/^ ^ , M ^ ■^^^^1 \\ — ^: — ^---\ ' THE \- " JDHNTHUGHES^^ MEMDRIRL CDLLELTIDN HISTORY IRELAND, .FROM THE EARLIEST AGES TO THE UNION. BY THE REV. SAMUEL BURDY. Primores populi arripuit populumque tributim, Sciliiet uni cequus, virtu ti at que ejus amicis, Hoa. A friend to virtue, and to vice a foe. He'd faults of rulers and of peo,ii<^ shew. EDINBURGH : Printed by Duncan Sf'menson and Company, FOR DOIG ASn STIRLING, EDINBURGH '■, CEOROE COWIB AITD COMPANY, LONDON ; AND J. CUMMING, DUBLIN. 1817. k. W^V^^ ^^^-^^^-^ ENTERED IN STATIONERS' HAJX, according to act of parliament. 205O75 ADVERTISEMENT. X HE Author, soon after he had left the univer- sity, sent a letter to a fellow student, who had gone to America, containing an account of Irish affairs for a few years preceding. This letter was published in London in 1 792, about seven years after it was written; and from the favourable character given of this juvenile production in the Monthly Review,* the Author was induced to undertake the present history, which, from various causes, has been long d€layed. In the execution of the work he exerted great industry in endeavouring to attain the real truth, but a particular quotation of authorities would be inconsistent with the plan of an abridg- ment. * Review for June 1792. .If- A jjlj, THE HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAPTER I. Original inhahiianls— Religion — Government — Laws — Dwel- lings — Morals — Food — Dress-— Ollam Fodla — Kemhtth— Tiiathal Nial St. Patrick Complete conversion — Learned arid pious men-^The Danes or Ostmen — Brian Beromy— Battle of Clontarffe — Last attempt of the Danes. JL HE Irisli antiquaries have laboured above all others cHAP. l. to attach peculiar dignity to the country which is the ^^^ object of their panegyric, and, in the ardour of their zeal, have taken the ideal conceits of bards for true histoiy. Without attending to the whimsies of these, it is just ne- cessary to mention, that Ireland was first peopled by a co- lony of the Celtae, a nation, of very remote antiquity, that Original iiv- spread over western Europe, whose language resembled ^^^'^''''"*^' that used by the original Irish at present. Having ex- tended themselves over Germany and Gaul, they passed over to Great Britain, and thence to Ireland, and, after possessing this country for many ages, were at length dis- turbed by the Firbolgs, a branch of the great Scythian swarm, that came over from Belgic Gaul. The Cehae, be- ing occupied in the chace, lived in forests ; the Firbolgs, like their brethren in Germany, resided for a great part of HISTOUY OF IRELAND. Beliglon. CHAP. I. the year in artificial caves. By these, it is supposed, some knowledge of letters was introduced, and, of course, they were considered more civilized than the others. That Ire- land was, however, involved in extreme barbarism, is evi- dent from this circumstance, that it never excited the at-* tention of the Romans, who held the dominion of Britain for four hundred and seventy-six years. Its subjugation could have been effected, it was thought, in the time of Agricola, by a single legion and a few auxiliaries, amount- ing to about five thousand men. "^ The religion of the people was druidism, a severe system of superstition, whose priests, termed druids, by means of excommunication and other modes of punishment, obtained supreme sway over them, and obliged them, as well in tem- poral as spiritual concerns, to submit to their decisions. Their peculiar doctrines were not completely divulged to the laity, nor committed to writing, but contained in verses, which were carefully treasured up in memory. It is sup- posed they prescribed the worship of the sun or fire, of which some relic still remains in the custom of lighting up bonfires on the eve preceding the twenty-fourth of June. Their places of worship were lonely groves, for which they had a superstitious regard ; and for the oak in particular, as appears by the name of their religion,* they entertained a profound veneration. Their hierarchy consisted of a di- versity of ranks, with an arch-druid, who had the principal authority. Yet, with all this solemi^ity, their precepts of morality were not strict, and these priests chiefly exerted their influence over tlieir votaries in promoting temporal ends, to which they made religion subservient. Hence, in order to inspire the vulgar with courage in battle, they in- culcated the doctrine of the transmigration of souls. The most ancient form of government in Ireland was a number of provincial kings, of whom one assumed, for a time, the title of monarch, exacting from the rest, when he could effect it, a kind of homage, military service, and also tribute. The number was certainly indefinite, varying ac- cording to circumstances, and was not confined to five, but extended to six, seven, or more. Each of these kings had * Druidism is taken fi-om J)t5, quercus, an oak. m Govern nient. HISTORY OF IKELANO. <5 subordinate to him a variety of petty kings or princes, of CHAP. i. whom he demanded tribute, assistance, and submission, si- "~" milar to what he paid the sovereign. These petty kings had also other chieftains, or heads of inferior elans, subor- dinate to them, over whom they assumed the same rule. The tribute paid in all these cases was cattle and various goods. The submission, however, which each inferior, in this different gradation of rank, afforded to his superior w^as not uniform, but varied, being directed by caprice or convenience. The monarch, in particular, was almost con- stantly engaged in wars with some or other of the provin- cial kings, occasioned, in general, by their withholding the usual tributes. The succession to the monarchy was elective, but con- fined to the family of the three sons of Milesius, the ima* ginary hero of the bards, whose names are recorded to be Hebor, Heremon, and Amergin. To prevent, in some de- gree, the confusion attending on this unsettled mode, it Avas thought necessary to elect, during the life of the mo- narch, the successor, who seemed the most worthy of the same family. The person chosen was freqviently the bro- ther, uncle, or cousin-german of the reignkig monarch. Successors to the provincial kings and chieftains, whom they termed iainists^ were elected in the same manner. This mode, however, did not remedy the inconvenience, but still was the cause of violent contests and bloodshed. The person elected sometimes took up arms against the reigning monarch, and frequently both fell victims to some more potent faction. So that, out of two hundred mo- narchs, a hundred and seventy, it is allowed, died by pre- mature and violent deaths. The title of each was usually the murder of the one who preceded him. In such an unsettled state of government, laws, we may Laws, suppose, had but a feeble operation. Their laws, however, such as they were, seem not to have been committed to writing, but were transmitted through successive genera- tions by a kind of hereditary judges called Brehons, who gave their decisions in the open air. The punishments in- flicted were not suitable to the enormity of crimes, and even murder escaped with a fine or commutation called eriCs a2 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP. I. which was usually paid "to the relations of the deceased. "■ " Another law required that a man's land, on his death, or on leaving his tribe, should be equally distributed among the families of the community to which he belonged This produced a perpetual fluctuation of property, as men's crimes, or misfortunes, frequently forced them from one tribe to another. Hence, agriculture was neglected, and industry discouraged. Yet the mensal land, as it was call- ed, appropriated to the maintenance of the tainist, was ex- cepted from this rule, and descended to him without dimi- nution. The moveable effects, however, on a man's de- cease, were divided equally among all his sons, legitimate or not, and,, on their failure, among the next male heirs, but females were totally excluded. This also operated to the discouragement of industry, since part of a man's fa- mily was prevented from enjoying the fruits of it. It is supposed, however, that the original Irish had a plurality of wives, a custom derived from the Northerns who arrived here before the second century. Dwellings. The habitations both of princes and people were cabins made of hurdles, and plastered with clay. Eachcl an had their dwellings together, and in the middle was the resi- dence of the chief, situated on a rising ground, and sur- rounded with a trench. These fortified inclosures were termed raths, and were of different dimensions according to the dignity of the chieftain. Here the whole clan used, in cases of emergency, to shelter themselves from danger. They were also adapted for the accommodation of travellers ; and the Brehon laws required that they should not be too suddenly removed, lest these should be disappointed of their usual entertainment. Such hospitality was essentially necessary among a barbarous people, totally unacquainted with the convenience of inns. Travellers were there allow- ed provision by right of hospitality, but the people were obliged to support the chieftain and his attendants, who lived among them at free quarters. It was also a custom for different families to exchange children, which was call- ed fosterage, and produced such an intimate connection among the persons thus bred up together, that they con- HISTORY OF IRELAND. sidered themselves bound to support each other In every chap. i. quarrel. Acts of violence, indeed, accompanied by horrible in- Morals, stances of treachery and perjury, though softened now and then by some generouS deeds, were too frequent amono- them, to which they were excited by their national music and songs, that tended, instead of alleviating, to rouse the vindictive passions of the people. The bards and musi- cians, who acquired great influence over them by humour- ing their favourite prejudices, had their professions made hereditary (as were also other professions or trades in cer- tain families), and large portions of land appropriated to their use. They attained, it is said, the third part of the national property, which also had the advantage of not be ing liable to the fluctuation of other tenures. Their land, however, was but of small benefit, since pood. aoriculture was but little understood or practised, and their chief food was milk, herbs, flesh of cattle, and particularly of wild swine, that abounded in the forests of oaks. Such diet, with bad cookery, made the leprosy very frequent amono- them. The little corn they had, instead of being- threshed, was freed from the husk by fire, then pounded and boiled, or ground with a hand-mill, and baked in cakes, which were hardened on embers or a griddle. Their principal beverage was mead, which caused the preserva- tion of bees to be particularly regarded by the Brehon laws. Their dress can not be settled so exactly, since it was Dress, liable to variations by the change of fasliion and the intro- duction of foreigners. They wore a short cloak, at first of skin, and afterwards of cloth, furnished with a hood, and decorated with stripes of various colours. This short cloak was in time exchanged for a long one, and the hood for a conical cap. They also wore a jacket, and trowsers which descended to the feet ; but the poorer sort of them seem to iiave been naked below. Their clothes were, like their sheep, of a dark colour, but their trowsers were dyed yel- low, as were also their shirts, which were wide, with large folds, and sleeves of great size : one of them would take fifteen yards of yard-wide linen. The shoe was just a piece 6 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP. I. of leatlier tied on the foot by a thong. They wore a long beard, at least on the upper lip, and a great bunch of hair tlirown over their forehead, which gave them a ferocious aspect. A particular detail of the transactions of such barbarous people would produce neither amusement nor instruction, and, indeed, the recital of the same repeated acts of cruelty and treachery would disgust the reader with its dull uni- formity. Hence no benefit would be derived from such a particular detail, even if sufficient authority could be ob- tained ; but this really is not the case, for the knowledge we acquire of the different reigns is usually taken from poems and romances, which, though founded in reality, would afford, when embellished by the fictions of the bards, verv imperfect materials for history. A sketch, however, of some of the most important reigns is necessary, in oi'der to form a connected narrative. Oiiam Fed- After a variety of monarchs, of whom a particular notice ^' is not requisite, the one called Ollam Fodla, who reigned about nine hundred and fifty years before the Christian era, was distinguished by his capacity for legislation. En- dued by nature with a superior luiderstandlng, he insti- tuted, it is said, the triennial convention of kings, priests, and poets, who met at Tarah, in Meath, for the })urpose of establishing laws, and regulating the government. Some others also followed his example, and were useful in pro- ducing salutary laws, though barbarous crimes too fre- quently intervened, and the monarchs themselves were suc- cessively removed by a series of assassination. Kcmbeth. Two hundred and sixty years after Ollam Fodla, Kem- beth ascended the throne, who built, it is reported, in the vicinity of Armagh, the palace of Emania, the celebrated residence of the kings of Ulster for almost seven hundred years. At Emania councils were held subordinate to Tarah, the subject of whose debates related to national police, and the mechanical arts. His queen, Macha, obtained the throne after his death, having gained different victories over her competitors, and, after a reign of seven years, was slain herself, by Reachta, a prince of the line of Heber, who Tvas also put to death by his successor. Hence followed tlie HISTORY OF IRELAND. 7 reigns of a variety of raonarchs, who obtained the supreme CHAP. r. sway by destroying the actual possessors of the throne. --— --^== During this time, some bands of the Scandinavian Goths, from the regions near the BaUic, formed settlements in Ire- land ; and, about the first century of the Christian era, the Dumnonian race usurped the chief power by the slaughter of the ancient royal family. At length Tuathal, a prince of this ancient family, re-'^"athal. turning from North Britain with some auxiliaries, had the general convention assembled at Tarah, and himself ac- knowledged as supreme monarch. He obliged his subjects by a solemn oath, to elect their future sovereigns from his family, and had the district of Meath appointed as an ap- pendage the monarchy. During his reign, an incident took place, which was attended with a very remarkable effect. Eochaid, the provincial king of Leinster, who had married his daughter, conceiving a guilty passion for her sister, pretended, in order to gratify his desire, that his wife was dead, and obtained her sister in marriage. The two ladies happened to meet in the i-oyal house of Leinster, and the meeting had a fatal effect on them, as they both died of vexation. The monarch in a rage invaded his province, which was preserved from desolation only on the express condition of paying a grievous tribute, called the Baromeaii tribute, as a perpetual memorial of the monarch's resent- ment, and of the offence that Eochaid had committed. The exaction of this oppressive tribute produced disorders for ages. Con, one of his successors, who gained the throne, as usual, by putting the reigning monarch to death, found great difficulty in exacting this tribute. He reigned thirty- five years, mostly engaged in wars of various success, and at last lost his life in a battle with the King of Ulster. The reign of his son and successor, Art, is only remarkable for having a colony of Irish settled in Albany in North Britain, under a chieftain called Rida. Hence a more intimate in- tercourse was established between the two countries. Cormac, the second after him, who was elected raonarcli in 254, seemed to possess some political talents, but was so unfortunate as to lose an eye in one of his military expedi- tions, which rendered him unfit to reign, as no person 8 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. I. maimed could, by the constitution, sit on the throne. He "~~^~~' resigned his situation with great calmness, and spent the remainder of his life in philosophic retirement, having com- posed different works, especially *' an Advice to a King,'' for the benefit of his son, who, he expected, would some time or other ascend the throne. Soon after his death, his son, Carbry attained, as he ex- pected, the sovereign power, and profiting by his father''s instructions, framed some useful institutions, for the pur- pose of restraining those violent passions which too frequent- ly were allowed to operate without controul. Yet his pre- cepts seemed not to have had a suitable influence on his own conduct, for though it was his duty, as monarch of Ireland, to promote the happiness of all his subjects, yet he led an army into Leinster, to enforce the payment of the odious Baromean tribute. In his reign, the national militia, so useful and so much famed by the bards, for reasons not sufficiently known, was disbanded. Flacha, of the house of Heremon, who was elected his successor, was attacked by a faction termed the CoUas, who were enraged at the partiality he showed to his son, Mure- doch, a young man possessed with a desire of military glory. The king lost his life in a battle with these, one of whom usurped his throne, but was afterwards banished by Mure- doch with the whole party to Albany. In three years they returned, having obtained their pardon from Muredoch, who also supplied them with seven thousand men to procure a settlement in Ulster. But this monarch, during the ab- sence of his party, was attacked by Collach, one of his chief- tains, and deprived of his kingdom and life. The usurper was soon slain by the king's son, Eochaid, who, as well as Cremthan, the next successor to the throne, went over to North Britain, in order to assist the Picts against the Romans, and their British auxiliaries. It must be observed, however, that the Irish monarchs had frequently sufficient employment at home, without going abroad on foreign expeditions ; for, beside contending with the provin- cial kings, who were often turbulent, they were frequently engaged in warfare with colonies of the Scandinavian Goths, already mentioned, who at different times invaded their HISTORY OP lElELAXD. 9 country with success These colonies were termed Scots ; chap. i. and in the fourth century of the Christian era, obtained such === power as to cause this island to be called Scotia or Scotland, an appellation in later times transferred to another country. In this same century, it is reported, that they, led on by Oscar, son of Oshin, and grandson of the hero Fin, en- gaged in a great battle with the Irish, under a prince of Leinster, in which the latter were victorious. This pre- vented the subjugation of Ireland at tliat time. They con- tinued, however, masters of the ports, but tlie native princes seemed to have considerable authority in the inteuior parts of the country. Of all the Irish monarchs at tliat time, who were most j^-jaj, successful, both in repelling foreign invasion, and in sub- duing rebellious chieftains, Nial the Great, or Nial of the Nine Hostages, the immediate successor of Cremthan, was certainly the most remarkable. When he had sufficiently established his authority at home, he followed the example of his predecessors, in going over to North Britain, to ac- company the Picts in their expeditions against the unfortu- nate Britons. He broke through the wall built by the Ro- mans to prevent the incursion of the Picts, attacked the people, desolated the country, and returned home laden with plunder. He also made two expeditions, of a similar kind, into Gaul, assisted in the first by the Saxons, and, in the second, by the general of the Dulraidas, but was murdered, on the banks of the Loire, in 406, by a son of the king of Leinster, who went over to Gaul for that very purpose. The country was thus happily freed from de- predation. In the reign of his nephew Dathy, who succeeded him, the Romans, distressed on the continent by the northern nations, were obliged to withdraw their forces from Britain, which afforded an opportunity to Dathy, and his friends the Picts, to ravage the country. He also led an army to Gaul, where he perished, by a stroke of lightning, at the foot of the Alps. His successor was Laogary, the son of Nial the Great, who ascended the throne in 428. Soon after his accession, he made a descent on Britain, and compelled the people to 10 HISTORy OF IRELAPfO. CHAP. I. pay liim a tribute. Yet, he was unsuccessful in enforcing the payment of tlie Baromean tribute, being defeated in battle and taken prisoner by Crenithan the king of Leinster. In order to regain his liberty, he took an oath never more to demand this odious tribute, but being absolved by the druids, he broke his engagement, and continued still to pur- sue his iniquitous claim. These priests had long before corrupted both religion and morality, and, of course, were injurious to the state. The time now arrived when the Christian religion was more openly professed in Ireland, though some feeble efforts had been tried to introduce it before. The honour of this Su Patrick, con version is usually ascribed to St. Patrick, who is repor- ted to be a native of North Britain, and to have entertain- ed a partiality for the Irish, from the circumstance of his being a captive in Ireland in his youth. He arrived here, it is said, on his spiritual enterprise, with authority from Pope Celestinc, about 482, when he was in his sixtieth year. Yet, the very existence of this saint has of late been controverted, and such powerful arguments produced, as the most zealous of his advocates and admirers will find diffi- cult to answer.* It appears, that he is not mentioned in any writing of authentic date before the ninth century, a period remarkable for fabricating the lives of saints, nor by the ecclesiastic historians of the intermediate time, Beda, Cogitosus, Adamnan, and Cummian, who, it might be sup- posed, would not have omitted to take notice of so great a missioner, if any account of him had reached tliem. In tlie calendar, it is owned, his name is frequently found, but this is very suspicious authority. The stories also transmit- ted to us of his exploits and miracles, have, it is said, too much the appearance of legendary fiction. Yet, it is odd, that the imposture should have been palmed on the world so long, and never discovered till the present time. In converting the natives to Christianity, by whomsoever this useful work was effected, great policy was displayed in endeavouring to make it agreeable to the order of the druids. As certain hereditary priveleges and possessions were annex- * See LeJwicli's Antiquities of Tieland, where this abstruse subject is amply discussed with singular ingenuity and learning. HISTORY OP IRELAND. 11 ed to that order, it was appointed, in conformity to this idea, CHAP. I. that the office of pastors of the several churches should be- "~ confined to certain families, and that the lands set apart for their support should descend by regular inheritance. This tended in some degree to reconcile the druids to Clu'istian- ity, who were before most averse to it, as it showed a re- spect to their ancient customs, and as they might obtain the same advantage from the present religion, which they en- joyed from the last. Still the work of conversion proceed- ed slowly, as it appears that paganism prevailed very much here, even at the end of the sixth century. The missionaries, however, were so fortunate as to con- vert, among other persons of rank, Laogary, the monarch, who, notwithstanding, seems not to have been much improv- ed in morality by his change of religion. Once more he joined the Picts with an army in their predatory invasions of Britain, which was continually harassed by their attacks, until the battle of Stamford, in Lincolnshire, took place, in which the Britons were victorious by the assistance of the Saxons, who, being invited as auxiliaries, afterwards took possession of the kingdom. Laogary, who died in 456, was succeeded by Oliol Molt, of the family of Hcremon, who, notwithstanding the failure of his predecessor, led an army into Leinster to enforce the payment of the Baromean tribute, and fought a battle there, of which the event is not related. Soon after, he was en- gaged in a contest with Leuighad, the son of Laogary, a competitor for the throne, who, when he came to age, de- manded it as the right of his family, and slew Oliol on the plains of Ocha. Leuighad was now crowned monarch, having an undisputed title to the crown, as he was descended from Heremon, and of the house of Nial. The different claims to that honour, between the families of Heber and Heremon, produced, for several ages, a va- riety of contests, of which, and of the reigns themselves, it may be needless to relate the particulars. Y^et, for the two succeeding centuries, notwithstanding these violent con- tests, Christianity and learning made a successful progress in Ireland. The complete conversion of the island was Complete owing to the clergy of South Britain, who took refuge here ^^"^^^^'°"' V4 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP. I. from the Anglo-Saxon pagans, the sanguinary conquerors ' of their country. These contributed to found here mo- nasteries and seminaries of Jearning, which had so much increased in the seventh century as to cause Ireland to be called the island of saints and scholar's. Missionaries were then sent from it to different parts of the continent, to pro- pagate the Christian religion and scholastic philosophy, the fashionable learning of the times. This literary pre-emi- nence, in those dark ages, was not only owing to the asylum it then afforded to men of a contemplative turn, during the troubles on the continent, and Saxon wars in South Britain, but also to the discouragement of knowledge and free in- quiry, visibly shewn by the Roman pontiff, who was well assured that ignorance would promote that spiritual domi- nion at wiiich be aimed. Literature, however, was entirely confined to the monasteries, wiiich, by their institution, being detached from society, had but Uttle influence on the great body of the people, who were involved in extreme barbarism. Yet, furious and savage as they were, those asylums of piety were respected by them in their most bloody intestine commotions. The fame of those seminaries at that time certainly ex- tended very far, and attracted students from Britain and the continent. Yet the number has been greatly exagge- rated by the monkish historians, who tell us there were seven thousand at Armagh, and at least as many at Lismore. From those repositories of learning certainly proceeded many saints and scholars, of whom it may be sufficient to mention a few. About the middle of the sixth centuiy flourished Colum- and pious ba, or Columb-Cill, who, after founding a monastery at "*^"' Derry, established a celebrated abbey in the isle of Hay, one of the Hebrides, which, for almost two hundred years, - disseminated Christian knowledge and literature through North Britain and Northumberland. Hence he was ho- noured with the title of the Apostle of the North Britains. His biographer, St. Canice, the patron saint of Kilkenny, who also wrote hymns in his praise, immediately succeeded him. In the seventh century flourished, beside a number of HISTORY OP IRELAND. 13 otlicr holy men, the learned and pious Columbanus, a CHAP. L monk of Bangor, in the county of Down, who composed ■■ works of celebrity, both in poetry and prose, the latter chiefly in defence of the old observation of Easter. He also founded two monasteries in Burgundy, in France, and one in Britain. The next century produced Virg'illus Solivagus, the glory of Irish literature, whose fame attracted the notice of Pepin, king of the Franks, who conferred on him the bishoprick of Saltzburg. He was degraded by pope Za- chary, for daring to publish the discovery he had made of the real figure of the earth, the fruits of laborious research, but was canonized, five hundred years after, by pope Gre- gory the Ninth. Sedulus Scotigena, distinguished also bv the epithet Secundus, in his writings opposed with ability the high pretensions of the Roman pontiff, and the worship of imajres. It is to be lamented that those men of litera- ture left us no account of their own country, the records of which in those times are peculiarly meagre and obscure. We have, it is true. The Psalter of Cas/iel* The Book of Howth) The Annals of Figernagh, The Annals of Innis- fallen, and the Annals of the Four Masters, yet obtain from them very little satisfactory information. The repose, however, of contemplative men was disturb- -pj^g Danes ed, in the ninth century, by the invasion of the Danes ororOstmen. Ostmen, who, ascending up the rivers in their light vessels, laid waste the country with fire and sword, butchered the inhabitants of every age and sex, and carried off the plun- der. Against the Christian clergy, in particular, those pa- gans exerted their bloody rage, despoiled the monasteries and public seminaries, and obliged many of the learned men to make their escape out of the kingdom. Their su- perstition was one of the most sanguinary sort, and inspired them with a desire for slaughter, and a contempt of death. Woden, the object of their worship, was the imaginary god of war, into whose paradise admission was only to be gain- ed by bloodshed. To die by any other means than by war- like M'eapons was esteemed so disgraceful, that, when in * This is a poetic coinposition, ard is supposed to be written by Cor- mac Macuillenan, archbishop of Cashcl, and king of Munater. 14 HISTORY OK IIIELAND. CH AP. I. danger of being carried off by disease, they prevailed on their friends to put them to violent deaths. Their first landing in Ireland was in 795, and ravaging parties of them also landed afterwards. But the great in- vasion was in 815, and took place under Turgesius or Turgis, who, in the course of thirty years, spread desolation over the island. Eeing desirous at length to reign over a country which he had plundered, he assumed the state and title of king of Ireland, but, by some contrivance not well known, was seized and put to death by Malachy, king of Meath. The people now rose up against the Ostmen, and drove them out of tlie interior part of the kingdom. About 853, some fresh troops of them landed under Ara- lave, Selric and Ivar, which, when joined by those who had maintained themselves in tlie country, made their force very considerable. Under pretence of enriching the country by commerce, they prevailed on the Irish to allow them to become absolute masters of Dublin, Limerick, Waterford, and other maritime places, which they enlarged, and forti- fied with such works as were totally unknown to the inha- bitants. Here they lay in security, being ready to receive fresh reinforcements of their countrymen, and imperceptibly increased in power, owing, in a great measure, to the dis- imion of the people, who were constantly engaged with each other in civil commotions, and seemed more desirous of gra- tifying their private resentment, than combining to defend their country from foreign force. At length they seemed for a while sensible of their error, and attacked them with tolerable success. The Danes were defeated, and obliged to leave the interior parts of the island, yet still subsisted and carried on their commerce, maintaining sometimes their own independence, and at other times acknowledging the superiority of their neighbours. Usually they were sub- ject to the rule of several independent leaders, who were not united, unless in cases of great emergency. After all the defeats which they are reported to have sustained, they continued very powerful for some centuries, and were some times the most distinguished sept in Ireland. They were converted to Christianity about the year 964, and seemed HISTORY OP IRELAND. 15 then to have assumed a more regular system of commercial chap. i. navigation. _».— «.«« Though several Irish princes and chieftains, no doubt, exerted tliemselves in repelling those foreign invaders, yet the exploits of none deserve so much notice as those of Brian Beromy, the hero so much celebrated in the annals gijan se- of his country. He was brother to the king of Munster,roray« and was for a series of years employed by him as his prin- cipal general against the Danes, over whom he gained many victories. His illustrious actions so much endeared him to his countrymen, that, on his brother's decease, they raised him, at an advanced age, to the throne of Munster. His first care was to avenge the death of his brother, who had been killed by a chieftain of some note. This chieftain he defeated in a great battle^ and destroyed fifteen hundred Danes who came to his assistance. Another chieftain, who opposed him with a fresh reinforcement of Danes, met with the same success. Having thus established tranquillity in his own province, he obtained the sovereignty of the southern half of the island, and when the Irish and Danes of Lein- ster refused to pay him tribute, he marched against them at the head of his militia to levy it by force. The city of Dublin he besieged and took by storm, and reduced the inhabitants to due subordination. His fame tended to ex- cite against the Danes some other Irish princes, who at- tacked them in different quarters of the island. Their mo- narch, Malachy, however, did not display similar activity, which enraged them so much that they deposed him, and placed the illustrious hero of Munster in his room. When he attained his new dignity he was above seventy years of age, but exerted a vigour and moderation suitable to the arduous employment in which he was engaged. He subdued the malccontents, redressed those who had suffered wrong, restored to their possessions those who had been ejected by foreigners, set those at liberty who had been re- duced to bondage, and greatly conciliated all parties by the equity of his administration. The havoc wrought by in- vasion was now repaired, the endowments of the clergy re- covered, churches and religious houses rebuilt, learned se- minaries re-estabhshed, laws corrected and strictly enforced. 16 HISTORY OF IRELAND. OTi^. I. To render the glory of his reign complete, he was prepa- ■ring to fit out a formidable navy in order to overturn future invaders, when the Danes, who were still left in possession of the maritime cities, invited their countrymen to their assistance. These foreigners were now joined by the neigh- bouring Irish of the province of Leinster, who could not bear the restraints of a regular government, and were pro- bably enraged at ihe exaction of the ancient tribute. At the age of eighty-eight, Brian Bcromy was obliged to enter the field to engage this united force. The two armies met at Battle of Clontarffe, near Dublin, but when he had arranged the plan *" o""r c. ^£ j^^i^g battle, he retired, and left the command to his son, Mortagli. After a desperate conflict his troops were victo- rious, but his son fell in the engagement, and he himself was slain by some fugitives, as he lay unguarded in his tent. This was the famous battle of Clontarffe, which took place on the 23d of April 1014. By the death of Brian Beromy, Malachy, who had been deposed, was restored to the throne. He had borne his degradation with singular temper, submitting cheerfully to the decision of the people ; and being content with his own province of Mcath, had even served in the army of his rival. Instructed by his misfortunes, he now exerted him- self with more vigour ; he intimidated the factious chief- tains, and restrained the power of the Danes, Yet his death afforded them an opportunity of enlarging their set- tlements, as it tended to produce confusion among the Irish. The succession of the two royal houses being interrupt- ed by the election of Brian, every provincial king was thence encouraged to aspire to the same honour. Among the several competitors that offered, Donchad, the son of Brian, seemed at first the most successful. He had esta- blished his authority in the south, and was proceeding to enforce the submission of the north, when Turlogh, his nephew, being encouraged by a king of Leinster, started up to oppose him, and was proclaimed monarch by his fac- tion. Hence, the country was distracted by the violence of contending parties, laws and religion lost their influence, and vice and immorality prevailed. Donchad at length was HISTORY OP IRELAND. 11 obliged to submit to the superior power of his rival, and, CHAP. i. assuming the habit of a religious, concealed himself in St. "^ Stephen's abbey at Rome. Turlogh, though not formally elected, having subdued every competitor, exerted the au- thority of a monarch, and made amends, it is said, for the defect of his title, by the vigour and equity of his admini- stration. If, however, the factious were checked by him during his life, on his death, when all restraints were removed they burst out with double violence. The competitors for the monarchy were Morrough O'Brian in the south, and Donald O'Loghlan in the north, each of whom was acknow- ledged by his own, and strenuously resisted by the op- posite party. Hence, desperate conflicts, and furious in- testine commotions. O'Brian at last succeeded, excluding the Hy Nial race from the throne. These perpetual con- tests weakened the strength of the country, and rendered it ready to be subdued by any powerful invader who would make the attempt. While it was thus distracted by contending parties, Mag- Last at- nus, king of Norway, a successful adventurer, who had*^™E5 seized the isle of Man, and the Orkneys, landed in Ul- ster, in order to view the coasts ; but, having ventured too far into the country, he was suddenly surrounded, and cut to pieces, with all his party. This was the last attempt made on the island by the Ostmen, who certainly had in- troduced into it different improvements, particularly the art of building houses with stone and lime, and of coining money. Their descendants, when become established in- habitants of the country, were probably its most firm de- fenders against subsequent invasion. Other settlers, how- ever, were soon to get a footing here, whose establishment had a more durable effect. IS HISTORY OF IRELAND, CHAPTER 11. Scheme of Henri/ II, — Adrian's hull — Dermod Mac Mur- chad — Deposed, applies to Henry — To different adven- turers — Fitzstephen lands — Wexford taken — Ossorians at' tacked — Fitzgerald lands — Treaty with Roderic O'Con- nor — Broke by Dermod — Slrongbow lands, and storms Waterford — Also Duhlin, with great slaughter — Death of Dermod — Dublin besieged by the Irish— 'Relieved by a bold effort — Capture of Fitzstephen — Henry summons Strong- bow — Lands in Ireland — Fitzstephen released — Ordinances, religious — Civil — Henry leaves Ireland — State of the coun- try— -His troubles — Strongboic, chief governor — Exploits of Raymond — Submission of 0''Co)uior, Sfc. — Death of Strongbow Character Fitzandelm his successor— -De Courcey invades Ulster — De Cogan Connaught — Admini- stration of De Lacy— Murder of De Cogan, 4rc. — Fresh adventurers — Prince John, Lord of Ireland — His attend- ants insult the Irish — Dangerous combination — English settlements assailed— -De Courcey chief governor — Death of Roderic O'Connor — Divisions among the Irish — Fa- vourable to De Courcey — Hugh De Lacy, his successor—- Armoric's heroic band — Earl Marshals administration — Hamo de Valois — Fitzhenry chief-governor — Barons he- come factious — De Burgo reduced — De Courcey — Arrival of King John — His employment here — His general conduct and death. CHAP. II. JiiNCouRAGED by the dissensions that prevailed in the Scheme of Country, of which some notice has been ah-eady taken? Henry II. Henry II of England, the most accomplished prince who had filled the throne of that kingdom since the days of Al- fred, being not content with his extensive dominions in France, formed the design to attempt the subjugation of Ireland. Accordingly, soon after his accession, lie had re- course for that purpose to Rome, which assumed a right to HISTORY OP IRELAND. 