^. ^^ ^J^t ^^^^. ^^-^^.. .p'/^^^X^^.x^ (9 ^jf" ^ ^^''^^ _1— ^ ^y^ >':^y '^ci^/c c_ ^ y^/X/r^-:xxxT <' HISTORY OP IRE LAND. VOL. L Strahan and Prefton, rrinteis-Strttt, London. "■i ,',i^ ..^■' HISTORY IRELAND, FROM THE EARLIEST ACCOUNT. TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE UNION WITH GREJT BRITAIN IN 1801. BY THE REV. JAMES GORDON, RECTOR OF KILLEGNY IN THE DIOCESE OF FEB.NS, AND OF CANNAWAY IN THE DIOCESE OF CORK. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. L Nobis in arto & inglorius labor. Non tamen fine ulu fuetit introfpicere ilia primo afpeftu levia, ex quis ma^narum foepe rerum motus oriuntur. tacitus. LONDON : PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME, PATERNOSTER- ROW. i8o6.* BOSTON COLLEGTC LIBRA RY CHESTNUT HILL, MASS. V. I TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE Richard Hely Hutchinfon, EARL OF DONOUGHMORE. My LORD, EDUCATED in a Univerfity hi which your father long 'prefided with adlive At- tention to the Advancement of its Excellence, and which has been reprefented by yourfelf with Ability in Parliament, I take the Liberty of dedicating to your Lordlhip a History of Ireland, a Country for whofe Welfare the enlightened Patriotifm of yourfelf, your Father, and Brothers, has been ftrenuoufly exerted. The Compilation of an impartial Narrative from a Chaos of difcordant Materials is a Work of fome Labour, and, in this Age and Country, of fome Adventure. To gratify any Fadion, or indulge any Prejudice, is no Part of my Plan ; nor mean I offence to any ; but to expert that none will be offended, v/ould argue extreme 1 ^ P ^. DEDICATION. Ignorance. If in remote Ages, immerfed in Darknefs, or fcarcely diicoverable by a lurid Light, I have been unable to trace that Luftre and Civilization which the ancient Irifh are faid to have pofltfled, I think myfelf not on that Account inferior to any Man in Zeal for the folid Advantage of my Country, whofe nu- merous Inhabitants form a refpedlable Nation rapidly advancing in the Arts of fecial Life. Incorporated with the People of Great Britain by a Legiflative Union, and prefled by an im- menle Weight of hoftile Power from Abroad, may we be firmly united among ourfelves by a liberal Policy, which abolifhes Diftind:ions creative of Difcord and National Weaknefs, and adopts ufeful Merit wherever it can be found. Jam moribus, artibus, ad finitatlbus noftrls, mixtl, aurum & opes fiias inferant, potius quam feparati habeant. Tacitus. I am. My Lord; With efteem and refpecl, ^ Your Lordfliip's obliged And very humble Servant, JAMES BENTLEY GORDON. TO THE READER. V EASONS ou'^ht to be given for a difference from the common mode of (pelling in three or four words in the following Hiftory, as, without manifeft expe- diency, innovations in language, above all in fpelling, ought not to be admitted. The letter S in i/Jand is redundant, and erroneoufly adopted from ifle in the French language, which how- ever contains no fuch word as j/Iand. Th^ word is originally Gothic, and without an S in the old Eng- lifh, in which we fmd ey, y/e, and eyland, fynonymous terms, as in the modern Belgic dialects, to which, of all languages, the Englifh bears the clofefl: affinity. So ufelefs an innovation, as the engrafting of a dead letter from the French on an original Englifn word, ought to be correded. Inftead of annexation. In this book is annexion, de- rived from annedo^ in like manner as connexion from conne6lo. If annexation be proper, why not alfo con- nexation ? By writing monarchal the derivation is clofely ob- ferved, and the cacophony of monarchical avoided. CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. CHAP. I. WTRODUCTION-^GeograpJ/ical Sketch of Ireland— its Situation — Figure -^ Inlets — Contcur^Face—Bogs — Mountains — Rivers — Lakes — Air — Fertility — Animals — Area — Divifion* Page i C H A P. lU National ^cni.y— Periods cf Irijh Hi/lory — Ireland known to the Phcenicians and Greeks — to tie Romans ~^its Name — Celts —Goths •— Tirholgs — Tua- tha-de- Danans ~ Scots — Ro?nans — Fables — Songs-— Colonies — Language — Stories — Cairbre Caitkan-— Tuathal-^LeinJier — Tribute — Fin Mac Camhal—- OJbin^Ofcar — Nial cf the Nine Hofl ages.' 13 VOL. u a CHAP. CONTENTS. CHAP. III. Religion of the ancicfit Irijh — Druidifm — Letters — Chri/iianity — Saint Patrick — IJland of Saints — ancient Government of Ireland — Laws — Brehons — Manners — Ralhs — Duns — Hofpitality — Cofhering—' Fojierage — Bards — Food— Habits — Hijiory — Lao- gaire — Hugh Mac Ainmer — Columb-Cill'^CongaH — Clergy burned. Page 26 C H A P. IV. Danes — Charlemagne — Turgefius or Thorgils — Am^ lave, Siirick, and Ivar — Danijh Invaders of Ire- land, comparatively few in number — Lafi Kings of Ireland — Cor mac Mac Cuillenan — Brian Boro — Battle of Clontarf—Mortough 0^ Brian — Magnus— Learning — Scholars — Columbanus, Isfc.-'-Virgilius Solivagus — Mean bigotry fohannes Scotus Eri- gena, ^c. — Hijlorical Records of Ireland — Ff alter of Cajhel, l^c. Eccleftajiical Hijiory — Culdees — Bifwps, ^c. 42 CHAP. V. Summary of the Hi/lory of England-^ Celts — Belgians — Romans — Saxons — Heptarchy — Danes — Alfred -^Canute — Nor?na?is — Henry the Second — Adrian* s Bull— State of Ireland— Tiirlogh O^Comor — Der" mod CONTENTS. 7nod Mac Murchad — O' Loghlin—Roderic O'Connor — Summary of the Hijiory of Wales — Rice-ap-Griffith — Strongbow — Ro bert Titzjiephen — Maurice Fitz - gerald — Return of Dermod — Skirmijhes with O^CoU' nor — Treaty of fubmijfion and peace, P^ge 59 CHAP. VI. Patronymics of the Nor?nans, Welch, and Irljh ' ■■ Arrival of Robert Fitz/lephen Attack of Wex- ford — Arms of the Ojimen and Iriflo — Of the Anglo- Normans — Donations of Dermod Attack of Of- fory — Maurice Fitzgerald — Advance of Roderic — Fitzjiephen^ s Magnanimity "Treaty of Dermod and Roderic — Account of Dublin Submiffion of this City — Defedion of Thomond — Storming of Wa- terford — Marriage of Strongbow — Storming of Dub' ■ lin — Council of Armagh — Slave Trade — Misfor- tunes of Strongbow — Affault of Dublin — Siege of Dublin — Of Carrick— Horrible Perjury — Capture of Fitz/iephen — March of Strongbow — Tranfaclions -^Summons from Henry. 7;^ CHAP. VII. Proceedings of Khig Henry — His landing at Waterford —•Proceedings of the Irifh — Submiffions of Irifh Lords '■—Refufal of 0* Connor, Effc. — Synod of Cafloel — Departure of Henry — State of Ireland at his Depar- ture — Troubles of Henry — Infurre^ions of the Irifi — » - 3 2 Strongbow CONTENTS Strongbow Chief Governor — Exploits of Raymond-^ Submiffion of 0*Comior — Ho/liUties ifi T/jomond and Defnond — Death and Chara6ter of Strongbow-—'-^ Fitzandclm^ s Adminijlrcction — Invafion of Vlfter by yohn de Courcey — Of Comiaught by Milo d'€ Cugan ^-Various Tranf anions — Appointments of Hugh De Lacy — Death of Lawrence 0*TooIe Murder of Cogan — Fitzjiephens Fate-^Removal of Lacy Braofa-^Bad S^ficm. -Pagje loi CHAP. VIII. Prince John, Lord of Ireland — Irifi Lords infulted-^ War — Slaughter of the Englifh — De Courcey chief governor — Diflra6iions Depofttion and death of Roderic 0* Connor — Cathal the bloody hande d Lacy*s admini/lration — Defperate battle of AdmO' Tic's band—William Fetit and Earl Marfhal Defeats of the Englifh — Hamo de Valois Meyler Fitzhenry — De Burgo — Carragh — O'Nial — Reduc- iion of De Burgo — Of De Courcey King 'JohrCs expedltion-^The Lades and Braofa Sham fub^ miffions'-^^-'State of Ireland at the end of John^s reign* 124 CHAP. QO-NTENTS. CHAP. IX. irijh Buidings — Round Toivers — Cq/ies — Henry the Tbird'^Great Charter — Scope of this chapter Fate of Earl Marfial Wars of Connanght Tranfaclions of Fedlim —Wars of Munjler — Gerald- ities, Mac-Arthys , and De Bttrgo — Prince Edward lord of Ireland — Accejfton of Edward the firft — War in Thomond — Feuds of the Englijh colonifis — Violences of the Clergy — Petition of the Irijh for Englijh haws '-^Parliaments — Sir fohn Wogan — State of Ireland *^Piers Gavajlon — Defeat of De Biirgo — Alliance ivitb the Geraldines, Page 138 C H A P. X. 'Retrofped. of the hijlory of Scotland — Scottifh inter- courfe — PiBiJlo kingdom in Ireland — Bruce* s inva- fion — Fedlim* s defedio7i — R oderic*s ufurpation ■ Fedlim* s death — Progrefs of Bruce — Mcafures for defence — Retreat of Bruce — Hideous famine >' Mortimer chief governor — Battle of Dundalk ' • Death of Edward Bruce — Decline of the Englijh in Ireland — Manners — Nefarious profecutions for for- eery and herefy — AcceJJion of Edward the third--^ A baronial feud — War of 0* Brien^^Horrid cruelty a 3 '^Vigour CONTENTS. • — Vigour of Sir Anthony Lucy — DiJJjonourable peace — Palatinates — AJfaffination of de Bur go. —Further decline. Page 159 CHAP. XI. Summary of the hi/lory of France Violent meafures of Edward the third in Ireland — Faction of EnglifJo by birth and Englifh by blood — Ufford*s adminijiration Turbulence of a prelate — Rokebfs regulations —-Friyice Lionel chief governor — Abfurd conduct — Statute of Kilkenny Tranfa^lions pofierior to it — — Irifh chiefs penfioned to proted the colony- Revenue of Ireland — Foid reputation — Defeat of a French and Spanifj fleet at Kinfale AcceJJion of B-ichard the fecond — Difgrace of Philip De Courtney • Abortive fchemes of conquefi Robert de Vere Marquis of Dublin — Feigned fubmijfton of 0*Nial to Sir fohn Stanley — Abortive appointment of the Duke cf Gloucefier, 177 C PI A P. XII. Vifit of Richard the fecond to Ireland — Renewal of hofliU- tles — Death of Mortimer — Richard* s fecond expedi- tion into Ireland — Mac-Murchad — Richard^ s depqfi- iioh — Tranfadions pofierior to this event — Lancafier*s adminiji-rathn Weaknefs of the colony Black rem — Wretchednefs of the colony —Henry the fifth's accejfion — CONTENTS. accejjioyi — State of the colony hi hh re'ign—^Acceffion of Henry the fixtb Unjufi acls of Dcfmond — [FaSlions in Englatid Duke of Tork lord lieu- tenant — His return to EngLind — Hojiililics of IriJJ) fepts Tork' 5 fecond ad nnnlji ration — His death — Further decline cf the Englijh poiucr ■ in Ire- land. Piig^ 19J CHAP. XIII. FaSfions on the accejjton of Edward the fourth — Defeat of the Butlers— -Fall of Defnond Weaknefs of the Pale — Diffenfions /Idniini/lration of Gerald^ earl of Kildare — Accejjton of Henry the feventh — Atrocity of Keating Plot of Lambert Simnel — Battle cf Stoke Pardons of the hiflo barons — 'Laconic meffages — Perkin War beck Di/feriftons of the Geraldines and Butlers State of the Pale Sir Edward Poynings — Acts of the parliament con- vened by him — Second attempt of Warbeck in Ireland — Return of Poynings to England. IC9 C II A P. XIV. Deprejfion and revival of the colony — Trial of Kildare — His adminijiration — Feud of the Butlers — Battle of Knocktovo AcceJJion of Henry the eighth Death of Kildare Adminijiration of his fon Gerald Intrigues of Ormond Govcnvnent of a 4 Howard \ CONTENTS. Howard Government of Ormmd Emhajfy of Mac-Gillapatrkk Second admini/iratioyi of Earl Gerald — Diftradiom — Third adminlftraiion of Ge^ raid — Rebellion of Ins fon Thomas — Repulfe of the rebels from Dublin — Arrival of fuccours — Hobblers^ Kearsy and Gallowglaffes — Conqucfl of Maynooth — Surrendry and execution of lord Thomas —Efcape of lord Gerald — Grefs adminiftration Battle of BcUaliQe ~ Grey s execution — SubmiJJtons — Their in' eficacy — Extenfion of the Pale. P'lg^ "^^.S CHAP. XV. Reformation of Religion — began in Germany — Luther '-'Henry the eighth* s apoflacy — Attempts to convert the IrifJy —Further attempts — Firfi reading of the new liturgy — Dowdal — Di/iurbances ~ Mary's ac» ceffion — Reftoration of popery —Political trarf actions o^ONial's turbulence Bis defeat Contefls in Thomond ~ Rediiciion of Scott ifh rovers— Elizabeth* s acccjfion A parliament convened by Suffex- - 0*Nial*s operations — Repulfe at Derry Explojion of the magazine— — Ravages Plan of Sir Henry Sidney His fuccefs-~'—^0*]^iars refuge with the S(Dts-^His ajfajfination^ 245 C H A K CONTENTS. C H A^. XVI. Faucis of Dc/mond, <5fc — A parliament — Unexecuted regulations — Broils in Miinjter— Abortive plantations — Supprejftori. of commotions Incident of Drury-^ Fijiancial difcontents — Dangers of invafion f om Italy and Spain— Stukely's plan — Fitzmaurice* s invafion — Atrocity of Sir jfolm Def/nond Progrefs of the rebellion -- Battle of Monajler- Neva — —Rebellion of Defmond ^ Di/lrefs — Slaughter at Glendalough—— Another invafion — : — Horrible a6l of flaiighter——^ Further tranfadio7\s— Information of a confpiracy -^ Deaths of Sir fohn of Defmond and Saunders ' — Dsath of the earl of Defmond Appointment of Perrot, Page 261 CHAP. XVIl. Scheme of Perrot —A parliament — Oppofitlon to Per» rot— Plantation in Munfler -Commotions of the De JBurgos— Df contents in Ulfler Mean flratagem againfl O'Donnel -Refignation of Perrot F//2- ivilliam ' j adminiftration — Spanijh Armada — Death efO*Ruarc Efcape of O^Donnel Execution of Mac-Mahon — Reply of Mac-Guire^Univerfity of Dublin "Plans of Hugh O'Nial -Kills Hugh-ne-. F^aveloke—Accufed by Bagnal — His duplicity — War if O'Donnel^ Rebellion of Nial-^His addrefs in f ingle CONTENTS. Jingle combat — Attacked by Norris — His feigned fiibm'ijfion — Duplicity — Trial of Bingham — Death of Norris — Burgh's exploits and death — Death of Kil- dare — Itifidious treaty. Page 274 CHAP. XVill. Jl'vUs of the queen's temporizing condu6l- Battle of Blackwater — General rebellion — Effex lord lieutenant His mifcondud His interview with O^Nial -—His fall Operations of Tyrone, ?}ianifeJlo, ^c. — Appoint7nent of Mounijoy Seizure of Ormond •• ' Operations of Mountjoy His alarm Bafe C9i7iage Affairs of Munjier Policy of Careio The Suggan earl Spanijh invq/lon Siege (f Kinfale -Fridtlefs march of Carew FreJJj infurredion Battle of Kinfale Surrendry of the Spaniards Seizure of Dunboy Redudion of Munjier Operations in Uljler -Difmal- famine SubmiJJion of O'Nial His grief Reflexions, 292 CHAP. XIX. Accejfwn of fames the Jirjl — Religious diflurbances-^ Political regulations — Religious oppojition — Flight of Tyrone and Tyrconnel O'Doghertfs rebellion-— Plantation of Uljler — Attention to the church — Re- ligious difconlents — Petition of recufant lords — Firjb ■national parliament — Altercations — Con-vocation — 8 Extcnjion CONTENTS. Exienfwn of plantations — Saint, Johns adniinijlra~ i'lon — State of the country — of the army and revenue — Spanifb recruiting-— Opprejfiom of plantations — . Corruption of commi[j]oncrs-~Grie'vances from dif- coverers — Abufes of undertakers — Rcfcxions — Ini* provements — Cujioms — Scherne of plantation in Con* naught — Death ofyaiues. Page 314 CHAP. XX. Accejfion of Charles the frjl — Religious intolerance-^ Offer of a contribution — Royal graces — Religious dif- turba rices — Wentwerth chief go-vernor — Arrogance, ^c. — A parliarnent — Servility of the commons — Dignified condud of Ormond — Laivs — Convocation — Ecclejtajiical affairs — Project of a plantation in Conjiaught Violences of Wentworth Sir Piers Crofby —Lord Mountnorris — Chancellor Loftus — Proceedings of Wentworth's admini/iratio?i — Linen. manufadure — Precautio7is of Wentworth New oath — Military exertions — Wentiuorth created earl of Strafford, ^c. — A parliament — Loyalty of peers and commons — New army — Change of parliamen- tary fentiments. 336 CHAP. CGXTENTS. CHAR XXI. R^irofpc^ of Brliljh affairs— Affairs of Scotland"^ Abolition of cpifcopacy by the ScottifJj covenanters — Their war with the king -. . Long parliametit — ^ — Proceedings of the Irif/j parliament — Committees — Death of Wandesford — Lords juflices — Rcmonflrance — Defence of the lords'* privileges — Queries to the judges Impeachments Concejfons of the king -—Proteflation Refolutions of the commons Recufants and puritans^ coalition Spanifh levies '—'Sham plot — Defigns of rebellion — Caifes of d if con- tent — Heber M^Mahon— Refolutions of infurre6lion — Leaders of rebellion — Roger Moore, ^c. — Their proceedings — Difcouragemcnt by the Pale Their plans — Their different vifws. Page ^tSJ CHAP. XXII. Rebellion ef i64i'-OXomiolly*s difcovery-^Befence'o lefs flate of Dublin — Arrival of Willoughby • Difiradion— Catholics of the Pale — Munjler — — Connaught — Progrefs of infurgetits in Ul/ler — Forged Commijfon — Military operations — Maffacres — Pro - ceedings of the lords juflices — A parliament — Info- lence of Moore — Lord Dillon s deputation — Defec* iiott of the Pale— Ex ten/ton of the rebellion — Military operations CONTENTS. operations —Cruelty of Coote — Defeat of yulMs- toivn bridge — Blockade of Drogheda — Dijirefs of the garrifon-^—— Ravaging expeditions of Coote and Ormond — Spirited reply of Ormond to GormanfioU'-' Dijirefs of Dublin — Siege of Drogheda raife d Condud of the ji/Jlices—Tichburne, Page 378 CHAP. XXIIT. Repentance of the Pale — Not admitted— Tortures-^ State of the war Dijirefs of the royal foldicry---* Operations Scottifh auxiliaries — Owen O^Neal^^ Foreign fupplies Number inajfacred National cmvcntion — Lord Cajlkhaven — Divifion of royali/is and parliamentariaiis — Lord Ranelagh — Addrefs of the officers — Severity to a bijhop — Negociaiion with the rebels Battle of Rofs — Miferable Jiate of Dublin — Violence of the lords jijiices— Removal of Parfons — State of the country — Defeat ofVavafor-^ Excife, 402 CHAP. XXIV. Negcciatlon with the infurgents— "^Troops fent ti England — Earl of Antrim — State of the country—^ Covenant — Negociaiion at Oxford — Inchiquin's re* volt'^Ormo fid's ncgociation——— Glamorgan* s Jtegoci' ation^-'-^'Rinunccini^s procccdi?7gS'--—'Difcovery of 14 Cla?norgans CONTENTS. Olamorgm-LS treaty— His arreji- His defence'—^ His liberation His commijjion dif avowed by the king — Ormondes tiegociation renewed — Oppofition of the nuncio -^Treaty concluded. Page 425 C H A P. XXV. Retrcfpcci of Englijh affairs — Irijh affairs — Oppofition to the peace -Battle of Bcnburb The nuncio's oppofition to the peace — Danger of Orrnond-^Triivuph of the nuncio Siege of Dublin Negociations of Ormo?id— Breach of the peace by Frcfton — Conclufion of the treaty with parliament — State of the country — Battle of Dinigan hill — Progrefs of Inchiquin Battle of Knochionefs — Negociations renewed ^• Second defe^ion of Inchiqidn — The nuncio's oppofition '-'War among the catholics — Proceedings of the nuncio ' — Or?}wnd's return A mutiny Conclifion of Ornwnd's treaty. 451 c H A P. xxvr. Englijh afairs • Ormond''s p rocee dings R uperCs condud Siege of Dublin Battle of Rathmlncs *". Operations elf ew here Siege of Derry Arrival of Cromwell — Storm of Drogheda— Progrefs of CromweWs arms — Ormond's proceedings — Taking of Wexford Progrefs of Cro?nwell Operations of Ormond Oppofition to Onnond Revolt of Inchiquin*S CONTENTS. inchlquins troops Siege of Kilkenny^"-^Stege of Clonmel— Departure of Cromwell — Progrefs of Ireton -^Suaejes of Hewfon-^Redu^lion ofWaterford, Dun^ cannon, Iffc. — Vidories of Coote in Ul/ier — Danger of the ivejiern countries* Page 478 HISTORY ■ HISTORY OF I R E LA ND. Til "i I • S CHAP. I. IntroduSlion — Geographical Sketch of Ireland ^its Situation — Figure — Inlets — Contour — Face — Bogs — MoitU' tai?is — Rivers — Lakes — ^ir — Fertility — Animals--' Area — Divifion . oINCE Ireland, now politically confolidated chap. into one potent kingdom with Britain, her great ^ fifter ifland, forms an integral part of the Britifh Ji"n°'*"*' empire, a compendium of her particular hiftory, from the earlieft accounts to the amalgamation of her legiilature with the Britilh, may not be ufe- lefs nor unacceptable; a compendium embracing whatever is found authentic and important, re- voL. I, s jelling tion* HISTORY OF IRELANI). je£ling "whatever appears fabulous or nugatory. The fiiortnefs of human life, and the value of thne to his readers, admonifh the hiftorian to avoid fuper- fluity and repetition, and to confine his narrative to interefting truths, uithout neglect of perfpiculty. This narrative extends to the commencement of thg nineteenth century, a luminous period in compari- fcn of ages pad, yet marked with fome ftrokes of deepell barbarifm ; in proof of which pofterity will quote the debates held on the fubjedl of bull-baiting in the imperial parliament of Britain, the mod re- fpeclable aflembly of legiflators on earth, whofe votes have fandioned an amufement the moft dif- graceful to human nature, the torturing of an ani- mal fo inoffenfive and fo ufeful to mankind, as to be regarded by fome nations of Afia, through an amiable error, with religious refpedl. We may hope that Europe, at the end of this century, may be found more improved by the light of literature, wtfch, though it has not as yet removed barbarifm from our manners, has in fome degree expunged from hiftory its legends and romances. Since for the perfpicuity of hiftorical narrations, geography is as neceflfary a concomitant as chronology, I begin ^ this work with a geographical flvetch of Ireland, ex- tracted froiii a more voluminous work of mine, Terraquea, or a Geographical and Hi/iotical Account of all Cou7itries, which the reader may qonfult, who wifhes a more ample information of its geography. Site. This ifland, the third in magnitude of thofe which are denominated European, lies weftward of Britain, whence it is parted by the Irifh fea, called alfo mSTORY OF IRELAND. 3 alio Saint George's Channel, which varies in breadth chap. from forty to fourteen leagues, excepl where it is v^_=.,,|.»w contracted into a fmaller fpace between the county of Down and the coall of North Britain, and a (till fiiialler, of only four leagues in breadth, between the north point of the county of Antrim and the Mull of Kyntire on the Scotti/Ii coafl. Oblong, and far more compacl in its figure than Figure. Britain, but (till irregular, it narrows from the middle, with various inequalities, to the north-eafl and fouth-welt ; contraifling fuddenly in the for- mer diredion, and then fomewhat dilating, fo as to make in that quarter a kind of rounded peninfula ; in fome degree gibbous on the fouth-eafr, and of a ferrated form on the fouth-weft. Kxpofed all along the w^eftern fide to the whole fury of the Atlantic, which fwells to a tremendous height, and breaks with inconceivable violence on its fhores, its coafl is there more angled and indented than elfewwere, and is more bordered with iflands, which appear to have been rent from the main land by the irrup- tions of that boifterous element. The chief inlets which pierce the (hores of Ire- ini-ts, land are on the weft and fouth-weft of the ifland# *' Thofe indented coafts,- which prefent innumerable promontories to the fury of the vaft Atlantic, form in their deep recefies fome of the nobleft havens in the world : havens fo fecure and capacious, that in feve- ral of them the whole navy of Great Britain might ride in perfect fafety." The greateft of thefe noble inlets, which might, and, we hope, will, in better B 2 times, Contour. 4 HISTORY OF J I ELAND. CH.\P. * times, be attended with vaft commercial advan- tages, are tlie bays of Baiitry, Kenmare, Dingle, GaKvay, Clew, and Donegal. The mofl: commodi- ous is the Bay of Bantry, the chief inlet of the county of Cork, twenty.fix Engiifli miles in length, fjx in breadth, every where deep, in fome places not lefs than forty fathoms, fheltered with high and deep fliores of rock, but quite fafe, and clear of rocks in the channel. In a vaft moor, or turf-bog, named the Bog of Allen, which has a pofnion not far from central, the plan of the foil, or platform of Ireland, has its greatefl elevation, an elevation hardly exceeding two hundred and feventy feet, yet more than fufficient to give defcent to the greateft rivers of the ifland. Through this vaft bog, which is apparently level, runs the main fpine of the ifland, feparating the waters of the Shannon from thofe which flow eaft- ward to the Irifti channel, and fouthward to the fliores of Munfter and the ocean. This ridge or fpine, which is not every where obfervable by the eye, but can eafily be geographically traced, winds on one fide northward to the mountains of Tyrone, and on the other fouthward to the mountains of Slyeeve- Bloom and the Galtees, whence it runs weftward to the peninfula of Corcaguinny. Founded on an immenfe rock or bed of granite, which rifes from the bofoni of the deep, Ireland has no fuch extenfive trads of mountains as Britain, nor any fuch lov/, fenny flats as that ifland ; nor has fhe any hills of chalk, nor, excepting the * Ecaufoic's Memoir of IrcUnd. fhores, Fate. His TORY OF IRELAND. 'fhores, large trails of fand ; but a foil more com- monly of a gravelly nature, with a fubftratum of flone moflly calcareous, interfperfed with argilla- ceous, ferrugineous, and other kinds of matter. The rock, wihich forms the fubilratum, rifes very frequently naked to the view, almofl continually meeting the eye of the traveller, not only on the eminences, but alfo in the plains. Collectively fur- veyed, Ireland is not mountainous. Many parts are level, fome quite flat, and many uneven with hills of no great magnitude. The mofl extenfive levels are about the middle of the ifland, where a vaft plain ftretchcs quite acrofs from fea to fea, from the coaft of Dublin to the bay of Galway, including in its extent the bog of Allen, In general the ma- ritime parts, .particularly the weftern, are more mountainous than the interior ; yet the mountains are fo diftributed, that w€ find few places *' in which the profped is not fomewhere terminated by this fpecies of .majeftic fcenery, forming a back ground feldom more remote than twenty miles." * Such in faO; is their diftribution, and fuch are the profpe(5ls which they aftbrd, over extenfive plains or waving fu-r faces, lakes of various ex cent, and fine ftreams of- water gliding through the mod beauti- fully verdant lands^ as if nature had intended this ifland for a region of landfcape, and a lavifh variety of charming fcenes. Here are no dead unvaried flats whofe dull uniformity fatigues the view ; nor .are the eminences commonly other than fuch as * Beaufort's Memoir. JB 3 ferve 6 , HISTORY OF IRELAND, CHAP, ferve to create a pleafmg variety in the profpecc, or ^^^ ^,.,_,^ add majefiy to the fcerie. Bogs. . Yet numerous turf-bogs, not only on the fummits and fides of mountains, but alfo in the plains, tend in fome degree to deform the afpecl of the country in many places, and, as it were, to darken its com- plexion . Many of thefe are capable of being converted by induftry into excellent ground, and, where they occupy not too great a proportion of the land, they compenfate for their ralTet or fable hues by the abun- dance of fuel which they yield. Nor are morafles of this 'Kind pernicious to the health of man. " The bog waters, far f;-om emitting putrid exhalations, like flagnant pools and marfhes, are of an antifeptic and itrongly aftringent quality ; as appears from their preferving, through ages, and even adding to the durability of the timber, which we find'univer- fally buried beneath their furfaces ; and from their convertine to a fort of leather the fkins of men and animals, who have had the' misfortune of being loft, and of remaining in them for any length of time." * Far the mofl: extenfive is the bog of Allen, already mentioned, with a length of hardly lefs than feventy miles. Mountains. 1 he mountains of Ireland are varioufly arranged ; fome infulated by furrounding plains or vallies, fome extended in ranges, but moft of them collecled in irregular groups, or in unconnected mafles of dif- ferent magnitudes. They have a great variety of forms, and not lefs various acchvity; in general of eafy afcent, affording padurage, and even admitting * Eeaufcrt's iVemoir. culture. HISTORY OF IRELAND. culture, far above their bafes ; but fome are alfo of chap. a precipitous afpecl, and fome of confiderable height, , -.- ' towering aloft in tne form of cones, or piercing the {kies with fpiral fummit;;. No mountains, however, of this ifland can be faid to be of great altitude ; ^the higheft being much inferior to the peak of Snowdon, which is itfcl^ furpafled by feveral others in Britain ^ Referring the reader to the Terraquea for more par- ticular information, I fliall here only inftance, that in the counties of Mayo and Galway, where a broad projeding tract, not unlike Wales in its prominent figure and rugged face, advances, as it were, to oppofe the fury of the ocean, many gloomy maflfes of moun- tain darken the afpedl of the land, and render fome parts almofh impracticable to the traveller. Two of fupereminent majefty, perhaps the higheft in Ireland, Nephin and Croagh-Patrick, both in Mayo, rear their lofty heads, the former to the altitude of eight hundred and eighty yards, the latter eight hundred and eighty-eighc, above the level of the fea. Croagh- Patrick is a vaft ridge, the fummit of which appears to the eye a monftrous cone, perfedly regular, and is difcernable at the diflance of fixty miles. This ifland is not lefs diverfiiied with lakes and Rivers, rivers than with hills and mountains. Of all the Britifh iflands, which in general fo abound in water, none is more copiouily fupplied with that element than Ireland. The earth, as the air, is replete with moifture. Springs are feen burfting from the ground in every quarter j and the country is inter feded in all diredions by a multitude of rivers, many of which meet in their courfe with fuch hollows or depreffions B 4 of 8 HISTORY OF IRELAND, of the earth as, when filled by their waters, become lakes. The lakes contribute much to bejautify the country, and ftill more the rivers, as the fined and moft fertile grounds are commonly fituate on their banks ; bur, on account of the rocky channels in which they flow, few of them are navigable without interruption through any great length of courfe. Such impediments, however, might generally be removed, and an extenfive inland navigation formed to the vafl emolument of the public. The Shannon, by which and the Ern a great portion of Ircknu in the well is peninfulated, nearly in like manner as a finiilar tract in the weft of Britain is by the Severn and Dee, is the greateft river, not only of Ireland but of the Britilh ifl'^nds, winding through a courfe of a hundred and eighty-fix miles, and fpreading into large lakes interfperfed with iflands. Next in magnitude to the Shannon among Irilh rivers are the three fillers, the Barrow, the Nore, and the Suir, rifing from the elevated traft in which are the bog of Allen and the ridge of Slyeeve. Bloom, and, after a mutual defledion and approach, pouring their united ftreams into the harbour of Waterford. The Nore and Barrow firft unite at the town of New Rofs, whence the combined flream, navigable by large veflels, is called the liver of Rofs ; and nine miles lower is the influx of the Suir, or Shoor, Ukes. Of lakes Ireland contains a confiderable number, efpecially in the vveH and north, fome of which are in magnitude inferior to few in Europe, after thofe which lie in the vicinity of the Alps and of the Baltic fea, HISTORY OF IRELAND. 9 fca. Lough Neagh extends to the length cf eighteen chap. Englilh miles, occupies an area of above ninety .,.^„^ thoufand Englifh acres, and is navigable by fhips of confiderable burden. This lake is almoft deflitute of iflands, but lough Em contains in its two bofons three or four hundred. One of thef;; bafons, which are connected by a winding channel fix miles long, extends to the length of ten, the other to that of thirteen miles. Lough Lane in the county of Kerry, confining in like manner of two lakes, h the mofl celebrated of all. Thefe glalfy lakes, overlooked by ftupenduous mountains ; bordered with pendent woods, moft delightfully variegated ; ornamented with the moft romantic verdant Hands ; refounding on all fides with waterfalls and the reverberations of a vafl variety of echoes, combine an alTemblage of beauties, perhaps unptiralleled, at leaft far furpafiing all power of language to exprefs. I have already obferved that the earth and air Air. abound in moifture. As winds from wefterly, and flill more from fouth-wefterly points, predominate fo much that they may be faid to blow three-fourths of the year on this iiand, which on all fides, except the eaftern, lies quite open to the Atlantic, its atmof- phere is clouded and moid in the extreme ; yet far from infalubrious, as being in a perpetual ftate of ventilation. Nothing can be more uncertain than the weather, or irregular than the feafons ; but, in general, fhowers are very frequent, efpecially in winter ; and the quantity of rain, which falls in the year, is greater than in the fouthern parrs of Britain, In proportion to the area. The fouth-weft and fouth winds 10 HISTORY OF IRELAND. winds prevail more in winter than in the other fea- fons ; the wed in fummer and autumn ; the fouth- eaft, ead, north-eaft, and north in fpring. Storms are vaftly more frequent in autumn and winter than in fpring or fummer, and are found to come oftener in the months of November, December, January and February, than in the equino6tial months of March and September. As the air is more moifl:, fo is the temperature more mild than in South Britain, both v/ith refpecl to cold and heat, efpecrally the former. Snow of a month's duration on the plains is a rare phenome- non ; and fome winters are feen without either frofi: or fnow in that fituation, but inftead thereof is abundance of rain. Yet, though the winter is, in general, furprifmgly mild, fometimes even tepid, fo as frequently to be too warm for firenuous exercife, the cold, moderate as it is, continues commonly feven or eight months ; fires in chambers being re- quifite from about the middle of September to the middle of May. The feafons are later here than in * South Britain j the fpring and autumn more tardy in their approach, as alfo the winter ; the fall of the • leaf being later than in England. The extent of Ireland in a meridian line not being above four degrees of latitude, its northern and fouthern parts can fcarcely have any very fenfible difference of temperature from a difference of climate. Such difference muft be occafioned, where it fubfifts, by the elevations of the land, and its fituation with refpe(5l to the ocean. Thus the weflern and fouthern parts are more moift and temperate than the eaflera 7 and HISTORY OF IRELAND. it and nortb-caflern, and the coafls than the interior chap. country. Perhaps even the nature of the foil affe^s . . the temperature in fome fmall degree ; and on thofe traifls, which have a fubftratum of limedone near the furface, the fnow diflblves fooner than on others, which are neither more elevated nor more remote -from the ocean. The humid and rainy atmofphere of Ireland is fertility. well adapted to its rocky foil, which is naturally far more fertile than that of Britain, even than that of England, which of Britain is far the richefl part; but its fertilitv is much more confoicuous in the J 1 grafs than in the corn j the exceffive moiilure, fo beneficial to the former, being pernicious to the latter. Thus the wheat is inferior in weight and colour to that of dryer countries ; the crops are liable to be injured by weeds ; trie labours interrupted, and the produft damaged, by unfeafonable rains. Be- fides, how great foever may be the natural fuperiority of the Iridi foil, it is in acquired fertlhty much infe- rior to that of England, which has been improved by the fucceflive labours of many generations. Ireland is deftitute ilill of fome fpecies of birds, Animaij. fifii, and other animals, w^hich are found in her great filler ifland. Mogpies and frogs, which are now very numerous, were here unknov.'n, until they were in- troduced from Britain toward the beginning of the eighteenth century. Moles, toads, and all kinds of ferpents, are (till unknown. If ferpents cannot live in Ireland, which appears to me a very doubtful point, the caufe is mod probably to be found in the deficiency 12 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, drficten^y of heat. w]v.ch is obferved to be unfriendly ••.— s— .-^ to the perui-Ction of cofn. Area. ^^^jg greafeft length of Ireland from north-eafl to fouih-wefl is three hundred and fix Englifh miles ; ir> greatefl breadth two hundred and feven ; and its area, which has been roofdy under-rated, contains, concel'/ed as a flat furface, without regard to its in- equaliiits, about twenty niiliions of Englifh, or above pivifioD. twelve miiiions of Irilh acres. This area, with refpecl to civil or political diitinclions, is divided into the four provinces of Munfler, Connaught, Leinfter, and Uifter, which are fubdivided into thirty-two coun- ties, and thefe again into two hundred and fifty two baronie?. Munfter contains the fix counties of Waterfordj Tipperary, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, and Clare : Connaught the five of Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, and Rofcommon : Leinfter the twelve of Longford, Weftmeath, King's county, Queen's coun- ty, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford, Wicklow, Kildare, Dublin, Meath, and Louth ; and Ulfter the nine of f" Cavan, Monaghan, Armagh, Down, Antrim, Derry, Donegal, Tyrone, and Fermanagh. The largeft of all the counties is Cork, which contains in area almofl a million and fifty thoufand Irifli acres j and the leafl is Louth, which has hardly a hundred and gleven thoufand. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 13 CHAP. II. National vanity — Periods of Irijh Hijlory — Ireland knoivn to the Phmiiciatis and Greeks — to the Ronians'-^its Name — Celts — Goths — Firbolgs — Ti^a - tha-de- Danans — Scots — Romans — Fables — So7igs — Colonies — Langiuige — Stories — Cairbre Caitkan—^ Tiiathal-^LeinJler — Tribute — Fin Mac Comhal^- OJhin — Ofcar — Nial of the Nine Hojlages. i O derive their origin from anceftors of ancient renown and polifhed manners has been the ambition of every people, in a (late of glimmering knowledge, '^a"*'J'- between the darknefs of barbarifm and the illumina- tion of literature. Of this puerile vanity, which endures not the light of hillorical refearch, Ireland has had its portion. The curiofity of readers, defi- rous to be inftruded in the uninterefting fables of Irifh antiquity, may be fatisfied, without more ex- tenfive inquiry, by the perufal of the hiflory given by Keating, and the Ogygia of O'Flaherty. Refu- tations of fuch fidions, and attempts of a judicious nature to fele£k from the rubbifli of romantic flory fome disfigured and obfcure fads, may principally be found in the antiquities of Ledwich and the ftrivlures of Campbell. That in the ages anterior to the birth of Chrifl the affairs of this country are utterly unknown and infcrutable, is the reiult of the moft laborious and accurate refearch. As darknef? p^nod%. impenetrable refts on this period of irifh tranfaflions, fo hardly a few rays of glimmering light appear be- 1 2 tween 14- HISTORY OF IRELAND. tween the incarnation of our Saviour and the intro- dudion of Chriftian worfliip into this ifland towards the middle of the fifth century. Even after that happy event, very little authentic matter can be col- lected, beyond the affairs of the church and fome actions of religious and literary men, till the invafion of the Englifh under Henry the fecond ; when com- mences a more authentic, regular, and connected chain of events. Thus the periods of time, vv^ith refpeft to Irifh tranfadions, may not improperly be denominated the unknown, the fabulous, the legen- dary, and the hiflorical j the firft ending about the time of the incarnation ; the fecond near the middle of the fifth century j the third at the Englifh invafion In 1170 J and the fourth extending from that event to the prefent time. That the Phoenicians, the renowned navigators of antiquity, who planted colonies in Spain, and are fuppofed to have frequented, from commercial mo- tives, the ports of Britain, were not unacquainted with the coafts of Ireland, might feem in fome degree probable, without any authority of ancient writers. The fadl was believed by the poet Feflus Avienus. That the Greeks had received fome obfcure account of this ifland, either through the Phcsaicians or fome other medium, four or five centuries before Chpift", we learn from the Argonautics under the name of Orpheus, a poet imagined cotemporary with Pififl;ra- tus the Athenian. . Above three centuries before the Chriftian era, Ariftctle, in his treatife of the World, names the two greatelt Britannic iflands, Albion and lerne. More known to the Romans, it was no- ticed HISTORY OF IRELAND. ij ticed by feveral writers in very early periods of the c h a ft Chriflian era, as by Strabo, Pomponius Mela, and ■ ^ ' Solinus ; but chiefly by Ptolemy, a geoprapher of the fecond century, who has marked the names and fituations of places and tribes of Irifli people, from the beft information which he could procure. Of the date of the inhabitants, except their barbarifni we are not informed by thefe writers. The name of Name, - the country has been imagined of Celtic origin, de- nominated anciently Iri, Eri, Erin, Jere, lerne, and Iris, by which was believed to be denoted its weflern fite with regard to Europe. Others confider the original term as Gothic, fignifying the farther ifle. From this perhaps are derived the names Ouernia, Juverna, and Hibernia. The appellation of Scotia, which it retained until the tenth century, is of a later date, and from a Gothic fource. Ireland is only a compound of a Gothic epithet with its primitive de- nomination. That this illand was firfl colonized by Celtic cats, tribes, the primitive poflTeffors of the European con- tinent, of a brownifh complexion, with black and curling hair, feems hardly to admit a doubt ; but when and whence they firft arrived, are queflions unanfwerable. From the refearches of the bed an- tiquarians, efpecially the acute and laborious Pinker- ton, * two races of Celtic people, didinguiHied by the names of Gael and Cumraig, appear to have fuccefhvely inhabited the fouthern parts of Britain, in ages long anterior to the birth of Chrid. The * Inquiry ir to the Hiftory of Scotland, former, i6 HISTORY OF IRELAND. -<:hai\ former, fuppofed with reafon to have been the fanle '.- — V- — I with the Gallic Celts of Casfar, * and to have conle immediately from France into Britain, were proba- bly driven weft ward into Wales and Cornwal, and at laft into Ireland, by the Cumri or Cumraigs, who are Hkewife with reafon fuppofed to have come from Germany. The language of the Gaels, termed Gailic, remains, how much corrupted foever, ef- pecially in the weft of Ireland and the Scottifli High- lands, very diftinift from the "Welch, the dialed of the Cumri. The proximity of the Welch and Scot- tifli headlands, more efpecially the latter, afforded the opportunity of a (hort navigation from Britain to the Iiifh coafts, very flrort in comparifon of the voyages now known to be performed by favage tribes, in veflels framed flightly of wood and covered with leather, fuch as have been formerly much in ufe in the feas of the Britifii iflands. Goths, Of thefe primitive colonifts, who were doubtlefs illiterate, and even favage, no hiftory can be given ; nor could a narrative of their tranfaftions be other than difgufting by a uniform repetition of petty wars and a^ts of barbarian ferocity. Their firft arrival may have happened nine or ten centuries before the Chriftian era, and later by fix or {qwqu. may have been the firft invafion of Gothic tribes. The vaft race of the Goths, proved by a chain of evidence to have been the fame with the ancient Scythians,! diftinguifhed by large limbs and ftature, fair complexions, blue or grey eyes, and red oir • See Gordon's Terraquca, vo). 4. p. »88. f Pinkerton's diflcrt ition on ihc Scythians or Goths. flaxen HISTORY OF IRELAND. ij flaxeti hair, are traced in their migrations from Perfia, through the weftern regions of Tartary, into Europe, great part of which they overran, driving the Celts toward the weft, and the Fins to the north. The firft colonifts of Scythian race in Ireland, were probably B^rlgians, a numerous people, who were known long before the birth of Chrift, to have advanced {o far to the weft as to occupy the Nether- lands with a confiderable portion of the modernl France and the fouth-eaftern parts of Britain. The Belgian colony, probably the Fhbolgs of ancient Irifh tradition appear to have eftabliihed principally their fettlements in the fouth-eaftern parts, the maritime trads of the modern counties of Waterford and Wexford, where Ptolemy found people diftinguifhed by the appellations of Menapii and Cauci, appella- tions belonging to the Belgic tribes on the continent, and where, in the baronies of Bargy and Forth, a people now dwells, diftinguifhed by a peculiar dialeft from the reft of the modern Irifti, probably the de- fcendtints of the ancient Belgians, with a great ■inter- mixture of Enghfli colonifts. As we are led by circumftances to fuppofe that the Belgian Goths, the chief anceftors of the mo- dern Englifti, Dutch, Flemings, and feveral people of Germany, furniftied the earlieft colonies to Ire- land after the tribes of Celtic denomination j fo likewife have we good grounds to believe that the Scandinavian Goths, from whom are defcended the prefent Norwegian, Swedifti, Danifti, and Lowland Scotti(h people, were the next and more frequent colonizers of this country. Among thefe appear to have been the Tiiatka:de-Danam^ reported in Irifh vol.. I. c tradition i8 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, tiadidon to have pradifcd the fancied arts of magf'* '.■,.,.-,,.— ..^ cal incantation ; arts vulgarly attributed in former ages to tribes inhabiting the regions of the Baltic. Thefe invaders of Ireland, whofe name feems tranf- latable into Lord Dancs^ a term familiar in Englifh hiftory, are called alfo Damnonians, and may pro- bably have been Danes, whofe national appellation might have been fome ages earher known to the Irifh and other northerns than to the Romans ; or might perhaps in later periods, vi'hen the Danifh name had acquired an infamous renown, have been applied by Irifh writers to former adventurers con- fidered as belonging to this formidable race. This Is only conjedlure ; bat that Ireland^ at leafl fo early as the fourth century, was in pofleflion of the Scots, the fame probably as the Goths or Scythians in the original found and import of the term, we have fuf- ficient authority, particularly that of the poet Clau- dian ; whence the name of Scotia was given to this ifland ; that of Scots, with a circumfcribed and alter(^ fignification, to its inhabitants indifcrimi- nately. ^.cftians. -^^s ^^^^ celebrated Romans, who fubdued by their arms, and civilized by their inftitutions, fo great a portion of the ancient world, never fent an invading force into Ireland, relinquiflied thus to primeval ignorance, we have no account of Iriih revolutions from Roman writers, nor information, beyond their weakneis and barbarifm, concerning the govern- ment and manners of the people. From the great \ hiltorian Tacitus, we learn that, about the eigh- tieth year ot the Chriftian era, an Irifii chieftain, expelled by donieftic faction, took refuge with Agri- cola, HiSTORY OF IRELAND. 19 cola, n Roman general then warring In Britain, chap. who was affured tha?, for the fubjugation of Ireland, one let^ion, which confifted of between fix and feven thoufand men, would, with a few auxiliary troops, be fully fiifficient. Thus, though the ports of this ifland were in that age, according to the fame au- thority, which is in this cafe fuppofed erroneous, more frequented by merchants than thofe of Britain, which might feem to imply a lefs incivility of man- ners, yet difunion and diflradion, found in later times to prevail among the Irifh, prevailed in this early period, and probably never ceafed from the firft peopling of the country till its complete fub- jedion to the Englifh power. Orofms, a writer of the fifth century, has recorded that a body of Scy- thians, driven from Gallicia in Spain by the Roman emperor Conftantine, chofe Ireland for their afylum, where they found a kindred people, the Scyths or Scots ; a tellimony confonant with the refults of laborious reftarches made elfewhere by the befl of our antiquarian authors. As the notices of ancient Ireland by Roman F^bie^. writers, though moRly clear and authoritative, are of too limited a nature to give more than very fcanty information ; fo the accounts of the Irifli, concerning the tranfaclions of their country pre- vious to the fifth century of the chriflian era, though fufficiently copious, are of lb romantic or fabulous a complexion, as to afford no certain light, and leave us to conjedure by extraneous aids. They are In great part manifeft forgeries, fabricated after the introdudion of Chriflianity among the Irifh, by monks and other fuch dreamers. Such accounts as c 2 may to HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, may feem xviih any colour of probability to have a '- . claim to he confidered as foanded in fa(5t, mull have been collected from the Tongs of the bards, the bed Sonjs. vehicle for the conveyance of oral tradition. But the original matter of fongs, unwritten and com- mitted merely to memory, is liable, by interpola- tions and aherations, in a courfe of ages, to he in- explicably difguifed, or irrecoverably loft. Such I fufped to be the cafe with the famous poems under the name of Oillan, concerning which an extraor- dinary impofition was attempted on the public, in the latter part of the eighteenth century, by James Macpherfon, a Scottifh writer. Of thefe, coai- pofed of liifh affairs, the mod genuine, given by the ingenious Doctor Young, in the firfl volume of the Royal Irifh Academy's tranfadions, appear to me to have received forae interpolation fo lately at leaft as the ninth, if not in the fifteenth century. Colonics. By the writers of our hiftorical romances we are told, that five fucceflive colonies arrived in Ireland, the followers of Partholanus, thofe of Nemedius, the Firbolgs, the Tuatha-de-Danans, and the Mile- fians. Of the third an 1 fourth 1 have already fpoken : the rell I confider as totally fabulous, and the name of Milefians a mere fabrication. Thefe colonies, however, are faid to have been Scythian ; fo that fmce the Celts, the aboriginal inhabitants, from whom the modern Irifti derive, at leafl in fome proportion, their blood and language, remain un- noticed by the writers even of romantic llory, the opinion of the learned Pinkerton feems well found- ed, who afierts that the hillory of this country is only HISTORY OF IRELAND'. si only the hiflory of the Goths in Ireland. Doubtlefs chap. . . li- the language, as well as blood, has received a Gothic ,^ .. / iiiixture. The Irifh tongue, perhaps, hefide the Lar.eungr Welch, the only remaining dialeft of the Cehic, is in great part compofed of Gothic words, fo dif- guifed by adaptation to its peculi.ir form, that to difcriminate what is genuinely Celtic is a matter of much difficulty. Such indeed is the corruption and inftability of this language, confufed with a jargon of ftrange dialeds, deftitute of any determinate rules of conjugation, declenfion, fyntax, orthography, or pronunciation, uncertain in the meaning of old terms, and flexible to the purpofes of fyftematic writers, that conclufions drawn from it in points of any importance in hiftory ought not to be admitted without the flricleft caution. From fome fentences of the Punic, or Cartha- imagined ginian language, the fame with the Phcenician, gjn""^ °"* preferved in a play of Plautus, a clofe affinity feems to have exifted between this and the an- cient Irirti tongue, as may be feen in the defence of the ancient hiflory of Ireland by Sir Lawrence Parfons. The fad would be extremely curious, if clearly afcertained, but not a proof, as has been fup- pofed, that the Ctltic inhabitants of this ifland were a Phoenician colony. We know that the highly po- liffied languages of Greek, Latin, and Sanfcrit, are clofely allied one to another, and have a radical af- finity with the ancient rude Scythian or Gothic ; and we thence infer that the nations, who fpoke thofe polifhed languages, were, though far fuperior in the arts of life, derived from the fame origin with c 3 thq 3Z HrSTORY OF IRELAND. the widely extended race of the Scythians. We alfo know that the Phoenicians, Arabs, and ChaU deans, all fpoke dialefts of one cultivated language, the Hebrew ; and the Celtic tribes, hovvfoever bar- barous, may have been originally of the fame great race with thefe nations, and may have fpread a thin colonization through the European nations by land and by wicker boats. The complexion and oih^r corporal charadleriftics, afcribed to the Celts, rather favour than difcountenance this hypothefis, for we find fuch in the Arab or Hebrew race. If com- mercial fadories have ever been eftablifaed on their coafts, and the druidic religion introduced among the Irifh, by the Phoenicians or Carthaginian?, their language might have thus received fome fmali addi- tion of Punic roots. > But if we could fuppofe, what indeed appears very far from probable, that the Druids had taught the Irifh the ufe of letters and the Phoenician tongue, we might thence infer a 'much nearer afiimilation of the written lanfiua;:e of the Irifh to the Punic. Thus, while the vulgar oral tongues of England and Scotland are diflinclly dif- ferent dialedls of Gothic, the written language of the latter country is by adoption entirely Englilh, by which alfo is occafioned a much nearer afiimilation of the oral fpeech. No other than fimilarity of language could be admitted as a proof of identity of origin in the LiPn and Phoenicians. Such argu- ments as that of brazen fwords of the fame kind, being found about Cannae and in Ireland, are too fu- tile to defer ve any ferious confideration j fince, be- fide other circumflances, thefe weapons had been, long before the battle of Cannae, fuperfcded by fvvords HISTORY OF IRELAND. 7. fwords of flee! amonor the Romans, Carthaginians, chap. and other civilized nations. The romantic hiftorians of our country have given stones. us a Hft of a hundred and eighteen fucceffive mo- narchs of Ireland, from Heremon, a Ton of the imaginary Milefms, to Laogaire in whofe reign Chris- tianity here acquired an eftablifhment. Thefe are all, with very little exception, reprefented as having fallen by homicide hands, each by thofe ot his ira- meJiate fucceflbr ; whence may be inferred a tumul- tuary ftate of fociety and government in the times when the authors of thefe accounts lived, who might by natural confequence have no idea of any other. In the writings of thefe, and the fongs of the bards, are fame (lories which appear to have allufions to fafls, or feme foundation in truth. Thus, in the firft or fecond century of the chrillian era, when we have reafon to believe that bands of Scandinavians had formed fettlements in Ireland, we are told that •Cairbre-Csitcan of the Damnonian race ufurped the chief power by the flaughter of the ancient royal family ; but after an interval of a few years the na- tive princes are faid to have recovered their former eminence of rank. A dometlic misfortune is faid to have befallen Tuathal Teachtmiar, a monarch the fecoiid in fuccef- fion from Cairbre-Caitcan, which entailed a punifh- ment on a large portion of the ifland. Eochaid, king of Leinfter married to a daughter of this monarch, contrived by perfidy to gain a filter of his queen to the indulgence of his criminal paiTion, which occa- fionsd by grief the death of both thefe ladies. Their c 4 incenfed »4 HISTOHY OF IRELAND. tftAP. mcenfed father had recourfe to arms, and inipofed V ■»■ ,j on the country of Leinfter, for the crime of its chief, a perpetual fine, called the Baromean tribute, which was ordered to be paid every fecond year, and to confift of a certain number of cows, hogs, fheep, copper cauldrons, mantles, and ounces of fjlver, fome fay fix, others only three thoufand. Whether Con of the hundred battle?, a monarch fo fliled from his numerous conHi£ls in civil warfare, had exiflence or not feems a doubtful point ; but Fin Mac Comhal, the hero of Offian's poems, appears, to have been a formidable chieftain of Scandina- vian anceftry, to have married a daughter of Cor- rnac Longbeard, the king of freiand, to have com- manded a body of troops called Fiona-Erion, in the latter part of the third century, and to have raifed fortrefles for the defence or fubjeclion of the na- tives. The tribes in Ireland of Scandinavian defcent appear to have fplit into two factions, the Clan-a- Morrc and the Clan-a-Boifkene, the former thus de- nominated from a chief of that name, the latter from Eoiikene, one of the anceftors of the hero Fin. This hero is fuppofed to have prevailed on the two fac- tions to fufpend their mutual animofities, and to unite with the aboriginals for the protection of the country againft new invaders. After his deceafe the colonics, under the conduct of his fon Ofliin, aided by frefli bands of adventurers from Scythia, which then comprehended the Scandinavian regi- ons and Germany, appear to have renewed their hoft.'lities againft the aboriginals, in the reign of Cairbre HISTORY OF IRELAND. S^ Cairbre LifFeachair, fon of Cormac Longbeard. In chap. thefe contefls the ancient Irifli are fuppofed to have in fome degree balanced the fuperior arms and dif- .cipline of their enemies by their numbers, their extraordinary fwiftnefs, and the fadnelTes of their boe^s and woods. Perhaps alfo the difunion and diftra£lions of the aboriginals vere balanced by the factions of their opponents under various leaders from various parts of the continent. The main forces of the two parties, the Scandinavians under Ofcar, fon of Ofliin and grandfon of the great Fin, the Irifh under a prince of Leinfter, are faid to have at length, in the fourth century, come to a pitched battle in the plains of Ardratho, where vidory de- clared in favour of the latter, which at that time prevented the fubjugation of Ireland, Though the colonifts continued niaflers of the ports and coafls, the Iriih princes appear to have regained confider- able power in the interior parts, efpecially if we believe the ftory of one, who, in the latter part oF the fourth century, is reported to have been fo fuc- cefsful in the fubduiQg of chieftains, and in the re- ception of pledges of obedience, that he had the title conferred on him of Nial of the Nine Hodages, CHAt>. »$ HISTORY OF IREL4NI>. CHAP. in. Eiligioa. Religion of the ancient Irijh—Dniidifm — Letters — Chrijiianity — Saint Patrick — If i and of Saints—- ancient Gcverninent of Ireland — Laws — Brehons—^ Manners — Raths — L)uns — Hcfpitality — Cofering — Foferage — Bards — Food— Habits — Hifory — Lao- gaire — hliigh Mac Ainmer — Columb-Cill — Congall — Clergy burned, /V HAT fpecles of paganifm prevailed among the ancient Irifh is uncertain. Druidifm, the religion of the Gauls and Britons, more efpecially the ktter, before the conqueft of thefe nations by the Romans, is reported in our traditional hillories to have had place in Ireland, which appears not improbable. Of the druidic fyflem, which may have been iiiiported by the Phcsnicians from the Eaft, and of which ac- counts are given by fome writers of more learning and vanity than judgment or love of truth, very little is aflually known, and that little can he colleiTted only from Greek and Roman writers. It was doubt- kfs a fyftem of profound myflery. Its priefts, de- fignated by the name of druids, were forbidden by the inviolable rules of their inftitLuion to divulge to the laity any of their dogmas, or to commit to writ- ing any part of their doctrines, which were com.pofed in verfes merely oral, and treafured in the memory by a tedious courfe of ftudy. Their places of worlhip were lonely groves, awful to the vulgar by gloomy ihades and religious confecration. For the oak tree they HISTORY OF IRELAND. 27 they enjoined a peculiar veneration. Over the laify, chap, configned to intellecloal darknefh', they exerclfed a ,__,,.,=«/ formidable fway by the power cf excommunication and other modes of punifliment. On their alfars they offered bloody fscrifices, and among the victims were frequently men, commonly fuch as were con- demned for fuppofcd or real crimes. Among thein was faid to be maintained a regular gradation of ranks, or kind of hierarchy, terminating in an arch- druIJ, the prefident of all. To the vulgar they com- municated fome inflpaclions of a moral nature; and, to infpire them with courage in battle, are fuid ro have given them., in the doctrine of the metempfy- chofis', fome idea of the foul's immortality. Inclofures cf upright fcones ranged in circles, which are found in Ireland, as in the neighbouring countries, are conjedured, without grounds, to have been made for tiie purpofe of druidic worO^iip, and to have furvived the deflru6iion of the facred proves, in the centres of which they had originally flood. Others with more Jcerning probability imagine thefe works to have been e reeled, at once for facred anu civil ceremonies, by Gothic tribes, whofe rites became intermixed with thofe of the Celts. That letters were not unknown to the Gallic dru- L?;te!s. id-?, though their ufe was prohibited, in fubjects of religion, we are informed by a text in the Commen- taries of Csefar, but a text long fufpected of being fpurious, the interpolation of Julius Celfus. If the Irifli druids were acquainted with letter?, the know- ledge of them probably, like that of their facred inyflciies, was confined tntirely to druiuical minds, J fince jA EISTORY OF IRELAND. CFf AP. fincc we have no Ihadow of proof that the Irifh were in. . . '^ 'w-iv»— .-' acquainted with any alphabet before the introdu(Elion among them of the Roman characters. The charac- ters, in which the Irifh language is written, only feventeen in number, are evidently of Roman form, tranfpofed into a new alphabet under the name of bethhdfnion, a compound of the names of its three firft ktfers. Other marks or fymbols formerly in life, termed Ogwn or Ogham cl^arad^ers, were only afFeOedly obfcure, or pedantic modes of writing, formed by a corruption of the Roman letters, like the lunic figures of the Scandinavians. Generally people in a (late of lettered barbariftn, like the mo- dern Turks, are obferved to affcd a perplexed manner of writing, preferring in feveral cafes obfcurity to perfpicuity.. chnft^iamty The propagation of ChriRianlty in this ifland, which appears rrom lome circumltances, particularly two allufive expreflions of Saint Jerome, to have had place , at lead as early as the fourth century, n;iade a grand epoch in its hiilory, as, together with lome know- ledge of divine revelation, the ufe of letters was introduced among the Irifh. Of the time exadly when, and of the per fens by whom, the inhabiiants of Ireland firfl received the illumination of the Gof- pel, we cannot find more certain information than when and by whom the people of Britain, or of any other country in Europe, were firft enlightened by its communication. AVe find the names, mofl pro- bably fi£litious, of Albe, Declan, Ibar, and Kieran, mentioned as precurfors of Saint Patrick, who has been fuppofed th« great apoflle of the Irifh, to have come HISTORY OF IRELAND. i§ come amon^ them in the year 432, and 'to have cftaip, efFe£led the great work of their converfion. The ■> r y ^' ftories related of this apodle, whatever dates are fe* verally affixed to them, are doubilefs legendary tales, or theological romances, fabricated four centuries after his imaginary exi:, feven, or more, of chiefs, princes or provincial kings, among whom whoever gained the fupreme afcendancy arrogated for the time the title of king of Ireland, ard-riaghj or fupreme monarch, receiving a kind of homage, and, where he could eiiforce the payment^ exading a tribute , from the red. Of a regular pentarchy, or political fyftem of not more than five provincial kings under ' the command of one fovereiga monarch, which is aflerted by our compilers of romantic flory to have been the ancient government of this ifland, no evi- dence can be found. Under each of thefe princes, whatever v.'as their number, were feveral fubordi- nate lords or toparchs, flyled alfo riagbs or kings, who rendered to him in Uke manner fealty and tribute as he to the fovereign. So numerous were thefe, that the principality of Munfler alone con- tained eighteen. Subordinate again to each toparch were other chieftains or feudatories, called tiarnas and canfinnies^ heads of inferior clans, who obeyed or difobeyed their fuperiors, as ihey felt themfeives prompted by convenience or caprice. For the fupport of IG III. |2 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, of the fupreme ruler, prefiding over the whole col- ledion of dynafties, the country of Meath confifling of the modern counties of Eaft and Weft-Meath, is faid to have been appropriated as his peculiar domain, in the fecond century, in the reign of Tuathal : but if fuch appropriation ever had place, it appears to have never been regularly maintained, and is acknow- ledged to have at length entirely lofl exigence. We are informed by our hifiorians that in the fucceffion to the monarchy two main points dre\V attention, hereditary right, and the ele^ion of the people. The right of eledion was vefted in the peo- ple, but their choice v/as confined to a particular family ; or in other words the monarchy was, " eleSli'ue as to the perfo7i, but hereditary as to the blood. Thefe principles, fo jarring, were perpetual fources of dif- cord and contention, which could only be compofed by the ftrongeft: hand." Accordingly we find that out of a long line of near two hundred Irifh monarchs, fcarce two in immediate fucceffion, nor above thirty in ail, have died a natural death. "As a remedy for thefe inconveniences, which neceffarily adhered to this rude form, it was cuftomary to eleft the next mod worthy of the fame blood, whom they called Roidamna^ and whofe deftination was to eafe the fovereign of fome of the cares of royalty during his life, and to fucceed to the throne at his death. But however this might mitigate, it did not cure the ma- lady : for fometimes the roadamna took arms againft the monarch, and fometimes both of them fell vie-* tiras to fome more potent fadion *.** This mode of • CaropbeL'j Striflures, 3?4. fucceffioi* HISTORY OF IRELAND. 33 iucceflion appears to have been univerfal In the fyftem c hap. of IriCh government ; fucceflbrs termed ihainijls or tanijls being in fimilar manner chofen for the fubordi- nate kings and toparchs. Such a conftitution feems " calculated only for a people whofe various tribes or fepts were perpetually at war with each other, and who were not willing to difpenfe, even for a day, with the want of a general to lead them to battle." In the eighth century a new order of fucceffion is faid to have taken place, an al- ternate eledion from two royal families of the Hy Nial race, the northern of Tyrone, and the fouthern called Clan Colman feated in Meath. This had a natural tendency to augment ftill farther the fa6lions of the various tribes. An attentive and full view of the fubject leads us to conclude that the " epitome of the civil hiTcory of ancient Ireland is briefly this : ^Divided and fubdivided into a multitude of petty ftates, connefled together by no bond of political union, cemented by no fenfe of common intered,'* the Irilh v/ere inceffantly didrafted with inteiline wars, and " the body of the people v/ere the abjed dependants of an uncertain fet of barbarous chieftains, who ufed their wretched followers as the determined tools of their beggarly, yet bloody anibition."* We are told that, for the maintenance of regular govern- ment throughout the ifiand, a triennal affernxbly of all the kings and chitf nobility, termed the Fes^ was anciently inflituted, and for ages held, at the hill of Tarah in Meath ; and that, for the promotion of mutual intercourfe and civility of manners, great * Camphtll, 12, 2Ji. VOL. I. D games 34- HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, games were annually celebrated, about the firfl: of . Auguft, in the plains of Tailtean in the fame country : but if fuch boafted games and political aflemblies ever had exiftence in an extenfive fenfe, we have no reafon to believe their continuance to have been long, or their effects confiderable. Laws. Laws in the Iriih tongue are found written in a ftile fo obfcure, even unintelligible, that thence, and from other circumftances, they are confidered by fome as of great antiquity ; while others, from cer- tain marksj regard their compilation as of fo modern a date as times poflerior to the Englifh invafion. The laws themfelves, however, appear to have been in great part ancient, and to have been orally tranf- 'mitted through fuccefiive generations in a confrater- nity of hereditary judges, termed brebons, who fat in the open air for the decifion of caufes, and whofe decrees were highly refpeded by the people. From this refpecl, without which the judgments of the brehons mud have been fruitlefs in fo divided and tumultuary a ftate of government, and ftill more from other circumftances, the Irifh have been pro- nounced by Lord Coke and Sir John Davis the greateji lovers of jujiice. Their laws, however, though in many cafes minute and equitable, were not calculated, even with a molt rej^ular and fteady execution, to produce a well regulated (yilem of fociety, fmce no crime, howfoever atrocious, was puniihable with death, but only by a fine called eric, which was adjuiled by eftablilhed rule to the nature of the offence. Some HISTORY OF IRELAND. 35 Some practices inveterately fandioned by cuftom, among the Irifli and ading with the utmoft force of eftabliflied laws, co-operated with the diforders of anarchy, or fluduaiing government, to the preven- tion of improvement in their lands and manners. Among thefe was the mode of diftribution, which, precluding all (lability in the pofidflion of land, with- held all incentives for the exertions of induftry. On the death of any man, the moveable inheritance was equally divided among all his fons, without diftinc- tion of legitimate or illegitimate ; and, in failure of fons, among the next male heirs, to the total exclu- fion of the females. When a tribe or community loft one of its members by death or otherwife, a new diftribution was made of all the lands of the diftricl, among the families of the tribe ; for no where among the Irifh could the right of tenure furvive the pof- feflbr : " and as the crimes or misfortunes of men. frequently forced them from one tribe to another, property was eternally fluctuating, and new partitions of lands made almoll daily. Hence the cultivation of grounds was only in proportion to the immediate demands of nature, and the tributes to be paid to fuperiors."* From this cuftom of gavel kind we find one exception. The menfal land, appropriated to the maintenance of the tanifl:, defcended whole to his fucceflbr. In fuch a ftate of civil fociety, we may well fuppofe Manners, rudenefs in manners and modes of living. All ranks, even princes, dwelt in gloomy cabins, framed flightly of hurdles and plaftered with clay. About the * Leland's Hittory of Ireland, Prtliminary difcourfc, 3^. © 2 center 3« HISTORY OF IRELAND. center of the diflrid, inhabited by a clan or fept, flood the dwelling of its chief, within a fortified inclofure called a rnth, into which the clan retired in emergencies of danger. Thefe raths, environed fome- tiraes with a wall, commonly with a trench or trenches, furniflied frequently with fubterraneous chambers and fallyports, and fituated always on elevated grounds, were various in dimenfions, proportioned to the povt'er and property of the toparch, fome hav- ing a diameter of only ten or fifteen yards, others an area of eighteen or twenty Englifh acres. The fmaller fpecies of thefe rude bulwarks, denominated raheens in modern Irifli, appear to have been flations of fmaller clans, or fubdivifions of a fept. We find alfo fortrefles under the name of dims, originally feated on infulated rocks, but underftood in the vul- gar and promifcuous ufe of the term as elevated forts either of rock or of earth. From the multitude of raths we might naturally imagine a numerous population formerly in Ireland^ if we were not apprifed that fuch is inconfiftent with a fcanty agriculture, and that great numbers of raths may have been unoccupied, fince the migration of fepts from diftricl to diftrict, as of individuals from fept to feptj was not unufual. As hofpirality, how- ever liable to abufe, is a neceffary virtue among a barbarous people, where no inns are afforded for the accommodation of travellers, the brehon laws enjoined that the occupiers of a rath fliould not be too fudden in the adl of migration, left the traveller fliould be difappointed of his expedled entertainment. Such provifions as the traveller might fuppofe his due by right HISTORY OF IRELAND. 37 right of hofpltality were exa6led, under the title of chap- cojhering and other denominations by right of legali- zed, but irregularly exercifed authority, by the chief and his attendants, who lived at free quarter on the people. Fofterage alfo was a cuftoin prevalent among the Irilh. By bargains of interchange among parents, children of different families and ranks were educa- ted together as brothers. Hence the parties were connedled by fo clofe a tie, that the members of the foftering family and the fofterling confidered them- felves as mutually bound to fupport one another in every quarrel without regard to juftice. Of fimilar nature were the effefts of Goffipred, which the Irifh above all other people regarded in a light religious and obligatory. In the difordered flate of fociety among the Irifh, where lawlefs force prevailed, Leland, our eftimable hiflorian, tells us that '* a robufl frame of body, a vehemence of paffion, an elevated imagination, were the charaderiftics of the people. Noble inftances of valour, generous effufions of benevolence, ar- *' dent refentments, dtfperate and vindictive outrages, abound in their annals," and, he might have added, horrible inQances of treachery and breach of oaths. To verfe and mufic, like the Scandinavian Goths, ^ they were extravagantly addicted. The acknowledged excellence of the Irifh in mufic, whence the harp was chofen for the enfign of Ireland by Henry the Eighth, is v.iih llrong probability believed to have been de rived from the Greeks, who brought into this country the ceremonies of chriftian wcrfhip. The bards and muficians, who, by efforts of art or genius, delighted D 3 the 38 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, the fancies and fired the palTions of the people, were ' held in veneration. Thefe artifts availed themfelves of their influence to render their profeffion heredi- tary, and to appropriate to it large portions of land. Since they are faid to have engroifed a third of the national property, and by their numbers and exac- tions to have raifed a general alarm in the fixth cen- tury, we may well fuppofe that under the fame clafs were comprehended the hiitorians or genealogifts, CAWtd. feanachies ^ who noted the exploits and lineage of their patrons. Food. As, from the inftability of tenures in land, agri- culture among the ancient Irifli was very limited, their food confifted chiefly in the milk and flefli of their cattle, to vi'hich were often added wild herbs of feveral kinds, as wa^er-crefles arid forrel. The milk was varioufly modified. I have feen, when a boy, a family dining on curds and butter, a piece of the latter being laid on each fpoonful of the former, which was recommended as an ancient and mofl wholefome food by a priefl: who was one of che com- pany. Wild fwine, abundant in the forefts of oak, which covered the land in great proportion, confl:i- tuted a much efteemed part of the animal food. From the improper ufe of fuch aliments, bad cookery, or want of correSives, the leprofy was frequent. Corn, inftead of being threfhed, was freed by fire from the huflis and draw, was pounded and boiled, or ground with a hand mill, and the bread baked in cakes under embers, or on an iron plate called griddle. The chi^f beverage vsras mead, on which account the pre- fervation mSTORY OF IRELAND. yf fervation of bees was a particular objed in the bre- hon laws. The drefs of the ancient lu(h has been bed invefli- Drefs. gated by Walker and Ledwich, more efpecially the latter, whofe book on the antiquities of Ireland is a mod valuable performance. A mantle or fhort cloak, originally of fkin, afterward of cloth, compofed, for ornament, of ftripes of different colours fewed to- gether, was enlarged in later times into a long cloak ; and a hood, attached to the mantle was exchanged for a conical cap. A jacket, called y^///«, and trow- fers defcending to the feet, were worn, except by the poorer fort, who feem to have been naked be- low. As their (heep were modly of the black fort, their garments were generally dark, except the trowfers, which were often yellow. Of the fame dye was the fhirt, when fuch was worn, wide with large folds and fleeves of great fize. The flioe feems to have been only a piece of unfewed leather, tied on the foot by a thong, fuch as we find ftill in ufe among the Livonians and fome others in the north of Eu- rope. The beard was long, at leaft on the upper lip ; and a great bunch of hair over the forehead, called Glibb or coolecn, was thrown into various forms, and tended to give a ferocity of afpe£l. Variations in drefs and other matters were intro- niftory duced by the Danes and other foreigners, of whofe tranfaftions in Ireland, as of thofe of the natives, our accounts are obfcure. We are furnifhed with the names of thirty kings of Ireland reigning in fuc- cefTion from Laogaire, the firft chriltian monarch, to Hugh Dorndighe, or Donchad Mac Domnail, ia D 4 whofe 4© HISTORY OF IRELAND, CHAP, whofe time the kingdom was miferably ravaged by u— v-^— ^ formidable bands of Danifli invaders, who foon ren- dered tbemfelves mafters of moft of the country. Of the a£ls of thefe princes, or the events of this period, very little is recorded, except the violent deaths with which almoft all the reigns concluded. Of Laogaire himfelf, who entered on the regal function in the year 428, no favourable account, notwith- ftanding his converfion to Chriftianity, is given. Defeated and taken prifoner by the people of Leinfter, in his invafion of their country to inforce the pay- ment of the Baromean tax, and releafed on his renunciation of that claim for ever under a folemn, oath, he violated his engagement, and fell in anor ther battle by the fwords of the Leinftrians, or, as others report, by Hghtning, an inftrument of divine vengeance. To provide a remedy againfl: the alarming num- bers, infolence, and exadions of the bards, a great affembly of the princes, nobles, and clergy of Ireland was in 568 convened at Drumceat, by Hugh Mac Ainmer the monarch, who was oppofed in his defign by a famous monk named Columb-cill. This advo- cate of the bards, moft of whom we muft fuppofe from this occurrence to have been converts to Chriftianity, prevailed in the affembly, perhaps not lefs by the terror of temporal arms than of fpiritual, fmce he had been a warrior, to prevent any meafures of a feverer kind than the redudion of their numbers. Monkifh influence was not on all occafions attended with fuch effeds. Congall, who reigned in the beginning of the fevemh century, is faid to have fo 9 perfecuted[ ni. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 41 perfecuted the minifters of the chrlftian faith as to chap. commit alive to the flames both fecular and regular clergy at Kildare. From this and other inftances we have reafon to believe that the univerfal conver- fion of the Irifh to the Gofpel was not fo early as has been commonly fuppofed. Nothing further in the civil hiftory of Ireland occurs worth our notice till the great invafion of the Danes in the ninth century. CHAP. I 4« HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. IV. Danes — Charlemagne — Tiirgejius or Thorgih — Am- lave^ Sit rick, and Ivar — Da?iiJJj Invaders of Ire- landy comparatively few in number — Laji Kings of Ireland — Cor mac Mac Cuillenan — Brian Boro-^ Battle of Clontarf—Mortough 0' Brian — Magnus-^ Learnijig — Scholars — Columbanus, ^c. — Virgilius Solivagus — Mean bigotry Johannes Scotiis Eri- gena, Iffc. — Hijiorical Records of Ireland — Pf alter of Cajhel, Iffc. Ecckfiajiical liiftory — Culdees — Bijhops, Iffc, CH^.p. \^ ages anterior to the birth of Chrifi:, the regi- *■ V -' ons about the Baltic had been peopled by Scandi- navian Goths, who early adopted habits or maritime adventure. Colonifts of this race under the name of Scots, as I hav8 already obferved, were, at lead fo foon as the fourth century of the Chriftian era, polTefled of fo confpicuous a power in Ireland as to have acquired to it the appellation of Scotia or Scotland, an appellation in later times transferred and appropriated to another country. Armaments of Scandinavians, in the decline of Roman power, infefted the coafts of European countries with pre- datory vifits ; but, after their conqueft of South Britain in the fifth and fixth centuries, which for fome time ferved as a drain for their fuperfluous numbers, or for the individuals of their tribes mod prone to adventure or emigration, we hear little 1 1 more HISTORY CF IRELAND. 43 more of their barbarous exploits till the latter 'part of the eighth centur}'', when we again find Britain, Ireland, and France alarmed by their naval expedi- tions and inroads. From the violences committed by the Franks or French under Charlemagne, who, in the courfe of his extenfive conquefts, from the year 768 to 814, put all pagans to the fword who refufed to receive the rite of chriftian baptifm, the mofl obftinate and adventurous of the Saxons, a numerous and fierce people inhabiting the northern parts of modern Ger- many, took refuge among the Scandinavians, whom they incited to renev/ the piratical warfare of their predeceffors. From the concluding part of the eighth to the beginning of the eleventh century, the mari- time parts of wedern Europe, efpecially South Bri- tain and the northern French provinces, were mi- ferably afflided by the fanguinary depredations of Scandinavian bands, under the names of Danes, Normans, Oilmen or Eaiterlings, who, afcending the rivers in their fleets of light veffels, laid wafte the country, wherever they came, with fire and fword, mofl mercilefsly butchering the inhabitants, without regard to fex or age, and bearing away the plunder. In hiftory we find recorded no people more defperately ferocious. Implacably detefling the pro- feffors of the chriftian faith, particularly the clergy, on account of the bloody perfecutions of Charle- magne, they were befides infpired by the tenets of their pagan fuperftition with a third of flaughter and a contempt of death. The great objed: of their worfhip was Woden, the imaginary God of war, into 44 HrSTORY OF IRELAND. cpiAP. into whofe paradife admi/Tion could be obtained not ^v.i. -yi .. ' otherwife than by hardy deeds of bloodflied. To die by other means than the ftroke of warlike wea- pons was accounted fo difgraceful, that warriors, in danger of departure by difeafe, procured a violent death by the hands of their friends. To aflail two enemies at once, to receive with firmnefs the attack of three, to retire only one (lep from four, and to retreat from no fewer than five, was the martial rule, or point of honour, with a Danifh champion. Of the dauntlefs and fanguinary fpirit of thefe northern rovers the reader may fee an illuflration in Bartho- lin's cauf^n by its piefent name, it appears to have been under the divided government of fix princes, independent one of another, but acknowledging the fupremacy of one of their number refiding in North- Wales. A little before the middle of the ninth cen- tury, "Wales became united under one fovereign in the perfon of Roderic, furnamed, with little apparent caufe, the great. This prince confented to the re- gular payment of a tribute, which probably had been exacted before, to the king of the Englifli, and made a divifion of his realm into three principalities, which were inherited by his three fons. Other di- vifions, attended with internal commotions, greatly diminifhed the force of the Welch, and expofed them to the ambitious attempts of the king* of F 4 England, 73 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. England, againfl: whofe invafions they had only io t--,.,...^ oppofe the faftnefles of their country, and their im- petuous valour in defultory onfets. In the year 10^)3, Harold, who then afted as general of Edward the confeflbr, and who foon after fucceeded that monarch for a time in the throne of England, reduced the Welch princes to a tempo- rary vaffalage. Moie permanent inroads were made in the reign of William Rufus, toward the end cf the eleventh century, when feveral Norman nobles obtained poffeffions in the Southern parts of Walei5, and fome alfo on the Northern, where they aded with almofl: regal authority under the title of Lords of the marches, bridling the country with ftrong fortrelTes. For addiiional fecurity, a colony cf Flemings, in the beginning of the twelfth century, was planted in the county of Pembroke, which thence fometimes was called Little England beyond Wales. Yet the Welch had never been completely conquered. Alternately fubmitting to tribute, and having recourfe to arms, they frequently Harmed the Anglo-Norman caftles, and made ruinous incuf- fions into the bordering counties of England. The princes cf North- Wales continued to rule their na- tive lubjefts, and, though generally obliged to ac- knowledge the fupremacy of the kings of England, maintained a kind of court as independent mo- narchs. Stror, bow -^^ ^^^ ^^"^^ °^ Dermod's foreign vifits, a fecret ferment, and meditation of revolt againll the govern^ ment of Henry, had place in South- Wales ; and Rice-ap- Griffith, a Welch chieftain, who com- . manded V. History of Ireland. 