallus offering their son in his early youth to
late, returned to his cell, where he caused a God, with gifts placed him under his instruction."
monastery to be bnilt for himself and twelve — Wallafi'id. in his Life of St. Gallus.
t "' On the same day, the anniversary of the
of his disciples, who were desirous of em- death of the most holv Gatlus, cosnfessor, who was
bracing the monastic state with him.        an Irishman, is celebrated among the Germans.
Eustaclhius, who succeeded St. Gall in Under an instinct of divine love, travelling with his
the monastery of Luxeu, having died, the master and abbot Columbanus through Gaul, he enmonks deputed six of their fraternity, all tered Germany." —Martyrology of Notker Balbut.'
"t "Gallus descended from illustrious parentage,
Irish, to St. Gall, to influence him to under- in Ireland, and being placed under the instructions
take the government of their house, with IandguidanceofSt. Columbanus,was advanced from
the title of abbot; but the saint declined this being a monk, to the order of priesthood."-Petrus
honor likewise.  He afterwards died at de Natalibus, St. C.
priest Willimar's on the 16th of October,  ~ Ad. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Deicol, ad 18 Jan.
priest.illimar's on the  76t  of October,11 )J " Among these things, it is to be remarked
635, aged 95 years; others say that he that St. Deicolas was an Irishman, for he himself
l died in 625.'  said to the pope that he was from that country,
11                                                                t~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I




198                              HISTORY OF IRELAND.
the Irish or Scotic language, Dichuill, in tia," that is, Irish, which he himselfindicates
Latin Dichullus and Deicola; he was half- in his preface to the life of St. Columbanus.*
brother of St. Gall, and, like him, a disciple   Jonas wrote, in Latin, the life of St. Coof St. Columbanus.  The infirmity of his lumbanus, to which he had been an eyehealth not allowing him to accompany Father witness: he also wrote the lives of Attala
Columbanus into Italy, he obtained permis- and Eustachius, both disciples and sacsion from him to remain in Burgundy, where cessors of St. Columbanus; the former at
he founded, at a few leagues from Luxeu, Bobbio, the latter at Luxeu.  To him  are
the celebrated monastery of Lure, in Latin also attributed some hymns, and the lives of
Lutra, or " Lutrense monasterium," the care Bertulph, successor to Attala in the monasof which he confided to St. Columbanus, his tery of Bobbio, and of Burgandeford; of
spiritual son and disciple, and caused an these lives Bede is not the author, though
oratory to be built for himself near the con- published among his works.  Lastly, Jonas
vent; where, after spending the remainder wrote the life of John, founder and first
of his life in meditation and penitential prac- abbot of a monastery in the diocese of
tices, he died at an advanced age, and was in- Langres, at the solicitation of Hunn, who
terred on the 15thof the calends of February, was abbot of it.  This life was published
the day on which his memory is honored.*  in Paris in 1637, by Pierre Rouere
Canisius quotes the life of St. Magnoald,   Fiacre, born of noble parents in Ireland,
or Magne, writtenby his cotemporary Theo- being desirous of devoting himself to God
dore, a monk of St. Campden.t  This saint, in solitude, left his country, and went to
who had accompanied St. Gall to Ireland, of France accompanied by some disciples: he
which he was a native,t shared with him the addressed himselfto Faron,bishop of Meaux,
labors of the apostleship; after the death of who received him with kindness.t Thisholy
St. Gall he founded two cells in Germany; prelate, observing that he was possessed of
one at Campden, or Campidana, the govern- much mildness and simplicity, asked him
ment of which he confided to his colleague, his country, the intention of his voyage, and
Theodore; and the other at Fuessen, in his name.t  Fiacre answered that Ireland,
Latin " ad Fauces," at the foot of the Alps. the island of the Scots, was his country, and
Those cells having been richly endowed by that of his ancestors; that, wishing to lead
King Pepin, became afterwards celebrated a secluded life, he had left his country and
abbeys.  This saint having been at the head his friends, to seek a place suitable for that
of the latter for twenty-six years, died in purpose; and that his name was Fiacre.
the odor of sanctity, on the eighth of the The good bishop seeing the holy disposition
ides of September, aged seventy-three years. of Fiacre, gave him the forest of Brodole,
Among the disciplesof Saint Columbanus, which belonged to him, with permission to.
may be reckoned Jonas, abbot of Luxeu be- settle there.  Fiacre having thanked his
fore the middle of the seventh century. Ac- benefactor, caused a part of the wood to be
cording to Trithemius, Coccius-Sabellicus, cleared, and founded A monastery, dedicated
Arnold Wion, Molanus, and others, who, in to the blessed Virgin, where he led the life
the old style call him Scot," de veteri Sco- of a hermit.~  This saint was so celebrated
i. e. from the Scots who inhabited Ireland."'-Hu.go * Idem. Vit. S. Columban. War, de Script. Hih. 3.
Menardus.                                     t Messing. Florilg. Insul. Sanct. Vit. S. Fiacrii.
* " On the same day, the remains of St. Deicolas War. de Script. Hib. c. 3.
were deposited in the monastery of Lutra; of which   I Act. Sanct. Vit. S. Connan. ad 13 Jan. not. 10.
he was first abbot, having been a disciple of St.  ~ " St. Fiacrius, confessor, was born of very
Columbanus: he was renowned for his many virtues, noble parents in Ireland, and of a sanctified charand the splendor of his miracles; he gave up to the acter through life. At the time that St. Faro was
care of St. Columbanus, his solicitude for that archbishop of Meldi, St. Fiacriusand his companplace ordained, according to the will of God, for ions sought his friendship, which the pious Faro
the sake of religion. He withdrew to a more se- freely gave. Viewing the simplicity of his couneluded retreat, in order to devote himself to the con- tenance, he said, I pray, my dearest friend, that
templation of heavenly avocations, that he might you tell me your origin, your country, and the obbreathe forth his soul to God with attention, and ject of yourjourney, and name. The holy Fiacrius
with prayer pass unto him: after his happy death, replied, 0 most reverend father, I am from the
his splendid miracles attested his admission to country of the Scots, and my ancestors the same."
Christ."-Laussoius, the Gallicarn Martyrology.   -Capgravius in his Legends.
t Messing. Florileg. Insul. Sanct. Vit. S. Magni.  "Fiacrius was born of noble parents in Ireland,
t 6"When St. Columbanus, together with St. which is called Scotia by the ancients; from a deGallus, was passing frIom Ireland, a certain brother sire to lead a secluded life, he came to St. Faro, to
named Magnoaldus, descended from the aforesaid Meldi, together with some companions.'" —Breviary
country, Hibernia, (Ireland.)' —Life of St. Magnus. of Paris in AMessingham.




CHRISTIAN  IRELAND.                              199
for the austerity of his life, and the many companied him, in all the places where they
miracles which God wrought through his went.  He was never influenced, through
intercession, both before and after his death, fear, to spare the rich, but frequently rebuked
some of which are mentioned by Capgra- them for their faults; and the money which
vius and Surius, that he became an object he received from them was applied in reof veneration to the faithful, and an office of lieving the poor, and in the ransom of slaves.
nine lessons in honor of him was inserted He kept his passions in subjection, and enin most of the breviaries throughout France; tirely fiee from avarice, pride, or self-love:
it contains a hymn, the beginning of which in fine, his life was an example of charity,
is subjoined, as underneath.'              chastity, humility, and every virtue.  This
Hector Boetius and others affirm, that celebrated doctor, having filled the see of
St. Fiacre was son of Eugene IV., king of Lindisfarn for nearly seventeen years, and
Scotland: this opinion was adopted by some having converted the Northumbrians to the
foreigners without examining into it.  Ac- faith of Jesus Christ, died on the 31st of
cording to Dempster, our saint wrote to his August, 651; he was interred at first in the
sister Syra a treatise on the excellence of cemetery of the church at Lindisfarn, and
a monastic life, the original manuscript of when the church was rebuilt some time afwhich is preserved, it is said, at Meaux, terwards, his relics were deposited on the
and a book of meditations.                 right of the altar.  No doubt can be enterAidan, a monk of the abbey of Hy, was tained respecting the country of Aidan; Colthe apostle of the kingdom of Northumber- gan, after the Martyrologies of Dunagall,
land in England.t  King Oswald, who had Taulaght, and Cashel, and the annals of
embraced Christianity during his retreat Roscrea, says that he was a native of Ireamong the Scots, being re-established on land.*  This opinion is supported' by the
the throne, and desirous of having his sub- authority of Edwald Mahew, an Englishjects instructed in the religion that he pro- man, who published the life of St. Aidan
fessed, sent for St. Aidan, from  the abbey on the 31st of August; and by the author
of Hy, and was consecrated bishop for this of the life of St. Oswald, on the fifth of the
mission. The saint preached the gospel same month, in which, when speaking of
everywhere with success, and as he was not St. Aidan, he says he was undoubtedly an
well acquainted with the Saxon language, it Irishman, as in that age none but the Irish
was edifying to behold the prince, who was were called Scots. Besides, St. Aidan was
master of the Scotic, acting as interpreter a monk of the abbey of Hy, the members
between this missionary and the people.   of which were Scots from Ireland, whereas
St. Aidan first founded an episcopal see, the Picts had given that island to St. Coof which he was first bishop, in an island lumb-Kill, and to the Scotic monks who had
on the eastern coast, called Lindisfarn, preached the faith of Jesus Christ among
which that pious prince granted him  for them.-  From  that abbey, therefore, were
the purpose; he also founded several other the twelve disciples who had accompanied
churches and monasteries in different pla- this apostle to Britain, as is remarked in his
ces, where he caused the people to be in- life, besides some others who had afterstructed in the Christian religion and eccle- wards followed him from Ireland.t
siastical discipline. The life of Aidan, says   St. Finian, a native of Ireland and a monk
Bede, was widely different from that negli- of the abbey of Hy, succeeded St. Aidan
gence and inactivity which prevail at pres- in the episcopal see of Lindisfarn, and in the
ent. All who attended him, both monks and mission of the kingdom of Northumberland.
laity, were obliged to occupy themselves He caused to be built in the Isle of Lindiseither in reading the Holy Scriptures, or farn, says Bede, a church suitable for an
learning psalms; such was his daily em- episcopal see, not of stone but of oak, after
ployment, and that of the brothers who ac- the manner of the Scots;~ he labored perseveringly for the conversion of souls; he
The holy Fiacrius, from  a part of Ireland; af- baptized Penda, king of the interior provinter leaving his country, he came to Faro, bishop of ces, and Sigebert, king of the East-Angles,
Meaux, seeking his protection: he was illustrious
for his innumerable virtues."
* " Ireland is dignified by the lustre of a new   * Act. Sanct. Hib. p. 677, not. 7.
lamp: that island glitters. to the Meldi, by the pres-  t " Which island was a gift of the Picts, who
ence of so great a light. The former sent Fiacrius; inhabited those parts of Britain, to the monks of
Meaux received the ray which was sent. The joy Ireland, who preached to them the faith of Christ."
of both is in common; the latter possesses a father, -Bede's Church History, b. 3, c. 3.
the former a son."-Bede's History of the Church.  t Trias Thaum. Vit. 5, S. Columb. lib. 2.
t Bede, Hist. Eccles. lib. 3, e. 3, et seq.  ~ Bede, Eeclesiast. lib. 3, cap. 25.




200                            HIS'rORY OF IRELAND.
with the lords of their retinue, and sent abbey of Cnobersburgh, now Burgh-Castle,
priests to instruct and baptize their sub- in the county of Suffolk, on some land which
jects.* He consecrated Cedda, who had la- the king had given him; he afterwards indubored much in converting this people, bishop ced this pious prince to abdicate the throne,
of the kingdom of the East-Angles.  This and become a monk.  This monastery was
holy prelate died at Lindisfarn, having been afterwards considerably enlarged by the libat the head of that church for ten years.   erality of Anna, who succeeded Sigebert, and
St. Colmnan, a native also of Ireland, suc- some lords of the kingdom.  The desire of
ceeded St. Finian in the bishopric of Lin- leading a retired life made our saint relinquish
disfarn.  Those three prelates were cele- the government of his monastery, which he
brated for the sanctity and purity of their confided to his brother Foilan, and to the
morals, their zeal for the propagation of the priests Gobban and Dicull; he then withfaith, and the exercise of every virtue; it drew to a place of solitude with his brother
can be affirmed that the Saxons of the north- Ultan, where he spent a year in prayer and
ern provinces were indebted to them for the continence, living only on the fruits of the
knowledge of the true God; though they earth produced by his labor.
were in error respecting the celebration of   The troubles caused by the incursions of
the Easter, which was a matter of discipline. the Normans into England, and the dangers
It appears that there was a degree of harsh- that threatened the monasteries, induced St.
ness with which bishop Colman was treated Fursey to go to France, where he was preby Wilfrid, at the conference of Strenaes- sented to Clovis II. by Erchinoald, or Herhalch; he was obliged to leave Britain, and cenald, mayor of the palace. The king being
withdraw to the isle of Inis-Bo-Fin, on the informed by Erchinoald of the saint's intenwestern coast of Ireland, where he founded tion, and wishing to encourage him to remain
a monastery.t                            in his kingdom, gave him choice of a suitSt. Fursey was descended from noble pa- able place for building a monastery.  St.
rents in Ireland, his father was Fintan, son Fursey availed himself of this offer, and
of Finloge, prince of southern Munster, and settled at Latiniacum, (Lagny,) on the river
brother of St. Brendan of Clonfert; his Marne, six leagues from Paris; where he
mother, Gelgesia, was daughter of lEd, or caused three chapels to be built, the first of
Hugue, surnamed Fin, that is, white, prince which he dedicated to our Saviour, the
of the Hy-Brunes in Connaught, from whom second to St. Peter, and the third was called,
the noble tribes of the O'Rourkes and the when he died, after his own name, through
O'Reillys are descended.f Furseywasbap- the devotion of the faithful.  Being aftertized and brought up in a religious life, byhis wards joined by several monks, his disciples,
uncle Brendan.~ Having attained the age of who had followed him from Ireland, among
maturity, he founded, with the consent of his others, tEmilianus, Euloquius, Mombulus,
uncle, a monastery in an island called Rath- &c., and seconded by the liberality of the
mat, near lake Orbsen, in the county of Gal- king and lords of the country, he founded a
way, which Colgan thinks is the present par- monastery which he himself governed.
ish church of Kill-Fursa, in the diocese of   His zeal was not confined to the interior
Tuam.[ll                                 of his convent; he labored with success in
St. Fursey having labored in the conver- the conversion of souls at Brie and in its
sion of souls in Ireland for the space of neighborhood, and his preaching was altwelve years, went, about the year 637, with ways accompanied by miracles.
some disciples, to England, where he was   St. Fursey was not forgetful of his
kindly received by Sigebert, king of the east brothers, nor the monastery he had founded
Saxons:~ this saint, having rescued some of in the country of the east Saxons: having
the Picts and Saxons, who had escaped the formed the design of visiting them, he apzeal of the preceding missionaries, from the pointed his disciple Emilianus to govern the
superstitions of idolatry, and brought them monastery of Lagny in his stead, and set out
to the worship of the true God, founded the for England; but falling sick at Mezieres,
he died the 16th of January, 648: his body
X Bede, Ibid. cap. 22.                 was removed to Peronne by order of Hert Bede, Hist. Eccles. lib. 3, cap. 25.  convald, and placed in a gallery till the
t Messing. Floril. usul. Januar. Vit. S. Furs. dedication of the church, which took place
Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Furs. ad 19 Januar. Ibid. twenty-six days after.  On the day of the
ad 9 Febr. War. de Script. cap. 3.                 the body of the saint was placed
~ Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Furs. lib. 1, note 7. ceremony, the body of the saint was placed,  lI Ibid. page 89, note 14.          in the choir, and found to be as whole and
~V Bede, Hist. Eccl. lib. 3, cap. 19.  untainted as the day on which he died.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                                201
Four years afterwards a chapel was built, learned man, went to England in 676; he
to the east of the altar. in which the saint's founded a monastery and established a school
body was deposited, and where it might be at Ingleborne in Wiltshire; this place was
seen in the time of Bede, without stain or called after him, Maildulfesburgh, (Maildulcorruption.  The festival of St. Fursey is fiurbs,) at present Malmsbury.* This school
kept to the 16th of January at Peronne, was celebrated for the great number of stuwhere he is honored as the patron saint. dents, eminent for their learning and piety,
Dempster says that he composed a book on who had received their education there,
the monastic life, and a prophecy in the among others, St. Aldelm, who succeeded
Scotic language.  Colgan published, after him, and was thhe first Saxon that wrote
Arnold Wion, some hymns which were in the Latin tongue, either in prose or
written in his praise.                      verse.t
James Desmay, of the faculty in Paris,   This monastery became a celebrated abdoctor in theology, and canon of the colle- bey, through the liberality of king Athelstan,
giate church of St. Fursey, wrote an ample and other benefactors.  St. Maildulphus
history of the life of that saint in French; it wrote on the observance of the Easter, on
was translated into Latin by the Rev. father the tonsure, on celibacy, and on rules for the
Eugene O'Gallagher, a monk of the order of arts and natural philosophy: he composed
Louvain.  This author supposes that St. hymns, dialogues, epistles, and several other
Fursey had gone to Rome, from whence he works which have been lost.  This holy
returned  through  Austria, Flanders, Bra- man died at an advanced age, in his convent
bant, Liege,.and Namur, before he founded of Malmsbury, where he was interred.
the monastery of Lagny.  He also men-   St. Cuthbert, son of an Irish prince, was
tions, after Bede and other ancient monu- born at Kenanuse, otherwise Kells, in Meath,
ments, the visions of that saint, and mira- or, according to others, at Kilmacudrick,
cles which he wrought.                      within four miles from  Dublin.   Sabina,
Saint Arbogast, a native of Ireland;, came, his moth'er, having undertaken, according to
says Gaspard Bruschius, as a stranger and the taste of the times, a pilgrimage to Rome,
hermit to Alsace, where he built an oratory left him in the abbey of Mailross, where he'
in nearly the same place where the present became a monk and afterwards prior;~ he
city of Hugueneau  is built, and devoted acquitted  himself honorably in the  dishimself to the service of God in fasting and charge of his duties in this abbey, and was
prayer.*  His charity made him sometimes summoned to Lindisfarn by Eata, bishop of
leave his retreat, to instruct the people in that see; from thence he went to an island
the knowledge and fear of God, and to in- called Fame, some leagues in the sea, where
voke the Father, and his divine Son Jesus he lived as a hermit till he was appointed
Christ, to draw them  from  their idolatrous bishop of Lindisfarn; with reluctance he
worship  and superstition.i   His conduct accepted that dignity, but was constrained to
having attracted the notice of king Dago- yield to the solicitations of king Egfrid, and
bert, this prince appointed him to succeed
St. Amand in the see of Strasburg, in 646.
Having filled that bishopric for twelve years,  * Guilliem. Mahnesb. de Gest. Reg. Angl. lib. 1,
he died 658.  He was interred, as he had cap. 2, et War. de Script. Hib. cap. 3.
requested, in the place of public execution   t " Nor was it known by any other name, for a
called Mount Michel, being desirous of long time, than Ingelborn, till Maildulphus, a certain
l called Motunt  Michel, being desirous of Hibernian Scot, a man of the soundest erudition and
imitating Jesus Christ, who suffered without a peculiar sanctity of life, being taken by the delithe walls of Jerusalem, in the place where ciousness of the grove. After this, opening a
criminals suffered; a monastery was founded school, and devoting himself with his congregation
long afterwards, where his tomb stood, and to a monastic life, he built a monastery in it: from
hence it began to be called by Maildulph us, instead of
dedicated to his name, near which was built Ingleborne, the town of Maildulphesburg; by Bede,
the great church of that city.  It is said that the city of Maildulphus, and afterwards contracted
he composed a book of homilies and learned into Malmsbury. By some historians, from prescommentaries on the epistles of St. Paul.4  elnts which were formerly made to this place, it is
Irm e o pish  mon,.   vr.y Acalled Meldunum, Malduburg, and Maldunsburg.
Maildulphus, an Irish  monk, and very Among the disciples of Maildulphus, Aldelmus, who
had been appointed his successor, was particularly
X Act. Sanct. Hib. pages 36, 37, 117.  War. de noted; for he was the first of the English people
Script. Hib. cap. 3, et Brusch. de Epis. Germ. who wrote in Latin, and was the first who taught
page 55.                                    the English to compose Latin verse." —Camden, p.
t Henric. Pantalcon. prosopog. viror. illustr. Ger- 176.
manias, et Sebast. Muns. Cosmograph.          t Bede, Hist. Eccl. lib. 4, cap. 27, 28.
t Baleus, et Flaming. Collect. Sacr. page 183.    ~ War. de Script. Hib. cap. 3.
*~~~~~ ~             ~26




202                               HISTORY OF IRELAND.
some bishops whom  he had assembled in two companions called Colonat and Totnan,
synod for that purpose.                       the one a priest and the other a deacon:
He was consecrated bishop in presence being desirous to visit the church of Rome,
of the king, at York, on Easter-day, 684, by he took his route through  Flanders and
the archbishop Theodore; after continuing Germany; on his arrival in Rome, having
for two years in that diocese, he returned to been presented to Pope Conon, the holy
his monastery in the isle of Fame, where he father found him to be possessed of so much
died on the 20th March, 686.  According wisdom, and so perfect in his knowledge
to Baleus, he wrote a treatise on the ordi- of the holy Scriptures, that he ordained and
nances of his church, and. another entitled appointed him  to preach the gospel to the
"Precepts for the Monastic Life."  Tin- infidels of Franconia, where, having conmouth and Capgrave, who published his life, verted duke Gosbert, and a great number of
mention the monastic rules which he had his subjects, he fixed his see at Wirtzburg,
given to his monks, and which Dempster of which he was the first bishop, and was
calls " Exhortationes ad fratres."            afterwards honored as a martyr.*
Saint Gertrude having become, on the    Gosbert, while he was a pagan, married
death of her mother Itte, abbess of Nivelle, Gielana, his brother's wife; but being conin Brabant, sent to Rome for relics of the verted to Christianity, St. Kilian, like anoholy martyrs, and for books of piety; she ther John the Baptist, reproached him, with
also sent to Ireland for learned men to ex- truly apostolical freedom, for this incestuous
pound the holy Scriptures, and instruct the marriage, and advised him to separate from
nuns in them, and to preach the word of her: Gielana, exasperated at the holy preGod in the country around.  Among this late's reproof, caused him  and his comnumber were two brothers of St. Fursey, panions to be assassinated on the 8th of
Foilan  and Ultan, commonly  called  St. July, 689, the day on which they are honFoignan and St. Outain.  St. Gertrude af- ored by the church as martyrs.
terwards conferred on St. Outain the lands   The removal of these holy bodies by St.
of Fosse, in the diocese of Maestricht, be- Burchard, bishop of that see, gave rise to
tween the Meuse and the Sambre, to build the Hexastich, as subjoined;t it was writa monastery and an hospital.t                 ten in the beginning of the sixteenth cenSt. Kilian, a native of Ireland,t called the tury, by Doctor Engilhard Funkius.  Some
apostle of Franconia, left his- country with works are attributed to St. Kilian, namely,
a treatise against Arianism, and one against
X Baillet, Lives of the Saints, 17th March.  extraneous worship.
t " Rome at that time took care to have the rel-   Sedulius, surnamed the younger, to disics of the saints and holy books brought to her; she tinguish him  from  the Great Sedulius, of
sent to -Ireland for learned men to expound to her- whom we have spoken in the fifth century,
self and to her people the canticles of the holy law, assisted at a council held at Rome, against
which the Irish had almost by heart. The monas-of April, 721, under
tery of Vossuensis was built on the banks of the illicit marriaes the fifthunder
Sambre for receiving the saints Fullanus and Ulta- the pontificate of Gregory II.t   He left to
nus, brothers of St. Furseus."-Breviary of Paris. posterity compilations on the Gospel of St.
t " From a district of Austria, and a castle called Matthew, which are still to be seen in manuWirtzburg near the river Meuse, the birthplace of script in some of the libraries in Paris.  It
the martyr Chilianus and two of his companions, is said that he wrote the commentaries on
who after coming from the island of Scotia, (Ire- is said that he wrote the commentaries on
land,) preached the gospel of Christ in the above the large volume of Priscianus; on the secplaces."-MMartyrology of Rhabanus.            ond edition of Donatus, and on the art of Eu"The holy Kilianus, born in the island of Hiber- tychius; he is thought to be the author of a
nia, (Ireland,) is considered as a renowned bishop of work that was written in Gothic characters,
Wirtzburg." —Marianus Scotus.
"Saint Kilianus, an Irish monk, preached in
these times the evangelical doctrine to the eastern   * Usser. Prim. c. 16, p. 732, Messingh. Florileg.
Francs, and is called their apostle."- Chronicles insul. Sanct. Vit. S. Kilian, War. de Script. Hib. c.
of Cardinal Bellarmini.                       3, et Fleur. Hist. Eccles. lib. 40.
" In a district of Austria, where stood a castle   t "These are the masters of Herbipolis, who
of New France, nay a city as in the Teutonic dia- have taught thee how to worship the true God;
lect, Wirtzburg, situate near the river Meuse, sig- the wicked Gielana ordered them at length to be
nifies the martyrdom of St. Kilianus, the first bishop put to death, and concealed beneath this place
of that city, and that of his two disciples, Colona- their martyred bones, which Burkardus now places
tus a presbyter, and Totnanus a deacon, took place. beneath this monument, lest they should lie in a
They came from Ireland, the island of the Scots, filthy spot, without praise and the rites of burial."
and after receiving the authority of the apostolical — Ware on Irish Writers.
see, they preached the name of Christ to that city   I War. de Script. Hib. c. 4, et Severinus Binius,
and district." —Martyrology of Notker.        Concil. tom. 5.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             203
on parchment, found in a monastery in Gal- ceeded as far as the boundaries of the Huns,
licia, and has given rise to the opinion of his where the Drave falls into the Danube.
having been bishop of Oreto in Spain; it While Virgilius was bishop of Salsburg, a
was entitled " Concordantia Hispanime atque dispute arose between him  and Boniface,
Hiberniae a Sedulio Scoto, genere Hiberni- archbishop of Mayence, concerning baptism.
ensi et Episcopo Oretensi."               Boniface asserted that the baptism adminisAlbuin, an Irish monk, filled with zeal for tered by a priest of the country, who, through
the propagation of the faith, left his country, ignorance of the Latin tongue, had corrupted
says Trithemius, and went, in 742, to Thu- the form by saying, " In nomine Patrio et
ringia, a part of Upper Saxony, where, by Filia et Spiritu Sancta," was invalid, and
the mildness of his preaching, he converted should be renewed.  Virgilius, on the cona great number of Gentiles to the faith of trary, maintained, that this change in the
Jesus Christ; after which the pope nomi- form of the baptism being merely accidental,
nated him bishop of Fritzlar, or rather of could not affect the validity of the sacraBuraburgh; Arnold Wion gives him the ment.  The debate became warm on both
title of the apostle of theT'huringians. Ac- sides, and the matter was referred to the
cording to Serarius, this bishopric was united pope: on this occasion, Virgilins, bishop of
to Paderborn, in 794.*                    Salsburg, and Sidonius, archbishop of BaSaint Virgilius, sometimes called Soliva- varia, wrote a letter to Pope Zachary, who
gus, from his love of solitude, was born of decided in their favor, against Boniface,
an ancient and noble family in Ireland,~ whom he accused of being in error.
where he distinguished himself by his learn-   Virgilius was not so favorably treated on
ing.  Having gone to France, King Pepin another occasion; he was summoned to the
was highly taken with him, on account of court of Rome, concerning a treatise on the
his mildness and profound erudition.t This Antipodes, wherein he did not agree with the
prince  having detained him  two years, opinion of the ancients, who thought that
recommended him to Otilo, duke of Bava- the earth had a flat surface, that there were
ria, and had him appointed to the bishopric no antipodes, and that the sky met the earth
of Juvave, since called Salsburg, in 772.~ at the horizon.  This saint, who excelled
Pepin caused to be convened the council of in every kind of learning, was a subtle phiDingolvingue, at which six bishops assisted, losopher, and an able mathematician; he
the most celebrated of whom was St. Vir- was of the opinion of Ptolemy, who was
gilius of Salsburg.ll  Virgilius remained for the first to reduce geography to a system;
two years, without being ordained bishop; he maintained that the earth was spherical,
the duties, however, of the see, he got a great part of which was therefore unDobha, a bishop who went with him from known; that every nation had its antiIreland, to perform.  He rebuilt the monas- podes, and inhabitants diametrically oppotery of St. Peter of Salsburg, in a magnifi- site; which opinion being unknown to the
cent manner, of which he was abbot before ancients, and apparently opposed to some
he was consecrated bishop.                passages in the Holy Scriptures, and fathers
Chetimar, duke of the Carinthians, be- of the church, Virgilius was represented by
sought St. Virgilius to visit his people and Boniface as having broached an erroneous
confirm them in the faith; but being unable doctrine, and declared heretical by Pope
to go, he sent the bishop of Modestus, with Zachary, as it appears by his epistle to
four priests, some deacons, and clerks, con- Boniface.  If, says he, Virgilius maintainsl
ferring on him the power of consecrating that there is another world, and other men
churches, and to ordain.  He went thither under the earth, another sun, and another
himself afterwards, where he consecrated moon, he must be suspended in council from
several churches, ordained clerks, and pro- the church, and from the priesthood.*
By this decision of the pope, it would ap* Act. Sanct. Vit. S. Albruin. ad 15 Mart. War. pear that the matter had been badly reprede Script. Hib. c. 3, Lig. Vit. lib. 2, c. 42, Rer. sented to him, whereas he did not compreMoguntin. lib. 3, et Trith. de Vir. illus. Ord. Bene- hend the opinion of Virgilius respecting the
dict. lib. 4, c. 190, lib. 3, c. 367.
t "Saint Virgil was descended from a noble antipodes; it appears, also, that the above
family in Ireland. He was a man of extraordinary sentence was never put into execution against
piety and learning."-Gasp. Brus. on German Mon- him.  The dispute between Virgilius and
asteries.                                 Boniface is well described by Canisius,
et Act. Sanct. Hib. pp. 760, 764, 769.
et Act. Sanct. Hib. pp. 7l60  76(4;7e6t9  irgilAventinus, and Velser, historians of Bavaria.
~ War. de Script. Hib. c. 4.
11 Fleuri, Hist. Eccles. lib. 44.         * Usser. Epis. Hiber. Syllog. Epist. 16, 17.




204                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Melchoir Goldastus, in his notes on the founded a church dedicated to St. Columb,
life of St. Columbanus, quotes a glossary, in the city of Esinberg.  They are looked
which is attributed to Virgilius. This saint upon as the apostles of Iceland.
died the 27th November, 785; he was   Dempster says that St. Buo wrote a book
looked upon as a man of piety, and very of homilies to the Icelanders;* very dislearned in philosophy and the mathematics; honorably, however, he calls him  a Scot
he was canonized by Pope Gregory IX., in from Albania, although his account is taken
1233.                                     from Arngrim Jonas, an historiographer of
St. Donatus left Ireland with his com- the Icelanders, who expressly calls ErnulpanionAndrew; and after travelling through phus an Irish Christian, "Irlandum  homiFrance and Italy, settled in Etruria, now nem Christianum;" and Buo, a young man
Tuscany, where he led the life of a hermit from the same country, " ejusdem provincima
for some time, after which he was nominated juvenem." The memory of St. Buo is celebishop of Fiesole.*  He remained for Ii con- brated on the 5th February, but the year of
siderable time at the head of that church, his death is not known.
and became celebrated for the brilliancy of   The public schools, namely, Ardmach,
his virtues.  It is affirmed that the Domini- Lismore, Ros Ailithir, otherwise Ros Carcans at Rome have his life in manuscript: bery, Clonard, &c., and the learned profeshe wrote his travels, the office of his church, sors who presided over them, attracted many
and commentaries on the Holy Scriptures; students from the neighboring nations.
he gave also a description of Ireland in hex-. The almost universal inundation of Euameter and pentameter verse, some frag- rope, in those ages, by the barbarians, who
ments of which are quoted by Colgan.t This were opposed to all civilization and literasaint flourished in 840, and his festival is ture, caused them in a great degree to concelebrated on the 22d of October.  Demp- centrate themselves in Ireland, which was
ster ascribes to Andrew, the companion of St. then the only asylum that remained for them;
Donatus, and archdeacon of Fiesole, some besides this, it was a nation very well distracts, viz., on the usefulness of penance, the posed to cultivate them; as it has been seen
good of giving alms; to the brothers who that the Greeks, after the taking of Constanhad received the habit from him, the acts of tinople by the Turks, carried with them into
his master Donatus, and a work on morality. Italy, and the neighboring countries of EuPhilip, a Florentine, and ambassador of Pope rope, philosophy, the sciences, and fine arts,
Boniface IX., published the lives of Andrew from Greece.
and his sister Bridget in 1390, according to   The venerable Bede mentions a great
a manuscript in an abbey in Florence, where- number of English, both nobles and others,
in, among other things, he says: "Andrew, who came to Ireland in the time of the holy
a holy man, from the island of Ireland, more bishops Finanus and Colmanus, to be ingenerally called Scotia," &c.              structed in divine learning, and perfect themAbout this time, says Ware, lived St. selves in the practice of a monastic life. He
Findan, whose life was published in 795 by then adds that the Scots provided them graMelchoir Goldastus.1 When Ireland began tuitously with every thing that they needed,
to be infested with the Danes, St. Findan, even with books for study.t  " Our Angloson of a prince of Leinster, was made pris- Saxons," says Camden, " went in those times
oner by those barbarians; but having es- to Ireland, as if to a fair, to purchase knowcaped in a miraculous manner, he went to ledge; and we often find, in our authors,
Rome, from whence he travelled to Germany, that if a person were absent, it was generally
where he remained for twenty-seven years; said of him, by way of a proverb, that he
he was first a hermit, and afterwards abbot was sent to Ireland to receive.his education.
of the monastery of Richnaw, which he had
founded on a peninsula in the Rhine, where   * Hist. Eccles. Scot. lib. 2, n. 168.
he died in 827.                                  "This country pressed upon Ireland likewise
St. Buo, a native of Ireland, and Ernul- with the like carnage. There were in it (at that
phus, from the same country, went to Ice- time) many nobles and gentry from among the
land, where they preached the gospel with English, who, in the time of bishops Finanus and
Colmanus, having withdrawn themselves thither,
success; they burned the temples in which for either the sake of divine study or to lead more
the pagans offered up human sacrifices, and chaste lives, some gave themselves up to a monastic life, and others attended in the monasteries to
* War. de Script. Hib. c. 6.            hear the professors. All of them the Scots most
t Dempst. Hist. Eccles. Scot. lib. 4, n. 366. freely admitted, and supplied them gratis with daily
Trias Thaum. pp. 255, 582. Ibid. lib. 1, n. 31.  sustenance, with books, and masters."-Bede's
t Script. Rer. Alleman. tom. p. 318.    Church Hist. b. 3, c. 27.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                                  205
It even appears," continues he, " that our   Timuthensis and Leland make mention of
ancestors, the ancient Anglo-Saxons, had St. Petrocus, who, after renouncing  the
learned the use of characters in Ireland."*  crown of his father, who was king of CumEdilvinus, after having studied there, was berland when he died, and leading a monastic
bishop of the province of Lindisse, where he life for some years, together with sixty pergoverned his church as a true pastor; Alfred, sons with whom he had united himself, went
king of the Northumbrians, went also to to Ireland, where he devoted twenty years
Ireland to perfect himself in the study of to the study of literature and the holy Scripphilosophy and the sciences: " In Hibernia tures.*
magno otio litteris imbutus, omni piiilosophia    Mark, a native of Britain, was brought
composueratanimum."t Young Willibrordus, up in Ireland, and after exercising the episstruck with the great reputation for learning copal functions with sanctity, he was induced
which the Irish possessed, and influenced by to go to France, by the liberality of Charles
the example of St. Egbert, a bishop, and the the Bald, and withdrew into the monastery
venerable Wicbert, a priest, who had aban- of the Saints Medard and Sebastian, where
doned all to devote themselves to study and he lived as a hermit and a wise philosopher.s 
contemplation in Ireland, left his monastery,   Two English priests, who were both called
with the consent of his abbot, to go thither Evaldus, having studied in Ireland, went to
and prepare himself for the mission which preach the gospeltothe Saxons in Germany.:
God intended him for;t and after spending    The Saxons were not the only people who
twelve years in Ireland, was appointed arch- came to seek after the sciences in Ireland.~
bishop of Utrecht, and converted the Bata- Bede  affirms that Agilbert, a native  of
vians. the Frieslanders, and the people of France, having studied the Scriptures for a
Antwerp, to the faith of Jesus Christ.~        long time in it, was, on his return to his own
country, nominated bishop of Paris, where
he died at a very advanced age.[[
"Our Anglo-Saxons, at that time, flocked  to  died              vanced age
Ireland as i!' to purchase goods. Hence it is frequently read in our historians on holy men,'he has   " There catme a certain man from the western
been sent to Ireland to school.' I:1 the life of Sul- boundaries of the world, powerful in virtue, filled
genus, who flourished 600 years before, it is read:-  with divine love, acute, vigilant, and fervent-he
"' IMoved by the example of our fathers for a love came to thee, O happy France, in the time of king
of reading, he went to the Irish, renowned for their Pepin: fruitful Britain was his mother, but learned
philosophy.'                                  Ireland nurtured him in sacred study; his name was
" From the Irish our ancient English ancestors Willibrordus."-J Uselr's  Syllogisms.
appear to have received their mthell:d of ferming   Th "lThe blessed Petrocus was from the county of
letters, and obviously made use of the same charac- Cumberland. Being the son of a king, and his father
ters which the Irish now make use of."-Cartns. Brit. having died, the chief men among his subjects, secEdit. p. 730.                                 onded by the people, endeavored to prevail on him
t " Who himself went, the age following, for the to succeed the father as heir to the crown. He, howsake of reading, and, being well instructed, re- ever, slighted the pomp of royalty, and taking with
turned to his country, and being appointed bishop for him sixty companions, entered a monastery, where
thle province of Lindcisse, he ruled his church for a he took the habit of their order. In solne years
long time most nobly."-Bede's Church History, after this, proceeding to Ireland, he spent twenty
p. 3, c. 2 27.                                 years in the study of the Scriptures and sacred discit Guill. Malmes. lib. 1, de gest. Regum. Anglor. pline.
Fleury, Hist. Eccles. 1, 40.                     "Burning with an unusual love for study, he
~ "Because heheard that scholastic erudition consulted the most learned masters, nor did he deflourished in Ireland; lie was roused by his inter- sist until he passed 20 complete years in reading
course with sonice holy men, and by report, particu- good authors. A treasure was found at length by
larly by Egbertus, a most holy father and bishop, so assiduous a regard for study, which, lest it should
(he had the surname of saint,) likewise by Wicber- lie hidden, the finder transferred this Irish treasure
tus, a holy man and a priest of God; both of them to Cumberland, that lie might exhibit it to the view
from their love of heaven abandoned their home, of all."-Usher;, c. 14, p. 563.
their country and relations, and withdrew to Ireland,   f " Marcus, a native of Britain, was educated in
that they might inhale in retirement the love of Ireland, and having passed a long time in the disGod, and the sweetest fruits of contemplation from  charge of his episcopal functions, undertook to travel.
above. The holy youth, desirous to rival their re- H-aving gone to France, and influenced by the liberligious avocations, with the consent of his abbot ality of the most pious king Charles, he entered the
and brethren, he speedily proceeds to Ireland, uni- monastery of Saints Medard and Sebastian, where
ting himself in friendship with the above fathers; in lhe led the life of an hermit. In our time he was a
order that, like the prudent bee, he might gather philosopher of peculiar sanctity."-Antisidorensis
honey from flowers of piety, and in the hive of his in Usher's Syllogisms.
breast construct the combs of virtue. There, during   t Fleury, Hist. LEccles. liv. 41.
twelve years, he was taught among the most pious   ~ Ibid. liv. 39.
and religious masters, that he would become a   II " A certain bishop named Agilbertus came into
preacher to many people."-Alcuin in his Life of the province from Ireland. He was a native of
Willibrordus.                                 France, but for the sake of studying the Scriptures




206                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Usher speaks of several illustrious persons   I have already spoken, after the same auwho had spent part of their time in Ireland thor, of Maildulphus, an Irish monk;* he
to perfect themselves both in piety and learn- was a learned man, and founded a monastery
ing: among this number were St. Sampson, and a school at Ingleborn, in Wiltshire, in
archbishop of York, and afterwards bishop England, which became celebrated for the
of Dol, in Brittany; St. Magloire, his suc- number of persons who received their educessor in that see, and St. Maclou, bishop cation in it, and were distinguished for their
of Aleth, at present St. Malo.             piety and learning.
He likewise mentions Petranus, a noble   Clement, otherwise called Claude ClemBiiton, of Armorica, who had left his country ent, and John Scot, known by the name of
to go and spend the remainder of his life in Albinus, were both natives of Ireland; they
Ireland, in the practices of temperance and left their country on account of the tumults
every virtue, and whose son Paternus after- of war, and went to France, where their
wards followed him: " Hiberniam petiit ibi- learning and other good qualities soon gained
que magna vitme abstinentia et virtutibus Deo them the esteem of Charlemagne, the Soloplacuit." It is well known that Dagobert, son mon of those ages of ignorance.t  About
of Sigebert III., and grandson of Dagobert the year 792, this monarch having founded
I., king of Austrasia, was sent into Ireland two universities, or schools, (academy, uniby Grimoald, mayor of the palace, where he versity, and school, among the ancients, sigremained for twenty years.*                nified the same thing,) one at Paris and the
The zeal of the Scoto-Milesians for the other at Pavia, confided the care of them to
instruction of their brethren was not con- those two learned men.:  He settled Clemfined to the limits of their own island; they ent at Paris, and sent Albinus to Pavia.
sent learned men into foreign countries to Polidore Virgil speaks of them  in the folfound universities and schools for science lowing words:-Alcuin, a native of England,
and literature.                            being in France, began to teach the sciences
Besides the Irish Scots who instructed at Paris.  By his advice Charles was the
the Saxon youth in England in the time of first who founded a school in that city, and
king Oswald,f Fleury mentions the abbot of another at Ticinum, now Pavia, in Italy. It
St. Dunstan, who was brought up in the was, continued he, in the year 792, that two
monastery of Glastonbury in the ninth cen- monks from Ireland, or rather from Scotia,
tury,- by Irishmen who were employed in came to France, where they publicly cried,
instructing the youth of that house.t:     "Wisdom to sell," and as a remuneration
"In those early ages," says Camden, when for their learning, asked only food and clothspeaking of the monastery of Glastonbury, ing; one of them, called Clement, was kept
" the Irish were eminent for their sanctity in at Paris by Charles, where the young men
serving God; they were supported at the of the city, of every rank and station, were
king's expense, for instructing the youth in placed under his discipline; and the other
piety and the liberal arts.  They embraced was sent into Italy, where he taught at Ticia retired life, in order to devote their time num.
more calmly to the study of sacred litera-   Polidore here supposes that Alcuin was
ture, and learn to bear the cross by leading in France before the arrival of the monks
a life of austerity.  At length Dunstan, a from Ireland, and that he had begun to teach
man of cultivated mind, and whose sanctity the sciences at Paris; this is a point of
and doctrine had gained him the esteem of criticism which merits attention.
princes, introduced Benedictine monks into   It is true that, according to Fleury, Alcuin
that monastery, of which he was first abbot."~ passed through Pavia, where meeting with
king Charles, in 780, he was invited by him
he passed a considerable time in Ireland, from which to go to France; where, according to our
country Agilbertus returned to Gaul: he was'then author, he set out for England about the year
appointed -bishop of Paris, where he lived to a very 790.  He fixes his return afterwards to
advanced age and died."-Bede's Church History, France, in the year 792, which was the
b. 3, c. 7.
Fleb. ry, Hist. Eccles. 7.             time of the arrival of the Irish monks, ace Fleury, Hist. Eccles.l- a )..    )
t Inbuebantur prteceptoribus Scotis parvuli An- cording to Polidore.
glorum unt cum inajoribus, studiis et observatione   There are several grave authors, however,
disciplinw regularis. Bed. Hist. Eccles. Anglor. lib. who assert that the schools at Paris were
3, c. 3, et alibi.                        founded by Clement before the arrival of
t Fleury, Hist. Eccles. Usser. Primord. cap. 6,
page 110.                                   * Camd. Brit. Edit. Lond. p. 176.
~ Translated in same page, from line 14 to line  t War. de Script. Hib. cap. 6, et Ibid. cap. 15.
25, included.                               I Hist. Anglic. lib. 5, page 264.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            207
Alcuin in France: among whom are Notler of Centule, where he had been. He says, in
le Begue, the Chronicle of Aries, quoted by his 55th epistle, that he had spent some
Vincent de Beauvais, Paulus Emilius, Anto- time at St: Amand; and in several others
ninus, Lupoldus, and others, that are cited he speaks of Tours, where he lived and had
by Colgan.*  Alcuin himself, in the first taught for a long time.  He does not even
book of his treatise against Elipandus, ad- mention Paris in any of his writings, except
dresses him  in these words: "Before I once in his homily on the nativity of St.
came into France, by order of King Charles, Willebrordus, without giving cause to supyour error was examined at Ratisbon, the pose, in any shape, that he either lived or
king himself presiding at the assembly, and had taught there. However,the establishing
Felix present, where it was condemned by a celebrated school in a capital city is not of
the authority of the bishops."           such a nature that it would be passed over
According to French annals which were in silence by him, whose glory was interestwritten by an anonymous author, quoted and ed in it.
followed by Baronius, the synod of Ratisbon   It is remarkable, indeed, that Fleury, who
was held in 792.                         expatiates largely upon the merit and virtues
"The year following, 792," says Fleury, of Alcuin, makes no mention of his having
"King Charles caused Felix of Urgel to founded any establishment in Paris; he says
be brought to Reginum, or Ratisbon, in Ba- that he instructed Charlemagne in rhetoric,
varia, where he had spent the winter, and logic, and particularly in astronomy; that
assembled a council there, in which Felix he had instructed the princesses Gisele and
was heard, and being convicted of error, Rictrude, daughters to Charles; Angilbert,
was sent to Rome to Pope Adrian."t       afterwards abbot of Centule; Riculfe, archIt is obvious, therefore, from the words bishop of Mayence, and some others:* which
of Alcuin himself, addressed to Elipandus, he calls the schoolof the palace, which was
and from the authority of Fleury, that this fixed at Aix-la-Chapelle, and was, he says,
learned man did not go to France till after governed after Alcuin by a Scot, or rather
the council of Ratisbon, and the year 792, an Irishman.  In a word, it appears that
and consequently after the establishment of from the arrival of Alcuin in France, he had
the schools at Paris, the same year, by Cle- been always attached to the court, until he
ment; unless we were to suppose with was appointed to different abbeys; among
Fleury, that he had already been there, and others, to that of St. Martin of Tours,
that it is to his return only to that country whither he withdrew and continued till his
allusion is here made.                   death, which happened in 804.
Notker is opposed to this explanation: he   Some authors, such as Possevinus, Robert
says that Albinus, an Englishman, (the same Gaguin, &c., give Clement a share in the
undoubtedly as Alcuin, whereas he had glory of having founded the university of
taken the Latin name of Flaccus Albinus, Paris, by giving him for colleagues in that
and was well known under the name, not the undertaking, not only his fellow-citizen John
same as Albinus of Pavia,) being informed Scot, the same as Albinus of Pavia; but
of the encouragement which Charles had also Alcuin, and Raban, afterwards archgiven to learned men, (speaking of Clement bishop of Mayence. Others say, with Wion
and Albinus,) went to offer him his services.4 and Vincent de Beauvais, that these four docThe matter appears, notwithstanding, beyond tors had been disciples of the venerable Bede.
dispute, that Alcuin neither taught nor found-   We have already observed that John Scot,
ed schools at Paris: Andr6 Duch-ne, who otherwise Albinus, was sent to Pavia by
published his works, proves it by incontesta- Charlemagne at the time that he settled
ble arguments; he observes, no mention is Clement in Paris, and when Alcuin premade in any of his works of hishaving been sided over the schools of the palace, and
at Paris,;muchless of having founded schools afterwards over those of Tours, till his
init; while he is very precise in his account death, without any mention of his having
of all the places he had lived or taught in. taught at Paris.  With respect to Raban,
He speaks, in his tenth epistle, of the latitude he was not more than born at the time of the
of Belgium, where he had lived, "f in Bel- foundation of the schools at Paris, in 792.
gica latitudine:" in the prologue to the life   Raban, according to Nicholas Serarius,
of St. Riquier, he mentions the monastery was nominated abbot of Fulde in 825, at the
age of thirty years.i We should, therefore,
I Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Clem. ad 20 Mart.                We should, therefore,
t Hist. Eccles. lib. 44. Calmnet, Abr6g6 Chronol.  * Hist. Eccles. lib. 45.
a l'an 972.                                t Lib. 4, de reb. Moguntin. in 6, ejusdem sedis
t Fleury, Hist. Eccles. liv. 44.       Archiepiscop.




208                               IISTORY OF IRELAND.
place his birth in 795, which was subsequent   The testimony of the monk of St. Gall
to the foundation of the Paris schools; and should undoubtedly have weight on this
were we even to suppose that.he was ten subject, with every man of discernment. He
years older at the time of his appointment to lived in the ninth century, a period not disbe abbot of Fulde, it would not be correct; tant from that of which he wrote the history,
he was too'young to be a scholar in 792, or and was a very learned man, having prethe founder of schools.                     sided over the schools of St. Gall after MarThe opinion that these four masters were cellus.  He wrote the life of Charlemagne,
disciples of Bede, has not been supported; which enabled him  to know what had octhe contrary appears more like truth.  Al- curred during his reign; his works were
though Alcuin, in speaking of the venerable published by Canisius, in 1601, from an anBede, sometimes calls him, through respect, cient manuscript.  Among other things he
"Bede the master," and sometimes "the mentions the following:
noble and celebrated master of his time,  he   "When Charles began to reign alone in
never says that he had been his; on the the west, and that literature had been forcontrary, he speaks of himself to have been, gotten almost everywhere, it happened that
from his earliest youth, the pupil of Egbert, two Scots from Ireland, who were exceedbishop of York, as appears from his letter ingly learned, called Clement and Albinus,
to Eanbald, who succeeded Egbert in that came with some British merchants to the
see.  All that I have said respecting the coast of France, and having no other corntime when Raban lived, is sufficient to modity to dispose of, they, in order to satisfy
prove that he was not the disciple of Bede the  people that surrounded them, cried,
who died in 735.*  That opinion is not' Science to sell;' their hearers, thinking
maintained by any ancient monument; as to them to be mad, communicated the news to
Claude Clement and John Scot, the authors Charles.  This great prince, who was dewho speak of them say that they came from sirous that learning might be revived in his
Ireland; it is well understood that the Irish empire, made them be brought to court, and
did not go, in those ages, to seek the sciences after questioning  them, he was filled with
among the English; it was the very con- joy, and made them remain with him; but
trary, "Anglo-Saxones nostri illa aetate, in being obliged some time afterwards to go
Hiberniam tanqua.m ad bonarum litterarum  to war, he established Clement in France,
mercaturam confluxerunt."'t                 and gave orders to have him provided with
The difficulty lies in determining which every necessary for his support, and with a
was the country of Clement and Albinus - suitable dwelling for himself and the pupils
modern Scotch authors place them  among whom he placed under his discipline.  Althe number of their countrymen, as well as binus was sent into Italy, and the monastery
all who distinguished themselves by theirvir- of St. Augustin, near the city of Ticinum,
tue and learning in foreign countries under granted to him, where all who were desirous
the name of Scots; which Buchanan sings to receive instructions might resort to him."
in some fair lines, that prove that this poet   HIe adds also, that another Albinus, an
possessed more talent than honor, and which Englishman by birth, being informed of the
are, says Usher, more applicable to Ireland reception which those learned men met with
than Scotland, as Notker le Begue, a monk from the monarch, came to offer him  his
of St. Gall, who wrote the life of Charle- services;* it would appear that he was the
magne about 70 years after his death, asserts with confidence that these doctors were doctors had been brought from Ireland."-Ush7er, in
from Ireland.t                              an old epistle upon Ireland.
* " When Charles began to reign alone in the west,
and that learning had almost everywhere become
* Calmet, Abr6ge' Chronol. i l'an 735.    extinct, it happened that two Scots from Ireland art Camd. Brit. edit. Lond. p. 730.        rived on the shores of Gaul, with some British ment " What an able poet has written of his own chants; these two men were incomparably skilled
country, can be more fitly applied to our Scotia:  in sacred and profane learning. While they dis"' While rude Mars was disturbing Latium and played nothing for sale, they cried out to those
the world, this was the only country which hospi- who came to purchase,' If any one be desirous of
tably received the muses that were expelled. From wisdom, let him come to receive it.' They were
her Charles transferred the wisdom of Greece and invited to the presence of Charles, who questioned
of Latium to the Celtre, and from her he obtained them, and was overjoyed after they were examined:
the doctors and instructors of the uninstructed he kept them for some time with him. Charles,
youth.'                                     soon after this, being obliged to go to war, ordered
"Notkerus Balbulus, a monk of St. Gall, who the one named Clement to reside in Gaul. He rewrote the history and life of Charles the Great, commended to them some very noble youths, some
70 years afterhis death, clearlyproves that the above of the middle classes, and several of the lowest




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                                 209
same as Alcuin, but, according to Notker,   Our Clement should not be mistaken for
different from Albinus of Pavia.  Vincent Clement, a Scotchman, who was opposed
de Beauvais and some others, quoted by to St. Boniface of Mayence, and was conUsher, give the same account as the chron- demned, first in 744, with Adalbert, a native
icles of Arles, which were written in or of Gaul, his accomplice, at the council of
about the tenth century.*                    Soissons, and afterwards at the council of
The writers of every age and country Rome, held  in 745, by Pope Zachary;
have adopted the opinion of Notker, and the neither does it appear that he was the same
chronicles of Aries, respecting the country as Clement, bishop of Auxerre, although it
of Clement and Albinus, and the foundation has been advanced by some authors.*
of the schools at Paris by the former;t they    Clement wrote some rules on grammar,
are, Vincent de Beauvais, a Frenchman, who which were quoted by Melchior Goldastus.
flourished in the thirteenth century; Lupol- He is thought to be the same as Clement,
dus Bebenburgius, a German, in the four- author of the life of Charlemagne, mentioned
teenth; St. Antonius and Antonius Sabelli- by Wolfgangus Lazius, in his commentaries
cus, Italians; Joannes Rossus, an English- on the Roman republic.
man, and Gaguinus, a Fleming, in the fif-   If Claude Clement be the same as Claude,
teenth; Huldericus Mutius, a German; a pious and learned  man mentioned  by
Polidore Virgil, an Italian; Wion, a Flem- Trithemius, who flourished in the time of
ing; and Cassoneus, a Burgundian, have Louis le Debonnaire, that is, in 815, but
adopted the same opinion in the sixteenth whom  that author erroneously calls a discentury, as well as Joannes Magnus, and ciple of Bede, who died some years before;
Claudius Roberti, a Frenchman, in the be- other works are attributed to him, namely,
ginning of the seventeenth.  In fine, we commentaries on St. Matthew, on the Epismay add the authority of Trithemius, in his ties of St. Paul, the Pentateuch, the books
treatise on ecclesiastical authors, and the of Joshua, of the Judges, Ruth, the Psalms,
illustrious men of the order of St. Benedict, historical memoirs, a summary of homilies,
and that of Possevinus, in his'sacred cornm- and  on the accordance of the Evangependiurn.                                    lists.t
The reputation of Claude Clement drew    Lupoldus Behenburgius, who flourished
disciples to him  from  all parts.4   Among in 1340, makes mention of Clement.t The
others, he had Brunon, Einardus, Modestus, French, says he, may be compared to the
and Candidus, monks of the abbey of Fulde, Romans and Athenians, on account of the
whom Ratger, their abbot, had sent thither works of Clement, an Irishman.
to be perfected in the sciences, and who af-   It is remarkable how Henry of Auxerre
terwards became celebrated for their learn- speaks of this nation, when writing to Charles
ing and writings.~                           the Bald:  "What shall I say (he says) 6f
Ireland, which, notwithstanding the dangers
ranks; it was also ordered by the king, that every of the sea, sends crowds of philosophers to
thing necessary for their support should be supplied our shores, the most learned of whoml conto them, and convenient houses for their accommo- demn themselves to a voluntary exile, to
dation were provided. The other, named Albinus, devote themselves to the service of the
was sent to Italy, where the monastery of St. Au- wise Solomon."~
gustin, near the city of Ticinum, was given him,   Charles the Bald, emperor and king of
that all who wished to be instructed might come to
learn. It was heard how graciously Charles, the France, is praised, says Fleury, for having
most religious of kings, received Albinus, who was by his authority and munificence revived
an Englishman, &c." —Speculum Historice, b. 23, literature, which had been begun by his
c. 173.                                      grandfather  Charlemagne   attracting  the
* "In these happy days, when the liberal sci- b                                  a
ences flourished in Ireland above every other
country, two Scots came from Hibernia, with Brit-  X Fleury, Hist. Eccles. lib. 42, Usser. Syllcg.
ish merchants, to Gaul: one of them, named Cle- Epist. Hib. Epist. 15, Usser. Praef. Epist. Syllog.
mnent, was appointed to settle at Paris."-Usher's   t De Vit. Illust. Ordin. Bened. lib. 2, c. 28,
Syllogisms.                                  Bellarmin. de Script. Eccles. et Possevinus in
t Act.' Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Clement, ad 20 Mart. apparatu.
p. 701.                                        $ Let. de zelo vet. Princip. German.
I Browerius de Reb. Fuldens, lib. 1, c. 14.  ~ " What shall I say of Hibernia, (Ireland,) which,
~ "C Rabanus and Halton of Turin, were sent to despising the dangers of the sea, emigrates with
Albinus, master, to learn from him the liberal arts. crowds of philosophers to our shores?  Whosoever
Brunon and Eindardus, a most skilful instructor in among them is the more skilled, he enjoins exile on
various arts, were sent to Clement, a Scot, to study himself, to familiarize, in his vows, himself with
grammar."-Browerius's Notes on Rabanus, page Solomon, the wisest of men." — enricus in Cam118.                                         den, p. 730.
27




| 210                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
learned from  all quLarters, among others consultedby- Hincmar, archbishopofRheims,
from  Ireland, and supporting a school in and Pardu!us, bishop of Laon; at the solihis palacee-,                              citation of these prelates, he wrote a -treatise
Moengal, also called Marcellus, was fellow- against the doctrine of two predestinations?.
citizen of St. Columbanus and St. Gall, and This treatise was opposed by Prudentius,
like them, a native of Ireland.l  He came bishop of Troyes, who maintained in the
from Rome, says Eckerhard, to the abbey of preface to his book that Erigena had folSt. Gall, with his uncle, the bishop Mark, to lowed Pelagius, Celestius, and Julian, convisit their countryman Grimoeald, who was cerning grace; that he had impugned the
elected abbot of that monastery about the justice of God by denying original sin, and
year 840.  "He remained there at the that he broached a dangerous doctrine.
solicitation of Notker le Begue, and other These imputations, however, seem to have
monks of the house, having sent his other been caused by forced results, which Prucompanions back to Ireland."t  The same dentius had deduced from the work of Eriauthor, in the life of Notker le Begue, gena, as he admitted of original sin, and the
says that Marcellus was intrusted with necessity of grace.t  Our author was susthe government of the schools of the clois- pected of having been in error concerning
ters.                                      the real presence, in a work which he wrote
Gaspard Bruschius extols those schools in two parts, on that subject.
highly, while under his direction.~  "Under   Erigena translated after this, from Greek
t'ie abbot Grimoald," says he, " a number of into Latin, works which were generally atexcellent books have been written, at a con- tributed to St. Denis, the Areopagite, which
siderable expense, and at that time the abbey he dedicated to Charles the Bald.  As this
of St. Gall was a celebrated school, in which work was filled with metaphysical and obthe children of princes and nobles were in- scure questions on the divine nature and
structed in wisdom, and rendered capable attribuftes, Pope Nicholas I. wrote a letter
of conducting pulblic affairs."  To Moengal to Charles,t in which he observed that
the merit of those schools should be attrib-'" John, one of the nation of the Scots, had
uted, who presided over them, unwder Grim- translated into Latin the works of Denis the
oald the abbot.  He died in tLhLat monastery, Areopagite, concerning the names of God,
the 30th September, but the year is not. and the celestial hierarchy, which book
known. He was succeeded by his disciple, should have been sent to him for his apNotker le Begue, sometimes called the monk proval, particularly as John, though in other
of St. Gall. According to Judocus Metzler, respects a man of profound learning, was
he wrote upon the gospel a homily, which suspected of an error of faith; he consestill exists.l[                            quently begged of him to send the book and
John Scot, surncamed Erigena, that is, a its author to Rome, or to expel him from
native of Erin, or Eire, which was in the the Paris university."  The king being delanguage of the country the true name of sirous to keep in with the pope, without
Ireland, was, says Malmsburyg  a man of a giving umbrage to John Erigena, advised
strong and eloquent mind; fromn his earliest him to return to his own country, in order
years, he applied himself in his own country to avoid the storm.  In obedience to the
to study, and went afterwards to France, king's desire, John returned to Ireland,
where he was presented to Charles the where he died in 874.0
Bald.T  Being very learned in the peripa-   In accordance with the English authors,
tetic philosophy, the Greek language, and Ware changes the circumstances and time
other branches of literature, he soon caught of the death of Erigena, which he fixes ten
the esteem of that prince, whlo was the pa- years later. He came, he says, to England
tron of the learned.                       in 884, at the solicitation of king Alfred,
At that time the question respecting grace who employed him some time afterwards in
and predestination was a subject of nmuch re-establishing the schools at Oxford.  He
debate, and the ablest pens were employed adds, that Isaac Wake informs us that the
in clearing up the dificulty; Erigena was statutes of Alfred and Erigena, a Gothic
work, were preserved there in his time, as.
* Hist. Eccles. lib. 25.                 monunments of antiquity. Lastly, after Camt Fleury, Hist. Eccles. lib. 54.
t De Casib. Monast. S. Galli. p. 36.
~ De Monast. German. sub Grinoaldo.' Fleury, Hist. Eccles. lib. 48.
I1 De Viris Illust. Monast. S. Galli.      t Dupin, list. Eecles. cent. 9, page 82.
~V War. de Script. Hib. c. 6. De Gest. Reg.  $ Spotiswood, Hist. Ecces. lib. 2, page 26.
Ang. lib. 2, cap. 4, et Vide Porr. Rog. Hoved.  ~ Dupin, cent. 9, page 83.




~CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                              211
den and Harpsfield, he quotes on that sub- however, that Erigena was one of the most
ject the annals of the new monastery at learned men of his time, and the most perWinchester, in the following terms:* " In fect master of the Greek, Chaldaic, andthe year of our redemption 886, the second Arabic languages.
year after the arrival of St. Grimboald in   John Erigena composed several works;
England, the university was begun at Ox- besides his treatises on predestination and
ford: the first lecturers in theology were, the eucharist, and his translation of the works:
the abbot of St. Neoth, a learned man, and of Denis the Areopagite, of which I have
St. Grimboald, an able interpreter of the already spoken, Baleus affirms that he transholy Scriptures.  Asser, a monk, was pro- lated the ethics of Aristotle on the secret:
fessor of humanity; John, a monk of the of secrets, or the government of princes,
church of St. David, instructed in logic, into three different languages, namely, the.
music, and arithmetic; John Erigena, a Chaldaic, Arabic, and Latin; according to
monk and companion of St. Grimboald, a the same author, he wrote a treatise on the
man of penetrating mind, and ably conver- immaculate mysteries of faith, against the,
sant in all the sciences, was the first who barbarians; a work which was paraphrased'
gave instructions there in geometry and as- for the instruction of youth; some dogmas
tronomy, in presence of the glorious and in- on philosophy; also poems, epistles, andI
vincible king Alfred, whose memory will be homilies.*  He is thought to have been the
always dear, both to the clergy and laity of author of extracts on the difference and conhis kingdom.  This wise king gave orders nection of the Greek and Latin syntax, found.
that the children of all the nobles, or those among the writings of Macrobius, to which
of their servants who possessed a taste for the following note is subjoined:  I"here
study, should be sent thither to be instructed ends the garland which John had gathered
in literature."                           in the books of Ambrosius, Macrobius, and
Erigena, whom some confound with John Theodosius, which elucidate more fully the,
of Mailross, the disciple of Bede, others with rules on Greek verbs."  It is said, that in
John of St. David, withdrew, after three the library of M. de Thou, there were two'
years, to the abbey of Malmesbury, to avoid books on the division of nature, which were"
a disagreement which arose between Grim- attributed to John Scot Erigena. Ranulphust
boald and the old scholars of Oxford, where, Higden, a monk of the order of Citeaux,
it is said, he died of the wounds he received mentions them in his Polychronicon;f it isl
from his scholars, and where he is considered probable that Honorius Augustodunensis!
as a martyr; he was interred on the left, alludes to this work, when he says that'John'
near the altar, where the subjoined inscrip- Scot, or Chrysostom, a man who was exs!
tion is to be seen upon his tomb.t  His tremnely learned in the holy Scriptures, wrote
festival is celebrated on the 10th of Novem- in a style of elegance, a work on the nature
ber, according to the Roman martyrology, of all things," de naturn omnium rerum."t;
published at Antwerp in 1586, by order of   Dupin says he was author of two books
Pope Gregory XIII. As there were at that on predestination, five on nature, or theo:
time several learned men in England of the division of nature, and a book of visions.~
name of John, the English writers may have Those books on nature were printed at Ox-:
confounded John Erigena, with John abbot ford in 1681; but his book of visions is still:
of Etheling, who, it is said, was assassinated in manuscript.  He adds that Erigena had
at the instigation of his monks; particularly translated some commentaries of Maximus
as Malmesbury, who mentions this fact, on the books of Denis the Areopagite; that
appears to have given it from hearsay, " ut his translation of the commentaries of Maxfertur;" and moreover, as neither Beren- imus on St. Gregory of Nazianzen had been
garius nor his disciples, who have so highly printed at Oxford in 1681; that Trithemius
extolled Erigena, who seems to have favored mentions.a commentary on the gospel of St.
their error respecting the real presence, Matthew, and a book of offices composed byg
speak of him  as a martyr.  It appears, John Scot.  Dupin also adds that Erigenai(
had some knowledge of the sciences, and
Britan. p. 267, Hist. Eccles. Anglosecul. 9, was an able logician and mathematician;
cap. 5.                                   but that he was of an arrogant dispositionri,
t "Within this tomb John Erigena lies,    a weak reasoner, and poor theologian; how.
Who, while living was wonderfully endowed
with knowledge,                        e Usser. Epist. Hib. recensio, page 135.
By martyrdom he at length ascends to Christ,    t De Luminat. Eccles. lib. 3.
With whom he has merited to reign for ever,  t Lib. 5, cap. 32.
together with the saints."             ~ Hist. Eccles. ant. 9, page 95.




212                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
ever, this opinion should be considered as consider that passion, which in truth savors
the effect of prejudice and of party spirit, as of ferocity, as a virtue, and as true heroism.
Malmesbury, Hoveden, and others, represent   Every man in particular has some ruling
him to have been possessed of great pene- propensity, and it is almost the same with
tration, and universal knowledge in learning; nations.
and that Anastasius the librarian, his con-   The passions have different shades and
temporary, in his letter, 23d March, 875, to different degrees of enormity among different
Charles the Bald, says, " that he was a man people.
eminent for his sanctity, and that he ascribes   Like other nations which were their conto the special influence of the spirit of God, temporaries, the Scoto-Milesians possessed
his translation of the works of St. Denis, a mixture of virtue and vice; they were
finding it extraordinary that such a work superstitiously attached to their religion,
could have been written by a barbarian (this noble in their sentiments, humane, hospitaepithet is unfit) of Scotia, situated at the ble, and sincere friends, but implacable eneextremity of the earth, without the special mies.  They considered it a dishonor to
aid of the spirit of God."  Dempster, says seek redress for an insult by resorting to
Ware, vainly endeavors to change the coun- justice; and a spirit of revenge, common to
try of John Erigena, because his contempo- both prince and people, was the cause of
raries called him Scotus; which, however, their frequent wars.
was the general name of the Irish in that   Their kings, unattended by guards, corncentury: Erigena signifies, indeed, a native manded their armies in person, always
of Erin, which is the real name of Ireland; marching at the head of their troops.  The
as Angligena signifies an Englishman, and manner of fighting at that time was very
Francigena a Frenchman.                  different from what it is at present, and their
When we consider the advantages which battles much more bloody, from which it
the Scoto-Milesians enjoyed with respect to cannot be a matter of surprise that so many
religion and the sciences in the first ages of lives were lost in war.
Christianity, could we suppose them not to  It might appear that this martial spirit,
have possessed, likewise, cultivated minds and their frequent wars, must have injured
and polished manners? The sciences which agriculture, trade, and literature; but as
enlighten and ornament the understanding, their campaigns were of short duration, and
flourished among them  more than in any that a war was frequently terminated by a
other nation. That Christian morality which single battle, they had sufficient time for
regulates the motions of the heart, formed cultivating their lands and feeding their
men among them who were celebrated for flocks; two things which essentially formed
the sanctity of their morals. Notwithstand- the sources of wealth, and maintained, both
ing these advantages, an astonishing mixture in their food and raiment, that noble simof vice and virtue was discoverable among plicity which prevailed universally among
them, and, as a certain author remarks, them.  Luxury, which commonly implies
"they were ardent in every thing, Whether abundance among a certain number, and ingood or evil:'In omnes affectus vehemen- digence among others, was unknown to the
tissimi.'"  While one part of that people Irish, who were accustomed, for many ages,
devoted themselves to God, by renouncing to live on the productions of the earth.
all intercourse with the world, and thereby Each tribe possessed their hereditary right
served as a model to the neighboring na- of territory, and the chief distributed among
tions; the spirit of discord was still kept the different branches of his tribe, fiefs and
up, either by the tyranny of their princes, lands, from whence they easily derived their
the ambition of their nobles, or the frequent subsistence. They were unacquainted with
revolts of their subjects.  Instead of pre- that pomp and false splendor which freserving their conquests abroad, and enforc- quently place people of the lowest rank
ing the tribute which their pagan ancestors above men of honor: virtue, birth, and a
had imposed on the Picts, the inhabitants diversity of colors in their dress, were the
of the Orkneys, Hebrides, and the Isle of distinguishing marks of rank among them;
*Man, they were always in arms, one against the great did not despise the little, and the
the other; and the gospel which they had latter joyfully acknowledged their dependjust received with so much respect, was not ence.
able to remove that spirit of discord which   Avarice was not known among a people
was the cause of such disorders.         who amassed nothing; whatsoever they
It appears that war was the chief occupa- themselves had no need of, was appropriated
tion of the Irish, whose genius made them to the wants of hospitality, and their houses




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                               213
were aiways open to the strangers; a taste andbenevolence, of what service would those
for history, poetry, and music, procured him brilliant arts, which form the delight of our
at all times an easy access, and no inquiries frivolous times, have been to a nation wihose
were mlade after the name, or wrhencec he government was founded on the laws of nacame.                                      ture, and the virtues which arise from it?
In ancient times the intercourse with Several nations, no doubt, needed such masforeigners was inconsiderable, when com- ters; but the Scoto-Milesians, who were a
pared to what it has been for some centuries lettered people before the Remans were in
back. It is certain that the Phoenicians car- being, imight easily dispense with them  in
1ied onl a trade with Ireland, where their the acquirement-of the sciences.
principal objects were the mines and metals   The account which Camden, after Camwith which this island abounded; and with brensis, gives at the end of his Britannia, of
Britain, where they obtained tin from Corn- the manners and customs of the ancient Irish,
wall,*  In after ages the Milesians traded is so trifling and incorrect, that it does not
with the Ga.uls, Britons, and people of the merit to be either quoted or refuted.
north; to which Tacitus alludes, when he   Christianity produced no change in the
says that the harbors in Ireland were more fundamental constitution of the state.  Men
commodious, and better known to merchants learned thereby to command and obey, by
than those of Britain.f                    the purest principles of equity and justice,
Leisure was not less requisite for the cul- of which God was the source and object, as
tivation of the sciences, than for ag-riculture he was to be also their reward.
and commerce; however, it has been proved,   Although the clergy, as being the substithat in the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth tutes of the druids, enjoyed a share in the
centuries, literature had been more flourish- legislative authority, still, as they followed
ing in this island, notwithstandingthe tumults no other rules than those of the gospel, and
of war, than in the neighboring countries.  as their lives, which were exemplary, afThis nation. having been always free, and forded ample. security for their conduct,
never subjected to a foreign yoke, were uni- there swas nothing to be f —ared from their
form in their manners and customs; so that abuse of power.
a description of them, during one century,   On the other hand, the laity claimed no
can be applied to every other.  It is rot share in that power which the clergy held
believed, says Camden, that that nation ever from God alone; so that there was no consubmitted to the dominion of the Romans, flict between them for the spiritual and temwhich, he adds, would have been an advan- poral authority., which were altogether indetage to its inhabitants, whereas they would pendent of each other; and this harmony
have been thereby the sooner despoiled of contributed' much to the happiness of the
their barbarity.                           state in general.
It is true, according to the general opinion,
that the Romans had polished every nation
which they conquered.  If the merit of a
polished people rests upon a knowledge of
building with stone and cement, instead of              CHAPTER XIII.
with wood  if it be derived from a number
of arts, which generally tend to support  HIUGH VI., surnamed Oirnigh, son of
luxury, false splendor, and to corrupt the Niall-Freasach, ascended the throne of Iremorals; in fine, if true glory consists in an land on the death of Donchada, A. D., 797.
immoderate ambition, and a desire of subdu- He governed the island, as monarch, for
ing and enslaving every other nation at the about twenty-two years.
expens.e of the blood of many millions of men,   The reign of this prince is remarkable
and a wish to deprive them of that liberty for the invasion of the country by the barso natural to all men, and to call those gone- barians of the north, who had been, hitherrous people barbarians who had the forti- to, unknown to the Irish.
tude to spurn their chains, and despise their   This may be considered as the period of
foreign customs, the Rormans would undoubt- the decline of religion in Ireland, and the
edly deserve that eulogiumrn; but if that glory termination of-the brightest days of the Irish
were the reward of simplicity and innocence church: for the incursions of the barbarians
of manners, of noble actions, uprightness, were at the commencement marked by blood
and slaughter; burning of towns, churches,
* Bochart Geograph. Sec. lib: 1, cap. 39.  and monasteries; putting the clergy and the
t Vit. Agricolam, p. 499, apud. Grat. Luc. cap. 12. faithful to death, or carrying them away as




214                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
slaves; and spreading terror and devasta- and their children.*  The success of the
tion everywhere.  But God had not cast off first adventurers induced others to follow in
his people, or forgotten his promises, and quest of fortune.  They formed companies,
the Irish have always preserved their reli- and equipped vessels, like the corsairs of
gion, although with less of splendor than Barbary, or privateers in time of war.  As
before,                                  they shared the booty with their kings, the
Before we enter into a detail of the wars latter provided them with general officers, or
of the Normans, it is necessary to examine commanded in person, when there was any
the origin of that nation, which was so for- considerable prize to be taken.  Instead of
midable to a great part of Europe in the regular troops, they formed free and indeninth century.                           pendent companies, whose aim was pillage,
Scandinavia, situated in the north of Eu- rather than conquest, and who, succeeding
rope, comprised Norway, Sweden, and all each other, left to the nations they invaded
the country to the west of the gulf of Bothnia. no time for repose.  Such was the enemy
According to the historians of that country, that ravaged the coasts of Europe in the
it was peopled a short time after the deluge, ninth century, and checked the progress of
by two Asiatic colonies, namely, the Goths Charlemagne in the conquest of the Saxons.
and Swedes, who each founded an extensive In France they were called Normans, which
kingdom.  Most of the barbarians who signifies, north-men; in. England, Ostmans,
ravaged Europe during the decline of the that is, men from the east, the people of
Roman empire, were colonies from these Livonia, Estonia, and Courland, havingbeen
two nations, who were sometimes at peace, sharers in theirincursions.The Irishincluded
and sometimes at war with each other.  In all those nations under the names of Danes
course of time, the territory of the Goths and Norwegians, calling them in their own
being overburdened with inhabitants,. was language," Lochlannuigs," which signifies
obliged to send colonies to the islands of the powerful on sea.  They also distinguished
Baltic sea, and to the surrounding countries, them by the titles of " Dubh-Lochlannuigs,"
extending as far as the CimbrianChersonesus, and s" Fionn-Lochlannuigs," that is, black
since called Jutland. These colonies although and white Lochlannuigs, the former being
dispersed, always acknowledged the Gothic the Danes, and the latter the Norwegians.
kings as their sovereigns; but at length, I shall henceforward call them sometimes
having chosen Dan, son of Humel, for their Danes, sometimes Norwegians, and fremonarch, they separated from the Goths, quently Normans, in conformity with the
and assumed the appellation of Dani or language in which I am writing.
Danes, from which is derived the name of   According to the Irish annals, the NorDenmark.  The Norwegians were also a mans first appeared in this island in 795.
colony of the Goths, from whom they, as well They laid waste the coasts of Albania and
as the Danes, were descended. These two Ireland, and pillaged the isle of Recrain,
nations afterwards became powerful, and now Rachlin, in the north of the county of
capable of making war, even against those Antrim.t  About this time St. Findan, son
from whom they sprang.  The situation of of a prince of Leinster, was carried away
their country, intersected by arms of the sea, captive by these barbarians; but according
and the great quantity of materials it sup- to his life, written by an anonymous author,
plied for the construction of vessels, having his companion, and published by Melchior
inspired them with a taste for navigation, Goldastus, he made his escape in a miracuthey were enabled to make incursions, the lous manner.t Dicuil, a contemporary Irish
effects of which were but too severely felt in author, mentions these first depredations
France, England, and Ireland. As the popu- of the Normans, in his work on the boundlation increased rapidly in those cold cli- aries of the nations of the earth.~  In 798,
mates, Denmark and Norway were frequent- three years after, these pirates returned, and
ly obliged to send out colonies, in order to
relieve the parent countries; while a hope     Piracy was considered among the Danes
of booty induced the colonists readily to    so Pi'acy was considered among the Danes
of bootyinduced the colonists readily to honorable and lawful, and frequently the kings
leave, under the pretext of seeking new habi- themselves and their children, had the most celetations. Olaus Wormius affirms, that piracy brated and bravest wrestlers employed in it."was formerly tolerated, and even considered Ware's Antiquities, c. 24.
honorable among the Danes, and that the B  War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 24. Grat. Luc. c. 9.
most celebrated and strongest wrestlers were  rod. Propug. Cathol. Verit. lib. 5, cap. 14.
emplod in te e e of it     th  Portelr, Compend. Annal. Eccles. Reg. Hibern,
employed in the exercise of it by the kings sect. 4, c. 1, et Usser. Primord. Eccles. p. 1038.
~ Tom. 1, rerum Aleman. p. 31:8.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            215
committed depredations in the north of Ire- mentions these first victories which the Irish
land, and in the Hebrides.               gainedoverthe Normans. "A Normanfleet,"
The barbarians, who at first had only says he, "having landed in Ireland, came
plunder in view, being pleased with the to an engagement with the Scots, in which
country, formed the design of conquering several lives were lost, and the rest put to
it;* for which purpose a fleet of fifty ves- flight."*  Hermannus Contractus speaks in
sels landed a body of troops in the western nearly the same terms.t  It may here be
part of Munster, who commenced pillaging observed, that in the ninth century the Irish
and layingwastethewhole province. Airtre, were known to foreigners by the name of I
who was at the time king of Munster, assem- Scots.  About the year 818, Turgesius,
bled his troops and gave them battle; the king, or son of the king of Norway, landed
action was bloody, and the Normans, having with a formidable fleet in the north of Irebeen defeated, made a precipitate retreat to land.  He had the reputation of being a
their vessels during the night, leaving four great warrior, but was cruel and vindictive.
hundred and sixteen men dead on the field On the news of his arrival, all the Normans
of battle.  About the same time they pil- who had been dispersed in small bodies
laged the abbey of Hy-Columb-Kill, and throughout the kingdom, united under his
massacred the monks, with Blaithmac, son standard, and appointed him their general.
of an Irish king, whose life has been writ- This tyrant, seeing himself commander-inten in verse by Wallafrid Strabo.  Kellach, chief of all the Normans in Ireland, began
then abbot of Hy, found means to escape by issuing his commands in every quarter;
this massacre.  He took refuge in Ireland, sending his officers to harass and pillage the
where he spent seven years in the abbey inhabitants, with orders to spare neither age
of St. Columb, at Kells, in Meath, and then nor sex. There were, at the time, no strongreturned to his abbey of Hy, where he died holds or fortified towns in Ireland; but the
shortly afterwards.                      Norman general, knowing the necessity of
In the year 812, the Normans made a see- having places of retreat, into which he might
ond descent on Ireland, in which they were withdraw in case of need, and secure his
not more successful than in the first.  Hav- booty, remedied this want by stationing his
ing landed on the coast of Munster, they fleet, whichconsistedof severalsmallvessels
practised every species of cruelty on the in- with sails and oars, in the different lakes of
habitants, sparing neither age nor sex, nor the country. One part he stationed in Lough
even the churches or monasteries.  They Neagh, another in Lough Rea, in the river
however shared the same fate as before, hav- Shannon, and the rest he sent to Lughmaigh.
ing been repulsed with considerable loss by These were the garrisons from which the
Feidlime, king of that province.  At the barbarians issued to commit their depredasame period, a fleet of Normans landed on tions in the country, and the fortresses which
the eastern coast of the island. They spread served them  as a retreat when they were
terror in all directions, pillaged the celebrated repulsed by the inhabitants. The. orders of
abbey of Banchor, and killed the bishop, the tyrant were but too faithfully executed
with nine hundred monks.  Another body by those inhuman monsters; heaps of slain
landed at Jobh-Kinseallagh, (Wexford,) laid were to be seen on every side, and churches
waste the whole country, burned the church- and monasteries pillaged and burned.  The
es, and plundered the monasteries, as far as church of Armagh was plundered three times
the territory of Ossory, where the inhabit- in one month, the abbot made prisoner, and
ants coming to an engagement with them, the university, which till that time had been
killed seven hundred and seven on the spot, so celebrated, and in which there were
and obliged the others to abandon their sometimes 7,000 students, was completely
booty. They were not, however, disheart- destroyed, and the scholars assassinated or
ened by this defeat; their loss being retrieved put to flight, together with their teachers.
by new reinforcements, they soon after ar-   Hugh, the monarch, appeared quite inrived in Limerick, and burned the terri- sensible to the misfortunes of his subjects.
tories of Corcabaisquin, Tradruighe, and Instead of avenging his country's wrongs,
Iobh-Conuill-Gabhra; but being vigorously and defending  her against the common
attacked by the inhabitants of Iobh-Conuill,
at Seannuid, they were completely defeated,  * "A fleet of Norwegians having attacked the
and obliged to give up their booty.      island of Hibernia, they came to an engagement,
Rhegino, in his chronicle for the year 812, in which many of them were killed, and the rest
put to flight."
t "4 A Danish fleet having attacked Ireland, was
e Keat. Hist. of Ireland, part 2.  defeated by the Scots."




216                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
enemy, having conceived some displeasure havinglost their general, Conning, the chief
towards the people of Leinster, he entered of the tribe of Fortuaths, and a celebrated
that province at the head of an army, and warrior, the barbarians were victorious; afcommitted dreadful devastations there.    ter which they began their plunder anew.
The natural phenomena which were this Conquovar, finding himself unable to relieve
year observed, and the convulsion of the his country, or defend it against the barbaelements, seemed to forebode something fatal rians, died, it is said, of grief.
to the nation.  About the end of the month   Niall, surnamed Caille, son of Hugh IV.,
of March, the thunder and lightning were so succeeded Conquovar, A. D. 833.  This
violent and frequent, that no less than one monarch's reign was not more tranquil than
thousand and ten persons of both sexes that of hispredecessor.  In 835 a considerperished in one district between Corcabas- able fleet arrived from Norway under the
kin, in the countyof Clare, and the sea-shore. command of Turgesius, and laid waste nearly
At the same time there happened an extra- the whole province of Connaught, with part
ordinary swell of the ocean, which inundated of Meath and Leinster.  Some time aftera part of the country that has never since wards the pirates subdued the greater part
been reclaimed, the current of the waters of Ulster, demolished the churches, and
being so strong that an island called Inis- practised every species of cruelty upon the
Fidhe was rent into three parts, thereby Christians.  Their chief seized on Ardindicating a submarine earthquake.      magh, and expelled Faranan, the archbishop,
In this reign may be fixed the foundation with the monks and students.  They subof the priory of Disert-Kellach, or Kells, in sequently burned the monasteries of InisMeath, by St. Kel:lach, an anchorite, prob- Kealtrach, Cluain-Mac-Noisk, Cluain-Ferably the same as Cellach, abbot of Hy, who ta-Luachra, Tirdaglass, and Lake Eirne.
took refuge in Ireland to avoid the fury of   The year 840 was remarkable for the
the Normans.                            destruction of the Picts. After a long war,
After a reign filled with troubles, Hugh the Scots defeated them in two successive
the monarch died at Athda-Ferta in the ter- battles under Kenneth II., and left little
ritory of Tirconnel; but according to some, more than the name of that unhappy people,
he was killed at the battle of Cathdroma.*  who had played an important part in BritConquovar, or Connor, son of the king ain for several centuries.  The kingdom of
Donchadha, succeeded Hugh in the govern- Scotland, whichbefore consisted of Dalrieda,
ment of the island, A. D. 819. The Normans, that is, of the territories of Cantyre, Knapwho now began to settle in the country, dale, Lorne, Argyle, and Brun-Albuin, with
being joined by new reinforcements every the neighboring isles, was then established
year, pillaged and burned all that they found on the ruins of the Picts, in its present state,
in their path.  The monasteries of Inis- and that ingenious and warlike people began
Damhly, Cork, Banchor, and Dundaleath- to be known to the neighboring nations.*
glass, where there was a celebrated academy,  About this time, Feidhlime, son of Criomfell sacrifices to their fury.  The monastery than, king of Munster, and likewise archof Moigh-Bille was still more unfortunate; bishop of Cashel, whom Cambrensis improphaving been set on fire, the monks, unable to erly styles king of Ireland, having received
save themselves, all perished in the flames. some annoyance from the inhabitants of
The new monarch, feeling more deeply Leath-Con, laid their country waste from
than his predecessor the misfortunes of his Birr to Tara, where he met with some repeople, and exasperated by the cruelties sistance, and lost prince Jonractach, son of
which the barbarians continually exercised, Maolduin, the most distinguished of his folassembled his forces, gave them  battle in lowers, in battle.t  Feidhlime died a short
the plain of Tailton, and gained a complete time afterwards, and was succeeded in the
victory over them. This advantage, how- government of Munster by Olchobhair, abever, availed him but little, as the reinforce- bot of Imly, an ambitious man, who had
ments which the barbarians were constantly sufficient influence to procure his election
receiving from their own country, enabled as king of Cashel.
them to keep the field and continue hostili-   Colgan, following the annals of the four
ties. The inhabitants of Leinster came to masters, fixes in the year 838 the arrival of
an engagement with them some time after- two considerable fleets of sixty vessels each,
wards at Druim-Conla; the victory remained with Norman troops, one of which entered
for some time doubtful, but the provincialists
* Usser. Primord. Eccles. cap. 15, page 612.
* War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 4.    t War. Antiq. Hibern. cap. 4.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            217
Drogheda, by the river Boyne, and the other a last effort to shake off the yoke of tyranny.
Dublin, by the Liffey; with which reinforce- Every prince and lord had orders to fight the
ment the Normans began to settle in the Danes in their respective districts, and the
country. They constructed fortresses in every attack was to be general throughout the
part of the island, which were commonly kingdom.  The execution was speedy and
called Danes Rathes, signifying the forts attended with success.
of the Danes, but which the Irish desig-   The Danes were first defeated at Ardnated Mothes.  These fortresses, the re- breacan, in Meath, by an army composed
mains of which are still to be seen all over of the principal nobility of the tribe of DailIreland, were constructed of earth in a round gais.  The united forces of Olchobhair, son
form, raised to the height of about twenty of Kionnfaoth, and king of Cashel, and Lorfeet, flat, and a little hollow on the top, and cain, son of Keallach, king of Leinster, gave
were sometimes thirty, sometimes forty battle to the Normans at Scia-Naght. They
fathoms in diameter. When the barbarians fought for some time with much obstinacy;
were pursued by their enemies, these served but the barbarians, having lost Count Tothem as intrenchments and places of retreat; mair, their chief and presumptive heir to
and as they were built on eminences, in view the crown of Denmark, with 1200 men, who
of each other, their occupiers enjoyed the ad- were killed on the spot, were forced to abanvantage of being able to convey the intelli- don the field of battle to the conquerors.
gence of any disastrous occurrence from one They were again defeated near Cashel,
extremity of the island to the other, by burn- with the loss of five hundred men, by the
ing straw on the top of them.            same king of Cashel, and the inhabitants of
In the meanwhile, Niall the monarch, Eoganacht; and in another action with the
having quelled a revolt of the inhabitants of inhabitants of Hy-Finginte, in the territory
Fearkeal and Deabhna-Eathra, gave battle of Lomneach, they lost three hundred and
to the Normans, near Doire, in Ulster, and sixty men.
gained a complete victory over them.  He   The  inhabitants of Tirconnel having
afterwards defeated them in the territory of taken up arms to recover their liberty, atTirconnel; which victory, however, he sur- tacked the barbarians at Eastuadh, and
vived but a short time.  Being desirous of killed a considerable number.  They lost,
crossing the river Callain, in the county of besides, two hundred men in an action against
Kilkenny, and perceiving the waters to be the inhabitants of Kianachta.  Tigernach,
much swollen, he desired one of his attend- prince of Loch-Gabhair, in Meath, killed
ants to try the depth of the ford; but the two hundred and forty of them  at Druirnviolence of the current having thrown him da-Chonn; and his example was followed
from his horse, and the king seeing no one by the inhabitants of Kinal-Fiacha, and Feardisposed to give him assistance, he advanced keal, in Westmeath.
towards the bank of the river, where the   Maolseachlin, or Malachi, son of MaoIearth giving way under his horse's feet, he bruana, brother of Conquovar the monarch,
fell into the water, and was drowned along and prince of East Meath, known by the
with his guide.*  It was from the name of title of king of that province, was among the
this river that he was called Niall-Caille.  first to signalize himself against the enemies.
After the death of Niall-Caille, the throne of his country. He gave them battle twice;
of Ireland remained vacant for some time, first at Foure, where he killed seven hunand the sceptre was torn from the hands of dred of their men; and the second time at
its ancient people. Usurpation and tyranny Casan-Linge, in Leinster, where the barhaving conquered, and Turgesius being de- barians were completely routed; their loss
dared king of Ireland by his adherents, he amounting to 1700 men slain, with Saxolb,
immediately sent emissaries to convey the their general.*  This victory induced Turintelligence to Norway, and to solicit the gesius to court the friendship of that prince;
succor necessary to support him in his new but fortune soon changed the aspect of
dignity, against a people so jealous of their affairs, and rendered these brilliant advanliberty.                                 tages abortive.t  On one hand, the length
The Irish, exasperated at the idea of the of the war had already exhausted the reslavery with which they were threatened, sources of the Irish; and on the other, Scanand calling to mind the courage and heroism dinavia, called by an ancient writer, "Officina
of their ancestors, and the liberty they had gentium," an inexhaustible storehouse of
enjoyed for so many ages, resolved to make
v  Keating's History of Ireland, part 2.
t War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 24, et Grat. Luc.
-   Gratianus Lucius, cap. 9.   cap. 9.
28




218                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
men, was continually sending succor to the an event as sudden as it was singular, and one
usurpers.*  In this critical juncture a con- for which no parallel is to be found in history.
siderable reinforcement arrived, which re-   Turgesius had a castle built for himself in
vived the fallen courage of the barbarians, the vicinity of Malachi, prince of Meath;
and forced the Irish to submit and acknow- and went frequently to visit his neighbor.
ledge themselves a conquered nation.  The Malachi was a man of considerable talents,
barbarians resumed their cruelties; made an able politician, and brave warrior, and
themselves masters of Dublin,and established possessed all the qualities requisite to govern
a colony in the territory of Fingal, in the a kingdom.  He one day asked the tyrant
neighborhood of that city.                 what he should do to get rid of a certain
Turgesius, seeing no one able to dispute kind of very destructive birds that had lately
the supreme power with him, began to arrived in the country?  The tyrant, not
change the form of government.  He ap- mistrusting the statement, answered that
pointed a Norman king to each province; their nests should be destroyed.*  Malachi,
placed a captain ini each territory, an abbot who by the birds meant the Normans, readily
in each church or monastery, a sergeant in felt the force of this answer, and occupied
each village, and obliged every house to himself solely with devising means to act
lodge a soldier.  The will of those tyrants, upon it; an opportunity for which was soon
supported by military execution, took the afforded him  by the tyrant.  Some days
place of laws, so that no man was. any afterwards, he being on a visit with the prince
longer master in his own house.            of Meath, saw his daughter Melcha, who
The tyrant now imposed a tax of an ounce was young and formed to please, particularly
of gold on the chief of every family.  Those in the eyes of a man of so depraved a charwho did not pay, were subject to the penalty acter.  His passion for her became violent,
of having their noses cut off, from which the and, wishing to make her his concubine, he
tax, in the language of the country, was demanded her of her father.  Nothing was
called " Airgiod srone," that is, nose-money. farther from  Malachi's thoughts than the
As the barbarians were equally hostile to idea of dishonoring his daughter; it was,
literature and religion, they destroyed the however, a delicate affair, and stratagem
churches, monasteries, academies, and other was necessary, in the absence of strength, to
places intended for divine worship  and extricate himself from the dilemma. Having
study; they expelled the ministers and pro- weighed every circumstance, he on one
fessors, burned their books and profaned side saw the danger of refusing the barthe holy vessels; they forbade the instruc- barian, who was absolute master in the
tion of youth in any science, even read- country, and whose conduct was ruled solely
ing or writing, or any military exercise, lest by passion: on the other, should his project
they might one day make use of them to re- succeed, he conceived a faint hope of decover their liberty; and lastly, they pro- livering his country from slavery.  Having
hibited the people, on pain of being com- formed his plan, he turned his thoughts
mitted to prison, to assemble under any pre- towards carrying it into effect. He told the
text whatsoever.  Such was the state of Ire- tyrant that his proposal was hard; but, that
land during the sway of these tyrants. The as he could refuse him nothing, he would
Irish having lost all hopes of regaining their send him his daughter on an appointed day,
liberty, were in consternation and despair. together with fifteen young ladies of her own
No alliance or marriage took place —every age, to keep her company and render her
one passedhis time inthe strictest retirement; those services her rank required; at the
the secular and regular clergy, in order to same time, requesting that the whole affair
shelter themselves from the fury of the Normans, lay concealed in the woods,where they   * "The king of Meath asked Turgesius, by what
celebrated the divine mysteries, and spent method some very destructive birds which had
their days in prayer and fasting; while the lately arrived in the country could be removed.
faithful sought them in secret to receive, con- The answer was, that their nests (if they had built
solation from them, and join in their prayers in the country) should be everywhere destroyed,
(alluding to the castle of Turgesius.) In about 30
for the delivery of the people. They were at years after his death, a general insurrection of the
length heard; and the persecution, which had Irish broke out, and the interpretation of the
lasted about twelve years, was terminated by birds' nests was carried into effect. The pomp of
the Norwegians and the tyranny of Turgesius continued in Ireland, till at length the nation being
* Bruod. Propug. Cathol. Verit. lib. 5, c. 14, et roused, they recovered their former fieedom and
Porter, Compoend. Annal. Eccles. Reg. Hibern. their government."-Giraldus Cambrensis Topocap. 1, sect. 4.                           graphy.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                              219
might be kept secret, so as to screen his The news of the defeat of Turgesius spread
daughter's honor.                         rapidly throughout the whole island, and had
In the mean time, Malachi had the whole very opposite effects on the two parties.*
country searched for fifteen young men with- The Irish, who looked upon this advantage
out beards, of acknowledged honor and as a happy omen of the recovery of their
bravery, whom he caused to be dressed in liberty, took up arms, pursued the Normans
female attire, with each a poniard concealed in every direction, and killed a considerable
under his robe, and gave them the instruc- number of them.  On the other hand, the
tions necessary to execute his project, which Normans, having lost their chief, made but
would put an end to tyranny.  He also in- a feeble resistance, and sought safety by
spired them with sentiments of religion and flight. Those who were near the sea quiclly
patriotism, and commanded them to defend regained their vessels, and quitted the island
the honor of the princess at the peril of for a time.
their lives, and to have the doors opened for   The princes and nobles of the kingdom,
him, in order that he might come to their seeing themselves delivered from tyranny
succor with a body of troops whom  he by the death of Turgesius, and the universal
should hold in readiness at a short distance; extirpation of the Normans, assembled for
and lastly, to seize the tyrant and chain him, the purpose of re-establishing the ancient
without depriving him of life.            constitution of the state, and the legitimate
Turgesius did not fail to repair, on the day succession to the throne. Malachi had deappointed, to receive the princess Melcha served too much gratitude from his country
and her fifteen young ladies; he even invited to dread a rival. He was declared monarch
fifteen of the principal officers of his army of Ireland by unanimous consent, and placed
to share in the festival. After spending the on the throne which several of his ancestors
day in -feasting, each of the officers was had already occupied.  Every thing then
shown to the apartment intended for him; returned to its natural order; religion again
and orders given for the guards and other flourished; the churches and monasteries
domestics to retire.  Turgesius himself re- were rebuilt; the laws to protect the innomained alone in his apartment, where he im- cent and punish the guilty were again vigorpatiently awaited the arrival of the princess ously enforced; and the ancient proprietors
Melcha. The porter, who was the only one restored to the possession of the lands and
of the domestics intrusted with the secret, lordships theyhad lost during the usurpation.
soon entered, accompanied by the princess,   While the Irish were enjoying the sweets
with her little troop of amazons, who came, of peace and liberty, after the severity of a
like a second Judith, to deliver her people. tyrannical government, the Normans, whom
The tyrant, who was heated with wine, was they had expelled some time before, did not
about to insult the princess, when the young lose sight of the island. The difference which
men immediately threw off their robes, and they found between the rich and fertile lands
drawing their weapons, seized him, and of Ireland, and the cold and barren mountied him with cords to the pillars of his tains of Scandinavia, made them constantly
bed.  They then opened the gates of the regret the former.  Being however unable
castle to permit Malachi and his troops to to return in an avowedly hostile manner as
enter; fell on the garrison, beginning with before, they determined to come under the
the officers, and put all, except Turgesius, pretext of commerce; to commit no act of
to the sword.                             hostility; to insinuate themselves by degrees
When Malachi had given the place up to into the good will of the inhabitants, and
pillage, in which they found immense booty, thereby insensibly to attain their end. They
he repaired to the spot where the tyrant was
bound, and reproached him bitterly with his
bound, and reproached him bitterly with his illustrious virgins. This gave delight to Turgesius,
tyranny, cruelty, and other vices, and having who came (with as many youths of his own nation)
loaded him with chains, had him carried in on the day and to the place appointed. He found
triumph before him.  He allowed him to there fifteen beardless youths, brave and chosen for
live a few days, in order that he should be the purpose, having beneath their female attire,.
witness, before his death, of the sufferings poniards secretly carried, by which Turgesius and
his companions fell."-Cambrensis, Topog. Hib.
of his countrymen, and then caused him to dist. 3, cap. 40.
be thrown, chained as he was, into Lough   * "News of this event was quickly spread through
Ainnin in Westmeath, where he perished.* the whole island: the Norwegians were everywhere
destroyed either by force or stratagem; those who
~ "The king of Meath (the poison rankling in: escaped being forced to return in their ships to
his breast) promised to send him his daughter to an Norway, and the islands whence they had come."
island in Meath, (Lough Vair,) together with fifteen -Camb. Topog. cap. 41.




220                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
made a show,therefore, of bringing over some by the arrival of a Danish fleet. The Danes,
merchandise, but the holds of their ships who were jealous of the progress of the
were filled with arms and ammunition. The Norwegians in the island, resolved to contest
following is the account given by the author the glory of the conquest with them; and
of the Polychronicon. " After the death of having first pillaged Dublin and its environs,
Turgesius," says he, "three brothers, Ame- which were in the power of the Norwegians,
lanus, Cyracus, and Imorus,landedwiththeir they defeated them  in a pitched battle at
retinue in Ireland, in a peaceable manner, Linnduachaill, in which about 1000 men
under the pretext of carrying on trade. With were killed on the field.
the consent of the Irish, who were living in   Malachi seeing two barbarous nations
indolence, they settled in the maritime parts, contending about a country to which neither
and built the cities of Waterford, Dublin, had a right, thought it time to stop their
and Limerick, and their numbers having progress, and for this purpose he convened
increased, they frequently insulted the na- an assembly of the princes and nobles at
tives."* Theybecame, indeed, almost as for- Rath-Aodh, now Rath-Hugh in the territory
midable as in the time of Turgesius, and of Kinel-Fiacha, in Westmeath, in which
often gave battle to the inhabitants, with regulations were made relative to the state
success. Two circumstances contributed to of affairs; the princes who had been at
this misfortune; first, having settled in the variance were reconciled, and all appeared
island under the pretext of carrying on trade, disposed to defend the common cause.
they had the advantage of being able, unno-   Some time afterwards the monarch carticed, to bring over reinforcements; second- ried on a successful war against the Danes,
ly, the discord and domestic wars of the petty to revenge the death of Maolguala, king of
princes of the country, who often called in Munster, who had been inhumanly killed by
the aid of these foreigners against each the barbarians.  Malachi having met them
other, so that the latter were sometimes a at Drom-da-Moighe, came to an engagematch for both the conquerors and the con- ment with them, in which several of them
quered.t In the same manner we have seen in perished.
France, in the time of Charles the Bald, his   Malachi's piety having inspired him with
nephew Pepin, who left the monastery of St. the desire of going to Rome, to thank the
Medard de Soissons, and was declared king Lord, in the centre of Christianity, for the
of Aquitaine, join the Normans, and pillage success which had ever attended his arms,
Poitiers and many other places.  The in- sent ambassadors with presents to Charles
habitants of Northumberland, in England, in the Bald, with whom  he was on terms of
like manner having revolted against Edgar, peace and friendship, both for the purpose
sent to Ireland for Anlafe, a Danish captain, of asking permission to pass through his
and chose him  for their king.t  Thus too kingdom,* and to inform him of his victories
Elfrick, earl of Mercia, and his son Edrick, over the Normans, who were already well
betrayed king Ethelred in the command with known in France by the robberies and cruwhich he intrusted them against the Danes. elties they had committed.  A friendliness
This same Edrick (the favorite of that had existed between the kings of France
prince, who created him  duke of Mercia, and those of Ireland in the time of Charand gave him his daughter in marriage) de- lemagne.  That monarch had not only atserted the royal army the night *before a tached men of learning'to him  by his fabattle, and joined the enemy with forty of vors; but Eginardus, the author of his life,
the king's vessels,which caused the submis- asserts that he had the kings of the Scots,
sion of the entire of the west of England to that is, of Ireland, at his command, who
the Danes.~                                gave him the title of lord, and called themThe disorders were considerably increased selves his subjects, as appears by the letters
they had written to him, and which were to
* "After the death of Turgesius, three brothers, be seen in the time of that author.t
Amelanus, Cyracus, and Imorus, under the pretext
of peace and of carrying on traffic, sailed with a
retinue for Ireland, and with the consent of the   X "Malachi sent ambassadors to Charles the
Irish, who were prone to idleness, settled on the Bald, king of the Franks, with presents, to obtain
sea-shore; they built the cities of Waterford, Dub- his friendship and permission to go through his
lin, and Limerick, and their numbers having in- dominions to Rome, on account of the victories he
creased, they frequently insulted the natives."- had obtained." —Ware's Antiquities, c. 24.
Fleury's Ecclesiastical History, b. 49.      t " He had the kings of the Scots so much at
t Fleury, HEist. Eccles. lib. 49.        his will, from his munificence, that they never
$ Baker's Chron. page 10.                called him by any other name than that of lord, and
~ Baker's Chron. page 14.                pronounced themselves his subjects and servants.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                               221
Eginardus, in the year 812, plainly indi- load them indirectly reflect on themselves,
cates that the country of the Scots here al- as two thirds of Ireland have within a cenluded to, is Ireland; for, he says, the Nor- tury been peopled by Scotch and English
wegians having attacked Ireland, the island Presbyterians.
of Scots, were put to flight by its inhabit-   Buchanan, without quoting any author
ants.*                                     more ancient than himself, says that Achaius,
This alliance existed till the twelfth cen- king of the Scots of Albania, had entered
tury, as long, in fact, as the Irish were a free into an alliance with Charlemagne; but inpeople; the succors which their kings sent dependentlyoftherebeing no ancient records
to France against Henry II. of England, in which it is mentioned, and that no traces
having formed one of the motives which in- of it are discoverable in the public archives,
duced that prince to undertake the conquest if we consider the state of the Scots of Alof their island.t                          bania at that time, the existence of such an
Besides the political alliance between the alliance will appear doubtful.  Previously
two nations, there was a private connection to the conquest of the Picts, which happened
between their subjects by marriage.  The in 840, after the death of Charlemagne, the
tyranny of Turgesius and the persecution of Scots possessed but a small district, called
the Normans, had obliged many persons to in the Scotic language Albin, the inhabitants
leave Ireland; and others having followed of which were called Allabany, or Allebaking Malachi to France, several settled there nachs,* and to this day have no other name
and entered the service of Charles the Bald, in that language, the terms Scotia, Scotland,
some of whose descendants still carefully Scot, or Scotch, having been given them by
preserve the tradition of their Irish origin, foreigners. This district was confined to the
as, for instance,the noble familyof the Dales, narrow limits of Dalrieda, which formed but
who trace their descent from the O'Dalys of a very small portion of modern Scotland,
Corcaduin.                                 and consequently was of too little importance
The Scotch of latter times have used in the world for its inhabitants to have preevery effSort to deprive the Scots of Ireland tended to an alliance with the emperor of
of the glory of this alliance with France, the west.
and to ascribe it to their own ancestors. By   The conquest of the Picts may be ranked
means of the two-fold acceptation of the among the extraordinary events in which
word Scoti. or Scots, they assume an honor chance and unforeseen circumstances have
to which they are not entitled.  They are sometimes a greater share than the power
not, indeed, ashamed to reckon among their of the victor.
countrymen the Irish Scots of the earlier   Kenneth, king of the Scots, having retime, when the race was pure and unmixed solved to revenge the death of his father,
with foreigners;t but with surprising incon- Alpin, who had been cruelly put to death
sistency, the authors of that nation affect to by the Picts, whose prisoner he was,t made
calumniate the modern Irish, who are more use of stratagem to overcome the reluctance
closely allied to them than the former. They his subjects had to go to war with them. He
forget that the aspersions with which they invited the principal of his nobility to a supper, and in the gloom of the night, while
they lay on the floor of the banqueting hall,
Letters are still extant which were sent to him, in intoxicated with wine and overcome with
which their affection for him is manifested." —Eg-  hey heard a voice, as if from heaven,
nard's Life of Charlemagne, Preface.        leep, t. "The Norwegians having attacked Hibernia, commanding them  to make war upon the
the island of the Scots, were put to flight."-Ogygia, Picts.  This was enough to rouse a superProl-ogue, p. 30.                          stitious and credulous people, and inspired
t "After this Henry resolved to subdue Ireland, them with such confidence that the Picts
both on account of its contiguity, and the succors
they affirded to France against him."-Polidorus were unable to withstand the first onset, and
Virgil, Hist. Angl. book 13, p. 55.        being seized with terror, were completely
At this period many marriages took place between defeated.
the French and the Irish, otherwise Scots. Bolland.   The intercourse which existed between
Act. Sanct. Life of St. Erard, 8th Jan.
King Henry being then at rest from all hostile the Scots of Ireland and those of Albania,
arms, both at home and abroad, takes into his con- makes it probable that the former contribsideration the kingdom of Ireland, as a kingdom uted to this conquest of the Picts.  They
which oftentimes afforded assistance to the French. still considered themselves as forming but
Baker, Chron. on the reign of Henry II.
t Hume's Essay on the Characters of Nations.
See the Mercure de France of the month of Janu-  * Camd. Brit. pages 88, 90.
ary, 1756.                                       t Buchan. Rer. Scotic Hist. p. 169.




222                               HISTORY OF IRELAND.
the same people; and their union was twelfth century, when the English, in their
strengthened  by  alliances between  their own dialect, gave to Hibernia the name of
princes.  Fionliath, son of Niall-Caille, Ireland, signifying the land of Ire, as they
monarch of Ireland in 833, and who after- had called Britain England, that is, the land
wards became king himself, under the name of the Angles, a people who came from
of Hugh VII., married about this time the Lower Saxony.  The above is the account
daughter of Kenneth, king of the Scots of given by foreign and disinterested authors
Albania; from which there is good reason of the settlement of the Scots in Britain, and
to believe that he shared with his father-in- of the changes which took place in the name
law the glory and perils of the war against of that people, and the country they inhabthe Picts.                                    ited; which account agrees with that of the
The judicious Camden states that the venerable Bede, who marks their arrival in
Picts were destroyed by the Scots from Ire- that country, and designates their place of
land, who fell on them  so that, about the abode.  He first says that the Scots entered
year 740, they were completely defeated in Britain after the Britons and Picts;* aftera single battle, and their name and nation wards, that they settled on the northern
almost annihilated.*   We may suppose that shore  of the  great gulf which  formerly
there was an error of the press in this, and separated the Picts from the Britons, where
that the printer had put 740 for 840, which the fort of Alcuith was situated;t and in the
is"not unlikely; for it is evident that Cam- eighth century, when finishing his history, a
den indicates the conquest of the Picts by short time before his death, he says that the
Kenneth, with the united forces of the Scots Scots who inhabited Britain, being content
from Ireland.  It appears, in any case, ac- with their territory, had engaged in no entercording to this author, that at the period in prise against the English.4
question, the Scots from Ireland fought the   Although Bede, says Usher, distinguishes
Picts in their own country, which makes it the Scots of Ireland from those that inhabit
natural to suppose that they had done so Britain, still he acknowledges but one Scotia,
likewise under Kenneth, king of the Scots of namely, Ireland; a like course to which he
Albania, in 840. This victory having made follows in the distinction made by him  bethe Scots masters of the kingdom  of the tween the English who settled in Ireland
Picts as far as the eastern ocean, their'very and the Anglo-Britons, although there is
name became obliterated; the northern part but one country called England.~
of Britain was, by degrees, called by foreign-   He likewise observes, that neither Dalriers Scotia, or Scotland, and the inhabitants eda, which was the patrimony of the Scots
Scots, or Scotch, and to distinguish them
from the ancient Scots of Ireland, they introduced the names of Scotia Major, which of Scotland. No one denies that to have been
was given to Ireland, and Scotia Minor, the a part of Northumberland, and to have been
country now  known by the name of Scot- in the possession of the Saxons."-Caimden, page
land;t which  terms  were usedtill  the 90.* Britain received, after the Britons and Picts, a
third race of the Scots, on the side of the Picts.Bede, Eccl. Hist. b. 1, c. 1.
* "The Scots from Ireland pouring in upon the   t " A very extensive bay formerly separated the
Picts, the latter were so overwhelmed in battle, anno territory of the Britons from the Picts. It stretches
740, that they became almost annihilated, and those for a great distance inland on the west, where the
who remained merged into the name and people of fortified city of Alcuith, belonging to the Britons,
the invaders."-Camd. p. 83.                   now stands. The Scots, on their arrival in the
t " It is proper to investigate why the Scots who country, appropriated to themselves, as has been
were in Britain call that part in which they were observed, the portion to the north of the bay."settled Albanan, or Albin, and the Irish Allabany. Bede, Eccl. fHist. b. 1, c. 1.
Historians say, that Hibernia (Ireland) was Scotia   t " The Scots who inhabit Britain are content
Major, and that the part of Britain inhabited by the with their own boundaries, nor do they plot any
Scots was Scotia Minor. Although the Scots and stratagem or fraud against the English." —b. 1, 5,
Picts were incessantly harassing the Britons by c. 24.
battles and plunder, still their limits did not extend   ~ " As in our time the distinction of Anglo-Britbeyond the narrow portion which they occupied in ons and Anglo-Irish does not require two Englands,
the beginning. Bede observes, that for 127 years, one in Britain and another in Ireland, so neither
more or less, they did not carry their standards into did it cause the settlements of the Scoto-Hliberni
Northumberland, and then only when the Picts were and the Scoto-Britanni to constitute two Scotias.
almost destroyed, and the kingdom of Northumber. For although Bede carefully marks a distinction beland torn by intestine evils, and by the incursions of tween the Irish-Scots and those of Britain, still
the Danes. It was then that the entire of north Scotia is always one and the same to him, viz., HiBritain, including the parts traversed by the Clyde, bernia, (Ireland.)"-Usher's Primornd. Eccles. Brit.
and the Frith (Forth) of Edinburgh, got the name c. 16, p. 733.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             223
until 840, nor Albania generally, even after their bravery; of which the generous effort
the conquest of the Picts, was called Scotia, made by them  in our time, in favor of their
till about the eleventh century, when the two legitimate prince, is a striking example; and
races were united as a nation, and the Picts they always have maintained, with honor, the
completely forgotten; nor have any authors character of worthy children of their ancesbefore that period mentioned Albania under tors, the Scoto-Milesians.  This reputation
the name of Scotland, which name was not having flattered the vanity of some of their
used till the English gave to the Scots of historians, they have endeavored to give it
Ireland the name of Irish, in their language, an air of antiquity, and in a manner to engraft
(in Latin Iri, or Irenses,) and that of Ireland it on the merit of the ancient Scots, as if
to their island.*                          they had been the same people.
Buchanan is not the only Scotch writer   The Scots were celebrated in France,
who mentions the alliance withCharlemagne. and the rest of Europe, before the eleventh
Hector Boetius names the ambassador who century. The Irish, who till then were the
had been intrusted with its negotiation, and proper Scots, began at that period to lay aside
those who accompanied him.t He says that that name, which became exclusively applied
Achaius senthis brother William into France to the inhabitants of North Britain, and they
to Charles, accompanied by Clement, John, are the only people since known to foreignRabanus, and Alcuin, all, he says, of the ers by the name of Scots, or Scotch.  The
pious and learned nation of the Scots, at- world has been accustomed to call thema so
tended by a numerous train from the same without investigation, and none but the
country.  It has been already observed that learned in antiquity can elucidate such disScotland had no right to claim  Raban and taut facts. These circumstances were favorAlcuin, the former of whom was a French- able to the claims of their historians, and
man, and the latter universally acknow- have given rise to the fabled alliance of the
ledged to have been English. With respect nation with Charlemagne.
to Clement and John, otherwise Albin, co-   The analogy which exists between the
temporary authors call them Scots from Ire- names of Offa, king of the Mercians, who
land.  So manifest an error in facts should had solicited the friendship of Charlemlagne
therefore make us at once reject this state- through Alcuin, and Eocha, which is the
ment, when we have otherwise reason to real Scotic name for Achaius, mentioned by
doubt it.                                  the Scotch authors, m-ight have suggested
The alliance of the Scotch with France the idea of this alliance. By substitutiing the
cannot be traced farther back than the latter for the former, the historians of that
twelfth century. It is affirmed that a Scotch nation have been enabled to lay claim  to
cohort accompanied St. Louis to the holy princes who did not belong to them, and to
war; but the connection of these two nations render their history illustrious by appropriin the fifteenth century, under Charles YI., ating to themselves the deeds of others, like
is much more certain. The right of citizen- Abercromby, who endeavors to persuade us
ship, whichthe Scotch had then conferred on that the celebrated Caractacus, king of the
them, is an undoubted proof of the services Silures in Britain, was the same as a prethey had rendered to his crown.            tended Caractacus, Iking of Scotland,four cenThe true Scotch have the reputation of turies before any kingdom of Scotland existbeing gifted and warlike; they have dis- ed in Britain; while Tacitus informs us that
tinguished themselves on every occasion by Caractacus was a British prince, of Spanish
origin, and king of the Silures in the southern
part of Britain; that he defended himself
* "Dalrieda, which was the settlement of the bravely against the Romans, with only his
Scoto-Britanni, up to the year 840, bad not obtain- own forces and that he ended his days in
ed the name of Scotia, nor did Albania generally.its nei h orhood.
acquire that name until after the destruction of the captivity in Rome, or its neighborhood.
Picts, and the memory of them became effaced, Besides, the period of his death, according
which did not take place before the eleventh century, to Tacitus, is at variance with the date of
as we have mentioned in the beginning of the pre- the accession to the throne, of the successor
ceding chapter. We are of opinion'that no writerus of Scotland.
of the preceding ages can be adduced, who ever to the supposed Caractacus of Scotland.
designated Albania by the name of Scotia, which   Notwithstanding the troubles which disname, however, was subsequently in frequent use, turbed Malachi's reign, this pious prince
when the English began, in their language, to call governed his subjects with equity andjustice.
the Hibernians Irish; in Latin Iri and Irenses; He formed alliances with foreign princes,
and from it their country Ire-Land." —Usher,
Primor(d. Eccl. Brit. cap. 16, p. 734.     and gained several victories over the enet Hist. Scotor. lib. 10, p. 194.         mies of his country; but his weakness in




224                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
having given a footing to the Normans in Scotland.  Amlaoib, or Amlavus, survived
the maritime towns of the island, after the this expedition but a short time, and Ivarus
cruelties they had previously exercised in died the year following.  Ostinus, son of
the country, lessens considerably the opinion Amnlavus, was assassinated by the Danes, of
we should otherwise have entertained of his whom he became chief after his father's
policy.  This prince died, much regretted, death, and was succeeded in the government
and was interred with great pomp at Cluain- of these barbarians by Godfrley, son of Ivar.
Mac-Noisk, A. D. 863.                    It was in this juncture of affairs that Roger,
Hugh VII., surnamed Fionliat, son of the son of Moirmain, a British king, took refuge
monarch Niall-Caille, succeeded Malachi. in Ireland with the relics of St. Columbkil,
He married Maolmuire, daughter of Ken- which he presented to the Irish monarch.
neth, king of Scotland, by whom he had a   In the reign of Hugh, the kingdom  of
son called Niall-Glundubh.*              Cashel was governed by Donnogh, who sucMany remarkable occurrences took place ceeded Cionfaola; and Thuomond, by Lorduring the reign of this monarch.  Connor, can, son of Lachna, chief of the noble tribe
son of Donnogh, prince of Meath, was killed of the Dalgais.  In it also may be fixed the
at Clonard by the Danes, commanded by foundation of an abbey by Flan-Mac-KelAmlaoib; but the monarch attacking them lach, at Bally-ne-Scelig, otherwise Mount
some time afterwards at Lough-Febhail, St. Michael, in one of the Sceleges isles, on
now Lough-Foyle, in the county of Donegal, the coast of Kerry, in Munster.  The king,
they were completely defeated, and several having repented sincerely of his sins, died
thousand killed, among whom were forty on the twelfth of the calends of December,
of the principal men in their army, whose 879, at Druim-Inisclain, in the district of
heads were carried in triumph before the Tyrconnel.
conqueror.t  Encouraged by this success,   Flan, surnamed Sionna, son of King
the army pursued them in every direction, Malachi, succeeded Hugli VII. in the sueven to their forts, where they put a great preme government of the island.  This
number to the sword, and carried off con- monarch's reign was long, and filled with
siderable booty. Some time afterwards, the troubles.*  The Danes still continued their
monarch, with about one thousand horse- hostilities; they plundered Cluain-Ioraird
men, gained a complete victory at Killuan- and Kildare,A.D. 888, and exercised unhearddoigre, over a body of five thousand men, of cruelties, so that he was obliged to come
both Danes and Irish insurgents, which very to an engagement with them, which was
much humbled the barbarians.  About that disastrous to both parties, from the number
time the castle of Cluain-Dalchain, near of men killed on each side.  The monarch
Dublin, was set on fire.  It had been built gained a dear-bought victory, and Hugh,
by Amlaoib, the Danish chief; and was gar- prince of Connaught, son of Conquovar,
risoned by his troops.  The natives, taking king of that province, was found among the
advantage of the confusion caused by the slain.  Several other battles were fought
fire, killed several of them, with their chiefs; also, with unequal success.
but the tyrant soon afterwards took signal   Discord now began to prevail among
revenge, by putting a considerable number the Danes in Dublin, A. D. 892.  Godfrey,
of the inhabitants to death in an ambuscade son of Ivar, the Danish prince, was assassihe had prepared for them.  This advantage nated by the intrigues of his brother Sitrick;
raised his fallen courage, and the continual while the latter found a formidable enemy in
reinforcements that arrived from Denmark, Galfrid, son of Merlus.  The strife between
soon enabled him to pillage and burn Ar- these chiefs was carried to such a pitch
magh, and massacre the inhabitants; after as to divide the city into two parties, one
which he sailed with a fleet of two hundred half declaring in favor of Sitrick, and the
vessels for Wales, accompanied by his other for Galfrid.  Their disagreement did
brother Ivar, to the assistance of his coun- not, however, prevent them  from pillaging
trymen, Hinguar and Hubba, and returned the city of Armagh some time afterwards,
the following year to Dublin, loaded with and destroying the churches. In this expebooty, having pillaged Wales, and part of dition they surprised Cumasgach, king of
Ulster, with his son Hugh, and took them
prisoners.  Sitrick did not long survive his
X Keating's History of Ireland. War. de Antiq. fratricide, being killed by his own people.
Hib. cap. 24.
t Grat. Luc. c. 9. Propug. Cathol. Verit. lib.
5, c. 14. Porter. Comp. Ann. Eccles. Reg. Hib.  * Keating, Waraeus, Grat. Luc., Bruodinus, et
sect. 4, c. 1.                           Porterus, ibid.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           225
His brother Amlave, having led a body of sembled an army, and marched towards the
troops some time after into Tirconnel, was frontiers of Leinster.
defeated and killed by the inhabitants.  A   Cormac's uneasiness for the success of
fresh reinforcement of Danes that arrived the war increased daily.  He foresaw that
in Dublin in 902, was destroyed near that it would be fatal, not only to his province,
city by the people of Leinster.         but to himself in person; particularly as the
The war against the Danes was not the monarch had declared in favor of the people
only one in which this monarch was en- of Leinster, and had marched with a body
gaged.  The equilibrium of the kingdom of troops to join them. These motives inwas already lost; the union established be- duced Cormac to receive the sacraments between the princes at the assembly of Rath- fore-he commenced hostilities, after which he
Hugh, by the authority of Malachi, was made his will, by which he left several pious
forgotten, and the rights of the monarchy legacies to churches and monasteries.  He
violated.  These circumstances induced bequeathed an ounce of gold and one of silFlan-Sionna to march with an army into the ver, with a caparisoned horse, to Ard-Fionorth of Munster, which committed dread- nan; two chalices, one gold the other silver,
ful devastations.  Donnogh, king of that with a church ornament, to Lismore; to
province, died in the meantime.         Cashel he left two chalices, one gold and the
Cormac-Mac-Culinan  succeeded  Don- other silver, four ounces of gold, and five of
nogh in the kingdom of Munster; he was silver; to Imleach-Inbhair, (Emly,) three
of the royal race of Cashel, and king of the ounces of gold, and a missal; to Glen-daprovince.  He himself was both a spiritual Loch, one ounce of gold and one of silver;
and temporal prince, being at the same to Kildare, a caparisoned horse, an ounce of
time bishop of Cashel, and king of the pro- gold, and an altar ornament; he left to Arvince. Of such unions some examples were magh eighty ounces of gold and as many of
to be found among his ancestors. Olcobar, silver; three ounces of gold to Inis-Catha;
who died in 851, and Cenfoelad in 872, and three ounces of gold, with an altar ornawere at the same time kings of Cashel, and ment, and his blessing, to the monastery of
bishops of Emly. We have seen the func- Mungarret, in the territory of Kinseallagh.
tions of both dignities exercised by Jona- This prince was desirous, too, of performing
than, Simon, John Hircan, Aristobulus, and an act of justice before his death.  He
Alexander Janne.  The Roman emperors knew that Oilioll-Olum, first absolute king
took pride in the title of high priest; and, of Munster, in the third century, had made
without recurring to the example of the a regulation respecting the succession to the
sacrilegious power so shamefully usurped throne of that province, by which he had
by the kings of England, of which a certain decree'd that the sceptre should belong alterauthor avails himself on this subject, we see nately to the two branches springing from his
still ecclesiastical electors in Germany who two sons, Eogan and Cormac-Cas. He also
are both spiritual and temporal princes.    knew that this law had not been observed,
Caradocus of Lhancarvan, in his Welsh inasmuch as the descendants of Eogan were
Chronicle, mentions Cormac as a man of generally kings of Cashel, with the title of
piety. However, either he, or the editor of kings of Munster, while those of Cormachis work in English, is mistaken in calling Cas were only kings of Thuomond.  Corhim  Carmot, son of Cukeman, king and mac, being desirous of appeasing the discord
bishop of Ireland.                       and troubles thereby caused in the province,
In the seventh year of.the reign of Cor- sent for Lorcan, son of Lachtna, king of
mac, he declared war against the province Thuomond, chief of the branch of Cormacof Leinster, to enforce the payment of a Cas, and presented him to the nobles of
Boiroimhe or tribute, which the kings of Siol-Eogain, as having the right to succeed
Cashel exacted from the inhabitants of that him on the throne; but his wishes were not
province. This peaceable and pious prince fulfilled, as Dubhlachtna, son of Maolguala,
was averse to the war; but his objections was appointed his successor.
were overruled by his council, and particu-   Every thing being prepared for the conlarly by Flahertach, abbot of Iniscatha, of flict, the army marched through Leighlin, as
royal blood, who persuaded him that Lein- far as the plains of Moyailbhe, in the district
ster, as forming part of Leath-Modha, ac- of Slieve-MVairge, which had been named as
cording to the division made of the island the place of meeting.  Cormnac again en- i
in the third century, between Conn the deavored to settle the dispute peaceably; i
monarch and Modha king of Munster, owed and sent a herald to the king of Leinster, to i
homage to his crown; whereupon, he as- demand the tribute that he owed him, or lI
_23 9    I




226                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
hostages to secure the payment of it. The nal John Paparo, who gave the pallium to
herald returned with ambassadors on the Donat O'Lonargan, then bishop.
part of the king of Leinster, to seek a truce   After the conversion of Aongus, son of
of a few months, during which time they Naodfrach, king of Cashel, the people of
might come to an accommodation; but this that territory remained for some centuries
proposal being rejected through the influence under the jurisdiction of St. Ailbe and his
of the abbot of Inis-Catha, they determined successors, and considered their district as
to decide the matter by iforce of arms.  forming part of the diocese of Emly, which
The Leinster troops having arrived, with is twelve miles from  Cashel, where that
the monarch Flan-Sionna, and Carrol, son saint had established his see, and which at
of Muireagein their king, at their head, their this remote period was looked on as the
superior numbers made such an impression metropolitan of the province.
on the Munster men, that part of the army   The rest of Flan-Sionna's reign was tolewould not wait the issue of a battle, but took rably tranquil.  The princes having been
to flight, and the rest were cut to pieces, reconciled, held the Danes in awe; justice
16th August, 913.  The king of Munster, was freely administered to the people, and
who had been always averse to this war, peace restored tothe church. The churches
signalized himself particularly in the en- and public schools for the instruction of
gagement, (which was commonly called the youth were repaired, and the husbandman
battle of Beallach-Mugna,) but was killed cultivated his fields in more security. The
by a fall from his horse. Carrol took a great barbarians, however, made their appearance
number of prisoners, among whom  were from time to time.  In 915, they laid waste
several persons of distinction, and in that part of Munster, but were vigorously repulsed
number the abbot of Inis-Catha, the princi- the year following by the inhabitants of that
pal promoter of this war, whom he brought province.  They were more successful in
in triumph to Kildare, where he remained Leinster, under the command of Sitrick,
a prisoner till the death of Carrol.     where they killed Angar, son of Oiliol, king
Authors are not agreed as to the death of of that province, and several of the nobility.
Cormac.  According to Caradocus, he was Meanwhile the Danes of Dublin pillaged the
killed in a battle'against the Danes.  Ac- Isle of Man, and that of Anglesey, in Wales.
cording, however, to a manuscript in the Flanna-Sionna died this year, at Tailton in
Cottonian library, he was killed by some Meath, on the eighth of the calends of June,
cow-herds at Bearnree, near Leichlin, while (25th May,) at the age of 68 years, of which
on his knees praying, like a second Moses, he had reigned 37, A. D.. 916.
for the success of his army, during their   Niall, surnamed Glundubh, son of Hugh
engagement with the enemy.  However, it VII., ascended the throne of Ireland on the
is more likely that he was killed, as stated death of Flan-Sionna.  This prince re-esin the annals of Ulster and Inisfail, in the tablishled the fair of Tailton, which had not
battle we have just mentioned.  His body been held for some time.  He afterwards
was brought to Cashel, where he was in- marched against the Danes, who were comterred, as he had ordered in his will, although mitting devastations in Ulster, and gained a
Keating asserts that he was buried at Dise- victory over them, with the loss, however,
art-Diarmuda, now  Castle-Dermod, in the of some of his best troops.  Having given
monastery of St. Comhgoll.-              them battle on the 15th September, 919,,
This prince was learned, and well versed near Dublin, his army was cut to pieces and
in the antiquities of his country. He wrote he himself found among the slain, together
the Psalter of Cashel,in the Scotic language, with Hugh Mac-Eochagain, king of Ulster,
a work highly esteemed.  He is celebrated and several other princes.
by the historians of his country, not only for   Donchad, or Donough II., son of Flanhis learning, but likewise his piety, charity, Sionna, who succeeded Niall, was more
valor, and magnificence.t                 fortunate than his predecessor, in his wars
n   When speaking of this prince, mention against the Danes.* In the first year of his
should be made of the Episcopal see of reign, he gained a complete victory over
Cashel, of which he was a distinguished these barbarians at Kiannachta-Bregh, in
ornament.  This see was erected into the Meath, and fully avenged the death of his
metropolitan of the province of Munster, at predecessor, and the princes who had fallen
the synod of Kells, held in 1152, by.cardi- with him, by killing several of.the principal
Danes. He afterwards laid waste the country
I  WVar. de Prxsul. Casseliens.
t War. ibid.                       * War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 24. Grat. Luc. e. 9.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            227
in the neighborhood of Dublin, which be- the perfidy of the Danes, and the captivity
longed to the barbarians.*              of their princes.
In the reign of Donchad, Keallachan, son   Kennede, to whom Kellachan had confided
of Buadhac, ascended the throne of Cashel the administration of the government during
after Flahertach, abbot of Inis-Catha, who his absence, exasperated at this shameless
had succeeded Dublachtna, notwithstanding outrage, assembled the troops of the provthe opposition of Kennedy, son of Lorcan, ince, and sent them, under the command of
prince of Thuomond, who laid claim  to Donnogh Mac-Keefe, prince of Fearmoihe,
that crown.t The king of Cashel signal- an experienced general, with orders to punish
ized himself against the Danes, defeated the insolence of the barbarians, and restore
them in several engagements, and forced the captives to liberty.  At the same time
them to quit his province.              he dispatched a fleet under the command of
The barbarians being unable to attack Failbhe-Fionn, prince of Desmond, to cut
this prince openly, or maintain possession off the enemy's retreat by sea. Never was
of their conquests, had recourse to intrigue a project better contrived, or more ably
in order to be revenged on him.  Sitrick, executed.
who was at that time chief of the Danes,   The commander of the Danish army who
sent a courier to the king of Munster, to was in care of the captives at Armagh, hayvsignify his desire to make peace, and live ing learned through a spy that the Munster
on terms of friendship with him; at the troops were on their march to attack him,
same time saying he would withdraw all his left a detachment to guard the prisoners and
troops from the province, and thencefor- advanced fronnthe city with the rest of his
ward put an end to hostilities; in fact, that army to prevent their arrival. The engagehe would enter into a league offensive and ment began, and the Danes, unable to withdefensive with him, and as a pledge of his stand the impetuosity of the Munster man,
sincerity, offered him the princess of Den- fired with the desire of vengeance, were cut
mark, his sister, in marriage.  Some al- to pieces.  The victory, however, was not
liances had at this time already taken place productive of the effect which Donnogh had
between the Irish and the Danes; among reason to hope. The prisoners had been
others, Sitrick having married Morling, previously removed to Dundalk, a seaport
daughter of Hugh-Mac-Eochaidh.          twenty miles from Armagh, and given up to
The king of Cashel fell into the snare, Sitrick, who embarked with them on board
and was highly flattered by the proposals of his fleet, which was at anchor in that port;
Sitrick, particularly that respecting his sis- these vessels being used as garrisons and
ter, having heard a great deal of the beauty places of retreat by the barbarians, when
of that princess.  He answered that he unable to defend themselves by land.  Donwould immediately repair to Dublin to con- nogh having spent the night after the battle
tract the marriage, and to treat about the at Armagh, marched the next day for Dunother articles of the league.           dalk, where he expected to overtake the
Keallachan having given his orders, and enemy; but his hopes vanished on discoverevery thing being ready for the journey, he ing this manceuvre of the barbarians, who
set out for Dublin, accompanied b y Dun- feared nothing from a land army unprovided
chnan, prince of Thuornond, son of Kennedy, with a fleet.  However, the aspect of affairs
and escorted by a chosenbody of horse. On soon changed. The arrival of the Irish fleet,
coming within a league of the city, he under the command of Failbhe-Fionn, disperceived Danish troops concealed in the concerted the Danes, by whom they were
hedges, which he considered as a bad whollyunexpected, and their dismay was inomen, and attempting to turn back, he was creased by the most bloody and obstinate
assailed and made prisoner, with Dunchnan, battle that had ever been fought on these
in spite of the vigorous resistance of his coasts.  As they were determined on boardguards, several of whom  were killed on ing the ships and coming to a close engage- 1
the spot.  The princes were brought to ment, Failbhe-Fionn, desirous of setting his
Dublin, and thence to Armagh, where they troops the example, leaped, sword in hand,
were placed in confinement and strongly into the Danish admiral's ship, on board of 1
guarded. Those who escaped the combat, which was Sitrick, his brothers Tor and
brought back to the province the news of Magnus, and Keallachan, king of Munster,
who was tied to the mast.  Followed by a
X Porter, Compend. Annal. Reg. Hib. sect. 4, small detachment, this brave man made a
cap. 3.
t Keat. History of Ireland, part 2. Propug.dreadful slaughter among the barbarians,
Cathol. Verit. lib. 5, c. 14.           cleared a passage to the spot where the king




228                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
was, and set him at liberty; but his strength' difficulty by the aid of a reinforcement which
being exhausted by the heat of the action, his father brought from Dublin.
and by loss of blood, he was unfortunately   This tyrant died in 934, loaded with
slain.  The combat did not end with the ignominy forhiscruelty, and was succeeded
loss of this hero, but was renewed through by his son Aulaf, who died suddenly in 941.
the courage of Fiongall.  Encouraging his The year following, the barbarians plunmen by his own example, they caused dread- dered Down, Clonard, Kildare, and the
ful slaughter.  Seeing, however, that the neighboring country; but in 943 they were
superior numbers of the enemy, animated driven out of the district of Lecale, by the
by the valor of Sitrick, their chief, rendered people of Ulster.  They were again dehis efforts useless, this skilful captain be- feated, with the loss of eight hundred men,
thought of an expedient as heroic as it was by the Ulster troops under the command of
bold. Meeting with Sitrick in the thick of Mortough-Mac-Neill, king of that province:
the fight, he darted on him, and seizing him after which Ireland enjoyed peace for some
in his arms, threw  himself into the sea, time, which was, however, interrupted by
where both perished together. The courage the battle of Roscrea.
of Seagda and Conall was roused to such   The barbarians, whose only object was
a degree, by this example of intrepidity, pillage, knew  that the celebrated fair of
that they seized in like manner on Tor and Roscrea, in the district of Thobuir-Daron,
Magnus, brothers of Sitrick, and shared (Tipperary,) was to be held on the 29th of
with them a watery grave.               June, St. Peter and St. Paul's day, and that
The Danes having lost their commanders, most of the rich merchants in the kingdom
and terrified by-those horrid and cruel ac- repaired thither every year.  Hoping to
tions, began to give way, and part of their find sufficient booty to gratify their avarice,
fleet having abandoned the conflict, victory the Danes, who were quartered in and about
declared in favor of the Irish. The con- Connaught, assembled under the command
sternation of Donnogh's army during this of Oilfinn, their general, and set out on
engagement may easily be conceived-be- their march in order to reach Roscrea on
holding their countrymen engaged with a the day appointed. The news of this march
formidable enemy, while they were unable soon spread, and caused dreadful alarm.
to give them any assistance.            At this period the inhabitants of Ireland
After the naval combat, and the dispersion always went armed to defend themselves
of the enemy's fleet, Keallachan landed in against the barbarians; and those who atDundalk, where he was joyfully received by tended the fair of Roscrea did not fail to
the people.  Having rested his troops, and use the precaution on this occasion, being
given orders for the care and removal of the all provided with weapons; and though
wounded, he marched with his army towards strangers to each other, having come from
Munster, and resumed the government of different parts of the kingdom, still the genthat province.  When he had recruited his eral welfare and the love of country were ties
forces, he pursued the Danes, who remain- sufficiently strong to unite them against the
ed in his territory, five hundred of whom barbarians.  They laid aside their traffic,
he killed at Limerick and its neighborhood, left the fair, and went to meet the enemy;
about the same number at Cashel, and the the engagement was bloody and obstinate,
remainder escaped on board their ships. but the barbarians were put to flight, having
This prince died in peace some time after- left their chief, Oilfinn, and 4000 men dead
wards, and left his crown to Feargna, son on the fieldof battle.  The Danes of Loughof Ailgenan, and grandson of Dungala, who Oirbsion, now Lough-Corrib, in the county
was succeeded, after a reign of two years, of Galway, were afterwards defeated by the
by Mahon, son of Kennede, and brother of people of Connaught. Teige, son of Cahill,
Eichiarium, prince of Thuomond.         king of that province, died about this time.
Reginald, king of the Ostmans of Dublin,  The Danes of Lough-Neagh, in Ulster,
having died in 921, was succeeded by God- were also cut to pieces by Conning-Macfrid, who led an army into Ulster the same Neill, who killed one thousand two hundred
year, and pillaged Armagh. He lost, how- of them. The usual quarters of these barever, a considerable part of his troops in an barians were on the sea-shore, or near some
expedition into Limerick, in 924.  Two lake, that they might be within reach of
years afterwards he sent a body of men their ships, which served them as places of
into Ulster, under the command of his son retreat.
Aulaf, who was twice repulsed by the in-   Notwithstanding the repeated victories
habitants of that province, and escaped with which the Irish gained over the barbarians,




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            229
Scandinavia still continued to send over manded the provincial army, under his
reinforcements, which enabled them to con- brother Mahon, his exploits against the
tinue their depredations.  They again pil- Danes were numerous; but on succeeding
laged Armagh, and the neighborhood of to the government of his province, he beLough-Earne and Inis-Owen, where they came the scourge of these barbarians. He
surprised Mortough-lMae-Neill, who how- began by chastising the assassins of his
ever fortunately made his escape.        brother Mahon, and Daniel O'Faolan, prince
After a reign of twenty-five years, filled of Desie, who had espoused their quarrel.
with troubles, Donchad, the monarch, died a He afterwards attacked the people of Leinsudden death.                            ster, who were supported by a considerable
Congal, son of Maolmithig, descended body of Danes, and forced them to pay him
from Niall the Great by Conall-Creamthine a tribute; and it is asserted that he won
and Hugh III., surnamed Slaine, ascended twenty-five battles against the Danes, the
the throne, A. D. 944.  The mother of this last of which was that of Clontarf, of which
prince was Mary, daughter of Kenneth, son we shall again have occasion to speak.
of Ailpin, king of Scotland.*               Domhnall, or Daniel O'Niall, son of MorThe reign of this monarch was fatal to tough, and grandson of Niall Glundubh the
the Danes. After gaining a glorious victory monarch, succeeded Congal, A. D. 956. His
over them  near Dublin, where 4000 lost reign was very much disturbed by the incurtheir lives, he entered the city triumphantly, sions of the barbarians.* They pillaged the
which he gave up to pillage, and put the church and territory of Kildare, under the
garrison to the sword; but Blacar, brother command of Amlare. They afterwards laid
of Aulaf, recovered the city the year follow- waste Keannanuls and part of Meath, from
ing, and restored it to its former state.t    which they carried away considerable booty.
The Danes of Dublin, eager to revenge   The monarch, who was dissatisfied with
the losses they had sustained, laid waste the conduct of the people of Connaught in
part of Meath, A. D. 946; but they were regard to him, sent an army to lay waste
met near Slane by the monarch, who de- their province, a disaster which Feargal
stroyed a great number of them, those who O'Rourke, who was at the time their king,
escaped the sword having been drowned, was unable to prevent.  He afterwards enA. D. 948.  The year following he killed tered Leinster, in order to punish the people
1600, with Blacar their chief, who was of that province for having revolted, in consucceeded in the command of the barba- junction with their allies, the Danes.  It
rians by Godfrid, son of Sitrick.        was then that he gave battle at Kilmone, to
About this time it was that those barba- Domhnall, son of Colegach, who was assisted
rians were converted to the Christian reli- by a body of Danes under the command of
gion: it did not, however, immediately Aulaf.  This battle was bloody and indecisoften their ferocity; as, some time after- sive.  Among the slain were Ardgall, king
wards, they pillaged the territory of Slane, of Ulster, Donnagan, son of Maolmuirre,
under the command of Godfrid.  They set prince of Orgiallach, and many other perfire to the town and church, in which sev- sons of distinction.  The barbarians, who
eral lives were lost; but on their return were sometimes the allies, and sometimes
towards Dublin, they were stripped of their the enemies of the people of Leinster, surbooty, and cut to pieces at Muine-Breogain, prised Ugaire, son of Tuathal, king of that
bythe natives, commanded by Congal. Their province, and made him  prisoner.  This
loss amounted to 7000 men, including Imar, outrage was revenged by Brien, king of
one of their chiefs. The monarch survived Munster, who put eight hundred Danes to
his exploits but a short time, being killed the sword in the isle of Inis-Catha, and
by the Danes at the battle of Tiguiran in made three of their chiefs prisoners. Ugaire,
Leinster.                                son of Tuathal king of Leinster, who was
In the reign of Congal, Brien, afterwards taken prisoner by the Danes, having been
surnamed Boiroimhe, succeeded his brother ransomed, was killed by these barbarians
Malfon (who had been killed by robbers) on at the battle of Biothlione.
the throne of Munster, A. D. 956. Sanguine   Edgar, king of England, is asserted to
hopes were already entertained of the valor have conquered Ireland in the time of Domhof this prince. Since the time that he com- nall, monarch of the latter island.t  The
ar. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 4, 24. Grat. Luc. story of this conquest is founded on the precap. 9. Propug. Cathol. Verit. lib. 5, cap. 14.  X War. Grat. Luc. Bruodin. et Porter, ibid.
t Porter, Comp. Annal. Eccles. Reg. Hib. sect.  t War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 4, et Propug. Cathol.
4, cap. 3, 4.                            Verit. lib. 5, cap. 14.




230                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
amble of a pretended charter of that prince, Malachi marched with his victorious army
dated Gloucester, A. D. 964, in which he into the territory of Fingal, which belonged
boasts of being emperor and lord of all the to the barbarians, and laid the country waste.
kings of the islands bordering on Britain. He afterwards besieged Dublin, which he
He gives thanks to the Lord for having ex- took after three days, and set two thousand
tended his dominions, and brought under his Irishmen at liberty, who had been prisoners,
jurisdiction all the islands in the ocean, and with Domhnal-Claon, king of Leinster, and
their ferocious Icings, as far as Norway, and Aithir-O'Neill, prince of Ulster.
the greater part of Ireland, with its noble   The Danes were forced by these concity of Dublin, &c.; but this charter, which quests to abandon all the territory they
is not mentioned byEnglish writers, appears possessed, from the river Shannon to the
to have been a part of the flattery of the eastern ocean, and acknowledge themselves
monks, who were powerfully protected by tributary to the monarch.
that prince in opposition to the secular cler-   Having, however, received some reingy.  Besides, Edgar had a particular fond- forcements from  their own country, the
ness f6r navigation, and always kept 3600 Danes, regardless of the treaty they had
ships on sea, divided into three fleets, with entered into with Malachi, recommenced
which he sailed round England every year, their hostilities, pillaged the churches, and
to visit its coasts.*  On his voyage he un- laid waste the province.  But the monarch
doubtedly saw the neighboring coasts, and attacked them with a success equal to his
had perhaps taken possession of them  at courage, and defeated them in two engagesight, as possession is taken of a living in ments with Tomor and Carolus, their chiefs,
sight of the steeple; in which, most prob- at Glunmam. After this, however, he gave
ably, consisted his conquest of Ireland.    himself up to pleasure, and neglected the
After a reign of twenty-four years, Domh- welfare of the nation, while the Danish
nal the monarch died at Armagh, with sen- forces continued to increase.
timents worthy a true Christian.          The name of Malachi had become formidable to the Danes. Malachi I., having
surprised their chief Turgesius, rescued his
country from the tyranny of these barbaCHAPTER XIV.                rians, though he afterwards allowed them to
return and settle in some maritIme towns,
MALACHII II., otherwise Maolseachlin, under the pretext of carrying on trade, an
succeeded his father Domhnal, A. D. 980. act which was highly impolitic. Malachi
According to some historians, he was son II. signalized himself equally against the
of Domhnal, and grandson of Donchad the enemies of his country. He humbled them
monarch.f  Whatever may have been his by repeated victories; but having afterwards
genealogy, he was a valiant and warlike relaxed in his exertions, he lost all the gloprince.S  He began his reign by attacking ry of his exploits, and his crown at the
the Danes, and fought the memorable battle same time.
of Tara, in which they were completely   During the reign of Malachi, Gluniarand,
defeated, with the loss of several thousand son of Aulaf, and chief of the Danes of
men, (according to some authors 5000,) with Dublin, was killed by his servant, and was
all their chiefs; among others, Reginald, succeeded by his brother Sitrick. Godfrid,
son of Aulaf.~  This defeat was so fatal to son of Harald, king of the Hebrides, was
the Danes, that Aulaf, their chief, undertook killed the same year by the Dalriads. Sita pilgrimage to the island of Hy the year rick, son of Aulaf, having been expelled from
following, (he would seem to have been a Dublin by his subjects, was recalled a short
Christian;) where, having performed pen- time afterwards, and sent assistance to Maolance, he died with grief, and was succeeded morha-Mac-Murchuda, to make him king of
in the command of the Danes by his son Leinster, in place of Donat, who had been
Gluniarand.                             taken. in battle and forced to abdicate the
After his victory over the Danes at Tara, throne.  Brien, king of Munster, had declared war the same year against the Danes
* Baker, Chron. p. 11; Historical Map of Eng- of Dublin, and having conquered them at
land, vol. 1, b. 4, pages 329, 330.     the battle of Glenananin, in which their loss
t Keating's History of Ireland.       amounted to 6000 men, he razed their city; War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 4.         to the  rou 
~ Grat. Luc. cap. 9. Propug. Cathol. Verit. lib. to the ground. They, however, rebuilt it
5, cap. 15. Porter, Comp. Ann. Eccles. Reg. Hib. afterwards, and gave hostages to Brien.
sect. 4, cap. 4.                          It had now become necessary to put a stop




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           231
to the progress which the Danes were making he liberally endowed.  Lastly, by his genin the country, encouraged by their alliance erosity he encouraged professors of all the
with the people of Leinster, and the weak- sciences; so that literature, which had been
ness of Malachi's reign.  The princes of in a manner banished from the island by
Munster and Connaught having assembled, the barbarians, began to flourish anew unit was decreed that Malachi should be de- der this monarch.
throned, and the sceptre transferred to Brien,  Brien, having settled thes religious affairs
king of Munster, a prince who was capable of the state, next turned his thoughts towards
of repressing the insolence of the barbarians. the temporal government.  He restored to
Although this decree did not emanate. from the old proprietors the possessions of which
a general assembly of all the provinces, the they had been stripped by the Danes; raised
neutrality observed by those who did not fortresses in every direction, in which he
join in it seemed to give it their sanction, placed garrisons for the public safety; reand Brien supplied the deficiency by a paired the roads; built causeways throughpowerful army of the natives and Danes, out the whole kingdom, and bridges over
with which he marched to Tara and obliged the rivers and deep marshes, which had
Malachi to abdicate.  He however retained been before irnpassable.
the title of king of Meath, which was his   The Irish had not yet adopted the use of
patrimony.  The sceptre of Ireland, which surnames. The people added to the names
had been swayed by kings of the house of of the lords, people of rank, and even to
Heremon, and particularly by the descend- those of their kings, arbitrary distinctions,
ants of Niall the Great, since the reign of derived  from  their virtues, vices, color,
that monarch in the fourth century, was complexion, or any military exploit; which
transferred in the beginning of the eleventh custom prevailed also in other countries.
to the house of Heber.                    To prevent the confusion which these
Brien, surnamed Boiroimhe, son of Ken- popular names might create in families, and
nede, and grandson of Lorcan, of the race in order that their genealogies should be
of Ieber-Fionn, having received the abdi- more carefully preserved, it was decreed by
cation of Malachi at Athlone, was declared this wise monarch that thenceforward all
monarch of the whole island, A. D. 1002. He the branches of the Milesian race should
was surnamed Boiroimhe from a tribute he have particular surnames. The custom was
had exacted from the people of Leinster. then introduced of families taking the name
Having received the fealty and homage of of some illustrious man among their ancesCahall O'Conchovair, (O'Connor,) king of tors, to which was prefixed the article 0,
Connauaght, and the other princes of that or Mac, to indicate the honor of their deprovince, he entered Ulster with an army of scent from him.  Thus it is that the O'Neills
20,000 men, consisting of the tribe of the express their descent from Niall the Great,
Dal-Caiss, the Leinster men, and the Danes monarch of the island in the fourth century;
whom he had subjugated.  He was honor- the O'Briens, from Brien Boiroimhe; the
ably received at Armagh by Malmury, or Mac-Cartys, from Carthach, &c. In the
Marian, archbishop of that see, on whom Irish language, the article o is equivalent to
he bestowed a considerable sum of money the French article de, and not to le, as has
to repair the church.  During his stay at been asserted by ill-informed writers; and
Armagh, he was visited by Hugh O'Neill, Mac signifies the son of some one.
Iking of Ulster, and the other princes of  It would appear that the Irish are now
that province, who acknowledged him as ashamed of these additions, which at once
monarch.                                characterize their noble extraction and the
Having, settled the affairs of Ulster, Brien antiquity of their names.  We see some
repaired to Tara, and, like his predecessors, O'Neills, O'Briens, O'Connors, Mac-Cartys,
convened an assembly of the bishops and Magennises,andmany others, suppress them,
nobles, in which he was solemnly crowned. which can only arise from ignorance, littleHe afterwards enacted several laws respect- ness of mind, or a foolish desire of conforming the government and public welfare, ing to English taste, as they must be introwhich were enforced during his reign with duced in the Irish pronunciation of these
rigor, and all traitors severely punished. nanmes, and as in all countries the gentleman
He made the Danes restore all the church can be distinguished from the plebeian by
property they had usurped, and rebuild the some peculiarity in his name. They may be
churches and monasteries they had destroy- accused of the same indifference withrespect
ed; re-established the universities and pub- to their language, which bespeaks an ancient
lie schools, and founded new ones, which people, and of which they affect to be igno



232                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
rant, to adopt a jargon introduced among passive spectator, hoping for the defeat of
them by foreigners.                    Brien, who had deprived him of his crown
The assembly of Tara having terminated, some time before..
Brien left Meath and repaired to Kean-   This battle, which took place on Good
Coradh, near Killaloe, on the banks of the Friday, 23d April, 1014, though desperate
Shannon, where he generally held his court, and sanguinary, was glorious to the monarch,
I and there enjoyed for some time the sweets who gained a complete victory over the
of peace. He was distinguished as well for enemy. The loss, however, was considerthe greatness of his mind as for his military able on both sides. According to some wriexploits: " Princeps ob animi virtutes cele- ters, that of the enemy amounted to 11,000
berrimus." The great concourse of princes men killed upon the spot; and according to
and nobles of the kingdom who attended his others, 13,000, including Moelmordha, king
court, added much to its brilliancy. Peace of Leinster, with the two sons of the king
was at length interrupted by. Maolmorha- of Denmark, and several chiefs of the army.
Mac-Murchad, king of Leinster, who visited The loss of the royal army amounted to
the court of Brien for the purpose of seeing 7,000. The monarch was killed by a retreathis sister, the queen; but having received ing band of Danes, commanded by Bruadar,
an insult from Morrough, eldest son of the chief of the Danish fleet: "Ipso parasceve
monarch, he departed suddenly for his prov- Paschae feria," says Marianus Scotus, "nono
ince, without taking leave of any one, de- kalendas Maii, manibus et mente in Deum
termined to revenge the affront he had intentus, necatur."  These, however, were
received; and in order to carry his resolution pursued by a detachment and put to the
into effect,he formed an alliance with Sitrick, sword.  Morrough O'Brien, the general,
king of the Danes of Dublin. They both Turlough his son, and many persons of
then sent an express to the king ofDenmark, distinction, likewise fell victims to their love
to request his succor against the monarch. of country. The bodies of the monarch
The king, wishing to profit by the rupture, and of his son Morrough, or Murchard, were
and hoping to recover the possessions of his deposited in the town of Swords, six miles
predecessors in the island, sent 12,000 men, from Dublin, from whence they were reheaded byhis sons Charles Crot and Andrew, moved to Armagh by order of Melmury,
who landed in Dublin, with a further force archbishop of that see, and interred in the
of Norwegians from the Hebrides, to the metropolitan church.  Some, however, say
number of 4000. These auxiliaries,together that they were buried at Kilmainham, near
with the Leinster troops and the Danes of Dublin, with the bodies of Thadeus O'Kelly
Dublin, formed a considerable army.    and other lords; while others affirm that
The monarch, alarmed atthese movements, they were brought to Cashel.
determined to prepare for the consequences.  After this celebrated battle of Clontarf,
He assembled all the Munster troops, and Sitrick, king of the Danes of Dublin, having
his allies, the king of Connaught, Malachi, taken refuge, with the remains of his army,
prince of Meath, and their followers, who in that city, Donnough, or Denis O'Brien,
composed an army of about 30,000 men, the took the command of the royal forces, and
chief command of whom he gave to his son having expressed his gratitude to the ConMorrough. This, however, did not prevent naught troops, dismissed them, and marched
him from assisting in person, though 88 years with those of his own province towards
of age. Every thing being ready for the Cashel. A dispute, however, which arose
campaign, the army began their march upon their march between the two tribes
towards Dublin, where the enemy awaited of which his forces were composed, proved
them in the plain of " Cluon-Tarbh," (Clon- nearly fatal to him and his army. The intarf,) two miles from the city. The centre habitants of southern Munster being desirous
of the army was headed by the monarch and of enforcing the will of Oilioll-Olum, who
Thadeus O'Kelly, prince of Connaught; the had decreed that the crown of the province
right by Morrough, and the left by Malachi, should belong alternately to the two branchking of Meath.*  The orders being given, es formed by the descendants of his two
the battle commenced at eight o'clock in the sons, proposed that Donnough should resign
morning, and did not terminate till five in the command, and yield the sceptre of the
the afternoon. Malachi, who commanded province to their chief, whose turn it was to
the left wing, retired with his troops in the reign. Donnough firmly replied that his
beginning of the action, and remained a father and uncle had already made them
feel the extent of their power, and that he
* Ogyg. part 3, cap. 93.     was not inclined to renounce a right which he




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           233
held from his father. He therefore gave himself of so formidable an enemy, sent
orders to the tribe of Dalcaiss, who were his secret orders to every town in his kingdom,
subjects as hereditary king of Thuomond, to to massacre all the Danes on an appointed
prepare to defend his cause; and in order day; the 13th of November, the festival of
to be more unincumbered, he resolved to St. Bricius, in the year 1002. Those orders
remove the wounded, with a detachment to were everywhere executed with such rigor
preserve them from injury.  They however that the Danes at Oxford, having taken
requested to be placed with their companions refuge in the church of St. Frideswide, as a
in line of battle, with sabres in their hands, sanctuary, the people set fire to it, regardless
and stakes to support them, in order to share of the sanctity of the place, and all that were
the glory with them, and shed the last drop within perished in the flames.
of their blood in the service of their prince.  The news of this massacre having reached
The enemy were so intimidated by this Denmark, Sweyne, king of that country,
determination, that they renounced their stimulated by a desire of revenge, and thirstclaims; and Donnough having arrived at infg for plunder, set sail with a powerful
Cashel, with the Dalcaiss, was declared fleet for England, where he committed dreadking of Munster.                        ful devastations. Ethelred assembled a powMalachi II., who had been dethroned erful army, under the command of Earl
twelve years before by Brien Boiroimhe, Edrick, to check the progress of the barresumed the government of the whole island barians; but was betrayed by the earl,
on the death of this prince, A. D. 1014, and though his son-in-law and favorite, and crereigned nine years afterwards as monarch. ated by him duke of Mercia.
Ireland was not the only countryin Europe   The year following the Danes besieged
in which the Normans had rendered them- Canterbury, where they killed Alphegus, the
selves formidable at this time. After laying archbishop, and nine hundred monks. They
waste France, they massacred the clergy, spared but a tenth part of the people, and
both secular and regular, pillaged and burned put the remainder to the sword; so that,
their churches and monasteries, and prac- according to the calculation made of this
tised every species of cruelty for the space of massacre, there perished 43,200 persons.
about seventy years, when they finally made   Sweyne again returned with a consideraa settlement in the country.*  Charles the ble reinforcement, and reduced the north of
Simple, who saw that, far from being able England to subjection. He then marched
to expel, he was powerless even to resist towards London, and made himself master
them, resolved, by the advice of his nobles, of the rest of the kingdom; so that the unto enter into a treaty with them. By this fortunate Ethelred, having first sent his queen
treaty, which was concluded at St. Clair, Emma to her brother the duke of Normanon the river Epte, the king ceded to Rollo dy, with his sons Edward and Alfred, soon
(who, from a private individual in Denmark, afterwards followed them himself, and left
became the chief of those robbers, and was Sweyne absolute master of England.
named Robert at his baptism) the whole of  It might be expected that the death of
that district since called Normandy, as a the tyrant, which happened soon afterwards,
tenure from the crown, and Brittany as an would put an end to the usurpation.  On
arriere-fief, and gave him his daughter Gisle the first intelligence of it Ethelred returned
in marriage.t                          to his kingdom; but he found Canute, son
In England, the Danes continued their of the deceased, already in possession of
devastations from the beginning of the ninth part of his states; so that he was under the
to the end of the tenth century, and became necessity of fighting, not only against theso formidable, that while the owner la- Danes, but also against his own subjects,
bored in his field, they held command of his who had acknowledged the usurper.  His
house, occupying themselves only in de- efforts were however crowned with success,
bauching his wife or daughters, and con- and Canute was obliged to withdraw to Densumning the fruits of his labor. They were mark. He had not renounced his claims,
there called, more through fear than from notwithstanding, and returned some time
respect, Lord-Danes.t                   afterwards with fresh forces, and gained a
Ethelred, who was at this period king of complete victory over the English.
England, finding no other expedient to rid  In the mean time the illness and subsequent
death of king Ethelred, enabled Canute to
* Fleury, Hist. Eccles. lib. 54.      dispute the sovereignty with Edmund, surt Baker, Chron. Life of William the Conqueror, namedIronside,hissonandsucessor, when,
page 20.
t Baker, Chron. England, page 13, et seq.    after several battles, the two princes agreed
30




234                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
to decide the quarrel by single combat, in churches which had been destroyed by the
presence of both armies. Canute having barbarians, and having granted pensions for
been wounded, he represented to his rival the support of three hundred poor orphans,
the folly of exposing their lives for an empty in various towns of the kingdom, he died at
title, and that it would be better to share an advanced age, the 2d of Sept. A. D. 1022.
the kingdom between them, and live together  We have now come to the period at which
like brothers.  Edmund consented to the thedeclineoftheIrishmonarchycommenced.
proposal, but was assassinated some time The historians of the country speak of no
afterwards, whereby Canute became sole supreme or absolute monarch of the whole
king of England, and was solemnly crowned island, after Malachi II.  The title was asat London, by Elstane, archbishop of Can- sumed occasionally by some of the provincial
terbury, after which he married Emma, kings, who were acknowledged as such by
widow of king Ethelred, by whom he had their vassals only, and supported by some of
a son, called Hardicanute.             the neighboring princes, without the general
On the death of Canute he was succeed- suffrages of the states. Their authority was
ed by his eldest son Harold, and the latter wavering and much more restricted than that
by Hardicanute; so that the sceptre of Eng- of their predecessors. They were called, in
land was swayed successively by three Da- the language of the country, Righe-Gofranish kings, without opposition, and was only Sabirach, which signifies "'kings with opporestored to the English race for want of sition." At one time the Hy-Nialls claimed
heirs in the house of Denmark.          the supreme government of the island, in
The Irish, we have seen, opposed the virtue of having possessed it for many ages;
efforts of the Normans for more than two at others, the O'Briens aspired to it, as heirs
hundred years, without yielding a single of Brien Boiroimhe. The Hy-Brunes of Conprovince to them, or acknowledging one of naught laid claim to it also, and the kings of
their tyrants as king.  At length they com- Leinster acted a part which did them no
pletely routed them at the celebrated battle honor. They frequently formed alliances
of Clontarf; but like a hydra, it was difficult with the Danes, contrary to the general welto annihilate them, so inexhaustible were fare of the country, and the nation at length
their resources.                        became a prey to the fury of the English,
In the reign of Malachi II., the Danes of by means of that unhappy race. Although
Dublin, and those who escaped the battle of the ancient constitution of the state had
Clontarf, still endeavoring to continue their been weakened and enervated by these didepredations, the monarch sent for O'Neill, visions, it nevertheless existed for a century
prince of Ulster, with his troops, and and a half in this sort of anarchy.
marched direct to Dublin; and having de-   Donnougli, otherwise Donat, or Denis,
feated a considerable detachment of Danes son of the celebrated Brien-Boiroimhe, and
at Fodvay, he took the city and gave it up king of Munster, was obeyed as monarch by
to plunder.  He subsequently gained a corn- a considerable part of the island, but was
plete victory over them at Athnilacham. He unable to reduce the rest to obedience.* This
also banished Donnough-Mac-Giolla Pha- prince was very powerful, and from his great
druig (Fitzpatrick) for having assassinated prudence, worthy of occupying the throne.
Donagan, king of Leinster, with the lords He forced the people of Meath, Leinster,
of his suite, in the castle of Teige O'Ryan, Ossory, and Connaught, to give him hosprince of Ondrona.  Some time afterwards, tages; punished the inhabitants of ConBran, son of Maolmordha, king of Leinster, naught for the sacrilege they had committed
was taken prisoner by Sitrick, chief of the by pillaging the church of Clonfert, and
Danes of Dublin, who caused his eyes to be enacted wise laws against robbery and other
put out; which outrage was revenged by abuses which had crept in amongthe people.
Ugaire, son of Danling, who succeeded He prohibited travelling, fairs, and hunting
Bran, at the battle of Delgne, in which on Sundays, and to give more weight to his
6000 Danes were killed upon the spot. laws,he caused them tobe confirmedin an asAbout this time, Sitrickl chief of the Danes sembly of the bishops and nobles of his proof Waterford, was killed by the people of Os- vince which was convened for that purpose.
sory, and Reginald O'Hivar succeeded him.   Donnough's second queen was Driella,
Malachi governed his kingdom with great daughter of the celebrated earl Godwin, of
wisdom, and established several fine institu- England, who, with his brother Harold took
tions. In the neighborhood of Dublin he
built a celebrated monastery, dedicated to * Keat. Hist, of Irl. pt. 2; Grat. buc. c, 9, et
the blessed Virgin; he repaired several Bruod. Prop. Cath. Verit. lib. 5, c. 16.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            235
refuge in Ireland; the latter having been reproved by Usher, who accuses him of inbanished by king Edward the Confessor, consistency, since in another place he calls
whom he afterwards succeeded on the throne it " pagus," which signifies a village.*
of England.* By this princess the monarch   The absence of records or registers more
had a son, called Donald.  Harold being ancient than the eleventh century, is a negadesirous of returning to his own country, tive argument, and cannot be considered as
Donnough granted him a body of troops as -a proof.  It is very probable that they were
an escort, who, entering the Severn with burned or suppressed by the pagan Danes,
thirty vessels, in conjunction with Griffith, who were frequently masters of the city,
king of South Wales, laid waste the country, and that their descendants who became
which induced the' nobles, who dreaded a Christians, and were tolerated for commercivil war, to effect a reconciliation between cial reasons, had begun their records with
him and his prince.t                     the first of their own countrymen who were
The conversion of the Danes, or Normans, appointed bishops of Dublin, which took
of which we have already spoken, having place in the eleventh century.
been so sudden, and policy having had some   Ware, in his treatise on prelates, agrees
share in it, it could not, at first, have been that historians mention Wiro, Rumold, Severy solid; but they now began to give dulius, and one Cormac, who had filled the
proofs of a stronger faith.              see of Dublin before Donat.t  On this head,
Sitrick, chief of the Normans of Dublin, Colgan quotes an English inartyrology, Mehaving undertaken a pilgrimage to Rome, nardus, Molanus, Meyerus, Sanderus, Ferdied on his journey, A. D. 1035, and left the rarius, the annals of the four masters, and
government of Dublin to his son Aulave, the martyrology of Taulaught, which he calls
who, like his father, being desirous of going Tamlactense, from an ancient monastery of
to Rome, was assassinated in England, A. D. that name three miles from Dublin, where
1035. He was succeeded by his son Sitrick. it was written by St. iEngus, or ZEngussius,
These foreigners left monuments of their of the noble race of the Dal-Arads of Ulpiety in the foundations they made. Bur- ster, and by Saint Moebruan, in the eighth
chard, a Norwegian lord, hadalready founded century.1
the priory of St. Stephen, at Leighlin, in the' Although it may be reasonably supposed
district of Carlow.                      that several prelates had governed  this
The priory of the Holy Trinity, since church from the time of St. Patrick to that
called Christ's Church, in Dublin, was found- of the Danes, a space of about four hundred
ed in 1038, for secular canons, by Sitrick, years, still, as most of them are unknown to
chief of the Danes of Dublin.4  This us, we shall only speak of those mentioned
priory was afterwards made a cathedral by the above writers.
church.                                     According to Colgan, Livinus was bishop
Dublin, the capital of Ireland, is also the of Dublin, and lie also says that he suffered
metropolitan see of Leinster. By following martyrdom  in 633.~  Meyerus calls him
the memoirs of the Danes, and styling Donat, archbishop of Scotia, that is, of Ireland, and
or Dunarc, who flourished in the eleventh says that he was son of Theagnio and Agalcentury, the first bishop of this see, Ware mia, people of rank in that country;II that
deducts considerably from its antiquity.  It having preached the gospel and converted
is certainly improbable that St. Patrick, who a considerable number of persons, -he was
had appointed bishops and priests to the assassinated on the 12th of'November, 63-3,
other churches which he founded in the at Hesca, in the low countries, by two broisland, had left without a pastor the church thers, called Walbert and Meinzo, and that
of Dublin, at the time a rich and commer- his life had been written by Boniface, archcial city, where he had experienced so much bishop of Mentz.s  Masseus in his chronicle,
gratitude from  the inhabitants, who had and Molanus in the lives of the saints of
agreed to pay to him and his successors in
the see of Armagh, three ounces of gold
annually.  Jocelin, who, in the life of St.  X " He seems to forget what he had before stated,
Patrick, calls Dublin a noble city, " In that it was not a village, but the capital of the kingdom, and a very noble city." —Usher, c. 17, p.
urbem nobilem qum  vocatur Dublinia,"~ is 681.
t Trias Thaum. note 69, in 6, Vit. St. Pat.
X Baker, Chron. of Engl. Life of William the  t Act. Sanct. Hib. ad 11 Mart. Vit. S. 2Engus,
Conqueror, page 21.                      et 29, Vit. S. Fularth.
t Baker, Ibid. Reign of Edward, page 18.  ~ Trias Thaum. note 69, in 6, Vit. S. Patr.
t War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 26.          1i Meyerus in Annal. Flandrin.
~ Vit. S. Patr. cap. 71.                 ~ Sander. de Script. Flandriam.




236                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Flanders, give nearly the same account; published by Surius, for the eighth of July.
Bale also makes mention of his writings. Dempster mentions having seen a treatise
His relics were removed to Ghent in 1007, composed by Disibod, entitled " De Monaand deposited in the church of St. Bavo.  chorum profectu in solitudine agentium liber
St. WViro, who was born in Ireland, of 1."X
distinguished parents,* from whom he re-   Molanus makes mention of Gualafar, as
ceived an education suited to his birth, made bishop of Dublin, without entering into any
so rapid a progress in virtue and the sciences, detail of his life, except that he baptized his
that he was nominated bishop, and being successor Rumold.
obliged by the people to accept that charge,  The life of St. Rumold, bishop of Dublin,
he went to Rome to receive his consecration and afterwards of Malines, in Brabant, was
from the pope.  On his return he governed written by Theodorick, abbot of St. Tron,
his diocese for some time in a most edifying and published by Surius, for the 1st of July.
manner, and acquired a high reputation of The other writers who speak of him are
sanctity; but being desirous of devoting his Molanus, several martyrologists, and the
life to God in solitude, he resigned his legends of some breviaries.
bishopric and went to France, where he was   According to these authors, Rumold was
honorably received by Pepin, duke of the son and heir of David, an Irish prince. He
French, who assigned him a place adapted was baptized by Gualafar, bishop of Dublin,
for retirement and contemplation, called who also undertook his education. The
Mons-Petri, thought by Molanus to be the desire of perfection made him give up the
same as Ruremond.t  Our saint caused an succession to his father, and having been
oratory to be built in it, dedicated to the nominated to the bishopric of Dublin, he
blessed Virgin, which was called the monas- some time afterwards set out for Rome,
tery of St. Peter, and having lived to an ad- preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ everyvanced age, he died on the eighth of May, where as he passed. On his arrival at Rome,
650, in his oratory, where he was interred. he went to the holy father, who received'him
Some writers place St. Desibod among. kindly, and did justice to his merit. After
the bishops of Dublin.t  He was born in a short stay in that city, he took leave of his
Ireland, of a noble family, and celebrated holiness, and intending to return through
for his talent and profound erudition.  At France, went to Malines, where he was
the age of thirty years he was ordained honorably received by count Ado and the
priest, and nominated bishop some time countess his wife, who prevailed on him to
afterwards.  The insolence of the people settle in that district, for which purpose they
having disgusted him with his bishopric, granted to him a spot called Ulmus, from
which he had held for ten years, he resigned its being covered with elm trees, to found a
it in 675.  He afterwards left his native monastery.  Some time afterwards Malines
country, accompanied by some pious men, being made a bishopric, he was nominated
among others by Gisualdus, Clement, and the first bishop. He was at length assassiSallust; and having preached the gospel for nated by two wretches, who attacked him,
the space of seven years in different parts the one with the design of robbing him,
of Germany, he settled, with the consent of thinking he had money, and the other in
the proprietors, on a lofty mountain covered revenge for a reprimand he had received
with wood, where he led a solitary life. from the holy prelate, for the shameful life
Having acquired the reputation of great he led. The better to conceal their crime,
sanctity, he was joined by several monks they threw his body into a river, whence it
of the order of St. Benedict, and founded was taken by count Ado, and honorably ina monastery on this mountain, which was terred in the church of St. Stephen.  A
called after him, M/ont-Disibod, now Disen- splendid church was afterwards built in
berg, in the lower Palatinate.  He led a honor of him, bearing his name, which is
penitential and mortified life in this retreat now the metropolitan church of the Low
for the space of thirty-seven years, and countries, and the relics of the saint were
died there on the 8th of July, aged 81 years, deposited there in a beautiful silver shrine.
but the year of his death is not known. Alexander IV. transferred the festival of St.
His life was written by Hildigardis, a nun of Rumold to the 1st of July, on account of
Disenberg, under the abbess Juttha, and thatof St. Johnoccurring on the 24thof June,
the day he suffered martyrdom, which festi* Surius ad 8 Maii.              val is annually celebrated in the diocese of
t Indiculus Sanct. Belgii sub Wirone.
t Martyrol. Ang. ad 8 Julii.          * Hist. Eccles. Scot. lib. 4, No. 373.




rCHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           237 
Malines, as it had been in Dublin before returning from Ulster.*  This abbey, which
the Reformation.                         Ware calls only a priory, was founded for
According to Colgan, following the mar- regular canons of the order of St. Augustin,
tyrologies of Taulaught, Marianus Gorman, by Sitrick-Mac-Murchard, a Danish lord,
and Donnegal, Sedulius (in the Scotic lan- and its privileges transferred, in 1220, to
guage Siedhuil) was bishop of Dublin in the Holme-Patrick, by Henry Loundres, then
eighth century.*  The first of these authors archbishop of Dublin.
mentions several of the name of Sedulius,   The disagreement among antiquarians reillustrious both for their piety and learning; specting this period, renders the succession
namely, Caelius-Sedulius, in the fifth cen- of the monarchs of Ireland obscure and
tury, so celebrated in antiquity for his virtue confused.  Keating asserts that Donnough
and profound erudition, and who was ranked reigned fifty years; others say only twelve.
among the Latin fathers; Sedulius-Scotus, Ware does not mention him in his catalogue
a bishop who assisted at the council held at of monarchs. He speaks of an interregnum
Rome in 721, under Gregory II.; Sedulius, of twenty years after the death of Malachi,
abbot of Linnduachuil, in Ulster, in the during which time the affairs of government
eighth century; Sedulius, bishop of Dublin, were transacted under the regency of Cuan
mentioned above; Sedulius, abbot of Kinn- O'Leochain, a learned antiquary, and CorLocha; Sedulius, abbot and bishop of Ros- cran, a clerk, and head of the anchorites of
common in the beginning of the ninth cen- Ireland, who died in the odor of sanctity at
tury; Sedulius, son of Feradach, abbot of Lismore, A. D. 1042.
Kildare; Sedulius, called of the desert of   Ware affirms that after this interregnum,
Kieran, who died in 855. In the time of Derruod, or Dermitius, son of Moelnamo,
Colgan, there were several families of the king of,, Leinster, assumed the supreme
name of Siedhuil, (Shiel, perhaps,) who government of Ireland.  He was of the
applied themselves to the study of natural race of Cahire-More, and descended in the
science and of medicine, apparently having seventeenth degree from Eana-Kinseallach.
the genius of the great Sedulius.        He was son-in-law of Donnough-O'Brien,
All that is known of Sedulius, bishop of having married his daughter the princess
Dublin, is, that he was son of Luaith; that Dervorgal.t  Some say that he was son of
from his virtues he was appointed bishop that princess, and consequently grandson of
of Dublin; and that after his death, which Donnough; but however this be, he disaptook place on the eve of the ides of Febru- proved highly of Donnough's conduct toary, 785, from his high reputation of sane- wards his brother Thadeus. He took Tourtity and virtue, he was placed among the lough, or Terdelach, son of the latter, under
number of the saints.                    his protection, considering him  as the- leCormac, another bishop of Dublin, is gitimate heir to the crown of Munster, and
known only by name.                      constituted himself his guardian.  He carDonnough O'Brien's reign was rather ried on a successful war against the people
peaceful. The princes of the other provinces of Munster, in order to secure Turlough's
were satisfied with governing their own sub- right to the crown of that province; plunjects, without disputing with him the su- dered the city of Waterford in 1037; burned
preme authority; but being suspected of hav- Glannusen in 1042, having taken four huning been accessary to the death of Thadeus, dred prisoners, and killed one hundred men
his eldest brother, he was dethroned by the on the spot.  He laid waste also the district
nobles of the kingdom, and reduced to the of Desie in 1048, from whence he carried
rank of a private individual; which induced off considerable booty, and some prisoners.
him to undertake a pilgrimage to Rome, ac- He plundered Limerick and Inis-Catha in
cording to the habit of those ancient times, 1058, and gave battle to Donnough near
where he spent the remainder of his life in Mount-Crot, in which the whole army of the
St. Stephen's monastery, and died at the latter was defeated. He afterwards received
age of 88 years, having presented the crown hostages in 1063, from the princes and lords
of Ireland to the pope.                  of Munster, and gave them up to the young
About this time was founded the abbey prince under his protection, who reigned
of Inis-Phadruig, that is St. Patrick's island, over Munster and a great part of Ireland,
on the coast of the territory of Dublin, after Donnough's abdication.
where it is said Saint Patrick landed on
* War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 26. Allemd. Hist.
Monast. d'Irlande, p. 4.
* Act. Sanet. Hib. Vit. S. Sedul. ad 12 Feb. p.  t War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 4. Grat. Luc. c. 9.
315.                                     Ogyg. part 3, c. 94.




238                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Murchad, son of Donnough O'Brieir, be-  William the Bastard, duke of Normandy,
held with regret the sceptre in the hands since surnamed the Conqueror, founded his
of his cousin Terdelach, and endeavored to claims to the crown of England on a promise
enforce his claims; for which purpose he which Edward the Confessor (whose mother,
stirred up a revolt of that prince's subjects Emma, was sister to the duke of Normandy)
against him. It was, however, soon quelled had given him in his yotith, to make him his
by the appearance of Dermod, who marched heir; and on an oath which Harold had
thither with an army in 1065, obliged his taken to aid him in his enterprise upon Engsubjects to return to their allegiance, and land after Edward's death; but finding that
banished Murchad from the province; so he had been forgotten by the one, and was
that the king of Leinster was at once both betrayed by the other, he sent an ambassaarbitrator of the crown of Munster, and pro- dor to remind Harold of his oath, and demand
tector of the persecuted prince. He was that crown to which he had a right, in virthe most powerfil prince in Ireland at the tue of Edward's promise. Harold replied,
time,and obliged Aid,or Hugh O'Conchobhar, that the barons and nobles, with one accord,
(O'Connor,) king of Connaught, to do him had adjudged the crown to him, and that he
homage. He placed Meathl under contribu- would not surrender it without their concurtion, and carried away some prisoners; laid rence. The duke of Normandy, little satiswaste the territory of Fingal and Dublin, as fled with this answer, considered his chance
far as Abhin, (Allin,) and defeated the Danes of obtaining justice by force of arms. Cirnear the city, by which victory he became cumstances favored this undertaking: an
their king.  But Providence, which sets insurrection which had been raised in the
bounds to all human greatness, permitted north of England by Toustayne, the king's
him to be killed at the battle of Adhbha, the brother, abetted by Harold-Harfager, king
7th of the ides of February, 1072, by Con- of Norway, obliged Harold to leave the
ochor O'Moclachlin, king of Meath. Cara- southern part of his kingdom unguarded, and
docus-Lhancarvanenis says he was the best go to quell the rebellion in the north, where
and most worthy prince that ever reigned in he, however, gained a complete victory over
Ireland: " Dermitium dignissimum et opti- the enemy at Stamford; his brother TousI mum principem  qui unquam in Hibernia tayne, who had headed the rebels, with the
regnavit;" of which his conduct towards king of Norway, being among the slain.
Terdelach O'Brien is a proof.            The duke of Normandy did not lose sight
His proximity of blood and relationship of his object. By means of his wife, who
seemed to authorize Murchad to claim his was daughter of Baldwin, count of Flanders,
protection, but he considered the justice of then guardian of Philip I., he obtained sucTerdelach's cause a much more powerful cor from France.*  The counts of Poitou,
incentive.                             Anjou, Maine, and Boulogne, also furnished
The conquest of England by William the him with troops. In order to strengthen
Conqueror, duke of Normandy, happened his cause by the apostolical authority, Pope
about this time, that is, in 1066. England Alexander II. sent him a consecrated banner
had been governed by Saxon princes from and a golden ring. Every thing being prethe end. of the fifth to the beginning of the pared, and his Norman subjects, who had
eleventh century, when the Danes made at first expressed a reluctance in the underthemselves masters of the country, after taking, having taken up arms, William emwhich it was ruled by three Danish kings barked with his army at Saint Valery, about
in succession, namely, Canute, Harold, and the end of September, on board a fleet of 300
Hardicanute; but the latter dying without sail, and landed in a short time at Pevensey,
issue, the crown returned to the Saxon line, in Sussex, while Harold was still occupied
in person of Edward, surnamed the Confes- in the north.
sor.*  Edward died before he could place   Having landed his army, William gave
Edgar-Atheling on the throne, who was orders to his fleet to return to Normandy,
grandson of his brother, Edmund. Ironside, in order that his troops should have no hope
and legitimate heir to the crown.  Harold, but in their valor: " ant vincendum aut morison of the celebrated Earl Godwin, seized endurm."  Camden says that he caused it
this opportunity, and ingratiated himself so to be burned. After some days he advanced
Imuch into the favor of the people, that he along the coast as far as Hastings, where
was proclaimed' king, in opposition to the he intrenched himself, waiting the approach
legitimate heir, whom he amused with the of the enemy.
iempty title of Earl of Oxford.
empty title of Earl of Oxford.           * Du Verdier, Abridgment of the History of
* Baker's Chron. Engl. page 15, et seq.    England.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~nlad




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             239
Harold, surprised by the intelligence of William. Ile pretended to give way, which,
the Norman invasion, returned to London, as he expected, drawing the English from
where he made a short stay to recruit his their ranks, who pursued him in disorder
army, which had suffered considerable losses into a defile, he made a dreadful slaughter
at the battle of Stamford; after which he of them.  Harold having rallied his flying
set out on his march towards Sussex, and troops, was slain in making a last effort,
encamped seven miles from Hastings, where together with his brothers; and the rest of
their army was posted.  rhe preparations the army saved themselves by flight.  By
which the duke of Normandy saw the king this victory the duke of Normandy became
of England making, and which plainly indi- master of all England; the conquest being
cated his desire of coming to a battle, hum- so rapid that he might have said, with Caesar,
bled his pride, and made -him uneasy as to " Veni, vidi, vici."  He lost 6000 men in the
the blood about to be shed in a cause which action; the English 60,000.  After resting
he himself, perhaps, did not consider a very and refreshing his troops, William marched
just one; as well as for the uncertainty of a towards London, and received the submisbattle in an enemy's country, the loss of sion of the bishops and the lords of England.
which would be irretrievable.  Before the He reigned as a tyrant, granting to those
action commenced, he sent a monk to Harold who abetted him in his usurpation, lands and
with proposals, leaving him the choice either lordships, without any other right save the
of resigning the crown to him, as his claims problematical one of conquest, and afterwere the best founded, or holding it in fealty wards created them lords, by which new
from the dukes of Normandy, if he - were un- title they ranked above the old nobility.
willing to give it up; lastly, if he chose, to   Terdelach O'Brien, king of Munster, and
decide the matter by single combat, or refer of the greater part of Ireland, was son of
it to the decision of the pope.  Harold re- Thadeus, and grandson of Brien-Boiroimnhe.
fused to accede to any of the proposals, and He proved himself worthy of his illustrious
said he would leave it to the God of armies ancestors.  He enacted wise laws, and govto decide the next day.  The night previous erned his subjects with justice,* to which
to the battle was spent in a very different Lanfrancus, archbishop of Canterbury, bears
manner by both armies.  As the day follow- testimony in his letter to this prince, wherein
ing was the king of England's birthday, his he styles him the friend of peace and justroops passed the night in feasting; while tice,t and alleges that it was an instance of
those of the duke of Normandy spent it in God's mercy towards Ireland, to have given
prayer. The day after, which was Saturday, her such a prince for a king.t
14t1h October, the two armies engaged at   William  II., surnamed Rufus, king of
day-break, and the battle, which was par- England, obtained leave from Terdelach to
ticularly obstinate, lasted until night.  cut wood in the forests of Ireland for the
It may be here observed, that circum- palace of Westminster, which he was then
stances rather than the valor of the troops, building.
decide the fate of battles, and that the van-   In the latter part of his life, the king of
quished often deserve laurels as well as the Ireland was confined to his bed by lingering
victors.  These circumstances sometimes illness, the pain of which he supported with
consist of inequality of numbers; sometimes truly Christian patience till his death, which
in the choice of ground, or in discipline and took place on the eve of the ides of July, at
superiority of arms; and generally in the Keancora, in the seventy-seventh year of his
skill of the commander.  The number and age,'and fourteenth of his reign.
valor of the troops were nearly equal at the   Morthoug, or Moriertach O'Brien, sucbattle of Hastings, and Harold did not yield ceeded his father Terdelach, A. D. 1089.
in bravery to William.  The Normans hav- This prince's mother, according to Keating,
ing discharged their. arrows on the English,
who were unacquainted with the use of them,  * Keat. Hist. of Irel. War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 4.
galled and surprised them a little; but soon Grat. Luc. c. 9.
afterwards recovering from this first panic, c  Ogyg. part 3, c. 94. Bruodin. Propug. lib. 5,
they rallied, and attacked the Normans with c  1. God displays no greater mercy on earth, than
so much impetuosity, that they made them when he advances the lovers of peace and justice to
give ground, without, however, putting them the government of souls or bodies. The careful
to flight. The battle lasted a long time with investigator readily discovers what has been conequal success, both sides performing prodi- ferred on the people of Ireland, when the Almighty
hath given to your excellency the right of royal
gies of valor; but the fortune of the day power over that land." —Usher's Syllogisms, epist.
was'at length determined by a stratagem of 27.




240                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
(the only writer, I believe, who has men- Milerus, or Maelmurius O'Dunan, archbishop
tioned her,) was Kealrach, daughter of Vi- of Munster; Kellach-Mac-Hugue, vicar of St.
Eine.  According to the same author, she Celsus; the primate, who was ill at the time;
had another son, (apparently by a former and Gillaspec, or Gilbert, bishop of Limerick,
marriage,) called Roger O'Connor, father and president of the council as apostolical
of Terdelach  O'Connor, who succeeded legate.
Moriertach O'Brien.*  Moriertach is ac-   The records of the country mention three
knowledged king of Ireland by the annals different councils as held in Ireland about
of Inis-Fail, Donegal, and by the writer this time, which, however, are perhaps but
who has continued those of Tigernach. the same council, spoken of by different
Usher, in his collection, quotes an epistle names.  Some call it the council of Bathof; St. Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury, Breasail, othersFiad-Mac-(Engus, thatis, the
to Ml[triardach, the glorious king of Ireland, land or wood of (Engus, which is the same
in which he extols this prince highly for as others call Usneach, where there is a
his justice and love of peace. His authority hill of that name, in the district of Kinalwas also acknowledged by the inhabitants Fiacha, (Westmeath.)  Canons and wise
of the Hebrides and the Isle of Man, who regulations were made in this council resent ambassadors to him  to request that a specting the spiritual and temporal adminisking of his family might rule them during tration: the bishoprics were reduced to a
the minority of Olanus, son of Godred.t   limited number, namely, twenty-four, with
It appears, however, that this prince had the two  archbishoprics; twelve  in the
a competitor in the supreme government of northern division of the island, called LeathIreland. Domnald-Maglochluin., son of Ard- Con, and twelve in the southern, or Leathgal, of the race of Niall of the nine hostages, Mogha. By this division there were two sees
by Domnald, brother of the monarch Niall- inMeath, namely,Damliagand Cluainjoraird.
Glundubh, disputed with him the title of mon- The two archbishoprics were Armagh and
arch, as appears by the hostilities carried on Cashel.  The limits of the bishoprics were
bythem againsteachother,andthestepstaken decided upon, and the jurisdiction of each
by the archbishops of Armagh to allay them. bishop was confined to his own diocese;
Moriertach was equally watchful for the suffragans were allotted to each archbishop,
interests of the church and state.  Having and the ecclesiastical immunities and exbeen solemnly crowned at Tara, he con- emptions established.
vened an assembly of the lords and bishops  Wie may fix at this time, that is in 1120,
of the province at Cashel, where, in their the re-establishn-lent of the abbey of Bangor,
presence, he gave that city, -which had been by St. Malachi, which had been several
till that time the usual residence of the kings times destroyed by the Danes.*
of Munster, with the lands and lordships ap-   Moriertach O'Brien was not less assiduous
pertaining to it, as a donation to the see.   in the temporal government of the state, and
About this time, viz. in the year 1100, the in defending the country against the common
priory of Dungevin, in the district of Ar- enemy.  He defeated the Danes of Dublin
achty-Cahan, now the county of Derry, was three times, banished Godfrid their chief,
founded by the noble family of the O'Cahans, and had himself proclaimed their king.
lords of that country.t                      A ridiculous and incredible anecdote reWith the consent of Pope Paschal II., the specting Murchard, king of Ireland, is given
monarch assembled a national council in in the chronicle of the kings of the Isle of
1110 or 1112. This council was composed Man.  The author says that Magnus, king
of fifty bishops, three hundred priests, and of Norway, sent a pair of his shoes to Murabout three thousand of an inferior order of chard, with orders to carry them  on his
clergy, besides the monarch, who was pres- shoulders on the birthday of the Lord, as an
ent, and several princes and lords of the acknowledgment of his submission to the
kingdom.~  The heads of the clergy were kings of Norway, and that the king of Ireland had obeyed his orders, lest he should
* Keat. Hist. of Irel. part 2; War. de Antiq. c. 4; draw upon himself so formidable an enemy.t
Grat. Luc. c. 9;  Ogyg. paht 3, c. 94.    According to the annals of the country,t the
t " All the chief men of the islands, as soon as king of Ireland caused the ears of the co
the death of Lagmannas was heard of, sent ambas- king of Ireland caused the eas of the comsadors to Murchard O'Brien, king of Ireland, to missioners of Magnus to be cut off, and sent
send some energetic man of the royal line to rule
over them until Olanus should be of age."-Camd.
Chron. p. 840.                              * War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 26.
t Allemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irl. p. 98.   t Chron. Reg. Man. apud Camb. Brit. 841.
~ War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 26.             t Bruod. Propug. lib. 5, cap. 16, page 933.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            241
themn back with the intelligence; which ac- naught, Meath, and other districts; carried
count is more probable, as will be seen by on a war against the Danes of Fingal, and
the sequel; for Magnus being exasperated, put their country under contribution. Moresolved to take revenge for the insult he riertach was, however, better known to forhad received in the person of his ministers, eigners, particularly the English.  He had
and formed the wild project of subjugating established an intercourse with the latter by
Ireland.  For this purpose, he embarked treaties and marriages; signed the postulata
with a large body of troops, and arriving in of the bishops of Dublin, Waterford, and
the north of Ireland, commenced hostilities; Limerick, who went over for consecration
but being surrounded by the Irish militia, he by the archbishop of Canterbury, contrary
and all his suite were killed, and the tyrant to the discipline of the church of Ireland,
was interred at Down-Patrick. Those who and also kept up a correspondence by letter
had remained on board the fleet. having with the prelates of Canterbury.  This inlearned the unhappy fate of their chief, re- tercourse with the English, no doubt, influturned to Norway, and gave up for ever enced Domhnal-More-O'Brien, kingof Limtheir claims on Ireland.                 erick, in making prompt submission to Henry
Moriertach O'Brien, says Malmesbury, an II. some time afterwards.  However this
English cotemporary author, formed so strict may be, the people were much harassed by
a friendship with Henry I., king of England, the wars of these princes; and the efforts
that he did nothing without first consulting which the bishops and nobles made to aphim.  He made alliances also with foreign pease their quarrels, prove that their authorprinces; and gave one of his daughters in ity was equal, and that one was acknowmarriage to Arnulph de Montgomery, eldest ledged monarch in the north, and the other
son of the earl of Arundel, in England, and in the south.
another to Sicard, son of Magnus, king of   Domnald was a generous prince, chariNorway.                                  table to the poor, and liberal to the rich.
This pious prince, convinced that human Feeling his end to be approaching, he withgrandeur is but transient, withdrew to Lis- drew to the abbey of Columb-Kill, in Doire,
more, where he took minor orders, and em- (Derry,) where he died in 1121, on the fourth
ployed the remainder of his life in preparing of the ides of February, aged 73 years.*
for eternity.  He died the sixth of the ides   The abbey of Erinach, or Carrig, in Dalaof March, 1120. His body was removed to radie, at present the county of Down, was
Killaloe, and interred in the cathedral of founded in 1127 for Benedictines, dedicated
that city.  Some time before his death, he to the blessed Virgin, by Magnellus-Macundertook a pilgrimage to Armagh; which Kenleffe, and afterwards removed to Inis.
gave rise to Keating's belief that he died   Although it is alleged by some authors,
there. This prince was the last king of that there was at this time an interregnum
Ireland of his race. From him, and conse- of some years, and though Ware, who speaks
quently from Brien Boiroimhe, are descend- of it, comes to no conclusion upon the subed the illustrious'houses of the O'Briens, of ject, it is certain that Turlough-More-O'Conwhich the present head is Charles O'Brien, nor, otherwise Terdelach O'Connor, son of
Earl of Thuomond, heretofore called Lord Roderick king of Connaught, succeeded the
Clare, Marshal of France, knight of the or- two last princes in the supreme government
ders of the most Christian king, and colonel of the island. He was of the race of Hereof the Irish regiment of Clare, in the ser- mon, and descended in the twenty-third
vice of his Majesty.                     degree from Eocha XII., surnamed Moyveagon, monarch of the island in the fourth. — _,     century.
The two sons of that monarch, Brian and
CHAPTER XV.                  Fiachar, had formed two powerful tribes in
Connaught, called after them the Hy-Brunes
DOMNALD-MAGLOCHLUIN survived his rival Moriertach. Some annalists have placed    Doinaldus, grandson of Lochlannus, son of
him in the catalogue of monarchs, among Ardganus, king of Ireland, and the handsomest of
others, Gillamaddud, an ancient writer, and his countrymen. His birth was noble, his disposiO'Duvegan, in which they are followed by tion ingenuous, and he was most successful in his
O'Clery, Colgan, and others, the first of undertakings. The poor received many gifts from
whom says that he was united with Morier- him, and the great were liberally rewarded. He
retired to the abbey of Columb-Kill, where he died
tach in the supreme government.  He ex- in the 73d year of his age, and" 27tll of his reign."
acted hostages from the inhabitants of Con- -Act. Sanct. Hib. ad 27 MIarch, cap. 4, p. 773.
31




242                            HISTORY~OF IRELAND.
and the Hy-Fiachras, of Tir-Fiachra, and   Terdelach was not less remarkable for
Tir-Amalgaid, or Tirawly. From these two his religion and piety, than for the wisdom
tribes were descended all the kings that of his government. Hie founded a priory
governed this province from the fourth to at Tuam in 1140, dedicated to St. John the
the twelfth century, but principally from thle Baptist, which he liberally endowed with
former, of which the O'Connors Don were land; he also granted a large tract of land
the chiefs. This tribe was also called Clan- to the abbev of Rosconrmon, in order to
Murray, or Siol-Murray, from  Muredach- increase its revenues.  In his will he beMullethan, one of their chiefs, and king of queathed to different churches sixty-five
Connaught in the seventh century.        ounces of gold, sixty marks of silver, all his
Terdelach  O'Connor, being the most furniture, including his vessels of gold and
powerful prince of Ireland at the time the silver, precious stones, and other jewels.*
throne became vacant, caused himself to be   This prince-was inflexible in punishing
proclaimed monarch by his own adherents, crime. Hiis son Roderick having been guilty
and a considerable part of the island.  He of some misdemeanor, he caused him to be
entered Munster twice with an army, to loaded with irons, and it was only at the
force the people of that province to pay him frequent solicitations of the archbishops of
homage.  At first he was repulsed with the Armagh and Cashel, and the heads of the
loss of a great number of his best troops, clergy of his kingdom, that he restored him
including O'Flaherty, prince of Iar-Con- to his liberty, after a year's confinement.
naught, and many other lords of distinction,   The annals of Ireland fix the foundation
but he was more successful in his second of several religious houses in this reign,
expedition, having defeated the Munster namely, the monastery of St. Finbarry, at
forces at the battle of Moinmor, in which he Cork, first founded by that saint, and rebuilt
slaughtered great numbers of them, and put and dedicated to St. John the Baptist, in the
the remainder to flight, with their commander year 1134, for regular canons, by CormacTerdelach O'Brien, son of Murgan, king of Mac-Carthy, king of Munster, or at least of
that province.* After this victory the prov- that part of the province called Desmond.t
ince submitted to him, and he divided it be-   The priory of St. John the Baptist,
tween Terdelach O'Brien and Dermod Mac- founded at Down, in 1138, by St. Malachi
Carthy; giving to the former the northern and Morgair.1
part, including Thuomond and Limerick;   A monastery of Benedictines in Dublin,
and to the latter, the district of Cork, and first founded in the tenth century by the
the remainder of the southern part. Having Danes, dedicated to the blessed Virgin, and
received hostages from these princes, he afterwards changed to Bernardines, of the
marched towards the north, where he quell- order of Citeaux, in 1139.
ed some troubles occasioned by the revolt   St. Mell, or Mellifont, in the district of
of the northern Hy-Nialls, who had not yet Louth, was a celebrated abbey of the order
acknowledged his sovereignty, and received of Citeaux, under the invocation of our
the homage of the O'Neills, O'Donnels, and Lady.~  It was a branch of the abbey of
other princes and lords of the province. Clairvaux, whence St. Bernard had monks
On his return from Ulster, he re-established sent thither, and nominated as first abbot the
the games at Tailton, which had been inter- blessed Christian O'Conarchy, a native of
rupted during a long time.  These games, Ireland, and a disciple of the abbey of Clairwhich had been instituted for the exercise vaux, who was afterwards bishop of Lismore,
of the youth, consisted in races on foot and and apostolical legate, having been, as St.
on horseback, in wrestling, in gladiatorial Bernard observes, the first abbot of Citeaux
tournaments, leaping, throwing the stone in Ireland. This abbey was parent of most
and javelin, and every species of military of the other houses of the order of Citeaux
evolutions.  Emulation was excited by the in Ireland, the first monks having been taken
applause and prizes which awaited the vic- from it.  It is said to have been perfectly
tor.  This monarch likewise caused the similar to the house of Clairvaux, both in
high roads to be repaired, and bridges built, the situation and construction of the building,
two over the Shannon, one at Athlone, the and was so extensive, that by way of preother at Athrochta, and that of Dunleoghe,
over the river Suck. Lastly, he had money   * War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 26.  Gratianus
coined at Cluon-Mac-Noisk.               Lucius, c. 9. Ogygia, part 3, cap. 94.
t War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 26.
I War. ibidem.
Bruodin, Propug. Cathol. Verit. lib. 5, cap. 16,  ~ Idem. ibid. Allemand's Hist. Monast. d'Irlande,
page 934.                                page 167.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           243
eminence it was called Mlonisther-Mor, that successful warfare against him.  He weakis, the great monastery.  Our Lady of Mel- ened his power considerably, without annilifont was founded long before the arrival of hilating it: and the death of Terdelach at
the English in Ireland, namely, in 1140, by length opened to him a way to the throne.
Donat O'Caruel, prince of Ergallie, accord- Bruodine fixes the death of Terdelach in
ing to Jungelinus. Ware fixes the founda- 1144, Keating in 1150, Gratianus Lucius
tion of it in 1142.*  There are others who and O'Flaherty in 1156, and Ware in 1157,
ascribe the foundation of this house to St. at the age of sixty-eight years.  However
Malachi, bishop of Down; it is, however, this be, he was interred at the altar of St.
certain that this prince contributed with the Kiaran, in the cathedral of Cluan-Macholy prelate towards the building of it.  Noisk, of which he had been a benefactor.
At Bectiffe, on the river Boyne, in east   Moriertach being now without a rival,
Meath, there is an abbey entitled our Lady assumed the reigns of the supreme governof Beatitude, a branch of MAellifont, founded meat. lie was a warlike prince, and an able
in 1146 by Murchard O'Melaghlin, prince, politician.  He reduced all the provinces by
or according to the style of those times, king his arms, and exacted hostages from them;
of Meath.  The chronologists of the order made wise regulations for the spiritual and
of Citeaux are at variance respecting the temporal government, as appears by the
time of the foundation of this abbey.  Some frequent assemblies which were held under
fix it in 1148, others in 1151.t       his reign; was the steady protector of the
In the town of Louth there was a monas- clergy, whom he made arbitrators of the
tery for regular canons, founded in 1148, most important of his afiairs; and may be
by Donat O'Caruel, prince of Ergallie, and considered to have been the most absolute of
by Edan O'Kelly, bishop of Clogher.:    those who assumed the title of monarch since
The abbey of Baltinglass, De Valle Salu- the reign of Malachi II.  It would have
tis, on the river Slaney, in the territory of been fortunate for Ireland, says a modern
Wicklow, was founded and endowed for author, had Moriertach enacted a law in
monks of the order of Citeaux, in 1. 148 or favor ofthe-house of the Hy-Nialls, securing
1151, by Dermod Mac-Murrough, king of their succession to the crown;* which would
Leinster.~                              have put an end to the factions caused by
At Boyle, a borough situated on the river the usurpation of the provincial kings, that
Bouel, in the county of Roscommon, there hastened the downfall of the nation.
was a celebrated abbey, called after our   The most remarkable event that occurred
Lady, and a branch of Mellifont, the first in the reign of this monarch, was the national
abbot of which was Peter O'Mordha. II This councilof Kells. The Roman church, always
abbey was first founded at Grellechdine, in attentive to the necessities of the provincial
1148, afterwards transferred to Dromconaid, churches, was not forgetful of the steps
from thence to Buin-Finng, and lastly to which St. Malachi had taken to obtain the
Boyle, in 1161.~[                       pallium from Pope Innocent II.; nor was
Dermod Mac-Murrough, king of Leinster, she ignorant of the commission which the
founded an abbey in Dublin, called after the saint had'received for that purpose from
blessed Mary of Hoggis, for regular canons the clergy of Ireland, at the synod of Holmnof St. Augustin, of the peculiar congrega- Patrick.  It was in consequence of this that
tion of Arouaise, an abbey in the diocese Pope Eugene III. sent John Paparo, a priest
of Arras, which was head of that congrega- and cardinal, with the title of" St. Laurence
tion, but is no longer in existence.:   in Damasus," to Ireland, in 1152, as legate,
The latter part of Terdelach O'Connor's with four palliums for the four archbishops
reign was not so fortunate. Moriertach- of Armagh, Dublin, Cashel, and Tuam.
Maglochluin, (son of Niall, and grandson of The legate assembled a council, at which he
Loghlin, from whom he had taken his sur- presided, with Christian O'Conarchy, bishop
name,) prince of the northern Hy-Nialls, of Lismore, and apostolical legate after the
having become powerful proved a formidable death of St. Malachi. Authors do not agree
rival to him; and frequently carried on a respecting the place in which this council
was held. Some say that it was in the abbey
* Lib. de Notif. Abbatia Ord. Cister.  of Mellifont; and others, (which is the most
t War. ibid. Allemand, ibid. page 177.  -general opinion,) that it was at Kenanus, by
+ War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 26.        corruption Kells, an ancient city in Meath.
~ War. ibid. Allem. Hist. Monast. d'Irland.   This assembly which was held in the month
l[ War. ibid. Allemand, ibid.
~r War. ibid. Allemand. ibid.           * Dissertation on the Ancient History of Ire** War. ibid. Allemand, ibid, page 341.  land, page 35.




244                            HISITORY OF IRELAND.
of March, was numerously and brilliantly   In 1157, the primate convened a synod
attended.*   The bishops present at this in the abbey ofMellifont, composed ofsevencouncil were:                             teen bishops, besides the legate, who preGiolla-Christ (Christian)  O'Conarchy, sided, and the primate by whom it was conbishop of Lismore, and legate.            vened.  This synod seems to have been a
Giolla-Mac-Liah, (Gelasius,) primate of prorogation of that of Kells. It is probable
Ireland.                                  that Keating, and the otherwriters who place
Domnald  O'Lonorgain, archbishop  of the latter in 1157, confound one with the
Munster, that is, of Cashel.               other.  This synod was honored by the pre(Eda, or Hugh O'Hossin, archbishop of sence of Moriertach-Magloclhluin, the monConnaught, that is, of Tuam.              arch, Eochaid, king of Ulidia: Tiernan
Greri, or Gregory, archbishop of Dublin. O'Rourke, prince of Brefny, and O'Caruel,
Giolla-na-Nmamh, bishop of Glendaloch.  prince of Ergall, were also present.  The
Dungol O'Cellaid, bishop of Leighlin.   principal object of this assembly was to exTuistius, bishop of Waterford.          communicate and dethrone Dunchad O'MeDomnald O'Fogertaic, bishop of Ossory. laghlin, king of Meath, and place his brother
Find-Mac-Tiarcain, bishop of Kildare.  Dermod on the throne in his stead.  It is
Giolla-Ancomdeh (Deicola) O'Ardmail, not well known what crime he had committed
bishop of Emly.                            which drew upon him so heavy a maledicGiolla-4Eda O'Mugin, (or O'Heyn,) bishop tion; but it is mentioned in some records in
of Cork.                                  the following terms: "This accursed atheist
vac-Ronan, or Maol-Breanuin O'Rua- was excommunicated for having dishonored
nain, bishop of Kerry, that is, Ardfert.    the Comarb or primate, the staff of Jesus,
Torgesius, bishop of Limerick.          and all the clergy."  The church of this
AMuirchertach O'Melider, bishop of Cluain- abbey was solemnly conse.crated during this
Mac-Noisk.                                 synod, and received considerable donations
Maeliosa O'Conochtain, bishop of Oirthir- from the princes.  The monarch gave one
Conacht, that is, of Roscommon.           hundred and forty oxen, sixty ounces of gold,
O'Radan, bishop of Luigni, that is, of and a tract of land near Drogheda, called
Achonry.                                   Finnabhuair-Naningean; O'Carroll  gave
Macraith O'Morain, bishop of Conmacne, sixty ounces of gold; and the wife of Tier(Ardagh.)                                 nan O'Rourke, daughter of O'Melaghlin,
Ethru O'Miadachain, bishop of Clunair- prince of Meath, sixty ounces of gold, a
ard, that is, Clonard.                    golden chalice for the grand altar, and orTuathal O'Connachtaig, bishop of Huam- naments for the other nine altars of the
bruai, or Enaghdune.                       church.
Muirideach O'Cobthaig, bishop of Keneal-   This prelate, so zealous and indefatigable
Eogain, now Derry.                         when God's glory and his neighbor's salvaMaelpadruic O'Beanain, bishop of Daila- tion were in question, convened a synod at
raid, that is, Connor.                     Brighthaig, in the district of Leogaire, in
Maeliosa-Mac-Inclericuir, bishop of Ul- Meath, in 1158, composed of twenty-five
lagh, that is, Down.                      bishops, at which Christian O'Conarchy,
In this council the bishoprics of Dublin, bishopofLismore, andlegate,presided. The
Cashel, and Tuam,  were made metropoli- bishops of Connaught, when on their way
tans; which privilege had been granted to thither, were met by a band of soldiers, who
Armagh in the beginning; and the cardinal killed two of their attendants, and forced
legate conferred on the four the palliums, them to return into their province. Regulawith which he had been intrusted by the
pope.  To each of these metropolitans was 1157. The Lord John, cardinal priest of St. Lanassigned a limited number of suffragans; rence, presided over twenty-two bishops, and five
regulations were made against simony and coadjutors, besides as many abbots and priors of
usury; and the payment of tithes decreed by. the apostles Peter and Paul, and of the blessed
the apostolical authority, as appears by an Eugene. Simony and all manner of usury were supact taken from the book of Cluain-Ednach, pressed and condemned, and tithes commanded to
act taken from the book of Clain-Ednach, be paid by apostolical authority. Four palliums
an ancient monastery in the diocese of were given to the four archbishops of Ireland,
Leighlin, in the district of Leix, now the namely, those of Dublin, Tuarn, Cashel, and Arparish of Clonenagh, near Mountrath.t     magh. The archbishop of Armagh was given precedence over the others, as was fitting. The car* Keating's History, lib. 2. War. de Antiq. Hib. dinal John, immediately after the council termicap. 16.                                  nated, set out upon his journey, and crossed the
t "A grand synod was held in the spring of A. D. seas on the 24th of March."




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                                245
tions were made in this synod, respecting    O'Doney, near the town of Ardfert, in
the reformation of imorals, and re-establish- the county of Kerry, otherwise called the
I ent of ecclesiastical discipline.-  They abbey of Kyrie-Eleison, of the order of Cimade a cathedral of the abbey of Derry, of teaux, and a branch of the abbey of Ndna.y,
which Flathbert, then abbot, was first bishop. was founded in 1154.* Christian, who was
He was also appointed by the synod prefect one of the most celebrated bishops of Lisgeneral of all the abbeys of Ireland.*      more, and apostolical legate in Ireland, was
There were several monasteries for both linterred in this abbey in 1186.
sexes founded in this reign, as set forth in   The abbey called ouT Lady of Greenwood,
the following  account:                     or St. Patrick of Greenwood, De Viridi
rThe abbey of Shroule was founded in Ligno, in the city of Newry, in the county
1 150, for monks of the order of St. Bernard, of Down, was founded by Moriertach-Maby O'Ferrall, chief of the noble tribe of the giochluin, monarch of Ireland, in 1153, for
O'Ferralls of Analy, now  the county of monks of the order of Citeaux.t Ware says
Longford.t  Jungelinus says that it was not that some incorrectly attribute the foundafounded till the year 1200, and that it was tion of this house to St. Malachi, who died
a branch of Mellifont.                      some years before.
In the city of Athlone there was the abbey   The abbey of Ferns, under the invocation
of St. Peter, or of Innocents.t  Ware says of the blessed Virgin, in the'county of Wexthat this abbey had two titles, that of St. ford, was founded in 1158, for regular canPeter, and St. Benedict.  Some allege that ons of the order of St. Augastin, by Dermod
this house was of the order of St. Benedict; Mac-Morrough, king of Leinster.t
others, on the contrary, maintain that it be-   The priory of the canonesses of Kilclehin,
longed to that of Citeaux.  Jungelinus calls or Bello Portu, a fine harbor on the river
this abbey of Athlone, Benedictio Dei, and Suir, in the district of Kilkenny, nearly opsays that it was founded about the year posite to Waterford, was founded in 1151,
1150, in honor of St. Peter and St. Bene- by Dermod 5Mac-Morroug h, kint of Leindict, and that it was situated in that part of ster.~  This priory was dependent on the
the city which was in the county of Ros- abbey of Hoggis, in Dublin, of which we
common,.                 *                  have already spoken. This king also foundThe abbey of Nenay, in the county of ed a monastery for canonesses, nuns of the
Limerick, otherwise called De Magio, hay- abbey of Hoggis, at Athaddy, in the district
ing been built on the river Magia, was en- of Carlow.
dowed in 1148, by an O'Brien, king of Lime-   At Clonard, in Meath, there was a nunrick, for monks of the order of Citeaux, and nery of the order of St. Augustin, which was
dedicated to the blessed Virgin.~   This endowed by O'Melaghlin, prince of Meath,
abbey was a branch of Mellifont, and gave and confirmed in its possessions by Pope
rise in its turn to several others. Jungelinus Celestine III., in 1195.
says it was founded in 1151.  This house   The  monastery of TermTlon-Fechin, in
was called Na-Maigghe monastery, in the Louth, was founded in the salme century,
Irish language.                             (the date is not precisely known,) by the
noble family of the Mac-Mahons of Monaghan, or Uriel, for nuns of the order of St.
X  A synod was convened by the Irish clergy, Augustin.   This foundation was confirmed
at Brighthaig, in the district of Leogaire; at which
the legate being present, 25 bishops assembled to in 1195, by Pope Celestine III.
examine into church discipline and morals. At this   Gelasius, primate of Ireland, also consynod it was decreed by a general council, that the vened in this reign, in the year 1162, a
cathedral church should be conferred, in the man- synod of twenty-six bishops, at Cleonad, in
ner of the other bishoprics, upon the Comarb, sue- the diocese o
cessor of St. Columb-Kill, Flethbertus O'Brolchan, the diocese of Kildre; in which, among
and the supremacy of all the abbeys of the king- other things, it was enacted that no one but
dom. The bishops of Connaught, however, were a pupil of the University of Armagh should
not present. On their journey to the synod, after be admitted as professor of theology in a
leaving the'church of Cluan-Mac-Nois, they were public school.~ In the succeeding reign this
robbed on the way, and two of their party killed at
Cluanias, by the emissaries of DiermitiusO'Melaghluin, king of Meath; the others returned home."-   * War. ibid. Allemand, ibid. page 183.
hlibernian Annals in Colga.n, 28th March. Life   t Idem. page 194.f' $St4 Gelasius      -                      tWareus, ibid.
t War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 26. Aliemand, Hist.  ~ Wareus, ibid. Allemand, ibid. page 342.
Monast. d'Irlande, page 180.                 J1 Wareus, ibid. Allemand, ibid. page 349.
1: Wareus, ibid. Allemand, ibid. page 190.  ff Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Gelas. ad 28 Mart. c.
{ War. ibid. Allemand, ibid. page 184.    15, et seq.




246                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
prelate convoked another synod at Athboy, to aid thy undertaking, we give to thy
in Meath, composed of the clergy and princes petition our grateful and willing consent,
of Leth-Cuin, at which Roderick O'Connor, that for the extending the boundaries of the
king of Connaught, and monarch of Ireland, church, the restraining the prevalence of
attended. The object of all these assemblies vice, the improvement of morals, the implantwas the spiritual government of the church, ing of virtue, and propagation of the Chrisand also the tranquillity of the state.  tian religion, thou enter that island, and
It is said that in this reign, in the year pursue those things which shall tend to the
1155, Pope Adrian IV. issued the celebrated honor of God, and salvation of his people;
bull, by which this pontiff transferred the and that they may receive thee with honor,
sovereignty of Ireland to Henry II., king of and revere thee as their lord: the privilege
England.  The tenor of it is here given, in of their churches continuing pure and unreorder that an opinion may be formed of it. strained, and the annual tribute of one penny
from each house remaining secure to St.
"Adrian, bishop and servant of the servants Peter, and the holy Roman Church. If'thou
of God, to his most dear son in Christ, therefore deem what thou hast projected in
the illustrious king of England, greeting, mind, possible to be completed, study to
health, and apostolical benediction."
health, and atpostolicalt beediction."  nstil good morals into that people, and act
so that thou thyself, and such persons as
"Thy greatness, as is becoming a Catho- thou wilt judge competent from their faith,
lic prince, is laudably and successfully em- words, and actions, to be instrumental in adployed in thought and intention, to propagate vancing the honor of the Irish church, proa glorious name upon earth, and lay up in pagate -and promote religion, and the faith
heaven the rewards of a happy eternity, by of Christ, to advance thereby the honor of
extending the boundaries of the church, and God, and salvation of souls, that thou mayest
making known to nations which are unin- merit an everlasting reward of happiness
structed, and still ignorant of the Christian hereafter, and establish on earth a name of
faith, its truths and doctrine, by rooting up glory, which shall last for ages to come.
the seeds of vice from the land of the Lord: Given at Rome, &c. &C.  &c."
and to perform this more efficaciously, thou   The above Was an edict pronounced
seekest the counsel and protection of the against Ireland, by which the rights of men,
apostolical see, in which undertaking, the and the most sacred laws are violated, under
more exalted thy design will be, united with the specious pretext of religion and the
prudence, the more propitious, we trust, will reformation of morals.*  The Irish were no
be thy progress under a benign Providence, longer to possess a country.  That people,
since a happy issue and end are always the who had never bent under a foreign yoke,
result of what has been undertaken from an " nunquam externam subjacuit ditioni," were
ardor of faith, and a love of religion.  condemned to lose their liberty, without
"It is not, indeed, to be doubted, that the even being heard.t  But can the vicar of
kingdom of Ireland, and every island upon Jesus Christ be accused of so glaring an
which Christ the sun of justice hath shone, act of injustice?  Can he be thought capaand which has received the principles of the ble of having dictated a bull which overChristian faith, belong of right to St. Peter, threw an entire nation, which dispossessed
and to the holy Roman church, (which thy so many ancient proprietors of their patrimajestylikewise admits,) from whence we the monies, caused so much blood to be shed,
more fully implant in them the seed of faith, and at length tended to the destruction of
that seed which is acceptable to God, and religion in the island?  It is a thing not to
to which we, after a minute investigation, be conceived.
consider that a conformity should be required   In truth, were we to consider the circumby us the more rigidly.  Thou, dearest son stances and motives of the bull, it has all
in Christ, hast likewise signified to us, that the appearance of a fictitious one, under the
for the purpose of subjecting the people of borrowed name of Adrian IV.t  Baronius
Ireland to laws, and eradicating vice from quotes it, without giving any date of year or
among them, thou art desirous of entering day, which would make it appear suspicious;
that island; and also of paying for each it remained unpublished for seventeen years;
house an annual tribute of one penny to St. it is said that it was fabricated in 1155, and
Peter; and of preserving the privileges of not made public till 1172, which Nicholas
its churches pure and undefiled. We, there-    Cambrens. Evers. cap. 22.
fore, with approving and favorable views  t Nubrigens,. de Rebus Anglic. lib. 2, cap. 16
commend thy pious and laudable desire, and   X Propug. Cathol. Verit. lib. 5, cap. 17.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             247
Trivet ascribes to the opposition it met with the glory of Henry II. and his nation, cornfrom Henry's mother.  He adds, that the mences his narrative by saying that the
king, having assembled his parliament at English had entered Ireland in a warlike
Winton, about the festival of St. Michael, manner, and that, their forces increasing
proposed the conquest of Ireland to his lords; every day, they subjugated a considerable
but that as it was displeasing to the empress part of it.*  He makes no mention of a bull
his mother, he deferred the execution of it granted by any pope; and I consider it
to another period.*                      highly improbable that he would have forThe bull gains but little authentication gotten to speak of a circumstance so necesfrom  the authority of John of Salisbury, sary to give an appearance of justice to the
afterwards bishop of Chartres, in his treatise unprecedented conduct of his nation. How"de nugis curialibus."  This writer is made ever this be, it may be affirmed that no pope,
to say, at the end of the last chapter of his either before or after Adrian IV., ever punfourth book, that "Pope Adrian had granted ished a nation so severely without cause.
Ireland to king Henry, at his request, it We have seen instances of popes making
being the patrimony of his holiness by he- use of their spiritual authority in opposition
reditary right, inasmuch as all the islands to crowned heads; we have known them to
belonged to the Roman Church, by the excommunicate emperors and kings, and
concession of the Emperor Constantine the place their states under an interdict, for
Great." But this nonsense is considered by crimes of heresy,'or other causes; but we
the learned as having been added to the here behold innocent Ireland given up to
chapter by a strange hand; since the author, tyrants, without having been summoned bein speaking particularly in the sixth and fore any tribunal, or convicted of any crime.
eighth books of his visit to the holy father   If we consider the bull as the work of
at Benevento, where he remained with him Adrian IV., it opens to our consideration
for three months, states most minutely the two very important matters.  The first is
various conversations which he had with his the real or supposed right of the popes to
holiness, without making any mention of the dispose of crowns and kingdoms; the secbull in question, though it was a matter of ond regards the reason why the bull was
particular importance, and that was naturally granted, that is, the true or false statement
the fit time to have mentioned it.  Pierre de which Henry had made to the pope, of the
Blois, a zealous panegyrist of this prelate, real state of religion in Ireland, on which
who published his praises invarious epistles, the concession of the bull is founded.  In
makes no mention of it either.           the former we do not call in question the
It is well known that king Henry, who spiritual power of St. Peter's successor; he
found creatures sufficiently devoted to him is acknowledged by every Catholic Christo revenge his quarrel with the holy prelate tian as the vicar of Jesus Christ on earth,
of Canterbury, did not want for venal wri- and the visible head of his church; it is only
ters to add to, and retrench from, the wri- necessary to know whether his power extings of the times, in order to give an ap- tends equally over spiritual and temporal
pearance of authenticity to a document so matters; or rather, to speak in accordance
necessary for the justification of his conduct. with the schools, whether he received a twoBesides, it appears that Salisbury had gone fold power from God.  I shall enter into no
to Italy of his own accord, and through curi- argument on this subject, which belongs
osity, to visit his countryman Adrian, and more properly to theology than history, and
not with any commission from the king of which has already been so frequently disEngland;  while the bull, according to cussed.  The digression would be of no
Mathew of Westminster, was obtained by a value to my object, particularly as the bull
solemn embassy, which Henry had sent to only mentions islands; though I see no reathe pope.  In my opinion, however, this son why an island or a kingdom in the ocean
circumstance appears to be another fable should belong to the holy see, as affirmed in
added to the former; as he is the first who the bull, any more than the kingdoms on
mentions this embassy, and that two centu- the continent, unless it be advanced that he
ries afterwards.  The silence, too, of Nu- holds the sovereignty of all the islands from
brigensis, an English cotemporary author, the liberality of the emperor Constantine the
respecting this embassy and the bull which
it is affirmed was granted, is an argument  X "At this time the English made a descent upon
which, though negative, deserves some atten- Ireland in a warlike manner, and their numbers
tion.  This author, who was so zealous for having increased, they became masters of no inconsiderable portion of it by force of arms."'-Nubrigius,
U Usser. Epist. Hib. Syllog. Epist. 46.  de Rebus. Anglic, b. 2, c. 26.