19 dispose of kingdoms and empires at pleasure, and liaving CHAP. Ii. no apprehension of the dangerous disputes in which he was afterwards to be involved with that see, he contributed, for present convenience, to give sanction to claims which were now become dangerous to all sovereigns. In his ap- plication to the pope, he set forth the depraved state of Ireland, and requested his permission to subdue the coun- try, in order to reclaim it from vice and immorality, to in- troduce the gospel in its purity, and render it submissive to the jurisdiction of the holy see, engaging to pay a year- ly tribute to St. Peter from the land thus reduced to his obedience. The present pope was Adrian III, who was himself an Adrian'* Englishman, and, of course, desirous to oblige the king. He, therefore, issued, in the year 1156, a bull in favour of Henry, expressing his grateful sense of the anxious care that this good prince had ever shewn to enlarge the church of God on earth, and to increase the number of his saints and elect in heaven, representing his design of subduing Ireland, as derived from the same pious motives, and en- suring him success on accovuit of his applying for the apo- stolic sanction to favour his endeavours, observing, at the same time, that as all Christian kingdoms undoubtedly be- long to the right of St. Peter, and the church of Rome, it is, of course, his duty to sow among them the seeds of the gospel. Therefore he exhorts the king to invade Ireland, in order to extirpate the vice and wickedness of the people, and oblige them to pay yearly, from every house, a penny to the see of Rome. He also gives him entire right and authority over the island, and commands all the inhabit- ants to obey him as their sovereign. On receiving this bull, Henry did not immediately make a suitable use of the in- fluence it afforded him, being detained at the time by more interesting business on the continent. From the bull itself, may naturally be inferred, that the Irish church was not then reduced to a state of due subor- dination to the holy see. Its rites and discipline bore ra- ther a resemblance, as observed,* to those of the early Greek cluirch. Yet, though it retained somewhat of the • See Ledwich's Antiijuities of Ireland. « B 2 20 HISTORY OP IRELAND, CHAP, II. true Christian purity, it was not entirely free from super- ' stition, since it countenanced the doctrine of a local purga- tory, as appears by a cave being selected, in the ninth cen- tury, in the isle of Lough-Derg, in the county of Donegal, for the purpose of pennance, which was called Patriclc's Purgatory, from the name of its inventor, Patrick, abbot of Armagh. This church was subject to the government of bishops, who were certainly not chosen by the pope, but hereditary in the noble families, and had sees of very con- fined extent. The Danish colonies, however, of Dublin, and the other cities, being converted to Christianity, in the ninth and tenth centuries, according to the rites of the English church, the same with those of the Roman, at length opened a way for the introduction of papal doctrine and discipline into Ireland. Yet these made but very slow progress among the original Irish, nor was it, after many exertions, until the middle of the twelfth century, that the supremacy of the Roman pontiff was solemnly recognised in this island. This took place in a council of Irish clergy, convened at Kells, in the year 1152, by desire of Cardinal Paparon, legate of Pope Eugenius III. The number of bishops, which amounted to three hundred, was then reduced to four archbishops, and twenty-six bishops, and the former petty bishops were made rural deans. On each of the four archbishops, the cardinal conferred a pall, as a mark of their subjection to the holy see. The archbishop of Armagh was then invested with the powers of the primacy. Yet, not- withstanding this acknowledgment of the authority of the supreme pontiff, the rituals of the various congregations remained in their former state till the invasion under Henry II, for which a plausible pretence was soon offered by the submissive application of an Irish prince. Dermod Dermod Mac Murchad, king of Leinster, a man of pro- chad. * fl'g^te manners, though liberal in his donations to religious houses, had, by his insolence and oppression, become not only odious to his subjects, but injurious to his neighbours. Such a man, being not scrupulous, as may be supposed, of the means necessary to effect any favourite object, formed a design on Deverghal, the wife of Terence O'Ruarc, king HISTORY OP IRELAND ^1 of Breffney,* and daughter of the king of Meath. Of his chap, il. scheme the husband liad, no doubt, some apprehensions ; — — — for, being obhged to visit a distant part of his territory, he had left his wife secure, as he thought, in an island, sur- rounded by a bog, but Dermod having suddenly invaded the place, carried off the princess. CRuarc, provoked at the injury he had sustained, ex-^^P°"^* erted himself to get assistance against his rival, with va- rious success ; but having at length obtained the powerful support of Roderic O'Connor, king of Connaught, now exalted to the monarchy of all Ireland, he had Dermod deposed, and another of the same family chosen in his room. On the first appearance of invasion, Dermod, de- spairing of his ability to make resistance, in a fit of phrenzy, burned his town of Ferns, lest it should be despoiled by the enemy. His application for aid to his tributaries, whom he had disgusted by his insolence, was treated with scorn, and some of them had even joined his enemies. De- posed and degraded, in the bitterness of insulted pride, he resolved to seek, in another country, that assistance which was denied him at home. Accordingly, he embarked for England with sixty followers, and arrived at the port of Bristol. Received therewith the compassion due to a prince in Applies to distress, deserted, as he represented, by his rebellious vas- sals, he was informed that Henry, on whom he had now placed his sole dependence, was in Guienne, a distant pro- vince of northern France. Thither he repaired in all haste, and threw himself at the monarch's feet, setting forth his piteous story, and craving his royal aid to restore him to his dominions, which he promised, in that case, to hold in vas- salage of him and his heirs. The king, though pleased with a pretence for sending troops to Ireland, which he had long desired, was so much engaged in contests with the clergy, especially Becket, who perplexed him, and with the insurrection of his subjects in different provinces of France, that he could not make a suitable use of the opportunity which now offered. However, he received him with great kindness, affected to commiserate his wrongs, made him * Now Leitrim. JS' HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. II. magnificent presents and splendid promises, and dismissed -^— ----- him with a letter of credence addressed to his subjects, al- lowing any of them that might think proper, his royal per- mission to restore his friend, the exiled king of Leinster, to his dominions. This letter, which he shewed in Bristol on his return, had not in that place the desired effect. To differ- Disappointed in this first attempt, he was persuaded to ent adven- pass over the Severn, and apply to Richard, earl of Chep- stow, surnamed Strongbow, son of Earl Pembroke, a young nobleman of high spirit, but dissipated fortune, residing on the borders of Wales. His proposal he at first received coldly, till he promised him his daughter Eva in marriage, and with her the inheritance of the kingdom of Leinster. Induced by the tempting offer, he agreed to assist him with a considerable force in the spring, provided he could obtain the king'^s leave. In his journey home, through South Wales, being in high spirits at his success, he met with two more bold chieftains, Robert Fitzstephen, and liis maternal brother, Maurice Fitzgerald, whom he also engaged in his enterprise, on promising them, if he suc- ceeded in recovering his rights, the entire dominion of the town of Wexford, with a considerable territory adjoining. Having received a solemn assurance from these, that they would come to his assistance in the spring, he embarked with his train, and a few early adventurers from Wales, and landed privately on the Irish coast in the winter of 1169. He then stole off to the monastery of Ferns, which he had founded, and lay there concealed for some time, awaiting the arrival of his allies. Soon after his return, his emissaries, with the design of acquiring friends to his cause among the Irish, disseminated the fame of the foreign succours expected. Of course his arrival did not long continue secret ; and being impatient of delay, and dreading disappointment, he dispatched a messenger to England, in order to urge his allies to hasten their preparations, and to solicit other adventurers, with the assurance of rich atttlements and large rewards for their services. Assuming now the appearance of great con- fidence, as being the safer mode of conduct in his present* dilemma, he put himself at the head of his adherents, and HISTORY OP IRELAND. S3 seized a part of his former dominions, known then by the CHAP. IL name of Hy-Kenselagli, extending to Wexford along the ' river Slaney. On hearing of this successful attempt, Ro- deric O'Connor, the monarch, accompanied by O'Ruarc, marched thither with all speed, attended by a' body of troops from Connaught, and, attacking Dermod, obliged him, with his followers, to take refuge in the thick fast- nesses of the woods. Here he was assailed with various success, and being desirous to gain time, made a proposal of a treaty to Roderic, to which he agreed. The terms were, that Dermod should pay O'Ruarc a large sum of money to purchase his forgiveness, and should renounce all claim to the kingdom of Leinster, on being allowed to retain a small territory in vassalage under the chief mo- narch. With what sincerity he proposed and agreed to this treaty will now appear. Robert Fitzstephen, whom he had anxiously expected, Fitzste- at length set sail from Wales with a fleet of three small ^ vessels, in May 1170, and arriving on the coast of Wex- ford, disembarked his troops, consisting of thirty knights, sixty men in armour,* and three hundred archers. Along with these came Hervey of Mountmorres, Strongbow's nephew, sent to report to him the state of affairs in Ire- land. This little army was reinforced the next day by Maurice de Prendergast, another Welsh adventurer, who landed with two hundfed archers and ten knights. On the news of their arrival, numbers, who had deserted Der- mod, returned to his standard, and that prince, in viola- tion of his treaty, a practice not uncommon among the Irish of those days, sent before him, to join the invaders, five hundred men, under his natural son, Donald, a youth of distinguished valour, and soon after followed himself. These foreign allies he received with affection, and, after mutual stipulations had been solemnly adjusted, they pro- ceeded to concert the future operations of the war. They resolved first to attack the city of Wexford, which Wexfoi a was twelve miles off, and on their approach to it in mili-*'' ^"' tary order, displaying shining armour, they so much sur- * Men in armour were cavalry, defended by armour, as were aleo their horses. 24 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. II. prised the garrison, consisting of Ostmen and Irish, who ■" ' ■ were but rude in the art of war, that they thought it ne- cessary to burn the suburbs and adjacent villages, and take shelter within their walls. The invaders, though their assault was conducted with spirit and skill, met with a de- termined resistance, and were repulsed with the loss of eighteen men. Fitzstephen, their undaunted leader, little affected by their first unsuccessful attempt, drew off his foixes to the sea-shore, and, to convince them that they had no other alternative than conquest or death, set fire to liis own transports, with some other vessels that lay at an- chor, and, the next day, after having divine service per- formed in the camp, led them on to the assault. Such desperate resolution, joined to the advice of the clergy, in- duced the garrison to capitulate. The terms were, that Wexford should be peaceably surrendered to Dermod; that the inhabitants should own him as their sovereign, and be admitted into his service ; and that four principal citi- zens should be delivered up as hostages for the regular performance of the conditions. He now entered the town in triumph, and, according to his agreement, conferred on Fitzstephen and Fitzgerald conjointly, though the latter had not yet arrived, the lordship of the town and domains, and on Strongbow's nephew, already mentioned, two consi- derable districts between Wexford and Waterford. Ossorians In a few days he conducted his British allies to his resi- dence at Ferns, and entertained them for three weeks. He then marched his army against the chieftain of Ossory, situated about the modern county of Kilkenny, who, in a fit of jealousy, had seized his son, and cruelly put out his eyes, which produced the death of the unhappy young man. The Ossorians, to the amount of five thousand, un- der their valiant commander, having intrenched themselves amidst woods and morasses, repelled their continued at- tacks; but, at length, in the ardour of victory, having quitted their strong holds, they poured down into the plains, where the British cavalry, who had fled on purpose, turned on them, and routed them with great slaughter. The victors, however, in their turn, pursuing too rapidly, were, through ignorance of the country, involved in dan HISTORY OP IRELAND; 25 gerous morasses, where their cavah'y could not act, and CHAP. n. would have certainly been destroyed, had they not, by a — «— — similar feint as before, enticed the enemy into the plains, who were thus, and by an ambuscade placed in their rear, completely defeated. The Irish now, in tlie service of prince Dermod, brought him three hundred heads as a present, one of which, streaming with blood, the barbarian, it is said, tore with his teeth. Had he taken the advice of his alHes, he would have en- Fitzgerald tirely subdued the Prince of Ossory, but he preferred ravag-'^""^^* ing the lands of some hostile chieftains, which allowed the former an opportunity to recruit his forces, that were also joined by those under Maurice de Prendergast, who, being disgusted Avith Dermod, revolted to his antagonist. This British leader, however, being soon more disgusted with his new ally, forsook his party, and with difficulty made his escape to Wales. In the mean while, Dermod was rein- forced by the arrival at Wexford of Maurice Fitzgerald, with ten knights, thirty horsemen, and a hundred archers. This addition to his force, induced the Prince of Ossor}-, the murderer of his son, humbly to offer to make his sub- mission, which, after sullen hesitation, he consented to ac- cept. While Dermod was thus employed in reducing his revolted Treaty subjects, Roderic, the Irish monarch, who at first imagined, ^}^^ Rode. that the arrival of those foreigners to assist a provincicil king, nor. would be attended with no other consequences than hap- pened before on similar occassions, began, at last, from the fame of their exploits and progress, to think it necessary to stop them in their career. Accordingly, he collected from every province a great army at Tarah, who attended him in his march to the southward, but when he arrived at Dublin, he dismissed the northern chieftains with their troops (a sad instance of disunion!) being suspicious of their secret at- tachment to the ri-val family of Hi Nial. His remaining- forces, however, far exceeded those of Dermod, who would have sunk into despair, had not his spirits been recruited by his British friends, who firmly adhered to him in every reverse of fortune. The allied army now, on account of the great. superiority of the enemy, thouglit it prudent to 26 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. II. entrench themselves in a difficult situation near Ferns, '■ "amidst morasses, precipices, and woods, where they awaited their attack with such determined intrepidity as cooled the ardour of Roderic. Instead then of valiantly exerting him- self, like a patriotic monarch, to repel the invaders of his country, he meanly preferred to negotiate. Having endea- voured in vain to detach Fitzstephen from Dermod, he at last concluded a treaty with the latter, who engaged, on his not opposing him in the reduction of Leinster, to acknow- ledge him as his supreme monarch, and to deliver him his favourite son as a hostage, who was to be married to his daughter. By a secret article, he was bound to bring over no more British adventurers, and to send home those already arrived, as soon as his power should be established in his province. Being authorised now, by treaty, to reduce all Leinster to his obedience, he marched to take vengeance on the ci- tizens of Dublin, who had treacherously murdered his fa- ther, and insultingly buried a dog along with his body. In this expedition he was accompanied by Fitzgerald, who commanded at that time all the British troops, except some employed by Fitzstephen in building a fort at Carrick, near Wexford. Dublin, the object of his hatred, was princi- pally inhabited by Ostmen, attracted by the convenience of commerce, who had a Danish governor, and as often as they could effect it, asserted their independence. Tiiis city, with the territory adjoining, he ravaged with unrelenting fury, vnitil at last he was prevailed on by the British leader to accept their submission. Broke by ^^^^ treaty he made with the monarch, Roderic, it ap- Dermod. pears by his subsequent conduct, he only intended to ob- serve as long as it would suit his convenience. Soon after he signed it, he prevailed on Donald O'Brien, prince of Thomond,* who had married his daughter, to renounce his allegiance to Roderic, the sovereign with whom he had been solemnly connected, and Dermod called on Fitzstephen to afford assistance to his son-in-law in this dishonourable proceeding. Roderic marched with his army to chastise the rebellious lord, but met with such formidable opposi- * Thomond was North Munster, and Desmond South Munster, HISTORY OP IRELAND. 27 tion from the British forces, that he was obliged to retire chap, ir, in disgrace. ■ Dermod, however, not content with this insidious breach of the treaty, encouraged by success, at length aimed at the entire sovereignty of Ireland. To effect his purpose, he sent pressing solicitations to Earl Strongbow for the promised aid, but that nobleman, being unwilling to em- bark in an undertaking of such moment, without the par- ticular license of his sovereign, repaired to Henry to ask his permission, who gave him only an evasive answer. Con- ceiving it, however, a compliance with his request, he re- turned home, and prepared for the expedition. Before he set off himself, he sent, as the advanced guard of his army, Raymond le Gross, a nephew of Fitzstephen, with ten knights and seventy archers. Having landed near Water- ford, in May 1171, they raised a rampart, and drew a trench around it. But soon they were opposed by a tu- multuary band of citizens and peasants to the amount of three thousand, who rushed out against them. Despising this mob of assailants, the Britons marched confidently to engage them on equal ground, but perceiving their error, retired in haste to their entrenchments. Being closely pur- sued, they drove out on the crowd, a herd of cattle which had been collected within, then attacked them in confusion, their leader being killed by Raymond, slew some, drowned others, and having taken seventy of the principal citizens prisoners, broke their legs, and threw them down a pi'e- cipice into the sea. This act shows that savage ferocity was not confined to the Irish. Strongbow, having finished his preparations, was prepar-strongbow ing to embark, when he received an order from Henry to'^"*'^' '^^^ desist from his enterprise. This was peculiarly disagree- Watei lord. able to him in his present situation, with such fair prospects before him, and therefore he ventured to disobey, and set- ting sail from Milford, landed on the Irish coast near Waterford, on the eve of St. Bartholomew's, with two hundred knights, and twelve hundred infantry, all carefully chosen and well appointed. With this army Prentlergast returned, who had formerly left the country in disgust. Being joined by Raymond and his party, they marched 28 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, ii.next day to attack the city of Waterford, which was prin- cipally inhabited by Ostmen, and was prepax'ed for a vigor* ous defence. After frequent repulses, they at last made a breach in the wall, by cutting the prop of a house that pro- jected over it, and rushing on with great fury, put all in- discriminately to the sword, vnitil Dermod, who season- ably arrived, by his interposition, stopped the slaugh- ter. He then embraced his new associates, and presenting his daughter Eva to Strongbow, had the stipulated mar- riage solemnized, as soon as the peace of the city was re- stored. Also Dub- The confederates now marched to Dublin, in order to ^rlar" punish the supposed or real disaffection of the inhabitants, slaughter, but were opposed in their design by Roderic, who had ad- vanced to Clondalkin, a little to the south of that city, with an army, it is said, of thirty thousand men. These, however, after skirmishing for three days, being terrified at the martial appearance of their opponents, demanded their dismissal and returned home. Hence, the citizens of Dublin were left exposed to the fury of their implacable enemy, especially as their principal gate had been destroy- ed by an accidental fire. In their consternation, they sent their archbishop, Lawrence O^Tool, a prelate of great piety and patriotism, with a solemn deputation, to deprecate his resentment, offering thirty hostages as a security for their future allegiance. Dermod received them sternly, and Avhile he hesitated on accepting their submission, some of the younger and more fiery of the British leaders, pretend- ing the time of parley was expired, led their troops to the wall, and gave the assault. As the attack was unsuspect- ed, they rushed on without opposition, made terrible slaugh- ter in the streets, and forced numbers into the river, where they were drowned. Many, with Hasculph, the governor, got their escape made in vessels to the northern islands. Strongbow having attained the lordship of Dublin, march- ed along with Dermod into Meath, to restore to the throne an usurper who had been expelled by Roderic for murder- ing his predecessor. While they were ravaging the coun- try, burning and slaughtering all around, Roderic, who was unable to oppose them, on account of the dissensions with HISTORY OP IRELAND. 29 v/hich he was embarrassed, sent a message to Dermod, put- chap. ir. ting him in mind of his breach of a solemn treaty, and ' "--• threatening, if he did not desist from liis shocking violence, to take vengeance on the hostages he had in his hands, and particularly on his son. The unnatural father received the message with defiance, and the head of the amiable youth, as well as of the rest, was instantly struck off by the implacable Roderic. As the unhappy dissensions among the Irish princes prevented them from forming an effectual confederacy to resist the invaders, whose exploits produced great alarms, it was thought necessary, as a substitute for more potent measures, to convene a general council of the clergy at Armagh, to consult on the means of public safety. After serious deliberations, it was their unanimous opinion, that the chastisement of the English arms was brought on the covmtry by providence, for the practice of purchasing Eng- lish slaves, which had too generally prevailed. They, there- fore, resolved that they should be immediately released, which raised the spirits of the people, as they supposed the latent cause of their calamity was discovered and re- moved. In this opinion they were probably strengthened by their affairs assuming at that time a favourable aspect. Dermod v.as twice defeated in Breffney, which he had Death of rashly invaded, and Strongbow was reduced to great diffi-^^'"'""^ culty by an edict from Henry, who was jealous of his suc- cess, prohibiting any supplies from England of men, arms, or provisions for his troops, and commanding all his sub- jects in Ireland to return home before Easter, under pe- nalty of high treason. Deprived thus of all succour from abroad, and of the assistance of some of his countrymen, who obeyed the king's orders, his anxiety was still more increased by the death of Dermod,* which caused all his Irish allies to desert him, except Donald Kevanagh, his natural son, and some petty chiefs. While he was per- plexed by a variety of unfortunate incidents, Dublin, which, on his going to Waterford, he had left under the * The Irish annalists assert, that his disease, which was strange and tremendous, made him a shocking spectacle of misery, and was produced by the ^liout intercession of every Irish saint. 30 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. II. government of his countryman, Milo de Cogan, was sud- denly attacked by the late Danish governor, Hesculph, and a large body of Ostmen, that he had collected in the northern islands. These assailed the eastern side with great fury, and would certainly have succeeded in forcing their way into the town, had not Milo''s brother, Richard, sallying out from the southern side, attacked them in the rear, confused by the dread of a fresh reinforcement, and drove them back to their ships with great slaughter. Hesculph was taken prisoner, and executed after the battle, denouncing vengeance against the Britons by a more pow- erful combination of forces. For this arrogant menace it was found he had some reason. Dublin be- Lawrence O'Tool, archbishop of Dublin, flying from th^Ixish. *^"^^^ ^° tribe all over the kingdom, excited the Irish chief- tains to lay aside their ancient animosities, and closely unite to expel the foreign invaders. By his exertions he succeeded in raising an army, it is said, of thirty thousand men, commanded by Roderic O'Connor, which invested Dublin by land, while it was blockaded by sea with thirty vessels collected from the isle of Man and the northern islands, which he had also caused to combine against the Britons. This united force made no attack on the town, but closely besieged it for two months, which reduced the garrison to great distress, both by famine and disease. While they were in this unhappy state, intelligence was brought them by the faithful Donald Kevanagh, that the gallant Fitzstephen, who had deprived himself of a great part of his troops for the defence of Dublin, was besieged in the fortress of Carrick by the men of Wexford, and unless relieved in three days must fall into the hands of an implacable foe. Strongbow, in this perplexity, called a council of war, in which it was determined that he would offer Roderic, on condition of peace, to acknowlege him as his sovereign, and hold the principality of Leinster in vassalage under him. A proposal to this effect was con- veyed through the archbishop, who commanded on that occasion A body of troops under the monarch. The an- swer returned was, that no terms would be admitted but the total evacuation of Ireland by the Britons. This an- HISTORY OF IRELAND. 31 swer was naturally received by them with dissatisfaction, and, CHAP. ii. after looking at each other for some time in silence, Milo de ■ Cogan at last started up, and declared his determination to die bravely rather than submit to the mercy of barbarous enemies. This noble spirit was caught by the rest of the leaders, who unanimously resolved to make one bold effort to rescue themselves from their present emergency. It was determined to make their attack the next day Relieved on that quarter where Koderic lay encamped. For this^^^^ °'*^ desperate enterprise only six hundred men could be spared, who were led on by the following bold chieftains. Raymond commanded the advanced guard, Milo the second division, Strongbow and Fitzgerald the main body. As the quarter they attacked was quite unprepared, and their assault furious, they forced their way through the confused ci'owd with terrible slaughter. The Irish fled in dismay, and the monarch himself made his escape, by starting up out of the bath, where he had retired, and running away half naked. The rest of the leaders under him, having no real attachment for him, or sense of common interest, followed his example, and made off with all speed. Thus the feeble garrison of Britons, by one desperate effort, rescued themselves from danger, and gained a surprising victory. In the camp they found provisions sufficient to support them for a year. Strongbow having committed the government of Dublin, now rescued from danger, to Milo de Cogan, proceeded immediately for Wexford to relieve Fitzstephen. On his march thither through a dangerous defile, in the present county of Carlow, being hemmed in on all sides by woods, precipices, and morasses, he found himself suddenly at- tacked, with horrid bowlings, by a body of the Irish, who lay in ambuscade for him, and would probably have de- feated him, had not a fortunate arrow, discharged by one Nicholas, a monk who served in his army, killed 0'E.ian, tlieir leader, and of course put his troops in confusion, who fled in dismay, and left him master of the field. He now proceeded cautiously on, in order to effect the purpose he intended ; but when he got to Wexford, he found thai affairs there had taken an unfortunate turn. 32 HISTORY OF IRELAND- CHAP. II. The gallant Fitzstephen had been for a long while be- , sieged in the fortress of Carrick without effect, frequently Fiizste. had he repelled the attacks of his assailants ; but at last, by phen. i^^gg perjury, they obtained the success they desired. Hav- ing demanded a parley, they told him, with every appear- ance of friendship, that Roderic had stormed Dublin, and put Strongbo'v and all the Britons there to the sword, and was now marching to Wexford to destroy the rest of the adventurers, but as they had a respect for him, on account of his virtues, they offered, if he entrusted himself to their eare, to convey hira and his adherents to Wales before the liostile army arrived. When he seemed to hesitate, they produced two right reverend prelates, clad in their ponti- fical robes, bearing the cross, the host, and the sacred re- lics of saints, on which they laid their hands, and solemnly swore to the truth of these assertions. Fitzstephen, being thus deceived, trusted himself to their mercy, and was in- stantly thrown into chains, and his followers maimed and tortured with such cruelty, that most of them expired under their sufferings. But when intelligence came of the ap- proach of the Britons to relieve their companions, they sat fire to the town of Wexford, and retired with Fitzstephen, and the other prisoners that survived, to an island in the harbour, called Holy Island. Hence they sent a message to Strongbow, that if he attempted in the least to distui'b them, they would instantly strike off the heads of their pri- soners. Convinced of their sanguinary disposition, he turn- ed aside, being desirous to preserve the lives of those re- maining, among whom, beside Fitzstephen, were the wife and children of Fitzgerald. He marched to Waterford, where he was somewhat per- plexed by the mutual animosities of petty chiefs. O'Brien Prince of Thomond, who had conceived a resentment against the Lord of Ossory, assured Strongbow, that he was un- faithful to his engagement, and proposed to join him with his troops, in order to punish him. Strongbow complied ; but the Prince of Ossoi-y sent a message offering, on being allowed a safe conduct, to come in person, and prove the falsity of the charge. Prendergast was appointed to conduct liira to the camp, and while he boldly pleaded his innocence, HISTORY OP IRELAND. 33 liis virulent accusers witli great clamour insisted on hisCHAP. n. guilt, and were even preparing to put him to death. Upon this, Prendergast drew his sword, and declared, that as he trusted himself to his care, no violence should be offered him, but he would bring hira home in safety, O'Brien was, of course, disappointed in his malicious designs. Strongbow then proceeded to Ferns, where he exercised royal authori- ty, in rewarding some, and punishing others. Among the latter was the chieftain of the CBirnes, whom he put to death for his uniform opposition to his interest. But this new sovereign bf Leinster was now obliged to attend to the summons of a superior. Henry, king of England, ordered him, by a second ^^"'■y message, instantly to appear before him. On receiving his stron^bow. first orders, Strongbow had sent Raymond de Gross to Acquitain with letters to him, professing humble submission to his authority. Though this ambassador had certainly softened him a little, yet he was obliged to go off when the account came of the murder of Becket, which put the king in such consternation that lie could attend to no business. Having contrived, however, to suspend the papal indigna- tion, Henrj resolved to defer no longer his intended jour- ney to Ireland, and was in England preparing for his ex- pedition when he sent the second message, which Strongbow resolved to attend without delay. Accordingly, he made such disposition of his affairs as the time permitted, and em- barked, and met the king at Newenham,^n(iar Gloucester. Here he made profession of his allegiance, and offered to yield all his Irish possessions to the disposal of his royal master. The king at length was pacified, and allowed him to retain the rest of these in perpetuity, on his surrender- ing up to him the city of Dublin, and domain, with all the maritime towns and forts he acquired. He now attended him in his march through South Wales, where he seized all the castles of the chieftains, for daring to aid his subjects in their invasion of Ireland. He fixed his residence at Pem- broke, while his forces were assembling at Milford. Yet this mighty preparation produced no associations among the Irish chieftains for repelling the common danger, "^ each being employed in securing, as he supposed, his own c 34 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. II. private interest, nor any exertions even of Roderic himself, whose dovvnfa], it appears, would give no pain to his tri- butaries. All, indeed, entertained terrible ideas of British valour, which were rather increased by a late unsuccessful, though violent attack, of CRuarc on Dublin, in which he lost his son. Some were even ready to submit, before the invader appeared on their coast. The men of Wexford, in particular, being apprehensive of the consequence of their perfidy and cruelty, sent deputies to the king at Pembroke with submissive professions of obedience, and informing his majesty, " that they had shown their zeal for him by seiz- " ing Robert Fitzstephcn, a traitor to his sovereign, who, " without any warrant from his majesty, had entered their " territory by force of arms, slaughtered their people, seized '* their lands, and attempted to make himself independent ' of his liege-lord; that they kept him in chains, and were " ready to deliver him up to the disposal of his sovereign." The king received them very graciously, affected to com- mend their zeal in repelling the unjust attempt of Fitz- stephcn, and declared that condign punishment should be inflicted on him and all his undutiful subjects for every offence they had committed. This artifice served to pre- serve the life of that heroic commander. Lands in Henry, when he had completed his preparations, em- '^'*" ' barked at Milford, having first performed his solemn devo- tions in the cathedral of St. David, imploring the divine blessing on his pious enterprise, undertaken in the cause of the church. His fleet amounted to two and forty ships, an awful spectacle to the Irish ! and entered the port of AVa- - _- terford in safety. On the feast of St. Luke his forces Oct. io» •, , . . 1172. landed, consisting, beside a number of barons, of four hundred knights and four thousand soldiers. On entering the town, Strongbow made a formal surrender of it to his sovereign, and did homage to him for the principality of Leinster. The men of Wexford now brought forward their prisoner Fitzstephen, and presented him to the king, demanding public justice against their tyrant and oppres- sor. Henry expressed great sorrow for the injuries they had sustained, rebuked him sternly, and sent him back to prison. Yet that sagacious adventurer soon discovered a HISTORY OF IRELAND. 35 mode of softening his resentment. The Irish chieftains CHAP, il . of the south, struck by this formidable armament, resolved to make their submission without delay. Dermod M'Arthy, prince of Desmond, first set them the example. The very day after he landed, he presented himself before him, and surrendered his principality, all of which, except the city of Cork, was graciously restored to him, on condition of his paying homage and tribute. Having proceeded as far as Lismore, he made a circuit by Cashel, receiving, as he passed along, the successive submissions of ©""Brien of Thomond, Donchad of Ossory, and other inferior chief- tains of Munster, who seemed to emulate each other in their eagerness to show their obedience. All of them pro- fessed to be struck by the great grandeur, condescension, and munificence, of their new sovereign. When he arrived at Wexford, his barons were permitted Fitzstc- to intercede for his brave subject Fitzstephen, who had not lea^ed.*^' willingly offended him, and who offered to surrender to him all his Irish possessions. Henry was thus pacified, and Fitzstephen, being set at liberty, resigned Wexford to his sovereign, and was allowed to retain all his other acqui- sitions. Having stationed garrisons in Cork, Limerick, Waterford, and Wexford, he directed his course to Dub- lin, of which he intended to take possession in due form, displaying, as he marched along with his martial troops, a formidable appearance. The Irish lords of Leinster came forward now and submitted, engaging to become his tribu- taries. Even CRuarc of Breffney, the strenuous supporter of Roderic, who conferred on him a considerable part of Meath, abandoned his old friend, and became the vassal of the new sovereign. Yet Roderic, though perplexed by this desertion, by the power of the invaders, the factions in the provinces, and the dissensions of his own family, would not at once resign his title to the monarchy of Ireland. He collected his pro- vincial troops, and entrenched himself on the banks of the Shannon, being resolved, if possible, to preserve his own province from subjection. Henry sent Hugh de Lacy and William Fitzandelm, two of the barons that came over -vith him, either to persuade or force him to submit ; but c 2 36 HISTOllV OF IRELANUe CHAP. II . they found him too strongly posted to be assailed, at least at that season, by their detachment. The chieftains of Ulster, too, were protected from his power by a similar mode of defence. Those who owned themselves his vas- sals were entertained by him in a very splendid manner at the festival of Christmas, for which he made great prepara- tions, and had a large structure of hurdles erected in the suburbs of Dublin for the purpose. Hit'ier they flocked fi'om different quarters, and were dazzled by his grandeur, and delighted by his affability. nances Being prevented by the severity of the season from obli- reijgious. ging the refractory chieftains to submit, he had a synod called at Cashel, in order to fulfil the condition of the grant he had received from pope Adrian, and, of course, to re- foiTQ the supposed abuses in religion. At this assembly, Christian, bishop of Lismore, presided as the pope''s legate, (Gelasius, the primate, offering an excuse for not attend- ing) ; and, on the part of Henry, some English prelates were present to effect the purposes of their master. A va- riety of ordinances were now passed, nearly similar to those already in force, of v/hich only two are worth notice, one which exempted the persons of the clergy from the juris- diction of the criminal courts, and their lands from fines and such like secular exactions ; the other, which enjoined a perfect uniformity between the English and Irisl:^ churches. Hence the ostensible object of Henry ""s invasion was effect- ed, the spiritual subjection of Ireland to the see of Rome, to which, ever since, a great majority of this country have rigidly adhered. Civil. The king, after reserving to himself the maritime towns and some districts, had the lands that were surrendered distributed, in difiercnt portions, among the adventurers and leaders of the troops, on condition of their doing ho- mage, and paying tribute to him. These, like their fellow- subjects in England, were governed by the English laws. On the contrary, the Irish princes were regulated by their Brehon laws and ancient customs, and dillercd from their former situation only in this, that they now professed al- legiance to the king of England, instead of the king of Connaught. The territories acquired were formed by HISTORY OF IRELAND. 37 Henry into shires or counties, with slierlfFs and other ma- CHAP. ii. gistrates, according to the English model ; which counties, ' when afterwards enlarged, composed what is called the En- glish Pale. Yet, even within this, tliere were many septs of the Irish governed by their ancient laws. This mo- narch, by cliarter, granted the city of Dublin to the citi- zens of Bristol, and the city of Waterford to the Ostraen, both with the usual privileges of English subjects. He appointed that a chief governor should be established, and enacted, by statute, with the assistance of his council, that the chancellor and other high officers should be empower- ed, on the death of a chief governor, to chuse a successor, vested with full power, until the royal pleasure should be notified. The tempestuous winter which prevented the king from subduing the parts of Ireland that had not yet acknow- ledged his authority, prevented him also from getting any intelligence from England or Normandy. At length, on his arrival at Wexford, after three months residence in Dublin, he met couriers, informing him, that two cai-dinals, sent by the pope, to make inquisition into the death of Becket, had been waiting for him in Normandy, till their patience was exhausted, and now demanded that he would appear before them, without delay, if he wished to avoid the sen- tence of excommunication, and to preserve his dominions from a general interdict. Terrified by this alarming in- telligence, he prepared for departing out of the kingdom ■with all speed. He appointed Hugh de Lacy chief gover- nor (as he was somewhat jealous of Strongbow), Robert Eitzstephen and Maurice Fitzgerald, his coadjutors, and made such other dispositions of his affairs as the shortness of the time would allow. De Lacy obtained from him, by a formal grant, the tei'ritory of Meath, already possessed by English troops, and John de Courcey, an adventurous baron, the wliole province of Ulster, provided he could make a conquest of it. Happy would it have been for Ireland, if a prince of Henry such excellent qualifications had been allowed to continue '^^^'^^ in it, until he had reduced the whole country to obedience, ])ut the- insolence, injustice, and ingratitude, of liis avowed HISTORY OF IRELAND. country. CHAP. II. and secret enemies recalled him from ah employment so ' suitable to his great talents. Having embarked at Wex- ford on the festival of Easter, he landed in Pembrokeshire, and, to shew his piety and humility, walked on foot to the cathedral of St. David, to perform his devotions. Henee he hastened to Normandy, where he met the cardinals, whose demands were so exorbitant, that he threatened to leave them, and return to Ireland. This spirited reply caused them to propose terms more moderate, to which he agreed, and offered his submission, which they accepted, and pronounced his absolution, which was confirmed by the pope, as also the grant of Ireland made by Adrian. The lioly father, however, took care to continue Peter'^s pence to himself, as a reward for reforming the bai'barous natives, and reducing their disordered church to due regulation. State of the Henry being obliged to depart, without completing the useful work he had begun, did not leave behind him, as observed by Davies, one true subject more than he found on coming over. The Irish chieftains, who so easily made their submission, resolved to adhere to it no longer than necessity might oblige them. One of them, O'Dempsy of Offally, refused to pay Strongbow the stated tribute, which obliged him to march and levy it by force ; but, on his re- turn, his rear-guard was furiously attacked, and, among others, Rodert de Quiny, his son-in-law, and standard- bearer, was killed. O'Ruarc of Breffney, who still enjoyed the eastern part of Meath, being displeased at some ar- rangements made by De Lacy in that province, of whicli he had a large portion, agreed that a conference should be held at Tarah to settle the dispute. H ere a sanguinary scuffle took place (the blame of which is ascribed by each party to their opponents) where De Lacy, being twice re- scued by Fitzgerald, with difficulty escaped, and O'Ruarc, with many of his adherents, was killed. These petty hos- tilities were followed by insurrections of almost all those chieftains who had lately sworn allegiance, when they un- derstood that the 1 English monarch was at that time in- volved in great difficulties. His own children, for whose interest he had been so pro- vident, made an ungratefurreturn to him for his paternal Henry's troubles. HISTORY OP IRELAND. 39 Ccare. Henry, his eldest son, who was married to the daugh-CHAP. IL ter of Louis VII of France, being excited by that monarch — — — to aim at the sovereign power, rose up in rebelHon against his father. His party was joined by the rest of his sons, who laid claims to different portions of his dominions, and by many barons, both in England and France, who could not bear the restraint of a regular government. In his dif- ficulty he was obliged to recall a great part of his troops from Ireland, and to send for Earl Strongbow to his aid, who hastened to Normandy with all speed. The alacrity with whicli he came to his assistance, gain- Strongbow ed him so much the confidence of the king, that he appoint-yj,^.j,Qp ' ed him chief governor of Ireland, with discretionary powers to act in its present troubled state as he might think most expedient. On his return, he found the army so muchu^^, dissatisfied with Hervey of Mountmorres, their leader, that he was obliged to transfer the command to Raymond le Gross, who had gained their favour. His forces, howev^, were much diminished, as the new chief governor had or- ders to send the garrisons of Waterfoi'd, and other towns, with Fitzstephen, Milo de Cogan, and many more of the first adventurers, to join the royal troops in France and England. Yet, with an army thus reduced, he was ready to act wherever the occasion required. Strongbow' having impi'ovidently dissipated the money Exploits of destined for the pay of his troops, found it necessary toRaj'nond. send them on some expedition to seek for plunder. Ac- cordingly, he desired Raymond to march to Offally to chas- tise some petty lords there for their disobedience. He in- stantly obeyed ; ravaged the country without resistance ; then proceeded with his plunder to Lismore, where he committed similar depredations. Returning by the sea- side, he had the spoil, in order to have it conveyed to Wa- terford, put aboard some vessels lying at anchor, which were assailed by thirty barks from Cork (then subject to M'Arthy of Desmond, as Henry had withdrawn his forces), but the barks were defeated, and eight of them were taken. Raymond, hastening to their aid during the conflict, was attacked by the prince of Desmond, who was also defeated. 