7^ iiianded in the country about Pembroke, had im- CHA^. prifoned Robert Fitzilephen, the governor of Cardigan, on the difcoveiy of his difinclinatlon to co-operate in rebellion. Among the perfons in thefe parts, who from circumftances might be fuppofed the mofl: willing to engage in revolt or other defpe- rate enterprifes, was Richard, earl of Chepftow, then termed Strigul, furnamed Strongbow, fon of Gilbert Earl of Pembroke, of the illuftrious houfe of Clare, a valorous youth, of diffipated fortune, and deftitute of royal favour. To this young noble- man Dermod made earned application ; and, on the cold reception of his firH: overtures, he propofed to give him his daughter Eva in marriage, and with her the inheritance of the kingdom of LeinRer. This propofal was, according to the Irifli laws, a nullity, fmce hereditary fuccefiion had no place in Ireland; but he might reafonably fuppofe that the eftablifh- ment of the claim would much more depend on the fuccefs of the enterprife than on the cuftoms of his country. When Earl Strongbow, fo titled from his feats of archery, acceded to the propofals of the Irifh prince, on condition of Henry's particular licence for the undertaking, Dermod found other adventurers, lefs powerful indeed, but more prompt for the hazardous enterprife of the fohcited expedition. By the medi- ation of the bifliop of Saint-Davids, Fitzftephen was releafed by Griffith, on his propotal of engaging in the fervice of Dermod, that he might not be in a fituation to oppofe the projeded revolt againft Henry, fmce 74. HISTORY OF IRELAND. fince his confcience would not permit him to give affiftance in fuch a bufinefs. To Fitzftephen, and his maternal brother Maurice Fitzgerald, who, with other adventurous knights of Walts, enlifted in this new enterprife, the prince of Leinfter bound himfelf to give the entire dominion of the town of Wexford with a large portion of land adjoining, as 1167. foon as his re-eftablifhnient Ihould enable him to make the donation. Dermod, having thus far fuc- ceeded in his negociations, and having received folemn promifes from Fitzflephen and Fitzgerald of their failing to his affiflance in the enfuing fpring, embarked with his Irifh train, and a few adventu- rers from Wales, who agreed thus early to fliare his fortunes ; and, landing' privately on the Irifli coaft in the winter of 1169, contrived to pafs unobferved to a monadery which he had founded at Ferns, where he remained fome time in concealment, awaiting the arrival of his tranfmarine allies. His return feems to have been premature. As his emifl'aries diffeminated the fame of the expeded fuccours, in their endeavours to acquire friends to his caufe among the Irifli, his arrival in the country could not long remain a fecret. Alarmed for his perfonal fafety, when he found that his defigns and place of refidence were publicly known, he dif. patched into Britain, to haflen the preparations of his allies, Maurice Regan, his friend and confiden- tial fecretary, the faithful hiuorian of the Anglo- Norman exploits in Ireland at this period ; and, affuming a bold countenance, as the fafer mode of condud HISTORY OF IRELAND. y^ Gonda(ft in fuch a dilemma, he put himfelf at the chap. head of his adherents and feized a part of his former ^— ^, — ^ dominions, known then by the nam.e of Hy-Kenfe- lagh, extending to Wexford along the river Slaney. Thither marched haftily Roderic O'Connor, with a body of troops from Connaughr,- accompanied by O'Ruarc, the long attached friend of his family, Dermod, unable to cope with fuch a force, had recourfe to the expedient ufual in fuch cafes. He retired with his followers into the faftnelks of woods, hoping to baffle by the nature of his pod the great fuperiority of the enem.ies' rmmbers. In the attempts made by the troops of Connaught to force the pofl of Dermod, feveral fldrmifiies had place, in the firft of which the alTailants were, with lofs on Roderic's fide, repulfed. In another fell the tainifl:, or elected fucceiTor, of O'Ruarc, and of Dermod's party a young chieftain of Wales, de- fignated in the ftyle of the Iriih analifts as the fon of a king. Fruflrated in his hopes of a fpeedy decifion in his favour, and impatient to march elfewhere for the fupprelTion of revolts and local feuds, particularly in Meath and Thomond, in both which provinces the reigning princes under his protedion had been murdered, Roderic liftened to the propofal of a treaty, which Dermod made only with temporizing views. fie offered to pay a hundred ounces of gold to O'Ruarc as a purchafe pf his forgivenefs j to make a formal renunciation of his claim to the kingdom of Leinller, on being permitted to retain ten cantreds, or fmall terri ro- ues ^6 HISTORY OF IRELAND. ries in vaflalage under the chief monarch ; and to give feven hoftages for the fecurity of his obe- dience. Roderic accepted thefe conditions, and, haftening elfewhere for objects which he thought more momentous, left the depofed prince of Leinfteif to exped in filence his allies from South-Britain. CHAh HISTORY OF IRELAND, - ^7 CHAP. VL Patro7ipucs of the Normans, Welch, and Irijh Arrival of Robert Fitzjiephcn. Attack of Wex- ford — Arms of the Ofimen and Irijh—Of the Angla- Nonnans — Donatmis of Dermod Attack of Of- ffjfy — Maurice Fitzgerald — Advance of Roderic — Fiizftephen s Magnanimity Treaty of Dermod and Roderic — Account, of Dublin Submiffion of this City -DefedioH of Thomond — Storming of Wa- terford — Marriage of Strongbow — Storming of Dub" liii — Council of Armagh — Slave Trade — Misfor- tunes of Strongbow — Affaidt of Dublin — Siege of Dublin — Of Carrick — Horrible Perjury — Capture of Fitzflep hen— March of Strongbow— Tranfaclions -^Summons from Henry. Very few of my readers can require to be In- chap formed, that the fvllable Fitz^ prefixed to the ^^^- names of feveral South-Britilh chieftains famous in Iri(h hiftory, is a term of Norman French, cor- rupted from the Latin word JiHus, and fignifying fen, as Fitzflephen imports the fon of Stephen. Among the Welch the particle Ap, derived by the \ fdiomatic pronunciation of that people from the Latin aby has been applied to a fimilar ufe. Among the Irifh Mac and were the patronymic figns, the latter underftood as originally belonging to the prin- cipal family of the fcept or clan. Robert Fitzflephen, faithful to the engagement FiijaepU^n, Vr'ith Dermod, fet fail from Walesv/ith a fleet of three ■V" Patrony- mics. I •yS' HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, three fmall veiTels, in the beginning of May, In the I. ^' . year i 70 ; and, arriving on the fouthern coaft of the modern county of "Wexford, in the bay of Ban- now, in a creek* vulgarly called Bag-an-Bunn, dif- *• embarked his forces, confiding of thirty knights, fixty men in armour, and three hundred archers. This little army was reinforced on the following day by the landing of Maurice de Prendergaft with two hundred archers and ten knights. On the news of their arrival, numbers, who had abandoned the party of Dermod, returned to his flandard ; and that prince, in violation of his treaty, too common a pradlice among the Iriih of thofe days, hajflened to join his allies for the commencement of offenfive war againft the adherents of Roderic in Leinfter, fending forward five hundred men under his natural fon Donald, a youth of diftinguifiied valour. The firft enterprize, planned by the Leindrian prince and his foreign aflbciates, was an attack on the town of Wexford, about twelve miles diftant from the place of debarkation. Oftmen. Wexford, like the red of the maritime towns of Ireland, had been built by Danifli colonifts, and was inhabited by their defcendants, mixed In courfe of time with fome ancient Irilh. The Danes of this country, and their kindred race in the Scandina- vian regions, had lonji: exchan8;ed their habits of piracy for thofe of commerce, and had become fo noted for merchandize and the fabrication of mo- ney, that the term Jlerling^ extrafled from Ealcr* lingi was, and dill continues, the appropriate ex- preifion for genuine coin. Though the Danes or 6 Odmen HISTORY OF IRELAND, , 79 Oflmen were thus become the benefa£lors, > inflead chap. VI. of the dedroyers, of mankind, their coIonifi:s in Ire- - -,— ^ land, habituated inceflantly to the petty hoflilities of the Irifli tribes, had loft not the martial fpirit of their • progenitors ; but as they were difunited in fmall communities, and acquainted only with defultory warfare, they had made no improvement in the mi- litary art, and were far inferior to the Anglo-Nor- man adventurers both in refped of arms and taclics. The Irifh had feldom other defenfive armour than the glibb for a helm.et, and iron gauntlets on the hands for a fliield. For offenfive arms each man commonly carried a pike, two javelins, a fword, and a long knife called y?r/?^. From the Danes they had acquired the Scythian hatchet, a tremendous weapon, the flrokes of which, direcled with flrength and fkill, no armour could refiil. Their bows and ar- rows were fo fhort, as to be of little or no ufe in battle ; but, with prodigious force they threw flones, the javelin whirled by a firing, and even the ponde- rous hatchet, fatal in its ftroke to bodies unpro- tected by flrong armour. The Irifli Oftmen, whofe - main dependance was on the axe and pike, appear to have been furniflied for war in a manner little, if at all, different from the aboriginals. On the other hand, thofe Danes or Scandinavi- Normans. ans, who, under the name of Normans, had fixed their abode in the northern provinces of France, had been united, from their firft fettJem^ent, under one potent monarchy ; and, in their v;ars with the (great princes of the continent, had been accuftomed to the evolutions of large bodies of troops a6ling in combined t<9 HISTORY OF IRELAND. ^^vr^' '^'^"^^^^^^ 3"d perreverin_gj efforts. They had alfo v^ 'V . ~ ' adopted, with fome alterations, the arms, whofe ufe the Gothic tribes, the fubverters of the Roman em- pire, had learned from the Romans. Their forces confined of men-at-arms and archers. The former were horfemen, fo cafed in armour, that a knight completely caparifoned was by ordinary weapons almoft invulnerable. A fuit of armour was compofed of feveral pieces of poliflied (leel, adap^ied to the fcr vera! parts of the body, and fo nicely jointed as to lit eafy on the warrior, and to allow him a free- dom of motion and exertion of flrength. He car- ried on his left arm an oval {hield : his horfe was alfo barbed or fortified with armour ; and his wea- pons of offence were a long lance, a dagger, and a long, double-edged, and pointed fword. The arch- ers, fenced with quilted jackets, or coats of mail, and helmets, and armed with fpears or battleaxes for occafional clofe combat, carried the formidable bow, which, like that of the ancient Parthians, fre- quently fent arrows with fuch force as to pierce the ftrongefl armour. By the crofs bow, and the evo- lutions of their cavalry, the Normans had gained the great vi£lory of Haflings, by which William the conqueror was fixed on the Englifh throne. Their mode of warfare was learned by the conquered Englifli, who, by their extraordinary attention to the ufe of the bow, became the mod celebrated archers in all Europe. Wtxford. On the approach of Dermod and Fitzftephen to- ward their town, the garrifon of Wexford, com- pofed of Oilmen and Irifh, marched with intrepi- 1 1 diiy HISTORY OF IRELAND. 81 dity to meet their enemies In the field; but, llruck chap. VJ. with the new and unexpedled fight of horfemen ■' flieathed in iliining armour, and troops advancing to the charge with unbroken ranks, in fleady filence and compofure, they retired within their walls, burn- ing the fuburbs and adjacent hamlets to deprive the afTailants of flielter. A vigorous and well -conduced aflault was oppofed with fo determined courage by the garrilon, that Fitzflephen was repuifed with the lofs of eighteen of his men. Heedlefs of the incon- fiderate exultation of the foe and the dejedion of his allies, this valorous leader took his meafures fot viclory with cool refolution. Retiring to the fea, and burning his veifels, to give his men the fole alternative of death or conqueft, he advanced again to the affault, after an infpiriting harangue, and the folemn ceremony of divine fervice. Many of the inhabitants, particularly the clergy, dreading the confequences of cbfiinate lefiilance againll fuch defpe- rate refolution, perfuaded the garrifon to capitulate ; and, after a delay of three days, caufeH by the pride and infolence of Dermod^ their propofals were ac- cepted, to fwear allegiance to this prince, to enter rnto his fervice, and to give as hoftages for their obedience four of their principal citizens. Dermod immediately, according to promife, In • veiled Fitzftephen, conjointly with Fitzgerald, though the latter had not yet arrived, with the lordfhip of Wexford and its territory; and on liervey of Mount- niorres, a nephew of Strongbovv, who had come,- as the friend of that nobleman, to fend him infor- mation concerning the flate of Ireland, he conferred VOL. I, G two $% ' HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. t\s^o diRrl^ls on the ccaft between the towns of Wex- VI. t / ' ford and Waterford. From this donation made to- Hervey is commonly fuppofed to have originated the colonization of the Bargy and Forth baronies, where dwells a people diilincl from their r^ighbours, par- ticularly in a peculiar dialed of the Gothic language: but thefe are probably in part the defcendants of ancient Belgians, known to the Roman geographer* under the name of Menapii, intermixed in after ages with foRie Danes, or Norwegians, and on thisoccafion alfo witii a great proportion of Englifh colonifls, and Flemings from Pembrokefliire. Oflbry. After thefe donations, and an entertainment of his allies during three weeks at Ferns, the prince of Leinfler marched againfl: Donald Macgilla-Phadruic, the chieftain of Offory, fituate about the modern county of Kilkenny, who had not only revolted againfl him in his reverfe of fortune^ but even, in a fit of matrimonial jealoufy, had feized one of his fons, and torn out his eyes in fo outrageous a manner, that the death of the haplefs youth was the immediate confequence. This atrocious adl is doubt- lefs a proof that the wickednefs of Dermod was fully equalled, if not exceeded, by that of his com- patriots. In this expedition a warfare widely dif- ferent from the florming of Wexford was experi- enced* by Fitzilephen's band. The OlTorians, to the number of about five thoufand, ilrongly barri- caded in a mofl advantageous pofition amid woods and moralTes, repelled the reiterated aflaults of the Britons, who, in this extremity, had no refource for fuccefs but {lratag(;m and evolution. Like the troops of HISTORY OF IRELAND. 8j of William the conqueror at Haftings, they feigned chap. a flight, until, having drawn the Ollbrians from their poft in purfuit of imagined vidory, they wheeled and put them to the rout. But the nature of the grounds', in a country to them unknown, into which they purfued an enemy well acquainted with warfare in bogs and thickets, brought the Britons into fuch danger, that their Irifh affociates, appre- hending their cafe to be defperate, feparated them- felves from them with intention to join the victors. A Hke ftratagem and evolution as the former, with an ambufcade in the rear of the pnrfuing Oflbrians, decided the battle ; and the Irifh of Dermod's party, determined by the event, ruflied with thofe axes after their compatriots, which in oppofite fortune they would have turned againft the Britons; and completing the rout, brought three hundred heads of his enemies to Dermod. This chieftain, when he recognized, among thefe ghaftly fpoils, the head of an inveterate enemy, mangled the vifage with his teeth. In a paroxyfm of rage ! A (hocking fample of manners prevalent in his time and country ! Caa we fuppofe that* Dermod, however uncommonly ferocious, would thus publickly have difplayed an. a and from Dermod, whom he then attempted to de- tach from his Briiiih alliance, the fupport and hope ol hi§ fortunes, he obtained a not more favourable G 3 reply. 86 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, reply. By the mediation of the clergy, when the __' armies were prepared for decifion by the fword, a treaty was concluded, by which Dermod was ac- knowledged king of Leinlter, under the fupremacy of Roderic, to whom his favorite fon was delivered as a hoflage, and to whofe daughter this fon was to be joined in matrimony to cement an alliance between the two families, as foon as the complete fubmif- fion of Leinfter to Dermod, and of Ireland to 0*Connor, ftiould render the conjundure lavour- able. By a fecret article the prince of Leiniler was bound to bring no more adventurers from Britain, and to fend home thofe who had already come, when once his power fhouid be fully elUbhfhed over his province. I5ubiin Authorized by treaty to reduce to his obedience all parts of Leinfter, Dermod hallened to execute vengeance on the citizens of Dublin, who had treacheroufly murdered his father, and had, in fig- nification of contemptuous infult, interred with his body the carcafe of a dog. This even then moft confiderable town of Ireland, founded by Scandi- vians, perhaps in the fird ages of the Chriflian era, we find noted by Ptolemy under the name Eblana, probably Deblana in the original uncorrupted ma- nufcript *. Seated at firll on fwampy ground, at the fouthern fide of the river Liffy, it was called by the Iiifli Baileacliath and Athcllath, or the town an hurdles ; by the Danes and other Gothic people Dyflin, Dubhlin, or Duvlin, which feems to fignify • See Gordon's Terraquea, vol. 3. p. i8z, black HISJORY OF IRELAND. g; black water. At the arrival of the Englifli In Ire- chap. land it was inhabited by Danes or Oftmen, whence a part of the modern city retained until our times the name of Oxmantovvn, corrupted from Oftman- town. Under a chieftain, who fometimes acknow- ledged, and fometimes difclaimed, a fort of allegiance to the prince of Leinfter, Dublin formed a diftinfl ■ftate, and poffefled a territory, confifting principally of what is termed Fingall, whofe Inhabitants are diftinguifhed by a peculiar dialeft of Gothic origin, probably Danifn, but confiderably refembling that of Bargy and Forth. The citizens with Hefculph Mac-Torcal, their chieftain, unable to oppofe the prince of Leinfter in the field, who, leaving Fitzftephen to ereft a for- trefs at Carrick near Wexford, had invaded, and with his own, and the Britifli troops under Fitzge- rald, was laying wafte their territory, made ^over- tures of fubmiflion, which by the interceffion of the Britifh leader were accepted. The fuccefs of this expedition ferved much to enHame the ambition of Dermod, who afpired to the fovereign power, and, in violation of his late engagement, feized an oppor- tunity, which immediately occurred, of infliding a deep wound on Rodericks authority. Donald O'Brien, prince of Thomond, courting the hopeful fortune of the Leinflrian chief, and obtaining his daughter in marriage, renounced his allegiance to the king of Connaught ; and that monarch, when he arrived with an army to chaftife the rebellious lord, found fo formidable an oppofition from the forces of Fitzftephen,. that he was obliged to relin- G 4 quifh 83 HISTORY OF IRELAND. quifii the enterprife with lofs and ignominy. Tq complete the fubverfion of Roderic's power, and to raife himfelf to the fovereign dignity in his place, Dermod now Tent prefiing folicitations to the earl of Chepllow for the performance of his promifed expe- dition to Ireland with an army. That noblemr.n, fearing to embark in an under- taking of fuch moment without the particular li- cence of his fovereign, repaired to Henry to folicit this favour ; but the monarch, neither willing to recall the general permiffion already granted, nor to allow extenfive conquefts to be made in Ireland ptherwife than under his immediate command, gave anfwers only of an evafive nature. Strongbovv, un- derflanding, or affeding to under (land, the lad of thefe anfwers as the requefted leave, returned home and made preparations for the Iriih expedition* fending before him Raymond le Grofs, a nephew of Fitzflephen, with ten knights and feventy archers, as the van guard of his army. This band of advea- 117'* turers, landing in the May of 1171, at a place-called Dondonolf by the old hiflorian?, near the city of Waterfcrd, raifed a rampart of earth, and drew g. trench around it for their fecurity. Waeriord. Waterford, fituate on the fouihern bank of the great navigable river Suir, had been founded by Oilmen, and was inhabited by their defcendants,. under the joint government of two chief magiftrates. Alarmed at the hofule debarkation of thefe fo- reigners, contrary to the treaty of pacification fo lately concluded, the citizens and neighbouring ptaiants forming a tumultuary band of about three 9 ■ thoufand. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 89 thoufand, ruflied with diforderly precipitation to chap. overwhelm the invaders. The Britons, defpifing ^^ fuch a mob of aflailants, marched out with impru- dent confidence to engage them on equal ground; but, quickly perceiving their error, they retired with precipitation within their intrenchment. The impetuofity of the purfuers bore many of them within the rampart at the backs of the retreating Britons, whofe utmoft exertions were now neceifary to fave themfelves from deflruction. The gigantic Raymond flew the leader of the hoftile troops ; and the garrifon, driving furioufly out through the gates, a herd of cattle which had been colle£led within, upon the confufed croud of affailants with- out, fo completed their diforder, that they were in- capable, on the inftant fally of the Britons, either of refinance or of timely flight. Some were flaugh- tered, others drowned in the fea, and feventy of the principal citizens were captured. This vidory of arms and dexterity in war over inexpertnefs and tumultuary 1 age, was tarniflied by a deed which de- monllrates ferocity of manners not to have belonp^ed in thofe times exclufively to the Irilh. AH the pri- foners, with their legs previoufly broken, were pre- cipitated from an eminence into the fea ; either, ac- cording to Regan, in revenge for a fi-iend of Ray- mond killed in the battle, or according to Glraldus Cambrenfis, at the infligation of Hervey of Mount- morres, to flrike terror into the invaded people. Strongbow, afl.oniflied by a peremptory command from his fovereign to defifi: from his Irifli enterprife, when he was ready for embarkation at Milford Haven, 50 HISTORY OF IRELAND. Haven, fet fail notwithflanding, hoping to evade or deprecate the, rcfentment of Henry ; and arriving on the coall in the vicinity of Waterford with twelve hundred archers and two hundred knights, in Au- guft, on the eve of St. Bartholomew, advanced on the following day, in conjun£lion with Raymond, to the attack of that city. l\vice repulfed by the cbflinate valour of the garrifon, they returned a third time to the affault ; and, effeding a breach, by cutting the props of a houfe which projeded beyond the wall in the eailern angle, they ruftied into the town with irrefiilible fury, putting all in- difcriminately to the fword, till the llaughter was flopped by the arrival of Dermod, who is acknow- ledged to have on this occafion interpofed to fave the lives of his countrymen. When the uproar of battle and flaughtet had fubfided, the ftipulated nuptials of Strongbow with Eva, daughter of Der- mod, were folemnized in Waterford, and the con- federates marched thence immediately to Dublin, to chadife a fuppofed, or a real defedion of its inha- bitants. *Roderic O'Connor, with an army, mag- nified by romantic writers to the number of thirty thoufand, advanced to Clondalkin, a little to the fourh of that city, to give battle to thefe forces ; but his troops, intimidated by an unufual difplay of arms and martial difcipline, ventured only to fkir- mifn, and after three days wafted in this kind of warfare, demanded their difmilTion, and returned home. r The citizens of Dublin, thus abandoned to their own defence, which was rendered hopelefs by the deftrudiou Dubiiiu HISTORY OF IRELAND. 91 defl:ru6lIon of one of their principal gates by an chap. accidental fire, fent a folemn deputation, ctmducled ' ,^ by their archbiOiop, Lawrence OTool, to offer terms of fubmillion and to deprecate feveriiy. While I)ermod hefitated to accept the terms, though thirty hoftages were offered for fecurity, fome of the younger and more fiery of the Britifh leacfers, pre- tending that the time of prirley wis expired, led their troops to the walls, and gave the affault. While ilaughter pervaded the flreets, and numbers in efcap- ing from the fword were drowned in the river, Hefcuif the governor, with many of the inhabitants, fled on board fome veffels, and failed to the Hebudes. Earl Strongbow was immediately invefted with the lordfliip of Dublin, and marched thence with de- vaftation into Meath, whofe prince, the murderer of his predecefTor, had been expelled by Roderic, and fought the protection of Dermod. The monarch of Ireland, difabled by diffenfions from effectual re- finance to this invafion, fent a deputation to remon- ftrate againft the breach of treaty ; and receiving an anfwer of defiance from Dermod, beheaded, as is with appearance of truth fuppofed, his hoilages with impotent rage, among whom was a fon of the Lein- ftrian prince. Great alarms were fpread through Ireland by the council exploits of the Britons, to whofe progrefs no effec- tive oppofition was made by a people divided into clans more hoftile one to another than to the in- ■vaders. To deliberate for the public fafety a general council was convened at Armagh, of almoft all the principal clergy of the kingdom, who, after a folemn 13 confideration 5» HISTORY O^ IRELAND. CHAP. confKierarlon of the fubjefl, agreed in opinion, that Vi. '..— y»»^ the evil had arifen from the fins of the people, and that Providence had brought on them the chaftife- ment of the Englifii arms, becnufe many perfons of Englifh race had bet-n purchafed for flaves by the Irifh from pirates and merchants. A traffic of Haves, 2.S at prefent in the Afian'c and African regions, had prevailed in Europe, but was gradually lofing ground by the influence of the Chvirlian leliiTion, which, how much corrupted foever, flill carries with it a fpirit of compaflionate meeknefs not otherwife ex- tinguifhable than by the zeal of bigotry. Though the Englifli of earlier times had praftifed this abo- minable commerce to fuch a degree as to fell any perfons in their power, even their children, to re^ lieve their wants, as is attefled by hiftorians, pro- bably the number of llaves of that nation, as the trade had declined, was at this time fmall in Ireland ; yet the immediate liberation of all thefe, and re- jniffion to their country, which were decreed by this council, were confidered as the moft efieclual means to avert the divine anger, and to procure the ex- puUion of the Britifh adventurers. How narrow f>ever, from the mental darknefs of the age, we may conceive the views of the clergy on this occafion to have been,- the meafure was humane, and far from impolitic. It tended to the immediate annihilation ot this vile traffic amon< HtST^OIiV OF IRELANDu 5 an interpofition of Providence on their fide, fince chap. , VI. fortune feemed to change againfl: the Britons, and to threaten their deiT:rudion by a feries of adverfi- ties. While Dermodj twice defeated in Breffhey, which Misfor- he had raflily invaded with too fiiiall a detachment^ made with difficulty his efcape, orders were fent from France by Henry, prohibiting the exportation of any fupplies from England of men, arms, or provi- fions for the troops of Strongbow, and commanding all his fubjeds in Ireland to return home before the enfuing feaft of Eafter, under the penalty of high treafon. This a6t of jealous power, which de« prived the Earl of all fuccour from abroad, and even of the ailiftance of fome of his knights and their followers who now forfook his ftandard, was quick- ly fucceeded by the ficknefs and death of Dermod, which caufed the defedion of all his IriOi allies, except a chief named Donald Kcvanagh and fomc few ethers. In this forlorn ftate of his affairs, Dub- lin, which on his departure for Waterford, he had left under the command of Milo de Cogan, was fuddenly affailed by a body of Oilmen, whom Hef- cuif had led from the Scottifh iilands. Unoppofed in their landing, and furioufly affauhing the eadern quarter, thefe troops had almoft forced their way into the town, when Richard, brother of the go- vernor, fallying from the fouthern fide, and making a circuit, attacked them fo fiercely iii the rear, that, imagining a powerful reinforcement to liave arrived, they fljd in confuuon to their fliips, and were pur- fueJ with llau^hter. This vidory was tarnilhed by the 9+ HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, tlie death of Hcfculf, executed while a prlforxcr , after the battle, denouncing with his lafl: breath a more formidable attack in preparation againft the Britons. Lawrence O'Tool, archbiihop of Dublin, who, at the arrival of the fird Britifh adventurers, had la- boured in vain attempts to perfuade the Irifli chiefs to a fufpenfion of their feuds, and a union againft the foreign enemy, had now renewed his efforts with redoubled force in the deflirute condition of Strong- bow's adherents. Flying with ardour from tribe to tribe throughout the kingdom, he (Irenuoufly en- deavoured, by every argument which his ingenuity could form, to enforce on the minds of the chiefs and their followers the expediency of feizing the fortunate opportunity, never again attainable, to exterminate or expel the Britifli invaders. To fet in motion every engine poffible for the completion of his views, he fent emilTaries with fimilar argu- ments to Godred, who, under the title of King of Man, governed that ifland with the Hebudes and Orkneys as a feudatory of Denmark. By the ex- ertions of this prelate, Roderic O'Connor was en- abled to inveit the city of Dublin with an army ftated in exaggerated accounts at thirty thoufand men, while its harbour was blockaded by a fleet of thirty Dani(h veflels. Siege. Beleaguered for two months by a hoft of enemies, and opprefled at length by famine and difeafe, the troops compoling the garrifon of Dublin faw their affairs coming fpeedily to a crifis, and the necefiity of quick decifion, when intelligence was brought by the HISTORY OF IRELAND. 9J the faithful Donald Kevanagh, that the gallant Fltz- ftephen was befieged in the fortrefs of Carrick by the men of Wexford, and mud, unlefs relieved be- fore the end of three days, fall into the hands of a revengeful and cruel foe. According to the deter- mination of a council of war, propofals were made to Roderic through Lawrence the archbifhop, who commanded on this occafion a body of troops un- der the monarch, that, on condition of peace, earl Strongbow fhould acknowledge the king of Con- naught as his fovereign, and hold the principality of Leinfler in vaiTalage under him. On the return of the prelate with an anfwer, probably framed by his own advice, that no other terms could be ad- mitted than the total evacuation of Ireland by the Britons, Milo de Cogan declared his noble refolution rather to die in battle than confide in the faith and mercy of barbarous foesj and Maurice Fitzgerald, whofe wife and children had been left with Ficz- ftephen in the fortrefs of Carrick, made a fpeech of which the follov/ing is briefly the fubitance : '* Noble commanders and fellow- foldiers, have you forgotten on what inducements we cam.e into Ireland ? Have we come here to indulge ourfelves in voluptuous repofe, or to undergo the toils and perils of ftrenuous warfare ? Where is our ancient dignity, our priftine firmnefs ? Have we not fuffi- ciently experienced the miferies of a blockade in fleeplefs nights, redlefs days, hunger, and the fick- nefs of our valiant foldiers ? Fitzitephen, the gallant Fitzflephen, who trod the path of conqueft before: us t)6 ' HISTORY OF IRELANEf. cHAr\ o Jn this land, whofe liberal foul deprived himfeif Vi»^«^=,^ of great part of his garrifon for our defence, fee^ himfelf now with his wife and children on the verge of captivity with vengeful and fanguinary ruffians. Shall v.'s beg mercy from an enemy thirfling for our blood, and deflltute, of clemency ? Or, on fuppo- iiiion that the foe is not inexorable, fl^all we prefer an ignommious life, faved by cowardly fupplication^ to the death of a warrior ? Since all relief is inter- dicted from abroad by our angry fovereign, we are unfortunately reduced to fuch a dilemma, that, while we are Englilhmen to the Iiifii, who are longing ardently to cut cur throats, we are Iriflimen to the Englifh who are commanded to ftarve us. Since death by famine muft be the confequence of delays let us exert our force, while any force remains, for the fafety of ourfelves, and the deliverance of our friends. Rufhing fiercely on our perhaps not pre- pared foes, v'th a firm determination of death or vi^lory,' we fhall at lead make our exit from the flage of life in the manner of foldiers, not of dogs." The noble fpirit of this warrior was caught by the alTembly, who refolved to make a fally on the following day, and to afiaii with defperate valour the quarters of the foe. Six hundred men only could be fpared for this enterprife, in v/hieh the van guard was led by Raymond, the fecond line by Milo, and the main body by Stiongbow and Fitz- gerald. . The attack was pointed againft the pofl of Roderic, where (o little [apprehenfion was entertained of HISTORY OF IRELAND. 97 of fuch an attempt, that the monarch was bathing, and obliged to mingle half naked with his flying troops, who were driven from their ground at the firfl: onfet with terrible llaughter. The other leaders of the Irifli army, which is compared by doctor Campbell to a rope of fand, aduated by no fenfe of a common interefl:, attachment to their fovereign, or friendlhip for each other, fled inftantly with their followers, as foon as they perceived the rout of the Connaught forces, leaving behind them, befides fpoils of other forts, a quantity of provifions enough to fupport the garrifon during a whole year. On this dif- comfiture of the befieging army, the Danifh fleet, whofe longer (lay was ufelefs, returned home and left the fea not lefs open than the land to the Britifh adventurers. While a dread of ignominy, fuperior to that of Camck, death, aided by apprehenfions of Irilh perfidy, led the garrifon of Dublin to fafety and triumph, the defenders of Carrick were by a different line of condu<5l brought to deftruftion. This little fortrefs, founded on a rock, where Itill are feen the ruins of fuch a fabric, two miles above Wexford, on the eaftern brink of the river Slaney, fenced naturally on all fides by precipices and a deep ftream, was furnifhed only with a flender garrifon, fmce a great part of his men had been detached by Fitzftephen to reinforce earl Strongbow for the defence of Dub- lin : yet the afl'ailants were in every attempt repulfed with flaughter, and at length had recourfe to the jnoft execrable means of iuccefs which imagination VOL. I, H can i VI. §8 HISTORY CF IRELAND. CHAP, can conceive. They affured the comiriander in a parley that Roderic, having taken Dublin by ftorm, and put the whole garrifon to the Rvord, was in full march to make the fame execution at Carrick ; but, that if Fitzflephen, whofe virtues they refpe(5led, would confide in the prote£lion of the Wexfordi*- ans, they would fliip himfelf and all his adherents for Wales before the vengeful prince could aMve with his army. When the truth of thofe alfertions was mod folemnly attefled by two right reverend bilhops in their pontifical robes, laying their hands, while they pronounced the oath, on the crofs, the hoft, and the adored relics of faints, Fitzftephen accepted the terms propofed, and was inftantly thrown into chaiiis, while his followers were molt inhumanly tortured and maimed, fo that molt of them expired under the violence of their fuifer- ings. The inftances of perfidy in the annals of Ireland, of which this appears the mofl forcible, are dil'graceful in the extreme to the national character in former ages, and ought to inftigate the Irifii of the prefent age to the mofc inviolable regard for honour and humanity. Strongbow, in his march for the relief of Car- rick, which, though too late, he immediately com- menced on the rout of Rodericks forces, fell into the extremity of danger, in an ambufcade, in a territory named Hi-drone, in the modern county of Car low, The ambufcader.s making a fudden and HISTORY OF IRELAND. 99 and impetuous onfet with hideous yells, in a de- chap. , VI. file where the ground was difadvantageous to the Britons, amid bogs, woods, and precipices, threw the troops into almoft fatal confufion, beating to the ground one of their moil valiant leaders, Mey- ler Fitzhenry, who was with difficulty refcued. In the critical moment an arrow difcharged by Ni- cholas a monk, by which fell O'Ryan, general of the aflailants, decided the battle in favour of the Englifli ; but in their advance to Wexford, they had the mortification to hear of Ficzftephen's cap- tivity, and of fuch a fituation of afiairs as rendered his relief at prefent impoffible. The Wexfordians, to avoid the fury of the approaching Britons, had fired their town, and retired with their furviving priibners to an iflet in the harbour named Holy Ifland, whence they informed Strongbow by a mef- fage that, if any hoftility (hould be attempted againft them in this place of retreat, they would indantly put every one of their prifoners to death. Dreading the execution of this menace, the Earl turned afide, and took his way to Waterford, whence, after the tranfac^ion of fome bufinefs, par- ticularly the acquittsl ot the lord of Oflbry, ac- cufed of difaffedion by O'Brien of Thomond, he marched to Ferns, the regal feat of the Leindrian monarchs. Here, when he had made fome regu- lations, and punifhed his enemies among the to- parchs of Leinfter, particularly O'Byrn of Wick- low, whom he put to death, he received a fum- H 2 mons IPO HISTORY OF IRELAND. » CHAP, mons from Henry, commanding his immediate at- ' tendance, a fummons judged abfolutely neceflary to be obeyed by the Earl, who, appointing gover- nors to the feveral garrifons, repaired inftantly to England. CHAP. FIISTORY OF IRELAND. toi CHAP. VII. PYoceedin^s of King Henry — His landing at Waterford •—Proceedings of the Irijh — SubmiJJions of Irijh Lords •—Refufal of 0' Connor y life. — ynod of Cafhel^-' Departure of Henry — State of Ire/and at his Depar- ture — Troubles of Henry — hifurre6tions of the Irifh—^ Stronghoiu Chief Governor — Exploits of Raymond-^ Submifjion of O^Connor — Hofiilities in Thomond and Defmond— -Death and Character of Strongbow • • « Fitzandebn* s Adminiftration—'hivafion of Ulfler by yohn de Courcey — Of Cojinaught by Milo de Cogan — Various Tranfaclions— Appointments of Hugh De Lacy — Death of Lawrence 0* Toole— Murder of Cogan — Fit-zfiephen s Fate — Removal of Lacy' Braofa — Bad Syflenu JtiENRY had been engaged in a vexatious and even perilous conreft ^^'ith one of his own fubjeds, Becket archbifhop of Canterbury, who, protected Henry, by the Pope, had violently oppofed a body of regu- lations called the ccnftitutions of Clarendon, enaded in the year 1164 for the independence of the civil on the ecclefialtical authoiity. After a fteming accommodation, brought to a conclulion with tedious difficulty, the intolerable infolence of the inordi- nately ambitious prelate forced fome paffionate ex-*, clamations of complaint from the king, in confequence of which the archbilhop was affaffinated in church at divine fervice by four Iciugtits in revenge for their H 3 monarch's CHAP. VII. ^ ,— > i©2 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, monarch's wronp-s. The news of this unfortunate VJI. . ^_ ^" / event, which threatened to arm the papal power to the ruin of Henry, arrived at his court in fouthern France while Raymond Le Grofs was petitioning his | majefty in favour of Strongbow. Raymond, on the king's proclamation, which interdict'^d fupplies for the adventurers in the Irifli expedition, and com- manded their return, had been difpatched by the earl with fupplicatory letters, declaring that the adventurers themfelves, and whatever acquifitions they fliould make in Ireland, were at the difpofal of their fovereign. By the aflonifhment and grief of Henry at the fatal accident of Becket's death, which precluded for fome time all bufmefs of fecondary concern, Raymond had been obliged to return to his diftrefled aflbciates without any anfwer, while arch- bilhop O'Toole was forming a combination of Irifh and Oilmen for the fiege of Dublin. The great abilides, activity and vigilance of Henry warded the blow levelled at him by his enemies in the papal court, and, finding leifure to embark in the Irifli , expedition, he had come into England, where he utterly difavowed all the proceedings of Strongbow's adherents, and fummoned the earl to his prefence to anfwer for his condu£l. • jj^j, Strongbov/, v/aiting on the king at Newnham near Glouceftcr, and furrendering to him all his maritime fortrefl'es with a territory round Dublin, was, by the interceflion of Hervey of Mountmorres,- received into the royal favour, and permitted to retain in perpetuity all his other Irifli poffeflions under Henry and his heirs. Accompanied by this nobleman, the ^ monarch HISTORY OF IRELAND. 103 monarch proceeded through South Wales to Pem- broke, feizing all the caftles of the chieftains in thefe parts, under pretence of their having offended his majefty in the aiding or abetting of his fubje is in their invafion of Ireland. When he had finiflied his preparations, he performed his devotion in the church of Saint David's, imploring a bleffnig on his arms employed under the authority, and in the caufc, of the church; and, failing from Milford haven, he arrived in the harbour of Waterford, on the feafl of Saint-Luke, in October of the year eleven hundred and feventy-two, with a fleet of two hundred and forty fliips, and an army of four hundred knights, and four thoufand inferior foldiers. The news of Henry's preparations for the invafion of Ireland feem to have caufed little or no commotion among its inhabitants, whofe chieftains may gene- rally have regarded with indifference, perhaps with malignant pleafure, the approaching downfall of their nominal fovereign, unconfcious of a common interefl, and feverally confining their hopes and fears to their local concerns. In the abfence of Strongbow in England, a furious affault had been made on the city of Dublin, by O'Ruarc of Breffney, and repelled by Milo De Cogan the governor, with the lofs of many on both fides, particularly a fon of O'Ruarc who fell in the conflift. The men of Wexford, fearing the vengeance due to their atroci- ous perfidy, had fent emiffaries to Henry, while he lay at Pembroke, befeeching him to accept of their allegiance as humble fubjeds, and complaining of Fitzilephen's aggreffion, whom they had taken, H 4 they fions 104 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, they fald, in arms as a traitor to his fovereign, and ^.■. ly .! referved for the judgment and difpofal of his Majefty. Commending their condud, and afluring them that this chieftain, and the reft of his oiFending fubjeds, {hould be brought to trial, and receive punifliment according to their deferts, this politic monarch made way for a favourable opinion of his government among the Irifh, while he took the moft effedlual means to prevent Ficzflenhen's murder. On his ar- rival now in Waierford, the Wexfordians waited on him, producing their prifoner, whom Henry with flern rebuke remanded to prifon, to ihe joy of this rude people, ignorant and unfufpicious of ftatefmen's finefl'e. Su^mif. No thoughts of oppofition to this great monarch feem to have been entertained by the fouthern chief- tains, who on the contrary came emuloufly forward to make their fubmiliions. The firlt was Dermod Mac-Artby prince of Defmond, who prefented him- felf to Henry on the day after that of his landing, and fuirendered his principality, which, except the city of Cork, was reftored to him in perpetuity under the conditions of homage and tribute. Advancing to Lifmore, where he gave orders for the eredlion of a fort, and thence to Cafliel, the monarch re- ceived fucceffively the fubmifiions of O'Brien of Thomond, Donchad of Offory, and O'Faflan of Decies, while the inferior toparchs of Munfter feemed eager to outrun one another in the promptitude of their obedience, and forcible imprefilons were made on the minds of all by the grandeur, the gracious condefcenfion, and the munificence of their new fovereign. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 1C5 fovereign. Arriving thence at V/exford, he per- chap. mitted interceflion in favour of Fitzftephen, who, ^"* furrendering to his majelty that town with its difl;ri(fV, received the inveftiture of all his other pofleilions. in his progrefs to Dublin, when he had placed garri- fons in Waterford, Cork, Limerick, and Wexford, the lords of Leinder acknowledged themfelves in due form his vaiTals, even O'Ruarc of BrefFney, hitherto the determined enemy of the Engliin, and partizan of O'Connor. While Henry, with a magnificence of which they synod, could have conceived no idea, was preparing to en- tertain the Irifh lords who had become his vaflals, at the enfuing feaft of Chriftmas, in a temporary ftruc- ture of great fize, framed of hurdles for the purpofe, in the fouth-eaftern fuburb of Dublin, he difpatched Hugh de Lacy and William Fitzandelm with a body of troops againrt: Roderic O'Connor, who, llrongly ported with his Connaught forces on the banks of the Shannon, could neither be perfuaded to fubmit, nor be attacked by thefe leaders with hopes of fuc- cefs. As the feafon of winter prevented fuch ope- rations of the army as might be requifite for the reduction of this monarch, and of O'Nial, the power- ful dynafl: of UKter, who alfo declined fubmiffion, the king of England, according to his original fli- pulation with the Pope, turned his attention to the church, and fummoned a general aflembly of the Irifh clergy at Cafhel, where alfo attended the lords of Ireland who owned him as their fovereign. In this at once convention of lay princes, and ecclefi- aflical fynod, where prefided Chriflian, bifhop of Lifmore, VII. o6 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. Lifmore, as legate of the Pope, not fanftioned by the prefence of Gelafius, primate of Armagh, the authority of Henry, as the fovereign of Ireland, was formally recognized, and fome ordonnances refpe6ling religion were framed, of which only two are worth notice ; one which exempted the perfons of the clergy from the jurifdiction of civil courts in criminal cafes, and their lands from* all fecular taxes ; and one which enjoined a perfe(5t conformity of all the churches in Ireland with that of England, confequently at that time with that of Rome. The oftenfible objecl of Henry's invafion, the fpiritual fubjeftion of Ireland to the fee of Rome, was by this decree fo fully accomplilhed, that the great majority of the Irifh have ever fmce, through all revolutions, invariably adhered to the papal juiifdiftion, and are perhaps at this day the moft attached to it of all people on earth ; but the real objeifl:, the civil fubjeclion of this illand to the crown | of England, was far from being obtained. When this monarch had made fuch regulations as time and opportunity allowed, and was preparing to extend and fecure his conquefts as foon as the feafon fhould permit, he received at Wexford, after he had re-, mained three months in Dublin, an alarming piece of news, the earlier arrival of which had been pre- vented by a tempeftuous winter, that Albert and Theodine, two cardinals, who had been fent by the Pope to inquire into the caufes of Becket's murder, were long expecling his majefty's arrival in Norman- dy, and fummoned him to appear before them under pain of excommunication and an interdift on his dominions j 1. 1 73 V n. HISTORY OF IRELAND, 107 tJominlons ; a£ls of fpiritual power, fuflicient in ckap thofe melancholy times of intellectual daiknefs to (hake to their foundations the thrones of the mis^h- tied princes. Henry, fully fenfible of the danger, embarked at Wexford, on the feafl of Eafcer in ths year 1173, having made fome arrangements for the adminiftration of affairs in his abfence, and, going afiiore in Pembrokefhire, haded thence to Nor- mandy. That Henry, obliged thus prematurely to depart stste of from Ireland, /eft not behind him in this country one true fiibjed more than he had found in it at bis jirfl arrival^ is a jufl: obfervation of Sir John Davies, in his treat! fe ft y led a difcovery of the caufes "why Ireland was never entirely fuhdued until the beginning of ths reign of 'Ja^nes the firfl. By the inftitutions of Hen- ry, left fatally imperfect by unfeafonable interrupt ion, the inhabitants of this ifland became feverally fubjecl to two very different forms of government, the Bri- tifli colonifts to the Anglo-Norman, the ancient natives to the Irifh under a new fovereignty. The condition of the Irifh princes, who had lubmitted, was no otherwife altered than that they profeifed allegiance to the king of England inftead of the king of Connaught. " Their Breiion laws, their ancient cu(\oms, their modes of fucceilion, and their mutual wars, waged as if by independent potentates, remained as much in force after, as they had been before the Englifh invafion. The Britidi colonifts on the other hand were in the fame political fitua- tion with their fellow fubjedts in England, and go- verned by Englifh laws. The king, referving as his immediate io8 HISTORY OF IRELAND. ci-i ' p. immediate property the maritime towns and feme diftrids, parcelled the reft of the furrendered lands among the leaders of his troops, which they were to poflefs by military tenure or feudal right, that is, bound to the payment of homage to his majtfty with a fmall tribute, and to the maintenance of certain numbers of kni^hrs and inierior fold'ers for his f'ervice, they were otherwife, each in his own terri- tory, abfolute and hereditary lords or princes. Thcfe lords or barons parcelled in like manner their lands to knights or gentlemen, who, infleaJ of rent, gave military fervice, each furniihing on occafion a num- ber of foldiers according to his portion. The territories acquired by himfelf and his Britifli fubjeds in Ireland were formed by Henry into fhires or counties, with fiieriffs and other magi ft rates, on the Englifh model ; which counties, afterwards enlarged, formed what was called the Englifh Pale, or that divifion of the ifland within which the Englifh law was acknowledged. But even within the Pale were many fepts of Irifn governed entirely by their ancient laws, as were the inhabitants of all other parts of the country. Among the acls of this mo- narch while in Ireland was a charter, by which he granted the city of Dublin to the citizens of Briftol, with the fame privileges as thofe v/hich they enjoyed at home. By another charter he granted the city of Waterford to the Oilmen, with Englifli laws and the rights of Englifii fubjctls. To provide for the uninterrupted adminiflration of afl'airs in his abfence, a flatute was enacted by the king in council, em- powering the chancellor, treafurcr, chief juftices, chief HISTORY or IRELAND. jog chief baron, keeper of the rolls, and king's fergeant chap» at law, to eled, with the confent of the nobles of ^ ._ V ^ the land, a fucceflfor to the chief governor in cafe of his death, vefted with the full authority of the king's vicegerent until the royal pleafure (hoiild in that particular be notified. Hugh de Lacy was appoint- ed .chief governor, with Robert Firzflephen and Maurice Fitzger;ild as his coadjutors. To de Lacy was granted the territory of Meath already in pof- feffion of Englifh troops ; and to John de Courcy, an adventurous baron, the whole province of Ulfter, provided that he could make a conqueft of that un- fubmitting part of Ireland. The confequences of the unfettled flate in which in'tinee- Henry had been forced to leave his acquifitions in Ireland began to appear foon after his departure. The rear-guard of Strongbow, who had marched into Ofally to enforce the payment of his tribute from a tonarch named O'Dempfy, fuftained in his return a furious aflault, with fome lofs of men, par- ticularly Robert de Quiny his flandard-bearer and fon-in-law. O'Ruarc of Breffney, fo often men- tioned, was with many of his followers put to death on the hill of Tarah in Meach, where he had met in conference Hugh de Lacy to fettle fome difputes, and had, according to Englifii accounts, formed an ambufcade for the deftrudion of the chief governor, which by prudent precautions was countera6led, while by the Iri(h the charge df treachery is retorted on the foreigners. Thefe petty hoflilities were fol- lowed by infurredions of almoft all the chieftains who had fo lately fworn allegiance, when they learned that no HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, that the Enelifh monarch, prefied by a combination VII. , ° , . "^ v,.^,^--.^; of enemies, particularly his unnatural fons engaged in rebellion againft him, was (o far from being able to revifit Ireland, or to fend new forces thither, that he was obliged to call to his afliftance great part of the troops which he had left in this country. TronMcs of The afxedionate zeal of Henry for the fecuring of fplendid eftablifliments for his fons was ill requited by ihefe ungrateful and mifguided youths. To infure the fucceHion to young Henry the elded, he had made him his afibciate in the throne by a folemn coronation ; and the imperious prince, perfuaded by Lewis the feventh of France, to whofe daughter Margaret lie was married, that he had a right by this to the actual pofl'eflion immediately of fovereign power, attempted to enforce his unrighteous claim by arms, and was affifted by his brothers, who made particular claims, by many barons, and by the French and Scottifii monarchs. In the dangerous war thus excited againfl the king, the alacrity of Earl Strong- bow, who haded into Normandy with the utmoft fpeed to his alTiftance, gained in fuch degree iiis confidence, that he conllituted him chief governor of Ireland, and fent him back with difcretionary powers for the management of its turbulent affairs. 1174. The earl on his arrival found the army fo diffatisfied with Hervey of Mountmorres their leader, that he was obliged to transfer the command to Raymond le Grofs, who began immediately to acl with vigour, though his force was much diniiniflied, as the new chief governor had orders to fend the garrifons of Waterford HISTORY OF IRELAND. iii Waterford and other towns to join the royal troops chap. In France and England. v.«— v— —/ Raymond, havin^r ravaged Ofally and Lifmore, Raymond'* marched back to Waterford along the coali, con- ^^^'^' veying thither his booty in fome fmall veflels. Attacked in this poflure on fea and land, he was vidorious on both elements. A fleet of thirty barks from Cork, which town, on its evacuation by the king's troops, had betn refumed by Mac-Arthy, prince of Defmond, fuftained a defeat with the lofs of eight veflels from the Englifli on board of the tranfports ; and Mac-Arthy himfelf, who had come with a body of troops to fecond the operations of his little navy, was routed by the Britifh leader. But fortune foon changed on the refignation of Raymond, who, difgufted by Strongbow's refufal to give him in marriage his filter Bafilia, retired into Wales, leaving the forces to the conduct of Hervey. A de- tachment of Oilmen from the garrifon of Dublin, marching to join the Karl and Hervey at Cafhel, was furprifed at Thurles by O'Brien of Thomond, and driven back with the flaughter of about four hun- dred of their number. Retreating to Waterford with precipitation, while the Irifh chieftains, even Donald Kevanagh, his hiiherto faithful adherent, rofe every where in arms, the earl acceded to the demands of Raymond, and recalled this warrior to the fcene of action. Such was the preflfure of affairs that on the day jifter that of Bafilia's nup'dals, which were celebrated at Wexford, the bridegroom began his march for J^Ieath, where king Roderic had wafted the lands, and ii« HISTORY OF IRELAND. and demolifhed the Englifli fortrefles. This monarch had retreated before the arrival of the earl and his fon-in-law, whofe forces committed a (laughter of about a hundred and fifty in the rear of the flying enemy. Heaving reduced the province of Leinfter to temporary quiet, when the people of Waterford, who had attempted to maflacre the Englifh garrifon, were fubdued, and Donald Kevanagh met his fate m a fkirmifii againft fome Iri/h partizans of the colonifts, the Britifli commanders turned their arms againft Thomond or North- Munder. Raymond with a chofen band of fix hundred men advanced to the attack of Limerick, which being feated on the Shan- non, fifty miles from the ocean, feemed to defy his efforts as the river was interpofed, and the bridges previoufly broken : but the Englifh, difcovering a place where the ftream, though not without the ut- moft peril, was fordable, palTed to the oppofite fide with the lofs of only three men, and ftruck fuch a panic into their opponents by tliis a6l of defperate valour, that, llaughtering the run-aways without refiftance, they entered the town in triumph. With the forcing of this paiTage the fragment ends abruptly of Irifh hiftory left us by Maurice Regan, the fe- cretary of Dermod, which generally agrees with the more full relation of Giraldus Cambrenfis. Sttbjr.!flion Fearing an attack of the Englifh forces, and very juftly diffident of efficient aid from the Irifh princes who profeffed allegiance, Rodcric O'Connor at length made fubmiffion to Henry, who by the wifdom and vigorous execution of his plans had vanquiflied his unnatural fons and their ungenerous allies. For this of O'Con. fur. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 113 this purpofe three commiiTioners from Roderic, his cnap. VII chancellor, (tiled in the old Englifii i-nanner, Mafter . -,— -> L:iwrence, Catholicus archbifhop of Tuam, and the abbot of Saint Brandr.n, waited on the Englifh mo* narch at Windfor, where the treaty \ras concluded in the year 1175. By the treaty of fubmiflion Ro- deric, retaining ail his rights as monarch of Ireland, with exception of the Englifh pale, was bound only to the payment of homage and tribute to the king of England as his liege lord. A tenth of all the mer- chantable hides from the lands of Ireland, except thofe which pertained to the Englifh monarch and his barons, was to conflltute the tribute. The homage of its nominal fovereign was of little Hoftiiities." avail as uiight be expected, for the pacification of Ireland, or its obedience to the Englifh crown. In the year 1176 Limerick was befieged by O'Brien of i':^- Thomond, who on the march of Raymond for its relief, took poft with his army to inccrcept him in a defile near Cafliel. With a force of eighty knights, two hundred inferior cavalry, and three hundred archers, Raymond forced the entrenchments of the foe, while his Irifa confederates of Kinfelah and OfTory flood fpeclators of the combat, ready to rufh with fiuughter on whichever fhould prove the de- feated party. When this viclorious leader had re- ceived hoftages from O'Brien who fubmitied, and from O'Connor who had promifed fuch pledges to Henry, he led his forces into Defmand at the invita- tion of Mac-Arthy, who had been thrown into pri- fon by his own fon, the ufurper of his principality. Raymond, who received a tract of land in Kerry, for VOL. I. I the 114 irSTORY OF IRELAND. the fervice performed on this occafion, redored the injured prince to his dominion, who requited his fon's unnatural conduft with imprifonment and death. The Engllfh commander had fcarcely ac- comphflied this laudable atchievement when he received a letter from his wife Bafilia informing him that " her great tooth, v/hich had been fo long aching, was at laft fallen from the focket." Under- Handing the death of Strongbow to be thus myjferi' oifjly expreffed to prevent the bad confequences which would arife from the news of the ev^nt in cafe of the letter's interception, he hafted to Dublin, committing the cullody of Limerick to O'Brien, fince he was unable to afford anj^ Engllfh troaps for its garrifon. The Irifh chieftain, having taken a folemn oath to guard the city for the Englifli monarch, and to reftore it at the royal pleafure, fet fire to it in four quarters, as foon as he perceived the departure of Raymond's army, declaring that this town fhould no longer continue to be the nefl of flrangers. Strong. Richard de Clare, fo much more commonly known bow s dpati) _ anddnrac by the name of Strongbow, who died in Dublin in top confequence of a mortification in his foot, is defcri- bed by Giraldus as a man of tall (tature, an effemi- nate face, a flender neck, a fmall voice, a good conformation in moft other refpecls, a fanguine complexion, grey eyes, hberal and courteous man- ners, an infinuating addrefs, a temper not fubjecl to be eafily depreffed or elated, an aptitude to obey in peace, and to command with dignity in war, a diffi- dence in the forming of military plans, but fuch a vigour in execution, that in battle he was the fland- ard HISTORY OF IRELAND. 115 ard on which the foldiers fixed their eyes, and bv c h a p. VJI whofe motions they were determined either to advance . ,.„^ "„, . or to retreat. By Eva one child only furvived him, a daughter four years of age, who ten years after became the wife of William earl Marfhal. The jealoufy of Henry, excited by the envy of Fitzandeim. Hervey of Mountmorres, had fummoned Raymond into England before his late expedition to Limerick : but the four commiffioners delegated for that purpofe, ware fo convinced of the extreme urgency of affairs, when the troops refufed to march under any other general, that they had fufpended the execution of the fun^mons ; and now, influenced by the fame views, on the death of Strongbow, they concurred. with the council, by whom Raymond was elefted chief governor till the royal pleafure fliould be made known. Yet the monarch dill diffident, notwith- ftanding the mod favourable report of his commiflion- ers, deputed William Fitzandelm for his vicegerent, a man prepolTefled againft the original adventurers, unfit for vigorous meafures, rapacious, and more intent on profit for himfelf and his train of adherents, than on the intereft of the Englifli colony in general. 1177 At Waterford was convened an alfembly of the Irifh clergy, where was with great folemnity promulged the brief of pope Alexander, by Vivian his legate, with the bull of Adrian, conftituting king Henry the fovereign lord of Ireland, with tremendous denun- ciations againft any who fliould prefciiiie to queftion his authority. Fitzandelm next proceeded by craft and violence to difpoffefs the original adventurers cf their beft fettl^ments, leaving ftili however to thefe X 2 brave Tr6 HISTORY OF IRELAND. cH\p. brave men all ihe labours and perils of defence VI I. . . ■■,--._^- againil: the natives, while whatever was^ valuable within the pale was engrofifed by himfelf and his dependants. Opprefled by the jealoufy of their fo- vereign, the common lot of the meritorious, the mod enterprifmg of the colonifts engaged in two expeditions in queft of new fettlements, the one un- der John de Courcey into Ulfter, the other under Milo de Cogan into Connaught. DeCourcey. With a mighty ftrength of body and hardinefs of conftitution was De Courcey endov/ed ; with a fpirit not lefs undaunted and impetuous ; yet neither free from fuperllirion, as he prefagcd by diviners the conquefi: of the North ; nor heedlefs of precaution, as by his marriage with the daughter of Godred, feudatory king of Mann, he fecured himfelf againft the danger of Danifli oppofition. With a band of about five hundred men he arrived, after a four days' march, at the city of Down, which he feized and fortified. Though leave had been given to De Courcey by the king of England to attempt the con- quefl of Uhler, yer, nnce the fubmifTion af Rcderic, as head of the Irilh princes, appeared to have in- cl-Lided the peace of this province, the invafion of Down was rep-arded as an aGriireilion unorovoked. The remond ranees of the Pope's legate, Vivian, proving incffeftual, Dunleve, prince of Down, took arms, with the aid of confederate lords, and thre^e baxtles were fought, with viclory to De Courcey. In the third, however, though the moft decifive, the Englifh troops and their leader were on the brink of total excifion. Conducling three great herds of cattle, the plunder HISTORY OF IRELAND. ir; plunder of Mac-Mahon's territory, an Irlfh toparch who had revolted after a feigned alliance, the Englifh army was by a fudden onfet in a dangerous defile, thrown into confufion, and fullered great iofs in its retreat to a more advantageous pnfl. Here, where they muft have fhortly perifiied by fight or famine, a noflurnal furprlfe was refolved, as the Irifh hod was found in a ftate of unguarded fecurity by Armoric of Saint Lawrence, a valiant knight, who had with peril explored the enemicii' pofition. A march with deep filence, and a furious onfet with loud uproar, were fo fuccefsful with De Courcey, that the Irifli were butchered without refiftance. Scarcely two hundred are faid to have efcaped the carnage, while only two of the aflailants fell. JMac-Mahon had been previoufly ilain by the troops v.'ho fought while they v/ere in the a£l .of retreating. Th^ expedition of De Cogan was quite unfuccefsful, DeCogan. nor are we informed of any plaufible pretext for his invafion of Connaught. He was induced, however, by the magnificent promifes of Ivlurrough, a fon (fi Rcderic, who meditated a fcheme of either ven- geance or ambition. His army, confifling of forty knights, two hundred other horfemen, and three hundred archer, v/as reinforced at Rofcom,mon by the jun6lion of Murrough's band, but .the confedc- rate forces were defeated without a battle. Driving away their cattle, fecreting their provifions, and even burning their churches, an act of profanation with the Iriih altogether new, the inhabitants of the invaded country rendered it a defart. Churches had been hiiherto fancluarles inviolate, where provifions I 3 and ii8 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, and valuable effeds repofited remained untouched, , ' , rruarJed by reli^rious awe, amid the violence of mod fierce contention. The Englifli, in their marches, lefs attentive to the fandity of confecrated buildings than to the neceflity of fuftenance, had commonly with little fcruple fupplied their wants from thefe afyluras, and in cafes of oppofition had committed violence beyond their nr(t intention. To regulate the bufmefs, a fynod, convened in Dublin by Vivian the legate, gave ' leave, by an ordinance, to the Englifli troops to furnifii themfelves from the churches with necelTary victuals on payment of their juft value. But the forces of De Cogan, deprived of this refource, were obliged to turn homeward, left inglorious and foul death by famine flioulu be their fate. The enemy, who had not dared to face De Cogan while he ad- vanced, now in his retreat, hung with flaughter on his rear ; and Murrough, the offending prince, was, according to the horrid praflice of the Irilh in thofe days, adjudged to the lofs of fight. Various Foi" fouic years we find few tranfadions of impor- tlii"'^*'^" tance. Fitzandelm, the evils of whofe adminiftra- tion became at length known to Henry, was removed j and Hugh de Lacy, a man of tried abilities, for the office, was appointed in his place with the title of Lord procurator general, who laboured to repair the loffes, and extend the force, of the Englifli colony. ";8. Cogan and Fitzftephen, to whom the lands of Def- mond were granted by their fovereign, came to a compofition with the prince of that country, who, furrendering to them feven cantreds contiguous to the city of Cork, was allowed to continue lord of the remaining HISTORY OF IRELAND. nj remaining twenty-four ; but Philip cle Braofa, who had a fimilar claim to Limerick, retreated with fear to Cork, when he found that the Irilh chiefs, deter- mined on refiftance, had on his approach to Limerick fet fire to what remained, or had been repaired, of that unfortunate city. Lacy, having reftored the. Englifh power in Meath, which had been loft in the adminiftraiion of his predeceflbr, and encouraged a coalition of Englifh and Irifh by his marriage with a daughter of Roderic O'Connor, was affailed by the calumnies of the envious, and recalled by his fovereign, who, foon becoming fenfible of his mif- take, reinftated him in his government after an interval of only three months. In the noith De Courcey maintained his ground, though worlled in two battles by a prince of the territory called Argial, who had treacherouily burned a Ihip of his near New- ry, and maffacred all the crew. The interruption of the colonial government by regal jealoufy might have proved fatal to the intereft of the fettlers; but from feuds among the Irifh prin- ces, baleful and atrocious, little advantage was taken of the Englifli weaknefs. !» the words of Dodor Leland, *' the imperfect and jejune accounts, which remain, of the local diffenfions and provincial con- tefts in Ireland, at this period, give a (hocking idea of the ftate of this unhappy country. Treachery and murder were revenged by treachery and murder, fo as to perpetuate a fuccefTion of outrages the mofl horrid and difgiaceful to humanity. A young prince of the Hi-Nial race, and heir apparent to the rights of that family, fell by the hand of a rival lord : this i 4 riviii 120 HISTORY OF IRELAND. rival was killed in revenge. The partizans on each" fide, as the feveral powers prevailed, were butchered with every circumflance of triumphant barbarity. In Connaught the blinded fon of Roderic was refcued from prifon by his partizans, and the flame of diffen- fion rekindled." Other fons of this unfortunate monarch were in arms, and war was fo fiercely waged, that in one battle fell fixteen young lords, the heirs apparent of the ruling families in this quarter of the ifland. Defmond and Thomond were in like manner barbaroufly diftracled, and the toparchs of Leinfler were mucually actuated by the fame ferocious hate. Without vain difquifitions concerning the right of Henry's claim, benevolence muft lament that a complete fubjugation and fettle- ment of Ireland under a regular government were not efreded by that wife, but much agitated mo- narch. In the winter of 1 1 8 1 died in exile in Normandy Lawrence O'Tool, archbifnop of Dublin, famous* for his determinate oppofition to the firfi: Englifh adventurers-, alfo celebrated for monallic virtues. Apparently acquiefcing in Henry's government, but ftrenuoufly remonfhating in the council of Lateran in Rome, in riyg, againfl the conduct of the colo- nics, he received a mandate from the king inter- dicting his return. An Engliihman, John Comyn, fiicceeded, recommended by Htnry to the clergy of j;"j. Dublin, whofe eleclion pope Lucius confirmed. In lefs than two years after fell Milo de Cogan by the fouled perndy, and worfe than immediate death attended the heroic Fitzilephen, the Firit Englifli leader ii2t -V HISTORY OF IRELAND. ii, leader in this period vvho had touched the Tnores of Ireland. Journeying from Cork to Lifmore to confer with feme citizens of Waterford, Cogan, with fix others, one of whom was Ralph Fitzftephen, a foil of Robert, married to his daughter, was aflaffi- nated by Mac-Tire, an Irifhman whom he had regarded as his firmly attached friend, and who had invited him to his houfe for this fell purpofe with the ftrongeil profefTions of cordial hofpitality. Mac Arthy of Defmond infiantly attacked the city of Cork with all his force, which Fitzftephen, ftunned with grief, was hardly able to defend. The garri- fon, reinforced by Raymond le Grofs, wirh troops from Wexford, conveyed by fea, drove Mac-Arthy to fubmiffion ; but an accumulated load of furrow, agitations, and fatigues, had fo fatally deprefled Fitzftephen, who had fome time before loft another fon, that he was found, on the arrival of thefe troops, deprived of his reafon. As Maurice Fitzgerald had died fix years before, ^^^ and Hervey of Mountmorres retired into a monaftery, ^<"""*' the original commanders of the Englifti in Ireland were moftly now deparfed from the ftage. Among thofe who were fent by Henry to fupply their places were Richard de Cogan, brother of Milo, and Philip Barry, both officers of tried courage and conduQ:. With Philip came his brother Girald Barry, better known by the name of Cambrenfis, from Wales his country, a confidential ecclefiaftic, appointed by Henry for tutor to his youngeft fon prince John, and now fent to infped the ftate of Ireland for the information 132 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, information of this prince, whom his father mtend- ,_^„.^ cd to conRitute its governor. This churchman, who has left us a hiftory of the Englifh tranfaclions in Ireland in this period, erroneoufly fliled a hiftory of the conquefl of Ireland, a6led, together with the new prelate of Dublin, in fo infolent a manner to the Irifh clergy ?.s to give new caufc for national hatred. The mutual reproaches of the two parties in their Synods mud appear little honourable to the adminidrators of the church of either nation in thofe days ; the Irifli charging the Englifh clergy with excefles of lev/dnefs ; the Englifh the Irifh with intemperance of palate, harbarirm, falfehood, and treachery. A reply is preferved made to Cam- brenfis by the prelate of Cafliei, who, according to the miferable fuperftition of the age, regarded the peflilent Becket as a martyr. When the Briton contemptuoufly remarked that " the calendar of the Irifh church was deflitute of martyrs," the Hibernian made anfwer that " none of his country- men had been fo flagitious as to kill the fervants of the Lord ; but that now, with Engliflimen among them, and Henry for their fovereign, they might expefl martyrs enough in future for the honour of their church." To add political to religious difcontent, the government was transferred from Lacy to Philip de Braofa, who, fpirited only in acls of rapacity and oppreflion, abiifed his power to the great injury of Ireland, until his place was taken by another, whofe maladminiHration browght nearly ruin on the colony. Thus even in the reign of ^ VIJ. HISTORY OF IRELAND. laj of one of the wifeft and ablefl: of the Engllfli chap- monarchs was adopted a fyftem detrimeotal to this ifland, the removing of its governors, and inter- rupting of plans which promifed the promotion of its welfare. CHAP. J24 HISTORY OF IRELAND. C H A P. VIII. j Pr'mce yohn^ Lord of Ireland — IriJIj Lords infulted-— War —Slaughter of the EngliJJj — Dc Courcey chief governor — Dijlraclions Depofition and death of ' Roderic 0^ Connor — Cathal the bloody- hande d ■■ • Lacfs adminlftration — Defperate battle of Arfuo- ric''s hand — William Petit and Earl Marflml Defeats of the Englifh — Htpjno de Valois Mcyler Eit%henry — T)e Biirgo — Carragh — O'Nial — Reduc- tion of De Burgo — Of D^ Courcey ^i^^g John's expedition — The Lacies and Braofa Sham fub- miffions State of Ireland at the end of fohn^s reign. ' cn/>i\ C'O early as the year 1178 prln<:e John, the w.-.-v.".^^-' youngeft fon of Henry, had been by his father, in ^imnJrl't'. '^ council of barons and prelates, nominated Lord of Ireland, apparently its feudatory monarch or perpetual viceroy, in place, as it were, of Roderie O'Connor, whofe rights, as a fubordinate king, re- cognized in his treaty of fubmlfiion, feem to have been overlooked on this occafion by Henry, who may have confidered that thefe rights would in conrfe of lime become obfolete by the extenfion of the Eng- lifli colony. The prince entered not into the func- tion of this dignity until the year 11 85, the eigh- teenth of his age, when he landed at Waterford "from a fleet of fixty vefltls, with a train of Norman courtiers, Engliih ^xpcftants, and grave churchmen, among HISTORY OF IRELAND. jjj among whom was Giraldus, who had returned to chap. his pupil. Flattered by the exalted rank, and awed by the numerous forces of their new chief gover- nor, the Iriili lords, even thofe who had been hi- therto molt refractory, haded from all parts with fo lively a cheerfulnefs to pay their homage, that important confequences might have refuhed from prudent management in this adminidration ; but foon changed by mifcondud from the fmiling afpect of courtly deference and peaceful fubmiflion, the whole country, with fcarcely an exception, affumed the grim vifage of devouring war. Thofe chieftains of Leinfter, who had always adhered to the Englifh intereft, were naturally fore- n>oft to make their obeifance. The Irifh garb, the {Irange form of the hair, the bufliy beard, and other- national -charad^eriftics, new and uncouth in the eyes of the young Normans, the prince's train, excited at firft view a fpirit of mirth, which pru- dence or true politenefs would have concealed ; but when thefe unpolifhed lords, polTe'lTed of a high idea of their own refpedlabiliry of rank, advanced v/ith perfe«5l eafe to kifs the prince, in the cordial mode of falutation peculiar to the Irifh, they were puflied rudely back by the attendants, while all the com- pany burfting into loud laughter, plucked their beards in derifion, and otherwife treated them with contumely. With vengeance in their hearts, the chiefs retiring met others who were hadening to the prince's court, and related to them, perhaps in heightened colours, the indignities with which their former loyaky and prefent zeal had been requited. The J25 HISTORY OF IRELAND, CHAP. The inteill^ence was rapidly difFufed, and fince VJII. ' ■ the firm allies of the Engiifli monarch had been treated with an outrageous contempt, intolera- ble to the proud fpirit of Irifh lords, proud from the imagined fplendour of their lineage and monarchal fway, what was to be-expedlefi, faid men in general, by thofe who had be,en fiercely hoflile to the Englifti government ? To make refentment burn with flill greater fury, the minions of the prince, rapacious liS infolent, leized the lands of thofe Irifii who held under Englifh lords by Engiifli tenure within the pale, and attempted alfo by pretended grants and legal fraud to treat in like manner the early Bfitifh colonifts. War. The infulted lords and difpofTefTed tenants of Lein- fter, flying to their compatriots in Connaught and elfewhere, made fuch reprefentations as induced the Irifh princes to fufpend their private feuds and unite their forces againfl the common foe. From all fides poured the florm of war on the Britifh fettlements, while the gay courtiers, and new foldiers brought from England by prince John, fhrunk into fortified places diflant from the danger, leaving the field of defence to the veteran coloniffs. Of lands the de- vaflation, of men, in the firfl fury of affault, the flaughter \v2ls horrible. Whole bands with their leaders fell beneath the weapons of the enemy, as the garrifon of Ardfmnan, the troops of Robert Barry at Lifniore, thofe of Robert de la Poer in OlTory, and thofe of Canton and Fitz-Hugh in other quarters. Cork was preferved by the valour of Theobald Fitzwalter, founder of the noble family of HISTORY OF IRELAND. it? of Ormond, and Meath by that of William Petit ; ^^jfj^*" ^ but here was treacheroufly murdered Hugh de Lacy, whofe wifdom, juftice, and knowledge of Iri(h at- fairs, had, with military talents, eminently qualified him for the office of chief governor. Erecting a fortrefs on the fite of an ancient abbey, Vv'hen the firfh incurfion of the enemy had been repelled, he was affaffinated with an axe by one of his labourers, an Irilh peafant, who fled exulting, as the avenger of facrilege, to his countrymen in arms. After eight months of rueful difoider, Henry, who, em- "^^ barrafled by weighty matters, had fhewn almoft as much weaknefs in the management of Ireland as of ability in that of England, infornied at length of the ruinous efFefts of the prince's maladminiftration, recalled him, and appointed John de Courcey chief governor. The diflenfions of the Irifli princes, which re- DeCour« vived after the firft fury of their ailault on the Eng- vernm^nt. lifh fettlements, left room for the new deputy to arrange his forces for defence. In Ulfler a depofed prince of the O'Loughlan family regained his com- mand on the murder of his rival, but, falling in a battle with the Englifh, left the fubjefl of dif- pute for the fwords of new competitors ; while, in Connaught, the fons of Roderic, in rebellion againli their father, forced him to take refuge in the mo- naflery of Cong, where he died at the age of al- moft ninety, tv/elve years after, in 1198, a prince of whofe charader we can hardly pretend to form a judgment from the n^.eagre accounts tranfmitted Co us. Connor Moiwnmoy, who among his fons, on 12 hh j:3 history OF IP. ELAND. CHAP, his retirement, chained the afcendancy, was after a VHI. v..^.,,^.*^ flioit interval aiLflinated by a brother ; that brother in revenge by a Ion of the murdered Connor j and the province diftraded by party rage, remained in a date of anarchy, till at length in the fraternal feud, Cathal, fur named the bloody-handed from his feats of homicide, cflabliflicd for a time his au- * thority over Connaughr, and threatened to reinftate the monarchy of Ireland, lod by the mifcarriages cf Roderic his father. In the mean time De Cour- '*' cey, though repulfed with lofs in an invafion of Connaught, where, furrounded by the armies of Thomond and Connor Moienmoy, he was near de- (Iruftion with all his forces, anjd v/ith difficulcy ef- feQed a retreat, maintained, without being able to extend, the Englifh fettlements. intimidating the Irifli by various exploits, particularly the ftorming and burning of Armagh, till on the death of king tiSa. Henry, In the year 1189, he found hlmfelf fuper- feded by the appointment of a new deputy. Lacy's-.d- Engaged in foreign wars, Richard the FirH:, the Sn'*^'^' fuccefibr of his father Henry on the Englifh throne, mterfered not in the government of Ireland, which, during his whole reign, was left to the management of his younger brother John, as lord of this ifland, according to his former appointment. This prince, lefs attentive to the merit of a fubjecl than to the indulgence of his own capricious humour, nominat- ed for lord-deputy Hugh de Lacy, who had con- trived to gain his favour, fon of the late brave officer of that name. Confcious of his own merit in the important fervices which he had performed, and fired 4 FirSTORY OF IRELAND; t29 fired v^'ith indignation at the difregard thus mani- csJap. felled, De Courcey retired into Ulfter, where, de- ^-' -> dining to acknowledge the authority of the new chief governor, he affeded the ftate of an indepen- dent baron. This diffenfion of the lords, which betrayed the we^knefs of Englifil government in Ireland, was matter of encouragement to their Irlfh enemies; and Cathal, prince of Connaugh:, calling aloud on his countrymen to exterminate the foreigners, prepared, in conjundion with O'Brien of Thomond, to attack their fsttlements with all his force. The vanity of this warrior, who affefted to redore the monarchy of Ireland, v/as raifed high by the fiiccefs of a battle, which in fa6l was more glorious to the vanquifhfcd than the vifiors. Armoric of Saint-Lawrence, with a band of thirty Amorffc, horfemen and two hundred infantry, was, on his march to join De Courcey, through a part of Ca- thal's territory, intercepted by that prince with a / numerous army. As a retreat was impra£licahle, except by the cavalry, who after fome hefitation refolved to fhare the fate of their companions, a de- termination was formed that, with exception of two, who were appointed to view the fcene from an crnmence, and give an account to De Courcey, all ^ould perifh fighting, and fell their lives as dearly as pcflibly by a flaughter of the enemy. The ca- valry, plunging their fv/ords into their horfes, to deprive the foe of fuch a booty, embodied with the foot ; and the whole band moved onward with a face of fuch compofure and confidence as aftonifhed the hoflile army. Man is a formidable being, when VOL. I. K with 139 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, with calm declfion he renounces life, intent on the VIII . , - ^-" . death of others. While power to ftrike remained with any foldier, his weapons were employed., and a thoufand corfes of the foe accompanied thofe of the Englifii heroes. Elated with an advantage pur- chafed with fuch lofs, Cathal founded an abbey,- called De Colic Vidoria,. on. the field' of aQion, and thus, fays doctor Leland,. '^ by this weak and in- confiderate mark of triumph, raifed a. trophy to^ the romantic valour of his enemies.'* Marfhai. While an accidental conflagration, which deflroy- ed almoft: all Dublin, was added to the difaflers of this alarming time, Lacy was fuperfeded by the appointment of William Petit, and he foon after by that of William, earl marflial of England, to the office of chief governor. Unprofperous was the ad- miniftration of this nobleman,, though much had been expeded from his Irifii connexion, as he was hufband of Ifabella, the daughter of earl Strongbow by the princefs- of Leinfter. Though partial fuc- cefTes attended fometimes the arms of the Englifb,. favoured by fome circumflances, as the death of' Daniel O'Brien, prince of Thomond, yet, in the fiuduating tide of war, the advantage remained civ the fide of their opponents. Their fortreffes in Munfter were levelled by Cathal in a fhort incur- fion : they were thrice defeated by Mac-Arthy ot Defmond, who drove them from Limerick : they, were defeated near Cork in a much more decifive battle, by the forces of Connaught, united with thofe of other lordfliips ; ai^d that city was after a long blockade furrendered to Mac-Arthy, Affairs. *< KISTORY OF IRELAND. Ijt Affairs were little bettered in the rovernment of chap. . . . Vlll. Hamo de Valois, who, fucceeding in 1I97, feized ^- i* fome poffeflions of the church, particularly hnds "^^' pertaining to the fee of Dublin, to fupport the ex- pences of his adminiflration, notwithltanding the clamours of archbifllop Corny n, and pretended mi- racles, tokens of divine difpleafure. Proceeding to invade the properties of laymen, and to enrich him- felf with their fpoils, he was removed with difgrace, a little after John's acceflion to the throne of England in 1199, and obliged to pay the king, as a dlfcharge from his accounts, the fum of a thoufand marks, which in quantity of metal was equal to about two thoufand, and in efficient value to at lead ten thoufand pounds of our prefent money. To Hamo fucceeded P*Iey]er Fitzhenry, the off- Fitzhenr)-. fpring of a natural fon of king Henry the firft of England, one of the braved and mod accomplifhed of the original adventurers, and well qualified for the fun^lion of chief governor in Ireland j but, un- afTifled by king John, whofe attention was engaged ', in France, and by the chief Englifh lords in Ireland, who aded as if independent of the Englifh govern- ; ment, he was long unable to execute any confider- able enterprife. In this poflure of affairs a new Jordfnip was formed and new coahtions. William de Burg;o, to whom was committed the cuflodv of Limerick town, together with certain lands in Con- naught, formerly granted by flipulation to the Engliih monarchy, collecling a body of troops, poffeffed himfelf of the city, and entering into a league with Carragh O Connor, a relative of Cathal, expelled K 2 the 132 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, the latter prince, and placed Carragh on the throne ^ . ,-^- ^ of Connaught in his room. The expulfion of Ca- thal, whofe boifterous valour had fo much raifed the fpirits of his compatriots, caufed a ferment in Ulfter, where Hugh O'Nial of Tir-owen, took arms with other chieftains in his favour, and prevailed on the Englifh barons, De Courcey and De Lacy, to enter 120 J. into his alliance. Thus were feen Englifn banded with Irifh againfl: forces compofed in like manner of men from the two nations. Vitlory declared in fa- vour of Carragh and De Burgo, in an obftinatc battle with great flaughter of their opponents'. O'Nial was depofed by his difcontented fubjefts : his fucceffor fell in battle by the chieftain of Tirconnel, the prefent county of Donegal ; and bloody contefta for dominion enfued among the furviving claimants of the family. Cathal, nov/ hopelefs of reindatement by force, had recourfc to artifice, and by magnificent promifes gained the favour of De Burgo. Carragh died bravely fighting ; and Cathal, reflored to his principality, repaid with perfidy the injuilice of the baron, who, in attempting to punifh his breach of engagement, was repulfed with difgrace. In a fecond invafion of Connaught he was recalled to the defence of Lime- rick, to the attack of which Fitzhenry was on ^203. his march. Tliis governor, having at length found means to collect an army for the enforcement of his mafter's authority, refolved to begin his operations with De Burgo, who had fo lately afTumed the ftile of independence. In this expedition^ the firft in which an Englifh chief governor was feen marching z at HfSTORV OF IRELAND. ij3 at the head of native Irifli againft his own country- cfjap. VIII. men, Fitzhenry vi^as aflifted by the troops of Con- naiight and Thomond. De Burgo, capitulating, was admitted to renew his allegiance, and both Cathal and O'Brien of Thomond entered into treaties of fubmiflion, the former flipulatmg to furrender two- rhirds of his territory to king John, and to pay a tribute of-a hundred marks annually for the reft. About this time was put into execution a plan of I'uinofDe attack on John de Courcey, who in Ulilcr maintained an independent court, and was fo far from acknow- ledging the authority of king John, that he con- cealed not his indignation againfl him as a bafe ufurper, and the murderer of iiis nephew Arihur, the rightful heir of England. Hugh de Lacy, who had alfo in Meath afieded the Rate of an independent lord, but through malice to De Courcey had ma- : ligned him to the king, accepted a commiflion, in conjunction with his brother Walter, to reduce this nobbman by force of arm?, and fend him prifoner to England. De Courcey, v,ho had not v^ithout much difficulty, and frequent loffcs, maintained his pofleffions againft the Iriftj of Ulfter, v/qs convinced of the impoftibility of ultimate fuccefs againft thefe combined with Englifh forces ; and therefore, though victorious in battle, he fubmitted to perform homage, giving fureties for his appearance in the royal pre- fence, and receiving a fafe conduct for his journey. Of this warlike baron, who probably died about this time or fhortly after, we have no further information. His title of earl of Ulfter, together with his eftates in that province, was conferred by the unjuft and K J capricious 134 HISTORY Ox^ IRELAND. CHAP, capricious bounty of the king on Hugh de Lacy^ in , ' _ _ ; prejudice to Milo de Courcey, the lawful heir. For the refutation of a fable invented by Irifh romancers, contradided by dates and authentic records, I refer the reader to Leland's hiitorv, as fables are inconfiftent with my plan of writing. Meyler Fitzhenry, in whofe vigorous adminidra- ticn the Englifn power had been reftored in Munfter by the recovery of Cork and Limerick, and much elfewhere extended in Ireland, vi^as, together with Hugh de Lacy, fumnioned abroad for the fupport of their fovereign, who had loft his French dominions by the arms of the king of France, and was threat- ened with danger alfo in England. Nothing me- morable occurred in the abfence of this governor, who returned in 1208, and whofe office had been held by Walter de Lacy ; nor, except a plague, and a m.aiTacre near Dublin, are any tranfadlions of this time recorded. The plague is faid to have raged irj Leinfler, and to have confiderably thinned the popu- lation of Dublin. The mafiacre was perpetrated by fome clans of Wicklow in the year 1 209, on the feftival of Eafter, at a place called CuUen's Wood, vvhere three hundred men, citizens of Dublin, were murdered, who had come to enjoy the recreation of the fields : in commemoration of which an annual aiiembly has been lince held regularly on the fpot, and the day denominated bl-ick Monday from the tragical event. John's ^x- The forces of the V/icklow clans, the perpetra- jpt mon. ^^^g ^£ ^j^.