248                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Great; to which I answer, that Ireland, beginningof the twelfth century,some years
which had never obeyed the Romans, could before the bull was forged.  The letters of
not be of that number;* consequently, this the archbishops of Canterbury to the kings
claim  on Ireland is unfounded, and there- of Ireland have been preserved; namely,
fore the concession of it unjust.  It might that of Lanfrancus to Terdelach, "illusmore reasonably be made with- reference trious king of Ireland," and that of Anselm
to Great Britain, which was under the do- to the glorious Moriertach.*  William  Ruminion of the Romans both before and after fus, king of England, sent to ask permission
the reign of Constantine; yet the kings of from Terdelach, monarch of Ireland, to cut
England have never been understood to hold wood in thi forests of his kingdom, for the
their sovereignty from the holy see.       building of Westminster Abbey, and Henry
The supposed jurisdiction of the popes I., in his letter to Radulphus, archbishop
over the kingdom  of Ireland -acquires no of Canterbury, which is the forty-first of the
greatweight from the authority of Sanderus,t epistles quoted by Usher, seems to pay parwho says that the Irish, on receiving the ticular regard to the recommendation of the
holy gospel, had submitted, with all they king of Ireland in favor of Gregory, who
possessed, to the empire of the popes, and was to be consecrated bishop.t
acknowledged no other supreme princes but   Sanderus errs grossly in the same book,
the sovereign pontiffs, till the time of the not only against historical truth, but also
English.                                   against chronology.  He says that Henry
It would appear that this writer had not II., with his followers, that is, Robert Fitzconsulted the Psalter of Cashel, or the stephen and the earl of Chepstow, having
other records of Ireland, to which alone we become masters of some places in the island
should refer in matters concerning the coun- by conquest, the bishops, some of the printry.  We discover in those records that ces, and a great part of the people, supplithere was an uninterrupted succession of cated Pope Adrian to grant to Henry the
monarchs in this island, from  Irial till the sovereignty of Ireland, in order to put an
time of St. Patrick, and from that apostle till end to the seditions and abuses which were
the arrival of the English, without any men- springing up on account of the number of
tion of the temporal jurisdiction of the popes. their petty kings.
Ranulphus Higden, an English Benedictine   Adrian IV. was elected on the 3d of
monk, and - an historiographer of the four- December, 1154, and held the holy see for
teenth century, expressly mentions, in his four years, eight months, and twenty-nine
book entitled " Polychronicon," the number days; he therefore died 1st September, 1159.
of kings who had reigned in this island, from According to the most correct authors of
the time of St. Patrick to the invasion of the both nations, the first English adventurer
English.  He says, that from the time of who landed in Ireland, under title of ally of
St. Patrick till the reign of Feidlim, and the the kingof Leinster, was Robert Fitzstephen.
time of Turgesius, chief of the Danes, Ire- His arrival in the island is fixed in the year
land was governed by thirty-three kings for I 169. Some time afterwards he was followed
the space of 400 years; and that from that by Richard of Chepstow, and in 1172 by
period to the reign of Roderick, the last mon- Henry II.  We should therefore place this
arch of the island, there were seventeen supposed address of the clergy and people of
kings.t  The royalty and succession of the Ireland to Adrian IV., at least twelve years
monarchs of Ireland were acknowledged by
the English at the end of the eleventh and
*" Lanfrancus, a sinner, and the unworthy bishop
of the holy church of Dover, to the illustrious Ter* "The Irish nation, from the first period of their delvacus, king of Ireland, blessing with respect and
arrival, and from the reign of the first Heremon to prayers." —Usher, Epist. Hib. Syllog. Epist. 97.
the times of Gurmundis and Turgesius, (when her  "To Muriardachus, by the grace of God glorious
peace was disturbed,) and again from their death king of Ireland, Anselm, servant of the church of
to our own times-continued free and undisturbed Canterbury, greeting, health, salvation, &c., to the
by any foreign nation." —G. Cambrensis, Topogra- king and his lieutenant." —Ibid. Epist. 35.
phy of Ireland, cap. 31.                     t "H enry, king of England, to Radulphus, archt De Schism. Anglican. lib. 1, page 163.  bishop of Canterbury, greeting, health," &e.
/ " From the arrival of St. Patrick to the time   " The king of Ireland hath informed me by his
of king Feidlim, thirty-three kings reigned in Ireland, letter, and the Burgesses of Dublin, that they have
during 400 years. But in the time of Feidlim, the chosen this Gregory to be bishop, and that they
Norwegians, under the command of Turgesius, send him to thee to be consecrated. Whence I
seized upon the island. From the time of Turgesius command thee to pay regard to their petition, and
to the last monarch, Roderick, king of Connaugh, bonsecrate him without delay: witness Radulphus
17 kings ruled in Ireland."                our Chancellor-at Windsox."-Usher, Epist. 41.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                              249
after the death of that pope, which does not council of Cashel. It was entirely composed
agree with the calculations of Sanderus.   of Irish prelates, namely, the archbishops of
I here subjoin another bull, which Eng- Leinster, Munster, and Connaught, withtheir
lish authors mention to have been given by suffragans, and a great number of prelates
Alexander III., confirming that of Adrian, of inferior rank, who formed three parts of
and apparently of the same fabric.*        the church of Ireland.  St.- Gelasius, the
Were we to compare this bull and the primate, is not included.  It was to these
preceding one, with the treatise on " Ireland fathers that Henry confided the work of reConquered," composed at the same time by forming their countrymen; and he had no
Giraldus Cambrensis, we should discover need to bring other preachers among them.
great similarity of style between them;   How can we reconcile the great degenand if they are not by the same writer, they eracy supposed to have taken place in the
appear at least to have been composed to religion and morals of the Irish people,with
maintain each other mutually, and thereby the zeal which the fathers of this council
acquire a degree of credit among the public. displayed for the reformation of both?
Giraldus Cambrensis gives the motives for   Will it not be admitted that Henry II.
this bull.t " In the year of our Lord 1172," himself was convinced that these. ecclesiassays he, "Christian, bishop of Lismore, and tics were sufficiently enlightened and suffilegate of the holy see; Donat, archbishop ciently zealous to effect a reformation withof Cashel; Laurence, archbishop of Dublin, out the aid or co-operation of any foreign
and Catholicus, archbishop of Tuam, with doctors? Can it be imagined that their zeal
their suffragans, and a great number of was a species of fever which seized them at
abbots, archdeacons, priors, deans, and other the moment of their assembling at Cashel,
prelates of the church of Ireland, held a and which immediately afterwards became
council in the city of Cashel by order of extinct? Should we not suppose that each
king Henry, in which, after a strict investi- of them  preached and taught in his own
gation into the degeneracy of morals in that church; that the flocks listened to the voice
country, an address was prepared, sealed of their shepherds, among a people who
with the seal of the legate, to be sent to the were submissive to their ecclesiastics,whom
court of Rome; in compliance with which, they held in the highest veneration?  ReAlexander, who was then pope, granted the ligion is improved by preaching, and the
sovereignty of Ireland to Henry, on condi- bishops and other pastors in Ireland were
tion that he would propagate there the faith, masters of that course, without any extraordiand ecclesiastical discipline, according to nary mission from the pope or a foreign king.
the rites of the English church."          It is therefore improbable that the fathers
I shall here confine myself to a few ob- of this council, supposing them free, would
servations on the council of Cashel, and the have forged chains for themselves, under the
manner in which the court of Rome was specio/us pretext of the propagation of the
disposed towards the king of England.  I faith, or that they would have submitted, by
shall in its proper place refute the imputation a public act, to a foreign yoke, to the prejuof irreligion and degeneracy of morals, with dice of their legitimate princes. It was not
which Ireland is branded.                  in their power to act in such a manner.
There is no mention made of any English   The bull of Alexander III. must appear
bishops or doctors having assisted at this a paradox to all those who strictly investigate the morals, of Henry, and his behavior
* Alexander, bishop, servant of the servants of to the court of Ro.me.  A  bad Christian
God, to his most dear son in Christ, the illustrious makes a bad apostle.  What was Henry
king of England, health and apostolic benediction. II.?  A man who in private life forgot the
For as much as those things which are known to essential duties of religion, and frequently
have been reasonably granted by our predecessors,
deserve to be confirmed in lasting stability, we, those of nature; a superstitious man, who,
adhering to the footsteps of pope Adrian, and re- under the veil of religion, joined the most
garding the result of our gift to you, (the annual holy practices to the most flagrant vices.
tax of one penny from each house being secured to regardless of his word, when to promote his
St. Peter and the holy Roman church,) confirm and own interest, he broke the most solemn trearatify the same, considering that its impurities
being cleansed, that barbarous nation which bears ties with the king of France; he considered
the name of Christian, may by your grace, assume principle as nothing, when the sacrifice of it
the comeliness of morality, and that a system of promised to produce him a benefit.  It is
discipline being introduced into her heretofore un- well known, that without any scruple, he
regulated church, she may, through you, effectually rried  Eleanor of Aquitaine, so famous
attain with the name the benefits of Christianity.               and branded by her
t Hiber. Expug. lib. 1, cap. 34.         for her debaucheries, and branded by her
32




250                              HISTORY OF IRELAND.
divorce from  Louis VII.  He ungratefully sovereign pontiff or his censures; which
confined this very woman in chains, though gave rise to the complaints made by the
she had brought him one-fourth of France pope of him, in a letter which he wrote to
as her marriage portion.  He was a bad Roger, the archbishop.*  It is mentioned by
father, quarrelled with all his children, and Baronius, that in the same year, Henry had
became engaged in wars on every side.* As caused troubles capable of overthrowing
a king, he tyrannized over his nobles and not only the primate of Canterbury and the
took pleasure in confounding all their privi- whole English church, but even the holy
leges: like his predecessors, he was the Catholic church and its prelate Alexander,
sworn enemy of the popes; he attacked for whom, in particular, he had laid his
their rights, persecuted their adherents, sent snares.t  Westmonasteriensis says that in
back their legates with contempt, encroach- 1168 he sent an ambassador to the emperor
ed upon the privileges and immunities of the Frederick, proposing to second him  in dechurch, and gloried in supporting the most posing pope Alexander, who had become
unjust usurpers of them; which led to the his adversary by encouraging the opposimartyrdom  of St. Thomas of Canterbury. tion of Thomas a Becket.  He adds, that
Again, his debaucheries are admitted by he made his English subjects, both young
every historian.f  No one is ignorant that and old, abjure their obedience to the pope.t
he went so far as to seduce the young Alix, In fine, he was so disrespectful to the holy
who had been betrothed to his son Richard, see, that he dismissed, with contempt, the
and that all the misfortunes which filled the cardinals whom  the pope had sent to him
latter part of his life with affliction, were in 1169.
caused by this passion, as obstinate as it   These bulls have, in fact, all the appearwas criminal and base. Behold the apostle, ance of forgery.-  They are not to be met
the reformer, whom the holy see would have with in any collection. It appears, also, that
chosen to convert Ireland! The witnesses Henry II. considered them so insufficient to
we here bring forth are not to be suspected. strengthen his dominion in Ireland, that he
Cambrensis himself, whose opinions I have solicited Pope Lucius III., who succeeded
elsewhere refuted, is the first to acknow- Alexander, to confirm them; but that pope
ledge the irregularities of Henry II.   ie was too just to authorize his usurpation, and
who knew  him  so well, and who was his paid no regard to a considerable sum  of
friend  and  favorite, thus speaks of his money which the king sent to him.~
morals.t
It cannot be supposed that his conduct
towards Alexander III. would have induced * " When the king should attend to reforming
the abuses of his predecessors, he himself adds inhim, as pope, to grant the bull attributed to justice to injustice, and establishes and confirms,
him.  In 1150, Henry promised obedience under sanction of the royal authority, equally unto Octavianus, the anti-pope, and in 1166, just institutions; under which the liberty of the
to Guido, his successor.  Roger Hoveden, church perishes, and the regulations of apostolical
an English contemporary writer, says, that men are, so far as it lies in his power, deprived of
their efficacy. The king himself, trifling with our
in 1164 he pronounced a harsh and wicked forbearance by the subtle acts of his ambassadors,
edict against Pope Alexander, " Henricus seems to have so far hardened his mind to our adrex fecit grave edictum, et execrabile, con- monitions, that he will not be reconciled to the
tra Alexandrum papamn," &c. In that same archbishop," &c. &c.-Hoveden, pp. 518, 519, cited
year, he enacted laws, by which it was for- Grat. Luc. c. 23.
year, he enacted laws, by which it was for-  t 1" Henry raised the waters to overwhelm not
bidden, under heavy penalties, to obey the only the bishop of Canterbury, together with the
whole English church, but the entire of the holy
* Baker, Chron. of England. Life of Henry II. Catholic church, together with its pastor Alexander,
t Harpsfield, sEeculo 12, cap. 15.        against whom, in particular, he directed his machit " He was less given to devotion than to hunting; nations."
was an open violator of the marriage contract; a   t " King Henry, whose anger was changed into
ready breaker of his promise in most things; for hatred of the blessed Thomas, and of the pope, in
whenever he got into difficulties he preferred to re- consequence of his having espoused the cause of
pent rather of his word than of his deed, considering the former, sent to the emperor Frederick, requestit more easy to nullify the former than the latter. ing him to co-operate in removing Alexander from
He was an oppressor of the nobility; daringly au- the popedom; because he had made himself obnoxdacious in his usurpations of sacred things, and in ious to Henry by aiding the fugitive and traitorous
his desire to monopolize the administration of jus- Thomas, who had been the archbishop of Canter-'tice; he united the laws of his realm with those of bury for some time; he caused the obedience due
-the church, or rather confounded them together; in England to the pope to be abjured by all, from
and converted to the purpose of the state the reve- the boy of twelve years old to aged men."-West.
nues of the vacant churches."-.Hibernia Expug- Flor. Hist. 1168.
natce, book 1, c. 45.                         ~ Cambrens. Evers. cap. 24.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                              251
The misunderstanding between the sove- seminary of virtue and sanctity; which acreign pontiff and the king of England was quired for herthe glorious title of the " Island
carried to the highest pitch by the martyr- of Saints."  But it must be allowed that, for
dom of the archbishop of Canterbury, which nearly two centuries, that is, from the ninth
happened in 1171. Strong suspicions were to the beginning of the eleventh, the northentertained of the prince having contributed ern pirates had never ceased committing
to that barbarous deed.  He saw the storm devastations in the island, pillaging and
ready to burst upon him, and being desirous burning her churches and religious houses;
to avert the blow, he sent ambassadors to the public schools became interrupted; igRome, who were very badly received. The norance spread its influence widely, and relipope refused to see or hear them, and all gion suffered much in its practice, without,
that could be obtained from his holiness however, becoming entirely extinct.
was, to use the general terms of abettors,   After the complete overthrow  of those
actors, and accomplices, in the excommuni- barbarians in 1014, at the battle of CIoncation he pronounced on that occasion, with- tarf, near Dublin, Ireland having recovered
out naming Henry.*                         her freedom, the inhabitants began to reSuch was the state of affairs between build their churches and public schools, and
Alexander III. and Henry II., who never to restore religion to its primitive splenceased annoying the pope, from the time of dor.
his elevation' to the holy see, in 1159, to   From the battle of Clontarf to the reign
1172, the date of the bull.  Every year he of Henry II., and the period of the bulls in
was guilty of some new act, as dishonoring question, about a century and a half elapsed;
to the pope as it was injurious to the in- during which time all ranks were emulous in
terests of the church.  The massacre of St. their endeavors to re-establish good order
Thomas of Canterbury, which happened in in the government, and discipline in the
the year above mentioned, alarmed all Eu- churches. For these purposes several counrope, and angered the pope to such a de- cils were convened and held, at which the
gree against Henry, that he was on the monarch and other princes of the kingdom
point of making use of the spiritual weapons attended, and canons and statutes were
of the church against him.  Can we believe enacted for the regulation of morals, and the
that, under these circumstances, the pope restoration of discipline.  Cardinal Paparo
would have publicly loaded the man with was in a position to inform the holy see of
benefits, whom  he had tacitly excommuni- the measures adopted in the council of Kells,
cated? It is quite impossible to imagine, that over which he had presided.
in order to bring a foreign people back to   During this interval of time, Ireland protheir obedience to the holy see, his holiness duced prelates of the highest celebrity for
would have committed the undertaking to a their virtues and doctrine, who would have
prince who had already banished that obe- been an ornament to the most flourishing
dience from his own states.                churches in Europe.
In order to judge of the motives upon   In the Roman Martyrology we discover
which the bulls of Adrian IV. and Alex- St. Celsus, St. Malachi, and St. Laurence.
ander III. were founded, the state of the Gelasius, archbishop of Armagh, had led so
church of Ireland, at this time, should be austere a life, that Colgan does not hesitate
examined into.                            to number him among the saints, in the treaIreland was, from its conversion to the tise on his life, under the date of the twentyChristian religion in the beginning of the seventh March.* This holy man, says Camfifth, to the incursion of the Danes in the brensis, being exhausted by old age and
ninth century, universally acknowledged to fasting, took no sustenance but the milk of
have been the theatre of learning, and the a white cow, which was brought in his train.
Christian, bishop of Lismore, was so emi —
nent for his virtue, that Wion and Menard
* "The pope refused either to see or hear the place him in their martyrology.
ambassadors whom Henry had sent to exculpate   St. Bernard speaks highly of Malchus,
himself from the murder of Thomas of Canterbury;
but the Roman court cried out,' desist, desist,' as bishop of Lismore, in his life of St. Malachi,
if it were impious for the pope to hear the name of in which he says that " he was a man adHenry who had sent them. By the general advice vanced in years, eminent in virtue, and posof the council, the pope dispensed with expressly sessed of great wisdom; that God had enmentioning the name of the king, and the country dowed him with such abundant grace, that
beyond the sea; but the sentence of the interdict
was maintained, and that against the bishops confirmed."-Hoveden, page 526.              i   Act. Sanct. Hib. Hibern. Expug. lib. I, c. 34.




252                              HISTORY OF IRELAND.
he was celebrated, not only for his life and whom St. Malachi had placed instead of his
doctrine, but also for his miracles."*   brother Christian, in the bishopric of Clogher,
St. Bernard, too, speaks of St. Imar, from and a young man whom he calls a second
whom St. Malachi received his early educa- Zacheus,* who was the first lay brother in
tion.  He calls him " a holy man, who led a the monastery of Shrowl, where they bore
very austere life, and chastised his body testimony to his having lived in a holy manwith rigor.  He had a cell near the church ner among the brethren: " Testimonium
of Armagh, in which he spent his days and habet ab omnibus, quod sancte conversetur
nights in fasting and in prayer."t       inter fratres."  This author also mentions a
Colgan mentions St. Imar Hua-Hedhagain, poor, but holy and learned man, whom  St.
who had built at Armagh the church of the Malachi had placed in the see of Cork, with
apostles St. Peter and St. Paul, and who the approbation of the people.t
had performed a pilgrimage to Rome, in   According to Cambrensis, Maurice, arch1134, for the benefit of his soul.       bishop of Cashel, was a learned and discreet
St. Bernard again says, that " Malachi man: " Vir literatus et discretus."4
had a brother called Christian, a man full of   St. Malachi, St. Gelasius, St. Laurence,
grace and virtue; he was a bishop, and and the other prelates and holy persons
though he might have been, in reputation, whom I have just mentioned, except Malchus
inferior to Malachi, he did not yield to him of Lismore, had all studied in Ireland, instead
in the sanctity of his life, nor in his zeal for of being indebted to. foreigners for their
justice."  " St. Christian Huamorgair," says education.  The schools, particularly those
Colgan, (following the annals of the four of Armagh, were already firmly re-establishmasters, for the year 1138,) " was bishop of ed during the interval between the battle of
Clogher, and an eminent doctor in wisdom Clontarf and the arrival of the English. In
and religion.  He was a lamp that shone by the council of Cleonard, composed of twentyhis preaching, and a devout servant of God, six bishops, convened by St. Gelasius, it was
that enlightened both the people and clergy decreed among other things, that none but
by his good works, and a faithful pastor of a scholar of the university of Armagh should
the church.  He died the 12th June, and be admitted as a professor of theology in a
was interred at Armagh,'in the monastery public school.~  St. Bernard mentions a
of the apostles SS. Peter and Paul."     professor of Armagh, who was celebrated
Gilbert, bishop of Limerick, and apos- for those branches of education which are
tolical legate, was- celebrated for his zeal in called liberal: "Erat enim famosus in discithe government of the church. He convened plinis quas dicunt liberales."ll He says that
an assembly of the bishops and princes to although there were eight married men, who
oblige St. Malachi to accept of the see of successively usurped the see of Armagh,
Armagh.t                                 they were, notwithstanding, learned:~ "Octo
Usher quotes a treatise on the ecclesias- extiterant ante Celsum viri uxorati et absque
tical ritual, addressed by Gilbert of Limerick ordinibus, literati tamen." We may suppose
to the bishops of Ireland, and another by the that those bishops who succeeded them casame author respecting the state of the nonically, were not less so.  The sovereign
church, " de statu Ecclesim," about the year pontiffs were so well convinced of the merit
1090.~  He also gives us a letter from the and erudition of the Irish bishops, that they
same Gilbert to Anselm, archbishop of Can- appointed five of them, one after the other,
terbury, with his answerll  This great man, apostolical legates, namely, Gilbert, bishop
worn down with age, and no longer able to of Limerick; St. Malachi; St. Christian,
sustain its'burden, resigned the powers of bishopof Lismore; St. Laurence, archbishop
legate to Innocent III., which that pope of Dublin, and Mathew O'Heney, archbishop
conferred on St. Malachi.T               of Cashel. Henry II. himself employed no
St. Bernard mentions, in his preface to other missionaries than the prelates of Irethe life of St. Malachi, the abbot of Congan, land, whom he had convoked at Cashel, to
whom he speaks of as a reverend brother cultivate religion, and reform the morals of
and a dear friend: " Reverendus frater et the people.
dulcis amicus meus."  He speaks of Edan,  * St. Bernard, Vit. S. Malach. cap. 7.
t Ibid.
h St. Bernard, Life of St. Malachi, c. 3.  I Top. Hib. Dist. 3, cap. 32.
t Ibid.           f Ibid.                ~ "Regulations were made for laymen as well
~ Epist. Hibern. Syllog. Epist. 30.    as ecclesiastics, regarding good morals and disci.
J1 Ibid. Epist. 31.                    pline."-Life of St. Gelas., c. 23.
~T "Appointing him legate for the whole of Ire-  II Vit. S. Malach. cap. 1.
lan~d."-Hibernice Epistolw, c. 2!.            Idem. cap. 7.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                              253
During this interval of time, Ireland sent signatos, et Hierosolyman petituros, ad Loseveral holy missionaries into foreign coun- therium regem Romanorum ingentia munera
tries.*  Raderus, an ancient author of the misisse traditur."
life of St. Marianus, and John Aventinus,   Christianus, a man of noble birth, and
speak of Murchertach, Marianus, Clement, descended from  the leading family of the
John, Isaac, Candidus, Magnoaldus, and Macartys in Ireland, on becoming abbot of
many others, all Scots from  Ireland, who the monastery of the Scots of St. James at
had preached and instructed the inhabitants Ratisbon, and finding that the money which
of Ratisbon, and its environs.  They first his predecessor had obtained from  Ireland
settled in the church of St. Peter, in the was already.spent, and that the brothers
suburbs of the city, under the protection of were in great distress, was anxious to remedy
the emperor, Henry IV., but their numbers their wants.  He accordingly returned to
having increased, they built in the city of Ireland, to seek the aid of Donat O'Brien,
Ratisbon the monastery of James, which king of Munster, and the other princes of
gave birth to other establishments for the the country.  The holy man, however, died
Scots of Ireland, in the cities of Houitz- on the eve of his departure, and the sum
berg in Franconia, Vienna in Austria, Erm- obtained was placed in the hands of the
stadt, Nuremberg, and others.t              archbishop of Cashel.*
The Chronicle of Ratisbon mentions; that   Gratianus Lucius accuses the author of
Denis, abbot of the monastery of the Scots the Ratisbon Chronicle of an error in chroat Ratisbon, had sent to Ireland Isaac and nology, or at least of having substituted one
Gervasius, natives of that country, and of name for another. He is correct in asserting
noble descent, to look for some assistance that there was then no king of Munster,
towards rebuilding their monastery, and that muchless of Ireland, called Donatus O'Brien,
Conchovar O'Brien, king of Munster, and and that this fact of Irish history, and the
other princes, had sent them back to Ger- alms granted to Christianus, must either
many, loaded with gold and silver, with referto Donatus Macarty, (kingofDesmond,
which the abbot bought a piece of ground, according to the division of that province by
and caused the house to be rebuilt.t        Terdelach O'Connor, who was at that time
The annals of Ireland mention, that Con- the monarch,) or to Terdelach O'Brien, who
chovar O'Brien, king of Munster, after hav- was king of Munster.  However this error
ing sent considerable presents to Lothaire, may have arisen, which does not affect the
king of the Romans, for the expedition to groundwork of the history, the same chronthe Holy Land, undertook a pilgrimage  to icle  mentions that Gregory, a native of
Kildare, where he died in 1142: "Per Ireland, a man eminent for his virtues, and
magnae nobilitatis, ac potentihe comites cruce a regular canon of the order of St. Augustin,
having been admitted into the order of St.
Act. Sanct. Hib. ad 17 Jan. Cambr. Evers. Benedict, and received as a member of the
Acta          b. ad 1 7 Jan. Cambr. Evers.
cap. 21 et 22.                              community of Ratisbon by Christianus, was
t " Muricherodachus, an Irishman, and coming elected abbot on the death of the latter.  In
from the ancient Scotia, was beforehand with his the mean time, Marianus, a celebrated Irish
countryman Marianus." —Raderi in Bavaria.   scholar and a learned man, who was public
"At this time also, D. Marianus Scotus, a poet professor of the liberal arts in Paris, (where
and an eminent theologian, inferior to none in his he had for
time, together with his brother philosophers John hehadforhis disciple Nicholas Breakspeare,
and Candidus, Clement, Murcheridacus, Magnoal- an Englishman, afterwards pope, under the
dus, and Isaac, came to Germany, and then pro- title of Adrian IV.,) was received into the
ceeIded to Reginbnrgh."-Aennals of the Boeii.    house of Ratisbon. After his election, Gre" Ireland indeed was, in the time of our ances-                            consecrators, most fertile in holy and learned men. Thence gory went t  o receive his consecraColumbanus,Chilianus, and most of those designated tion from the hands of Pope Adrian IV.
Scots migrated into Germany. Here the excellent The pope questioned him on several matters,
Marianus, with six of his disciples, arrived at Regin- and particularly about his old master Maburgh, where they inhabited an edifice outside the rianus.  "Marianus," replied Gregory, "is
walls of the city, but a great number of Gentiles well; he has renounce d rto e   brace
coming thither, by their assistance and that of the well; he has renounced the world to embrace
Boii, they built a large church within the city. the monastic state in our house at Ratisbon."
There, by their zeal in religious observances, their " God be praised," said Adrian.  "I have
chastity and rigid abstinence, as well as by writing never known in the catholic church an abbot
and teaching, they attained great celebrity, and by so perfect in wisdom, prudence, and other
their pious example edified not only the Boii, but
also their neighbors. All were unanimous in praise
of them."-Joan. Avent. b. 5; Annals of the Boii.   * Chron. Ratisbonense, apud Grat. Luc. pages
t Page 62 of this History.               21, 62, et seq.




254                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
gifts of God, as my master Marianus."  On rismum," " Breviarium in Lucam," "Annohis return to Ratisbon, Gregory, at the soli- tationes Scripturarum," " Epistolas hortatocitation of the brothers, went to Ireland, rias."* According to others, he wrote "Comwhere he received from Muriertach O'Brien, mentaria in Psalmos," and" Notitiautriusque
successorto Donatus, (to whom he presented Imperii."t  It is affirmed that there are
a letter from Conradus, king of the Romans,) epistles of St. Paul, written by the hand of
the sum of money which had been deposited Marianus, with commentaries, in the library
at Cashel on the death of Christianus, his of the emperor of Vienna.t
predecessor. With this money he purchased   In the interval between the overthrow of
land and goods at Ratisbon, and rebuilt the the Danes, and the timie of Henry II., (the
church and monastery.* The troubles caused period of the production of the bulls of
in Ireland by the English after the twelfth Adrian IV. and Alexander III.,) several
century, having obliged the Irish Scots to churches and monasteries were established.
leave their house at Ratisbon, it fell into the I have already given the dates of their foundhands of the Scotch, who were always ready ations, and the names of their founders.
to appropriate to themselves every thing   We discover, at the same time, among the
desirable, particularly when connected with princes and nobles of Ireland, illustrious exthe name Scot. About this time also flour- amples of religion and piety, by the voluntary
ished the celebrated Marianus, known by the surrender of their crowns, dignities, and posname of Marianus Scotus, and who was con- sessions, to follow the more freely the footsidered a chronologist of the first order. steps of Jesus Christ. The example of kings
He was born in Ireland in 1028, and became and princes has a great influence over their
a monk, or as he himself says, withdrew people. In the eleventh century, we find
from the world in 1052.  He left Ireland in Donnough, son of Brien Boiroimhe, monarch
1056, and went to -Germany, where he shut of the island, give up his kingdom, and after
himself up for almost three years in the spending a life of penance, end his days in
abbey of St. Martin of Cologne.t From that St. Stephen's abbey at R-ome. Flahertach
he went to the abbey of Fulde, in which he O'Neill, a prince highly esteemed in Ulster,
remained ten years, and was ordained priest renounced the world to practise penance,
in 1059. Finally, he left Fulde in 1069, to and undertook a pilgrimage to Rome. Teige
go to Mentz, (Mayence,) where he continued Mac-Lorcan, king of Kinseallagh, ended his
till his death, which took place in 1086, he life in an edifying manner in the monastery
being then fifty-eight years old.  He was of Gleandaloch.  Cahal-Mac-Rory O'Coninterred in the convent of St. Martin, or nery, king of Connaught, and Moriertach
according to others, in the church of St. O'Brien, king of Munster, and joint monarch
Peter, outside of the city.             of Ireland, animated with the same spirit of
Marianus was, undoubtedly, the most religion and penance, ended their days, one
learned man of his age; an excellent his- at Armagh, and the other at Lismore.
torian, a distinguished arithmetician, and a   After all that I have said on the state of
profound theologian.} Trithemius says "he religion in Ireland during the hundred and
was very learned in the holy Scriptures, well fifty years which immediately preceded the
versed in all the sciences, possessed of an reign of Henry II.; of the several councils
acute genius, and led an exemplary life;"~ which had been convened for the regulation
he adds, that he died with a reputation of of morals and the re-establishment of discisanctity.  He left many works, and wrote pline; of so many saints and learned prelates
a universal chronology, " Chronicon Uni- who were an honor to religion, and from
versale," from the creation to the year 1083, among whom, Catholicus, archbishop of
which was continued to 1200 by Dodechin, Tuaml; Laurence, archbishop of Dublin;
abbot of Disibod, in the diocese of Triers. Constantine, bishop of Killaloe; Brictius,
He took Cassiodorus as his guide, which he bishop of Limerick; Augustin, bishop of
enlarged considerably.  According to Bale Waterford; and Felix, bishop of Lismore,
he wrote "Evangelistarum concordiam," "De were considered worthy of being called to
universali computo," " Emendationes Dio- the third general council of Lateran, in 1179;
nysii,"" De magno Cyclo Paschali," "Algo- after exhibiting the many zealous missionaries who had left their country, (their
X Chron. Ratisbonense, apud Grat. Luc. pages
21, 162, et seq.
t War. de Script. Hib.                  * Script. Britan. cent. 14, n. 45.
t Sigebert. de Gemblours, de Scriptor. Eccles.  t Joannes Vossius de Hist. Lat. lib. 2, pp. 360 et
page 172.                               361. Dempst. Hist. Eccles. Scot. lib. 9.
~ Catalog. Vir. Illustr.                I Lambecius, lib. 2, cap. 8, page 749.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                              255
ministry not being perhaps needed at home,) have enabled them  to divest themselves
to go and instruct foreign nations; after de- completely of the barbarous manners of
scribing so many religious foundations, ef- their ancestors, and assume those of the
fected through the liberality of the faithful; polished people of that country; and their
and lastly, viewing the numerous examples removal to England did not tend to diminish
of virtue given by the heads of the nation; their ferocity. Indeed, the tumults of war,
can it be supposed that the degeneracy of and the hostilities which are inseparable
morals and religion was so general and in- from it, are ill calculated to polish the manveterate as is represented in the two bulls ners.  During the four reigns which had
of Adrian and Alexander?  People who preceded that of Henry II., they were conrationally weigh the whole, will not be such tinually under arms, either to crush the redupes as to believe them.  The priest and volts of the Anglo-Saxons, or check the inhis flock will resemble each other, "sicut cursions of the Scotch, or lastly, to complete
populus, sic sacerdos."   The Irish, says the conquest of the principality of Wales.
Stanihurst, possess docile and flexible dispo- They must therefore have acquired politesitions; the priests have a great influence ness by inspiration, to have been capable
over them, and easily work upon their feel- of polishing the manners of others.
ings by their exhortations.*  Let us listen   Such, however, were the doctors whom
to the account given by Cambrensis, whose Henry II. sent to Ireland, by apostolical
testimony cannot be suspected, respecting authority, (as it is pretended,) to re-establish
the clergy of Ireland in general.  " The religion, and correct the morals of the peoclergy of that country," says he, " are highly ple; but their conduct was more calculated
to be praised for their religion; and, among to shake the true believers, than confirm
other virtues with which they are endowed, them in the Christian religion.  They made
their chastity forms  a peculiar feature. the Irish pay dearly for their pretended misThose who are intrusted with the divine sion, and taught them the English language
service, do not leave the church, but apply to their cost.  Experience itself proves the
themselves wholly to the reciting of psalms, futility of this pretended -reformation.  The
prayers, and reading.  They are extremely first adventurers who came from  England
temperate in their food, and never eat till into Ireland, were people that held nothing
towards evening, when their office is ended." sacred; but their children, more happy than
I am convinced that a people instructed by their fathers, having been civilized by their
such masters, cannot deserve the shameful intercourse with the natives of the latter
imputations which have served as a pretext country, whose manners they assumed, lost
for the bulls above quoted.  The life of St. altogether that ferocity of disposition which
Malachi, written by St. Bernard, and that is, even to.this day, the attribute of the inof St. Laurence, archbishop of Dublin, by habitants of Great Britain.
an anonymous writer of the college of Eu,   We shall now examine upon what basis
as related by Surius and Messingham, pre- the imputation of rudeness and barbarity of
sent to us so great a number of both sexes, manners, which has been cast upon the Irish,
who not only made profession of virtue is grounded.  Every one is aware of the
and piety, but likewise practised religion libels and dreadful calumnies which Giralin its highest purity, that it is impossible to dus Cambrensis published in his topography,
believe that the contagion was universal. against Ireland; his distortions of language,
It affected but a few; and if a country de- and the studied research for terms and words
serve to be destroyed, and given up to a to which he resorts, in order to defame her,
foreign power, for the faults of individuals, must be admitted. He describes the inhabthe most polished nations should at present itants as a cheating, passionate, traitorous
fear the same fate.                        people, and faithless to every engagement.
The greater part of those who went to   Although it be allowed by men of wisdom,
Ireland, under Henry II., to reform  the thai the evidence of a man who speaks ill of
morals of the Irish, were the descendants his enemy is not admissible,* it is possible,
of the Normans who had accompanied Wil- notwithstanding, that the English may have
liam  the Conqueror into England.  Their found the Irish to be so disposed towards
sojourn in France had been too short to themselves.  The sway of the English in
Ireland was considered by the natives as a
"The majority of the Irish are very religious: violence, an injustice, and usurpation; contheir priests are dignified, and by their wholesome sequently any engagement made with them
admonitions the consciences of the people (who are
docile and respectful) are very easily worked upon."
-Stanihurst, b. 1, p. 49.                          X Bodin. Method. Hist. cap. 4.




256                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
was looked upon not to be binding. They nation, every country is barbarous in its turn,
did not think themselves bound by the law since every age, and even every year, brings
of nature, which forbids us either to take about new fashions.  The Irish were much
the goods of others, or do violence to their attached to their own customs; they dewill.  They therefore thought themselves spised novelty in dress, which is indicative
dispensed with, from keeping their word of the inconstancy and frivolity of mankind.
with a people who observed no treaty made Dress is not the only thing which the Engwith them, and whose only rule was the law lish discovered to be barbarous among this
of the strongest; like a man who, having people; according to them, they were so
given his purse to save his life, thinks he even in their names.  In his description of
has a right to reclaim it when the danger is Westmeath, when speaking of the proprieover.  These are the principles which the tors of land in that country, Camden menIrish observed in their conduct towards the tions the O'Malaghlins of Clonlolan, and the
English, to whom they saw themselves a Magheoghegans of Moicassel, who were
prey; principles which drew upon them the lords of the country, as persons whose
exaggerated attacks of Cambrensis.       names, he said, had a barbarous sound.*
That author again judges of the manners   Names are generally conformable to the
of the Irish by the supposed peculiarity of language, and the pronunciation depends on
their dress;* as if the exterior appearance the accent of the country in which they are
had any analogy with the disposition of the used.  It is not surprising that a foreigner
man.  The Irish wore long garments, like should find something harsh in the pronunthe Romans and other people, and the pre- ciation of proper names which are not fasent nations of the east, who however are miliar to him, as several German, Bohemian,
not, on that account, reputed barbarous.    Hungarian, and other names, are to be met
The long hair which Cambrensis accuses with every day in history, the pronunciathem of having worn, and which he assigns tion of which appears harsh to us; but none
as a proof of their barbarity, was worn by except an Englishman, that is, a man full
the Egyptians, who were, notwithstanding, of himself and despising all others, could
considered a polite people. The Lacedemo- impute barbarity to a people from the pronians looked upon it as a symbol of candor; nunciation of their names.
and it is well known that a considerable part  It is easy to discover the springs which
of Gaul was called Gallia Comata, on ac- the Englishman put in motion on this occacount of the long hair by which its inhabit- sion.  The supposed reformation of the
ants were distinguished from other people. morals of the Irish was but a pretext which
The beard was as commonly worn among he made use of to usurp the crown of Irethe ancients as long hair; the razor not land, and dispossess a numerous proprietory
having been used among the Romans till of the inheritance which they held from
four centuries and a half after the foundation their ancestors.  Charity cannot but appear
of their city, nor till a much later period suspicious when influenced  by interest.
among the other nations of Europe.       The difference of religion is not a reason
The Irish originally wore sandals, nearly for despoiling men of their properties, still
the same as other nations; in the time of less for depriving them of their politeness
Cambrensis, they wore flat and pointed and the rightof conquest is but a chimerical
shoes without heels, tied with leather strings right, authorized by no law, either human
instead of buckles, called in their language or divine.
brogues, which, however, appeared barba-   Nothing but awar founded on just grounds,
rous to a man fond of novelty. " Juxta mo- that is, on some injury from those we indernas novitates incultissima;" without heels tend to reduce, can render a conquest lawvand buckles, a man was considered barba- ful.  At the time we speak of, there was no
rous by Cambrensis.  If a people are to-be war between the English and the Irish; and
accounted barbarous for not conforming in if the king of Leinster brought over the fortheir style of dress to the taste of their neigh- mner to assist him in recovering his crown,
bors, every nation may be considered bar- he rewarded them  amply.  He could give
barous; and if it be necessary to adopt new them no right over the other provinces, not
fashions, in order to be thought a polished possessing any over them himself.
Henry II. got rid of all these obstacles.
" This people, uncivilized not only in their bar- This ambitious prince, not content with the
barous mode of dress, but likewise in their mode of crown of England, the duchies of Normandy,
wearing the hair and beards, are very uncouth, according to modern ideas, and their manners are of
a barbarous turn."-Topography, dist. 3, cap. 10.     X Camden, p. 754.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            257
Aquitaine, &c., which he possessed on the privileges,* but his ruling passion was anger,
continent, looked upon Ireland as an object which sometimes degenerated into madness.t
deserving his attention.  It was a large Eochad, prince of Ulad, or Dalrieda, now
island, very populous, fertile, conveniently the county of Antrim, was one of those who
situated, and had very often sent succor felt the effects of his passion.  Being deto the king of France, with whom he was sirous to shake off the yoke, and to get free
frequently at war.*  The king of England, from  the dominion of the monarch, his
finding himself unable to reduce Ireland by formidable enemy entered his principality,
force of arms, had recourse to every strata- and putting all to fire and sword, forced
gem, even to religion, to conquer this king- him to seek safety by flight; whereupon
dom. Westmonasteriensis says that he so- Gelasus, primate of Ireland, continually
licited, through a solemn embassy, the new occupied in preserving peace between the
Pope Adrian (confident of obtaining it of him, princes of the country, prevailed upon Moas he was an Englishman) for leave to enter riertach the monarch, and the other princes
Ireland in a hostile manner, to subjugate it.t and nobles of Tir-Eogan, Oirgiell, and Ulad,
It is alleged, that he represented to him to come to Armagh, where he concluded, to
that religion was almost extinct in the coun- all appearance, a solid peace between the
try; that the morals of the people were cor- monarch and the prince of Ulad, of which
rupted, and that it was necessary to remedy he was himself a guarantee, together with
it, for the glory of Christianity. In his zeal, Dunchad O'Caruell, prince of Ergallie, or
he offered to become an apostle for that end, Orgiell.  The prince of Ulad paid homage
on condition that his holiness would grant to the monarch, gave him hostages, and was
him the sovereignty of the island, and also restored to his estates. This peace, however,
promised to pay Peter's pence for every though in appearance solid, was of short
house.  The pope, who was born his sub- duration.  The monarch, either thinking
ject, readily granted him (as it is pretended) himself not sufficiently revenged, or having
his request; and the liberty of an entire na- had some fresh motive of displeasure, caused
tion was sacrificed to the ambition of the one, Eochad's eyes to be taken out, and the hosthrough the complaisance of the other.    tages he had given him to be put to death.
Like an able statesman, Henry waited a The prince of Ergallie, finding himself infavorable opportunity to carry his project stilted and aggrieved by the infraction of a
into execution.  This presented itself in a treaty to which he had been a guarantee,
civil war that broke out between the mon- resolved to take revenge. For this purpose
arch and the king of Leinster, of which he he collected all the forces he could muster,
took advantage to begin his mission; and and being joined by the inhabitants of Ulad,
although, according to the law of God, it is Ive-Bruin, and Conmacne, his allies, he
not by despoiling our neighbor of his pro- marched at the head of nine thousand armed
perty that we should convert him, still the men into Tyrone, where, at Litterluin, he
missionaries whom Henry II. employed were unexpectedly attacked the monarch, who was
men with arms in their hands, and more in- sacrificed, with several of his nobles, to the
tent upon converting the land to their own vengeance of' an injured people.  Keating
use, to the prejudice of the old proprietors, and Bruodine assert that this monarch died
than gaining souls to God.  We shall now a natural death, after a peaceful reign of
resume the thread of our history, and the eighteen years.  He was the last monarch
reign of Moriertach Maclochluin.         of the illustrious tribe of the Hy-Nialls, who
had filled the throne of Ireland, with but little interruption, from the fourth century.
From this monarch are descended the
O'Neills. They founded three principal
CHAPTER  XVI.                 houses in Ulster, namely, those'of Tyrone,
the Fews, and Claneboy. Tyrone, the head
GREAT men have sometimes great defects, of the tribe of the O'Neills, partly supported
and their virtues are frequently obscured by the splendor of his illustrious ancestors;
their vices. The monarch of Ireland was a and in latter times there have been heroes
pious prince, zealous in the cause of reli- in this family worthy of their forefathers.
gion, and a protector of the church and its However, it was at length ruined, and buried
Polidor. Virgil, lib. 13, p. 555. Baker, Chron.  * Act. Sanct. Hib. Vit. S. Gelas. ad 27 Mart.
Engl. page 55.                           Grat. Luc. c. 9.
tI Flor. Hist. lib. 2, p. 246.           t Ogyg. part 3, cap. 94.
33




258                          HISTORY -OF IRELAND.
beneath its own grandeur. The present  At Holycross,in the countyofTipperary,
representative is Felix O'Neill, the chief of there was a celebrated abbey of the order of
the house of the Fews, and an officer of Citeaux, which enjoyed great privileges,
rank in the service of his Catholic Majesty. and where a portion of the true cross is preRoderick, or Rory O'Connor, son of Tur- served.*  This abbey, which was a branch
lough-Mor, and king of Connaught, being of that of Nenay, or Magie, was founded in
at the time the most powerful prince in 1169, by Domnald O'Brien, king of LimeIreland, had but little difficulty in getting rick, as appears by the act of its foundahimself proclaimed supreme king of the tion, quoted in the Monasticon Anglicanum,
island, after the death of Moriertach, A. D. and signed by the bishop of Lismore, le1166.* He overcame the opposition he met gate of the holy see in Ireland, the archwith from Donald More O'Brien, king of bishop of Cashel, and the bishop of LimeLimerick, and Dermod Mac-Cormac Ma- rick. Others say that this abbey was foundcarty, king of Cork and Desmond, and de- ed in 1181.
feated  Dermod  Mac-Murrough, king of   The abbey of Kilkenny, otherwise, "de
Leinster, in battle. He finally received, valle dei," in the district of this city, was
voluntarily or by force, hostages from every founded and dedicated to the blessed Virprince in Ireland, and made presents to gin, in 1171, by Dermod O'Ryan, an Irish
them; two things which formerly character- lord.t
ized the supreme authority of their princes   The abbey of Maur, or " de fonte vivo,"
among the Irish.t                       in the county of Cork, was founded for
In the first year of the reign of Roderick, monks of the order of Citeaux, under the
the priory of All Saints, near Dublin, was title of our Lady, by Dermod, son of Corfounded by Dermnod Mac-Murrough, king mac Macartach, (Mac-Carty,) king of Cork
of Leinster, for regular canons of the fra- and Desmond.4  The first monks who esternity of Arouaise.  This priory was after- tablished it were from the abbey of Bailtinwards converted into a college, under the glass.
name of the holy Trinity, by queen Eliza-   Roderick governed the kingdom of Irebeth.+                                  land with wisdom  and moderation.  He
About this time, some religious houses convened a synod at Athboy, in Meath, in
were founded by Donald, otherwise Domhnal 1167, of which we have already spoken.
More O'Brien, king of Limerick; in the dis- This synod, which was, properly spealking,
trict of Thuomond, the abbey of Clare, other- an assembly of the states, was composed of
wise Kilmony, or de Forgio, from the river St. Gelasus, archbishop of Armagh and
Forge, by which it was watered, under the primate of Ireland; of St. Laurence, archname of St. Peter and St. Paul;~ and the bishop of Dublin; Catholicus O'Dubthay,
priory of Inis-ne-Gananach, for regular can- archbishop of Tuam, and many of the inons, in an island in the river Shannon. I1 He ferior clergy. The princes present were,
also founded, in the county of Limerick, the the monarch, Tighernan O'Rourke, prince
monasteries of St. Peter of Limerick, of the of Brefne; Dunchad, prince of Orgiell;
order of St. Augustin, and that of St. John Eochaid, son of Dunsleve, prince of Ulad;
Baptist, called Kil-Oten.~  The monastery Dermod O'Melachlin, prince of Tara; Asof our lady of Inis-Lanaught, in the county culph, son of Torall, prince of the Danes
of Tipperary, of the order of Citeaux, other- of Dublin; Dunchad O'Foelan, prince of
wise called de Surio, situated on the river the Desies, and several other lords; amountSuire, was founded, according to some, in ing in all to 1300 men. They made many
1159.  Others say it was founded in 1184, wise laws and regulations, and the police
by Donald O'Brien, king of Limerick, who was afterwards so strictly enforced throughendowed it, in conjunction with Malachi out the island, that it might be said of it,
O'Felan, prince of Desie.**             as Bede observed of the kingdom of Northumberland in the reign of Edwin, that a
woman with a new-born infant might travel
* Keating, History of Ireland, part 2; Grat. Luc. over the whole island, from one sea to the
c. 9; Ogyg. part 3, cap. 94.
t War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 4; Bruodia. Propug. other, without fear of insult.'d
Cathol. Verit. lib. 5, c. 17; Allemand, Hist. Monast.  This monarch, who was mindful of every
d'Irl. page 7.                          thing, knowing that amusements are essent War. ibid.
~ Allemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irl. page 59.  X War. ibid.; Allemand, ibid., p. 186.
1I War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 4.            t War. ibid.; Allemand, ibid., p. 174.
ST War. ibid.                           t War. ibid.; Allemand, ibid., p. 181
* Allemand, ibid, p. 188.            ~ Hist. Eccles. lib. 2, cap. 16.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           259
tial for youth, re-established the games at century, when the sceptre, which had been
Tailton, in 1168.  He was also a protector for six or seven hundred years hereditary in
of learning, and in 1169 founded a profes- the same tribe, passed into other hands.
sor's chair at Armagh, in favor of strangers; Factions increased in proportion to the
finally, he watched over the administration number of claimants to the crown, and the
of justice, and punished crime with se- government was, in consequence, rendered
verity.                                 weak and enfeebled by them.
The reign of Roderick O'Connor is   The fall of monarchies seldom occurs
memorable for'a revolution, which forms suddenly.  The change takes place by dean epoch fatal to Ireland.  An invasion of grees, and from a chain of events which
the English, which, in its beginning, would imperceptibly undermine the constitution of
not have alarmed even the petty republic of the state, (as sickness enervates the body,)
Ragusa, became, from its having been neg- till it requires but a slight shock or stroke
lected at first, so serious, that the liberty of to complete their destruction. The Irish
a powerful nation became its victim, and a monarchy received this fatal blow in the
monarchy which had lasted for more than twelfth century, through the debauchery and
two thousand years was overthrown.      boundless ambition of one of its princes,
Politicians endeavor to account for the as we shall now discern.
fall of empires.  By some it is ascribed to   Derforguill, daughter of Mortough-Macthe weakness of those rulers who introduce Floinn, prince of Meath, was married against
a bad system in the administration of their her will to Teighernan O'Rourke, prince of
laws, and by some to exterior causes; while Brefny.*  This princess indulged a secret
others, with more reason, assign it to the passion for Dermod, son of Murrough, king
will of the supreme Being, who has drawn of Leinster, who paid his addresses to her
all things out of nothing, who governs all, before her marriage; and taking advantage
and sets bounds to the duration of all cre- of her husband's absence, she dispatched a
ated objects. Besides this, however, I think courier to Dermod, begging that he would
we may examine the connection that ex- come and rescue her from the engagements
ists between natural and secondary causes, she had contracted with a husband whom
which are the instruments made use of by she disliked.  Dermod was possessed of
the Divinity.                           too much gallantry to refuse his services to a
With respect to Ireland, the source of princess to whom he had been previously
her destruction can be discovered within her attached; he repaired, on the appointed day,
own bosom. This kingdom was, from the to the place of meeting, with a band of armsettlement of the Milesians in the island, ed horsemen, and carried away the princess
governed by one king till the reign of Eocha of Brefny to his castle of Ferns in Leinster.
IX., who erected the four provinces into as O'Rourke, on his return, finding that the
many kingdoms, independent of each other, princess his wife had eloped, and feeling
some time before the Christian era; they deeply the insult given him, had recourse to
were, however, dependent on the monarch, the monarch for redress. Roderick O'Conas those electors and princes are who hold nor was an upright prince, and opposed to
their states of the emperor of Germany. all injustice; he heard O'Rourke's complaint
This was the first blow which the constitu- with attention, and having assembled the
tion of Ireland met with. It suffered again forces of Connaught, whom those of Brefny,
in the first century, by the revolt of the Orgiell, and Meath afterwards joined, he
plebeians, and the massacre of the princes entered Leinster, determined to revenge the
and nobles of the country by these barba- insult received by the prince of Brefny.
rians, who seized upon the government.   Dermod was well aware of the march of
Towards the end of the second century, a the royal army, and also of the sentence of
war also, which Modha-Nuagat, king of excommunication pronounced against him by
Munster, carried on against Conn the mon- the clergy. He summoned the nobles of his
arch, (the result of which was the division kingdom to Fearna, in the territory of Kinof the island between the contending par- seallagh, now Ferns, in the county of Wexties,) produced new disasters to the king- ford, where he held his court, in order to
dom.                                    consult with them upon the means he should
Notwithstanding these convulsions in the adopt to avert the storm that threatened him;
state, and the violent attacks of the Normans but his subjects, who were indignant at the
during two centuries, the Irish monarchy
still maintained itself till the reign of Mal-  * Stanihurst, de Reb. in Hib. Gest. lib. 2, cap. 
achi II., in the beginning of the eleventh 59, et seq.




260.HISTORY OF IRELAND.
enormity of his crime, and, moreover, dis- tracted heavy debts; and to heighten his
satisfied with his tyrannical government, in- misfortune, was in disgrace with his prince;f
stead of supporting him in this critical junc- so that he was willing to undertake any deture of his affairs, renounced their allegiance sign to retrieve his fortune. Taking advanto him, and placed themselves under the pro- tage therefore of this opportunity, which
tection of the monarch; so that the unhappy was, he conceived, highly favorable, he ofprince, abandoned by them, had no other fered his services to Dermod, who received
resource than to embark for England. The him with kindness, and made him a propomonarch then finding no enemy to contend sal far above what he had reason to expect;
with, contented himself with destroying the offering him his daughter, Aoffe, or Eve, in
city of Ferns, and the royal castle, whence marriage, and promising to secure his suche carried away the unfortunate Derforguill, cession to the throne of Leinster, after his
whom he confined in the monastery of St, death, on condition of his assisting to recover
Bridget, at Kildare, after which he dis- it; which condition was joyfully accepted
banded his troops and returned into his by earl Richard.
province.                                 Dermod having concluded his negotiation
Dermod, now driven from his dominions, at Bristol with the earl Richard, who prombreathed revenge against his rebellious sub- ised to cross over to Ireland in the spring,
jects and the nation at large. Henry II., with a body of troops,went into Wales, where
great-grandson of William the Conqueror, he applied to Ralph Griffin (who was govwas then king of England. He was a prince ernor of that province for Henry II.) to
of boundless ambition, and very powerful, liberate Robert Fitzstephen, a brave and
and was often heard to say, during his pros- experienced general who had been a state
perity, that the government of the whole prisoner during four years, by order of the
world was hardly sufficient for a great man. government.  Dermod having obtained the
Besides the kingdom of England, he pos- pardon of Robert Fitzstephen, on condition
sessed the duchies of Normandy and Anjou, that he would accompany him to Ireland,
by right of inheritance; and in virtue of his and never think of returning to his own
marriage with Eleanor, whom Louis VII., country, from which he was then forever
surnamed the younger, had divorced, he banished, took him into his service, with his
was master of Aquitaine, Poitou, Touraine, half-brother, Maurice Fitzgerald, promising
and Maine. On account of these states, he to him and his posterity the city of Wexford,
was frequently engaged in wars with France, and the neighboring districts.  He entered
which required his presence. Such was the into like engagements, and made similar
situation of the affairs of Henry when the promises to many others, whom he allured
king of Leinster went to Aquitaine to solicit by the hope of gain, as Neubrigensis,
his alliance, and ask of him  the succor an English cotemporary author, mentions:
necessary for the recovery of his throne, a' Spe lucri profusioris illecti."t According
promising to place his kingdom under his to the same author, they were mostly men
protection.  This proposal was highly flat- who possessed nothing at home, " Accitis ex
tering to Henry, and favorable to his views. Anglia viris impropia labontibus et lucri cuHe replied, however, that the state of his piAis," and to better their condition were
affairs at that time upon the continent would desirous of leaving their own country. The
not permit his giving him any troops, but that king of Leinster, pleased with the reception
if he would go to England, he might raise he met with in England, returned to Ireland,
forces there, and begin the war in Ireland, where he remained concealed in his city of
till he should be able to join him; and even Ferns, waiting the arrival of his allies.
sent orders to his ministry to forward the   Robert Fitzstephen was not forgetful of
enterprise of this fugitive prince.     his engagements with Dermod. Two powThe king of Leinster, having taken leave erful motives induced him to carry them
of Henry, embarked for England, and on his into execution; he was an outlaw in Engarrival at Bristol, communicated their king's land, whereas he recovered his liberty only
orders to the magistrates of that city, who on condition of leaving it immediately; and
caused them to be published.            the reward which he expected in Ireland
Richard, surnamed Strongbow, "de arcu was very flattering to a man whose only
forti," (which signifies a strong bow,) was riches lay in his sword. He applied all his
then at Bristol. He was son of Gilbert,
earl of Pembroke or Chepstow, whom Cam-  * Gulielrn. Neubrig. de Reb. Anglo. lib. 2, c. 26.
et Stanihurst, b. 2, c. 67.
brensis calls earl of Strangwel. This young  $ Gull. Neubrig. de Reb. Anglic. sui temporis,
lord had squandered his property, and con- lib. 2, page 211, et 212.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             261
influence to enlist volunteers for his enter- a rebellion in its beginning, which, if negprise, and raised 400 men, whose fortunes lected, must create confusion in the state.
were desperate like his own. With this force It was determined in the conference held for
he landed on the coast of Wexford in Ire- this purpose, thatthe provinces should supply
landd, in the month of May, A. D. 1169. Of the monarch with their quota of men, to enhis landing, information was dispatched im- able him to chastise the king of Leinster,
mediately to the king of Leinster, who lay and put down the rebellion. The monarch's
concealed in the city of Ferns till his arrival. army being reinforced by the allied troops,
Dermiod, overjoyed at the news, left his he set out on his march for Leinster, and
retreat, and put himself at the head of five advanced towards Hy-Kinseallagh,intending
hundred horsemen, whom he' kept in readi- to give the enemy battle.  Dermnod finding
ness to join the English captain.  After the himself unable to keep the field against an
usual complimnents on such occasions, they army so superior to his own, withdrew into
held a council of -war on the plan of their the inaccessible forests and marshes near
campaign, the result of which was, to lay Ferns, with his troops, and held himself on
siege to Wexford, which was at that time the defensive.  The monarch thus foiled ini
inhabited by Danes.  The troops being led his attempt, sent a communication to Fitzon against this place, it surrendered to the stephen, chief of the English in the service
king of Leinster; the inhabitants paid him of Dermod,'that he should immediately dehomage, and gave him hostages and presents. part from the country with his Englishmen;
In order to fulfil his promise to Fitzstephen, that he had espoused an unjust and dishonthe king gave him that city, and.a few dis- orable cause, and that he had no lawful
tricts in the neighborhood, where he estab- claim to the possessions he had usurped in
lished a colony, among whom the ancient the island.  It can be easily conceived that
Saxon language is still preserved, with a such an order must have been very disagreesmall mixture of the Irish.  This district is able to this adventurer, who was an outlaw
called the barony of Forth. Dermlod granted in his own country, where he had suffered
also to Hermon Morty, (Herveius de Monte several years imprisonment, and  who had no
Maurisco,) Fitzstephen's paternal uncle, asylum but what his good fortune procured
some lands near Wexford, so that through the him. Besides that, he had then a real interest
generosity of this -prince, those adventurers in Ireland. He was already lord of Wexford
were influenced to the greatest enterprises and its environs, which had been conferred
to please him.                           on him by the king of the province as a reIn the mean time, Maurice Prendergast ward for his services; and this was too conlanded in Wexford with a fresh reinforce- siderable, and too gratifying to the avarice
ment, which increased the little army of the of a man who was destitute of every thing
confederates, then amounting to three thou- else, to give it up. He therefore declared to
sand men.                                the monarch, that so far from being disposed
Encouraged by his first success,-and find- to quit the island, he was determined to
ing himself able to follow up his conquest, support the interest of his benefactor, the
Dermod turned his thoughts towards the king of Leinster, as long as a single man
people of Ossory.  Donnough Mac-Giolla remained with him.  The monarch, exaspePhadruig, (Fitzpatrick,) son of Domhnal rated at the stranger's haughty reply, ordered
Ramhar, was hereditary prince, or, according his officers to send detachments to scour the
to the style of those times, king of Ossory. forests and pursue the rebels; but the bishHe was the avowed enemy of Dermod, and ops of the province, alarmed at the idea of
one of those who had abandoned him in his a war breaking out among them, prostrated
misfortune. He was therefore the first victim themselves at his feet, and pointed out to
of his resentment.  Dermod marched at the him the danger of a civil war, which might
head of his army towards the frontiers of prove fatal to the nation. They represented
Ossory, spreading terror and consternation to him that peaceful measures would be the
everywhere as he passed, and obliged that mostlikelyto succeedwith anirritatedprince,
prince to send him hostages, and agree to who was capable of any act, and supported
pay an annual tribute to the crown of Lein- by a neighboring nation, whose interest -it
ster.                                    was to increase the discord between the
The progress which the king of Leinster princes of this island. These arguments were
and his English allies were making, having plausible and well grounded, if they could
alarmed the whole islande  the  princes and have supposed that the king of Leinster was
nobles had recourse to Roderick O'Connor, possessed of honor or good faith; but as
to deliberate on what was to be done to quell this unhappy prince had given himself up to




262                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
his ambition, and afforded every reason to monarch, by inspiring him with the extravadistrust him, it would have been good policy gant idea of aspiring to the universal monto employ measures of rigor, and crush the archy of the island, and promising to send
evil at its root.                      to England for sufficient forces for that enterRoderick, moved by the remonstrances of prise. Dermod either did not perceive the
the bishops and clergy of Leinster,. ceased danger of introducing into the country a
hostilities, and entered into negotiation with number of foreigners capable of reducing
the king of the province. A treaty of peace it, (as happened to the ancient Britons, whose
was concluded and signed by both parties, country was invaded by their treacherous
on the following conditions: —lst, That Der- allies, the Saxons,) or his unbounded ambimod should be restored to the possession of tion led him to sacrifice his country's freehis kingdom of Leinster, with the same dom to that passion.
authority which his predecessors had en-   The king of Leinster, finding himself
joyed, and that he should be compensated for supported by the English, in conjunction
the losses he had sustained during his misfor- with some of his subjects, whom fear brought
tunes; 2d, That the king of Leinster should back to their allegiance, marched at the head
do homage to the monarch, and promise him of his army towards Dublin, the neighborfidelity; 3d, That he should bind himself by hood of which he laid waste, particularly
oath, never to call in the English to his aid, that part of it called Fingal.  His intention
and to afford them no longer any protection; was, to revenge on the Danes of that city
4th, That Robert Fitzstephen should remain the insults which himself and his father had
in possession of Wexford, instead of the received from them, and levy contributions
Danes, who occupied it before. In order to to defray the expenses of the war; so he laid
ratify this treaty, and remove all suspicion siege to the city, with Maurice Fitzgerald,
of bad faith on his side, Dermod gave Art- who commanded under him. Asculph, son
Na-Nigall, or Arthur, his son, as hostage to of Torcall, at that time commander of the
the monarch; after which the latter, having place, alarmed at the danger which threatdisbanded his forces, returned into Con- ened the city, assembled the principal inhabnaught.                                i'tants, to deliberate upon what measures
It would now seem that Ireland was about they should adopt. It was concluded that a
to enjoy a lasting peace; that civil war was quick submission was necessary to avert the
put down, and that the English, after losing storm; in consequence of which they sent
the protection of the king of Leinster, had deputies to the king of Leinster, with large
nothing more to hope for in the island. The sums of gold and silver. Asculph paid him
resulthoweverproved otherwise. The treaty homage in the name of the city, and sent
concluded betweenthe monarch and Dermod hostages as pledges of his obedience. Robwas the fruit of the policy, as well as the ert Fitzstephen had no share in this expeperfidy of the English, who had drawn the dition, being busily employed in building
prince of Leinster into it. They wanted to and fortifying the port of Karraick, near
escape the danger of being destroyed by-the Wexford.
superiority of the royal army, and gain time   Such was the state of the affairs of the
till the succors which they expected would king of Leinster when Richard Strongbow
arrive; those adventurers being less actu- landed in Ireland. This English nobleman
ated by their pretended motives of re-estab- had not forgotten the promises he had given
lishing religion, reforming the morals of the to Dermod, of furnishing him with troops,
Irish, and defending an oppressed prince, nor the hope the latter held out to him, of
than that of making their fortunes at the ex- making him his son-in-law, and successor to
pense of justice itself, as they proved. The his throne-things highly flattering to a man
treaty was' scarcely concluded between the possessed of nothing himself, and whose esbelligerent princes, when Maurice Fitzge- tate had been confiscated in England. Rerald, half-brother to Fitzstephen, landed in solved, however, to act in a becoming way
Wexford with a considerable reinforcement towards his king, Henry II., he went to him
of Englishmen, which raised the courage of and asked permission to leave the kingdom
the rebels to a high pitch.             and seek his fortune elsewhere. The king,
On the first intelligence of the arrival of who was already dissatisfied with him, grantMaurice Fitzgerald, Dermod repaired to ed him his request in an ironical and repulWexford, where he held a council with Fitz- sive manner, as if he never wished to hear
stephen, Morty, Prendergast, Barry, Meiler, of him.*  Richard, desirous to take advanFitzgerald, and other English chiefs, who
prevailed on him to break his treaty with the  * Stanihurst, de Reb. in Hib. Gest. lib. 2,. 94.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           263
tage of this doubtful leave, made the neces- Earl Richard, surnamed Strongbow, whom
sary preparations for his expedition to Ire- we left in England, having all things ready
land; but before he should go himself, he for his voyage, sailed from  Milford harbor
dispatched Raymond le Gros, who, accord- in the month of August of the same year,
ing to Stanihurst, was son of William Fitz- with 1200 chosen men, and landed near
gerald, and nephew to Maurice, or, accord- Waterford on the 24th of the same month,
ing to others, brother of the latter, with a St. Bartholomew's day. He was soon joined
small body of troops to reconnoitre the by the king of Leinster, and the English
country, and facilitate the descent which he whom he had already in his service. After
meditated; and at the same time to inform the usual congratulations, they held a counthe king of Leinster of his intentions. Ray- cil of war, in which it was determined to
mond landed on the first of May, 1170, in a besiege Waterford. When the troops were
small harbor called Dun-Domhnail, four refreshed, they marched towards the city,
miles from Waterford, and formed an in- which, according to the custom of the times,
trenchment for the protection of his troops. was poorly fortified, and laid siege to it.
The Danes of Waterford, hearing of the There was a great disproportion between
arrival of a body of English troops, who had the besieged and the besiegers. The place
encamped in their neighborhood, assembled was defended by those citizens who had esa force, which was joined by the vassals of caped the late defeat; while it was attacked
Malachi O'Faolan, lord of Desie, to the by an army superior both in numbers and
number of 200 men, without discipline and discipline, and commanded by skilful leaders;
badly armed, intending to dislodge those so that, notwithstanding an obstinate destrangers.  Raymond would not wait for fence which lasted for some days, the city
the enemy in his intrenchments, but sallied was taken by assault, and the garrison put
forth with his troops to meet them in the to the sword.  Malachi O'Faolan, prince
plain. The action began with vigor, and of Desie, was made prisoner, and only esthe English were driven back to their in- caped from the rage of the soldiery through
trenchments; but excited by despair, which the interference of the king of Leinster.
frequently rouses to action, (" Una salus After such barbarous acts, may it not be
victis nullam sperare salutem,") they turned affirmed with truth, that those adventurers
on this undisciplined army, who were pur- came over rather to destroy the inhabitants
suing them in disorder, and made a dread- than to reform their morals?
ful slaughter of them. This victory of the   The taking of Waterford was so pleasing
English, though inferior in numbers, was to the king of Leinster, that he testified his
owing to their discipline, and a number of gratitude to earl Richard by renewing the
archers, who discharged their arrows against treaty of alliance he had already made with
an enemy unaccustomed to that manner of him in England; for which purpose he sent
fighting: "Britannici sagittarii, miserandum for his daughter Aoife, or Eve, to come to
in modum, inermes sauciarunt." The sequel *Waterford. The marriage was celebrated
of this victory was highly disgraceful to the with great pomp between her and the earl,
conquerors, who massacred seventy pris- and the king declared them heirs to his
oners, of the first citizens of Waterford. crown.
A council of war was held after the battle,   A first success generally leads to new
on the manner in which they should be enterprises.  The king of Leinster was a
treated.  Raymond, who possessed a noble violent and vindictive prince, and always
mind, was in favor of clemency, but Her- considered himself at liberty to violate the
veius de Monte Maurisco, who had by chance most solemn treaties, when passion orinterest
been present at the battle, having come that required it. The Danes of Dublin were the
morning to pay a visit to Raymond, ha- continual objects of his hatred and revenge.
rangued the soldiers with such effect, that he The treaty he had concluded with them
instigated them to commit the act of cruelty the preceding year, and the presents he reof which the prisoners were the victims. ceived from them, did not prevent him laying
This barbarous conduct of that cruel man siege a second time to their city, with all his
is disapproved of by Stanihurst himself, (who
is in other respects a true Englishman,) and only while fighting, but even conquered and bound,
he says that his memory was detested; he should be put to death.' From that time Hervey
also adds, that no person is so insolent or was loaded with weighty and lasting disgrace and
devoid of pity, as a man of low birth who is infamy, nor could one be found whom this carnage
ed of pity, as a man of low birth who is of the citizens did not disgust. But none is so inraised above his level.*               solent and merciless as a man raised from the dregs
of the people."-Stanihurst, book 2, p. 103.
"'I  consider and command, that an enemy, not




264                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
forces. Asculph, the commander, finding worthy of his character; he said that he
himself unable to support a siege, deputed, was quite regardless of his son's fate, but
with the consent of the principal inhabitants, that if any thing happened to him, he would
Laurence O'Toole, their archbishop, a man take revenge, both on the monarch and his
of high reputation for sanctity, to negotiate whole race; and that his design was, to
a peace with the king. While this holy pre- make himself master of the kingdom before
late was deliberating on peaceful measures he laid down his arms. It is alleged by
with the king in his camp, Raymond le Gros, Staniburst, that Roderick, exasperated at
Maurice Fitzgerald, and Milo Cogan, fol- this haughty reply, caused prince Arthur to
lowed by their troops, entered the city by a be beheaded; but in this he is contradicted
breach, on the 21st of September, and made by Keating and others, who say that he
themselves masters of it, sword in hand, confined himself to threats only, without
sparing neither sex nor age;* thus carrying carrying them into execution.
on the war more like assassins than regular   The severity of the weather having put
troops, violating the rights of men, and an end to hostilities, and the king of Leindisregarding the principle by which all hos- ster's troops being withdrawn into winter
tilities should cease when- a town offers quarters, Dermod repaired to Ferns, where
to capitulate. Such were the fancied masters he died of sickness in the month of May
of refinement, who came to civilize the Irish following, A. D. 1171. He was a man of expeople!                                traordinary height, strong, robust, and warDermod, well pleased with this conquest, like, whose principle was to make himself
left a garrison in the city, the command of more the object of fear than of love, and
which he gave to -Milo Cogan, after which who had lived too long for the good of his
he turned his arms against O'Rourke, prince country. This monster, whose memory must
of Brefny, to punish him for a crime which be abhorred by all true Irishmen, after having
he himself had committed; according to the founded several religious houses, sacrificed
proverb, which says, that " the injured are the country to his revenge, and caused her
generally punished, instead of the aggres- to submit to a yoke which she has never
sors."  The violation of the wife of the since been able to shake off. After the death
prince of Brefny, was revenged on his vas- of the king of Leinster, his father-in-law,
sals by the violator himself.           earl Richard endeavored to get himself deThe monarch of Ireland beheld tranquilly, clared heir to the throne of Dermod, as he
during a whole year, the progress which the was in truth the heir of his tyranny. He led
king of Leinster was making, without taking his troops to the frontiers of Munster, where
any measures to check the course of his vic- they committed great devastation; but was
tories; but finding him to approach his own checked in his progress by the monarch,
borders, and knowing that such an enemy. Roderick O'Connor, who gained several adwhen so near him must-be dangerous, he be- vantages over him, particularly at the battle
came alarmed. The season, however, being of Durlus, or Thurles, in Upper Ormond,
too far advanced to take the field, he sent an where 1700 English were killed upon the
officer to reproach him for the perfidy with spot.*
which he had broken the solemn treaty con-   Henry II., who was at that time in Aquicluded between them in the preceding year, taine, being busily occupied with his contiand to complain that (contrary to its faith nental affairs, and hearing of the success of
and tenor, which he had pledged himself Richard and his other subjects in Ireland,
upon oath to observe) he obdurately per- conceived strong suspicions of the fidelity
sisted in introducing robbers into the country, of the earl, with whom he was already disand thereby disturbed the public peace. The pleased.t  He began to look upon him as an
same officer had orders to tell him, that if intriguing character, desirous of usurping a
he persisted in his course of warfare, means kingdom which he himself had long wished
would be found to constrain him to abandon to unite to his other states.t: He therefore
it, and that the head of his son -Arthur, who published an edict, by which he prohibited
was held as hostage, should answer for it. all intercourse with Ireland, and forbade his
Something more efficacious than threats was subjects to transport either men or provisions
however necessary to be adopted towards a from England to Ireland, under the penalty
man blinded by his passions, and bereft of of being severely punished. He ordained by
every sentiment characteristic of the man of
honor. Dermod's reply to the monarch was  * Gambrens. Evers. cap. 9, page 89,t Guliel. Neubrig. de Reb. Anglic. c. 26. Stanihurst, de Reb. in Hib. Gest. lib. 3.
Stanihurst, de Reb. in Hib. Gest. lib. 3, p. 106. t Keat. Hist. of Ireland.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            265
the same edict, that all his subjects then in tected by walls, or any defence except their
Ireland' should repair on a certain day to valor and their arms; consequently, they
England, under pain of being considered were unacquainted with the use of batteringtraitors and rebels to their king.  The earl rams, and such machinery employed by other
Richard was soon apprized of the proclama- nations to destroy fortified places.
tion, which disconcerted him considerably,   In order to secure more firmly the conbeing altogether opposed to his design. Al- quest of the city, Roderick O'Connor and
though master of Dublin, Wexford, Water- Laurence, the archbishop, wrote to Gottred,
ford; and other places on the coast, he was king of the Isle of Man, to request of him,
unable to retain possession of them without in virtue of the ancient alliance existing bethe assistance of England, of which he saw tween him and Ireland, to send a fleet to
himself thus deprived by the edict.  In block up the harbor of Dublin, and cut off
order to avert the danger consequent on all communication between the garrison and
resisting the king's commands, he assembled England, (which was already interrupted by
the heads of the English colony, who deter- the proclamation of Henry II.;) while on his
mined on sending Raymond le Gros (Fitz- part, he would take care to close every
gerald) to represent to his majesty, that it avenue by land.  These plans appear to
was by his permission Richard and the other have been well laid.  The city was soon
Englishmen had crossed over to Ireland to surrounded by sea and land, and famine was
support tho cause of Dermod, king of Lein- already beginning to be felt by the garrison.
ster; that they did not consider themselves   At the same time, Domnal, son of Derless his subjects there, and that they acted mod the late king of Leinster, more anxious
altogether in his name.                  for the welfare of his country than his father
Raymond being intrustedby the assembly had been, collected a few troops and bewith this avowal of their fidelity, set out for sieged Robert Fitzstephen in the fort which
Aquitaine, where Henry II. still was, who he had built at Carrick, near Wexford. The
gave him an audience; after which the king English  captain having found means'to
returned to England, and appointed him to make his situation known to earl Richard, to
be the bearer of a letter to Richard, wherein Raymond le Gros, (who had lately returned
he commanded the latter to return imme- from England,) to Maurice Fitzgerald, and
diately to England, and render an account the other commanders of the garrison of
of his conduct.                          Dublin, he sent them word, that if he did
About this time, Asculph, chief of the not receive succor before two or three days,
Danes of Dublin, who had escaped with his he would inevitably fall into the hands of his
fleet from the last siege, returned with sixty enemy.  This information, and the unhappy
vessels and a great number of troops, with state of their other affairs, gave them great
the intention of besieging it, and encamped uneasiness; but inspired them with a resobefore the eastern gate, called Dame's-Gate. lution which succeeded to their most sanThe attack was so brisk, that the English, guine desire.  The siege of Dublin had
finding themselves unable to resist the supe- already lasted for two months; the besieged
rior force of the Danes, had recourse to strata- were much weakened, and the besiegers,
gem.  Milo Cogan, who was then governor fearing nothing from an enemy theyintended
of the city, sent out by the southern gate, to reduce by famine, became negligent, and
called St. Paul's, a body of cavalry under too confident of their security, of which the
the command of his brother, Richard Cogan, latter found means to take advantage.  The
to attack the enemy in rear.  The Danes, besieged, having determined to attack the
struck with consternation, thinking it to be besiegers, sallied forth at the break of day,
a fresh reinforcement that had come to the forced the sentinels to give way, and falling,
assistance of the city, took to flight: the sword in hand, on their enemies, who were
slaughter was immense, and the loss of the still in bed and asleep, killed a great number
Danes considerable; their chief, Asculph, of them, and put the rest to flight.*  This
was led captive into the city, and beheaded, victory enabled the English of Dublin to
contrary to the laws of war.             send assistance to Fitzstephen, who was beDublin was attacked soon afterwards by sieged in the fort of Carrick; but the detachthe monarch himself, with as little success
as the Danes.  The art of besieging was  * "They fly on a sudden, armed, out of the city,
then quite unknown to the Irish, who never and fall, sword in hand, on a foe unprepared and half
made use of fortifications. They were accus- sleeping. It cannot cause surprise, if lethargy should
tomed uto fight only in the open field, and have seized on numbers of the besiegers, when none
tomed to fight only in the open field, and were upon guard, and none could foresee that so few
present their bodies to the enemy, unpro- would sally out against an army."-Stan. p. 117.
34




266                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
ment commanded by Strongbow for this ing spread, his English subjects who had
purpose, having been harassed by the Lein- settled in Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, &c.,
ster people in the defiles of Idrone in the came to pay him homage and renew their
county of Carlow, arrived -too late. The oath of allegiance; and their example was
fort of Carrick had been already taken by soon followed by some of the princes of the
prince Domnal, part of the garrison put to country, who had the baseness to submit to
the sword, and the rest (among whom were a foreign yoke, instead of uniting together
Robert Fitzstephen and William  Notton) to preserve their liberty.  Dermod More
made prisoners of war, and brought"to the Mac-Carthaig, (Mac-Carty,) king of Cork,
island of Beg Erin, at a short distance from was the first among these proselytes.  He
Wexford.                                presented himself before the king of EngRichard Strongbow, coerced bythe orders land at Waterford, and paid him homage.
he had just received from his master, Henry   After a conference with his English subII., embarked immediately for England, jects; on the measures to be adopted for the
leaving his affairs in Ireland in a very bad reduction of the island, Henry II. collected
state.  He was presented to the king at his forces and marched to Lismore, where,
Neweham, near Gloucester, where the prince having stayed two days, he set out for Cashel,
was collecting an army for his expedition to and was met upon his march, on the river
Ireland, and was very badly received by Suire, by Domnald O'Brien, king of Thuohim.  The king upbraidedhim bitterly with mond and Limerick, who made a similar
the robberies and devastations he had com- submission to that of the king of Cork, and
mitted in Ireland, inasmuch as, not content their examples were followed by the other
with the honorable conditions which were princes of Munster.  Henry sent detachgranted him by the king of Leinster, he had ments to Limerick and Cork, to secure the
acted the tyrant by usurping the properties possession of those cities; after which, reof others. It might be imagined that this turning to Waterford, he there received the
was the language of a man of honor, who homage of Domnald More Mac-Giolla-Phawould be incapable of committing an unjust druig, (Fitz-Patrick,) prince of Ossory, and
act himself; yet it would be difficult to Malachi O'Faolan, lord of Desie. He treatdecide which of the two was the more ed those princes honorably, made them magworthy character. After the king had given nificent presents, and promised to secure to
vent to his anger and reproaches against the them their possessions and dignities.*  On
earl, he was at length appeased by the sub- the interference of the English, the king remission of this nobleman, and a promise stored his liberty to Robert Fitzstephen,
that he made him of putting Dublin, and whom he had some time before committed
the other places he held in Ireland, into his to prison on account of the complaints which
power. In the mean time, O'Rourke, prince had been made to him of the tyranny of
of Brefny, attacked the English who were this officer over the inhabitants of the counin Dublin.  He attempted to besiege the try.  The conditions, however, on which
city, and having drawn Milo Cogan, the he obtained his freedom were dishonorgovernor, and his garrison outside of the able to the king, and strongly marked his
fortifications, a bloody battle was fought insatiable thirst for the riches of others.
between them, which produced no other Fitzstephen was obliged to give to him the
effect than the loss of many lives. The son town and county of Wexford, which he held
of O'Rourke, having signalized himself by from the liberality of the king of Leinster.
his valor in the thick of the battle, was   Robert Fitz-Bernard being appointed to
mortally wounded, with several of his fol- the government of Waterford, Henry II.
lowers, who sold their lives dearly to the proceeded on his route to Dublin, where his
English, of whom also a great number fell government was acknowledged by several
on the field of battle.*                princes of Leinster, among whom  was
Every thing being ready for the expedi- Morrough Mac-Floinn, prince of Meath.
tion to Ireland, Henry set sail from Milford The king, as an able politician, treated all
in the month of October, 1172, in the forty- these princes with politeness, and loaded
first year of his age, and seventeenth of his them with presents, which blinded them to
reign, with a formidable and well-provided such a degree that they could not perceive
army. He landed safely at Waterford on
St. Luke's day, where he established his  * " Henry received the princes, on their arrival,
head-quarters. The news of his arrival be- with great honor; he promised not only to take
care of their safety, but to advance them in dignity 
and loaded them besides with magnificent presents."
* Stan. de Reb. in Hib. Gest. lib. 3, cap. 123.   -Stan. de Reb. in Hib. Gest. 125.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          267
the chains which he was preparing for them. punished crime. In Spain, Count Julian,
He likewise promised to maintain them in a Spanish nobleman, not only took revenge
the possession of their estates and dignities; on Roderick, his king, who had violated his
but he was too perfidious to keep his word daughter Cava, but sacrificed his country
with them: such has ever been the course to his revenge, by introducing into it the
which the English nation has observed to- Moors, by whom it was afterwards conwards Ireland.                          quered. In Ireland, Dermod, king of LeinRoderick O'Connor, finding himself al- ster, introduced the English, to recover a
most universally deserted, was obliged to kingdom from which he had been expelled
yield to the necessity of the times. Henry for a similar crime to that of Roderick of
sent two noblemen, Hugh de Lacy and Wil- Spain, and caused his country to submit to
liam Fitz-Aldelm, to request an interview a yoke which it has never since been able
with him, in consequence of which the two to shake off.
princes met on the banks of the river Shan-   The success of Henry II. was followed
non, where the time was spent in paying by much trouble and uneasiness. Having
mutual compliments, and nothing was deter- retired to Dublin for the purpose of spendmined upon.                             ing the winter there, the weather became so
The monarch's army was posted in marsh- tempestuous, and the storms so frequent,
es and in woods, where Henry thought it that all communication with England was
imprudent to attack him; but a treaty was broken off, which filled him with apprehenconcluded between them some years after- sions. The martyrdom of Thomas a Becket,
wards at Windsor, during the octave of St. archbishop of Canterbury, happened about
Michael, through the mediation of Laurence, the same time, and the first news which the
archbishop of Dublin, and Catholicus, or king received from England on the return
Codla O'Dubhay, archbishop of Tuam.* of fine weather, was, that Pope Alexander
The copy of this treaty is to be found in III. had sent two cardinals to inquire into
Roger Hoveden, an English writer of the the circumstances attending the murder of
same century, under date of the year 1175.f that prelate, with orders to excommunicate
The conditions were, that Roderick should the king, and put the country under an inpay an annual tribute to the king of Eng- terdict, if he did not exculpate himself from
land, as lord of Ireland; that he should the crime. He also learned by the same
always retain the title of monarch, and that messenger, that in England his son Henry,
the provincial kings should be dependent on whom he had caused to be crowned some
him as previously.1                     time before, had been suspected of enIn his expedition to Ireland every thing deavoring to take advantage of his absence,
succeeded to the wishes of Henry.  In a to stir up a revolt against him, in conjuncshort time he found himself master of a con- tion with his brothers.
siderable part of the island, without shedding   These were powerful reasons for requira single drop of blood. The Hy-Nialls of ing the king's presence in England, notwithUlster alone, namely, the O'Neills, O'Don- standing the design he had formed of remainnels, and other princes of that province, ing for some time in Ireland, and causing
with a few in Connaught,~ (whose minds fortifications to be built, by which means it
were too noble and generous to bend to would be easy, he thought, to keep the Irish
him,) refused to submit to a foreign yoke, in subjection. In order, however, that his
at the expense of their liberty.  This revo- affairs in this island might not be neglected,
lution in Ireland, under Roderick the mon- he confided the command of the important
arch, is very similar to that which occurred posts to men of trust, and set sail for Engin Spain in the beginning of the eighth cen- land during the festival of Easter.
tury, in the reign of Roderick. The names
of the princes are alike, and the causes
were almost the same. Roderick, king of
Spain, lost his life together with his crown,      CHAPTER XVII.
on account of his crimes; Roderick, monarch of Ireland, was dethroned for having   THE Irish nation has, since the 12th century, been composed of two races, namely,
* Baker, Chron. Engl. p. 56.         the ancient Irish, and the English colonists
t War. de Archiepisc. Tuamens.        who established themselves in Ireland after
t Cambr. Evers. cap. 9, p. 89.       that epoch. We have, in the first part of this
~ " Not a dynasty in Leinster, nor indeed in any that epoch. We have in the first part of this
corner of Ireland, except Ulster, which did not sub- history, given an account of the origin and
mit to the sovereignty of Henry." —Stanihurst.  settlement of the ancient Irish in the island,




268                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
and it is but fitting to say something of the the highest degree of praise. They became
origin of the Anglo-Irish, who have played attached to the country of their adoption;
a prominent part in it for nearly 600 years. they united themselves by marriage with the
In doing so, we must consider them both be- natives; they adopted its language and its
fore and since the reign of Queen Elizabeth. manners; and for some centuries past they
The English who passed into Ireland in have formed with the old inhabitants but one
the twelfth century, are called the Old Eng- people, yielding to them neither in zeal for
lish, and sometimes Strongbownians, from their religion, nor fidelity to their lawful
Richard Strongbow, one of their chiefs. In princes.  They have been victims as well
this class, indeed, may also be placed the as the former, and are comprised under the
English who arrived there during the sub- same anathema, as objects of hatred and
sequent period, until the reign of Elizabeth; envy to the English, who think to insult
but both these must be distinguished from them by the taunt that they are " more Irish
the swarm of English adventurers who ar- than the Irish themselves," " ipsis Hibernis
rived in Ireland subsequently to her reign. Hiberniores;" and can boast of a nobility
We must not confound them with the infa- in the island for nearly 600 years, sustained
mous parricides who infested that sacred by their virtue and by their generous sentiisland, after staining their sacrilegious hands ments.  If they rest satisfied to confine
with the blood of their king.          themselves to that limit, (many might aspire
There was nothing culpable in the enter- to higher antiquity,) the period is sufficiently
prise of the first English who landed in Ire- respectable.
land; they presented themselves there much   The leaders of the first divisions of the
less as enemies of the- nation, than as friends force which joined the king of Leinster,
and allies of Dermod, king of Leinster. were Robert Fitzstephen, Hervy de Monte
This prince invited them to aid him in the Marisco, nephew of Strongbow, Maurice
recovery of his kingdom.  He rewarded Prendergast, Maurice Fitzgerald, Barry,
them liberally, and gave them the city of Cogan, Raimond le Gros, and some others.
Waterford, with two cantreds* of land in its They were relatives or kindred, and engaged
environs.  These first concessions were in the same cause, and became possessors
reasonable, being a recompense for the valor of large estates in Ireland.
of their new proprietors; and had they been   The first establishment of Maurice Fitzcontent with them, the Irish would have had gerald was at Wicklow, and in the country
no ground of complaint.  But the success of Ofaly, county Kildare, which was granted
of the first settlers tempted others of the to him by his relation, Richard Strongbow,
English to similar enterprises.  Henry II. earl of Pembroke. The family of Fitzgerald
conducted thither, in the year following, a was, according to Nichols, descended from
powerful band, whom he was desirous to Otho,* an Italian baron, who drew his origin
enrich.  Leinster, Meath, and a part of from the dukes of Tuscany.  The son of
Munster, were parcelled out and sacrificed Otho, named Walter, having passed into
to the ambition of these strangers; and England with William the Conqueror, was
every succeeding age furnished new colo- appointed baron and constable of Windsor
nies, who went to seek their fortune in that Castle, and became possessed of many lordfertile country.                        ships in England. Gerald, the eldest son of
It cannot be asserted that each individual Walter, went, on the affairs of the king, into
in an army, or in a body, which undertakes the principality of Wales, where he built the
the conquest of a country, is noble. There castle of Pembroke: he was generally called
must be among them under-officers and com- Fitz-Walter. The king gave him, as a remon soldiers, who cannot be presumed of ward for his services, considerable estates in
illustrious birth.  Doubtless the majority of Wales, where, having fixed his residence, he
those chiefs who led the English colonists married Nesta, daughter of Rees Gruflydh,
into Ireland, were of noble rank.  They prince of that country. She had been origiwere knights, and the younger sons of fami- nally the concubine of King Henry I., by
lies distinguished by birth and valor, who whom she had a son, who was called Henry.
had retained those lofty and humane senti- The latter was father of Meyler, and Robert
ments which characterize men of worth, and Fitz-Henry, who arrived in Ireland with
(if we must draw a veil over the injustice Richard Strongbow. Nesta was married
of the fathers) their children, at least, merit afterwards to Stephen, constable of the
castles of Cardigan and Pembroke. She had
* A cantred of land1 is a Breton term which signifies a hundred villages.                         * Lodge's Peerage.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           269
by this marriage Robert fFitzstephen, of in the county of Kerry, which formed at that
whom we have already spoken. After the time part of the kingdom of Cork. Reymond
death of Stephen, she became the wife of granted this territory to his eldest son MauGerald Fitz-Walter, and the mother of rice: the latter became powerful. his deMaurice and William Fitzgerald.         scendants took the name of Fitzmaurice,
Maurice left a numerous issue in the prov- and the district was called Clan-Maurice.
inces of Leinster and Munster. John, one Reymond, it is said, had another son named
of his descendants, was created- earl of Kil- Hamon, Hamo, or Heimond, surnamed like
dare in 1316, by king Edward II. Maurice, his father, le Grosse; it is from him that the
brother of John, was made, in the following family of Grace is descended; which is a
reign, earl of Desmond, by Edward. III. corruption of Grosse. This family has been
This house was sacrificed, in the reign of in high repute, for some centuries, in the
Elizabeth, for its attachment to religion and county of Kilkenny, where they possessed
country, and its large estates confiscated and a large district named Grace's country.
bestowed upon English adventurers.  The   The Fitz-Maurices of Kerry were much
house of Kildare is still in being, with the renowned in succeeding ages for their virrank of the premier earldom of Ireland. tues, wealth, and connections. Edmond,
From these two stocks sprung a number of one of the chiefs of the family, was created
distinguished branches, holding large pos- by Henry VIII., in 1537, Baron of Odorney
sessions, and characterized by their high and Viscount of Kilmaule. The sameprince
and generous sentiments.  Of these were gave him, by letters patent, the spoils of
the Fitzgeralds of Laccagh, Allen, Black- several abbeys and religious houses in his
hall, Blackwood, Ballisonnan, Rathrone, district. This noble family often gave proofs
Teiroghan, Windgate, and others in Lein- of their attachment to religion: the Fitzster.  From them were also descended the maurices of Lixnaw greatly distinguished
knights of Kerry and Glynn; the knight themselves in the war of the Confederates
Blanc, who took the name of Fitzgibbon; against Elizabeth; so much that, when prothe Fitzgeralds of Carrigilleere, Carrigro- claiming a general pardon to those who had
han. Castlemore, Moyallow, Rathgrogan, borne arms against her, she made an express
Imolilly, &c., in the county of Cork. Sev- exception of the earl of Desmond, his brother
eral of these noblemen were dispossessed of John, Pierce Lacy, the knight of Glinn, and
their estates on account of their religion, in Thomas Fitz-Maurice, son of the late baron
the various revolutions which happened in of Lixnaw: but Fitz-Maurice got into favor
the country; others among them, by con- again, upon the accession of James I. to
forming to the times, saved the patrimony the throne.
left them by their fathers. William, son of  Historians are not quite agreed respecting
Gerald Fitz-Walter by Nesta, and brother of the origin of the noble family of the Barrys
Maurice Fitzgerald, was father of Reymond in Ireland.*  According to Camden, the
le Gros, or the Fat, who had a great share in Barrys derive their name from an island bereducing a part of Ireland to the sway of longing to Wales, called Barry. That island
Henry II.  Reymond married Basilia, the was so named from Barruch, who having
sister of earl Strongbow.* This count gave lived there in the odor of sanctity, was inhim for a dowry the lands of Idrorre, Fot- terred in it. Others say that the name of
hard, and Glascarrig in the county of Car- Barry is found in a roll of Battle-Abbeyt
low, and named him Constable of Leinster. among the number of those who had assisted
In an expedition which Reymond under- the duke William in the conquest of Engtook against Donald O'Brien king of Lime- land; from hence it is presumed that the
rick, Dermod M'Carty, king of Cork, sent to family of Barry has its origin from Normanask his aid against his son Cormac O'Leha- dy. However this be, William de Barry was
nagh, who rebelled against him. The cause the common ancestor of different branches
of this rebellion of the son, was his father's of that name in Ireland.  He married
weakness in having submitted to Henry II. Angareth daughter of Nesta, and sister of
Reymond did not hesitate; he marched Robert Fitzstephen: he had by her four
against the disobedient son of M'Carty, sons, namely, Robert, philippe, Walter, and
caused him to be arrested, and delivered Girald, or Girard, surnamed Cambrensis, of
him to his father, who ordered him to be be- whom we have spoken in the first part of
headed.  In reward for his services, Rey- this history.  Robert Barry accompanied
mond received from M'Carty a large district
V Nichol's Rudiments of Honor. Brit. p. 837.
e Lodge's Peerage.            t Lodge's Peerage.




270                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Robert Fitzstephen to Ireland; he was   Mr. Carte, in his life of the duke of Orwounded at the siege of Wexford, and was mond, has left us a long dissertation upon
killed afterwards at Lismore.  Philippe de the origin of this family, but it is more calBarry, brother of the latter, crossed into culated to embarrass than throw light on the
Ireland some time afterwards, at the head subject, if there was a necessity for it.
of some troops, to assist his uncle Robert  If Mr. Lodge had condescended to give
Fitzstephen, and Reymond le Grosse,* to in his peerage a more copious and accurate
keep the kingdom of Cork against the efforts genealogy, he would have rendered an imof the Mac-Cartys, its ancient proprietors. portant service to this family. But our auRobert Fitzstephen gave him the lands of thor was as modest as he was learned, and
Olethan, of Muskerry, of Dunegan, and did not wish to undertake the task.  He
Killede, where he built some castles. This has refrained from ascending higher than
donation was confirmed to William, son of the father of Hervy Walter, who was father
Philippe, by king John.  Sir David Barry, to the first grand butler of Ireland.
son of William, was Lord Justice of Ire-   Camden says that the name of Butler is
land. He made war against, the M'Cartys derived from the office of honorary grandand the Fitz-Geralds of Coshbride.  He butler of Ireland; that the Butlers are deincreased his possessions in the county of scended from a sister of Thomas a Becket,
Cork, and became lord of Castle-Lyons, archbishop of Canterbury, and that Henry
Buttevant, and Barrys-court.  This high II. had heaped upon that family, already so
family supported the splendor of their origin illustrious and wealthy in England, possesdown to our time; their attachment to the sions and honors in Ireland, in order to
interest of the English government, partic- allay in some degree the hatred which the
ularly under the reign of Elizabeth, has well murder of that holy prelate had drawn on
earned its favors to them. David Barry, the him.
head of it, already baron of Ibawne, and   William  Dugdale, king-at-arms under
viscount'of Buttevant, was created earl of Charles II., makes mention of Hubert WalBarrymore in 1627 by Charles I.         ter, in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk;
The origin of the Butlers of Ireland is he speaks of five sons of Hervy Walter,
undoubted. The best authors give them an whom he had by Maud, daughter of Theoillustrious descent from Normandy; but the bald de Valoines; also of the extensive inauthor who seems to have best fathomed the fluence of Hubert, one of their sons, archantiquity of that house is Mr. John Butler, bishop of Canterbury, and of the lordship of
resident at his benefice in the county of Preston in Amunderness, in the county of
Northampton.  He makes it a younger Lancashire, which Richard I. gave to Theobranch- of that of Clare, formerly so illus- bald, brother of the prelate, who, according
trious, so numerous, and so powerful in to him, was very wealthy, and had founded
England. According to him, Richard, first monasteries and endowed churches.  He
count of Clare, had two sons. The descend- mentions, likewise, the great wealth brought
ants of the elder took by degrees the surname him by his wife Maud, daughter of Robert
of Clare, from the manor of that name situate Vavasour, and adds, that from one of their
in the county of Suffolk.  The posterity of sons named Theobald, who first took the
the younger, after having borne for some name from the office of grand-butler, the
time the name of Walter, or Fitz-Walter, noble family of Butlers, since earls of Ortook that of Butler, when the office of Grand mond, is descended.
Butler became hereditary in Ireland, and   The same author likewise mentions that
was conferred on them as a favor. They the counts of Ormond are descended by the
enjoyed the same office in England, and in- paternal line from Hervy Walter, premier
herited the land of Baynard Castle, which baron of England in the time of Henry II.
was annexed to it as a perpetual fief.    While Richard Strongbow, earl of PemWhen M. Nichols gives to the family of broke, was supporting the interests of the
Butler a descent from the ancient counts of king of Leinster, and something beyond,
Brionne in Normandy, he must have been Theobald Walter was with Henry II. in
led to think, according to Oldaricus Vitalis, Normandy, where he succeeded in influthat the family of Clare was sprung from encing the prince to restore his favor to
that of Brionne, which house of Brionne, Thomas a Becket, archbishop of Canterbury.
according to the same Oldaric, is descended This holy prelate was his maternal grandfrom the dukes of Normandy.             uncle, Hervy, the father of Theobald, having
been married to Maud, daughter of Theo- 
* Ware's Antiquities of Hib. c. 27.  bald Valoines and of Matilda Becket, sister




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          271
of the prelate. Hubert Walter, brother of Adelm was father to William, known under
Theobald, was one of the successors of his the name of William Fitz-Adelm; he went
uncle Thomas a Becket, in that see.     with Henry II. to Ireland, who confirmed to
After the martyrdom of the primate, which him by charter five military fiefs in a place
happened December 28, 1171, Henry II. called Toth, where the castle of Canice, at
passed overto Ireland, and was accompanied present Castleconnel, is situated; he then
in the expedition by a great number of lords, gave him large estates in Connaught, where
among others, by Theobald Walter.  He the noble family of the Burkes, his descendcontributed to the reduction of a part of the ants, became settled.  William de Burgo,
kingdom; his services merited for him more earl of Ulster, and chief of that family,
and more the favor of the king, who re- having been assassinated in 1333, without
warded him liberally, and bestowed on him leaving any male heirs to succeed to the
large possessions, besides the hereditary of- possession of his estates in Connaught, two
fice of grand-butler in Ireland, a situation noblemen of his name and family made
that his ancestors had filled in England.   themselves masters of all his lands in that
Theobald was powerful in England, and province, and formed two powerful families
one of the wealthiest of the great old feuda- distinguished by the names of Mac-William
tories of the crown, and his descendants Eighter, and Mac-William Oughter, a disenjoyed without interruption during 350 tinction which continued for a long time.
years, the same privileges in that kingdom; These houses produced several collateral
but in 1515 they were reduced to the estates branches, which gave origin to many private
and honors held by them in Ireland only. families.
Thomas, earl of Ormond, who died in that  The sept of the Burkes was honored with
year, left only daughters after him, who four peerages in the persons of Ulysses
brought their English estates to the families Burke, created earl of Clanrickard in 1543,
of St. Ledger and Bollen.  Peter Butler, a by Henry VIII.  Theobald Burke, (commember of the house, found means to possess monly called Tibbod ne Lung, that is to say,
himself of the estates in Ireland, as well as the naval, because he was conversant in
the titles of honor which they bore in that naval pursuits,) who was created viscount
country, and his posterity during the two of Mayo in 1627, by Charles I., both which
last centuries supported the splendor of titles are still in being. There have been
their family from 1515 till 1717, when also two lord-barons in the family, namely,
James, peer of the three kingdoms and duke Castleconnel and Brittas.  These titles do
of Ormlond, having taken measures in oppo- not exist at present in Ireland, but are united
sition to the reigning family, was attainted, in the person of N. Burke, captain in an Irish
and his title and estates confiscated.  regiment in the service of his most Christian
The family of Burkes, otherwise de Bourks, Majesty.
or de Burgo, in Ireland, derives its origin   The noble family of the Lacys in Ireland
from William Fitz-Adelm, one of the first derive their origin from Normandy. Walter
English who landed in Ireland under Henry and Ilbert de Lacy, having accompanied
II.  Fitz-Adelm was descended from Serlo, the duke William into England, they had a
or Harlowen de Bourgo, son of a Norman share in the conquest of that kingdom, where
lord named Eustace. Serlo having espoused they were amply rewarded with donations
Arlotte, mother of William the Conqueror, in lands by that prince.
passed over with that prince into England.  Hugh, grandson of Walter de Lacy, acOf this marriage of Serlo with Arlotte, was companied Henry II. to Ireland in 1172.
born Robert, earl of Cornwall, from whom The king, to reward him for his services in
descended William, who succeeded to the England and Ireland, gave him for the serdignity of the earl. The latter was father vice of fifty knights, the territory of Meath,
to Adelmn and John, who was father to Hu- to be possessed by him and his descendants
bert de Burgo,* Chief-Justice of England in the manner in which it was held by Murand earl of Kent.  He was deprived of his chard O'Melachlin, the ancient proprietor
office, judged by his peers in full parliament, of that county. He left him also all the fiefs
and degraded, for having counselled king which he had around Dublin, and all which
Henry III. to annul the grand charter and he might acquire afterwards. He then named
the privileges of his subjects.         him governor of the city of Dublin, and
Lord Justice of Ireland.  Hugh employed
Cox is not in accordance with Nichols respect- many workmen to build castles; one among
ing the descent of William Fitz-Adelm; we do not
mean-to reconcile them, they may be consulted by whom, named Malva Miadaiah, cut off his
the reader.                             head with the stroke of an axe, either to take




272                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
revenge for'the severity which that noble- at court.*  King Henry III. wishing to inman had practised against his companions, demnify Milo de Courcy, gave him the baror for the injustice done to O'Melachlin, ony of Kinsale in the county of Cork, with
whose patrimony he had seized. Walter the title of baron: this family is still in being,
left two sons named Walter and Hugh; the and enjoys a peculiar privilege granted by
first inherited the lordship of Meath, and King John to Sir John de Courcy and his
the latter was made earl of Ulster, in con- descendants, of remaining covered in the
sequence of the disgrace of Sir John de presence of the king. Genealogists give to
Courcy.  These two lords having left none this family a very illustrious origin.  They
but daughters after them, their vast estates trace their descent in the male line from the
fell into the hands of strangers.       house of Lorraine, of the race of CharleThe posterity of Ilbert de Lacy, of whom magne, and in the female line from the house
we have already spoken, settled in England. of Normandy.
The Conqueror gave to this nobleman the   The Birminghams of Ireland are of Engcastle and lordship of Pontfract in the county lish extraction; they derive their name from
of York, and several estates in the county of the town of Birmingham, in the county of
Lancaster and elsewhere,together amounting Warwick, of which Peter de Birmingham
to the number of 150 lordships in England. was the possessor in the time of HIenry II.
We discover in the county of Limerick, in His son William, or according to others,
Ireland, some families of Lacys, very distin- Robert de Birmingham his grandson, passed
guished for their virtues and attachment to over to Ireland in the twelfth century with
the interests of religion and country, and are Earl Strongbow. This earl gave him conable to trace their genealogy to one or other siderable possessions in Ofaly, particularly
of the two houses of which we have just the barony of Carbry in the county of Kilgiven an account.                       dare.
It was in the reign of Henry II. that the   John de Birmingham, one of the descendnoble family of Nugent established them- ants of Robert, was created knight in the
selves in Ireland.  They are of- Norman fourteenth century, by Roger Mortimer, at
descent, Sir Gilbert de Nugent, with his that time Lord Justice of.Ireland; he was
brothers, having accompanied in 1172 Hugh afterwards made baron of Athenry (in Irish
de Lacy in the expedition to Ireland.*  This Agh-na-Ry) and earl of Louth, for having
nobleman, in gratitude for his services, gave killed in battle Edward Bruce, brother of
him in marriage his sister Rosa, and the the -king of Scotland.  The Birminghams
fortune he received with her was the terri- fiequently filled public offices in the state.
tory of Dealma, or Delvin, in the county of They were invested during some time with
Westmeath, with all its dependencies, to be the title of barons of Carbry.  The house of
held by him and his descendants for ever. Athenry is still in existence, with the title of
Gilbert divided the estate with his brothers premier baron of Ireland.
and other relatives.  From this stock nu-   The noble family of Preston derives its
merous branches, eminent for noble and origin from Robert Prestonj Esq., lord of the
generous sentiments, were produced. The manor of Preston, in Lancashire, England,
chief of the family was first called to par- in the reign of Edward III.  In the year
liament in 1486, in quality of baron of 1470 he was first created knight of the order
Delvin.  His descendants were created of the garter, and in 1477 viscount Gorpeers of the realm, under the title of earls manstown, in the county of Meath, and his
of Westmeath, by James I.               descendants have filled with distinction
The liberality of Hugh Lacy was not places of trust and honor.
confined to the Nugents. He gave estates   Roche, otherwise de la Roche, or de rupe,
to the Tyrrels, the Petits, Nangles, Tuites, i. e. of the rock, lord of Fermoy, in the
Missets, Husseys, Flemings, and to many county of Cork, was created, the same year,
others.                                 viscount of Fermoy.  This noble fatmily is
Sir John de Courcy of Ulster,t (part of descended from Hugh de la Roche, whose
which he had conquered,) was celebrated in ancestors had followed William the Conthe twelfth century.  He left a son named queror into England.  Hugh crossed afterMilo, or Miles, who was deprived of the suc- wards, with Strongbow, into Ireland, in the
cession by his father's disgrace and the in- twelfth century, under Henry II., where he
fluence of Hugh de Lacy, who was a favorite obtained a Cantred, called to this day
Roche's country, with its dependencies.
* Ware's Antiquities, Hib. cap. 27.
t Nichol's Rudiments of Honor.                    e Lodge;




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           273
Ralph, son of Alexander de la- Roche, one take their origin from Michael Fleming, a
of the descendants of Hugh, married, in native of Flanders, whencethe name is taken.
the fourteenth  century, Elizabeth, third He was related to Baldwin, earl of Flanders,
daughter of Gilbert de Clare, earl of Glou- who sent him with some troops to assist
cester and Hereford, to whom Nichols, in his son-in-law, William the Conqueror, in
his rudiments of honor, gives a descent his expedition into England.  After this he
from Charlemagne, through a great number was sent with an army to the north of Engof kings and sovereign princes. Such is the land, to oppose the incursions of the Scotch.
origin of that house, which subsisted in William Rufus subsequently gave him some
splendor until the revolution of Cromwell; estates in the counties of Lancaster and
when David Roche, Viscount Fermoy, sacri- Cumberland, as rewards for his services.
ficed for his loyalty to his legitimate sove- Archibald Fleming, one of his descendants,
reigns, CMarles I. and II., an extensive es- having accompanied Earl Strongbow  to
tate, which still bears the name of Roche's Ireland, received the estate of Slane, in
country.                                the county of Meath, with its dependenThe Barnewalls are from Little Brittany, cies. This family always supported itself
in France, where some of their ancestors with honor in the country.  James Fleming,
were allied to dukes of that province. Hav- lord baron of Slane, was created Knight
ing accompanied William the Conqueror to of the Garter in 1479; and lastly, ChristoEngland, theypassed afterwards with Henry pher Fleming, baron of Slane, signalized
II to Ireland, where they became possessed himself in the revolution, under James II.,
of Beerhaven, and other estates that be- and sacrificed his fortune for the good
longed to the O'Sullivans, in the county of cause.
Cork; but the O'Sullivans, with others of   The noble family of the Plunkets, more
the Irish, having conspired against them, anciently called Plugenets, of Danish exthey were all massacred, except the wife of traction, were established first in England.
the head of that family, who was pregnant They came afterwards to Ireland, under
of a male child at the time, and escaped the Henry II., and settled in the counties of
carnage. This murder happened about the Meath and Dublin.  Many great men were
middle of the fifteenth century, according descended from them, who were remarkable
to a letter from the inhabitants of Cork to for their attachment to the orthodox faith,
the duke of York, as mentioned by Cam- and loyalty to their legitimate princes; this
pion in his history, p. 184. This letter makes family gave many peers to Ireland, viz., the
mention of the Barnewalls, as the possessors barons of Dunsany, of Killeen, and Louth,
of Beerhaven at that time. It also speaks and the earl of Fingal.
of the Irish taking advantage of the disputes   The Dillons* hold a distinguished rank
of some lords in the county of Cork, having among the Irish nobility.  Lodge gives to
fortified themselves in the country, a great this family a very illustrious and ancient
part of which had fallen into their possession. origin.  He says that they are descended
The letter adds, that there remained but from Lochan, or Logan, son. of Hugh Slaine,
Roche, Courcy, and Barry, who possessed of the race of the O'Neills, and monarch of
something of their patrimony.   Madam Ireland towards the end' of the sixth cenBarnewall withdrew to Dublin, where she tury.  Lochan having killed his cousin, Collay in of a son, who raised the family, which man. Kimidh, whom the monarch had united
was almost extinct. He established himself to him in the government, he was named
at Dromenach, in the county of Dublin, and Deloun, or Dillon, which signifies brave or
married a rich heiress, by whom he had two valiant.  In order to escape from the anger
sons; from the elder of whom were descend- of his father, enraged against him for caused the Barnewalls of Crickston, in the coun- ing the death of Colman, Lochan went into
ty of Meath, and the Viscounts Kingsland, foreign countries, and entered into the serand from the younger the barons of Trim- vice of the duke of Aquitaine, at that time
blestown.                               at war with the king of France, and contribThese two houses gave rise to several im- uted greatly, by his valor, to keep that prince
portant branches of the name in Ireland, in his sovereignty.  The duke, to reward
who sustained in splendor the cause of reli- the services of Lochan, gave him his only
gion and of their country, among the sev- daughter in marriage, and by virtue of this
eral revolutions which happened in it.    alliance he became prince of Aquitaine after
The noble family of Flemings in Ireland,* the death of his father-in-law, who left rlo
~ Nichol's Rudiments of Honor.               * Lodge's Peerage.
35




274                          IIISTORY OF IRELAND.
male children after him. The descendants Nettervil viscount of Louth, in the county
of Lochan ruled for a long time in Aqui- of Meath, which house is still in b'eing.
taine. In the twelfth century this family   The family of Bedlows, or Bellews, owe
were dispossessed by William, prince of their descent to Normandy, as appears from
the house of Burgundy. Two male chil- the rolls of the abbey of Hastings.  A nodren of the race of Lochan, Thomas and bleman of that name accompanied William
Henry, were still living. Henry II., king the Conqueror to England, in quality of
of England, having espoused Eleanor, daugh- marshal of his army. His descendants afterter of William, and heiress of Aquitaine, wards proceeded to Ireland, where they esthought it prudent to remove the two young tablished themselves, and still hold large
pretenders to the principality; and in order estates. Sir John Bellew was honored with
to take every opportunity from them of seek- the peerage in 1686, by king James II.,
ing after it, had them conducted to England, under the title of Lord Baron of Duleek,
where he provided for them an education in the county of Meath. This family is
suitable to their birth, and on attaining man- still in being.
hood, Henry received the order of knight-   The Taffes of Ireland are originally from
hood.                                  England; their first appearance in Ireland
Sir Henry Diloune, or Delion, now called was at the end of the thirteenth and beginDillon, was sent to Ireland as first gentle- ning of the fourteenth century. William
man and secretary to John, earl of Mor- Taffe, one of the descendants of the family,
tagne, afterwards king of England. This espoused warmly the cause of Queen Elizaprince gave him the territory of Corkny, beth against the Catholics of Ireland. He
which belonged to Mac-Carron, in West- served that princess with zeal in her last
meath, with a part of Annaly. The do- campaigns in Munster, for which he was
mains of M'Geoghegan and O'Malachlin well rewarded; he received his share of the
extended from the river Shannon, as far as confiscations mlade of the Catholic properCloghanenumore, to the east of Mullin- ties, in that, and in the succeeding reigns..
gar. The family of Dillon became very  James I., wishing to compensate the sernumerous and renowned in the counties of vices of the father, created Sir John Taffe,
Meath, Westmeath, Longford, Roscommon, his son, baron of Ballymore, and viscount
I Mayo, and in other districts of the kingdom. of Coranne, in the county of Sligo, where
The Dillons have filled high places in the the estates of Mac-Donough were given him.
church and state. There were two peerages Theobald, son of John, was created, in 1662,
in the family; Sir Robert Dillon was created earl of Carlingford, in the county of Louth,
baron of Kilkenny West, in 1619, by James by Charles II. Nicholas, son of the latter,
I., and in 1622 the same king created him was the third viscount, and second earl of
earl of Roscommon.  He who ought to be Carlingford; he was killed at the head of
his representative now, and heir to his for- his regiment at the battle of the Boyne.
tune as well as title, is brigadier in the king Francis, his brother, was the third earl; he
of France's armies. The second peerage served with distinction during 30 years in
was given in 1621 to Sir Theobald Dillon, the empire, where he was lieutenant-genwho was created viscount of Castillo-gillen, eral of cavalry, and colonel of the Royal
I in the county of Mayo, by James I. This Cuirassiers. This earl having died without
family is well known in France, where an issue, his nephew Theobald became the
Irish regiment bears the name of Dillon. fourth earl of Carlingford, and the title beIn 1745 and 1747, two brothers of the fain- came extinct by his death in 1738, at Lisle,
ily were successively its colonels, and shed in Flanders. Lambert Taffe, brother of the
their blood at the head of that regiment, in earl, colonel of cuirassiers in the service of
the battles of Fontenoy and Lawfeld, in the the emperor, was killed in 1702, at the faservice of France.                     mous battle of Cremona, where the French
The family of Nettervil is very ancient and Irish tore from Prince Eugene the city
in Ireland; they have their origin from and victory which that general enjoyed for
Charles, duke of Normandy.  Sir Formal a few hours.
Nettervil passed over into Ireland in the   The name of le Poer, at present Power,
twelfth century. He married Phaladelphia, is an ancient one in Ireland.  Sir Roger le
daughter of William Vesey, by whom he Poer entered the country with Strongbow,
had a son named Richard, who espoused in the twelfth century. He accompanied
Catherine, daughter of Sir Hugh de Lacy. the knight Courcy to Ulster, where he shared
This family continued in splendor until the largely in the conquest of a part of that provreign of James I., who created Nicholas ince.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          275
His descendants possessed Curraghmore, Walshes in Ireland, established in France,
Cowleftyn, Gortbady, and other estates in one of whom conducted Prince Edward into
the county of Waterford.  Richard le Poer Scotland in 1745, which would have earned
was created lord baron of Curraghmore, in for him the title of lord. The other has
1452, by Henry II. Another Richard Poer purchased the beautiful estate of Seran in
was created, in 1673, viscount of Desies Anjou, and has been honored by the king
and earl of Tyrone, by Charles II., but of France with the title of count.
the title of Tyrone afterwards passed into   The Warrens-are of Norman extraction.
another family.                         William, count of Warren in Normandy,
A descendant of Roger le Poer, named being allied to the duke of that province.
Eustace, in the beginning of the 14th cen- He was nephew to the countess of Gunnora,
tury founded the illustrious house of Fitz- great-grandmother of that prince. He acEustaces, created viscounts of Baltinglass companied the duke in his famous expedition
by Henry VIII. Under the reign of Eliza- to England in 1066, and distinguished himbeth, this family was sacrificed for their zeal self greatly at the battle of Hastings, which
intheCatholic cause. There aretwo families transferred the crown of England to the
of the name still in being, viz., the Eustaces conqueror.  The king, in consideration of
of Gammonstown, and those of Cradokstown. the services of Count Warren, gave him
Although the following families are not estates and lordships in the counties of Norfound in the list of Irish peers, still there folk and Lincoln.*  He was created in the
are many among them not inferior in either following reign count of Surrey, and the
nobleness of extraction or in those qualities house became powerful in England. William,
which characterize good citizens.       count of Surrey, left after him a son also
The Walshes of Ireland are originally named William, who inhabited his estates
from  Great Britain.  The Britons, says and titles.  The latter had three sons, one
Camden, exhausted by the long war they named William,who succeededhim, besides
were forcedto maintain against the perfidious Reginald and Ralph.  Reginald having esSaxons, were constrained to seek a country poused Alice, heiress of Wirmgay, in the
even in their own. They retired into the county of Norfolk, founded a second family
district that lies west of Britain, since called of Warren.
Wales by the Saxons, and the inhabitants   The descendants of that family removed
Welchmen, which signifies strangers.  A afterwards to Ireland, where theybecame
striking picture of the conduct of the Eng- very numerous and influential, as well by
lish in Ireland, where the ancient inhabitants theirvirtuesas their possessions. In addition
have been treated as strangers among them, to public notoriety, this account is strengthand compelled to obtain letters of naturali- ened by topographical proofs which are not
zation in the country which gave them birth. to be despised. I We discover in the maps on
Two noblemen named Welshes, went to Ireland, places which bear their name in
Ireland in the reign of Henry II.  One of two differentprovinces. The name Warrensthem, called Philip,* was mentioned by Ware town, that is, the town or borough of Waras a valiant young man, from the bravery he ren, is found in the King's county in Leinster,
displayed in a naval engagement with the and in Down in Ulster; clearly indicating
Danes of Cork: the other, named David, dis- the old proprietors. There was a family of
tinguishedt himself particularly at the pas- the name in the county of Meath near Dunsage over the Shannon, when Reymond le shaughlin, who possessed a large estate;
Gros attempted to lay siege to Limerick.   but it has undergone the same lot with
These were the two stocks of the different others, and there remains of these different
families of the Walshes (called by the Irish branches, only Warren of Corduff, near
Brannaghs) established in Ireland.  We Dublin, who still possesses a part of the
discover them in the counties of Kilkenny, family estate.
Kildare, and Dublin,t where the Walshes of   A cursory piece written by Sir James
Carrickmain were lords of Oldcourt. Their Ware, and printed under his own inspection
power, says Camden, equalled their noble- in London, A. D. 1657, gives a very remote
ness in that country.                   origin to the Whites of England and Ireland.
We see, at the present day, two brothers, The venerable Bede, in his ecclesiastical
who are offshoots of the noble family of history of the English nation, supplied him
with the materials for it.t  Ware gives the
* Annal. Hib. c. 5.
t Cox. Hist. of Irel. p. 28.     * Baker's Chron. on the reign of William.
t Camden. Brit                  t Book 1, c. 15.




276                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
opinions of Polidore Virgil, of Speed, Cam- from a barony of Northampton in England,
den, Florentius Wigorn, Gratzius, and others; of which they had been. the possessors in
and from  drawing a comparison of all, he the time of William  the Conqueror.
concludes, with a great probability of truth,   William Wale, son of that ancient family,
that White is a Saxon name, derived from  went over to Ireland in the twelfth century,
Vitus, Wite, or Weight, according to the dif- when Richard Strongbow was invited thither
ferent changes which have occurred to the by the king of Leinster.  In the second
name since the establishment of the Vites division which Strongbow made of the estates
in England, in the beginning of the fifth in Leinster, he gave to William Wale that
century.                                   of Johnstown in the county of Carlow, to
Sir Walter Whyte removed with his bro- reward him for the services he had rendered
thers into Ireland in the time of Henry II.; in the reduction of that district.  This first
his father was governor and justice of South inheritance was afterwards increased by the
Wales, which had then the title of a kingdom. acquisition of other estates, viz., those of
The Whites became settled in different Coolnamuckie, Ballynakelly, in the Queen's
counties of Ireland, where they-held a dis- county, and several others.  This family
tinguished rank among the nobility.  Cam- was distinguishedbytheirvirtues and merited
den, in his description of the country, places the confidence of their sovereigns, who frethem in tile counties of Kildare, Wexford, quently appointed them  to offices of high
and Down.  Among the different families trust in the state; but their attachment to
of the Whites, that of Lexslip ranks the the religion of their fathers caused them to'
highest, from their merits, wealth, and con- share the same lot of many among their
nections.                                  countrymen.  Count Wale, minister to the
Chance has put into my hands some very court of Spain, is descended from this noble
interesting and ancient documents respecting house.*
the Whites in general, but more particularly   The family of the Stacks is of considera branch of that name established in Lime- able antiquity in Ireland.  It derives its
rick, before the revolution fomented in Ire- origin from the ancient Gauls.  Some of the
land by the tyrant Cromwell.  These docu- family having followed the fortunes of Wilments are legally authenticated copies, col- liam the Conqueror into England, established
lated with their originals at Brussels.    themselves in Wales.  It is asserted, that
The first is apatent of the Emperor Max- before the time of Henry II., Mac-Carty
imilian I., written in the Latin language, More had married a lady belonging to it,
dated at Tournay, A. D. 1513. By this patent, and that he brought over with her into Irethe emperor created Dominic White baron land her four brothers, to whom he offered
of Albis, both for himself and his descendants. estates in the county of Kerry.  However
The motives which induced the emperor to this may be, it is certain that the family setgrant the patent are particularized, which tled in the country at a very early period,
are, the origin of the name, taken from Viti, and formed several branches which possessed
a people of Germany, (being attested by considerable property in the neighborhood
letters from Henry VIII. to the emperor;) of Ardfert, as far as the river Smearlagh.
the bravery which that nobleman displayed There is still a district of the country called
at the sieges of Terouene and Tournay; the Poble-Stuckagh, that is, the country of the
goodness of his disposition, and finally the Stacks, who were proprietors of it. This
beauty of his person, a quality hereditary in topographical proof is not to be disregarded,
that family.                               being a public testimony to the antiquity of
The second document is a certificate of the family.  Its alliances too with the best
the earl of Strafford, viceroy of Ireland. families of the province, namely, the Mac9.I t is    dated Dubl  in, 25th December, anno  It is a singular feature in the character of the
1639.  It is followed by another, signed by virtuous and renowned family of the Wales, that the
the bishop of Limerick, the mayor, and other author of this translation is enabled. to bear testimagistrates of that city.  WVe have already mony to the nobleness of sentiment and reputation
noticed the fragment  of Sir James TWare, sustained by their descendants. While residing at
i dated London, 1657.  Charles II., king of Versailles. immediately before the abdication of
Charles X., M. de Wale, captain in the regiment of
England,likewisegaveadiplo.maatBrussels, cuirassiers quartered then in that city, was very
in i658, which is in conformity with those intimately known to him. His father, Count de
now mentioned.  The purport of all is to Wale, was military commander and governor of
authenticate the origin and nobility of this Paris at the particular juncture of Louis Philippe
ancient famiy.   5gaining the throne of France; the de Wales are of
ancient family.                            the Carlist party, taking no place under L. Philippe.
The Wales of Ireland take their origin -P. O'Kelly.
L_ _                                                               __ _




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             277
Mahons, the Fitzgeralds,the McCarthys,the plied exceedingly; several other families
Burkes, the Fitzmaurices, and others, shew sprang from it, viz., the Darcys of Kiltolla,
the consideration in which it was held. The of Clunuane, of Gorteen, and others in Conl
Stacks met the fate of so many of their fel- naught.  Some other families may be introlow-countrymen; their zeal for religion and duced here, which, according to Camden,
attachment to their legitimate monarch, were were of English descent, to wit, the Jordans,
crimes with them  as with others.  They the Nangles of Castlough, and the Prenderwere on these grounds deprived of their gasts of Clan-Moris.
possessions, some under Elizabeth, others   The family of the Aylmers were estabby the usurper Cromwell.  Ponsonby, a lished at Lyons in the county of Kildare,
soldier of fortune and a creature of his, ob- in Ireland, at the end of the thirteenth centained the estates of Stackstown and Crotto. tury.  It is said that they have their origin
To establish the antiquity of the noble from Aylmer, earl of Cornwall in the reign
family of the Darcys in Ireland, it is sufficient of Ethelred, king of England in the tenth
to say that they are descended from Sir century. However this be, history mentions
John Darcy, lord-justice and viceroy in Ralph Aylmer and William  his brother, to
that kingdom in the fourteenth century. The have been in possession of Lyons in the
first stock of that name was Norman de year 1300.  This family multiplied themArcy, who had entered England with Wil- selves exceedingly, and subsequently gave
liam the Bastard. The Conqueror gave him out the collateral branches of the Aylmers
thirty-three lordships in the county of Lin- of Ballykenan, Donadea, Dullardstown, and
coln,* the chief of which was Nocton, where of Balrath.  They were distinguished by
he established his residence; his son Robert their virtues and high connections, as well
succeeded him, and Thomas succeeded the as for their attachment to the Roman Cathlatter.  These noblemen founded and en- olic religion.  The houses of Lyons and
dowed religious houses.  They filled high BalTath are still in being.
places in the military and civil departments,   There are several families of Browns in
and were greatly esteemed by their sove- Ireland.  They are not less respected for
reigns. The name de Areci was afterwards their virtues and nobleness than for their
changed into that of d'Arcy; the accent extraction.  They are of English descent,
was at length suppressed, and at present it is and there is in England a viscount Montague
written Darcy.                           who bears that name.
John Darcy, mentioned above, was fre-   The Browns of Kenmare are estab lished
quently named  lord-justice  of Ireland. in the county of Kerry since the reign of
Edward III. to reward his services gave him Elizabeth.  The first of that noble family
by letters patent the estates of Rathwer and who went to Ireland, was Sir Nicholas
Kildalk, in the barony of Farbile, in Ireland. Brown, of Tataridge, in the county of HertHis first wife was Emelina, daughter and ford.  This family was allied to the O'Sulheiress of Walter Heron.  He had by her livans, McCartys, Fitzgeralds, Butlers, and
three children, John, Eleanor, and Roger; other noblemen of that province.  They
this was the stock of the house of Holder- received the honor of the peerage from
ness.,inEngland. Having become awidower, James II., who' created Valentine Brown
he married Joanna, daughter of Richard baron of Castleross and viscount Kenmare,
Burgh, earl of Ulster, and the widow of in the county of Kerry.
Thomas, earl of Kildare.  He had by this  Some families of Browns were established
marriage a son named Willian,from whom the in Connaught, viz., those of Neal, Westport,
Darcys of Plattin are descended, and those Elystren, and others.  Some also were of
of Dunmow, in the county of Meath; the the counties of Limerick and Waterford;
first were dispossessed in the late revolution we discover a family of the name in the
for their attachment to the loyalist cause.  county of Kildare in possession of the lordThe Darcys of Connaught were a collat- ship of' Castlebrown.
eral branch of the house of Plattin. Nicho-.  The noble family of the Wogans of Rathlas, brother to John Darcy of Plattin, and coffey is well known in that district. They
descended in the fifth degree from John are descended from Sir John Wogan, lordDarcy, lord-justice  of Ireland, having justice  of Ireland  at the close of the
married the daughter'and heiress of O'- thirteenth century.  We find also in the
Duraghy, lord of Partry, in the county of county of Kildare, the Husseys of MoyleMayo, became possessed of the whole for- Hussey; there are also the Husseys of Oldtune of that family.  This branch multi- town, near Kilcock, and some others. Camden places in the same county, the de la
* Dugdale's Baronage of England, b. 2, p. 369.




278                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Hides, theBoiseles, the Suttons, and others.* devills, Jordans, Stantons, Stokes, PasseThese last, as well as the Suttons of Wexford, levys, Copelands, Martels, Logans, Sandals,
have their descent from  Sir John Sutton, and the Camerars, appear to be established.
lord Dudley, viceroy in Ireland in the be- Besides the families mentioned, according
ginning of the fifteenth century.t       to Camden and Ware, the following are disThe family of Devereux, in Wexford, covered to have been found in Ireland in the
have the same origin as the Devereuxs of 12th century, and afterwards in the time of
England, sometime earls of Essex.  They Henry VIII., when they were in possession
are descended fro-m a count d'Evreux in of estates.
Normandy, who was archbishop of Rouen.   In Leinster, the Wolwostons, the PepThe other good families of the county of pards, the Wallases, Blacks, Redmonds,
Wexford are the Sinnotts, Staffords, Chee- Esmonds, Chettens, Tobins, Allens, Gernvers, Furlongs, Fitzharris,  Mastersons, nits, Wades, Sweetmans, St. Logers, Grants,
Hores, Hates, Coddes, Maylers.           Archers, Rochfords, Datons, Rothes, Wares,
In the county of Kilkenny are found the Purfields, Smiths, Cooks, Hooks, Taylors,
Graces, Lovels, Foresters, Shortels, Blanch- Dens, and Archdekins.
fields, Drilands, Comerfords. The Carews   In Munster, there were the Lacys, Canwere established in the county of Carlow, tillons, Mathias, Nagles, Morres, Keatings,
the Herberts, Colbys, Moores, in the King's Johns, Piercies, Comminges, Rices, Moccounty. The respectable family of the Tyr- lers, Cantwels, Stapletons, Mandevills, Lomrels are said to have been first of Castle- bards, Tallons, Golds, Baggots, Bagnels,
knock, in the county of Dublin, and to have Coppingers, Porters, Cosbys, Dennys, Terhad the title of barons.  They were trans- rys, Goughs, Stritches, Pickets, Dondons,
planted afterwards into the barony of Fer- Waters, Skiddys or Squiddys, the Woulfs,
tullagh in the county of Westmeath, where of Tirry-Callane, in the county of Clare.
they supported for a long time the noble- In the county of Galway, we see the Blakes,
ness of their origin.4                   Keerevans, Lynches, Frenchs, Bodkins,
There  are, in the county of Dublin, Martins, Craftons, and others.
the Talbots, of Malahide, who are yet in   In Meath are found the Everards, Garbeing, the Holywoods, Lutterells, Burnills, lands, Griffins, Biataghs, Dungans, Ivers,
Fitzwilliams, Gouldings, Ushers, Caddels, Dardis, Ledwidges, Pallas, Allens, Deases,
Finglas, Sarsfields, Purcels, Blackneys, Cheevers, Dowdals, Cruces, Malpas, and
Cruces, Baths, and others.               others: and lastly, a family named DromThe county of Meath, besides titled fami- golds, in the county of Louth.
lies, contains the Husseys, barons of Galtrim, Cusacks, and Garvys. InWestmeath,
the Petits, Tuites, Nangles, Daltons, and
other names may be discovered.
In the county of Waterford, an ancient            CHAPTER XVIII.
family named Strange is established. They
are descended from Sir Thomas Strange,{ HENRY II.,having received the submission
a deputy in Ireland in the 15th century. of some of the principal lords in Ireland,
This family was transplanted by Cromwell established a colony of English in Leinster;
into Connaught.  According to Camden, and having settled governors in the importthe Hurleys, Chaceys, Suppels, Purcels, ant places, (as has been observed in the
all of English origin, are to be met with in preceding chapter,) sailed for England duthe county of Limerick.                  ring Easter, A. D. 1172.* He went afterwards
The expedition which Sir John Courcy to Normandy, wherehis son Henry, to whom
conducted into Ulster, afforded an oppor- he had given a share in the government some
tunity to some English families to establish time before, rebelled like a second Absalom
themselves in that province. In the county against his father and benefactor. The king's
of Louth, the Verdons, Tates, Clintons, debaucheries were in agreat degree the cause
Dowdals, Gernons, Hadsors, Wottons, Bran- of this revolt.  Eleanor, his queen, jealous
dans, Moors, and Chamberlans, are to be of the number of concubines he supported,
found; and in the county of Down, the in violation of all conjugal fidelity, excited
Russels, Audleys, Savages, Ridells, Man- her son Henry, who had been crowned with
Marguerite, his princess, daughter of Louis
~ Dugdale's Baronage, book 2, p. 215.
t Ware's Annals.
t Camden's Description of Ireland.     * Christophori Pembrige Annal. Hib. h Camd.
~ Ware's Annals.                     edit. ad calcem Britan.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                                279
VII., to lay claim to his father's throne.* with its dependencies, extending to Kildare
This young prince was abetted in his rebel- town, which gives name to the country, and
lion by his brothers, Richard and Geoffroy, which formerly belonged to Mackelan, were
and supported by his father-in-law, Louis given to Maurice Fitzgerald, together'with
VII., and Philip Augustus, his son and suc- the town of Wicklow. This concession was
cessor. The consequences of this rebellion, confirmed, after the death of Maurice Fitzwere the invasion of his states by the neigh- gerald, to his son, by King John, the charter
boring princes, and by his own subjects; of which is in Bermingham tower, in Dublin.
the taking of Verneuil in Normandy, in the   In this distribution of the properties of the
time of Louis VII., and of Mans, his native Irish, Walter Ridelesford had the district of
city, under Philip Augustus.  So strongly Omorthy, in the county of Kildare, near
was he affected by the loss of Mans, that he Castledermot, given him; Vivian de Cursun
cried out in blasphemous imprecations, " I received the district of Ratheny, near Dublin,
shall no longer love God, who has permit- (formerly the patrimony of Gilcolmn;) John
ted that I should be deprived of a place so Clahul, the lands extending from Aghavo,
dear to me."                               in Ossory, as far as Lechlin, with the office
Henry II. was too busily employed on the of Marshal of Leinster; and Robert Bercontinent, to attend to the affairs of Ireland mingham  got, as his portion, O'Faly, that
himself.  As a skilful politician, he consid- is, that part of the domain of O'Connor Faly,
ered it necessary to induce his English sub- in the county of Kildare, extending towards
jects, whom he had left there, to support his the river Boyne.  Adam of Hereford, one
interests for the sake of their own.  Among of his favorites, obtained extensive possesthe English chiefs he divided the lands of sions, which are specified  in an ancient
those princes who had just acknowledged registry in the monastery of St. Thomas,
his dominion by a voluntary submission, Dublin: namely, a territory in the county
violating thereby the treaties and solemn of Kildare, near the waterfall called the
promises -which he had made to maintain Salmon leap, on the river Liffey, at present
them in their wealth and dignities.        the barony of Salt; the lands of Cloncoury,
Notwithstanding the jealousy which the Kille, Houterard, and the district of Donsuccess of Richard Strongbow, and his alli- ning, with its dependencies.  Adam, who
ance with the royal house of Leinster, excited never had or would have been so rich in his
in Henry, he granted to this nobleman, as own country, sent to England for his broa military tenure, the entire of the country, thers John and Richard, the better to defend
except Dublin and other maritime towns, himself against any attempts of the ancient
with their dependencies, and the strong proprietors.  With them he shared the proplaces, which he reserved for himself.t perty thus obtained, reserving to himself the
This donation was afterwards confirmed by territory of Salt and its dependencies.
a charter granted by King John to William    Strongbow likewise conferred on Milo
Marshal, earl of Pembroke, who had mar- Fitzdavid the district of Overk, in Ossory.
ried Isabella, daughter and heiress of Earl He made some other grants also: namely,
Richard. The copy of this charter is among the lands of Arde to Thomas Le Fleming;
the archives in the tower of London.       to Gilbert Borard, those of Ofelmith; to a
Strongbow found himself enabled, through certain knight* called Reinand, fifteen milithe liberality of his prince, to be generous to tary fiefs along the sea-shore; and to one
his favorites, and created vassals for himself Robert, son of Richard, who was afterwards
by sub-infeudations.  He first gave to Ray- killed in Connaught, the barony of Norragh,
mond, who had married his sister Basilea,
the lands of Fothert, Odrone, and Glascarig;    The word knight was anciently called Miles.
to his cousin Hervey, surnamed de Monte Knights, in general, had neither regiments nor even
Marisco, the district of Obarthy; to Maurice companies; they were commonly volunteers, formed
Prendergast the lands of Fernegenelan; to into corps like our Gendarmes. It is not easy to
Myler Fitzhenry the district of Carbry, at decide what was the pay of a knight: Sir John
present a barony in the county of Kildare  Davis, in his historical narrative, wherein the difconsieraesntbaown in this country, o; ferent ranks of officers who accompanied Prince
Naas, a considerable town in this country, Lionel, son of Edward III., to Ireland, in the fourteenth century, are given, makes it two shillings a
day. Troops were not raised in those times in tLye
* Baker, Chron. Engl. p. 54. Abridg. Chron. of name of the king, nor by commission, as at prethe Hist. of France, on the reign of Louis.VII., sent; but the lords had to supply forces for their
and Philip Augustus.                       prince, in time of war, either by paying a sum of
t Stanihurst, de Reb. in Hib. Gest. lib. 3. War. money, or by a portion of land, the proceeds of
de Antiq. Hib. cap. 27. Idem. in Annal. cap. 3.   which were to be applied to that purpose.




280                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
on the river Barrow, in the county of Kil- of Meath,* overwhelmed with grief at the
dare.  At length the earl having come to hostilities exercised against his native counFerns, gave his naturaldaughter in marriage try, came to Dublin, to Lacy, to complain
to Robert de Quincy, with the district of of the outrages perpetrated. in Meath and
Daffren as a dowry, and afterwards appointed other districts.  These two lords, unable to
him constable of Leinster.  After the cele- bring their diffterences to a conclusion in
bration of the nuptials, the earl departed for Dublin, agreed to meet at Tara, in Meath,
Kildare, whence he;set:outv' e beginning and explain  matters more fully, in order to
of the year, at the head of a tho:nd horse bring about a reconciliation.  The number
and foot soldiers, to invade the possessions of persons that were to accompany each
of O'Dempsy, in Offaly, where he pillaged party was fixed upon, and also the kind of
and burned some villages, and carried off arms they were to carry.
considerable booty to Kildare; but he had   The prince of Meath inveighed loudly at
the mortification to lose Quincy, his son-in- their conference, against the injustice of the
law and general, who was killed at the head king of England, who, notwithstanding the
of his troop in a defile, where he was at- promises he had given of supporting him in
tacked by O'Dempsy.  Quincy left an only the possession of his wealth and dignities,
daughter, who was afterwards married to had sent robbers to invade his patrimony;
Philip, son of Maurice Prendergast.        and who, although avaricious and sparing of
However weak Henry II.'s claim may his own possessions, was lavish of those of
have been to the province of Leinster,* he others, and enriched libertines and proflihad still less to the territory of Meath, which gates, who had consumed the property of
had been for many ages the domain of the their fathers in debauchery.  However just
monarchs of Ireland, and in no way de- these reproaches were, it may be readily
pendent upon Leinster.  Nevertheless, by inferred that they were not palatable to De
a charter, dated at Wexford, he granted this Lacy.  He was highly offended with the
extensive territory to Hugh de Lacy, (on rebuke, but still dissembled-for the moment.
condition of keeping fifty knights for his   Stanihurst, who was in heart as much an
service,) and to his descendants, as pos- Englishman. as if born in London, -being
sessed by Murchard O'Melaghlin before him. desirous to cast a doubt upon the honnor of
This grant was confirmed in favor of his O'Melaghlin, dares to affirm that this prince
son, Walter de Lacy, by King John, as we had posted at the foot of the hill on which
discover by a charter, among other registries the conference was held, a, body of armed
in the tower of London; whereby he added men, ready to appear on the first signal.t
some other fiefs which belonged to the He also adds, that the prince of Meath struck
crown, in the territory of Fingal, near Dub- De Lacy with an axe, and that missing him,
lin, to the grants made by his father Henry.t he killed his secretary.  The same author,
To secure himself in the possession of however, acknowledges that there was a
Meath, Hugh de Lacy exercised unheard-of body of English, well mounted and armed,
cruelties upon the inhabitants of the country. lying in ambush at a short distance from the
Not content with depriving the old proprie- place of meeting, to await the event; and
tors of their possessions, he caused a great in order to warrant such precaution, he artnumber of them to be massacred. He after- fully introduces a dream, that he said Griffin,
wards penetrated into the territory of Annaly, brother of Raymond le Gros, had, which
(Longford,) sword in hand, where he cor- portended evil to De Lacy.  However this
mitted horrible devastations, and killed, in a be, O'Melaghlin was struck by Griffin with
skirmish, Donald O'Ferral, prince of that a poniard in the back, as he was mounting
country.  O'Melaghlin, hereditary prince his horse; and was then beheaded,:and his
body interred with the feet upwards. This
head was sent to Dublin, and thence to
X The right of Henry II. to the crown of Lein- England, as the head of a traitor and a rebel.t
ster was founded upon the settlement, only, which
the king of this province had made of it on Richdard
Strongbow, in consequence of the assistance he had   * The same as we have in another place called
given him in the recovery of it, and the forced ab- Mortough Mae-Floinn, father of ierforguill, who
dication which Strongbow had made in favor of had married O'Rourke, or O'Rork.
Henry II.                                   t De Reb. in Hib. Gest. lib. 3, page 133.'t The military fief was a certain portion of land,  t The English had scarcely set their foot in Ireproducing twenty pounds a year; the county com- land, when they began to treat the natives, who so
prised about twenty military fiefs, and the barony justly defended their homes against them, as rebels
nearly thirteen.-Selden. Titul. Honor. part 2, Such has been always since the manner in which
cap. 5.                                   that imperious nation had acted.  This cannot




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           281
Stanihurst, who mentions O'Rourke to have   In the year 1172, died Giolla Ada O'Mubeen prince of Meath, ascribes this catastro- gin, bishop of Cork, and previously abbot
phe to him. The tyranny of De Lacy drew of the abbey of St. Finbar near that city, a
on him afterwards the execration of all good man distinguished for his piety.  About the
men, and merited for him a violent death in same period Dubhay, archbishop of Tuam,
the end.                                convoked a provincial council in that city.
This English nobleman, eager to have his This prelate consecrated three churches at
vassals, divided Meath into dynasties, which the time mentioned.*
he conferred on his favorites.*  To Hugh   The king of England finding himself hard
Tirrel, his friend, he gave the territory of pressed by his enemies in Normandy, A. D.
Castleknock; and to William Petit, that of 1173, sent in the month of April, in the year
Castlebreck.  He also granted to the latter, following, an order to Earl Strongbow, to
according to an ancient charter, the lands of repair immediately to him with all the forces
Magherithirnan and its dependencies, ex- he could collect.t Having placed garrisons
cept the lake and town, called Dissert. To in the towns and castles which were in the
Meiler Fitzhenry, he gave the lands of Mag- power of the English, the earl obeyed with'
heran, Rathkenin, and the cantred of Athi- alacrity, and set out with a few chosen troops
norker; to Gilbert De l'Angle, or Nangle, for Normandy, where, Regan says, he rethe land of Magherigallen; to Joceline, son mained for some time as warden or governor
of Gilbert Nangle, the town of Navan, and of Gisors. The king, however, who knew
the lands of Ardbraccan; to Robert De that his sway in Ireland was not firmly estabLacy, those of Rathever; to Richard Tuit, lished, desired that Strongbow should reand Richard De la Chappelle, he gave turn thither as chief-justice or viceroy, in
several districts; to Galfrid Constantine, order to keep his new subjects firm in their
the lands of Kilbixy and Rathmarthy, near allegiance to him. The earl, in obeying the
the river Inny.  A charter granted by Wal- king's orders, represented to him, that as
ter De Lacy, son of Hugh, treats more great envy prevailed among his countrylargely of this grant; according to it, it con- men, it was necessary he should have a colsisted of five fiefs in the Theof of Kilbixy, league to be witness to his administration,
with a castle, and of fifteen in the district of in order to remove any suspicions which
Conemake (Conmacne) in the neighborhood might attach to his conduct; and required,
of the castle, beyond that river.  To Adam therefore, that'he would send Raymond Le
De Feipo, Gilbert De Nugent, William De Gros with him to Ireland.  The king was
Misset, and HughlDe Hose, he granted ex- much pleased by this apparent modesty, and
tensive possessions; namely, to Adam De granted his request; and as a stimulus to his
Feipo, the territory of Skrine, in Meath, zeal in his service,he gave him in perpetuity
with the fiefs of Clontorht, and Stantreff, the town of Wexford and the castle of
near Dublin, as appears by the copy of the Wicklow.
charter, which has been preserved in aregis-   On Strongbow's return to Ireland with
try in the monastery of the blessed Virgin, Raymond, Hugh De Lacy gave him up the
near Dublin. To Gilbert Nugent he granted city of Dublin, where he was joyfiully rethe district of Dealbna, (Delvin,) which had ceived. At the same time Robert Fitzbertill then been the patrimony of the O'Finel- nard, Robert Fitzstephen, and  Maurice
lans, with its towns and dependencies, ex- Prendergast, were ordered to proceed to
cept the town of Torrechelasch, belonging England, where they joined the English
to the abbot of Foure. Lastly, he conferred army, and defeated Robert, earl of Essex,
on Misset the lands of Luin; on Hose, or who had revolted against the king.  The
Hussey, the whole district of Deldies, for- earl was made prisoner, and brought over
merly belonging to Schaclin, or Moelsachlin; to the king, who was still in Normandy.
on Adam Dullard, the lands of Dullenvarthy;   In the mean time, the Irish, convinced of
on one Thomas, the lands of Cramly, Tim- the injustice and tyranny which the English
lath-Began, east of Kenlis, Lathrakalim, exercised among them, began to have reand Sendevonath; and  on Richard Le course to arms, to defend their properties,
Fleming, he bestowed the lands of Cran- and revenge the loss of their liberty. The
don.                                    present they thought a favorable opportunity for their purpose. The affairs of the
he wondered at, since in latter times we find that
their writers look upon those troops as rebels, who  X War. de Episc. Corcag. Idem. de Archiep.
supported the cause of their lawful prince, James Tuam.
II., against a usurper.                   t Stanihurst, ibid. lib. 3. War. de Annal. Hib.
X War. de Antiq.                      cap. 5.
36




282                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
strangers were in a bad state, and part of one whose memory was always held in high
their army absent; the exchequer was drained veneration for his eminent virtues; Celestiby the imprudence of Strongbow, and those nus, or Hyned O'Ronan, bishop of Glendato whom it had been intrusted; the troops lough; and Melissa Mac-Award, bishop of
were in want of every thing, and began to Clonfert.  Dunleve, prince of Ulidia, was
mutiny against Hervey De Monte Marisco, likewise killed byhis own subjects; and was
who commanded them in the absence of succeeded in the government of his princiRaymond Le Gros. He kept his men under pality by his son Roderick.
severe discipline, and was obnoxious to the   After Raymond's retirement to Wales, the
soldiery, from his desire to restrain them in army being without a chief, Strongbow aptheir thirst for plunder. In order to allay pointed Hervey to the command.  This
among the troops a discontent which might general, desirous of trying the success of an
be attended with dangerous consequences, incursionupon Limerick, collected the troops
Strongbow gave the command to Raymond, of Waterford and Dublin, and marched towho possessed their confidence, and they wards Cashel; but being met by the monthen left the fortresses to go in quest of arch, Roderick O'Connor, at Durlas Hyplunder. Raymond led them into the ter- Ogarta, at present Thurles, in the territory
ritory of Desie, belonging to the O'Faolans, of Ormond, his army was completely deand from thence to Lismore, where they laid feated, and seventeen hundred English left
waste the whole country. The booty was dead upon the field.*  Ware ascribes the
so considerable, that he was obliged to dis- glory of this action to Donald O'Brien, king
patch part of it by sea to Waterford, under of Limerick, and calculates that the loss of
the command of Adam De Hereford, A. D. the English was not so considerable. Strong1174.                                  bow was so much affected by the disaster,
The Danes of Cork, determined to inter- that he kept himself secluded for some time
cept this convoy, equipped thirty-five vessels at Waterford, without seeing any one.
and attacked the English fleet. They, how- Animatedby this success, Roderick marchever, lost the victory through the valor of ed at the head of his army into Meath,
Philip Walsh, who leaped, sword in hand, which was then in possession of the English;
on board the admiral's ship, and killed Gil- pillaged and burned their habitations, and
bert, son of Turgesius, who commanded the laid the whole country waste. Hugh Tyrrel,
Danes, when the latter, finding themselves governor of this part of the country, in the
deprived of their chief, thought prudent to absence of De Lacy, who was in England,
withdraw, and De Hereford continued his finding himself unable t, oppose so superior
course to Waterford. In the mean time, an army, led his troops towards Dublin, and
Raymond with difficulty marched his army destroyed the fortifications of Trim  and
thither by-.land, with the remainder of his Duleek. According to Regan, the allies of
spoils from the province, consisting chiefly Roderick in this expedition were, beside the
of cattle, to the number of four thousand. princes of Connaught, O'Melaghlin, prince
He had to contend with Derrmod, king of of Meath, O'Neill, prince of Tyrone, and
Cork and Desmond, who opposed him in his others.
march. On his arrival at Waterford, he   Strongbow's alarm, while he remained
received intelligence of the death of his secluded at Waterford, was greatly increased
father, William  Fitzgerald, which obliged by the intelligence he received of the loss of
him to cross over into Wales; but others Meath. The natives were rising on every
say that displeasure caused his sudden de- side, as well as the Danes who inhabited the
parture. According to Regan, he loved coasts, and he saw himself on the eve of
Basilia, sister of Earl Strongbow, who re- sharing the evil fortune of his countrymen.
fused her to him, and also the office of con- In order to avert the danger, he consulted
stable of Leinster, during the minority of with his friends, and wrote to Raymond,
Quincy's daughter, which made him adopt who had withdrawn the preceding year into
that line of conduct. He retired to the cas- Wales, an affectionate letter, in which he
tle of Carew in Wales, and determined to represented the unhappyposture of his affairs
lead a private life.                   in Ireland, and entreated him to return imThis year was remarkable for a plague mediately with some assistance to extricate
which desolated the provinces of Munster him from his embarrassments; proposing, as
and Connaught, and for the death of the an inducement, to give him his sister Basilia
following illustrious personages: Maurice
O'Coffy, bishop of Derry, (where he was  * Cambrens. Evers. cap. 9, page 89. Annal.
interred, in the monastery of St. Columb,) c. 6, regnant. Hen. II.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           283
in marriage, with whom he knew that he was  In the same year died Gelasus, archbishop
deeply in love. It may be easily inferred, of Armagh, and primate of Ireland; Eleuthat Raymond felt pleased with a proposal therus,bishop of Clogher, in Meath; Melissa
that flattered both himself and his inclina- O'Conactain, bishop of Elphin; Patrick
tions. Without loss of time, he, in concert O'Bannan, formerly bishop of Connor, who
with his cousin Milo, collected thirty young had retired to the abbey of Hy-Collum-Kill;
men of his own family, who were desirous and Florence, or Flamin O'Gorman, a celeof making their fortunes,* and one hundred brated professor in the university of Armagh.
horsemen, besides three hundred foot-sol-  We discover at this time many celebrated
diers, and with this force he embarked for writers in Ireland, even before the arrival of
Ireland. On his arrival at Waterford, finding the English.  Giolla, or Gilbert, bishop of
the inhabitants ready to attack the place, he Limerick, wrote some epistles, and a treatise
facilitated Strongbow's escape, and brought on the state of the church, which Usher
him to Wexford. After this retreat of the deemed worthy of being published.* Celsus,
earl, the Danes made themselves masters of or Celestinus, archbishop of Armagh, wrote
the city, and put the English to the sword, an abridgment of theology, which, accordwithout sparing either age or sex; but being ing to Ware, was published at Vienna.
unable to force the tower of Reynald, which According to Bede, he wrote several letters
part of the garrison had shut themselves up to Malachi, and certain ordinances, which
in, and defended with obstinacy, the Danes, were probablythose enacted in the celebrated
dreading the consequences of their rash synod held at Usneach in 1110, or 1112, in
enterprise, surrendered the city on unfavor- the reign of Moriertach O'Brien.
able terms.                               Malachi O'Morgain, archbishop of ArEarl Strongbow was not unmindful of his magh, wrote many epistles to St. Bernard;
promises to Raymond; he sent to Dublin he gave a compilation of the general statutes,
for his sister Basilia, and their marriage was and wrote laws on celibacy; besides tradicelebrated with great pomp at Wexford. tions, and the life of St. Cuthbert, which he
Raymond was immediately appointed con- dedicated to David, king of the Scots. A
stable of Leinster, in the room of Hervey, prophecy respecting the popes is ascribed to
by whom that office had been held since the him, which was published by Arnold Wion,
death of Quincy.                        in his Lignum Vite.
Raymond now began to collect his forces,  Tundal, or Tungal, a native of Cashel or
and putting himself at their head, led them, Cork, in Munster, flourished about the year
by order of Strongbow, towards Meath. 1159. He had frequent visions, which he
lRoderick's army was already weakened by himself, or some other person for him, has
the retreat of his allies after the reduction described. They are quoted by Tinmouth
of the province, so that his own troops alone and Vincent, and are preserved in manuremained, with whom, according to Cam- script in the library of the university at
brensis, he retired into Connaught, finding Oxford.
himself quite unable to keep the field against   Congan, a Cistertain monk, lived in 1150.
a general of Raymond's high military repu- It is said that he wrote the life of Malachi,
tation. Regan, in whom more reliance can archbishop of Armagh, and some epistles to
be placed than in Cambrensis,t asserts that St. Bernard. It was at his request that this
the earl was there himself; that having saint composed the life of Malachi, as appears
attacked Roderick's rear-guard, one hundred by the preface, in which he styles him his
and fifty men were killed; and that having reverend brother and dear friend. It is
reinstated Tirrel at Trim, he returned to said that he also wrote the acts of St. BerDublin.  However this be, it is certain that nard.
the English remained in possession of Lein-   Maurice Regan, secretary and interpreter
ster and Meath.                         of Dermod Mac-Murrough, last king of
In the course of thisyear, Hervey de Monte Leinster, lived in 1171.  He wrote with
Marisco married Nesta, cousin to Raymond, care a history of the affairs of Ireland in his
and daughter of Maurice Fitzgerald; and time, which was put into French verse by
the earl gave his daughter Aliva in marriage one of his friends, and translated into Engto William Fitzgerald, eldest son of Maurice. lish by Sir George Carew, president of Munster in the reign of queen Elizabeth.
* Ireland was at that time another Peru for the  In this century, Concubran wrote three
English, who were poor. The law which forbids books on the life of St. Moninna, or Modwen,
us to usurp the goods of others, had no weight
among them.
t He was a near relative of Raymond's.          * Vet. Epist. Hih. Syllog.




284                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
a virgin.  He composed also two hymns in English were practising in Ireland, and findher praise.  The original of these works is ing it impossible to put an end to the disin the Cottonian library, from whence Ware orders, judged it prudent to yield to the nesays he obtained the copy. There is, in the cessity of the times by a voluntary submissame library, another  manuscript, on the sion to the king of England.  For this purbirth and dignity of St. Cuthbert, composed pose he-sent to him, as ambassadors, Catholaccording to the ancient histories of Ireland, icus, archbishop of Tuam, Concord, abbot of
by Eugene, bishop of Ardmore, a suffragan St. Brendan of Clonfert, and Laurence his
of Cashel.                               chancellor, who were received by Henry on
Mathew O'Heney, archbishop of Cashel, the 8th of October, 1175, at Windsor, where
lived about the end of this, and perhaps in he was holding his parliament.*  The king
the beginning of the following century. of England, flatteredbythis embassy, granted
Among other things, he wrote the life of peace to Roderick, with the title of tributary
St. Cuthbert, bishop of Lindisfarn, and some king, which was transmitted to some of his
epistles to the popes Celestinus III. and In- successors. His son is called king of Connocent III.                             -naught, in a roll in the tower of London,
About this time, says Ware, following dated the sixth year of the reign of John.
the English authors, by whom alone it is In the fifth year of the reign of Henry III.,
mentioned, Henry II. sent Nicholas, prior he sent letters patent to the kings of Conof Wallingford, afterwards abbot of Malms- naught and of Kinel-Ean.  Mathew Paris
bury, and William  Fitz-Adelm to Ireland, mentions, in the year 1240, the dispute beA. D. 1175, with the bull of Alexander III., tween Fedlim. O'Connor and John de Burwhich they say was read and approved of go, and the complaints which the former
in an assembly of bishops at Waterford. made to Henry III. in presence of his court,
This bull, according to them, confirmed that in London;t this historian calls him king
by which Adrian IV. had already granted of that part of Ireland called Cunoch, (Conto this prince the title of lord of Ireland, and naught.)j  Lastly, Henry III. granted to
other privileges.*                       O'Brien, by charter, the lands of Thuomond,
Strongbow being anxious to paralyze the with the title of king.  There is no charter
efforts which Donald O'Brien, king of Lim- to be found respecting Ulster, the kings of
erick, was making in that country, sent Ray- which had not as yet submitted to the Engmond with forces sufficient to reduce the lish yoke.
capital in which he had taken shelter.  On   About this time the kings of England behis way he met Donald Mac-Giolla-Phad- gan to nominate to the vacant benefices in
ruig, (Fitzpatrick,) prince of Ossory, the that part of Ireland which was under their
avowed enemy of Donald O'Brien, whojoined dominion.  Hoveden says that Henry III.
him in his expedition. Limerick was, at the had appointed to the bishopric of Waterford,
time, open, and without fortifications; the Augustin, an Irishman by birth, and that he
great difficulty being in crossing the river sent him  to Ireland with Laurence, archShannon, by which it was surrounded. This bishop of Dublin, to be consecrated by Dowas removed by the intrepid boldness of natus, archbishop of Cashel.  According to
David Walsh, a young man of Wales, and annalists, Flathbert O'Brolcan, bishop of
nephew to Raymond; he swam across the Derry, Malachi, or Melissa Mac-Inclericuit,
river, and by the goodness of his horse, sur- and Gelasus Mac-Cormac, both successively,mounted the danger caused by the rapidity bishops of Down, died during this year.
of the waters.  This example was followed O'Brolcan was celebrated for his learning
by the army, part of whom crossed by swim- and generosity; he resigned the episcopal
ming also, and the remainder by a ford. see of Derry a short time before his death,
When the English reached the opposite
bank, they repulsed a detachment of the  "* This was the final agreement made at Windsor,
garrison which had made a sally against on the 8th of October, 1175, between Henry, king
them, and pursuing that portion of it now of England, son of the Empress Matilda, and Rodin disorder, made themselves masters of the erick, king of Connaught, through Catholicus, archcity.  It was then given up to pillage, and bishop of Tuam, Concord, abbot of St. Brendan,
city. It was then given up to pillage, and and Laurence, chancellor of the king of Connaught,
Raymond, having placed a garrison in it, viz., that the king of England granted to the aforeunder the command of Meyler de St. David, said Roderick, liege king of Connaught, that he
returned to Wexford.  Roderick O'Connor shall continue king under him so long as he shall
witnessed with grief the tyranny which the serve him faithfully, and shall be prepared for his
service as his subject."-Hoveden, ad ann. 1175.
t Hist. Anglic. page 365.
* Annal. Hib. cap. 7, reg. Hen. II.  t Rotulus Chart. an 6, Hen. III., Memb. 2.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           285
and confined himself to the government of ance. The English then marched to Limthe abbey of St. Columb, having refused that erick, which they entered three days afterof Hy.                                  wards. We here discoverthe perfidy of
The alliance which Hervey had formed the prince of Ossory, who had contributed
the preceding year with Raymond, by his much to the gaining of this battle: although
marriage with his cousin Nesta, daughter of an Irishman, he sacrificed the welfare of his
Maurice Fitzgerald, was insufficient to re- country to his private hatred against Donald
move the secret jealousy he entertained of O'Brien; and not content with aiding the
him, caused by the loss of the office of con- English against him, he signalized himself
stable of Leinster, which Strongbow had in the beginning of the action by encouraging
given to Raymond, and the preference testi- them to the combat. The English general
fled towards the latter by the troops, who are had separate interviews with Roderick, king
generally good judges of a general's merit; of Connaught, and Donald, kingof Limerick.
he therefore determined to injure him.* He They agreed on both sides to make peace,
wrote a letter to the king of England, dictated and Raymond received hostages from them.
with all the art that malice could devise,  About this time, Dermod Mac-Carty, king
A. D. 1176; in which strong suspicions were of Cork and Desmond, wrote to Raymond,
cast upon the conduct of Raymond, repre- requesting him to send him some assistance
senting him as an intriguing and popular against Cormacleiavac, his eldest son, who
character, likelyto corrupt his majesty's sub- had rebelled against him with a design of
jects in Ireland. The too credulous Henry dethroning him. This captain marched todispatched four commissionerseto Ireland in wards Desmond, at the head of some troops,
the spring; namely, Robert Poer, Osbert and having quelled the revolt, and reinstated
de Herlotera, William de Bendenges, and Dermod in the possession of his kingdom,
Adam de Gervensan, two of whom were he returned to Limerick.  This unnatural
ordered to bring Raymond to England, and son again conspired against his father, and
the other two to remain with Earl Strongbow put him  into confinement; but a violent
in Ireland.  When the commissioners pre- death, by which this horrid action was punsented theircommands to Raymond, he ira- ished, restored the unhappy father to his
mediately obeyed; but while they were wait- liberty.  Mac-Carty, filled with gratitude
ing for a favorable wind to embark, news ar- for the services he had received from Rayrived that Limerick was besieged by Donald mond, conferred an extensive territory on
O'Brien, at the head of a powerful army, him in the county of Kerry, where he estabthat the city was in want of provisions, and lished his son Maurice, who became powerconsequently that it should surrender if re- ful by his marriage with Catherine, daughter
lief was not sent in time.              of Miles Cogan, and gave his name to his
Strongbow held a council of war to de- descendants, as well as to the territory,
liberate on the means of sending succor to which is called Clan-Morris.
Limerick, but finding that the troops refused   In the beginning of June, 1176, according
to serve if they were not commanded by to Keating, the celebrated Richard StrongRaymond, he, as well as the commissioners, bow died a miserable death in Dublin, having
considered this captain's presence necessary exercised his tyranny over the inhabitants of
in so critical.a conjuncture; so that instead Leinster for the space of seven years, sparing
of embarking for England, Raymond resu- neither the clergy, churches, orlmonasteries.*
med his command by order of the earl. lie His sister Basilia, wife of Raymond, did not
marched with all possible diligence towards fail to give timely information to her husband
Limerick, at the head of eighty knights, two of an event which was so likely to change
hundred horsemen, and three hundred foot- the aspect of their affairs. Raymond having
soldiers, with the troops of Murchard, prince consulted with his friends, it was determined
of Kinseallagh, and Donald, prince of Ossory, that they should abandon Limerick, which
who both joined him as allies. The king of was too distant from the centre of their posLimerick, informed of the march of the Eng- sessions; that Raymond's presence was
lish, raised the siege, and came to meet necessary in Dublin to guard the ports and
them as far as Cashel, where he fell into an fortresses belonging to the English; and that
ambuscade on Easter Saturday: his army the troops, which'had been scattered in the
was surrounded by the superior forces of the different quarters, should be collected to seEnglish, and routed, after a vigorous resist- cure the possession of Leinster. On leaving
Limerick, Raymond gave the command of
* Stanihurst, ibid. lib. 4. War. Annal. Hib. cap.
reg. Hen. II.                                   X History of Ireland, book 2.




286                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
the place to Donald O'Brien, who set fire to greediness, and left to ungrateful heirs all
it immediately.*                          the riches which he had amassed at the risk
Raymond repaired with all possible dili- of his salvation; his fall furnishes a salutary
gence to Dublin, where they waited his warning to posterity."*
arrival, to attend the funeral ceremonies of   The Irish still retained a passion for foundStrongbow, in accordance with the last will ing religious houses, even in the midst of the
of that nobleman.  His body was interred troubles with which their country was agiwith great pomp, by Laurence O'Tool, arch- tated.  In the history of this period we
bishop of the city, in the cathedral of the discover a strange mixture of cruelty and
holy Trinity, since called Christ's Church, religion; at one time an inclination to mutual
where his tomb is still to be seen.       destruction, at another to raising monuments
The commissioners who were sent some of religious devotion. A people stripped of
time before by Henry II. to bring Raymond their possessions, to be given away in alms;
to England, finding the face of affairs altered what justice! what charity!  Little did
by the earl's death, intrusted that general these pious founders think that their zeal
with the government of the colony till other would be soon made unavailing by the imarrangements could be made, and set out for piety of their descendants.  Although the
England to render to the king an account of account of those foundations may appear tehis affairs in Ireland.  Upon their arrival dious to the reader, still, as they are facts
Henry immediately sent over William Fitz- which do not admit of doubt, my respect
Adelm, with the title of viceroy, and ap- for religion, and consideration for the great
pointed for his colleagues John Courcy, number of virtuous persons that are yet in
Robert Fitzstephen, and Milo Cogan, who being, and interested to know the good achad rendered him important services during tions of their ancestors, will not allow me
the war in which he had been engaged to pass them over unnoticed.
during two years, both in France and Eng-   Richard Strongbow, head of the English
land.                                     colony, was the first who gave the example
By his marriage with Eva, daughter of to his fellow-citizens: being desirous of
Dermod, kingof Leinster, Strongbow hadone devoting to God, before his death, part of
daughter, called Isabella, heiress of his ex- what he had taken from man, he founded a
tensive possessions in that province. Some priory at Kilmainham, near Dublin, in 1174,
time afterwards this princess married Wil- so called from  St. Mainan, or Maignan, a
liam Marshal, an English lord, by whom she bishop who lived in the seventh century.
had five sons, and as many daughters: the This house was magnificent, and considered
sons all died without issue; the daughters one of the finest in the kingdom before the
were married to English noblemen, who, in suppression of religious houses in Ireland.
virtue of their alliance, claimed extensive It was the grand priory of the order of
estates in Leinster.  It was thus the race Templars, which was reunited in the fourof this celebrated man became extinct, whom teenth century with its eight commanderies,
the English have ranked as a hero, but who namely, Kilclogan, in the county of Wexin reality was an extortioner and a tyrant; ford; Killergy, in the county of Carlow;
it might be said of him, as the royal prophet Kilsaran, county of Louth; Kilbarry, Kilure,
said of the wicked man, that, having been and Crooke, county of Waterford; Clonaul,
raised above -the cedars of Mount Libanus, county of Tipperary, and Teach-Temple, in
there remained no vestige of him, but a hor- the county of Sligo, to the order of Malta.
ror for his memory.t " He carried nothing   The order of Malta was inconsiderable
with him," says Nubrigensis, "of the spoils before this reunion, having but one priory,
of the Irish, for which he had evinced such namely, that of Wexford, and nine commanderies,which were, Kilbeg, Kilheal, and
X This action of O'Brien, which the English have Tully, in the county of Kildare; Kilmainantreated of as a signal perfidy, is not so atrocious as Beg, and Kilmainan Wood, in east Meath;
may seem at first view. It should be observed, that St. John the Baptist of Ardes, county of
as it was the want of any other defender which in- Down; Morne, or Ballinemony, count of
duced the English to confide the place to Donald Down; Morne, or Bay
it is evident that the latter considered himself un- Cork; Any, county of Limerick, and Kilder no gratitude for a forced mark of their confi- nalekin, county of Galway; so that by this
dence. Besides, O'Brien was the lawful master of union there were two grand priories of the
the country; it therefore appears just that he should order of Malta in Ireland, and seventeen
have used the only means of recovering it from un- commanderies.
just usurpers, which was to destroy their settlements
altogether.
t Ps. 36, ver. 38, 39.; Nubrig. de Reb. Anglic. lib. 2.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           287
When William Fitz-Adelm arrived in Ire-   John Courcy, a warlike but cruel man,
land as chief-justice or viceroy, Raymond seeing the rapid success of his countrymen
went to Wexford to congratulate him, and in Ireland, and the extensive estates they
gave up the government with which he had had become possessed of by force, resolved
been intrusted by the commissioners; where- to try his own fortune. With this view he
upon the new viceroy took possession, in turned his thoughts on Ulster, which had
the name, and by order of the king, of all not been, as yet, entered by the English.
the places which had belonged to Strong- He accordingly set out from Dublin, with
bow.                                    four hundred men, in the month of January,
According to Stanihurst, Fitz-Adelm was A. D. 1177, for the county of Down, then
neither a foolish nor a wise man; he was called Ullagh, and arrived in the capital,
hostile to the Fitzgeralds, and frequently called Down also, without meeting an enemy
made them feel that he was possessed of to oppose him.* The sight of these advenmore will than power to injure them. This turers caused great consternation in a place
family was already firmly established in not provided with means of defending itself
Leinster, and allied to the principal chiefs against an enemy, who were thought too reof the English colony. Maurice Fitzgerald mote to be feared. The general having given
died this year at Wexford, much regretted; his orders, the barbarians commenced to
he was the ancestor of all the noble families break in the doors in all directions, to force
of that name in Ireland, by his three sons, open the chests and presses, and to carry
William, Gerald, and Alexander.  Hie was off the property of the citizens, to satisfy,
scarcely dead, when Fitz-Adelm seized upon says Stanihurst, their extreme indigence and
the castle of Wicklow, which had been given poverty. Nothing was heard on all sides,
him by Strongbow; and in order to give but tears, groans, and lamentations, while
some color to so flagrant an injustice, by the streams were dyed with the blood of the
way of compensation he gave to the three innocent inhabitants. Such was the manner
brothers the little town of Ferns, where the in which the English carried on their warfortresses had been the only security against fare in Ireland-this was the mode in which
the insults 6of the inhabitants, to which they they preached the gospel, and the example
were exposed.  These brothers, wishing to they gave to a people, whose morals they
render theirnew establishment secure, began pretended to reform.  The remonstrances
to build a castle, which was immediately of Cardinal Vivian, who was at that time in
demolished by Walter Allemand, Fitz- Down, produced no good; in vain he enAdelm's nephew, and a man of obscure ori- treated of their leader to put an end to his
gin,but who was become conspicuousthrough cruel proceedings, and make peace with a
the influence of his uncle, who committed to people who were ready to submit to the king
him the government of Wexford.          of England, and pay him tribute.  Nothing
About this time, Vivian, cardinal priest, could soften the barbarous heart of De
with the title of St. Stephen in Monte Celio, Courcy, who only sought happiness in the
was sent as legate, by Pope Alexander III., misfortunes of others.
to visit the churches of Scotland, Ireland,   Roderick, son of Dunleve, prince of the
and Norway.  When passing through Eng- country, finding the necessity of having reland, he was reproved by Henry II. for course to arms, collected ten thousand men
having entered his kingdom without permis- in one week, to deliver the city of Down
sion, and was made to swear that he would from the tyranny of the English.  When
not, in his capacity of legate, do any thing Courcy heard of the preparations that were
prejudicial to his interests, whereupon, he making against him, he left the city, and
proceeded to Scotland, from whence he set gave battle to Roderick in the open plain,
sail for the Isle of Man, on Christmas eve, where, after a severe action, he put the
where he was honorably received by God- Irish army to flight.
frey, king of that island. He remained there   There is an obvious contradiction in the
for a fortnight, and from thence he went to accountwhich Stanihurst gives of this affair;
Down, in Ireland.                       according to him, Courcy had nearly four
The castle of Slane, in Meath, was taken hundred men, who overcame ten thousand;
the same year by assault, and destroyed by the disproportion, as to numbers, is at the
Melaghlin lMac-Loghlin, the former pro- extraordinary rate of thirty to one; still he
prietor of that country; and Richard le allows that the bravery and skill in arms
Fleming, who was then master of it, having were equal on both sides. "The men of
been given up to him by De Lacey, was
killed, with several of his followers.    * Stan. ibid. lib. 4. War. de Annal. Hib. cap. 9.




288                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Ulster," he says, "are naturally warlike, himself that the prophecy applied -to him.
and accustomed to arms; they advance bold- This, which was written in the Irish lanly and fearlessly against the Britons, engage guage, he kept with great respect about him,
with them in fight, and prove themselves and concealed it while he slept under the
equal in valor to their enemies."* How is it head of his bed.
then possible that four hundred men could   The legate, who seemed to have come to
have conquered ten thousand, who were Ireland but to hasten its subjugation to the
their equals in courage and experience.    English, convened a council of bishops and
In order to support the opinion which our abbots at Dublin; in which he endeavored
author entertains of the bravery of the U1- to make good Henry II.'s right to the throne
ster men, we should diminish their numbers of Ireland, in an eloquent discourse, and
greatly, or suppose them to have been taken enjoined the Irish people to obey him under
from the plough, and to have faced the pain of excommunication.  From thence he
English without arms or discipline. In truth, set out for the coast of England, where he
their having been levied, according to Ware, requested a passport to continue his embassy
in a week, favors this conjecture. and takes to Scotland.
away considerably from the glory of this   During this prelate's stay in Dublin, Fitzboasted achievement by the English.  A Adelm founded the celebrated monastery
company of grenadiers would easily put two called Thomas-Court, in that city, by order
hundred peasants, armed with sticks or pitch- of the king his master, for regular canons of
forks, to flight.  It is true that the author the order of St. Victor. The king bestowed
resorts to the divine interference, in order to for ever on this house, the land of Donoure
affix an appearance of probability to his ac- as an offering for the souls of Geoffry, earl
count; saying, that God gave the victory to of Anjou, and the empress Matilda, his father
Courcy.  God, of course, was peculiarly in- and mother, and likewise for the souls of his
terested for the success of the English! as if other ancestors, for himself andc his children,
robbery, rapine, and the fury of a band of as is expressed in the charter; he should
adventurers, are virtues that can claim the have added the souls of those whom he had
protection of heaven. A young Englishman deprived of their lands.
named Roger Poer, who signalized himself   About this time, says Hoveden, Henry II.,
in the engagement, is much praised for his with the approbation of Pope Alexander III.,
courage.  Malachi, bishop of Down, was gave his son John the title of king of Ireland,
made prisoner, but restored to his liberty at in a parliament held at Oxford.  This year,
the solicitation of Cardinal Vivian, and rein- says Brompton, the king obtained the pope's
stated in his dignities. Courcy gained some leave to crown whichever of his sons he
further advantages over the people of Ulster thought fit, as king of Ireland, and to reduce
in the month of June following; many, how- the lords of that country under his dominion.
ever, were killed andwounded on both sides; However, in the charter granted by Henry
among the latter were Almerick de St. for that purpose, and confirmed by Richard
Laurence, and his son Nicholas.t         I., John Lackland is only called lord of IreCourcy also made some incursions the land and earl of Mortagne, and his successors
same year into Tyrone and Dalrieda, burning were content with that title till the reign of
and destroying all before him, and carried Henry VIII., who was the first to assume
off considerable booty.  He was extremely that of king of Ireland.
superstitious, and thought himself to have   The ready submission of the kings of Cork
been designated in the prophecies of Am- and Limerick, and the other princes of Munbrosius Merlin, as the conqueror of Ulster; ster, did not secure them from sharing the
when the mind is enthusiastically smitten, fate of their countrymen.  By a charter,
every thing that flatters hope being readily given at Oxford about the year 1177, Henry
believed. Helikewise held the prophecyof granted to Robert Fitzstephen and Milo
St. Columb in high veneration, in which it Cogan the kingdom of Cork and Desmond,
is said the destruction of that province had reserving for himself the city of Cork, the
been foretold; and John Courcy persuaded cantred of the Ostmans,* and all the land
lying between Waterford and the river that
* Stan. de Reb. i Hiib. Gest. page 182.  separates Lismore and Cork, and which now
t The barons of Howth are descended from Almerick. The land of Howth and its dependencies  * The Ostmans were the Danes or Normans
were confirmed to his son by a charter of John, earl who inhabited Cork and a few other maritime towns
of Mortagne and lord of Ireland, given to S. Edmond in Ireland. The cantred was a tract of land conin presence of John de Courcy, Godfrey de Con- taining about one hundred villages or town lands.
stantine, Gilbert Angulo, and his brother Jordan.  War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 27.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            289
forms the county of Waterford.  He also also quotes contemporary authors: namely,
confided to them the regency and govern- Regan, the secretary and interpreter of
ment of the city of Cork, the cantred of the Dermod, king of Leinster, and an eye-witOstmans, and the other districts he had re- ness to the facts which he advances; the
served for himself, making about twenty- Abbe Benedict, who wrote the life of Henry
four cantreds.   Two  years afterwards, II., and Giraldus Cambrensis.  Still the
Fitzstephen and Cogan divided the seven account he gives is very general, considercantreds which the king had given them; ing the great number of English families
Fitzstephen taking the three which adjoined that settled in this country in the twelfth
the sea, and Cogan the remaining four.    and succeeding centuries, who are posIt appears from the charters of King John, sessed of immense landed property.
dated in the ninth year of his reign, that  The rebellion of Conchovar and MurFitzstephen had given to Philip de Barry, chard, sons of Roderick O'Connor, broke
his nephew, and son of Philip, three cantreds out at this time.  These unnatural children,
in the county of Cork, namely, Olethan and wishing to usurp their father's rule, had reits dependencies, Muscherie, Dunegan, and course to the enemies of their country, and
Killede; to Adam de Rupe, (De la Roche,) applied to Milo Cogan, who had been lately
the cantred of Rosselihir and its depend- appointed warden of Dublin by Fitz-Adelm,
encies; to Richard de Cogan, the cantred of for assistance. The Englishman, who only
Muscherie O'Millane, together with twenty- thought of extending his power, seized the
five military tenures; and lastly, some fiefs opportunity with avidity, and taking Ralph,
to Robert Fitzmartin, and to Henry and sonof Fitzstephen, as his lieutenant, crossed
Maurice, brothers, (and sons of Philip,) a the river Shannon at the head of forty
cantred where Dunalahoth lies.          knights, two hundred horsemen, and three
The kingdom of Limerick shared the hundred archers, and entered Connaught,
same fate as that of Cork. The king of which had been till then unknown to the
England ceded it to Philip de Breus, or English.  He advanced as far as Tuam;
Braos, reserving, however, for himself, the but as Roderick had caused the provisions,
chief city, the cantred of the Ostmans, the in-every place through which he had to pass,
holy island, and the power of nominating to to be either burned or removed, he soon saw
the bishoprics and abbeys.              his army ready to perish, which obliged him
After Philip de Braos, the principal per- to return.  After a march of eight days, he
sonages who settled in this county were was attacked when crossing a wood, by
Hamo de Valois, (Walsh,) Philip de Wig- Roderick, who killed several of his men.
orn, Theobald Walter, William Fitz-Adelm, As usual, Cambrensis makes the loss but
and Thomas Fitz-Maurice.                very trifling.  Having conquered the EngAll these grants of extensive estates from lish, Roderick turned his thoughts towards
Henry II. to the principal English chiefs, chastising his rebellious children; he conand the lesser fiefs which the latter bestowed demned Murchard to perpetual imprisonon their creatures, were given on condition ment, and caused his eyes to be put out;
of military service; which consisted in a and banished Conchovar to an island in the
certain number of armed men furnished by lake Lochcuan, from whence he was taken
each in proportion to the extent of land a year afterwards, by the faction of the
which he held.                          O'Flahertys, and other friends, who restored
The king of England confided to Robert him to his father's favor.  About this time,
Puher, or Le Poer', the government of the Hugh O'Neill, king of Tireon, or Tyrone,
city of Waterford, and the surrounding was killed by Melachlin Mac-Loghlin, and
country; to William Fitz-Adelmn, that of his brother Argal.
the town of Wexford and its dependencies;   Courcy had not abandoned his enterprise
and to Hugh de Lacy the government of in Ulster: he marched towards Uriel at the
Dublin, and all the country depending on it. head of his army, A. D. 1178, where he was
He made other arrangements relative to the vigorously attacked in his camp at Gliury,
counties which were to be subservient to by Murtach O'Carwil, prince of that counthe cities of Waterford, Wexford, and Dub- try, in conjunction with Roderick, prince of
lin.                                    Ullagh, (Ulidia.)  The action was brisk,
We have now reviewed Ware's researches and Courcy and his army were completely
respecting the distribution of the lands of routed.*
the Irish by Henry II. and his son John;
on which head he mentions some letters  * Stan. ibid. lib. 4, page 182. War. de Annal.
patent, granted by these two princes, and Hib. reg. Hen. II. cap. 10.
37




290                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
This English general soon afterwards ment of that city. They then marched togave a second battle to the same princes on wards Limerick, intending to besiege it; but
the frontiers of Dalaradie, near Fernia, their new troops were disheartened by tile
which was altogether fatal to him.  After difficulty of crossing the river which surwitnessing the total defeat of his army, rounds it, and prevailed on Philip de Braos
he escaped with much difficulty, and was to return to England, rather than incur the
obliged to walk thirty miles without any risk of a hazardous war in an enemy's counsustenance, and in continual danger of losing try. Fitzstephen and Cogan proceeded to
his life, till he arrived at the castle of Down. Cork, to watch over the safety of the EngWilliam Fitz-Adelm, viceroy of Iceland, lish colony in that district.
fell into disgrace, and was deprived of his   The abbey of Ashro, or Easrua, called
office: he was succeeded by Hugh de also de Samario, for Cistertian monks, was
Lacy, to whom the king gave as colleague, founded in Tirconnel, near the mouth of the
Robert Poer, warden of the cities of Water- river Erne, by Roderick O'Cananan, an
ford and Wexford.                       Irish lord, about this period, or according
When the viceroy was changed, Cogan to others five years later, by his successar
and Fitzstephen were recalled to England, Flahertach. Jungelinus mentions the abbey
to give an account of their conduct, which of Kilfothuir, in the same country, founded
had always been looked upon with suspicion by O'Dogharty.  The wars having subseby the king, as indeed had that of all the quently forced the monks to abandon this
chiefs of the English colony in Ireland.   house, it was united to the abbey of Ashro,
In the mean time Robert Poer, warden of of which it was a branch.
Waterford, sent troops to lay waste the dis-   An abbey of Bernardines, under the title
trict of Imurede, in the county of Wicklow, of our Lady, a branch of the abbey of Balwhence they returned to Wexford, loaded tinglass, was also founded at this time, at
with booty, having assassinated Dunlang Geripont, or Jeripont, a small town on the
O'Toole, lord of that country.          river Nure, in the county of Kilkenny, by
The English who had settled in Meath Donald Fitzpatrick, prince of Ossoly.*
built a castle at Kenlis, to preserve them-   About the end of December in this year,
selves against the incursions of their neigh- Laurence, archbishop of Dublin; Catholicus,
bors, the people of Ulster.             archbishop of Tuam; Constantius, bishop of
The abbey called Monasterevan, or Ross- Killaloe; Felix, bishopof Lismore; Augustin,
Glass, de Rosea Valle, in the county of Kil- bishop of Waterford; and Brice, bishop of
dare, on the river Barrow, was founded this Limerick, set out for Rome, where they atyear, and dedicated to the blessed Virgin tended at the third council of Lateran, conand St. Benedict, for Cistertian monks, by vened by Alexander III.  As they passed
Dermnod O'Dempsy, lord of Clanmalire; but through England, Henry II. made them
others say it was founded so late as 1189. swear they would do nothing prejudicial to,
This abbey was a branch of that of Baltin- his welfare, or that of his kingdom.  The
glass.*                                 pope appointed Laurence legate for Ireland;
Donald O'Fogarty, bishop of Ossory, died and on his return, according to the author
this year, and was succeeded by Felix of his life, he discharged the duties of that
O'Dullany, of the order of Citeaux.     office.  If we can believe Cambrensis, this
Robert Fitzstephen  and Milo Cogan, holy prelate never returned to Ireland, havwhom the king had recalled to England the ing incurred the king's displeasure by obtainpreceding year, repaired to Waterford in ing some privilege from the pope in favor
the month of November, accompanied by of his country, which this prince looked
Philip de Braos, to whom the king had upon as opposed to his authority.
granted the district of Limerick, A. D. 1179.  John Courcy, who had been already creThese noblemen brought a reinforcement of ated earl of Ulster by the king, though he
Englishmen to Ireland, consisting of one owned but a very inconsiderable part of it,
hundred and ten knights, as many horsemen, made an alliance with Godfry, king of the
and a considerable number of foot soldiers. Isle of Man,by marrying his daughter Africa,
They went from Waterford to Lismore, and A. D. 1180, in order to secure the interest
from thence to Cork, where they were hon- of that prince.t  The island being but a
orably received by John de Londres, on short distance from the coasts of Ulster, it
whom Fitz-Adeln had conferred the govern- was easy to draw resources from it.
* War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 26. Allemand, Hist.  * Allemand, ibid. page 175.
Monast. d'Irl. page 176.                       t War. de Annal. Hib. cap. 12.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             291
This year, according to Hoveden, Lau- this date, some time before which the catherence, archbishop of Dublin, accompanied a dral church, the monastery of the apostles
son of Roderick, king of Connaught, who St. Peter and St. Paul, two nunneries, and
was sent as a hostage to Henry II., for the a great part of the city, were consumed by
payment of the tribute agreed upon between fire, a frequent disaster in Ireland in ancient
his father and that king.*  The holy prelate times, on account of the prevalence of woodfell sick at Eu, where he died in the odor en buildings.  It is to prevent similar acciof sanctity, on the 14th of November, and was dents, which still often occur in the north of
interred in the church of our Lady, in that Europe, particularly in Sweden and Dencity.t  His life, quoted by Surius, was ac- mark, that privileges are granted by the govcurately written, according to Baronius, by ernments of those countries to those who
an anonymous author, of the college of Eu. build of stone.  The holy prelate of Armagh
The miracles which God wrought through was the benefactor of the monastery of the
his intercession, both before and after his Blessed Virgin, near Dublin. He added the
death, induced Pope Honorius III. to place village of Ballibaghal, situated in the county
him among the number of saints in 1225, of Dublin, to the revenues of that house.
by a bull dated the eleventh of December, MoelisaMac-Carwil, bishop of Clogher, was
in the tenth year of his pontificate, a copy of elected to succeed him in the see of Armagh,
which is in the collection of bulls of Laurent but died on his way to Rome.
Cherubin.  The relics of this saint were   As the churches and monasteries were the
removed to Dublin, and deposited in the onlyplaces ofsafetyin those disturbed times,
cathedral of the holy Trinity.  Henry II. the Irish carried thither their gold, silver,
took care to send his chaplain Geoffry de and other valuable matters, as to a secure
Haya, and another to collect the revenues asylum; but as nothing is held sacred by the
of the archbishopric, while it continued wicked, these places were often violated.
vacant.                                    The church of Ardfert, and the priory of
The abbey of Chore, or De Choro Bene- Inis-Fallen, in lake Lene, in the county of
dicti, called by the Irish Monaster-Ore, in Kerry, were pillaged this year by Milduin,
the county of Cork, was founded this year son of Daniel O'Donagha, and those of his
for Bernardins, by the Geraldines, or Fitz- retinue, and the lives of several of the corngeralds.T  Jungelinus says it was founded munity lost.
by the Barrys; however this be, this abbey,   Having settled his followers in Meath,
founded under the title of our Lady, was a Hugh de Lacy turned his thoughts towards
branch of that of Nenay, or Magio.         defending it against its former masters; for
It was about this time that St. Patrick's which purpose he built strong castles in difcrosier, called, in the language of the country, ferent parts of this province. This ambitious
Baghal Phadruic, that is, the staff of Patrick, nobleman, finding himself supported by his
and sometimes the staff of Jesus, which, colonists, and encouraged by his alliance
according to St. Bernard, in the life of St. with Roderick O'Connor, began to extend
Malachi, was ornamented with gold and pre- his views, and to think himself possessed of
cious stones, and preserved with veneration more power in Ireland than the king of
in the church of Armagh since the death of England.
the apostle, was carried away, by orders of   Henry II. having been informed of the
Fitz-Adelm, and placed in the cathedral of intentions of De Lacy, sent him an order to
the holy Trinity, in Dublin, A. D. 1181, where return to England; but the latter confirmed
it was carefullypreserved till the suppression the suspicions entertained of his presumpof the monasteries.                        tion, by refusing to obey. Cambrensis says
The death of Gilbert O'Caran, archbishop that De Lacy was suspected of aspiring to
of Armagh, is said to have occurred about the sovereignty, from the vast estates he had
acquired, the immense wealth he had amassed
* This account appears rather incredible; for for himself and his dependents by the opwhy should the king of Connaught have sent a hos- pression of others, and the familiar and poptage this year to the king of England, when, ac- ular manners he had assumed towards every
cording to the same Hoveden, (in the year 1175,)
peace and unity had been ratified between these one.*  Henry was already dissatisfied with
princes five years previously. It is, however, well him for having married without his permisknown that English writers are fond of claiming sion the daughter of O'Connor, king of Conhonors which they never enjoyed.          naught, after the death of his first wife, Rosa
t Messingham, Florileg. Insul. Sanct. Vit. Sanct. de Munene: and he therefore sent John, conLaurent.
t War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 26. Allemand, ibid.
page 181.                                        H* Hib. Expug. lib. 2, cap. 19, 20.




292                         H. ISTORY OF IRELAND.
stable of Chester, and Richard de Pech, to this prelate obtained a bull from the same
Ireland, in the beginning of May, as chief-. pope, dated the thirteenth of April, (convojustices in room of De Lacy, who repaired cation 15,) by which the holy father granted
to England and removed all suspicion from several privileges to the see of Dublin. It
the king's mind in the short space of six was forbidden by this bull that any archweeks. Before'his departure for England he bishop or bishop should hold assemblies in
had given a plan to the English who pos- the ecclesiastical province of Dublin, or take
sessed land in Leinster, to fortify this prov- cognizance of the affairs of that diocese
ince as he had done in Meath, which plan without the consent of the archbishop, or a
was executed in the ensuing summer. The special license from the pope or his legate.
castle of Fort O'Nolan wasbuiltby Raymond The copy of this bull may be found in an
le Gros, and another by his brother Griffin. old registry in the archbishop's palace of
A third was built at Tristle-Dermot, in the Dublin, beginning with the words, " Crede
district of Omorthy, by Walter de Ridles- mihi." This bull was the cause of warm deford; John de Clahut built a fourth at bates between the prelates of Armagh and
Leighlin, on the river Barrow, and a fifth Dublin, respecting the primacy, which have
was constructed at Kildroghed, by John de lasted to our time: the subject of them being
Hereford.                               whether the archbishop of Armagh, as priDuring Lacy's absence, and the adminis- mate of Ireland, possessed the right to hold
tration of the justices whom Henry had sent visitations in the ecclesiastical province of
to Ireland, Myler Fitzhenry was forced to Dublin, or to carry the cross raised, and
give up the land of Carby, which he had receive appeals there.*
received from Strongbow in the county of   In the month of May of this year, FlaKildare, and tobe satisfied with an equivalent hertach O'Meldory, prince of Tirconnel,
in the county of Lese, where he was more indignant at the unnatural conduct of the
exposed,being surrounded by the O'Mordhas, princes of Connaught, who were still in arms
or O'Mores, a warlike people, and lords of against their father Roderick, entered their
that district; but Lacy, whose niece he had province at the head of his troops and gained
married, caused the castle of Temogho to be a complete victory over them and their allies.
built for him some tinle afterwards.    Many lives were lost, among them those of
Lacy having been restored to the king's sixteen distinguished persons, of the royal
favor, was sent back to Ireland the winter race of Connaught.
following as chief-justice, accompanied by   In the beginning of summer, A. D. 1182,
Robert, earl of Shrewsbury, as his colleague, Courcy marched at the head of his troops
who was, however, to keep watch over his into Dalrieda, or Route, county of Antrim,
conduct. lie filled the post for nearly three where he defeated a body of troops comyears, during which time he built several manded by Donald O'Loghlin, and pillaged
castles in Leinster and Meath; among the whole country.t
others, that of Oboney, in the county of'  About this time Hugh de Lacy founded
Lese, the government of which he confided two chapels or priories, for regular canons
to Robert de Bigarz; another in the district of the order of St. Augustin, one at Colpa,
of Omurthy, near the river Barrow, of which a small village on the sea-shore at the mouth
he made Thomas le Fleming governor; and of the river Boyne, below Drogheda, and
that of Norragh for Robert Fitzrichard. The the other at Duleek; one of these houses
castles he caused to be built in Meath were depended on the priory of Lauthon, in Monthose of Clonard, Killair, Delvin, and that mouthshire, England, and the other on that
of Adam de Ruport.                      of Lauthon, near Gloucester.
The English had now usurped both the   Edan O'Kelly, bishop of Clogher, died
spiritual and temporal government of Ireland. this year, and was interred in the priory of
Henry II. nominated John Comin, a native St. Mary, which he had founded for regular
of England, to the archbishopric of Dublin, canons in Louth, in 1148, with the aid of
(vacant by the death of St. Laurence;) an Donat Mac-Carwell, king of Ergalic. This
eloquent and learned man, according to the prelate was disciple of St. Malachi, by whom
writers of his own country. The election
took place on the sixth of September, in the  - We discoverin this an act of English policy; they
monastery of Evesham, in England, by the caused the see of Dublin, situated in the English
clergyof Dublin. The candidatewas ordain- province, to be erected into a primary, in order to
ed priest on the 12th of March following, at cause a schism in the church of Ireland, by withdrawing from the jurisdiction of Armagh the
Velletri, in Italy, and consecrated archbishop churches under their dominion.
by Pope Lucius III.  Some time afterwards  t War. de Annal. cap. 14.




CHRISTIAN InELAND.                            293
he was consecrated in 1140, andhaving filled an English author, was the cause of the
the see of Clogher for forty-two years, he misfortunes that afterwards befell this noblewas succeeded by Malachi Mac-Carwel. man.
Edan was the confessor of Dermod, king of   Malachi, bishop of Down, endowed this
Leinster; he endowed the nmonastery of church with several tracts of land, reserving
Knock, near the town of Louth, (otherwise for himself the title of warden, or abbot, and
called St. Peter and St. Paui's Mount,) which half of the offerings of the five grand festivals
Donat caused to be built. This place was of the year; namely, Christmas, Candlemas,
more anciently called Knock Na-Sengan, the festival of St. Patrick, Easter, and Penthat is, the Mount of the Ants. Philip Seguin tecost.* It was much frequented, on account
and Christopher Henriques are wrong in of its containing St. Patrick's tomb, and the
placing Edan among the prelates of Armagh. transferring to it of the bodies of St. Columb
About this time died also Donald O'Hul- and St. Bridget.
ucan, archbishop of Cashel, who was suc-   Courcy founded other houses, viz., the
-ceeded by Maurice, called by Cambrensis a priory of Toberglorie, at Down, (so called
learned and discreet man, "  ir literatus et from its having been built near a fountain of
discretus."'                            that name,) for the cross-bearers of the order
We must not omit to introduce in this of St. Augustin, and the abbey of Nedrum,
place, the sharp and satirical, though indirect for Benedictines, which was connected with
answer which Maurice gave Cambrensis in that of St. Bega, in Cumberland.
presence of Gerald, the pope's legate, who   While Courcy was acting in Ulster the
was then on some mission in Ireland, in parts alternately of a robber and a bigot,
which he alludes.both to the martyrdom of fresh disturbances broke out in Munster.
St. T'homas of Canterbury, and the cruelties Milo Cogan and Ranulph Fitzstephen, his
which the English had after that committed son-in-law, with five knights, were killed on
in Ireland. Cambrensis reproached the pre- the road to Lismore, by a band of men under
late, in his accustomed haughty manner, the command of a celebrated leader called
with the indolence of the Irish clergy, and Mactire. This news having spread over the
the little care they took to instruct the people, country, Dermod M'Carty, king of Desmond,
the result of which was a degeneracy in and some other princes of the province, betheir morals; and as proof of what he ad- ing determined to make an effort to recover
vanced, he alleged that he lhad never known their liberty, took up arms and invested the
any in Ireland to have suffered martyrdom city of Cork, where Robert Fitzstephen
for the church of Jesus Christ. " It is true," was. However, a reinforcement of twenty
replied theprelate ofCashel, modestly,'that knights, with a hundred men, both horse
our people, who are said to be barbarous, and foot, brought by Raymond le Gros by
rude, and even cruel, have always behaved sea from Wexford to Cork, together with
with honor and respect to the clergy, and the strength of the place, frustrated their
none have yet been found among them im- attempt, and averted the storm which threatpious enough fo raise their hands against ened the English.  Richard Cogan was
the saints of the Lord. But there are men afterwards sent to Ireland by the king of
now among us who can make us suffer mar- England, with a body of troops, to replace
tyrdom, and Ireland, like other nations, shall his brother Milo.
henceforward have her martyrs;" which   About the end of February, Philip Barry
prediction has been amply verified.     and his brother Gerald, known by the name
Courcy being master of the episcopal city of Cambrensis, crossed over with a reinforceof Down, A. D. 1183, changed the constitu- ment to Ireland, both to assist their uncle
tion of the cathedral church, by substituting Fitzstephen, and recover the estate of OleBenedictine monks for the secular canons to than, which had been given them by Fitzwhom it belonged till that time: those monks stephen, and was usurped by his son Ralph.
came, by his directions, from St. Werburgh's   Hervey, surnamed De Aonte Morisco, (in
abbey, at Chester, and he appointed William English he was called Heremon Morty,)
Etleshale, a monk of their fraternity, as wishing-to expiate the crimes of his past life,
prior over them.t  He also changed the in- particularly his having pillaged the churches
vocation title of the church from the Holy of Inis-Catha in concert with William FitzTrinity to that of St. Patrick, which, accord- Adelm, (the revenues of which they approing to the general opinion of the times, says priated to their own use,) founded an abbey
for Bernardine monks this year, at DonTopograph. Hib, dist. 3, cap. 32.
t War. de Annal. Hib. cap. 15.             * War. de Praesul. Dunens.




294                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
brody, or Dun-Broith, in the county of Wex-   How edifying it is to behold the spoliators
ford, near the confluence of the rivers Bar- of churches and of the goods of others,
row and Suire; he afterwards became a founding religious establishments! This exmonk in Christ's Church at Canterbury, traordinary devotion was introduced into
where he was interred.*                 Ireland by the English. Philip de Wigorne,
About this time was founded, also, an viceroy of Ireland, who a short time before
abbey of Bernardine monks on the river had pillaged the clergy of Armagh, founded
Nore, in that part of the Queen's county a priory for Benedictine monks at Kilcumin,
called Loise.t  This abbey was called "c De in the county of Tipperary, dedicated to St.
Lege Dei," or "of the law of God," and James and St. Philip.*  It appears by the
was founded by an Irish lord of the ancient act of its foundation, the original of which
and noble family of the O'Mordhas, (in Eng- has been discovered in the Cottonian library,
lish Moore,) to whom the country belonged that this English nobleman bestowed several
for many ages. Flatzburius fixes the found- estates which he possessed in Ireland on the
ation of this house in 1180.            abbots of Glaston in England, on condition
Henry II., being desirous of transferring that they would build a house of their order
the lordship of Ireland to his son John, sent at Kilcumin, in Ireland, the land of which
John Comin, archbishop of Dublin, in the he had also given them; this priory consebeginning of the month of August, to pre- quently depended on the above-mentioned
pare the minds of the people for his reception, abbey.
A. D. 1184.t He also recalled Hugh de Lacy   About this time Arthur O'Melaghlin, chief
in the month of September following, and of his tribe in Meath, was killed by the
granted the office of chief-justice to Philip English; he was succeeded by O'Melaghlin
de Wigorne, who came to Ireland accompa- Beg, or the little. Three English noblemen
nied by forty knights, to take possession of shared the same fate as O'Melaghlin; namely,
the government.~  The new viceroy having Robert Barry, who was killed at Lismore;
reannexed to the king's domain the privi- Raymond, son of Hugh, at Lechana; and
leges which Lacy had alienated, marched Cantilon, at Idrone.
the Lent following, in the beginning of the   In the month of June, on Saint Barnaby's
month of May, with a powerful army to day, Henry the younger, son of Henry II.,
Armagh, where he imposed a heavy tribute died in the castle of Martell, in Gascony, at
on the clergy, which he made them pay by the age of twenty-eight years; he was the
a military execution. 11 He had scarcely left cause of frequent troubles to his father during
the city, when he was seized with an attack his reign. His body was brought to Rouen,
in his bowels, so violent that he was very and buried in the cathedral there near the
near dying; which *was considered a just grand altar.
punishment-for his crimes. Hugh Tirrel  John, earl of Mortagne, named lord of
was an accomplice of the viceroy in his Ireland, having been created a knight at the
depredations; having retired to Down with age of twelve years, by the king his father,
his share of the spoils, he witnessed the fruits at Windsor, set out in the month of April
of his robberies,the house in whichhe lodged, for Milford, where a fleet was waiting to
the stables, horses, and a considerable part convey him to Ireland, A. D. 1185.t  He set
of the city, being destroyed by fire the night sail during the Easter, accompanied by
following; by which he was so much affected Ralph Glanvill, chief-justice of England, and
thathe immediately restored allthat remained his preceptor, Gerald Cambrensis; and atof the plunder of the churches of' Armagh. tended by four hundred knights, and some
Lacy, his friend and benefactor, returning troops, among whom were several young
from England some time afterwards, he con- men of dissipated habits, who possessed his
ceived an implacable hatred towards him, and entire confidence. As soon as they landed at
declared war against him; but after several Waterford, the Irish lords of the neighborbattles, in which much blood was spilled, hood hastened to greet the young prince on
Tirrel was obliged to bend to the authority his arrival. The manners and customs of
of his rival.                          the two people were very different; the Irish
were naturally hospitable, familiar, and polite
* Keating, Hist. of Ireland, b. 2, page 117.   towards the strangers; while the English,
t Allemand, ibid. page 177.
t Westmon. Flores Hist. lib. 2, ad an. 1184.  * War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 26. Allemand, ibid.
~ Stanih. ibid. lib. 4. War. de Annal. Hib. cap. page 149.
16.                                       t "John, the younger son of King Henry, was
11 Cambrens. Top. Hib. distinc. 2, c. 50. Stan. created knight by his father, and sent into Ireland."
ibid. lib. 4.                           -Ware's Annals.
@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~___1




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           295
who rarely possess these qualities, received The holy father immediately sent a legate
them with coldness and contempt. In con- (probably Cardinal Vivian) to Ireland, who
sequence, therefore, they on a sudden with- performed the translation of the bodies of
drew, with the determination of being re- these saints on the fifth of June.
venged. The kings of Cork, Limerick, Con-   The Irish and English carried on a connaught, and other princes of the country, tinual petty warfare in the southern parts of
were soon informed of what had occurred: the island.*  Four English officers, with a
they looked upon the whole nation to have detachment from the garrison of Ardfinan,
been insulted in the persons of these noble- were put to the sword by a body of men
men, and foresaw, by the conduct of the under the command of Donald O'Brien, king
strangers, what they might expect from them of Limerick. Another detachment from the
if they became absolute masters of the coun- same garrison, having been taken in the act
try. These considerations for a time putting of plundering near that city, shared the
an end to all domestic quarrels, they formed same fate.
a general league, and took up arms indis-   When the king of England saw the illcriminately and without leaders, throughout success of his son John in the management
the several districts, against the English. of his Irish affairs, he deemed it prudent to
Many lives were lost in this conspiracy, consign them to military veterans, who had
which was followed by no other result than been trained in the art of war and were acthat of disturbing the pleasures of the young quainted with the country, and he therefore
prince, (who, together with his courtiers, gave the viceroyalty of Ireland to John
spent their days and nights in debauchery,) Courcy the following, winter.
and inspiringhimwithadislikefor his newly-   This skilful general made frequent incuracquired dignity of lord of Ireland.  He re- sions into the kingdoms of Cork and Consolved therefore to return to England, leaving naught, with unequal success; but though
Ireland, which he found in peace, a prey to he was not always victorious, his reputation
tumult and sedition. During his stay in the rendered him very formidable.
country he caused three castles to be built,  In the mean time, O'Connor, surnamed
one at Tibract, one at Ardfinan, and another Maonmuighe, son of Roderick, still enterat Lismore, to defend his subjects against tained the horrible design of dethroning his
the insults of their enemies.  According to father, notwithstanding a recent reconciliaHoveden, John appropriated the chief part tion between them.  Having collected his
of the money intended for the payment of vassals, and all those who were attached to
the troops to his own purposes; the rest he his interest, he entered Connaught in a hossquandered in a petty warfare with the Irish, tile manner, where he treated his father's
and his funds being at length exhausted, he subjects with great cruelty, but was checked
placed garrisons in all the strong places, and in his career by the united forces of Roderreturned to England, leaving the government ick and Donald O'Brien, king of Limerick,
to De Lacy. The only good action attributed who gave him battle. The victory of the
to this prince, during his stay in Ireland, was two kings put an end to the rebellion, and a
the foundation of the priory of St. John the solid peace was concluded between O'ConEvangelist, at Waterford, for Benedictine nor and his father through the mediation of
monks. Cambrensis, his tutor, and Bertram their mutual friends.
de Verdon, remained after him in Ireland,  The fatigues and grief which Roderick
to execute, it is said, a commission which O'Connor had undergone having given him
this prince had intrusted them with; but a disgust for governing, he abdicated the
more probably to collect the fables of which monarchy. He sent back the hostages which
Cambrensis composed his history.  How- he had exacted from those princes who had
ever this be, the prince granted them four acknowledged his sovereignty, and gave up
cantreds and a half of land in the territories to his son Conchovar (O'Connor) the totterof Uriel and Luva, (Iouth,) in the neighbor- ing throne of Connaught.  He then withhood of Dundalk, where Verdon founded, drew to the abbey of Cong, where he spent
some time afterwards, the priory of St. the remainder of his life, thirteen years, in
Leonard.                                preparing for eternity. He died on the 28th
The bodies of St. Malachi, St. Columb, of November, at the age of 82 years, and
and St. Bridget, having been discovered this left several pious legacies to the churches
year at Down, Malachi, bishop of that place, of Ireland, Rome, and Jerusalem. His body
sent intelligence of it to Pope Urban III.* was removed from  Cong to Cluan-Mac* Usser, in Indice Chron. ad an. 1186.  * Trias. Thaum. not. 2, 3, in Vit. 6 Sanct. Patr.




296                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Noisk, and interred in that church with intending the building of a strong castle in
great pomp and solemnity. Thus ended, that place. The person who performed
with this prince, the monarchy of Ireland, this deed (whom some call Malachi Maclair,
which had lasted for more than two thou- and others Symmachus O'Cahargo) fled to
sand years.                             a neighboring wood. The English who beAmlave O'Murid, or O'Murry, who had longed to De Lacy's retinue were attacked
been nominated to the archbishopric of Ar- also, and put to the sword.  If we cannot
magh, after Malisa Mac-Carwel, who died justify this action, which was barbarous in
on his way to Rome, soon followed his pre- itself, circumstances must at least extenuate
decessor, and was succeeded by Tomultach, its atrocity. The dead body of the English
or Thomas O'Connor. The latter had al- nobleman was deprived of burial by the
ready been archbishop of Armagh, upon the people for the cruelties he had committed,
death of Gilbert, which took place in 1180; and kept concealed for some time; it, howbut the tumults of war having caused him to ever, was discovered in 1195, and interred
resign, he ceded the archbishopric to Mleisa with great pomp in the abbey of Bective,
Mac-Carwel in 1184, and resumed it again on the river Boyne, by Matthew O'Heney,
on the death of Amlave. He was a noble archbishop of Cashel, and apostolical leand prudent man, says the author of the an- gate; assisted by John Cumin, archbishop
nals of the monastery of the Blessed Virgin of Dublin. The head of De Lacy was
near Dublin, and governed that diocese the brought to Dublin, and buried with Rosa de
second time for nearly sixteen years.   Munemnene, his first wife, in the abbey of
About this time Dermod M'Carty, king of Thomas Court. Lacy left two sons, Walter
Desmond, having placed too much reliance the elder, lord of Meath, and Hugh, afteron the good faith of the English, was sacri- wards earl of Ulster.
ficed to their fury. He was killed, with all  Geoffroy,* fourth son of Henry II. by his
his retinue, by Theobald Walter and the wife Eleanor, and duke of Brittany, died
Englishmen of Cork, at a conference which August 16th, 1186, and was buried in the
he was holding with them for the regulation choir of the church of Notre Dame, at Paris.
of some affairs, near that city.        He had by his wife Constantia (who was
JQhn Cumin, archbishop of Dublin, as- the daughter and heiress of Conon, count of
sembled a provincial council the following Brittany,) two daughters, and a son named
Lent, in the church of the Holy Trinity, Arthur, who was born after his death.
Dublin, which he opened by a sermon on the   Henry II., upon hearing of the tragical
sacraments of the church. Aubin O'Molloy, end of De Lacy, dispatched his son John,
abbot of Baltinglass, and afterwards bishop with a large army, to resume the governof Ferns, preached the day following on the ment of Ireland; but the news of Geoffroy's
chastity of ecclesiastics; he inveighed in death at Paris having reached him while the
strong terms against the impurity of those prince was detained at Chester by contrary
who came from England and Wales, and at- winds, orders were sent for him to return,
tributed the corruption which was beginning and the command of the expedition to
to creep in among the Irish clergy to their Ireland was given to Philip de Wigorne.
evil example. This sermon caused a warm Some people say that Henry himself sailed
altercation between the abbot of Baltinglass with it.
and Giraldus Cambrensis, who was present  The destruction which now threatened
at it. Cambrensis repaired soon afterwards the country.from the continual incursions
to his archdeaconry in Wales, where he of the English, was still insufficient to unite
completed his Topography, and his history the people in its defence, and to suppress
of the Conquest of Ireland.             the factions which prevailed among them.
Hugh de Lacy, lord of Meath, having Donald, son of Hug-tie O'Loghlin, prince of
persecuted the Irish for a considerable time, the family of the O'NeiIls, and king of Tirand committed the most flagrant acts of in-' yen, was dethroned, and Roderick O'Lachjustice upon the inhabitants of Meath, ended ertair was declared king in his stead. The
his days miserably at Dermagh, now Dur- year following Tirconnel was invaded by
rogh, A. D. 1186.*  The tyrant's head was the latter, who was killed, and Donald recut off by a blow of an axe, which he re- stored to the throne.
ceived from a young Irish nobleman in the   The death of Christianus O'Conarchy,
disguise of a laborer, while he was super- the late bishop of Lismore and apostolical
legate, is said to have occurred in this year,
* War. de Annal. Hib. c. 18. Keating, Hist. of
Ireland, b. 2., Westmonast. Flores Hist. lib. 2, ad an. 1186&




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          297
1186; he was buried in the abbey of O'- The action was brisk, and the victory for a
Dorny, where he spent many years after he long time doubtful; but was at length gained
had retired from  the attractions of the by Donald, with the loss of his life. The
world.                                  body of this celebrated prince was removed
This year was also remarkable for the to Armagh, and interred with great pomp.
death of an illustrious woman, namely, Ma-   Alured le Palmer, of Danish extraction,
tilda, daughter of Henry I., king of Eng- founded the priory of St. John the Baptist,
land, wife of Henry IV., emperor of Ger- of which he was the first prior,* outside of
many, and the mother of Henry II.  She, the new gate of Dublin. This house was
like her father, died at Rouen, in Normandy, afterwards endowed, and changed into an
and was interred in the abbey of Bec. Others hospital, with accommodations for one hunsay that she was buried in the abbey of dred and fifty-five patients, besides the chapReading, in England, where the subjoined lains, and other necessary attendants.'It
epitaph on her may be seen.*            belonged in latter times to hermits of St.
Cardinal Octavianus and Hugue Nunant, Augustin.
bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, were sent   Courcy suppressed the abbey of Carrick,
in quality of legates by Pope Urban III., founded near the bridge of St. Finn, by
at the solicitation of Henry II., to assist at Magnal Mac-Eulof, one of the kings of Ul/ the coronation of his son John as king of ster, and appropriated its revenues to a new
Ireland. But this ceremony, says Hoveden, house which he founded at Inis, dedicated
was dispensed with on account of the affairs to the Blessed Virgin, and to which he
of Henry, who brought with him to Nor- brought over Cistertian monks from the abmandy these two legates, to be present at a bey of Fumes, in England. It was the policonference which he was about to hold with cy of the English to make the monks interPhilip Augustus, concerning a peace, A. D. ested in the success of their arms.  One of
1188.                                  these monks, called Jocelin, wrote the life
The viceroy of Ireland, together with of St. Patrick, at the request of Tomultach
Conchovar O'Dermod, carried their hostile O'Connor, archbishop of Armagh, Malachi,
intentions into Connaught,t and having ad- bishop of Down,;and De Courcy. Martan
vanced as far as Esadar, pitched their camp O'Broley, a celebrated professor in the unii there with a design of desolating and ravag- versity of Armagh, died about this time;
ing the country of Tirconnel.  The news, he is highly eulogized for his learning in
however, of Flahertach O'Maolduin march- the annals of Ulster.
ing with an army from that quarter, made   The Irish princes having determined to
them abandon this project; they set fire to mlake an effort to rescue themselves from the
Esadar, and returning into Connaught met slavery of the English, and finding no remethe united forces of Conchovar Maonmuighe, dy for their misfortunes but uniting under
king of the province, and of Donald O'Brien, one chief, offered the sovereignty to O'Conking of Limerick.  The viceroy gave them nor Maonmuighe. The princes who formed
battle, which, however, proved fatal to him; this league were, Donald O'Brien, king of
he lostthe flowerof his forces, besides sixteen Limerick, Roderick, son of Dunsleve, king
I persons of rank in his army, and the remain- of Ullagh, Donald Mac-Carthy, king of
i der were put to flight.  About this time Desmond, O'Melaghlin, surnamed Beag, or
Roderick O'Gavanan, king of Tirconnel, to- the little, king of Meath, and O'Rourke,
gether with his brother and several persons king of Brefny and Conmacne.  This conbelonging to his suite, were killed near the federacy, however, was productive of no
bridge of Sligo, by Flahertach O'Maolduin. good result, in consequence of the acciThe annals of Ulster mention a sanguinary dental death of O'Connor, at Dun-Leoga,
conflict that took place in the same year, in Hymaine, where he held his court. He
between Donald, son of Hugh O'Lochlin, left a son called Cahal-Carrach.
king of Tyrone, and the English garrison of   John Courcy, accustomed, like most of
the castle of Moycava, or Cava-na-Cran. his countrymen in Ireland, to live by pillage, laid waste the neighborhood of Ul* Ortu magna, viro major. sed maxima partu  lagh, (county of Down,) not sparing ArHic jacet Henrici filia, sponsa, parens.  magh, A. D. 1188.t  His accomplices there
Matth. Paris, ad an. 1196, p. 99.   were the Audleys, Gernons, Clintons, Rus"Here lies the daughter, wife, and mother of sels, Savages, Whites, Mandevils, Jordans,
Henry; great by birth, greater by her husband, but
greatest by her offspring."-Matthew Paris, ad an.
1196, p. 99.                                   * War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 26.
t War. de Annal. Hib. cap. 20.               t War. de Annal. Hib. cap. 21
38




298                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Stantons, and Poers, who had followed his of Jerusalem, (who solicited the aid of
fortune, and on whom he had bestowed es- Henry against Saladin,) the opportunity of
tates and lordships which did not belong foretelling many misfortunes that should
to him. It is easy to be generous at the befall that king, and of announcing to his
expense of others.                      children, that they should return to the
While De Courcy was carrying on his devil, from whom they had gone forth. But
military expeditions in Ulster, Roger Poer, he remarks, with justice, that historians
a brave man, of noble family, was killed, ought rather to have passed over the subwith the garrison, in the castle of Dangis- ject in silence.
drony, in the district of Ossory, which the   I have already portrayed the morals of
Irish took by assault. They also reduced Henry II.; let English writers therefore
the castle of Lismore; but finding it impos- draw his panegyric. A flatterer has written
sible to hold out against the English, they the following line, in itself fine, and very
determined to destroy it.               laudatory of the memory of that prince,
Murchard Mac-Carwel, king of Ergail, and of Richard, his successor.
finding his end approaching, retired to the "Mira canam, sol occubuit, nox nulla secuta est."
abbey of Mellifont, where he was buried
near his father Donat, by whom it had been   John Comin, archbishop of Dublin, Aubin
founded. I have now given an imperfect O'Mulloy, bishop of Ferns, and Concort,
sketch of what passed in Ireland from the bishop of Enaghdun, assisted at the corofirst invasion of the English, under Henry nation of Richard, surnamed Coeur de Lion,
II., to the death of that prince, which took on the third of September following, at
place on the sixth of. July, in his castle of Westminster, which was performed by BaldChinon, in Normandy.*  His body was in- win, archbishop of Canterbury. His brother
terred with great pomp in the monastery of John, earl of Mortagne, was content with
Font Everard, which he had founded. He being lord of Ireland.  The marriage of
had been for some time in a declining state William Marshal with Isabella, daughter of
of health, overcome with grief and sorrow; Earl Strongbow, took place about this time;
but the list which Philip "Augustus sent to by which he acquired extensive possessions
him of those who had conspired against him, in Leinster, and the title of earl of Pemamong whom  was his favorite son John, broke.
was the immediate cause of his death.
The following ceremony was observed,
according to Baker, at his funeral obsequies:
"He was clothed inhis royal robes, his crown       CHAPTER  XIX.
on his head, white gloves on his hands, boots
and spurs of gold on his feet, a valuable   As soon as Richard I., surnamed Coeur de
ring on his finger, the sceptre in his hand, Lion, was crowned king of England, he
his sword to his side, and his face un- determined to undertake an expedition to
covered.                                the Holy Land, A. D. 1190, in order, it is
"As they were carrying his body to the said, to make atonement for the rebellion
grave, his son Richard approached it with which he had been guilty of against his
eagerness, in order to look at it, whereupon father.  He set out for Palestine, where he
a quantity of blood issued from the nose. arrived the year following with a numerous
Although the above fact," continues our army, without leaving any orders relative to
author, " was not a proof of the innocence the government of Ireland, thinking, perhaps,
of Richard, the torrent of tears which he that he had no right to interfere in the
shed on the occasion was a sign that he had affairs of that island, since Henry II. had
repented."  Baker speaks of a princess of granted the sovereignty of it to his brother
the house of Anjou, from whom Henry was John.  He sent a deputation, however, to
descended, who was suspected of being a Pope Clement III.,requesting himto appoint
sorceress, and who, it is said, flew through William de Long-Champs, bishop of Ely,
the windows of the church when it was legate of the British dominions, and of that
required of her to receive the blessed Eu- part of Ireland which was subject to his
charist; and that it never could be discovered brother John.  It appears by the pope's
what became of her. This story, he says, rescript, quoted in the history of Matthew
which has been published by every writer, Paris,* that the English then owned but a
might have afforded to Heraclius, patriarch * "Richard, king of England, sent William,
bishop of Ely, with a deputation to Pope Clement,
* Baker, Chron. of England, on the year 1189. from whom he obtained the following rescript



CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                              299
small portion of that country.  We do not dation in 1190, and others so late as 1200:
discover that the legate had ever been in however this be, Crovedarg soon afterwards
Ireland, or made any regulations concerning finding his end approaching, assumed the
it.                                        monastic habit in this house, where he was
The O'Connors had still retained a vestige interred, having governed the province as
of sovereignty in Connaught.  Cahal-Car- chief of the Hy-Brunes and of Clan-Murray.
rach, son of O'Connor Maonmuighe, suc- The descendants of this valiant prince never
ceeded his father; but had a formidable accepted of titles of honor from the kings
rival in his grand-uncle, Cahal-Crovedarg, of England; titles which most of the ancient
brother to Roderick the monarch.  These Irish families then despised, and looked upon
princes had each his party to vindicate their as marks of slavery.  The name of O'Conrespective claims, and the province suffered nor Don, which belonged to the chief of
greatly by their disunion. They even sought this tribe, as well as those of other chiefs of
for partisans among the English.*  William great families, was much more noble, accordFitz-Adelm  declared in favor of Cahal- ing to the genius and manners of the nation,
Carrach, and Crovedarg was supported by than the title of earl or marquis. The presJohn de Courcy.  After many acts of hos- ent chief of this illustrious house of O'Contility on both sides, they at length came to a nor, is Daniel, son of Andrew O'Connor, of
decisive engagement.  Both armies were Ballintobber, who still retains a small porcomposed of Irish and English, who per- tion of the vast possessions of his ancestors
formed prodigies of valor, and the victory in Connaught.
was long doubtful; but the troops of Cahal-   Ware mentions the foundation of a priory
Carrach beginning to give way, were at at this time, under the title of Saint Mary,
last put to flight.  The prince himself, and at Kenlis,* in the county of Kilkenny, by
several nobles of the province, were found Galfridus, seneschal of Leinster, for regular
among the slain, and Fitz-Adelm  returned canons of St. Augustin. But in the additions
to Limerick with the troops that remained. made to the Monasticum  Anglicanumr  of
Cahal-Crovedarg then besieged a strong Dugdale and Dodswort, this foundation is
castle which Fitz-Adelm  had built at Mi- fixed earlier, that is, in 1183, under the
leach O'Madden, in the district of Siola- reign of Henry II.
namchad, to favor his retreat in case of   At Navan, a considerable town in Meath,
need: the garrison, which was composed of at the confluence of the rivers Boyne and
Englishmen, finding themselves unable to Blackwater, there was an abbey founded for
defend the place, and dreading military exe- regular canons of St. Augustin, by Jocelin
cution in case.of resistance, withdrew during Nangle, (De Angulo,) an English lord, who
the night, and the victorious prince caused had settled in this country.t
the castle and all its fortifications to be razed   in the neighborhood of the town of Wexto the ground.                             ford, we discover the priory of Saints Peter
As an act of thanksgiving, Cahal-Crove- and Paul, called Selsker, founded in this
darg founded  an  abbey for Bernardine century, for regular canons of the order of
monks in a place called Knock-Moy, in the St. Augustin, by the Roches, lords of Fercounty of Galway, where he had gained the moy.
victory, which he called De Colle Victoria,   John Comin, archbishop of Dublin, emor the Mount of Victory.t  This house was ployed himself in beautifying the churches
a branch of the abbey of Boyle, of the order of that city; he had the cathedral, called
of Clairvaux.  Jungelinus places this foun- Christ's Church, repaired; and St. Patrick's
Church, which was falling into ruins, completely rebuilt.  He founded thirteen pre"Clement, bishop, &c., according to the com- bendaries, which number was afterwards
mendable desire of our dearest son in the Lord,
Richard, the illustrious king of England, we have increased to twenty-two.  He also founded
by our apostolical authority decreed that the office a nunnery in that city for regular canonof legate be intrusted to thy charge over England, esses of St. Augustin, called De Gratia Dei,
Wales, including the archbishoprics of Canterbury " of the grace of God."'
and York, and those parts of Ireland in which John, The war between the OBriens of Thuothe noble knight of Moreton, and brother of his
majesty, exercises control and dominion." " Given mond, and the Mac-Cartys of Desmond, had
on the fifth of June, in the 3d year of our ponti- lasted for a considerable time; and though
ficate." —llatthew Paris, on the year 1188, part peace was at length concludedbetween these
108.
* Keating, Hist. of Ireland, b. 2.        * War. de Antiq. cap. 26.
t War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 26. Allemand, Hist.  t Allemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irl. page 32.
Monast. d'Irl. page 189.                    t Idem. page 341.




300                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
two septs, it was, unluckily, but of short Philip Augustus, made some attempts to
continuance. Heaven itself seemed displeas- usurp the crown of England;* but being
ed with the discord of these people at a pe- doubtful of success, he only fortified some
riod when union was so necessary for the castles in England, and went to Normandy,
defence of their country. Munster was visited where Philip Augustus then was, by whom
at this time by dreadful storms and hurri- he was honorably received.
canes, which destroyed several houses and   Richard having been released from his
churches, and caused the loss of many lives. captivity, returnedto England, where he was
About this time was celebrated, in the joyfully received by his subjects; and then
monastery ofClairvaux in France,the festival went to Normandy, to put a stop to the
of the translation ofthe relics of St. Malachi, progress of Philip.t  His brother John folarchbishop of Armagh. They were after- lowed him thither, and implored his forgivewards removed to the abbey of Mellifont in ness in the humblest manner, promising him
Ireland, and particles of them distributed to fidelity for the future.  He granted him his
the different houses of the Cistertian order. pardon, through the solicitation of his mother
Matthew O'Heney, archbishop of Cashel, Eleanor, saying, " I wish I may forget your
having been nominated legate of Ireland by crime, and that you alone may preserve
Pope Celestinus III., convened a council in the remembrance of it."t
Dublin, A. D. 1192; but we are unacquainted   In Ireland the O'Briens were still opposed
with what passed in it. About this time the to the M'Cartys, and in 1193 the king of
city suffered considerably by fire.     Limerick consented to the building of the
While some of the English were occupied castle of Briginis, in the country of Thuoin building the castles of Ballinorcher and mond, to favor the incursions of the EngKilbixi, in Westmeath, and that of Kilkenny, lish into Desmond. These strangers still conin Leinster, others of them were completely tinued their depredations; they held nothing
destroyed at Dunlus O'Fogerte, by Donald sacred. Gilbert de Nangle pillaged the island
O'Brien, king of Limerick; after which the of Inisclohran, in lake Ree, and also the abEnglish, in revenge for their losses, collect- bey; while Africa, wife of John de Courcy,
ed a force and pillaged the country of Thuo- founded the abbey of our Lady of Leigh, or
mond.                                   De Jugo Dei, in Ulster, in which she was
About the same time an abbey of Bene- afterwards interred.  About this time died
dictines was founded at Glascarrig, in the Derforgill, wife of Tigernach  O'Rourk,
county of Wexford; an abbey also of the whose misconduct had drawn irremediable
Cistertian order at Ballinamore, in West- misfortunes on her country. She had been
meath, and one in the city of Down.*    at first confined, by order of Roderick O'ConThere were two priories in Eastmeath, nor, in the abbey of St. Bridget in Kildare,
one near the town of Trim, and the other from whence she was removed to the abbey
at Kells, in the same county. Both belonged of Mellifont, where she died.
to the order of the Holy-Cross.- The former  The year following was much more memowas founded by a bishop of Meath, the lat- rable by the death of Donald O'Brien, king
ter by Walter de Lacy.t                 of Limerick, A. D. 1194. This prince was no
Richard, king of England, whom we left less pious than warlike; he founded several
in Asia, was shipwrecked in the Adriatic monasteries, and made also many efforts,
sea, on his return to Europe. In order to though too late, to shake off the yoke of the
conceal his coming to England, he took the English.  His first fault was irreparable:
road through Germany, where he had the instead of joining the other princes of Iremisfortune of falling into the hands of Leo- land in the common cause, he had been one
pold, marquis of Austria. This prince had of the first to submit to Henry II., without
not forgotten the insult he had received at making the least resistance, and thereby
the siege of Acre, from Richard, who tore afforded the English an opportunity of bedown the standard he had set up on the top coming strong in the country.  Although
of a tower, and placed his own in its stead. the last king of Limerick, he was succeeded
He sold Richard to the Emperor Henry VI., in the government of that part of the island
who detained him  a prisoner for fifteen by his son Donogh Cairbreach. The eyes of
months.  His brother John, lord of Ireland, his second son, Mortough, were put out by
wishing to take advantage of this opportunity, the English.
and, according to Ware, at the instigation of
* Annal. Hib. ad an. 1193.
t Westmonast. Flores Hist. lib. 2, ad an. 1192.
* War. de Antiq. Hib, cap 2.      t 2  Walsing. Ypodig. Menst. ad an. 1193, 1194.
t Allerand, Hist. Monast. d'Irl.  Bak. Chron. of Engl. on the reign.of Richard.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           301
The affairs of the English in Ireland were as lord-justice of Ireland, he laid down his
in a very precarious state, A. D. 1195; after arms and took to flight, after which his casbeing defeated in several engagements, they tles were seized, and his estates confiscated.
were expelled from  Limerick by Donald   A serious dispute occurred, A. D. 1179,
M'Carty.  The Irish knew how to gain vic- between John Comin, archbishop of Dublin,
tories, but had not the art of turning them and Hamon de Valoines, and other ministers
to advantage; the superiority of their arms of John, lord of Ireland, who were encroachwas soon counterbalanced by the stratagems ing on the privileges of his church. The
of war skilfully made use of by the English, prelate excommunicated them, and then went
and by the succor these strangers were to England, where he in vain complained
continually receiving from England. Philip of the injustice of these ministers. It has
de Wigorne landed this year on the coasts since been discovered in the registries of
of Munster, with a strong reinforcement, the church of Dublin, that HIamon granted
which changed the aspect of their affairs. to the successor of Comin, twenty carucates
In Ulster, Roderick, son of Dunleve, with a or quarters of land, in compensation for the
body of troops composed of both English wrongs he had done it.
and Irish, made incursions into Tyrone; but  John de Courcy continued his tyranny in
was repulsed, and attacked in his retreat at Ulster.  He made the people suffer for the
Armagh, by Mortough O'Loghlin, prince of crime of an individual; putting several inthat district, who destroyed a considerable nocent persons to death in order to be repart of his army.  This prince, celebrated venged for the death of his brother Jordan,
in the histories of the country, was killed who was killed by his own servant. He
some time afterwards, by Donough M'Blos- laid waste the country' of Tirconnel, from
chy O'Cahan, and his body interred with which he carried off much booty, after havgreat pomp at Derry.                    ing killed O'Dogherty, who became prince
About this time Pope Celestine III. con- of that country after the death of Flahertach
firmed the foundation of a monastery for O'Maolduin.  The latter, who was so celeAugustin nuns at Termonfechau, in the brated among the Irish for his military excounty of Louth, by the M'Mahons, lords of ploits, and other virtues, died at Inis-Samer,
the country.*                           on the 10th of February, after a long illness,
Courcy having taken the castle of Kil- and was buried, with pomp, at Drum-Tuama.
sandall, placed a garrison in it, A. D. 1196,   Hamon de Valoines, lord-justice of Ireunder the command of one Russell, who, to land, was at length recalled, A. D. 1198.
try his fortune, made some incursions with He was succeeded by Meyler Fitzhenry,
the troops of his garrison into the country renowned in history for his exploits against
of Tirconnel, fromt whence he carried away the Irish.
considerable booty; but he was attacked on   The castle of Ard-Patrick, in Munster,
the way and killed, with several of his fol- was built this year by the English; and the
lowers, by Flahertach O'Maolduin, prince year following, that of Astretin, in the same
of Tirconnel.                           province.
In Munster, Donald M'Carty put the   Richard I.'survived his captivity but five
English garrison of Imacalle to the sword, or six years.  He was almost continually at
and razed the castle to the ground.  He war with Philip Augustus.*  Several truces
treated the garrison of Kilfeacle in the same were concluded between then.  Richard
manner, and pillaged the castle. In order was at length wounded in the arm by an
to put a stop to the enterprises of M'Carty, arrow that was discharged by Bertram de
the English sent an army, composed of the Gordon, otherwise called Peter Basile, when
garrisons of Cork and other places, against he was endeavoring to enter the castle of
him; but did not, however, come to an Chalus, near Limoge, by force.t His wound
engagement.  A truce was concluded, and having mortified through the ignorance of
hostilities ceased for some time.       the surgeon who dressed it, he died after a
Gilbert de Nangle, a man of considerable few days.  His body was interred at Fontepower in Meath, put himself at the head of veraud, near the tomb of his father, and his
a body of troops, and committed dreadful heart brought to Rouen, in gratitude for the
devastation in the surrounding country; but love which'that city had always manifested
finding himself threatened by Itamon de towards him.t
Valoines, who had succeeded Peter Pippard   * Westmon. Flores Hist. lib. 2, ad an. 1199.
t Matth. Paris, Angli. Hist. Maior. Vit. Richard.
* War. de Antiq.  Allemand, Hist. Monast.  t Baker's Chron. of Engl. on the reign of
d'Irl. page 349.                        Richard I.
I...                                                        




302                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
John, earl of Mortagne, lord of Ireland, terbury, compounded with De Braos for his
who had endeavored to usurp the throne estates, by paying five hundred marks.*
of England during his brother's lifetime, Those lands were Truoheked, Eile-y-Cardid not fail to lay claim to it after his death, rol, Eile-y-Ogarthi, Orwon, Areth, and Owny,
to the prejudice of his nephew Arthur, son Owny Hokathelan, and Owny Hiffernan.
of Geoffry, of Brittany, his elder brother.* William de Braos gave up those lands to
Arthur took up arms, and was supported by Fitzwalter, by a charter delivered at LinPhilip Augustus; but John made him pris- coln in presence of the king.  Henry II.
oner at Mirabel, in Poitou, whence he sent had already conferred on Fitzwalter the
him, under a strong escort, to Falaise, and office of grand hereditary butler of Ireland,
thence to Rouen, where he had him put to from whence is derived the name of Butler,
death; by which means he united the he- which was afterwards taken by the dereditary domains of his family, on the con- scendants of that nobleman.
tinent, with the kingdom of England.t       William Marshal, earl of Pembroke, being
The English still continued their hostili- in danger of shipwreck on his passage from
ties in Ireland, A. D. 1199. John de Courcy England to Ireland, made a vow to build a
sent a body of troops this year to Tyrone, religious house;t in consequence of which
who laid the country waste and carried he founded, A. D. 1199, the abbey called
away several herds of cattle.  They were Little Tinterne, in Ireland, in a village of
not, however, so fortunate in a second enter- that name on the coast of Wexford.  The
prise. Hugh O'Neill, prince of the country, abbey was so called to distinguish it from
marched tomeet them, and defeated them at the great Tinterne, in Wales, where the
Donoughmore.  Meanwhile, the English of Cistertian order was established, and of
Munster continued to devastate the country which it was a branch.  This nobleman
of Desmond from the river Shannon to the also founded two religious houses; one at
Eastern Sea.  About the same period, a Kilrush, in the county of Kildare, for regular
fortified castle was built at Granard, in the canons, and the other at Wexford, for hospidistrict of Aumale, in the county of Longford, tallers of St. John the Baptist of Jerusalem,
by Richard Tuite, to check the O'Reillys and St. Bridget.t Besides the latter house,
and other Irish chieftains, who were carry- which was the grand priory, the order of
ing on a continual warfare against the Eng- Malta had nine commanderies in Ireland
lish, who had settled in that quarter.   before the suppression of the Templars.
The abbey of Comerer, or Comber, in the   About this time Donat, son of Donald
county of Down, was founded this year, for O'Brien, king of Limerick, founded two
Cistertian monks, by the Whites, who had abbeys, dedicated to the blessed Virgin;
settled in that country.t  This abbey was one that of Corcumroe, or de Petra Fertili,
inconsiderable, and was a branch of that of in the county of Clare, of the Cistertian
Blancheland, in Wales, whence its first order; the other that of Kilcoul, or de Armonks came over.                         vicampo, in the county of Tipperary,  a
King John was not less avaricious than branch of the abbey of Jeripont.
his father: he drew money from all quarters,   We discover at the same time the foundaand it may be said that his reign was one tion of two nunneries: one at Kilcreunata,
continual tax.~  According to. Hoveden, he in the county of Galway, called de Casta
sold to William, nephew of Philip de Braos, Sylva, fobunded by Cahal O'Connor, surfor four thousand marks of silver, the lands of named  Crovderg, for Benedictines; the
the O'Carrols, the O'Kennedys, O'Maghers, other at Granary, county of Kildare, foundO'Fogartys, O'Ryans, O'Hifferans, and oth- ed by Walter de Ridelesford, an English noers, which Henry his father had given to bleman, for monks of St. Augustin.~  This
Philip de Worcester, and to Theobald Fitz- monastery is, perhaps, the same as Grane,
walter.  But Worcester, who was then in a priory of Benedictines in the same county,
England, returned to Ireland through Scot- founded by the same nobleman; the act of
land, and recovered his estates by open its foundation is mentioned by the authors
force.  Fitzwalter, with the assistance of of the " Monasticum Anglicanum," to have
his brother De Hubert, archbishop of Can- been inserted in a bull of Pope Innocent
X Westmonast. ibid. ad an. 1202.         * Introduction to the life of the duke of Ormond,
t Matth. Paris, Angli. Hist. Major. ad an. 1292. vol. 1, p. 18.
Baker, Chron. of Engl. on the reign of John I.  t War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 26.
t Allemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irl. page 193.  t Allem. Hist. Monast. d'Irl. pages 24, 124.
~ Baker, Chron. of Engl. on the reign of John I.  ~ War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 26. Allem. ibid. p. 347.
War. de Annal. Hib. ad an. 1200.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           303
III., in the year 1207, by which it appears had assisted at the council of Lateran. His
that this English nobleman, its founder, and death took place at Cong, at an advanced
baron of Bre, lord of Tristeldermot and age,* and he was buried in the monastery of
other places, granted it to the lands of the regular canons of St. Augustin, and was
Grane, Dolke, and others.               succeeded by Felix O'Ruadan.
At Nenagh, in the county of Tipperary,   There had always existed a jealousy and
there was a priory or hospital called Teach- secret enmity between the Lacys and John
Eon, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, de Courcy, which broke out openly in the
founded by Theobald Walter, the chief of beginning of the reign of king John.t This
the Butlers,* A. D. 1200.  At Athassel, a king was abhorred by all good men, not only
small town in the same county, was the pri- for having deprived Arthur of the crown,
ory of St. Edmond, king and martyr, found- who was legitimate heir to it, but also for
ed for regular canons in 1200 by William having imbrued his own hands in the blood
de Burgo, from whom the Burkes are de- of that innocent prince. Every one exscended.                                pressed his indignation openly, particularly
At Kilbeggain, in Westmeath, there was John de Courcy, earl of Ulster, who was a
an abbey of Cistertian monks, called De violent and hasty man, and who, not conFlumine Dei, founded by the Daltons, bar- tent with the mere abhorrence which so
ons of Rathcomire.f  It was a branch of detestable an act excited, gave vent to imthe abbey of Mellifont, its first monks hav- precations, of which the king was soon ining come from that abbey.               formed. In order to punish De Courcy's
At Tristernach, in Westmeath, there was imprudence, John sent orders to De Laalso a priory for regular canons of St. Au- cy, whom he had just appointed lord-jusgustin, called St. Mary's, founded about this tice of Ireland, to have him arrested and
time by Gooffry de Constantin, an English brought to England in chains.  Lacy was
lord. Dugdale and Dodsworth mention the glad to receive these orders, so much in acact of its foundation in the additions to the cordance with his own wishes, and lost not
"l fonasticum Anglicanum.."             a moment in using all his efforts to execute
In the neighborhood of the town of Wex- the commission.  Courcy, informed of the
ford, the priory of St. Peter and St. Paul danger which threatened him, withdrew.to
was founded by the Roches, lords of Fer- Ulster, where he placed himself on the
moy, for regular canons of St. Augustin. defensive, and defeated the king's troops,
There was also a priory of the same order, whom De Lacy had sent in pursuit of him,
under the title of St. John the Baptist, at near Down. The viceroy finding it imposNaas, in the county of Kildare, founded by sible to reduce his enemy by force of arms,
a baron of Naas.                        published a manifesto, in the king's name,
The church of Ireland lost two celebrated declaring De Courcy a traitor to the king
prelates at this period, (A. D. 1201;) Thomas and a rebel to his commands, and offered a
O'Connor, archbishop of Armagh, a noble reward to whomsoever should take and
and virtuous character, was one; he was bring him, dead or alive, to him. This reinterred in the abbey of Mellifont.t  The ward some of De Courcy's own household
English wishing to make themselves mas- were base enough to earn; he was arrested
ters of the see, which had become vacant on Good Friday by some of his own attendby his death, the king of England appointed ants, and brought to the viceroy, who, after
Humfred de Tikhull to it; but he was pre- giving those who delivered him up the promvented from acting by the pope, who confer- ised reward, had them all hanged.  Lacy
red it on Eugene Mac-Gillevider, a native of immediately set out with his prisoner for
Ireland. Eugene was a man of great virtue,'England, and presented him to the king, by
" vir magnae honestatis et vitae laudabilis;" whose orders he was confined in a dungeon.
he died at Rome in 1216, after having as- As a reward for this service, Lacy received
sisted at the fourth council of Lateran.    from his royal master all the lands which
Catholicus O'Dubhay, archbishop of Tuam, belonged to De Courcy in Ulster and Conwas the other prelate alluded to. He was a naught, together with the title of earl of
grave and learned man, and had made peace Ulster.
between Roderick O'Connor and Henry II.;   The people of Tyrone deposed Hugh
he was also one of the six Irish prelates that O'Neill this year, and placed Cornelius
Mac-Laughlin in his'stead, who was killed
X Allemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irl. page 65.
t War. de Antiq. ibid. Allemand, ibid. p. 179.  * War. de Archiepisc. Tuamens.
t War. de Archiepisc. Ardmach.          t Stanihurst, de Reb. in Hib. Gest. page 212.