40 IHSTORY or IRELAND. HAP. IL Sensible of his consequence, Raymond demanded of ———"^ Strongbow his sister Basilea in marriage, but was refused, which caused him to return to Wales in disgust. The army, of course, was entrusted to Hervey, who, being de- sirous to distinguish himself, prevailed on Strongbow to ac- company him on an expedition to Munster, to punish in- surgents. They proceeded, and gave orders for a body of Ostmen from the garrison of Dublin to join them at Cashel, but these were unfortunately defeated on their march by ©""Brien of Thomond, with the loss of four hundred killed, and their four principal commanders. This disaster obliged Strongbow to retreat with all haste to Waterford. and caused most of the Irish chieftains in Leinster, and even Donald Kevanagh himself, to rise up in arms against the English. Strongbow immediately sent for Raymond to Wales, of- fering a compliance with all his demands. He liastened his preparations, and landed at Waterford with thirty knights, a hundred horsemen, and three hundred archers. Immediately he marched along with Strongbow to Wex- ford, leaving a garrison at Waterford, which was furiovisly attacked by the inhabitants, who had previously murdered all the unarmed English of every age and sex. The gar- rison, however, having retreated to the citadel, repulsed them with great spirit, and obliged them to make a sub- mission. In the mean while Raymond obtained Basilea in mar- riage at Wexford, and with her a large portion of lands, and the office of constable of Leinster. The very day af- ter he was obliged to leave his bride, and march witli his brother-in-law against Roderic, who had suddenly passed the Shannon, entered the territory of Meath, expelled the English colonists, and destroyed their forts. He retreated, liowever, on the arrival of his opponents, who slew a hun- dred and fifty in the pursuit. Leinster being now brought to due subjection, and Do- nald Kevanagh killed in a skirmish, Strongbow sent Ray- mond with a chosen body of three hundred men to attack Limerick, of which the prince of Tliomond had taken pos- session, and bade defiance to the English power. On tlieir HISTORY OF IRELAND. 41 arrival they found that the bridges of the Shannon had CHAP. U. been previously broken down, but discovering a place some- — — — • what fordable, they passed to the opposite side, with the loss of only three men, which so terrified the enemy, that they fled without resistance. A considerable number was killed in the flight. Roderic, convinced at length by experience of the in- Submis-^on stability of his subordinate chieftains, sent three deputies ""^ ^'^.*'"' ^ nor, &C. to make proposals of submission to Henry, who was now at Windsor, after having happily subdued all his enemies. There the treaty was concluded, by which Roderic was to 1175. hold the kingdom of Connaught and other sovereignties, paying to Henry, as his liege lord, a tribute of the tenth of all the merchantable hides on his lands, and was to give up all claim to the districts possessed by the English. The successes of Raymond, which occasioned the sub- mission of Roderic, and his popularity with the army, ex- cited such envy in the breast of Hervey of Mountmorres, that he sent emissaries to Henry, informing him, that he made use of improper methods to gain the favour of the soldiers, and was forming schemes in opposition to his in- terests. Accordingly, the king, who harboured a mean jealousy of the adventurers, unworthy of his great mind, sent four commissioners to Dublin, with orders for two of them to conduct Raymond to him, and two to stay in order to watch the conduct of Strongbow and the other lords. Raymond, on their arrival, declared his willingness to obey ; but, before he could set off, intelligence came, that CBrien of Thomond had besieged Limerick, and reduced the garrison to great difficulties, Strongbow, though af- flicted with indisposition, prepared to oppose them ; but the soldiers refused to march, unless under the command of their favourite general, Raymond. The commissioners, of course, were obliged to allov/ him to conduct them, and lie proceeded, accompanied by some Irish confederates, under the command of the chieftains of Kinselajih, and Ossory, who professed a great aversion to O'Brien. Tliis leader, however, when he heard of his approach, left Limerick, and lay in t\'ait for him in a dangerous defile near Cashel, but his entrenchments were stormed by ai^ 4^ HISTORY OP IRELANfi. CHAP. II. inferior force with ffreat slauo-hter, and he was obliged to ~~~"~~" make an humble submission to the Enghsh general. The Irish confederates stood spectators of the combat, being re- solved to attack the vanquished. Raymond having re- ceived hostages from O'Erien, and also from Roderic, who had made an agreement to that effect with Henry, marched his forces into Desmond, being invited by M'Carthy, the prince, to protect him from his own son, who had thrown him into prison, and seized his principality. The English general restored the father to his dominions, who cast his son into that prison from which he himself was rescued, and soon after put him to death. His benefactor he re- warded with a large portion of land in the county of Kerry. Death of In the midst of these successes, Raymond received prl- trongbow. ^^^^ intelligence of the death of earl Strongbow, which obliged him to quit Limerick with his garrison, and leave it to the protection of O'Brien, who entered into solemn engagements to keep it safe for the English monarch. But Raymond and his troops had scarcely passed over one end of the bridge, till O'Brien pulled down the other, and set the town on fire, declaring it should be no longer the nest of foreigners. Character. Earl Strongbow, whose death was so much lamented by his friends, w-as a man of a tall stature, effeminate face, and insinuating manners ; neither dejected by misfortune nor elated by success ; diffident in forming military plans himself, but bold and vigorous in executing those of others ; harsh and severe in supporting what he thought his right- ful inheritance, and the interests of his master, especially when provoked at the perfidy and savage ferocity of those whose country he had invaded. The Irish clergy, who liad a great aversion to him, tell us, in their imperfect re- cords, that with remorse and horror he confessed at his death he was smitten by the saints of Ireland. Fltzan- The council, with the concurrence of the commissioners, successor! appointed Raymond his successor, until the king's will should be known ; but, notwithstanding the favourable re- presentations of these, urged by his usual jealousy, he removed him, and appointed William Fitzandelm governor, HISTORY OP IRELAND. 43 who was his own relation, a man prejudiced against the CHAP. II* original adventurers, unfit for vigorous measures, and only ===ii=^= active in endeavouring, by petty artifice, to enrich himself and his adherents. In his train, beside a number of" knights, was the pope's legate, and another ecclesiastic, who con- vened, with the permission of the chief governor, an as- sembly of the Irish clergy at Waterford, where Henry's right to the sovereignty of Ireland was declared by tlie solemn authority of the supreme pontiff. By means of fraud and cunning Fitzandelm prevailed on many of the origi- nal adventurers to give up their possessions, and take others that were more exposed to the incursions of the natives. The Irish chieftains despised him for the specious flattery by which he attempted to gain their favour, and his own countrymen detested him for the insincerity of his profes- sions, and the schemes he formed against their interests. Some of the most adventurous of these being disappointed under the present chief ruler of the advantages they ex- pected to gain, went out on distant expeditions in search of either new settlements or plunder. Among these John dc Courcey was the most conspicuous. DeCourcey He was a man of great bodily strength and undaunted '"^^''^^ courage, and prevailed on some others of like dispositions with himself, among whom was Armoric of St. Lawrence, to accompany him in an expedition to Ulster, where for- merly Henry had allowed him such lands as he could ac- quire by the sword. Yet the king's subsequent treaty with Roderic abrogated this permission, since the country pos- sessed by the natives was allowed to continue under his sovereignty, on paying to Henry ;the stipulated tribute. De Courcey, however, being not over scrupulous in this point, marched his troops, amounting to about five hun- dred men, into Ulster, and on the fourth day arrived at Down, which he seized in opposition to the solemn remon- strance of Vivian, the pope's legate, who happened to be there, and reminded him of the injustice of his conduct. There he fortified himself, and seemed determined to main- tain the possession he had acquired. On this a tumultuary body of about ten thousand, under the command of the Prince of Uldah, marched to attack hi in the town, but 44* HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP, II. he went on boldly to meet them, and by means of his re- gular discipline prevailed over the confused multitude, whom he routed with great slaughter. Some time after he was attacked by fifteen thousand more with the same suc- cess, who left many of their brave chieftains on the field. In a third and more desperate engagement he was put to a terrible trial : returning with a great number of cattle, which he had taken from the territory of a chieftain called M'Mahon, who had deceived him by a pretence of friend- ship, he was suddenly attacked in a narrow defile by eleven thousand of the Irish, who lay there in ambuscade for Iiim, and put him in great confusion by the cattle tramp- ling on his troops on every side. Yet, though violently assailed, he made a steady resistance, and frequently re- pulsed them with the loss of many a chief. M'Mahon fell in the first attack, and De Courccy at last, after much dif- ficulty, succeeded in gaining a stronghold which he had for- tunately erected. Hither he was pursued by the enemy, who encamped within half a mile of him, with an intent to surround him the next day. But he resolved to attack them that very night in their camp, where they lay in care- less security, as he was told by Armoric of St. Lawrence, who had ventured to explore their position. Accordingly, lie marched against them in deep silence, and all at once made a furious onset with loud clamour, which put them in such terror that they were butchered without resistance. Scarcely two hundred, it is said, escaped the carnage, while only two of the assailants were lost in the tumult of the night. I>e Cogan. "While De Courcey was thus employed in Ulster, Milo Connaiight.^g Cogan made an excursion for plunder into Connaught, to which he was invited by Murrough, son of Roderic 0"'Connor, who rose up in rebellion against his father. He took with him about five hundred men ; but when the people heard of his approach they depopulated the country before him, which obliged him, for want of provisions, to make a disgraceful retreat to Dublin, galled by the perpe- tual attacks of the natives, and to leave Murrough to the re- sentment of his countrymen, who, with the consent of hi^ father, ordered his eyes to be put out. It was a custom of HISTORY OF IRELAND. 45 the Irish to deposit their provision in the churches, wliich CHAP, ii, were found a safe repository among all their domestic wars, — — — — but the English had no scruple to take tliem from these, which caused the people, in Milo"'s late expedition, to burn down those sacred edifices, in order to distress his army. The country, indeed, at this time, suffered severely, both by the excursions of the English, and the sanguinary dis- putes of petty chieftains, who not only opposed the fo- reigners, but each other, and exercised all acts of cruelty and perfidy, that it was in their power to accomplish. Other sons of Eoderic excited a wai", which was carried on witli such bloody violence, that in one battle sixteen young lords were slain, the heirs apparent of the principal families of Connaught. ^ Happy would it have been for Ireland, if Henry, notwithstanding the insufficiency of his claims, had reduced the entire country to submission, and allowed it to enjoy the blessings of a regular government. Fitzandelm, the chief governor, being removed on account Admini- of his vicious administration, the king appointed Hugh De^^ Lacy. Lacy his successor, a man in every respect qualified for that important office. He promoted the interest of the English adventurers, yet protected the natives from injury, and in order to encourge a coalition of the two parties, he married himself the daughter of Roderic O'Connor. Yet the king, through unjust representations, thought proper to recall him, and appoint two others in his room ; but being con- vinced of his error, restored him in three months. The effects of a wise and strenuous administration appeared in every part of the country that was immediately under his care, but particularly in the province of Leinster, which was in a peaceable and prosperous state. Some incidents which took place about this time may not improperly be introduced here. Henry granted to Milo de Cogan and Robert Fitzstephen the territory of Cork> to other persons that of Limerick and Waterford, on condi- tion of their all doing the usual homage to him and his heirs, reserving to himself the cities with a district adjoining. Also he renewed his former grant of all Meath to Hugh de Lacy, and gave the greatest part of Connaught to William Fitzan- dtlm, making donations of a similar kind to others; which 46 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. II. shows he was not scrupulous in observing the agreement he •' had made with Roderic. Cogan and Fitzstephen, after some disputes with the natives, made a compromise, and got a considerable portion of the territory allotted them. Herbert Fitzherbert, who had obtained the principality of Limerick, liaving resigned the grant, on account of the peculiar hosti- lity of the natives, it was conferred on Philip de Braosa, who was attended by a body of Welshmen of profligate manners. But when he marched to it in military array, in order to take possession of it, the natives »et fire to the town, which terrified him from making any farther attempt. Murder of A horrid act of treachery was committed a few days after. De Cogan, -^\]q ^q Cogan and his son-in-law, Ralph Fitzstephen, son of Robert, having gone to Lismore, in order to hold a con- 1182. ference with the citizens of Waterford, were invited to spend the night at tlie house of an Irishman called M'Tire, who was particularly intimate with them, but the wretch assassi- nated them both, with five more. He then made his escape to M'Arthy, who joined him in an attack on Robert Fitz- stephen in Cork, the young man's father ; but by the aid of a body of troops that fortunately arrived from Wexford by sea, under the command of his nephew, Raymond le Gross, they were defeated. Foiled thus in their attempt, the enemy were obliged to raise the siege, and sue for peace ; but poor Fitzstephen, the gallant adventurer, who had lost another son some time before, was so much distressed on the occa- sion as to lose his reason. Fresh ad- Maurice Fitzgerald being six years dead, and Hervey of venturers. Mountmorres having retired to a monastery, the king, in order to supply the place of the original adventurers, who had now left the stage, sent over Richard de Cogan, brother to Milo, and Philip Barry, two bold chieftains, and with the latter his brother Gerald, an ecclesiastic, better known by the name of Cambrensis from Wales, who wrote a history of the English transactions in Ireland during that period. In the winter preceding (1181), Lawrence O'Tool, arch- bishop of Dublin, died in Normandy, in which he was in exile, by orders of Henry, for remonstrating in the council of Lateran in Rome, in 1179, against the conduct of the English colonists in Ireland. He was succeeded by John HISTORY OF IRELAND. 47 Comyn, an Englishman, recommended by Henry to the CHAP. ii. pope, who confirmed his choice. These English ecclesiastics " ])ad violent altercations with the native clergy, which served to excite discontent. But the king himself tended to in- crease it by removing De Lacy from the government, and conferring it on Philip de Braosa, a man onlv conspicuous for scandalous acts of rapacity and oppression. This abominable ruler enjoyed his authority but a very Prince short time, and was succeeded by the king's youngest son, of Ireland. John, who entered on his government in 1185, when he was in the eighteenth year of liis age. When he was only twelve, he was appointed by his father. Lord of Ireland, a situation that Roderic seemed to possess by the last treaty, which Henry did not think proper to observe, when the in- terest of his son was concerned. He landed at Waterford with a splendid train of Normans and English, both mili- tary and ecclesiastic expectants. The fame of his power and dignity inclined the most re- Hisattend- fractorv of the Irish chieftains to make submission ; and im- ^"ts '"suit *' . . the Irish, mediately on his arrival, the native lords of Leinster, who had always adhered to the English government, flocked to Waterford to pay their dutiful respects ; but the gay cour- tiers in his train, observing them approach with their nation- al dress, odd looking hair, and bushy beards, openly showed their contempt for them, and when they attempted, accord- ing to their custom, to kiss the young prince, his attendants pushed them back, and the whole assembly, with loud laughter, began to pluck their beards, and otherwise insult them. The Irish lords, though plain in their appearance, were Dangerous not destitute of national prjde, and, being sensible of the ^°™'»i"a* least affront, left the court in a rage. Those they met on the way hastening to the prince, on the same errand with themselves, they turned back, by informing them of the contemptuous manner in which they were received. They then spread themselves over the country in every direc- tion, and excited the chieftains to lay aside their ancien animosities, and combine against the English, who had an impiacable abhorrence to their whole nation. What treat- ment, they justly observed, might those expect, who seem- 48 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. 11. ed unwilling to submit, while tliey, who came immediately " forward to offer their obedience, were so grossly insulted. Their representations had the desired effect, and the chief- tains bound themselves, by a solemn league, to use every exertion to free their country from the invaders. The ge- neral discontent was, if possible, still more encreased by the rapacity of tha courtiers lately come over, who not only strove, by fraud and legal chicanery, to deprive the citi- zens in the maritime towns of their properties, but also seized by violence the lands which the Irish held under English loi'ds. Those, thus violently expelled from their possessions, hastened to join tlieir countrymen, who were preparing for war, and directed them where their attacks would be most successful. English The English settlements were now furiously assailed on ^^ments gyery side ; whole bands and garrisons, with their leaders, were put to the sword. The courtiers, who were the cause of the war, shrunk within their fortifications, and left the original colonists alone to stand the conflict. The bold exertions of these were in some places attended with suc- cess. Cork was preserved by Theobald Fitzwaiter, found- er of the family of Ormond, and Meath by William Petit, But here was assassinated the late excellent chief governor, Hugh de Lacy. By attempting to erect a fortress on the site of an ancient abbey, he offended the superstition of the Irish, and, while he was thus employed, one of these, a common labourer, enraged at the profanation, cut off his head with an axe, while he Avas stooping down, and made his escape to the hostile army of his countrymen. neCoitrcey After an interval of eight months, Henry, being at length T«-nor. informed of the distracted state of the country, recalled the prince, with liis gaudy train, and appointed John de Courcey the chief governor. This valiant baron, dujring the government of De Lacy, was exposed to a variety of difficulties and dangers in maintaining his settlement in Ulster. Between Newry and Dundalk he had some san- guinary conflicts with a chieftain of Argial, who liad de- stroyed one of his ships from England, laden with stores and provisions, and had massacred the whole crew. Yet, though he sustained great losses, ^^he was still able to pre- HISTORY OF IRELAND. 49 serve his conquests. Such a man, both active and intrepid, chap. ir. was judged by Henry the most fit person for chief gover- - nor in so hazardous a conjuncture. Accordingly, lie exerted himself in various operations Death of with great vigour, repelling the invaders, and terrifying o'Connor. them by the fame of his valour. In his exertions he was very much favoured by the dissensions of the Irish chief- tains, who were engaged in bloody conflicts among them- selves, in almost every quarter of the island, but particu- larly in Connaught, where the rebellious sons of Roderic deposed their unhappy father, and obliged him to take re- fuge in the monastery of Cong, in which he died at an ad- vanced age. Various pretenders to the monarchy of the O'Loughlin Divisions family having now started up, just served to destroy one j"^°"° *^*^® anodier; and at length Connor Moienmoy, son of Roderic, succeeded to the throne. During this scene of confusion, De Courcey, who had hitherto been on the defensive, marched rashly into Connaught with a considei-able force ; but, being informed that the new monarcli and O'Brien, prince of Munster, were preparing to attack him with a very superior force, he resolved to retreat. In his retrejjt, liowever, he was stopped by another immense army of the confederates, thi'ough which he was obliged to cut his way, with the loss of many a brave knight. The difficulties to which he was reduced, encouraged Favourable the chieftains of Ulster and Argial to attack the English *°!^' settlements in their territories, but many of them were slain in the rash attempt ; and, in order to excite terror, he himself stormed and burned the city of Armagh, where many of his enemies had assembled. Thus was the ap- pearance of tranquillity restored, which was not interrupted by incursions from Connaught, where the contests of dif- ferent parties afforded sufficient employment to each other. Here Connor Moienmoy fell by the hand of an assassin, whom his own brother had hired ; and his brother was slain liimself by a son of Connor. Hence anarchy and slaughter prevailed over the whole province. Thus was De Courcey enabled, by his own vigour, and the dissensions of his enemies, if not to extend, at least to maintain the English toDeCour- 50 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. II. settlements, until the deatli of Henry, occasioned chiefly JufylTsiT^}' ^^^^ undutiful condact of his sons, produced the ad^ vancement of a higher favourite. Hugh De John havino- as lord of Ireland, the manajjement of af- Lacy his . . . . successor. tsLirs here during the reign of his brother Richard, who was absent on the crusades, removed De Courcey from his government, and conferred it on Hugh De Lacy, son of the late illustrious chief governor, Avho had insinuated himself into his good graces. De Courcey, enraged at the ungrate- ful return he met with for his services, retired to Ulster ia disgust. Aimoiic's This disunion among the settlers having induced the na- ^"^^'^ live chieftains to take the advantafje of it, they determined bandt . . . . . ° . to forget their ancient animosities, and combine against the common enemy. At the head of these was Cathal, a young warrior, one of the surviving sons of Roderic, who had ob- tained the sovereignty of Connaught. De Courcey, appre- hensive of his danger, sent for his trusty friend, Armoric of St. Lawrence, who was absent on some petty expedition, with a body of two hundred foot and thirty cavalry. On his march to his aid, through part of Connaught, Cathal surrounded him with a great army. The cavalry intended at first to make their escape, but being moved by the af- fecting arguments of their companions, they destroyed their horses, and resolved to share their fate. Having or- dered two of the youngest to retire to a neighbouring emi- nence, in order to report the event to De Courcey, this re- solute band of heroes marched firmly on to the conflict. Tiieir opponents they attacked with great impetuosity, and, after slaying a thousand, overpowered with numbers, fell gloriously in the field of battle. Here the vanity of Cathal founded an abbey, called De Colle VidoritE^ in order to record a victory which reflected such honour on the enemy. Eaii-mar- About this time Dublin was nearly destroyed by an ac- liiinistia- cidental fire, Avhich added to the calamities that war and lion. commotions had produced. In order to remedy these evils, John removed De Lacy, and substituted William Petit in his place, who was soon succeeded by William carl-mar- shall of England. This nobleman, by marrying Isabella, daughter of earl Strongbow by the princess of Lcinster, HISTORY OF IRELAND. 51 possessed large properties, and, of course, great consequence CHAP ir. in Ireland; but his administration was rather unfortunate. ""•' Though the English obtained some partial successes, and derived some benefit from the death of CErien, prince of Thomond, yet the advantage, on the whole, remained on the side of their opponents. Their fortresses in Munster were levelled by Cathal ; thrice were they foiled by M'Arthy of Desmond, who drove them from Limerick, and at length obliged them to surrender up Cork to him, after they were defeated, near that city, in a decisive battle, by the combined forces of Connaught and some other dis- tricts. Hamo de Valois, who succeeded the earl-marshall, endea- 1 19T. voured to support the expense of his administration byy^[^° ^ seizing the possessions of the church, particularly some lands belonging to the see of Dublin ; which roused the re- sentment of archbishop Comyns, who declared, in a rage, that the images of the saints shed tears, and were covered over with sweat and blood, to shew their abhorrence of his conduct. He then endeavoured to enrich himself by seizing the property of the laity, for which he was not allowed to escape with similar impunity ; for John, who had obtained the throne, soon after his accession, removed him with dis- jjgg^ grace, and obliged him to pay a thousand marks.* He was succeeded by Meyler Fitzhenry, natural son of Fitzhenry, Henry I, and one of the most distinguished barons who*^^'*'^^*'" liad come over adventurers to Ireland. Though he possessed, it is allowed, excellent abilities for government, he was for a long time unable to execute any considerable enterprise, as he could obtain no assistance from the king, engaged Avlth his concerns in France, and was rather cramped in his operations by the English lords in the country, who aimed at a state of independence. One of these, William De Burgo, to whom the custody Barons be. of Limerick was committed, and some lands granted for- *^°'"^ '''*^" ^ tious. merly to the English monarchy in Connaught, collecting a body of troops, took possession of that city, and having en- tered into a league with Carragh O'Connor, a relative of " This, considering the difTerence of the weight of metal, and value of money, would be nearly equal to ten thousand pounds sterling. 52 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP. II. Cathal, expelled that prince, and placed the other on the "~~°~"~" throne of Connaught in his room. Cathal, whose boisterous valour exhibited him at first as a military hero, fled into Ul- ster, and applying in a suppliant manner to Hugh 0''Nial of Tir-owen, prevailed on him, and some other chieftains, to take up arms in his behalf. These also induced the Eng- lish barons, De Courcey and De Lacy, to enter into alliance with him. Thus were the English, by taking part with tlie Irish contending chieftains, opposed to each other. After a bloody conflict, Carragh and De Burgo gained the vic- tory, and (/Nial's subjects, offended at his defeat, deposed him, and set up a successor, who was slain in battle by the chieftain of Tirconnel, which caused furious combats among the surviving claimants of the family. Cathal, how- ever, by magiuficent promises, brought over De Burgo to his side, and both marched into Connaught to depose Car- ragh, who died valiantly in battle, in defence of the throne he had obtained. De Burgo was then deprived of the be- nefit he expected from his versatility ; for Cathal, after his restoration, refused to perform his engagement, and when he endeavoured to compel him, he was repulsed with dis- grace. Enraged at his disappointment, he made a second inroad into his dominions ; but before he could effect his purpose, he was recalled to the defence of the city of Lime- rick, which was threatened by a more formidable enemy. ^^ ^"d^** Meyler Fitzhenry, the chief governor, observing that he renounced the authority of his royal master, having collect- ed some soldiers, marched to Limerick to punish him for his disloyalty. On his way he was joined by the forces of Cathal and O'Brien of Thomond, and thus exhibited an English chief governor at the head of native Irish troops, marching against one of his countrymen. De Burgo was obliged to capitulate, and was allowed to renew his allegi- ance. In order to gain the favour of the chief governor, O'Brien and Cathal made both very large concessions, but, particularly the latter, who surrendered up two-thirds of his territory to king John, and engaged to pay annually for the rest a tribute of a hundred marks. De Cour- While Fitzhenry was reducing De Burgo to obedience, "y* Hugh de Lacy, and his brother Walter, being armed with HISTORY OP IRELAND. 53 authority from the king, proceeded to make an attack on CHAP. ir. De Courcey, who, having retired to Ulster in disgust, had === also aimed at independence. Hugh De Lacy had shewn the same disposition, but being of a more flexible tempei*, and jealous of the growing power of this lord, excited the resentment of the king against him by relating his expres- sions of abhorrence against his majesty, not only for his mean and tyrannical conduct, but especially for the sup- posed murder of his nephew prmce Arthur, the rightful lieir of the crown. Having received a commission from the king to send him prisoner to England, De Lacy marched into Ulster to attack him, but was defeated with great loss in an engagement at Down. De Courcey, however, being conscious of his inability to continue a war against the whole power of the English government, consented to submit, and gave sureties for appearing before the king, after receiving a safe conduct for his journey. He was not, it appears, successful in gaining the favour of bis sovereign, for after his death, which took place about this time, his title of Earl of Ulster, and his estates in that province, were conferred by the king on Hugh De I^acy, in preference to his son Milo. The story of his challenging a French champion, and of his feats of bodily strength, is a mere fiction. Fitzhenry, having not only recovered Limerick, but also Cork, which the death of M'Arthy had rendered more accessible, and extended the English power in different parts, was summoned, together with Hugh De Lacy, to the support of his sovereign, who, being deprived of his domi- nions in France, was also threatened with danger in Eng- land. During his absence, while Walter De Lacy supplied his place, a plague prevailed in Leinster, of which many died in Dublin ; and soon after a massacre was committed by some clans from Wicklow of three hundred citizens, who left the city to enjoy a little recreation during Easter week. Of this unhappy event the commemoration is still continued. Though the De Lacics, it appears, had been in great Arrival of favour at court, the two brothers, Hugh and Walter De^'"sJ<>hn. Lacy> in a certain instance, gave the king great oft'ence. Not only, like too many of their countrymen, had they distressed the Irish by their oppression, and embezzled the public re- &4t HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP. II. venue, but also harboured William de Braosa, who had fled ' from the resentment of the king. This nobleman, who was lord of Brecknock, and had received considerable grants in Thomond, was reduced to great difficulties by the indis- cretion of his wife ; for when the king, apprehensive of a conspiracy in England on account of the interdict and ex- communication, sent to Braosa, demanding hostages, his wife observed, that she would never entrust her children to one who had murdered his own nephew. This severe re- mark was no doubt very graling to John, but unhap- pily his reseniment fell on the husband, though he had rebuked his w'ife for her indiscretion ; and being obliged to leave the kingdom, he fled to Dublin to the De Lacies for protection. The king followed with some forces, be- ing resolved to punish both him and his protectors, and arrived in^Dublin in 1210. Braosa and the De Lacies now made their escape to France : but Braosa having left his Avife and children behind him, they fled to Scotland, Avhere they were seized by one of John''s agents, and being re- moved for confinement to the castle of Bristol, died there of want. The De Lacies were more fortunate, having got their possessions in Ireland restored at the intercession of the abbot of Saint Tourin, in whose service they were en- gaged, but were obliged to pay large fines to the king. His em. During hiscontinuancein Ireland hereduced some fortrcss- here"^" es, and received the external submission of some chieftains. However,he found it inexpedient torestore to his principality Murtogh O'Brien of Thomond, who had been deprived by his subjects for his concessions to the English government during the administration of Fitzhenry, and was obliged to al- low his successor, Donald Carbragh CBrien, to retain tlie principality. The only favour he could obtain for the de- throned prince, was to get him released from confinement. O'Nial of Tir-Owen affected also to pay him submission, but refused to attend him till two hostages were given for his security, and on his return disclaimed all obedience. He attacked the English garrisons on his frontier, but could obtain no decisive su-ccess. In Connaught, indeed, Cathal, who was so formidable some time before, seems to have been reduced to real subjection. He made humble complaints HISTORY OP IRELAND. OO to the king against the encroachments of the colonists, and ' ' had his grievances redressed. The English barons in Ire- land were also reduced to obedience. For the benefit of these, and of all who owned his authority, the king had a regular code of English laws established, and had made a more complete division of his lands into counties, where sheriffs and other officers were appointed. On his depar- ture the administration was committed to the Bishpp of Norwich, who di>splajed great ability. Though the king, as it appears, had obtained very ex- jjig general tensive authority in Ireland, yet he was obliged to submit conduct • ' • -r-. 1 1 1 1 - 111- a"d death. to severe restraints in England, where his conduct had given great offence. His supposed murder of his nephew, his expulsion from his dominions in France, his mean submis- sion to the Pope, his want of honour, his cowardice and tyranny, had excited against him, in that country, universal disgust. At length the barons rose up against him, and compelled him to grant the famous Magna Charta, the . foundation of civil liberty in England. But as soon as lie had collected foreign soldiers, he retracted all his grants, and involved his country in a destructive civil war, in whiqli the barons were assisted by forces from France, la the midst of such commotions he ended his inglorious reign. HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAPTER III. Public improvements — Great charter in reign of Henry III. — Death of the protector — Fate of his son — Disorders in Connaught — In Munster — Continue in reign of Edward I. — Irish refused the benefit of English laws — A parliament — Piers Gavaston — Edward II defeated in Scotland — Ed- ward Bruce lands in Ireland — Opposed hy De Burgo — Treachery and death of Fedlim — Progress of Bruce — His retreat — Defeat and death — Durable effect of the invasion — Degenerate English — Unfair distinctions — Unhappy end of the king — Prosecutions for witchcraft, Sfc. — Inattention of Edward III — Cruel attack of the Irish — Repulsed in some places — Some barons soothed — Punished — Inglorious treaty — Disturbance renewed — Severe ordinance — Exertions of Ufford — Impotence of administralian — Regulations nf Rokeby — Vain attempt of Lionel — Statute of Kilkenny — Pensions to Irish chiefs — Weakness of Richard II~His arrival with a great army — Insurrections on his departure —'His second expedition to Ireland — His return and cruel death. CHAP. Almost fifty years had now elapsed since the arrival of the _ first British adventurers in Ireland, and at the conclusion Public jjf i\^\g, period there was a very sensible alteration in the ap- men'ts!*^" pearance of the country. A great many castles of stone and mortar had been raised in the interior parts of the island, where few or none were perceived before, as those built by the Danes were confined to the maritime towns.* The poli- / lical state of the country was also very much changed, as the colonists had extended their settlements in different direc- tions, and either deposed the native princes or confined them within narrow limits. • The lound towers, it is true, were erected in some of the interior parts. Tliese, it is supposed, were also built by the Danes, and were a kind of bel- fries, placed adjacent to the churches, that were made of wood, or of clay and wattles. HISTOUY OF IRELAND. 57 Though Henry III succeeded his father at the age of C H A P. nine years, yet tlie affairs of government were conducted with £Teat success by that able minister William Marshall, '^l^- Grerit char- earl of Pembroke, protector of England. The magna charta ter in leign of king John hegotrerevved, and by his prudence and mo-"^' Henry deration put an end to the civil war. This charter was also extended to the English colonists in Ireland, with al- terations suitable to local circumstances ; affording even more indulgence to the aristocracy, whose power was increased, and often abused, by their distance from the seat of majesty. It still remains extant in the Red Book of the Irish exchequer, and shows, that the English colonists of Ireland were united with their fellow-subjects of England, under the same king, laws, and privileges. The lord protecter being attached to Ireland, on ac- 121D. count of ihe large possessions he held there, as representative thrmotec of earl Strongbow, his death, which took place after a short tor continuance in power, proved peculiarly unfortunate for that country. Hubert De Burgo, wlio succeeded him, was also an able and honest minister, but was soon removed from his office by the faction of the nobles, and the incon- stancy of the king. The government of England was then conferred on Peter des Kosches, bishop of Winchester, who proved himself an imworthy successor to the late ex- cellent ministers. Induced by his advice, and by his own natural inclination, the king showed himself peculiarly at- tached to foreigners, especially Italians, on whom great emoluments were conferred, to the detriment of the English barons, who were highly offended at his partiality. During all this long reign, and the oKe succeeding, there is little to relate respecting Ireland, but tiie petty disputes and violent contests of the English colonists among themselves, and the oppression of the natives by their unjust exercise of power. Of course, a particular recital, or adherence to the exact order of time, would be neither agreeable nor instruc- tive to the reader. William, earl Marshall, son of the late protector, being descended from Strongbow and the princess Eva, beside his English estates, found himself entitled to large posses- sions in Ireland. On part of these Hugh Dc Lacy laid a 58 HISTORY OP IKELA>'D. CHAP, claim, and being assisted by O'Nial, the prince of Tir-Owen, _ attempted to seize it by force. Hence, William was obliged to come over to defend his property, and, after a warfare of alternate success and devastation, patched up a kind of a truce with his opponents. Having died in 1231, he was succeeded by his brother Richard, a nobleman of high spirit and great valour, which, being supposed dangerous by the king in one of his ample patrimony, induced his majesty, under pretence of his carrying on a treasonable correspondence with France, not only to refuse him the in- vestiture of his estates, but to order him into exile. Rich- ard now came over to Ireland, where, from his family con- nections, and great propert}^, he had numerous partizans ; and returning with a body of armed men, seized the castle of Pembroke, resolved, as it seemed, to assert his claims by force of arms, which so terrified the king that he rescinded the sentence of exile, and afforded him the investiture he desired. So far he was able to effect his purpose, but an act of base treachery succeeded. Fate of his Richard having afterwards entered into a confederacy for *""' the banishment of the king''s foreign favourites, Winchester prevailed on his majesty to send letters to Ireland, under the great seal, directed to Maurice Fitzgerald the chief gover- nor, Hugh and Walter De Lacy, Geoffry de Maurisco, Richard De Bnrgo, and some other lords, allowing them in perpetuity all the Irish estates of earl Richard, on condi- tion of their seizing him, and sending his body, dead or alive, to the king. These letters, which were also signed by that base minister and eleven of his minions, afforded a tempting offer to those treacherous barons, who formed a scheme for his destruction. In order to induce him to come to Ireland, they made an attack upon his property, which obliged him to come over for its defence ; and Maui'isco, pretending an attachment to his cause, assured him, that on a proper exertion of his great powers, he could bring the whole country under his sway. Being thus prevailed on to make the trial, he seized the city of Limerick and several castles, when the English barons, with affected terror, fled before him. They then proposed to hold a confer- ence with him, in order to adjust the terms of a truce, de- HISTORY OF IRELAND. 