^ atrocity, were foon broken by the people of Dublin, who received a new acceliion of citizens from HISTORY OF IRELAND. 135 from Briftol: and as the sjreat Iridi lords adhered chap. Vlll. to their agreements with the EngTifli government, the expedition of king Johri into Ireland, in the year 1210, feems not to have had any adequate object; but the keeping of armies in a ftate of motion was judged expedient in the dangerous firur.tion of this monarch, againil whom had been ilTued the papal ■thunders of interdidl and excommunication ; the former depriving his fubjeds of all exterior exercifes :of religion ; the latter rendering IiimftU, in thefe dark ages of miferable fuperlHtion, an objed: of ab- horrence. To punifh William de Braofa, and Hugh and Walter de Lacy, was the oftenfible purpofe of this armament. The two latter had abufed the power derived from his own unrighteous donations. Braofa, lord of Brecknock, to whom had been given large grants of land in Thomond, had fied for refuge into Ireland, to the Lacies, from the vengeance of the king, who was enraijed by an un- guarded expreflion of Braofa's wife. When John demanded hoflages for their fidelity fxoni the Englifii noble^, this lady had anfwered that her children fhouid never be entrufted to a m.an who had been the mur- derer of his own nephew. The only exploit of a military nature performed in Ireland by this monarch, who arrived in Dublin in the month of June, and remained three months in the country, was the reduflion of the fortrefles in Meath and Ulfter belonging to the Lacies, who, as well as Braofa, took refuge in France. The Irifh princes made fubmiffions without thereby becoming more lubje6t than before. In Thomond Murtagh O'Brien K 4. had 1^6 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, had been depofed by his fubjedls on account of bis conceflions to the Engiifii government in the admi.- niflration of Meyler Fitzhenry ; yet, on the nominal fubmiffion of his fucceffor, Donald Carbragh O'Brien, who was permitted (till to retain the principality, nothing except liberation from prifon was obtained in favour of the dethroned prince. More evidently fi£litious was the fubmiffion of O'Nial, prince of Tir-Ovven, who refufed to attend the king till two hoftages were given him for the fecurity of his fafe conduct, and who, on his return to his own terri- tory, difclaimed with impunity all ideas of fubjec- tion. Regulations of a civil nature were the chief benefits refuhing to the Englifli colony in Ireland from this vifit of John. A regular code and charter of Engliili laws was, at the general requefl: of his liegemen in Ireland, ordained in this kingdom, and depofited for their direftion in the exchequer of Dublin, under the king's feal, uniting, as it were, his fubjeds in Ireland under the fame fyftem of polity with thofe in Britain. For the more effedual exe- cution of thefe laws, befide the eltablifjiment of the king's courts of judicature in Dublin, a new and more ample divifion was made of the king's lan^s into counties, where flieriiFs and other officers were appointed. Twelve counties only are enumerated as formed on this occafion, which marked the Eng- lifli territories as containing parts of Leinfter, Mun- fter, and Ulller ; but either then, or fome time after, three other counties were added to this num- ber, two in Connaught, and one in South-Mui^* iter. The HISTORY OF IRELAND, fj; The firuanon of affairs in Ireland was To ereitlv cfiap, altered from the commencement of Meyler Fitz- ■> =-sx— *» henry's adminidration to the deparrure of kinj^ John, fii^.^'^^s']' that a prince lefs indolent, and more fecnrc in the love of his people, might have at this time reduced all the illand under Englifii government. The colo- nies had become fo extended, and fo firmlv efla- blifhed, as to be little molelied by the natives, en- gaged, as they were, in mutual hodilicies. O'Nial of Tir-Owen, who continued to breathe defiance, and to wage v*'ar againd the EngliHi, found ia his encounters with the garrifons on his frontier no de- cifive fuccefs j while in Connaught Cathal, fo form: - dable feme years before, could contrive no refoarce againft the encroachments of the colonifts except humble complaints to the king as his fovereign. The great Englifli barons of Ireland alfo were quite in fubjedion to the crown. The Lacies with difficuliv obtained reiforation on paymant of great fums as fines to the king ; two thoufand five hundred marks for Meath, and four thoufand for Ulfter; fums at Jeai'l: equal in efficient value to fixty-five thoufand pounds in the beginning of the nineteenth century. Wil- liam de Braof^, who was unable to raife enough of money for this tyrannical monarch, remained in exile, while his wife and children periflied in prifon in the callle of Briftol, from want of fufte- nance, if the accounts of this tranfaclion are not pvercharged bv monkifh hiftorians. CHAP. Ijg HISTORY OF IRELAND,. CHAP. IX, frijh Buildings — Round Towers — Cnjlles — Henry the Third— Great Charter — Scope cf this chapter fate of Earl Marfbal Wars of Connaiight Tranfadions cf Fedlim ~ Wars of Munfier — Gerald- ines, MaC'Arthys, and De Burgo — Prince Edward lord of Ireland — Accejfion of Edward the firfi — War in Thomond — Feuds cf the EngUfh colonfls — Violences of the Clergy — Petitions of the Irifh for EngUp Laws . — P arliaraents — Sir fohn Wogan — State of Ireland "—Piers Gavafton — Defeat cf De Burgo— Alliance •with the Geraldines. r ROM the firft: arrival of the Englifli in Irelaijd to the end of king John^s reign, the fice of the coun- irifhbuiid- tj.y^ as well as its pohtical flate, had undergone confiderable changes, as the fettleaients of the colo- nifts had penetrated the interior and remote parts of the ifland, fortified with caftles and other works of mafonry. Except in the maritime towns founded by the Danes, almod the only [lru<9;ures of ftone found in Ireland previoufly to this period were ^ kind of lowers, which in fnape were tall hollow pil. lars of ftone and lime, nearly cylindrical, but nar- rowing upward in fome fmall degree, pierced with fome lateral holes to admit the light, high above ,the ground, and furmounted with conical roofs of the fame xnacerials. Of thcfe fimple but durable produdions HISTORY OF IRELAND. 155 productions of old Irlfli mafonry fifty-fix, from fiftv chat. to a hundred and thirty feet high, and from eight to twelve in diameter in the clear, fiill furvived the injuries of time in the beginning of the nineteenth century. The moft elegant of all in flile of archi- tecture is one in the ifland of Devenifii in Logh Em, whi^h internally is fmooth like the barrel of a gun, eighty-four feet high to the apex of its coniform roof, which occupies fifteen feet of that altitude. The round towers of Ireland, concerning the ufes of which odd conjectures have been made by fome an- tiquarians, are known to the peafantry to have been belfries of churches, as the Iri(h word cloghad imports, and the Englifii term Jiceple, which is applied to them in thofe parts of Leinfler, where fettlements were formed by early Englifh colonics. The walls cf thefe belfries, built spart from the churches, as in Italy, long furvived, by their form and materials, the (Irovflures of clay and wattles, the churches and moi.afteries to which they belonged, as alfo their ov/n wooden flaircafes by which they were afcended. on the infide. The firfl: Irifli church of ftone and lime was one built at Bangor, in the county of Down, by Malachy, archbiflipp of Armagh ivho died in 1 148 ; and the firfi: Irifli dwelling houfe cf the fame kind of flrudure was a palace ere6led at T^iam by Roderic O'Connor, the laft Irifh monarch of Ireland. Various ornaments and utenfils, fome framed of gold, found buried in bogs and elfewhere, may have been partly imported in remote ages by traders in exchange for peltry, the ancient merchandize of the ifland, and pp.rtly the acquirements of plunder carried hither by Danifh 140. . HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. DanlHi pirates from richer countries. As monu- Vi.i .i.y-—/ mental proofs of ancient gvca'^e s and civilization in the Irifli they cannot ^ .'y e admitted, fince rich ornaments, procured bj^ ^tr, may be found even in Lapland. Caftiss. Caftles, at once the manfions of the nobles and citadels of defence, the building of which had been introduced into England by the Normans, into Ire- land by the Englifli, were numerous in the reign of John and for ages after, while feudal government remained, as appears by the many ruins at this day extant. Thefe fortreifes varied in form and iize ac- cording to the importance of the purpofe and means of the builder. In general a fquare fabric termed the keepj with walls of prodigious thicknefs, which from fcantinefs of light rendered the apartments gloomy, ffood in the midfi: of a large court inclofed with a wall eight or ten ittt. thick, and above twenty high, which was furnifhed with towers, parapets, and embrafures, and lined on the infide with build- ings for various purpofes. This wall was environed with a bread and deep ditch ; and the principal gate and drawbridge were defended by an outwork termed the harbacan. Caftles of primary magnitude were furniflied with a fecond wall and ditch, enclofmg at feme diftance the former, and of the fame kind. thfj ' '^" Ireland, in fo large proportion colonized and callellated, remained comparatively tranquil at the death of John, a prince elfewhere moft unfuccefsful from the general odium excited againft him by the allied vices of cowardice and tyranny, expelled by t.he French from his continental dominions, ignomi- ^ nioufiy HISTORY O? mELAND. J41 riioufly' reduced to the condition of the pope's vafTal, Compelled by his barons to grant a charter of rights to his fubjedls, and dying in war againfl the fame aflifted by a French army. After the acceffion of "^^■ Henry the third, who fucceeded at the death of his father in 12 16, the charter of John, called Magna Charta, was renewed, and in February of the fol- lowing year extended to Ireland, with fome altera- tions required for local circumitances, and with flill more of the aridocraric fpirit fo blamed in the ori- ginal. By this inftrument, flill extant in the Red Book of the Exchequer in Dublin, obtained by the petition of the Irifh barons, the union of the Eng- lifh colonifts in Ireland with their fellow-fubjefts in Britain under the fame king, laws, and rights, was clearly afcertained and eftablifhed. William earl Marlhal, earl of Pembroke, protec- Scope of tor of England in the king's minority, a king who '^'^ ^^eP^'^'i had fucceeded to the crown at the age of nine years, was owner of extenfive property in Ireland, where the loyalty of the nobles was encouraged by the hopes of his favour, and their turbulence awed by his vigilance and abilities. On the death of this 1119. great and honeft baron in 12 19, diforders recom- menced, from whi.:h for ages after we fcarcely find even temporary ceflations. From this time, through the reigns of Henry the third, and his fon and fuc- ceilbr, Edward the firft, to the Scottifh invafion in the time of Edward the fecond, a period of ninety- fix years, the annals of Ireland are a confufed mafs of ddfultory wars and other petty tranfadlions of Irifii chieftains and Englifii barons, the latter degenerated almoft 143 HiSTOxlV OF IRELAND. atmoft to the condition of the former, acting as in- dependent princes, and frequently engaged in hofli- lities among themfelves as well as againfl the native lords. A ftate fo unprofperoiis of Irifh affairs was permitted in the reigns of Henry and his immediate fuccelTor ; the former weak and worthlefs, attached to foreign favourites, defpifed by his fubjecls, and controlled by his nobles ; the latter politic, warlike, 1 and ambitious, but engaged in concerns remote from Ireland, fome of prime advantage to the realm of England, fome of a nature unconnefted with its vvelfaie. A detail of occurrences in chronological order, frivolous and at this day interePdng to none, would hardly merit my reader's thanks. In the fe- leclion and clear arrangement of matters deferring notice, principally confifts the art of the hidorian* pari Mar- William earl Marflial, fon of the proteflor, was called into Ireland foon after his father^s deceafe, to the defence of his property, fome parts of which Hugh de Lacy claimed as his right, and in con- junction with O'Nial the prince of Tir-Ovven, at- tempted to feize by force of arms^ An indecifive warfare of alternate fuccefs and devaflation ended in | Jaffitude or a truce ; but the execution of a plot, in fome years after, on the fuccelTdf of the earl, for the plunder of his poiTeinons, marked a woeful degene- racy in the colonial barons, an adoption of barba- rifm from the natives. The facceflbr of William, who died in 1231, was his brother Richard, a man fo dreaded by the king for his lofty fpirit, that mea- fures were taken to exclude him from the power which mud attend his ample patrimony, and under pretence thai HISTORY OF IRELAND. 143 pretence of a treafonable correfpondence with France cha^- he was ordered into exile. Defcended from Strong- , bow and the princefs Eva, he found in Ireland, whi- ther he inftantly repaired, numerous partizans j and returning to England with a body of armed men, feized the cadle of Pembroke, which fo greatly- alarmed the monarch's timrdity, that invediture of the earl's eftates was no longer with-holden. But this nobleman afterwards, entering into a confede- racy for the banifiiment of the king's foreign favouiite?, was treacheroufiy ' murdered by the contrivance of Peter des Roches, bifnop of Winchefler, the prime favourite and mini'lt". Letters under his Majefty's great feal, figned alfo ias4« by Peter and eleven of his minions, were fent into Ireland by this violent and bafe minider, diredled to Maurice Fitzgerald the chief governor, Hugh and Walter de Lacy, GeofFry de Maurifco, Richard de Burgo, and fome other lords, granting them in per- petuity all the Irifli eflates of earl Richard, on con- dition of their feizing his perfon, and fending his body, dead or alive, to the king. Allured by the Q.Ter of (o great a prize, thefe barons formed n fcheme for the unfufpedling earl's deftruclion. He was called for the defence of his property into Ire- land, where Maurifco, feigning devotion to his eaufe, aflured him that by proper exertions he might render himfelf mafter of all the country. When in purfuit of this delufive objefb he feized the city of Limerick and feveral caftles, the confpiring barons propofed a conference to adjuft the terms of a truce and treaty, profefling a defign of inverting him 15 with IX. 141 HtSTORY OF lilELAND. CHAP, with the paramount power in the illand, lirlefs the ; king fhould fend immediate aiTiftunce. Meeting thefe lords by agreement in the plains of Kildare, and, by the advice of Maurifco, refufmg a truce, he was told that the fvvord muft inflantly where he flood decide the bufinefs. In the moment of onfet between the trains of the two oppofite parties, Maurifco deferted with eighty followers, leaving the earl with only fif- teen attendants to fuftain the fiiock of a hundred and forty. Preferring death to flight, earl Richard, after a defperate and bloody defence, was thrown from his hoife, and received a (lab in the back, which in a few d;:ys proved mortal. The alarming difcontcnts excited both in Eng- land and Ireland by this vile adion, cauftd the dif- grace of Peter dcs Roches and his aifociates. Gil- bert, a brother of the murdered baron, was inverted with his eilates as his immediate heir, together with the dignity of earl Marfhal. Apprehenfions of the growing pow-r of this young nobleman, who after fome interval of difpleafure was admitted into Henry's favour, and who was married to a daugh- ter of Alexander, king of Scotland, gave a check to the depredations committed on his lands by the Irifii barons, who, with a violence of rapacity cor-^ refponding to the previous treachery of their con- duct, had emuloufly proceeded to divide among them the fpoii of his patrimony. Maurice Fitzge- rald, who feems not to have been worthy of a name fo ennobled by the great founder of his family in Ireland, exculpated himfelf by an oath in the pre- fence of the king and lords of England from all par- ticipation HISTORY OF IRELAND. 145 ticipatlon in the murder of earl Richard ; and, ac- cording to tlie fuperftitious notions of the age, pro- pofed to eftabhfh a convent of monks, whofe devo- tion flioiild be conftantly exercifed for repofe to the foul of that unfortunate nobleman. Previoufly to the date xof ihefe tranfa£lions, a con- Affairs of Connaught. ten: had arifen in the weft of Ireland, which was frequently renewed and long undecided. To Richard de Burgo, fucceffor of William, the baron fo tur- bulent in the reign of John, the whole kingdom of Connaught had been granted by Henry in reverfion on the demife of the reigning prince Cathal. Whe- ther fuch a grant was confiftent or not with the ftipulations made with this prince, the Irifh of Con- naught, regardlefs of it, proceeded, on his deceafe in 1223, to an eledion, according to their cultom, and, by the influence of O'Nial, inverted with the waj. regal dignity a brother of Cathal named Turlaugh. Geoffry de Maurifco, then chief governor, without profefling diredlly to fupport De Burgo's claim, expelled the newly-elecled prince, and fubftituted Aedh a fon of Cathal. Aedh difappoinied the chief governor's hopes, refifted the demands on his ter- ritory by force of arms, took a fon of Maunfco prifoner in an expedition on which he had been raihly .lent, but was killed at length in the tumult of a quarrel which arofe between the attendants of the two parties in a conference held by him with the governor. The depofed Turiaugh, reafli'ummg the "»«• monarchy, was again depofed, and another fon of Cathal, named Fedlim, vefted with the title bv De VOL. I. L Burgo, I4€ - HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. Burgo, who bad fucceeded as chief governor, with the IX. title of lord juilice. Fcdiim, Fedlim^ who proved a prince of confiderable ta- lents, long maintained his petty kingdom by arms and fubtilty. Defeated and taken prifoner by De Burgo, whofe claims, notwithftanding his paft fer- vice, were oppofed by him, he made his efcape, coUeded an army, flew Turlaugh, now fupported by this baron, in battle, and repoflefled himfelf of J*33. the principality. To fhield himfelf, if poflible, un- der the royal protedion, he addrefled a petition . to Henry, reprefenting his father's and his own loyalty to the Englifh government, the valuable ceflions of lands which had been made, and the dangerous dif- loyalty of De Burgo ; and finally entreating per- miifion to throw himfelf at his Majefty's feet that he might more particularly explain the ftate of his affairs. For this petition the jundure was favour- able ; De Burgo, the intereft of whofe family had declined at court, being removed from the poft of lord juflice, and Maurice Fitzgerald appointed in his place. A letter directed by the king to this new deputy recommended the deferring of the prince's journey to court until the affairs of Connaught fhould have been peaceably fettled, and the fend- ing of fome trufty agents along with him for the authentic information of his Majefty. After a temporary quiet in confequence of this letter, by i which the prince of Connaught was acknowleged as the king's feudatory, De Burgo, afTifted by Fitz- gerald, whom he had gained to his party, invaded and ufurped great part of his lands. Aroufed by this 7 inroad HISTORY OF IRELAND. I47 inroad to a renewal of exertion, Fedllm repaired to chap. IX the Englifh court, at the time when Fitzgerald was 1 ^ _> declaring his innocence of earl Marlhars murder; and artfully avoiding to involve the chief governor, confined his complaint to the injuflice of De Burgo. Henry, conceiving the reprefentation true, ordered Fitzgerald to take the mofl effedual and fpeedy meafures for the full reinftatement of the Iriili prince. Not ungrateful for this favour, of above twenty 1245,- Irifii princes, fummoned to attend the flandard of Henry in Wales, Fedlim alone went to his afliftance ; and, having returned to Ireland, he joined his troops •with thofe of the lord juftice to reduce the chiefs of Tirconnel, who had rifen in arms in his abfence. Yet the prince of Connaught found in the end, that without military force he could not maintain his rights. Walter de Burgo, fucceffor of Richard, augmented in power by the earldom of Ulfter, which he obtained by his marriage with the daughter and heirefs of Hugh de Lacy, renewed his claim on Connaught, and with an army expelled Fedlim j but the prince returning, and collecting to his flandard his old adherents, repoffefTed his territory, and dif- played fuch a ftrength as to fruftrate the attempts of De Burgo. Nor was this baron more fuccefsful againft Aedh O'Connor the fucceffor of Fedlim, be- ing defeated by him in a decifive battle, and dying Ihortly after. But in the following reign we find the prince of Connaught itiurdered by a claimant of his dignity, and the country in a flate of the wildeft coounotion. L 2 The 14S HISTORY OF IRELAND. The dlftradions of Ireland, almoft inceffant through the period of this chapter, arofe to a mondrous Munfttr. height in the latter part of Jienry's reign, whofe power was narrowly circumfcribed, and for a time totally fufpended, by the Englifti barons. The country at this time, in the words of dodlor Leland, *' felt all the melancholv effeds of a feeble govern- ment, laws fufpended and controled, factions en- gendered by pride and oppreOion, the anarchy of the old natives, the injuftice of the new fettlers, lo- cal feuds and barbarous maffacres." In M under were the fierceft hoftilities maintained. Maurice Fitzgerald in 1245, difmiiTcd from his office of lord- deputy, retired into Defmond, where difdaining the reftraints of Englifli government, he made large encroachments on the territories of the Irifli. Some time after the death of this baron, which happened in the following year, the fept of Mac-Arthy took arms with fury, and, after fome lefs confiderable actions, were decifively victorious over the Geral- dines, the family of Fitzgerald, in a defperate battle, and purfued their advantage with implacable rage. : On the fide of the vanquiflied fell Thomas Fitzgerald and his fon, eighteen barons, fifteen knights, and many of inferior note. The Mac-Arthys, who were fo far on this occafion from profeffing oppofition to the Englifh govern- ment, that they honourably conduded through their territory a new chief governor who had landed among them, turned their arms, after the humilia- tion of the Geraldines, to the attack of fome Irifh^ clans. Their progrefs in this warfare clafhed with the HISTORY OP IRELAND. 149 the claims of Walter De Burgo, alrer'.dy mentioned, chap. IX who encountering them with a formidable force, de- ^ - 1 ^ feated them, flew their leader, and impofed on them a debafing treaty of fubmiflion. On the over- throw of their Irifh enemies, the Geraldines revived their pretenfions, and rhus became the rivals of De Burgo, v/ith whom they maintained a fanguinary contefi:, until their hoftilities were with difficulty flopped by the interference of government. At firfl that interference availed fo little, that Richard de Capella, the chief governor, fufpe a train of forty knights and their attendants. Bruce, not choofing to riik a battle with an army infpirited by this reinforcement, retreated by forced marches to Meath, and thence to his former quarters in Ulfter. Here his famifhed foldiers experienced the bitter effe(f^s of their own cruel devafl:ations, by which the country was rendered unable to afford them fuf- tenance. Numbers perifhed with hunger ; and the carcafes of the dead furnifhed hideous nourifliment for the prefervation of the living ! Mortimer, unable to purfue the enemy through Mortimer. a defolated country, difmiiTed mofl: of his army, and '^''* repaired to Dublin, where he took fuch meafures as opportunity allowed for the re-eftabli(hment of the Englifli power in Leinfter. Having liberated the earl of Ulller, he marched into Meath, and fum- moned the Lacies to anfwer for their conduft, who killed his meflenger in defiance, and took refuge in the weft. Though a defeat with much lofs was received in Thomond by the Englifh, their affairs afTumed the afped of revival. Their efforts were feconded by the fovereign pontiff, who thundered his excommunication againfl: the Bruces, their ad- herents, and the Irifh clergy of all ranks, who had preached in favour of the Scottifh intereft. A plentiful harveft in fome diftrids, which had efcaped the devaftation of war, enabled the Englifh again to take th,e field ; and an army of fifteen hundred well-appointed men marched northward, under the command of Sir John Bermingham, nominated to M 4 this i68 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, this pod by the archbifhop of Dublin, the lorJ X, jufllce; for Mortimer had returned to England. Battle ot Bruce with a number more than double of the UundalK. '3»8' Englifli army, but not recovered fully from the effects of hunger, advanced with eagernefs to meet his opponents ; and is fiiid to have hadened the decifion of the contefl from an apprehenfion that his brother Robert, who was coming to his aid, fhould partici- pate in the honour of his expecled viftory. The armies met near Dundalk ; and previoufly to the engagement, the prelate of Armagh went through the ranks of the Englifh, enfiaming their valour by his exhortations, difiributing his bened:£lions, and pronouncing his abfoliition on all who fliould perifh in fo good a caufe. The fhock of the encountering hofls was furious in the extreme, and the combat long maintained on both fides with defperate valour ; but the Scots were at length difcomfited with dread- ful carnage, and Edward Bruce fmiihed on the field of battle his inglorious career, by the arm of a knight named Maupus, who had ruflied for that purpofe into] the enemy's ranks, and fell himfelf by many wounds on the body of his antagonift. Bermingham, having, in purfuit of his advantage, proceeded north- ward, and expelled O'Nial of Ulfter, whence Robert Bruce had immediately returned home, was, in reward of his important fervices, veiled with the earldom of Louth and manor of Atherdee. peciineof From the rueful devaftations of Bruce's warfare, theEr.ghih. ^^^ ji^g unutterable confufion into which atlairs were thrown, the Englifh colony in Ireland had fallen into a ftate of decline, from which it re- covered HISTORY OF IRELAND. tSy covered not for nearly two centuries. The diminution of inhabitants by famine and peftilence was a lofs more eafily repaired than the extinction of all regard for laws and regular government. So deeply im* bibed was the habit of diforder, and love of ex- emption from all reftraints of legal rules, that numbers of colonifls, renouncing their privileges as Englifh fubje(5l3, coalefced with the Irifh, adopting their garb, manners, and language. From the li- centioufnefs of war, which fixed fuch » lamentable fondnefs of irregular life, arofe another caufe of Englifh apoftacy. The troops of the king, unpaid from a deficient revenue, were licenfed to procure fubfiftence for themfelves by what was denominated Coyne and livery^ that is, arbitrary exactions from the people of the diftridls through which they marched, or maintenance at free quarter. Freeholders, unable to fupport the rapacity and infolence of the royal troops, and thofe of the barons, fled partly into England, and partly to fcepts of Irilh, abandoning their lands to the original natives. Thus the lands of Waterford, Cork, Kerry, and Liraericii, delerted by Englifh fettlers, were occupied by a mixed rabblei of Irifli manners, and moftly of Irifh blood, the fol- lowers of Maurice Fitzthomas of Defmond, who, to . (Evade the claims of the proprietors, renounced all connexion with Englifh law, and affumed the ftile of an Irifh prince. So enviable appeared the fituatlon of the chieftain of Defmond, that his example was followed by feveral other barons ; and fo great,, was the general corruption, that even among thofe who fiill called themfelves 170 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, themfelves EngHfh, juftice was often adminiftered . in the Irifh manner ; judges afluming an authority of compounding for the crimes of even robbery and murder. Againft this new evil a petition was pre- fented to the king by the regency of Ireland, re- quefting that no redemption fhould be granted for the robbery or murder of an Englifli fubjeft other- wife than in full parliament ; and that a parliamen- tary convention fhould on this account be held re- gularly once every year. That the requeft was fully granted, and an ordinance iffued for that pur- pofe, appears in extant records ; but ordinances without effedual enforcements are of little avail. Yet, how much perverted foever was the adminif- tration, and inefficient the execution of the Englifli laws, a participation of them was eagerly fought by the Irifh of Leinfler, who felt the efFedls of an ex- clufion from the privileges of Englifh fubjeds. While robbery or murder committed on an Englifhman, by a perfon of either Englifh or Irifh denomination, was a capital offence, fuch crimes committed on an Irifhman, by perfons of either defcription, were punifhable only by a fine. When applications were made to the throne for the abolition of diflin6:ions degrading and opprefTive on one fide, and pernicious to all, the affair was referred to the chief governor, and by him to a parliament, where, either by open rejedion or private collufion, the queflion was loft. Wannert. The manners of the people naturally correfponded with their ftate of civil fociety. The barbarifn» then prevalent in, England, Germany, and all over Europe, HISTORY OF IRELAND. 171 Europe, was nowhere probably more grofs than in chap. Ireland. But how rude foever elfewhere may have ._ ^' j been the ftace of fociety in the north of Europe, the tafk of the trifh hiftorian is in a peculiar degree dreary. " The gloomy profpecl,** in the words of J^eland, " is not relieved by any great and (Iriking objedls, foreign expeditions, important viftories, or extenfive conquefts. The attention is painfully confined to the word and mod odious part of human conduft, which in times of civility and refinement muft be confidered, and ought to be re- prefented, with abhorrence." The bad eiFeds of general ignorance, conneclcd with fome pretenfions to literature, are moft forcibly and difmally exempli- fied in the intolerance of fuperftition, and the profe- cutions for forcery, an imaginary crime. In Ireland, where the people's attention was fo conftantly en- gaged by local feuds and petty brawls, little com- monly was known of this kind of horrors : but in the period now before us a pefliferous churchman added for a time thefe worft of evils to the civil broils of this country, foon after the commencement of Edward the third's reign. A lady named Alice Ketler, was, with her fon and Nefarious profecu- fome dependants, profecnted for witchcraft in the t'ons. fpiritual court of Richard Ledred, bilhop of Oflbry. To difprove a crime which has no exiflence, from the trial for which all reafoning is excluded, and in whofe accufation falfe witnefles only can be employ- ed, mufl: be difficult in the extreme in a ftate of fociety which can admit fuch accufations ; yet the lady \vas acquitted 5 but one of her dependants was con- demned rya HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, demned and executed j her fon confined in prifon j ^ - ■• and herfelf afterwards on a charge of herefy com- j mitted to the flames. Arnold de la Poer, a maglf- trate of Kilkenn}^, who endeavoured td proteft thefe unhappy perfons, was himfclf charged with herefy by the malignant prelate; and when the chief juftice, the prior of Kilmainham, interpofed in favour of this worthy man, the accufation was extended alfo to him ; fo that for felf-prefervaiion the chief juftice was obliged to abandon De la Poer, who ex- pired in prifon. Adam Duff, a refpeftable Irifliman of Leinfter, was burned on the fame charge, a mode of proceeding quite calculated for the gratification of private malice in the wicked by the deflruction of the bed. At length to put a flop to this atrocious praftice, Ledred himfelf was formally accufed of herefy by his metropolitan, forced to quit his country with precipitation, and feek refuge by an appeal to the apoftolic fee. Erfvvard the In the reij^n of Edward the third, who fucceeded 1327. his unfortunate father Edward the fecond m the year 1327, we find a continuation of weaknefs in the Englifh government in this country, frequent repe- titions of baronial feuds, and defultory wars of Irifh clans, now and then checked by the extraordinary exertions of a chief governor, A furious war, in the beginning of this reign, between Maurice of Defmond and his allies on one fide, and De la Poer and De Burgo on the other, was kindled by fo flight a caufe as a contemptuous expreffion of De la Poer, who had called Maurice a rhymer. When by the authoritative mediation of Roger Outlaw, prior of Kilmain- HISTORY OF IRELAND. 17.I Kilmalnham, the chief governor, a reconciliation between the contending parties was efFecled, and De la Poer, who had been driven from Ireland by the florm of hoflility, was reftored, the regency of Ire- land found itfelf involved in war with a confederacy of IriHi clans, violently irritated by a frefh refufal of an application, which they had made, for their ad- miflion under the protedion of Englifh law. This war, which was conduced by O'Brien of vvarof » . , O'Bjicn. Thomond, ended with fome diflionour to the Engliih government, and might have been attended with dill worfe confequences, if the cruelty of the infurgent* had not excited a defperate fpirit of defence. About eighty perfons of Englifh anceftry, furprized in a church at the time of divine fervice, in utter defpair of mercy to themfelves attempted only to fupplicate for the prieft's life, who in vain prefented the confe- crated wafer. The hod was furioufly fnatched from his hand, himfelf tranfpierced with weapons, and the miferable congregation confumed in the church, which was fet on fire over them. The enemy received many fevere checks, defeated by the citizens of Wexford, harafied by the exertions of James Butler, lately created earl of Ormond, and attacked by the irregular troops of Maurice the chieftain of Defmond. But the forces of Maurice, with whom Darcy, the chief governor, treated as an independent prince, were more hurtful to the EngliOi by their maintenance on free quarter than ferviceable in the field : and as the foe continued flill formidable, and appeared on certain information to be privately abetted by fome lords of Engliih race, 9 a new 174 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, a new chief governor. Sir Anthony Lucy, took ^1— ^ t meafures the mofl: vigorous, the execution of which was facilitated by the expedation of a vifit of the king in perfon with an army. Iffuing fummonfes for a J parliament to be held at Dublin, and afterwards at Kil- kenny, without being obeyed in the attendance of the lords, he feized the perfons of Maurice who had been created earl of Defmond, Mandeville, Walter de Burgo and his brother, and William and Walter Bermingham. William Bermingham, found guilty, *335- was executed, and Defmond long imprifoned : but as the declaration of an intended vifit to Ireland by the king, whofe warlike preparations were intended really againft Scotland, was only a feint, the waF with the Irifli clans was no otherwife terminated than by precarious treaties with their chiefs, for the nego- ciation of which the prior of Kilmainham was charged with a commifTion. Palatinates- The cncreafing weaknefs of Englifh government, too clearly difpluyed in fuch treaties, appeared alfo in the ereftion of Palatinates. Maurice Fitzthomas of Defmond, created earl in 1329, had at the fame time received confirmation of what were called his royal liberties in the county of Kerry, which was thereby converted into a palatinate ; and the fame privileges were then alfo given to the earl of Ormond in Tipperary. In the palatinates, now augmented in number to nine, the king's writs had no authority, except in lands called the Ci'ofs, belonging to the church, included within thefe privileged counties, where royal fherifFs were appointed. The lords of fuch counties were petty monarchs, who aflumed the 2 power HISTORY OF IRELAND. 175 power of creating knights and barons ; of adml- chap. niftering juftice in the utmoft latitude ; of ereding . courts in the fame form as thofe of the king ; and of appointing their own judges, fheriiFs, fenefchals, and efcheators. By thefe means above two-thirds of the Englifh territories in this ifland were exempt from the royal jurifdidion, and the influence of the great barons, who affefted independence, was augmented to a dangerous degree. As the royal power and influence in the Englifli Aflaflina- colony was gradually retiring into narrower limits, Burg'Jf'^* fo were alfo the name and interefl of Engliflimen in Ireland. The murder of William De Burgo, earl of Ulfter, at Carrickfergus in 1333, by his own attendants, who were afterwards puniflied for the crime, was in the weaknefs of Englifli government attended with important confequences. An infant daughter, with whom her mother fled into England, was heirefs of his vafl: eflates, which by the Englifli law ought to have been taken into pofl!eflion by the king as guardian in fuch cafes. But the fept of O'Nial, rifing with all their force, and pafling the river Bann, feized great part of the Englifli fet- tlements in Antrim ; and parcelling thefe among themfelves, under the names of the upper and lower Clan Hugh-boy, from their leader Hugh-boy O'Nial, almoft extirpated, in the courfe of fome years, the Englifli colony in that quarter : While in Connaught the two mofl: powerful among the younger branches of the De Burgo family divided the extenfive demefnes between them ; and to elude the claim of the young heirs, they renounced, with their numer- ous i;5 HISTORY OF IRELAND. ous followers, the Englifli denomination, laws, and manners, and, adopting thofe of the old natives^ became Irlfh princes under the names of MacwilUam cughfer and MacwilUam eighter^ or the farther and nether MacwilUam. For fo lamentable a weaknefs and decline of Englilh interefl in Ireland in the reign of one of the mod: a6live and warlike monarchs recorded in hiftory, we can only account from the engagement of the king's attention in the affairs of I'rance, which offered a field for his ambition fplendid and delufive, while the fubdantial interefts of his crown in Scotland and Ireland were unfortu- nately overlooked. i C H A P^. HISTORY OF IRELAND. jtj CHAP. XI. Su?n7nary of the hi/lory of France Violent meafures of Edward the third in Ireland — Fadion of E?igUjh by birth and Engliflo by- blood-— Ufford's adminiftration Furbulence of a prelate — Rokeby^s regulations^ —Prince Lionel chief governor — Abfiird condud — Statute of Kilkenny Tranfadions pcfierior to it — — 'Irijh chiefs penfioned to proted the colony Re-venue of Ireland — Foul reputation — Defeat of a French and SpanijJj fleet at Kinfale Accejfion of Richard the fecond—Bifgrace of Philip De Courtney ' Abortive fche?nes of conqueft — — Robert de Vere Marquis of Dublin - Feigned fub/niffion of 0*Nial to Sir fohn Stanley — Abortive appointment of the Duke of Gloucefler^ i HE mod ancient inhabitants of France, of whom we have accounts, were Gaels, named by the Romans Gain, or, as we fay, Gauls, a Celtic people, con- Hntory of generous with the aboriginal Irifh. The earliefl co- lony, which we find planted among them, was that of Mafiilia, now called MarfciHes, founded by the Phoceans, a Grecian people of Ionia, probably be- tween five and fix centuries before the chriftian era, Haraffed by fome neigbouring tribes, the citizens of Mafiilia requeued aid from the Romans, an army of whom, under Sextus Calvinus, planted a Roman colony, the firrt: of that nation ever brought into France, at Aquae Sextice, now called Aix in Provence, VOL. I. N a hundred G H A p. XI. 178 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, a hundred and twenty-one years before the birth of our Saviour. In two years after this, the countries now called Savoy and Dauphine were reduced into a Roman province, or Piovincia, whence is derived the modern appellation of Provence. The celebrated Julius Cnefar, having, fifty-feven years before the chridian era, been appointed to the command of this province, made in eight years a complete conqued of all the warlike, but difunited tribes of France from the Rhine to the ocean. He found this extenfive region inhabited by three diftind races of men, differ, ent in origin, language, cuftoms, and laws, the Celts, the Belgians, and the Aquitainans, each compofed of fever al fmall nations. During four centuries and a half the yoke of Ro- man government opprefTed and civilized the people of Gallia or France, who in courfe of time became fo Romanized, that the greater part of them forgot their vernacular dialeds, and adopted the Latin language in their place. The feparation of this country from the empire of Rome we may date from the year 407 of the chriftian era, when armies of Goths, under various denominations, crofled the Rhine into the Gallic territories, without afterwards retreating from the invaded country. Among the tribes who ravaged and fettled in this part of Europe the Franks were ultimately the predominant nation. This people, from whom the country received its prefent name, appear to have originated from a voluntary union of many tribes, who denominated] themfelves Franks, a term denoting freemen. The i founder of the French monarchy was Clovis, whbj 3 fucceeded HISTORY OF IRELAND. 179 fucceeded in the year 481, at the age of fifteen, to chap. the command of a Frankifh tribe denominated SaHans, dwelling in the territories of Tournay and Arras, unable to furnifh an army of more than five thoufand men. At the age of nineteen he commenced his military career, and, as in the courfe of his exploits other Frankifli tribes crowded to his flandard, at the time of his death, in the year 511, his dominion ex- tended over almofl: the whole of ancient Gaul. His four fons, among whom his territories were divided, completed the conquefl of modern France before the end of the year 532. The dominion was afterwards united under one monarch, but the pofterity of Clovis became fo de- generate as to obtain in hiftory the title of Lazy Kings, rendering themfelves mere cyphers of ftate, while the adminiflration of the realm devolved on the mayor of the palace, who was fteward of the houfehold. This office became hereditary ; and Pepin the ihort, the lafl who held it, mounting the throne by an almofl: blamelefs ufurpation, added the title to the power of king in the year 751. Thus to the firft line of monarchs, bearing the names of loiig haired and Merovi'ngian, fucceeded the fecond, denominated the Carlo'vingian race. After the death -of Charlemagne, or Charles the great, the fecond of this line, the reader of the French hiflory is apt to turn in difgufl: from the dark and perplexed annals of the fucceeding reigns, difl;ra6led by the inroads of Norman pirates, domeftic diflenfions, and feudal anarchy. The heads of a noxious arifl:ocracy, the , holders of great fiefs, grew into a power totally in- N a compatible i8o HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, compatible with public tranquillity: the royal de- mefnes and authority were almofl: annihilated, and the conftitution was rent between the extremes of defpotifm and anarchy ; defpctifm in the fiefs, and anarchy in the (late. To remedy thefe intolerable diforders, the nobles and clergy, at the deceafe of Lewis the fifth, the lafl: king of the Carlovingian dynafly, eleded Hugh Capet, the poiTeflbr of the moil powerful fief, who, afcending the throne in i 987, gave commencement to the third line of monarchs, that of the Capets, who retained the| crown eight hundred^ years to the great revolution w^hich commenced in 1787. In the Merovingian dynafty the monarchy had been hereditary ; in the Carlovingian it was under- flood to be elective ; but the choice was confined to the family of Charlemagne, and the fucceffion pro- ceeded nearly as if it were hereditary. In the dynafly of the Capets hereditary right was fully eftablifhed in the line of primogeniture, but females by tacit cuftom, not by old Salique or Salian laws, as has by fome been fuppofcd, were excluded from the throne. The nobility long retained their defpotifm in the fiefs, and the king had little more preponderance among them than what arofe from the fuperior force of his patri- monial edates. The political annexion of the great dutchy of Normandy with the realm of England, by the conqueft of the latter under "William the Baftard in 1066, occafioned an intercourfe of England with Trance, which infeparably blended the hiflories of| the two countries in fucceeding times. Many wars had happened, but no national antipathy had place | before I HISTORY OF IRELAND. i8, before the reign of Edward the third of England, chap. XI On the death of Lewis Rutin, king of France, without male iflue, the crown devolved to his brother Philip the long ; and, on the deceafe of the latter, to a third brother, Charles the fair. Charles alfo dying without male ilTue, his nearelt male rela- tive, Philip de Valois, his coufin-german, with the almoft unanimous approbation of the French, in 1328 afcended the vacant throne. The warlike Edward the thi^-d, though he at firft recognized the right of Philip, yet afterwards claimed the French crown in right of his mother Kabella, filler of Charles the fair. This claim was quite futile, fmce the cuftoni of the French admitted no female right of regal fuccelTion, and fmce, if it were admitted, the claims of other females were preferable to that of Ifabella. But Edward, who failed in weight of argument, had recourfe to force, and invading France, on the fide of the Netherlands, in purfuit of this ideal ob- jed, commenced in 1339 a ruinous war; ruinous, to France, whofe territories were many years expofed to rueful devaftations ; to England exhaufted of ijien and money ; to Britain in general, which might by the prowefs of fuch a prince have been all united into one kingdom ; and to Ireland, which was thus negleded, and miferably abandoned to difaf- trous feuds and other evils of anarchy. Unable to procure a fupply of revenue from this country, and enraged at a deficiency caufed in great part by his own negled of the peace and profperity of the king- dom, he proceeded to take meafures as rafh as unjuft, N 3 fuch jneafures. l6e HISTORY OF IRELAND. fuch as tended to augment the diflcnlions already fo calamitous in the colony. I Edward, with apparently a fovereign contempt of | his Jubjeds in Ireland, iifued ordonnances for the refumprtion of all grants of eflates and jurifdidions made by himfelf and his father ; and for the difquali- fication of all, except Englifhmen pofTefled of pro- , perty in England, to hold offices in this kingdom. " Thus," fays Leland, " were the defcendants of , thofe who had originally gained the Englifli acquifi- ^ tions in Ireland, who had laboured in a long courfe of painful and perilous fervice to maintain them, who daily fhed their blood in the fervice of their monarch, pronounced indifcriminately to be danger* I ous, and declared incapable of filling any, even the ineaneft, department in adminidraiion." A violent ferment was excited among the infulted colonifts, which encreafed from day to day, and became at length quite alarming. Sir John Morris, appointed chief governor in 1341, fummoned a parliament at Dublin ; but a convention, much more numerous and refpectable, was at the fame time held at Kil- kenny by the earl of Pefmond, llyling itfelf the aflembly of the prelates, nobles, and commons of the land, by whom a renionllrance was prepared, and a flatement of grievances, for the confideratiou of his Mc^jeliy, petition. A petition bearing the date of 1343, the work of this or a fimilar convention, is extant, reprefenting in ftrong terms a variety of grievances, caufed by mal adminiftration, particularly the refumption of grants which had been made for valuable fervices, ^n4 ^HISTORY OF IRELAND. igj and prayinc^ that his Majefty's fubjecls in Ireland chap. fiioiild not be deprived of their freeholds, otherwile ^' _y than by legal judgments according to the provifion of the great chartct\ The anfwers of the king to the feveral complaints were gracious. He promifed that the grants of his progenitors Ihould be fully reftored ; and that thofe which himfclf had made ■ fliould alfo be reftored on fecurity given for a re- furrender of them, if they flioiild be found on legal examination, refumable. To what extent a redrefs of grievances may have been actually car- . ried on this occafion is unknown; but the invidious Faflioo. dillinclion made in favour of the former, between Engliflimen born in England, and men of EnglKh defcent born in Ireland, caufed a faclion between Englijh by birth and Englijl^ by bleed, which reuiained long after the removal of its original caufe. What might have been eifecled in Ireland even in uir>jri • (he weaknefs of Englifh government, and neglect of the king, by a chief governor of great abilities and determined fpirir, might be conjeclured from the efl'ecls of Sir Ralph Uiford's adminiftracion, who was appointed to that office in 1344. Having com- ^344. manded the marchers to repair to their too frequently negleded polls to repel the incurfions of Iriih clans ; forbidden under fevered penalties the conveyance of fupplies to the enemy ; and enforced the often vio- lated ordonnance that the king^s lands J}:)ould have oni: war and one peace, that a partial attack fhould be. re» garded as a war with the whole colony ; he fum- moned the earl of Defmond to attend a parliament in Dublin, who flighted the mandate, and iffued N 4 fummonfes i84 HISTORY OF IRELAND. *^ v^^' fummonfes for a convention of his own to meet at ^ "■■■'»■'■■ - ' Callan. Ufford, having interdifled this meeting by proclamation, and marched into Munfter with an army, feized the lands of the earl, executed fome of his principal dependants, guilty of illegal exac- tions, and fo terrified himfelf that he gave refpeda- ble fureties for his appearance to (land a trial, and afterwards fled, leaving ungenerouflv thefe friends to fuffer for his default. The chief governor likewife attacked the earl of Kildare, whom he reduced by force of arms and imprifoned. By the death of UiFord, and the eagernefs of the king to procure affiftance in his French war, thefe lords regained their eftates, and by leading forces into France ac- quired the king's favour ; efpecially Kildare, who diftingullhed himfelf by his fervlces at the fiege of Calais, tur^'nc '^^^ vigorous and determined fpirit of fuch a go- vernor was afterwards wanted, when the operations of the Englifli regency in Ireland were oppofed by the praflices of a difaffeded and turbulent ecclefiaftlc. To relieve the fubjeds from the ruinous exadions of coyne and livery, a fubfidy for the fupport of the Irifh war, of two fliillings for every portion of land called a carucate the eight part of a townland, and of two (hillings in the pound from every fubjefl whofe perfonal fortune amounted to fix pounds, had been granted by a parliament held at Kilkenny by Sir Walter Bermingham, nominated chief governor in 1348. Ralph Kelly, an Lifliman, archbifliop of Cafhel, Iffued an ordonnance, with the concurrence pf his fuffragans, for the deprivation of all beneficed clergymen HISTORY OF IRELAND. 185 clergymen who fhould prefume to pay the tax, and chap. for their difqualificatioh to hold any living in the V" _s province ; alfo for the excommunication of all lay- tenants on the lands of the church who fliould com- mit the fame crime, and the incapacitation of their offspring to hold any ecclefiaftical benefice even fo far as the third generation. He proceeded to excom- municate wiih the moft awful folemnity all perfons concerned in the colledtion of this impoll from eccle- fiaftical grounds, particularly William Epworth, the king's commilTioner in Tipperary, who had received it from fubordinate colledors. Found guilty on an information, Kelly and his fuffragans refufed to ap- pear in arrefl" of judgment, and efcaped their due punifhment by the weaknefs of adminiftration. After the reception of the earls of Defmond and Rokeby-s . , - adminiftra- Kildare nito the royal ravour, no wars or note occur tiou for fome years in the Irifh annals. Infurredions were fometimes alarming, and for their fuppreffion the earl of Defmond was nominated lord-juftice. On the deceafe of this nobleman in 1355, Sir Thomas Rokeby, who had been before inverted with that office, became chief governor, a man of uncommon probity, whofe maxim was '^ let my difhes be wooden rather than my creditors unpaid.'* Great at- 1356. •tention was given by this worthy man to the regula- tion of the Irifh parliament, which by his means was brought nearer to the Englifh model. According to lord Coke's account, Irifh conventions before this adminiflration, had not been fo properly parhaments as affembhes of great men." To thefe parliaments alfo was configned the decifion of appeals from er- roneous x96 HISTORY OF IRELAND. roneous proceedings in the courts, whicb had befofe been carried at great expence and trouble into England. To prevent the intrufioji of fecret enemies into the Englilh fetrlements, by whofe coirefpondence with the external foe their plans of defence might be betrayed, a royal mandate was iifued forbidding the admilTion of any mere; Irifhman into any office or place of trad in any city, borough, or cartle in the king's land ; or into any ecclefiailical benefice or religious houfe under his majefty's dominion, on any pretence foever. Thofe Irifli, who had obtained particular charters of denization, obtained from parliament an explanation of this law in their favour, when they found themfelves aiTeded by this prohibi- tion. Such meafures demonftrated a vveaknefs la government ; and Edward, the fuccefs of whofe warfare in Fiance, howfoever unfolid, had been in the higheft degree fplendid, irritated at length by the infolence of the Irifh, who incelTantly haraifed the declining colony, adopted a plan of a promifing afped for the redudion of both Irifli and degenerate Englifii. Lionel's Lionel, created afterwards duke of Clarence, the fecond fon of Edward, claimed the earldom of Ulfter, with the lands belonging to it in that province and in Connaught, in right of his vt'ife Elisabeth, daughter of the murdered earl, to whom he had j been affianced in early youth. To enable him to re- cover his lands and reform the iL:re of Ireland, this prince was velfed with the office of chief governor, with ample power, and an army from England of i fifteen tton. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 18/ fifteen hundred men. This body, if conduclied by chap. XI an able commander, ready to avail himfelf of every advantage, and reinforced by the troops of the colo- *5 nial barons, might have accomplifhed the end pro- pofed, and prepared the way for a compleat reduction of the kingdom. But, an utter (Iranger to Irifh affairs, and furrounded and deeply prejudiced by the fadion of Englijh birth^ the prince declined all colo- nial affiftance, and even interdicted by proclamation the approach of all perfons of Irhh birth, though of Englijh bloody to approach his camp. Thus deftitute of the mod effedual aid in fuch circumftances, Lionel in his expedition into Thomond, which was neceifary before an attempt on Ulfter or Connaught, w-as environed by the enemy, and in danger of total deftru£lion, till, convinced of his error, he fum- nioned the colonifts to his ftandard, by whofe aliifU i ance he gained fuch advantages over the O'Briens, as to reduce their force to a very low condition. Expectations again ran high ol the prince's future fuccefs, infomuch that both clergy and laity granted him two years value of their revenues for the main- tenance of the war : but nothing of moment was effedled, and the- prince was recalled, unable to re- cover the Irilh eftates of his wife, when his father had vainly aimed in a rumous war of many years at ac- quifition of the great French monarchy. So irrational is too frequently the conduct of the moft renowned politicians. The vifit of Lionel was attended with one bad confequence, that of heightening the diffen- fion betvveen the parties of Englifh birth and Englilh blood, which produced fo many a£ls of violence as to i83 HISTORY OF IRELAND. to oblige the king to iflue an ordonnance, commanding his fubjefls of both denominations, under penahy of *^^*' two years imprifonment, to abflain from all deeds of contumely and contention : yet this prince was twice afterwards appointed chief governor, and feemed from his paft experience not unqualified for the fundion. Defpairing of a conquefl: of the Irifli under the circumftances in which he found the country, he confined his attention to the regulation and reforma- tion of the Englifh colony ; and for this purpofe he fummoned a parliament in 1367, more numerous and refpedable than had hitherto been convened in Ireland, by which, compofed of both eflates in one 13^7' houfe, was ena<5ted a celebrated ordonnance, diflin- guiflieJ by the name of the Statute of Kilkenny. Statute of 'Ti^Js (latute, framed chiefly to prevent the dege* neracy of the Englifli colonifts, interdided, under the penalty of high treafon, marriage, foflerage, and other fuch connexions with the Irifh ; the adop- tion of an Irifh name, the ufe of the Irifh language, garb, or cuftoms, under the forfeiture of lands, or imprifonment, until fecurity fhould be given for a reformation of conduct ; the ufe of the Brehon Law among Englifli on penalty of high treafon ; the making of war on the Irifli without fpecial licence from government ; the prefentation of Irifhmen to . ecclefiaflical benefices, and the reception of them into monafteries or religious houfes ; the entertain- ment of Irifh bards and newfmongers, the pro- pagators of falfe reports ; and, under pain of felony, the quartering of foldiers on Englifh fubjeds with- out iheir confent. Sheriffs were empowered to enter aU I HISTORY OF IRELAND. 189 all palatinates and privileged places for the feizure of chap. criminals, who had before found fancluary there ; and four wardens of the peace were ordered to be appointed in each county to adjudge what men and armour every perfon fliould furnifli for the public fervice in war, that the partiality of the barons might be obviated, who commonly opprefled fome to favour others. The prelates, who voted for this adt, fuper- added the faudlion of the church, denouncing excom- munication againfl all who fhould violate any of its rules. This exclufive flatute, barring all connexions be- tween Englifli and Irifh, a flatute at feveral times afterwards revived with modifications, often neceffa- •rily relaxed by authority in particular cafes, never ftriclly obferved, nor in the then exilling circum- ftances ftridlly obfervable, had but a temporary effe(^ on the internal peace of the colony, nor in any confiderable degree prevented its decline. A fcheme of denization, to incorporate fepts of Irifh with the colonifls under the fame laws and government, and to lay a foundation for a general extenfion of the Englifh conflitution to the Irifh, inftead of declaring them enemies excluded from intercourfe, might have been more worthy of the .heroic, but mifguided, Edward, and of his fon, whofe claims were fo extenfive, and whofe influence might have been fo great in Ireland. But a generous and enlightened policy, which, facrificing empty pride and immediate advantages, apparent, not folid, adopts a plan of prefent difficulty for fub- flantial interefts in future, was above the genius of the Pcilenor tranfac- 190 HISTORY OF IRELAND. the age, at leaft of the men in power among the En^liih of Irehind. For the fpace of twenty-feven years after the en- tions. a£lIon of thefe laws, we find nothing in the annals of this country but petty tranfadions attendant on the retrogradation of the colony, diffenfions among the fettlers, defultory attacks of Irifh clans on the Englifli and among themfelves, complaints of oppreffive condud in chief governor?, and of Eng- lifli abfentees, the owners of Irifli eJhites, who de- clined to attend in perfon for the defence of their poileflions, or to fend fubftitutes for that purpofe* In the admimt^ration of Sir William Windfore, which commenced in i>69, the difhonourable plan was adopted, a plan demonftrative of the government's de- bility, of employing Irifli chieftains to protedl the colo- ny, in confideration of penfions, which they regarded as tributes, and of which the payment, when delayed by any accident, they enforced by hoftility. Thefe penfions, with other charges, could not be paid without remittances from England, for we are afl'ured by Davies that the whole revenue accruing to the Englifh government out of Ireland, both certain and calual, amounted not to ten thoufand pounds an- nually, on an average of the beft feven years daring the long reign of Edward the third. Into fo abjed a ftate was the colony fallen, and fo foul was become the country'? reputation, that when Sir Richard Pembridge, warden of the cinque ports, was nominated chief governor, he refufed to execute the commrffion, and his refufal was ju (lifted, as ^ot'ng HISTORY OF IRELAND. 191 into it even In that hiffh office, was adjudojed to be chap. ^oing info exile. ' ^— — / Edward's foreign wars, which caufed his inatten- tion to imporfant concerns at home, and the decline of the EngHlh power in Ireland, expofed the coun- try alfo to the attacks of enemies from abroad. The Scots, French, and Spaniards infefled the coads. A fleet of the two latter fudained from an Englifh navy, with the aid of the inhabitants, in the harbour of Kinfale, a fevere defeat, tbvC lofs of many men, feveral fliips, and twenty Eiiglini veffels of which they had made prize. Little alteration was for fome years the confequence of Edward's deceafe, 1377, and the accelTion of his grandfon, Richard the fecond. We find early in this reign a chief go- vernor puniflied, but the particulars of the profecution are not recorded. Philip de Courtney, a coufm of the king, appointed lord lieutenant of Ireland in 1382 for the term of ten years, was in lefs than two fuperfeded, arrefted for extortion, and his efFe6ls were feized to anfwer for the loffes of the perfons aggrieved. The difordered ftate of the colony, and the ex- Ahonivt pences of its maintenance, caufed fo much clamour conqueft? in England, that fucceflive fchemes were formed for the conqued of the Iiifh and degenerate Englifii, which by the king's weaknefs became abortive. Robert de Vere, earl of Oxford, the great favourite of Richard, was created marquis of Dublin, vefted 1384. with the entire dominion of Ireland under certain refervations, and furniflied with an army, but never Tifited the kingdom, as the king could not difpenfe with XI. 192 HISTORY. OF IRELAND. m cr^-vp. with the charms of his fociety. His deputy, Sir John Stanley, was unavailingly fuccefsful againft 0*Nial of Tyr-owen, who furrendered with his fon, feigned the deepeft humihation, and gave hoflages for an allegiance and fidelity which he had ro inten- tion to realize. The duke of Glo'^efter, an enter- prifing prince, uncle to the king, was on his own offer commillioned to lead an army into Ireland ; but when he was ready to embark, he was countermand- ed by his nephew, who declared his refoluticn to go in perfon into that di(tra£led country, and to take tts concerns into his own immediate care. CHAP. HISTORY OF IRELAND. I93 CHAP. xir. Vifit of Richard the fecond to Ireland — Renewal ofhoJlUi-' ties — Death of Mortimer — Richard* s fecond expedi' iion into Ireland — Mac-Murchad — Richard's depofi- iion — Tranfadions pofierior to this event — Lancajier's adminiji ration Weaknefs of the colony Black rent — Wreichednefs of the colony — Henry the ffilfs accejfion — State of the colony in his reign — Acceffion of Henry the ftxth Unjuji aSls of Befmond—^- Factions in England Duke of Tork lord lieU' tenant — His return to England — Hojiilities of Irifh fepts York's fecond adminiji ration — His death -^Further decline of the Englifh power in Ire- land, IvicHARD the fecond of England, grandfon of chap. Edward the third, and fon of the heroic Edward , the black prince, came a minor to the throne at the Jjac^^'^'^ * age of eleven, and in the firfl: years of his reign gave hopes, which afterwards proved fruitlefs, of a government conduced with wifdom and ability. Of his expedition into Ireland, which he undertook at the age of twenty-eight, a caufe is affigned not in- congruous with his vanity. Propofmg himfelf a 1394.. candidate for the imperial crown of Germany, and refufed by the ele6lors, as a prince unable to fupport the dignity of his throne againfl: the opponents of his power in Ireland, befide other enemies, he refolved, for the eftablifhment of his charader as an able monarch, to begin with the fubjugation of the Irifti chieftains. Sending before him Sir Thomas' VOL, I, o Scroop XII. j^l HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. Scroop to make preparations for his due reception, he landed at Waterford in 0£lober, in the year thirteen hundred and ninety-four, with an army of thirtv-four thoufand men, of whom four thoufand were men-at-arms, a force of fuch magnitude as Ireland had never feen, fufiicient, if wifely conducted to its proper purpofe, for the fettling of this ifland in a ftate of lading peace and profperity, by the fubjugarion of the various fepts of Iiifn, and their incorporation under the fame political conftitutioa with the colonics. The capacity of Richard was be- low the execution or conception of this neceffary plan. No general confederacy nor fcheme of refinance was adopted by the Irifii chieftains, all of whom, after fome flight Ikirmiflies of fome fepts in Leinfter, made their fubmiffions, not lefs in number than- feventy-iive ; for fo many were found on this occa- fion to be the lords or petty monarchs of the Irifli. The king in perfon received at Drogheda the ho- mage of the northern dynafls ; Mowbray, earl of Nottingham, that of the lords of Leinfler. To per- form the ceremony of fubmiflion, to promife fealty, the payment of tribute, and the keeping of the peace inviolate, were merely the terms required or propofed, terms always regarded by the Irifh clans as no other than formalities, neceffary to be obferved only during convenience. To the degenerate Eng- lifh, incorporated with hoftile fepts, and confequently deemed rebels, a truce of fome months was granted, and a general pardon intended, on their plea of opprefTion, and defencelefs expofure to the enemy, which. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 295 which had forced them to feek refiire amoncp the chap. , "^ XII natives. On O'Nial of Ulfter, O'Connor of Con- ^^..^^^.^..^^.^ naugiit, O'Brien of North- Manfter, and Mac- Murchad of Leinfter, together wiih fome others, he conferred the honour of knighthood, which was but reludantly rectivedj as they had among ihemfelves what they called knighthood, thotigh its nature and ceremonies were different. Raving fpent nine months in Ireland in frivolous parade, particularly in feafts given in Dublin to the Irifli toparchs, Richard re- 1395. turned home to perfecute. heretics, the Lollards, leaving this unfortunate ifland precifely in the fame ilate in which he had found it, excepting a temporary appearance of deceitful tranquillity. The futile conclufion of the fplendid preparations and pompous enterprize of Richard, fymbclized by the fable of a mountain in parturition, was in a little time evident. The fepts of Leinfter had promifed in their treaties of fubmiffion what they if never intended to perform, and what indeed was cruel to demand, that they (hould entirely evacuate this province for the ufe of the colonics, and feek fettlements eifewhere for themfelves. Attempts to Hoftiiities enforce this part of the treaty occafioned a furious war, various in fuccefs, but adverfe to the Englifh. A victory of confiderable importance was gained by two knights of the De Burgo and Bermingham fa- milies ; and the O'Byrns were driven from their lands in Wicklow by the earl of Ormond, and Roger Mortimer, earl of Marche, the lord lieutenant : but a body of the king's forces was defeated with great flaughter by the fept of O'TooIe j and the O'Byrns, o 2 being igS HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, being purfued into Offory, attacked theii' purfuef2 VII , by lurprize, and defeated them with the deftfu£lion of many men, amdng whom was the lord lieutenant »39«' flain on the field of battle. • Second ex- Enraged at the audacity of the Leinftrians and Riciwd.'^ t^ie death of Mortimer his coufin, Richard af- fembled an army at Briflol, and failed thence to »399- Waterford, where he landed on the thirteenth of May, in the year thirteen hundred and ninety-nine. Having fpent fix days at this town in the receiving of congratulations, and fourteen at Kilkenny, in fruit- lefsly waiting for a reinforcement under the duke of Aumerle, he proceeded through a country wafted by war to attack Art Mac-Murchad, a politic and eiiterprifing chieftain. With a body of three thou- fand well-armed followers, this leader fo availed himfelf of the bogs and woods of his country, the admirable agility of his men, and their expertnefs in defultory onfets, as to baffle the far fuperior numbers atid difcipline of the royal army. This army con- filling of thirty thoufand men, was forced at length to an inglorious retreat, incefTantly haraifed by an enemy, who, carting mifliles with fatal flrength, eluded a combat, and fo miferably prefled by famine, againfl which the thoughtlefs king had made no provifion, that when fome veflels, fent from Dublin to relieve their wants, anchored on the coaff, the foldiers ruihed furioufly into the water, and flaugh- tered one another in their eagernefs of fcramble to appeafe their hunger. Mac-Murchad, while he infefled the retreating army on its march to Dublin, endeavoured to avail himfelf HISTORY OF IRELAND, 197 hlmfelf of prefent circuniRances for the accom- chap. plifhment of an advantageous treaty. The duke of ^ ■ ^ ' ,-■ (jloucefter and this warrior held a conference on this fuhjed at a place appointed, each attended by his guard. *' An eye-witnefs," in the words of Leiand, " defcribes the Irifh chieftain tall of ftature, and formed for agility and ftr^ngth, of an afpedl fierce and fevere, mounted on a fwift and fteady horfe, without faddle, and darting rapidly from a mountain between two woods adjacent to the fea, attended by his train. At his command they halted at due diflance, while their leader, cafling the Ipear from him, which he grafped in his right hand, rufhed forward to meet the Lnglifli lord '* The eye-witnefs was a French gentleman, who has left us a narrative of this expedition. The interview terminated with- out any accommodation, and Richard continued his march to Dublin, where, after a delay of fix weeks, without intelligence from England, on account of (torms and contrary winds, he at length received the difmal news of a general infurredlion of the Englifli for his depofition, and the raifing of Henry, duke of Lancafter, to the throne in his place. From this time, when Richard lofl his kingdom pofterior and life, Ireland was little regarded by its Englilh [[005^" ^ jnonarchs during a long period, a period including the reigns of three fuccelTive Henrys, the fourth, fifth, and fixth. The attention of the firfl:, a ufur- per of the throne, found full employment in the eftablifliment of his new authority amid powerful malcontents : the fecond was wholly engaged in a glorious, a vainly glorious, war in France : and the o 3 rergn 198 HISTORY OF IRB.LAMD. CKAp. reign of the third, incapacitattd by mental weak- ^ nefs to wield the fceptre, was diflraded by fadions, and ended in civil war. In the records of Ireland, for a long fpace of time, we find little of an inter- eftino; and ftill lefs of an agreeable nature. Con- fufed and irregular contefts, often accompanied with atrocious cruelties, among fepts of Iriflr and degene- rate Englifli ; defultory invafions of the Pale ; dif- fenfions and feuds of barons ; complaints of oppreffion and ads of infolence committed by governors, and other officers of Englifli blood j and conventions of parliament without freedom or ffficacy, compofe the general matter, with repeated fymptcms of the colony's declenfion to its mod abjed Hate of debility and pre- carious exigence. So repulfive appears to have been the country's reputation, that few natives of England were wil- ling to take the chief place, or other offices, in the government of Ireland, excepting fuch men as W'ould undertake whatever iliould be offered for pri- vate emokunent, which they feem to have purfued without regard to the colony's welfare, and with little confideration of juitice or humanity. An in- folent contempt of the colonial parliament was for? cibly difplayed in the year 1417, when a petition to the king, reprefenting the grievances of his fubjeds in this kingdom, was prepared for prefentation, and the chancellor Merbury abfolutely refufed to affix to it the great feal of Ireland, without which, from ellabhfhed cuitom, it could not be prefented. Go- vernors more agreeable to the colonifts were fome- times appointed, men of Irifli birth or of high rank in HISTORY OF LRELAND, 19;} in England. Henry the fourth, in the beginning of c h a p. his reign, nominated his fecond fon, Thomas duke of Lancafter, to the ofHce of chief governor, when the colony was infedcd not only by fepts of Irifli, but alfo by Scots, who had formed fettlements in Ulfter, and totally defeated a fleet from Dublin fent to op- pcTe them. After this prince's firfl arrival ia 1402, i4o*« fome fuccefs was obtained, particularly by a fleet from Dublin and Drogheda, which annoyed the Scottifli coafls, and even thofe of Wales, where a revolt againll Henry had taken place. From Wales was brought among the booty the fhrine of Cubin, a celebrated falnr, which according to the fuperftl- tion of the times was triumphantly placed in the cathedral of Dublin. Nothing however of an ef- 1402. feftuai nature was performed ; and Lancader, being fiercely oppofed in his fecond vifit, for which he had made fome confiderable preparations, and defeated and wounded under the walls of Dublin by fome fepts of Leinfter, returned to England, leaving the colony to its own refources. The weaknefs of councils, as of military defence, can hardly pafs unnoticed in the tranfadions of thofe times. Though the Irilh were declared to be ene- mies excluded from the protedlon of Enghfh law, they were forbidden to emigrate from the kingdom without fpecial licences under the great feal of Ire- land, kfl: hands ftiould be wanted for agriculture and other purpofes. Such a reftridive (latute feems 141©, little confiftent with the, circumftances of the colo- ny, unable, as it was, to defend itfelf by arms, and obliged, for its fufety, to have recourfe to the pay- 4 ment :co HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, merit of tributes to Irifh chieftains to purchafe their ^■■' . uncertain protccliion, or abftinence from hoftili- ty. The regular payment of an annual flipend of Biatkrent. this nature, which commenced about this period, became in fome years fully eftabUfhed, and was long continued, under the denomination of black rent, Miferable was indeed become the fituation of thofe ccloiiifts, who (till retained the name and laws of Eng- lillimen, regarded on one hand as intruding foreign- ers by the Irilh, on the other by the ignorant pride of the natives of England as a degenerate and bar- barous race, in the fame predicament with the abo- riginals. The conduct of Irifh vagrants tended much to confirm this prejudice, who reforted in fuck numbers to England for the gaining of a wretched fuRenance by various modes of knavery, that in the beginning of Henry the fifth's reign, who afcended H-nrythe the throne in the year 1413, a law was enadled for their expulfion from South-Britain. The execution of this ordonnance was abfurdly extended to all of Irifh birth, without exception of anceflry or character, even to the fludents in the inns of court, who were thus excluded from the fludy of the very laws by ■which they were to be governed. This able monarch, heroic and generous, but, like Edward the third, unfortunate in the wrong choice of an obje£l, engaging in fallacious and deftrudive fchemcs of conquert: in France, was fo far from fend- ing forces for the extenfion of the Engiifli colony, that he drew what troops he could from it for the aid of his foreign warfare, particularly at one time fifteen hundred men under the prior of Kilmaioham. The exiflence of the Engiifli fettlements in Ireland feeme4 fifth. HISTORY OF IRELAND. ' 201 feemed now precarious. Irifli chieftains had in king Richard's time entered into recognizances to keep the peace, payable into the apoftolic chamber ; but thefe were difregarded ; nor would the Irifh clergy, not fubjeft to the king of England, be forward to fecond any refolutions of the foyereign pontiff, againft their countrymen, fur the promotion of the Englifli intereft. The feeble colony owed its prefervarion to the contempt into which it had fallen among the Irilh ; to payment of tributes, which, as an acknow- ledgment of their fovereignty, gratified the pride of Irifh toparchs ; to the difunion of the fepts and their mutual jealoufy, almoft as great towards one another as towards the Englifli, who were confidered as a particular fept in fome degree naturalized, and un- der the proteiElion of certain dynads. Great num- bers of Engliih were completely blended with the ancient natives, and others were in a kind of inter- mediate flate, in various ffeps of gradation, between the condition of fubjeds to the king and of enemies to his power. The handful of fubjedts might cer- tainly by a confederacy of aboriginals have foon been fubdued or exterminated : and when we find in the writings of Englifh annalifls, and in acts of ftate, the fepts of old natives reprefented as conti- .nually engaged in a defign by united efforts to ex- tirpate the colonifls, we are to confider fuch repre- fentations as framed in miftake or through interefled ' views, to magnify the zeal of great ofScers, to con- ceal offences, and chiefly to procure fums of money ■ from England. In the Irifli annals are more natu- rally depicted the fpirit and tranfaflions of the clans, engaged 2©2 HISTORY OF IRELAND. engaged in mutual hoiliiities, and efpecially thofe of a remote fituation^ feldom turning tiieir att^ntiou f^enry the to the Enelifli {ettlemcnts. Jixth. ° _ 1432 Yet fometimes by extraordinary exertions the Englilh intereft had a temporary appearance of re^ vival. After the acceffion of Henry tiie fixth, who inherited the crown in his infant ftate, .in the year 1422, the adminiRrations of John Talbot, lord Fur- nival, and of James Builer, earl cf Ormond, who came fucceffively into the oltice of lord-deputy in 1425 and 1426, were diflinguiO-ied by fuccefs- ful operations, not particularly recorded, againfl: fepts of Iri(h and degenerate Englifli, who were obliged to make fubmiflions, and for fome time to obferve a peaceable demeanour. But the weaknefs J443- of government was infulted by thofe who flili called themfelves Englifn, of which James, earl ol Def- mond, furniflied a ftrong inllance. This lord had by force of arms ufurped the earldoai from hi§ nephew Thomas, who had incurred the diflike of his brutal followers by his marriage with a lady named Catherine Mac Cormac, beautiful and vir, tuous, but of inferior rank. Sanctioned in this violence by the injuflice or feeblenefs of parliament, he extended his ulurpation to a large territory called the Kingdom of Cork, which he retained in defiance cf the legal claimants, the families of Carew and De Courcy. His intereft bvicame fo powerful that be obtained licence to abfent himfelf from all parlia- ments during life, and to fend a fufficient proxy* Thus formally acquiring the Hate of an independent! prince, which his predeceflbrs had often affecled, he 3 difclaimed HISTORY OF IRELAND, io^ difclalnied the authority of the lord lieutenant, the chap. XII earl of Ormond, who after fome hoflilities was ^ \ ' > obliged to fufpend the contefl: by a truce for one year. When arms were fufpended, hoflilities by faction and intrigue were purfued with great viru- lence againft Ormond, which, though foiled at firft, prevailed fo far afterwards as to caufe his removal from the government, and the appointment of John Talbot, earl of Shrewfbury and Waterford, in his 1445- place. But, notwiihdanding that this lord lieute- nant adopted the hoftile fpirit of Defmond's parti- zans, by whom the perfecution was pertinacioully continued, the Englifli court could be no further led into meafures againft Ormond. From the protedion thus afforded by Henry the fixth, appears to have originated the lafting attachment of the Butler fa- mily to the houfe of Lancafter. Facliuns of difaitrous iffue, which had begun to York's ap- ferment in England, foon after extended their in- i'°'"^'"'=''''' fluence to the Irifli barons, and in a courfe of years brought the Englifh colony to its loweft ebb of de- cline. The ufurpation of Henry the fourth, de- fcended from the third fon of Edward the third, was maintained by the great abilities of the ufurper, and almoft forgotten in the fplendid reign of his • magnanimous and warlike fon ; but under the weak and unpopular government of Henry the fixth, the family of York, deriving its origin from Lionel, the fecond fon of the fame Edward, began, as an elder branch, to advance its claims to the throne. Ed- mund, earl of Marche and Ulfter, the head of this family, had been fent into Ireland as lord lieutenant in 2C4 HISTORY OF IRELAND. iCHAP. in the beginning of this reign, that he might be re- (,,,,._^^.1_^ moved from public view. By his death, which hap- pened fuddenly at the town of Trim, the rights of his family devolved on Richard, duke of York, his brother. The duke, an inheritor of ample eftates, and much more ample claims, in Ireland, the earldom of Ulfler, and the lordfliips of Con- naught, Clare, Trim, and Meath, accepted the office of chief governor, but flipulated for extenfive privileges, to hold his place for ten years, to receive the whole Irifh revenue without account, to be al- lowed a yearly penfion from England of two thou- fand marks, befide an immediate fupply of two thoufand more, to be empowered to fet the king's lands, to difpofe of all offices, to levy fuch forces as he fliould think neceffary, to nominate his deputy, and to return to England at his plea- fure. X449. This prince, who perfonally entered on the func- tion of lord lieutenant in 1449, fo'^'^d in this coun- try, and feems to have fought, no great opportunity for a difplay of military talents. His principal ex- pedition was againft a chief named Mac-Eogha- ghan, who had made an incurfion into Meath from the north, and to whom he granted peace on equit- able terms. In parliaments convened by him in Dublin and Drogheda feveral flatutes were enaded, and feveral revived, particularly one which interdided cojljering^ and other fpecies of arbitrary exadion, under pain of felony. But the mod lading effed of his adminiftration was the popularity which he acquired by his engaging deportment, in which he difplayed I HISTORY OF IRELAND. 205 difplayed the dignity of a prince with an apparent c h a p.^ cordiality of aCedion as a kinfman to the Irifii • '' > fubjecls. His complaifance was indifcriminately ex- tended to men of all parties. The earls of Def- mond and Ormond, rival barons, were equally in- vited to ftand fponfors for George his fon, born in the caflle of Dublin ; a compliment more juftly ap- preciated by the latter, who was acquainted with the Englifh court, and attached to the reigning mo- narch, than by the former, who had imbibed thfi ideas of the old natives, and regarded goffipred a^ a bond of the clofefl: affinity. An infurreftion raifed in Kent by John Cade, an Hoftiuties Irifhman, w^as imputed to the machinations of the ° ^^"* duke for a trial of the people's afFedion for the houfe of York, as Cade had afiumed the name of Mortimer. This and other imputations afforded the viceroy a fair pretext for his return into England to juftify his condud, where afterwards commenced the long and bloody contefl: between the houfes of Lancafter and York, denominated the war of the Rofes, becaufe the enfign of the Yorkifts was a white rofe, and that of the Lancaftrians a red. Amonsr the petty incurfions and other hoftile ads of Irifh clans, which had place in the duke's abfence, one ^may be worthy of notice for an inflance of paternal and filial affedion. O'Connor of Ophally, having made an incurfion into Kildare, was furprifed and defeated by Edward Fitzeuflace, the lord-deputy, and reduced in his flight to fuch ail alternative, that cither himfelf or his fon mufl fall into the enemy's 9 hands, io6 HISTORY OF IRELAND. hands, fince only one horfe fit for the purpofe of efcape remained for both. A generous conteft be-^ Hi4- tween the father and fon, each exhorting the other to iiy and leave himfelf to his fate, ended in the caption of the father, whofe offence^ as the reader will not be difpleafed to hear, was judged fo in- confiderable that he was liberated without in- jury. The moft formidable oppofition which this deputy encountered was made by O'Nial and his confede- rates of Uliler, who maintained hoflilities on fea as well as land, ftnding a fleet of barks which cap- tured fome Enghfh vefTels on their palTage from Dub- lin, and took prifoner, among others, the archbiPaop of that fee. But the confederates, commanded by a fon of O'Nial, were at length totally defeated by Fitzeultare at Ardglafs, in a furious and obftinate battle, where the general was taken, and five or fix hundred of his men flaln. The O'Nials, the ancient claimants of the Irifli monarchy, and confequently the greatefl enemies to the Englifh power, were by this lofs difabled for fome time from dangerous war- fare againfl: the colony, and confined their arms to the local quarrels among the northern fepts. York's re- The duke of York, who had been at firft fuccefs- niftiation. ful, was defeated at Blore-heath on the borders of Stafibrdfhire, and fled for fafety into Ireland, where the earl of Kildare had been aQing as his deputy. 1459. Mofl cordial was the reception of the fugitive prince, particularly by the Geraldines of Defmond and Kil- dare ', and for his fafety, and that of his followers, fuch HISTORY O? IRELAND. 207 f«ch Sifts were pafled by the Irii'h parliament as ^^fr^' almofl: declared the colony independent of the Eng- ^ ^ <•* li(h crown. Nor were thefe laws permitted to He dormant whenever they were infringed. An agent of the eafi of Ormond, who attempted, in virtue of the king's writ, to arreft fome perfons, declared rebels by the authority of the reigning party in England, was feized and executed, as a violator of a Itatute, by which thofe perfons were pronounced guilty of high treafon, who under pretence of fuch writs, or any other authority, fhould moled ftran- gers received under the laws of hofpitality in Ire- land. Edward, earl of Marche, afterwards better Death of . . York. known by the title of king Edward the fourth, eldeft 1460. fon of the duke of York, had followed his father in- to Ireland, whence he Ihortly departed to join an army raifed by the Yorkifts for a frefh attempt. The fuccefs of this army at Northampton, where the Lan- cailrians were defeated, induced the duke to return to England ; and fuch eagernefs was difplayed by the Englifh of Ireland to follow his ftandard, that fome fettlements, particularly thofe of Meath, were almofl: exhaufted of men. The battle of Wake- field in Yorkfhire, fatal to the duke, who with ^ only five thoufand men, moftly from Ireland, was furrounded by twenty thoufand, and flain on the field of adion, with mod of his followers, might have proved fatal to the Englifh colony in Ireland, if the Irifh lords had availed themfelves fully of its defencelefs condition y but when they had fe- parately 1 jo8 HISTORY OF IRELAND; parately attacked the fettlemeritSj they fepsirately agreed to articles of pacification on the regular payment of tribute. O'Nial in Ulfler, O'Brien and Mac-Arthy in north and fouth Munfter, and other chiefs, received their annual revenues .from the coloniflsj, and afforded their proteftiori. CHAP. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 209 CHAP. xiir. Fdclions on the accejfion of Edward the fourth — Defeat of the Butlers — Fall of Defmond Weaknefs of the Pale-^DiJfenfuns Adminijlration of Gerald^ earl of Kildare — Acceffion of Henry the feventh-^ Atrocity of Keating -Plot of Lambert Simnel — Battle of Stoke P.' r dons of the Pijh barons — Laconic nieffagcs — Perkin IVarbcck Diffenfwns of the Geraldines and Butlers State of the Pale Sir Edzvard Poynhigs — Ads of the parliameiTt con- vened by him — Second attempt of Warbeck in Ireland — Return of Poynings to England. ; 1 HE Englifli of Ireland, by taking part in the cii ap. war of the rofes, not only thinned the colony of ^ _^ its wariors, but alfo diftracled the mafs of its peo- fot^tl,'.'^ *''^ Iple by the Yorkifl and Lancaftrian fadions, to the ^^'*"'^''^' former of which adhered the Geraldines, to the latter the Batlers or Houfe of Ormond. In the tri- umph of the Yorkifts, on the acceffion of Edward the fourth to the throne in 1^61, the earl of Or- mond was executed, and bills of attainder pafled igainft his kinfmen and adherents by the Irifh par- liament. Sir John Butler, brother and heir of the ^ga, deceafed earl, collefted in Munfter a body of troops :o oppofe Sir Rowland Fitzeuftace, the deputy of George, duke of Clarence, the king's brother who lad been appointed lord lieutenant of Ireland for VOL. I. p life. 2IO HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. life. To the deputy this war might haVe been diffi- xin. . . V ,— ^ — > cult, perhaps difaftrous, if the young earl of Def- mond had not armed in his favour with all his force. Even thus the Butlers were for fome time victorious, making a prifoner of Gerald, a brother of the earl, penetrating into Lcinfler, and feizing the town of Wexford ; but, romantically accepting the chal- lenge of Defmond to a pitched battle, they were de- feated by fuperior nuniibers, and obliged to take refuge in remote caflles, leaving their lands, with Kilkennv and other towns, in the hands of their enemies. FaiiofDtf^ Thomas, the viclorlous earl of Defmond, nomi- nated lord deputy, on account of his fervices, in J 463, met a fad reverfe in Meath, into which he had marched againfi: the fept of Melaghlin and its Irifh confederates. His forces were totally routed and ' "■' hirnfeif made prifoner, but liberated by young O'Connor of Ophally, through affedion of goffi- pred, Vi/hofe father had before been taken and dif- mifled. The Englifh Pale feeraed in danger of an- nihilation, when the Irifii dynafts were footbed by new ceffions and tributes, particularly O'Brien of Thomond, to whom, with an acquifition of lands, was a tribute fecured of fixty marks annually by the citizens • of Limerick. Tarniflied in reputation and diminifiied in importance, the earl was affailed by the reprefentation^ of his enemies at the Englifh court, but continued to hold his place in their de- fiance, till the tide of court-favour because adverfe by the marriage of the king with Elizabeth Widvoolle. He is faid to have incurred the queen's refentment by offenfive HrSTORY OF IRELAND. sii offenfive words; but whatever was the caufe, he chap. XIII. was fuperfeded in his government by the appoint- ■ . , ' ..^ ment of John TiptoFt, earl of Worcefter, in 1467, who feemed mod unfavourably prepoflefled againft him. la a parliament held at Drogheda, an act of at- tainder was pafTed againft the earls of Defmond and Kildare, for a breach of ftatutes enadled againft fof- terage and other connexions and intercourfe with the Irifti, ftatutes moflly dormant or fo very lit- tle obferved, as to be fit only for engines of op- preffion in the hands of a ruling party. Kildare was imprifoned ; and Defmond, who might have defended himfelf by arms againft the power of the deputy, waited on hini in perfon to juftify his condu6l ; fo ftrong v.'-as his reliance on either his innocence or importance ; but, to the utter amaze- ment of his dependants, he was inftantly beheaded. Kildare, efcaping by fome means into England, '46«. pleaded fo powerfully his caufe with the king, that • he was not only pardoned, but fome time after ap- pointed lord-deputy in place of Tiptoft, who, after- . his return to the Engliih court, was, in a ihort-lived triumph of the Lancaftrian party, condemned by an 1470- acl of attainder and beheaded. The low condition of the colony appears from the Weak-nefs meafures concerted for the Pale's defence in the ad- 1474. minift ration of this baron. By an a£t of parliament was inftituted 2. fraternity of ar?ns, confifting of thir- teen principal perfons in the counties of Dublin, Meath, Kildare, and Argial or Louth, in which re- frded the mafs of Englifti fubje^ls. Thefe were em- p 2 powered 2!2 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, powered tnnually to ele<5i: on Saint George's day a . captain, for whofe train were afligned a hundred and twenty archers on horfeback, and forty other horfe- men, each furnlOied with one attendant. Taxes were afligned for the pay of thefe troops, which was fix-pence a day to each archer, and five pence to each of the reft with his attendant, together with an annual falary of four marks. A force of only two hundred and thirteen men, with fuch tumultuary levies as might be occafionally raifed, could confti- tute a defence merely againft local incurfions of fmall parlies, while the chief fecurity of the Pale depended on the protedion of Iriih dynafts purchafed by fliameful tributes. We find that, in fome years afterwards, the annual expence of five hun- dred pounds for the fupport of a fmall defenfive eftablifhment was fufpefted to be too great for the refources of Englifh government in Ireland ; and though this was equal in efficient value to five thou- fand pounds at prefent, the poverty of the colonial eftabliflmient at this period muft even thus appear fufficiently manifeft. Dlffcnfions. The adminiflrationof Kildare was Interrupted, and the diftraftions of the Pale renewed, by the reviv- ing fpirits of the Butlers, the furviving head of whom, John, who had been unfuccefsful in the field, efcaping into England, fo ingratiated himfelf into the king's favour by an extraordinary polifii of man- ners and addrefs, that by his influence a new deputy ,^7j. was appointed, Shirwood, bifliop of Meath, and the aft of attainder by the Irifli parliament repealed. The jekindled feuds of the two great houfes, after alarming 'f*^'"*>*Ns>. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 213 alarmin'T hoftilitfes, were for fome time fufpended. chap. Ormond, according ro the fafhionable fuperftition ^ - ,-' ' of the dark ages, made a pilgrimage to Jerufalem, and his rival, Kildare, departed from life. The fa- mily of the latter, after fome time regained an afcen- dency, and Gerald, the young earl, was nominated deputy ; but Edward immediately afterwards, with remarkable unfteadinefs on this occafion, fent Henry lord Grey as governor, attended by a body of archers and three hundred men at arms. Here the weak- nefs of government appeared confpicuous. Gerald 1479. rejecled the authority of Grey's commiffion on pre- tence of its informality, abfolutely refufed to refign, and held parliaments in oppofition to thofe which were convened by the new deputy. Kildare, the prelate of Dublin, and other?, were fummoned into England to account to the king for the diftraclions of colonial adminiftration : Lord Grey refigned ; and Gerald, whofe reprefentations were juged fa- tisfadory, or influence powerful, was appointed go- vernor of Ireland as deputy to Richard duke of York, who on the fuccelfive deaths of the duke of Clarence, and prince George, the king's fon, was vefted with the title of lord lieutenant of this kingdom. During the remaining years of Edward the fourth, Kiir'are's the lliort fucceeding reigns of Edward the fifth and tio'n.'"' Richard the third, with much of the reign alfo of Henry the feventh, Kildare continued to hold the colonial government, defending the Pale, and in- terfering as mediator in the contefts of Irifh to- parchs, among whom his influence was highly aug- p 3 men ted 214 HISTORY OF IRELAND. GHAP. tnented by a new connexion. He gave his fitter in XIII ^ ' ■ marriage to Con O'Nial of Tyr-owen, fon of the greaicft among the Iri(h lords, who in confequence was vefted by act of parliament with all the rights of a liegeman or Engli(h (ubjeft ; rights little re- garded by the O'Nials, who confidered themfelves as conneded with the Geraldine family, not with the crown of England. Henry the That Henry the feventh, a Lancaflrian prince, feventh. , > i n m ti i -^r i -n • j 1485. mveterately holtile to all the Yorktlts, permitrea Kildare flill to hold the place of lord deputy, when Jafper Tudor, duke of Bedford, uncle to the king, was nominated lord lieutenant of Ireland, feems accountable only from the timidity or prudence of a monarch not yet unfhakeably feated on the throne. Of lawlefs force and difregard of external authority, praQifed in the Pale under this adminiflration, the behaviour of Keating the prior of Kilmainham, a member of the military order of Saint John of Je- Tufalem, was a ilriking inllance. Keating having alienated the revenues, and even fold the ornaments and rehcs of the houfe committed to his charge, was deprived by the grand mafler of his order ; but he refufed to fubmit, and feized his appointed fuc* ceflbr, Lomley, an Englifhman of diflinQion, forced from him the inilrunients of his election, and held his place without regard of the royal pleafure, or even an excommunication pronounced againft him, while the unfortunate Lomley perilhed without re- drefs in prifon. Kildare himfelf, when fummoned into England to attend the king, whofe fufpicions were excited of a plot in Ireland againft his govern- ment. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 215 menr, eluded the mandate by a petition procured from chap. the lords of the Pale, temporal and fpiritual, re- , /^ ,',.,/ prefenting their apprehenfions of danger to the colony from the deputy's abfcnce, until fome regulations for the public fafety fnould have been formed by a parliament. That the fufpicions of Henry were not unfounded Lambert foon appeared from the plot of Lambert Simnel. """""^v Wiiile the impolitic oppreffion of the Yorkifts in England by this in moll refpecis politic monarch excited their ardent wifhes for the fubverfion of Ws power, a youth of fifteen years, named Lambert Simnel, fon of a baker, endowed with uncommon addrefs and underftanding, was tutored by Richard Simon, a pried of Oxford, to perfonate the young earl of Warwick, a nephew of Edward the fourth, confined by the cruel caution of the reigning monarch in the tower of London. Ireland, where the Yorkifts were predominant, and where the duke of Clarence, the father of Warwick had been born, was chofen by the conductors of the plot for the firfl: fcene of this pretender's operations. When his 1486- arrival was announced in Dublin, with his fabricated efcape from prifon, the people almoft univerfally de- clared in his favour, and the lord-deputy with his council of ftate proclaimed him king under the name of Edward the fixth, without confideration of other claims to the Englifli crown preferable to that of Warwick. His coronation vv'as afterv/ards performed with all polTible pomp, with a diadem taken from an image of the BlefTed Virgin, in Chrift's church, whence he was conveyed, according to a cuftom of p 4 thft ■vs- 2i6 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, the ancient Irifh, on the Ihoulders of an Englilh XIII . • "_ chieftain of Meath, named Darcy, to the caftle. Doubtlefs the nobles of England, who favoured, or confpired in this projed, meant only to make a pageant of Simnel, whom, on the accomplifhment of their purpole, the overthrow of Henry, they could eafiiy fet afide. The fcheme was warmly feconded by Margaret, dutchefs of Burgundy, filter of Edward the fourth, who fent into Ireland a body of two thoufand veteran Germans < under the com- mand of Martin Swaart, an officer of military ex- perience and valour, accompanied by feveral mal- contents of England, particularly the lords Lincoln and Lovel. The plan propofed by the principal confpirators was to endeavour to d'-aw Henry with his army into Ireland, by remaining in their ftation here, which would leave room for the infurredion of his enemies in England : but this was impraclicable from the condition of the colony. Only a fmall and im- poverilhed part of Ireland, utterly unequal to the fupport of a court and army, belonged to the Englifh of the Pale, whofe feeblenefs was fuch in the midfl of their preparations for Henry's dethronement, that their borders were with impunity ravaged by a fept of Irifli. The ardour of the foldiers, who hoped for fuccefs, honours, and rewards, accorded with the neceffity of the cafe ; and the army, failing for Eng- land, landed at Foudrey in Lancalhire, commanded by the earl of Lincoln, and accompanied, among others, by the lords Thomas and Maurice Fitzgerald, brothers of the lord deputy, Henry, III. Battle of iltoke. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 217 Henry, who hud in England expofeJ the impof- ch a p. ture of Simnel, by exhibiting the real Warwick to .^^l the eyes of the people, had alfo been adive in mili- ^ tary preparations. Haftening from London, on in- telligence of the invafion, he collected his forces, and advanced at their head to Coventry. The in- vaders, joined foon after their landing by Sir Thomas Broughton and his troop, according to a concerted plan, direded at firfl their march towards York; but utterly difappointed in their hopes of an infur- reclion of the people in their favour, w-ho prudently declined a coalition with German and Irifli adven- turers, notvvithdanding their endeavours of concilia- tion by an inoffenfive progrefs through the country, they faw the expediency of a quick decifion, and, taking the way to Newark, met the royal army at the village of Stoke in the fliire of Nottingham. The battle 1487, fought at this place on the fixth of June in the year 1487, was one of the mofl obftinate and bloody re- corded by hiitorians, and, notwithftanding the great fuperiority of number on the fide of Henry, might have been attended with a different event, if the Irifh troops had been armed and difciplined in the Englifh manner. But the Englifh colonifts, forgetting the heavy armour and weapons of their anceftors, had adopted thofe of the old natives, fit only for light fkirmiflies or defultory warfare. Yet the furious onfet and defperate valour of the troops from Ireland, fup- ported by the fteadinefs of the veteran Germans, made for fome lime an alarming impreflion ; but the flaughter of thefe men, who, though unable to fland againft fuperior arms, difdained to retreat, fo dif- heartened 2i8 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CFTAP. XIJI. heartened their aiTociaies as to caufe a more fpeedy determination of the viftory in favour of the king. With Lincohi, Love], Swaart, Broughton, and the tv^?o Fitzfreralds, fell four thoufand of the invaders. Among the prifoners were Simnel and his tutor Simon. The latter perifhed in prifon : the former, admitted to pardon by the real or affefted magnani- mity of the monarch, was fird made a fcnliion in the royal kitchen, and afterwards promoted in the king's houfehold to the office of falconer. p»rdcn$. Pardon to the offending colonics, on their humble folicitationj was thought expedient by Henry, ap- prehenfive of moleftation from mal-contents at home ; and all had offended except fome prelates, the baron of Hoath, the Butlers who had been forced to take refuge in England, the earl of Defmond, who had remained neutral, rather as an independent Irifii dynaft than an Englifli baron, and the citizens of Waterford, who had pofitively refufed to proclaim the counterfeit m.onarch, and given defiance to the threats of Kildare. To thefe citizens were ad- dreffed letters from the king in praife of their paff, and exhortation of their future fidehty. To receive new oaths of allegiance, and to confer forgivenefs in form. Sir Richard Edgecumbe was fent into Ireland with a train of five hundred foldiers. From the gene- ral pardon was juflly excepted Keating, the prior of Kilmainham, who ended a life of audacious turbu- lence in exile and poverty. Abfolution from the fentence of excommunication, which had been pro- nounced cgainPt the adherents of Simnel, accompanied the graces of the royal clemency : but the fuperltition of HISTORY OF IRELAND. 216 of the apje, and the chicane by which the mofl folemn chap. xni. obligations were fuppofed evadible, may be conceived \— y— ,/ from the narrative of Edgecumbe, who particularly fpecifies that the hoji, on which the Irifli barons were fworn, had by flipuhuion been confecrated oy his own chaplain, on v/hofe fidelity he repofed the greatefl reliance. This ceremony, however, was probably not any matter of fcruple to Kildare, who had dech'ned to receive pardon otherwiie than on terms diclated by himfelf, and who iliil continued to hold the office of lord deputy. The Englifh Pale, thus further weakened by the iriawim, lofs of its men flaughtered in the battle of Stoke, was preferved by the adivity and influence of Kildare, and the mutual hoftilities of Irifh chieftains. Of thefe petty wars, incelfant in one or other part of the ifland, the narratives of which would be dif- gufting from their near fimilitude, and barbarity of the adlors, one, at this time waged with great fury between the dynafts of Tyr-owen and Tirconnel, was chiefly remarkable for the Laconic manner in which a threat was denounced on one fide, and a de- fiance returned on the other. Send mc tribute^ or elj'e^- was the mefl'age of O'Nial : I owe you none, a?idif—-w2iS the anfwer from Tirconnel. The barbarous devafl:a- tions of this contefl:, which the lord deputy, con- nected by marriage with the dynafl: of Tyr-owen, en- deavoured in vain to prevent, were fufpended at length by the murder of O'Nial and the infirmities of his enemy. The colony, which had fo feverely fuffered by pgrtm taking a part in the Yorkifl: and Lancaftrian contefts, "^^''^"^• was in danger of being again involved in troubles by a new 220 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, a new claimant of the Englifh throne. Richard the . third, the laft of the Plantagenet line of kings, the ufurper of the monarchy from his nephew Edward the fifth, had imprifoned this young prince and his brother, the two fons of Edward the fourth in the tower of London, where both were fuppofed to have been murdered. A rumour, however, prevail- ed that the younger of the princes, Richard Planta- genet, duke of York, had effeded his efcape, and remained fome where in concealment. A youth of polilhed manners and princely deportment, known in hiitcry by the name of Per kin Warbeck, made his appearance in the character of this young fon of Edward, and claimed the monarchy. To difcufs the quedion whether this was the real Plantagent or an impodtr, belongs not to the hiilorian of Irifh affairs, in which this perfonage was not much concerned. Difficulties are oppofed to the aiTent on either fide ; but that he was an impoftor, appears to me the much lefs probable opinion. To number three of the ap- pendix to the fixth volume of Henry's hiflory of Britain, I refer the reader for information on this ob- fcure fubjeft. I49Z. Alarmed by the intelligence of Warbeck's inten- tion to make Ireland the firft fcene of his operations, and fearing the attachment of the Ceraldines to the houfe of York, Henry changed the adminiflration of the Pale, appointing Walter, archbifhop of Dub- lin, lord deputy in the place of Kildare, and Sir John Ormond treafurer, a natural fon of the late earl of Ormond who had gone a pilgrim to Jeru- pifienfions. falem. The ads of a parliament, convened by Walter, 4 were HISTORY OF IRELAND. Z24 "Were unfavourable to the Geraldine party, agamH: chap. whom holilHties were vvich fiercenefs renewed by the ' _ , , Butlers, whofe head, the prefent earl of Ormond, was highly in favour with Henry, and employed as ambaflfador to the French court. In the mean time 1493. Warbeck, arriving without troops or retinue at Cork, where he was received with the honour due to a prince by the chief mngiflrate, fent letters to the earls of Kildare and Defmond, entreating their affift- ance. The latter declared openly in his favour : the Jefigns of the former were not explicit, but fufpedt- ed. The Pale, afflicted by a flrange diforder called the fweating ficknefs, and other difeafes in fuccelTion, together with famine, was filled with additional agi- tation on the expeded commencement of a new re- volt againfl the reigning monarch, when Warbeck fuddenly departed from Ireland, invited to his court by the king of France. To learn from him the flate of affairs in Ireland state of ti* Henry fummoned Vv^alter to his prefence : the ftatutes of a parliament held at Drogheda in his abfence by Robert Prefton, lord Gormanfton, ap- pointed deputy, were difputed by the Butlers on alle- gations of informality : Kildare, to vindicate his con- du(5l, repaired to London : and the king at length faw the expediency, and found leifure from other bufinefs, to adopt new meafures for the fecurity of his intereft in this country. The colony had now declined to its loweft ebb. The Pale, that portion of the ifland which acknowledged Engli(h law, and obedience to the civil magiftrate, had fhrunk into fo narrow a compafs as not to extend over more than the half 22* HISTORY OF IRELAND. half of the counties of Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Wex- ford, and Uriel called alfo Argial, comprehending Louth ; and even within thefe limits the common people had adopted tiie Irifli habit and language ; while the reft of the country was poffeffed by about fixty fepts of Irifii, and fome of degenerate Englifh, dwelling independent of the royal dominion. Poypings. To reform and fecure the Pale to the Englifh **^** crown, and thereby to lay a foundation for the reco- very and extenfion of the EngU(h intereft in Ireland, Sir Edward Poynings, appointed lord deputy, came attended by a band of a thoufand foldiers, and by a number of Engliih gentlemen nominated to the offices of lord chancellor, lord treafurer, and judges in civil and criminal caufes. Having undertaken a military expedition againft a northern toparch named O'Hanion, and difgufted by the evafive and ha- rafling modes of warfare praclifed by the IriHi, he feemed glad of an honourable excufe for returning to the fouth, afforded by lord James, brother of Kildare. who had feized the caftle of Carlow in de- fiance of the king's authority. This fortrefs was furrendered on terms to the deputy, and Kildare, who had attended him in his march to the north, was on a variety of changes arreft'ed, and fome time after fent prifoner to England. But the legiflative, not the military, exertions ofPoynings have rendered" his adminiflration celebrated in Irifh hiftory. In a parliament convened at Drogheda, on the Monday- ,^55. after the feaft of Saint Andrew in the year fourteen hundred and ninety-five, feveral ftatutes" Were enaded of a permanent influence for the removal of abufes, I / the HISTORY OF IRELAND. 223 the prevention of the encreafmg decreneracy of the chap. colonifls, the fecurity of the royal prerogative, and the > regulation of future parliaments. Among the many acls of this alTenibly I fhall Poynings* briefly obferve that, to protect the fubjeds from baro- ^'' ^' nial and military opprellion, the exafl'on of Coyne and livery was totally interdided ; in place thereof a tax was impofed, payable to the king for five years, of twenty-fix (hillings and eight pence on every fix fcore of acres of arable hind belonging to any proprietors, lay or ecclefiaftical ; and the barons were forbidden to retain other followers than their houfehold officers and menial fervants, except the marchers who were neceflarily allowed larger trains, but were obliged to certify the names and number of their attendants. The ftatutes of Kilkenny, which had been frequently revived, were with flight exceptions confirmed. The nomination of Sheriiis and other officers accountant was veiled in the lord-treafurer, who was alfo em- powered to ad as governor on a vacancy of the lord- deputy's adminiftration by death or fudden furrendry. Several ads of preceding parliaments u'ere annulled, particularly of that v/hich had been held by Simnel. That places of ftrength fnould be committed to the charge of men only of Engli(h birth v/as a law of this aflTembly, and that the. priory of Kilmainham Ihould be held by no other than a man of that de- fcripiion. Two ads of Poynings' parliament are particularly noticed by Engliih writers. By one of thefe the flatutes enaded lately in England were extended in the fame force to Ireland} a law neither new nor extraordinary, II L 224- HISTORY OF IRELAND. c H A p. extraordinary, as the fame provifion had been before XIII. "_■ made in the feventh year of Edward the fourth. The other, which was called emphatically Poynings* law, and which made an efiential change in the Irifli conftitution, provided that no parliament fliould thenceforth be held in Ireland but at fuch feafon as, that the caufes and confideratioiis on account of ■which it Ihould be convened, and the laws which might be deemed proper to be enafted by it, fhould be previouily certified to the king under the great feal of Ireland by the king's lieutenant and council. By this ad, extremely popular at firft, becaufe it gave the people a temporary relief from the exadlions of rapacious governors, but unpopular in later times from a change of circumftances, no parliament could be held in Ireland without a formal certification of the. governor and council of Ireland tranfmitted to the king and his council, and a formal remifilon of their approbation -, and according to an explanation of it, made long after, in the reign of Mary, no bill, nor even heads of a bill, could be framed by the lords or commons of Ireland, but only by the Irifh viceroy and privy council, who tranf- mitted the bills to England to the king and privy council there, to be approved, altered, or rejeded ; while the Irifh lords and commons had no further power, when a bill was remitted from England, altered or unaltered, than fimply to accept or to rejed it. Attem t of Poynings, who had gained little honour by his WarbccK. military expedition into Ulfter, was in danger of being again fummoned to the field, for War beck, having HISTORY OF IRELAND. 225 havln? been obliged to leave the court of France on chap* . . . XIII. Its pacification with that of England, landed in Miinfler, where he was joined by the earl of Def- mond with his forces, and advancing to Waterford, fiimmoned that city to furrender. But the citizens, reinforced by the Butlers and other adherents of the Lancaflrian party, made fo vigorous a defence, that, finding his caufe defperate in this country, the un^ fortunate adventurer retired to Scotland. This re- pulfe was confidered as an effe6l of Poynings' admi- nifiration, who returned in triumph to his mafter, having broken for the prefent the power of the Geraldines, whofe chief, the earl of Kildare, remained in prifon as a criminal to abide his trial. VOL. I. <^ GHAP. 2:6 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, X£V. 'Deprejfion ittid rcvlDoi of the cchny — ^r'ml of Kildare — His adinmyiratlon — Feud of the Builers — Batik ef KnQcktow AcceJfiQit of Henry the eighth • Death sf Kildare AdmimJlraUon of Ms /on Ceroid liiirlgues of Omiond G^ivermnent of Hou^ard Go'vernmeut of Ormsfid Embajfy of M^K'Giliap^airick Secoitd admni/lraticn. of Earl Gerald — Diftrnflioc'ii — Third adndnijlration of Get- raid — B^heUhm of his fn Thomas '-Repidfe of the rebels /rem Dublin-^ Arrival of Juccottrs — Hobhkrs^ Kern^t and gallowglaffes — CoTiquefi of Maynootb — Surrendcry aiid execution of lord Thonias — Efcapc of lord Gerald Grefs adminifhration Battle of Bellahve—Grey^s execution — Sub?nifflom — Their iit' effieacy — ExlertfiOii cf the Pale. i HE interference of the Englifli of Ireland in the war of the Rofes, which brought the colony to its lotved ebb of weaknefs, was alfo perhaps the caufe of a more early revival than might have otherwife been its lot* Two invafions of England from the Pale, the one in favour of the duke of York's claim, the other in that of Simnei's, and the defperate, though fruitiefs, valour of the Irifii troops, againft num{)ers and 3xm& far fuperior, excited a fpirit of enquiry and fpeculation concerning Irifii affairs ; and the appre- henfioa of another attempt from that quarter in favour of Warbeck drew the attention of Henry towards Ireland, which had been fo unwifely neglect- ed by preceding monarchs. As from the Scottifh invafioa HISTORY OF IRELAND. 227 invafion under Edward Bruce to the adminidratlon chap. XIV, of Poynings, the Englifh power in this ifland had ' ■ ,.^ii / gradually declined^ through the fpace of a hundred and eighty years, to its lovvefl point of deprefTion, fo from the latter epocha we date the commencement of its reafcenfion, whence it has, often very flowly, fometimes very irregularly, continued to increafe till the beginnirg of the nineteenth century. An aft of attainder had reduced to the lowed flate ^nai of of humiliation and difgrace the paramount family in Ireland, that of Gerald Fitzthomas, earl of Kildare, during whofe tedious confinement in London his wife languifhed at home, and died at. length from anxiety. When the earl was admitted to trial, and ordered by the king to provide counfel for his defence, he feized his Majefty*s hand with an uncourtly famili-' arity, faying, " yea, the ableft; in the realm : your Highnefs I take for my counfel againfl: thefe falfe knaves." Henry, who, though in fome refpeds a 149^* tyrant, wanted not found fenfe and penetration, was not difpleafed by this rough compliment to his equity and difcernment ; nor was he unfavourably diipcfed by the artlefs behaviour of the culprit on his trial, who treated his accufers as tf45€ were in L eland and ftill their mafter. When he was cha^'ged with hav- ing facrilegioufly burned to the ground the church of Calhel in one of his lawlefs expeditions, he fternly replied, " fpare your evidence ; I did fet fire to the church, becaufe I thought the bifhop was in it." When nothing was proved of a treafonable nature againft the king's government, but only acls of feudal violence, the policy of Henry determined him q, 2-. not 22S HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, not only to acquit the accufed, but alfo to inveft XiV ; him with the office of chief governor, as he judged him a fit inflrument for his purpofes. Therefore when the accufers clofed their charge with this decla- ration, " all Ireland cannot govern this earl ;" the king replied, " well, then this earl fhall govern all Ireland." By the intereft of this baron, reftored to his eftates and honours, the earl of Befmond was pardoned, and all in Ireland who had favoured the caufe of Warbeck, except Vv^alter of Cork who had been the earlieft in paying court to this perfonagc, and lord Barry of Kinfale who had been remarkably zealous in his fervice. The former after long im- prifonment was hanged at Tyburn with the unfortu- nate Warbeck : the latter, as an outlaw, was mur- dered by an unnatural brother. KiWare's The poUcy of the monarch was juflified by the tion. event. Kildare held the reins of the colonial govern- ment till his death in the year 151 3, the fpace of feventeen years, overawing Irifh chieftains, reducing to a peaceful demeanour Hibernicized Englifli, and putting fuch plans in execution as ferved to fecure, not to enlarge, the Pale, and to render the acknow- ledgment, not the eftabHflied obedience, of the king's fovereignty more extenfive. To unite the Englifii interefl an attempt of conciliation was made between the earl and Sir James Ormond, the Irifli leader of the Butlers ; but their interview in the cathedral of Dubhn was diflurbed by a riot of the citizens, who, offended at the too great number, of armed men at- tending the knight, made an attack on his retinue } and though the tumult was quickly compofed, the 1 1 parties •i HISTORY OF IRELAND. '«29 parties feparated with unmeaning expreflions of re- chap. fpe£l and friend(hip, and undiminillied animofity. i '_» The earl however formed a connexion with the family. He gave his fifter in marriage to Piers Butler, who, according to the Irifli cuftoms, killed Sir James, and became in his place, head of the fept. Another matrimonial alliance of the earl was fol- lowed by a war which had confiderable influence on the affairs of Ireland. Uiiac Mac- William, of the De Burgo race, lord of Clanricard, and leader of a fept of degenerate Englifli, having married a daughter of the earl, fo incurred his refentment by difrefpe^l- ful behaviour that arms alone could end the difpute. Battle of The parties met at a place called Knocktow within a - few miles of the city of Galway, on the nineteenth of Auguft in the year 1504. On the fide of Clan- ricard were the forces of Connaught, with the O'Briens of Thomond, and other toparchs of Munfler. With the governor were the lords of the Pale, the O'Nials, and fome other chieftains of the north. The Englilh barons, when they faw the fu- 15°+ perior numbers of the enemy, would have propofed a retreat, if it could have been attempted with fafety ; but they were delivered from their danger by the arms and difcipline of their men. Among the late improvements of the Pale was the revival of archery. The furious onfet of Clanricard's troops was fteadily received with a (hower of well aimed arrows, which made fo dreadful havoc that the vidory was afterwards eafily obtained. With little lofs in the lord deputy's forces, above two thoufand of the enemy were fliiin : 0^3 two 236 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, XIV. Henry .lie cighni. Earl Ge- raid'b adml- (liflration, ^5^7- Ormond's sntriguis. two fons of Uliac, taken prifoners, were detained as hoftages : and the Hibernicized fepts of Englifh in Munftcr and Connaught were fubdued. After the accedion of Henry the eighth in 1509, a young and vain-glorious monarch, the dupe of foreign princes and foreign politics, little attention was given to Irifh affairs by the Englifh court ; fo that on the deceafe of Kildare in 1 5 1 3 the colony was in danger of relapfing into its former (late of decline. But Gerald, his fon, the inheritor of his fpirit as well as patrimony, eleded governor by the council and confirmed in his place by the king, quelled in a fhort time the alarming commotions raifed by the enemies of Englifli government, and convened a parliament, among whofe f^atutes was the revival of a law againd abfentees, vefiing two thirds of their Irifh revenues in the king for the exigencies of the flate. Of the numerous petty wars, which exercifed the talents of this governor, one was excited by a foolifli prophecy, that now had come the time for the reftoration of the Irilli dynaiis to their ancient fplendour. After the fuj)pieflion of the infurgents, and the death of their leader O'Tool, whofe head was brought to Dublin, the governor was aifailed in a fpecies of hoftility for which his talents were ill adapted. Piers or Peter Butler, already mentioned, having by the death of I'homas, earl of Ormond, in Eng- land, obtained as next heir the title and chief place in this noble family, was inftigated by his wife, herfelf a Geraldine, to attempt the fupplanting of Kildare*s authority, and thereby to recover the former ccnfe- ^uence of the Butlers. Inferior in arms, he had recourfe HrSTORY OF IRELAND. 231 rccourfe to intrigue, and acciafed his rival of mal- ci^ap. adminiflration to cardinal Wolfey, the king's great ^ ' ^ favourite, already prepoffeffed againft Kildare, whofe lofty fpirit had not condefcended to flatter the vanity of this arrogant prelate. Summoned into England »5*0' to anfwer for his conduO, Kddare was fully acquitted, but was fuperfeded in his government by the nomi- nation of Thomas Howard earl of Surrey, to the lord-lieutenancy, who came into Ireland with an army of a thoufand men, befide a perfonal guard of one hundred. During an adminiflration of two years continn- Howard's ance Howard was almoft inceflantly engaged in mi- Jion. litary operations, whofe detail would he perplexingly difEcuh without entertainment or inftruftion. His mofi: vexatious conteft was with the fept of O'Moore in the territory of Leix, the prefent Queen's county, where his perfonal fafety was immediately endanger- ed. His longer flay in Ireland might have been at- tended with permanent effeds of an advanrageous nature, as his conduct was meritorious, and his knowledge of the country accurate ; but uneafy in his place, as being ill fupplied from the Englifh treafury, and required for the command of a ufelefs expedition to France, he was recalled, greatly re- gretted by the difcerning inhabifants of this un- fortunate country, whofe lot has almoft always been to be deprived of fuch governors as were able and willing effentially to ferve it, before they could with efficacy put their fchemes in execution. As Howard, as well as the king, was by the enemies of ICildare poflefTed with unfavourable fentiments to- 0,4 ward 33« mSTORY O? IRELAND. CHAP, ward that nobleman, his ilval, Piers, earl of Or* XIV. 1 mend, was appointed lord-deputy. Iwac-aiia- '^^^ influence of this governor among the Irifli patiick's toparchs was much inferior to that which had been embaffy. * '5"« exercifed bv Kildare. Of their notions of inde- pendence and monarchal importance an inftance, which occurred in this adminiftrationj is recorded. Mac-Gillapatrick, lord of Oflbry, called Fitzpatrick by the Englifh, having received fome offence from the governor, who was named among the Irifh Piers the Red, difpatched his ambaffadors to the king to demand fatisfa6lion. This reprefentative of majefly, with a folemnity of deportment fuitable to the con- ceived importance of his ofhce, accofled Henry, when he was going to prayers, at the door of his chapel, in thefe words — Sta pedibus ! Do?nine Rex J Dominus meus^ Gillapatricius, me mifit ad et^ et jiiffit dicere, quod Ji non vis cajiigare Fetriim Ritfian, ipfe feciet bellum contra te. In what manner the vain and imperious monarch received this addrefs, or what were its confequences, we are left in ignorance, tari Gerald Kildare, who had made a powerful connexion in aroin go- .^ vernor. England by his marriage with Elizabeth Grey daugh- ter to the marquis of Dorfet, had accompanied Henry to Calais, to an interview of empty and extra- vagant pomp with the king of France, and had after- wards returned to Ireland, became embroiled in a renovated feud with Ormond, one of whofe favourite attendants was killed in a petty fray with a Geral- dine. Mutual accufations, and a trial in Ireland before coramiffioners appointed by the Englifh court, ended HKTORY OF IRELAND. ~ 23;? ended in the triumph of Klldare, who was nominated c n a p. . XIV. fuccelTor to Ormond, much to the joy of fome Irifh v».»»,,.=l«-« chieftains, particularly Con O'Nial, who carried, as a friend of Enghfh government, the fvvord of ftate before the new deputy. Bat foon again was this deputy in- volved in accufations. Francis the firft, the French monarch, being engaged in war againfl: Henry, fe- duced the earl of Defmond into an alliance, and an obligation to take arms againft the Englilh govern- ment, a policy fince purfaed by the rulers of France with Irifii people, to the prefent day, in their wars with England. Receiving command, on the difco- 1524. very of this treafon, to feize the culprit, the deputy marched in hoftile array into the territory of Def- Riond J but fuddenly turning northward, without the execution of bis order, he marched to the aflift- ance of bis Irifli kinfman O'Nial, againft fome topa^rehs of Ulfter. He was now, on the accufation of a treafonable concert with the obnoxious baron, fummoned into England, where after a long confine- ment his liberation was with difficulty procured by his Englilh friends, who became bound for the fecu- rity of his future allegiance. In this interval the diftradions and weaknefs of ccraicT* the Pale were alarming, while the king's attention niftratTw." was directed to the continent. Richard Nugent, baron of Delvin, the lord-deputy, was made prifoner^ by O'Connor, toparch of Ofally ; nor was his fuc- ceiTor, Piers Butler, who bore for a time the tule of carl of Oflbry inftead of Ormond, able to procure his enlargement. The adminillration of Butler was 15*8. perplexed by the private intrigues of Kildare, a re;- tribution a34 HISTORY OF IRELAKD. CRAP, tribution for his own former conduct agalnft the XIV. , . ^ .^■' i Geraldine intereft. By fimilar pradices, the foc- *5i*« ceeding deputy. Sir William Skeffington, was em- barraffed ; and, on his removal, Kildare filled his place in the plenitude of power, apparendy freed from all refiraint by the difgrace of his enemy, the cardinal, and his repeated triumphs over his aecufers. But the abufe of his profp^rity proved his deftruclion. Attended by bands of armed rabble implicitly pre- pared to execute his orders, he afted, regardlefs of Englifh law, with a violence tending to the ruin af the Englifh intereft in Ireland. A^rfvefsto Judly alarmed, the impartial friends of Englifh government united with the Butlers and other ene- mies of Kildare, to tranfmit to the king through the mafler of the Rolls, a reprefentation of the grievances and dangers of the Pale. In the various jnatter of this addrefs is a complaint againft the too frequent change of governors ; the enormous jurif- didions granted to barons ; the banifhment of Eng- liih freeholders by intolerable exadions, and the introduflion of an Irifli rabble into their places, at cnce the fitted obje£ls and inftruments of oppreiTion ; and the degraded condition of the colony, in which the Englifh laws, manners, habit, and language, were confined within the narrow compafs of twenty miles. Cfrakfme Kildare was commanded to leave the reins of go- wbeikon. vemment in the hands of fome peribn for whofe con- duct he fliould be rerponfible, and to repair imme- ,jj4, diateiy to the king. Having in vain exerted his ut- xnoft intereft to evade this order, andl reduced to the HISTORY OF IRELAND. jjj the alternative of obedience or open rebellion, he chap. XIV. refolved on the former, leaving the adminiilration to y his fon Thomas, and, contrary to the royal mandate, fupplying his caftles with arms and ammunition from the king's (lores for defence againft the apprehended retaliations of his enemies. Lord Thomas Fitzgerald, a youth of a captivating perfon and endowments, but pofielTed of too high a notion of the power and confequence of his family, and rafh from inexperience, being fcarcely twenty-one years of age, was mifled by falfe n^ ws of his father's execution in England, whence cnfl?.med with refentment, he raifed, with the advice of his Irilh aiTociates, the (landaid of re- bellion. Entering the affrighted council afTembled in Saint- Mary's abbey in the capital, at the head of a hun- dred and forty armed men, he refigned his office of deputy, and declared himfelf the enemy of the Eng- lifli monarch, When Cromer the chancellor, pri- mate of Armagh, feizing the youth by the hand, pathetically reprefented to him the vanity and rueful confequences of fuch an attempt, his followers, ignorant of the Englifh tongue, imagined the pre- late's oration to be an encomium on their hero and his enterprife : and a bard in his train, unwilling to be furpaiTed in his particular province, chaunted in Irifii rhymes, according to the ancient cuftom of the country, the praiies of the young leader, whom he Hyled [he Jilken lord from, his rich habiliments, chid- ing the delay of his martial exploits, and emphati- cally calling him to the field of glory. Whatever impreflion might have been made by the fage admo- nition 33^ HISTORY OF IRELAND. c H A P. liltlon of the primate was effaced by the fenfelefs XIV. . ^ rhapfody of an ignorant rhymer. Lord Thomas col- lected his forces, and laid fiege to the caflle of Dublin. From this fortrefs Alan, the arch!M(hop, attempted an efcape to England ; but the veffel, in which he had embarked, flranded near ClontarlF, perhaps by defign of the pilot who was one of the Fitzgeralds ; and this unhappy prelate, an opponent of Kildare, was murdered, not by the direcl orders, perhaps not according to the wifli of the revolted lord. Receiving to his propofal of a coalition with the Butlers an anfwer of defiance, lord Thomas invaded their territories, defeated their troops, and ravaged their lands ; but he was alarmed by the movements of the Dublinians, who, having received affurance of afliftance from England, clofed their gates againd his adherents, and made prifoners of thofe who were befieging the caflle. Dublin was alfailed, but the affailants were all repulfed ; and an agreement was at leagth made for the railing of the fiege, and the liberation of the prifoners on both fides. The next attempt of the infurgents was to prevent the debarcatlon of troops from England. A detach- ment, which landed on the northern fide of the har- bour, was defeated, and all the men either killed or taken prifoners by lord Thomas, who was wounded by the commander in a brave defence. The rebels now planted their artillery on the promontory of Howth, and thundered on the veffels at anchor, and on others advancing with frefli fupplies j for gun- powder had been long invented, and cannons were in HISTORY OF IRELAND. 237 in ufe clumfily managed; but fmall guns, as being chap. only fired with matches, were not fo ferviceable as , the bow and arrow for general purpofes, and were as yet carried only by a few for the annoyance of men-at-arms, as no armour could refill their force. In Ireland men-at-arms, or heavy-armed horfemen, were at that time few. The cavalry were of the light fpepes called bcblers^ from hobby, a name for a horfe. 'I'he infantry confided of kerns and gal- loivglajfes. The former were light troops, armed with fwords and javelins, and generally fo irregular that kern and robber were fometimes fynonymous. The gallowglalfes were heavy armed infaniry, bear- ing an iron helmet, a fliirt, or long coat of mail, which defcended to the calves of the legs, a long fword, and a ponderous double-edged axe. Though a (hip jaden with horfes v/as taken, and the reft were obliged to retire from the cannonade. Sir William Brereton effe£led his landing on the oppofite fhore with five hundred men, and was fol. lowed by the new deputy. Sir "William SkefHngton, with another band. By the noife of rejoicing, which announced the arrival of thefe fuccours in the city, the revolted lord thought himfelf admonifhed to retreat ; and either by the feverity of the enfuing winter, or an agreement with Skefiington for a fufpenfion of arms, he remained inadlive during fome time in the weft. Hoftilities recommenced in the fpring, when the iS35'' ftrong caftle of Maynooth was taken from the rebels by the treachery of Pareis, a fofter-brother of lord Thomas, who having m^de no further ftipulation, than 238 HISTORY OF IRELAND. ^xiv^* ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^ pecuniary recompence, was firft with pun£luaHty paid his price, and then hanged by Skefi- ington. The news of this conqiiell: had fuch an effect on the forces of the revolted nobleman, who was advancing at the head of feven thoufand Irifti from Ulfter and Connaught, that many defert- ed, and the refl, when they came to encounter the Englifii army near Naas, fled at the firft difcharge of the royal artillery. Previoufly to this rout, a hundred and forty of the enemy's gallowglafl'es had been intercepted by the lord deputy, by whofe or- ders, after their furrendry, they were all put to death. Fitzgerald, unable any longer to keep the field, and maintaining only a war of defultory ikir- mifhes, retired into Munfter, whither he was followed by a body of hoftile troops under his relative, lord Leonard Grey, who, unwilling to run unneceflary rifks, propofed a treaty of fubmiffion, which was ac- cepted by the rebel commander. On a folemn covenant for pardon lord Thomas difmifled his troops, attended lord Grey to Dablin, and was fent a prifoner to the tower of London, where he learned that his father had not been ex- ecuted, but had died of a broken heart in confe- quence of his rebellion. His five uncles, three of whom had oppofed the infurredion, were treache- roufly invited to a banquet by lord Grey, now ap- pointed deputy, feized and fent to London, where they were all executed together with their nephew. The vengeance of Henry, who was completely a ty- rant, could be fatisfied only by the extirpation of the KiUare family, one alone of whom, a brother 4 of HISTORY OF IRELAND. 239 of lord Thomas, a boy of twelve years, efcaped by chap- the vigilance of his g-uardians and an aunt, who ^.' .^ conveyed him into France, and thence into ^he Ne- therlands, when he was demanded as a rebel fubjefl, and thence laftly to cardinal Pole, who preferved him in defiance of the cruel monarch, to regain the fiononrs of his noble race. The fupprellion of this rafii, unconcerted, lamd un- Grey's «a- fupported rebellion, feemed to be regarded as a new sum, conqueft of Ireland by Henry, who propofed as a queftion whether he had not a right to feize as con- fifcated all the eflates of the kingdom both fpiritua! and temporal, though the greater part of his Eng- Jilh fubjei^s in the Pale had affiled the royal caufe. The vanity of the propofal might in the attempt have appeared not lefe manifeft than its injuftice. The royal authority was doubtlefs encreafing. By an ad 133^ of parliament the Mack rent was aboHlhed, and the king's forces declared fufficient for the prote leader were they overcome without much bloodfhed, nor fo entirely reduced but that feme indulgence was allowed to their religious fcruples ; for, thofe of them, who agreed to conform in all other refpeds to the ufages of the Roman catholic church, were in- dulged in participation of the cup as well as the bread in the facrament of the Lord's Supper, contrary to the pradice of that church. After the commencement of the following century, in a more favourable con- currence of circumftances, when, by the invention of printing, literature was much more generally dif- fufed, an attack was made on the jurifdidion of the Roman fee attended with vaftly more extenfive and permanent fuccefs. Luther. In the year 1517, Martin Luther, a friar of the Auguilinian order, and profeflbr of theology in the Saxon univerfity of Wittenburg, a man of a firm and bold fpirit, well fitted for fo arduous an attempt, called in queftion the plenitude of the papal power with refped to the granting of indulgences, or par- dons for fins in coi«fideration of fums of money ; and, being irritated by the imperious and uncandid treatment received from the Roman court, proceeded at length to attack the church of Rome in her vital parts, and to fhake the firmefl foundations on which her power and wealth were eftablifhed. His opinions were adopted by great numbers of Germans, who, when a diet of the em.pire, aflembled at Spires in 1329, iffued a decree unfavourable to them, entered a folemn protefl againfl: it, and thence received the appellation of Protejiants^ an appellation which has fmce become better known and more honourable by HISTORY OF IRELAfh). 247 "by Its being applied indifcriminately to all the fe£ls, chap, of whatever denomination, which have revolted from ^ the Roman fee. No country of Europe was more ignominioufly Henry's inthralled by the fpiritual government of Rome than "P"^^"^"*^^' England, till Henry the eighth burft the bonds, an unfeeling tyrant, how highly foever his merit in this may be appreciated. For many years a violent par- tizan for pontifical pretenfions, he became even a polemical writer againft Luther's doctrines, and pub- lifhed a book De Septem Sacramentis, on account of which the pope, to whom it was prefented in 1521, conferred on him the title of Defender of the Faith. But when his Holinefs refufed him a di- vorce from his firft queen, Catherine of Arragon, he difclaimed the fovereignty of the fovereign pontiflf, and, with the concurrence of his parliament, de- clared himfelf fupreme head of the church of Eng- land : yet, while he renounced the fucceflbr of Saint Peter, he was extremely tenacious of all the corruptions which had been introduced into Chrif- tianity by the fovereign prelates j infomuch that, though he configned to the hangman thofe who ftill admitted the Roman fupremacy, he alfo committed alive to the flames thofe who prefumed to receive the doctrines of the reformed preachers. Succefsful in England, where he reigned as a Attempts defpot, Henry attempted to extend his religious in- the iriih. novations into Ireland, than which no foil could be more fterile for the feeds of reformation. Since the council of Cafhel in 1172, the Irilh church had remained in conformity with that of England, con- R 4 fequently 24B HlsVoRY OF IRELAND. fequently with that of Rome. The miferable anarchy and confufion, the deplorable ignorance and bar- baiifm of the Irifh of thofe times, precluded all rational Gifi-uffion, and confequently all reformation of religion by force of argument, or explanation of the fcriptures ; while the bulk of the people were naturally prejudiced againft innovations didated from England, whofe inhabitants they regarded as their enemies ; befides that an opinion had taken. deep root among them, that Ireland was a patrimony of the pope, and that confequently the Enghfli mo- narch, whofe predeceflbrs had originally claimed no other right to the dominion of this ifland than what was derived from the papal authority, was in the renunciation of the Roman fupremacy guilty of nefarious rebellion againfl: his fpiritual fovereign, in which to afford him affiftance, or even countenance, would be an impiety. George Browne, provincial of the friars of Saint Auguftine, a man of fmcerity, limple manners, and llberahty of religious opinions, was promoted to the archiepifcopal fee of Dubhn, and fent with other commiffioners into Ireland, to procure by confer- ring with the clergy and nobility a general acknow- ledgment of the fupremacy of the king. Violenily oppofed, efpecially by Cromer, primate of Armagh, an Englifhman by birth, who had been fuperfeded in the office of chancellor, and was attached to the almoft exterminated family of Kildare, Browne re- commended the fummoning of a parliament, which was accordingly convened in Dublin by lord Leo- nard HISTORY OF IRELAND. 249 XV. "^ . — ^ nard Grey, on the firft of May, in the year fifteen chap. hundred and thirty-fix. In this parliament, in which the law of Poynings for previous certification was ^^^^ fufpended by the king's aflent, and in which the ec- clefiaftical proctors, of whom two from each diocefe had ufually fitten in parliamentary conventions, were excluded from fuffrage, the fupremacy of the king over the church of Ireland, with the renuncia- tion of the pope's authority, was, notwithflanding a ftrenuous oppofnion, pafied into a law, together with other acts in union with thofe of the Englifli parliament. When the enadion of the law could not be pre- vented, every engine was employed to counteract Its operation. Cromer and his aiTociates received a commiflion from Rome to abfolve all perfons from their oaths in favour of the king's fupremacy, and to command them to confefs the guilt of fuch oaths within forty days, and to enter into a new and mofl folemn engagement for the fupport of the papal power agaiijfl all opponents. Many incumbents within the Pale, particularly in the diocefe of Dub- lin, refigned their benefices ; and the Irifti lords of Ulller, under the conduct of O'Nial, rofe in arms as the champions of the Holy Faith. But the victory of Grey at Bellahoe broke the fpirits of the nor- therns, and the operations of Brereton completed the defpondency of the papal warriors. Numbers of monafteries were refigned into the king's hands, and the Irifh lords appeared emulous in the taking of oaths of allegiance and fupremacy. The 250 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. The perfons invefted with the admlniftration of XV. Further at tempts. Englifh government in the minority of Edward the fixth, wifhing to carry the fcheme of reformation much beyond the limits prefcribed by Henry, in Ire- land as well as England, committed the management of the bufmefs to Sir Anthony Saint-Leger, who 1550. was appointed lord-deputy in 1550. Without the convention of a parliament, the royal proclamation was addreffed to the clergy, enjoining the accept- ance of the new liturgy in the Englifli tongue, which, previoufly to its promulgation, was fubmit- ted to the infpeftion of an ecclefiaftical aflembly. John Dowdal, a native of Ireland, who had been promoted by Henry to the primacy of Armagh, ve- hemently oppofed the innovation, and retired from the aflembly, accompanied by moift of his fuffragans ; after which archbifhop Browne declared his accept- ance ; other prelates aflented ; and the new liturgy was read on Eafter-day, in the year i55i> in the cathedral of Chrift's Church in Dublin, in the pre- fence of the lord-deputy, magiftrates and clergy. The enmity of the Irifli, thus encouraged by Dowdal, againfl the reformation, was augmented by the condufl of the commiffioners appointed for the removal of relics, and other objects of popular fuperflition from places of divine worfhip, who are faid to have plundered and expofed to fale, with- out referve or decency, the mofl: valuable furni- ture of the churches, furniture which they were not authorized by their commiffions to remove. In confequence of Dowdal's refraftory conduct the primatial dignity was by royal patent transferred from HISTORY OF IRELAND. 251 from the fee of Armagh to that of Dubh'n, From chap. wounded pride, or fear of feverer treatment, this t ^^' . prelate retired to the continent, abandoning his diocefe, which, as if abdicated, was conferred on another named Goodacre. At the fame time John Bale, was promoted to the fee of Offory, a man deeply learned comparatively with his brethren in the Irifh church, of a vehement and imperious tem- per, and fo furious an oppugner of popery, that his life was in perpetual danger from ignorant zealots, and he at one time very narrowly efcaped, when five of his domefllcs were butchered by the popu- lace. Such outrages are figns of infufficient vigour in adminiftration, which might at this time, as ap- pears by documents extant, have elfablifhed the EngUfli law throughout all Ireland ; but the Englifh regency, embarraffed by the intrigues of wicked men, was unable to fpare an adequate force to the fupport of Irilh government for fo falutary a pur- pofe. This inability was unfortunate for the peace of Difturh^ Ireland, many fepts of which were difturbed by their '""** abfurd cufloms of fucceflion, culloms which had in- fedted the Hibernicized Englifh. Thus on the deceafe of the earl of Clanricard, his followers eleded a captain of their fept in oppofition to the legal heir, who was obliged to affcrt his right by force of arms. The baron of Ibracken, who fucceeded his father in the earldom of Thomond, was forced to nominate 1553; a tainid according to ancient ufage. 0*Nial, who had been created earl of Tyrone, refolving to break his connexion with the Englifh government, prac- 1 1 tifed ceffion '553- S52 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CKAP. tlfcd fecretly for the excluHon of his illegitimate fon Mathew, who had been declared under the title of baron of Dungannon, his legal heir at his own re- queft. Informed by Mathew of his father'"s defigns. Sir James Crofts, the fucceifor of Saint-Leger, com- mitted the earl and his countefs, his inftigatrix, to elofe cuftody in Dublin. John or Shane, a fon of the earl, collecling an army, partly compofed of Scotlifli adventurers, invaded his father's territories, defeated the united forces of his brother Mathew and the lord-deputy, and foiled the repeated at- tempts which were afterv-ards made to difpoflefs him. Mary's ac> 'ihc death of the amiable Edward the fixth, and the accefTion of Mary, a ftupid and fanguinary bigot in favour of popery, eldeft daughter of Henry the eighth, in the year 1553, annihilated in Ire- land whatever had been effected for the refor- mation of religion. Bale and other obnoxious churchmen fled ; ihofe who had married were eject- ed, and their children declared baftards ; and a parliament, convened in 1556, confirmed the reflo- ration of the church to its former ftate, except that the lands, which had been alienated to laymen, were withheld. No further feverities were authorized here againfl heretics in the fliort reign of Mary, fo that, while England was aflhfted by the perfecu- tions of that female demon, a difgrace to her fex and to human nature, Ireland proved an afylum, to fuch as fled hither from the rage of bigotry. Thefe re- fugees, however, feem to have been in danger of the flames. For the purpofe of perfecutioa Cole, 4 dean 1556 HISTORY OF IRELAND. 25J dean of Saint Paul's, is on good grounds faid to chap. have been fent ; to have found, when he attempted ■-. ■■,.,^— ,^ to produce his commiflion in the council in Dublin, only a pack of cards which had been fubftituted by the dexterity of his hoftefs in Chefter, a friend of the heretics ; and to have been prevented from the reception of a renewed commiflion by the death of Mary.. Among the political tranfa^llons of this reign, we Political may obferve that young Gerald, the furvivor of the noble family of Kildare, who had married an Eng- lifii lady, the daughter of Sir Anthony Browne, was reltored to the honours and eftates of his anceftors. A mixture of the Englifh and Irifh fyftems appears in the patent of Charles Cavenagh, head of the Mac-Murchad fept in Lelnfter, who was at once created a peer of the realm under the title of baron Balyan, and captain of his clan for the exercife of the Irifh jurifdiclion over his follov/ers. An infurredlion in Leix- and Ofally was quelled with fuch execution as to threaten the extirpation of their inhabitants. Thefe diftrids were by ad: of parliament for ever veiled in the crown, and converted into fliires. Leix, in compliment to the queen, was named Queen's County, and its principal fortrefs Maryborough. With hke attention to her confort, Philip the fecond of Spain, Ofally wa§ called King's County, and its chief pod Philipflown. By this parliamentary con- vention was enafted the explanation of the famous aft of Poynings, already flated in the thirteenth chap- ter, for the reflridion of Irifh parliaments in the paffing of laws. By *557. 254 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. By the weaknefs of adminiftration was John XV. , . t ^-' / O'Nial permitted to embroil the North in defiance turbulence. ^^ regulations made by Englifh government. Having freed himfelf from the incumbrance of a rival by the affaflination of his brother Mathew, baron of Dungannon, he invaded Tyrconnel with a hoft of his followers. To this he was invited by do- meftic dilTenfion in the O'Donnel family, one of whom, named Calvagh, held his father, the dy- naft of Tyrconnel, in prifon ; and another fon, named Hugh, took refuge with O'Nial. The inha- bitants of the invaded country, fecreting their bed efFeds, and driving their cattle into the leafl accef- fible places, declined an open battle by the advice of the old chief, and attacked the enemy's camp by furprife at midnight. The whole army of Tyrone was difperfed with terrible flaughter, and O'Nial himfelf efcaped not without difficulty. We have an inftance on this occafion of Irifli notions refpefting hofpitality refembling thofe of the ancient and mo- dern Arabs. Two fpies of O'Donnel, fent into the enemy's camp previoufly to the attack, were fo clearly unfufpeded that the guards invited them to par- take of their fupper. The invitation was declined, as the acceptance of it would have formed an in- violable bond of friendfhip between the enter- tainers and guefls, and confequently would have pre- vented the conveyance of hoftile intelligence. Oontefts in In the contefts of the fouthern Irifli the interfe- 1588?^ rence of adminiitration was attended with fonie e£fe6l. Daniel O'Brien, having llain his brother, the baron of Ibrackcn, and attempted to eftablilh himfelf in the fovereignty HISTORY OF IRELAND. 255 foverelgnty of Thomond, was defeated by Thoma3, chap. earl of Suflex, the lord lieutenant, who inverted with ^ „^ ' ,< the earldom the rightful heir, the fon of the deceafed baron, as a peer of the realm, and fubjed of the crown, according to Englifh law. At this time alfo a body of Scots from the Hebude iflands, who, by engaging in the fervice of Irifh chief- tains, had for fome years pad caufed much dif- turbance in the northern parts, and given frequent employment to the Englifii arms, were completely fupprefled. On the dilperfion of O'Nial's forces, of which they compofed a part, by their defeat in Tyrconnel, thefe adventurers fought employ- ment in the weft, where they were fuddenly at- tacked by the earl of Clanricard, defeated, and purfued almoft to extermination ; and Suflex, in revenge for their hoftilities in Ireland, made a ravag- ing defcent on the Scottifh iiles. After the deceafe of Mary, and the acceffion of Eiizsi.eth's Elizabeth, her fifter, in 1558, the reftoration by law ''""'"*"' of the reformed modes of worfhip was the caufe or pretext of new commotions. For this purpofe a ^ss^f parliament was convened by the earl of Suflex in January 1560, in which the houfe of commons was compofed of deputies from ten counties only, and from towns in which the royal power was predomi- ■ nant. Though the laws required v/ere enafted by this ,,50, I parliament, among which was one for the total abo- Wk lition of the ele<5lion of bifliops by deans and chap- Bters by virtue of a writ ftyled conge d*elire, and the ^invefling of the crown with their nomination by let- ters 35^ HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. XV. • S ■■■.-■ , I Reforma- tion oppof- ed. ters patent alone, yet fo violent was the oppofition to religious innovation, particularly by the temporal peers, that the fefiion was foon clofed by a dilTolu- tion. More effeclual oppofition was made to the execution than the enadion of thefe laws, which were in mod places counteracted or evaded. Many re- cufant clergymen abandoned their churches, which, remaining unfupplied by reformed pallors, fell into ruin ; and the people were left deftitute of public worfhip. Prayers and fermons in Englifli were un- intelligible except to a few ; and clergymen, mafters of the Irifh tongue, were not readily found for of- ficiating in the proteftant manner. Notwithdanding thefe and other obftacles, the in- difference of the Irilh catholics of thofe times con- cerning fpeculative opinions, to the difcuffion of which they were flrangers, was fuch, that, fince many of their clergy recommended fubmilTion to their temporal fovereign, they might have acquiefced in the new ecclefiaftical eftabliihment, if numerous emiffaries of the Roman court, affiduouily inflrudted, and fucceflively fent from Italy and the Spanilh do- minions for that purpofe, had not moft induftrioufly infufed into their minds the poifon of religious ran- cour, and a confequent detellation of the heretical government of the Englifl=i ; principles of malignity, which contributed to the calamities of Ireland in this reign, and afterwards exploded with rueful deltruc- tion in the reign of the unfortunate Charles the firft. Ireland at the end of Mary's and the beginning of operations. Elizabeth's reign was in a Hate of comparative quiet, notwith- O'Nial's KISTORY OF IRELAND. 257 notwithflandin? local tumults in various parts. John chap. O'Nial was the firft who gave any fcrlous alarm to the Irldi regency of the latter. This dvnafl; is re* prefcnted as a man abandoned to brutal excefles, indulging in fottifli ebriety, and frequently burying himfelf to the neck in earth to corredt the heat and intemperature of his body. But, as Lcland remarks, whatever was the rudenefs of his manners, he was cautious, circumfpeft, and acute. Summoned to account for his condudt by Sir Henry Sidney, the deputy of Suflex, who was then at court, in 1559, he had the addrefs to prevail on this gentleman to vifit him in his camp, to fiand fponfor for his child, and to acquiefce in the defence which he made for aci:ions difcordant with the plan of Engiiih govern- ment. Claiming the ancient right of his family to the dominion of Ulfter, he obliged O'Reily, a neighbouring toparch, to give hoftages for his obe- dience ; and. fuddenly rufliing into Tyrconnel, ' made his old enemy, Calvagh, a captive, whom hs afterwards liberated, having plundered his poiTeffions, detained his i^jVL as a hoflage, and his wife as a con- cubine. To gain the confidence of the old natives he exprefleJ fuch rancour againft the Englifh, that he hanged one of his followers for the eatmg of Englifh bifcuit, as a crime of degeneracy. — Suflex marched againft him with what forces he could mulfer, but an accommodation was effected by the interpofition of the earl of Kildare. In confequenceof this accommodation he waited on 136a the queen in London, attended by a numerous train, VOL. i. s *<■ a guard 258 HISTORY OF IRELAND. *' a guard of Gallowglafles," in the words of Lelaiidj '' arrayed in the richeft habiliments of their coun- try, armed with the battleax, their heads bare, their hair flowing ''on their fiioulders, their Hnen vefts dyed with fafFron, with long and open fleeves, and fur- charged with their fliort military harnefs ; a fpeda- cle aftonifhing to the people, who imagined that they beheld the inhabitants of fome diftant quarter of the globe/* On his return to Ireland, after his gracious reception by her Majelly, he found his confequence augmented among his followers, who confidered this accommodation as a treaty between two fovereigns. Affeding zeal for the queen's fervice, he attacked fome bands of Hebudian Scots, who had fwarmed afrefli into Ulfter, defeated them, and flew their leader : but as he continued, under pretence of the Scottifli hoflilities, to augment and train his forces, government was alarmed ; and when he perceived that his defigns v/ere no longer concealable, he hefi- tated not at open war. Appearing in a bravado before the fortrefs of Derry, his army was repelled with flaughter by a fally of the garrifon, in which, however, Randolf, the governor, fell a victim of his own incaution. Find- ing afterwards that this fortrefs was abandoned ia confequence of the magazine's deftruftion by an ac- cidental explofion, which was regarded by the igno-j rant natives as a pious adl of fupernatural interpofi- tion, he declined an interview, which himfelf had propofed for pacification v/ith Sir Henry Sidney, the lord-deputy, and attacked the Pale with all hrs forces. A fleeting HISTORY OF IRELAND. 259 Affefting to be the champion of the catholic faith, of chap. which he knew nothing, he difpatched ambafiadors to \ > the Pope and king of Spain for affiftance, and burned the church of Armagh where heretical v/orihlp had been performed. While he demob'fhed feveral 1566. caftles, and ravaged fome diftrids, particularly Fer- managh, he attempted to amufe the deputy by nego- ciation, and again requeued and decHned a confer- ence ; but he was difgracefally repulfed in an attempt on Dundalk, and on the approach of Sidney's army retired to his faflnefles. The lord-deputy taking his flation with an army on O'Nial's borders, and engaging Calvagh of Tyr- connel, Macguire of Fermanagh, and other Irifli chiefs, in the royal caufe, aflailed him on all fides with fuch fuccefs, that he was deferred by mofl: of •' his followers, and came to the refolution of furren- dering at difcretion. From this he was diverted by his fecretary, who advifed him rather to take refuge with a body of Scots encamped at Clan-huboy. By the artful management of an Englifn officer, named Piers O'Nial, who with fifty attendants, and his female companion, the wife of Calvagh, was hofpi- tably entertained in the tent of the Scottifn com- mander, was at the end of the feaft aifaffinated with his followers. His head was fent to Dublin by Piers, 1557^ I who received a thoufand marks as the reward of this fervice. Turlogh Lynnough O'Nial, a man of a peaceful difpofition, related by confanguinity to the noble family of Kildare, was nominated fucceflor to John, but bound by indenture to claim no fove- s 2 rcignty / ■ i6o HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, reignty over the neighbouring lords, and to leave the fons of Mathew, baron of Dungannon, in the un- molefted pofleffion of their demefnes. To prevent oppoHtion to this arrangement, a fon of John, for- merly delivered as a hoftage, was detained in clofe confinement in the caflle of Dublin. CHAP. * HISTORY OF IRELAND, 261 CHAP. XVI. Feuds of Defmond, ^c. — A parliament — Unexecuted regulations — Broils in Miinjler--' Abortive -plantations —SuppreJJion of conwiotions Incident of Drury — Fina?tcial dif contents — Dangers of invafion from Italy and Spain — Stukely's plan — Fitz?naurice*s invafion ^^ Atrocity of Sir John Defmond Progrefs of the rebellion — Battle of Monafter-Neva Rebellion of Defrnond — Di/irefs — Slaughter at Glendalough Another invafion Horrible ad of flaughter Further tranf actions — Information of a coif piracy — Deaths of Sir John of Defmond and Saunders Death of the earl of Defniond Appointment of Perrot, While the chief attention of government was chap. diredled to the motions of O'Nial in Ulfter, dillurb ^ ^ _' .■ ances of lefs moment had elfewhere taken place, ^g^mond Gerald, earl of Defmond, in attempting to wreft **^' fome lands by force of arms from the earl of Ormond, was defeated, wounded, and made prifoner. When he was carried on a bier from the field of battle, his fupporters triumphantly exclrimed " where is now the great lord of Defmond ?" to which he indignantly repUed, "where but in his proper place? flill on the necks of the Butlers.'* The dilpute was deter- mined by the judgment of the queen, and Defmond was difmifled on his promife of obedience. " As to the furtherance of religion in Munfter,*' he engaged s 3 among 26z • HISTORY OF IRELAND. 1» CHAP, among other {llpulations, "that having no knowledge | in learnings and being igno' ant of what was to be done in this behalf he would aid and maintain whatever fhould be appointed by comnniBoncrs nominated for this purpofe." Afterwards, refufing to make re- paration to Orniond, he was feized by furprize by Sir Kenry Sidney, the governqr, and lent to London, "where he and his brother John confined in the tower, were confirmed in a rancour againfl Enghfh govern- ment, which ended only with their hves. In the midft of armed broils, in which were engaged Sir Edmund Batler, brother to the earl of Ormond, James Fitzmaurice of Defmond, and Mac-Carthy More, the head of his clan, who had been created earl of Clancarthy, a parliament was convened for the civil and religious reformation of the kingdom. A parila- By the enemies of both kinds of reformation were the proceedings of this parhament violently oppofed j nor without great e;:ertions for the eledions of its friends could the court procure a majority in the houfe of conimons. Among other a<5ls obtained, after a fufpenfion of Poynings' law, was one which commanded, that no perfon (hould affume the name or authority of chieftain of his country, in any terri- tory now made, or afterwards to be made, fliire-ground, otherwife than by letters patent from the crown j alfo one by which the chief governor and council were empowered to grant letters patent, whereby all Irifii, or Hibernicized Englifli, difpofed to furrender their lands, mif;ht be again inverted with them in the mode of Englifli tenure j alfo another whereby the governor was authorized to prefent to the ecclefiard- cal ment. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 265 cal dignities of Munder and Connaught for ten chap. years> in conlequence of the abufes obferved in thefe ^-««y««/ provinces "in admitting unworthy perfons to eccle- fiaflical dignities wiihout lawfulnefs of birth, learn- ing, Englifli habit or Englifli language, defcended of unchalle and unmarried abbots, priors, deans, and chaunters, and obtaining their dignities by force, fimony, or other corrupt means." In purfuance of fuch a'£ls feveral arrangements Unexecuted were made, whofe efficacy was prevented by the dif- turbances of the country. Thus Connaught was divided into counties, but no juftices of affize were fent into that province ; and Sir Edward Fitton, fla- tioned there as lord prefident, goveri .d in a mode of adminiftration partly mih'tar)^ partly civil : and though the lands of Uli'ler were declared forfeited to the crown, yet the ancient natives continued to poflefs them without duty or acknovv^ledgment ; fo that even the abbey lands and houfes were held by the Romifli clergy, and the bifhopricks of Clogher, Derry, and Raphoe, were ftill granted by the pope without control. The broils of the fouth continued and increafed. Broils. Sir Edmund Butler, in the abfence of his brother, the earl, in England, refufed obedience to admini- ftration, and refilled with arms the legal claims of Sir Peter Carev/ on feme lands. Philip the fecond of Spain fomented rebellion by his emiffaries, and promifed affiftance. James Fitzmaurice irritated by the imprifonment of his brother, the earl of Def- mond, rofe with all his force, as a champion of the church, againft the heretical Elizabeth, and feduced s 4 into 264 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. Into his alliance the earl of Clancarthy. Carew XVI. ^- ' attacked the fortrefles, and furprized and flaughtered near Kilkenny three or four hundred of the follow- ers of Butler, who was perfuaded foon by the earl his brother, fent from England for that purpofe, to 1570- furrender himfelf to juftice. Fitzmaurice, repulfed in an attack on Kilkenny, ravaged the open country, and retired into faftnefies at the approach of the lord- deputy. Clancarthy furrendered ; and the earl of Thomond, who had alfo joined in the confpiracy, fled into France, where, by the interceflion of Norris, the Englifti ambaffador, he obtained a pardon. Sir John Perrot, reputed to be a natural fon of Kenry the eighth, i» man of enterprifing activity, and in- flexible rigour in the execution of juftice, taking the command of the fouthern forces as prefident of Munfter, fo haralTed the rebels, that they v/ere obliged, to yield themfelves prifoners at difcretion. Perrotj having executed the inferior agents, and re- fer ved Fitzmaurice for the queen's judgment, re- duced the province to fuch a ftate of order and tran- quillity as had not been there experienced for above two centuries. Abortive Some colonial plantations, attempted at this time in Ireland, proved abortive. The fettlement of a colony, tranfported from England to the peninfula of Ardes in the prefent county of Down, was defeated by the death of Smith its conduclor, who was murder- ed by the treachery of one of the O'Nials. A much more extenfive plantation foon after was attempted by Walter Devereux, earl of Eflex, in the country of Claiifhuboy in XJlfter, where twelve hundred foldiers were |>laiitations« HISTORY OF IRELAND. 265 were to be maintained for the fupport of his colony, chap. XVI. By the intrigues of the enri of Leicefl:er, the queen's worthlefs favourite, and of Sir "VViliiam Firzwilliam, ^j'5- the fuccelfor of Sidney in the Irifli adminiltration, fuch obftacles were thrown in his way both in Eng- land and Ireland, that the fcheme was ruined, and EiTex lofl his life either by trouble, or by poiion ad- miniftered by the contrivance of Leicefler. While Effex was eijiployed in his fruitlefs planta- ^"p?'' <^"n tlon, an infurredion was railed m Connaught by the tio'>s. earl of Clanricard's fons, in which the hatred of the Hibernicized EngliOi appeared dill greater than that of the old natives againit the government of England, • Thefe youths, reduced to fubmiffion, were pardoned by the queen, as they appeared to have been forced into rebellion by the feveriiies of Sir Edward Fitton, who was in confequencc removed from the prefidency of Connaught. New commotions, excited by them, 1576, were fupprefled, and their father on fufpicion of favouring their difafTeclion, was committed to prifon, by Sir Henry Sidney, who was again aopointed go- vernor v/iih the mod honourable and extenfive powers, and affured of the annual remittance of twenty thouTand pounds in aid of the ordinary reve- nue of Ireland. On the news of commotions in the north, he marched into Uliler ; and, with a force of only fix hundred men, he fo intimidated the enemies of government, that in a circuit, which he made through the feveral provinces, he fuppreffed, with- out the lead bloodfhed or danger, all thofe petty brawls which report ufually magnified into defperate rebel- lions 3 adminiftering judice, and executing the laws eveu 266 KiSTORY OF IRELAND. ^xvi" ^^^^ ^^""^ reverit3\ He procured the appointment of Sir Wiliiam Drury to the prefidency of Murxiler, a man of fleady determination, who followed the example of his predeceffor Perrot, and, in this courfe of proceeding, infifted on the extenfion of his jurif- diction into Kerry, without regard to the patent, by which it had been condituted a county palatine. In his way to Tralee, the feat of the earl of Defmond, to which he had been hofpitably invited, he met an incident fomewhat 'llluflrative of the manners then prevalent. Seven hundred followers of the earlj tall and vigorous, fent to receive the prefident with .honour, were midaken for a hoftile band, and aflailed by Drury with his guard of a hundred and twenty foldiers. They fled in aftonifhment without the lead attempt of refiltance, leaving the countefs to explain the affair to the prefident. When the kingdom was reduced to this extraordi- nary (late of order and tranquillity, a general difcon- tent was excited by a financial meaftire of the gover- nor, to which he was impelled by the complaints in England of the burthen of Irifli government on the Englilh treafury. By a cuftom eftablifiied for many years the inhabitants of the Englhli diftrifts were annually charged with the farnifhing of a certain proportion of provifions for the ufe of the royal gar- rifons and the governor's houfehold, in place of which an affeffment was paid, regulated by the prin- cipal people of each diftricl. Sidney, by the fole virtue of the queen's prerogative, proceeded to fub- flitute a compofition for this affelTment, to convert the fame into a permanent revenue, and to extend 7 the Financial difputcs. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 26 the exaction of it to all the fubi'.ds, without regard crap. . XVI. to privileges of exemption from purveyance, enjoyed > ^ ^ ,'.„* by patent for fome ages in fcveral j.lacs3. A univer- fal oppofition was made againft a ta:c impelled with- out authority of parliament. Three agents, deputed by the inhabitants of the Pale to plead their caufe before her Majefty, were by ler order copamitted to the Fleet prifon in London, and afterwards to the tower, Thofe lords and gertlemen, who had fubfcribed their names to authorize ihofe agents, wen iaiprifoned in Dublin. Elizabeth at length, in whofe charader was caution at a crifis of danger, admitted a com- promife. The priioners were difmiiTed on an equivo- cal fubmilTion, when they acknowleged their mode of application not fufHciently dutiful, and difavowed all intention of calling in quell ion the juil prerogative of her Majefly ; and a conpoliiion of purveyance was by the deputy and counc',1, with the concurrence of the chief, men of the Pale, fettled for the fpace of the feven following years. Doubtlefs Elizabeth's counfels were influenced D.ngersof on this occafion by the intelligence of defigns in Spain and Italy to fend troops into Ireland for the afliftance of rebellion. An adventurer from Ireland of Engliih birth, iiaaied Thomas Stukely, hodile to Engliih government from difap- pointsd am.bition, raifed in Pope Gregory the thirteenth a vain hope of being able to eflablifh his fon, , Jacomo Boncompagno, king of Ireland ; for Vvhich purpofe he received from his Kolinefs ei^'-ht hundred Italian fold'ers, who were to be paid by the king of Spain. Stukel/, embarking with his forces at Civita Vecchia, touched in h:$ way to Ireland at the iiivalion- 26S HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, the river Tagus, when Sebaftian, king of Portugal, t„. ^ ,'_. was preparing for a romantic expedition into the African kingdom of Morocco. On the promife of Sebaftian to join in the Trifh invafion after the ac- complilhment of his defigns in Africa, Stukely ac- compained the monarch in his wild enterprife, and fell with his followers in the plains of Barbary. Philip, taking advantage of the weaknefs of Portugal by the lofs of its army and king in Morocco, added *57*» by conqueft that country to his Spanifti dominions, and thus for that time was diverted from his attempts againfi; Elizabeth's government in this ifland. The earl of Defmond and his brother, who had been confined in London, and thence remitted, as prifoners of ftate, to Dublin, had effected their efcape to their followers in Munfter ; and James Fitzmaurice, who had furrendered to Perrof, had been pardoned by the queen, and repaid her cle- mency by fchemes of renewed rebellion with afTift- ance from abroad. Failing in his application to the king of France, he pafied thence into Spain and Italy, where he received every encouragement except men and money. Obtaining, however, a band of eighty Spaniards, reinforced by fome Englifh and Irifh fugitives, he landed with thefe in the harbour of Smerwick, in the county of Kerry, where they were left - v/ithout means of retreat, as their three vefTels were captured by an Englllh fhip of war. The invaders were accompanied by Alien, an Irifli priefl, and by Saunders, an Englifliman, who was vefted with the dignity of legate from the pope, and furniflied with a bull for fpiritual indulgences to the champions HISTORY OF IRELAND. 269 champions of the faith. They were joined by Sir chap. XVI. John and James, brothers of the earl of Defmond, with fome forces; but as the earl himfelf, though fully inclined to give them every afiiflance in his povi^er, hefitated through fear to declare openly in their favour; Fitzmaurice, in the.rage of difappointment, exprefled fome fufpicion of the fmcerity even of Sir John. The latter, to remove all doubt of his at- tachment to the cauie, committed a deed of mofl horrid atrocity, the murder of Henry Davels, a gen- tleman of Devonfliire, of a mod amiable character, and fo great a benefactor to the murderer, whom he had often redeemed from prifon, as to have been filled by him his father. This aft, though condemned by many catholics, was by bigots highly extolled, infomuch that it was pronounced by Saunders afweei facrtfice to God ! Such a6ts could not conduce to the fuccefs of their Progrefsof tlie rebel- fcheme. Fitzmaurice, in a journey through Con- lion* naught for the excitement of rebellion, fell in a fkirmifli, in which a fon of Sir William de Burgo, his antagonift, was alfo flain. The command of the invaders and their aflbciates devolved on Sir John of Defmond, who, on the approach of an army under Sir William Drury, the fucceflbr of Sidney, aban- doned his poft at Smerwick, and diftributed his forces among the difaffe£ted in Kerry. In a ha- rafling warfare of defultory ikirmiflies and furprifes, with a lurking and evafive enemy, a body of two hundred foldiers of the queen was at one time fur- rounded and flain, which elevated fo much the hopes of her enemies that the rebel army received every day 2 7<> HISTORY OF IRELAND. clay frefli augmentations, and Sir John prepared fof a decifive battle. With a force of feven hundred men, Sir Nicholas Malby, to whole condud Drury, retiring into ill, health, had con)mitted the troops, marched againft the rebels, who were polled, two thoufand in number, in a plain near Limerick, at an old abbey called Monafter-Neva. After a long doubt- ful combat, in which the Irifli, by the diipofitions of the Spanilli officers, difplayed uncommon fleadi- nefs, vidory declared in favour of the royalifls> who found among the numerous dead of the vanquifiied the body of the zealous jdfuit, Allen. Rebellion of The earl of Dcfmond, who had made a fliow of emon. ^j-j^-^j^-jg jj-j^ f]^g royal caufe, but had been fufpeded, and at lafl convicled, by intercepted letters, of prac- tifmg fscretly with the rebels, was, after repeated attempts to reclaim him, attacked as an open enemy, by Sir William Pelham, the fuccefibr of Drury. Def- mond furprifed, and mercilefsly plundered, the town of Youghal, and defrroyed a detachment fent for its recovery ; but in a war ^ waged by the ravages of his territories, and the fuccedive redu6lion of his garrifons, himfelf and his unfortunate followers rs^a. wcTQ foon reduccd to the mod abjecl mifery. Many, with their families, followed the royal troops, im- ploring relief by death from the affliction of out- rageous hunger ; and himfelf begged, as an a£l of mercy, from admiral Winter, who cruifed near the coaft, to be received on board his fleet, and con- veyed a prifoner to London. His requeft was reject- ed, and his brother. Sir James, was executed, when takeji prifoner, by martial law. Some HISTORY OF IRELAND. 