304                             IIlSTORY OF IRELAND.
in battle a short time afterwards by Eignea- own interest was in question. I-e concludes
chain O'Donnel; after which O'Neill was by saying it is not surprising that his memory
reinstated.                                should be held in abhorrence by the people:
The discord which prevailed between "ut non mirum fuerit, si incolis tristem horriPhilip de Worcester and William de Braos, bilemque memoriam nominis sui reliquerit."*
to whom  the king had sold the lands of   Although the historians of the times have
Philip, as has been already observed, was represented William Fitz-Adelm as a wicked
productive of great troubles in Munster, man, he left a posterity in Ireland who were
particularly in the district of Moy-Feinin, worthy of a better ancestor, and who were
which was pillaged: but the year following, always distinguished for their religion, virthe castle of Knockgrassan, and other places tue, and fidelity to their lawful princes.
which had be en seized by Philip, were re-   There were some religious houses foundstored to William by order of the king.    ed about this time in Ireland.  At Conol, a
William Fitz-Adelm, or De Burgo, made village on the river Liffey, in the county of
some incursions into the country of Des- Kildare, a rich priory was established for
mond, and carried off considerable booty. regular canons of St. Augustin, by Myler
The king gave him by charter five military Fitzhenry.t  This priory depended on the
fiefs in a place called Toth, where the cas- abbey of Anthoni, in England, and the
tie of Canic, now Castle-Connel, stands, original act for its establishment is in the
which have remained in the hands of his Bodleian library.
descendants to the present time.             In a very pleasant situation on the right
Keating mentions an expedition which bank of the river -Liffey, in the county of
Fitz-Adelm made into Connaught, where he Kildare, there was a handsome priory of the
committed dreadful devastations.:  Accord- order of St. Victor, dedicated to St. Woling to him, cruelty was the ruling passion of stan, who had been lately canonized by Pope
this nobleman; he put the priests and peo- Innocent III.  This house was commonly
ple to the sword without distinction, and de- called Scala Cceli, or the ladder of heaven.
stroyed the religious houses and other holy It was founded by Richard, the first abbot,
places in this province, so that his tyrannical and Adam de Hereford, both Englishmen,
conduct drew upon him the censures of the in 1235.t
clergy, and he was solemnly excommunica-   About this time Theobald Fitzwalter, first
ted by the church; in which state he died grand butler of Ireland, founded at Owny,
of an extraordinary sickness, which caused or Wetheni, in the district of Limerick, an
frightful distortions.  He gave no signs of abbey for Cistertian monks;~ it was a
repentance; his body was carried to a vil- branch of the abbey of Lavigni, diocese of
lage, the inhabitants of which he had put to Avranche, in Normandy, from whence its
death, and was thrown into a well, from first monks were brought.
whence it was never afterwards taken.t        At Inistiock, in the county of Kilkenny,
Stanihurst, following Cambrensis,t gives there was a priory for regular canons of St.
the following account of him.  He was a Augustin, called, after St. Columbanus,
man, he says, solely occupied in amassing founded, according to Ware, in 1206, by
riches, a mercenary governor, and detested Thomas, seneschal of Leinster, at the reboth by prince and people; the duties of his quest of Hugh, bishop of Ossory.
office he discharged in a shameful and sordid   Ware also mentions a religious house,
manner, and disregarded justice when his founded in the neighborhood of Drogheda,
which was called De Urso, having been
* History of Ireland, book 2.            founded by Ursus de Samuel; it was a
t Keating takes this fact from an authentic manu- priory and hospital for the order of the
script written three hundred years before his time, Holy Cross, the monks of which were
consequently in' or about the thirteenth century. called cross-bearers.  Somne believe that it
He calls this manuscript Leavar Breac, or the book was a custodia, or hospital, belonging to the
t The honors which he conferred on any one regular canons of St. Augustin.
were always but a mask of his treacherous inten-   At Newtown, in the neighborhood of
tions, concealing poison beneath the honey, and re- Trim, on the river Boyne, there was a rich
sembling a snake lurking in the grass. Liberal and and handsome priory, founded in 1206, for
mild in his aspect, but carrying more aloes than
honey within-                                * De Reb. in Hib. Gest. lib. 4, p. 185.
Pelliculam veterem retinens, vir fronte politus,    t War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 26. Allemand, Hist.
Astutam vapido portans sub pectore vulpem;    Monast. d'Irl. page 22.
Imnpia sub dulci melle venena ferens.      f War. de Antiq. ibid. page 120.
Htibernia Expugnata, c. 16.  ~ Allemand, ibid. page 184.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           305
regular canons of St. Augustin, under the neither women nor children.  At that time
title of St. Peter and St. Paul, by Simon England was an inexhaustible source of
Rochford, bishop of Meath, who fixed his men, particularly when to make a fortune in
abode there.*  This prelate having removed Ireland was in question, and the loss was
the episcopal see of Clonard to Trim, the soon repaired by a new colony from Bristol.
bishops of that diocese were afterwards called The mayor, aldermen, and citizens of DubEpiscopi Trrnzenses, instead of Cluanar- lin, celebrated for many ages the anniversary
denses; but the diocese was commonly of this fatal day, in the place where the
called the bishopric of Meath, taking its massacre was committed, by feasting and
name from the county rather than from a rejoicings.
city.                                     At Fermoy, in the county of Cork, on the
In his annals of the same year, (1202,) river called Avoine Moer, there was an
Ware fixes the martyrdom of St. Manon, a abbey called De Castro Dei, founded by the
native of Ireland, whom  Molanus ranks noble family of De Rupe, Roche, or De la
among the saints of Flanders. This saint Roche, lords of that place.*  The monks
was a disciple of Saint Remulch and St. of this abbey were of the Cistertian order,
John Agnus, bishop of Utrecht.  He was and came from the abbey of Suire; several
massacred in the forest of Ardenne, and were brought afterwards from the abbey of
buried in a church which he had founded at Furnese, in England.  Jungelinus says it
Nassoin, in Ardenne, where he is acknow- was founded in 1170, which does not accord
ledged as the patron saint.             with the period when the founder of it settled
In the year 1207, a religious house was in Ireland.  It should be fixed some years
founded at Douske, in the county of Kilken- later, viz., about the beginning of the thirny, by William Marshal, earl of Pembroke, teenth century.
for Cistertian monks.  This abbey was  In the neighborhood of Waterford, there
called, 6" Valley of the Blessed Saviour." was also the priory of St. Catherine, of the
Another was founded at Atherdee, or De order of St. Victor, founded by the Danes,
Atrio Dei, in the county of Louth, by Roger or Ostmans, of that city, and confirmed by
Pipard, a lord of that district, for monks Innocent III. in 1210.
called cross-bearers, under the title of St.  At Lerha, near Granard, in the county of
John the Baptist.                       Longford, there was an abbey of Bernardins,
Geoffry M'Moris, or AMorich, an Irish no- founded by Richard Tuite, an Englishman,
bleman, having caused a revolt against the lord of Granard.  The first monks of this
English in the county of Tipperary, A. D. abbey came from that of our Lady, of Dub1208, Hugh de Lacy marched as viceroy lin, of the order of the Clairvaux.t  Some
towards Thurles, with all the troops he could say that this house was founded in 1210,
collect, where he destroyed the castle called Jungelinus in 1211, and Flatzburi in 1212.
Castle Meiler; but having lost several of The founder was killed the following year
his men at the taking of this place, and in at Athlone, by the falling of a tower, and
the various conflicts he had with the Irish, his body interred in this abbey.
he was forced to abandon his enterprise.  At Beaubec, a place so called from its
A tragical scene occurred in the year being situated on a delightful peninsula,
1209, which gave rise to what the English formed by the confluence of the rivers Boyne
have since called " black Monday." It was and Blackwater, in Meath, there was an
as follows:-A contagious distemper raged in abbey founded by Walter de Lacy, lord of
Dublin, by which it was almost depopulated, that district. This abbey was of the Cisand being deserted by the inhabitants, an tertian order, and a branch of that of BeauEnglish colony was sent for to Bristol to bec in Normandy. - It was afterwards united
replace them.  These strangers, who had to that of Furnese in England.  Ware menbeen accustomed to go to the country on tions in his annals a monastery which he
festival days for their amusement, left the calls Fort, founded by the above-mentioned
city in crowds on Easter Monday; when nobleman.
approaching Cullin's Wood, (so called from   Courcy, whom we had left confined in
the noble family of the O'Cullens, to whom England, found means to recover the king's
it had formerlybelonged,) they were attacked
by the O'Byrnes and O'Tools, from  the
county of Wicklow, with their vassals, who  * War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 26. Allemnand, Hist.
massacred three hundred of them, sparing Monast. d'Irl. page 181.
t War. de Antiq. cap. 26. Allemand, Hist.
& Allemand, ibid. page 31.  - Monast. d'Irl. page 180
39




306                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.,favor,* and was restored by him to both his them, and exercising an insupportable tyliberty and fortune.  This nobleman was ranny everywhere their authority extended.
particularly desirous of returning to Ireland, For this purpose he advanced into the
where he had such extensive possessions. country, and' seized upon their castles and
He set sail fifteen times for that country, fortified places.  All fled before him, and
and was as often driven back by contrary among others, Williaim de Braos, his wife
winds, as if some invisible and avrenging Matilda, his son Wilfliam, and their whole
hand -would deprive him of the pleasure of retinue; but they were seized, brought to
seeing a country in which he had committed England under a strong guard, and confined
so many and such flagrant crimes.  He was in Windsor castle, where, by order of the
at length -cast upon the coast of France, king, they were starved to death.*  Others,
where he died.  Such was the end of this however, say that William de Braos, having
great tyrant, whom the English call a great been banished'the kingdom, died of grief in
general.  According to Stanihurst, he left Paris, and was buried on the eve of St.
no posterity, like many other chiefs of the Laurence's day, in the abbey of St. Victor,
English colony.t  However, Nichols, the in that city.t
author of the "Compendium," alleges that   The De Lacys were not more fortunate
he had a son called Myles, who was deprived than De Braos.'Walter, lord of Meath, and
of his father's title and possessions, which his brother Hugh, earl of Ulster and lordthe king conferred on De Lacy. By way of justice of Ireland, goaded by remorse for
indemnification, he was created baron of their extortions and tyranny, and also for
Kingsale, where his descendants have sup- the murder of John de Courcy, lord of
ported their dignity to the present time.    Ratheny and Kilbarrock, near Dublin, (who
John visited Ireland in the twelfth year of was natural son to the former earl of Ulster,
his reign.  He landed at Waterford, at the and whose death was so justly attributed to
head of a numerous and well-provided army, them,) as well as pressed by the complaints
to put down the Irish who had rebelled, and which had been made of them to the king,
were continually pillaging and destroying his resolved to quit the kingdom, and accordEnglish subjects.  It is affirmed by some, ingly took refuge in Normandy.  The king
that their rebellion was caused by an exor- immediately appointed John G-ray, bishop of
bitant tax, which the king -wished to lay on Norwich, his deputy in Ireland, in place of
them in order to enable him to carry on the Hugh de Lacy.
war against France, and that finding this  In order to guard against every search
tax too heavy to be borne, they determined which the king might make after thern, the
to have recourse to arms rather than submit Lacys disguised themselves as laborers, and
to it.                                   were admitted in that capacity into the abbey
The king having marched with his forces of St. Taurin of'Evreux, where they lived
towards Dublin,t the people, alarmed at his by their labor during two or three years,
power, came from all quarters to submit to cultivating the grounds of the abbey, and
an oath of allegiance and to keep the peace. attending to the gardens.  What a fall!
Twenty petty kings, called Reguli by the The abbot being pleased with the two workEnglish authors, paid him homage in Dub- men, sent for them one day; and either from
lin.~  There were others, however, who a previous knowledge of their situation, or
disdained to bend beneath the yoke of Eng- from discovering something superior to what
land.  "Pauci tamen ex Regulis superse- they professed to be in their'comportmen t
derunt, qui ad regem venire'contempserunt." and manner, questioned themn concerning
It appears that the object of this prince's their origin, birth, and country.  Havin g
expedition was not only to quell the insur- obtained a knowledge oftheir entire history,
rection of the Irish, but likewise to punish he felt a deep interest and pity for them,
his English subjects who were oppressing and promised to restore them totheir prince's
favor.  In this he was successful; the king
Stanihurst, de Reb. in Hib. Gest. lib. p. 217.  gave them his pardon, and permitted them
t "He was married to the daughter of the king of to ransom their estates.  Walter paid two
Man, but left no issue after him, like many of those
who ruled over the Irish at that time; whose fami- thousand five hundred marks in silver
lies, from want of children, were quickly reduced Meath; and his brother Hugh a much larger
to a small numnber."-Stanihurst, b. 4, p. 218.    sum for his possessions in Ulster and Cont Matth. Paris, Angl. Hist. Major. ad an. 1210. naught.  These noblemen were so gratei
~ This is an exaggeration of those writers. There
never were twenty kings at one time in Ireland.
The title of king was given only to the monarch  * Matth. Paris, ibid.
and the four provincial kings.                 t Westmonast. Flores Hist. ad an. 1211.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            307
for the services which the abbot of St. Tau- the church of St. Patrick, which his prederin had rendered them, that they brought cessor had. rebuilt, into a cathedral, and
his nephew Alured with them to Ireland, founded the dignities of chorister, chanceland loaded him with riches.              lor, and treasurer.  He increased the reveIn the city of Kilkenny, a priory and hos- nues of the monastery of De Gratia Dei.
pital of the order of the regular canons of He removed the priory of Holm-Patrick,
St. Augustin were founded at this time, by which had, been founded by Sitrick in an
William Marshal, earl of Pembroke.  The island on the coast, for regular canons of
authors of the " Monasticumr  Anglicanum" St. Augustin, to a more convenient situamention, that this house, which was under tion inland.  Lastly, the see of Glen-dathe protection of St. John the Evangelist, Loch, which had become vacant by the
was not founded till 1220. There was also death of William Piro, was annexed to the
a priory of the same order in the county of see of Dublin under his episcopacy.
Kilkenny, founded by the Blanchfelds.       The prelate of Dublin, though he governed
The king of England having allayed the the church and state with applause, was
troubles in Ireland, thought of giving a form guilty of an act which left an indelible stain
of government to his new subjects.  He on.his character.  He sent orders to all the
divided that part of the island which obeyed farmers to repair to him on a certain day,
him, into twelve shires or counties; and to show the leases and titles by which they
established sheriffs or provosts, and other held the lands of the archbishopric. These
officers of justice in those counties, to govern unsuspecting people obeyed his orders withthe people according to the laws of England. out hesitation; and produced their papers
Lastly, he remodelled the coin, and decreed to him, which he threw immediately into the
that the same should pass in England and in fire, before their faces. This naturally caused
Ireland; after which lie emlbarked for Wales, consternation and tumult among the people.
where he appeased some troubles as he Some were struck with horror at the injuspassed, and took with him twenty-eight tice of his conduct, while others, forgetting
children of the first rank, as hostages, to all respect towards him, loaded him with insecure the fidelity of the people;* but having suits, calling him, in the Gothic English of
heard some tilme afterwards that the Welsh those times, Sckorch bill and Scorch villen.*
were beginning to rebel again, he was so Others, still more indignant, ran to take up
transported with rage that he had all these arms, and the prelate was too happy to esinnocent victims hanged in his presence, as cape through a back door, while his attendhe was sitting to table, A. D. 1212.t    ants were beaten, and some almost killed.
About this time died John Comin, arch- This conduct of this prelate exasperated
bishop of Dublin, who had governed that the king to such a degree, that he deprived
church for thirty years. He was interred in him of all administration in the affairs of
the choir of Christ's Cathedral, A. D. 1213.t Ireland, and transferred them to Maurice
His successor was Henry Loundres, so called Fitzgerald.
from the city in which he was born.  The   Some abbeys for monks of the order of
latter was likewise nominated lord-justice St. Augustin were founded about this time:
of Ireland, which office he filled till the year the principal of which were that of Tuam,
1215, when he was summoned to attend the in Connaught, built in the twelfth century,
fourth council of Lateran, and in his absence by the Burkes; that of Enachdune, in the
Geoffry de Mariscis performed the duties of county of Galway, called Our Lady of Portu
lord-justice.  He was appointed legate of Patrum, a branch of the abbey of Tuam;
Ireland two years afterwards, by Pope one in the island of the Holy Trinity, in
Honorius III.  On his returning thither, he lake Ree, county of Roscommon, founded
convened a synod at Dublin, in which useful in 1215, by an archdeacon of Elphin, called
regulations were made respectingthe govern- Mac-Maylin, a native of Ireland; and that
ment of the church.  Geoffry de Mariscis of Goodborne, near Carrickfergus, in the
having been recalled to England in 1219, county of Antrim, in Ulster.
Henry Loundres resumed the administration   At Ballintobber, in the county of Mayo,
of affairs by order of the king, during which also, there was the abbey of the Blessed
period he built the castle of Dublin, in which Trinity, called De Fonte Sancti Patricii,
the viceroys hold their court.  He erected from the fountain of St. Patrick.t  It was
founded in 1216 for regular canons of St.
l Matth. Paris, Angl. Hist. Major.
t Baker, Chron. of England, on the reign o     * A countryman.
John.  td War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 26.
t War. de Arehiepise. Dubliniens.




308                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Augustin, by Charles O'Connor, otherwise John sent to implore the pope's protection,
Cahal-Crovedarg, king of Connaught, some who excommunicated Louis and the English
time before his death.                 who had rebelled. This excommunication,
John Lackland was the most unfortunate however, did not better John's fortune, for
of princes; he was despised by foreigners, his whole army,together with their baggage,
and hated by his subjects. Having put his were lost by the overflowing of the sea, on
nephew Arthur to death, he was-summoned their march along the shore, near Walpoole,
before the court of peers in France, to be in the county of Norfolk. He died, after
tried for his crime; but not appearing, he a few days, overwhelmed with grief and
was declared a rebel, in consequence of affliction, at Newark, and was buried at
which his possessions were confiscated and Worcester under the grand altar. With
he himself condemned to death, as being him died also the resentment of the Engguilty of the murder of his nephew, com- lish, who declared now in favor of his son
mitted within the jurisdiction of the govern- Henry, against Louis.
ment of France.*  Philip Augustus seized   About this time there were three comupon Normandy, which he annexed to his manderies founded for knights Templars;
crown, about three hundred years after it one at Kilclogan, in the county of Wexford,
had been separated from it; and likewise on by the O'Morras, (Moore,) Irish lords; one
Touraine, Anjou, and Maine, so that the at Killergy, in the county of Carlow, by
king of England retained only the province Philip Borard, and a third at Kilsaran, in
of Guienne in France.                  the county of Louth, founded by Matilda, a
This unhappy prince having opposed the lady of the family of the Lacys of Meath.
election of cardinal Stephen Langton to the These houses were given to the order of
see of Canterbury, the pope put his king- Malta, after the abolition of the Templars.
dom under an interdict.                  The author of the first part of the annals
After this, John, not content with confis- of Innis-Faill lived in 1215. He first gave
eating all the property in his kingdom which an abridgment of the general history, till
belonged to the church, drew upon himself the year 430; he then wrote with precision
the hatred of the lords, by refusing them upon the affairs of Ireland down to his own
the privileges and liberties which Henry I. time: this chronicle was continued then by
had granted them by charter. Reiterated another writer to the year 1320.
complaints of his conduct having been carried to the pope, he proceeded from the interdict to sentence of excommunication, absolving John's subjects fromn their oath of        CHAPTER XX
allegiance, and conferring his crown upon
the king of France. John, finding himself  HENRY III., eldest son of John Lackland,
abandoned by the whole nation, resolved to succeeded him at the age of nine years, and
submit to the pope, and acknowledge his was crowned at Gloucester, by Peter, bishkingdom tributary to the holy see. This, op of Winchester, and Jocelin, bishop of
however, did not reconcile his subjects to Bath, in presence of Guallo, the pope's lehim; for he had made them promises which gate, A. D. 1216. After taking the usual
he did not fulfil. He therefore assembled oath, to respect God and his holy church,
his forces; the nobles raised troops, and and to do justice to all his subjects, this
were supported by the city of London, and prince paid homage to the church of Rome,
hostilities began on both sides. The Eng- and to Pope Innocent, for his kingdom. By
lish having no longer any regard for him, another oath, also, he engaged to pay the
appealed to Louis, son of Philip Augustus, thousand marks punctually which his father
who thereupon entered England and was had sworn to give to the church.
crowned in London.                       Ambition and a desire of amassing wealth,
John, who was at Dover, thought it pru- which had at first united the English against
dent not to wait for his rival, and having the Irish, became afterwards incentives to
given the command of the place to Hubert discord among themselves. Unaccustomed
Burgh, he marched with his army towards to hold such extensive possessions at home,
the north. Louis began his march also, took the spoils of the Irish served only to create
Norwich and Dover, and both armies com- jealousies among them, and a reciprocal'mitted dreadful havoc. In the mean time, dislike, which frequently led to the perpetration of dreadful excesses by them against
M  Westmonast. Flores Hist. ad an. 1212, et seq. each other, at the expense of the public
Matth. Paris, Angli. Hist. Major. ad an. 1212.
Baker, Chron. on the reign of John     peace.  The wars of Hugh deLacy the




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             309
younger, and William Marshal, caused many country; one at Carrick-ne-Sure, on the
troubles in Meath.* The town of Trim was river Suir, in the county of Tipperary, by
besieged, and reduced to the last extremity; William  de Cantelo, (Cantwell;) one at
but the disturbances being quelled, Lacy Aghrim, county of Galway, by the Butlers;
built a strong castle in that town to secure and one of the same order, called the monit against future attacks. The provinces of astery of O'Gormogan, or St. Mary, De
Leinster and Munster were frequently de- Via Nova, in the county of Galway, by the
vastated by the quarrels of Marshal with O'Gormogans, Irish lords. About the same
Meyler Fitzhenry.t According to Hanmer, time the abbey of Tracton, or De Albo
William  Marshal took possession of some Tractzt, was established in the county of
lands that belonged to the bishop of Ferns, Cork by the Mac-Cartys, Irish lords, for
and on his refusing to restore them, was ex- Cistertian monks.
communicated by that prelate.4  He died   Although Ireland was already well stockafterwards in his own country, while under ed with religious establishments, the devothis anathema.  His wickedness drew on tion of its inhabitants xwas not exhausted.
him the vengeance of heaven: not- one of They soon admitted the orders which had
the five sons whom  he had by Isabella, been recently instituted; namely, those of
daughter of earl Strongbow, arnd heiress of St. Francis of Assissium and St. Dominick,
Leinster, to whom he was married, having and also the hermits of St. Augustin, and
left any posterity.                      the Carmelites.
Meyler Fitzhenry, one of the first Eng-   The order of St. Dominick, says Allelish adventurers who came to Ireland, and' mand, is considered the first of the four
whose father was natural son of king Henry' mendicant orders, inasmuch as the bull by
I., died about this time, and was buried A. D. which, the pope confirmed or established it
1220, in the monastery of Conal, of which is antecedent to those of the others.* Howhe was the founder.  He was naturally a ever, Pere Calmet alleges that the Franciscruel man. Independently of the tyranny can friars were approved of in 1210 by Pope
which he practised against the people of. Innocent III., and places the confirmation
his province,~ he attacked  Cluan-Mac- of the order of Dominicans six years later,
Noisk, which he took by assault after a that is, in 1216, by Honorius III.t  Howsiege of twelve days, and put all whom he ever men may disagree on this point of
met to the sword.  The houses were pil- chronology, it is quite certain the Dominilaged, the churches and mionasteries, with cans were the first who settled in Ireland.
their ornaments and sacred vessels, given   If we can attach belief to the writers of
up to plunder, and left a prey to his licen- the hermits of Augustin and the Carmeltious soldiery. It was thus that the English ites, those two orders are the most ancient,
continued to reform the morals of Ireland. not only in Ireland, but in all Europe. The
Henry Loundres, archbishop of Dublin, former attribute their establishment to St.
was succeeded by Lucas, dean of the church Augustin himself, and the latter to the proof St. Martin, in London, who was appointed phet Elias.  Both one and the other assert
through the influence of Hubert de Burgo, that St. Patrick, St. Congal, and the other
earl of Kent.                            saints in the first ages of the Irish church
Eugene, archbishop of Armagh, died were of their order, which we can scarcely
some time before, and was succeeded by credit at present. We must therefore place
Lucas de Netterville.  Donatus O'Lonar- them in the list of mendicant friars, whose
gan succeeded another prelate of the same first establishment we discover to have been
name in the archbishopric of Cashel.  Fe- in the beginning of the thirteenth century,
lix O'Ruadan then governed the metropoli- the time that they were sanctioned by bulls
tan church of Tuam.  Roger and William from the popes.
Peppard, successively lords of the Salmon   The first foundation of the Dominicans in
Leap, died about this time.              Ireland was in Dublin. We may judge of
About the same period, too, the following the extent and beauty of this convent, from
houses were founded for regular canons of its being at present the Westminster of Dibthe order of St. Augustin; namely, Aghma- lin,k in which are held the four principal
cart, in Clanmaltre, at present the Queen's
county, by the O'Dempsys, lords of that  * Hist. Monast. p. 199.
t Chron. Abr.
* Keating, Hist. of Ireland, b. 2.  t Westminster, in London, was formerly a celet Keating, ibid.                  brated abbey, which has since become a public
t WVar. de Epise. Ferpens.        building, in which the meetings of the superior
~ Keating, Hist. of Irel. b. 2.   courts of law are held.




310                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
courts of justice in Ireland; namely, the Emperor Frederick. The earls and barons
court of chancery, king's bench, common in England rejected the demand, but the
pleas, and the exchequer; on which account clergy, who dreaded his excommunication,
this extensive and splendid edifice is now submitted to It with reluctance. Though this
called the Four Courts.* This convent was tax was a burden to the Irish, many of them
one of the most ancient of the order, having sold their furniture, and even the church
been established in 1223.  The authors of utensils, to comply with the pope's request.
the order, however, observe that this house   Fitzgerald being engaged in war, the king,
had previously belonged to Cistertian monks, during his absence, conferred on Hubert de
but that it was granted to the Dominicans on Burgo, brother of William  Fitz-Adelm, (of
condition that they should present a lighted whom we have frequently spoken,) the ofwax taper every year, on Christmas day, to fice of lord-justice, with tlhe lordship of Conthe abbey of St. Mary, of the Cistertian or- naught, and the title of earl of that provder, which was in the immediate vicinity, ince.*  Hubert enjoyed a high reputation
as a mark that they held their convent from on account of the noble defence which he
that abbey.                              made against Prince Louis, when he comAt Drogheda, in the county of Louth, manded the town of Dover.  He was rethere was a convent of Dominicans, found- called some time afterwards to England,
ed in 1224 by Lucas de Netterville, arch- where he was appointed governor to the
bishop of Armagh.  It is mentioned in the king, lord chief-justice of England, and earl
registries of the order, and also by Ware. of Kent.  He fell into disgrace, however,
In the city of Kilkenny one of the finest subsequently with this monarch, who deand most extensive convents, of the order clared him to be an old traitor, and had
of St. Dominick, was founded in 1225 by him confined in the Tower of London.
William Marshal, earl of Pembroke.          Geoffry March, otherwise Maurish, or De
There was a convent of this order at Maurisco, held the office of lord-justice of
Waterford, founded in 1226 by the citizens, Ireland in place of Hubert de Burgo, Mancalled the convent of our Blessed Saviour. rice Fitzgerald being still absent.
There was also one of the same order in   During the administration of Geoffry,t
Limerick, founded in 1227 by  ~ O'Brien, the king of Connaught wishing to take adwho was interred in it, and whose tomb, vantage of the absence of William Marshal
surmounted by his statue, is still to be seen and Maurice Fitzgerald, whom the king of
there.  Finally, at Aghavoe, in Ossory, the England had brought with him to Gascony
Fitzpatricks, whose descendants were bar- to make some efforts in favor of his country,
ons of Upper Ossory, founded a house for collected his forces, and invaded the EngDominican friars.                        lish possessions.  Geoffry, to whom was
Radulphus Petit, bishop of Meath, found- intrusted the protection of these provinces,
ed in 1227 the priory of St. Mary, which sent for Walter de Lacy, lord of Meath, and
was formerly called Domus Dei de Moin- Richard de Burgh, and with their united
gcare, in Mullingar, the chief town of West- forces marched towards Connaught.  On
meath, for regular canons of the order of arriving at the entrance of a wood, they
St. Augustin.  Lucas de Netterville, arch- learned through their spies that the king of
deacon of Armagh, having been appointed Connaught and his army were encamped at
bishop of that see by the chapter, in 1217, a short distance on the other side of the
held it for ten years.  He died A. D. 1227, wood.  Geoffry then divided his army into
and was, according to his request, buried in three parts; to De Lacy and De Burgh he
the abbey of Mellifont, and was succeeded gave two divisions, with orders to conceal
by Donat O'Fidabra.                      themselves in the wood, on the right and
During the lord-justiceship of Maurice left of the road. With the third he crossed
Fitzgerald in Ireland, Pope Gregory IX. sent the wood himself, and drew up his men in
Stephen as nuncio, A. D. 1229, with an apos- order of battle opposite to the enemy, who
tolical mandate, to require a tenth of the
chattel property from the clergy and people
of England, Ireland, and Wales in order to   * Nicholas, in his Rudiments of Honor, when
ofEngablehi     crry on the w'.ags ins  speaking of the earls of Clanrickard, asserts that
enable him to carry on the war against the Richard, son of William Fitz-Adelm, was lordjustice of Ireland in 1227. I leave to others the
* The building here alluded to exists no longer. trouble of reconciling this fact with the opinion of
Its site was adjoining Christ's Church cathedral, those who affirm that Hubert Fitz-Adelm's brother
and the courts of justice continued to be held there had immediately succeeded Maurice Fitzgerald in
till the beginning of the present century.-Note 1230, who filled that office since the year 1220.
by Ed.                                     t Matt. Paris, Ang. Hist. Major. ad an. 1238.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            311
attacked him immediately; but the English during the great festivals of the year. The
pretending to fly, retreated into the wood, error might have arisen from this: that part
drawing the Irish after them, who, being of the possessions of the M'Cartys had been
immediately surrounded by those that lay confiscated by the English, and given to the
in ambush, were cut to pieces, and their Prendergasts, which might have given rise
king made prisoner. The English authors, to the opinion that the latter were the
from whom this account is taken, make no founders of this house.
mention of the place where the battle was   The convent of Franciscans, near Yougfought, nor of the name of the king of Con- hal, was built at this time by Maurice Fitznaught; with which they were probably gerald, who became a monk himself, and
unacquainted.  They say that twenty thou- died in it, at an advanced age. The O'Mordsand Irish were killed on the spot; but they has, (Moores,) lords of Loise, Queen's
always exaggerate, and it is highly probable county, founded in their domain at Stradthat the king of Connaught could not have bally, a house for the same order. The
brought half that number intfo the field.    foundation of another convent for FrancisThe more elevated a man's situation is, cans at Trim, in Eastmeath, may be menthe more danger there is of his fall. Geoffry tioned here. Allemand, following Wadding,
de Maurisco, after being raised to the highest ascribes the merit of this establishment to
honors, and loaded with riches in Ireland, King John; but it is doubtful if the Franfell into disgrace with the king.  He was ciscans were known in Ireland in the time
sent into exile, where he suffered many of this prince, who died in 1216.  Others
hardships; and the disgraceful death of his attribute it to the Plunkets, who had settled
son William, who was hanged and quartered in that part of the country.
for his crimes, shortened his career; he died   At Carrickfergus, in the county of Antrim,
unregretted.  The memory of the son was there was a Franciscan convent, founded in
held in universal detestation; particularly 1232, by Hugh de Lacy, earl of Ulster, who
by the king, whom he had, in concert with was buried there.  It is believed by some
his father, attempted to assassinate.   that the O'Neills were the founders of it,
Cornelius, a native of Ireland, surnamed as this place belonged to them, their tombs
Historicus, from  his profound knowledge being in the church; but others say that it
of antiquity, flourished about this time. Bale was the Magennises of Yveach.  At Kiland Stanihurst have given us an abridgment more, on the river Shannon, in the county
of his life. It is said that he wrote a treatise of Roscomrmon, we discover the priory of St.
entitled, " Multarumn Rerum Chronicon, lib. iMary, founded in 1232 for regular canons
1."  Hector Boetius acknowledges himself of St. Augustin, by Cone O'Flanagan, a
to be indebted to this author for many things lman of noble family, who was the first prior
essential to his history of Scotland.  As of it.
usual, Dempster asserts that this celebrated   Walter de Lacy, lord of Meath, died in
man was a native of Scotland, since the 1234. He had no male children, but left
Scotch Highlanders, according to his ac- two daughters, co-heiresses of his extensive
count, were called Irish.               possessions: namely, Margaret, who was
The following religious houses were married to lord Theobald Verdon, and Mafounded about this time; namely, a convent tilda, to Geoffry Geneville.*
for Dominicans, at Cork, by the Barrys,  There was a convent for Franciscans
noblemen of English extraction;* and also built by order of Henry III., in 1236, on
a convent for Franciscans, in the same city, some land which Radulphus le Porter had
founded, according to Wadding, in 1231, given him for that purpose. Donel O'Fidaor in 1240 according to Ware.t These bra, bishop of Clogher, who was removed to
two authors differ respecting the name of the see of Arinagh after the death of Lucas
the founder of this latter house.  Ware de Netterville, died in England in 1237, on
ascribes it to the Prendergasts, lords of his return from Rome.  At Mullingar, the
English origin; and Wadding to the M'Car- chief town of Westmeath, a fine convent
tys, who were Irish noblemen; his reason was built in 1237, for Franciscans, by the
for which opinion is, that in the centre of Nugents, lords of Delvin.
the choir was to be seen the tomb of M'Carty   At Ballibeg, near Butevant, in the county
More, who had an apartment built for him- of Cork, a priory was founded for regular
self in the convent, to which he retired canons of St. Augustin, by William Barry,
in 1237, and endowed by his son David.
* War. de Antiq. Hib. e. 26. Allemand, Hist.
Monast. d'Irl. page 219.
t Allem. ibid. page 249.                  War. de Annal. Hib. on the reign of Henry III.
t Allem. ibid. page 249.




312                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
About this time, the see of Armagh having   There was also a nunnery for the order
become vacant by the death of Donald of St. Augustin, founded at Lismullen, in
O'Fidabra, who succeeded Lucas de Net- Eastmeath, by the sister of Richard de la
terville, Albert, surnamed Coloniensis, was Corner, bishop of Meath, who conferred
appointed archbishop, and consecrated at upon it the lands of Dunsink and BailliWestminster, in presence of the king, of Godman,
Otho, the pope's legate, and several bishops,  The tyranny and continual injustice which
by Walter de Chanteloup, bishop of Wigorn, the English practised against the Irish, were
A. D. 1240.*                             the cause of frequent insurrections. John
Marianus O'Brien, bishop of Cork, suc- de Burgo, (Burke,) son of Hubert, entered
ceeded Donatus O'Lonargan in the arch- Connaught with an army.  O'Connor, king
bishopric of Cashel. In the beginning of his of the province, finding himself unable to
episcopacy, Pope Honorius III. granted a repel his attack, crossed over to England,
bull, whereby he confirmed the number of andpresentedhimselfto the king, in London.
twelve canons of the church of Cashel. He made a spirited remonstrance against
Henry III., king of England, gave to this the violence and tyranny of Burgo, and the
prelate the city of Cashel as an alms, to ravages he incessantly committed; and supbelong for ever to him  and his successors, plicated Henry Ill. to interpose his authorwithout tax or impost. The prelate gave ity, and do him justice, by preventing his
up his right afterwards to the mayor and being trampled upon by an ignoble advenaldermen of that city, on condition of their turer, (as he termed him,) while he paid five
paying some pensions to his church. He also thousand marks a year for his kingdom to
granted leave to Davidle Latimer, knight and the crown of England.  Henry heard with
seneschal, to found in that city an hospital attention the complaints of the king of Confor the leprous.  After this he undertook a naught, and gave orders to Maurice Fitzvoyage to Rome; but falling ill upon his gerald, lord-justice of Ireland, who was then
journey, and thinking his end approaching, present, to destroy the hotbed of tyrants
he took the habit in the abbey of Citeaux.:which had been planted by Hubert, earl of
His health, however, being restored, and his Kent, during his unlimited lust of power
affairs at Rome terminated, he returned to in that unhappy country.  At the same time
his see, and died five years afterwards in the king sent his orders to the other lords
the monastery -of Suire, or Innislaunaght. of Ireland, to expel John de Burgo, and
He was succeeded by David M'Kelly, leave the king of Connaught in peaceful
(O'Kelly.)                               possession of his kingdom.*
Felix O'Ruadan, having governed the   Girald Fitzmaurice, Richard de Burgo,
metropolitan church of Tuam till 1235, then and Hugh de Lacy, earl of Ulster, died about
abdicated it, and withdrew to the monastery this time. The two first ended their career
of the Blessed Virgin, near Dublin, where in Gascony, where they were engaged in
he died three years afterwards.t The chap- war; De Lacy died in Ireland, and was inter of Tuam appointed as his successor Ma- terred at Carrickfergus.  He left an only
rianus O'Laghnan, a dean of the chapter, daughter heiress to his extensive posseswho was well versed in canon law.        sions, who married Walter de Burgo, who,
Near Enniscorthy, in the county of Wex- by this marriage, became earl of Ulster.
ford, on the river Slaney, we find a priory of We have already observed that Walter de
St. John the Evangelist.  It belonged to the Lacy, lord of Meath, and brother to Hugh,
order of regular canons of St. Victor, and left only daughters.  In this manner ended
was founded by Girald de Prendergast, lord the male line of these two chiefs.
of the country, and John de St John, bishop
of Ferns. They made a cell or convent of it,  * "A certain king of thatpart of Irelandcalred
and it was annexed to the abbey called Connaught, came to London with heavy complaints
Thomas Court, in Dublin.                 to the king and parliament, that vast injuries had
Several houses were founded about this been inflicted on him by John de Burgh, who was
time for Franciscans: one at Kilkenny, one devastating his estates by fire and sword. For all
at Drogheda, and one at Down, by Hugh these grievances he sought redress, and prayed that
such violent excesses should be curbed by the regal
de Lacy, earl of Ulster; one at Waterford, authority, and that the king would not suffer his
by Hugh Purcel; and one at Innis Cluan- faithful subject to be disinherited by an ignoble
ruada, in the county of Clare, by Donal stranger, (as he called him;) nor allow him, who
Carbrac O'Brien.                         paid the annual impost of 5,000 marks, to be driven
from his inheritance, which King John had conX War. de Archiepisc. Ardmach.      firmed to him, &e." —Matthew Paris, p. 365.
t War. de Archiepisc. Tuamens.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          313
Peter, surnamed Hibernicus, a celebrated tombs of several persons of distinction, parphilosopher and theologian, flourished in ticularly that of William Bermingham, arch1240.*  The Emperor Frederick II. having bishop of Tuam, and son of the founder.
re-established the university of Naples, in- The Fitzgeralds founded a convent for Dovited him in pressing terms to go thither, minicans this year, also in the county of
as may be seen in a collection of letters of Kerry. The founder of it and his son were
Peter de Vineis, chancellor and secretary to both killed by M'Carty, and buried in the
the emperor.t  Peter presided over the phi- convent. Another of this order was establosophical department in that university, and lished at the same date, in Cashel, by an
had Thomas Aquinas as his disciple, who archbishop of that see. There was likewise
became afterwards so celebrated. It is said a convent for Dominicans at Newtown, on
that he was the author of some tracts on the coast in the peninsula of Ardes, in the
theology.                              county of Down; it was built in 1244 by
The Welsh, headed bytheir prince, David the Savages, a family of English extraction.
Ap-Llewelin, rebelled against the king of  Nothing couldremove the suspicions which
England, and defeated the royal army, which Henry III. had entertained of the fidelity of
was reduced to the greatest hardships during Maurice Fitzgerald in the war against the
the winter. Henry was obliged, from the Welsh. He withheld his vengeance for a
state of his affairs. to send to Maurice Fitz- while, but itbroke forth at length, A. D. 1245;
gerald, lord-justice of Ireland, for succor. when John Fitzjeffery de Maurisco was apAfter some delay, which caused the king un- pointed by the king lord-justice of Ireland,
easiness, which however he concealed, Mau- in place of Maurice. This nobleman afterrice arrived with a body of troops, accom- wards took the monastic habit in a convent
panied by Phelim O'Connor, and having of Franciscans, which he had founded at
joined the king's army, they gained a com- Youghal; and died in it after some time at
plete victory over the Welsh. The king an advanced age,having borne the reputation
then renewed his garrisons in Wales, and of a brave, able, and irreproachable man.
having dismissed the Irish troops, returned He was accused, indeed, though perhaps
to England.                            unjustly, of the death of Richard, the earl
On his return to Ireland, Maurice found marshal.
Ulster in a state of revolt. On the death of   There was an earthquake this year in
Hugh de Lacy, O'Donnel laid waste the England, Ireland, and the western parts of
parts of the country which were under the our hemisphere, which infected the air, and
dominion of that nobleman, and attacked the rendered it unwholesome, A. D. 1247. This
English wherever he met them. In order to phenomenon was followed by a cold, stormy,
create a division among the Irish, Maurice and damp winter, which lasted till the month
formed an alliance with Cormac M'Dermot, of July, and caused considerable uneasiness
M'Dory, and other princes of the country. about the harvest.
He then entered in a hostile manner the   Albert, archbishop of Armagh, gave up
country of Tirconnel, where he destroyed his see in 1247, and was succeeded by Reall before him, and killed Maolseachlin 0'- inerius, a monk of the order of St. Dominick.
Donnel, Giolla Canvinelagh, O'Buhil, Mac- He united the county of Louth, which had
Surley, and other noblemen of the country. long formed part of the bishopric of Clogher,
Several English of rank also lost their lives to the archbishopric of Armagh. This prelate
in this expedition, after which Maurice died at Rome in 1256, and was succeeded
placed a garrison in the castle of Sligo, that by Abraham O'Conellan.
he had built three years before, and left there   Ware places an abbey belonging to the
the hostages he had received from O'Neill order of St. Augustin, in an island called
as pledges for his keeping peace with the the Blessed Trinity, in lake Oughter, in the
king. He bestowed on Cormac Mac-Dermod county of Cavan, where he says it was
several estates in Connaught, as rewards for founded in 1249,* by Clarus Mac-Mailin,
the services he had received from him.  archdeacon of Elphin, and endowed by
At Athenry, in the county of Galway, a Charles O'Reilly, an Irish nobleman. It
convent for Dominicans was founded in 1241 might be the same which we have already
by the Berminghams, who were originally mentioned to have been founded in 1215, in;
English, and had settled in Ireland. In the an island in lake Rea, called the island of
church of this convent were to be seen the the Trinity, in the county of Roscommon,
by the same archdeacon of Elphin. However,
X Fleuri, Hist. Eccles.
t Wad. Annal. Min. ad an. 1270, n. 28, lib. 3,
De Antiq. cap. 28.
cap. 10.
40




314                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
as different places and times are given for respecting the boundaries and limits of their
their foundation, it is more probable that estates, and the titles by which they held
they were different houses.             them, the king determined to call an assermHenry III. began to think of marriage bly at Westminster, to decide upon the matfor his son, Prince Edward, A. D. 1252; and ter.  De la Zouch, as lord-justice, having
as it was necessary, for this purpose, to asked Earl Warren by what right his lands
make settlements upon him, he gave him belonged to him, the earl, drawing his
the sovereignty of Gascony, Ireland, Wales, sword, replied: " By this right my ancestors
&c.  He then sent him to Spain, where he possessed them, and by the same do I intend
married Eleanor, sister of King Alphonso, to hold them," at the same time running his
and brought her, loaded with riches, to sword through his body. While endeaEngland.                                voring to escape, he wounded the son of
David O'Kelly having been appointed to the man whom he had just killed; and then
the see of Cloyne, was afterwards removed withdrew to his castle of Risgate, whitherhe
to Cashel.: It appears by the registry of the was pursued by prince Edward, the king's
church in Dublin, called " Crede mihi," that eldest son, at the head of a few troops.  He
this prelate had taken part in the disputes at length surrendered himself to the prince,
between the archbishops of Dublin and Ar- and- with the assistance of a sum of money,
mnagh, respecting the primacy, to which we and the influence of his friends, obtained his
have already alluded.  He died in 1252, pardon.
and was succeeded in the see of Cashel by   A. D. 1256. Aboutthis time flourished the
David Mac-Carwel.                       celebrated John, surnamed "De Sacro BosDuring the period that Lucas was arch- co."  Bale and Leland, without any further
bishop of Dublin, a controversy arose be- proofthan con ectures drawn from his name,
tween the cathedrals of that city, namely, assert that he was a native of Halifax, in the
Christ's Church and St. Patrick's. In order county of York, in England,* which is not at
to effect a reconciliation, the prelate decreed all probable; the word fax, according to
that the election should be always held in Camden, signifying hair among the people
Christ's Church, and that the dean and chap- beyond the river Trent.  That author adds,
ter, together with the prior and monks, too, that the place called Halifax is not
should have the right of voting at the elec- very ancient.t He says that a few centuries
tion. This prelate was deprived of his sight before his time that place was called Horton,
during some years, and at length died in and that in 1443 it was a village containing
1255. Both churches concurred inelecting but thirteen houses; it therefore is clear
Randulphus de Norwic, a canon of the that Halifax could not possibly have given
cathedral of St. Patrick's, but his appoint- its name to John a Sacro Bosco, since it
ment being sent to the court of Rome it was was not known by that name at the time of
rejected, and Fulck de Saunford, treasurer that learned man's birth.  Stanihurst and
of the church of St. Paul, in London, was some others, say that he was a native of
nominated by the pope to the archbishopric Holywood, in the district of Fingal, Ireland,
of Dublin.                              about twelve miles from Dublin, as they disThree houses for Dominicans were found- cover an analogy between his name, De Sacro
ed at this time; one at Strade, in the county Bosco, and Holywood.t  However this be,
of Mayo, by the Mac-Jordans; another at that learned man went to Paris, where he
Sligo, by Maurice Fitzgerald, who built a taught the sciences with universal approstrong castle there; and the third at Ros- bation; he was partial to the philosophy of
common in 1253, by Feilim O'Connor, an Aristotle, and surpassed all those of his own
Irish nobleman.  The O'Connors built an- time in mathematical science.  He wrote
other house for the same order atTowemone. several treatises; namely, one upon the
About this time a monk of the abbey of globe, which was much esteemed, and read
Boyle wrote the annals of Connaught, which in the public schools during many years for
he continued to his own time, that is, till the instruction of youth; a tract on Al1253. His manuscript is in the Cottonian gorithms, or calculations on the ecclesiastical
library.                                year; a breviary of law, and several other
Alanus de la Zouch was appointed lord- works. He died at Paris in 1256-57, and
justice of Ireland in room of Fitz-Jeffrey, was buried in the cloister of the Mathurins,
A. D. 1255; He afterwards became lordjustice of England, where he ended his days  X War. de Annalb.Hib. ad an. 1256..natrgi r.oe' i, ec. ha.in.  t~ Brit. in Brigant. page 564, Edit. Lond. 1607.
in atragical manner. Some difference having   I Harris, Hist. of Irish writers in the thirteenth
arisen between some nobleman in England, century.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            315
near the church, where his tomb is still to years afterwards, and was succeeded in the
be seen, on which the following inscription government by William Denn.
and a globe are engraved:                   In 1259 a convent for the hermits of St.
De Sacro Bosco qui computista Joannes;  Augustin was founded in the eastern suburb
De Sacro Bosco qui computista Joannes;  of Dublin: the founders are unknown; some
Tempora discrevit, jacet hic a tempore raptus.  say they were the Talbots.
Tempore qui sequiris, memor esto quod morieris,
Si miser es, plora, miserans, pro me, precor, ora.   Munster was in a state of rebellion during
the administration of the new lord-justice,
Marian O'a,glhnan, archbishop of Tuam, A. D. 1260.  Green Castle (Are  Viridis)
having received the pallium  from  Pope was destroyed. The M'Cartys were the chief
Gregory IX., made a voyage to Jerusalem, belligerents; they brought terror and devasthe particulars of which he has written. He tation into Desmond, their old patrimony,
died at Athlone in 1249, and was succeeded then in possession of the English, and beby Florence M'Flin, chancellor of the church came so formidable that their enemies dared
of Tuam, who was celebrated for his learning not to appear in public. They killed several
and profound knowledge of the canon law. of them  at Callan, the principal of whom
He went to Rome, and obtained the pope's were John Fitzthomas, who had founded the
sanction; and upon his return to his dio- monastery of Tralee; Maurice, his son;
cese, convened a synod, in which regulations eight barons, fifteen knights, and several
were made respecting ecclesiastical disci- others. The English at length found safety
pline, which were then published, but have in the discord which arose between the
been since lost.  He established a school in M'Cartys, O'Driscols, O'Donavans, M'Mathe Dominican convent at Athenry, where hons, and other tribes of Muskerry, who
he himself gave lessons to the students, and were so much weakened by civil war that
governed the church of Enaghdune while they were unable to face the common enemy.
that see was vacant.  This holy prelate at In the mean time William Denn, lord-justice
length died at Bristol, in England, in the of Ireland, died, and was succeeded by
year 1256.  The pope appointed Walter de Richard de Capella.
Salern, dean of St. Paul's, London, to this   Abraham  O'Conellan, archpriest of Arsee, notwithstanding the election of James magh, was elected archbishop of that city,
O'Laghnan by the chapter of Tuam.  It and went to Rome, where he was confirmed
seems that Walter never took possession of by the holy father, who granted him the palhis diocese, having died on his return from lium.  He then returned to Armagh, where
Rome in 1258.  Thomas, or Tomultach he was solemnly received by the dean and
O'Connor, bishop of Elphin, was elected in chapter; but he did not long enjoy his dighis stead, and his election confirmed by the nity, having died in 1260. He was succeeded
pope, who honored him with the pallium.  by Patrick O'Scanlain.
At Athy, a small town on the river Bar-   A religious house was founded this year
row, in the county of Kildare, there was a at Kildare, for Franciscan friars, by Gerald
handsome convent founded for Dominicans Fitz-Maurice; or according to some writers,
in 1257, by the Boiseles and Wogans, Eng- by William de Vescy.
lish noblemen who had settled in Ireland.    Thomas Palmeran, or Palmerston,.a naThe earl of Salisbury, called Stephen de tive -of the county of Kildare, Ireland, was
Longa  Spada, "long sword," was sent to known to foreign authors by the name of
Ireland as lord-justice, A. D. 1258. He gave Thomas Hibernicus. Having concluded his
battle to the O'Neills and other rebels* of studies in the university of Paris, where he
Ulster and Connaught, near Down, in which received the cap of doctor in theology, he
many lives were lost.  Salisbury died two went to Italy and shut himself up in the
monastery of Aquila, on the confines of the
kingdom of Naples, where he died and was
X English writers called the Irish rebels, who did buried about the year 1269. He was aunot immediately surrender; at a time, too, when,
far from considering themselves subjects, more thor of the book entitled, " Flores omnium
than half of Ireland, and particularly Ulster, which Doctorum  illustrium;" which is an alphais here in question, refused to acknowledge the betical summary of virtues and vices, with
dominion of those foreigners. According to the those passages from  the fathers which
maxims of every other nation, a rebel is a subject were calculated to support the former and
who resists the legal authority. But, of course,
according to the system of that imperious people, eradicate the latter.  Our author was inthe English, a man was looked upon as a rebel debted for the plan of his book to a similar
who was unwilling to submit at once to the most work, which had been begun by John Walunjust oppression.                       les, a Minorite, under the title of a'" Bunch




316                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
of Flowers," but which he was prevented by however, makes no mention of an abbey for
death from continuing. The book of Tho- Bernardines, founded in that town by the
mas Hibernicus was printed at Paris in 1664. same Theobald, probably confounding the
He also wrote treatises on the Christian re- Bernardines with the Dominicans. A house
ligion; the illusions and temptations of the for Franciscan friars was founded about this
devil; the remedies to be used against vice, time also at Armagh, according to some, by
and the beauties of the Bible.  He was the O'Donnels, princes of Tyrconnel, but
thought also to have been the author of a others say, by Patrick O'Scanlain, arch"Promptuarium  Morale," or moral collec- bishop of Armagh.
tion of passages from the holy Scriptures,   The king of England, informed of the
published at Rome, in 1624, according to a troubles which prevailed among his subjects
manuscript in the library of the Minor in Ireland, and the excesses they committed
brothers, De Ara Caeli, by Luke Wadding. against each other, thought prudent to put a
Marianus de Florence says,* in his manu- stop to them; he therefore recalled Richard
script chronicle, that Thomas Hibernicus deCapella,and appointed David Barry aslordlived in 1270 in the monastery of Aquila, justice ofIrelandin his stead, who, byhis pruof the province of St. Bernardin, in high re- dence and moderation, quelled the fury of
putation for his piety and learning.  Lastly, therivalhouses above mentioned. A. D. 1267.
John de Saxe, in his lives of the Preaching   The convent of Rosse Ibarcan, on the
Brothers, speaks highly of" Master Thomas river Barrow, in the county of Kilkenny,
of Ireland, of the house of Sorbonne."  was founded at this time for Dominicans, by
The annals of the Minorites of Multifer- the Graces and Walshes, English noblemen
nan, by an anonymous writer, begin with who had settled in that country.
the Christian era and end with the year   David Barry having completed his mis1274, in which year the author lived, as ap- sion to Ireland, was succeeded the year folpears by the antiquity of the letters. Giolla, lowing, in his office of lord-justice, by Robor Gelasius Mac-Firbissy, an historian and ert Ufford, and the latter by Richard de
poet of some eminence, flourished towards Excester.
the end of this century; he wrote a chroni-  Two convents for Dominicans were foundcle of his times, and some poems. These ed at this time, one at Youghal, in the county
works, as well as the annals of Multifernan, of Cork, by the Fitzgeralds; the other at
are still to be found in manuscript.    Lurchoe, in the county of Tipperary, by the
Walter Burke, earl of Ulster, had a son Burkes.  A convent was also built in the
called Walter, by his marriage with the same county for Franciscans.
heiress of Hugh de Lacy, who left one son   Lord Audley was appointed lord-justice
and five daughters, A. D. 1261.  Ellen, the of Ireland in the place of Richard de Exeldest, married Robert Bruce, king of Scot- cester, A. D. 1270. During his administraland; Jane and Margaret married the two tion, the Irish revolted against the English,
Fitzgeralds of Ophaly and Desmond; and fell upon them wherever they could be met,
the others were also allied to noblemen. (not sparing their magistrates,) and plunThese alliances were, however, unable to dered their habitations.  The king of Conallay the reciprocal hatred that had long naught defeated Walter Burke, earl of U1prevailed, between the Fitzgeralds and ster, in a pitched battle, and the earl,with
Burkes, which ended in a civil war, in which great difficulty saved his life by flight; sevmany lives were sacrificed to their revenge. eral noblemen of his retinue being killed.
The Fitzgeralds carried their resentment so T'his war was followed by a plague and
far as to arrest and confine, in the dungeons general famine throughout the island.
ofLeix and Donamese, Richard de Capella,   Patrick O'Scanlan, of the order of St.
Theobald le Butler, and Miles Cogan, who Dominick, bishop of Raphoe, was elected
had espoused the quarrel of the Burkes.   by the chapter of'Armagh as the successor
A convent for Dominicans was founded of Abraham O'Connellan. His election was
about this time at Trim, on the river Boyne, confirmed by a bull of Pope Urban IV., in
in Eastmeath, by Galfridus de Genevil, who the month of November, 1261.  He contook the habit of the order, and another at vened a synod at Drogheda the year followArklow, by Theobald Walter, high butler ing, in which some statutes were enacted,
of Ireland, who was interred in it, and his which are to be discovered in the registry
tomb and statue erected there.t  Allemand, of Octavianus de Prelatio, afterwards archbishop of Armagh; rebuilt St. Patrick's cat War. de Ant2, cap. 3.               thedral at Armagh, and founded a house in
ast. drl. dpages 166,r. pages 166,.   that city for Franciscan friars.  He died in




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                         317
1270, in the monastery of St. Leonard at The English Pale, which signified the
Dundalk, whence his body was taken to English province, or the province governed
Drogheda, and buried in the Dominican con- by the laws of England. Though some of
vent. He was succeeded by Nicholas-Mac- the princes of the country had submitted to
Molisse.                               pay a tribute to the kings of England, still
Fulck, archbishop of Dublin, died A. D. they governed their own immediate subjects
1271. His body was interred in the chapel according to the ancient laws and customs
of the Blessed Virgin, in the cathedral of the country, and the English laws were
church of St. Patrick. The see remained obeyed only within the English province.
vacant for seven years after his death, on
account of the disputes which arose between
the monks of Christ's Church and the chapter of St. Patrick's, about the choice of his
successor, which terminated in 1279, by the
election of John de Derlington.                   CHAPTER XXI.
An abbey for Bernardines, under the invocation of Our Lady, formerly called Hore  IMMEDIATELY after the death of Henry
Abbey, was founded at Cashel in 1272, by III.,his son Edward, though absent, was proDavid O'Carroll, archbishop of that city. claimed king of England by the lords, who
It is affirmed that he suppressed a convent assembled in London, A. D. 1272. More than
of Benedictines to enrich this abbey. He a year had passed since this prince had aralso annexed to this house a lazaretto, which rived in the Holy Land, where he had wresthad been founded by a knight named Lati- ed from the enemies of Christianity the city
mer, in the same city.                 of Acon, which was on the point of surrenIn this year, 1272, is fixed the death of dering, but the succors that were promised
Henry III. Among the children this king him having failed, he put a garrison into those
had by Eleanor, daughter of Raymond, count places which were still in the power of the
of Provence, was Edward, his eldest son Christians, and returned to Europe with his
and successor.                         wife Eleanor. Having landed in Sicily, he
In the reign of Henry several religious heard there of his father's death, and after
houses were founded, the dates of which are sojourning there a short time, he continued
unknown. The following were for Francis- his route for England, where he was
can friars: one at Wicklow, founded by the crowned, together with his consort, at WestO'Byrnes and O'Tools; one at Cashel by minster, by Robert Kilwarby, archbishop of
the Hackets; one at Nenagh, probably Ao- Canterbury.  To render this ceremony the
nagh Oroun, in the country of Ormond, by more magnificent, five hundred untamed
the O'Kennedys, the ancient owners of that horses were let loose,.which were to become
district; and one at Multifernan, in West- the property of those who should succeed
meath, by William Delamer. At Dundalk, in catching them.
inathe county of Louth, a house for the same   In the first year of Edward's reign, Mauorder was founded by John de Verdon. rice Fitzmaurice, (Fitzgerald,) was named
Lastly, there was one established at Limer- lord-justice of Ireland. In his time the Irish
ick, but authors do not agree either upon the took up arms, devastated the lands of the
time of its establishment or the name of its Anglo-Irish, and destroyed the castles of
i founder. There was also a house founded Aldleek, Roscommon, Scheligath, and Ranat the same time in the town of Tipperary, don.' Maurice, however, being betrayed,
for Augustin hermits, and one of the order according to Glynn, by his vassals, was arof Templars, called Teach Temple, in the rested in the country of Offaly, and sent to
county of Sligo; likewise one for Carmel- prison. He was succeeded the year followites on the river Barrow, near Leighlin ing, in his capacity of lord-justice, by Walbridge, in the county of Carlow, by the Ca- ter Genevil. During his government in Irerews, English lords who had settled in the land, the Scotch made a descent upon it,
country, and another at Kildare, by William where they burned a great number of vilde Vescy.                             lages, and put all whom they met to the
A century had now elapsed since the Eng- sword, without distinction of age or sex.
lish began to rule in part of Ireland. Though They then returned laden with spoil to their
the kings of England had taken the title of ships, before there was time to pursue them.
lords of Ireland, Donzinus Hiberniae, their The English colonists of Ulster and Condominion did not extend to more than one naught, headed by Richard de Burgo and
third of the island, called, in their language, Sir Eustace le Poer, made an attack soon




318                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
afterwards upon Scotland, and availed them- from those foreigners, whenever their disselves of the right of reprisal against the union caused them to turn their arms against
Scotch, even surpassing them in cruelty.   each other. Some difference having arisen,
Some houses belonging to the Dominican A. D. 1278, between O'Connor, prince of
order were established about this time in Connaught, and M'Dermot, of Moy-Lurg,
Ireland, viz.; in the cities of Derry and the two at the head of their vassals entered
Coleraine by the O'Donnels, princes of Tir- the field, and a bloody engagement took
connel; by the M'Donoghs, lords of Tir- place: many lives were lost on this occasion,
rereil, in the county of Sligo, at Ballindown, and O'Connor himself was among the numand at Rathbran, in the county of Mayo, by ber of slain. The news of these commotions
the M'Jordans. About this time also a beau- among the Irish having reached the king of
tiful convent for the Carmelites was founded England, Robert Ufford was ordered to come
in Dublin by Robert Bagot.              to him and give an account of the disorders
Ireland was still agitated with troubles that had so often occurred under his adminand domestic war.  She enclosed for a cen- istration. Ufford, to justify himself with the
tury within her bosom, like Rebeicca in her king, represented to him that his majesty
womb, two distinct people, whose interests was badly informed, and that all which was
would not suffer them to live together in advanced against him was but a calumny;
peace. Their objects and their motives were for that he considered it only an act of good
different. On one side they were influenced policy to shut his eyes while one rebel was
by feelings of just resistance; on the other cutting the throat of another.  "By this
by tyranny and usurpation.  The ancient means, sire," said he, "your treasures will
inhabitants made frequent efforts to defend be spared, and peace secured to Ireland."
themselves, the only result of which was the The plan suited the king's taste, and Ufford
shedding of much blood. The Irish took was sent back to rule the island as -chief
possession of the castle of Roscommon, A. D. magistrate.
1276, overthrew the English completely at  Thomas O'Connor, archbishop of Tuam,
Glynburry, and made many of them prison- died A. D. 1279, having governed that see
ers, besides killing a great number.  At the and Enaghdune for twenty years. This presame period also O'Neill gave battle in the late was a learned man, and possessed all
north to a body of English, who were the virtues which form the apostolical charcommanded by Ralph Peppard and O'Han- acter.
Ion.                                      The see of Tuam  continued vacant for
Walter Genevil, lord-justice of Ireland, some time, in consequence of a dispute that
was recalled, A. D. 1277, to England, and occurred at the election of a bishop; but
RobertUfford appointed to succeed him; the was filled at length by Stephen of Fulburn,
second time he was appointed to that com- bishop of Waterford.
mission.  Murtagh, a celebrated rebel, (as   John Derlington governed the church of
the English call him,) was taken in arms at Dublin for five years, but died suddenly in
Noraght, by Walter de Fant, and executed. London, A. D. 1284; and was buried amoig
O'Brien Roe, prince of Thuomond, was the Dominicans of that city. John of Saunkilled by Thomas Clare, who was married, ford succeeded him in the see of Dublin.
some time before, to the daughter of Maurice,   At Clane, a little village in the county of
son of Maurice Fitzgerald; but he and his Kildare, distant some leagues -from Dublin,
father-in-law Fitzmaurice, together with the a convent was, according to Ware, founded
whole of their troops, were surrounded after- for Franciscans, in 1287. It is supposed
wards by the Irish at Slieve-Bloema, and that Gerald, son of Maurice Fitzgerald,
to save their lives, were forced to surrender. baron of Offaly, was founder of this house,
After laying down his arms, Clare was forced inasmuch as he was buried there, and his
to mlake atonement for the death of O'Brien statue was seen upon his tomb, which was
and his followers, and to give up the castle formed entirely of marble.  There was a
of Roscommon, whichthe Englishhadtaken: house of that order also at Tristle-Dermot,
to secure the performance of which treaty in the same county: but it is not known who
he gave hostages.  These conditions were were the founders of it. A convent of them
very humiliating to the English, but they was likewise founded at Ross, county of
were compelled to submit, in order to save Wexford, by Sir John Devereux.
their lives.                              Stephen of Fulburn, archbishop of Tuam,
The English were not the only enemies died about this time, and was succeeded by
that the Irish had to contend with. They William of Birmingham, son of Meyler Birhad more to fear from themselves even than mingham, lord of Athenry.  The see of
[                                                              __________________




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           319
Cashel continued vacant for a year by the another at Clare, in the same country, of
death of David O'Carrol, who succeeded which John de Cogan was the founder.
Stephen O'Brogan.                         Houses were founded for the Carmelites
It may be affirmed that since the arrival at Drogheda, Atherdee, in the county of
of the English in Ireland, it had been a Louth, and in the vicinity of lake Rea, in
theatre of tyranny where every species of the county of Galway.  The first was escruelty was acted. If the ancient Irish some- tablished by the citizens of the town; the
times took up arms to oppose their usurpa- second by Radulphus Pippard, and the third
tion, (though nothing could be more natural by Richard de Harlay.  A convent for Door more just than to defend their property minicans was also founded during this reign,
against those who strove to wrest it from at Kilmallock, or Killocie, in the county of
them without any just title,) they were repre- Limerick, and another for the fathers of the
sented as rebels at the tribunal of England, Redemption of Captives, at Athdara, in the
to which they had neither access nor the same county.*
opportunity of defending their cause.     John de Saunford, archbishop of Dublin,
The divisions that prevailed among the was a favorite of Edward I., who appointed
new or Anglo-Irish, were also the cause of him lord-justice of Ireland on the death of
marny misfortunes to their country, and every Fulburn. The king recalled him afterwards
year was memorable for some tragical oc- to England, and sent him as ambassador to
currence. The Fitzgeralds and the Burkes the emperor, which commission he diswere always opposed to each other.  The charged to the satisfaction of his prince.
Butlers, Yerdons, and Berninighams, took Having died shortly afterwards in England,
part in their quarrels according to their re- his body was brought to Dublin, and buried
spective interests, and several of them lost in the cathedral of St. Patrick. He had the
their lives in the contest. Some of the Irish reputation of a learned and prudent man.
nobility were involved, likewise, in these His successor in the see of Dublin was
misfortunes; O'Connor Faly was killed by William de Hothum, who died the same
Jordan Comin, and his brother Charles was year, and was replaced by Richard de Fermurdered in the house of Piers Berminugham, ings. The office of lord-justice of Ireland
at Carrick. The lands which were usurp — was conferred on Sir William Vescy, and
ed by these new-comers, had belonged for after him on William Dodinsell, who was
many ages to the O'Connors, whose preten- succeeded by Thomas Fitzmaurice.  The
sions became a source of misfortune to them, death of the latter put an end to the disputes
as it was thought fit by the usurpers that they which had longprevailed between the houses
should be exterminated. Mac-Coghlan was of the Fitzgeralds and Burkes; and his son
ulore successful than the O'Connors; he John Fitzthomas was reconciled to the earl
gained a complete victory over William  of Ulster.  During De Vescy's administraBurke and his adherents at Dealna. It tion in Ireland, there were violent quarrels
may be readily imagined that the conse- betwveen him  and John,t son of Thomas
quence of these troubles was the loss of Fitzgerald, the baron of Offaly, which, acmany lives, the devastation of the provinces, cording.to the chronicle of Hollingshead, deand a total obstruction to agriculture. The generated into gross rebukes and sarcastic
passion for erecting religious houses still, recriminations at an assembly where these
however, prevailed.  Jordan Comin, who noblemen met. They accused each other in
had assassinated O'Connor Faly some time turn of robbery, extortion, murder, &c. The
before, established a priory for regular can- baron having made some remarks on the
ons under the'invocation of the Blessed birth of the viceroy, the'latter replied that
Trinity, called also De Laude Dei, at Balli- the De Vescys were noble before the Fitzbogan, in Meath, on the left bank of the geralds were barons of Offaly; " even (said
river Boyne, between Clonard and Castle- he) before your bankrupt ancestorS had
jordan. The Franciscans had a house at made his fortune in Leinster."  Their disRoss-Pont, in the county of Wexford, found- pute did not even end in Ireland; they went
ed at this time by the Devereuxes; one at to England to plead their cause before the
Killeigh, in Hy-Regan, founded, it is said, king and his court; and in the presence of
by one O'Connor, probably of the house of Majesty they continued their invectives and
Offaly; and one at Butavant, in the county reproaches,which were apparently accordant
of Cork, which was founded, some say, by
of Cork, which was founded, some say, by   * Allemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irlande, page 35.
the Prendergasts, and others by the Barrys.    Allemand, Hist. Monast page 7835.
There was also one in an island near Gal-  t Maurice Fitzgerald, who came to Ireland with
way, established by one of the Burkes, and Strongbow.




320                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
with the taste of the times and of the nation. the tyranny of their new masters, often forcFitzgerald, at length wearied with these con- ed the Welsh into rebellion.  The superior
tentions, proposed to settle the quarrel by power of England, however, always quelled
single combat, which was approved of by these revolts, with the loss of many lives;
the assembly, and accepted at first with but it was the lot of Edward I. to complete
much boasting byDe Vescy; but the day their subjugation A. D. 1283. This king
being named, the latter embarked for France, declared war against Llewelyn, a prince of
leaving the baron without an antagonist.* Wales, of the royal race, who, having been
Dugdale gives a different account of this betrayed, fell into the hands of a soldier,
transaction; saying that Fitzgerald refused who cut off his head, and sent it to Edward,
to fight. When the king -was informed of by whom it was ordered to be exposed on
the flight of De Vescy, he bestowed the tihe tower of London.'  David, the brother
lordships of Kildare and Rathangan on Fitz- of Llewelyn, was taken prisoner some time
gerald, which had till then belonged to the afterwards, and condemned to an ignomiformer, saying, that although he had carried nious death in England.  He was first tied
his body to France, he had left his property to the tail of a wild horse, and dragged
in Ireland. The acquisition of the districts through the city of Shrewsbury; his head
of Kildare and Rathangan raised consider- was cut off, sent to London, and placed
ably the fortunes of the Fitzgeralds, who upon the tower with his brother's; his
had afterwards sufficient influence to have heart and entrails were then torn from his
the title of earl bestowed on them.     body and burned; and the four limbs were
Stephen O'Brogan, a native of Ulster, exposed on the gates of four cities in Engfrom being archdeacon of Glendaloch be- land, namely, Bristol, Northampton, York,
came archbishop of Cashel, by a canonical and Winchester. In this unparalleled manelection.  He filled that see for the space ner was the son of a prince treated, whose
of eleven years, and died in 1300. He was only crime was a desire to restore freedom
buried in his church of Cashel, and was to his country, and to rescue it from the yoke
succeeded by Maurice O'Carroll.         of England. Wales was then united to the
In the year 1303, Nicholas M'Molisse, crown of England; the king gave it a form
archbishop of Armagh, died.  He had gov- of government in conformity with the laws
erned this see for thirteen years, and was of England, and his eldest son has, since
celebrated for his eloquence, prudence, and that time, assumed the title of prince of
zeal in the worship of God. He ornament- Wales.
ed and enriched his cathedral with books, or-   A convent for Dominicans was founded
naments, and every thing necessary for the in this century, in the town of Carlingford,
divine service, and bequeathed to that church in the county of Louth; another for Augustwenty marks of silver, charged upon his tin hermits near Galway: a convent for
lands at Termo Feichan. He was succeeded Franciscans was founded in 1300 at Cavan,
by John Taaf.                           by the O'Reillys; and a house for CarmelThe manner in which the Welsh were ites at Thurles, county Tipperary, by the
treated by the English, is an example of Butlers.
cruelty, and a subject of horror to all who   The English set no bounds to their prehave had the misfortune of falling beneath tensions over their neighbors; the kings of
their dominion. The Welsh are descended England considered themselves as protectors
from the ancient Britons, whom their allies, of the kingdom of Scotland, and arbitrators
the Saxons, had expelled from  England of any difficulty that might arise respecting
about the seventh century, and forced to the succession to that crown.  Alexander
seek safety in the country called Wales, on III., king of Scotland, having died without
the western coast of Britain, and formed a issue, the great number of pretenders to the
distinct people from the English, governed throne gave rise to factions, and afforded
by their own kings till the eleventh century. a favorable opportunity for Edward I. to enThe English, equally treacherous with the force his pretended jurisdiction.  The two
Saxons, filled with an idea of the right of most powerful competitors were John Baliol,
conquest, and unable to bear so small an in- earl of Galloway, and Robert Bruce of
dependent sovereigntynear them, subjugated Anandale.  Edward set out for Scotland,
Wales, and put Rees, its last king, to death, and had an interview with Robert Bruce,
in the eleventh century, under William Rufus. whose claim was not so strong as Baliol's,
The recollection of their former liberty, and
* Baker, Chron. of Engl. Life of Edward I. page
* English Baronetcy, vol. 1, page 94.  96.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            321
but who was possessed ofmore influence. He city, died about this time. The articles
proposed to make him king of Scotland, on of agreement between the two churches,
condition that he would take an oath of al- Christ's and St. Patrick's, were, that each
legiance to him, and do homage to the crown should enjoy the title of metropolitan; that
of England, A. D. 1291. This generous no- Christ's church, as being the larger and more
bleman replied, that he would not sacrifice ancient, should take precedence in ecclesiasthe liberty of his country to the ambition of tical matters; that it should have the custody
reigning. But Baliol, whose opinions were of the cross, mitre, and episcopal ring; and
less honorable, accepted the terms, and was that the prelates of the see should be buried
crowned king of Scotland at Scone, after alternately in both churches.  This prelate
which he paid homage to the king of Eng- founded three prebendaries in St. Patrick's
land at Newcastle, as his sovereign lord. He church.  He was succeeded by John Lech.
afterwards retracted, which caused bloody   John'Duns Scotus, a Franciscan friar,
wars between the two nations, that lasted flourished in the beginning of this century.
for almost three centuries; but were at The subtilty of his genius, and great penelength terminated, after much bloodshed, by tration on learned subjects, gained him the
the union of both crowns under James I. name of" subtle doctor."  He was educated
Edward having begun this war, was deter- at Oxford, under William de Wara, orVarro,
mined to prosecute it with all his energies, where he wrote on the four books of Senfor which purpose he marched an army tences.  He also composed many scholastic
towards Scotland, and created in one day works in Paris. He went afterwards to Cothreehundredyoungmen knights, A. D. 1291, logne, where he died suddenly in 1308.
in order to excite their emulation. John Three nations claim the honor of having
Wogan, who shared in this promotion, was given birth to this great man; English
sent to Ireland as lord-justice, in place of authors maintain that he was born at DunThomas Fitzmaurice, who had just died.  ston, a village in the parish of Emildune,
About this time more establishments were in the county of Northumberland; for which
founded for Carmelites; the monastery of purpose they advance, as a proof, the conThurles, county of Tipperary, by the But- elusion of the manuscript works of this great
lers; and that of Ardnecran, in the county man, (which are at Oxford,) in the following
of Westmeath, by the Dillons. There was terms: "Here ends the reading of the works
also one near lake Reogh, in the county of of John Duns, a subtle doctor of the univerGalway, founded, according to Ware, by sity of Paris, born in a certain village called
Richard de Burgo, earl of Ulster. Allemand Dunston, in the parish of Emildune, in Norattributes this foundation to Richard de thumberland, belonging to the college of
IHarlay, and alleges that the Harlays of Merton, in the university of Oxford;" but
France are descended from him.          as it is doubtful whether this conclusion is
Edward I., having gained some advantages by Scot himself, or added by another, the
overthe Scotch, was seized witha dysentery, proof drawn from it in favor of his being a
of whichhe died, A. D 1306, regretting deeply native of England, seems insufficient. The
that he had not been able to take fill revenge Scotch say he was a native of Duns, in
upon them.  When on his death-bed, he Scotland, a village about eight miles from
enjoined Edward, his son and successor, to the English frontiers.  Finally, the Irish,
have his remains carried with the army seconded by Arthur a Monasterio, and the
through Scotland, till he should have reduced martyrology of'Cavellus, affirmn that he was
that people; but his last will was neglected born at Down, (in Latin Dunum,) in Ulster.
in this particular, as well as in every other The Irish had not yet given up the name of
matter which he had imposed on that young Scoti, or Scots; and it is therefore probable,
prince.                                 that on this account Doctor John Duns has
John Taaf, archbishop of Armagh, died been surnamed Scotus.
this year, and was succeeded by Walter de
Jorse, of the order of St. Dominick. He
had six brothers, all in the same order, one
of whom, called Thomas, was a cardinal,
under the name of St. Sabina, and another
named Roland, succeeded him in the see of          CHAPTER XXII.
Armagh, which he gave up in 1321.
Richard de Ferings, archbishop of Dub-   EDWARD II., son of the late king, and
lin, who labored incessantly to establish Eleanor of Spain, succeeded his father,A. D.
peace between the two metropolitans in this 1307. Some time after he married Isabella,
41




322                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
daughter of Philip the Fair, king of France.* of Gaveston, one of the handsomest men of
He recalled his favorite, Piers Gaveston, his time, and one of the most accomplished
who had been expelled th'e kingdom by his in Europe.  He was a native of Gascony,
father. This nobleman's influence over the and possessed all that delicacy of wit which
king was so great, that every favor which is so peculiar to his countrymen, and his
was conferred was given through him. This only crime seems to have been that of being
drew upon him the hatred and envy of the too well beloved by his king.
English lords, who threatened to oppose the   The conduct of the English on this occaking's coronation, if he did not dismiss his sion, clearly demonstrates the changeable
favorite, to which the weak monarch con- and inconstant character of that peopled. We
sented; but in order to mitigate this sup- see a rude and brutal nobility treat their
posed disgrace, he sent him, invested with king with contempt and insolence, and desome authority, to Ireland, where he par- ficient in the most indispensable duties totially quelled the conimmotions, and labored wards a monarch whose only defect was! a
with effect to secure the possessions of the weak and effeminate disposition; yet we
Anglo-Irish in that country. The king, un- also discover the same people to have bent
able to bear the absence of his favorite, and frequently to tyrants. Though Edward was
supposing that the resentmrent of the nobles indignant at the conduct of his subjects, and
had subsided in the interim, made him re- their violation of his authority, he was too
turn from Ireland, and sent Sir John WVo- much intent upon the wEvr in Scotland to
gan as lord-justice in his stead; and in order chastise them.  Robert Bruce, who was alto procure him sorme influence among the ready possessed of that throne, determined I
nobles, he made him marry the daughter of to take advantage of the disturbances inl
the earl of Gloucester.  This alliance of England; he reduced under his dominion
Gaveston with one of the first families in the that part of Scotland which still adhered to,
kingdom, served only to exasperate the the opposite party; after which he invaded
minds of the people against him.  Another the northern parts of England.  Edwa-rd i{
occurrence completed his downfall; not con- saw the danger iwhich threatened his kingtent with gaining the prize in a tournament dom, and marched at the head of one- th
at Wallingford, in which, by his skill and dred thousand men to meet the king of Scotcourage, he defeated the English nobles who land, who had but thirty thousand, A.' rD..measured their arms with him, he rallied 1313. Both armies met at Bannockburn,
them in the most sarcastic manner, which where the English were completely defeated.
hurt them more severely than the victory he This victory has been ascribed to stratagem;
had just gained, so that they conspired the king of Scotland had no cavalry; his
unanimously against him, and represented army was very inferior in numbers to those
in the strongest terms to the king, that no- of the enemy, and he was obliged to have 
thing less than the sacrifice of his favorite recourse to it. He therefore caused trenches
could appease them. Gaveston found him- of three feet in depth to be dug in the road
self forced to yield to the tempest, and pro- through which the enemy had to pass, and
ceeded to France, where he continued for covered them with the branches of trees an
some time; but the desire of seeing his dear other matters, to conceal them fromu theei I
master again, induced him, at the peril of view.  The English cavahly fell into the
his life, to return secretly to England. In snare; having advanced with impetuosity
order to secure him against the rage of his against the Scotch, the horsemen and their
enemies, the king gave him the castle of horses fell, which put the whole army in
Scarborough, as a safe asylum; where, disorder. Scotch writers affirm that the loss
however, he was besieged in it by the dis- of the English in this battle amounted to
contented barons, and forced to surrender fifty thousand men; the English allow their
himself prisoner, on condition of having his loss to have been but ten thousand.  }Howlife spared. But these terms did not prevent ever, it was the most fatal battle to them
his being taken by the earl of Warwick out since the conquest. The defeat was so genof the hands of those who were guarding eral, that King Edward had some difficulty
him.  This nobleman had him beheaded, to save himself by flight, with the nobles
without trial or any formality of justice, who accompanied him; and the Scotch rein spite of the repeated entreaties which the mained masters of the whole of the north of
king made to him, to spare the life of the England, from Carlisle to York. The courunhappy man.  Such was the tragical end age of the English, says Baker, was so broBaker, Chron.of England, on the reign of Ed n down by this defeat, that a hundred of
Ba ker, Chron. of                  themEngland, on th reignthree Sotchmen.
ward II.                                them would fly before three Scotemen.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             323
John Lech, or De Leeke, archbishop of of Irish, and proclaimed king of Ireland by
Dublin, died about this time.  The claims part of the nation.*  In the month of June
of the two cathedrals in this city were always he took Dundalk, which he burned; he then
productive of some controversy respecting laid waste the district of Uriel, expelled the
the choice of a prelate.  The prior and con- English from Ulster, and made himself masvent of Christ's Church nominated Nicholas ter of that province.  He bore the title of
Butler, brother to Edmond Butler, after- king of Ireland till his death, which took
wards earl of Carrick, to fill the vacant see; place three years. afterwards.
and the dean and chapter of St. Patrick's   The Anglo-Irish collected their forces to
elected Richard Havering, the grand chor- check the progress of the new.king. They
ister of their church.  However, the king's met at Dundalk, but the lord-justice, on
influence prevailed over these elections, and finding the generals disunited, left the care
John Lech, his almoner, was appointed. of carrying on the war against the Scotch
This prelate had a serious misunderstanding to the earl of Ulster, and returned to Dubwith Roland Jorse, archbishop of Armagh, lin.  This nobleman acquitted himself very
respecting the right which the latter claimed badly of his commission; he was defeated
of having the cross carried erect before him by the Scotch, near Coleraine, on the tenth
in the province of Dublin.  At the solicita- of September, with the loss of many lives,
tion of John Lech, Pope Clement V. granted besides a great number of prisoners, among
a bull for the foundation of a university in whom were Sir William  Burke, Sir John
Dublin.  Some time previous to this pre- Mandevill, Sir Alan Fitzwarren, and Johnl
late's death, he was nominated high-treas- Staunton.  In order to follow up his victourer of Ireland.  His successor in the see ries, Bruce laid siege to Carrickfergus, and
of Dublin was Alexander de Bicknor.        dispatched his brother William to Scotland
An Irish Franciscan friar, named Malachi, to seek further aid from the Iking, his broafter having lived for some time at Oxford, ther.  He then led his victorious army out
went to Naples, where he gained a high re- of the province of Ulster, and advanced toputation for piety and learning.*  He wrote wards Kells, in Meath, where he met the
a treatise upon the poison of mortal sin, and English under Roger Mortimer, and gave
the remedies to be used; it was published them  battle, in which they were defeated.
in Paris, by Henry Stephens. Bale says he It is said that the Lacys deserted the Engwas the author of a book of sermons and lish on this occasion; however this be, the
other tracts.                              victory was against them, and many of them
At Tully-Felim, or Tullagh-Felaghe, a fell in their retreat. After this Bruce burnsmall town on the river Slaney, in the dio- ed Kells, Granard, Finagh, and Newcastle,
cese of Leghlin, county of Carlow, there and spent the Christmas at Loghseudy, from
was a convent founded in 1314, for Anugus- whence he marched through the county of
tin hermits, by Simon Lombard and Hugh Kildare, to Rathangan, Kildare, CastlederTalon.                                     mot, Athy, Raban, and Sketheris, where
The Irish, discontented with their lot, see- Sir Edmond Butler, the lord-justice of Ireing the success of the king of Scotland, sent land, accompanied by John Fitzthomas and
deputies to him, soliciting his alliance and other noblemen, were waiting to give him
assistance to deliver them from the insup- battle.  The action took place on the 26th
portable bondage into which they had fallen, of January, but Bruce was again victorious
by the haaughty and cruel dominion of the and the English entirely routed.
English.t The king of Scotland considered   The king of England seeing the unhappy
this embassy a favorable opportunity, both state of his affairs in Ireland, and fearing
to cause a diversion in England, and to make the defection of his subjects, sent Sir John
I his brother, Edward Bruce, king of Ireland.
Sir Edmond Butler, who had already re-    "He sent ambassadors from Ireland, saying
turned to England, succeeded Sir Theobald that he would surrender into his protection both
de Verdon, who had filled the office of lord- himself and his possessions; but if it was necesjustice during his absence, A. D. 1315. On sary for him to continue at home, they besought
the 25th of May following, Edward Bruce, him to give thenl for a king his brother Edward,
brother to the king ofM'   Edward Bruc,' and not to suffer a kindred nation to be oppressed
brother to the king of' Scotland, landed near under the intolerable bondage of English rule. EdCarrickfergus, in Ulster, with six thousand ward Bruce at length proceeded with an army, by
Scotchmen, where he was joined by a body the general consent of all, and was proclaimed king.
In the first year of his arrival, after expelling the
* Anton. Possevin, Appar. Sacr.         English, he brought the whole of Ulster under his
t Baker, Chron. Reign of Edward II. War. de authority, and traversed the entire kingdom with
Annal. Hib. Cox on the reign of Edward II.    his victorious army." —Buchanan, b. 8, p. 277.




324                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Hotham  thither, to make them -renew their latter was lord-justice of Ireland. This iioath of allegiance, and receive hostages from lustrious house, which has been always rethem. These were given by John Fitzthomas, markable for its virtue and noble alliances,
afterwards earl of Kildare, Richard de Clare, still exists, with the title of premier earl of
Maurice, afterwards called earl of Desmond, Ireland.
Thomas Fitzjohn le Poer, Arnold le Poer,  Edward Bruce having returned from ScotMaurice Rochfort, David and Miler de la land, where he spent some time in recruiting
Roche, and many others.                 his troops, summoned the town of CarrickIn the month of February both armies fergus to surrender. The inhabitants being
took the field. The place of meeting for the destitute of every thing, eight vessels, laden
Scotch was at Geashil, in Offaly, and the with provisions, were sent from Drogheda
English assembled at Kildare; but the country to their relief; but these were not sufficient
having been destroyed, and the Scotch army to enable them to hold out. The garrison
in want of provisions, Bruce determined to had been reduced to live for some days on
return to Ulster, where he gave himself up leather, and the flesh of eight Scotchmen,
to his pleasures, having nothing to dread whowere prisoners. They therefore surrenfrom his enemies.  On the retreat of the dered about the end of August. At the same
Scotch, the lord-justice proceeded to Dublin, time, O'Connor and his followers defeated
where he summoned a parliament, in which a body of English in Connaught; Lord Stehe endeavored to reconcile some noble- phen Exter, Milo Cogan, and eight of the
men whose disunion was prejudicial to the Barrys and Lawlesses,having lost their lives
general cause; and Walter de Lacy was in the engagement. O'Connor and his army
acquitted of the crime of treason of which he were, however, defeated on the 4th of Auhad been suspected.  They likewise dis- gust, at Athenry, by a body of English,
cussed the plan of prosecuting the war.   headed by William Burke and Richard de
In the mean time, the Irish who had Bermingham. In Ulster, Richard O'Hanlon,
espoused the interests of Edward Bruce followed by his vassals, in endeavoring to
were given up to the fury of his enemies. draw  contributions from Dundalk and its
Several among the inhabitants of Leinster vicinity, was repulsed with great loss by the
were put to the sword at Castledermot, by inhabitants, under the command of Robert
the English under Edmond Butler.  The Verdon, who lost his life in the action. On
O'Mordhas, O'Byrnes, O'Tools, and M'Mor- the 14th of September, Burlie and Bermingroughs, soon afterwards shared the same ham gained a complete victory over the
fate: and the O'Connors Faly were mas- people of Connaught, who lost five hundred
sacred at Ballibogan, on the river Boyne, men, with their chiefs,O'Connor and O'Kelly.
by the English of Leinster and Meath. The About the end of October, in the same year,
Irish, on the other hand, used the right of John Loggan and Hugh Bisset defeated a
retaliation, by making some efforts to be re- body of Scotch troops in Ulster; about three
venged for their lives and liberty, and the hundred fell on the field of battle, and many
O'Nowlans of Leinster put Andrew Ber- prisoners were taken and sent to Dublin,
mingham, Sir Richard de la Londe, and their among whom were Sir Allen Stewart and
adherents to the sword, who had insulted Sir John Sandal.  The Lacys, who were
them in their territories.              suspected of having betrayed the state, by
In order to induce his Irish subjects to introducing the Scotch into the kingdom,
support his cause against the Scotch, the presented a petition on the subject, and beking of England began to distribute favors ing cleared of the charge,they renewed their
and confer titles of honor upon them, which oath of allegiance, and obtained a general
were hitherto unknown inlIreland, A. D. 1316. amnesty from the king by charter.
He accordingly created' John Fitzgerald,   Maurice Mac-Carwil, or O'Carroll, archson of Thomas, baron of Offaly, earl of Kil- bishop of Cashel, died at this time.  After
dare.  This lord was chief of the noble his elevation to that see by the dean and
family of the Fitzgeralds, descended from chapter, with the consent of the king of EngMaurice, who derived his origin from the land, he set out for Rome, where he received
dukes of Tuscany, and was the first of the the pope's sanction, and was consecrated and
name that settled in Ireland under Henry II. honored with the pallium by the holy father.
To enable him to support this dignity, the On his return to Ireland, he allowed Walter
king gave him the town and castle of Kildare, Multoc the privilege of founding a house
with their dependencies, and all the lands at Fethard, in the county of Tipperary, for
and lordships of William de Vescy, which hermits of St. Augustin.  He attended the
had been confiscated in 1291, when the parliamentwhichwasconvenedatKilkenny,




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          325
in 1309. It was composed of all the nobles than thirty knights, among whom were Woof the country, whom he compelled to sub- gan and Warren.  The principal subject of
mit to its decrees under pain of excommu- debate in this assembly was the liberation
rication. Maurice was succeeded in the see of the carl of Ulster, (who had been kept in
of Cashel by William Fitzjohn, bishop of prison by the mayor and citizens of Dublin,)
Ossory.                                which was effected in a second session at
Edward Bruce, at the head of twenty Whitsuntide. After this assembly, Mortimer
thousand men, composed of Scotch and Irish, repaired to Trim, in Meath, through Droghmarched during the Lent towards Slane, in eda, from whence he sent orders to the Lacys
Meath, pillaging the country as he passed. to appear before him and give an account of'The earl of Ulster, who was at the time in their conduct. They were descended from
the abbey of Our Lady, near Dublin, having Robert de Lacy, of Rathwer, which estate
had some dispute with the citizens, was ar- had been given him by Sir Hugh de Lacy.
rested by order of Robert Nottingham, mayor These noblemen, far from obeying his orders,
of the city, and confined in the castle, which killed Sir Hugh Crofts, who was the bearer
caused so great a tumult that the abbey was of them. Mortimer, exasperated to find his
pillaged, and some domestics belonging to authority compromised by so flagrant a conthe earl were killed. In the mean time, tempt of his orders, caused their properties
Edward Bruce marched towards Dublin, and to be seized, confiscated their lands for the
on his way took the castle of Knock, in benefit of the English soldiery, and put all
which he found Hugh Tyrrel, the lord of who declared in their favor to the sword.
the place, with his wife, who ransomed her- He then compelled them to withdraw into
self for a sum of money. The inhabitants, Connaught, having first declared them traiterrified at the approach of so formidable an tors to their country. It appears that they
enemy, in order to defend the city, burned were the only English who sided with Bruce,
the suburbs, together with the churches, and whom they accompanied on his return to
among the number the cathedral of St. Pat- Scotland.
rick. Bruce, who knew that the walls of   A convent for Carmelites was founded this
the city were in good order, and that the in- year at Athboy, in. the county of Meath, by
habitants would defend it to the last, thought William Loundres, lord of that place.
fit (with the advice, it is said, of De Lacy,  After the expedition into Meath, againstthe
contrary to the oath of allegiance he had just Lacys, Mortimer turned his attention to aptaken) to proceed on his march towards pease some troubles caused bythe O'Byrnes
Naas, where he spent two days, and con- and other inhabitants of Omayle, in the countinued his route towards Limerick.  He ty of Wicklow. It was at this time that Sir
passed through Kenlis, in Ossory, to Cashel, Hugh Canon, judge in the court of Common
and went from thence to Nenagh: having in Pleas, was assassinated by Andrew Berhis march laid waste the lands of Edmond mingham, between Naas and Castlemartin.
Butler, in the counties of Kilkenny and Tip-   Mortimer, as lord-justice, gave a magnifiperary. All the English lords who were in cent banquet on Quinquagesima Sunday, in
the country, assembled at Cashel to deliberate the castle of Dublin, at which he conferred
on the means of checking his progress. They the honor of knighthood on John Mortimer,
determined on sending the army, which and four others. After Easter he was reamounted to 30,000 men, under the command called to England; having before his deof the lord-justice and the earl of Kildare, parture received intelligence of the death
in pursuit of him; but Roger Mortimer of Richard de Clare, Sir Henry Capel, Sir
having landed at Youghal, as lord-justice, on Thomas de Naas, the two Cantons, and
Easter Thursday, A. D. 1317, attended by eighty others, who were killed on the 5th of
thirty knights, and other troops, he sent May, by the O'Briens and M'Cartys.  On
word to the English generals to wait for him John Lacy's refusal to vindicate himself of
to give battle to the Scotch. Edward Bruce, the crime of which he was accused, he was
hearing of the arrival of Mortimer, and not smothered at Trim, by orders of Mortimer,
thinking it prudent to wait for him, continued who afterwards sailed for England, leaving
his route towards Ulster, where he arrived the administration of affairs, during his abtowards the beginning of the month of May. sence, to William Fitzjohn, archbishop of
Mortimer, having no longer an enemy to Cashel. According to the histories, however,
contend with in Munster or Leinster, sent Alexander Bicknor, archbishop of Dublin,
his troops into quarters until further orders. was intrusted with the government in the
He then went to Dublin, and convened a month of October following, A. D. 1318.
parliament at Kilmainham, composed of more   Edward Bruce now made preparations in




326                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Ulster for a new enterprise.  He marched to kill him; and it is affirmed that after the
with his army, amounting to about three action both bodies were found dead, one lythousand men, as far as Fagher, two miles ing upon the other.  However, according to
from  Dundalk; but the  English being Walsingham* and Baker, the prince was
alarmed at his movements, collected their taken prisoner and then beheaded, which
troops, to the number of thirteen hundred displays the treachery of B.ermingham, who
and eighty men, and Sir John Bermingham acted thereby contrary to the rights of war;,
was appointed by the lord-justice to com- unless we can suppose that he merited his
mand them.                              fate, by usurping a crown to which he had
This general, attended by several able no right.  Such a supposition concerning a
captains, among whom were Richard Tuite prince called upon by a part of the nation
and Miles Verdon, set out from Dublin at that had a perfect right to choose their own
the head of his army.  On approaching the king, is of no weight. This right is inherent
enemy, the necessary preparations being in all people, even according to the spirit of
made on both sides, the engagement began; the English laws, and his title was more
but victory, which had hitherto always fol- lawful than that of Henry II., who added
lowed the steps of Prince Edward, forsook tyranny to usurpation.
him on this occasion; he lost two thirds of   Roger Mortimer returned  again from
his army, and was himself found among the England in the beginning of November, A. D.
slain.  Bermingham caused the head of the 1319, invested with the same power as beunfortunate'prince to be cut off, and pre- fore.  About this time the bridge of Kilculsented it to the king of England, who, to len, on the river Liffey, in the county of
reward him for so signal a service, created Kildare, and Leighlin bridge, on the Barhim earl of Louth.*  This title became ex- row, county of Carlow, were built, through
tinct with himself, as he died without issue; the influence of Maurice Jake, a canon of
but that of baron of Athenry has been pre- Kildare. Ireland being then tranquil, Morserved in this noble family, who are de- timer returned to England, and Thomas
scended from Robert de Bermingham.t The Fitzgerald, son of John, earl of Kildare, was
latter accompanied Earl Strongbow to Ire- invested with the government, A. D. 1320.
land, and was one of the house of Berming- In his time,Pope John XXII. granted a bull
ham, in the county of Warwick, England. to Bicknor, archbishop of Dublin, confirmThe barons of Athenry are considered to ing that previously granted by Clement V.,
have been the first in Ireland.:  According for the foundation of a university in Dublin;
to Cox, the first baron of Athenry was Rich- St. Patrick's Church was the place intended
ard de Bermingham, who had distinguished for the schools.  The same pope gave also
himself in battle against the inhabitants of to the king of England another bull, exonConnaught.                              crating him from the payment of Peter's
Bruce's overthrow is a proof of the un- pence, which the court of Rome exacted
certain fate of arms, and shows how trivial a from the kingdoms of England and Ireland.
thing may win or lose a battle. About five   It is remarkable that the king of England
years previously, thirty thousand Scotchmen granted to the earl of Kildare the power of
gained a complete victory over a hundred receiving under the protection of the English
thousand English at Bannockburn; at Dun- laws, all his Irish tenants who would submit
dalk, the Scotch, who were superior in num- to them: Quod possit reeipere ad legern Anbers, and headed by a prince accustomed to glie omnes homines Hibernos tenentes suos,
conquer, were vanquished by the English. qui ad eandem venire voluerunt; a proof that
Prince Edward may be ranked among the the Irish had not yet enjoyed that advantage;
first captains of his age; he would probably, the withholding which was the inexhaustisays Abercromby, have remained master of ble source of those usurpations, murders,
Ireland, had his military ardor been modera- and civil wars to which Ireland was a prey
ted by the superior prudence of his brother. for some centuries.  The English of LeinHistorians mention a circumstance which ster and Meath made a general massacre
seems to prove that the sudden death of the of the O'Connors Faly, at Ballibogan, on
prince was the cause of losing the battle. the river Boyne; but soon afterwards a reJohn Maupas, captain in the English army, taliation was inflicted by the O'Nowlans,
and a man of very determined character; who put Andrew Bermingham, Sir Richard
threw himself between the ranks, resolved de la Londe, and their followers to the
sword, for having attacked them in their
He was brother to Richard, baron of Athenry. territories.
t Nichol's Rudiments of Honor.
-   Lodge's Peerage, vol. iv.           X Walsing. Ypodig. Neustrie, page 593.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           327
According to Ware, a convent was estab- by the earl of Ulster, and most of the nobillished in the reign of Edward III., for ity in the country, A. D. 1326; but there is
Augustin hermits, at Ross, or Rosspont, on no mention of the laws passed in it, except
the river Barrow, in the county of Wexford, that it decreed a large quantity of corn to
which agrees with the registries of the Vati- be sent to Aquitaine for the king's use. The
can, according to which it was founded in earl of Ulster gave a magnificenlt banquet to
1320, as Herrera observes. The same au- this assembly, shortly after which he died.
thor mentions a convent for this order,   Maurice M'Carwill, archbishop of Cashel,
founded at Skrine, in the county of Meath, having died in 1316, the chapter assembled
by Feipo, who was then lord of that place. to appoint a successor.*  The dean ancq
John Bermingham, earl of Louth, was majority of the canons elected John M'Carnominated lord-justice of Ireland, A. D. 1321. will, bishop of Cork: the others gave their
The king sent him orders to join him at votes to Thomas O'Lonchi, archdeacon of
Carlisle with seven or eight thousand men, the same church; but the pope, either on
to assist him in the war against the Scotch; account of their being divided in their votes,
A. D. 1322; in obedience to which mandate, or to gratify the king of England, who was
he set out with the earl of Ulster, who fur- desirous that all the sees should be filled by
nished three hundred men at his own ex- Englishmen, excluded both candidates, and
pense, and left the government of Ireland to nominated to it William Fitzjohn, bishop of'
Ralph de Gorges, to whom it was intrusted Ossory, a man of great merit, who the foltill the month of February following, when lowingyear was appointed warden and chanhe was succeeded by Sir John Darcy. The cellor of the kingdom.  The city of Cashel
hostilities against the Irish recommenced was surrounded with walls during his episunder his administration.  Sir Henry Tra- copacy.  The prelate died about this time,
herne having put M'Morrough into confine- and was succeeded by John O'Carrol. Iremert, massacred O'Nowlan and twenty-four land claims as her own (as before stated)
of his followers, A. D. 1323.  Among the the celebrated John Duns Scot, of the order
registries in the tower of London, a docu- of St. Francis, known by the name of the
ment was discovered, proving the aversion subtle doctor, who flourished about this date.
which prevailed in the fourteenth century  "' Lord Mortimer," says Cox, " being oblibetween the Irish and English.* It was ex- ged, either through necessity or inclination,
presslyprohibited by it to admit any subject to return to England, gave the superintendof English extraction into the abbey of Mel- ence of some lands of which he was the
lifont in Ireland: In abbatia U1Jellifontis talis owner, in Leix, to an Irishman  named
inolevit error, quod ndlus admittatur in O'Morra. In course of time this Irishman
domum predictam, nisi prinitus facta fide appropriated them to himself, and was in,
quod non sit de genere Anglorum. It appears possession of them for a long time; asserting
that Edward II. had great influence with even that he had a right to them, though his
Pope John XXII., who imposed a tithe of claim was founded only on perfidy and intwo years in his favor, upon the clergy of gratitude."I  This observation of Cox is
Ireland, to be levied by the dean and chapter crafty and plausible, and might have infiuof Dublin. The prelates and clergy, how- ence with those who are not aware of the
ever, remonstrated against it, till they had venom which prevails throughout his whole
seen the pope's bull. With the consent of history. The man is considered treacherous
his council, Edward enacted some laws on and ungrateful who appropriates to himself
the 24th of November, at Nottingham, for a property with which he was intrusted,
the purpose of reforming the government of through the good faith of the lawful owner;
Ireland, which are given at full in the com- but did not our historian know that the dismentaries of Pryn, on the fourth institute. trict of Leix was the patrimony of the
Monaster-Eoris, or Totmoy, situated in O'Morras, from the first ages of Christianity
that part of Offaly which lies in the' King's to the end of the twelfth century, and the
county, was a celebrated convent for Fran- usurpation of the English? and that the
ciseans, founded at this time by John Ber- O'Morra in question only availed himself of
minghanm, lord of that country, which is still a-favorable opportunity to recover a propcalled Clan-Eoris.t                     erty of which his ancestors had been unA parliament was held at Kilkenny during justly deprived some years before?  Res
the feast of Pentecost, which was attended elamat Domino suo. If he was not ignorant
of it, he affords to the public a proof of that
* Cox's Hist. of Ireland, on the year 1323.
t War. de Antiq. Hib. c.26. Allemand, Hist.   * War. de Archiepisc. Cassel.
Monast. d'Irlande.                             t Cox, ibid. on the year 1326.




328                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
punic faith discoverable amongthe historians to his enemies; and who put him to death
of his country.  Our author forms the same with the most excruciatirg torture, by forcopinion respecting the measures which Ca- ing a red-hot iron into his body, and burning
vanagh adopted to recover the barony of his intestines. Such was the character of the
Idrone, in the county of Carlow, from  an English at that period, and more than once
Englishman named Carew.                 has this disposition to cruelty manifested itThe war still continued betweenthe Scotch self among them. It is said, that in order to
and English; the unfortunate catastrophe of instigate those monsters to commit this regiEdward Bruce having tended only to pro- cide, Mortimer had a letter sent to them, in
mote it. The Scotch invaded England, and which was contained the following passage,
extended their conquests as far as York; they composed by Adam Toleton, bishop of Herethenlaid siege to Berwick, whichwas surren- ford: " Edwardum  occidere nolite timere
dered to them through the treachery of Spald- bonum est."  Mortimer, after being created
ing, the governor, and the other English who earl of March by Edward III., was concomposedthe garrison. The kingofScotland, demned to be hanged for having concluded
however, hadthemhanged forbetrayingtheir a disgraceful peace with the Scotch, from
country: thus giving a lesson to posterity, whom he had received presents; likewise
that though treason be tolerated, the traitor for having caused the king's death; for
should be detested.  The Scotch having having lived in a shameful manner with the
gained many advantages over the English, queen mother, Isabella; and lastly, for
and Edward being unable to prosecute the having robbed the king and the people. He
war, a truce of two years, others say thirteen, was executed at Tyburn in 1330, and was
was concluded between him and the king of left hanging on a gibbet for two days and
Scotland.                               nights.  Some of those who had been his
Of all the kings who reigned over England, accomplices in the king's death, were exfrom the conquest of that kingdom by Wil- ecuted along with him. The queen Isabella
liam the Conqueror, Edward II. was the most was deprived of her dowry, and confined in
unfortunate and least guilty; but he was not a castle, with a yearly pension of a thousand
the last of that character. He never offended pounds sterling, where she spent the remainhis subjects, nor encroached upon their privi- der of her life, and died at the age of thirty
leges.; his ruling passion was an inordinate years.
attachment to his favorites; and he was
tender-hearted and generous, a rare quality
among the people whom he had the misfortune to rule over. Young Spencer, who had          CHAPTER  XXIII.
succeeded Gaveston in the prince's affection,
was quartered, after his father, who at the age   EDavARD of Windsor, so called from the
of ninety years shared the same fate; his only place of his birth, was eldest son of Edward
crime that of having been beloved by a mas- II. He was proclaimed king of England on
ter who was unable to protect him. - The the 24th of January, 1317, eight days after
prince himself sunk under the weight of his his father had resigned the crown; received
misfortunes. Thosewho,bythetiesofnature, the honor of knighthood from Henry, earl
blood, and honor, should have sacrificed their of Lancaster, who presented him with the
lives in his defence, were his most inveterate sword, and was crowned at Westminster on
persecutors. The queen herself, seconded by the 1st of February, by Walter Reginald,
a cruel and savage nobility, attacked him archbishop of Canterbury. He shortly afteropenly, and had him seized and thrown into wards married Philippa, daughter of the earl
a dungeon, where he wasleft destitute of com- of Hainault.*
monnecessaries. The parliament was then   This reign was more brilliant than the
assembled in order to depose him, and he was preceding one. The wars which Edward
forced to make a solemn abdication in favor carried on against France, the battles of
of his son, a formality which was at that time Cressy and Poitiers, the taking of Calais, and
deemed requisite in disposing of the crown, his expeditions against the Scotch, are well
but which has been since then omitted on a known to those who are acquainted with the
similar occasion. When this ceremony was history of the period; but as they are subover, his first guards, who were considered
to be partial to him, were removed; he
was placed under tile care of two no~ted mis-X    Annales Christophori Wasingham, Ypodigm;
was placed under the care of two noted mis- Neustrie. Baker's Chronicle on the reign of Edward
creants, Sir Thomas de Gournay, and Sir III., and Higgins' Abridgment of the History df
John Mattrevers, who had sold their service England.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           329
jects unconnected with Ireland, we shall tified and put into a state of defence. While
pass them over in silence, inasmuch as this these preparations were going forward, the
prince should here be considered rather in confederates dreaded lest they should be
his character of lord of Ireland, than as looked upon as rebels who desired to disturb
king of England.                        the public peace, and accordingly sent word
Thomas Fitzgerald, son of John, earl of to the earl of Kildare that they had no hostile
Kildare, having been appointed lord-justice views against the king or his cities; that they
in place of Sir John Darcy, the court sent had collected their troops to take revenge on
orders to the heads of the English colony in their enemies, and were ready to appear beIreland to take the usual oath of allegiance fore him at Kilkenny to vindicate their proto the new king, as they had done to his ceedings.  They accordingly did appear in
predecessors.                           the Lent,before the lord-justice and the king's
After the arrival of the English, and fall council at Kilkenny, where, with great huof the monarchy in Ireland, there was no na- mility, they solicited an amnesty and pardon.
tional army of regular troops united under The lord-justice, however, put off the matter
one commander. The chief of each tribe, to another time, in order to deliberate upon it.
attended by the different branches of his   The Irish in Leinster viewed with delight
family, commanded his vassals and made the dissensions that prevailed among their
them march at his will, (like the clans of English rulers; and seizing the opportunity,
Scotland, who are under the control of their which they thought a favorable one, prorespective chieftains,) which gave rise to the claimed Donald, son of Art Mac-Morrough,
opinion of English writers respecting the king of Leinster.  He was of the family of
great number of petty kings they supposed the Mac-Morroughs, the ancient kings of the
to have existed in the country.  Sometimes province.* His reign, however, was of short
these chieftains joined against the common duration, as he was taken prisoner by the
enemy, while they frequently went to war English, near Dublin, in a battle in which he
with one another.  The same want of union foughtbravely attheheadof hisnew subjects.
prevailed among the Anglo-Irish, the chiefs Sir Henry Traherne, and Walter de Valle,
of whom kept bodies of armed men under who commanded the English army, received
their immediate command, which they fre- one hunndred and ten pounds sterling as -a
quently employed against each other on the reward for his capture, a considerable sum
smallest provocation. We have alreadydis- at that time.  Mac-Morrough was confined
covered instances of this under the preceding in the castle of Dublin, from which he made
reigns; and in the present we find several his escape in the month of January, by means
which proved almost fatal to' the English of a rope that he had been provided with by
interest in Ireland.                    Adam de Nangle, whose life paid the forfeit
Maurice, son of Thomas Fitzgerald, after- of this generous act, for which he was hanged.
wards earl of Desmond, considering himself Thomas Fitzgerald, earl of Kildare, and lordto have been insulted by Arnold Poer, who justice of Ireland, died at this time in his
called him a rhymer, (he having a fondness castle of Maynooth, and was succeeded in
for poetry,) resolved to take revenge by arms. his office by Roger Outlaw, prior of KilHe accordingly drew the Butlers and Ber- mainham, and chancellor of Ireland. During
minghams into his quarrel, and declared war his administration, David O'Toole,t who
againstthe Poers andtheir allies,theBurkes; had been made prisoner in Lent, by John
several were killed, and the rest of them dis- Wellesly, was condemned to death, and
persed and forced to fly into Connaught, executed in Dublin.
while their lands were laid waste and their  In the: second year of the reign of Edward
habitations burned. In vain did the earl of III., James Butler,t son of Edmond Butler,
Kildare, as lord-justice, interpose his author- earl of Carrick, married a daughter of the
ity to allay those quarrels.  He appointed earl of Hereford and of Elizabeth, who was
a day to hear the cause of the parties; but seventh daughter of Edward I.~  He was
Arnold Poer, knowing himself to have been
the aggressor, and averse to submit to such   X Cox; ibid. on the year 1327.
investigation, proceeded to Waterford, from   t In English books he is styled a robber: all those
investigation, proceeded to Wate, fm who took up arms against them, even in the fairest
which place he set sail for England. His cause, being denominated either rebels or robbers.
flight did not put a stop to the troubles; the  I He was descended, in the tenth degree, from
confederate army continued their hostilities, Gilbert, count of Brionne in Normandy, and in the
spreading terror everywhere they went: the eighth from Gilbert de Tonbridge, earl of Clare, in
towns that had remained neuter during the England, by Walter Fitz-Gilbert, his second son.
~ Introduction to the Life of the Duke of Ordisturbances, dreading the storm, were for- mond.
___~~ _ ___  _  _ _ _ __ ~42




330                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
afterwards created earl of Ormond by the killed in Munster by the Barrys and Roches.
kling, in a parliament held at Northampton. Lastly, the English of Meath, under the comThe king also erected the county of Tippe- mand of Sir Simon Genevil, having made
rary into a palatinate in his favor, granting some incursions into the barony of Carbry, in
him the royal rights, franchises, military fiefs, the county of Kildare, were defeated with the
and other privileges in that county. William loss of seventy-six men, bythe Berminghams.
Burke and Arnold Poer, who had left Ire- The Irish were continually at war with the
land to escape the fury of their enemies, common enemy. Philip Staunton was killed,
the Butlers, Fitzgeralds, and Berming'hamns, and Henry Traherne made prisoner in his
were reconciled to them in a parliament house at Kilbeg, by Richard, son of Philip
held in Dublin for that purpose.        O'Nowlan; but this action was revenged
Sir John Darcy was again nominated lord- some time afterwards, on the lands of Fogjustice of Ireland, A. D. 1329. Lord Thomas hird, in the county of Wexford, which were
Butler led a powerful army into Westmeath laid waste by orders of the earl of Ormond.
this year, with the design of subduing that  In order to quell these disturbances, Sir
country. The day before the feast of St. John Darcy, lord-justice of Ireland, marched
Laurence, he was met by M'Geoghegan at the same year at the head of some troops,
the head of his forces, near Mullingar.* They towards Newcastle and Wicklow, againstthe
came to a bloody engagement, which proved O'Byrnes, who were ravaging the English
fatal to Butler and his followers, he having settlements. This expedition was productive
lost his life in it, together with several of his of little good, although several were killed
principal officers. The names of some of and wounded on both sides. The governor
those who fell we discoverin Pembrige, viz.: therefore finding it impossible to oppose so
John de Ledewiche, Roger Ledewiche, Tho- many enemies on every side,ordered Maurice
nas Ledewiche, John Nangle, Meiler Petit, Fitzgerald, son of Thomas of Desmond, with
Simon Petit, David Nangle, John Waringer, the advice of his council, to take the comnJames Tirrel, Nicholas White, Winm. Freyne, mand of the troops, and march against the
Peter Kent, John White, with a hundred king's enemies; a promise being made him
and forty others whose names are not known. that he should be indemnifiedfor the expenses
It seems, from the honors which were paid of the war.  Maurice marched at the head
to his remains, that lord Butler was much of the English army, which amounted to ten
regretted by his partisans.  His body was thousand men, against the Irish, whom he
removed to Dublin, to the convent of the subdued separately, with ease.  He began
Dominicans, where it remained till the Sun- by the O'Nowlans, whose country he burnday after the feast of the beheading of St. ed.  He treated the O'Morroughs, (MurJohn the Baptist, when it was carried with phys,) in the same manner, took hostages
great solemnity through the city, and back to from them, and recovered the castle of Ley
the Dominicans, where it was interred.f from the O'Dempseys. The king's resources
O'Brien, of Thuomond, devastated the lands beinginadequate to defray the expenses of the
of the Anglo-Irish about this time, and war, or maintain a standing army, Desmond
burned the towns of Athessel and Tipperary. renewed an old custom, by levying a tax,
These advantages, gained by the Irish over which was called by the Irish BonalITt, and
the English, did not prevent the latter from Coyn and Livery by the English. It consistdestroying each other. John Bermingham, ed in supplying food to men and horses, and
earl of Louth, his brother Peter, and Talbot also a money tax, which was arbitrarily laid
de Malahide, with their retinue, to the num- on the people, in the same manner as contriber of one hundred and sixty Englishmen, butions exacted in time of war from an enewere massacred at Ballibraggan, in the ter- my's country.  Necessity constrained the
ritory of Uriel, by the treachery of the Sava- lord-justice to tolerate, on that occasion, an
ges, Gernons, and others oftheir countrymen. abuse which afterwards proved fatal to some
James, son of Robert Keating, lord Philip of the members of the house of Desmond.
Hodnet, Hugh Condon, and their followers,  The Irish seeing themselves without reto the number of a hundred and forty, were source, and a prey to their enemies, sent a
petition to the king of England, begging that
* War. de Annal. Hib. ad an. 1329.    he would receive them under the protection
t " The same year, on the eve of St. Laurence, of the laws, and grant them the privileges and
lord Thomas Butler marched with a great army liberty of loyal subjects.  The king referred
towards Ardnorwith, and met there lord Thomas the decision of their prayer to his English
M'Geoghegan. The lord Thomas Butler, and many
Pembrige, Annal. for the year 1329.    1if that favor could be granted without affect



CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            331
ing the interests of his Anglo-Irish subjects.* we humbly hope, that, attentive to its voice,
Nos igitur certiorari si sine alieno pr&ejudicio your Holiness will not delay to express your
prermnzssis annuere valeamus, vobis mandamus disapprobation against the authors of those
quod voluntatem  magnatum  terrce illius in crimes and outrages which shall be revealproximo parliamento nostro ibidem  tenendo ed.  The country in which we live was unsuper hoc cuml diligentia perscrutari facias. inhabited until the three sons of a Spanish
But these politic senators gave the king to prince, named Milesius, according to others
understand that such favor would be incom- Micelius, landed in it with a fleet of thirty
patible with their interests, and those of his ships.  They came here from  Cantabria,
majesty. In the parliament of that year, the a city on the Ebro, from which river they
heads of the English colony were enjoined called the country to which Providence
to preserve union with their king, and peace guided them, Ibernia, where they founded
among themselves.                        a monarchy that embraced the entire of the
The petition of the Irish having been re- island. Their descendants, who never suljected by the court of London, they carried lied the purity of their blood by a foreign
their complaints to the sovereign pontiff, alliance, have furnished one hundred and
John XXII. O'Neill, king of Ulster, wrote thirty kings, who, during the space of three
upon the subject to his holiness, in the name thousand five hundred years and upwards,
of the Irish nation, representing the tyranny have successively filled the throne of Ireland
which the English government exercised till the time of king Legarius, from whom
over them.  The following copy of his he who has the honor of affirming these
letter is taken from the Scotic chronicle of facts, is descended in a direct line.  It was
John of Fordun, vol. 3, page 908, et seq.: under the reign of this prince, in the year'To our Most Holy Father, John, by 435, that our patron and chief apostle, St.
the grace of God, sovereign pontiff, we, his Patrick, was sent to us by Pope Celestinus,
faithful children in Christ Jesus, Donald one of your predecessors; anid since the eonO'Neill, king of Ulster, and lawful heir to version of the kingdom through the preachthe throne of Ireland; the nobles and great ing of that great saint, we have had, till
men, with all the people of this kingdom, 1170, an uninterrupted succession of sixtyrecommend and humbly cast ourselves at one kings, descended from the purest blood
his feet, &c.                            of Milesius, who, well instructed in the du"The calumnies and false representations ties of their religion, and faithful to their
which have been heaped upon us by the God, have proved themselves fathers of their
English, are too well known throughout the people, and have shown by their conduct,
world, not to have reached the ears of your that although they depended in a spiritual
Holiness.  We are persuaded, most Holy light upon the holy apostolical see of Rome,
Father, that your intentions are most pure they never acknowledged  any temporal
and upright; but from not knowing the Irish master upon earth. It is to those Milesian
except through the misrepresentation of their princes, and not to the English, or any other
enemies, your Holiness might be induced to foreigners, that the church of Ireland is inlook upon as truths those falsehoods which debted for those lands, possessions, and high
have been circulated, and to form an opinion privileges with which the pious liberality of
contrary to what we merit, which would be our monarchs enriched it, and of which it
to us a great misfortune. It is, therefore, to has been almost stripped through the sacrisave our country against such imputations, legious cupidity of the English. During the
that we have come to the resolution of giv- course of so many centuries, our sovereigns,
ing to your Holiness, in this letter, a faith- jealous of their independence, preserved it
ful description, and a true and precise idea unimpaired.  Attacked more than once by
of the real state at present of our monarchy, foreign powers, they were never wanting in
if this term can be still applied to the sad either courage or strength to repel the inremains of a kingdom which has groaned vaders, and secure their inheritance from inso long beneath the tyranny of the kings of sult.  But that which they effected against
England, and that of their ministers and force, they failed to accomplish in opposition
barons, some of whom, though born in our to the will of the sovereign pontiff.  His
island, continue to exercise over us the holiness Pope Adrian, to whose other great
same extortions, rapine, and cruelties, as qualities we bear testimony, was by birth an
their ancestors before them have committed. Englishman, but still more in heart and disWe shall advance nothing but the truth, and position.  The national prejudices he had
early imbibed, blinded him to such a degree,
* Davis, Relat. Histor.       that on a most false and unjust statement,




332                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
he determined to transfer the sovereignty whose members are now, more than ever,
of our country to Henry, king of England, exposed to the danger of losing the blessings
under whom, and perhaps by whom, St. of eternity, after being first deprived of those
Thomas of Canterbury had been murdered of this world.  Behold, most holy father, a
for his zeal in defending the interests of the brief description of all that has reference
church. Instead of punishing this prince as to our origin, and the miserable condition
his crimes merited, and depriving him of his to which your predecessor has brought us.
own territories, the complaisant pontiff has We shall now inform your holiness of the
torn ours from us to gratify his countryman, manner in which we have been treated by
Henry II., and without pretext or offence the kings of England.  The permission of
on our part, or any apparent motive on his entering this kingdom was granted by the
own, has stripped us, by the most flagrant holy see to Henry II. and his successors,
injustice, of the rights of our crown, and only on certain conditions, which were
left us a prey to men, or rather to monsters, clearly expressed in the bull which was
who are unparalleled in cruelty.  More given them. According to the tenor of it,
cunning than foxes, and more ravenous than Henry engaged to increase the church revewolves, they surprise and devour us; and nues in Ireland; to maintain it in all its rights
if sometimes we escape their fury, it is only and privileges; to labor, by enacting good
to drag on, in the most disgraceful slavery, laws, in reforming the morals of the people,
the wretched remains of a life more intol- eradicatingvice, and encouragingvirtue; and
erable to us than death itself. When, in finally, to pay to the successors of St. Peter
virtue of the donation which has been men- an annual tribute of one penny for each house.
tioned, the English appeared for the first Such were the conditions of the bull. But
time in this country, they exhibited every the kings of England, and their perfidious
mark of zeal and piety; and excelling as ministers, so far from observing them, have
they did in every species of hypocrisy, they uniformly contrived to violate them in every
neglected nothing to supplant and under- way, and to act in direct opposition to them.
mine us imperceptibly. Emboldened from First, as to the church lands, instead of extheir first successes, they soon removed the tending their boundaries, they have conmask; and without any right but that of tracted, curtailed, and invaded them so genpower, they obliged us by open force to give erally, and to such a degree, that some of our
up to them our houses and our lands, and to cathedrals have been deprived, by open force,
seek shelter like wild beasts, upon the moun- of more than one half of their revenues.
tains, in woods, marshes, and caves. Even The persons of the clergy have been as little
there we have not been secure against their respected as their property.  On every side
fury; they even envy us those dreary and we behold bishops and prelates summoned,
terrible abodes; they are incessant and un- arrested, and imprisoned bythe commissionremitting in their pursuits after us, endea- ers of the king of England; and so great
voring to chase us from among them; they is the oppression exercised over them, that
lay claim to every place in which they can they dare not give information of it to your
discover us, with unwarranted audacity and holiness. However, as they are so dasinjustice; they allege that the whole king- tardly as to conceal their misfortunes and
dom belongs to them of right, and that an those of the church, they do not merit that
Irishman has no longer a right to remain in we should speak in their behalf. We once
his own country. From these causes arise had our laws and institutions; the Irish
the implacable hatred and dreadful ani- were remarkable for their candor and simmosity of the English and the Irish towards plicity; but the English have undertaken to
each other; that continued hostility, those reform us, and have been unfortunately but
bloody retaliations and innumerable massa- too successful. Instead of being, like our
cres, in which, from the invasion of the ancestors, simple and candid, we have beEnglish to the present time, more than fifty come, through our intercourse with the
thousand lives have been lost on both sides, English, and the contagion of their exambesides those who have fallen victims to ple, artful and designing as themselves.
hunger, to despair, and the rigors of captiv- Our laws were written, and formed a body
ity. Hence also spring all the pillaging, of right according to which our country was
robbery, treachery, treason, and other disor- governed.  However, with the exception of
ders which it is impossible for us to allay in one alone, which they could not wrest from
the state of anarchy under which at present us, they have deprived us of those salutary
we live; an anarchy fatal not only to the laws, and have given us instead, a code of
state, but likewise to the church of Ireland, their own making. Great God! such laws!




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           333
If inhumanity and injustice were leagued dient and refractory to the present regulatogether, none could have been devised more tion.  This regulation was little needed;
deadly and fatal to the Irish.  The follow- before, as well as since its enactment, the
ing will give your holiness some idea of English Dominicans, Franciscans, Benetheir new code.  They are the fundamental dictines, regular canons, and all the other
rules of English jurisdiction established in communities of their countrymen, observed
this kingdom:                            the spirit of it bhut too faithfully.  In the
1st —" Every man who is not Irish, may, choice of their inmates they have evinced a
for any kind of crime, go to law with any partiality, the more shameful, as the houses.Irishman, while neither layman nor eccle- for Benedictines and canons, where the Irish
siastic, who is Irish, (prelates excepted,) can, are now denied admittance, were intended
under any cause or provocation, resort to by their founders to be asylums open to peoany legal measures against his English op- ple of every nation indiscriminately.  Vice
ponent.                                  was to be eradicated from among us, and
2d —" If an Englishman kill an Irishman the seeds of virtue sown. Our reformers
perfidiously and falsely, as frequently occurs, have acted diametrically the opposite charof whatsoever rank or condition the Irish- acter; they have deprived us of our virman may be, noble or plebeian, innocent or tues, and have implanted their vices among
guilty, clergyman or layman, secular or reg- us," &c. &c. &c.
ular, were he even a bishop, the crime is   The sovereign pontiff, moved by the renot punishable before our English tribunal; monstrances of O'Neill and of the Irish
but, on the contrary, the more the sufferer people, respecting the tyranny and cruelties
has been distinguished among his country- committed by the English government, admen, either for his virtue or his rank, the dressed the following letter, quoted by Pe- i
more the assassin is extolled and rewarded trus Lombardus, page 260, to Edward III.,
by the English, and that not only by the king of England, exhorting that prince to
vulgar, but by the monks, bishops, and what check the disorders and cruelty that were
is more incredible, by the very magistrates, practised upon the Irish.
whose duty it is to punish and repress crime.   "Wu E, Pope John, servant of the servants
3d-" IfanyIrishwomanwhosoever,whe- of God, to our dear son in Christ, the illusther noble or plebeian, marry an English- trious Edward, king of England, greeting,
man, on the death of her husband she be- health and salvation.
comes deprived, from her being Irish, of a   "Our unceasingentreatiestoyou, dearson,
third of the property and possessions which to maintain peace in your kingdom, justice
he owned.                                in your decisions, the blessings of tranquil4th-" If an Irishman fall beneath the lity among your subjects, and lastly, to omit
blows of an Englishman, the latter can pre- nothing which can contribute to your hapvent the vanquished from making any testa- piness and glory, proceed from the paternal
mentary deposition, and may likewise take solicitude which we bear towards your mapossession of all his wealth.  What can be jesty: you ought, therefore, to devote yourself
more unjustifiable than a law which deprives altogether to these objects, and prove yourself
the church of its rights, and reduces men, eager and willing to promote them.  We
who had been free from time immemorial, to have a long time since received from the-I
the rank of slaves?                     princes and people of Ireland, letters ad5th —" The same tribunal, with the co- dressed to our well beloved Anselmus, priest
operation and connivance of some English of the chapel of SS. Marcellus and Peter;
bishops, at which the archbishop of Armagh to Lucas, dean of St. Mary; to the cardinals
presided, a man who was but little esteemed and nuncios of the holy see; and through
for his conduct, and still less for his learning, them, letters enveloped with their own, admade the following regulations at Kilkenny, dressed to us.  These we have read, and
which are not less absurd in their import among other things which they contain, have
than in their form.  The court, say they, particularly noted, that our predecessor,
after deliberating together, prohibits all re- Pope Adrian, of happy memory, hath given
ligious communities, in that part of Ireland to your illustrious progenitor, Henry II.,
of which the English are in peaceful pos- king of England, the kingdom of Ireland, as
session, to admit any into them but a native specified in his apostolical letters to him.
of England, underthe penaltyofbeingtreated To the object of these letters neither Henry
bythe king of England as having contemned nor his successors have paid regard, but
his orders, and by the founders and admin- passing the bounds that were prescribed to
istrators of the said communities, as disobe- them, have, without cause or provocation,




334                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
heaped upon the Irish the most unheard of sent to the above-named cardinals, with a
miseries and persecution, and have, during a copy of the bull which our predecessor
long period, imposed upon them a yoke of Adrian, of happy memory, hath sent to the
slavery which cannot be borne. None have illustrious Henry, king of England, condared to stem the persecutions which have cerning the act of conferring on him the
been practised against the Irish, nor has any kingdom of Ireland.  Given," &c.
person been: found willing to remedy the   Ireland at this time produced several
cause of them: not one, I say, has been learned men. Maurice Gibellan, a canon of
moved, through a holy compassion for their the church of Tuam, who died in 1327, was
sufferings, although frequent appeals have celebrated as a philosopher, and a good poet.
been made to your goodness in their behalf,  Adam Godham, a monk of the order of St.
and the strong cries of the oppressed have Francis, having taken the degree of doctor in
reached the ears of your majesty.  Thus no theology, at Oxford, wrote commentaries on
longer able to endure such tyranny, the un- the four books of Sentences, which were
happy Irish have been constrained to with- printed in Paris in 1512; he wrote likewise
draw themselves from your dominion, and to a book of philosophical directions.*  Bale
seek another to rule over them in your stead. makes mention of this author, but calls him
If these things be founded in truth, they are Adam'Wodeham, for which he cites the auin direct opposition to our regards and con- thority of John Major, who, notwithstanding,
sideration for your felicity.  Our advice calls him Adam Godhamen.  The following
is, therefore, that your majesty will not lose are his words: c" At the same time flourished
sight of this important matter, and that you Adam Godhamen, who had heard Ockanm at
will carry into speedy effect the commands Oxford; he was a man of modesty, and not
of your Creator, -in order to avoid that inferior to Ockam in learning."t. Bale is also
which must draw down the vengeance of in error, according to Ware, in saying he was
God upon you. The groans and sorrows of an Englishman; John Major, he says, calls
the afflicted have been heard by the Omni- him, in another place, Adam of Ireland. Oxpotent, who can, as the holy Scriptures attest, ford, says Major, formerly produced some
change and transfer kingdoms to others, as celebrated philosophers and theologians;
he has abandoned his chosen people in pun- namely, Alexander Hales, Richard Middleishmlent for the crimes they had committed. ton, John Duns, the subtle doctor, Ockam,
Our most ardent wish is, that your majesty Adamof Ireland, Robert Holkot, &c. Lastly,
omit nothing, particularly during these revo- Ware supposes that Godham is the same as
lutions, to conciliate by your goodness the Gregory de Rimini, so often quoted under
hearts of the faithful Irish, and avoid every the name of Adam the Doctor, or the docthing that can tend to estrange them from tor of Ireland, in his treatise written on the
you.  As it is, therefore, important to your "Sentences," 1344.
interest to obviate the misfortunes which   William Ockam, a Franciscan friar, and
these troubles are capable of producing, disciple of John Scot, is ranked among the
they- should not be neglected in the begin- celebrated men of this time; he was genning, lest the evil increase by degrees, and erally called the invincible, apostolic, and
the necessary remedies be applied too late: prince of Nonminalists: he died at Munich, in
and having considered the matter maturely, Bavaria, and was interred among the Fratnwe herein exhort your majesty, that you ciscans.  Volateran thinks that he was an
remove the cause. of these misfortunes, and Irishman.t  " Ireland," says he, " had also
arrest, by honorable measures, their cause her saints, particularly the prelates Malachi,
and consequences, that you may render him Cataldus, and Patrick, who converted her
from whom you hold your crown, propi- people to the Christian religion; and also a
tious to your views and government; and prelate called William Ockams, the celebrathat by fulfilling the duties of lord and mas- ted logician, a Minorite and cardinal of Arter, you may afford no subject for complaint; magh, under the pontificate of John XXII.,
by which means the Irish, guided by a wise who lived in 1353, and was highly esteemed
administration, may obey you as lord of Ire- for his learning and writings."~  Philip O'land; or if -they (which heaven forbid) con- Sullivan, who calls him O'Cahan, and a few
tinue in rebellion, which they describe before
God and man to be innocent, that rebellion   * War. de Script. Hib.
maybe deemed unjust.  In order,therefore,  t Cent. 5, cap. 98. De gestis Scotor. lib. 4,
that your majesty may become acquainted cap. 11..with the grievances of the Irish people, we       Commentar. Urban. lib. 3.
with t.he grievances of the Irish people, we  O~ Hist. Cathol. Hib. Compend. tom. 1, lib. 4,
send to you, enclosed, the letters they have cap. 8.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            335
others, agree with Volateran respecting the which produced a quarrel between these
country of Ockam; but Ware, convinced by two families, and obliged the lord-j'ustice to
the reasons assigned by Wadding, thinks have the earl of Ulster, and Maurice, lord
otherwise.*-                            of Desmond, arrested, and committed into
David Obugey, a monk of the Carmelite the hands of the marshal, at Limerick.
order, of the convent of Kildare, was re- Maurice, however, found means to escape,
markable for his learning, first at Oxford and and the earl of Ulster was liberated, after
afterwards at Treves.  Having been nomi- which they both went to England, and their
nated provincial of his order, he'returned to trobps were disbanded without having perIreland, where, according to Bale, he held formed any thing, according to an anonychapters at Atherdee and Dublin.t He was mous writer, quod nihil perfecerunt.
considered a great philosopher, an elegant  The following year, 1331, the English deorator, a profound theologian, and one of the feated the Irish of Leinster, on the 21st of
most learned in the law of his time. He April, in the district of Kinseallagh; and in
wrote discourses for the clergy, epistles to the month of May, O'Brien was routed at
various persons, propositions discussed, lec- Thurles with considerable loss. About the
tures, and rules of law'; also a treatise against same time David O'Toole advanced with his
Gerard de BorLonia, and Commentaries on forces towards Tulaghl, whichbelonged to the
the Bible. This learned man died at Kil- archbishop of Dublin, and thence carried off
dare, advanced in years, where he was several herds of cattle, and killed Richard
buried in the convent of his own order.    White, and many others by whom he was
Gilbert Urgale, so called from the place of opposed.  The intelligence of these deprehis birth, lived in 1330.4  He belonged to dations having reached Dublin, O'Toole was
the order of Carmelites, and was author of pursued by Sir Philip Britt, Maurice Fitztwo large volumes, one of which was a Sum- gerald, a knight of the hospital of St. John
mary of Law, and the other on Theology. of Jerusalem, Hamon Archdekin, John CaThe compiler of the Annals of Ross lived in merar, Robert Tyrrell, the two sons of Regi13346,at which time he concludes with observ- nald Barnewall, and several others, all of
ing, that O'Carrouil was killed this year, in whom lost their lives in aln ambuscade which
the district of Eile, by the people of Ossory. was laid for them by O'Toole, at Culiagh.
|Roger Outlaw, prior of Kilmainham, was Encouraged by this success, the O'Tooles
appointed deputy of Ireland, A. D. 1330. All besieged and took the castle of Arklow; but
was tranquil during the summer, and the these disturbances were partly quelled by
severity of winter prevented the renewal of William  Bermingham, at the head of a
hostilities, which, however, began in Lent, in large body of forces.
Meath, between the Mac-Geoghegans and   In the month of June, Sir Anthony Lucy,
the English.~  The latter, supported by the a man highly esteemed in England, was sent
united forces of the earls of Ulster and Or- to Ireland as lord-justice; he was the bearer
Inond, defeated the fonner at Loghynerthy, of letters from the king to the earl of Ulster
and killed one hundred and ten of their and other noblemen, in which he ordered
men, with three young noblemen, sons of them to give him assistance whenever he
their leading chiefs.                   would require it. He was attended by Hugh
A parliament was held this year at Kil- de Lacy, who had just received a general
kenny, at which Alexander, archbishop of pardon.  The new lord-justice intended to
DIublin, the earls of Ulster and Ormond, put down the disturbances in Ireland by a
were present, besides other noblemen, the severe mode of government; but the underchief of whom were William Bermingham taking was too difficult for one man, and reand Walter Burke, of Connaught.  Each of quired more time than he could give to it.
these came attended by his troops, in order His administration, however', was favored
to attack O'Brien, and expel him from Ur- by a victory gained over the Irish at Finagh,
kiffe, near Cashel, where he was posted. in Meath.  He summoned a parliament for
With their combined army they marched to- the month of June, in Dublin; but the meetwards Limerick, and on their route, the ing being thinly attended, it was adjourned to
Burkes pillaged the lands of the Fitzgeralds, Kilkenny, where it was to be held on the 7th
of July. The earl of Kildare, and the no* Annal. Minor. ad an. 1323, n. 15, ad an. 1347, bleen who had been absent from the parlian. 22.                                  ment in Dublin, attended that of Kilkenny,
t Cent. 14, tit. 92.                  in which they apologized for their former
t Bale, Cent. 14, n. 92.              absence, and were pardoned their past of~ Pembrig. ad an. 1330.




336                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
fences, on. taking an oath not to violate the noblemen then received orders to go to Engpeace for the futnre.                    land, and prepare for the king's voyage,
The viceroy being informed in the month which was deferred on account of the adof August, that the Irish had pillaged and vanced period of the season.  The lord-jusburned the castle of Ferns, conceived strong tice was recalled in November, and in Febsuspicions of the fidelity of some of the noble- ruary Sir John Darcy was sent in his place.
men who had not appeared at the meeting   The king being desirous that the new
in Kilkenny, and believing them to act in governor should support the dignity of his
conjunction with the Irish, had some of them office, conferred on him the lordships of
arrested. Henry Mandevil was taken in the Louth and Ballyoganny, which had been
month of September; Maurice Fitzgerald, of confscated when Simon, Count d'Eu, to
Desmond, was arrested in Limerick, in the whom  they belonged, withdrew  from the
beginning of October, and brought to Dublin; service of the king of England, and attached
Walter Burke and his brother were taken in himself to the French monarch.
November; and, lastly, William and Walter  In the beginning of Darcy's administration,
Bermingham were removed from Clonmel the Berminghams carried off large booty from
to Dublin in the month of February follow- the O'Connors of Sligo, A. D. 1333. William
ing, where William was tried; and notwith- Burke, earl of Ulster, was assassinated on the
standing the important services he had ren- 6th of June in this year by his servants, on
dered to his king and country, was condemned the road to Carrickfergus.  His countess,
to death, and executed on the 1 1th of July. alarmed by this outrage, set sail for England
Walter, his son, was pardoned, having taken with her only daughter, who was afterwards
holy orders. Maurice, of Desmond, remained married to Lionel, duke of Clarence, the
for eighteen months -in prison, when, on king's son, by whom she had anonly daughter,
giving security, he was permitted to go and who married Roger Mortimer, earl of March
plead his cause before the king of England. and lord of Trim, in Meath.  This was the
In the month of July, 1332, the Irish de- reason why the titles of earl of Ulster and
stroyed the castle of Bunratty. On the other lord of Connaught were annexed to the crown.
hand, the English retookthe castle ofArklow, There were, however, two noblemen of the
and had it rebuilt. In Munster they defeated name of Burke, apparently of the family of
the O'Briens, Mac-Cartys, and their allies, the earls of Ulster, who took possession of
and took from them the castle of Coolmore. some of the estates, which they kept for a
The hostages whichtheEnglishhadreceived length of time, contrary to the spirit of' the
from the Irish some time before, having been law, and gave origin to diflerent branches of
kept in Limerick and Nenagh, undertook to this noble family, which is still in being, in
surprise these places, and succeeded in ma- Connaught.  To supply the want of a legal
king themselves masters of them; but the title, they sought support fiom the friendEnglish having assembled their forces, they ship of the ancient Irish; joined in their
were retaken.  The hostages of Limerick leagues; adopted their language, manners,
were put to death, but those of Nenagh were and customs; and even went so far as to
spared.  In the mean time the O'Tooles, of change their name, by placing the article
Leinster, took Newcastle, in the county of Mac before it, like the Irish.  From them
Wicklow, and reduced it to ashes.        is derived the name of Mac-William, &c.
The affairs of Ireland were the chief object   The assassination of the earl of Ulster
of the parliament which was at this time as- caused a great sensation in ireland, A. D.1 334.
sembled in England; they determined that Theviceroybeingdeterminledtotake revenge
the king should visit that country in person, on the murderers, and having consulted with
and that, in the mean tine, reinforcements his parliament, set sail on the 1st of July for
should be sent thither. The several English Carrickfergus, where he put them to the
noblemen who possessed estates there, re- sword. This done, he committed the governceived orders to reside on them, in order to ment to the care of Thomas Burke, treasurer
assist in defending it:* and those who were of Ireland, during his absence, and crossed
appointed to serve as lords-justices in Ire- over with his army to Scotland, to the asland, were forbidden to frame any pretext sistance of the king his master.
for avoiding it.  William Burke and other   Stephen Segrave, archbishop of Armagh,.  died this year, (1335.) He was succeeded by
We discover in this place, that the conquest 6f David O'Hiraghty, otherwise Mac-Oreghty,
Ireland was not completed in the fourteenth cen- who was consecrated at Avignon, and put in
tury, since the English who had been enriched with wo  was consecrated at Avon, and put 
the spoils of its inhabitants were obliged to reside possession of his see in the month of March
in it, to defend their unjustly acquired properties. following.




CHRIST[AN IRELAND.                           337
In the parliament of England, held on the ed in his voyage thither by his brother-Thomfifteenth of March, it was determined that the as, bishop of Hereford, as chancellor, and
king's presence being necessary in France, John Rice (Ap Rees) as treasurer, and was
his voyage to Ireland should be delayed for followed by two hundred soldiers.  On his
another year, and in the mean time that suc- arrival he summoned a parliament to meet
cor should be sent thither. But it appears in Dublin. The archbishop of Armagh was
that the war with Scotland prevented either preparing to attend this meeting, but he
voyage being undertaken at the time; and found some opposition from the archbishop
though the king was advised by both cham- of Dublin, who would not permit him to
hers to send assistance in men and money enter his diocese with the cross raised.
to Ireland, and they voted a sixth and fif- The king having been informed of the difteenth as aids for the purpose, it appears ference between the prelates, prohibited the
that instead of this assistance, inconsiderable archbishop and citizens of Dublin from inin amount, a commission was sent to treat terfering with the primate.
with the rebels, in other words, the Irish.    Charleton was deprived by the king, in
John Darcy, having signalized himself 1338, of the office of lord-justice, at the inagainst the Scotch, returned to Ireland and stigation of his brother, the bishop of Hereresumed the government, which he had con- ford, who succeeded him. This new govfided to the treasurer in his absence. The ernor sent to Munster for Sir Eustace Poer,
first use he made of his authority was to and John his uncle, and on some suspicion,
release Walter Bermingham from prison. had them confined in the castle of Dublin.
Aboutthistime Simon Archdekinand several The winter was very severe this year in
of his retinue were killed in Leinster by the Ireland; snow  fell frequently; the frost
Irish. Roche, lord of Fermoy, was fined two lasted from the 2d of December till the 10th
hundred marks of silver for having neglected of February, and so frozen was the river
to attend two parliaments to which he had Liffey, that the people played, danced, and
been summoned; but his son prevailed on the dressed their food upon the ice.
king to reduce the fine to ten pounds sterling.   The disturbances continued in Ireland,
Maurice Fitzgerald was prevented at this particularly in Munster, where the Irish often
time, by an accident, from going to England; took up arms; but they were defeated in the
his leg being broken by a fall from his horse, county of Kerry, with the loss of twelve
which obliged him to defer his voyage, A. D. hundred men, by the earl of Desmond, A. D.
1335. As soon as he recovered he set sail 1339.  He caused Nicholas Fitzmaurice,
for that country, where he was well received lord of Kerry, who was of English origin, to
by the king, who created him earl of Des- be arrested, and imprisoned till his death, for
olloid, A. D. 1336. Sir John Darcy was sue- having taken part with the Irish against him
ceeded the year following, in his office of and the king. The earl of Kildare was not
lord-justice, by Sir John Charleton.    more lenient to the inhabitants of Leinster;
On the right bank of the river Suire, county he pursued the O'Dempseys of Clanmalire
Waterford, opposite the town of Carrick, in so closely that several of them were drowned
the county of Tipperary,-a convent called in the river Barrow. The lord-justice, about
Carrick Bee was founded at this time, for the same time, at the head of some English
Franciscan friars, by James Butler, first earl troops, carried away an immense booty from
of Ormond, who gave the ground and a house the territory of Idrone, in the county of Carfor the purpose.* Both Ware and Wadding low. This prelate was recalled to England
agree that Cliunus was the first warden of it. in the month of April following, and gave up
There was a large enclosure, besides beauti- his dignity to Roger Outlaw, prior of Kilful meadows, belonging to this convent, but mainham, who did not enjoy it long, having
on the suppression of the monasteries, the died in the month of February, A. D. 1340.
earls of Ormond took back their house, and   The king of England now appointed Sir
all that depended on it.                John Darcy lord-justice of Ireland, during
his life, of which office he granted him letters patent.  This nobleman  being unable
to go in person, sent Sir John Morris as
CHAPTER XXIV.                 deputy in his place; but the Anglo-Irish,
SIR JHN  CHARLETON, who was nomina- who had become wealthy, and invested with
ted lordjustice of Ireland, A. D. 1337 was at- titles of honor, would not submit to an authority delegated to a simple knight, and re* War. de Antiq. Hlib. c. 26, et Allemand, Hist. fused to pay him the respect which was
Monast. d'Irlande.                      due to his station. In order to punish their
43




338                    -       I-}-ISTORY OF TELAND.
tend pride, the court decreed by a public act,  The king imm ediately understood the puraddressed to the lord-justice, that all the port of these interrogatories; but as he was
gifts of lands, liberties, lordships, or juris- resolved not to restore the lands wlhich had
dictions, which had been bestowed in Ire-: been seized, he tried other mecans to reform
land, either by the reigning king or his pre- the abuses whichi prevailed, and to satisfydecessor, should be revoked, 1341, and that the people.  le recalled several judges
the said lands and lordships should be seized and other officers whose administra. tion was
in the king's name, in order that investiga- disliked, particularly Elias de Ashbourne,.
tion might be made into the causes and con- whose property had been seized; Thomas
ditions of those donations, and the merit of Montpellier, and Henry Baggot, judges in
the persons on whom they had been con- the court of common pleas. Ile sent orders
ferred.                                  to the deputy to ascertain the rank, services,
This decree against the new proprietors pay, number, and conduct of his officers in
of land in Ireland, gave rise to that distinc- Ireland.  He abolished all respite and fortion between an Englishman by birth and giveness of debts due to the crown, which
an Englishman by descent, which became were granted by his officers, and ordered
so injurious to the interests of the English in that they should be recovered.  John DarIreland.  By it we discover the facility with cy, the king's chief-justice, and the deputy,
which the kings of England bestowed the were commanded to admit no Englishman,
lands of the ancient Irish on their English who was not possessed of landed property
subjects; and the artful misrepresentations in England, to any of the high offices of
and treachery resorted to by the latter to ob- the state; and all who were already in office,
tain the property of their neighbors.  The not possessing such qualifications, were ormeanest English subject, who was employed dered to be dismissed.  They were prohibeither in the militia or the magistracy, by ited to sell or confiscate the crown4-lands
representing an Irishman possessed of land without royal permission, and a perfect
to be a rebel, or suspected of being such, knowledge of the circumstances underwhich
was certain of being rewarded by the Eng- such confiscations or sales took place. The
lish tribunal at the expense of a man who king abolished likewise some privileges to
was denied the means of justice to vindicate which the treasurer of the exchequer laid
himself; conduct which naturally kept up claim; as, for instance, a right to use and
hatred and animosity between the two peo- pay any sum  under five pounds that he
pie, and gave rise to the murders and san- thought proper-, without being responsible
guinary conflicts which were so frequent.  for it. HIe also ordered him to give an acThe decree alluded to having caused count of the past expenditure, and never to
considerable disturbances among the Anglo- make any payment for the future without
Irish, a parliament was summoned to meet the sanction of the lord-justice, the chancelin Dublin, in the month of October, to allay lor, and the council. He likewise took from
theim; but the earl of Desmond, and other that officer the nomination of county sheriffs,
lords of his faction, instead of attending it, and conferred it on the head magistrates,
formed a league with the corporations of who were enjoined to choose fit persons for
towns, and others who were dissatisfied; that office.  The king's monrey being often
and without consulting the government, lost through the avarice of the treasurer,
convened a general assembly ati Kilkenny, who was bribed to allow delay to parties in
for the month of November, where they the payment of it, he was not suffered to
met in spite of the lord-justice, who did receive the revenue, except in the public
not dare to appear among them. This was office. Lastly, the king sent for a list of the
an obvious contempt of the royal authority. individuals whose estates had been seized,
The result of the assembly was to send de- and in o'rder to reward John Darcy the elder
puties to the king, with complaints couched for his services, he received liberty to claim
in form of the three following questions: his property, which had been confiscated.
1st. How could a state torn by wars' be gov- The lord-justice, deputy, and chancellor,
erned by a man who had no experience in were all commissioned to exaniine into, and
military affairs?  2d. How could an officer regulate the exchequer. All this, however,
without a fortune, and the king's represen- did not put a stop to the disturbances, and
tative, amass more wealth in one year, than the king was at length obliged to restore
those with extensive possessions could do the lands which had been seized.
in many?  3d. As they were all called   At this time, John Larche, prior of the
lords of their estates, how was it that their hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, in Iresovereign was not the richest among them? land, and Thomas WVogan, were sent to the




.CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            339
king, by the prelates, earls, barons, and exercuissent;* because theyintroducedmany
other lords, with a list of the grievances strange and intolerable laws.
under which they labored.  In Pryn's ani-   The earl of Desmond, humbled by the
madversions we discover what these griev- manner in which he had been treated by the
ances were, and the king's answer.  It is lord-justice, was forced to submit, by pronot known whet-her these deputies were sent curing the earls of Ulster and Ormond, with
by the parliament in Dublin, or the meeting twenty-four knights, to become his security;t
of the malecontents in Kilkenny; but it is but dreading the governor's severity, he did
certain that the lord-justice was recalled not think prudent himself to appear. This
soon after their embassy.                cost those who had become his bail- dearly;
Sir Ralph Ufford was sent to Ireland in the lord-justice confiscated the estates of
quality of lord-justice, in 1343.  IHe mar- eighteen knights, and reduced them to begtied the countess-dowager of Ulster, It is gary; but the other six, with the earls of
affirmed, that on his arrival in the country, Ulster and Ormond, found means to get
the most severe and inclement season suc- clear of this embarrassment.
ceeded very fine weather, and that rain and   John O'Grada, archbishop of Cashel, died
storms were frequent during his administra- at this time; he was first the rector of Ogustion.  He was considered more severe and sin, in the diocese of Killaloe, then treasurer
cruel than any one who had preceded him of Cashel, when he was appointed by the
in the government of Ireland.  He appro- dean and chapter to this see, whose choice
priated the goods of others to his own use, was confirmed by the pope. He was a disand plundered without distinction the cler- creet and clever man, according to the angy, the laity, the rich, and the poor, assign- nals of Nenaglh: iir mctCgna discretionis
ing the public welfare as a pretext.  He et industrie.  HIaving enriched his church
tyrannized over the inhabitants of the coun- considerably, he died at Limerick, after
try, and no one found justice at his hands. taking the Dominican habit, and was interSuch is the character which Ufford bore, red in the church of that order.  Ile was
both among the new and the old Irish; he succeeded in the see of Cashel by Radulphus
was so universally abhorred, that on his en- O'Kelly.
tering Ulster, he was robbed in the open day,   Ufford, having settled his affairs in Munat Emerdullan, by Maccartan and his fol- ster, returned to Dublin, where he had left*
lowers, who seized upon his equipages in his wife.  Not satisfied with making war
presence of the people, none of whom in- against the nobles, he persecuted the clergy
terfered to defend him.                  also, and took large sums of money from
In the parliament which had met at Not- them; some he imprisoned, and confiscated
tingham, in November, laws wvere enacted the property of others.  He also had the
for the reformation of the Irish government, earl of Kildare arrested for treason, who
which are the same, says Cox, as are men- was detained in the castle of Dublin till the
tioned in the seventeenth year of the reign month of May following, when he was libof Edward II.  They are to be met with in erated by the successor of this magistrate.
full in Pry-n's remarks on the fourth insti-   Sir John Ufford having tyrannically ruled
tute.                                    over his countrymen in Ireland during two
The following year, 1345, the lord-justice years, died unregretted'in Dublin, on Pahn
convened a parliament in Dublin in the Sunday, the 9th of April, 1346. The counmonth of June. The earl of Desmond, who tess, his wife,who had been received in Irerefused to appear at it, called a meeting land like an empress, and lived in it as a
himself at Callan; but many of the noble- queen, was obliged to leave the castle through
men who had promised to attend, absented a back gate, to avoid the insults of her enethemselves by orders of the king. The lord- nmies, and the demands of her creditors.
jutstice, exasperated at the earl's conduct,   Sir Roger Darcy was appointed, with the
sent, of his own accord, the king's standard good will of all, to fill the vacant office of
to iMlunster, where he seized on his estates, lord-justice.  He took the oath on the 10th
and gave them  in custodiamn to whoever of April, but on the 25th of the following
would take them. He seized upon the cas- month he resigned it in favor of Sir John
ties of Iniskilly and Ile by a stratagem, in Morris, who had been appointed by the
the month of October, and three knights court; the disastrous news of the O'Morras
who were in command of them were order- having burned the castles of Ley and Kiled to.-be hanged; namely, Eustace Poer,
William  Grant, and John Cotterell; quia         * War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 13.
multas graves, extraneas, et intolerabiles, leges  t Cox, Hist. of Ireland, p. 121.




340                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
mehide having arrived some time before. Ireland, where he resumed the reins of
The first act of the administration of Morris government, A. D. 1348, the king rewarded
was to set the earl of Kildare at liberty, him with the estate of Kenlis, in Ossory,
who had been state prisoner. During his which had belonged to Sir Eustace Poert,
government, which was of a short duration, one of those whom Ufford had put to death
a bloody battle took place between the Irish for his attachment to the interests of the
of Ulster and the English of Uriel, in which earl of Desmond. Usurpation, tyranny, and
the latter were defeated, with the loss of civil wars were not the only afflictions with
three hundred men.                      which Ireland was visited.  The climate,
David O'Hiraghty, or according to others, which, according to Cambrensis, was so
Mac-Oreghty, was consecrated archbishop temperate and healthy in the twelfth centuof Armagh, at Avignon, in 1334.*  He was ry that physicians were hardly needed,* besummoned to attend the parliament held in came totally changed, and the provinces
Dublin, in 1337, by Sir John Charleton, who were desolated by a general plague.
was then lord-justice; but the old difference   The house of commons of England prewhich still continued between the sees of sented a petition to the king, praying him
Armagh and Dublin, respecting the primacy, to appoint commissioners to examine into
prevented his appearing. According to the the causes why his majesty derived so small
annals of Nenagh, he died on the 16th of a revenue from Ireland, while his power in
May, 1346. Peimbridge is incorrect in pla- that comuntry was more extended than that
cing his death in the year 1337, since he of any of his predecessors had been; and,
was succeeded in the see of Armagh, in to inquire into the conduct of the officers
1347, by Richard, son of Ralph.         employed there, in order to punish or change
Sir Walter Bermingham succeeded John them, in case of misdemeanor or bad govMorris in the government of Ireland, and erminent on their part. It was also requested
took the usual oath in the month of June. in the prayer of the petition, to establish a
He then obtained leave for the earl of Des- rule respecting the succession of the earl of
mond to go to England to defend his cause, Ulster, in order to prevent the collateral
where the king received him kindly, allowing heirs of that nobleman, some of whom were
him twenty shillings a day to defray his but little attached to his majesty's interests,
expenses while he remained at court.  He from aspiring to it, in case the duchess of
pleaded his cause with warmth, and de- Clarence, his daughter-in-law, should die
manded reparation for the injustice which without issue.
Ufford had done to him.                   The troubles in Ireland began now to
The lord-justice and the earl of Kildare subside.  The favorable reception which
having united their forces, pursued the the earls of Desmond and Kildare had met
O'Morras closely, and forced them to sur- with in England and France, and the hopes
render, and give hostages, A. D. 1347. of seeing the lands restored which had been
Through gratitude for the kindness his seized upon for the king's use, were happy
relative, the earl of Desmond, had met with omens of peace and general tranquillity bein England, the earl of Kildare set out for tween the king and his Irish subjects, so that
Calais, which Edward was then besieging, this period presents nothing interesting, exwhere the king, as a reward for his services, cept the change of governors.
conferred on him the honor of knighthood.   Malachi Mac-Aed, archbishop of Tuam,
The lord-justice having been obliged to go to died about this time.  He was canon when
England on some business about this time, raised to the see of Elphin, in 1309, by a
appointed John Archer, prior of Kilmnain- bull from the pope.  Being elected shortly
ham, deputy during his absence. The same afterwards by the canons of Tuam  to be
year, Donald Oge Mac-Morrough, the heir archbishop of their see, his appointment wa5
of the ancient royal house of Leinster, was confirmed, in the beginning of 1313, by the
assassinated by his vassals, and the town sovereign pontiff.  Malachi was a man of
of Nenagh was burned by the Irish.      deep erudition; he is thought to have been
Christopher Pembridge, a native of Dub- the author of a large volume, written in the
lin, flourished at this period.  He was au- Irish language, which was still extant in
thor of the greater part of the Irish annals, Ware's time, under the title of Leavas Macpublished by Camden in 1607, at the end of Aed, and which, among other things, conhis Britannia, and which ended with 1347. tained a list of the kings of Ireland from
On Sir Walter Bermingham's return to Niall Noygiollach to Roderick O'Connor.
W XVar. de Archiep. Armach.          t- Topograph. Hib. distinct. cap. 25.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            341
He also wrote the prophecy of St. Jarlath in St. Patrick's church, and was succeeded
respectinghis successors in the see of Tuam. in the archbishopric by John de St. Paul.
This prelate renewed his claim to the see of  Some religious houses were founded in
Enaghdune, which had been separated from this century, but the years of their foundaTuam twenty years before, though it had tion is not known.* At Ralti-ne-Gall, in the
been previously united to that arch-diocese. county of Limerick, there was a convent
Malachi died at an advanced age, on St. established for Dominicans, according to
Lauren ce's day.  He was interred ina the Ware, by the Roches, but attributed by
cathedral church of Our Lady of Tuam, and Allemand to the Clan-Gibbons.t There was
was succeeded by Thomas O'Carrol.       another of the same order founded in the
On the death of John Lech, archbishop town of Galway, and one at Clonshanvil, in
of Dublin, the old disputes were renewed the county of Roscommon, by M'Dermot,
about the election of a prelate. The suf- lord of the country.
frages were divided between Walter Thorn-   The Franciscans of the third order had
bury, chorister of the church of St. Patrick, two houses in the county of Sligo,: one at
and chancellor of Ireland, and Alexander Ballimot, the other at Court, both founded
Bicknor, prebendary of Maynooth, and trea- about the same time, by the M'Donoghs
surer of Ireland.  Walter, in order to secure and the O'Haras, Irish lords of that counthe pope's approbation, who was then in try.
France, set sail for that country, and perished   In this century also two convents were esthe night following in the waves, with a hun- tablished for Carmelites; one at little Horedred and ffty-six others, who were in the ton, in the county of Wexford, by the Fursame vessel.  Bicknor having no longer a longs; the other at Crevabane, in the county
rival, and all the votes' being united in his Galway, by the Burkes of Clanriccard.
favor, set out for Lyons, where he was ap- There was also a house of this order at
pointed by Pope Clement V, of his own Cluncurry, in the county of Kildare, founded
authority, without any reference to the elec- in 1347, by the Roches.  Two houses were
tion.  He was afterwards consecrated at also founded for Augustin nuns; one at
Avignon, by cardinal Ostium. The bulls Killeigh, in the district of Geashill, by the.confirming his election were read and pub- Warrens; the other at Moylag, in the county
lished on the feast of the purification, in of Tipperary, by the Butlers of the house of
Christ's cathedral.  This prelate, who was Ormond.
afterwards nominated lord-justice of Ireland,   At Quinchi, in the county of Clare, there
repaired to Dublin in the month of October, was a convent for Franciscan friars, founded
1318, where he was received with loud ac- by the M'Nemaras, lords of Clancully, or
clamations by the clergy and people, and Clancullane. Speed calls this place Quint,
installed in the archiepiscopal see.  He or Kint: according to Wadding, it is called
founded a college two years afterwards, near Coinhe; and Coinche by father Castet.  It
St. Patrick's church, with the sanction of might, perhaps, with molure propriety, be
Pope John XXII. The undertaking was. called Inchequin:~ there are various opinions
worthy of a great prelate, but the funds respecting the time of its foundation; Wadbeing insufficient, the establishment could ding places it in 1350. The tombs of the
not be supported. The statutes of this col- founders are to be seen in the church of this
lege are quoted by Ware, in his 15th chap- convent. Pope Eugene IV. allowed Macter on the Antiquities of Ireland. This Con-More M'Nemara, who was chief of that
prelate was sent by the English parliament, noble family in 1433, to establish Observanwith Ednond de Woodstock, earl of Kent, tine Franciscans in this convent. Wadding
brother to King Edward, as ambassador to observes that it was the first of the Franthe court of France, where his success was ciscan order in Ireland, which received that
but moderate.  IHe had warm debates with particular rule. Allemand wrongs the pope,
Richard, archbishop of Armagh, respecting in saying that he gave the title of duke of
the pre-eminence of the two sees. He held Clancully to M'Nemara in his bull. He had,
a synod, the rules of which are in the white in fact, no thought of creating titles of digbook of the church of Ossory.  A country- nity in Ireland; the word dux, or duke,
house was built by him at Taulaght, for himself and his successors in the see of Dublin.
This prelate, who equalled any of his pre-    War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 26.
decessors in prudence and learning, having  t Hist. Monast. d'Irlande, p. 220.
filled the see for nearly thirty-two years, died  ~ War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 15. Allem. Hist. Moin the month of July, 1349. He was interred nast. d'Irlande.




1342                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
which he makes use of, signifying nothing so remarkable, that ha did not spare even
more than chief or lord of Clancully.'    his own relatives, wlhen guilty of anyoffence.
Baron Carew succeeded Sir Walter Ber- rhe barons of the exchequer were reduced
mingham in the office of lord-justice of Ire- in his time to three.  John de Pelrbrook,
land.  He was succeeded, after some time, chancellor, was appointed third baron. The
by Sir Thomas Rokesby, who was invested earl of Desmond having died on the 25th of
with that authority in the month of Decem- January following, Sir'Thomas Rokesby
ber, 1349; but being obliged to return to returned to Ireland as lord-justice.'This
England after a year, he appointed Maurice magistrate convened a parliament at KiIde Rochford, bishop of Limerick, his deputy kenny, in which laws were enacted relative
during his absence. Rokesby returned in a to the government of the state. The court
short time to Ireland, having obtained the sent orders to him, and to the chancellor of
king's permission to add to his usual guard Ireland, to have the difficulties removed
of twenty horsemen, ten men-at-arms, and which some of the king's subjects met'with
twenty archers, A. D. 1353.                in the recovery of their lands, which had
John Clynn, a Franciscan friarofthehouse been seized in his majesty's nane. Rokesby
belonging to their order at Kilkenny, and died shortly afterwards at Kilkea, and was
first warden of the Franciscans, at Carrick, succeeded in the government of Ireland by
wrote annals from the Christian era to 1313.t Almaric de Saint Amand.
He continued them afterwards with consid-   About this time a house was founded for
erable additions, to the year 1349, which Carmelites at Balinahinch, in the county of
was probably the time of his death.  He: Galway, by the O'Flahertys, Irish lords of
also wrote annals of the kings of England, that country; and another of the same order
from Hengist to Edward III.; likewise of at Ballinsmale, in the county of Mayo, by
the wardens of his order in Ireland and Eng- the family of the Prendergasts." There was
land, and a list of the bishoprics of the three also a house founded the same year for
kingdoms.  His works were still extant in Dominicans in the town of Naas, county
Ware's time, in the Franciscan convent at Kildare, by the Fitz-Eustaces.
Kilkenny.  Sir James Lee, chief-justice of   A warm  debate arose between Richard,
the king's bench, afterwards treasurer of archbishop of Armagh, and the mendicant
England, and earl of Marlborough, had the friars, A. D. 1357, concerning some animadannals of Clynn, and other writings on the versions which that prelate made upon them
affairs of Ireland, transcribed, and given to in the sermons which he preached in LoruHenry, earl of Bath, who undertook to have don.t  The superior of the minor brothers
them printed.                              of Armagh, seconded by many of his own,
At this time, Robert Savage, a rich and and the Domninican order, had him summoned
powerful man inUlster, declared war against to Avignon, whither he repaired without
the ancient proprietors of the lands he had delay; but after spending three years at the
usurped, and put many of them to the sword court of the sovereign pontiff,. he died within the county of Antrim.                   out bringing his affairs to a conclusion.
Rokesby resigned his office of lord-justice   The king of England gave the lord-justice
in the month of July, 1355, and was suc- of Ireland a new proof of the confidence he
ceeded by Maurice Fitzgerald, earl of Des- reposed in him; namely, the privilege, with
mend. This nobleman was now in so great the approval of the chancellor and treasurer,
favor at court, that the office was conferred to pardon all the English and Irish whom he
on him for life.  He was respected for his might consider worthy of it, for every crime
equity and love of justice, for which he was except that of high treason.  He, however,
soon afterwards resigned his office, and was
* The noble tribe of the M'Nemaras, of Thuo- succeeded by the earl of Ormond.
mond, are descended from Oilioll Olum, king of   James Butler, commonly called the noble
Munster in the second century, by his son Cormae earl, from his being descended, by the female
CGas; they owned a considerable territory in the line, from Edward I., was intrusted with the
baronies of Tulla and Bunratty, in the county of government of Ireland, A. D. 1359.  In his
Clare for many ages. Gratianus Lucius, after the time the king of England   blished an act
ancient poem of O'Douvegan, calls them Muighag- time the king of England  published an act
hair. This tribe has been distinguished for their prohibiting any of the old Irish from being
virtue and beneficence. In our time it has given admitted to hold the offices of mayor, bailiff,
birth to a man of great celebrity, viz., John M'Ne- or any situation in a city within the English
mara, who diedin 1747, vice-admiral in the service
of France, of the grand military order of St. Louis,    War. de Antiq, Hib, cap. 26. Allemand, Hist.
and governor of the port of Rochefort.     Monast. d'Irl. page 337.
t War de Script. Hib.                     t War. de Archiepisc. Ardmachan.




CHTRISTIAN I1REtAND.                         343
province; and also from being appointed   Other work.s are ascribed also to this preto any ecclesiastical dignity. The year fobl- late; nanmely, a treatise on the questions of
lowing, however, he mitigated this act in the Armenians respecting the four books of
favor of some Irish prelates who had been " Sentences," and the Gospels; one on the
attached to him.                        poverty of Jesus Christ; one on the motives
The earl of Ormond having been recall- of the Jews; a defence of parish priests;
ed, under some pretext, to England, Maurice answers to the objections made against the
Fitzgerald, earl of Kildare, was appointed privileges given to mendicant brothers; inlord-justice during his absence, A. D. 1360, structions for judges, on the declaration to
by a patent under the great seal of Ireland, be made concerning the Extravagantes of
with the usual salary of five hundred pounds Pope John XXII.,beginning with the words:
sterling a year, on condition of supporting Vas electionis: a dissertation on mendicants
nineteen men-at-arms for his guard, and pro- in good health, in which it is questioned if
tecting the English colony, with the castles they be entitled to relief; a dialogue on suband lands belonging to it. His government jects connected with the holy Scriptures, and
was of short duration, as he resigned it to a manuscript which is in Lincoln college, at
the earl of Ormond on his return to Ireland. Oxford. He is said to have written likewise
Richard, son of Ralph, a native of Dun- the life of the abbot of St. Munchin, who livdalk, and archbishop of Armagh, died at ed in 640; praises of the blessed Virgin; the
this time at Avignon. Having taken the de- spiritual virtue of the passion of our Lord,
gree of doctor of theology in the university &c. The body of this prelate was removed
of Oxford, of which he was chancellor in from Avignon to Dundalk in 1370, by Ste1333, he was appointed dean of Lichfield, phen de Valle, bishop of Meath; and the
and in 1347, consecrated archbishop of Ar- great number of miracles attributed to him,
magh, at Oxford, having been named to that induced Pope Boniface IX. to commit the
see by Clement VI. Raphael Volateran, in examination of the body to John Colton, one
his commentaries, calls him cardinal of Ar- of his successors in the see of Armagh, and
magh; but Alphonso Ciaconius and Onu- Richard Young, the intended bishop of Banphrius Panvinius make no mention of him gor; but this inquiry was brought to no conin their list of cardinals. This prelate was elusion. The see of Armagh was filled, after
a learned theologian, and an able preacher. the death of Richard, by Milo Sweetman.
Ware mentions his having a collection, in   Some other writers flourished about the
manuscript, of sermons preached by him at same time.  Hugh of Ireland, belonging to
Lichfield, London, and other places in Eng- the order of minor brothers, wrote his travels
land; at Drogheda, Dundalk, Trim, and else- in different countries. Wadding believes that
where in the county of Armagh; and also he was the same person as Hugh Bernard,
at Avignon, where he delivered a discourse a provincial of the minorites in Ireland.
in favor of bishops and parish priests, in   William, of Drogheda, so called from the
presence of the pope, at a consistory held place of his birth, lived at this period. He
on the 5th of July, 1350. In the sermons was educated at Oxford, where he became
which he preached in London, he drew the eminent for his knowledge of law, as well
following inferences, for which he was sum- as of arithmetic and geometry, and was pubmnoned to Avignon: 1st, that our Lord Jesus lic professor of law in that university. He
Christ, as a man, was very poor, not that is said to have been author of a book called
he loved poverty for itself; 2d, that our the Golden Summary, which is in the college
Lord had never begged; 3d, that he never of Caius and Gonville, at Cambridge; and
taught men to beg; 4th, that, on the-contra- of a treatise on secrecy.  Doctor Thomas
ry, he taught men not to beg; 5th, that man James, in his catalogue of manuscripts at
cannot, with prudence and holiness, confine Oxford and Cambridge, places him among
himself by vow to a life of constant mendi- the number of writers on civil law.
city; 6th, that minor brothers are not obliged   Geoffry O'Hogan, of the order of the
by their rule to beg; 7th, that the bull of minor brothers at Nenagh, in the county of
Alexander IV., which condemns the Book Tipperary, wrote the annals of his time,
of Masters, does not invalidate any of the from 1336 to 1370, which are to be met
aforesaid conclusions; 8th, that by those with in manuscript.
who, wishing to confess, exclude certain   The king of England wishing to send his
churches, their parish one should be prefer- son Lionel to Ireland, as his lieutenant, with
red to the oratories of monks; and 9th, that, forces sufficient to subdue that country, in
for auricular confession, the diocesan bishop order to render the expedition more brilliant,
should be chosen in preference to friars.  and the undertaking more successful, sum



344                         HISTORY OF IRELAND.
moned the duchess of Norfolk, and all the him, two shillings each; twenty-seven
English nobles who possessed estates in Ire- squires, twelve pence each; twenty knight.s,
land, to appear before him and his council, called hoblers, from the hobbies or light
in ordertomakearrangementsforitsdefence. horses which they rode, six pence; and
At this assembly they were enjoined to repair twenty unarmed hoblers, four pence a day.
to Ireland without delay, with all the men   The pay of Sir John Carew was fbur
they could collect capable of bearing arms, shillings a day; that of a knight who atand assist his son. The king at the same tended him, two shillings; eight squirs
time published a proclamation against the had twelve pence; and ten horse-archers,
exportation of corn and other provisions from six pence a day each.
Ireland, under pain of confiscation. Lastly,  Sir William Winsore had two shillings a
he gave orders to confiscate all the lands day, two other knights, two shillings each;
which his officers had purchased there with- forty-nine squires, twelve pence; and six
out his permnnission, and contrary to the de- horse-archers,   six pence a day.
cree of Edward II.                       The other knights and lords in this expeEvery thing being prepared for the expe- dition, were paid in proportion to their rank
dition of Lionel, who was earl of Ulster and and the number of men they furnished. The
lord of Connaught, in virtue of his marriage kings, at that period, levied no troops by
with Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of commission as they at present do; but the
William de Burgo, this prince set sail for lords severally undertook toraise astipulated
Ireland, A. D. 1361; and accompanied by number for the service of the prince, accordhis countess, landed in Dublin on the 15th ing to their authority among the people, for
of September, attended by fifteen hundred a stated sum of money. Good policy aftermen, intending to complete the conquest of wards removed this abuse, which, by making
the kingdom. The arrangement made in this the nobles too popular, enabled them to levy
expedition respecting the command, and the forces against their sovereigns.
levying and payment of the troops, will ap-  The preparations made by Prince Lionel
pear curious and interesting; as by it is were not attended with much success; he
shown the difference that prevailed between revived the distinctions between Englishmen
the mode of keeping up troops at that period by descent and Englishmen by birth; repoand the present. The chiefs who command- sed all his confidence in the latter, with whom
ed under Prince Lionel, were Ralph, earl of he thought himself equal to any enterprise,
Stafford, James, earl of Ormond, John Ca- and refused the services of the former; even
rew, a knight Banneret, Sir William Win- forbidding them to approach his camp. He
sore, and a few others.*  The pay of the marched against the O'Briens, but was deprince was at first but six shillings and eight feated, with the loss of a hundred men. This
pence a day; that of the five knights by check made him feel the want of the Anglowhom he was attended, two shillings each; Irish, who were better acquainted with the
of sixty-four squires, twelve pence a day country, and the dispositions of the inhabiteach; and of seventy archers, six pence a ants, than the new recruits he had brought
day each. Prince Lionel was created duke from England; and he accordingly published
of Clarence soon afterwards, and the number an edict, in which the Englishmen by descent
of his attendants was increased; his salary were enjoined to enlist under his banners, by
was then raised to thirteen shillings a day; which means he was enabled to continue the
he had eighteen knights at two shillings, and campaign. He confirmed the union of parthree hundred and eighty archers, viz.; three ties by conferring the honor of knigh-thood on
hundred and sixty horsemen at sixpence, and several of the old and new English, the printwenty-three infantry attwo pence a day each. cipal of whom were Robert Preston, Robert
The pay of the earl of Stafford was six Holywood, Thomas Talbot, Walter Cusack,
shillings and eight pence a day; one Ban-  James de la Hyde, John Frene, Patrick and
neret, four shillings; of seventeen knights, Robert Fresne, and several others.
two shillings each; of seventy-eight squires,  Lionel removed the exchequer from Dubtwelve pence; a hundred horse-archers, six lin to Carlow, and gave five hundred pounds
pence each. Stafford had also the command to have that town surrounded with walls.
of seventy archers from different provinces He made himself master of the maritime
in England at four pence a day.        coasts of his country in Ulster, and kept so
The earl of Ormond had four shillings a strict a discipline among his troops that they
day; two knights who commanded under were no longer a burden to the people a.
before. All those distinguished acts influ* Davis, Hist. Relat.       enced the clergy and Anglo-Irish lords to




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          345
grant him two years value of their revenues   The vengeance of heaven seems to have
to support the war; but after his ostentatious visited Ireland at this period, from the plagues,
campaigns, he returned to England in the hurricanes, and fires which took place. A
month of April, without effecting the con- third mortality was severely felt, and carquest of Ireland, or extending the limits of ried away numbers; the storms too were so
the English province.                  frequent and violent, that the strongest trees
At this period, a second plague visited were torn up by the roots; steeples, chimIreland, and the mortality was great, partic- neys, and houses were thrown down; fires
ularly among the men. About this time, too, occurred frequently, by which many houses
Radulphus, or Ralph O'Kelly, archbishop of were reduced to ashes, and the beautiful
Cashel, died. This prelate, who was a native church of St. Patrick, in Dublin, was totally
of Drogheda, was educated by the Carmelites consumed.
in Kildare, where he took the habit of their  The earl of Ormond was appointed deputy,
order. In 1336 he distinguished himself as in the absence of the duke of Clarence, A. D.
an orator, was appointed attorney-general 1364. This nobleman obtained permission
under Peter de Casa; in 1345 he was raised from the court to purchase lands to the value
to the archbishopric of Cashel by Pope Cle- of sixty pounds sterling a year, notwithment VI. After laboring to secure peace standing the law or statute which prohibited
to his church, he died at Cashel in 1361,in the king's officers from purchasing land
the month of November, and was interred in within the extent of their jurisdiction.
the church of St. Patrick.  lIe wrote a book   The archiepiscopal see of Tuam having
of canon law, some epistles on friendship, become vacant in 1348, by the death of Maand other works which have been lost. An- lachy Mac-Aodh, the canons nominated Rothony Possevinus makes mention, in his Sa- bert Bermingham as archbishop; but his
cred Compendium, of this learned prelate, election was rejected by the pope, who apbut calls him Kullei, and adds that he was pointed Thomas O'Carrol, archdeacon of
an Englishman; but he is mistaken with Cashel, (of the noble family of the O'Carrols
regard to both his name and country. He of Eile,) who was consecrated at Avignon.
was succeeded by George Roche, who lived The town of Tuam was plundered and burned
only a short time, having been drowned on during his administration, by one Charles or
his return from Rome. His successor was Cahal Oge, in concert with the son of WilThomas O'Carrol.                       liam de Burgo. This prelate was removed
At this time died also John de St. Paul, bythe pope in 1364, to the see of Cashel, and
archbishop of Dublin. He had been a canon was succeeded at Tuam by John O'Grada.
of that city, and was promoted to the arch-   The duke of Clarence returned to Ireland
bishopric in the month of September, 1349, in 1365, where he continued but for a short
by the pope. This prelate added greatly to time; remaining only to appoint Sir Thomas
the size of the church of the Holy Trinity, Dale his deputy, which done he went back to
and built, at his own expense, the episcopal England. Serious disturbances broke out
palace. Some serious disputes occurred be- under the new governor, between the Bertween him and Richard, the learned prelate minghams of Carbry, county Kildare, and
of Armagh, about the primacy. These differ- the English of Meath, who laid waste, in
ences continued for a long time between the turn, each other's lands. Sir Robert Preston,
two sees, but were at length terminated by first baron of the exchequer, who had married
the college of cardinals, under Innocent VI. the heiress of Sir William Bermingham, was
It was decided by this august tribunal, that obliged to place a strong garrison in the
each should take the title of primate; that castle of Carbry, to protect his estates.
the archbishop of Armagh should be styled   Lionel, duke of Clarence, returned a third
primate of all Ireland, and the archbishop of time to Ireland. H-e convened a parliament
Dublin primate of Ireland, like the archbish- at Kilkenny, in which a celebrated law, freops of Canterbury and York, the former of quently quoted under the name of the Stawhom signs himself primate of all England, tute of IKilkenny, was enacted. This law had
and the latter primate of England. The no reference to the ancient Irish, who were
archbishop of Dublin was nominated chan- not admitted as yet under the protection of
cellor of Ireland, by king Edward III.; and the English laws, though they had frequently
having governed the church of Dublin for sought to obtain it: but were obliged to
thirteenyears, he diedtheninthofSeptember, follow their own ancient laws till the reign
and was interred in the church of the Holy of James I. The object of the act was a
Trinity.  He was succeeded by Thomas reformation in the manners and customs of
Minot.                                the descendants of the first English, who had




346                           HISTORY'OF IRELAND.
settled in Ireland since the twelfth century, whose office obliged him to watch over the
and were called by their countrymen, the public peace,and maintain tranquillity among
degenerate English. In fact they considered the king's subjects, commissioned Thomas
themselves, with justice, as true Irish: they Burley, prior of Kilmainham and chancellor
possessed property in the country; and their of Ireland, John Reicher, sheriff of Meath,
interests had become different from those of Robert Tyrrel, baron of Castleknock, and a
the English by birth.  They began to hold few others, to make peace between the Berintercourse with the ancient inhabitants, minghams of Carbry, and the English of
whose manners, customs, and style of dress, Meath, who had been at war for some time.
they adopted; and many of them placed the This negotiation did not, however, take
article Mac before their names, in conformity place; the commissioners being arrested,
with the custom of the Irish. Some branches contrary to the rights of war, by the Berof the Burkes, of Connaught, suppressedtheir minghams, who found means thereby to proreal names, and called themselves Mac-Wil- cure the liberty of James Bermingham, then a
liam, Mac-Hubbard, Mac-David. The Ber- prisoner at Trim, by exchanging him for the
minghams took the name of Mac-Yoris; chancellor. The others were obliged to purDexecester, that of Mac-Jordan; Nangle, or chase their liberty. About this time the duke
de Angulo, that of Mac-Costelloe.  Like of Clarence died at Pavia, in Piedmont, from
changes took place among some branches of whence his body was brought to England, and
the Fitzgeralds in Munster. The chief of the interred in the Augustin convent at Clare.
house of Lixnaw was called Mac-Maurice;   Sir William de Windsor arrived in Ireland
another was known by the name of Mac- in the month of July, 1369, as lord-justice.
Gibbon. TheseareatpresentcalledFitzmau- He convened a parliament at Kilkenny,
rice and Fitzgibbon, the articles Mac and which granted him a subsidy of three thouFitz being of the same signification, namely, sand pounds sterling, for the necessities of
son of such a one. The Butlers, of Dunboyne, the state.  He held a second shortly aftertook the name of Mac-Pheris; the Condons, wards at Ballydoil, by which two thousand
of Waterford, were called Mac-Maioge; and pounds were ordered to be raised in order to
in the same way, many others.  It appears carry on the war.  The payment of these
that the new colonies, which were sent under sums was suspended for a while, by comdifferent reigns from  England to Ireland, mand of the king. They were subsequently
were always careful to sow discord between raised, however, and placed at the disposal
the new and old Irish, who lived in perfect of the lord-justice.  Ireland was visited at
harmony with each other.  This became a this time by a fourth plague, which carried
source of uneasiness to the English, and gave off several persons of all ranks.
rise to the celebrated statute of Kilkenny,   The lord-justice carried on the war vigorabove alluded to, which is still preserved in ously against the O'Tools and other inhabFrench in the library of Lambeth, in Eng- itants of Leinster. The English in Munster
land.  By this law, the English by descent, were,however,defeated atthe same time, near
who had settled in Ireland, were prohibited, the monastery of Nenay, in the county of
under the penalties of high treason, to have Limerick, by theO'Briens and Mac-Nemaras
any intercourse with the ancient'Irish, to of Thuomond. The earl of Desmond, John
form alliances with them by marriage, to Fitznicolas, lord of Kerry, Thomas Fitzjohn,
speak their language, to imitate their mode and several other noblemen were made prisof dress, to adopt their names, to confer oners in this engagement, and a considerable
livings on them, or admit them into monas- number slain. This reverse of fortune among
teries or religious houses,&c.* This lawwas the English created a change in the operarevived afterwards,and confirmed in a parlia- tions of the lord-justice; he collected his
ment held at Drogheda, under Henry VII. scattered forces, gave up his enterprises in
The duke of Clarence having terminated Leinster, flew to the aid of his countrymen in
to his satisfaction the parliament of Kilkenny, Munster, and obliged M'Nemara, a powerful
returned to England, A. D. 1317, and Gerard lord in Thuomond, to submit to him' and give
Fitzmaurice, earl of Desmond, was appointed hostages.  This viceroy was afterwards relord-justice of Ireland.  This nobleman, called to England; he left Maurice Fitzgerald in his stead as governor of Ireland,
who, on his appointment, took the usual
* This act is in direct opposition to their pre- oath, A. D. 1371.
tended reformation of morals, of which the English After the translation of Thomas O'Carrol
boasted, and which had been made a pretext for
their usurpation. It was by frequent intercourse only John O'Grada, archdeacon of Cashel, was
that such reformation could have been effected.   appointed to the archbishopric of Tuam -in




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                              347
his place, and consecrated the same year at had been greatly injured by fire; and also
Avignon.* This prelate, who was respected caused a handsome steeple to be added to
for his liberality and other good qualities, it, built of cut stone.  He died in London,
died at Limerick on the 19th of September, in the month of July, 1375, and was'suc1371, and was succeeded by Gregory, bish- ceeded by Robert de Wilkeford.
op of Elphin.                                James Butler, earl of Ornnond, was apSir Robert de Ashton was nominated pointed lord-justice of Ireland, A. D. 1376.
lord-justice of Ireland, A. D. 1372.  A de- By this office the defence of the English
structive war broke out about this time, be- province, its castles and dependencies, was
tween the O'Ferralls of Longford, and the confided to him during the king's pleasure.
English of Meath, in which many lives His guard consisted of twenty horsemen,
were lost on both sides.t  John Hussy, well paid and mounted, he himself being
baron of Galtrim, John Fitzrichard, sheriff the twentieth.  The subjoined is a form of
of Meath, and William Dalton, were killed, the commission he received, which is given
together with their retinues, in the month for the gratification of our readers.*
of May, by the M' Geoghegans of Kinalyach,   In the time of this lord-justice, the counwho had taken part in the quarrel.        ties, towns, and boroughs of the English proThomas O'Carrol, archbishop of Tuam, vince in Ireland sent commissioners to Engwho was translated to the see of Cashel in land to deliberate with the king on the state
1365, by a bull from the pope, governed this of affairs in that island, without making any
latter church for the space of eight years. mention of consulting the parliament.
He was greatly esteemed for his prudence   The king, by his letter patent, dated in
and learning.  He died at Cashel on the 8th August, empowered the earl of Ormond as
of February, 1373, and was interred in the lord-justice, with the concurrence of the
cathedral.$  His successor was Philip de council, to grant a general pardon to all
Torrington.                               accused persons; the prelates, however, and
Sir William Windsor was at length ap- earls, who were guilty of crimes which
pointed the king of England's lieutenant in merited death, or the loss of a limb, or of
Ireland, A. D. 1374. He landed at Waterford their estates, were excluded from this amon the 18th of April, and took the oath of nesty. At the same time, Alexander, bishop
office at Kilkenny on the 4th of May.~  He of Ossory, was appointed treasurer of Ireengaged to protect and govern the English land; six men-at-arms, and twelve archers,
province, on condition of receiving eleven who were maintained at the king's expense,
thousand two hundred and thirteen pounds being given to him as a guard.
sterling a year, to defray his expenses. An   The reign of Edward III. was long and
order was obtained by him from the king brilliant, but oppressive to his subjects, on
and his council, to oblige all who possessed account of the frequent taxes he was obliged
estates in Ireland to reside in the country, to raise, to enable him to carry on the wars
under pain of having their properties con- in which he was continually engaged with
fiscated, or else to send others in their place, France and Scotland.  As to his personal
capable of defending them; but, notwith- character, he was brave and successful, and
standing all these precautions, he was so appeared the more illustrious from his havunsuccessful in subduing the Irish, that, as ing been the successor and predecessor of
he has himself acknowledged, he never was two unhappy princes.
able to get access to them, and therefore   The good qualities of Edward were targave up the enterprise.                   nished by the cruelty of which he had been
Thomas Minot, prebendary of Malaghi- guilty on three remarkable occasions. Bedert, and treasurer of Ireland, was appointed sides the horrible catastrophe which befell
archbishop of Dublin by the pope, and con- his father, the enormity of which nothing
secrated on Palm Sunday, 1363.  The dis- can palliate, (he having been then of an age
pute relative to the carrying of the cross,
was renewed once more between him  and   * "Rex omnibus ad quos, &c. Salutem. Sciatis
Milo, archbishop of Armagh. This prelate quod commisimnus dilecto consanguineo nostro Ja-.XXMilo, archbishop  qf Armagh. This *p*ecobo Le Bottiler Comiti de Orinond officium Justic.
had the church of St. Patrick repaired, which nostr. Hibern. et terram nostram Hibern. cum
castris et aliis pertinentiis suis custodiend. quamdiu
* War. de Archiepisc. Tuamens.          nobis placuerit, percipiend. per an. ad scac. nost Chron. manuser. Henric. de Marleburg. apud trumi Hibern. (quamdiu in officio illo sic steterit)
Camd. ad calcem Brit.                     quingent. libras, pro quibus officium illud et terrain
I War. de Archiepisc. Cassel.           custodiet, et erit se vicessimus de hominibus ad
t War. de Annal. Hib. Cox, Hib. Engl. under arma, cum tot equis coopertis, continuo. durante
Edward III.                               commissione supra dicta," &c.




348                           IIISTO'Y OF [REL.-XD.
susceptible of feeling its atrocity,) he suf- them, and the six innocent victims appearing
fered Edmond, earl of Kent, his paternal before him, he gave orders to have them
uncle, to be condemned by a parliament strangled.  He refused all the entreaties of
held at Winchester, and to be beheaded for his nobles to change this hard sentence; but
having shown some marks of tenderness the queen; who was then pregnant, moved
and humanity for his brother Edward II., with pity, threw herself at his feet, and with
who was put to death in the deplorable great difficulty obtained pardon for the unmanner already described.               happy men.  She even took the ropes from
In the beginning of his war with Scotland, about their necks herself, and had them
Edward besieged the town of Berwick, of dressed, and sent them home, giving to each
which SirAlexander Seaton was commander, of them twenty shillings.  Thus did her
who, finding the place reduced to the last charity and goodness atone for the inhuextremity, offered to capitulate.  It was inmanity of the king her husband.
agreed between both parties, that if the   Edward III. is said to have instituted the
town received no succor before the expira- order of the garter on an occasion when the
tion of a fortnight, it would then surrender queen (others say the countess of Salisbury)
to the English.  As a pledge for the fulfil- dropped her garter while dancing, and the
ment of this treaty, the governor gave his king taking it up, exclaimed, " Honi soit
son as a hostage; but the treacherous king qui mal y pense;" "Evil to him who evil
seeing the Scotch army marching to the thinks."* Perhaps, however, it was derived
assistance of the place, a few days after- from garter, a watchword which this king
wards, sent word to the governor that if he made use of in a battle wherein he was vicdid not immediately surrender he would torious.  Some affirm that the institution of
not only hang the hostage, but likewise this order was more ancient, and that it was
another of his sons who was prisoner of war re-established only by Edward, having been
in his camp. The governor, surprised at so instituted by Richard I.  Edward was the
barbarous a determination, sent a person to first monarch who introduced the title of
represent to him that the time agreed upon duke into  England, beginning with his
for the surrender of the place had not yet eldest son Edward, whom he created duke
expired; but finding Edward inflexible, and of Cornwall.  He afterwards conferred the
ready to sacrifice every honorable feeling title on two-others, in parliament; namely,
to revenge, he suffered dreadfully from the his son Lionel, whom  he made duke of
struggle between his natural affection as a Clarence, and John of Lancaster, whose
father for his children, and the fidelity which earldom he converted into a dukedom. Sihe owed his prince and country: whereupon mon Fleming, lord of Slane, in the county
his wife, a woman worthy the admiration of of Meath, Ireland, was created baron of
all future ages, told him she was yet young, Slane by this monarch.t
and might possibly have more children, but   Edward being now advanced in years, fell
that the loss of Berwick would be irrepara- into.all the infirmities which are incidental
ble, and that the public welfare should be to old age; he abandoned himself to the
preferred to every other consideration. The caresses of an infamous woman called Alicia
governor, encouraged by so noble a resolu- Pierce, who possessed so great an influence
tion on the- part of his wife, sacrificed his over him that she became not only the mistenderness as a father to his duty as a faith- tress of his person, but also of the governful citizen, and had the misery of beholding ment of the kingdom. Her effrontery was
his children executed before him. All the such that she took a seat even in the courts
virtues of Edward cannot efface the stain of justice, and the great men of the kingdom
of this barbarous deed.                 were base enough to submit to her dominiont.
At another period the town of Calais, The subsidies, however, which the king apwhich Edward was besieging, being reduced plied for in the parliament which was held at
to the necessity of surrendering, proposals Windsor, were granted on condition only,
to that effect were sent to him: but the inex- that four persons, one of whom was Alicia
orable conqueror answered haughtily, that Pierce, should be given up; and he very
six of the principal citizens should appear
before him, bareheaded and barefooted, with   * Selden, Tit. of Honor, part 2, chap. 5, sec. 40,
ropes around their necks, with the keys of page 550.
the town and castle in their hands, and sub-  t Nichol's Rudiments of Honor.
Mnit to his will. These severe conditions; Baker, Chron. of Engl. on the reign of Edward
III. Higgin's Short View of the Hist. of England.
were not immediately accepted, but neces- Camd. Brit. de Ordin. Anglic. Selden, ibid. sec.
sity at length forced the citizens to accede to 22, page 506, et. seq.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                                 349
reluctantlybanished her from court, to satisfy of Wales; William, who died without chilthe people.* The exiled persons were after- dren; Lionel, born at Antwerp; John, born
wards recalled, notwithstanding, and restor- at Ghent; Edmond de Langly, and William
ed to their places.t                        de Windsor, his sixth, who died young;
In a subsequent parliament dame Pierce his last was Thomas, surnamed Woodstock,
had revenge on Sir Peter de la Moore, who from the place of his birth.
had been principally instrumental to her disgrace, by having him condemned to perpetual
imprisonment. He was liberated, however,
after two years, through the intercession of
his friends.t
Edward was at length overwhelmed with                 CHAPTER XXV.
grief and sorrow, both by the death of his
son the prince of Wales, and the loss of   RICHARD II., surnamed Bourdeaux, from
most of his conquests in France, of which the place where he was born, was only son
Calais alone remained to him. Having sur- of Edward, prince of Wales, known by the
vived the best of wives, and the best son name of the Black Prince, and grandson of
who was ever born to a king; having, in a Edward III., who nominated him his heir
manner, outlived himself, as his latter years and successor to the throne. He was crowndid not accord with the early part of his life; ed at the age of eleven years, at Westminwhen about to breathe his last, he found him- ster, on the 16th of July, 1377, by Simon
self forsaken by all, even by Alicia Pierce. Sudbury, archbishop of Canterbury.*
She allowed none to speak to him on reli-   The merit of the father, whose memory
gion, and stripped him of every thing, even was still dear to the English, and the promof' the rings on his fingers, his jewels, and ising disposition of the son, should, one
all the valuables he possessed.  Her exam- would suppose, make this prince a favorite
pie was imitated by his other attendants, with the people, and gain for him the affecwho made the pillage complete; so that the tions and confidence of his subjects.  Still,
unhappy prince was left alone in a room, notwithstandingthesehappyomens, hisreign
without any other assistance but that of a was unfortunate, and attended by all the
poor priest, who happened to be in the troubles which seemed inseparable from the
house preparing him for death.~              race of the Plantagenets.  If we reflect that
The king had, by his marriage with Phi- the most virtuous princes of another family,
lippa, daughter of the earl of Hainault, many who have since reigned over that nation,
children.  His sons were, Edward, prince have been equally ill-treated by their rebellious subjects, the mnisfortunes of the kings
* "A general petition was presented that Alicia of England cannot be ascribed to any fatality,
Pierce, who was a most petulant woman, confiding or the inauspicious influence of an unlucky
in the royal favor, and the cause of many evils to star; but to the turbulent disposition of a
the country, should be removed from the king'so 
dwelling and familiarity. She strangely transgressed people who have been always too powerful
the bounds of female propriety, and had the effron- and too unprincipled to be good subjects.
tcry to sit, at one time, with the king's justices, and The conduct of this prince cannot, it is true,
again, with the doctors of the consistorial court, be approved of; his measures were too arbiand in defence of her cause to persuade and dis- trary to render him agreeable to his subjects,
suade, and to demand, without a blush, her cause
in opposition to justice, much to the king's scandal but not to that extent which could justify
in foreign courts."-Walsinghanm on the year 1376. their proceedings towards him. In fact, the
t " On which occasion all who had been banished, result of the violent and unruly conduct of
together with Lord Latimer, by the aforesaid concu- the people, when they endeavor to make
bine, Alicia Pierce, (who shamefully cohabited with their kings do them  justice, is generally
him to the end of his life,) were restored."  their 
t Walsingham, Ibidem, p. 581.             more fatal than the grievances which they
~'" During his entire illness, by his sick bed sat pretend to redress.t
the wicked Alicia Pierce, who would suffer nothing   Richard being incapable, on account of
to be done for his salvation. CWhen she saw that his youth, to govern alone, his uncles, the
his voice had failed him, this unblushing harlot took                      b       wr
the rings from his fingers and deserted him. The dukes of Lancaster and Cambridge, were
only one who remained with the dying king was a
priest, (all the others being intent on plunder;) who   * Walsing. IIist. Brevis. Baker's Chronicle.
besought of him, he not being able to speak, to con-  t It must be borne in mind by the reader,-tliat
fess his sins in thought, to repent and implore par- the learned abbe composed his history under one of
don for them, giving him at the same time a cru- the most despotic monarchies in Europe, and that
cifix to hold in his hand."-W-alsingham's Brief his political notions are not always unexceptionable.
History, page 192.                          -Note by Ed.




350                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
appointed his guardians. In order to curb any out of the kingdom, except to England,
their ambition, a share in the government without special leave, under the king's great
was given to other noblemen; but this mul- seal.  A petition was also presented, praytiplicity of governors having given birth to ing for leave to carry on a free trade with
dissensions concerning their pre-eminence Portugal, which was agreed to by the king
and power, (which each was desirous of as- of England.
suming,) the parliament thought prudent to   The English government were continually
appoint Thomas Beauchamp, earl of War- devising means of extending their dominion
wick, to govern the king and the kingdom. in Ireland.  Sir Nicholas Dagworth was
The king's ministers having appointed commissioned to visit the lands which bethe earl of Ormond lord-justice of Ireland, longed to the crown, and to get the accounts
this nobleman governed the English prov- of those wlho had been intrusted to receive
ince with moderation, and used every pre- its revenues, A. D. 1380. At the same time,
caution to maintain peace and good order in Edmond Mortimer, earl of March and U1those disturbed times, when the French and ster, was sent as lieutenant or viceroy to that
Scotch, taking advantage of the king's mi- country.* Some time before his arrival, the
nority, attacked England on every side. He French and Spanish galleys, having laid
held the court of common pleas as usual, waste the coasts of the English province in
and established the seat of justice in the town Ireland, were attacked by the English fleet,
of Naas, county of Kildare. He then gave which blockaded them in the bay of Kinsale,
up his office to Alexander Balscot, bishop of where they killed four hundred of their crews
Ossory, first treasurer and afterwards chan- and made the rest prisoners.  Mortimer's
cellor of Ireland, by whom it was filled till administration was tolerably tranquil till his
the month of November. This prelate was death, which took place the following year
succeeded, as lord-justice, by John de Brom.- at Cork.
wick, A. D. 1379, in whose time a law, found-   About -this time the archbishops of Ared on a petition sent from  Ireland, was magh and Cashel died.t  Milo Sweetman,
enacted by the lords and knights, assembled treasurer of the church of Kilkenny, a learnin parliament in England, against absentees. ed and prudent man, having been elected
By this law, all who possessed estates or bishop of Ossory, set out for Avignon to oboffices in Ireland, were obliged to return to tain the pope's sanction, but Innocent VI.,
that country; all who were absent under who was then pope, having disposed of this
legal causes, were compelled to send depu- see in favor of another before his arrival, in
ties to defend their castles and estates, or order to compensate Sweetman, nominated
surrender two thirds of their revenues for him to the archbishopric of Armagh, which
that purpose; all students and other absen- was vacant at the time.  Milo governed
tees, should have an act of leave, signed this church for about nineteen years, and
with the great seal of England, whereupon died at his estate of Dromyskin, on the
they were exonerated by their giving up a t11th of August.  He was succeeded by
third of their income: because, as the law John Colton.
expresses it, the loss of Ireland would be   Philip Torrington, an Englishman, and
of vital importance to the king and crown of monk of the order of St. Francis, was apEngland.  In virtue of this decree, which pointed to the archbishopric of Cashel by
was afterwards confirmed under Edward IV., Pope Gregory XI. Walsingham: and Ware
the estate of Ballymaclo, in the county of mention an embassyof his under Richard II.
Meath, was seized for the king's use, in the to Urban VI.; and a sermon he preached in
absence of William Carew; but that noble- London, on his return from Rome, in which
man having presented apetition to the throne, he announced that the king of France, and
his property was restored to him the year all those who had adhered to the anti-pope,
following. A memorial was sent to the same had been excommunicated, and concluded
parliament respecting the mines and mint by observing that it was a favorable time and
of Ireland. The king, thereupon, granted- opportunity to declare war against that counpermission, for six years, to each proprietor, try. William, bishop of Emly, filled the ofto work the mines on his own estates, and fice of vicar-general of Cashel till the death
to draw all kinds of metals from them, in- of Torrington, which took place abroad.
cluding both gold and silver, on the condi- He was succeeded by Peter Hacket.
tion of giving a ninth part to the crown,
and sending the rest to the mint in Dublin,    Walsing. Hist. Brevis. ad an. 1379.
paying there the usual tax.  It was prohib-  * War. de Archiepisc. Ardmach. et Casseliens.
ited, under pain of confiscation, to send   t Hist. Brevis. ad an. 1379.




CHRISTIAN IRELATND.                           351
Edmond Mortimer,the viceroy,having died succession of the kings and nobles of the
in the month of December, 1381, John Col- country, with a few cursory pieces. -Ware
ton, then dean of St. Patrick's, and chancellor mentions that he had this manuscript in his
of Ireland, and afterwards archbishop of Ar- possession.
magh, was appointed to succeed him.  He   Philip Courtney, a relative of the king,was
immediately took the usual oath, in the con- appointed lord-lieutenant of Ireland in place
vent of the preaching brothers.  It appears of Mortimer, A. D. 1383. He was considered
that he filled the office but for a short time, particularly fitted for the government of the
inasmuch as we discover, in Pryn's remarks country, possessing as he did several estates
on the fourth institute, a mandate of the 29th in it; but though he had letters patent anMarch, addressed to Roger Mortimer, the thorizing him  to retain that office for ten
king's lieutenant in Ireland, whereby he was years, his unjust administration proved him
conmmanded to convene a parliament to main- most unfit for it.  He was arrested while in
tain good order in the government, and pro- office, and severely punished for peculation
vide for the expenses of the war, A. D. 1382. and many flagrant acts of injustice, which he
In the course of this year, Richard, king had been guilty of. During his administraof England, married the princess Ann, sister tion the country -was visited a fifth time by
to the emperor Wenceslaus.* This princess a plague.
having arrived at Calais, was conducted to   Robert de Vere, earl of Oxford, the great
London, and after her marriage, was solemn- favorite of the day, was appointed lord-lieuly crowned at Westminster, by the arch- tenant of Ireland in place of De Courtney,
bishop of Canterbury.                      A. D. 1384.*  In order to rid themselves of
Henry Crum.p, a Cistertian monk of Bal- this nobleman, the English parliament made
tinglass, in Ireland, having takei the degree over to him a debt of thirty thousand marks,
of doctor of theology at Oxford, in 1382, due by the king of France, on condition that
publicly maintained in that university that he would go to Ireland, after Easter, to rethe institution of the four mendicant orders cover lands which had been conferred on him
was not only not divine, but that it was also by the king.t For this purpose the state unin opposition to the spirit of the general dertook to furnish him, for two years, with
council of Lateran,held under Innocent III.;t five hundred soldiers, at twelve pence a day
and that those nmonks had made use of pre- each; and a thousand archers, at six pence
tended dreams to obtain the sanction of Pope a day, for the conquest of those lands: " SuHFonorius.  I-e was obliged, howeever, to re-, pet conquesturn  illius terrT per duos annos."
tract what he had said respecting them, in The king moreover bestowed upon him, for
the Carmelite convent at Staniford, in pre- his life, absolute authority in Ireland, without
sence of William Courtney, archbishop of any obligation to account for his administraCanterbury. Crump was afterwards accused tion, or the revenues of the country; besides
of heresy on the real presence, by William  authority to pass all public acts in his own
Andrew, a Dominican, who was first bishop name, and to appoint and change all officers,
of Achonry, and afterwards of Meath.  Ac- at his pleasure,even the chancellor, treasurer,
cording to Bale, this doctor wrote several and admiral, and to appoint his deputy, and
tracts, namely, the Determination of Schools, other ministers. The extent of his power will
a discourse against mendicants, and " An- appear by the letters patent annexed.  But
swers to Objections." He gave also a cata- what is most surprising, these letters patent,
logue of all the foundations of monasteries in whereby this governor was invested with priEngland, from the time of Birin, first bishop vileges greater than any subject could aspire
of Dorchester, to that of Robert Grosted, to, were sanctioned by the parliament of
bishop of Lincoln, who died in 1253. This England: " Assensu pralatorum. ducum, et
latter work assisted the author of Rhymes on aliorum procertum et communitatis nostri Anthe Life of St. Edith, and is still preserved gliw in parliamento." The man, however, on
in the Cottonian library.                  whom these favors were conferred, never
About the end of this century, we dis- set foot in Ireland.
cover an author in Ireland, named Magraith   * "To govern the whole of Ireland, with the adM'Gawan, a regular canon of the abbey of St. jacent islands; and all canmps, counties, boroughs,
Ruadan, of Lurchoe, in the county of Tippe- towns, and seaports; together with all places which
rary, who wrote, in the Irish language, the pay homage, &c., as we have held and possess them,
genealogies of the saints of Ireland, and the and which some of our predecessors have held and
possessed, and we now continue possessed of, &c."
— Valsingham on the years 1385, 1386.
X Walsing. Ypodig. NeustriTe, ad an. 1382.  t Walsingham, Ypodigmat. Neustriam, ad an.
t War. de Scrip. Hib.                    1385 et 1386.




352                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Gregory, bishop of Elphin, was removed man. His hauoghtiness, however, and his conin 1372, to the archbishopric of Tuam.* tempt for the nobles, raised for him many
Having failed to attend the parliament that enemies. In 1388, he was accused of having
was held at Tristledermot, in 1377, he was exercised his influence with the king, to
fined one hundred pounds.  He died soon oppress the nobility and people.  Remonafterwards, and was succeeded by Gregory strances on this head being made to his
O'Moghan.                               majesty, and not meeting with attention, the
The earl of Oxford being appointed vice- nobles flew to arms and met the duke of
roy of Ireland, if not willing to undertake the Ireland at Radcott bridge.  To avoid falling
functions of viceroy of that country, desirous into their hands, he swam across the river:
to evince at least a semblance of respect for and afterwards effected his escape to Holthat high office, to which the parliament had land, an'd thence to Brabant, where he
appointed him, proceeded on his journey as wandered as a fugitive for a few years, and
far as Wales, in company with the king. subsequently ended his days in abject misery
But the friends finding it impossible to sepa- at Louvain.* Thus frequently end the granrate, the earl sent Sir John Stanley to Ireland deur and elevation of the favorites of
as his deputy, and set out with the king, on princes, of which no nation affords more
his return to England.t While Stanley was examples than England.  Stanley still relord-deputy in Ireland, the bridge of Dublin mained as deputy in Ireland, while the king,
gave way, A. D. 1385.                   who was continually in want of money, made
A convent was founded at this time, at new demands on every succeeding parliaClomin, in the county of Wexford, for Au- nment under pretext of carrying on the war
gustin hermits, by the Cavanaghs, who were in that country, A. D.'] 389.
descended from Dermod, the last king of   At Ardart, or Ardfert, the chief town of
Leinster, in the twelfth century. Some peo- the county Kerry, a convent was established,
ple affirm, according to Ware, that this house A. D. 1389, for Franciscans, by the M'Mauwas given to the Dominicans.            rices, otherwise Fitzmaurices, who were
The king having no children to succeed lords of Kerry, or Lixnawv.t
him, Roger Mortimer, earl of March, was   According to Ware, three convents bedeclared heir to the throne of England, by an longing to the same order, were founded in
act of the parliament held at Westmin- the  county Tipperary; but the precise
ster in 1386; as being the son of Edmond period of their foundation is not mentioned
Mortimer and Philippa, daughter and heiress by either him or Wadding.  The first was
of Lionel, duke of Clarence, third son of at Galbally, by an O'Brien; the second at
Edward III.t                            Roscrea, by the widow of an O'Carrol; and
Stanley was recalled on business to Eng- the third at Ardfinnan, the founder of which
land, and Alexander Petit, bishop of Meath, is not known.t:
was intrusted with the government of Ire-   Robert Wikeford, archdeacon of Winton,
land during his absence.                in England, was appointed, in 1375, archGregory O'Moghan, who was appointed bishop of Dublin, and consecrated the same
to the archbishopric of Tuam by Clement year at Avignon, by Gregory IX.  This
VII., in 1387, during the anti-papal schism, prelate was twice chancellor of Ireland.
was afterwards superseded by Urban VI., Having governed the above see for fifteen
who nominated William  O'Cormacain to years, he died in 1390, and was succeeded
succeed him. According to the annals of by Robert Waldby.
Loghkee, Gregory was a truly religious and   The earl of Oxford, who was duke and
devout man.  He is said to have died in viceroy of Ireland, having died at Louvain,
consequence of his disgrace, in 1392.    in 1392, as we have already observed,
Robert Vere, earl of Oxford and marquis James, earl of Ormond, was appointed lordof Dublin, was created at this time duke of justice in his stead: Waldby, archbishop of
Ireland, by the parliament, which excited Dublin, being at the same time made chancelmuch jealousy among the English nobles. lor, and the bishop of Chichester, treasurer.
The elevation of Delapool, son of a mer- The first expedition undertaken by the earl
chant; to the rank of duke of Suffolk, and of Ormond was against the M'Moyns, so
chancellor of England, gave them additional called by Cox, who says that they were
displeasure.                            defeated at Tascofin, in the county of
The duke of Ireland was an accomplished Kildare, with a loss of six hundred men.
War. de Archiepisc. Tuam.
f Walsingham, ibid.'         Allemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irlande.
I Walsingham, ibid.                     t Ibid.         t Ibid.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           353
The government of England began now payable to the apostolical chamber, (namely,
to turn their thoughts seriously to the con- O'Byrne twenty thousand marks, O'Nowlan
quest of Ireland; but finding that the Eng- ten thousand pounds, and the others in prolish province was poor, and thinned of its portion,) not only to persevere in their subinhabitants by the continual wars with the mission, but also, on an appointed day, to
natives, and the great numbers of Anglo- give up their lands and possessions in LeinIrish that had returned to England, where- ster to the king, to belong thereafter to him
by the king's revenues were diminished, and and his successors; and to enter his majesthe power of the Irish rebels (such is the ty's service, and assist him in the war against
name given them by English writers) was their countrymen.  As a remuneration for
increased; it was thought prudent to put the loss of their lands, and a reward for their
the law which was made against absentees services,the king's pay, andpensions to some
in full force, and to publish a decree that of their chiefs, were proposed to be given
all who possessed property in Ireland should them, and they were to be permitted to make
live there. The parliament then began by incursions on the lands of their countrymen
sending assistance in men and money. The in the other provinces, and to apply to their
duke of Gloucester received the king's cool- own use all that they could obtain by force
mands to go thither in person, in capacity of of arms.  Here we behold estates, which
lord-lieutenant, at the head of an army which for many ages belonged to their ancestors,
he had assembled, and was, in presence of converted into inconsiderable pensions duthe expedition, created duke of Ireland. Iis ring life for the owners; and robbery and
majesty, however, having changed his mind, usurpation of the lands of others sanctioned.
wrote to the duke to dissuade him from this Such was the reformation of morals which
voyage, saying that he himself would take their new masters introduced among the
the command of the expedition. This deter- Irish.  We find that of the pensions, that of
mination of the king is ascribed by some to eighty marks, which had been granted to
a reply which the princes of Germlany made Arthur M'Morrough, chief of the Cavato his ambassadors, when the imperial crown naghs, was the most enduring, no doubt
was sought by them for their master.  The through gratitude for the services which the
German princes answered then that they did English had received from  his ancestor
not think him fit to be emperor, since he was Derrmod, who had introduced them into the
not able to preserve the conquests of his country.  It was continued to his posterity I
predecessors in France; to curb the inso- till the time of Henry VIII., " although,"
lence of his English subjects; or to conquer says Cox, " they had done nothing to dehis rebellious people in Ireland. So sensibly serve it;" an observation equally untrue and
did he feel the rebuke, that he undertook the malicious.  The king, after this, received
expedition himself to Ireland, at the head of some complimentary letters from Neal O'four thousand regular troops, besides thirty Neill, prince of Ulster; and others on his
thousand archers, under the banner of St arrival at Drogheda, from the O'Donnels,
Edward. He thus hoped to re-establish his O'Hanlons, M'Mahons, and a few more Irish
reputation, and to banish his affliction for chiefs.
the death of his queen, Anne.             The king of England was now able to
Sir Thomas Scroop was sent to Ireland enforce obedience; having with him, indein 1394, in the capacity of lord-justice, to pendently of the English colony, by whom a
prepare the way for the expedition. He was third of the island was occupied, thirty-four
followed by Richard, who landed at Water- thousand regular troops.  The Irish had not
ford with a powerful army, which, however, raised their standards, or kept any body of
performed no great exploit under him.*  He organized troops under regular leaders, conwas satisfied with the feigned submissions of a sequentlythey were without discipline: each
few Irish lords of the English province; and chief easily collected those who were immecommissioned Thomas Mawbray,earl of Not- diately dependent on himself, but they were
tinghamn and marshal of England, to receive inexperienced and badly provided with arms,
the homage and oath of allegiance of the Irish and it was not easy to unite different bodies
in Leinster; namely, O'Byrne, O'Nowlan, under one head, or to assemble an army
O'Morrouglh, O'Morra, M'Morrough, O'Con- sufficient to check the progress of a force so
nor, and others. This homage was proposed numerous and well provided.  The danger,
and accepted on hard terms; these noblemen therefore, was considerable, and they were
being obliged, under pain of heavy fines, obliged to submit to superior numbers,
which was the only alternative left them to
* Cox, Hib. Angl.           avert the storm.
45




354                           HISTORIY OF IRELAND.
Richard being satisfied with the apparent him to the bishopric of Ossory, and aftersubmission of the Irish, entertained them rwards to the archbishopric of Dublin.  He
by banquets and feasting; conferred the title enjoyed this dignity but a short time, having
of knighthood upon those who wished to died in 1397.  He was succeeded by Thoaccept of it, and disbanded his troops.  In mas Crawley.
the month of February, he -wrote a letter to   Roger Mortimer, earl of Marchl, and heirhis uncle, the duklie of York, who was de- apparent to the crown of England, was sent
puty in England during his absence, in to Ireland as lord-lieutenaint after the kinrg's
which he observed, that th'ere were three return.  The Irish, actuated by a principle
kinds of people in Ireland; namely, the that forced obedience is revocable, and that
wild or hostile Irish,* the rebel Irish, and submission obtained by violence could not
his English subjects; that the rebels had, bind them under any law, h-ulman or divine,
perhaps, cause to revolt, and that he there- recommenced their hostilities.* War having
fore had pardoned them  until Easter, and broken out, the Anglo-Irish took up arms.
intended to grant them a general amnesty Sir Thomas Burke and Sir Walter Berafterwards.  He concluded by asking his mingham, with their followers, surprised the
advice on the subject. The duke, at the Irish, and killed six hundred of thenm; with
head of the council, answered the king, thlat their chief M'Con.  Mortinmer, ass.isted  by
their opinion had formerly been to pursue the earl of Ormond,!aid waste the territhe rebels; that, however, his majesty be- tory of Wicklow, and made himself master
ing on the spot, he could observe matters of O'Byrne's castle.  Seven knights were
more closely, and was therefore better able created on this occasion, namely, Christoto judge of the measures which should be pher Preston, John Bedlow, Edmond Lounadopted; and that his inclinations for cle- dres, John Loundres, William Nugent, Walmency were laudable, provided the rebels ter de la Hide, and Robert Caddel. These
were made to contribute towards defraying victories were, however, amply revenged by
the expenses of the expedition, by obliging the death of feorty English chiefs, who were
theIn to purchase his pardon within a given slain, together with their attendants, on
time.                                    Ascension day, by the O'Tools.  The prinSatisfied with this brilliant campaign, and cipal characters that suffered were, John
having regulated the affairs of his Irish pro- Fitzwilliam, Thomas Talbot, and Thomas
virnce, and appointed men of experience to Comyn.  Mortimer met, soon aftierwards,
fill the places of trust, Richlard returned to with the samne fate at Kenlis, in the county
England, according to Davis and Froissart, of Kildare, where himself and the whole of
with much honor and little advantage, A. D. his army were put to the sword by the i
1395. Although he had expended enormous O'Byrnes and other Irish.  On the death of
sunms in conveying his army to Ireland, he Mortimer, the administration of affairs dedid not add a pound to his revenue, nor ex- volved upon Roger Gray, while waiting the
tend the frontiers of his English province arrival of Thomas Holland, duke of Surrey,
one acre.  The courts of law even, were who was named to succeed Mortimer. This
still confined witlin the boundaries of the viceroy landed in Dublin in the month of
colony, where they had been acknowledged October, accompanied by Thomas Crawley,
before his arrival in Ireland.t          who was appointed archbishop of that city,
Robert Waldby, a native of England, A. D. 1398.
having been appointed by a bull from the   As soon as the news of the death of Morpope to the see of'Dublin, a predilection timer reached England, every one was filled
for his own country induced him to solicit with consternation. Richard II., determined I
his removal in 1395, to the bishopric of Chi- to revenge the death of his relative and heir,
chester in England.  He was succeeded in undertook a second voyage to Ireland with
the see of Dublin by Richard Northall, an army eqully formidable as before, being
bishop of Ossory.  This prelate, who was a resolved to make the conquest of it complete.
native of England, and of the Carmelite or- He landed at Waterford, and in his march to
der, was famed for his erudition, preaching, Dublin his troops suffered greatly for want of
and virtues, by which he attracted the ob- provisions and carriages, in a country that
servatioil of Richard II., who first appointed had suffered so long by continual warfare.
The only thing memorable upon their march
* Such were the appellations which the English was, that they made the roads level in the
made use of towards the Irish who would not sub- territory of Idrone, county Carlow, which
mit to nor acknowledge their dominion, but kept belonged to the Cavanaghs.  The king crethemselves under arms and ready to oppose them.
t Histor. Relat.                           * Chron. Manusc. Henric de Marleburgh.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            355
ated also some knights, among whom was person of Richard, grandson to the latter.
Henry, son of the duke of Lancaster, after- After his death, the divisions of the two
wards king of England, under the name of houses of York and Lancaster, embittered
-enry V.  Being arrived in Dublin, while for near a century against each other, and
conferring with the council upon the mea- exercising mutual cruelties, produced such
sures which should be taken to reduce the desolation that the- repose of the kingdom  i
country to subjection, he received an express and many thousand lives were sacrificed to
from England, with the afflicting news- that their implacable fury.
his kingdom was invaded by the duke of Lancaster, whom he had sent into exile some time
before.  By advice of the council, the two
sons of the dukes of Lancaster and Glouces-         CHAPTER XXVI.
ter, who accompanied him to Ireland, were
confined in the castle of Trim, county Meath,   HENRYr, duke of Lancaster, eldest son of
and he then dispatched the earl of Salisbury John of Ghent, who was fourth son of Edto Wales, in order to have an army raised ward III., was proclaimed king of England,
against his arrival.  But the unfortunate under the title of Henry IV., by the parliaprince having delayed too long in Ireland, i ent, which adjudged the crown to him and
the army was scattered, by which his courage his descendants, A. D. 1399. This prince hac
was quelled to such a degree that he suffered some difficulty in giving color to his usurpshimself to be made prisoner, carried to Lon- tion. He was, it is true, descended from Eddon, and confined in the tower, and then sur- ward by John, fourth son of that monarch;r
rendered the crown to his rival. His conduct but the descendants of Lionel, his third son,
gave rise to the remark, that no prince ever took precedence of him, so that he had not a
gave up a kingdom with so much weakness, strict claim by birth. Neither could he avail
which had been governed with so much se- himself of the right of conquest; as there had
verity. A parliament was summoned in his been no war. Ile was therefore obliged to
name, by which several indictments were found his pretensions on the concurrence and
found against the unhappy prince, where- choiceofthepeople,which was thepleamade
upon he was dethroned; the sentence being use of by his ambassadors at foreign courts.
publicly pronounced by the bishop of Asaph, This want of strict title was the cause of the
who had been commissioned for the purpose. fatal wars between the houses of York and
Thus ended the reign of Richard II.,through Lancaster, called the white and red roses.
the ambition of his own family, He was re-   Henry having been crowned at Westminmoved from the tower of London to the cas- ster in the month of October, with the usual
tle of Leeds, in Kent, and thence to Poinfret. ceremonies, by the archbishop of Canterbury,
In him we find verified an observation made turned his thoughts to the affairs of Ireland,
by one of his wisest, but most unfortunate and appointed Sir John Stanley lord-lieutensuccessors, viz., that the distance from the  ant of the country, whither he repaired in the
prison of al king to his tomb is but short. month of December following-; he at the
Hle died by a violent death, but as to its na- same time obtained supplies in England for
ture the opinions are many and various. three years, to support his interests in Ireland.
Some say he was starved to death, others   The early part of Henry's reign was filled
that he died of grief, and some again affirm with troubles. The vacillating barons who
that he fell by the sword of Sir Pierce Ex- had forsaken Richard, soon began to maniton, who entered his chamber, accompanied fest dislike to him, though placed upon the
by eight other armed ruffians, and gave him throne by them, and to form conspiracies,
the fatal blow.                          which he suppressed by putting many of
In the tragical end of Richard Ii., we see their number to death. He marched at the
a peculiar example of the divine vengeance head of an army against the Scotch, who
on the race of the Plantagenets; this unhappy were making some hostile movements in
prince, although innocent, being destined to the north.  The Anglo-Irish, too, desirous
expiate the guilt of his fathers. The injus- of displaying their zeal, under'the command
tice and tyranny which were inflicted upon of the constable of the castle of Dublin, atthe Irish, by the English, under the orders tacked a Scotch fleet near Strangford in U1of Richard and his progenitors, were not the ster, A. D. 1400; but were unsuccessful,
only crimes that called for divine vengeance having been all either killed or drowned.
against them. The slaughter of Edward II.,   About this time a handsome convent was
and usurpation of the crown by his son, Ed- established for the Dominicans, by Cornelius
ward III., were evidently punished in the O'Ferral, bishop of Ardagh; and descended.....____________.__________




356                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
from the noble tribe of the O'Ferrals of Stephen Scroop, whom he appointed his deAnnaly. This prelate was renowned for the puty till the following October, A. D. 1404.
extensive charities he bestowed, which pro-  The Irish were not the only people to
cured for him the name of the Almoner.   whom the dominion of England was oppresAnother convent for the same order was sive. The inhabitants of Wales bore with
founded at Portumna, a small town on the impatience the chains which that cruel nariver Shannon, in the countyof Galway, near tion had imposed upon them?  Owen GlenLough Derg, through which that river flows. dower, a Welsh nobleman, who was both
It was built by an O'Maddin, a descendant active and enterprising, represented to his
of the ancient family of the O'Maddins of countrymen that the division and civil war
Siolanamchad; who also established one that then raged in England, afforded a favorfor Franciscans at Milick, on the left bank able opportunity, which they ought not to
of the Shannon.                         lose, of shaking off her yoke and recovering
The lord-lieutenant having gone to Eng- their freedom. The project of Glendower
land in the month of May, his brother, met thewarm approbationof his countrymen,
Thomas Stanley, was appointed deputy in who, influenced with a hope of succeeding,
the government of Ireland till the month of chose him for their king, and confided to
August, and the arrival of Stephen Scroop, him the entire management of this enterprise.
deputy for Thomas, duke of Clarence, the He lost not a moment in assembling his
king's son, who was appointed lord-lieutenant troops, and began his operations against lord
of Ireland, whither he repaired soon after- Gray, for whom he entertained a personal enwards. In the month of July, John Drake, mity; laying waste with fire and sword the
mayor of Dublin, and the citizens, made an country where that nobleman resided. Lord
excursion as far as Bray, on the borders of Gray, for the purpose of arresting this hosWicklow, against the Irish rebels, and kill- tile movement of the Welsh, assembled his
ed about 400 of them.                   people and marched to meet them; -but his
While the lord-lieutenant was holding his hopes of success were frustrated, he himparliament in Dublin, in the month of Sep- self taken prisoner, and a great number of
te'nbei, A. D. 1402, the Anglo-Irish were his troops slain.  These advantages were
slaughtering one another.  John Dowdal, auspicious to the Welsh, and encouraged
sheriff of the county Louth, was murdered by them to make bolder attempts: and accordBartholomew Verdon, James White, Chris- ingly they entered the county of Hereford
topher White, and Stephen Gernon, who had with an army, where, being met bythe inhabcommitted robberies and other crimes, for itants, under Edmund Mortimer, they were
which they were found guilty, and their lands again victorious. Mortimer was made prisconfiscated. The king pardoned them after- oner, and his troops entirely defeated, with a
wards, but restored their estates to them loss of one thousand slain, among whom were
during their lives only.*  In the month of most of their chiefs. Walsinghamt narrates
October, Daniel O'Birne made peace with the conduct of the Welsh women, and their
the lord-lieutenant, for himself and his tribe, inhuman treatment of the English who had
and as a guarantee for the treaty, he surren- fallen. The gross and indecorous manner
dered to the king the castle of Mackenigan, in which they acted will, however, hardly
at present Newcastle, with all that belonged admit of being described; suffice it to say
to it. M'Mahon, of Monaghan, and O'Reilly, that it was such as fully proves how deep a
of Cavan, did the same. The lord-lieutenant hatred of the English was engraven upon
gave to M'Mahon, during his life, the lands the hearts of the Welsh people.t
of Ferny, for an annual rent of ten pounds.  John Colton, dean of the chapter of St.
O'Reilly engaged to continue loyal, accord- Patrick's, Dublin,~ who was chancellor and
ing to his promise to Roger Mortimer, earl chief-justice of Ireland, was appointed bythe
of March and Ulster, which is mentioned in pope to the archbishopric of Armagh. He
an act passed in the 18th year of Richard's was sent afterwards to the court of Rome,
reign, A. D. 1403. In the month of May, Sir with John Whitehead and Richard Moore,
Walter Betterly, the governor of that part vicar of Thermon Feichan, on the affairs of
of Ulster which obeyed the English, was Richard II. He died in the month of May,
killed, with thirty English lords, by the Irish. on his return, and was buried in the church
In the month of November, of this year,
Thomas, duke of Clarence, returned to England, leaving the governmenet of Ireland to  I* Walsingh. Hist. Brevis, page 364, et seq.
t In Ypodig. Neustrim, ad an. 1402.
t Walsingham, page 557.
X Davis, Hist. Relat.         ~ In Ypodig. Neustriae, ad an. 1402.