59 elarlnff their determination to resion the island to him, un- CHAP. . • iii> less the king would send immediate assistance. Accordingly . ' , they met, with a force nearly equal, on the plains of Kildare, and he having, by the advice of Maurisco, refused a truce, was told, that the sword must settle the business on the very ground where they stood. Immediately Maurisco deserted him with eighty followers, and left him, with only fifteen brave attendants from Wales, to resist a hundred and fifty. Disdaining to fly, he made a desperate defence even with these few, but after some bloodshed, being thrown from his horse, he received a stab in the back, which in a few days put an end to his life. The discontents excited by this vile action, both in Eng- land and Ireland, caused the disgrace of Winchester and his associates. Gilbert, brother to the late earl, was invested with the lands, together with the office of earl-marshall. For some time, however, he fell under the king''s dis- pleasure, but being restored to favour, and having gained additional consequence by his being married to a daughter of Alexander, king of Scotland, he gave a check to the de- predations committed on his property by the Irish barons, who showed great eagerness in dividing the spoil. Maurice Fitzgerald, in order to appease him, declared upon oath, be- fore the king and lords of England, that he was not concern- ed in the murder of earl Richard, and proposed, as a proof of his sincerity, to estabUsh a convent of monks, whose prayers should be constantly offered up for the repose of his soul. The desire to give a connected narrative of the late trans- Disor- actions, prevented notice being taken sooner of various con-*^"^'*'°^°°" tests which took place in different parts of Ireland. The whole kingdom of Connaught, on the demise of the reign- ing prince, Cathal, had been granted by Henry in reversion to Richard De Burgo, successor to William, the baron so turbulent in the reign of John. This grant was made while Richard's kinsman, Hugh De Burgo, was prime minister, and can hardly be supposed suitable to the stipulations for- merly made with Cathal ; but the death of that prince soon brought the matter to issue. Regardless of this grant, the Irish of Connaught, on his decease, by the influence of 60 HISTORY OF iRtLAND. CHAP. O'Nia], conferred the rtffal dijrnitv on a bro'Jicr of Catlial, III. . . '' _______ named Turlough. This election was opposed by GeofFry 1223. (\q Maurisco, the chief governor, who, without professing directly to support the claim of De Burgo, expelled the newly-elected prince, and substituted Aedh, a son of Cathal, in his room. Relying on the service they had done him, the English made demands on his province, which he re- sisted by force of arms, and took a son of Maurisco prisoner in a rash attempt to enforce them ; but being soon reduced,, he came to request a conference with the governor, and was killed in a quarrel which took place between the attendants of the two parties. On this Turlough resumed the mo- 1229. narchy, but was again deposed by De Burgo (now chief go- vernor, under the title of lord justice), who conferred that <;hgnity on another son of Cathal, named Fedlim. Suppos- ing he would be sufficiently compliant, De Burgo made the usual claims on the province, which that prince, who had considerable talents, also resisted with great spirit, but was taken prisoner in defence of his territory. The governor now endeavoured to restoi-e Turlough ; but Fedlim, having made his escape from confinement, slew him in battle, and 1233. again took possession of his principality. On this success he sent a petition to the king, setting forth his own and his father's loyalty, and requesting leave to throw himself at his majesty's feet, and lay before him the treatment he had re- ceived from De Burgo, which liberty was promised him as soon as the affiiirs of Connaught should be peaceably set- tled. The king, indeed, was now inclined to listen to his complaint, as De Burgo had been removed from the govern- ment by the interest of his kinsman declining at court, and Maurice Fitzgerald substituted in his place. Yet, in some time after, the present chief governor assisted the former one in an unjust attempt to seize a great part of Fodlim's proper- ty ; who repaired to the English court for redress, and hap- pened to arrive there at the time Fitzgerald was declaring his innocence of earl Marshall's murder. However, he said nothing of the chief governor's injustice, but confined his complaint to the injury that De Burgo had committed on liim, which induced the king, at that time probably inclined to cqiiity, to give orders to have him restored to his posses- HISTORY OF IRELAND. CI sions, ' For this favour he proved himself not ungrateful, CHAP. attending the king shortly atter in an expedition to Wales, ^=^ and being the only one of twenty Irish princes sum- ^^45. inoned that came to his aid. On his return he assisted the lord justice to reduce the chiefs of Tirconnel, who had risen up against the government in his absence ; and being ex- pelled himself from his province, under the former claim, by Walter De Burgo, successor of Richard (who had also got the lordship of Ulster by marrying the daughter of Kuo-h De Lacy), he collected his adherents, and took possession of his territory by force, Avhich he retained in future against all the exertions of his opponent. The restraints imposed on the king by the English ba- rons, who for some time suspended his authority, prevented him from applying any remedy to the disorders of Ireland. Of course, acts of violence and bloodshed, too frequently excited by the aggression of the English colonists, unhap- pily prevailed in every part of the country. In the latter period of his reign, it is true, when, by the exertions of his valiant son Edward, he got free from his restraints, he might have applied the desired remedy, by sending his son, whom he had appointed lord of Ireland, to reside there in that capacity ; but the gallant youth preferred going on the ex- pedition of the crusades, and left the country exjDOsed to the fury of contending parties. In Munster the hostilities were even more violent and in Mun- sanguinary than those in Connaught already mentioned. ^'^'"" Maurice Fitzgerald, being dismissed from his office of lord- 124,5, deputy, for not bringing timely aid to the king in his expe- dition to Wales, retired into Desmond in disgust, and, in contempt of the laws, made encroachments on the territo- ries of the Irish. Indeed the party of the Geraldines, which consisted of the family of Fitzgerald with their adherents, at this time affected to aim at a state of independence, and by their authority and severities excited the resentment of the Desmonians. Some time after the death of Maurice, which took place in 1246, the fierce and valiant race of Mac- Artliy engaged in war against the Geraldines, and after se- veral inconsiderable contests, at loagUi defeated them in a desperate battle, where Thomas Fitzgsrald his son, eighteen 62 HISTORY or IRELANU. CHAP, barons, fifteen knights, and many more of less note, were 111. , . ■ — slain. During these bloody conflicts with the Geraldines, the M'Arthys were so far from opposing the Enghsh govern- ment, that they very honourably conducted a new chief governor who had landed on their coast. Elated with their success, they attacked some Irish septs, who had provoked their resentment, and, extending their conquests, made in- roads on some districts, which Walter de Burgo affected to claim, who assailed them with a superior force, and liaving defeated them, and slain their leader, imposed on them severe terms of submission. On the overthrow of their Irish enemies, the Geraldines renewed their preten- sions to those districts, and thus became the rivals of De Burgo, with whom they maintained a sanguinary contest, to the disgrace of the English government. At length, Richard de Capella, the chief governor, attempted to inter- pose his authority for the suppression of these feuds, but the Geraldines, suspecting him of partiality, took him prisoner at a conference, and confined him in a castle with some otlier lords. Such an outrage on the representative of majesty raised a great clamour, and an assembly was 12 C4. convened at Kilkenny to remedy these disorders. It was resolved that the imprisoned lords should be set at liberty, which accordingly took place. The only remedy the king could apply was writing letters to the contending barons, commanding them to preserve the public peace. However, Barry, an active deputy, exerted himself to restrain the Geraldines, which gave an opportunity to De Burgo to re- new his demands on the territory of Connaught, but he was defeated in a decisive battle by Aedh OT'onnor, the successor of Fedlim, and died shortly after. The contests of these rival lords, and the petty feuds of their inferiors, who followed their example, spread confu- sion over every quarter of the kingdom, which naturally produced famine and disease. These public calamities were increased by the exactions of the king, and especially of the pope, his legates and nuncios, who had the laity stripped of their necessaries, and the churches of their or- naments, in order to supply their extravagant demands. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 63 Benefices were conferred, as in England, by the influence CHAP. • . * FIT of the pope, on iLalian ecclesiastics, who would not deign to do the duties of their profession, or to reside in the country whence they derived their inconujs, and conferred, l)y the influence of the king, on English ecclesiastics, the most worthless of those belonging to that church, who had been neglected at home. This inequitable distribution afforded subject of complaint to the native clergy, who, con- sidering themselves thus deprived of their right, enacted an ordinance to prevent the admission of foreigners, which was annulled by the pope. Such was the unhappy state of the kingdom at the death of Henry III, who died in the 56th year of his reign, the longest recorded in the annals of England. The accession of his son, that great prince, Edward I, 1272. -,. , - • 1 T • n 1 1 Continue in uicl not produce any material alteration tor the better. ^eign of Eci- Though he had an opportunity, as being lord of Ireland, ^'^'^'^'^ ^* to be acquainted with its various grievances and disorders, and had sufficient discernment to apply the most effectual remedies, yet his time and talents were entirely employed in the improvement of England, the reduction of Wales, his contentions with Scotland, and other occupations which lie thought of more consequence. So little attention was paid to Ireland, that the insurgents not only took the castle of Roscommon and other fortresses, but also pierced into the most flourishing parts of Leinster ; and when the chief governor, Maurice Fitzmaurice, attempted to repel them, lie was himself taken prisoner in Offally. In the follow- ing year, his successor, Walter Glenvill, was defeated with great loss. Another war was excited soon after, by the in- considerate liberalitv of the kingr himself. His majesty having made a grant of lands in Thomond to Thomas De Clare, son to the earl of Gloucester, a mar- tial youth, who had married the daughter of Fitzmaurice, afforded just cause of complaint to the O'Briens, the native possessors, who had of late discovered a pacific disposition. Their remonstrances were, however, treated with disdain by the young nobleman, who led troops into Thomond to l^U. enforce his claim, accompanied by Fitzmaurice, who had been released from prison. Having defeated the CBriens 64 HISTORY OF IRELAND. C Ji A P. in a sanguinary engagement, with the loss of theit chief, ^ ' he seemed to have gained a complete establishment in the property. But this chief left ten valiant sons behind him, vvho carried on the war witli great success. They defeated the Geraldines in a decisive engagement, and obliged them, after many of their bravest knights were slain, to take re- fuge in a mountain, where they were surrounded ; and, 1277. being distressed with famine, they submitted to disgraceful terms of capitulation. Relinquishing all title to Thomond, they acknowledged the O'Briens to be sovereigns of it, and gave hostages to pay the eric for the chieftain slain ; they also surrendered to the victors the castle of Koscommon, which was then in their possession, and had been lately fortified. De Clare now made pathetic representations to the king of his condition, probably with the desired success ; but his principal advantage was derived from the disputes of the ©""Briens among themselves, which enabled him to recover his power. Different parties of these set up two competitors for the chief dignity of Thomond, with one of whom he took part, and established him prince. His rival 1?8?. then collected an army to dispute his title ; but before they engaged, a leader of the tribe of M'Arthy, who had been successful in attacking the English, came secretly to the con- tending parties, and prevailed on them to compose their quar- rels, which would render them a prey to tlieir common ene- my, whose private disputes, he declared, if they had a little patience, would give the Irish an opportunity to drive them out of the country. These disputes, indeed, at this time, were prevalent in almost every part of the kingdom, occa- sioned by their rapacious desire to seize each others pro- perty. Irish refus. The inclination to commit acts of violence, too frequently ed the bene, displayed bv the Enfrjish colonists, was pecuharly detri- lish laws, mental to the native Irish, avdo resided either within or m the neighbourhood of the districts they possessed. By the regulations of the kingdom, they were excluded from the benefit of the English laws, and of course had no means of getting redress for the injuries they suffered. A few, in- deed, both in the present and preceding reign, on the plea of their faithful services, were, hy royal patents, admitted HISTOnv OF IRELAND. 65 to this privilege, but the great body were not allowed to ob- chap. tain it. Sensible of their grievances, tlie Irish within the pale ^^^' made frequent petitions to the throne for the protection of the English laws, and especially in the present reign, in 1278, when they offered the king, through his chief gover- nor, Ufford, eight thousand marks for this benefit, a sum equal to eighty thousand pounds of our present money. The king, being inclined to grant their reasonable request, gave the necessary directions to have it effected ; but the barons, through a desire of committing injury with impu- nity, threw obstructions in the way, and at length entirely frustrated the good intentions of his majesty. The most effectual attempt in this reign to remedy the -^^ P^riia- pubhc disorders was made during the government of Sir ' John Wogan, a man of singular temper and discretion, who convened a parliament for that purpose, the first general assembly of that sort which took place in Ireland. Beside the writs to the lords spiritual and temporal, those sent to the sheriffs directed them to return two knights lor each of the counties and liberties. The business of this assembly, though but thinly attended, was very properly directed to redress the public grievances, of which an idea may be form- ed by giving a sketch of the acts passed. It was enacted, that the divisions of the counties should be made more proportionable ; that the lords charged with the defence of the English borders should not leave the si- tuation appointed them ; that the absentee lords and all te- nants should make a provision for the public defence, ac- cording to their means ; that the colonists should assist each other in repelling the attacks of the Irish ; that the number of idle retainers attending the barons should be lessened, and their exactions restrained ; that, as the Irish insidiously made a truce with one district, to have more leisure to at- " tack others, no truce but a general one should be made with them, and that those fairly made sliould be honourably ob- served, the neglect of which often produced bloody reprisals as well on the innocent as the guilty ; that, on an insurrec- tion of the Irish, should it be inconvenient for the chief go- vernor to lend immediate aid, the English should instantly take up arms th|?mselves, and maintain the war at their own 66 HISTORY OF inELAND. CHAP, charge, and that each lord should have the bridges and roads III. _ repaired through his district, to afford means of pursuing the insurgents into their retreats ; that the colonists, in order to get free from the restraints of the English laws, should not disguise themselves under the Irish garb, and form of the hair, which would expose them to be killed with impunity, as the Irish are, who have not those laws to protect them ; and, lastly, that two lords in each district where the Irish reside, should be appointed to treat with them, in order to preserve the peace of the district. These ordinances served indeed for a while to check a spirit of disorder ; and, during the temporary tranquillity, the king repeated his application to the clergy for a subsidy, with what success it is not now known. On both clergy and laity he was very urgent in his demands to support his diffe- rent expeditions. The tenths formerly granted for the ser- vice of the holy land, which had been collected by the pope, he seized himself to supply his exigencies ; yet the pope, who was sensible of his firmness and spirit, seemed to bear it with a good grace. In reality, when the king turned his at- tention towards Ireland, it was principally in expectation of raising money from it, to be applied to other purposes than securing the peace of the country, which was very soon interrupted ; for, after a short season of quiet, fresh feuds and insurrections burst out in different parts. Of these the blame is to be imputed to the king himself, who called over two powerful barons, Fitzjohn, head of the Geraldines, and De Burgo, earl of Ulster, to assist him in his war against Scotland. Encouraged by their absence, the in- surgents committed many acts of violence, and destroyed some of the most valuable of the English settlements. With difficulty could the chief governor and the loyal barons de- fend the province of Leinster from their attacks. Piers Ga- Though the attachment of that weak prince, Edward 11, vaston. iQ favourites proved ultimately the cause of his ruin, yet Piers Gavaston, one of these, whom he appointed to the office of chief governor, a station of honourable exile, exert- ed himself with spirit and activity to suppress the public dis- orders. Possessed of courage and military skill, he marched out against the barbarous septs, drove them from their re- HISTORY or IRELAND. 67 treats, pursued them with slaughter, broke and dispersed CHAP, them, and then reduced the country to qvuet. He then pro- ceeded to repair the havoc made by former insurrections, to repair castles, and open communications through the Eng- lish territory. In his deportment, however, he assumed a degree of parade and dignity that offended the pride of the great barons, who also considered their consequence dimi- nished by the authority attached to government, which for- merly was subject to their controul. Richard De Burgo, earl of Ulster, the most powerful of these, seemed particu- larly displeased at the superiority he assumed ; and in order to equal or exceed him, aff*ected the state of an independent prince. He held a court in the town of Trim, where he was attended by numerous followers ; and conferred the ho- nour of knighthood on the persons of the family of De Lacey. Thus their jealousy was daily encreasing, but be- fore it produced any violent effects, the favourite was re- called, and the kingdom was exposed to its usual disorders. Sir John Wogan, who was re-appointed to the govern- ment, endeavoured, by calling pai'liaments and passing laws, to preserve the public peace, but without effect. The great barons, in contempt of his acts and his authority, continued by their broils to agitate the nation. De Burgo led the troops into Thomond in support of some claims, but was resisted by the Geraldines, under the command of Richard De Clare, who defeated him in a decisive engagement, and took him prisoner. He was then obliged to submit to such terms as the conquerors thought fit to impose. Their dis- putes were, however, settled by his two daughters being married to two heads of the Geraldines, Maurice and Thomas Fitzjohn. By the union of these two noble fa- milies it was expected the country would enjoy a lasting tranquillity, but, alas ! it was on the point of being assailed by new enemies, and afflicted by new disorders, that reduced it to such distress as it never experienced before. Edward I, having gained the dominion over Scotland byEdwnrdll the sword, made a very harsh use of the ascendency he had Scotland. acquired. Provoked at his severity, and his ignominious execution of the hero Wallace, that brave nation was impa- tient to shake off the yoke, and selected Robert Bruce for their leader^ son of that Robert who had been a competitor E 2 68 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP III Edward Bruce lands in Ireland. for the crown. Strenuously did this champion exert himself — in their service, but his ardour received a check by a signal defeat from one of the generals of Edward, who was has- tening forward himself with a great army to complete his ruin, when he died suddenly at Carlisle, in 1307. His weak son, and successor, Edward II, lost allthe advantage gained by his father in the unfortunate battle of Bannock- burn. Confirmed by this victory in the sovereignty of Scotland, Robert Bruce received from the Irish chieftains, particu- larly those of Ulster, who were most convenient to him, an offer of the kingdom of Ireland, if he came over with an array, and assisted them to recover their liberty, by expelling their severe oppressors, the English. In this enterprize he prevailed on his brother Edward to engage, in hopes of finding an object for the ambition of that aspiring young man, who had demanded, as a reward for the aid he had afforded him, an equal participation of his authority, and with difficulty was content for the present with being declared his successoi\ At first, this young prince, without sufficient preparation, made an unsuccessful attempt, but afterwards embarked six thousand Scots in May 2S three hundred small vessels, and landed with his troops on 1315. the north-eastern coast of Ireland. I'hese forces, in con- junction with those of the Irish chieftains, proceeded to the horrid work of bloodshed and devastation ; they butchered without mercy all the English settlers they could find, levelled their castles, and burned their towns. Dun- • dalk, Atherdee, and other places of less note, they ravaged with great fury. Opposed by In the mean while Richard De Burgo, earl of UI- e Burgo. ^^qy^ ^^j^Jj ]^jg q^^^ troops, and those of Fedlim O'Connor, prince of Connaught, marched through Meath to oppose them, desolating the country in his way to supply his soldiers with food. Butler, the lord-deputy, also joined him with a large reinforcement, but he refused their aid, desiring him to return and defend Leinster, as his own troops were sufficient to repel the Scots, and punish their adherents. The enemy, as he proceeded northward, retreated before him for want of provisions ; but at length. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 69 after some inconsiderable actions, tliey had a general chap. engagement at Colerain, where, it is said, he was defeated. Yet Bruce found it necessary to tamper with Fealim, prince of Connaught, whom he engaged by specious pro- mises to join him as soon as opportunity offered. At that time, Indeed, he was rather in some difficulty, as his prin- cipality in Connaught was seized in his absence bv Roderic his kinsman, who had also entered into an alliance with Bruce, but would not take the advice of that leader, to suspend his dispute with his opponent till the common enemy was subdued. With the consent of De Burgo, Fedlim now set out for Treachery Connauffht, but his armv was severely harassed in his^"^''?i!"^ , , r • ' ■ • ofFedhm. march by the Ulster Irish, who thought him a friend to the English, and were not acquainted with his secret engage- ments. On his aiTival he found his opponent so strong, that he was obliged to dismiss his shattered forces, and re- tire for a while to a place of safety. De Burgo soon fol- lowed hira to Connaught, with his broken army, being un- able to oppose Bruce and his adherents, who, notwithstand- ing, on account of a scarcity, were unable to pursue their advantage. The presence of De Burgo encouraged Fedlim and his adherents to take to arms ; and an undecisive but destructive warfare was carried on for some time against Roderic, until the arrival of a reinforcement, commanded by Sir John Bermingham, an accomplished leader, put an end to the contest. Roderic in a fierce engagement was slain, and left Fedlim undisputed master of his principa- lity, who immediately avowed his treaty with Bruce, and turned his arms against the English, his deliverers. He made furious inroads into their settlements, and surpris- ed and slew many valiant knights. His defection caused many Irish chiefs of the south and of Meath, parti- cularly the O'Briens of Thomond, to follow his example. However, he did not long enjoy the fruits of his treachery. — An arniy was raised against him, under the command of William De Burgo, brother to the earl of Ulster, and Richard De Bermingham, who brought him to a general battle, the most bloody one that took place since the arrival. 70 HISTORY OF IRELAND. C H A P. of the English in Ireland, in which he lost liis life, at the ^^^* .age of twenty two, with some thousands of his followers. Proirfess of During; the course of these events, Edward Bruce con- tinned to extend his progress. After he had repelled his opponents from Ulster, he assumed the parade of royalty, and was even crowned with due solemnity at Dundalk. In order to enable him to support his dignity, his brother Ro- bert landed with a powerful army, but, on account of a ge- neral dearth, and the severity of the season, he was obliged to leave the country, without any signal service. However, tlie army that he left behind proved a considerable rein- forcement, and was joined by crowds of the discontented Irish, and even by many degenerate English, among whom were the Lacies and and their numerous followers. The town of Carrickfergus, which had liitherto sustained the at- tacks and assaults of the enemy, and patiently bore the dis- tress of famine, now surrendered to Bruce, who marched with his ravenous troops to the southward, ready to commit the most savage acts of hostilitv, to satisfy their hunger and their malice. When they got to Dublin, the citizens set fire to their suburbs, but with so little caution as nearly to consume their cathedral. They then retired within their walls, and made such pi'eparations for a vigorous defence, that the Scottish prince very prudently declined the attack, and directing his course toward the county of Kilkenny, des- troyed the country as he passed along. Hisretreat. The defection of the Lacies, and other degenerate Eng- lish had caused such distrust, that the chief magistrate of Dublin put the earl of Ulster in confinement, whose sister was married to the kinfj of Scotland. Hence several of the English barons exerted themselves to display their loyalty, and entered into associations to support king Edward with their lives and fortunes, delivering hostages to John De Ho- tham, a clergyman, who was commissioned by his majesty to hold a conference with the great "terds on the state of the kingdom. Those Avho had eminently distinguished themselves, received signal marks of the royal favour, and on that occasion, John Fltzthomas, baron of Offally, was created earl of Kildare, and lord Edmond Butler earl of Carrick. By the exertions of the friends of government. HISTORY OP IRELAND. 71 pai'ticularly the Geraldines of Desmond and Kildave, an CHAP army, it is said, of thirty thousand, was assembled at Kil- - kenny, including a great number of irregular troops ill pro- vided for service. While they were preparing to march against the ravagers, Roger Mortimer of Wigmore, who was appointed chief governor, landed at Youghall, with a train of forty knights and their attendants. This reinforce- ment deterred Bruce from risking an engagement, who re- treated by forced marches to Meath, and thence to his late quarters in Ulster, where he experienced the sad effects of his former devastation, many of his soldiers dying of hun- ger, and the rest being obliged to derive a horrible subsist- ence from the carcases of their countrymen. Mortimer, unable to pursue the enemy through a desolat- ed country, having dismissed his soldiers, returned to Dub- lin, and obtained the release of the earl of Ulster. He then marched into Meath, and summoned the Lacies to answer for their conduct, who killed his messenger in defiance, and took refuge in Connaught. He used, indeed, every endea- vour both to redress grievances, and to restore the English power in Leinster, and was seconded by the supreme pon- tiff\, who issued out his excommunications against the Bruces, their adherents, and the Irish clergy of every rank, who had zealously exerted themselves from the pulpit in favour of insurrection. An additional aid was also afforded the Eng- lish by a plentiful harvest in some districts that had escaped devastation, which enabled them again to take the field. At first they met with a severe defeat in Thomond, but suc- ceeded in repairing it by vigorous measures. About this time Mortimer returned to England, and the archbishop of Dublin, having obtained the administration, appointed Sir John Berming-ham to the command of ihe forces destined for the north, who marched into Ulster with fifteen hun- dred chosen troops, and several distinguished officers in his train. The army of Bruce, after all his losses, was more than Defeat and double in number, but had hardly recovered from the ef-^^^'^*- fects of hunger ; and he was so confident of success himself, that having heard his brother was coming to his aid, he hastened to attack the enemy, lest he should arrive, and t^ MISTOliy OF IRELAND, CHAP, participate in tlie honour of the victory. The two armies _ ^^' met near Dundalk, and just before the engagement the archbishop of Armagh, who was attached to the English, went tin-ough the ranks exhorting them to contend with va- lour against the furious ravagers of their property, deahng around his benedictions, and pronouncing absolution on all who should fall in so good a cause. The conflict was tedi- ous and desperate, but at length decided against the Scots, who were discomfited with terrible carnage. Edward Bruce fell himself in the battle by the arms of an English knight, named Maupus, who rushed through the ranks to attack him, and whose body, pierced with many wounds, was found stretched on that of his antagonist. His brother Ro- bert arrived with his forces just in time to hear of his de- feat, and instantly retired. Bermingham, proceeding north- ward, expelled O'Nial from the territory of Tirowen, and returning with his victorious troops, received, as a reward for his eminent services, the earldom of Louth, and manor of Athenree. P Such was the event of this invasion, an enterprise rashly feet of the Undertaken by an aspiring young prince, under pretence of invasion, redressing the grievances of the country, but in reality to gratify his own ambition, contributing, with the confusion it occasioned, to reduce the English colony to a state of de- cline from which it did not recover for nearly twD centuries. Above two years was this unfortunate island afflicted both by his ravaging bands, and the licentious troops of the king, who were allowed, on account of the deficiency of revenue, to take their subsistence from the people, by living at free quarters, which was termed coi/7ie and livery^ and were guil- ty of the most abominable excesses. Hence famine and its attendant, pestilence, were added to the unavoidable calami- ties of Mar. Degene- Distressed by the intolerable rapacity of the royal sol- rateEng. Jiers the freeholders deserted their lands, and either fled over to England, or joined the septs of the Irish, adopting their manners, and engaging in their insurrections. Exac- tions of a similar kind were also exercised by some of the great lords, particularly by Maurice Fitzthomas of Desmond, who by his oppressive severity banished the English settlers HISTORY OP IRELANI). 73 from the counties of Limerick, Kerry, Cork, and Water- ^ "j*- ^' ford. O^ these the best parts were taken for his own de- ==== mesnes, and the rest were seized by liis followers, a mixed rabble mostly of the Irish race. In order to avoid the claims of the proprietors, lie himself renounced all connexion with the English laws, and assumed the barbarous slate of an Irish chieftain. His example was followed by several other lords, who envied him the power and influence he had thus obtained, and seizing the lands of the inhabitants of every description, drove them into exile, which produced endless insurrection and disturbance. Many other Eng- lish settlers of inferior note coalesced with the natives in their language, garb, and manners, as they thus got rid of the restraints of the English laws, of which they were very desirous, from the irregular habits they had acquired, by the long continuance of tumult and disorder in the country. So great, indeed, was the general corruption, that even among those who still called tliemselves English, justice vvas often administered in the Irish mode, the judges assuming authority to compound for the crimes of even robbery and murder. This evil was so sensibly felt during the Scottish war, that a petition was presented to the king from the Irish council, requesting that no redemption should be granted for the robbery or murder of an English subject, except in full parliament, which should be held regularly once a year for that very purpose. An ordinance was in consequence passed to .this effect, but it did not avail, as there was not authority sufficient to put it in force. While some desjenerate Eno;lish were desirous to get rid (DO O of the restraints of their native laws, the original Irish of Leinster, who felt the loss of these, petitioned to obtain the benefit which tliey afforded. By an exclusion from this be- nefit they were in reality deprived of very essential privileges. Robbery or murder committed on an Englishman was pu- nishable by death, but on an Irishman by only a fine. Hence the Irish, who wished to get such an odious distinction re- moved, applied to the throne by petition, which was referred to the chief governor, and by him handed over to parlia- ment, where it was either openly rejected, or by private col- lusion thrown aside. 74" HISTORY OP IRELAND, CHAP. The king was at this tuiT?, it appears, but little capable of I paying attention to the grievances of Ireland. Assailed by- Unhappy his rebellious barons, he endeavoured to escape into this king. country from their violence, but being driven back by con* trary winds, was delivered into their hands, and hence met with that horrible death, which so strondv delineates the 1327. barbarous manners of the age. Prosecii- The ignorance and barbarism which then spread over tions ibr Europe, was particularly prevalent in Ireland. Of this, &c. ' a notorious evidence is afforded by a prosecution for witch- craft, which took place about this time. For this suppos- ed crime, a lady, named Alice Kettler, with her son and some dependents, was prosecuted in the spiritual court of Richard Ledrid, bishop of Ossory. She was acquitted; but one of her dependents was condemned and executed, and lier son confined in prison. However, she was afterwards found guilty on a charge of heresy, and committed to the flames Arnold De la Piei*, a magistrate of Kilkenny, on account of his endeavouring to protect these unhappy per- sons, was charged himself with heresy, by the indignant prelate, as was also the chief-justice, the prior of Kilmain- ham, who interposed in his favour. He was therefore obliged to abandon that worthy man, who expired in prison. Adam Duff, a respectable Irishman of Leinster, was burned on the same charge, which was at length extended to Led- rid himself, who was formally accused of it by his metropo- litan, and obliged to leave the country in haste, in hopes of escaping by an appeal to the pope. The reisrn of Edward III, which was so brilliant in the Jnatten- " • • r- i tionof Ed- annals of England, exhibited a contmuation of the same ward III. ^pjj]^ness ill tiie government of Ireland. The subjugation of France afforded a more tempting object to the ambition of that great monarch, than the trivial interests, as he thought, of this unhappy country. It was of course dis- tracted, not only by the insurrections of the Irish, but by the feuds of the barons among themselves. In such fiery tempers, the smallest provocation was sufficient to excite disturbance. John De la Pier had ventured to insult Maurice Fitztbomascf Desmond, by calling him ionaily as governor on the sudden va- cancy of the office of deputy ; enacted that places of public strength should be committed to the cliarge of men of English birth alone ; and the priory of Kilmainham only held by a person of that description ; extended to Ire- land the statutes lately enacted in England ; and annulled several acts of preceding parliaments, particularly of that one which had been licld by Simnel. The one termed em- phatically Poynings' law provided, that no parliament should thenceforth be held in Ireland, until the causes and HISTORY OP IRELAND. V\f eonsiderations on account of which it should be convened, chap. and tlie laws Avhich might be deemed proper to be enacted ^^' by it, should be previously certified by the king and his lieutenant and council, under the great seal of Ireland. This act was extremely necessary at the time, as governors used to assemble parliaments without advising the king, and pass oppressive acts to serve their mercenary piu'poses. Poynings"" military talents, from which he did not gain Second at- much repute before, had nearly been put to the trial again. ^^"^'.^^ °[. Warbeck, being obliged to leave the court of France on its making peace with England, made another attempt on Ire- land. Having landed in Munster, he was joiqed by Des- mond with his forces, and, advancing to Waterford, summon- ed the city to surrender. But the citizens, reinforced by the Butlers, and other adherents of the liouse of Lancaster, repelled the attack, and, despairing of success in this coun- try, he retired into Scotland. Poynings, elevated by this repulse, with which he had but little concern, returned in triumph to England, having crushed for the present the power of the Geraldines. An act of attainder had been passed against Kildare, the Kiidavc liead of that party, who, as already mentioned, was sent confined. over prisoner to London, which proved fatal to his wife, as, during his tedious confinement, she died at home of anxiety. At last he was admitted to trial, and being desired by Hen- ry to provide counsel for his defence, which he was afraid his cause would require, " Yea" he replied, " the ablest in the realm," seizing the king familiarly by the hand ; " your highness I take for my counsel against these false knaves."** Henry ^vas pleased with this compliment paid lo his integrity, and soon found, on trial, that the charges brouglit against him were mostly frivolous and malicious, and that those of treason were founded merely on suspicion. His enemies now were obliged to have recourse to the violences he had committed on themselves in their mutual contests. In par- ticular, they accused him of burning the church of Cashel to the grovuid. " Spare your evidence,"" said Kildare, " I did set fire to the church, for I thought the bishop was in it."" This odd sort of an excuse cast an air of ridicule on his persecutors, who concluded their cliarges with declaring, g2 100 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP <-i that all Ireland could not crovern this earl." — " Well, then," " rpplit^d the king, " this earl shall govern all Ireland."" Restored to his estates and honours, Kildare, by his inte- rest, got the earl of Desmond pardoned, who was a great oflFsnder, and all Ireland, who had favoured the cause of Warbeck, except Waiter of Cork, who had been the earliest to pay court to him, and lord Barry of Kin sale, who had been particularly zealous in his service. The for- mer, after long imprisonment, was hanged at Tyburn with the unfortunate adventurer he had espoused ; tlie latter, in his retreat, was murdered by an unnatural brother. Restored to The king showed his discernment in appointing Kildare hr? former j^py^y ^q \^\^ gon Henry, whom he had nominated lord- lieutenant of Ireland. He was, indeed, particularly quali- fied for that turbulent administration, and gratitude would urge him to a strenuous discharge of his duty. He pur- sued the Irish insiu'gents with implacable severity, and drove them from every fort they had seized. His exertions 1495. served not only to secure the pale, but to ^render at least the acknowledgment of the king''s sovereignty more exten- sive. Attempts He even attempted to effect a conciliation with Sir James a conc.iia- Qrmond, the Irish leader of the Butlers. With this intent tion w!th ... Ormond. they had an interview in the cathedral of Dublin, but it was disturbed by a riot of citizens, who Avere offended at the knight having too many armed attendants, and made an attack on them. The tumult was soon composed by the interposition of the earl ; and, after empty professions of friendship, the parties separated with the same animosity against each other. However, he formed a connexion with that family, by giving his sister in marriage to Piers But- ler, who, in a struggle for wealth and power, a case not unusual in Ireland, killed Sir James Ormond, and obtained his possessions. Defeats By another matrimonial alliance, Kildare was involved Cianucard ^^^ ^ dangerous contest. The lord of Clanricard, a leader jii a great ^ battle. of a sept of degenerate English in Connaught, being mar- ried to his daughter, by his disrespectful treatment of her, excited his resentment. From sharp aUcrcations and mu tual defiances, proceeding to open hostilities, they collected HISTORY OP IRELAND. 101 their adherents. Clanricard had all the forces of Con- chap. IV naught, with those of O'Brien of Thomond, and snmenfhpr ' __ Irish chieftains of Munster. The deputy had the lords of the pale, the CNials, and some otlier leaders of the north. The two armies met at a place called Knocktow, a few miles August 19, from the city of Galway. On the side of Clanricard was a great superiority of numbers, which inclined the English barons to retreat, but that could not be attempted with safety. However, the superior arms and discipline of their men made amends for their deficiency of numbers. The archers of the pale repelled the tumultuous onset of their ' enemies with a shower of arrows that did great execution, and caused them instantly to fly. In this disorderly route, they were pursued with such slaughter, that two tliousand of them wei'e slain, with little or no loss on the side of the victors. Two sons of Clanricard, who were taken prisoners, were detained as hostages, and the septs of degenerate English of Munster and Connaught were subdued. This victory was of essential importance, and is an addi- Revival of tional proof of 'the discernment of the king in appointing ^"^I'**^'"' Kildare to the office of deputy. The septs of degenerate English, who had coalesced with the original Irish, and adopted their barbarous manners, were even more violent enemies to government than they. Having less hopes of pardon for their public transgressions, they therefore became more desperate. The present monarch, it must be owned, though so much employed in quelling domestic insurrection, paid a very suitable attention to the interests of Ireland. The law of Poynings, to which he gave his sanction, produc- ed very beneficial effects. A deputy could not now summon a parliament when he pleased, to satisfy his own rapacious disposition. Few parliaments were, of course, called, and those for very essential purposes. From this reign, then, maybe dated the revival of the English power in Ireland, which, from tlie Scottish invasion under Bruce, and during the civil wars of the roses, had declined for the continuance of a hundred and eighty years. Still, however, there was a necessity for paying tribute to the Irish chieftains for their protection. 102 HISTORY OF IRELAND, CHAP. This favourable situation of affairs experienced a very sensible alteration for the worse, by the death of that prudent 1509. monarch, and the accession of his son Henry VIII, a prince r)ccr6iisG(l * under Hen-young and giddy, eager for military glory, and a dupe to ry VIII. .^jjg continental potentates, who flattered his vanity. To such a sovereign Ireland afforded but a barren field for re- nown, and was therefore unworthy of his attention. Succession The administration of affairs there was still entrusted to ^ y"""S Kildarc, who continually exerted himself in suppressing the insurrections of the septs of Irish and degenerate English. His death, therefore, which took place in 1513, produced very alarming apprehensions. The army suddenly dispersed, and' the insurgents began their attacks. In this emergency the council nominated his son Gerald loi-d-deputy, and the nomination was confirmed by the king. Possessed of his father's spirit, and frequently distinguished in his wars, this lord, collecting his forces, marched out to the disturbed dis- tricts, and routed the insurgents. He now found leisure to convene a parliament, in which was renewed the law against absentees, applying two-thirds of their Irish revenues to the exigencies of the state. From the senate he was called to the field, to suppress an insurrection excited by a prophe- cy, which persuaded the superstitious Irish, that the time for their being restored to their ancient power and splendour was now arrived. The insurrection was suppressed, O'Tool, the leader of it, slain, his head cut off, and carried to Dub- lin. Supplanted After this success gained over the public enemy, Kildare schemes of^''^* engaged in a species of private hostilities, for which his Oimond. talents were less qualified, arising from the family feuds that unhappily prevailed among the great bai'ons of the English colony. Between the Geraldines and Butlers in particular, as has been already shewn, a fierce enmity subsisted of long continuance. This was not in the least abated by the marriage of Piers Butler with one of the Geraldines. The lady indeed lierself, piqued at her inferior consequence, urged her hus- band (who, by the death of earl Ormond, had now, as next heir, obtained the title and estates of that noble family) to attempt supplanting her relation Kildarc, and thus to reco- ver the former authority of the Butlers. Unable to effect HISTORY OF IRELAND. 