271 Some chance of a reverfe of fortune feemed once ghap.- to be afforded by the rafhnefs of Arthur lord Grey, ^ ' » and the arrival of new fuccour. Grey, appointed fucceffor to Pelham, immediately on his arrival com- ' manded the troops of her Majefty to attack a body of rebels ported in the vallies of Glendalough im Wicklow, under lord Baltinglas and a chieftain of the O'Byrnes. " Thofe veterans," fays Leiand, *' who had been trained in the Iri(h wars, and knew the fituation of the enemy, and the manner of their hoflilities, received the order with an honourable fabmifiion, and, though fenfible of their imminent danger, if not their inevitable ruin, marched boldly to the attack. They were to enter a freep and marlhy valley, perplexed with rocks, and Vv'inding irregularly through hills thickly wooded. As they advanced, they found themfelves more and more encumbered ; and either funk into the yielding foil, fo as to be utterly incapable of a6Hon, or were oblig- ed to clamber over rocks, which difordered their inarch. In the midft of confufion and diftrefs, a fudden volley from the woods was poured in upon them, without any appearance of an enemy ; and re- peated with terrible execution. Soldiers and ofHcers fell without any fair opportunity of fignalizing their valour. Audley, Moore, Coflvy, and Sir Peter Carew, all dillinguilhed officers, were fliin in this rafh adventure," the offspring of the new governor's inexperience and precipitation, who returned with confufion and difhonour to the capital. Soon after arrived the alarming news of the land- n vv mva- ing at Smerwick of Spanifii and Italian forces, who brought arms and ammunition for five thoufand men. fion. 2?i HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, men, with a fum of money, from the king of Spain, *- ^ '.ur- While thefe troops, amounting to feven hundred. were employed in the completion erf a fort, which they called Del Oro or the Golden, they were fo ter- rified at the approach of the earl of Ormond with his army, that they fied into the woods with fome Irifh guides ; but when the fmallnefs of his force was difcovered, three hundred of them with their general returned to their fortrefs. Here befieged by Grey with eight hundred men from Dublin, and the fleet of admiral Winter, they were in a few days reduced to a defperate ilate, and furrendered at dif- cretion. As they had been ofiered terms of capitu- hition which they had rejeded, and could produce no commillion from the pope or king of Spain, they were all, with exception of fome officers, particularly San Jofepo, tlieir commander, inhumanly butchered by the command of Grey, with the concurrence of his council, who committed the horrid fervice to Sir Walter Raleigh, riiitiier On information, true or falfe, of a confpiracy In tions ' the capital, feveral perfons were imprifoned, and fome executed, on Grey*s return to the feat of govern- ment. Among the latter was Nugent, baron of the Exchequer, a- man of a fmgularly good charader, who appears to have been totally innocent, fince, befide other circumltances, the earl of Kildare and others, accufed in like manner, were on a fair trial acquitted of every charge, or even fufpicion, of dif- loyalty. Such feverities were pradifed alfo in Munfler againft fufpeded perfons of the old Englifh race, that Grey was emphatically reprefented by com- plainants to the qui^en, as leaving nothing in Ireland for HISTORY OF IRELAND. 273 for her Majefly to reign over but afhes and carcafes. chap. Grey was in confequence recalled, and pardon of- fered to the rebels, whofe affairs were now defperate. The mifcreanr, Sir John of Defmond, had fallen in a fldrmifli with the party of an officer named Zouch ; i5?2. and S^iunders, the pope*s legate, expired unaffifted in a folitary retreat, where his body was mangled by bea'ls. The earl of Dt-fmond, excepted from par- 1583. don, fculking from place to place, and forfaken daily by fo'iie of his attendants, was at laft found alone, in a wretched hovel, by an Iriihman, named Kelly of Morierta, who brought his head to the earl of Ormond. Two agents at this time arrived from Spain with arms and ammunition; but inftantly returned when they learned the fate of the earl and his adherents. To that kingdom fled lord BaU tinglas, the lafi: remaining rebel of note in Ireland, which feemed everywhere brought under obedience to the queen ; but the ejects of war were horrid, particularly in Munfrer, which, excepting the towns, exhibited a woeful fcene ol" deloiation, with famine in all its ghaftly forms. In this llate of affairs a 15S4. lord-deputy was appointed, reverenced by the inha- bitants of Ireland in general for hisjuflice and im- partiality. Sir John Perrot, a man of liberal and benevolent policy,- of experience and reflexion in >the concerns of Ireland, and^ capable, if he had been fupported in his plans, of fettling the peace and profperity of this unfortunate country on a fecure and permanent foundation. VOL. I. T CHAP. 274 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. XVil. Scheme of Per rot— A parliament — Oppofition to Per- rot — Plantation in Munjier — Commotions of the De Burgos — Df contents in Ulfier Mean Jlratagem againjl O'Donnel — Reftgnation of Perrot Fitz- 'wilUanis adminiflration — SpaJiiJJj Armada — Death of O^Riiarc Efcape of O^Donnel — ■■ — Execution of Mac-Mahon — Reply of Mac Guire — Univerftty of Dublin— Plans of Hugh G'Nial —Kills Hugh-ne- Gavel ocke — Aecifed by Bagnal — His duplicity — War of C*Donnel — Rebellion of O'Nial — His addrefs in Jingle combat — Attacked by Norris — His feigned fubmijfion — Duplicity — Trial of Bingham — Death of Norris — Burgh's exploits and death — Death of KiU dare — Infidious treaty, CHAP, i HE fcheme of Sir John Perrof, who entered or^ ^^_J^_]|^j|^ the adminiflration of Ireland in 1384, was that Scheme ot aioce, which, if carried into execution, could ren- Fcrrot. 1JS4. tier this ifland an acquifition of any value to the Enc^liih crown, or indeed prevent it from being a walrefal drain of blood and treafure from the Eng- lifli nation. By a fteady, flricl, and impartial exe- cution, and gradual exrenfion of Englifh law, he aimed to reduce all the inhabitants of the ifland into a (late of unform poliry, reformation of manners, peace and profperlty. Having publifhed amnefty and afifurance of protedion to all who fliould return to their allegiance, and fent the fon of the deceafed earl of Defm -nd to England, to be rendered by edu- cation ' - ' HtSTORY OF IRELAND. «75 CAuticn a fit objedl of royal favour, he proceeded to qhap vifit the feveral provinces, to prepare the way for xvii. the execution of his plan. Appointing fherifFs for the counties of Connaught and marching to the north againfl: fome Scottifh invaders, who fled to their fhips at his approach, he was attended with alacrity by the Irifh chiefs of Uifter, who teflified their wifhes for the acceptance of Englifli law, and agreed to the payment of an affelTment or compofi- tion for the maintenance of eleven hundred foldiers in their province without expence to the queen. For the carrying of his plan into effect, he peti- tioned the Englifh government for the allowance of fifty thoufand pounds a year during three years, re- prefenting it, as it really would have been, the chcapejl purchafe which England had ?nade for a great length of time. His requefl: was declined by the ceconomy of Elizabeth, who was engaged in the af- fiftance of the Dutch in their war againfl: Spain ; the alarm of minifters concerning domeftic plots and foreign invafion ; and even the abfurd and perni- cious jealoufy of fome, (a jealoufy reprobated by men beO: acquainted with Ireland,) lefl: the people of this ifland, no longer weakened and impoverifhed by inteft:ine war, (hould become independent of the Englilh crown. Only a fmall fum of money, and J a force of fix hundred men in addition to the army of Ulfter, were granted by the queen, who had af- terwards ample reafon to repent, as the fubfequent wars of Ireland, which would have been prevented by a timely difburfement comparatively trifling, T 2 were 276 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, were the caufe of a vafl: and grievous expendl- XVII. ,_ , ^. _; ture. A^pniiia- i^ April 1585, a parliament was convened in *5^'S' Dublin, in wiiich were feveral commoners of the old Irifh race, Turlough of Tyrone as a temporal peer, and the bifliops of Clogher and Raphoe, who had received their fees by the fole authority of the Pope. A fufpenfion of Poynings' law, which was become a cultomary expedation of every governor, as a mark of confidence, was refufed by the mem- bers of the Pale, who made alfo in other cafes fo violent an oppofition, that the feffion was quickly Oppofition terminated by a prorogation. PIoftiHty was not con- fined to debates of pai^liament againft this governor, whofe protection of the old natives by an equal ad- miniftration of jufiice, and plans for the public ad- vantage interfering with abufes which conduced to private lucre, raifed a hofl: of enemies, who laboured by various means to effect his difgrace with the queen, even by forged letters, the influence of which was not entirely effaced by their detection. Indead of augmenting his force for the forwarding of his falutary defigns, Elizabeth drafted repeatedly troops from this country to the Netherlands, even when an invafion from Spain was apprehended in Munfter ; nor was his offer accepted of difcouraging the foreign foe, by ufing his influence among the Irifh chiefs of the feveral provinces to wait on her Majefl:y with affurances of their allegiance. Under all difcou- ragements, Perrot fl.ill exerted his talents for the general fafety, and procured in Connaught, in like 4 manner HISTORY OF IRELAND. 77 manner as in Ulfler, a compofition for the mainte- chap. c • 1 XVII. nance or troops m that quarter. ^ _, By an z.ct of attainder againd the earl of Defmond J lanti^ticn and his adherents, lands in Manlier, to the amount of at leaH: five hundred and ieventy four thou- fand acres, were forfeited to the crown, in which Elizabeth was anxious to plant an Englifh colony. Advantageous terms were offered, and grants of above two hundred thoufand acres made to feveral proprietors, among whom was the celebrated Sir Walter Raleigh. But the grantees failed to per- form the condition of their tenures : great frauds were practifed to avoid the completion of the ftipu- lated numbers of EngliOi tenants : non-refidents committed the management of their colonies to ig- norant or diflioneft agents : no elfedual provifions for defence were made by the planters or the queen ; a neglect afterwards attended with difaftrous confequences. Meanwhile in Connaught, fome chiefs of the c Jommo- De Burgo fept, irritated at the execution of Englifli connaught. law, which deprived them of their tyrannical power over their inferiors, perhaps alfo by unnecelTary feverities of fheriffs and other officers of juftice, re- fufed obedience to the new fyflem, on account of which one, named Thomas Roah, with two of his adherents, was put to death by Sir Richard Bing- ham, prefident of the province. The interference of the governor in favour of the De Burgos en- couraged them to further oppofition, even by arms, which caufed the execution of Richard, brother to ijSS. Thomas Roah j and when Binghanij fummoned to T 3 Dublin, 278 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. Dublin, gave an account of his conduft to the go ^ I ^ ' . vernor and council, they raifed a ftill more formida- ble infurreflion, declaring in favour of Spain and Rome. Bingham, returning to his prefidency, ex-^ ecuted their hoflages, and profecuting the war with vigour, gave them at laft a complete overthrow, in a bloody encounter, in which they were affifted by two thoufand Scottifh rovers, and in Vv'hich alfo the prefident was loyally fupported by fome Irifli and Hibernicized Englifli clans. Difcontcnts -^s in Conuaught, fo alfo difcontents arofe in Ul- m uifter. ^^^.^ where flieriffs are faid to have purchafed their places, and to have aded uith a rapacity creative of deteflation to Englifh government, while the admi- nifhration, debilitated by the withdrawing of the troops to Belgium, recurred to temporary expe^ dients, unworthy and impolitic, afterward produc- tive of much calamity, Hugh O'Nial of Tyrone was entruiled with military power, and the dynaft of Tyrconnel was bound to keep the peace by a mean 1583. artifice. By the contrivance of Perrot, a fhip with Spanifli wines was fent under the command of a jiierchant of Dublin, who pretended to be a Spa? nifh trader, and who, arriving on the coafl of Do- negal, enticed the elded fon of O'Donnel on board, whom he carried to Dublin, where he was committed to cuftody as a hoflage for his fa-: ther, who, in defiance of government, had refufed to admit a (herifF into his territory. Perrot foon afr ter, wearied of his unfupported adminifhation, the cabals of Englifli enemies, and the coldnefs of the queen, produced leave to refign by earnelt folicita- tion 5 but before his departure, fuiumoning the fuf- peded HISTORY OF IRELAND. 279 petted Irlfli chieftains, he perfuaded them to give chap. hofiages for their fidelity ; and when he dehvered •- >y-.^ the fvvord of (late to his fucceffor. Sir William Fitz- william, he declared that, though he was now a private man, he would engage to bring into cuf- tody any fufpeded leader in the kingdom, within twenty days, without violence or conteft. By the exertions of Perrot, and his influence among Fit^wiiii- the old natives, acquired by his juftice, Ireland was nitration!' in a (late of quiet at his departure, which might have been maintained and improved by Fitzwilliam. The tim.e was critical, as a vaft fleet from Spain, filled the Invincible Armaday threatened the invafion and even conqueft of England. On the failure of this ar- mament by fliorms and the valour of Englifli mariners, five thoufand four hundred men in feventeen of its vefiTels were driven on the northern and north- weftern coa{ls of Ireland, where they were enter- tained with cordial hofpitality, and gave their pro* mife to return in formidable force to aflifl: the Irifli againft the heretical government of Elizabeth. O'Ruarc of Breffney even then took arms, on the arrival of Antonio de Leva, with a thoufand Spa« niards in his neighbourhood ; but, forfaken bv this commander, who foon after funk with his crew near the coaft, and attacked by Bingham, he fled into Scotland, by order of whofe king he was fent prifo- ner to London, where he fuffered death as a iraitor, Fitzwilliam, whofe principal obje£l feems to have been private lucre, with little regard to jultice or the interefl of his fovereign, proceeded to commit T 4 adions iSo HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, alliens injurious to Ene^i^ government. Informed XVII o o V -,-,'../ that vaft quantities of treafure, and various kinds of '^"5" {lores, had been left by the Spaniards, where they had been entertained, he lent, and afterwards vi^ent himfelf, to fearch for the booty ; but totally difap- pointed, he feized without any grounds for prefump- tion of guilt, two Irilli chieftains of approved fide- lity to the Englifii crown, Sir Owen Mac-Toole and Sir John O'Dougherty, who were clofely confined in the caflle of Dublin, the former till his life was in the extremity of danger, the. latter for two years, till he was enlarged for a bribe. Probably alfo by connivance of the governor, and not without emo- lument, an efcape was effected from durance in the caftle by Hugh O'Donnel, who had been circum- vented by Perror, the fons of John O'Nial, and other hoftages. fome of whom arrived at their homes without moleftation ; but O'Donnel and Arthur ..^ O'Nial, finding themfelves purfued, took refuge in a folitary retreat, where by their friends the latter was found dead with famine, and the former dangeroufly benumbed with cold. Recovering and effecting his efcape, with an implacable hatred of the Englifh go- vernment, this youth was veiled with the Irifh lordfliip of Tyrconnel on the refignation of his father. To extend the odium of Englifii polity among the ancient natives, an atrocious aft of injuflice was committed under the appearance of legal formality. Hugh Mac-Mahon of Monaghan, petitioning for the inheritance of his deceafed brother, to which he was atluaily heir by Englifh law, was, in confequence, as lijo. HISTORY OF IRELAND. aSi as appears probable, of a failure in pecuniary chap. . ^ XVII. promifes to the governor, tried by a jury faid to ^ ' j have been compofed of common foldiers, condemn- ed, executed, and his lands confifcated, on an ac- cufation of his having enforced the payment of fome rents by arms, contrary to EngHfh law, at a time before Englifii law had any exifrence in that coun- try. An alarm was excited, and a fecret combina- tion formed amoncr the Iriili chiefs of Ulder, asfainft the admiflion of a new jurifdiciion, whofe abufe, not utiHty, was plainly perceived ; fo that when Fitzwilliam intimated to Mac-Guire of Fermanagh his defi^n to fend a fherifr into his diftrid, the Iriih lord anfwered with well-affe£ted limplicity, *' your flieriff (hall be welcome : but let me know his erik, that if my people fhould cut off his head, I may levy it on the country." By the diflimulation, however, and crafty management of Hugh O'Nial, the north feemed in a ftate of tranquil obedience, while pre- parations were made in filence for a formidable re- bellion. In confirmation of the idea of general fub- miffion, a compofition for purveyance was eftab- lilhed for three years in Muiifler in, aid of the royal revenue. At this time Elizabeth found leifure to attend to Univerfuy. the foundation of an Irifh univerfity, for the gradual improvement of the church of Ireland, the ftate of which was indefcribablv wretched. Abortive at- tempts had before been made for the eredlion of a feminary, by Lech, archbifliop of Dublin, in 131 1; by Bricknor, his fuccefibr, in 1320; by the Irifh parliament in 1465; by Sir Henry Sidney in 1569; and i3« HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, and by Sir John Perrot before his refignation. In ^ ^ _' 1 59 1, Adam Loftus, archbifhop of Dublin, who from views of private intereft had oppofed the fcheme '59»- of Perrot, procured for the fite of a univerfity the monaftery of All-halows, which had been founded by Dermod Mac-Murchad, king of Leinfter ; and which, on the diffblution of religious houfes in the reign of Henry the eighth, had been vefled in the mayor and citizens of Dubhn, From the queen were obtained through Henry Uflier and Lucas Challoner, agents employed on the occafion, a mort- main licenfe for the land granted by the city, and a regular charter, by which a college was erefted as mother of a univerfity, by the ftile of the College of ihe Holy and undivided Trinity near Dublin. Its firft provoft was Adam Loftus : its three firft fel- lows, in the name of more, were the two above- named agents, with Launcelot Moyne : its three firfl fcholars, in the name of more, were Henry Lee, William Daniel, and Stephen White; and Cecil, lord Burleigh, was the firft chancellor. For the railing of the buildings benevolent contributions 1593- were folicited : the ftudents were admitted on the ninth of January 1593 ; and, cheriflied by the queen's bounty amid the defolation of fucceeding wars, this college obtained a firm eftabliihment, and has rifen fince to a pitch of literary merit fuperemi- nent among the univerfities of Europe, though not of corrcTpondent fame. rians of But a time of dangerous infurredion was now ap- ONial. . -, . proaching, when Elizabeth had caufe to repent of her parfmiony in Ireland, a parfimony excu fable, though 'HISTORY OF IRELAND. ' 28I thouoh unfortunate, in her difficult fiturition. HuQ-b chap. O'Nial, fon of Mathew baron of Dungannon, a man of the deepefl: diflimulation and mod infinuating ad- drefs, of a figure not flriking, but a hardy confti- tution, poliflied in manners by early fervice in the Enghfh army and a liberal education, had obtained by his perfuafive powers from the queen in 1587 the earldom and eftates of Tyrone with fome refer- vations. Regarded as a firm friend of Englifli go- vernment, he was permitted to retain fix co:npanies of foldiers for the enforcement of peace in Ulfter. By continually difmiHing the men who had learned the ufe of arms, and fubfiituting others for the fame inflrudlion, he formed moft of his vaflals to military difcipline ; and, under the pretext of covering the roof of his cadle at Dungannon, he imported vail quantities of lead for bullets. Fearing fufpicions of his treafonable praftices, particularly with the Spa- niards driven on the coall, he repaired again to Eli- zabeth, and, chearfully acquiefcing in all ihe condi- tions impofed, was difmifled with a continuation of the royal favour. Accuied immediately after by the fons of John O'Nial, he made fo artful a defence as to elude the accufation, and to be permitted to re- turn to Ireland, where with equal artifice he evaded the formal execution of the articles to which he had agreed, To flrengthen his interefl. among the Irifh chief- tains, he fent his fon to be folfered by the fept of O'Cahan, and gave his daughter in marriage to the young dynaft of Tyrconnel, who had efcaped from prifon in the caftle of Dublin. To gratify his re- venge 2f4 HISTORY OF IRELANI). 4:hap. venge and prevent information of his purpofes, he ' — -v— ^ feized and put to death the fon of John O'Nial, who had accufed him, named Hugh Ne-GavcJocke, an appellation ^i^mv/m^ fettered^ from the circumftance of his mother, the wife of Galvagh of Tyrconnel, being in captivity at the time of his birth. So ex- traordinary on this occafion was found to be the refped for the name cf O'Nial, that no perfon could be procured for the office of cxecuiioner otherwife than with great dirHculty, and in a dillant part of Ireland. He continued to make the moft plaufible profeiTions, admitting his country to be formed into a fnire ; and government expreifed refentnient only by the withdrawing of his commiflion of m.artial law which he had thus atrociouily abufed. »594- His treafonable defigns became more apparent, and Sir Henry Bagnal, a gentleman of great pro- perty in Uliler, whofe lider this Irifh lord had feduced into marriage, exhibited againft him ai ti- des of impeachment, wh'ch he fruflrated by fpeci- ous anfwers, and a fpecious interference to J'ave the lives of a fneriff and his attendants in Fermanagh, from the rage of Macguire. To continue the decep- tion he joined his troops to thofe of Bagnal againft the united forces of Macguire, O'Donnel, and fome Scottifh adventurers, and in a battle, in which thefe confederates were difcomhted, he fought widi fuch apparent zeal that he was wounded in the thigh. Still to wear the mafl^: of loyalty till the arrival of Spanifh aid was a policy too refined for the concep- tion of other Irifh lords, fo that, feparating fronl the Englifh army through pretended fear of Bagnal, be HISTORY OF IRELAND. af; he fent his brother Cormac to the affiftance of chap. O'Doiinel, who had declared that he would con- ^ ' .^.„^.,» fider him ss an enemy, if he delayed any longer to unite with his countrymen. By other incidents he was foitred to the gradual and premature difclofure of his views. The death of Turlough Linnough of Tyrone, the head of the fept, left no room for heft- tation. Seizing the decifive moment, he threw into v prifon the fons of John, prior in blood, as himfelf was the fon of an illegitimate father ; and afTamed the title of the O^Nial or dynaft of the fept, a title held in fuch veneration by the Irifh, that, either to conciliate the loi'e of his countrymen, or from pride of anceRry, he had been often heard to fay that "he would rather be the O'Nial of Uifter than king of Spain," the mod powerful monarch at that time in Europe. As himfelf had, with the femblance of the moft cordial loyalty, flrenuoufly recommended the total fuppreflion of this title, as eflentially necefHiry for the obedience of the north to Englifh govern- ment, his defigns could be no longer hidden ; yet the weaknefs of adminiftration acquiefced in his apology, ** that he had affumed the title of dynaif, merely to prevent fome other lefs loyal than himfelf; and that he was determined to refign it whenever a regular fyftem of Englifli . polity fliould be eftab- Hflied in his territories," In the mean time O'Donnel profecuted the war v/arof with extraordinary vigour. Bingham in Connaught ^^''"'"'^ had defeated fome northern invaders, had purfued ihem, and taken Ennilkillen, the principal fortrefs of Macguire. On the return of the general to his prefidency 486 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, prefidency this pofl wiis inverted by the forces or t ' Tyrconnel. An Engiifli army, fent to its rehef, was routed : the garrifon, furrendering through fa- mine, was butchered : O'Donnel, bearing into Con- naught the horrors of defoiation, deftroyed a de- tachment n^arching to aOifl the garrifon of Belleek, and treated that garrifon in the fame manner as the former : and in completion of his triumph, eftab- liflied, as chief of his diftrid, one of the Hiberni- cized De Burgos, his allbciaie, with the title of the Mac-Williajn. For the reprefilon of thefe dif- orders a diliinguifhed leader. Sir John Norris, with a force of three thoufand men from England, of whom two thoufand were veterans, was appointed with a command independent of the lord-deputy, who had orders at the fame time to endeavour by fecret pradices to detach O'Donnel from the earl of Tyrone, confidered now as the hidden fpring of rebellion in that quarter. o'NJaPs - -^'^''-s ^^''1 ^°^ nearly fallen a viclim of his own rcbtUion. duplicity. With an affecled confcioufnefs and warmth of loyalty he had waited on Sir William Ruffel, the fucceflbr of Fitzwilliam, who would have ccmmited him to cuftody, as his treafons were then fufpeclcd; if he had not been prevented by the majo- rity of the council. Seeing meafures taken againfl: him he refolved to Rrike an early blow, yet attempted Hill to amufe by oflers of fubmiilion, while he mofl 1555, earnefily folicited affidance from Spain. Driving the Engiifli garrifon from the fort of Blackwater, he attacked the caftle of Monaghan, where, in a flvir- mifh wiih fome troops, vi'ho had come to its relief, he difplayed much addrefs in Tingle combat. Afiailed and HISTORY OF IRELAND. 2^7 and unhorfed by Sedgrave, an Englifh officer, he c ft a i\ pulled, as he fell, his antagonift after him ; and when ^ , ■ Sedgrave, who was over him on the ground, was pro- ceeding to difpatch him, he prevented the blow by plunging a dagger into his body. Hoftilities were fufpended by propofals of accommo- dation on the part of Elizabeth, whofe policy in Irilh affairs was weak and temporizing, different from the condufl commonly purfued by her elfewhere. To her commiffioners the Irifh chiefs prefented them- felves in open field, not with the fubmiilion of fub- je6ls, but as generals in parley. O'Nial, O'Donnel, and their affociates, having dated their grievances, and made their propofals, diidainfully rejected thofe of the commiffioners, agreeing only to a truce of a few days. At the expiration of the truce the nor- therns were fo terrified at the forces with which the lord-deputy and Norris marched againfl them, that O'Nial retired to the woods, abandoning the fort of Blackwater, and burning Dungannon, in which was his own houfe, together with the adjacent villages. Leaving garrifons in Armagh and Monaghan, and a part of the army in this quarter under the command of Norris, the deputy retired with the reft to Dublin, profeffing an intention to chaflife fome infurgents in Leinller, where, as in other places, the difaffeded had been encouraged by the timidity of government to infult its weaknefs. To gain time till the arrival of Spanifii aid, O'Nial again had recourfe to the feigned fubmiffion by letters to the queen and Norris, fo pathetic that the latter became warmly interefted in his favour. In a conference at Dundalk he affent- '59^' ed with a fufpicious eafe to the articles demanded, ^3 one sSS HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, one of which was his renunciation of the tide oi the XVil. ^■' J O'Nial for that of the earl of Tyrone ; but he evaded for the prefent the liberation of the fons of John »596- O'Nial, the moft material demand. As Macguire, O'Donnel, and others, made like fubmiflions, and pardon was promifed to each, the northern war ap- peared to be at an end, while preparations were made for its mofl formidable explofion. On the arrival of three pinnaces with ammunition and magnificent promifes from the king of Spain, the rebel chiefs were more confined in theiiv hoflile defigns ; but O'Nial, with his ufual duplicity, lent the letter, which the Spanifh monarch had written to him, to the lord-deputy and council, as a proof of the fin« ccrity of his fubmiflion ; while his emifi'aries carried through Leinder and Munfter the news of the promifed aid, and exhorted the difaffefted to take arms, in con- cert with the northerns, for the defence of ChrilVs catholic religion. Difcontents and irijurious treatnient of fome of the queen's officers contributed alfo to the encouragement of rebellion. The infurgents of Connaught, repreffed by the arms of Norris and the deputy, alleged in excufe for their offence that they had been intolerably oppreffed by Sir Richard Bingham, the prefident, who w^as in confequence fuperfeded by the appointment of Sir Connyers Clifford, imprifoned, and tried, but probably with juftice, acquitted. The difgrace. of Norris was alfo approaching, as the queen and her minifters, who confidered not his wants, nor the difficult nature of his fervice, were difappointed in their expeclations of brilliant fuccefs from his noted abilities. O'Nial, HISTORY OF IRELAND. 389 0*Nial, who had intelligence of the ftate of par- chap. . • XVII ties in the Englifli court, wifhing at once to keep ' .. alive the zeal of his aflbciates, and to amufe the government till his plan (hould be matured, invefted Armagh, under pretence of injuries, expelled the garrifon, and, on the approach of Norris, renewed with the moft folemn proteftations his offers of fub- miflion. But when the commiffioners had received full powers for the final conferring of pardon on the ftipulated terms, he eluded a conference, notwith- ftanding their mean condefcenfion in foliciting his compliance. To chaftife his infolence, a new deputy, Thomas lord Burgh, was appointed by the intereft of the earl of EiTex ; and Norris, who had been duped by the artifices of the Irifli chief, was order- ed to retire to his prefidency of Munfter, where the anguifh of difgrace put an end to his life in lefs than two months. Determined to profecute the war in the moft vigorous manner, lord Burgh ordered Sir Connyers Clifford to march from Connaught, and to meet him with his army at the fort of Black- water ; but this leader, oppofed in his progrefs by a body of two thoufand allies of the northern chief- tain, effe£led not his retreat, with his little army of fcven hundred men, without danger and addrefs ; while in Leinfter, a Hibernicized Englifliman, nam- ed Tirrel, detached from O'Nial with a band of five * hundred, defeated, and fent prifoner to the north, a fon of lord Trimblefton, who had led a thoufand againft him. Poffeffed of a martial fpirit and military" fldll, the deputy, undaunted by partial difcomfitures, advanced VOL. I. u intrepidly 2go HISTORY OF IRELAND. c H A I', intrepidly to attack O'Nial, who lay flrongly entrencli- t ^ - ' - ed near Armagh. After an obftinate engagement the rebL'l army was driven from its entrenchments : lord Burgh purfued ; retook the fort of Blackwatcr ; again defeated in a bloody encounter the rebel forces ; and was preparing to afl'ail them a third time, where they were pofted in defiles between his army and Dungannon, to which he was determined to penetrate, when he unfortunately died, leaving the command to the earl of Kildare, This nobleman, who attempted only to fecure the ground already gained, foon after died of grief on account of his two foRer brothers who had fallen in their fuccefsful exertions to refcue him from the enemy ; fo power- ful \vd.s this artificial tie, and fuch the fenfibility of Kildare ! The civil adminiftration of Ireland was now com- mitted to Adam Loftus, archbidiop of Dublin, chan- cellor, and Sir Robert Gardiner, chief juilice : the military to the earl of Ormond with the title of lord lieutenant of the army. While this new general de- tached Sir Henry Bagnal to fupport the garrifons of Armagh and Blackvvater, O'Nial, dreading the ex- perienced fuperiority of the Englifli forces, and , vvilhing, as ufual, to gain time till a more favour- able opportunity, once more had recourfe to a moft ; humble felicitation for pardon, and was again admitted to a parley for an accommodation. In a conference at Dundalk, Or'nond affented to an armifdce of two monihs to give time to other chiefs to tranfmit their complaints of grievances to the queen. In a fecond conference the wily dynafl: rcjecled the mofl: materfal 4 conditions,, HISTORY OF IRELAND. 2gt conditions, and agreed to others with fuch exceptions chap. as would render them nugatory. Even thus, under conditions of his own didation, was the queen induced, by the entreaties of Ormond, to grant him pardon under the great feal, of which he affeded a contempt, decHning to proceed through the forms of law necef- fary for his reinftatement in the condition of a loyal fubject. When an armiftice of twelve months was refufed by Ormond, and one only granted for the fixth part of that time, he refolved, without regard to promifes or treaties, to recommence hoflilities im- mediately, before the royal army could be recovered from its prefent fhattered condition. U2 CHAP. 291 HISTORY OF IRELAND. C H A P. XVIII. Evils of the queen* s temporizing conducl Battle of Blackwater — Geiicral rebellion — Effex lord lieutena-nt His mifeondud— — His interview with O^Niat -^His fall Operations of Tyrone) ?nanifeflo, Eifr. — Appointment of Mounfjoy Seizure of Or?nond Operations of Mountjoy His alarm Bafc coinage Affairs of Munjler Policy of Carew • The Snggan earl SpaniJJj invafwn Siege of Kinfale Fruitlefs march of Carew Freflj infur reel ion B.:ttle of . Kinfale Siirrendry of the Spaniards Seizure of Dunboy Redudion of Munjler Operations in Uljler 'Difnal famine Submijfion of O^Nial His grie f ■ ■ Reflexions. i r ROM the temporizing conduft and other errors of Irifh adminiftration, in the reign of a princefs who a(^ed elfewhere with fuch a fpirit of fteady '"s- decifion, great advantages had been acquired by the. enemies of EngHfli government in this country. Employed in the royal armies at home and in the 1557. Netherlands, many difaffecled Irifh, unacquainted before with other than tumultuary warfare, had ac- quired the difcipline of (landing militia ; and O'Nial, who under the fandion of the- queen's commiffion had inftrucled his followers in military evolutions, had alfo aftcrv/ards fliewn them the practice of war,. 14 had CHAP. XVllI. ^ . Evils of temporiz HISTORY OF IRELAND. igy had continued their training in the times of armiftice, chap. and augmented their number by an influx of mal- ^ ^ _• contents from ail parts of the kingdom. When this chieftain, difappointed in his requefl of Battle of , • 1 1 J • f 1 • • Blackwater. a year s truce, judged war expedient tor his views, he recommenced hoflilities by the blockade of Armagh, taking pofl for that purpofe betweeji this town and Newry, where Sir Henry Bagnal was en- camped. The latter, by a circuit through unfre- quented ways, not only relieved the garrifon, but, by a fudden attack, threw the enemy into confufion, without the attainment of any decilive advantage. O'Nial, retiring, laid fie^e to the fort of Black- water, to the relief of which marched Bagnal re- inforced by frefh troops. We find the two armies reprefented as nearly equal in number, that of Bag- nal five thoufand, that of O'Nial five thoufand one hundred. The onfet on both fides v/as furious, but fortune was unfavourable to the rovalifts. In the heat of the battle they were difordered by an explo- fion of gun-powder accidentally fired, and deprived of their leader by a (hot in his forehead. With the lofs of fifteen hundred foldiers, thirteen oflic&rs of con- fpicuous valour, all its artillery^ ammunition, and provifions, the routed army fled to Armagh, which was quickly evacuated on the approach of the enemy, to whom the fort of Blackwater had immediately been furrendered. This vidory, unimportant in appearance from the General re- numbers engaged, was, in the feeble flate of admi- 1598. ' niftration, the contempt into w^hich it had fallen by the repeated infults of O'Nial, and the general dif- u 3 affe6lion 291 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, affection of the natives, followed by confequences , ^^'"' , moft alarming. Thofe northerns, who had hitherto hefiiated, joined with emulation the army of Tyrone : the flame of infurreflion involved all Connaught : feveral chiefs of Leinfter took arms, particularly O'Moore, who, poflefling himfelf of Leix, the an- cient country of his clan, pierced into Munfter, and, forcing Sir Thomas Morris, the lord prefident, to retire to Cork, with a harafied army, gave room for operation to the enemies of England, who accord- ingly rofe on all fides with fury. Since, contrary to the original plan, no adequate defence had been pro- vided for the new plantations in this province, they fell a prey to the enemy, who butchered without mercy the unfortuna*^e planters. Miferable through- out all Ireland was the face of affairs, and dtfperate in appearance the royal caufe. Ignominioufly encaged within fortifications, and threatened vA'ith the dangers of aflault, or the miferies of fiege and famine, the friends of government abandoned all the open coun- try to the rebels, who indulged in the mod licentious riot, and in the moft atrocious cruelty on the vidims of their capricious rage. To heighten the alarm, intelligence was received through the king of Scot- land that Philip of Spain was making mighty pre- parations to invade both England and Ireland, and that twelve thoufand of his troops were deftined for the latter. ^ . ^ Elizabeth, convinced, when it was almoft too late, Appoint- ' ' ' nient ot £f- of the neccfTity of great exertions for the pacification of this kingdom, fent her favourite, Robert De- vereux, earl of Eflex, with the title of lord lieute- nant. HISTORY OF IRELAND, 295 nant, with extraordinary powers, even that of par- chap. doning every fpecies of treafon, and with a force of -. ,-^ — -> twenty-two thoufand men, fuch as had not, fince the time of Richard the fecond, been led into the Irifh territories. To this appointment both the friends and enemies of Eifex concurred j the former hoping that he might return with victory and augmented influence ; the latter that he might ruin himfelf by his pride and intemperance, while abfence might efface the impref- fion of his engaging qualities from the queen's mind. The forces of the earl, fuppofed irrefiitible in Ireland by men unacquainted with the country, caufed little or no fear to O'Nial and his confederates, who re- folutely determined on the mod vigorous oppofition. On the new governor's arrival in Dublin he was in- formed that the entire number of his troops was ex- ceeded by that of the rebels in the feveral provinces, who were alfo of more hardy and robuft bodies than his foldiers, and generally better trained in arms than his newly raifed troops. Contrary to the queen's inftruclions, and the opi- 1599. nion dehvered by himfelf previoufly to his appoint- ment, EfTex, inftead of marching diredly againfl: the northern rebels, and planting garrifons at the important pofts of Lough Foyle and Ballyfhannon, made his firft expedirion into Munfter, according to the opinion of the Irifli privy council, many of whofe members were interefted in the late plantations of that province. Haraifed in his march by O'Moore, he returned, wit3iout the obtaining of any foiid ad- vantage to Dublin, where, finding that fix hundred of the queen's forces had been ignominioufly defeat- u 4 ed 296 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, ed by an Inferior number of the O'Byrns of Wick- ,. ^ low, he caihiered the officers, executed a lieutenant, the chief dehnquent, and decimated the unfortunate foldiers. After feme petty hoftilities in Leinller, a fharp reprimand from Elizabeth, and a reinforce- ment, which he had folicited, of two thoufand men, he at laO: bent his march againft O'Nial ; but de- clared in his letters to the queen that he could only lead three thoufand five hundred infantry and three hundred horfe to the borders of Ulller, and that his intended enterprises mufl: neceflarily be fufpended. The royal armies had been waited by harafling marches and ficknefs in Munfler and elfewhere. To fecond his northern operations ElTex had ordered Sir Connyers Clifford, prefident of Connaught, to draw his forces to Beleek ; and thefe, amounting to fifteen hundred foot and two hundred cavalry, had been fo fuddenly and furioufly affailed, in an embarraffed iituation, by only two hundred Irifh under a chief named O'Ruarc, that having loft a hundred and twenty, among whom was their commander, they returned, though they had repulfed the enemy, to their former poft. Such difafters were fo difcourag- ing that numbers deferted the ftandards of the queen ; the Englilh to efcape diftrefs ; the Irifh to participate in the expedled vidories of their country- men. O'Nial, whofe policy was, by a protraclion of the war to wafte the royal forces, to ftrengthen his own, and to await Spanifli auxiliaries, made re- quefts repeatedly to EflTex for a parley, warmly pro- fefling to fubmit to the queen's mercy ; and the chief- governor at length affented to an interview. Eflex HISTORY Oi" IRELAND. 297 Eflex had been fufpefled of ambitious defiens, and chap, X V 11 ' his conduct, on his arrival in Irehmd, feemingly cal- -v— v— ' culated more for the flrengthening of his own per- o-nUi.'''"''' fonal influence than for the public fervice, gave caufe to heighten thefe fufpicions, as he conferred promotions and honours inconfiRently with the queen's inflruaions, and even changed the plan of uaifare apparently to gratify individuals. By the agency of an officer of EfTex, named Thomas Lee, who palfed and repalled between the two generals, O'Nial obtained a private conference at a fmall river in the county of Louth, where the Irifli lord, with obfequious aiieQation, plunging his horfe to the faddle in the dream, held a long converfation with the chief governor, who remained on the bank. The wily Irifiiman on this occafion endeavoured to enflame the ambition of ElTex, and was fo confident of having fucceeded, that he declared to his aflbciates, on his return, that new troubles would foon arife in England which'would require his prefence there. At length a public parley commenced in the preltnce of fix perfons on each fide, in which the lord lieutenant agreed to tranfmit to the queen the den;ands of the northerns, and in the mean time to grant them a truce for fix weeks, renewable from time to time for the fame term, and allowing each party a power to renew the war on a previous notice of fourteen days. When EiTex was made acquainted with the queen's fail of difpleafure at his mifconducl, he at firfl refolved to return into England with the flower of his army and take vengeance on his enemies. Diverted from this execrable defign by lord Southampton and Sir Chriftopher 298 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. Chriftopher Blunf, he repaired fuddenly to London, xviir. ^ . . / ■^ -V— »^ andj furprifing the queen in her beJchamber, who was only then ruen and drefling, thiew bimfelf on his knees before her and kifTed her hand. He availed himfelf on this occafion of a warrant, long before pro- cured from her Majcdy, empowering him to delegate his authority at any time to two lords juflices, for whofe conduct he fliould be anfwerable, and to ap- pear in her prefence or at her court ; but in her lafl: letter to iiini (he had exprefsly commanded his con- tinuance in the Irifh government. For the fubfequent misfortunes and death of this high fpirited and ge- nerous, but imprudent nobleman, which ultimately haftened the death of the queen herfelf, as they belong not to the tranfadions of Ireland, I refer the reader to Hume and other writers of Englhh hiftory. Tyrone's Receiving new fupplies of money, ammunition, and promifes, of fpeedy invafion, from Spain, by Don Matheo Oviedo, a Spaniard, created by the pope archbiihop of Dublin, together with a confe- crated plume, compofed of the feathers of a phoenix, as his Holinefs declaied, ONial renewed the war; but foon after agreed to a truce of one month with the earl of Ormond, who had been again appointed lord lieutenant of the army. In this interval he ad- drefled a manifefto to all the Irifh, earneftly exhorting them to arm for the catholic religion, which he folemnly declared to be fo dear to his heart, that he could never be induced by any private interelts to abandon its defence j and afluring them that no al- legiance could be due to a fovereign depofed by ex- communication for herefy by the fupreme pontiff. This HISTORY OF IRELAND. 299 This chief, who made religion a handle for political purpofes, addreil'ed alfo a letter, figned by himfelf and other Irilh lords, to ihe Father of Spirits upon earth, as his Holincfs was llyled, in which they ac- knowledged themfeivcs his fubjeds, and implored his aflsitavice. In anfwer to this was puhlifhed a bull, grantin^^ to prince Hugh O'Nial, and all his con- federates, the fame fpiritual indulgences which were ufually conferred on thcfe who fought agaiufl the Turks for the recovery of the Holy Land. In the low condition of Engliih power in this niunt d.H country after the departure of EfTex ; when the total ^'^''''"'^'^* of the forces, difpirited and fickly, amounted only to fourteen tnoufand foot and twelve hundred caval- ry, didributed through every province of the ifland ; and when the rebels were augmented in number, confidence, and ftrength, and their defigns favoured fecretly by many who appeared well affeded to the crown ; while a chief of no mean talents, dark, fubtile, and enterprifmg, was labouring to unite his- compatriots in a common caufe ; Ireland mufi: have been loft if a Spanifli invafion had now taken place, or if a man of military genius had not been ap- pointed to condud its affairs. Charles Blunt, lord Mountjoy, a man of literary knowledge and refined manners, had been propofed for the IriH) govern- ment by the queen before the nomination of Edex ; but the arrangement was prevented by the inter- ference of the favourite, who objeded to Mountjoy, as a perfon rendered unfit for military command by a life of ftudy. That fuch an opinion (liould be en- tertained by the rude and boifterous Irifii, who could hardly joo HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, hardly diftlnguKh refinement from effeminacy, might > .. I.,-' " ' more naturally be expected ; and we find that O'Nial exulted in the choice made of a commander who would lofe the feafon of adion labile his breakfajl luas in preparation. Such men reflected not that ge- neralfhip depends on the powers of intellect, which by culture alone can be flrengthened and enlarged. iCgo. Nominated lord-deputy in this crifis, not without feme diffidence by the queen, who feenis to have placed her chief reliance on the earl of Ormond, lord lieutenant of the army, and Sir George Carew, lord prefident of Muniler, Mountjoy*entered Dublin without pofnp in February 1600, with the fame in- ftru6lions from his miflrefs which Effex had received and negleded. He immediately marched to Mullin- gar to intercept O'Nial in his return from the weft of Munfter to the north of Ireland ; but, amufed for fome time with various reports, he learned at length that the Irifli leader had effected his efcape over the river Inny with a precipitation which manifefled a fear of the royal armv. That fome generals of the royalifls had connived at this retreat feemed highly probable to the deputy, and fufpicion firft fell on the earl of Clanricard, but foon after was fixed on the earl of Ormond, who, in a conference with O'Moore near Kilkenny, was taken prifoner, feem- ingly by a concerted plan between him and, the enemy, from whom Sir George Carev/ and the earl of Thomond, enticed into the fnare by Ormond, with great difficulty and danger made their efcape. The offers of O'Moore for the liberation of his pri- foner on certain conditions were anfvvered only by a filent iilSTORY OF IRELAND. 301 filent contempt, and the deputy proceeded with chap. vigour and difpatch in the execution of his plan, ^-' j placing garrifons in Dundalk, Ardee, Kells, Newry, and Carlingford, to awe the northerns, and rein- forcing thofe which had been planted in Leix and Ofallv. Mountjov, marchinj:: northward, drove O'Nial Operations from his entrenchments between Armagh and New- joy. ry ; while Sir Henry Dowkra, whofe operations were covered by this attack, landed at Loughfoyle, and fortified the city of Derry. So much was the glory of O'Nial tarnirtied by thefe fuccefsful mo- tions, and fuch their efFefc on the fickle Iri(h, that great numbers deferted to Dowkra, and feveral chiefs, among whom were Sir Arthur O'Nial, a fori of Turlough Lynnogh, and one of the O'Donnels, named Nial Garruff or the boijlcrous, applied for par- don and protecliori to the deputy. This leader, re- turning fouthv/ard, purfued OMoore and Tirrel into their faftnefies in Leix, the former of whom was killed in an attack on the Englifn troops ; and, on promife of protection to their keepers, he recovered fome hoftages, who had been given for the fecurity of a ranfom (lipulated for Ormond's liberation. As the enemy every where flirunk from the attack, in- timidated by the mafterly vigour of his movements, recourfe was taken to a horrid expedient, juftifiable only on the plea of neceflity. Sir Arthur Chichefler ifluing from Carrickfergus, Sir Samuel Biignal from Newry, and other officers from their feveral polls, committed luch rueful havoc, even on the (landing corn. 308 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, corn, as to reduce great part of the country to a de* XVII I. V -~^ fert, and the inhabitants to the unutterable mifery oF famine. When Mountjoy in a fecond expedition to the north had again diflodged O'Nial from his entrenchr ments, demohfiied his works, and repulfed him with llaughter in an attempt to oppofe his return by Car- lingford, he received news from England, which fo alarmed him that he made fome preparations for a flight to France, refolved, as he faid, " not to put his neck under the file of the queen's attorney's tongue." The unhappy Eflex, condemned for high treafon, had nam- ed, among oth^r perfons of note, Mountjoy, as hav- ing been acquainted with his fecret pradices. But Elizabeth, too prudent to rifk the lofs of important fervices for the indulgence of petty refentments, wrote the deputy a letter which removed his apprehenfions. He therefore proceeded in his fuccefsful m.ode of warfare, raifing the fpirits of his troops, harafling the enemy by incefifant alarms, and encouraging the Irifli, by the fcrupulous fulfilment of every promife, not only to forfake the rebel chiefs, but to aft againft them under the royal banners. " With more of policy than humanity'* fays Leland, " he took care that thefe Irifli foldiers fhould be expofed both to toil and danger ; and even boafled to the queen that he had thus diminiflied the number of her fecret enemies. They were, however, outwardly encouraged, and their leaders rewarded by efpecial favours, when they once approved their fidelity." Bafecoin- To augment the diftrefs of the rebels, a fcheme was derifed by the Englifh miniftry, unwillingly adopted age HISTORY OF IRELAND. 303 adopted by the queen, unwelcome to the deputy, chap. and ruinous to many loyalifls. Of four or five hun- - ' ^ ' - dred thoufand pounds, annually expended in fter- ling money for the maintenance of the Irifli war, a confiderable part, by plunder or traffic, fell into the hands of O'Nial and his confederates, who were thereby enabled to procure from the continent arms, ammunition, and provifions. To deprive them of this advantage a bafe coin was fent into this king- dom and ordered to be taken for fterling ; the im- portation and ufe of every other (Iriclly prohibit- igor. ed ; and places of exchange appointed in England and Ireland, v.here the fubjecls of either kingdom might commute their coins, allowing a difference of one (hilling in the pound between the Irifli and Englifli ftandard. Doubtlefs the rebels were more than ever diflreffed, when fuch money only could be procured, as, paffing merely for its intrinfic va- lue in foreign countries, purchafed little for their ufe ; but the diilrefs was alfo feverely felt by the royal troops, for traders well knew how to raife their prices, fo as not to be lofers in their fales by adulterated metal. To prevent a mutiny Mountjoy kept his troops inceffantly in motion, and with fuch fuccefs, that he received indrudions to thank the army and all the oflicers, in the queen's name, for their zeal and duty in her fervice. While the lord-deputy was thus employed in Affairs of Leinfter and the north. Sir George Carew was afl- ing in Munfter with vigour and addref?. On his entrance on the prefidency oi this province the whole of 504 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, of his army amounted only to three thoufand infan- . ' ^ '_! try and two hundred and fifty horfe ; a force quite inadequate to oppofe the rebel chiefs, if thefe had been cordially united. Florence Mac-Arthy, who had revolted from government, and obtained from Tyrone the title of Mac-Arthy More, commanded three thoufand men, James Fitzthomas, who claimed the earldom of Defmond, and had received alfo the authority of Tyrone for his claim, thence denomi- nated in derifion by Lifli loyalills the Suggan earl, or the earl of Slrawj was followed by formidable num- bers who w^ere attached to the title: and five thou- fand mercenaries from Gonnaught were under the conduct of Redmond De Burgh and Dermot O'Con- nor. To difnnite thefe chiefs by tlie infufion of mutual jealoufies, and to circumvent them by the treachery of their own followers, was the policy of Carew, who from his pod in Cork watched every opportunity of advantage. A man named Nugent, being feized in an attempt to afTalTmate John Fitzthomas, a brother of the Sug- gan earl, declared at his execution that many more were engaged by the lord prefident for the fame pur- pofe, whi( h created fuch a terror in the two bro- thers as to paralyfe their faculties, and render them unfit for military enterprifcs. O'Connor, one of the Connaught leaders, gained likewife by flattering pro- mifes, feized by ftratagem the Suggan earl, and would have delivered him to Carew, if he had not been refcucd by his brother John, and a leader named Pierce Lacy, who collected four thoufand men on HISTORY OF Ireland. , 305 on this occafion. De Burgh alfo receiving encourage- chap. ment to hope for the Lord (hip of Leitiim, marched home to Connaught with five hundred mercenaries. Emboldened by the difunion of the enemy, the pre- fident proceeded to a more honourable mode of war- fare, a vigorous profecution of military operations, in the courfe of which he reduced the forrrefs of a chieftain ftiled the Knight of the Valley, and in Kerry the caftle of the lord of Lixnaw, committing in his progrefs the mod difmal devaftation. From the dread of defolation and famine, many of the moft defperate rebels fued for abfolution for the fin of fubmitting to a heretical government, and for per- mifiion to live under it in temporal obedience. Two thoufand five hundred of the troops of Con- naught, fearing to be intercepted, determined to abandon their confederates of Munfter, and obtained leave to return unmolefted to their homes. The army of the Suggan earl was defeated and difperfed by the garrifon of Kilmallock ; and as Mac-Arthy More had by dextrous management been engaged to ftand neuter, no rebel force in Munfter appeared any longer in the field. A pardon tendered by the queen to all, with fome exceptions, who fhould be nominated by the prefident to the deputy, was accepted readily by four thoufand per- j fons, and the country was fo reduced to obedience that juflice v/as adminidered in it with regula- rity. To contribute to the continuance of tranquillity, the Suggan earl, who had concealed himfelf in the VOL. I. X lands 3o6 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, lands of a chieftain ftiled the White Knight, wa?, 07i XVIII threats denounced againfl that chieftain, taken by him and delivered to Carew, by whom he was fent to London, together with Mac-Arthy More, who was feized on the difcovery of trcafonable prat^^ices. Sp nifh Jq this fituation of affairs in the fouthern province, iiivuiion, ' the long threatened invafion from Spain at length took place, with a body of about fix thoufand n^en, under Don Juan d'Aquila, who landed at Kinfale, in September 1601, with his principal force, while the red of the armament was driven by a ftorm into the bay of Baltimore. "With hardly fix thoufand men the deputy marched boldly againft the invaders, befieged them in Kinfale, repelled their frequent fal- lies, furioufly afl'auked and took the caltle of Rin- corran on the river half a mile from the town, and was continually advancing his approaches, when intelligence was received that O'Donnel was in full march to allift the Spaniards, with troops from Connaught and Leinfler, and that he was followed by O'Nial with the flower of the nor- therns. To intercept O'Donnel, Carew was ordered, con- trary to his own judgmenl, to march with a part of the forces, while Mountjoy with the red continued the fiege. But the Irifh leader eluded his efforts, and, pafling rapidly over a frozen mountain, pierced into Munller, leavhig him to return with a haralTed army. The deputy, however, puflied ftrcnuoully the fiege, and took another fort, called Cafllepark, in an ifland oppofite to Rincorran, as he found him- felf HISTORY OF IRELAND; 307 felf reinforced by fcveral bodies of troops, partica- c h a p. \.' XVIII. larly under the earls of Clanricard and Thomond. But on the other hand a new armament arrived from Spain of fix veflels, with two thoufand men, whofe landing at Cadlehaven, together with the intelli- gence which they brought of other armaments pre* pared to foilow, gave fuch encouragement to the diiTaffecied fepts, who had fubmitted, and hitherto flood neuter, that the infurreftion was general in Defmond, Kerry, and all parts to the welt of Kin- fale and Limerick. Admiral Leviflon, who had brought a fupply of two thoufand troops to Cork, attacked the Spanifli fleet in Cafllehaven, and de- ftroyed fome of their fliips ; but received fo much damage in his own veffels from a battery on fliore as to return to the harbour of Kinfale in a fliaitered condition. O'Donnel, joined by the Spaniards from Caftlehaven, and O'Nial, with the troops of UHler, lay in fuch pofilions as to blockade the deputy's forces on the land fide, while their fupplies were fo •flowly furni(hed by fea, that with hunger, and the cold of November, many dropped dead on their polls, and many more deferted. This little army, on whofe fortune the fate of Ireland was now fuf- pended, mufl have been deflroyed, if the Irifli had continued obftinately to maintain their prefent. pofi- tion ; and fuch is faid to have been the plan of O'Nial ; but preffed by D*Aquila and fome of his Irifh affociates, and fearing bad confequences from the want of union and fubordination a^ mong his unwieldy numbers, this chief at length advanced X 2 308 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, advanced with reluftance to attack the Enellfli XVIII. ° V— V--— ' army. Kinfaie.^ To awalt an aflault on his camp was judged un- fafe by the deputy, who therefore, leaving Carew with part of his forces to continue the fiege, marched at day-break, on the twenty-fourth of November, to meet the enemy, with a body of only twelve hun- dred infantry and four hundred cavalry. This un- expecled movement, with the maRerly difpofition of his troops, furprifed and intimidated the confederate Iriffi, who halted, retired, again halted, and of- fered battle. Furioufly charged by the earl of Clan- ricard, and Wingfield, marfhal of the army, their cavalry fled in confufion. The vanguard, led by Tirrel, was routed after fome refinance, and the Spaniards of Caftlehaven abandoned, who fell bravely fighting, except a few, who with Ocampo, their ge- neral, furrendered. The main body, commanded by O'Nialj next yielded to the fhock ; and the rear, with O'Donnel, its commander, fled v/ithout fight- ing, 'i'his very furprizing victory, gained with a lofs on the royal fide of only a cornet ilain, and a few foldiers wounded, was attended with fuch havoc among the routed force?, that twelve hundred lay dead, and eight hundred were wounded; a number on the whole amount exceeding that of the con- quering army ! O'Donnel in defpair took refuge in- Spain ; and O'Nial, forfaken by molt of his army, retired with wounded pride, and the anguifh of dif- appointment, into Ulfler. surrpr.rtry D*Aquila, who had hitherto remained within his nia-ds! ^'*^' fortifications, miflaking the vollies, fired by Mount- 9 j°y'^ HISTORY OF IRELAND. 309 joy's troops In honour of their vidory, for fignals of chap. the approach of his Trifh allies, fallled from the •^,,.«..,^,^ town ; but when he faw the Spanifh colours in pof- fefiion of the Enf^lifh, he retired, and in the rage of indignation againfl confederates who had fuffered themfelves to be fo difgracefully defeated, made pro- pofals of furrendry. Very honourable terms were wifely granted to the high-fpirited Spaniard, who would indignantly have rejeded any other, and whofe romantic notions were fuch, that he had chal- lenged, on his firfl fummons, the lord-deputy to fingle combat ; a mode of decifion rejected with filent contempt by Mountjoy, fenfible of the abfur- dity of confounding the general with the foldier. By the articles of capitulation all fortreffes held in Ireland by Spanilli troops were evacuated ; but the fort of Dunboy at Berehaven was feized, as his property, by Daniel O'Sullivan, an Irifii chief, who refolved to defend it againft the queen's troops. The Spanifli general, with a nice fenfe of honour, of- fered his fervice for the reduction of this fortrefs previoufly to his departure, which was politely re- 1602. fufed ; and the place was taken by (lorm by Carew after a moft defperate defence. The capitulation of D'Aquila, was a fortunate Reduaion event, as the Spanifli monarch was preparing to teis?*^ '^^" « fend other armaments which thus were prevented. Yet by the expedaion of thefe, and the preaching of Romifli fanatics, the flame of rebellion flill blazed with fuch fury in Munfter, that all royalilfs, who fell into the hands of the infurgents, were butchered X 3 as 310 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, as heretics, while the captives of the latter were ^ , - - > handed as traitors. C(5nfouiided at len<:^th by the operations of Carew, who fcized their forts, ravaged their lands, and haraffed them with famine and in- cefi'ant alarms, thev either threw themfelves on the mercy of government, or fought refuge elfewhere. la a fimilar manner IVIoun^joy, who had marched to the north, proceeded agairift the adherents of Ty- rone, who a feeond time fet fire in his flight to his town of Dungannon. By the erection of the new foitrefles of Charlemont and Mountjoy their dif- treffes were completed, and fuch multitudes died of hunger, that the roads were every where encum- bered with their unburied carcafes ; while the hide- ous refources adopted by many for a miferable pro- longation of life are too (liocking to be related. In the confufion of Tyrone's affairs, the two fons of John O'Nial, whom he had fo long detained in prifon, effected their efcape to the deputy. Every day this vanquifhed leader was deferted by fome followers ; and his alliance was renounced by the new chief of Tyrconnel, Roderic, the brother of the fugitive Hugh O'Donnel, who fubmitted to government, and received the protection of Mountjoy. Submi.T.on m this forlom ftate, O'Nial fued for pardon with 1603." Tmcerity ; but the deputy was perplexed by the di- verfity of inftruclions received from the queen, which fliewed the diflracled fta'.j of her mind near the clofe of her life. Being at length privately af- fured of her death, he difpatched Sir William Go- dolphin to the rebel earl with a fafe condudl, pref- HISTORY OF IRELAND. 311 fing hirn to prevent his utter deftrudion by im- chap. mediately furrendering his perfon, and accepting , - -» honourable conditions, vvhicli now might be given, but which, if no't inflantly accepted, might never be again attainable. O'Nial v,'ithout lofs of time repaired to the deputy at Mellifont, and on his knees in the mofl humble (train implored forgivenefs. Subfcribing to all the conditions impofed, he re- ceived a pardon for himfe'f and his followers, and a new patent for his lands with fome refervations. At- tending the deputy to Dublin, and there informed of Elizabeth's deceafe, he burfi: into tears from grief at his precipitate fubmiffion ; for if this event, wifely concealed by the deputy, had been known by him, he might have renewed the war v/ith advan- tage i or at worfl might have made a merit with the new fovereign by voluntarily fubmitting to his mercy on his acceflion to the throne. As a retreat was impofiible, he pretended that affection for the departed princcfs, who had treated him with fuch clemency, was the caufe of his tears; and he re- newed in ample form his fubmiffion to her fuc- ceffor. With the furrendry of O'NIal ended all oppofition Reflea.-on, to Englifli government in Ireland, whofe conqueft was thus finally accomplifiied by the arms of Eliza- , beth, a moit magnanimous and wife princefs, v/ho yetj from the neceffity of exertions elfewhere, had neglected too long almod to a fatal degree, the affairs of this kingdom. The lofs of this country, X 4 lo 31* HISTORY OF IRELAND. cHAt». fo important fmce to the Britifh empire, was pre- X V 1 1 1 ■ / „,^. ,' > vented not only by the abilities of Mountjoy and Carew, but alfo by the errors of the Spanifh cabi- net, whofe preparations were too late, and the place of invafion ill chofen, Munfter, a province then re- duced to fubjedion, and far diflant from the armies of Tyrconnel and Tyrone. Among the prudent ineafures of Irifii adminiftration in thefe critical times, was mildnefs in religious matters ; for, not- vvithflanding the affeded complaints of mal-cohtents againfl: heretical oppreflion, the Jaws enabled againfl recufants, perfons refufmg to conform to the pro- tedant rites, or to lake the oath of fupremacy, lay dormant in Ireland ; and, notwithftanding the poifon of bigotry, mod laborioufly infufed by facerdotal emiffaries from Rome and Spain, the armies of the queen were in great part compofed of catholics, whofe loyal conduct was honourable to themfelves, and the religion which they profeiTed, when unper- verted for political ends. The reduQion of this un- fortunate iiland cofl Elizabeth fix hundred thoufand pounds in fix months in 1599, and almoft three mil- lions and a half in the lad ten years ; fums altoge- ther enormous in that age, and in the then e;xifting ftate of the Englifli finances, when the ordinary revenue of the crown fell fliort of half a million yearly j and coH; the country, which was the fcene of war, perhaps the greater part of its popula- tion by fword, famine, and peflilence, the ac- cpupts of whofe ravages, tranfmitted by writers of HISTORY OF IRELAND. 3^$ of undoubted veracity are horrible and appalling chap. to human feelings : nor was this "war unattend- ed with rueful wafte of Englifh blood in a coun- try then unfriendly, from the dampnefs of its air, its woods, and fcanty culture, to Englifh con- ititutions. CHAP. 314 HISTORY OF IRELAND. C H A P. XIX. Accejpon cf jamcs the jlrji — Religious dlflurhanccs—^ Political regulatiofis — Religious oppofiiion — Flight cf Tyrone and Tyrconnel 0'' Dogherty* s rehclUon — PIa?itation of JJlfler — Attention to the church — Re- ligious difcontcnts — Petition of recvfant lords — Firji national ■parliament — Altercations — Convocation — Extenfwn of plantations — ^aint yohns adminiftra- iion— -State cf the country — of the army and revenue — Spanifb recruiting — Opprejf ions of plantations — Corruption cf commiffioneri -^-Grievances from dif- CQverers — Abufcs cf undertakers — Reflexions — hn - provemcnts — Cujioms — Scheme of plantation in Con- naught — Death cf fames. CHAP. ![ Q the qreat Elizabeth in the Endifh throne fiic- XIX. -»• t) b '— — ^ ' ceeded, under the title of James the firft, a defcen- of j,.mes dant of Henry the feveiith by a female line, J'-imes 1603.' * Stuart, king of Scotland, who thus uniied under one monarch the three diaind kingdoms of Eng- land, Scotland, and Ireland. Of much erudition, though of fo moderate an intelledt as to defcend to pedantry, and fo weak in politics as to incur the contempt of European courts, James was fortunately ficied by his pacific talenrs for the taflv which had devolved on him in Ireland, the eilablifhment of Englifli polity throughout the whole country, and inftitutions for the reduction of its inhabitants into order and civilization. But the abilities cf Mount- joy HISTORY OF IRELAND. 315 joy were fllll neceflliry in the beginning of this reign chap. to prevent a renovation of troubles from religious = fury, the inftigators of which affured the people, in fome places that James was a catholic, in others that he could not be a lawful king unlefs he had been efl:ablif];ied by the pope's authority, and had fworn to defend the catholic religion. Seduced by fuch peftilent preachers, the inhabi- Jj^J^ba^n^.^^ tants of feveral cities in Leinfter, and of moil in Munfter, proceeded by their own authority to the re- eflablKhment of the Romifh worfliip in all its former pomp, ejecling the reformed minifters from their churches, and feizi'ig the religious houfes which h?.d been converted to civil ufes. The lord-deputy im- mediately marching fouthward to quell fuch fedi- tious faclions, and appearing before Waterford with his army, was refufed admittance by the citizens, who alleged that by a charter from king John they were exempt from the quartering of foldiers ; and they alfo declared, by the mouths of two ecclefi- aftics in the habits of their order, that they could not in confcience obey any fovereign who Ihould perfecute catholics. Mountjoy, having condefcended to expofe the falfehood of a quotation of thefe churchmen from Saint Auftin in fupport of their doftrine, threatened to cut in pieces the charter of John with the /word of fames, to demolifli the city and flrew it with fait. Terrified by the well known fpirit and abilities of this leader, the citizens imme- diately yielded and fwore allegiance ; and their ex- ample was without oppofition followed by the inha- bitants of Cafliel, Clonmel, and other cities. Thofe of 316 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, of Cork, the mofl; refra6lory, who had for fome » ^ '_ time declined to proclaitn the king, and been block- aded by the royal forces, not without fome blood- flied, furrendered at difcretion on the arrival of the deputy, who, having executed fon^.e of the inferior agitators, treated the refl with lenity, among whom was Mead the recorder, acquitted by the manifefl partiality of his jury. Having publiflied an ocl of ohUvicn and indemnily, to quiet the apprehenfions of multitudes implicated in the late rebellion, and having by the fame autho- rity received the whole body of the Iiifh peafantry into the immediate protection of the crov^n, who had been moflly before abandoned to the defpotifm of their chiefs, Mountjoy, created lord lieutenant, and conflituting Sir George Carevv his deputy, re- turned to England accompanied by Hugh O'Nial earl of Tryone, and by Roderic O'Donnel, the lat- ter of whom was created earl of Tvrconnel, the for- mer confirmed in his honours and eftates. But this nobleman, who had fo long bafded the arms of Eli- zabeth.; was held in fuch deteftation by the populace, on account of the deaths of fo many of their friends caufed by his rebellion, that he could not fafely travel without a ftrong efcort. FoHticai If. In the I'ucceffive adminifiration of Carew and guacion;,, g.^ Arthur Chichefler flierifis were appointed to the feveral counties, itinerant judges performed their circuits, and the native Irifli, now admitted to all the privileges of Engliih fubjecls, were taught to regard the fyflem of EngliHi polity in a favourable manner, J604. when its execution was obferved to be impartial and ftricl, HISTORY OF IRELAND. • 317 jflrl<5l, very difrerent from that mockery of iuftlce chap. XIX. with which thev had before been too often infuked. ■• - - * * By a commijftoji of grace under the great feal of Eng- land, empowering the chief governor to receive the furrendry of eftates, and to regrant them by a new and fafe inveftiture in the Englifh mode, a general revolution was effeded in the rights of tenure ; and great attention uas given to the juft claims of the feveral perfons concerned in the arrangement of this bufinefs. Each lord by his new patent was inveded only with the lands found to be in his immediate pof- feflion, while his followers were confirmed in their tenures, on condition only of their payment to him of a yearly rent equal to the value at which the un- certain duties, exaded from them by the old Irifh cufloms, were eftimated on clofe examination. By the fpirit of bigotry, whofe violence can be Reiigiooj retrained only by force, was the progrefs of politi- ^^p®''"^' cal amelioration checked and retarded. Sacerdotal champions perliiled flreauoufly to inculcate the opinion of the king*s affedion for the church of Rome, to denounce the vengeance of Heaven on all who fliould attend heretical worfiiip, to order the repair of fupprefl'ed religious houfes, and even to arraign the civil adminiftration, to reviev/ caufes de- termined in the king's courts, and to command the people, under pain of eternal perdition, to obey the decifions of their fpiritual courts, not thofe of the civil law. Though James appears to have been fecretly inclined to a temperate coalition of the churches of his realms with the Roman fee, vet he cordially abhorred the dodrine of a civil power in the 3iS HISTORY OF IRELAND^ c H A p. the pope over temporal princes, and of an autho» >^ rity in ecclefiaftics above the laws of the flate. A proclamation, commanding in Ireland, as in Eng- land, all popith clergy to leave the kingdom within 1605, a limited time, enraged the recufants, whofe au- dacity was fuch that fome of the principal citizens of Dublin and ma >iftrates were fined and fent to prifon. Inflantly were all the old Englifli families of the Pale in violent commotion, and prefented a petition and remonfirance againlt fuch feverities. The unufual concourfe attending the prefentment of this petition to the council, on the day in which intelligence arrived from England of the gunpowder treafon, a plot for the dellrudion of the king and Englifli parliament by the explofion of a mine, caufed a fufpicion that the catholic party here acted in concert with the confpirators of England. The chief petitioners were therefore confined in the caf- tle, and Sir Patrick Barnewall, their chief agent,, •was by the king's command fent prifoner to Lon- don. ids. No real feverities however feeni to have been put . in pra6lice, and, in the words of Leland, ** the zeal of Sir Arthur Chicheiler ended where it fhould have begun, with an attempt to reform the eftablifiied clergy, to enforce a particular attention to their duty, and to procure a tranflation of the fcriptures and common prayer into the Irifh language for the inftrudion of the ignorant natives." Yet religious rancour and dengns of treafon appear to have ftill continued to operate. By a letter dropped in the 0'Niai,&c. chamber of the Irifh privy council intimation was given HISTORY OF IRELAND. 519 given of a fcherne of rebellion, formed by feveral chap. northern chiefs, particularly the earls of Tyrone and ■' Tyrconnel, who were faid to have folicited foreign aid, and to have planned the furprifal of the caflle and afTaflination of the deputy. That in the then exifting (late of affairs, when fuccefs on rational grounds could not be expelled, fuch a fcherne Hiould have been formed by thefe lords, feems really im- probable J yet inftantly on the firft alarm they fled to the continent, abandoning their vad eflates to the crown ; nor has any colour of proof been pro- duced by themfelves or their friends in their vindi- cation, which might doubtlefs have been, if any ar- tifice had been put in praiSice to render them ob- noxious to the law, while they were innocent of the crime. Some of their accomplices, found guilty on trial by jury, were executed ; and, to guard againfl: unfounded clamours of religious perfecution, a royal proclamation was iiTued, in which his Ma- 1607. jelly declared that, under pretence of fubverting the Enghfli power in Ireland, thefe men had intended the extirpation of all his fubjecis in this country of Englilh defcent ; that not even the (hadow of molef- tation had been offered them ; and that to perfecute them on account of religion had never been intend- ed ; fmce to give trouble on this account would be unreafonable to men whofe manners were fo barba- roufly repugnant to chriftianity, that whether they had any religion at all, or not, was a doubtful mutter. Notwithftanding the flight of the two capital con- f,'^'';^'?''! fpirators, the fpirit of rebellion was fiercely dif- "^^^^on- played 320 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, pkyed in the infurredlion of Sir Cahir 0*Dogherty$ V -y ,/ proprietor of Innifliowen and the adjacent diftridl, who treacheroufly inviting to his houfe the comman- der of Culmore near Derry, named Hart, and mak- ing him and his wife prifoners, gained admittance by the fears of the latter into that fortrefsj the gar- 1608. rifon of v/hich he maifacred ; and, thence pro- ceeding to Derry, performed a fimilar tragedy, burn- ing the whole town, and haftening to attack other pofts. On the approach of Wingfield, marfhal of the army, he retired to the woods, whence he main- tained an aftive war of fkirmifhes, till after the ar- rival of the lord deputy with additional forces, when by an accidental fliot an end was put to his life, and to this local rebellion, which had continued five months, with much bloodflied and more alarm. J'limations, gy confpiracies and rebellions traces of land con- taining about five hundred thoufand acres, or almoft eight hundred thoufand of EngUfh meafure, were forfeited to the crown in the fix northern counties of Cavan, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry, Armagh, and Tyrconnel, the laft of which is now known only by the name of Donegal. Inftructed by the errors committed by former colonizers, and advifed by men of judgment, particularly Chichefler, the king proceeded in a fcheme of plantation, which fortu- nately was his fav^ourite object, with fuch caution and activity, that, though failures and miftakes had place in many inftances. the elfeds on the profperity of this country were great and permanent. The perfons, among whom were diftributed the confif- cated lands, were diliinguiHied as new undertakers, / fervitors, HISTORY OF IRELAND. 321 fervitors, and old natives. The firft were natives of ^^^t^' XjlX. Britain, and permitted to take only fuch for their tenants. The fecond, men who had fome timeferved in Ireland, in flations military or civil, were allowed to choofe any tenants, with exception only of recu- fants. The third were under no reftridions as to the 1 religion or birth place of their tenantry, and were ta- citly exempted from the oath of fupremacy, by which ' the two former were bound. To the fervitors were affigned fituations of mofl: danger, with guards and ; entertainment until the completion of the ^fettle- ; ments ; to the new undertakers the ftrongeft and mofl: commanding ; to the old natives the mofl: open I and accefllble, where, though dwelling feparate from I the refl, they might be fubje^t to the infpedion of their neighbours, and gradually habituated to agri- culture and other branches of peaceful induftry. The lands afligned for diftribution were divided into proportions of two thoufand, fifteen hundred, and one thoufand Englifh acres ; and thefe were dif- tributed by lot under certain regulations. The pro- prietors were bound to the performance of a variety of ftipulations, tending to the fecurity and improve- ment of the country, and the civilization of the na- tives. Among thefe was an obligation to fet their lands at determined rents, on leafes for three lives, •or twenty- one years at leaft. A yearly rent for the crown was referved from all thefe lands, for every fixty acres from Britifii undertakers fix (hillings and eight pence ; from fervitors ten (hillings ; from old natives thirteen and four pence. Much credit and encouragement accrued to undertakers from the city VOL, I. Y of 323 inSTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, of London, whofe corporation, accepting large grants , ^J^' , in the county of Derry, called from this tranfadion Londonderry, engaged to expend twenty thoufand pounds on the plantation, to build Colerain, and to rebuild and amplify the city of Derry. But, as this body of men a£led only by agents, they failed ilill more than other undertakers in the performance of their fiipulations, particularly in their admiffion of old natives as tenants into diftri6ls, into which Britiih coloniils only flioiild have been introduced by the, terms of their engagements. Attention In the diifribution of lands due attention was paid diurdi, to the clai-.ns of the clergy, and the maintenance of religious eflabliOimenrs. All ecclefiaflical lands were ordered to be reftored to their refpedive fees and churches ; and all to be deemed of this defcription, from which bifhops had in former times received revenues. Compofitlons for church lands were com- manded to be made with the patentee proprietors, who were to receive equivalents, if they compounded freely, otherwife to be deprived without requitaL Bifhops were obliged to refign to the incumbents of the feveral pariflies the tythes which they had re- ceived as impropriate, for which they were amply compenfated from the king's lands. Each propor- tion allotted to undertakers was made a parilh with a church. To incumbents, befide their tythes and duties, were glebes afligned of from fixty to a hun-sv. died and twenty acres. Free fchools were endowed, in the principal towns, and large grants of land made,, so the univerfity of Dublin, together with the ad- vowfon HISTORV OF IRELAND. 323 vowfon of fix parochial churches, three of the largefl, chap. XIX. and three of the middle proportion, in each county. Religious difcontents were flrongly difplayed on Reiit'ious the annunciation of a defign to affenible a national parliament. Excluded, by their refufal to take the oath of fupremacy, from the enjoyment of offices and promotions in the political fyflem, the catholk: nobles and gentry were much exafperated, notwith- ftanding that magiflrates and lawyers, except in fome extraordinary cafes of infolence, were tacitly per- mitted to exercife their funftions without being re- quired to undergo this qualification ; and notwlth- flanding that fines, impofed by law on non-conformifts, were nowhere levied except in the county of Dublin, and there fo llightly as not to exceed fifteen pounds in a year. But wounded pride was the real fource of complaint ; and, as Leland obferves, " men, whofe religious principles expofe them to grievous difadvantages in fociety, are particularly bound to examine thofe principles with care and accuracy, left they facrifice the interefis of themfelves and their poflerity to an illufion." Bat that indolence and acquiefcence to which the errors of popery reduce the mind, added to the fiiame of deferting their com- munion, feem to have kept back thefe men from any advances toward conformity. It is Icarcely pof- |i fible but that a difference in religious opinions fliould lead diredly to perfonal rancour and averfion, un- lefs men's minds are fully poiTeiTed with the genuine fpirit of chriftianity, or unlefs they have arrived at that indifference to religion (confidered in any other light but as a political engine) which modern times Y z have I 324 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, have dignified with the nair.e of philofophy. In the XIX . ' . ordinary courfe of things we are not to expert that the fird of thcfe principles (hould have its perfect influence ; and the latter was as yet unknown. Seds and fyfl:ems of religion were matters cf i-nportance. The reformed looked with abhorrence on the parti- zans of idolatry and the imps of Antichrid': the Romanics with equal rancour inveighed againfl: herefy and apoflacy, the blind minifters of Satan and the children of perdition. Petition of In the convening of a parliament, reprefentative cf the whole kingdom, more numerous than had ever been known in Ireland, when feventeen new counties and a great number of boroughs had been formed, the recufants, apprehenfive of unfavourable defigns againfl them, and of the preponderance of royal influence with the new members for the" ac- complifiiment of thefe defigns, exerted themfelves j6x2. with vigour to counteract fuch intentions. A petition was prefented to his Majefty, figned by fix principal | lords' of the Englilh Pale, Gormanfton, Slane, Kil- leen, Trimblefton, Dunfany, and Louth, praying | that the creation of boroughs fliould be fufpended, till by the wealth of traffic towns fliould arrive at a fit flate for incorporation ; affuring him that a re- peal of the penal laws would fully confirm their minds in loyalty ; expreffing their apprehenfion of laws intended againfl catholics, fince no communi- cation on that fubjed had been vouchfafed to the nobility of that communion ; and intimating that fuch proceedings would encourage the difafFefted, and might be attended with danger to his govern- * ment. FirSTORY OF IRELAND. 