CH-IRISTIAN IRELAND.                          357
of St. Peter at Drogheda.  Nicholas Flem- panied by the earls of Ormond, Desmond,
ing succeeded him in the archbishopric.   and the prior of Kilmainham, together with
In the beginning of this century, Ireland the English nobility of Meath, set out froln
produced several learned men.*  Augustin Dublin, and invaded the estates of M'MorMagraidan, a regular canon of the isle of All rough.* Bothsides came to a bloody engageSaints, in the river Shannon, west of the ment, in which the Irish had, in the beginning,
county of Longford, was a pruldent and the advantage; but the English forces and
learned man, and wrote the lives of all the discipline at length prevailed, and the Irish
saints of Ireland. He also continued a chro- were obliged to surrender. O'Nowlan, with
nicle down to his own time, which had been his sons, and many others, were taken prisalready commenced by some brother of his oners.  The deputy after this led his army
house.  Ware mentions his having had this towards Callan, county Kilkenny, routed a
work in his possession in manuscript, and that number of Irish who had collected in that
some additions were made to it after the death district, and killed a great number of them.
of Magraidan.  Coil Deoran, a native of O'Carrol, their leader, was found among the
Leinster, who lived at this period, also wrote slain.  After this expedition, the deputy resome annals that are still in manuscript. turned to England in the month of June, and
Patrick Barret, bishop of Ferns, has left us James, earl of Ormond, was appointed lorda catalogue of his predecessors in that see. justice by the nobility and council.  In his
James Young, notary of the city of Dublin, time, Patrick Savage, an Anglo-Irishman,
wrote some political maxims on government, who had great influence in Ulster, was made
which he dedicated to the earl of Ormnond, prisoner by M''Gilmory, a celebrated comthen lord-lieutenant. He also gave in writing mander, who, after receiving two thousand
the voyage of Laurence Rathold, a lord of marks for his ransom, put him andhis brother
Hungary, to the purgatory of St. Patrick. Richard to death. This barbarous murderer
Patrick Ragged, bishop of Cork, after as- was some time afterwards taken in a church
sisting at the general council of Constance, belonging to the minor brothers at Carrickwrote the acts passed therein.  An Irish fergus, by some of the family of Savages,
monk of the convent of St. James at Ratis- who made him expiate his cruelty with the
bon, wrote various tracts on Irish saints, loss of his life'.  The earl of Ormond, lordand on the affairs of Charlemagne.. justice of Ireland, died at Gowran, in the
James, earl of Ormond, having been ap- county of Kilkenny.
pointed lord-lieutenant of Ireland, convened   Girald, earl of Kildare, was chosen by the
a parliament in Dublin in the month of council to fill the office of lord-justice, A. D.
April, A. D. 1405.  The statutes of Dublin 1406.  About this time the inhabitants of
and Kilkenny were confirmed in it, together Dublin and their allies attacked, on the feast
with the charter of Ireland.  Some prizes of Corpus Christi, some Irish troops who
were taken in May, from the Scotch; two of were ravaging the neighborhood and subtheir ships being captured, laden with mer- urbs of the city, and put them to flight, tachandise, near Greencastle,t and a third king from them three standards.  They then
near Dalky, together with Macgolagh, the carried in triumph through the city the heads
commander.  The merchants of Drogheda of those whom they had killed.  The prior
made incursions into Scotland also, and car- of the regular canons of Conal, in the county
ried off some plunder with them.         of Kildare, signalized his zeal in his country's
The inhabitants of Dublin, roused by the cause, having, at the head of twenty Engexample of their fellow-countrymen of Drog- lishmen, surprised two hundred Irish, several
heda, fitted out some ships and committed of whom were killed.  Stephen Scroop was
several piracies against the Scotch.  After made deputy, and held a parliament in Dubthis they plundered Wales, and carried away lin, in the month of January, which was
the shrine of St. Cubin, which they deposit- afterwards adjourned to Trim, in the county
ed in Christ's cathedral, Dublin, proving by of Meath.  About the end of February,
such conduct their zeal in the service of the Cahal O'Connor Faly was killed by Meiler
king, who was then at war with both Scot- Bermingham.  After the death of Torringland and Wales.  While the Anglo-Irish ton, archbishop of Cashel, the see remained
were thus engaged in plundering their neigh- vacant for four years, and the revenues were
bors, Oghgard was burned by the Irish.    applied to the king's use.  Leave was afterIn the month of May, the deputy, accom- wards given to elect a prelate, and the choice
fell on Peter Hacket, archdeacon of that
X War. de Script. Hib. lib. 1, cap. 11.
f Chron. Manuse. de Marleburgh.             * Chron. Henr. de Marleburgh




358                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
church, over which he presided as archbish-'went over ony the field of battle to the eneop for twenty-two years. He died in 1406, my, so that, only for his Dublin troops he
and was succeeded by Richard O'Hedian. would have found it very difficult to escape
T'.homas, duke of Clarence, the king's lord- from his embarrassment.  John Derpatrick,
lieutenant in Ireland, landed at Carlingford a man of rank, was found among the slain.
in the month of August, 1408.  This prince   The see of Tuam was filled at this time
accepted the government on certain condia- by William  O'Cormocain, who was suctions, the principal of which were, that he ceeded in 1411 by one Corneile.  Nothing
should continue in office for seven years; is known of these two prelates., but that the
that he should be provided with five hundred latter was succeeded by John Baterly, who
soldiers and a tlhousand archers for three governed the church in question till 1436.
years; that he should be paid one year in  In the month of April, 1412, O'Connor
advance, and afterwards every six months; Faly made incursions on the lands of the
that he should have the nomination of his English in the county Meath, and carried
deputy, and the conferring of benefices; off one hundred and sixty prisoners. At this
that the crown lands should be taken pos- period a single combat took place between
session of again, and the law against ab- O'TooI and Thomas Fitzmaurice, sheriff
sentees put in force.*                  of Limerick; and of so deadly a character
Lancaster repaired to Dublin after a few was the animosity between the combatants,
days, where he had the earl of Kildare and that both fell a sacrifice to its fury.
three of his family arrested for state reasons,  Henry IV., king of England, after a reign
and ordered that he should be confined in of troubles, was beginning to enjoy the
the castle of Dublin till he paid three hun- sweets of peace, when he was attacked by a
dred marks for his ransom; while in the fit of apoplexy, which terminated his life. It
mean time the furniture and other effects is said that during this attack he caused the
belonging to the earl were plundered by the crown to be placed on his pillow, and that
creatures of the viceroy.               the fits of apoplexy becoming so violent
History mentions that the duke of Lan- that every one present thought him dead,
caster was dangerously wounded in a con- Prince Henry, his eldest son, entering the
flict at Kilmainham, but without saying how room, seized on the crown.  His father,
or by whom. It appears, however, that he however, recovering from a swoon, and findwas resolved on being revenged, as he is- ing that it was taken, asked who did it;
sued an order obliging all who held lands being told that it was his son, he had him
on condition of military service to assemble sent for, and asking why he acted so premaat Ross; and also convened a parliament at ture a part, by taking what did not yet beKilkenny; but the result of these meetings long to him, the prince replied, without the
is unknown. The lord-lieutenant appoilted least emotion: " May you live, my lord and
Thomas Butler, prior of Kilmainham, his father, and wear it yourself for many years;
deputy, and returned to England in the but having been told by all present, that you
month of March, 1409.                   had gone to take possession of another
In the time of this new deputy, the king crown, I took this, supposing that it belonged
granted the sword and certain privileges to to me by right; I now confess that it still
the citizens of Dublin, and changed the title belongs to you, and not to me:" at the same
of provost for that of mayor. About the moment placing it where he had taken it
same time Jenico de Artois, a native of from.  " Oh, my son," said the father,
Gascony, at the head of some English "may God, who knows how I obtained it,
troops, assumed the part of a ringleader in forgive me my sins." " I do not question by
Ulster, and slew eighty of the inhabitants what right it belongs to you," answered the
in one engagement.  The parliament met son, " I will think only of holding and dein the month of May, 1410, in Dublin, and fending it by the sword, when it will be
in it the exaction of Coyn and Livery was mine, that is, by the same means whereby
declared to be felonious.               you acquired it."  This king had, in truth,
The deputy's first exploit was the taking discovered the secret of maintaining his unof the castle of Mibraclide of Offerol; in just possession of the crown, by following
place of which he built that of Mare.  He the same course which guided him  in the
then attacked the lands of the O'Byrnes, pursuit of it, namely, the effusion of blood.
but without success. Out of fifteen hundred He had six children by Mary, daughter of'Irish who were in his army, eight hundred Humfrey de Bohun, earl of Hereford, Essex,
and Northampton, four of whom were sons;
* Chron. Henric. de Marleburgh.  namely, Henry, the eldest, prince of Wales




CHRISTIAN IRELAND..59
and duke of Lancaster, who left children a tax for the public welfare was proposed,
after him; Thomlas, duke of Clarence; John, but rejected. The Irish, in the mean time,
duke of Bedford, and Huinfrey, duke of laid waste the English province. Jenico de
Gloucester, who died without issue. Henry Artois, who commanded in Ulster, deterIV. died in London in the fourteenth year mined to revenge the attacks which were
of his reign, and was interred at Canter- made against the lands of Magennis; but
bury.                                   he was completely defeated at Inor, where
several of his meni were killed, A. D. 1414.
The Irish being encouraged by these successes, the lord-lieutenant was obliged to
CHAPTER XXVII.               take the field in person, and advanced
towards Castledermod, where he held a
HIENRY V., eldest son of Henry IV., and religious procession, and offered prayers
surnamed Monmouth, from the place of his with his clergy for the success of his army,
birth in Wales, succeeded to his father's which was engaged with the O'Morras and
throne, and received homage and oaths of O'Dempsys, near Kilkea, where the latter
allegiance from the lords before his coro- lost about a hundred men. This loss, hownation; no example of which occurred be- ever, was made up by a victory which
fore this time in England. In the month of O'Connor gained over the English in Meath,
April he was crowned at Westminster with on the 10th of May, when Thomas Maurthe usual ceremonies, by Thomas Arundel, everar, baron of Skrine, with several others,
archbishop of Canterbury.               were killed; and Christopher Fleming and
Although this prince had been wild and John Dardis made prisoners.
extravagant in his youth, he became a great  The English now saw the necessity of
king.  He began his reign by checking the giving the government of Ireland to a man
conduct of those who were the companions experienced in the art of war; and John
of his dissipation, and commanded that they Talbot, lord Furnival, was accordingly made
should never approach him till they became lord-lieutenant in the month of September.*
reformed in their modes of living; while, in On landingat Dalkey, he collected the troops,
order that they might not descend to acts and placing himself at their head, visited the
of baseness from necessity, he allowed to English province.  He directed his march
each sufficient means of support. His coun- through the country of the O'Byrnes,O'Tools,
cilwascomposed ofmenofmerit, and he pro- and Cavanaghs; then passed through the
tected the clergy against the parliament, possessions of the Morras, O'Connors Faly,
which contemplated depriving thein of their O'Dempsys, O'Molloys,  M'Geoghegans,
possessions.*   Henry was ambitious of O'Ferrals, and O'Reillys, and ended his
glory, and his riuling passion was the desire route by going through those of the M'Maof walking in the footsteps of his great hons, O'Neills, and O'Hanlons in the north.
grandfather, Edward III.; with the view of This march produced but little good; the
doing which he declared war against France, viceroy had sufficient force to intimidate the
and laid claim to the crown of that country. Irish nobles, and oblige them to seek for
So intent was he on this important. object, peace with England, but not to reduce them
that the affairs of Ireland were much neg- to the condition of subjects, or extend the
lected during his reign. Thomas, prior of limits of the English dominion in the country.
Kilmainham, was intrusted with the govern- Notwithstanding this, the expedition was
ment of the country, till John Stanley was looked upon as having produced great benefit
appointed lord-lieutenant.  He landed at to the state, as was attested by the lords of
Clontarf, near Dublin, in October, 1413, the English province, in an address which
and died at Ardee in the month of January they presented to the king on the subject.
following.t  The nobles then appointed However true this may be, Talbot's army
Thomas Crawley, archbishop of Dublin, a was badly paid and still worse governed, so
pious and learned man, lord-justice.  He that the English subjects suffered much
had twice before this filled the office of from  the licentiousness of the soldiery.
chancellor.                             The exaction of Coyn and Livery, which
The new lord-justice held a parliament in had been so frequently prohibited, began
Dublin in the month of February; in which now to be imperceptibly renewed.
A parliament was assembled in Dublin,
Baker's Chn. of Engl. on the reign of Henry in the month oftAugust, A. D. 1415, and cont Chron. Manuser. Henr. de Marleburg. War.
de Annal. Hib.                                     a Davis, Hist. Relat.




360                         HISTORY OF IRELAND.
tinued to sit for six weeks. The Irish still between the Irish and English, were as often
carried on their incursions on the posses- violated; the desire of increasing their possions of the English; and shot Thomas sessions causing the latter constantly to enBallymore, Balliquelan, and many others. croach upon the properties of their neighThe parliament stated to have been con- bors. The Irish, indeed, enjoyed no provened in Dublin was ad ourned in the month tection from the laws, but were looked upon,
of May, 1416, to Trim, where it sat for not as subjects, but as strangers. and enemies,
seven days, and granted to the king a sub- inthe landwhich had given them birth. They
sidy of four hundred marks of silver.  were continually exposed to the unjust agNicholas Fleming was appointed to the gression of their adversaries, and therefore
archbishopric of Armaghby Pope Boniface forced to violate their engagements, and
IX., and consecrated on the 1st of May, break out into rebellion; their last and only
1404.*  He drew up some provincial sta-:resources being pillage and rapine. Under
tutes, which are still extant. His death is such circumstances it was that O'Tool ensaid to have occurred about this time. He tered the lands of Ballimore in 1419, where,
was interred in the church of St. Peter at he obtained considerable booty, and carried
Drogheda; and was succeeded by John off four hundred head of cattle. This enterSwayn.                                 prise, which was looked upon by the EngThomas Crawley died in 1417, at Farin- lish as a breach of public faith, alarmed them
don, in England, aged eighty years; and greatly. Troops were marched; M'Morwas buried at Oxford, in the new college, rough, chief of the people of Leinster, was
of which he had been the first warden.t arrested; and towards the end of May, the
According to Leland and Marleburgh, he lord-lieutenant, accompanied by the archwas a man of singular merit. He was chan- bishop and mayor of Dublin, had the castle
cellor of Ireland under Henry IV., and lord- of Kenini razed to the ground. William
justice under Henry V. His successor in Burke, too, at the head of an English cohort
the see of Dublin was Richard Talbot.   in Connaught, put five hundred Irishmen to
The king of England, who was still carry- the sword, and made O'Kelly prisoner. After
ing on war with France, applied to his sub- these expeditions, John Talbot, lord-lieujects in Ireland for assistance, and the prior tenant of Ireland, returned to England, loadof Kilmainham  was dispatched with an ed with the curses of his creditors, to whom
army of 1600 men, who landed at Harfleur, he was indebted for the common necessaries
in Normandy, where'they rendered him of life. His brother, Richard Talbot, archimportant services.                    bishop of Dublin, was appointed deputy in
In the council of England it was decreed his place.*
that the possessions of every archbishop,  The deputy convened a parliament at Naas,
bishop, abbot, or prior in Ireland, should in the county of Kildare, which granted to
be seized, who would present to, or confer on the king a subsidy of three hundred marks.
the Irish rebels, any benefice, or would in- Thomas Butler, prior of Kilmainham, died in
troduce them  among the English at any Normandy, whither he had been sent at the
parliament, council, or other assembly of the head of sixteen hundred men to the assistance
kingdom. All governors, too, were forbid- of Henry. John Fitzhenry was nominated
den to confirm such benefices, or to grant prior in his stead, who enjoyed the dignity
any dispensation for possessing them, under for only a short time. He was succeeded by
pain of having them annulled.          WilliamFitzthomas. The archbishop of DubSome complaints having been made to the lin made a sally on the Irish, thirty of whom
lord-lieutenant against Henry Cruce and he killed in an engagement at Rodiston.
Henry Betagh, two noblemen of Meath, he   In the month of April, Ax D. 1420, James
caused their lands to be laid waste, and their Butler, earl of Ormond, landed at Waterford
tenantry plundered. The earl of Kildare, as lord-lieutenant of Ireland. He was the
Sir Christopher Preston, and Sir John Bed- cause of a duel between two of his relatives,
lew, were arrested at this time at Slane: they one of whom was killed upon the spot, and
were removed to Trim, and confined in the the other being dangerously wounded, was
castle of that town, on account of a misun- removed to Kilkenny. This earl held a counderstanding which had arisen between them cil in Dublin, in the month of April, in which
and the prior of Kilmainham, A. D. 1418.  it was ordained that a parliament should be
The treaties which were so frequentlymade convened for the month of June. In the
mean time, he exacted contributions from
* War. de Praesul. Ardmach.    O'Reilly, M'Mahon, and Maguire. The part War. de Arch. Dub.
* Davis, Hist. Relat.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           361
liament met on the 7th of June, and sat for   The earl of Ormond, in order to be resixteen days; when, having granted the king venged for the murder of his people, entered
a subsidy of seven hundred marks, it was the estates of Morra with a powerful army, in
adjourned to the month of December. In the month of June, and put all he met to the
this second session, which continued but for sword, without regard to either age or sex,
thirteen days, the king was allowed three and compelled the remainder to beg for peace.
hundred marks, and an arrangement was also He retook also the castle of Ley, which
made to pay the debts of John Talbot, late O'Dempsy had taken from the earl of Killord-lieutenant. The parliament was again dare, and restored it to the latter.*
prorogued to the month of April.          Mention is made at this time of Henry of
James, earl of Desmond, had a convent Marleburgh, an English priest and rector of
built for Franciscan friars at Asketin, a small the church of Ballyscaddan, in the diocese of
village on the river Delle, in the county of Dublin. Posterity is indebted to this ecclesiLimerick, where this earl had his castle. astic for the benefit he has conferred on them
Wadding and Ware differ about the founda- in leaving behind him a part of the annals of
tion of this convent; the former says it was Ireland, brought down by him to 1421. Camin 1589, and the latter affirms that it was den has subjoined to his Britannia an extract
in 1420.                                from them, at foot of the annals of Pembrige.
The castle of Colmolin surrendered to The style of the extracts is not elegant; but as
Thomas Fitzgerald on the 28th of October, history is available for authors of every age,
1421. The parliament having met in the and is important to their undertakings, those
month of April, it was decreed that the arch- annals have largelybenefited Hammer,Ware,
bishop of Armagh, Sir Christopher Preston, Cox, and others who have written upon the afand others, should be deputed as an embassy fairs of Ireland from the middle of the twelfth
to the king to solicit a reformation in the to the beginning of the fifteenth century.t
government of Ireland. John Gese, bishop   During all this period, HenryV. was vicof Lismore and Waterford, presented to this torious in France. Upon his marriage with
parliament several accusations against Rich- Catherine of Valois, he was declared heir to
ard O'Hedian, archbishop of Cashel. They its crown, and successor to Charles VI., to
were reduced to thirty articles, the principal the prejudice of the dauphin, who, however,
of which were, that this prelate directed all had afterwards the glory of retaking almost
his attention to the Irish, that he disliked the the whole of his kingdom from the English.
English, that he conferred no livings on them, Henry did not live long afterwards. He died
that he inspired the other bishops with the at Vincennes, near Paris, A. D. 1422, and left
same sentiments, that he forged the seal and the regency of France to his brother, the duke
letters patent of the king of England, that he of Bedford, and the government of England
assumed the dignity of king of Munster, &c. to his second brother, Humphrey, duke of
It is, however, likely that the well-established Gloucester. Among the good qualities asreputation of the prelate of Cashel, who was cribed to this prince, it is said that he loved
considered an exemplary man, caused these ecclesiastics as much as he did his soldiers,
accusations to be looked on as calumnies, as from which circumstance the name of prince
no further mention has been made of them. of priests was given him,$ a name which
Another petition was sent before the parlia- strengthens the opinion that historians give
ment, respecting Adam  Payn, bishop of of his piety; for the enemies of religion
Cloyne, who wished to unite another see with always strive to make the ministers of it obhis own: but that tribunal was too prudent jects of contempt. It must be admitted, notto interfere with matters belonging to the withstanding the good qualities which many
church.  It was forwarded therefore to the of the kings of England possessed, that they
court of Rome, and the parliament continued ended generally with some act of barbarous
their sitting for eighteen days more.  The inhumanity. An example of this kind is disO'Morras attacked the people of the earl of covered in the conduct of Henry while he was
Ormond, lord-lieutenant of Ireland, near the besieging Montereau, that still held out for
monastery of Leix; and twenty-seven Eng- the dauphin. In order to inspire terror into
lishmen of distinction lost their lives in the en- the commander of the place, he caused to be
counter, the chiefs of whom were Purcell and hanged, in view of it, twelve French gentleGrant; eighteen others were made prisoners. men of the first rank, who happened to be
The remainder of this little army, amounting
to two hundred, fled into the abbey of Leix.    Baker's Chronicles of England.
M'Mahon, of Ulster, at the same time burn-    t Ware's Annals of Ireland.
ed and plundered the country of Orgiel.       t Baker's Chronicles of England.




362                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
prisoners in his camp, an action by which king, and a fifteenth to the owners of the
public faith was violated, and whichwould be estates where they might be discovered.
unpardonable in the most barbarous princes.   Sir John Gray was appointed lord-lieutenant of Ireland, A. D. 1427. He landed at
Howth in the month of July, and took the
oath of office the next day, but the particulars
of his administration are not known. He reCHAPTER  XXVIII.              turned to England in 1428, having appointed Edward.Dantzy, bishop of Meath, his
HENRY VI., surnamed of Windsor, the deputy.  This prelate, who was treasurer
place of his birth, was only son of Henry of Ireland at one time, died in the month of
V. and of Catherine of Valois. He was but January.  John Sutton, Lord Dudley, his
eight months old when he succeeded to the successor as deputy, had a parliament called
crown of- his father, and was afterwards together, by which regulations for juries to
proclaimed at Paris as king of France; but investigate criminal prosecutions were eshe lost both crowns in the end.         tablished, A. D. 1429. After this he returned
The earl of Ormond was continued in to England, having named Thomas Strange
quality of lord-lieutenant of Ireland. The as his deputy, 1432.  Sir Thomas Stanley
House of Commons had a petition presented was appointed lord-lieutenant after Sutton:
to the king, informing him of the tumults and Sir Christopher Plunklet, and Richard
which the Irish were guilty of in England.* Talbot the archbishop of Dublin, were sucThese were men of English origin who had cessively his deputies. The troops of Meath
been established in Ireland, and who, in or- and Uriel were collected by Stanley, to imder to get clear of the tyranny and oppression pede the further incursions of the Irish upon
of their leaders, abandoned their possessions the English province: and both airmies met
and returned to the land of their fathers, on Michaelmas day, 1435, when the Irish
where necessity forced them to commit mur- were defeated, with a loss of many lives,
ders, robbery, and other crimes. In conse- and Niall O'Donnell was made prisoner.
quence of the above petition, it was decreed John Batterley, an English theologian and
that all those who were born in Ireland Dominican, was bishop of Tuam till 1436;
should be obliged to quit England within a he was a learned man, and eminent for his
limited time, except the graduates of univer- preaching.*  He is said to have been the
sities, ecclesiastics who were provided with writer of many works, which are now lost.
benefices, or such as possessed lands where Thomas O'Kelly succeeded him in the see
they were established, and whose fathers and of Tuam.  This bishop, who had been in
mothers were born in England.           the see of Clonfert, gave the parish church
Edmund Mortimer, earl of March and of Clonkeen-Kerrill, county Galway, to the
Ulster, who succeeded the earl of Ormond monks of the third order of Franciscans,
in quality of lord-lieutenant, died soon after where they became established.
in his castle of Trim.  He was succeeded   After Stanley, the government was given
by Lord John Talbot, A. D. 1425. In his time to Lion, lord Wells. The law which comthe Barretts, a considerable tribe near Cork, pelled the Irish to return to their own counbound themselves by a legal covenant to try, was renewed in England; and it was
yield obedience to the earl of Ormond, who prohibited to all of the king's subjects in
was at the time a powerful lord in Munster. Ireland to emigrate to England, A. D. 1438.
At Dunmore, in the county Galway, a   Robert Fitz-Geoffry Cogan having no
monastery was founded by the Berming- heir to succeed him in his estates, which
hams, barons of Athenry, for hermits of St. comprised half the kingdom of Cork, made
Augustin.  The registries of their order them over to James, earl of Desmond, and
mention it to have been built in 1425.  gave him a letter of attorney to put him in
Talbot's time of acting as lord-lieutenant possession, notwithstanding the pretensions
having terminated, the government devolved of De Carew and De Courcy, who were
on the earl of Ormond, 1426. At this period, unable to oppose that nobleman, he being
the duke of Bedford appropriated to himself, too powerful for them at that time.
by letters patent, all the gold and silver  John Swayn, rector of the church of Galmines of Ireland, and the other domains trim, county Meath, was consecratedat Rome
belonging to the king, undertaking to pay a as archbishop of Armagh, in the month of
tenth part to the church, a fifteenth to the February, 1417. He was sent, in 1421, by
* Rot. Parl. in Castro Dubliniens.        * War. de Preesul. Tuamens.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           363
the parliament, with the Chevalier Preston  -James, earl of Ormond, governed Ireland
to England, to inform Henry V. of the state for some time as lord-lieutenant; and was
of Ireland, and to seek a reform of the abuses afterwards deputy in place of Lion, Lord
that prevailed there. This prelate, broken Wells, who was appointed by the court of
down by age, resigned the see of Armagh England to the office of lord-lieutenant.
in 1439, after governing it for twenty years, While this earl was in office, he obtained the
and retired to Drogheda, where he died soon revenues of the see of Cashel for ten years,
afterwards. He was succeeded in the see of after the death of the archbishop, Richard
Armagh by John Prene.  Richard Talbot, O'Hedian.  Ware assigns no reason for the
archbishopofDublin, was appointed a second long vacancy of that see.  It must have
time lord-chief-justice of Ireland, A. D. 1440. arisen from some division concerning the
He had a parliament convened, by which a choice of a prelate, or from  a desire' to
law was made that neither purveyors nor reward the earl with its revenues. However
victuallers should take provisions without this be, the lord-lieutenant nominated his
paying for them, the proprietors, in such brother, William Wells, deputy, in room of
cases, being permitted to resist them.  By Ormond, A. D. 1442. The new deputy held
the same parliament it was made high trea- a parliament in Dublin, in which Richard
son to harbor robbers, or impose the main- Talbot, archbishop of that city, and John
tenance of the troops upon any of the king's White, abbot of the abbey of St. Mary,
subjects without their consent; and to ob- were appointed commissioners to go and
viate abuses that might arise from this enact- represent to the king the wretched state of
ment, the parliament made a law that pro- affairs in Ireland: and that by an unwise
visions should be provided for the troops, administration, the expenses of preserving
and that every proprietor of land, who paid that country to the crown of England exan annual rent of twenty pounds sterling, ceeded its revenues by fourteen hundred
should furnish and maintain for the king's and fifty-six pounds a year.
use an archer and his horse.-             James, earl of Ormond, was once more
Richard O'Hedian, archdeacon of Cashel, appointed lord-lieutenant, A. D. 1443. He
was consecrated archbishop of that see in obtained leave of absence from the court,
1406, and was put in possession of its reve- without being subject to pay the fine decreed
nues two years afterwards.  This prelate, against absentees by a statute of Richard
finding no place where to lay his head, (as II.  By the orders of the king he dismissed
he expresses himself in the roll of the reve- John Cornwalsh, who filled the office of
nues of that church,*) demanded back the chlef-baron, and conferred it on Michael
lands belonging to the archbishopric, which Griffin.
were neglected by his predecessor, and   John Prene, archbishop of Armagh, havyusurped by strangers. He had a house built ing governed that see for about four years,
for the vicars of the choir, and gave them died in his house at Termon-Fechin, where
the two small farms of Grange-Connel, and he was interred in the church of St. Fechin,
Baon-Thurlis-Beg, to increase their income. and succeeded in the diocese of Armagh by
He also rebuilt some archiepiscopal houses, John Mey.
and re-established the cathedral church of   At Kilcarbain, in the county of Galway,
St. Patrick.  This prelate died at an ad- a convent for monks of the third order of
vanced age, in the month of July, 1440, St. Francis, was built by Thomas Burke,
and was succeeded, after a vacancy of ten bishop of Clonfert, who granted to that
years, by John Cantwell.  A convent for order the chapel of Kilcarbain, which doFranciscan friars was founded at this time, nation was confirmed by Pope Eugene IV.
at Irrialagh, on the borders of lake Lane, in in 1444.*
the county of Kerry, by Domnal M'Carty,   Opposite interests gave rise at this time
lord of that district.                 to jealousy and mutual hatred between the
The see of Tuam was held in 1438, by Butlers and Talbots. They became incensed
Thomas O'Kelly, bishop of Clonfert, who I against each other to the highest pitch, and
was placed there by the authority of the bothpublicjusticeandthepubliethemselves,
pope.  The annals of the monastery of the were affected by their discords. In the mean
isle of All Saints, say he was as celebrated time, James, earl of Desmond, who had taken
for his piety as his liberality.  Having part with the Butlers, obtained the governgoverned his see for three years, he died in  ment of Waterford, Cork, Limerick, and
1441.  His successor's name was John.   Kerry, by letters patent. In order to reward
* " On his arrival he had not a single place  * War. de Antiq. Hib. Allemand, Hist. Monast.
where he could rest himself."           d'Irlande.




364                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
his services for preserving peace in these deputy, and returned to England, where he
districts, he got permission to absent himself accused the earl of Ormond of high treason,
from every subsequent parliament, by send- in presence of the duke of Bedford, constable
ing a proxy to represent him, and was per- of England; but the king caused the accumitted to purchase all the lands he should sation to be suppressed. At this time, the
think proper, and of what quality soever they deputy published a tract in Latin, in Dublin,
might be.  The faction of the Talbots, how- on the abuses of the government during the
ever,, gained ground among the people, not- earl of Ormond's administration: " De abusu
withstanding the influence of the Butlers; regiminis Jacobi Comitis Ormondi&e, dum
and a petition, signed by several lords, was Hibernie esset locum tenens."  It appears
sent to the king, praying that the lord-lieu- that Thomas Fitzthomas, prior of Kilmaintenant might be recalled.  He was repre- ham, was among the number of the earl of
sented as a man overcome with age and in- Ormond's enemies, being one of those who
firmity, and incapable of preserving the royal accused him of treason:. and that, in consepossessions in Ireland, much more of increas- quence, a duel, which was the established
ingthem. He was also accused of having con- mode of deciding quarrels at that time, was
ferred the title of knighthood on some Irish- to have been fought between them at Smithmen who had been attached to him, and who field, in London, but the king having interseconded his views; of having exonerated posed his authority, it did not take place.
certain noblemen, on paying sums of money,  Hitherto the English had been acting on
from attending their place in parliament; the defensive in Ireland, and only carried on
and of having confined the king's subjects in war along their frontiers; their army was
the castle of O'Dempsy, in order to extort poorly provided, and more a burden to their
money from them for their ranson.       countrymen there, who were oppressed by
It is probable that these complaints were maintaining them, than formidable to the
attended to by the court, as the office of lord- enemy by their military achievements. It
lieutenant of Ireland was conferred on John was therefore thought necessary to send
Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury, A. D. 1446. The over as a commander, a man of some ceking granted to this nobleman the town and lebrity, and Richard, duke of York, earl of
county of Waterford, with the title! of earl March and Rutland, and heir to the crown
of Waterford, the royal franchises, and the of England, whose son reigned afterwards
droit d'aubaine, (or right of inheriting the under the name of Edward IV., was conpersonal property of aliens at their death,) sidered the fittest person for this office. Inin the districts along the coast, as far as dependently of his great talents, he owned
Youghal.                                large estates in the country; he was earl of
The lord-lieutenant held a parliament at Ulster and Cork, lord of Connaught, Clare,
Trim, on the Friday after Epiphany, in Trim, and a considerable part of the county
1447, in which several laws were enacted, Meath.  It was an act of policy too in the
among others, that all officers might travel cardinal of Winchester, who was then at the
in Ireland, without meeting with any inter- head of affairs in England, to give the govruption; that no tax should be levied on ernmrnent of Ireland to the duke of York,
merchandise or provisions, except in towns, and thus to deprive him of the regency of
under pain of paying twenty shillings for France, as he had thereby an opportunity of
every penny; that the men should shave the gratifying his friend, the duke of Somerset.
upper lip, under pain of being considered The duke being appointed lord-lieuteiant,
among the Irish enemy; that an Irish homi- landed at Howth, near Dublin, in the month
cide, or robber, though naturalized, might of July, 1449; but as he saw clearly into
be looked upon as an enemy, and conse- the views of those who had sent him to Irequently, be put to death; and that the sons land, he accepted of it on flattering conditions
of laborers should be forced to follow the only, viz., that he should continue in office
profession of their fathers.  A law was also for ten years; that in order to support his
made against false coin, and the coin of dignity, he should have the receipt of all the
O'Reilly, (by which it would appear that revenues of his province, both regular and
this nobleman had money coined.)  This casual, without being obliged to render an
law also referred to the gilding of harness account of them; that he should be supplied
and armor, the use of which was pro- with money from England, as follows: four
hibited.                               thousand marks for the first year, two thouThe lord-lieutenant having settled his sand pounds of which should be paid in adaffairs in Ireland, appointed his brother, vance, and for the remainder of the time two
Richard Talbot, archbishop of Dublin, his thousand pounds a year; that he should be




CIRISTIAN IRE-IAND.                           365
permitted to let the king's lands as farms; land to live there, upon my poore livelode,
to appoint and dismiss all officers at his will; for I had lever be dead, than any inconveto raise what number of troops he should nience should fall thereunto in my default,
think proper, and to appoint a deputy when for it shall never be chronicled, nor remain
he pleased, and return to England.       in scripture, by the grace of God, that IreIt does not appear that the duke of York land was lost by my negligence; and therebrought many troops with him from England, fore I beseech you, right worshipful brother,
or that he supported any in Ireland, as the that you will hold to your hands instantly,
money which had been promised him was that my payment may be had at this time,
too trifling, and too irregularly paid, as may in eschuing all inconveniences, for I have
be inferred from his letters to the earl of example in other places, more pity it is to
Salisbury on this subject, and particularly dread shame, and for to acquite my truth
from that which he wrote to the earl of unto the king's highnes, as my dutie is, and
Shrewsbury, quoted by Campion,* according this I pray and exhort you, good brother,
to the original, which he obtained through to shew unto his good grace, and that you
Sir Henry Sidney, lord-deputy of Ireland will be so good, that this language may be
under Queen Elizabeth.  The style of this enacted at this present parliament for my
letter is very different from that of the pre- excuse in time to come, and that you will be
sent day, and merits well the attention of good to my servant Roger Roe, the bearer
every reader, from  its peculiar and very hereof, &c.
singular construction.  The following copy   Written at Divelin, the 15th Juin.
is taken from  Campion's history, in the        Your faithful true brother,
Mazarine library in Paris, where it can be                     RICHARD YORK."
verified:                                   Richard Talbot, archbishop of Dublin,
" Right worshipful, and with all my heart, brother of John Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury,
entirely beloved brother, I commend mee so well known in history for his military
unto you as heartily as I can.            exploits, died this year, having held that see
" Ande like it you to wit, that sith I wrote for thirty-two years, and was interred in the
last unto the king our soveraigne lord his cathedral of St. Patrick.  This prelate eshighnes, the Irish enemy, that is to say, tablished six half prebendaries, and six choMacgeoghegan, and with him three or foure risters in that church,* and also a chantry
Irish captaines, associate with a great fel- in St. Michael's chapel, which he made. a
lowship of English rebells, notwithstanding parish church.  HIe was appointed to the
that they were within the king our Sove- archbishopric of Armagh by the dean and
raigne lord his power, of great malice, and chapter, which he refused; he belonged to
against all truth, have maligned against their. the privy council of both Henry V. and VI.;
legiance, and vengeably have brent a great had been twice lord-justice of Ireland, and
town of my inheritance, in Meth, called Ra- once chancellor.  His successor in the see
more, and other villages thereabouts, and of Dublin was Michael Tregury.
amurdered and burnt both men, women, and   Although the duke of York, on coming
children without mercy, the which enemies to Ireland, found affairs there in a very bad
be yet assembled in woods and forts, wayting condition, both from the wicked administrato doe the hurt and grievance to the king's tion of those in office, and the frequent atsubjects, that they can thinke or imagine, for tacks which the king's subjects met with
which cause I write at this time to the king's from the Irish, as we have already seen by
highnes, and beseech his good grace for to this prince's letter to the earl of Shrewsbury;
hasten my payment for this land, according and though he was never able to force Macto his letters of warrant, now late directed geoghegan and his followers into their enun3to the treasurer of England to the intent trenchments; still, by his skill, rather than
I may wage men in sufficient number, for by force of arms, this prince quelled, in a
to resist the malice of the same enemys, and great measure, the disorders which existed
punish them in such wyse, that other which in the country.  He convened two parliawould doe the same, for lack of resistance ments; one in Dublin in October, the other
in time, may take example, for doubtlesse at Drogheda in April; in which several laws
but if my payment be had, in all haste, for were enacted relative to good-order and the
to have men of war in defence and safeguard government of the state, and a fine was deof this lande, my power cannot stretch to creed against thebishops of Leighlin,Ossory,
keepe it in the king's obeysance, and very Down, and Limerick, for not having attendnecessity will compell me to come into Eng- ed the parliament held in Dublin.
* History of Ireland, page 99.          * War. de Archiepise. Dubliniens.




366                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Campion, page 94, gives the copy of a Augustin hermits, by the O'Maileys, lords
letter of complaint from -the inhabitants of of Umaille, in the county of Mayo. A conthe county of Cork to the earl of Rutland vent for Carmelites was built at Rathmullian,
and York, in which they represent their mis- in the district of Donegal, by M'Sweeny,
fortunes as the necessary consequence of the lord of Fanid; and another at Kaltragh, in
civil wars which were continually breaking the county of Galway, by the Berminghams,
out between the noblemen of the kingdom, barons of Athenry.
whereby the king's subjects were in danger   During the duke of York's administraof losing their possessions, as the weaker tion in Ireland, he was always mindful of
party were obliged to call in to their assist- the interests of the English in that country;
ance the Irish, who had been driven out, he quelled the disturbances that prevailed,
and the latter were becoming powerful in and had castles built on the frontiers of
the country, of which they already owned Meath, Louth, and Kildare, to check the
the greater part.  In this letter we find a incursions of the Irish.  So great was the
list of the principal noblemen in the. district, esteem iii which he was held by his counand their incomes; they were as follows: trymen in Ireland, that several followed him
Carew of Dorzy-Haven, Barnewall of Beer- to England, to support his claims to the
Haven, Uggan, Balram of Emforte, Courcy crown.
of Kilbrehon, Mandevil of Barnhely, Sley-   The duke of York having returned to
nie of Baltimore, Roche of Pool Castle, England in 1451, appointed the earl of OrBarry, and others; it also adds, that Cour- mond his deputy in Ireland, Sir John Talbot
cy, Roche, and Barry alone still enjoyed being made chancellor at the same time.
some portion of the possessions of their an- Ormond was afterwards appointed lord-lieucestors.*  This letter ends by entreating tenant, and went immediately to England,
the viceroy to visit the country himself, or leaving the government of Ireland to John
to send thlither persons capable of checking Mey, archbishop of Armagh, as deputy, A. D.
these disorders; as, if a remedy were not 1453, which displeased the court, and the
applied, the petitioners would be constrain- earl was ordered to return, as the presence
ed to lay their complaints at the foot of the of a military governor was requisite in the
throne.                                 country, to impede the progress of the rebel
At this time the duke of York had a son Irish, who were continually making inroads
born in Dublin, to whom the earls of Or- on the English province. Ormond's affairs,
mond and Desmond stood sponsors; he was however, not allowing him to leave England,
afterwards known by the name of George the earl of Kildare was intrusted with the
duke of Clarence.                       government, A. D. 1454, till the arrival of
Many religious houses were founded in Sir Edward Fitzeustace, who was made
this century in Ireland, though the dates of deputy to the duke of York. He held a
their foundation are unknown.  The con- parliament in Dublin, in which several laws
vents built for the Franciscans were, Kil- were enacted respecting the abuses that
michael, in Westmeath, by the Petits; Bali- were creeping into the government.
nesagard, in the district of Annaly, now   The duke of York beheld with mortificaLongford, by the O'Ferralls; and Holy- tion his enemy, the dule of Somerset, in the
Wood, or Sacro-Bosco, by the Audsleys. highest favor at the court of England. He
These three were of the third order. The presented several petitions to the king,
O'Donnels, princes of Tirconnel, founded against him  and Suffolk; but his remontwo houses for the same order: one at Kil- strances made no impression on this weak
macrenan, near Donegal, for Franciscan prince, who was more fitted for the cloister
friars; the other at Magheri-Beg, in the than the throne, and who had given himself
same country, for the third order.  Conn up to the control of his queen, Margaret,
O'Neill, prince of Tyrone, built a house at daughterofthetitularkingofNaples ald SiciDungannon, for this order also. Ware men- ly. Margaretwas a woman possessed of more
tions a convent of Franciscans, founded resolution and of superiormind to her sex in
at Ballimiacsweeny, in Tirconnel, by one general; and finding the king imbecile and
M'Sweeny, lord of the district. The Dowels unfit to govern, aided by Somerset, and others
founded a convent for Dominicans at Tuilsk, of her party, she undertook the administrain Roscommon.  A convent was founded at tion of the kingdom. It was not the greatness
Morisk, at the foot of Mount St. Patrick, for of Somerset that gave umbrage to the duke
of York. This prince, who was well aware
r They might with more truth be called the of his own right to the throne, had already
usurpations of their ancestors.        formed the design of restoring his family'on




cIA-S'11IAN IRiELAND.                       367
the ruins of the house of Lancaster, to which   The earl of March sailed soon after from
Somerset was bound by the ties of blood and Calais, to invade England.  He landed at
interest. In order to remove this obstacle, Sandwich,and on his march to Northampton,
the duke consulted his friends, among wholm his forces were increased every step they
were the earl of Warwick, and his son, the advanced, by additional friends. An engageearl of Salisbury. These noblemen having ment took place between them and the king's
formed their plans, thought proper to supply army, which lasted for two hours, and in
the deficiency of remonstrance by force of which ten thousand troops were slain on
arms, in order to effect the removal of So- both sides. King Henry was taken prisoner
merset.  The duke of York accordingly a second time; and the queen and her son,
caused troops to be levied in Wales, and the the prince of WVales, saved themselves with
north of England, with whom he marched difficulty. This new success raised the coutowards London; and was met by the king, rage of the duke of York, who was still in
queen, and Somerset, at the head of an army Ireland:- and he set out immediately for
at St. Alban's, where the first blood was shed London, where he caused a parliament to be
in the quarrel of the two Roses, A. D. 1455. convened in the king's name.  He then adHenry's army was defeated, and Somerset, vancedhis claim to the crown, and expatiated
who was the nominal cause of the war, with upon all that his family had undergone for
the earls of Northumberland and Stafford, the house of Lancaster. It was then agreed
found among the slain; the number of whom  that Henry should wear the crown during his
amounted to five thousand men. Henry was life, and that the duke should be his successor.
made prisoner, but treated with every re- The prince, though he now believed that his
spect, and led in triumph to London, by right was well established, thought that other
York and Warwick.  They there obliged battles were necessary to render it the more
him to convene a parliament, in which the secure. Parliamentary decrees seemed tohim
duke of York was declared guardian and of little avail, when unsupported by an army.
protector of the kingdom.               The queen and the new duke of Somerset,
Thomas, earl of Kildare, was at that time who had withdrawn to Scotland after the
deputy for the duke of York in Ireland. This battle of Northampton, were already on their
noblemran, zealous for the public welfare, con- march with a formidable army, composed of
vened the parliament twice in the city of Dub- Scotch and northern English, amounting to
lin, and once at Naas, in which regulations about eighteen thousand men, to renew the
appertainingtothe government were enacted. war. The duke of York therefore, having
John Mey, judge of the episcopal court of committed the king to the care of the duke
Meath, was nominated in 1444, by Pope of Norfolk and the earl of Warwick, adEugene IV., to the archbishopric of Armagh. vanced to meet the queen with an army much
Having held that see for about twelve years, inferior in numbers, consisting only of five
he died in 1456, and was succeeded by John thousand men; but placing too much reliBole.  About this time, John, surnamed by ance on the valor of his troops, and his good
some de Burgo, archbishop of Tuamn, died. fortune, which had never yet forsaken him,
The year of his death is not exactly known; he fell into an ambuscade in the plain of
but we find that Donat O'lMurry succeeded Wakefield, where he lost the victory and his
him, A. D. 1458.                        life. The young earl of Rutland, his son,
The army of the duke of York was consid- who was only twelve years old, strove to
erably weakened by the retreat of Andrew excite the pity of lord Clifford, by'imploring
Trollop, who commanded the Calesians, on him on his knees to spare his life: but was
the eve of a battle with the king, for which stabbed in the most inhuman manner by this
the prince had collected all his forces. He barbarian, without any regard for either his
was therefore obliged to seek an asylum in birth, age, or tears.  The earl of Salisbury
Ireland: where he continued for some time, was made prisoner, and afterwards beheaded:
and through his deputy, the earl of Kildare, the duke of York was insulted even in his
had a parliament assembled in Dublin, and grave.  By orders of the queen a paper
subsequently at Drogheda.  In the interval diadem was placed upon his head, and it was
a parliament was convened at Coventry in thus exposed on a pole upon the walls of the
England, where the duke was declared a city from which he had taken his title.
traitor, together with his son, Edward earl of  Four religious houses of the order of St.
March, Richard earl of. Salisbury, Richard Francis, were founded at this time in Ireearl of Warwick, the lord Clifford, and the land; namely, three for Franciscan friars,
other confederates; and their estates and and one for Observantines. At Enniscorthy,
goods were all confiscated for the king's use. on the river Slaney, in the county of Wex



368                            hISTORY OF IRELAND.
ford, a convent for conventual Franciscans
was founded by Domnal Cavanaagh, lord of               CHAPTER  XXIX.
the country. At Inishircan, that is, the isle
of Hircan, in the bay of Baltimore, there was   AFTER the battle of Wakefield, in which
a convent for Franciscans built by Florence Richard Plantagenet, duke of York, lost his
O'Driscol, lord of the town of Ross, the life, the house of York seemed to have fallen
island of Baltimore and Inishircan.*   At for ever; but Edward earl of March, who
Bantry, in the county of Cork, a convent for inherited his father's great qualities, as well
Franciscans was  founded by O'Sullivan as his claims to the throne, having assembled
Beare, lord of that place. Nehimie O'Dono- an army of twenty-three thousand men on
choe built a convent at Moyen, at the mouth the frontiers of Wales, came to an engageof the river Moy, in the county of Mayo, for ment with the king's forces, commanded by
Observantine friars, in which he took the the earls of Pembroke and Ormond, at a
habit, and became vicar-general of the order. place called Mortimer's Cross, near Ludlow.*
There was also a house founded for Do- The battle was bloody, and the victory for
minicans at Glanore, in the county of Cork, some time doubtful; but at length the royby the Roches.                             alisis took to flight, leaving three thousand
The public revenue was very moderate at eight hundred men dead upon the field of batthis time in Ireland, the whole kingdom tle, besides several prisoners, among whom
being still in possession of the Irish, except was Owen Tudor, a Welsh nobleman, who
the English province, and some towns on the had married queen Catherine, widow  of
coast of Ulster; and the English were even Henry V., and mother of Henry VI., and
obliged to pay tributes to the Irish, to pre- who, by orders of the earl of March, was
serve peace with them. Cox gives a list of sacrificed to the manes of his father, the duke
these payments, which he calls scandalous, of York. After this action, the earl marched
and of the districts which contributed their directly to London,where he was proclaimed
portions.  The  barony  of Lecale  paid king, under the name of Edward IV., in conO'Neill, of Clanneboy, twenty pounds a sequence of the act of parliament by which
year; the county of Uriel forty pounds to his father Richard had been declared sucO'Neill; the county of Meath sixty pounds to cessorto the throne. He was, however, forced
O'Connor; the county of Kildare twenty to make good his title by the sword. Henry
pounds to O'Connor; the exchequer paid and Margaret had still a considerable army
eighty marks a year to M'Morrough; the in the north of England, which  Edward
counties of Kilkenny and Tipperary forty thought necessary to conquer before he aspounds to O'Carroll; the county of Limerick sumed the crown.  He marched therefore
forty pounds to O'Brien; and lastly, the against them, and defeated his rival in the
county of Cork paid forty pounds to M'Carty famous battle of Towton. This battle, which
of Muskerry.  Cox complains bitterly of lasted two days,was remarkable for the numthe Irish for taking advantage of the dis- ber of men of rank who fell on both sides.
turbances in England, and usurping exten- The loss sustained by the two armies is said
sive estates, as they had previously done tohave amounted to thirty-six thousand seven
under Richard II., and also, as he further hundred and seventy-six men killed upon the
observes, for holding, without any right, the spot; the cause of this fearful carnage being
greater part of Ulster, and many districts in a prohibition which  Edward had issued
Munster and Connaught.t                    throughout his camp the day before the action,
neither to give nor ask for quarter, A. D. 1461.
After this victory, Edward was crowned with
The very ancient and noble family of the great solemnity, on the 28th of June, at
O'Driscols derives its origin from Ith, paternal un- Westminster, under the name of Edward IV.,
cle of Milesius. In the division of lands by the
children of -Milesios in Ireland, after the conquest and in November following, King Henry and
of this island, a territory then called Corkaluigh, his son, Edward, were declared to have lost
forming part of the country since called Carbry, all right or claim to the crown.
near Ross and Baltimore, was assigned to Lughaid,
son of Ith. His descendants afterwards took the
name of O'Driscol. They supported themselves the aborigines of Ireland. It would seem that the
honorably in Carbry till the revolutions which usurpation of the lands of others, was looked on as
took place ulnder Elizabeth, and the war which the a virtue among these strangers, and that it was held
Irish carried on against that princess, in which the a flagrant act of injustice for the ancient Irish to
O'Driscols distinguished themselves in their coun- recover by arms part of what they had been so untry's cause.                               justly deprived of two or three centuries before.
t If we adopted the notions of English authors,  e Baker, Chron. War. de Annal. Hib. Higgin's
we should be led to believe that the Anglo-Irish were Short View.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            369
Thomas, earl of Kildare, was appointed of coin that was clipped or broken. He
by the council in Ireland to fill the office of held a parliament at Trim, A. D. 1465, in
lord-justice till the court should nominate a which several statutes were enacted; among
lord-lieutenant.  -                     others, that the Irish residing in the English
The king make several promotions this province should dress in the English manyear; in England he created his brothers ner; that they should take English names,
George and Richard dukes, the former of and the oath of allegiance, under pain of
Clarence, the latter of Gloucester;* in Ire- having their properties confiscated; that
land he raised two persons to the rank of they should make use of the bow and arrow
barons: namely, William  St. Lawrence, like the English; that an under officer,
lord-baron of Howth, in the county of Dub- called a constable, should be appointed in
lin, and Robert Barnwall, lord-baron of every borough; that foreign vessels should
Trimlestown, in the county of Meath.t  St. be prevented from fishing on the coasts of
Lawrence was descended from Almeric the rebels, under pain of confiscation, and
Tristram, who, in 1177, had changed his that those who did so on the coast of the
name from Tristram to St. Lawrence, on English province, should pay a tax.
account of a battle he gained against the   At Kilcrea, in the county Cork, a convent
Danes on St. Lawrence's day, having made for Franciscan friars was built about this
a vow to transmit that name to his descend- time, by Cormac, son of Thadeus M'Carty,
ants, should he be victorious,          lord of the country, who was buried in it.
George, duke of Clarence, the king's A convent for the third order of St. Francis,
brother, was appointed lord-lieutenant of was also founded at Glancarm, on the seaIreland for life, A. D. 1462.  Sir Rowland shore, in the county of Antrim, by Robert
Fitzeustace was his first deputy, but was Bisset, a Scotch nobleman.
replaced by the earl of Desmond. The earl  The earl of Desmond finding his influof Ormond was beheaded at Newcastle, and ence diminished with the king, was obliged
his family fell into disgrace during this reign to resign his place to John Tiptoft, earl of
for their attachment to the house of Lancas- Worcester, treasurer and constable of Engter.  Mints were established in Dublin, land, A. D. 1467. This new deputy, alearned
Trim, Drogheda, WTaterford, and Galway, and eloquent man, convened a parliament at
for coining four-penny and two-penny pieces, Drogheda, in which it was enacted that the
&c.; and it was decreed that English mo- governor should have the liberty of travelling
ney should increase a quarter in value in into the adjacent islands; that no bulls
Ireland, that is, that nine pence should pass should be bought at the court of Rome for
for twelve, and so in proportion.  This was the possession of livings; that the pardon
the first time that any difference was made granted by the king to purveyors should be
between Irish and English money.        considered void; that the courts of exchequer
A  convent for Franciscan friars was and common pleas should be removable at
founded at Monaghan, in Ulster, this year, the will of the governor, on giving twentyby Felim M'Mahon, a lord of the country.4 eight days' notice; and that the earls of
Edward White, an English nobleman, and a Desmond and Kildare, together with Edward.Protestant, having obtained this house after- Plunket, should be attainted of high treason,
wards from Queen Elizabeth, had it pulled for having formed alliances with the hostile
down, and built a fine castle for himself Irish, and supported them against the king's
from the materials.~  We find also another subjects, by providing them with arms and
convent dedicated to St. Michael, at Athenry, horses, in violation of the laws of the prince,
in the county of Galway, belonging to the and the statutes of the kingdom. In conObservantine monks. It was begun by an sequence of this act, Thomas Fitzjohn Fitzearl of Kildare, but completed by some other gerald, earl of Desmond, was beheaded at
benefactors  -                          Drogheda on the 15th of February.
The lord-lieutenant held a parliament,  There is a diversity of opinions respecting
A. D. 1463; which was adjourned several the nature of the crime which led to the
times.  Previously to its dissolution, the tragical end of the earl of Desmond.*  It
privileges of the members of parliament, was most generally ascribed to the hatred
for forty days before, and forty days after which the queen, Elizabeth, had conceived
each session, were established; the salaries against this nobleman, the cause of which
of officers of justice regulated, and the value must be explained. Afterthe victories gained
* Baker, Chron. England.          at Towton and other places, over the house
t Nichol's Rudiments of Honor.
t War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 26.                 * Relat. Giraldinorum.
~ Allemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irlande.                           47




370                           HISTORY OF IRELLAND.
of Lancaster, Edward IV. had reason to By this act the king put a stop to the revolt
consider himself in peaceful possession of of Desimond's sons, and in addition to his
the throne.  He was one of the handsomest forgiveness, he conferred the palatinate of
princes in Europe, and not insensible to the Kerry on James Fitzthomas, the earl's
charms of the female sex; and being at the eldest son. He afterwards gave him the
time twenty-three years of age, it was pro- town and castle of Dungarvan, with special
posed to him to marry, as necessary, both to privileges, which were enjoyed by his depreserve the house of York from becoming scendants till the reign of Elizabeth.
extinct, and to secure the crown in his own   Cox endeavors to throw a doubt on this
family. Warwick was accordingly.sent to history of the earl of Desmond,* by saying
France, to negotiate a marriage between that it is founded on a vulgar tradition. The
him and the Princess Bona, sister to the English usually try to turn things to their
queen, and daughter to the duke of Savoy. own advantage, a disposition which is parThe embassy was successful, and the pro- ticularly manifest in the writings of Cox.
posal accepted; but in the meanwhile, Ed- Though the earl of Desmond -was of Engward, forgetful of the engagement which lish origin, he was not sufficiently English
Warwick had contracted in his name, sacri- for the notions of this historian; being one
ficed his honor to love, by marrying Eliza- of those degenerate Englishmen who began
beth Grey, widow of Sir John Grey, who to feel compassion for an unjustly oppressed
had fought against him, and was killed in the people, whose properties they had usurped
battle of St. Alban's. This alliance, which and kept possession of.
drew upon Edward the contempt of foreign   The earl was more interested than any
princes, and the hatred of many of his own other person, says this historian, in consubjects, was the cause of his subsequent demning the king's marriage with Elizabeth;
misfortunes. The attachment of the earl of since if he had approved of it, he should
Desmond to the house of York having in- also have sanctioned the marriage of his
duced him to serve in all the wars against nephew Thomas, fifth earl of' Desmond, with
the house of Lancaster, he became a favorite Catherine Ni-William M'Cormock; that is,
with Edward, who asked him one day, what Catherine, daughter of William M'Cormock,
the people thought of his marriage?  The his doing which, it appears, would militate
earl took the liberty of telling him that it against the title of earl, with which the uncle
was universally disapproved of, on account was invested, only after the forced resignaof the great inequality in rank between him tion of it by his nephew; the latter having
and the queen; that a young king who had yielded it to his uncle to stop the persecugained a crown by his arms, should have tion of his family, ewho were displeased with
allied himself to some sovereign prince, who his marriage, which they considered demight be powerful to assist him in riny emer- grading.  In order, therefore, to secure the.
gency, and, in fine, that it would be prudent earldom, Desmond, the uncle, according to
to repudiate Elizabeth, and marry one of his Cox, was induced to condemn the king's
own station. This advice, which -was more marriage, and consequently that of his own
in accordance with human policy than nephew. We easily perceive the forced
Christianprinciples,was soon communicated construction which Cox puts upon the earl's
to the queen.  She resolved to take revenge, conduct; but what analogy is there between
and the anger of an injured woman is impla- the marriage of a king and that of a private
cable.  She had at first recourse to secret individual?  The unequal alliance made by
measures, to injure the earl in the king's the king of England affected the entire
esteem; and at length found means to affix state, while the public welfare was in no
the king's private seal to an order, which she manner affected by the marriage of the earl
sent to the earl of Worcester, at that time of Desmond. This earl's highest title was
deputy in Ireland, to have Desmond be- that of nobleman, and he allied himself to
headed; an order which was put into exe- M'Cormock, who was a M'Carty, the ancution, to the great surprise of every Irish cient proprietor of part of the extensive esnobleman. The revolt of the five sons of tates, which were at that time in possession
Desmond, who flew to arms to revenge their of Desmond; and whose alliance, though he
father's death, obliged the king to examine had become his vassalt by the dreadful revinto the affair: Worcester was recalled to
England, where he was tried, and though he  * Hib. Anglic. ad an. 146'7.
produced in his own defence, the order he  t Both at that time and subsequently we see ancient proprietors forced to become the farmers of
had received, sealed with the king's seal, he their own lands, and pay an annual rent for them
was sacrificed to the manes of Desmond. to those who had usurped them.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           371
olution which deprived him of his property, a country residence belonging to the prewas not unworthy of him who possessed it lates of this see.  His body was removed
unjustly. However this be, Cox ascribes to Dublin, and buried near St. Stephen's
the earl of De-smond's misfortune to the altar, in the cathedral of St. Patrick, where
exaction of Coyn and Livery; but there is his tomb may still be seen with an inscripno mention of this in the statute of the par- tion upon it. Ile was succeeded by John
liament of Drogheda, quoted by this author, Walton.
in virtue of which he was convicted of high   Some houses were founded at this time
treason, with the earl of Kildare and Ed- for Augustin hermits: one at Callan, in the
ward Plunket. As this nobleman's fate, too, county of Kilkenny, by the earls of Ormond;
differed from that of the others, it must have another at Athdare, county of Limerick, by
proceeded from another -cause.          an earl of Kildare; and two in the cities of
In the month of February, the court grant- Cork and Limerick, the founders of which
ed ten pounds sterling a-year to Edmund are not known. Father Lubin places a
Butler, lord of Dunboyne, out of the confis- convent of this order at Clonmine, in the
cated estates of the earl of Ormond, together diocese and county of Cork, which was built
with certain privileges, and the estate of near the river Avon-More, on the estate of
Castle Richard, in the county of Meath, the O'Kelleghes, (in case he does not conduring life, for having made Conn O'Connor found Clonmine with Clomin, in the county
prisoner, and given him up to the deputy, Wexford, where, as we have already reand other services rendered by him to the marked, there was a convent belonging to
state.                                 this order.) Ware places in 1473 the founA convent for Franciscan friars was built dation of a house at Donegal, for the Obin 1414, at Kilconnel, in the county of Gal- servantine monks, by Hugh Roe O'Donnel,
way, by William O'Kelly, lord of that coun- prince of that country. According to this
try. Wadding says that this convent was author, there was formerly a very fine library
reformed by the Observantines in 1467.    attached to it.
Thomas, earl of Kildare, having cleared   At this time a military society was instihimself of the crimes of which he had been tuted in Ireland, by a decree of parliament,
accused in the parliament of Drogheda, was for the defence of the English province.
first appointed lord-justice of Ireland, and It was composed of thirteen members, of
afterwards deputy to the duke of Clarence, acknowledged honor and loyalty, in the
A. D. 1468. He convened two parliaments, counties of Kildare, Dublin, Meath, and
one at Drogheda and the other at Naas, in Louth; namely, three for each of the other
the county of Kildare, which was adjourned counties, and four for Meath.  In the apto Dublin.  Regulations for trade and vari- pointment of this society, Thomas earl of
ous other purposes were made in them.    Kildare, Rowland Eustace lord of PontlesJohn Bole, abbot of our Lady of Navan, ter, and Sir Rowland Eustace, were nomiin the county of Meath, was promoted to the nated for the county of Kildare; Robert
see of Armagh, which he governed for about baron of Howth, the mayor of Dublin, and
thirteen years. After his death, which took Sir Robert Dowdal, for the county of Dubplace in 1470, this see remained vacant for lin; Preston lord of Gormanstown, in the
four years, during which the temporal affairs county of Meath, Edward Plunket, senesbelonging to it were attended to by Richard chal, Alexander Plunket, and Barnaby
Lang, bishop of Kildare.  Charles O'Mel- Barnwell,.for that of Meath; the mayor of
lan, dean of the cathedral of Armagh, wrote Drogheda, Sir Lawrence Taaf, and Richard
a letter to Pope Sixtus IV., in the name of Bellew, for the county of Louth. According
the chapter, in which he requested that to their regulations, the members were to
Richard might be appointed their arch- meet every year in Dublin, on St. George's
bishop; but this was refused by the pope, day, to appoint one of their number captain
who nominated John Foxalls to the see. for the following year; this captain was to
He, however, died in England the year have one hundred and twenty horse-archers,
after his consecration, without having seen at six pence a day each for their maintenance
his diocese, and was succeeded by Edmund and pay, besides forty horsemen, and the
Connesburgh.                            same number of pages, at five pence a day,
In 1471, the death of Michael Tregury, and four marks a year; whose duty was to
archbishop of Dublin, also occurred; he arrest rebels, and those against whom warwas a man of profound erudition, and left rants would be issued. In order to support
several works quoted by Bale and Pitseus. this corps, which consisted of two hundred
He died at an advanced age, at Tawlaght, men, the parliament granted twelve pence




372                          1t1ST)ORY OF IJDLAN-D.
in the pound, as an import and export duty founded by Jolhna O'Connor,  of the noble
on merchandise.  They enjoyed likewise family of the O'Connors Kerry, for Obserthe privilege of making rules for the good vantine monks.
government of their society, and the election   Richard, duke of York, the king's son,
of a new member in cases of death. This being appointed lord-lieutenant of Ireland,
was the origin of St. George's fraternity, after George duke of Clarence, the earl of
which was suppressed in the tenth year of Kildare was continued in the office of deputy
the reign of Henry VII.                 for four years, by a patent from him, sealed
William Sherwood, bishop of Meath, was with the king's privy seal. This earl underappointed deputy to the duke of Clarence took to maintain peace and loyalty throughin 1475.  He held a parliament in DubIin, out the English province, on condition of
by which it was prohibited, under pain of being provided with one hundred and twenty
treason, to send for bulls to Rome.     horsemen, and six hundred pounds sterling a
The nobles were commanded to attend year for their support; and in case that the
parliament in their robes, under pain of be- Irish revenues were not equal to this, the
ing fined, and the barons of the exchequer English government *was bound to supply
to appear in court in their dresses of cere- the deficiency. This deputy held a parliamony. It was decreed that an Englishman lnent which prohibited the exportation of
should be allowed the rightof reprisal against birds of prey without paying a duty; a dethe family or sept of an Irishman who was cree was also published, prohibiting the innot subject to the laws, from whom he might habitants of the English province to hold any
have sustained any injury; but it was pro- intercourse with the Irish. It was a singthibited, under pain of felony, to take by Iar occurrence, that Conn O'Neill, who had
force any pledges in opposition to the cor- married the deputy's daughter, was naturalmon law.  George Nevil, duke of Bedford, ized by this parliament, in a country which
was deprived this year, in England, of the had given birth to him and his ancestors for
dignity of duke, for not possessing sufficient many centuries before.
property to support the title.            About this time John Cantwell, archbishop
The title of viscount, till now unknown of Cashel, died. This prelate was professor
in Ireland, was conferred at this time by the of law, and a graduate of the university of
king of England on Sir Robert Preston, Oxford. He governed his diocese with wiswho was first made knight of the Garter dom. He held a synod at Limerick in 1453,
in 1470.*  He was baron of Naas, in the the canons of which are still extant, and concounty of Kildare, in virtue of the marriage vened a second in 1480, at Fethard, comof one of his ancestors with the heiress of posed of the bishops of his province.  He
William Loundres; and was created vis- had the Dominican convent repaired, and
count Gormanstown, in the county of Meath, increased the revenues of the vicars of the
in 1477. Roche, otherwise De la Roche, choir of Cashel, where he ended his days in
or De Rupe, lord of Fermoy, in the county 1482, and was succeeded by David Creagh.
of Cork, was created Viscount Fermoy the   Such was the state of Ireland during the
same year.                              reign of Edward IV. The intestine commoThe duke of Clarence had his deputies tions by which England was torn, not allowstill in Ireland, A. D. 1478.  Sherwood was ing him to extend his views to that country,
succeeded in that office by Henry Grey, its affairs were to a great extent neglected
lord of Ruthen, who was succeeded by and abandoned to the feeble protection of the
Robert Preston, the viscount of Gormans- society of St. George. He had gained his
town, and the latter by Gerald, earl of Kil- crown by the sword, and maintained it by
dare, who held a parliament at Naas, in the frequent battles which he fought with the
which some regulations were made relative partisans of Henry VI.; and was sometimes
to the government.                      compelled to yield to superior force, and seek
Edmond Connesburgh, archbishop of Ar- an asylum in foreign countries. Henry was
magh, resigned his see in 1479, and was at one time restored, and Edward declared a
succeeded by his coadjutor Octavianus de usurper by the parliament. The latter prince,
Palatio.'however, again returned, aided by the duke
At this time a convent was founded at of Burgundy and two thousand Dutchmen;
Lislaghtin, in the county Kerry; in all like- and joined by his faithful subjects, marched
lihood the same that Wadding places in an immediately to London, where he seized upon
island of the Shannon.  This house was the unfortunate Henry, and sent him back to
the tower. His right was now once more ac* Nichol's Rudiments of -Honor.  knowledged by that parliamentwhich, but six




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          373
months before, had declared him a usurper; attended only by a few noblemen of his refacts which prove the instability and incon- tinue. Gloucester repaired, with his favorite
sistency of that tribunal. Even this did not the duke of Buckingham, to Northampton
terminate Edward's difficulties.  He was and Stony-Stratford, through which places
again forced to take the field; and defeated the prince should pass, and carried him away
Warwick at the battle of Barnet, in which by force from those who were in care of him.
that earl lost his life. He was also victo- He then seized on the persons of Lord Richrious over Queen Margaret and her son Ed- ard Gray, Sir Thomas Vaughan, and Sir
ward, in the battle of Tewksbury, which Richard Hall, in presence of the prince. He
was the last effort of the house of Lancas- had Woodville, lord Rivers, arrested at Norter. Young Edward, only son of Henry VI., thampton, and sent a prisoner to the north,
having fallen into the hands of his enemies, with Lord Richard and Thomas Vaughan.
was stabbed, in the most brutal manner, by He then brought young Edward to London,
the dukes of Gloucester and Clarence. The where, having assembled the great council,
duke of Somerset and many other noblemen he had himself appointed protector of the
were also put to death. He was the third young prince and of the kingdom. The
duke of his family who fell in the cause of queen foresaw the danger which threatened
the house of Lancaster. Soon after this her family through the conduct and intrigues
the duke of Gloucester buried the dagger, of Gloucester; and fled precipitately, with
still reeking with the blood of the son, in her son Richard, and the princesses her
the bosom of the father, who was prisoner daughters, to Westminster abbey; but as no
in the tower. Thus ended the unhappy life asylum can be secure against tyranny, Glouof Henry VI., whose innocence and piety cester found means to get young Richard
could not preserve him from the punishment also into his power, under the pretext of
due to the crime of his grandfather, Henry placing the two princes in a place of safety
IV., who had usurped the crown.         till all disturbances would have subsided.
Edward IV. did not long enjoy that tran- They were carried, in apparent triumph,
quillity which his-last victories had gained through the city to the tower, which unforhim.  He died in the forty-first year of his tunately was to them a prison instead of a
age, and was interred at Windsor, in the palace, as they never left it more. Richard
new chapel which he himself had caused to placed himself at the head of the government,
be built.  George, duke of Clarence, was and was crowned, together with his wife, in
accused, some time before, of high treason, July, 1483, under the name of Richard III.
and sent to the tower, at the instigation of   This tyrant, intent upon securing to himhis brother, the duke of Gloucester, by whose self the throne he had usurped, thought it
orders he ended his days miserably, having prudent to make no change in the governbeen drowned in a butt of mnalmsy wine.  ment of Ireland; he left it, therefore, in posEdward IV. left two sons and seven session of Gerald, earl of Kildare, who condaughters. The elder of his sons, named vened some parliaments, in which nothing
Edward, who was but eleven years old at his interesting occurred. Gerald was afterwards
father's death, was to have succeeded him on appointed deputy to the earl of Lincoln, who
the throne.* He was at that time at Ludlow, was nominated lord-lieutenant, A. D. 1484:
in Wales, under the guardianship of his ma- and held a parliament in Dublin, which
ternal uncle, Sir Anthony Woodville, and granted him a subsidy of thirteen shillings
other friends of the queen; whose wish it and four pence a year, upon every ploughwas that he should be brought to London, land, to defray the expenses of his services
attended by a strong guard, in order to be against the Irish. O'Connor, itwould appear,
crowned. Richard, duke of Gloucester, the participated in these services, as he got part
late king's brother, was then in the north of of the reward, viz., forty pence for every
England, and solely occupied with a design plough-land in the county of Meath.
upon the throne.  He had already effected   The archbishops of Dublin and Tuam both
the death of his brother George, duke of died this year. The former was John WalClarence, in the tower of London, and being ton, who obtained, by order of parliament,
desirous of getting the young prince Edward, the restitution of some lands which belonged
who was an obstacle to his ambition, into his to the archbishopric of Dublin, and which
power, he succeeded by his intrigues in re- had been sold byhis immediate predecessors,
moving all suspicion from the prince's mind, Talbot and Tregury. This prelate held the
who set out for London, unguarded, and see for six years, but having lost his sight,
and being reduced to a state of infirmity, he
V Baker, Chron. on the year 1483.  resigned it, reserving at S words a competency




374                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
for his support. He was succeeded by Wal- Richard had now to fear, was the earl of
ter Fitz-Simmons. Donat O'Murray, a regu- Richmond, the last of the house of Lancaster,
lar canon of the order of St. Augustin, was who was, in a manner, prisoner at the court
nominated to the archbishopric of Tuam. of Brittany. This prince, howeve, had corJohn Bole, archbishop of Armagh, wrote a respondents in England. Having received
circular letter to this prelate and his suffra- some assistance in money from Charles VIII.
gans, informing them that he would shortly king of France, he sailed from Harfleurwith
visit the province of Tuam, inasmuch as the two thousand men, and, after seven days,
archbishops of Armagh, as primates, claimed landed at Milford, from which place he
at all times the right of visiting the other marched towards Hereford, where he was
provinces every seven years. This prelate joined by the Welsh, and other friends, who
added some establishments to the church of flocked to his standard, and in a few days
St. Nicholas, in Galway; he was succeeded collected a considerable force. Richard
in the see of Tuam by William Shivy.    having received intelligence of the success
Some writers appeared in Ireland during of Richmond, marched, at the head of a powthis century.*  William, surnamed Water- erful army, to meet him, and gave him battle
ford, wrote a book on religion, which he dedi- in the plain of Bosworth, which proved fatal
cated to Cardinal Julian in 1433. A canon to Richard,who lost in it both the crown and
of the order of St. Augustin, at Loghkey, in his life. Lord Stanly, in the thick of the
the county Roscommon, left the annals of fight, having discovered the crown upon the
Ireland to his own time, written in Irish and ground, took it up and placed it on the head
Latin. Ware mentions having seen that part of Richmond; which, together with the acof his work which begins with the year 1249, clamations of the troops, shouting " Long
and ends with 1408. John of Ireland flour- live the king," gave to the earl an additional
ished in 1460. According to Antonius Al- title, by a sort of military election.
fonsus Fernandus, and Michael Plodius, he
wrote a book called the Bunch of Flowers,
having taken from the sacred writers the
moet valuable thoughts on each subject of his
work. It is probable that these writers have
confounded this John with Thomas of Ire-         CHAPTER XXX.
land, of whom we have already spoken, who
wrote a book called the " Flowers of the   AFTER the battle of Bosworth, Henry,
Doctors," in the thirteenth century, which earl of Richmond, was crowned at Westwas printed in Paris in 1664. John of Ire- minster king of England, under the name of
land, a Dominican, is said to have been the Henry VII.* He was of the house of Lanauthor of a book called " Scala Dei," or "the caster, being great-grandson to John, earl
Ladder to Heaven." Philip Norris, having of Somerset, who was born before the martaken the degree of doctor in theology, at riage of John of Ghent, fourth son of EdOxford, returned to Ireland, his native coun- ward III., with Catherine, his third wife,
try, where he was made prebendary of Ya- widow of Swinford; but who, by an act of
gogstown, which depended on St. Patrick's parliament under Richard II.,t was made
church in Dublin. He was afterwards dean legitimate.  In order to secure himself
of that cathedral, in 1457. Like Richard more firmly upon the throne, Henry added
of Armagh, he wrote against mendicants, a third title to the right of conquest and the
and inveighed strongly against them in his claims he derived from the house of Lansermons, which brought disgrace upon him. caster, by marrying the Princess Elizabeth,
According to Bale, he left many works, eldest daughter of Edward IV., and consenamely, declamations, lectures on the holy quent heiress to the house of York and the
Scriptures, sermons to the people, a treatise crown, A. D. 1485. This happy union put an
against mendicants in health, &c.      end to the feuds of the two roses, which had
In England, the duke of Gloucester, not cost England so much blood. This prince
content with having deprived his nephews of confined the earl of Warwick, called Edtheir birthright to the crown, sacrificed them ward Plantagenet, only son and heir of
to his cruelty, and had them put to death. George, duke of Clarence, and the last male
He also caused his favorite, the duke of child of the house of York, in the tower of
Buckingham, who had taken up arms against London. He was the first king of England
him, to be executed. The only enemy that
* Polyd. Virgil. Ang. Hist. lib. 26, page 1433.
* Wad. Tom. 4, Annal. Min. ad an. 1395.  t Baker, Chron. Higgins' Short View.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           375
who established a body guard, in imitation kept forcible possession of his priory for
of the kings of France. He appointed a nine years; but was at length expelled with
captain over them, and allowed them pay; ignominy and disgrace. He was succeeded
and the corps has been continued by his by James Vale.
successors.                               There was a convent of Franciscans in the
The king having. appointed the duke of large island of Arran, at the entrance of the
Bedford lord-lieutenant of Ireland, Gerald, bay of Galway.*  Wadding states, that,
earl of Kildare, retained the office of de- according to the annals of Ireland, this conputy.*  Henry also allowed the chancellor, vent was built in 1485, in the island of
treasurer, and other officers, whom he knew saints, which is the same as the isle of Arran.
to have favored the cause of the white   Wadding mentions likewise the convent
rose, to continue in office; he wished to of Kilcullen, built in 1486, for Observantine
make them feel that he reposed confidence friars of the order of St. Francis, by Rowin them. and at the same time; that he was land Eustace, who was lord-justice and
above that weakness which generally arises for some time chancellor and treasurer of
from fear and suspicion. He was not, how- Ireland.t  He says there were tombs, not
ever, unmindful of his friends. Thomas only of the founder, but of several other
Butler, whose family had been long in dis- noblemen, in the church and chapels.  At
grace for their attachment to the house of Dungarvan, a small seaport in the county of
Lancaster, was restored by an act of parlia- Waterford, a convent was built, according to
ment to his wealth and honors, and after Ware, by an earl of Desmond, for Augustin
taking the usual oath, was admitted into the hermits.  Father Lubin informs us that it is
privy council of the king. It appears that mentioned in the registries of the order, 1448.
the Desmond family was restored at the   Although Henry's strongest claim to the
same time, as it is mentioned that Thomas crown lay in his marriage with the heiress
Coppinger, seneschal of St. James, earl of of the house of York, he did not treat
Desmond, in the liberties of Kerry, ad- the queen with the respect due to her;
ministered justice in his name.         but manifested his indifference towards her,
A dispute arose this year between James by delaying the ceremony of her coronation,
Keating and Marmeduke Lumley, respecting till he was compelled to have it performed
the priory of St. John of Jerusalem, called by the murmurs of the people, who were
the priory of Kilmainham, near Dublin. always attached to the house of York. The
Keating having been accused to Peter d'Au- number of malecontents increased, and prebusson, grand mraster of the order, in the tenders to the crown were set up, who disisland of Rhodes, of having mortgaged or turbed a great part of his reign. The imsold several ornaments belonging to the postures of Lambert Simnel and Perkin
house, (among others, a bit of the true Warbeck, both supported by Margaret, siscross,) and of having made over, or encum- ter of Edward IV., widow of Charles, duke
bered with pensions, the revenues of the of Burgundy, and the implacable enemy of
priory, was deprived of his office by the the house of Lancaster, form some of the
grand master, who nominated Lumley in his most peculiar features in the -history of the
stead. The latter having arrived at Clontarf English nation.
with the intention of taking possession of his   The king having some suspicion of the
new dignity, Keating and his attendants earl of Kildare's loyalty, who was his deputy
prevented him, by taking him prisoner, and- in Ireland, wrote to him to repair to Engobliging him to give up his credentials and land, under pretext of consulting him on
every thing respecting his nomination; to some matters respecting the welfare of the
compensate him for which Keating gave him state. The earl, who dreaded some disthe commandery of Kilsaran, in the county agreeable result from this order, showed the
of Louth.  Lumley, indignant at this treat- king's letter to the parliament that were asment, wrote to the king and grand master, sembled in Dublin: whereupon the nobles
and on his complaints Keating was excom- wrote to the king, representing to him that
municated, by which he was so exasperated, the presence of the deputy was necessary in
that he deprived Lumley of his commandery, some matters of importance, and entreating
and confined him, contrary to the request of of his majestyto dispense with his voyage for
the archbishop of Armagh, in prison, where the present.  The ecclesiastics who signed
it is probable he ended his days.  Keating this letter were the archbishops of Armagh
" War. de Annal. Hib. ad an. 1485.     * War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 26.
t War. do Annal. Hib.                  t Allemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irl. p. 284.




376                         HISTORY OF IRELAND.
and Dublin, the bishop of Meath, four ab- lawsuits carried on, statutes enacted, and all
bots and a prior, all ecclesiastical lords who the acts of the council gone through in the
sat in parliament; the. temporal lords were, name of this pretended prince. These acts
viscount Gormanstown, and the barons of were all, however, annulled in the time of
Slane, Delvin, Killeen, Howth, Trimles- Poynings, when deputy, in a parliament
town, and Dunsany. During this time, a held at Drogheda, in 1494.
faction was forming in favor of the White  In the month of June, 1487, Lord Thomas
Rose. The person pitched upon to carry out Fitzgerald, chancellor of Ireland, in order to
its objects, was Lambert Simnel, son of a unburden himself, resigned his office to
shoemaker, or baker, who had been educated Rowland  Eustace, baron  of Portlester.
at Oxford by a priest called Richard Symon, Shortly after this, a fleet was prepared, by
a man of learning. This young man had a order of the council, for the expedition to
prepossessing and noble aspect, and a lively England, and the Pretender and his army,
understanding, and was to personate young commanded by the earl of Lincoln, set sail,
Edward, earl of Warwick, son of George, attended by Lord Lovel, the ex-chancellor
duke of Clarence, in order to lay claim to Lord Thomas Fitzgerald, Colonel Swart, a
the crown. This project, however, was for German, and other noblemen.  On their
two reasons impracticable; first, the real landing in Lancashire, they were joined by
Edward was in the tower; secondly, the Sir Thomas Broughton, who commanded a
right which Henry had acquired by his mar- body of troops. With this reinforcement
riage with the heiress of Edward IV., ex- they marched towards Newark, where they
cluded every other claimant. These circum- met the king at the head of his army, and
stances did not prevent Simnel from acting having come to an engagement, the victory
the part of a prince. He was brought to was undecided for three hours, but at length
Ireland, and presented to the deputy, the declared in favor of Henry.  Several lives
chancellor, the treasurer, and other noble- were lost on the Pretender's side; the prinmen of the English province, who received cipal were those of John de la Pole, earl of
him with distinguished regard.  He was Lincoln, Francis, viscount Lovel, Lord Thoacknowledged by all but the archbishop of mas Fitzgerald, Maurice Fitzthomas FitzArmagh, the bishop of Clogher, the Butlers, gerald, Sir Thomas Broughton, Plunket,
the baron of Howth, and the inhabitants of son of Baron Killeen, and Colonel Swart,
Waterford. The king being informed by besides four thousand soldiers. Simnel was
the baron of Howth, of the triumphal entry among the number of the prisoners: and
of Simnel into Ireland, gave orders to have having confessed his crime, the king, with
the real earl of Warwick taken from the unexampled clemency, granted him his life,
tower, and led, under a strong guard, through and gave him a situation in his falconry,
the streets of the city to St. Paul's church, which he held till his death. After this
in order to undeceive the people. In the victory, Henry marched towards the north,
mean time, the duchess of Burgundy sent where he discovered more partisans of Simover two thousand men to Simnel, under nel, among whom was the earl of Lincoln.
the command of Colonel Swart.          Some of these he had put to death as an exThis army landed in Dublin in the month ample; others he made pay large sums of
of May; and the earl of Lincoln and Lord money, and pardoned the least guilty. He
Lovel repaired thither also; whereupon the then returned to London, where he was
supposed Warwick was solemnly crowned joyfully received, and in the month of
in the cathedral of the Trinity, called November, on St. Catherine's day, his
Christ's church, after a sermon preached by queen, Elizabeth, was crowned with great
John Payne, bishop of Meath, who made pomp, at Westminster.
known his right to the crown, in presence of  In Ulster, Hugh M'Mahon taking advanthe deputy, the chancellor, treasurer, the tage of the disturbances in the state, assemearl of Lincoln, lord Lovel, and several bled his vassals, and committed dreadful
other noblemen, both spiritual and temporal, devastation on the lands of the Anglo-Irish
of the English province. A crown which in the county Louth, from which he carried
had been found on a statue of the blessed off large herds of cattle, and other goods.
Virgin, in a   church  bearing her name, was It is said that twenty-eiglt villages were
used for this ceremony. The new king was burned in this expedition. Some parts of
led through the city, followed by the accla- the province were visited, at this time, by
mations of the people, to the castle, where a rains and storms, which tore up trees by
magnificent banquet was prepared. The their roots, and threw down churches and
parliament, and courts ofjustice were holden, houses.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          377
About this time, Henry VII. wrote to the Dominican convent, whichhadbeen assigned
mayor and citizens of Waterford, expressing for his residence during his stay. The earl
to them his satisfaction -for their loyalty to of Kildare was absent at the time, on an exhim, and exhorting them to persevere in it. pedition against the Irish; but having reHe gave them permission to seize upon the turned after a few days, Edgcombe, attended
vessels and merchandise belonging to the by the bishop of Meath, the baron of Slane,
inhabitants of Dublin, and others who traded and other lords, waited upon him in the
with them, and turn them to their own ad- abbey of Thomas-court, where he resided.
vantage; some time afterwards he granted He there presented to him his letters from
them privileges and immunities, as a reward the king, his master, with manifestations of
for their fidelity.                     displeasure, and after a private conference,
The earl of Kildare, and other ministers they separated without coming to any conof state who had abetted the cause of Sim- clusive arrangement. The lord-deputy went
nel, being informed of his defeat, sent a de- to his castle of Maynooth, and Edgcombe
putation to the king, avowing their crime, returned home.
andimploringhisforgiveness. Theking, gra-  In the beginning of these disturbances,
tified with their submission, wrote to them, the king obtained a bull from the pope to
and reprimanding them  slightly, granted excommunicate the rebels; and by a similar
them a pardon, of which their future conduct authority, Edgcombe caused a general absoshould be a guarantee; while as a proof of lution to be proclaimed in Christ's cathedral
his perfect reconciliation, he continued the on the following Sunday, for all those who
earl in the government of Ireland, and gave should continue in their obedience to his
him orders and instructions relative to the majesty.  The lord-deputy having returned
times. The king had indeed cause to sus- to Dublin, was absolved from his excompect the fidelity of the people, and to dread, munication, during the divine service, and
that, on the first opportunity, some sparks paid his homage to Edgcombe in the large
of rebellion would burst forth; but he did hall of the abbey of Thomas-court; the
not deem it prudent either to employ rigor- king's commissioner then announced his
ous measures, or send troops to Ireland to majesty's pardon, by putting a gold chain
put down the remains of the York faction;* around the neck of the deputy, on the part
and lest he should weaken the colony, which of the king, in token of his perfect reconwas with difficulty maintained in a corner of ciliation. The form of an oath of allegiance
the island, against the attacks of the old in- was then drawn.up, to be taken by the
habitants, he confined himself to receive the nobility and clergy; it was signed by Walter
submission of the guilty. For these purposes Fitzsimons, archbishop of Dublin, and his
he sent Sir Richard Edgcombe with a com- predecessor John Walton, John Payne,
mission to make his subjects renew their bishop of Meath, Edmond Lane, bishop of
oath of allegiance, and to secure their fidelity Kildare, John Purcel, abbot of Thomasfor the future, by announcing to them his court, near Dublin, Walter Champflour,
forgiveness. This minister, accompanied by abbot of our Lady's, and John Cogan, prior
a guard of five hundred men, arrived with of Holm Patrick. Every thing having been
five vessels, in the harbor of Kinsale, in the settled to Edgcombe's satisfaction, he gave a
month of June, and as he was averse to come magnificent banquet to the earl, and all the
on shore, Lord Thomas Barry went on board nobility, in the Dominican convent, and next
his ship, paid him homage for himself and day received in the Toulsel, the oath of allehis barony, and took the oath of allegiance. giance from Thomas Meyler, mayor of DubAt the solicitation, however, of Lord Courcy lin, and all the citizens, of which he took a
and the inhabitants, Edgcombe entered the copy, sealed with the seal of the city.  He
town the day following, where Courcy did went afterwards to Drogheda, and from that
him homage in the church of St. Meltock; place to Trim, where he received the suband with the inhabitants, took the oath of mission and oaths of the inhabitants. Their
allegiance.  After dining, he set sail for example was followed by Nicholas Herbert,
Waterford, the citizens of which he com- prior of St. Peter's of Newtown, near Trim,
plimented for their fidelity to their king, of Richard  Nangle, abbot of Navan, and
whose protection he assured them. He then James, abbot of Castlemartin, of the order
sailed for Dublin, where he arrived on the of Bectiff. On Edgcombe's return to Dub5th of July, and was honorably received lin, he received the submission of Octaviaby the mayor and citizens, at the gate of the nus, archbishop of Armagh, Philip Bermingham, chief-justice of the king's bench,
* Hib. Anglic. on the reign of Henry VII.   and Thomas Dowdal, master of the rolls.
48




378                         HISTORY OF IRELAND.
There were two persons not included in with presents, and other demonstrations of
the pardon granted by Edgcombe to the his protection andfriendship. Itis mentioned
king's subjects in Ireland; Keating, prior of that he made a present of three hundred
Kilmainham, of whom we have already pounds sterling to the baron of Howth.
spoken, and Thomas Plunket, chief-justice   While these noblemen were at court in
of the court of common pleas; they being England, Maurice Bockagh, (the lame,) earl
considered as the instigators of Simnel's of Desmond, was making war against his
rebellion. The lord-deputy and nobles so- neighbors: he gained a victory over Morlicited pardon for them from the commis- rough O'Carrol, who was killed in the action,
sioner. It was, however, granted only to with Moel-Murry, his brother; and a second
the latter: Keating, so far from obtaining over Dermod M'Carty, son of Thadeus, who
forgiveness, was deprived of the office of was also killed. It is said that this earl
governor of the castle of Dublin, which he was no loser by his troubles, as he added
had taken by force, and Richard Archbold, the estates of those with whom he made war
the old governor, was restored. Edgcombe to his own possessions. It was thus that
having terminated his commission, returned these new-comers raised themselves at the
to England to give an account of his suc- expense of their neighbors.
cess to the king.                        Octavianus, archbishop of Armagh, conThe lord-deputy and council deputed the vened a synod in the month of July, in the
bishop of Meath to express to his majesty church of our Lady, at Atherdee, at which
their gratitude for the favors he had just John Payne, bishop of Meath, Edward
granted to his people in Ireland, and to con- Courcy, bishop of Clogher, William O'Fervince him of their submission, in order to re- rall, bishop of Ardagh, George, bishop of
move every imputation which their enemies  Dromore, Donald O'Fallon, bishop of Derry,
might cast upon their conduct. This prelate Menelaus M'Cornycan, bishop of Raphoe,
acquitted himself so ably in this undertaking, and Walter Blake, bishop of Clonmacnoisk,
that he prevented the archbishop of Armagh, attended. A difference arose at this synod,
though the king's favorite, from obtaining between Thomas M'Brady and one Corthe office of chancellor, lest the jealousy mock, respecting the jurisdiction of the
which subsisted between him and the deputy bishopric of Kilmore, which was left to the
might be renewed, and thus disturb that decision of the bishops of Meath, Clogher,
tranquillity so lately restored to the state.  and Ardagh; but their opinion is not reSome time afterwards the deputy marched corded. They both, however, appeared six
at the head of his troops t~owards Kinalyach, years afterwards, at the synod of Drogheda,
in Westmeath, to check the incursions of each with the title of bishop of Kilmore.
Magheoghegan upon the English province,  It does not appear that the bishopric of
and surprised the castle of Bileragh. He Kilmore is very ancient.* Itis not mentioned
laid waste the district of Moycashel, and in the division of the bishoprics of Ireland
carried away considerable booty, A. D. 1382; which took place in a 152,-at the synod where
but was repulsed some time afterwards, by Cardinal Paparo presided. The first bishop
the Magheoghegans, and pursued to his castle of this district, who is to be met with in hisof Maynooth, where he escaped their fury. tory,was FlanusO'Conacty,who died in 1231.
Henry VII., suspecting the loyalty of his This prelate and his successors were somesubjects in Ireland, whom he knew to be times called bishops of Brefny, the ancient
attached to the house of York, made several name of the district, and sometimes bishops
of them come to England; namely, the earl of Triburna, an obscure village where they
of Kildare, the viscounts Gormanstown, Fer- resided. Towards the middle of the fifteenth
moy, and Buttevant, the barons of Athenry, century, Andrew M'Brady was appointed to
Kinsale, Delvin, Howth,Trimlestown,Slane, this bishopric; and dissatisfied with finding
Killeen, and Dunsany. These noblemen were the episcopal see established in so inconvepresented to the king at Greenwich. Having nient a place, he removed it, with the consent
given to each a reprimand in private, he was of Pope Nicholas V., to the parish church of
reconciled to them, and entertained them at St. Felim, in a village called Kilmore, a short
a banquet. In order, however, to mortify distance from Cavan. He erectedthis church
their pride, Lambert Simnel, whom they had into a cathedral, with thirteen canons and a
crowned some time before, performed to them dean: which establishmentwas confirmed the
the office of cup-bearer. After this they had year following by Pope Calixtus III., so that
the honor of accompanying the king to a since the above period, the diocese and the
solemn procession at Greenwich. They then
took leave of his majesty, who dismissed them  * War. de Episc. cop. Kilmor.




CHRISTIAN  IRELAND.                             379l
bishops who governed it, have taken the to an engagement, and many lives were lost
name of Kilmore.*                          on both sides. O'Neill had the advantage;
Prince Arthur, eldest son of Henry VII., but his death, which took place soon afterborn in 1487, was declared prince of Wales wards, and the advanced age of O'Donnel,
in 1490.  This year was remarkable in Ire- which obliged him to give up the principality
land for tempests and frequent rains, which to his son Conn, put an end to this war.
continued during the summer and autumn,   The duchess of Burgundy, an intriguing
and produced sickness, to which many fell woman, and the implacable enemy of the
victims.                                   house of Lancaster, was still intent on her
At this time six muskets were sent from endeavors to disturb the reign of Henry VII.
Germany to the earl of Kildare, and were She first caused a report to be spread that
made use of by his guard while they stood Richard, duke of York, brother and heir of
sentinel in his apartments. They were con- Edward V., had not been put to death, but
sidered a rare present at that time, since it that, having escaped from the tower, he was
is said that fire-arms were not then known still alive. She then sought for a young man
in Ireland, (A. D. 1491.)  Baker asserts, who might be capable to act his part; and
however, that Edward III. had them at the discovered one Peter Osbeck, afterwards
siege of Calais.t                          known by the name of Perkin Warbeck, a
Warm disputes, which ultimately led to a native of Tournay, and son of John Osbeck,
war, arose about this time between Conn- who filled the office of controller in that city,
More O'Neill and Hugh Roe O'Donnel, two and Catherine de Faro, who was acquainted
powerful princes in Ulster, —one in Tyrone, with the English language, and had, perhaps,
the other in Tirconnel. These disputes were taught it to her son.  The duchess looked
caused by a tribute which O'Neill demanded upon this young man as perfectly qualified
from  O'Donnel, as if the latter held his for her views. She kept him with her some
estates under him. O'Neill first sent a letter months, in order to initiate him  into the
written in the Irish language, which, from its manners of the court, and make him  acsingularity, and its being too laconic to tire quainted with every thing relative to the
the reader, may be introduced here: " Cuir house of York; and taught him  to assume
hogom me kiesse, no mar a cuirhuir-;" the manners and support the dignity of a
that is, "Send me my rent, or if not -." prince, the part of which he was about to act.
To this O'Donnel replied in the same style, It is asserted, too, that he really resembled
saying, "Neel kiesse a gut orm, agus da the prince whom he was to personate. The
meh -;" that is, " I owe you no rent, and better to conceal her designs, the duchess
if I did -."   O'Neill was irritated by this sent him afterwards to Portugal, well equipreply, and hostilities began on both sides. ped, and attended by persons to watch all
Although the earl of Kildare strove to act as his actions, till she should think fit to send
mediator between the two princes, they came him to Ireland.
Henry VII., who was well acquainted with
Margaret of Burgundy's proceedings, thought
Andrew M'Brady, first bishop of Kilmore, was prudent to change his ministers in Ireland,
of the oble family of the noble family of the M'Bradys of Lochtee. and put persons attached to his interests into
The sept. of the M'Bradys is a branch of the tribes ad       persons attached to his interests into
of the Hy Brunes of Connaught, of which O'Connor office. He therefore nominated Gaspar duke
was chief. They were anciently known by the of Bedford, lord-lieutenant, in place of the
name of Carbhuillis, and, according to Gratianus earl of Kildare; and Walter Fitzsimons,
Lucius, owned the territory of Cabria, in Brefny, archbishop of Dublin, his deputy.   Sir
now the county of Cavan, as we have seen in the James Ormond, natural son of John earl of
previous part of this history. It was in the thir-James Ormond, natural son of John earl of
teenth century that this family changed the name Ormond, was appointed treasurer in' place
of Carbhuillis for that of M'Brada, or Brady, from of Eustace, lord of Portlester, who had filled
one of the chiefs; and that the name of Cabria was that office for thirty-eight years, (A. D. 1492.)
changed to Lochtee, at present a barony in the The new treasurer arrived in Ireland in the
courty of Cavan, the patrimony of this noble family
till the revolution caused by the tyrant Cromwell. month of June, attended by a cohort of EngThis family gave several bishops to the church; lish troops.  He had an altercation immeWare reckons five of Brefny, one of Ardagh, and diately with the earl of Kildare, which was
one of-Meath. It is probable that the latter em- followed by a battle disastrous to the families
braced the reformed religion, as he was nominated of the Butlers and Fitzgeralds, and to the
by Queen Elizabeth to replace William Walsh,
bishop of Meath, who was dispossessed, thrown colony in general; as the Irish took advaninto prison, and subsequently banished from the tage of it to lay waste the frontiers of the
kingdom, for his attachment to the old religion.   English province.
t Chron. Engl. page 126.                   On the 22d of June, the same year, is




380                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
fixed the birth of Henry, second son of   The deputy of Ireland held a parliament in
Henry VII., and his successor on the throne Dublin, in the month of June, 1493, in which
under the name of Henry VIII., so well some laws that had been enacted at the inknown in history for his debaucheries, and stance of Eustace of Portlester, were repealthe changes he effected in religion.    ed. Matters having taken a change, and the
In the month of September, some of the partisans of the house of Lancaster being in
state officers in Ireland were again changed; office, Portlester himself was commanded to
Alexander Plunket was nominated chancel- appear before the court of exchequer, andrenlor, Thomas Butler was appointed master der an account of his bad government while
of the rolls, and Nicholas Turner chief- he filled the office of treasurer. The city of
justice of the court of common pleas. About Waterford was restored to its ancient privithis time the earl of Ormond and the prior leges and freedom, of which it had been deof Canterbury were sent on an embassy to prived, and the crown lands were ordered
the court of France; but were, however, to be recovered, which had been sold after
recalled as soon as their master heard that the first year of Henry VI.'s reign. This
Charles VIII. was about to form an alliance parliament being dissolved in the month of
with Anne of Brittany.                  August, the lord-deputy resigned his comThe drought in Ireland this summer was mission to Robert,Preston, viscount of Gorso great, that the cattle died for want of manstown.  The new deputy summoned a
water. It also caused contagious disorders, meeting of the nobility and leading persons
by which many lives were lost.          of the counties of Dublin, Meath, and KilIt was now time to bring forward Perkin dare, to Trim.  On this occasion the chanWarbeck, (whom we left in Portugal,) to cellor, with the earl of Kildare, the bishops
perform the part of Richard, duke of York, of Meath and Kildare, the barons of Slane,
for which he was intended; and so well did Delvin, Killeen, Howth, Trimlestown, Dunhe acquit himself, that it was doubted for sany, &c., were assembled. Articles for presome time whether he was in reality Richard, serving the peace and welfare of the state
or an impostor.  The duchess of Burgundy were signed: among others, that no indigave orders that Perkin should, sail from vidual should make war unless authorized by
Lisbon, for Cork, in Ireland, where he was the king or his deputy; that the extortions
honorably received by the citizens, and par- and taxes with which the people had been
ticularly by John Waters, an eminent mer- burdened, should be abolished; and that all
chant, and mayor of the city, in whose house, vagrants, robbers, and murderers should be
it is said, he was instructed how to act. The brought to condign punishment.  Robert
young pretender wrote immediately to the Preston  then  convened a parliament at
earls of Kildare and Desmond to assist him Drogheda, the statutes of which were, howagainst King Henry; but before their answer ever, declared null and void by a subsequent
could be received, Charles VIII. invited parliament; which was held the year followhim to go to France, where he was received ing in the same city, by the deputy Poynin the kindest manner.  He remained there ings, for the following reasons, viz.: that
till peace was concluded between that prince the duke of Bedford, lord-lieutenant of Ireand the king of England, at the siege of land, to whom Preston was deputy, had reBoulogne, after which Perkin withdrew to signed his office before this parliament had
Flanders, where he was likewise well re- been convened; that the parliament was not
ceived by his supposed aunt, the duchess of composed of members from the whole proBurgundy.  This year was remarkable for vince, but from four counties only; and lastthe voyage of Christopher Columbus, and his ly, that, in the letters patent which the king
discovery of the new world, which Seneca had granted to the deputy, no mention was
seems to have predicted in his Medea.*    made of any power to convene parliaments.
Henry VII., to whom Columbus first ap-  In the month of October, Fitzsimons, archplied, neglected, it appears, both his own bishop of Dublin, ex-deputy in Ireland, went
interest and glory, by refusing the offer which over to England to give the king an acthis great man made to him in his projected count, not only of his own administration
voyage, and which Ferdinand of Castile con- while deputy, but also of the state of affairs
trived to turn to his own advantage.   in Ireland at the time. The earl of Kildare
having learned that his enemies in England
* "Ages will arise in after years, when the were injuring him in the king's opinion, went
ocean will loose her chains, and the great globe over also in November, to clear himself of
will open; when the sea will develope new orbs, the crimes which had been imputed to him.
and that Thule will not be the extreme region of  e was followed by the deputy, who conthe earth."                             He was followed by thedeputy, who con



CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           381
fided the care of government to his son dur-  Poynings convened the celebrated parliaing his absence, and by Ormond, the trea- ment of Drogheda, in November, in which
surer, who prevented his vindication from many statutes were enacted which are quoted
being received, and had him sent back to by Ware, Cox, and others. Among them
Ireland a prisoner, to be tried.        was one against the exaction of Coyn and
Sir Edward Poynings was at this time, Livery, and one against those who protected
A. D. 1494, appointed lord-deputy of Ireland. traitors; it was also expressly forbidden to all
His principal business was to suppress the persons, under pain of high treason, to excite
revolt of Perkin Warbeck's partisans.  He the ancient Irish to make war upon the Engarrived there in the month of September, lish, but the most celebrated statute, which
effected great changes among the state min- was called Poyning's law, made it illegal to
isters, and put Englishmen by birth in their convene any parliament in Ireland without
places; he nominated Henry Dean, bishop informing the king, and apprizing him of the
of Bangor, chancellor of Ireland; Sir Hugh motives for the meeting, and the laws which
Conway, treasurer; Thomas Bowring, chief- were to be passed in it, and further receivjustice of the king's bench; John Topcliff, ing the approbation of his majesty and counchief-justice of the common pleas, and cil, obtained under the great seal of EngWalter Ever, chief-baron of the exchequer. land, for such meeting, and that every parThis deputy brought a thousand men with liament convened otherwise than on these
him to Ireland, with whom, and the other conditions, should be null and without effect.
troops of the English province, he entered   This statute was not favorable to the
Ulster, under pretext that some of Perkin's Anglo-Irish, whose interests had already
adherents had taken refuge among them. It become different from those of the English.
appears extraordinary that he should have It was passed by a parliament, the chief men
been attended in this expedition by the earl of which were the deputy, chancellor, treaof Kildare and Sir James Ormond, who had surer, and other influential ministers, thembeen deprived of the office of treasurer. He selves Englishmen by birth. The statute,
laid waste the districts of O'Hanlon, Ma- however, was not always carried into effect,
gennis, and others.  The earl of Kildare but was frequently suspended in the sucwas suspected and accused of having con- ceeding reigns.
spired secretly with O'Hanlon, to destroy   Many other regulations that have not been
the deputy, but was afterwards declared in- printed were made in this parliament. Subnocent. The earl of Kildare's brother hav- sidies were granted to the king, and power
ing, in the mean time, taken possession of given to the treasurer to govern the province
the castle of Carlow, the deputy was obliged in case of the death or resignation of the
to give up what he had seized on in Ulster, governor, till the king's pleasure should be
to bring assistance to that place.  For this made known. The knights of St. John of
purpose he made peace with O'Hanlon and Jerusalem were allowed to recover the lands
Magennis, and marched direct to Carlow, which had been disposed of by Keating, or
which he besieged, and made himself mas- his predecessor, Thomas Talbot, and the
ter of in ten days.                     grants which had been made by the kings
The king, who kept a continual watch subsequent to Edward II. were ordered to
over the duchess of Burgundy, and the sup- be revoked.  By another act of this parliaposititious duke of York, sent his spies to ment, the earl of Kildare and his brother
Flanders, by which means the whole secret James were accused of high treason, on acof the party was discovered, and several of count of their intercourse with O'Hanlon;
the conspirators executed in England.    their having seized upon the castle of CarThe archbishop of Dublin being at court, low, and exacted Coyn and Livery; and
the king, who confided in him, frequently lastly, for having entered into a secret treaty
interrogated him respecting the state of af- with the king of Scotland: the earl, howfairs in Ireland.  This prelate was one day ever, cleared himself in England of all these
present at a discourse delivered before the crimes, and was restored to favor. The
king; who having asked him what he thought military society of St. George, which had
of it, the prelate answered, with a freedom been established in 1479, by an act of parworthy of the ancient philosophers, that " if liament under Edward IV., was now suphis highness was satisfied, he was so like- pressed.
wise, but that, at the same time, he thought  Perkin Warbeck, who withdrew to Flanhis highness was too much flattered." "In ders with the duchess of Burgundy, A. D.
good faith, father of Dublin," replied the 1495, filled with the extravagant notion of
king, " I think so too."                his assumed greatness, and instigated by




382                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
his patroness, set sail for England with near was arrested and thrown into prison, which
six hundred men.  On his arrival, upon the caused the death of his wife Alicia, daughcoast of Kent he was badly received, and ter of Rowland Eustace, baron of Portlester.
lost more than a hundred and sixty of his He was accused, in presence of the king, of
followers, who were made prisoners, and having burned the church of Cashel, but was
afterwards executed.  He then sailed for saved by the ingenuousness of his answers.
Ireland, in hopes of meeting with a more His enemies then said that all Ireland was
favorable reception. Having remained some not able to govern him.  "Is it so?" said
time at Cork and the neighborhood, and find- the king, "6 he is then the fittest person to
ing it impossible that his adherents could rule Ireland," and he immediately appointed
support him against the superior forces of him lord-lieutenant by letters patent, dated
the deputy and other English ministers, he 6th of August, and restored him  to his
went over to Scotland, where he was honor- dignities and possessions.  He, however,
ably received, and with the consent of James detained Gerald, eldest son of the earl, as a
IV., who was then king, married Catherine, hostage, to secure the loyalty of the father,
daughter of Alexander, earl of Huntly, who who proved himself afterwards a faithful
was allied to the crown.                subject.
The king of Scotland, who had some   The earlhaving returned to Ireland with
cause of displeasure against Henry VII., Elizabeth St. John, whom he had just maravailed himself of this opportunity to declare ried, and having received, according to cuswar against him. It is said that he was en- tom, the sword of his predecessor, marchcouraged by letters which he received from ed towards Thuomond against O'Brien,
the Emperor Maximilian, Charles VIII., and passed through Limerick, and took the casMargaret of Burgundy, in favor of the im- tle of Felyback, which belonged to Fininpostor. However this was, he entered Eng- Mac-Nemara.  He next took the castle of
land in a hostile manner; but not finding Ballynice, and other fortified places; after
among the English any partisans of the pre- which expeditions he returned to Dublin,
tended prince, he laid waste the county of and was reconciled to Octavianus, archNorthumberland, and returned to Scotland. bishop of Armagh.
Poynings, having governed the English   Dean, bishop of Bangor, having been
province in Ireland with prudence, and en- recalled to England, Walter, archbishop of
acted wise laws, which were not, however, Dublin, was appointed chancellor in his
obeyed beyond the limits of the province, stead. The king, by the advice of the lordwas recalled in the month of January, to re- lieutenant, resolved to grant a general parceive the reward of his labors. The king, don to all the noblemen who had been enwho was pleased with the services he had gaged in the affair of Perkin Warbeck, lest
rendered him, made him a knight of the.or- despair might instigate them to excite new
der of the Garter.  disturbances; he therefore granted a general
Henry Dean, bishop of Bangor, chancel- amnesty to the earl of Desmond, the archlor of Ireland, and afterwards archbishop bishop of Cashel, the bishops of Cork and
of Canterbury, was appointed in the month Waterford, and several of the principal men
of April, 1496, lord-justice of Ireland, in of Munster. He also had the liberties and
place of Poynings; William Ratcliff, vibe- charters of Youghal restored and confirmed,
treasurer; ard John Pimpe, secretary of war; and extended its privileges.
and in the month of June following, Richard   The king of Scotland having made some
Nugent, baron of Delvin, was appointed efforts in favor of Perkin Warbeck, was
general of the troops and commander-in- forced to beg a peace from  Henry VII.
chief, for the defence of the counties of That king, however, would listen to no overDublin, Kildare, Meath, and Uriel, or Louth. tures till the king of Scotland would first
Octavianus, archbishop of Armagh, con- give up the impostor from under his protecvened a synod in the month of July, at tion.  Under this gloomy state of things,
Drogheda, the acts of which have been lost. Perkin saw that he must leave Scotland.
On the return of Hugh O'Donnell from The king, who was too generous to deliver
Scotland; he attacked and defeated O'Con- him over to his enemies, supplied' him with
nor near Sligo. He then laid siege to the money to enable him to do so. He accordcastle, but was forced to raise it on the ap- ingly embarked with his wife and family for
proach of the Burkes of Clanrickard, who Ireland, A. D. 1497, and having arrived in
laid waste the frontiers of Tyrconnel.  Cork, found some friends there, who, howNew accusations were preferred against ever, were unable to render him any importhe earl of Kildai'e in England, where he tant services. In the mean time, an invita



CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          383
tion was sent to him by the people of Corn- the office of lord-lieutenant of Ireland, since,
wall in England, who were ready to sacrifice on the earl's return from Cork, he convened
every thing in his cause. He accordingly a parliament in Dublin in the month of
set sail, in the month of September, with his March, and assumed the title of lord-deputy
family, and about one hundred and twenty to that young prince. Richard Talbot, who
soldiers, and arrived at Whitesandbay, in had governed the priory of St. John of
Cornwall, although the inhabitants of Water- Jerusalem in Ireland for some time, was
ford dispatched four vessels in pursuit of recalled, and Robert Evers, an Englishman,
him.  On his landing, he assumed the name was nominated prior by the grand master
and title of Richard IV., king of England, of Rhodes.
and was joined at Bodmin by a few thou-   Some religious houses were founded at
sand men, with whom he besieged Exeter. this time in Ireland. Ware mentions the
The defence which the inhabitants made convent of Rosserelly to have been estabbeing equal to the courage of the assailants, lished in the county of Galway, in 1498,
and Perkin seeing that the bravery and good- for Observantine monks, by an English lord
will of his men were superior to their called Gannard. At Invert, in the county
strength, and that the king's army was on of Antrim, there was a convent founded for
its march, resolved to withdraw, and seek the third order of Franciscans, by a Scotch
an asylum at Beaulieu, in Hampshire.  He nobleman.  One also for the same order
afterwards, however, surrendered  him- was founded at Dungannon in Tyrone, by
self a prisoner, and was brought to the Conn O'Neill, prince of that district.  A
tower, from which he escaped; but having house was established for them about the
been retaken and arrested in an attempt to same time, at Clonrahan, in the county of
escape a second time, he was hanged at Ty- Roscommon, by O'Connor Roe, an Irish
burn, with his friend John Waters, mayor of nobleman, of the illustrious tribe of the
Cork.                                   O'Connors of Connaught.
The earl of Kildare was continually occu-  Ireland produced some writers about this
pied in discharging the duties of his office. period. Philip Higgins, a Franciscan, wrote
He convened a parliament at Trim, in the some sacred poems: he died in 1487. Panmonth of August, 1498, in which it was de- derus, who is thought to have been the
creed, among other things, that all the author of -a book called "Salus Populi,"
customl-house laws which were enacted in flourished at the same time. He treats in it on
England, should be adopted in Ireland.    the cause of the miseries with which Ireland
A dispute happened at this time between was afflicted, and points out a mode by
Henry O'Neill and his two nephews, Tyr- which they might be remedied.  Charles
logh and Conn, respecting the principality Maguire, a native of the county Fermanagh,
of Tyrone, which the former, in opposition and canon of Armagh, flourished at this
to their interest, usurped, after killing their time also. He was a learned philosopher,
father, Conn O'Neill. The earl of Kildare, a deep theologian, and well versed in
who was the maternal uncle of these young history.  He wrote the annals of Ireland
noblemen, espoused their cause, and at the down to his own time, and died in 1495, at
head of an army, entered Ulster, where he the age of sixty years.  Donald O'Fihely,
was joined by O'Donnel, Maguire, and other a native of the county Cork, wrote also the
allies of Tyrlogh O'Neill. With this com- annals of his country to his own time, in the
bitned force he laid siege to Dungannon, Irish language, which he dedicated to Florforced Niall M'Art O'Neill, who was the ence O'Mahony. Ware mentions having
commander, to surrender the castle, and set seen them in manuscript in London.
the prisoners at liberty, as well as to give   The lord-deputy undertook an expedition
hostages. Henry O'Neill having been killed, into Connaught, A. D. 1499, and seized upon
young Conn took possession of Tyrone, the the castles of Athleagh, Roscommon, Tuilsk,
patrimony of his ancestors, and the earl of and Castlereagh, in which he placed a garTyrone took the castle of Omey.        rison. About this time, Tirlogh O'Brien,
After the expedition to Ulster, the earl prince of Thuomond, after the death of Gilmarched in October towards Cork, where duff, had a dispute with Sir Pierce Butler,
he placed a garrison, as he had reason to respecting the boundaries of their estates.
suspect the loyalty of its inhabitants. He It was terminated by a sanguinary conflict,
obliged them and the citizens of Kinsale to in which Butler and his men were put to
take the usual oath, and made them give flight, leaving several dead upon the field of
hostages. It appears that young Henry, battle.
second son of Henry VII., was appointed to   The lord-deputy held a parliament at




384                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Castledermod, in the month of August, which to the see of Tuam by the pope, in 1485,
granted to tile king and his successors a tax governed it for sixteen years and a few
of twelve pence in the pound, on all kinds of months.  He died A. D. 1501, and was sucmerchandise that were imported, except wine ceeded by Philip Pinson.
and oil. In this parliament it was enacted,   This year was remarkable for two marthat the nobility, when riding, should, like riages that were celebrated in England. Arthe English, make use of saddleS, and attend thur, the king's eldest son, and prince of
parliament in their robes.  Subsidies, too, Wales, married, at the age of fifteen, the
were permitted to be levied upon the people princess Catherine, daughter of Ferdinand,
and clergy for the king's use.           king of Spain, on the fourteenth of NovemThe adherents of the house of York being ber; and on the 25th of January following,
still dissatisfied, sought means, after the Margaret, the king's eldest daughter, and
death of Perkin, to rescue the natural son of sister to Arthur, was given in marriage to
Richard III. from prison, and make him James IV. of Scotland.
undertake a similar part as Perkin; but the   Prince Arthur died on the 2d of April,
conspirators were discovered, and their at- having lived but four months and a half after
tempts tended only to shorten the days of his marriage, which was never consummathat young man.                          ted.*  His young widow  was given, six
The lord-deputy returned to Ulster this months afterwards, with the mutual consent
year; to quell some sedition which had been of their parents, to his brother Henry, who
raised against his nephew, Tyrlogh O'Neill. was then but twelve years old; a dispensaHe took the castle of Kinard, in which he tion being sought for their marriage;  The
placed a garrison, and gave the command of death of Arthur was soon followed by that
it to Tyrlogh, A. D. 1500.  The king, who of his mother, queen Elizabeth, whose
was always inclined to mercy, pardoned the virtues made her an ornament to her sex,
inhabitants of Cork, in the month of August, and the age in which she lived.
and extended their privileges by a new    About this time there was a great mortality
charter. This generous act was followed by among the cattle in Ireland, and frequent
one equally barbarous and cruel on the part seditions broke out in Ulster, which were
of David Barry, archdeacon of Cork and accompanied by murders.  In the month of
Cloyne.  He assassinated his brother, Wil- April, 1503, the earl of Kildare was ordered
liam Barry; but his crime did not long es- to repair to England, both to give an account
cape punishment; he was arrested, and put of the state of affairs in Treland, and to reto death by Thomas Barry, and his body, ceive freshinstructions relative to the governafter having lain twenty days in the earth, ment of the country. The earl having ended
was taken up and publicly burned, by order his business at court, was sent back with
of the earl of Desmond.                  honor, and continued in his rank of deputy.
Domnal O'Fallon, of the order of St. He resumed on his return the reins of governFrancis, and bishop of Derry, died at this ment, which he had confided in his absence
time, having governed that see for fifteen to William Fitzsimons, archbishop of Dublin.
years; he was the most celebrated prelate   Towards the end of autumn, the lordof the church of Ireland in his time, for his deputy undertook an expedition into Ulster,
erudition and preaching.  He particularly where he destroyed the castle of Belfast.
excelled in the latter, which he exercised He next entered Carrickfergus, and placed
with applause, throughout the island, for a garrison in the castle; the command of
thirty years.                            which he confided to one Staunton, and
A general peace prevailed in 1501, in the then returned to Dublin.
provinces of Leinster and Munster, while   At this time, Theobald Burke, lord of
Connaught and Ulster became a prey to Muskry Cuirk, in Munster, was killed in a
sedition.  The fort of Sligo, in Connaught, skirmish by Donagh O'Carrol. and Cornelius
was scaled and taken by the troops of Rory, O'Dwyer.  About the same time, Malachy
son of Tirlogh O'Connor, surnamed Cur- O'Kelly, and some of the Burkes, who had
ragh. The discord which prevailed between
the nobility of Ulster, caused several of them   * Crterum Henricus septimus de medicorum
to perish by the sword. The O'Neills gave concilio caveret ut gravis qunedam Matrona in eodern
battle to the Scotch, by whom they were at- cum illis thalamo sociata, videret, ne carne conjuntacked.  It was fatal to the latter, who lost gerentur, eb qubd Arthurus decimurn quintum netatis
four of their captains, of the tribe of the annum vix dum attingens, ex lento praeterea morbo
M'Donnels, and about sixty soldiers.     tuabos, ex ha migravit psta quindterus densem confec-his. A
William Shioy, or Joy, who was appointed lib. 1, page 2.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           385
taken his part, were defeated in Connaught by his commentaries on' Universality.' He
by Ulysses Burke.                       published also a dictionary of the holy scripOn the 18th of February following, after tures." Possevinus speaks of him in the folthe death of his brother Arthur, Henry, lowing manner:*-" Maurice, an Irishman,
duke of York, was created, according to a minorite and archbishop of Tuam, comcustom, prince of Wales and earl of Ches- posed a dictionary of the holy scriptures,
ter.  Ten days afterwards, Gerald, son of which was first printed at Venice, in 1603,
the earl of Kildare, was appointed treasurer by John Anthony and James Francis, by
of Ireland, and took the oath in presence of order of the most illustrious Matthew Zane,
the deputy and council, in Dublin.      patriarch of Venice; but what remains of it
David Creagh, a native of Limerick, and at present does not go beyond the letter E.
archbishop of Cashel, died at this time, and inclusive. Besides this, he explains, by comwassucceededbyMauriceFitzgerald.During mentaries, the whole doctrine of Scot, part
the episcopacy of David, the earl of Kildare of which was printed at Venice, by Simon de
caused St. Patrick's cathedral, in Cashel, to Luere, in 1500. In his exposition of Scot,
be burned; but it is a strange fact, that the the theorems were published at Venice, in
complaint which the bishop made of it to the 1514, by Lazare Soard.  His' Enchiridion
king was rejected, although the earl acknow- of the Faith,' was published 1509, by Octaledged himself guilty. When asked why he vianus Scotus." John Grace also published
had committed so great a sacrilege, he re- a work of this author, entitled " Reportata."
plied, swearing by his God, that he had done It is said that he wrote the " Life of John
so, thinking that the prelate was in the Scot," witha book of distinctions, whichbechurch. The king, it seems, found sufficient longs to the Franciscans at Ravenna. He is
merit in his answer, not only to grant him thought to have been author of an abridgment
his pardon, but likewise to repose confidence of truth, in verse, and a work on Porphyrius,
in him, by appointing him deputy of Ireland. published at Venice, in 1519.  Nicholas
Philip Pinson, an Englishman, of the order Maguire, bishop of Leighlin, wrote a chroof St. Francis, and lecturer in theology, was nicle at this time, which was of much benefit
appointed to the archbishopric of Tuam by to Thadeus Dowling in composing his Anthe pope, at the solicitation of Henry VII.* nals.  He also wrote the life of his predeThis prelate never went thither, having died cessor, Milo, and began other works, which
of the plague at Rome, three days after his his death prevented him from completing.
election. Two years after the death of Philip,   Some houses were founded at this time for
the archbishopric of Tuam was given to the third order of Franciscans. The convent
Maurice O'Fihely, or Mauritius de Porter, a of Kil O'Donnel was built in the beginning
man celebrated for his learning. He is men- of this century by O'Donnel, prince of Tyrtioned by John Camus, in the following connel.  There were two other convents
words:-" Maurice h Porter," says he, " a belonging to this order, in the same district;
native of Ireland, of the order of St. Francis, one at Killybeg, a seaport, built by M'Sweewas celebratedforhisprofound knowledge in ny Banach; the other at Fanegara, by
theology,logic, philosophy, and metaphysics. M'Sweeny Panid, both Irish noblemen.t
It is impossible to give an idea of his polite,  Ulysses Burke, commonly called M'Wiland at the same time holy and religious con- liam, lord of Clanricard, in Connaught, made
versation. Having taught the sciences with great preparations this year for some expedigeneral approbation during many years, in tion, the object of which could not be discovthe university of Padua, he was nominated ered.  He made a league with other lords
by Pope Julian II. to the archbishopric of of his name, with Tirlagh O'Brien, prince of
Tuam, whither he repaired, Italy being at Thuomond, Mebrony O'Carrol, of Eile, and
the time a prey to the calamities of war. He other noblemen in the south, with whom he
died, however, soon after his arrival, deeply began his campaign. Intelligence having
regretted by the learned world, having just been sent to the deputy, he collected all his
atained his fiftiethyear. Heleftmanymonu- forces and advanced towards Connaught,
ments of his learning, in manuscript, which attended by several of the nobles of Meath;
were not published, on account of his prema- namely, Viscount Gormanstown, the barons
ture death."  Francis Gonzaga also makes of Slane, Delvin, Killeen, Howth, Trimlesmention of him.t  "Maurice, an Irishman," town, and Dunsany. John Blake, mayor of
says he, " revived the doctrine of John Scot, Dublin, with his archers, and the inhabitants
* War. de Archiepise. Tuam. War. de Script.  * In Apparat. Sacro.
Hib. in 35, cap. Solini.                  t War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 26. Allemand, Hist.
t De Origin. Francise. part 1,.p. 88.  Monast. d'Irlande.
49




o88                         IHISTORY OF IRELAND.
of Drogheda; O'Donnel, O'Reilly, O'Ferral, surrendered before his arrival in Tyrone. He
bishop of Ardagh and lord of Annaly, (Long- proceeded then against Omey, which he took
ford,) besides other chiefs, also joined the by assault, and haditrazedto the ground, after
deputy. Both armies having met, on the restoring Arthur, son of Conn O'Neill, to
19th of August, A. D. 1504,within a few miles liberty, who had been a prisoner in the fort.
of Galway, at a place called Knock To, or   At this time, a convent for Observantine
Knock Tuah, which implies the "1Mount of Franciscans was founded at Cruleagh, or
Axes," the action began, and the ground was Balli-Rourk, in the district of Leitrim, fordisputed for some hours, with equal loss on merly Brefny, by O'Rourk, lord of that
both sides; but the Connaught army having country.*
at length lost ground, were routed, with the   This was the last year of the reign and
loss of two thousand men; and the deputy life of Henry VII. HI-e was first attacked
was victorious. His loss is not known. Ac- by the gout, and afterwards by a cold and
cording to the book of Howth, says Ware, disease of his lungs; and died at Richmond
that of the vanquished amounted to nine palace on the 22d of April,inthe fifty-second
thousand men; and in the white book of the year of his age, and twenty-fourth of his
exchequer, it is alleged that not one Eng- reign.  He was interred with pomp at Westlishman was wounded in the deputy's army. minster. This prince was considered wise
Ware, however, rejects both statements as and valiant, and ranked among the best kings
incredible. After this victory the deputy laid that have ruled over England. If we except
the country waste, and made himself master a few acts of cruelty, which he had, perhaps,
of the towns of Galway and Athenry, and thought necessary to maintain himself upon
carried off considerable booty. He also took the throne, he was naturally inclined to clethe two sons of Ulysses prisoners; but the mency.  For the fair sex he manifested infather escapedby flight. On his return, the difference, and for every bodily pleasure, to
earl distributed thirty barrels of wine among which persons in his station too generally
the soldiers who fought with him.  It is think themselves entitled.  His respect for
affirmed by some, that this battle, in which religion appears from the confidence which
so many lives were lost, was caused by a he placed in the clergy, whose advice he folprivate dispute that occurred between the lowed in his most important undertakings.
deputy and Clanricard.  However this may He was, from his youth, frugal without avabe, the king rewarded the deputy, by making rice; though this vice gained strength in his
him a knight of the garter.             latter years, to the injury of his subjects,
Fitzsimons, archbishop of Dublin, was which must be ascribed to his weakness.
sent over to England, some time after this, Finding his death approach, however, he
by the deputy and council, to give to the ordered by his will, that all the money which
king an account of his success, and on other his officers had raised unjustly in his name,
matters of state.  This prelate acquitted should be restored.
himself in the discharge of his commission,
to the satisfaction of all parties.
A plague raged in Ireland during this
year, and was particularly malignant in Ulster. It interrupted the synod which the           CHAPTER XXXI.
archbishop of Armagh had convened, first at
Drogheda, and afterwards at Ardee. The  HENRvYII.being dead,his only son,Henary,
plague was followed by a famine, caused by in whose person were united the claims of
continued rains in the sunruer and autumn of the houses of York and Lancaster, succeeded
1505. The year following, a disastrous fire, to the throne of his ancestors on the 22d of
caused by lightning, consuined the town of April, 1509, at the age of eighteen years.t
Trim, at that time the most considerable in Having performed the funeral ceremonies of
Meath. In October, 1508, the lord-deputy his father, he married Catherine of Aragon,
convened a parliament in Dublin, in which his brother Arthur's widow, on the 3d of
subsidies were granted to the king, by taxing June following, (a dispensation being obthe lands according to their produce.  tained from Pope Julian II.,) and was soThe deputy proceeded on another expedi- lenmly crowned with her, on the 24th of
tion into Ulster, at the solicitation of his re- the same month, in St. Peter's church, Westlations,the O'Neills, to assist them in recov- minster, by William Warham, archbishop
ering the forts of Dungannon and Omey,,   War. de Antiq. Hib. cap. 26. Allemand, Hist.
which had been seized upon by their ene- Monast. d'Irlande.
mies, A. D. 1509. The fort of Dungannon   t Polydor. Virgil. Anglic. Hist. li.  27.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            387
of Canterbury, to the great satisfaction of army being loaded with. their spoils and
the whole kingdom.*                      plunder, he was attacked in his retreat, at
Henry applied himself so assiduously to Monetrar, in the county of Limerick, by the
study in his youth, that he was considered enemy, headed by James, eldest son of
the most learned prince in Europe.  On Maurice earl of Desmond, Tirlagh O'Brien,
coming to the throne, he chose the most prince of Thuomond, and M'WVilliam of the
grave and wise among the nobles to be his family of the B3urkes.  The action was
counsellors; by whose aid he matured still bloody, and the loss was very considerable,
more his capability for government, and sub- particularly on the side of the royalists, who
mitted his authority to their prudence on owed their safety to the darkness of the
many occasions.  The greatness of this night, which concealed them from their purprince's mind, the beauty of his person, his suers.
munificence, courage, and other great quali-   Robert Evers, prior of St. John of Jeruties, seemed to promise a happier and more salem, in Ireland, after an administration of
brilliant reign than that of which he has left thirteen years, was recalled at this time, A. D.
so awful and disgusting a picture to posterity.. 1511,* by order of the grand master, resiThe beginning of his reign, when kings dent in the island of Rhodes, for which no
generally display their best qualities, by per- cause is given by historians.  They merely
forming acts of clemency, in order to make mention that he was appointed to the comfavorable impressions upon their people, was, mandery of Slebich, in the county of Pemhowever, stained by the death of Delapool, broke, in Wales, and that he was succeeded
earl of Suffolk: that nobleman, who was in the priory of Ireland by John Rawson,
detained a prisoner for a considerable time an Englishman, who was afterwards made
under the preceding reign, having died on a member of the king's privy council.
the scaffold by order of the new king. His   At this time Walter Fitzsimons, archtreasures soon became exhausted in tourna- bishop of Dublin, died.  He was a graduate
ments, balls, masquerades, and other amuse- in canon and civil law, a subtle philosopher,
ments suited to a young prince who'wished and profound theologian.t  He had been
to immortalize himself by the splendor of grand chorister of St. Patrick's cathedral,
his court; and finding himself forced to from which situation he was raised by Pope
supply the deficiency of his finances, sacri- Sixtus IV. to the archiepiscopal dignity;
lege, and usurpation of the goods of others, had held the office of deputy under the duke
were, ere long, resorted to by him.      of Bedford, viceroy of Ireland, and was
On his accession to the throne, Henry afterwards chancellor. This prelate having
found the earl of Kildare intrusted with the governed the church of Dublin for twentygovernment of Ireland, as deputy.  Not seven years, died at Finglass, two miles from
wishing to make any change in this country, the city, and was interred in St. Patrick's
that prince appointed him, by letters patent, cathedral.  After the death of this prelate,
to exercise the functions of lord-justice; Richard Skerrett, prior of Christ's cathedral,
having informed him of the death of his took, according to custom, possession of the
father, Henry VII., and his own succession crosier, of which he was the guardian in
to the crown.  All the other state officers virtue of his benefice, to give to his succeshe likewise confirmed in their respective sor, whose name was William Rokeby.
posts, in consequence of which Henry VIII.   Caher, or Charles O'Connor, prince of
was proclaimed in Dublin, and all the other Offaly, was assassinated at this time, near
towns in the English province, king of Eng- the Franciscan convent of Monaster-Feoris,
land and France, and lord of Ireland.    in the district of Offaly.  A son was born
The earl of Kildare undertook an expe- this year to Henry VIII. and Catherine of
dition this year, A. D. 1510, into Munster, in Aragon. He was called Henry. His death,
which he was unsuccessful.t  Having col- which took place a few days after his birth,
lected the troops of Dublin, Meath, Kildare, was the cause of great sorrow, particularly
and Louth, and being joined by Hugh to his parents.
O'Donnel, prince of Tyrconnel, he directed   The earl of Kildare marched at the head
his march towards that province, where he of his army into Ulster, A. D. 1512, where
took some strong places in the district of he took, and razed to the ground, the castle
Desmond, and laid the whole country waste, of Belfast, which had been recently rebuilt.
without meeting any opposition; but his History makes no mention of the earl's hav* Baker, Chron. on the reign of Henry VII.
War. de Annal. Hib. reg. Henry VIII., cap. 1.  1 Ware, ibid. cap. 3.
i; HIiggins' Short View.                     t War. de Archiepisc. Dubliniens.




388                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
ing met with resistance in this expedition; him, representing that the public having ache therefore burned and pillaged the coun- cused him of being opposed to his governtry with impunity, and carried away con- ment, he was desirous of coming to an exsiderable booty, which he distributed among planation upon the subject.  For this purhis soldiers.                           pose he proposed to meet him in Dublin, in
We must mention in this place the names order to clear himself in his presence, at a
of two great writers: Thomas Brown, a public assembly, of these false imputations.
secular priest, who wrote the life of Nicho- Kildare readily acceded to it.  Ormond set
las Maguire, bishop of Leighlin, to whom out on his march, at the head of an army,
he was chaplain;* and Thomas Fich, a for Dublin, and took up his quarters in the
regular, and sub-prior of Christ's church, abbey of Thomas-court, one of the suburbs
Dublin, who wrote a book on the affairs of of the city. The deputy and council were
that church, called the " White Book."    not less alarmed than the inhabitants of
There were other writers also at this time. Dublin, at the approach of these troops,
Philip  Flatisbury, of John's-town, near who committed dreadful excesses upon their
Naas, in the county of Kildare, according march.  Ormond, however, appearing to
to Stanihurst,t wrote some chronicles at the have nothing hostile in view, sent to inform
request of Gerald, earl of Kildare.  Ware, the deputy of his arrival; told him he was
who has compared these chronicles with ready to perform all that he had promised
those written by Pembrige, alleges that they in his letter, and that no uneasiness need be
are the same, and that Flatisbury made only apprehended on account of the troops.  Ile
a transcript of them  with some additions. knew, he said, that evil-minded persons had
George Cogley, notary and register of the cast imputations on his conduct; but he
bishopric of Meath, wrote a catalogue of the trusted to be able to exculpate himself on
prelates of that see, from Simon Rochford, the first opportunity, in the opinion of his
who was the first English bishop of it, to highness.  The earl of Kildare, who was
the time of Hugh Inge, of whom this author flattered by this communication, sent word
was contemporary.                       to the earl of Ormond to repair, on a day
A monk of the Cistertian order, belonging appointed, to St. Patrick's cathedral, that
to the abbey of Duiske, in the county of they might treat together; but instead of
Kilkenny, wrote the Annals of Ireland, by seeking measures of reconciliation, the earls
order of his abbot, Charles Cavenagh, which began their conference by reciprocal abuse,
he continued till the time of the suppression and their example was followed by the
of monasteries.  He inserted them after- people.  The citizens had an altercation
wards in the registry of the charters of this with the troops of Ormond, respecting the
abbey.                                  tyranny and oppression they exercised in
Two convents for the third order of St. the city and the suburbs. In the mean time,
Francis, were founded this year in Ireland: a company of armed archers entered, who
one at Slane, in the county of Meath, by increased the confusion, by endeavoring to
Christopher Fleming, baron of Slane, and kill the earl of Ormond, as the principal
his wife Elizabeth Stukely; the other at cause of the disturbance. The earl, seeing
Bunamargy, in the county of Antrim, by a the danger he was in, hastened into the
M'Donnel, of the house of Antrim.t      chapter-house, and shut himself up, by closJealousy, the certain and usual source of ing the door after him. He was pursued
discord, still prevailed between the Fitz- by the earl of Kildare, who promised, on his
geralds of Kildare and the Butlers of Or- word of honor, that nothing mischievous
mond. These noblemen having embraced should occur to him.  Ormond, however,
opposite parties in the wars between York having asked him for his hand, as a security
and Lancaster, their greatness depended on for his life, a hole was cut in the door, and
the success of those rival houses.~ - Ormond the two noblemen shook hands through it,
beheld with displeasure the government of as a token of being reconciled.  This ludiIreland vested in the house of Kildare; of crous scene is mentioned by Cox, and Holwhich feeling the deputy was aware, but ingshed, an English writer. The church
yet was not sufficiently guarded against his having been profaned in this sedition by the
artifice. Ormond wrote a polite letter to blood of some persons who had been killed,
and disrespect manifested for the images,
X War. ibid. cap. 4.                  which were pierced with arrows, a legate
t War. de Scrip. Hib. cap. 7.         w
t War. de Antiq. Hib. c. 2. Allemand, Hist. was deputed by the pope to have the whole
Monast. d'Irlande.                      affair investigated.  As a penance, and to
~ Cox, Hib. Anglic. p. 232.           expiate the sacrilege thus committed, he




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           389
commanded that the lord-mayor should walk   Octavianus de Palatio, a native of Florbarefooted through the city, preceded by the ence, and doctor in canon law, was nomiholy sacrament, carried in procession, on nated to the archbishopric of Armagh in,
Corpus Ch-risti day, which penance was 1480, by Pope Sixtus IV.*  He governed
duly performed by that magistrate.      that church,: and held several synods, during
The earl of Kildare, who was continually thirty-three years. His death took place at
intent on great designs against the Irish, an advanced age, and he was interred in the
collected all his forces, and began his march church of Drogheda. His successor was
in August, 1513, towards Eile, the country John Kite.
of the O'Carrols;* but having fallen sick- In order to check the inroads which the
at Athy, he was removed to Kildare, where Irish were making on the English province,
he. died on the 3d of September. His body the earl of Kildare advanced with his army
was brought to Dublin, and honorably in- into the district of Leix, and defeated the
terred in Christ's cathedral, to which he O'Morras, A. D. 1514; he then passed through
had been a benefactor.  The army being Brefney, where he attacked the O'Reillys,
disheartened by the death of their general, killed Hugh their chief, and razed the castle
dispersed immediately; and thus ended the of Cavan to the ground; after which he
projects of this great man, in the midst of burned the surrounding country, and returnhis career, at a time he promised himself ed home loaded with spoil.
most glory and success.                    Kildare having been obliged to go to
Gerald, son of the deceased earl of Kil- England on some affairs of moment, A. D.
dare, being treasurer at that time, was ap- 1515, William Preston, viscount Gormanspointed lord-justice by the council, in place town, was appointed lord-justice during his
of his father, in virtue of the law enacted by absence.t  On his return, he convened, by
parliament in the preceding reign. He was orders of the king, a parliament in Dublin,
afterwards appointed deputy by letters pa- in which the liberties and prerogatives of
tent from the king.  Crompton was made the church and kingdom were confirmed,
chancellor, and Christopher Fleming, baron and subsidies were granted to the crown.
of Slane, treasurer. The other offices were The custom was then abolished which aufilled up with all possible dispatch.   thorized an appeal in suits of law from IreWhile the lords of the English province land to England, in virtue of the privy seal,
were regulating their affairs of state, the unless the plaintiff became responsible to the
Irish were making incursions on their lands: court of chancery in Ireland for the costs
the O'Morras and O'Reillys were up in and expenses of the lawsuit, in the event
arms, and Donald M'Guillin took the fort of a verdict being granted in favor of the
of Dunluse, in Ulster, by assault.      defendant.
This year was remarkable for the death   William Rokeby, archbishop of Dublin,
of two celebrated members of the church of was appointed chancellor of Ireland by letIreland, namely, the archbishops of Tuam ters patent from the king; which office he
and Armagh.                             held till his death.
Maurice O'Fihely, or De Portu, was born   Thomas Butler, earl of Ormond, died in
near Baltimore, in the county of Cork.t He London in the month of August. He had
embraced the order of the Minor Francis- been ambassador to France, and member of
cans, and was educated at Padua, in Italy, the privy council; and took his seat in the
where he became celebrated for his erudition, English parliament in precedence of the
and took the degree of doctor in theology. barons. He was the richest of all the king's
He was promoted to the see of Tuam by subjects: and besides his plate and jewels,
Pope Julian II.,t in which character he at- left forty thousand pounds sterling in ready
tended the two first sessions of the council money.  Having no male children, he beof Lateran.  He came to Ireland the year queathed all the property he possessed in
-following, and having fallen sick on his ar- England, amounting to  thirty thousand
rival -in Galway, he died in the month of pounds sterling per annum, to his two
May, at the age of fifty years, and was in- daughters, Ann and Margaret, the elder of
terred in the convent of his order. We have whom had been married to Sir James St.
already spoken of his learning and literary Leger, and the second to Sir William Bollen,
productions. He was succeeded in the see son of Geoffry Bollen, mayor of London,
of Tuam by Thomas O'Mullalyg or Lally.  by whom she had Sir Thomas Bollen, so
* War. ibid, cap. 5.:t War. de Archiepisc. Tuamens.  X         War. de Archiepisc. Ardmach.
t Biny, Concil. I. 9.                   t War. ibid. c. 7.




l390                          HISTORY {OF IRELAND.
well known under Henry VIII. The earl's of Aragon, cwho died in their infancy-; and
property in Ireland, with the Ormond title, likewise a daughter called Mary, born at
reverted to Pierce Butler of Carrick, his heir Greenwich, A. D. 1517, who afterwards bein a collateral line; but the king, some time came queen of England.* The education of
afterwards, made him resign it in favor of this princess was confided to Margaret, niece
Sir Thomas Bollen, and created him earl of of Edward IV., a virtuous lady, and mother
Ossory. Bollen having died without an heir, of Reginald, afterwards Cardinal Pole. Mathe title of Ormond was restored to Butler, ry was declared princess of Wales, and heirwho thereupon resigned that of Ossory.   ess to the crown, by the king her father, who
The lord-deputy was continually intent on sent her, attended by a brilliant coutrt, to
conquering the Irish. In 1516 he entered Wales, to assume the government of that
the district of Imayle in the county of Wick- principality. She was sought for in marriage
low, at the head of his troops, where he killed by many of the neighboring kings and princes
Shane O'Tool in battle, and sent his head A. D. 1518. Oneof the conditionsof the peace
to the mayor of Dublin.*  He then marched concluded by Henry with France, after the
into the territory of Eile against O'Carrol, battle of the spurs, and the taking of Thewhere he was joined by such of the nobility rouane and Tournay, was, that the dauphin
of Leinster and Munster as were of English of France should marry the princess Mary,
descent; among whom were Pierce Butler, who was then only two years old, so soon
earl of Ormond, and James, eldest son of'as she should be marriageable.
the earl of Desmond. With these reinforce-   The inheritance of Thomas Butler, earl
ments he penetrated still further, and laid of Ormond, was warmly disputed between
siege to the castle of Lemevan, which he Pierce Butler of Carrick and Sir James Ortook after a siege of ten days, the garrison mond, each of whom declared himself his
having abandoned and dismantled it. In- heir. Although the right of Pierce was inflated with pride and confidence from these disputable, his grandfather, Edmond Butler,
successes, he marched with all possible dili- having been cousin-german to the deceased
gence towards the town of Clonmel, situated earl Thomas; still, James Ormond, natural
on the river Suire; the inhabitants of which, son of John. Butler, brother to the last earl,
terrified at his approach, surrendered on cer- and a popular character, who had held for.
tain conditions. The campaign being thus some time'the office of treasurer of Ireland,
ended, he returned home with hostages and took possession of the entire property, leavprisoners. The following year, 1517, Kil- ing nothing to the lawful heir, who had
dare carried the war into Ulster. He enter- married Margaret, sister of the earl of Kiled the district of Lecale, and surprised the dare. The dispute was at length terminated
fort of Dundrum, from which the English by the death of James Ormond, who was
had been driven by the Irish some time be- killed between Dromore and Kilkenny by
fore.t He took Phelim M'Gennis prisoner his opponent, who by this means recovered
in an engagement in which he lost several his right.
I of his men, and burned the neighboring vil-   Rokeby, archbishop of Dublin and chanlages.  He then marched to Tyrone, which cellor of Ireland, convened a provincial syhe laid waste, and burned the fort of Dun- nod in Dublin, the canons of which are to
gannon; and having enriched himself with be met with in the registry of the bishopric
booty in this expedition, returned to Dublin. of Ossory. Some differences having arisen
A desire for plunder induced the inhabi- between Arthur O'Neill, a prince of the
tants of Dublin to collect in bodies at this house of Tyrone, and O'Dogharty, O'Neill
time. They went out of the city well armed marched into the peninsula of Inis-Owen,
to ravage the territory of Imale, in the county the country of O'Dogharty, where he put
of Wicklow, but were soon put to flight, with all to fire and sword.
considerable loss, by the sept of the O'Tools,  The great authority of the earl of Kildare,
who pursued them to their very gates. The who was still deputy in Ireland, created enecoldness of the weather caused hostilities mies for him, who left nothing undone to
to cease for some time; the frost being so render him suspected bythe court of London.
intense that the rivers were frozen over, and He was accused, A. D. 15.19, of having govsupported the heaviest carriages, a circum- erned unjustly, and particularly of having
stance which seldom occurs in Ireland.    enriched himself by appropriating the reveHenry VIII. had three sons by Catherine nues and lands of the crown to his own use,
* Ware, ibid. cap. 88.        * Sander. do Schis. Anglic. Edit. Ingolstad.
t War. ibid. cap. 9.        lib. 1, p. 4, et seq.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           391and of having tried to conciliate the friend- several priories and.other benefices.  So
ship of the Irish, so as to attach them to his great was the splendor to whichl he attained,
interests. The influence of Cardinal Wolsey that he kept an almost incredible number of
was made use of, to oblige him to go to officers and servants in his household; and
England, in order to clear himself of these when sent by the king as an ambassador to
charges. Previous,however,to his departure, the court of France, he brought with him,
he substituted in his place, with the king's in his train, twelve hundred horses, eighty
permission, -Maurice, son of Thomas Fitz- chariots, sixty mules, and other parts of his
gerald of Lackagh, his relative, with the title retinue in proportion.  Splendor cannot be
of lord-justice.  The earl having presented supported without wealth, and Wolsey was
himself at court, his case was examined into insatiable in his pursuit of it. Man generally
before the council: during which investiga- possesses many passions, but one usuallypretion he married Elizabeth Grey, daughter of ponderates. in which the others seem to centhe marquis of Dorset. This alliance having tre. The cardinal's ruling passion was amprocured him friends in England, he was bition.  He aspired to nothing less than the
restored to the king's favor. whom he accom- papal chair, for which object he sought to
panied to France, and was present at -the obtain the friendship and influence of Charles
interview between the kings of France and V.*  This emperor, who looked upon him
England, which took place near Calais, be- as necessary to aid him in carrying his plans
tween Ardres and Guisnes, at a place called into effect, began to display much regard
the field of the Cloth of Gold, from the towards him by a frequent correspondence,
splendor of the meeting of the two princes. and in the letters which he wrote, he signed
At this time Cardinal Wolsey possessed himself, " Charles your son and relation."
the unbounded confidence of the king:* The emperor gave him cause to hope that he
having from being a man of obscure origin, would use his influence to have him elected
become the most powerful subject in the to the see of St. Peter, on the death of Leo
kingdom.  This prelate, called Thomas at X., provided, however, that he would influhis baptism, was the son of a butcher at ence the king of England to unite with him
Ipswich in Suffolk. He was educated at Ox- in a war, offensive and defensive, against
ford, in Magdalen college, where he evinced France.  The cardinal endeavored to fulfil
a particular fondness for study. His fortune these conditions, but finding his hopes fruswas first raised by the marquis of Dorset, trated upon the death of Pope Leo, by the
who gave him a living. His second patron election of Adrian VI., at the recommendawas John Naphant, treasurer of Calais, who tion of Charles,whose preceptor he hadbeen,
presentedhim to HenryVII., whichmonarch he thought it prudent to dissemble for a
having a matter of importance to negotiate while, and await. the death of Adrian. He
with the Emperor Maximilian, intrusted Wol- then discovered that this prince had no longer
sey, who was then his chaplain, with his the same regard for him, and that, after
dispatches. So promptly was this cornmission Francis I. had been taken at the battle of
performed, that Wolsey had returned to Pavia, he wrote to him but seldom, and in a
England, when it was supposed he could hand different from  his own, subscribing
scarcely have arrived at the imperial court. himself simply, "Charles." He accordingly
The king was so pleased with the success of formed a plan of being revenged, by espoushis envoy, that he conferred upon him the ing the cause of France; which was the real
deanery of Lincoin, and subsequently made motive for the pains which Wolsey took to
him his almoner, which office he held on the procure the divorce of Catherine of Aragon,
accession of Henry VIII. to the throne. queen of England, and maternal aunt of
The favor of this prince he secured to him- Charles V. As we shall have frequent occaself so well that he was appointed a member sion to speak of the cardinal, we have thought
of his council, and successively bishop of this digression necessary, in order to eluciTournay, Lincoln, archbishop of York, and date his character, and make it known. In
lastly, cardinal and legate, chancellorof Eng- the sequel we shall witness his fall and ruin.
land, and bishop of Winchester.  He was   Wolsey having represented to the king
abbot of the convent of St. Alban's, and pos- that his affairs in Ireland were too much
sessed likewise the revenues of the episcopal neglected, and that it was of absolute necessees of Bath, Worcester, and Hereford,whieh sity to confide the government of it to a man
heheld like farms from foreign titularbishops, of impartiality, wholly unconnected with the
who did not reside in the kingdom; besides factions by which that country was torn, and
* Baker's Chron. on the Reign of Henry VIII.  * Sanderus, ibid. lib. 1, page 8.




392                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
which caused so much blood to flow, recom- was necessary to grant them the privileges. of
mended and caused Thomas Howard, earl of the law. He then sent him a more extended
Surrey, to be appointed, less, however, it is commission, with the power of creating
said, through love for this nobleman, than knights, and ordered him to confer the degree
hatred for the earl of Kildare.         of knighthood upon O'Neill and other Irish
The earl of Surrey, lord-admiral of Eng- noblemen; and also to propose a marriage
land and Ireland, and knight of the garter, between the son of the earl of Ormond. and
having been nominated lord-lieutenant of the daughter of Sir Thomas Bollen. Lastly,
Ireland, A. D.1520,1anded in Dublin theweek the king sent O'Neill a gold collar, as a pledge
before Pentecost, with his wife, daughter of of his friendship, and wrote to the deputy to
Edward duke of Buckingham.*  He was endeavor to induce him to go to court.
escorted by one hundred men as a guard, and   Maurice, son of Thomas Fitzgerald of
a thousand soldiers, cavalry and infantry. Lackagh, of whom we have already spoken,
This viceroy had no sooner assumed the reins was killed in an engagement, bythe O'Morras
of government, than he received intelligence of Leix; the cause of which is not mentioned
that Conn Backagh O'Neill, prince of Tyrone, by historians. Maurice, earl of Desmond,
was advancing at the head of an army, to having died, James, his son and successor,
devastate the county of Meath, which was repaired to Waterford to the lord-deputy,
not in a state to defend itself.t  Hoping to who labored with success to effect a reconsignalize the beginning of his administration ciliation between the houses of Desmond and
by a victory, the governor collected the pro- Ormond.
vincial troops, with those he had brought   Two convents were founded at this time
from England, and marched towards Slane; in the county of Antrim, for friars of the
but O'Neill had already returned to Ulster. third order of St. Francis; one at Masserin,
Paulus Jovius asserts that the prince of Ulster by O'Neill, another at Limbeg, by M'Donhad four thousand cavalry and twelve thou- nel of Antrim.*
sand infantry, and that the viceroy, not deem-   The O'Bymes, of Wicklow, having taken
ing it prudent to attack him, endeavored to up arms, the earl of Surrey marched against
conciliate him by presents.  The truth is, them with a formidable army, A. D. 1521;
that O'Neill made his peace with the king but he had no difficulty in reducing a lightby letters, and was restored to favor.  armed, and inexperienced soldiery, his army
Surrey wrote to Wolsey in the month of being superior both in numbers and miliSeptember, to inform him that some soldiers tary discipline. He disbanded the company
who were taken as pirates upon the coasts, of Bulmer, consisting of fifty horsemen, for
were thrown into prison; but complained to having shown marks of cowardice in this
him that his commission did not authorize expedition.
him to have them put to death. In order to   The deputy convened a parliament in
make the cardinalhis friend, he informed him Dublin, in the month of June, in which laws
that the earl of Kildare was fomenting a re- were made relative to the state.of affairs at
bellion in Ireland, and that he had written that time.t It was enacted that the burning of
for that end some letters to O'Carroll; and houses or ricks of corn, either through design
that the country would be lost if he were or premeditated malice, should be subject to,permitted to return. He added, that so great the same punishment as felony. The exportwas the scarcity of provisions in Ireland, that ation of flocks and of wool was prohibited,
a soldier could not subsist himself on four under the penalty of a fine and confiscation.
pence a day, and asked that a penny might It was enacted, likewise, that from the small
be added to their pay.                  number of subjects in the counties subject to
This address from the deputy to Wolsey, the laws of England, a man worth ten marks
was, perhaps, the cause of a letter which the a year might be appointed a juror on public
king wrote to him in the month of October trials.  This parliament, which was several
following.S  This prince, who began to dis- times prorogued, terminated its sittings in
cover that it was imprudent, and even unjust, the month of May following.
to endeavor to make the Irish pass for ene'  The deputy having received intelligence
mies in their own country, informed him that in Dublin, that the O'Morras, O'Connors
in order to keep peace with them, and intro- Faly, O'Carrolls, and other Irish chieftains,
duce a form of government among them, it were threatening the frontiers of the English.1 Wareibid. cap. 12.         province, gave orders to have his forces col[ Ware, ibid. cap. 12.
t Cox, History of Ireland, on the reign of Henry  * War. de Antiq. Hib. Allemand, Hist. Monast.
VIII.                                   d'Irlande.
t Cox, History of Ireland, page 209.    t War. ibid. cap. 13.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          393
lected. He intended both to repel the enemy English army, whose superior numbers were
and revenge at the same time the death of a just cause of alarm. They resolved thereMaurice, son of Thomas Fitzgerald, who fore to act on the defensive, and to fight rehad been killed the preceding year by the treating; by which both parties sustained
O'Morras. The deputy was soon joined by considerable loss.  Among the English,
the militia of Dublin and Drogheda, under Edward Plunket, lord of Dunsany, in that
the command of the mayors of those cities, county, whose descendants have since borne
and several noblemen followed by their vas- the title of barons of Dunsany,'was found
sals, to whom a few Irish nobles, with their among the slain.
light cavalry, were also added. All these   About this time, Aodh, or Hugh O'Dontroops being joined to the forces which the nel, prince Tyrconnel, returned from a pildeputy had brought from England, and sup- grimage to Rome, and made a truce with the
ported with some pieces of cannon, which king of England. He wrote some letters on
were not at that time made use of by the this occasion to the deputy, promising to asIrish, formed an army that was more than sist him against his enemies. The deputy
equal to put down men that were badly armed. received his proposal gladly, calculating
Notwithstanding this, the English make a upon his alliance, and that of O'Neill, who
boast of their victories. All things being provided him with four hundred horse, and
prepared, the deputy marched at tile head twelve hundred light-armed troops. An exof his army towards the district of Leix. pedition was now undertaken against O'MaThe Irish troops were divided into compa- laghlin of Clonlolan, a powerful nobleman,
nies, headed by their respective chiefs. descended from the kings of Meath.* O'Neill
This was done apparently with a view of and O'Donnel were tile chiefs of two rival
harassing the enemy, as theywere not strong houses in Ulster, as M'Carty and O'Brien
enough to face them in a body. One of these were in Munster. These noblemen were
detachments made avigorous attack upon the often known to sacrifice every thing, even
baggage of the enemy, and put a body of the welfare of their country, to their private
English who were guarding it to flight; but resentments. O'Donnel, finding his neighbeing promptly relieved by the enemy, the bor and friend ready to fall, under the united
Irish lost the glory of this action, and the efforts of the deputy and Tyrone, thought
hope of a rich spoil. An accident which oc- it prudent, notwithstanding the peace he
curred to the deputy, proved the danger he had lately concluded with the former, to
would incur by penetrating the district of cause a diversion in favor of O'Malaghlin;
Leix. As he was passing a defile at the and for this purpose he invaded Tyrone,
head of his army, a musket-shot was fired at whereby O'Neill was forced to abandon his
him, which, but for his helmet, must have ally, in order to defend his own patrimony,
been fatal. The man who fired it was put by which means the enterprise against
to death upon the spot. The deputy not find- O'Malaghlin proved abortive.
ing himself secure, turned his arms towards   A war broke out at the same time in MunOffaly, and laid siege to a monastery called ster, between Cormac Mac-Carthy of MusMonlaster-Feoris, where O'Connor kept a kerry, commonly called Cormac Oge Lader,
garrison. The walls of the convent could not and James, earl of Desmond.t  William
long withstand the battering of three pieces of Rokeby, archbishop of Dublin, and other
cannon, and the garrison, alarmed at this new commissioners, were deputed to settle their
mode of carrying on a siege, escaped dur- differences, and repaired for that purpose to
ing the night, and abandoned the place to the Waterford, but their efforts failed, as Desdeputy, who left a detachment to guard it. mond would hear of no settlement, but conWith the rest of the troops he laid the neigh- tinued to pillage and lay waste the lands of
boring countrywaste. Little booty, however, M'Carty. The latter was a brave and powwas found in it, as O'Connor took care to have erful nobleman; and being joined by Macall the corn, cattle, and everything necessary Carty Riagh, the O'Mahonys, and other lords
for the subsistence of an army, carried away. of Carbry, he met the earl near the monasIn the mean time O'Connor, with O'Car- tery of Morn, otherwise More, or Ballinarol, and other allies, made incursions into mony, which was a commandery belonging
Meath, either to create a diversion or to be to the order of Malta, between Mallow and
revenged for the tyranny that was exercised Cork. A sanguinary engagement took place
over them, and thereby prevent the English in. September, between these noblemen and
in that country from uniting with the deputy.
However this may have been, they found           * Camd. Brit. page 754.
themselves, on their return, in front of the     t Ware, ibid. c. 13.
50




394                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
the earl, which was fatal to him; his uncles self to a religion which he should, from his
John and Gerald were made prisoners, and station, have supported even with the loss of
more than a thousand of his men fell on the life; it is, on the other hand, edifying to see a
field of battle; the earl, however, saved king acting the part of a divine in its defence.
himself by flight.                        Before the beginning of the fifth century,
John Kite, a native of London, having all the nations of Europe were united in the
held the commission of legate or ambassador same worship, the same sacrifice, the same
for Henry VIII., in Spain, was appointed to sacraments, and in subordination to the same
the archbishopric of Armagh in 1513, by head in matters of religion. Though there
Pope Leo X.*  This prelate, says our au- were a few sects who differed in some points
thor, was celebrated for his hospitality and from the common faith, such as the Vaudois
the goodness of his table.. He resigned the in the valleys of Piedmont, the Lollards in
see of Armagh in 1521, and was succeeded England, and the disciples of John Huss in
by George Cromer.                       Bohemia; still they were but obscure characAbout this time William Rokeby, the arch- ters,whose influence could make little impresbishop of Dublin, died.t He was first nomi- sion against the unity in religion, and submisnated to the bishopric of Meath in 1507, by sion to the legitimate authority of the church,
Julian II., and admitted the same year into which prevailed at the time. Martin Luther,
the council of Henry VII. In 1511 he was of Wirtemberg in Saxony, and a friar of the
removed to the archbishopric of JDublin by order of St. Augustin, was more successful.
the. same pope, and was afterwards made Being jealous of the preference which'Leo
chancellor of Ireland. He convened a pro- X. had given to the Dominicans, by allowing
vincial synod, the statutes of which are in the them to preach certain indulgences,he began
Red Book of the church of Ossory.  His in 1517 to excite controversies, and refute
body was interred in St. Patrick's cathedral, those indulgences, together with other points
and his heart brought to England, and depos- of the Catholic tenets in religion. Being conited in the tomb of his ancestors. His suc- demned in a bull issued by the pope in 1520,
cessor in the see of Dublin was Hlugh Inge. he no longer kept any terms with the holy
The earl of Surrey, lord-deputy of Ireland, see. He was, as he himself acknowledges
finding it impossible to reduce the Irish, or in the preface to his works at Wirtemberg,
support himself honorably in the government alone in the beginning, and diffident of sucof the country for want of money, (the trea- ceeding, but finding himself supported by
sury in England being exhausted,) solicited Andrew Carlostad, archdeacon of WirtenmCardinal Wolseyto have him recalled, which berg, and Philip Melancthon, professor of
request was granted him.  He returned to Greek in that university, who embraced his
England with all his family, and the troops doctrine, and protected by his sovereign, the
he had taken with him. By order of the king, elector of Saxony, he removed the mask, and
Piers, or Peter Butler, earl of Ormond, his used his pen in publishing the most heinous
friend, was appointed deputy in his stead. and calumnious attacks upon the spouse of
Surrey was kindly received, on his return, by Jesus Christ, and the pope, whom he termed
the king, and appointed to the command of Antichrist.  In 1525 he married Catherine
his fleet in the war against France. Ormond, Boren, a nun, who found means to escape
finding that the Irish forces were considera- from her convent, in defiance of the solemn
bly weakened by the departure of the Eng- vows of chastity they had both made when
lish troops, and dreading an invasion from the embracing the monastic life; imitating thereScotch, requested the cardinal to order that in Carlostad, who had married some time
six ships of war should cruize between Ire- previously.  Their example was followed,
land and Scotland, to act as a check upon in this respect, by most of the early preachthat ueople.                            ers of the Protestant religion. These new
reformers first took the name of Evangelicals; as heretics always boast of the authority of the Scriptures and the holy fathers,
CHAP3TER XXXII.               and, by forced interpretations, make them
WE have now arrived at the period of the appear to favor their own views. They
fall of religion in many of the states of Eu- were afterwards called Protestants in 1529,
rope, and of the glory of Henry VIII. king from the protest made by six princes of the
of England. If it be painful to behold an empire, and fourteen towns, when the diet of
ambitious and profligate monk oppose him- Spires had published a decree against them.*
* War de Archiep. Ardmach.
t~ Idem. de Archiep. Dubliniens.    * Sleidan, lib. 6. Osiander. lib. 2, cap. 9.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           396
Luther was specially protected by Philip, by Zuingle. They did not consult together,
landgrave-of Hesse, to whom this false apos- and all pursued different ways, particularly
tie gave permission to keep two wives at the in what related to transubstantiation and the
same time; and his doctrine spread itself real presence: on these points neither they
through the north of Germany, the king- nor their disciples could agree. Calvin havedoms of Denmark and Sweden, and a part ing got precedence to Zuingle, added some
of Poland. Avarice and cupidity had a con- articles to the doctrine of the latter, respectsiderable share in their sudden conversion.* ing predestination and freedom of the will,
Frederick I. having dethroned his nephew &c.; so that their differences having inChristiern II., began his reign in Denmark creased, the breach became irreparable, and
in 1522, and introduced Lutheranism into the cause was followed up on both sides so
that kingdom, through the ministry of Bu- warmly, that they sought'less after the truth
genhage, a Lutheran of Pomerania.  All than the victory. The religion having been
the bishops who would not subscribe to the again changed in 1528," continues Heylin,*
reformed tenets, were dispossessed, and " in the canton of Berne, by Viret and Farelothers nominated in their stead, whose lus, two Zuinglian preachers, the same thing
power and revenues were considerably less- was attempted in Geneva, where they inened. The same system took place in Swe- sinuated themselves into the minds of the
den in 1523. King Christiern was expelled people to such a degree, that the bishop and
by Gustavus Eric, through the influence of iclergy, who were opposed to their proceedPeter Nevicius, a Lutheran.t The Lutheran ings, were forced, by a rising of the people,
religion was established in the country by to leave the city."  A few fanatics, under
the new king, with the intention of appro- the name of reformers, are generally suffipriating the revenues of the church to his cient to impose upon the populace, and
own purposes. They were therefore siezed drive them to acts of outrage; as they are
upon, and a law enacted by which the pro- easily seduced by appearances, and are not
perties of bishops became dependent on the upon their guard against that spirit of amking's will. Dantzic was the first city in bition and revolt against legal authority, by
Poland which received the doctrine of Lu- which these false teachers are actuated and
ther; and in so tumultuous a manner was urged on.  " They changed," says Heylin,
this effected, that the common council was " the doctrine and discipline established in
suddenly changed by the patrons of the new the church, overthrew the government of the
religion. The churches were profaned and state, and renounced, under the pretext of
stripped of their ornaments, the priests and liberty, that allegiance which they had proother religious persons shamefully abused, inised to their prince.  Their conduct was,
the mass abolished, and every thing changed however, approved of by Calvin, who afterthrough the fury of these innovators.  It wards came to settle among them."  Our
was thus they had their gospel preached by author speaks in the same place, of the ecclethe populace in other towns of Germany.  siastical discipline of Presbyterianism, introIn this manner did the doctrine of Luther duced by Calvin into the church of Geneva,
spread itself in the north, while Zuingle, a and thence extended to wherever Calvinism
priest of Zurich, CEcolampadius, a monk was received; "a discipline, (sayshe,) which
of Basle, in Switzerland, and a few others, was engendered in rebellion, born insedition,
preached a different doctrine, which drew and nurtured by faction."  He says again,
upon them  the censures of Luther, who speaking of these reformers,t "'Ratherthan
termed them fanatics, heretics, and blasphe- see their discipline rejected, and episcopacy
mers, men possessed by the devil, and who left unannihilated in all Christian churches,
sinned against the Holy Ghost, &c. John they determined to depose kings, to destroy
Calvin, a priest, and native of Noyon in kingdoms, and overthrow the fundamental
Picardy, came to their assistance.  He em- constitution of states.  Their ambition led
braced the doctrine of Zuingle, which he them to commit these excesses, by affecting
reformed by the addition of some articles a sort of supremacy in their parishes, and
respecting the real presence, predestination, creating lords in the inheritance of God,
free will, &c.  "While the Lutherans," under pretence of placing Jesus Christ upon
says Heylin, an English Protestant writer,t his throne. This passion for pre-eminence
"were acting their part in Germany, another induced them to use violent invectives against
party began to appear in Switzerland, headed the bishops, whom they not only refused to,
* Heylin. Cosmog. edit. 5, page 106.
t Idem. Cosmog. page 140.                    Cosmog. lib. 2, page 136.
t Cosmog. Jib. 2, page 36.




396                         HISTORY OF IRELAND.
receive, but expelled all those who acknow- not content with their first usurpations,
ledged them from their churches. This am- sought incessantly the opportunity of exbition in the ordinary ministers of parishes, tending their possessions, at the expense of
was artfully fomented by some of the higher their neighbors.  M'Giolla Phadruig, or
clergy, and the lay patrons, who all had their Fitzpatrick, lord of Ossory, and neighbor to
own respective interests inl view; some to the Butlers, having had some cause of disincrease their fortunes by despoiling the pleasure against Peter Butler, earl of Orbishops, and others to apply to their own use mond, who was then deputy, sent his cointhe tenth of the benefices, of which they plaint to the king of England, threatening
were only the depositaries. Such was the to declare war against him in case he should
artifice made use of to spread. the doctrine refuse to punish Red Peter. The faithful
of Calvin.                             messenger, meeting the king on his way to
This new doctrine, which, from its author, mass, spoke to him in the following words,
was called Calvinism, was received into which are mentioned in the book of Howth,
Switzerland, and some provinces of France, and are too remarkable to be omitted: " Stop,
parts of Germany, Hungary, Bohemia, and my lord king," said he; "my lord M'Giolla
Poland, the united provinces of Holland, Phadruig has sent me to tell you, that if you
and Scotland, where it was introduced by do not chastise Red Peter, he will declare
John Knox and his associates.          war against you."
The Catholic theologians testified their  At this time the plague depopulated Limzeal in refuting these new teachers. The erick and its environs;* David Comin, mayor
first and principal writers against Luther, of the city, was among the number of those
were Eckius, Cochlaeus, and Faber, in Ger- who fell victims to it. He was succeeded
many; Silvester de Prieris, general of the in office by Nicholas Arthur. This year
Dominicans in Italy; the theologians of was remarkable for the taking of the island
Paris and Louvain, in France and Flanders; of Rhodes, which surrendered on Christmas
Fisher, bishop of Salisbury, and Sir Thomas day, to Soliman XI., emperor of the Turks,
More, in England. But the most celebrated after a vigorous defence of some months, by
antagonist of this heresiarch was Henry the knights of St. John of Jerusalem.
VIII., who wrote a book against the Baby-  The earl of Kildare having returned from
lonian captivity, entitled the " Assertion of England, A. D. 1523, invaded, by the permisthe Seven Sacraments," which he dedicated sion of the earl of Ormond, who was deputy,
to Pope Leo X. This work gained him the the territory of Leix, attended by his troops,
glorious title of Defender of the Faith, which and the inhabitants of Dublin, under the
his holiness conferred on him by a bull, command of John Fitzsimon, mayor of the
dated St. Peter's, Rome, the 11th of Octo- city.' Having burned a few villages, he fell
ber, and signed by twenty-seven cardinals into an ambuscade, which had been preand bishops.                           pared for him by the O'Morras, in which he
Leo X. died in the December following. sustained a heavy loss, but considered himHe was succeeded by Adrian VI., a native self fortunate in having escaped with a porof Holland, who had been preceptor of tion of his army.
Charles V., and was elected while viceroy   The old enmities which formerlyprevailed
in Spain, before the arrival of Richard between the earl of Kildare and Ormond,
Pacey, dean of St. Paul's, London, whom his brother-in-law, broke out anew about
Wolsey had sent to interfere in his own this time. James Fitzgerald had not a little
behalf.                                contributed to this. He was the favorite
Though the earl of Surrey brought back of Kildare, and having met, near Ballymore,
his troops to England, tranquillity prevailed with Robert Talbot of Belgard, who was
in the English'province, A. D. 1522. It was going to spend the Christmas at Kilkenny
not so in the north of Ireland, where two with the deputy, of whom he was suspected
powerful and rival princes, O'Neill and to have been the spy, he murdered him.
O'Donnel, were continually at war. After Ormond, who was justly incensed by this
some engagements, O'Neill invaded the cruel act, committed through hatred towards
district of Tirconnel, where he committed himself, sent his complaints to court against
dreadful devastations, and burned Ballyshan- Kildare, whom he accused of various crimes.
non castle, the principal place in that dis-  Maurice Fitzgerald, archbishop of Cashel,
trict, situated at the mouth of Lough Earne, died this year.t  He was nominated to that
while O'Donnel was desolating Tyrone, from
which he carried away many prisoners.           * Ware, ibid. cap. 14.
The English who had settled in Ireland,      t Ware, de Arch. Cassill.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          397
see in 1504, by Pope Julian II. He con- a treaty of alliance with some of their chiefs.*
vened a synod at Limerick, the statutes of James Fitzgerald, earl of Desmond, was then
which were inserted inthe registryofThomas a powerful lord in Munster. From the situaPurcel, formerly bishop of Lismore and Wa- tion of his estates in the south of the island,
terford. His successor was Edmond Butler. he was more contiguous to France than the
In this year also Gerald Cavanagh died. He others, and although a natural subject of the
was chief of his tribe, and descended from king of England, either through an ambition
the kings of Leinster; and was much es- of reigning, or a spirit of revenge for the
teemed among the Irish.  His heir, Mau- death of his ancestor, who had been unjustly
rice Cavanagh, succeeded him inhis estates; beheaded at Drogheda, he was the first to
who having died with his two sons, Dermod express his dissatisfaction towards the Engand Donogh, Charles Cavanagh succeeded lish government. He entered into the views
to their inheritance.                   of the French monarch, who concluded a
The court of London did not forget the confederacy with him on the 20th of June,
accusations that were made, the preceding 1523; the original act is in the " Charmbre
year, by the deputy against the earl of Kil- des Comptes" in Paris, wherein he is styled
dare, A. D. 1524.*  It is said that, at the James, earl of Munster, and prince of Iresolicitation of the marquis of Dorset, Kil- land. Terdelach O'Brien, hereditary prince
dare's father-in-law, the king appointed com- of Thuomond, was included in this treaty, by
missioners, with full power to examine into which Francis bound himself, among other
the affair. The commissioners were, Sir things, to make no peace or truce with Henry
Ralph Egerton, Sir Anthony Fitzherbert, VIII.,withoutincluding the earl of Desmond
and James Denton, dean of Lichfield; who and Lord Theodore, or Terdelach O'Brien
arrived in Dublin in the month of June, and and his family. This treaty, however, was
having heard the case of both earls, Ormond not observed afterwards. Many princes and
was superseded, and Kildare appointed to noblemen in Ireland would willingly have
succeed him. The earl having taken the joined in it, but there was not time. Francis
oath usual on these occasions, the sword of I. was taken prisoner at Pavia, and a peace
state was carried before him by his relative, concludedtheyearfollowing between France
Conn O'Neill.  They then repaired to the and England, in which the earl of Desmond
abbey of St. Thomas, after which the corn- was not included, since Henry VIII. had
missioners, with many noblemen, were orders dispatched to the earl of Kildare, who
sumptuously entertained by Kildare.     was deputy, to have him arrested for high
After this the commissioners returned to treason.
England, bringing James Fitzgerald, whom   The earl of Desmond had no legitimate
we have -already mentioned, a prisoner with son; and but one daughter called Jane, who
them. This nobleman was given up to Car- was married to the earl of Ormond, and was
dinal Wolsey, the implacable enemy of the mother to Earl Thomas Butler, a knight of
Fitzgeralds.  In order to load him with still the order of the garter, and a favorite of
greater ignominy, he was brought to prison Queen Elizabeth.t  The earl of Desmond
through the streets of London, with a rope was suspected, according to the author of
around his neck. Fitzgerald, however, after the account of the Geraldines, of keeping up
a short time, obtained, through the inter- a secret correspondence with the Emperor
ference of Denton, dean of Lichfield, the Charles V., king of Spain. Ile flattered
king's pardon, and was set at liberty, in op- himself that this emperor would give him his
position to the cardinal.               daughter in marriage, which would enable
The Emperor Charles V., and HenryVIII., him to have Ireland invaded by foreign
king of England,having entered into a league troops.  There appears to be an error in
against Francis I., resolved to attack him on this account, and that the author has substiall sides. To defend himself, Francis made tuted Charles V. for Francis I., who had
iall the alliances he could against them. The concluded a treaty with the earl, in 1523.
duke of Albania was sent to Scotland to Through the intrigues of Cardinal Wolsey,
create a diversion in that quarter;t and be- the avowed enemy of the nobility, and paring aware too, that the Irish had long and ticularly opposed to the Fitzgeralds, Desreluctantly borne the dominion of the Eng- mond was summoned to appear, and give an
lish, and that they supported a vigorous and account of his conduct. The cardinal's power
just warfare against them, Francis proposed caused diffidence in the earl, and being afraid
W Wlare, de Annal. cap. 16.        * Ware, de Annal. Hib. cap. 16.
t Relat. Giraldis. traduc. Francoise de l'Abb6
t Baker, Chron. Engl. p. 271.    Je,. 1  t e
Joubert, p. 16, et. seq.




'398                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
to submit to the order, he objected to the   The earl of Kildare was summoned this
trial. The king therefore sent his commands year to appear before the council in England,
to the earl of Kildare, viceroy of Ireland, to to, render an account of his administration,
have Desmond arrested, and immediately and answer to the several charges of which
sent to England.  The non-execution of the he stood accused;* the principal were, 1st,
royal mandate was, as we shall presently having neglected the orders which the king
see, the cause of Kildare's disgrace.   had given him to arrest the earl of Desmond;
In obedience to the king's commands, the 2d, having made an alliance with the hostile
deputy marched at the head of his troops Irish; 3d, having caused many good and
towards Munster, without meeting Desmond, faithful subjects to be hanged, whose only
which circumstance gave rise to a suspicion crime was having been favored by the family
of his being partial to the earl, who was his of the Butlers; 4th, holding a secret correkinsman.- It is even asserted that Kildare spondence with O'Neill, O'Connor, and other
had enlisted the O'Byrnes of Wicklow in enemies, and of having excited them to make
Desmond's interest, and that he wrote to the incursions on the lands of the earl of Orlatter, proposing an interview with him in mond, when he was deputy.
the district of Ossory, which letter was in-   Before his departure for England, Kildare
tercepted by the intrigues of Wolsey.   nominated his brother, Thomas Fitzgerald
The earl of Kildare and Conn O'Neill, of Leixlip, deputy in his place.  Kildare's
prince of Tyrone, with their united forces, chief adversaries were Cardinal Wolsey and
entered the country of Tirconnel, deter- the earl of Ormond, who possessed sufficient
mined on making war against Manus O'Don- authorityto send him a prisoner to the tower,
nel, prince of that district; but receiving from whence he was afterwards brought beintelligence that Hugh O'Neill, Conn's rival, fore the council to be heard. The cardinal
I was levying troops in Tyrone during their performed the part of a lawyer, and pleaded
absence, they made a truce with O'Donnel, against him; but the earl was a man of great
marched against Hugh O'Neill, and gave discernment, and was beloved by several of
him battle, which he lost, together with his the lords who composed the council, so that
life. John Barnwell, baron of Trimlestown, the cardinal, finding it impossible to have
was at this time appointed vice-treasurer of him condemned, adjourned the matter to
Ireland.                                another day, and in the mean time the earl
The continual rains in the autumn.of 1525 was sent back to the tower. The cardinal,
caused a great scarcity of provisions that who only sought the opportunity of destroyyear in Ireland, and the drought of the sum- ing him, having received fresh informations
mer was followed by a plague which carried respecting the secret understanding of the
off numbers, particularly in the neighbor- earl with O'Neill and O'Connor, sent orders
hood of Dublin.                         to the lieutenant of the tower to have him
At this time Cardinal Wolsey set the first executed. This officer, who was greatly
example of suppressing monasteries in Eng- attached to the earl, did not fail to commuland.*  This ambitious prelate, wishing to nicate to him the order he had just received
immortalize his name by some public monu- from the cardinal: on which the earl prement, obtained permission from the king to vailed on him to go immediately and learn
establish two colleges, one at Oxford and the the king's will in the affair. The monarch
other at Ipswich, and likewise to suppress was both surprised and indignant at such
forty monasteries, the wealth and revenues conduct; he forbid all further proceedings
of which were afterwards applied to the against the earl; and as a proof of it he
building and support of these colleges; a gave his ring to the lieutenant of the tower,
pernicious example, says Baker, though a with orders to show it to the cardinal.  The
Protestant, which the kind imitated, by sup- earl was then set at liberty on bail of several
pressing all religious houses in the kingdom. of the nobles, and was reinstated in the
Discord still prevailed between Conn king's favor, who soon afterwards restored
O'Neill of Tyrone, and Manus O'Donnel of him to his former dignities.
Tirconnel, A. D. 1526. Those two princes   Thomas Fitzgerald, of Leixlip, who had
wishing to make the earl of Kildare the ar- exercised the functions of deputy during the
bitrator of their differences, repaired to him. earl's absence, was replaced by Richard NuEach, however, being resolved on establish- gent, baron of Delvin, A. D. 1527. The earls
ing his own claim, they separated without of Kildare and Ormond, whose private quarcoming to any arrangement.              rels were frequently fatal to Ireland, being
l Bakem, Chron. of England, page 273.          * Ware, ibid. cap. 18.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            399
still in England, it might be imagined that of St. Thomas's, near Dublin. It is not
their absence would produce tranquillity to known whether Delvin obtained his liberty;
the former country; but matters were in too but a law was afterwards enacted, to abolish
disordered a state, and private interests too these contributions which the English colmuch at variance, to admit of it.        onists had to pay to the Irish.
This year was remarkable for the taking   A contagious disorder, called Sudor Anof the capital of Hungary, and the greater glicus, broke out this year in Ireland, and
part of that kingdom by the Turks, to the proved fatal to many; Hugh Inge, archdisgrace of the Christian princes by whose bishop of Dublin, and chancellor -of Ireland,
disunion it was caused.                  having among others fallen a victim to it.*
Peter Butler, who had till this time borne This prelate was celebrated for his probity
the title of earl of Ormond, was solemnly and morals; he was succeeded by John Alcreated at Windsor, earl of Ossory.*  In len, chaplain to Cardinal WVolsey, and one
order to please the king, he resigned the of those who had abetted him in the supearldom of Ormond, in favor of Sir Thomas pression of the forty monasteries.  The
Bollen, viscount of Rochfort, who was after- cardinal had him raised to this dignity, in
wards created earl of Wiltshire and Ormond. order to make an instrument of him,' to
We have already seen, in the reign of destroy the earl of Kildare.
Henry VI., that the English who had been   The vindictive and turbulent disposition
settled in Ireland, were obliged, in order to of the earl was the ultimate cause of his ruin.
preserve peace, to pay a tribute to some of He could not bring himself to forgive the
the Irish chieftains.t Either on account of earl of Ossory, between whom and himself
this tribute being paid, or on some other the old enmities still existed.  Kildare sent
ground, O'Connor attacked the frontiers of his daughter Alicia, wife of the baron of
the English province, from whence he car- Slane, who was then at Newington, to Ireried ofi considerable booty, A. D. 1528. The land, to influence his brothers and his friends
deputy not being sufficiently strong to tale the O'Neills, O'Connors, and others, secretly
revenge for this insult, gave orders to dis- to oppose the deputy.  She unfortunately
continue the tribute which had been paid to succeeded in her mission; the possessions of
that nobleman.  O'Connor, who was but lit- the deputy and his adherents were laid waste
tie pleased with this order, having met the and pillaged without mercy; conduct which
deputy at the castle of Sir William Darcy, principally produced the dreadful disasters
near Ruthen, surprised him in an ambus- which afterwards befell her father and his
cade, nmade him his prisoner, with several of family.
his followers, and put the rest to the sword.   Terdelach O'Brien, prince of Thuomond,
The baron of Delvin being a prisoner, died this year, greatly regretted by his counthe council of the king appointed Peter But- trymen.  He was succeeded by Concovar,
ler, earl of Ossory, to succeed him.  On the or Cornelius, his son, from -whom Donat, or
arrival of the new deputy in Dublin, he was Donough O'Brien, who was created earl of
joined by O'Morra, O'Carrol, and one of Thuomond, was descended.
the O'Connors; and having taken the usual   Henry VIII., (who was at one time the
oath, in the abbey of the Blessed Virgin, he friend of the emperor, and at another of the
sent Walter Wellesley,: prior of Conally, king of France,) having at this time made
and Sir Walter de la Hide, to O'Connor, peace withFrancis I.,quarrelled withCharles
to solicit the liberty of Delvin.  Their mis- V. The political grounds assigned for this
sion,however, was unsuccessful; whereupon rupture were, the cruelties practised  by
the deputy and council issued a proclama- the imperial army in Rome, against the
tion, dated the 25th of February following, pope andhis cardinals; the severe conditions
for the continuance of O'Connor's pension. which were imposed on Francis by Charles,
This deed was signed by the earl of Ossory, as a ransom for his freedom; and lastly, the
who was lord-deputy, the barons of Howth, repugnance which the emperor began to
Killeen, Trimleston, and Dunsany,thejudges evince for the marriage he was to have conof the courts, andthe lord chief baron. The tracted with the princess Mary, Henry's
clergy by whom it was signed were, John daughter.t  Other secret reasons, however,
Allen, the intended archbishop of Dublin, are also assigned for it, viz.-the rising greatand chancellor of Ireland, Edmond, abbot ness of the emperor, and his haughtiness
of Baltinglass, and James Cotterell, abbot after his conquests in Italy, conduct which
* Nichol's Rudiments of Honor, respecting the generally gives umbrage to neighboring
earls of Arran.                                * War. de Archiepisc. Dubliniens.
t War. ibid. c. 20.                          t Baker, Chron. of Engl. p. 275.




400                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
princes.  The hatred also of Cardinal Wol- tions to maintain peace between the earls of
sey for the emperor, who had refused him the Kildare, Desmond, and Ossory, in order that
archbishopric of Toledo, might have had a they might support the common cause against
share in it. However this might have been, the Irish; to act always on the defensive,
the emperor sent Gonzaga Fernandez to and undertake nothing without the advice of
Ireland, to the earl of Desmond, to stir up a the council; to assist the earl of Kildare in
rebellion against Henry.* The instructions his enterprises against the natives; to diof this ambassador, dated Toledo, the 24th minish the exactions for the army; to tax
February, were to treat on certain condi- the church lands in order to defray part of
tions, with these words-" illustrissimo el the public expenses; and lastly, to convene
conde de Desmond;" but this negotiation a parliament, and procure subsidies for the
ended without any result, in consequence of king.
the death of the earl, which took place at   Edmond Butler, archbishop of Cashel,
Dingle on the 18th of June following.    convened about this time, a provincial synod
Two religious houses were founded about in Limerick, at which Nicholas Comine,
this time in Ireland, which are perhaps the bishop of Lismore and Waterford, John
last that were established in this country, as Coin, bishop of Limerick, and James O'Corthe suppression of monasteries, not only in rin, bishop of Killaloe, were present.  By
England, but also in Ireland, took place soon this synod the magistracy of Limerick were
after.                                   invested with power to arrest ecclesiastics
According to Herrera and Father Lubin, for debt, without incurring excommunicathere was a convent founded in Waterford tion.  The inferior clergy, who looked
in 1629, dedicated to St. Catherine, for her- upon this decree as injurious to them, and
mits of St. Augustin.t  Both are, however, contrary to ecclesiastical privileges, proin error in this statement. There was no tested strongly against-it.
mention in 1629 of building convents in Ire-   The lord-deputy began his expedition in
land, but rather of destroying them, as this the district of Leix, against O'Morra; laid
was the commencementof Charles I.'s reign, the country waste, and carried away considwho succeeded three or four kings or queens erable booty.*  He then turned his arms
under whom all the convents were destroyed. against Ulster, accompanied by the earl of
The schismatic Henry VIII. was the first to Kildare, notwithstanding that jealousies had
put them down, but his son Edward, who already begun to arise between them.  IIe
was a Protestant, continued the destruction; destroyed the castle of Kinard, laid the
his sister Mary's reign was too short to re- neighboring districts waste, and  burned
store them: Elizabeth and James I. expelled several villages, after which he returned
both monks and friars from every house in loaded with booty. The pretended reformawhich they were established throughout the tion of the morals of the Irish, was a spethree kingdoms. The like persecution con- cious pretext made use of by these new
tinued under Charles I., which makes it pro- comers to satisfy their rapacity after wealth.
bable that the date of the above foundation The succors which they received from
should have been 1529 instead of 1629.   England from time to time in men and money,
Ware mentions a house for Franciscans enabled them to extend their possessions at
to have been founded in 1530 at Lisgavail, the expense of the Irish, and the private inon the banks of lake Earne, in the county terest of their chiefs was always held in
of Fermanagh, but does not say who was more consideration than the public good.
its founder.:                               Hugh O'Donnel, prince of Tyrconnel,
Henry Fitzroy, duke of Richmond and alarmed at the devastations which the EngSomerset, the king's natural son, was ap- lish were committing around him, and findpointed viceroy of Ireland, A. D. 1529.  He ing himself incapacitated by sickness from
sent Sir W. Skeffington thither as his deputy, taking the command of his troops, to defend
who arrived in Dublin in the month of Au- his frontiers, sent Conn O'Fraghill, abbot of
gust, with a large sumn of money and two Derry, andRichard O'Grayhan of Drogheda,
hundred horsemen, accompanied by the earl to the deputy, to sue for peace, on condition
of Kildare, who was freed from his embar- of their making a form of submission in his
rassments.  The new deputy was received name, A. D. 1531.t
with every demonstration of joy by the citi-   An English vessel having taken about this
zens of Dublin.  He had received instruce time, a Spanish ship that was fishing near
the Dursy islands, on the coasts of Beare and
Cox, Hist. of Ireland, p. 221.
t Allemand, Hist. Monast. d'Irlande.         * Ware, de Annal. c. 21.
t Ware, de Antiq. Hibern.                    t Ware, ibid. cap. 22, 23.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           401
Bantry, in Munster, Dermod O'Sullivan, tain, and return to Ireland to the assembly
who was lord of that country, considering of Drumkeat; the third contains an account
it an act of hostility against the rights of na- of the remaining part of his life. This work,
tions, put to sea with some vessels in order which was comnposed by the author from
to assist the Spaniard.* Having taken both the ancient monuments of the country, was
ships, he had the Englishman hanged, and abridged and translated into Latin by John
set the Spaniard at liberty.  Cox, as usual, Colgan.
attacks the conduct of O'Sullivan.  " We   Patrick O'Cullen, of the order of St. Aumay," he says, " discover herein how those gustin, and afterwards bishop of Clogher,
men have been disposed towards the Eng- assisted byRoderick Cassidy, archdeacon of
lish, and how loyal to their king, when they his church, wrote a registry of its antiquities,
murder his subjects and assist his enemies." A. D. 1525, with a catalogue of his predeBut what could the English calculate upon cessors.  He also composed a hymn in
from a people whom they never ceased to honor of St. M'Cartin, first bishop of Clopursue with fire and sword?  Could they gher, which was generally sung upon his
venture to rely upon a promise of allegiance festival; the beginning of it is subjoined.*
which was tyrannically extorted from them?   Cassidy, the archdeacon, was a theoloThe ancestors of this nobleman, robbed of gian, canonist, and philosopher, and was
their possessions by the English, found well versed in the antiquities of his country;
themselves under the harsh necessity of he corrected and made considerable addicommitting a dreadful massacre to regain tions to the annals of Ulster.  He died at
their properties; and can it surprise us an advanced age in 1541.
that hatred for the name of an Englishman   Patrick Finglas, an able legislator, was
should have been retained during many gen- nominated chief-baron of the exchequer by
erations in the family of the O'Sullivans?  Henry VIII., and chief-justice of the king's
Discord still continued to prevail be- bench in 1534. He wrote a treatise on the
tween Sir William Skeffington and Fitzger- causes of the miseries of Ireland, and the
ald, earl of Kildare; they were continually manner in which they might be remedied.
forwarding complaints against each other to   Sir William Darcy, a native of Plattin, in
court. The deputy accused Kildare of enor- the county of Louth, and vice-treasurer of
mous crimes; while the latter reproached Ireland, was a wise and learned man. He
the deputy with mal-administration, and suc- had been particularly instrumental in forceeded in having himself nominated to that warding the English interest in Ireland. He
office by the king, instead of his opponent. wrote a book entitled " the fall of Ireland,
Fortune, which seemed to favor Kildare at and the causes that produced it," and died
this juncture, soon afterwards forsook him, at an advanced age, in the year 1540.
as the reader will discover in the sequel.
AI bout this time some writers appeared in
Ireland.t  Theobald Anguilbert, a medical
doctor of the university of Paris, is said to
have written a book entitled " Mensa Phi-          CHAPTER  XXXIII.
losophica," or the philosophical table. It is
a treatise on table-talk, filled with jests and  WVe  have now come to the beginning of
humorous wit.  This book was printed in the schism of Henry VIII. with the church
Paris in 1530, by John de Haisy, and the of Rome, which was attended with the subauthor avows himself an Irishman in his de- version of religion in England. This prince,
dicatory epistle. The work has been falsely who in the opening of his reign held out
ascribed to Michael Scott, a physician, and such flattering hopes for the happiness of his
was printed with his name at Leipsic, in people, turned to abad purpose those admira1603, with the tales of Othomar Luscinius. ble qualities with which God had endowed
Magnus, or Manus, son of Hugh O'Don- him.  His irregularities, and the manner
nel, prince of Tyrconnel, wrote the life of in which he was blinded by his unhappy
St. Columb-Kill, in three books in the Irish amours; the blood which he caused to be
language, about the year 1520.t  The first shed, and the dreadful consequences of his
gives a history of the actions and miracles of marriages,which proved fatal to almost all his
this saint previous to his voyage into Bri- wives, are subjects well known to the world.
tain; the second treats of his mission in Bri- The motive is likewise well understood
* Cox, Hib. Anglic. page 223.          X "Hear us, O Trinity, celebrating this worthy
t Ware, de Script. Hib.              festival, and venerating and praising this holy man
t Colg. Trias. Thaum. Vit. 5, S. Columb.    Maccartinus."
51




402                          HIISTORY OF IRELAND.
which induced him to become the author of married when she becaine a widow.  Her
a new sect, equally detested by Catholics, husband, Arthur, had been prematurely born,
Lutherans, and Sacramentarians. His di- and the physicians we-re of opinion that, in
vorce, after a lapse of twenty years, from consequence, he could not be long-lived.
Catherine of Aragon, the widow  of his His appearance was always delicate and inbrother Arthur, and the marriage which he firm, notwithstanding what Protestant wricontracted with Anne Bollen, or Bullen, be- ters assert; among others, Chancellor Baing condemned by the holy see, he not only con, who says that it was never known with
declared against that authority which con- certainty whether the young prince had condemned him, but by a procedure hitherto summated his marriage, and that on this matunheard of among Christians,- proclaimed tervarious opinionswere put forward, accordhimself both spiritual and temporal head of ing to the prejudices of the different reigns.
the church of England. It was thus that the   The same motives which influenced FerEnglish reformation commenced, of which dinand and Henry to make this alliance still
Burnet has written so ingenious a history, existed, and gave rise to the idea of forming
and one at the same time so replete with a second, by giving Arthur's widow to his
calumnies against the Catholic church.    brother Henry, who was then the only son
As events generallyfollow from a chain of of Henry VII. Rome was applied to for a
circumstances and secondary causes, which dispensation, which was granted by Julius
have a mutual influence one upon the other, TI.  But Henry, who was an avaricious
the source of the changes which took place prince, demanded an increase of dowry with
in England will be discovered in the situa- Catherine, on this, her second marriage,
tion of affairs in Europe at that period, and while Ferdinand insisted that it was already
the opposite interests of its princes. About sufficiently great, and as he was resolved to
the end of the preceding century, the king- give no more money, he demanded back his
doms of Castille and Aragon were united, daug-hter, and required that her dowry, which
and the Moors driven out of Spain. Mary, had been paid, should be restored to him.
the only daughter and heiress of Charles, In the mean time, Henry, who could disduke of Burgundy, brought her extensive cover no more suitable match for his son,
possessions to the house of Austria. Louis resolved on nmaking the most of the new alliXI., king of France, having instituted pro- atnce; and in order to draw Ferdinand into
ceedings for felony against the memory of his views, he obliged his son to protest against
the duke of Burgundy, confiscated the duchy the intended marriage, without, however, inand the county of: Artois, belonging to his tending to push matters further; as he, inl
heiress. Charles d'Anjou, count du Maine, fact, never communicated this protest to
(to whom his uncle, Rene d'Anjou, had given either Ferdinand or Catherine.
Provence,) bequeathed that country, and his   Such was the state in which matters stood
right over Naples and Sicily, to Louis XI. on the demise of Henry VII.  The council
and his son, Charles VIII., (at the instance, of the new king took into their consideration
it is said, of John de Cosse, seneschal of whetherthe marriage would be advantageous
Provence, and Palamede de Forbin, whom for England; whether it was contrary to the
this king appointed constable of it.)  And law of God; and also, whether the pope
lastly, Charles VIII., by marrying the heir- could grant a dispensation, and whether any
ess of Brittany, united that province to his regard should be paid to the protest of the
crown, from which it had been separated intended husband.  All things having been
for so many centuries.                  duly considered, the marriage of Henry and
France, which had thus acquired, without Catherine was celebrated in the month of
any loss of blood, so many provinces, which June, with all possible pomp and magnifihad frequently before borne arms against cence.*
her, became formidable to her neighbors.  The new queen possessed in an eminent
A league was formed between her, England, degree all those private virtues which are
and Austria,' in confirmation of which, Fer- the solid and chief ornaments of her sex.t
dinand of Aragon gave Jane, his second In her piety and attention to her husband she
daughter, in marriage to Philip of Austria, -was exemplary: a love of seclusion and emson of Maximilian, and another of his daugh- ployment were manifest in her whole deters, called Catherine, to Arthur, son of
Henry VII., king of England. These alli-  * Polyd. Virgil. Aug. Hist. lib. 27. Sander. de
ances proved unfortunate. T'he love of Jane Schis. Anglic. edit. Ingoldstad, p. 2, et seq. Baker's
for her husband was so excessive that she Chron. on the reign of Henry VIII.
loist. of the Divorce of enry by Joachim II. and Cath
lost her reason.  Catherine was scarcely erine of Aragon, by Joachim le Grand, tom. 1.




CIRISTIAN IRELAND.                           403
portment, and. she was looked upon as a of priesthood, and the degree of doctor. He
model of wisdom by all.  Her virtue, how- attached himselfto Cardinal Hosius,whom he
ever, had nothing of harshness in it, and she accompanied to Trent, Prussia, Poland, and
possessed a greatness of soul, and an eleva- Lithuania.  On his return he taught theology
tion of mind, which, even more than her at Louvain. Several of his works have been
birth, gained for her universal respect. published; among others, one which has for
Henry himself, even in withdrawing his af- its title, "De Visibili Monarchia Ecclesite,"
fections, still preserved a high esteem for her. that is, "theVisible Monarchy ofthe Church."
This princess had three children of her He attached himself afterwards to Cardinal
marriage with Henry; two sons,.who died Commendon, and to Sega, bishop of Plavery young, and a daughter called Mary, centia, who was afterwards a cardinal. The I
who was afterwards queen.  She had also latter brought him to Augsburg, and from'l
some miscarriages, which caused her much that to Spain, where he left him in the quality i
infirm health, and which proba-bly produced of nuncio.  Sanders labored during these 
displeasure to a husband so abandoned to voyages, and it was while nuncio in Spain,
his passions.                           that he wrote. his hlistory of the schism inl 1
The debaucheries of Henry were generally England.  After this he went, by orders of
well known. Having already seduced some Pope Gregory III., to Ireland, to console the
of the maids of honor belonging to the persecuted Catholics of that country, where i
queen, lie fell in love with Anne Bullen, he died.  In fine, Sanders lived in England
daughter to Thomas Bullen, and a sister of durihg the troubles that were caused by the 1
the duke of Norfolk, who had gone with divorce; where, besides his own knowledge H
Queen Mary, wife of Louis XII., to France, of facts, he had the opportunity of conversing
where she was educated.  She afterwards with many who were equally well informed l
became maid of honor to the Queen Claude, as himself on what had been passing.  We
and after the death of this princess was taken may therefore suppose that he wrote what
into the household of the Duchess d'Alencon, he had seen and heard from people worthy
sister of Francis I., where, it is said, she first of belief, and it is highly improbable that a 
imbibed the principles of Luther's heresy. man of his character and talents would have
We do not here vouch for the truth of-the ventured to impose upon the world by unscandalous narrative which is given by San- founded calumnies, and have published falseders, concerning the birth and conduct of hoods, at a time that many who were living
Anne Bullen, before Henry became enamor- and interested might have refuted him.
ed of her,* namely, that she was the off-  Protestant writers all exclaim against every
spring of Henry's own intercourse with the thing alleged by Sanders disgraceful to the
wife of Thomas Bullen, during the absence supposed reformation.  Some wrote refutaof that nobleman; that she had a sister who tions of his history of the schism, among
was seduced by that monarch; that she be- whom were Doctor Burnet,who appeared one
came a prostitute almost from her infancy, hundred years after him, but who was, howto the master of the household, and the al- ever, confuted altogether by Joachim  le
rmoner of Thomas Bullen, who was sup- Grand, alearned Frenchman,who undertook
posed to be her father; and that having the defence of Sanders against him, and by
gone to the court of France, she was so the celebrated bishop of Meaux, in his
dishonored by Francis I., and his courtiers, "Variations."  Burnet's partiality, and the
that the most infamous names were pub- inaccuracy of his works on the revolution,
licly attached to her, and she was called, says Higgins, an English Protestant author,
"La Ihacquenee Anglaise."               have made him discredited, even by the
There is no reason, however, for denying honorable men of his own party.*
all credence to this historian.  He was an   However this be, on Anne's return to
Englishman by birth, and a cotemporary England she appeared at court, with all thei
witness of some of the facts which he relates. advantages arising from her youth, and her
He was also a man of erudition, having made being niece of one of the prime ministers.t
his studies at Oxford, where he became a It does not appear that she was one of those
bachelor of arts, and was afterwards deemed regular beauties without defect, but she was
worthy to fill the chair of professor of law in very young, and of an agreeable figure; i
that university.  At the time of the persecu- lively in her manners; sung and played on
tion of Catholics by Elizabeth, he was forced many instruments, and danced still better;
to quit his occupation and country.  He
went to Rome, where he received the order    Short View, pages 186,187.
t Heylin, Hist. of the Reformation, on the reign
e De Schismat. Anglic. lib. 1, p. 14-16.    of Elizabeth, page 257, et seq.




404                           HI1S,,TORY OF IRELAND.
so that she easily procured the same rank   Wolsey was still dissatisfied. Not content
with Catherine, as she had enjoyed with with having gained his point respecting the
Queen Claude in France. She was not long interest of the crowned heads, he undertook
at court when she attracted general admira- a measure which he thought likely to give
tion.  Several noblemen fell in love with more personal uneasiness to the emperor.
her.  The monarch himself became enam- This was the celebrated divorce between
ored, and had a marriage broken off that Henry and his queen, (who was the maternal
was about to take place between her and aunt of Charles,) under the pretext that this
Percy, son of the earl of Northumberland. princess should not have been married to the
The divorce of Henry VIII. from Cathe- two brothers; that the marriage was an inrine of Aragon, after a marriage of twenty cestuous one, and the dispensation which had
years, began now to be spoken of.* Cardinal been obtained was null and of no effect. He
Wolsey gave the first hints of it.  The am- first brought over to his views Longland,
bition of this prelate, or rather his desire of bishop of Lincoln, the king's confessor,whom
revenge against a powerful prince by whom he found ready to believe all he wished upon
he had been disappointed in his hopes, was that subject.  He was indeed precisely the
the cause of ruin to himself, danger to his kind of character whom the cardinal should
master, and the fall of religion in his country.t desire for forwarding his designs; being
Ile had been filled with the idea of becoming simple, scrupulous, and possessed of far more
pope.  Charles V. flattered him with this piety than penetration.  He accompanied
hope, in order to interest him in his cause, Wolsey to the king, and said to him, " that
and thereby conciliate the friendship of Eng- his marriage with Catherine gave universal
land towards him; and in spite of Wolsey's scandal; that he considered himself, as his
intelligence, he became a dupe to that prince, confessor, bound in conscience to apprize
who was equally clever as himself.t  Two him of it, and to beg that he would have the
popes died without any mention having been subject investigated by the learned; that it
made of the English cardinalin the conclave, was a duty he owed to himself, and to that
in which Charles possessed sufficient influ- love of justice which he had always testified."
ence to have his preceptor appointed to the This discourse produced some impression on
papal chair. Thenceforward Wolsey turned the king's mind.  Wolsey, delighted that
his thoughts upon revenge. He first gave his Longland had broached the matter, proposed
master to understand that policy required to Henry to break off his alliance with Cahe should unite with Francis I., for his own therine, and marry the duchess dowager
safety against a prince who had become d'Alencon, sister to Francis I.  It was thus
haughty from his conquests in Italy, and the cardinal, unintentionally, laid the founaspired to universal dominion, to which he dation of the greatness of a girl who was to
was advancing with rapid strides.  Henry be one day the cause of his downfall. Anne
was influenced to listen to the advice of his Bullen was not ignorant of the king's passion
minister the more willingly, since having for her.  She counterfeited a virtuous chawritten to Charles V., after the battle of racter, and gave him no hope, but that of
Pavia, to know how he should act, that marrying her, should he succeed in the diprince, dazzled by his own good fortune, vorce proposed to him by the cardinal.
replied that, " he might remain tranquil, as  Henry was unable to resist the solicitations
the stag being secured in his toils, he had to of his minister, the remonstrances of his conhope only for a share of the skin."  By this fessor, and the pretended remorse of his own
answer, Henry perceived that the emperor conscience, which reproached him with a
began already to disregard his alliance, and marriage contrary to the laws of God.  He
he therefore declared himself in favor of the commissioned some of his counsellors to exholy league which had been made between amine its validity, and also a passage in LePope Clement VII., Francis I., and all the viticus, wherein it is forbidden to marry the
princes of Italy, the object of which was to wife of a brother.  These counsellors anprevent the emperor from getting possession swered that Leviticus should be expounded
of the duchy of Milan, and to check his pro- by Deuteronomy.  He then had recourse to
gress in Italy.                          some of the learned theologians in his own
Sander. de  his. Ang. lib. 1, p. 7, et seq.    kingdom, and afterwards to those of other
t Joach. le Grand, ibid. tom. 1, p. 15, et seq. universities of Europe, some of whom were
Abridg. of the Hist. of England, by an anonymous favorable to him. Lastly, he sent to Rome,
author at the Hague, in 1695.  Higgins' Short begging very humbly that the pope would
View.                                    send him a judge competent to bring this
t Hist. of the Revolutions of England, reign of important matter to an end.
Henry VIII. Hist. of the Variations, book 7.   important matter to an end.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           405
Clement VII., who at the time filled the which had been previously granted to her.
papal chair, had. just escaped from the hands On the 18th of the same month, Sampson
of Charles V., by whom he had been detain- and Bell presented the commission which
ed a prisoner.  The holy see was already the king had given them to act in his name;
indebted to the zeal of the king of England, but the queen herself appearing, declared
against the heresies that were springing up, that she could not acknowledge the legates
and the pope in particular, to whom this to be her judges, and demanded the act of
monarch had rendered services during his her protest. Campegio then adjourned their
captivity, was desirous of obliging him. sitting to the 21st, on which day the king
Besides, the king of France supported and queen both appeared. When they were
Henry, by strong solicitations to the holy called, the king answered; but the queen,
see. The pope had promised, that as soon not wishing to reply, threw herself at the
as he should be free with the emperor, he king's feet, and said in the presence of the
would give to his benefactor all the satis- people by whom he was surrounded, " that
faction in his power; and he accordingly she besought him to have mercy on her;
sent over Cardinal Campegio to investigate that she only asked for justice; that she was
the matter with Cardinal Wolsey.        a poor stranger, far from her relatives and
Before the plan of Henry's divorce was friends; that she dared not follow either her
generally known, Francis I. sent Gabriel de own judgment or the advice of her lawyers;
Gramond, bishop of Tarbres, the Viscount that she took God to be her witness,whether
de Turenne, and Le Viste, first president of she were not his real wife; that she had been
Paris and Brittany, as ambassadors to Eng- always faithful to him; that during more than
land.* They had orders to conclude a lasting twenty years of marriage she had been as
peace between the two crowns, and to ask attached to him as woman could be to her
the Princess Mary, only daughter and heiress husband; that she knew not how she could
of Henry VIII., in marriage, either for the have merited his displeasure; that he knew
King Francis I., or the duke of Orleans, his well, if he would but speak according to his
second son. The basis of a peace and an conscience, that he had found her a virgin at
alliance with the Princess 1Mary were agreed her marriage; that she consented to be exupon. The treaty was signed in the month pelled with infamy, if what she advanced
of April; and on Sunday the 5th of May the were not true; that their parents, who were
ambassadors had a farewell audience at wise princes, had not concluded on their
Hampton court, where they were magnifi- marriage without proper investigation; that
cently entertained.  It is affirmed that on among all the able characters by whom they
that day the bishop of Tarbes, urged on, no were surrounded, none had noticed the prodoubt, by the importunate Wolsey, said to tests which were now sought after; that as
the king, that learned men condemned his to herself, she could not discover how her
marriage with Catherine, and that his con- marriage could be called into doubt; that
science and salvation required that it should indeed she had been permitted to have counbe examined into; but it may be supposed sel, but she could repose no confidence in
that Protestant writers had their own views them; that her lawyers and judges were the
in speaking thus of that prelate.       king's subjects; that she could not acknowCardinal Campegio, whom the pope had ledge the authority of the legates; that, in
nominated, in conjunction with Cardinal fine, every thing was to her an object of susWolsey, to investigate the project of the picion: she therefore besought the king that
divorce, having received his instructions he would postpone the proceedings till she
from his holiness, arrived in England in the would hear from Spain; and that if he rebeginning of October.                   fused her that favor, he might act as he
The king appointed, by letters patent, thought proper."  She' then arose, and reRichard Sampson, the dean of his chapel, spectfully retired. She was again called, but
and John Bell, a doctor of law, as his advo- would not return. The whole assembly was
cates and pleaders; to whom are also added moved by her discourse. The king himself
Peter and Trigonel. The queen had already appeared affected, and when she had withchosen William Warham, archbishop of Can- drawn, said, "that he had no complaints to
terbury, Nicholas'West, bishop of Ely, and advance against her; that he was satisfied
some doctors of law, besides John Fisher, with her conduct; and that her virtue could
bishop of Rochester, and Henry Standisi, not be sufficiently admired.  He declared,
bishop of St. Asaph, and doctor in theology, likewise, that he would continue willingly
and others, according to the permission to live with her, if his conscience would:
* Le Grand, ibid. page 17.     permit him."



406                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
The divorce question was frequently de- a letter dated the 9th of July, of his intenbated without anything being concluded on. tions, and without waiting for an answer,
The king, therefore, sent for the two cardi- signed the evocation, of which he informed
nals, in order that they may induce the queen him and Cardintal Wolsey on the 19th.
to leave the matter to his own decision.  As soon as intelligence was received from
They immediately repaired to her, and found Rome that the cause had been transferred
her working with her female attendants. to another tribunal, the king went to Grafton
When she heard Wolsey addressing'her, with Anne Bullen, where Campegio had an
and continuing to speak, " I see clearly," audience previous to his departure.
said she, " that you have come here to de-   Wolsey began already to feel the effects
bate on matters which surpass my capacity." of his impending disgrace.  There were
Then showing a skein of silk which hung different cabals in the court, all of which
upon her neck, " Behold," she continued, tended to his downfall. Those who were
"what I amn capable of, and whait is my sole attached to the queen, considered him as the
occupation." Wolsey entreated her, through author of her ruin. The relatives and parkindness for the king, not to await the result tisans of Anne Bullen were convinced that
of a lawsuit, the issue of which could not be his presence at court was inauspicious to
favorable to her. " I do not know (replied their advancement.  The courtiers themthe queen) who has advised the king to act selves, who had neither God nor any other
as he is now doing. I confess, cardinal, that object in view than the will of their prince,
it is you whom I blame for it. Our parents, appeared to be the cardinal's most deterwho were wise princes, had our marriage mined opposers; and even his own creatures
previously investigated, and obtained from for the most part abandoned him, and adthe pope a dispensation for it, of which I mitted his guilt, when they found that his
hold the original.  The king and I have downfall had commenced.  Anne Bullen
lived for almost eighteen years together, was minutely informed of every crime he had
during which no censure has been cast upon committed during the fifteen years that he
us. Your pride, however, I cannot approve ruled the state with absolute power; all
of; your debaucheries, your tyranny, and which she communicated to the king, who
insolence, I have spoken of. Through the listened to her with pleasure. Orders were
influence of my nephew, the emperor, you dispatched on the 22d of October to Wolsey,
have failed in being appointed pope, which to quit York palace, at present called Whiteis the source of all my misfortunes; since hall, and the usual residence of the kings
in order to be revenged, you have not been of England. He was sent eight leagues from
content with kindling a war throughout all London, to a place called Asher. All his
Europe, but have been likewise the secret furniture and papers were also seized, by
spring and cause of all my misfortunes. which conduct his enemies deprived him of
Every thing that I suffer, cardinal, from this the means of defending himself. The dukes
disgrace, is known to God, who will be your of Norfolk and Suffolk, who were at that
judge and mine."  Wolsey wished to reply, time heads of the council, went to him to
but she would not hear him. Campegio she demand the great seal; but this he refused
treated with politeness, but protested that to surrender without an express order from
she never would acknowledge either one or the king. As there was no difficulty in obthe other as her judges, and would continue taining this, the cardinal only deferred his
in the line of conduct she had adopted. resignation of it for a day or two.  Sir
After the sitting of the 21st of June, she Thomas More, who was, both in principle
refused to appear before the legates. A and integrity of life, the first man then in
judgment by default was obtained against England, was raised to the dignity of lord
her on the 25th, and the examination of the chancellor.
witnesses was commenced.                 The parliament met in London, on the
During the taking of the informations, third of November, and was immediately
the sittings were not discontinued, but were, adjourned to Westminster.  It seemed as if
however, frequently adjourned. The minis- it were convened only for the destruction
ters of Charles V. and of Ferdinand de- of Wolsey, so determined were, his enemies
manded that the matter should be brought against him. They presented a petition to
to a higher tribunal. The pope, who still the king, containing many points of accusafeared to irritate Henry, postponed the sub- tion, and threatened to condemn him as
ject as long as it was possible; but being at guilty of high treason; but his cause was
length unable to refuse any longer a request ably defended by his servant, Thomas Crointhat was so just, he informed that prince, in well, a member of the parliament. They




CHRISTIAN   IRELAND.                           4071
then dismissed the accusations of high trea- were lavished by Fox, Henry's almoner, and
son against him, but he was arraigned under Gardiner, secretary of state, in both the
the law of prcemunire, and declared to be English universities, namely, Cambridge and
out of the king,'s protection.  His property Oxford, to gain their approval of the divorce.
was confiscated, and his arrest was even The Englishbegannrtowtomurmurloudly,and
spolien of.                              it was publicly declared, that in spite of whatSeveral imelmbers of parliament were at- ever might be decided upon, he who married
tached to the new doctrine, and laws were the princess Mary should be king of England.
enacted against the clergy, under pretext Similar sentiments were entertained by the
of their exaction's, which were considerably nobles, who, though they did not express
exaggerated, in order to make them appear themselves so freely, did not think the less
contemptible in the eyes of the people, whose on that account.  The theologians and
minds were thus prepared by degrees for the legislators were as unfavorable to Henry
supposed reformation that had been already as his other subjects.  No one could be
projected.                                found to write in favor of the divorce.
The cardinal experienced very severe   John du Bellay, bishop of Bayonne, and
treatment in the place to which he had re- afterwards of Paris, and subsequently a cartired; being left without clothes, linen, plate, dinal, was sent to England to negotiate
(r money, and so destitute of every thing, affairs with Henry VIII. As he was partial
that were it not for the bishop of Carlisle, to the divorce, he could not fail of being
he must have perished from hunger and dis- well received by the prince.  He was theretress. Having fallen sick at Asher, the king, fore commissioned to conciliate the French
who had still some consideration for him, theologians in favor of Henry, and for that
permitted him to go to Richmond for change purpose returned to France. He first brought
of air; but his enemies, who were jealous of the university of Orleans to publish a dechis being so near the court, importuned laration against the marriage of Catherine of
Henry so strongly, that he gave orders to Aragon, which example was followed, in a
have him removed to his archbishopric of few months, by the university of Toulouse.
York.  Fresh complaints being made to the   The same facility was not to be met with
king, who was accustomed to yield to his in every place.*  The question produced a
flatterers, he ordered Sir Walter Walsh, his great noise among the theologians in Paris.
private chaplain, and the earl of Northumn- Recourse was first had to some doctors who
berland, to arrest him.  This last stroke were easily bribed, and who promised to do
was too heavy for Wolsey to bear.  The every thing that could be desired.  Among
shock and surprise were so powerful, that a these was master Gervais, a man devoted to
dysentery ensued, by which his constitution those who sought for the divorce, and anxious
was soon shattered.  He however set out, also to advance himself at court, and therebut his disease increasing, he was forced to by to make his fortune. Doctor Noel Beda,
stop at Leicester abbey, where he died, and a steady man, and possessing great merit,
was interred the week after his arrival, A. D. throughout opposed the king of England,
1531.                                    for which he was at length driven into exile.
T. he cardinal's death was the commence- No question was ever debated so strongly in
ment of a violent persecution against the the university of Paris, as this.  The king
clergy.  The parliament, which had been of England honored  the theologians so far
so frequently prorogued, met in the month as to write to them with his own hand on
of January.  The clergy were accused of the subject; while his ambassadors expended
having incurred the penalty of the law of large sums of money, seeking and even begproamunire, and immediate submission to ging for suffrages from  door to door.  A
the king, together with the payment of one meeting was at length convened; one party I
hundred thousand pounds sterling, were yielded to Henry in every thing that he
made the sole conditionson which he granted wished, while another declared that they
them his pardon.                         could not deliberate upon the subject, till
When Campegio arrived in England with they would first write to the pope, who had
the pope's sanction for having the subject of already forbidden any one to interfere in a
the divorce investigated, no means were left matter of such moment.  A third party was
untried to obtain the decision of the several then formed, which was desirous of writing 
universities, or the learned men in France to both the king and the pope, and in the,
and England, in its favor.* It is well known meanwhile the deliberations were continued.
what bribes, threats, and sums of money
|I     *.Joachim le Grand, p. 17, et seq.          * Le Grand, ibid. page 175.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  _ _ __ _i




408                          HIISTORY OF IRELAND.
When the votes, however, were being col- commencement of their separation. The king
lected, one doctor, more violent than the again sent several noblemen to exhort her to
others, rose up, and having torn the minutes conform to the law of God, by withdrawing
from the hands of the recorder, destroyed her pretensions, and to inform her, in his
them, and declared that the greater part name, that if she still persisted in her deer-.
would not continue any longer in their dis- mination, she might choose between Oking,
cussions upon the subject. The assembly was Easthamstead, and the monaster y of Bishalm,
hereby thrown into confusion, and conse- -where she should thenceforward reside, and
quently broken up.  Other meetings were not annoy him more by her proceedings.
afterwards held. The faculty prohibited the   God at length permitted that Henry should
doctors from coming to any conclusion re- meet no further opposition to his will. Wilspectingthe divorce. The division that pre- liam Warham, archbishop of Canterbury,
vailed being caused by these men, who, on one of the greatest men that England ever
account of the favors which they hoped to produced, died at this time.. All the flatterers
receive from the king, always avowed them- about the court, who were interested in the
selves favorable to Henry, so that nothing success of Henry's wicked intentions, were
could be decided upon.                  rejoiced at the death of so wise a prelate.
Among the doctors of the university of He was succeeded by Cranmer; and as the
Angers, the ferment was equally great as in latter had a greater share than any other in
Paris.  The faculties of theology and law the pretended reformation of the church of
differed so widely, that both came to opposite England, it is necessary to make his characconclusions on the same day. The faculty of ter known.
law supported the pretensionsof HenryVII.,   Parker, Fox, and Burnet think that Cranand care was taken to make the decision mer was a man of noble rank, though others,
public. But as the theologians were opposed by whom he ought to be better known, do
to him in opinion, their decree was carefully not agree with them.  However, if he were
suppressed, though it was subsequently pub- not, he ought to have been, as those who
lished by Joachim le Grand.'rhe same want are raised by fortune seldom want the means
of union seems to have prevailed in the uni- of becoming ennobled. All that is known
versity of Bourges. It has never been ascer- with certainty of him is, that he was profestained what decisions the universities of Pa- sor in the university of Cambridge; that he
via and Bologna came to upon the subject of was expelled for having married; and that
Henry's divorce. It is, however, generally he was one of the first who wrote in favor
said, that he owed to his authority, to his of the divorce.  From the year 1529, Cranmoney, and to the intrigues of Du Bellay, mer placed himself at the head of the party
all the boasted sanctions of the universities. who wished for Catherine's separation, and
Henry VIII., havingforced from the Eng- the marriage upon which the king was delish and French academies decisions favor- termined with Anne Bullen. In 1530 he
able to his cause, sent some noblemen to the wrote a book against the validity of Cathequeen about the end of May, to inform her rine's marriage, and it may be readily inof these results, and to induce her to with- ferred what pleasure this must have afforded
draw her appeal, and submit her interests to to a prince, whosepredominantpassions were
the arbitration of four bishops and four no- thereby defended.  He was from this time
blemen, in order that the matter might be looked on as a favorite at court, and conset at rest, and tranquillity restored to the sidered likelyto succeed Cardinal Wolseyin
king's mind.* The queen replied as before, influence. Cranmer had already adopted the
that she was the king's wife; that she would principles of Luther, and was, according to
persist in her appeal, and would consent to Burnet, the most esteemed of all those who
nothing without the advice of her nephew had embraced them. Heretics generally
the emperor, and also that of the pope, admire those who adopt their own opinions,
who was the best judge of her rights.   and bestow upon them the character of good
The queen's resolution irritated Henry; men, how depraved soever they may be in
however, he dissembled for some time, and their morals. Anne Bullen, continues Burwent with herto Windsor,where he remained net, had also imbibed a tincture of the same
till the 14th of July; when he left her, and doctrine.  He makes it appear, too, that she
proceeded to Woodstock. After some time, was quite attached to the opinions of those
she repaired to Easthamstead,which was the who were called reformers. E'very one, continues he, of the same party, had declared
* Heylin, ibid. page 176. Baker's Chron. of in favor of the divorce. Herein is discoverEngl. p. 281.                           ed the secret connection between Cran



CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          409
mer, his adherents, and Henry's mistress, belonged to the opposite faction, had George
and the foundation of the influence of this Cromer, archbishop of Armagh, appointed
new confidant, as also the commencement chancellor and keeper of the seals in his
of the English reformation. The unhappy place, which increased the hatred that alprince, who knew nothing of their machina- ready prevailed between him and Alan. In
tions, or the objects they had in view, united order to counterbalance Kildare's authority,
himself by degrees to the enemies of the the court nominated James Butler, son of
faith which he had before so ably defend- the earl of Ossory, treasurer.  This nobleed, and entering unconsciously into their man, through the deputy's nephew, was
secret plots, forwarded thereby their pro- nevertheless his enemy, having always esjects for destroying it.                poused the quarrels of his father, the earl
Cranmer was sent to Rome to support the of Ossory, against him.
divorce question, and while there, concealed   The earl of Kildare finding himself at the
his errors so ably, that the pope made him head of the government in Ireland, began to
his penitentiary, which proves that he was look upon his enemies with contempt. To
a priest; and although-a Lutheran, he ac- strengthen his party, he formed an alliance
cepted that office from his holiness. From with two of the most powerful of the Irish
Rome he went to Germany, in order to se- nobility, who were implacable enemies to the
cure the friendship of his trusty friends, the dominion of the English; namely, O'ConProtestants.  It was there that he married nor Faly and Fear-Gan-Ainim O'Carroll, to
the sister of Osiander, after having first se- whom he gave his two daughters in marduced her. While there it also was that riage.  Supported by these new alliances,
the archbishopric of Canterbury became va- he declared war against the earl of Ossory,
cant by the death of Warham, as we have devastated his estates, and those of his
already mentioned. The king of England, friends, and carried off considerable spoil.
from whom Cranmer's marriage had been Conn O'Neill, and his brother John Fitzconcealed, appointed him to that see, which gerald, after this made incursions into the
he accepted, and the pope, who imagined county of Louth, burned the possessions of
that his only fault lay in supporting the the English, and carried off their cattle withinvalidity of Henry's marriage, a question out any opposition. The deputy convened
which was then undecided, gave him his a parliament in Dublin in 1533, in which
bulls. Cranmer received them, and did not regulations were made relative to- the govhesitate to stain his reputation by receiving, ernnent. The dispute for pre-eminence, so
as his party expressed themselves, " the frequently renewed between the primate of
mark of the beast."                     Armagh and the archbishop of Dublin, was
Had the pretended reformation of religion decided by this parliament in favor of the
been confined to England alone, this long former.
digression might appear foreign to the his-   The parliament having been prorogued,
tory of Ireland; but as its unhappy effects Kildare marched at the head of his forces to
have been but too sensibly felt in this coun- support the pretensions of Fear-Gan-Ainim,
try, it has been thought necessary to reveal or Nehemias O'Carrol, his son-in-law.* The
its source, and make the principal actors in latter had taken possession of the lordship of
it known to the world.                  Eile, on the death of his brother, in virtue
of the law called Tanistry;t but the son of
the deceased, a young nobleman capable of
governing and commanding, considered it
CHAPTER XXXIV.                his duty to support his birthright against his
uncle. For this purpose he collected all his
THE earl of Kildare having been ap- vassals, and took possession of Birr, the
pointed deputy for the English province in principal town in the district. He was there
Ireland, in the place of Skeffington, repaired besieged by the deputy; but that general,
to Dublin in August, 1552, where he was joy- having been wounded in the head by a musfully received by the inhabitants;* and after ket-ball, the effects of which he felt throughtaking the usual oath, received the sword of out life, soon abandoned the enterprise. It
office from his predecessor. John Alan, or is said that a soldier, who was beside him, 
Allen, one of Cardinal Wolsey's favorites, hearing him complain, said, "Why do you 
was, at the time, archbishop of Dublin and groan, my lord? I have received three gunchancellor of Ireland: but the deputy, who
* Ware, ibid. cap. 25.
* War. de Annal. Hib. cap. 24.        t This law will be hereafter explained.
52




410                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
shot wounds in my body, and I am now lais in the month of October, to be present
perfectly well."  " Would to God," replied at an interview which he had at Boulogne
the earl, " that you had received the fourth with Francis I., and on his return to Enginstead of me."                          land, married her secretly on the 14th of
Henry VIII. was continually sending his Nov., though the sentence of the divorce
agents to Rome to endeavor to procure the between him  and Catherine was not yet
divorce, without giving them credentials for pronounced.  Roland Lee, who was afterthat purpose.*  The pope, who was aware wards bishop of Lichfield, performed the
of the manner in which the king of Eng- marriage ceremony; the king having asland was acting, commanded him by letter sured him that the pope permitted him to
to send away his mistress and take back his leave Catherine, and take another wife, prowife; and in case that he disobeyed, ordered vided he would marry in private, and without
him to appear at Rome with Anne Bullen, witnesses, in order to avoid giving scandal.
to answer for the scandal they had caused,   After a few months, tile marchioness beby living together as man and wife, in con- ing in a state of pregnancy, the marriage
tempt of the censures of the church. The could not be concealed longer.*  Cranmer
pope concluded by observing, that it was a labored to have the king's divorce from
matter of deep regret to him to find himself Catherine sanctioned by the parliament.
obliged to have recourse to such measures; Every law that had been previously enacted
that if it were only his own private interest against the popes, was re-enacted by this
that was concerned, he would gladly submit assembly.  It was. prohibited to appeal to
it to his own decision; but that, as the glory Rome on any subject concerning England,
of God, his own conscience, and the honor as that kingdom should not submit to the
of a virtuous princess loaded with ignominy, regulations of any foreign power, in either
after twenty years marriage, were now at spiritual or temporal affairs; and that, therestake, he was compelled, in spite of himself, fore, all ecclesiastical matters, on which apto have recourse to these measures.  This peals had been till then made to the court of
letter produced no better effect than the oth- Rome, should be finally determined in Engers.  The evil increased every day, and it land, through an appeal from the commiswas soon discovered that Henry wished to sioner to the bishop, from the bishop to the
break with the court of Rome, and separate archbishop, and from him to the king: that
himself from its communion.              whatever excommunications might arrive
The parliament having assembled in the from Rome, the divine service should be
beginning of the year, fresh attacks were nevertheless celebrated, and the sacraments
projected against the clergy and the pope. administered;t and if difficulties were inThe commons, who were accustomed to terposed by any of the clergy, they should
complain of the ecclesiastics, accused them be condemned to one year's imprisonment,
in their writings to Henry, but he did not and a fine to be paid, according to the king's
think prudent to listen to them. They com- pleasure; and that those who violated these
plained of the immense sums drawn by the acts should incur the penalties of the law of
popes from England, as first-fruits, provisions prcemunire. Lastly, it was concluded that
for benefices, bulls, and various other things matters respecting the king's interest should
of the same character, as being all contrary be adjusted by a sovereign convocation of
to English freedom.                      the clergy.
Henry, in the mean time, gave himself   This was the prelude to the ecclesiastical
up to his passions.  The longer the pope authority which Henry afterwards assumed
deferred the divorce question, the more his to himself, and in which he was confirmed
passion for Anne Bullen increased. In or- by an act passed in the same parliament,
der to prove his affection for her, he created entitled " an act to extinguish the authority
her marchioness of Pembroke, by letters of the bishop of Rome."
patent dated the 15th of September, 1532,  In the mean time, Cranmer, whom the
and assigned her one thousand pounds ster- king had purposely raised to the dignity of
ling a year, which was a considerable sum archbishop of Canterbury, undertook what
at that time, to support her dignity.t     * Protestant writers call her Queen Anne while
Henry, who could not bear the absence Catherine was still alive, and before the sentence
of the new marchioness, brought her to Ca- of divorce had been pronounced. None but a lawful wife could assume that title.
-Sanders, de Schis. Anglic. p. 62. Le Grand,  t Heretics always make it a practice to prepare
History of the Divorce, pp. 219, 235.   the minds of the faithful to despise excommunicat Heylin, Hist. of the Revolution, p. 176. Ba- tion, which is the only weapon used by the church
ker, Chron. Reign of Henry VIII. p. 281.  to repress their audacity.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          411
the pope had not dared to do. Being in- the king's passion lasted for Anne Bullen,
vested with authority by Henry VIII., who and the offspring of Henry's connection with
was now declared to be supreme head of the her was afterwards dealt with as severely as
English church, he removed to Dunstable in the Princess Mary; the parliament followthe beginning of May, accompanied by the ing no other rule in making or rescinding
bishops of London, Winchester, Wells, and laws, than the caprices of the prince.
Lincoln, and attended by some officers of   A conspiracy was formed about the year
justice, where they established a sort of 1533, against the earl of Kildare, deputy of
tribunal, to which Catherine of Aragon was Ireland, which proved fatal to this nobleman
summoned, to be heard on the subject of her and his whole family.* This earl had many
marriage with the king. The queen, how- enemies. He had supplanted Skeffington in
ever, who still adhered to her first resolution, the government of Ireland, and deprived
which was, to acknowledge no tribunal but Alan, or Allen, archbishop of Dublin, of the
that of Rome, or no judge but the pope, office of chancellor, to confer it on another.
having refused to appear, was condemned The earl of Ossory was his brother-in-law,
for contumacy. The sentence of divorce but not his friend, and the spirit of jealousy
was then pronounced, and her marriage with which had long existed between the houses
the king declared to be null. This decision of Butler and Fitzgerald, was not forgotten
was confirmed by the parliament, which de- by the present chiefs of them. These three
prived this princess of the rank of queen, noblemen conspired against Kildare, and
and decreed that she should thenceforward soon drew others into their party-.
be called princess dowager, as being only  John Allen, a creature of the ex-chanthe widow of Prince Arthur. It was enacted cellor, who was secretary to the council, and
by the same parliament, that it was lawful afterwards master of the rolls, was sent to
for the king to marry a second time.   England by the council, to inform the king
Every thing being thus arranged, the mar- of the state of the English province, and the
chioness of Pembroke was solemnly crowned abuses which required reformation. He was
at Whitehall, with the usual ceremonies, and commissioned to represent to his majesty,
with the title of queen. In a few months that every thing in the province was in a
after this, the celebrated Elizabeth was born, state of decline; that the order which had
the unhappy offspring of lust and discord; been established, as well as the language
and was subsequently queen of England.  and mode of dress which had been ordained,
The parliament continued their endeavors, were neglected; and lastly, that the English
by order of the king, to annihilate the pope's laws were not in force for more than about
authority in England.  Every day some a circuit of twenty miles.  He was also
bishop mounted the pulpit in St. Paul's, and ordered to make known to the king and his
preached to the people that the bishop of council, that these abuses proceeded firom
Rome had no more power in the kingdom, the great power of some nobles to whom the
than anyotherbishop outof his owndiocese. government was intrusted, the frequent
The English had been prepared for this change of deputies, and the making over of
change for some years before, so that the the crown lands, by which the revenues inking found but little opposition to his wishes tended to support the state were considerin the two houses of parliament. It was ably diminished. Allen acquitted himself"
therefore decreed that nothing more should so well of his commission, that the king sent
be referred after this to the court of Rome; an order to the deputy to repair to England,
butthat all cases wherein an appeal had been to account for his conduct, and to answer
made to the pope, should be hereafter finally for the crimes of which he stood accused.
settled by the king and his council. The Kildare dreading the consequences, sought
king's second marriage was confirmed, and means to delay his voyage. He sent his
the former having been declared null, it was countess to England, to prevail upon her
enacted that the children born of that alliance relatives and friends to solicit the king to
could not inherit from  their father, and countermand the order, under pretext that
should be therefore considered illegitimate; her husband's absence might produce danthat the male children whom the king might gerous results in the present state of affairs
have by Anne Bullen, should succeed to the in Ireland.  But the enemies of the earl
-crown, and that, in the event of having no having informed the king and council of
male issue, the daughters should succeed; England of his attempts, the appeal was
so that the Princess Mary was disinherited, rejected. He determined then to risk all,
and Elizabeth declared heiress to the crown.
But this law was continued only as long as       * Ware, ibid. cap. 25.