103 his purpose by open force, he had recourse to the arts of se- chap. cret intrigue. Accordingly, he insinuated himself into llie ' _ good graces of the king's high favourite, Wolsey, and ac- cused his rival to him of gross corruption in his government, and a traitorous correspondence with the enemy ; to which charges the cardinal afforded a very willing attention, as he was offended with Kildare for not paying him that luunble submission, which that hauglity prelate was accustomed to receive. Being summoned over to England to answer for his conduct, he was fully acquitted, but was superseded in his government by the nomination of Thomas Howard, earl of Surry, to the lord-lieutenancy, to which he was recom- mended by Wolsey, on account of the great benefit that would accrue by the appointment of a prudent Englishman to the Irish administration, unconnected with the jarring factions of the colony. This was a very plausible reason, ~ but Wolsey, it was said, was influenced in his advice by selfish considerations. The new governor came attended by a thousand ordinary forces, and a personal guard of a hundred men. The appointment of Surry, from whatever motives suny's ad= occasioned, was certainly very beneficial to the colony. '^'"'^^'■^'' He exerted himself with singular activity in suppressing insurrection, and was almost constantly employed in mi- htary operations. In an expedition into Leix, tlie present Queen's county, against the turbulent sept of O'Moore, he was indeed exposed to imminent danger ; but these dis- orderly forces could not make a durable resistance against a regular army, and were forced to escape to their f astnesseSy where they frequently endured all the miseries of famine. Thus, by his vigour, did he oblige the turbulent septs to make submission, and by his justice, moderation, equity, and hospitality, did he conciliate all others of less violent spirits. Unhappily he did not stay sufficiently long to af- ford a durable effect to his measures. Disgusted at beino' so ill supplied from the English treasury, and required to command a useless expedition against France, he left the country at the end of two years. Being prejudiced against Kildare by the unfavourable weak go. representation of his enemies, he had his rival earl Ormond ^^^"'"®"' of Ormonde 104 HISTORY OF IRELAND, G H A P. appointed lord-deputy. This nobleman, however, had not equal influence with the other over the native Irish, nor 1520. talents adapted for government, and, of course, became an object of their disregard and even contempt. Their pre- sumption was so much increased by the weakness of the deputy, that one of their chieftains, in the height of his vanity, had the assurance to send an ambassador to the king, threatening to make war against his majesty, unless he punished Piers the red, as he termed the deputy, who, it seems, had given him some slight offence. Kiidare a- While affairs were in this situation Kildare returned to gain ap- Ireland. During his absence he had made a powerful con- pointed. , '-^ .... nexion in England by his marriage with Elizabeth Grey, the daughter of the marquis of Dorset, and had proceeded with Henry in his splendid train to Calais, to hold his pompous interview with the king of France. On his return he at first affected to co-operate with the deputy in his en- deavours to suppress insurrection, but soon after raised an opposition to his government, and allowed his ancient animo- sity gradually to discover itself. In a petty fray between the parties, a favourite attendant of the earl of Ormond was killed. Hence mutual accusations were brought to the English court, and commissioners were sent to Ireland to try the matter of dispute, before whom Kildare, by means of his powerful connexions in England, gained the victory. To complete his triumph, he had Ormond dismissed, and l]imself substituted in his room. This eminent success was very agreeable to some of the Irish chieftains, particularly to Con O'Nial, who carried the sword of state before the new deputy, to show his attachment to the English govern- ment. Confined in Kildare did not long enjoy his high honour in security. "S an . jrj.r^,^pjg j^ being engaged in a war with England, resolved to trv to raise some commotions in Ireland. According;- ]y, he tampered with the earl of Desmond, whom he treated as an independent prince, which so much flattered })is vanity, that lie entered into alliance with him, and pro- mised to effect his purpose. His designs being discovered, Kildare received orders to seize him. Apparently with ^his intent, he marched into Desmond in hostile array, but HISTORY OP IRELAND. 105 turned suddenly about without executing his orders, and ^^^^' directed his course towards Ulster, to assist his kinsman, i • O^Nial, against some of the northern chieftains. Such con- duct gave reason to suspect him of being engaged in trea- sonable correspondence with the earl. He was therefore summoned to England, and put into confinement, in which he continued a long time, and was released with great difficulty, after his English friends had given secu- rity for his future allegiance. In the mean wlule, different deputies were appointed, Restored who had not authority sufficient to preserve the pale from triJaJ. disturbance. Indeed, it grew daily weaker and more dis- tracted, and afforded little or no concern to the king, whose attention was entirely directed to continental politics. The baron of Delvin, the deputy, was taken prisoner by O'Con- nor, a chieftain of Offally, and kept in confinement, in spite of the exertions of his successor, Piers Butler, now earl Ossory. His administration, indeed, was perplexed by the private intrigues of his old enemy, Kildare, who used the same expedient to embarrass his successor. Sir William Skeffington, with an intent to persuade the king that no one was so fit for the office as himself. In this he at last suc- ceeded, and had himself restored with more authority than ever, as his enem}^, Wolsey, was now in disgrace. , ^^^ Giddy with success he, abused his prosperity, and thus ^jg canity effected his ruin. He collected around him an armed rab-on his migp ble, mostly of the native Irish, whom he employed in acts of violence, and in executing his vengeance on those he dis- liked, rather than in preserving the peace of the colony. Justly alarmed at his irregularities, the impartial friends of the English government joined the Butlers and others of his enemies in transmitting a representation of his violent conduct to the king. Consequently he received the royal 1534, mandate to commit the government to some person for whose conduct he would be responsible, and appear before the king without delay. Having endeavoured in vain to elude this order, he was at length obliged to obey. On his de- parture he left the government unfortunately in the hands of his son lord Thomas, a youth scarcely twenty-one years of age, and, contrary to the positive directions of his majes- 106 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, ty, supplied liis castles from the royal stores with arms and ^^' ammunition for their defence, against the apprehended at- ^ tacks of his enemies, to whom he had given such cause for retaliation. Rebellion of Lord Thomas Fitzgerald, above mentioned, was of a cap- his son lord tivating person and pleasing endowments, but rash and in- considerate, the natural consequence of his extreme youthj and possessed with an immoderate pride of family, and con- tempt for the ancient enemies of his house. Deceived by a false rumour of his father's being executed in England, he took the advice of his Irish associates, and engaged in open rebellion. Attended by a body of one hundred and fifty well armed cavalry, he rushed with his followers into the council, then sitting in Saint Mary's Abbey, and told them, terrified and astonished, that they need not be afraid of injury, that he would act as a generous foe, and now re- signed the office of deputy, and declared himself the enemy of King Henry, Cromer, the chancellor and primate of Armagh, took him by the hand, and pathetically exhorted him to desist from the desperate attempt, which his Irish followers, who were ignorant of the prelate's language, sup- posed to be words expressing an approbation of his designs, and one of them, who was a bard, chaunted in rhapsody the praises of the silken lord, as he termed him, and advis- ed him not to delay, but to hasten to the field of glory. The rude effusions of the rhymer had more influence over him than the sage counsels of the primate. After traversing Fingal, a fertile district, committing great devastation, de- manding oaths of fidelity from the inhabitants, and putting those in prison who refused to countenance his rebellion, he laid siege to the castle of Dublin. Here the archbishop Allan, who had been active in effecting Kildare's disgrace, had taken refuge, but apprehensive of liis safety got into a vessel with an intent to make his escape to England. By the perfidy or unskilfulness of the pilot, a Fitzgerald, the vessel was stranded at Clontarf, and the unhappy prelate, having taken shelter in an adjacent village, was discovered in his bed by the party of lord Thomas, and carried naked before him. Falling upon liis knees, he implored mercy HISTORY OF IRELAND. 107 for a christian and a clergyman, but the young lord, with-C HAP. out deigning to answer him, turned about his horse, and ^^' exclaimed in the Irish language to his followers, " away with tlie churl," an expression that these assassins interpre- ted in the most malignant sense, and as he held up his hands for mercy, assailed him, and cut him in pieces. This murder, we must charitably suppose, was not intended by the young lord, who on no other occasion displayed a san- guinary disposition. In his zeal against the English government, he attempt- His exer- ed a reconciliation v/ith his old enemies the Butlers, in or-^'*"^ der to bring them over to his designs, but his proposal was rejected with disdain. Enraged at the contempt they had shewn him, lie marched into their territories, and ravaged their extensive lands in security. While thus engaged in plunder, he was recalled by an expected opposition from •. the citizens of Dublin, who having received assurance of as- sistance from England, shut their gates against his adhe- rents, and made prisoners of those who were besieging the castle. Offended at their treachery, as he called it, he sum- moned all his partisans of the pale, and laid siege to the city ; but the assailants were all repulsed, and it was at length agreed, that the siege should be raised, and the prisoners on both sides released. In the mean while the transports with troops from Eng- land entered the harbour, and a detachment of them, in the absence of lord Thomas, landed on the northern side. These, as they approached the city, he attacked with great fury, defeated, and either killed or took prisoners, in spite of the exertions of their valiant leader, who wounded him in the action. Elated with his victory, he planted his. artil- lery, which was now much in use, on the hill of Howth, and fired on the vessels at anchor, and others advancing with fresh supplies, which obliged them to go to sea. One of them, laden with horses, was taken by his adherents. Yet, notwithstanding his successes. Sir William Brereton, a brave English knight, effected a landing on the opposite shore with five hundred men, and was followed with another body by Sir William Skeffington, the new deputy. Their arrival in the city, announced by public rejoicings, admonished lOS HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, lord Thomas to retreat, who continued for some time in- ^^' active in the west, either on account of the severity of win- ter, or an agreement for a suspension of arms with the de- puty, whose bodily infirmities rendered him averse to war- fare. In spring hostilities were commenced by laying siege to the strong castle of Maynooth, on wliich the royal army could make no impression, until the foster-brother of lord Thomas, called Parese, betrayed it for a stipulated reward. This reward was punctually paid him on their entering the fort, but as he had made no condition for the security of his own person, he was afterwards hanged by Skeffington. In the mean while the young Geraldine proceeded to its relief with a tumultuary army, which he had collected in Ulster and Connaught, but on hearing of its'surrender, they deserted in great ^numbers. Still he resolved to meet the enemy in the field, and was advancing for that purpose with those who still adhered to him, when a hundred and forty of his gallowglasses* were intercepted and taken prisoners, who, after their surrender, on the near approach of the two armies were cruelly put to death by the deputy. This bar- barous precaution was not necessary, for when the incon- siderate Irish met their enemy at Naas, they fled at the first discharge of the royal artillery. Lord Thomas now retired into Munster, accompanied by a few of the partisans of his family, who might make some predatory excursions, and was followed by a body of royal troops under his relative lord Leonard Grey, who became apprehensive of a desul- tory Avarfare in a strange country, and proposed to him a treaty of submission, which he thought fit to accept. Ac- cordingly, he dismissed his troops, and attended lord Grey to Dublin, who was appointed lord-deputy on the death of Skeffington. His principal adherents also, O'Nial and OTonnor, now submitted. Execution The young Geraldine was sent over to England in sure ^f ^"" ^"" hope of having his pardon confirmed, but on his way to Windsor he Avas arrested and put in the Tower. He noAv learned, when it was too late, that his father was not exe- • Heayy-armed infantry. HISTORY OP IRELAND. 10& cuted, but had died of grief on account of his rebellion. In C H A P. vain need he expect mercy from the implacable Henry, who^ ^ • had resolved to cut off every branch of his family. Accord- ingly, the tyrant sent orders to the new deputy to arrest his five uncles, of whom three liad condemned the c(mduct of their nephew, and send them prisoners to London. Being invited by him to a banquet, they were seized, in the midst of the conviviality, sent to London, and with their nephew condemned for high treason and executed. Of that illustrious family one alone remained, Gerald, a brother of lord Thomas, a youth of twelve years of age. Conveyed by his aunt out of the country, he was delivered to the protection of the king of France, and emperor of Ger- many successively, from both of whom he was demanded, by Henry as a rebel subject ; afterwards he was committed to the care of the excellent cardinal Pole, by whom he was preserved, in defiance of the tyranfs threats, to regain the honours of his noble house. 110 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAPTER V. Sale of indulgences hy Leo X. — Reformation hy Luther-^Op- j)osition of Henry VIII — His change of opinion — His in- novations abhorred by the Irish — Mission of Browne to con- vert them — Interference of the pope — Application to G'Niat — Battle of Bellahoe — Fate of Grey — Submission of chief tains — Partial — Measures of the council of Edward VI— - Their attachment to the reformation — Prejudices of the Irish — New liturgy opposed by primate Dowdal — Read in ChrisCs church — DowdaVs controversy — Departure from the kingdom — Violence of Bale— -Few commotions from re- ligious motives — Trouble given by Tir-owen — Chieftains soothed, by queen Mary — Popery restored — Insurgents in Leinster punished — More powerful in the north — Suppress- ed in the south — Persecution in Ireland prevented. CHAP, ^jj extraordinary revolution at this time took place on the continent of Europe, which had a very sensible influ- Saie of in- ^^^^ ^j^ Ireland. Pope Leo X, a prelate of an elegant by Leo X. genius, by his encouragement of literature and the fine arts, liis indulgence in pleasure, and by various projects of im- provement, had involved himself in an expense, which his ordinary revenues were unable to sustain. In order to re- cruit his finances it was recommended to him to have re- course to the sale of indulgences for sin, which, in those days of superstition, had been often tried with success. Accord- ingly, he published a sale of general indulgence, but com- mitted the disposal of them, not, as usual, to the monks of the Augustinian order, but to those of the Dominican, on the supposition, that, by being less acquainted with the se- crets of that traffic, they would make a more equitable re- turn of their profits. Reforma- This mercenary mode' of affijrding paidon for sin, brought tion b_v fJrst Martin Luther into notice. He was a monk of the Luther. . . . , „.,... ,,^. Augustinian order, a professor in the university of W irtem- berg, and distinguished for piety and learning, and for a bold and daring turn of mind. Offended either at the ne- HISTORY OP IRELAND, 111 gleet with which his order was treated on the present oc- c H A P. casion, or at the o-reat abuse in the distribution of indul- _ gcnces, he railed publicly against the sale of them in the university of Wirtemberg. He then applied himself to study on these topics, and as liis reading increased, gra- dually discovered the various other errors of popery, which liad been so long concealed under the veil of superstition. He exposed them to the public in their native deformity, declaimed against the nomination of the pope, denied his infallibility, and proved his religion to be contrary to the word of God, on which alone the faith of a christian should be founded. His opinions, which were at first delivered from the pulpit in a rude eloquence, v.ere afterwards com- mitted to Avriting, and, by means of the invention of print- ing, were soon spread over all Germany. They obtained a very favourable attention, and were embraced by vast numbers, who ventured to declare their disbehef of those doctrines that Avere sanctioned by the authority of time. Thus was this ancient fabric of superstition, which had stood firm for ages, at length undermined by the daring liands of this bold reformer. Tlie rumour of these innovations on the continent soon Opposition reached England, which was prepared for the reception of y.jj^"'^ the new doctrines, fi'om the extravagant demands imposed by the clergy, and from the remains still subsisting of the Lollards, whose opinions resembled those of Luther, The people, however, were prevented from openly declaring their sentiments, on account of the strong attachment of the king to the catholic religion, and his aversion to Luther, against whom he wrote a book in Latin, which he sent to the pope, who received it as a precious gift, and conferred on the au- thor the title of defender of the faith, which has been still preserved by his successors. After this compliment paid him, he continued on good terms His change with the pope, till he opposed his intended divorce from°°^'"°"* his first queen, Catherine of Arragon, which offended him so much, that he renounced his supremacy, and, with the concurrence of parliament, declared himself supreme head of the church. Yet he was no convert to the protestant religion, and^differed from_other catholics only in this point. 112 HISTORV OF IRELAND. CHAP, that he denied the authority of the sovereign pontiff in spiritual matters, and assumed it to himself. His opinions were therefore of a peculiar kind. But the despot,by excessive violence, obhged all others to profess the same. Hence he ■would deliver a catholic to the hangman for acknowledging tlie supremacy of the pope, and commit a protestant to tlie flames for denying the real presence. His inno- Having succeeded in England by the severe exercise of horreTbv' authority ,he attempted to introduce his religious innovations the Irish into Ireland, a soil ill fitted for their reception. The na- tive Irish, who were never allowed the benefit of the Eng- lish laws, were involved in profound ignorance, which ren- dered them extremely bigotted in their religion, and of course incapable of being affected by any arguments dedu- ced from either reason or scripture. Connected by no com- mon system of policy, harassed by a constant succession of petty wars, disti*acted by mutual jealousy, and living in con- tinual alarm, they had little leisure for speculation. They were also very averse to any innovations that England would require them to accept, as they considered that coun- try inhabited by their enemies. Besides, they were in a high degree attached to the pope, as it was a general opinion among them, that Ireland was his peculiar patrimony,which, on that account, was called the Holy Island, and as the kings of Enffiand derived onlv from him their title to dominion over it, they considered the present monarch, by renoun- cing his supremacy, as guilty of an odious rebellion against his spiritual sovereign. It would, therefore, they thought, be impious to give bim any support or countenance in his wicked desions. This argument had also considerable in- flucnce over many of the English race in Ireland. Mission of I" order to promote the designs of Henry,George Browne, Browne to provincial of the friars of Saint Aucrustine, a man of real convert *■ % " them sincerity and charity, of simplicity of manners, and liberali- ty of religious sentiments, was promoted to the see of Dub- lin. With other commissioners, he was sent over to Ireland, instructed to endeavour, by conferring with the clergy and nobility, to obtain a general acknowledgment of the supre- macy of the king. This his majesty imagined would be as easily effected as in England, but the distance rendered HISTORY OF IRELAND. 113 Lis inflexible severity less formidable. The commissioners, chap, therefore, met with violent opposition, especially from Cro- ^ ' mer, primate of Armagh, an Englishman by birth, who was offended at his being removed from the office of chancellor, which he held some time, and also at the shocking cruelties exercised on the family of Kildare, to whom he was much attached. When they thus failed in their intentions, Browne recommended a parliament to be summoned, which was accordingly held in Dublin by lord Leonard Grey. May l^ In convening this parliament, the usual modes were not ^^^^' adopted ; the acts were not previously certified, according to the law of Poynings, Avhich was suspended by the king"'s assent-; nor were the two ecclesiastical proctors summoned from each diocese. In this parliament, thus assembled, an act was passed, after strenuous opposition, renouncing the authority of the pope over the church of Ireland, and esta- blishing the supremacy of the king. Several other acts were passed, similar to those of the English parliament,* by which the king was invested with the first fruits of bishop- ricks, and other secular promotions, and with those of ab- bies, priories, colleges, and hospitals. Yet archbishop Browne, the zealous supporter of thelnterfer- king's supremacy, found it difficult to put the act enjoiningp^p^ it in execution. Many incumbents of his diocese resigned their benefices rather than own it, and the clergy of his ca- thedral opposed his attempt to remove their images and re- lics. In this opposition they were encouraged by secret communications from the pope, who had sent from Rome a commission to Cromer and his associates, allowing them authority to absolve all persons from their oaths in favour of the king's supremacy ; enjoining those who had taken * After the example of that parliament, they enacted, That the marriage of the king with Catherine of Arragon should be null and void, and that the inheritance of the crown should be in the king and his heirs by queen Anne, declaring it to be high treason to oppose this succession, &c. &c. — Yet scarcely had this act passed, when intelligence arrived of the condem- nation and death of Anne Boleyn, and the marriage of the king with lady Jane Seymour. On this occasion, with the same servility, and obedience to the king's caprice, as had been displayed in the English parliament, they instantly repealed the recent act, and, by another law, passed sentence of attainder on the late queen, and all accused as accomplices in her sup- posed infidelity, declaring both the former marriages null and void, and confirming the succession to the heirs of the king by queen Jane. H Ill HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, such oaths to confess the guilt of them within forty days^ and to enter into new and most solemn engagements to support the papal power against all opponents. Appiica. Application was also made by the pope and his confede- O'Niai' rates to the Irish chieftains of Ulster, exciting them to take up arms in defence of the ancient religion. To CNial, in particular, a letter was sent from the bishop of Metz, in the name of the council of cardinals, containing a pretended pro- phecy of a popish saint, and enjoining him, ' for the glory ' of the mother church, and the honour of saint Peter, to sup- * press heresy, and oppose the enemies of his holiness.' Battle of This letter highly flattered the vanity of O'Nial, who con- BeiJahoe. gj^^pret] himself the champion of the church. He collected his forces, and found himself at the head of a large army, being joined by many other northern chieftains, who were roused to arms by the clergy, for the glorious purpose of supporting the true religion. This confederated army from the north, committing great ravages, proceeded as far through Meath as the hill of Tarah, v/here they were re- viewed in a pompous manner by their commander, 0''Nial. Thence thev thought fit to retire with their booty, as the forces of the lord-deputy approached ; who pursued them with great speed, and overtook a part of them, detached 1539. f»'o'i^ '^lie main body, at a place called Bellahoe, on the bor- ders of Meath, posted in an advantageous position, with a river in front. Lord Grey and his associates boldly passed tlirough the stream, though their passage was obstinately opposed, and defeated the enemy, who fled in dismay, and communicated their panic to the main body, which also in an instant took to flight, and dispersed themselves with such celerity among their haunts, that, in a battle and pur- suit, which continued till dark night, four hundred only of the vanquished were slain. Fate of ^^^^ victory of Ballahoe, that diffused terror througli Grey. the Irish chieftains of Ulster, closed the services of that zealous deputy, lord Leonard Grey. He was imme- diately after recalled, and received such an ungrateful return for his fidelity, as might be expected from the abominable tyrant that employed him. Pursued by his enemies, the Butlers, with whom he had frequent contentions during HISTORY OF IRELAND. 11- his government, and by the zealots of the church, to whom CHAP, he had oiven great oft'ence, by promoting so earnestly the ' kino-'s peculiar schemes of religion, he was committed to the Tower of London on a variety of frivolous and ground- less charges. Though he had displayed great valour in tlie field, yet he was destitute of the courage that this occa- sion required. ' Possessed of the most horrid apprehensions ' of the violence and rigour of the king, he declined a * trial, and resigning his life and honours to the discretion * of a merciless despot, he pleaded guilty, and was behead- < ed.^ The native Irish, instigated by a zeal for religion, were encouraged by the removal of this unhappy lord to renew their insurrections. The northern chieftains having formed a league with Murrough O'Brien, collected their forces in the western side of Meath, and were prepared to make a furious attack on the Eno-lish settlements. But Sir William Brereton, to whom Grey had committed the government on his departure, marched boldly against them with gi'eat speed, which terrified them so much, that they dispersed without a battle, and fled precipitately into their woods and other fast- nesses. 9 Discouraged by repeated defeats, the'abettors of the pope Submission deserted the cause of his holiness. Many monasteries were" .^,'^ ' resigned into the king's hands, and the Irish lords made a general submission, taking the oaths of allegiance and su- premacy. The earl of Desmond, who had claimed the ridi- culous privilege of absenting himself from parliament, and not entering into a walled town, resigned the boasted rights of his family, took the oath of allegiance and supremacy, and delivered up his son to receive an English education. His example was followed by some others of the degenerate lords of English race, who had adopted the Irish manners, and lived in a state of independence. Sir Anthony Saint Le- ger, to whom the king had committed the government, was busied in receiving professions of obedience both from these, and from the native Irish chieftains. The title oi King of Ireland^ instead oi' Lord of Ireland^ which had been conferred on Henry by the Irish parliament, held in 1541, probably struck those barbarians with more respect for his majesty. n2 rartial. 116 HISTORy OP IRELAND. CHAP. On some of the chieftains, both of degenerate English and ' native Irish, were titles of nobiUty conferred bv the king, on their making professions of allegiance. The three following, who renewed their submissions to his majesty in London, require to be particularly noticed. Uliac de Burgo, called also INlacWilliam, was created earl of Clanricard and baron of Dunkellin ; Murrough O'Brien was created earl of Tho- 1542. mond and baron of Inchequin; Con O'Nial earl of Tyrone. His natural son Mathew was made baron of Dungannon. The honours conferred on these eminent lords wei-e cer- tainly advantageous to the English government, but the be- nefit would have been more general, if the inferior chief- tains were taken under the royal protection, and rendered independent of their superiors. The latter, indeed, after all their professions, were still eager to retain their autho- rity over them ; for though the chieftains, who had received English titles of nobility, were bound, on obtaining them, to hold their lands by military tenure, according to the feudal system prevalent in England, yet, as they supposed that system would restrain their power over their vassals, they would not adhere to it, but continued to rule by the Brehon law, which was the cause of much disorder. Some septs, it is true, possessed a desire of being governed by the English law, and offered to petition to that effect ; parti- cularly the sept of O'Byrne, once very troublesome, who requested that their territory should be converted into an English county, under the name of Wicklow, but this reasonable request was neglected or denied. The only new arrangement thought fit to be established at the time, was the division of Meath into two counties, the eastern and western. Still it is a matter of doubt, whether a compliance witii their request would have rendered them more civilized. Some districts of Munster and Connaught had English Colonies long settled in them, and were formed into counties. A few regulations were lately adopted for their government, and as much of the English law introduced as was supposed consistent with their prejudices ; yet such was the barbarous state of those wild countries, tliat no justice dare put the regulations in force. This plainly shows that the late ge- HISTORY OP IRELAND. 117 nerai submission was not real. The black rent was indeed CHAP, abolished by the parliament held by lord Grey, but pen- ' ., sions were still continued to some Irish chieftains, by mak- ing them governors of forts, and on other pretences. The king certainly had a good deal of influence over them, as the earl of Lenox, at his majesty's recommendation, got three thousand of the Irish to accompany him in his fruitless ex- pedition to Scotland. His influence, however, would have been much greater, had he afforded a suitable attention to the country, and not employed his thoughts and time, like many of his predecessors, in useless attempts to conquer France. This afforded frequent opportunities to the native Irish to raise insurrection, and allowed the influence of some of the great barons to become so exorbitant, that they could thwart the measures of government at pleasure. The family of Fitzgerald formerly possessed that power, but, on their suppression, that of Butler attained it. A quar- rel of this family with the present deputy proved fatal to the earl of Ormond, who, by some means unknown, was poisoned at a feast at Ely house, with sixteen of his retinue. 1546. On the death of Henry and accession of his son Edward ^^47 VI, a boy of nine years of age, the native Irish began once^t^^"*^^^ more to forai schemes for insurrection. The English coun-cii of Ed- cil, apprehensive of this, sent over Edward Bellingham, '^^^^ ^^* a brave and experienced commander, with a very season- able reinforcement of six hundred horse, and four hundred foot, for the support of tl.o Irish government. On their arrival they found it necessary to march against O'Moore and O'Connor, the chieftains of Leix and Offally, who, under pretence of some injury received, had taken arms, and spread confusion through the province of Leinster, These insurgents were defeated by the united forces of Bellingham and the deputy, and on their surrender were sent over prisoners to England, v/here 0''Moore soon after died in his captivity, and O'Connor, on account of an attempt to escape, was piore rigidly confined. Their territories were seized byBellingham, who placed colonies and erected castles in them, and thus made a large addition to the pale, which had not been effected for several years past. For this sevr vice he obtained the honour of knighthood, and office of 118 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, governor, in place of Saint Leger, in which he continued to distinguish himself by his activity. For the sake of preserving the public peace, it was thought requisite that all suspected lords should reside at the seat of government, under the immediate inspection of the deputy. The earl of Desmond had done so for some time, but on the accession of the present king, he had retired to his lands, and resuming his usual course of rude mag- nificence and independence, refused to obey the summons of the deputy to repair to Dublin. On M'hich he pierced into Munster with a small train, and having surprised him in his castle, brought him along with him. He then induced him by gentle treatment to reside in Dublin, and by his ad- vice and example reconciled him to the enjoyment of a peace- able mode of life and civilized society. Such was his zeal in the discharge of his duty. But the cabals of his enemies soon occasioned his recall, and thus deprived the colony of his services. After the administration of two others, which was of very short duration, Sir Anthony Saint Leger was 1550. again appointed deputy, as Somerset, the protector, thought his experience would be useful in effecting the reformation of religion, which he resolved to extend to Ireland. Their at- The present reformation in England was very different to the re- ^f^^ the one introduced there by command of Henry VIII, formation, who, being a strict Roman catholic in other points, renoun- ced only the supremacy of the pope, and obliged his subjects to do the same. But the young king and his council, sup- ported by numbers of the people, not only renounced this, but all the doctrines of popery, and had a national liturgy composed suitable to their religious principles, and establish- ed by act of parliament. Prejudices The severity of Henry ""s government obliged many in Ire- oftheIrish.|g^j^ both of the native chieftains and English barons, to make a formal profession of a religious belief similar to the singular one he had adopted. But these were merely no- minal conformists, and were secretly as much as ever at- tached to the pope. Of course they were peculiarly hostile to the present enlarged system of reformation, and, during the weak reign of a minor, were not restrained by terror from openly declaring their aversion. Those of an inferior HJSTORY OF IRELAND 119 station were grossly ignorant, nor was any pains taken to C H A P. afford them instruction, or prepare them for the rppppfion ' , of the rational doctrines of the reformed faith. Archbishop Browne was more busily engaged in taking away images from the clmrches, and destroying relics, than providing proper instructors to convince them of their errors. Those sent among them for that purpose were ignorant of the Irish language, which, even in the English settlements, was mostly pi-evalent, and, of course, their advice would not be under stood. Whereas the instructions of their opponents, how- ever illiterate, being delivered in that language, had a suit- able effect, and rooted them in their prejudices. It not being thought expedient to call a parliament on The new li- tlie present occasion. Saint Leger summoned a meeting of'^gg-^^y' the clei'gv, and proposed the new liturgy in the Englisli primate language for their acceptance. This proposal was opposed with great violence by George Dowdal, a native of Ireland, primate of Armagh, who had been promoted by Henry, in spite of tlie pope. To make amends for his time-serving com- pliance at his promotion, he displayed great zeal in resisting the new liturgy, observing with scorn that it enabled every illiterate fellow to read mass. After some violent altercation lie left the assembly, accompanied by most of his suffra«- gans. His opposition, however, was not effectual. Browne, who 1551. was next in dignitv, declared his acceptance of it, as did ^f'*^ '" some other prelates, and it was soon after read in the cathe- church, dral of Christ's church in Dublin, in the presence of the lord- ^^^'^^ ^^V' deputy, magistrates and clergy. Those, however, sincerely attached to it were very few. The prej udices of the people against the reformation were not only increased by the in- fluence of Dowdal and the seceding clergy, but also by the mercenary conduct of the commissioners appointed to re- move relics and other objects of superstition from churches, who seized the most valuable furniture there, under pretence of obeying the orders of state, and exposed them to sale. In order to impress the people with an opinion of his su- Dowdal's perior sanctity, Dowdal retired to the abbey of Saint Mary, near Dublin, where he received a letter from the new depu- ty, Sir James Crafts (Saint Leger being removed for not be- 120 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, ing sufficiently active in promoting the reformation), inviting him to a conference on the theological subjects of dispute, which he agreed to attend, but refused to leave the abbey, where it was publicly held, before many of the clergy of the two opposite persuasions. Dowdal himself suppoi-ted the mass, Staples, bishop of Meath, the reformed mode of wor- ship. The contest was very violent, and, as usual in such cases, each party claimed the victory, and went off more at- tached to their own, and more averse to the principles of their opponents. Departure As the new liturgy was not as yet established here by act k-^Td ''^ of parliament, Dowdai's opposition to it did not render him obnoxious to any penalty. A punishment Avas however in- flicted on him, which would appear ridiculous in these days. The dignity of primacy, by royal patent,was transferred from the see of Armagh to that of Dublin. Disgusted at this dis- grace, or apprehensive of more severe treatment, he timidly • deserted his diocese on the present emergency, and retired to the continent. It being considered by the king that he had abdicated his pastoral charge, his see was conferred on another, named Goodacre. Violence of A strenuous zeal for the reformation was naturally at this ' time a strong recommendation to government, and accord- ingly the see of Ossory was conferred on John Bale, a man of deep learning, when compared to the rest of the Irish clergy, but of a vehement imperious temper, and a furious opposer of popery. By the acrimony of his censures he fre quently insulted the prejudices ofhis flock, and once so much exasperated the populace, that five of his domestics were massacred before his face, and he himself with difficulty es- caped. Few com. Yet, considering the prejudices of the people, few disorders motions ^ere at present occasioned by religious motives, and more gious mo- arose from a bigotted attachment of the natives to their an- cient manners and customs ; of which many of them at this time became particularly tenacious, as the revival of the Eng- lish power caused them to cherish still more the remem- brance of their ancient grandeur and independence. Here- ditary succession was entirely inconsistent with their preju- dices, and hence, on the death of the earl of Clanricard, his lives. HISTORY OP IRELAND. 121 followers elected one of their sept to succeed him, without C H a^ P. regard to the pretensions of his son the legal heir, who was obliged to vindicate his claim by force of arms. A dispute of a similar nature took place on the demise of the earl of Thomond. The principal trouble, however, that the English Trouble government experienced at this time, arose from the^'yj";"jjgf factious conduct of the ancient family of O^Nial. Though the earl of Tyrone, in the preceding reign, joined the other chieftains in their submission, yet he was still possessed with extravagant ideas of the royal dignity of his family, which were increased by his intercourse with his kinsmen and followers. His partiality to his natural son Mathew, whom he had declared his legal heir, and appoint- ed baron of Dungannon, gave great offence, as might be expected, to his legitimate children, who endeavoured to detach him from the favourite, and from the government that supported his pretensions. In this they completely succeeded, and Mathew, having received information of liis father"'s designs, communicated it to Sir James Crofts, the successor of Saint Leger, by whom the earl and his coun- tess, an active instigator, were committed to close custody in Dublin. The earl's son John, or Shane, as he was call- ed, affected now great resentment, and being joined by his followers, and some neighbouring chieftains, declared war against Mathew, to whose intrigues he imputed the indig- nity offered to his parents. Mathew now applied to the deputy for aid, who hastened to his assistance with some new-raised levies ; but John and his partisans, reinforced by a roving body of Scots, suddenly attacked the enemy, and defeated them with great slaughter. Encouraged by his success, he plundered his father's mansion, and ravaged his territory, the most flourishing district in the whole island. Repeated attempts were afterwards made by the deputy to reduce him, but all his efforts were ineffectual. In the mean while died the amiable Edward VI, who 1553. was succeeded, after a slight interruption from Northum-gjjoti^g'ji 1,^ berland, by Mary, the eldest daughter of Henry VIII. — Queen With the same appearance of clemency, as was shown in England on her coronation, Mary granted a general par» 122 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP, don to all her subjects in Ireland. Some time after she , ' also extended particular graces to many of" these, among which may be reckoned the complete restoration of the noble family of Kildare. The young lord Gerald, who had escaped the vengeance of Henry VIII, having return- ed to England in the reign of Edward, and, by his grace- ful person and refined manners, captivated the daughter of Sir Anthony Browne, knight of the garter, formed an in- terest, by his marriage with this lady, which soon gained him the royal favour. Hence he was restored to the ho- nours and estates of his ancestors. About the same time, Charles Kavanagh, as he was called, head of the great Leinster family of M'Murchad, was created baron of Balyan, yet, by a strange intermixture of English and Irish customs, he Avas nominated captain of his clan, for the purpose of exercising the ancient jurisdiction over his followers. Another instance of royal grace, was the libera- tion of O'Connor, chieftain of Offally, from his long con- finement, by means of the captivating manners of his daughter, who formed connexions at the court of England. Popery re. Mary, judging of the disposition of her Irish from that stored. ^f j^g^. English subjects, was more willing to grant these favours, in order to smooth the way for the introduction of her relioion ; but she had no occasion for this mode of con- ciliation, as the people were sufficiently inclined to it of themselves, and, indeed, hardly any other religion was at that time known in the country. Saint Lcger, who had been entrusted with the government in the late reign, for the purpose of establishing the reformed mode of worship, was again made deputy with exprcssorders to suppress it. The officers of state were confirmed in their several departments, but particular favours were conferred on those who had suf- fered by their adherence to the ancient faith. Among these was George Dowdal, who was restored to the dignity and office of primate of all Ireland, and vested with the priory of Athirdee. The return of this zealous ecclesiastic was the signal to the reformed clei'gy of the approaching storm. Bale of Ossory, the bitter enemy of popery, fled in dismay, as did Browne of Dublin, with some others, who had tnken wives, and were apprciicnsivc of the consequence^ as Dow^ HISTORY OF IRELAND. 