325 ment. This petition was pronounced rafli and info- chap. lent by the king; but, not thereby difcouraged, the fenglifli of the Pale made their utmofk exertions by themTelves and agents in all parts of the kingdom to procure in the new parliament a majority of catholics. Their hopes nroved vain on the meeting of parlia- Fwn m. ment, a meetmg which cauled much anxiety and liamtnt, expedation, as no fuch aiTembly had been convened for twenty-feven years, and as this was the firft national parliament held in Ireland, all thofe of earlier times having been only colonial, or only re- prefentative of a part of the kingdom. Of two hun- dred and thirty- two members, returned for the houfe of commons, fix were abfent ; and of the reft a hun- dred and twenty five were proteftants, while the re- cufants amounted only to a hundred and one. Of the lords, confiding of fixteen '"emporal barons, twenty five proteftant prelates, ,five vifcounts, and four earls, a large majority was on the fide of ad- miniftration. The meeting of the commons was tu- multuous ; the recufants clamouring for an exami- nation into the legality of eledions of members whom they afferted to have been unduly returned ; and afterwards, on a divifion of the houfe in the ele^ion of a fpeaker, placing in the chair the per- fon tor whom they voted, without regard to the majority on the oppofite fide, as they confidered themfelves to be the legal majority. The objedt of their choice was Sir John Everard, a refpeftable re- cufant, who had been a juftice of the king's bench, had refigned rather than take the oaths of qualift- y 3 cation. 326 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, cation, and had been induipjed with a penfion. Sir John Davies, the attorney-general, the objedl of the oppofite party, was feated by force in the lap of the | former, whom the party had endeavoured in vain to pull from the chair; and the fcene of tumult was clofed by the feceflion of the recufants, who re- fufed to take any fliare in an alTembly which they pronounced illegal and arbitrary. The recufant lords alfo feceded ; and in the midfl: of a violent ferment, which feemed to menace even an armed oppofition to authority, the lord-deputy, by whom Ddvies had been confirmed in the fpeaker's office, prorogued the parliament^ to give time for the violence of pafiion to fubfide. The lords Gormanfton and Fermoy, Sir James Gough, and others, were feiit by the recufants to lay before the king their fuppofed grievances, and a liberal fubfcription was raifed to defray the charges of the deputation. Though two of thefe agents, Tal- bot and Lutterel, were for feme piece ot infolence committed to prifon, their complaints were heard by James with fo much temper, that they conceived the highell hopes of fuccefs ; and Gough, having taken advantiige of fotne favourable expreflion, de- clared on his return that his Majefly had promifed to the catholics the free excrcife of their religion, for which, as falfe and feditious news, he was com- mitted prifoner to the caftle by Chicheiter. The king, having procured ample information on the lubje6l, by commiflioners fent into Ireland, and from Chichefter in perfon, admitted the recufants to plead their caufe before the council, where, after a deli- 13 berate, HISTORY OF IREI.AND, 3*7 berate, repeated, and patient difcuflion, their alle- chap. A. 1 A- gations were finally proiiounced gronndlefs, except that the returns of burgefles from'Kildare and Cavan were declared illegal, and that the members returned from thofe boroughs, which were created after the writs had already been ilTued, were judged for the prefent incapable of fitting. In a verbofe oration, in his ufual manner, the king exprefled his difappro- bation of the tunmltuary and undutiful behaviour of the recufants, profelllng at the fame time a difpo- fition to l}]ew them favour in cal'e of their future good conduct and loyalty. When the parliament at length met after repeated i6i4- prorogations, the violence of party was moderated bv the management of the deputy, and the pru- dence of fome temperate recufants, particularly Everard, who prefented a bill to the commons, which palTed unanimoully, for the attainder of the earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnel, Sir Cahir O'Do- gherty, and others concerned in treafonable defigns. An aft of general amnefty and pardon was made in confirmation of the royal edict ; all the fteps taken by James for the reception of the old natives under 1615. law, and the abolition of odious diltinftions be- tween men of different blood inhabiting the fame kingdom, received the full fane; ion of the legilla- turej and the feffion was clofed with a bill of fub- fidy, granting to the king, his heirs^ and fucceffors, from every perfonal eftate of the value of three pounds and upwards two fl^illings and eight pence in the pound ; from aliens twice that fum ; and out of every real eftate of the value of twenty (hil- Y 4 lings 328 HISTORY OF IRELAND. Convoca' tion. CHAP, lings and upwards four fnillings in the pound; a grant fo bountiful made with fuch alacrity, that James in a letter to Chichefter declared himfelf much gratified, and his having cancelled from his memory the difpleafure given him by their former conduct. Yet the alarming temper of the commons at their fiifl meeting, and the difpofition fliewn by the recu- fants to make demands in religious matters, cauled an unexpected diflblution. At the fame time with the fitting of parliament, was held in Dublin a convocation of the clergy, chiefly for the framing of a conleffion of faith for the eftablifhed church of Ireland, which work was en^ trufted to Do6lor James Ufher, a man of eminent abilities and erudition, but fo deeply tindured v.'ith Calvinifm, that his compofition bore the ftamp of its dodlrines. His formulary, containing a hundred and four articles, was approved by the convention, ratified by the lord-deputy; anJ, though fome of the articles were pifenfive to the king, his Majefty, from a fenfe of juftice, promoted their compiler to the fee of Meath. The difcovery and fupprellion of a confpiracy in Ulller, the principals of which were executed, for the extirpation of the Britifh planters, rather con- firmed than difcouraged the king in his plan of co- lonization. Of fixty-fix thoufand acres between the rivers Ovoca and Slaney, adjudged to the crown, fixteen thoufand five hundred were deftined for an Englifh colony, the reft for the natives, on the fame terms as in Ulfter. In like manner three hundred and eighty-five thoufand acres in "the Queen's and King's CQuntie?,. Lcitrim, Longford, and Weftmeath, were allotted New Plan tations. [616. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 329 allotted for diftribution, nioftly in regrants to the chap. old proprietors in a permanent mode of" tenure. But / ■' before the completion of this plan a new governor was appointed. Sir Oliver Saint-John, in place of Chicheiler, who was created baron of Belfafl. The juft and vigorous adminiif ration of this go- Saintjohn** ,. , P ^ 1 r admiialha- vernor was odious to the reculants and the ulurpers tion. of ecclefiaftical property. A proclamation, com- manding the popifh regular clergy to leave the king- dom, was in fact an act of indulgence to the poorer catholics, who were miferably opprefled by this ufe- lefs tribe. But he required all officers of juftice to i6>7- take the oath of fupremacy, and iflued a commiffion to feize the liberties and revenues of Waterford, whofe citizens had obftinately perfifted in the choice of recufants for their chief magiftrates. Compaf- fionating the abject poverty of the clergy, whofe lands were detained by fome powerful members of the flate, he had the magnanimity to oppofe this ufurpation, and thereby to augment to a mofl formi- dable pitch the hoft of his enemies. Violently tra- ,g,j^ duced in foreign countries and to his fovereign, he was at length obliged to refign ; but, as a proof of his efteem, the king, befide other titles, conferred on him thofe of lord high treafurer of Ireland and vifcount Grandifon. The recufants, exulting in their j^^^^ fuppofed vidory, and powerful by their numbers, union, and property, proceeded in a courfe of info- lence, ferioufly alarming to the friends of govern- ment, particularly when it was known that a Romifh hierarchy, with a regular fubordination of orders, offices, and perfons, was eftablilhed throughout the kingdom 330 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, kingdom by the papal power, their jcrifdi^ftion ex- < - 'v' " ' ercifed with as much regularity, and their decrees executed with as full authority, as if the fovereign pontiff were in adual poiTeflion of the realm. State of the -j^g mifcrable condition into which the military country. e-lablifhrnent had fallen left them without an imme- diate curb to check their prefumption. To ct tri- bute to the defence of his Irifli plantations James had inflituted a new hereditary dignity, that of barcnet^ to be conferred on a number not exceeding two hun- dred, each of whom, on pafiing his patent, was to pay into the exchequer fuch a fum as would maintain thirty foldiers in Uliter for three years, at the daily wages of eight pence. By this co!->trivance might have been raifed a fund for the fupport of fix thou- fand men. But from the prodigality of this '--lonarch, and the too great parhmony of his Englilh ,parlia- ment, his finances were fo low, that he reduced his Irifh army to the contemptible number of thirteen hundred and fifty foot and two hundred cavalry. Even this exceeded the real number, as the com- panies were feldom complete ; nor were the foldiers treated in fuch manner as to be fit for fervice, de- frauded of their pay, permitted to fupply their ne- ceflities by oppreffion, and fcattered in fmall parties for the cultivation of the grounds, or attendance on the menial bufinefs, of their officers, who, being moftly men of great fortune and influence, were enabled by mutual connivance to proceed in bafe practices with impunity. This wretched eftablifh- ment, fo fraudulently conducted, cofl the crown lifty-two thoufand five hundred pounds a year, which exceeded HISTORY OF IRELAND- 351 exceeded by above fixteen thoiifand pounds the chap. annual revenue of the kingdom. v«J-v,.J»«/ In this defencelefs condition of the country, much spanirh re- uneafinefs was occafioned by a body of troops, re- cruited for the fervice of Spain, with the permiflion of James, who judged that to drain the kingdom of fuch a number of young men, unprovided with any regular means of fubfiftence, adive, tuvbulentj and fit for dangerous attempts, would be a prudential meafure. The officers, employed to raife and condu£b theie men to the continent, were the relatives or ad- herents of old rebels, attached to Hugh CNial's family, educated abroad in an extravagant pride of anteifry, and a rancorous hatred of Englilh govern- ment. Their levies were foon filled, but they delay- ed their tranfportation -, and, violating the orders and limits prefcribed, ranged through various parts tumuhuoufly to the annoyance and terror of the well affecled, confirming the difloyal, fpreading difaffeftion, and enticing abroad young perfons above the age of twelve years, for education in foreign countries. On their approach to the capital, where after tedious delays they were very flowly embarked, fome troops, inlufiicient for defence in cafe of hoftility, were aflerabled to watch their motions till the danger was over. The danger was on good grounds alarming to per- Grievances fons acquainted with the general difcontent, of uoE/'''^' which, though religion was made the chief pretext, caufes more fubftantial fubfiited, befide the diforders of an unpaid army. The fcheme of plantation, however 3;2 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, however iiecefTary and laudable, could not be carried XIX. ■v ^.', _. into extenfive effeft, even in the faireft mode of pro- ceeding, vi'ithout vi'ounding the feelings and prejudices of many, who, intimidated into the furrendry of eftates from a defed of proof in legal title, faw not clearly the juftice, though they might the advantage, of lofing a part for an undifputed tenure ot the reft. But abufes were pradifed, cruelly unjuft and oppreffive, too various for a circumftantial detail. Wi'h a fcandalous breach of truft, the commiffi-cjner^j ap- pointed to diftribute lands, deprived the natives by fraud and violence of polTciIions referved for them by command of the king, fometimes leaving them a pittance, fometimes no part at all, nor means of fub- fillence. In the words of Leland, " the refentments of fuch fufferers were in fome cafes exafperated by finding their lands transferred to hungry adventurers, who had no fervices to plead ; and fometimes to thofe who had been rebels and traitors. Neither the aclors nor the objeds of fuch grievances were con- fined to one religion. The moft zealous in the fervice of government, and the moft peaceable con- formifts, were involved in the ravages of avarice and rapine, without any diftindion of principles or pro- fefiions.'* The chief caufe of perturbation and widely felt grievance arofe from a defcription of men termed tiifcovererSf who obtained commiflions of inquiry in- to defective titles, and grants of concealed lands, and rents belonging to the crown, the chief benefit of V:?hich was generally to accrue to the difcoverer, while HISTORY OF IRELAND. 333 while the kins: was to reft fatisfied with an inconfi- chap. . XIX. derable proportion of the property concealed, or a 'w-.,.,y-««^ fmall advance of rent. After fo many ages of tur- bulence, anarchy, confufed fluduation of landed poiTeffions, fufpenfion and even oblivion of demands and payments of referved rent to the crown, few titles were impregnable to the chicane and fubtilty of law ; fo that the pofleiTors were moftjy obliged to make new compofitions on fuch terms as they could procure. Yet, as the fame hiftorian has obferved from indubitable authority, " proofs are not wanting of the mod iniquitous pradices, of hardened cruelty, of vile perjury, and fcandalous fubornation, em- ployed to defpoil the fair and unofiending proprietor of his inheritance." An abufe iefs irritating to the natives, but pernicious to the general fyilem, as ad- mitting individuals to a dangerous pitch of power, was an enormous difproportion in the acquifition of lands, to which James, from his prodigal dlfpofition to favourites, had himfelf given countenance, con- trary to his own rules, by the inveftment of Sir Arthur Chichefter with the territory of Innifhowen and all the lands formerly poifefled by O'Dogherty. Violating the exprefs re(tri<5lions of their parents, fome undertakers clandeftinely alienated their lands, and others purchafed, who, by this and other means, acquired fuch property and influence as the king by his regulations had intended to prevent. That no infurreiSlion was attempted amid all the Refleaiom. violence of religious rancour, and fo many grievous irritations, when no military force of the leaft efficacy was L 334 KISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, was maintained for the jupport of government, is doubtlefs a proof of the complete conqueft of the ifland by the arms of Elizabeth, and of much merit, notwithftanding their great abufes, in the regula- tions of James. The new colonics from Britain formed in fonie de^rrec a barrier airainft mal-content?. Of the natives, who had acquired permanent free- holds, and were by Englifh law freed from their flavifli dependence on their lords, many were too fenfible of the advantage to wilh a return of the former (late of things. The produds of induilry, whofe benefits were perceived by fome, were in fuch progreflion, thnt commerce had begun to afford a revenue ; the cafloms having gradually encreafed from fifty pounds to near ten thoufand annually. So little inclination to oppofe the royal authority appeared, that the lords and gentlemen of Con- naught, including the county of Clare, fubmitted to the offer of a heavy compofition for a fault not their own. Thefe, having furrendered their eftates in the reign of Elizabeth, but negledled in general the enrollment and the reception of their patents, re- newed the ceremony in the thirteenth year of James, when their patents received the great feal ; but, by a neulecl of the officers, the enrollment was not made in chancery, although three thoufand pounds had been difburfed for that purpofe. Taking advantage of this default, the king's commiffioners pronounced the titles defetflive, and the lands vefted ftill in the crown ; and they recommend a weftern plantation funilar to that of UHler. The proprietors, in great alarm. HISTORY OF IRELAND. ' 35,^ alarm, offered for a new confirmation of their patents chap. to pay a fine of ten thoufand pounds, and to double '__, their annual compofition. The propofal was treated *^-5- with attention by James, who, having entered into war with Spain, might apprehend an invafion from that country ; but the bufinefs, interrupted by his death, devolved on Charles the firft, his fon and fuccelTor. CHAP, 33(3 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. XX. Acceffion of Charles the firft — Religious iniolerance — Offer of a contribution — Royal graces — Religious dif turbances — Went%vor th chief governor — ArrogancCy '^e. — A parlia?iieni — Servility of the conunons — Dignified conduct of Orinond—La'ivS'— Convocation — Ecclefuiflical affairs — Projetl of a -plantation in Connaught Violences of Weni-worth Sir Piers Crojby — Lord Moimtnorris — Chancellor Loftus—' •Proceedings of Wentwortl/s adminif ration — Linetz manufacliire — Precautions of Wcnizvorfb New oath — Military exertions — lVe?it'wortb created earl of Strafford, ^c. — A parliament — Loyalty of peers mid commons — Ncio army — Change of parliament tary fentimenis, CHAP. In the year 162c, was the acceflion of Charles the XX. . <.- — ,^~»-/ firft to the kingdoms of his father, a prince unfor- ot^'chaHes tunatc in his prime favourite, George Villiers, duke of Buckingham, by whofe mere perfonal caprices his reahns were involved in foreign wars ; and un- fortunate in an obdinate pride and a difingenuous condud, by which he loft all credit with his fub- jeds together with their affeflions. By a temper and talents very difl'erent from thofe of Charles could the affairs of the Briiifh iflands be happily conduced, when, befide other caufes of threatening fermentation, an intolerant fanaticifm prevailed in oppofite fi.cl:s of the chriftian denomination. The 3626. fpirit of in ^'lerance was perhaps no where higher than among the people of Ireland, where the catho- lics tlie firft. "1625 HtSTORY OF IRELAND* 33f lies received, with a reverence due only to divine revelation, a bull of pope Urban the eighth, exhort- ing them rather to fuffer death than to take the pef- *^"''* tilent oath of fupremacy, whereby as his Holinefs blafphemoufly aflerted, the fceptre of the Catholic church was ivrcjled from the hand of the vicar of God Almighty : while, on the other fide, the puri- tanic proteflants, who, aft'ecling exceflive purity, de- parted to an oppofite extreme, declared, and their declaration was fanOioned by an aflembly of Irifli prelates convened by primate Ufher, that to tolerate popery was a fin of a grievous kind, fince the tole- rators rendered themfelves acceffary to idolatry^ abo- mtJiation, and the perdition offou/s, which peri/hed in the deluge of catholic apofiacy. Among the proteftant clergy were puritans, who, refufing epifcopal or- dination, were indulged by the bifliops with a form not flridiy canonical ; and fuch latitude was al- lowed, that churches and tythes were enjoyed by miniflers who ufed not the liturgy, but officiated in the prefbyterian manner, and avowed themfelves of that communion. Engaged in a war with Spain, and fearing at- ofFerof tempts from that quarter in Ireland, the king refolved J.^"'"*^"" to augment his army in this ifland to five thoufand infantry and five hundred horfe ; but not having money to pay them, he ordered them to be quar- tered on the feveral counties and towns, where the inhabitants were to fupply them with clothes, provi- fions, and other neceflaries, for three months at each place in turn. Lord Faulkland, the deputy, who had fucceeded Saint-John, fent letters to the feveral VOL. I, z communities^ ion- 338 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, commamdes, recommending: a cliearfnl fubmiffion, XX. , ' , . ^ V — .,,— ^ promifing that the ufiial comporitiou ihould be fuf- pended, and that other graces ihoiiid be granted by his Majedy, by which this expence (liould be amply compv-nfated. After a confeieuce of the principal nobiiity and gentry, aioftly catholics, with the chief governor, agents were difpatched, with his confentj to the Englifh court, and an offer made of a volun- tary contribution of a hundred and twenty fhoufand pounds, to be paid ia three years, forty thoufand each year, divided into equal quarterly di03urfe- ments. This o&r was accepted, and the folicited. graces conferred by the king, who tranfaiitted theni as indruclions (o the governor and council. Thefe graces, favourabfe in. fome inftances to recufants, were, in general, fuch as ceafo^i, equity and national utility required. Graces. The royai inftrudions en this occafion extended to the removal of opprellions and abufes in various departments, as in the military and financial, in civil and ecclefiaftica! cotirts, and rertridions on com- merce. A detail of thefe would give more weari- nefs than iniormalion to the reader ; yet one for its oddnefs, not its magnitude, may be inftanced. The ufe of fliort ploughs, attached to the tails of horfes, had been by parliament interdided under a penalty of ten (hillings yearly on each plough. Careful not to abolifii the barbarous cuftom, but thence to draw emolument, the king's officers had contrived to render it a fubjed. of taxation, the chief part of which accrued to themfelves. The penalty was therefore annulled, and the pernicious pradice re- ferred History of Ireland. 339 feired to a future parliament. By fome of the prin- cipal articles the fubjefls were fecured in the poifef- fion of their lands, by a limitation of the king's title to fixty antecedenfyears, and a renunciation of all claims of an earlier period : the inhabitants of Connaught were admitted to fecure their titles from future litigation by a new enrollment of their pa- tents; recufants were permitted to praflife in the courts of law on their oath, inftead of that of fu- premacy, to defend the king as their legitimate fovereign ; and a parliament was to be fummoned for the paffing of an ad of general and free pardon, and for a confirmation of their feveral eftates to all proprietors and their heirs. In the laft article the king feems to have given an early inftance of duplicity. For the convening of a parliament on the third of the following Novem- ber, the day explicitly appointed by his" Majefty, writs were iflued by lord Faulkland, without a cer- tification ofcaufes and confiderations previoufly ne- ceflary by the lav\'^ of Poynings ; an omiflion which rendered the writs illegal, and prevented the meet- ing of a parliament. The irregularity might eafily have been remedied by the appointment of another day, and the ilTuing of new writs in a legal form ; yet, notwithftanding that no ftep for this end was •taken, a general fatisfadion was exprefled, and the contribution chearfully made, as the king flood en- gaged, and his infincerity was not then known. But i6?9. the zeal of the catholics was intetnperate and alarm- ing, infligated by ecclefiaflics from foreign femi- naries, who had bound themfelves by oath to make z 2 their I 340 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, their utmofl: exertions for the papal authority agalnfl ^ .' ' all opponents, and acted under the orders of the congregation de Propaganda fide lately erected at Rome. Impelled by the remonftrances of proteftant zealots, the chief governor ilTued a proclamation forbidding the exercife of Popifh rites. This, though intended for nothins: further than a mere verbal o matter of form, gave fuch offence to the recufant j party, that they murmured at the burden of their ^ voluntary contribution ; and the king, to appeafe their difcontent, agreed to accept five thoufand, in- ftead of ten thoufand pounds, in each quarterly pay- ment, till the difcharge of the vi'hole fubfidy. Lord Faulkland, as an unfuccefsful governor, was re- 1629- called ; and the adminidration was committed to two lords juftices, Adam Loftus, lord vifcount Ely, and Richard Boyle, earl of Cork. Reii-icuf The king's difapprobation of meafures taken by ances. thcfc govcmors to chcck the zeal of the recufants augmented the boldncfs of this numerous party, of which a fpecimen was quickly given. A fraternity of Carmelites, in the proper habits of their order, alTembled a multitude of people to the performance of rehgious rites in one of the mod frequented parts of Dublin, in defiance of the law. A body of troops, led by the archbifhop and the chief magiftrate to difperfe the alTembly, was furioully repulfed and put to flight by the multitude. Such violence ex- cited the refentment of the Englifh cabinet, by whoCe order fifteen religious houfes were feized to the king's ufe, and a Romifh college, which had been erected in the capital, was alligned to the univerfity for HISTORY OF IRELAND. 341 for a place of proteflant education. Charles had, by a treaty of peace with France and Spain, termi- nated a war which he had undertaken without ra- tional niotives and profecutcd without glory. Though he might therefore be lefs apprehenfive of the power of any mal-contents in Ireland, yet the maintenance of a military force in this ifland Vv'as flill neceiTary j and, by the advice of Thomas, lord vifcount Went- worth, appointed lord-deputy, he took meafures to obtain a continuance of the voluntary contribution. By threatening to abridge the promifed graces, and 1632. to levy fines for non-conformity, he prevailed for a fubfidy of twenty thoufand pounds, payable in one year in four equal quarterly funis. With a firmly eflabiifned opinion that the inha- wemwonh bitants of Ireland, as a conquered kingdom, were ^'^J^^sover- defiitute of political rights, dependent folely, all without diflinilion, on the royal grace for whatever 1633. they were permitted to enjoy, and, on account of their turbulence, fit only to be ruled with defpotic rigour, the aultere and imperious, but adive and fagacious, lord Wentworth, entered in perfon on the Iriili adminiilration in the year 1633. In the convening of a council he fummoned only fome of the members, an omiflion mortifying to the reft ; and little lefs mortification was given to thofe who were afi'embled ; for he fuffered them to wait foms hours before he deigned to make his appearance ; and even t'.icn, inftead of conferring on the bufinefs for which they had been fummoned, he only charged the judges to reprefent in their feveral circuits the favour ofl'^red by the king to fuch as would repair z 3 their 34* HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, their defedive grants, and to fatlsfy the proteftants t / ' that the charge for the fupport of the royal forces was abfolutely neceflary for their defence. After fuch a fpecimen of his adminiftration, the council, v»?hen it was a fecond time convened to deliberate for a rehef of the king's neceflities, was referved, and averfe to the continuation of the contribution beyond the prefent year : but he proudly informed the members, that he had convened them, not from neceffity, but to give them an opportunity to fiiew their loyalty ; and th-U, at the peril of his head, he would undertake to provide a maintenance for the king's army without tiieir aililtance. According to his didation, they agreed to the offer of another year's contribution, and petition for the fpeedy convention of a parliament, in both of which the whole body of the people, influenced by their example, readily con* curred. A pariia- '^ he king, though averfe to a parliamentary meet* 1634. '^^^S^ acquiefced in the opinion, and relied on the dexterity of Wentworth, a part of who[e plan was to balance the cathohc and proteftant parties againft each other in the lower houfe, and to pradile pri^ vately with each. The edablifhcd cufl:om of con- vening and confulting the lords of the Pale on the time, circumftances, and bufmefs of the convention of a parliament previoufly to its being fummoned, was by the deputy contemptuoufly negletled ; and when the earl of Fingal, deputed by thefc lords, re^ minded him of this cuftom, he rejeded the over- ture with difdain and an indecent reprimand. At the deliberation of the council on the caufes and confider- HISTORY OF IRELAND. 343 9 confiderations, and bills to be tranfmkted, pre- chap. vioufly to the parliamentary feffion, according to the Jqvv of Poynings, when the members ap- peared difinclined to adopt the mode prefcrib- ed by him, he interrupted their confultations, in- forming them that their duty required them to con- fider, not what might pleafe the people, but what might be fo agreeable to the king as to in- duce him to call a parliament ; and he gave them plainly to underhand that, if fufficient fupplies for his Majefl:y*s fervice fhould not be granted by parlia- menrary donation, he would proceed to levy them by right of the royal prerogative, at the head of the army, from thofe who could bed afford it, and who as yet had paid very little. Shamefully intimidated by his diclatorial ftyle and menaces, the council yielded to all the meafures which he had propofed. On the meeting of parliament, very liberal fup- plies were unanimouOy voted by the commons, who were fo humbly devoted to the chief governor, that when Sir Robert Talbot was betrayed, in the warmth of debate, into fome unguarded reflexions on his conduft, he was inflantly expelled, and com- mitted to prifon until he ftould implore the vice- roy's pardon on his knees. As a fervile fpirit is alfo moftly tyrannical, fo the commons difplayed fymptoms of both in their condud ; for, when one of their members had been affronted, they Inftantly commanded the Iheriff of Dublin to inSicl corporal punifhment on the offender. The lords, though they concurred in the granting of fupplies with the com- mons, difplayed a nobler fpirit. The young earl of z 4 Ormond 344 HISTORY OF IRELAND. Ormond in particular intimidated by his bold and fleady condud the arrogance of the deputy. In con- fequence of an order of the chief governor, that no perfon iliould enter either houfe of parliament with a fvvord, the uflier of the black r^d, attending at the door of the houfe of lords, infifled on Ormond's compHance with the regulation, who pofitively re- fufed, with a declaration that, if he mufl deliver his fword, the u flier (liould receive it in his body ; and then proceeded to his feat with an air of offended dignity. Summoned before the council to anfv/er for this contempt of authority, the eail avowed his intentional difobedience of the order, and added that he had received the invefliture of his earldom per clnEfuram glad'il^ and v/as both entitled and bound by the royal command to attend his duty in parlia- ment gladlo cinftus. After fome deliberation whe- ther he fhould attempt to crufli or to reconcile this daring fpirit, Wentworth determined on the latter ; and Ormond foon appeared a particular favourite at the Irifh court. Though fome of their number were intimidated, particularly the earl of Kildare, who was obliged to make a fubmifTion after fome attempts to oppofe the deputy's meafures, and even to complain of him at the Engliih court, the peers acted in general with fpirit, complaining loudly of grievances, and pref- fmg offenfivcly for the performance of the royal pro- mife in confirmation of the graces. They even pro- ceeded, without regard to the piovifions of Poyn- ing*s itatute, to order the attorney-general to reduce into writing feveral laws, on which they had de- bated, HISTORY OF IRELAND. 345 bated, in the form of acls, for tranfmiiHon into Eng- land. Againfl this the lord-deputy entered a formal proteli, declaring that to give orders for the fram- ing of ads to pais in parliament belonged folely to the chief governor and council ; and that the lords had in this cafe no further power, than to fubmit to the judgment of the chief governor and council fuch public confiderations as they might think expe- dient, by remonflrance and petition. The feflion clofed with little appearance of refentment againfl this proteft among the peers, between whom and the commons much coldnefs had prevailed, from the negled of a committee of the latter to attend a conference. One of the meafures which had been enforced by Wentworth, was that two diRintl fefiions Hiould be held, for both of which the royal promife fhould be engaged ; the firfl: for providing for the army and the debts of the crown ; the fecond for the en- acling of laws and graces for the benefit of the fub- jeds. But when his aim was once accompliflied with refpeft to fubfidies in tlie firfl fefiion, he fpoke evafively of the graces in the fecond, and even abfo- lutcly refufed tvv?o of the mod material ; the iimjtin"f of the king's title to fixty years, and the palling of new patents for eflates in Connaught and the county of Clare. The recufants were offended by two ads of a very beneficial nature to the public in general, for the prevention of fraudulent feoffments and other artifices which had been invented by them, and by which the king had been defeated of his wardfhip of minors and cultody of their lands ; lords 3^6 HISTORY OF IRELx^ND. CHAP, lords of their rlqhts and aids ; widows of their — — V— ^ dowers ; and widowers of their tenancies by coar- tefy. With lefs oilence or oppofition on any fide were feveral other laws enaded for the general im- provement of the country and its inhabitants, one of which was the adoption o[ the moft valuable of the Englifli ftatutes eftablifhed fir»ce the reign of Henry the feventh. An acl of general and free par- don was followed by a diirolution ; and where pro- vifions for the public advantage had been pyever:^ted by the oppofition of the recufants, the deputy, in the high ft rain of prerogative, determined to fupplv the defect by an acl of ftate. But even his own in- tereft had failed in the fupport of a petition of both boufes to his Majefty for the eftablifliment of a mint in Ireland, a meafure oppofed by the Englifh coun- cil, either from an illiberal fpirit, or fome better caufe not well underftood. EccifrfPiVi- Among the a(Ss of this parliament were laws for the reftitution of rights withheld from ihe clergy, and for the prevention of all future alienations of their property. A convocation, fitting at the fame time, granted eight fubfidies to the king, and foli- cited redrefs of grievances. By fraudulent practices in various forms the eftablifiied clergy had been re- duced to a miferable ftate of poverty, and a confe- quent vulgarity and corruption of manners, which occafioned a recorded farcafm of an Iri(hman, that ihe ki?igs pric!ls were as bad as thofc of the pope, "Wentworih had been zealous to corre(5l abafes of fuch evil tendency by the providing of churches, of able minifters, and of revenues for their fupport by the HIJTORY OF IRELAND. 347 the refliitution of property ufurped from the ecclefi- chap. afllcal eftablifliment. A great ufurper of fuch pro- perty was Robert Boyle, earl of Cork, who yet in other refpefts (fuch is human inconfiO-ency !) was a man of liberal fpirit and generous attention to the public welfare, an inftance of which was the eftab- lifnment of a numerous and well-regulated colony of Englifli proteflants on his own lands ; and was alfo a llrenuous enemy to the Romilh religion on account of the barbarifm with which it was commonly ac- companied. From him the chief governor forced the reftitution of tythes to the church, of the annual value of two thoufand pounds. The univerfity of Dublin was improved by a new code of (latutes, drawn by the archbifhop of Canterbury, who had performed the fame fervice for that of Oxford. To bring the Irifli church to a conformity with the Hng- lifh, the articles compiled by Uflier were filentiy abrogated by the fubflitution of thofe of the Englilh church ; and, to prevent oppofition, the canons of the latter were not introduced in a body, but a col- lection made of fuch as might be mod acceptable. Though the convocation fubmitted to the reception of thefe articles and canons, without the public avowal of diifent by more than one member, they were adlually unpleafing to many of the clergy. Ac I .once to fupport and reltrain the ecclefiadical courts, and for other purpofes, particularly the encreafe of the royal revenue, a court of high commiiiion, after the diffolution of parliament, was eftabiiihed in Dublin, with the fame tremendous powers as that of England. In 348 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, In open violation of the royal promife the lord- XX t . „ ' . - deputy next proceeded to the project of a weftern riojea of plantation, for which purpofe he was determined to plantation. ' ' r r '^55' fubvert the title of every eftate in every part of Connaught. Having employed the ingenuity of lawyers for this end, he proceeded to the county of Rofcommon, as the inhabitants of Leitrim had con- fented to the furrendry of their lands ; and, having opened his comraiffion, he fubmitted the evidences for the king's title to a jury compofed of the princi- pal men of the county. At the head of the com- miffioners of plantation, he informed the jury that the fcheme was intended for the real advantage of their country, and tliat the king's title to the lands would be eflablifl:ied by another mode of procedure, if their verditl fliould be unfavourable. Intimidated by the menaces and determinate charader of Went- w^orth, the jurors found a title for the king without hefitation, and their example was followed by the inhabitants of Mayo and Sligo. But in the county of Galway, where the gentry were privately en- couraged by Uliac de Burgo, earl of Climricard and Saiat-Albans, a man of excellent charac* ier, then refident in London, and openly fupported by reculant lawyers who pleaded boldly, a verdi(Sl could not be procured in favour of the king ; which fo enraged the lord-depury, that he laid a fine of a thoufand pounds on the (lierifF, and bound the obfti- nate jurors to anfwer for their offence in the caftle chamber, where each was fined four thoufand pounds, and fentenced to imprilonment until the fine Ihould be paid, and to the acknowlegement of their offence in court upon their knees. The HISTORY OF IRELAND. 349 The violence of the chief governor was not con- chap. fined to the fupport of the royal prerogative, but ■ ^ extended to thofe from whom he fuppofed any per- wenJ.^''''^ fonal offence to have arifen to himfelf. Sir Piers ^^''"^''• CrollDy, a foldier of diflinguifhed bravery, colonel of a regiment, and a member of the Irifli privy council and parliament, being fequeftered from the council board, and charged with a violation of his oath in having voted in parliament againd fome bills to which he had previoufly aflented in council, com- plained by petition, and requefted licence to repair to England, as if with intention to appeal to his Majefty. He was refufed, removed by order of the king entirely from the privy council, committed to prifon, and profecuted in the callle chamber for a libel publifhed againfl the deputy on the occafion, of which no proof could be found againfl Crofby, though his papers had been forciblv feiz'ed for that purpofe. When Wentvvorth affeded to interpofe for the royal pardon in his favour, Charles commanded, the offender to be left to the cenfure of a court compofed of the deputy's obfequious miniders, who decreed fuch enormous damages, that, to fave him- felf from total ruin, Crofby was obliged to make a moft humiliating fubmillion. Still worfe was the treatment of Francis Anncfley, who had come into Ireland in the reign of James, had acquired a fortune, and been created baron Mountnorris. In a private company at the lord chancellor's, a few days after the diffolution of par- liament, mention was made of a hurt received by the lord-deputy in his foot, while he was afflicted with 3SO HISTORY OF IRELAND. c HA p, with a gout, by the awkwardnefs of one of the attend- w— .v~=— ^ sr^ts in the removing of a feat. Mountnorris, one of the company, being told that the offender was of his name and kindred, replied that perhaps the gen- tleman had given defignedly the hurt in return for an affront received from the chief governor ; but, added he, the gentleman has a brother who would not have taken fucb a revenge. Informed of this ex- preffion after an interval of fome months, Went- worth, aftuated by a previous antipathy, ordered the baron, as a captain in the king's fervice, to be tried by a court-martial in which himfelf prefided as ge- neral. The obfequious court unanimoufly concurred in a fentence againll him as a mutineer, that he fliouli be imprifoned, incapable of ferving his Ma- jefty, and Ihot or beheaded at the pleafure of trie lord-deputy. Tiiat the accufed was not refpeftable in his private characler, and that, by the interceflion of the chief governor with his Majefty, the fentence of death was not executed, was a mean apology, when, bv an ionominious condemnation on fiditious grounds, he was deprived of all his offices, and fuf- fered the anguifh of a long confinem.ent. 1636. Wentworth, having repaired to England to lay the (late of his adminiftration before the" king and council, and having received his Majefty's warm approbation, returned with refolution to continue the fame courfe. Sir John Giffard, married to a daughter of lord chancellor Loftus, refufed by his father-in-law fome fettlement of fortune claimed by him, applied by petition to the privy council, where fentence was pronounced in his favour. The proce- dure -J KBTORY OF IRELAND. 351 dare was illegul ; the fentence didated doubtlefs by c 11 a f the deputy, who was underftood to maintain a cri- minal intercourfe with the wife of Giffard ; Loftus refufed obedience; he was immediately fequeftered from the council, deprived of the great jeal, and committed to prifon. The injullice was fo manifeft that Loftus was encouraged to appeal to the throne. But from the arbitrary Charles no juftice in fuch a cafe cou^d be obtained ; and Loftus could not other- v^ife recover his former oiike, nor even liberty, with- out a moft humble fubmifliorL, and acknowlegement of his oihiiice. Notwithftandin*^ all the violence and artifice of the nroceedSngs , . . of Went- depury, tl>e terror of his power, and his eagernefs worth. to raife money for the royal fervice, he failed in his defign of a wedern plantation, from which he had expelled great fums to accrue. Though, after folemn atgumentation, judgment was finally pronounced \\\ favour of the king, the fcheme was abandoned, on account of the alarming difcontents thereby occafioned, more alarming by the troubles which were encreafmg in England. But money was raifed elfewhere to a large amount by ^nes, on renewals of letters patent, and grants for plantations. Thus fifteen thoufand pounds from the poHeirions of the O'Byrns in Wicklov/ were levied on the finding of the royal title; and from the city of London, fued for breach of covenants in the plan- tations of Derry and Colerain, was exafted a fine of feventy thoufand pounds. The conftant revenue was alfo much improved, the money v/ell applied for the public fervice, and a fum referved for extraordinary occafions. The army was well difciplined, regularly paid. 3>2 HISTORY OF IRELAND. err A P. paid, preTerved in good condition, inoifenfive to tlie peaceable fubjects, and formidable to the enemies of government. Wentworth was a tyrant, but his tyranny was tempered with wifdom. Senfible how much the power and glory of a monarch depend on the profperity of his people, he was fo afliduoufly attentive to the peace, intellectual improvement, and induftry of the Irifh, that, though individuals often felt the arrogance o! his temper, the nation in general had reafon to be grateful for the benefits ariiing from the vigour of his adminiftration. The church was improved in its revenue and in the refpedability of its miniliers. Protected by a ftrict- nefs before unknown in the execution of Englifh law, unufual numbers, and with unufual attention, applied their thoughts to purfuirs of induflry, the confequences of which appeared in the rifmg value of lands, the augmented quantity of produds for exportation, and fuc'i an encreafe of commerce that the fiiipping of Ireland was multiplied a hundred fold. For the encouragement of traffic, this deputy, fo zealous for the promotion of the power and reve- nue of his mailer, ufed his influence for the aboli- tion of oppreflive duties on the importation of coals and horfes into Ireland, and on the exportation of live cattle. Linen Ma- By Wentworth*s endeavours a manufaflure of linen cloth was eftablifned in Ulfter. A nafcent fa- brication of woollen drapery was difcouraged, left ic Ihould come into competition with that of Englaijd, and for the purpofe that Ireland (hould be dependant on that country for the clothing of its inhabitants, 6 and iiuucturc. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 353 and confequently lefs prone to a political feparation. chap. To make amends for this injuflice, the deputy exert- » ed himfelf fo ftrenuoufly for the encouragement of linen, that he took a fhare in the enterprife at the expence, according to his own ftatement, of thirty thoufand pounds from his private fortune. As flax had been long known to thrive in this country, and many of the women were fpinners, hopes of fuccefs were early conceived. Flaxfeed was brought from Holland ; weavers, from feveral parts of the Low countries and from France ; looms were fabricated ; and regulations framed for the prevention of defedls in the cloth by fraud or negligence. Experience has proved the propriety of the plan, fmce this manu- fuclnre, notwiih (landing its interruption in its in- fancy by a defolatlng civil war, became in time the principal fupport of the wealth of Ireland. The juft apprehenfions of an excitement of difor- Precautions ders in Ireland by a communication with Scotland, worth, where a formidable war had arifen againfl: the king, excited all the adivity of Wentworth. While he was framing a new oath of loyalty for the Scots of Ulfter, fome principal inhabitants of that province arrived in Dublin, who requeued admiflion to give fuch a tell of attachment to their fovereign. This oath, by which they promifed allegiance to the king, an abhorrence of the proceedings of mal-contents in Scotland, and an abjuration of all covenants contrary to the tenour of their prefent obligation, was im- pofed on perfons of all ranks, ages, and fexes, with fo rigorous enforcements, that thofe who reful'ed it were fmed and imprifoned with, as is aflerted, VOL. I. A A horrid 354 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, horrid circum fiances of cruelty. In the military and ^, .y. ■■' financial departments the chief governor a6l:ed with his utmoft vigour. He fent from the Irifh exche- quer thirty thoufand pounds to the king : he rein- forced the army with four hundred horfe : he tranf- ported five hundred men, under a brave officer named Willoughby, into England to garrifon Carlifle : he furnifhed magazines with arms and ammunition for ten thoufand foot and a thoufand cavalry : he defeated a plot for the delivery of Carrickfergus caftle to the infurgents of Scotland ; he executed the chief agent of the confpiracy, augmented the garrifon, and or- dered the main body of the forces to aflemble at this place on account of its fituation with refpecl to Scotland. A Pariia- Summoned to England to afTift by his advice, "o>o' Wentworth was created earl of Strafford, a knight of the garter, and confirmed in his place of chief governor by the more honourable title of lord lieutenant. An Irifh parliament, fummoned by his direftion, had affembled two days before his return to Dublin. The zeal of loyalty exprefled by this parliament was not exceeded even by that of Straf- ford. With unufual unanimity four entire fubfidies were voted by the commons, with the highefl en- comiums on his Majefly's goodnefs in having given them fo excellent a chief governor, of all whofe acls they expreffed their unqualified approbation in the warmeft manner. And afterwards when the king by letter fignified to the two houfes his apprehenfions of being obliged, if the Scots fhould not fubmit, to requefl two additional fubfidies, they declared with equal HISTORY OF IRELAND. 35S equal unanirnity, that " they were ready to fapport en a p. his Majefty in all his great occafions with their per- ._^ ^ " > fons and eftates, which they prayed their governor to reprefent to the king, that it might be recorded as an ordonnance of parliament, and publifiied as a teftimony to the world, that, as the kingdom had the happinefs to be governed by the bed of kings. fo thev were defirous to be accounted the befl of fub- jefts.** The peers were determined not to be fur- pafled in loyalty by the commons, and they publifhed a feparate declaration of the fame import. Enabled, as he fuppofed, by fuch liberality, Strafford ifiued orders for the levy of a new army. To Chriftopher Wandesford, his deputy and friend> he committed the charge of the raifing of fubfidies, and to the earl of Ormond that of the forces, while himfelf repaired to England to affirt: his royal mailer. A body of eight thoufand catholics, offi- cered by proteftants, was raifed with furprizing expedition, and augmented by a thoufand protellant foldiers drafted from the old army. The whole, confiftino: of eis[ht thoufand infantry and a thoufand horfe, aflembled in gallant order at Carrickfergus. But, fays Leland, " to the aftonifhrr.ent of thofe who had feen the late loyal difpofition of the Irilh commons, who had relied on the liberality of their grants, and the zeal of their profeffions, the fubfi- dies, by which this army was to be fupported, were reluftantly and fcantlly fupplied. A new fpirit feem- ed to have fuddenly afluated the fubjeds of Ireland. They who had but juft now devoted their lives and, polleffions to the fervice of the bejl of kings, grew A A a cold. 3s6- HISTORY OF IRELAND.. CHAP, cold, I'ufpicious, and querulous. They complained of the grievous weight of thofe four fubfidies, which they had declared was but the eaineft of their bene- ficence. They objected to the rates of afleflment, the fame which had been ufed in the late parlia- ment. A general combination was formed through the kingdom to prevent the levying of any money, until a new manner of taxation fliould be fettled by the prefent parliament, or, in other words, until they fnould utterly annul and refcind the late money -h ill ^ en- abled with fuch remarkable zeal and unanimity.''* Such tergiverfation in the national reprefentatives is fo far from appearing ftrange to perfons much con- verfant iu poUtical hillory, that a contrary conduct in them, when the king had once become danger- oufiy embarrafled, would have been really furprizing. As the unqualified adulators of imperious rulers are never fnicere, they mufl be fuppofed always ready, when opportunity allows, to become their avowed enemies. Such an opportunity was now beginning to open to the parliament of Ireland from the turn which afiairs had taken m the great •fi/ler ifland. CHAP. HISTORY OF IRELAND- ^f CHAP. XXli Rctvofpccl of Britijh affairs Affairs of Scotland- Abolition of epifcorpacy by the Scott if j covenanters- Their ivar with the king Long parliament- Proceedings of the Irifh parliament — Committees — Death of Wajidesford— Lords jufiices — RemoTiflrance — Defence of the lords' privileges — ^leries to the judges Impeachments ConceJJions of the king ^—Protcflation Rcfolutions of the commons-^ Recufants and puritans' coalition Spanifh levies — Sham plot — Defigns of rebellion — Caufes of dif con- tent — Heber M^ Mahon— Rcfolutions of infurredion — Leaders of rebellion — Roger Moore ^ ^c. — Their ■ proceedings — Difcouragement by the Pale Their plans — Their different views, V^HARLES the firft had. In tlie beginning of his chap. reign, forfeited all refpeclability of perfbnal charac- - ter in the eyes of his fubjefls, by fiiffering himfelf o"b°'J^ to be fo completely governed by the duke of Buck, affairs. Ingham, as even to facrifice the peace of his king- doms In a war with France and Spain to the caprices of this frivolous favourite. For the fupport of hof- tilities unjuftly commenced, and ingloriouny profe- cuted, the parliament refufed fupplies. A revenue was raifed by the fole virtue of the royal prerogative without confent of parliament j and to the indigna- tion of the people at being made vidlms to the A A 3 puerile <, 358 HI^STORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, puerile palllons of a worthlefs minion was added the ,_1^ apprehenfion of a plan laid for the deflruftion of their political iVeedom. A filiated by national dif- content, and by private refentnient for the re^ufal of a promotion which he merited, lieutenant Felton, an Irifhman of intrepid courage and puritannic fana- tlcifm, afTaffinated the duke, in the full perfuafion that he thereby performed an aft of great benefit to the public, and meritorious even in a religious view. Though, after the removal of this bad minifter, the king feemed lefs inclined to violent councils, yet ftill on one fide continued diitrufl, on the other arbitrary afts of government. Religion became intimately blended with the politics of this period. As the clergy of the eftabliihed church preached paflive obedience and the indefeifible right of kings to abfolute rule, the doftrines of the puritans, which inclined to calvinifm, and favoured civil as well as religious liberty, became very popular. Notwith- ftanding difcontents, however, affairs might have long remained in the fame (tate in England, if a way to revolution had not been laid open by the fanaticifm of the Scoty. Affairs of On the fubverfion of the Roman catholic eflablifh- ment in Scotland, the calviniflical or prelLyterian worfhip and ecclefiiflical government were adopted by the mafs of the Scottifli people. Yet the bilhops and abbots, though dripped of their revenues, re- tained (till a temporal jurifdidion as members of the Scottifh parliament. James the firlt, even before his acceffion to the Englifli throne, had endeavoured to extend the power of the prelates^ and, after that awceilion, HISTORY OF IRELAND. 359 acccflion, to introduce even fome of the ceremonies ^"^, ''• of the Englirti church into the Scottifh worfhip, ' .r-~J vainly hoping uhimately to effedt a uniformity in the churches of South and North Britain. The fame plan was pertinacioufly purfued by his fucceflbr Charles, who, having fucceeded in the eftablifiiment of prelatical jurifdidion, proceeded to the introduc- tion of the Englifli canons and liturgy. The canons were promulgated in 1635; and in 1637 was made the attempt to force on the Scots the reception of a liturgy differing very little from that of England. The attempt was tumultuoufly oppofed by the lower claiTes, whofe conduct was foon abetted by the higher. The nobles envied the growing power of the prelates, and were apprehenfive of being called to account for the lands ufurped at the reformation from the epifcopal fees. The miniflers and people held the Romifh religion in unfpeakable abhor- rence, and apprehended that their fubmiffion, to a conformity with the church of England would be a ftep toward the re-eftabli(hment of popery, which they fufpefbed to be fecretly intended by their fovereign. Fears were a!fo entertained that the king defigned the abolition of their civil rights, fince the canons reprefented the royal authority as altogether unlimited. The king perfevered. His proclamation was en- countered by a proteftation figned by fome nobles. The government was affumed, with amazing regu- larity, by an affembly of nobles, gentry, clergy, and burgeffes, at Edinburgh. A covenant was eagerly fiibfcribed by perfons of both fexes, all ages and ranks, A A 4 confiding XXI g6o HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, confiiliug of a mod virulent renunciation of popery, and a bond of union, by which the fubfcribers bound ihemfelves to refill religious innovations, and to defend one another againft every oppofition what- foever, Charles was at length alarmed, and re- peatedly made conceilions. The covenanters role in their demands in proportion to the encreafing con- defcenfion difplayed in his offers. By a general aifembly epifcopacy was aboliilied, and the whole fabrick at once annihilated, which James and Charles had been rearing fo many years with fo much folicitude. For the defence of their fydem the mal- contents levied a well-appointed army, and made many other preparations for war. With twenty- eight thoufand men the king advanced, in the year 1639, to attack the Scots, not inferior in number, and a6:uated by an ardent fpirit of religious enthu- fiafm. Doubtful of the iffue, he agreed to a treaty of pacification, the withdrawing of his troops, and the fummoning of a general aflembly and a parlia- ment. The refolutions of the general aflembly were difagreeable to his Majefty ; and he difiblved the parliament when it was proceeding to ratify thefe refolutions. Both parties flew to arms ; but Charles, finding himfelf unable to fupport his troops by means of his prerogative, was obliged to convene an Eng- lifli parliament in 1640, after eleven years intermif- fion of this aflembly. Such was the operation of the public diflrufl: on the members of this body, that no fubfidy could be obtained for the king's necefllties until the national grievances fliould previoufly be difcufled j a mode of proceeding which irritated ths I monarch. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 361 monarch, and impelled him rafhly to pronounce its chap: diflblution. ^_J1-.1«^' By money voted by the convocation of clergy, by private loans, and otlicr means, Charles v^ith diffi- culty procured a temporary maintenance for his troops ; but the Scot?, entering earher into adion, and pafling into England, repulsed the advanced guard of the royal army at the river Tyne, which caufed the latter to retreat fouthward into Yorkfhire in confufion. The king, defpairing of being able to oppofe his revolted fubjecls with mutinous troops, and unable to fupport thefe troops longer by his own refources, agreed to enter into a treaty with the Scots, for which purpofe a conference was held at Rippon, and thence transferred to London. From the fituation to which his affairs were, reduced, he was obliged again to fummon an Englifh parliament ; and that which' became fo famous in hiftory under the title of the Long Parliament, met in November 1640. In the houfe of commons now afTembled were men of extenfive defign, uncommon fagacity, abilitie.^, and refolution, who were determined to abridge the dangerous power of the king, and, as a preliminary flep, carried an impeachment to ihe lords againll the earl of Strafford for high treafon, a nobleman regarded as the monarch's prime favourite and ableft inftru- ment of arbitrary rule. The Irifli parliament, fo obfequious to the wiflies, I'rccecc'. and encomiaftic on the virtues of their chief gover- ii-fni pKrim- nor, began to change their tone, when they found '\^^' q his royal mafler embarrafifed by the Scoctifii war and the diltrufl of the national reprefentatives of England. . At 362 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. At firfl: they complained of the burden of affeilments XXI t , \y _. which themfelvcs had voted, and of the oppreflion of ecclefiailical courts and demands of the ellablifhed clergy; for of the commons of this parliament the inajority was compofed of recufants and puritans, inveterately hollile between themfelves, yet coalefc- ing In oppofition to the exifting religious eftablifh- ment. By the alterations voted by the commons in the modes of afleOfment of the fecond, third, and fourth fubfidies, which had been granted to the king, thefe fubfidies were reduced to a trifling fum hardly worth the trouble of collection ; yet, with a ridiculous affectation of folicitude for the relief of their fovereign's diftrelfes, they ordered the third fubfidy to be paid fix months fooner than the time originally appointed. Provoked by this infolence, added to the unprecedented revocation of their own grant, Charles peevilhly commanded the leaf to be torn from the journals of the houfe in which this re- folution was entered. But, encouraged by the en- creafing power of thdf Englifh mal-contents, the commons, little regarding the royal difpleafure, pro- ceeded to a full Ifatement of grievances, real and nclitious, iniroductorv to the concerted attack on their lately panegyrized viceroy. Rfmrn- j^ remonff rance, hadily prepared, enumerating many caufes of complaint fuftained by the people of Ireland in the adminiftration of Strafford, was abruptly prefented to the commons, who, v/Ithout cliicuffjon, in the midlt of tumult and diforder, voted all the articles colleOIvely grievances. The remon- itrance concluded with a petition to the lord deputy, Wandesford, HISTORY OF IRELAND. 363 Wandesford, that, if he fhould not think proper to chap. afford relief, he would admit a feiect committee of the commons to repair to Enghind to kiy their com- plaints before his Majedy. While the deputy was making a faint attempt to elude the petition by re- commending a conference with a committee of the lords, the reprefentative body, already chofen by the commons, was preparing fecretly 10 embark, and their agents, John Bellew and Oliver Cafhel, were on their way to London. By the influence of two of their members, Pym, a profoundly fagacious leader of the popular party, and Sir John Clotworthy, an Irlfhinan, who had gained a feat in their houfe by his enmity to Strafford, the Englifh commons had ap- pointed a committee to enquire into the grievances of Ireland. To this body the Irifh agents, though by their public inftrutlions they had been authorized only to addrefs the throne, communicated their re- monflrance, which, with a petition from feveral of the Iiifh commons, was prefented to the houfe. To the committee of the Irifli commons was joined a deputation of lords, not eleded by the upper houfe, but by a number of Iriih nobles after the prorogation of parliament. This deputation the Englifli com- mons affeded to regard as a committee of the Irifli houfe of lords, and both the Irifh committees were treated with very flattering attention. On the death of Wandesford, occafioned, as is fuppofed, by the vexations of his government, and' the violent impreffion made on his mind by Straf* ford's profecution, the adminiflration of Ireland was committed to two lords juflices, Sir WiUiam Parfons aixi 354 FHSTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, and Sir John Borlafe, puritans, aftuated bv an Hii- XXI. . ' . ' ,1 beral virulence of parry, correfponding to the mean- nefs of their abilities and narrownefs of intellecl. The earl of Ormond, on the recommendation of Straf- ford, would have been appointed deputy by the king, and afterwards lord Ddlon of Kilkenny-well: would have been joined in commillion, as lord juf- tice, with Parfons, if the Irifli committee had not, in all appearance unfortunately, remonfirated againfl both thefe appointments. Charles made dill farther concefTions to the demands of this delegated body, among which was the reftoration of the leaf which had been torn by his order from the commons' jour- nal, and that all h's correfpondence with his minif- ters in Ireland iliould be entered in the fignet office, open to be infpeded and copied by every fub- jed. The commijtee at iengrh prefented their re- monlirance in due foriu, but declined to fupport it othervvife than by entrenching themfclves in a general declaration of the fenfe of tiie Iri!h houfe of com- monsj and this declaration alio they declined to lay before his Majefty, when Srrafford folicited a com- mifiion of inquiry into every particular of their re- monQrance diftincUy. On the reaflembling of the Irifh parliament after Wandesford's prorogation, the commons no longer confined themfelves to demand the redrefs of former grievances, but, like thofe of England, applied for new laws, regulations, and fecurities, tending to ad- vance their own power, and, in mofl cafes, the public intereft. As the deftruflion of Strafford was their immediate objed, on whom they had paflfed very HISTORY OF IRELAND. 565 very great and unqualified encomiums in the pre- amble to their btil of fubfidies, they protelled that this preamble was utterly falfe, had been furrepti- tioufly inferted by Strafford or his agents, a-nd had been permitted to remain, as if unnoticed, left the rejection of the bill, and the delay thereby occafi- oned in the raifmg of the fubfidies, fiiould have been diilrefllng to his Majetly. The lords, having caught the, fame fpirit, united with the commons in this proteftation, and nominated the Irifli nobles then re- fident in London a committee of their houfe. This houfe, however, defended its own privileges againft the encroachments of a power then paramount for a time in the Britifh illands, that of the Englidi houfe of commons. Thefe having fummoned the bifhop of Ardagh to appear before them, on a com- plaint of a wrong decifion in his favour in a private fuit, were informed by the Iriih lords, that they would not permit him, as a member of their body, to obey the fummons ; and expreffed their confidence that the Englifli commons would not proceed to a determination in fuch a cafe, but would remit the fame to the parliament of Ireland. They alfo in- ftrufted their committee to fupplicate his Majefty for the prevention of fuch ads in future. Nor was this houfe of lords in all cafes fully com- pliant to the Irifh commons. The latter framed a number of quefiions for the dtcifion of the judges, relative to the legality of feveral ads of ftate and pradices under the authority of the chief governor and privy council. The lords confenteu, but not without a limitation of the queries, and a confider- able $65 HISTORY OP IRELAND. c"AP- able time allowed for the anfwers of the iad":es. XXI. -' 'J « — , ' Difpleafed at this coldnefs; the commons tranfmitted their queries to their committee in London, with di- re(5i:ions to fubmit them to the Englifti parliament. As they afted in concert with thofe of England, they impeached of high treafon Sir Richard Bolton the chancellor, Sir Gerard Lowther, chief juftice of the common pleas. Sir George RadclifFe, and Dodlor Bramhal bifhop of Derry, four friends of Strafford, to prevent their evidence in favour of that devoted nobleman on his trial. Scruples and de- bates had place among the lords, efpecially with re- fped to the chancellor and chief juftice, who ftill kept their feats at the privy council and in their courts; and, after the execution of lord Strafford, in confequence of an a(5l of attainder of the Englifii parliament, the profecution of thefe men, no longer neceffary for this purpofe, was tacitly laid afide. But, though the friends of this unfortunate nobleman were no longer perfecuted, the triumph of the party hoftile to him and his meafures was complete, fo that to have been an obje^ of Strafford's enmity was nnatter of high merit. On this ground Sir Piers Crofby was reftored to his place in council ; and Archibald Adair, a Scot, who had been deprived of the fee of Killala for his expreffions in approbation of the Scottifli covenant, was recommended by the lords juftices to the fee of Waterford. To the folicitations of the Irifli committees the king confented that their grievances {hould be heard in his privy council ; and to moft of the articles he gave favourable anfwers. He agreed to deprive thofe HISTORY OF IRELAND. 367 thofe peers of their votes in the IrlHi houfe of lords, chap. yxj who held titles without property in Ireland, unlefs they fhould purchafe eftates in this kingdom within a time limited ; to allow all his fubjecls to repair to any part of his dominions without leave of their vice- roy, or any other reftraint j to prohibit the chief governors and privy council from deciding in cafes of property and from the annulling of letters patent ; to revoke monopolies in commerce ; to fufpend the court of high commiiTion ; to refer the graces, and the demands of the clergy, to the lords juftices and council ; to reform the abufes of martlcd law and of quo-warrantos again ft boroughs ; and to repeal the preamble, encomiaftic of Strafford, in the bill of fubfidies ; but, befide his diifent in fome other arti- cles, he refufed to admit a repeal of any p^rt of the law of Poynings. He addreifed a letter to the lords judices, expreffing his wifli that his fubjeds in Ireland (hould enjoy all his graces, and ordering bills to be tranfmitted for the eilabliiliment of fome of the mod material. In the return of the thanks of both houfes to his Majefly, they prayed that the prefent parliament fiiould not be diliblved nor pro- rogued, until laws (liould be prepared for the e[ta- blifliment of all the graces, and the redrcfs of every grievance. They proceeded alfo to aifert their judi- cial authority, as the chancellor Bolton had, in his anfwer to the charge againll him, infinuated a doubt whether, fmce the enading of Poyning's law, the Irilh houfe of lords had power of judicature in capital cafes. Both houfes joined in a folemn proteftaiion, that the courl of parliament ever was and is the 6 fupreme i( 368 HISTORY OF IRELAND. ^JAP. fupreme judicatory of the realm, and always had, V— -v-..««j and ought to have, full authority to determine in cafes of treafon and other offences." This protefla- tion, prefented to the king and the EnglHh houfe of lords, was unfavourably received by the latter.. After a ferious debate in that houfe and in the privy council, the king was advifed to fufpend his a6ls of grace and favour to the people of Ireland until this queflion fhould be determined : but no determination feems to have taki,n place, probably prevented by fub- fequent troubles. I5.U. The commons proceeded in a high fpirit of refor- maiion to frame a number of refolutions, aniong which every queflionable demand of the eftablifhed clergy was voted a grievance, in fuch a drain of fe- veriiy, that the maintenance of this order of men became precarious, and even this houfe thought it- felf afterwards obliged to qualify the rigour of its refolutions in this cafe. They appointed a commit- tee to inquire into the flate of the college of Dub- lin, and prepared to change the conflitution of that feminary by a body of fiatutes. They commanded the judges to give anfwers to their queries formerly propofed, and voted the anfwers unfatisfaclory. They appointed Patrick Darcy, an eminent lawyer, their prolocutor in a conference with the lords, to explain the reafons of the feveral queflions, and the infufficiency of the judges' anfwers. The bufinefs ended with a folemn determination of the commons on every article feparately, in which the rights of Iriili fubjeds were itated and aHirmcd forcibly and with precificn, and all irregular and illegal powers affumed HISTORY OF IRELAND. 3^9 afTumed by governors and officers of government, chap. how much foever fanftioned by cuftom, were feverely . _ _" , i and explicitly condemned. The parliament at length, at the prefllng inftances of the chief governors, un- willingly adjourned, apparently wiih a refolutioix of rifmg in their demands at their next meeting ; and, for their encouragement, their committees re- turned in their time of recefs, with the bills for which they had flrenuoufly contended, by which the properties of the fubjeds were fecured, and all their capital grievances redrefled, fo as to leave no rea- fonable ground of complaint even to the mofl fac- tious. The mutually hoftile parties of recufants and pu- ritans, who compofed the majority of this parlia- ment, had formed a temporary coalirion for the common purpofe of extorting conccflions from the king in his embarraflfed fituacion, but with views ultimately differenr. Of the former fome had been fecretly engaged in fchemes, the completion of which would have involved the deflruQion of the latter. A part of fuch plan appears to have been the condu6l purfued with refped to the catholic forces levied by Strafford for the invafion of Scotland. To difband thefe was rendered neceffary by the remonftrances of the Englifli parliament, but would without payment of their arrears be very dangerous. A fum infuf- ficient for this purpofe, but fatisfa^tory for the mo- ment to the foldiery, was raifed with difficulty by the king, who entered into a treaty with the Spanifli ambaffador for their tranfportation to Spain for the fervice of the Spanifli monarch. When the troops VOL. I. B B were J 370 HISTORY OF IRELAND. c n A p. vvere difbanded, and means prepared for their con- veyance abroad, both the Irifli commons, and their committee in London, clamoured vehemently againfl the meafure, groundlefsly affeding to dread a return, of this army, with holiils intent in the pay of Spain, a kingdom too deeply engaged elfewhere to under- take fuch an enterprize. Infenfible or regardlefs of the confequences, the Engli/h parliament adopted this fentiment, and to mortify the king in a difplay of their power, interdicled the tranfportation, though the Spanifh ambalTador had incurred great expence for that purpofe. Thus thefe troops were detained in Ireland, the ready inftruments of rebel- lion, conformably to the views of confpirators, who feem on this occafion to have duped the puri- tans. With the fame view was the adivity of fome mem- bers exerted on the unfounded report of a plot faid to have been contrived by fome dependants of the deceafed Earl of Strafford, for the deflru6lion of both houfes of parliament, by an explofion of gunpow- der, in revenge for his fall. Great alarm was af- fefted, and an order procured for the appointment of a committee to infpeft the chambers of the caftle. After an accurate fearch of all apartments adjacent to the place of parliamentary feflion, without the difcovery of any circumftance favourable to fufpi- cion, lord Macguire, the head of the committee, de- manded admiflion to the king's magazines, that he might examine the (lores. In this he received a peremptory refufal from Borlafe, who, though pro- bably unfufpicious of treachery, mult have perceived that HISTORY OF IRELAND. 371 that the demand had no connexion with the pre- chap. XXI. tended enufe. Revolutionary preparations could be \^— v-— / made with lefs obftrudion in confequence of the vigorous refolutions of the parliament in favour of liberty. The people of Ireland had been accuflomed to a fevere government, not confined within the li- mits of law or conflitutional freedom; and the fud- den removal of an eftablilhed abufe is attended with inconvenience. Intimidated by reraonftrances, the officers of admlniltration became fo cautious, that the privy council, the court of high commiflion, and the courts of the lord prefidents of Munfter and Connaught, no longer exercifed their former jurif- diclion. The abrupt tranfition from arbitrary modes of government to conflitutional fcrupulofity, inflead of endearing the adminiflration, rendered it con- temptible to the mafs of the nation, and encou- raged the enemies of Britifli government in their plans of rebellion, Various were the caufes of difcontent, promotive caufes of of a rebellious inclination m the people or Ireland : the hatred of the old Irifli to what they regarded as an injurious ufurpation of their country by the Eng- lifli government : the abufes and oppreflions com- mitted in the management of plantations by adven- turers, commiffioners, and agents : the harafling •and difpoffelling of proprietors by ficlions of law and revival of obfolete claims of the crown : the infm' cerity.of the king who fo often evaded the confir- mation of the graces : the impolitic and felfifh info- lence of new-comers ' from England, who repre- fented to the government, and affe^ed to confider, B B 2 all 372 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, all the natives of Ireland, both of Endifli and Irifh XXI . ... . V, y . blood without diftinclion, as difaffecled and dan- gerous : the rigorous government of StratTord, which, though falutary to the general welfare, was by wan- ton infolence rendered odious : and the peftilent preaching of ecclefiaftics educated abroad, who la- boured with unhappy fuccefs to infufe into their hearers the mod rancorous hatred of berefy and heretical government. Schemes of infurreftion were long meditated, and fo early as the year 1634, Heber Mac-Mahon, a Romlfli ecclefiaftic, informed lord Strafford that a general rebellion was intended with afliflance from fome foreign courts, and that him- felf had been employed abroad in the foliciting of fuch affiflance. DefiuTs The policy of Strafford confined his exertions to vigilance and precaution, without the giving of alarm to the nation. Rumours of confpiracies after- wards propagated, unattended by any apparent con- fequences, ferved ro lull the adminiffration into a fatal fecurity, while from the dldradlions in Eng- land, and the fuccefs of the Scottifh covenanters, in arming for their political and religious claims, the difaffccted in Ireland were conceiving (Irong hopes of eftabliftiing a government independent of the Engllfh power, and their plots were haffening to maturity. When at length information was tranf- mitted from the Englifh cabinet to the lords juflices of Intelligence from abroad, that great numbers of Irifh clergy had paffed from Spain and other coun- tries to this kingdom, and that a rebellion was foon to explode J no precautionary meafu;"es appear to 8 have ofitbellion. I 1 HISTORY OF IRELAND. 373 have been taken by thefe governors ; nor till the c h a p. xxj very eve of the infurredlion were they awakened from ' > their dream of carelefs infufpicion. Sir William Parfons is even fuppofed to have defignedly connived at a fcheme of rebellion, which might afford him an opportunity of augmenting his fortune by confifca- tions ; while Sir John Borlafe, an aged foldier, was, except in military affairs, ignorant and indolent. Both of them, well knowing that they owed their places wholly to the popular, and now ruHng party in England, flighted the inftrudlons, and difobeyed the orders of the king. The chief agitator of rebellion was Roger Moore, Leaders of the head of a family now reduced, but once pow- * erful in Leix, the Queen's County, a man of po- lifhed manners and infmuating addrefs, who had travelled on the continent, judicious, deliberate, and penetrating, conneded with fome of the bed fami- lies of old Englilh race in Ireland. He became the idol of the old Irifh, in whofe fongs he was cele- brated, and among whom the phrafe became pro- verbial, that their dependance 'ivas on God, our Lady^ and Roger Moore, One of his firft affociates was Richard Plunket, vain, indigent, and bigoted, but polite and plaufible, of a refpedable family, an Englifli education, and diltinguifhed by promotion to a militarv command in Flanderi.. Another was Connor Macguire, baron of Enniflvillen, who had inherited and diflipated that part of the lands of Fermanagh, forfeited in Tyrone's rebellion, which had been reftored to his family, licentious, proud, E B 3 and XXI. 374 HISTORY OF IRELAND. c HA p. and of a mean intelled. A later convert to the plan was Sir Phelim O'Nial, of Kinnard, in the county of Tyrone, of a family uninjured and even favoured by Englifh government, a proteftant in his youth, and educated in England, in Lincoln's Inn, but of a nar- row underftanding and brutal difpofition, adopting the religion and manners of his clan, and confaming his eftate in the vile gratifications of fenfuality. By the death of the titular earl of Tyrone, in Spain, fon of the famous rebel, Hugh O'Nial, Sir Phelim be- came the oftenfible head of the fept, and afpired to the princely dominion of his anceftors. To thefc were joined Hugh Byrne, a fierce confpirator, whofe father had been oppreiTed, and deprived of his lands, by Parfons the lord jullice; Sir James Dillon, of an honourable Englifh family of the Pale ; Turlaugh O'Nial, a brother of Sir Phelim ; Philip Reily ; a determined confederate named Hugh Mac-Mahon, and many others of lefs note, whofe numbers and violence were much augmented by the furious de- nunciations againll popery in Britain, and apprehen- fions of attempts of Scottifh and Englifh puritans to exterminate the Irifli catholics j appreheniions feri- ouHy entertained by fome, and, for bad purpofes, affeded to be believed, and eagerly propagated, by others. Their pro- Not Only wcre the troops, levied for the Spanifh fervice, detained in Ireland by the contrivance of thefe men, but they alfo enlifled numbers on that pretence without authority. For the pay of their men they propofed to feize all the rents of the king- dom cccdings. ¥ HISTORY OF IRELAND, 375 dom without din:in6lion of perfons, and expeSed a chap. . XXI. fupply of money from the Pope. The infurredion was propofed to be general ; the propereft time for its commencement judged to be in the approach of winter, when fuccours could not fo eafily be fent from Britain ; and the fifth of October was appoint- ed for the rifing. But the enterprize was deferred, and nearly abandoned by fome principal confpira- tors, difcouraged by the coldnefs of the catholics of the Pale, who declined to engage in it, as being of lefs defperate fortune, lefs hoftiie to the exifting government, and expecHng to fucceed in reafonable demands by parliamentary exertions ; yet Plunket had, with too fanguine hopes, pledged himfelf for their co-operation to his affociates. Alarmed by this intelligence of defection, Moore, who had for forae time lived retired from public view, and had employed lord Macguire as his agent and emiflary, rufhed ar- dently from his retreat, and by his remonftrances and arguments confirmed Byn»e, Sir Phelim, and Macguire in the purfuit of the defign. The twenty- third of October was now appointed for the com- mencement of their military operations. To Moore was committed the talk of furprizing the cMe of Dublin, affifted by Byrne, Macguire, and fome others, who were to employ two hundred men, equally compofed of partizans from Leinfter and Ulfter, the latter to force the greater gate, the for- mer the fmaller, while greater numbers were to come after to their fupport. To prevent alarm, they were to pafs as recruits for the fervice of Spain, and B B 4 to Tlicir VltWS. 376 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, to come on a day of more than ordinary concourfe, when a weekly market v/as held in the capital. The feizures of the different fortrefles in Ulfter were feverally affigned to different leaders, who were to inarch under Sir Pheliai to fecure their friends in the poITeffion of Dublin, after the accomphftiment of their particular talks. The inTurredion was to be conduded with as little bloodfhed as poffible, and all the loyal gentry to be imprifoned as hof- tages. That all the confpirators fliould have precifely the fame views is not to be fuppofed, but that in the courfe of an infurredion the mod violent would pre- vail might well be expected from the circumftances of the country. The notions of fome were wild and undigefled. The molt moderate wifned not that the king of England's authority fliould be re- nounced, but confined within certain Hmits ; that the Romifh religion fliould alone be eflablifhed throughout the kingdom ; that the prelates of this communion fhould fit in parUament ; that the law of Poynings fhould be totally repealed ; and that the adminiflration fhould be held by two Romifh lords juftices, the one of the ancient Irifh, the other of the old Englifh race. Some recommended fim- ply the banifliment, others the complete extermi- nation, of the Britifli planters and other proteft- ants. That the latter opinion was delivered by many of the clergy, in an affembly held at the ab" bey of Multifernam in Weflmeath, was afferted by Jieber Mac-Mahon, who was prefent on the oc- cafion. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 377 cafion. That the Scottifti planters of Ulfter, whofe chap. numbers and vicinity to their brethren in Scot- . land might create a powerful obltacle, fhould be left unmolefted at jirji in the general commotion, feems to have been approved by all as a prudential meafure. CHAP. 378 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. XXII. Rebellion of 1641 — 0' Connolly' s difcovery-^ Defence- lefs fiate of Dublin — Arrival of Willoughhy DiJiraSlion — Catholics of the Pale — Munfier Connaught — Progrefs of infur gents in Ul/ier —Forged Commijfion — Military operations — Maffacres — Pro - ceedings of the lords jufiices — A parliament — Info- lence of Moore — Lord Dillon s deputation — Defec- tion of the Pale—Extenfion of the rebellion — Military operations — Cruelty of Coote — Defeat of fulian's- iown bridge— Blockade of Drogheda — Diftrefs of the gar r if on Ravaging expeditions of Coote and Ormond— Spirited reply of Onnond to Gormanfton— Diftrefs of Dublin — Siege of Drogheda raifed Condud of the jufiices — cTichburne. ^^Al Roger MOORE, the main fpring of the Irifli ^*— V — -' confpiracy, was unable, with all his abilities and ex- 1641. ' ertions, to render the infurredion general. The old Englifh catholics of the Pale, by their averfion to the defign damped the ardour of many, fo that fome of the confpirators relinquifhed the attempt. An honeft and able chief governor might doubtlefs have prevented any dangerous commotion, notwith- flanding that the royal army confided of only two thoufand infantry and nine hundred horfe, diftributed as garrifons in feveral towns and fortreffes. The leaders of rebellion, however, notwithftanding the cold- HISTORY OF IRELAND. 379 coldnefs of many, depended on a rifing throughout chap. all Ulfter, and on a fubfequent concurrence of the ^ ' . other provinces, when the northern counties and the capital fhould be in their poffeHion. On the twenty-fecond of Odober, the day previous to that which was appointed for the feizure of Dublin Caf- de, Moore and moft of the other leaders of this en- terprife affembled in the capital j and though they found only eighty of their men arrived, they en- couraged one another with the hope of the arrival of their confederates from the north, and the comple- tion of their number before the time of action. On this critical evening a difcovery of the plot was forced on the lords juftices by what we call chance, a name given to operations invifible and infer utable to human intellect. Owen O'Connolly, a fervant of Sir John Clot- worthy, of the old Irlih race, was, though he had been bred a proteftant, fuppofed a fit perfon to pro- mote the confpiracy by Hugh Mac Muhon, who doublefs imagined him fecretly attached to the reli- gion of his anceftors, and probably alfo hoftile to Engliih government, on account of the fufferings of his family, who had been deprived of their lands by the fyftem of plantation. In confequence of a mef- fage, O'Connolly repaired to Mac-Mahon's houfe in the county of Monaghan, and not meeting him there, followed him to Dublin, where he found him, when he and the other leaders had clofed their fecret confultation by falling on their knees, and drinking to the fuccefs of their enterprize. Mac-Mahon immediate- ly with great exultation communicated to him the plot, introduced 380 HISTORY OF IRELAND. c H A P. introduced him to lord Macguire, and brought him V ■ ^ -, to his own lodgings, where he propoied to detain him till the very hour of the afl'ault, as he found reafon to lufpedl him not inclined to the bufinefs. O'Connolly, feigning to be at once converted into a determined partizan of revolt, found an opportunity of efcape, and ruihed with violent trepidation to the prefence of Parfons, the lord juftice, whom he informed of the tremendous defign juft ready for execution. Parfons, who dill perfevered in his increduliiy of rebellion, coldly advifi:;d O'Connolly to return to MacMahon, and to learn more particularly the circumftanceb of the treafon. After the departure of O'Connolly, who was not fo flupid as to follow this advice, Parfons awoke fuddenly from his torpid fecurity, iirued orders for the guarding of the cadle and city, and communi- cated the alarming information to his colleague. Struck more forcibly with this intelligence, Borlafe much blamed the difmilTal of the informer, fummoned the privy council, and fent to fearch for O'Con- nolly, who was found, feized as a fufpicious perfon, in the hands of the city watch. When, after fome repofe from fright and the intoxication of drink, he had given his evidence clearly, Mac-Mahon and Mac- guire were arrelted, but Moore, Byrne, and other leaders elTcded their efcape. Mac Mahon, while he was waiting in a hall, before his examination by the privy council, anm'ed himfeli by drawing with chalk the figures of men hanging on gibbets, or groveling on the ground, either defigned to prefigure the deaths: HISTORY OF IRELAND. 3S1 xleaihs of himfelf ami his afibciates, or thofe of their chap. Xxji opponents. The latter feems probable, as he boaded ^, -,-.._.