412                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
and to proceed.  Previous, however, to his   The enemies of the Fitzgeralds were not
departure,he caused his castles of Maynooth sufficiently revenged by the earl's disgrace;
and Ley, and other places which belonged they wished to drag his son and all his family
to him, to be provided with arms and am- into the same ruin.  For this purpose, a remunition of all sorts from the king's stores. port was spread that the earl of Kildare had
The deputy prepared for his voyage to been beheaded in the tower, and that his son,
England in the spring of 1534; having, be- the deputy, with his uncles and brothers,
fore he set out, nominated his son, Thomas should soon undergo a similar fate. There
Fitzgerald, deputy in his stead, according to were even letters published confirming the
the orders he had received from the king, to report.  One of these letters having accigive the administration of affairs during his dentally fallen into the hands of James de la
absence to one for whom he should be re- Hide, the head of the deputy's council, this
sponsible.*  The vice-deputy was a young favorite made him  form an alliance with
man about twenty-one, impetuous, and with- O'Neill, O'Connor, and other Irish nobleout the experience requisite for so important men, in order to strengthen his party, and
a trust.  The father, when giving him the enable him to await the event.
sword of justice, made a very impressive   It may be readily imagined that a young
discourse to him, in presence of the council, nobleman in the flower of youth, could easily
at Drogheda.  It is quoted by Hollingshed, be led on the one side by a passion, which
and is in substance as follows:         inspired revenge for the death of a father by
"You know, my son, that my sovereign whom he was beloved; and on the other, by
lord, the king, has commanded me to repair apprehension for his own safety, and that of
to England.  I am ignorant of what may his whole family, who were to be sacrificed
arise to me; God alone knows; but what- to the envy of their enemies.  Filled with
ever may occur, you are as well aware as I these ideas, the deputy put himself at the
am, that my years are far advanced, and that, head of one hundred and forty horsemen,
being a mortal, death may at any time befall well armed, and mounted.  With these he
me; and that it will necessarily come soon, crossed the city of Dublin, and stopping at
from my advanced age. As my winter there- the abbey of Our Lady, where the council
fore is drawing to a close, and you are only was assembled, he posted his troops around
in the spring of life, it is my wish that you the convent, which he entered, and took his
conductyourself in youthwithsuchprudence seat among the council.  He was followed
that you may enjoy the pleasures of your by some of his horsemen, who entered the
summer to the satisfaction of your friends; hall in a tumultuous manner, making a great
gather the fruits of your autumn, and attain noise; but silence being ordered, the deputy
with honor the winter of your career, to addressed the meeting, and surrendered the
which you see I am fast approaching. Since sword of justice, and other attributes of his
it is his majesty's will that I should appoint office; declaimed strongly againstthe injuries
a substitute, for whom I shall be responsible, which he and his family sustained, notwithI may be, perhaps, blamed for having placed standing the important services they had
a naked sword in the hands of so young a renderedto the state; declared that the sword
man, whose opinions are not yet matured, no longer belonged to him; that he was no
nor his judgment formed: however, I flatter longer the king's deputy, but his open enemy;
myself, that, as being your father, I shall and that he had resolved to make him feel
have sufficient authority to command you in for his tyranny and cruelties. He then prethe government of affairs, and to reprehend sented the sword to Cromer, the chancellor.
you as my son, should this become necessary. The latter, with tears in his eyes, used every..... Remember, likewise, my son, that it possible argumentto dissuade the vice-deputy
is easier to pull down than to build up: be from an enterprise,the consequences ofwhich
guided therefore in every thing by the wis- might prove fatal to him and his family; and
dom of your council. Though you have the represented to him that the name of a king'authority of governing others, you must act is sacred, while that of a rebel was odious.
under their advice."  He concluded by pre- Fitzgerald told the chancellor in reply, that
senting his son with the sword, whereupon he did not go there to ask his advice on what
he took leave, with tears in his eyes, of the he should do, but to inform him of his intenwhole assembly, and sailed immediately for tions; and then withdrew from the assembly,
England, where, on his arrival, he was sent and placed himself at the head of his forces.
to the tower by orders of the king.      Thomas Fitzgerald having thus raised the
standard of revcolt, proceeded to strengthen
* Cox, History of Ireaind, page 226.  his party.  He was firstt joined by the other




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            4113
branches of his family, who were numerous dinal Wolsey, some time before, in the deand powerful; and he was also seconded by struction of forty monasteries in England.
some Irish lords.  The rebellion was now This conduct was looked upon, according to
becoming general, particularly in the neigh- Godwin, bishop of Hereford, in his life of
borhood of Dublin.  The O'Tools and other Henry VIII., as the Tolosan, or fatal gold,*
Irish seized the opportunity of plundering that brought misfortune on those who posthe territory of Fingal, which was con- sessed it.t The see of Dublin was occupied
sidered the granary of the city; in which by George Brown after the death of AlIen.
they were encouraged by John Burnel, an   Thomas Fitzgerald did not lose sight of
English gentleman, who was favorable to the the siege he had projected.  He first made
rebellion.  Being loaded with booty, they prisoners of the baron of Howth, and Lutwere attacked in their retreat near Kilmain- trel, chief-justice of the court of common
ham, by a considerable body of the inhabit- pleas, whom he suspected; and then, on the
ants of Dublin, who, however, were soon faith of the neutrality which the inhabitput to flight, leaving eighty men dead upon ants agreed to observe, sent Captains James
the spot; the rest were fortunate to effect Field of Lusk, Teling, Wafer, Broad, Rouks,
their escape into the city.               and Purcel, each at the head of a hundred
During these troubles several of the king's men, to invest the castle.  This little army
subjects returned to England. Others sought having planted some pieces of cannon, enan asylum in the castle of Dublin; among camped before the place.
whom  were Allen, archbishop of the city,   Thomas having given his orders for the
and Finglasse, chief baron of the exchequer.* siege, turned his views to another quarter.
Fitzgerald wishing to profit by the conster- Being desirous of gaining over young Butler,
nation which prevailed everywhere, threat- his cousin, eldest son of the earl of Ossory,
ened to besiege the citizens. He sent orders he endeavored by his correspondence to into them to remain neuter if they wished to spire him with the same rebellious opinions
be spared, informing them that he only in- which actuated himself; but this young notended to lay siege to the castle.  Francis bleman having refused to enter into any conHerbert, one of the sheriffs, was immediately spiracy against the king, Fitzgerald, accomdispatched to England to inform the king of panied by O'Neill, Sir Richard Walsh, Burthe rebellion that had broken out; while the nel of Bally-Griflin, and other allies, made
other sheriff, John Fitzsimons, undertook to an incursion into the county of Kilkenny,
provide the castle with provisions, and all where he burned and laid waste the country
| kinds of ammunition necessary to maintain as far as Thomas-town, on the river Nore.
a defence.  The unfortunate archbishop. The earl of Ossory was at Jeripont with his
alarmned by these preparations, and dreading forces; and while they were consulting upon
the consequences of a siege commanded by what plans they should adopt, they were
his enemy, resolved to escape during the attacked by the enemy, and put to flight.
night through one of the city gates, being Young Butler was wounded in this engagedetermined to cross over to England; but ment; and had only time to retreat to Dunthe vessel having stranded at Clontarf, on more, where he was cured of his wounds.
leaving the harbor, he was obliged to retire The conqueror then made the inhabitants of
to a village called Tartain, where he was the English province take an oath of fidelity
surprised early in the morning by Fitzgerald, to him, and confined all those who refused
his two uncles, John and Oliver, Sir James to do so, in his castle of Maynooth.
de la Hide, and others of their partisans.   Fitzgerald, desirous of procuring foreign
The prelate was dragged from his bed with- alliances, had recourse to Charles V., and
out clothes, shoes, or hat, by John Teling the pope, who could not continue friends to
and Nicholas Wafer.  Fitzgerald, moved Henry, in consequence of the divorce and
with compassion, said to them in the Irish schism.S    He sent Charles Reynolds, archlanguage, "Berwoem a boddagh,"-that is,
"A Take the boor out of my presence," —inti- - This manner of expression is derived from the
mating, apparently, to have him sent to prison. ancient Tectosages, who, being enriched with the
ni ating, apparetous.e.antly,  misnttopreson. spoils of the temples of the gods, and some eastern
But these iniquitous servants, misinterpret- nations, returned to Toulouse, which was their
ing their master's orders, dashed the arch- country.  They were afterwards destroyed by a
bishop's brains out in his presence.  Such dreadful plague, which lasted till they had thrown
was the tragical end of this prelate, who had all their unjustly-acquired treasures into a lake.
i "  Which matter, (as some think,) although
been the principal tool made use of by Car-  t "Which matter, (as some think,) aitnough
Tolosan gold, brought destruction and very great
calamities upon all who had touched it."
~ * Ware, de Archiepisc. Dubliniens.  t Cox, ibid.




414                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
deacon of Kells, and Dominick Poer, as body of English had just landed, and were
ambassadors; the former to Paul III., and going to make a general sally.  This the
the latter to the emperor, to solicit their as- citizens performed with such vigor that the
sistance. Poer was intrusted with a present besiegers, thinking their numbers to have
for the emperor, which consisted of twelve been increased, dispersed immediately, leavfalcons, and fourteen horses, called hobbies. ing several of their men dead upon the spot,
This embassy, however, was of no avail.  and abandoned their works. The general
In the mean time, Herbert, who had been was obliged to conceal himself in the Frandispatched to England by the citizens of ciscan convent, in Francis-street, till the
Dublin, to inform the king of the rebellion in next day, when he went to collect the reIreland, and receive his commands on that mains of his army.
subject, returned.  The king commissioned   The earl of Kildare, Thomas Fitzgerald's
him to exhort the inhabitants to make a father, who was confined in the tower of
vigorous defence, and that he would send London, heard of the excesses which his son
them immediate assistance. The citizens had been guilty of in Ireland, notwithstandhereupon held a meeting to deliberate on ing the wise counsels he had given him at
what should be done; and it was determined his departure, and fell into such a state of
by the greater number of votes, that there melancholy, that he died in the month of
was no obligation to keep faith with a traitor, September of this year. In the mean time,
and that the treaty made with Fitzgerald was his son, having collected his forces, which
of no effect.  They gave orders, therefore, had been scattered by the sally of the beto have the gates of the city closed, and the sieged, still pressed the city of Dublin; but
besiegers of the castle arrested.  Captain his artillery and ammunition failing him, he
Field, who commanded the siege, being in- sent James de la Hide, and a few others, to
formed of their design, thought only of saving propose terms of capitulation to the citizens.
his army; part of which swam  across the The conditions and hostages having been
river, but the rest were made prisoners.    named and accepted on both sides, he raised
Fitzgerald, who was still in the county of the siege; and after sending his artillery to
Kilkenny, on receiving an account of what Howth, he proceeded to Maynooth, to see if
had occurred in Dublin, summoned the in- its castle were in a state of defence.
habitants of the English province to join him   The king of England having been informed
with all their forces near Dublin.  Having of the troubles caused by the rebellion of the
arrived within a short distance of the city, he Fitzgeralds, appointed Sir WTilliam Skeffingdeputed Doctor Traverse, Peter Linch, lord ton deputy of Ireland for the second time.
of Knock, in the county of Meath, and Oliver All those who had filled the high offices of
Grace, to complain to the inhabitants of the trust, were replaced by men incapable of
infraction of the treaty which had been con- encouraging the rebels.  John Barnewall,
cluded with them, and to demand the renew- baron of Tremlestown, was nominated chanal of it, or at least that they would set the cellor instead of Cromer, archbishop of Arprisoners at liberty.  This general having magh; Patrick Finglasse, lord-chief-justice
received an answer that did not please him, of the king's bench; Thomas Lutterel, chiefbegan the attack upon the castle, on the side justice of the common pleas; Gerald Aylof Sheep-street; but being unable to bear the mer, chief baron of the exchequer; and Wilincessant fire from within, which burned the liam Brabazon, vice-treasurer.  The above
houses around him, he was forced to change changes having been effected in the governhis position.  He caused the course of the ment, English troops were sent over. The
river which supplied the city with water, first division, consisting of one hundred and
to bo turned.  He then posted himself at eighty men, under the command of Musgrave
Thomias-court, where he pulled down the and the two Mamertons, having landed at
street,' and constructed a gallery to shelter Howth, were attacked on the road to Dublin,
his troops.  He also burned the new street, near Clontarf, by Thomas Fitzgerald, at the
and planted a cannon opposite to Newgate, head of two hundred horse; he killed several
which did considerable damage.  Richard of them, and sent the rest prisoners to the
Staunton, jailer of Newgate, killed several castle of Maynooth. He himself was, howof the besiegers from the loop-holes in that ever, wounded in the conflict.  Captain
building.  But as the besiegers, wishing to Rouks, his pirate, seized on their transport
shorten the labor, were bringing fagots to vessels at Howth, one ofwhich was filled with
set fire to the gate, and by that means to fine English saddle horses, which he sent to
effect an entrance into the city, the besieged his master. The Eglebees and Dacres landed
reported in the enemy's camp that a large shortly afterwards at Skerries, in the territory




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           415
of Fingal, with a body of cavalry. Sir Wil- master, nor the archbishop of Canterbury,
liam Brereton, accompanied by his son John, would acknowledge him to be their judge,
also arrived in Dublin with two hundred and and that they would,appeal to a future counfifty soldiers, and was followed by Captain cil for what had been already done. This
Salisbury with two hundred archers.     order was highly displeasing to Francis I.,
The deputy, Skeffington, attended by Leo- who complained of it to the English ambasnard Lord Grey, who was nominated marshal sadors; and told them, that notwithstanding
of Ireland, landed in Dublin in October, the entreaties of their master to him to unprovided with every thing necessary to carry dertake to arrange the matter amicably, he
on the war. He was received with demon- clearly saw that he was opposed to any
strations of joy by the mayor and inhabitants. arrangement.  The French monarch, howHe presented them with letters from the ever, did not yet abandon hope; he still enking, thanking them for their loyalty, and deavored to renew the negotiation between
then received the sword of justice from the the pope and Henry, for which purpose he 
chancellor, Baron Tremlestown. He imme- sent Du Bellay, bishop of Paris, to England,
diately turned all his thoughts towards pre- in December, invested with full powers.
paring for an expedition against Thomas Upon his being admitted to an audience in
Fitzgerald, who; by the death of his father, London, it was strongly debated whether the
had become earl of Kildare. He caused this proposal for renewing the negotiation with
nobleman to be declared a traitor to the king Clement s1houldbe accepted,or all intercourse
and government; but was forced, from indis- with the holy see broken off. The prelate,
position, and the approach of winter, to put however, having proposed to go to Rome,
off his enterprise against him till spring; and to negotiate the matter himself, the former
was also obliged to wait for further assistance plan was adopted.  On his arrival there, he
in men and money from England, as Kildare settled every thing to Henry's advantage;
had just renewed his alliance with O'Neill, but this prince, who was incapable of acting
O'Connor, and other lords of the country, honorably, only renewed his complaints
and was still master of six fortified places, against Francis, because he would not, like
well provided with allkinds of warlike stores; himself, break with the pope. Shortly afternamely, Maynooth, Portlester, Rathangan, wards, the bishop of Paris sent a list of the
Catherlagh, Ley, and Athy, from which they cardinals whom he thought he had gained
made incursions, during the winter, on the over to Henry's favor; and the agents of
inhabitants of the province.            the emperor and queen Catharine, as well as
The pope was well aware of the progress those of France and England, peremptorily
the schism was making in England, and the demanding the trial of this celebrated suit,
attempt (of a nature hitherto unheard of the pope could no longer defer it.
among Christians) of Henry VIII., who had   On Monday, the 23d of March, his holideclared himself head of the English church, ness held a consistory, at which twenty-two
both spiritual and temporal.*  Francis I. cardinals were present.* The divorce queswas Henry's friend, and was interested for tion having been proposed, it was under
him, without, however, being a party to his discussion for a very short time only; every
madness. He solicited the pope, at the inter- member, with the exception of Trivolce,
view he had with him at Marseilles, to look Rodolphi, and Pesani, being of opinion, that
favorably upon him,t to which his holiness the king of England should be obliged to
seemed inclined; but when the ambassadors take back Catherine, and to keep her as his
of Henry were called on to adjust the diffi- lawful wife. The different opinions being
culties that existed, it appeared that  they then collected, the sentence was pronounced,
were invested withno specific authority. The by which the pope decided that having heard
surpriseof Clement and Francis I.was great. the report of James Simoneta, bishop of
The latter, however, who felt extreme com- Pisaro, auditor of the sacred palace, and
passion for the weaknesses of Henry, begged deputy of Paul Capisucchi, who was then
of the pope to wait the return of a courier absent, he, with the advice of the cardinals,
whom they had dispatched to England to condemned the proceedings of Henry as null
procure the powernecessaryfor acting. The and unjust, and commanded him to take
courier, however, brought no orders to the back his wife Catherine, to live with her,
English ambassadors except that they should declaring his marriage to be good and valid,
inform Clement, that neither the king their and the children of such marriage to be legitimate; The pope forbid him also to con* Sander. de Schis. Anglic. lib. 1, pp. 76, 77.
Baker, Chron. page 280.
t Le Grand, Hist. du Divorce, page 266, et seq.  Le Grand, Hist. du Divorce, page 237.




416                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
tinue the separation longer, and condemned Bullen; the other to confirm the king in the
him to pay all the costs of the suit.    title of supreme head of the English church,
It much afflicted the pope to have been and to abolish the pope's authority in Engforced to pronounce so absolute a sentence land.*
as the above.  He expressed a desire to do   While the parliament labored to secure
every thing in his power to satisfy the king to the posterity of Anne Bullen the right of
of England; and it was his wish not to succeeding to the throne, proceedings were
grant the decision before Easter, though he goingonin Rome againstthe king of England.
had been required to do so without delay, The strength of the faction in favor of Spain,
by many of the cardinals.  Clement found the justice of Catherine's cause, the wicked
himself in the greatest dilemma; he could conduct of Henry, and the continued remonnot deny justice to  Catherine, without strances of the cardinals, at length forced
giving scandal to the whole of Christendom; the pope to issue a bull of excommunication
and by condemning Henry, England must against Henry and Anne Bullen, unless they
be lost to the church.  He deferred, there- made their appearance in the end of Sepfore, as long as he was able, coming to any tember, and put an end to the scandal they
decision upon this celebrated suit.  When had given; but the heart of Pharaoh was
the sentence was pronounced, he spent the hardened, and his conscience calmed by the
night in company with several divines, delib- laws which his parliament had enacted in
erating on what was best to be done in the his favor.
unhappy conjuncture; but Henry's wicked   It was at this time that the world deplored
disposition, which would not admit of any the fate of the two men in England most illuscontrol, was stronger than the good-will of trious for their learning and piety, Thomas
the pope.  It is true, says Le Grand, that More, lord-chancellor, and Fisher, bishop of
two days subsequent to the decision, a cou- Rochester.  Burnet himself bewails their
rier arrived, who declared that the king death, and considers their tragical end as a
would submit to every thing; but it is diffi- stain upon the life of Henry.  They were
cult, he continues, to ascertain what were the two most distinguished victims of the new
the powers with which he had been intrusted, ecclesiastical supremacy. When More was
or on what conditions Henry would resume urged to acknowledge it, he made the followhis obedience to the church.  It is even ing  noble reply: "That were he alone
probable, adds our author, that he only against the whole parliament, he would have
-made these advances in consequence of let- a diffidence in himself; but now, though the
ters of the bishop of Paris, who might have grand council of England were opposed to
written to him as he did to Francis I., that him, the whole church, that great council of
he had gained over many of the cardinals, Christians, was in his favor."  Fisher's end
and that most of those in the consistory was no less edifying, or less Christian-like.
would be favorable to his views, which This was the commencement of the persecuproved to be erroneous.  He  therefore tion, carried on alike against Catholic and
would have thought that he incurred no risk Protestant, and Henry became the most
by submitting to every thing, when he ex- cruel of princes, from the time he assumed
pected that all would be in his favor. We the supremacy of the church.  It does not
discover here the injustice of the opinion appear, says Burnet, that he was naturally
generally entertained of Clement VII., who prone to cruelty.t  He reigned, according
is accused of having been too hasty in pro- to this writer, for twenty-five years, without
nouncing the sentence which separated condemning any one for capital crimes, exHenry from the church; while, in fact, the cept two men for whose punishment he canmoderation of the pope on the occasion is not be reproached; while in the latter end
well known.  The suit had been continued of his reign he set no bounds to his cruelty.
during five years; and the decision was de- So that Henry, who had previously been exferred as long as possible, the pope hoping empt from such disorders, did not give himthat time would moderate the king's passion. self up to them, according to Burnet, till the
He even proposed to queen Catherine to last ten years of his life, that is, immediately
enter upon a religious life, in order to ter- after his divorce, his open rupture with the
minate the difference amicably.          church, and his unprecedented usurpation
The English parliament passed two acts of ecclesiastical supremacy.
at this time; one to confirm the divorce,
and declare the princess Mary illegitimate,  * Sander. de Schis. Ang. lib. 1, c. 88. Baker's.and tdestabl the  sacessi  ty tlegthe Chron. p. 281. Heylin's History of the Revolution,
and to establish the succession to the throne  179.
in the person of Elizabeth, daughter of Anne  1- Book 3, page 183.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            417
pay the sum agreed upon; but as there was
CHAPTER XXXVI.                no mention made of life in the compact between them, he ordered him to be beheaded.
THE earl of Kildare having put his fortifi- "Had I known that, my lord," said Parese,
cations into a state of defence, particularly "you would not have had the castle on such
the castle of Maynooth, marched with his cheap terms." One Boyse,.who was present,
army towards Connaught to collect the replied in Irish, "Anantra," that is, "too
troops which he was to have been provided late;" which gave rise to the proverb among
with by O'Connor and his other allies, A. D. the natives, " It is too late, says Boyse."
1535.*  Skeffington the deputy, taking ad-   Skeffington having placed a garrison in
vantage of the earl's absence, surrounded the castle of Maynooth, returned to Dublin.
the castle of Maynooth on the 15th of March. At this time Kildare was on his march with
Sir William Breretonsummoned the garrison seven thousand men, intending to raise the
to surrender on advantageous terms; but as siege, but having received intelligence on the
these were not accepted, he endeavored way, that the castle had surrendered, he was
to effect a breach.  His cannon, however, abandoned by part of his army.  He, howdid but little execution during fifteen days, ever, continued his march with the rest toand the castle would probably have held out wards Clane, in the county of Kildare. The
till the arrival of Kildare, had it not been deputy having received intelligence of his
for the treachery of the governor.  Kildare march, gave the command of Dublin to
had confided the command of the garrison Brereton, and set out for Naas. Both armies
during his absence, to his foster-brother were separated by a bog, and the cavalry
Christopher Pare-se.  This traitor, actuated being unable to act, the deputy, who was
by avarice, and the desire of establishing his strong in artillery, easily dispersed the earl's
fortune on his master's downfall, wrote army, which was but poorly provided with
secretly to the deputy, and proposed to give it.  He then forced Rathangan and other
up the castle for a stipulated sum of money. places to surrender.  After these losses, the
The deputy joyfully acceded to the proposal. earl of Kildare no longer found himself at
They only waited for a favorable opportu- the head of a strong force.  He was, in fact,
nity to carry it into effect, which soon pre- reduced to the rank of a ring-leader, and
sented itself; the garrison having gained obliged, in order to support himself, to keep
some advantages in a sally against the be- up a petty warfare.  He sent a herd of cattle
siegers, Parese ordered thatrejoicings should one morning within sight of Rathangan,
ta'ke place, and while the sentinels lay in- where there was an English garrison: the
toxicated and asleep, the commander gave English seeing a favorable opportunity of
the signal to the English, who scaled the obtaining booty, went out in crowds, without
walls, and, almost without resistance, made perceiving that the earl and his forces were
themselves masters of the castle, in which lying in ambush; they fell into the snare;
they found an immense booty.             the earl cut off their retreat, and killed
The deputy entered the place triumphant- several of their men. He repeated this straly.  Parese appeared before him, thinking tagem at Trim, in the county Meath, by
that he would soon be well rewarded for his which means he drew out the garrison there
perfidy.t The deputy applauded highly the also, and put them to the sword.
signal benefit the traitor had rendered to the    On the 11th of May, in this year,
state.  He added, that if the king were in- Lord James Butler was created Viscount
formed of it he would not fail to acknowledge Thurles, and grand-admiral of Ireland;* and
so important a service, and in order to en- a few days afterwards, his father, the earl of iI
able the monarch to reward him as he ought, Ossory, and he, were nominated governors
for the sacrifice he had made of the earl of of the counties of Kilkenny, Waterford, and
Kildare's protection, he required to know in Tipperary, and the districts of Ossory and!
what the favors of that nobleman consisted. Ormond, on condition of their endeavoring
Parese, who thought his fortune was already to retake the castle of Dungarvan, and vigormade, informed him minutely of the earl's ously resisting the usurpations of the bishop
generous liberality to himls.  "How then, of Rome.  According to Cox,t this was the
Parese," replied the deputy, " could you first instance of an engagement of this kind
have betrayed so good a master?"  Then to be met with in the history of Ireland.
turning to his officers, he ordered them to Leonard Lord Grey was also created at this
* War. de Annal. Hib. cap. 27.           * Cox, Hist. of Irel. page 240.
t Cox, ibid. pages 239, 240.             t Ibid. page 240.
53




418                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
time Viscount Grane. In the month of Sep-   Stephen Ap Henry, Lord Grey's favorite,
tember following, Thomas Eustace was made wrote about this time to Thomas Cromwell,
baron of Kilcullen, and Sir Richard Power, secretary of state, informing him that Lord
or le Poer, baron of Croghmore. The Leonard Grey had gone to England with
former was subsequently created Viscount Fitzgerald; that Lord James Butler had
Baltinglass.                           marched towards Clonrmel, where he had
Lord Grey, who had been sent to England been joined by his brother-in-law, Garrett
for assistance, returned at thistimeto Ireland M'Shane, who could not speak English;
with a reinforcement of cavalry and archers, that they had advanced together to Dungarunder the command of Sir William Senlo, van, which surrendered on their approach,
Sir Rice Mansel, and Sir Edward Griffith. from whence they set out for Youghal, and
It appears by a letter written at the time to from that place to Cork, where they received
Lord Cromwellby Aylmer, chief-justice, and the complaints of Barry against CormacAllen, master of the rolls, that they found Ogue of Muskerry, and M'Carty Riagh.
the state of affairs in Ireland to be very un- The complaints alluded to set forth, that
promising; that six of the eight baronies in these noblemen having regained by force of
the county of Kildare had been laid waste arms part of the estates which had been
and burned, with a part of the county of usurped by the Barrys from their ancestors
Meath; that Powerscourt, the building of in the twelfth century, M'Carty Muskerry, a
which had cost five thousand marks, had peaceful man, wished to submit to the debeen destroyedbythe O'Byrnes and O'Tools; cision of government, while M'Carty Riagh
that Fitzgerald had retaken Rathangan, answered, that with the sword he would
through the treachery of the sentinels: preserve what he had gained by the sword.
though having been obliged to abandon the The letter concludes with observing, that
place on the approach of the army, he would Butler and his brother-in-law had continued
have been surprised if the deputy had used their march through Mallow and Kilmallock,
the necessary precautions; that O'Morra, as far as Limerick, where the son of O'Brien,
who had joined the English, had posted his brother-in-law to Butler, applied to him for
troops and those of the king so advan- assistance against his father and uncle, in
tageously, that the rebels were surrounded, the siege of Carrigogonell; but Butler being
and Fitzgerald never could have escaped, unprovided with artillery, could undertake
had not an English cohort given way; that nothing for him, and returned to Clonmcel,
the plague was depopulating Dublin; that through Cashel.
Charles O'Connor had been provided with   Skeffington, the deputy, having requested
troops in the king's pay against his brother; permission from the court to return to Engthat the deputy was sick and unable to de- land, on account of his great age and infirfend the castle of Maynooth; that no confi- mities, the king's answer was sent to him, in
dence could be placed in O'Neill, as he had which thanks were given him for the taking
given no hostages, this remark referring to of the earl of Kildare. The king told him
a treaty concluded some time afterwards at also to continue in the government of IreDrogheda, between Cornn O'Neill and the land, and gave orders to convene a parliadeputy. This letter concludes with warm ment; but the deputy died in the end of
praises of William  Brabazon, and Lord December, at Kilmainham, and was interred
Grey, whom they demanded as their deputy, in the cathedral church of St. Patrick, in
with orders to convene a parliament.   Dublin. Lord Grey was immediately apIn the mean time the deputy having learn- pointed by the council to succeed him, which
ed that Kildare had withdrawn into Mun- nomination was confirmed by the king, with
ster, sent Lord Grey, Sir William Brereton, the title of deputy, under Henry, duke of
and others, in pursuit of him, and after some Richmond, lieutenant. of Ireland.
I unavailing skirmishes,Brereton's advice, and   Every thing was now in confusion in Engthe necessity of the affairs of Kildare pro- land. The martyrdom of Fisher and More,
duced a conference, in which that nobleman and many other sanguinary executions, filled
surrendered to Lord Grey, on condition of every mind with horror.  The people all
being pardoned. It is said that he promised took the oath acknowledging Henry's suprehim a general pardon. However this be, macy, no one daring to oppose it.  His
1 Fitzgerald was brought to Dublin, and sent power over the church of England was esto England, where, notwithstanding the let- tablished by several parliamentary statutes;*
ters of recommendation with which he was and his first act was to confer on Cromwell
provided to the king, he was arrested and the title of his spiritual vicar-general. CromI confined in the tower, where he remained   * Sander. de Schis. Angl. lib. 1, page 124
till the time of his execution.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          419
well was the son of a blacksmith. Having who made himself head of the church to
taken a dislike to the trade of shearer, which plunder it with impunity.
he had learned, he ran away from his master,  In the beginning of the year 1536, the
enlisted as a soldier, and was present at the five uncles of the young earl of Kildare,
sacking of Rome. He afterwards returned who was then a prisoner in the tower,to England, and entered the service of Car- namely, James, Oliver, Richard, John, and
dinal Wolsey, who preferred him to his other Walter, who were still under arms, surrenservants, and reposed confidence in him. dered to Lord Grey, the deputy, by whom
When Cromwell became a member of par- they were sent prisoners to London.* After
liament, he testified his gratitude by sup- having sailed, they asked the captain the
porting his master's interests, and defending name of the vessel in which they were;
him in his misfortunes, by which firmness he and learning that it was called The Cow,
acquired the esteem of the king. Having thus they lost their courage, on account of an anadvanced himself at court, he made Henry's cient prophecy, which foretold that the five
inclinations his whole study, in order to flat- sons of an earl should be carried to England
ter him in every thing. Discovering that this in the belly of a cow, and that they would
prince was very ambitious, and that his reve- never return.  This prophecy proved true;
nues were not sufficient for his expenses, he inasmuch as the earl of Kildare and his
advised him to take possession of the reve- uncles were tried, convicted of high treason,
nues of the religious houses.  This advice and executed at Tyburn. In the mean time,
was highly gratifying to the cupidity of James de la Hide, one of the first counsellors
Henry, who thought that he who had given of Thomas Fitzgerald, earl of Kildare, sought
it would be the fittest person to carry it into safety in Scotland, where he died.
execution.  For this purpose he created   The race of Kildare was not yet extinct.
Cromwell inspector-general of all the con- One of its members still remained, who revents and religious houses in England; in stored this illustrious house. Gerald, brother
which quality, notwithstanding that he was to Thomas, aged thirteen years, was sick of
an ignorant layman, he was to preside at all the small-pox at Donoare, in the county of
the assemblies of the clergy, and to be made Kildare, at the time his uncles had surrenacquainted with all matters of an ecclesias- dered. This young nobleman was under the
tical kind.  Cromwell was a Zuinglian, or guardianship of Thomas Leverous, afterat least a Lutheran: Cranmer belonged to wards bishop of Kildare; who had him rethe same party; he was the intimate friend moved to Offaly, from which he brought
of Cromwell, and both acted in perfect ac- him to Thuomond, and thence to Kilbritton,
cordance. The marchioness of Pembroke in the county of Cork, to his aunt, Eleanor
supported them with all her influence; and Fitzgerald, widow of M'Carty Riagh. She
in order to increase the party, she procured loved her young nephew tenderly, and had
the bishoprics of Salisbury and Winchester him sent privately to France, having given
for Schaxton and Latimer, her almoners, him one hundred and forty pieces of gold to
who were secretly Protestants.          defray his expenses.  On arriving at St.
Cranmer paid his archiepiscopal visit to Malo, he was taken to Paris, where, howhis province, with the royal permission. ever, he was not long permitted to remain.
They now began to use the king's authority The English ambassador demanded that he
in all ecclesiastical jurisdiction, in order to should be given up, in virtue of the peace
establish his spiritual supremacy.  The which had been just concluded between
archbishop of Canterbury's first act was to France and England; but the king, having
place the church under his yoke, and submit delayed giving his answer for some time,
to an earthly king that power which she had afforded Fitzgerald an opportunity to withreceived from God.                      draw to Flanders, whither the ambassador
Cromwell also paid a visit to his own dispatched James Sherlock in pursuit of him.
diocese.*  These visitations were followed The latter being arrested at Valenciennes
by the suppression of three hundred and sev- by the governor, Fitzgerald had again time
enty-six monasteries, the lands and revenues to reach Brussels; where, however, he was
of which were granted to the king by an act not more secure. From Brussels he went
of parliament.  All good men exclaimed to Liege.  He was recommended to the
against this sacrilegious depredation of the bishop of that city by the emperor, who asproperty dedicated to God. This was one signed him one hundred crowns a month for
of the first effects of Henry's supremacy, his support.  Six months after this, he was
X Baker's Chron. page 283.            X Ware de Anlal. Hib. cap. 28.




420                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
brought to Rome by Cardinal Pole; and the archbishopric of Dublih, was consecrated
after spending a few years with the bishop by Thomas Cranmer, archbishop of Canterof Verona, and the Cardinals De Mantua bury, assisted by the bishops of Rochester
and Pole, and other Italian noblemen, he and Salisbury.* His doctrine was suspected
undertook his pilgrimages in the order of previous to his promotion.  On his arrival
Malta, and became commander of the grand in Dublin, he had the images and relics of
duke of Tuscany's cavalry. He remained in the saints removed from the two cathedrals
his service till the reign of Edward VI., who of the city, and other churches in the diocese.
restored him to the possessions of his ances- He was the first who embraced the Protesttors; and he was reinstated, two years after ant religion among the clergy of Ireland. It
this, in his titles of honor by Queen Mary. appears by his letter to Cromwell, that he
Great anarchy prevailed in the family., of was one of the commissioners appointed by
the Fitzgeralds of Munster, respecting the Henry VIII. to supersede the pope's authosuccession to the title and estates of the rity in that kingdom, and to establish the
house of Desmond.* On the death of James ecclesiastical supremacy of the king. The
Fitzmaurice, Thomas Moel, or the Bald, his letter of this prelate to the vicar-general,
grand-uncle, third son of him who was be- quoted by Cox, is as follows:f
headed at Drogheda, was declared earl of   "MY LORD-Having, as one of the comDesmond.  He married the daughter of missioners of his highness, received your
M'Carty of Muskry, by whom he had a son commands, I have endeavored, even at the
called Maurice Fitzthomas, who died before hazard of my life, to reduce the nobility in
his father, leaving a son called James Fitz- this country to obedience, by acknowledging
maurice. Thomas having died at the age of his highness as supreme both in spiritual
eighty years, James Fitzmaurice, who was at and temporal affairs; but I experience many
that time page to Henry VIII., asked permis- difficulties, particularly from my brother of
sion from the king to return to Ireland, which Armagh, who has gained over the suffragans
he readily obtained. The king, who was and clergy under his jurisdiction.  He has
much attached to this young nobleman, sent preached to them, and has cursed those who
a certain number of soldiers with him, as a shall acknowledge the supremacy of his
guard of honor, and also to support him highness; affirming that Ireland being, acagainst those who might dispute his right. cording to the chronicles of the country, a
He landed in Cork, and passing through the holy island, it belongs only to the church of
territory of Fermoy, on his way to Limerick, Rome, -the former pontiffs of which granted
he was surprised in an ambuscade which had it to the ancestors of the king."  He adds,
been laid for him by his relative Maurice that the archbishop and clergy of Armagh
Fitzgerald, and was unfortunately killed. had already sent two messengers to the pope;
This cruel act was the first step towards the that it was essential to inform his highness
downfall of this illustrious house. Maurice, of the necessity of convening a parliament
who had been the cause of the death of his in the country, to have the act of supremacy
relative, was second son of John of Desmond, passed, as little regard was paid to the comwho was brother to Thomas the Bald, and mission sent in the name of his highness;
fourth son of the earl that was beheaded at and concludes by observing, that he feared
Drogheda.  Maurice having made some in- O'Neill had received orders from the bishop
cursions upon the lands of Muskry, was of Rome to oppose the authority of his highpursued by Dermod, son of Teig M'Carty, ness, as very-many among the inhabitants
lord of Muskry, his father-in-law, who took of the country were attached to his party.
him prisoner.  He was afterwards killed by   It appears that this letter made some imfour horsemen, who had been left to guard pression on the court of London, as the
him while M'Carty went in pursuit of the king gave orders to convene a parliament in
fugitives. John of Desmond, father to Mau- the month of May, which was adjourned to
rice, was acknowledged earl of Desmond, Kilkenny, thence to Cashel, afterwards to
but did not long enjoy the title: he left sev- Limerick, and lastly to Dublin.
eral children, who all fell, as well as their  r The following were the principal statutes
sons, in the last war of Earl Garret, except enacted in this parliament.  The deceased
Maurice Fitzjohn, who died in Spain.    earl of Kildare was declared a traitor. Sir
Thomas Brown, a friar of the order of St. John and Sir Oliver Fitzgerald, uncles to the
Augustin, and provincial of that order in earl, Sir Walter de la Hide of Mayclare, in
England, having been appointed in 1535 to
* War. de Archiepisc. Dubliniens.
X Relat. Geraldinorum.             t Cox, Hib. Anglic. p. 246.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           421
the district of Carbry, county of Kildare; imposed upon; to which the king assented.
John Burnell, Richard Walsh, rector of When Ailmner was presented to him, he was
Loughseudy; Charles Reynolds, and other asked what could be the real cause of the
accomplices of Kildare, were convicted of decline of the royal interest in Ireland? "It
hightreason, and all their estates confiscated arises," replied Ailmer,  "from the circumto the king's use.                       stance of most of the proprietors of lands,
The marriage of Henry with Catherine who formerly resided in Ireland to defend
was declared null by this parliament: the their estates, and restrain their vassals, now
divorce pronounced by Cranmer, as well as living in England, and leaving Ireland a prey
the king's marriage with Anne Bullen, was to the natives of the country; but if your
declared to be valid; the succession to the majesty would oblige such proprietors to
throne was secured to the heirs male, who reside in Ireland, or otherwise confiscate their
should be born of this or any other marriage, estates to your own use, you would soon disand in case of there being no male heirs, to cover a change and an improvement." The
the females,beginning with Elizabeth,daugh- king, pleased with this expedient, thanked
ter of Anne Bullen: and those who might, Ailmer, saying, that the attention of the
by writing or otherw-ise,oppose this marriage, next parliament should be directed to it.
or these regulations for the succession to the   The parliament of Dublin having regulated
crown, should, it was enacted, be convicted the affatirs of state, turned their thoughts to
of high treason.  A total silence on these those of religion, of their knowledge and
subjects was enjoined upon all, under pain judgment regarding which they felt quite
of being deprived of the benefit of the sane- assured. In imitation of the English parliatuary, and an oath to this effect, ordered to ment, they confirmed Henry VIII. and his
be taken by all the king's subjects in Ireland. successors on the throne, in the title of suA law was also passed against absentees, preme head of the church in Ireland, with
that is, against the English who possessed the power of reforming and correcting hereestates in Ireland, and did not reside there, sies and errors in religion. They prohibited
such conduct having produced many incon- all further appeals being made to Rome,
veniences.  It was therefore enacted, that underpains and penalties; and ordained that
the title to the estates of the duke of Norfolk, the clergy should pay the annats, or first-fruits
Lord Berkely, the earls of Waterford and of their livings, to the king. They likewise
Shrewsbury, the heirs of the earl of Ormond, enacted a law - to abolish and suppress the
the abbots of Furnes, and St. Augustin of pope's usurpation and authority; penalties
Bristol, the priors of Christ's church at Can- were declared against those who should dare
terbury, of Lanthony and Cartinel, and the to support them; all persons, both lay and
abbots of Kentesham, Osny, Bath, and the ecclesiastic, who held offices or livings, were
abbot of St. Thomnas of Dacres, should be ordered to take the oath to maintain the
vested in the king.  It was subsequently king's supremacy, and their refusal was to
decided, in the beginning of the seventeenth be considered high treason. This act met
century, that in virtue of this law, the earl of with many opponents among the clergy; but
Shrewsbury had forfeited the title of earl of the following discourse of Brown, archbishop
Waterford and viscount Dungarvan; he was, of Dublin, which was approved of by justice
however, compensated in England for the Brabazon,disconcerted them to such adegree,
losses he had sustained in Ireland.      that many among them submitted to take it.
Cox mentions a circumstance, which, he   " MY LonRs,-In obeying your king, you
alleges, gave rise to this law. - The king, he imitate your Saviour Jesus Christ. The high
says, being determined to give to Ailmer, priest of our souls paid tribute to Caesar, who
who was then chief-justice of the common was not a Christian; consequently, you owe
pleas, the office of lord-justice of the king's more honor to his highness, your prince,
bench, the earl of Shrewsbury, at the solici- who is both a king and a Christian.  In-the
tation of his farmers and vassals in Water- time of our ancestors, Rome and its bishops
ford, opposed his nomination, by representing acknowledged emperors, kings, and princes,
to the king that Ailmer was weak-minded, to be sovereigns in their respective states,
and incapable of discharging the duties of and even vicars of Jesus Christ.  But to the
such an office; whereupon the king repri- shame of the bishop of Rome, henow denies,
manded Lord Cromwell, who had recoi- what his predecessors have acknowledged.
mended a man so undeserving.  In order Thus his highness claims only what the bishto justify his choice, Cromwell requested his op Fleutherius had granted to St. Lucius,
majesty to converse a while with Ailner, and the first Christian king of the Britons; so
he would soon discover that he had been that I make no scruple of acknowledging his




422                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
highness, King Henry VIII., to be supreme   The first who was sacrificed for his attachhead, both in spiritual and temporal affairs, ment to the cause of the pope, was John
in England and in Ireland, and that he who Traverse, a native of Ireland, asecularpriest,
refuses to submit as I do to this law, is not and doctor in theology.  About this time he
a faithful subject to his majesty."  The dis- published a book entitled the Defence of the
criminating reader will judge of this prelate's Pope's  Supremacy, notwithstanding  the
reasoning.                                 twenty-eighth statute of Henry VIII., who
Thtis parliament granted to the king and had assumed to himself that prerogative.
to his successors, for ever, a twentieth part This author was summoned to appear beof the revenues and annual rents of the se- fore the judges; and having confessed the
cular livings, abbeys, friaries, and religious deed, he was condemned to have his fingers
houses in the kingdom of Ireland.  Henry cut off and thrown into the fire.*
was so well pleased with this grant, that he   While the parliament was assembled in
wrote a letter of thanks to the clergy.  An Dublin,O'Connor and his vassals made, some
act was passed prohibiting any but those incursions into the territory of Carbry, in
who spoke English, and followed the English the county of Kildare, where they committed
taste in every thing, to be appointed to liv- dreadful havoc.  In order to revenge this
ings.  In addition, this parliament decreed insult, Baron Tremlestown, chancellor of
the suppression of the abbeys of Bectif, Ireland, and Brabazon, the vice-treasurer,
St. Peter of Trim, Dousk, Duleek, Holm- marched  with  somne troops into  Offaly,
Patrick, Baltinglass, Grany, Teagh-Moling, where they likewise committed frightful
Dunbroody, Tintern, Ballybogan, Hoggis, devastations, and forced O'Connor to return
and Ferns, and confiscated their property to and defend his own country.
the king's use. At the same time, the priory   The English having violated some articles
of St. Wolstan's, in the county of Kildare, of the peace, concluded the preceding year
was suppressed, by another act.  It was at between Conn O'Neill and Skeffington, who
this time, that what has been already ob- was deputy, O'Neill took up arms in deserved of the bull, by which Adrian IV. fence of his right. The English government
had conferred Ireland on Henry II., began being alarmed by O'Neill's determination,
to be verified, namely, "that it was the the deputy dispatched Brereton towards the
cause of the fall of religion in this Island."* frontiers of Ulster, to settle the dispute; he
The parliament which had fabricated the entered into a negotiation with the prince,
above-named laws, and by which the schism  and renewed the treaty which had been preof Henry VIII. was introduced into Ireland, viously concluded with Skeffington. About
was the parliament of the English province, this time, Henry VIII. sent to the city of
and not that of all Ireland; like the pre- Waterford a gilt sword and hat in token of
ceding ones, it was composed solely of his protection, for their loyalty and attachEnglishmen by birth or origin; the ancient lment to the crown.
Irish had no seat in it; they were excluded   John Fitzgerald, earl of Desmond, after
from all offices in the militia and magistracy, the death of the lawful heir, who had been
which is the cause of their being scarcely murdered through the malice and envy of
ever mentioned by English writers.  They Maurice, as has been already observed, died
were strongly attached to the religion of
their ancestors, and it is probable that they writers in that country have maliciously set forth,
would all have continued so, had they re- that the meanest English settler would not give his
mained a free people.                      daughter in marriage to the noblest Irishman; it
A law was likewise enacted in this parlia- was, however, much less from contempt, than inl
ment for the suppression of the tributes conformity with this law, which was the result of
which the English colonists had paid to some English policy; it would not allow the people to
bind themselves by those ties which might unite
Irish nobles, by whom they -were protected. their common interests. Besides, the contempt
Marriages with the Irish were prohibited, was mutual: the Irish were so far from seeking
particularly with the children of those who alliances with those strangers, that they considered
had not taken the -oath of allegiance in a them as a corrupt blood, orrather an impure deposite:
court of justice, subsequently to the law which the sea had cast upon their shores. "And
so much dissevered are the Anglo-Irish from the
being passed for so doing.t This act, how- natives, that the meanest settler would not give
ever, was repealed under James I.          his daughter to the noblest Irishman.  But the
Irish hold them in such contempt, that they consider
their blood impure, and themselves the excrement
* Vol. I. part 2, page 240.              of the sea."-Rutgerus Hermanridas, p. 519.
1- In consequence of this law, which was often   * Hist. Cathol. p. 71.  Surius ad an. 1539.
re-enacted by the English parliament, some of the Cambr. Evers. page 205.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          423
this year at Tralee, in the county of Kerry;* that of princess-dowager.* She beheld with
he left three sons, James, the eldest, who grief an old man, named John Forest, of the
succeeded him; Maurice, already known order of St. Francis, her confessor, and in
foi his cruelty, and John Oge, which signi- whose society she found some consolation,
fies young.                             suffer martyrdom in her cause, after two
James, earl of Desmond, a young man of years' imprisonment, together with thirty-five
bravery and enterprise, excited some disturb- others of the same order.  She was aware,
ances in Munster.  In order to check the too, of the tragical end of Fisher, More, and
disorder, government sent James Butler, several others who were sacrificed on her
viscount of Thurles, at the head of an army, account; so that being of too delicate a coninto the county of Limerick, where he laid stitution to bear up against such an overwaste the estates of the earl, repaired the whelming series of afflictions, she fell into
castle of Loughguir, and placed a garrison a decline, which terminated her existence
in it. The deputy repaired to Loughguir in in the month of January.  Finding her end
the month of July, from whence he set out approaching, she wrote the following letter,
for Carrigogonel, which he took on the 2d which she sent to the king by one of her
of August. It is said that he immediately maids.
restored this castle to the owner for a small
sum.  On the 6th he advanced as far as " My very dear Lord, Kling, and Husband,
Brien's bridge, took possession of the castle,  "As the hour of my death is now ap(the garrison being unable to resist his artil- proaching, my love for you influences me to
lery,) and destroyed the bridge.  His con- forewarn you to prefer your salvation to all
quests ended here, in consequence of a mu- the perishable things of this world, without
tiny among the soldiers, who were in want even. excepting your anxiety for your own
of provisions.                          person, which has produced to me the heavy
Thomas O'Mullally, or Lally, archbishop calamities that have been inflicted, and
of Tuam, died about the end of April, 1539, caused such troubles to yourself; but I
and was interred in the convent of the minor heartily forgive you all, and pray that the
brothers of Galway, in the same tomb as his Lord may also forgive you. I recommend
predecessor, Maurice O'Fihely.t  Thomas our daughter Mary to your particular care,
was a minor brother; he convened a synod and beseech you, as I have already done,
in Galway, at which he presided, the statutes to act with all the tenderness of a father toof which have been lost. He was succeeded wards her. I beseech you, likewise, to give
by Christopher Bodekin.                 my three maids a marriage portion, and to
The salne year, Henry, duke of Rich- my other servants a year's wages, besides
mond and Somerset, died; he was natural what is already due to them, to secure them
son of Henry VIII., by Elizabeth Blount, against want. Lastly, I declare it to be my
and was commonly called Henry Fitzroy. desire to see you in preference to any thing
It is said that he possessed great qualities, this world affords.  Farewell."
both of mind and body.  He was lord-lieu-   On reading the above letter, Henry could
tenant of Ireland, but the administration had not refrain from tears, notwithstanding the
been confided successively to Skeffington, obduracy of his heart; and having been inKildare, and Grey, his deputies.  He died formed of her death, a few days afterwards,
without issue, at St. James, near Westmin- he ordered his household to put on mourning.
ster, in the month of July, and was greatly The marchioness, as a mark of her joy, had
regretted by the king.                  herself and her female attendants all dressed
Queen Catherine of Aragon resided in in yellow; but her joy was soon changed
the castle of Kimbolton, county of Hunt- into sorrow, for in a short time after this she
ingdon, in a very unhealthy situation. The was delivered of a monstrous abortion. Four
cruelties which were practised in her regard, or five months after the death of Queen Cathcaused her excessive grief; but she bore the erine, Anne was sent to the tower, where
unworthy treatment which she received as a she was accused and found guilty of adultery
true Christian. The title of queen was not with several persons, and of incest with her
only wrested from her by an act of parlia- brother George; she was then condemned
ment, but her servants were constrained by to be beheaded. Thomas Bullen, her supoath to address her by no other title than
X Sander. de Schis. Anglic. lib. 1, page 118.
t Relae. GAcrald.                Polidor. Virgil. Hist. lib. 27, p. 1741. Heylin's
t Ware, de Archiepse. Tuamens.   Hist. of the Reform. page 179. Baker's Chron.
page 283.




424                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
posed father, was one of her judges, and the follow their example, and deposite their certifirst to pronounce her guilty; she was exe- ficates in the court of chancery. In the month
cuted in the month of May. Three days of July the army arrived at O'Brien's bridge,
afterwards, George Bullen, the brother of where, after some skirmishing with the reAnne, Henry Norris, William  Brereton, bels,* the castles and the bridge were deFrancis Weston, and Mark Smeton, a musi- stroyed. The deputy then marched through
cian, suffered the same fate as Anne, the first Thuomond towards Connaught, where he
for incest with her, the others for adultery. took the castles of Clare, Ballycolamne, and
The day after her execution, Henry married Ballyclare. The latter place he gave up to;
Jane Seymour, daughter of Sir John Sey- Ulick Burke, and set out with his troops for'
mour and sister to Lord Edward Seymour, Galway; here he and his army were enterearl of Hartfort and duke of Somerset; by tainied, at the expense of the corporation, for
this marriage he had Edward VI. Anne seven days; the mayor and aldermen, like
enjoyed but for three years the elevation to those of Limerick, took the oath of suprewhich she had been raised by so many trou- macy, and renounced the pope's authority
bles. The same passion which had been the also; at the same time, O'Flaherty, O'Madsource of her greatness, became the cause din, and M'Yoris, (Bermingham,) submitted
of her ruin; and Henry, who had sacrificed to the deputy; he then passed through MaiCatherine of Aragon for her sake, soon sa- nech, the country of the O'Kellys, where
crificed herself to the youth and charms of O'Connor M'.Henry performed the same
Jane Seymour.  In losing the king's affec- ceremony; lastly, he took a castle in the
tions, however, Catherine preserved his es- territory of the M'Coghlans, and from thence
teem to the last moment, while he sent Anne, he repaired to Maynooth.  The principal
like the most infamous criminal, to die on a object of the deputy's tour was in all appearscaffold, and caused his marriage to be an- ance to establish the ecclesiastical supremanulled in favor of Jane Seymour, as he had cy of Henry VIII. in Ireland.
previously broken his marriage with Cathe-  The tyranny of the English drove several
rine for the sake of Anne. Lastly, he caused of the Irish, at this time, from their country,
Elizabeth, daughter of Anne, to be declared to seek peace, under a milder government,
illegitimate, as Mary, the daughter of Cath- in foreign climes. Of this number was John,
erine, had before been. Polidore Virgil, son of Edmond O'Dwyer, and brother of
and Sanders, place the death of Queen Cornelius, titular archbishop of Tuam. IHe
Catherine in 1535; and the latter, that of belonged to the ancient and noble family of
Anne Bullen, four months afterwards. Ac- the O'Dwyers of Coillenemanagh, in the
cording to Baker, the death of Anne took county of Tipperary, who were descended
place in 1537. We shall not, however, un- from Heremon, by Ugane More, and Condertake here to reconcile their difference.  covar, surnamed Abhuarua, both monarcs
Lord Grey, deputy of Ireland, undertook of Ireland; the former three centuries before
in April, 1537, an expedition into Offaly, the Christian era, and the second in the first
against Charles O'Connor; but the continual age of Christianity. This John O'Dwyer
rains and bad weather defeated his plan of settled in Burgundy in the reign of Francis
operations, and obliged him to conclude a I., according to an ancient manuscript predishonorable treaty with that nobleman.* served in the family. As foreign names are
He then turned his arms against the Cava- subject to changes in countries in which they
naghs, O'Carrols, and others, arid contented are unknown, on account of the difference of
himself with their submission, and some ros- pronunciation, the name of John O'Dwyer
I tages. He marched in the month of June was at first changed to O'Doyer, and aftertowards Fearcall, the country of the O'Mol- wards to Handoire.  The governor of the
loys, where he surprised alternately the cas- castle of Peronne, who was married to Maties of Eglis, Bir, and Modrimye.  He af- demoiselle de Collincourt, daughter to the
terwards received the submission of O'Ken- Marquis de Collincourt, and Mademoiselle
nedy of Ormond, M'Brian Arra, O'Mulrian Bethune, aunt to the present Duke de Sully,
of Owny, Ulick Burke of Clanriccard, and is descended, in a direct line, from the John
Tybod Bourk M'William; and then marched O'Doyer in question.
towards Limerick, where the bishop, mayor,  The earl of Desmond was still under
and aldermen, took the oath of supremacy, arms; but the superior army of the deputy
and renounced the authority of the pope. preventing him from undertaking any thing
The clergy and people were commanded to important, he was forced to write to the
* War. de Annal. Hib. c. 29. Cox, History of
Ireland, p. 232, et seq.                  * They are so called only by an Englishman.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           425
general, offering to surrender on certain con-   In the month of September, the king of
ditions. The capitulation being of a tedious England sent four commissioners to Irecharacter, the deputy was obliged to with- land,* namely, Sir Anthony St. Leger, Sir
draw his forces for want of provisions, and George Pawlett, Sir Thomas Moyle, and Sir
to appoint commissioners to conclude the William Barnes, with orders to investigate
treaty with Desmond.  The commissioners every thing connected with the late rebellion,
appointed Clonmel, then a walled city, as and those who had been accomplices in it.
the place of their conference; but Desmond These commissioners conducted themselves
refused to go thither, in assertion of an an- with much prudence and moderation, and
cient family privilege. Having then brought having ended their inquiries, granted a parthem to his camp, he took the oath of alle- don and general amnesty to the guilty. They
giance, and sent Thomas Ruadh, or the had orders, conjointly with the deputy and
Red, his natural son, as a hostage to Eng- council, to regulate the king's revenues; to
land,* whither he himself shortly afterwards let the crown lands in farms; and to make
set out, attended by a splendid retinue. On an estimate of the estates of the earl of Kilhis arrival, he submitted to Henry, and ac- dare, which amounted to eight hundred and
knowledged that all his estates had devolved ninety-three pounds, eleven shillings, and
on the crown, on account of the lawful heir eight pence sterling, which was thought a
having been murdered. The king, who was large sum at that time. They reconciled
busily occupied with other affairs, and de- the deputy, Grey, and the earl of Ossory,
sirous that tranquillity should be restored to who resumed the title of Ormond, the house
Ireland, received the earl with mtlch kind- of Bullen having become extinct.
ness, reinstated him in his ancient patri-  In October, Queen Jane died in childbed,
mony, and dismissed him honorably, to re- at Hampton court, having undergone the
turn to his estates.                    Caesarean operation, by which the life of her
The jealousies which had prevailed for child was saved. This child was called
some time between the deputy and the earl Edward at his baptism.t  His sponsors
of Ossory, increased, at this period, to direct were Cranmer, the duke of Norfolk, and his
hostilities.  The deputy was so transported sister, the Princess Mary, daughter of Cathewith rage against the earl, that he sent part rine of Aragon.  On the 18th of the same
of his army to lay waste the lands of the month, he was created prince of Wales,
Butlers. He also quarrelled with Archbishop duke of Cornwall, and earl of Chester, and
Brown, and Allen, the master of the rolls; reigned after his father under the name of
and though commissioners were sent by the Edward VI. John Barnwell, baron of Trimking, expressly to investigate their differ- lestown, and chancellor of Ireland, died in
ences and to reconcile them, the matter was July, 1538. John Allen was first nominated
only temporarily arranged; for the deputy keeper of the seals by the deputy and counat length fell a sacrifice to their hatred.    cil, and afterwards chancellor of Ireland by
O'Neill collected his forces in Ulster, and orders of the king.
gave the command of them to his son.  His  In the month of May, the deputy marched
design was, to make himself master of the against O'Reilly, but was stopped by the
castle of Ardglass, in the district of Lecale. submission of that nobleman. - He afterwards
The deputy having received intelligence of entered Lecale and the Ardes, in the county
his movement, gave orders for the marching of Down, against a nobleman of English
of the troops; but previous to undertaking extraction, called Savage, to whom Cox and
any thing, it was determined by the council others give the appellation of " a degenerate
to send the chancellor, Baron Tremlestown, Englishman."T He took the castle of DunStapely, bishop of Meath, and Ailmer, chief- drum, belonging to Magennis, with several
justice, to the frontiers of Ulster, to enter other fortified places, and laid all that couninto a treaty of peace with O'Neill.  After try waste. He next laid his sacrilegious
some difficulties on both sides, the treaty was hands on the cathedral church of Down,
concluded, and the two armies disbanded. which he burned; destroyed the monuments
Hugh, or Aod O'Donnel, surnamed Dubh,
(that is, the black,) hereditary prince of Tir-  * War. de Annal. Hib. Reign of Henry VIII.
connel, died in July.  He was succeeded c. 29.
by his son Magnus, or Manus, who was  t Baker, Chron. page 285.
confirmed in the succession by a popular  t The same religion began already to unite seveelection, according to custom, near the ral noble English families with the ancient Irish,
elchurch of Kilmacren.             against the English who had forsaken their relichurch of Kilmacrenan.                  gion-a union which acquired additional strength
Relat. Gerald.           under Elizabeth and the succeeding reigns.
54




426                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
of St. Patrick, St. Bridget, and St. Columb- for his majesty, if he would but furnish them
Kill, and committed several other sacrile- with the means necessary for that purpose.
gious acts.  He then made war against It was thus that those iniquitous ministers
images, which were destroyed everywhere deprived the Irish of the protection of the
at this time, particularly those that were kings of England, that they might plunder
most revered by the faithful. The celebrated them  with impunity.  It was contrary to
statue of the blessed-Virgin, at Trim, was their interest, that they should hold their
burned, as also the crucifix of the abbey of lands under legal titles, as they would thereBallybogan, and St. Patrick's crosier,*which by acquire the rank of subjects, and the
had been removed, by order of William Fitz- protection of the laws.  In another letter,
adelm, in the twelfth century, from Armagh written in March, he informed him that he
to Dublin, to be deposited in the cathedral had forced Brien and Cahir O'Connor to
church of the blessed Trinity.  In many submit to him.
other parts of the kingdom, the example of   The schism  and supremacy of the king
the English was in this instance followed; of England made but slow progress in Ireand it must be admitted that all the wars in land.*  They were, however, warmly supIreland, from  that period to the present, ported by Archbishop Brown: in his letters
have been wars on account of religion.    to Cromwell, he complains bitterly of the
opposition that he had experienced from
Cromer, the primate, and the clergy in general, which he ascribed to the ignorance and
zeal of the nation-the usual mode of reaCHAPTER  XXXVII.                soning with heretics.  The conduct of this
archbishop in his diocese, and his close inWHILE the deputy was employed in Ul- timacy with Cromwell. who was at least a
ster, O'Connor on one side, and O'Toole on Lutheran, are strong proofs that he did not
the other, made incursions on the English confine himself exclusively to the affair of
province, in order to be revenged for the the supremacy; but that he intended to introtyranny which was exercised against the duce the reformation into Ireland by degrees,
inhabitants of their province.t  In conse- and carry matters further than even he whom
quence of this, the deputy was obliged to he wished to make head of the church.
leave the north and march toward Offaly,   In another letter, in May, the archbishop
to create a diversion, by forcing O'Connor informed Cromwell that the primate and
to return to the relief of his own country. clergy of Ireland had received a brief from
It does not appear, however, that the two the pope, to excommunicate all those who
armies came to an engagement. The deputy should acknowledge the king's supremacy.
took the castles of Braghlan and Dingen, (at He also added, that the viceroy possessed
present Philipstown.) In his letter, written but little authority over the ancient inhabitin August, to the king, he boasts that he had ants of the country; that the nation (that is,
forced O'Carrol and O'Meagher to give him the English province) was poor and unable
hostages, and that the former had purchased to subdue them; that since Ireland had been
the liberty of his son for three hundred in possession of the king's ancestors, the
marks.  In the same letter he mentions, ancient Irish had never ceased to solicit the
also, that O'Carrol was desirous of holding aid of foreign powers; and that at present,
his lands by letters patent from the king; the English by descent and the ancient Irish
but that it would be imprudent to grant were beginning to forget their national anithem to him, as he was a man that could not mosities, by opposing the king's ordinances,
be relied upon; that the English were al- which might induce some foreign power to
ready sufficiently acquainted with the Irish invade Ireland.  By this we discover that
and their country, to turn it to good account the English province, comprising about a
third of the kingdom, and emphatically
* Providence has preserved a crosier to posterity, called a nation by the English, was distinwhich St. Patrick had used at the baptism of Aon. guished from the rest of the island; that
gus, king of Cashel; the holy apostle having left it Ireland had, since the twelfth century, been
with O'Kearny of Cashel, to be used by the bishops
of that church on days of ceremony, whose de- inhabited by two distinct people, who had
scendants have preserved it with veneration to the -no intercourse but that of war; and lastly,
present time. This venerable monument of Chris- that those two people became united under
tian antiquity is still in possession of Brien O'Kear- Henry VIII. in opposing the innovations,
ny, of Fethard, in the county of Tipperary, the
chief of the ancient family of that name.
1 Cox; Hist. of Ireland, p. 255.               * Cox, Hist. of Ireland, p. 256.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           427
and changes which that prince was desir- August.  Placing himself at the head of this
ous of introducing into religion.       confederate army, he laid waste the posAbout this time, a friar named Thady sessions of the English, from Atherdee, in
O'Birne, belonging to the order of St. Fran- the county of Louth, to Navan, in Meath,
cis,was arrested on suspicion,and imprisoned and burned these two towns. In the meanin the castle of Dublin.  Among his papers while, the deputy received from England a
was a letter addressed to O'Neill, prince of reinforcement of two hundred and fifty men,
Tyrone, and signed by the bishop of Mets, at the head of whom, together with the troops
of which the following is a copy:       of the province, and the inhabitants of Dublin and Drogheda, he marched to meet
"My son O'Teill,                       O'Neill, whom he surprised in his camp at
" You, as well as your ancestors, have Bellahoa. He was- assisted in this enterever been faithful to the mother church of prise by the baron of Slane, Robert Betagh,
Rome. His holiness Paul, our present pope, of Moynalta, his equerry, Mabe, of Mabesand the council of the holy fathers, have town, and other noblemen. The battle, which
lately discovered a prophecy of St. Laserian, was bloody, lasted until night. The Irish
an Irish bishop of Cashel, in which it is lost nearly four thousand men killed, and
foretold that the church of Rome shall fall Magennis, one of their chiefs: the English
when the Catholic faith will have been de- lost about the same number, and some of their
stroyed in Ireland. Put down, therefore, all leaders, among whom was General Mabe.
heresy, and the enemies of his holiness, for After this action, the deputy conferred the
the glory of the mother church, the honor honor of knighthood on chief-justice Ailmer,
of St. Peter, and your own safety; for when Talbot, of Malahide, Fitzsimons, mayor of
the Catholic faith will perish in Ireland, the Dublin, and Courcy, mayor of Drogheda;
churchof Rome shall also fall. The council James Fleming, baron of Slane, was also
of  cardinals have, on this account, deemed highly extolled for his bravery.  During the
it prudent to encourage your country, Ire- absence of the deputy, O'Connor Faly and
land, that sacred island, being certain that O'Tool ravaged  the English province.  It
the mother church, having a worthy son, may be easily imagined, that from the state
like you and others, who will come to your of misery to which Ireland was reduced by
assistance, will never fall, but always retain, the frequent wars which devastated her
in spite of fate, more or less influence in provinces, the sorrowful consequences were
Britain. Having thus obeyed the orders of famine and distempers, from which numthe sacred council, werecommendyourroyal bers, both of men and cattle, died.
person to the holy Trinity, to the blessed   Although the ecclesiastical supremacy of
Virgin, to St. Peter and St. Paul, and to the Henry VIII. met with considerable opposiwhole court of heaven.  Amen."          tion in Ireland, the suppression of religious
houses made a rapid progress in that country.
This letter, which is quoted by Cox, in Threats and caresses were the means resorthis history of Ireland, is taken from the life ed to for this purpose. It was impossible that
of Brown, archbishop of Dublin.  We do a superior force could be resisted; the heads,
not pretend in this place to decide whether therefore, of religious houses looked upon
it be true, or invented by the heretics. We themselves as very happy in receiving pendo not discover St. Laserian, who is men- sions for life, for surrendering their abbeys,
tioned in it, in the catalogue of the prelates priories, and other religious establishments,
of Cashel, nor is it certain that O'Neill re- to the king. The number of houses supceived such a letter; but it is very probable pressed in Ireland is too great to admit of
that the Irish were applied to in their then being particularized; we shall therefore concircumstances by many foreign princes.   fine ourselves to the principal ones, the heads
In the beginning of May, 1539, the deputy of which were ecclesiastical lords, who had
Grey undertook an expedition into Ulster the right of seats in parliament. The most
against Conn O'Neill, where he laid waste celebrated abbeys were those of Mellifont,
and depopulated the environs of Armagh, St. Thomas, and of our Lady, near Dublin,
and carried away immense booty.* In order Baltinglass, Jeripont, Tintern, in the county
to be revenged for this insult, O'Neill as- of Wexford, Douske, and Tracton, in the
sembled the lords of his province, O'Donnel, county of Cork; Dunbrody, Magie, or Nenai
Maguire,Magennis,O'Cahane,O'Hanlon,and and Owny, in the county of Limerick, Rosother allies, withtheir vassals, in the monthof glasser, MIonasterevan, in Offaly, Bectif, in
Meath, and Rathto, in the county of Kerry.
" War. de Annal. cap. 31.        The chief priories were those of St. John




428                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
of Jerusalem, Christ's church, in Dublin, St. an effort in favor of both.* For this purpose,
Peter, near Trim, Conal, Kenlis, in Ossory, O'Neill, O'Brien, O'Donnel, and O'Connor,
St. Patrick, in Down, All Saints, near Dub- formed a league t6gether, and agreed to,lin, Athadsel, Killagh, and the priory of the meet, in the month of July, at Fowre, in
blessed Virgin, in the town of Louth.   Westmeath; intending to deliberate on what
A Waterford ship, laden with wine, was measures they should adopt for the defence
returning this year from Portugal, and being of their religion and country. - But Brereton
overtaken by a storm, was driven upon the having marched to attack them with eight
coast of Baltimore, but had the good fortune thousand troops and artillery, and they being
to escape, and anchored adjoining the estates unprepared to meet him, they thought pruof O'Driscol, who seized it as a matter of dent to wait for a more favorable opporturight.                                  nity, and withdrew for the time.
The English merchants of Waterford,   After this expedition, Brereton was re-.
viewing this act of O'Driscol as one of per- placed by Anthony St. Leger, a knight of
fidy and treason, fitted out two ships and a the order of the garter, and gentleman of
galley, with four hundred men on board, the the bedchamber; the king having sent him
command of which was given to two cap- to Ireland in the month of July, as deputy.
tains called Woodlock and Dobbin, to take On his arrival, he took the usual oath in
revenge for the insult they had received. Christ's church.  St. Leger brought with
They sailed towards Baltimore, and not con- him three experienced commissioners, Thotent with recovering the vessel, with the mas Walsh, John Myn, and William Cavencrew, and part of her cargo, they pillaged dish, who were of great assistance to him in
without opposition the islands of Inishircan regulating the rolls of the crown lands. The
and Inchepite, and having razed the castle court commissioned Brown, archbishop of
of O'Driscol to the ground, returned to Dublin, and Robert Cowley, master of the
Waterford laden with spoil.             rolls, to take an inventory of the personal
The reformation had not been openly goods which Lord Grey had left in Ireland,
avowed under Henry VIII.; this revolution with orders to give up every thing to St.
being reserved for a future reign. That king Leger, to be disposed of according to the
was a schismatic only; he published, about king's will. Allen, the chancellor, Brabazon,
this time, a declaration in favor of the six the vice-treasurer, and Cowley, received
celebrated articles; first, that of transub- another commission to regulate the pensions
stantiation; second, the communion in one which were granted to the monks of the
kind; third, the celibacy of priests, with pain abbeys that had been suppressed.
of death against those who should violate    Brereton having been appointed lordit; fourth, the obligation of keeping vows; marshal of Ireland, was sent by the deputy
fifth, private masses; and sixth, the neces- to Munster, to receive the submission of
sity of auricular confession. These articles James Fitzjohn,. earl of Desmond; but the
were published by authority of the king and lord-marshal fell sick on his way, and died
parliament, with penalty of death against at Kilkenny, where he was interred in the
those who would oppose them obstinately, church of St. Canice.  This accident did
and against others imprisonment according not prevent the earl from repairing, in the
to the king's pleasure.*                month of January following, to Cahir, on
Leonard Grey, lord-justice of Ireland, the river Suire, where he submitted, in prehaving been recalled in. the beginning of sence of the deputy and council, and respring, A. D. 1540, returned to England, nounced the ancient privileges of his family,
leaving Sir William Brereton in Ireland, as by which he had the right of being absent
lord-justice. Grey was at first well received from parliament during pleasure, and of reby the king, who had already created him fusing to enter or sojourn in walled cities.
Viscount Grany, for his services in Ireland;   Money was coined at this time in Ireland,
he had even the honor of wearing his sword, by orders of the king; namely, four-penny,
according to customn, in presence of the two-penny, and penny pieces, stamped with
king, on the day of Pentecost.  These fa- the harp. This was afterwards prohibited,
vors were, however, soon changed into dis- under pain of confiscation and fine.
grace, and at last cost him his life.     Sir William  Darcy, a native of Meath,
The principal Irish chieftains, witnessing died this year, at an'advanced age, having
the deadly blows that were aimed against been for some time vice-treasurer of Ireland.
their religion andliberty, determined to make He was a wise and learned man, and very
* Ware, de Annal. Hib. cap. 32.         * Ware, de Annal. Hib. cap. 32.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             429
zealous for the interests of his country. He nobility was spilledthrough the inconsistency
wrote; in English, a work on the causes of and cruelty of an inhuman prince.*  What
the ruin of Ireland.                     idea can be formed of an age, or rather of a
Henry, who had been a widower for two nation, whose parliaments are so corrupt, and
years, began now  to think -of marrying judges so wicked, as to arraign and condemn
again.*  Among the many matches that the innocent, for the gratification of a brutal
were proposed, the princess Anne, sister to tyrant, whose fury was levelled alike against
the duke of Cleves, was one.  She was a every sex and condition.  The fate of MarProtestant, and therefore approved of by garet, countess of Salisbury, alone, is enough
Cromwell, who was the king's favorite at to fill us with horror. She was nearly allied
this time.  This minister used all his in- to the king, and the last of the house of
fluence with Henry in favor of the mar- Plantagenet, being daughter of the duke of
riage, which was shortly afterwards deter- Clarence, and sister to the celebrated earl
mined upon, and celebrated by Cranmer. of Warwick, who had been so unjustly put
Cromwell was then created earl of Essex, to to death in the preceding reign.t  She was
the prejudice of the Devreux family, who condemned, at the age of eighty years, to
should have inherited, not only the estate, die, for no other crime than that of having
but the title, after Henry Bourchier, the last written an affectionate letter to her son,
earl, who died without issue.  The king Reginald Pole.  Struggling with the exehaving conceived a dislike for Anne of cutioner on the scaffold, this barbarian seized
Cleves, a few months after his marriage with the unfortunate lady by the hair, grown gray
her, caused Cromwell to be arrested on the with age, and dragged her by force to the
9th of July, and brought to the tower.t  He block!
was then tried, and condemned by the par-   The king conferred titles of honor on
liament, as a heretic and traitor to the state, some Irish lords in 1541.  On the 11th of
without beingheard, in accordance with that July, Plunket was raised to the peerage,
abominable law, of which, it is said, he was under the title of lord-baron of Dunsany, in
himself the author.  About the end of the the county of Meath, and in the following
same month, he was beheaded on Tower month, Oliver Plunket was honored with
Hill. He suffered this punishment for having the title of lord-baron of Louth.t
been the chief adviser of his master's mar-   Edmond Butler, lord of Dunboyne, near
riage, and met his destruction where he Dublin, was created a peer of the realm,
thought to have found support.  In the life under the title of' lord-baron Dunboyne.
of this man, who was in every other respect -I-e was descended from Theobald, fourth
wicked, we discover one trait that does honor grand-butler of Ireland, and Jane, daughter
to his memory, which is, his having intro- of John Fitzgeoffry, earl of Essex, sister and
duced into the churches of England the coheiress of John and Richard Fitzjohn,
custom of registering the baptisms, mar- earls of Essex, who died without issue.~
riages, and burials, whereby the births and   The king also granted the title of baron
alliances of families are more solidly attested of Carbry, in the county of Kildare, to Wilthan by proof of witnesses, which had been liam Bermingham; and that of viscount of
previously resorted to.  It is probable that Clontarf to John Rawson, prior of Kilmainthis custom was introduced into all other ham.  Thomas Eustace was likewise made
churches about the same time.t           a peer of the realm, under the title of visAfter the execution of Cromwell, the king count Baltinglass.
had still, for his own satisfaction, to get rid   St. Leger, the deputy, on his return from
of a wife, to whom he had taken an uncon- Limerick, where he had a conference with
querable dislike. He resolved, therefore, to O'Brien respecting his submissidn, convened
break his marriage with Anne of Cleves; a parliament, which was prorogued several
and the parliament, always willing to do times. The first act of this parliament was
every thing to please him, declared it was to erect Ireland into a kingdom, and give to
null and void; that either party was at Henry VIII. the title of king, instead of
liberty to marry  another: and that the that of lord of Ireland, which had been till
queen should henceforward be called the
Princess Anne of Cleves.                   X Baker's Chron. p. 287. Higgins' Short View,
Executions were, about this time, general page 195.
throughout England; the blood of the first, Sander. de Schis. Angl. lib. 1, page 133.
Salmon, Hist. of England, vol. vi. p. 241.
* Baker's Chron. page 287.               t Nichol's Rudiments of Honor.
I Sander. de Schis. Ang. lib. 1, page 154, et seq.  ~ Nichol's Rudiments of Honor on the article
t Baker's Chron. page 295.             respecting Patrick, baron of Gowran.




430                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
then borne by him  and his predecessors.   Other laws were enacted in this parlia" Though under the preceding title," says ment, which are too numerous to be inserted
the statute, " the kings have enjoyed all the in this place.  The county of Meath being
jurisdiction, power, pre-eminence, and law- too extensive to be governed by one sheriff,
ful authority, which belong to the majesty of it was divided into East and Westmeath.
a king, since his present majesty and his   Lord Grey, whom we left in England, was
royal ancestors were justly and lawfully sent to the tower.  He was accused by the
kings of Ireland, being reputed, acknow- earl of Ormond, Allen, the chancellor, Braledged, and styled as such," &c.*          bazon, the vice-treasurer, and Sir John TraThis statute was solemnly published on vers.*  They followed him to England, and
the following Sunday in St. Patrick's church, produced several heads of accusation against
Dublin, and in London, in the month of him, during his administration in Ireland,
January. St. Leger, the deputy, James, earl which, having been verified by commisof Ormond, James, earl of Desmond, the sioners, who were sent purposely to Ireland
other peers in their parliamentary robes, to examine witnesses, he was publicly bewith several distinguishedlaymen and eccle- headed on Tower Hill. This nobleman was
siastics, attended at this publication.  Some son to the marquis of Dorset, and brotherprisoners -were restored to liberty, and the in-law to the last earl of Kildare,-who had
ceremony terminated with feasting and fire- been beheaded.  He suffered death with
works.                                     admirable fortitude.
In this parliament, all the abbeys in Ire-   The king's marriage with Anne of Cleves
land, mentioned in the statute, were placed having been declared null, he married in
at the king's disposal, but they did not tend eight days afterwards, Catherine Howard,
much to increase his wealth, as he divided daughter of Lord Edward Howard, and niece
the lands which belonged to them among the to the duke of Norfolk.  The new queen
nobles, courtiers, and other flatterers, reserv- was as zealous in the cause of the reformaing but an annual income from them  for tion as Anne Bullen had been; but the fate
himself. It was decreed tlatnonebutthose of both these reformers was of a singular
who possessed forty shillings a year in landed kind.t  Henry having been informed of the
property, could have a vote in the election shameful and dissolute life of Catherine,
of members for the house of commons.  It caused her to be arrested, eighteen months
was also enacted, that in case of the death, after his marriage.  She was accused and
absence, or resignation of the chief governor, convicted of unchastity both before and after
the chancellor should perform the office of her marriage, and condemned to be beheaded
sending circular letters to privy counsellors, with Durham and Colpeper, the accomplices
in the counties of Dublin, Meath, Louth, of her guilt.  On the scaffold, Catherine deKildare, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Wexford, clared herself innocent since her marriage,
Waterford, Cork, Kerry, and Limerick;t but admitted that previously to it she had
that these  counsellors being assembled, been guilty.t This gave rise to a ridiculous
should choose an Englishman by birth, to fill and absurd act of parliament, prohibiting,
the office of chief governor during the king's under pain of high treason, any woman who
pleasure, and in case of none thus qualified was not a virgin, from marrying the king,.
being found, that two persons of English without first declaring the fact.
extraction should be chosen by the council,  In Ireland, Conn O'Neill, whose great
to whom the chancellor should give letters power gave umbrage to the king, having lost
patent, after making them  take the oath his old ally and relative, the earl of Kildare,
usual on these occasions.                  repaired to Maynooth, where St. Leger, the
deputy resided, and made peace with him.
The English flatter themselves considerably. Several of the ancient Irish chieftains followIn their own opinion, every thing is due to them. ed his example; among others, O'Carroll,
They here take a part for the whole; a third of Ire- O'Morra, O'Molloy, O'Connor, O'Dunn,
land for the entire island. Their jurisdiction, how- M'Mahon, Magennis, O'Donnel, O'Rourke,
ever, did not extend beyond the boundaries of the O'Reilly, O'Flaherty, O'Melaghlin, M'Carty,
English province, as appears by a law of this same
parliament, respecting the election of a governor, O'Sullivan, &c. This example was soon
which we shall presently quote. It has been al- afterwards followed by some nobles of Engready observed in the course of this history, that
the right of the kings of England to Ireland, is en-  * Ware, de Annal. Hib. ibid. Cox, Hist, of Irel.
tirely founded upon usurpation.            page 264.
t These were the eleven counties which com-  t Sander. de Sehis. Ang. lib. 1, p. 161. Baker's
posed the English province. Ireland comprises in Chron. of England, on the year 1540.
the whole thirty-two counties.                I Higgins' Short View, page 194.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             431
lish extraction; namely, Barry, Roche, Ber- and obtained the privilege that their country
mingham, and M'Guillan.  The latter de- should be erected into a county, under the
dlared himself to be of English descent. The name of Wicklow.
acts of these treaties are given, it is said, in   The death of George Cromer, archbishop
the red book of the Irish privy council.    of Armagh, took place this year.*  He was
The deputy and council made some regu- a prelate of great celebrity; grave, learned,
lations relative to the government of Mun- and of a mild disposition. Through the inster, which had not been before subject to fluence of the earl of Kildare, he was apthe dominion of English law-.* These regu- pointed to the chancellorship of Ireland,
lations having been published, arbitrators which office he held for two years with inwere appointed in the provinces, instead of tegrity.  He was strongly opposed to archthe ancient judges, called Brehons, to have bishop Brown, respecting the ecclesiastical
them put into execution.                   supremacy, which had been usurped by
Henry VIII., at length'resolved to exter- Henry VIII.  His successor in the see of
minate the monks altogether, changed the Armagh was George Dowdal.
priory and convent of the cathedral church   Henry VIII., finding some difficulty in
of tile blessed Trinity, in Dublin, into a reducing the Irish people by *force, and
secular chapter. He appointed Robert Cas- bringing them to the condition of subjects,
tie, or Painswick, dean, who had been before endeavored to win them  by a display of
prior, and confirmed this church in its pos- kindness, in offering to confer titles of honsessions and privileges.                  or upon their chiefs.
The Jesuits were introduced bypermission   According to the ancient history of Ireof Pope Paul III. into Ireland, A. D. 1541, land, the inhabitants were divided intotribes;
through the exertions of Robert Waucop, a each tribe possessing a territory, that is, a
Scotchman, titular archbishop of Armagh.t certain extent of land, which was divided
John Codur was the first of the society that between the different branches of the tribe.
was received into this country.  lIe was These branches had each its vassals, these
followed by Alphonso Salmeron, Pachase vassals having neither origin nor name in
Broet, and Francis Zapata, all of the same common with their masters.  They were
order. Though WVaucop was born blind, he the descendants of the soldiers and artisans
applied himself so closely to study that he who had followed the Milesians from Spain,
became a doctor of theology in the faculty and of the remnant of the Firbolgs, the anof Paris.  He assisted at the council of cient inhabitants of the country, who cultiTrent, from the first to the eleventh session, vated the lands belonging to their masters.
after which the pope sent him to Germany They did not take the names of their chiefs,
as legate a Latere, which gave rise to the as has been asserted by persons little acsaying among the Germans:       " A  blind quainted with Irish history.  Each tribe
legate to the clear-sighted Germans."  He acknowledged one sovereign chief, a rank
died in Paris, in 1551, in the convent of which usually devolved upon the elder
the Jesuits.                               branch; but was sometimes elective, accordJames Fitzgerald, earl of Desmond, went ing to circumstances.  The chief and the
to England in August, 1542, where he re- branches were of the same origin, and bore
newed his submission in presence of the the same name, preceded by the articles O
king,$ from whom he received some presents, and MAac, with this difference, that these
an d was admitted by his order into the coun- articles, without any other addition, becil of Ireland.~  The deputy made regula- longed to the chiefs; for instance, by Mactions at this time to settle the differences Carty, O'Donnel, were meant the heads of
which had arisen between the several fami- these illustrious tribes. The branches were
lies of the Magennises, and similar arrange- distinguished by their Christian names, or
ments for the O'Carrolls.  The- O'Byrnes some epithet added to the surname; as Cormade a public submission; surrendered the mac Mac-Carty, Mac-Carty-Riagh, Niall
town and castle of Wicklow to the king, Garve O'Donnel, &c., and so with the other
tribes. Each tribe formed a small republic,
"Respecting the reformation of the inhabitants the members of which, with their vassals,
of this kingdom in parts of Munster, who will not united under the chief for the general safety,
understand the laws and privileges, so as that they and followed him to war.  They were all
can immediately live, and be ruled according to more or less closely allied: and when the
them." —Sander. 1540.
j     War. de Archi. Ardmach. Cox, ibid. p. 272. principal branch became extinct, it was ret War. de Annal. cap. 34.               placed by some of the collateral ones, who
~ Cox, ibid. page 275.                        * War. de Archiepisc. Ardmachan.




432                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
assumed the title of chief; so that unless of Ireland, under the title of earl of Tyrone.
the whole tribe became extinct, they could At the same time Matthew O'Neill, (the Irish
never want a chief.                      call him  Fardorach,) son of Tyrone, was
This digression was necessary in order to created baron of Dungannon: Denis and Arbecome acquainted with the political views thur Magennis, who had accompanied him,
of Henry VIII. That monarch intended to received the honor of knighthood; and the
subdue the Irish chieftains by the pompous bishop of Clogher was confirmed in his
title of lords, hoping that they would bring bishopric by letters patent.  The above is
the tribes which they governed under the the account given by Ware and Cox, of the
dominion of the crown of England; but in prince of Tyrone. However, if this be true,
this he was doubly disappointed. He wrote it is strange that Baker, who mentions the
on the subject to several of those chieftains, titles conferred upon O'Brien of Thuomond,
some of whose families have carefully pre- and Fitzpatrick of Ossory, says nothing of
served his letters; but the proffered favors Tyrone.* Conn O'Neill was head of that illuswere generally despised and rejected. The trious house, which had givren several monIrish nobles were possessed of too deep a archs to Ireland, from the beginning of the
sense of nobility, to submit for empty titles fifth century, and the reign of Niall, surnamed
of honor, unknown till then among them; Noygiollach, from whom they were descendtitles which were to be the price of their ed, by his son Eogan.  This prince had the
liberty, and which they considered as the weakness to assume the station of a subject,
seal of degrading subjection to a foreign and renounce the ancient title of hereditary
power. It is certain that by receiving titles prince of Tyrone, which was founded on a
from a prince to whom we deny the rank of possession of more than a thousand years, to
sovereign, we assume the position of sub- assume a new one, based on usurpation and
jects; and an individual who accepts of fa- tyranny. He had the cowardice to sign his
vors under such circumstances, is justly own degradation, and abandon the name of
considered to have renounced the cause of O'Neill, which was much more honorable, in
his country. This was the opinion formed the opinion of his countrymen, than that of
by the Irish nobility respecting these first earl, which drew upon him the contempt of all
lords, * and is the cause why there are so true Irishmen. What a subject of hurniliafew among the ancient Irish who bear the tion to O'Neill! what liberality on the part
title of lord, which would be only a distin- of Henry VIII., who granted to this prince,
guishing mark of their apostacy.         by letters patent, what already belonged to
Notwithstanding the distaste which -the him, as if such a title could be more lawful
Irish had evinced for titles of honor, Henry than that which was founded upon a possesVIII. found some who were willing to ac- sion of many centuries! This pusillanimity
cept of them. The principal of these were of O'Neill, who seemingly looked upon the
O'Neill of Tyrone, and O'Brien of Thuo- event as a mere matter of ceremony, was,
mond; but their example was so far from however, amply compensatedbyhis descendbeing imitated, that they were despised and ants. Shane, or John, his eldest son, immeavoided by their best friends.           diately on the death of his father, renounced
According to Ware, Conn O'Neill, here- the title of earl of Tyrone to resume the
ditary prince of Tyrone, went over this year name of O'Neill, as appears by an act of the
to England, accompanied by Hugh O'Ker- parliament of Dublin in the eleventh year
valan, bishop of Clogher, and some noble- of the reign of Elizabeth; and his other demen of his province. He had an interview scendants were, in the succeeding reigns, the
with the king at Greenwich, where he sur- most zealous defenders of their country.
rendered the principality of Tyrone to the   In the year 1543, Henry VIII. conferred
disposal of the monarch. The king restored the title of earl of' Thuomond on Morrough
it to him by letters patent, sealed with the O'Brien for life; (the English sometimes
great seal of England, and created him a peer call him Maur, sometimes Maurice.)  The
reversion of the title and estates on his death,
r These  observations relate but to the ancient was to fall to Donach, son of Connor O'BriIrish. As to the modern Irish, they were an English colony that had settled in Ireland, after the en, his elder brother.t Cox, the historian,
twelfth century, and had continued the subjects of wishes to cast a doubt on the legitimacy of
the king of England. These, therefore, had a right young Donough, which falls on his descendto expect favors from him. The ancient Irish who
received titles after the submission of the whole
nation to James I., are also exempt from'censure-  * Chron. of England, page 291.
they were subjects. They were not, however, nu-  t Ware, de Annal. cap. 35. Nichol's Rudiments
merous.                                  of Honor.




CHRISTIAN -IRELAND.                            433
ants, the earls of Thuomond.*  This author monarch of the island in the fourth century;
observes, that, c" whether this Donough were the second was the celebrated Brien Boirnephew  or natural son of the earl is not oimhe, son of Kennede, and grandson of
well known."  As Cox does not quote any Lorcan, of the race of Cormac-Cas, who
author, can we suppose him incapable of ad- reigned over Ireland in the eleventh century.*
vancing this from mere conjecture? Could Afier the death of Malachi II., successor to
he have calumniated, without authority, a Brien,t the government of Ireland fell into
nobleman who held the first rank in the anarchy. Trhe descent ofMurrough O'Brien,
province, of whichhe himself was a native? first earl of Thuomond, is traced from the
This is a matter that we do not undertake to monarch, Brien Boiroiinhe, by his son Thaexplain.  However it be, Donough was, be- deus, who was father to Terdelach, father
fore the death of his uncle, created baron of of Mortough and Diarmuid.  Mortough, or
Ibrican, with a pension of twenty pounds Moriertach, elder brother of Diarmuid, was
English per annum.  The king settled oun the last king of this race who reigned in
him, moreover, all the lands of the priory of Leagh-Mogha, that is, the greater part of
Inisnagananagh, Insulac Canonicorum, situ- Ireland. He was also ancestor of the differate in the river Shannon, for regular canons, ent branches of the M/'Mahons of Thuomond,
with half the abbey of Clare, called Kilmo- whose first appanage was Corcobaskin, an
ney, or De Forgis.                       extensive territory on both banks of the
Murrough O'Brien availed himself of the river Shannon, from Luachra, in Westmeath,
right which the custom, called tanistry, had as far as Limerickl; and from that city to
given him.  This ancientirish custom, like Loim-na-Con, in the county of Clare.~ ThisI
an old right, called bail orgarde among the latter division comprised the barony of
Franks, authorized the brother, uncle, or Moyarta and Clonderala.  The family benearest relative of the same name, capable came numerous, and were distinguished for
of governing, to succeed during his life, to their great deeds: the principal branches of
the title and estates of the chief of a tribe, it were Clonderala, Carrigaholt, Cobraghan,
who died before his children came of age, Clenagh, and Tuogh.  The lands of Carrignotwithstanding the title which devolves to aholt, Cobraghan, and others, were confisa minor in a direct line.  The advantage cated in the reign of Elizabeth, for the benefit
thus gained suited the policy of Murrough, of Donough, earl of Thuomond, his brother
and enabled him  to make his court to the Sir Daniel O'Brien, Bartly, and others.
king of England, and apply to him for favors. From the branch of the M'Mahons of Clon15e obtained for his son and his descend- derala, is descended Bernard, or Bryan
ants the title of baron of Inis-Hy-Quin, (In- M'Mahon Ferrery, lord of several towns,
chiquin,) in the county' of Clare, with the districts, and castles, in the counties of CGlare
revenues of the abbeys, and the patronage and Limerick, of which he was dispossessed
of all the livings that were at the disposal in the reign of Elizabeth.  These estates
of his majesty in that country.t         were restored to him  in the succeeding
The house of Thuomond comprises the reign; but his son Mortough lost them for
several branches of the tribe we are about his loyalty to Charles II., king of England,
to speak of.  It derives its origin, from He- during his exile.  In the town of Autun, in
ber, eldest son of Milesius, through Oilioll Burgundy, there is a M'Mahon, surnamed
Olumn, king of the province of Munster, in d'Equilly, descended in a direct line from
the second century of the Christian era. this ancient family.
Oilioll Olum had many sons, among whom    From  Diarmuid, brother of Mortough,
were Eogan More, and Cormac-Cas. From are descended the O'Briens, first princes,
Eotgan, the eldest, are descended the M'Car- and afterwards earls of Thuomond.{l   Contys, and their collateral branches. CormacCas was the ancestor of the tribe called after  *Cambrens. Evers. c. 9, p. 80.
him DAl-Caiss, which was composed of dif-  t Keat. Hist. of Irel. lib. 2, end of Malachi's
ferent branches of his family.  After the re      over, the power of the successors of
genlealogical separation of the descendants Malachi was confined within narrower limits than
of Eogan and Cormac-Cas, in the second cen- that of his predecessors, for these kings, who were
tury, of which Oilioll Olurn was the corn- called Gafrasabhrach, (as implied by the word,)
mon head, these two tribes gave, each of had been advanced to royalty in opposition to, and
them, an absolute monarch to Ireland.  The with the hostility of some of the people."-Gruitianus Lucius, c. 9, p. 80.
first was Crionthan II. of the race of Eogan,  ~ Hugh M'Curtin, Antiq. of Ireland, pp. 269, 271,
History of Ireland, page 272.
H~ istory of Ireland, page 276.   1 Nichol's Rudim. of Hon. article on Thuornond.
t Cox, ibid.
55




434                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
nor O'Brien, eldest brother of Morrough, gratitude for the king's favors, by becoming
first earl of Thuomond, was, according to the most zealous destroyers of the altars
Nichols, the last of the twelve princes of which had been raised by the piety of their
this family, who had reigned successively forefathers.
in Thuomond, with the titles of kings of   In this manner did the houses of ThuoLimerick or Thuomond.  Domnald More mond, Ornnond, Clanriccard, Inchiquin, and
O'Brien, who submitted to Henry II. in the some others, increase their splendor by the
twelfth century, and who was the first of the spoils of the churches and lands which were
twelve princes mentioned by Nichols, was, confiscated on the pretence of religion, or the
however, the last king of Cashel and Lime- alleged rebellion of their neighbors, and
rick, according to the account given by even of their near relations-the conrt wilKeating in his Genealogy of the house of lingly granting to them the confiscated esThuomond.  These princes, however, gave tates as a reward for their services.?
out many collateral branches, namely, those   By such unworthyimeans, have these famiof Inchiquin, Cumrach, Carrigogoiniol, Arra, lies supported themselves in splendor and
Cuonach, Aharlach, and others, each of in elevated rank, to the present day; while
which traces its origin to one of these prin- other lords of the country, who were their
ces, ancestors of the first earl of Thuomond; equals in birth, and their superiors in virtue,
and each bears the name of O'Brien, being, have fallen into a species of annihilation,
like him, descended from Brien Boiroimhe. having been sacrificed for their attachment
The king this year created Ulick de Burgh, to the glory of religion, and the liberty of
or Burke, a peer of Ireland, under the title their country.  The reason is obvious why
of baron of Dunkellin, and earl of Clanric- English writers extol the merit of. the forcard, in the county of Galway.*  This earl mer, while they speak so contemptuously of
also profited by the suppression of monas- the latter.  Those writers know how to
teries; he received the revenues of the change the names and signification of acabbeys and other religious houses in his tions; they style those who had betrayed
district, among others the abbey called De- their country, faithful subjects, while those
via-nova of Clonfert.                    who disdained. slavery and chains, and fought
Brien, or Bernard M'Giolla Phadruig, valiantly to preserve their freedom, are
(Fitzpatrick,) being a favorite with Henry spoken of by them as rebels.
VIII., wasmade baron of Upper Ossory, by   The old jealousies between Henry VIIT.
which he received no great additional hon- and the emperor, on one side, and Francis
or, his ancestors having been hereditary I. on the other, were renewed at this time,
princes of that country for many ages.t  Ac- and ended in open war.t  It was at this
cording to Heylin; this title was conferred time that the king of France sent Theobald
on Fitzpatrick by Edward VI., of whom he de Bois, a French nobleman, to Ireland, as
was a particular favorite,t but it was Bar- ambassador to O'Donnel.  lie proposed to
naby, son of Bernard, according to Nichols, furnish this prince with men and money, if,
who was in the highest favor with Edward. to create a division, he would. declare war
The king gave to the lord of Ossory the against the English; but O'Donnel finding
convent of the Dominicans of Aghavo, and himself unable to comply with the request
the priory of the regular canons of Aghna- of the French king, the negotiation was
cart.                                    productive of no result.
Henry, in conferring titles of honor on   The deputy, St. Leger, was recalled in
these noblemen, restored to them, by letters February, 1544, after which he went to
patent, the estates which they had placed at England, and William  Brabazon was aphis disposal, and in order to attach them still pointed lord-justice in his stead. New seals
more to him, he became sacrilegiously were sent to this deputy, and the old ones
liberal.  Without deducting from his own discontinued, on account of the change which
wealth, he added largely to their revenues, had taken place in the title of Henry VIII.,
by bestowing upon them the lands of the who, from being lord of Ireland, had aschurches, and the patronage of the livings sumed the title of king.
within their several districts.( These newly-   Henry had already married four wives,
created lords subsequently testified their besides Anne Bullen.  He now married
Catherine Parr, widow of John Nevill, lord
* War. de Annal. cap. 33.
t Nich. Rudim. of Hon. on Fitzpatrick, baron   * The services which acquired rewards for these
Gowran.                                  noblemen, were those which they had rendered to
t History of the Reformation.          the English, against their own country.
~ Cox, Hist. of Ireland, p. 276.         1 Ware, ibid. c. 35.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            435
Latimer.  She had the good fortune to sur- married Maria Lynch, by whom he had a
vive him, and thus escaped the unhappy son, John Burke, who disputed the succesfate of those who had gone before her.   sion with Richard, his elder brother.  The
\ar  being  declared  against France, deputy and his council, who were desirous
Henry demanded assistance from the lord- of terminating their differences, appointed
justice of Ireland, who sent him seven hun- the earl of Ormond, and some other corndred men, commanded by three chiefs, Poer, missioners, to examine into them; which
Finglass, and Scurlock.*  Holingshead and commissioners, discovering no positive proofs
Cox boast of the valor, skill, and services of the validity of the supposed marriage of
which the Irish rendered to the king of Eng- Grany O'Carroll with O'Melaghlin, adjudged
land against the French during the siege of the title and inheritance of Clanriccard to
Boulogne.t They tell us that from their sup- his son Richard.
pleness and activity, they extended their ex-   Matthew Stewart, earl of Lenox, having
cursions to about thirty miles round, burning been obliged to leave Scotland in 1545,
and pillaging everywhere, and carried back sought- refuge in England, where he was
great booty to the camp. On some occasions honorably received by the king, who gave
they tied a bull to a stake, and placing com- him in marriage, some time afterwards, his
bustible matter around the animal, they set it niece, Margaret, daughter of his eldest sister
on fire; the bellowing of the beast on feeling Margaret, and Archibald Douglas, earl of
the flames, drew together herds of the same Angus.*  The earl of Lenox had by this
kind from  the surrounding neighborhood,  marriage, Henry, Lord Darnly, who was
These Irish, continues Cox, never gave quar- father to James VI. of Scotland.
ter to the French; and when any of the Irish   After the marriage of the earl of Lenox,
fell into their power, they caused them, by Henry sent t:im to Ireland, with orders to
way of reprisal, to be mutilated and tortured the deputy, St. Leger, to have troops raised
in various ways.  He adds, that after the with all possible dispatch, in order to assist
taking of Boulogne, a Frenchman on the him in the recovery of his inheritance in
opposite side of the harbor having sent a Scotland.  This nobleman landed in Dublin
challenge to the English camp, one Nicho- on St. Michael's day, and went to Kilmainlas Walsh swam across the river, fought the ham to the deputy, to whom he presented
Frenchman, and after cutting off his head, the order of which he was the bearer. The
swam back to his countrymen, holding the deputy lost no time in obeying the king's
head with his teeth, for which he was well mandate; and before the middle of Novemrewarded. The acts recorded on both sides ber he raised a new body of fifteen hundred
were strange and inhuman; but we cannot men, under the command of Sir John Travouch for the truth of the historian.     vers.  These were soon joined by an equal
St. Leger having been created a knight number which had been raised by the earl
*of the garter, as a reward for his services, of Ormond in his own district; and the litwas sent back as deputy to Ireland.  He tle army, commanded by the earl in person,
arrived in Dublin in August, and was hon- set sail, in twenty-eight vessels, for Scotorably received by the council and people: land.  The earl of Lenox had his correhe received the sword, according to custom, spondents in the country, and thought that
and used the necessary measures for pre- his friends would be prepared to assist him;
serving the tranquillity which the state en- but either through fickleness on their part,
joyed on his accession.                   or from their being prevented by the faction
Ulick Burke, first earl of Clanriccard, of the duke of Hamilton, who was opposed
died at this time, in his house at Loughreagh. to him, when he was preparing to land near
His death gave rise to serious differences his castle at Dumbritton, he perceived the
between his sons,by different wives,respect- enemy had a superior army on the shore
ing the title and succession.  The earl had ready to oppose him.  He therefore deterfirst married Grany O'Carroll, while O'Me- mined on returning to Irelandwithout making
laghlin, her first husband, as it is alleged, any attempt on Scotland.
was living, without any legal divorce having   Some dispute arose at this time between
taken place between them.  By this first O'Neill, earl of Tyrone, and O'Donnel, prince
wife, the earl had his eldest son, Richard of Tyrconnel,t from O'Neill having claimed
Burke.  He afterwards discarded her, and the right of lord paramount over O'Donnel.
married Honora Burke, from whom he sepa- The deputy's policy was to render them
rated, and, during the life of the first wife, both dependent on the English government,
* Ware, ibid. cap. 36.               * Ware, ibid. cap. 37.
f Cox, p. 277.                       t Cox, Hist. of Ireland, page 278.




436                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
by assuming to himself the arbitration of into confinement; Sir Thomas Cusack was
their difference, and supporting the weaker appointed keeper of the seals in his stead,
party against the stronger. By the deputy's and Sir Richard Read chancellor. St. Leger
decision, therefore, O'Donnel was exoner- and Ormond were summoned to appear beated from all dependence on O'Neill, ex- fore the king and council; but their accusacept a yearly tribute of sixty oxen, which tions against each other not amounting to
he had engaged to pay him  for the penin- high treason,they were discharged, St. Leger
sula of Inisowen.  At the same time, two being sent back to Ireland as deputy. James
of the noble tribe of the Cavanaghs, of the Butler, earl of Ormond, grand treasurer of
county Carlow,-namely, Charles or Cahir Ireland, died of poison at a repast at HolMac-Art, of Polmonty, and Gerald Mac- born, near London; James White, the masCahir, of Garochil, disputed the right of ter of his household, and sixteen of his serlordship or chief of the tribe; but instead vants, having shared the same fate.
of having recourse to the interference of   During the administration of Brabazon,
the deputy, they determined their quarrel the baron of Upper Ossory having had some
by a bloody engagement, in which each cause of complaint against his son Thadeus,
lost about one hundred men killed upon the sent him prisoner to Dublin, where he was
spot; whereon, either by agreement or some tried, condemned, and executed.  In the
other means, Charles Mac-Art became mas- month of July, Patrick O'Morra of Leix,
ter of the lordship.  He was afterwards and Bryan O'Connor Faly, with their united
created baron of Balian, in the district of forces, made inroads on-the English province,
Idrone, by Queen Mary.                  and burned the town of Athy, in the county
The northern Irish finding themselves on of Kildare.  Brabazon marched in pursuit
the eve of falling under the English yoke, of them, carrying fire and sword everywhere
O'Neill, O'Donnel, O'Dogherty, and other he went. The poor inhabitants were sacrinoblemen, made proposals to Francis I. ficed to his resentment; he had the fort of
whereby they promised that monarch to be- Dingen, now Philipstown, in the King's
come his subjects, and oppose the tyranny county, repaired, and obliged O'Connor to
of the English, provided he obtained the seek an asylum in Connaught.  The terripope's concurrence, and would furnish them tories of Leix and Offaly, with the neighwith two thousand archers, two hundred boring estates, namely, Slievmargy, Irris,
light horse, and four pieces of cannon. and Clanmalire, were confiscated some years
The French monarch, who considered this afterwards for the king's use.
overture worthy of his attention, sent John   The king sent a commission, about this
de Montluc, bishop of Valentia, to Ireland, time, to his principal ministers in Ireland, to
to investigate the matter, and to see what oblige the dean and chapter of St. Patrick's
probability there would be of succeeding in cathedral in Dublin to place at their disposal
such an enterprise. The ambassador landed the estates belonging to that church; which
at Loughfoyle, and had a conference, a few was assented to with considerable reluctance
days afterwards, with the parties who were by the incumbents.  This church, however,
interested, the result of which is not known; was restored a few years afterwards to all
but that nobleman set out immediately for its rights by Queen Mary.
Rome, probably to confer with the pope on   Previous to his death, Henry VIII. bethe subject.  It' is likely that Cox con- came so large and unwieldy that it was
founds this embassy with one of a more necessary to invent a machine to change or
solemn nature, of which we shall speak move him from one place to another.  He
under the following reign.              sank under the weight of his own body,
The royal treasury in Ireland being ex- which had become bloated from intemperhausted, the deputy wished to impose a tax ance, the usual companion of lust. His body
on the people, A. D. 1545;* but the earl of might, with propriety, be termed the sepulI Ormond having opposed it, a quarrel arose chre of himself, in which his pleasures and
between these noblemen, who accused each disappointments had entombed along with
other of treason, and they were ordered by him, his religion, his conscience, his glory,
the king to repair to England, Brabazon be- and every sentiment of honor, justice, and
ing nominated deputy during the absence of humanity; all which gifts nature had beSt. Leger. At the same time, Allen, the stowed on hinr. He made a will, whereby
chancellor, having been accused of prevari- he regulated the order of succession to the
cation in the discharge of his office, was put throne between his children, Edward, Mary,
and Elizabeth.
* Ware, ibid. cap. 38.         Henry being attacked by a slow fever,




CHIIRISTIAN IRELAND.                          437
caused by dropsy, and by an ulcer in his leg, sels of these houses; the spoils of Cardinal
the hour of his death drew near, without his Wolsey and Cromwell, his vicar-general;
appearing to perceive its approach.  His the estates of several noblemen of the first
timid and dissolute courtiers dared not to distinction, which were confiscated for his
inform him of it, lest they might incur his use, and the large sums that were extorted
resentmlent and their own disgrace. Sir An- from the clergy, under pretext of the prremua thony Denny, a member of the privy council, hire law, increased the king's exchequer to a
alone, had the courage to warn his majesty considerable extent, but were not sufficient
of his approaching end, and that it was time to support his profligacy.* He levied exorhe should send for a clergyman to assist bitant taxes upon his people; raised exteniim i his last momlents.. Trhe king, con- sive loans on his privy seal; and then protrary to the expectation of those around cured acts of parliament to annul his engage- 1
him, received Denny's intimation with ap-1 ments, and defraud his creditors of theirright.
parent tranquillity, and commanded thatarch- Finding the wealth of the kingdom entirely
j bishop Craumer should be sent for. It was, exhausted, he caused the money to be rehowever, too late; he had already lost the coined, and made spurious, to such a degree,
use of his speech before Craniner arrived. that, to the shame of the English nation, it
The prelate desired him to make some sign was not current in foreign countries, by which
of his dying in the faith of Jesus Christ; means the merchant lost his credit abroad.
on which the king squeezed his hand, and In Ireland, for want of gold and silver, the
immediately expired, on the 28th of January, king ordered that copper money should be
1547, having lived fifty-six years, of which made use of, to the great detriment and
he reigned thirty-eight.                 displeasure of the public.
It is difficult to delineate with accuracy   Of Henry's six wives, two were repudithe character of this unhappy prince; his ated, two were beheaded, and one died in
portrait varies according to the different childbed; the last, in all likelihood, only
dispositions of the historians who have writ- escaped a cruel fate by the sudden death of
ten on the subject. The partisans of the re- the prince; which facts fully prove him to
formation consider it a merit in him to have have been the worst of husbands.
shaken off the pope's authority, and thereby   In fine, Henry is represented as a cruel
established the new religion.  His most and profligate prince. Neither the most dezealous panegyrists, however, admit that he prayed of the Roman emperors, says Higgins,
was addicted to many vices.  In truth, the nor even Christiern of Denmark, Don Pedro
i different opinions of writers, with respect to of Castile, nor Vasilowich of Russia, surreligion and the legitimate succession of passed him in cruelty and debauchery.t This
kings, have cast so many doubts on historical writer, indeed, like Sir Walter Raleigh, afI facts, from the period of the pretended divorce firms, that were the portrait of tyranny lost,
of Henry and Catherine of Aragon to the the original might be found in the life of Henpresent time, that it is almost impossible to ry VIII. He was a monster of humanity, that
discriminate between truth and falsehood.  never spared man in his anger, nor woman
Notwithstanding, however, the various in his lust; and from the consciousness of
opinions of writers on Henry's character, it his crimes, he died in utter despair.
may be-affirmed that he was a bad king, a
bad husband, and a bad Christian.*  A tyrant is a bad king. Henry spent the first
eighteen years of his reign at plays, mas-        CHAPTER XXXVIII.
querades, and nocturnal amusements.  He
soon squandered the eighteen hundred thou-   EDWARD VI., only son of Henry VIII. and
sand pounds sterling, which, through the 6f Jane Seymour, ascended the throne at
avarice of his father, Henry VII., he had the age of nine years, in virtue of his birth- I
found in the treasury on his accession to right, and of his father's will. Edward Seythe throne; so that, though possessing more mour, earl of Hertford, and maternal uncle
considerable revenues, he found himself to the young king, was appointed governor
more indigent than any of his predecessors. of his person, and protector of the kingdom
He, however, supplied the deficiency by during his minority; being also created duke
tyranny: the immense wealth of the monas- of Somerset. This prince, after receiving the
teries, colleges, and hospitals, which were    Sander. de Schis. Angl. lib. 1, p. 168, et seq.
suppressed; the silver ornaments and yes- Ward, History of the Reformation, cant. 1. Salmon,
ibid. page 285.
3 Salmon, ibid. page 276.        t Short View.




1438 <HISTORY OF IRELAND.                                                         i
order of knighthood, was solemnly crsowned the king had been brought up, and the nov-i
at Vestminster, on the 20th of February, by elties which had been already introduced
1-the archbishop of Canterbury, A. D. 1547.* into religion. They found, too, that the anSt. Leger was colntinued in the govern- cient and modern Irish, of whom the nation
ment of Ireland, first as lord-justice, and af- was then composed, began to unite, and that.
terwards under the title of deputy or vice- this union was founded on similar principles
roy.  IIHe had Edward proclaimed king of of religion. They thought it prudent, thereIreland on the 26th of February. James, fore, to provide for the safety of the nation;
f earl of Desmond, was appointed treasurer for which end, orders were given that six
| about the end of March, and in April nine hundred horse and four hundred infantry
I privy counsellors, besides the deputy, were should be sent to Ireland, and be well paid.
nominated, viz., Read, chancellor of Ireland, The command of this force was given to
G. Brown, archbishop of Dublin, Edward Edward Bellinghanm, on whom the title of
Staply, bishop of Meath, Sir William Bra- captain-general was conferred.*  This rebazon, vice-treasurer, Sir Gerald Ailmer, inforcement landed at Waterford, in June,
chief- justic of the king's bench, SirThomas where they were joined by the deputy and
Luttrell, chief-justice of the common pleas, the army under his command. The viceJaimes Bath, chief-baron of the exchequer, roy and Bellingham, with their united forces,
Sir Thomas Cusack, master of the rolls, marched for Leix and Offaly, where they
and Thomas Howth, one of the judges of the proclaimed O'Morra and O'Connor, chiefs of
king's bench. The king dispatched orders, these districts, traitors to the state, and disat this time, to the deputy, chancellor, and persed theirvassals. They then repaired the
other magistrates in Ireland, to grant pen- forts of Dingen, at present Philipstown, in
sions to the canons and prebendaries of St. Offaly, and Campaw, or Protector, now MaryPatrick's cathedral, Dublin, which had been borough, in the territory of Leix.  O'Morra
suppressed, and to give the silver, jewels, and O'Connor, finding they had no other reand ornaments, belonging to that church, to source, made peace with the viceroy. As a
the dean and chapter of the cathedral of the reward for his services, Bellingham received
holy Trinity, to whom were added six priests the honor of knighthood, and was appointed
and two choristers, in consideration of forty- marshal of Ireland.
five pounds,osix shillings, and eight pence   About the end of the same year, the privy
sterling, payable at the king's pleasure; council, by the advice of Brabazon, thevicethis grant was afterwards confirmed to this treasurer, gave orders that the fort of Athchurch, in perpetuity, by Queen Mary.    lone, which was situate in the centre of the
The O'Byrnes, eager to take advantage island, should be repaired, fortified, and proof the change that occurred in the govern- vided with a good garrison.  By command
ment, took the field, in the month of May, of the council, this undertaking was executo recover their freedom.  The viceroy ted by Brabazon, in which he was opposed
marched with a powerful army to oppose by Dominick O'Kelly, and other lords of
them, and after killing their chief, forced Connaught.
them to retreat to their fastnesses, but was   The schism which had been begun in Engunable to subdue them. At the same time, land by Henry Viii., continlued to spread
he had two noblemen, of the house of Fitz- itself under his son Edward VI.  Ed-ward
gerald, arrested, who, being proscribed for Seymour, the young king's maternal uncle,
having espoused the cause of the earl of Kil- who, during the minority, governed the
dare, had joined the O'Tooles. They were kingdom as protector, added heresy to
sent with other prisoners to Dublin, where schismr. In his doctrine, this nobleman was
they were all put to death. The O'Morras a Zuinglian.  Cranmer, who had been aland O'Connors were attacked in the county ways one, found his wishes gratified, on seeof Kildare, after they had taken considerable ing all ready to receive the poison of the
booty; about two hundred of them were error he was going to proclaim. The young
killed, and the rest put to flight.     king, although he was, by his father's deThe English government now saw the sire, educated in the Catholic faith, favored
difficulties they had to encounter in their Cranmer in his errors,which speedily gained
attempts to reduce the Irish. They appre- ground, and truth was suppressed. In order
hended a general revolt throughout the island, to spread the heresy more widely, the proon account of the religious opinions in which tector took care to raise those who professed
X Baker's Chron. Reign of Edward VI. War.    * Ware, ibid. cap. 2.
de Annal. reg. Edward, cap. 1.              t Sander. de Schis. Anglic. lib, 2, passim.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           439
it, to the first dignities, and most important were beginning to be felt in 1548. The Irish
offices of the state.                   were strongly attached to their religion, and
The reformation was at this time begin- took alarm at the slightest attempt to introning to be preached in public.  Besides duce a change. All Europe has witnessed
Cranmer and his agents, Richard Cox and the miseries they have undergone, and the
Hugh Latimer, (whom the Lutherans call sacrifices that they have made in defence of
the first apostle of England, from the num- it, from the above period to the present.
bers that he perverted,) and other English Two young noblemen, named Richard and
preachers, the country was infested with Alexander, sons of Thomas Fitz-Eustace,
swarms of them from -Germany.  Martin viscountofBaltinrglass,havingcauseddisturbBucer, Peter Martyr, Bernard Ochin, Fagius, ances in the county of Kildare, by opposing
and others, all preached their own doctrines. some matters connected with the reformation,
Some were favorable to Lutheranism, which which was beginning to be introduced among
was professed by Cranmer; others favored them, the government immediately sent
the doctrine of Zuingle, which was that of troops, commanded by the viceroy, who was
the protector.*  This schism appeared dan- attended by Bellingham  and Brabazon, in
gerous to the parliament. That tribunal ac- order to crush the rising conspiracy. A well
knowledged none other in religious matters; disciplined army, headed by the deputy, was
it received its commission expressly from the more than sufficient to disperse a body of
king, who caused himself to be declared the men who had been tumultuously assembled,
head of it. In order to satisfy all parties, and badly provided with arms; their leaders
and, at the same time, to preserve some ap- soon surrendered to the viceroy, who propearance ofunity,these wise senators adopted cured them their pardon, and that of their
certain articles of the tenets of each of the father, the Viscount Baltinglass, who was
sects, whereof the religion of the country supposed to have favored their insurrection.
was composed; and in order that none should   St. Leger, the deputy, having received
have cause to complain of having been ex- orders to return to England, brought O'Moreluded, they added a portion of Calvinism, ra and O'Connor prisoners along with him.
which was at that time becoming popular. These noblemen having submitted, received
Calvin had already the confidence to write to their pardon, and a pension for life, of one
the duke of Somerset, the protector, to exhort hundred pounds sterling a year, from the
him to make use of the sword, to reduce the exchequer.  O'Morra, however, enjoyed it
Catholics, and force them to embrace what for only a short period, as he died in the
he termed the doctrine of the gospel. From course of the same year in London.
the many innovations which were introduced   Sir Edward Bellingham, who had been
into this new religion, that had never before sent to England by the government to render
been attempted, the people became alarmed. an account of the submission of some nobleThe celebration of the mass was abolished, men in the county of Kildare, returned to
the marriage of priests allowed, the images Ireland as deputy from the court.  He
were removed from the churches, and public landed at Dalkey, near Dublin, on the vigil
prayers said in the language of the country. of Pentecost, and in two days afterwards,
Finally, the six articles which had been es- received the sword of office according to
tablished by Henry VIII. were annulled; custom, in the cathedral church of Dublin.
several bishops were deprived of their sees, The new deputy reappointed John Allen
and thrown into dungeons; the reveiiiues chancellor, instead of Read, who returned
belonging to the churches,together with their soon afterwards to England'.
vessels and ornaments, were converted to   The deputy being in possession of the
profane purposes:" Ut quid perditio haec," government, made incursions into the terri4c., exclaimed the reformers, like Judas;t tories of Leix and Offaly, where he quelled
in short, a new liturgy was substituted for some disturbances that had been caused by
the old one, by an act of' parliament. All Cahir O'Connor, and other nobles of this
these things alarmed the faithful, and gave district. He then marched towards Dealna,
rise to a rebellion in many provinces of Eng- the country of M'Coghlan, which he laid
land, where the inhabitants took up arms in waste, and redIuced to obedience.  He was
defence of the religion of their forefathers. the first after Henry III., according to Davis
In Ireland, the effects of the reformation and Cox, who extended the frontiers of the
English province in Ireland.*
~ Le Grand, History of the Divorce, vol. 1, page   This deputy established a mint in Ireland,
287.
t Baker, ibid. p. 304, et seq. Heylin, Hist. of
the Reformation, preface to the reader.




440                          HISTORY or IRELAND.
by orders of the government; it failed, how-   About Christmas the deputy wrote to the
ever, for want of means to support it. In earl of Desmond, to induce him to come to
the month of April, of this year, the city of Dublin on some Important business.  The
Dublin, which had been at first governed by earl was then the richest of the king's s.uba provost, and subsequently, under Henry jects irn landed property, and though not one
III., by a mayor and bailiffs, and was hon- of the privy council, was treasurer of Ireored with the sword by Henry IV., obtained land. The deputy, exasperated at his refusal
permission from the court to change its to obey the summons, set out on a sudden,
bailiffs into sheriffs.                 with twenty horsemen, for Munster, where
About this time, Francis Brian, an Eng- he surprised him, and brought him prisoner
lishman and baronet, having married Jane, to Dublin. This, however, proved fortunate
countess dowager of Ormond, was appointed for him, as he obtained his pardon some
marshal of Ireland, and governor of the time afterwards, and was restored to favor,
counties Tipperary and Kilkenny. FThis gov- through the interference of his adversary.
ernor and the deputy could not agree; the Cox draws a very disadvantageous portrait
one being unwilling to acknowledge a supe- of the earl of Desmond, for rudeness and
rior, and the other an equal; their animosity ferocity of manners. This, however, is conwas carried to such a pitch that Brian wrote tradicted by Ware, who was undoubtedly a
to the king against the deputy, and had him maore judicious and authentic historian.*
summoned to appear at court, to answer the   The conquest of Ireland had not been yet
charges which he advanced against him.  completed, A. D. 1549. Symptoms, however,
In the mean time, Teigue, or Thadeus appeared from time to time among the anO'Carroll, seized upon and destroyed the cient Irish, which portended the speedy recastle of Nenagh, in the county of Tippera- duction of the island.t  When the lords of
ry, in spite of the spirited resistance of the inferior districts had any subject of cormEnglish garrison.  After this, he expelled plaint against their superior lords, respecting
all the English from the district.*    the contributions or tributes which the latter
Some differences sprang up in Ulster be- exacted from them, perhaps with too much
tween Manus O'Donnel, prince of Tircon- rigor; instead of having recourse to the
nel, and his son Calvagh, which ended in an usual mode of arbitration, or referring
open war. Both parties took up arms, and their differences to the Brehons, who were
on the 7th of February came to an engage- the ordinary judges among them, they carment, in which the father was victorious, ried their complaints before the English govand his son put to flight, leaving MacDo- ernor.  This politic tribunal, while effectnough O'Cahan, and several other noblemen, ing between them an outward reconciliation,
his allies, dead on the field of battle. A exerted itself to sever the ties of subordidreadful misfortune happened shortly after- nation which bound them together; establishwards to MacCoghlan: his district of Dealna ing an independence among them; so that
being laid waste by the united forces of by a separation of the vassals from their
Teigue O'Melaghlin and Edmond Fay.    chief, the body became imperceptibly enKing Edward being at war withthe Scotch, feebled, many instances of which occurred
the viceroy and council in Ireland sent a about this time. Conn O'Neill, earl of Tybrigade of Irish troops to his assistance, rone, having had a dispute with Maguire,
under the command of Donough, son of Phelim Roe O'Neill, and other nobles who
O'Connor Fahy, accompanied by the sons held under him, they presented themselves
of Cahir O'Connor.                      before the deputy and council, in Dublin, in
In the month of November, Cormoc Roe the month of June.  The tribunal heard
O'Connor, who had been proclaimed a trai- their mutual recriminations and complaints,
tor and proscribed, appeared before the de- and had them reconciled on certain condiputy and council in Christ's church, Dublin, tions; it decided, that Maguire should be
where, after making his submission, he was exempt for the future from all subjection,
pardoned; but being possessed of consider- homage, and dependence on the earl of Tyable estates, (which was then a crime for an rone and his successors; that he should alIrishman,) they soon furnishedhim with fresh ways remain in peace, under the deputy's
cause to rebel; he was consequently arrested protection, and that he should be bound to
by the earl of Clanriccard, and sent to Dub- acquit himself towards his excellency,, as
lin, where he was tried and condemned to often as he should be required by the comuncil,
death. If accusation renders a man guilty,
innocence itself cannot be secure.             * Hist. of Ireland, page 28.
* Cox, Hist. of Ireland, page 285.        t Ware, ibid. cap. 3.
9'A




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          441
of all homage, debts, and generally of every incursions of O'Carroll, he fell sick at Clonduty which a subject owes to his lord. In mel, where he died on the second of Febthe following month, a similar decree was ruary following. His body was removed
made respecting O'Donnel, prince of Tyr- to Waterford, and interred in the cathedral
connel, and the nobles who derived under of the holy Trinity.  After his death, the
him. These negotiations were followed by government was confided by the council to
the submission of Brian and Hugh Oge Sir William  Brabazon, with the title of
M'Mahon, (the younger,) to the deputy at lord-justice, and this governor intrusted EdKilmnainham, and the remission of a fine of mond Butler, archbishop of Cashel, with the
five hundred marcs, to which they had been superintendence of the country of Ormond,
condemned some time before.             during the minority of the earl, who was then
The war had lasted for a considerable time but twelve years of age.
between the English and Scotch, respect-   The lord-justice marched towards Limeing the marriage which it was endeavored rick, where he received the submission of
to conclude between the young king Edward Teigue, or Thadeus O'Carroll.* This nobleand Mary Stuart, in order to unite England man undertook to pay an annual tribute to
with Scotland.* The Scotch nobility having the exchequer, and also to maintain a cerrefused to consent to this marriage, the lord- tain number of troops, both horse and foot,
protector marched into Scotland with a at his own expense, for the king's service,
powerful army, where he gained the cele- and to resign his claims on the barony of
brated battle of Musselborough.  Henry II. Ormond. He likewise placed the district of
king of France, whose interest it was to Eile in the king's hands, who restored it to
thwart an alliance which would produce the him afterwards, by letters patent, with the
union of these two crowns, averted the blow title of lord-baron of Eile.  This nobleman
by sending for the heiress of Scotland. She having got over his own difficulties, interwas afterwards married to his son, Francis fered in favor of M'Morrough, O'Kelly,
II.                                     and O'Melaghlin, and procured letters of
At this conjuncture, the Scotch sent a protection for them. The lord-justice at the
body of troops to Ulster to support the Irish same time reconciled the earls of Desmond
against the English, and thereby create a and Thuomond,whose differences respecting
diversion in their own favor; but these their frontiers had long disturbed the peace
auxiliaries, to the number of two hundred, of the province.  Dermod O'Sullivan, a
were defeated by Andrew Brereton, at the powerful nobleman in the county of Cork,
head of thirty-five horsemen. This captain met with a heavy calamity at this period;
quelled the disturbances in Ulster, and was some barrels of powder having taken fire, by
appointed governor of that province.    which he and his castle were blown up toBellingham, the deputy, having been re- gether. Amalf, his brother and heir, was
called by the intrigues of his enemies, sailed killed some time afterwards.
from  Howth in December, for England.  The town of Boulogne, which had been
After his departure, the chancellor Allen,- taken by Henry VIII. six years before, was
by the orders of the king, having convened surrendered to the French, in April, 1550,
a meeting of the nobility and privy council, on condition of paying, at two separate pein the church of the holy Trinity, Dublin, riods, the sum of four hundred thousand
in order to appoint a successor, the choice crowns.t  The king of England expended
-fell on Sir Francis Brian. This election eight thousand pounds sterling of this money
was confirmed by the signatures of Jenico in the service of Ireland.  He also sent over
Preston, viscount Gormanstown; Roland four hundred men from that garrison, which
Eustace, viscount Baltinglass; Edward Sta- enabled the lord-justice to pursue the rebels,
ples, bishop of Meath; Richard Nugent, among others Charles Mac-Art. Cavanagh,
baron of Delvin; John Plunket, baron of who had already been proclaimed a traitor.
Killeen; Patrick Barnewall, baron of Trim- He devastated the country, and killed several
lestown; Robert Plunket, baron of Dun- of his followers.
sany; Oliver Plunket, baron of Louth; and   The reformation had not yet made much
Brian Fitzpatrick, baron of Upper Ossory. progress in Ireland. In the month of May
The administration of this new deputy was of this year, Arthur Magennis was appointed
of short duration. Having undertaken an by the pope to the bishopric of Dromore,
expedition into the county of Tipperary, to and was confirmed in it by letters patent
quell some disturbances, and to oppose the
* Cox, ibid. page 287.
* Baker, ibid.                        t Ware, ibid. cap. 4.
56




442                          HISTORY OF -IRELAND.
from the king. Thomas Lancaster, of the Blaise de Montluc,) who was then chancellor
reformed religion, was consecrated bishop of Scotland, and afterwards bishop of Vaof Kildare, in Dublin, in July, by George lentia, a:nd Die in Dauphiny.   NotwithBrown, archbishop of that city. He, how- standing the delicacy of this affair, they carever, lost his bishopric under the following ried on their negotiation, which was a danreign, on account of his having married.*  gerous one, with so much skill and dexterity,
The English sent an army at this time to that, in the month of February, 1553, they
the frontiers of Scotland. Henry II., king received the oath of fidelity from prince
of France, considered this step against his O'Donnel, and O'Neill, earl of Tyrone, in
allies as an infraction of the peace lately the castle of Donegal, province of Ulster,
concluded between him and the English: and which princes, both in their own name, and
accordingly sent a fleet, consisting of one in the names of the other lords of the counhundred and sixty vessels, laden with pro-' try, placed their lives, forces, and properties
visions, powder, and cannon, to Scotland; under the protection of France; it having
but having been overtaken by a furious tem- been agreed upon, that whoever would be
pest, sixteen of the largest vessels were king of France, should be also king of Irewrecked upon the coast of Ireland; the re- land." This is an historical fact, of which no
mainder were scattered, and found consider- mention is made, either by our most correct
able difficulty in reachingthe coastof France. compilers, or in the extensive works of
The king of England wished to counteract Du Tillet, De Belleforet, De la Popliniere,
the designs of France against his dominions, and others; but concerning which no doubt
but particularly against Ireland.  He knew can exist, since according to the account of
that his power was not firmly established in the biographer of Raymond de Beccarie, the
that country; that the people were in general Latin transcript of the oath taken by the
dissatisfied, and that their fidelity being Irish lords is to be found in the king's
founded on a forced submission, they only treasury, and he was moreover well acwaited for an opportunity to shake off the quainted with the facts.
English yoke. For the purpose therefore of  Allen, chancellor of Ireland, was recalled
guarding it, he sent a fleet of twenty vessels, at this time to England, and succeeded by
consisting of large ships and sloops, under Sir Thomas Cusack, of Coffington, in the
the command of Lord Cobham, with orders county of Meath, who had been master of
to cruise in the Irish s'ea, from the north to the rolls. The office of chancellor was conthe south of the island.  Henry II. found firmed to him by letters from the king, in
means, however, to elude these precautions. the month of August.
He sent over De Forquevaux, attended by   In September, Sir Anthony St. Leger was
the prothonotary De Montluc, who entered again appointed lord-lieutenant or deputy of
into successful negotiationwith theprinces of Ireland; and on his arrival in Dublin, BraUlster, O'Neill and O'Donnell, and induced bazon presented him, according to custom,
them to enter into a confederacywith France, with the sword.  This deputy received the
against the English.  As, however, the con- submission of M'Carty, and restored him to
tinuance of treaties is generally measured by favor.
the interest of princes, the peace which was   Richard Butler, lord of Mongarret, in the
concluded between France and England ren- county of Wexford, was created a peer of
dered this league with the Irish abortive.  the realm on the 23d of October, under the
De Serigny Tpeaks in the following terms title of lord viscount Mongarret.  He was
of this negotiation, in his book of general son of Pierce, or Peter, earl of Ormond, and
peerage,or registry of the nobility of France, of Margaret, daughter of Fitzgerald, earl of
in the article respecting Beccarie de Pavie, Kildare.t
marquis de Forquevaux.t  "In the mean   Charles Mac-Art Cavanagh having aptime, as the king wished to bring the Irish peared on the 4th of November before the
princes under his dominion, and withdraw grand council in Dublin, made his submission,
them from their allegiance to the king of and surrendered his possessions publicly, in
England, who had many partisans among the name of Mac-Morrough, in presence of
them, and was in possession of some for- the deputy, the earls of Desmond, Tyrone,
tresses; he gave orders to De Forquevaux to Thuomond, and Clanriccard, viscount MIonset out for Ireland with the prothonotary, garret, the baron of Dunboyne, and other
De'Montluc, (John de Montesquion de Las- noblemen. The submission of this nobleman
seran Massencomme, brother to marshal producedhimno advantage,as he was stripped 
* War. de Episcop. Kildare.       * He was promoted and consecrated in 1553.
t Regist.'2. 1 pi-t. vol. 3.    t Nichol's Rudiments of Honor.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           443
of the best portion of his estates. Such were   According to Ware, several lords had, at
the usual terms that were imposed upon the this time, the title of baron, though they did
Irish by their unjust masters, after they had not rank among the nobles: it is probable
submitted to the yoke. The lands belong- that these were popular distinctions, from
ing to them were peculiarly attractive to which they did not derive the privilege of
Englishmen, and enriched thousands of hun- sitting in parliament.  The following he
gry adventurers, who came in crowds to seek mentions to have existed in his time: the
their fortunes in Ireland.              barons of Burnchurch, Navan, Scrine, GalEdmond Butler, archbishop of Cashel, trim, Rheban, Norragh, Sleumarg, Brownsdied at this time; he was natural son of ford, Thomastown, Ardmail, and Loughno.
Peter, earl of Ormond.*  This prelate be- When the country was, by order of the Englonged to the privy council of Ireland, under lish governor, divided into baronies, the peoHenry VIII. At the time of the suppression ple, through courtesy, gave the title of baron
of monasteries, he surrendered the priory of to some of the ancient Irish, to whom the
St. Edmond, of Athassel, in the county of lands belonged; among others, we discover
Tipperary, to which he had been appointed. those of Dartry, Tuathra Clanmahan, TireA synod was convened in June, 1529, at reil, Loghtee, who were styled barons of
Limerick, by him; when, among other their own estates.  All who had large posthings, it was decreed that the mayor of sessions assumed the title likewise, which
the city should have a power, without incur- was also the custom in England, previous
ring any censure, to arrest and imprison ec- to its being conferred by patent.
clesiastics for debt. The clergy complained   St. Leger, the deputy, was recalled this
loudly of this decree, as being an infraction year, on account of some complaints that
upon their privileges.  Butler was succeed- were urged against him by the archbishop of
ed in the see of Cashel by Roland Barron. Dublin, either for want of zeal in advancing
This year, the king of England sent his the reformation, or some other secret cause.
commands to the deputy of Ireland, to have! He was succeeded by Sir James Crofts, a
the liturgy and public prayers performed in gentleman of the king's bedchamber.*
the English language; with a direction that'  The new deputy having learned, on his
orders should be given to all archbishops, arrival in Ireland, that St. Leger was in
bishops, deans, archdeacons, and parish Munster, he repaired to Cork, where he repriests, throughout the kingdom, to conform ceived the sword from him in May, 1551.
in all these matters to the king's will.  Crofts was a zealous Protestant, and enIn obedience to the king's commands, the deavored, but in vain, to induce Dowdal,
deputy convened a meeting of the clergy, to the primate, to conform to the king's wishes
inform them of the orders he had received, respecting the liturgy. Upon his refusal,
and the opinions of some English bishops, the king and council of England deprived
who had conformed to the new liturgy. him of the title of primate, which was thereGeorge Dowdal, archbishop of Armagh and upon conferred on the see of Dublin. Dowprimate of all Ireland, who was grave, learn- dal was obliged to withdraw to a foreign
ed, an able preacher, and firmly attached to country, and Hugh Goodacre was appointed
the Catholic cause, spoke with vigor against to the archbishopric of Armagh in his stead.
this innovation, and among other things said, He was consecrated in February, with John
"Any illiterate layman will then have power Bale, bishop of Ossory, in the church of
to say mass."  After this he left the meet- the blessed Trinity, Dublin, by Archbishop
ing, followed by all his suffragans, except Brown, assisted by the bishops of Kildara
Edward Staples, bishop of Meath. Brown, and Down.
archbishop of Dublin, was more submissive   The first expedition of Crofts was into
than Dowdal: he received the king's orders Ulster, to quell some disturbances that had
respectfully, observing that he submitted, as been caused by the inhabitants of that proJesus had done to Caesar, in all that was vince, in conjunction with their neighbors.,
just and lawful, without inquiring into the the Scotch. The deputy having reached
cause, as he acknowledged him to be his Carrickfergus, sent a detachment under the
true and lawful king.  On the Easter Sun- command of Captain Bagnall, to surprise
day following, he preached upon this sub- Rachlin, an island at some distance in the
ject, in the cathedral of the blessed Trinity, sea, north of Fairhead.  This expedition
Dublin, taking for his text the following did not succeed to his wishes: the detachwords of the Psalmist: " Open my eyes. ment was repulsed with a heavy loss, and
that I may behold the wonders of thy law."
X Ware, Arch. Cassill.                  * Ware, ibid. cap. 5.




444                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
one of the vessels of his little fleet was the one was called titular, appointed by the
wrecked. Bagnall was taken prisoner by the pope; the other received his mission from
MacDonnels, and afterwards exchanged for the kings of England, with the possession
Surly-Boy MacDonnel, their brother, who of the revenues. The only advantage which
had been kept in'confinement in Dublin. Waucop derived from his appointment, was
During his stayin Ulster, the deputy received the honor of being titular archbishop of Arthe submission of some of the nobles of the magh.
country. The rest intrenched themselves   Two years had now elapsed since the
in inaccessible fastnesses, from which he duke of Somerset was liberated from the
found it impossible to dislodge. them.  tower, and deprived of the protectorship;*
At this time, the king changed the title but fresh accusations having been brought
of the Irish king-at-arms.*  This officer, against him, by his rival the duke of Northwho had till then enjoyed that office for all umberland, and other noblemen, he was imIreland, was thenceforward called Ulster peached and convicted of high treason, and
king-at-arms, the cause of which is not of having attempted the life of Northumberknown.  Nicholas Narbon, one of the Eng- land, in consequence of which he was belish heralds, surnamed Richmond, was the headed on Tower Hill.  Such was the end
first who held the office under the new title. of this ambitious nobleman, who, though but
He was succeeded by Bartholomew Butler. a subject, aspired to be the equal of a soveOn the deputy's return to Dublin, he had reign, by assuming the style of " Somerset,
the earl of Tyrone arrested, on account by the grace of God," A. D. 1552.t  He
of some complaints which had been made built a magnificent palace from the ruins of
against him by his son Ferdorach or Matthew churches and the dwellings of the bishops,
O'Neill, baron of Dungannon. The brothers and from the revenues, which thby and the
of Matthew took up arms and devastated the chapters were obliged to surrender to him.
lands of Dungannon, to avenge the insult  Morrough O'Brien, who was created earl
which had been offered to their father. It of Thuomond by Henry VIII., having died,
being the interest of the English government his nephew Donogh, baron of Ibrican, took
to support their client, they gave him a body possession of the estates and title of Thuoof English troops to enable him to defend mond, according to a compact made between
his possessions.  The matter was soon de- them by the king; but as this title was to
cided by a pitched battle, in which the baron end with Donough, he surrendered his pawas defeated and put to flight, with a loss tent to Edward VI., who conferred a new
of two hundred of his men, killed upon the one on him, by which the title of earl of
spot. The earl of Tyrone was detained Thuomond was confirmed to him and his
three months more in prison, after which he male heirs for ever. He was soon afterreceived his freedom, upon giving hostages, wards killed by his brother Donald.
and returned to his province.             The noble family of the Fitzgeralds of
Brien O'Connor Faly, who was a prisoner Kildare was restored this year, in the perin the tower of London, having found means son of Gerald, brother to Thomas, last earl
to escape, was retaken, and again thrown of Kildare, who was executed in England
into confinement.  MacCoghlan, who had with his uncles, on account of their rebellion.
been expelled from his territory of Dealna, This nobleman spent several years in difor Delvin, was restored at this time, having ferent countries of Europe, and having been
yielded to the English yoke. The public restored to favor, obtained letters from the
archives, which had been before deposited king, empowering him to take possession of
in Bermingham tower, Dublin, were now Maynooth and other estates belonging to his
removed to the library of St. Patrick.  family, and two years afterwards, he reAbout this period died Robert Waucop, ceived the ancient titles of his house from
otherwise Venantius, who was either a Scot Queen- Mary.
or an Irishman.  During the lifetime of   Donough O'Brien, who had just been creDowdal, the primate, he was nominated ated earl of Thuomond by letters patent, and
archbishop of Armagh, to Pope Paul III., declared heir to the estates annexed to that
though Dowdal was a Catholic.t It appears title, was disturbed in his possessions by his
that the pope paid no regard to his nomina- brother Donald. This nobleman was exastion, it having been by Henry VIII. during perated to see his eldest brother, and the
his schism. Two bishops appeared now for head of his family, enter into an agreement
the first time in each diocese in Ireland:
War. de Archiep. Ardmach. Idem, Annal. Hi* Cox, ibid. page 291.              bern.
t Baker, Chron. of England, pp. 306, 308.  t Baker, Chron. of Engl. p. 305.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            445
with the king of England, which were so Wise, the vice-treasurer.  Two days after
contrary to the interests of his country; he his departure, the privy council and nobillooked upon the title as the seal of his sla- ity met in the cathedral church of the Holy
very, and of the dishonor of a house which Trinity, in order to appoint two justices, to
had been, till that time, free and indepen- be intrusted with the government during the
dent. According to Cox, Donald had anoth- absence of the deputy.  The choice fell
er motive for declaring against his brother; upon Thomas Cusack, the chancellor, and
he had cause to apprehend the loss of the Gerald  Aylmer, chief-justice of the king's
prerogatives to which he was entitled by the bench, both of whom were knights, as, at
old custom of Tanistry, as the submission that time, the title was conferred both on
of his brother to the English government se- civil and military officers. Some time aftercured the possession for ever to his descend- wards, one of the O'Neills, of the house of
ants.  This, however, is mere conjecture, Tyrone, was arrested in Dublin for having
on the part of Cox, who always puts a bad circulated opprobrious reports concerning
construction upon the intentions of those who the deputy, but was liberated on bail. About
wi ere opposed to the English. In order, in- this period, Hugh Ogue O'Neill, lord of
deed, to give an appearance of truth to what Clanneboy, submitted to the king, in presence
he advances, he says that Donald and Ter- of the lords-justices, and took the oath of, lough were uncles to the earl of Thuomond, allegiance.  The king, in gratitude, gave
while, according to everyother historian who him the abbey of Carrickfergus, with the
wrote on Irish affairs, they were his brothers. castle of Belfast, and permission for three
However this may have been, the deputy, in secular priests to reside with him.
conjunction with some of the members of the   Ulster was desolated this year by a civil
council, made use of his authority, and set- war between the earl of Tyrone and his
ted the matter in favor of the earl.    son John, commonly known in history by the
Sir Nicholas Bagnall was appointed to the name of Shane O'Neill.  All Ireland was
command of a force which was sent against visited by a dreadful famine and a scarcity
\IacMurrough.  Both -armies having met, of grain;- but the year following was a most
thley fought for a long time with doubtful abundant one; the same measure which cost
success; the loss was heavy on both sides, twenty-four shillings the preceding year, beand the victory remained undecided: the ing sold for five, A. D. 1553.
nuimb-ers of killed and wounded were not   The sentence pronounced by the deputy
I nown.  The English garrison of Athlone in favor of Donough, earl of Thuomond, was
pillaged, at this time, the cathedral church not sufficient to thwart the designs of his
of Cluan-mac-noisk, not sparing even the brother Donald O'Brien against him.  Dobooks or sacred vessels of the church.   nald, who was seconded by his brother TerSome time afterwards,the deputy marched lough, and a few other lords of Thuomond,
at the head of an army to Ulster, and fortified with their vassals, attacked Clonroan, or
Belfast, where he left a strong garrison. In Cluanroad, in the county of Clare, and burnthe mean time, the baron of Dungannon hav- ed all except the castle.* The earl defending marched with his forces to join the Eng- ed himself in it for some time, but being at
lish army, he was surprised in his camp by length obliged to yield to a superior force,
his brother Shane O'Neill, who killed sev- the castle was taken by storm, and the gareral of his men, and put the rest to flight. rison put to the sword; the earl being found
The deputy finding himself deprived of this among the number of the slain.  Connor,
succor, set out for Dublin, with the inten- his only son, whom he had by Helen, daughtion of returning to England. The English ter of Peter Butler, earl of Ormond, being
monarch having learned that Queen Mary, supported by the English government, sucof Scotland, had sent over O'Connor to Ire- ceeded to the title and estates of his father.t
land, whose father was a prisoner in England, This was the source of the discord which
to influence the Irish to rebel against the gov- prevailed for a long time between the houses
ernment, he gave orders to Sir Henry Knolles of Thuomond and Inchiquin, and the other
to repair thither without delay, and put off branches of the O'Briens.
the departure of the deputy till he should   About this time, Teugue Roe O'Melaghreceive fresh instructions: but finding, soon lin evinced the same spirit of patriotism
after this, that the queen of Scotland's plan which Donald O'Brien had displayed. Havhad failed, he proceeded to England, with ing received some insult from his relative,
the king's permission, attended by Andrew Neil Mac Phelim, who was in the interest
* Ware, ibid. cap. 7.
* Page 292.                          t Cox, ibid. pp. 315, 545,




446                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
of the English, he, killed him on the road to der. The supposed reformation of religion,
Mullingar in Westmeath. O'Melaghlinhim- was a pretext made use of by-them to seize
self lost his life, some time afterwards, in a upon the property of the church.  They
battle against the garrison of Athlone, com- first proclaimed Edward, as they had done
manded by the baron of Delvin, whereupon Henry, head of the church of England,
his estate was confiscated. The quarrels of both in spiritual and temporal affairs. The
the Burkes also gave rise to disturbances in maxim which had been established in the
Connaught; Richard Burke having quarrel- time of Henry VIII. was, that the king held
led with the children of Thomas Burke, call- the place of the pope in England; but they
ed Backagh, gave them battle, in which he granted prerogatives to this new papacy, to
was made prisoner, leaving one hundred which the pope had never aspired.  The
and fifty of his men dead on the field. Rich- hishops were newly appointed by Edward,
ard, earl of Clanriccard, having had some and were to continue in their sees accorddisputes with John Burke, he entered his ing to the king's will, as had been settled by
lands, sword in hand, and laid siege to his Henry, and it was thought that, in order to
castle; but on learning that Donald O'Brien accelerate the reformation, the bishops should
was coming to his assistance. the earl raised be subject to the yoke of an arbitrary power.
the siege, not thinking it prudent to wait the The archbishop of Canterbury, primate of
event of a battle.                       England, was the first to submit to this deKing Edward sent three large vessels gradation, which is not surprising, as it was
this year to discover a passage to the East through him all these opinions were propaIndies through the north of Europe and Asia, gated; the others followed his pernicious
at the solicitation of Sebastian Gabato, a na- example. This system was afterwards altertive of Bristol, the son of a Genoese, or, as ed, and the bishops were forced to consider
others say, of a Venetian,* and a celebrated it as a favor that the king conferred the sees
cosmographer. The king appointed him pi- for life.  It was clearly specified in their
lot or director of this little fleet, which was commission, as had been done under Henry,
under the command of Sir HIIugh Willoughby. agreeably to the doctrine of Cranmer, that
On reaching the latitude of 74 degrees, Wil- episcopal authority, as well as that of secular
loughby's ship was cast upon a desert shore, magistrates, emanated from royalty, as its
where he and his crew were found frozen to source; that the bishops should exercise it
death.  His lieutenant, Richard Cancella- under a precarious tenure, and give it up at
rius, was more fortunate, having discovered the pleasure of the king, from whom they
a passage into Russia, which had been till derived it; in short, every thing was made
then unknown to the English.  The third subject to royal power.
vessel, which suffered from the storm, and   The bishoprics, which had thus become
was separated from the others, fearing for offices to be filled by persons who might be
the success of the voyage, returned to recalled at the pleasure of the king, like the
England.                                 governors of provinces, or common clerks,
Edward VI. died at Greenwich, in July, frequently changed their bishop.* The most
at the age of sixteen years, of which he had zealous suffered imprisonment, and by their
reigned six. The reformation advanced with perseverance, lost their sees; the more polirapid strides during his time, which cannot tic subscribed to every article of the reformasurprise us, since this prince, who began his tion, and were satisfied with a small portion of
reign at the age of nine years, was wholly the revenues of their rich bishoprics, scarceunder the control and command of those who ly sufficient, says Heylin, for the support of
were intrusted with the administration dur- a parson; the vacant ones were conferred
ing his minority. Edward Seymour, duke of on men who readily consented to the dismernSomerset, the king's uncle, governed during berment of the lands of their churches,which
the first years, as protector, till he was sup- were formed into baronies, to enrich, as
planted by John Dudley, duke of Northum- Heylin observes, the pirates of the court,
berland.  The former was a Zuinglian, and who had no right by birth to such brilliant
the friend of Cranmer; the latter conformed fortunes. The above is but a feeble sketch
to the religionwhich suited his own purposes of the excesses which happened in the reign
best; so that these two favorites, and the of Edward; but to return to our history.
other nobles belonging to the court, per-   The death of Edward VI. was followed
verted the authority of an infant king, to by a-kind of interregnum of a few days. The
gratify their cupidity with sacrilegious plun- duke of Northumberland caused Jane, eldest
B *  aker, Chjron. of Engl. page 309.  War. de  * Heylin, Hist. of the Reformation, p. 99, et seq.
Annal. Hib, reign of Edward VI. cap. 7.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          447
daughter of the duke of Suffolk, and Fran- had assumed it, which she never would have
ces, daughter of Charles Brandon, and Mary, done, but through obedience to him, and to
sister of Henry VIII., queen of France, and her mother. Thus ended her reign of ten
widow of Charles the XII., each to be pro- days.
claimed queen of England, Jane was of
royal descent through the female line, being
grand niece of Henry VIII.; she was also
daughter-in-law to the duke of Northumber-        CHAPTER XXXIX.
land, being married to Lord Guilford Dudly,
his fourth son.* Upon this was founded her   QUEEN MARY having been proclaimed in
claim to the crown, and'the interest which the principal towns in England, left Framingthe duke took to have her proclaimed. This ham for London, A. D. 1553. On arriving at
nobleman was the favorite of Edward VI., Wanstead, in Essex, on the 30th of July, she
and finding that the prince's end was ap- was met byher sister Elizabeth, attended by
proaching, represented to him that his con- a cavalcade of a thousand horsemen.*  On
science required that he should look to the the 3d of August, she made her entry into
preservation of the new religion, not only London, with a pomp and magnificence equal
during his life, but also after his death; that to any of her predecessors.t She then took
his sister, the Princess Mary, was opposed possession of the tower, where Thomas, the
to it, but that he could not exclude her from old duke of Norfolk, Edward Lord Courtney,
the succession,without also removing Eliza- Stephen Gardiner, the deposed bishop of
beth; and in short he prevailed so far with Winchester, and the duke of Somerset, were
this weak prince, that he brought him to prisoners. Theyreceived her on their knees;
make a will, by which he declared his cousin but raising them she embraced them, saying,
Jane the lawful heiress to the crown.   "these are my prisoners." They were soon
The duke of Northumberland, who was afterwards restored to liberty.  Gardiner
determined to support the cause of Jane, put was reinstated in his see of Winchester, and
himself at the head of an army of ten thou- appointed keeper-of the seals and chancellor
sand men.  He was attended by several of England; all the other bishops, who had
noblemen, many ofwhom, however, deserted been dispossessed in the preceding reign,
him on their march. Mary, who was at namely, Bonner, bishop of London; Tunstal,
Framingham, in Suffolk, having heard of her of Durham; Day, of Chichester; West, of
brother's death,had herselfproclaimed queen, Exeter; and Heath, of Worcester, were also
whereon all the nobility of Norfolk and restored to their sees. All married men, who
Suffolk flocked to her standard. The nobles possessed livings in the church,were removed
who were in London met at Baynard castle, by Queen Mary, and she herself renounced
and acknowledging Mary's incontrovertible the profane title of head of the church of
right to the throne, had her proclaimed by England.j:   This princess found herself
the lord mayor of London. The duke of obliged to make examples of some distinNorthumberland was at Bury when he heard guished personages. The duke of Northof this general defection in favor of Mary, umberland, Sir John Gates, and Sir Thomas
and deeming it a matter of prudence to fol- Palmer, were executed on Tower Hill, in
low the torrent, he immediately repaired to the month of August.  Shortly afterwards,
Cambridge, where, for want of a herald, he Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury, Lady
went attended by the mayor, and proclaimed Jane Grey, her husband Lord Guilford, and
Queen Mary in the market-place, throwing the lords Ambrosius and Henry, sons of the
up his cap in the air as a token of joy. This duke of Northumberland, shared the same
show  of loyalty, however, availed him fate.  Queen Mary was crowned with the
nothing; he was arrested the day following, usual solemnities, in St. Peter's church, by
with other noblemen, by the earl of Arundel, the bishop of Winchester.
in the queen's name, and sent to the tower.   The English council having informed the
In the mean time the duke of Suffolk entered lord-justice and privy council of Ireland of
the apartment of his daughter, Lady Jane all that had taken place respecting Mary's
Grey, the supposed queen, and informed her succession to the throne, she was proclaimed
that she should lay aside the insignia of
royalty, and be content to lead thenceforward   * Sander. de Schis. Angl. lib. 2, p. 244, et seq.
a private life.  She answered him with mo- Baker, Chron. of Engl. p. 314, et seq.
desty, that she resigned it as willingly as she  t War. de Annal. Hib. reign of Mary, c. I.
Heylin, Hist. of the Reform. p. 166, et. seq.
$ Prophanum Primatus ecclesiastici titulum re* Baker, Chron. of England, page 309.    spuit et a stilo Regio sustulit Sanderus ibid.




448                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
in Dublin, and afterwards in the other towns synod in Drogheda, in the church of St.
and burghs in the kingdom, to the great Peter, in which several decrees were passed
satisfaction of the people. The queen after- tending to the restoration of religion, and
wards sent over patents to continue the lords- the ancient rights of the church; and statutes
justices and other magistrates in office.    enacted against married ecclesiastics. This
Donough O'Connor made an incursion, was only a prelude to other things, more
at this time, into Offaly, but was put down important.  In the month of April, the priby the superior force of the lords-justices. mate and Doctor Walsh, who was appointed
The queen, who was already planning the bishop-of Meath, received an order to depose
restoration of the oldjreligion, caused a de- such bishops and priests as had married.
claration in favor of the mass, and the other This order was put into execution, in the
dogmas of the Catholic faith, to be published month of June following, against Edward
in Ireland, that is, in the English province, Staples, bishop of Meath, who was forced to
where the heresy was beginning to take root. give up his see.  About the end of the'same
About this tiime, O'Neill made some at- year, Brown, archbishop of Dublin, Lancastempts in the county of Louth, which drew ter, bishop of Kildare, and Travers, bishop
the attention of government towards Ulster. of Leighlin, shared the same fate.  Bale,
The lords-justices having collected their bishop of Ossory, and Casey, of Limerick,
forces, marched towards Dundalk, where avoided a similar punishment by leaving the
they dispersed his troops, after killing sev- country. The bishoprics were then filled by
eral of them.                           Catholic prelates. Walsh had been already
Sir Anthony St. Leger was appointed by appointed to the see of Meath; Hugh Curthe queen, lord-deputy of Ireland, in Novem- vin succeeded Brown in the see of Dublin;
ber. Having landed at Dalkey, he repaired Thomas Levereuse filled that of Kildare;
to Dublin, where he took the oath on the Thomas O'Fihely was appointed by the pope
19th of the same month, and received.the bishop of Leighlin; Hugh Lacy, of Limerick,
sword from Cusack and Aylmer, his prede- and Bale was replaced by John Thonory,
cessors, in the Cathedral of Christ, or the in the see of Ossory. It must be observed
Blessed Trinity; the patent of Cusack, the that those bishops who were dispossessed,
chancellor, was renewed at the same time. were Englishmen, and the first who preachIn this month, Cormac MacCoghlan and ed the reformation in Ireland.
his allies, the O'Ferralls, having applied for   Bale and Brown, the principal of those
assistance to Richard,baron of Delvin,against who introduced the reformation, were monks
MacCoghlan, chief of the tribe, and superior thathad been stripped of their orders. Brown
lord of Dealna, the baron entered freely into was an Augustinian monk in London.  He
their confederacy, which, however, was pro- became provincial of the order in England,*
ductive of no other result than the burning and was appointed to the archbishopric of
of some villages in the territory of Dealna. Dublin by Henry VIII.; but a desire to marry
It tended to perpetuate the animosities and made him renounce the solemn vow of chasdestructive warfare between the tribes of tity and continence he had made to God,
the MacCoghlans and the O'Ferralls.     when he embraced the monastic state. HIe is
In the month of December, Owven Ma- considered by Protestants as the first who
gennis, chief of the tribe, and superior lord endeavored to introduce the reformation
of Iveach, in the county of Down, surren- into Ireland. His memory is held in veneradered; in consequence of which, he was ap- tion among them, and they have taken care
pointed governor of that district by the to write his life, as a legend worthy of being i
deputy and council. This nobleman paved handed down to posterity.t Bale was a native
the way, by these means, to the title of lord, of England: he began his studies at Norwich,
which was subsequently taken by his de- became a monk of the Carmnelite order, and
scendants.                              afterwards went to Cambridge to perfect
In the following spring, George Dowdal, himself.  Having a taste for preaching, he
archbishop of Armagh, who had withdrawn never ceased to declaim against the Roman
to a foreign country, was recalled by Queen Catholic religion; he was arrested twice, and
Mary, and restored to his former dignities of put into prison, first by order of the archarchbishop of Armagh, and primate of Ire- bishop of York, and afterwards by the bishop
land, A. D. 1554. -The priory of Athird, in of London; but was restored to liberty
the county of Louth, was added to his reve- through the influence of Cromwell, the spinues.  The primate convened a provincial ritual vicar-general of Henry VIII. IHe was
~ Wareus, ibid. cap. 2.             * War. de Archiepisc. Dubliniens.
t War. de Epise. Ossor.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           449
at last forced to leave the country, and with- the two last reigns. The queen, however,
drew to Germany, where he remained for was so ably seconded by her brave and
eight years, after which he returned to Eng- faithful subjects, that the only result which
land, in the reign of Edward VI., who ap- attended this outbreak was the punishment
pointed him to the bishopric of Ossory. This of the rebels.
prince died six weeks afterwards, and Mary   Charles V. would let no opportunity eshaving ascended the throne, Bale left his cape that might contribute to the aggrandizelibrary at Kilkenny, and fled to Basle in ment of his house.* In January he sent
Switzerland,where he remained tillher death, ambassadors to England, and among others,
and the accession of Elizabeth. He then re- the earl of Egmond, and John de Montmoturned to England, and was content with a rency; they were honorably received, and
canonship in the church of Canterbury, not were successful in their negotiation concernwishing to go back to his diocese. He pub- ing the marriage.  Philip landed at Southlished several works both in Latin and Eng- ampton, in England, on the 19th of July,
lish, a catalogue of which he himself gives and proceeded to Winchester on the 24th,
in his book on British writers.         where the queen waited his arrival, and the
In the month of November, Gerald, earl marriage was celebrated the following day,
of Kildare, who had been lately restored to which was the festival of St. James, by the
his honors, Thomas Duff, or the black, bishop of that see.t  Mary was then thirtyearl of Ormond, and Brian Fitzpatrick, eight years of age, and Philip but twentybaron of Upper Ossory, having distinguished seven; they were immediately proclaimed
themselves in the war in England, against by the Garter herald at arms, under the folSir Thomas Wyat, returned to Ireland. Fitz- lowing titles:patrick was noticed on account of the strict  " Philip and Mary, by the grace of God,
and reciprocal friendship that subsisted be- king and queen of England, France, Naples,
tween him and Edward VI. In the month Jerusalemn, and Ireland, defenders of the
of February following, Cahir Mac-Art Ca- faith, prince and princess of Spain and
vanagh, an Irish lord, who was highly es- Sicily, archduke and archduchess of Austeemed in Leinster, and descended from the tria, duke and duchess of Milan, Burgundy,
kings of that province, was created (for life and Brabant, and count and. countess of
only) lord-baron of Balian, in  Idrone, Hapsburg, Flanders, and the Tyrol."
(county of Carlow.) He was succeeded in. Alt.hough the queen had done much, since
this title by his brother Dermod.       her coming to the throne, for the re-establishThe queen had given orders at this time ment of religion and the Catholic liturgy;
to reduce the troops in Ireland to the number had the mass and divine offices celebrated,
of five hundred men; the state of affairs, according to the'custom of the Roman
however, prevented the deputy and council church, in the Latin language; and had
from carrying that measure fully into effect. caused heresy to be proscribed, and foreign
They retained six hundred foot soldiers, four heretics to be driven out of the country, (of
hundred horsemen, and some light troops; whom, it was said, that at least 30,000 had
and were obliged soon afterwards to increase by various routes departed from England,)
the number, and to ask for further reinforce- still she was unable to bring back the people
ments from the English, to repel the Scotch to their obedience to the see of Rome. The
of the Hebrides.                        parliament first made some objections on
Before this, mention was made of a mar- this head, lest the pope might insist upon the
riage between Queen Mary and Philip II. of restitution of the property of the church,
Spain, eldest son of Charles V.' When this which had been seized upon by the nobles;
news was spread in England, a serious dis- but all these difficulties being removed, they
turbance broke out in the province of Kent, repealed the laws which had been enacted
and other places, inwhich Wyat was one of during the preceding reigns, against the
the principal performers.  Some dreaded authority and jurisdiction of the popes.
that by this marriage, England might be- They also repealedthose respecting Cardinal
come a province of the Spanish monarchy; Pole, who had just arrived from Rome, as
while the partisans of the reformation feared legate ta latere, from Julius III., who was
that the alliance of the queen (who was sovereign pontiff:t and finally submitted to
already opposed to that object) with a Ca- every thing, avowing their deep regret for
tholic prince, might put an end to the system
which had made so rapid a progress during   * Heylin, Hist. of the Reformation, on the reign
of Mary, p. 209.
* Sander. de Schis. Angl. lib. 2, part 2, p. 224,  t Baker, Chron. of Engl. p. 319.
et seq.                                   I Heylin, ibid. page 211.




450                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
having seceded from the obedience due to men killed, besides prisoners; the loss of
his holiness, and for having consented to the Hugh was not known.
enactment of laws against him.* They then   The court of England sent to Ireland in
I asked upon their knees, his absolution both October, Sir William Fitzwilliam,  Sir John
for themselves and the people, from the cen- Allen, and Valentine Brown, as commissures which they had incurred by their sioners, to assist the deputy in the regulation
schism; which was granted to them by the of the crown lands, by which means they
legate, who read aloud the power delegated were enabled to procure settlements for, to him by the pope. A splendid embassy themselves in the country. Valentine Brown, was then sent to Rome, to have all things was a violent Protestant, but his son emi confirmed by the sovereign pontiff; and on braced the Catholic religion; this noble
their being thus ratified by his holiness, family were afterwards considered worthy
i solemn thanks to God were offered through- of titles of honor, and still live in splendor
H out Italy, for the happy reconciliation of in the county of Kerry.*
I England with the holy se.t              Brien O'Connor Faly, who had been a!  War broke out at this time between Con- prisoner in London for four years, was renor O'Brien, son of Donough, earl of Thuo- stored to liberty this year, by orders of the
I mond, and his uncle Donald O'Brien. Con- queen, who generously continued the pen-:I nor had lost the affection of the people by sion which had been granted to him by the
retaining the English title of earl, which he court.  On his landing in Dublin, however,
had assumed after his father, while Donald notwithstanding the pardon he had just
I became very popular by talking the name of received from the princess, he was confined
O'Brien without any addition, which was in the castle, under pretext of preventing the,
considered much more honorable by his disturbances he might cause tothe state; but
countrymen than the title of earl.  Donald in reality to prevent him from reclaiming his
was very powerful, and took several places property, of which he had been unjustly defrom the earl, who required the aid of the prived.  We witness in this a surprising
E English to maintain himself in his districts. contrast between the conduct of the queen
The same year Cahir O'Carroll, baron of and that of her subjects; but their acts were
Ely, who had killed Teugue O'Carroll, influenced by different motives. The queen
I perished by the sword of William  Odar found O'Connor innocent, and from a motive
O'Carroll, of the same family.  The latter of justice gave him his freedom; the council
I made himself master of the district of Ely, of Dublin were desirous. of condemning himu
of which he kept possession for four years. as a criminal, and from a mere suspicion that
About the same time the baron of Delvin he might become so, deprivedhim ofthe beneI devastated the territory of Dealna, the coun- fit of the pardon which the queen had granted
try of the MacCoghlans, and returned load- -him; and then put him in confinement, where
ed with booty.                          he remained till he had given hostages. This
An alliance and close friendship had sub- mysterious affair must be explained. Whensisted for a long time between the houses of ever the Irish had recourse to arms, it was
Tyrone and Kildare, which made them assist not so much in opposition to the king and
each other mutually.  John, or Shane Dou- his government, as against their English
lenagh O'Neill, son of the earl of Tyrone, neighbors, who, always eager to increase
having had a-; dispute with Phelim  Roe their possessions,were continually encroachO'Neill, a powerful nobleman of his family, ing upon the lands of the Irish; none but the
demanded assistance from Kildare. In order English being hearkened to by the governto justify. the confidence of his ally, the earl ment, they construed the battle of one indijoined in his expedition.  The baron of vidual against another, into rebellion or high
Delvin thereupon marched at the head of his treason, the Irish were consequently declared
forces to Ulster; but his success did not rebels, which declaration was followed by the
equal his expectation.  He carried away confiscation of their estates in the name of
some booty, but lost fifty of his men, who the king, but in reality, for the benefit of the
were killed in a skirmish against Phelim informers, who, alleging their pretended serO'Neill.  Soon after this, a bloody battle vices against the rebels, found means to have
took place between the earl of Tyrone and the possessions of the supposed criminals
Hugh O'Neill of Clanneboy, respecting some conferred upon themselves.  These abuses
claims of the earl on his territory; the earl continued to increase; most of the public
was defeated, with the loss of three hundred offices were filled by Englishmen; the an* Baker, ibid. page 320.
t Heylin, ibid. pages 212, 213.        * Cox, Hist. of Ireland, p. 103&




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           451
cient Irish were altogether excluded from This prince died soon afterwards, in conthem, and the English government reposed finement; Calouagh then made himself
no confidence in those who had first settled master of the fortress of Inis-Owen and the
in Ireland.  These were called the degen- castle of Enagh, which he razed to the
crate English, and in every succeeding ground, and in the May following dismissed
reign fresh colonies came over from Eng- his allies the Scotch. The proximity of
land, who were enriched at the expense of Ireland to Scotland, and the frequent interthe old inhabitants.                    course of the inhabitants with those of the
The cathedral church of St. Patrick, in North, was often productive of quarrels beDublin, which had been suppressed in the tween the two countries.  Hugh O'Neill,
preceding reign, was restored by letters lord of Clanneboy, on the confines of the
patent, dated the 25th of March, 1555.* counties of Down and Antrim, was shot in a
Thomas Lever, or Levereuse, was made skirmish with a party of Scotchmen, who
dean, and prebendaries were appointed the came to attack him on his own estate. The
May following.t  Levereuse, who had been English government availed themselves of
appointed the preceding year to succeed the opportunity, to divide this extensive disLancaster in the bishopric of Kildare, was trict into two, between Phelim Duff O'Neill,
confirmed this year by a bull from the pope, and the children of Phelim Backagh, or the
who granted him a dispensation to retain Lame, in order to weaken this illustrious
both livings.  He was dispossessed in the tribe.
succeeding reign, for having refused to take   The emperor Charles V., being desirous
the oath of supremacy to Queen Elizabeth, of withdrawing from the cares of the world,
and was obliged to become a schoolmaster first gave up all the low countries to his son
in Limerick to obtain a livelihood. William Philip, king of England. Ile soon after this
Walsh, bishop of Meath, suffered still more surrendered to him all his hereditary doseverely: he was not only deprived of his minions, and abdicated the empire in favor
bishopric, but confined in a dungeon, loaded of his son Ferdinand, who was already king
with chains, and afterwards banished from of the Romans.  He withdrew afterwards
the kingdom.                            to a convent in Estre-Madura, in Spain.
In June, Pope Paul IV. issued a bull con-  The Cavenaghs and their allies made some
firming Ireland in the title of kingdom. WVe incursions, in May, 1556, into the southern
can discover no necessity for this new crea- parts of the county of Dublin; but they were
tion of the title of kingdom for Ireland, since surprised and dispersed by the garrison of
it was considered in that light long before the city, who killed several of them.*  A
the English were known in it, and even be- troop of one hundred and forty men withfore the institution of the popedom.    drew to the fortress of Powerscourt, where
In July, Cusack, the chancellor, received they determined to defend themselves. They
orders from their majesties to resign the were besieged by the company of the lordgreat seal to St. Leger, the lord-lieutenant, marshal, and others from Dublin, under the
and in the following month Sir William command of Sir George Stanley; and being
Fitzwilliamns was appointed to this office, unable to withstand the great number of their
and Hugh Curwin, who had just been con- besiegers, were obliged to surrender. They
secrated in London archbishop of Dublin, were ungenerously treated by their enemies,
was appointed chancellor of Ireland in and brought to Dublin, where seventy-four
October.  He convened a provincial synod of their number were put to death for having
during the same year, in which several rebelled.
regulations were made respecting religion.   St. Leger, the deputy, had before this been
In the mean time, the Scotch of the He- recalled, and Thomas Radcliffe, Viscount
brides made an attempt on Carrickfergus, in Fitzwalters, was appointed lord-lieutenant
Ulster; but the plan was badly laid and in his stead. This nobleman landed in Dubexecuted.  A misunderstanding still con- lin on the day of Pentecost, and a few days
tinued between Manus O'Donnel, prince of afterwards took the usual oath, in Christ's
Tyrconnel, and his son Calouagh, orCharles. Cathedral, where St. Leger resigned the
This young nobleman crossed over into insignia of offce  to him. The new govScotland, and having received some assist- ernor was  accompanied from England by
ance from Gilaspock MacAllen, he returned Sir Henry Sidney as treasurer, and Sir Wilto Ulster, entered Tyrconnel, sword in hand, liam  Fitzsymons.  He also brought over
and took his father prisoner, at Rosrach. twenty-five thousand pounds, to be applied'
* Ware, ibid. cap. 3.          against the Scotch and the rebel Irish.
t War. de Episc. Kildare.                  * War. ibid. cap. 4.




452                         HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Queen Mary sent instructions to the deputy were passed against the pope since the twenand council of Ireland, to use every means tieth year of the reign of Henry VIII., were
for advancing the glory of God, and the repealed, and all concessions made by archCatholic faith, and to support the honor and bishop Brown were declared null and void;
dignity of the holy see.  Her majesty or- the first-fruits too were restored to the
dered them to assist the ministers of the church; but all these statutes were annulled
gospel against the heretics, and.their erro- in the beginning of the succeeding reign.
neous principles; and also to aid the comn- An act was also passed for granting the
missioners whom Cardinal Pole, the legate queen a subsidy of thirteen and four-pence
from the see of Rome, intended sending to on every plough-land; and another, by which
Ireland, to visit the clergy.           it was prohibited, under pain of felony, to
The deputy having collected his forces, introduce or receive armed Scotchmen into
marched towards the north of Ireland, in the Ireland, or to intermarry with them, without
beginning of July; on the 18th of the same a license under the great seal.
month, he defeated the Scotch islanders near   On his return from England, the deputy
Carrickfergus; two hundred were killed on undertook an expedition into Connaught in
the field of battle, and several prisoners taken. July, against the O'Maddens of Silanchie, at
Thomas, earl of Ormond, and Stanley, lord- present the barony of Longford.  This dismarshal, distinguished themselves in this en- trict had been divided the preceding year
gagement.  The deputy having provided for between  Malachi More O'Madden, and
the necessities of the town of Carrickfergus, Brassal Dabh, after the murder of John
and regulated the affairs of Ulster, where he O'Madden, to whom it belonged.  The obleft Stanley as lieutenant-general, returned ject of the expedition was to punish the
to KIilmainham.  Soon after this, he went O'Maddens, who protected Donough O'Conto Munster, where he received the submis- nor, contrary to the law by which he had
sion of several Irish and Englishmen, to been declared a rebel.  The deputy laid
whom he granted protections.            siege to the castle of Milick, on the banks of
In September, Shane O'Neill, son of the the Shannon; and being unable to resist the
earl of Tyrone, having given a promise of cannon, it surrendered immediately.  The
submission, repaired to Kilmainham, where conqueror placed a garrison in it, and rehe made peace with the deputy. Rory and turned to Kilmainham to prepare for anDonough O'Connor did the same at Dingen; other expedition against the Scotch, who had
but these arrangements were of short dura- invaded Ulster.  Having collected all his
tion, the occasions to rebel being too fre- forces, he set out on his march in August,
quent. The O'Connors soon fell into the accompanied by the earls of Kildare and
snares which had been laid for them.  On Ormond, Viscount Baltinglass, and the bartaking up arms they were declared traitors ons of Delvin, Dunboyne, and Dunsany..and expelled from their country, which was His preparations were, however, not very
laid waste by the English troops.       successful; the Scotch having intrenched
A parliament was convened in Dublin, in themselves in woods, and other inaccessible
June, 1557. It was adjourned to Limerick places, the exploits of the deputy consisted
the month following, till November, and from in taking booty, which was carried off by his
thence to Drogheda, till March.t  But the soldiers, and in conferring knighthood on
lord-lieutenant, who became earl of Sussex Donald MacDonnell, and Richard M'CGuilby his father's death, having returned to lan, who made their submission to him.
England in December, the parliament ceased   The deputy returned to Ulster in October.
its sittings during his absence, and was after- He devastated the lands about Dundalk,
wardsprorogued.[ Coxmentionssome acts Newry, and Arrnmagh.  This latter city he
of this parliament, which had not been print- burned, sparing only the cathedral; after
ed.~  In them the queen's legitimacy was which he returned triumphant to Dublin,
admitted; she was invested with royal autho- about the end of the month.
rity, and her posterity declared entitled to   Her majesty's service required the presinherit the crown of England and Ireland; ence of the earl of Sussex in England, and
heresy was made liable to punishment and in order to secure tranquillity in the English
ordered to be suppressed; all the acts which province during his absence, he exacted a
promise of peace from some of the neight WOX, Hist. of Ireland, p. 303.'boring nobles whom he thought likely to
t  ~ibid. cap. 3.'disturb it; namely, O'Carroll of Ely, O'MolI Irish Statutes printed in Dublin in 1621, page  y of Fearcall, Mageoghegan of Kinalyach,
846.                                    loy of Fearcall, Mageoghegan of Kinalyachb
l~ Hist. of Irel. page 304.           O'Duinne of Hy-Regan, MacCoghlan of




CHRISTIAN IRELANDo                            453d
Dealbna, and the two O'Maddins of Silan- out of the English province, or to furnish
chie; and received hostages from them.   any to the Irish who were living without the
During the absence of Sussex, Curwin limits. About this time, Maurice Cavanagh
the chancellor, and Sidney the secretary at and Conall O'Morra, two Irish noblemen,
war, were appointed, by letterspatent, lords- were tried for rebellion, condemned, and
justices of'Ireland.  Having taken the oath executed at Leighlin bridge.
in Christ's cathedral, Dublin, they received   In Ulster, Shane O'Neill, wishing to have
-the royal sword from Stanley, lord-marshal the tribute renewed, which he claimed from
of Ireland, to whom Sussex had confided it the country of Tyrconnel, entered that disfor that purpose.  They filled this commis- trict, sword in hand.  Calouagh O'Donnel,
sion together till the 6th of February follow- the nobleman to whom it belonged, not finding, when the queen thought fit to confer it ing himself able to repel force by force, and
on Sidney alone,                         dreading to risk a battle, had recourse to
The new lord-justice carried his arms im- stratagem;  he surprised O'Neill during the
mediately against Arthur O'Molloy, lord of night in his camp, killed several of his men,
Fearcall, under pretext of his having pro- and put the rest to flight.
tected the rebels; and having pillaged and   The lands of the monasteries and abbeys,
burned his district, he granted the lordship which had been converted, under the preceto Theobald, Arthur's brother, on condition ding reign, into lay-fiefs, and divided among
that he would give his son as a hostage, to the courtiers, remained in the same state in
serve as a pledge for his fidelity.      Mary's time, except the estates of the priory
In the parliament we have mentioned as of St. John of Jerusalem, near Dublin, which
having been held this year, an act was pass- were restored to their former masters, through
ed by which the districts of Leix, Offaly, and the influence of Cardinal Pole. Oswald Mesthe adjacent baronies, namely, Slewmarg, singberd was, about this time, appointed prior
Irris, and Clanmalire, were confiscated for of that house, and confirmed byletters patent.
the use of their majesties. These territories The queen had conceived the project of rehad belonged, for more than twelve centu- storing all things to their former state, but
ries, to the O'Morras, O'Connors Faly, and her reign was too short for the completion
the O'Dempsys.* By the same statute, the of so great an undertaking.
deputy was authorized to divide these exten-   In April, 1558, O'Reilly, chief of the
sive districts into fiefs, and to make prudent O'Reillys of eastern Brefny, (Cavan,) regrants of them to any English subject whom paired to the deputy at Kilmainham, where
he might deem likely to advance the English he surrendered, and took the oath of fidelity
I interest; and in order that such concessions to their majesties.*
should be rendered valid by law, he was   The earl of Sussex was again appointed
authorized to have the great seal affixed to lord-lieutenant of Ireland, and arrived in
them by the chancellor, or whoever had cus- Dublin, towards the end of April, with five
tody of it.  It was thus that those masters hundred armed men, who were to be emreformed the manners of the Irish nobility. ployed both in putting down the rebels, and
Tlis was an important privilege for the de- repelling the Scotch, who were committing
pnty, since, by his signature, he possessed piracies on the coasts.  Sussex having rethe power of making his valet, or any other ceived the sword and other ensigns of his
favorite servant, a rich and powerful noble- authority, marched at the head of his army
man. By another act of the same parliament, towards Limerick, whence he advanced init was decreed that these districts should be to Thuomond, in order to reduce Donald
hereafter called the King's and Queen's O'Brien, who had renewed the war against
counties; that the fort of Dingen should be his nephew, Connor O'Brien, earl of Thuocalled after the king's name, Philipstown, mond.  Having taken the castles of Bunand that Leix, which was called Protector, ratty and Clare, he quelled all disturbances,
under Edward VI., should bear the name of and restored those places, and the territories
Maryborough. Sidney, the deputy, having which had been invaded by his enemies., to
terminated his expedition against O'Molloy, Thuomond. He obliged those possessed of
applied the tax which had been raised on the freeholds to take the oath of allegiance.
English province, in revictualling the gar-   Sussex having returned to Limerick, rersons of Leix and Offaly; he then returned ceived the submission of the earl of Desto Dublin, where he published a proclama- mond; he stood sponsor, a few days aftertion prohibiting any one to take provisions wards, to his son, and had him baptized
* Irish Statutes, pages 247, 248.              * War. ibid. c. 6




454                           HISTORY OF IR-LAND.
James Sussex, and gave him a gold chain; marriage of Conn O'Neill and Alice, of
he conferred arother, at the same time, with whom he, Shane, was the legitimate son,
a pair of gilded spurs, on Dermod Mac-Car- and consequently had a right to succeed to
thy of Muskerry, whom he created a knight. his father's property.  He added, that the
The earl of Sussex embarked in Septerm- surrender which had been made by his
ber with his forces at Dalkey, near Dublin, father, of the principality of Tyrone to the
to go in pursuit of the Scotch islanders, who king of England, and the restitution he had
had taken possession of the isle of Rachlin, received from the latter by letters patent,
in the north of Ireland, from which they were null, since his father's right to that
made incursions, and committed piracies on principality was confined to his life, while
the coast of Ulster.  On the arrival of the he himself had been acknowledged the real
fleet at Rachlin, it encountered a dreadful O'Neill, by a popular election, according to
storm, in which one of the vessels was custom, notwithstanding that he claimed no
wrecked, and the entire of the crew perish- other superiority over the lords of his proved. Sussex landed with the remainder, put ince than that which had been exercised by
the inhabitants to the sword, and pillaged the his ancestors.  It appears that the prince's
islands. Thence he sailed to Scotland, laid arguments prevailed, as he retained posseswaste Cantyre, and the isles of Arran and sion of Tyrone till his death, which occurred
Comber; but was at length checked in the a few years afterwards.
course of his conquests by the severity of   George Dowdal, archbishop of Armagh,
the weather, which obliged him to put into and primate of Ireland, having gone to EngCarrickfergus. He burned several villages land on some affairs of the church, died in
inhabited by the islanders, and returned to London, in August.*  This prelate having
Dublin in November, where he received new been expelled from his see, under Edward
patents and seals for the chancellor, for the VI., withdrew to the Abbey de Centre, where
chief-justices of the other courts, and the he remained till the death of the king and
chief-baron of the exchequer. In the mean the reign of Mary, who restored him to his
time, some families of the Burkes of Con- rights. Even his enemies acknowledge him
naught, having received cause of dissatis- to have been a learned man and an able
faction from their chief, Clanriccard, called preacher. The successors of DowdaI in the
the Scotch islanders to their assistance, but see of Armagh were, it is probable, princithey and their allies were cut to pieces in an pally of the reformed religion, as the first
engagement with the earl.              that was appointed to it, after a vacancy of
Shane O'Neill, son of Conn O'Neill, earl a few years, was Adam Loftus, Queen Elizof Tyrone, was indignant to see his house abeth's chaplain.
degraded by the title of earl, which had   In the month of October of this year,
been disgracefully taken by his father, in James, earl of Desmond and treasurer of
place of hereditary prince of Tyrone, and Ireland, died,t leaving three legitimate sons.
the illustrious title of O'Neill given up. He After repudiating the daughter of the viswas jealous, too, of the preference which his count of Fermoy, he married the daughter
father evinced for his natural son Matthew, of O'Carroll, by whom he had Gerald, other(whom the Irish call Fardorach,) in procur- wise Garret, and John.  His second wife
ing for him the title of baron of Dungannon, having died, he married M'Carty's daughter,
by which he was secured in the succession who was mother to James, his third son.
to the principality, in prejudice to himself.* By the daughter of the Viscount Fermoy he
Shane was continually under arms, either had a son called Thomas Ruadh, (Rufus,)
against his father or O'Donnel, who, as well who was his eldest; but some doubt having
as his rival, the baron of Dungannon, was arisen of his legitimacy, he could not suesupported by the English; the latter was ceed to his father; from which important
killed in the beginning of this war. When disputes arose between the brothers. Garquestioned upon his conduct in this and the ret was readily acknowledged successor to
other accusations made against him, either James, and heir to his titles and extensive
by the lord-justice Sydney, or in the pres- estates.  Although young, this nobleman
ence of the queen in England, according to gave great hopes of valor and of talent; he
Camden, Shane proudly answered that he afterwards became the hero of Catholicity,
was son and heir of Conn O'Neill and his but in the end fell a sacrifice to his love of
wife Alice; that Matthew was the son of a religion.
blacksmith in Dundalk,t subsequent to the   This was the last year of Mary's reign;
* Hist. Cathol. Hib. tome 2, lib. 4. cap. 3.  * War. de Archiepise. Ardmach.
t Camden's reign of Elizabeth, pp. 69, 70. Cox,  t Helat. Girald. cap. 13, et seq.
page 312.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                              455
she died at St. James's, near Westminster,   Sir Thomas Cusack, of Coffingston, in
in the forty-second year of her age and sixth Meath, having filled the offices of master of
of her reign, of grief, it is said, for the loss the rolls, keeper of the seals, chancellor, and
of Calais, as also for her husband's absence, lord-justice of Ireland, wrote a long epistle
and the death of her father-in-law, the Em- to the duke of Northumberland, dated the
peror Charles V.  The bishop of Winches- 8th of May, 1552, on the state of Ireland
ter died before her, and Cardinal Pole sur- at the time.  This epistle is with the books
vived her but sixteen hours.  It was an of Darcy and Finglass, among the manuunhappy omen to the Catholics, and the sta- scripts of Dr. Sterne, in the library of Trinity
bility of their religion which had just been College, Dublin.
re-established, to behold its three principal   Thomas Waterford, called by others Wa-.supporters so suddenly carried off.  The terfield, archdeacon of Leighlin, wrote a
reason why this princess has found so few treatise on the affairs of Ireland, which is
panegyrists among Protestant writers is quoted by Dowling in his annals. Nicholas
manifest; far from  encouraging the new Stanihurst wrote a small work in Latin,
religion, she labored to destroy it, and re- entitled, Dieta 3Medicorum, or the regimen
store the old one. Their silence on her other of physicians. Richard Stanihurst mentions
qualities is at least a proof that she pos- it in the seventh chapter of the Description
sessed no bad ones.                       of Ireland.  Lastly, George Dowdal, archThe short reign of this princess only check- bishop of Armagh, a native of the county of
ed for a time the progress of heresy, which Louth, wrote some sermons, and also transsoon afterwards acquired new strength, and lated the life of the celebrated John de
reascended the throne with Elizabeth.  It Courcy, the supposed conqueror of Ulster,
is remarkable, says Cox, that though Mary from Latin into English.
was a zealous papist, the Irish were not
more tranquil under her reign than under
that of Edward; on the contrary, their antipathy to the English and their government hurried them to commit the same ex-               CHAPTER XL.
cesses as under the preceding reigns. But
had this author been as honorable as he is   ELIZABETH, the only surviving daughter
malicious, he would have observed that the of Henry VIII., was immediately after the
antipathy which he advances as the cause of death  of Mary, declared by parliament
these disorders, was founded rather on the heiress to the throne, A. D. 1558.  She was
injustice which the English ministry was crowned queen of England, according to the
continually exercising over the Irish, than Roman ritual, with the usual ceremonies, in
on the religion of this princess. The Irish Westminster abbey, by Oglethorp, bishop
people were as tyrannically ruled under her of Carlisle; the archbishop of York and
as under the preceding reigns.*           other bishops of the kingdom, refused to
The most celebrated writers in the two attend.  This princess was then in her
last reigns, were the following.t  Edward twenty-fifth year; her reign was long and
Walsh, a native of. Ireland, who went over eventful.  The contemporary princes were
to England about the year 1550, and was Ferdinand, emperor of Austria, Henry II.,
received into the household of Edward Sey- king of France, Philip II., king of Spain,
mour, duke of Somerset, uncle to Edward and Paul IV., who filled the see of Rome.*
VI., and protector of the kingdom; he com-   On her accession to the throne, Elizabeth
posed two treatises, one entitled De officiis turned her thoughts towards the spiritual
pugnantium pro patria, or, the duties of and temporal government of the  state.
those who fight for their country; and the Though she had previously determined to
other, ut Hibernia per verbum  Dei refor- make a change in religion, still, in order not
metur, or the manner in which Ireland ought to excite the alarm of the Catholics, or deto be reformed-by the word of God.  It press the hopes of the Protestant party, she
would appear by this treatise, and the attach- selected her council from among noblemen
meat of the author to the duke of Somerset, of both religions; after which ambassadors
that he had embraced the new religion.    were sent to all the princes of Europe, to
announce to them her accession to the throne.
* "Although she endeavored to protect and advance the Catholic religion, still her officers and: Baker's Chron. Reign of Elizabeth. Heylin,
lawyers did not cease to inflict injuries upon the Hist. of the Reform. p. 173, et seq. Cambd. AnIrish."                                   nal. rerum. Angl. regnant. edit. Lug. Batav. Salt Ware, de Script. Hib.                 morn, Hist. of England, vol. 7, page 6.




456                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Ambition was the ruling passion of Eliza- with the Catholic church, and promised her,
beth.  A desire of reigning alone, and of thatif she would follow his counsel,he would
being absolute mistress in all things, gave revoke the sentence which had been proher a distaste to marriage, though she was nounced against the marriage of her mother;
strongly urged to it by her parliament, and that he would confirm the Book of Common
solicited by many princes,the most consider- Prayer in the English language, and allow
able of whom was Philip II., king of Spain, her subjects to use the sacrament in both
her brother-in-law.  Acted on by political kinds.  Elizabeth, continues Baker, withmotives, this prince made the proposal to stood the pope's flattering offers, and perher, through his ambassador, the count de sisted in her determination to support a
Feria, undertaking, at the same time, to religion which she considered as more conobtain a dispensation from the pope. Eliza- formable to the word of God, and the primibeth received the ambassador with polite- tive customs of the church. We obviously
ness, but gave him no hope of succeeding in discover in this negotiation of Elizabeth her
his project. Independentlyof her dislike to a insincerity towards the pope. Even had the
master, she had sufficient penetration to feel holy father conceded the validity of her
how strongly such a dispensation would tend mother's marriage, (which was so difficult to
to affect her honor and that of her mother, be admitted,) religionwouldstillhave equally
Anne Bullen.* She knew that by submitting suffered under a princess whose heart and
to the pope and acknowledging the necessity disposition were prejudiced and corrupt.
of a dispensation in this instance, she would  It is said that Henry II., king of France,
approve of the marriage of Henry VIII. had used his influence with the pope, both to
with'Catherine of Aragon, whereby Anne thwart Philip II., who was soliciting a disBullen would be stigmatized as a concubine, pensation for the marriage he was desirous
and would establish the right of Mary Stuart, of contracting with Elizabeth, and to induce
queen of Scotland, to the crown of England. the pontiff to declare that princess to be iIThis princess had been just married to Iegitimate.* However this may have been,
Francis, son of Henry II.; she was acknow- Elizabeth did not affect to question her own
ledged by France as queen of England, and birthright; and it is singular that the parliahad the arms of that kingdom  quartered ment, which by a solemn act acknowIedged
with her own.t                          her right to the throne, never passed one in
In the mean time, Elizabeth had appointed favor of her legitimacy, nor on the validity
Sir Edward Karn her agent at Rome, to ofher mother's marriage, whereon she foundinform the pope of Mary's death, of her own ed her claim.
accession to the throne, and her wish to live   Elizabeth never lost sight of her intended
on amicable terms with his holiness.1 Karn reformation in religion, which by degrees
had many conferences with the pope, who at she carried into effect. She first commandfirst appeared to be indignant; however, ed that the Holy Scriptures should be read
judging that mildness would be more bene- to the people in the English language; she
ficial than harsh means, his final answer to next published a declaration, prohibiting all
the minister was, that it was needless that disputes on the score of religion, arld orderthe queen should have recourse to him for a ed every preacher to observe a general sikingdom of which she was already in pos- lence on the dogmas which had been the
session, but that he supposed she would theme of controversy.  It was then that a
cause no change in religion. Karn answered difference was discoverable among pastors;
that he could give no assurance on that head the good continuing to preach the truth to
from the instructions he had received, till his the faithful, at the peril of their liberty and
holiness would have first pronounced the even of their lives, while the mercenary and
marriage of Henry VIII. with Anne Bullen politic, in order to preserve their livings,
to be valid. The pope and his council were conformed to the necessity of the times.
astounded by this reply. He saw clearly that  In the meanwhile, the queen caused the
the best plan he could adopt would be, to book of common prayer, which had been
come to no decision, rather than do what published in English under Edward VI., to
could be productive of no good.  According be corrected;t for which purpose she noto Baker, he went so far as to write in the minated Parker, Cox, Sir Thomas Smith,
most tender manner to the Princess Elizabeth; he exhorted her to return to a union   * Heylin, page  279.
t The book of common prayer is a kind of Ritual,
* Camb. ibid. page 5.               or Breviary, containing the thirty-nine articles of
t Heylin, ibid. page 288. Baker, p. 329.   the reformed religion, with the formula of the prayI Heylin, ibid. p. 274.             ers used inl it




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           457
anr eminent lawyer, and other doctors, who   The see of Canterbury having become
were favorable to the reformation.      vacant by the death of Cardinal Pole, was
Every thing being thus prepared, the book given to Parker, by letters patent. It is said
of Common Prayer and Liturgy translated that he was consecrated by Barlow and two
into English were laid before, and approved others, who were as unprincipled as himself.
of by the English parliament; it was then Parker consecrated all those who were noordered to be used by the whole kingdom; minated by the queen, to fill all the sees of
the sacrament in both kinds was established; the deposed bishops. Debates on the validity
the mass was abolished; and an act passed to of those ordinations occupied many writers
have the tithes, the first-fruits, and the reve- of that day, and even of the present, who
nues of the monasteries which had been re- undertook to refute the book of the Pere
established under the preceding reign, trans- Coroyer; namely, Fennell dean of Laonne,
ferred to the crown. A warm debate arose, in Ireland, and le Pere Quin of the order of
in the parliament, respecting the ecclesias- St. Dominick.  Such was the reformed retical supremacy, some of the members main- ligion, which was firmly established in Engtaining, that it was both unnatural and land in the beginning of Elizabeth's reign.
alarming, to give to a woman the powers of That capricious nation which accuses its
supreme head of the English church;* the neighbors of inconsistency, changed her remajority, however, were in the queen's favor, ligion five times within thirty years.  The
and she was declared sovereign pontiff, or, English were Catholics inl 529; immediately
to avoid the ridiculous appellation, supreme after this they became schismatics and formed
governess of the church, by the parliament, a religion, no part of which they understood;
which had now become an ecclesiastical tri- in Edward's reign, the heresy of Zuingle
bunal. The same parliament reduced the prevailed; under Mary the Catholic religion
number of sacraments to two, namely, bap- was restored; and on the accession of Elizatism and the holy eucharist, and had the beth, another was established, composed,
altars demolished and the images in the with some alterations, of the tenets of Luther
churches taken down.                    and Calvin, to which was given the name of
The queen having been confirmed in the the English church.  Such was the state of
ecclesiastical supremacy, the taking of the affairs in England, in the beginning of the
oath became the touchstone of faith; as reign of Elizabeth.
those who refused to take it, were immedi-   Sidney governed the English province in
ately deprived of their livings.t The number Ireland, as deputy.  The privy council inindeed was inconsiderable, and amounted to formed him of what had taken place in Engnot more than two hundred in a country land, the news of which was highly gratifying
where there were more than nine thousand to the partisans of the reformation.  The
ecclesiastics in orders; the greater part of funeral ceremonies for Mary, and the corowhom acknowledged the supremacy, without nation of Elizabeth, were successively celehesitation, by taking the oath; some, from brated in Dublin.*
zeal for the reformation, others through a   Thomas earl of Sussex, was appointed
dastardly and disgraceful policy. It was at lord-deputy of Ireland for the second time,
this time that the bishops displayed a firm- in 1559.  He arrived in August, with thirness truly apostolical. Many sees remained teen hundred and sixty foot soldiers, and
vacant, the number of bishops amounting to three hundred horsemen, accompanied by Sir
but fifteen, among whom there was but one William Fitzwillian.t  This governor reapostate, viz., Kitchin, bishop of Landaff. paired to Christ's church, where, for want of
The rest, namely, Heath, archbishopof York, clergymen, the litany was recited in the
Bonner, bishop of London, Tunstal of Dur- English language, by Sir Nicholas Dardy,
ham, White of'Winchester, Tirlby of Ely, after which the deputy took the oath, and
Watson of Lincoln, Pool of Peterborough, the Te Deum was sung in the same language,
Christopherson of Chichester, Brown of to the sound of trumpets. The earl of OrWells, Turbervil of Exeter, Morgan of St. mond took the oath also as member of the
David, Bain of Lichfield, Scot of Chester, privy council. Soon afterwards a proclamaand Oglethorp of Carlisle, being determined tion was issued to abolish the mass.
not to bend to the idol, were thrown into   Sidney convened a parliament in January,
prison and deprived of their bishoprics,which in Christ's church, Dublin, to repeal all the
were conferred on those who were more acts that had been passed two years before,
manageable.
e Heylin, ibid. 280.                      * War. de Annal. Hib. reg. Elizab. C. 1.
t Baker, ibid. p. 329. Heylin, ibid. page 286.  + War. ibid. cap. 2.
58




458                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
in another parliament, at which that nobleman also decreed that the priory of St. John of
had presided; such is the inconstancy of Jerusalem should be united to the crown.
man.*  Several acts were passed in this par-   The English church, disfigured as it was,
liament for the establishment of the refor- still retained some of the privileges of the
mation in Ireland; all the spiritual and ec- old religion.  Every bishop had his tribunal
clesiastical authorities were annexed to the for the settlement of matters of ecclesiastical
crown, and all foreign influence (which im- discipline, or as it is termed " officiality;"
plied that of the pope) was prohibited; all excommunication retained its full force, and
acts appertaining to appeals were renewed; pastors were authorized to refuse communion
the laws that had been enacted in the reign to whomsoever they considered unworthy of
of Philip and Mary, concerning religion or it, without being accountable to any but the
heresy, were repealed; the queen and her established judge, as appears from the folsuccessorswere given the power ofexercising lowing extract, literally taken from the book
clerical jurisdiction by commission; every of Common Prayer, printed at that time in
individual,whether lay or ecclesiastic, in pos- London.
session of livings and offices, was obliged to   "Those who wish to partake of the holy
take the oath of supremacy, under pain of communion, shall send their names, on the
losing their livings, or appointments; who- preceding day, to the pastor."'
ever would introduce or support a foreign   "If there be any public or notorious sinner
power was to be punished -by having his among them, or such as have injured their
property confiscated, or by a year's imprison- neighbor, by word or deed, so as to offend
ment, for the first offence; for the second, the congregation, the, pastor shall send for
he was to undergo the penalty of the law of him, and warn him on no account to appraemunire, and for the third, that of high proach the Lord's Table unless he publicly
treason.  It was decided, that no opinion declare thathe repents sincerely, andpromise
should be considered heretical, unless it were to reform his past life, in order to satisfy the
so according to the scriptures, or to the four offended congregation; and that he will
first general councils, or by an act of parlia- make restitution to those whom  he had
ment. Thus was the senate established judge injured, or at least avow that he will do so
of the faith, without any mission but that when he can with convenience."
which was received from a woman.  In the   "The pastor shall also send to those whom
gospel of Jesus Christ, he who refused to he may observe to bear hatred or rancor
hear the church was considered as a heathen mutually against each other; such shall not
or a publican: in the new doctrine, he who be allowed to approach the Lord's Table
did not hearken to Elizabeth and her parlia- until they declare themselves to be reconment, in matters of religion, was deprived ciled; but if one of the parties be disposed
of his property, liberty, and under certain to pardon him from whom he may have recircumstances, of his life.              ceived injuries, and repair the evil committed,
This parliament also passed acts ordaining and that the other will not submit, but persist
the uniformity of common prayer, regulating in his obstinacy and malice, the minister must
the sacraments, particularly that of the Lord's then admit the penitent to the holy commuSupper, and also the consecration of prelates nion, and not the other, on condition that he
according to the ritual of the book of Com- who shall have rejected any one according to
mon Prayer, as approved of by Edward VI., what is herein specified, or in the preceding
under pain of a fine to be paid by the delin- paragraph of this rubric, acquaint the ordiquents. The first refusal led to the confis- nary within a fortnight at farthest, who is
cation of a year's income of the culprit, and thereupon to proceed against the culprit acsix months imprisonment; the second to the cording to the canons."t  The Protestants
loss of his living, and a year's imprisonment; have deemed these precautions necessary, in
and the third, to imprisonment for life.  In order to avoid the profanation of a sacrathe same statutes the restitution of the first- ment, in which they deny the real presence
fruits was decreed, and the payment of a of our Lord.
twentieth part of the revenues of livings to  It appears, says Ware, that these decrees
the crown; lastly, it was enacted that the met with resistance from the Irish, and that
queen's right to the crown should be acknow- many members of the parliament were opledged, and it was prohibited to all persons, posed to them, in consequence of which the
under pain of premunire, or high treason,
to speak or write against it. The parliament      Order for the administration of the holy sara* Irish Statutes, under Elizabeth, Dublin edition  t Constit. and Canons. Ecclesiast. London ediof the year 1621, cap. 1, p. 259, et seq.  tion of 1673, art. 26 edit.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            459
deputy was obliged to dissolve it in February, more favorable time the execution of the
and repair to England, to inform the queen acts of the Irish parliament, which she
of it, leaving Williams in Ireland with the knew would tend to rouse the Irish to rebel
title of deputy. Though the Irish had been against her.  Time proved that she was not
deceived in religious matters, under Henry mistaken.  Henry II. died; the Huguenots
VIII., from his quarrel with the pope being having raised some disturbances in France,
represented to them  as a civil question, she frequently sent them  assistance, and
merely relating to temporal government;supported the rebels in the Netherlands
and though they had been confirmed in this against Philip II.  She proposed to the
opinion by the example of the king himself, Protestants of Scotland to form  a league
and his English parliament, who, though at with her, by which she violated the laws of
variance with the pontiff, still professed the nations, by encouraging subjects to rebel
Catholic faith, and had in consequence against their lawful princess.  Finally, she
passed some acts against the jurisdiction of reduced the Irish by a long and fatal warthe pope; yet we discover that this people, fare, notwithstanding  the efforts of the
having relinquished their errors and dis- Spaniards to assist them; and then found
played their zeal for the Catholic cause, in herself able to enforce any law which she
a parliament held in the reign of Mary, re- wished to establish over them.
pealed, with one voice, all their preceding   The severity which was exercised in the
acts.                                    beginning of Mary's reign against the ReAs to the parliament we now speak of,* formers, forced many of them  to seek an
grave authors who flourished about this time asylum in foreign climes.*  It is said that,
affirm, that, far from its being an assembly between students and others, they amounted
composed of persons from all the states,those to eight hundred.  Embden was the only
alone were appointed who were known to city in which the religion of Luther prebe devoted to the queen, or who were easily vailed that would receive them;t these herebribed. The nobles of the country, who were tics looked with horror on the English Proall Catholics at the time,t were carefully testants, on.account of their having denied
excluded; so that by these and other simi- the real presence, and called those who suflar means, any act could have been passed fered for that religion, " the martyrs to the
into a law.  However, it is well known that Devil."  The refugees were, however, resuch acts were not published during the life- ceived at Zurich, Geneva, and Frankfort, as
time of those who sat in the parliament, nor confessors of the faith. The many privileges
rigorously enforced till after the defeat of which were granted them in Frankfort, soon
the celebrated Spanish Armada, in 1588.  drew them thither in crowds. They shared
Elizabeth's moderation was solely the re- the church, which had been previously
sult of the critical situation in which she was granted to the French Protestants, on condiplaced at this time.  Her enemies were nu- tion of performing their service alternately;
merous; Mary Stuart, queen of Scots, had that is, on different days of the week, and
no small claim on the crown of England; at different hours on Sunday.
Henry II., king of France, instead of with-   The heads of this congregation professed
drawing his troops from Scotland, sent over the Evangelical doctrine of Zuingle. Either
secretly fresh reinforcements, with the in- thinking the English Reformation not suffitention of having Elizabeth declared here- ciently perfect, or not enough in unison with
tical and illegitimate by the pope; the em- their own doctrine, they at once corrected
peror and the king of Spain joined in this and disfigured the English Liturgy; every
confederacy, and the Irish were waiting the thing relative to the Roman Catholic faith
opportunity to shake off the yoke.       was cut off, and their worship reduced to
By her penetration Elizabeth foresaw all the simple reading of a few psalms and
these circumstances and their results. She chapters taken from the Scriptures.
prepared to defend herself against foreign   The fame of this new church at Frankfort
power, to quell the disturbances caused in having spread itself abroad, John Knox left
England by the Reformation, and secure his retreat at Geneva to join it.t  He disIreland by sending over frequent succors. tinguished himself by promoting this new
She judged it prudent, also, to put off to a Reformation, and soon became the head of
this little church. He had already pub* It should be remembered that though this was lished a seditious libel, in which he strongly
called the Irish Parliament, it was composed of
Englishmen either by origin or by birth.          * Heylin, ibid. p. 196 et seq.
t Analecta Sac. par. 1, p. 430. Ireland's case,  t Heylin, ibid. p. 250.
p. 4, A. seq.                                     $ Ibid. p. 230.




460                         HISTORY OF IRELAND.
inveighed against the government of women; connected with the history of Ireland than
it was styled, The first sound of the trumpet. any other nation. The Presbyterian religion
The three Marys-namely, Mary queen of took root among the Scotch under the name
England, Mary Stuart, queen of Scotland, of Puritanism, the partisans of which, taking
and Mary of Lorraine, queen-dowager and advantage of the queen's absence, who was
regent of that kingdom, were the objects of'at that time in France, and of the instability
his calumny. This libel did not fail to bring of a government headed by a queen-regent,
the author into disgrace in his own country; began to form intrigues.*  They assembled
and not daring to seek an asylum either in in a tumultuous manner, headed by a few
England or France, he withdrew to Geneva, nobles, and formed a separate body, styling
and from that to Frankfort, as we have al- themselves a congregation.  Their arroready noticed.                         gance increasing with their numbers, they
The arrival of Doctor Richard Cox, ano- presented a petition to the queen and lords
ther English refugee, at Frankfort, checked of the council, praying that the sacrament
the progress of the new Reformation in that of the Lord's Supper might be administered
city.*  Having been one of the principal in both kinds, that Divine Service might be
composers of the English Liturgy under Ed- performed in the language of the people, and
ward VI., he considered it a point of honor that they might be allowed to appoint their
to support his work, and prevent any change ministers according to the custom, as they
being made in it; consequently, on the said, of the Primitive Church. The court,
Sunday following his arrival, he had the unwilling to exasperate these fanatics, reEnglish Liturgy published from the pulpit. turned them a gracious answer, rather with
This contradiction gave considerable un- a view of gaining time than of conceding
easiness to Knox, who immediately ascended their demands; but this conduct served only
the pulpit and preached against the Liturgy, to increase their pride. Knox, a turbulent
which he termed imperfect and supersti- preacher and seditious enthusiast, being intious; whereon Cox interdicted his preach- formed in Geneva of the progress of his
ing, and had him expelled from Frankfort. brethren in Scotland, repaired thither in
Cox finding himself master of the field, 1559, where he became the preacher and
began to reform his congregation according firebrand of rebellion.  Finding the little
to the ritual of the Protestant Church. He community collected at Perth, he ascended
appointed a chief pastor, who was assisted the pulpit, and pronounced such dreadful
by two ministers and four deacons.  He invectives against images, and the idolatry
established professors of the Hebrew and and superstitions of the Roman Church, that
Greek languages, and of theology. Chai- after his sermon, the infuriated populace tore
bers was appointed to manage the contribu- down the images and altars of the church,
tions., which were liberally forwarded to Cox and destroyed every religious house in the
from England and Holland, for the -relief of town.  The inhabitants of Couper, Craile,
the persecuted brethren.               St. Andrew, Scone, Cambus-Kenneth, StirWhen Knox was expelled from Frankfort, ling, Lithgow, Glasgow, and Edinburgh,
by order of the government, he returned to followed their example. The fanatics made
Geneva, where he was appointed preacher, themselves masters of this latter city, and
together with Goodman. They then re- did not leave in it a church in which the
jected the English Reformation, conformed queen could have divine service celebrated.
to the ritual of the church of Geneva, and In another sermon, Knox inveighed bitterly
adopted the doctrine of Calvin. This was against the princess, and exhorted the peothe foundation of the Presbyterian religion, ple to unite in expelling the French troops
and the sect of Puritans which afterwards from the kingdom. The rebels consequently
produced such ravages in Scotland.     published a declaration, depriving the queen
Nothing can be more destructive to that of all power in the government.
order and harmony in which the happiness'Alarmed by this event, the queen thought
of nations consists, than a religion which it time to provide for her own safety. Troops
inculcates general democracy in church and were sent to her from France; the numbers
state. We have had strong proofs of this of which, though insufficient to put down
truth in the different nations of Europe the rebels, still enabled her to retake Edinwhere the Calvinists rebelled against their burgh. She then fortified the port of Leith,
sovereigns: here we will confine ourselves and forced the rebels to withdraw towards the
to the Scotch, who are more immediately north. Thus situated, they had recourse, by
* Ibid. pp. 231, 232.               * Heylin, ibid. pp. 297, 298.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            461
the advice of Knox, to the queen of Eng- which had been brought by Knox from Geland; and though the laws of nations are neva, to be professed by the reformers in
violated by one prince supporting the rebel- Scotland.  During the debates there were
lious subjects of another, still political mo- but three temporal lords found to oppose
tives urged Elizabeth to send assistance to this, namely, the earl of Athol and lords
the Puritans of Scotland.*  Independently Somervil and Borthwick, who alleged as the
of the interest she took in establishing the reason of their opposition, that they wished
reformation in Scotland, she disliked the to follow the religion of their forefathers.*
vicinity of the French forces, at a time that The disgraceful silence of the Catholic
Francis II. made pretensions to the crown bishops who were present at this assembly,
of England, in virtue of his marriage with having exasperated the lord marshal, he deMary Stuart.  The English, therefore, laid clared with warmth, " Since our lords the
siege to Leith,t in which there was a French bishops, who must be sufficiently enlightened
garrison, and after several skirmishes, caused to know the true doctrine, and sufficiently
by the sallies of the besieged and the attacks zealous to defend it, are silent upon that
of the besiegers, peace was concluded on which is now debated, I am of opinion that
certain conditions between Francis II. and this must be the true one, and that every
Elizabeth; the hostile forces were to leave other is erroneous."  Such were the effects
Scotland without delay, all differences in of the silence of the leading pastors, who
religion were to be adjusted by the parlia- should have been the sole judges in religious
ment, and the king and queen of France and affairs.
Scotland were to renounce the title and arms   These reformers of the reformation affectof England.                              ed to lead mortified lives; they inculcated
The articles of this treaty were favorable the most rigid morals, and looked upon all
to the reformers. Elizabeth protected them who did not belong to their own sect, as proin secret; the French troops were withdrawn, fiigates; their speeches were composed of
and they calculated with confidence that the phrases taken from the Scriptures; predesdecisions of parliament would be in their tination and special grace were the subjects
favor.  The schismatics of Frankfort, and of their discourses; they wrote and published
the brethren of Geneva, flocked to their false translations from the gospel, and episshores.  The French Huguenots were be- tles of St. Paul, with observations and notes
ginning to settle in England. Through the filled with the venom of their doctrine; they
intrigues of Peter Martyr, and particularly deceived the people, who were both simple
through letters from  Calvin to Gryndal, and credulous, by an affected piety; open
bishop of London, and that prelate's influ- enemies to Hierarchy in the church, and
ence, they obtained permission to establish monarchy in the state, they opposed Episa church in that capital, and to make use of copacy, and resisted their lawful princes.
a form of prayer entirely different from the By such principles as these their conduct
English liturgy.  In spite of the edict of was regulated; they deposed the dowager
banishment that had been published against queen who held the regency, and forced her
them by the queen, many settled in the sea- daughter, queen Mary their legitimate soveports, and formed themselves into different reign, to seek an asylum in England, where
congregations.                           she was put to death after eighteen years imIn conformity with the treaty of peace, a prisonment, and lest King James VI. might
parliament met in Scotland to settle the re- be any obstacle to their undertaking, they
ligious disputes. Three laws were enacted in drove him from Edinburgh, and kept him in
it in favor of the reformation-the first was confinement at.Stirling.  All his faithful
to abolish the pope's authority and jurisdic- servants were removed, andpossession taken
tion in the kingdom; tile second to repeal of his principal fortresses.t  In fine, the
and annul all acts passed in favor of the unhappy prince was mocked and insulted by
Catholic doctrine; and the third to suppress his own subjects to such a degree, that he
the mass, and to impose penalties upon those frequently expressed a desire to leave the
who should perform the ceremony, and those kingdom  and withdraw to Venice.  The
whoshouldbepresent atit.  The lejders of sanguinary wars in England and Ireland
the Puritans, not satisfied with these laws, under Charles I., the tragical end of that
which were enough to establish the Refor- prince on the scaffold, the exclusion of his
mation, next presented a form of faith and son Charles II. from  his inheritance -for
doctrine, founded on the principles of Calvin, twelve years, and the expulsion of James II.
X Baker's Chron. page 330.                 H* Heylin, ibid. p. 300.
t Heylin, ibid. p. 299.                     t Ware, ibid. cap. 3.




462                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
of glorious memory,* were among the fatal of St. Patrick.  In order to gain his liveliconsequences of the fanaticism of these Pu- hood, he was reduced tq the sad alternative
ritans.                                  of keeping a school in Limerick, and died
The earl of Sussex having'spent some at Naas, in 1577, at the age of eighty years.
months in England, returned to Ireland as He was succeeded in the bishopric of Killord-lieutenant, A. D. 1560.  He was con- dare by Alexander Craike.  The latter, not
missioned by the queen to prevail on the earl content with the revenues of the bishopric
of Kildare, who was creating disturbances in and the deanery of St. Patrick, which he
the latter country, to go to England, and in held together, exchanged most of the estates
case he refused, to have him arrested.t He of that see, with Patrick Sarsfield, a lord of
also received orders to have castles built and the country, for tithes of little value.  By
fortified in Leix and Offaly; to people these this means the ancient see of Kildare was
districts with Englishmen, and confer estates reduced to great distress.
on their chiefs and male children; to estab-   The Irish Catholics, particularly the anlish order in the province of Ulster, and ad- cient inhabitants, were much alarmed at
mit Surley Boy (M'Donnel) into the posses- these symptoms of persecution; the continusion of the lands which he claimed as fiefs, ance of which they foresaw, by the changes
on condition that he would contribute to the which took place in church and state. They
public welfare.  He was further ordered to saw no security, either for their churches or
reduce Shane- O'Neill, either by force or the preservation of their estates,but by arms.
otherwise; to invest the baron of Dungan- Having received promises of assistance from
non with the government of the county of the pope and the king of Spain, they assemTyrone; and to have the O'Briens, who bled in great numbers, under the command
resisted the earl of Thuomond, arrested.   of Shane O'Neill, at that time the bravest
Queen Elizabeth was particularly desirous and most powerful nobleman in the country,
of having the Protestant religion established and the first hero of Catholicity in Ireland.
in Ireland.  She sent orders to Sussex to   This resistance of the Irish differs from
call a meeting of the clergy for that purpose; that of subjects,. who under pretext of relibut the firmness of the bishops and their gion or otherwise,'rebel against their lawful
attachment to the ancient religion, rendered princes, conduct which will never receive
the attempt abortive, notwithstanding the the approbation of polished and well-inoffers which were made in order to bribe formed nations.  Ireland had not yet been
them.  After this meeting William Walsh, subjugated; her people acknowledged only
a native of Waterford, and bishop of Meath, the authority of the English by compulsion,
who was particularly zealous in the Catholic whatever their adversaries may advance to
cause, having preached at Trim, in his own the contrary, who always denominated them
diocese, againsttheBookofCommon Prayer, rebels, an epithet which can only apply to
was arrested, throwninto prison, and deposed insurgent subjects.  They deemed it just to
shortly afterwards, by orders from  the resist a foreign power which was endeavorqueen.t  This holy prelate was sent into ing to direct their consciences, by introbanishment, and died at Complute, in Spain, ducing a new religion among them.
in 1577, where he was interred in a monas-   O'Neill finding his countrymen zealous in
tery of the Cistertian'order, of which.he was the common cause, took the command wila brother.~  The bishopric of Meath having lingly, and marched into the English proremainedvacantfortwo years, Elizabeth con- vince, where he carried on the war with sucferred-it on HIugh MacBrady, who was more cess.  When the campaign was over, this
accommodating thanWalsh: he died at Dun- prudent general, not willing to spend the
boyne, the place of his birth, having held winter in a hostile country, which was althis see for twenty years. Thomas Leverous, ready laid waste, returned to Ulster with an
bishop of Kildare, was treated in almost the intention of renewing hostilities inthe spring.
same manner as Walsh.  Having refused to In the mean time, Sussex made active prepatake the oath of supremacy, he was de- rations to oppose him.  He received from
prived of his bishopric, and of the deanery England fresh troops to the number of four
hundred men, four pieces of cannon, a mor~   James was a weak despot who deserved his tar, sixty barrels of gunpowder, and other
fate. He tyrannized over England, and betrayed ammunition; but not being satisfied with
Ireland, and both countries hold his memory in con- this reinforcement, he sailed thither to retempt.-[Note by Ed.]
t Carmd. ibid. page 35.                ceive fresh instructions respecting the operat War. de Epise. Midens.               tions of the campaign.
~ War. de Episc. Kildare.                After stopping for about four months in




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           463
England, Sussex returned to Ireland in June,  The see of Armagh, which remained with1561, with the title of lord-lieutenant, which out a pastor since the death of George Dowhe had previously enjoyed.* He now thought dal, was given by Elizabeth to Adam Lofseriously of an expedition against O'Neill. tus, a native of Yorkshire, and bachelor in
He.therefore set out from Dublin for Ulster theology. We mayjudge of his religion from
on the 1st of July, at the head of five hun- his having been first a chaplain to the duke
dred men, attended by John Bedlow, one of of Sussex, and afterwards to the queen.*
the sheriffs of the city, who commanded   O'Neill's enemies were continually endeaeighty men. Another detachment of eighty voring to have him suspected by the governarchers and fusiliers followed him soon after, ment.  Loftus, who had just been appointed
under the command of Gough, another archbishop of Armagh, on the deposition of
sheriff; all of whom were supplied with pro- a domestic, wrote against this prince to the
visions for six weeks. O'Neill's forces being lord-lieutenant, A. D. 1563.t The suspicions
inferior both in numbers and discipline to against him having gained ground, the lordthe army of Sussex, he posted himself so as lieutenant marched his troops, and O'Neill
not to be surprised; and the only fruit of was forced to have recourse to arms.  The
the expeditionwas asuspension ofhostilities, English army set out in the beginning of
and a reconciliation between the chiefs. April for Ulster. On the thirteenth they had
O'Neill went over to England in December, a skirmish near Dundalk, with O'Neill's
where he concluded an honorable peace troops, twenty-one of whom fell on the field
with Elizabeth; and returned to Ireland in of battle. Sussex crossed the Blackwater on
May, much pleased with the reception he the 16th, at the head of his army; but fearhad met with from her majesty.  In the ing that he might be surprised, he returned
mean time, the earl of Sussex was recalled, to Dundalk, whither he carried great booty
and William  FitzWilliams appointed lord- in cattle. In the beginning of June he projustice of Ireland in his stead.        ceeded to Dungannon.  The day following
Roland Baron, otherwise Fitzgerald, arch- he endeavored, but in vain, to dislodge
bishop of Cashel, died about the year 1561. O'Neill, who was advantageously posted in
This prelate was descended from the noble the wood of Tulloghoge, after which he refamily of the Fitzgeralds of Burnchurch, in turned with his army to Drogheda, plunderthe county of Kilkenny, who had the title of ing every place on his march.
non-parliamentarybarons.t This see having   The earl of Kildare was deeply interested
remained vacant for six years, Elizabeth for O'Neill, who was both his relative and
nominated James MacCaghwell to it; but friend.S  He entreated him to lay down his
his successor, apostolically appointed, was arms and submit; and O'Neill was so swayed
Maurice Gibbon, or Reagh, whom the Pro- by the arguments of the earl, that he went
testants accuse of having stabbed MacCagh- to England, where he made peace with the
well.  He was afterwards driven into exile, queen, in presence of the ambassadors of
and died in Spain. The ancient see of Emly Sweden and Savoy. That princess received
was united at this time with that of Cashel, him honorably, granted him her friendship,
by authority of parliament.  The hierarchy and sent him back with rich presents.
has been always preserved in the church of  The earl of Sussex published an edict this
Ireland, in spite of all heretical efforts, and year against the Catholic clergy, by which
every see has two bishops, one a Catholic, monks and popish priests were interdicted
appointed by the pope, and the other a Pro- either to meet or sleep in Dublin. The head
testant, nominated by the king.         of every family was ordered, under pain of
The earl of Sussex was again made lord- being fined, to attend every Sunday at the
lieutenant of Ireland.  Having taken the Protestant service. Those who were unable
oath in July, 1562, the first act of his ad- to pay the fine went to mass in the morning,
ministration was to change some of the dis- and to the Protestant sermon afterwards;
tricts into counties;I to the ancient territory but in order to prevent this pious fraud, the
of Annaly, on the borders of Meath, he gave inhabitants were registered, and their names
the name of the county of Longford, the called, during service, in the Protestant
first baron of which was Francis Augier. churches.
He then divided the province of Connaught   When O'Neill returned to Ireland, he deinto six counties; namely, Clare, Galway, dared war against the inhabitants of the
Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, and Leitrim.    Hebrides, defeated them, and killed their
]   War. de Annal. ibid. cap. 4.        * War. de Arch. Ard.
t War. de Arch. Casseliens.             t War. de Annal. ibid. c. 6.
t War. de Annal. ibid. c. 5.            1 Camb. ibid. p. 52.




464                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
chief, James MacDonnel, his father-in-law, which was followed by a bloody conflict. It
and his brother Aongus,* A. D. 1564. While may be necessary to observe that the earl of
the prince of Tyrone was putting down his Desmond in question was Garret Fitzgerald,
enemies, and laboringto establish peace and son of James, and grandson of John, who
good order in his own district, he drew upon successively held that title.*  This noblehimself the hatred of the nobility of the man, though young, promised by his early
country, whom he looked upon as his vassals. exploits to be one day a terror to the eneMaguire, Magennis, and others, presented mies of the Catholic faith.  His first expetheir complaints against O'Neill to the lord- dition was against MacCarty Riagh, by
lieutenant, in consequence of which he was which he acquired great honor.  He, howreduced to the alternative either of taking ever, was not so successful in his battle with
up arms against the government, or of sub- Edme MacTeugue, son of MacCarty of
mitting to the decision of the lord-lieutenant; Muskerry, in which battle his cavalry being
but, unwilling to acknowledge the power of routed, he was taken prisoner and confined
the governor, he adopted the former as the in the castle of Askeaton for six months, but
more honorable alternative.              was subsequently restored to his liberty.
The lord-lieutenant took care to inform    The several families of the O'Briens were
the queen of O'Neill's movements, and to continually at war against their chief, the
explain how much was to be feared from earl of Thuomond; as they imagined that
such an enemy.  The princess sent him the his title of earl authorized him to oppress
following reply: " Let not your suspicions them. Teugue MacMorrough O'Brien hayof Shane O'Neill give you uneasiness; tell ing been besieged in his castle of Inchiquin
my troops to take courage, and that his re- by this earl and Clanriccard, sent to solicit
bellion may turn to their advantage, as there assistance from his friend Garret, earl of
will be lands to bestow on those who have Desmlond.  Garret sent him word to keep
need of them." This hope of gain frequently up his courage, promising to be with him on
caused the condemnation of the Irish nobles. a certain day: he then crossed the Shannon
O'Neill on his side was levying troops, at Castle-Connell, above Limerick, at the
under pretext of defending his boundaries head of five hundred foot soldiers, with about
against the Scotch. The government became sixty horsemen, under the command of his
alarmed, and the lord-lieutenant issued a pro- brother, and marched directly for Inchiquin,
clamation, which declared that any one en- intending to raise the siege.  The earls
listing under an officer who had not received having received intelligence of the march of
his commission from her majesty, or from Desmond, were determined to oppose him.
him, should be considered a traitor: he there- They therefore abandoned the siege, and
fore enjoined all those who had enrolled advanced to give him battle.  Desmond's
themselves for O'Neill's army to come for- only hope lay in the bravery of his men: he
ward and lay down their arms within alimited exhorted them to follow his example, and
time, under pain of death and confiscation not to fear an undisciplined multitude; after
of their properties. The deputy collected his which he made so vigorous an attack on his
forces on the borders of the English province, enemies, that, unable to withstand the shock,
but nothing could check the rage of O'Neill. they fled, leaving Desmond at liberty to
In order to be revenged on Loftus, the Pro- relieve his friend.
testant archbishop of Armagh, who had   Jealousy continued to prevail between
written against him, he burned his church, Desmond and Ormond.t  Desmond was an
on which account the Protestant prelate ingenuous and upright character; Thomas
pronounced sentence of excommunication Butler, surnamed Duff, or the Black, was
against him. O'Neill then entered Ferman- cautious and politic.  Being brought up at
agh, sword in hand, from which he expelled the English court, he imbibed Protestant
Maguire.  After this he laid siege to Dun- opinions, in consequence of which he was
dalk, which was relieved by William Sars- more favored by the queen than Desmond.
field, mayor of Dublin, at the head of a The estates of these noblemen were adjoinchosen body of men, who forced him to raise ing; they made frequent incursions on each
the siege, but was not able to prevent him other's lands, and their animosity ran so high
from devastating the country around.     that the ambition of power frequently drove
A serious difference arose at this time them to arms.  A battle that was to have
between the earls of Ormond and Desmond,
respecting the boundaries of their estates,  * Relat. Giraldin. cap. 13.
t O'Sulliv. Hist. Cathol. Iber. tom. 2, lib. 4,
e War. de ibid. cap. 7.       cap. 8.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                                465
been fought between the two earls at Bo- by the wars between the partisans of Orharmor, on the borders of Limerick and mond and Desmond.  The barony of OrTipperary, not talking place, Ormond was mond was devastated by Pierce Grace; the
continually watching to take revenge on his country of Thuomond suffered greatly by
rival.*  Having heard that Desmond was the warfare of Sir Daniel O'Brien and the
encamped in his neighborhood, he collected earl of Thuomond.
his forces, and marched to meet him at Ath-   Connaught was torn by the factions of
mean, in the county of Waterford. Desmond the earl of Clanriccard and other families of
had but few men with him; refusing, how- the Burkes.  Finally, the whole of Ulster,
ever, to listen to his friends, who advised commanded by Shane O'Neill, who took the
him to yield to necessity, he engaged in bat- title of monarch, was in arms against the
tie, in which he lost two hundred and eighty English government.
of his men.  He himself received a pistol-   Cox and Hooker remark, that in addition
shot, from  Sir Edme Butler, by which his to the miseries with which Ireland was then
thigh was broken.  Having fallen from his inflicted, religion had become almost extinct,
horse, he was taken prisoner and brought to the clergy dispersed, and the churches stripClonmel, where he was attended by a sur- ped; and that scarcely any vestige of the
geon, but ever after continued lame.  As knowledge of the true God could be found
soon as he had recovered sufficiently he in that ignorant and barbarous nation.*
was sent prisoner to London, and confined    The council, before they separated, gave
in the tower.                                orders that the English province should be
put into a state of defence against O'Neill.
Mac Carty More, a powerful prince in
Munster, went to England about this time,
CHAPTER  XLI.                   and placed at the queen's disposal all his
possessions, of which she made a regrant
THE earl of Sussex, lord-lieutenant of to him  by letters patent, together with the
Ireland, was recalled this year (1565). Sir titles of earl of Glencar and baron of VaNicholas Arnold was appointed lord-justice, lentia.  This prince, the chief of the illusand sworn in, in the month of May.  This trious tribe of the Eoganachts, was descendnew  magistrate brought over a reinforce- ed from Heber, eldest son of Milesius, king
ment of fifteen hundred and ninety-six men.t of Gallicia, by Oilioll-Olurn, and his eldest
His stay was of short continuance, since son Eogan-More, and Dermod Mac Carty,
some complaints being made at court against king of Cork, in the twelfth century, who
him, he was recalled in the month of Janu- was the first that submitted to Henry II.,
ary following.
Sir Henry Sidney was next sent to Ire-         An insinuation is thrown out by these authors,
land as lord-deputy.  He received his in- that either the pretended reformed religion was
structions under the queen's signature, which generally received at that time in Ireland, and abanenjoined him to form a privy council, to be doned in consequence of the dispersion of its minsworn, according to custom, in his presence; isters, or that the Irish Catholics opposed to the
new doctrine. after losing their pastors, had bewhic~h he was to cons-uLlt on all pubic affairs, come at one stroke ignorant barbarians. These two
and which should co-operate with him for propositions are equally false and deceitful. Some
the general good of the people.              Catholic bishops had been deposed, and were sucThe privy council and deputy being as- ceeded by Protestant bishops; but the number was
srumbled together, affairs were fotund to be inconsiderable, not amounting to more than five or
six. The new doctrine which was preached had
ia a very bad state.  The province  was ha- not made great progress in so short a time among
rassed and oppressed by a licentious and a people strenuously attached to their ancient reliundisciplined  soldiery, who  became also gion. The persecution which had been commenced
objects of suspicion to the government on was not directed against the Protestants, since they
account of their intercourse with the Irish. were protected by the very power from which it
h. ad arisen. All Ireland was still Catholic; for it
In Leinster, Kilkenny was in particular may be affirmed, that among every five hundred
attacked  by  the  O'Tools, the  O'Birns, scarcely one Protestant appeared; consequently the
O'Kinsellaghs, O'Morroghs, the Cavanaghs, dispersion of the clergy, to which the above authors
and the -O'Morras.                          allude, cannot apply to the Catholic clergy. It is
nMunster   the. countiesofTipperary.  not to be wondered at, that a religion should suffer
In Munster,' the counties of Tipperay much in a country where it is strongly opposed,
and Kerry were brought to the verge of ruin but it is impossible that it should be effaced in five
or six years, so as that no knowledge of God could
* Relat. Giral. c. 14. Hist. Cathol Ibern. ibid. be discovered. They were, however, Englishmeu,
t War. de Annal. ibid. cap. 8.             who put forward the above statement.
59




466                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
king of England.  According to the right of earl; both my family and birth raise me
of primogeniture, this illustrious house is above it; I will not yield precedence to any
the first in Ireland.  There were several one; my ancestors have been kings of U1branches of it, namely, the Mac Cartys of, ster; I have gained that kingdom   by my
Muskerry and Carbry, those of Cluan, Mao- sword, and by the sword I xwill preserve
lain, Alla, and many others.            it."*  He then spoke contemptuously of
The deputy returned to England in 1566, Mac Carty More, who had just accepted the
to receive fresh instructions, and give an ac- title of earl.
count to the queen of the situation of affairs   The English government finding O'Neill
in Ireland.*  During his absence the troops fixed in his determination, thought necesof O'Neill threatened Drogheda.  At the re- sary to use force against him. For this purquest, however, of Lady Sidney, wife of the pose Colonel Randulph was dispatched at
deputy, who resided there at the time, Sars- the head of seven hundred men, to Derry, a
field, mayor of Dublin, came with a body small town in the northern extremity of Tyof troops and saved the city, for which the rone. They took possession of the town, and
deputy, on his return, conferred on him the converted the ancient church of St. Columb
honor of knighthood.                    into a magazine for powder and warlike
O'Neill always maintained an army of stores,;'the priests and monks being driven
four thousand foot, and a thousand horse: out, and other sacrileges committed in the
he was a prince of great skill and talents; churches.t The deputy repaired soon afterhe took care to have his vassals instructed wards to Derry, where he continued a few
in discipline, and inspired them with a love days.  Having given the necessary orders
of war, but his pride rendered him insup- for defending the town, and reinforced the
portable to his neighbors, and added daily garrison with fifty horsemen, commanded by
to the number of his enemies. Besides the Captain Harvey, and seven hundred foot,
English troops, he had to contend with under the command of Captain Cornwall,
O'Donnel, Maguire, and other powerful no- he returned to Dublin.
blemen of Ulster, who complained, of his   O'Neill saw plainly that it was against his
tyranny. He made frequent incursions upon interest to suffer an enemy to establish a
the English province, and laid siege to their garrison so near, and always in readiness to
towns, by which, though sometimes unsuc- attack him. He marched therefore to Derry
cessful, he became formidable to the govern- without loss of time, with two thousand five
ment.  He defeated also a Scotch legion, hundred infantry, and three hundred cavalry,
killed three thousand of them, and took and posted himself within two miles of the
their chief, Mac Donnel, prisoner.t     town. According to Cox, Randulph made
O'Neill's power engrossed much of the a sally on the Irish, with three hundred foot
attention of the English  government at and fifty horse, and after a vigorous attack,
this time. The queen dispatched Knolls killed four hundred of them  and put the
to Ireland to concert measures with the rest to flight, without any loss on the
deputy to reduce that nobleman, either by side of the English but that of Randulph
kindness or by force. ~ She even offered himself, who was killed in the action; but
to him the titles of earl of Tyrone, and this account appears to be a mere boast of
baron of Dungannon, with a promise to the author, since, independently of the sally
annul the patents of Henry VIII., which alluded to not being mentioned by O'Sullisecured to Matthew O'Neill, of Dungannon, van and other writers, it is impossible that
the right of succession to the estates and two armies could have come to so close an
honors of Tyrone..  O'Neill received the engagement, with only the loss of the com-11
proposal with a haughtiness expressive of mlander on one side, while four hundred
his contempt for titles of honor, which he men were killed on the other. It is, on the
looked upon as beneath the name of O'Neill. contrary, certain, that the powder magazine:
The commissioners who were intrusted with took fire, and that the town and fort of
the negotiation, received from him the fol- Derry were blown up, by which nearly
lowing reply: " If Elizabeth your mistress seven hundred Englishmen, and Randulph
be queen of England, I am O'Neill, king of their chief, met a miserable end.
Ulster; I never made peace wvith her with-   Discord still prevailed between. O'Neill
out having been previously solicited to it by and O'Donnel.  The latter vwas supported
her. I am not ambitious of the abject title by. the English, whose aim was to weaken
War. de Anna ibid. cap. 9.  O'Neill, as his power was an obstacle to the
War. de Annal. ibid. cap. 9.
t Hist. Cathol. Hib. vol. 2, lib. 4, cap. 3.  An ancient Irish Manus. Cox, Hist. Irel. p. 221.
$ Camb. reg. Elizab. part 1, page 127.  f Hist. Cathol. Ibern. ibid.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           467
Reformation, which they wished to intro- province during the absence of the deputy,
duce into Ireland, and to the conquest of who had undertaken an expedition into U1the country, which was not yet complete. ster.
These two princes fought many battles with   Accompanied by the earl of Kildare and
unequal success. O'Neill, at length, having other noblemen, the deputy set out from
collected all his forces, gained over the Drogheda, at the head of his troops, in the
queen's troops that were sent to assist month of September.  He marched through
O'Donnel, the celebrated victory of the red a part of Ulster, and passed near Clogher.
Sagunls,* called in the  Irish language, The troops of O'Neill harassed his rear"Cah na-gassogues Deargs." In this battle guard on their march.  O'Donnel on this
four hundred English soldiers were killed, occasion paid him homage, and was reinbesides several officers who had lately ar- stated by him in the possession of his esrived from England.                     tates, particularly the castles of BallyshanWe have already mentioned that Garret, non and Donegal, for which O'Donnel
earl of Desmond, was kept prisoner in the agreed to pay to the crown a revenue of two
tower of London. During his confinement hundred marks a year. Thus the prince of
the other branches of his family caused many Tirconnel leagued himself with the enemies
disturbances inl Munster. John, his brother, of his country to save himself from the atdefeated in battle and killed with his hand, tacks of a powerful neighbor.
John Butler, brother to the earl of Ormond.  After this the deputy marched into ConJames, son of Maurice Fitzgerald, under- naught, where he retook the castle of Rostook to defend the right of Garret, and for common, and put a garrison into it, the comthat end strenuously opposed the attempts mandofwhichhe gave to Thomas Lestrange.
of Thomas Rua, who had taken the title of Sir Edward Fitton was appointed president
earl of Desmond.  The queen, in order to of the province: the O'Connor Sligoe, the
allay the disturbances caused by these no- O'Connor Don, O'Flinn, and others, made
blemen, sent to Ireland the real earl of Des- their submissions to the deputy, who obliged
mond, and after exhorting him to continue them to pay an annual revenue to the crown.
loyal and attached to the crown of England, He marched afterwards to Athlone, where he
said, that he might hope by his loyalty to caused a bridge to be built, and then sent his
obtain favors and rewards.  The earl in troops into winter quarters, after placing
thanking her majesty declared, that, after garrisons along the frontiers of the English
his duty to God, nothing would be more province; but all these precautions did not
dear to him than to observe faithfully the prevent O'Neill from devastating it with fire
orders she had given him.               and sword.  The deputy then laid siege to
The earl of Desmond was received with Dundalk, in which he failed.
universal joy throughout the kingdom, and   The great exploits of the earl of Tyrone
restored to his title and the estates of his were not sufficient to save him from ruin.
ancestors. Finding himself free, he ordered Hewasbrave,andhis vassalswell disciplined,
his vassals to raise troops, and to put on but they fought better in the field than in
foot an army of two thousand men, conduct their attacks on towns, or in defending them.
which caused great uneasiness to Sidney, The deputy was more frequently victorious
the deputy.  He endeavored to fathom the by stratagem than by force of arms; he was
designs of the earl.  Some said that his in possession of fortifications and garrisons
object was to unite with O'Neill, and create from whichhe made occasional incursions on
a diversion in Munster in his favor; while the lands of Tyrone, and was artful enough
others fancied that his preparations were to foment discord between that prince and
intended to take revenge for the insults he his neighbors.  He detached Maguire of
had received from the earl of Ormond, the Fermanagh, a powerful nobleman of the
viscount of Fermoy, the Barrys, and other country, from his interest, and always supnoblemen. Whatever they might have been, ported O'Donnel againsthim; so that O'Neill,
he obeyed a summons that he had received finding himself hemmed in on all sides, and
from the deputy, and proceeded to Dublin his forces weakened, was reduced to the sad
with a troop of a hundred horsemen, accom- alternative of seeking safety among his enepanied by Sir Warham St. Leger, the pres- mies. He had twice defeated the Scotch; in
ident of Munster, who had been commnis- the first battle he had killed their chief, James [
sioned to guard the frontiers of the English MacDonnel, and in the second Surly Boy.
MacDonnel, brother of the latter, was taken
* The Sagum was a warlike dress In use among prisoner.* Still his misfortunes forced him I
the Persians, Carthaginians, and the Romans, and
here signifies the red uniform of the English.  * War. de Annal. ibid. cap. 10.