123 tlal had received a commission to inquire into that ofFence. CHAP. The zeal of" this churchman even exceeded tliat of the court. and he was strenuous in his endeavours to restore the whole popish system. For the express purpose of re-establishing tiie ancient faith and worsliip, a parliament was convened by earl Sussex, the successor of Saint Leger, Avhich met on the first day of June 155G. To this assembly was communicated a bull sent to the deputy by cardinal Pole, the legate of England. It recited the fatal separation of Ireland from the holy see, occasioned solely by fear, and the readiness with which the whole island returned to its obedience to the sovereign pon- tiff on tlie accession of Mary, tiiat immaculate princess, who, in times of severe trial, had still kept herself pure from the pollution of heresy. It pronounced a plenary ab- solution on all the inhabitants for their late ofi'ence, and, after ratifying different ecclesiastical proceedings during the schism, and giving some advice to the possessors of church lands, it enjoined the parliament to abrogate all laws against the supremacy of Rome. The bull was read aloud by the chancellor, on his knees, and was received by the whole assembly of lords and commons in the same humble posture, in token of reverence and contrition. Tlie assembly then adjourned to the cathedral, where a te Deum was solemn- ly chaunted on the present happy occasion. The parlia- ment were particularly attentive to the orders they had re- ceived ; they revived all statutes for the suppression of heresy; restored the jurisdiction of the pope; ratified the provisions of the bull transmitted by cardinal Pole ; con- sented that the crown siiould give up the ecclesiastical pro- perty in its possession, yet still insisted that the laity should retain the church l^nds granted them in the reign of Henry VIII. Previous to the meeting of this parliament, the deputy insurgents exerted himself in the suppression of an insurrection in '"u^jgjigj,*^'^ Leix and Off'ally, where the Irish inhabitants, unwilling to resign their lands to the new settlers, stirred up their friends and followers to resist the usurpation, as they called it, and thus brought down the vengeance of government on their own heads. Numbers of theni were cut off' in the field or 124 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, executed by martial larw ; and the whole race would have _ ^' been utterly extirpated, had not the earls of Kildare and Orniond interceded with the queen, and become sureties for the peaceable behaviour of some survivors. These dis- tricts, by an act of the parliament above mentioned, were for ever vested in the crown, and converted into shires.— Leix, m compliment to the queen, was named Queen"* County, and its principal fortress, Maryborough ; Offally, in honour to her husband, Philip the second of Spain, was called King''s County, and its chief fortress Philipstown. In this parliament was passed an act explaining the famous law of Poynings, by which it was enacted, that no bill, nor even heads of a bill, could be framed by the lords or com- mons of Ireland, but only by the Irish viceroy and privy council, who sliould transmit the bills to England, to the king and privy council there, to be approved, altered, or rejected. More pow- In Leix and Offally, government had more influence than uorth!"^ ^in the north, where John O'Nial was able to raise disturb- ance, in defiance of the regulations they had made. His brother Mathew, baron of Dungannon, he contrived to pursue with incessant hostility, until at last he had him as- sassinated. When he got rid of this rival, he thought fit to interfere in the dissensions that took place between the sons of old CDonnel, the chieftain of Tvrconnel. One of these, called Calvagh, put his father in prison, and ano- ther, named Hugh, took refuge with O'Nial, whom lie in- vited to invade his father''s territory, which he did with a great army, being glad of an excuse to ravage the country. The inhabitants, on the first appearance of the invasion, secreted their most valuable effects, and drove their cattle into the most inaccessible places ; and Calvagh and his fa- tlier being reconciled by the common danger, the old chief- tain ordered his son not to meet the enemy in the field, but to make an attack on his camp at night. This advice being approved of, two gallant youths went into the enemy's camp, at the close of day, to spy out their situation, of which they got an accurate knowledge, and were even so little suspect- ed, that the guards invited them to partake of their supper, which they declined^ as their acceptance of this invitation HISTORY OP IRELAND. 125 would have formed an inviolable bond of friendship between ^ ^^^ ^• them, and of course prevented them from giving the intelli- ===«: gence required. Calvagh having formed his army into a compact body, and being led on by the spies, assaulted the enemy's camp at midnight, and dispersed them with terrible slaughter. O'Nial himself with difficulty escaped. Such were the domestic commotions that prevailed in the Suppressed north, in defiance of the interference of administration, "^^jlj^ which, however, had more effect in the south, as appears by 15S8. the following instance, Daniel O'Brien, having slain his brother, the baron of Ibracken, and attempted to establish himself in the sovereignty of Thomond, was defeated by the lord-deputy, who conferred the earldom on the right heir, the son of the deceased baron, which he consented to accept according to the Enghsh law, swearing allegiance to his sovereign. At this time a body of Scots from the He- bude islands, who had caused great disturbance in the north, by engaging in the service of Irish chieftains, and had lately formed apart of CNial's forces, having, in their dispersion in Tyrconnel, sought employment in the west, were suddenly attacked by the earl of Clanricard, defeated, pursued, and almost totally destroyed. The islands whence they came were also invaded and ravaged by the lord-de- puty, in retaliation for the hostilities they had committed in Ireland. While such contests prevailed in this country, a barbarous Persecu- persecution of the protestants took place in England, by [^°^ '"^^^^' orders of that cruel and abominable bigot Mary. On thisventcj. dismal occasion, many divines, and others of exemplary cha- racters, were there committed to the flames for a conscien- tious adherence to their religion. Of those who could es- cape, some found a refuge in Ireland, to which country, by means of die lenity of the Irish government, such shocking severities had not been extended. It was, however, design- ed to make it a scene of similar persecution, for we are as- sured that Cole, dean of St Paul's, came over for that ex- press purpose ; but when he attempted to produce his com- mission in the council in Dublin, to his great surprise, he found in its place a pack of cards, which had been substi- tuted by the dexterity of his hostess in Chester, who wa3 V26 HISTORV OF IRELAXD. CHAP, attached to the protestant religion. Enraged at the disap- pointment he met with, and the ridicule to which he was exposed, he sent off in all haste for another commission, but, before its arrival, he was happily deprived of his au- thority by the deatli of the queen. CHAPTER VI. Protestant reli'frioyi favoured hy JEUzabelli — Eslahlished hij parliament — Violences of 0''Nial — Assassination — Confine- ment of Desmond — A parliament — Disturbances in the south — Plantations attempted — Commotions suppressed — Disputes about prerogative — Apprehensions of invasion — Attempt of Fitzmaurice, c^t. — Invasion from Spain — Cruel act of the governor — His recall — Fate of Desmond — Wise govern- vient of Perrot — Erroneous parsimony of Elizabeth — A parliament — Opposition to Perrot — Plantation in Munster —"Commotions in Connaught — Discontents in Ulster — Re- signation of Perrot — Fate of the Armada — Fitzwilliam's administration — Execution of MacMahon— 'University of Dublin. CHAP. The accession of Elizabeth afforded a cheering prospect to . the protestants, who had suffered such cruel treatment un- 1558. der the bigotted reign of her predecessor. By the influence re^n^i^orTfa ^^ ^^^'^ illustrious priucess, the reformed mode of worship voured by was again established by law in both countries. In Eng- land, being the general inclination of the people, it was ef- fected with quiet, but in Ireland, which was so much attach- ed to the ancient faith, it afforded cDuse or pretext for new commotions. Elizabeth, at first, was cautious of discovering her sentiments on this delicate subject, but when she got herself firmly seated on the throne, she threw off all disguise, and declared herself the avowed patroness of the protestant religion. HISTORY OP IRELAND, 127 The earl of Sussex, wlio was continued in tlie govern- CHAP. \iient, for his proper conduct during the last reign, and ..^L_„ had been some time in Enghvnd, returned with instructions Establish. to net the reformed mode of Avorship establislied bv law in ?.^ ''^ ^"* " , i^ J liament. Ireland. For this purpose he summoned a parliament, in January which the commons were rather partially convened, as it was ^^^^' composed of representatives from only ten counties, and from towns in which the royal authority was predominant. In tliis session, in spite of violent clamour, the acts of Mary in fa- vour of popery, and against heresy, were repealed ; the eccle- siastical supremacy restored to the crown, with the usual be- nefits from church revenues, and the use of tlie common prayer enforced. The election of bishops, by deans and chapters, by virtueof a writ, styled conge (Telire, was abolished, and the crown invested with authority to nominate them by letters patent. In a few weeks, the parliament was dissolved, on account of the opposition afforded, which arose more from the temporal than spiritual peers, as the bishops were in gene- ral* peculiarly compliant, and wished to enjoy their situations in security. The inferior clergy were indeed more obsti- nate, many of whom, rather than perform service according to the reformed mode, abandoned their churches, which be- in.o- unsupplied by pastors of the new faith, fell into ruin ; and hence the people were deprived of the benefit of public worship. Very few could understand prayers or sermons in the English language, and protestant teachers acquaint- ed with the Irish tongue could not easily be found. The statutes lately made were in most cases evaded or neglected, and among the ignorant, a general abhorence prevailed of the present heretical government, to which they were ex- cited by active emissaries from Rome and Spain. This abhorrence, however, did not excite a general Violences insurrection. There were, indeed, some local tumults of°^^'^'^^" little consequence, not on the score of religion, but mostly among chieftains contending for superiority. The first general alarm afforded to government, arose from John CNial, a man frequently intoxicated, yet in his sober mo- * Of nineteen only two refused to conform, the bishops of Meath and KiJdare, who relinquished their sees. 128 HISTORY OP IRELAND. C H A P-ments cautious and circumspect, and sufficiently acute ia ■ devising schemes to effect his designs. After specious pro- mises of observing a peaceable conduct, he continued still to break through his engagements, and asserting the rights of his family to the sovereignity of Ulster, made incursions into the territorities of neighbouring chieftains, whom he obliged to pay him due submission. Sussex, the deputy, was ordered to reduce him, but he was so artful as to get an accommodation patched up, and being bound by one of the terms of it, to go over to the queen, he complied, but went attended by his guards in their peculiar habits and arms, as if he were a sovereign prince. On his return he attacked some bands of Hebudian Scots, as it were through zeal for the queen''s service, and made his hostilities with them a pretence for augmenting and training his forces, but when his designs could be no longer concealed, he openly made war against government. He drew out his troops to the walls of Derry, as if to make aft attack on it, but was repulsed by the garrison with great slaughter. He then made excursions towards the pale, and demolished some castles on the borders of it ; burned the church of Armagh, as heretical worship had been performed in it by Henry Loftus, ^i)e archbishop, who had lately been promoted to the see ; he also ravaged the whole district of Fermanah, and expel- led the chieftain, who had refused to acknowledge his supe- riority ; he affected to be the champion of the catholic faith, and dispatched ambassadors to the pope and king of Spain for assistance. Aseasslna- ^^ order to oppose him with effect, the deputy very pru- tion. dently engaged in the royal cause several Irish chieftains whom O'Nial had injured, particularly O'Donnel of Tyr- connel, and jNIacguire of Fermanah, and assailed him on all sides with such success, that he at length resolved to surrender at discretion. From this resolution he was di- verted by his secretary, who advised him rather to take re- fuge with a body of Scots encamped at Clan-hu-boy. Piers, an English officer, being informed of this determination^ very artfully inflamed the Scots against him, who invited him to their camp with seeming friendship, and having en- tertained him at a banquet with fifty of his followers, in the HISTORY OP IRELAND. 129 midst of the carousal, picked a quarrel with him, and put chap. them all to the sword. His head was sent to Dublin by Piers, who received a thousand marks as a reward for this 1567. service. Turlough Lynnough CNial, a man of a peaceable disposition, related to the family of Kildare, was declared his successor, who was bound to claim no sovereignty over the neighbouring Irish lords, and to allow the sons of Ma- thew, baron of Dungannon, to enjoy his demesnes without molestation. A son of John, who had formerly been deliver- ed as a hostage, was strictly confined in the castle of Dublin^ lest he should cause any interruption to this arrangement. _^During the hostile movements of O'Nial, disturbances Confine- of less moment took place in Ireland The earl of Des-!"^"'"^ Desmondi mond, m attemptmg to wrest some lands from the earl of Ormond, was wounded and taken prisoner. The matter of dispute was referred to the queen, before whom they botli appeared, and was settled by her according to equity ; but Desmond, on his return, refusing to make reparation to Ormond, was": seized by the deputy, and sent to London, where he and his brother John were confined in the Tower. Different other broils took place among contending chief- tains, and in the midst of such confusion a parliament was January summoned by order of the queen. ** ' Government could not, without great difficulty, ensure a A padia- majority in the House of Commons, and were obliged to"^^"** have recourse to modes of election not strictly legal, which were, however, countenanced by the opinion of the judges. In this parlimaent a suspension of Poynings' law was pass- ed, after great opposition from the popular party ; a subsidy was granted to the queen in place of coyn and livery ; those who chose got liberty to surrender their lands, and receive them from the crown as English tenures ; the lands of John O'Nial, except those possessed by Turlough, were forfeited to the crown ; the lord-deputy obtained authority, on ac- count of great abuses, to present to ecclesiastical dignities in Munster and Connaught for ten years. The division of Connaught into counties, which had been settled before, was confirmed by this parliament ; but no judges of assizes could hold their sittings there, the country was so disturb- ed, and Sir Edward Fitton, appointed president, was obliged I 130 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP, to govern by a mode partly civil, arid partly military ^^^ The lands forfeited to the crown in Ulster, were still pos- sessed by the natives, the abbey lands and houses by the Romish clergy, and the pope still continued to give away the bishopricks of Clogher, Derry, and Kaphoe. He had issued an excommunication against the queen, who was considered by his numerous adherents here an usurper, and an abominable heretic doomed to perdition. Disturbfin- In the soutli, disturbances from various causes still pre- ces ii> the yailed. Sir Peter Carew, havino- a le^-al claim on some South. _ ' » ^ lands belonging to Sir Edward Butler, brother to the earl of Ormond, attempted to take possession of them, but was resisted by ibrce of arms, and in the violence of their contest three hundred of the followers of Butler were slain. His conduct was considered rebellious by the government, but, at the persuasion of his brother, the earl, who had come 1570. over from England for that purpose, he was prevailed on to surrender to justice. James Fitzmaurice, brother of the earl of Desmond, irritated at his confinement in London, rose up as a cham- pion of the church, against the heretical government of Elizabeth, and seduced to his side the earls of Clancartiiy and Thomond. Repulsed in an attack on Kilkenny, he ravaged the open country, and retired into his fastnesses on tlie approach of the lord-deputy. Clancarthy now thought fit to surrender, and Thomond fled into France, where he obtained Ins pardon, at the intercession of Norris, the Eng- lish ambassador. In the mean while. Sir John Perrot be- ing appointed president of Monster, took the command of the southern army. He was reputed the natural son of Henry VIII, and possessed a portion of the inflexible seve- rity of that monarch. He pursued the rebels incessantly, stormed their forts, chased them from their haunts, terrified them by his activity, and at length compelled Fitzmaurice and his adherents, worn out with toil and famine, to sur- render at discretion. The inferior agents he executed by martial law, and reserved their leader to the disposal of the queen. Thus, by the rigour of his measures, and strictly enforcing the English law, he reduced the province into HISTORY OF IRELAND; 131 such a state of tranquillity as it had not experienced for C H A P. about two centuries. ^' It was at this tune thought expedient to make some at- Plantations tempts at plantations from England into the foreited lands *^'*'^i'^^ • of Ulster, which, however, proved abortive. The first, into the barony of Ards, in the county of Down, failed of success, by Smith the conductor of it being murdered by one of the O'Nials. The second, which was of a more extensive kind, was intended for Clan-hu-boy, in the same county, under the direction of Walter Devereux, earl of Essex, who was to get twelve hundred soldiers to accompany him. Leices- ter, the queen''s favourite, encouraged him to make the at- tempt, that he might be removed from court, being jealous of her partiality for him, and also resolved to thwart him all in his power, that he might lose his interest with her. — In this villainous design he was assisted by Sir William Fitzwilliam, now lord-deputy, who imagined that his gain- ing such authority here would lessen his own consequence. Hence obstacles were thrown in his way, and even the na- tive Irish encouraged to resist him, which completely ruined his scheme. Soon after he died, either of vexation or poison j ►«, administered by means of Leicester, who immediately mar- ried the countess. While Essex was employed in his fruitless attempt, ^T^Commo- insurrection was raised in Connaught by the sons of thetions sup- earl of Cianricard, who, however well inclined to it, were^*^^^^^ ' at that time provoked by the severities of Sir Edward Fit- ton, the president of the province. Being reduced to sub- mission, they were pardoned by the queen, on account of the provocation they had received, and Fitton was removed from his office. But they soon after raised new commo- tions, which were also suppressed, and their father, on sus- picion of exciting them, was committed to prison by Sir Henry Sidney, appointed governor again, who had ample powers afforded him, and twenty thousand pounds a-vear allowed him from England. He proved himself not un- worthy of the confidence reposed in him. Some commo- tions in Ulster he suppressed with great ease ; and proceed- ing through the several provinces with six hundred men, reduced them to quiet, and executed the laws with due 132 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP, severity. He had Sir William Drury appointed to the . presidency of Munster, who imitated the conduct of his ac- tive predecessor Perrot, and even extended his jurisdiction into Kerry. Disputes While the kingdom was restored to an unusual state of rogaiive.'^ 'tranquillity, a general discontent was excited by the gover- nor endeavouring to impose, by the queen's prerogative alone, a permanent tax, in place of the occasional subsidy frequently granted for the maintenance of the royal garrisons. Three agents were sent from the pale to plead their cause, before her majesty, who put them into the Tower of London for daring to dispute her prerogative, and confined in a prison in Dublin the noblemen and gentlemen, who had subscrib- ed their names to the paper they brought with them. Eliza- beth, however, who could perceive how far she might pro- ceed with safety, at length came to a compromise with them, and let them out on their making an equivocal submission. Apprehen- At that time she was more particularly desirous of relax- sion of m- jjjg from her severity, as she was apprehensive, by the intelli- gence she had received, of Ireland being invaded with troops both from Italy and Spain. Letters from the pope to the Irish natives had been intercepted some time be- fore, exhorting them to perseverfe in their opposition to the queen's government, assuring them of a supply both of money and troops, and promising them absolution for them- selves and their posterity even to the third generation. At Rome, the heretical queen of England was an object of horror, and every adventurer who could offer any mode of annoying her was received with favour. Attempt of ^"^ of these was James Fitzmaurice, who having sur- Fitzmau- rendered to Perrot, and obtained pardon from the queen, ' * repaid her clemency by applying to foreign countries for aid to renew the rebellion against her. Having tried the king of Spain, he repaired, by his advice, to the pope, who was pre- vailed on to favour his design of invasion. Accordingly, his holiness gave him a supply of some money, a bull addressed to the Irish, a consecrated banner, and his solemn bene- diction. With these he returned to Spain, accompanied by one Allen, an Irish Jesuit, and Saunders, an English eccle- siastic, now made legate. Philip, though very anxious for HISTORY OV IRELAND. 133 his success, could only afford a band of eighty Spaniards i CHAP, but Fitzmanrice collected himself some English and Irish . fugitives, and having embarked this little force in three vessels, they landed in the bay of Smerwick, in Kerry.— 1578. Though the place of their landing was hallowed by the be- nediction of the two pious ecclesiastics, who assured them of success in the glorious cause of the church, their first at- tempt was rather unfortunate ; for their three transports were captured by an English ship of war, which left them without any means of retreat On their landing they were joined with some forces under Sir John and Sir James Desmond, brothers to the earl, who, with the former, had lately escap- ed from prison in Dublin. Though well inclined to their cause, the earl hesitated at first to declare openly in their fa- vour, and the invaders having not obtained such success as they expected, Fitzmaurice proceeded to Connaught, in order to excite the disaffected to join him. With this intent he applied to Sir William de Burgo, but being refused, a skir- mish took place between them, in which he was slain by Sir William's son, who also fell, and thus ended his career in a petty brawl. The command of the invaders and their associates now devolved on Sir John Desmond, a man of an infamous cha- racter, who had murdered his intimate friend and benetactor for his loyalty. By him the royal army was now harassed in a desultory warfare, as he still hovered about them, and kept them in continual alarm, without allowing them an op- portunity to engage him. Encouraged by some success and by a daily augmentation of forces. Sir John and his party at length resolved to stand a decisive action, and according- ly the royal army, under Sir Nicholas Molby, though much inferior in number, proceeded to attack him at an old abbey near Limerick, called Monaster Neva. The Irish, being disposed by the Spanish officers, contended with unusual steadiness, but were at length routed with great slaughter, and among the slain was found the body of Allen the Jesuit, who had erected the papal standard, and drawn the sword in its cause. It was now discovered, by intercepted letters, that the earl of Desmond was privately concerting sciiemes ^vith the rebelsj at the very time he was pretending to arm 134 HISTORY OF IRELAND. C H A P. in the royal cause. On getting this information Sir Wil- ^ ^ liam Pelham, the deputy, made an attack on iiim, being re- solved to punish liim lor his treacliery. His territory was now ravaged, his castles taken, and himself and his follow- ers reduced to great distress. Yet in this desperate situation, affairs seemed to take a turn in his favour, by a reverse of fortune that attended the royal arms. Arthur, lord Grey, the successor of Pelham, eager to distinguish himself in his new situation, immediately on his arrival sent troops to attack some rebels under lord Baltinglass, and one of the Byrnes, that were posted in the vallies of Glandalough, in Wicklow. Though the veteran soldiers, appointed to that service, perceived, from their knowledge of the Irish mode of warfare, the imminent dan- ger, if not certain ruin, to which they would be exposed from the rash attempt, they yet obeyed the orders lie gave them. Accordingly, as they proceeded with difficulty through a deep marshy valley, abounding with rock, and winding through hills thick set with wood, they were as- sailed by a volley from the woods, though no enemy ap- peared, and thuo, by repeated attacks, were mostly all de- stroyed, both officers and men, who fell without having any opportunity to distinguish their valour. Several persons of high rank were slain in this vnihappy affair, and the gover- nor, who waited the event on a neighbouring eminence, re- turned in disgrace, with tiie remains of his forces, to the capital. Invasion Soon after this disaster, the alarming news arrived, that Irom Spain ggygn hundred Spanish and Italian troops had landed at Smerwick, with arms and ammunition for five thousand men, and a large sum of money, which they were directed to deliver to the earl of Desmond, his brother John, and ^ doctor Saunders, the legate. Immediately they proceeded to finish a fort which their countrymen had begun, but perceiving the earl of Ormond approach with his army, they made their escape into the woods. Having found, however, on more minute inquiry, that his force was not so great as they apprehended, three hundred of them, with their commander, returned to the fort. Ormond, being un- able to lay siege to it, was obliged to wait for the arrival of inSTORY OF IRELAND 135 Grey, the governor, wlio soon came from Dublin with eight CH A P. hunched men, and admiral Winter, having landed his can^ non, the fort was regularly besieged. Terms of capitulation were at different times offered to Cruel act of them, which they refused to accept, declaring in bold lan-j^^^.^ guage, that they would keep their post, and even extend their acquisitions, as they were sent by the pope and king of Spain to extinguish heresy, and reduce the land to the obedience of king Philip, wlio was vested by the holy father with the sovereignty of Ireland. Yet after this positive de- nial, the cannon in a few days had such an effect on tiiem, that the commander resolved to surrender. Offers of capi- tulation were now made, but Grey refused to grant them any terms al all, and after different solicitations continued still inexorable. The garrison, of course, being reduced to the extremity of distress, surrendered at discretion, and un- happily were denied that mercy which they had so earnest- ly implored. The commander, San Josepho, with some other officers, were, it is true, made prisoners of war, but the garrison, having no commission to produce from the pope or king of Spain, were, by orders of Grey, disarmed and put to the sword. It is painful to find that this odious service was committed to Sir Walter Raleigh. Various excuses were offered to justify Grey, who had certainly the concurrence of his council to support him, but queen Elizabeth express- ed great concern and displeasure at the barbarous execution that took place. The governor, it appears, was a man of a sanguinary teni- ^'^ recall, per. On his return to the capital, after quelling some petty insurrections, a report reached his ears of a conspiracy being formed against the government. Of this no certain evidence was given, but on the very surmise of it, he had several persons put in confinement, and some executed, particular ly Nugent, baron of the exchequer, a man of an excellent character, who died professing his innocence There is every reason to suppose he solemnly declared the truth, both as he rejected his pardon, which was offered him on his confessing his guilt, and discovering t!ie plot, and a? the earl of Kildare and others, wlio were accused of the same crime, were, after a fair trial, fully acquitted, not only of 136 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. VI. Fatcof Des mond. 1583. 1584.. Wist- go- vernment of Penot* every serious charge, but of even the semblance of disloyal- ty. In Munster, also, great severities were exercised by the governor, on suspicion, on persons of the old English race, who were zealously attached to the catholic religion. The rigour of his conduct afforded subject of complaint to the queen, who was assured that he left nothing in Ireland for her majesty to rule over but ashes and carcases. He was of course recalled, lords justices were appointed, and a par- don offered to the rebels. The earl of Desmond was, however, excepted from the general pardon. He was indeed in a melancholy situation, and had been already deprived of his most strenuous ad- herents. His brother. Sir James Desmond, a good while before was taken prisoner, and executed by martial laAv ; the miscreant. Sir John, fell in a skirmish with a party under an active ofHcer named Zouch ; and Saunders, the pope's legate, worn out with toil and want, died unnoticed in a miserable retreat, whei'e his body was mangled with beasts before it was interred. The earl himself, skulking from place to place, and daily forsaken by some of his attendants, was at last found alone, in a wretched hovel, by a few soldiers of an English garrison, under the command of an Irishman nam- ed Kelly of Morierta, who cut off his head and brought it to the earl of Ormond. At that time two of his agents ar- rived from Spain with arms and ammunition, but when they heard of the fate that befelhim and his adherents, they in- stantly returned. The earl of Baltinglass also, the last re- maining Irish rebel of note, made his escape thither. The whole island now seemed brought under subjection to the queen ; but desolation and famine, the dismal effects of war, were visibly displayed in the southern provinces. After the suppression of these disturbances, a lord-de- puty was appointed well adapted for the present situa- tion of affairs. Sir John Perrot, late president of Munster, a man of singular integrity, and possessed with an anxious zeal for promoting the interests of the country. The first act of his administration was a proof of his liberality. He pub- lished a general amnesty and assurance of protection to all who should return to their allegiance, and sent the earl of Desmond's son to England, in order to be educated in such HISTORY OF IRELAND. 137 principles of loyalty as would render liim worthy of any fa- C HA p» vours that the royal clemency might think fit to bestow. — His great object was to have the English law extended over tlie whole kingdom, and executed with strict impartiality, that the people might enjoy the benefit of a uniform polity, which might naturally produce a reformation of manners. With this intent, he proceeded to visit the several provinces, commencing with Connaught, in which he had sheriffs ap- pointed. He was, however, stopped in his progress south- ward by an account of a thousand Scots having landed in the north, which obliged him to march thither ; but on his approach, the Scots fled to their ships. The Irish chief- tains of Ulster now attended him with alacrity, expressed their wish to accept the English law, and even consented, under the semblance of loyalty, to pay an assessment for the maintenance of eleven hundred troops in their province, without expense to the queen. Having informed the English government of his success, EiToneous he applied to them for fifty thousand pounds a-year, forof£ii2a. three years, for the purpose of carrying his plan into exe-'^^^^* cution, engaging to maintain a large body of troops, to for- tify towns, build bridges and fortresses in proper situations, and thus strengthen the country with royal garrisons con- nected with each other. This, he declared, would be the cheapest purchase England had ever made for a long time. But the economy of the queen, impatient of the expenses of the Irish government, her eagerness to send troops to the Low Countries to assist the Dutch, and the illiberal advice of some of her council, who thought that, if Ireland were no longer weakened by domestic commotion, it might become independent of the English crown, prevented the lord-de- puty from attaining the object of his request. He was only allowed a small sum, and a body of six hundred men, to be incorporated with the army of Ulster. The subsequent Irisli wars, and the immense expense with which they were attended, afforded the queen just reason to repent for her mistaken parsimony. When the deputy had effected such necessary regulations A pariia=. as his finances would allow, he thought fit to convene a""^"*" parliament in Dublin, which met in April 1585. Several 138 HISTORY OF IRELANB. C HA P. commoners of the old Irish race attended; among the peers ■ were the l>ishops of Clogher and Raphoe, whose sees had been constantly given away by the pope ; and among the, temporal barons was Tirlough Lynnougn CNial, the old chieftain of Tir-owen. As it was customarv with every go- vernment to apply for a suspension of Poynings' law, which was considered as a mark of confidence reposed in them, the present one made the same application, but they were defeated by the members of the pale. In other instances they also met with a violent opposition, which caused the session to be terminated by a sudden prorogation. Opposition The hostilities experienced by the deputy was not indeed to Perrot. confined to debates in parliament ; the protection he afford- ed to the old natives, and his salutary plans for correcting abuses, which interfered with the private interests of parti- cular persons, raised a host of enemies against him, who used every endeavour to efl'ect his disgrace witli the queen, and even forged letters against him for the accomplishment of their wicked designs. Though the forgery was detected, yet an evil impression was left on the i-oyal mind, which could not be entirely eflaced. Elizabeth, therefore, from ■whom more discernment might be expected, instead of aug- menting his force for the purpose of forwarding his useful plans, drafted the troops from Ireland to the Netherlands, even at the time an invasion was apprehended to take place in Munster. His offer at that time to bring some Irish chieftains along with him to London to declare their alle- giance, was also rejected, though their loyal professions (if such professions could be regarded), with the hostages that Avould be left, might prevent the foreign foe from making the attempt. Yet, under every discouragement, he exerted himself for the general safety, and, in place of an assess- ment, had a composition appointed in Connaught for the maintenance of the troops. Plantation The suddeii prorogation of parliament, occasioned by ater. ""' ^'^^ violent opposition he experienced, prevented any busi-. ness of consequence from being done in the first session, but in the second one a bill of attainder was passed against the earl of Desmond, and his numerous adherents. Thei^i HISTORY OF IRELAND. 139 lands* beinff of covirse forfeited to the crown, Elizabeth was CHAP. . VI. anxious to plant an English colony in Munster. Advan- tageous terms were offered, and large grants made to seve- ral proprietors, among whom was the celebrated Sir Walter Raleigh. However, the conditions of the tenure were not performed ; a certain number of English tenants^ according to his number of acres, was to be supplied by each person obtaining the grant ; but great frauds were practised in making up the count. The proprietors, being absentees, committed the management of the colonies to agents who were ignorant or corrupt, and no suitable means of defence were adopted either by the planters or the queen, a neglect unfortunately productive of much future disturbance. While an attempt was made to introduce more peaceable Commo- inhabitants into Munster, the chieftains of the sept of De*'°"^ '" , . ir-iiT 1 Connaught. Burgo, HI Connaught, refused obedience to the English law, ao it prevented them from exercising tyrannical power over their inferiors, and as thesheriffsand other officers of jus- tice were too imperious and severe in the discharge of their respective duties. Sir Richard Bingham, president of the province, was something of the same cast, but his rigour he considered to be justified by the absolute necessity of the case. One of the De Burgos, named Thomas Roagh, be- ing summoned to the session of judges held in the county of Mayo, refused to attend ; on which Bingham ordered him to be seized. He resisted, and was killed, and two of his adherents were taken and executed. This afforded sub- ject for a formal complaint to the deputy, who interfered in favour of the sept of De Burgo, which served only to make them raise fresh disturbances. Bingham opposed them with great spirit, and having obhged Richard, another bro- ther, to surrender, executed him without delay. The de- puty, in a rage, summoned him to Dublin to account for liis conduct ; but they raised a more formidable insurrection in his absence, and declared openly for Spain and Rome. Bingham returning, executed the hostages that had been delivered to him, and prosecuting the war with great vi- * The lands loifeitt'd amounted to above .574', QOO acres, of which the half was hardly granted, and of course a large portion remained to be con^ ferred on ihost; v,ho should be pardoned. 140 HISTORY OF IRELAND CHAP VI. Discon- tents in Ulster. 1^88. Eesigna- tion of Perrot. Fate of the armada. 1 588. . gour, reduced the insurgents to the last extremity, when _ two thousand Scottish rovers came to their aid ; but being joined in this emergency by some loyal clans of Irish and degenerate English, he completely defeated the insurgents with their new friends, and thus put an end to the rebeU lion. The violence and rapacity of the sheriffs caused the exe- cution of the English law to be also unpopular in Ulster, though the generality of the people, especially the great Irish lords, required no provocation to increase their ab- horrence of the government. Hugh O'Nial, son to the late Mathew, baron of Dungannon, having insinuated himself into the favour of the queen, was allowed to keep six com- panies for the specious purpose of preserving the peace of the north. These, indeed, he did not employ at the present in acts of hostility against the government, yet took no pains to restrain the turbulence of CDonnel, the powerful chieftain of Tyrconnel, who refused to admit a sheriff into his district. In the present debility of the state, Perrot had recourse to a mean artifice to oblige him to keep the peace, which was inconsistent with the usual integrity of his character. He sent a Dublin merchant in a vessel, with Spanish wines, to the coast of Donegal, who passed there for a Spanish one, and having enticed young O'Donnel on board, carried him off, in a state of intoxication to Dublin, where he was kept as a hostage for his father's peaceable conduct. This was among the last acts of his administration ; for, after frequent solicitation, he at length obtained hi$ recall, disgusted by the opposition he met with from those of the English race, who were offended at the humanity he displayed towards the native Irish, and misrepresent- ed his conduct with too much success to the queen. As a Spanish invasion was apprehended, he summoned the suspected Irish chieftains before his departure, and advised them to give hostages for their fidelity, which they consent- ed to do. For this invasion an immense fleet was collected, stiled pompously the invincible armada^ but it was defeated by the valour of the British seamen^ and dispersed by storms. HISTORY OP IRELAND. 