-' to the privy council, to whom, after a little hefita- tion he confefieJ the plot, that the infurreflion of that day was too mighty to be fupprefieJ, and that his death would be feverely revenged. Thefe two confpirators, after fuccefilve imprifonments in Dublin and the Tower of London, were hanged at Tyburn in 1645. Notwithflanding the difcovery of the plot on the night of the twenty- fecond of 0(5l:ober, the confpi- rators might dill have executed their purpofe, if * they had perfevered with refolution ; fince only eight infirm warders, and forty halberdiers, the ufual guard of the chief governors on occafions of parade, compofed the whole gar:ifon of the Caftle, which contained a depofit of fifteen hundred barrels of gun- powder, with a proportional quantity of matches and bullets, arms for ten thoufand men, and thirty- five cannons with their full equipments. Among the inconveniencies arifing from the too flrifl adherence to conditutional rights at this time was the deditute flate of the capital with regard to troops, as the citi- zens had urged the privilege of their charter againd the billeting of foldiers, and the prefent lords juf- tices afteded to govern on popular principles. In fuch circumdances of the feat of government the arrival was fortunate of an experienced and fpirited officer, Sir Francis Willoughby, governor of the fort of Galway, who found the juQices and privy council, of which he was a member, adembied at Chicheder 382 HrSTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. Chlcbefler houfe, the refidence of Borlafe, in the XXil. green leading from the city to the College. He in- formed them that in his whole journey he had not perceived any even the fmallefl: appearance of com- motion, (for the plan of the confpirators was to give no alarm till the moment of execution) but that fmce his arrival he had obferved a number of ftrange horfemen pouring into the fuburbs, who. not admitted within the walls, were (till hovering around, and therefore he advifed the immediate removal of the juftices and councillors to the Caflle. To Willoughby was committed the defence of the Caflle and city j and a proclamation was iffued, notifying the difcovery of a dangerous confpiracy, and exhorting all loyal perfons to provide for defence. The fear and diflraclion of the citizens of Dublin was great beyond expreffion, alarmed at midnight by a variety of rumours, and confirme.d in the fuc- ceeding day in the certainty of an adlual rebellion. by expreffes from the north. '' Thofe proteftant in- habitants, who by their age, their weaknefs, or their fex, weremofl fufceptible of terror, fwelled the crowds that waved tumultuoufly through the ftreets in fearch of intelligence, and by their fhrieks and clamours encreafed the general confternation." Such was the effeft of terror, that even men of fuperior rank imagined the appearance of rebel armies approach- ing to the capital, and even within the city rulhing to the Caftic Many of the Englifh dwellers, def- pairing of fafety, embarked for their native country, and chofe rather to fuftain the di/lrefs and danger of 7 tempeftuous HISTORY OF IRELAND. 383 tempeftuous weather on fhipboard than the hazard chap. XXII of meeting with the rebels on fhore. In this ftate i ' ' , of alarm, the principal proteftant merchants, by the advice of Sir John Temple, mafter of the rolls, de- pofited their efFeds within the Caftle, on promife of reimburfement for their lofTes in the public fervice ; by which means was obtained a fupply for the army, when the treafury was quite empty, and the magif- trates unable or unwilling to advance any money for the defence of the country. When the catholic lords of the Pale appeared be- fore the council, expreffing their abhorrence of the rebellion, and demanding arms and ammunition for their own defence and the annoyance of the infurgents, only a fmall quantity was granted, and only to thofe who were mod expofed to danger, under pretence of a fcarcity, as the puritanic adminiflration diftrufted all catholics, and feared the coalition of thefe lords with the rebels. When the fame afterwards remon* ftrated againfl: the words Irijh papifts in the procla- mation, which they apprehended to be too general and indefinite, they were indulged with an explana- tory proclamation which declared, that this term was not intended as applicable to the Englilh of the Pale, nor to perfons elfewhere of Englifii race. Yet as foon as the lords juftices received affurances of fuccours from England, they recalled the arms which they had given to thefe catholics, and com- manded by proclamation all except the ordinary in- habitants of Dublin, on pain of death, to depart from the city in twenty-four hours, and not to pre- fume to approach within two miles of its walls ; thus leaving 384. HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, leaving the catholics of the Pale expofed to the furr XXII. - ° . ^ ^ V ^-. I / of the rebels without defence, and confequently obliged to mollify them by contributions, or by join- ing them as allies. In Munfter, more diftant from the infurgenrs of the north, peace was preferved for fome time, without a military force, by the loy- alty of the gentry and firength of the proteQant in- habitants. In like manner was tranquillity maintained in Connaught by the exertions of catholic gentry and nobles, particularly lord Dillon of Coftello and lord Mayo, and above all by Uliac earl of Clanri- card, who (trained every nerve to fupport the autho- rity of government, yet was hated for his religion by the lords juHices, denied every affiftance, and mortified and difguiled when opportunity allowed. But in Leinfler the fuccefs of the northerns encou» raged the fept of the O'Byrnes, who had cruelly fuffered by the injuftke of Parfons, to rife in arms, ^to unite with the rebels of Wexford and Carlow, and to extend their ravages to the vicinity of Dublin. irfprrefiion The confplrators of Illder had rifen at the ap- inuifter. poj^jt^j^ [\^q ^vith fuch activity that within eight days they were full in poffefTion of the whole coun- ties of Tyrone, Monaghan, Longford, Leitrim, Fer- managh, Cavan, Donegal, and Derry, befide parts of Armagh and Down, except the towns of Derry, Colerain, Liiburn, Carrickfergus, and Ennifkillen, together with fome inferior fortreffes. Sir Phelini O'Nial, or O'Neal, as the word is now written, took the lead in rebellion by the furprize, on the twenty fecond of O^^ober, of the fortrels of Char- lemount. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 385 lemount. Admitted with his followers, on his pro- chap. XXII pofal to flip with lord Caulheld, an old officer, the •■ „ -, ,. ,f governor of the fort, he made all the inmates prifo- ners in the night, and thence flying to Dungannoii feized that pod alfo, while his aflbciates elfewhere made their attacks on various other garrifons. In the counties of Longford and Cavan the infurrec- tlon was conduced vv'ith the appearance of legal for- mality, the people being fummoned to arms by their refpecllve flierifFs, who were romanlds, engaged in the plot* Ennifkillen was prefer ved by Sir Wil- liam Cole, a gentleman who had fent neglected in- formation to the chief governors, fo early as the eleventh of Oclober, concerning treafonable defigns ; and on the twenty-firfl:, a full account of the confpi- racy, by a letter which reached not its place of def- tination. Some leaders of the infurgents pretended to act ^"^^'^^ by authority of the queen of England, vv^ho was a catholic. Sir Phelim, in the feizure of Charlemount, declared himfelf authorized by the Enghfh parlia* ment ; but afterwards feigned a commifiion from the king, and {hewed for this purpofe, without allowing it to be infpecled, a parchment with a great feaL This parchment appears to have been a patent of lord Caulfield, found in the plundering of the fortref?, as was confefled fome years after by Sir Phelim at his execution. In feven days after the fackage of Charls- mount, a forged commiffion was publicly produced, with the feal appended to it which had been torn from the patent, where authority Vv'as pretended to be given by his Majedy to the Irifli catholics to feizs VOL. I. c c the 386 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, the perfons and effecls of all Englifli proteftants in | JX All, ^■ ■ -v-— ^ Ireland, Immediately on the promulgation of this pretended inftrument appeared a manifefto, fuppofed to be the work of Roger Moore, who might wifti to correal the impolicy of Sir Phelim's device. The I non-exiftence of a royal commiflion was tacitly im- , plied in this manifefto, which proclaimed to the ca- " tholics the neceffity of arming to prevent their own extirpation, to fupport the royal prerogative againft the adherents of the Englifh parliament, and to de- fend the proteftant eftablifliment againll the fediti- i ous puritans. Thus the framers of this initrument affected a coalition with the prelatical proteftants againfl:,the puritans, as their party had before af- fefled a coalition with the latter againft the for- mer. Military The progrefs of the infurgents was checked, as , foon as the proteflants, who had efcaped to places of ftrength, recovered from their firfl: confternation. The rebel parties vi^ere foiled in many ikirmiflies and affaults, as at Dromore, Ennifkillen, Caftle-Derrick in Tyrone, and in fome actions in the counties of Donegal and Fermanagh, where lord Macguire*s own caftle was taken by ftorm. The fpirits of the loy- alifts were confiderably fupported in thefe exertions by the arrival of fifteen hundred foldiers, fent by the king from Scotland, with arms, ammunition, and fome money. This unfortunate monarch, receiving in Scotland intelligence of the rebellion, applied for fuccour to the Scottifli parliament, whofe members, though enflamed with hatred to popery, declined, under xxir. HfSTORY OF IRELAND. 587 linder frivolous pretences, the reqiiefl: for the prefent, c h a p. leaving Charles to make what exertions he might by the afliftance of individuals. Not materially dif- couraged by partial defeats, the rebels under Sir Phelim at Newry, amounting to many thoufands, refolved on the attack of Carrickfergus, the chief poll of the loyalifts in Ulfter. A ftep previoufly neceflary to the grand enterprize was to gain pof- feffion of Lifburn, called alfo Lifnegarvy^ a Scot- tifli fettlement ; for to leave the Scots unmolefled was a meafure foon abandoned. In this town had been aflembled about five hundred ill-armed men, who had repelled an aflault of the rebels, and were now very feafonably reinforced by the arrival of Sir Arthur Tyringham, and in the moment of dan- ger by that of Sir George Rawdon, a gallant of- ficer. Four thoufand well-appointed men, the firfl regularly formed body of infurgents, detached by Sir Phelim, made a mod furious and long obfti- nately maintained attempt to fiorm this pofl: on the twenty-eighth of November ; but the affailants were received with fuch cool intrepidity and fierce refolu- tion, that in their difcomfiture the number of their flain was reported to equal thrice the whole garrifon. The affailants had repeatedly penetrated into the town, which they reduced to afhes ; but by a fudden ► frofi, after a thaw, the ground had been rendered fo llippery that they were unable to (land j while the cavalry of their opponents, whofe horfes had been prepared for froft by Ihoeing, charged with impetuofity. c c 2 The 38S HISTORY OF IRELAND. , CHAP. The rage of the rebels for this bloody repulfe and t_ , -^-' ' other defeats was wreaked on the unhappy perfons Maffacies. ivho had becomc their prifoners. The infurreftion was fo totally unexpeded by the Englifh proteftants, the firfl: objedls of the rebels' hoftility, that they moftly fell into the power of their enemies without refiftance, and were either confined in prifon amid the horrors of expelled murder, or driven naked from their habitations, expofed to the rage of the elements in a feafon remarkably inclement, fainting and expiring in the roads, or crawling to places of refuge in the ghafllinefs of fear and famine. All their pofieffions became the prey of barbarous plun- derers, but the original plan of infiirreflion was at firft fo far obferved that comparatively few were butchered in cold blood. Soon however this plan was forgotten, and every difgrace of the rebel arms "was expiated by the blood of defencelefs viftims. When Lurgan was furrendered by Sir William Brovimlow, on a folemn treaty of capitulation for fecurity to the inhabitants, and permiflion to march immolefted from the place with goods and retinue, all were perfidioufly felzed and doomed to butchery. One time all the proteftants of three contiguous paridies were mallacred : at another lord Caulfield and fifty perfons with him. The prifoners were led forth from various quarters, goaded forward like beads by their guards, fmking under their tortures, and ultimately difpatched in fome inhuman manner. Sometimes the infurgents inclofed their prifoners, according to the words of Leland, " in fome houfe or caftle, which they fet on fire, with a brutal indiffer- ence HISTORY OF IRELAND. 3?9 ence to their cries, and a helllfh triumph over their chap, XXII expiring agonies. Sometimes the captive Englifh ^ . _" -. were plunged into the firil: river to which they had been driven by their tormentors. A hundred and ninety were at once precipitated from the bridge of Portadown. Irifli ecclefiaftics were feen encou- raging the carnage. The women forgot the tender- nefs of their fex ; purfued the EngHfli with execra- tions, and imbrued their hands in blood. Even children in their feeble malice, lifted the dagger againft the helplefs prifoners. They who efcaped the utmoft fury of the rebels languiflied in miferies horrible to be defcribed. Their imaginations were overpowered and difordered by the recolledion of tortures and butchery. In their diftractlon every tale of horror was eagerly received, and every fug- gefiion of phrenfy and melancholy believed impli- citly. Miraculous efcapes from death, miraculous judgments on murderers, lakes and rivers of blood, marks of flaughter indelible by every human effort, vifions of fpirits chaunting hymns, ghofts rifmg from rivers and fhrieking out revenge : thefe and fuch like fancies were propagated and received as incon- tellable." That only fuperftition, which in thofe times was fo prevalent that even the exiftence of witches was firmly beheved, could be chargeable on the northern proteftants, might be earnellly wifhed. But a hor- rible inftance of injuftice and cruelty is recorded, committed by the troops in garrifon at Carrickfer- gus, who, iffuing one night from their quarters into an adjacent diltri^ named Iland-Magee, where a c c 3 number s 3CO KISTORY OF IRELAND. cwAP. number of ronianifts of the poorer fort refided, XX II. - confident of fafety as being inoffenfive and untainted with rebellion, niaffacred them all in their beds with- out diftindion of age or fex. Concerning the num- ber of the flain, and the date of the crime, writers are not unanimous. I can find no ground to fuppofe the former more than thirty families ; and the date aflign- ed by Leland, from an examination of original depofi- tions, is the beginning of January 1642. Superflu- oufly to heighten a deed fo atrocious, feme writers have reprefented the time of perpetration as previou to the maifacres committed by the Irifli, and the number flain three thoufand perfons, who had taken refuge in that little tract under the protection of the garrifon. To be warped into mifreprefentation by partial attachments is vilely to proflitute the facred office of a hiftorian, a proftitution of which both proteftant and roman catholic writers are guilty. Proceed- The lords judices had, on the full difcovery of ^ ini;s ol the ■> ■' lords jiif- plot for infurredion, fent O'Connolly, the difcoverer, tices. .... • (T into England with intelligence to the earl of Leiceller, who bore the title of lord lieutenant of Ireland. Sir Henry Spotfwood was difpatched at the fame time to the king, who was then at Edinburg, and who, unable to make any effectual exertion by his pre- rogative, reconmiended the care of Ireland to the Englifli parliament. This formidable body, whofe determined plan was to fubvert tlie regal pov.^er, afTumed this concefTion in the molt extenfive figni- fication. and refolved to ufe it as an engine for their main purpofe. Confident of being able to iiibdue g,t any time the Irifli infurgents, the leaders of the popular HISTORY OF IRELAND. 391 popular party in England were careful to prevent a chap. hafty conquefl, fince by the maintenance of the war were various pretences found for the augmentation of their own power, by patronage and influence, the levying of money and the providing of arms, in- tended really againfl: the king, apparently againfl: the rebels. Connecled with thefe leaders, and influenced, efpecially Parfons, by the hopes of gain from ex- tenfive confifcations,. the lords jufliices threw im- pediments in the way of all meafures calculated for the fpeedy termination of the Irifti rebellion by arms or other means. When they iffued proclamations with offers of pardon to repentant rebels, they fo clogged them v;ith limitations and exceptions as to render them quite nugatory. When they were au- thorized to proclaim a general pardon in the name of the Englilh parliament to thofe who fhould fubmit within a certain time, they evaded the order. The Irifli parliament, which had been adjourned till No- vember, was by them prorogued to the twenty-fourth of February, a meafure highly difpleafing to the beft and wifeft loyaliflis, who earneflly wifhed the moft efficacious means to be adopted for the pacification of the kingdom, and hoped for the forwarding of thefe means by the national convention. On the forcible aflieverations of lawyers, indiredlly favoured by the judges, that the non-aflfembling of the parliament on the day to which it was adjourned, would adually involve its diiTolution, the juitices with difficulty were perfuaded to permit its meeting for one day ; but to fufler it to fit more than two they were inexorably obftinate in refufinc:. c c 4 In '6' 392 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. In this verv (liort felTion a declaration was drawn, XXII. n -■' • ^ notwithitanding the oupofition of lome members, reprobating in flrong terms the rebellious condad of the infurgents, and denouncing vengeance againfl them unlefs they (hould fue for mercy in fuch time and manner as his Majefty and the chief governors and council fliould prefer ibe. Affi fiance even againfl their v/ill was offered to the juftices, who were empowered to collecl forces, and to aflefs and levy money for their fupport. Some members of both houfes were alfo nominated to enter into (when they fliould have received inftrudions on that head from the king or the flate of Ireland) confer- ences with the rebels of Ulfter and other parts con- cerning the caufes of their infurredion, and to make report of all matters to the king or the conftituted authorities under him. Thefe deputies addreffed themfelves to Roger Moore, who was lying near Dundalk with two thoufand five hundred ill armed men, and who was much elevated in hope from the mifcondudl of the governors, and mod induftrioufly improving to the advantage of his-caufethe difcon- tents occafioned by the prorogation and other unpo- pular meafures. To infpire his aflbciates with an idea of his confident expedlation of fuccefs, he re- ceived the deputation with difdain, contemptuoufiy rejeded all overtures for an accommodation, and tore to pieces the order of the two houfes authorizing a treaty, with an affeded indignation at the injurious terms in which it was expreffed. The friends of pa- cification were unfuccefsful in an attempt made ia another quarter, A number of lords and gentlemen of HISTORY OF IRELAND. 393 of this defcription deputed lord Dillon of Coflello chap. xxii. to repair to the king with a memorial, recommend- ^ ,., ^, ^ ing, among other falutary meafures for the reduftion of Ireland by Irifh refources alone, the appointment of the earl of Ormond to the government of the country, indead of the prefent lords juftices. By the contrivance of the leading men among the Eng- lifli commons, apprized of the bufmefs by the juftices, lord Dillon, and his companion, lord Taafe, were feized in their way to Charles, their papers fupprelTed, and their perfons confined, until their confinement was no longer of ufe for the end propofed. By the mifcondu6t of adminiftration the rebellion Def«monof acquired confiderable extent in the beginning of ^""^l^^^^^* December, a rebellion hitherto confined to Ulfter, feme parts of Leinfter, and the county of Leitrim. The catholics of the Pale, deicendants of ancient Engliih, left unarmed and expofed to the rebels, confequently obliged to pay them contributions, and dreading the rigour of the lords juftices, were at length, after a viftory of the northerns near Drogheda, perfuaded to revolt by the arguments of Moore, who addreffed himfelf principally to lord Gorman- fton. This nobleman, together with the lords Fin- gal, Slane, Louth, Dunfany, Trimblefton, and Net- terville, and about a thoufand other gentlemen, met Moore with a body of his alfociates by appointment on the hill of Crofty. To Gormanfton, demanding why they had entered the Pale in arms, Moore, in the name of the whole body replied, that they had taken arms for the maintenance of the king's prero- gative and the conftitutional freedom of his fubjefts in 394 HiSTORY OF IRELAND. CHAT, in Ireland. Oa his ibleinn aifeveration that thefe V ' '" , were their real motives, Gormamlon and his party declared that they would join their forces with them for that purpofe, and agreed to another meeting on the hill of Tarah. Yet their troops formed a fepa- rate army, independent of the northern leaders, un- der Gormanflon as chief commander, and lord Fin- gal as general of horfe. At the time when thefe lords had determined on revolt, they received letters from the chief governors and council, requiring their fpeedy attendance in Dublin, to confer on the ftate of the kingdom, and, as was added with manifefl confcioufnefs of being fufpeded, for no other end. The lords affected to conlider this invitation as a fnare, and proclaimed their fears of Sir Charles Coote, a fierce partizan of the puritans. In their addrefs to the king they complained of the injurious treatment received from the lords juftices, by which they had been compelled to unite with the forces of Ulfter for the defence of the royal prerogative, and the pre- fervation of the liberties, religion, eftates and perfons of his faithful fubjedls, the catholics of Ireland : and in a manifefto they exprefled the utmoft refped for the government, and their readinefs to confer with fuch commiflioners as the chief governors fliould ap- point, in any place of fafety, on the means for the advancement of his Majelty'^s fervice and the general paciticalion of the kingdom. Extenftonoi At the requcit ot the lords jufliccs, a proclamation i.on. was lilaed imn^eaiately m the kmg s name, aenoun- cing the infurgents, in the moi'l explicit terms, as rebels and traitors to his jNIajcfty and the royal crown of HISTORY OF IRELAND. 39S of Eno^Tand and Ireland ; and forty copies, twice the chap. number required by the juftices, figncd with the ' king's name, and fealcd with his privy fignet, were tranfmitted for dlfperfion through different parts of the kingdom. This number of copies was far from fufficicnt for a general notification, when the mani- fedo of the Pale was every where difperfed, coni- pofed in a llyle fo moderate, loyal, and forcible, as to make a dangerous impreffion on all the catholics of Ireland, to whom danger of extermination by the puritans was alarmingly inculcated. The flame of in(urre(Slion fpread with rapidity through Connaught, except the county of Galway, which was with great difficulty preferved by the exertions and influence of lord Clanricard. In Munfler fuch vengeance was inflicted, without diftindion of guilt -and innocence, for fome petty ravages, by Sir William Saintleger, the lord prefident, that flrong remonftrances were made, which were by him received with difdain and infolence. The difaffefted pleaded the neceffity of arming for felf prefervation. The county of Glare was overrun by the O'Briens in defiance of their chief, the earl of Thomond. The city of Kilkenny was feized by lord Mountgarret ; and in a few days almoft every place of ftrength in that county, and in thofe of Waterford and Tipperary, fell into the hands of the irifurgents. Notwithftanding the exertions of their leaders to prevent them, fome flaughters were committed by the rebels of Munfler on defencelefs proteftants. But, fays the faithful hiflorian Leland, " neither the vices nor the virtues of humanity were confined to one party 39^ HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, party or one profcfTion. The fanatic fury of Saint- ■ — -V— -^ leger and his train was not lefs horrid than the mod: brutal outrages of the rude Irifh. If, in the execu- tion of martial law, he fpared neither fex nor age, his countrymen frequently exprefied a generous in- dignation and horror at his barbarity. If thofe of better condition among the infurgents fometimes joined in the rapine of their followers, lord Mount- garret fliot his friend to death, when he could not otherwife reftrain him from plundering. If fome popifii ecclefiaflics preached their horrid doftrines of blood and mafiacre, others were known equally zealous to moderate the excefles of war, to protect the Englifii, and to conceal them from the fury of the enemy, even in their places of worfhip and under their altars." All Munfter would foon have been poffefled by the revolters if they had not been weak- ened by difunion. Maurice, lord vifcount Roche and Fermoy, in the county of Cork, refufed to be commanded by Mountgarret, who in confequence retired difcontented to Kilkenny. Taking advantage of the competition and ability thus introduced among his opponents, the lord prefident, who had hitherto been deftitute of any competent force, col- lected and armed a body of men, by which he was enabled to take the field in the fpring of the enfuing year. Military "^^^ mcafurcs of the lords juftices in the military operations, department were not more calculated for the fup- preflion of revolt than in the civil adminiftraiion. On the difcovery of the plot in Dublin, Sir Francis Willoughby had been unable to aiTemble even two hundred XXII. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 59; hundred men for defence of the caftle, until the ar- chap. rival of part of his own difbanded regiment from Carlifle. This body was continually reinforced by refugees from the country and troops recalled from different garrifons. Such a force was at length aflembled, that the earl of Ormond propofed to march and attack the rebel army, which confiding of four thoufand men, wretchedly provided, lay at Atherdee, now called Ardee, feven miles from Drogheda. The propofal of this enterprize, which in all probability would have been attended with fuc- cefs, was under a pretence, publicly known to be falfe, of a want of arms, rejected by the governors, who contented themfelves with fending Sir Henry Tichburne with his regiment to fecure Drogheda from furprize. While Roger Moore was augment- ing his forces, to which he gave the title of the catholic anny, and (Irengthening his party by exhort- ing his followers to fupprefs all national diftinclions, and to reft the whole merits of their caufe on their civil and religious rights as loyal fubjects of the king, the juftices took no effedual meafures to check the progrefs or prevent the ravages of the enemy. Sir Charles Coote, a foldier of fortune, trained in the wars of Elizabeth, morofe, cruel, and inveterately hoftile to the Irilb, particularly on account of depre- dations committed on his lands, was employed in petty expeditions, one of which was for the relief of Wicklow caftle. He drove the befiegers from their poft, but fuUied his vid:ory by an unprovoked and indifcriminate carnage in the town, which rivalled in atrocity the exceffes of the northerns, Recalled n on 593 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, on an alarm to Dublin, he fought his way through the fept or O^Tool, who in number about a thoufand oppofed his retreat, and was appointed to take charge of the city as its governor. The alarm, which occafioned the recal of Coote, was caufed by the defeat of fix hundred foot and fifty hoife, moftiy compofed of defpoiled refugees, undifciplined, and unacquainted with war, detached from the capital to reinforce the garrifon of Dro- gheda. This body was routed, with little lofs ex- cept arms and ammunition, at Julian's town bridge, three miles from Drogheda, by two thoufand five hundred men, a part of the rebel army which had advanced to blockade that citv. This aflion. unim- portant in itfelf, was followed by important confe- quences, as it was much magnified by report, raifed the reputation of the rebels, caufed the defertion of whole regiments from the royal fervice, and among other unfavourable events, haftened the defection of the Pale. That Dublin might then have been taken by the rebels was believed by many, if they had im- mediately advanced to attack it, infiead of inverting Drogheda. The latter, called then Tredagh, had been governed by Sir Faithful Fortefcue, who, dif- gufted by the refufal of reinforcements by the chief governors, and even of permifhon to levy men at his. own expence to defend the town, had refigned and had been fucceeded by Sir Henry I'ichburne. This other officer alfo was abandoned to his fhifts ; and the offer of lord vifcount Moore to raife and maintain from his own refources fix hundred men, for the de- fence of this important pofl:, till money could be pro- cured HISTORY OF IRELAND. 599 cured from England, was reje£led In like manner, chap. XXII Tichburne, however, having (Irengthened the gar- rifon by the foldiers who had accompanied him from Dublin, and by thofe who had efcaped from Julian's town bridge, contrived to maintain his ftation againft twenty thoufand befiegers, who were deflitute of ar- tillery, ammunition, other implements of war, even of tents in a fevere winter, and cantoned for fhelter in the neighbouring villages. He repelled two at- tempts of the enemy, in one of which a part had even gained admittance into the town ; but famine, confequent ficknefs and defertion, threatened to ren- der all his efforts aboruve, till a reinforcement ar- rived of four companies, and a fupply of bread ; while Sir Phelim O'Neal hallened to bring artillery and fredi troops from the north, in full hopes of fuccefs, to ftorm the town. IVleanwhile the arrival of Sir Simon Harcourt from England with eleven hundred men encouraged the lords jullices to fome exertions. Sir Charles Coote, who had already committed fome ravages, and in- difcriminate flaughters, at Santrv and Clontarf, in the neighbourhood of Dahlin, now diflodged a body of the enemv llationed in :ht villa a;e of Swords, and wafted the country aroand uirhout mercy. Ormond, with tv/o thoufand foot aiivl three hundred horfe, drove the infurgents from Naa^^, their principal fla- tion in Leinfter, and ravaged the country, lefs bar- baroufly than Coote, yer wiih fuch feverity, that Oorinanfton remonftrated, and threatened to make the earl's wife and children anfweiable for any future violences of this nature. Said Ormond in his re- 6 ply. 40O HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, ply, "my wife and children are in your power. Should they receive any injury from men, I fhall never revenge it on women and children. This would be not only bafe and unchriftian, but infinitely beneath the value at which I rate mv wife and children.'* In another expedition to Kilfalaghen, feven miles from Dublin, though he executed not his orders of conflagration and flaughter to their full extent, yet this contributed with other devaftations in the neighbourhood to the dlftrefsful fcarcity of provifions in the capital. Notvvithftanding the ex- troardinary zeal exprefled by the Englifh commons for the fuppreflion of the Irifh rebels, and their vote of two hundred thoufand pounds and twelve thoufand men for the purpofe, the aids afforded by them were flow and fcanty. The arrival of a fecond reinforcement of fifteen hundred infantry and four hundred horfe, under Sir Richard Grenville and colonel George Monk, without provifions or money, augmented the difl:refs. The foldiers, wafted by famine, deferted, or endeavoured to fupply their wants by robbery. One good confequence arifmg from the calamitous condition of the army was, that, to prevent a muti- ny, the jufl;ices were obliged to permit Ormond to employ the foldiery in the procuring of provifions in the enemy's quarters. But by no entreaties could he obtain permiflion to attack the rebels at Drogheda, and was allowed only eight days for a ravaging expe- dition toward the Boyne, with three thoufand foot and five hundred horfe, with a ftirid inhibition not to pafs that river. On the firfl: intelligence of Or- mond '& XXII. HISTORY OF IRELAND; 401 mond's march. Sir Phelim and his troops, who had chap. been repeatedly foiled with grievous lofs by Tich- burne, raifed the fiege, and retired with precipita- tion into the northern province. The juftices, who attempted immediately to recal the earl, were inexor- able to liis repeated felicitations, joined with thofe of the officers of Drogheda, for permifTion to pro- fecute this advantage, and to purfue the rebels to Newry. The enemy's forces again returned to in- vert: Drogheda, but Tichburne, who had not been put under fuch reftriclions as Ormond, borrowing five hundred men from the latter, defeated the rebels, purfued them to Dundalk, diflodged them from that port:, and would have profecuted his advantage fur- ther, if the chief governors had allowed him the n^celTary provifions. VOL. U D D CHAP. 40t HISTORY OF IRELAND., C H A P. XXIII. Repentance of the Pale — Not admitted — Tortures-—' i. State of the ivar Di/lrefs of the royal foldiery—^ Operations Scottifj auxiliaries — Owen 0*Neal—- Foreign fitppUes- Numbers ma(facred National cmvention — Lord Cajilehaven — Divifion of royalijis and parliamentarians — Lord Ranelagh — Addrefs of the officers — Severity to a bijhop — Negociation with the rebels Battle of Rofs — Miferable Jiate of Dublin — Violence cf the lords jujlices —Removal of Parfons — State of the country — Defeat ofVavafor-—' Excife. ^xilu' ■*■ ^^ fuccefles attendant on the arms of Ormond ^- ^•' ' and Tichburne, in fpite of the reftriftions, and in- •f the Faie. confident With the views, of the lords juflices, were followed by an immediate confequence difagreeable to thefe politicians. The lords and gentlemen of the Pale, who had affeded to ad feparately from the northern Irilh, and feem to have difrelifhed, from the firft, fuch defperate fchemes of rebellion, were fully awakened to a fenfe of their danger, on finding how httle fupport could be expeded from their aflbciates, who, with a cowardice equal to their cruelty, had fled from troops comparatively infignlficant in refped of number. Earneftly defirous of being admitted int© the protedion of government, they made appli- cation HISTORY OF IRELAND. 403 cation to Ormond on his march to Drofiheda. This chap. nobleman, according to Itrift orders from the juiiices, contrived that all, without difi:in<5l:ion, who came to fubmit, fhould be feized by the foldiers, without admiffion to his prefence, and fent prifoners to Dub- h'n. Many men of refpedlable family and charafler, guilty of no armed affocation with the rebels, fuf- ferers by their extortion, averfe to their proceedings, and known protcdlors of the Englifh^ were indifcri- minately imprifoned, without permifiion of accefs to the juftices, and threatened with the utmofl: rigour of law. To involve as many as poffible in the guilt of re- bellion was part of the plan adopted by the party of the lords juftices, whofe great object was an exten- five forfeiture of lands. Their agents were indefa- tigable in the procuring of indiftments, not only againft open rebels, but alfo thofe whofe conduct was at all capable of being brought into queflion, Againft the gentry of the Pale was principally direft- ed the rage of their profecution. In a letter ad- drefled to the earl of Leicefter, intended really for the popular leaders of the Englifli commons, they affigned fome caufes for their feverity, among which was the prefumption of the inhabitants in after ting that Ireland was not a conquered country ; yet thefe 'leaders, who now admitted this aflTertion to be cri- minal, had not long before charged the contrary aflertion againft lord Strafford as a treafonable tenet. With fuch eafe have Jlatefmen in all ages affirmed or de- nied the fame -principles ^ according as the convenience of the moment feemed to them to reqtdre* A fcheme was D D 2 formed 4P4 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAT. foiTx^ed by the Enellfii commons to raife money fromk XXIII eflates expelled to efclieate in Ireland ; conformably to which a bill waspaiTed for the invefling fuch perfons with Irilh lands as lliould advance ctrtain fums for the ollenfible purpofe of reducing the rebels. To lea:ve no means untried for the procuring of informa- tion, the chief governors put fome prifoners to the rack ; Hugh Mac-Mahon, who had been feized on the information of O'Connoly ; Sir John Ried, who had been genileman of the privy chauiber to the king, a deputy chofcn by the inhabitants of the Pale, en their taking of arms, to carry their remondrance to his Majelly, but who had notified his intended jour- ney to the lords jaflices, had been the firfl to inform OrmonJ of the flight of the northerns from Drogheda, and had been conducted by his order to Dublin ;, and Patrick Barnewall, a gentleman venerable in charadler and in age, guilty only of having attended the meeting at the hill of Crofty, and being ap- pointed to a command, without ever ading or j uniting with the rebels. From the confeflions of thefe unfortunate menl nothing material could be drawn for the main pur- pofe ot the chief governor's party, who had hoped to inculpate the king as well as the lords of the Pale. Ihe juftices were even afliamed oi their cruelty to Barnewall, who, for fome fort of amends, was permiitcd to refide in Dublin, and to have his eftate protected from the general havock of the foldiery. The more the enemies of Charles attempted to throw- on him the odium of a connexion with the rebels of Ireland, the more was he anxious to exprefs his de-> t^ation HISTORY OF IRELAND. 405 teflatlon of rhsfe rebels; and he now declared his chap. xxni pofitive refolution of going agaiiift them In perfon ^ -,-_-' at the head of his army : bur, if in this he was fincere, his defi'^n was prevented by an infolent and peremptory med'age of the EngliQi parhament. The catholics of the Pale, who had repofed their laft hope of accommodation with frovernment on the kin?*s o o prefence in their country, now found their fituation irretrievable, every avenue to pardon clofed, them- felves and their poflerity configned to ruin. Lord Gormanfton died 01 grief ; and his alfociates, relin- quifhing all hopes of fafety except by arms, united with Mountgarret's forces. Thefe confederates, forming an army of eight thoufand foot and fome troops of horfe, proceeded to attack the earl of Or- mond, who with three thoufand infantry, fiVe hun- dred horfe, and five pieces of artillery, had marched into the county ol: Kildare to deitroy the poiTellions of the rebels, and relieve the blockaded cadies. Ormond, in his return from Athy, was forced againft his will by the enemy to make battle at Kilrufli. mt'eof The confederates made a furious, but confufed and unfteady attack. Their left wing was broken at the firft charge : their right, after a conteft maintained for fome time, retired in good order to a neighbour- ing eminence, but foon fled thence with precipita- tion. Seven hundred were flain, and the reft dif- perfed ; but Ormond, deftitute of ammunition and provifions, was unable to purfue his advantage. A jewel, in value five hundred pounds, was voted to his lordfliip for this vidlory by the Engllfh commons, who requefted the lords to unite with them in a p D 3 petition 4c6 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, petition to his Majefly to create the earl a knight of V - - ,. the garter. State of the 'pj.g rebellion which had commenced in Ulfter war. 1642' and part of Leinfler toward the end of Odlober, had fpread through all the provinces before the end of the year, but without union, or any general plan of operations, each body of infurgents following its particular leader, without the acknowlegement of any other authority. The country was nearly reduced to its ancient barbarifm, and the war maintained in the ancient manner, by wafting incurfions, local con- tefts, and defultory fkirmifhes, too unimportant in ceneral for the reader's attention. The foldiers of the royal army, wretchedly accommodated as to pay, clothes, and provifions, with their feet bare, and bleeding in their marches through rough roads, frequently funk under their diflreffes. The furvivors were mutinous ; and frefh troops from England, lefs capable of hardfnip, vented their vexation by infulting the old army as Irillimen and rebels, which caufed fome quarrels of an alarming nature. Cpewions. A rcpulfe of the rebels, who returned to afTault the tow^n of Trim, after they had been thence dif- lodged, was rendered remarkable by the death of Sir Charles Coote, whofe fall is believed to have been pleafmg to the lords juftices, as his enterprizing ipirit accorded not with their plan of warfare. In Connaught, the fort of Galvvay, befieged by the citizens, was relieved by lord Clanricard, who in- timidated the befiegers into an agreement, that hof- tilities fnould be fufpended, and the town taken into his Majefly 's protedion, till the royal pleafure fhould be HISTORY OF IRELAND. ^ 4© be known. This accommodation, which difcouraged chap. the infurgents of Connaught, Clanricard endeavour- ^^^'i- ed to render more extenfive, that the devaftation of the country might be prevented, and the people, having leifure to refledl on their rafhnefs, might be induced to return to their allegiance. But the juftices, with different views, feverely cenfured the accommodation of Galway, and commanded all offi- cers to grant no protections, to hold no correfpond- ence with Irifli or papifts, and to profecute all rebels and their harbourers with fire and fword. Thefe orders are faid to have been executed without dif- tinclion of fex, and fometimes even of age, by feme bodies of the army, among which the regiment of Sir William Cole is recorded with horrible applaufe by the hiftorian Borlafe, perhaps with boaftful exag- geration, as having ftarved and famiflied of the vul- gar fort, whofe goods were feized by this regiment, feven thoufand ! Roufed to defperation, the in- furgents, among other a6ts of hoftility, befieged the lord prefident, Jones lord Ranelagh, in Athlone ; but the fiege was raifed on the approach of Ormond, who was thence recalled haftily to Dublin, left fome enterprize of moment fliould be undertaken by him. In Munfter, the leaders of the rebels having come to a reconciliation, and being joined by lord Mulkerry, a branch of the noble Iri(h family of Clancarthy, laid fiege to Cork, and feemed on the point of I'uc- cefs, when, difmayed by the defeat of their friends at Kilrufh, and attacked by the garrifon, which had been reinforced by a thoufand men from England, D D 4 >hey 5Jo8 HLSTORY O? IRELAND. CHAP XXIll, they fuftained a difcomfitnre. But Saintleger the '—— V lord prefident, hardly able to procure a wretched fub- fiRence for his men, was unable to purfue his advan- tage, and fell a vidim to vexation by a lingering ma- lady. His fucceflfor, lord Inchiquin, of the noble liifli houfe of O'Brien, was obliged, notwithft:and- ing ten thoufand pounds remitted from England, to " make a defperate attempt to fave his men from fa- mine. With only two thoufand, he marched againft the enemy advantageoufly polled, to the number of feven thoufand foot and five hundred horfe, near the caffle of Lifcarrol. After an engagement lup- ported for fome time with fpirit by the rebels, he gained a complete viflory, from which no other ad- vantage accrued, than that he was enabled to diftri- buie his troops into fmall garrilbns, whereby they obtained a wretched maintenance. Lord Forbes, by appointment of the Englifli parliament, without the royal commiflion, had arrived at Kinfale with twelve hundred men, raifed by the fubfcriptions of adventurers. Accompanied by a fanatic chaplain, the famous Hugh Peters, and influenced by a puri- tanic fpirit, he refufed to unite with any Irifli how- ever loyal, or with any except the Godly. After fome wafting excurfions, here and about Galway, without dillindion of loyalifts and rebels, except where his fury was particularly direfted againft loyal- ifts, he returned without the performance of other fervice than the ftrengthening of the rebel caufe by the excitement of additional deteftation againft the Englifh. Among a6ls of this tendency was the defacement of Saint Mary's church at Calway, and HISTORy OF IRELAND. 409 and the burnin'jj of the coffins and bones of perfons chap. there interred. \>„„v-..^ A trerity after much ckby was concluded with the Sc.tf.rh ScotiiOi purllaincnt for the fending of ten thoufand men for the redui^ion of Uiiier, to whofe generals the condud of the war in that quarter was exclufively comnHtted. About ilic middle of April the firfb divifion under Robert Monroe, took pofleflion of Carrickfergus, and, being joined by eighteen hun- dred foot and fome cavalry of the royal army, ad- vanced and reduced the caflle of Newry, while that of Carlingford was delivered to Sir Henry Tich- burne. Sir Phelim O'Neal, fetting fire to Armagh, while his barbarous followers butchered the unhappy protellants Ihll remaining in their power, withdrew to Cnarlemont, and many oi his alTociates, even perfons of diftinclion, fled in confternation to various places of concealment. Monroe, who had private in- flructions from thofe who were conne^fted with the leaders of the Englifli commons, coiild by no e^urea- ties of the Englifh officers be perfuaded to profecute his advantage. Leaving a garrifon of three nundred in Newry, wiiere he had put fixty men and eighteen women to death, he retired to Carrickfergus, whence he made an excurfion into the country, and committed an a£l of bafenefs unworthy of an officer. Vifiting Randal Macdonnel, earl of Antrim, a catholic, in his caftle of Dunluce, with the appearance of amity, and entertained hofpitably by him, he made the earl a pri- foner, and committed his caflle and other pofTeflions to the cuftody of the Scottifh troops. Thsfe troops were fo employed in the plundering of the country, and 410 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CRAP, and the exportinoj of vaft herds of cattle to Scotland, . i"^ ' ; that the rebels were left entirely unmolefted, and gained fpirits from two months of inaction to reaf- femble under Sir Phelim. Encountered by Sir Ro- bert, and Sir William Stewart, Englifh officers, the rebels, after a fiercer action than had hitherto hap- pened this war in Ulfler, were defeated with the lofs of five hundred flain, many Vv'ounded, and many taken prifoners. The Englifti commanders, refufed all affirtance by Monroe, were with noble refolution proceeding, under a complication of difficulties, to improve their advantage, when they were obliged to defift from all further operations againfl the infur- gents by a mandate from the earl of Leven, who was preparing to embark with the main body of the Scottifh auxiliaries. Oiven When in the following July the Scots made fome fhew of an intention to aft with fome vigour,- the chiefs of the rebels refolved in council to abandon a defperate caufe, and feek refuge in foreign countries. The execution of this defign was prevented by the long expefted arrival of Owen O'Neal, who landed in Donegal from Dunkirk v^ith a hundred officers, and a confiderable fupply of arms and ammunition. This officer, a kinfman of Sir Phelim, had ferved with reputation in the Auftrian and Spanifh armies. Prudent, experienced in military operations, cautious, and more circumfpefl than enterprizing, he was well fitted for the fpecies of fervice on which he was now entering, a defenfive warfare. Chofen generaliffimo of the northern confederacy, to the fecret mortifica- tion of Sir Phelim, he proceeded to (trengthen his pofi: at HISTORY OF IRELAND. ' 411 at Charlemonl, expecling an attack ; but he was per- c ^ a p. mitted to proceed unmolefted in his preparations, ^ ' j though the earl of Leven, who had arrived with the red of the Scottifii auxiliaries, commanded a force of twenty thoufand foot and a thoufand cavalry. The earl, having paffed the river Bann into Tyrone, and fent a letter to O'Neal, expreffing furprife that a man of his reputation fhould have come to Ireland to fupport fo bad a caufe, received for anfwer, that O Neal's coming for the relief of his country was more reafonable than his lordfliip*s march into Eng- land againfl his king. The earl, as if this had been the fole objetl of his expedition, returned into Scot- land, leaving the command of the army to Monroe. This army, retrained to inactivity, and unfupplied from England, was left to flruggle, in the feveral quarters through which it was dillributed, with the -miferies of cold and famine, like the troops in other provinces. The rebels of Ulfler, who might have been eafily Foreign overwhelmed, gained courage from a conduct of 1642. their enemies imputed to cowardice, and their aflbci- ates in other parts were alfo encouraged by fupplies from abroad, procured by their agents in foreign countries, particularly from Cardinal Richlieu, the great minifter of France, who wiflied to give em- ployment at home to the Englifh, left they Ihould in- termeddle with his political plans on the continent. Two vefTels from Dunkirk arrived at Wexford with arms and amunition. Colonel Thomas Prefton, a brother of lord Gormanfton, an officer of experience c^nd reputation, followed in a (liip of war, accom- panied 4!2 • HfSTOkY OF IRELAND. CHAP, cianied bv two frf [rates, and fix other veflels, ladeii v.,,-.^.,-/ with heavy and light cannons, other warlike flores, a number of engineers, and five hundred officers. Twelve other iliips from Nantes, Saint- Maloes, and Rochelle, brought artilIer3^, fmall arms, and ammu- nition, with many Iridi ofncers and veteran foldiers difcharged frora the French fervice. By fuch fup- plies were the infuigents enabled even to employ * armed vefiels to cruife in the luih channel^ by which the communication with England was interrupted, and fcarcity encreaied in the capital from the capture of feveral fliips. laden with provifions. Kumbtrs Owen O'Neal, though a bicrot in relitrion, was fo ennobled m mind by nis lervice m roreign armies, that, to his immortal honour, he manii^Iled the utmofl horror at the barbarities committed by Sir Phelim and his followers. The furviving prifoners he difmified in fafety to Dundalk, immediately on his arrival ; and, fetting fire to the houfes of the mofl: notorious murderers, he declared that he would rather join the Englifh than fuffer thofe wretches to efcape with impunity, who had difgraced their caufe by bafe unmanly maflacres. To attempt to afcertain the number of proteflants cruelly put to death in cold blood by the mifcreants of Sir Phelim, would be as vain as ufelefs. From a hundred and fifty thoufand to thirty thoufand and lefs, have the numbers been conjedured by hiftorians. A calculation by War- ner, whofe hidory of this rebellion is full and faithful, founded on pofitive evidence and ftri£t . enquiries, rofe only to about four thoufand llain by violent hands, and eight thoufand by ill ufage. Mors might have periihed and efcaped refearch. The • HISTORY OF IRELAND. . 415 The colonics in many parts cf Leinfler had chap. XXIII, been driven from their homes, at the commence- ' f ment of the rebellion, in fo miferable a ftate, that numbers perifhed, and thofe who efcaped to Dublin exhibited a focctacle of didrefs hideous to human feeling. Maffacres were alfo committed by troops employed agaiaft the rebels, and doubtlefs many ■thcufands, by indifcriminate carnage, fuffered for the guilt of others. Both parties iiifiicled and fudaiaed unutterable calamities, and the poderity of both ought fo to profit from the experience of recorded events, as to live in that chriRian amity, without which neither of them ca7i be, nor can defw-je to be, p'ojperous. Means had been fome time emoloyed to unite the '^^'^'"^^^'on- Irilh of all the provinces under one authority which might give a confident form and appearance of lega- lity to their plan. For this purpofe a provincial fynod of clergy was held at Armagh by the romilli prelate of that fee ; and afterward in May a general fynod from all the provinces at Kilkenny. Here, with the concurrence of lay nobility and gentry, were nomi- nated the members of a fupreme council, of which lord Mountgarret was prefident, and a national con- vention was appointed to meet in the fame place in the enfuing Oclober. Accordingly came together the romilh lords, prelates, and other clergy, depu* ties from the feveral counties and principal towns of every province, who agreed to declare that their aifembly was not to be confidered as a parliaraenr, but a :general meeting for the regulation of their affairs, until his Majefty's wifdom fhould fettle the prefent; 414- HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, prefent troubles. The convention, in parliamentary XXIJI form, confided of two orders, the temporal peers and prelates on one fide, the reprefentative deputies on the other ; but both fat in one chamber. Patrick Darcy, an eminent lawyer, already mentioned, fat bareheaded on a ftool as a fubftitute to the judges. Nicholas Plunker, another diftinguifhed partizan, was appointed fpeaker. The lords had their place of retirement for private converfation, and therr refolutions were com- municated by Darcy to the commons. By this convention was affigned to each county a council of twelve perfons, who were impowered to decide in all matters cognizable by juftices of the peace, pleas of the crown, fuits for debt, and per- fonal adions, and to nominate all county officers, except the high fiierilf. From thefe lay appeals to provincial councils, each of which confifted of two deputies from each county in the province, appoint- ed to meet four times a year, and to adl, under fome limitations, as judges of affize. From the provincial councils lay appeals to what was ftyled the fupreme council of the confederate Catholics of Ireland^ confid- ing of twenty-four perfons chofen by the general convention. Of thefe, twelve were to refide at Kil- kenny or fome other convenient town : no fewer than nine could compofe a council ; and for decifion in any cafe the concurrence was neceflary of two thirds of the fitting members. To this affembly was committed the conduct of the war, the command of all officers military and civil, and the choice of Iheriffs out of three nominated by each county council. 8 For HISTORY OF IRELAND. ^, For the fecurity and honour of this bodv a guard was »c r a p. afligned of two hundred cavalry and five hundred i ^ \ foot. The general aflfembly commanded all perfons to be faithful to the king, and to maintain his jufl prero- gative ; but they utterly denied the authority of his Irifh government adminiftered in Dublin, by a *' malignant party, to his highnelTe's great diliervice, and in compliance with their confederates, the ma- lignant party of England/' They profeffed to ac- cept, as their rule of government, the common law of England with the ftatutes of Ireland, fo far as they were confident with their liberties, and not adverfe to the roman religion. They declared their refolution to maintain the rights and immunities of the roman catholic church, agreeably to the Great Char- ter i yet the lay impropriators, who made thefe pro- feffions, treated with fcorn and ridicule the demands of the clergy for the reftoration of their ecckriaPtical poffeffions. An oath of affociation was adminiHered conformably to their declarations, in which, among other articles, were promifed obsdience to the orders of the fupreme council, and the declining of ail pardon or protection from the enemy without the confent of the major part of this council. The ge- neral fynod had denounced excommunication againd all who ihould refufe the oath, and fevere cenfures againft all of their party who fhould commit murders and other cruelties. The generals appointed for the conduct of the war were Owen O'Neal fcr Ulfler, Prefton for Leinfler, Garret Barry for MuiiPier, and Colonel John Burke for Connaught with the title of lieutenant-general only, as the chief command of the laft •416 nrSTORY OF IRELAND, CHAP, laft was referved for lord Claiiricard ; but this noble- V, „ man remained imaioveably attached to his loyalty, unfiiaken by entreaties, menaces, and even excom- iTiimications of the ciercrv. Much fecret diflcjnfion prevailed among the members. The moil: moderate and wife abhorred, or alFetled to abhor, the atroci-* ous cruelties of the firfl infurgents, and wiflied io have the civil v.rar confidered as commencing only from the meeting of this anbrnbly, that it might be clear from the difgrace of thofs mafllicres. The original leaders, whofe charaftcrs liad been tarnifned by the murde.rous condud of their followers, were regleCled, much to their mortification, as Sir Phelim, and even Roger Moore, whofe temper v/as far more generous and humane. The death of the latter, which happened foon after, Is fuppofcd to haVe been not unpleafmg to the members, as his refentment might have been dangerous. LordCaaie- A new alfociate of the confederates was Touchet earl of Caillehaven, who had, on the firft intelli- gence of rebellion, haftened to Dublin to tender his fer vices to government. Rejected as a catholic, re* fufed leave to go to England or even to refide irl Dublin, he retired to the county of Kilkenny, where he lived not only in an Inofi'enfive manner, but alfo in the exerclfe of a6live humanity, prote£ting the EngUih in his neighbourhood. Tranfmitting, as a mediator, a letter to the lords juftices from the lords of the Pale who requefted permifiion to afiemble to prepare a reprefentation of their grievances, he was reprimanded feveiely for correfponding with rebels, and again denied liberty to depart from Ireland. In- diaed liaven. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 417 di*£led of high treafon on the mod futile evidence, he chap. XXIII. haftened to Dublin, confcious of innocence ; but was ', • imprifoned without a hearing. Failing to procure the privilege of being tried by his peers, he contrived to efcape j and, arriving at Kilkenny, enflamed with refentment, he joined the confederates, and was ap- pointed to command the cavalry of Leinfter under general Prefton. While the Irifh confederates were thus acquiring Royaiifts union and force, the loyalifts were divided, by the con- mentanans. tefts between the king and the Englifh parliament, into ' **' two parties, which may be termed royalifts and par- liamentarians. In their preparations for a civil war, and after its commencement, which had place in the Augud of 1642, between the king and parliament, both parties v/ere afliduous in their endeavours to gain the army of Ireland. The lords juftices and their dependants were the decided adherents of the parliament : the greater part of the army, influenced by Ormond, favoured the royal caufe. To enable this commander to ferve his Majefty more effedually, he was created a marquis, and was rendered independ- ant of the earl of Leicefter, the non-refident lord lieutenant. Among other engines employed by the jufl:ices were puritanical preachers, who laboured to enflame the proteftants againft the king. To fcreen ,one of thefe, whofe violence drew the attention of the Irifli parliament, the chief governors prorogued the aifembly. This body, reduced to a fmall number by the expulfion of recufants, had been feldom con- vened, and hardly tranfaded any bufinefs of moment, except violent refolutions againfl popery, calculated VOL. I. E E to 41 8 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, to exafperate the infurgents to defperat'ion. Rey- V , nolds and Goodwin, parliamentarian agents, who brought a momentary relief of twenty thoufand pounds to the army, with fome ammunition, were .admitted, together with lord Lifle, fon of lord Lei- cefter, one of the fame party, into the privy council, without any warrant from the king, Inftead of ex- ertions againfl: the common enemy, meafures were purfued for the embarraflment of thofe who were attached to the royal caufe, particularly the marquis of Ormond and the earl of Clanricard. lliat no accounts of the affairs of Ireland fiiould be tranfmitted to the Englifh parliament or king through any other medium than that of their own reprefentations, was an efpecial piece of policy of the lords juftices. Lord Ranelagh, abandoning in defpair his prefidency of Connaught, with intention to lay before his Majefty the flate of affairs, and the conduci of the juftices, was arretted in Dublin on his way, accufed as the author of the army's mif- fortunes in his province in a charge of feventy-four articles, and denied liberty to have a copy of the charge, or permifnon to defend his caufe before his fovereign.' But the officers of the troops in Leinfter could not be fo prevented, encouraged in their defign -by the earl of iCildare. Having addreffed the parlia- ment and privy council with little benefit, they de- raanded licence for their agent to repair with their ftatement of affairs to his Majefty. The agents of the Englifh parliament, vifiting every garrifon, en- deavoured to divert them from their purpofe by en- treaties, and by the menace of being for ever aban- 4 xioned HISTORY OF IRELAND. 419 doned by the parliament. The juftices, after not char only a refufal of the licence, but even an embargo ,-,_-■ on the (hipping to prevent the failing of the army's agent, were at length obliged to yield ; and the ad- drefs of the troops was prefented to the king, who could only exprefs his concern for their fufferings, and his thanks for their fervices. A flrong inftance is recorded of mean tyranny in the juftices exerted on this occafion. For a momentary fupply to mode- rate the difcontents of the army, an order had been made by the privy council, that every one fhould contribute half his plate. Anthony Martin, bifhop of Meath, who had been plundered by th© rebels, declaring that he had no plate, nor other property than a few old gowns, was for this harmlefs expreffion committed to prifon, and obliged to petition the king /or relief. Much better informed than before of Trlfh affairs Negodsr by the addrefs and agent of the officers, Charles be- gan to turn his attention much more to this country. As the war In Ireland had been made an engine to his detriment, he wifiied a pacification, and hoped that in that cafe, an army might hence be drawn to Eng- land, to affift him in the dangerous conteft in which ht, v/as involved with his Engliih parliament, who threatened to bring againft him the additional force of the Scottifh armies. The leaders of the infur- gents had fucceiTively applied, through the earls of Cafilehaven and Clanricard, and the marquis of Or= mond, for a ceiTation of arms, until their complaints ihould be heard and decided by their foverelgn. The lords juftices, who had hitherto been ine^corable E E 2 on tion. 420 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, on that fubjed, were now, by Ormondes authority, XXIII 3> obliged to tranfmit a copy of the petition ; but they fent along with it their own remarks, and a requ'eft to his Majefly to rejecl it, as they afferted that the granting of it would be " inconfiftent with the means of raifing a confiderable revenue to the crown, and eftablifhing religion and civility in Ireland.' Charles, with a reprimand for the omiffion, peremp- torily ordered the juflices to tranfmit to him the i original ; and in the mean time the general affembly at Kilkenny renewed their application. A com- miffion was therefore ifiued under the great feal of England, to the marquis of Ormond, the earls of Clanricard and Rofcommon, lord vifcount Moore, Sir Thomas Lucas, Sir Maurice Euftace, and Tho- mas Burke, efquire, to confer with the principal re- cufants and to tranfmit their propofals. Goodwin and Reynolds, the agents of the Englifh parliament, after fruitlefs efforts to prevail on the army to fign a * remonftrance againft the commifTion, had fled from Ireland, when the king, encouraged by the attach- ment of his Irifli foldiery, fent an order for their im- prifonment. ^ttieof '^^^ lords juflices, endeavouring by military ex- Rofs. ertions, when other meafures had failed, to fruftrate 1043* the negociation, peremptorily refufed a ceflation of i arms, and, quite contrary to their general plan, fliew- | ed a difpofition to employ the troops actively. For the redu6lion of Rofs and Wexford, a bufmefs re- commended before by Ormond, but on the moft fu- tile pretences declined by the chief governors, an army was appointed, of which the command was in- tended HISTORY OF IRELAND. 4*i tended for lord Lille. They could not prevent Or- chap. . . . c XXIII. mond, who, contrary to their views, put himfelr at the head of this force, but they withheld the provi- fions neceflfary for his fuccefs. The marquis drove the enemy from feveral pods, and, relying on the arrival of (lores, which thejuftices had engaged to fend by fea to Duncannon, he formed the fiege of Rofs. Repulfed in an affault on the town, into which the enemy had thrown two thoufand men, and having only three days provifions, as he had been totally difappointed by the juftices, he was neceffitated to raife the fiege; but his fituation, at the diftance of above feventy miles from Dublin, would have been totally defperate, if general Prefton, who occupied a defile with a much fuperior army of fix thoufand foot and fix hundred and fifty horfe, and was thus enabled to prevent his efcape, had maintained this pofition. Prefton, in full confi- dence of an eafy vidory, over an enemy enfeebled by fcantinefs of food and the cold of winter, rufhed from his firong port into the plain. Ormond availed himfelf of this opportunity by a Ikilful difpofition and fpirited attack. The Irifh troops, thrown into confufion, and vigoroully prefled without being al- lowed time to rally, were defeated with the lofs of five hundred of their number, and all their ammu- nition and baggage. The defeated army was faved from deftrudion by the behaviour of the Englifli ca- valry, who, under lord Lifle, abandoned the foot, as foon as the vidory was gained, leaving Ormond to his fhifts, who might have been again attacked by frefion, if the latter had not prevented his own re- E £ 3 turn 4f2 tilSTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, turn acrofs the Barrow by demoli{b.ine: the bridge on XXIII. ,..._. "' ° . » I.,. ,.' that river in his flight* stateof 1'he indignation of Ormond, at the treatment DubJau ° ... which he had received, was not diminiftied by the condition to which he found, on his return, the ca-» pital reduced by thofe wretched governors, who would neither allow peace nor effedlive war. The inhabitants were exhaufted by the maintenance of the army. Strangers were expelled, and thoufands of defpoiled Englifh were from want of fubfiftence tranfported to their own country. Merchants were defpoiled of their goods to fupply the necellities of the ftate; while the foidiers were mutinous, exaf- perated by their diftrefles and repeated difappoint- ments. The officers petitioned the Irifti parhament, reprefenting their fufferings, and the villainy of fome ■ agents who had aggravated their mifery by light and adulterated coin : but the juflices, who dreaded all complaints which might be pleaded in favour of peace with the rebels, prevented the examination of the cafe by a fudden prorogation. To encreafe the rage of the enemy, they commanded fome pri- foners taken in battle to be inftantly executed by martial law ; and they obflinately refufed to admit to bail the gentry who had, on their voluntary fub- miflion, been committed to fevere cuftody in the caftle of Dublin. In the words of Leland, " ihey had exerted themfelves fo vigoroufiy, that indid- ments of treafon were found again ft thefe and above a thoufand more in the fpace of two days ; and, with a {hamelefs outrage on decency, a memorial was publicly read at the council board, from a friend of HISTORY OF IRELAND. 423 of Sir William Parfons, reprefenting his merits in chap. cxpendmg fums or money, for procurmg witneues ^— .-— >,*i— / on thefe indidments." Emboldened by the adherence of moft of the state of the army to his caufe, the king, to fmooth the way to a 'XizP' pacification, ventured to remove Parfons from the office of lord juftice, and to nominate Sir Henry Tichburne in his place. The flate of the kingdom feemed imperioufly to demand an accommodation vith the infurgents. The foldiers were unpaid, and unable any longer to procure fubfiftence in their fe- veral quarters from the miferably exhaufted inhabi- tants. PrefTed on one fide by the pradlices of par- liamentarian officers, on the other by the virulence of the Romifh clergy, who denounced the fevered cenfures of the church on all who fhould refufe the oath of affociation, lord Clanricard faw the impor- tant poft of Galway in the hands of the infurgents, and a high probability of the few remaining for- trefies in Connaught yielding to their effiarts. In Munfter, when lord Inchiquin, to fave them from famine, withdrew the feveral garrifons, and fent them to range the country for provifions, one of his parties commanded by Sir Charles Vavafor, fufFered, in a defeat by lords Mulkerry and Caftlehaven, the lofs of fix hundred men flain on the field of battle, feven hundred mufkets, and all the cannon and bag- gage. In Uliler, where the Britifh force was great- ell, Monroe, who had been obliged to roufe his troops from inadion to procure fubfiftence, was re- pulfed with lofs by Owen O'Neal ; and, though the latter was afterwards difcomfited by the Englifh troops E E 4 under 424 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, under Sir Robert Stewart, yet this Irifli leader, well XXIII. . ' •' . ... *^— -v-"^ fupplled by the fupreme council, a ^-1^ relief, and fubverfive of the fundamental conftitu- tion of Ireland, whofe inhabitants could in right be bound only by acls of an Irifh parhament. They propofed that a parliament fhould be convened in fuch a place and manner as to deliberate without control, from which on no account fhould catholics be excluded. A legiflative aflembly, the majority of whofe members would be e1e£led by the infur- gents, was regarded as inadmiflible by Ormond, and he contrived to evade the demand, when, after the removal of Parfons from the government, he treated with the general convention about a ceflfation of arms, preparative to a lading pacification. To fcreen himfelf from the odium which this armiftice mud excite among the puritans, he propofed to the go- vernors and privy council, that they fhould fugged fome other mode for the prefervation of the king- dom ; and afterwards propofed that they fhould fur- nifh him vyith ten thoufand pounds, one half in money, the other in viduals, for his profecution of the war. Having received their declarations of in- ability in both cafes, he proceeded to meet the agents of the Irilh convention at Cadlemartyn in the county of Kildare. DiiTatisfied with the terms propofed by thefe ' agents, Ormond fufpended the negociation, to try whether he could lower their tone by military ope- rations ; but was unable to force" Predon to a battle, and the affairs of the loyalids continued to decline. Violent oppofition was made to an accommodation in the adembly at Kilkenny, particularly by Peter Scarampi, XXIV. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 4J7 Scarampi, a father of the congregation of the ora- chap. tory, who, as minifter of the pope, had brought fupplies of money and ammunition, and, among other papers, a bull, by which was granted a gene- ral jubilee, and plenary abfolution to thofe who had taken arms for the catholic religion. But the wifer catholics, particularly lord Caftlehaven, laboured for pacific meafures, fenfible that the puritanic party in England, if it fhould obtain the fovereign powef by humbling the king, would ihev/ them no mercy, but even aim at their extermination. A refolution at length pafled, after much altercation and delay, that the agents of the confederacy fhould meet the marquis of Ormond at Sigginftown near Naas. This nobleman had received a new commiffion under the great feal, empowering him to treat for an armiftice for one year, on fuch terms as he fhould judge ne» ceflary ; and the king, to prevent oppofidon to this defign, had ordered the chief partizans of the Engli(h parliament in Dublin, Parfons, Loftus, Tern-* pie and Mercdyth to be committed to prifon on a charge of high crimes and mifdemeanours. A treaty of ceflation, at length finally adjufled, and de- clared neceffary for his Majefty's honour and fervice, under the fignatures of feveral nobles and principal ofBcers, was figned on the fifteenth of September by the marquis and the Irifh commiflioners, by which the Irifh confederates flipulated for the payment of thirty thoufand pounds to the king, one half in money at feveral payments, and the ether half in cattle. This 428 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. This treaty of armiRice, reprobated on one fide .^_^,_^ by violent and injudicioas catholics, who afFe£led to "^T^f ^'5' think the progrefs of their profperlty thereby arreft- 1643. ed ; on the other by puritans, who abhorred a pacification with popifh murderers ; was in fact of no real fervice to the king. Two thoufand men, tranfported to North- Wales by Ormond, and fome regiments to the ■weft of England by Inchiquin, all proteftant foldiers, many of them Englifh by birth, were reprefented in England by the parliamentariaa partizans, as popifh murderers, ftill reeking with the blood of protefiants. Sir William Brereton, who commanded for the parliament in North- Wales, tranfmitted this mifreprefentation to London, while, in his letters to the officers of thefe troops, he ex- tolled their bravery in defence of the proteftant re- ligion, and laboured to feduce them into the fervice of the parliament againft the king. Lord Byron, the commander, reinforced by an additional body of fourteen hundred and forty men from Ireland, was, after fome fuccefTes near Chefter, defeated at Nampt- wich by Sir Thomas Fairfax, with th^ lofs of all his artillery, baggage, ammunition, twelve hundred of his men made prifoners, and mod of the principal officers. Some of the privates had deferred to Fairfax in the battle, and many of the prifoners en- lifted on the parliament's fide. Though Byron, whp. retired to Chefter, was again reinforced from Ire- land, nothing of moment was effisded by th^ troops fent by Ormond. Some of the tranfports, which carried them, were intercepted by Ihips of war be- longing to the parliament, and cruelties exercifed on HISTORY OF IRELAND. 429 on their crews from the raeje of civil and religious bi- c h a p. . . XXIV. gotry. Thus, when a (hip with a hundred and fifty men, bound to Briftol, was taken, Swanley, the parliamentarian commander, felefled feventy men of Irifti birth, who, though they had ferved faithfully againft the Irifh rebels, were precipitated without mercv into the fea. "While the proteftant forces from Ireland proved ineffedlual for the royal fervice, the confederate Irifli, who hoped to extort conceffions from the kin^, great in proportion to his diflrefles, fent him no affiftance, notwithftanding their magnificent pro- mifes, and the entreaties of Ormond, who befought them to fave themfelves from ruin by preventing the triumph of their enemies, the Englifh puritans. Yet Charles was ftill amufed with hopes, and fome en- deavours were made in his favour by individuals. Lord ai. particulary by the earl of Antrim, who, having twice efcaped from Monroe's imprifonment, was created a marquis, on his propofal to lead ten thou- fand Irifh into England for the royal fervice, and to detach three thoufand into Scotlaad, againfl the covenanters, who were arming to aflifl: the Englifh parliament. Having returned into Ireland with a recommendation from the queen to the marquis of Ormond, and having addrelTed himfelf to the fu- preme council in Kilkenny, who refufed or evaded all his demands, he refolved, if poilible, to carry his point by the clofeft union. He therefore, at the ha- zard of his own injury, and the utmoft fcandal to the royal caufe, took the oath of affoeiation, as a conflituent of the Irifh confederacy, was fworn a member tnm. country. 43* HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, member of the fupreme council, and appointed lieu- XXIV tenant-general of all their forces, engaging to a6t under no other than their commiffion, and to tranf- port no troops without their confent. After this great facrifice, he was dill difappointed by the infin- ceiitv of the confederates and other obftacles ; and all his proje^ls at laft ended in the tranfporting of two thoufand men to Scotland, long after he had given affurance of an immediate and powerful rein- forcement to the marquis of Montrofe, the great par- tizan of the king in that quarter. State of the Ormond meanwhile, appointed to the office of chief governor, under the title of lord lieutenant, an office which he had fome time before declined, Was obliged to ftruggle with a complication of diffi- culties. Various difputes arofe between the Englifli and Iriih troops about their refpeflive quarters. By ibme of the latter the armiftice was ftilf cbferved; and fome parties even refufed to admit a ceflation from the orders of the fupreme council, till they were reduced by the arms of lord Caftlehaven. Nor could the Englifli foldiery be always retrained from plundering, while the fubfidies promifed by the Irifh confederacy to the king were irregularly and flowly paid. In Ulfter Monroe difclaimed the treaty, and received orders from the Scottifli parliament to con<- tinue his hoftilities. Nor could the Englifli troops in that province be kept fleady to the royal caufe by the efforts of the chief governor. To procure the aid of the Scottifh arms againfl: the king, tl folerim league and covenant had been framed and fubfcribed by the antiroyalifls throughout Britain, in which, among HISTORY OF IRELAND. +31 among other obligjitions, the fubfcribers engaged to chap. defend one another againfl all opponents, and to en- ■ . ^ \. deavour to extirpate popery, prelacy, fuperftition, herefy, fchifm, and profanenefs, and to maintain the rights and privileges of parliaments together v,'ith the king's authority. Owen O'Connolly, who had 164^. become an adherent of the Enghih parliament, brought letters from that body to the Britifh colonels in Ulfter, with promifes of their arrears, and ample provifion for their future maintenance, on condition of their difclaiming the armifiice ^nd entering into the covenant. While the Englifli officers on one hand refufed to read at the head of their regiments Ormond's proclamation againfl the covenant, and on the other returned conciliating, but evafive, an- fwers to the agents of the parliament, four miaillers of the Scottilh church arrived for the tendering and -enforcement of this obligation, together with agents who brought a fupply of clothing, provifions, and ten thoufand pounds for the army. When all the Scottiih troops had taken the cove- nant, and many of the Englifli in Ulfter, notwith- ftanding the menaces of government, and Ormond's proclamation, which fome of their colonels at length ventured to read at the head of their regiments, a commiflion was received by Monroe, under the broad feal of the Englilh parliament, empowering him ig> commaad all the forces of Uliler, Scottifh and Eng- Jifli, under their authority, and to maintain the war a-gainft all the enemies of the covenanterg. While theJEngliih royaliils were confulting in Belf^tl what anfwer they fhould return to Monroe's requifition of their 432 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, their obedience, that general fitrprized the town, *- -,-i-r^ and proceeded thence to attempt the fame at Lif- burn, but was foiled by the fpirit and vigilance of the officers in that garrifon. The calamities of a war, which threatened to commence between the Britifh forces in Ulfter, was prevented by mutual fear, on one fide of the far fuperior numbers of the Scots, on the other of the determined courage of the Englifli. An agreement was made that the lat- ter fliould not be obliged to take any oath contrary to their confciences, until they fhould have repre- fented their fcruples to the Englifli parliament ; that they fliould be in the fame fituation with the Scots in refped of provifions and privileges ; and fhould profecute the war againfl: the Irifli rebels in conjundion with Monroe, unlefs they fliould hereafter be countermanded by his Majefl:y. Alarmed at the proceedings of the Britifli troops in Ulfter, the confederate Irifh at Kilkenny detached Cafllehaven to fupport Owen O'Neal, and made private overtures to Orniond to take the command of their forces, as royalifts, and required that he fliould proclaim the Scots rebels, as infractors of the armiftice. To avoid the danger of a command which would blend the rightful power of the king with the ufurped authority of infurgents, and alfo the danger of caufmg a revolt of his proteftant foldiery by pro- claiming adherence to the Englifli parliament rebel- lion, the marquis contrived a negociation to amufe the confederates, who, if irritated by an abrupt re- fufal, might withhold the remaining part of their ftipulated fubfidy. He required time for the receiv- 7 ing HISTORY OF IRELAND. 43I ing of inftruftions from the king In a point fo mo- chap. . . XXIV mentous, and engaged to reftrain meanwhile the v^_^.«_^ Scots within due bounds, if the Irifh would furnifh maintenance for a royal army of fix thoufand infantry and fix hundred horfe. In the time which elapfed in this negociation, the apprehenfions vanifhed of danger from the violence of Monroe, whofe incli- nation or ability failed for a vigorous profecution of the war. While Ormond was thus employed in Ireland, Ncgoda- ^ J ' tion at Ox- a negociation had been opened immediately with fo""^- the king at Oxford, where he was met by com- miffioners, from the Irifh confederates on the twen- ty-third of March 1644. Their demands were at firfl: fo exorbitant, virtually implying the extinc- tion of the Englifh power in Ireland, that the king and his minifters exprefled a determination to hold no further conference with them. They then made more moderate propofals, the loweft, they faid, which they could poflibly devife confiflently with the Hberty of Irilh fubjeds. Among thefe was the abfolute freedom of their religion ; a free parliament, with a fufpenfion of Poyning's law ; feminaries in Ireland for the education of catholic lawyers and cler* gy ; a releafe of debts and a general a6t of oblivion ; a formal act for the complete independency of their parliament on that of England ; the exclufion from this parliament of all perfons not eftated and refi- dent in Ireland; a parliamentary inquiry into all breaches of quarter and ads of inhumanity com- mitted by both parties in Ireland, and the exclufion of all perfons guilty of fuch crimes from the act of VOL, u F f oblivion. XXIV, 434 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, oblivion. Their memorial was accepted as the foun- dation of a treaty, which was hoped to be practicable by mutual conceflions ; but the violence of Irifh parties, both proteftant and catholic, obflrufted its completion, notwithftanding the monarch's impatience, who was eager for the promifed fuccours of ten thoufand ca- tholic foldiers from this country. Charles had ordered that fome perfons of expe- rience fliould be fent from the Irifli privy council to afTifl: in this treaty, and archblfhop Ufiier with eight others had been nominated, out of whom the king chofe four. But a deputation of fix perfons, appointed by an aflembly of zealous proteftants in the earl of Kildare's houfe, arrived before thefe at Oxford, and prefented their petition. Among the demands of this deputation were a rigorous execution of all penal ftatutes againft recufants, the difarming of all that party, the compelling of them to repair all damages fuftained by proteftants, the punifhment of their offences without pardon or mitigation, the taking of all forfeited eftates into the king*s own hands, and, after fatisfadion made to fuch as claimed by former acls of parliament, the difpofal of the re- sidue entirely to Briiifli planters. From thefe pro- pofals they rcfufed to recede in the fmalleft degree, though the execution was impoffible in the then ex- ifting circumftances. The commiflioners of the Irilh privy council condemned the extravagance of thefe demands,, yet made alfo impradlicable propofals, par- ticularly the difarming of all recufants, and the en- forcement of the penal ftatutes. To the agents of| jhe confederate Irifti the king behaved with much J condefcenfion, HISTORY OF IRELAND. 435 condefcenfion, made feveral conceflions for the pre- chap. XXIV fent, and conciliating promifes for the future, but ^- ':' without any fpecial or expHcit engagement in the latter, and pathetically admoniflied them of the dan- ger which would arife from the delay of their aflift- ance, as his enemies, if they ftiould once deftroy him, would without difficulty extirpate their nation and religion. The agents confeffed, with a modeft demeanour, that his Majefty, circumflanced as he was, could not, in their opinion, make any further conceflions, and hoped that the general affembly, when informed of his fituation, would moderate their demands, though they themfelves had no au- thority to recede from them. The king in his per- plexity refolved to lay the burthen of negociatlon on Ormond, and iflued a commiffion to the marquis to make a full peace with the catholic fubjeds of Ireland, on fuch conditions as he (hould judge agree- able to the public welfare, and conducive to fuch a flate of affairs, that his Majefty might draw afTiflance from this kingdom againfl his rebels of England and Scotland. An alarminc; revolt had in the mean time arifen inchiqivn*« ... revolt. in Munfter, where lord Inchiqum had fometime 1644, commanded as lord prefidcnt, but without the title. This nobleman, finding that the honour of this office, fo juflly merited by his zealous exertions in the royal fervice, was, on groundlefs infmuations of his difaffedion, denied to him, and given to the carl of Portland, refolved through' revenge to revolt to the Englifli parliament. Tp treat an innocent man F F 2 as 43^ HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, as a rebel is the readieji way to make him one. En- \ XXlV. V y »' couraged by promifes of large fupplies from the Englifh parliament, he engaged his brother, who commanded in Wareham in England, to betray it to their troops, and, expelling the Romifh inhabitants of Cork, Youghal, and, Kinfale, he bound by an oath his army, who readily took the covenant, to en- deavour the extirpation of popery, and to fubmit to no peace with the Irifli without confent of his new friends. He perfuaded lord Efmond, governor of Duncannon fort, to follow his example ; and the Scots of Ulfter promifed to co-operate with vigour ; | fo that the war would have been renewed with fury, if Inchiquin had not been negleded by the parlia- ment, and thereby obliged, for the prefervation of his troops and the proteftants of Munfter, to agree »64S- to an armiftice. On the expiration of the truce, he was obliged to retire into Cork from the fuperior arms of lord Cafllehaven, who, with five thoufand i foot and a thoufand horfe, overran the country, and inverted Yougha! ; but raifed the fiege and retired, when lord Broghil arrived with fome fupplies from the Englifli parliament. Henry O'Brien, the be- trayer of Wareham, had fallen into his hands, and been fent prifoner to the king. The fort of Dun- cannon, after a fiege of ten weeks, had furrendered in March to Prefton ; and Efmond, the governor, died in a few days after, enfeebled by age and vexation. Ormon>i'$ A long protradled negociation was in the mean tioi). ' time in procedure between the confederates and Or- ' *^" mond, who was left to the direction of his own judgment. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 437 judo^ment, without inftrudions from the kin (i or his chap. XXIV minifters. He had met their commiffioners in Dub- lin, on the fixth of September of the foregoing year ; but as their demands were exorbitant, the fame which they had at firft made to the king at Ox- ford, he only tranfmitted thefe and his anfwers to his fovereign, and adjourned the treaty to the fol- lowing January : and, as the agents employed on this occafion were captured by a parliamentarian fhip, the bufmefs lay fufpended till the tenth of the enfuing April. It was again fufpended in fa£t by the Irifli commiffioners, who declared that, as the general alfembly was to meet on the fifteenth of May, they Gould come to no conclufion without the approbation of that body, being only empowered to deliver their propofals, and to reafon on their propriety. A kind of private negociation was all the while maintained by the confederate catholics, through their agents, lord Mufl-ierry, Nicholas Plunket, and GeofFry Browne, with the king, who became gradually more com- pliant, and at lad commanded Ormond to make peace with the Irilh, whatever it Jhould cq/i, fo that his proreftant fubjefts might be fecured, and his royal authority preferved in Ireland. Senfible of the dangers which might arife to his mafter, to himfelf, and to the (late, from humiliating conceffions, the marquis petitioned to be removed from his govern- ment ; but this could not with fafety be granted, as his loyalty and influence were confidered to be the chief fupport of the royal caufe againft the power of the catholics, and the fubtilty and turbulence of the covenanters j particularly fmce he had at that time F F 3 difcovered 438 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, difcovered and defeated a fcheme of the latter for XXIV. the feizure of Dublin, Drogheda, and Dundalk. To reconcile him in fome degree to his irkfome fituation, a general pardon was pafled under the great feal to him and others for all offences ; and additional powers were conferred upon him, among which was that of pardoning, and reftoring to their eftates and blood, fuch individuals of the Irifli confederates as would fubmit on the terms already offered. As a conciliatory flep, the order, which had been made under the adminiflration of Parfons, for the exclufion of recufants from parliament, was annul- led, as an encroachment on the royal prerogative ; and to prevent the clamours of zealous proteflants againfl this meafure, a bill was tranfmitted from the Englifh court, and enabled in the Irifh parliament, for the remilTion to the proteflants of Ireland, both clergy and laity, of all rents, compofitions, fer- vices, twentieth parts, and firft fruits, due to the king at Michaelmas 1641, or at any time fmce till after the feflival of Eafler in 1645. Elated by their fuccefles in Leitifter and Munfter, and by the hope of thofe aids, which their agents were foliciting abroad, the confederate catholics were intradable in the treaty. While, to raife an idea among foreign- ers of their confequencc, they fent fourteen hun- dred men into the fervice of France, and made levies for that of Spain, they denied the earnefl requefls of Ormond for two thoufand men for the king's afTifl- ance under Montrofe in Scotland, explicitly refolv- ing " that they would fend no men to the king's af- filtance, until fuch a peace fliould be fettled, as might demonflrate HISTORY OF IRELAND. 439 demonftrate that they had really taken arms for the chap. fake of religion, and to eftablilh it in its full fplen- dour." Yef the marquis, who had fo reafoned with their commiffioners, that they departed well difpofed apparently to peace, continued ftill to enrertain hopes, that the general aflembly mufl foon declare in the king's favour, from a perception of their own interefl:. This might have been the cafe, if the un- fortunate monarch, who had conferred on Ormond fuch difcretionary powers, had left the bufinefs, without other interference, totally to his manage- ment. But though the marquis, for the interefl of his royal niafler, concealed his powers, the facrifi- ce?, which Charles was willing to make for the ob- taining of their afliftance, became known to the leaders of the confederates, whereby the arrogance and obflinacy of the immoderate was confirmed. In the general aflembly, which met in Kilkenny on the fifteenth of May, Ormond's propofals were received with fuch apparent temper, that no obftacle to an accommodation feemed to remain except the penal (latutes. But the clergy, fitting in convocation, bigoted and ignorant, or ambitious of appearing ac- tuated by a flaming zeal for the church in the eyes of the pope's miniiler, declaimed with violence, and engaged their followers to protefl: with vehemence, againfc any agreement inconfiflient with the power and fplendour of the catholic efliablifliment in Ire- land, Though fuch proceedings were pronounced feditious and traitorous by the general aflTembly, the more moderate members of which were highly pro- I F 4 Yoked 440 HISTORY OF IRELAND. <^"AP. voked at the clergy, yet fuch was the influence of V -y. .' the latter, that a flipulation to reftore the churches, which had been taken from the proteftants, could not be obtained. The confederates rofe higher ftill in their demands, on the news of a dreadful over- throw of the king at Nafeby by the army of the parlia- ment, imagining that new conceffions might be extorted from the augmented diftrelTes of the mo- narch. Ormond ftated briefly the fum of concef- fions, the utmofl: which any extremity of diflrefs could force from the king, among which was a repeal of the penal flatutes againft recufants. But the cabinet of Charles had fallen into the hands of the parliamentarians in their vidory at Nafeby, and by the publication of his papers the confederates dif- covered Ormond*s private inftrudions to conclude a peace whatever it might cojl. They were enraged at the marquis, and republiflied the letter with fevere animadverfions on his condu6l. They were befides elevated in hope, and the opinion of their own con- fequence, by the expedation of the earl of Glamor- gan's arrival, and of a nuncio from the pope, the former of whom they regarded as furnilhed with full powets from the monarch to conclude a treaty with them. Giflmoi-- Edward Somerfet, lord Herbert, ftyled earl of cjation. Glamorgan, fon of the marquis of Worcefl:er, of conciliating manners, of a lively and fanguine tem- per, afFedionately attached to the king, had raifed a body of troops for the royal fervice at his own and his father's expence, and had been honoured with marks 4 of HISTORY OF IRELAND. 44r of royal favour to a very uncommon pitch, particu- chap. larly by the promife of the prmcefs Elizabeth u\ . ^ ' , marriage, vi'ith a portion of three hundred thoufand pounds, to his fon. He was a zealous catholic, and connedled in Ireland by his marriage with Margaret O'Brien, filler of the earl of Ttiomond. Having declared an intention of a vifit to this country on bu- finefs real or fidlitious, he had received a recom- mendation to Ormond as a perfon engaged to for- ward the peace by every poffible means, of whofe affection and integrity the utmoft confidence, but of whofe judgment fome fufpicion, was exprefled by his Majefly. Arriving in this kingdom, after many delays, in the end of July, he repaired to Kilkenny, with a recommendation, from Ormond to lord Muf- kerry, and vt^as received by the confederates with complaifant attention, to whom he produced two commiffions from the king, of different dates, em- powering him to negociate a treaty. Notwithfland- ing fome oppofition from Abbate Scarampi, the pope's minifter, a treaty was concluded on the twen- ty-fifth of Auguft, the articles of which, including virtually a legal eftablifhment, not only of the Romilh worfhip, but even of the papal jurifdiclion, were to remain a fecret until circumftances (hould allow their difclofure. Befide this private compa6t, for the ra- tification of which the royal word was engaged by Glamorgan, a public negociation was maintained with Ormond ; and as the former was eager to lead into England the Irifli auxiliars, he entreated the marj^uis to make all the conceflions which he was authorized 44* HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, authorized to grant, and for tlie reft to appeal to hh V. ,y 1.^/ Majefty. Articles of a civil nature were foon ad- jufted ; and when Ormond objected to thofe of re- ligion, the Iridi agents, confcious of Glamorgan's private ftipulations, propofed that no claufe in the treaty with the marquis fliould preclude the catholics from fuch further graces as the king might be pleafed to grant. This propofal was accepted ; and that all demands relative to religion fliould be referred entirely to the determination of his Majefty, was agreed by both parties. Kiinmcciai. A vote was paJTed by the general affembly, on the ninth of September, for the levy of ten thoufand men for the royal fervice ; and peace appeared to be on the point of a final eftablifhment, when the pope's nuncio arrived on the 12th of November, John Battilla Re- nunccini, archbifhop of Fermo, a noble Florentine, eloquent and conciliating, yet auftere in his mode of life, ambitious, vain, and poflefled with a fanatical notion that he was deftined by Providence for the converfion of the weftern iilands from herefy. Among other inftruftions from his Holinefs, he was direcled to unite the catholic prelates of Ireland in a firm de- claration for war, until their religion fliould be com- pletely eftabliflied, and the government of the king- dom entrufted to a catholic lord lieutenant. The queen of England, then refident in France, fearing, like other catholics of fuperior underfianding, bad confequences from the nuncio's interference in Irifli affairs, had vainly attempted to detain him, in his way through the French territories, until the treaty fliould HISTORY OF IRELAND. 443 fliould have been finally concluded. His vanity was chap. XXIV. flattered by a memorial from the catholics of Eng- land, whofe ultimate objetl was the extirpation of herefy ; and his prefumption was augmented, at his arrival at Kilkenny, by a letter from the king, ex- preffive of condefcenfion, delivered by Glamorgan, who alfo (hewed him a fealed letter, directed to the pope from Charles, as a proof of the monarch's at- tachment to the holy fee. He objeded both to the public and private treaty, to the articles in favour of religion as infufncient, and particularly to the con- cealment of them ; obferving that, if the confede- rates were afraid of alienating the royaUft proteftants by the publication of thefe, they ought to be at lead as much afraid of ahenating the pope, and all chrif- tian princes, by the keeping of them fecret. Find- ing that the fupreme council, influenced by the wifer catholics, yielded not to his arguments, he refolved to give all the oppofaion in his power to their de- figns. The nuncio engaged eight Irifli prelates at Kil- kenny, in a private meeting, to join him in a protef- tation againft the peace, which proteftation was not, they refolved, to be produced, " until the treaty fhould be abruptly or prepojleroujly concluded by the council.** He prevailed on Glamorgan to fign an inftrument, as an appendage to his former treaty, whereby he engaged for a catholic hierarchy in parliament, univerfities under their regulation, the employment of none other than a cailiolic lord lieu- tenant, and the continuance of the fupreme coun- cil's jurifdidion until the complete ratification of all the 444 KISTORV OF IRELAND. CHAP, the private articles. What odium mi^ht have been XXIV, ^ _ _ _ . " ^ ..y. ,. / excited by the pubh'city of this inflrument, may be conjedured from that which arofe from the acciden- tal difcovery of the former treaty. Pifcoveryof Alarmed at the attempts of Ormond to draw to the treaty. »645. the royal fervice the proteftant forces of Ulfler, the Englifli parliament, who had negledted thefe forces, refolved to fend them ten thoufand pounds, with fome clothes and provifions, and a committee of the houfe to examine their fituation, and to hear their complaints. A fecond Sir Charles Coote, a trudy partizan, commilTioned by this parliament to com- mand in Connaught, advancing with four thoufand infantry and five hundred horfe, on whom he pre- vailed to follow him from the northern province, took pofl'effion of Sligo, and extended his depredations through the neighbouring counties. While lord Taaffe, commiffioned by Ormond for that purpofe, was proceeding, with the ailiflance of Clanricard and others, fuccefsfally to oppofe thefe infradors of the armiilice, which had been from time to time prolonged, the confederates of Kilkenny commanded Sir James Dillon, one of their officers, to march with eight hundred men to the aid of the Romifli archbiihop of Tuam, who was collecling troops for the recovery of Sligo. The town was nearly taken by an affault, in which this warlike prelate led the way, when the affailants retreated, on intelligence of a holtile army's approach from the north. They were hotly purlued and routed by Coote ; and in the baggage of the archbiihop, who fell in the adion, was found a complete and authentic copy of Glamor- gan's HISTORY OF IRELAND. 4j5 gan's private treaty with the confederates, containing chap. alfo a diftintl recital of his commiiTion and of his oath . to that body. Thefe papers were immediately fent to the Englifh parliament, who publifhed them, to the exultation of the king's enemies, who liad from the beginning charged him with a defiga to edablilh popery. Alarm- ed at the apprehenfion of a general defedion of the proteftants from the royal caufe, the king's minif- ters exerted themfelves inftantly to fave his honour. Lord Digby, having enticed Glamorgan to Dublin, under pretence of the adjuflment of preliminaries for the tranfportation of Irifli troops to England, charged him before the privy council with a fufpi- cion of high treafon, the forging of his commiffion, or of having exceeded his powers, which mufl:, faid Digby, have been limited by private inftrudions. Committed to cuftody, and examined by a com- ciamor- mittee of the privy council, Glamorgan confefled the ^^j.*^*^' ' whole tranfaction, referring to the counter-part of the articles which he afterwards produced. He ut- terly denied that he had received any particular in- ftrudlions from the king for his diredion or limi- tation in the treaty. He declared that he had a6ted altogether from a zeal for the fervice of his mafter, to accelerate the fending of the Irifh auxiliars, with- out obliging the king to any particular articles which he might difapprove, and irom which poffibly the confederates might be perfuaded to recede, rather than they (hould recall their troops when thefe ftiould once have been landed in England. In the publifhed copy 446 HISTORY OF IRELAND. c HA p. copy of his oath, an engagement was expreffed with force and precifion that he fhould not " permit the army, entrufled to his charge, to adventure itfelf, or any confiderable part thereof, until conditions from his Majefly, and by his Mnjefty be performed." But in that which he produced to the council, was found this very material addition—" or his pleafure known." To authenticate this addition, and the truth of his declarations, Glamorgan, in a private conference with Ormond, (hewed the original of a dcfeaza7ice, figned on the day after that of the fig- nature of his treaty, and by the fame parties, which declared that the earl no way intended by his en- gagements " to oblige his Majefly, other than he himfelf ftiould pleafe, after he had received the ten thoufand men. Yet he faithfully promifed upon his word and honour, not to acquaint his Majefly with this defeazance, till he had endeavoured as far as in him lay, to induce his Majefly to grant the particu- lars of the treaty : but that done, the commifTioners difcharged the earl of Glamorgan, both in honour and confclence, of any farther engagement to them therein, though his Majefly fhould not be pleafed to grant the faid particulars : the earl at the fame time engaging by his voluntary oath, never to difcover this defeazance in the interim to any perfon whatever, without confent of the commifTioners." As one of his papers was fecreted by the earl, and never publilhed, the tranfadion is not wholly known j but the general affembly at Kilkenny, after foihe few daya of recoUeftion, feemed convinced that all the HISTORY OF IRELAND. 44> the feverity expreffed againft Glamorgan, by the go- chap, vernmenc in Dublin, was merely affeded; and ap- ^^..^.^^^^ plication was made to Ormond for his immediate releafe, without which, they faid that neither the tranfportation of the troops, nor the treaty, could be efFeded. The lord lieutenant and council, afFedins; to impute his proceedings to an indifcreet zeal for the royal fervice, liberated him on fureties given fop his reappearance, and difmifled him to Kilkenny, with a commifTion to treat with the confederates for the tranfportation of troops, the remittance of three thoufand pounds to Dublin for the king's army, and the haftening of the treaty with Ormond fo long in agitation. The two former were declined, but the negQciation was refumed by the two principal agents of the confederates, Darcy and Browne, who attended the marquis. But difficulties flill occurred, Negodation * renewed. as the confederates were offended by the vehement proteftation of Digby againft the religious articles of Glamorgan's treaty, and by the difavowal of them by the king in his public declaration, who profelfed that the earl had received a commiffion merely for the raifing of troops in Ireland ; none to treat of any other matter without the privity and diredions of the lord lieutenant, " much lefs to capitulate any thing concerning religion." In a letter to Ormond and the privy council he commanded that lord Digby's charge (hould be thoroughly and diligently profe- cuted J but, at the-fame time, in a private letter to the marquis, he directed that the execution of any fenience againft Glamorgan (hould be fufpended, as • ' the xxsv. 4?! HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, the misfortune, which he had brought on all, had proceeded from mifguided zeal, not malice ; and he contrived to convey fecretly to the earl repeated affurances of his confidence and friend- fliip. The nuncio, who laboured indefatigably for the prevention of any accommodation, without fuch terms in favour of his religion as could not be ob- tained or enforced, produced the plan of a treaty, faid to have been framed by the pope, and tranf- mitted by his nephew cardinal Pamfilio. Having eafily gained moft of the clergy to fign a protefta- tion in favour of this plan, he recommended it with all his power to the general aflembly, as a treaty formed between the pope and the queen, of which he every day expeded the original by Sir Kenelm Digby, the queen's agent at Rome. He alfo eafily gained Glamorgan to his party ; but the wifer members of the aflembly contended, that the cir- cumftances of the king could not admit any fur- ther concefllons than thofe which had been already made through Ormond ; and that the catholics ought to rely on his Majefty's inchnations in their favour, manifefted by Glamorgan and otherwife. Even fome of the ecclefiaftics prefled for the con- clufion of Ormond's treaty. One of thefe attested a declaration of the pope, that a connivance was all that could reafonably be expeded at prefent for their religion j and another, with a boldnefs aftonifhing to the nuncio, alTerted that his tale of a Roman treaty was a flander on the queen, and HISTORY OF IRELAND, 449 and an impofition on the Irifli, purpofely fabii- chap. .1 1 1 r 1 XXIV. cateJ to prevent a peace, and to deliroy the / Glamorgan exerted his utmofl aclivlty to recon- cile the oppofite parties, and laboured to over- come the oppofition of the nuncio by conceffions, flattery, and magnificent promifes. He figned a convention of a conditional nature with this pre- late and fome deputies of the general afTembly ; and he engaged, by a voluntary oath, to fupport him in his meafures againft the partizans of Or- mond and all others. Notwiihflanding a (lipula- tion fettled with this papal miniller, that no peace Trcatycon» fliould be concluded before the firil of May, the JJ.' time fixed for the expiration of the armlfiice, a new general aflenibly, convened on the fixth of March, proceeded, in defiance of the nuncio*s pro- teflation, to the conclufion of the treaty with Or- mond on the tv/enty eighth of the fame month. The confederates engaged to tranfjjort fix thoufand well- appointed infantry on the firfi: of April, and four thouland more on the firll of the following month. If the troops fhould not be fent at the times fli- pulated, (unlefs they fhould be prevented by fome caufe admitted as reaionable by Ormond,) the treaty, which was lodged in Clanricarde's hands, was to be regarded as void, and the counter- parts were to be mutually reflored to the refpec- tive parties. This treaty, in which nothing further than toleration was conceded in refpecl VOL. I. EG pf 4>o HISTORY OF IRELAND. ^xx"^^' ^^ religion,' had been fo long delayed as to be totally too late to ferve the royal caufe. Chefler, befieged. by the anti-royalifts, which the Irifli troops were to have been fent to relieve, had furrendered, and the king's atTairs In England had become totally defperate. CHAR HISTORY OF IRELAND. 45 r CHAP. XXV. Retrofped of EtigliJJj affair s—lrijld affairs — Oppofition to the peace Battle of Benburb The nuncio's oppofition to the peace — Danger ofOrmond — Triumph of the nuncio Siege of Dublin Negociaiions of Ormond — Breach of the peace by Prejlon — Conclufion of the treaty with parliament — State of the country — Battle of Dungan hill — Progrefs of Inchiquin Battle of Knocknonefs — I{egociations renewed ' Second defedion of Inchiquin — The nuncio^ oppofition -—■War among the catholics — Proceedings of the ?iuncio — Or mo fid's return j4 mutiny Conclufion of Ormondes treaty, 1 HE civil war, which had commenced in the Au- chap. gufl of 1642, between Charles the firft and the long , ^^^' , parliament, and which had divided the Endifli nation Engiifh at- into the two inveterate fadions of royalifls and par- liamentarians, nick-named cavaliers and round-heads^ had been long in favour of the king, and feemed to promife him ultimately compleat fuccefs. The armies of the monarch, abounding in nobles and gentry, high fpirited and courageous, and in well experienced officers who had ferved on the continent, were fupe- rior in every engagement t© the troops of the parlia- ment, compofed of country gentlemen, farmers, G c 2 peafants, XXV. 452 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, peafaiits, and citizens. But thefe by conflant pra^lice were inccfTantly acquiring the military art ; and, fmce from their democratical confiitution full fcope was given to merit, many excellent officers were formed, who, from the rigicinefs of puritanic mo- rals, and a regular pay, were enabled to retain their men under a faluiary dilcipline ; while among the royalifts, every man was confined, without regard to talents, to the (lation in which he had been placed by his birth ; and the foldiers, ill paid, and com- manded by officers of licentious manners, were not fufficiently attentive to thofe rules, the obfervance of which marks the diflinflion between an army and an armed mob. By thefe encreafing advantages the parliamentarians at length checked the progrefs of the king's arms ; the acceffion of the Scottifh troops in 1644 turned the balance in their favour; and in the following: vear the tide of their fuccefs was fo r^pid that the affairs of the royalifts went quickly to ruin. The parliamentarian rulers, vi^ho, with found policy, had been accullomed to return public thanks for good conducl to their generals, when unfuccelT- ful, had an opportunity in the end of thanking them for victories altogether, decifive. In Scotland, James Graham, marquis of Montrofe, at the head of a fmall body of Irifli fent thither by the earl of Antrim, reinforced by fome troops of ScottiHi Highlanders, had performed fuch exploits, as to leave room for conje6lure that, if the ten thou- fand men, expe6led from the Irifii confederates, had been fent to England at that time, the king's fitua- lion would have been widely different. But his ra- pid HISTORY OF IRELAND. 453 pid career of viclory was fuddenly flopped by an chap. army recalled from England under David Lefly, . . -^-..^ who, in the September oi 1645, furprized and rout- ed Montrofe by the fuperiority of his cavalry, and drove him into the mountains with the remnant of his broken troops. In the fpring of the year 1646 the fucceffes of the parliament were fo completed, that no royal army remained in England, except fome garrifons, and a fraall body under Charles himfelf at Oxford, to which Fairfax was approaching with his victorious troops ; and the unfortunate monarch, to avoid being taken captive by force, fled in difguife, and delivered himfelf to the Scottifh army at Newark on the fifth of May. By the Scots, who were unable to defend him, if they had been fo inclined, from the power of the Engliih parliament, he was deliver- ed to the latter ; and he remained a prifoner till his lamentable cataflrophe. In this deplorable condition of the royal caufe the inrh affairs, fuccours of the Iriin could be employed to no pur- pofe beyond the limits of their own country ; and the confederates of Kilkenny reprefented to the marquis of Ormond the expediency of employing the Iridi troops againfl the parliamentarians of Ire- land, that one kingdom might be reduced under obedience to the crown previoufly to any attempts elfewhere. Lord Mufl^erry, their great agent, advif- ed the marquis to take the command of the Iriih army for this purpofe ; and this meafure was U'armly prefled by Glamorgan, who engaged to bring vaft fupplies from the continent of arms, ammunition, and fliipping. The confederates were rendered more G G 3 urgent 454 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, urgent in this point by the depredations of Sir Charles XXV. Coote in Connaughr, and they demanded the im- mediate union of the proteftant royalifts with the catholics againfl: the common enemy. This was de- clined by Ormond until his treaty fhould be publifh- ed, and that of Glamorgan fupprefled ; and with this requifition the confederates complied, intimi- dated by an ambiguous expreilion in liis anfwer, which feemed to intimate a threat or his joining the parliamentarian party. The publication was for fome time prevented by a letter from the king, inter- dicting the lord lieutenant from engaging in any conditions with the Irifh : but lord Digby, arriving from France with a letter from the prince of Wales, which concurred with his own teftimony, airured them that the order from the captive monarch had been forcibly obtained, and that he would anfwer with his life for the king's wiih to conclude the trea- ty ; which declaration his lordfnip entered in the council books and fiirned with his name. On the o twenty-ninth of July the inftruments were mutually exchanged, and the council iflued a proclamation ratifying the articles of the peace, and commanding all perfons ftridly to obferve them. Oppofition This treaty of peace, fo long and with fuch labour iV46.^^^ ^' negociated, was on its final conclufion of no efficacy, defpifed by the covenanters of Ulfter and parliamen- tarians of Munfler, whofe plan was the extirpation of the Irifh race and popery ; by a numerous party of catholics whofe plan was the extirpation of the Englifh colonifts and herefy ; and above all by the nuncio, who abfurdly aimed at the fpiritual and temporal HfSTORY OF IRELAND. 455 temporal fubjedion of Ireland to the papal fee, and c n a p. confidered the king*s de(tru6lion as a requifite flep to ■ — s^ * the completion of this objecu Finding the mod powerful party of the confederates, fupported by Pref- ton's army, inflexibly adverfe to his views, this pre- late had applied to Owen O'Neal, and gained him to his fide by a prefent of money, and promifes of far gre-.ter fum.s in future. The followers of O'Neal, confiiuing chiefly of barbarous rovers called creagbts^ who led a life entirely palloral, readily declared theni- felves the nuncio's foldiers, irritated, as they were, againft the council of Kilkenny, v»ho, on account of their irregularities in Leinder, hiid conimanded an armed oppofition ainiinfl them. This leader having aflfembled about five thoufand infantry and five hun- dred horfe, at the end of May, and having advanced towar^ Armagh, was followed by Monroe, who ap- prehended an attack on fome of the Britifh garrlfons, at the head of fix thoufand eight hundred men, of whom eight hundred were cavalry. Monroe, arriving by a forced march at Armagh Eattieoi about midnight, w'wh 2i hope of furprizing his enemy, ,646. was informed that the Irifli general was polled at Benburb, feven miles diftant, between two hills, with a wood behind, and the river Blackwater on his right. He marched at day break, in view of O'Neal, on the oppofite fide of the river, to meet a reinforcement which he expeded ; and finding a ford, he crofled the flream, and advanced toward the Irifh. The veteran general of the latter contrived to amufe the enemy with Ikirmifhes, until the fun, which had been favourable to the pofition of the Scots in the G G 4 morning. 4j5 history of IRELAND. CHAP, morning, flione full in their faces with declining \ml ^vr-„._ ■ I'^ys. At this time a detachment of the Irifh, which had been fent to intercept Monroe's expected fuccour, and had been foiled, was returning to the main body, and was at firft miflaken by the Scottifll general for that body of his own troops which he had ordered to join him. Alarmed at tlie reinforce- ment of the hodile army, when he perceived his error, he prepared to retreat ; and the Iridi leader, who had waited for the favourable mom.ent, ordered indantly an attack. The Scottifll cavalry, broken by a furious and fudden onfet, v/as driven on the infan- try, and the whole put to rout, wiih the flaughter of above three thoufand, and the lofs of the artillery, mod of the tents, baggage, and provifions ; while only fevcnty v.'ere ilain on the fide of the Irifh. The vidory would not have been fo eafily gained, if the Tcfl of Monroe's army had behaved like an Englifli regiment commanded by lord Bianey, who maintained their pod until aiuiOil all, with their commander, fell. O'Neal, purfuing hotly the broken foe, feemed to threaten the redudion of all Ulfter, with an augmented army of ten thoufand men, when he \Vas called fuddenly by the nuncio into Leinfter to oppofe the peace. Kuncio's Confiding in fo powerful a fupport, the adherents Cppyfition. r t • r ] L 1 • r ,046. or tne nuncio oppoied the proclamation or peace, v^hich, rhough pcrtormed in Dublin and in Prelton's cnnip, vva6 prevented in Waterford, Clonmel, and Limer ck. In the hill the mayor and heralds, in attempting to execute the office, were attacked, wouixdea, .ome even mortally, and committed to prifon ItlSTORY OF IRELAND. 457 prifon for ten days, by a mob, cornlufled by fome chap. clergy, who received for this outrage the nuncio's benedidion This prelate, having dil'placed by his own authority the magiftrates who had favoured the proclamation, and conferred the government of the city on the condutlor of the tumult, fummoned his clergy to Waterford, where they denounced excom- munication againfl all who had been inftrumental in the treaty, and all who fhould fupport the execution of orders iffued by the council of Kilkenny. Having pronounced other cenfures of the church, they framed a new oath of aiTociation, whereby they engaged not to adhere to any peace, but fuch as (hould be honour- able, and approved by the congregation of Irifli clergy as not contrary to their confciences. The nuncio, as appears by his own memoirs, exceeded his inftruQions in this violent conduct, and was obliged to apologize to the pope. Alfo for his having, in a fpc'Cch to the council of Kilkenny, re- commended fidelity firft: to God and religion, and next to the king, he w^as reprimanded by cardinal Pamfilio, who gave him to underhand that, though he might tacitly permit catholics to make thofe pub- lic proteflations of obedience to the.r king, which for political reafons they were either forced or willing to profels, the holy fee neier would by any pojitive a6l appro've the civil allegiance which catholic fiibjeds pay to a heretical prince, nor allow her minifters to coa- fent to public edifts for the defence of fuch a monarch. Alarmed at the effecls produced on the ignorant Dantr?r of multitude by the violence of the clergy j at tilt hj>l tiic oci.on 4,8 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, tile advance of O'Nears ai my ; at the ambiguity of XXV . ^ ^^ ■ _ Prcflon, part of whofe troops had been difbanded for want of pay, part had deferred to the clergy ; and at the progrefs of lord Inchiquin, who, in defiance of the proclamation, was overrunning Munfler with his parliamentarian forces ; the fupreme council earneftly befought the lord lieutenant to repair to Kilkenny to fupport its authority and the treaty of pacification. At the head of two ihoufand men, of whom five hundred were cavalry, Ormond, accom- panied by the marquis of Clanricarde and lord Digby, was received at Kilkenny with refped and demonftra- tions of joy ; but he foon found his expedition in- efFeclual and attended with danger. The earl of Caf- tlchaven, who was difpatched to Waterford to difluade the nuncio and his clergy from their violence, found ihem inexorable ; and this prelate had prevailed with Prefton to concur with O'Neal in an attempt to in- tercept the lord lieutenant ; fo that thefe two generals were on their march for that end, Apprifed of his danger, Ormond by forced marches, not without difficulty and alarms, regained in fafety the capital, where a belief of his deftrudion had fome days been entertained. Tnumph of The fabrick of conflitution, formed by the confe- the nuncio, _ ^ , , 16,6. derate catholics, in a moment fell to pieces, and their power was ufurped by a few ecclefiaftics. The nuncio, entering Kilkenny with regal pomp, com- mitted to prifon the members of the fupreme council, with other promoters of the peace ; and by his own authority nominated four bifhops and eight laymen, as members of a new council, of which himfelf was HISTORY OF IRELAND. 459 was prefident. As a delegate of fovereign power, chap. he modelled the army at his pleafure ; depofed and ^-\ ^ imprifoned lord Mufkerry, and ui his place created Glamorgan general of Muniler. To the latter nobleman, abjeclly obfequious to his will, he pro- mifed the lord heutenancy of Ireland, as foon as Ormond fhould be driven from ths capital. Of this event he was fo confident that he wrote to Rome for directions concerning the adjuftment of the ceremo- nial between the papal minifter and the new chief governor. Between Prefton and O'Neal, who ad- vanced with fixteen thoufand foot and fixteen hun- dred cavalry to lay fiege to Dublin, a violent jealoufy was excited by the nuncio's partiality for the latter, and by the cathoHc gentry of Leinfter, who crowded for protedion to the former from the barbarous and indifcrimnate ravages of O'Neal's army. In this ftate lord Digby hoped to gain Preflon to the royalifts, and even formed a fcheme to make the nuncio prifoner by furprize ; but the fcheme was ineffedualj and Ormond declined a negociation with Prefton, whom he defpifed as not poffefTed of faith or [lability. In preparing for a fiege, the citizens of Dublin siegcof had exerted all their power to repair the fortificati- 1646. ens ; and to animate their zeal, the marchionefs of Ormond, and other ladies, had appeared at their head carrying bafkets of earth : but the lord lieu- tenant, fully fenfible of his utter inability to fuftain a fiege from a want of money, ammunition, and pro- ^ vifions, found himfelf reduced to the dilemma of fubmitting either to the Irifh grenerals or to the Englifli 4^0 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. Englifh parliament. As he could have no reliance \— V— -^ on any treaty with the former, he made overtures to the latter ; but could obtain no better terms than that he and the members of the privy council fliould, with the king's permifiion, refign their patents, ob- taining fc;curity for their perfons and ellates, and indemnification from their public engagements. Com- miflioners were named by the parliament to treat with Ormond for the furrendry of his garrifons, and in the mean time two thoufand three hundred men, of whom three hundred were cavalry, v/ere ordered for the immediate relief of Dublin. To didrefs the befiegers, the corn, mills, and bridges, for feveral miles around the city were deftroyed before the enemy's arrival. Ormond difdained an anfvver to the infolent propofals of the Irilh generals, though thirty barrels of gunpowder, received from a parlia- mentarian fhip, was his whole flock of ammunition : and when he was refufed the ufe of a velTel for the tranfportation of his wife and children, unlefs to fome place in the power of the parliament, he refolved that they fhould remain and fliare his fortune. When the befieging armies had taken their fla- tions, they feemed more inclined to mutual quarrel than to com.bined etibrts againft the garrifon. Dark, farcaftical, and captious, O'Neal affeded to 'dread fome infidious defign in Preflon, vi^ho was irritable, open, and indifcreetly violent. The animofities of the generals, communicated to the officers of their refpedive armies, broke forth on one lide in expref- fions of abhorrence of the northerns, as barbarians ; on the other, of contempt and hatred of the Leinftri- ans, II HISTORY OF IRELAND. 461 ans, as the poflerity of Englifiimen, and in threats chap. of the total extirpation of all fuch, when the domi- nion of Ireland fhould revert to its only rightful polTeflbrs, the aboriginal Irifli. From this hereditary prejudice, which had in like manner been difplayed in the wars of Elizabeth by the followers of Hugh O'Neal, the two armies appeared ready for mutual ilaughter; and the nuncio, who depended on the attachment of the northern general, was with diffi- culty prevented from the commitment of Preflon to prlfon. Lord Digby again attempted to take advan- tage of thefe difienfions for the accompliHiment of an accommodation. Clanricarde, at his inftigation, repaired to the confederates with propofals, which were oppofed by the nuncio, and fupported flrenu- oufly by the vi'ifer catholics. In the midfl of their debates intelligence arrived that the forces of the parliament were landed at Dublin. They ftarted from council. O'Neal called his men from their pofts, and decamped in the night : the fupreme coun- cil hafted to Kilkenny, and were followed by the nuncio ; while Preflon and his officers continued their negociation with Clanricarde. The troops of the parliament were allowed to take their quarters peaceably in the fuburbs, while the commiflioners treated '.vith Ormond for the refiQ:na- tion of his government. He objeded to the w-ant of precifion in their terms, and propofed that their foldiers fhould be diflributed into garrifons, until the king's pleafure fliould be notified, and their in- flrudions enlarged from the parliament j and that they fhould fupply him at prefent with three thoufand pounds 46t HISTORY OF IRELAND. ^"A^* pounds for the maintenance of his men. Difiatisfied with thefe conditions, the commidioners reimbarked their troops, who failed thence to Ulfter, where they were, not without difficulty, received by the Scots. On their departure Ortnond ftated his objections to the articles required by Clanricarde and Digby in the treaty with Prefion, which principally were, that he fhould promife to obey all orders in favour of the catholics received from the queen or prince of Wales, or fuch as fhould be certified by lord Digby, the king's fecretary, to be his Majefty's free will and pleafure ; and that he fhould not only employ Prefton and his officers, and grant them commiffions under the marquis of Clanricarde, who was to take the chief command of the catholic forces, but alfo fhould admit thefe forces into the king's garrifons, particularly fome of Prefton's regiments into Dub- lin. Wearied with importunity, Ormond at length confented with fome refervation, and wrote to Prefton and Clanricarde for that purpofe, the latter of whom received his commiffion to command the army of Leinfter ; and the former, as lieutenant general, having confulteJ with the lord lieutenant on the plan of operations, began his march for the feizu-re of AVaterford and Kilkenny, while Ormond was preparing to follow, and join him with his forces. When, to form this junction, the chief governor was on his march, accompanied by Clanricarde, a letter was prefented from Prefton to the latter, in- forming him of his having quite relinquifhed his engagements, and advifmg that the lord lieutenant fhould XXv. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 463 lliould proceed no farther, but fhould await the ifTue chap. of a general aflembly at Kilkenny. Prefton, juftly ftyled a contemptible bigot by the claffic hiftorian of Ireland, had been accofted on his march, and terri- fied into complete fubmiflion, by fome agents of the tiuncio, who denounced excommunication on him and all his followers, unlefs he Ihould immedi- ately (lop, and difperfe his army. In three days after his letter, he publiflied a formal renunciation of his treaty with Clanricarde, on pretence, of non-perform- ance of articles on the part of government. How- foever great was the furprife and mortification of Clanricarde, Ormond had placed no confidence on Prefion's engagements, nor could he have any favourable expectations from a new general aifembly ; yet, to leave no excufe to the catholics, he awaited the rcfalt, while he led his troops into Weftmeath to feek fubfiftence. The influence of the clergy was fo powerful at Kilkenny that the refolu- tions of the aflembly amounted to the complete efta- blifhment of the Roman religion, and the exemption of its ecclefiaftics from fubjeclion to the crown. In contradiction to the fenfe of the French government, fignified by its niinifter, and a fpirited remonftrance from Ormond, the aflembly declared the treaty of peace to be void ; yet could not be perfuaded by the nuncio to pafs a cenfure on the commiflioners by whom it had been tranfaded ; but pronounced, with a ftrange inconfiftency, that thefe had a neceffity, without alternative, of fubmiflion to the Englifli parliament, how much loever they hated that party ; and, wiih the concurrence of the privy council, and an Irifli parliament convoked in Dub- lin, a refolutlon was taken to depofit tl)e rights of the crown with the power then ruling in England. To prevent the execution of this defign, the confe- derates made new propofab, of which, being inad- miflible, Ormond made no other ufe than to gain time to conclude his treaty with the parliamen- ''47- tarians. In the mean time arrived from the queen, Leyburne, one of her chaplains, under the fiditious name of Winter Grant, with direclions to forv.'ard by every poffible means an accommodation ; but the demands of the confederates, influenced by the nuncio's junto, were the fame in fubflance as before. Treaty with ^j^^ Ormond fiffned his treaty with the parliament the puha- "^ ■' ^ mtnt. on the twenty ninth of June 1647. His fecond fon, J647. ^ •> .1/ lord Richard Butler, who became afterwards earl of Arran, was fent to England as a hoflage, together with the earl of Rofcommon, Colonel Chichefter, and Sir James Ware, by Ormond, who engaged to deliver the king's garrifons, with all their appurte- nances, to the commiflioners of parliament, on the twenty-eighth of the fucceeding month, or fooner, if they required, on four days notice. The com- miflioners promlfed, among other conditions, ftcu- rlty, during good behaviour, to recufants not guilty of rebellion ; liberty to depart for all who might choofe to accompany the marquis out of Ireland ; protedion HISTORY OF IRELAND. 465 protedlon to himfelf in England on condition of his chap, XX V. obedience to the orders of parliament ; and the re- v , ..,^- ^/ imburfement of near fourteen thoufand pounds ex- pended from his own fortune in the fervice of the king. The more moderate of the confederates, and even Prefton, alarmed at the difmal profpeft, when the parliamentarians fhould have gained the afcendancy, befought Ormond to remain in Ireland ; but their application was too late, and no reliance could fafely be repofed in their engagements. The bigotry of the confederates, who would no where within their jurifdi^lion permit the fmallefl: degree of toleration to proteftants, was now to be encountered by the bi- gotry of the puritans, who, as foon as they were mafters of Dublin, permitted no other form of wor- (hip than their own within the walls ; but hindered not however the proteRants of the eftabliflied church to enjoy the liturgy in the fuburbs, in the chapel of the college. Leave to tranfport five thoufand men from Ireland for the fervice of France was denied to Ormond, though thefe were enemies of the parlia- mentarians, whofe exile might be fuppofed defirable to the latter. The country was milerably wafted, and State of the its inhabitants di(tra<5led by the clalhing pretenfions of different leaders. The barbarous troops of O'Neal, hoftile alike to the king and parliament, were de- voted to the nuncio. Lord Muflverry, the enemy of thefe partizans, efcaped, when his deftruflion was meditated, to the catholic forces of Munfter, who chofe him for their general, and depofed Glamor- gan. Thefe troops and thofe of Prefton feemed fenfible of their country's danger, and wifhed the return of Ormond. The Scots of Ulfter, offended VOL. I. H H at 466 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, at fome late proceedings of the ruling power In Eng- ^ ' . land, were difaffecled to the parliamentarians, though inveterately inimical to the Irifh. In this (late of things the troops of Dublin and Munfter, in the fervice of the parliament, augmented the confternation of the confederates by bloody operations of arms. Bnttie of Colonel Michael Jones, governor of Dublin, march- 16^7. ing to oppofe Prefton, who at the head of feven, thoufand foot and one thoufand cavalry, had reduced Naas and fome oiher pods, was foiled in two Ikir- mifhes. Prefton, having laid fiege to Trim, endea- voured, when Jones had marched to its relief, to furprize Dublin in the ab fence of the governor with mod of the garrifon ; and made a rapid march for that purpofe : buc his antagonift purfued with ar- dour, and overtook him at a place called Dungan- hill. The troops of Jones, augmented by reinforce- ments from Ulfter to a number nearly equal to thofe of the enemy, and adluated by a defperate fpirit of revenge from reports of Irifh maflacres, rufhed on the foe with a frantic impetuofity, regardlefs of ranks or orders, and intent on flaughter only. This condud, which againft a well-difciplined and well- commanded army, might have been fatal, was here attended with decifive fuccefs. Prefton, whofe troops were broken with frightful carnage, fled precipitately with his cavalry, and flopped at Carlow to await the arrival of the fhattered remnants of his infantry; while Jones, unable to purfue, from want of provi- fions, returned to Dublin with the artillery, arms, and baggage of the vanquiflied troops, and a num- ber of prifoners, of whom fome were men of dif- iinguifh«d rank and confequence. The nuncio's party. HISTORY OF IRELAND. fl$ party, who apprehended the recall of Ormond, in chap. cafe of Prefl:on*s fuccefs, rejoiced at his defeat, and > caufed O Neal to be immediately fummoned from Connaught to the defence of Leinfter. To O'Neal was Prefton, by order of the fupreme council, obliged to refign mod of his remaining forces ; and this nor- thern general, deriding the condud of his predecef- for, eluded every attempt of Jones to bring him to a battle, while he extended his depredations even to '"^''JJJ'J"'* the walls of the capital. Lord Taafe, having taken the command of the catholic army in Munfler, refigned to him by Muf-^ kerry, whofe prefence was judged neceflary in the fupreme council, feemed refolved to purfue the fame cautious plan of condud in the avoiding of a battle with Inchiquin. The laft named commander, obliged to act with vigour, both for the procuring of fub- fiftence for his troops, and the allaying of fufpicions of his fidelity lo the Englifh parliament, overran fe- veral trads of country, and inveded the caftle of Cahir, ftrongly fortified, and of difficult accefs, en- vironed by two branches of the river Suir. The conqueft of this forcrefs, which furrendered in a few hours, after a feeble defence, when fome of its out- works had been gained, laid open the fertile plains of Tipperary to his famifhed foldiery. On his ap- proach to the city of Cafhel, the inhabitants took refuge in their cathedral, feated on a rock, ftrong in its fortifications and garrifon. Having propofed to leave them unmolefted on condition of their pay- ment of three thoufand pounds and a month's wages for his troops, and having received a refufal, he took the place by ftorm with great (laughter of foldiers H H 2 and liB HISTORY OF IRELAND. C"AP. and citizens. Finding himfelf not fufficiently pro- ' . vided for a continuance of the campaign, notwith- flanding a vaft booty, he retired, and difperfed his troops in garrifons for winter quarters. Battle of Taafe, whofe obieft was a defenfive plan, would •" ■ have willingly allowed him .to remain inadive; but the fall of twenty churchmen, fiain in the indifcri- minate {laughter at Ca(hel, roufed the indignation of the nuncio and his clergy, who imputed the fuc- cefles of the heretical troops to the treachery of the lords Mufkerry and Taafe. The latter was obliged by the violence and popularity of their clamours to take the field in November ; and Inchiquin, on in- telligence of thefe morions, drew his men from their garrifons to oppofe him. The two armies encoun- tered each other at Knocknonefs. The left wing of the Irifli, commanded by Taafe in perfon, was broken at the firfl: charge ; nor could his utmoft exertions avail to flop tht* flight, though he killed feveral of the fugitives with his own hand. In their right wing was poded a -body of Scottifli Highlanders, fupport- ed by two regiments of cavalry, and commanded by Macdonnel, an oflicer famous in the wars of Ireland under the furname of Kolkitto, or the left-handed. The Highlanders, in their peculiar mode of combat, throwing their mufkets to the ground, as foon as they had difcharged them, and rufliing like a teip- peft on the foe with their broad fwords and fhields, drove them in confufion with flaughter from the field of battle, and feized their artillery and bag- gage. But Inchiquin, having diflipated the left wing of the Irilh, wheeled and attacked the hitherto vic- torious right, routed their cavalry, and furrounded the HISTORY OF IRELAND. 469 the Highlanders, who by the fall of Kolkitto, were chap. /. . XXV. left without a ieader. Yet they obftinately main- ' tained their ground till, after the flaughter of feven hundred of their number, the remnant accepted quarter. The catholic army of Munfler loft in this defeat above three thoufand flain, the prime of irs men, fix thoufand fmall arms, all its artillery and baggage, thirty-eight ftandards, and the general's tent and cabinet. In the dangerous condition to which the confede- NegocU- rates were reduced by the deftrudion of two armies, ncwtd. when the forces of the Englifh parliament feeined only prevented by the inclemency of winter from ru(h- ing upon them with irrefiftible violence, lord Muf- kerry prevailed on them to make a new attempt for a treaty with the king. Tliis lord and his aflbciates were fo fuccefsful, notwithftandiiig all the fchemes of counteraction contrived by the nuncio, that a new general affembly, fuinmoned to Kilkenny, almoft una- nimoufly declared for the fending of agents into France to the queen and prince of Wales. The nun- cio's oppofition had fo far an efTecl, that deputations were ordered to Rome and Spain to implore aflilt- ance, and that the agents appointed to negociate with- the queen and prince were directed to await iji France the anfwer from the pope. Muikerry and Geoffry Browne, deputed to France in conjunftion with the marquis of Antrim, privately relolved to negleCl the initruftion, which by the nuncio's dic- tation they publicly received ; inftru(flions intended merely to fruftrate the negociation, and to forward a plan, avowed by the clergy and old Irifli, for the H H 3 withdrawing 470 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, withdrawing of Ireland entirely from the crown of XXV . V ' . England. For this purpofe was a book at this time circulated, vi'ritren by an Irifh jefuit, who ftated in his treatife that, if the Englifli monarchs had ever any right (and even that he denied) to the dominion of Ireland, that right was forfeited by their herefy ; that the Irifh might juflly put to death all proteftants, and alfo all catholics who fupported the crown ; and that they ought to choofe a native catholic for their independent king. This treatife, in fpite of all the nuncio's efforts in its favour, was condemned by the fupreme council to be burned at Kilkenny by the common hangman. On their arrival in France, Mufkerry and Browne produced to the queen in a private audience, fecret inftrudlions figned by Prefton and lord Taafe, affur- ing her Majeity of the (tedfafl: loyalty of their party in defiance of thofe who were labouring to introduce a foreign jurifdidion, and propofmg that the prince Ihould come to Ireland to put himfelf at the head of his well affefted fubje^fls. When, accompanied by Antrim, who was not entrulled with their fe- crets, they had, in a public andience, prefented the propofals ditlated by the clergy, merely for the fake of appearance, they received a general and gracious anfwer from the queen and prince, in which they were informed that a perfon fliould be fpeedily fent into Ireland, empowered to grant the confederates every grace confident with juftice and the honour and interefl: of the king. When Mufkerry and Browne were, much to their fatisfadion, privately affured HISTORY OF IRELAND. 47* affured that the perfon intended was Ormond, the chap. ^ XXV. agents returned to Ireland. The way feemed to be in preparation for the ar- Defeaionof ^ ^ _ Inchiriuin. rival of the marquis by other events. Inchiquin, 1648. who had formerly, from unmerited ill treatment by the court, revolted from the royalifts, was now, from a like behaviour of the parliament, inclined to revolt to the royal party, and was maintaining for this purpofe a correfpondence with Ormond, though he continued his operations againft the confederate catholics, and threatened to befiege Kilkenny. While the Scots of Ulfter affured Ormond of their readi- nefs to join his party, and an armiflice was in a train of negociation between the confederates and Inchi- quin, the latter nobleman was forced into a prema- ture avowal of his defection by fome Englifh officers, who, fufpeding his intention, formed a plot to de- feat it by the feizure of Cork and YougUal. Their plot was prevented, and their perfons imprifoned ; but the defedion of Inchiquin became thus known to the nuncio, who, intent on the project of Ireland's fubjedion to the pope's temporal dominion, oppofed the armiftice with all his power. When the influ- ^,,„ ^^^^ ence of Taafe, Clanricarde, and Prefton, prevailed ^'o'soppo- againfl: him, he caufed the proteftation of the clergy '64^- againft: the armiflice to be affixed to the doors of the cathedral in Kilkenny ; and when this was torn from the doors, he thundered excommunication againft all thofe who favoured the armiflice, and denounced an interdid againfl all places in which it fhould be maintained. The thunders of the church had been fo often and fo frivoloufly launched by this prelate, H H 4 that •47* HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAr. that they were become too familiar to infpire the XXV. , fame degree of terror as formerly. The fupreme council ventured to make a formal appeal againft his cenfures to the pope, in which they were fupported by two archbifhops, twelve bifliops, all the fecular clergy of their diocefes, all the jefuits and Carmelites, many of the Auguflinians and Dominicans, and above five hundred Francifans, the mod exemplary and intelli- gent of thofe legions of churchmen who fwarmed at that time through the impoverifhed ifland. War among All the oppofcrs of the peace and of Englifh go- lus.*^ ' ' vernment crowded to the flandard of O'Neal, who, ' *■' though fworn to obey the orders of the confede- rates, acled as if abfolved by the nuncio, and folemnly declared war againfl the fupreme council, This general, having contrived to make a truce with the Scots of Uilier, marched to relieve Athlone, where fome partizans of ihe nuncio were fuftaining a fiege ; but the place was furrendered, before his arrival, to Clanricarde and Prefton. Having fucceeded, on ac- count of his hoftility to the royalifts, in his overtures for an accommodation with Michael Jones, the par- liamentarian general, he proceeded to the attempt of a bold and important enterprize, the feizure of Kil- J^enny and the fupreme council. But his troops, un- fupplied with money, and diforderly by depredation, were not quick enough in their march j fo that Inchiquin, with the proreftant forces of Munlfei\ had arrived at Kilkenny before him to prote<5l the council. While he craftily propofed a truce for Munfter to Inchiquin, who, with his own and part of Prefton'i, troops, was advancing upon him, this nobleman History of Ireland. 473 liobleman attempted, without a reply, to force lilin chap. XXV. to a battle : but the wary veteran eluded all his ,- ^ efforts, and after feveral (kirmiflies with a variety of fuccefs, returned difappointed to Ulfter. -He was join- ed by the marquis of Antrim, who had revolted from the royalifls, enraged by the difappointment of the hopes which he had entertained of being appointed lord lieutenant. The marquis had led into Ireland a body of Scottifh Highlanders, augmented his force with Irilh troops at Wexford, and caufed an alarm by a formidable appearance, when he was fuddenly defeated, with the deftrudlion of his brave High- landers, by an army of confederates. Making boaft- ful promifes to Jones of important fervices by his influence in Ulfter, that general promifed him fup^ port, and O'Neal agreed to place himfelf and his army under his command : but the latter, foon dif- coverlng this nobleman's infignifirance, refumed his former place as chief general of the northern Irifh. The nuncio, who, on the furrendry of Athlone, The mm- had fled thence to Galway, endeavoured here to ceedin^if collect a fynod of his ecclefiaftical partizans to confirm his cenfures : but Clanricarde, invefting the city, prevented the aflembly, and obliged the citizens to pay a contribution, and to renounce all connexion with the nuncio. While this prelate permitted O'Neal, his general, to treat with the puritans of Dublin, the mortal enemies of the catholics, he ful- minated his comminations againft the armiftice and treaties with heretics. 1 he general affembly, having ratified the armiftice, proclaimed O'Neal a traitor, 5 an4 474 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, and renewed the appeal to Rome, they were further XXV Omnond's exafperated by an outrage of this prelate, who feized their melfenger fent to the pope, and robbed hhii of his*^ papers. Ail catholics, particularly his adherents of Galway, were interdided, under the fevereft penalties, from correfpondence with him j and, in a letter figned by the prolocutor of the afleni- bly, he was admoniGied to depart the kingdom, and to prepare for his defence, before the fovereign pon- tiff", againft the articley of their accufation. In fuch a fituation of affairs Ormond arrived at rerun,. Cork, and was received by Inchiquin with the re- fpeft properly payable to the king's lord lieutenant. The marquis had retired to England, on his refigna- tion of the royal fortreffes to the parliament, and thence, after fome time, fled to France, from appre- henfions of danger, with his eldeft fon, lord Olfory, where he affifted the queen of England with his ad- vice in her negociation with the Irifii deputies. As he had been difappoinied of fupplies in France, he endeavoured, on his arrival in Ireland, to conciliate the proteffant army of Munfler by promifes. The king, though a prifoner, found means to fend him private inflrudions, contradiftory to his public declarations ; on the authority of which, toge- ther with the powers granted by the queen and prince, he proceeded to treat wirh the general affem- bly at Kilkenny, lor the purpofe of uniting in a common caufe the proteftant and catholic royaliffs. Having conferred fome time with their commiffion- crs at his houfe at Carrick, fourteen miles from Kilkenny, HISTORY OF IRELAND. 47; Kilkenny, he was perfuaded, for the readier difpatch chap. of bufinefs, to remove to his caftle at the latter. He . ^ ' > was received at Kilkenny with the moft pompous refped, and attended by his own guards j but his ne- gociation was for fome time interrupted by a mutiny a mutiny. in the army of Inchiquin. To loake their peace in time with the ruling power of England feemed a wife meafure to feveral officers, who accordingly fent pro- pofals to the Englifli parliament, and might foon have prevailed on troops difcontented from want of pay, to attempt to force their paffage to Jones lu Dublin or O'Neal in Uliler. The perfonal exer- tions of Ormond and Inchiquin were powerfully fe- conded by a meflage, in the critical time, from the prince of Wales, that prince Rupert, the king's ne- phew was foon to arrive with that part of the Englifn navy which had revolted to the royalifls, with am- munition and provifions for the army in Munfler 5 and that the prince of Wales himfelf was fliortly to appear among them. By the imprifoning of fome officers, and the difplacing of other?, this army was fo modelled, as to enfure its future attachment to the royal caufe. The negociation of Ormond, on his return to condufioa Kilkenny, was facilitated by intelligence from ^^,,^d"s abroad. The deputies, who had been fent to '^^'''^• Rome, returned with plenty of relics and bene- didlions, but deflitute of fupplies, and without advice from the pope, who left the confederates to their own judgment with refped to the con- ditions which they fhould afk in matters of reli- gion. 476 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. gion. The news of a remonflrance, prefented to t ' ; the Englifh parliament by its own army, de- manding the king's death, on account of his people's blood fpilled in the civil war, made a for- cible impreffion on both proteftant royalifls and confederates. Peace was concluded on the fame conditions nearly in civil affairs as in the treaty of 1646: in ecclefiaftical more favourable terms were given to the catholics, who, with a repeal of all penal ftatutes, were fecured in the full and free exercife of their religion. With refpeft to an aftual eflablifhment the terms were not precife, but referved for the free and authentic declaration of the monarch's pleafure. A degrading circumftance to the marquis, and obftrui5live of his future opera- tions, was the llipulated article of twelve coimnlf- Jioners of tritji, nominated by the general aifembly, who were to take care that the treaty fhould be duly executed, until its ratification in a full and peaceable parliament ; and were to participate in the lord lieutenant's authority, fo far that, with- out the approbation of the majority of them, he could neither levy money nor men, nor place gar- rifons for defence. To reconcile the proteftants to this treaty, he publiftied a declaration, in which, among other matters, he ftated that he had made no accommodation with thofe who had any fliare in the barbarities committed in the beginning of the rebellion ; and that he had not condefcended to any articles until the army in England had proclaimed their nefarious defign againft their fovereign's life. Whatever HISTORY OF IRELAND. 477 Whatever hopes miffht have been conceived in favour chap. XXV. of the royal caufe from this tedious negociation, its conclufion was far too late for the perfonal fervice of the king, fince that unfortunate prince had received the mortal ftroke before the news of the convention arrived at London. CHAP. 473 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. XXVI. CHAP. XXVI. Englijh affairs Or?nond's proceedings Rupert's coiiducl Siege of Dublin Battle of Rathmines Operations elfeivhere Siege of Derry Arrival of Cromwell — Storm of Drogheda — Progrefs of Cromwell's arms — Ormondes proceedings — Taking of Wexford Progrefs of Cromwell Operations of Ormond Oppofition to Ormond Revolt of Inch i quins troops Siege of Kilkenny Siege of Clonmel— Departure of Cromwell — Progrefs of Ireton — Sw.ceffes ofHewfon — Redudion ofWatcrford, Dun- cannon, lye. — Vidories of Coote in Ul/hr — Danger of the wcjtcrn counties* P ROM the moment that the parliamentarians were uiidifputed mafters of England, they found them- felves divided, according to the natural courfe of human affairs, into two parties, tlie prefbyterians and independents. As the prefbyterians, in aiming at a purer fyllem of religion than that of the efta- bliflied church, had rejedcd prelates, liturgies, and ceremonies ; fo the independents, affeding a ftill more exalted purity, admitted no creeds, fyftems, forms, nor other qualification of a minifter of the Gofpel than the voluntary eledion of him to that oflice by a congregation voluntarily aflbciated ; and, 8 contrary HISTORY OF IRELAND. 479 contrary fo the praftice of all other chrifti'an fccls chai*. . , . . xxvi. at that time, they adopted the reLilonable dodrine of toleration. Hot from reafon, which mud feem extraordinary, but from the very extravagance of irregular fanaticifm, naturally confidering thofe va- riations, in which they indulged themfelves, permif- fible to others. Yet they vi^ere holHle to popery and prelacy, which they regarded as of a fpirit tending to fuperftition. Their plan of civil government was a completely democratic republic, admitting no pri- vileges of birthright, or fuperiority of rank. The leaders of the independents, particularly Oliver Cromwell, had contrived by a deep fcheme of dilTi- mulation, before the king's decifive overthrow, to model the army, in the forming of new companies and regiments of the fame men, with new officers, in fuch manner as to put the whole military force into the hands of their own party. On the completion of their viccory by the cap- tivity of their monarch, the parliament, com- pofed chiefly of prefoyterians, refolved to prevent the dangerous defigns of the niilitary leaders by difbanding a part of the army, and fending another part to Ireland. But thefe leaders, fupported by their troops, refifted the orders, and, fsizing the king, whom they treated with apparent refpect," advanced to London, and by a new model of the parliament, reduced that body to fubmiiTion. Crom- well, the mainfpring of the army's operations, con- trived to caufe the king, by raifing apprehenfions of defigns againft his life, to withdraw fecretly to the Ifle of Wight. Difcontents were fo gre-.it and 43o HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, and general at the ufurpation of the government . ._. ' . by a junto of officers, that a confederacy was formed by great numbers in England with the Scots for the monarch's refloration ; and the parliament, recover- ing its liberty by the abfence of the army from London, in this new civil war, fent cornmiffioners to treat with the captive prince at Newport in Wight. But while this treaty was in difcuffion, the army of the independents, having vanquifhed every where their opponents, bent their march to the cjpitalj fent a remonftrance to the parliament de- manding the king's death ; and, again taking pofleffion of London, excluded by force from the legillative a,frembly all who were not of their own party. The unfortunate monarch, having been carried from Wight to Hurft Caftle by command of the ruling fadion, was brought to trial, on the charge of a newly invented fpecies of treafon, the levying of war on his people, before what was flyled a high court of juftice, and was beheaded amid the lamentations of the greater part of his fubjeds, on the thirtieth of January 1649 '■> ^"^ event of momentous inftru-iion to kings and nations ; to the former, to ufe their power with caution and a regard to jultice •, to the latter, to bear the evils of an eflabliihed government, rather than to incur the (fill greater of revolution and the tyranny of an ufurping faction. Ormondes So great and general was the indignation in Ireland pro««.d- ^^ ji^g king's murder, that the nuncio left the king- in«s. o ' «-• '649- dom, defpairing of being able to prevent the union of the confederate catholics with the proteflant royal- ilfs under the lord lieutenant ; but he continued fome CV HISTORY OF IRELAND. 481 fome time, by letters from France, to enflame the chap. XXVI. Irifh clergy for that purpofe. Ormond, having '_ ' vlfited prince Rupert, who had arrived at Kinfal* with the revolted fquadron fo long expelled, receiv- ed in his return at Youghal the melancholy news of the deed committed by the military junto, and im- mediately proclaimed the prince of Wales king under the name of Charles the fecond. Endeavouring to combine a force for the fupport of his new fove- reign, he made overtures to the commanders of the feveral armies, who with different views, religi- ons, and paflions, were ftationed in different parts of the country. Owen O'Neal, though he adhe- red to the nuncio's party, confented to nego- ciate ; but an accommodation was prevented by the commiffioners of truft, who dreaded this leader. Michael Jones was inflexibly attached to the power v;hich then ruled the Englilh nation ; and Sir Charles Coote, who, with parliamentarian troops, occu- pied the pofl: of Derry, returned no fatisfadory an- fwers. The Britifh forces of Ulfter, abhorring both the king's murderers and the confederate Irifh, -after fome hefitation, declared for the royalifts, and blockaded Coote. The confederate catholics had engaged to furnifh the lord lieutenant with fifteen thoufand foot and two thoufand five hundred caval- ry ; but maintenance could not be procured for fucli a number. Of fixty thoufand pounds applotted for this purpofe, no part had been coUefted, when he was required by circumftances to enter upon action. In his applications to the cities and corporate tov/ns, which, hke fo many petty republics, granted or VOL, I. II denied 482 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, denied contributions, according to their pleafure, V, y.. _' without regard to the orders of the general affembly^ he obtained from Warerford feven thoufand pounds by a mortgage of the royal rents and cuftoms ; a promife of five thoufand from Limerick, and as much from Galway ; but the fecurities were with relu£lance accepted, and the money paid flowly. Condua of Aduated by fome finifler motives, prince Rupert, commander of the revolted fquadron, not only de- clined to afford afliftance to Ormond, but alfo by fecret pra6lices embarrafled and obftrudled his plans of operation. He detained the money which he had been commanded to furnifh : he refufed to blockade the port of Dublin or of Derry : he correfponded with Antrim, O'Neal, and other anti-royalift Irifh : by promifmg encouragement to all who were willing to ferve the king " in an oppofite way to the prefent government," he excited a turbulent fpirit in Con- naught, repreffed with difficulty by Clanricarde : he ^ formed fchemes for the raifing of troops in the fouth, which, when difcovered by Ormond, he was afhamed to avow : and, having obtained a thoufand catholics for the manning of his fleet, he (hewed fuch partiality in their favour, that they were encouraged to infult the proteftants in the fea ports, and to raife fuch commotions as could fcarcely be allayed by all the prudent exertions of Inchiquin. Proceedings This couduft of Rupcrt was of fignal fervice ta Michael Jones, governor of Dublin, who, from the dread of difaffedion in his garrifon, had, fome time before, imprifoned and fent to England fome ©f his officers, was flill, on good grounds, appre- henfive HISTORY OF IRELAND; 483 lienfive of the fame fpirlt among his troops, and chap. would have been unable to maintain his poft without ^ ,-1':^ fupplies of provifions and reinforcements by fea^ To O'Neal, who profefled a willingnefs to form a permanent accommodation with the ruling power of England, Jones promifed money and ammunition. An armiftice had fome time fiibfifted between this Iri(h general and George Monk, who, having beea appointed to command the parliamentarians in Ulfter^ had feized Carrickfergus by furprize from the Scots, fent their general Monroe a prifoner to England, and reduced the towns of Belfaft and Colerain, The intrigues of Jones extended even to Prefton's army, where a plot, formed by fome officers, was fruftrated either by timely difcovery, or want of re- folution to commit the crime. Ormond, having vainly folicired the young king siege of to come to Ireland, muflered what troops he was 1645, able, with defign to befiege the capital, and, ad- vancing from Carlow, reduced Kildare and fome other ports ; but found himfelf unable, from the want of fupplies, to avail himfelf of a favourable oppor- tunity of attacking Jones^ who had marched to fome diftance from the city. Furnifhed with fome money by the induftry of Caftlehaven and Taafe, and rein- forced by two thoufand infantry of Inchiquin, he proceeded to Caftleknock, within cannon (hot of Dublin } but, difappointed in his expedation of a commotion in his favour by the difaffeded within the walls, he encamped at Finglafs two miles from the town. Finding that mod of the cavalry of Jones were detached to Drogheda, from which poft they 112 , might (4^4 HISTORY OF IRELANI>^ CHAP, might intercept the provifions of the befiegers, the •• '-^- '_- lord lieutenant difpatched Inchiquin with the royal cavalry to purfue them. This nobleman furprized and routed the hoftile troops ; took the city of Drogh- eda ; defeated, with the Daughter of their foot, a. body of parliamentarian troops conveying ammuni- tion to O'Neal ; inverted Dundalk, where Monk, the commander, was obliged by bis own garrifon to capitulate ; and thence, after the redu(^ion of fome fmaller ports, returned in triumph to Finglafs. With eleven thoufand men, of whom four thoa- fand were cavalry, Ormond refolved to invert the city on all fides at once ; and leaving lord Dillon of Coftello with two thoufand five hundred on the nor- thern quarter, he croffed the LifFey with the rert of the troops, and encamped at Rathmines, defigning to extend his works eaftward to the river's mouth, and thereby to command the entrance of the port. His hopes of fuccefs were feverely damped by the ar- rival of a fleet from England, which brought a rein- forcement to the garrifon of two thoufand infantry and fix hundred horfe, under Reynolds, Hunks, and Venables, with money and other neceiTaries, and alfo news of an intended expedition of Cromv/ell to the fouth of Ireland with a formidable army. To ftrengthen the fouthern garrifons, and to confirm their loyalty, Inchiquin was detached with three re- giments of cavalry ^ yet to continue the blockade of Dublin, with even diminirtied numbers againft an augmented garrifon, was judged neceffary, as the dereliclion of the enterpiize might be attended with 12 ' dangerous HISTORY OF IRELAND. 4^5 dangerous difcouragement to the royal party. But chap. ^ A ^ V la irom a change of circumilances the council of war v y . ,y judged a change of pofition neceiTary, that the enemy iliould be diflodged from Rathfarnham, and tb^t the . ma-rqyis ^.ould remove from Rathmines to a fecurer ilation at a place called Drumnagh, where he might maintain an uninterrupted communication with Dil» Ion on the north fide of the river. To this motion, which might have the app>earance of a retreat, fome officers objeded, and propofed another plan of which the council appioved, and to which Ormond was unwilling from his own authority to object. This was to ftarve the enemy's horfes by the feizure and fortification of the adjoining caftle of Baggatrath, which would exclude them from their only paftures, fome meadows on the fouth fide of the LifFey ; and thence to advance the works to the river for the- (top- page of the port. Fifteen hundred infantry, under an officer named |^^^''^ °^ ^ ' ^ Rathminss. Purcell, detached at the clofe of day to feize the »^49' Caftle, fpent the night in a circuitous march to their place of deftination, though diftant only a mile, milled by the treachery of their guides ; and the me- rit of betraying the royal army on this occafion was afterwards claimed by a churchman, named Reily, who had managed a private correfpondence between Jones and O'Neal. Having paffed the night in pre- parations to fupport this enterprize with the main body of his troops, Ormond was furprized in the morning at the fmall advancement of Purcell's works J and finding, from the pofition of the enemy's I I 3 parties 486 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, parties between him and the ftrand, that an engage* ^■■-.,-1 .' ment mud be hazarded, either for the maintenance of the new poft. or the covering of Purcell*s retreat, he chofe the former ; and, having given the necef- fary orders, retired to take meantime a fhort repofe in his tent. He was quickly roufed hence by re- peated voilies, and found all in confufion by a fud- den and vigorous attack of the enemy ; Purcell driven from his works ; Sir William Vaughan flain ; his cavalry flying, and his whole right wing irre- trievably broken. A fudden panic feized the lefl: of the army : the left wing fled without firing ; and the troops on the north fide of the river, inftead of attempting, with probability of fuccefs, to fnatch the victory from a foe in confufion, retired with pre- cipitation to Trim and Drogheda. I^ighteen hun- dred prifoners, of whom three hundred were officers, remained with the vigors, and fix hundred were flain, fome, to the difgrace of the garrifon, after r they had accepted quarter. The marquis, having , retired to Kilkenny, with fome fliattered remains of his army, applied by letter for a lifl: of his prifoners to Jones, who, from the affefted unpolitenefs of a republican, or an infolence of fuccefs incompatible with a generous mind, anfwered thus, " My lord, fmce I routed your army I cannot have the happi- nefs to know where you are, that I may wait upon you. Michael Jones." Operations Scnfiblc that his misfortune had arifen from the 1049. ' " limitation of his command, and the weaknefs of an ^rmy unprovided, undifciplined, and compofed of ^ifcordan^ HISTORY OF IRELAND. 487 ■difcordant parts, and containing many perfons dif- chap. afFecled or indifferent to the caufe. Orraond con- ceived ftill fome hopes of fuccefs from the proba- bih'tv of more compliance and exertion among the cathoh'cs from a fenfe of their own danger. In con- firmation of this hope he received overtures of al- liance from Owen O'Neal, who was offended and alarmed at the formal condemnation of his trea- ties with Monk and Coote by the ruling power of England. Yet this general had performed an im- portant fcrvice for that power, when Ormond was befieging Dublin. Lord Montgomery of Ardes, with the Britifh royalifts in Ulfter, had blockaded Coote in Derry ; and Sir George Monroe, bearing the royal commifllon as commander in that quarter, having, in conjunction with Clanricarde, reduced the parliamentarian garrifons in the weft, had marched to the fupport of Montgomery. But O'Neal, in confideration of a large lum of money engaged to him by Coote, advanced to his relief, when he had been reduced to extreme diftrefs ; and Montgomery*, with an army, weakened by the defertion of num- bers, who feared the unconditional reftoralion of monarchy, was obliged to raife the fiege, not daring to await the approach of O'Neal. Elevated with the hopes of this general's accefrion with fix ihou- fand foot and five hundred horfe, Ormond medi- tated a fecond attempt on Dublin ; and was encou- raged by the fuccefs of an expedition which he made in a week after his defeat at Rathmines, when, advancing with only three hundred horic to Drog- 1 1 4 htua. 483 CHAP. XXVI. Arrival of Cromwell. 1649. HISTORY OF IRELAND. heda, he caufed fuch alarm to Jones, who had Iii- vefted the town, that this fo lately vidlorious com- mander retreated precipitately to Dublin. But the lord lieutenant was quickly obliged to change his plan to defenfive operations, by an event which brought vengeance on the catholics of Ireland, a chaftifement fevere for their bigotry and pride, which had prevented them from a timely and cordial union with the proteftant royalifts, and from thereby ex- pelling all the adherents of the Englifh parliament from their country. This parliament had been prevented from effeftual interference in the wars of Ireland by their conteft with their fovereign, which engaged their whole at- tention and refources, and, after their triumph oyer their unhappy monarch, by the jealoufies between the prefbyterians and independents, the fadions of the army, and the infurre6lions in England con- certed with the Scots. But when, on the death of the king, no farther pppofition in England rerpained againft the independents, who modelled the political fyftem into a commonwealth, governed by a parlia- ment compofed of their own party, the redudion of Ireland became an objecl, where the movements of Ormond bore a menacing afpeft j and to Oliver Cromwell was unanimoufly voted the conduct of the expedition. This extraordinary man, who had not entered into the military profeflion before the age of forty three, had yet foon become, by the fore© of his genius alone, an excellent officer, though never perhaps a confummate general. By his attention to hi$ HISTORY OF IRELAND. 489 his men, the troops under his immediate orders be- chap. XX VI came the moft formidable of all in the Englifh civil ■._ ^ \^^ vv-ars, and he rofe rapidly from low commands to really the firft, apparently the fecond, power in the army of the parliament. Equally qualified, as the philofophic Hume obferves, to gain the aftedlon and confidence of men by what was mean, vulgar, and ridiculous in his character, as to command their obedience by what was great, daring, and enterpriz- Ing, he acquired the fupreme diretlion of Englifh affairs, which he managed by intrigues and influr ence. Cromwell, having changed his place of deflination storm of from a change of circumftances, fleered, inftead of 1649. Munfter, to Dublin, where he arrived on the fif- teenth of Augud 1649, ^'^^^ eight thoufand infan- try, four thoufand cavalry, a formidable artillery, and other neceffaries. Having proclaimed indemnity and protedion to all who fhould fubmit to the Eng- lifh parliament, and having appointed a new gover- nor of Dubhn, Sir Theophilus Jones, he marched to the attack of Drogheda with ten thoufand men. Ormond had taken the utmoft pains to flrengthen and furnifh this place for a vigorous and long de- fence ; had placed in it a garrifon of two thoufand three hundred chofen men, officers of the befl re- putation, and a commander of diflinguifhed bravery. Sir Arthur Aflon, a catholic ; and hoped that, while time would be gained for the c©lle6ling of an Irifh army, the force of the enemy would be materially impaired by the hardfhips of a fiege. But Cromwell, aduated 49« HISTORY OF IRELAND. a<5luated by a fierce and ftcady determinatlun oi fpirit, and fenfible of the advantage of prompt and ftviking execution, was not to be impeded by any ordinary obltacle. Dil'^aining the regular approaches and forms of a fiege, he thundered furioufly for two days again ft the walls with his great guns, and having effefted a breach, iffued orders for a general aflault. The defperate valour of the affailants was encountered by the defperate valour of the garrifon, fo that with appalling havoc on both fides the troops of Cromwell were twice repulfed. But this commander, deter- niined on ccnquefl:, led his troops in perfon a third time to the breach, and with an intrepid, (teady, and impetuous charge, bearing down all oppoiition, gained polTeffion of the ground. A fcene more tremendous, if poffi!:le, enfued : the deliberate carnage of the garrifon, officers and privates, and Romifh e,ccle{i9 allies found in the place, a carnage commanded by Cromwell and reludantly executed by the foldiery. From this bui^chery, which was continued for five days, a few efcaped in difguife, and about thirty wers fpared ; but thefe were tranfported as flaves to Bar- badoes. Cromwell is faid to have promifed quarter to thofe who fhould furrender their arms, and to have iffued, on the ceafing of refiftance, his fanguinary orders, as a retaliation for the cruelties of the catholics, though he very well knew that moft of the garrilon were Englifli proiellants. Progress of ^o ftrike terror Into his opponents was the obled arms. of Cromwell, and fo terrified were the garrifons of Trim and Dundaik, that they fled with precipitation, without HISTORY OF IRELAND. 491 wirhout attention to Onnond's commands, who had ^v"vt^*" ordered them to burn thefe towns, and demolifh >~— y-— <* their fortifications. A parliamentarian force detach- ed under Venables into Uhler, took pofTeflion, with little refiftance, of Carlingford, Newry, Lilljurne, and Belfaft ; while Sir Charles Coote, to whom Colerain was betrayed, drove Sir George Monroe from the counties of Down and Antrim ; fo that all fubmitted in this quarter to the parliament, ex- cept the caflle of Cariickfergus. Cromwell himfelf inarched fouthward, through the counties of Wick- low and Wexford, with nine thoufand men, well fupplied with provifions, as his fleet attended the mo- tions of his army, and the peafants, affured of pfo- tedion, and paid immediately the full value of their goods, crowded to his camp with provifions. Having reduced without refi fiance the fmall fortreffes in his way, he arrived before the town of Wexford on the firft of Oclober. During thefe operations Ormond hovered at a ormon were unable to find matter for a remonilrance, eitlier at Kilkenny, or at Ennis, whither they fled for fafety, ton the approach of Cromwell to the for- mer. When Cromwell raifed the fiecre of Water ford, ^^^oitof ... Ii-chiquin's his condition would have been miferable, if, with an troops, army opprefled by fatigue and ficknefs, he had been obliged, in a dreary feafon, to return for winter quarters to Dublin. This general had, before he left London, taken a flep which was now of fignal fervice. Having learned that lord Broghil, a man well acquainted with Irifli affairs, had refolved to join the king and accompany him into Ireland, he fur- prized him by a vifit, convinced him that his in- trigue was difcovered, and his life in danger ; but of- fered him fafety, with an honourable command in the fervice of the commonwealth, and affured him that he (hould not be obliged to take any difagree- able oaths, nor to fight againfl any but the IriHi. Broghil, having alTented, arrived in Ireland at the end of October, raifed a troop of horfe, and prac- tifed fecretly with the proteQant forces of Munfler. Difgufted with their catholic allies, who had io often infulted them on the fcore of religion, all the chief garrifons of this province at once declared for Crom- well, who thus, in a critical time, having reduced Dungarvan, found commodious quarters for his army. While the troops of Ormond, refufed adailt:an:e, for winter quarters, into any of the cities, except VOL I. K K Kilkenny 4$8 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. Kilkenny and Clonmel, were difperfed into various XXVJ. ■^.. — ^^ — . ; parts for fhelter and fubfiilence, Cromwell advanced fuddenly, in the depth of winter, againfl Kilkenny, relying on the promifes of an officer named Tickle Siege of for the obtaining of this pod by treachery. T^inding i^?/2 G-^ \).X BOSTON COLLEGE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS CHESTNUT HILL, MASS. Books may be kept for two weeks unless other- wise specified by the Librarian. Two cents a day is charged for each book kept overtime. If you cannot find what you want, ask the Librarian who will be glad to help you. The borrower is responsible for books drawn in his name and for all accruing fines.