468                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
to have recourse to those whom he had in- O'Neill, was acknowledged 7The ONeill,
jured. He restored Surly Boy to his liberty, with the queen's consent;* but in order to
and set out for Northern Clanneboy, where check his authority, she confirmed Hugh,
the Scotch to the number of six hundred son of Matthew O'Neill, in the title of baron
were encamped, under the command of of Dungannon, and subsequently in that of
Alexander MacDonnel, called the younger, Tyrone.  The others received part of their
brother to Surly Boy, A. D. 1567.  O'Neill estates as a favor, to hold from the queen
appeared with a few attendants in the camp, by letters patent.  Among other absurdities
where he was received with apparent po- in the statute here alluded to, is the insuffiliteness; but the Scotch, either through re- ciency of the proofs which are advanced in
venge for the injuries they had received favor of the right of the kings of England
from him, or hoping to obtain a considerable to the throne of Ireland.
reward from the English government, stab-   An exact account of the expenditure of
bed him, with all his followers, and sent his this war against Shane O'Neill, was sent to
head to the deputy, who exposed it upon a the queen;t according to which it amounted
pole on the castle of Dublin.         - to one hundred and forty-seven thousand
Such was the end of Shane O'Neill, who four hundred and seven pounds sterling,
had sacrificed every thing for his country. besides the taxes raised on the country. Her
Had his example been followed by the majesty also lost about three thousand five
people generally, the English would not have hundred men of her own troops, who were
succeeded so soon in reducing Ireland. As killed by the prince of Tyrone and his allies,
to the other nobles of the country, some, in with several of the Irish and Scotch who
return for the vain title of lord, which had taken up arms against him.
bound them to the English government, took   Peace having been partly restored in U1the rank of subjects; others, guided by dif- ster, war broke out anew in Munster, between
ferent motives, paid homage to the English, the houses of Desmond and Ormond.t Their
rather than unite for the common cause, so animosities drove them to the fatal alternathat the interests of religion and liberty tive of a battle near Drumelin, after which
were basely sacrificed to the ambition of they both were commanded to repair to
some and the weakness of others.        England, in order that their quarrels might
English authors have drawn a barbarous be investigated in council.  The subject,
picture of O'Neill; he possessed certainly however, being too intricate to be tried in
some defects, but we can place no reliance England, they were sent back to Ireland,
on the testimony of those authors against where witnesses might more conveniently
him.  He left two legitimate sons, Henry be examined.  They, however, would not
and Johh.  After his death, he was accused submit to the laws; but again took up arms,
and convicted of the crime of rebellion, and and recommenced hostilities. In consequence
his estates confiscated for the queen's use, by of the complaints of Ormond, the queen sent
an act of the parliament held in Dublin this orders to the deputy to repair to Munster
year, 1567.* The estates of the other nobles without delay,r and to put down Desmond.
who had been of O'Neill's party in the war, In conformity with these orders, the deputy
were also comprised in this act of confisca- set out with a few troops for that province,
tion; namely, Clanneboy and Fews, the pat- where he remained three months. The rearimonies of the two branches of the O'Neills, sons and complaints of both parties being
Kryne, or Coleraine, the country of the heard, he decided against Desmond, whom
O'Cahans; Route, belonging to the Mac he ordered to indemnify his enemy; and on
Quilins; the territory of the Glinnes, in pos- his refusal to submit to this decision, the
session of the Scotch, of which James Mac deputy had him arrested at Kilmallolk, and
Donnel styled himself the lord and conquer- brought to Limerick, where he was accused
or; Iveach, the country of the Magennises; of high treason for having taken up arms
Orior, that of the O'Hanlons; the district of against the queen. While the deputy was
Ferny, Uriel, Loghty, and Dartry, belonging waiting the termination of the trial he created
to four branches of the MacMahons; Truogh, John Desmond, the earl's brother, a knight,
the estate of the MacKennas; and Clancanny and appointed him seneschal of Desmond;
or Clanbressail, belongingto the MacCanns. this promotion gave great umbrage to the
These proprietors were, however, conciliated earl of Ormond, who represented to the
in some measure.  Turlogh Lynogh, one of
the most powerful nobles of the family of    * Camb. reg. Elizab. part 1, p. 131.
t War. de Annal. ibid. cap. 11.
t Camb. reg. Elizab. part 1, 130.
* Irish Statutes, reign of Elizabeth, p. 309, et seq. |   Cox, Hist. of Irel. pp. 325 326.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           469
queen that the deputy was partial to Des- There were likewise differences between
mond, which excited her majesty's dis- the earl of Thuomond and O'Seaghnassy.
pleasure towards him.                     Such was the state of affairs on Sidney's
Sidney began to feel a dislike to his office return to Ireland, in 1568.  He landed at
of governor of Ireland, being thwarted in his Carrickfergus about the end of September,
views by the earl of Ormond, to whoml he and had an interview with'urlough Lynogh
thought the queenlistened too attentively. He O'Neill, respecting the hostilities which the
was also importuned with the complaints of latter had committed against O'Donnel, the
Oliver Sutton, a gentleman of the English Scotch, and others who were under the
province, against the earl of Kildare; and protection of the, court.  O'Neill, however,
accusations were brought against Sir Ed- cleared himself with the deputy, and both
mond Butler and his brother, by Lady Dun- noblemen separated on good terms. The
boyne, MacBrian Ara, Oliver Fitzgerald, and deputy was sworn in on the 20th of October,
others, so that he begged of the court to in Dublin, and gave orders that Sir Edmond,appoint a chancellor capable of assisting Butler should be sent for; he did not, howhim in the administration of affairs; and this ever, think fit to obey his mandate.
office was, in consequence, conferred on   The deputy convened a parliament in
Doctor Weston, who landed in Dublin in Dublin, in January,* in which angry debates
the July following.  Sidney still continued took place between the Catholics and the
to request his recall, which he obtained at Protestants, respecting the elections of memlength, and was permitted to return to Eng- bers for this parliament.  The matter was
land. He brought with him the earl of decided by Dillon and Plunket, judges of
Desmond, the baron of Dungannon, O'Con- the grand council, and by the report which
nor Sligo, O'Carroll, and others.  The earl was made to parliament by Sir Luke Dillon,
of Desmond and O'Connor were confined in who was then attorney-general. Several acts
the tower, and Sir John Desmond sent for to respecting religion, and other public affairs,
Ireland, to keep them company. O'Connor were passed by this parliament; some of
submitted to the queen and was restored to them have been already mentioned; the rest
his liberty; the same favor was soon after- are to be met with in the collection of Irish
wards extended to the earl of Desmond, on statutes printed in Dublin in 1621.t
similar conditions.                       About this time Sir Peter Carew came
In the absence of Sidney, Weston the over to Ireland to take possession of the inchancellor, and Sir William Fitzwilliams the heritance of one of his ancestors, who enjoytreasurer of war, governed Ireland as lords- ed the title of marquis of Cork, and large
justices, by commission under the great seal, estates in the country. Trhe principal objects
dated the 14th of October.*  During the of his claims were, the barony of Idrone, in
administration of the latter, quarrels arose the county of Carlow, and the district of
between some private families, which subse- Ballymaclethan, in Meath. Weak as his prequently degenerated into religious feuds. tensions were to the barony of Idrone, the
The Butlers were still at variance with the ancient patrimony of the Cavanaghs, it was
Fitzgeralds; Sir Edmond Butler, brother to adjudged to him by the deputy and council;
Ormond, with Peter Grace, lord of Cours- but he was not so successful in the clainm to
town, in the county of Kilkenny, made incur- Ballymaclethan. This was in possession of i
sions on the lands of Oliver Fitzgerald. The Sir Christopher Chivers, a man of English
O'Connors and O'Morras threatened the origin, and consequently more indulgence
possessions of the O'Carrolls. Daniel Mac was given to him by the council.  The
Carty More renounced the title of earl of trial, therefore, ended in an adjustment with
Glencar, and assumed that of king of Mun- the latter.
ster, and entering into a league with O'Sul-   After the death of Shane O'Neill, who was
livan More, MacSweeny, and others, laid the support of Catholicity and the terror of
waste the domains of Roche, viscount of the English, the reformed religion began to
Fermoy. In Ulster, Turlough Lynogh, who. take root in Ireland.  Queen Elizabeth dehad taken the title of O'Neill, declared war sired nothing more ardently than to extend
against O'Donnel and his allies the Scotch; the ecclesiasticaljurisdiction, and to rule over
and killed Alexander MacDonnel, the mur- the church in this country, as she did in Engderer of Shane O'Neill.  A serious dispute land.  The English government adopted
arose in Connaught, between MacWilliamn every measure likely to advance her views.
Oaughter, (Burke,) and O'Connor Sligo. For this they took care to send over English
e Cox, ibid. pages 326, 327.              Cox, ibid. page 328, et seq.
f Page 309, et seq.




470                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
conformists, attached to the opinions of the religion. The earl of Desmoind, whose mecourt; on whom the bishoprics and other ec- mory should be for ever deal to the Catholics
clesiastical dignities were conferred accord- of Ireland, was still a prisoner in the tower
ing as they expelled the Catholic ministers. of London. He had intrusted the manageTo these bishops orders were given to sup- ment of his estates to James Fitzmaurice,
press every Catholic institution in their his relative; but Ormond and Thu-omond,
several dioceses, and to establish Protestant more politic, but less religious than Desfree schools, under the guidance of English mond, had already sacrificed their religion,
Protestants, in order that the minds of youth and the freedom of their country, to ambiwhile most susceptible of strong impressions, tion, and a desire to ingratiate themselves
might be seduced.*  Laws were enacted, with the court.
compelling parents to send their children to   The first step of the confederates was to
these schools, and to attend the Protestant depute the bishops of Cashel and Emly,
service themselves on Sundays. These laws and one of the sons of the earl of Desmond,
also decreed pecuniary fines against all who to go with letters to the pope and the king
refused, which were changed afterwards into of Spain, to solicit their assistance. Sidney
the penalties of high treason, so that by acts being informed of their movements, proof parliament, the fidelity and attachment of claimed them all as traitors, and dispatched
the Catholics to the religion of their fore- Sir Peter Carew with a body of troops
fathers, were construed into this enormous against Sir Edmond Butler.  Carew was so
crime. Every individual, both of the clergy expeditious that he took the castle of Cloghand laity, was commanded to acknowledge griman by surprise, and gave it up to plunthe ecclesiastical supremacy of Elizabeth, der. He then marched to Kilkenny, where
and to renounce all obedience to the pope he defeated a body of light troops.  On the
and church of Rome.t Many able preachers, other hand, the confederates lost no opporboth English and Scotch, were sent to Ire- tunity of harassing their enemies. James
land.  The principal were Goodman, Cart- Fitzmaurice intended to besiege Kilkenny,
wright, Knox, Janson,Burchley, and Brady. but having no artillery, and the garrison
It was hoped that their great eloquence being strong, and provided with every thing
would win the people to them; but the court necessary to make an able defence, he abanfinding these missionaries unsuccessful, and doned his design, and had to content himthe Irish still adhering to their own tenets in self with ravaging the estates of the English
religion, determined to change matters and in the neighborhood, while his allies laid
attack the heads of the Catholic party. waste the counties of Wexford, Waterford,
Richard Burke, earl of Clanriccard, a pow- and Ossory, and proceeded to the very gates
erful nobleman in Connaught, was arrested of Dublin.  The campaign thus passed over
by orders of the queen.:  Ulick and John, in hostile attacks on both sides.
the earl's two sons, assembled their vassals,  The earl of Ormond was in England when
however, and took up arms against the gov- he heard with regret of the rebellion of his
ernment in revenge for the injury done to brothers in Ireland.  He applied to the
their. father, and thus procured him  his queen to be permitted to serve against them,
freedom.                                promising to bring them back to their duty
The tyranny of the English government either by persuasion or by force-and set
excited the alarm of the Irish.  Finding the out by leave of the court, for Ireland.  He
thunder ready to burst and crush them, they landed at Waterford, or, according to Cox,
saw no hope save in resistance. In Munster at Wexford, the 14th of August.*  His arthey first signalized themselves; the chief of rival was immediately communicated to the
the confederacy was James Fitzmaurice, deputy, whom he soon after joined at Limecousin to the earl of Desmond, MacCarty rick.  Ormond sent for his brother Edmond
More, earl of Glencar, MacDonogh, and to come to the camp of the deputy, who
other branches of the MacCartys, and Fitz- received his submission, enjoining him to
gerald of Imokelly.{  The hatred of the appear before him on his arrival in Dublin.
Butlers against the house of Desmond, did He.became security for his brother, who
not prevent Edmlond, Edward, and Peter proved faithful to his engagement, by his
Butler, brothers to the earl of Ormond, from appearance at the time appointed. To the
uniting with Fitzmuaurice in defence of their deputy's questions on the cause of his having
rebelled, he answered the representative of
t Irish Stat.Peter Lombard, Comment. de lib.. 19. majesty with so much haughtiness, that he
t Peter Lombard, Comment. de lib, c. 19.
f Hist. Cathol. lib. tom. 2, lib. 4, c. 4.
~ Camd. Elizab. 1, p. 172. War. ibid.   * Camd. ibid. page 173. Ware, ibid. cap. 12.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            471l
was arrested and imprisoned in the castle of and the preachers of iniquity established;
Dublin, from which he shortly afterwards the sacrifice of the miass has been abolished;
escaped. Ormond himself continued faithful prayers, fasting, abstinence, celibacy, and all
tothe queen,whose confidence he had gained, the rites of Catholicity have been likewise
by sacrificing what he owed to his God and suppressed. She has filled the kingdom with
to his country; the rebellion of his brothers books containing the most flagrant heresies,
he considered as a stain upon his family. and not content herself with adopting and
They received a second time, by orders of conforming to the false and impious docthe queen, a general pardon from the council trines of Calvin, she has forced her subjects
in Dublin, without being obliged to make to embrace them.'rhe whole of the Catholic
their appearance; and by this means were hierarchy and priesthood throughout Engdetached from the Catholic party.        land, have been driven from their livings,
Pope Plus V. pronounced the following which have been bestowed on the heretics.
sentence against Queen Elizabeth in 1569. Her decisions in ecclesiastical causes have
"Pius, bishop and servant of the servants been set up, and the bishops, the clergy, and
of God; be it remembered by posterity, that the people forbidden to acknowledge the
he who is omnipotent in heaven and on earth, authority of the Roman church, or to obey
hath confided his church,which is one Holy, its ordinances and canonical decisions. Thus
Catholic, and Apostolical, and out of which has Elizabeth compelled most of the people
there is no salvation, to one man upon earth, of England, by oath, to subscribe to her
namely, to Peter, prince of the apostles, and nefarious laws, and renounce all authority of
to the bishops of Rome, his successors, with the Roman pontiff; to acknowledge her to
full power to rule over it. This pontiff alone be head both of church and state; condemnhath been constituted head over all nations ing those that have refused, to heavy fines
and kingdoms, and invested with power to and punishments, whereby those who have
destroy, to separate, to scatter, and subvert; persevered in the faith, are overwhelmed
to plant, build up, and link together by mu- with suffering and afflictions.  The Catholic
tual charity, in order to preserve the faithful bishops and clergy have been loaded with
in the spirit of unity, and surrender them chains, and many of them have ended their
whole and entire to their Saviour.  In order days in misery and imprisonment. This perto fulfil the duties imposed on us by the secution is known to all nations, and so
divine goodness, we labor incessantly to clearly proved, that all palliation, argument,
maintain the unity of the Roman Catholic or pretext on her part, is unavailing.  We
religion which God hath visited with heavy find, moreover, that impiety and crimes have
conflicts, to the end, that His awn may be increased, that persecution against the retried, and for our correction; but the nium- ligion of Rome has been redoubled by orders
bers and power of the wicked have so far of Elizabeth, and that her heart has become
prevailed, that no portion of the earth has so perverted and obdurate, that she has reescaped their attempts to propagate their fused to hearken to the charitable counsels
infectious and detested dogmas, being sup- of Catholic princes, and has denied admitported, among others, by that slave to every tance to the legates of our apostolical.see
species of crime, Elizabeth, the supposed into England, who have been deputed thither
queen of England, under whom the worst for the same object.  With deep sorrow we
enemies of the church have found security, are now constrained to have recourse to the
This same Elizabeth having seized upon the arms of justice, and obliged to punish a
throne, and usurped the authority and juris- princess whose ancestors have rendered
diction of supreme head of the -church of important services to the church.
England, has again plunged that country   "In virtue, therefore, of the divine auinto a state of misery, from which it was thority by which we have been placed on
beginning to emerge and to return to the this supreme throne of justice, an office so
Catholic faith. Having by the violence of superior to our capability, we do, in the
her measures prevented the exercise of true plenitude of apostolical power, declare that
religion, which that apostate prince, Henry the said Elizabeth, who is herself a heretic,
VIII. destroyed, and which Mary, his legi- and the encourager of heresy, together with
timate daughter, of illustrious memory, had all her adherents, have incurred the sentence
restored, in concert with the holy see; she of excommunication, and that they are herehas embraced all the errors of heresy, and by cut off from the unity of the body of
excluded the English nobility from the royal Jesus Christ.  Moreover, we proclaim her
council, which she has filled with obscure to have forfeited all right to the said throne,
heretics. TheCatholics have been oppressed, and also all dominion, dignity, and privileges




472                           HI.STORY OF IRELAND.
appertaining to it. We likewise declare, was appointed president of Munster in his
that all subjects of every rank in the said stead.
kingdom, and every individual who has  War still raged in Leinster and Connaught.
taken any oath of loyalty to her in any way Sir Peter Carew endeavored to, reduce the
whatever, shall be for ever absolved from Cavanaghs. The tyranny of Fitton over
said oath, as also from all duty, fidelity, or the inhabitants of Connaught was so great,
obedience, as we hereby exonerate them from that Conoghor O'Brien, earl of Thuomond,
all such engagements, and we do deprive the although a loyal subject to England, was
said Elizabeth of her pretended claim to the obliged to take up arms, and in spite of the
throne of England. The nobility and others mediation of the earl of Ormond, who was
above named, we prohibit to obey her, her sent by the deputy to quell the disturbances,
ordinances and laws, under pain of becom- they came to an engagement. Thuomond
ing subject to the same anathema.       was defeated, and obliged to fly into France,
" As the circulation of this bull, by sending where he met Norris, the English ambassait to all places, would become a matter of dor, who procured him his pardon from Elidifficulty, it is commanded that copies of it zabeth. The earl testified his gratitude, by
be taken and signed by a notary, subscribed the important serviceshe afterwards rendered
by a bishop, and sealed with the seal of our to the crown of England against his country.
court; they will then have the same power'Turlough Lynogh O'Neill, who had been
and efficacy as these presents have.    acknowledged chief of that illustrious tribe,
"Given at St. Peter's, on the 5th of the continued to support the cause of religion in
calends of January, in the year of our Lord Ulster, A. D. 1570. The noblemen of Ulster
1569, and 5th of our pontificate."      and Scotland made frequent alliances about
A parliament was held in Dublin the same that time.  O'Neill married the earl of Aryear, by which several acts were passed;* gyle's aunt, and kept Scotch troops in his
among others, one giving to her majesty a pay. This prince was planning an expedition
right to estates and lands in- the county of against the English province, but was unKildare, belonging to Christopher Eustace, happily prevented from carrying it into exelord of Cotlanston, who was executed, under cution.  His life being endangered by a
Henry VIII., for high treason. By a similar musket-shot he received, either by accident
act, the estates of Thomas Fitzgerald, knight or by design, the Scotch began to desert
of the Glynn, in the county of Limerick, and him, and the tribe was about to appoint
his son Thomas, were confiscated, for their another chief. Having, however, recovered,
rebellion.t The deputybeingat Cork, entered while preparing to accomplish his first prothe district of Cirricurry, and seized on the ject against the English, the deputy discastle of Carigoline; after which he marched patched two commissioners, Judge Dowdal
to Orrery, and took possession of Buttevant. and the dean of Armagh, on the part of the
He intended to proceed to Kilmallock, but queen, to his camp at Dungannon; and a
was prevented by James Fitzmaurice, who treaty was entered into between them  in
scaled the walls, and made himself master of January, which was ratified by the deputy
the town, but finding it impracticable to hold in the month of March following.
it, he set it on fire. The deputy had the   The O'Ferrals, ancient lords of Annaly,
town rebuilt, and put a garrison into it, of at present the county of Longford, surrenfour hundred soldiers, onehundred horsemen, dered their district to the government, who
and some light troops, under the command restored them part of it, on condition of payof Colonel Gilbert, whom he appointed gov- ing one hundred marks a year. Lord chiefernor of the province.  Having restored baron Bath died about this time.  He was
peace to the counties of Cork and Limerick, succeeded by Luke Dilon.
and received the oath of allegiance of some   Perrott being appointed governor of Munnobles of these districts, viz., Roche,Courcy, ster, George Bourchier, son of the earl of
Power, Decye, and some others, the deputy Bath, and George Walsh, were appointed his
returned to Limerick.                   colleagues; the former to aid him in the
Soon after, Gilbert was created a knight, military, the latter in the civil administration.
at Drogheda, for his services during his ad- This president was successful in a war he
ministration in Munster. He then went to carried on against the confederates, and
England, where he married a rich widow; obliged some of their chiefs, namely, Mac
but having died suddenly, Sir John Perrott Carty More, Lord Barry, MacCarty Riagh,
Donough MacTeigue of Muskerry, Lord
* Irish Statutes, page 301.    Courcy, and MacDonough, to defray the,
t Ibid. page 326.              expenses of the war, which weakened considerably the party of James Fitzmaurice.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            473
Sidney the deputy obtained permission for his son where he might become a powerfrom the queen to return to England, with ful nobleman; secondly, to conceal from
orders to appoint in his stead his brother-in- posterity, in a foreign land, the ignominy of
law, Sir William  Fitzwilliams, who was his birth, being illegitimate.  The queen
sworn into office in St. Patrick's cathedral, having given her consent, young Smith was
Dublin, in April.*  The Irish characters, equipped for the enterprise.  One Chatterfor printing, were introduced into Ireland ton being appointed his governor, with a suitthe same year, by Nicholas Walsh, the chan- able retinue, they sailed for Ireland; but on
cellor of St. Patrick's, and John Kerne, approaching the place of his destination,
treasurer. Government gave orders to have unfortunately for Smith, he met Brien Macprayer-books printed in the Irish language, Art O'Neill, to whom Ardes belonged, ready
in order to seduce the people, but their ef- to receive him. The pretended lord of Ardes
forts did not succeed.                   was killed in a skirmish, and his troops disBrien Cavanagh, son of Cahir MacArt, persed by Brien Mac-Art.
who was created baron of Balian by Queen   Cambden gives a different account of the
Mary, caused great disturbance in Leinster; above circumstance. He assumes, first, that
he was a brave and accomplished nobleman.t the queen of England had a right to bestow
He killed Robert Brown, lord of Malrenkam, what did not belong to her.* It is true that
for having insulted him. Brien's pride made her predecessors often pronounced sentence
him so formidable to his neighbors, that Sir of confiscation against those who never acNicholas Devereux and the principal inhab- knowledged their authority, and who were
itants of Wexford, assembled to check his always opposed to them. This authority of
progress.  They came to an engagement, the kings of England, with respect to the
which was fatal to Devereux; he lost thir- greater part of Ireland, particularly Ulster,
ty gentlemen on the field of battle, besides was confined to the permission which they
several soldiers.                        granted to their subjects, to seize on the posConnaught was also in a state of rebel- sessions of others by force; which permislion, at the head of which were the Burkes sion being given, the resistance of the proof Clanriccard, who could not bear the ty- prietor was construed by the English into
rannical government of Fitton. They there- rebellion. Our author emphatically observes,
fore took up arms, and, together with their that Thomas Smith, moved with compassion
allies, the Scotch, devastated the whole for neglected Ireland, obtained leave from
country. Tranquillitywas at length restored the queen to send over his bastard son to
to the province, says Cox, by a victory which establish at Ardes, on the eastern coast of
Captain Collin, with one company of infantry, Ulster, a colony of Englishmen, in order to
gained over the Scotch, who amounted to a civilize the semi-barbarous inhabitants of
thousand men.4 Elizabeth saw that the re- that country. We might be induced to think
bellion in Connaught was caused by Fitton's that Christian charity was the motive of
severity; he was consequently removed from Smith's conduct on this occasion, but that we
the government of the province, and appoint- are told that this Englishman had already
ed treasurer. The O'Morras and O'Connors divided the lands of Ardes among his folof Leinster made attempts to create a diver- lowers, promising to each foot-soldier a hunsion in favor of the rebels in Connaught; dred and twenty acres; to a horseman two
they burned Athlone, and made some incur- hundred and forty; and to others in proporsions on the English province, where they tion to their rank, on condition of paying
committed terrible devastation.  In Ulster, him an annual rent of one penny an acre,
Brien Mac-Felimy O'Neill made himnselfmas- without mention of any thing for the old
ter of Carrickfergus, and then set it on fire. proprietor. By this it is obvious, that a preThomas Smith, an Englishman, and coun- tended desire of civilizing the inhabitants of
sellor to the queen, finding that his country- Ardes was a species of pretext to invade their
men were making rapid fortunes in -Ireland, lands.  As to the epithet barbarous, which
at the expense of the old inhabitants, and Cambden applies to the people of Ardes,.
wishing to have a share in the spoils, asked and the word perfidy to Brien Mac-Art, for
permission from his royal mistress to send having killed an enemy who came armed to
over his son to found an English colony at dispossess him, it is the gexneral style of
Ardes, in Ulster.  He had two objects in the English, who believe that their adverview; first, to procure an extensive estate saries' obedience should be measured according to their will, and who always define
t Cambd. Elizab. part 2, p. 240.
1 History of Ireland, p. 339.            * Elizabeth, part 2, pp. 240, 241.
60




4 4                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
the self-defence of a people whom they op- himself abandoned by degrees by'those nopress by the term barbarity.             blemen who accompanied him.  The earl
Walter Devereux, viscount Hereford, was of Leicester, desirous of keeping him at a
created by the queen earl of Essex in 1573. distance, opposed his wish to leave Ireland.
This nobleman was descended in a direct He was at length, however, permitted to
line from the ancient counts d'Evreux, de- return to England, after an expedition, the
scendants of the dukes of Normandy, by only result of which was the loss of large
Robert, archbishop of Rouen, and Count sums of money.
d'Evreux.*  In order to gratify him, the   James Fitzmaurice continued to devastate
queen, whose most attached favorite he was, the lands of the queen's partisans in Munster,
gave him the half of certain lordships which A. D. 1574.  He frequently fought against
had been confiscated in Ulster, with the title John Perrott, governor of the province, and
of captain-general of that province,, on con- was often victorious; having defeated the
dition of repairing thither with two hundred royal troops at Kilmallock, Sanid, Kuillehorse and four hundred foot, whom he was hugie, and Cluonie, where Captain Morgan
to support for two years at his own expense.t was killed, and his troops dispersed.*
To induce men to join readily in this expe-   The queen, alarmed at the successes of
dition, they were flattered with the hope of Fitzmaurice, sent orders to her deputy to
estates; whoever should have served with- offer him terms of peace; declaring that
out pay in the cavalry for two years, was to she desired more to preserve her authority
receive four hundred acres of land, and those in Ireland than to persecute religion. Fitzwho served in the infantry, were to have maurice agreed to lay down his arms, prosimilar terms, viz., to receive two hundred vided that the persecution against the Cathacres on condition of their paying an annual olics of the province would cease; and that
rent of two pence per acre.              the earl of Desmond and hlis brother John,
Fitzwilliam, then lord-deputy, was envious who were prisoners in the Tower, would be
of his new rival; and fearing that his own set at liberty.  These conditions were wilmerits would be eclipsed by a nobleman in- lingly accepted by the queen, and Fitzmauvested with royal authority, he made use of rice put a stop to hostilities.  Elizabeth
allhis influence to counteractthis enterprise.  gave orders to liberate the earl and his
In order to reconcile both parties, the queen brother: she had them brought before her,
commanded Essex to take his patents for the and admonished them to put an end to a
government of Ulster from the deputy. This rebellion which disturbed the public peace.
difficulty being removed, the earl, accompa- The earl replied that he never wished to
nied by several English nobles, who wished rebel, and that his own loyalty, and that of
to be sharers of his fortune, and witnesses of his ancestors, to the kings of England, were
his exploits, sailed for Ireland, and landed at well known, but that he could not bear the
Carrickfergus about the end of August. He tyranny practised by her majesty's ministers
was waited upon and complimented by Brien upon the people for their religion.  The
MacFelimy, O'Neill, and other Irish nobles, queen dismissed both with apparent kindwho did not suspect him in the beginning; ness, promising to fulfil the treaty she had
but on seeing the train that accompanied him, concluded with Fitzmaurice. The perfidious
they left him on a sudden, and joined the princess, however, sent orders secretly to
standard of Tirlogh Linogh O'Neill.      the captain of the ship that was to bring
The earl of Essex had scarcely landed them to Dublin, to give them up to the dein Ireland, when he wished to return to Eng- puty who resided there. She also dispatchland.  From the many difficulties he met ed a secret communication to the latter, to
with in his undertaking, and the armed hos- retain the earl with him in Dublin, and to
tility of the inhabitants of Ulster, he found send his brother John to Munster, in order
to bring James Fitzmaurice with him to that
X Baker, Chron. p. 346. Cambd. Elizab. part 2, city, that the three might confirm and sign
page 255.                                the treaty that had been made with the queen.
t War. ibid. c. 13. Carnbd. ibid. p. 256.  Such was the plausible but treacherous mot The earl of Leicester was honored with the title of grand equerry to the queen. He was youngest tive assigned; but the secret determination
son to the duke.of Northumberland, who was be- was, to have the three beheaded together.
headed in the first year of Mary's reign. His grand- The earl, however, being apprized of the
father was Dudley, who is ranked by English his- design, fled immediately. - He owed his life
torians with Empson, one of those infamous leeches to the swiftness of his horse, by which he
of the public money during the reign of Henry VII.,
and who was put to death in the first year of Henryv    * Hist. Cathol. Hib. tome 2, lib. 4, cap. 8. Relat.
the Eighth's reign.                      Girald. cap.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          475
arrived, after five days, with his brother and Cork, and Limerick. He then passed through
cousin James Fitzmaurice, in the remotest Thuomond and Galway, administering juspart of the county Kerry. The earl of Des- tice in all these places; received the submond was so far incensed against the Eng- mission of the Burkes of Clanriccard, who
lish government by this new act of trea- had rebelled, and left garrisons in the towns
chery, that he began the war with more on his route to Dublin.
vigor than before, whereupon he was pro-   The plague ceased in Dublin and in the
claimed a traitor; the government offered a English province in 1576, but the tyranny
reward of a thousand pounds and forty of the English was a continual scourge.
pounds a year, to any that would give him The country appeared a desert; the towns
up alive, or five hundred pounds and twenty were destroyed by the marching and counpounds a year, for his head.          termarching of the troops, after whom, as
The deputy marched his forces to Mun- they passed along, nothing was to be seen
ster, to quell the disturbances caused by the but wretchedness and desolation, particuFitzgeralds, and gave, in his absence, the larly in Louth, Meath, Kildare, WVVexford,
government of the English province to the Carlow, and the King and Queen's counearl of Kildare.                       ties, which were at one time harassed by
War was not the only scourge with which the O'Morras and O'Connors, and again by
Ireland was afflicted at this time.  The the English troops.
plague carried away numbers in the English   In the deputy's-letters to the queen on this
province, while the Irish, who were ani- subject, he complained that the undertakers*
mated by the promises they received from in the two latter counties were so poor and
Rome and Spain, were everywhere up in so few in number, that he was obliged to
arms. Fitzwilliam, the deputy, was recalled leave a garrison of two hundred soldiers to
A. D. 1575, after much importunity on his protect them, while the produce of both
own part.                              counties did not amount to a twentieth part
The queen again turned her thoughts to- of what it cost the crown to support them.
wards Sidney for the government of Ireland. He also gave her an account of his services,
He was better acquainted than any of his namely, that he had rebuilt Kilmallock,
countrymen with the state of affairs there, and imposed a tax of two thousand pounds
and consequently better calculated to gov- on the inhabitants of Connaught to rebuild
ern it; but he knew well the difficulty of Athenry, which had been burned by the
subjugating the country, which made him Mac-an-Earlas, that is, the children of the
averse to undertake the office. In order, earl of Clanriccard; and that he had taken
however, to fix his mind to the attempt, the the castles of Ballyclare and Ballinasloe
queen sent over a fresh reinforcement with from that nobleman, and had received the
warlike stores, and promised him twenty submission of the O'Connor Don and O'Flin,
thousand pounds a year. Pleased with these at Roscommon, who wished to be governed
hopes, Sidney sailed in September for Ire- by English laws. He likewise mentioned
land, and on account of the plague in Dub- that Connaught was disturbed by the Scotch,
lin, landed at Skerries, whence he repaired allies of the Burkes of Clanriccard; that
to Drogheda to be sworn into office.   Longford had agreed to pay all arrears which
Having learned at Drogheda that Surly were due; that Brefny was tranquil; that
Boy Mac-Donnel was laying siege to Car- he had appointed Thomas4Lestrange and
rickfergus, and had killed forty men and Thomas Dillon, commissioners in Connaught
their commander Captain Baker, he march- for the settlement of private quarrels; and
ed at the head of six hundred men, and lastly, that he had made Robert Damport
forced Surly Boy to abandon his enterprise. high-sheriff of'the province.
He then pacified the O'Neills, O'Donnels,   The affairs of religion were not more
M'Mahons, Maguires, and other nobles of prosperous than those of government; the
the North. After this expedition to Ulster, churches were abandoned; the priests were
Sidney marched into Leinster, where he dispersed; the children left without bapfound the county of Kildare, particularly the tism, and brought up in ignorance, the nabarony of Carbry, laid waste by the O'Mor- tural consequence of one religion endeavorras and O'Connors. The King's and Queen's
counties had shared the same fate; but Rory   * These undertakers were needy Englishmen,
O'Morra made peace with the deputy at who were sent over to establish a colony in those
Kilkenny, through the interference of Or- counties, between whom the estates of the O'Morras, O'Connors, and other noblemen, which had
mond.  After leaving Kilkenny, Sidney been confiscated under the pretext of their having
marched through the counties of Waterford, rebelled, were divided.




476                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
ing to establish itself on the downfall of this subject between him and the president,
another. The ministers of the old religion whom he accused to the deputy of having
were driven from their sees, while those of raised exorbitant and arbitrary taxes on the
the new were too few to supply their places. people.
These last were Englishmen, sent to preach   The Burkes of, Clanriccard, whose father
the new doctrine, but were not attended to was kept a prisoner in the castle of Dublin,
by the people; they were shepherds without rebelled again, and called the Scotch to
flocks. The attachment of the Irish to the their assistance.  They laid siege to BallyCatholic religionhasbeenunexampled. Not- riagh, or Loughreagh, a castle within the
withstanding the severe laws that were possessions of the earl their father; but the
enacted by Henry VIII., Edward VI., and garrison, which consisted of veteran troops
Elizabeth, down to the accession of James under the command of Thomas Lestrange
I., it is a well-established truth, that during and Captain Collier, experienced officers,
that period the number of Irish who em- found no difficulty in dispersing a body of
braced the reformed religion did not amount men collected in a hurry, and without disto sixty, in a country, which, at the time, cipline or arms.  The deputy marched
contained about two millions of souls. With thither with his army, and being assisted by
all her power, Elizabeth could not boast of Mac William Oughter, a powerful lord of
having established the Protestant church in the family of Burke, in Connaught, he comIreland.  The marked abhorrence of this pletely quelled the disturbance, restored
nation to every innovation in religion, made Mac William to his estates, and appointed
this politic princess dread the consequences Nicholas Mally governor of the province,
of forcing their conscience; she therefore after conferring on him the honor of knightwaited a more favorable opportunity, and hood, according to his instructions from the
enjoined the archbishops and bishops to queen.
watch only the interests of the church. She   In the mean time, the earl of Essex unappointed William Gerald chancellor, and dertook a second expedition into Ulster,
Sir William Drury president of Munster. which proved fatal to him. He had many
The two latter having landed in Dublin, enemies at court, the principal and most
in June, the chancellor took possession of formidable of whom was the earl of Leiceshis office.  The deputy wished to bring ter.  The latter inherited the talents and
Drury to Wexford, and have him installed artifices of his father; he was well versed in
inthe presidency of Munster, but was obliged the intrigues of the court; the favorite of
to change his plan; having received a letter Elizabeth, and a sworn enemy to Essex, who
from the mayor of Galway, informing him was then sent back to Ireland with the empty
that the Burkes of Clanriccard were again title of lord-marshal, which by its attracin arms with their vassals; that they had tions would necessarily render his fall more
brought back their allies the Scotch, set fire sure.  He was forced soon after, by his eneto the gates of Athenry, which had been mies, to resign his command.  The insult
lately rebuilt, and pulled down the arms of being too great to be borne, he was seized
the queen; and that the inhabitants were with a dysentery, and died in Dublin, after
plundered and their dwellings destroyed.  recommending his son, who was about ten
The deputy immediately set out for Con- years of age, to the protection of the deputy.
naught, where lie arrived after three days, The earl of Leicester was suspected of havto the great astonishment of the rebels, who ing caused Essex to be poisoned, which is
quickly withdrew to their fastnesses. Find- not improbable, as Leicester married the
ing no enemy to contend with, he took pos- countess of Essex during the lifetime of her
session of the castles and fortresses of the husband, which ceremony was again perearl of Clanriccard, whom he sent prisoner formed after his death.
to Dublin, to answer for the conduct of his   The nobility of Leinster forwarded comsons. He then visited Galway, where he plaints similar to those that were brought by
remained for some days, and from that went the earl of Desmond, against Drury, for his
to Limerick, where Drury was installed extortions in Munster, A. D. 1577.*  A mepresident of Munster, after which they both morial was laid before the deputy, representproceeded to Cork.                      ing that their liberties and privileges were
The new president exercised the greatest violated by an exorbitant and unreasonable
severity in-the province of Munster, except tax, which exceeded twelve pounds sterling
in the palatinate of Kerry, which the earl for every plough-land, while the parliament
of Desmond considered to be exempt from   * Ware, de Annal. lib. chap. 19. Cambd. ibid.
the royal authority.  A dispute arose upon page 280.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            477
alone possessed the right of levying taxes. assist the earl of Desmond in his plans to
Displeased with his reply, they forwarded support the Catholic religion, but was prean appeal to the queen, by three deputies, vented by his council.*  After this, FitzScurlock, Nettervil, and Burnel, bringing maurice went to Spain.  Philip II. recomalso letters signed by Lords Baltinglass, Del- mended him  strongly to the pope, and revin, Howth, Trimleston, and others, in the quested his holiness to take under his proname of the English province.  The queen tection the persecuted Catholics of Ireland.
referred them to her council for their decis-   While James Fitzma-urice was seeking
ion: the Lords Kildare, Ormond, Gormans- the aid of foreign princes, Rory or Roderick
town, and Dunsany, having been examined, O'Morra and O'Connor Faly were vindithey answered, that it had been always cus- cating their country's freedom against the
tomary to impose taxes on the queen's subjects queen's ministers, who practised every spein Ireland; but at the same time entreated cies of tyranny against the Catholics. The
that they might be raised with more lenity.* estates of these noblemen were confiscated
The queen finding that the petitioners wished in the reign of Mary. Rory, by his bravery,
to dispute her authority, sent the three com- recovered the district of- Leix, and kept posmissioners to prison, and dispatched orders session of it till his death.  He surprised
to her deputy in Ireland to arrest the peti- and burned many towns belonging to the
tioners, to fix the tax at five marks for each English in Leinster; among others, Naas,
plough-land, and to punish all abuses in the Carlow, Leighlin, Rathcoole, and Ballymore.
collection of them. Matters being thus ar- Being attacked by some royalist troops, he
ranged, the petitioners submitted, and were took their captains, Harrington and Cosby,
set at liberty, as well as their commissioners. prisoners, and brought them to his usual
About this time Sir John Desmond, bro- retreat in the middle of a wood.  Here,
ther to the earl, married the daughter of the however, he was soon after betrayed by a
earl of Clanriccard, who had been divorced servant, and surprised in the night by Robert
by her first husband, O'Rourke.  By this Harpool, at the head of two hundred Englishmarriage he formed a close connection with men. His safety now rested on his courage;
the house of Clanriccard, the object of which his soldiers were at too great a distance to
was to aid each other against their enemies. assist him; the only persons with him were
This alliance caused uneasiness to the gov- his wife, his cousin John O'Morra, and an
ernment, and made them  watchful of the aged nobleman of the same family, unable
earl of Desmond's movements, whose loyalty to defend himself.  Followed, however, by
was already doubted.                    his cousin, he opened a passage through the
enemy with his sword, and after wounding
several of them, escaped.  The two officers
who had been prisoners were set at liberty
CHAPTER  XLII.                by the English, who had the baseness and
cruelty to stab the wife of O'Morra, and the
AFTER Garret Fitzgerald, earl of Des- old nobleman, without pity for her sex, or
mond, had escaped from prison in Dublin, for the infirmity of his years.
and from the perfidious design the queen had   MacGiolla Phadruig Fitzpatrick, prince
formed to exterminate himself and family, he of Ossory, who became an English subject
was extremely cautious in his conduct to- by accepting the title of baron from that
wards the court; but never lost sight of the government, made some incursions into Leix,
interests of religion, which he secretly sup- at the head of five hundred of the queen's
ported, and which he considered as his first troops. O'Morra marched to meet him with
and most important duty.  He placed no four hundred men; but unfortunately wishreliance on the repeated treaties with Eliza- ing to reconnoitre the enemy before the
beth, who had so often deceived him. Deem- action, he was surrounded by a detachment,
ing it prudent to take precautionary meas- and was the third that fell.  Such was the
ures, he sent his relative, James Fitzmau- end of this noble and generous man, whom
rice, to Rome, to consult with Gregory XIII. the English term an arch rebel. Fitzpatrick
about preserving the faith in Ireland, and was not the only Irishman (of the ancient
resisting its avowed enemies.  Fitzmaurice race) who was base enough to sacrifice the
first went, according to his instructions, to interests of his religion and country, for
the court of France, where he was well re- titles of honor which were generally deceived by the king, who seemed willing to spised by his countrymen.
* Baker's Chron. page 352.                - Relat. Girald. cap. 19.




478                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Francis Cosby being appointed governor several letters.  He exhorted them to perof Leix, ruled that country as a true tyrant. severe in the faith, and to support the cause
His son Alexander equalled him in cruelty, of religion against the heretics.  The earl
and wreaked his vengeance on inoffensive of Desmond he appointed chief of the holy
Catholics for the hard treatment he had re- league, and made James Fitzmaurice, who
ceived from O'Morra.  Having convened a was then at Rome, his lieutenant, who, in
meeting of the principal inhabitants in the case of accident, was to be replaced by Sir
castle of Mollach, under pretence of the pub- John Desmond, the earl's second brother, and
lic welfare, he had them  all murdered by the latter by James, his youngest brother.
assassins posted there for the purpose, vio-   The pope gave a large sum of money, and
lating thereby all honor and public faith. had two thousand men raised in the States
One hundred and eighty men of the family of the church, for the expedition to Ireland.
of O'Morra, with many others, were put to Hercule de Pise, an experienced general,
death upon this occasion.  This cruel and was appointed to command them. All things
bloody tyrant took such delight in putting being prepared, and the troops embarked on
Catholics to the torture, that he hanged men, board a small fleet, the command of it was
women, and children, by dozens, from an given to Thomas Stukely, whose orders
elm tree that grew before his door at Strad- were to sail for Lisbon, and to wait there for
bally, where he resided.                 James Fitzmaurice, who was to go thither
Cahal, or Charles O'Connor Faly, was not by land; On reaching that port, Stukely
indifferent to the sufferings of the Catholics; found that Sebastian, king of Portugal, was
being joined by Conal Mageoghan, of the preparing a considerable expedition for the
family of Moy-Cashel, he took up arms, and war in Africa. This prince readily prevailed
gave many a check to the tyrants.  An Eng- on him to join his fleet, promising that he
lishman named Macforty, expressly commis- would bestow on him rich rewards, and that
sioned by the queen to assassinate O'Connor, he would assist him  in the war in Ireland.
fell by the sword of him whom he meant to Stukely accompanied Sebastian to Africa,
sacrifice to the hatred of that princess.*    determined, at all hazards, to advance his
Sir Henry Sidney, disgusted with the own interest. On their arrival, a sanguinary
office of governor, and finding that his ser- battle was fought, in which three kings lost
vices were treated with contempt, solicited their lives, namely, Sebastian, king of Porwith eagerness his recall,t which he obtained tugal, Abedelmelic, king of Mauritania, and
at length; and having regulated all public Mahumet, who was the promoter of this unmatters, he resigned the sword of justice to lucky expedition. Stukely, and the greater
Sir William  Drury, president of Munster. part of his Italians, shared their fate, a just
Sidney was considered ain upright man: he reward for his disloyalty.
had filled high offices in England with integ-   Fitzmaurice having reached Portugal by
rity; and as a proof of his disinterestedness, land, was indignant at finding that Stukely
it is affirmed that he never, though four times had betrayed his cause.*  Having no relord-justice, and three times deputy of Ire- source left, he collected the remnant of his
land, appropriated to his own use an inch Italian force, which had returned to Spain,
of land in the country, which was a rare with some Cantabrians given him  by his
example among his countrymen.            Catholic majesty, amounting in the whole,
James Fitzmaurice having  arrived  in to about eight hundred men. He then sailed
Rome, was received with distinction by for Ireland with six vessels, provided with
Pope Gregory XIII.  In this city he met all kinds of ammunition, and arms for four
with Cornelius O'Moel Ryan, titular bishop thousand men.  He was accompanied by
of Killaloe, and Thomas Stukely.t  Noth- Cornelius, bishop of Killaloe, and Doctor
ing certain is known either of the family or Sandus, an English priest, as legate from
country of the latter: some assert that he the pope.  This little fleet arrived, the end
was natural son of Henry VIII., others, that of July, 1579, at Ardnacant, which the Enghe was the son of an English knight and an lish call Smerwick, in the western part of
Irish lady; however, his conduct proves him the county Kerry, near Dingle. In this harto have been a knight errant that was seek- bor there is an islet fortified by nature; on
ing to improve a moderate fortune.       one side it is washed by the sea, and on the
The sovereign pontiff evinced great zeal other defended by a steep rock, leaving a
for the,-Irish Catholics, to whom he sent passage, where it is joined to the continent
o Hist. Cathol. ibid. cap. 7.         mby means of a draw-bridge.  Fitzmaurice
t War. de Annal. Hib. cap. 20.
t Camb. reg. Elizab. part 2, on the year 1578.     X Hist. Cathol. ibid.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           479
knowing well the importance of this place as the Catholic army, and justified, by his heroic
an arsenal for the succors that he expected actions, the choice which James Fitzmaurice,
from Spain, added other works to render its when dying, had made of him. In order to
natural situation impregnable.  All kinds of check the career of Desmond, Drury the
provisions were put into it, and a garrison deputymarched towards Munster at the head
of 600 men, the command of which was of four hundred infantry and two hundred
given to Sebastian de Saint Joseph.     cavalry, attended by marshal Bagnal, Malby,
As soon as the arrival of James Fitzmau- Wingfield, Waterhouse, Fitton, Masterson,
rice was known, he was complimented by Sir and other subaltern officers.  He was also
John Desmond, his brother James Desmond, joined by the lords Kildare, Mountgarret,
and several noblemen of Munster, who joined Upper Ossory, and Dunboyne, with two
them to prepare for the war against the hundred horsemen, and a few foot-soldiers.
heretics.*  While they were raising troops On arriving at Kilmallock, the deputy sent
for this purpose, John Desmond attacked word to the earl of Desmond, and a few
Tralee, in which there was an English gar- other lords of the province whose loyalty he
rison; he put Henry Davells, Carter, and suspected, to appear before him, in his camp,
somie others of their chiefs to the sword, and at Kilmallock.  After some hesitation, the
dispersedtheremzainder. Fitzmauricemarch- earl repaired to the deputy, who gave him
ed, at the same time, towards Connaught up to the lord-marshal; but policy soon inwith a few followers, to prevail on his friends, duced him to set him at liberty, as he knew
whose intentions he was aware of, to join in that Sir John Desmond, the earl's brother,
the common cause; but on his way he was was encamped, with the Catholic army, at
attacked by Theobald Burke, eldest son of Sleavelogher.
Sir William Burke, of Castle Connel, who,   Sir John Desmond having received intelfrom a desire to please Elizabeth, sacrificed ligence through his spies, that the deputy
the interests of religion and of his country. was marching to attack him, left his camp
Finding it impossible to avoid an engage- at Sleavelogher, and went to influence the
ment, Fitzmaurice resolved to conquer or die. barony of Connillo in the county Limerick,
Being wounded in the breast by a musket in his favor.  He posted himself advanball, and roused to a last effort, he cleared a tageously in the castle of Gortantiburudi,
passage through the enemy, and cut off the Inear a forest called Blackwood;* whither the
head of Theobaldl Burke with a single blow. deputy sent a strong detachment under CapThe brothers of that captain fell also, and tains Herbert and Price, with orders to force
their entire force was routed.  The victory, his camp.  On the appearance of the Enghowever, proved a dear one to Fitzmaurice. lish, both armies drew up in order of battle;
His wound being mortal, he died in six hours the first shock was favorable to the heretics,
after the action, after making his confession but they were afterwards cut to pieces by a
and receiving the last sacrament from an body of men which Desmond had concealed
English priest called Alan, who always ac- in the wood; and which attacking them in
companied him.  Although the death of this flank, soon put them to flight. A great numillustrious chief filled the Catholics with ber was killed, and among them Herbert
alarm, still their courage was not broken and Price.
down; and the command of the forces was   The loss of this battle caused great afflicgiven to John Desmond, whose zeal was tion to the deputy, but he was relieved by
equal to his bravery.                   the arrival of six hundred English, under
Elizabeth, grateful for the services received Captains Bourchier,Carew, and Dowdal, sent
from the Burkes of Castle Connel, who had by the queen to Waterford, to reinforce the
rid her of an enemy so formidable as James army.  Sir John Perrot arrived in Cork,
Fit zmaurice, wrote a letter to their father with six vessels to protect the coast. Being
William Burke, and to console him for the joined by this reinforcement, the deputy
loss of his children, settled a yearly pension, went on another equally unsuccessful expeon him, of two hundred marks, to be paid dition to Connillo. Having fallen sick from
from the exchequer; she also created him a excess of fatigue, he sent for Malby, the govpeer of the realm,under the title of lord-baron ernor of Connaught, to command the troops,
of Castle Connel. The old man died through and after conferring the honor of knightexcess of joy for the new title.t       hood on Bourchier, Stanly, Carew, Moore,
Sir John Desmond took the command of Pelham, and some others, he withdrew to
Waterford.
* Cambd. ibid. ad an. 1579. Relat. Girald. cap.
22. Baker, page 355.                      * Hist. Cathol. ibid. Relat. Girald. cap. 23.
t Cambd. ibid. Baker, ibid.           War. de Annal. Hib. cap. 21, Cambd. Elizabeth.




480                             HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Malby now assuming the command of the Desmond after this made incursions upon
armry, he left three hundred infantry, and Ormond, and carried off great booty. The
about fifty horse at Kilmallock, under the Butlers then collected their forces, under the
orders of Captain Bourchier, and marched following chiefs: Edward and Peter Butler,
with the remainder to Limerick.  After re- brothers to the earl of Ormond, MacPieris
freshinghis troops, he led them to Eanaghbeg Butler, baron of Dunboyne, and Purcel,
in the district of Connillo, and encamped baron of Luochne, and went in pursuit of
near an abbey called Monaster Nenay, where Desmond as far as Knock Grafuin, or Mount
some auxiliaries arrived from the Burkes of Grafuin, where a bloody battle was fought,
Clanriccard and the Lacys,who joined them. which terminated in the total defeat of the
Determined to drive away the enemy, John Butlers.
Desmond assembled all his force to give   The earl of Desmond, who had till now
them battle; but the ardor of some of the kept an appearance of peace with the queen,
troops, who began the engagement by pur- began to remove the mask, and to act with
suing the English (who were flying) to too his brother John Desmond.  He carried off
great a distance, nearly proved fatal. Being considerable bootyfrom the plains of Cashel,
surrounded by these fiugitives, who were su- after putting the garrison of that city to flight,
perior in numbers, they would have been which was commanded by Robert, an Engcut to pieces, but for the prompt relief lishman.  At the same time, Daniel O'Sulbrought by Desmond.  The action now be- livan, prince of Beare, defeated a body of
coming general, both sides fought with equal English near the monastery of Bantry.
bravery, till the right wing of the enemy be-   Sir William  Drury, deputy of Ireland,
ginning to give way, and one of their prin- whom we left sick at Waterford, died in
cipal officers being killed, they were entirely September —Malby's authority was now at
routed, after a combat of a.n hour and a half. an end in Munster; however, previous to his
Desmond remained master of the field of return to Connaught, he placed garrisons in
battle, with all the cannon and baggage; he the towns of Rakele and Adare, in the county
lost only Thomas son of John Fitzgerald his of Limerick.  The privy council appointed
paternal uncle, and Sir Thomas Brown, with Sir William Pelham  lord-justice ad interinm.
some foot-soldiers.                        He was sworn into office in October, in
The troops of Desmond having refreshed Christ's church, Dublin, till the court should
themselves after the victory, marched from nominate a deputy.  After this ceremony,
Connillo to Atharlam.*  The garrison of the new lord-justice conferred the honor of
Kilmallock being apprized of this movement, knighthood on Gerard the chancellor, and
sallied forth to dispute their passing. An en- Edward Fitton.  He also sent letters patent
gagement ensued, in which bothl sides fought to the earl of Ormond, appointing him govwith equal bravery and success; but after a ernor of Munster, and nominated Sir Warterrible slaughter, victory declared in favor ham  St. ILeger, high sheriff for the same
of Desmond, and the remainder of the enemy province.  The chancellor was dispatched
withdrew into the town.  This victory was to England to inform the queen of. the state
followed by another at Gort Na-Pissi, where of affairs in Ireland; the seals being given,
ten battalions of English were cut to pieces. during his absence, to Adam Loftus, archbishop of Dublin.
All things being thus arranged the lordC* ambden, and other English authors after him,                  arranged,  the lortdo differ from the Irish writers respecting the above justice proceeded on his route to Munster,
battles. The presumption of the Englishman makes attended by three bodies of troops, lately
him suppose that every thing belongs to him, and come from  Berwick, called  "red coats,"
that he ought to be victorious though he be defeated. from the color of their uniform.  On his
We here quote two authors who are equally worthy arrival at Kilkenny, he held assizes, at which
of belief with the English. One is Philip O'Sullivan,
whose father was one of the principal actors in this he presided in person, and condemned Edwar, and who scaled the walls of Youghal, when it mond MacNeill, and a few others, to death
was taken by Desmond. The other is Daniel, or -for high treason.  He reconciled the earl of
Dominick O'Daly, archbishop of Conimbed, whose Ormond to the baron of Upper Ossory,
father,CorneliusO'Daly, had for some time the command of the forces under the earl of Desmond. obliging them to give bail for mutually reThese authors may be considered as eye-witnesses pairing the damages which had been caused
of the facts that are given; they ought not to be by their dissensions.  He went to Cashel in
suspected of partiality or inaccuracy in their ac- October, where he was joined by the.earl of
counts, more than Cambden, w'ho wrote. on what Ormond at the head of two hundred and
he had never seen, according to the prejudices of
his countrymen.. The impartial reader will judge thirty men.  From that city lie wrote a flatand decide.                                tering letter to the earl bf Desmond, to in



CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                         481
duce him to repair thither under pretext of  When Ormond arrived in Cork, finding
wishing to reconcile him to Malby, but the the season far advanced, he ordered the
earl could not be prevailed upon to trust him. troops into winter quarters. He then proPelham afterwards went to Limerick, where ceeded to Cashel, through Youghal, where,
ihe was honorably received by Malby at the to appease the queen's anger for the taking
head of the army, and by the mayor and a of this town, he had the mayor hanged, unthousand citizens under arms. From Limer- der pretence of his not having defended it
ick he proceeded to the village of Fannings, against Desmond. He gave orders to have
which was the rendezvous of the army. Here the walls rebuilt, and left a garrison in it of
he was visited by the countess of Desmond, three hundred men, under Captains Pierce
who brought him letters from her husband, and Morgan.
with an apology for not obeying his orders.  The earl of Desmond, who saw his forces
The lord-justice was not satisfied with this, diminishing, while those of the enemy were
and sent Ormond to the earl of Desmond to increasing every day by reinforcements sent
know his final intentions, but on his returning from England, wrote letters to the principal
an evasive answer, it was decreed that he noblemen in Leinster, whom he knew to be
should be publicly proclaimed in the camp well disposed towards them, begging their
as a traitor, unless he submitted within twen- aid in defence of their religion and country,
ty days; and the troops were ordered to lay against the common enemy. Whether these
waste his lands at the expiration of that time. letters made any impression or not on the
Viscount Gormanstown and the baron of lords of Leinster, they took up arms the folDelvin signalized their zeal in the cause of lowing year in the cause which Desmond
Desmond on this occasion. These noblemen so nobly defended.
were Catholics, and though members of the   The lord-justice, who had remained in
council, and companions of the lord-justice Limerick, set out for Galway, attended by
in his expedition, they generously refused the earl of Thuomond, and renewed the
to sign the sentence which was pronounced privileges of that city.*  From thence he
against Desmond, whereupon they were re- proceeded to Athlone, and afterwards to
primanded by the council in England.   Dublin, where he continued for some time.
The earl of Desmond, finding himself con- William Norris arrived at the same time
demned, marched towards Cork, hoping to from England, with one hundred and fifty
create thereby a diversion which might check horsemen. They were sent by the lordthe ravages that the enemy were committing justice to garrison Newry, where Norris
in the territory of Connillo. Following the ad- died on Christmas-day.
vice of his relative Fitzgerald, seneschal of   Towards the end of' January, Pelham left
Imokilly, he attacked Youghal,which he took Dublin for Wexford, where he presided at
and gave up to plunder. Dermod O'Sullivan, the assizes, held for civil and criminal cases.
of the noble family of Beare, contributed Thence he repaired to Waterford, where he
greatly to the taking of this town, by his in- was honorably received. The earl of Ortrepidity in scaling the walls at the head of mond joined him in that city, and having
a body of infantry which he commanded, intelligence that a detachment of the enenotwithstanding the obstinate defence of the my was marching towards Dungarvan and
besieged.*  He destroyed a body of troops Youghal, they dispatched Captain Zouch,
under Captain White, which had been sent with four hundred infantry and one hundred
by sea from Waterford, by the earl of Or- horse, to defend those towns.
mond, to relieve Youghal. By way of retal-   After remaining three weeks at Wateriation for the taking of this place, Orniond ford, Pelham  went to Clonmel, where he
made an inroad into Connillo, where he was was again joined by Ormond. He then pro.
bravely opposed  by the seneschal, and ceeded to Limerick. The chancellor of the
though he remained master of the field of church in that city was arrested on suspibattle, he sustained a heavy loss in killed. cion of holding a correspondence with the
After pillaging and burning the whole coun- earl of Desmond; and the bishop was contry, and treating the inhabitants with cruelty, fined to his palace for the same cause.
he marched towards Cork, plundering every   The lord-justice and Ormond having replace as he passed. He-was, however, greatly moved to Rathkeale in March, to consult
harassed by John Fitzmaurice, the seneschal, together on the operations of the campaign,
who gained an important advantage over the they resolved in council to divide the army
red coats near Lismore.j               and act separately. Ormond marched his
H Eist. Cathol. Hib. ibid.
t Hist. Cathol. Hib. ibid.          * Cox, Hist. of Ireland, p. 362.
61




482                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
division towards Slevelogher, burning and and courageously have assisted the said
destroying the country as he passed. Pel- James, who fought against the enemies of
ham took the route towards Slevemish, near God and of your country. In order to supTralee.  Finding it impossible to proceed port you in your zeal, we have granted to
furthegr, he fell back to besiege the fortress all who will repent and confess their sins,
of Carrikifoyl, which belonged to Desmond. and who have followed the said James, the
The commander of a detachment of his ar- defender and protector of the Catholic faith,
my, when passing through the territory of and his army, and to those who will join
Clanmorris, obliged Fitzmaurice, the lord of and assist, either by their counsel, arms, or
the country and baron of Lixnaw, to give warlike stores; a full and general pardon of
him hostages as a pledge of his loyalty. This all their sins, the same as the sovereign poninhuman officer had the hostages hanged, tiffs have been accustomed to grant to those
violating thereby the rights of war.*  His who were engaged in war against the Turks,
crime, however, met with a due chastise- or for the recovery of the Holy Land. Iavment; he was attacked at Ardfert by the ing learned with grief that the said James
troops of Fitzmaurice, and his men cut to has (as it hath pleased the Lord) lately fallen
pieces.  Pelham  having reached Carriki- in fighting valiantly against the enemies of
foyl, laid siege to the castle; the garrison his country, and that our dear son John
of which consisted of nineteen Spaniards and Geraldine, his cousin, has with equal piety
fifty Irish, commanded by an Italian engineer and greatness of soul, by the assistance of
called Julio.  Having effected a breach, God, in whose cause he is engaged, sucCaptain Macworth entered at the head of a ceeded him in the command, and has already
strong force, put part of the little garrison performed acts of heroism, for which the
to the sword,t and caused the remainder, Catholic faith is deeply indebted to him;
together with their chief, to be hanged. As- we therefore exhort you all in general, and
keaton and Ballyloghan, the last fortresses each one in.particular, with all the affection
belonging to Desmond, shared the same fate. of our soul, and urge and require of you,
The lord-justice left four companies in in the Lord, to assist the said John, your
garrison at Askeaton, and returned to Lim- leader against the heretics, with all your reerick in the beginning of April, 1580.  Af- sources, as you have assisted James when
ter giving his troops some repose, he recom- living. Confiding in the mercies of the ommenced hostilities, devastating the lands of nipotent God, and supported by the authorthe Mac Auliffs as far as Slevelogher: he ity of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul,
then penetrated into the county of Kerry, we give and grant to all and each of you,
towards Castlemaine, whence he carried off who are engaged with and assist the said
large herds of cattle, but the army, being John and his army, a plenary indulgence
badly paid, began to mutiny, which checked and remission of your sins, by a due obhis further operations for a while.      servance, on your part, of the conditions
Such was the state of affairs in Ireland, contained herein, viz., to confess your sins
when Pope Gregory XIII. addressed the and receive worthily. The same privileges
following letter to the Irish clergy and peo- are granted to you, as have been granted to
pie:-                                    those who have fought against the Turks
"Gregory XIII. to all and every of the for the recovery of the Holy Land.
archbishops, bishops, prelates, princes,earls,   " Given at Rome at St. Peter's, under
barons, and all the inhabitants of Ireland, the Fisherman's ring, the 13th day of May,
greeting, health, and apostolical benedic- 1580, and in the eighth year of our pontifition.                                    cate."
" Whereas we have exhorted you by our   Thus did Gregory XIII. endeavor to reletters, during these last years, to recover medy the evils which had been inflicted on
your freedom, to defend and preserve it Ireland by Adrian IV., one of his predeagainst the heretics; to aid also and sup- cessors.  He wished, by separating that
port, with all your strength, James Geral- country from  England, to repair the  nmdine, of happy memory, who had ardently prudence committed in bestowing it upon
undertaken to break the yoke of slavery Henry II., under the specious pretext of
which the English, who have deserted the establishing the faith in it, and reforming
holy Roman church, have imposed upon the morals of its people.  Gregory's plan,
you.                                     however, was too weak, and the evil too
"It was our will that you would speedily deeply rooted.  Desmond and his adhe* Wareus, ibid. cap. 22.        rents were betrayed by some of their count Hist. Cathol. Hib. ibid.      trymen, and Elizabeth, having no impori =.......                                                     




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          483
tant wars to maintain against the neigh- Spaniards from making a descent. From this
boring powers, turned all her thoughts to time we may date the decline of the cause
Ireland.                                of Desmond. He had lost his cousin James
Some Catholic lords in Munster, who were Fitzmaurice, and his brother James Dessuspected of holding a correspondence with mond, the country was laid waste, and prothe rebels, were summoned to appear be- visions became so scarce, that many who
fore the lord-justice at Limerick and ac- were attached to his cause, were forced, for
count for their conduct.*  They all, with want of subsistence, to abandon him.
the exception of Lord Barry, submitted.   The Reformation in the Church of EngCormac, son of Teague Mac Carthy of Mus- land was disturbed at this time by the arkerry, having displayed particular zeal in rival of a body of Dutch fanatics,* who callthe royal cause, had his share in the re- ed themselves the family of love. They
wards; and soon after found an opportunity preached in public their wild doctrine, " that
of signalizing himself. James Desmond,t none but those who belonged to their family
the earl's youngest brother, either to chas- would be saved," and maintained, that pertise him for his perfidy or to revenge some jury before a magistrate who was not of their
private wrongs, made incursions on his lands family was no crime.  They had several
at the head of one hundred and fifty men, volumes containing their dogmas translated
and carried off considerable booty. Domnal, into English, and published under the afthe brother of Cormac, collected all the fecting titles of Gospel of the kingdom, Doforces he could muster, and having pursued minical Sentences, Prophecy of the Spirit of
Desmond, they came to an engagement, Love, and others of a similar import, all
which was fatal to the latter. After seeing of which were burned by orders of the
all his men fall by his side, and being him- government, and the authors expelled the
self mortally wounded, he had the misfor- kingdom.
tune to be made prisoner, and given up to   At this period, the court appointed Arthur
Warham St. Leger, the high-sheriff of the Grey, lord-baron of Wilton, and knight of
province, and Captain Rawleigh, who had the order of the garter, deputy for Ireland;
him put to death in Cork for high treason. he landed at Dublin in August. Some nobleHis head was cut off, and exposed on the men of Leinster and Meath beheld with ingate of the city, to serve as a warning to dignation the Catholic clergy persecuted;
others. In order to reward his services, the holy sacrifice of the mass abolished;
Cormac Mac Teague was created a knight their churches profaned by the new ceremoby the lord-justice, and appointed high- nies of the reformers, and dreading fresh insheriff of the county of Cork.          novations, united to defend their religion.t
The earl of Ormond, who commanded a The chiefs of this confederacy were James
body of troops at Adare, marched towards Eustace, viscount of Baltinglass, FiachMacButtevant, where the whole army suffered Hugh, chief of the O'Byrnes of Wicklow,
from an extraordinary malady, which they and Captain Fitzgerald, who withdrew from
termed the " mild correction."  It was a the queen's service for the purpose of joining
kind of violent headache, which lasted for in it. The plot, however, having been distwo or three days, and deprived those who covered before it was ripe for execution,
were attacked by it of their understanding; some of the leaders were arrested and put
it was not, however, fatal to many.    to death.
After the contagion had ceased, Ormond   The new deputy having learned, previous
divided his army into two parts;t one he to his receiving the sword, that Baltinglass
led to Castle Island, in the county of Kerry, and Fiach MacHugh, with their confederand sent the other to Tralee, the place of ates, were posted in the defiles of Gleandarendezvous.  He then marched, with his loch, determined to dislodge them; for which
army in three divisions, towards Dingle, purpose he collected all the English troops
plundering the country as he marched, and in Leinster, both foot and horse, and marchshedding the blood of the Catholics without ed to Gleandaloch, where he found the Irish
mercy, so that not one would have escaped, ready to receive him. The battle began in
had it not been for the protection granted a wood which was lined with cavalry, under
to several by Sir William Winter, the Eng- the command of Lord Grey. The combat was
lish vice-admiral, who commanded a squad- long and obstinate, but victory having at
ron in the port of Bantry, to prevent the length declared in favor of the Irish, a
* Cox, Hist. of Irel. page 365.         X Baker, Chron. of Engl. on the reign of Elizat Cambd. Reign of Elizabeth, part 2, ad an. 1580. beth. Cambd. Elizabeth, ad an. 1580.
t Cox, Hist. of Ireland, page 365.      t Hist. Cathol. Hib. ibid. cap. 14.




484                         HISTORY OF IRELAND.
dreadful carnage was made of the English of the Catholics, and strongly averse to any
troops, and the deputy, with his cavalry, was truce with the reformers, alleging that they
forced to fly. The English lost eight hundred possessed neither probity nor honor, and
soldiers, besides Sir Peter Carew, Colonel could not therefore be relied on.  SebasMoor, and Captains Audely and Cosby. This tian, the governor, was opposed to PIlunket's
last commander was particularly cruel, as advice.  He was desirous of capitulating,
has been already observed. His greatest and went forth from the castle, attended by
pleasure consisted in putting the inoffensive Plunket, who was to act as interpreter.
Catholics, and even their infants, to death The deputy received him with politeness,
before his door. This blood-thirsty tyrant, and proposed to them to capitulate, and that
however, met with his reward at last.*    he would allow the garrison to march out
Pelham having regulated the affairs of with all the honors of war. PIunket used
Munster, where he left two thousand eight every effort to prevent the treaty from being
hundred and twenty foot-soldiers, and three concluded, by giving false versions of the
hundred and ninety-five horse, under the proposals of both parties.  It appeared,
command of Sir George Bourchier, passed however, by his countenance and mode of
through Connaught, and confirmed Malby speaking, that Plunket was not a true interin the government of that province. He preter, upon which they had him arrested.
proceeded to Dublin in September, and gave They then entered into a treaty; an Englishup the sword of justice to the new deputy man, who was acquainted with the Spanish
in the cathedral of St. Patrick.        language, being the interpreter.  Sebastian
According to some writers, James Fitz- returned joyfully to the fortress, saying that
ma-urice had brought to Ireland eight hun- he was surrendering the place to the English
dred Italians and Spaniards, and had fortified upon honorable terms, and that seeing
Smerwick as a garrison and arsenal for the matters so desperate, he thought it prudent
rest of the Spaniards who were expected. to save the garrison.  The captain of the
It is also stated, that he left six hundred men Cantabrians, and Hercule de Pise, inveighed
in it, under the command of Sebastian de loudly against the treaty, saying, that so far
Saint Joseph; but Cambden and Ware fix from fearing for the place, they would be
the arrival of these troops in Ireland in able, if necessary, to oppose the enemy in
1580.  However this may be, the new de- the field; but the soldiers, who preferred life
puty, in order to clear his reputation, which to glory, declared for the governor, and lost
was sullied by his defeat at Gleandaloch, de- both.  Though they surrendered on conditermined to besiege Smerwick, and drive tions which were sworn to by the deputy,
away these foreigners. The earl of Ormond they were immediately ordered to lay down
had already failed in the same plan. Having their arms, and were cruelly slaughtered by
marched from Tralee to lay siege to this for- the barbarous English. The governor alone
tress, a sally of the besieged prevented his escaped, but was banished fromthe kingdom.
continuing it, and he was obliged to join the Plunket was reserved for a worse fate-his
deputy, who had already arrived at Rathkeal. arms and thighs being dislocated with hamEvery thing being prepared, the deputy, mers. It is from this event thatfides Greie,
accompanied by the earl of Ormond, Captains or the faith of Grey, became a proverb in
Zouch, Rawleigh, Denny, Mackworth, and the country, whenever mention was made
others, marched towards Smerwick at the of any signal act of treachery being comhead of eight hundred, or according to others, mitted. The fortress of Smerwick being
of fifteen hundred men, to besiege that for- evacuated, a strong garrison and governor
tress, while Sir William Winter blockaded were placed in it by the deputy. The govit with his squadron by sea.t  The siege ernment of Munster was then consigned to
lasted for forty days, the' place being well the earl of Ormond.  Four hundred and fifty
provided, and obstinately defended; so that men were left under Captain Zouch, whom
the deputy finding the winter draw near, and the deputy appointed commander of Kerry
knowing the inconvenience of being en- and Desmond.  He placed troops in the
camped in bad weather, was resolved to ac- other cities, towns, and villages of the procomplish by treachery, what he could not vince, and gave orders to the principal offieffect by force. For this end he displayed a cers to destroy with fire and sword every
flag of truce, and demanded a parley.  An place that continued faithful to the earl, and
Irish nobleman named Plunket, belonging to to bring the war to a speedy termination.
the garrison, was very zealous in the cause He then returned to Dublin.
* Hist. Cathol. Ibern. ibid. cap. 6.    The deputy received intelligence in Dubt Hist. Cathol. ibid. c. 15. Relat. Gerald. c. 13. lin, that the earl of Desmond had passed into




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           485
Connaught with two hundred men, to join Baltinglass, who had taken up arms in the
the earl of Clanriccard's two sons who had, cause of religion, against the queen, wishing
taken up arms; that Viscount Baltinglass, to detach his neighbor the earl of Ormond
with the O'Byrnes, O'Morras, Cavanaghs, from the interests of Elizabeth, wrote him a
and Keatings, were collecting a great force; strong and interesting letter upon the suband that Munster, Connaught, and a part of ject. Among other things, he said, that if
Leinster, were under arms. He was great- holy Thomas of Canterbury had not died for
ly alarmed at the news; but the arrival of the Roman Church, he never would have
a hundred and fifty horsemen, and six com-r been earl of Ormond.*  Cambden adds, that
panies of infantry from England, gave him this nobleman was descended from a sister
fresh confidence. With this reinforcement, of Thomas a Becket, and that to expiate the
and his other troops, he scoured the territo- murder of the holy prelate, Henry II. had
ries of O'Faly, Fearcall, Kinalyagh, and Ely. bestowed large estates in the district of OrHe condemned O'Molloy, lord of Fearcall, mond on the ancestors of the earl.
to death as a rebel; the O'Connors Faly,   The deputy having gone to visit Munster,
MacGeoghegans of Kinalyagh, and O'Car- gave the government of the English province
rols of Ely, he appeased, and thus crushed during his absence to Loftus, archbishop of
the conspiracy in its cradle.*  The earl of Dublin, and to the earl of Kildare.t  These
Kildare, and his son-in-law, the baron of governors having met at Tara in July, 1581,
Delvin, who were suspected of holding cor- the earl set out, by orders of the council, at
respondence with Baltinglass and the other the head of two hundred horse and seven
Catholics, were arrested and given in custody hundred foot, to propose terms to Viscount
to Wingfield, master of the ordnance.  At Baltinglass; but having failed in this, he
the same time, the earl's friends persuaded withdrew. The enemy taking advantage of
his son, Henry Fitzgerald, to withdraw for a his retreat, burned the town of Newcastle,
while to the country of Offaly, from which in the county of Wicklow. In the mean
he derived the title of baron. He there fell time, the deputy on his way through Muninto the power of the O'Connors, who, for ster, appointed Captain Zouch governor of
his own safety, detained him against his will that province, and returned to Dublin through
till the fate of his father should be known. Connauglht.
The deputy sent the earl of Ormond to de-   Nicholas Nugent, chief-justice of the command him. The O'Connors at first refused mon pleas, having given some displeasure
to give him up; but fearing that by detain- to the queen, was removed, and Sir Robert
ing the young nobleman they might injure Dillon appointed in his stead. It was dethe father, they sent him to Ormond, who creed at this tirme that the cavalry should be
brought him to Dublin. He was then, to- placed in garrison, to prevent their being a
gether with his father the earl, and the burden to the public, and the prices of forage
baron of Delvin, sent to England, where all were regulated.
three were committed to the tower.         Zouch, governor of Munster, was in gar-.
A report was spread at this time of a rison at Dingle, where several of his men
conspiracy to surprise and seize the deputy died of sickness.  Having learned that the
in the castle of Dublin. Though this was earl of Desmond and David Barry were colnever clearly proved, the persons suspected lecting their forces near Achadoe, in the
were capitally punished; John Nugent, one county of Kerry, he marched with his army
of the barons of the exchequer, and several towards Castlemaine, and surprised the earl,
others, being put to death.             who was obliged to withdraw to a wood
Captain Rawleigh repaired to Dublin to called Harlow wood. At the same time,
complain of the Barrys and Condons in the Fitzgerald, commonly called the seneschal
county of Cork, and obtained a warrant to of Imokilly, made incursions in the neighseize on Barryscourt, and other estates be- borhood of Lismore, and being attacked by
longing to Barry, lord of that castle. Raw- a detachment from that garrison, he killed
leigh received a fresh reinforcement, and set twenty-five of them, and put the rest to flight.
out from Dublin to execute his commission. While Zouch was at head-quarters in Cork,
Barry being apprized of Rawleigh's design, an occurrence took place, disastrous both to
set fire to his castle, and the seneschal of religion, and to the earl of Desmond, who
Imokilly lay in ambush to intercept his defended it so gloriously. David Barry, and
march, so that Rawleigh was obliged to effect    Cambd. reign of Elizab. part 3, ad an. 1583.
his escape to Cork, sword in hand. Viscount Baker, Chron. of England, page 361. Cox, Hist.
of Ireland, page 367.' War. ibid. Cambd. Elizab. part 2, ad an. 1580.  t Ware, de Annal. ibid. cap. 23.




486                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Fitzgerald, seneschal of Imokilly, though in ceived a reinforcement of two hundred men,
arms for the common cause, had a dispute under Sir Henry Wallopps and Captain
which broke out into an open rupture at this Norris, marched towards Kerry, to check the
time, and destroyed the-harmony and union progress of the baron of Lixnaw, A. D. 1582.*
which ought to subsist between the sup- He retook Ardfert, Lisconnel, and other
porters of the same cause.              places which were abandoned by the baron
Barry and Fitzgerald were encamped near and having defeated a body of the enemy
Mount Dromphinin. on the right bank of the near Lisconnel, he proceeded to Limerick,
Blackwater, which falls into the sea at from whence he dispatched Captain Dowdal
Youghal.  Desmond and his brother John, in pursuit of that nobleman.  On coming to
who were posted on the opposite bank, were an engagement, the latter having lost a hunparticularly interested for the reconciliation dred and forty men upon the spot, was forced
of these noblemen, who were to share in the to retreat.  Dowdal revictualled his garriperils of the war; and John Desmond having sons with the booty he took, and placing a
undertaken to bring it about, repaired to the strong fence in Ardfert, returned to Cork.
camp for that purpose. Zouch and Dowdal  Notwithstanding his misfortunes, Deshaving learned, through a spy, that John mond again appeared near Athdare, at the
Desmond was to cross the river the day fol- bhead of a few troops, and attacked the garlowibg, on his way to the camp at Drom- rison of that town, in a sally which they
phinin, set out, during the night, from Cork, made. He killed several of their men, with
with a strong force. They arrived at break two of their officers, and obliged the rest to
of day at Castlelyons, and posted themselves take refuge within the fortress.
near a wood through which Desmond had to   Thomas Butler, lord of Cahir, was at this
pass.  This nobleman, not suspecting that time created a peer of the realm, with the
an enemy was so near, had the misfortune to title of lord-baron of Cahir.t  He was defall into their hands, with James, son of John scended from James, fourth earl of Ormond,
Fitzgerald, lord of Stonacally, who accom- and his second wife Catherine, daughter of
panied him.  Having refused to surrender, Garret Fitzgerald, earl of Desmond.  Lord
they were surrounded and taken by the Arthur Grey, deputy of Ireland, was recalled
enemy, and brought to Cork; but Desmond, to England in August; Adam Loftus, archwho was mortally wounded, died on the way. bishop of Dublin, and chancellor of Ireland,
His head was cut off and sent to Dublin, and Sir Henry Wallopps, treasurer of war,
where it was fastened to a pole and put upon being sworn in lords-justices in his stead.
the top of the castle; and his body tied to a About this time Doctor Sanders, or Sanderus,
gibbet on the gates of Cork, where it re- a native of England, and apostolical legate
mained for three or four years, till it was in Ireland, died. He led an exemplary life,
at length carried into the sea by the wind. and was particularly zealous in the Catholic
James Fitzgerald was put to death.      cause.t  He is styled a traitor and archAfter this expedition, Zouch surprised the rebel, by Protestant writers.  This holy
camp of David Barry, and dispersed his man, broken down by fatigue, and disaptroops, avenging thereby the garrison of pointment at seeing impiety triumphant, died
Bantry, which was put to the sword some of a dysentery in a wood, where he lay destime before by Barry and MacSweeny. titute of all relief.  He received the sacraTranquillity being restored to Munster, the ments from Cornelius, bishop of Killaloe,
troops in this province were reduced to four who continued with him to his last moments.
hundred foot, and fifty horse. They were,  The earl of Ormond landed at Waterford
however, soon obliged to increase them.* in January, with a reinforcement of four
Fitzmaurice, baron of Lixnaw, with his sons, hundred Englishmen, who were placed under
took up arms again to revenge some injuries the command of Captains Bourchier, Stanhe had received from the government, and ley, Barkly, and Roberts.  This nobleman
made himself master of Ardfert, putting the was also intrusted with the government' of
garrison, under Captain Achin, to the sword. Munster, by a commission from the queen.
He also took the castle of Lisconnel, and He obtained an increase to the soldiers' pay,
forced the troops who defended it to leap of two pence a day, by which he gained the
over the walls, and afterwards devastated love and confidence of the army.  His first
the districts of Ormond, Tipperary, and expedition was against the earl of Desmond.
Waterford, without meeting any opposition. Not satisfied with having renounced the reZouch, governor of ~Mu~nster, having rce-  X* War. ibid. cap. 24. Cox, ibid. page 371.
t Nichol's Rudiments of Honor.
e Hist. Cathol. ibid.           X Hist. Cathol. ibid. cap. 16.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          487
ligion of his ancestors, he also wished to de- towards the business of the state. Sir Nichstroy him by whom it was supported; apos- olas Bagnal, Sir Lucas Dillon, and James
tacy which was but too faithfully imitated by Dowdal, were sent to Ulster, with a commishis descendants.  Having received intelli- sion to settle the affairs of that province with
gence that that earl, and a few of his follow- the baron of Dungannon, and the deputies
ers, were in Harlow wood, he surprised and of Turlogh Lynogh and O'Donnel.
cut off several of them, dispersing the rest,
and forcing them to abandon their chief.
We have now come to the last year of the
life of Desmond, A. D. 1583. Finding himself
unassisted by the Spaniards, and deserted by      CHAPTER XLIII.
his adherents, he became a fugitive through
the country. On arriving in the county of PERsEcUTION,whichhad somewhat abated
Kerry, with a few followers, he took refuge during the war, began anew with increased
in a small house in the middle of a wood, severity after the death of the earl of Descalled Gleam-a-Ginkie, four miles from Tra- mond, and the other defenders of the Catholic
lee, where he was subsisted by plunder, and cause. It was enough to be an Irishman to
whatever Goron or Goffred Mac-Sweeny, be persecuted, and a Catholic to be crucified.
who was faithfully attached to him, could Their neighbors, the English Catholics,*
procure by hunting.*  Being surprised at were not exempt from the persecution.  In
length by his enemies, his head was cut off, order to form a rampart against heresy, esand sent to Cork, whence it was brought tablishments were founded in the Catholic
soon after to England, fastened on a pole, countries, for the education of youth, whose
and thus exposed to public view on the parents had not renounced the religion of
bridge of London.  Such was the end of the their ancestors. These were called seminaillustrious house of the Fitzgeralds of Des- ries.  William  Alan, educated at Oxford,
mond; the Maccabees of our day, who sacri- and a learned man, founded one at Douay in
ficed their lives and properties in defence of 1568, which was made a college. This house
the Catholic cause. Their tragical fate was was protected by the pope, who increased its
brought about by the treachery and wicked- revenue by an annual pension. The duke De
ness oftheircountrymen. James Fitzmaurice Guise founded a similar establishment at
was the victim of the Burkes of Castleconnel; Rheims, and Gregory XIII. instituted one
James Desmond was betrayed by the lords in Rome for the same purpose.
of MAuskerry; John Desmond fell into the   The Catholics of Ireland were as zealous
snares of the reformers; and Ormond had in the preservation of their faith as those of
the honor of ending the scene by the death England.  Protected by Philip II., king of
of this chieftain, the fifteenth earl of his Spain, they founded in the Catholic countries
family.t  His extensive estates, whose rev- seminaries for the education of their youth,
enue exceeded, at that time, four hundred in order to save themselves, and others, from
thousand crowns, having been surveyed by the contagion of heresy.  The college of
Sir Valentine Brown, Viscount Kenmare's Douay, in Flanders, was the first of these
ancestor, who was sent to Ireland for the establishments.  It was founded in 1596, by
purpose, were divided among the English the efforts of Christopher Cusack, a priest of
who supported the war against him, and the county of Meath, who applied his own
particularly the earl of Ormond, who had a patrimony and the contributions of his friends
large share in the spoils.              to this pious undertaking.t He assisted also
The Catholic lords who were engaged in in founding similar houses at Lille, Antwerp,
the same cause with Desmond, seeing the Tournay, and St. Omer; and was presidentunhappy state of affairs, thought of providing general of all. St. Omer is the only one
for their safety. James Fitzmaurice, viscount that does not exist at present.
Baltinglass,chief of the Catholics in Leinster,   France generously afforded an asylum to
withdrew to Spain, where he died soon after- these voluntary exiles,t and gave them a
wards. Some were won over by the queen's house on the hill of St. Genevieve. They
promises, and others submitted till a more were kindly received by the people of Paris,
favorable opportunity might arise.      who in this imitated their illustrious fellowTranquillity being in a manner restored citizen, John Lescalopier, baron de St. Just,
to Ireland, government turned their thoughts
* Cambd. ibid. ad an. 1580, p. 315, et seq.
* Relat. Gerald. cap. 24. Hist. Cathol. cap. 15.  t Harris, Hist. of Irel. vol. 2, p. 252, et seq.
War. ibid. cap. 26,                       t Messingham, Florileg. Insule. 55, Epistol. det Relat. Gerald. ibid.                dicat.




488                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
and president of the parliament.  This vir- deaux was first founded in 1603, by Francis
tuous nobleman and true Christian was de Sourdis, cardinal and archbishop of that
deeply affected for the state of religion in city. Louis XIV. granted an annual pension
Ireland, and much interested for the fate of to this house, and to that of Toulouse, at the
the Irish priests who were banished from solicitation of the queen his mother.
their country on account of their religion.   Other nations were equally zealous to
These were looked upon as martyrs for contribute their support to the religion in
Christ, and laborers destined to cultivate his Ireland.  Cardinal Ludovisius founded a
doctrine. They were brought by this illus- college for Irish students in Rome, in 1628,
trious Frenchman from an obscure dwelling, and endowed it with a yearly income of six
and settled in a more commodious place, hundred Roman crowns; and, in order to
while he was providing a regular seminary, enable the establishment to support a greater
and funds necessary for its support. Retire- number of students, he bequeathed to it a
ment was a favorite virtue of this pious and vineyard fifteen miles from Rome, and an
good man.  Every day that could be spared annual pension of one thousand crowns.
from public business, he passed with the Irish   Baron George Sylveria founded, at Alcala
exiles.  Devotion to God and his saints, the de Henares, a college for Irish priests., toconversion of heretics, the propagation of the wards the close of the sixteenth century. This
faith, and salvation of souls, were always nobleman was a native of Portugal, but an
favorite subjects of conversation between Irishman at heart - his mother was a Machim and these novitiates. He was frequently Donnel, and of Irish parents.  He endowed
with themin the refectory, where his humility this establishment with two thousand pounds
was such, that, forgetful of his rank as first sterling a year, and one thousand pounds for
magistrate of France, and as a proof of his the support of the chapel, which was dedirespect for the exiled clergymen, he always cated to St. George the martyr.
chose the last place at table. According as   At Seville there are two colleges: one a
they had completed their studies, and were royal establishment for the Irish, and dediprepared to return to their country, their, cated to the immaculate conception of the
illustrious patron, in order to prove their blessed Virgin. Sarapater,acanonof Seville,
capability, had them examined by Pere Binet, was one of its benefactors. The second, calla learned Jesuit of the time; he then himself ed St. Gregory's college, being dedicated to
presented them to Cardinal Retz, bishop of Pope Gregory the Great, who sent Augustin
Paris, to receive their mission from him; as apostle to England, was founded for the
after which they were furnished with clothes English, who have since abandoned it. It
and every thing necessary for the voyage, at belongs at present to the Irish.
his expense. This was the beginning of the   In 1582, there was a college founded at
establishment of the Irish house in Paris.  Salamanca for Irish priests, by the states of
The college of the Lombards being de- the kingdoms of Castile and Leon.  Its revserted by the Italians, the trustees conferred enues having decreased, Philip III. took.it
it upon the Irish students in Paris, by an act under his protection in 1610, and restored it.
dated 9th July, 1676, which was confirmed   The Irish priests have a seminary in Lisand ratified by letters patent in August, 1677, bon, founded in 1595, by Ximenes, who was
and registered in the parliamentof February, interred there. Mass is offered every week
1680. This college, which was in a state of for the repose of his soul. Cardinal Henriruin, was rebuilt by the united care of two ques founded, about the same time, a college
Irish ecclesiastics, Maginn and O'Kelly; the for Irish priests at Evora, dedicated to St.
former abbot de Tulles, the latter, prior of Bridget. It afterwards fell into the hands
St. Nicholas de Chapouin. In memory of of the Jesuits.
this service they are acknowledged by the   These seminaries were filled with learned
agents of the college as its restorers. These ecclesiastics, who, after they. had completed
two benefactors were authorized to rebuild their studies, returned to their own country
it, and obtained, for that purpose, letters to console the faithful, and administer to
patent, dated March, 1681, and registered them spiritual assistance,in which they were
the 19th August of the same year.       seconded by the truly apostolical zeal of the
Seminaries were also established in Bour- Jesuits. These establishments did not fail to
deaux, Toulouse, and Nantes, for the Irish;* attract the attention of the English court;
the two former under the patronage of Queen theywere considered as very dangeroustothe
Anne of Austria. The seminary of Bour- government, and opposed to the reformation
of the church. In order to remedy this, an
* Harris, ibid.           edictwaspublished, commanding all who had




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                              489
children, wards, or relations in foreign coun- the queen, who would appoint him to the
tries, to send, within ten days, their names to see of Cashel; but the holy prelate's persethe judge of the district, to recall them within verance in the ancient religion, and firm
four months, and present them immediately adherence to the authority of the- vicar of
on their return, to the said judge.  By the Jesus Christ, caused the most cruel tortures
same edict, it was prohibited to send them to be inflicted upon him.  He was hanged
money; and everyone was strictly forbidden on the seventh of June, without the city,
to receive these seminarians or Jesuits into before daybreak, in order to avoid any tuhis house, or to support, nourish, or relieve mult which so inhuman a spectacle might
them  in any manner, under pain of being produce among the people.
considered rebels, and punished according   About this same period we discover two
to the laws.  In consequence of this pro- celebrated martyrs, Gelasius O'Culennan,
clamation, several priests,Jesuits, and monks, abbot of the monastery of Boyle, of the orsuffered martyrdom with Christian fortitude, der of St. Bernard, in the county of RosamongwhomwerethetwocelebratedJesuits, common, and Owen O'Melkeren, a priest.
Personius and Campianus.                  These ministers of Christ, after long and
Dermod O'Hurly, archbishop of Cashel, cruel sufferings, were hung in Dublin, on
was the first martyr this year in Ireland.* the 1st of November, for that cause which
He studied at Louvain and in Paris with the archbishop of Cashel had supported to
celebrity; and was the professor of law in his death.  In order to avoid a tedious dithe former of these universities; he went gression, we must here refrain from giving
afterwards to Rome, where he was kindly a circumstantial account of all those who
received by Gregory XIII., who appointed suffered- martyrdom  in Ireland  from the
him archbishop of Cashel.  Fullof zeal for commencement of the Reformation.  In the
the salvation of his brethren, he set out, after course, however, of this history, we will
his consecration, for Ireland, where he found meet many, both in this and the succeeding
all things in a state of anarchy.  The see of reigns, although certain English writers
Cashel was held by Miler Magrath, an apos- affirm, with their usual effrontery, that Elizatate monk of St. Francis:t the altars were beth never interfered with the religion of
overthrown, the Catholic clergy left with- her subjects.*
out an asylum, and were forced to assume   Sir John Perrot was sent deputy to Irewomen's apparel.  All, however, did not di- land, in June, 1584. His commission, which
minish the zeal of the new bishop of Cashel. he was to retain according to the queen's
He taught in the Catholic houses, and con- pleasure, authorized him to make peace or
firmed the faithful in their religion, making war; to punish or pardon any crime, except
no distinction of province or diocese.S Being that of high treason against her majesty and
with Thomas, lord-baron of Slane, in the that of forgery; to issue proclamations, imcounty of Meath, he was recognised by the pose fines, dispose of the estates of the rechief-justice of the King's Bench, who sent bels, exercise martial law, and convene parintelligence of his discovery to Adam Lof- liaments with the queen's consent. He had
tus, the chancellor, and Henry Loftus, the the appointment of all officers, except the
treasurer, who were at the head of the gov- chancellor, treasurer, the three principal
ernment.~  They immediately gave orders judges, and the master of the rolls.  He;
to the baron to send them the prelate in had also the right of conferring livings, exchains. He had, however, escaped, but the cept archbishoprics and bishoprics; and, in
baron, dreading the rigor of the laws en-:fine, he possessed power over every thing
acted against those who harbored priests, relative to government, and the administrapursued him as far as Carrick-on-Suir, where tion of justice.t
he was arrested in September at the eail of   In order to become acquainted with the
Ormond's, and brought a prisoner to Dub- affairs of Ireland, the deputy spent eighteen
lin.  He was loaded with chains and con- days in consultation with the privy council,
fined in a dungeon till Holy Thursday of which was composed of the archbishop of
the following year, when he was brought Dublin, the chancellor, the earl of Ormond,
before the chancellor and treasurer.  They treasurer, the bishops of Armagh, Meath,
tried every means to make him renounce the and Kilmore, Sir John Norris, president of
pope's authority and acknowledge that of Munster, Sir Henry Wallopp, treasurer of
~ Hist. Cathol. ibid. cap. 19.      war, Sir Nicholas Bagnal, knight-marshal,
t War. de Arch. Casseliens.
1    Hist. Cathol. ibid.                        * Baker, Chron. p. 359.
~ Analecta Sacra, part 3, page 48, et. seq.     t War. ibid. cap. 26.
[W                             ~~~~~~~~~~~62




490                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Robert Gardiner, chief-justice, Robert Dil- tire with their troops to Glancomkeane, durlon, chief-justice of the common -pleas, Lu- ing which time General Norris and the baron
cas Dillon, chief-baron, Nicholas White, of Dungannon plundered, without mercy,
master of the rolls, Richard Bingham, chief the estates of Ocahane, and carried off a
commissioner of Connaught, and Sirs Henry booty of two hundred oxen.  About one
Cowley, Edward Waterhouse, Thomas Le- hundred, however, of his army were cut to
strange, Edward Brabazon, Jeoffrey Fen- pieces by Brian Carrow's men, and subseton, secretary of state, Warham St. Leger, quently about the same number, who had
and Valentine Brown. The deputy having been sent to succor the first body. Norris
made himself fully acquainted with the state -himself was wounded, and Oliver Lambert
of Ireland, laid down his plan of govern- made prisoner on the lands of Ocahane.
ment, and sent over James Fitzgerald, son   The time passed in mutual skirmishes beof the earl of Desmond, to- England. The tween the Ulstermen and the English; viccountess, his mother, had given him as a tory being sometimes in favor of one party,
hostage to Drury, the deputy, who confined sometimes of the other. Meriman, an Enghim in the castle of Dublin.           lish captain, made great booty: while Norris
Perrot set out from Dublin in July, to surrounded the wood of Glancomkeane,
visit the provinces of Connaught and Mun- plundering at the same time the estates of
ster. On his arrival in Galway, he en- Brian Carrows. The deputy marchednorthdeavored to reconcile the lords of that pro- wards to besiege Dunluce, and sent his arvince, and settle their disputes. Thence he tillery by sea for that purpose, to Portrush,
proceeded to Limerick, where he learned an island near the coast: whence it was
that the Scotch allies of Surly Boy Mac- brought to the camp before Dunluce. It
Donnel, amounting to a thousand men, had may be easily inferred, that a place not
made a descent on Ulster. He also discov- provided with cannon, could make but a
ered a rebellion to be hatching in Munster feeble resistance. Donfert soon afterwards
by O'Neill, and obliged those whom he sus- shared the same fate, which obliged Surly
pected most to give hostages. He confided Boy to surrender and give hostages.
the government of the county of Cork to   The deputy having left two hundred inJudges Walsh and Miagh, the sheriff, Sir fantry and fifty cavalry in garrison at ColeWilliam Stanley, and the Lords Barry and raine, returned to Newry about the end of
Roche. He placed the provost-marshal over September. Turlogh Lynogh gave him up
Limerick, and appointed the earl of Clan- the son of Shane O'Neill, as a prisoner.
carty, Sir Owen O'Sullivan, and O'Sullivan Conn, son of Neil Ogue, or the young, lord
More, to the government of Desmond. He of Clanneboy, was forced, by orders of the
left Kerry to the care of the sheriff, Lord deputy, to surrender half of his estates. The
Lixnaw, and the president of the province, government of Ulster was divided between
and returned to Dublin in August.      Turlogh Lynogh, baron of Dungannon, and
The deputy was now preparing for an Sir Henry Bagnal, after which the deputy
expedition into Ulster. Having collected a returned to Dublin in the month of October.
thousand infantry, and some light troops,  In April the parliament was convened in
with the militia of the province, he marched Dublin. The deputy was desirous to introto Newry, in the county of Down, attended duce the English dress among the Irish
by a great number of officers and noblemen. nobles. To this they were opposed, as they
He confirmed the truce which had been pre- deemed a conformity in apparel as a mark
viously agreed upon between the govern- of their subjection. To induce them to comment and Turlogh Lynogh, Magennis, Mac- ply, the deputy presented English costumes
Mahon, Turlogh Brasilogh, and other Irish to Turlogh Lynogh, and other Irish noblelords of that province, from whom he re- men. One among them jocosely observed
ceived hostages. The deputy having learned to the deputy, " you will then give my chapthat the Scotch islanders were at Lough lain permission to walk the streets with me
Foyle, in the northern extremity of the pro- in petticoats, and the rabble will laugh at
vince, sent a fleet to disperse them; but the him as well as at me;" to which the deputy
Scotch, being informed of his intentions, set gravely replied, that order and decency resail, and gained their own coasts in spite of quired that conformity in dress.
the English admiral. The deputy, accom- Eastern Brefny was divided into a barony;
panied by Ormond and other nobles, pro- it has since been called the countyof Cavan.*
ceeded on the right bank of the river Bann, The parliament which assembled in Dublin
where he laid waste the lands of Brian Carrows, and forced him and Surly Boy to re-        * Ware, ibid. cap. 27.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          491
had amnong those who composed it, four from attending the assizes held by him in
archbishops, and twenty bishops, Protestants  Sept., at Doneymoney, in the county of Mayo.
of course. The other members were, the Among this number were two of the Burkes,
earls of Ormond, Kildare, Tyrone, Thuo- who withdrew with their families to a castle
mond, Clanriccard, and Glencar; the vis- situate in an island in lake Mask. With the
counts Buttevant, Gormanstown, Fermoy, design of surprising them, Bingham crossed
and  Mountgarret; the barons Athenry, the lake in boats, with a troop of armed men;
Kinsale, Slane, Delvin, Killeen, Howth, they were, however, vigorously repulsed by
Trimleston, Dunsany, Upper Ossory, Louth, the Burkes, who forced them to retreat preCurraghmore, Inchiquin, Castleconnel, and cipitately to their boats; and so great was
Cahir. The lower house was but thinly at- the confusion, that Bingham threw himself
tended, as not more than twenty-six towns into the water, and escaped with difficulty.
had returned their representatives. Several His treatment of Feargus O'Kelly was
laws were enacted, among which was the equally cruel. To-avoid his persecution, this
Baltinglass act, by which James Eustace, nobleman was forced to seek an asylum in
viscount Baltinglass, and his brothers Ed- the woods, with his followers, from whence
mond, Thomas, Walter, and Richard, were he made frequent incursions upon the reaccused and convicted of high treason. Their formers. The treacherous governor, deceivproperties were consequently confiscated.* ing him with false promises, received him
An act was also passed to enable Laurence into favor. O'Kelly was not, however, perde la Hide of Moyglare, in the county of mitted to enjoy peace long. Bingham sent
Meath, to succeed to the estates of his grand- a force to besiege him in his house on Christfather, Sir Walter de la Hide, which were mas-day, while he was at supper. O'Kelly
confiscated in the reign of Henry VIII. being alarmed, got his family safe through a
After this the parliament was prorogued to subterranean passage that led to a considerthe 29th of May.                        able distance from the house; he then askPrevious to the meeting of this parliament ed to speak with the commander through a
it was discovered, by an investigation held window, where, after reproaching him for
in Cork, that several lordships belonging to his perfidy, he shot him, and a soldier who
the crown were usurped by different indi- stood by him. After this the enemy set fire
viduals:t thus, the estate of Cloghroe was to his house, but O'Kelly had the good fortaken possession'of by one Lombard, con- tune to escape through the passage also.
stable of the castle of Dublin; and Callen,  The persecution was equally severe in the
or Glynn, between Cork and Kinsale, was other provinces. Norris, president of Munusurped by Richard Roach of Kinsale.  It ster, did not yield to the governor of Conappeared also that the lordship of Kinel- naught in cruelty.*  The Catholics were
meaky, which Barry Ogue then farmed, for- hunted in all directions. It may be observed,
merly belonged to the crown, and paid rent'to that whatever might have been Elizabeth's
the exchequer, and that O'Mahown Carbry hatred towards them, she was ably seconded
had seized on it in the middle of the fifteenth by her ministers in Ireland, who laid their
century, under the protection of MacCarty snares to make the most innocent appear
Riagh, to whom he surrendered half, and guilty. The two MacSweeneys, Gelasius
that Canogher O'Mahony was in possession and Bernard Fitzgerald, of the house of
of it when he lost his life in the rebellion Desmond, and Donald Macrah, all nobleof Desmond.                             men of Munster, were inhumanly put to
The great severity which was practised death. Daniel MacCarty, son of the prince
in Connaught by Sir Richard Bingham, the Muskerry, Dermod O'Sullevan, of the house
governor, gave great displeasure to the nobles of Beare, and many other nobles, were
of that province.4  Many of the Catholic obliged to be continually under arms, to declergy and laity were put to death: O'Con- fend themselves against those sanguinary
nor Roe, aged eighty years, was hanged, men, or to wander in the mountains and
notwithstanding the nobility of his birth; woods to escape their pursuit.
several of the O'Connors, Burkes, O'Kellys,   The parliament which had been convened
and other noblemen, shared the same fate. the preceding year, met again in April, 1586,
This mode of acting was called by the Eng- and was dissolved in the month of May follish, "good government."  The tyranny of lowing, after having passed several acts.t
the governor prevented many of high rank Those mentioned in the eighth and ninth
~ Irish Stat. 27th of Elizab. reg. p. 373, et seq. chapters of this sitting are most interesting.
-1 Cox, Hist. of Ireland, pages 382, 383.  * Hist. Cathol. ibid. c. 22.
t Hist. Cathol. ibid. cap. 21.            t Book of Irish Statutes, p. 403, et seq.




492                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
The first gives an account of the suits against Thomas Duff Butler, earl of Ormond, had
the late earl of Desmond and his adherents, a considerable portion of Desmond's estates
in the war he had carried on against Eliza- in the county Tipperary bestowed on him;
beth, with the confiscation of their estates, a recompense but too well merited for his
and contains the names of many nobles and services against, and his cruel persecution
gentlemen who had lost large possessions for of that nobleman.
their attachment to the Catholic faith. In   The estates of Desmond being thus disthem is to be found a list of about one hun- posed of, circulars were sent into the counties
dred and forty proprietors stripped of their of England to invite the younger sons of
possessions in Munster alone; a thing un- families to come and take possession of other
precedented in the history of Europe, if we estates that were confiscated.  One of the
regard the extent of the province, but still conditions was, that they should hold them
inconsiderable when compared to the numer- in fief, at three pence per acre, in the counous confiscations under James I., the tyrant ties of Limerick, Connillo, and Kerry, and
Cromwell, andtheprinceof Orange, through- at two pence in those of Cork and Waterout the several provinces of the kingdom, on ford, and that'no Irishman should be sufferaccount of their faith. It is this, perhaps, ed to reside on them.
that has merited for the Irish the character   The tyranny of Bingham, governor of
of " gens flecti nescia;" a nation that will Connaught, forced the Burkes to act again
not bend, which, indeed, is their true charac- on the defensive. For this purpose the Clanteristic with respect to religion.  The ninth Donnells, the Joices, and other tribes of the
chapter of the above statutes contains the province, were gained over to their party,
act of confiscation against John Browne of and the castle of lake Mask, generally called
Knockmonhie, and of several of the nobility, the castle of Necally, or of Thomas Roe,
for the same cause.                     was fortified.  Bingham was at the time
Numbers of Englishmen, invested with laying siege to the castle of Clan-Owen, in
commissions either in the armies or magis- Thuomond, which Mahown O'Brien,the lord
tracy, came at this time to glut their avarice, of the district, who was more attached to the
and seek their fortunes in Ireland. Without Catholic cause than his namesake the earl,
mentioning any other, the estates of the earl was commander of. The castle of Clanof Desmond were equal to satisfy many of Owen was not sufficiently strong to maintain
these adventurers. These estates lay in the a siege against so powerful an enemy, but
counties of Limerick, Cork, Kerry, Water- O'Brien would not surrender, and died in
ford, Tipperary, and Dublin, and the yearly defending it. The castle was then razed to
income from them amounted to upwards of the ground.  Bingham  after this marched
seven thousand pounds-an immense sum to besiege the castle of Necally, where he
at that time. The queen wishing to colonize was checked in his career. Having arrived
Munster with Englishmen, ordered a certain at the borders of the lake, he summoned the
number of acres in the following counties to garrison to surrender, and offered them a
be distributed among them. Sir Christopher general pardon for the past. The besieged,
Hatton received estates in the county of however, replied, that they looked upon the
Waterford; Sir Walter Raleigh, in the coun- castle as their best security, and would not
ties of Cork and Waterford; Sir Edw. Den- trust to the promises of an Englishman.
ny, Sir William Harbart, Charles Harbart, Bingham,incensed with their reply, embarkJohn Holly, Captain Jenkin Conwey, and ed his troops in boats, and approached the
John Campion, in the county Kerry. Estates island where the castle stood,which was diffiwere likewise given in the county of Cork cult of access. The soldiers, on their landing,
to Sir Warhain St. Leger, Hugh Cuffe, Sir were thrown by the besieged into the sea, so
Thomas Norris, Arthur Robins, Arthur Hyde, that Bingham, after witnessing the loss of his
Edmond'Spencer, Fane Beecher, Hugh boats, and seeing several of his men killed,
Worth, and Thomas Say; in the counties of considered himself fortunate to escape with
Cork and Waterford, to Richard Bacon; in a part of his forces. The besieged, dreading
the county of Limerick, to SirWilliam Court- a second attack, which might prove more
ney, Francis Barkley, Robert Anslow, Rich- successful than the first, abandoned the lake,
ard and Alexander Fitton, and Edmond Man- and got safe to shore,where they were joined
waring; Sir Edward Fitton received estates by many of their friends. We discover at
in the counties of Limerick, Waterford, and this time a striking instance of the treachery
Tipperary;'William  Trenchard, George and dishonorable conduct of Bingham
Thorton, Sir George Bourchier, and Henry Richard Burke,one of the chief confederates,
Bollingsly in the countyof Limerick. L'astly, or as the English term them, rebels, being




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                         493
desirous of making peace with the govern- O'Donnel, and an English captalin named
ment, submitted to Bingham, with a promise Merriman, having learned that the Scotch
to be loyal to her majesty. Bingham re- intended to surprise Strabane, marched the
ceived his submission; but under a pretence whole night in order to prevent an attack.
that Burke would betray him, he had him The -following morning they arrived in prearrested and condemned to death.       sence of each other; but the Scotch general,
Complaints of the tyranny of Bingham in by his imprudence, lost the victory, with his
Connaught having been sent to Perrott, the life. He sent a proposal to Merriman, who
deputy, orders were given to grant protection commanded the English, to decide the battle
to the Burkes and other rebels of the pro- by single combat. The latter accepted the
vince. Bingham, incensed at this order, re- challenge; but to secure the victory, a gladipaired to Dublin to have an interview with ator who took the name of Merriman, was
the council, at which mutual recriminations chosen to fight Alexander.  The combat
took place between the deputy and himself; having begun with equal animosity, the
but on hearing that the rebels in Connaught Scotch general was first wounded; but
had recommenced hostilities, he returned. Merriman was the victim of his master's
He found the province in a state of confusion; dishonor, being killed upon the spot. The
the Clandonnells and Clangibbons having English captain perceiving his adversary
joined the Burkes, whose courage was raised exhausted from his encounter with the glaby the arrival of two thousand Scotch. His diator, entered the lists, sword in hand, to
first step was to send commissioners to the the great astonishment of Alexander, who
rebels, to propose terms of peace, and to thought his enemy had been defeated; They
learn the cause of their disturbing the coun- fought for some time; but Alexander having
try. They answered, What have we to do with received a dangerous wound in the leg, was
this Calliagh (bastard) —meaning Elizabeth obliged to yield to the Englishman, who had
-we have been very silly to have so long sub- his head cut off, and sent to Dublin to be 
mitted to a womain, -c.  The'governor im- exposed to the public view. The Scotch
mediately collected his forces at Ballinrobe, being left without a leader, lost their courage,
where he was joined by the earl of Clan- and abandoned the field to the enemy.
riccard, Bermingham, O'Kelly, and others.  The success of Sir John Perrott in the
His measures were guided by the movements government of Ireland, did not secure him
of his enemy, who, after many marches and against his enemies. Loftus, archbishop of
countermarches, encamped at Arnare, on Dublin, and chancellor, manifested much
the River Moy, in Sligo, where they were resentment towards him, on account of his
surprised and cut to pieces by the English. wish to apply the revenues of St. Patrick's
The deputy was alarmed at the intelligence church to the support of the university: he
he had received, that the Scotch islanders was also constantly opposed in council by
had made a descent in the north; and sent Marshal Sir Nicholas Bagnal, Fenton the
orders to the baron of Dungannon to oppose secretary, Bingham, governor of Connaught,
them, till he would repair thither in person. and others, so that his best acts were unTirlogh Lynogh O'Neill was now too old for dervalued by the court.
service. Perrott, in the mean time, collected   The deputy still dreading a revolt of
his troops, and set out from Dublin for U1- O'Donnel, and other noblemen of Ulster who
ster, in June.  On arriving at Dungannon, refused to give him hostages, in order to
he was received by the nobles, who came to allay his apprehensions, bethought of an exoffer him their services. He found that a pedient worthy of a pirate or a robber, desbody of four hundred Scotch islanders had titute of all honor or good faith.*  He sent
arrived, under the command of Alexander,' to Dublin for a merchant, called John BingsonofSurlyBoyMacDonnel, and werejoined ham, whom he ordered to freight a vessel
by some of the natives, commanded by Ogue with wine and other merchandise, on board
and Hugh Mac-Felim, sons of Conn Mac- of which were fifty armed men. He then
Neill, O'Kelly, Mac-Cartan, and other no- sent word to the captain to sail towards the
blemen of the province.  They intended to coasts of Tyrconnel, and to stop in some of
assemble in the county of Antrim, but were its ports, as if to sell his cargo, but to enharassed by Captain Stafford, who forced deavor to decoy young O'Donnel on board,
them to cross the River Bann to Tyrone. and bring him to Dublin. This plan sucThey, however, recrossed the river, and ceeded according to the deputy's wishes.
withdrew towards Dunluce, and from thence The vessel cast anchor in Lough Swilley,
to Inisowen, where they were joined by- a  * Hist. Cathol. ibid. cap. 24. Pet. Lombard, de
fresh reinforcement of Scotch. Hugh Duffe regno Hibern. comment. c. 24. War. ibid. cap. 31.




494                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
on the borders of Tyrconnel. The report and imprisoned in the tower. It was then
was soon spread, and every one, either to that the pretended ordination occurred at the
purchase goods or through curiosity, repaired Nag's Head tavern, so called from the head
on board. Among the number was Hugh, son of a horse being the sign of the house. The
of Magnus O'Donnel, prince of Tyrconrnel, Irish prelate was offered his liberty and a
aged fourteen years, accompanied by Eugene great reward, to ordain the false bishops of
MacSweeny, lord of Tueth, MacSweeny of the reformation; but this he firmly refused.*
Fanid, and Sir Eugene O'Gallachuir. The He died after a long imprisonment in the
captain of the vessel, delighted with their tower of London, A. D. 1585. Edmond Tanvisit, received them with attention; but what ner, a nativeof Ireland, doctor in theology,
was their surprise on finding themselves con- and contemporary of Richard Creagh, wrote
ducted by armed men into the hold of the commentaries on a work of St. Thomas.
vessel; while they were weighing anchor.   Other authors were also born in Ireland
The nobles who belonged to O'Donnel's suite about this time.  Among them we find John
obtained their libertyby giving hostages; and Usher, mayor of Dublin; Nicholas Walsh,
the captain, content with his spoil, sailed for bishop of Ossory; and John O'Kearney,
Dublin, where he gave up the young prince treasurer of St. Patrick's Church, Dublin.
of Tyrconnel, and the hostages, to the dep- Richard Stanihurst, already mentioned, was
uty, who had them confined in the castle. the author of many works.  After studying
Though the news of the taking of young for some time at Oxford, he returned to
O'Donnel was pleasing to the English in Dublin, his native city.  Although deeply
general, it was looked upon by all honorable connected with the Protestants, being the
men as a trait of black perfidy and punic maternal uncle of the celebrated Usher, he
faith.*                                  belonged to the Catholic church, and, to
Perrott applied, long before this, for his practise his religion with more freedom, left
recall. ]Finding a powerful faction raised his native country and retired to the Netheragainst him, who labored to blacken him in lands. There lie lost his wife, after which he
the eyes of the court, he wrote an urgent embraced holy orders and became a priest.
letter to the queen, begging that she would Being well known for his great learning, he
exonerate him from  the commission of the was appointed chaplain to Albert, archduke
lord-lieuternancy. The princess paid atten- of Austria, at that time governor of the low
tion to his request, and appointed Sir Wil- countries.  Besides his Essay on the affairs
liam Fitz-\William to succeed him. Perrott, of Ireland, which has been already alluded
on his return to England, was imprisoned to, and which is the least considerable of his
for some offence, in the tower, where he works, he wrote, in his youth, a workl entitled,
died suddenly.                           "Hacrmonia  seu catena dialectica in PorSome Irish authors flourished at this time. phirium."  This was first printed in folio in
According to Stanihurst, Thomas Long, pro- London, in 1570, and 1579, and subsequently
fessor of canon and civil law in the univer- at Lyons and Paris.  Ile wrote two books
sity of Paris, wrote some tracts in Latin. on the life of St. Patrick, printed at AntOne was entitled, "De speciebus contra men- werp in 1587.  He also composed a work,
dacem Monachum;" the others, a Disserta- which was printed at Antwerp in 1609, and
tion on Aristotle; and a Select Thesis on was called "t ebdomada Mariana," which
some points of law, dedicated to Charles signifies, the week of Mary, taken from the
cardinal de Bourbon.                     orthodox fathers of the Roman Catholic
Richard Creagh, a native of Limerick, church, in memory of the seven festivals of
also lived at this time. He studied at Lou- the blessed Virgin Mary, and arranged for
vain with applause, and received the order each day in the week. After this he wrote
of priesthood. He went afterwards to Rome, a work entitled, " Itebdomada Eucharistica,"
where he was consecrated by the pope arch- which was printed at Douay in 1614.  He
bishop of Armagh. He was author of some wrote also. a description of Ireland, which he
works, viz: a Treatise on the Irish Lan- dedicated to Sir Henry Sidney, who was deguage, an Ecclesiastical History, a Book   * "They importuned, with vehemence, a certain
of Controversy, a Chronicle of Ireland, the Irish archbishop, whom they had in prison in LonLives of some Irish Saints, and a Catechism don, to assist them in their difficulty, and offered
in the Irish language.  By orders of the him rewards and his liberty, if he would preside
English government, this holy prelate was over the ordination of these men. But the good
at length arrested on account of his religion, archbishop could not be prevailed upon to lay his
sacred hands on the heretics, or to be an accessory
to the sins of others."-Sanders on the English
* Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.   Schism, b. 3, p. 297.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            495
puty of the kingdom; it was published by any of the preceding wars undertaken for
HIIollingshed.  He translated the first four the same end.  Before-we enter upon a cirbooks of Virgil's IEneid into heroic verse; cumstantial detail of this war, it will be nethis work was printed in London in 1583, cessary to make known the state of affairs
with some of David's Psalms, and other cur- in Ireland, and the character of the inhabitsory pieces in Latin and English. He corn- ants at that time.
posed a tract on the principles of the Catho-   The Irish Catholics founded strong hopes
lic faith.  In i615 he published, at Douay, on the promises of the Spaniards.  The
a Latin work entitled "Brevis Prtmunitio," latter indeed sent them some assistance, but
&c.; or short premunition, on a book written it was inconsiderable, and disproportioned
by his nephew Usher, called an Historical to the undertaking.  They were better supExplanation, &c. Richard had a son named ported by James VI. of Scotland, who, either
William  Stanihurst, born at Brussels in to revenge the death of his mother, Mary
1601; he entered into the order of the Jesuits Stuart, who was executed after a captivity
at the age of sixteen.  The great number of nineteen years, or to secure to himself the
of works which he published made hiin right of succeeding to the thrones of Engvery celebrated.  A catalogue of them  by land and Ireland, secretly afforded help to
Sotvellus is to be met with in the library the Irish, who were opposed to the court.
belonging to the society of writers.      As the want of union is generally fatal to the
Daniel O'Malone, a friar of the order of beot cause, so the ambition of some of the
St. Jerome, and professor of theology in the Irish chiefs induced them to prefer their own
college of Bologna in Italy, published some interest to the general good.  Some were
Latin works which were printed at Venice, seduced by titles of honor; others were
and afterwards at Douay and Antwerp.    attached to the English court through politThadeus O'Dowling, a learned doctor in ical views, while others, fearful of success,
theology, and chancellor of the church of continued neutral.*  The house of Desnmond
Leighlin, has given his " Anzales breves -i- was now extinct.  Ormond and Thuomond,
bernice," and an Irish grammar, which may two of the most powerful in Munster, had
be found in the library of Trinity College, embraced the reformed religion.  They reDublin.                                  ceived many favors for their attachment to
Thadeus Dunn appears, says Harris, in the court, and knew how to turn the mishis 13th chapter of writers, to be a native of fortunes of their neighbors to their own adIreland. HIe was a physican of Locarno in vantage. DanielMacCarrha, prince of ClanSwitzerland, where he lived in exile for his carrha and earl of Valentia, was more devoted
religion.  A work on medicine, and a chro- to pleasure than to war. Being advanced in
nological treatise on the sojourn of: the years, he cultivated the friendship of the
Israelites in Egypt, -have been written by English, and wasted his patrimony in enterhim.  These works were printed at Tiguri taininlg them. His sole desire was to be perin Switzerland.                           mitted to live a Catholic.  Dermod and
Donogh MacCarthy were at variance about
the sovereignty of Alla; O'Sullevan, prince
of Beare, was contending with Owen his
CHAPTER  XLIV.                 paternal uncle; Ulick Burke, earl of Clanriccard, after he had killed his brother John,
IN 1588, the last war which the Catholics of became devoted to the English court, which
Ireland had to maintain against Elizabeth he strove to conciliate towards him; the
and the whole array of English sectarians, other branches of the Burkes of Connaught
commenced.  This was called the war of were disputing about the lordship of ClanTyrone, because the earl of that name was williams. Tegue O'Rorke quarrelled for the
the chief leader; it was long and bloody. possession of the principality of Brefily with
Philip O'Sullevan, in his Catholic history, his elder brother.  Manly of the nobility of
calls it Bellum  quinzdecem  annorun —the Leinster who were well disposed to oppose
fifteen years war.  It began in the thirty- heresy and usurpation, were already broken
first, and ended in the forty-fifth year of down by repeated wars in theirown districts,
Elizabeth's reign, which was also that of her and bereft of all power to aid the common
death.  This war raged with all the fury cause; Viscount Baltinglass, who had sacrithat national enmity, and an ardent zeal for ficed all for his religion, had died in Spain.
religion could excite.  From the plans that No confidence was placed in the earl of Kilwere adopted, it promised to be more favorable to the cause of religion and liberty than    X Hist. Cathol. Ibern. tom. 3, lib. 1, cap. 6.




496                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
dare, on account of his being brought up in lowed, the sway of the English would have
the principles of the reformed religion. From been inevitably destroyed in Ireland.  The
these causes have-arisen the disunion among Ultonians are to this day the victilns of their
the Irish, and the consequent misfortunes of own zeal, through the degeneracy of those
that unhappy country.                   whose ideas were less generous than their
The Catholic History of Ireland furnishes own.
a list, of all the principal Irish, ancient and
modern, who abetted or opposed this war. The ancient Irish whlo foughtfor the CathoThe author calls them princes, and introduces           lic fcith.
the provinces in order, commencing with
Munster.  Those who, in opposition to re-  In Ulster. -Hugh O'Neill, prince and earl
ligion and their country, espoused the cause of Tyrone, and his adherents, namely, Maof the queen, are first given.          gennis, prince of Iveach, Mac-Mahon, prince
of Uriel, Mac-Guire, prince of Fermanagh, I
Thle modern Irish princes who supported the O'Cahane, prince of Arachty, James and
interests of the queen.       Ranald Mac-Donnel, princes of Glynn, and
O'Hanlon, prince of Orior.  O'Donnel,
In Munster.- Thomas Butler, surnamerr prince of Tyrconnel, and his adherents, viz.,
Duff, or the Black, earl of Ormond; Barry Mac-Sweeny, princeof Tueth,Mac-Sweeny,
the great, Viscount Buttevant; Mac-Pieris prince of Fanid Mac-Sweeny, prince of BaButler, baron of Dunboyne; Courcy, baron nach, O'Dogherty, prince of Inisowen, and
de Courcy; Burke, baron of Castleconel, the O'Buills, or Boyles.
and his son Richard; Theobald Burke, son   In Mlnster.-O'Sulleran, prince of Bere
of Richard, surnamed Naval, a claimant to
t~heprincipality ofClanwilliam; MacPheoris and Bantry; Daniel O'Sullivan More, or the
theprincipalityofClanwilliam; MacPheoris, Great, whose father, prince of' Dunkeran,
or Bermingham, baron of Dunmoris.'was exonerated from any share in the war,
In Leinster. —Henry,William, and Gerald on account of his great age; O'Connor KerFitzgerald, earls of Kildare; St. Lawrence, ry, prince of Arachlty; Donogh Mac-Carty
baron of Howth.                         Mac-Donogh, son of Cormac, and Dermod
In Meath.-Preston, Viscount Gormans- Mac-Carty Mac-Donogh, son of Owen,
town; Nugent, baron of Delvin; Fleming, both claimants for the principality of Alla;
baron of Slane; Barnewal, baron of Tri- O'Driscol, prince of Cothlie; O'Mahony of
melstown; Plunket, baron of Louth; Plun- Carbry, O'Donovan, O'Donoghoe of Onachket, baron of Dunsaney; Plunket, baron of te, O'Donoghoe of the Gly
Killeen.                                te, O'Donoghoe of the Glynn.
In  Connaught.-O'Rourke,'prince  of
The ancient Irish princes who supported the Brefny; Mac-Dermod, prince of Moy-Lurg;
cause of the queen.   O'Kelly, prince of Mainech.
In Leinster. —Though the principal men
In Munster.-Donagh O'Brien, prince of in this province were attached to the queen's
Limerick, earl of Thuomond;  MacCarty cause, several of the ancient nobles took up
Riagh,prince of Carbry; Charles MacCarty, arms in defence of the faith, particularly
son of Desmond, baron of Muskerry; Mor- the Cavanaghs, O'Connors Faley, O'Mord- I
rough O'Brien, baron of Inchiquin.      has, or O'Morras of Leix, and the O'Byrnes.
In Connaught. —O'Connor Don, prince of  In Meath.-Mageoghegan, a prince.
Magherry Connaught.                       The example of the latter was followed by
In Meath.-O'Melachlin, a prince.      some other nobles in Munster, of English
origin,* viz., Roche, viscount of Fermoy;
Our author, in giving the names of the Richard Butler, viscount of' Mountgarret;
ancient and modern Irish who espoused the Mac-Moris, or Fitzmaurice, baron of Lixcause of Elizabeth, adds the Anglo-Irish who naw; Thomas Butler, baron of Cahir; Patwere settled in Ulster, which he calls the rick Condon, a prince; Richard Purcel,
royal, or English faction.  He next enume- baron of Luochne; Williaml   Fitzgerald,
rates those that fought against the enemies knight of Kerry and lord of Rafinnan; Edof religion, whom he names the Irish and mond Fitzgerald, called the White Knight.
Catholic party. He begins with Ulster, be- All these we have already mentioned were I
cause the inhabitants of that province were in possession of. their estates when they
the chief actors in the war. The men of took up arms in defence of the faith.  Some
Ulster were,in fact, more zealous in the cause estranged themselves from the court party,
of religion and liberty than any of the other
provinces.  If their example had been fol-          * Hist. Cathol. ibid.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           497
at the cost of their properties, and espoused became a general favorite. The queen, who
the Catholic cause; namely, Florence and considered him as a useful instrument to reDaniel Mac-Carty, to whom the principality duce Ireland, loaded him with honors. He
of Clancarrha belonged for - some time;lwas, by birth, baron of Dungannon; but in
O'Connor, prince of Sligo; James Fitzger- order to abolish the title of O'Neill, which
ald, earl of Desmond; Mac-William Burke; was considered so superior to every other,
Raymond Burke, baron of Leitrim; and she conferred that of earl of Tyrone on him,
Owen O'Morra.                           and ordered him to take his seat in parliaSeveral nobles, equal both in birth and ment. With a design of serving his country,
virtue to those already named, though not the earl acted cautiously towards the queen
chiefs of tribes, espoused  the Catholic by seeming to embrace her views.
cause,* namely, Niallgarve O'Donnel, Cor-   Tyrone had a strong relish for war. Durnelius O'Driscol, Dermod O'Sullevan, Fiach ing his stay in England, he studied the miliO'Birne, Cormac O'Neill. Cornelius O'Reil- tary science with considerable success.'
ly,. Dermod  Mac-Carty Riagh, William On his return to Ireland he received the
Burke, Bernard O'Kelly, Richard Tirell, command of two regiments, consisting of
Bernard O'Morra, Walter Fitzgerald, Der- six companies, whom he trained to the art
mod O'Connor, Peter Lacy, Edmond O'Mor- of war, and according as they became well
ra, James Butler, Morrough Mac-Sweeny, disciplined, sent them home with rewards.
Ulick Burke, Daniel Mac-Sweeny, Richard Those dismissed were replaced by others,
Mageoghegan, Marnus Mac-Sweeny, Mau- who were instructed in like manner.  He
rice O'Sullevan, Thadeus O'Mahony of gave fire-arms to the country people also, to
Carbry, and many other powerful lords.   induce them  to hunt, and thereby made
It is strange, however, that all the ancient them expert in the use of them; so that, in
and modern Irish, who abetted the cause of a short time, almost the whole province was
heresy, were Catholics, with the exception trained to arms.  He obtained the consent
of three or four who had embraced the re- of the council to bring over plates of lead
formed religion.t  The latter were guided from England, under pretext of roofing a
by their principles, the former by a blind castle he was building at Dungannon; and
respect for the shadow of legal authority. the merchants, who were desirous of making
As soon as Fitzwilliam had received the a profit by the transaction, exceeded the
sword of justice, as deputy of Ireland, care privilege which had been granted, by sendwas taken to make him doubt the sincerity ing over larger quantities. Tyrone had the
of Tyrone. This prince, called Hugh O'Neill, lead converted into bullets.  Besides the
was son of Fardorach, baron of Dungannon, private depots which were to furnish the
whom English writers call Matthew, and wants of the troops under his orders, he had
grandson of Conn O'Neill, on whom Henry others, into which he secretly collected proVII. conferred the title of earl of Tyrone. visions and warlike stores.  Such were the
Both in respect to birth and fortune, Hugh measures adopted by him, while he waited
O'Neill was undoubtedly one of the first no- for a favorable opportunity to raise the
blemen in Ireland.t If to these advantages standard of revolt-measures which proved
we add that of his having been a good citi- his skill as a general.
zen, he surpassed them all. He was descend-   The first cause of Tyrone's quarrel with
ed, by uninterrupted succession, from sev- Elizabeth, was the hospitality with which
eral monarchs of Ireland.  St. Patrick, the he received some Spaniards that were cast
apostle of this island, found the supreme by a storm upon the coasts of Ulster.  A
sceptre in the tribe of the Hy-Nialls, in the misunderstanding prevailed for a long time
beginning of the fifth century, in which it between Philip II., king of Spain, and the
continued to the usurpation of the provincial queen of England. Treaties of peace were
kings in the beginning of the eleventh. often entered into between them, and as freO'Neill was also the most powerful prince quently broken off. The sovereignty of the
in landed property, money, men, and arms, Low Countries had already been wrested
not only in his own province but in all Ire- from Philip by the States of Holland, under
land.  His mind was just, and had been the advice of William,- prince of Orange,
carefully formed in the best schools in Ire- and transferred to the duke d'Anjou. Queenl
land, and subsequently in England, where Elizabeth assisted Philip's rebellious subhe frequented the court for'some time, and jects, of whom Alexander Farnese, prince
X Hist. Cathol. Ibern. ibid.
t Hist. Cathol. Ibern. ibid. cap. 3.  * Petrus Lombard, ibid. War. de Annal. Hib.
t Pet. Lombard. de Hib. Comment. cap. 24.  cap. 36.
63




498                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
of Parma, was named governor, and, on the coast of England.  The fleet stationed
the other hand, Philip sent aid to the Cath- at Plymouth set sail immediately, and in
olics of Ireland against Elizabeth.     the course of six days three battles were
Such was the state of affairs, when a fought with unequal success.  The Spantreaty of peace was proposed, this year, iards, hoping to receive assistance from the
between Spain and England.  A certain prince of Parma, cast anchor opposite Canumber of commissioners, appointed on both lais.  The Spanish admiral dispatched a
sides, assembled with this object at Ostend, courier to the prince, with orders to join the
but came to no conclusion.  Philip, finding fleet with his troops, and, in the mean time,
these negotiations unavailing, turned his to send him some cannon balls, of which
thoughts to war, and determined to make a he was in extreme need. This the prince
descent upon England. -For this purpose could not accomplish, being blockaded in
he equipped the most formidable fleet that his own ports by Seymour, who was, at the
had been ever known, from whence it was same time, about to join Admiral Howard's
called the invincible armada.*  This fleet squadron.
consisted of one hundred and thirty vessels   Besides this, the boats which were built
of various sizes, having on board nineteen being in a leaky condition, were not in a state
thousandtwo hundred and ninety troops,eight to put to sea.  The expedition was fatal to
thousand and fifty sailors, two thousand and the Spaniards, but the English, according
eighty men from the galleys, and two thou- to their national characteristic, boast too
sand six hundred and thirty pieces of can- highly of their success. The Spanish fleet
non. The prince of Parma, governor of was in the beginning shattered by a violent
the Low Countries, received orders to hold storm, and on the coast of Britain it was
himself in readiness, with the fifty thousand disappointed of the succors that were exmen he commanded, and to have boats of a pected from the Low Countries, with which
crooked form, and deep in the centre, (each hope the expedition had been principally
of which was to contain thirty horses,) con- undertaken.  In their battles withn the Engstructed.  With these boats he intended to lish, the Spaniards were in want of amnmuconvey his army to the mouth of the Thames, nition; their fleet, too, consisted of large
at the time of the intended arrival of the ships hard to be managed, without frigates
fleet from Spain.                       or small vessels, so necessary in an engageOn the other hand, all the measures ne- ment. The advantage was entirely in facessary to oppose the designs of the Span- vor of the English. Their vessels were
iards, were adopted. Admiral Lord Charles superior in number, and their force of every
Howard, and vice-admiral Sir Francis Drake variety; besides which they were on their
had orders to repair on board the fleet at own coasts, and had every thing requisite
Plymouth.  Lord Henry Seymour, at the for their fleets.
head of forty English and Dutch ships, was   All hopes of succeeding on the shores of
appointed to guard the coasts of the Low England being destroyed, the Spanish adCountries, to prevent the prince of Parma miral sailed for Spain through the Orkneys.
from sailing.  The land forces were sta- When coasting round the north of Ireland,
tioned along the southern coast, under the his fleet was wrecked, whereby he lost more
command of the earl of Leicester, who men and ships than in his battles with the
established his head quarters at Tilbury, English. -The disappointment evinced by
near the mouth of the Thames. The ports Philip when informed of this circumstance,
of Milford, Falmouth, Plymouth, Portland, and of the defeat of his fleet, was mildly
the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, the mouth expressed with these words, " I sent them to.
of the Thames, Harwich, Yarmouth, and fight against men, not with the elements."
Hull, were fortified, and strongly garrisoned.  The Spaniards who escaped the fury of
Matters being thus prepared on both sides, the waves were hospitably sheltered by the
the Spanish fleet, commanded by Don Al- Irish nobles, and among others, by O'Neill of
phonso, duke of Medina Sidonia, and Jean Tyrone, O'Rorke, MacSweeny, &c. CambMartin Recalde, vice-admiral, sailed from the den incorrectly and maliciously says, that
Tagus on the 20th May.  Soon after sail- many of the Spaniards were put to death on
ing the fleet was dispersed in a violent gale. this occasion by the Irish.  His account in
Having, however, collected the vessels again this accords with the atrocious murders that
with difficulty, they appeared in July on the queen's minister in Ireland committed
at the time, who sought out the Spaniards
* Cambd. Elizab. part 3, ad an. 1588. Baker, everywhere, and had about two hundred of
Chron. of Eng. reign of Elizabeth, p. 374.  them put to death.  His cruelty in this was




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           499
not, it is said, approved of by the queen. longing to the crew of a Spanish vessel
The same minister persecuted likewise which had foundered on the coast of Sligo;
many of the Irish who afforded an asylum and being summoned by the deputy to deliver
to the Spaniards.                       them up to her majesty's ministers, he replied,
A remnant of the Spaniards who were that neither his honor nor religion allowed
cast upon the north coast of Ireland, divided him to surrender Catholics who had implored
themselves and proceeded into the country his protection, to be put to death. In the
parts to seek relief.  Some of them, with mean time, to secure them against the furtheir captain, presented themselves to Hugh ther pursuits of their enemy, he sent them to
O'Neill; this prince received them with so Tyrconnel, to Mac-Sweeny of Tueth, who
much kindness, that the soldiers expressed had already hospitably entertained Antonio
aneagerness to continue in his service. The de Leva, and nearly a thousand men, who
captain being recovered from his fatigues, put to sea soon afterwards, but were unhaptook his leave of O'Neill and set out for pily lost within view of the shore.*
Scotland, from whence he might pass with  In order to punish the supposed disobegreater security to the Low Countries, and dience of O'Rourke, Bingham, governor of
from thence to Spain.  Being in company Connaught, marched against him with a
one day, he boasted of the goodness, the strong force,both English and Irish. Among
humanity, and liberal disposition of Prince the latter was Ulick Burke, earl of ClanricO'Neill.  One of the company, jealous of card.  O'Rourke, who had but two hundred
the praises that were lavished by this officer men commanded by Mac-Sweeny, surnamed
upon O'Neill, formed a slight intimacy with Muracha Na-Mart, who had come from Munhim, and gaining hi~ confidence, observed, ster, and about the same number of vassals,
that if he had any letters to send to O'Neill, who were hastily armed, was attacked at
he would, with pleasure, undertake to de- Droumdhathic. Unable to resist so superior
liver them, as he was going to Ireland. The a force, especially as Muracha was woundSpaniard, not suspecting his wicked design, ed, by which he lost an eye, he was forced
gave him a letter wherein he avowed his to retreat.  Being thus driven from his disgratitude and remembrance of his kindness- trict, he was forced to resort to the goodness
es; offering him, at the same time, his ser- of Mac-Sweeny Tueth, who received him
vices with the king and the court of Spain. with generosity. After this he proceeded to
This faithless messenger, whom Cambden Scotland, with the hope of obtaining succor
calls Hugh Gavalerc, and others Conn Mac- to enable him to recover his possessions;
Shane, natural son of Shane O'Neill, instead but James VI., king of Scotland, having
of going to Ireland, proceeded straight to Lon- previously made peace with Elizabeth, notdon, where he gave up the Spaniard's letter withstanding her barbarous treatment of his
for O'Neill, to the council. He added, that mother, Queen Mary, had O'Rourke arrested,
O'Neill was secretly plotting against the in violation of all the sacred rights of hospiqueen, and had given letters to the Spanish tality towards a man whose only crime was
officer for the king- of Spain, in which he his having exercised that virtue to men in
sought assistance against her; and that the distress, whom the most inhuman could not
offers of service which this Spaniard had view in the light of enemies. This monarch
made to him, appertained to the same end. sent him in chains to Elizabeth, who ordered
When the above information was given him to be hanged at Tyburn, without even
against O'Neill, an order was sent to him, in the form of a trial. When O'Rourke's last
the name of the queen and council, to appear hour was approaching, he was visited by a
at court in order to clear himself.  O'Neill, Protestant bishop, who exhorted him to condesirous of retaining the confidence of the form to the religion of the queen and of the
court for some time longer, repaired to Lon- state; but all his importunity could not shake
don in May, 1590, attended by a retinue the faith of that illustrious man, who firmly
suited to his rank, and pleaded his cause so replied: Remember from what you yourself
ably that he was judged to be innocent, in have fallen; think of returning to the church,
spite of the treasurer, William Cecil, who that you may regain the grace of God: asfor
possessed great influence, and was equally me, I shall die in the religion which you have
hostile to the Catholics and the Irish nation. deserted.t
The prince of Tyrone being reconciled to   Rossa Boy MacMahon, chief of the noble
the queen and council, returned to Ireland. tribe of the MacMahons of Monaghan, havO'Rourke, prince of Brefny, was not so ing died without issue, Aodha Rua, or Red
fortunate as the prince of Tyrone.  He had     * Hist. Cathol. ibid.
afforded shelter to three hundred men be-      t Petr. Lombard, ibid. p. 344.:.                  J~~



500                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Hugh MacMahon, his brother, succeeded to which were frequented by foreigners. They
his title and estates;* but having cause to produced many persons who were celebrated
dread the other branches of that tribe, name- for their sanctity and profound erudition, and
ly, Patrick, son of Art Moil MacMahon, supplied several universities in Europe with
Ebhir, or Iber, lord of Fame, and Brien, son the best professors; but much of this celebof Hugh Ogue. lord of Dartry, who were pow- rity was lost by the invasiopi of the English
erful and aspired to the succession, he ap- in the'twelfth century.* These new-comers,
pliedtoWilliam Fitzwilliams,the lord-deputy, intent upon amassing wealth, no longer
and promised him seven hundred oxen if he thought of the engagements which had been
would interpose his authority, and secure to entered into between their sovereign and
him the right of his ancestors. This iniqui- Adrian IV.-viz., to restore religion in Iretous judge, wishing to benefit.by the division land, and reform the morals of the inhabitthat prevailed between the MacMahons, be- ants; an engagement which, though groundgan by taking possession of Monaghan, the less and absurd, was the only plea for their
chief town of their principality.  He put a usurpation.  On the contrary, they labored
sheriff, or judge, with a strong garrison, into to abolish all learning, whereby the minds of
it.  He then divided some of the lands be- the people would be enlightened and their
tween Hugh the Red and Patrick MacMahon, morals cultivated, by forcing the inhabitants
leaving to the former the title of MacAMahon; to exchange science for war, in order to deand lastly, he adjudged to Iber and Brien the fend their patrimonies.  A proposal being
lordships of Farne and Dartry, with which once made to the council of England, to
they were to be content.  Such was the de- found a university in Ireland for the instruccision of an English minister, who, like the tion of youth, one of the principal members,
monkey with the oyster in the fable, took who was also a bishop, opposed it strongly.t
care to reserve the better part of the spoils One of his friends expressing his surprise
for himself.  All further complaints were on seeing a Catholic bishop frustrate so holy
interdicted.  MacMahon, however, having'and salutary a measure, the prelate answered
expressed some dissatisfaction, and having that he had not decided as a bishop of the
refuised to pay to the deputy what he had Catholic church, but as a senator of England.
already promised, the latter accused him of It was the policy of England to deprive the
some pretended crime; and in order to give Irish of every opportunity to polish and iman appearance of justice to his proceedings, prove the people, and in ordei to render
he appointed twelve jurors to try him, with them contemptible, to suffer them to fall into
orders, however, to find him  guilty.t  The the grossest ignorance.  This cruel policy
jurors, with some idea of honesty, exclaimed forced the nobility of the country to send
against an order so unjust, the result of their children to foreign countries to learn
which must be to sway their opinion, and a knowledge of the sciences which were
make them to condemn, contrary to their denied them at home.
conscience, an innocent man.  Twelve oth-   Queen Elizabeth was the first to infringe
ers, who proved to be less scrupulous, were upon this policy, which had been observed
then appointed, by whom MacMahon was during four centuries.  She founded a colcondemnedto death. Theinhuman sentence lege in Dublin for the encouragement of
was carried into execution at Monaghan. Protestantism, which it was intended should
His estates were confiscated, and a great part be introduced into Ireland, A. D. 1591.  In
of them given to Sir Henry Bagnall and Cap- order to anticipate her majesty's intention,
tain Henslow; the remainder was divided be- Adam Loftus, Protestant archbishop of Dubtween some branches of the MacMahons, on lin and chancellor of Ireland, called a meetcondition of their paying an annual tribute, ing of the mayor, aldermen, and citizens, at
and a vessel of wine to the deputy.  This the exchange, where he delivered an impresmatter was subsequently made the subject sive discourse on the necessity of restoring
of complaint against him to the council of the sciences; and represented to them, that,
England, from which he had some difficulty if they would promote so valuable an underto clear himself.  Brien, lord of Dartry, re- taking, and give, for that purpose, the old.
covered all those estates afterwards, and monastery called All Saints, which had been
was acknowledged chief of the MacMahons. granted to them  by Henry VIII., on the
According to the best authors, Ireland was suppression of religious houses, it would be
celebrated in former ages for her schools,
Venerab. Bed. Hist. Eccles. Passim. Cambd.
* Hist. Cathol. ibid. vol. 2, lib. 4, c. 23. Petr. Brit. p. 730. Usser. Prim. Eccles.
Lombard, ibid. pages 341, 342.             t Pet. Lombard, Comment. de Req. Hib. cap. 18.
t Petr. Lombard, ibid. page 342          t War. de Annal. cap. 33, 34, 35.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           501'
pleasing to the queen. This proposal was would at length have subsided on his part,
unanimously approved of, and Henry Usher and that of his allies; and that he, with other
deputed to obtain from the queen the patents Christian princes, would unite with us after
necessary for its fouudation, which were im- the war which he had kindled would end, to
mediately granted.  Loftus repaired to the establish a general peace. But we now find
exchange to thank the magistrates, on the that the contrary has arisen, and that the
part of her majesty, whose letter he showed warlike preparations which he, the king of
them. Workmen were employed to pull Spain, hath made, are of the most extensive
down the monastery, on the site of which a and formidable character. The God of arhandsome college was erected, and dedicated mies, however, has been pleased to permit,
to the blessed Trinity. Thomas Smith, then that those who cannot live content with their
mayor of Dublin, laid the first stone. This condition, and in peace, fall by their own imcollege was erected into a university by a prudence into disasters and distress; and we
charter, dated 30th of March, 1592. William therefore discover that this king, who has
Cecil, baron of Burleigh, grand-treasurer of possessed dominions and wealth of greater
England, a knight of the order of the garter, magnitude than any of his predecessors, or
and secretary of state, was the first chancellor any other monarch in the world, and who
of Trinity College; Adam Loftus first pro- has declared an unjust war against France
vost; Luke Challoner,William Daniel, James and us, by plotting during two years, the
Fullerton, andJames Hamilton, were the first destruction of our realms, has fallen, together
fellows; and the celebrated James Usher, with his army, into disappointment and ruin.
or Usserius, Abel Walsh, and James Lee,   " It is now obvious to us, that the king of
the first bursars. This foundation was con- Spain, in order to add a new appearance to
firmed in 1638, by a charter from Charles I., his rash and extraordinary measures, has
who caused regulations to be drawn up for lately caused a Milanese, his own subject, to
the government of the college, and the disci- be raised to the popedom, and has influenced
pline to be observed in it. Michael Morus, him to apply the treasures of the church to
or More, of the celebrated tribe of the the raising of troops in Italy and other
O'Morras of Leix, was the last Catholic pro- countries, (which are free from war,) for the
vost of this college. In the time of James purpose of sending them under the command
II., he was forced to surrender that dignity of his nephew into France, to take possession
on account of his religion, and share the same of that kingdom, which has always assisted
fatewithhisking. He wentto Rome,where the church in her necessities.  This war,
he became acquainted with Cardinal -de which has been undertaken with so much
Noailles, who became so attached to him, care and splendor both by sea and land,
on account of his erudition, that he brought must necessarily affect our kingdoms and
him  to Paris.  He became rector of the our crown.
university in that city, and president of the  " We are likewise convinced that this king
college of Navarre, where he died.      has, for the purpose of establishing his deThis year was remarkable for the cele- signs through the influence of the pope, so
brated declaration or edict which Elizabeth disposed to favor him, entered into treaty
issued against the ministers of the Catholic with some chiefs who have been our ungratereligion.* It is filled with invectives against ful subjects, and linked in rebellion with the
the king of Spain, and the pope, the priests, people, who, influenced and paid by the king
seminarians, and Jesuits. Ecclesiastics, and of Spain, enrolled themselves in great numall who received them into their houses, were bers; some from necessity, and some to escondemned to pay heavy fines, under an cape the punishment due to their crimes and
absurd pretext of high treason, which con- perfidy.  To maintain and support them in
sisted in their refusal to embrace the re- their pursuits, certain places called seminaformed religion, and acknowledge Elizabeth ries have been established in Spain and at
supreme head of the church. The follow- Rome, where they become instructed, and
ing is a copy of her edict:             after they are made conversant in the arts
"Although we have had for thirty-three of sedition, are secretly sent back into our
years, during which God hath secured to us kingdom, well supplied with money from the
a peaceful reign, sufficient cause to hope that pope, to influence all with whom they treat,
the strong and wicked malice of our enemies, to renounce their allegiance to us, under a
particularly the king of Spain, (who has hope of being assisted by the Spaniards,
without provocation disturbed our kingdom,) who would load them with the riches and
spoils of our faithful subjects.
Relat. Girald. cap. 26, page 171, et seq.  "For these objects the priests oblige, by




502                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
an oath, our people with whom they hold these men have provided their patrons with
intercourse, to renounce their allegiance to a list of names of those who have espoused,
us and transfer it to the king of Spain; like- or would espouse their cause, particularly in
wise, to aid his army on their landing, and the maritime parts of our kingdom, and
the more effectually to accomplish their pur- would join the standard of the Spaniards on
pose, they impose on a credulous people, by their landing.  Although the pope and king
saying that bulls have been obtained from of Spain must be aware that the advices and
the pope, whereby indulgences and a promise opinions of these men are frivolous and
of heaven are held out to those who will false, still they are looked upon as fit instrurange themselves under their standard, and ments to keep the people attached to their
that those who will act in opposition, are wicked designs, and many of them have
loaded with curses, with threats of hell, and been-, within the last ten or twelve months,
condemnation.                           secretly dispatched into England. to assure
" And although such attempts of the pope their adherents, (as has been made known
have been long practised in some countries, to us through some who have been lately
we have saved our kingdoms from their in- arrested,) that in the ensuing year, the entire
fluence by the efficacy of the laws enacted forces of Spain will be directed against Engagainst rebels and those guilty of high trea- land. Some, however, of the Spanish counson, and not against religion, as has been cil, more prudent than the rest, seeing that
falsely advanced by the favorers of these no important advantages would attend such
base views; which is the more flagrant from an enterprise, think that France or the Low
criminal suits having been instituted, in Countries, Scotland or Ireland, whither some
which none were condemned or put to death seminarians have been sent for this object,
except for treason, and for their avowal, would afford better hopes and prospects of
that they would aid and assist the pope and success to the Spanish arms.
his army if sent to invade our realms.    " Though convinced now of the inten"It is a matter also of notoriety, that tions and designs of Spain against us, still
none of our subjects have been put to death we doubt not but God, who is the profor their religion, inasmuch'as many pos- tector of the just cause, will, as he has
sessed of riches, and possessing a contrary already done, defeat them. It is the duty
belief to ours, are punished neither in their of us, therefore, who have received the throne
properties, their lives, nor their freedom, from the hands of the Almighty, to use all
and are subject only to pay a certain fine for the means within our power, under the ditheir refusal to frequent our churches; vine protection, and with the help of our
which is on our part a clear refutation of faithful subjects, to make the laws available
the aspersions and calumnies that have against rebels, so that by increasing our
been propagated in foreign countries, by forces, we may crush the power of our enethose who have fled from their own.     mies.
" Notwithstanding all this, we know for   " First, we require that the clergy of our
truth, that some leaders in these receptacles church take care, by their doctrine and excalled seminaries, or Jesuitical colleges, have ample, to instruct the people in the gospel,
again endeavored to influence the king of and in their duties to God and to us, particuSpain to make new attempts upon Ireland, larly as some rebels, with their chiefs, are
by promising to assist his army on their land- continually endeavoring, by means of their
ing, with many thousand men, although his seminaries, to seduce the simple and unsusfleet had met with signal disasters in its pecting.
first attempts at invasion. Though prudence   "Secondly, with respect to our armies by
and experience of the past should show this sea and land, intended to suppress those exking how inefficient his plans against Eng- traordinary forces which are to come from
land must ever be; still he has been solicited Spain, we hope, that by the good orders we
to renew his efforts, under similar false have given, we shall resist our enemies more
promises and misrepresentations.        effectually than we have yet done: still we
"The king of Spain's particular adviser is earnestly entreat our subjects to assist us
a theologian named Person, who endeavors with their resources in men and money, and
by such means to gain the Catholic king's with their advice, and to pray that God will
favor, and succeed in becoming his confes- protect our cause, which is that of nature,
sor; similar information has been conveyed honor, and necessity, and which we have
to the pope through another theologian undertaken for the safety of our country, for
called Alan, the reward of whose trea- the safety of your wives and children, your
chery towards us has been a cardinal's hat: properties and freedom, against those cruel
and avaricious despoilers.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           503
"Thirdly, in order to defeat the secret tors and rebels, and likewise will be deemed
machinations of these seminarians, Jesuits, their abettors and accomplices, in faith of
and other traitors, who are urging the king which we ordain, expressly and firmly, that
of Spain to his present designs, and under a no favor or respect be shown to either rank
garb of sanctity, insinuate themselves into or dignity; and finally, that no neglect be
the minds of our subjects, and encourage tolerated in those who have not discovered
them to rebel; we have determined to send traitors, or used their exertions for the discommissioners immediately to all the coun- covery of them; which so far from being
ties, provinces, towns, villages, and seaports contrary to law, are in accordance with the
of our kingdom, with orders to make every most ancient laws and customs of our kingnecessary effort for the discovery of such dom, for the maintenance of that obedience
characters as thinlk that any obedience what- which is due to us and to the stability of our
soever is due to the pope or to the king of government.  Given at our palace of RichSpain.                                  mond, on the 18th of October, 1591, in the
"Being aware that several of these semi- thirty-third year of our reign."
narians, disguised in female attire, enter our   The above declaration is founded on false
kingdom, and by assuming the name of for- reasoning. Elizabeth alleges that high treaeigners, gain admittance into the universi- son alone was punishable by death: still, she
ties, courts of princes, and the families of condemned those who refused to take the
noblemen, we expressly command each and oath of supremacy, to death, and deprived
every one, of what rank, sex, condition, or them of their estates, their refusal being
dignity soever they be, even the officers of considered as an act of high treason.  She
ourhousehold, the ministers and magistrates, conceals her venom and bad faith under an
the heads of families, and pastors, to search appearance of justice, resting the proofs of
carefully for all who, within the last fourteen her innocence on the cases of some of her
months, have frequented their houses, and rich Catholic subjects, who were condemned
have lived, slept, eaten with, or labored for to pay a fine only when they omitted attendthem, or may labor for them  in future; ing the churches of the reformers; but she
also to give a return of their names, rank, has neverbeen accusedof having condemned
and quality, their birthplace, and where all her Catholic subjects to death on account
they have lived for a whole year before they of their religion.  Her fury was levelled in
came to their houses, on what they subsist, particular against the clergy who were ophow they have been employed, what places posed to the reformation, while the rich
they frequented, and those with whom they compounded matters by suffering in secret,
keep intercourse, and if, at the periods pre- and escaping her tyranny, by paying a sum
scribed by law, they have attended divine of money.
service in our churches.                  About the year 1592, eleven priests and'We likewise command that these inqui- Jesuits were arrested in Connaught and
ries, with the answers given them, be corn- Munster, among whom was Michael Fitzmitted to writing by the heads of each family, simon, a priest, and son of an alderman of
and that they be carefully preserved, in order Dublin.*  They were brought to Dublin,
that they may be resorted to by our commis- and accused, in presence of the deputy, of
sioners as they may think proper, both for having been concerned in the rebellion of
the discovery of doubtful characters, and to Baltinglass.  This was the pretext made
convince themof the correctness and loyalty use of, but their real crime was, that they
of the fathers of families.             preached against the reformation, and the
"Should anyhesitate to answer, or appear supposed supremacy of Elizabeth, which was
to waver in their testimony, it is our will that then high treason. Michael Fitzsimon was
they be forthwith arrested,  and brought hanged in the public market-place.
under a strong guard to the nearest com-   The horrid fate of Hugh MacMahon, chief
missioner; and, tihat the sanme measure be of the ancient tribe of the MacMahons of
enforced against the heads of families, who Monaghan, which has been already menwill manifest omission or lenity in their in- tioned, alarmed the neighboring noblemen,
vestigations: and that our commissioners who, each in turn, expected the same treatshall punish, according to the degree of their ment.t  Hugh MacGuire, prince of Fermaoffences, such as may be known to have nagh, was particularly affected by Macfavored suspected persons, or to have neg- Mahon's untimely end. The deputy having
lected giving them up within twenty days sent a sheriff to his district without his conafter the publication of this decree.  They    Ware, ibid.
shall be subject to the same penalty as trai-  t Peter Lombard, ibid. cap. 24, pages 243, 244.




504                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
sent, he collected his forces and prepared to break.  It was then the depth of winter, the
defend himself.  This English magistrate roads were bad, and they were obliged to
was called Willis, and was followed by two take by-paths, in order to escape the purhundred men, women, and children;* and suit of their enemies, so that they suffered
instead of discharging the duties of his of- great fatigue and hardships before they ar-I
fice, he pillaged the country, and raised con- rived in Ulster.
tributions everywhere.  Maguire marched   Hugh O'Donnel, prince of Tyrconnel,
against him, and forced him and his follow- called by the Irish Bal Deargue O'Donnaill,
ers to seek safety in a church, where he from a red spot on his body, was next to
would have put them all to the sword, had O'Neill in point of power.  Though not
it not been for the interference of' Tyrone, twenty years of age, he was remaiskable for
who saved their lives, on condition that his prudence and other virtues, particularly
they would quit the province.           for his zeal in the Catholic cause.  On his
Thomas Jones, Protestant bishop of Meath, arrival in Tyrconnel, his father being far
sent a minister of his church, about this time, advanced in years, gave him up his own
to the abbey of Cluaincois, or Clunes, in the right; whereupon he was unanimously
territory of Monaghan, to preach the refor- elected, and crowned prince of Tyrconnel,
mation.t The zeal of this minister was not by O'Pheile, who was the minister of that
confined to the people in the neighborhood ceremony in the family of O'Donnel.
of the abbey. He proceeded to the districts   As soon as O'Donnelwas in possession of
of Fermanagh, where he gave the Catholics the principality, he generously determined to
considerable uneasiness about their religion, use all his power against the enemies of his
by endeavoring to force them to embrace religion and country.*  The first time he
the reformation. He intimidated those who signalized himself in their cause was when
persevered in their faith, by accusing them Captain Willis made some inroads on the
of high treason, and thus became master of estates of Tyrconnel.  This officer having
their estates.  However, his tyranny was of entered the district with a few troops, enshort duration, as he was burned in his house, deavored to raise contributions. The prince,
with all his retinue. The suspicion of the however, marched against him, and forced
government immediately fell on Maguire. him to seek safetyin an oldmonastery, where
He was summoned to appear before the he was immediately surrounded bythe troops
English judges, but as he would not acknow- of Tyrconnel. The Englishman finding himledge their authority, he refused to obey, self hemmed in, and without any hope of
and had recourse to arms, whereon he was succor, implored the clemency of the prince;
proclaimed a traitor.                   who generously gave him  his freedom,
In the mean time, Hugh O'Donnel, Daniel on condition of his telling those who had
MacSweeny, surnamed Gorm, and Fluan sent him that the queen and her lieutenants
O'Gallachur, were arrested by stratagem, as treated the Irish unworthily; that they imwe have already observed, and imprisoned piously profaned the Catholic religion, and
in the castle of Dublin, A. D. 1594.$  After were cruelly persecuting the ministers of
a close confinement of nearly seven years, Jesus Christ; that they were degrading the
they found means to escape with Henry and Catholic nobility, and that, instead of adminArt, sons of Shane O'Neill, and Philip istering justice, they were continually comO'Reilly.  Fiach O'Birne, the implacable mitting abuses, and usurping the estates of
enemy of the English, and young Edward others; and lastly, that he would not allow
Eustace, of the illustrious house of Baltin- his people to pay tribute any longer to the
glass, contributed greatly to their escape. English.  O'Donnel having dismissed the
These noblemen having gained over the English captain and his men, thought of sejailers, sent the illustrious captives a piece curing allies to defend the common cause.
of linen, as if for clothing.  O'Donnel cut it He took care to conciliate the principal nointo strips, which he tied together, by means blemen of the country towards him, all of
of which they all descended at midnight, whom were branches of the house of Tyrsafely into the trench, except Art O'Neill, connel;t namely, Eugenius MacSweeny of
who was dangerously wounded by a stone Tueth, DonatMacSweeny of Banach, Daniel
that fell from the wall, and of which he MacSweeny of Fanid, John O'Dogherty of
shortly afterwards died.  Thus delivered Inisowen, the O'Buildhils,or Boyles, of Boyfrom prison, they left the city before day- lagh, and many others. O'Rourke of Brefny,
* Ware, ibid. cap. 36.                  * Pet. Lombard, ibid. p. 348. Ibid. p. 351.
t Hist. Cathol. Ibern. vol. 3, lib. 2, cap. 6.  t Hist. Cathol. ibid. cap. 6. Pet. Lfombard, ibid.
I Hist. Cathol. ibid. cap. 4.         page 345, et seq.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          505
who sought an opportunity to revenge the which he was threatened, sent to O'Donnel
death of his father who had been executed in for assistance, who granted him a small body
London, was among the allies of Tyrconnel. of Irish and Scotch, the former being armed
Maguire, prince ofFermanagh,was already with axes, and the latter with arrows; but
in arms against the English, when Edmond even with this reinforcement, the prince
MacGowran, archbishop of Armagh, and of Fermanagh's army was inferior in numprimate of all Ireland, arrived. He was sent bers to the enemy. The English having
by the pope to encourage the Catholic no- reached the banks of the river Earne, began
bility of Ireland to defend their religion: to cannonade the Catholic army, -which was
and also brought promises of assistance from posted on the opposite side, from which the
Philip II., king of Spain. In order to fulfil latter suffered severely, having but their arhis commission, the archbishop visited the rows to oppose the enemy's artillery-at
princes and lords of Ulster, but generally length, Tyrone having discovered a ford,
resided with the prince of Fermanagh.    crossed the river at the head of his cavalry,
Maguire, accompanied by the primate, and broke Maguire's infantry; but this adentered Connaught sword inhand. Bingham, vantage was not important, in consequence
governor of that province, sent a detachment of his being wounded by the arrow of an
against him, under William Guelfert. Both Irish archer in the thigh.  Maguire having
armies having met in a place called Skiethna- then rallied his cavalry and infantry, forced
Fheart, a brisk engagement ensued between the enemy to cross the river. The old anithe cavalry, but Maguire having forced his mosities between Tyrone and Bagnall broke
way through the ranks, killed Guelfert with out anew on this occasion. Bagnall, as comhislance; and the English seeing their chief mander-in-chief, claimed the glory of the
fallen, took to flight, leaving the field of action, while the only advantage that was
battle to Maguire. This nobleman's joy for gained over'the Catholics, was chiefly due to
his victory, was, however, changed into sor- the bravery of the earl.  O'Donnel having
row by the death of the primate, who was arrived in Maguire's camp with a fresh reinkilled by some English that were retreating. forcement, the night after the battle, was
The Irish of the Catholic party, determined desirous of attacking the English; but was
to treat not only the English Protestants as prevented by a secret express from Tyrone,
enemies, but also the Irish Catholics who who begged of him not to undertake any
assisted them. On this principle, O'Rourke thing against the English army while he
and Maguire marched together to Anhaly, remained among them, as his liberty would
at present the county of Longford, belonging be endangered. Tyrone left the camp shortly
to the O'Ferrals; where theydestroyed every afterwards, and went to Dungannon to get
thing by fire and sword, and carried away cured of his wounds.
immense booty. William O'Ferral, lord of  In the mean time, Richard Bingham, govthat country,advancing with a body of cavalry ernor of Connaught, laid siege to Inniskilto wrest the spoils from his enemy, was len, a fortress belonging to Maguire.*  He
killed by Maguire, and his men put to flight. took possession of it much less by his valor,
Fitzwilliam, lord-deputy of Ireland, was than by the treachery of one MacCraine,
recalled in August, and succeeded by Sir which implies filius scrophe —who was an
William Russel, youngest son of the earl of officer of the garrison, and a favorite with
Bedford; who, on his arrival in Dublin, was Maguire. The disposition of this man corsworn into office, and was informed by the responded with his face, which was hideous.
council, of the state of affairs in Ireland.  Being bribed by Bingham, he opened the
The disturbances continued in Ulster, gates of the castle to him, and was the only
where the Catholic party were gaining person that was spared by this general, who
strength by the union of the lords of the had every man, woman, and child (except
province.* The Englishgovernmentbecame the traitor) put to the sword. After this
alarmed, and dispatched an army against expedition, Bingham garrisoned the castle of
Maguire, who kept the field. The earl of Enniskillen, and returned immediately to his
Tyrone and the marshal Bagnall were ap- province, to avoid meeting with O'Donnel
pointed to head this expedition. The policy and Maguire who were superior to him in
of Tyrone still prevented him from declaring strength.
against the queen, or even remaining neutral.  The Catholics of Leinster having been
Maguire seeing the preparations that were already persecuted under the government of
making against him, and the danger with John Perrott, the deputy, many of them were
* Hist. Cathol. ibid. cap. 7.             * Hist. Cathol. ibid.'64




506                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
forced to abandon their dwellings and take prince of Tyrconnel deputed James O'Healy,
up arms to defend themselves against the archbishop of Tuam, to Philip II., king of
rigor of the laws that were enacted against Spain, to inform that prince of the state of
them.*  Sir Walter Fitzgerald, of the house affairs in Ireland, and remind him of the
of Kildare, was among the number.  This promises he made to the primate MacGauknight was called Vater Riach, or the Brown, ran, of assisting the Catholics in Ireland.*
from the darkness of his complexion.  He The prelate was kindly received by his
withdrew to Gloran, in the county of Wick- Catholic majesty, who gave fresh assulow, to Fiach Mac-Hugh O'Birne, whose rances of aid, and dismissed him  with
daughter he had married.  Fiach was a presents; but he had not the happiness to
powerful nobleman, and always opposed to bring back the answer to O'Donnel, as he
the English.  He was one of the most im- was lost on his passage to Ireland.
portant allies of the celebrated Viscount Bal-   O'Donnel still kept up the blockade of the
tinglass, when that nobleman took up arms castle of Enniskillen;t his design being to
against Elizabeth; but after the fall of the reduce the place by famine.  The garrison
viscount, he was restored to favor with the seeing themselves hard pressed, dispatched
government, and his house was an asylum MacCraine, who had lately betrayed the
for the persecuted Catholics. Several young place, with five others, to apprize the Enggentlemen followed the fortune of Walter lish of their distressing situation.  These
Fitzgerald, with whom he made war against emissarieshaving crossed the river in a small
the English.  He defeated Dudley Bagnall, boat, fell into the hands of a party of the
brother to the lord-marshal, who attacked Irish, and were cut to pieces. The English
him with the troops of the garrison at Leigh- government was well acquainted with the
lin, Dudley himself being found among the state of the garrison of Enniskillen, and reslain. He also made incursions into Ormond, solved to relieve it.  Stores of biscuit, salt
where he defeated the Butlers and their meat,cheese, and everything necessary,were
chief, Peter Butler, nephew to the earl Or- provided; the number of the troops raised
mond; and afterwards made inroads on Lein- for its relief amounted to two thousand five
ster and Meath, and became the terror of the hundred infantry, and four hundred cavalry,
English Protestants. In order to prevent the commanded by Sir Henry Duke, governor
consequences of his rapid victories, the dep- and lord-marshal of O'Faly, who received
uty proposed terms of peace, and a general orders to force the prince of Tyrconnel from
amnesty,which he thought prudent to accept. his intrenchments.  O'Donnel received inWalter Fitzgerald lived in peace for some telligence of the preparations that were mayears; but the war in Ulster giving rise to king against him, and being determined to
fresh persecution in Leinster, he again flew meet the enemy, he dispatched a courier to
to arms,withFiach O'Byrne,Terence Feilim, the earl of Tyrone, with a letter, informing
and his son Raymond, George O'Morra, and him of the danger to which he was exposed,
others. These confederates had many skir- and that he was resolved to shed the last
mishes with the Protestants, in which they drop of his blood in defence of his country's
were sometimes the conquerors, and were cause, against, the English, adding, that he
sometimes defeated; but being at length would consider him as his enemy, if he reovercome by the superior number of their fused to assist him in so pressing an emerenemies, some of their chiefs, among whom gency.
was Walter Fitzgerald, fell into the hands of  O'Neill convened his council, in order to
the English, and gave a glorious testimony examine the dispatches of the courier. He
of faith, by shedding their blood in its de- hesitated at first, from fear that O'Donnel
fence.                                  had engaged too hastily in this war, and that
The war still continued to rage in Ulster. he calculated on doubtful aid from the king
O'Donnel surrounded the castle of Enniskil- of Spain; on the other hand, he thought it
len which had been surprised some time be- wrong to forsake the prince of Tyrconnel in
fore by the English; but had not the artillery his dilemma, who was his ally, relative, and
necessary for carrying on the siege in form. friend; though he dreaded that if he were deThe deputy received intelligence of this, and feated it would prove fatal to the cause of
marching to the assistance of the town, had religion, in favor of which he intended improvisions conveyed to the besieged, and mediatelyto declarehimself. Tyrone thereafter losing a great number of his men, re- fore dispatched Cormac O'Neill, his brother,
turned to Dublin. In the mean time the at the head of one hundred horse, and three
* War. ibid. c. 37. Hist. Cathol. c. 8.
* Hist. Cathol. Ibern. ibid. cap.    t 2   Cathol. cap. 11..  His.+ Cathol, cap. IL




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           507
hundred foot, to Tyrconnel. The latter im- naught, of the house of MacWilliam, was
mediately sent a detachment of a thousand deprived about this time by the English, of
foot, under the command of Maguire and the estates of his ancestors, and confined in
Cormac O'Neill, to meet the English, who a dungeon at Athlone. Being rescued from
were approaching his camp with rapid his captivity, he had recourse to O'Donnel,
strides.  Maguire and O'Neill set out on who gave him a body of men to assist him
their march, and arrived in the evening on in recovering his patrimony. Burke thereon
the banks of the river Farna, where they returned to his province, laid siege to Bealsaw the English army under Sir Duke, posted like, one of his fortresses, which was in poson the opposite side. Both armies passed session of the English, and defeated George
the night in firing on each other. At break Bingham  and other chiefs, who were adof day, the English general havingdiscovered vancing, at the head of an English army, to
a ford, made his army cross the river, and the relief of the besieged.  Such was the
marched towards the enemy in battle array. state of affairs in Ulster. War was raging
The battle began at eleven in the morning, between the principal nobles of the province
and lasted till night, with great slaughter on and the English.  Disturbances also began
both sides; but the English were at length to break out in the provinces of Leinster
completely routed by the superior skill of and Connaught.
the Irish generals, and the bravery of the   Hugh O'Neill, earl of Tyrone, had acted
soldiers under their command. Those who his part ably.  He had spent seven years in
escaped the carnage, endeavored to repass organizing his forces, and in providing prothe river, but being pursued by the Irish, sev- visions and all sorts of warlike stores. He
eral were drowned in endeavoring to escape. always appeared to act in the queen's interAccording even to their authors, the loss of ests; still the English distrusted him, while
the English was immense, which avowal the Irish blamed his inactivity.  He only
from  Englishmen is worthy of remark.* waited a favorable moment to avow himself.
From O'Sullivan we learn that they lost four Until this year, (A. D. 1595,) he had been
hundred men. He even mentions the place thwarted by Tirlogh Linogh, cousin to Conn
where the battle was fought-vadum biscoc- O'Neill, first earl of the name, and son of
torum panum, or the ford of biscuits; the the brother of Con More O'Neill, who was
confusion of the English being so great, that father of the earl.  Tirlogh assumed the
they were obliged to throw the biscuit which name of O'Neill; disputed the principality
had been intended for the garrison of Innis- of Tyrone with Hugh, and was supported
killen, into the river.  This garrison having by the greater part of the tribe, who despised
now lost all hopes of succor, from the defeat English titles, and considered the name alone
of their countrymen, opened the gates to to be much more honorable.  On-the death
O'Donnel.  That prince restored it to Ma- of his rival, he was acknowledged as the
guire, to whom it belonged.             O'Neill. He then renounced the title of earl,
After the reduction of Enniskillen, Tyr- removed the mask, and declared against the
connel marched to Connaught to revenge queen. He was afterwards nominated comrnthe tyranny which had been practised in mander-in-chief of the league, which conthat province by Bingham, the governor. sisted of several branches of the O'Neills,
He carried terror wherever he passed, put- Maguires, MacMahons, Magennises, Mac
ting every English Protestant, from the age Donnels, O'Cahans,O'Flannagans, and many
of fifteen to sixty, who could not speak Irish, other powerful nobles of the province, with
to the sword. Tyrconnel afterwards entered their vassals.* O'Donnel, on his side, comAnnaly, and burned the district of Longford, manded the Tyrconnel faction. i These
which belonged to the O'Ferrals.  it had princes sometimes acted separately, but albeen usurped by an English Protestant ways forthe goodofthe commoncause, which
named Brown; so that the English in Con- was that of their religion and their country.
naught who escaped the sword of the conqueror, being deprived of all they had
amassed, except those who were under the
protection of the garrisons and fortresses,        CHAPTER XLIV
were obliged to return to England, highly
indignant with those who had induced them    THE frequent victories which the Cathoto seek their fortunes in Ireland.      lics of Ireland gained over the English, alarmTheobald Burke, a powerful lord of Con- ed the court of England. The queen was so
* Cambd. Elizab. ad an. 1594, page 658.' Pet. Lombard, ibid. page 352.




508                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
afflicted by these disasters, that she deter- suppressed by Marshal Bagnal, who, though
mined to put an end to them by subduing the O'Neill's brother-in-law, was his avowed
Catholics. For this purpose, she sent for the enemy.  However, instead of receiving faold troops who were serving in the Nether. vorable answers to his letters, he was prolands against Philip II., and dispatched claimed a rebel and a traitor to his country,
three thousand of them over to Ireland, un- with O'Donnel, O'Rourke, Maguire, and
der the orders of Sir John Norris, with the MacMahon.
title of captain-general.* This diversion was   English writers, who turn every thing to
highly favorable to Spain.  Philip II. had'the advantage of their own nation, allege that
given the command of the Netherlands to O'Neill became alarmed at the preparations
Cardinal Albert, archduke of Austria; he that were getting up against him, and also
collected the Spanish forces, under the pre- at Norris's marching towards Ulster at the
tence of raising the siege of Fere, in Picardy, head of a veteran army. According to them,
by which means he took the towns of Calais he wrote respectful and submissive letters to
and Ardres, leaving to Henry IV. the oppor- the English commander, and to other English
tunity of taking the town of Fere.t      chiefs, imploring their intercession with the
Norris having landed with his forces in queen, to procure him a general pardon for
Ireland, was joined by the deputy, and the the past. The English policy required that
troops under his command, in all amounting this falsehood should be made public, in order
to about ten thousand men.  The deputy to break off the treaty of alliance which the
requested that Baskervile should have the prince of Tyrone had concluded with the
command of this reinforcement; but the court king of Spain, and to prevent him  sending
thought proper to confer it on Norris, as over the succors he had promised.*  The
being more experienced.  He had already plan was well laid.  A messenger was sent
served in Ireland, as governor of Munster; to Brussels to publish the pretended letters
and having afterwards commanded the Eng- patent of the queen of England, containing
lish army in Brittany and the Low Countries, O'Neill's pardon, in order that the governor
against the king of Spain, he was considered of the Low Countries might make known to
to be the ablest captain in England, and ca- his master, the king of Spain, the supposed
pable of opposing Tyrone.t  He was so peace between Elizabeth and Tyrone; but
fully persuaded of this himself, that, in taking the imposture was soon afterwards discovleave of the -queen, he said he would reduce ered, by the seal of England being affixed
O'Neill to obey her majesty, or force him to to them  instead of Ireland, which was alleave Ireland. He did not, however, accom- ways used to authenticate any act respecting
plish his promise.                       that nation.  It is probable that the report
O'Neill having heard that Norris was of O'Neill's reconciliation made some immarching  towards Ulster, collected  his pression on the court of Spain, as they put
forces, and began hostilities, by taking a off sending the succors which had been
fort called Portmor, on the Blackwater, near promised to O'Neill, and as the latter susthe district of Tyrone, where there was an pended for a while his warlike operations,
English garrison, the fortifications of which and kept himself on the defensive.
he destroyed. He then marched to lay siege   The English government was still desito Monaghan.  In the mean time, in order rous of treating with O'Neill and the other
to vindicate his conduct, O'Neill wrote let- Catholic confederates; for which purpose
ters in the form of manifestoes, to the earl they agreed upon a truce of two months,
of Ormond, Wallop, and Russel the deputy, from the 27th October till the beginning of
declaring to them  that it was not his wish January.  In the mean time, the castle of
to make war, but to live in peace with the Monaghan surrendered to the besiegers,
queen, provided he and his followers were commanded by Conn son of O'Neill, O'Donallowed to profess the religion of their ances- nel, and MacMahon.  The truce ended on
tors, on which condition he was ready to lay the 1st January.  On the 8th, the governdown his arms.~  He wrote in the same ment sent a commission to Sir Robert Garterms to the queen and Captain Norris; but diner and Sir Henry Wallop, with full power
the two last letters were intercepted and to conclude a treaty with the Catholics of
Ulster.  The commissioners repaired to
* Hist. Cathol. vol. 3, lib. 3, c. 1. Pet, Lombard, Dundalk; but the Irish, through distrust of
p. 389, et seq. Baker's Chron. cap. 383.  the English, refused to meet them, so that
+ Abridg. Chron.-of the Hist. France, by Presid. they were obliged to hold the conference in
HIay.n. on the year 1596.
T Cambd. Elizab. part 4, ad an. 1597, page 701.
~ Cambd. Elizabeth, ad an. 1595.           * Peter Lombard, ibid. page 391, et seq.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            509
a plain, in presence of the two armies. The fusiliers; he had a horse killed under him,
Catholics demanded three things to be grant- and he, with his brother Thomas Norris,
ed: 1st, a general liberty of conscience; was wounded; after which the action of an
2d, a full pardon for the past; and lastly, individual decided the victory.  An officer
the entire removal of their garrisons, their called Segrave, belonging to the army of
sheriffs, and other officers of justice from the Norris, and a native of the county Meath,
province, except the towns of Newry and led on a detachment of cavalry to attack the
Carrickfergus. The English commissioners quarter where O'Neill fought.  In the midst
not approving of these articles, the confer- of the engagement, Segrave forced his way
ence ended without coming to any decision, to the earl of Tyrone, and engaged him in
except that of renewing the truce till the single combat. The two heroes having brofirst of April..       ken two lances each on the shield of his
At the expiration of this, Russel the dep- adversary, fell.  At this moment, O'Neill
uty, and General Norris, led their army to attacking his adversary with his sword, slew
Dundalk.  The jealousy between these two him, and by his defeat completed the defeat
noblemen about the command, was the cause of the English, who. left seven hundred men
of much disunion. The deputy left Dundalk dead upon the field of battle.  The loss of
with his army, to possess himself of Ar- the Catholics was inconsiderable. The day
magh; but O'Neill, accompanied by Ma- following, Norris wishing to return to the
guire, O'Cahan, the two sons of O'Hanlon, charge, was repulsed with some loss at Beaand other nobles, met him on his march. The lach-Finnuis; Monaghan surrendered to the
action began at Killcluona with great fury Catholics, and the garrison marched out
on both sides, but the English were forced with the honors of war.
to retreat to Newry, leaving six hundred   While O'Neill was supporting the cause
men dead on the field of battle.  O'Neill's of religion so gloriously in Ulster, O'Donloss did not exceed two hundred men.*    nel marched to the relief of the Catholics in
The ill success of the deputy in Ulster Connaught.  Young George Bingham  ocmade him quit the province and return to cupied the castle of Sligo at that time, with
Dublin.  He gave up his command of the a garrison of two hundred men, both Engtroops to Norris. The Catholics of Leinster lish and Irish.  Bingham, who had an inwere in arms; Fiach, son of Hugh, chief satiable thirst for wealth, left the command
of the O'Byrnes of Wicklow, and Donal of the castle of Sligo to Ulick Burke, and
Spaniagh, or the Spaniard, chief of the Ca- sailed, with part of the garrison on board
vanaghs, having united their forces, ravaged two boats, for Tyrconnel.  After coasting
the whole country from Dublin to Wexford. for some days, he landed at Rathmullin, a
The O'Connors acted in the same manner municipal town belonging to MacSweeny
in Offaly.  Connaught was disturbed, and Fanid, in the territory of Kilmacrenan; this
the inhabitants being joined by a. body of English pirate taking advantage of MacScotch, carried terror wherever they march- Sweeny's absence, who was in O'Donnel's
ed.  The deputy led his army to this pro- army, pillaged the town, and the Cartmelite
vince, and besieged Losmage castle, belong- convent,* and carried off considerable booty.
ing to O'Madden.. He summoned the gar- On his return to Sligo, he divided part of
rison to surrender; but was answered by these sacred spoils among his soldiers who
the besieged, that were his army composed had assisted him  in the sacrilege.  Ulick
of deputies, they would hold out to the last. Burke observing this Englishman's partialiHowever, as it was not fortified, he made ty, from his having withheld from the Irish
himself master of it, the besieged having any share in these favors, determined to be
lost about forty-six men.                revenged. Having formed his plan, he apThe deputy left the affairs of Ulster to pointed a day for carrying it into execution;
Norris, who marched towards Monaghan, in the Irish belonging to the garrison attacked
which there had been a garrison since it was the English, slew Bingham, and gave up the
abandoned by the Irish. O'Neill. on receiv- castle to O'Donnel, who appointed Burke to
ing intelligence of the march of Norris, in- the government of it. About the same time
tercepted him at Cluoin Tiburuid, in a plain
at a short distance from Monaghan.  Both   * This mention of the convent of Rathmullin is
armies were divided by a rivulet.  The not an anachronism, though the suppression of
English general endeavored to force his monasteries is considered to have been completed
passaoe, but was twice ruled by the  sh in the time of Elizabeth. As the English had at
passage: o ut was twice reptulsea by tne Iris  that time no power in Ulster, it is not surprising
* Hist. Cathol. ibid. cap. 4. Peter Lombard, that a few of its convents escaped the rage of the
ibid. page 393.                          reformers.




510                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
the castle of Baile-an-Mhota, or Ballimot, O'Neill wrote letters on the common cause
in the same county, (Sligo,) was torn from to Fiach, chief of the O'Byrnes, and other
the elder Bingham by Tumultach and Cahal noblemen of Leinster, his allies, to which he
Mac-Donagh, to whom it belonged. After received favorable answers.  He kept up a
the taking of these two places, the affairs of correspondence, also, with the best-disposed
the English in Connaught were in a very characters in Munster, by means of the clan
unpromising state.  The army of O'Donnel Shyhyes, whom he sent thither for that purkept them in check.  In order to remedy pose with confidential letters from himself.
this, the deputy sent a reinforcement of men   His letters to many of the lords of Leinto Sir George Bingham, governor of the pro- ster had the desired effect. Fiach O'Byrne
vince, to enable him to act.*  Bingham's renewed hostilities, by taking the fort of
first care was to surround the castle of Sligo, Balli-ne-cor, the fortifications of which he deboth on account of the importance of the stroyed. The O'Morras, O'Connors, O'Tools,
place, and to revenge the death of his rela- Cavanaghs, and Butlers, took up arms liketives and friends, whom Ulick Burke had wise, and demanded the restoration of their
caused to be massacred. The garrison was confiscated estates.  The deputy marched
in want of provisions, and Burke was fre- against O'Byrne; the Butlers were pursued
quently obliged to sally forth to procure by the earl of Ormond, who, after renouncing
them, which caused frequent skirmishes be- his religion, persecuted his relatives; the
tween him and the besiegers; but the arrival O'Morras and O'Connors were exposed to
of O'Donnel at the head of sixteen hundred the attacks of Sir Anthony St. Leger. Conmen, forced them to raise the siege.. This naught was in as great a ferment as Leinprince encamped within view of the enemy, ster; Richard Bingham, governor of that
and sent his brother Roderick, Felim Mac- province, having taken up arms against the
Davet, and another officer, to reconnoitre Burkes and O'Rourkes.
their strength.  They were pursued by an   The king of Spain was aware that ElizaEnglishman called Martin, at the head of a beth had made frequent proposals of peace
detachment of cavalry; MacDavet stopped to O'Neill, O'Donnel, and the other Irish
in the middle of a stream which they were lords who were fighting for their religion.*
crossing, and struck Captain Martin dead His Catholic Majesty sent an agent to enwith a blow of his lance. This action was courage these princes to persevere, and to
followed by the raising of the siege of Sligo, renew the promises he had already made to
and the retreat of the English army.    them.  In the mean time, the English took
Armagh by surprise, and placed a garrison
in it. O'Neill beheld with sorrow this holy
city, that was founded by St. Patrick, proCHAPTER XLV.                 faned by the reformers, to whom nothing
was sacred.  The garrison was strong, and
As the queen and her council were par- protected by the army which was encamped
ticularly desirous of making peace with near it, under General Norris. Tyrone not
O'Neill, commissioners were frequently ap- deeming it prudent to undertake a siege,
pointed to propose terms to him.  General brought Norris to an engagement near the
Norris and Geoffroy Fenton, secretary of church of Killoter. The English being constate, were appointed to make overtures in fident in their strength, were eager to en1596. They repaired to Dundalk, where gage, but were vigorously repulsed and put
they had an interview with O'Neill. He had to flight by O'Neill's forces, who pursued
not confidence enough in the English to treat them as far as Armagh, and killed several
with them; besides, the principal condition of their men.  After this, Norris left five
he required was a freedom of religion, so hundred troops in the garrison, under the
that this conference was not more successful command of Francis Stafford, and withdrew
than the preceding ones. Sir Edwaid Moor with the remainder of his army towards Dunwas soon afterwards intrusted to carry the dalk. O'Neill being master of the field, was
queen's pardon to Tyrone, which he per- enabled to intercept the provisions that were
emptorily refused.                      intended for Armagh, so that famine was
Three small vessels, laden with powder, the consequence.  This was succeeded by
arrived about this time from  Spain, for a plague, which carried off their men in great
O'Donnel. They brought two hundred men numbers. The English of Dundalk hearing
also, and promises of more efficient aid. of the sad condition of their garrison in Ar* Hist. Cathol. ibid.              * Hist. Cathol. ibid. cap. 5, 6, 7.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           511
magh, sent a supply of prQvisions, under an endeavoring to extend his conquests further
escort of three companies of infantry and a was- stopped by O'Neill, who lay encamped
troop of horse. O'Neill surprised the convoy, on his way.  Norris then set his men to
and put the troops that were guarding it to build a fort or intrenchment, since called
the sword. The penetrating mind of Tyrone Mount Norris, inthe barony of Fews, between
guided him in turning every thing to advan- Armagh and Newry. They were frequently
tage.  He now bethought of a stratagem in interrupted by the attacks of O'Neill's men;
which he was most successful: he got some but having at length completed it, Norris
of his men, both foot and horse, to assume placed a garrison in it, under the command
the uniform of the English who were killed, of Williams.  He then returned to Dundalk
and ordered them to march with English with his army; and Mount Norris, Armagh,
banners towards a ruined monastery that was and Portmore, which had been taken but
within a gunshot of Armrnagh.  The prince lately by the English, surrendered to O'Neill,
pursued these supposed English with the -who sent the garrisons home. In vain did
rest of his troops, within view of the garri- Norris return to attack him with his whole
son; both parties began a discharge of their force; he was completely defeated atMolach
musketry, loaded only with powder, where- Breac by O'Neill, in the district of Orior,
upon the men, as instructed, fell on every after having rallied his men three times.
side, without sustaining any injury.  This Maguire, the general of O'Neill's cavalry,
sham battle soon drew the attention of the contributed to the gaining of this battle.
garrison of Armagh; Stafford, the comman- Norris himself was dangerously wounded
der, gave orders that half of the garrison in the action, which was his last against
should take up arms and advance rapidly to O'Neill.
the field of battle, to the relief of their sup-   O'Donnel, accompanied by the Macposed countrymen. The English found not Sweenys, O'Dogharty, the brave Maguire,
only O'Neill's troops, but those to whose O'Rourke, MacWilliamn, O'Kelly, MacDersuccor they came, drawn up in order of bat- mot, O'Connor Roe, and O'Dowd, entered
tle, and ready to charge them; while Conn, Connaught with their troops.* He was also
son of O'Neill, who lay in ambush with some joined by Murrogh MacSweeny at the head
infantry in the neighboring monastery, at- of three hundred men, whom he assisted in
taclied them in therear. The English being a petty war with the English during two
now between two fires, were cut to pieces, years in Munster.  Clifford, who was apwithin view of the garrison.  Stafford, who pointed the new governor of Connaught, had
was in Armagh, finding himself without any not yet arrived. General Norris was weary
resource, submitted to Tyrone, who permit- of serving in Ulster, where, instead of gatherted him to join, with the rest of the garrison, ing fresh laurels, he was losing those which
the English army at Dundalk. O'Neill after he had gained in foreign countries.  Being
this made an attempt on the castle of Car- desirous of trying his fortune in other parts,
lingford, in which he was unsuccessful; he undertook an expedition against O'Donnel
however, he sent his sonin-law, Henry into Connaught, either to make terms with
Ogue, with some troops, to make incursions him, or reduce him by force. For this puron the English province, and to create a di- pose he repaired to Athlone, where he was
version in favor of the Catholics of Leinster, joined by the earls of Thuomond and Clanwho had taken up arms.                  riccard, Theobald Burke, surnamed NaThe continued complaints that were made Luing, or the Naval, from the trade he carried
against Sir Richard Bingham, governor of on by sea, and several lords of the English
Connaught, for his cruelty and tyranny, hay- faction, with the Anglo-Irish of Munster,
ing reached the throne, that infamous minis- Leinster, and Meath. Ile also received a reter was recalled, and replaced by Sir Conyers inforcement from England, which increased
Clifford.*  The Irish were but little skilled his army to ten thousand men. Norris. knew
in the art of defending towns and fortifica- that O'Donnel was in the neighborhood of
tions, and were obliged to remedy their un- Ballinroab, near lake Mask, at the head of
skilfulness by a greater number of men. For five hundred men; and having set out upon
this purpose O'Neill evacuated Armagh and his march, he soon found himself in view
Portmore, which were immediately taken of the enemy, from whom he was divided
possession of by Norris, who garrisoned by a small river.'The night was spent in
them, and gave the command of the former firing, and at break of day Norris demanded
to Sir Henry Davers.  The English general a conference with O'Donnel, in which peace
e War. ibid. cap. 39.                 * Hist. Cathol. ibid. cap. 2.




512                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
was proposed between the general of the acknowledged and proclaimed by his father's
queen and the Catholic chiefs. The terms vassals the O'Morra, or lawful heir to the
offered to O'Donnel were advantageous, but principality of Leix. Warham  St. Leger,
were not accepted.  The conference lasted the English governor of that district, alarmed
for some days, during which both armies at these occurrences, marched his army to
kept up hostilities, and fought in detached put them down; but the inhabitants of Leix
bodies, without coming to a general engage- ranging themselves under the banners of
ment. Theoba.ld the Naval, having attacked their chief, O'Morra, gave battle to St. Leger,
the right wing of the Catholic army at the who, after an obstinate resistance, was forced
head of a heavy detachment, was repulsed to retreat, leaving five hundred men dead on
with the loss of three hundred men.  The the field.
negotiation lasted for a month between the   Some step was necessary to be taken, in.
prince of Tyrconnel and Norris, without any order to restore the English power in Ireland.
thing being settled upon. The latter suf- The queen recalled Russel, the deputy, and
fered heavy losses, both in skirmishing, and appointed Lord Burrough to succeed him.
by the desertion of some nobles who joined This new deputy received the sword in May,
the standard of the Catholics.  After being in St. Patrick's cathedral, and was invested
harassed in his retreat by the troops of with the supreme authority both in civil and
O'Donnel, he lost several of his men, and military affairs.*  He first exercised his
was forced to quit the province in disgrace.*- power over General Norris, whom he sent
The deputy undertook an expedition in back to his office of governor in Munster,
May, into the county of Wicklow, where he forbidding him to leave it without his persurprised and killed Fiach MacHugh, chief mission. Norris was too proud to brook this
of the illustrious tribe of the O'Byrnes, and insult; he had been already disgraced by
the champion of the Catholic cause in Lein- O'Neill, who had deprived him of the high
ster.t  Fiach left two sons, Felim and Ray- military reputation he had acquired abroad,
mond, who inherited his bravery and zeal and at length died, loaded with ignominy, in
for religion. Felim left the command to his the country which had given birth to St.
brother, and went to visit O'Neill in Ulster, Rumold, first bishop and patron of Malines,
to ask him for assistance.  The prince of whose relics he had profaned when comTyrone expressed great friendship for the manding the English army in the Netheryoung nobleman, and having condoled with lands.
him  on the death of his father, gave him    Burrough was haughty and determined;
about three hundred and fifty men, under the he commanded for a long time in Holland,
command of Brian Riach O'Morra, a noble- against Philip II., whereby he became exman of Leinster.  On returning with this pert in the art of war.  A truce was made
reinforcement, Felim fought some skirmishes by this deputy, for one month, with O'Donwith the English, and took possession of his nel, O'Neill, and other Catholic chiefs, and
father's patrimony, which had been seized terms of peace were offered to them, but in
upon by these foreigners. After this expe- vain.  The month being expired, the Engdition, Brian O'Morra marched with the same lish general marched to Ulster at the head of
troops towards Loughgarme, (Wexford,) pil- a powerful army. Besides the troops which
laged all the English he met with on his served under Russel and Norris, a large remarch, and cut a large body of them  to inforcement was sent to him from England.
pieces, besides four hundred Irish auxilia-   The Anglo-Irish of Meath were zealous to
ries.                                   signalize themselves in the cause of ElizaAfter the death of the celebrated Rory beth: they assembled at Mullingar to the
O'Morra, who was killed in a battle against number of a thousand men, under the comthe English, as we have already observed, mand of Barnewall, baron of Trimlestown,
his sons Uoine, or Owen, and Edmond, were and marched after the deputy. In their route,
placed under the protection of Fiach O'Byrne, however, they met with a signal defeat.
from whom they received an education suit-   Richard Tirrell, who was of English deable to their rank. When Owen attained scent, and lord of Fertullagh, in West Meath,
the age of manhood, Felim, son of Fiach, served at that time in the army of O'Neill.
gave him a suitable retinue, and sent him to He was a nobleman by birth, and strongly
lay claim  to his patrimony. This young attached to the Catholic religion. His talents
nobleman having made himself known, was peculiarly fitted him to command a flying
camp. From the rapidity of his expeditions,
X Peter Lombard, ibid. page 395.
t Hist. Cathol. ibid. 6, 10.                 * Ware, ibid. cap. 40




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           513
and capability of sustaining fatigue, he had   Burrough, the deputy, having reached
already become formidable to the English, Ulster with all his forces,'his first step was
and his memory is still respected by the to take possession of Armagh and Portmor,
true Irish.                             which O'Neill had abandoned after destroyThe prince of Tyrone saw with calm re- ing the fortifications.*  The English geneflection the preparations that were in pro- ral being afraid to proceed further, repaired
gress against him; the march of the deputy Portmor, where he left a garrison of five
was known to him; he therefore prepared to hundred men, and drew off the remainder
oppose him, and to cause a diversion. Cap- of his army. He boasted highly of this act
tain Tirrell was dispatched at the head of of prowess, proclaiming everywhere that he
four hundred infantry, with orders to act in held the key of Ulster, which he could enter
either Meath or Leinster, according to emer- at his pleasure.  This boast was truly chagencies. Tirrell marched through the whole racteristic of his countrymen, who considered
of Meath without meeting an enemy, and the most trifling advantage a complete vichaving reached Fertullagh, he encamped, in tory.  It was carefully circulated in foreign
order to give his army some repose. The countries, where it was reported that the
troops which had been assembled at Mullin- Irish had lost all their towns, and that they
gar, as has been already observed, being ap- were obliged to escape into the woods and
prized of Tirrell's march, determined to take inaccessible places. A similar falsehood had
him by surprise. The baron who command- been already published at Brussels, on the
ed them looked upon this expedition as un- supposed reduction of O'Neill, the folly of
worthy of himself, on account of the small which we will discover in the sequel.
number of the enemy he had to fight, and   The deputy was on his way to Dublin,
therefore commissioned his son to undertake when he learned that Tirrell was besieging
it, thinking it a good opportunity for him to Portmor; so he immediately returned, colsignalize himself, and thereby to make his lected his forces, and crossed the Blackcourt to the deputy. At the dawn of day water, but was prevented from advancing by
Tirrell received information, through his O'Neill, who divided his army and formed
spies, that the enemy were in full march to two camps, sufficiently near to assist each
surprise him. Without losing a moment, he other.t  The command of the first division
put himself in a state of defence, but made he gave to his brothers Cormac and Art
a feint of flying before them as they ap- O'Neill, and MacMahon, at Droum-Fluich,
preached; by which movement he gained a on the road to Beaun-Bhoruib, at present
defile covered with trees, which has been Binburb, on the left bank of the river. The
since called Tirrell's pass.  He then de- prince himself commanded the second camp
tached half of his little army, and posted at Tobuir-Masain, and was assisted by
them in a hollow adjoining the road, giving James Mac-Donnel, prince of the Glynns.
the command to his lieutenant, O'Connor, a The deputy endeavored, in spite of Tyrone's
brave and intrepid man like himself.  He position, to force a passage; but O'Neill's
then, in order to influence his enemy to two divisions having united, they made a
pursue him, marched on with his division. desperate attack. In the onset, Burrough
While the English were passing the place was mortally wounded, and was carried to
where O'Connor lay in ambuscade, this Newry, where he died in a few days. This
officer sallied forth with his troops, and battle was renewed several times. The earl
caused the drums and fifes to play Captain of Kildare, on whom the command of the
Tirrell's march. This was the signal agreed English army devolved after Burrough's reupon for an attack; the English army hav- treat, suffered the same fate: having been
ing got between two fires, were cut to wounded, and twice thrown from his horse,
pieces; and so general was the slaughter, his two foster-brothers were killed in endeathat one soldier only escaped, through a voring to put him again on horseback; he
neighboring bog, to carry the news to Mul- fled from the field of battle, and died of his
lingar, from whence the army had set out wounds a few days after. The carnage was
three days before.  Tirrell had sufficient dreadful; numbers of the English lay dead
generosity to spare the life of the young upon the field; many were drowned in the
nobleman who commanded his enemy, but river, and very many wounded. The perbrought him a prisoner to O'Neill.  During sons of note who fell upon this occasion,
the action, O'Connor's hand became so swol- besides the deputy and the earl of Kildare,
len, that it became necessary to cut off the    Hist. Cathol. ibid. Pet. Lombard, ibid. pages
handle of his sword with a file, before it 398, 399.
could be disengaged.                      t Hist. Cathol. ibid. Pet. Lombard, ibid.
65




l'514                         HISTORY OF IRELAND.
were Francis Waghan, the deputy's brother- Porteloise, at present Maryborough, where
in-law, Thomas Walen, and Turner.        there was an English garrison.?  These
Clifford, governor of Connaught, received movements produced a diversion, and cornorders to march with his troops to the relief pelled the earl of Ormond to divide his forces.
of the deputy in Ulster. He accordingly set He first dispatched three thousand men
out at the head of seven hundred men, but against O'Morra, commanded by James Buthaving the misfortune to meet with O'Don- ler, nephew  to the earl.  Five thousand
nel, he was completely defeated.  Clifford men were then sent against O'Neill of IJ1lost several men of rank on this occasion, ster, commanded by Bagnal the nmarshal.
among whom was the baron of Ineschete.* The earl's object was the relief of Portmor
The queen saw her forces greatly dimin- and Porteloise, by throwing provisions and
ished in Ireland by the frequent advantages warlike stores into them; but the result was
gained over them  by the Catholics, and not equal to his hopes. Brian Riach O'Morra
could not find persons qualified to succeed defeated the three thousand English that
Burrough and Norris. She, however, nomi- were sent against him 3 fifteen hundred, benhated provisional magistrates and officers sides the commander, being slain, and Porfor the administration of affairs. Sir Thomas teloise was taken.  O'Morra died in a few
Norris, president of Munster, was appointed days after from his wounds, and the cornlord-justice; but his grief for the death of mand devolved upon Owen O'Morra.
his brotler caused him to resign in a month.   During these transactions in Leinster,
The government then conferred that office Marshal Bagnal, having the command of the
jointlyon Loftus, archbishop of Dublin and arrny in Ulster, repaired to Newry, which
chancellor of Ireland, and chief-justice Sir was a general place of meeting for the EngRobert Gardiner, who were sworn in on the lish.t Tyrone was then encamped with his
15th of November.  On the same day they army at Mollach-Ban, on the road to Arreceived an account of the state of affairs magh, and wishing to cut off all commlunifrom  the council, who informed them  that cation between that place and the enemy, he
the war was a general revolt of the Irish, sent his brother Cormac, with a body of five
with an intent to shake off the English yoke. hundred men, to defend the passes. Bagnal
Thomas IDuff Butler, earl of Ormond, ac- was considered an able general; he knew
cepted the commission of lieutenant-general. that O'Neill was waiting to give him battle,
Ambition being the guide of this nobleman's on his nmarch to Arnmagh, which city he
acts, he was drawn into a faction that was wished to relieve, but he deceived the prince.
opposed to religion and his country, but he In order to avoid an engagement, which
never enjoyed the reputation of being a great would probably have deranged his plans, he
captain. Amongother instructions which the marched circuitously from  Newry to Arearl of Ormond received from the court of magh, and supplied the garrison with proEngland, he was enjoined to endeavor to visions, in spite of the brave resistance of
bring about a peace with O'Neill, for which Cormac O'Neill, who maintained his groundl
purpose a truce for two months was agreed for some time, but was at length forced to
upon.  They met at Dundalk, and O'Neill yield to superior numbers.  Flushed at this
proposed the terms; the first and principal trifling advantage, Bagnal determined to take
one being the free exercise of the Catholic O'Neill's camp by surprise; and setting out
religion throughout the kingdomn. The other by night, he put the enemy's advance-guard,
conditions proposed by this prince, regarded consisting of twenty-four horsemen, to the
the grievances of the Irish, and the repara- sword. They then surrounded O'Neill's tent,
tion of the injustice which was practised who had escaped in his shirt, with sorme of
towards them.  These overtures were sub- his attendants; but some servants that were
mitted to the English council, and acceded left to guard it and the baggage, were killed.
to in every thing except the free exercise As soon as day appeared, O'Neill collected
of religion; whereon the truce was broken the forces that were near him, and having
off and' hostilities resumed.            forced the English to abandon their booty,
About the end of the summer, 1598, lhe then put them to flight. Both sides lost
O'Neill collected all his troops and laid some men in this action.
siege to the fort of Blackwater, called also   The English were masters of some towns.
Portmor.  At the same time he sent fifteen in Ulster, which were favorable for their
hundred chosen men to assist his ally, depredations, and afforded them  a secure
O'Moore of Leix, who was then besieging   * Pet. Lomb. p. 402. Hist. Cathol. ibid. ol. 3,
lib. 4, cap. 1, et seq.
* Pet. Lombard, ibid. p. 400.     t Hist. Cathol. ibid.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          515
retreat; the principal of them were Newry, der of his forces put to flight. The loss of
Dundrum, and Carrickfergus.  Sir John the English was heightened by an accident
Chichester, the governor, marched about the that happened in the beginning of the action,
same time, at the head of five hundred in- in the quarter where the reserve forces lay.
fantry and a troop of horse, to plunder the The powder magazine having taken fire, five
neighborhood.  Coming up at Alfracha hundred men at least, who were guarding the
with James Mac-Donnel, prince of Antrim, baggage, were blown up. The spoils that
who had with him about four hundred foot were wrested from them also were very conand sixtyhorse, to oppose these robbers,they siderable. Twelve thousand pieces of gold
came to an engagement which was fatal to —their warlike stores-thirty-four stand of
the English.  Their captain having fallen, colors-all their instruments of war-all
they were cut to pieces, so that scarcely one their artillery, and provisions of every kind,
remained to bring the intelligence to Car- fell into the hands of the Irish. In the army
riclifergus.  About the same time, the baron of Bagnal there were several Irishmen who
of Trimlestown made some inroads on Mo- ranged themselves under him from motives
naghan, with the Anglo-Irish of Meath, and of self-interest; among the number of whom
a' few English troops, but was defeated by was Maolmora, surnamed the Fair, a son, of
the Mac-Mahons.*                        O'Reilly.  This young nobleman had lately
The vanity and bad faith of the English returned from England,wherehe surrendered
will not suffer them to admit the victories the into the hands of the queen all his estates,
Irish Catholics gained over them.  Their which she restored to him by letters patent.
historians either pass them over in silence, Through gratitude, he unhappily espoused
*or obscure them so as that the advantage her cause against O'Neill, and lost his life
may appear to be in favor of their country- at the head of a troop, while he endeavored
men.  Invectives are poured out against a to rally them again to the charge. The Enggenerous people who fought for their reli- lish who had the good fortune to escape,
gion and their freedom, and the epithets of took the road to Ardmach.  Several were
traitor, rebel, and barbarian, are heaped upon slain in the pursuit, and both horsemen, and'
the Irish for not calmly yielding to a hate- about fifteen hundred foot-soldiers, sought
ful yoke.  An Englishman must be well safety in the churches of that city. This
beaten before he will admit of it. A bril- victory cost O'Neill about two hundred men
liant victory was gained this year over those killed, and six hundred wounded, and was
foreigners, by O'Neill.  The truth of this followed by the surrender of Portmor.
is not questioned even by the English them-   These brilliant campaigns of Tyrone, and
selves, since they acknowledge that it was of the other princes and noblemen of Ulster,
the bloodiest defeat they met with since had opposite influences on the English and
their arrival in the island.            Irish Catholics; the alarm of the former was
O'Neill endeavored to bring the English great, while the joy of the latter was univermarshal to an engagement, and being joined sal. They looked upon O'Neill as the liberby O'Donnel, Maguire, the general of the ator of his country, the avenger of their
cavalry, and other noblemen of the province, freedom, and the protector of the Irish nobles
he laid siege to Portmor, having in this a who were persecuted by the English, or opdouble object in view; first, to reduce the pressed by their own chiefs.  In fact, Ray-:
place by famine, by cutting off the supplies; mond, son of John Burke, baron of Leitrim,
and secondly, to compel the English to fight, whose property the earl of Clanriccard inby forcing them to relieve it. The hopes of vaded after he had put him to death, threw
the prince of Tyrone were equalled by his himself on the protection of O'Neill: and
success. In the beginning of August, Bagnal Dermod O'Connor, and his brothers Cairbre
marched with the flower of his army to the and Conn, having been dispossessed by the
relief of Portmor, and when arrived within English, sought an asylum with him also;
a mile of Ardmach, he met with O'Neill, at but Tyrone being busily employed in dea place called Beal-an-ath-a-buidh, between fending his own province, and unable theretwo plains, bordered by a bog on one side, fore to afford them effectual aid, sent them
and on the other by a thick wood. The to Owen O'Morra in Leinster, to assist in
battle commenced, and the rout was terrible. the war of that province.
Marshal Bagnal,with twenty-four of his prin-   The queen's officers sent letters to her
cipal officers, and two thousand of his army, majesty, complaining of the sad state of
were killed upon the spot; and the remain- things in Ireland, and saying, that so far from
being able to maintain an offensive war in
* Hist. Cathol. ibid. cap. 2.  that country, they could not defend them



516                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
selves against the enemy without speedy as-   The success of O'M[orra produced an alsistance, and more powerful resources than most universal rising of the noblemen in
any that had been previously sent. The Munster against the queen. MacCarty More,
queen was averse to abandoning the cause of the head of his illustrious tribe, was prevented
her English province irn Ireland. She attached by death from being of the number of the
heavy blame to the earl of Ormond for not confederates. He left a legitimate daughter,
having gone in person against O'Neill; and named Helena, that was married to MacCarty
commanded Bingham, who had been lately Riagh, and a natural son called Daniel, who
removed from the government of Connaught aspired to inherit the title and estates of his
for his cruelty, to repair to Ireland, and suc- father. The earls of Thuomond and Ormond,
ceed Bagnal in the office of marshal. Two and the baron of Inchiquin, inclined always
thousand foot, and a hundred horse were, at to the side that gave hopes to their ambition;
the same time, dispatched thither, under the and the desire of titles of honor and court
orders of Sir Samuel Bagnal. These troops favors prevented them from joining in any
landed at Wexford, and were harassed in league against Elizabeth. The extensive intheir march to Dublin by the Catholics, who fluence of these noblemen marred the good
killed a great number of them. Bingham intentions of the MacMahons, MacNamaras,
arrived in Dublin with great difficulty, where O'Connors, O'Loghlins ofThomnond, O'Dwyhe died soon after.                    ers, O'Fogartys,O'Meaghers,O'Moel-Ryans,
The example of the men of Ulster roused O'Kennedys, and other noblemen of Tippethe fallen courage of the Catholics in other rary, and withheld them from uniting against
provinces of Ireland, particularly in Munster, the queen of England.
where the bravery of the celebrated earl of  The other great men of the province being
Desmond was still fresh amonghisillustrious more liberally disposed, looked with conallies. This feeling it was necessary to en- tempt upon dignities which interfered with
courage, and to effect that object, Sir Peter their religion and freedom, and took up arms
de Lacy, a powerful nobleman in the county in defence of both. The chief men that
of Limerick, wrote to Owen, or Owny Mac- formed a league against the queen, were
Rory-Ogue O'Morra, who had an army on Fitzmaurice, baron of Lixnaw; William Fitzfoot; and invited' him, in the name of the gerald, knight of Kerry and lord of Kafinnin;
Irish Catholics in Munster, to come to their Edmond Fitzgerald, knight of the Glinn;
relief.  O'Morra, having consulted with Sir Edmond Fitzgerald, called the white
O'Neill, undertook the expedition. He corn- knight, with many other branches of that
mitted the government of Leix to his brother illustrious house; Dermod and Donogh Mac
Edmond, and, at the head of eight hundred Carty, rival candidates for the principality
infantry and some horsemen, set out on his of Alla; Daniel, son of MacCarty More;
march for Munster. Raymond Burke,baron Patrick Condon; O'Donohoe More of Onof Leitrim, and his brother William, as also achte; O'Donoghoe of the Glinn; Roche,
Dermod O'Connor, and his brothers Cairbre viscount Fermoy; Richard Butler, viscount
and Conn, with Richard Tirrel of Fertullagh, of Montgarret, who had married the daughter
accompanied O'Morra in this expedition. of O'Neill; and Thomas Butler, baron of
The earl of Ormond, who had still the title Cahir. The same disposition animated the
of general of the English army, made a show several tribes of the O'Sullivans, the O'Drisof intercepting O'Morra, but whether by the cols, the O'Donnevans, and the O'Mahonys
rapidity of that chieftain's march, or the earl's of Carbry, who signalized themselves in the
fear for the result of a battle, he and his common cause of their country. The conarmy arrived without interruption in the federates appointed for their leader, James,
county of Limerick.  Thomas Norris, who son of Thomas Fitzgerald, surnamed the Red,
was then governor of Munster, was greatly and acknowledged him as earl of Desmond.
alarmed by this invasion. His duty impelled Thomas the Red was brother to Garret, last
him to attempt driving the enemy out of his count-palatine of that illustrious family. He
province, and for that object he collected his left a son named James, who had been given
forces and marched to Kilmallock, with a by the countess his mother as a hostage to
design of fighting O'Morra; but dreading the English, and who had been kept prisoner
the result of an engagement with him, he in the tower of London for seventeen years.
placed a strong garrison there, after which James was lawful heir of the earl, and to his
he marched for Cork. He, however, had the title of Desmond; but so long an absence
mortification to witness his rearguard pur- rendered him forgotten, and caused the title
sued by the light troops of O'Morra, through to be conferred upon James, son of his cousin
the whole of his march.                Thomas; who was therefore chosen as the




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           517
leader of the Catholics in that province, lean, which was stronger. His allies did not
where the memory of the earls of Desmond forsake him; he was quickly joined byDaniel
was still dear and respected.           MacCarty, to whom the principality of ClanReligion was not the sole cause of the carrha was given by the earl of Desmond.
above alliance. The tyranny of the English Dermod and William O'Connor also joined,
governors, and the intolerable insolence of with two thousand five hundred infantry, and
the adventurers who had been sent to occupy nearly a hundred cavalry. This army enthe estates of Desmond and other noblemen, camped to advantage for the Viscount Fercontributedgreatlytotheundertaking. These moy: the place he occupied being made
adventurers became the first victims to the secure by it against an attack from the
rage of the confederates. They were driven English.  The two armies continued for
from their ill-gained possessions, and their twelve days in view of each other, and had
castles razed to the ground.  Finding them- frequent skirmishes, in which some soldiers
selves now unprotected by the governor were killed on both sides. Norris at length
Norris, who was scarcely able to defend sent away some of his baggage by night, and
himself, they fled to Waterford, and em- took the route for Cork. He was pursued
barked for their own country.           by the Irish, who killed two hundred of his
It was disgraceful in Norris to shut him- men at Mainister-na-Mona.
self up in Cork, and remain inactive while   Some months after the expedition of Northe war was blazing in the province, to the ris, Thomas Burke, brother to the baron of
command of which he had been appointed. Castleconnel, left the queen's party, and
He felt heavily the shame of it, and in order sought to be admitted into the Catholic army.
to screen his character, he formed the reso- For this purpose he applied to Raymond
lution of attacking the Catholics.  For this Burke, baron of Leitrim, and to his brother
purpose all his forces, amounting to:two William; and they appointed him to the
thousand five hundred men, were mustered command of two hundred men. With this
by him in Cork; some nobles also in Mun- little band Thomas wished to surprise somester, attached to the court party, were com- places belonging to the English in Muskerry
manded by him  to meet, and with these Burke. He met with General Norris at Killtroops, which were formed into three col- tili, at the head of twelve hundred men. To
umns-he maarched upon Kilmallock.  His avoid fighting was impossible; and notwithplan was to draw from the garrison the vet- standing the disproportion of their numbers,
eran troops, and replace them with the new he acted intrepidly, and by one bold stroke
levies that were less experienced.  He met decided the affair.  A young man named
many difficulties on his march.  His rear- John Burke, having forced his way into the
guard was attacked at a place called Bear- ranks, struck Norris with his lance and disrach Abharrah, by William Burke, at the abled him; and the English army seeing
head of three hundred infantry, who killed their leader fall, dispersed. The English
several of the English, and made themselves general was brought to Mallow, where he
masters of part of their baggage.  Norris, died in fifteen days of his wounds.  This
however, effected his object concerning the Thomas Burke being reconciled afterwards
garrison of Kilmallock, but was attacked on to the English, met with the same fate as
his return at Ard-Scieth, by the earl of Norris; he and his brother, earl of CastleDesmond, Viscount Montgarret, the barons connel, were killed by Dermod O'Connor in
of Cahir and Luochne, William Burke, and an engagement wherein these noblemen,
Richard Tirrell. It was rather a disordered who were much superior to him in force,
retreat than a battle.  The above chiefs refused him quarter, so true is it, that depursued him the entire day for eight miles spair in an enemy is always to be feared.
of his march. Many fell in the several skir-   Donogh O'Connor having been disposmishes, but the heaviest loss was sustained sessed by the English of his principality of
by the fugitives, who, being favored by the Sligo, went over to England to conciliate
night, were at length fortunate enough to the protection of the queen. His affairs were
get back into Kilmallock.               kept for a long time in suspense at court;
Norris undertook a second expedition, but at length, Elizabeth, in order to lessen
which had no better success than the first; her enemies in Ireland, when almost the
he marched with two thousand four hundred whole country were up in arms against her,
foot, and three hundred horse, against Lord sent him back with permission to repossess
Roche, Viscount Fermoy. At first the vis- himself of his estates.  On his arrival in
count abandoned Baile Androhid, a place Connaught, he found Clifford, the governor
not fortified, and withdrew to Bailean Cais- of the province, preparing an expedition




518                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
against O'Donnel; and through gratitude confederates, granted their demands for
he joined him in his enterprise. Clifford, assistance, by sending them his brother Conn
intending to besiege Ballyshannon, a strong O'Neill, at the head of three thousand men,
place belonging to O'Donlnel, marched with well provided with arms and ammunition.
four thousand men, and some Irish auxilia- The English lay in ambush to dispute his
ries, the principal of whom were O'Brien, passage, but Conn escaped their snares, by
earl of Thuomond, Burke, earl of Clanriccard, opening his way, sword in hand, through the
and Morrough O'Brien, baron of Inchiquin. enemy. After leaving two thousand of them
The army having arrived on the banks of the dead upon the field of battle, he continued
river Earne, Inchiquin was the first who his march to Munster, where he acquired a
sacrificed himself to the royal cause; wish- high reputation for his military exploits.
ing to take the lead, he put spurs to his horse
and plunged into the water, but being thrown
in the middle of the river from his horse, he
sunk and perished miserably before he could      CHAPTER XLVI.
reach the opposite bank. Clifford having
discovered a place that was fordable, crossed   THE state of affairs at this time in Ireland,
with his army, in spite of a detachment sent says Cambden, was deplorable, the rebellion
by O'Donnel to dispute his passage. He having become general through the kingdom.
then laid siege to the castle of Ballyshannon The sway of the English in Ulster was conwith four pieces of cannon. Owen Craw- fined to a few strong fortresses. The greater
ford, a Scotchman, commanded the place, part of the nobility in Munster were up in
having eighty men under him, six of whom arms against them. The O'Morras, the
were Spaniards, and the rest Irish. The O'Connors, the O'Byrnes, the O'Tools, the
attack was a powerful one, and the defence Cavanaghs, the Eustaces, and other chiefs
equally determined. The troops of O'Don- of Leinster; with the O'Molloys, the Manel were not assembled so as to be able to geoglhegans, and the Tirrells of Meath, were
raise the siege. While this prince waited an leagued to revenge their freedom. The
attack from the enemy's cavalry, (in which O'Rorkes, and some branches of the Burkes,
O'Connor Sligo, who fought for the English, besides some other chiefs in Connaught, took
was dangerouslywounded,) the cannon inces- up arms for the same cause, so that Elizabeth
santly played upon the castle, and the be- saw herself, by this general revolt, on the
siegers, as often as they mounted the breach, eve of losing all her authority in Ireland.
were beaten back by the besieged.  O'Don- She had no person in that country capable
nel caused frequent alarm to the enemy's. of governing it. Marshal Bagnal was killed;
camp; so that Clifford being informed that Richard Bingham, who had been sent by the
O'Rorke was marching with his army on court to succeed that general, died on his
one side, and O'Neill upon another, to re- arrival in Dublin; Norris, who governed
lieve the castle of Ballyshannon, that general Munster, and St. Leger, the president of
decamped so precipitately that he left be- Leix,perished by the sword of theCatholics.
hind him three pieces of cannon. He re- The earl of Ormond commanded the army;
passed the river indeed in such disorder, his name, however, only, and not his capathat the place was called after him, "the bility, was suited to his zeal in the cause of
route of heroes."  He was pursued by his mistress. In this position of her affairs,
O'Donnel, and it is said that he lost in the the queen consulted with her council on the
one day three hundred men in killed and choice of a man capable to remedy the disdrowned. O'Donnel drove his conquests orders that prevailed in Ireland. Her mastill further; he penetrated, sword in hand, jesty, and most of her counsellors, cast their
into the estates of Clanriccard; scaled the eyes on Charles Blunt, lord-baron Mountjoy.
walls of Athenry, and put the English gar- Robert d'Evereux, earl of Essex, whose amrison to the sword. After this, he devastated bition knew no bounds, insinuated secretly,
the lands of the baron of Inchiquin, of Tur- that Mountjoy was not fit for the undertaking,
lough O'Brien, and the O'Shaughnessys.  that he had not sufficient experience in the
O'Neill beheld with pleasure the league art of war, and that he was too devoted to
that was formed in Munster, and the advan- literature to be a good commander. This
tages already gained over the English, A. D. nobleman sought to make it appear, that
1599.* This prince, desirous of strengthen- some one of the highest nobility, who was
ing the alliance which he had made with his rich, and dear to the army, and who had
been commander-in-chief, ought to be sent
* Peter Lombard, ibid. page 208.  to Ireland, by which qualifications he seemed
to intimate his own claims.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           519
Opinions were divided as to the choice   The principal instructions given to Essex
of the earl of Essex to fill the office of were, first, not to confer the honor of knightlord-lieutenant of Ireland.  His friends hood on any but subjects of acknowledged
wished for an opportunity to satisfy his merit; secondly, to block up Tyrone with
insatiable thirst for fame, of which he was all his forces, by placing strong garrisons in
the slave.; while others thought that it the forts of Loughfoyle and Ballyshannon.*
would not be prudent to give the command He had scarcely landed in Ireland when his
of the army in Ireland to a nobleman who creatures began to publish in foreign counwas flattered by his creatures with the idea tries false accounts of his wonderful exploits;
of being descended from the royal blood of at one time, that his arrival had filled the
Scotland and England, and consequently confederate Catholics with terror, causing
with having a higher claim to the crown them to conceal themselves in woods, and
than any of his predecessors.  The ene- other inaccessible places; at another, that
mies of Essex sought for- a long time an almost every one of them were accepting the
opportunity of supplanting him  at court, offers of pardon offered by him.t The falseand the present appeared the most favora- hood of these vain boastings was, however,
ble that offered, through that very absence proved by the ill-success of his expedition.
which he himself was eager to obtain.     The first act of the jurisdiction of Essex
Essex, indeed, seemed to merit the ap- in Ireland was to publish a proclamation in
pointment: he had already established a the queen's name, excluding the ancient
reputation in his expeditions against the Irish, her majesty's inveterate enemies, from
Spaniards, and being the favorite of the all hopes of pardon.t As to the modern Irish,
queen, the way to the vice-royalty was open who had been forced by the tyranny of Engto him: but instead of meeting in it the hap- lish governors to have recourse to arms, they
piness he looked for, it proved fatal to him in were declared capable of receiving forgivethe end. He was at length appointed lord- ness, provided they would surrender without
lieutenant, and with privileges more exten- delay. In other respects, he began his adsive than those of any of his predecessors. ministration with mildness; he knew the
Her majesty invested him with the preroga- difficulty of bringing back to obedience those
tive of pardoning any crime, even that of high who had declared against the queen on actreason; besides the power of appointing to count of religion, and of preserving the alleoffices of trust; of removing those who en- giance of those who still adhered to her. The
joyed them without a patent; of suspending exercise of the Catholic doctrine became less
others from exercising them; also of making restricted; the holy sacrifice of the mass was
military laws, and carrying them into execu- celebrated in private families, and the other
tion; of conferring in fief, according to his sacraments administered with more freedom;
pleasure, the confiscated estates of the Cath- his policy even induced him to set at liberty
olics, reserving a moderate and yearly reve- some priests who had been confined in dunnue from them for the crown; and in absence geons, and to confer the grade of knights of
of the high-admiral of England, he had the the golden spur on some Catholics with
command of the fleet, and the privilege of whose opinions he was acquainted.
applying the money in the exchequer to any   After making some regulations respecting
purposes without being accountable for it. the civil administration, Essex turned his
A  powerful and well-provided army was thoughts to the campaign; but did not folgiven to him; it consisted of seventeen low the plan that was laid down for him in
thousand foot, and thirteen hundred horse, London. The first thing he did was to give
which was the most powerful that had, up the command of the cavalry to the earl of
to that period, been sent to Ireland.   Southampton.  Instead of marching with
All matters being arranged, the earl of all his forces against O'Neill, and the conEssex, accompanied by three young noble- federates in Ulster, according to his instrucmen who wished to be partakers of his glory tions, he divided them by giving three thouin the expedition, set out for Ireland from sand foot and five hundred horse to Henry
London, at the end of March, amidst the Harrington, to watch the movements of the
acclamations of the people. The fleet having O'Morras, the O'Birnes, and other confedsailed, they were overtaken and dispersed erates of Leinster; and sent three thousand
by aviolent storm, by which many lives were more to Clifford, governor of Connaught, to
lost. Notwithstanding this misfortune, he keep the nobles of that province in check.
landed on the 15th of April in Dublin, where  * Cambd. ibid. pp. 734, 735.
he took the, usual oath, and received the     t Peter Lombard, ibid. pp. 411, 412.
sword of justice as lord-lieutenant.          t Peter Lombard, ibid. page 413.