141 Seventeen vessels, after its discomfiture, containing above CHAP. VI, five thousand men, were driven on the northern and north . western coasts of Ireland, where they were received with cordiality by the natives, especially as they assured them that they would come again, with a formidable force, to free them from the heretical government of Elizabeth. One of their officers, named Antonio de Leva, was cast on the territory of 0''lluarc, the Irish chieftain of BrefFiiey, who immediately took up arms in the cause of Spain. But the Spanish commander having deserted him, was sunk with his men near the coast ; and O'Ruarc, being attacked by Bingham, the president of Connaught, made his escape into Scotland, whence he was sent prisoner to London by orders of the king, and there executed as a traitor. Reports were circulated that the Spaniards had left vast^'tzwil- treasures behind them in the places where they \^^ere enter- i„j„jsfj.jj^ tained, which soon caught the attention of Sir William ^'o"* Fitzwilliam, successor to Perrot, a man whose principal object was private lucre. Having sent some persons, who failed in the attempt, he went himself, in the middle of winter, to search for them, and was also disappointed, iai- raged at his failure, he seized two Irish chieftains, of ap- proved loyalty. Sir Owen M'Toole and Sir John 0*'Doug- herty, on the supposition of their having some^ and con- fined them in the castle of Dublin ; the former until his life was in danger, the latter for two years, until he procured his liberty by a bribe. By the same means, with the sup- posed connivance of the deputy, young O'Donnel, the sons of John ©""Nial, and other hostages, made their escape from the castle. While the rest got home in safety, 0"'l)onnel and Arthur O'Nial, being pursued, took refuge in a soli- tary retreat near the city, where, after some time, they were found by their friends, the latter dead with famine, and the former benumbed with cold. Having recovered, he effected his escape, Avitli an implacable aversion to the Eng- lish government, and soon after, on the resignation of his father, was invested with the Irish lordship of Tyrconnel. The deputy did not seem inclined to attempt reconciling Execution the Irish natives, which indeed would have been a very"^'^**^' im \ ^ Mahon, dinicult task ; his principal object was to get money, and 142 HISTORY OP IRKL.4ND. CHAP, to this he made tlie interests of tlic country subservient. VI. OneHiifrh MacMahon, ofMonaglian, having promised him^^ some, if he would obtain for him the inheritance of his de- ceased brother, to which he was entitled by the English law, did not afterwards keep his word, and was punished for his unhappy failure. The deputy, it is true, went to Monaghan, as if to put him in peaceable possession of his inheritance, but when he arrived there, he was informed that t.vo years before he had enforced by arms the payment of some rents due him, which was indeed contrary to Eng- lish law, but English law did not at that time exist in that country. Being tried on this futile charge by a jury com- posed, it is said, of common soldiers, he was condemned and executed, and his lands were confiscated. Such arbi- trary proceedings tended to increase the aversion to the • English law, which the Irish of Ulster resolved not to ad- mit among them. Hence MacGuire, the chieftain of Fer- nianah, when the deputy told him he would send a sheriff into his district, made the following very candid reply :— * Your sheriff,' said he, ' shall be welcome, but let me * know his eric, that if my people should cut off his head, * I may levy it on the country.' University Though some petty discontents prevailed, yet there was no open insurrection at this time against the government of the queen, who found leisure, in this interval of tranquil- lity, to found a university in Ireland, Different attempts of this kind had been made since the year 1311, but with- out effect, particularly one by Sir John Perrot, the late de- puty, which was opposed, through motives of private inte- rest, by Adam Loftus, archbishop of Dublin. However, the same prelate procured for the site of a university the 1591. monastery of All-hallows, which had been founded by Des- mod M'Murchad, king of Leinster, and, on the dissolu- tion of religious houses, was vested in the mayor and citi- zens of Dublin. From these he obtained the grant, and also a regular licence and charter from the queen. Hence a college was erected, intended to be the origin of a univer- sity, which was styled The College of the Holj/ and Undi- vided Trinity, near Dublin. A provost, three fellows, and three scholars, were appointed, whose names are recorded. HISTORY OP IRELAND. 143 and Cecil, lord Burleigh, was made the first chancellor, chap. Buildings were erected by public contribution, and in less ^^' than two years students were admitted This college, bo- J^ i^^ ing cherished amidst the desolations of succeeding wars, by the continual bounty of the queen, oijtaiiied a ijra\ esta- blishment, and is now eminent above most other universi- ties for its excellent system of education. CHAPTER VII. Schemes of Tyrone — His duplicity — Rebellion of OfDonnel-^ Of Tyrone — His feigned submission — Duplicity continued — Henewal of hostilities — 4 useless conference — D-feat of the loyalists — Rebellion extended — Essex lord-lieutenant — His misconduct — His intervieio with Tyrone — His full— Tyrone encouraged by the pope — Mountjoy lord deputy— ' His attempt to intercept Tyrone — 'seizure of Ormond-— Energy and success of Mountjoy — His severe expedient'— Hit alarm — His operations continued — Base coinage- State of Minister — Exertions of Carew — The province re- duced — Invaded from Spain — Siege of Kinsale — Vain at- tempt of Carew — Siege continued — Fresh invasion — Gene- ral insurrection — Danger of Mountjoy — His victory at Ki7isale — Surrender of the Spaniards — Rebellion suppressed inMunster — Tyrone harassed in Ulster — His real submis- sion — His sorrow at the death of Elizabeth — Refections. • The turbulent time was now approaching, when the still voice chap. of science was drowned in the ciaiigour of war. A dangerous V ^^- insurrection was on the point of bursting forth, which af 5^.^^,^^^ ^f forded Elizabeth just reason to repent for her mistaken par-Tyrone, simony in Ireland, as has been already observed. Ma- thew CNial, baron of Dungamion, was particularly favour- ed by government, which extended, after his death, the same kindness to his son Hugh. He was a man of no very striking: figure, but of a hardy constitution, of deep dissi- mulation, and polished manners, which were improved by 144 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP. VII. a liberal education, and an early service in the English army. By liis persuasive powers over tlie queen, he ob- tained, in 1587, the earldom and estates of Tyrone, except some small portions reserved, and at the same time advised her majesty to have the name of O'Nial abolished, which was absolutely necessary for the peace of the country. Be- ing regarded as a firm friend of the English government, he was unwarily allowed, as already mentioned, six com- panies of soldiers for the purpose of maintaining the peace of the north. These he constantly dismissed when they learned the use of arms, and took others in their place, by "vvliicli mode he had the most of his vassals taught military discipline. He also imported vast quantities of lead for bullets, under pretence of covering the roof of his castle at Dungannon. His dupJi- Having entered into treasonable conspiracies, particularly Avith the Spaniards who were driven on the coast, he was apprehensive his designs would be discovered ; and in order to remove all suspicions, he went over to England, where he paid his humble obedience to Elizabeth, and acquiesced in all the conditions imposed on him to secure his peaceable ' conduct. Soon after his secret engagements with the Spa- niards were laid to his charo-e bv the sons of John O'Nial, but he made such a plausible defence as not to forfeit the royal favour. He was of course permitted to return to Ire- land, where, with equal artifice, he evaded the formal execu- tion of the articles to which he had agreed. One of the sons of John, named Hugh Ne-Gavelocke,^ who was his princi- pal accuser, he seized and put to death, which he could not get done till he sent for an executioner to a distant part of the kingdom, so highly was the name of ©""Nial respected. Though the queen was enraged at this atrocious act, yet he made such specious excuses, that the only way she express- ed her resentment was by withdrawing from him the com- mission of martial law, which he had so violently abused. * The late John O'Nial (who was assassinated by the Scots), in the ple- nitude of his power, carried off the wife of Calvagh O'Donnel of Tyrcon- nel, hy whom he had this son, who was called Ne Gavdocke, or the fetter- ed, from the circumstance of his mother being in captivity at the time be was born. HISTORY OF laELAND. 145 In order to strengthen liis interest among the Irish chief- CHAP, tains, he sent his son to be fostered by the sept of 0"Cahan, ^'^' and gave his daughter in marriage to young O'Donnel, who had escaped from confinement in the castle of Dublin. His treasonable designs being now more apparent, articles of impeachment were exhibited against him by Sir Henrjr Bagnal, a gentleman of great property in Ulster, whose sister he had seduced into marriage. These he also eluded by specious answers, and by interfering to save the lives of a sheriff and his attendants in Fermanah, whose arbitrary conduct had excited Macguire to take up arms against them: The deputy now sent forces under Bagnal to oppose this chieftain, who was assisted by O'Donnel and some Scottish adventurers ; and, in a battle in which the insurgents were defeated, Tyrone fought with such apparent zeal in the cause of government, that he was wounded in the thigh. Yet, at the very time he displayed such loyalty, he held a secret correspondence with the enemy, but did not wish to declare himself till the arrival of the troops from Spain, which he expected. However, he separated himself from the royal camp under pretence of being afraid of Bagnal ; and sent his brother Cormac to O'DonneFs assistance, who declared he would consider him as an enemy if he delayed any longer to unite with hisjcountrymen. Turlough Lin- nough, the head of the sept, having died at this time, Ty- rone threw the sons of John CNial into prison, whose claim was superior to his, as his father was illegitimate, and then assumed himself the title of the O'NiaU which he had formerly recommended to be suppressed for the sake of the peace of the country. His excuse to administration for do- ing so was, that he took that title merely to prevent some other person less loyal than he from assuming it, but would resign it whenever a regular system of English polity should be established in his territories. In the mean while, the war was openly carried on both in Rebellion Ulster and Connaught by O'Donnel and his associates, who"*^*^'^°"' had less artifice than Tyrone. Some insurgents from the north, having burst into the latter, were defeated by Bing- ham, the president of the province, who pursued them, and took Enniskillen, the principal fortress of Macguire ; but 146 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, on his return to his presidency, that post was invested by tlie forces of O'Donnel, who exerted himself with vigour and success. x\n English army, sent to its relief, he routed, put the garrison to the sword, which was obliged to surrender through famine, and having burst into Connaught, spread- ing desolation through the parts attached to government, destroyed a detachment sent to assist the garrison of Bel- leek, which was also obliged to surrender through famme, and was then butchered without mercy. Bingham, the president, though remarkable for his zeal and activity, had not forces sufficient to oppose him, so that he was in a man- ner complete master of Connaught, and established, in the plenitude of his power, one of his associates, a degenerate De Burgo, chieftain of his district, by the name of the Mac- William. Yet, with all his success, he was not considered as the most formidable enemy by the English government, which had instructed the deputy to try every secret method to detach him from Tyrone, who was suspected to be the hidden mover of the northern rebellion. However, they adopted a seemingly more effectual mode for suppressing it, by appointing sir John Norris, a distinguished leader, to the command of three thousand men destined for Ireland, of whom two thousand were veterans, and giving him au- thority to act independent of Sir William Russel, the suc- cessor of Fitzwilliam. Of Tyrone. Soon after the arrival of this deputy, Tyrone suddenly appeared before him, lamented the wrongs he had sustain- ed from the malicious insinuations of his enemies, and made the most ardent professions of his submission and loyal at- tachment to the queen. Russell, being assured of his trea- sonable designs, gave it as his opinion, that he should be taken into custody on suspicion, but could not prevail on the majority of the council to consent, at which the English ministry were very much offended. He was therefore dis- missed to concert new mischief. Being informed of the ap- pointment of Norris, and the measures prepared against him, he resolved to strike the first blow. Accordingly, he expelled the English garrison from the fort of Blackwater, and sent emissaries to Spain with, pressing letters for imme- diate succours, yet, at the same time, renewed his insidious HISTORY OF IRELAND. 147 offers of submission. Afterwards, he attacked the castle of c H A P. Monaghan, and, when some forces came to its rehef, he fought agahist them with great valour, particularly he dis- tinguished himself in a single combat. One Sedgram, an English officer, having assailed him, threw him off his horse, but on his fall he pulled him along with him, and when his antagonist, who was over him, was preparing to dispatch him, he prevented the blow by stabbing him with a dagger. Elizabeth, who was eager to got rid of the Irish wars, of- His feign- fered proposals to the insurgents, in hopes to patch up some^?**"'""'^' sort of an accommodation. With this intent she appointed commissioners to meet the Irish chiefs, who refused to have any communication with them, except in the open fields, not as submissive subjects, but as generals of equal rank in a parley. Tyx'one, O'Donnel, and their associates, now stat- ed their grievances, proposed the terms on which they would . make peace, but rejected the offers made them by the queen, and consented to a truce of a few days. Yet, with all their insolence, when the deputy and Norris, collecting their forces, marched against them at the expiration of the truce, they were so terrified as to make their escape with al! speed. Tyrone, in particular, deserting the fort of Blackwater, and burning Dungannon, where he lived, with the adjacent vil- lages, retired into the woods. The deputy having left gar- risons in Armagh and Monaghan, and a part of the army in this quarter under the command of Norris, returned to Dublin, declaring his intention of punishing some insur- gents of Leinster, where, as at other places, the timidity of government encouraged the disaffected to insult their weakness. Tyrone, not being sufficiently prepared to renew hostilities, till the arrival of Spanish aid, which he eagerly expected, sent off again very pathetic letters both to the queen and Norris, lamenting the wretched condition to which he was reduced by injustice and cruelty, and ex_ pressing the most ardent wishes to return to peace and alle- giance. His representations were so plausible as to interest Norris in his favour. Another congress was accordingly held at Dundalk, where Tyrone readily assented to the different articles demanded of him, particularly the renunciation of the title of the O'Nial for that of the earl of Tyrone. As K 2 148 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, to the enlargement of the sons of John O'Nial, he evaded r- ' i^ at present, by consenting that it should be referred to the queen's future pleasure, when made acquainted with their offences. Macguire, O'Donnel, O'Ruarc, and others of his confederates, having mode like submission, received also a most gi-acious pardon. The northern war, of course, seem- ed now brought to a happy termination. Duplicity Yet, on the arrival of three pinnaces from the kins of continued. _. ., .. ^ -n • p-j Spam, with ammunjtion and magnificent promises or aid, the rebel chiefs resolved to engage again in hostilities. Ty- rone, however, did not so openly declare himself, and, with his usual duplicity, sent the lord-deputy and council the let- ter the king of Spain had written to him, in order to per- suade them of the sincerity of his submission. At the same time, he had the assurance of speedy invasion conveyed through Leinster and Munster, exhorting the disaffected to take up arms in defence of the true catholic religion of Je- sus Christ. Insurrections had already broke out in Con- naught, but they were suppressed by the united forces of the deputy and Norris. As an excuse for their offence, the insurgents alleged, that they had been intolerably oppress- ed by Sir Richard Bingham, the president, who hurried off to England to justify himself. There he was put in con- finement, and being superseded by Sir Conyers Clifford, was sent a prisoner to Connaught, where he was tried and acquitted. While such attention was paid to the complaints of the disaffected in that province, Tyrone also complained of the provocations he had received, and exhibited a list of the griev- ances he had endured. In revenge for these injuries, he then invested Armagh, and expelled the garrison ; but, on the approach of Norris, renewed, with the most solemn pro- testations, his usual offers of submisstcm. Commissioners were again appointed, with full powers of conferring par- don on the stipulated term?, but having gained some addi- tional strength, he eluded the conference, though govern- ment had rceanly solicited his compliance. Norris, indeed, Iiad given too much encouragement to this mode of amicable conference, though experience should have taught him how little reliance was to be placed on the profiessions of this man. HISTORY OF IRELAND, l49 It was expected by the English ministers, that one of his CHAP. great military reputation should have gained some brilliant advantages in Ireland, but the nature of the service in which he was engaged, and the wants and difficulties under which he laboured, caused the disappointment. He was also duped, it appears, by the artifices of Tyrone, and the queen was highly offended at tlie ill success of the conferences which he had recommended, A new lord-deputy, lord Burgh, was sent over, of sufficient military talents, and Norris was abruptly ordered to his presidency of Munster, where he was so affected by his disgrace that in two months he died through vexation. Lord Burgh, being resolved to proceed with rigour against Renewal Tyrone, was joined by the earl of Kildare, the baron of°/ '^°®*'''" Trimbleston, and other lords of the pale, with their followers. He detached a son of lord Trimbleston with a thousand men, to oppose one Tirrel, a degenerate Englishman, sent by Tyrone with five hundred into Leinster, to encourage the rebellious septs to rise ; but the skill of this insurgent made amends for his deficiency in numbers; he defeated the royalists, and sent their leader a prisoner to Tyrone. In another instance the deputy was also unsuccessful. Having ordered Sir Conyers Clifford to mai'ch his forces through Connaught, and meet him at the fort of Blackwater, this officer attempted to obey ; but his body of seven hundred men was met by two thousand rebels, whom he was unable to engage. He was of course obliged to make a retreat, and conducted it with such skill as to regain his quarters without much loss, though harassed for thirty miles by the enemy. These partial disappointments, however, did not prevent the deputy, possessed of martial spirit and military skill, to continue his exertions. He marched boldly against Tyrone, who lay strongly entrenched near Armagh, and, after an obstinate engagement, forced the entrenchments, and put his army to flight ; he pursued him, and took the fort of Blackwater, defeated the rebel forces again in a bloody en- counter, and was preparing to attack them a third time in their defiles, between his army and Dungannon, the resi- dence of Tyrone, to which he resolved to pierce, when he unfortunately diefd, leaving the command to Kildare. This 350 HISTORY OF IRELAND. ^ Vlt ^ "^bleman thought it prudent not to proceed fartlier, but to - secure the ground already gained. However, he did not continue long in the command, having died soon after the deputy. His death was occasioned by excessive grief at the loss ot his two foster brothers, who had fallen in a successful attempt to rescue him from the enemy. A useless The civil administration of Ireland was now committed 'to Loftus, archbishop of Dublin, and chancellor, and to Sir Robert Gardner, chief-justice ; the military was committed to the earl of Ormond, under the title of lord-lieutenant of the army. Being obliged to continue in Leinster himself, on account of the disordered state of that province, he de- tached Sir Henry Bagnal to Ulster to keep the northerns in awe, and to support the garrisons of Armagh and Blackwa- ter. Tyrone having lately experienced the superiority of the English forces, and, desirous of gaining time for a more favourable opportunity, had recourse to his usual mode of soliciting pardon, and offering the grievances he sustained for his justification. His humble proposal was again trans* mitted to the queen, and Ormond was of consequence or- dered to hold a conference with him at Dundalk. Two meetings were accordingly held there for an accommoda- tion. In the first, Ormond assented to an armistice of two months, in order to give the other chiefs time to transmit their complaints to the queen. In the second, the condi- tions of pardon were mentioned, but Tyrone, having gained some confidence, examined them scrupulously, and rejected the most material of them. He agreed indeed to a few, but with such exceptions and explanations as rendered thera nugatory. Thus he dictated the terms on which he would accept of a pardon, and yet the queen, at the pressing in- treaties of Ormond, granted him her gracious pardon un- der the great seal. This pardon, however, he treated with contempt ; he neglected to proceed through the forms of law necessary to give it effect, and to reinstate him in the condition of a loyal subject. At the late conference he had demanded a cessation of arms, in hopes that the Spanish succours would arrive in the mean lime, but could only ob* tain a truce for two months, whicli indeed was necessary, on account of the weak condition of the royal army. With HISTORY OF IRELAND. 151 this lie was well acquainted, and therefore resolved, after ^^j^^- all his promises and treaties^ immediately to commence hos- - ■ '^ tiliiies again, befor^^e it recovered from its present feeble state. He began by attempting to blockade Armagh, and for Defeat of that purpose encamped between that town and Newryjj^^^^ where Bagnal was stationed, who relieved the garrison, by passing through an unfrequented road, and made a sudden attack on the enemy, which threw them into confusion, but was attended with no decisive advantage. Tyrone retiring, laid siege to the fort of Blackwater, which Bagnal, being reinforced with fresh troops, was ordered to relieve, and inarching with an army of five thousand men, met his op- ponent near the fort with five thousand one hundred drawn jip in order of battle. 'I he superstitious Irish, assured by the priests from ancient prophecies that this day A\ould prove fatal to heresy, were thus urged with phrenzy to the attack. Their assault was violent, and the dispositions of Bagnal not judicious; but the royalists, stood firm till an accidental explosion of gunpowder put them in confusion, which was increased by the death of their leader, who re- ceived a fatal shot in the forehead. Victory was now decid- ed in favour of the northerns. The royal army lost fifteen hundred men, thirteen valiant oflScers, all its artillery, am- munition and provisions, with a quantity of arms. The re- mains of it fled to Armajih for shelter, which it was soon obliged to evacuate, the fort of Blackwater having previ- ously surrendered. The fame of Tyrone was now conspicuous ; he was every- Rebellion where extolled as the deliverer of his country.- The disaf- ^^'^"'^^'^* fected in all quarters declared in his favour. In Ulster, those who had hitherto hesitated now emulated each other in their eagerness to join his army. In Connaught the in- surrection was general ; the whole province rose up against the government. In Leinster, the chiefs of the Irish septs also took up arms, particularly CMoore, who, having got possession of Leix, his ancient patrimony, pierced into Mun- ster with some troops, to raise an insurrection there, in which he succeeded, after forcing Sir Thomas Norris, the Iprd president, to retire with his harassed army into Cork. 152 HISTORY OF IRELAND. ^H A P. For the new plantations in this province, no adequate de- -- - fence had been provided. Instead of two tliousand men of English birth being furnished, according to the original plan," not more than two hundred could be found there, who fled from their dwellings in search of some place of safety, but could find none, and were destroyed by their vindictive enemies. The royal cause seemed now desperate. The friends of government having taken refuge in their fortifications, apprehensive either of the danger of assault, or the miseries of famine, abandoned the open country to the rebels, who indulged in the most licentious excesses, and committed the most atrocious acts of cruelty on the unfor- tunate victims of their fury. At this time of general dismay, intelligence was received through the king of Scotland, that Philip of Spain was making great preparations to invade both her majesty's kingdoms, and that twelve thousand men were particularly destined for the aid of the insurgents in Ireland. Essex lord- Elizabeth, being at length convinced of the futility of eutenant. temporizing expedients, found it necessary, in order to pre- serve this country to the English crown, to send into it an experienced general with a large army. For this important command her favourite, Robert Devereux earl of Essex, by an indirect mode, recommended himself, and both his ene- mies and his friends were desirous of his appointment ; the one, that he might return with augmented influence after success; the other, that after the impression he had made on the royal mind should be effaced by absence, his pride and intemperance would have their suitable effect on her majesiy^'s imperious spirit ; they also thought that his at- tempts against the Irish insurgents might be attended with ill success, which would sufficiently answer their purpose. j\ccordingly, he was sent into Ireland with the title of lord- lieutenant, accompanied by twenty thousand men, allowed authority to remove officers, confer dignities, and conduct the men at his discretion, and also furnished with the ex- traordinary power of pardoning every species of treason. Yet this great army caused no terror to Tyrone and his confederates, who resolved on a vigorous opposition ; hence when Essex arrived in Dublin with all the pomp of a mili- HISTORY OP IRELAND. 153 tary hero hastening to certain victory, he was assured that ^ HA p. the forces of the rebels in the several provinces were more j^^;;;^^ numerous than his, their bodies more hardy and robust, and that they were generally better trained to arms than the new levies. Previously to his appointment, he gave it as his opinion, His mis- that the new general should march directly against the north- *^"" '^^^ ern rebels, and plant garrisons at the nnportant posts of Loughfoyle and Ballyshannon ; yet, when he got the command himself, he did not act suitably to this opinion, though he had expi-ess instructions from her majesty to that effect. Induced by the advice of the Irish privy-council, many of whom were interested in the. late plantations in Munster, and wished to have their properties there secured, he made his first expedition into that province. In his march, he was harassed by O'Moore, and after the reduc- tion of a petty castle there, the only exploit worth notice, and the loss of many men, he returned to the capital. Here he was informed, that six hundred of the queen''s troops, attacked by an inferior number of the sept of O Byrne, in Wicklow, being seized with a sudden panic, had been igno- ininiously defeated. Enraged at their pusillanimity, he cashiered their officers, executed a lieutenant, the chief de- linquent, and decimated the unfortunate troops. Before he left Munster, he sent her majesty a letter, stat- ing the many difficulties of the present war, with expressions on that subject very different from those he had presump- tuously made use of in England. After receiving a sharp rebuke from her majesty for his southern expedition, and an order immediately to proceed against Tyrone, he pro- mised to obey ; but soon after sent other letters, declaiing, that he must suppress some commotions in Leinster before he proceeded to Ulster ; and also that he could not venture to march thither without a reinforcement of two thousand men. Though her majesty was averse to it, yet at the in- stigation of his enemies, who wished to give him no excuse, those forces were ordered him. He then prepared for his northern expedition. While he was to assail the main body of the rebels him- self, he ordered Sir Cony ers Clifford, lord president of Con- 154 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, naught, to make a diversion towards Beileek. He obeyed, but in his march thither with fifteen liundred foot and two hundred cavalry, O'Ruarc, an Irish chieftain, lay in ambus for him in aciifficult pass among mountains, made an attack on him there with only two hundred men, put his troops in confusion, killed a hundred and twenty, among whom was Clifford himself, and some other officers, and pursued their victory till they were driven by the cavalry into their woods. The English forces now retreated, and the Irish auxiliaries deserted them, being eager to join the triumph- ant standard of their countrymen. After writmg some other letters to England on his present strength, Essex marched towards the borders of Ulster, with not quite four thousand men. There he perceived Tyrone at some distance, who, being desirous of wasting the royal army by delay, and eagerly waiting for Spanish aid, had recourse to his usual mode of deception, made most humble entreaties to Essex for a conference, and offered to throw himself on the royal mercy. At length he condescended to allow him an inter- view. His inter- By means of an officer in the royal army called Thomas Tyrone! Lec, an intimate of Tyrone, and a creature of Essex, a pri- vate conference was held between them at a small river in the county of Louth The governor having stood in a state- ly manner on the bank, Tyrone, with affected obsequious- ness, plunged his horse into the stream up to the saddle, and there held a long conversation with him. In this conversa- tion it is su))posed that Tyrone, by his insinuating manners, enticedEssextp discover to him some ofhis ambitious designs. Qf these he had been suspected, ^.nd his conduct on his ar- rival in Ireland gave reason to strengthen these suspicions. He conferred promotions and honours in direct opposition to the queen''s instructions, more for the increase of his own influence than for the public service, and even changed the plan of warfare to gratify individuals. Hisambitious schemes, when discovered to Tyrone, that chieftain very naturally extolled, and assured him, that if he would take his direc- tions he would be the greatest lord in England, which it i^ supposed he had consented to do ; for soon after this con- ference, Tyrone told his followers that there would shortly HISTORY OF IRELAND. 155 be new disorders in England, which would require his pre- chap. sence there. When they had discoursed a long time in ^^^' private, a pubUc parley was held in due form, in the pre- sence of six persons on eacli side, in which Tyrone ex- hibited the grievances that had induced the northerns to take arms, and proposed the terms on which he would re- turn to allegiance, a general amnesty, a free exercise of re- ligion, the restoration of their lands, and an exemption from English government. These demands the governor promised to transmit to the queen with his recommendation, as being highly equitable and reasonable. It was now agreed, that, in the mean while, a truce should be made for six weeks, to be renewed from time to time for the same term, and that each party should have power to renew the war on giving fourteen days'" notice. Such an accommodation made with a faithless and insidious His fall, enemy, very naturally excited the resentment of the queen against her favourite. She wrote to the governor and coun- cil in terms of high indignation, which Essex attributed to the machinations of his enemies, and resolved, in the fury of his rage, to return to England with the flower of his ar- my and take vengeance on them. From this violent resolu- tion he was diverted by his intimate friend lord Southamp- ton, and by Sir Christopher Blunt, who was married to his mother. In his uneasiness under the queen"'s resentment, he then resolved on another mode of proceeding, seemingly less dangerous. Soon after his arrival in Ireland he had obtained a warrant from her Majesty, empowering him at any time to delegate his authority to two lords justices, fov whose conduct he should be accountable, and appear in her presence. Of this warrant he determined to take advantage, though the queen in her last letter had expressly directed him to attend to theaff'airs of his government. Accordingly, lie repaii-ed to London in a great hurry, rushed through the apartments to the queen's bedchamber, who had lately risen, and was dressing, fell down before her on his knees, and kissed her hand. Her majesty being thus taken by surprise, at first received him graciously, but, on recollection of his errors,soon changed her demeanour, ordered her coun- cil to examine him ; and as the explanation of his conduct 156 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP, was not satisfactory, had him committed to the custody of the lord-keeper. The subsequent imprudent acts and un- happy death of this high spirited nobleman, with the dis- mal effect it produced on the queen herself, do not pertain to the present history. Tyrone en- g^^j^^ gf-^gj. ^^^ return of Essex to England, don Mat- bjr the pope thew Oviedo, a Spanish ecclesiastic, on whom the pope had conferred the title of archbishop of Du!)lin, arrived from Spain with fresh supplies of ammunition to the northern Irish, and fresh assurances of their receiving a powerful reinforcement from that country. For O'Nial, the prince of Ulster, as he was called, he carried a very precious present from the supreme pontiff, an hialiowed plume, which his holiness declared to be the feather of a phoenix. Elevat- ed by tills eminent distinction, Tyrone declared himself the champion of the holy faith, and renewed the war in full confidence of success. It bemg objected, however, that he had commenced before the stipulated time, he agreed to a truce of one month with the earl of Ormond, who had been agaui appointed lord-lieutenant of the army. In this in- terval he addressed a manifesto to all his countrymen, ex- horting them to take up arms in defence of the catholic re- ligion, which was so dear to his heart, that no private in- terest could induce him to abandon its cause, and assuring them, that no allegiance would be due to a sovereign de- posed for heresy by the solemn excommunication of the su- preme pontiff. This chieftain and his confederates also dis- patched a letter to his holiness, whom they styled the father of spirits upon earth, acknowledging themselves his subjects, imploring the assistance of men and ammunition to defeat his enemies, and earnestly soliciting a supply of pious and learn- ed pastors for their afflicted church. In return to this ap- plication his holiness thought it sufficient to publish a bull, granting to prince Hugh O'Nial, and his confederates, the same spiritual indulgences usually conferred on those who fought against the Turks for the recovery of the holy land. Mountjoy -^ ^ the time the troops under this powerful chieftain and his lord deputy associates were considerably increased, their pride and con- fidence inflamed, and their cause favoured secretly by many who appeared well affected to the crown, when the total of HISTORY OP IRELAND. 157 the royal forces, sickly and dispirited as they were, amount- C H Ar. ed only to fourteen thousand foot, and twelve hundred ca- - . valry, which were to be distributed through every province of the island, at such a time was Charles Blunt, lord Mount- joy, appointed by the queen lord-deputy of Ireland. Pre- viously to the nomination of Essex, he had been proposed to that office by her majesty, but it was objected to him by the favourite, that a pert>on of his studious life was unfit for military command. It was not considered that the abilities of a general depend on the powers of intellect, which are improved by culture, and thatEpaminondas, the illustrious commander of the Thebans, was a person exactly of that description. A similar opinion of his military talents was naturally entertained by the boisterous Irish, who mistook the refinement of his manners for effeminacy, and Tyrone exultingly observed of him that the queen had made choice of a general, who would lose the lime of action while his break- fast was a preparing. Her majesty seems indeed herself to have been somewhat diffident in her choice of him, for her chief reliance was placed on the earl of Orm.ond, lord- lieu- tenant of the army, and Sir George Carew, lord-president of Munster. In February 1600, Mountjoy entered Dublin without His at- vain pomp or parade, having received the same instrue-^*^""'^* ^° tions that Essex had unhappily neglected. When he was Tyrone, preparing, in compliance with these, to march immediately to the north, he was informed that Tyrone was in the west- tern part of Munster with a considerable force, and proceed- ed to Mullingar to intercept him, by which place it was supposed he would be obliged to return on account of the other armies in his way ; but after being amused with va- rious reports, he at length got intelligence of that chieftain having effected his escape over the river Inny. It was naturally suspected by him that some of the ge- Seizure of nerals of the royal army had connived at his retreat ; and his suspicion having fallen first on the earl of Clanricard, was soon after fixed on the earl of Ormond, who was taken prisoner in a very suspicious manner at a conference with O'Morre near Kilkenney, to which he had enticed Sir George Carew and the earl of Thomond, who effected their 158 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP, escape with great difficulty. O'Moore made an offer to the VII deputy to hberate the prisoner on certain conditions, but his insolent proposals were rejected with silent contempt. Energy and Mountjoy now proceeded to the operations he had plan- success of j^gj haviiio first sent detachments to Dundalk, Ardee, Kells, Mountjoy. . ' j » Newry and Carlingford, to keep the northerns in awe, and reinforced the garrisons of Leix and OfFally. When he had taken these necessary precautions he marched northward against Tyrone, in order to divert his attention from the raovements of Sir Henry Dowlcra in another quarter, and having found him entrenched between Newry and Armagh drove him from his entrenchments In the mean while, Dowkra, according to his directions, landed at Loughfoyle with four thousand men, and fortified the city of Derry. These successful operations tarnished the military fame of Tyrone, and had such an effect on the fickle Irish, that they deserted in great numbers to Dowkra, and several chiefs applied to the deputy for pardon and protection. Among theee were Sir Arthur O'Nial, a son of Turlough Lynnough and one of the O'Donnels, named Nial Garrujf, or the boisterous. While the exertions of the deputy in the north were at- tended with such success, he was recalled to Leinster by the insolence of the rebellious septs there ; and having assailed Tirrel and ©""Moore, he pursued them into their retreats in Leix, from which O'Moore made a bold attack on the Ens'- iish and was killed. Some time before this chieftain had consented to the release of the earl of Ormond for a large ransom, and had hostages given him for the payment of it, but the deputy got them delivered into his hands, on the pro- mise of pardon and protection to the persons who had them jn custody. The rebels, intimidated by the skill and vigour of his operations, fled before him every where into their fastnesses, whence they would sally out when they could get an opportunity. It was therefore thought requisite to have recourse to a shocking expedient to subdue them, which could only be justified by the absolute necessity of the case It was resolved to destroy their means of sub- sistence, that hunger might oblige them to submit. HISTORY OP IRELAND. 159 Accordingly, the English officers having issued out from CHAP. ihcirseveral stations with their soldiers, particularly Sir Arthur -___J__ Chichester from Carrickfergus, and Sir Samuel Bagnal from His severe Newry, cut down the standing corn with their swords, and spread ruin and desolation around them. Thus was a large extent of country laid waste, and the unfortunate inhabi- tants reduced to famine. Hence Tyrone with his dispirited army, apprehensive of want, shrunk gradually within nar- rower bounds. Again was he driven from his entrenchments by the deputy, and had his works demolished ; and when he attempted to oppose the return of that officer by Carling- ford, he was repulsed with great loss. His followers, with the prospect of misery before them, now deserted him even in greater numbers than usual, and entreated government for pardon and protection. While Mountjoy thus carried on the war with energy His aiarra. and success, he was on the point of being interrupted in his progress by some alarming accounts from England. The unhappy earl of Essex, on his condemnation for high trea- son, among other persons of note, had mentioned the Irish deputy as being privy to his secret practices. This infor- mation, though very vague, had such an effect on Mount- joy that he actually made some preparations for a flight to France, being resolved, as he Siid, " not to put his neck under the file of the queen's attorney's tongue." But the services he had performed were sufficient to efface such slight suspicions of disloyalty, and her majesty wrote him a letter that gave him ample satisfaction. On the removal of his apprehensions on this point, hejjj proceeded against the insurgents in his usual mode. He tions con- constantly engaged them in petty actions, attacking thera*'""^*^' by surprise, and keeping them still on the alarm, which liarassed them continually, and being always successful, he raised the spirits of his own soldiers. To those who sub- mitted he scrupulously performed his promises, and thus not only encouraged them to forsake the rebels, but also to serve against them in the royal army. At the same time he took care to have these Irish soldiers particularly ha- rassed with toil, and exposed to danger, which had the de- sired effect, and he boasted to the queen that he thus dimi- IGO HISTORY Of IRELAND. CHAP, nished the number of her secret enemies. However, he gave . them every outward encouragement, and rewarded their Base coin age. leaders by especial favours when they deserved them by their fidelity. Yet the system of dividing the northern re- bels was hot so agreeable to the English ministers, or deem- ed so effectual, as the devastations made by the several gar- risons, wliich destroyed their means of subsistance at home ; and another mode was adopted, though ruinous to many loyalists, which deprived them of all foreign supplies. The annual expense of maintaining the Irish war having extended at length to four or five hundred thousand pounds, it was found that by the payment of the army in sterling money a considerable quantity by plunder or traffic fell into the hands of Tyrone and his confederates, who thus obtain- ed from the continent a regular supply of arms, ammunition and provisions, and were enabled to carry on the war against the queen with her own treasure. In order, to deprive them of this advantage, her majesty was induced, though with great reluctance, to send a base coin into Ireland, which was to pass for sterling money, prohibiting, at the same time> the importation and use of any other. Places of exchange were appointed by proclamation in England and Ireland, where the subjects of either kingdom might commute their coins, allowing the difference of a shilling a-pound. This scheme certainly tended to encrease the distresses of the re- bels, who could only get goods in foreign countries to the amount of the real value of the coin, but they were not the only sufferers ; the soldiers of the royal army very sensibly felt the effects of it, as traders raised excessively the articles they had for sale, when they found they were to get pay- ment in such base money. A mutiny was of course appre- hended, and to prevent it Mountjoy kept his troops inces- sently in motion, harassing Tyrone as usual with frequent skirmislies, and with such success, that both officers and men received thanks in the queen's name for their zeal and duty in her service. From his successful operations in the north, Mountjoy Avas soon after called to the south, which became the principal scene of military operations. State of Sir George Carew, the president of Munster, on entering jNJunster. ^^^ j^-g gflj^g^ found the whole of the ai-my amounted only to HISTORY OF IRELAND. 