520                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
These detachments reduced considerably slain. The loss on the side of the Catholics
the forces of the viceroy. Accompanied by was not so great.  After this battle, Essex
three hundred gentlemen, who volunteered in encamped for a few days at Cruomui, to reLondon to accompany him, he set out from fresh his troops; he then marched to WaterDublin, on the 20th of May, with the re- ford, and was pursued and harassed during
mainder of his army, and marched towards six days by the Catholic army.
Munster. In passing through Leinster, the   General Harrington, in the mean time,
rear guard of the English was severely han- received a heavy check in the principality
died in a defile, by Owen O'Morra, at the of Leix. This general, who was appointed
head of five hundred men, who killed several to restore peace to that district, having surofficers and privates; the place where they rounded the troops of O'Morra, flattered
fought was called after this, "Bearns  na himself that he would be able to reduce thera
Gleti," which signifies the Pass of Plumes, with little loss to himself; but the bravery
on account of the quantity of them which of the Catholics snatched the victory from
the English lost in it.                 him. He lost in this engagement twelve
This check did not prevent Essex from hundred men, with all their officers, and,
continuing his march into Munster. He laid among the rest, Adam Loftus, son of the
siege to the castle of Cahir, situate on the Protestant archbishop of Dublin, who was
river Suire, in the county of Tipperary; the found among the slain. The remainder of
place which gave the title of lord-baron to his army was put to flight.
Thomas Butler. The confederate Catholics   Ware, Cox, and others, mistake the cirhad in it but a garrison of seven or eight cumstances of this victory, or confound them
soldiers, without artillery, so that they were with a similar one gained over Harrington
unable to maintain a siege against the army by the O'Birnes, in the glinns of the county
of Essex. The earl of Desmond, however, of Wicklow; after which, the viceroy, to
assisted by Raymond Burke, baron of Lei- punish the want of courage among the Engtrim, and his brother William, having ap- lish, had them decimated. They, however,
peared in view of the English, fought several are all agreed that the English were defeated
skirmishes with them, and by this means af- by the Irish Catholics. Christopher Blanche
forded to William Burke an opportunity of was sent over at this time to Ireland as lorddriving off a detachment that was guarding marshal. Wishing to distinguish himself by
the bridge, and of throwing into the castle some brilliant achievement, he marched to
about fifty men, under the command of James Offaly, where his army was defeated by the
Butler, brother to the baron of Cahir. This O'Connors, with the loss of five hundred
small force contributed only to prolong the horse, and he himself escaped with difficulty,
siege; Essex played upon the castle with having had a leg broken in the action. In
his artillery; several English nobles wishing the mean time the earl of Essex confined
to mount the breach, were killed by the mus- himself to the city of Cork. He was deeply
ketry of the besieged; but James Butler, affected by the ill-success of his arms, wh-lich
finding himself -unable to defend the castle, is ingenuously acknowledged in his letter to
surrendered it to the English general.*    the English council; it was intercepted by
Essex had the castle of Cahir repaired, and the Catholics, and contains the following
leaving a strong garrison in it, with cannon words: "I am confined in Cork, where there
and ammunition, he marched to the relief of is an abundance of warlike stores; but still
Askeaton. His army received a considerable I have been unsuccessful: my undertakings
reinforcement bythe junction of some nation- have been attended with misfortune; I do
al troops, under the earls of Thuomond and not know to what this can be attributed, esxClanriccard, Mac-Pieris, baron, and Henry cept to an evil star that has led me here."
Norris.  On his way back from Askeaton, The grief of Essex proceeded from two
he was pursued by Daniel Mac-Carty More causes; first, the queen expressed herself
and the earl of Desmond, at the head of two displeased with him; secondly, she had
thousand five hundred men. These chiefs conferred the office of master of the court
having attacked his rear guard, at a place of warden,* to which Essex had aspired, on
called Baile en Finitere, the action was very Robert Cecil the secretary.  He, however,
bloody; it lasted from nine in the morning concealed his displeasure for the present.
till five in the afternoon: a great number of Finding the forces diminished, he left Munthe English were killed, and Henry Norris,
thone of their leaderse killed, afound amHenry Norris, he This court was instituted in the reign of Henry
one of their leaders, was found among the VII., for the defence and protection of the persons,
and properties of those who embraced the reformed
* Pet. Lombard. p. 415. Hist. Cathol. ibid.  religion.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           521
ster, without performing one deed worthy of to keep the places in the rear free, for the
his reputation. Towards the end of July, he security of his march; and with that object,
returned with the wrecks of his army to Dub- he determined to rebuild the castle of Sligo,
lin, where he learned that James Butler, which had been destroyed some time before
brother to the baron, had retaken the castle by O'Donnel, and to give battle to him, if
of Cahir, and put the English garrison to the he endeavored to prevent its reconstruction.
sword.*                                  Clifford sent orders to Theobald Burke, surEssex endeavored to remove the impres- named the Naval, to have cannon and every
sions which the queen had formed of his ad- thing necessary for the execution of his plans
ministration in Ireland; for which purpose, brought by sea from Galway to Sligo, while
he wrote her a long letter, and informed her he would lead the army by land.  In the
of the state of affairs in that country, and the mean time, O'Connor Sligo, who supported
character of its inhabitants.  "The Irish," the queen's cause against his country,scoured
says he, " are stronger, and handle their arms the county of Sligo with a body of cavalry,
with more skill than our people; they differ to force the inhabitants to abandon O'Donfrom us also in point of discipline.  They nel, whose cause they had espoused from a
likewise avoid pitched battles where order spirit of patriotism  and religion, and to
must be observed, and prefer skirmishes and favor the designs of Clifford; but meeting
petty warfare; they are not adapted either with some of O'Donnel's army, they were
to defend or attack fortified places; and are compelled to take refuge in Killmuiny, at a
obstinately opposed to the English govern- short distance from Sligo, where they were
ment; they endeavor to shake off the yoke, besieged by O'Donnel.
and would efface every vestige of it; they   Clifford being aware of the danger in
rely confidently on the promises of Spain, whichO'Connor was of falling into the power
and hope that the Spaniards will make a of the enemy, reviewed all his troops.  His
descent upon England, to create a diversion army amounted to two thousand five hundred
in their favor, or send them assistance, to infantry, both English and their Irish auxienable them to oppose your majesty's troops, liaries, and a few squadrons of cavalry. The
and retake those places which theypossess." principal chiefs of the auxiliary Irish were
The earl then laid down a plan to prevent O'Connor Don, prince of Magherry Conthe loss of Ireland. He proposed " that there noght,Melmor Mac-Sweeny,prince of Tueth,
should be provision stores along the coasts who through some displeasure had abandoned
of England, and ships in readiness to carry O'Donnel, and gone over to the English, and
them to Ireland in cases of need, and to serve Richard Burke, son of the earl of Clanriccard
as a check against the Spaniards; the priests and baron of Dunkillin. Matters being thus
and Jesuits," continued he, " must be expell- arranged, Clifford set out from Athlone, by
ed, and strong garrisons maintained, in or- forced marches for Boyle.  O'Donnel purder that they might make occasional attacks posed to oppose the enemy: he put a strong
on the country, and deprive the inhabitants garrison of four hundred infantry under the
of all means of subsistence." He added, that command of Mac-Sweeny Fanid and Macbesides the expense, much time, care, and william Burke, into Sligo, and left two hunperseverance, would be required to bring the dred cavalry to hold on the blockade of Killnation under complete subjection.        muiny; after which he marched with O'DoghEssex now turned his thoughts to Ulster; arty, prince of Inisowen, and the remainder
but as his march to Munster had greatly di- of the army to Corslieve mountain, where
minished his numbers, he wrote to the queen, Clifford had to pass into the county of Sligo.
in conjunction with the council, to ask for Tirconnel possessed himself of the defiles of
fresh reinforcements.  At the same time, he this mountain, and had trees cut down to
sent for Clifford, governor of Connaught, to obstruct Clifford's passage; he then enmarch with the troops under him towards camped with his army in an adjoining plain.
the frontiers of Ulster, in order to create a   In the mean time, Theobald Burke apdiversion.t  In compliance, Clifford assem- peared with his little fleet before Sligo, but
bled his army at Athlone, on the Shannon; dared not enter.  He thought prudent to
their destination being Belick on the river await the arrival of Clifford's army.  This
Erne, between the lake of that name and governor being arrived at Boyle, he left his
Ballyshannon, whither they desired to draw cavalry under the command of Sir Markham
O'Neill.; The governor thought it necessary Griffin, since in passing the defiles of Cor* Cox, Hist. of Ireland.               slieve they could not act.  On the eve of
t Cambd. Reg. Elizab. part 4, Hist. p. 736  Lady-day, O'Donnel was apprized of the
t Hist. Cathol. ibid. c. 10.           movement of the English army. As the cause
___________ __________. _ _ _ _ __6_ _   [




522                          HISTORYI OF IRELAND.
of this pious prince was that of religion, he against theEnglish. Englishwritersacknowcommanded, with the approbation of the ledge that their countrymen were defeated
ecclesiastics who were in his camp,that a fast in the Curlew mountains, by the Catholics,
should be kept on the eve of this festival, whom  they style rebels, commanded by
and that they should approach the tribunal O'Rorke.  They have candor enough also
of penance,in order to be worthy of receiving to allow, that Clifford, Ratcliffe, and others
the communion on the next day, to implore were killed in this action, but they strive
the protection of the mother of God. Scarcely to smooth the disaster, by giving mutilated
had the Catholics ended their devotion on the accounts of it. "Though the rebels," say
day of the assumption, when the English they, " were superior in numbers, still they
appeared to reconnoitre the plain. The prince were repulsed by the English; but for the
of Tirconnel then ordered refreshments to want of powder, the English were put to
his troops, and addressed them in the follow- the rout."*
ing words: " As we have already often de-  The earl of Essex was greatly disconcerted
feated the reformers through the intercession by the defeat of Clifford's army. He waited
of the blessed Virgin Mary, we have reason with anxiety for the arrival of a reinforcement
to hope for similar success this day; yester- from England; a thousand foot-soldiers at
day we fasted in honor of the Virgin; this length arrived in Dublin, in September, and
day we celebrate her festival, and thus let us all the forces then marched for the frontiers
combat her enemies, and we will be the con- of Ulster.  As soon as O'Neill heard of the
querors."  The Catholics were greatly ani- movement of the viceroy, he put his own
mated by this discourse. O'Donnel then sent army in motion, and proceeded to the town
Owen Mac-Sweeny with Giolla and Tulli of Louth, where he encamped on the banks
O'Gallagher, at the head of six hundred in- of a small river which separated the two
fantry, to stop the enemy, while he himself armies. The English, says Peter Lombard,
was preparing to attack them in order of bat- seeing the Catholics so well prepared and
tie. The engagement commenced at eleven eager to engage, were so panic-struck, (aco'clock in the morning, and continued for cording to the words of some who were
some time with equal slaughter and success, present,) that they were covered with shame,
till O'Rorke appeared at the head of a body and afraid to hold up their heads.t
of infantry, and turned the scale of victory.   The viceroy immediately dispatched a
The terror of the English was so great, that herald to O'Neill, to declare to him that he
they threw their arms on the ground and fled. had not come as an enemy into his province;
The rout now became general; the Catholic on the contrary, that he came to offer him
troops pursued the fugitives for three miles: terms of peace, or at least a truce, and that
Markham, who continued at Boyle with the he would send commissioners for that purcavalry, came out to the relief of the Eng- pose, if he would accede to his doing so.4
lish; he attacked and killed some of those The prince of Tyrone having agreed to the
who were engaged in the pursuit, but O'Rorke proposal, two knights and a counsellor of state
coming up drove him back, and though badly were dispatched for that purpose by the earl
wounded, he got into Boyle. The English of Essex. These commissioners being adlost in this battle fourteen hundred men in mitted to an audience with O'Neill, they
killed, with Clifford, the governor of Con- explained to him the purport of their mission.
naught, and Henry Ratcliffe, a young Eng- The prince replied, that he would not agree
lish nobleman, who were found among the to any truce, nor engage in any treaty in
slain. One hundred and forty of the Catholic which three specific conditions were not adarmy were killed and wounded. After this mitted; first, " that there should be no other
defeatofthe English,a greatbootywasfound: religion but the Catholic, Apostolic, and
and the conquerors became masters of a vast Roman, throughout the kingdom of Ireland;"
quantity of arms, colors, cannon, dress, and second, " that the church properties which
other warlike apparatus. O'Neill, who was since the commencement of schism and hereon his march to the assistance of O'Donnel, sy had been annexed to the king's dominions,
arrived too late, by two days, to share in the should be restored to the church, as well by
glory of this victory. The -news of the defeat the queen herself,  as by the individuals who
of the English, and the death of -Clifford, possessed them;" third, "that the heirs of
being spread, Burke the Naval set sail im- the original proprietors, who had been unmediately from Sligo to return to Galway. justly despoiled of their estates within the
O'Connor surrendered to O'Donnel, who put   * Cambden, Reign of Elizabeth, p. 736.
him into the possession of his demesne at   t Pet. Lombard, p. 419.
Sligo, on his promising to assist thereafter  t Pet. Lombard, p. 420.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          523
last forty years, should be re-established, to speaks it) that the state of your nation is
the utter exclusion of the usurpers."   very vacillating, and that if your old queen
This reply of Tyrone being communicated were dead, the strongest would be master.
to the viceroy, the earl dispatched a second Under all these circumstances, it behooves
herald to the prince, and proposed to meet you to take heed against your enemies. Be
him at a short distance from their respective cautious too, lest the favor, the honor, and
armies. The prince accepted the proposal of authority with which you are invested, be
meeting him, but not apart from his army. not yet the cause of your ruin. AccommnoEssex, who was eager for an interview on date yourself to thetimes, and attach yourself
any terms, gave up his stipulation: he sent to such as may render you services in the
away the greater part of his army to hour of need."  The viceroy knew that the
Drogheda, and proceeded towards the camp reasoning of the prince of Tyrone was true,
of O'Neill, accompanied by a few nobles and but the means which he prescribed to avoid
a small numberof horsemen. The two chiefs the danger, he found impracticable.
being come, went down the river, where they   Essex, pleased with his negotiations with
might confer together. The conference lasted Tyrone, took leave of that prince, and refor some hours; the viceroy looked for a turned to Dublin, where he received a letter
truce till the month of May; Tyrone an- from the queen, dated the 14th of September.
swered, that his honor, which was pledged Her majesty reproached him and the council
not only to foreign princes, but to the gran- with mal-administration, and a contempt for
dees of his own nation, would not allow him her commands.  This reproach was mortito accede to it. Essex reminded O'Neill of fying to Essex. He placed the government
the ancient friendship that subsisted between of affairs in the hands of Adam loftus, the
the earl his father, and him, and consequently chancellor, and George Carey, treasurer of
that he ought to feel some sympathy towards war; committed the command of the troops
the humbled position of his son. The heart to the earl of Ormond, and departed for
of O'Neill could not resist any longer the London, September 28th, accompanied by
repeated solicitations of Essex,and the prince some of his friends; among others, by Southconsented to a truce of six weeks, on condi- ampton, (who resigned his command of the
tion that each should be at liberty to break cavalry,) the baron of Dunkell, Christopher
off by giving a notice of fourteen days. The St. Laurence, son of the baron of Howth,
truce being thus settled on, the two noblemen Henry Danvers,Henry Docwray, and others..
passed a few hours in mutual compliments The day following he presented himself beand politeness.*                        fore the queen, who received him coldly, and
The salutary admonitions of O'Neill to ordered him to keep his chamber till he
Essex merit the attention of the reader, as would hear from her; after this he was
they were prophetic of the disasters which committed and detained in prison, according
subsequently befell him. They were as fol- to Peter Lombard,* who was a cotemporary
lows: "Permit me, earl, to obtrude the ad- writer. The heads of the accusation against
vice of one advanced in years, upon you who Essex were, neglect of the instructions given
are young, and to forewarn you, for your him respecting the war in Ireland; the faown safety and peace of mind, of things that vorable truce that he had granted the Irish
may arise in your course. I am not ignorant rebels; and his having left Ireland in despite
of the power you possess in your own coun- of the orders of the queen.  The history of
try, how dear you are to the queen, how the tragic end of that nobleman is sufficiently
pleasing to the English, and how honored known: it will suffice to observe, that though
and beloved by the army. The instability one of Elizabeth's chief favorites, he was
and fickleness of these advantages in Eng- beheaded soon afterwards.
land, are known to you; and you are aware   After Essex had left Ulster, a Spanish
how intolerable is the tyranny of your queen, captain arrived in that province with two
since no person has as yet lived secure under ships laden with warlike stores, which his
her power, except such as from their obscu- Catholic majesty had sent to the prince of
rity in life have escaped her attention, or Tyrone. He received the officer, and asked
those who are the instruments of her cruelty. why the king had omitted so long to send,
Experience proves, how few of those that the succors which he had promised, and
have been raised by her to the highest offices why he did not send all at the same time.
of trust, have escaped the abyss of ignominy The officer answered, that his majesty inand disgrace. You know likewise (as O'Neill tended it, but that the report of peace having
* Pet. Lombard, pp. 421, 422, 423, 424.    * Hib. Comment. cap. 426, 427.




5.24                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
been made between the prince of Tyrone her adherents.  Several were brought over
and Queen Elizabeth, was the cause; and by the reasoning of Tyrone; particularly
added, that the king of Spain sent him for Finian Mac Carty, a powerful nobleman of
the express purpose (with these two ships) the illustrious tribe of the Mac Carthys,
of bringing him an account of how affairs who was always remarkable for his attachstood in Ireland.  This reply did not satisfy imenttothereligipnofhis ancestors.* Others,
O'Neill; however, he concealed his disap- influenced by a different policy, though
pointment with his accustomed prudence.  strongly attached to the Catholic faith, rePhilip II., king of Spain, having died in plied, that a subject of such moment ought
the month of September of the preceding to be suspended for a while, as the opinion
year, Philip III. succeeded to the throne. of the see of Rome was not well known;t
This prince, interested in following the plans adding, that though excommunication had
of his brother in regard to the war in Ireland, been pronounced by Pius V. against the adsent over two legates, Matthew d' Oviedo, herents of the queen of England, the mitiwhom the pope appointedto the archbishopric gation of the sentence by his successor,
of Dublin, and Don Martin de la Cerda, a Clement XIII., in favor of Catholic subSpanish knight. The legates were empower- jects, was well understood, and that they
ed to grant indulgences to the Irish who might, with perfect security of conscience,
fought against the English in defence of adopt a course of moderation, till the pontheir religion.*  The sovereign pontiff also tiff who then governed the church would
sent by the same opportunity, a crown of lay down other rules for them to follow, in
phoenix feathers to the prince of Tyrone, which case they would be ready to obey.
chief of the league, in imitation of Urban This brought forth a bull from Clement
III., who had sent, in the twelfth century, a XIII., which was addressed to the spiritual
crown of peacock's plumes to John, son of and temporal lords and people of Ireland.
Henry II., who was styled lord of Ireland.   Prince O'Neill, who deemed their policy
The legates brought twenty-two thousand injurious to religion, and their delay hurtful
pieces of gold from the king of Spain, for to the Catholic cause, expressed his displeathe payment of the troops.               sure at the replies of these noblemen. Some
Encouraged even by this moderate assist- of them he treated with severity, and deance, and hoping for greater from the Span- vastated their lands, in order to deprive the
iards, Tyrone resumed hostilities, after a enemy of subsistence; others he compelled
notice of fourteen days, in pursuance of the to give hostages for their future conduct.t
truce made with Essex, A. D. 1600.1  Hav-   During Tyrone's stay in Munster, the
ing provided for the security of the princi- queen's troops kept in their garrisons and
pality of Tyrone, he marched through the strong places, not daring to take the field,
whole of Leinster, at the head of seven so that the time passed over without hosthousand men: his motive for doing which tilities, except an affair between Hugh Mawas, according to some writers, his devo- guire, prince of Fermanagh, who commandtion for a particle of the true cross, which ed O'Neill's cavalry, and St. Leger, presiwas preserved in the abbey of Holy-Cross, dent of Munster, in which both noblemen
county of Tipperary.  However this was, fell.~  Maguire attended only by Edmond
he advanced towards Cork, where he en- Mac Caffry, his standard-bearer, Niall O'Durcamped, and consulted with the earl of Des- nin, and a priest, left the camp one day,
mond, Florence Mac Carty Reagh, and either to take an airing or to reconnoitre the
other chiefs of the province, about the means country; having advanced too far, he met
of supporting the war.t  He sent deputies with St. Leger, at the head of sixty cavalry;
to those whose sincerity he doubted, to so- notwithstanding this difference in numbers,
licit them to join in the confederacy against Maguire's spirit would not permit him to
the enemies of God, their religion, and their avoid fighting; putting spurs to his horse,
country. As a stronger inducement, he sent he forced his way through the enemy to
them an authentic copy of the sentence of their commander, who shot him through
excommunication which Pius V. had pro- the body. Though Maguire's wound was
nouneed against the queen of England and mortal, he determined to- be revenged;
struck St. Leger such a blow with his lance
a Hist. Cathol. ibid. cap. 12. Ware, de Annal. that he cleft his head through the helmet,
cap. 4'2. Cambd. ibid. p. 743.
t Pet. Lombard, ibid. page 430. Cambd. ibid.    * Pet. Lombard, ibid. p. 432.
page 748.                                        t Ibid. p. 433.
t Peter Lombard, ibid. page 431. Hist. Cathol.  $ Petr. Lombard, p, 434.
ibid.                                            ~ Hist. Cathol. ibid. cap. 12.




CHRISTIAN. IRELAND.                         525
and then opened a passage for himself, sword his attendants.  All arrived, according to
in hand. Both generals died of their wounds appointment, at the place of meeting. The
a few days after, greatly regretted by their troops of both parties were at a distance,
respective corps.*                      when the conference began between OrThe Prince O'Neill, before he left Mun- mond and O'Morra, which lasted for an
ster, took the necessary measures for the hour without any thing being concluded.
defence of the province, and the security of O'Morra had a Jesuit with him named Arthe confederates.  He placed some veteran cher, who was zealously opposed to the Retroops among them, and returning through formation,* with whom  Ormond began a
Leinster, he left a reinforcement with O'Mor- controversy on the score of religion, in the
ra of Leix. Before this, he passed in view course of which he called the Jesuit a traitor;
of Ormond, who commanded the English saying, that under a semblance of religion
army.  He arrived safe in Ulster, having he was seducing her majesty's subjects from
honorably fulfilled the designs he had in their allegiance, after which he proceeded
view.                                   to abuse the pope and Church of Rome.
The earl of Essex having given up the O'Morra, no longer able to bear with langovernment of Ireland, it was of importance guage so indecent, and so foreign to the
to appoint a successor to him, and a governor subject before them, seized the earl, dragged
of Munster to succeed St. Leger, who was him from his horse, and made him prisoner.
killed by Maguire. Charles Blunt, baron of The president and Thuomond, with his other
Mountjoy, was therefore appointed viceroy, friends who were at hand, being alarmed,
and Sir George Carew was named president ran to his assistance and commenced fightof Munster. These two noblemen repaired ing. Some of the English were killed, sevto Dublin about the end of February.  Ca- eral wounded, and more made prisoners;
rew waited for his commission to undertake while the president and Thuomond took to
the duties of his appointment. In the mean flight, and owed their safety only to the
time, the viceroy and supreme council of swiftness of their horses.  Thuomond was
Irelandt had regulations drawn up for the wounded in the back with a pike, as he comguidance of the president and council of that plained in a letter to the council of England,
province.  The members of it were, the wherein the circumstances of his misfortune
earls of Kildare, Ormond, and Thuomond, in this affray are described.  As soon as
Viscount Barry, Lord Audley, the Protestant the two noblemen had got out of danger,
bishops of Cork and Limerick, Sir Nicholas they talked of revenge; their drums and
Walsh, the chief-justice Saxey, Sir Francis trumpets were ordered to rally the troops
Barkley, Sir George Thornton, Justice and renew the fight; but the terror of the
Goold, the queen's advocate-general, Sir English was so great that none but Captains
Charles Wilmott, Garret Comerford, Esq., Harvey, Browne, Comerford, and some serUlick Cuffe, Esq., the bishops of Dublin vants, had the courage to move forward; and
and Meath, George Cary, Richard Wing- consequently, they had no alternative but to
field, Anthony St. Leger, George Bourchier, submit to their misfortune.  They then reGeoffry Fenton, and Francis Stafford.   turned to Kilkenny, where they found the
The president of Munster left Dublin on countess of Ormond inconsolable for her
the 7th of April, and took the road that led husband's capture.
to his province. The earl of Thuomond, who   The deputy was in Dublin when he heard
always sought for opportunities of displaying of this unhappy occurrence, and likewise
his zeal for the royal cause, with Lord Aud- that the sons of Montgarret and several other
ley, Captains Harvey, Browne, Dillon, and noblemen of the Butlers were up in arms.
a force of seven hundred foot and a hundred He at once dispatched Sir George Bourhorse, accompanied the president on his chier and Christopher St. Laurence to Kilroute.  On the first day they arrived at kenny, with orders to collect the troops, and
Naas, on the next at Carlow, and on the keep the peace of the city and its neighborthird at Kilkenny, where they visited the hood. The president of Munster, on the
earl of Ormond.  Ormond had promised to arrival of these officers, set out with Thuomeet Owen, son of Rory O'Morra, on the mond for Waterford, where they arrived on
borders of Idough, at present the barony of the 16th of April.
Fessadining, in the county of Kilkenny, at  The O'Connors Faly laid siege at this
a place called Corronneduffe, and the presi- time to the castle of Crouchan, which was
dent proposed to accompany the earl, with situated in the principality of Offaly,t at the
X Pet. Lomb. p. 435.
t Pacat. Hib. cap. 1, book 1, page 6.   * Hist. Cathol. cap. 8.  t Ibid.




526                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
foot of a hill called Knock-Crouchan. Tho- and their troops, aided by the God of armas Moor, a knight of the golden spur, and mies, have performed many heroic deeds, in
Giffard, both Englishmen, commanded the fighting valiantly against their enemies, and
garrison. The besiegers having no artillery, are determined to persevere in opposing
scaled the walls with a hundred foot soldiers, them; in order, therefore, to secure your
and having entered, put the garrison, which attachment, and that of your general, and
consisted of Englishmen, to the sword, and of the said troops to this cause, it is our
became masters of the fortress.         desire to bestow on you our spiritual favors,
O'Neill,* who had begun the war only in as our predecessors have done. Trusting
consequence of repeated assurances of suc- in the mercies of God, and by the authorcor both from the pope and the king of ity of his apostles Peter and Paul, we
Spain, continued to apply to them for assist- grant to each and every one of you, who
ance, and sent his son Henry, who was still follow the said General O'Neill, and his
young, on a mission to his Catholic majesty. army, for the defence and support of the
He wrote some urgent letters to the pope, Catholic faith, to those who furnish him
representing to his holiness that the war in with their aid, in provisions, arms, or other
Ireland was the cause of God, and beseech- warlike stores, or assist him in any manner
ing him to have public prayers offered in whatever, provided you have confessed your
Rome for its success. He also prayed that sins, and if it be possible, have received the
the holy father would give his decision on holy communion, the full remission of your
the. efficacy that the sentence of excommuni- sins; and we likewise grant all the indulcation pronounced by Pius V. against Eliza- gences which the Roman pontiffs have been
beth and her partisans, ought to have, which accustomed to bestow on those who fight
might serve as a guide to the Catholics of against the Turks for the recovery of the
Ireland for the conduct they should observe Holy Land, &c.
in the present war. In fine, he besought the   " Given at St. Peter's, Rome, under the
pope that his holiness would be pleased to fisherman's ring, on the 16th of April, 1600,
send a nuncio to Ireland, who would be ac- in the ninth year of our pontificate."
tive in supporting the Catholics in their
faith, and who might allay their uneasiness
in the present posture of affairs.t Clement
VIII., who was then head of the church, an-       CHAPTER XLVII.
swered his requests with the following bull,
dated Rome, April, 1600.t " Pope Clement  THE Catholics of Ulster were still in posVIII., to all and each of our venerable breth- session of that province, with the exception
ren, the archbishops, bishops, and prelates; of a few forts which the English kept, and
also to our dearly beloved sons, the princes, garrisoned. The deputy was commanded to
counts, barons, and the people of Ireland: reduce this province, but a want of energy
greeting, health and apostolical benediction. in his operations excited the suspicions of the
" Having learned that, through the ex- court. It was therefore deliberated in council
hortations of the Roman pontiffs our prede- whether he should be recalled, and another
cessors, and those of the holy see, and ours, deputy appointed, or whether supplies should
you have been encouraged to recover your be sent to continue the war against O'Neill
freedom, and to defend and maintain it and his allies more vigorously, if he should
against the reformers; also, that you have refuse to make peace.* The latter plan was
been, and are united to second and support, adopted, and a fresh reinforcement of troops
with all your means, first, James Fitzgerald was ordered to Ireland. In consequence of
of happy memory, who, as long as he lived, this, the deputy wrote to Tyrone, in April,
made generous efforts to shake off the cruel proposing terms of peace in the name of the
yoke of slavery which the English, who queen and council, which, so far as related
have deserted the holy Roman church, have to religion, and the reparation of the injuries
imposed upon you; subsequently, John Fitz- that the Irish Catholics had sustained, apgerald, cousin-gerlmana of the said James, peared reasonable. The prince of Tyrone,
and latterly, our dear and illustrious soil, however, knew too well the disposition of
Prince Hugh O'Neill, earl of Tyrone, baron the English, to place any confidence in their
of Dungannon, and captain-general of the promises; he knew that nothing but the inCatholic army; and that these generals ability of acting otherwise, would influence
* Peter Lombard, p. ~25.      them to keep faith with him; and besides,
t Peter Lombard, p. 465.
I Cambd. ad ann. 1600.              * Pet. Lombard, ibid. p. 445, et seq.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            527
he expected dailythe assistance thathad been prolong the war. The Catholics of Leix ran
promised to him by the king of Spain, so that to arms, and attacked both the reapers and
he rejected the overtures of the deputy.   the troops who were guarding them; the
Mountjoy felt the necessity of removing lord-deputy was dismounted, and his horse
the suspicionswhichwere entertained against killed under him, so that he saved himself
him by the court; and finding the prince of with difficulty, on foot, through a neighborTyrone deaf to the proposals he had made, ing bog.  The advantages to the Catholics
he saw that his only resource to redeem his from this victory, were not equal to the heavy
honor lay in force.  He therefore collected loss that they sustained by the death of Owen
his troops to attack Tyrone by sea and land; O'Morra, who was killed in the action. This
and in the month of March, a fleet of; sixty- nobleman, illustrious by birth, was still more
seven ships, under Sir Henry Dockwra, was so from his virtue, and his attachment to the
ordered to take possession of a lake in the cause of God and his country; he was the
north of Ireland, called Loughfoyle, between soul of the confederacy in Leinster, and his
the peninsula of Inisowen andArachtyCahan, death produced such consternation throughto cause in that quarter a diversion favor- out the province, that the principal leaders,
able to the expedition of his forces by land. except Raymond O'Morra who succeeded
Five thousand infantry and three hundred him, were obliged to beg peace from their
horse were on board this fleet, well provided enemies. The deputy being now freed from
with ammunition and warlike stores.  The this formidable opponent, continued his deEnglish commander also had constructed, on vastations in Leinster; the estates of Daniel
the borders of Loughfoyle, four forts, from Cavanagh, surnamed the Spaniard, suffered
whence he lmade frequent incursions on the greatly; and the O'Lalors, Redmond Keatlands of O'Dogharty, and other noblemen. ing, and others, were forced to submit; after
O'Neill, vhen informed of the movements which the deputy returned to Dublin.
of the English, assembled a council of the   O'Donnel, who was appointed to watch
chief men of the province, to adopt measures the motions of the garrisons on Loughfoyle,
against the enemy.  It was determined, that acted with a prudence and valor worthy of
prince O'Donnel should oppose the attempts the illustrious house of Tirconnel, of which
of the garrisons on Loughfoyle,while O'Neill he was the chief.  He pursued several dehillmself would march against the deputy. A tachinents from those places, and killed a
det'chment of the Ca.tholic army having met great many of them.  The forts were also
a party of the English who were guarding surrounded by O'Neill's army. In the month
the bagg'age, attaclked and killed a great of August this prince surprised fifteen hunnulmber of theim, and became masters of dred of their men who were foraging, and
considerable booty.  The deputy, alarmed put the whole of them to the sword; but the
at this event, returned immediately to Dub- English being masters by sea, and the Irish
lin, where he remlained for some time.   having no fleet to oppose them, their losses
Trhe earl of Ormond was still a prisoner were quickly repaired by fresh arrivals of
with O'Morra.  His countess applied with men and arms from England.
eagerness for his liberation; for which pur-   The successes of the English in Munster
pose she addressed letters to the queen, and were more rapid, in consequence of the divito the prince of Tyrone; she reminded the sions that prevailed in that province.  A
latter of the friendship that subsisted between kingdom divided must fall.  Some of their
him and the earl, and begged, that in con- chiefs had already embraced the reformed
sideration of the services he had rendered religion through interest and an ambition to
him, he would procure him  his freedom. please Elizabeth; therest continued attached
Tyrone paid regard to the entreaties of the to the Roman church.  Among the latter,
countess, and procuredherhusband's liberty, however, were some political temporizers
on condition that he would no lorger act who would run no risk, and whose principle
against his religion or his country, and that was to accommodate themselves to the timaes.
he should give hostages for his fidelity.    The English government omitted nothing
Mountjoy, who remained in Dublin since to excite disunion: they strove to reduce
his last expedition to Ulster, proceeded to the Irish to the most abject wretchedness,
Kilkenny to visit the earl of Ormond after by destroying their flocks, and the crops nehis liberation. He then marched at the head cessary for their support; and also by drawof some troops into Leix, and brought labor- ing out of Ireland all its gold and silver, and
ers with him to cut down the corn before it sending from England in lieu of it a new
was ripe, in order to deprive the inhabitants copper coin which would not pass in any other
of subsistence forthe nextwinter, andthereby country, and which soon lost its value there.




528                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Such was the situation of affairs and the sustained a heavy loss on this occasion, and
position of the people in Munster, when had it not been for the skill of Flower, they
Carew began his campaigns in that province. would all have perished. To protect them,
The president, who was witness to the inter- this officer sent Lieutenant Lane with a body
view between O'Morra and Ormond, when of men to conceal themselves in an old ruin,
the latter -was made prisoner, as has been and attack the Catholics in flank, while he
observed, arrived at Waterford on the 16th himself attacked them in front with the rest
of April.@  The army which the council of of his forces; being thus placed between two
England intended for Munster, consisted of fires, they defended themselves bravely for
three thousand infantry, and one hundred some time, but Carbry O'Connor, Dermod's
and fifty cavalry. The demonstrations for brother, and some of their other chiefs havthe war began to spread terror among the ing fallen, and finding themselves overpowinhabitants..t Some noblemenof t.he county ered by the enemy's cavalry, they took
of Waterford dreading the consequences, flight, and withdrew  to the territory of
made their submission to the president; Kinel-Meaky, where they encamped near
among the number of whom were Thomas, the bridge of Bally ne Courcie.
natural son of Sir James Fitzgerald, lord of  While the president was employed in
Desie, and Thomas Power, the near relation holding a council in Cork, to deliberate on
of Lord Power.                          the affairs of the province, several skirmishes
Carew foresaw two important advantages took place between the Catholics and the
that must arise to him from the submission court party. Captain Francis Slingsby, who
of these two nobles; first, it was so much commanded the English garrison at Kilmaltaken from the force of Desmond; secondly, lock, laid waste the country as far as the
the communication was rendered free be- castle of Bruff, three miles fromn Kilmallock,
tweenWaterford and Youghal, to which their and carried away large herds of cattle.  He
power extended, and near which their estates was, however, attacked-by Peter Lacy, lord
lay. The president Carew set out fromWater- of the district, at the head of three hundred
ford, April 20, attended by the earl of Thuo- foot, and fifty horse.  They fought for six
mond, Lords Audley and Power, the lord of hours with equal success, except that Colin
Desie, Sir Nicholas Walsh, Sir Anthony O'Neill, natural son of Tyrone, was woundCook, Sir Richard Masterson; Captains Ro- ed on the side of the Catholics.  About the
ger Harvie,William Taaffe, Richard Greame, same time, April 25, John Mac-Thomas,
Fleming, Giffard, Dillon, O'Reilly, and brother to the earl of Desmond, had the
several nobles, with nine hundred foot, and command of a small detachment of Catholics,
one hundred horse, and arrived the same day and in order to punish Lord Barry, who had
at Dungarvan, where he was joined by Sir abandoned the cause of his country, he enGeorge Cary's company. The day following tered upon his estates, where he pillaged his
he marched for Youghal, from which he set vassals as far as Castle Lyons, and carried
out on the 24th for Cork. Here he learned away large herds of cattle. Redmond Burke
that Florence Mac-Carty, prince of Carbry, was not so successful in the barony of Kilwith the O'Driscols, O'Mahonys O'Donna- nemanna; he marched some troops into that
vans, and several of the principal nobility of quarter against John O'Dwyer, to whom it
the country, had taken up arms; he imraie- belonged, and who had received protection
diately dispatched twelve hundred foot and from the English; but was repulsed by
one hundred horse against them, under Cap- O'Dwyer, who  killed one hundred and
tain Flower, who pillaged and burned the twenty of his men.  Burke returning soon
whole country as far as the neighborhood after with fresh forces, burned and destroyof Ross, without meeting an enemy; on his ed every thing in the district of Kilnemanna.
return,however, he was attacked by Florence On the 29th of the same month, Captain
Mac-Carty andDermodO'Connor-Don. The Slingsby left Kilmallock, at the head of a
former headed the provincial troops, the detachment, devastating the neighborhood
latter the Bownoghs, that is, the mercenary of Loghguire,  where he took possession of
forces of Connaught.  These chiefs having the castle; a place in itself inconsiderable,
placed themselves in ambush on the road the but the situation of which on the road renenemy had to pass, attacked them so vigor- dered it of importance to the English.
ously, that they forced Captain Flower and   Carew, the president, meeting with diffihis men to seek safety in an old castle, at culties in the conquest of Munster, had to
the distance of half a league. The English resort to stratagem to supply the want of
* Hist. Pac. cap. 3.        force.*  In order to gain over to him some of
t War. cap. 43.                        * Pac. Hib. cap. 5.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           529
the confederates, and thus diminish the num- able to defend his castle of Bruff against the
ber of his enemies, he pretended to prepare president's army, caused it to be demolished;
an expedition against Limerick, threatening Redmond Burke, who was at the head of five
to give up to his soldiers the property of the hundred men in the district of Connillo, upon
Catholics on his march; in consequence of the promise of the president that lie would
which, some lords whose lands lay along the support him in his pretensions to the barony
route he was to take, to obviate the threat- of Leitrim, withdrew from the confederacy,
ened calamity, made their submission. The and retired to the district of Ormond. These
president saw how important it would be to defections did not, however, prevent the other
bring about a peace with Florence Mac-Carty confederates from meeting in the wood of
of Carbry, who was a powerful prince of the Kilmore, between Mallow and Kilmallock,
province; knowingthathis submission would to oppose the English army on its route
be followed by that of many others.  He through Ballyhawry; but instead of marchwas aware that Mac-Carty had, in opposition ing on the 6th, the president remained in
to Daniel Mac-Carty, natural son to Mac- Cork until the 21st of May, in order to deCarty More, earl of Clancar, applied for the ceive them; want of. provisions, therefore,
estates of the latter, whose daughter and forced them to decamp and return to their
heiress he had married, in which he obtained different quarters.
the sanction of the queen. To accomplish   The president being informed of their rehis purpose, in effecting a reconciliation with treat, set out fiom Cork on the 21st of May,
the prince of Carbry, the president appointed and passing through Mallow, arrived the
the earl of Thuonond, Sir Nicholas Walsh, next day at Kilmallock; on the 24th he
and John Fitz-Edmonds to treat with him. reached Bruff, and on the 25th arrived in
An express was forwarded to Mac-Carty, Limerick. In the mean time James Butler,
that they wished to confer with him on mat- brother of Lord Cahir, made himself master
ters of great moment.  He agreed willingly of Cahir castle, where' there was an English
to a conference, and appointed a certain day garrison. On the 28th of May the president
and place to meet them. Their present ob- entered the district of Clanwilliam, burning
ject was to prevail on the prince to come and destroying all before him.  He forced
before the president. In this they succeeded; John and Theobald Burke to surrender;
and after a conference of two hours, he con- after which he became master of the castle
sented, under a solemn promise and an oath of Ballytrasny, which the Catholics had left,
from Thuomond and Walsh for his safe re- and found in it a quantity of corn and other
turn; he then accompanied them to Cork, provisions. He next sent five hundred soldiers
and, on the 3d of May, arrived at the castle to attack the patrimony of the O'Moel Ryans,
of Shandon where the president resided. which they pillaged and burned without
Carew reproached Mac-Carty for his treason mercy, and committed unheard-of cruelties.
and ingratitude to the queen for all her fa- After these expeditions he placed garrisons
vors.  Thuomond also played his part, and in Kilmallock, Askeaton, and Likadowne, on
joined with the president to influence the the frontiers of Connillo, and returned with
prince to submit. Hie consented, finally, the remainder of his armyto Limerick. Cap- I
to observe a strict neutrality on the follow- tain Harvy arrived at the same time with a
ing conditions: first, that the queen should ship laden with money, warlike stores, progrant him the territories of Desmond to the visions, and clothing, to the great joy of the
same extent as she had done to his father- president, who was beginning to be in want
in-law the earl of Clancar., Second, that of every thing.
she would grant him the title of Mac-Carty   The president was not yet satisfied; to
More, or earl of Clancar; and- lastly, that get James Fitzthomas, earl of Desmond, into
she would furnish him with three hundred his power, was a feat to be yet accomplished.
I soldiers for his defence. To all these con- Promises of reward appeared to him to be the
ditions the president refused his assent, and surest means of effecting this, and by means
Mac-Carty returned home.                of them he succeeded. James was betrayed,.   The submission of the white knight, of by some of his own soldiers into the hands
Barret, Condon, and some others, and the of the president, who confined him under a
visit that Florence Mac-Carty paid to the strong guard in the castle of Connillo, callpresident,created jealousy and distrust among ed Castleishin, but he was soon rescued from
the confederates.  These were still further his imprisonment by Maurice, baron of Lixheightened by the news of Carew's intended naw, Dermod Mac-Carty Reagh, the knight
expedition, which made many consult their of Kerry, William Burke, Bernard O'Kelly,
own safety. Peter Lacy, despairing of being Peter Lacy, and other chiefs of' the con67 




530                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
federacy, at the head of eight hundred title of the O'Donnel, or chief of the tribe,
men.                                   and he had cause to expect it if the English
The princes of Ulster were too busy in were victorious. They began indeed already
defending their own province to be able to to give him the title, and to make him great
afford any help to the Munstermen. O'Don- promises of reward if he would join in their
nel, prince of Tirconnel, had to watch the interests. These foreigners knew well how
garrisons of Loughfoyle, commanded by to turn the affairs of this nobleman to their
Dockwra, with whom he had frequent skir- own profit. Niall had formed a private enmishes. The English having got the city mity against his chief, O'Donnel, on the
of Derry into their possession, made a vig- ground of his having taken from him, as he
orous sortie, but were irepulsed with loss. said, unjustly, the estate of Lifford, which
Dockwra, their commander, was danger- belonged to his family, and did not feel sufously wounded in the head with a pike, by ficiently requited by the castle of Caisleanyoung Hugh O'Donnel, who cut his helmet na-Finni, which the prince had given him
through. After this. battle the English re- by way of remuneration. This was the
laxed in their attacks, so that O'Donnel de- only plea that Niall Garve could advance to'termined to cause a diversion in favor of palliate his revolt and his attachment to the
Munster. To effect this, he left the defence English.
of Tirconnel to John O'Dogherty, prince   O'Donnel, who was projecting a second
of Inis-Owen, Niall O'Donnel, surnamed expedition against the earl of Thuomond,
Garve, and Daniel O'Gallagher; after which abandoned his design on hearing of the rehe marched through Connaught, and in the volt of Niall Garve,* and immediately postmonth of June entered the country of Thuo- ed his army near Lifford, in order to watch
mond. The earl, who was then at Limer- the enemy's motions. He frequently fought
ick, alarmed at the news of his approach, with success both against Niall Garve, who
applied to the president for help to defend had gained over many adherents, and against
his district against him. Captain Flower the garrisons of Lifford and Derry, which
was immediately dispatched with eight hun- often sallied forth against him. He sustained
dred infantry and sixty cavalry, to join the a heavy loss in the death of O'Dogharty,
earl in repelling Tirconnel; the two armies who was killed in one of these engagements.
had frequent skirmishing, but O'Donnel O'Dogharty having left only an infant son,
plundered the country of Thuomond as far O'Donnel, according to the custom of the
as Loophead, and, after taking great booty country, created Felim O'Dogharty, his nearin cattle, he retired without meeting any est relative, prince of Inisowen; this act, by
disaster.*  -increasing the number of the discontented
The expedition of O'Donnel to Thuomond in Inisowen, diminished his allies there, and
had no greater effect than to retard the the principal town in the district was given
operations of the English in Munster, but it up to the English. All O'Donnel's efforts
produced a serious change in his own affairs. against the rebels of Inisowen were ineffecThe lieutenant of General Dockwra, having tual: he besieged them in Binnin, a fort to
sailed.out of Derry in the.absence of the which they had withdrawn; but from the
prince of Tirconnel, was killed by O'Dogh- inactivity of the Connaughtmen whom he
arty, so that the English would have cause had in pay, he was obliged to abandon the
to repent of their conquest of Loughfoyle, undertaking. In the mean time, Niall Garve,
if the Catholics had been more united. Ar- having collected all the natives belonging to
thur O'Neill, following the policy of his his faction, and some English soldiers befather, Turlough Linnagh, left the Catholic longing to the garrison, seized upon the
party and declared for the English.  His Franciscan convent of Donegal, and having
example was soon followed by Niall Garve driven out the friars, made an arsenal of
O'Donnel, though otherwise strongly at- their house, in order to be able to hold out
tached to the religion of his ancestors. This against O'Donnel. This prince surrounded
nobleman gave up Lifford to the English, him with his army, and kept him hemmed
the command of which he had been appoint- in for three months; after which, the fored to by the prince of Tirconnel. His trea- tress having taken fire during the night,
chery caused a divorce between him and his about one thousand men perished by the
wife Nolla, the sister of Tirconnel.  flames, the swords of the besiegers, and the
Niall Garve was:brave and expert in war; falling in of the building, among the number
his ambition made him desire to obtain the of whom was Conn O'Donnel, brother of
* Hist. Cathol. cap. 5..                 Hist. Cathol. Hib. ibid.




CIRISTIAN IRELAND.                           531
Nial Garve.  The prince of Tirconnel after of Croom, which the garrison had abandoned.
marched his troops to Connaught; he was After this he marched towards the castle of
attacked at Elphin by the earl of Clanric- Glynn, situate on the banks of the Shancard, at the head of an English corps, and non. This castle was the chief place belongafter some skirmishing the earl withdrew, ing to the knight of the Glynn, a branch of
but little satisfied with the success of his the illustrious house of the Fitzgeralds of
arms.                                   Desmond, and one of the principal confedMountjoy marched in July, at the head of erate Catholic chiefs.  The president laid
his forces, towards the frontiers of Ulster;* siege to it, and having effected a breach, it
but this expedition was equally unsuccessful, was taken by assault, notwithstanding the
as the former.  He reconciled the Magen- most obstinate defence. The president, havnises, O'Hanlon, Ever, son of Colla Mac- ing placed a garrison in Glynn Castle, under
Mahon, lord of Fearna, and others, who Captain Mordant, determined to lay siege to
were subjected to the incursions of the Eng- Carrigofoyle, in  Iraghticonnor, but was
lish, from the contiguity of their frontiers- prevented by the voluntary submission of
this was a kind of neutrality approved of O'Connor Kerry, to whom it belonged.
by O'Neill in favor of these noblemen.  In the mean time, the president, in order
The deputy then advanced towards Armagh to occupy the confederates in different places
and Portmor, the garrisons of which he re- at once, sent fifty men into the county of
lieved, but was deterred from proceeding Kerry, commanded by Maurice Stack, a nafarther, as he dreaded O'Neill, who was tive of that district, a man of middle stature,
strongly intrenched, which caused him to but of tried courage.*  He surprised the
return to Dublin.f                      castle of Liscaghan, scaled the walls, and put
The deputy set out from Dublin in the the garrison to the sword; he also burned
month of August, with five hundred and Adare, and devastated  the neighboring
sixty infantry, sixty horsemen, and some country, where he remained till the arrival
volunteers. He marched first to Naas, in or- of Sir Charles Wilmot, who came to his
der to join Oliver Lambert, who command- assistance. War is the scourge of a country
ed a body of troops at Philipstown in Offaly. which unfortunately becomes the theatre of
The two commanders having united their it. The scarcity of provisions was so severe
forces, carried fire and sword everywhere in Kerry, that the president was constrained
as they passed, so that every step in their to change his quarters; he took possession
march was marked with cruelty and ty- of the castle of Corgrage, which had been
ranny.                                  abandoned, and gave the command of it to
Mountjoy, wishing to create a diversion in Oliver Stephenson, whose descendants, says
favor of his friends at Loughfoyle, march- Cox, have degenerated into real Irish; he
ed in October for Ulster, at the head of six received the castle of Rathmore by capituthousand fighting men.  He did not proceed lation, and having reinforced the garrisons
far into the province when he met with the of Askeaton and Kilmallock, he arrived in
prince of Tyrone. The two armies con- Limerick the 16th of July.
tinued in sight of each other for fifteen days   During the absence of the president, the
without attempting any thing, after which confederates made an attempt upon the
two battles were fought;: one near Dundalk, castle of Liscaghan, of which Maurice Stack
and the other in the neighborhood of Car- was the commander; but their efforts were
lingford. These proved fatal to the Eng- defeated by the garrison, who killed twentylish; they lost upwards of four thousand seven of their men in a sally. The president
men, the deputy was dangerously wounded, being informed at Limerick of the state of
and carried to Newry to be cured of his things in Kerry, marched on July the 23d,
wounds.  It was now that the English with his troops, amounting to a thousand and
government set a price upon the head of fifty infantry, and seventy-five cavalry —
O'Neill.  A proclamation was issued, offer- whether to avoid the badness of the roads,
ing a reward of two thousand pounds ster- or the enemy, he took the route for the
ling to any one who would deliver him up county Clare, and proceeded to Kilrush, on
alive, or one thousand pounds for his head. the right bank of the Shannon, opposite to
Carew, the president, who was still in Carrigofoyle, where the earl of Thuomond
Limerick, marched with his troops in the took care to have a number of boats conmonth of June into the district of Connillo, structed to carry the troops and their bagwhere he made himself master of the castle gage to the opposite side of the river.
* Hist. Cathol. ibid. cap. 4.
t Hist. Cathol. cap. 4.                 * Pacat. Hib. ibid. cap. 10




532                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
The army having reached Carrigofoyle, the intended connection between Desnmond
the president on the 29th July dispatched and the chief of Muskerry. To punish
WVilmot with six hundred infantry, and fifty Florence MacCarty, he granted protection
cavalry, on an expedition into Clanmorris. to Daniel MacCarty, and gavb him the title
He took the castles of Lixnaw and Rathowen of MacCarty More, to the exclusion of
by surprise, and put garrisons into them, Florence, who had a prior claim to the
though Lord Fitzmaurice, to whom the castle title, as has been observed.
of Lixnaw belonged, had it undermined some   Wilmot having besieged the castle of Artime before, and planks of wood placed so as dart, in the county of Kerry, became master
to set fire to it on the approach of the Eng- of it, after it had been defended for nine
lish army. After this Wilmot advanced days by a feeble garrison.  He strove to
upon Tralee, where he surprised a hundred estrange several noblemen from the cause of
and fifty laborers who were employed by their country, and succeeded with the knight
the earl of Desmond to destroy the castle of Kerry, who surrendered to him his castle
of Sir Edward Denny, in order to prevent of Dingle, the October following. The prethe English from taking shelter in it. Wil- sident, on his part, received the submission
mot had no great difficulty in defeating these of the MacMahons and the O'Crowleys
men, whom he took by surprise; after kill- of Carbry. MacDonough, MacAuliff, and
ing some, and dispersing the rest, he re- O'Keefe, also put themselves under his proturned victorious to Carrigofoyle.     tection, and.the castle of Cahir was surrenThe president received an account, that dered by James Butler to the English.
the provisions which he was expecting would   The earl of Desmond caused Castle island,
be sent to Cork, had arrived at Carrigofoyle, and several strong places in the county of
in the county of Clare, opposite the river Kerry, to be demolished, in order to prevent
Cashin. The boats belonging to the earl of the English from increasing the number of
Thuomond served to carry them to Lixnaw. their garrisons. This nobleman had but six
Patrick Fitzmaurice,who was truly zealous hundred infantry and a few cavalry, so that
in the Catholic cause, dreading the conti- he was not able to attack the enemy openly,
guity of the English, demolished his castle their numbers being much greater than his.
of Beaulieu, situate on the banks of the Shan- He wrote pressing letters to Florence Macnon, and within two miles of Carrigofoyle. Carty to join him; but being disappointed
He died soon afterwards, and was succeeded in this, he left Kerry and marched through
by his son, Thomas Fitzmaurice, who in- Connillo to gain the woods of Arlogh, near
herited not only his title, but also his attach- Kilmallock, where there was an English garment to religion.*  He married Honora-ni- rison, commanded by Sir George Thornton.
Brien, sister of the earl of Thuomond.  Of The officers under Thornton were Slingsby
these two illustrious personages, English and Arundle; Captains Dillon and O'Reilly
writers give a story equally revolting to commanded the foot, and Greame the horse.
humanity, and to the religion which they Desmond's intended march being known
-pretend was the cause of it. Honora-ni- to the English, they made every preparaBrien, according to their account, having tion in their neighborhood to attack him.
invited Maurice Stack to dinner at her castle Greame first, with his cavalry, prevented the
of Beaulieu, had him murdered; and his earl from getting into the wood, and made
brother, whom her husband, the baron of himself master of the baggage,while ThornLixnaw, had held as a prisoner for some ton attacked him with the infantry. The
time, hanged the day following.        action was briskly fought, but proved fatal
/  Florence MacCarty, who had hoped for to Desmond; he lost two hundred of his
some time to be able to remain neuter, be- men in killed and wounded. Teague and
gan now to appear upon the stage. He con- Hugh O'Kelly, who commanded the Contemplated bringingabout a marriage between naught troops, were among the slain, and
James Fitz-'Thomas, earl of Desmond, and their heads sent the day following to the
the sister of Cormac MacCarty, lord of president.  There remained now with DesMuskerry, in order to unite all the branches mond but four hundred men, who got into
of the MacCartys, wvho formed a numerous the, wood in spite of the enemy; after which
and powerful tribe. The president, appre- they dispersed.  The earl finding himself
hending the consequences of such an alliance, abandoned, withdrew into the country of
left the government of Kerry to Wilmot, Ormond, accompanied by Dermod Macand marched straight to Cork, to counteract Carty, bishop of Cork and Cloyne, who
labored for twenty years to preserve the re-'- Pacat. Hib. cap. 13.     ligion of the country.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          533
After the defeat of Desmond, religion be- and arrived at Mallow on the 18th,* where
gan to lose ground in Munster. Fitzmaurice, he presented a letter from the queen to the
John Fitzthomas, brother to the earl, Peter president Carew, with her patent, restoring
Lacy, and other leaders, proceeded to Ul- him to the dignity of his ancestors.  The
ster to join O'Neill.*  Several were par- young earl expressing a desire to visit Limedoned, and among the number, MacCarty rick, was indulged by Carew, in order to
Riagh, O'Sullevan Beare, John O'Dwyer, sound the disposition of the people towards
James Fitzgerald, Teugue O'Brien, O'Moel- him; he was accompanied by the Protestant
ryan, O'Sullivan More, the people of Mo- archbishop of Cashel, and Boyle, secretary
gelly, and the inhabitants of Kerry and to the council.  Having returned to KilmalMuskeriy.  By the defections the whole of lock on a Saturday evening, he was received
the province was opened to the English, the with the acclamations of the people, who
places that had opposed them  previously were collected in such crowds that he could
having surrendered; among others, Castle- scarcely get to the governor's house, whither
mayn, Clancoyne, and Listoel, opened their he was going to sup, though the streets
gates.  Sir Richard Pearcy sent, in the through which he.passed were lined with
month of December, a detachment from Kin- troops. Theirjoy was,however, soon changed
sale into Carbry, to plunder the districts of into sadness. The earl went the next day,
Kilco and Kinelmeaky.  Dermod Moyle Sunday, to hear the service in the Protestant
MacCarty, brother of Florence, and Moysmo church.  On his return, the people who, the
O'Mahony, prince of the O'Mahonys of Ki- evening before, loaded him with blessings,
nalmeaky, being informed of the enemy's heaped their imprecations and insults upon
designs, assembled their vassals, and fought him, and even proceeded so far as to spit in
the English for two hours; after which both his face.  Abandoned now by the Catholics
armies withdrew, and the English returned and the admirers of his ancestors, he was
greatly disconcerted in their designs. About seen to walk in the streets like any private
this time some differences sprang up between. individual, without one to accompany him.
the MacCartys of Carbry, and the O'Learys " I give," says an English writer, " this narof' Muskerry;t they led to an action at rative, that the world may perceive how our
Ahakery, in the district of Carbry, in which religion, and the professors of it, are abomiO'Leary, chief of his tribe, and ten of his nated by the rude and ignorant people of
men were killed on the spot. On the other Ireland."
side, the brother of Finin MacOwen Mac-   The deputy Mountjoy marched in the
Carty was dangerously wounded, and some month of December into the county of Wickof his people slain.                    low, to chastise the O'Birnes and O'Tooles,
The conquest of Munster was not secure who made frequent attacks upon the lands
while James Fitz-Thomas bore the name of near Dublin.  Having attempted, in vain, to
earl of Desmond.t It was of the first im- get Felim, son of Fiach, into' his power, he
portance to the English to destroy his influ- carried away with him as prisoners, his wife
ence among the people; to effect which they and eldest son; after which he laid the
raised a rival to him, who in fact possessed whole country waste, burning the houses
a higher claim to the title.  This rival was and their haggards as he passed along.  He
James, son of Garret the last earl, who had put garrisons into Tullow and Wicklow;
been detained during a great many years then marched to Monastereven, and afterprisoner in the tower of London. The queen wards visited Trim, Mullingar, Athlone, and
now prepared and equipped him for Ireland, Drogheda; from which place he set out for
with the empty title of "earl of Desmond."~ Dublin, on the 26th of April, after distriThe name was imposing on the Irish, among buting the troops among the different garriwhom it was still dear. They received him sons.  An order was at this time sent to the
witharespect becominghis illustrious ances- deputy by the court of England, to confer
tors, but, finding that he had conformed to on Nial Garve O'Donnel the principality of
-the religion of the court, their admiration Tirconnel; and that of Fermanagh, on Contowards him was abated. Young Desmond nor Roe Maguire, to the exclusion of the
was conducted to Ireland by Captain Price; lawful princes.  It was thus that Maguire
he landed at Youghall the 14th of October, was recompensed for having made Cormoc
O'Neill, nephew and Tanist of O'Neill, a
prisoner. By such means the queen dimint    6ox, Hist. of Ireland, page 435.
Pacat Hib. H   cap. 15.          lshed the number of her enemies in Ireland.
t Pacat. Hib. cap. 15.
t Ilist. Girald. cap. 25.
~ Hist. Cathol. cap. 3.                     * Pacat. Hib. cap. 14.




534                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
She supported the collateralbranches against prince prisoner, and had his head cut off the
their chiefs; she caused divisions amongthem day following, without ally trial. This act
by exciting a thirst for riches, and found of hostility drew upon Burke the censures of
many degenerate enough to answer her pur- his friends at court, and he was in conseposes. Those who were so, were called her quence ofit deprived of his company. "Theo"iprotegts," and designated as the queen's bald Burke," says an English author, "did
O'Donnel, the queen's Maguire, to distin- no injury to O'Connor while he was a rebel,
guish them from the lawful chiefs.      but seeing him attach himself to the English
Morrison,  governor of Dundalk, made government and likelytobecome very useful,
some attempts upon the territory of Fews, he caused him to be shamefully murdered."
whence he carried off as prisoner Turlogh,  The earl of Ormond had continued inactive
son of Henry O'Neill, chief of the Fews, and since he got his liberty from O'Morra. To
brother to Tyrone. The submission of Tur- ingratiate himself with the president, he now
logh procured him the protection of the offered his services against Redmond Burke
deputy, and a similar favor was granted to and his companions who had retired into the
Ever Mac-Colla, to IMac-Mahon, lord of territory of Ormond. The earl frequently,
Fearny, to Hanlon, and the inhabitants of but in vain, endeavored to drive them from
Brenny.                                 it; at length, he employed Lord Dunboyne,
The forces of the Irish were continually Sir Walter Butler his nephew, and Captain
diminished by their frequent battles, and by Marberry, to undertake it with all the troops
their having no succors sent them  from they could muster. They accordingly made
abroad, while those of the English were re- great preparations against a handful of men
ceiving constant reinforcements from their scattered in the woods, and bereft of every
own country.  Information was sent by the thing; a victory over whom could not be
lords of the English council, to Carew, very glorious to the earl, nor add much to
that six hundred infantry had embarked for the laurels of his house. They fell upon the
Cork. A complaint was also forwarded that unhappy wanderers, and killed forty of them,
several soldiers were passing from Ireland among whom was Thomas Burke, brother of
to England on a mere leave from their cap- Redmond; the rest were chased into the
tains. The president was therefore enjoined river Nore, which at that time, it being the
to send his orders to the seaports to permit month of January, overflowed its banks:
no soldier to embark for England without a many of them perished with their arms and
passport signed by himself.             baggage, and several were made prisoners;
Dermod O'Connor Don, prince of Con- among the rest, John Burke, also brother of
nauglt, learned that the young earl of Des- Redmond, who was immediately afterwards
mend had arrived in Munster by orders of put to death in Kilkenny.
the court of England.*  He wished greatly   The president Carew, wishing to put the
to see this young nobleman whose sister he laws in operation, and let justice (which had
had married, and to manifest to the queen by been suspended on account of the war) take
his services, how grateful he was for the its course, held the assizes at Limerick,
favors conferred upon his brother-in-law. Cashel, and Clonmel; the members who
The president being informed of the wishes composed the tribunals in question were
of O'Connor, sent him a guard to escort him commanded to punish all those who were
and his attendants; one from Sir Arthur denominated rebels. When an enemy sits in
Savage, a commissioner of Connaught, and judgment, innocence will not escape. The
another from the earl of Clanriccard, being president also gave orders to the sheriffs to
likewise appointed to protect him in his visit the counties, both to discover the malemarch through their estates. The president factors who disturbed the government, and
sent a hundred men to the frontiers of Thuo- to procure provisions for the garrisons.*  In
mond to receive and conduct him safe to his compliance with this mandate, John Barry,
destination. But all these precautions were sheriff of the county of Cork, attended by his
not able to save O'Connor's life. Having retinue, entered that part of Desmond which
passed through Clanriccard without meeting belonged to Florence Mac-Carty, but was
any opposition, he was attacked upon the immediately repulsed by that nobleman's
estate of O'Seaghnassy, by Theobald Burke, vassals, and forced to fly, leaving several of
the Naval, who commanded a hundred men his attendants dead upon the spot. A dein the pay of the queen.  Theobald, having tachment from the garrison of Kerry, intent
killed forty of O'Connor's men, made that upon plunder, crossed the river Mang, and
* Pacat. Hib. cap. 17.      j * Pacat. Hib. ibid. cap. 18. Ihidem, cap. 19.




14~ l                       ~~~CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                    535
entered that district sword in hand, where country, who are precursors of misfortune to
they shared the fate of the sheriff's followers. Ireland, by their endeavors to estrange her
These acts of violence rendered the conduct majesty's subjects from  their allegiance."
of Florence suspicious in the eyes of the After thus apprizing the court of the danger,
president, but finding it necessary to dissem- he demanded the means of averting it.  The
ble for a while, he passed over all that noble- council attended to his representations, and
man's acts in silence.                  gave orders how he should act; lenient measures were adopted, at the same time, to
conciliate the Catholics of Munster.  As a
specimen of the queen's disposition at the
CHAPTER XLVIII.              time, she wrote to the president, authorizing
him to grant a general amnesty to all who
THE Catholics of Ireland had, to the close would seek his clemency; from it, however,
of this campaign, made the most noble exer- James Fitz-Thomas, having the title of earl
tions in defence of their religion and country. of Desmond, his brother John, Peter Lacy,
They had to contend, not only against the knight of the Glynn, Thomas Fitz-Maurice,
English, but also against domestic enemies, baron of Lixnaw, the O'Morras, and O'Conwithout any hope of assistance, so that the nors Faly, were exempted.
country was devastated and exhausted of men   The English still kept up hostilities in
and provisions, particularly Munster, which Ulster; Dockwra, governor of Lough Foyle,
had been for a long time the theatre of the made himself master of Inisowen, the patriwar.  Most of the noblemen in that province mony of O'Dogharty; and also pillaged the
were obliged to subimit to their enemies. lands of Mac-Hugh Duff, from which he
Florence MIac-Carty seeing the necessity of carried away a thousand head of cattle. He
yielding to the times, followed the example devastated too the possessions of the Macof the rest. Their submission, however, was Sweenys,  7'Boyle, Shane, son of Manus
but a sort of truce, while waiting for the Ogue, O'Donnel, andO'Cahan,leaving everyarrival of the Spaniards.               where traces of his cruelty. In this conduct
Don Martin Lerda was sent to Ireland by he was ablyseconded by Nial Garve O'Donthe king of Spain, in the beginning of the nel, who forced feigned submission from
year 1601. He brought two vessels laden most of those noblemen, who wished to
with arms, ammunition, and money.*  This escape his tyranny.
small succor, which seemed to give omen   The deputy left Dublin in May, for
of greater, was sent to O'Neill; and his Drogheda, where he arrived on the 23d of
Catholic majesty sent word to this prince, that month; on the 25th he proceeded to
that he would immediately furnish him with Dundalk, and on the 8th of June, passed
troops, and every thing necessary to carry on through Moyri, where he had a fort built,
the war. The vessels being arrived in the which he garrisoned; having left his camp
bay of Kilbeg, near Donegal, O'Neill divided at Fagher, on the 14th, he passed through
the resources he received with the confede- Newry, and on the 15th entered Iveagh, the
rates, particularly with those of Munster. country of the Magennises. While Sir RichA gleam of hope seemed to revive the fallen ard Morrison was taking the city of Down,
spirits of the Catholics. They met, and de- the deputy entered Dundrum, which was
liberated together; and the earl of Clanric- given up to him by Felim Mac-Evir, to whom
card, who was at that time the only nobleman it belonged. This nobleman having made
in Connaught attached to the queen's cause, his submission, his example was followed by
began to espouse the interest of the confede- Mac-Cartane of Dufferin, and Mac-Roy of
rates.                                  Killiwarlin.  The deputy having ended his
That which caused such joy to the Catho- tour through Iveagh, where he took some
lics of Ireland, produced great alarm in the castles without meeting any resistance, reminds of the English Protestants. The pres- turned to Newry, from whence he sent orders
ident of Munster wrote urgent letters to the to Sir Henry Danvers, commander of Mount
lords of the English council, informing them Norris, to seize upon the abbey of Armagh,
that Ireland would be soon invaded by the and put an English garrison into it; but
Spaniards, of which he received positive Danvers failed in the attempt.  He was reassurances from  every quarter. "Many pulsed by the garrison, and forced to abandon
priests and monks of the Roman church," his enterprise.
added he, a"have already arrived in this   On hearing of Danvers' ill-success in his
expedition  against Armagh, the  deputy
* Pet. Lombard, ibid. pp. 452, 453.  marched towards Mount Norris, where he




536                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
was joined bythe garrison. He then directed   In the beginning of April, eight hundred
his march towards the river Blackwater, Catholics collected in Connaught, with the
leaving Armagh on the right; visited the intention of marching inrtoMunster, to raise
neighborhood of that river, particularly the a diversion in that quarter.  They werer
spot in which marshal Bagnal's army had headed by a portion of the Burkes, Hugh
been defeated a few years beforeby O'Neill, Mostian, and Peter Lacy; and the lord of
and proceeded towards Armagh, which was Kerry, Teugue  Reagh  MacMahon, and
abandoned by its feeble garrison on the -ap- others, prepared to join them by sea. Carew,
proach of his powerful army.  He therefore the president of Alurnster, was greatly alarmbecame master of it without opposition. ed at this.  He knew that Sir John Barkly,
The deputy left an English force in Armagh, governor of Connaught, in the absence of
consisting of one hundred horse and seven Sir Arthur Savage, was not able to oppose
hundred and fifty foot, under Danvers; he the enemy; to avert, therefore, the danger
then returned with the remainder of his army which threatened his province, he dispatched
to Mount Norris, and encamped between that Major-general Flower at the head of a thouplace and Newry, in expectation of a rein- sand infantry, to dispute the passage with
forcement from the English province.-    the Connaught troops.  Flower marched
The garrison of Armagh committed dread- into the county of Clare, where he was joined
fill excesses through the surrounding coun- by the company of the earl of Thuomond;
try.*  The detachments which sallied from he next proceeded towards Quinn,. and havit, pillaged and laid waste the lands of Brian ing met the enemy, who were marching
Mac-Art, Magennis, Patrick Mac-Mahon, carelessly and in separate bodies, he fought
carrying away their cattle, forcing these them with success, killed some of their leadnoblemen to submit, in order to save theirpro- ers, and dispersed the remainder. Teugue,
perties.  The deputy having abandoned the son of Torlogh O'Brien, a near relative to
neighborhood of Newry, marched his army the earl of Thuomond, who had joined the
towards Armagh.  On the 13th July he Catholic army a few days before, fell on this
arrived onthebanks of the Blackwater,which occasion by the sword of the English, fighthe crossed the day following, unopposed by ing nobly for his country's cause.  Ware
Tyrone, who had his army posted in a wood and Cox, by whom this revolt of the Cathonear the river. It was his design to avoid lics of Connaught is mentioned, says they had
an engagement, and remain on the defensive, fifteen hundred fighting men, including seven
till the succors which he expected from hundred from the north of Ireland, who were
Spain would arrive.  On the 16th of the to act with them in the intended expedition.
same month, the deputy sent Sir Christopher It is true the princes of Ulster, O'Neill and
St. Laurence's regiment to the castle of Ben- O'Donnel, at the request of Donagh Macburb, where it was attacked by the advanced Carty, prince of Alia, had sent seven hunguard of O'Neill; they fought briskly for dred men towards Munster, under Teugue
three hours,within view ofthe English camp, O'Rourke, and Raymond Burke, baron of
though St. Laurence having received fresh Leitrim, to renew hostilities in that province,
assistance from that quarter, was superior in and revive the fallen courage of Desmond;
force. According to Cox, the English lost but it does not, however, appear that they
nearly a hundred men, and the Irish about ijoinedthe Connaught forces. The Ulstermen
two hundred; he adds, that it cannot be having lost the prince of Alla on their march,
cause of wonder that the loss sustained by who was killed by a ball from some English
both was so unequal, as the English being that lay in ambush, and having heard that
better provided with ammunition, the fire of the Connaught army was defeated, and that
their musketry was more closely kept up Desmond was taken prisoner, returned tothan that of the Irish.  After this combat, wards their own province. They were hathe deputy had a new fort built on the river rassed on their march by the earl of ClanBlackwater, near the old one which was de- riccard, who received a wound in a skirmish'
stroyed, and garrisoned it with a company with them, of which he died a fortnight
commanded by Captain Williams.  At this afterwards.
time, the deputy issued a proclamation from   The Catholic cause suffered considerably
the queen that her majesty would not grant at this time, by the arrest of James, son of
any terms to O'Neill, and that whosoever Thomas Fitzgerald, commonly called earl of
would take him alive should receive two Desmond, and Florence MacCarty, of the
thousand pounds reward, or one thousand illustrious house of MacCarty Riagh, whofor his head.                           had married the daughter and heiress of
X Cox, Hist. of Ireland, ibid. p. 438.  MacCarty More, baron of Valentia, and earl




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           537
of Clancar.  Desmond was taken about the tious than the others, refused to enter the
end of May, in a cavern in the mountain of city; his brother's fate was still presenit
Slevegrot, by Fitzgibbon, chief of the Clan- to his mind, and distrusting the English, he
gibbons, generally known as the White resolved to preserve his liberty, whatever
Knight, who gave him up to Carew in Cork. might be the result.  On hearing of the
The knight had the baseness to accept of a fate of his countrymen, he withdrew to his
thousand pounds from the president, as a re- friends in Ulster.
ward for this infamous act.  Florence Mac-  The deputy crossed the Blackwater in the
Carty, who had become MacCarty More by beginning of August, and proceeded towards
the death of his father-in-law, in which digni- Dungannon; but the badness of the road,
ty he had been confirmed by O'Neill, was ar- and the frequent skirmishes he had to mainrested in Cork by orders of the president. tain against the troops of O'Neill, forced
These noblemen were sent, in the August him to direct his march towards Armagh.
following, under a strong guard, to the tower Danvers was ordered with three hundred
of London, where Desmond died after a con- men to burn a village that lay in their march,
finement of seven years.*  H-is brother John but was driven back by O'Neill's troops,
Fitzthomas fled to Spain after the battle of and pursued, to the English camp in spite of
Kinsale, where he died, leaving a son called the succors that were sent to him.  Some
Garret, or Gerald, on whom  his Catholic days after this, the Irish advanced with a
majesty conferred the title of count. James, design of attacking the enemy in their camp,
son of Garret, the real heir to the title and but the deputy being apprized of it, placed
estates of Desmond, remained for some time four hundred men in ambush, who falling
in Ireland, but not finding that his affairs on them in flank killed several of them, and
were making much progress, he returned to among the number, Peter Lacy, lord of
England, where he died soon afterwards, Bruff, in the county of Limerick. This noblenot without suspicion of his having been poi- man was descended from a. noble family
soned. Thus ended the illustrious family of who had come over under Henry II., in the
Desmond, who fell a sacrifice to their zeal in twelfth century, and s'ettled in Ireland; he
the cause of religion.  There remain, how- was equally illustrious by his virtue as by
ever, still in Munster, many noble families his birth, and was, in the troubles of Ireland,
of the name of Fitzgerald, who are descended one of the most zealous defenders of Cathofrom that house. The apprehensions of the licity. His memory ought to be dear to the
president of Munster were not removed by Irish church, and the loss it sustained front
the imprisonment of Desmond and Florence his death was most severe. After this expeMacCarty; he knew that several noblemen dition, the deputy placed his troops in garof the province only waited the arrival of rison, and returned to Newry.
the Spaniards, to declare openly against the   During the stay of the deputy at Newry,
government.  In order to defeat them in Lord Plunket of Dunsany,who commanded a
their hopes, he appointed the assizes to be company in the queen's pay, set out from the
held in Cork on the 28th of July, under fort of Liscannon, and proceeded to attack
pretence of trying civil and criminal causes, the estates of MacMahon, from which he was
and clearing the prisons. In the mean time driving away sixteen hundred head of cattle,
he sent circulars to all the nobility and land- but MacMahon pursued him with a hundred
holders, requesting their attendance:t those and forty men, and obliged him to give up
whom he had principallyin view, and whose his booty, after a loss of about fifty men on
allegiance he doubted, were, Dermod, son of each side.* Dockwra pushed his conquests
Owen MacCarty, otherwise MacDonagh, into Ulster;t retook the castle of Derry,
Teugue, son of Dermod MacCarty, and and made himself master of Donegal.  He
brother to Cormac MacCartty, lord of Mus- maintained a siege for some days against
kerry, Moilmo O'Maghon, (O'Mahony,) chief O'Donnel, who, however, raised it to relieve
of the tribe of the O'Mahonys of Kinel- Kinsale. Edward Digges, who commanded
Meaky, and Dermod Moil MacCarty,brother two companies at Asherow, took Ballyshanto Florence MacCarty, already mentioned. non by surprise.   The deputy came at the
The three first having repaired to the as- end of August to Trim, in the' county of
sizes, were immediately arrested and thrown Meath, and brought the privy council from
into prison by orders of the president; the Dublin, to deliberate together on the general
fourth, Dermod Moil MacCarty, more cauThe Count de Lacy in the service of the emPacat. Hib. lib. 2, cap. 3, page 135. Relat. press queen, and so well known for his military
Girald. cap 25.                         exploits, is descended from this illustrious house.
t Pacat. Hib. cap. 7.                   t Cambd. Elizab. part 4, page 826.
68




538                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
state of affairs; particularly in order to coun- for the protection of the galleons from
teract the intentions of Captain Tirrell, who America, which it was feared might be taken
was planning an attack upon Munster.    by an English fleet which had sailed for these
Such was the state of things about the end islands also. This circumstance retarded
of August, 1601, between the Catholics of the expedition to Ireland, and lessened both
Ireland and the English.  Munster had no by desertion and sickness the army of Dom
longer any leaders after the imprisonment of Juan. The fleet which was commanded by
Florence MacCarty and James FitzThomas, Dom Diego de Brochero, having returned
who were the centre of their union and were from Terceira, the rest of the army emnow banished. The people of Leinster were barked, and set sail for Ireland. As soon as
broken down; Connaught was unable -to the fleet had got into the open sea, it was
attempt anything, and the only resources of dispersed and separated by a violent storm.
the country lay in O'Neill and O'Donnel, One part of it, consisting of seven ships,
whose forces were too few to stand against laden principally with artillery and other
the English, and the unfaithful sons of Ire- warlike stores and provisions, was forced
land. In a word, the country was exhausted with the vice-admiral, Dom Pedro de Zuof men and means, from having sustained biaur, to take shelter in the port of Corunna,
for many years the burden of a war while in Gallicia. The other portion, with Dom
waiting for assistance that came too late, Juan and two thousand five hundred infantry,
while she herself was too weak to succeed. (a small force for so great an enterprise;)
Reports were spread at this time, that a arrived with difficulty in the harbor of
Spanish fleet, with troops for Ireland, was at Kinsale, on the 23d of September. As soon
sea; which becoming known to the council as the Spaniards had landed, Captain Wilof England,* reinforcements were imme- liam Saxeys, who commanded the English
diately ordered for Ireland, and two thousand troops, withdrew to Cork.  The inhabitants
men were in consequence sent and landed, of Kinsale immediately after opened their
in September, at Cork and Waterford, while gates to Dom Juan, who entered and took
others were expected from England.  The possession of the town.
lord-deputy of Ireland and president of  Kinsale is a seaport situated in the county
Munster, were not less alarmed than the of Cork, on the shores of the river Bandon.
council of England.  On tlhe 19th of Sep- It is not a place of much strength; the entember they met together at Leighlin, to de- trance to the harbor is protected by two
liberate on what measures they should adopt. castles; that upon the left is called CasianFrom that they went to Kilkenny, and on ne-Park, and on the right the castle of, Rinthe 23d they received an express from Sir charrainwhichsignifies the pointof a scythe,
Charles Wilmot at Cork, that the Spaniards from its being built on the extremity of a
had landed at Kinsale. Upon this news, tongue of land similar in form to that instruWingfield, the lord-marshal, was commanded ment. The Spanish general put a garrison
to collect the troops- in Leinster, and prepare into it with cannon taken from one of the
ammunition and provisions for the army. Sir ships, since the artillery intended for the inHenry Danvers and Sir  ~- Berkly, were vasion was on board that part of the fleet that
sent to Navan and Armagh, to lead the gar- had taken shelter at Corunna with Zubiaur.
risons of these two places to Munster: and   Dom Juan was not secure at Kinsale,
the deputy and president set out for Cork, where he was, in fact, in need of everything:
which was the rendezvous.  They arrived so lie wrote to Spain by the fleet that was
there on the 27th, and made the necessary returning, and gave an account to the king,
preparations to besiege the Spaniards in hig master, of his voyage, and of the supplies
Kinsale.                                he wanted.  The Spanish general found
Philip III., king of Spain, was eager to none (except O'Sullevan) among the Cathoperform the promises that were held out to lics of Munster inclined to assist him. Some
the princes O'Neill and O'Donnel,t to re- had been imprisoned, others gave hostages
lieve the oppressed Catholics of Ireland. as a guarantee for their loyalty, and others
For this object, he assembled what troops opposed the cause of their country; so that
were necessary for the expedition, and gave there was none but O'Sullevan, prince of
the command of them to Dom Juan Del Bearre and Bantry, who could make any
Aquila, a man well experienced in war. The attempt in favor of the Spaniards. This
fleet intended to convey the troops, was sent prince sent an express to Dom Juan, that he
in the mean time to the islands of Terceira, and his friends would furnish him with a
thousand armed men, and that they would
PaHist. Hib. cap. 10.             procure further aid if that general could
t Hist. Cathol. vol. 3, book 6, cap. 7.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           539
supply them with arms; with which force to lessen their boasted advantages considhe would be able to prevent the English erably.  There were but two thousand five
frombesieging Kinsale, while waiting for the hundred Spaniards in Kinsale, but we will
aid from O'Neill and O'Donnel. The Span- admit even that there were four thousand;
iard answered prince O'Sullevan, that he the principal strength of the place was from
could not supply them with arms, in conse- a wall with towers at certain distances; they
quence of his artillery being on board the had but three pieces of cannon, one which
vessels which Zubiaur had with him  at had been brought from one of their own
Corunna, and that he was expecting to hear vessels, and two were already in the town.
from the princes of Ulster.  The general The English appeared before Kinsale with
and Fra Matheo, titular archbishop of Dub- seven thousand six hundred men; their army
lin, who accompanied him from Spain, wrote was increased soon after to eight thousand,
to the princes of Ulster many letters after a reinforcement having been brought from
their arrival at Kinsale.  The latter were England by the loyal earl of Thuomond.*
eagerly solicited by the archbishop and the The English artillery was numerous, and
general, to march to their assistance with skilfully worked; their camp abounded with
all expedition, and to bring horses, of which provisions; Captain Button guarded the
they were in extreme need.              mouth of the harbor till the arrival of an
The deputy waited in Cork for the return English squadron of ten vessels under Adof the officers who had been sent to Leinster, miral Richard Levison and Sir Amias PresConnaught, and the garrisons in Ulster, to ton, vice-admiral, who were incessantly
collect the government forces; and at length pouring broadsides on the town, while the
Sir Benjamin Berry, Richard Wingfield, army attacked it by land; and still the siege
John Barkly, and Henry Danvers, arrived of Kinsale lasted from the 17th October, to
with their divisions. These troops amounted the 9th of January following.
to about seven thousand six hundred men,  Vice-Admiral Dom Pedro Zubiaur, who
comprising those of Munster.  The English was forced by a storm to touch with his seven
general marched with his army towards Kin- ships at Corunna, in Gallicia, arrived on the
sale, having changed his camp two or three coast of Ireland, December 3d. This officer
times.  The third time he encamped on entered a harbor called Cuan-an-caislan, in
Spittle hill, where he intrenched himself, English Castle Haven, in Carbry, about
within a musket-shot of that place; while twenty miles from Kinsale, where they were
at the same time, Button, the captain of a kindly received by five brothers of the
man-of-war, who- had just escorted a vessel O'Driscols, to whom the country belonged,
from Dublin laden with provisions, received and who gave him up one of their castles.t
orders to prevent any succors by sea from   The news of the Spaniards having arrived
entering Kinsale.                       at Castle Haven being spread, the deputy
Every thing being prepared, the English commandedAdmiral Levisonto engage them.
laid siege to Rinncharrain and Caslan-ne- Without losing a moment he sailed with six
Park successively; the former of which ships and some troops on board; having
castles surrendered on the 1st, and the other reached Castle Haven he found the Spanish
on the 20th of November. The months of vessels unguarded bytheir crews, who were
October and November were spent in skir- sleeping, and fatigued after a long voyage.
mishing, the Spaniards making frequent sal- The Spaniards being roused by the cannon
lies, and the English driving them back; the of the English, which began to play upon
latter, if we can credit their historians, being their ships and upon the castle, returned,
always successful. The account, however, of though in a confused manner, the fire with
a cotemporary writer is different.* According their artillery, and supported an engagement
to him, the Spaniards fought valiantly during during two days, in which the English lost,
the day, in defending their walls, and by five hundred and seventy-five men.
night they sallied forth, killing the sentinels   The English admiral not succeeding to his
and advanced guards of the English, and wishes in his attack upon their vessels, was
carrying off their cannon; by which means, about to land his troops and attack the Spancontinues he, the loss of the English always iards who were on shore; but from this he
exceeded that of the Spaniards. Even could was deterred by seeing them reinforced by
we suppose' that the English had the advan- the prince of Bearre with five hundred men,
tage, the great disproportion in numbers be- all ready to oppose him. He immediately
tween the besieged and besiegers would tend sailed from Castle Haven, for Kinsale, where
* Hist. Cathol. Hib. ibid.
l  Hist. Cathol. ibid.              t Hist. Cathol. Hib. ibid. c. 8.




540                         HISTORY OF IRELAND.
he vainly boasted of having been successful tended earl of Desmond, Fitz-Gerald, knight
in his expedition.                     of the Glynn, Dermod Moyle Mac-Carty,
Many of the surrounding nobility took up brother of Laurence, who was sent, prisoner
arms to join the Spaniards; the principal to the tower, and several others.
among whom were Finin O'Driscol and   The news of O'Donnel's march alarmed
several others of the'same name: the Mac- the English. The lord-deputy summoned a
Cartys of Carbry; Domnal O'Sullevan council to deliberate on measures for interBearre; the eldest son of O'Sullevan More; cepting this prince's communication with
Domnal Mac-Carty, son of the earl of Glan- Munster: and the president Carew was apcar, and other branches of the Mac-Cartys pointed to this trust. He set out accordingly
of Desmond; the O'Donavans and O'Ma- with four thousand five hundred infantry and
honys of Carbry; John O'Connor Kierry; five hundred cavalry, and advanced towards
the knight of Kerry, and others.       Ormond, where O'Donnel was to pass. After
The number of Spanish troops that landed a march of a few days he stopped at Ardmail,
at Castle Haven did not exceed seven hun- to the north of Cashel. O'Donnel had already
dred men, but a hope of further aid sustained entered the county of Tipperary, through
the Catholics and made them anticipate the Ikerin, the country of the O'Meaghers, and
moments of their freedom. To convince the encamped at Holy-Cross, not far from ArdSpaniards of their sincerity, the Irish de- mail, where thepresidentwas stationed. The
livered up to them the strong places along the prince of Tirconnel wished to avoid fighting,
coast for garrisons.  Donagh O'Driscol had and to deceive the enemy, he lighted a numalready given them his castle of Castle ber of fires in the camp, and began his march
Haven; Finin O'Driscol gave them the castle before day. He took his route through
of Donneshed at Baltimore, and that of Slieve Phelim, along the side of the Shannon,
Donnelong on the island of Innisherkan, and got into the county of Limerick through
which commanded the entrance to the har- the defiles of the abbey of Owney, and from
bor. Domnal O'Sullevan surrendered them thence to the districts of the O'Moel Ryans,
the strong castle of Duin Buith, otherwise and reached the castle of Crome, which was
Dunboy, which protected the harbor of twelve miles farther on, so that, on a calcuBeerhaven. Among these castles were dis- lation, he marched in one day thirty-two
tributed, by orders of Dom Juan Del Aquila, miles, a very arduous exploit for an army
the artillery and the seven hundred Spaniards followed by their baggage. The president
who had landed at Castle Haven.        being informed of O'Donnel's movement,
Duringthe expedition of Levison at Castle marched with his forces the same day,'and
Haven, a Scotch vessel entered the harbor crossed the country as far as the abbey of
of Kinsale; this ship was separated at sea Owney, for the purpose of intercepting him,
from the Spanish fleet, and had eighty but understanding that he had passed the
Spanish soldiers on board. The commander, defiles of Connillo, he gave up the pursuit
who was a Scotchman, informed Vice-Ad- and returned to the camp at Kinsale, taking
miral Preston and treacherously surrendered a shorter route, in order to be before O'Donto him his cargo.                      nel, to prevent any communication between
The princes of Ulster did not forget their whom and the Spanish garrison he likewise
promises to Dom Juan Del Aquila. They drew to the camp the earls of Clanriccard
used every exertion to march to the relief of and Thuomond,who were sent by the deputy,
Kinsale. The distance was about eighty one with his regiment, the other with a troop
leagues, and the roads very bad from the of horse, to his assistance.
continued rains.  O'Donnel marched first  Prince O'Neill set out from Tyrone, in
with his army, amounting to two thousand the month of November, at the head of about
sixhundredinfantryandfourhundred cavalry. three thousand men, to assist the Spaniards.
The leaders of this force were* O'Rourke, The nobles who accompanied him were
Mac-Sweeny Tueth, O'Dogharty, O'Boyle, Mac-Mahon of Monaghan; Coconaght MaMac-Dermot, the two Mac-Donaghs,O'Kelly, guire of Fermanagh, whose eldest brother
the two sons of O'Connor Roe, Domnal, had been killed some time before in the
brother of O'Connor Sligoe,Raymond Burke, county of Cork, in a skirmish with St. Leger;
baron, and his brotherWVilliam, the two broth- Raynald Mac-Donnel, prince of Gline, Capers of O'Donnel, the two O'Flahertys, Hugh tain Richard Tirrell, Magennis of Iveagh,
Moystian, Fitz-Maurice, lord of Lixnaw, and some others. O'Neill, on his march
John Fitz-Thomas, brother to the pre- through the county of Meath, mnet some opposition from the Anglo-Irish; Darcy, the
* Hist. Cathol. cap. 9.      lord of Plattin, being killed in the skirmish.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           541
He continued his march, however, and on English horse pursued those that were flythe 8th of December he arrived in the ing; but an apprehension of falling into an
county of Cork, within a few leagues of the ambuscade, prevented them from continuing
English camp. O'Donnel was expecting the pursuit. They, however, boasted having
him in the district of Kinel Meaky, and these gained a complete victory over the rebels;
two princes encamped together on the 21st, but the only advantage that they obtained
between Cork and Kinsale, within a league was that they prevented the Irish from joinof the English army.                    ing with the Spanish garrison, which, inThe united forces of O'Neill and O'Don- deed, arose not from English valor, but a
nel amounted to six thousand Irish, besides want of order among the Irish troops.
three hundred Spaniards, who had come   O'Neill lost in the expedition about two
from Castle Haven, under the command of hundred men. According to the English
O'Sullevan of Bearre and Dom Alphonso de historians his loss amounted to twelve hunla Campo. Their object was not to attack dred in killed, eight hundred wounded, and
the English army, who were fifteen or six- a number of prisoners, among whom was
teen thousand strong, a disproportion in Alfonso del Campo, who commanded the
numbers far too great; they only proposed Spaniards.  The prince of Tyrone having
to themselves to throw  in succor to the failed in his plans, and seeing the season too
Spaniards, and enable them to hold out till advanced to continue the campaign, returned
the inclemency of the season must of course to his own province to await a more favoraforce the English to raise the siege, whereby ble opportunity. Roderick, to whom his brothe Spanish general would have the oppor- ther O'Donnel gave the command of his army,
tunity to await further reinforcements from marched for Tirconnel.  H-le was attacked
Spain. This was the subject of several let- in West Meath by the English of Ballimore
ters from Dom Juan to the princes O'Neill Loch-Sindil, who thought to prevent him
and O'Donnel.  They were advised by him passing; but this militia of citizens was cut
to draw near the English camp, the Spanish to pieces, and two hundred of them slain by
general proposing to make a sortie on a day O'Donnel's cavalry.  O'Rourke being inappointed, and by this means facilitate the formed that his brother Thadeus intended,
above plan.  Some of the letters, however, in his absence, to make himself master of
being intercepted by the English, the deputy Brefny, hastened to support his right against
ordered the guards to be doubled, and every the usurper. Other chiefs of the Irish forces
thing to be put into a more secure state of following the example, the Catholic army
defence.                                in Munster was reduced to a small body of
O'Neill, according to the plans fixed upon, Munstermen and Spaniards, commanded by
made a movement on the night of the 23d O'Sullevan prince of Bearre, who kept with
of December.  On approaching the part him Captain Richard Tirrell, William Burke,
occupied by the English, he heard a noise and a few other officers.
of arms and warlike instruments, as if a battle   The English having nothing more to fear
were going on; and proceeding immediately from the Catholic army, returned to their
to the place that had been named by Dom camp before Kinsale, and made great reJuan for making his sally against the Eng- joicings for their victory. The noise of their
lish, he found to his surprise that the enemy firing induced Dom Juan to march a part of
had returned into camp. At break of day he the garrison to assist (as he thought) the
advanced a little to view their position more reinforcement he was expecting, and which
closely, but discovered that all was quiet, he imagined was engaged with the English.
and no attack made by the garrison.  Judg- Seeing his error, however, he marched back
ing from this that what he heard was for the into the town.  It is worthy of remark, that
purpose of inducing him. to an assault, he or- the Spanish commander of Kinsale, whether
dered his men to return, postponing his plans from his having a knowledge of an action
to another day. O'Donnel was engaged at being fought near the town, or not, did not
the same time with a body of English horse lead out his troops as had been previously
that had crossed the river; he forced them agreed upon between him and O'Neill. The
to retreat, but intending to surround them, author of the "Pacata Ilibernia'"* mentions,
he left the pass unguarded, and the English on the authority of the earl of Thuomond, a
pretending to give way, returned quickly to singular prophecy respecting the battle of
charge his infantry, which threw them into Kinsale.  " There is no one less credulous
a sudden panic; so that their ranks being than I am in this sort of prediction, which
broken and beginning to fly, their leader
found it impossible to rally them.  The            Book 2, cap. 21, p. 235.




542                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
is generally forged after things alluded to of saving the remainder of his army, and
occur; but as this has been verified by the avoiding the disgrace of raising a siege
event, I think the mention of it may be ad- which had been already so fatal to him.
mitted.  I have frequently heard the earl of   On the other hand, the possession of KinThuomond say to the lord-deputy and others, sale was of the first importance to the Caththat he read, in an old Irish book, a prophecy olic cause in Ireland; the garrison under
which marked the day and place, near Kin- Dom Juan amounted to two thousand five
sale, where a battle would be fought between hundred men, well provided with ammunition
the English and Irish, in which the former and provisions, and supported by the garriwould be victorious." If this prophecy were sons of Baltimore, Castle Haven, and Bearnot forged by the earl of Thuomond, it proved haven; so that from the state of the English,
at least to be in accordance with his desires, he might have held out till the arrival of sucand he cannot be reproached with any en- cors from Spain, whichwould also have given
deavor to counteract its fulfilment.     time to O'Neill and the other Irish princes to
While the English were vigorously push- assemble in the spring. The surrender, thereing forward the siege of Kinsale, Hugh fore, of Kinsale and its dependencies, by
O'Donnel, after giving the command of his shutting out all foreign aid, would necessatroops to his brother Roderick, embarked for rily injure the cause they wished to defend.
Spain with Redmond Burke, Hugh Mostian, O'Sullevan Bearre, apprehensive of these
and others.  Dom Juan not finding himself consequences, took possession of the castle
equal to hold out any longer, sent, on the of Dunboy, which belonged to him, but which
last day of December, a letter, by his drum- he had given up as a garrison for the Spanmajor, offering to'capitulate, which proposal iards on their arrival in the country. Being
was accepted by the English general, who determined, therefore, that this fortress should
immediately dispatched Sir William Godol- not be surrendered to the enemy, he got
phin to treat with the Spanish commander Thomas Fitzmaurice,lord of Lixnaw, Domupon the articles of surrender; the principal nal Mac-Carty, Captain Richard Tirrell, and
of which were, that Dom Juan should give William Burke, with some troops, into the
up to the deputy every place which he was castle by night, and took possession of the
in possession of in the province of Munster, gates, without committing any hostility toviz., Kinsale, Castle  Haven, Baltimore, wards the Spaniards. He immediately disBearehaven, and Dunboy, and that the dep- patched Dermod O'Driscol to the king of
utyshould furnish transport vessels to convey Spain, entreating of his majesty to be conDom Juan to Spain, together with his forces, vinced that his motives were honorable in
arms, ammunition, artillery, money, &c., and the taking of Dunboy; and complained vehewith colors flying.  This capitulationr was mently in his letter of the capitulation which
signed on one part by Dom Juan, and on the Dom Juan had entered into with the English,
other by the deputy, the president of Mun- calling it wretched, execrable, and inhuman.
ster, the earls of Thuomond and Clanriccard,   O'Donnel, -who had sailed for Spain after
Richard Wingfield, Robert Gardiner, George the battle of Kinsale, was received on his
Bourchier, and Richard Levison.          arrival at Corunna, in Gallicia, with every
The surrender of Kinsale had different marrkofdistinction, by the Countde Caracena,
effects on the Irish Catholics and the Eng- governor of the province, who brought him
lish.  The latter were disgusted with the to his palace, and gave him precedence at all
siege; independently of the inclemency of his assemblies, an honor he would not conthe season, it being the month of January, cede in his governorship, to any duke or peer
they had provisions for only six days; their of the realm.*  The king of Spain, when intreasury was exhausted, their warlike stores formed of O'Donnel's arrival, wrote instrucworn out, and their artillery not fit for effect- tions to the Count de Caracena, respecting
ing a breach.@  Nearly half of the English the reception he was to receive; and alluded,
army-which, in the beginning of the siege, in the same letter, to the affairs of Ireland,
amounted to sixteen thousand men —had affirming that he would support the Catholics
fallen, either by the sword of the enemy, or of that country at the risk even of his crown.
disease.  The English fleet in the bay had O'Donnel having recovered fromnhis fatigues,
suffered as much as the army on land. The took leave of his host, who presented him
deputy, therefore, having consulted with his with a thousand ducats; he then continued
council, considered the capitulation proposed his route for Compostella, where he was
by the Spanish general as the only means honorably received by the archbishop and
* Pacat. Hib. ibid. cap. 23, p. 244. Hist. Cathol.  * Pac. Hib. ibid. cap. 28; p. 268, et seq. Pacat.
ibid.                                    Hib. ibid. c. 27, p. 266.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          543
citizens; on the 29th of January, the prelate appointed Sir Richard Percy counsellor for
offered up a solemn high mass, at which the that province.  He left Cork on the 9th of
prince of Tirconnel was present, and received March, accompanied by the president Carew,
the holy communion, after which the prelate slept at Clone with John FitzEdmonds, on
entertained him at a magnificentbanquet, and whom he conferred the order of knighthood;
gave him a thousand ducats to continue his and then proceeded to Waterford,.where he
journey.  O'Donnelhaving arrived at court, created Edward Gough and Richard Aylwas received by the king and all his cour- ward knights; both of whoIn  were noble,
tiers; his majesty gave the necessary orders and old inhabitants of that city. The deputy
for an expedition to Ireland, and the troops arrived at Kilkenny on the 24th of March,
intended for it began to march towards Co- (which at that time was the last day of the
runna.                                  year,) slept at the earl of Ormond's, and
Dom Juan de Aquila, the Spanish general, arranged matters of government with the
was still in Ireland;* he sailed, however, president.  He fell sick here, and had himwith the remainder of his forces from Kin- self carried to Dublin in a litter, in which
sale for Spain, on the 16th of March, with a city he arrived on the 28th of the same
fair wind.  On arriving at Corunna, being month.
suspected of having acted dishonorably in   The English troops in Ireland, A. D. 1602,
Ireland, he was arrested by order of the king, amounted, notwithstanding their losses in
and confined to his ownhouse, where he soon the late campaign, to sixteen thousand nine
afterwards died of grief. The suspicions hundred and fifty infantry, and a thousand
formed against Dom Juan were founded on four hundred and eighty-seven cavalry. The
the facility with which he surrendered to the deputy, after having reviewed them, put them
English Kinsale, and the other towns in into convenient garrisons till the next camwhich the Spaniards were: also on the friend- paign.
liness of a correspondence which he kept up   In the beginning of June the deputy aswith the deputy and Carew, and the reci- sembled his forces and marched into Ulster,
procal presents that were made between where he got a bridge built over the Blackthem, and finally, upon his having furnished water, with a fort which he called Charlepassports to the English, who went fromn mont, after his own name, and in which he
Ireland to Spain under pretence of trading, placed Captain Caulfield with a garrison of
but who, in reality, were spies that brought a hundred and fifty men.  He sent the regihomne an account of all that was passing in ment of Sir Richard Morison to make themSpain, relative to the affairs of Ireland: on selves masters of Dungannon, but the inhabproof of which an English officer, called itants of the place, on the approach of the
Walter Edney, was arrested at Corunna. English, set fire to it and reduced it to ashes,
He had freighted a vessel at Cork, for Spain, together with the beautiful castle of Tyrone.
and was provided with a letter of introduc- The deputy repaired thither with the retion and presents from the deputy to Dom mainder of his army, where he was joined
Juan; but the latter having already fallen by Dockwra.
into disgrace,the deputy's plan was defeated;  The prince of Tyrone withdrew to Castle
the Count de Caracena profited by the pre- Roe, on the river Bann. The English laid
sents that were sent, and his letters, pass- the whole country waste as far as Innisports, and papers were forwarded to the killen; they made themselves masters of
Spanish court.                          Magherlowny isle, where O'Neill had a
magazine, and took another island, in which
they found three pieces of English cannon.
Dockwra, who commanded a garrison at
CHAPTER XLIX.                 Ony, received orders to harass O'Neill in
Dungeven in Araghty Cahan; while ChiPOPE CLEMENT VIII.'wrote a letter at this chester, who led the troops from the garrison
time to Hugh O'Neill, prince of Tyrone, of Carrickfergus, brought the regiment of
complimenting him on the confederacy which Morrison to occupy Toome, and the deputy
he had established among the Irish princes, himself guarded the road to Killetro; but in
for the defence of the Catholic religion spite of these plans, and the great superiority
against the reformers.                  of the enemy, O'Neill, with six hundred foot
The lord-deputy having ended his cam- and sixty horse, marched from Castle Roe,.paign in Munster, set out for Dublin, having andreachedLoughEarneunmolested. Being
incapable of resisting the enemy openly, he
* Pacat. Hib. ibid. c. 30. p. 278.  remained on the defensive; for which pur



544                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
pose he chose an inaccessible spot, called and Kerry. No place escapes them; they
Gleannchonkein, near Lough Earne, where have become desperate from their crimes;
he intrenched himself in a manner that left they look upon themselves as children of
him nothing to fear. The deputy hearing perdition, and unworthy of her majesty's
of this, contented himself with ravaging the pardon."  These are phrases in accordance
surrounding country, and with breaking, at with the imperious character of the English,
Talloghoge, the stone which was used as the who imagine that the world should obey
inauguration seat of O'Neill.*          them. The Irish whom they thus describe
The lord-deputy, satisfied with his exploits as rebels and children of perdition, did not
in the north, repaired to Newry on the 11th seek the clemency of Elizabeth; they, on
September, whence he set out for Dublin, the contrary, took up arms to defend their
leaving Ulster to the care of Dockwra, Dan- country against her tyranny and usurpation.
vers, and Chichester.t  In November he   Daniel O'Sullevan, prince of Bearre, beundertook an expedition to Connaught, to came chief of the Catholic league in Munquell the disturbances that agitated that ster after the surrender of Kinsale and the
province.  Sir Oliver Lambert had already retreat of the princes of Ulster. This prince,
expelled the Burkes, with MacWilliam, their illustrious for his virtue and his birth, was
chief, from the county of Mayo.t The dep- in possession of Dunboy, and omitted nothuty now granted protection to O'Connor ing to put that fortress into a state of deSligoe, Rory O'Donnel, the O'Flahertys, fence.  The nobles who espoused with him
MacDermots, O'Connor Roe, and others. the common cause, were Daniel MacCarty,
The only chieftains that remained steadfastly son of the earl of Clancar; Daniel, son of
attached to the cause of Tyrone, were O'Sullevan More; Cornelius and Dermod
O'Rourke, Maguire, and Captain Tirrell.- O'Driscol; Dermod O'Sullevan; Dermod,
The deputy had the fort of Galway com- Donagh, and Florence MacCarty, of the
pleted, and gave orders to send three differ- family of MacCarty'Riagh; MacSweeny;
ent bodies of troops in pursuit of O'Rourke; Donagh O'Driscol, and his brothers.  The
he then returned to Dublin, whence he dis- prince of Bearre was also joined by O'Conpatched succor to Chichester, to enable nor Kerry, MacMaurice, baron of Lixnaw,
him to oppose Brian MacArt, who had en- the knight of Kerry, the knight of Glynn,
tered Killulta at the head of five hundred John Fitzgerald, brother of the earl, James
I men.  Chichester executed his commission Butler, brother to the baron of Cahir, Wilwith such cruelty, that a famine was the con- liam Burke, Captains Richard MacGeoghesequence.  Cox says, " children were seen gan and Richard Tirrell.  The former was
to feed upon the flesh and entrails of their appointed to command the fortress of Dunmothers, who died of hunger," and adds, boy, the latter to lead the army of observathat " the famine in Jerusalem was not more tion.
severe than what the rebels suffered on this   This confederacy caused great alarm to
occasion."~                             the English; the president Carew ordered
Notwithstanding  that Dom  Juan Del her majesty's troops to assemble at Cork;
Aquila surrendered to the English the towns and the old and modern Irish who were loyal
which he held in Munster, the inhabitants to the court party, were also commanded to
did not give up their arms, holding still the meet.  The principal among these were
hope of receiving new succors from Spain. O'Brien, earl of Thuomond; MacCarty
Those. English authors who never let pass Riagh, prince of Carbry; MacCarty of Musany opportunity of inspiring their readers kerry; Barry, Viscount Buttevant; O'Dowith contempt for a people that wish to novan; Fitzgibbon, called the White Knight; I
escape from their tyranny, have filled their Owen O'Sullevan, the cousin, but inveterate
writings with such inljurious and insulting enemy of O'Sullevan, prince of Bearre;
statements as should destroy, in the mind of Dermod, brother of O'Sullevan More; and
the discerning and impartial reader, all re- Donagh and Florence MacCarty, who despect for them.1l  Their language on this sertedO'Sullevan Bearre. These auxiliaries
occasion is as follows; "the rebels spread and the English troops amounted to more
themselves everywhere, particularly through than four thousand men.  In March a dethe districts of Carbry, Bearre, Desmond, tachment of two thousand five hundred infantry and fifty cavalry, was sent under the
W Hist. Catboi. ibid. cap. 12    command of the earl of Thuomond, who was
d11  + Cox., ibid. page 448.     commanded by the deputy to scour the
Coxr, ibid. page 448.
~ Cox, page 449.                 countries of Carbry, Bearre, and Bantry; to
U1 Pacat. Hib. book 3, cap. 1.   burn all the corn, to take away the cattle,




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                         545
and commit every species of hostility upon Carrygfoyle, which he found deserted, and
the rebellious inhabitants, but to spare those took possession, giving the command of it to
who surrendered, among whom were O'Dris- Captain Collum. Wilmot afterwards crossed
col, O'Donovan, and the sons of Sir Owen the river Cashin, in spite of John, son of
MacCarty. The earl likewise had orders to Thomas Fitzgerald, the young Captain Tirattack the castle of Dunboy; to reinforce rell, Hugh MacSweeny, Owen O'Maily,
the corps of Captains Flower and Harry, Rory and Phelim  O'Connor, and Gerald
and to pursue O'Sullevan Bearre, Tirrell, Fitzmaurice, brother of the baron. They
Dermod Moyle MacCarty, and the O'Crow- assembled at Lixnaw with five hundred inlies. Thuomond being unable to act against fantry and some horse, to dispute his pasDunboy, in consequence of Captain Tirrell's sage. The English captain laid siege to the
light troops having possession of the moun- castle of Lixnaw, which was garrisoned by
tains of Bearre, took post temporarily with forty-five men, who were determined to deCaptain Flower, in an island called Fuidi or fend it, but want of water obliged them to
Whiddy, in the bay of Bantry. He left with capitulate. The forts of Ballyhow, castle
himl his own company, and those of Sir John Gregory, and Rahane, which belonged to the
Dowdal, Lord Barry, and Captains Kingsmill, knight of Kerry, surrendered to Wilmot;
Bostock, and Bradbury, making in the whole after which he marched into Desmond, as far
seven hundred men; after which he returned as the castle of Listre, where he encamped,
to Cork, to give the president an account of being unable to proceed from the badness
his expedition. After Thuomond's departure, of the roads. Wilmot received an order
Captain Flower intrenched  himself in here, to arrange his affairs in Kerry, and
Whiddy Island, but fearing an attack fronm march to join the president on a certain
O'Sullevan, who cut off the communication, day.
the English captain withdrew from it, after  The fleet which was expected from Cork,
guarding it for two months. In his retreat arrived on the 11th of May,* in the bay of
he was pursued by O'Sullevan, who killed Bantry, freighted with all kinds of ammuseveral of his men.                    nition and provisions. This event caused
The lord-president determined to besiege universal joy to the English, who were beDunboy, and set out the 23d of April from ginning to be in need of everything. WilCork, with more than 5000 men, besides the mot's corps joined the grand army on the
body of troops that was under Wilmot, in same day. On the 14th, the president asthe county of Kerry. He arrived on the last sembled his principal officers, to concert
day of the month, near Bantry, and encamped measures for leading the army to Beerhafor a while on the plain of Gurtin-Rua, both ven;t when it was unanimously determined
to keep the enemy in check, and to await the to carry the troops first to the great island
arrival of eighteen ships of war and some in the bay, and from thence to Bearre.
transport vessels that were expected from   In consequence of this decision of the
Cork and England, and were to meet in council, they struck their tents on the 31st
Bantry bay. These were destined to carry May, and after putting their sick, who were
troops and artillery to the island of Bearre, numerous, into hospital, the army marched
where Dunboy was situated, and which the to Kilnamenoghe upon the sea-shore. in the
Englishgeneralintendedtobesiege. Richard district of Muintirvarry, where they enMacGeoghegan, descended from the ancient camped.  On the 1st of June, the earl of
and noble house of Moycashel,was appointed Thuomond and General Wilmot embarked
by the prince of Bearre to the command of with their regiments for the great island; on
this castle; he had under him but one hun- the 2d, the regiment of Piercy embarked,
dred and twenty infantry. The English which was followed by the president and the
assert that the garrison consisted of one hun- rest of the army; after which the artillery
dred and fortychosenmen. Bytheirvaliant was sent. The president proceeded with
defence of Dunboy, they have well merited caution, and before he began. the siege of
the name and character of heroes.      Dunboy, resolved to secure the places in his
In the mean time Wilmot was successful rear. The Catholics had left some soldiers
in Kerry; after Kinsale had surrendered, he in the castle of Dunmanus, whom it was
was sent with seventeen hundred infantry deemed prudent for this purpose to dislodge.
and a troop of horse, into that part of the Owen O'Sullevan was appointed by the
country, and surprised, between Askeaton English general to effect the dislodgment,
and Glynn, Hugh MacSweeny with two
hundred men, of whom he killed twelve, and      * Pacat. Hib. cap. 4.
put the rest to flight. He advanced towards      t Pacat. Hib. cap. 5.
69




546                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
and the two brothers, traitors to their coun- to pass over their artillery. The Catholics
try, marched with a detachment to Dun- charged the enemy with great bravery; the
manus, surprised the castle, and after killing battle lasted for some time. but being overfour of the garrison, and making themselves powered with numbers, and galled by the
masters of it, gave it up to plunder.   enemy's cannon, they lost twenty-eight of
Richard MacGeoghegan, commander of their men killed, while Captain Tirrell and
the castle of Dunboy, is represented by an a few more were wounded.  The English
English writer as having had an interview rested upon their arms that night in the field
on the great island where the English troops of battle.
were then posted, with the earl of Thuomond.   A vessel was sent in the mean time by the
After speaking on the subject in a mysterious court of Spain, to Kilmokillock, near Ardea,
manner, he has this passage, " But of this I to discover if the castle of Dunboy still held
am sure, that the earl's meeting with him out for his Catholic majesty.  There were
was not without the president's knowledge some passengers on board; among whom
and allowance; all the eloquence and arti- was a friar named James Nelanus, and Owen
fice which the earl could use, however, MacEggan, who was appointed by the pope,
availed nothing, for MacGeoghegan was re- bishop of Ross and apostolical vicar of Iresolved to persevere in his conduct."    land. This friar brought with him twelve
It appears that the president was in the thousand pounds sterling, to be distributed
habit of resorting to dishonorable means among the chiefs of the confederacy, and
for seducing those whom he had to fear most some warlike stores.  He was sent by the
among his enemies. lHe met among the Spanish court to assure the Catholics that
Irish themselves agents obsequious to his the reinforcements intended for Irelandwould
wishes. He had already sent, through Owen be speedily forwarded, and that two thousand
O'Sullevan, a pressing letter to the can- troops had already assembled at Corunna
noniers of Dunboy.  These were three in for that purpose. The confederates,trusting
number, two Spaniards and an Italian, whom to the promises given them, formed the resoO'Sullevan Bearre, when he became master lution of supporting the siege of Dunboy
ofthe castle, took into his pay. The deputy against the English, and forwarded disproposed to reward them liberally if they patches to the king of Spain, to assure
would spike the cannon and break the car- his majesty of their determination.  Brien
riages when the siege would have comn- O'Kelly,and Donogh, son of Mahon O'Brien,
menced; but they proved themselves honor- sailed on the 15th of June, 1603, for Spain,
able to their trust, and incapable of being with these dispatches of the confederates.
influenced by his bribes.               After this O'Sullevan Bearre sent part of the
The president having failed in the over- ammunition that had come from Spain, to
tures made to the governor of Dunboy, sent strengthen the garrison of Dunboy.
his troops from the great to the lesser island,   Owen MacEggan, the apostolical vicar,
which was within about a hundred paces of at this time wrote a letter to Richard MacBearre, a position that afforded him the Geoghegan, commander of the castle of
opportunity of viewing more closely the Dunboy, couched in the following words:movements of the enemy.  The Catholics "The high character which you sustain gives
were too few to be able to guard the entire me delight, and I have great confidence, with
coast; they therefore confined themselves the assistance of the Lord, in the just cause
to one point, and intrenched themselves which you defend.  I would be particularly
where they thought the landing would be anxious to confer with you and- your comrnattempted.  To deceive them as to the place panions, and inform you of the state of things
where this would be tried, the president en- in Spain.  Be assured, that nothing in this.
camped on the opposite side to them, with world is more acceptable to the king than
his own regiment and that of the earl of your proceedings; you know how pleasing
Thuomond. At the same time the regiments they are to God, and how important to our.
of Percy and Wilmot were sent to the ex- country. You will have, in a few days, fresh
treme end of the island, and landed between succors from Spain-the grand army, contwo rocks near Castledermot; having done sisting of fourteen thousand men, is ready to
which, they formed themselves in order of march.  You all will be well rewarded by
battle. The Catholics having discovered his Catholic majesty, while waiting the retheir error, immediately left their intrench- ward which God prepares for you in heaven.
ment, and proceeded to where the landing I came from Rome to the court of Spain
was effected; but being retarded by the with a father of the society, who has been
winding of the coast, the English had time appointed the pope's nuncio; and who will
-F




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          547
arrive in that quality with the Spanish that the breach was effected, an attack was
army."                                  ordered. They were repulsed, however, with
The deputy knew how important it would vigor; several were killed on both sides, and
be to reduce the castle of Dunboy. It was the English were forced to retire. The fire
the only place of moment which the Catho- from the battery was still kept up, by which a
lics of Munster still retained: it served them part of the vault fell in, and drew those that
as an arsenal and a depot, and secured the surrounded it into the ruins. The besiegers
means of holding a communication with entered in crowds upon the breach, and reSpain.* He marched, therefore, to within a newed the battle, but, as before, without sucmile of Dunboy, where his army encamped. cess;- they were driven off with heavy loss,
Accompanied by Wilmot and a corps of in- and hurled from the top of the breach: a third
fantry, he proceeded to reconnoitre the castle, attack was equally unsuccessful as the two
and to seek a platform on which to erect a first; for after gaining the hall of the castle,
battery; but the musketry of the castle forced the English were forced to abandon it. It
him and his attendants to return to their will be admitted that the garrison of Dunboy,
camp.                                   which consisted of but one hundred and fortyThe English general, anxious to shelter three fighting men,must have been considerahis troops, and to make the artillery advance bly weakened from the continued assaults of
against the castle, caused a trench to be the enemy. It might, indeed, be supposed,
opened. The work was frequently interrupt- that they would easily have been crushed by
ed by the besieged, who continually sallied the overwhelming force of five thousand men
out and kept up a constant fire from the castle. with a powerful artillery; and though the
The English atlength established their trench efforts of the brave Captain Tirrell, with his
within a hundred and forty paces of the place. flying camp, frequently alarmed the English,
A battery of five pieces of cannon was then they were not sufficient to save the garrison
raised, which played upon the castle, while from the unhappy lot that awaited them.
two falconets, placed on a point of land, de-   The president, Carew, seeing the obstinate
stroyed the outworks. The president, in the and determined defence the castle of Dunboy
mean time, sent Captain John Bostock, Owen maintained, ordered a fourth attack, better
O'Sullevan, and Lieutenant Downings, with planned than the preceding ones.  For this
a hundred and sixty men, to attack Dorsies purpose a body of fresh troops was chosen,
Island. There was a small fort in it belong- taken by lot from the regiment of the lording to the Catholics, and garrisoned by forty president; this body was to be supported by
men. After a vigorous defence from the be- the remainder of the same regiment, and that
sieged, the English made themselves masters of the earl of Thuomond, while those of Percy
of this fort, and found in it a few barrels of and Wilmot had orders to hold themselves
powder, three pieces of cannon, and some in readiness to march, both to protect the
warlike stores'.  Four of the besieged were camp, and to act with the others if necessary.
killed in the action, two were wounded, and The English artillery continued to play upon
the rest made prisoners. These latter were the castle from fivein the morning until nine,
executed immediately afterwards, though when a turret of the castle, in which there
they had surrendered.  The cruelty of the was a falconet which greatly annoyed the
English was not confined to the defenders English battery, was seen to fall. However,
of the castle; they massacred, without dis- the firing was kept up still against one'of the
tinction, all the inhabitants of the island. A fronts of the castle till one in the afternoon,
mother and the infant on her breast were when the breach being effected, and the plan
murdered; the children were barbarously of assault fixed upon, the detachment which
stabbed, and raised half dead on pikes, for a was to begin the attack advanced; the Cathospectacle; others were tied, hand and foot, lics disputed the entrance. by the breach for
and thrown from the top of lofty rocks into a long time, but were at length forced to yield
the sea. This is but a faint description of to the overwhelming numbers of the English,
the cruelties exercised by the English upon who planted their standards on one of the
the inhabitants of Ireland-a specimen of turrets.  Roused by despair, the besieged
the way in which they reformed the morals renewed the battle, and fought with desperaof the people.                          tion until night, sometimes in the vaults of
The English battery played incessantly the castle, sometimes in the great hall, the
upon the castle of Dunboy. Part of it had cellars, and on the stairs, so that blood flowed
already fallen, and the besiegers supposing in every quarter: several of the besieged
fell during the attack, among whom was
Pac. Hib. cap. 8.           Mac-Geoghegan, their commander, whose




548                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
valor equalled the greatness of his mind andl   The Spanish army which was intended
high birth.'  The castle was not yet in the for the expedition to Ireland, amounted to
possession of the English; they returned to fourteen thousand men; they had assembled
the assault the day following, and pretending at Corunna, and were ready to sail, when ina desire to spare the further effusion of blood, telligence was received of the fall of Dunboy;
terms were proposed to the besieged. The on which the Spanish court sent orders to the
few belonging to the garrison who escaped Count de Caracena, governor of Corunna, to
the preceding day having lost their chief, countermand for the present the sailingof the
and being unequal to defend the castle, ac- troops.*  The queen of England had her
cepted the proposed conditions of having emissaries in Spain, who informed her of all
theirlivesspared. Richard Mac-Geoghegan, that had occurred: she therefore ordered
the commander, however, although mortally her fleets that were cruising on the coasts of
wounded, would not listen to any terms;t Spain to be revictualled, and to continue to
and seeing the English enter in crowds, he watch the motions of the Spaniards till the
rose up, though  already struggling xwith end of September; she also sent two thoudeath, and snatching a lighted match, made sand more troops to Ireland, to reinforce the
an effort to fire a barrel of powder which was president's army in Munster.
placed near him; his intention being to blow
up both himself and the enemy, rather than
surrender. He was prevented, however, by
a Captain Power, in whose arms he was                 CHAPTER  L.
basely and inhumanly stabbed by the English soldiers. Mac-Geoghegan knew that no   THE fall of Dunboy did not prevent the
confidence could be placed in any treaty with prince of Bearre from still acting a brave
the English, and preferred to die fighting, and noble part.t Dermod O'Driscol having
rather than surrender to men in whose honor returned from Spain,Cornelius, son of O'Drishe could repose no trust. " Tthe wholenum- col More, was sent in his stead to solicit
ber of the ward consisting of onze hundred and speedy assistance.  In the mean time the
forty-three chosen fighting men, being the best prince and Captain Tirrell marched with a
of all their forces, of the which no man escaped, thousand men into Muskerry, and made thembut were either slain, executed, or buried in the selves masters of Carraig-na-Chori, Duin
ruins."  This garrison was not composed Dearaire, and Macrumpe, where they placed
of mere mercenary soldiers, taken by lot, but a garrison; after which he prevailed upon
of men of honor and principle, who willingly O'Donoghoe of the Glinne to join in the
laid down their lives in defence of their re- confederacy. He then made incursions into
ligion and country: the English themselves the district of Cork, and returned laden with
admit, that so obstinate and resolved a defence booty.
hath not been seen within this kingdom.r   Cormack, son of Diarmuid Mac-Carty,
They were worthy to have been citizens of prince of Muskerry, had adopted the base
ancient Sparta, from the mode in which they policy of the earls of Ormond, Thuomond, and
sacrificed themselves for the good of their others.  He was descended from Heber by
country; and if their example has not been Oilioll-Olum, king of Munstert in the second
followed by others, it will be at least a sub- century, and by Diarmuid More Mac-Carty,
ject of reproach and self-confusion to those of prince of Muskerry, who was killed in 1367
their countrymen who took up arms against by the O'Mahonys of Carbry, who were from
them. The siege ofDunboylastedfor fifteen the same stock of ancestors.  The politic
days. It cost the English, according to some conductofCormac did not secure him against
authors, a loss of six hundred men, more or suspicions of his loyalty, and he was accused
less.  Authors differ on it, and also respect- of holding secret intrigues with O'Neill,
ing the time of this event; some say it was in O'Donnel, Florence Mac-Carty, James FitzJune, others in September; the castle, how- Thomas, O'Sullevan Bearre, and other eneever, was, by orders of the president, razed mies of the English. His accuser was Tegue,
to the ground after four days, and not a ves- son of Cormac Mac-Teugue Mac-Carty, his
tige of it suffered to remain.~          near relative. This man was first in the service of the queen's troops; but he left this
* Hist. Cathol. ibid.                  service duringthe siege of Kinsale, and joined
t Pacat. Hib. ibid. p. 316. Hist. Cathol. ibid. the Catholic cause. After receiving part of
page 184.
t Pacat. Hib. ibid. Cox, Hist. of Ireland, pp.  * Pacat. Hib. ibid. cap. 11
450, 451.                    i                      Hist. Cathol. cap. 4.
~ Hist. Cathol. ibid.                            t Keat. Genealogy.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           549
the money that was sent from Spain for the caused the keeper of the prison, who had
Catholics of Ireland, he changed sides again Mac-Carty in his charge, to be brought to
and sought to be reconciled to the president; him, and gave him fresh instructions for sewhile to make his submission the more in- curing him: his precautions, however, were
portant, he turned informer against his own disappointed. The prince of Muskerry was
relation, in whose conduct he had been pre- rescued by a young nobleman named Owen
viously a partaker.                     Mac-Sweeny, who got in by night to his
The president, after consulting with the chamber, and having cut with a file the irons
council, caused Cormac Mac-Carty of Mus- that bound his legs, let him down through a
kerry to be arrested. He wished also to take window, while six companions received him
possession of his castle of Blarney, which with their mantles before he touched the
design Wilmot and Harvey were appointed ground. The conspirators then got him over
to carry into effect. While proceedings were the wall of the city, notwithstanding that the
going on against Cormac Mac-Carty, Captain sentinels went in pursuit of him. He very
Taaffe, who possessed his confidence, was soon after this arrived in Muskerry, where
sent to propose to him to surrender the castle he met O'Sullevan Bearre at the head of a
to the -English. The proposal was a critical small detachment, and both princes entered
one: Mac-Carty was a prisoner; his wife immediately into an alliance against the comand children were also arrested, and his mon enemy. O'Sullevan then besieged Careldest son was pursuing his studies at Ox- rig-an-phouca, which was guarded by the
ford. He was of course averse to surrender sons of Teugue Mac-Carty, who obtained
his castle, which was an asylum in cases of terms from the English by his treachery
emergency, and the sacrifice seemed great, against the prince of Muskerry, whose relabut his circumstances appeared to make it tive he was. O'Sullevan reduced it, and two
imperative.  Every thing being maturely more places in Muskerry, which he gave up
weighed, he sent a communication to the to be garrisoned by his ally, and returned to
governor of the castle, to surrender it to his own country of Bearre.
Captain Taaffe. The abbey of Kilcrey and   The escape of Cormac Mac-Carty greatly
the castle were given up, at the same time, alarmed the president Carew.  He knew
to the president, of which he gave the com- that he was very dear to the inhabitants of
mand to Captain F. Slingsby.  Macrumpe Muskerry, most of whom were his vassals
was a strong place in the centre of Muskerry, and ready to follow his fortune, and that, if
and maintained a siege against Captain an alliance were made between him, O'SulFlower, and subsequently against Wilmot. levan Bearre, and Captain Tirrell, it might
O'Donnel continued still in Spain, where cause Wilmot's communication with Cork
he was actively employed at court in behalf (who was then besieging Macrumpe) to be
of his country.  He wrote at this time the cut off. The president, therefore, immefollowing letter, dated Corunna, to O'Connor diately forwarded an express to Wilmot,
Kerry: " The doctor and Dermod O'Driscol saying, that if he should not be master of
will give you an account of every thing that Macrumpe castle in twenty-four hours, he
is passing here. The king sends you money must raise the siege, and withdraw the troops
and stores.  Believe me, that his majesty from before it; orders being sent likewise to
will omit no opportunity to gain Ireland, Lords Barry and Roche, to keep a close watch
were it to cost him even the greatest part in their districts, which were strongly atof his kingdom.  Endeavor to secure this tached to the cause of Cormac Mac-Carty.
monarch's good opinion by your services.  The president's letter brought sad news to
I beg that you will inform me of the news in Wilmot; that general being eager to reduce
Ireland, and against whom the queen's forces Macrumpe, and thinking it dishonorable to
are now employed."*                     raise the siege. An unforeseen occurrence,
Cormac Mac-Carty was still a prisoner in however, proved favorable to his views. The
Cork. The witnesses against him were ex- castle having taken fire, and it being imposamined, and his life was in danger. It was sible to subdue the flames, the garrison was
of course natural that he should have wished obliged for their safety to rush into an adto recover his liberty. His design was com- joining yard, which exposed them to the fire
municated by several to the deputy; the of the besiegers.  Their twofold danger
Protestant bishop of Cork, and Dominick now roused the besieged into despair, and
Sarsfield, the queen's advocate in Munster, opening a way through the enemy, sword in
being the leading informers. The president hand, they effected their escape with a small
loss on their side. The fire of the castle
Pacat. Hib. cap. 13.       being extinguished, Wilmot left a few corn



550                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
panies in it in garrison, and took, the day garrisons in every quarter, he determined to
following, the road to Cork, with the re- gain theShannon, inordertoreach O'Rourke,
mainder of his army.                    prince of Brefny, through Connaught. The
The liberty which Mac-Carty enjoyed badness of the roads, and scarcity of provissince his escape from prison, was not suffi- ions, were not the only difficulties the prince
cient to allay his apprehensions; his eldest of Bearre had to encounter. He was conson'was imprisoned in England; his wife tinually obliged to fight his way with the
and younger son were prisoners in Cork; enemy; on the frontiers of Muskerry he
his castles of Blarney, of Kilcrey, and Ma- was pursued by the Mac-Cartys i after this
crumpe, were in the hands of the English, by the people of Duhallow; again at Slieve
and the whole of Muskerry was laid waste; Louchra by the garrison of Captain Cuff, the
so that he had in his favor at least the ap- Barrys, and Clan-Gibbons; and lastly, at
pearance of necessity for surrendering to the Slieve Feilim, in the country of the' O'CarEnglish, notwithstanding the alliance con- rols, by a detachment sent by the- earl of
eluded between him and O'Sullevan Bearre. Ormond. We read nothing in history which
If the submission of Mac-Carty of Mus- more resembles the expedition of young
kerry was fatal to the Catholic cause in Cyrus and the ten thousand Greeks, than
Munster, the news of the death of Hugh this retreat of O'Sullevan Bearre.*
O'Donnel, prince of Tirconnel, was still  The prince having overcome the difficulmore disastrous.  After the battle of Kin- ties of a long and painful march, arrived on
sale, that prince passed into Spain, where he the 7th of January in the forest of Brosnach,
attended ably to the interests of his country, above Limerick, near the Shannon, where
arrived at high favor at court, and was (on he encamped with his little army. He here
the eve of his death) about to reap the fruits convened a council of war, to deliberate on
of his zeal.  The confederates of Munster, the means of crossing the river; in which
upon receiving the sad news, saw themselves it was decided that a number of boats made
deprived of all hope on the side of Spain; of osier and the branches of trees, should be
their courage was broken down; Daniel constructed for the troops; while in order
Mac-Carty the knight of Kerry, Daniel, son to prevent them from sinking, they were
of O'Sullevan More, and others, sought to be covered with skins of horses, provided for
reconciled to the English government. Cap- the purpose. These boats were used by the
tain Tirrell led his troops into Connaught, ancient Irish, and were called Curraghs, or
which raised the courage of the English; Nevogues. The boats being completed, they
five thousand of whom were collected, and were broughtduring thenight to Portlaughan,
the command given- to Wilmot, with the title on the banks of the Shannon, opposite to
of governor of Bearre.  He accordingly led Portumny, and commenced crossing the
the army to that part of the province, and river.  O'Maily, who went by the first, was
encamped at Gort-na-cailli, in a valley called upset with ten soldiers, but the rest reached
Gleaunn Garaibh, where he published a the opposite shore in safety. On reviewing
proclamation in the queen's name, promising his men, O'Sullevan found them reduced
pardon to all who would abandon O'Sullevan to two hundred.  He marched, however,
Bearre's standard. This prince was now through Galway to Mainech, the country of
forsaken by his allies; and his Connaught the O'Kellys, where he had to contend with
troops having left him, with their commander fresh enemies.t Having met Captain Malby,
Thomas Burke, to return to their province, an Englishman, Sir Thomas Burke, brother
he deemed it more prudent to follow them to the earl of Clanriccard, and other chiefs,
with the few that remained, than yield to an near Aughrim, at the head of a body of
inhuman enemy.*                         troops superior in number to his own, a
On the last day of December, O'Sullevan battle began between them with equal aniBearre, with O'Connor Kerry, and a few mosity; but Malby, the English general,
other noblemen, having joined his troops having been killed, victory declared in favor
with those of Connaught, the whole amount- of the Catholics.  O'Sullevan continued his
ing to scarcely four hundred men, set out march to Brefny, where he was honorably
upon their march,t intending to take refuge received by O'Rourke.
with  Hugh  O'Neill, prince of Tyrone.  Wilmot commanded the Munster troops
Though his shortest route would have been in the absence of the president, who had
through Leinster, still, that province being been called on affairs of business to Galway.
in the power of the English, who had their Immediately after the retreat of O'Sullevan,
* Hist. Cathol. ibid. cap. 6. Pacat. Hib. cap. 26.  X Hist. Cathol. cap. 9.
t Hist. Cathol. cap. 8.                     t Hist. Cathol. ibid. cap. 10, 11, 12o




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          551
he sent four hundred men from Cork, under English, and beheaded.  Fitzmaurice, with
the White Knight and Captain Taaffe, to lay a body of light troops, defended himself for
waste the districts of Bearre and Bantry. a long time in Slieve-Luachra against the
They took possession ofthe castles of Ardea English; and was afterwards so fortunate
and Caraignesse. Captain Fleming was dis- as to redeem his property and title of baron
patched with his vessel and a few soldiers of Lixnaw, by his surrender.  Thus ended
to the isle of Dorsie, where he pillaged the war in Munster.
O'Sullevan's magazines, and put the inhab-   O'Sullevan was snot the only unfortunate
itants to the sword.                    prince who sought safety with O'Rourke;*
The people of Carbry, alarmed by the on0 his arrival there he met the son of Wilcruelties which the English were committing liam Burke, chief of the noble family of the
in their neighborhood, took up arms, headed MacWilliams of Connaught, and Connanacht
by the MacCartys of that district, Dermod, Maguire, prince of Fermanagh, who had
son of O'Driscol, Thadeus, son of O'Mahony been dispossessed by the English. In order
of Carbry, and the MacSweenys. They set to justify their conduct, they raised a rival
out on their march, and meeting the English against him, in his cousin, Connor Rua Maarmy at Cladach, several days were spent in -guire, who had espoused their cause and
skirmishing, with equal success.  Teugue was under their protection, and placed garO'Mahony, who had the glory of beginning risons in the neighborhood of lake Erne, to
the action, repulsed those who opposed him; favor his pretensions.  On account of his
the cavalry of MacCarty and MacSweeny attachment to the interests of the court, the
performed a distinguished part; but a de- Irish called this chief Maguire Galda, or
tachment of MacCarty's infantry was sur- English Maguire.  The same fate having
rounded by a body of English horse, and cut brought O'Sullevan Bearre and Maguire toto pieces. Teugue O'Howley, who com- gether, they determined to have recourse to
manded part of the Catholic army, signalized O'Neill, and induce him to renew the war
himself in a combat with the White Knight. against the English.  Having, therefore,
Owen MacEggan, apostolical vicar from the taken leave of the prince of Brefny, they set
pope, who had been appointed bishop of out, attended by Captain Tirrell and a few
Ross by his holiness, was shot in the skir- cohorts of armed men, and notwithstanding
mishing. He was particularly zealous in the the severity of the season, and the badness
Catholic cause, which was considered a of the roads, they proceeded as far as the
crime by the English. In order to disparage banks of lake Erne. They were then obliged
his character, their writers allege that he to force the several posts belonging to the
was killed fighting at the head of a body of English, in which they were successful.
troops, with a sword in one hand and a bre- Maguire afterwards got possession of his
viary in the other: less prejudiced authors principality of Fermanagh.
mention his having a breviary and beads. A   While the princes of Bearre and Fermaholy priest called Dermod MacCarty, en- nagh continued victorious on the banks of
deavoring, through charity, to exercise the lake Erne, Lord Mountjoy, the deputy, reduties of his ministry, by exhorting and pre- ceived intelligence from England, of the
paring the wounded for death, was taken by queen's approaching dissolution.t The deputhe English and brought to Cork.  Great ty was alarmed; he knew the instability of
rewards were offered him to embrace the re- human affairs, particularly among a haughty
formed religion; but his refusal gained him and seditious people like the English; and
the glory of martyrdom.  He was tied to apprehending a change of government, he
the tail of a mlad horse, and after being wished particularly to put an end to the war
dragged through the city, was hung on a in Ireland. Hugh O'Neill, prince of Tyrone,
gibbet; when half dead, he was quartered, was the great obstacle to a general peace:
his entrails were torn out, and his limbs ex- he still kept up his troops in Ulster, and conposed in the public streets. It was thus these tinued on the defensive for some time, exreformers preached their gospel.        pecting foreign aid; the deputy, therefore,
This struggle of the inhabitants of Carbry considered it of importance to gain him over,
was the last during this reign that was made and made, through his friends, proposals to
in the province of Munster, in favor of re- him. The terms were flattering; a general
lHgion and liberty. It was too weak to have amnesty was offered to him, and to his allies,
succeeded. The MacCartys having failed, with the free exercise of their religion, and
solicited pardon from the president, through the peaceful enjoyment. of their estates, on
Captain Taaffe, and obtained it; but Tegue   * Hist. Cathol. vol. 3, lib. 8, cap. 1, 2, 3, 4.
O'Mahony, less politic, was surprised by the  t Hist. Cathol. Hib. ibid. cap. 5.
----------— ~ ~ ~   ~ ~ ~tHst  ato. i. bd.cp.5




552                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
condition that they would lay down their the court of England, they received an order
arms.  Tyrone and his friends having ac- to return to Ireland and to be content with
cepted the terms that were offered, entered their ancient patrimonies and titles of baron;
again into the possession of their inheritances, this title Niall indignantly refused, and on
and enjoyed them for some years in peace. his return to Dublin, he presented himself
A celebrated patent of Queen Elizabeth, before the council, and inveighed against the
addressed to Rory O'Donnel, prince of Tir- perfidy of the English who requited him thus
connel, is stated to have been granted about for his services.*
this time: from the tenor of it, it appears to   The whole of Ireland became subject to
have been given by the advice of the lord- the sway of the English, A. D. 1603.  They
deputy Mountjoy, and the council of Ireland. boast of the conquest of Ireland after a war
It was written in the Latin tongue, and in of four hundred years, while they will not
Gothic characters.  In this patent the queen admit that England was conquered in a single
offers to O'Donnel, and a great many noble- day at Hastings, by William the Conqueror.
men, proprietors of estates which were held The Irish fought for their freedom  till the
under that prince, a general amnesty and end of Queen Elizabeth's reign-some of
forgiveness of their crimes.  After the dif- their chiefs still kept troops on foot; new
ferent branches of the Donnels, the chief succors from  Spain were expected; and
noblemen who are named in the act are, the the people did not lay down their arms unO'Boyles, the O'Cahans, the O'Kellys, the til they received terms which were favoraO'Galtowes, the O'Crinanes, the O'Carwels, ble.t  Such was the conquest of Ireland of
the MacNenys, the O'Kennidies, the O'Mul- which the English vainly boast.
renins, the O'Rowartys, the O'Tiernans, the   Queen Elizabeth died on the 24th of March,
O'Creanes,the O'Dwyers,the O'Kierans,the the last day of the year, old style.4  She
O'Moyleganes, the  O'Ruddies, the Mac- lived sixty-nine years, six months, and seven
Awardes, the O'Dunneganes, the O'Meal- days; and reigned forty-four years, four
lanes, the O'Murrys, the O'Doghartys, the months, and seven days. Symptoms of rage
O'Miaghans, the O'Clerys, the MacGlagh- and heavy affliction,; preceded her death.
lins, the O'Sheridans, the O'Cassidys, the English writers represent the infirmities
O'Cashedians, and many others. This patent, which accompaniedthe last days of Elizabeth,
which is in my possession, is dated Dublin, as the effects of melancholy and sadness. It
26th February, about a month before the The winter of life had already come upon
death of the queen-it is sealed with the her; she saw herself abandoned by her courgreat seal of England, and signed Philip. tiers, who were proceeding by crowds into
O'Neill, O'Donnel, O'Sullevan Bearre, and Scotland to worship the rising sun; nothing
some other Irish chiefs, went the next sum- more was necessary to afflict an aged woman
mer to England, to make their submission to whose ruling principle was, to her last sigh,
James I., who had just succeeded Elizabeth, ambition.  She now looked upon herself as
and to compliment him upon his accession to abandoned, and was heard to say with anthe throne of England.  O'Sullevan being guish, "they have bound me by the neck,
unable to obtain his pardon, sailed for Spain, there is none in whom I can any longer conand was well received by Philip III., who fide; how sad is the change in my affairs!"
created him knight of the military order of  Robert Naughton, an English writer, gives
St. Jago, and afterwards earl of Beerhaven. in his "Regalia Fragmenta," a true picture
There is at present in Spain a count of of Elizabeth, and ascribes her last afflictions
Beerhaven, heir to the name and title of to the ill-success of her arms in Ireland. This
that prince.                             Englishman was created Sir Robert NaughThe king of England confirmed to O'Neill ton, secretary of state, and master of the
the title of earl of Tyrone.*  Rory, or Rod- court of wardens, under James I.  He lived
erick, who had become head of the illus- about the period of her reign, and was deeply
trious house of O'Donnel, by the death of conversant in political secrets.
his brother Hugh, which occurred some time   "The war in Ireland, which he says may
before in Spain, was created earl of Tircon- bestyled the distemper of the reign of Elizanel.t  Niall Garve O'Donnel, the near relation of O'Donnel and his rival for the prin-  * Ibid. book 8, cap. 5.
cipality of Tirconnel, was one of those who   t English writers, according to their usual tone,
went to pay homage to the new king. While represent the terms entered into between Prince
wentto py- hmageto te -nw kig. WileO'Neill and the deputy, as a conquest.
he and some other Irish noblemen were atO'Neil and the deputy, as a conquest.; Baker's Chronicles on Elizabeth.
* Cox's Reign of James I., page 8.       { Hist. Cathol. vol. 3, book 8, cap. 4.
t Hist. Cathol. Hib. book 3, cap. 11, book 6.  Cambd. prt 4, ist of Elizb. ad an 16
______[ C pr      4     Hi            s t of E._ ad a1




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            553
beth, having continued to the end of her life, in her education she was well cultivated and
proved such an expenditure, as affected and had a knowledge of several languages, pardisorganized the health and constitution of ticularly the Latin, which she spoke fluently:
the princess, for, in her last days, she became she was fond otf reading the Scriptures,
sorrowful, melancholy, and depressed. Her which she frequently quoted in controversy,
arms which had been accustomed to conquer, in accordance with her principles. Conversmeeting with opposition from the Irish, and ing one day in Latin, it is said that she
the success of the war for so long a time be- hastily made use offaminilem sexum, instead
coming not only doubtful but unfortunate, of femineum, and perceiving her mistake,
afflicted her to distraction. On her accession she added, "we have made, by our royal
to the crown of England, she encouraged, for authority, Latin of this unusual word."*
the purpose of causing a diversion in her   Elizabeth had able ministers, who shared
own favor, the rebellion of the states of her cares in government, and contributed to
Holland against the king of Spain, who, by render her reign brilliant. These were, Leiway of reprisal, favored and encouraged cester, Sussex, Burleigh, Sidney; Walsingthe Irish to oppose Elizabeth.           ham, Willoughby, Bacon, Norris, Knowles,
"It may be imagined that England was Perrot, Effingham, Packington, Hunsdon,
at the time equal to undertake and maintain Rawleigh, Crevil, Essex, Sackvil, Blunt,
by-her resources the war against the Irish'. Cecil, Vere, Worcester, &c.  The court of
If we take a close view of the state of things this princess was a theatre in which each
at the period, and the number of troops in played his part with skill; and though their
Ireland, as also the defeat at Black Water, * object appeared to be the public welfare,
and the expenditure attending the attempts and the glory of their nation, there never
of the earl of Essex,the reduction of Kinsale was a court more devoted to intrigue, so that
under General Mountjoy, and of a short time Higgins, an impartial writer, says it was the
subsequently, we will discover, that in horse most wicked ministry that ever was known in
and foot the troops amounted to twenty any reign.t
thousand men; independently of the naval   The talents of Elizabeth were obscured by
armaments connected with them. The queen the wickedness of her disposition, which was
was obliged to keep up a constant and pow- a compound of ingratitude, jealousy, cruelty,
erful fleet, to watch the coasts of Spain and and duplicity, of which her treatment towards
blockade its harbors, in order to prevent Essex and some other favorites affords amthe succors which were intended for Ireland ple proofs.  The desire of being admired by
from being forwarded. The expenses there- men, was her predominant passion, which
fore attending the wars of Elizabeth against was heightened by the flattery of her courthe Irish, amounted at least to three hundred tiers.  Mary Stuart, queen of Scots, and
thousand pounds sterling a year, which was dowager of France, (whom she considered a
not half her expenditure in other quarters; rival,) gave her most uneasiness; Mary was
an expense which could not be longer sup- witty and accomplished, and surpassed Eliported without the aid of the public.  The zabeth in beauty, which was the cause of her
frequent letters of the queen, and the con- tragical end.  Melvin and Higgins mention
stant requests to General Mountjoy to dis- an absurd trait of Elizabeth, which will lesband the forces as speedily as possible, fur- sen the notions that English historians put
nish an irrefragable proof to what an extre- forward concerning the magnanimity and
mity this princess saw herself reduced."   strength of mind of this princess.  Melvin
Opinion is divided upon the character of being asked one day by Elizabeth, if her
Elizabeth; every writer speaks as he feels sister of Scotland danced well, replied, " exaffected. The partisans of the reformation cept your majesty, the queen of Scots is the
consider her the founder of their religion, best dancer in the world." Elizabeth feeling
and call her the divine Elizabeth; the king how untrue the compliment was, changed
of Scotland himself, son of Mary Stuart, has countenance, and withdrew to her closet,
published her praises; what a subject of where she wept bitterly for two hours.
edification; what a triumph to the queen's   An extract from the tragical history of the
party!                                   queen of Scots, will suffice to expose the
As to political government, it cannot be jealous and cruel heart of Elizabeth.
deniedthat Elizabethpossessedgreattalents;   On the death of Francis II., his queen,
* This is a river in Ulster: by the defeat of Mary Start, returned from France to ScotBlack Water is understood a signal victory gained
by Hugh O'Neill, prince of Tyrone, over the Eng-  * Relat. Girald. cap. 26, p. 197.
lish at Benburb, on the borders of that river.  t Short View, p. 218.
70




554                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
land. After having been brought up at the received protection from Elizabeth.  The
most polished. court in Europe, she was queen of Scots had a son by her second marforced to live among her fanatic subjects. riage, who was afterwards James VI. of
The Scotch Puritans wishing to alter the Scotland, and I. of England.
reformation of the church of England, af-   Murray not being able to succeed by open
forded by their religious disputes an oppor- force, endeavored to sow discord between
tunity to Elizabeth of exciting a faction the king and his queen.*  He attacked the
against Mary, and fomenting a rebellion queen's fidelity, of which accusation David
against legal authority.  "We leave it to Rizzio, an Italian, and secretary to that princasuists and lawyers," says Higgins, "to cess, was the victim, being stabbed by the
decide whether a prince ought to assist the king himself.  Darnly repented afterwards
rebellious subjects of a neighboring power, of his rashness, and resolved to take revenge
with whom he is at war; but exciting those on Murray, who had instigated him to comsubjects to rebel, at a time he is on good mitthe horrid act. Murray, however,having
terms with their king, is a violation of the discovered his design,t averted the blow, by
laws of nations and all that is sacred among having the king strangled in his bed, and the
men."*                                  body being thrown into the garden, the
The queen of Scotland being too young house was immediately blown up.
to remain a widow, chose Henry Darnly   The news of the king's murder having
from among the many matches that were spread, the public ascribed it to the earls of
proposed for her. He was son of Matthew Murray, Morton, and their associates; while
Steward or Stuart, earl of Lenox, and Mar- they, in order to exculpate themselves, laid
garet Dowglas, niece of Henry VIII., by it to the charge of the queen.  Buchanan,
Margaret, that monarch's eldest sister, who to ingratiate himself with Murray, wrote a
was first married to James IV., king of dialogue, entitled " De jure regni apud
| Scotland, by whom she had James V., and Scotos," in which he sounded the alarm-bell
secondly, to Archibald Dowglas, earl of of sedition. By this he endeavored to prove
I Angus, by whom she became mother to the that the people have a power to choose or
countess of Lenox.f Mary had sound motives to depose their sovereign, and then launched
for marrying Lord Darnly; as her near rela- into scandalous attacks upon the queen,
tive, she considered him heir to the crown which he afterwards, when dying, retracted.
of England, after herself, and thought an Mary finding her situation precarious, maralliance with him necessary to render her ried Hepburn, earl of Bothwell, at the soliclaim tothatthroneincontestable. Elizabeth citations of Murray, Morton, and their
was opposed to this marriage, as she wished friends, who rose up in arms afterwards
Mary to marry the earl of Leicester.  The against her. Bothwell was forced to fly into
queen of Scots persevering in her first reso- Denmark, where he died of grief; the queen
lution, created Darnly a knight, and confer- was then seized by the fanatics, and thrown
red on him successively, the titles of Lord into prison at Lochlevin. The mother of
Armanack, earl of Rosse, and duke of Roth- Murray was appointed her keeper-this
say, (this was the title of the eldest son of woman called herself the wife of James V.,
the kings of Scotland;) she then married though she was but his concubine, and rehim, and had him declared king, with the presented her son as heir to the crown
consent of most of the peers of Scotland.  of Scotland.
The earl of Murray, the queen's natural  The cruel policy of Elizabeth was the
brother, was the first to rebel against that cause of Mary Stuart's misfortunes;: she
princess. Having collected his adherents,he secretly and often openly abetted Murray
proposed the following seditious questions: and his adherents in their rebellion. To con"Whether a popish king could be chosen? ceal, however, her wicked intentions under
whether the queen of Scots might choose a the veil of kindness and pity, she sent Sir
husband, according to her own will? and Nicholas Throgmorton~ into Scotland, to
whether the lords ought not to nominate one upbraid the confederates with the cruelty
for her, by their own authority?"  At last they exercised against their sovereign, and
he took up arms against his sovereign; but to devise means of restoring her to liberty.
the rebels being soon put down by the roy- The knightwitnessed the fury of the fanatics,
alists, and having taken refuge in England, who were divided in their opinions, as to the
Ibid. p. 210.                              * Cambd. ibid. ad an. 1567.
t Cambd. Elizab. part 1, Hist. ad an. 1564.  t Cambd. ibid.
Baker, Chron. of England on the reign of Elizab.  t Higgins' Short View, page 210.
p. 334, et seq. Cambd. ibid. ad an. 1565.      ~ Cambd. ibid.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          555
treatment of Mary Stuart.  Some were dis- forced from her during her imprisonment
posed to have her banished for life; others was null and void. Six thousand of her faithwished to have her brought and examined ful subjects crowded to the standard of their
before the judges, that she might be con- sovereign, but were soon defeated by the
demned to perpetual imprisonment, and to superior forces of the regent.
have her son proclaimed king; others, still  Mary Stuart no longer found herself semore inhuman,were eagertohave her stripped cure in her native land, and determined to
of all royal authority, and put to death. The seek an asylum in another quarter.*  Engcelebrated Knox, a violent enthusiast, was land seemed to her the most secure retreat,
for adopting this last mode of punishment: as she believed that honor, conscience, and
-he was eager to evince his gratitude for the consanguinity would induce Elizabeth to
protection which Murray afforded him in his protect her; but in this she was mistaken.
efforts to establish the doctrine of the Puri- The unfortunate princess,after escaping from
tans on the ruin of the old religion: for her faithless subjects, gave herself up to an
which purpose he preached in public against ungenerous and implacable enemy; she sailed
the authority of princes and the hierarchy of with Lord Heris and Fleming, for England,
the church, and maintained that the nobles and arrived on 17th May at Wickinton, in
possessed the power to suppress idolatry, Cumberland, from which she immediately
and to compel the prince to observe what wrote to Elizabeth, and sent her a diamond
the laws prescribed.                    ring which she had formerly given her as a
Throgmorton applied his eloquence in pledge of mutual friendship, imploring her
vain to bring these fanatics to reason. He protection against her rebellious subjects;
quoted passages from Scripture in support while at the same time she solicited an auof the obedience due to princes, and ob- dience, in order to clear herself of the
served, "the queen is subject to no tribunal calumnies of her adversaries. Elizabeth rebut God; she is not accountable to any turned an apparently kind.and consolatory
power on earth; on the contrary, all au- answer to the queen of Scots, promising to
thority in Scotland has emanated from her, assist her against her enemies; but refusing
and could be revoked at her will."      her permission to appear at court.  She was
These remonstrances tended only to make jealous of the beauty of so illustrious a rival,
her persecutors more furious; her imprison- and feared it would make her appear to still
ment was more rigidly enforced, and she more advantage if they were seen together.
would not be permitted to see her child. An These base and unworthy sentiments made
accusation containingthree heads,viz., incon- her condemn Mary Stuart to be imprisoned
tinence, tyranny, and the murder of the in the castle of Carlisle, under pretence of
king, was threatened against her, if she did securing her from the insults of her enemies.
not abdicate the crown. The fear of death   Though Elizabeth expressed compassion
made Mary sign the act of abdication in for Mary Stuart, she still kept her in confavor of her son, who was scarcely thirteen finement, and concealed her malice under
months old, constituting, at the same time, an appearance of clemency. She frequently
her opponent Murray regent during the appointed commissioners to try the unhappy
minority. Five days after this compulsory princess, and often held assemblies, hoping
measure against Mary Stuart, her son James to have her found guilty.
VI. was crowned, and Murray put into pos-   Elizabeth at length demanded from the
session of the regency. The regent's first most determined of the Scotch malecontents,
care was to have some persons who were why they had deposed their sovereign.t
attached to the earl of Bothwell put to Murray, the regent, having been assassinated
death, under pretence that they had been some time before, the fanatics were now
concerned in the murder of the king, but headed by James Dowglas, earl of Morton,
they asserted to the last moment, that Mor- Pernare, abbot of Dumfermelin, and James
ton and Murray were the authors of it, and MacGrey, who sent a long document, by
that the queen was perfectly innocent.*    way of answer, to the queen of England, to
After a confinement of eleven months in the purport, that " according to the ancient
the castle of Lochlevin, the queen of Scots liberties of Scotland, the people were above
recovered her liberty, by the contrivance of the king; that the magistrates of the people
George Dowglas.t  Several of the nobles were, according to Calvin, intended as a
then met, and published a manifesto, de- check upon princes, and that they possessed
claring that the abdication which had been not only the power of imprisoning bad kings,
* Baker, ibid. page 337.           | Ibid. 338.  * Higgins' Short View, page 212.
Baker, ibid. page 337.  Ibid. 338.  t Cambd. Elizabeth, part 2. Hist. ad an. 1571.




556                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
but likewise of dethroning them." An appeal into the affair, they repaired in October to
to the magistrates was the general resource Fotheringay castle, in Northamptonshire,
of these Scotch fanatics against legal au- where Mary was confined: that princess
thority, knowing, that when  corruption appealed against their authority, as being a
reached that body, it was perpetuated by sovereign, and independent of any earthly
the same spirit which united the members. tribunal: but, on the threat that she would
Elizabeth received the remonstrances of be condemned for contumacy, she submitted,
the rebels with a show of indignation.  declaring, at the same time, "that despairing
These proceedings, however, forboded evil of her freedom, she had endeavored to esto the queen of Scots, as it had been already cape, in doing which she considered herself
determined that she should perish. Matthew, justified by the laws of nature and self-preearl of Lenox, who succeeded Murray in the servation; but, that as to any attempts against
regency, had been likewise murdered; he the person of the queen, or her authority,
was succeeded by John Erskine, earl of Mar, she was wholly innocent." Nevertheless the
who lived but thirteen months.  This office commissioners assembled, who having put
having remained vacant for some time, was the questions, and read to Queen Mary the
filled through the interference of Queen Eli- charges which had been brought against her,
zabeth, by James Dowglas, earl of Morton, she still maintained that she was a sovereign,
Mary's avowed enemy, and who was sus- and not subject to a law made in England for
pected of having been concerned in the death her destruction; and demanded to be heard
of Lord Darnly, the young king's father.* It in open parliament, in presence of Elizabeth.
seems that this suspicion was well founded; The commissioners had not sufficient auhe was accused soon afterwards of high thority-to concede this request, and repaired
treason, at the instigation of the earl of Arran, immediately to Westminster, when an infaput into confinement, convicted of having mous verdict was pronounced in the Star
been an accomplice in the murder of Darnly, Chamber against the unhappy princess.  In
and condemned to be beheaded; when he the decision which was signed and sealed by
avowed his crime on the scaffold. Elizabeth the commissioners, it was set forth, that since
exerted her influence to save this nobleman's the 1st of June, Anthony Babington and
life, and the interest she took to preserve others had, with the consent of Mary queen
front the scaffold a man who had been con- of Scots, heiress to the crown of England,
demned for so heinous an offence, gave rise engaged in a conspiracy tending to the ruin
to an opinion that she was not innocent of and death of Queen Elizabeth.
participating in the crime for which he was   To give the efficacy of law to the sentence
condeinned.t  At all events, from the con- passed by the commissioners, it was necescern she manifested for the murderers of sary to convene the parliament;* the whole
the king, she shared in the infamy of their nation was to be made partaker of this great
conduct.                                and infamous crime,t and Elizabeth was to
Mary Stuart was continually soliciting her be appealed to by the parliament to consent
liberty from Elizabeth, and was supported in to the death of Mary Stuart.  The peers
her solicitations by the French and Spanish distinguished themselves on this occasion;
ambassadors, but in vain. Truth, however, they presented a petition to Elizabeth to cause
prevailed over calumny, in favor of Mary's the sentence of the commissioners to be carinnocence, through the declarations made by ried into effect against the queen of Scotland,
Morton, Bothwell, and many others, in their and to strengthen their appeal, they instanced
last moments, when every man is believed to the judgments of God against Saul and
speaktruly. There was nolonger any ground Ahab,4 for having spared Agag and Benhaof accusation against this innocent victim in dad. It was thus they perverted the ScripScotland, but conspiracies were plotted in tures to the destruction of an innocent woEngland against Elizabeth, of which, though man. This extraordinary appeal, which was
in prison, she was accused.4  Walsingham more suited to fanatics than to men of honor
succeeded by his emissaries in engaging a and principle, must give us a strange opinion
few Catholics in a plot to rescue the queen of of English nobility at the time.~
Scots by open force, of which Babington and   Elizabeth eagerly sought for the death of
a few nobles became the victims.  Con- Mary, without wishing it to appear that she
missioners having been appointed to examine was the cause of it.  She was ashamed to
* Higgins, pages 219, 220. Cambd. ad an. 1580.' Cambd. ad ann. 1586.
t Baker, ibid. page 358. Higgins, ibid.    t Baker, page 360.
t Higgins, ibid. pp. 220, 221. Baker, ibid. pages  t Higgins, page 222.
367, 368.                                    ~ Higgins, ibid. page 222, et seq.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           557
admit in public what she secretly desired. herself and withdrew to her closet, where
She appeared at one time to reject the me- she continued to implore with abundant tears
morial of the peers; at another to suspend the mercies of God, until the sheriff, Thomas
her decision; but she was too wicked to be Andrews, came to announce to her that the
sincere, and inherited too much of the cruel fatal moment was arrived. She left hercloset,
and ferocious temper of her father, Henry and advanced with a majestic and sprightly
VIII., to show either humanity or feeling. step, having a veil upon her head, and in her
Wearied, as she said, by the repeated solici- hand an ivory crucifix. She was received
tations of her people, she consented to the in a gallery by the nobles who had been apdeath of Mary, queen of Scots. Having thus pointed to superintend her execution; and
acted her part, she gave Davison, the secre- who led her into a hall where the sad instrutary, a letter signed with her own hand, and ments for her death-namely, an arm-chair,
sealed with her seal, authorizing the death of cushion, and block covered with black cloth,
that princess:* the commission was sent to were prepared. The princess having recited
the earls of Shrewsbury, Kent, Derby, and a prayer, and the psalm, " In te, Domine,
Cumberland, with orders to have the sen- speravi," her head was cut off in a most
tence of the law executed on the unfortu- barbarous and indecent manner; and even
nate queen.                             after her death, her maids of honor were
The earl of Leicester was not more con- not suffered to attend in order to take charge
scientious than the others, but was more of her body.
prudent; he besought Elizabeth not to com-   Such was the melancholy fate of Mary
mit so barbarous a deed, which would even- Stuart, queen of Scots, and dowager of
tually recoil upon herself, and which was France, at the age of forty-six years; nineunworthy the majesty of a monarch.t  The teen of which she spent in prison.*
queen then asked him how she ought to act.  If the manner of the death of this princess,
" Send an apothecary, madam, rather than her greatness of soul, and resignation to the
an executioner; if she must die, let decency will of God, have filled the world with venebe regarded."                           ration for her memory,'so are the authors of
We have now arrived at the close of the her barbarous and cruel death covered with
tragedy of the queen of Scots.t The noble- infamy and disgrace.  "It was reserved,"
men who had been appointed by the court to says Higgins, "for the English nation to
attend to her execution, arrived at Fotherin- give this example of cruelty."t  " Queen
gay; on appearing before the princess they Mary," says Baker, "possessed in an emiinformed her of the object of their journey, nent degree all the fine qualities of mind
and having read the warrant, told her that and body, so that were she a private woman,
she should be prepared to die on the follow- or the queen of Scotland only, she would,
ing day. Without any appearance of dis- perhaps, have been happy; but her right
may, she returned the following reply: " I as heiress to the crown of England, and
did not think that my sister of England would a jealousy towards her person, were the fatal
have consented to the death of a person who causes of her destruction."t
was not amenable to her laws; but since it  As soon as the news of Mary Stuart's exis her pleasure, death willbe welcome to me." ecution and death was known, Elizabeth
She then asked for permission to converse fell into a state of alarming melancholy;~
with her spiritual father, and Melvin, her she appeared inconsolable, and avoided all
steward, but the commissioners carried their society. This, however, was mere pretence.
barbarous cruelty so far as to deny her what She wrote also to James VI. of Scotland, in
would have been granted to the meanest order to remove the stigma of having borne
criminal, "which was looked upon," says a part in the murder of the princess his
Baker,' as a species of tyranny unheard of." mother. Every artifice and deceit was made
The noblemen having retired, the queen use of to remove from herself, and to fix
of Scots gave orders to prepare supper, of upon her ministers, the odium of the foul
which she partook moderately, as usual. She deed, as if they could have effected it without
then retired to rest at the accustomed time; her approval.11 The king of Scotland was
and after taking a few hours repose, she spent justly and deeply affected for the execution
the remainder of the night in prayer.  On and death of his mother: at first he refused
the 8th of February, the fatal day of her execution being arrived, the princess dressed    * Higgins, pages 224, 225.
t Baker, page 372.
* Baker, ibid. page 371.                t Baker, ibid.
t Higgins, ibid. 223.                   ~ Camlbd. page 494.
t Baker, ibid. pages 370, 371.         11 Higgins, pages 225, 226.




558                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
to admit into his presence the messenger who to other human motives, caused the balance
brought the letter from Elizabeth. He, how- to incline in favor of the reformation. Upon
ever, relaxed in his determination, and from the topic of religion, the necessity of tema weakness of principle inherent in his fami- porizing and of managing the two parties,
ly, and which afterwards proved fatal to his was plain to Elizabeth: her grand principle
posterity, he even formed a sincere and solid was, that " to know how to reign, she must
friendship for the queen of England.     know how to dissemble;" " Qui nescit disThe subversion of the ancient religion, simulare, nescit regnare."  For this object,
and establishment of the reformation in her her privy council was a mixed body; at the
states, formed the mnost remarkable feature same time that she had her cabinet council,
in the reign of Elizabeth. The character of which consisted of men who were partial to
this princess will be more or less affected by reformation, and who sapped, imperceptibly,
the impression which that change produces the foundations of the Catholic faith.  To
in different minds. The incredulous, no conceal more efficiently her double motives,
doubt, look upon the pretended reformation she amused Spain, France, and other powers,
in religion as a matter of indifference, since with entertaining the overtures of marriage
they do not believe in any creed; the re- which were made to her; by which mode
formers give to the event a pre-eminent place she succeeded in having the cause of reliamong the virtues of Elizabeth; while others, gion neglected for the prospects of so flatafter weighing well the nature and circurn- tering an alliance.
stances of the enterprise, tell us, that the   An attempt to make men change their
memory of this queen will be for ever, from manner of thinking, under pain of death or
that occurrence alone, covered with infamy. confiscation of property, gives a true idea of
It is not the part of our history to decide tyranny; for no power upon earth can acthis controversy, nor to give an opinion complish such a change. The will, say the
whether religion required to be reformed, or philosophers, cannot be coerced in its acts:
whether the reformation were a meritorious of this the greatest conquerors have been so
act. The character of Elizabeth is the matter convinced, that they were content with the
now before us; according to that, therefore, submission of those whom they conquered,
our opinion must be shaped.  The means without seeking to interfere with their right
which she made use of to effect that refor- of conscience.
mation, must be weighed with those of honor,   Elizabeth thinking herself competent to
conscience, and other qualities which render undertake any thing, began the great work
us pleasing before God and man.'        of reform. She abolished a religion that had
If we review closely the opinions of Eliza- subsisted since the first ages of Christianity,
beth, an indifference will be discovered in her and substituted in its place one of a new fabas to the choice of a religion.  Brought up ric. The dogmas of the latter received their
in her first years in the court of her father, shape from a parliament which refused to
Henry VIII., of which debauchery, sacri- the bishops that powerwhich was given them
lege, and tyranny formed the prevailing by Jesus Christ to guide his church in its
characteristics, nothing less than a miracle doctrine and spiritual concerns.*  Collier,t.
could have saved the young princess from the in his Ecclesiastical History, says, " When
contagion. Whatever was in conformity with secular men prescribe to the church, when
her interest, constituted the religion of Eliza- those who are strangers to antiquity give laws
beth.  In the reign of her brother Edward, for discipline,'tis no wonder if they mistake
she was a Calvinist; during the reign of her in their devotion."+
sister Mary, the mass, confession, and other   Queen Elizabeth caused, by the authority
tenets of the Catholic doctrine accorded with of parliament, some volumes of penal laws
her ideas.  Such was her conduct until she to be published against those who refused to
ascended the throne.  She then began by submit to the reformation. Under these laws
declaring herself favorable to the reforma- no one was secure in his life or freedom; it
tion —the motives for which choice can be was in the power of any profligate to accuse
inferred from circumstances.  She was in- his neighbor before a judge, when the informed, that an attachment to the ancient former was certain of being attended to, and
religion would be a ground to dispute her the innocent partyoppressed. To these were
right to the crown; as the nobles who had
accumulated fortunes at the expense of   * Baker's Chron. Reign of Elizabeth.
church property, feared for their posses-  t He was an English Protestant. Collier's Hist.
whi  poters deaded frthe r a   Ecclesiast. vol. 2, 558.
sions, while others dreaded the ancient and   f Dodd's EHist. of the Church of England, vol. 2,
rigid discipline of the church. These, united part 4, book 1, art. 6. Dodd, ibid.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                              559
added other laws equally barbarous and in- motives that produce it, we will discover a
human: to refuse to acknowledge Eliza- great difference between Mary and Elizabeth's ecclesiastical supremacy, to take holy beth.
orders in a foreign country, to afford an asy-   The reformers in Ireland did not yield to
lum to the clergy, to be reconciled to the old their brethren in England, in cruelty; they
religion, or to be present at such reconcilia- caused as many to suffer martyrdom, besides
tion of another, was deemed high treason; the thousands of men, women, and children,
while, at the same time, every method was who suffered death for their religion, either
resorted to to bring the unhappy Catholics by war or famine.*  To judge of the dispowithin the range of this sentence.  The sition of Elizabeth by her propensities and
prisons were continually crowded with sup- caprices, she was violent in the extreme;
posed culprits, many of whom suffered upon the ferocity of her father, who could not
the scaffold.  According to the most correct bear to be controlled, was discoverable in
calculations, the number, even of the Eng- the daughter: when any thing went conlish, that were put to death, amounted to two trary to her wishes, she gave vent to her
hundred and twenty-seven; among whom  rage in transports of phrensy, and swore in
were one hundred and ninety-seven ecclesi- a manner little suited to her sex —her geneastics, comprising four Jesuits and a Fran- ral oath being " God's death."t
ciscan friar.*                                If political motives prevented Elizabeth
The preceding reign, indeed, affords ex- from marrying, the occurrences of her life
amples of the same kind; several partisans are far from sustaining a predilection for virof the opposite sect having been put to death ginity: she had many favorites whom  she
during it, who are considered martyrs of the selected from their appearance, and with
reformation.  The case, however, was very whom  her familiarity furnished cause for
different: he who defends his own right is doubting her virtue; her inconstancy proved
less criminal than he who encroaches upon sometimes fatal to them. It was thus Elizathat of his neighbor: the English had, for beth amused the nobles of her court, while
many centuries, professed the Catholic doc- she was forwarding the reformation: she had
trine, which Queen Mary wished to uphold; always the advantage of skilful ministers to
for which purpose she was constrained to guide her government; but as to religion,
have some innovators, who were disturbing and the general rights of mankind, Dodd
the old religion and everywhere publishing says, " never was a nation more unfortunate
new doctrines, put to death.t  Elizabeth, on than England during her reign."
the contrary, was desirous of abolishing the   The praises which panegyrists have beancient religion, the profession of which had stowed upon Elizabeth, with respect to her
been authorized by so many kings her prede- pretended wisdom in government, and which
cessors, and substituting one that flattered have been implicitly believed by foreigners,
her ambition.  On Mary's accession to the are known to us.  It is true that the length
throne, she rejected the absurd title of head of her reign was favorable to great underof the church, which had been usurped by takings; she participated largely in the forher father, Henry VIII.  Elizabeth con- mation of the republic of Holland, and was
sidered this title as- the brightest gem in her persevering in her efforts to succor the Hucrown, and had several condemned to death guenots in France; but the civil war which
for having denied her that dignity. If, there- she fomented in Scotland, and the murder of
fore, we judge of the merits of an act by the the queen of that country, tarnished the glory
of her reign. She gained many advantages
X Dodd, ibid. lib. 3, art. 7.:           over the Spaniards in the war which she
t This position is certainly bad. If the persecu- carried on against    them   this, however, was
tions under Mary had been dictated by a determi- a war of plunder, by which a few individuals
nation to suppress the doctrine of the reformation, a war of plunder, by which a few individuals
they would be just as culpable as those of Eliza- wereenriched, but from whichEngland reapbeth. Interference with freedom of conscience is, ed no solid advantages.  The war in Irein all cases, unjustifiable; and quite as muchi so land cost her, for some years, half of her
when the object is to coerce people to retain an old revenues, without her witnessing the Irish
religion, as when it is to make them adopt a new
one. The recent researches of historians seem to people reduced to obedience.
show that the executions in the reign of Mary arose   From the above slight sketches of matwholly from political causes, and can be defended ters which characterized Queen Elizabeth's
on this ground. Had they been the result of rell- reign, we leave it for the impartial reader to
gious bigotry, they would have fully merited for her
the title of " Bloody Mary," so frequently (but, as   * Analecta Sacra de Process.'Mart. part 3.
it now appears, improperly) bestowed on her.-Note   t Nauton fragment. Regalia, Dodde, ibid. lib. 1,
by Editor.                                 art. 6. Dodde, ibid.




560                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
determine whether an advantageous opinion city as in Dublin, under the title of James I.
of her merit can be entertained, or whether Morgan was joined in Cork by Sir George
the means which she made use of for the Thornton, oneof the commissioners forlMunattainment of her designs were conformable ster, who presented his orders to Thomas
to honorable and upright principles.  She Sarsfield, who was then mayor. That magisended her career in despair; and God, in trate answered, that " according to the charhis justice, allowed her who had caused so ters of the city, time was permitted to delibmuch sorrow to others, to die without one to erate on the subject." Thornton answered,
console her.                            that " as the king's right was incontestable,
and as he had been already proclaimed in j
Dublin, the smallest hesitation on their part
might be displeasing." "Perkin Warbeck,"
CHAPTER LI.                 said Sarsfield, " was proclaimed in Dublin,
and the country suffered by its precipitancy." I
ON the death of Queen Elizabeth, A. D. Saxy, chief-justice for Munster, being pre1603, James VI., king of Scotland, inherited sent, desired to support Thornton, and said,
the throne of England, as descendant of Mar- " that whosoever would refuse to have the
garet, eldest daughter of Henry VII.  He king proclaimed, ought to be arrested."'To
was son of Mary Stuart, who was beheaded this Mead, the constable, replied, " that none
under Elizabeth; her father. James V., was present possessed an authority to arrest
son of James IV., king of Scotland, and them."
Margaret of England above mentioned. The   The example of Cork was followed by
father of James VI. was Lord Darnly, son Waterford, Clonmel, Wexford, Limerick,
of the earl of Lenox, who was descended and Kilkenny.  The Catholics began by
from Robert Stuart, the successor of David taking possession of the churches, and by
Bruce, king of Scotland, about the middle having the divine mysteries performed in
of the fourteenth century. We have given, them; but these attempts could not be supin our account of the preceding reign, the ported-the law of the strongest prevailed.
misfortunes and tragical end of Lord Darnly, The lord-deputy marched some troops, and 1
who had married Mary Stuart.            subdued the commotions, by having some of
The right of all the British kings, de- the most turbulent put to death.  In the!
scended either from the Saxons, Danes, or mean time Thornton and Lord Roche, at the
Normans; was united in the person of James head of eight hundred soldiers, proclaimed
I., so that no prince in Europe had a more the king in the vicinity of Cork.
incontestable claim  to royalty, than this   The ancient Irish revered the Mlilesian
prince had to the crown of England.     blood which ran in the veins of James VI.,
By the accession of James to the throne and looked upon him as a prince descended 1
of England, the two rival nations, England from themselves; they knew, likewise, that
and Scotland, which had been divided for so Edward Bruce, brother to Robert Bruce,
many centuries, became united under one king of Scotland, from whom James was
king, and from that period the English mon- descended, had been chosen in the 14th cenarchs took the title of kings of Great Bri- tury, by their ancestors, to be their sovereign;
tain and Ireland. Clement VIII. filled the it was well known, too, that Edward had been
papal chair at the time of James's accession; actually crowned king of Ireland. These
Rodolphus II. was emperor of Germany; things, added to their submission to James,
Henry the Great ruled in France, and Philip appeared to them to be a good title to the
III. was king of Spain.                 crown of Ireland; at least it was equal to the
James was proclaimed in London on the right he derived through the kings of Eng14th March, with every demonstration of joy. land, his predecessors, who were never uniThe same ceremony took place in Dublin on versally acknowledged by the ancient Irish.*
the 6th April, by order of Lord Mountjoy,   The modern Irish looked upon James as
deputy of Ireland, in obedience to letters rightful heir to the crown of England, and
which he had received from the council in consequently to that of Ireland, in virtue of
England to that effect. The same loyalty his descent from Margaret, eldest daughter
was not manifested in other cities and towns of Henry VII.; so that the two races who
of Ireland; as many wished to understand inhabited Ireland at this time, forgetting
the king's disposition towards the Catholic their former animosities, submitted with one
religion, before they would acknowledge him   * Analect. Sacra. de reb. Cathol. in Hib. pp. 220,
for their sovereign.  Captain Morgan was 276. Ogyg. epist. dedicat. Walsh, prosp. epist.
sent to Cork to have him proclaimed in that dedicat. Kennedy on the house of Stuart.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            561
accord to the new king.  These were the The first constituted the Church of Engcauses of the general submission of the Irish land, and formed a compound of all the
at this time to the crown of England.    errors that appeared in the reign of ElizaHugh O'Neill, earl of Tyrone, who had beth.  That princess took something from
destroyed so many of the English, went to every innovator of her day, to construct
England the summer following to make his this new religion, in which she still allowed
submission to James.  The king received the authority of bishops, and the hierarchy
him with honor, and issued a proclama- which belonged to the Catholic church to
tion that all his subjects should treat him remain.  From thence arose the namne of
with reverence and respect.  Rory O'Don- Episcopalian.
nel, brother to Hugh, who died in Spain   The latter, namely, the Presbyterians,
after the siege of Kinsale, as we have already are so called from their having no bishops,
mentioned, accompanied O'Neill to Eng- and being governed in religious matters by
land; he was received with distinction at the elders of their sect, who have no miscourt, and created earl of Tirconnel by the sion but the choice which is made among
king.*  The Latin patent of this creation is them for this duty; they are also called Puwritten in Gothic characters, dated Dublin, ritans, either from  the affected purity of
February 10th, in the first year of the reign their manners and morality, or from having,
of James I. of England, and has the great as they say, purified Christianity from the
seal of Ireland affixed to it.  Modesty pre- superstition which they ascribed to the
vents Count O'Donnel, an officer in the ser- Roman Church.
vice of her Imperial Majesty, from assuming   James had been brought up in Presbythe title of earl of Tirconnel; but he is the terian principles, which he professed in
direct heir of the title and extensive posses- Scotland, but on coming to England he
sions of the house of Tirconnel.         adopted the Episcopalian.  He had some
Mountjoy, the deputy, was appointed at inclination to embrace the Catholic tenets,
this time lord-lieutenant of Ireland, and but the fancied consequences of adopting
member of the privy council in England. thatreligion alarmedthis weakprince.* His
His deputies in Ireland were, Sir George repose, however, was disturbed by two conCarey, treasurer at war, and afterwards spiracies.  The object of the first was the
Sir Francis Chichester, who was sworn in, total overthrow of the government, and the
February, 1604.                          placing of Arabella Stuart, the king's near
The Irish were sanguine in their hopes relative, and, like him, descended from IIenry
that the king would protect them in their VII.,uponthethrone.t Twopriests, namely,
religion and liberty. Previous to his ascend- William Watson and William  Clerk, Lord
ing the throne of England, he gave cause Cobham, and his brother George Brook,
to the Catholics of the three kingdoms to Lord Grey, Sir William  Rawleigh, Sir
expect special protection; he had written a Griffith Markham, Sir Edward Parham,
letter, signed with his own hand, and sealed Bartholomew Brookesby, and Anthony Copwith his seal, to Clement VIII., assuring ley, were accused of being the leading conthat pontiff of his intentions on that head, spirators.  The plot being soon discovered,
and his wish of embracing the Catholic re- the Catholics were immediately accused of
ligion, as soon as he would be established it. If any were concerned they were priests,
on the British throne; however, all this whose only share in it was an accusation
proved to be of no avail, through the arti- (without any proof) of their having known
fice of Cecil, secretary of state,t which it by means of confession; the others, it is
minister found means to withdraw the letter believed, were but a few who had been
from  the pope, and to estrange the king bribed by Cecil and his emissaries.  There
from his Catholic subjects.              were also Episcopalians and Puritans enFrom the moment the inhabitants of Eng- gaged in this conspiracy.  In general, conland and Scotland separated from that unity spirators are of the same mind, but we have
which characterizes the true church, every here an odd mixture of clergy, laity, Cathosort of sectarians found partisans in those lics, Protestants, Puritans, and nobles of
countries, and became formed into societies. every rank. The world beheld with surprise
There were, however, two principal sects, men of such opposite interests united in the
denominated Protestant and Episcopalian. same cause.  Several members of the con* Baker, Chron. of Eng. Reign of James I., p.
404. Ireland's Case briefly stated, p. 9, et seq.  X Ireland's Case, ibid.
Cox, Hist. of Ireland, Reign of James I.   t Baker's Chron. Reign of James I., p. 404, et
t Ireland's Case, ibid.                seq.
71




562                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
spiracy were arrested, and some of them British Catholics, and wishing to obtain new
put to death; among the latter were the favors, turned his machinations towards
two priests and George Brook; Cobham, Ireland, which he now designed to involve
Grey, and Markham were pardoned at the in some treason.  The instrument he chose
foot of the scaffold, and brought back to the to effect his wicked purpose was Christopher
tower, where Lord Grey died; Cobham and St. Laurence, baron of Howth, generally
Markham were liberated shortly afterwards; called the One-Eyed; who received instructhe former was deprived of his property, and tions to invite to a secret conference the
the latter died abroad, in great distress: leaders of the Catholics, in order to entrap
Rawleighwas never pardoned; he continued them.  The earls of Tyrone, Tirconnel,
in prison, and afterwards terminated his baron of Delvin, and some other Catholics
career upon the scaffold.                of distinction, appeared at this mysterious
The second conspiracy, called the gun- meeting; St. Laurence made th.em swear
powder plot, was more dangerous than the not to divulge what he would communicate
first; the king and parliament were to be to them for their own safety.  He then said,
blown up at the same time, A. D. 1605.* that he had information through a channel
Though this nefarious plot was projected by which admitted of no doubt, that the court
the Puritans, whose principles are opposed of England was determined to eradicate the
to monarchy, it was a fatal blow to the in- Catholic religion out of Ireland, and force
terests of Catholicity in England, and suited them to become Protestants; that he himto the views of Cecil, the secretary.t  This self, from a concern for their safety, administer was small in person and deformed; vised them to defend themselves against the
but nature indemnified him for these defects threat, until positive assurances would be
by his talents; he was considered in Eng- obtained that no change would be attemptland one of the ablest ministers of the day, ed against their religion.  The noblemen
and well fitted for conducting any intrigue. present, however, struck with alarm, unaniEngland abounded at that time with men of mously replied, that nothing would shake
his kind; Burleigh, Walsingham, Cromwell, their loyalty to the prince, in whose royal
and Shaftesbury, were always ready to as- word they reposed every trust, he being their
sist in the formation of any design.4  Cecil legitimate sovereign.
was a deadly foe to the Catholics; he in-   These protestations of loyalty were not
tended to exterminate them altogether, in sufficient to protect them against St. Lauorder to confiscate their estates; and to rence; he accused them to the king as carender them odious to the king and the peo- pable of forming secret designs against his
ple of England, he accused them of a con- majesty and the state, though destitute of
spiracy, of which he himself is supposed to means to attempt any thing, having neither
have been the principal.~  The Catholics troops on foot nor a hope of receiving sucdenied the charge, as appears by many cors from Spain.  Tyrone and others were
tracts which were written at that time, in summoned before the council.  The Cathovindication of their innocence.  However, lics declared that the accusation was a
the discovery of the plot procured for Cecil calumny; but seeing themselves confronted
the order of the garter, and the office of by St. Laurence, they acknowledged that
high-treasurer.  The chief sufferers for the they attended the meeting, much less for
gunpowder-plot were, Catesby, Piercy, Tho- the purpose of entering into any plot against
mas Winter, Fawkes, Keyes, Bates, Robert the king, than to hear what this treacherous
Winter, Grant, Rookwood, Digby, and man, who had brought them together, intendTresham, all men of rank.  Tresham died ed to propose; whose infamy they had unaniin the tower.  Garnet was among those mously condemned on sufficient causes, of
who suffered: according to Baker, his crime which the present is an illustration. Having
was his having concealed his knowledge of been severally examined, and only one witthe plot.lljness produced against them, the council did
Cecil, flushed with his success against the not think prudent to put them under an arrest; but ordered them to appear on the
* Ireland's Case, ibid.                day following.  During this short interval,
t Higgins' Short View, pp. 235, 236. Hume, some false friends who were of the council
Hist. of the Stuarts, vol. 1.            advised them underhand to consult their
t Sanderson's Life of King James. Lond. edit. own safety; stating, that one more witness
~in           165574,.            399. only, who might be easily suborned, was
Osborn, Hist. Mem. of the year 1658, pp. 26, 37, 38. necessary to convict them. The perfidious
{I Chron. page 509.                    advice was but tqo readily followed by the




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            563
earls of Tyrone and Tirconnel.*  Upon this oppressive tyranny at length drove Cahir
they were proclaimed rebels, and not only O'Dogherty, chief of Inishowen, to take up
their individual estates, but six whole coun- arms in defence of the Catholics, A. D. 1608.
ties in the province of Ulster, were confis- He was a young nobleman, aged about
cated for the benefit of the crown, without twenty years, and the most powerful in the
examination or trial.  These counties were north of Ireland, after the earls of Tyrone,
divided between several English and Scotch Tirconnel, and Maguire had left the country.
Protestants, under such regulations as were He raised what forces he was able, and atobviously intended to produce ruin both to tacked by night the city of Derry, which he
the people and their religion.  Besides the took, and put the garrison, together with the
pecuniary fines that were inflicted, and the commander, George Palet, to the sword,
other penalties that were enacted against after setting the Catholics at liberty.  He
Catholics, it was specifically inserted in the then marched against Culmor, which was a
patents, that no portion of these lands should strong castle built on the borders of Lough
be sold, transferred, or farmed, except to Foyle, adjoining the sea.  Of this he also
and by Protestants exclusively.  St. Lau- became master, and found in it twelve pieces
rence himself, who had hitherto affected a of cannon-he put a garrison into it, and
tendency in favor of the Catholic religion, gave the command to Felim  MacDavet;
declared himself a Protestant, and by doing after which he ravaged the lands of the Engso became a partaker of the spoils.t     lish, over whom he gained several battles,
This iniquitous proceeding being end- and spread terror through the whole proved, Hugh O'Neill, earl of Tyrone, Rory ince.
O'Donnel, earl of Tirconnel, Maguire of   O'Dogherty kept up the war for some
Fermanagh, and some other noblemen, cross- months; his object was to create a diversion,
ed over into France.t  The English am- and occupy the English till the return of
bassador of that court demanded of Henry O'Neill and O'Donnel, and the arrival of
IV. that these fugitives should be sent back succors which were expected from some of
to the king his master.  The French king, the Catholic princes.  In the mean time,
however, generously replied, that it was Winkel, an English field-marshal, appeared
beneath the dignity of a monarch to arrest with four thousand men before Culmor, to
a stranger who seeks to save himself by lay siege to it; MacDavet, the commander,
flight; upon this the earls took their de- seeing his own inferiority in numbers, and
parture for Flanders, where they were re- that the place was defenceless, and being
ceived with distinction by the archduke without any hope of aid from O'Dogherty,
and archduchess, viz., Albert and Elizabeth, set fire to the castle. He then sailed with his
who governed the Low Countries.  Thence little garrison on board two transport vessels,
they proceeded to Rome, where his Catho- which he loaded with corn and other provilic Majesty provided abundantly for their sions, for Derry.  iHe also carried off some
support, by pensions proportioned to their of the cannon of Culmor castle, and had the
rank.  O'Donnel and Maguire died after rest thrown into the sea.
some time, the one at Rome, the other at   Winkel finding the castle of Culmor deGeneva, on his way to Spain.  Nugent, molished, marched against the castle of
baron of Delvin, was thrown into prison in Beart, with the intention of besieging it.
Ireland.  However, through the interces- Mary Preston, the wife of O'Dogherty, and
sion of his friends and the influence of money, daughter of Viscount Gormanston, was in
he obtained his liberty, and was restored to the place.  A monk who had the command
favor.  Charles O'Neill and O'Cahan were of it, either from distrust in its strength, or
summoned to appear in Dublin, whence to save the lady from the frightful effects of
they were sent to England, and confined in a siege, surrendered the castle on condition
the tower of London.                     of the garrison being spared, and suffered to
Persecution was becoming more and more retire: but the English, regardless of the
violent against the Catholics; and new pro- treaty, put every soul to the sword, except
clamations were issued against the bishops, those who had means of purchasing their
Jesuits, and seminarians. James was as tena- liberty.  The wife of O'Dogherty was sent
cious of the title of head of the church as any to her brother the viscount, who belonged
of his predecessors who had usurped it; to to the English faction.  The taking of this
deny it being made a capital crime.  His place was of importance to Winkel; it served
him for a retreat, from which he made ocIr-eland's Case, p. 17.           casional incursions upon the districts of
t Ireland's Case, p. 18.
HIreland'sst. Case, tho. 18Hibrn. book 1, k. 4.  Inishowen, spreading desolation everywhere
taHist. Cathol. Hibern. book 1, k. 4.ssed.
as he passed.
l-.-.




564                           HISTORY OF IRELAND,
The destruction committed by the English marriage.  Among those who sought the
caused O'Dogherty to come to the relief of hand of Mary, there was one who had been
Inishowen, which was, for many centuries, particularly attentive, and had applied to
the principality of his house.  This noble- her relative and guardian, the countess of
man had but fifteen hundred men; he fought Kildare; but his being of the reformed leseveral skirmishes with the English, in which ligion,made adeep impression upon the lind
he behaved valiantly; but his rashness at of the young princess, and estranged her
length cost him his life and the victory. His affections from him.  Finding herself pertroops seeing themselves without their chief, secuted by the countess and her other refled, and some of them surrendered to the lations in favor of an alliance that she
conquerors.  Thus ended this war, which thought incompatible with her honor and
lasted for almost five months, and excited religion, this illustrious heroine formed the
great alarm to the English.             noble resolution to escape from them, and
We must in this place introduce the his- an unexpected occurrence favored her detory of a young heroine of the house of sign.
O'Donnel.*  When Rory O'Donnel, earl of  A violent persecution was in progress
Tirconnel, had been obliged to fly his coun- againstthe CatholicsofIreland. O'Dogherty
try in 1605, on account of a conspiracy of was up in arms to defend them; some
which he was falsely accused, his wife, the Catholic leaders who were suspected of being
countess, was in a state of pregnancy. Wish- concerned, were arrested and brought prisoning to accompany her husband to foreign ers to England, to prevent them from joincountries, whither he had fled, she strove to ing in the cause of O'Dogherty.  Constanleave Ireland secretly, but was prevented by tine O'Donnel and Hugh O'Rorke, relathe viceroy, who had her sent to England tives of Mary Stuart, were of the number.
under a strong guard, where she lay-in of a In spite of their keepers, these two noblemen
daughter, who received the name of Mary  escaped, and found means to get over to
at her baptism. The king being informed Flanders. Suspicions were immediately set
of the circumstances, though he had perse- afloat that Mary Stuart assisted in effecting
cuted the earl of Tirconnel, wished to honor the escape of her friends; a nobleman at
the father in the person of the child, and court informed her that the only mode -of
having taken her under his royal protection, safety for her, was to marry one of those
commanded that she should be called Mary who professed the religion of the state; and
Stuart, instead of Mary O'Donnel, which also to conform to it herself, as this alone
was her real name.                      would satisfy the king and her grandmother,
The earl of Tirconnel having died at the countess of Kildare.  After this Mary
Rome, the countess, his wife, obtained per- was summoned before the council to account
mission of the court to return to Ireland for her conduct.
with her daughter.  This virtuous mother   Mary saw now that it was time to provide
took care to give her child a Christian edu- for her safety.  She communicated her incation, and had her well instructed in the tentions to a young Catholic lady, who was
religion of her ancestors.  She often repre- her companion and attendant, and in whose
sented to her that the misfortunes which fidelity and prudence she could confide. Her
arose to her father, were produced by his purpose was to go to Flanders to seek her
attachment to that religion for which the brother, the young earl of Tirconnel, who
grandeur of this world must be sacrificed. was at the court of Isabella, the infanta of
Mary was twelve years old when she was Spain, by whom the Low Countries were
invited to England by her grandmother, the then governed, and by whom an asylum was
countess of Kildare, who presented her to afforded to all who were persecuted for their
the king. This monarch gave her a large religion.  Being obliged to change her apsum, intended as her marriage portion, and parel, in order to conceal her sex, Mary
the countess of Kildare, who was very rich, procured the clothes necessary for herself
made her heiress to her fortune, so that the and the young lady who was to accompany
protection of the king towards the young her; she then took the name of Rodolphus
princess, her illustrious birth, and her bril- Huntly, her companion that of James Hues,
liant fortune, caused many noblemen in Eng- and their servant they called Richard Stratsi,
land, of the first distinction, to seek her in by which names they were known during
their voyage.
* This history was written by Dom Albert Hen-.
+ This history was wrtten y DomEvery thing being prepared, and horses
riques, in the Spanish language, and printed at  Every thing being prepared, and hore
Brussels; it was subsequently translated into provided, they set out from London before
French by Abbe MacGeoghegan.            day, and after many adventures, as related




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           565
by the author of this account, Mary and her found a mother that loves you tenderly —you
companions sailed from Bristol; after a long yourself know that such is the name and
and dangerous voyage they arrived at Ro- character of the Roman church; she will
chelle, where being refreshed from her fa-lcherish you as her worthy daughter, who
tigues, she continued her journey through does honor to the British isles.  Given at
Paris to Brussels, at which place she met St. Peter's, under the fisherman's ring, on
her brother, who presented her to the in- the 13th February, 1627, the fourth year of
fanta, who received her with all possible our pontificate."
marks of distinction. The report of the in-  Hfume, an author less esteemed at Oxford
trepid conduct of Mary Stuart was soon than in Paris, says in his history of Great
spread throughout Europe: she was cor- Britain,. that " James I. considered his govpared to Euphrosine of Alexandria, Alde- ernment of Ireland a masterpiece of policy."
gonde, and other Christian virgins of anti- If we examine the subject closely, it will
quity; and Urban VII., who was then pope, appear, on that head, that his vanity was
addressed to her the following letter:  unfounded.
"Urban VIII., to our dear daughter in  Hume's assertions may obtain belief among
Christ, Mary Stuart, countess of Tirconnel, foreigners, but cannot make the same imgreeting, health, and apostolical benediction. pressions on those who are acquainted with
"Thesacrilegious mouth must be at length the history of the times; to the Irish, in parsilenced, which has dared to affirm that the ticular, his history is a paradox.
inspirations of Christianity enervate the soul  The king of Scotland, before his accession
and check the generous emotions of the to the throne of England, encouraged the
heart.  You, our dear daughter, have given Irish to rebel, and furnished them  secretly
to the world a proof of the contrary, and have with aid against Queen Elizabeth, either for
shown what strength and courage are im- the purpose of securing to himself (by reparted by the true faith —-how superior to all ducing her power) the succession to the
dangers, and to the very efforts of hell itself. crown of England, or to be revenged for the
This heroic courage is worthy the protection cruelties that had been inflicted upon his
of Rome, and the praises which fame confers. mother, Mary Stuart. When seated upon
Your horrors of an alliance with a Protestant the British throne, he viewed things in an
have been nobly displayed, and resemble that altered position. The revolt of the Irish,
terror which an apprehension of fire pro- which appeared to him in Scotland an act
duces.  The allurements 6f a court, and of heroic bravery, seemed to him now, when
menaces of its sovereign, have tended only king of England, an act of aggression. The
to excite your abhorrence for both. The sea, most solemn submission of the Irish, parand its accompanying terrors, have produced ticularly of their leaders in Ulster, was not
no obstacle to your flight, the honor of which able to avert the thunder which was ready
is more glorious than a triumph; even though to crush them.  This prince, without any
mountains were overwhelmed and buried i1. other trial or investigation than the testimony
the deep, your confidence in the mercies of of a vile and obscure character named' Lethe Lord would be still unshaken, that coun- nane, confiscated to the use of the crown
try being yours where religion sits triumph- six counties in Ulster, as has been observed,
ant. You have succeeded in escaping from under a pretext of a conspiracy, evidently
the persecution of English inquisitors, and, fabricated by his own ministers.  He sent
protected by angels, you have been preserved over a body of English and Scotch fanatics,
from every accident throughout your jour- among whom he divided the confiscated esney; accompanied by our paternal regards, tates.  He liberally bestowed on indigent
you have arrived at the court of the infanta, favorites the lands which had belonged,
where religion hath received you into its during many centuries, to the O'Neills,
bosom.  We therefore implore the Lord'O'Donnels, Maguires, MacMahons, O'Reilwho has been your support, to reward you lys, O'Doghartys, O'Cahans, O'Hanlons,
as your virtues have merited. We write with Mac-Canns, Mac-Sweenys, O'Boyles, Maca hope of dispelling the remembrance of Bradys, Mac-Caffrys, O'Flannegans, O'Hagyour fatigues and suffering, which are worthy hertys, and several other ancient nobles of
to be envied, since they have earned for you Ulster. James had the misfortune of cona crown of glory. Receive our most tender ferring estates on ungrateful men, who were
benedictions, and, as you have abandoned afterwards the most inveterate enemies of his
both relatives and country in obedience to a family. Itwas thus that God, whose ways are
love for Jesus Christ and us, receive also inscrutable, made these favorites the instruour assurance that, instead of exile, you have ments of his vengeance for oppressed innocence.




566                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
" The whole province of Ulster," continues that a lettered and Christian people have
Hume, "having fallen to the crown by an never been considered barbarous.
act of proscription against the rebels, a new    According to the English themselves, the
company was established in London, for Irish were celebrated in the sixth, seventh,
sending over fresh colonies of English and and eighth centuries, for their love of reliScotch to that fertile province.  The Irish gion and literature.  " The Irish," says the
were removed to the flat country, from the venerable Bede, " received with kindness
mountains and places that could be defended; strangers who came from every country, at
they were instructed in agriculture and the these periods, to be instructed among them;
arts, and provided with settled habitations. and supplied them with every thing, even
Thus, from  being the wildest and most re- with books, gratis."*
bellious province in the kingdom, Ulster   The Anglo Saxons, says a celebrated ansoon became the most civilized and best thor, went to Ireland at this time, as if to
cultivated."                             purchase science.  " The disciples, of St.
This parade does not tell much for the Patrick," continues he, "made so rapid a
glory of the English monarch; his zealous progress in Christianity, that inl the sucpanegyrist endeavors to make the most fla- ceeding age Ireland was called the island
grant injustice appear a meritorious act, and of saints."t
the ruin of a whole province to have been   According to Usher, Ireland took precea glorious performance.  Under pretext of dence of every nation in Europe in religion
civilizing the inhabitants of Ulster, James I. and learning.t  Every discerning man will
reduced them to beggary, depopulated their give credit to such historical testimony.
country, and dispossessed men of high birth, They were Englishmen who have given
to enrich needy courtiers whose origin was these accounts, so opposite to Hume, who
scarcely known. A certain author says, that pretends that the Irish had remained in a
" had the mountains in Scotland been more state of barbarism till the reign of James I.
populous, it is probable a pretext would have   In continuation of this subject, let us exbeen discovered for confiscating six or seven amine into the state in which Ireland was
more counties, to enlarge the Scotch colonies in those ages which immediately preceded
in Ireland."*                            the arrival of the English.  Religion and
May we not ask, -what good has James literature suffered greatly in the ninth and
done for the Irish, and what gratitude can tenth centuries by the frequent invasions of
he claim from them?  It will be answered, the Danes; but'after the total overthrow of
that James introduced agriculture and the these barbarians, in the beginning, of the
arts; and that he brought them from moun- eleventh century, they flourished anew in all
tains and places where they would have been their former lustre, and Ireland produced
able to defend themselves, to inhabit a flat men of the first order for piety and learning;
country. What good would a knowledge of among whom were St. Celsus, archbishop
arts and agriculture be to men who had no of Armagh and primate of Ireland in the beland to cultivate? Were the descendants of ginning of the twelfth century,~ who was acnoble families to become artisans, laborers, knowledged, even by the English cotempoand servants, to cultivate what had been their rary writers, to have been a man of universal.
own estates, for the benefit of adventurers learning; St. Malachy, archbishop of Aron whom they were conferred by James I.? magh, so well known from his life written by
He boasted of his administration in Ireland; St. Bernard; St. Laurence, archbishop of
but, in spite of all that Hume can advance, Dublin, who was canonized by Pope Honohis vanity was groundless; and if gratitude rius III; Christian, bishop of Lismore; Gilbe measured by kindness, the Irish have bert, bishop of Limerick, and apostolical
cause to detest the memory of this prince. legate; and Maurice, or Mathew, archbish"James I.," says Hume, " introduced hu- op of Cashel, who, according to Cambrensis,lt
manity and justice among a people who had was a learned and discreet man. We might
previously been buried in the most profound here mention many others, both prelates and
barbarism."  Similar phrases are frequently holy persons, who studied in Ireland, without
repeated in the works of this learned histo- being indebted to a foreign country for their
rian; but a close examination is needed to education; they all flourished in the century
form a just opinion of them; let us first refer
to what has been frequently observed in the    X Hist. Eceles. lib. 3, cap. 17.
course of this history, and remember what    t Cambd. Britan. page 730.
has been admitted by all reasonable men.    t Usser. Primord. Eccles. 17, page 899..   War. de Archiepis. Ardmach.
* Ancient and modern state of Ireland, page 58.   1I Topograph. Hib. cap. 32.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           567
immediately preceding the invasion of the people of Ireland; they have the hardened
English, and some of them lived till the audacity to treat as barbarous, men whose
coming of these strangers. The Irish were only crime has been to defend their religion
a literary people from the time they received and properties against the criminal attempts
the gospel in the fifth century, till the twelfth: of usurpers. If the deeds of the two people
they were consequently polished; as it is be weighed in the scale of reason, the Engallowed that religion and learning are the lish will be found to be the more barbarous.
source of cultivated manners, and that the   While the Irish groaned beneath the yoke
nation which enjoys this double advantage of English tyranny, they were no longer free.
is considered civilized, and not barbarous. Surrounded on every side by a merciless
Hume has not given the period in which enemy, who kept them in continual alarm,
the gross barbarism commenced, from which, they lost all hopes of being able to cultivate
according to him, the Irish were rescued by the fine arts. Hostilities and the devastation
James I. If he were candid he would ac- inseparable from war-with their concomiknowledge that such a state must be dated tant attendants, misery, poverty, and famine
from the time of the English invasion. The — have certainly helped to make the Irish
cruelties practised during  four hundred people less civilized, without, however, fall-'
years, particularly throughout the fifteen ing into that depth of barbarism which Hume
years of Elizabeth's reign, were sufficient ascribes to them.
to make the most civilized sink into a state   Our author says that " Ulster was at this
of barbarism and ferocity. The force of truth period the wildest province in Ireland." This
draws from Hume himself, in spite of his is the style of the English; they framed their
prejudices, a justification of the Irish; the opinion of the Irish according to the oppofollowing are his words: "The English sition they met with from them. The people
carry their ill-judged tyranny too far; in- of Ulster were free and warlike, and would
stead of inviting the Irish to participate in not bend to slavery; they distinguished themthe most polished custom of the conquerors, selves against the English, particularly duthey deny them the privileges of the laws, ring the last fifteen years of Elizabeth's reign;
and treat them altogether as strangers and consequently these usurpers considered them
enemies: unprotected on the side of justice, more wild and savage than the rest of the
the wretched inhabitants see no security but kingdom.  " But thanks to James I.," says
in force; flying from the vicinity of their Hume, " Ulster soon became civilized, and
towns, which they dare not enter with safety, was the most highly cultivated part of Irethey seek in the woods and bogs an asylum land."
against the insolence and tyranny of their   On account of some of their customs, our
masters, who have changed them into wild author deems the Irish barbarous; " accordbeasts."                                ing to the law which they called Brehon, no
The denial of the protection of the laws crime, not even the most enormous, was punto the Irish, was productive of the most ished with death; the culprit escaped by payfrightful consequences; from  this arose ing a fine. As. murder itself was liable to no
usurpation, rapine, murder, and a violation other punishment, every person had a price
of all law, human and divine. To kill a set on his person, in proportion to his rank.
mere Irishman, or a wild animal, were Whoever was inclined to pay the fine, had
crimes of equal import; the murderer was nothing to fear for assassinating his enemy.
acquitted by saying, "the person killed was The price of each Irishman was called his
a mere Irishman, and not of fred blood;" Eric."
consequently the judge pronounced accord-   How absurd it is to tax a nation with baring to the law, and the criminal was freed. barity, for customs which prevailed among
Of this many examples have been extracted the most polished nations. That with which
from the archives in the castle of Dublin, by the Irish are reproached, was formerly in use
Davis', who was himself an Englishman. In among the Franks, examples of which are to
the most polished nations there are barbari- be met with in the Salic law.  Athelstan, a
ans and monsters that disgrace humanity by Saxon king of England in the tenth century,
their crimes; but these are individuals only, one of the legislators and great princes who
whom the law visits with a severe punish- governed that kingdom, enacted a law by
ment according to their guilt. But here is a which he fixed the price of homicide, accase in which the most inconceivable cruel- cording to the different ranks of the clergy
Lies are sanctioned by the law  against a and laity, which they called Weregild; it
whole nation. Such has been for many cen- was the same as the Eric of the Irish.*
tories the conduct of the English towards the  * Seld. tit. Honor, part 11, cap. 5, page 342.




568                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
"Gavelkinde and Tainistry," continues   James died on the 27th March, 1625, aged
Hume, "two other customs relating to prop- 59 years, 22 of which he reigned in England.
erty, were equally absurd."  Gavelkinde Hewas married to Anne, daughter of Frederprevailed in the county of Kent, and in other ick II., king of Denmark, by whom he had
parts of England;* instead of the eldest alone two sons, Henry and Charles; the former
inheriting, the lands were equally divided died before his father, and the latter suebetween the brothers, which customwas con- ceeded him upon the throne of England; he
firmed by William the Conqueror, in imita- had likewise a daughter named ElUizabeth,
tion of his predecessors. France, under the who was married to Frederick V., countfirst race, was divided into as many king- palatine of the Rhine. He had several other
doms as there were princes.             children by the same marriage; among the
The reign of James was considered peace- rest was Sophia, who was married to Ernest
ful, from his having been engaged in no war of Brunswick, duke of Hanover, from whom
with his neighbors. His prodigality left him is descended the present king of England.
in a state of continual indigence. The court   Charles I., only son of James I., succeedwas always the scene of the intrigues of fa- ed him on the throne of England, A. D. 1625.
vorites, and of luxury, masquerading, balls, In May following, he married Henrietta,
ahd other similar amusements, so that his daughter of Henry IV., king of France and
love of pleasure, his effeminacy, and perhaps Navarre. The high endowments of Charles
a want of courage, inspired him with that I. portended a happier reign than that in
aversion for war, which he was desirous which this unhappy prince terminated his
might be thought the result of his talents, career; but all his misfortunes arose from
prudence, and refined policy. Opinions vary the fanaticism of his subjects.
as to this prince's character; some load him   Puritanism, which was a reformation of
with praise, others with abuse; according to the English Church, and which produced
some, he was an accomplished, wise, and just the melancholy fate of Mary Stuart, made
king, the friend of his people, and compara- rapid strides in Scotland during the minority
ble only to Solomon; while others maintain of her son James, who, when he became
that he was a monsterof impiety and tyranny. king of Great Britain, endeavored to check
The ideas of James respecting religion and the increase of the sectarians, and unite his
government were extraordinary; he thought English and Scotch subjects in one religion.*
his own power should be without bounds, and For this purpose he composed a liturgy or
had adopted the system of an indifference in form of common prayer, with the consent of
doctrine; he was neither a good Protestant the general assembly of Aberdeen, which he
nor a good Catholic, but looked upon amy sent to Scotland to be used in the churches
religion to be good which inculcated implicit there; but his death, which took place in the
obedience to the sovereign. His principal interval, prevented the execution of his deobject was the establishment of his despotic sign.
authority: he had scarcely ascended the   In imitation of his father, Charles I. orthrone of England, when his acts proved dered the English liturgy to be adopted in
the servitude that he intended to establish, his chapel at Edinburgh, and took measures
whereby he lost the confidence and good will to establish it throughout the kingdom *of
of his new subjects; and so tyrannous was Scotland. The bishops and nobles of the
his reign, that his people detested, and for- king's council in Edinburgh ordered it to be.
eigners despised him.                   read in the principal church on the 23d of
James was violent in his persecution of July, and to have it announced to the people
the Catholics; he caused many severe laws on the preceding Sunday. The congregato be enacted against them, and made them tion was immense; the dean of Edinburgh,
feeltheirfullforce. His weakness wasknown who was to read the liturgy, ascended the
to the Puritans, who were, in principle, ene- pulpit, but had scarcely opened the book,
mies to monarchy; he suffered them to mul- when he was interrupted by the cries and
tiply, and this indolence proved fatal to his hisses of the multitude; an old woman called
family. This prince received but a moderate Jane Gaddis got up in the crowd, and threw
education, little suited to his rank; and what the stool upon which she had been sitting
he did know, savored so much of pedantry, at the preacher, crying out, Begone, perthat it was said he was better adapted to be fidious thief! are you going to say mass
employed at Oxford than to govern a king- for us? The bishop of Edinburgh then
dom.                                    mounted the pulpit, to appease the tumult
* Bak. Chron. Reign of William I., p. 21.  * Baker's Chron. of Engl. on the year 1637.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          569
by reminding them  of the sanctity of the bishops and lords who had been opposed to
place; but he too met with similar insults. it punished according to the laws, particAll his remonstrances were in vain; the pop- ularly the archbishop of Canterbury and
ulace became more outrageous, and threw the earl of Strafford. This seditious declaraevery thing they could meet with at the pre- tion was published in London, and in all
late, whose life would have been in danger the principal towns of the kingdom.
but for the provost and town officers., who   The people demanded a parliament. The
succeeded in driving the mob away, after king, having dismissed the peers, gave orthe windows of the church had been broken. ders for the convocation of the bloody parWe have now come to the decline of re- liament, as an English author terms it,
gal authority in England and in Scotland, which met at Westminster on the third of
A. D. 1638. The Scotch openly resisted the November following.  They condemned the
king's mandates, and held meetings, in king to death, and by an extraordinary rewhich, under the mask of religion, they volution overthrew the Inonarchy and the
shook off the yoke and prepared for war. monarch. The poison of Puritanism having
They applied to the neighboring states for crept into this body, particularly the conmassistance, and sent to Sweden and Holland mons, fanaticism was supported, while the
some Scotch generals to take command of king was contradicted in all his acts.  On
their armies. They made themselves mas- the opening of the first session, the king reters of the castles of Edinburgh, Dumbar- presented that the Scotch fanatics, without
ton, and other fortifications.  Arms and an- any legitimate motive, had entered England
munition were taken from the king's arsenal sword in hand, and were devastating the
at Dalkeith, and the command of the Scotch country with impunity.  His Majesty proarmy given to Alexander Lesly, a man of posed to the two houses to concur with him
some experience in war.                 in every thing that would be necessary to
Charles I.,having collected a considerable put down the rebellion and protect his faitharmy, marched towards Berwick, to punish ful subjects.  The proposal was badly rethe insolence of his Scotch subjects, and ceived; it tended only to inflame the facencamped about two miles from that town, tions more and more; instead of calling
A. D. 1639.  General Lesly and his forces those traitors and rebels who were armed
were at a short distance, but being badly against their sovereign, they were treated as
prepared for battle, they sent proposals to dear brethren, and three hundred thousand
the king, which he had the weakness to ac- pounds given for their good services. When
cept of, on condition of laying down their it was debated in the house how this sum
arms. This pretended peace did not extin- was to be paid, Gervasus Holles,* a memguish the rebellion; it broke out anew with ber of the assembly, was driven out by a
increased violence in 1640.  The fanatics majority of voices, for having said " the
entered England, defeated the king's troops better way of paying the rebels was to drive
at Newburn, and seized upon Newcastle.  them out of the country with arms."  So
s "The king," says Lord Castlehaven,* highly favored were the Scotch fanatics by
"alarmed by this success of the rebels, re- those of England, that the friends of the
paired to York,. where he held a council king were despised; while the more this
composed of all the peers of the kingdom; weak prince yielded to their demands, with
a conference was held at Rippon, to treat a hope of bringing them back to their duty,
for a suspension of hostilities, which was the more insolent and imperious they beconcluded, to the disgrace of the English came, as nothing less than a total subvernation, on condition of paying  to the sion of the government could satisfy their
Scotch twenty-five thousand pounds ster- ambition. The king granted at first a priviling a month."                          lege (till then unknown in the kingdom) of
The Scotch fanatics had friends in Eng- holding triennial parliaments, which afterland, even among the lords of the council, wards he declared perpetual; by which
who turned every thing to their advantage.t means he ceased to be any longer their masThey carried their insolence so far as to ter., The Protestant bishops were sent to
publish an edict at the head of the army, the tower, an act which at once lost the monexpressive of their determination not to lay arch twenty-six voices in the parliament,
down their arms till the reformed religion and left the intentions of that body concern(Puritanism) should be established on a firm ing the monarchy no longer doubtful.t
footing in both nations, and the Protestant  The unfortunate Charles was betrayed on
* Memoirs of Lord Castlehaven, pp. 6, 7, et seq.    X Memoirs of Castlehaven, ibid.
f Baker, ibid.                            t Baker's Chronicles of Engl. on 1637.
72




570                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
all sides; every thing portended his misfor- liberating among themselves what should be
tunes and the fall of the monarchy. The done at so alarming a crisis, the king saw,
Scotch fanatics of Ireland, whom his father though too late, that his parliament in Enghad loaded with favors at the expense of land was plotting his destruction. He therethe Catholics, as has been already observed, fore appointed the marquis of Antrim to
conspired with their English and Scotch proceed to Ireland with orders for the earl
brethren to destroy him.  Seeing that the of Ormond, who was then lieutenant-general
abolition of episcopacy and the monarchy of the royal forces there.  Ormond was inwas determined upon by the Puritans both structed to concert with the most faithful of
of England and Scotland, those of Ireland the king's subjects in Ireland, the means
thought that the opportunity would be favora- proper for seizing the chief-justices, who
ble for destroying Catholicity in their own were parliamentarians, and to declare in
country.  A petition, signed by many thou- favor of his majesty against the proceedings
sands, was presented for that object to the of the English parliament.
rebellious parliament of England; its prayer   The earl communicated his commission to
being that the Irish Papists should be obliged a select number of Catholics and Protestants.
either to turn Protestants or quit the king- After some meetings held upon the subject,
dom, and that those who would not sub- the 16th of November, on which day the
mit to that law should be hanged at their Irish parliament was to meet, was fixed upon
own doors.  So certain were the Puritans for the execution of their plan.
in Ireland of carrying their design, that   To avoid a confused recital of facts, we
they boasted in public that at the end of the must follow the order of events, and the
year there would not be a single Catholic in motives which produced them.  The rising
the kingdom.                             of the Irish against the government of the
These Irish fanatics forwarded to Ulster parliamentarians, the attempt to seize the
their wicked petition, to have it signed by castle of Dublin, the hostilities in Ulster by
their partisans in that province; it fell, the forces of Phelim O'Neill, and the horrihowever, into the hands of some Catholics, ble massacre that ensued, will be given in
through a minister named Primrose, who course.
was struck with the horror of their designs.   The ancient Irish, towards whom the earl
The discovery alarmed the Catholics, who of Ormond observed a deep secrecy, were
now saw that they must lay before the gov- greatly offended as soon as his projects were
ernment their complaints of these violent whispered among them.  They thought
proceedings, so contrary to the repeated themselves as well entitled to the confidence
assurances of protection that were held out of the king as any of his subjects, and thereto them.  This, however, was of no avail. -fore such a distinction was unseasonable and
Sir William  Parsons and John Borlase, injurious to the cause.  Sir Phelim O'Neill;
chief-justices, governed the country in the Rory O'Morra, to whom  Ballina, in the
absence of the viceroy.*  These were both county of Kildare, belonged;* Connor Marigid Presbyterians; they had openly de- guire, lord-baron of Inniskillen; MacMahon
dared themselves favorable to the parlia- of Monaghan; Philip O'Reilly, the chief of
ment that opposed the king, and consequently Cavan, and several other noblemen of U1were averse to listen to any complaints ster, formed a resolution to anticipate the
from the Catholics.  The king's affairs in plans of Ormond.  They determined to
England at the time were so embarrassed, effect by their services, not only the free
that he could afford no remedy to the com- exercise of their religion, as the Scotch conplaints of the Catholics, particularly in Ire- spirators had some time before obtained for
land, while the House of Commons carried themselves,but likewise the recovery of their
so high a hand against the Protestant bish- properties whichhadbeenso unjustlywrested
ops and clergy of England.  Such was the from them about thirty years before, by the
state of things in Ireland before the massacre English and Scotch Presbyterians, whose
of 1641. The consternation among the Catho- predilection for the rebellious parliament
lics was great; they saw themselves aban- was manifest to all.
doned to the fury of their enemies, and no   These noblemen appointed the 23d of
remedy-or protection to be expected.
While the Catholics of Ireland were de-  * He was descended from the illustrious tribe of
the O'Morras of Leix, so celebrated for their at.
* The earl of Strafford was viceroy of Ireland till tachment to the interests of religion and their
March 12th, 1641. After he was beheaded in Eng- country, and by their noble efforts in favor of
land, the lord-lieutenancy was given to the earl of both, particularly during the reign of Eli7,abeth.
Leicester.                               This house is not yet extinct.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           571
October, 1641, for the execution of the tive to the viceroy, obtained the whole termeasures they had planned, viz., seizing ritory, with letters patent confirming the
upon the castle of Dublin and the lords- donation. However, experience shows that
justices at the same time, together with some men whose estates have been seized upon
forts in the north.*  Lord Maguire and some and confiscated, will not be restrained, by
others of the nobility were appointed to head either religion or allegiance, from embracing
the attack on Dublin; the plot, however, the means of resisting the power that opwas betrayed the day before which it was to presses them. The following is an example:
be carried into effect, by his own servant, the Trivernates, who were crushed by the
named Connelly. This traitor was amply Romans, sent ambassadors to Rome to deremunerated; and having embraced the Pro- mand peace. On appearing before the senate
testant religion, he earned for his descend- they were asked, what peace a people who
ants, by his perfidy, considerable possessions had so often violated it, could expect from
in Ireland. Maguire and MacMahon were the Romans? The deputies answered with
taken prisoners, sent to England, and hang- firmness, " If the peace be honorable., it will
ed at Tyburn.  Sir Phelim  O'Neill was be lasting; if not, it cannot continue long;
more fortunate inUlster, where he made him- do not think that a people will submit to
self master of Charlemont, and other forts. terms which oppress them longer than they
The earl of Castlehaven gives an account are forced to do so."*
of the grievances of these noblemen, and the   Fourthly —After the meeting of the Engmotives which induced them to rebel.t  He lish parliament, penal laws were enacted
says, first, the English governors in Ireland, against the Catholics of Great Britain, and
so far from treating the Irish as free subjects, a great number of petitions were presented
looked upon them as a conquered people, to have the Catholics of Ireland treated with
and adds, that when a nation is dissatisfied, the same rigor.  It required nothing more
and cruelly treated, the inhabitants will con- to alarm a people so warmly attached to their
sider themselves bound only to obey as long ancient religion.
as they are constrained, but will feel them-   Lastly-The Scotch havingtaken up arms
selves justifiable in attempting to regain against their lawful prince, under pretext of
their freedom, on the first opportunity that having their grievances redressed, succeedmay arise.                              ed not only in obtaining new privileges,
Secondly —These noblemen were indig- (among which was the exercise of a new
nant in consequence of James I. having con- religion,) but also the sum of three hundred
fiscated six counties in Ulster to enrich the thousand pounds, and eight hundred and
Scotch, without in the least indemnifying the fifty pounds a day for several months. Is
old proprietors, several of whom had never it then to be wondered at, says Lord Castlebeen implicated-in Tyrone's rebellion, which haven in conclusion, if the Irish were roused
was the pretended motive for this confisca- by the example of the Scotch? their case
tion.                                   was infinitely more deplorable; they took
Thirdly-The tyranny of the earl of up arms, not against their sovereign, but
Strafford, who was viceroy of Ireland in against his rebel subjects: their endeavors
1635, alarmed the Irish nobility.  In order were not to introduce a new religion into the
to enrich himself and his dependants, this state, but to enjoy in peace that which they
nobleman determined to show the titles of had professed for ages.
many proprietors of Leinster, Munster, and   The conspiracy of Maguire and other Irish
Connaught, who had enjoyed their estates Catholics, afforded great satisfaction to the
for centuries, to be imperfect. One instance lords-justices and council.t  They were too
will suffice to make the reader acquainted deeply interested, and, at the same time, too
with the injustice of his attempts. The politic, to let so favorable a moment escape
O'Brenans, who were proprietors of an ex- them of enjoying the opportunity for confistensive territory called Idough, in the county cation. In order to save appearances, proof Kilkenny, were declared to keep unlawful clamations were issued against the rebels of
possession of that district, on the pretence Ulster, and all the king's faithful subjects
that Henry II. had claims upon it nearly five were invited to unite in suppressing the rebelhundred years before. This was sufficient lion, though in reality they wished it would
to procure the sentence of expulsion against extend to the other provinces, and involve
these supposed retainers of the property of all in a similar crime of violating the laws.
others. Sir Christopher Wandesford, a rela-  In the mean time the parliament met on
M* emoirs of Castlehaven, page 9.        * Livy, book 8.
t Memoirs, page 10, et seq.              t Ireland's Case, page 30, et seq,




572                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
the 16th of November, 1641, in the castle of his government.  In the twelfth chapter of
Dublin.  It was composed of Catholics as his Eikon Basilike, the king expresseshimnwell as Protestants.  The lords-justices, self in the following words on -this subject:*
Parsons and Borlase, having laid before the "It is certainly the opinion of many sensible
members the horrors of the revolution which men, that the extraordinary rigor and unjust
had just broken out, and how necessary it severity made use of by some people in
was to prevent the consequences which it England, caused the discontent which had
threatened, both houses protested unani- long existed in Ireland to degenerate into
mously against the rebellion, and passed an rebellion; when discontent is turned into
act,by which theybound themselves to sacri- despair, and oppression into a fear of extirfice life and fortutne in defence of his majesty's pation, rebellion will naturally succeed, in
interests, and of the tranquillity of his gov- order both to escape present tyranny, and
ernlment.  This, however, did not suit the to counteract those evils which threaten,
designs of the lords-justices, who were fre- through the interested zeal or fanaticism of
quently heard to say, 1" the more rebels the those who think that it is a proof of the truth
more confiscations.*  The parliament was of their religion to admit of none but their
therefore prorogued, to the great disappoint- own."  " There is," continues the prince,
ment of both houses, and of all good men.  " a kind of zeal that looks upon compassionate
This proceeding raised the courage of the moderation as disinterestedness, some premalecontents, who began the tragedy; they ferring the idea of cruelty to that of indifflew to arms, and soon became a formidable ference; and that to kill a bear for his skin
army, capable of laying siege to Drogheda. is better than for any injury he has done;
Major Roper was sent from Dublin to the the confiscation of estates is more advanrelief of that town, at the head of seven or tageous than that charity which enjoins us
eight hundred men; he was defeated at Gil- to save the lives of those to whom they belianstown by the Cavan troops under Philip longed, and reform their errors.  I consider
O'Reilly, chief of the ancient tribe of the those who have excited rebellion in my other
O'Reillys of that district.  The conquerors kingdoms highly criminal in not checking
put the neighboring country under a weekly the awful effusion of blood in Ireland."
contribution for their support, as the Scotch   Charles I. himself exculpates the Irish
had done the preceding year in the north of Catholics; he ascribes their revolt to the
England; but this act, which was thought mad zeal of some who wished to restrain
pardonable in the Scotch in England, was them in the exercise of their religion, and
considered criminal in the Irish.        to the cupidity of others who forced them to
The refusal of arms by the government to rebel in order to confiscate their properties.
the Catholics, shows that they wished to feed The king was so fully persuaded of this, that
the flames of rebellion in the north, in hopes he sent orders to the lords-justices of Ireland
that it would extend itself to the whole king- to publish, in his name, a general amnesty
dom.  Notwithstanding that many made to all who would submit within forty days.
offers of their services to the king, and pro- This order filled with dismay these leeches,
posed to enter into security for their alle- who hoped to gain extensive estates by the
giance, they were treated more like rebels revolt of the Irish.  In obedience to the
than as subjects.  The violence exercised king, they, however, published his orders;
against them was so great, that -the earl of but with certain restrictions; thus, instead
Castlehaven, who ventured to speak against of forty days, they allowed the Irish but ten
their oppressors,- was arrested, and kept to make their submission, and', instead of
several months in prison, where he would extending the monarch's pardon to all ranks
probably have spent the remainder of his and conditions, they excluded, by their own
life, or perhaps have lost his head, if he had authority, all those who were landed pronot had the good fortune to escape from the prietors. T'rhe impossibility of repairing
hands of his keepers.                    from the distant parts of the kingdom to
The king, who had been kept in profound Dublin within ten days, and the unjust exignorance of affairs in Ireland, discovered, clusion, contrary to the king's commands, of
when too late, the cause of the disturbances.t landed proprietors, proved the wicked intenHe saw that they emanated from the same tions of the Irishrulers; who,however,finding
source as the revolt of the republican party themselves supported by the fanatics in Engin England and Scotland, who had formed land and Scotland, permitted nothing to imnthe project of destroying both himself and pede their designs.  In order to prevent for
* Memoirs of Castlehaven, page 31, et seq.  * Memoirs of Castlehaven, pp. 20, 21. Ireland's
i Ireland's Case, page 32, et seq.     Case, pages 32, 33.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             573
the future, the king's interference with the that they could have been unacquainted with
affairs of Ireland, they determined to punish any outrage which had occurred.
severely whomsoever would dare to give him    After the discovery of the plot to surprise
any account of them.  Sir John Read, who the castle of Dublin, the lords-justices, findundertook to promise the Catholics that he ing that few except those who had been dewould make their grievances known to his prived of their properties in Ulster in the
majesty, was taken by the earl of Ormond preceding reign were concerned in the reand sent to Dublin; on being questioned by volt, wished to implicate all those of the nathe justices, he avowed every thing, and tives who still possessed good estates. For
was sent to prison, where he was put to the this object they dispatched troops to different
rack by order of these tyrants.  They per- quarters, while others hovered around the
suaded themselves that they would be able capital who coincided but too closely with
to force him, by tortures, to accuse even the the criminal views of their chiefs.  In the
king and queen of having encouraged the beginning of November, 1641, they massaIrish to rebel.* About the same time Patrick cred about eighty persons, without distincBarnwall, lord of Killbrew, aged 66 years, tion of either age or sex, in the villages of
experienced similar treatment; his crime Santry, Clontarf, and Bullock, near Dublin.
being that of appearing on the faith of the The garrison of Carrickfergus, shortly before
amnesty which had been proposed to all this, had massacred in one night every inwho would submit within ten days after the habitant of a peninsula in the county of Anproclamation-not having had any appre-trim called Oilcan Magee, amounting to two
hension that landed proprietors could be or three thousand men, women, and children.*
looked upon as criminal on account of their This was the signal for the destruction of an
estates, or should be excluded from the king's unoffending population, who had-not taken up
amnesty.                                  arms against the government, and whose only
The Irish who had taken up arms in IU1- crime was, that they possessed an extensive
ster, confined themselves to pillaging and territory.  Similar cruelties were practised
despoiling the Protestants who had not ap- by Lord Broghill, in the counties of Cork and
peared in arlms against them, without de- Waterford and the neighboring districts; by
priving any man of life.  The testimony of Coote in the countyof Wicklow; by Captains
Sir John Temple on this subject is conclu- Peasly, Brown, and others, in the county of
sive. "The Irish in Ulster," says he, ", had Tipperary; and, in general, by all the Prokilled but few Englishmen in the beginning, testant garrisons of the kingdom.
and during the first days of the rebellion.   It was not till they heard of the cruelties
They contented themselves with forcing inflicted on their countrymen, that the Irish
their houses, taking their properties, and who had taken up arms in the north began
seizing upon their flocks."t  "The lords- to revenge the death of their fellow-citizens.
justices and council of Ireland wrote to the Though the chiefs were not so barbarous as
viceroy, who was then in England, on the to wreak their vengeance on the innocent,
subject: this letter is dated October 25th, they could not restrain their men from making
1641.  In this letter, which is quoted by Sir reprisals.  These were resolved to treat the
John Temple in his history of the rebellion, Protestants in the north in the same manner
these governors gave the viceroy an account as the Catholics of the other provinces had
of the rebellion of the Irish, which they had been treated.  It was thus that each party,
received from some persons of rank in U1- in revenge for the death of friends and
ster.  They simply mention "that in the neighbors, committed many acts of cruelty
commencement of the revolt the Irish had in cold blood.
pillaged and burned the houses of the Eng-   It would be desirable for the honor of the
lish."  They say nothing of the English two parties, that these atrocities were buried
being killed, but that acts of pillaging and in oblivion. Though,however, both are withburning had been committed. Lord Blaney, out an excuse, still they who began the trageSir Arthur Terringham, and other English dy are most criminal. The barbarous orders
chiefs, were then in Ulster, and took care to of the Protestant commanders to their solinform  the lords-justices of what they wit- diery, when sending them in pursuit of the
nessed; it is therefore very improbable that Catholics, are well known; they commanded
they would have omitted so dreadful a circumstance as the pretended massacre of  * Ireland's Case, page 37, et seq. Account of
several Protestants; nor is it more probable the troubles in Ireland, page 3. Collection of the
massacres committed on the Irish, printed in Lon* Memoirs of Castlehaven, pages 38, 39.    don, 1662, pp. 1, 8, 9, 15, 19, 23, &c. Memoirs of
ti History of the Rebellion           Castlehaven, p. 37.




574                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
them to spare neither sex nor age, not even would be our advantage over Hume! we
a child, were it but a hand high; which was would discover sufficient matter to confute
the expression of Coote when sending his him in the conduct of his country towards
troops to scour the country.*            Charles I.  He that lives in a glass house,
The conduct of the Catholic leaders was ought not to throw stones at his neighbor;
very different; they saw with horror the cru- we may be permitted to mention, with reelties that werepractised against Protestants, gard to the remark of Hume, that the Irish
and those who committed them were disown- never either sold, or put their king to death.
ed, and many put to death for disobedience   Although we discover, from history, exof orders.t  The truth of this statement is amples of bloody scenes in other nations,
supported by the authority of the earl of Cas- the massacre of Ireland was one of the most
tlehaven, who witnessed what was passing cruel and barbarous that has been recorded
in Ireland at that time. It is also confirmed among Christians, both on account of its
by the remonstrances presented, in the name duration, and the fury of those who were
of the nation, on the 17th March, 1642, by the authors of it. If it be true, as every one
Viscount Gormanstown and Sir Robert Tal- believes, that both sides were culpable, it is
bot; and also by the offers of the Catholic equally true that the aggressors were more
agents in London, after the restoration of criminal than those who resorted to retaliaCharles II.; who proposed to have the tion by revenging the death of their countrymurders committed on both sides investi- men.  Hume ought to have made some disgated, and the authors punished according tinction between the parties. Different opinto the laws.  The uneasiness which this ions, too, ought to be quoted on a contested
proposal caused to the Protestants, proves subject, in order that the impartial reader
how much they had to reproach themselves may decide; but the bad faith of this author
with on that head. They were not easy until has made him pass over in silence respectathey found that none but a few regicides, ble writers, by whom his positions would
and the Catholics of Ireland, were to be ex- have been refuted.
cluded from the amnesty.                    We will now give the authentic testimony
It cannot be calculated with precision how of Lord Castlehaven. "In the mean time,"
many perished during the twelve years that says this nobleman, "the justices and counthis cruel scene lasted, with more or less vio- cil of Ireland sent detachments from Dublin,
lence.  Protestant authors ascribe all the and other garrisons in Ireland, with orders to
infamous conduct to the Catholics.  The kill and destroy the rebels: the officers and
absurd and exaggerated catalogue given by soldiers, without distinguishing rebels from
Sir John Temple, and others, of three hun- subjects, killed indiscriminately, in many
dred thousand Protestants having been mas- places, men, women, and children; which
sacred in a single province, is both absurd exasperated the rebels, and induced them to
and impossible.                          commit, in turn, the same cruelties upon the
Hume draws a horrifying, but incorrect English."  It is evident, from the assertion
picture of the Irish massacre in 1641,t in of Lord Castlehaven, that the English were
which the Irish alone are accused. All that the aggressors, by order of their commanders,
he advances is a mere repetition of what had and that the crime of the Irish was, their
been previously extracted by the republican having followed so barbarous an example.
and fanatic writers of his own country from    "I cannot believe,"- says Castlehaven,
Sir John Temple, whose statements had "that there were at that time in Ireland,
been already refuted.                    without the walls of the towns, a tenth part
This part of Hume's history is carefully of the British subjects whom Temple and
written: his style is striking, his descrip- others mention to have been killed by the
tions are lively, and it is obvious that he Irish.  It is evident that he repeats two or
strives to convince; but truth will always three times, in different places, the names
triumph by its own eloquence. The energy of persons, and the same circumstances, and
with which he condemns the Irish, shows that he puts down some hundreds as having
the spirit by which he is actuated: accord- been massacred at that time, who lived for
ing to him, none of them were massacred; several years afterwards. It is therefore right
the English alone were the sufferers. Were that, notwithstanding the unfounded calumwe to resort to recrimination, how great nies which some have circulated against the
Irish, I should do justice to their nation, and
C  Memoirs of Castlehaven, p. 29. Ireland's declare that it was never the intention of
Case, p. 53.
t Memoirs of Cast. ibid. Ireland's Case, ibid.  their chiefs to authorize the cruelties which
t Reign of Charles I.                  were practised among them."




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            575
The author of the " Catholic Vindication" given to their soldiery, who were let loose
is in accordance with Lord Castlehaven on to make their bloody hunts among the Irish
this head.  This writer, who is an English- Catholics.
man of discernment, has done every thing   We cannot but feel surprised at the air
to clear up the question; after indefatigable of confidence with which Hume speaks of
researches he concludes by saying, " all the the massacre the Irish committed upon the
hundreds of thousands who were represented English, without provocation, without into have been massacred in the north, did not jury, or cause given by the latter; but is
exceed three thousand."                  Hume's authority alone sufficientto convince
Sir William  Petty, who was an English the reader?
Protestant, and secretary to the usurper,   The example of the Scotch in a great deCromwell, who appointed him surveyor-gen- gree caused the Irish Catholics to rebel;
eral of Ireland, assures us, that after the most who were already dissatisfied at seeingthemminute research, the number killed on both selves on the eve of either renouncing their
sides, either in battle or by massacre, during religion or quitting their country.  A petithe civil war, did not exceed thirty-six thou- tion to this effect, signed by many thousand
sand.  After these respectable authorities, Protestants of Ireland, and presented to the
we look to the justice of the reader, who will English parliament, justified their fears. It
balance the proofs, and not submit to the had been already boasted of in public, that
prejudices of Hume, who is palpably guilty before the end of the year there would not
of injustice and partiality.             be a single papist in Ireland, this produced
It is a matter of surprise that a writer of its effects in England. The king having, by
Hume's merit would descend to be the echo a forced condescension, surrendered his Irish
of English tumult and clamor, which have affairs to the parliament, that tribunal made
been so often refuted; his character ought an ordinance on the 8th December, which
to rank above that of scribblers, such as Lord promised the entire extirpation of the Irish;
Castlehaven speaks of, and whom he re- it was decreed that popery would not be
proaches with having borrowed their ac- any longer suffered in either Ireland, or any
counts from Temple.                      other of his majesty's states.  This parliaThe stranger who cannot be always on his ment likewise granted, in February followguard against the false insinuations of an ing, to English adventurers, in consideraaccredited author, may be easily imposed tion of a certain sum of money, two millions
upon.  He has not the opportunity to dis- five hundred thousand acres of profitable
cover the truth of what is set forth by either lands in Ireland, without including bogs,
the prejudiced or the partial historian, and woods, or barren mountains, and this at a
he only who is acquainted with the history of time when the number of landed proprietors
the times, can discover the imposture.   implicated in the. insurrection was exceedFromthe mannerin which Hume describes ingly small. ~ To satisfy the engagements
the rimassacre of 1641, it appears that he was entered into with the English, as above,
determined to disparage the Irish at the en- many honest men, who never conspired
tire expense of truth, which should be ever against the king or state, were to be disposdear to the historian.                   sessed, and the money raised by such means
"The astonished English," he says, " liv- was subsequently applied to make that war
ing in profound peace and security, were, against the king which at last brought him
Iwithout opposition or provocation, massacred to the block.
by their nearest neighbors,  with whom    The Irish, particularly those of Ulster,
they had lived for a long time in habits of had not forgotten the unjust confiscation of six
mutual friendship and kind offices. Neither whole counties, within the forty years imtortures, such as refined cruelty could de- mediately preceding; they looked upon the
vise, nor the agonies of the soul, or of de- new possessors as unjust possessors of the
spair, were sufficient to assuage the people's property of others, and if the means to drive
vengeance,which wasexcitedwithout cause, out these intruders happened to arise, might
nor allay their cruelties, which were inflict- they not have said what Simon the high
ed without provocation."                 priest said to the ambassador of Antiochus?
Itis not surprising that in so horrible a com- "We have not usurped the lands of others,
motion some innocent people lost their lives we are not keeping properties which belong
on both sides; nothing can be more innocent to others; we look only to the inheritance
than a child of a hand high.  Still, there of our fathers, which has been for some
were no exceptions in the barbarous orders time inthe unjust possession of our enemies."
which Coote and other English officers had The ancient Irish proprietors saw with pain




576                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
their inheritance, which had.been for many massacred by detachments sent from the:uLenturies in the possessionoftheir ancestors, English garrisons, whose orders were to
become the property of a troop of adven- spare neither sex nor age, must have been
turers, taken for the most part from the infinitely the more numerous.  The Cathodregs of the people, whose prosperity and lies who were put to death by the Cromwelriches, no doubt, excited the jealousy of lians on account of the massacre were not
those at whose expense their fortunes had very many; consequently, the number of
been raised. These ancient proprietors could Protestants who were killed in the beginsay with Jeremiah, " Our inheritance and ning could not have been very great.  So
our houses have fallen into the hands of soon as the war had ended, courts of justice
strangers."  The grief of these old proprie- were held to convict the murderers of the
tors was changed into revenge; they seized Protestants.  The whole who were convictupon the houses, the flocks, and the furrni- ed amounted to one hundred and forty Cathoture of the new comers, whose fine and coin- lies, who were chiefly of the lower classes;
modious habitations, erected on the lands of though their enemies being the judges, witthe Irish, were destroyed either by force or nesses were suborned to prosecute, and severby the flames.                           al among those found guilty declared themSuch were the hostilities committed against selves innocent of the crimes for which they
the English by the Irish in 1641.  There were sentenced to suffer.  If similar investiwas not a question about massacre until the gations had taken place against the ProtestEnglish began to set the example, which ants, and witnesses from among the Cathothen indeed was too closely copied by the lics admitted against them. nine parliamenCatholics of Ulster, and the contagion soon tarians out of every ten would have been inspread itself throughout the kingdom.  It evitably convicted (before a fair tribunal) of
was no longer a dispute between two neigh- murder upon the Catholics.
bors; it was a national hatred and anti-   The lords of the English pale took no part
pathy between two people, viz., the Irish as yet in the disturbances: they were genCatholics and English Protestants; this ha- erally Catholics, who, viewing the dangers
I tred was founded upon motives of religion which threatened their religion and king,
and self-interest —motives which often stifle were driven to the sad alternative of rising
every sentiment of humane and social sym- in their own defence; circulars were sent to
pathy even between the nearest relatives the Catholic chiefs of the other provinces,
and friends.                             inviting them to assemble at Kilkenny in the
Such was the origin of that unhappy war beginning of May, 1642.* It was there that
that cost so much blood-such were the mo- the celebrated association, called the Catholic
tives of the Irish insurrection in 1641, which Confederates of Ireland, was formed.  From
was accompanied with such horrible conse- the state of affairs, it was clearly proved that
quences.  In support of the truth of what the remedymust be as violent as the disease;
has been set forth, writers whose testimony but to avoid precipitancy at so important a
must be conclusive from their having been crisis, and to act in accordance with religion
witnesses of what they stated, are intro- and justice, the bishops and Catholic clergy
duced.  Still they are not to Mr. Hume's who were present were consulted'upon the
taste; proofs have no influence on him; he expediency of the war which they were about
mutilates and decides; and according to to undertake: the following was the opinion
him, the Irish Catholics were the sole of the ecclesiastics: "Inasmuchas the war
actors in this tragedy.                  which is declared bythe Catholics of Ireland
To enter more deeply into its causes and against Sectarians, and particularly against
effects would exceed the limits of our his- the Puritans, is intended for the defence of
tory; it is, however, manifest, that the num- the Catholic religion, the preservation of our
ber of Catholics murdered during this war sovereign, King Charles, his just rights and
was six times greater than that of the Pro- prerogatives, and her majesty the queen, and
testants.  They, being scattered through- the safety of the royal family, so basely
out the country parts, were of course ex- persecuted by the fanatics, and also for the
posed to the rage of a licentious soldiery, defence of our lives and fortunes, and the
while the Protestants, who lived principally just liberties of our country, against usurpers
within walled towns and castles, were se- and oppressors, particularly the Puritans —
cured from the attacks of the insurgents. we consider and pronounce this war to be
After the rebellion had broken out too, a just and lawful: if, however, any one engage
great many Scotch and English returned to
their own countries; so that those who were    * Vindiciarum Cath. Hiber. lib. 1, cap. 1.




CHRTSTIAN IRELAND.                           577
in it through avarice, hatred, revenge, or   When the general assembly of October
othenr evil views, or from  wicked advice, had broken up, the council deputed ambasthey are guilty of mortal sin, and merit the sadors to the courts of France, Spain, and
censures of the church, if, after being ad- Rome.*  M. Rochford was sent to France,
monished, they continue to be guided by the and was succeeded by Geoffrey Barron;
above motives."                         the reverend father James Talbot, of the
The church having declared the war to be order of St. Augustin, was sent to Spain;
lawful., the assembly appointed a council, and Sir Richard Belling to the pope: he
I called the supreme council of Kilkenny, was succeeded by Nicholas French, bishop
who were invested with authority to govern of Ferns, and the latter by Sir Nicholas
l! the state, and whom all the representatives Plunket.  These princes received the amof the nation bound themselves by oath to bassadors of the confederates favorably, and
obey   Orders were then given for the levy- sent representatives to Ireland as proof of
ing of troops, and generals were appointed their satisfaction.  M. de la Monarie was
for the four provinces, viz., Thomas Pres- sent by Louis XIII., king of France; he
ton of the house of Gormanstown for Lein- was succeeded by M. Dumoulin, and the
ster, Colonel James Barry of Barrymore for' latter by M. Taloon.  Philip IV. of Spain
Munster, Colonel John Burke of the house appointed M'Fuysott, a native of Burgundy;
of Clanriccard for Connaught, and Owen O'Sullevan Bearre, earl of Beerhaven, was
Roe (Eugenius Rufus) O'Neill for Ulster; deputed after him, and lastly Dom Diego de
while in order to establish the confederacy Los Torres. The envoy of Pope Urban
on a firm basis, laws were enacted, which VIII. was Starampo, an ecclesiastic; he
were admitted, even by their enemies, to be continued in Ireland till the arrival of Rijust and equitable.                     nuccini, archbishop and prince of Fermo,
The second meeting of the confederates who was sent as legate by Innocent X. in
was appointed for the 24th of October fol- 1645.
lowing; it resembled a parliament without  In the mean time the confederate army
distinction of houses, in which every act of commenced their operations.t  They were
the council since May was approved of. It in the beginning badly provided with arms,
was settled that the council should consist artillery, &c., necessary for carrying on the
of twenty-four members, six from each pro- war; and for some time their success was
vince, and that after each general assembly doubtful; however, they made themselves
1 the council should be confirmed or changed masters of several towns that had been in
I according to the will of members.  It was the hands of the Protestants, and in less
also decreed that each province should have than two years the latter were driven out of
a council, to meet according to the exigency the interior of the country, and forced to take
of affairs. In order to sanction the commis- refuge in the seaports.
sions and other public acts which emanated   The king saw that the Irish Catholics
from this tribunal, a seal was made, called had no design to withdraw their allegiance
the seal of the council.                from him, and that they were forced by his
The Catholic confederates ofIreland hav- own and their enemies to resort to arms.
ing thus arranged their form of government, Iec therefore immediately recalled the lordswished by a solemn act to secure the fidelity justices, and appointed the earl of Ormond
of those who composed the assembly, and at viceroy.S
I the same time to justify their-proceedings,   The Catholic confederates expected a
I b proving to the world that their intentions great deal from this change of government.'were upright, and far from being a rebellion They consented to lay down their arms, and
against their lawful prince. An oath, in the agreed among them to advance thirty thouollowing terms, was for this purpose sub- sand eight hundred pounds to the viceroy for
scribed to by each member of the confed- the purpose of sending the Protestant army
eracy:                                  to England.~  The viceroy, a more zealous
" I swear in the presence of God, and of Protestant than an able minister, refused the
his angels and saints, to defend the liberty services of the Catholics, and would scarcely
of the Roman Catholic and Apostolical reli- permit two thousand of them to proceed to'gion, the person, heirs, and rights of his Scotland to reinforce the royal party under
majesty King Charles, and the freedom and the marquis of Montrose, where they had a
privileges of this kingdom, against all usurpers, at the peril of my life and fortune."*    indiciar     ppC 59, 60i
t Vindiciar. Cath. Hib. ibid.
t Ireland's Case, ibid. p. 48, et seq.
* Vindiciar. Cath. iib. c. 1, p. 6.  ~ Vindiciarum Cath. ibid. cap. 2.
73




578                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
share in the heroic actions which that great and the properties of the inhabitants; from
man performed in the services of his king.* which he was called Murrough an toithaine
The supreme council deputed Lord Mus- -that is, Murrough the incendiary, by which
kerry  (afterwards earl of Clancarty,) Sir name he is still known in that province,
Nicholas Plunket, and a few others, to Eng- where his memory is execrated.
land, to lay their grievances before the king,   The successes of Inchiquin in Munster
and solicit his majesty in behalf of their re- alarmed the supreme council;: they disligion and liberty. The king received these patched the earl of Castlehaven to take the
deputies with distinction, and sent them back command of that province, instead of Barry,
to the viceroy, recommending to him to se- who was unsuccessful and unfit to serve,
cure a peace with the Catholic confederates. from his great age.  In order to open the
His majesty afterwards wrote to him to put campaign early, Castlehaven collected his
an end to the war in Ireland, to offer to his forces at Clonmel, amounting to five thouIrish subjects the free exercise of their re- sand infantry and one thousand cavalry, with
ligion, to annul Poyning's Act, and to grant some pieces of cannon.  Having set out on
a general amnesty for the past; in fine, to his march, he seized upon several towns
make peace on any terms.  Charles judged without reaching Inchiquin.  The principal
well, that this would enable his Irish subjects plhces he took were Caperquin, Michaelsto send him assistance against his rebellious town, Mallow, Donerail, Liscarrol, Milltown,
parliament. The viceroy, however, neglect- Rostellan, Castle-Lyons; and after reducing
ed all his orders, and would make no peace the country as far as Youghal, he returned
with the Irish, till the king's affairs became to Kilkenny in November.
irremediable.t                              After the battle of Naseby, and other batThe Catholic confederates carried on the ties which the king had lost by means of the
war with vigor against the Irish parliamen- English rebels, healwas forced, in May, 1646,
tarians.t Murrough O'Brien, baron ofInchi- to throw himself upon the mercy of the
quin, was among the utumber of their ene- Scotch rebels who were then at Newark.- It
mies. This nobleman had been in the king's was contrary to the interest of these fanatics
service, and sought the presidency of Mun- that the king should make peace with the
ster; but the king having given preference Irish Catholics,who might assist him against
to the earl of Portland, he deserted the royal his enemies; and taking advantage of his
standard, and the towns under his command, misfortunes, they forced him to write to Orand declared for the parliamentarians, from mond on the 11th of June, recalling all the
whom he received the command of the prov- authority he had previously given him for
ince of Munster, with the title of president. making peace with the Irish.
It may be observed, that the houses of Thu-   The council of the Catholic confederacy,
omond and Inchiquin had imbibed, with their alarmed at the postponement of the peace
English titles, all the malignity of the Eng- which Ormond was commanded to make,
lish against the Irish.  Under the auspices sent to demand a final answer.  Ormond
of a rebellious parliament, Inchiquin fought replied that he had received counter-orders
against his countrymen more like a robber from his nmajesty; however, he changed his
than the general of an army; he destroyed decision soon afterwards, being determined
every thing with fire and sword in his march to deny what he found contrary to his interthrough Munster. The holy city of Cashel, est, under a pretext that his power had been
where the apostle of Ireland baptized the annulled before the exchange of the articles.l
first Christian king of the province, did not   Peace was at length proclaimed by Orescape his fury; in vain the terrified inhab- mond; but the pope's legate, who had justt
itants sought safety in the cathedral church, arrived, having called a meeting of the prethe sanctity of which was no security against lates at Waterford, the latter finding that his
the tyrant.  Inchiquin having given orders majesty refused to acknowledge the commisfor an assault, commanded his soldiers to sion of the earl of Glamorgan, as also that
give no quarter, so that, between the carnage nobleman's negotiations with them, on which
in and outside of the church, not one escaped. alone they could rely respecting the affairs.
Twenty clergymen, with a vast multitude of of the church, and perceiving that this pre —
people, perished on tlhis occasion. He took tended peace contained nothing to secure
pleasure in burning whole villages, houses, freedom of conscience, nor the maintenance
of the Catholic religion, they protested openHist. of the Life of Montrose,   d. edit. in ly against it, and pronounced sentence of ex1652, c. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.
t Ireland's Case, p. 50, et seq.
$ Memoirs of Castlehaven, pp. 96,. 98, 114.  X Memoirs of Castlehaven, p. 100, et seq.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           579
communication against all who would agree reducing the whole province, but he refused
to it, as guilty of voluntary perjury; since, to cross the river Bann, in which refusal he
in the beginning of the association, they had followed the directions of his masters. Having
sworn to accede to no terms without the ap- condemned sixty men, eighteen women, and
proval of all, in a general assembly, which two priests to death in Newry, he returned
was held every year for the regulation of to Carrickfergus, and on his march laid waste
public affairs.*                        the lands of Lord Iveagh and Maccartan. He
The opposition of the clergy operated carried away four thousand head of cattle,
powerfully among the officers of the army and other property: the English forces exand nobility throughout the kingdom, and pected a share in the booty, but the Scotch
the peace was universally condemned. The seized on all during the night; and the Engcouncilhaving examinedthe articles, rejected lish seeing themselves deceived, mutinied,
it, and put the commissioners by whom it had and would no longer join the Scotch in their
been negotiated into prison.  Sir Edward robberies.
Butler, lord of Graig-Duiske, was created a   The Scotch general, after refreshing his
peer of Ireland by the king about this time, troops at Carrickfergus, resumed hostilities
under the title of lord-viscount of Galmoy. in Antrim: he drove off with him five thouThe English parliamentarians, and their sand head of cattle, burned Glenarme, and
brethren the Scotch fanatics,were as strongly devastated the estates of the marquis of Anopposed to any accommodation withthe Irish, trim. Instead of going to fight an enemy,
as the Nuncioaand the Catholics had been, he enriched his country (Scotland) with the
but their motives differed.  The refusal of fruits of his plunder.  About the same time,
the latter to make peace, arose much less Sir Phelim O'Neill, together with Alexander
from a spirit of revolt than to secure the free Mac-Donnell, surnamed Colkittagh, i. e.
exercise of their religion: while the former left-handed, collected some troops; they
hoped to build their greatness upon the ruin were attacked the 19th of June, by Sir Wilof others.  They were dissatisfied with the liam and Sir Robert Steward.  The action
conclusion of a war, the continuance of which was very brisk, but the former were obliged
would be productive of numerous confisca- to withdraw after losing five hundred men.
tions: while a peace would be contrary to  In the mean time the Scotch army in Engtheir plans, since it would raise assistance for land* treated with the parliament to sell them
the king against themselves.  With these the person of their king. He was accordingly
views,the English parliament took ten thou- given up to his enemies for the sum of two
sand Scotch into their pay, A. D. 1642, and hundred thousand pounds sterling,t on the
sent them, to the north of Ireland under Ma- 8th of February, 1646; and in a few months
jor-General Robert Monroe, rather to watch afterwards, the earl of Ormond surrendered
the movements of the Irish, than to reduce to the commissioners from the parliament,
them completely.t  This reinforcement was the castle of Dublin, with the sword and
joined by five or six thousand Scotch who other appendages of royalty.  He, and the
were already settled in the country, under Sir others who guarded it for the king, thought
Robert Steward, and some English troops the castle was no longer tenable.  This act
under Sirs Awdly Mervin, Theophilus Jones, procured for the earl a chain and medal of
and others, who had refused to agree to the gold, besides the sum of thirteen thousand
truce which had been made with the Irish. pounds sterling, as the earl of Anglesey, one
Their army amounted to about twelve thou- of the commissioners, acknowledged.
sand men. According to the accounts of the   Owen O'Neill was commander of the
lords-justices, they consisted of nineteen Irish troops in Ulster.  He agreed with the'
thousand. The English officers were subor- pope's nunciot regarding the peace of 1646,
dinate to Monroe, who had the chief com- and the motives which influenced that minmand, according to the agreement with the ister to oppose it. In the spring of this
English parliament.                     year he travelled to Kilkenny to consult
Monroe landed in Ireland in May.  He with that prelate on the state of religion and
marched to Carrickfergus, and seized on the the country; and having received the succastles of Newry and Carlingford, where he cors he expected, he returned to Ulster.
placed garrisons. The English commanders   This general collected his forces in the
represented to him that the opportunity was
favorable for continuing the conquest, and   * Ireland's Case, pages 54, 55.
t Commentaries onl the English rebellion, by R.
* Ireland's Case, pp. 52, 53. Memoirs of Castle- Manlius, part 1, lib. 2, p. 175, published in London,
haven, pp. 56, 57, 58, 118, 119.        A. D. 1686.
t Memoirs of Castlehaven, p. 81         i Life of Ormond, vol. 1, lib. 4, p. 575.




580                         HISTORY OF IRELAND.
month of May, amounting to about five ders in this were most valiantly executed.
thousand infantry, and five hundred cavalry, The English regiment commanded by Lord
with which body he marched towards Ar- Blaney, after a vigorous defence, was cut to
magh. Monroe led his army, consisting of pieces; and the Scotch cavalry being broken
six thousand infantry and eight hundred by those of O'Neill, the rout became genehorse, Scotch and English, and encamped ral. There was but the one regiment of Sir
within ten miles of the same place..Being James Montgomery that retired in a body,
informed that O'Neill was on his march, the remainder of the army that escaped bewith a design of taking the city by surprise, ingthrown into the greatest disorder. Colonel
the Scotch general decamped on the 4th of Conway, who had two horses killed under
June, and advancing towards the city, ar- him, accompanied by Captain Burke' and
rived at midnight with a view of attacking aboutforty horsemen,reached Newry. Lord
O'Neill. Being informed that O'Neill was Montgomery was taken prisoner, besides
encamped at Benburb, Monroe marched the twenty-one officers, and about a hundred
next day to attack him; but though superior and fifty soldiers; three thousand two hunin numbers to O'Neill, he sent orders to his dred! and forty-three of the enemy fell on
brother, George Monroe, who commanded a the field of battle, and several were killed
force at Coleraine, to come and join him at the day following in the pursuit. The loss
Glaslough, near Benburb.  O'Neill having on the side of O'Neill amounted to about
information of the time he was to pass, im- seventy men killed and two hundred woundmediately dispatched Colonels Bernard Mac- ed. The whole of the Scotch artillery, arms,
Mahon, and Patrick Mac-Nenay, with their tents, baggage, and thirty-two stand of coregiments, to meet him and prevent a junc- lors were taken. The booty was immense;
tion with General Monroe. These two offi- it consisted of fifteen hundred draught horses,
cers performed their trust to the satisfaction and provisions of every kind for two months.
of their commander. They cut the enemy, General Monroe saved himself with difficommanded by young Monroe, to pieces, culty on horseback, and fled without either
and returned next day to Benburb, where hat or wig. After this defeat he burned
they shared with O'Neill the honor of the Dundrum, and abandoned Portdown, Clare,
victory they had gained over the Scotch and Galway, Downpatrick, and other strong
English. O'Neill was favorably posted be- places. The consternation of his army was
tween two hills, his rear being enclosed so great, that numbers fled to Scotland for
by a wood, and his right extending itself safety.
along the Blackwater. Being apprized that  The victory gained by General O'Neill
Monroe was at Glaslough, O'Neill moved seemed to portend the complete conquest of
his cavalry to a height, from whence he Ulster. His respect, however, for the orviewed the Scotch army on the opposite ders of the nuncio, lost to him the fruits of
banks of the river. In the mean while, the his success. His excellency wrote to him in
Scotch crossed the river where it was ford- June, complimenting him on the victory he
able, near Kinard, and were marching to had gained, and beseeching him to march
Benburb.  O'Neill sent Colonel Richard into Leinster, to the support of those who
O'Ferral to occupy a defile through which opposed the peace. The messenger found
the enemy had to pass, but their cannon pre- O'Neill at Tenrage, ready to fall upon the
vented him from keeping it, and he was Scotch. However, in obedience to the nunforced to retire, which he did in good order. cio's request, he assembled a council of war,
The two armies began to prepare for when it was decided to march directly to
battle; O'Neill kept the enemy employed Kilkenny, in conformity to which decision
for a while with light skirmishing and mus- he issued his commands. His army was
ketry, while waiting for the sun, which an- considerably increased upon their march.
noyed his troops during the day, to go The general that acted with Preston, who
down. He was expecting also the arrival commanded the Leinster troops, supported
of a detachment, which he sent the prece- during some time the cause of the nuncio
ding evening against some of the enemy at against his opponents. Preston, however,
Coleraine. When Monroe saw this force though attached to the cause of religion, did
arrive, he thought that they were coming not cease to be a faithful servant to the king,
to join himself from the same place, but notwithstanding that he lost the battle of
found his mistake on seeing them enter Dungan Hill, near Linches-knock, in the
O'Neill's camp. O'Neill now commanded county of Meath, against Jones, a general
his men to advance within reach of the pike, of the parliamentarians; he was created by
and to begin with close fighting. His or- Charles II. a peer of Ireland, under the title
of Viscount Tara.,.-..




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           581
The confederate Catholics being inform- rians.*  They reduced every place in the
ed that the king was kept a close prisoner kingdom to the king's power, except Dublin
in England, while his enemies were seek- and Londonderry.  Ormond intending to
ing his destruction, and that the prince of besiege the capital, marched his army in
Wales fled to France, whither the queen June to Finglass, a village within two miles
had withdrawn some time before, sent a of Dublin.  The garrison, commanded by
deputation to that princess and her son. Colonel Michael Jones, was reinforced by
The marquis of Antrim and Lord Muskerry some troops from England.  These troops
were commissioned to make known to the consisted of a regiment of horse and two
queen and the prince of Wales how eager of infantry, under the command of Colonels
they were to conclude a peace, and to assist Venables and Hunks, well provided with
in rescuing his majestyfrom imprisonment. provisions and warlike, stores. The city
Upon this the marquis of Ormond, who was being difficult of attack from the side of
then in France, was sent back to Ireland, Finglass, Ormond crossed the river above
about the close of September, 1648, and a the bridge with his army, and encamped at
peace was concluded, January 17th, which Rathmines.  By the advice of his council
was called the peace of'48.  This was im- he seized upon an old castle at Baggetrath,
mediately agreed to by the confederate which commanded the entrance to the harCatholics, with the exception of a few who bor. This gave him a twofold advantage,
were headed by Owen O'Neill.  He was viz., it facilitated his approach, and preoffended with Ormond (who was jealous of vented any succors arriving by sea to the
his merit) for having refused him a post besieged.  He next sent workmen to repair
in the army, although allowed by all who the castle, and a force to protect them. This
knew him to be the bravest and most expe- maneuvre greatly alarmed the garrison, and
rienced general in the kingdom.          allowed the governor to see into its design
A scene of cruelty and barbarism, of which and consequences. On the morning of the
lno history furnishes an example, was now 2d- of August, he made a sally in good order,
going forward in England.  A king sold by retook the castle, and put the troops who
his fanatic subjects of Scotland to their were guarding it to the sword. This first
English brethren for a sum of money, drag- success animated the garrison, the remainged from prison to prison, and at length pub- der of which marched against the camp. In
licly executed upon a scaffold.  Such was vain did Sir William Vaughan oppose the
the scene, and such the tragical end of enemy with a body of horse: they were
Charles I.  The limits we.have proposed to routed, and he himself.killed; and the panic
observe in this concise history of the Stuarts, having reached the rest of Ormond's army,
do not permit us to penetrate more deeply he himself, his cavalry and infantry, were
into circumstances which perpetuate the in- all shamefully put to flight.
famy of the perpetrators.  "I could wish,"   The monarchy and house of lords being
says Cox,* "to throw a veil over the 30th overthrown in England, the government of
I day of January, that frightful day on which Ireland became an object of dispute to all
the father of his country suffered martyr- the parties. The Presbyterians were for
dom.  O! that I could say they were Irish- conferring it on Waller, the Independents
men who committed the abominable deed, were inclined towards Lambert; but after
and that it could be laid at the door of the some debating, they all finally agreed that
papists.; but though they might have parti- Oliver Cromwell was fittest for that imporcipated indirectly in the crime, it is at least tant trust. He was accordingly nominated
true that others were the actors, and we lieutenant.  His departure for that country
may say with the poet,                  immediately followed, and accompanied by
C -' Pudlet hoc opprobria nobis -.his son-in-law Ireton, he set out with a powEt dici potuisse, et non potuisse refelli.'"    erful army, consisting of seven regiments
of infantry., four of cavalry, and one of draThis exclamation of Cox displays fully goons.t Cromwell having landed in Dublin,
-his disposition towards a people whose his- marched straight to besiege Drogheda, of
tory he attempts to write.
tory he ttemts to write.  which Sir Arthur Ashton was the commandWhile these proceedings were being car- er. A summons to surrender the town being
ried on against Charles I. by his rebellious rejected, Cromwell ordered a breach to be
subjects, and during his trial and execution,
the confederate Catholics drove the war  * Baker, Chronicles of England, on the Reign
vigorously forward against the parliamenta- of Charles II.
t Flegellum, or the Life of Cromwell, published
* Reign of Charles I. p. 206.   in London, 1672, p. 48, et seq.




582                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
attempted, and a general assault made.* He Ross, which was commanded by Luke Taaff:
was, however, twice repulsed with heavy this place being untenable, and a breach efloss: a third attack succeeded, and the city fected, terms were given to the besieged, and
was taken on the 10th September.t Orders they were allowed to retire with their arms.
being issued to give no quarter, the garrison Cromwell had not the same success before
was accordingly put to the sword.  Ashton Duncannon, where Colonel Edward Wogan
the commander, Sir Edmond Varney, Colo- commanded an intrepid garrison; he was
nels Wale, Warren, Dunne, Tempest, Fin- forced to raise the siege and return to Ross.
glass, and several other officers of distinc- Here he had a floating bridge constructed
tion, besides three thousand soldiers, were upon the river Barrow, both to watch the
slain.  After this expedition Cromwell re- movements of Ormond, and keep up a comturned with his army to Dublin.          munication with Munster, where he had his
The marquis of Ormond, who was still spies.  Cork, Youghal, and other places
lord-lieutenant for the royal cause, appealed garrisoned by Englishmen, who calculated
now to General O'Neill for his assistance, upon receiving rewards and promotion, deoffering to grant him  any terms he could dared in favor of Cromwell, and deserted in
wish for, besides those he had previously bands to range themselves under his standrefused  him.t:  Colonel Daniel O'Neill, ard.  Martin, the commander of Carrick,,nephew to Owen Roe O'Neill, was appointed also in a cowardly manner surrendered it to
to negotiate the affair with his uncle; but him.  Ballyshannon was sold to him too,
the untimely death of that general, who was but he was repulsed at Kilternan.  The
alone able to cope with the tyrant Crom- garrison of Kilkenny, after making a noble
well, rendered the hopes of Ormond, and stand, surrendered by capitulation.
those of the Catholic confederates, abortive.   The last expedition of Cromwell in IreCromwell having refreshed his troops in land was against Clonmel, which was deDublin, gave the command of the city to fended by sixteen hundred Ulstermen, under
Colonel Hewson, and marched through the the command of Major-general IHugh O'Neill,
county of Wicklow.  On his route he took nephew to Owen Roe O'Neill.  He served
Arklow, Ferns, Enniscorthy, and some other under his uncle in foreign countries, and was
places, and on the 1st October he arrived deemed an able captain.*  Cromwell now
before Wexford, and summoned it to sur- commenced the siege, and having effected a
render.  Colonel David Synot, who com-lbreach, ordered an assault, contrary to the
manded the town, in order to divert Crom- advice of his council.t  The bravery of the
well, proposed terms of capitulation, which besieged defeated his attempts, and he was
were refused.  The delay furnished an op- repulsed with a loss of two thousand five
portunity to the earl of Castlehaven to get hundred of his best soldiers. The hypocrite
in a regiment of infantry, and after a few was himself the first to perceive his rashness.
days a further reinforcement of a thousand In accordance with his usual phrensy he
men arrived from the marquis of Ormond, called in religion to aid him in his misforunder the command of Sir Edmond Butler. tune, attributing his defeat to too great a
The treachery of Captain Stafford, however, confidence in human arms;. and to atone for
frustrated all their plans of defence. Being such impiety, he commanded a fast to be
commander of the castle, he surrendered it observed by the whole army. Hugh O'Neill
to Cromwell; and the garrison, in their en- still defended the place with extraordinary
deavors to escape, were butchered by that valor, but seeing himself unable to hold out
tyrant to the number of about two thousand. for want of powder, he crossed the river by
Sir Edmond Butler was killed by a musket night with his garrison, and withdrew toball while swimming to save himself. Every wards Waterford.  According to authors of
step of Cromwell was marked by the most the day, the failure of powder in the garrison
savage ferocity; two hundred ladies of Wex- of Clontnel was fortunate for Cromwell, who
ford, who sought with tears, and upon their would have been otherwise obliged to raise
knees, to propitiate the tyrant's rage, were the siege.  The next day after the garrison
massacred at the foot of the cross in the retreated, the citizens offered to capitulate,
public square.                           and the besiegers not knowing the state of
From  Wexford Cromwell marched to things within, readily granted their demands.
During this siege Cromwell received orders
]    Heath's Chron. of the Civil War, part 1, an. from the parliament to return speedily to
1649, p. 244, et seq. edit. Lond. an. 1676., r.
t Cox, Hist. of Ireland, Reign of Charles II., p. England, where his presence was necessary
8, et seq.                                     * Scourge of Ireland, page 87.
t Ireland's Case, pages 56, 57.              t Heath, part 1, an. 1649, page 252.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                             583
to make head against the Scotch royalists. dress, wandered three or four days among
He therefore embarked at Youghal, the fields, without taking food; till he had the
29th May, and left the command of the misfortune to fall into the hands of a traitor.*
army to Ireton, his son-in-law.*          This man was lord of Aston, formerly atCharles, prince of Wales, son of Charles tached to the service of Montrose; deterI., and true heir to the crown of Great mined to receive the reward which was
Britain, was then at Breda. Commissioners offered, he arrested, and dishonorably gave
were sent to him to treat for his restoration him up to his enemies.  The trial of this
to the throne of Scotland.t  The marquis of great man was short; he was condemned,
Montrose, who had laid down his arms by under the name of James Graham, to death,
orders of the late king, was at the time and hung on a gibbet thirty feet high, deeply
travelling through France, Germany, and regretted by the king his master, and all
the Low Countries.  It was there he heard good men.
of the tragical end of Charles I., and at the   While the fanatics of Scotland were exsame time received from the young king the ercising their rage against the king's best
commission of captain-general of the royal subjects, their deputies were treating at Breda
army in Scotland.  He then applied to the for his restoration; the terms of which were
courts of Denmark and Sweden: for assist- both hard and insolent. First, the king was
ance, which they gave him in money, and to banish from  court all excommunicated
likewise arms for fifteen hundred men.  He persons;t second, he should affirm by his
then sailed for Scotland with five hundred royal word, that he would accept of the covyGermans, and after encountering a violent enant;t third, he should bind himself to
storm, and losing two hundred of his men, ratify all the acts of parliament which deand some warlike stores, he landed in the creed the government to be Presbyterian,
Orkney islands with the remaining three and confirm the tenor of worship, the prohundred that escaped shipwreck.  The in- fession of faith, and catechism in the kinghabitants of the Orkneys received arms from dom of Scotland, as they had been approved
him, and with this little force he marched to of by the general assembly of the kirk, and
Caithness, in the northern extremity of Scot- by the parliament of the kingdom, and should
land.~  The army of Montrose was too small himself conform to all these matters in his
for his enterprise; and he was abandoned private and domestic habits; fourth, he
and betrayed by those who had promised him should admit all civil causes to be decided
their aid: Colonels Ogleby and Corkrain by the parliament of Scotland, and all ecclewasted the money which he gave them to siastical affairs by the kirk.~
raise troops in Amsterdam  and Poland;Il   Charles was placed in an embarrassing
Colonel King who was commissioned to come dilemma. His friends were divided in opinto his assistance with a body of Swedish ion what plan would be most prudent for
cavalry, disappointed him; Lord Pluseardy him to pursue; some being opposed to such
was prevented by the rebels from collecting hard and disgraceful terms, while others,
two thousand men that he had promised, who had suffered banishment in his cause,
and the Highlanders, harassed by the war, and were desirous of returning to their
were not to be relied upon; so that the ruin country, urged him to accept of the condiof Montrose had now become inevitable.~[ tions.  The queen-dowager and prince of
The news of his being in Scotland gave Orange were of this opinion; he therefore
great alarm to the parliament which was adopted their advice, which was in accordthen sitting at Edinburgh.  An army was ance with his own wishes, and submitted to
immediately dispatched against him under the terms proposed by the commissioners.
the command of Lesley and Holborn, Colo- A frigate commanded by Van Tromp the
nel Straughan being sent first with an ad- younger, was ready to receive him at Tervance guard of cavalry.  He surprised the heyden, near the Hague.  Van Tromp himroyalists, who were unable to defend them- self accompanied the prince on board, and
selves against this unexpected attack, and enjoined his son to use all skill in his voyage
were all either killed or made prisoners.
Maontrose  striving to escape in a Highland     Life of Montrose, pages 178, 179.
t Those who had exposed their lives in defence
of the king were excommunicated.
5 Cox's Reign of Charles I., p. 17        t The covenant signified a solemn compact made
t Baker's Chron. Eng. ann. 1649.        by the Puritans or Scotch fanatics for their mutual
t Baker, ibid.                           defence: its object was the extirpation of popery
~ Life of Montrose, edit. Lond. an. 652, p. 171. and prelacy.
tj Heath, Chron. part 2, an. 1649, 14650  ~ This was an assembly of ministers of the
~ Life of Montrose, p. 175.             Presbyterian Church.




584                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
with the prince; there were but two men-of- the number of twelve thousand, arrived at
war to escort the frigate, and the English Dunbar on Sunday the 1st of September;
fleet was at sea ready to oppose them. The the Scotch, amounting to twenty-four thouable commander, however, surmounted every sand men, encamped the same day on a
obstacle; and after encountering a heavy height near the town. The English were at
gale, which cast them on the coast of Den- first dismayed, but as despair often inspires
mark, the prince was landed safe on the 16th courage, they drew up in order of battle, and
of June, 1650, in a place called the Spey, spent that and the next night under arms;
in the north of Scotland.               on Tuesday morning the attack began; the
Charles was received by his unkind sub- engagement was bloody, and the ground
jects of Scotland with much show, but little bravely disputed; the English remained
sincerity: he was obliged to sign the cove- masters of the field of battle; and the loss
nant, and dismiss his faithful followers; he of the Scotch amounted to four thousand
submitted, however, in every thing to these slain, nine thousand prisoners, with all their
fanatics, without security for either his life arms and baggage. In consequence of this
matters the king was not consulted, so that Edinburgh, Leith, and other places, but was
he was treated more like a school-boy who prevented from continuing his conquests by
feared the authority of his master, than as a the approach of winter.
king who was to govern his subjects.      The portion of the Scotch army that esThe news of the arrival of prince Charles caped withdrew to Stirling.  Having detersoon reached England.  The republicans mined to crown their king, the ceremony
being alarmed, collected an army, the com- was performed on the 1st of January followmand of which devolved on Lord Fairfax; ing, at Scone, with the approbation of all
but he refused it, under the plea of infirmity, the royalists.  Charles supposed he ought to
and thus laid the foundation of Cromwell's be then his own master, but he soon discovgreatness.  On this general's return from ered that he was subject to the most rigid
Ireland, where he left the command to Ireton, covenanters and capricious fanatics. Weary,
his son-in-law, he was appointed commander- therefore, of his subjection, he determined
in-chief of the army intended for Scotland, to return to the continent, preferring his
and about the end of June he marched freedom to the empty title of king.*  For
towards Berwick, in order to be near the this purpose he withdrew secretly to Middlefrontiers.                              ton, who commanded some royalists in the
The people of Scotland determined to mountains, but -he was persuaded by Montraise anarmyto oppose Cromwell,andhaving gomery and other friends, to abandon an
but a small regular force, ten thousand foot enterprise which might injure his cause.
and twenty-seven troops of cavalry were   The royalist army was still encamped at
ordered to be levied.*  Generals were ap- Torwood, near Stirling, which was an adpointed; the earl of Levan was to command vantageous post, and from which Cromwell
the infantry; Holborn was to act under him strove in vain to dislodge them.t  He made
as major-general; David Lesley was nomi- different movements, all tending to straiten
nated lieutenant-general of the cavalry, and the royal troops. The prince, in conseMontgomery major-general; the chief com- quence, resolved to carry into effect a promand was reserved for Prince Charles, who ject he had contemplated for some time. He
was proclaimed king of Scotland on the relied much upon his friends in England,
15th July, at the cross of Edinburgh.   but the tyranny of the parliament entirely
Cromwell entered Scotland towards the obstructed their interference.
end of July, at the head of sixteen thousand   While,therefore, Cromwell was besieging
men, and marched through Mordington, as Johnston and some places north of Stirling,
far as Haddington; the Scotch army, con- the king decamped on the last day of July,
sisting of six thousand horse, and fifteen with his army, amounting to fourteen thouthousand foot, being  encamped between sand men, and advanced by forced marches
Edinburgh and Leith.  Cromwell saw, that towards England.  Having arrived at Carbesides their superiority in numbers, the lisle, he was proclaimed king of Great BritScotch were advantageously posted; he ain; he then published manifestoes grantmarched therefore towards Musslebourgh, ing a general amnesty to his English suband from thence to Dunbar, closely pursued
by the Scotch army. The English forces, to   * Higgins' Short View, p. 270.  Baker, Chron.
ibid.
X Mem. Hist. ibid. Baker's Chron. Reign of  t Heath's Chron. ibid. p. 292. Baker, ibid.
Charles II.                               / Heath's Chron. ibid. p. 294.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          585
jects, except Cromwell, Bradshaw, and ferred to leave their country, rather than to
Cook, being the most criminal in the mur- live beneath the rule of regicides who had
der of the king his father. Among the Eng- stained their hands in the blood of their
lish who accompanied the prince in this prince. They therefore sought permission
expedition were, the duke of Buckingham, to depart from the kingdom, being deterthe earl of Cleveland, Lords Wentworth mined to render those services to their king
and Wilmot, Colonels Wogan and Bointon, in a foreign country that they could not at
Major-general Massey, and some others.  home.  Circumstances favored their proThe king continued his march to Worces- posal, Cromwell being busily employed in
ter.  He was pursued by detachments corn- forming a n.ew mode of government called
manded by Lambert and Harrison, who also the protectorship. By his own authority he
proceeded by forced marchesfrom Scotland. granted the Irish army their request, and in
They were joined by the militia and some consequence, many of them embarked for
troops newly raised by orders of the parlia- France and Spain; those, however, whom
ment. Cromwell having left General Monk age.and infirmities rendered unable to acand seven thousand men to complete the company their countrymen, and share in the
conquest of the Scotch, marched likewise fortunes of the prince, were treated with the
in pursuit of the king.  Worcester was most savage barbarity; from fourteen to
speedily reduced by him, and on September twenty thousand, both soldiers and country
3d the royal troops were defeated near that people, were sold as slaves and transported
city.  The king escaped and fled, and hay- to. America, as had been previously done
ing encountered in disguise a variety of with the Scotch prisoners taken at the battle
adventures, he found a vessel ready to sail, of Worcester. The Catholic officers and
and by this means got safe to France.   nobility were forced to abandon their estates
The Irish royalists, among whom were -in the other provinces and cross the ShanCatholics as well as Protestants, still kept non into Connaught and the county Clare,
themselves under arms. The marquis of where Cromwell enjoined them to remain,
Ormond, who was commander-in-chief, be- under pain of death, without express persides being lord-lieutenant, always mani- mission to leave them. Here they were subfested a distrust of the former, and was dis- jected to the insolence, oppression, and crupleased that the king had granted them any elty of the tyrants who ruled over them.
freedom in their religion.  Finding himself   Cromwell, in the mean time, either wishunable to oppose Ireton, he surrendered the ing to conciliate the Irish by kindness, or
command of the army to the earl of Clan- give them  a favorable opinion of his bericcard, and embarked for France, A. D. nevolence, established at Athlone a court
1650. Ireton, in the mean time, laid siege of claims, by which it was decreed to grant
to Limerick,* but was obliged to abandon it in those parts of the kingdom, to the proon account of the winter.  The English scribed proprietors of lands, (who would be.
general resumed the siege soon after, but found not to have been implicated in the
the noble defence made by Hugh O'Neill, rebellion,) a portion of land sufficient for
who had previously caused a heavy loss to their subsistence, and befitting their quality,Cromwell's army before Clonmel, made him and pretensions. By this regulation it hapfeel dearly the taking of Limerick.     pened that some of these noblemen enjoyed
The parliament of England saw how im- in Connaught and the county of Clare a
portant it would be to their object to detach fourth, others at third, and some one-half of
the Irish from the cause of the king;t they the revenues they possessed at home. Such
therefore made them such offers as appeared grants, though moderate, excited the enmity
fair and reasonable; but these zealous roy- of their persecutors.* Theyoften determined
alists rejected them unanimously, at a meet- to cut off at a blow the wretched remains of
ing which was held at Loughreagh. It was the unhappy Irish, and it was by a peculiar
debated whether the war should be pro- favor of Providence that they escaped their
longed, in order to favor the king's march wicked designs.
into England.t  Under this hope, the Irish   The Catholics of Ireland groaned for many
continued under arms till 1653, when it was years beneath the yoke of tyranny.  Their
found impracticable to protract the war any only consolation was in a hope of seeing
longer. Most of the Irish army then pre- their prince restored. They anticipated from
* Heath's Chron. part 2, an. 1651, p. 305.  * The soldiers of Cromwell, who were put into
t Memoirs of Castlehaven, p. 164.     the possession of the estates and properties of the
t Ireland's Case, part 1, pp. 57, 58, 59, 60; part Catholics, felt, while seeing them. exist, self-con2, pp. 68, 69.                         demnation and reproach.
74




586                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
so happy an event the end of their suffer- that as soon as the king would ascend the
ings; and calculating upon his justice, they throne of his ancestors, he would, or at least
calculated also upon a restitution of property, ought, to reinstate the ancient proprietors in
so generally sacrificed in his cause; but, their rights; they resolved, therefore, to
unhappily, the event produced a sorrowful counteract this by putting in confinement all
reverse in their hopes.*               - the Irish who had any claims, with the view
Oliver Cromwell, who had been the in- of preventing them from affording succor to
strument of abolishing monarchy in the three their prince in the event of the parliamentakingdoms, now turned his arms against his rians forcing, him to recur to arms. To give
masters. He suppressed, by his own au- a color of justice to their proceedings, Sir
thority, the parliament to which he was in- John Clotworthy, an intriguing character,
debted for his power: attended by armed and very influential among the Presbyterimen he entered the hall, and after expatia- ans, was sent to England to excite alarm
ting upon its necessity, and his motives for among the English by insinuating how dandissolving them, they were ordered to with- gerous it would be to restore the Irish to
draw, and the doors of the house were closed their ancient possessions to the prejudice of
-guards being stationed, at the same time, the English Protestants'already settled in
to cut off all communication with the ave- the country.  Clotworthy, who was an arnues that led to the house. Ile ordered the dent persecutor of the Catholics, and opmace to be taken away as a mere bauble, posed to the monarch, acquitted himself ably
and forbade it to be used at any of their of his commission.  On his arrival in Lonceremonies. The only sensation which this don a report was spread that a rebellion had
unexpected event produced among the Eng- broken out in Ireland, in confirmation of
lish, was one of raillery'; it became a sub- which, letters of the same import were sent
ject of amusement at their meetings, and to merchants at the exchange, and copies of
songs were composed, accompanied with the them circulated in every quarter of the city.
chorus of' Twelve parliament men for a This imposture gave rise to a proclamation
penny."  Cromwell after this assumed the against the Irish papists, which the parliatitle of Protdctor. The English, who would ment presented to Charles II. on his restoranot bear the mild and peacefill government tion, though it was well understood that the
of their lawful king, submitted to the despot- report of an insurrection was founded only on
ism of a tyrant, which continued till his death, the eagerness which some Catholics evinced
September 3d, 1658-a day memorable in in taking possession of their estates without
his history for the victories he obtained over any formality of law, which they considered
the king's forces at Dunbar and Worcester. as useless in resuming what they had been
After the death of the usurper, the pro- despoiled of a few years before, by a tyrant
ceedings of General Monk seemed to por- *who acknowledged no law but that of the
tend the speedy restoration of the prince. strongest.
Public affairs were in too desperate a state   The writers of this party boast of the exto continue as they stood: at such a crisis, ertions which Broghil, Coote, Clotworthy,
some of course had their fears, some their and other Cromwellians in Ireland, made in
hopes, according to their respective interests. favor of the restoration. They sent comAmong the former were the Cromwellians missioners to the king at Breda, to assure
in Ireland.  Broghil and Coote, their lead- his majesty of their allegiance and devoteders, dispatched emissaries to England to ness to his cause.  He received them with
sound the disposition of the people, in order apparent kindness, but afterwards manifested
that they might act as would best suit their displeasure towards Broghil, when he went
own views. Haviig found that they were to congratulate him on his restoration. The
for the most part in favor of General Monk, submission of those traitors was caused by
and inclining towards the restoration, they the determination of the English to restore
repaired to Dublin, where they called a meet- their lawful prince, and was made at a time
ing of the parliament, which was composed when they could not oppose his return.
of their ownf creatures and united by the   Cox, and other writers of his party, speak
same interest —they being all usurpers of in a different tone. "The convention," says
the goods of others. They delib'rated on Cox, "published a decree on the 12th of
the means of sustaining their usurpation, and March for a free parliament to assemble on
preventing the Irish nobility from regaining the 14th of May; they consented to the
their estates, so liberally bestowed upon declaration made by the king at Breda on
themselves by Cromwell.  They foresaw April 14, and joyfully agreed to his restora* Ireland's Case, p. 60,      tion. The Irish papists had no part in this




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           587
great revolution, but wishing to enjoy the lawful heir to the crown of Great Britain.
fruit of the labors of other people, many of In gratitude Charles restored the house of
them took possession of their patrimonies. lords, and had a general amnesty passed
The evil became so general that the conven- which was received with universal applause.
tion was obliged to issue a proclamation on The monarch gave his consent that the parthe 20th of May, 1660, for the security of liament alone should punish the murderers
peace and property." May not we ask these of his father, and out of so many who had
writers, what was the nature of the posses- contributed to the catastrophe of Charles I.,
sions which the convention was obliged to ten only were executed, the rest being
secure by a decree, and what were the titles judged worthy of the king's pardon.
of those who held them? The length of pos-   Although the majority of the Scotch peosession did not exceed ten or twelve years, ple were guilty of disloyalty to Charles,* the
and they had been given by Cromwell as a marquis of Argyle, Guthry, a celebrated
reward to the accomplices of his crimes. The minister, and Captain Giffan, were the only
right of the possessors was the same as that victims.  The marquis sold the king to the
which had authorized the tyrant to have his English, and consented to the usurpation;
lawful sovereign beheaded. We leave the Guthry was a preacher of sedition, and
reader to decide on the right which could be known to have been violently opposed to
derived from such a title and possession. As Montrose and the royalist party, and Giffan
to the Irish who resunmed their estates, the was entirely devoted to Cromwell. The
complaint of Cox is both unjust and absurd; two last were hanged at Edinburgh.
he allows that they were the ancient patri-   Charles ascended the throne under very
monies of those Irish papists. According to flattering auspices. The people, struck with
Carte, they were generally Irish noblemen a conviction of their barbarous treatment to
who had been dispossessed by Cromwell, the late king, thought they could not praise
notwithstanding their acquittal by the tri- the son too much for his clemency; they had
bunal which that tyrant established at Ath- groaned also for many years under the sway
lone, to investigate the crimes of those who of tyranny, while now peace, liberty, order,
hadbeenconcernedintherebellion.* Having and the laws, were re-established in Engbeen banished to Connaught, and the county land and Scotland, so that no prince ever
of Clare, continues Carte, they considered enjoyed more fully the affections of his
themselves authorized to take possession of subjects than Charles II.
their estates and expel the usurpers on the   The restoration of a. legitimate sovereign
death of the tyrant. The only claim of these would seem likely to terminate the misformen on-the properties of the Irish was founded tunes of Ireland too. Many of her people nobly
on rebellion: they all served against their participated in the sufferings of their prince.
king under Cromwell, from whom they held From twenty-five to thirty thousand of his
their commissions.  Broghil was a member faithful Irish subjects having crossed the seas
of parliament for the county of -Cork. He to escape from the tyranny of their rulers,
continued the faithful servant of the tyrant, crowded to receive his orders. While the
and after his death became a firm supporter prince remained in France, they signalized
of his son Richard Cromwell; he was like- themselves in the service of that crown.
wise member of the privy council of the new When it became necessary for the English
protector, till the extinction of his power.t monarch to seek an asylum among the SpanNo longer supported by the power of the iards, his; command to all his Irish regiments
Cromwells, and viewing the dispositions of to follow him to the Low Countries was inthe English towards their king, he then re- stantly obeyed, at a time when all his other
turned to Ireland, and in union with others subjects had abandoned him. Their fidelity
of his faction, went over to the strongest side. drew upon them, in his exile, the admiration
The prejudice of Cox makes him ascribe the and esteem of strangers. The words of the
resumption of their properties by the Irish, prince himself, in his address to both houses,
to the labors of other people.          after his restoration, sufficiently attest these
In the month of May, 1660, Charles, eldest truths, so praiseworthy in the Irish people.
son of Charles I., ascended, by the wise and   On the 27th of July, 1660, King Charles
disinterested conduct of General Monk, the II. thus expressed himself: " I think it is
throne of his ancestors, under the name of not necessary to observe, that the people of
Charles II. He was received by all states as Ireland deserve to be partakers of our cle* Life of the duke of Ormond, vol. 2, lib. 6, p. mency; they have displayed their affection
205.
t~ Harris's History of Ireland.          * Heath's Chron. p. 4, ad an. 1661, p. 497.




588                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
for us in foreign countries: you will-there- jects, many of whom had lost both their
fore pay a regard to our honor and the prom- lives and fortunes in supporting his interests
ises which we have made to them." On against these new favorites. Such were the
the 30th of November, in the same year, the protection, justice, and favor, with which
king's remarks on the affairs of Ireland were the zeal and loyalty of the Irish were reas follows: "lastly we are mindful, and shall warded, by the king's proclamation for the
always remember the deep affection which a:settlement or regulation of Ireland, at Whitegreat part of that nation had manifested for hall, on the 30th of November, 1660.
us during our sojourn beyond the seas: the   The declaration of the king for the settleIrish troops have always received our corn- ment of Ireland, was, in reality, the settlemands with alacrity and obedience, submit- ment of rebels and traitors, and consequently
ting to the services which have been pointed the ruin of his majesty's most faithful subout to them as beneficial for our interests, jects:* it was followed by orders to have it
which conduct on their part is most worthy put into force; then came the commentary
of our protection, favor, and justice."  It is of the parliament, and to crown the whole,
right now to investigate what was the extent the famous explanation act, which was well
of that protection, justice, and favor, which calculated to complete the destruction of
the Irish had merited from the prince's own those whose right appeared to be inconackno wledgment, and what were the benefits testable.
which accompanied their merit.  Charles,   The Irish-Catholics who should have been
when in possession of the throne,resolved-to reinstated in their inheritance, were distincompensate by his pleasures for the years of guished into three classes;t the first was
his exile.  For this end, he reposed all his. called innocent, signifying those who had
confidence in a wicked ministry, which had never joined the confederates before the
its own interests more deeply at heart than peace of 1648; the second comprised what
the honor and glory of so good a master. werecalled ensignmen, implying such as had
The matter to be decided was, whether the served beyond the seas, under his majesty's
Cromwellians who brought Charles I. to the standard during his exile; the third was
scaffold, and compelled Charles II. to pass composed of the confederates, whom the
twelve years in sorrowful exile, ought to be faith of a solemn treaty authorized to recover
supported in peaceful enjoyment of those their patrimonies. The king appeared deterestates conferred upon them for their hos- minedto dojustice tothe three classes. With
tility to the crown; or whether the ancient respect to the innocent, even their enemies
proprietors, who had proved their loyalty to could not oppose the restitution of their
the king, ought to have their estates restored properties.  The claims of those who had
to them, which they had lost for their zeal in distinguished themselves in a military capathe royal cause.  The right of the former to city in -the services of their prince, were so
properties which theyhad been in possession recent and present to the mind, that none
of but about twelve years, was founded on would dare to demand their exclusion from
regicide; that of the latter, on an uninter- his majesty's favors. There remained, thererupted possession of many centuries, which fore, but a third class, viz., the confederates,
*was confirmed by the public sanction of a whose pretensions were founded on the
solemn treaty with Charles I., called the peace of 1648,$ that could not seek inpeace of 1648, and the repeated promises of dulgence.  The king felt the injustice that
Charles II. during his exile; no question -would be caused by a dereliction of his entherefore could be more easily determined. gagements to fulfil a peace in which his conIn the beginning, the king seemed disposed science and his honor were concerned, as
to be just, but through the influence of Cla- -he himself had expressed in his declaration.
rendon, the prime minister, and a few nobles'" We cannot," said the prince, "'"forget the
of the court, his opinions became biased by peace which we were ourselves necessitated
degrees in favor of the opposite party, to make with our Irish subjects, at a time
who made him gradually abandon to their when those who wickedly usurped the gov-.
enemies, those who had been the faithful ernment of'this country had erected the
adherents of his misfortune.  Not content odious tribunal which took away the life of
with forgiving his sworn enemies, the mur- our dear father.  We cannot therefore but
derers of his father, the cruel persecutors of consider ourselves bound to the fulfilment of
all the royal family, from whom he himself peace towards those who have honorably
had a miraculous escape, he granted them        * Ireland's Case, ibid. page 85.
favors, and loaded them with the estates,       t Ireland's Case, ibid. page 87.
hornors, and dignities of his most loyal sub-   t Ireland's Case, page 88.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND,                            589
and faithfully performed what they pro- of the defect of their titles. His declaration
mised," &c.                              is illustrative of his notions on that head:
The Cromwellians, on the other hand, and " In the first place, if, to satisfy those who
the partisans whom they purchased at court, have advanced their money, we examine
seeing the king so decided on this point; into the titles by which they enjoy their
and not daring to oppose in a direct way possessions, they would be found defective
such generous and worthy motives, pretend- and invalid, not being in conformity with
ed to enter into the opinions of the prince, the acts of parliament on which they rest;
being convinced that their unjust policy still, as we are strongly inclined to provide,"
would not fail in the moment of need, and &c.  Notwithstanding, however, the enorthat this would furnish them with the oppor- mity of their crimes, and the invalidity of
tunity of bringing the prince into their views. their titles, they were to be upheld in their
It was first affirmedl by his wicked ministers unjust possessions.  The claims of these
that there were more confiscated lands in first adventurers being so unfounded, what
Ireland than ought to satisfy all those whose opinion can we form of those who afterwards
pretensions were just.  It was next ad- advanced' their money to excite rebellion,
vanced, that the Protestant adventurers without any other authority than that of the
(which implied those recently established lowerhouse, which usurped the government?
in the country) should be preferred to the According to the laws of the state, the comother pretenders, or, at least, that they were mons had neither the power of effecting loans
entitled to the next place after the innocent in the name of the nation, nor of governing
papists.  On the faith of these two articles, without the consent of the king and the other
which were granted as the foundation of the house; the king was in exile at the time, and
whole edifice, these sectarians, the most the upper house suppressed, still the latter
savage and decided fanatics of the three class was placed on an equal footing with
kingdoms, whose principles were always the former, and both parties (viz., the adequally fatal to the true religion and monar- venturers and those who lent their money
chical government, became, all of a sudden, to excite rebellion) made secure in their posbeneath the mantle of Protestantism, the sessions, acquired in the manner described.
minions of the church and state-a conver- Thus have these persecutors of their king
sion far too sudden to be sincere.       been liberally rewarded at the expense of
The Protestants who were to be made the faithful Irish.
secure in their possessions in Ireland,* were   Cromwell's soldiers were the next to realso of three sorts: the first consisted of ceive rewards.  The tyrant was, it is true,
adventurers,t who had been merchants and deeply indebted to them, since, with the
citizens of London, and, relying on acts assistance of their brethren in England,
made in the 17th and 18th years of the reign they had raised him from obscurity to absoof Charles I. for the reduction of Ireland, lute power over the three kingdoms.*  His
had advanced considerable sums upon the gratitude was equal to their zeal; he divided
lands of that country, the acquirement of twelve entire counties between these fanawhich cost themselves very little,  The tics, the cruel ministers of his tyranny, and
money thus obtained was never sent to Ire- the avowed enemies of the king.  It would
land, but was applied by the rebellious par- seem, however, that it was by mortgages he
liament to the raising of an army, which settled with those mercenary miscreants, in
defeated the king's forces at Edgehill; and payment of arrears due to them, and that he
the application of the money in that way would never grant patents to confirm their
was approved of by the adventurers them- possessions.  These precarious tenures inselves, assembled at Grocers' Hall, in Lon- duced several of the new nobility to sell their
don.  This was no secret; Charles I. was titles to estates for a trifle, whenever an opnot ignorant of it, since he reproached the portunity occurred; and in the sequel the
commissioners of the parliament with the purchasers were confirmed for ever in postreaty of Uxbridge, and their perfidy was session of the rewards of their infamy by the
the reason why the prince never mentioned, king's declaration! It can scarcely be conin his different projects for pacifying the ceived how Charles II., on being restored to
Irish confederates, any title which the con- the throne of his ancestors, could bring himfederates could advance to the said lands, self, as he did, (unfortunately for his family,)
and that he took care to make no provision to reward the murderers of his father by an
for them. Charles II. was equally convinced unbounded donation of lands, while he per* Ireland's Case, ibid. page 90.       * Ireland's Case, ibid. pages 92, 93. A correct
t Recit. exacte et fidele, p. 39, &c suiv.    account, page 48, et seq.




590                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
mitted their true and lawful owners (of that few or none of such characters were
whose fidelity he boasted) to die in want made use of at Cromwell's court, and that
and misery.                             they were seen in crowds, and employed by
Allusion is next made to the officers who the court of claims in Dublin.  The court
had served the king before June 5th, 1649, at Athlone was not limited as to time, while
and whose arrears, according to their own that of Dublin had but from February 15,
calculations, amounted to one million eight 1663, till the August following, allowed to
hundred thousand pounds sterling. Though any claimant from any part of the kingdom
this appears to have been an unfair and -an to make his appearance.  During that short
enormous demand, still it was admitted by interval almost a thousand Catholics were
the adventurers, whose maxim was, " Do us examined, of whom at least one half were
a kindness and we will do you another." Un- declared innocent, notwithstanding the rigor
der pretence of repaying these arrears, all of the qualifications required, and the unbrithe confiscated lands in four counties border- dled license of false witnesses. One example
ing the Shannon were bestowed upon forty- out of a hundred will be sufficient to develop
nine officers, besides houses and other privi- the profligacy of both witnesses and judges.
leges in every town and city of the kingdom.   Mr. Francis Betagh of Moynalty, who
These kindnesses are the more surprising, lived in 1663 at the corit of St. Germainas they were conferred on men who were, en-ILaye,* and whose ancestors possessed
during and antecedent to the summer of considerable landed property in the county
1649, in actual rebellion against their king: of Meath during many centuries, was acamong them were the earls, of Orrery, Moun- cused of having, at the head of a company of
trath, Lords Kingston and Coloony, Sirs foot, sacked and pillaged in 1641 his ProJones, Saint George, Coles, &c., who de- testant neighbors;t although in the month of
serted the king's standard to join the usurper. October of the same year it was well known
Those who were principally instrumental in that he was but nine years old, an age at
surrendering the towns and fortresses to which he was very unlikely to be concerned
Cromwell, were singularly included in the in a crime of that nature. Besides this, one
act of settlement as entitled to have their of the witnesses produced against him was
arrears allowed.  No distinction was made but three years old in 1641.  Neither this
between the forty-nine officers and the Cath- obvious perjury, nor the innocence of the
olics, in the king's declaration for the pay- gentleman, of which the nobles of the counment of arrears; with the exception, how- try were witnesses, could make any impresever, of the marquis of Clanriccard and Sir sion upon the judges; and though Sir
George Hamilton, the Catholics (who never Rainsford, one of the commissioners of the
deserted the standard of their king, and who court, expressed his conviction of the prowere always opposed to the usurper) were ceedings being unjust, the marquis of Antrim,
excluded by subsequent acts of parliament the earl of Limerick, and others who were
from all favor.                         present, restrained him by their rebukes from
Thus these ministers of iniquity found making reparation.  By such abominable
means to lead the king to commit, against proceedings some hundreds of ancient famihis will, the most crying acts of injustice. lies, equally eminent for their noble extraction
He himself, so far from wishing to despoil as for their loyalty to their king, have been
the Catholics of Ireland of their patrimonies, robbed of their patrimonies, and reduced to
evinced from the beginning an inclination to the dire necessity of either begging or ermdo them justice; but he suffered himself to bracing occupations unsuited to their birth.
be deceived by those in whom he reposed   The time for examining those interested
confidence, and who, under the specious having expired, Rainsford, the chief comshow of loyalty, always preferred their own missioner, thought to continue the court till
interests to the glory of their prince.  further prorogation would be obtained, to do
A court of claims was established in Dub- justice to all whose rights could not have
lin, after the same plan as that which Crom- been discussed within the time prescribed.
well established at Athlone in 1645, in favor There were seven thousand to be still hear:d,
of the Catholics transplanted into Connaught whose claims deserved to be attended to
and the county of Clare, with this difference, equally with the others, since " every man
that the court of the usurper was the less should be looked upon as innocent till the
partial of the two; for, whether from want contrary be proved," particularly when he
of money to suborn false witnesses, or being  * His son is major in the Irish regiment of the
unacquainted with the art of employing mis- chevalier Fitz-James, in the service of France.
creants who live by perjury, it is well known   t Ireland's Case, pages 102, 103.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            591
submits to so severe a tribunal. However, after returning to their duty and submisClarendon, the prime minister, refused any sion; but to heap upon them the rich patrifurther length of time to the court, which monies of faithful subjects, by which the
was thus forced to cease its functions and to latter are reduced to the extreme of indiseparate. Clarendon then instituted another gence, is unexampled in history.
tribunal, whose members were all usurpers,   Policy, it will be said, precluded Charles
from whom the lawful proprietors were to from acting otherwise, on account of. the
seek restitution.  When the judges and the great number of parliamentarians wickedly
party consist of such characters, what hope disposed towards him, and whom, being at
could there be for a claimant.?  To shut the time possessed of new properties, it
against him the doors of justice altogether, might be dangerous to irritate with arms in
the parliament next made a law to interdict their hands.
for the future every appeal for the restora-   This mode of reasoning was often urged
tion of property or the recovery of estates.  in council by the chancellor Clarendon.
The Cromwellians having gained their Might we not ask the earl, why he did not
point, and secured to the adventurers and observe the same conduct towards England
soldiers the enjoyment of their possession of and Scotland?  WVas the party less formithe estates of the Catholics, began tobestow dable in these countries than in Ireland?
the confiscated lands upon the earls of Or- The minister forgot that his political reasonmond, Anglesy, Orrery, and upon Lords ing gave the same ground for confirming
Coote, Kingston, and other favorites, who the Cromwellians in their usurpations in
had been bad servants to the crown.  To England.  They had usurped the royal aucreate more friends by the mammon of ini- thority; they were in possession of the lands
quity, large donations of land were appro- of the crown, of the church, and of those
priated to pious uses; the revenues of the of many English nobles and gentlemen;
university of Dublin were increased, and they appropriated to themselves, by crime,
free schools established. Some bishops and rebellion, and parricide, the properties of'
ministers were enriched, and extensive hold- others; and notwithstanding all this, were
ing conferred on many, though they derived they not put down without danger or oppono titles from the king's declaration.  The sition, though they at the time had arms in
estates that were possessed for some time by their hands, possessed likewise all the forMiles Corbet and other regicides, were tresses of the kingdom, were superior in
given to the king's brother, the duke of numbers, well provided with every thing,
York.  Thus were the lands wasted by pro- and consequently more formidable than their
fuse largesses, whereby resumptions were brethren in Ireland? If the king, before his
defeated, and consequently the Cromwel- departure from Breda, had promised to pay
lians continued in the enjoyment of their the arrears of the officers and soldiers of
usurpations.  Fifty-four persons, called the General Monk, could they not have satisfied
denominated, were not better treated than them in Ireland by public taxes as they did
others, for want of lands to be given them. in England, without depriving so many
They were called denominated, because a widows and orphans of subsistence, and so
clause was inserted in the explanation act, many gentlemen of their inheritance. who
(specifying the names,) which entitled them by signal services merited rewards, instead
to repossess their baronial houses and two of being stripped of their patrimonies? So
thousand acres of land adjoining.  The earl crying an injustice could not be the result of
of Orrery sarcastically remarked, that they a sound policy, nor even of common pruhad a name but not the reality.  In or- dence, which frequently made Clarendon
der to defeat every future prospect, a law say before the king, "' do good to your ene
was made, " that when any doubt should mies, your friends will not injure you."  To
arise upon the clauses of said act, it should proceed in this way was contrary to sound
be explained in favor of Protestants, who policy, honor, and justice.  The king, howit was intended should remain secure and ever, acted in all this according to the adundisturbed."*                           vice of his council and his courtiers.
It is incredible to think how the king was   We cannot find in history the example of
influenced to act contrary, not only to jus- a king so generous and beneficent to infatice, but even to the interests of his house.t mous rebels, as Charles II. has been to the
Princes have been often known, from mo- Cromwellians of Ireland-but so far from
tives of policy, to pardon rebellious subjects, their gratitude being proportioned to the
e Statutes of Ireland, p. 38.    goodness of their prince, they were cont Ireland's Case, pp. 7, 74.     tinually plotting against him.  Conspiracies




5923                           HISTORY OF IRELAND).
were got up against his person, one in 1663, the score of religion, as far as circumstances
another in 1671; these were put down in would permit. During his reign he had the
their birth, and three of the meanest of the administration of the penal laws suspended,
conspirators put to death, while the princi- which the parliaments renewed from time to
pal were pardoned, who were always full of time in all their rigor.  The Catholic peers
the spirit of republicanism, and were avow- were allowed to sit in parliament; ecclesied enemies to monarchical government. astics instructed in public, and taught the
Such was the fruit of Clarendon's policy, youth the principles of their religion, which
"do good to your enemies."               all were allowed to practise, though the
The injustice, or rather the indolence of penal laws had not been repealed.
Charles II., was felt not only in Ireland,   Charles II., after a few days illness, died
but also in England, where the cavaliers the 6th of February, 1685.  It is said that
were treated with deep ingratitude.  "The he manifested great indifference for the bishfoulest stain," says Hume, " attached to the ops of the English Church, who displayed
character of Charles II. in the opinion of their zeal about him  by their intense exjudges, was his neglect of the cavaliers, hortations.  Some Catholic priests were
whose zeal and sufferings in his cause brought to him, from whom he received the
knew no bounds.  Poverty, to which the sacraments according to the rites of the Romost zealous royalists were reduced, dimin- man Church; thus making it appear that he
ishing their respectability, rendered them dared not to- die-in that religion which he
less fit to support the measures of the king, professed upon the throne.  As soon as
and made him look on them as a useless Charles II. breathed his last, his brother,
burden.  The greatest number of the royal- the duke of York, received the homage of
ists were still laboring under distress and the lords.  He was proclaimed king in Londisappointment, aggravated by the loss of don and all the provinces, under the name of
their lawful hopes, and the torment of see- James II.  Public rejoicings-were made in
ing favors and influence heaped upon their all the towns, in which inclination and duty
deadly enemies.  With respect to the acts seemed to combine.  The news of James
of indemnity and oblivion, the first was in- II.'s accession to the British throne having
tended for the enemies of the king, the lat- reached Ireland, the duke of Ormond, being
ter for his friends."*  Our author discovers lord-lieutenant, assembled the council in
in the character of Charles the cause of his Dublin, and the day following the king was
conduct towards his faithful subjects. Some proclaimed with great solemnity in the city.
people of penetration, he says, began to' re-   The new sovereign convened his council
mark that his virtues, by which he had at in England; he made a speech to them
first dazzled and almost enchanted the na- which delighted all his subjects, and intion, possessed less solidity than splendor; creased their attachment to his person.  " I
that his judgment lost much of its power will endeavor," he said, "to preserve the
from want of application; that his goodness government of church and state, in the manappeared rather the effect of an easy dispo- ner by law established: I know that the
sition than true generosity of character; Church of England is favorable to mnonthat although he displayed good-will to all archy, and those who are members of it
who approached him, his heart was incapa- have made it appear on various occasions
ble of sincere friendship, and that he se- that they were faithful subjects: I will take
cretly nurtured a wicked opinion of, and particular care to defend and support it.  I
distrust in mankind.  The English cavaliers know, likewise, that the laws of the kinghad less to complain of than the Irish royal- dom are sufficient to make the king as great
ists.  Some of the principal of them receiv- as I could wish.  As I am determined to
ed pensions, and the parliament distributed preserve the prerogatives of my crown, so I
sixty thousand pounds among the rest, while will never deprive others of what belongs to
the Irish were excluded from  all favor or them.  I have often hazarded my life in deconsideration.                           fence of the nation: I am still ready to exThe reign of Charles II. was moderately pose it to preserve its rights."  These promlong.  Though the Catholics of Ireland ises were preceded by bitter complaints
were loaded with severe oppression, they against the malice of his enemies, who were
were always faithful to that prince. Charles, the authors of impressions that were spread
in order to allay somewhat of their suf- concerning the principles of despotic power
ferings, undertook to indemnify them  on with which they asserted him to be imbued.
Hist of Great Britain Charles I., chap. 1, p.  This address of the king was received
158.                              p    with pleasure; it was universally considered




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           593
condescending, noble, and sublime.  Soon was contrary to his worldly policy; but his
after this, addresses poured in from every real imprudence was the unbounded confiquarter, filled with assurances of loyalty dence he reposed in some members of his
and gratitude for his solicitude respecting council,'who secretly betrayed him.  He
the Church of England and the liberty of considered it an imperative duty to protect
the people.  Cities, corporations, and uni- his own faith, and he also considered that
versities, were all lavish in their praises the Catholics ought to take advantage of his
and congratulations.                    reign to rescue themselves from the oppresThe parliament of England and Scotland sion to which they had been so long exposed.
met at the same time, to the great satisfac- James had two objects in view: first, to
tion of both nations. That of Scotland, of grant the Catholics freedom in the exercise
which the duke of Queensbury was presi- of their religion; and secondly, to enable
dent, having confirmed the acts that had them to hold public offices, from which they
been passed in the preceding reign for the had been unjustly excluded.  The English
security of the Protestant religion, granted became alarmed, and the last step the king
to his majesty the same revenues which his took in favor of his religion was considered
brother had enjoyed: it was enacted, that by the Protestants as the destruction of their
the duty on all domestic and foreign goods own.  Some noblemen busied themselves
should be annexed to the crown of Scotland. in fomenting discontent among the people,
In the same session, the sum of two hundred and James was ruined by a plot which Lord
and sixty thousand pounds a year, for life, Shaftsbury had projected under Charles II.
was voted to his majesty.                  The duke of Ormond, lord-lieutenant of
England vied with Scotland in generosity; Ireland, having confided the government to
the parliament secured to the king, during the primate and the earl of Granard, set out
life, the revenues which his brother had en- for London in March, 1685.  Shortly afterjoyed at his death, together with the funds wards the court sent over to Ireland the earl
whichwere allowed him while duke of York. of Clarendon, the king's brother-in-law, as
It was proposed to take down the names of lord-lieutenant, and Sir Charles Porter as
those who, in the parliaments of the pre- chancellor.  Clarendon was recalled  in
ceding reign, had voted to exclude him from February, 1686, and Richard Talbot, earl
succeeding to the throne; but one of the of Tirconnel, who already commanded as
secretaries having declared that the king lieutenant-general, was appointed lord-deppardoned all who had been opposed to him, uty of Ireland. The Catholic religion began
the declaration elicited new praises.  On to be openly professed, the priests and friars
receipt of the intelligence of the rebellion appeared in public in the dress of their orof Argyle, and the invasion of the duke of der, the ancient proprietors took possession
Monmouth, they were both declared guilty of their estates, which had been usurped
of high treason; and being taken in arms, by the Cromwellian soldiers, and Catholics
the earl of Argyle was put to death in as well as Protestants were appointed to
Edinburgh, and Monmouth in England. public offices.
The parliament renewed the trial of Oates,   The league against the king gained
who had been brought to justice in the pre- strength every day in England. The Engceding reign on charge of perjury, and never lish nobles belonging to the faction had alwas a culprit more clearly convicted.  He ready crowded to Holland, to the prince of
was condemned to pay an exorbitant fine, Orange, the king's son-in-law; and the conto be flogged, to stand in the pillory, and to spirators solicited him to come to their asbe imprisoned for life.                 sistance for the defence of their religion and
This auspicious beginning seemed  to liberty.  Henry Sidney, and Sir --   Peypromise to the king a happy sway. His ene- ton, and Sir  -  Gwyn, arrived secretly
mies defeated, a powerful army on foot, his at the Hague, where they were favorably
subjects submissive and kind, and foreign received. The intercourse being free, other
princes seeking his alliance, these were noblemen proceeded to Holland under varihappy omens of a peaceful and glorious ous pretexts.
reign.  During the first six months he   The prince of Orange, well convinced of
reigned in the hearts of his people, but the his finding partisans in England, and conaspect of his affairs was soon changed.    spirators to favor his views, commanded an
James was a Catholic, and protected that armament to be got ready, and gave the
religion; he was very partial to those who necessary orders for an expedition to Engprofessed it, and caused mass to be said in land. Before he embarked he published a
the palace. This zeal for the true religion manifesto, dated October 1st, specifying his
75




594                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
motives, and what induced him to undertake Charles Schomberg, Monsieur Caillemotte,
it.  The complaints of the English Protest- son of the marquis of Ruvigny, and about
ants against their king were enumerated; the three hundred French officers who were
means that were taken,but in vain, toremedy refugees in Holland.  The fleet had prothe disorder, were pointed out, and the object ceeded to sea, when a violent storm, which
of the present enterprise set forth.  Many lasted for twelve hours, dispersed the ships,
charges were artfully embodied, in order to and forced them to take shelter in their own
prove that the king intended to destroy the ports; several foundered with their cargoes;
religion, laws, and liberty of the nation.   one man only, however, and five hundred
France saw the misfortunes that threaten- horses, perished. This loss being soon reed the king of England. Louis XIV., of glo- paired, and the wind favorable, they put to
rious memory, apprized him of them often. sea a second time, on the 1 1th of November.
The French monarch loved dearly the un- Admiral Dartmouth, an Englishman, assured
happy king of England, and gave proofs of the king that he would intercept the enemy,
it by offering to assist him.  M. Bonrepos instead of which he did not appear against
was commissioned to propose to send thirty them, and the prince of Orange having gained
thousand troops, and vessels to carry them Torbay road, landed without opposition.
to England. This offer was rejected by the   Immediately after landing, the prince beadvice of the earl of Sunderland, who point- gan his march; but on arriving at Exeter,
ed out that to introduce a foreign army into he discovered the tardiness of the people to
England would destroy the confidence of the declare for him.  The bishop and dean of
people; but this was already lost, inasmuch Exeter, with the inferior clergy, had fled;
as bribery and a spirit of revolt pervaded the magistrates kept aloof; and after the
both the troops and other portions of them. reading of the manifestoes few of the people
Though Sunderland was secretary of state offered him their aid; and the commissions,
and president of the king's privy council, he too, that had been given for the raising of
was not loyal.  He was a determined foe to troops, produced but a moderate effect.
the policy of his master, and had urged more The appearance of things, however, soon
anxiously than any other the exclusion of changed.  The prince marched to Salisthat prince from the throne, when that ques- bury, where several noblemen, distinguished
tion was debated in the preceding parliament. for their birth, riches, and the offices they
He was, however, resolved to follow the held, flocked to his standard. Among them
ruling power while it would be his interest, were Lords Colchester and Wharton, Colonel
and under James II. he professed himself a Godfrey, and others, together with some
Catholic, to be enabled to serve the Protest- troops. The earl of Abingdon, Captain Clarants by betraying his master. All things ges, and several others, soon followed their
being prepared for the expedition to Eng- example; but that which produced most surland, the prince of Orange took leave of his prise, was the conduct of Lord Cornbury, the
states, and put to sea with a favorable wind, earlofClarendon's eldest son,who havingleft
about the end of October.  Fifty ships of the royal camp with his regiment of dragoons
war, followed by four hundred transport and three others, under pretence of driving
vessels, besides twenty frigates and some the enemy from an outpost,joined the prince.
smaller craft, composed the fleet; from    The king being determined to oppose the
twelve to thirteen thousand troops, and arms prince of Orange, marched at the head of thirfor twenty thousand men, were on board. ty thousand men towards Salisbury, where
Admiral Herbert, an Englishman, com- his presence was much needed.  Here his
manded the van; in the rear was vice-ad- principal officers sent him a communication
miral Evertzen, and the prince was in the by their general, Lord Fevershama, that their
centre.  All these vessels bore the English conscience would not permit them to serve
flag with the arms of the prince of Orange, in opposition to the prince of Orange, since
around which were these words, " For reli- the security of religion and the national privigion and liberty," and at bottom was the de- leges were his objects.  By this conduct
vice of the house of Nassau, "I will main- of the officers, James lost his principal suptain." A great number of English noblemen port. Lord Churchill, (afterwards duke of
were on board the fleet. Among the gen- Marlborough,) lieutenant-general and captain
eral officers was Count Schomberg, marshal of the guards, and one of his most intimate
of France,* accompanied by his son Count favorites, deserted him. He was follow* Marshal Schomberg left France on account of ed by the duke of Grafton,* Colonel Barhis religion, and entered the service of the elector  * One of the natural sons of Charles II. and the
of Brandenburgh, in the country of Cleves.  duchess of Cleveland.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          595
clay, and other officers. Their example was king had deserted his kingdom, and thereby
soon imitated by the prince of Denmark, the had in reality abdicated his crown.
king's son-in-law, the duke of Ormond, Lord   Two documents, written by the king of
Drumlanerick, the duke of Queensbury's England, copies of which are given, will
eldest son, and many others, who joined the sufficiently vindicate his retreat: the first
prince of Orange at Sherburn.          was dated Rochester, 22d December, 1688,
So general a desertion made the king look and contains the cause and motives of his
to his own safety; he returned to London, going. The second is a letter to the memand in order to secure an asylum for himself, bers of his privy council in England, dated
the queen, and his son, the prince of Wales, St. Germain-en-Laye, January, 1689.
he prevailed on the Count de Lausun, who
was then negotiating some affairs in England, The motives which obliged the king of Engto conduct his family to France. The queen,  land to withdraw to Rochester, as written
attended by the earl and countess of Powis,by himself and published by his order.
the Countesses de Dalmon and Montecucully,   "It cannot be a matter of surprise that I
and several other persons of distinction, left have retired from my country a second time.
Whitehall in the night of December 19; got I might have expected that the Prince of
on board a vessel on the Thames, and having Orange would have acted otherwise, from
escaped the notice of the English, reached the letter which I wrote to him by Lord FeGravesend, where a ship was in readiness to versham. But instead of answering me, he
receive them. After a few hours the queen not only had the earl arrested, contrary to
landed at Calais, from whence she proceeded the rig/Its of men, but sent his guards at
to Versailles. The king continued for some eleven o'clock at night, to seize on all the
time longer in England; but reflecting on avenues leading to Whitehall, and without
the deplorable state of his affairs, he found giving me any notice, sent three noblemen,
it impossible to improve them by force, and after midnight, when I was in bed, with an
saw that he would be compelled either to order to leave my palace before twelve the
resign the sceptre, or retain it under severe next day. How could I think myself secure
and disgraceful terms. The English nobility in the power of a man who could treat me
were undecided respecting the treatment inthis manner? He seized upon mykingdom,
they should adopt towards him; some insist- and in his first proclamation has published
ed that he had no longer any right to the the most malicious observations respecting
throne, and ought to be removed from the the birth of my son. I appeal to those who
capital; others were for securing his person know me, and to himself, if in conscience,
and sending him  a prisoner to Breda. they could suspect me of such baseness, or
Protestant historians boast of the generous that I were so simple as to be imposed upon
sentiments of the Prince of Orange on this in a matter of such moment. What then
subject; according to them, he evinced the could be expected from a man who has used
greatest horror for any attempt against the every means to make me appear to my subperson of his father-in-law.           jects and the whole world, the most wicked
In the mean time, the guards of the prince of men, in which he has so well succeeded
of Orange took possession of the palaces of as to corrupt my army, and stir up my subWhitehall and St. James, after which some jects to rebellion?
noblemen were deputed to the king to recom-   " I was born free, and I wish to preserve
mend to him to retire to Ham. The king my freedom; as I have willingly risked my
preferring to go to Rochester, was obliged life on many occasions, for the welfare and
to wait for the permission of William, which honor of my country, I am still ready to do
arrived at eight o'clock in the morning.  He the same, with the hope, though advanced in
left Rochester for France, in the beginning years, to deliver England from the slavery
of January, 1689; and arrived at the port of which threatens it, convinced that it would
Ambleteuse, attended by the duke of Ber- be imprudent to subject myself to a prison,
wick, and Messrs. Sheldon and Abbadie. He which would prevent me from carrying my
then proceeded to St. Germain-en-Laye, to -plans into execution. I have been therefore
join the queen and prince of Wales, where induced to withdraw, but shall remain near
he was received by King Louis with that enough to return, when the nation will have
beneficence and greatness of mind which so discovered that it has been deceived, under
eminently characterized that monarch. Ac- the specious pretext of religion and liberty.
cording to Latrey, bishop of Salisbury, and I hope that God will, in his mercy, move the
other English writers, the reign of James II. hearts of my people to perceive theirunhappy
ended with his flight. They allege that the condition, and dispose them to consent to the




596                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
convening of a free parliament, in which, the people began to reflect and return to their
among other things, liberty of conscience duty; and anticipating, likewise, that if the
to all sects will be granted; that those of my parliament met at the time specified, they
religion may be permitted to live in peace, would in all probability adopt measures
as becomes all good Englishmen, and true necessary for the safety of church and state,
Christians; and that they will not be com- which would tend to destroy his ambitious
pelled to leave their country, to which they and unjust designs, resolved to prevent by
are so strongly attached.               every means the assembling of parliament.
" Those who have a knowledge of the pre- To effect this, he considered nothing would
sent state of things, will admit, that nothing be better than to seize our royal person, and
would contribute more to make England deprive us of our liberty.  For as a parliaprosper, than freedom of conscience, which ment cannot be termed free when either
causes some of our neighbors to fear it house suffers violence, neither can it be
would be granted.                       said that it can act if the sovereign, by
"If time would permit, many things could whose authority it has been assembled,
be added in vindication of what I have said. and whose sanction alone imparts validity
"Rochester, December 22d, 1688."       to the laws, be actually a prisoner.
"You need not be reminded with what
Letter of the King of England to the mem- haste the prince of Orange obliged us by his
bers of the Privy Council.      guards to leave London, when he discovered
"JAMES R.                         the city to be returning to its duty, and that
"My Lords,-So soon as we discovered he could not confide in the inhabitants: with
that there was no longer any security for us what indignity he has insulted us in the perto remain in our kingdom of England, and son of Earl Feversham, whom we deputed to
that we formed the resolution of retiring for him, and how inhumanly he caused us to be
some time, our motives for thus acting were arrested.  We doubt not but these matters
left to be communicated to you and to our are already too well known; we hope likeother subjects.  It was also our intention to wise, that when it is seen how the laws and
leave you our commands respecting what liberties of England, which he has pretended
would be best adapted to the present state of to secure by his invasion, have been violated,
affairs.  As this, however, could not have nothing more will be wanting to open the
been done without danger, we deem it right eyes of our subjects, and let them see what
to inform you now, although it be obvious each one has to expect, and what treatment
that since our accession to the crown all care they will receive from him, who, to carry his
has been applied to govern our people with i designs into execution, has treated with such
such moderation and justice as to remove indignity a sovereign prince, an uncle, and a
every pretext for complaint, that we had father. However, the resentment which we
given to these matters a greater regard since feel for these outrages, and our apprehensions
the last invasion. We know thatconspiracies that he would drive matters still further, as
have been plotted, and we fear that our well as the atrocious calumnies with which
subjects, who could not be destroyed but he asperses our reputation, bring to our rethrough themselves, may be drawn, under collection the words of our dear father, that
light and imaginary pretexts, into certain and' the way from the prison of a prince to his
inevitable ruin. To obviate this evil, we tomb is short,' and convince us that we ought
removed not only every cause of complaint, to recover that freedom which the laws of
but even the smallest pretext for it.  For nature allow, even to our meanest subject;
these purposes, and to bring to light any besides, our person being in safety, it will be
thing that could justify this invasion, it had in our power thereby to contribute our efforts
been determined by us to convene a free to the peace and tranquillity of our kingdom.
parliament, wherein the advice and opinion As adverse fortune never will influence us to
of our subjects can be obtained, and causes act in any way derogatory to the royal digfor the measures that have been taken as- nity, to which God has raised us by the
signed.  To attain these objects, we granted legitimate succession, neither shall the reto the city of London, and to other bodies bellion nor the ingratitude of our subjects
and communities, their ancient charters and ever make us act contrary to the true interprivileges, and our letters were issued for the ests of the English nation, which have been
assembling of a parliament to be held from and ever will be equally dear to us as our
the 15th to the 25th of January.  But the own. It is therefore our will, that you, our
Prince of Orange, finding that the ends of privy council, take very special care to make
his declaration had been attained, and that known our favorable intentions to all the




CHRISTIAN IRELAND                             597
spiritual and temporal lords in our cities of and to pray that he would appoint the 14th
London and Westminster, to the lord-mayor March for the states of Scotland to meet.
and commonalty of London, and to all our In consequence, their address was presentsubjects generally, and to assure them that ed, and a favorable answer received; notwe desire most eagerly to return to our king- withstanding which, some highland lords
dom, and to convenea free parliament, where continued still devoted to the king.
we may be able to undeceive our people, and   Ireland was the only part of the three
convince them of the sincerity of our decla- kingdoms that continued faithful to the soverations which have been so often renewed reign, and opposed to usurpation. The earl
by our avowal to preserve the liberties and of Tirconnel was the lord-lieutenant. There
properties of our subjects inviolate; to pre- was, however, a number of wicked characters
serve the Protestant religion and church of in Ireland; namely, the English and Scotch
England, as established by law; and at the fanatics whom the king's grandfather, James
same time to obtain for nonconformists, and I., established in the north of Ireland, and
all our subjects, all the indulgence which on whom he bestowed the estates of the anjustice and a care for the general good of our cient proprietors; and also the parricides and
people oblige us to require.  At the same soldiers to whom Cromwell gave the lands
time, you of our privy council will communi- of those who supported the royal cause, and
cate to us your opinions and advice respect- whom  Charles II., brother to the present
ing the means you will consider best and king, confirmed in their unjust possessions.
most prudent to pursue to promote our return These men, Incapable of gratitude, on the
and the success of our good intentions, which first news of the prince of Orange having
you, from being in the country, have in your landed in England, ran to arms and declared
power to perform. We moreover command in his favor against the grandson and brothyou to prevent, in our name and by our royal er of the benefactors to whom  they were
authority, all disorders and commotions which indebted for their fortunes.  This conduct
might arise, and to endeavor to preserve the was different from what the king expected;
nation and all our subjects against any losses it was in direct opposition to every sentiment
from the present revolution. As we entertain of gratitude which a generous mind ought to
no doubt of your loyalty and obedience to manifest for benefits received, and falsified
our commands, we bid you farewell. Given the detestable maxim of Clarendon, " Do
at St. Germain-en-Laye, the 4th of January, good to your enemies to gain them," &c.,
1689, and the fourth of our reign.       a maxim which that minister of iniquity often
"By command of his Majesty,          applied to Charles II. to secure his protec" MEELFORT.   tion for the nefarious usurpers of the proper"To the Lords and others of our Privy 1  ties of his faithful subjects.  The prot6ges
Council of our kingdom of England."'    of Clarendon were the first to raise the
standard of rebellion in Ireland,* and favor
In the height of this astonishing revoln- the usurpation of the prince of Orange.
tion, the prince of Orange being informed of Major Pooe, an officer of Cromwell, opened
the state of things in Scotland, commanded the scene and began hostilities.  He was
the peers of that country, several of whom commander of two companies of cavalry, and
were in London, to repair to St. James's. wishing to levy contributions on the country,
Thirty peers and eighty gentlemen met ac- he applied to the tenants of Lord Bellew.
cordingly.  William  made them the same Under pain of military law, he ordered them
offers he had done to the English, and sought to have five hundred pounds sterling made
their advice in the present conjuncture of up for him. Lord Bellew, apprized of what
affairs, and the means necessary for the pro- was going on, sent his second son, aged
tection of religion and the laws. They then eighteen years, to assist the farmers, with a
withdrew to Whitehall, where, after appoint- company of dragoons of which he was lieuing the duke of Hamilton president of the tenant.  The two corps having met, they
meeting, they began to discuss the terms fought with determined bravery, till young
they had to propose to the prince. The
proposal of the earl of Arran was unani-  * In our history of this war we made use, among
mously rejected; he was son to the duke of other memoirs that are in our possession, of a jourHamilton, and proposed to invite the king to nal which the late Edmond Butler of Kilcop, marreturn to Scotland, and laid down terms for shal-general of the Irish cavalry, left after him. He
him to submit to.  It was arranged instead, is the more worthy of belief as he was an eye-witness of what he sets forth. EHe died in 1725, at St.
at the meeting, to surrender the government Germain-en-Laye, quarter-master of cavalry in the
of their kingdom  to the prince of Orange, service of France.




598                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Bellew having killed Major Pooe with a above force. Having passed Dundalk and
blow of his pistol on the head, his two troops Newry, he stopped at Lough Bricklan, from
were defeated; several of whom fell in the whence he dispatched Butler of Kilcop, a
action, and the rest were put to flight.  cornet, to reconnoitre the enemy.  This
Soon after this occurrence, Lord Blaney* officer performed his commission valiantly.
made an attempt to surprise the town and He brought an account to his general, that
castle of Ardee.  A troop of cavalry which Lord Montgomery was within three miles,
Dominick Sheldon commanded, and which at the head of 8000 men, at a place called
belonged to the regiment of Tirconnel, was Dromore-Iveagh.  Hamilton set out on his
in the place, and the grenadiers of the earl march, and came up with the enemy, who
of Antrim's regiment, which was command- were boldly drawn up in order of battle, at
ed by Henry Fleming, was stationed in the Cladyfort.  Notwithstanding the superior
castle. Blaney finding his project discov- number of the rebels, the royalists attacked
ered, and the little garrison determined to them so vigorously that they took to flight,
defend themselves, desisted from the attack. and retreated in disorder towards HillsboThe remainder of the year 1689 was spent rough, where Montgomery left two compain raising troops and preparing for the en- nies of infantry in garrison.  He sent the
suing campaign.                         remainder of his forces to Coleraine under
It was then that the nobility of Ireland Sir Arthur Rydon, and sailed for England
raised, clothed, equipped, and armed, partly from Donaghadee.
at their own expense, thirty thousand men   In order to iollow up his victory, General
for the king's service. There were already Hamilton went in pursuit of the rebels; passsome old corps in Ireland, viz., the regiments ing through Hillsborough, and taking the
of Mountcashel, Tirconnel, Clancarty, An- troops Montgomery had left there, at their
trim, and of some others. The viceroy gave own request he dismissed them.  He still
the commissions of colonels to several of the followed the rebels through Belfast and Annobles. The country gentlemen raised some trim, as far as Coleraine, on the river Bann,
companies, which, when united with those but without being able to come up with them.
of the colonels, were formed into regiments. Having encamped at Ballimony, near ColeThe regiments of Inniskillen, of Hugh Mac- raine, he remained there three days, to reMahon, Edward Boy O'Reilly, Mac-Donnel, fresh his troops after their long march; he
Magennis, Cormac O'Neill, Gordon O'Neill, then examined into the situation and strength
Felix O'Neill, Brian O'Neill, Connact Ma- of the town, which in those times was conguire, O'Donnell, Nugent, Lutterell, Fitz- sidered to be strongly fortified.  Having
Gerald, Galmoy, O'Morra, and Clare, &c., neither artillery nor ammunition to carry on
soon appeared in the field. There was no a siege, he returned to Ballimony. The day
want of soldiers, but the soldiers were in following, which was Good Friday, a strong
want of almost every thing except courage body of rebels sallied forth to make booty
and good will; and the nobles, who under- of the cattle in the neighborhood, and take
went the first expense, were not able to sup- provisions necessary for a place threatened
port it long. There were also but few offi- with a siege; but Hamilton, with his cavcers who knew military tactics, and who had alry, drove them back to the gates of the
time to train and discipline the new levies. town.
In the month of March, the earl of Tirconnel   The king was still in France, and saw
sent Richard Hamilton, lieutenant-general how favorably disposed his Irish subjects
of the king's army, at the head of 2000 men, were towards him, the greater part of whom
against Hugh Montgomery, Lord Mount had continued faithful; only three small
Alexander, who had raised a regiment for towns-Londonderry, Coleraine, and Culthe prince of Orange, and was at the head mor —having rebelled in favor of the prince
of 8000 rebels in Ulster.  Hamilton set out ofOrange. The English pressed him strongfrom Drogheda on the 8th of March with the ly to send the necessary succors to support
these towns. The royalists thought his pres* Edward, father of Lord Blanev, was one of ence might be a check to the enemy; and
those adventurers to whom James I. gave estates being encouraged and assisted b  France,
in the county of Monaghan; this monarch created being encouraged and assisted by France,
him afterwards lord.baron. His son, who is intro- he set sail with the celebrated Gabaret, and
duced here, was one of James II.'s greatest ene- landed at Kinsale in March. At Cork he
mies, who was the grandson of his benefactor. Hie was joined by the earl of Tirconnel, whom
commanded a body of troops in Ulster against his he created duke, and proceeded to Dublin.
king. He proclaimed everywhere William king of   The duke of Berwick
Great Britain, in opposition to his legitimate sove-Th  duke of Berwick, accompanied by
reign.                                  several officers, arrived in the camp of Ham



CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                         599
ilton before Coleraine, and the same night ardor which his presence excited among
the general was informed that the enemy those of his own communion, marched tohad abandoned the place, after having bro- wards the north. The rebels were not a
ken the bridge. The day following he en- little alarmed at this,having previously given
tered Coleraine, and having repaired the up Coleraine and Culmor. The prince, acbridge and given the command of the place companied by M. Rose,* Lord Melford, and
to Colonel O'Morra, who commanded a regi- some troops, arrived at Saint-Johnstown,
mernt of infantry, he marched to Strabane, between Raphoe and Derry, the same day
where he refreshed his troops and held a Hamilton was in treaty with the deputies.
council of war. Here it was understood, The eagerness of the general to compliment
through a letter, that the troops of Innis- the king on his arrival, made him likewise
killen and Derry, making in the whole about eager to give him an account of the camn10,000 men, were collected at Clodybridge, paign. The monarch signified to General
on the river Finn, under the orders of Major- Hamilton his displeasure at the terms he
General Lundee, for the purpose of oppo- was about to grant to the rebels of Derry,
sing the royal army. After the contents of and marched himself directly for that town
this letter were communicated, the council with the fresh troops he had with him, and
determined to march and attack the rebels. immediately summoned it to surrender at
Hamilton set out with his army, and found discretion. This change made by the king
on his arrival that the first arch of the from the terms previously agreed upon, gave
bridge was broken, and a fort built on the great alarm to the garrison. It had been
other side, defended by 2,000 men drawn stipulated that the king's troops should not
out in order of battle upon an eminence advance till the place would be evacuated,
near the fort. To surmount these difficul- and now they began to doubt his sincerity.
ties, General Hamilton posted six companies It was determined therefore to defend the
of musketeers, with orders to fire on those town to the last extremity, while waiting
who were guarding the fort, for the purpose for succors that were expected from Engof covering some workmen sent to repair the land, and a Protestant minister named
bridge. Every thing was done with the Walker took the command of the garrison.
greatest order; the arch being repaired with   The king ordered Hamilton to begin the
planks and pieces of wood, the infantry siege. Artillery was accordingly sent for in
passed over without difficulty, while the April, and did not arrive till June; it concavalry was crossing the river in view of the sisted of two bad pieces of cannon, and two
enemy. This intrepid act disconcerted the mortars, with which came some powder.
rebels; not only those who were guarding The insurgents, in the mean time, collected
the fort, but the whole army took to flight, in bodies in the county of Down; but they
some of whom retreated to Derry, and some were dispersed by some troops under Majorto Inniskillen.  They were pursued to Ra- General Bohan.
phoe by the royalist troops, who killed many   During the siege of Derry the besieged
of them without any loss on their own side made several sallies against the besiegers,
except that of Robert Nangle, major in the of which the first remarkable one occurred
regiment of Tirconnel. Afterthis advantage on a Sunday, with5,000 men. King James's
over the rebels, Colonel Dundee, who corn- army, who were but 2,000 in number, remanded them, surrendered at Culmor and ceived them with such firmness that they
embarked for England.                  were forced to retreat with loss. The beHamilton found abundance of provisions sieged made two more sallies, but they
at Raphoe where he stopped, and was joined were unsuccessful as before.
by Lord Galmoy at the head of eight hun-   The royal army was reinforced a few'dred men from the garrison of Trim. During days afterwards by some newly-raised troops,
his stay there, he received some deputies who were as yet undisciplined. The whole
from Derry, who offered to capitulate. This then amounted to 10,000 men. The trenches
garrison consisted of 6,000 men; and the were opened before the place, and the gargeneral, who knew the importance of the rison was so straitened for provisions that
place, promised them their lives, properties, they were forced to eat dogs, cats, and leathand protection, on condition that the city er. To lighten their numbers, six companies
would surrender at twelve o'clock next day, belonging to Lord Mountjoy's regiment of
which terms were accepted and ratified on infantry were embarked and sent away.
both sides.                            It was well provided with warlike stores of
The king, who had stopped in Dublin,
wishing to benefit by the first moments of    * Deputy-Marshal of France.




600                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
every kind, and it had forty pieces of cannon reconnoitre the enemy.  One took the route
planted upon the walls, which annoyed the to Slane, and advanced through the rmrunbesiegers considerably. The succors by tains towards Ardee, the other proceeded on
which the prince of Orange intended to re- the sideof Lurgan Race. Theybrought back
lieve Derry, soon made their appearance. word to the king that Schomberg was enAn English fleet of twenty ships of war, camped; that his right wing was stretched
and three hundred transport vessels laden along Castle-Bellew, his centre extended
with provisions, warlike stores, and six thou- towards Dundalk, and his left towards the
sand troops, under the command of Major- sea. Upon this the king marched towards
General Kirke, appeared in Loughfoyle in Ardee, where he stopped; and the day fPthe beginning of August; but as some days lowing sent General Hamilton with the whole
were requisite to enter the town with safety, of the cavalry to the village of Aphene,
one Roche was dispatched to inform the where he was separated from the enemy by
garrison that succors were at hand. Afraid a bog and a small river. The king arrived
to venture by land, he swam a distance of after a few hours with the infantry, and entwo miles, and fulfilled his commission to camped, for some days, in presence of the
the satisfaction of his employers; for which enemy. The duke of Tirconnel, M. Rose,
he was afterwards amply rewarded with the and other general officers of the army, were
estate of Glinn, within two miles of Carrig- for attacking the enemy. The opportunity
nashure, which belonged to a gentleman was a favorable one, as sickness had got in
named Everard. Two days after Roche's among  Schomberg's troops, and out of
exploit, Captain James Hamilton entered twelve thousand men, of whom his army
Derry with two vessels laden with provi- was at first composed, there were not more
sions, which enabled it to hold out till the than three thousand remaining, so that if the
arrival of the aid they were expecting with proposed attackhadbeen undertaken,SchomMajor-GeneralKirke. Thisofficersucceed- berg would have been forced to decamp,
ed, in a few days, in breaking through the and return to his ships, three of which were
obstacles which had been placed in the har- in the harbor of Dundalk.
bor by the royalists to prevent him  from   The king, by the advice of his general
entering.  Having relieved the besieged, officers, put his army in order of battle, and
just as they were on the point of surrender- marched with a design of turning the enemy,
ing, the royalists were forced to withdraw on the side of the morass.  This proved only
on the tenth of August, after a siege of sev- an ostentatious parade; as scarcely had they
enty-three days. The king then ordered marched a league, when the prince ordered
Hamilton to lead the army towards Dublin, the troops to return to their camp, where they
in order to oppose Marshal Schomberg, who continued till October, without making any
was expected to land with an army in the attempt against the enemy. If it were perneighborhood of that city. Hamilton obey- mitted to censure the conduct of a wise and
ed the king's orders, after placing a garri- virtuous king, James II. might be reproached
son in Charlemont, under Captain O'Regan, with having committed two egregious overan officer of high repute.             sights, which deeply affected his cause, and
M. Rose not thinking the king's troops eventually caused the loss of Ireland. At
sufficient to oppose Schomberg, advised him Derry he rejected, contrary to sound policy,
to collect his forces about the centre of the a capitulation entered into between General
kingdom, and invite all his faithful subjects Hamilton and the garrison of that city. This
to join him. In consequence of this, he soon would have put into his hands that important
had an army of twenty thousand men as- place. It was the magazine of the north,
sembled at Drogheda.                   and besides being an arsenal, it afforded to
In the mean time, Schomberg landed be- his enemies, by its situation, an easy entrance
tween Carrickfergus and Belfast, and be- into the kingdom. At Dundalk he showed
sieged the former town, which was under the a weak compassion for the English, and an
command of Mac-Carty More, nephew to the imprudent clemency towards subjects armed
earl of Antrim, and lieutenant-colonel of his against their sovereign, and ready to tear the
regimentwhichwas inthe town. Mac-Carty sceptre from his hands, after they had viohaving but one barrel of powder, was forced lated all the respect due to royalty. It was
to surrender the castle after a feeble defence. in these circumstances that Monsieur Rose,
Schombergthenproceededtowards Dundalk. according to Larrey, observed to the king:
The king being arrived at Drogheda, sent " Sire, if you possessed a hundred kingdoms,
two lieutenants, Butler of Kilcop, and Gar- you would lose them."
land, each at the head of a detachment, to   The royal army at Aphene decamped the




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           601
10th October, in view of Schomberg. They they were badly provided with arms, and
marched to Ardee, where they remained till not well disciplined; their artillery consisted
the 25th of the month, after which they went of but twelve field-pieces that were brought
into winter quarters. The infantry was di- from  France.  This great disproportion of
vided among the garrisons, and the cavalry numbers induced the royal army to endeavor
stopped in the vicinity of Trara and Killeen, to take some posts and prevent the prince of
in the county of Meath.  Schomberg also Orange from advancing, or at least to fight
took up his winter quarters with the small him, under disadvantage.  It was therefore
portion of his troops that had escaped the proposed to encamp on the heights adjoining
contagion.                               Dundalk, which it would be difficult for him
In the month of February, 1690, the king to pass.  The enemy, however, by making
being informed that a body of insurgents had a small circuitous movement, would be able
assembled near Cavan, sent the duke of to gain the flat country at the rear of the royal
Berwick with troops to disperse them. The army; and therefore, in order to cut off the
duke found them much superior to him in communication, it was resolved that they
numbers-being in fact three to one.  A should encamp beyond the Boyne river, near
brisk battle was fought between some Eng- Drogheda.
lish cavalry and the king's infantry, the latter   The prince of Orange followed, and enof whom retired with loss. Colonel William camped opposite King James on the 29th
Nugent* had a leg broken, and died of his June.  On the day following, the enemy diwounds after a few days. Conly Mac-Geo- vided their army.  The prince of Orange
ghegan,t who was a colonel, and several with one half marched along the river as far
others, were killed; after this engagement as Slane, where he was opposed by two regithe duke of Berwick returned to Dublin.   ments of dragoons, commanded by Sir Neale
Louis XIV. sent, at this time, seven O'Neill, who guarded the pass, but these
French battalions to Ireland, under the com- being forced to give way, he advanced tomand of Count Lausun, who was to act as wards the royal army.  The king, who witgeneral under King James.  Six Irish bat- nessed this manceuvre, marched also on the
talions, forming the brigade of Mountcashel, same side, with the greatest part of his army,
were sent to France in exchange; they and left eight battalions commanded by Lieuembarked on board the fleet of Monsieur tenant-general Hamilton, to guard the pass at
Chateaurenaud, and arrived at Brest in the Oldbridge; the cavalry, which formed the
beginning of May.                        right wing, was commanded by the duke of
The prince of Orange landed in spring Berwick.  Schomberg, who continued on
in the north of Ireland, with a formidable the opposite site, attacked Oldbridge, and
army.  King James marched in June to meeting a feeble resistance from some newly
Dundalk. The enemy's forces amounted to raised and inexperienced corps, particularly
forty-five thousand men, well provided with two regiments of Clare dragoons, commanded
everything, and well trained, and had with by Charles O'Brien, second son of Lord
them sixty pieces of heavy cannon.  The Clare, he made himself master of the place.
troops of King James amounted to only Upon this, Hamilton proceeded down with
twenty-three thousand men, lately raised; seven other battalions to drive away the
enemy; but their cavalry having discovered
e HIe was brother to the earl of Westmeath; he another ford which they crossed, advanced
was an intrepid soldier, but rash.       another ford which they crossed, advanced
t He was son of Charles Mac-Geoghegan of upon the infantry with the hope of cutting
Sionan, a branch of the Mac-Geoghegans of Kin- the royal army into two, whereupon the duke
alyagh, in the county of Westmeath. Conly studied of Berwick moved his cavalry to cover the
the military art in France, where he served for some retreat of the battalions; but he had to begin
time, and passed as a good officer. The father and                       t
seven sons, of whom Conly was the'eldest, served a very unequal attack, both from the number
under King James with distinction in his war against of their squadrons, and the disadvantage of
the Prince of Orange. Of the seven brothers, five the ground, which was greatly intersected,
were killed in this war; the other two followed the and made more embarrassing by the enemy's
fortunes of their king into France, the eldest of whom, having slipped some infantry into it.  The
named Anthony, was created a chevalier, or knight.
Charles, the youngest, died while captain of grena- charge was renewed ten times, and at length
diers in the regiment of Berwick; he left three sons: the infantry making an obstinate stand, the
there is still living one named Alexander, in the cavalry halted; after which they formed
regiment of Lally; he distinguished himself in the again and marched at- a slow pace to join
Indies, September 30th, 1759, at the battle of Van- the king
davichi, where he commanded in the absence of
Lally, and had the honor of defeating the English   The king in the -mean time having rearmy, much superior to his in number.    formed his troops, in order to attack the
76




602                         HISTORY, OF IRELAND.
prince of Orange, found himself embarrass- on the 19th of August. The duke of Tired by a bog that separated the two armies; connel having given the necessary orders
whereupon, fearing that he would be sur- for its defence, appointed Monsieur Boisserounded by the army that had succeeded in leau, a captain of the French guards, and
taking the pass at Oldbridge, he wheeled to four Irish officers to act as brigadiers under
the left, to gain the river at Duleek, called him, to command the garrison. M. de Lauthe Nanny Water. The duke of Berwick sun proceeded to Galway with the remainder
arrived with the cavalry at the moment the of the French troops, to embark for France.
king had crossed the stream with the troops; The prince of Orange summoned the conmbut those of the prince of Orange, who were mander of Limerick to surrender the city,
continually advancing, arrived at the same but the answer of this brave officer soon led
time, which obliged the duke of Berwick to him to believe that the siege would be long
pass a defile, in full gallop and in disorder. andobstinate. Heavyartillery, therefore, was.
The whole army having rallied on the other then ordered for carrying it on. Colonel
side of the river, put themselves in order of Sarsfield, who commanded a body of 500
battle. The enemy did the same opposite cavalry, being informed that the enemy were
to them, but did not dare to attack them. bringing a part of the artillery by land,
After some pause they began to march, and crossed the Shannon at Killaloe, and by
were followed by a part of the enemy. Upon forced marches arrived before day at Cultheir reaching a defile, and halting, evei the lin, where he surprised the convoy. He
enemy did the same. This inactivity of the put the soldiers who were guarding it to the
latter might have been caused by the death sword, and having then spiked the cannon
of Schomberg, who was killed at the passage and broken the copper boats that were inof Oldbridge; he was the best general in the tended for the construction of a bridge across
army of the prince of Orange. Whatever the Shannon, to facilitate the crossing of
might have been the cause, the enemy suf- troops, he blew up the remaining part of the
fered the king's army to withdraw, who were artillery with the powder taken with the
now ordered (the night having come on) to convoy. The explosion was so great. that
march to Dublin.  This they effected the it was heard at the distance of fifteen miles
following morning, and thence the duke of around.  Sarsfield, after making a great
Tirconnel led his troops to Limerick. Each booty in horses and other things, marched
colonel received orders tolead his regiment through Banaghir, where he crossed the
by whatever route he thought best, which Shannon and returned to his camp.
they executed in good order. Brigadier   The expedition of Sarsfield amazed the
Surlauben formed the rear-guard with his prince of Orange, and considerably deranged
brigade, and the French whom Monsieur his operations; he was heard to say, that
Lausun brought to Ireland the year before, he did not imagine that Sarsfield was capamarched through Cork for Kinsale, and em- ble of so able a manceuvre. The prince,
barked for France.                     however, still continued the siege. The
The king seeing, from the ill-success he besiegers and the besieged were brave in
had in the battle of the Boyne, that he could their attacks and defence. A breach being
not save Dublin, thought it best to give the at length effected by the English artillery,
command to Tirconnel and return to France. six thousand men, supported by an equal
After this he stopped in the city but one number, having mounted to the assault,
night; he then proceeded direct to Water- were immediately hurled back, attended
ford, where he was received by Sir Nicholas with a loss of many lives. Thirty pieces
Porter, the mayor, and embarked for France. of cannon played incessantly upon the place,
The dukes of Tirconnel and Lausun ar- and the breach being increased, the enemy
rived in Limerick.  They were pursued by returned to the assault, but with less success
the prince of Orange, which obliged Tir- than at first. They were pursued to their
connel to send most of his cavalry across the very camp, to the heavy disappointment of
Shannon, and quarter them in the county of the prince of Orange, who rebuked his solClare.  The infantry he placed in the gar- diers with bitterness.  Boisseleau, the comrisons of Limerick, Athlone, Cork, and Kin- Imander of the place, made the English feel
sale. It was then that Lausun said, with what the Irish when well disciplined and
an oath, while viewing the fortifications of commanded were able to do. The prince
Limerick, "that his master would take it of Orange raised the siege after fourteen
with roast apples."  The-prince of Orange, days; the army decamped under General
in the mean time, having collected his forces, Ginkle in great disorder, after setting fire to
encamped within cannon shot of Limerick, the houses in which the sick and wounded




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          603
lay. They marched from thence to Birr, vised Saint Ruth to destroy the fortifications
while in the mean time the prince of of the Irish town, and to lead the army to
Orange had himself escorted to Waterford, oppose and prevent Ginkle from crossing
and embarked for England.              the bridge over the Shannon, as by this
As soon as the prince of Orange landed means he would be able to arrest his proin England, Lord Churchill, afterwards duke gress. But his advice being neglected by
of Marlborough, was sent to Ireland with a Saint Ruth, Ginkle had time to erect batreinforcement of troops and artillery, to lay teries against the Irish town, and his army
siege to Kinsale and afterwards to Cork. having crossed by a ford, in presence of St.
Both towns capitulated. The former was Ruth, who was encamped near the place, a
commanded by Colonel Scot, the latter by general assault was made the 10th of July.
Brigadier Mac-Elligot; they and their gar- The place was immediately carried, after a
risons surrendered prisoners of war, and the vigorous defence. More than a thousand of
officers were sent to England. The duke the Irish were killed, and three hundred
of Tirconnel, the count of Lausun, and Mon- taken prisoners.
sieur Boisseleau,went at this time to France,  After Athlone was taken the army of King
having confided the affairs of the kingdom to James marched to Ballinasloe, where they
the duke of Berwick. A misunderstanding stopped the day following. It was here
began now to break out between the Catho- that Tirconnel gave up the command. He
lic leaders of the royal army and the duke surrendered it to the Marquis de Saint Ruth.
of Tirconnel. Without consultinghim, agents This general marched his army the day folwere deputed to France where King James lowing, and having crossed the river Suck,
was residing, to solicit aid, and to know he encamped at Aughrim, which was a very
from the prince himself in whom they were advantageous position. The castle of Aughto confide.  The agents were, Colonels rim, situate at the head of a causeway, being
Purcell, baron of Luoghne, Lutterel, and the only place through which the enemy
Macclesfield. In consequence of this depu- could pass, protected its front; on the other
tation, M. de Saint Ruth* was sent in the side it was surrounded by a bog of great exspring to take the command, and the Chev- tent. The enemy, who were in pursuit of
alier de Tesse in quality of field-marshal, the Irish army, appeared on Monday the
with warlike stores and provisions.    22d, within view of the camp, and begall
The campaign began about the end of to defile through the causeway. Colonel
June, 1691, by besieging Ballymore and Walter Burke was posted with his regiment
Athlone. Colonel Ulick Burke was com- in the. castle to oppose their passage, but,
mander of the former of these two places: through some error fatal to the cause he
the Marquis d'Usson, and the Chevalier was engaged in, he was prevented from acTesse commanded Athlone. Baron Ginkle, complishing his object. Having ordered the
who was commander of the Protestant army, necessary ammunition to be sent for to the
left Mullingar the 6th of June. He march- camp, four barrels of powder, and as many
ed towards Ballymore, which he summoned of ammunition were forwarded; but instead
to surrender, and having received a doubt- of musket he found cannon balls, which were
ful answer from the governor, he ordered an of no use. In consequence of this, the eneattack. A breach being effected, and the my's cavalrypassed safelythroughthe causegarrison finding themselves unequal to de- way, while the infantry were crossing the
fend the place, surrendered at discretion. bog, and were drawn up in order of battle
The general after this put it into a state of before the Irish army. Saint Ruth, like a
defence, andmarchedtowardsAtlhlone. This skilful general, omitted nothing to resist
place, one of the most important in the them with effect. The battle began at one
kingdom, is situated on the river Shannon, o'clock with equal fury on both sides, and
which divides it into two, forming thereby lasted till night. James's infantry performtwo towns, separated by a bridge; that on ed prodigies of valor, driving the enemy
the east is called the English; that on the three times back to their cannon. It is said
west, the Irish town. The English town, that at the third repulse Saint Ruth threw
being the weaker, was attacked first-the his hat into the air with joy; but immefire of the cannon and musketry was so well diately after he unfortunately fell by a cankept up that it surrendered 29th June. Be- non-ball. His death soon changed the forfore the attack, the duke of Tirconnel ad- tune of the day; dreadful disorder followed;
the soldiers being left without a commander,
* He was after returning from Savoy, where he the infantry, unsupported by the cavalry,
commanded with distinction the troops of his master.                                   were crushed by the enemy's horse, and the
ter.-                     -       --     ~          I'




604                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
rout became general. The flower of the into exile, but they were surprised to witIrish army perished on this unhappy day, ness the numbers who signed for their reand had it not been for the presence of mind moval, preferring to share the fate of their
of the almoner of a regiment, calledO'Reilly, king, and enter the service of a foreign
who made a drum-major beat to the charge prince who had favored their cause, rather
on a hill near the bog through which James's than submit to the laws of a usurper at home.
army was to march, the loss would have Then it was that these generals regretted
been still greater.  By this stratagem the having consented to their emigration.  Four
vanquished gained sufficient time to take thousand five hundred men. marched direct
the road for Limerick.                  to Cork, under Sarsfield, Lord Lucan, and
After the defeat of James's army at Augh- other general officers, where, after remaining
rim, Galway and Sligo surrendered to the about a month, they sailed for France, and
English, and Ginkle laid siege to Limerick landed at Brest on the 3d of December.  At
on the 5th of September.  Monsieur D'Us- the same time, D'Usson and Tesse arrived
son had commanded the garrison since the from  Limerick on board the squadron of
death of Tirconnel, which took place on the M. de Chateau Renaud, with four thousand
24th of August, from excessive grief for the seven hundred and thirty-six Irish soldiers,
late reversesintheaffairsoftheking. D'Us- besides officers.  Major-General Wachop
son defended himself with a bravery equal sailed soon afterwards with about three
to that of Boisseleau, but not with the same thousand men on board English vessels, and
success. GeneralSarsfieldattemptedinvain these were tollowed by two companies of
to get four thousand horses into the town: the king's body guards. According to the
the cannon and bombs of the enemy played report of the commissioners, the whole of
day and night upon the place, and after a the Irish troops, including the officers, who
siege of five weeks, the money and provi- followed James to France, amounted to
sions of the garrison being exhausted, D'Us- nineteen thousand and fifty-nine men. Louis
son thought it more prudent to accept the XIV. received them with kindness, and ofconditions proposed by the enemy, and to fered them honorable terms,which they acsave what troops he had remaining, than to cepted.  They frequently received the most
let all perish by an obstinate resistance. flattering praises from this great monarch
The treaty was entered into, and the capitu- for their zeal and attachment.  Lord Mountlation signed on the 13th of October, on cashel always commanded the Irish brigade,
terms which could not be more honorable which bore his name.
or advantageous to the vanquished.        Louis XIV. having sent seven French
The treaty of Limerick contained forty- battalions to Ireland in the beginning of
two articles, twenty-nine of which had refer- the year 1690, whether that he required the
ence to the military.  By this treaty the same number of Irish troops in return, or
partisans of James had permission not only that James II., who was at that time in the
to leave Limerick, but also the kingdom,with country, thought proper to send them, three
the most glorious testimony which can be Irish regiments arrived at Brest in the beaccorded to the brave, that of having made ginning of May, on board French ships,
a gallant defence.  They were permitted to under the command of Justin Mac-Carty,
take with them  all they possessed, viz., Viscount Mountcashel, a lieutenant-general
chattels, plate, jewels, &c. The like privi- in England, and who still retained his rank
leges were granted to other garrisons, and in France.  The regiments composing this
to every Irish family who wished to go to brigade were, Mountcashel's-an old regiFrance. Vessels were also to be provided ment of long standing-O'Brien's, and Dilfor the removal of their persons and proper- lon's, each consisting of two battalions, conties, and nothing was omitted from the stip- taining one thousand six hundred men, diulation which could contribute to the safety vided into sixteen companies.  On their arand convenience of their voyage.        rival in France, Mountcashel entered into
After the treaty was concluded, the Irish an arrangement for this corps, by which the
army collected near Quine Abbey, in the officers were to be paid as they are at precounty of Clare, where it was resolved, that, sent:* and the soldiers a penny a-day more
in conformity with the articles of capitula- than the French.
tion, those who wished to go to France   This corps was sent to Savoy, where they
should send in their names to Monsieur Ta- distinguished themselves under Marshal de
meron, who had been sent to Ireland by Catinat, in the reduction of that province;
the French court. The English generals
thought that very few would willingly go              * A. D. 1754.








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9                                                                                    1       1
_,~;iiii~li:'.'':~i~      I~;                  ~. ~4
-1




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           605
particularly at the battle of Marseilles, gain- greater share in the king's favor than he
ed by the French on the 4th of November, possessed."*  Murrough O'Brien retained
1693.  Daniel O'Brien, colonel of the regi- the command of this regiment, under the
ment that bore his name, having inherited name of O'Brien's regiment, till his death,
his father's title, who had lately died, called which took place in 1720.  He left a son
it the Clare regiment. He died at Pignerol; called Daniel, a colonel of foot in the serMonsieur de Lee succeeded to his command. vice of King Louis, who was created a
Having quarrelled with Squiddy, the major knight of St. Lazarus in 1716, a peer of
of the regiment, he had him confined in the Ireland, under the title of earl of Lismore,
castle of Brianvon, and expelled the year in 1747, and received the grand cross of
following, and the majority given to Mur- the royal and military order of St. Louis in
rough O'Brien, who, after serving first in 1750.  He died at Rome in 1759.
Hamilton's regiment, entered that of Greder,   Dillon's was the only regiment of Lord
a German. He had the rank of captain in Mountcashel's brigade that retained its name.
Greder's, from which he exchanged into the It was raised in Ireland by Lord Dillon's
Clare regiment, still retaining his rank.    grandfather, and commanded by Arthur DilLord Mountcashel having died at Barege, lon, his second son, lieutenant-general of
from a wound in the chest which he received the king's army.  He died at St. Germainin Savoy the year he went to France, his en-Laye, in 1734. This nobleman added
regiment was given to De Lee, and after- to his illustrious birth superior skill in the
wards called Bulkley's regiment. Talbot, art of war, and his exploits have been celebrigadier-colonel of the Limerick regiment, brated in the annals of France.  He left
was appointed to the one De Lee had left. several sons, the eldest of whom succeeded
Talbot was natural son of the duke of Tir- his uncle, Lord Dillon. Two were killed
connel; he had served in France from his at the head of their regiments, at the battles
youth, and was deemed an able officer; he of Fontenoy and Lawfeld; and the last has
went to court in the March following his been lately translated from the archbishopric
appointment, where he was arrested and sent of Toulouse to that of Narbonne.
to the Bastille, for some inconsiderate ob-   The troops which had lately arrived in
servations which were communicated to the France, after the treaty of Limerick, were
king.  He remained a year in prison, and new-modelled in 1695, and reduced to twelve
his regiment was given to Charles O'Brien, regiments, the command of which was given
Viscount Clare, brother to him who died at to those who had most influence at the court
Pignerol after the battle of Marseilles.  of St. Germain. These regiments, called the
Charles O'Brien went to France in 1691, troops of the king of England, were,
after the surrender of Limerick, as captain   The king's regiment of cavalry:-Domiof James II.'s body-guard.  It is probable nick Sheldon, colonel; Edmond Prendergast,
that his regiment of dragoons, which he lieutenant-colonel; Edmond Butler, major;
commanded at the battle of the Boyne, had 4 captains, 6 lieutenants, 6 cornets.
been disbanded in Ireland.  After the battle   The queen's regiment of cavalry:-Lord
of Marseilles, he was appointed to the queen Galmoy, colonel; Rene de Carne, a Frenchof England's regiment of dragoons; O'Car- man, lieutenant-colonel; James Tobin, marol, the colonel, having been killed. He re- jor; 4 captains, 6 lieutenants, 6 cornets.
vived the name of the Clare regiment; he   The king's regiment of dragoons:-Lordwas killed in 1706, at the battle of Ramillies, viscount Kilmallock, (Sarsfield,) colonel;
and his regiment given to Lieutenant-colonel Turenne O'Carroll, lieutenant-colonel; De
Murrough O'Brien, who was descended from Salles, a Frenchman, major; 5 captains, 14
the house of Carrigogoiniol, a branch of the lieutenants, 14 cornets.
O'Brien family.  When lieutenant-colonel,   The queen's regiment of dragoons:he distinguished himself at the battle of Ra- Charles Viscount Clare, colonel; Alexander
millies by taking two stand of colors from Barnewal, lieutenant-colonel; Charles Maxthe enemy, which were deposited in the well, major; 5 captains, 14 lieutenants, 14
house of the Irish Benedictines at Ypres. cornets.
His skilful manoeuvre at Pallue, by which   The king's infantry regiment of guards:he saved Cambray, is still greater proof of William Dorington, colonel; Oliver O'Gara,
his talents; after it he received the rank lieutenant-colonel; John Rothe, major; 12
of field-marshal of the king's army. " If the captains, 28 lieutenants, 28 sub-lieutenants,
Marshal de Montesquieu had done him the 14 ensigns.
justice due to him for the affair at Pallue,"   The queen's regiment of infantry:says Thuomond, "he would have had a   * Memoirs of Thuomond, on the year 1712.




606                         HISTORY OF IRELAND.
Simon Luttrel, colonel; Francis Wachop, and then as Fitzjames's, was reduced to two
lieutenant-colonel; James O'Brien, major; squadrons. The infantry regiments and foot
12 captains, 28 lieutenants, 28 sub-lieuten- dragoons, consisting of seventeen battalions,
ants, 14 ensigns.                      were reduced to five, of one battalion each,
An infantry regiment of marines:-The and the companies which had previously
Lord Grand-prior, colonel; Nicholas Fitz- consisted of one hundred men, were reduced
gerald, lieutenant-colonel; Richard Nugent, to fifty. These regiments were known by
second lieutenant-colonel; Edmond O'Mad- the names of Dorington, (who had belonged
den, major; 11 captains, 28 lieutenants, 28 to the foot-guards,) Rothe, Burke, Albemarle,
sub-lieutenants, 14 ensigns.           Fitzgerald, Berwick, and Galmoy, their comThe Limerick regiment of infantry:-Sir manders. The regiments of Lee, Clare, and
John Fitzgerald, colonel; Jeremiah O'Ma- Dillon, underwent a similar change, in which
hony, lieutenant-colonel; William Thessy, state they continued till 1701, when a submajor; 12 captains, 28 lieutenants, 28 sub- lieutenant was added to each company.
lieutenants, 14 ensigns.                 From 1705 to 1711, each company of fifty
The Charlemont regiment of infantry:-  men had a foot-captain, a second captain, a
Gordon O'Neill, colonel; Hugh Mac-Mahon, lieutenant, two second lieutenants, a sublieutenant-colonel; Edmond Murphy, major; lieutenant, and ensign. In 1712 each com12 captains, 28 lieutenants, 28 sub-lieuten- pany was restored, with respect to officers,
ants, 14 ensigns.                     to the footing on which it had been in 1701,
Dublin regiment of infantry: —John Pow- and a brigade formed of the half-pay officers.
er, colonel: John Power, lieutenant-colonel;  The regiments of Burke and Dillon were
Theobald Burke, major; 12 captains, 28 engaged at the battle of Cremona, February,
lieutenants, 28 sub-lieutenants, 14 ensigns. 1702, in which they particularly distinguishThe Athlone regiment of infantry:-  ed themselves, and contributed mainly to the
Walter Burke, colonel; Owen Mac-Carty, defeat of the enemy. As a mark of his satislieutenant-colonel; Edmond Cantwell, ma- faction, the king increased the pay of the
jor; 12 captains, 28 lieutenants, 28 sub- foot-captains, not only of these regiments,
lieutenants, 14 ensigns.               but of three others which were on a footing
Clancarty regiment of infantry:-Roger with the French, to twenty-five pence a day,
Mac-Elligot, colonel; Edward Scott, lieu- and the lieutenants to twelve pence. The
tenant-colonel; Cornelius Murphy, major; pay of the second captains and lieutenants
6 captains, 16 lieutenants, 16 sub-lieuten- was increased in proportion. The soldiers
ants, 8 ensigns.                       also received one penny a-day additional.
Out of the regiments which the Irish no- Dillon's regiment received their reward in
bility had raised in 1689, for the service of hand, as they already had high pay.
James II., several were disbanded in Ire-   Sheldon's regiment of cavalry, to which
land. Most of those who went to France, a squadron was added, consisted of three
were embodied with those we have just squadrons in the war of 1700. They disbeen enumerating; the colonels descending tinguished themselves at the battle of Spire,
to the rank of captain, and the captains to on the 24th November, 1703; and the halfthat of lieutenants.  The regiments of pay captains and lieutenants who served
O'Neill, O'Donnel, Mac-Donnel, Maguire, with it, received an increase of pay.
Mac-Mahon, Magennis, were formed into  In 1708, the king of Spain began to raise
one; Edmond (Bouy) O'Reilly's (chief of two regiments of dragoons, and three Irish
the ancient tribe of the O'Reillys of Cavan) battalions, consisting of the prisoners taken
shared the same fate. He had raised two from the English army in the battle of Alregiments in Ireland for the king's service manza. These corps were officered by the
-one of dragoons, the other of infantry: half-pay officers who had served with the
the former was disbanded in Ireland, and Irish regiments in France.
the latter, which he brought to France, was   Peace having been concluded at Radstadt,
embodied with others; consequently this on the 6th of March, 1714, between France
nobleman remained without any regiment. and the emperor, the regiments of Lee, Clare,
His grandson, a captain in the regiment of Dillon, Rothe, and Berwick, were increased
Dillon, was considered chief of the O'Reillys. from twelve to fifteen companies, consisting
The first change made in the Irish troops each of forty men. In order to make up the
continued till the peace of Ryswick in 1697. three new  companies, the regiments of
In 1698, James II.'s body-guard and Gal- O'Donnel, which had previously belonged to
moy's regiment were disbanded. Sheldon's, Fitzgerald and Galmoy, and a second batwhich was afterwards known as Nugent's, talion which was added to Berwick's, were




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           607
disbanded. O'Donnel's was divided between   my, bearing date with these presents, for
the regiments of Lee and Clare; Galmoy's  the surrender of the said city, and suband Berwick's second battalions were joined   mission of the said army: it is agreed,
to those of Dillon, Rothe, and Berwick.   That,
From calculations and researches that  I. THE Roman Catholics of this kingdom
have been made at the war-office, it has been shall enjoy such privileges in the exercise of
ascertained, that, from  the arrival of the their religion, as are consistent with the
Irish troops in France, in 1691, to 1745, laws of Ireland; or as they did enjoy in the
the year of the battle of Fontenoy, more reign of King Charles the Second: and their
than four hundred and fifty thousand Irish- majesties, as soon as their affairs will permit
men died in the service of France.      them to summon a parliament in this kingBurke applied for, and obtained permission dom, will endeavor to procure the said Rofor his regiment, which had often served in man Catholics such farther security in that
Spain, (in order to avoid shifting,) to offer particular, as may preserve them from any
its services to the king of Spain. This being disturbance upon the account of their said
granted, he proceeded to that country, and religion.
subsequently served with distinction  in  II. All the inhabitants or residents of LimSicily, Africa, and Italy, during the war of erick, or any other garrison now in the
1733, under the king of the two Sicilies, to possession of the Irish, and all officers and
whom his father, the king of Spain, had sent soldiers, now in arms, under any commishim in 1758.  Burke's regiment remained sion of King James, or those authorized by
in Naples; it was called the king's corps, him to grant the same in the several counand received an addition of two battalions. ties of Limerick, Clare, Kerry, Cork, and
Through the changes which took place Mayo, or any of them; and all the commisamong the Irish troops in France, the king sioned officers in their majesties' quarters
of Spain was enabled to increase his three that belong to the Irish regiments now in
Irish regiments of foot by a battalion each, being, that are treated with, and who are
so that he had six made up of the- supernu- not prisoners of war, or have taken protecmerary men who remained unemployed in tion, and who shall return and submit to
France. They served at Oran in Sicily, and their majesties' obedience; and their and
in Italy in 1733, 1734, with the highest dis- every of their heirs, shall hold, possess, and
tinction-four of theses battalions, with the enjoy, all and every their estates of freeWalloon guards, were successful in 1713, in hold and inheritance; and all the rights,
repulsing the enemy at Veletry, and in saving titles, and interests, privileges and immuniDon Philip, who was in danger of being ties, which they, and every or any of them
taken prisoner.                         held, enjoyed, or were rightly and lawfully
entitled to in the reign of King Charles II.,
ARTICLES AGREED UPON THE THIRD DAY OF or at any time since, by the laws and statOCTOBER, ON1 THOUSAND SIX HUN-   utes that were in force in the said reign of
DRED AND NINETY-ONE.           King Charles II., and shall be put in possesBetween the Right Honorable Sir Charles sion, by order of the government, of such of
Porter Knight, and Thomas Coningsby, them as are in the king's hands, or the hands
Esq., lords-justices of Ireland; and his of his tenants, without being put to any suit
Excellency the Baron de Ginkle, lieu- or trouble therein; and all such estates shall
tenant-general, and commander-in-chief be freed and discharged from all arrears of
of the English army; on the one part,  crown-rents, quit-rents, and other public
And the Right Honorable Patrick Earl of charges, incurred and become due since MiLucan, Piercy Viscount Galhnoy, Colonel chaelinas, 1688, to the day of the date hereof:
Nicholas Purcel, Colonel Nicholas Cu- and all persons comprehended in this article
sack, Sir Toby Butler, Colonel Garret shall have, hold, and enjoy all their goods
Dillon, and Colonel John Brown; on the and chattels, real and personal, to them, or
other part:                           any of them belonging, and remaining either
In the behalf of the Irish inhabitants in the in their own hands, or the hands of any percity and county of Limerick, the counties sons whatsoever, in trust for, or for the use
of Clare, Kerry, Cork, Sligo, and Mayo. of them, or any of them: and all, and every
In consideration of the surrender of the city the said persons, of what profession, trade,
of Limerick, and other agreements made or calling soever they be, shall and may use,
between  the  said  Lieutenant-General exercise, and practise their several and reGinkle, the governor of the city of Lim- spective professions, trades, and callings, as
erick, and the generals of the Irish ar- freely as they did use, exercise, and enjoy the




608                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
same inthe reign of King Charles II.,provided soever, comprised in the foregoing articles,
that nothing in this article contained be con- shall be sued, molested, or impleaded at the
strued to extend to, or restore any forfeiting suit of any party or parties whatsoever, for
person now out of the kingdom, except what any trespasses by them committed, or for any
are hereafter comprised: provided also, that arms, horses, money, goods, chattels, merno person whatsoever shall have or enjoy the chandises, orprovisions whatsoever, by them
benefit of this article, that shall neglect or seized or taken during the time of the war.
refuse to take the oath of allegiance made And no person or persons whatsoever, in the
by act of parliament in England, in the first second or third articles comprised, shall be
year of the reign of their present majesties, sued, impleaded, or made accountable for
when thereunto required.                 the rents or mesne rates of any lands, teneIII. All merchants, or reputed merchants ments, or houses, by him or them received,
of the city of Limerick, or of any other gar- or enjoyed in this kingdom, since the beginrison now possessed by the Irish, or of any ning of the present war, to the day of the
town or place in the counties of Clare or date hereof, nor for any waste or trespass
Kerry, who are absent beyond the seas, that by him  or them  committed in any such
have not borne arms since their majesties' de- lands, tenements, or houses: and it is also
claration in February, 1688, shall have the agreed, that this article shall be mutual and
benefit of the second article, in the same reciprocal on both sides.
manner as if they were present; provided   VII. Everynobleman and gentlemancomsuch merchants, and reputed merchants, do prised in the said second and third articles,
repair into this kingdom within the space shall have liberty to ride with a sword, and
of eight months from the date hereof.    case of pistols, if they think fit; and keep a
IV. The following officers, viz., Colonel gun in their houses, for the defence of the
Simon Lutterel, Captain Rowland White, same, or for fowling.
Maurice Eustace of Yermanstown, Chievers   VIII. The inhabitants and residents in the
of Maystown, commonly called Mount-Leiin- city of Limerick, and other garrisons, shall
ster, now belonging to the regiments in the be permitted to remove their goods, chattels,
aforesaid garrisons and quarters of the Irish and provisions, out of the same, without bearmy, who were beyond the seas, and sent ing viewed and searched, or paying any
thither upon affairs of their respective regi- manner of duties, and shall not be comments, or the army in general, shall have the pelled to leave the houses or lodgings they
benefit and advantage of the second article, now have, for the space of six weeks next
provided they return hither within the space ensuing the date hereof.
of eight months from the date of these pres-   IX. The oath to be administered to such
ents, and submit to their majesties' govern- Roman Catholics as submit to their majesties'
ment, and take the above-mentioned oath.  government, shall be the oath abovesaid, and
V. That all and singular the said persons no other.
comprised in the second and third articles,   X. No person or persons who shall at any
shall have a general pardon of all attainders, time hereafter break these articles, or any of
outlawries, treasons, misprisions of treason, them, shall thereby make, or cause any other
premunires, felonies, trespasses, and other person or persons to forfeit or lose the benefit
crimes and misdemeanors whatsoever, by of the same.
them, or any of them, committed since the   XI. The lords-justices and general do
beginning of the reign of King James II.; and promise to use their utmost endeavors, that
if any of them are attainted by parliament, all the persons comprehended in the abovethe lords-justices, and general, will use their mentioned articles, shall be protected and
best endeavors to get the same repealed by defended from all arrests and executions for
parliament, and the outlawries to be reversed debt or damage, for the space of eight months
gratis, all but writing-clerks' fees.    next ensuing the date hereof.
VI. And whereas these present wars have   XII. Lastly, the lords-justices and general
drawn on great violences on both parts; and do undertake, that their majesties will ratify
that if leave were given to the bringing all these articles within the space of eight
sorts of private actions, the animosities would months, or sooner, and use their utmost enprobably continue, that have been too long deavors that the same shall be ratified and
on foot, and the public disturbances last: confirmed in parliament.
for the quieting and settling therefore of this   XIII. And whereas Colonel John Brown
kingdom, and avoiding those inconveniences stood indebted to several Protestants, by
which would be the necessary consequence judgments of record, which appearing to the
of the contrary, no person or persons what- late government, the Lord Tyrconnel, and




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           609
Lord Lucan, took away the effects the said general, or- one of them, did promise that
John Brown had to answer the said debts, the said clause should be made good, it being
and promised to clear the said John Brown within the intention of the capitulation, and
of the said debts; which effects were taken inserted in the foul draught thereof.  Our
for the public use of the Irish and their further will and pleasure is, and we do herearray, for freeing the said Lord Lucan of his by ratify and confirm the said omitted words,
said engagement, passed on their public ac- viz., " And all such as are under their procount, for payment of the said Protestants, tection in the said counties," hereby for us,
and for preventing the ruin of the said John our heirs and successors, ordaining and deBrown, and for satisfaction of his creditors, claring, that all and every person and perat the instance of the Lord Lucan, and the sons therein concerned, shall and may have,
rest of the persons aforesaid-it is agreed, receive, and enjoy the benefit thereof, in such
that the said lord-justices, and the said Baron and the same manner as if the said words
de Ginkle, shall intercede with the king and had been inserted in their proper place in
parliament, to have the estates secured to the said second article; any omission, deRoman Catholics, by articles and capitulation fect, or mistake in the said second article,
in this kingdom, charged with, and equally in any wise notwithstanding. Provided alliable to the payment of so much of the same ways, and our will and pleasure is, that
debts as the said Lord Lucan, upon stating these our letters patent shall be enrolled in
accounts with the said John Brown, shall our court of chancery in our said kingdom
certify under his hand, that the effects taken of Ireland, within the space of one year next
from the said Brown amount unto; which ensuing. In witness, &c.,witness ourself at
account is to be stated, and the balance Westminster, the twenty-fourth day of Febcertified by the said Lord Lucan in one-and- ruary, anno regni regis & reginae Gulielmi
twenty days after the date hereof.      & Mariae quarto per breve de privato sigillo.
For the true performance hereof, we have Nos autem tenorem premissor. predict. Ad
hereunto set our hands,                 requisitionem attornat. general. domini regis
CHAR. PORTER, THO. CONINGSBY, &  dominwe reginae pro regno Hiberniae.
BAR. DE GCINKLE.                  Duximus exemplificand. per presentes. In
Present-                                cujus rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri
Scravenmore, H. Maccay, T. Talmash. fecinus patentes. Testibus nobis ipsis apud
Westmon. quinto die Aprilis annoq. regni
And whereas the said city of Limerick eorum quarto.
hath been since, in pursuance of the said                            BRIDGES.
articles, surrendered unto us. Now knowye,   Examinat. per nos
that we having considered of the said arti-    S. Keck,              In Cancel.
cles, are graciously pleased hereby to de-     LACON WM. CHILDE. S Magistros.
clare, that we do, for us, our heirs, and successors, as far as in us lies, ratify and confirm MILITARY ARTICLES agreed upon between
the same, and every clause, matter, and thing   the Baron de Ginkle, lieutenant-general
therein contained.  And as to such parts  and commander-in-chief of the English
thereof for which an act of parliament shall  army, on the one side,
be found to be necessary, we shall recom- And the Lieutenant-generals DeUssoon and
mend the same to be made good by parlia-   De Tesse, commanders-in-chief of the
ment, and shall give our royal assent to any   Irish army, on the other; and the general
bill or bills that shall be passed by our two   officers hereunto subscribing.
houses of parliament to that purpose. And   I. THAT all persons without any excepwhereas it appears unto us, that it was agreed tions, of what quality or condition soever,
between the parties to the said articles, that that are willing to leave the kingdom of Ireafter the words Limerick, Clare, Kerry, Cork, land, shall have free liberty to go to any counMayo, or any of them, in the second of the try beyond the seas (England and Scotland
said articles, the words following, viz., " And excepted) where they think fit, with their
all such as are under their protection in the families, household-stuff, plate, and jewels.
said counties," should be inserted, and be   II. That all general officers, colonels, and
part of the said articles. Which words hav- generally all other officers of horse, dragoons,
ing been casually omitted by the writer, the and foot-guards, troopers,dragooners, soldiers
omission was not discovered till after the of all kinds, that are in any garrison, place,
said articles were signed, but was taken or post, now in the hands of the Irish, or
notice of before the second town was sur- encamped in the counties of Cork, Clare, and
rendered; and that our said justices, and Kerry, as also those called Rapparees, or
77




610                           HIISTORY OF IRELAND.
volunteers, that are willing to go beyond seas transported as aforesaid; and all other peras aforesaid, shall have free leave to embark sons belonging to them, are to observe good
themselves wherever the ships are that are order in their march and quarters, and shall
appointed to transport them, and to come in restore whatever they shall take from the
whole bodies as they are now composed, or country, or make restitution for the same.
in parties, companies, or otherwise, without   VII. That to facilitate the transporting
having any impediment, directly orindirectly. the said troops, the general will furnish fifty
III. That all persons above-mentioned, ships, each ship's burden two hundred tons;
that are willing to leave Ireland and go into for which the persons to be transported shall
France, shall have leave to declare it at the not be obliged to pay; and twenty more, if
times and places hereafter mentioned, viz.: there shall be occasion, without their paying
the troops in Limerick, on Tuesday next in for them; and if any of the said ships shall
Limerick; the horse at their camp on be of lesser burden, he will furnish more
Wednesday; and the other forces that are in number to countervail; and also give two
dispersed in the counties of Clare, Kerry, and men-of-war to embark the principal officers,
Cork, on the 8th instant, and on none other, and serve for a convoy to the vessels of
before Monsieur Tameron, the French in- burden.
tendant, and Colonel Withers; and after such   VIII. That a commissary shall be immedeclaration is made, the troops that will go diately sent to Cork to visit the transport
into France must remain under the command ships, and what condition they are in for
and discipline of their officers that are to con- sailing; and that as soon as they are ready,
duct them thither; and deserters of each side the troops to be transported shall march with
shall be given up, and punished accordingly. all convenient speed, the nearest way in order
IV. That all English and Scotch officers to embark there; and if there shall be any
that serve now in Ireland, shall be included more men to be transported than can be carin this capitulation, as well for the security ried off in the said fift.y ships, the rest shall
of their estates and goods in England, Scot- quit the English town of Limerick, and
land, and Ireland, (if they are willing to re- march to such quarters as shall be appointed
main here,) as for passing freely into France, for them, convenient for their transportaor any other country to serve.           tion; where they shall remain till the other
V. That all the general French officers, twenty ships be ready, which are to be in a
the intendant, the engineers, the commissa- month; and may embark on any French
ries at war, and of the artillery, the treas- ship that may come in the mean time.
urer, and other French officers, strangers, and   IX. That the said ships shall be furnished
all others whatsoever, that are in Sligo, Ross, with forage for horse, and all necessary proClare, or in the army, or that do trade or visions to subsist the officers, troops, dracommerce, or are otherwise employed in goons, and soldiers, and all other persons
any kind of station or condition, shall have that are shipped to be transported into
free leave to pass into France, or any other France; which provisions shall be paid for
country, and shall have leave to ship them- as soon as all are disembarked at Brest or
selves, with all their horses, equipage, plate, Nants, upon the coast of Brittany, or any
papers, and all their effects whatever; and other port of France they can make.
that General Ginkle will order passports for   X. And to secure the return of the said
them, convoys, and carriages by land and ships, (the danger of the seas excepted,) and,water, to carry them safe from Limerick to payment for the said provisions, sufficient
the ships where they shall be embarked, hostages shall be given.
without paying any thing for the said car-   XI. That the garrisons of Clare-castle,
riages, or to those that are employed therein, Ross, and all other foot that are in garrisons
with their horses, cars, boats, and shallops. in the counties of Clare, Cork, and Kerry,
VI. That if any of the aforesaid equi- shall have the advantage of this present capages, merchandise, horses, money, plate, or pitulation; and such part of those garrisons
other moveables, or household-stuff belong- as design to go beyond seas, shall march
ing to the said Irish troops, or to the French out with their arms, baggage, drums beating,
officers,, or other particular persons whatso- ball in mouth, match lighted at both ends,
ever, be robbed, destroyed, or taken away and colors flying, with all the provisions,
by the troops of the said general, the said and half the ammunition that is in the said
general will order it to be restored, or pay- garrisons, and join the horse that march to
ment to be made according to the value that be transported; or if then there is not shipis given in upon oath by the person so robbed ping enough for the body of foot that is to
or plundered; and the said Irish troops to be be next transported after the horse, General




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                            611
Ginkle will order that they be furnished to pass into France, if they are willing
with carriages for that purpose, and what to go.
provisions they shall want in their march,   XIX. That at the signing hereof, the
they paying for the said provisions, or else general will send a ship express to France;
that they may take it out of their own maga- and that besides, he will furnish two small
zines.                                   ships of those that are now in the river of
XII. That all the troops of horse and Limerick, to transport two persons into
dragoons that are in the counties of Cork, France that are to be sent to give notice of
Kerry, and Clare, shall also have the bene- this treaty; and that the commanders of the
fit of this capitulation; and that such as will said ships shall have orders to put ashore
pass into France, shall have quarters given at the next port of France where they shall
them  in the counties of Clare and Kerry, make.
apart from the troops that are comnianded   XX. That all those of the said troops,
by General Ginkle, until they can be ship- officers, and others, of what character soped; and within their quarters they shall ever, that would pass into France, shall not
pay for every thing, except forage and pas- be stopped upon the account of debt, or any
ture for their horses, which shall be fur- other pretext.
nished gratis.                              XXI. If after signing this present treaty,
XIII. Those of the garrison of Sligo that and before the arrival of the fleet, a French
are joined to the Irish army, shall have the packet-boat, or other transport-ship, shall
benefit of this capitulation; and orders shall arrive from France in any other part of Irebe sent to them that are to convey them up, land, the general will order a passport, not
to bring them hither to Limerick the shortest only for such as must go on board the said
way.                                     ships, but to the ships to come to the nearXIV. The Irish may have liberty to trans- est port to the place where the troops to be
port nine hundred horse, including horses for transported shall be quartered.
the officers, which shallbe transported gratis;   XXII. That after the arrival of the said
and as for the troopers that stay behind, they fleet, there shall be free communication and
shall dispose of themselves as they shall passage between it and the quarters of the
think fit, giving up their horses and arms to above said troops; and especially for all
such persons as the general shall appoint. those that have passes from the chief comXV. It shall be permitted to those that manders of the said fleet, or from Monsieur
are appointed to take care for the subsist- Tameron, the intendant.
ence of the horse that are willing to go into   XXIII. In consideration of the present
France, to buy hay and corn at the king's capitulation, the two towns of Limerick shall
rates wherever they can find it, in the quar- be delivered and put into the hands of the
ters that are assigned for them, without any general, or any other person he shall appoint,
let or molestation, and to carry all necessary at the time and days hereafter specified,
provisions out of the city of Limerick; and viz: the Irish town, except the magazines
for this purpose, the general will furnish and hospital, on the day of the signing of
convenient carriages for them to the places these present articles; and as for the Engwhere they shall be embarked.            lish town, it shall remain, together with the
XVI. It shall be lawful to make use of island, and the free passage of Thuomondthe hay preserved in the stores of the county bridge, in the hands of those of the Irish
of Kerry, for the horses that shall be em- army that are now in the garrison, or that
barked; and if there be not enough, it shall shall hereafter come from the counties of
be lawful to buy hay and oats wherever it Cork, Clare, Kerry, Sligo, and other places
shall be found, at the king's rates.     above mentioned, until there shall be conXVII. That all prisoners of war, that venience found for their transportation.
were in Ireland the 28th of September,   XXIV. And to prevent all disorders that
shall be set at liberty on both sides; and the may happen between the garrison that the
general promises to use his endeavors that general shall place in the Irish town, which
those that are in England and Flanders shall be delivered to him, and the Irish
shall be set at liberty also.            troopers that shall remain in the English
XVIII. The general will cause provisions town and the island, (which they may.do
and medicines to be furnished to the sick and until the troops to be embarked on the first
wounded officers, troopers, dragoons, and fifty ships shall be gone for France, and no
soldiers of the Irish army that cannot pass longer,) they shall intrench themselves on
into France at the first embarkment; and both sides, to hinder the communication of
after they are cured, will order them  ships the said garrisons; and it shall be prohibit



612                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
ed on both sides, to offer any thing that is executed, there happens any change in the
offensive; and the parties offending shall government, or command of the army, which
be punished on either side.               is now commanded by General Ginkle; all
XXV. That it shall be lawful for the said those that shall be appointed to command
garrison to march out all at once, or at dif- the same, shall be obliged to observe and
ferent times, as they can be embarked, with execute what is specified in these articles,
arms, baggage, drums beating, match lighted or cause it to be executed punctually, and
at both ends, bullet in mouth, colors flying, shall not act contrary on any account.
six brass guns, such as the besieged will  In faith of which we have subscribed our
choose, two mortar-pieces, and half the am- names, the 13th of October, 1691.  Signed
munition that is now in the magazines of -Dussen, le chevalier De Tesse, Lucan,
the said place; and for this purpose, an in- Wachop, and La Tour-Montfort.  Charles
ventory of all the ammunition in the garrison Porter, Thomas Coningsby, Baron Ginkle.
shall be made, in the presence of any person
that the general shall appoint, the next day   However willing the prince of Orange
after these present articles shall be signed. might have been to support the Irish CathoXXVI. All the magazines of provisions lics in the enjoyment of the privileges which
shall remain in the hands of those that are were granted to them by the treaty of Limnow employed to take care of the same, for erick, it is certain that the English governthe subsistence of those of the Irish army ment did not fulfil the articles of capitulation.
that will pass into France; and if there shall After a disastrous war, in which their chief
not be sufficient in the stores for the support objects were the interest of their religion
of the said troops while they stay in this and the inviolable fidelity which they thought
kingdom, and are crossing the seas, that, due to their king, they, however, had at least
upon giving up an account of their numbers, the satisfaction of having the freedom  of
the general will furnish them with sufficient conscience  conceded  by this celebrated
provisions at the king's rates; and that there treaty.  The honor and good faith of the
shall be a free market at Limerick, and other prince of Orange were the only guarantees
quarters where the said troops shall be; of this compact; he had affixed the great
and in case any provisions shall remain in seal of England to it; he ratified in the
the magazines of Limerick when the town most solemn manner the agreement of his
shall be given up, it shall be valued, and the generals with the chiefs of the Irish army,
price deducted out of what is to be paid for and bound himself and his successors to use
the provisions to be furnished to the troops every effort to have all the articles of the
on ship-board.                            treaty fulfilled and ratified by the parliament.
XXVII. That there shall be a cessation   According to the first of these articlesof arms at land, as also at sea, with respect The Roman Catholics of this kingdom shall
to the ships, whether English, Dutch, or enjoy such privileges in the exercise of their
French, designed for the transportation of religion as are consistent with the laws of
the said troops, until they shall be returned Ireland, or as they did enjoy in the reign of
to their respective harbors; and that, on King Charles the Second; and their majesboth sides, they shall be furnished with suf- ties, as soon as their affairs will permit them
ficient passports both for ships and men; to summon a parliament in this kingdom, will
and if any sea-commander, or captain of a endeavor to procure the said Roman Cathoship, or any officer, trooper, dragoon, soldier, lics such farther security in that particular,
or any other person, shall act contrary to this as may preserve them from any disturbance
cessation, the persons so acting shall be pun- upon the account of their said religion.
ished on either side, and satisfaction shall   However, numerous acts of parliament
be made for the wrong that is done; and were passed,by which this article was annulofficers shall be sent to the mouth of the led. By the provisions of the statute called,
river of Limerick, to give notice to the coin- An act to prevent the increase of Popery, it
manders of the English and French fleets was prohibited, under pain of prcemunire,* to
of the present conjuncture, that they may convert or be converted to the Catholic reobserve the cessation of arms accordingly. ligion; and also to give children a foreign
XXVIII. That for the security of the
execution of this present capitulation, and of  * This is a species of law that strips the crimieach article therein contained, the besieged nal of all his goods, deprives him of his liberty and
shall give the following hostages...   - the protection of the laws, exposes him to every..   insult and bad treatment, without any remedy; it
And the general shall give......     renders him infamous, and, in fine, leaves him nothXXIX. If before this capitulation is fully ing but the life he is to lose.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           613
education, while the Catholics had neither   By these reports it will be seen that three
schools nor colleges to have them instructed thousand nine hundred and twenty-one Irishat home, and Catholics were prohibited from men, and fifty-seven Englishmen were proteaching under the most rigorous penalties. scribed.  If the sacrifices made by both
At almost every meeting of parliament, were the same, how different has been the
the Catholics experienced some new proofs number of victims. It will also appear from
of its severity.  In 1697, all archbishops, them, how much those who followed the
bishops, vicars-general, deans, and other fortunes of James II. had lost; how their
ecclesiastics, as also all monks, of whatso- estates were plundered and laid waste; what
ever order they were, were commanded to abuses were committed in the confiscations,
quit the kingdom before the first of May, by men of the highest rank; what immense
1698; it being ordained that those who fortunes were unjustly acquired at that time
should be discovered after the expiration of by the most obscure characters; and lastly,
that time, should be closely imprisoned in what inconsiderable advantages accrued to
the public jail of the place in which they William, and to the crown of England, by
would be taken, till they could be sent beyond these confiscations.  We will also discover
the seas, and that if any who had been thus the manner in which these proceedings were
transported had the boldness to return, they conducted, and get some knowledge of the
should be punished as guilty of high treason. forms and customs of the inferior courts of
By other acts the Irish nobility were de- law in Great Britain. An idea, also, may
prived of their arms and horses; they were be arrived at of English and Irish parliadebarred from purchasing land, from  be- ments at the time, and of the nature of their
coming members of the bar, or filling any deliberations.
public office; and, contrary to the ninth article of the treaty, they were made subject Report of the commissioners appointed by the
to infamous oaths.                        parliament of England to take cognizance
Thus were the Irish Catholics treated, in   of the properties that were confiscated upon
violation of a solemn compact, rendered sa-  Irish who were concerned in the rebellion
cred by every necessary formality.  But, to   of 1688,* to the honorable house of comthe disgrace of mankind, experience proves   mons, December 15, 1699.
that power has more influence in the fulfil-  1st. Gentlemen,-In virtue of the power
ment of treaties than the good faith of those granted to us by a late act of parliament,
by whom they are signed.                made in the tenth and the eleventh years of
After the celebrated treaty of Riswick, in his majesty's reign, styled, An act for the
1697, by which peace was restored to all granting to his majesty the sum of one milEurope, the greater part of the standing lion four hundred and eighty-four thousand
army in England was to have been dis- and fifteen pounds one shilling and eleven
banded, but money was wanting to pay the pence three farthings, to enable him to disarrears due to the officers, provision-con- band the troops, and provide for the maintractors, &c. The English, however, soon tenance of the fleet, and other necessary
discovered means for these purposes, with- expenses, we have inquired into the state of
out any cost to themselves. A supply of the properties which have been confiscated
one million sterling was granted by parlia- in Ireland.
ment, to be raised by the confiscation of the   12.-On account of the late rebellion,
estates of the Irish Catholics who had taken fifty-seven persons have been proscribed in
up arms for James II. after the year 1688; England, since the 13th February, 1688,
commissioners being appointed to inquire and three thousand nine hundred and tweninto the nature of these estates, and to as- ty-one in Ireland. The aggregate, with the
certain what they would produce for the names of the counties in which they were
above-mentioned purposes.               attainted, is inserted in a book presented
The reports of the commissioners to the with this report, No. 1.
house of commons on the affairs for which   13. —The lands which belonged to the
they had been nominated, are subjoined. said persons since the 13th February, 1688,
They were printed in London in 1700, by with the name of the owners, the number
order of parliament.  They contain in all of acres confiscated, the names of the counninety paragraphs; but we pass over here, ties and baronies in which they are situated,
those from the first to the twelfth, the rest the annual revenue, and the value of capital,
being only accounts of the difficulties which   * They stigmatize with the name of rebellion the
the commissioners had to contend with in efforts of the Catholics of Ireland in favor of their
the fulfilment of their trust.          legitimate king.




614                            HISTORY OF IRELAND.
are contained in a book* presented with this   16.-Three letters —one from  the late
report, No. 2.                             Queen Mary, dated March loth, to Lord Sid14.-We calculate that the confiscated ney, Sir Charles Porter, and Mr. Thomas
lands in the following counties are of the Coningsby, lords-justices and governors of
value and extent as subjoined:             the kingdom of Ireland; another from the
same queen, dated 6th May, 1693, to the
OUNTIEs.   R.  A. AnnualValue.  Real Value.  same Lord-viscount Sidney, then viceroy
and governor-general of that kingdom, and
~  s. d.   ~   s. d. to the privy council; and a third letter from
Antrim.... 10103 2 1944 18 6 25284  0  6 the king, April 24, 1694, to Lord Henry
Armagh... 4962 0  588  0 0  7644 0 0
Cork.   244320 0532133 12 60417737  2  6 Capel, Sir Cyrillwick, and Mr. Duncombe,
Carlow....  26303 0 7913 11 6 95872  2  0 then lord-justice of Ireland, and to the privy
Clare.....   72246 0 12060 17 0 156791  1 0 council, authorizing them to attend to the
Cavan....[ 3830 1  478 12 6  6222 2  6 representations of those who considered
Dublin       34546 0 16061  6 0208796 18  0 themselves entitled to take advantage of the
Down.         9079 0 1016 6 6 13212 4  6
Fermanagh.. 1945 0  389  0 0  5057  0 0 treaties of Limerick and Galway, and to do
Galway....60825 0 10225 4 0 83528 18  0 them justice. It was therefore-decided that
Kildare...  44281 116551 18 6 215175  0  6 four hundred and ninety-one persons should
King's Co... 30459 3 6870 18 0 89321 14 0 have the benefit of the above-named treaties.
Kilkenny... 30152 2 5243  3 6 68161  5 6 Their names, rank the time they were put
Kerry..... 90116 0 3652 11 9 47483 12 9          names, r ank, the time they   were put
Limerick..  14882 3 4728 10 0 61470 10 0 into possession of what they had lost, are
Longford..  2067 2  348 99  4530  6 9 contained in the book presented to you, genLouth and    22508 0 6331 11 0 82310  3  0 tlemen, endorsed No. 3.
Drogheda                                      17.-Further, a commission dated FebMayoth. 19294 0 3186 4 0 37598 3 0 ruary 25, in the eighth year of his majesty's
Monaghan. 3832 0  558 16 0  7264  8 0 reign, with the great seal of Ireland affixed
Queen's Co.. 22657 0 5002  8 9 65031 13  9 to it, empowering the judges of the several
Roscommon. 28933 0 5808 15 0 69767 2 0 courts, or five of them, to inquire into the
Sligo...pperary.  55960    998 17 6 12985  7 6 claims of the proscribed; in consequence of
Tipperary    31960 3 8888 12 6115552 2  6
Wicklow.. 18164 0 2719  3 0 35348 19 0 which, seven hundred and ninety-two perWestmeath. 58083 0 14633 12 6 190237  2  6 sons were found entitled to the benefit of the
Wexford... 55882 2 7551 10 6 98169 16  6 above-named articles.  The names of those
Waterford.. 21343 0 4190  0 0, 54476 10 0 persons, their rank, and the nature of the
estates which have been restored to them,
According to this calculation there were one and the periods, are specified in a book
million and sixty thousand seven hundred added to the report, No. 4.
and ninety-two acres, producing an annual   18.-The estates thus restored, contain
income of two hundred and eleven thousand two hundred and thirty-three thousand one
six hundred and twenty-three pounds six hundred and six acres, producing an annual
shillings and three pence sterling; the real income of fifty-five thousand seven hundred
value of which amounts to two millions six and sixty-three pounds six shillings and six
hundred and eighty-five thousand one hun- pence sterling, and are valued at seven hundred and thirty pounds sterling, independ- dred and twenty-four thousand nine hundred
ently of several other estates confiscated, of and twenty-three pounds I and four pence
which we cannot undertake to give a valua- sterling.  An account of the rent and value
tion, from their not having been accurately of each, the names of the counties or barosurveyed. We consider the above to be the nies in which the above-named estates lie,
value of the estates confiscated since the with the names and rank of the owners, are
13th February, 1688.                       specified in No. 4.
15. —We deem it our duty now to inform    19. —We do not presume to question, if
you of the number of acres that have been their majesties' letters above named, to the
restored to their former owners, in virtue lords-justices and council, or the commission
of the treaties of Limerick and Galway, or to which the great seal has been affixed,
through the particular favor of his majesty. could invest any person with a power necessary for summoning his majesty's subjects,
* Every effort has been used by us to discover and oblige them to come from  any part of
that book in which are contained the names of the the kingdom, to take an oath and try them
proprietors, in order to introduce them here in favor without any judicial form, and raise money
of their descendants, many of whom are still living;
but our efforts to find it have been in vain.-J. under the name and pretext of a salary, &c.,.iM'Geoghegan.                             without any act of parliament to authorize




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                         615
such proceedings. We humbly submitthis   24.-The other, granted as favors by
observation to your wisdom.            his majesty, or letters from the late queen,
20.-We consider it our duty, gentlemen, or by orders, subsequently to the battle of the
to inform you, that in these courts, establish- Boyne, are in a book joined to this report,
ed in the extraordinary manner we have No. 5.-The number of these persons is
named, exorbitant salaries were required: sixty-five. The estates thus restored conJthat Palmer, who held the office of register tain seventy-four thousand seven hundred
under Mr. Poultney, with whom he shared and thirty-three acres, producing an annual
the profits, demanded from Mr. Luke Dil- income of twenty thousand and sixty-six
Ion, when his father's property was restored pounds eight pence three farthings, sterling,
to him, the sum of eighty-six pounds ster- and worth two hundred and sixty thousand
ling; and Mr. Steel, the crier of the same eight hundred and sixty-three pounds seven
court, fifteen pounds, besides ten pounds pence three farthings, sterling. The names
he had given to Palmer at different periods of the counties, baronies, persons, and rank,
while the trial was pending for two years. are specified in a book, No. 2.
This is not an individual instance; many   25.-We now think it necessary to inothers have paid large sums in similar cases. form you of what we have discovered in the
Previously to our being appointed commis- different provinces, and which appears very
sioners, nearly five pounds was paid on pre- probable, that many have obtained favors
senting the first petition, though it was for- from his majesty, by giving money, who had
mally declared, in the articles of the treaty enjoyed, and have abused his confidence;
of Limerick, that none but clerks were to but in our endeavors to investigate this
receive payment for their writings.    matter, we were unable to overcome the
21.-We may add, that complaints be- difficulty; these arrangements had been
came general, and we can say with justice, made in the most private manner, and be-:
against the last court that was established tween those who are not at present in the
for receiving petitions. Many have been kingdom. We shall, nevertheless, lay proofs
tried without their petitions being heard; before you, gentlemen, of money having
others, a day or two after they had been been the means of restoring many persons
received, before the king's counsel or the to their properties.
witnesses had been heard, which is contrary   26.-Lord Bellew gave Lord Raby* one
to the rules of the court itself, according to thousand pounds, besides seven or eight
which there should be fourteen days between hundred pounds which were due to him, on
the admission of the claim and the trial. In condition that he would use his influence
general, it appears that many abuses have with the king to obtain his pardon, which
been committed, and that the articles of he received in consequence. The same
Limerick and Galway have often been too Lord Bellew gave up to Lord Romney the
favorably interpreted towards the proscri- rent of his estate, amounting to about three
bed; so that one witness has been often thousand pounds, which he had enjoyed for
sufficient to determine in their favor; we nearly three years, on condition that he
are, therefore, of opinion, that many have would not be opposed to him in applying
been reinstated in the possession of property, for his pardon.
which, if matters were well investigated,  27.-John Kerdiff, a gentleman of the
should belong to his majesty; for this pur- county of Dublin, gave Mrs. Margaret Unipose we sent to Palmer for his minutes, but ack two hundred pounds, to induce her to
as he had only written them in notes, we prevail on Lord Romney to-obtain a letter
could not obtain sufficient information to annulling his proscription, which was grantlay before you. We will observe one thing ed. However, the particular circumstances
which seems singular to us, that, since we of this man rmerited, in our opinion, the
received our commission, the court has re- greatest compassion.
stored more persons to their properties than   28.-Sir John Morris gave two hundred
they had previously done.since the treaty of pounds to Mr. Richard Uniack, and three
Limerick.                              hundred to Mrs. Margaret Uniack, for his
22.-We have also to inform you, gen- pardon, which she obtained through the intlemen, that many ancient proprietors have fluence of Lord Romney.
been reinstated, by the repeal of their sen-  29.-Harvey Morris, Esq., gave Mrs. M.
tence, or by a pardon from his majesty.    Uniack, one hundred pounds, for having
23. —This is of two kinds; that which procured him his majesty's pardon.
has been the result of trial is specified in the
books marked 3 and 4, and in separate         * He was called Wentworth.
columns.




616                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
30.-John H1ussey, of Leixlip, being in- John Broderick on account of Lord Albeformed by Messrs. Bray and Briscoe, agents marle.
to Lord Athlone, who had the confiscation   33. —Thus, gentlemen, have we given
of Lord Limerick's estate, that he could not you an account of the estates which have
succeed in having his sentence removed, if been confiscated since February 13, 1688,
he did not give the present owner a mort- and those that have been restored to the
gage of three hundred pounds which he proprietors, either by the treaties of Liraowed on the property of Lord Limerick, erick and Galway, or by the king. We
was obliged to do so in order to get his shall now introduce those to whom his mapardon.                                jesty has given these confiscated lands, or
31.-Edmond Roche gave Richard Dar- to whom they have been mortgaged.
ling, Lord Romney's steward, five hundred   34.-Since the battle of the Boyne, sixty
pounds for having procured him his pardon. patents have been given, sealed with the
This gentleman, who had been proscribed great seal of Ireland, to sixty persons, as
by virtue of the law enacted against those grants or mortgages of estates confiscated in
who were guilty of treason in foreign coun- Ireland. The dates of the above patents,
tries, was proved never to have left the and the causes that produced them, are
kingdom.                               contained in a book marked No. 6. The
32.-John Bourk, commonly called Lord following is a list of the most considerable
Bophin, agreed to pay seven thousand five of these grants, the number of acres they
hundred pounds sterling to Andrew Card, contain, and the motives for giving them.
for the use of Lord Albemarle, on condition   35. —Lord Romney received three grants,
that he would procure a letter from the king of which he is in possession, containing
to remove his sentence of proscription and forty-nine thousand five hundred and sevenrestore him to his property; three thousand teen acres, on account of his services.
pounds were to be paid on taking posses-   36.-Two grants to Lord Albermarle, of
sion, and the rest soon afterwards.  His one hundred and eight thousand six hundred
majesty therefore wrote a letter to the lords- and thirty-three acres, on account of his
justices in favor of Lord Bophin, to be services.
communicated to the commissioners and   37. —William  Bentick, commonly called
court of claims; a decree was accordingly Lord Woodstock, received one hundred and
passed, which made it appear that it was thirty-five thousand eight hundred and twenty
to enable this- nobleman to bring up his acres, for which no motive is assigned in the
children in the Protestant religion, and to letters patent.
secure his property to Protestants. The   38.-To Lord Athlone, twenty-six thoudecree specified also, that nine thousand sand four hundred and eighty acres, as a
pounds sterling should be raised on the reward for his services in the reduction of
whole estate, for the payment of his debts Ireland; these grants were afterwards conand the maintenance and education of his firmed by an act of the Irish parliament.
children; but, in truth, to pay the seven   39.-To Lord Galway, thirty-six thouthousand five hundred pounds to Lord Albe- sand one hundred and forty-eight acres, on
marle, and the remainder was to be divided account of his faithful services.
among others concerned in this iniquitous   40.-To Lord Rochford, two grants of
transaction. This decree was presented to thirty-nine thousand eight hundred and sevthe Irish House of Commons, to have it enty-one acres, as a reward for his services.
passed into a law, but the secret purposes   41.-To the marquis of Puizar, three
for the money having transpired, the house thousand five hundred and twelve acres,
determined that their power should not be for his services.
made use of to authorize such clandestine   42.-To Lord Coningsby, five thousand
and unjust proceedings, and, therefore, re- nine hundred and sixty-six acres, with the
jected it. This failure produced another rights of lordships, titles, and houses in
settlement, by which the estates of Lord Dublin, and a mortgage of one thousand
Bophin were mortgaged to Lord Ross; the pounds sterling, as a reward for his services.
money which was to be given for this should   43.-To Lord Mountjoy, eleven thousand
first be raised upon the property, and the and seventy acres, for twenty-one years,
rents applied to the payment of debts, and on account of his services during the war in
to the wants of the house of Clanriccard. Ireland, the losses he had sustained in
In consequence of this new arrangement, a property, the imprisonment of his father in
letter was given by his majesty, confirming the Bastille, and his having been killed at
it, and three thousand pounds were paid to the battle of Steinkerque.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                          617
44.-To Mr. Thomas Keightly, for ninety-   52. —We shall also observe that those esnine years, two grants, containing twelve tates are not of so much value to the perthousand three hundred and  eighty-one sons to whom they have been granted as we
acres, as a portion for his daughter, Cathe- have estimated them: whereas impositions
rine Keightly, who had been an attendant have been practised upon his majesty, by
on the late Queen Mary, after whose death underrating them, from selfish considerashe lost a pension of four hundred pounds, tions; and their agents, who sold or rented
and in consideration of her father's losses those lands below their value, have pracduring the war.                       tised similar deceptions towards their em45.-To Colonel Gustavus Hamilton, five ployers.
thousand three hundred  and eighty-two   53.-The greater part of these estates has
acres, (nineteen hundred of which were not been conceded under the seal of the Excheconfiscated lands,) as a reward for his valua- quer, for a limited number of years, or duble services during the war in Ireland, for ring the king's pleasure, from which his mahaving forded the river Shannon, and jesty has derived but little profit. Most of
mounted the breach in the taking of Ath- the terms have expired; those that have not
lone, at the head of the English grenadiers. are contained in book No. 6.
46.-To  Doctor John Lesly, sixteen   54. —We shall now humbly inform you of
thousand and seventy-seven acres, on ac- the costs that have been incurred on the
count of his active and diligent services confiscated lands, which have not been rein the commencement of the war in Ire- stored to the proprietors; we will point out
land, the expenses he had incurred in arm- those only that have been discovered from
ing a numerous body of men, and having researches made in his majesty's court of
fought at their head on many occasions.   Exchequer. This has been done in conse47.-To Sir Thomas Pendergast, two quence of his majesty's letter to the lordsgrants of seven thousand and eighty-two justices of Ireland, ordering all the Protestacres, for having discovered a conspiracy to ants to prove, in the most expeditious manassassinate the king, to destroy the liberties ner, the extent of the costs to which they
of Great Britain, and consequently the Pro- have been subjected.
testant religion throughout Europe.      55.-All statutes, judgments, mortgages,
48.-To Mr. John Baker, sixteen hun- or other debts on the above-named estates,
dred and forty-seven acres, as a reward for which have not been restored to the ancient
the memorable services of his father in his proprietors, amount to one hundred and
defence of Londonderry.                sixty-one thousand nine hundred and thirty49.-To Mr. James Corry, two grants, six pounds sterling, an account of which is
one a mortgage of two thousand pounds annexed to this report in book No. 7. It is
sterling on several landed properties in the probable that since our investigation many
county of Wicklow, due to Sir Edward of these costs have been removed by various
Scott by the earl of Tyrone: the other con- arrangements; but we have had neither
taining seventeen hundred and twenty-five time nor aid in forming a correct estimate;
acres, for which the following causes are therefore, we think that sufficient money
given, viz., the burning of his house; his can be deducted from the latter for the folhaving provided the garrison of Inniskillen lowing purposes.
with provisions and ammunition, to the   56.-We have mentioned only the first
amount of three thousand pounds sterling, and real sum of costs, not having been able
at his own expense; however, it has been to discover how much interest might have
proved that, so far from  having assisted been due by each.individual.
the garrison of Inniskillen in any manner,  57.-We have often thought it probable
he said in public that he hoped to see all that the judgment and mortgage were one
those who had taken up arms in favor and the same debt.
of the prince of Orange, hanged.  His  58.-It is likewise probable, that many of
house was burned by the garrison for this these judgments were issued only for the
observation.                           execution of private contracts.
50.-The remainder of these grants are   59.-In many instances, the Protestants
inserted in book No. 6.                and Papists were equally concerned; how51.-It should be observed that all the ever, the whole debt was laid on the lands
lands mentioned in this report are plantation of the proscribed.
measure, two hundred and sixty-four of  60.-It appears that several contracts and
which are equal to four hundred and forty- copies of judgments have been issued by inone English acres.                     ferior courts of law, and no proofs afforded
7.8




6]8                           HISTORY OF IRELAND.
of their execution, or the reasons why they money, effects, property that had been seized
were granted.                           upon by the deputies, could come into the
61.-On the other hand, it is obvious, that hands of the clerks of the revenue; the
in many instances, the statutes and judg- accounts also became so complex, added to
ments have been carried into execution; but the plunder made among the small farmers
there is no proof of it upon record.    by the troops when going into winter quar62.-Many of those debts have been pur- ters, that from all the above-named spoils,
chased, either by the donors or their stew- the king received only about forty-four thouards, or small farmers at very low prices, sand pounds. We have likewise discovered,
while they allowed them to exist nominally, that several properties have been confiscated,
to cover the profits which the possession of by which the king has gained nothing, and
such lands produced.                    which have been seized upon by many indi63.-Several persons who got possession viduals for their own account. It is true,
of these encumbered estates, in consequence that robbery and plunder were so frequent
of his majesty's letters, have received the at that time, men in the highest offices have
whole, or at least the greatest portion of the not escaped the censure of being implicated,
debts.                                  which may perhaps have prevented such
64.-It is probable that many of these abuses from being properly inquired into:
debts are imaginary, and in favor of the as an example, Lord  Coningsby  took
proscribed, for which purpose there have three hundred head of horned cattle, and
been many secret arrangements entered into. several horses, that were left on the field
65. It is our opinion that nothing has after the battle of the Boyne, and we do not
been omitted by the donors and their stewards find that any account of them was given to
to make the debts on their estates appear his majesty.  He also seized upon the plate
heavy, although we think, that if a correct and chattels of Sir Michael Creagh, lordinvestigation were made, it would appear mayor of Dublin, in 1689: these were conthey are very inconsiderable, and that several sidered to have been of great value; it is inare liquidated by the profits; but it is our deed affirmed, that they were given to him
opinion, that they will be more than re- by the king. The clerks of the revenue gave
munerated by other confiscations, of which up to the lords-justices, Lords Sidney and
the following is an account.            Coningsby, many effects of great value, for
A 66.-Soon after the battle of the Boyne, which his majesty has received no return,
as we have already had the honor of in- nor have any of them been discovered in the
forming you, a patent, to which the great castle of Dublin, where they were deposited.
seal of Ireland was affixed, was issued, es-   67.-We have likewise discovered, that
tablishing commissioners, with authority to the clerks of the revenues have delivered
seize upon and dispose of the estates and great quantities of valuable effects to Sir
flocks which were confiscated for his ma- Charles Porter, Major-General  Kirk, and
jesty's use. These commissioners appointed several others, who have given no account
deputies in the different counties, subject to whatever of them to the king.  The officers
the king, who took possession of immense of the army have likewise pillaged; it is
tracts of land and cattle, which they valued said that his majesty has conferred upon
at one hundred and thirty-five thousand five them the fruits of their plunder.
hundred and fifty-two pounds sterling; but  68.-If we can believe general opinion in
the valuation of each article forming the the country, many persons have derived conabove total was so moderate, that a horse siderable profits from these confiscations;
was valued at twenty shillings, a sheep two but as some time has now elapsed, it would
shillings and sixpence, and the rest in pro- be very difficult to bring proofs against them,
portion; we are therefore of opinion, that if and even in such case, it is probable we
things had been sold at a fair value, they would find it impossible to procure the restiwould have produced between two and three tution of what was seizedupon so long since;
hundred thousand pounds sterling; but be- we therefore thought it more prudent to
fore this could be effected, the clerks ap- apply ourselves to examine matters of more
pointed for the collection of his majesty's importance, and confine ourselves to remarks
revenues, furnished accounts, which pro- necessary on that head.
duced a letter from the king, suspending the   69.-From the impossibility of forming a
power of the commissioners, nine days after just estimate of the value of these chattels,
they had entered into office, and investing flocks, and other effects, we shall point out
the clerks with power of the revenues; by at present some debts which were decreed
these means, some time elapsed before the by the courts, and some mortgages belonging




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           619
to the proscribed, to whom restitution of   74.-We have valued the confiscated
their properties has not been made, which properties according to what they would be
amounted to one hundred and twenty thou- let for in farms, if such were the intention.
sand and thirteen pounds, as appears in a   75. —We think that the trees at present
book annexed to this report, No. 8.     on the confiscated estates which have not
70.-We take the liberty to remark here, been restored, may be estimated at sixty
that those debts are subject to the above- thousand pounds sterling.
named objections-as to the circumstances,   76.-There were several small portions
there is this difference only, that on one side of land, each under an acre, and of different
they have been, as we think, liquidated by qualities, according to situation, of which we
the profits of the receipts, while several of could form no correct estimate, not finding
the creditors were, by his majesty's letters, any thing to guide us, either in the leases
in possession of the encumbered estates; of the families, the papers of the commison the other, the principal sum is still due sioners who preceded us, or the rolls of the
on the estates in question, as it does not surveyors; we consider that these scattered
appear that any of the interest has been paid portions of land may contain about seventy
since the confiscations; we calculate, there- or eighty thousand acres, amounting in value
fore, that this would bring /the accounts to to a very considerable sum.
a balance.                                77.-We shall remark in this place, that
71.-Permit us, gentlemen, to observe, dreadful havoc has been committed upon the
that the cases adjudged in these matters, woods of the proscribed, particularly on those
have been found only in the court of ex- of Sir Valentine Brown, in the county of
chequer; and that we have been unable to Kerry, in which trees to the value of twenty
procure them in the other courts of law, as thousand pounds have been cut down or dea clause has been omitted in the patent of stroyed.  The loss on the estates of Lord
our commission, to empower us to obtain Clancarty, now in possession of Lord Woodthem; from this we are of opinion that there stock, is estimated at twenty-seven thousand
is much more due to the proscribed, whose pounds.  Those on whom the confiscated
properties have not been restored, than we lands have been bestowed, or their agents,
have been able to discover.             have been so greedy to seize upon the most
72. —We should also calculate, among the trifling profits, that several large trees have
confiscated property, two hundred and nine- been cut down and sold for sixpence each.
ty-seven houses in the city of Dublin, thirty- This destruction is still carried on in many
six in Cork, two hundred and twenty-six in parts of the country; at the present moment,
different towns and villages of the kingdom, Sir John Hely, chief-justice of the common
sixty-one mills, twenty-eight fairs and mar- pleas, and Peter Goodwin, who together
kets, seventy-two rectorships, with tithes and purchased from Lord Coningsby the estate
rents, six ferries, and a great number of of Feltrim, within six miles of Dublin, are
fisheries, producing in the whole two thou- cutting down all the avenues and groves
sand and thirty-eight pounds sterling per around the castle.  Great destruction and
annum, and valued to be worth fifty thousand waste has been, and is still committed in the
pounds. If, as we have observed, we add forest of Oshogness, inthe county of Galway,
to these the moneys due to the proscribed which has been purchased by Mr. Toby
whose properties have not been restored, Butler for two thousand five hundred pounds,
we are persuaded that there would be suffi- which, it is said, was worth twelve thousand.
cient to liquidate the debts, particularly if we We sent persons to survey and value this
count the flocks and chattels of those who forest; but Toby Butler had them summoned
have benefited by the treaty of Limerick, and brought to trial for executing the comwho, according to these articles, had no mission with which we had intrusted them.
claim, after having been at first deprived of   78.-Besides the above-mentioned confisthem.                                   cations, there are several persons concerned
73.-According  to  our observations in the last rebellion who have not been prothroughout the country, it appears to us that ceeded against, and who are debarred from
several estates marked down fallow-lands, all benefit of any treaty or article: several
are now, with the exception of those in the of them were summoned to answer for their
county of Kerry, as highly cultivated, and crimes, and have given bail, which is still
equal in value to any lands in the kingdom; in force; a few have been tried at the asnevertheless, we have not comprised them sizes of last summer, but were acquitted.
in our valuations, though there are many of   79.-The death of several of the accused,
them to be met with.                    whose trials and condemnation were de



620                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
layed, has deprived the king of many ex- warded, as appears in the book No. 6; others
tensive estates.                        say they have not been paid their quarter for
80. —Nevertheless, we think it likely, from having informed, which amount, in the whole,
the informations which several persons offer- to about two thousand pounds per annum.
ed to give if they were encouraged, and the   85.-We must observe here, that the connecessarymeasures adopted, that a large sum fiscations, however considerable they may
might be derived from the lands subject to appear, have been rather an injury than an
confiscation, which are carefully concealed. advantage to his majesty. This might appear
81.- The king's interest has been so extraordinary, were we not to remark, that
much neglected, that no research has been several obscure persons, who possessed no
made into the number of estates which might property at the time that Ireland was reduced,
or ought to be liable to confiscation in Con- are at present masters of large estates. It
naught before the year 1695, by which every is impossible that they could have acquired
indulgence was allowed for the security of them without seizing on confiscated lands,
such property. There are fifty Catholics for either by intrigue or collusion, from which
one Protestant in this province, so that it is they have derived considerable advantage,
impossible for the latter to obtain justice, while the king was defrauded. His majesty
and scarcely does that province seem to be has been frequently deceived in the value
subject to the king, of which the following is of the grants which he has bestowed.
a proof. At the last assizes in the county of  86.-Nothing seems to have contributed
Galway, nearly forty persons were accused more to this abuse, than the sale of confisof having been concerned in the late rebel- cated lands by auction in the city of Dublin
lion; but as most of the judges had been exclusively, instead of in the chief towns of
officers in the army of James II., and had the counties in which they were situate.
taken advantage of the treaty of Limerick, Few people took the trouble of coming to
it is needless to add that they were all ac- the capital from the provinces, at a heavy
quitted.                                expense, and of neglecting their domestic
82.-The house of Clanriccard has an affairs, when they felt persuaded that the
extensive estate in this district, on which agents of men in office would prevail against
there are very few Protestant farmers. This them, and knowing that these would have
property fell into the king's hands, by the the countenance of his majesty.
proscription of Lord Bophin, to whom his   87.-When they had succeeded by their
majesty has allowed the proceeds for his haughtiness and power in removing all cornlife only. We are of opinion, that were petition, they placed their rates on the estates
these lands sold or rented to Protestants, it they were desirous of having, and gave whatwould tend greatly to favor the interest of ever price they pleased, by an understanding
the Protestant religion.                not to oppose each other, of which the fol83.-We must also observe, gentlemen, lowing fact is a proof. Thomas Broderick
that many of those on whom the confiscated and William Connelly, who acquired vast eslands have been bestowed, have received im- tates, and were partly masters of these aucmense sums for several estates comprised in tions, no one having confidence to enter into
these grants.  The whole of the money thus competition with them, have been partners
received amounts to sixty-eight thousand one in all the lands they obtained, during 1695
hundred and fifty-five pounds three pence and the following years.  They have since
farthing: for instance, Lord Athlone, whose set them in farms to greater advantage than
grant was confirmed to him by an act of the they had been before. It must be observed,
Irish parliament, has sold land to the amount that their conduct appeared very extraordiof seventeen thousand six hundred  and nary, particularly that of Mr. Broderick, who
eighty-four pounds twelve shillings sterling. was a privy counsellor, and put in nominaLord Romney has sold some for thirty tion by Lord Capel forthe office of inspector
thousand one hundred and forty-seven pounds of the auctions, though he was well aware
eleven shillings; Lord Albemarle for thir- of the abuses which he had been guilty of.
teen thousand pounds; Lord Coningsby   88.-It was impossible that matters could
for two thousand two hundred pounds; Mr. have been described more correctly, whereas
Thomas Keightly, for five thousand one hun- several of these estates were purchased by
dred and twenty-three pounds ten shillings. the receivers and commissioners of the reve84.-Several proclamations have been is- nues of the crown, under borrowed names.
sued, offering a quarter of the lands liable to Mr. Culliford, under the name of Fernley,
confiscation, to those who would point them seized upon several estates forthe king, which
out.  Some informers have been thus re- he appropriated afterwards to his own use.




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           621
89. —Besides these abuses, we shall take at least, one hundred and forty thousand
the liberty of observing, that an extensive pounds.
estate has been let in farms, without being   If it were known how many estates are
put up for sale, by order of the lords-justices, subject to confiscation, it would be of confor at least one thousand pounds a year under siderable importance; but it is impossible
its value: the lease was drawn for sixty-one to form a correct account of them.
years, though by a letter from his majesty,   The money received for lands sold by
dated March 8th, 1698, it was prohibited to those on whom the confiscated estates were
give leases for more than twenty-one years. conferred, amounts to sixty-eight thousand
The above lands belonged to -Sir Valentine one hundred and fifty-five pounds three shilBrown, and Nicholas Brown, commonly lings and a penny.  We have made no mencalled Lord Kenmare, situate in the coun- tion of what is due to the proscribed whose
ties of Kerry and Limerick, and let to John properties have been restored, nor to the
Blenerhasset and George Rogers, members encumbrances which affect their estates.
of the Irish parliament.                  After all that has been observed, there
90.-Having now given an account of the remain still one million six hundred and
most essential points of our commission, we ninety-nine thousand three hundred and
beg leave, gentlemen, to lay before you an forty-three pounds fourteen shillings, which
abridgment of our estimates, before we con- we deem  to be the gross value of the
elude our report..        estates confiscated and not restored, since
The whole of the lands confiscated since February 13, 1688.
February 13th, 1688, amount in real value,  We shall conclude this report bylayingbeaccording to our calculation, to two millions fore you another very valuable grant,, though
six hundred and eighty-five thousand one it may not immediately come within our comhundred and thirty-five pounds five shillings mission; but as it contains some of the conand ninepence, sterling.                fiscated lands, we think it prudent to mention
The estates restored, in consequence of the extent of it, lest we should incur the rethe treaties of Limerick and Galway, amount proach of having been negligent in the disto seven hundred and twenty-four thousand charge of our duty, or in any part of what
nine hundred and twenty-three pounds four you and the public expect from us.
shillings and sixpence.                   All the personal property of King James
Those restored by favor, are worth two II., with the exception of a small part given
hundred and sixty thousand eight hundred to Lord Athlone, was granted by letters
sixty-three pounds seven shillings and three- patent, under the great seal of Ireland, on
pence.                                  the 30th May, 1695, to Mrs. Elizabeth VilThe debts on the confiscated estates, dis- liers, at present countess of Orkney; this
covered by researches, or acknowledged as property consisted of ninety-five thousand
legal by the court of Exchequer, amount to six hundred and forty-nine acres, producing
one hundred and sixty-one thousand nine an annual rent of twenty-five thousand nine
hundred and thirty-six pounds fifteen shil- hundred and ninety-five pounds eighteen
lings and sixpence.                     shillings; the real value of which amounts.To the credit of the above debts, we place to three hundred and thirty-seven thousand
what is due to the proscribed, amounting to nine hundred and forty-three pounds nine
one hundred and twenty thousand and thir- shillings.  An exact account of this propteen pounds thirteen shillings and tenpence, erty, with the number of acres in each
sterling; as also the houses, tithes, mills, county and barony, is given in a book joinfairs, markets, rights of lordship, ferries,&c., ed to this report, marked No. 9.
which we estimate at fifty thousand pounds.  The same property pays an annuity for
To counterbalance the proceeds of the leases life of two thousand pounds, to Lady Susanna
made as large presents, we put down the fal- Bellasis, and one thousand yearly to Mrs.
low lands and forests on the confiscated es- Godfrey: all the leases of these estates extates, which we estimate at about sixty thou- pire in May, 1701, when they are to be resand pounds, to which we add the flocks of newed, and will bring, at least, the rents at
those who have had the benefit of the articles which we have estimated them.
of the capitulation of Limerick, but from   FRANCIS ANNESLEY, JAMES HAMILTON,
whom no accounts have been required.      JOHN TRENCHARD, HENRY LONGFORD,
In order to bring matters to a balance, we  Dublin.
shall add those lands (of which the number
of acres is not known) according to the valua-   The complaints of the commissioners
tion of the other estates: these amount to, about the innumerable abuses committed at




622                           HISTORY OF IRELAND
the time the lands of the Irish Catholics were spect and zeal, before your eyes the great
confiscated, and the injuries sustained by the abuses to which the evil administration of
king and crown, were not new, as will ap- affairs in that kingdom has given birth.
pear by extracts from the proceedings of the   Your Protestant subjects are exposed in
English parliament, in which serious remon- it to every species of distress that a licentious
strances were made to William upon the soldiery and free quarters can produce. In
manner in which these confiscations were our opinion, the withholding payment from
squandered and applied; his majesty's an- the troops, for which we hoped and calcuswers, and the replies of parliament, are sub- lated that ample provisions had been made,
joined, by which it will be seen that these has been the cause of these disorders and
altercations were carried on with acrimony. oppression.
Your majesty's troops have been reExtract from the proceedings of the English cruited and made up from among the Irish
parliament, Friday, April 4, 1690.    Papists and others, who have been engaged
Resolved-That a bill be drawn up to in rebellion against your- majesty; which
Resolved, —That a bill be drawn up to- circumstance has not only discouraged
banish all those who have been guilty of re-   r an        ot
your good and loyal Protestant subjects.
bellion in Ireland or elsewhere, against their
but has likewise exposed them to many
majesties King William and Queen Mvary; imminent dangers.
and their estates shall be confiscated, sold, mmient dangers.
and applied to the reduction of Ireland. The   Your protection has been extended to the
attorney-general,  renchard the chief re  Papists, which has debarred the Protestants
attorney-general, Trenthard  the chief reg-m 
ister, Sir Richard Reynell, Sir Thomas from resort  to those laws which suspended
Cha.rges, SirI William  Poultney  Colonel favorable to them, and which has suspended
Charges, Sir William  Poultney, Colonel the course of justice.
Birch, or any three of them, shall see that the course of 
The banishment of many rebels out of the
this decree of parliament be carried into k  ingd  om, who w ere excludedfrombenefiting
execution.                              kingdom, who were excluded from benefiting
by the articles of the capitulation of Limerick,
has been revoked, to the great dissatisfaction
Extract from the sitting of parliament, Jan- of your majesty's Protestant subjects.
uary 5th, 1690.  The king's speech to   The confiscated estates have been farmed
both houses.                          considerably under their value, to the heavy
My Lords and Gentlemen, —Having in- loss of your majesty's revenue.
formed you lately that it would be necessary   The stores and chattels that have been left
for me to pass into Holland about this time, by King James II. in the garrisons and towns
I must express myself pleased at the sucess- of the kingdom, have been wasted.  The
ful issue of those things that have engaged same is to be observed of the confiscated
your time, and to find that you are now at lands chattels, and other effects which they
liberty to separate, and that it is possible contained, that might have been applied to
for us to undertake our voyage.         the security and better preservation of your
I thank you with all my heart for the sup- majesty's kingdom.
plies which you have granted for continuing   We also beg leave very humbly to reprethe war. I shall take care that theybe fitly sent to your majesty, that the clauses in
applied to the purposes for which they have favor of the Catholics, which have been
been intended.  I think it meet to assure added to the treaty of Limerick after it had
you, that none of the confiscated estates, been definitively concluded, signed, and the
either in England or in Ireland, shall be dis- city surrendered, have given great enposed of, until this affair be regulated by the couragement to them, and have tended to
parliament in such manner as will be ap- weaken the Protestant interest.
proved of by them.                        Having with the most humble submission
and ardent zeal for your majesty's service,
Sitting of 4th March, 1692.      laid open the abuses and illegal practices
which have been carried on in your kingdom
The very humble address of the house of of Ireland, we submit our representations to
commons to his ma)jesty.       your great wisdom, and beseech you with
We, your majesty's very humble and very profound respect, to put a stop to them.
faithful subjects, and commons in parliament   Let every soldier be paid the arrears due
assembled, havingtaken into our most serious to him, and let the provinces be reimbursed
consideration the state of your kingdom of for what they have suffered, and no Papists
Ireland, think that it is a duty we owe to be admitted into the army.
your majesty, to place, with all possible re-  And as the reduction of Ireland has cost




CHRISTIAN IRELAND.                           623
England a great deal, we humbly beseech       Sitting of February 15th, 1699.
your majesty, which you have had the goodness to promise, to allow none of the confis- Resolved,-That a very humble address
cated properties in Ireland to be disposed of, be presented to the king, containing the
resolutions of the house of the 18th of
until this matter be regulated by p arliamen t        respecting of the confiscated
in the best manner.
in the best manner.  o                  January last, respecting the confiscated
We beseech of you to order a statement
of the confiscated estates, stores, and effects,
that have been left by James II., to be laid His Majesty's answer, February 26th, 1699.
before your house of commons, that the   Gentlemen-I have been induced, not
abuses which have been committed, and the only by inclination, but through a love of
waste which has occurred, may be investi- justice, to reward faithful services, (particugated.                                  larly in those who assisted in the reduction
We beseech, likewise, that in future none of Ireland,) out of the properties in that
of the proscribed Papists shall be suffered to country, the confiscation of which has dereturn without the advice of parliament, and volved upon me.
that no protection be given to Irish Papists,   The length of the war which we have
which might impede the course of justice. maintained has obliged us to levy taxes, and
As to the article added to the treaty of has involved the nation in debt.  The just
Limerick, which gives so great an oppor- and efficacious measures that shall be adopttunity to Irish papists to resume possession ed to lighten the national burden and supof the estates which formerly belonged to port the public credit, will, in my opinion,
them, and which they forfeited by their re- be more beneficial than any other thing, to
bellion, we humbly beg of your majesty to the honor, interests, and safety of this kinghave the articles of the treaty of Limerick, dom.
and those that have been added, laid before
Resolved, —That whoever hath advised
us, in order that we may learn by what    
s, iand under   what pretext, t    hathe king to give the above reply to the admeans, and under what pretext, they hve dress of the House of Commons, has done
been granted, and why the said articles have
been extended, and the value of the proper- every thing to create a disunion and jealousy
been extended, and the value of the properties to which they are entitled to lay claim. between the king and his people.
As your majesty has most graciously as-   We now conclude the history of Ireland
sured us, with that goodness with which with an obvious and convincing remark from
you always join in every thing tending to a modern author.  " The prince of Orange
the peace and welfare of the kingdom, we would have thought himself but half king,
make no doubt of your acting in the same were he not to rule over Ireland, as well as
manner towards Ireland, the safety and over England and Scotland; or, rather, he
preservation of which are so important to looked upon Ireland as belonging to him by
England.                                right, and the loyalty of the Irish to James
II. as an act of high.treason that he should
The King-'s answer, March 10th, 1692.   not leave unpunished.  Still, what right had
Gentlemen,-I have always paid particu- this prince to a country which had not called
lar regard to any communication from the him  to her aid?  It is admitted that he
House of Commons, and shall take care that reigned lawfully over England and Scotland,
all abuses shall be reformed.           because these kingdoms had transferred
their crown to him, but of which they had
Sitting of Thursday, 18th January, 1699. no right to dispose; however, could they
Resolved, —That those by whose advice make an agreement for a distinct people,
the confiscated estates in Ireland have been and against the will of that people?  Let
given to individuals, and who have been the William  III. govern those parts of Great
cause of granting these gifts, have involved Britain that no longer acknowledge their
the nation in heavy debts, and made it king; but if Ireland do not wish to change
necessary to lay heavy taxes on the people. her sovereign, is this first sovereign to forThat they have been guilty of a crime feit his claim, and are his faithful subjects
which reflects considerable disgrace upon to be dealt with like traitors and rebels to
the king; that the officers, or those who their country? It will be said that James
had been instrumental in the conferring of II. sapped the foundation of the monarchy
these grants, are guilty in the highest de- by obstinately favoring the papists, and by
gree of having betrayed the confidence that an arbitrary sway of power.  However
was reposed in them.                    false this accusation may be, I shall pass it




624                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
over in silence; it only concerns England But, as we have already observed, he did
and Scotland, which have taken ample ad- not consider his kingdom complete without
vantage of it. Was Ireland in the same Ireland, where James II. still held out; but
situation?  And if then this people wished it has been the will of Providence that he
to continue Papists, if they desired to invest should succeed in expelling him."
their king with an absolute authority, who   We discover, nevertheless, by the manhas a right to prevent them?  The world ner in which the Irish are and have been
has seen that England and Scotland de- treated, that it is contrary to the principles
throned James II., and that Ireland refused of Magna Charta, that celebrated code in
to follow their example; Ireland would have which the English nation glories, and of
erred in her allegiance, if the whole of Great which they boast: the Irish are deprived of
Britain had belonged to William  III. pre- that liberty which, according even to their
viously to the revolution. On the contrary, oppressors, should be the portion of all manWilliam could not lawfully ascend the throne kind. They are forced to submit to a hatewithout an express law calling him to the ful yoke; they have exerted themselves in
succession and declaring James to be de- favor of their lawful prince; their resistance
throned: William  III., therefore, had no to usurpation is considered as rebellion, and
right or claim upon the Irish, who neither the confiscation of their estates and propersent for him nor dethroned their own king. ties is the consequence.
THE END OF MAC-GEOGHEGAN'S HISTORY OF IRELAND.




INDEX.
PAGE PAGE
ABERCROMBY, a Scotch historian, refuted. 223 Alicia, daughter of the earl of Kildare, sent
Abbe de Fleury speaks of Scotia and Ireland  125   on a secret embassy to Ireland.. 399
Abbeyof Achmacart founded by the O'Demp-       Alexander McDonnell the murderer of Shane
seys... 309 O'Neill killed..469
Athlone..145 Alphabet of the Irish..                                         40
Aughrim.                          309 Annals of Ulster, Ambition of Wolsey.. 43
Baltinglass.243 Annals written by an English priest. 361
------  Beanbee, county Meath. 305 Ancestors of the Scotch..          223
Bangor.... 156 Andrew McBrady, his descent, &c.. 379
— Boyle...243 Ann Bullen, created marchioness of PemCarrick-on-Suir. 309 broke..411
-  Cluan Dolchain, near Dublin. 183 Ancestors of the Milesians. 57.... Dunbrady..294 Ancestors of the Irish instructed  by the
Eunach... 241 Egyptians.                                58
Fermoy..245 Anglo-Irish at Mullingar. 512
------  Founded by O'Moore, Queen's County 294 Anglo-Saxons, their education in Ireland. 204
----- Jerpoint, county Kilkenny. 290 Anthony St. Leger sent by Queen Mary as
Innis Phadruig..237 lord deputy...448
St. Suirbarry, Cork. 242 Anointing at the coronation. 75
Kilconnell, county Tipperary. 302 Ante-Milesian history..                37
Kilrush..                      Antiquaries appointed by Ollam Fodhla.. 43
Kirie Eleison, county Kerry. 245 Antiquity of the Scoto-Milesians... 34
Lake Erne. 170 Antiquity of the Scotch doubted. 114
Mellifont...        242 Aongus on the arrival of St. Patrick.. 154
M- onaster-Ore, county Antrim. 291 Apostacy and treachery of Ormond. 486
Navan...299 Arcadians and Silicians, boast of their anNenagh, county Limerick. 245 tiquity.34
-_-   Shroule..245 Archbishop of Dublin enlarged the church
--  Tintern, county Wexford. 302   of the Holy Trinity..        345
Abbeys built... 300 Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin, confounded in Connaught. 307 cerning the Primacy..337
Abdication of James II..        595 Archbishop of Dublin appointed lord justice. 359
Absurdities of English criticism.       47 Arbogast, St., bishop of Strausburgh. 201
Accusation against Mary Queen of Scots. 556 Archbishopric of Canterbury refused to BurAccordance of the Irish and Scotch language 110   nett.. 22
Acts of Queen Elizabeth concerning the church 458 Archbishops and bishoprics established.. 240
Act of confiscation against the adherents of    Archives put into the library of St. Patrick. 444
the earl. of Kildare....508 Armagh plundered.... 215
Adam de Nangle hanged. 329 Ardpatrick castle built.... 301
Adam de Rupe de la Roche.. 289 Argonauts..42
Adrian, Pope....           18 Armada to invade Ireland. 498
Adjective Mac and Fitz used by the Irish       Arms taken from  the Protestants in Ulster
and Saxons.                            68 in 1641..573
Advice 6f O'Neill to the earl of Essex;. 523 Army under Cromwell.. 584
Advice of the earl of Kildare to his son.. 412 Army of 12,000 Scotchmen landed in Ulster. 579
Aghavoe in Ossory..105 Arms of the Queen torn down. 476
Agilbert, bishop of Paris. 205 Army of O'Neill..466
Agricola sailed round Britain... 87 Army raised  to  attack  Dermod  and his
Airtre, king of Munster, defeats these Normans 215   English adventurers.               360
Airgiod Stone, a tax imposed on the Irish. 224 Arrest of the earl of Kildare... 358
Alfred, king of the Northumbrians. 70 Arrest of several English noblemen. 336
Alfred, Edward, and their mother sent off to   Arrest of Anglo-Irish noblemen... 360
avoid the fury of the Danes. 233 Arthur, prince of Wales. 379
Alfred the Great sent to Ireland. 205 Articles and treaty of Limerick... 607
Alliance between Scotland and France. 223 Athlone, its situation, &c..        603
Allen, John_, eb!plain to Cardinal Wolsey. 399 Assassination of O'Neill and his followers by
Allen, chancellor.... 441 the Scotch..468
Alliance between Charlemagne and the Irish     Assurances held out to the Irish of having
kings.                              220 succors from Spain..546
Allicia Pierce..   ~... 349 Aughrim, battle of... 603
79




626                                       INDEX.
PAGE                                          PAGE
BALE preached against the Catholic doctrine. 448 CAHER Castle attacked by the earl of Essex. 520
Ballynamoney belonging to the Knights of      Cain Phadruic, a tax paid to St. Patrick. 146
Malta..393 Calumnies of Abercromby.. 117
Bangor Abbey —when founded... 173 Calvi, and Calvinism.. 439
Banners of the Gadelians... 76 Cambrensis stops in Ireland..     295
Bards of Ireland.35 Camden refuted..473
Baron of Slane, Fleming.        348 Canterbursy, bishop of, apostatized.    446
Basilia, sister of Strongbow.. 283 Captivity of St. Patrick. 153
Battle of Allen, county Kildare. 185 Carlow besieged and taken.. 419
Battle of Bannockburn..              322 Carrickfergus-why so called. 112
Battle of Clontarf.. 232 Carroll, prince and general.. 226
Battle near Castledermod..        359 Cashel suffered by the tyranny of Inchiquin. 578
Rattle fought near Athenry.         91 Cashel, the Psalter of.                  43
Battle of Drum-Conla with the Normans. 216 Castle Carberry, county Kildare... 346
Battle between the English and Irish. 266 Castle Connell..304
Battle of Shannon-harbor... 170 Castle of Dublin built... 307
Battle of Hastings..239 Castle of Temaghs, Queen's county. 292
Battle of Kill Omack, county Carlow. 160 Castle of Ferns destroyed. 260
Battle between the O'Neills.. 450 Castlehaven on Irish sufferings. 571
Battle at Northampton..        367 Castlehaven on the rebellion of 1641. 574
Battle at Stamford                        238 Castle of Sligo built. 314
Battle between the O'Neills and Scotch. 384 Cataldus, St., educated at Lismore.. 146
Battle of Waterford..263 Cathedral church founded.. 156
Ballintuber Abbey.                       307 Cathedral church of St. Patrick.      451
Baron of Athenry.                326 Cathedral church of Cashel burned by the earl
Barons and bishops interfere for the earl -of    of Kildare.                           428
Kildare..376 Catherine Boren, who had been a nun, marBarony of Forth, county Wexford.  261   ried to M. Luther.                    394
Bede, on the Scots, Britons, and Picts. 221 Catholic clergymen persecuted..   470
Bernard, St..110 Catholic schools suppressed... 470
Becknor consecrated bishop of Dublin. 341 Causes of the death of Mary Stuart.   557
Bellingham, commander of an expedition to     Cavanagh's party treacherously put to death. 451
Ireland.                    438 Cecil, secretary of state.. 561
Bishop, king of Cashel..              225 Change of language in the celebration of the
Bishopric of Kilfenora, county Clare. 179   mass.. 443
Bishopric of Lismore.181 Character of Dermod, king of Leinster.                    264
Bishopric of Meath.                   305 Character of Queen Elizabeth..     553
Bishop of Hereford carries away booty from    Charles I., beheaded..581
county Carlow.337 Charles II. lands in Scotland..      584
Bishops fined for non-attendance in parliament 365 Character of Charles II..           592
Bishop Fisher...... 396 Christ's church, Dublin, founded... 235
Bishop Cranmer, and his character. 409 Clement, an Irishman...      209
Bishops and priests maintained by the king    Clergy of Ireland, their chastity..   255
of Cashel..154 Cluan Mac Noisk..171
Birr besieged by the earl of Kildare. 409 Colgan, on the Annals of the Four Masters. 235
Birth and death of our Saviour foretold by a  Colleges on the continent for the education of
Druid..102 Irish youth..487
Blasphemies of Henry II.... 279 Columbanus, St..... 186
Blarney Castle taken by the English. 549 Columb-Kill, death of..... 195
Boats used by the ancient Irish. 69 Commerce introduced by the Normans.       220
Book of Common Prayer printed in Irish, by    Commission issued for the death of Queen
order of Queen Elizabeth. 473 Mary..557
Body-guards first appointed by Henry VII.. 375 Conditions between Richard III., and some
Booty taken from the Scotch by O'Neill. 580   Irish chiefs...      353
Boyne river.601 Confiscation of Desmond's estate..                                487
Bribery practised by Henry VIII... 107 Confiscation of six counties in Ulster.   563
Brien Boroimhe declared monarch of Ireland. 231 Cong abbey...182
Bridget, St., of Kildare. 165 Connelly the traitor.571
Bridges built.                242 Conspiracy against James I...   561
Bridges built in Kilcullen and Leighlin.   326 Contempt displayed towards the pope, by
Britain, why so called.. 55 Henry II.... 251
Britons apply to the Romans for aid. 107 Contributions of the faithful to build churches 160
Brown, Thomas, appointed by Cranmer bish-     Conquest of Ireland disputed..  552
op of Dublin..420 Coote's orders to his soldiers to massacre man,
Brown, Archbishop, obliged to surrender his     woman, and child...574
see..448 Convents of the Dominican order.. 310
Brown, family of, county Kerry... 450 Conversion of the Danes..229
Brunchant, queen of Burgundy. 196 Convent of St. Augustine, founded in Dublin 315
Buchanan, the Scottish historian... 221 Council held at Usneach, Westmeath..240
Burkes of Connaught. 446 Cranmer supports the reformation.
Butler, the name derived from being butler    Cromwell lands in Ireland...  581
to Henlry II.. 302 Crown of Ireland presented to the pope    237
~~......                                                          237-I —-i     -I   ---    ~ 




INDEX.                                     627
PAGE                                         PAGE
Cruelties of Fitz-Adelin..        304 Edward VI., proclaimed.     438
Cullenswood, massacre of the English.. 305 Edward VI., death of.                446
Cuthbert, St., born at Kells..... 201 Eigfoid, king of Northumberland.. 123
Egyptians drowned in the Red Sea. 57
DANES stripped of their spoils.. 229 Eliph, St., son to the king of Ireland. 106
Dathy, monarch of Ireland, killed.. 101 Embassy from Ireland to France... 223
Davis accuses the English and justifies the  Embassy to Rome from Queen Mary.. 450
Irish........ 567 Emly near Cashel...... 26
David Rizzio stabbed by Darnley... 554 Emly united to Cashel.... 158
Death of Charles II..592 Emperor Lothaire..... -29
Death of the earl of Desmond... 370 England under tile Danes.     233
Death of James I.. 568 English army in Ireland..543
Death of Queen Elizabeth.. 552 English laws prevailed only withlin the EngDebaucheries of Henry VII... 403  lish pale.317
Defeat of De Courcy..302 English force with Dermod march for Dublin 262
Defeat of the Danes.            226 English abhorred in Ireland... 261
Defeat of the Scotch islanders... 452 Englishmen act treacherously in favor of
Defeat of the Normans...              215   Cromwell..            582
Deicol, St., memoirs of..       197 English, the enemies of the Irish... 25
De Lacy appointed to the government of Dub-   Eugena, Johnm.....210
lin..                            289 Essex, earl of, his death...    476
Departure of St. Patrick from Ulster. 147 Estates of De Lacy confiscated.. 325
Descent of the Fitzgeralds..     324 Europa, Princess of Tyre
Deserters to the cause of James II..595 Examples of treachery to be found in the
Desmond repairs to England... 425   Histories of France and England. 220
Desmond, John, commands the Catholic army 479 Excesses committed by the Danes in WaterDesmond taken prisoner and beheaded.. 483 ford..263
Desolating strifes between O'Neill and O'Don-  Excesses committed by the Danes. 228
nell...               396 Execution of 28 Welsh children by King John 307
Derry garrisoned against O'Neill... 466 Excommunication against the king of Meath 244
Derry, surrender of.... 599 Excommunication of Queen Elizabeth.. 471
Destruction of property in the county Wicklow 533 Expedition of the Prince of Orange to England 594
— Devastations in Leix, Queen's county. 527 Exports of Ireland.                       29
Devastations committed by the Scotch. 317 Eyes of O'Brien's son put out. 301
Difference between the sees of Armagh and
Dublin terminated.                         FAI-S PICTOR..                          48
Different divisions of Ireland..     124 Fabulous history of the Gadelians.. 54
Dispute on the validity of Baptism. 203 Families, Anglo-Irish.. 276
Disputes between O'Brien and Sir Pierce      Famine in Ireland.                        91
Butler.383 Famine, dreadful, in 1552... 445
Disunion of the pope and cardinals on the    Fasting observed by the Scots. 124
conduct of Henry VIII..-415 Fatal end of Darnley.554
Division of districts between the O'Neills. 451 Fate and end of the house of Desmond. 487
Divorce between Henry and Catherine.  408 Father de Orleans.. 22
Doctrine of Martin Luther spreads widely. 395 Feargus, first king of Dalriads, Scotland. 56
Dominican order.313 Fedlim converted.149
Dom Juan at Kinsale. 543 Felix O'Buodan, archbishop of Tuam.. 312
Dominican and Franciscan convents, Cork. 311 Fergus and his brother slain in battle.   93
Donald MeMurrough.....329 Fergus chosen king of Scotland. 108
Donations to the church of Mellifont. 237 Ferinus, first king of the Scythians.   56
Donations of land given to English soldiers. 474 Fermey, county Cork..305
Dowdal, George, opposed the language of the  Fiech, disciple of St. Patrick..         39
mass                                   443 Fiech, bishop of Sletty, Queen's county.  141
Drogheda attacked by the insurgents.   572 Findan, St., made prisoner;. 204
Drogheda garrison and citizens massacred by  Firbolgs in Connaught....60
Cromwell.582 Fire kindled before the tent of St. Patrick. 148
Drogheda threatened by O'Neill. 466 Fitzgeralds reinstated... 444
Dublin, Cashel, and Tuam. 427 Fitz-Henry Meyler.                    309
Dublin taken by assault                  264 Fitzmaurice sailed from Portugal          478
Duleelk a bishopric..141 Fitzmnaurice of Kerry.... 268
Dukes of Richmond and Somerset. 400 Fitzpatrick, baron of Upper Ossory.  441
Duke of York defeated and slain.. 367 Fitz and 3cac, Irish adjectives.. 346
Dundalk besieged by O'Neill... 466 Fleet of the Milesians dispersed. 59
Dynasties formed.            125 Flocks and crops destroyed by the English. 527
Fomorians and Firbolgs..           54
EARTHQUAKO E in England and Ireland.  313 Fox, Parker, and Burnett.. 408
Easter observed by the Scots.. 122 France sends a fleet against the Scotch. 442
Ecclesiastics arrested for debt.. 443 Franciscan convents taken by the English. 530
Ecclesiastical supremacy of Queen Elizabeth 470 Francis Cosby, of Stradbally.. 478
Edam O'Reilly, bishop..243 Francis Porter, Irish historian..   53
Edgar, king, powerful at Lea...    French kindness towards the Irish. 487
Edward the Confessor...... 238 Fridolinus, son of an Irish king..                194




628                                       INDEX.
PAGE                                          PAGE
Fulk, archbishop of Dublin.. 317 KEALLACHAN, king of Cashel.. 227
Funerals of the Milesians.. 72 Keating, the Irish historian... 304
Kieran, St., meets St. Patrick in Rome.   105
GADELIANS fly out of Egypt.... 57 Kells once a city. 167
Game, the various kinds of..             28 Kermeda-his prime minister.     277
Garrison of Athlone pillages a church. 445 Kenneth, king of the Scots. 221
Garrison of Cluanroad.. 445 Kerry visited by St. Patrick. 155
Garrison of Enniskillen attacked by O'Donnell 506 Kilcarbain convent. 363
Gall, St., sets fire to a temple. 196 Kilcrea convent, Cork.                  369
Gall, St., death of...197 Kildare-why so called..161
General peace in Leinster and Munster.. 384 Kildare-its priory..          304
Geoffry McMorris...305 Kildare, earl of, killed at the battle of Benburb 513
Geoffiry of Monmouth, an English monk. 35 Kilda-Luana, at present Killaloe. 182
Gerald, earl of Kildare..             357 Kilfeacle, garrison of..301
Germain, St., master to St. Patrick.   145 Killian, St., bishop, &c... 202
Gertrude, St....... 202 Kilkenny, parliament of. 325
Giant's Causeway.                         32 Kilkenny made a noble stand against Cromwell 582
Gilbert, bishop of Limerick, on the mass. 187 Kilkenny-its religious houses. 307
Gilbert, Urgale..335 Killarney, lakes, &c..    32
Gildas quoted by Abercromby. 115 Kilmallock rebuilt.. 475
Gold and silver mines..              28 Kilmichael, Westmeath.. 366
Golden calf worshipped by the Pagan Irish    65 Kilmore, bishopric of...           378
Golden chain an order of distinction. 80 King Charles sold by the Scotchl..  578
Golden Vale on the river Suir. 148 Kings deposed and put to death. 79
Gormanstown, Viscount, true to the Catholic   Kirkpatrick, and St. Patrick.. 143
cause and to Desmond. 481
Gospel preached in Ireland before St. Patrick 104 LABORS of St. Patrick.              160
Grants made to the Irish by Cromwell. 585 Ladies of Wexford butchered by Cromwell. 585
Gratianus Lucius..353 Lake on Mount Mangerton.. 32
Graves first used for the dead..   73 Lancaster and York, the houses of. 355
Great men have their defects. 257 Lancaster arrests Kildare. 358
Gregory O'Maghan, archbishop of Tuam. 352 Lands conferred on the bards. 77
Gregory, bishop of Elphin... 352 Lands near the Shannon conferred upon
Grey, Lady Jane, proclaimed queen. 447 - Cromwellian officers. 590
Grey, lord deputy, defeated.        484 Lands bestowed on soldiers. 473
HARRIS, the Irish historian...     53Languages of Europe.... 38
Hebrew and Irish languages...       43 Laogare II., king of Ireland.... 64
Herman lands in Ireland....59 Laogare-Scots and Picts invade Britain. 107
Henry VIII. proclaimed king..      387 Latin language introduced by St. Patrick. 153
-   causes many of the nobility to b387 Laurence, St., baron of Howth. 369
executed                                429 Laurence, St., baron of Howth, endeavors to
Henry II., of France..442   entrap the Catholics..... 562
Heptarchy of the Saxons                    74 Laws respecting the bards                  36
Hermes, first inventor of letters          34 Laws sanctioning the murder of Irishmen. 567
Hibernians and Scots.                   113 Laws regarding hospitality.        71
Higgins, the historian, his probity            egate from the pope.288
Holy Cross, prior of                      172 Leo X., pope.394
Honors paid to St. Bridget...  165 Lerha, near Granard.          305
Hospitality of the ancient Irish..   71 Letter of James II. from France to his privy
Houses founded for Franciscans            366   council                                 596
Howth, formerly called Benneadai.. 54 Letter of Pope Urban VIII. to Mary O'Donnell 565
Hugh Wood, Irish historian. 51 Liberator of his country
Human victims offered in sacrifice         67 Limerick defended against the English      24
Hume, the historian, refuted by MacGeoghe-    Limerick, siege of..602
gan                              567 to 576 Limerick surrendered...604
Lionel, duke of Clarence..         345
IDOLATRY introduced into Ireland.         63 Literature revived.                       94
Inhabitants of Ireland, first.            54 Liturgy of the Irish Church taken from Saint
Innes, a Scotch priest...    22 Mark...187
Innisfail, an early name for Ireland..55 Livery and coin..371
Innisfail, annals of...                 43 Lombard, Peter.50
Ireland afflicted by domestic wars... 318 Longford, district of, burned by O'Donnel. 507
Ireland called the Island of Saints..251 Lord Stanley...... 374
Irish divide into tribes...         68 Lough Derg....... 356
Irish, and the Welsh, oppressed by England.356 Loughs and lakes  /... 31
Irish language, why called the Gaelic.   37 Louis XI. of France..... 402
Louis XIV. established houses for the educaJEALOUSIES of the Fitzgeralds and Butlers. 388  tion of the Irish.. 488
Jesuits introduced into Ireland. 431 Louis XIV. favorable to James II.. 594
John de Courcy.             272 Louth once a city..          153
John Cummin, archbishop of Dublin. 296 Loyalty of the Irish..                168
Josephus, the Jewish historian. 19 Lugadius, son of Ith.           58




INDEX.                                      629
PAGE                                          PAGE
MAC-MAHONS persecuted. 500 O'Birnes and O'Tooles... 358
MacGeoghegan killed in defending Dunboy. 548 O'Birnes rebel against the English. 438
Maguire defeats an English force..  505 O'Briens, O'Connors, &c.. 231
Malahide, Talbots of...278 O'Connors descended from Duach. 150
Malachi II.. 230 O'Connor, Sligo, traitor to his countrymen. 521
Malachi O'Kelly...384 Occupations of the Irish. 212
Malachi, archbishop of Armagh... 283 O'Dogherty takes some castles, and defeats
Malta, the order of...                  286 the English...563
March of O'Donnel for Kinsale. 540 O'Donnels, princes of Tyrconnell. 185
March of the French after the battle of the   O'Donnel marches to the relief of Kinsale. 540
Boyne..                                  24 O'Donnel at the court of Spain. 549
Mardulphus, an Irish monk.. 201 O'Hurly, archbishop of Cashel, hanged.   489
Marriages arranged..             71 O'Kelly attacked, and effected his escape. 491
Marian O'Laghnan...                 315 O'Kelly's note upon De Wale.  276
Martin betrayed to Cromwell the town of Car-  O'Morras, O'Tooles, and O'Connor. 438
rick                                    582 O'Morra successful in Wexford. 512
Martyrdom of Dermod Mac-Carty, priest. 551 O'Ferral is defeated by Maurice. 505
Mary O'Donnel, a heroine, princess of Tyrone 565 O'Neill forms his plans against Queen ElizaMary, Queen of Scots.. 554 beth..497
Massacres by the English in several counties 573 O'Neill proclaimed to be an enemy and a traiMassacre of the nobility by the plebeians. 86  tor.508
Massacre at Inniskillen by Bingham. 505 O'Neill marched through. Leinster at the head
Massacre of the Irish in the villages of Santry,  of 7,000 men.                        524
&c...                              573 Opposition of the Scotch to regal power. 569
Matthew Stewart, earl of Lennox.. 435 Opposition to St. Patrick by the Pagans. 146
Maurice Regan, interpreter, &c... 283 O'Reillys..320
Maurice Fitzgerald..337 O'Rourke, prince of Brefny.. 244
Meath visited by St. Patrick. 153 O'Rourke, and Mac-Sweeny.. 499
Mechanics formed into bodies               78 O'Sullivan unable to obtain his pardon. 552
Men, women, and priests murdered in Newry 579 O'Toole, archbishop of Dublin.. 264
Merchants of London obtain confiscated lands  Overtures for a peace with O'Neill. 514
belonging to the Irish.                589
Messingham, an Irish historian..   50 PALLADIUS, first missionary to Ireland. 138
Michael O'Clery, an Irish historian. 50 Parentage of St. Bridget. 165
Milesians known to the ancient Greeks.   23 Pardon to many of the Irish chiefs. 552
Milesius's sons divide Ireland.         125 Parliament decreed that the Catholics should
Milicho, St. Patrick's old master, burned. 147   be extirpated..575
Miracle by St. Patrick..           161 Partiality of English historians. 515
Missionaries to St. Patrick..      145 Patrick, St., consecrated at Rome.. 145
Monaghan castle surrendered to O'Donnel,. 508            preached at Slane and Tara.. 148
Monaster Eoris. 327             assists at the council of Laogaire 155
Monstrous corpulency of Henry VIII... 436 Pearls found in Lake Lene.                 32
Montrose, marquis of, put to death. 583 Peculiarity of the Irish language.. 40
Mountjoy acts vigorously against O'Neill. 527 Pedigree of King James, successor to Queen
Munster visited by St. Patrick. 154   Elizabeth.. 560
Munster, names of families portrayed.  278 Penance of St. Columb-Kill.. 167
Munster in rebellion..315 Pepin, king of France...     220
Murchard, son of O'Brien.. 238 Perkin, Warbeck..375
Murray appointed regent of Scotland. 555 Perjury obvious, in depriving some Catholics
Music of the ancient Irish.,. 71   of their properties.590
Persecution of the Irish clergy. 489
NAAs, a parliament held at...           367 Petty, Sir William, on the numbers massacred
Naas once a city..154 in 1641..575
Names of the old proprietors.. 126 Philip de Barry..289
Nathi opposed to St. Patrick..       146 Philip of Spain assisted the Irish Catholics. 498
Natural history of Ireland... 25 Phleonicians trade with Ireland.. 213
Naval combat at Dundalk...  228 Plans of Essex to subjugate Ireland. 521
Nemedius succeeds Partholan.. 54 Plantagenet, Edward.                    374
Netterville family...274 Plunket's cruel fate....  484
Nial Garve O'Donnel.                     552 Policy of Camden..           21
Nial Glandulph                            226 Pope Pascal II.                           240
Nice, council of, on the celebration of Easter. 189 Pope Clement writes to O'Neill.. 526
Nicholas V., pope.. 378 Prendergast, Maurice..261
Nicholas Maguire, bishop of Leighlin. 385 Presbyterianism..395
Nicholas Fleming, archbishop. 357 Preston, Robert..274
Noah and the Ark.                          35 President Carew commits great devastations
Nobles who declared in favor of the prince of   in Munster..            529
Orange.594 Priests, Irish, particularly favored in France. 488
Noblemen, Irish, several hanged in Connaught 491 Princes of Ulster combine and declare war
against Queen Elizabeth. 507
OATH taken by the Catholic confederates of    Prince Charles escapes to France.. 585
Kilkenny... 577 Prince of Orange lands with a powerful army 601




630                                         INDEX.
PAGE                                           PAGIC
Properties of the Irish conferred upon the Eng-  TEAMOR.60
lish.281 Thuomond, Ormond, &c..    516
Protestants, when so called..394 Throgmorton defends Mary Stuart's authority 555
Psalter of Teamor examined by St. Patrick. 76 Tin and other mines near Lake Lene.. 32
Puritans in Ireland intended to exterminate     Titles unknown among the Milesians. 74
the Catholics..570 Tonsure introduced by St. Patrick.. 188
Tarrington, archbishop of Cashel.. 350
QUALIFICATION for admission into the Milesian   Transport'ation of the Irish to America.   585
militia.                                81 Treachery of Bingham...492
Quarrels between the Scots and Picts.. 112 Treachery towards hostages.. 482
Queen's county formerly called Leix. 512 Tribes choose their own chiefs. 126
Queen and other nobles, converted at Tara. 148 Trimlestown, baron.                   515
Queen Elizabeth's interference foments discord  Trinity College, Dublin, founded.. 501
in other nations.....559 Troops raised for James II.. 598
Quincy, Robert de..280 Tuam plundered and burned.. 345
Tuatha de Danains.                          55
RATHES of the Danes..217 Tuathal defeats the plebeians. 87
Rath-Hugh in Westmeath. 220 Tuathal killed..170
Reformation, its causes and effects. 558 Tumult of the Scotch fanatics. 569
Regiments of the Irish brigade..       605 Turgesius... 216
Registries of Tara.... 155 Tyranny in establishing the reformation. 559
Religion of the Pagan Irish...      63 Tyrconnell..387
Religion nobly adhered to by O'Rourke, who      Tyrrell's pass, victory gained at. 513
was martyred for exercising hospitality. 499
Reply of Ailmer to Henry VIII... 421 ULSTER.301
Retreat of O'Sullivan Bearre..         550 Ulick Burke slew  Bingham  in the castle of
Retreat of the English army from before Sligo 512   Sligo.... 510
Reward offered for the head of O'Neill. 531 Usher.48
Rewards offered for the head of Desmond. 475 University of Dublin, its revenues increased. 591
Roscrea, battle of....... 228 Uriel...289
Rivers of Ireland.26
Richard Creagh, archbishop of Armagh.      494 VESEY, William de.. 315
Victories of O'Neill..509
SALATMANCA College for Irish priests. 488 Victories obtained by the French.. 47
Sacrilegious oath of Queen Elizabeth. 559 Viscount Gormanstown.. 389
Saxons.. 190 Virtues of the Irish clergy...     213
Shannon river.19 Vision of St. Patrick..145
Siege of Inniskillen..506
Siege of Kinsale.                         539 WARE, the historian.. 52
Sisters of St. Eliph put to death.. 106 Wars of the Milesians.. 17
Sitrick, chief of the Danes of Dublin.. 235 Walker, Rev. Mr., at Derry..     599
Sixtus V., pope.                         388 Well of St. Patrick.   153
Slings made use of..... 68 Willis's robberies in Fermanagh... 504
Stafford betrayed to Cromwell.      582 Wogan and Warren..325
Stanihurst. 304 Woolsey, cardinal.328
Statutes of Kilkenny.357 Wolves in Ireland....  28
Strafflord viceroy.276
Stukely betrayed the cause of Ireland.. 478 YorK, duke of.....      366
Spaniards treacherously put to death by the     Youghal taken by O'Sullivan..  481
English.498, 499
Submission of O'Neill to the deputy. 552 ZEAL of the primitive Christians of Ireland. 155
Swords, abbey of.. 173 Zouch pursues Desmond. 485




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