161 three thousand infantry and two hundred and fifty cavalry, CHAP, which were far inferior to tlie forces under the rebel chjiefs ' collected against him, as appears by the following statement. Florence M'Arthy, who had been some time connected with government, but went over to Tyrone, from whom he obtained the title of M'Arthy More, had the pommand of three thousand men.' James Fitzthomas, acknowledged by Tyrone as earl of Desmond, but denominated in derision by the Irish loyalists the Suggan earl, or the earl of Straw, Avas followed by great numbers who were attached to the title. Redmond de Burgh, and Dermot O'Connor, brought from Connaught five thousand mercenaries under their conj- mand. Such a superior force Crew perceived he would be un- Esertions able to oppose, if they were cordially united, and therefore" endeavoured, by the diffusion of mutual jealousies, to spread disunion among the chiefs. From his post in Cork he watched every opportunity to effect this useful purpose, and would employ any instrument, however inferior, on such an occasion. One Nugent who deserted to the rebels, and re- turned afterwards in a repenting mood to his allegiance, was engaged by him as a purchase of his pardon, to assas- sinate John Fitzthomas, a brother of the Suggan earl. Be- ing seized in the attempt, he declared at his execution, that many more were employed by tlie president on the same design. This declaration infused such terror into the two brothers that they dared not lodge together, or appear at the head of their troops. O'Connor, one of the chieftains of Connaught, induced by the suggestions of his wife, a sister to the real earl of Desmond, and also by the promise of a sum of money, seized the Suggan earl by stratagem and put him in a castle, v/ith an intent to deliver him to Carew ibr the promised rev/ard, but his brother John, and a leader named Pierce Lacy, collecting four thousand of their fol- lowers, rescued him from confinement. De Burgh, the other chieftain of Connaught, in the hope that the president would favour his claim for the lordship of Leitrim, deserted also the rebels with five hundred mercenaries. Carew having in some degree effected his purpose of di- viding them by mutual suspicion, proceeded in his military 162 HISTORY OP IRELAND. e H A P operations. He took tlie fortress of a chieftain called the . Knight of the Valley, who made a vigorous defence, and the castle of the lord of Lixnaw in Kerry, who died with grief on that account. In his progress he made shocking devas- tations, which caused many of the most desperate of the re- bels, sincere champions of the apostolic faith, terrified with the prospect of desolation and famine, to solicit the holy father for absolution for the sin of submitting to a heretical government, and for leave to live under it in temporal obe- dience. His activity and success excited such general terror, that two thousand five hundred of the Connaught mercenaries, being determined to desert their confederates in Munster, solicited leave to return unmolested to their own country, which was granted with some difficulty. The troops of the Suggan earl were defeated and dispersed by the garrison of Kilmallock, which caused all his adherents to desert him, and M'Arthy More was obliged to keep quiet, and make at least a profes?ion of allegiance. At this time no rebel force in Munster appeared in the field, and the queen gave the deputy liberty to pardon all that the president of that province should recommend to him, a few only excepted. Of this act of grace four thousand took the advantage, and the country was now reduced to such obe- dience, that sessions were held there, and justice adminis- tered with regularity. The continuance of peace seemed also confirmed by ano- ther fortunate incident, the captivity of the Suggan earl. — After wandering from place to place, and skulking in many a wretched retreat, he at length took shelter in the lands of a chieftain styled the Wliite Knight, who, having submitted to government, was ordered by them, under pain of for- feiture of life and fortune, to have him arrested. He was of course obliged to exert himself, and being directed by some of his followers to a cave, there found the hapless fugitive, who was disarmed without resistance, and sent bound to the president. It being deemed prudent to spare his life, he was sent to England, along with M'Arthy More, who was seized on the discovery of his being again concerned in treasonable practices. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 163 Such was the situation of affairs in the southern province CHAP, when the Spanish invasion, so Ion<^ desired and expected by the rebels, at length took place. Tiie whole force consisted invasion of about six thousand men, under the command of Don '■^'""P^'"* Juan D'Aquila, general of the expedition, who landed with the main body at Kinsale, in September IGOl, while the rest were driven by a storm into the bay of Baltimore. Im- mediately they sent off expresses to Tyrone and ©""Donnel to join their allies with all possible expedition, and were at- tended by Oviedo, the Spanish bishop of Dublin, and other ecclesiastics, who exhorted the native Irish, as faithful sons of the church, to unite with those who came to restore their lands and religion, and to rescue them from temporal and eternal perdition. These exhortations were very suitable to the prejudices Siege of of the persons to whom they were addressed, but the ad-'^'"^^'®* vance of the deputy prevented them from having at first their due effect. Being apprised of the approach of the Spaniards, he proceeded to the south, and made such pre- parations as were in his power to resist them. With hardly six thousand men he marched against the invaders, besieged them in Kinsale, repelled their frequent sallies, assaulted and took the castle of Rincorran, situated on the river half a mile from the town. Thus continually was he advancing in his approaches, when intelligence was received that CDonnel, with the Connaught and Leinster forces, was in ftill march to assist the Spaniards, and that ho was followed by Tyrone with the flower of the northern army. In this extremity Mountjoy detached Carew with a part of Vain at. the royal troops to intercept O'Donnel, and wiih the restr"'^^^"^ continued himself to carry on the siege. This service was undertaken contrary to the opinion of the president, who, however, obeyed the orders of his superior, and being un- able to get any intelligence of the enemy in a country too well affected to their cause, they eluded all his efforts, and having passed rapidly over a frozen mountain, they pierced into Munster, and left him to return with a harassed army from a fruitless expedition. Unmoved by the disappointment, the deputy still carried gjegg con- on the siege, and behig joined by three thousand men from*'""^'!* 1.2 164 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. England, with some troops under the earl of Clanricard and other loyal leaders, he took another fort, called Castle- park, in an island opposite to Rincorran. Having continu- ed his advances, he summoned the town to surrender, but received for answer, that it was held for Christ and the king of Spain, and would be maintained against all their enemies. Fresh in- Their confidence was soon after increased by the arrival vasion. of a new armament from Spain, of six vessels with two thousand men, who landed at Castlehaven, and brought in- telligence of several other armaments being prepared to follow. These vessels were attacked in Castlehaven by Admiral Leviston, who had carried two thousand troops to Cork, and some of them were destroyed; but a battery from the shore being directed against the admiral himself, did his vessels so much damage that he returned in a shattered condition to the harbour of Kinsale. Generaliin- O'Donnel having joined these new invaders, and Tyrone, sunection. ^j^^ ]^g^^ pierced into Munster, being near at hand, the dis- affected septs, who had before made a shew of submission, now cast off all disguise, and openly declared for the Span iards. Hence a general insurrection took place in Desmond and Kerry, and in all parts to the west of Kinsale and Li- merick. Several castles were now delivered up by the Irish chieftains to the invaders, who put governors m them : and Spanish gold being scattered in abundance, the principals were honoured with commissions from the king of Spain, and their followers taken into pay, being supplied with arms an^ ammunition from the vessels that last arrived. P The situation of the deputy was now very critical. The Spa- 3Iountjor. niards. vith the troops under ©""Donnel, and the forces under Tyrone, having formed a blockade around his army, pre- vented him fi'om getting provisions on the side of the land, while the supplies he received by sea were slow and ineffi- cient. Hence many of his men, weakened by hunger, and harassed with the cold of a winter siege, fell down dead on their posts, and many more deserted. This little army then, on whom the fate of Ireland depended, must of course have been destroyed, had their enemy maintained their pre- sent position. Tyrone had resolved to do so ; but being urged by Aquila, who said that one attack was only neces- HISTORY OF IRELAND. 165 sary for an easy victory, and by some of his Irish associates, CHAP, of whose disobedience he was apprehensive, he reluctantly . advanced against the English army. Mountjoy, leaving Carew to carry on the siege, and His victory judging it unsafe to await the assault of the enemy on ^ ovembeV }iis camp, marched out against them with only twelve 2* 1601. hundred foot and four hundred horse. Surprised at this unexpected movement, and alarmed at the masterly dis- position of his Ibrces, the confederate Irish, who only tiiought of disposing of the prisoners they would take, re- tired in dismay at his approach. Being pursued they halt- ed, and offered battle ; on which the earl of Clanricard, and Wingfield, marshal of the army, made a furious attack on their cavah'y, composed of Irish chieftains, and put them to flight. The vanguard, led by Tyrrel, made some resistance, but was soon obliged to give way, and abandoned the Span- iards of Castlehaven, whe fell bravely in the field, except a few, who, with their general Ocampo, were taken prisoners. The main body commanded by Tyrone was discomfited with equal ease, and the rear, of which O' Donnel was the leader, fled without striking a blow. In this rout, as it may be called, twelve hundred of the enemy were slain, and eight hundred wounded, with the loss, on the side of llie Enghsh, of only one cornet slain and a few sol- soldiers wounded. CDonnel, in despair, took refuge in Spain, and Tyrone in Ulster, deserted by most of his followers, and stung with the anguish of disgrace and disappointment. Surrender Don Aquila, who had obliged the Irish troops to leave "'^ ^''^ , . 1 . . 1 I • I Spaniards-. their advantageous situation, and engage the enemy in the open field, for which of all others they were the least quali- fied, could not conceive they would be so easily defeated, and hearing from Kinsale the voUies discharged by the Eng lish army in honour of their victory, mistook them for sig- nals of the approach of his Irish allies, and made a desperate sally from the town. But when he saw the Spanish colours in possession of the English, he retired, and in a rage against the confederates who had suffered themselves to be so shame- fully subdued, made a proposal of a surrender. Vei*y ho- nourable terms were most prudently granted to this hio-h- spirited Spaniard, who would have indignantly rejected any ether, and whose notions were so romantic, that, on receiv- Kebellion suppressed 166 • HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP, ing the first summons from the deputy, he cliallenged him ; ' . to single combat for daring to offer him such an affront. By the articles of capitulation all fortresses held in Ireland by Spanish troops were to be evacuated, but when they were preparing to leave the sti'ong fort of Dunboy at Bere- haven, it was surprised by its ancient possessor, Daniel O'Sullivan, an Irish chief, who disarmed the Spanish garri- son, and seizing their ordinance and stores, resolved to de- fend it against the English. Don Juan, whose punctilious honour was offended at this outrage, offered his services for the reduction of the fort before his departure, which was politely refused, and the place was at length stormed by Carew, after a most desperate defence. By the expectation of another Spanish invasion, which in Mun. was industriously circulated, and the factious exhortations "^'' of several Romish ecclesiastics, especially Owen MacEggar, the pope's apostolic vicar, the flame of rebellion still blazed in Munster with great violence. These furious churchmen^ not only denounced their excommunication against all those who took up arms in defence of heresy, but even against those who spared the prisoners of that odious description. Hence the captive loyalists were butchered as heretics, while the insurgents taken were hanged as traitors. Soon, how- ever, the judicious dispositions of Carew confounded the rebels. Seizing their forts, ravaging their lands, distressing them with famine, harassing them with perpetual alarms, he compelled them either to throw themselves on the mercy of government, or take refuge in other parts of Ireland. One leader after another was either banished, reduced, or slain, the province was at length brought to a state of com- posure, and the wretched inhabitants had leisure to reflect on their calamities. Tyrone ha- Xn a similar mode of warfare did Mountjoy proceed against DJster. Tyrone and his adherents in Ulster. This chieftain he pur- sued so closely that he obliged him again to burn Dungan- ' lion, and by having erected the fortresses of Charlemont and Mountjoy at a suitable distance from the town, he ex- cluded him from his own territories. His own forces he disposed in such a manner as to be able to prevent any hostile attempt, and to collect them easily on any sudden HISTORY or IRELAND. 167 emergency. Besides, by stationing them in the vicinity of C HA p. the Irish, he prevented these wretched people from getting - the means of subsistence. Hence thousands of them died of famine, whose unburied carcases were strewed over every road and district, while others had recourse to such hideous expedients to appease the rage of hunger, as would be too shocking to relate. Tyrone himself was unable to afford them any relief. In the present feeble state of his autho- rity, the two sons of John O'Nial, whom he had so long detained in prison, effected their escape to the deputy. Daily, indeed, was he deserted by some of his followers, and am.ong others by Roderic O'Donnell, the new chieftain of Tyrconnel, brother of Hugh the fugitive, who renounced his alliance and obtained the protection of Mountjoy. In this state of humiliation, Tyrone sued with sincerity 1603. for pardon. His application was, of course, notified to the !^ '^f"^ queen by the deputy, but the contradictory instructions re-sion. ceived from her majesty, which showed the distracted state of her mind at the close of her life, rendered him at a loss how to act. At length he received a private account of her death, and instantly sent off Sir William Godolphin with a safe conduct to Tyrone, pressing him to sui'render his per- son without delay, if he wished to prevent his utter ruin, especially as he had now authority to grant him favourable terms, which, if not at this time accepted, might never again be attained. This urgent proposal had the desired effect. Immediately he waited on the deputy at Mellifont, and falling down on his knees humbly implored forgiveness. Different conditions were now imposed on him, particularly that he should renounce the name and authority of CNial, all connexion with foreigners, all claim to any possessions not bestowed on him by the queen ; and having subscribed these, he received pardon for himself and his followers, and the promise of a new patent for all his lands, except a few small portions reserved for useful purposes. When this essential business was completed, he accom-„. . . . \ His sorron- panied the lord-deputy to Dublin, and being informed there at the cleat u of Elizabeth's death he burst into tears, through affection, °'^^''^'^" . . ... beth. he said, for a deceased princess who had treated him with such clemency, but in reality on account of his too prccipi- 1G8 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, tate submission. This submission, however, he could not ' recall, and renewed it with solemnity to her successor. Reflections, Thus, by the surrender of this chieftain, were all the ene- mies of the English government subdued in Ireland, which was left for Elizabeth to accomplish, after a perpetual con- test of four hundred and forty years. This wise princess, M'ho was at first prevented by her engagement in continen- tal politics from attending to this island, at length perceived her mistake, and then exerted herself with an energy suit- able to the importance of the occasion. Her success was in a great degree owing to her prudent choice of Mountjoy and Carew to the principal command of her armies, for she possessed, when not seduced by favourites, remarkable dis- cernment in discovering the most proper persons for every public employment. * The misconduct of the Spanish court also contributed some share to her success, by delaying the invasion too long, and by directing their troops to land in Munster, a province then reduced to subjection, and far distant from the northern armies, and also by their chusing such a com- mander as Aquila, whose rashness prevented the united forces from taking advantage of their excellent situation, by which they could have effectually subdued their Eno-lish enemies without any danger to themselves. Yet, though the success was complete, the war was enormously expen- sive,-f- and peculiarly destructive to the English soldiers, not only by the sword, but by the humidity of the air beino- injurious to their constitutions, occasioned by the scantiness of cultivated land, and the abundance of woods and marshes. From famine indeed, and pestilence, its concomitant, they did not suffer so much as the vvretched Irish, whose dis- tresses, as well as the desolation of the country, have been already exhibited, and show the dismal effects of civil war. • Statesmen and warriours then illustrious shone. Yet all derived their splendor from the throne; Their various merits, and the public voice, , Show'd the discernment of her pvudent choice The public weal was still her only pride, And still on this were all her thou ;hts employ 'd- f It cost three million^ and a half in the last ten years. HISTORY OF IRELANB. 169 To their unhappy insurrections, they were particularly CHAP. excited by the pernicious exhortations of emissaries froni- Rome and Spain, especially the monks and others of the regular clergy. The secular clergy, it must be owned, were moderate, and frequently inculcated obedience to the civil authority, but, as too often happens, the worst advice was the most regarded. For such violent abhorrence of an he- retical government, there certainly was not given sufficient provocation. The Irish administration conducted them- selves with great mildness in religious matters, and though laws were enacted against persons termed recusants, who re- fused to conform to the protestant rites, or take the oath of supremacy, yet they were seldom or never executed with severity.* Such moderation was unusual at the time of a general desertion of established errors, when a zeal for reli- gious truth has urged even moral men to commit acts of violence. * Tyrone himself acknowledges this in his manifesto, observing, that there was " a. mitigation made in favour of catholics." 170 HISTORY OF IKELANB. CHAPTER VIII. Opposition to James — Overcome hy Mountjoy — His return to England — Useful plans of Chichester — Interrupted by reli- gious zealots — Endeavours to reclaim them — Flight of Ty- rone and Tyrconnel — Attempt of O^Dogherty — Plantation of Ulster — Discontent of recusants — First national parlia- ment — Violent altercations — Appeal of recusants — Subse- quent moderation— A convocation — N'ew plantations — Ad- ministration of Saint John — Offensive to opposite parties-— Presumptionof recusants — Abuses civil — Military — Scheme$ of James advantageous on the whole — Some regulations pre- vented by his death. CHA P. The pacific talents possessed by James, tlie successor of the great Elizabeth, rendered him peculiarly fitted for the bu- Oppos lion siness devolved on him, the establishment of the English polity in Ireland, and the introduction of such institutions as would tend to reduce the rude inhabitants to civilization and order. In the accomplishment of this useful work he met with great obstructions from the fury of popish insti- gators, who were very unwilling to proclaim him, and, ac- cording as it answered their purposes, would, in some places, say he was a catholic, and in olhers, that he could not be a lawful king, as he was not established by the authority of the pope, and had not sworn to defend the catholic re- ligion. Overcome Seduccd by such pestilent insinuations, the inhabitants by Mount- Q^ several cities of Leinster, and of most in Munster, in de- fiance of penal statutes, proceeded to restore the Romish worship in all its pristine splendor. Ejecting the reformed ministers from their churches, and seizing the religious houses, which had been converted to civil uses, they erect- ed their crosses, celebrated their masses publicly and pom- pously, and exhibited ecclesiastics marching in procession, clothed in the habits of their respective orders To sup- press these disturbers of the public peace, Mountjoy march- HISTORY OP lilELAND. 171 ed into Munster at the head of the royal army. When he C H a p. • "^ vin. arrived at Waterford he found the gates shut against him, ■ and, demanding admission, was informed by the citizens, that, by the charter of John, they were exempt from quar- tering soldiers. Two ecclesiastics now presented themselves before him in his camp, clothed in the habit of their order, and told him plainly, that the citizens of Waterford could not obey any prince who persecuted the catholic faith, in defence of which they quoted a passage from Saint Austin ; but the deputy, having the work of that father in his tent, proved, to the satisfaction of every one present, that they had quoted the author unfairly, which somewhat confounded them. Having foiled these churchmen with their own weapons, he told the citizens that he would cut the charter of John in ineces with the sword of James^ demolish their city, and strew it with salt. Terrified by these threats, they admit- ted him, and swore allegiance, as did also Cashel, Clon- mel, and other cities. Cork, which was the most refractory and had been some time blockaded by the royal force, imme- diately on his appearance opened its gates. A few of the inferior agitators he executed by martial law, and delivered Mead, the recorder, a violent incendiary, to be tried by the civil jurisdiction, but he was acquitted by the barefaced partiality of his jury. After suppressing these mutinous attempts to resist the His return established authority, he published an act of o6/iu/o7i a?jrf^°^''"S'aad- indemnity^ to quiet the apprehensions of all those concerned in the late rebellion, and, by the same authority, took into the immediate protection of the crown the whole body of the Irish peasantry, who had been usually abandoned to the tyranny of their chieftains. Having thus completed his administration, he was created lord-lieutenant, and appoint- ing Sir George Carew his deputy, returned to England, accompanied by earl Tyrone and Roderic O'Donnel, who met a favourable reception at the English court. The lat- ter was created earl of Tyrconnel, the former confirmed in his honours and possessions ; but he was so odious to the populace, on account of the number of friends they had lost in the rebellion, that he could not travel in safety without a strong escort. 172 HISTORY OP IRELAND. O H A P. Diirino^ the short administration of Carew, sheriffs were v 1 1 1 • -^^«^^U-- sent into the counties of Tyrconnel and Tyrone, and itine- Use'ui plans rant judges continued their course through the whole north- i^r, ' ^rn province His successor, sir Arthur Chichester, esta- bhshed sessions of justice in the province of Connaught, and restored the circuit of Munster, after acessation of two hun- dred years. The native Irish, being now admitted to all the 1604. pi'iveleges of English subjtcts, began to have a favourable regard for this system of English policy, and gradually to perceive, that, when impartially administered, it was quite superior to that mockery of justice, with which they had been too often insulted. Another measure was adopted useful both for securing their property, and establishing the peace of the country. A coynmission of grace was appointed under the great seal of England empowering' the chief go- vernor to accept the surrender of estates held by the old precarious tenure, and grant them anew according to the English mode, which afforded more security. Hence a ge- neral revolution was effected in the rights of tenure, yet great attention was paid to the just claims of the several persons concerned. Accordingly a new patent was made out for every estate, by which each lord was invested only with the lands found to be in his immediate possession, and his followers confirmed in their properties, on condition of tlieir paying him a yearly rent, equal to the value at •which the uncertain dues were estimated, that were exacted from them by the old Irish customs. Interrupt- While a favourable prospect appeared of the advantages ei\ by reii- jq [)g derived fVom these schemes of political reformation, gious zea- I •! • I ■ 1 • 11 lots. they were unhappily interrupted in their progress by the spirit of religious bigotry. The furious zealots of the ca- tholic clergy, declaring openly the king's affection for their religion, for which he had afforded some pretence, denounc- ed the vengeance of Heaven on all whoshould attend heretical worship, ordered the religious houses to be refitted for the exercise of their peculiar rites, arraigned the civil administra- tion, reviewed causes determined in the king's court, and even enjoined the people, under pain of eternal damnation, to obey their decisions, not those of the civil law. Such con- duct afforded just cau§e of apprehension to James, who,. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 173 though possessed witli some tenderness for the mother churchy chap. as he called it, yet abhorred the authony assumed by the ^^"- pope over princes, and the principle claimed by ecclesiastics of being superior to the law of the state. He therelore issued a proclamation similar to the one in England, com- manding all the popish clergy in Ireland to leave the king- dom within a limited time. Though it was intended that this ordinance should be executed here with the sauie lenity as in England, yet the recusants expressed great resent- ment, and acted with such insolence, that it was found ne- cessary to revive those statutes that were so wantonly insult- ed. Accordingly the magistrates and chief citizens of Dub- lin were enjoined to repair to the established churches, and, 1605. on their obstinate disobedience, were fined and committed to prison. This chastisement put all the old families of the pale in commotion ; instantly they presented a j)etition and remonstrance against such severities. An unusual con- course attending the council with this petition, on the very day the account arrived from England of the gun-powder plot, caused a suspicion that the catholics here acted in concert with the conspirators in England. Their principal petitioners were therefore taken and confined in the castle, and Sir Patrick Barnewell, their chief agent, by order of the king, was sent prisoner to London. After this slight check afforded to their insolence, noEndea- further severities were exercised against recusants, wliom^|°"^ °'' the deputy had orders to reclaim by the gentle method of them, instruction and argument. Accordingly, he had the Bible and Common prayer translated into the Irish language, and enjoined the established clergy to pay a strict attention to their duty. However, the inveieracy of the catholics to the protestant religion, which this new mode had but little effect in removing, and the influence of their active emi- saries, who had raised such disturbance in the late reign, still excited apprehensions and suspicions. In the present disposition of the Irish, every rumour of Flight of insurrection was received with attention by the government. ,j^[^°"^^". By a letter dropt in the privy council-chamber, intimation %v4is given of a scheme of rebellion, formed by the earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnel, with some other northern chiefs, 174 MISTORT OF IRELANB. C H A P. who were to begin the insurrection by surprising the castle, ' and assassinating the lord-deputy and council. Immediately on hearing the discovery, these lords made their escape to the continen, abandoning their vast estates to the crown, and some of their supposed accomplices, being tried by a jury, were found guilty, and executed. As the flight of these chieftains might be ascribed to religious persecution, a proclamation was issued, setting forth their design of des- 1C07. troying all his majesty's subjects, of English descent, in this country ; and declaring, that they had received no molesta- tion on account of their mode of faith and worship, as it would be unreasonable to give any trouble on that account to persons whose manners and conduct made it doubtful whether or inxthey had any religion at all. Attempt of The flight of the two capital conspirators no doubt h i°f* prevented an extended insurrection from taking place, yet one of the supposed accomplices, Sir Caher CDogherty, proprietor of Innish-owen, made an attempt at rebellion. Having got admittance, by artifice, for himself and his ad- herents into the fort of Culmore, near Derry, he put the whole garrison to the sword, and, proceeding- to Derry, executed the same cruelty on the garrison there. He also burned the town, having first plundered it of every thing valuable, and then hastened to make an attack on other parts ; but at the approach of Wingfield, marshal of the army, he retired into his woods. Elated, however, by some petty success, he ventured to come out to oppose the lord- deputy, who had marched to Wingfield's aid, but hap- pily an accidental shot put an end to his life, and the in- surrection he had raised, which had continued for five months. Plantation These repeated efforts of the native Irish to harass the ef Ulster. English government tended ultimately to their own disad- vantage. By their conspiracies and rebellions, tracts of land, containing five hundred thousand acres, or eight hundred thousand of English measure, were forfeited to the crown in the six northern counties of Cavan, Fermanah, Tyrone, Derry, Armagh, and Tyrconnel, now called Donegal. These dismal tracts, desolated by war and famine, and covered with woods, which afforded secure shelter for robbers in their pre- HISTORY OP IRELAND. 175 sent wretched state, required the healing hand of James, who CHAP, affected toderive credit from thecuhivalion ofthe pacific arts. ' With all his weaknesses, he fortunately possessed talents of this useful kind, and, in establishing colonies in Ireland, exerted himself with a zeal and ability that reflects eternal honour on his memory. Being well acquainted with the errors that attended the plantations of Munster in the pre- ceding reign, he endeavoured to avoid them, and of course to prevent the miscarriages that they occasioned. He there- fore proceeded with great caution in this difficult business, and being resolved not to rely entii'ely on himself, took ad- vice from every one that could give it to him, but derived particular benefit from the capacity and experience of Sir Arthur Chichester, now lord-deputy. The confiscated lands were distributed among persons divided into three distinct classes, who were distinguished by the names of undertakers, servitors, and old natives. The first were born in England or Scotland, and were al- lowed only to take such for their tenants ; the second were persons who had served some time in Ireland, either in a military or civil capacity, and were allowed to take any other for their tenants except recusants ; the third, being at more liberty in these points, were allowed to take for tenants those both of their own religion and country ; and, as aninducement for them to become loyal, were even exempt- ed from the oath of supremacy. The first had the strong- est situations assigned them ; the second those of most danger, and therefore were allowed guards and entertain- ment until the settlements were completed ; the third, con- trary to the former mode, were planted in the open coun- try, where they might be more easily watched by their neighbours, and might be improved by the exercise of agri- culture and other useful arts. The lands appointed for distribution were divided into portions of two thousand, fifteen hundred, and one thousand English acres, which were assigned to the different under- takers by lot. These were bound to the performance of a variety of stipulations tending to the improvement of the country, and the civilization of the natives, among which was one to set their lands at determined rents on leases for 176 HISTORY OF IRELAND, CHAP, three lives, or twenty one years at least. From'these lands ^ small yearly rent was reserved for theerown, of which the British undertakers paid the least, and the old natives the most. The corporation of the city of London accepted of a large grant of them in tlie county of Derry, which was now called Londonderry, and engaged to lay out twenty thousand pounds in rebuilding the city of Derry, and erect- ing the town'of Colerain. Considerable portions of lands were now claimed by the established clergy, who supposed themselves entitled to all the property possessed by the clergy of the catholic religion. Hence ecclesiastical lords were restored to their respective sees and churches, and the impropriate tithes possessed by bishops were resigned by these to the incumbents of the se- veral parishes, for which they received an ample recompense from the crown lands. Beside the tithes, glebes were assign- ed to tlie incumbents, and in order to provide for a succes- sion of suitable pastors, free schools were endowed in the principal towns. On the university of Dublin large grants of lan(is were conferred, together with the advowson of six parishes, being one for every county. Such was tlie scheme of this northern plantation, of which the happy effects were soon perceived, though the execution of it did not correspond with the original idea. The terms of the engagement were not, in many instances, fulfilled by the undertakers, who admitted the original Irish as tenants into districts where only British colonists should have been introduced. For this defect, productive of fatal conse- quences in future times, the corporation of London were above all others remarkable, which was owing to their en- trusting their business to agents, wljo were indolent and cor- rupt. However, many loyal and industrious inhabitants were now dispersed through the northern counties, consi- derable improvements were made by the planters, and se- veral towns erected. Of these, some being incorporated by the king, obtained a right to return members to parlia- jtnent. Diseonteni ^^^^^ recusants were allowed by law to sit in this public of iTcu. assembly, though thev were usually excluded from places pi' trust under government, and from practising as lawyers. HISTORY OP IRELAND. 177 by their refusal to take the oath of supremacy. In many c H a P< instances, however, they were excused from this qualifica- ' . tion, and lience were tacitly allowed to act as magistrates and practise at the bar. From fines for not attending the established mode of worship, fliey had also little reason to complain, as they were not levied in any part of the king- dom, except in a very slight manner in the county of Dub- lin. Yet the persons of rank and fortune among them, particularly the lords of the pale, were not satisfied with this bare connivance, and considered the legal disqualifica- tions to which they were subject as a serious grievance. From the animosity of their opponents (for mutual rancour seemed to prevail among both parties), they were apprehen- sive of some more severe statutes being passed against them in the ensuing parliament, which by proclamation was soon to convene. For twenty-seven years of civil war and tumult, no such assembly had been held in Ireland. Since the last meet- ing of this sort, the right of representation had been very much extended ; seventeen new counties and a number of boroughs had been formed. The additional members, par- ticularly the representatives of the boroughs, which had been established by the crown, the recusants apprehended would be hostile to them. A petition was therefore pre- 16I2, sented to the king, signed by the following principal lords of the English pale : Gormanstown, Slane, Killeen, Trim- bleston, Dunsany and Louth, praying that the creation of boroughs should be suspended until time and traflUc should render them fit to be represented, and among other objects of concern, expressing their dread of an intention to pass some more laws against the catholics, since no communica- tion on that subject had been afforded to the nobility of that communion. The petition was pronounced by the king to be rash and insolent ; yet this rebuke did not pre- vent the English of the pale from using every exertion, both by themselves and their agents, to get a majority of catho- lics returned to the new parliament. This was indeed a very important assembly, being the First na- first national parliament held in Ireland, containing repre-''°"^' V^^' /. /» 1 I • 1 ro =• *^ liament. scntatives from every part 01 the kmgdora. TLo gam a ma- M 178 HtsTOiiy OF Ireland. CHAP, jority in such an assembly was Certainly well worthy of all ^^^^- the exertions made use of by the lords of the pale ; but in. this point their exertions were not attended with success. In the house of commons there were a hundred and twen- ty-five protestants, and only one hundred and one recusants, six members being absent ; and in the house of lords, on account of the twenty bishops, the majority was still greater. Violent ai- The meeting of the commons was very tumultuous; in terca ions, ^j^^ choice of a speaker there was a violent contention be- tween the two parties. Sir John Davies, the attorney-ge- neral, was proposed by the friends of government ; Sir John Everard, late a judge of the king's bench, by the recusants. Davies was of course chosen by the majority, but the mino- rity insisted that they had the majority of legal votes, and when their opponents were in the lobby, took Everard and placed him in the chair ; the majority on their return en- deavoured to pull him out of it by forpe, but when they could not succeed, they put Davies in his lap. This scene of confusion was concluded by the secession of the recu- sants, both commons and lords, and a short prorogation of parliament by the deputy, who had confirmed Davies in the office of speaker. Appeal of The recusants now thought fit to send over agents to lay their grievances before the king, for whose expenses a large contribution was levied. The lords Gormanstown and Fer- moy, Sir James Gough, Hussey, Lutterel and Talbot, all zealous partisans, were chosen for this purpose. At first their mission seemed somewhat inauspicious, for soon after their arrival in London, Talbot and Lutterel, for some in- solent conduct, were committed to prison. However, James listened to their complaints with great temper, which en- couraged ih em to extend their list of grievances to nineteen articles. Gough, having returned to Ireland, asserted, that the king had promised the catholics the free exercise of their religion, which he inferred from some favourable expressions of his majesty ; but Chichester declared the news to be false and seditious, and committed the author of it to the castle. The king, being desirous of gaining evei-y information on that subject of dispute, sent commissioners over to Ire- land for that purpose, and summoned Chichester to attend him in England. From these he derived a complete know- recusants. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 179 ledge of the affair, and when he was fully prepared, admit- c H A P^- ted the recusants to plead their cause before the council. ^'^^^^' Here the whole businees met with a patient and deliberate "—""""" discussion, and after repeated examinations their complaints ' were pronounced to be groundless, except in the instances of the burgesses from Kildare and Cavan, whose return were declared to be illegal, as these boroughs had not been erected till after the writs were issued. In declaring his sentiments on this occasion, the king, according to his usual mode, made a tedious and verbose oration, extolling his own equity, and expressing his disapprobation of the disorderK' behaviour of the recusants, whom he advised to regain his favour by their dutiful conduct in parliament. This assembly having at length met, after repeated pro- jgj^ rogations, seemedrather in abetter humour than before, theSubse- violence of party being somewhat abated by the judiciouSd"ratio"°' management of the deputy, and the prudence of some tem- perate recusants. Among these Everard himself was most conspicuous ; he was a man of a respectable character, and though he was removed from his office as judge of the king''s bench, for declining to take the oaths of qualification, it was judged proper to indulge him with a pension. His conduct at this time showed that the favour he had received was very judiciously bestowed. He recommended to his friends, over whom he had great influence, to concur in such measures as the interest of the nation, and the honour of the crown required, that they might merit by their duti- ful conduct whatever indulgence they sought. He himself proposed a bill of attainder, which passed unanimously, against the earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnel, Sir Caher O^Dogherty, and others concerned in treasonable designs. In compliance with the royal edict, an act of general am- nesty and pardon was made, and another for taking the old natives under the protection of the law, according to his majesty ""s desire, and abolishing all odious distinctions be- tween men of different lineage inhabiting the same kingdom. Such instances of good temper being exhibited by the house, the session was closed by a very munificent bill of subsidy, granting to the king, his heirs and successors, from every personal estate of the value of three pounds and upwards. 180 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, two shillings and eight pence in the pound, frora aliens twice that sum, and from every real estate of the value of twenty shilhngs and upwards, four shillings in the pound. This bountiful grant, which amounted to an exorbitant tax, was, as may be supposed, very gratifying to his ma- jesty, who wrote a letter to Chichester on the occasion, ex- pressive of his thanks to the commons for their munificence, which had cancelled from his memory the displeasure that their former conduct might have occasioned. Of this mu- nificence the recusants took the chief merit to themselves ; but as they solicited some relaxation of penal laws, which it was not deemed proper to grant, and as the turbulence, which prevailed at the beginning of the session, showed the temper of the commons to be somewhat disorderly, the par- liament was dissolved much sooner than expected. A convoca. ^^ ^^^^ same time it was sitting, a convocation of the clergy lion. was also held in Dublin, chiefly for the purpose of framing a confession of faith for the established church of Ireland. This important office was assigned to doctor James Usher, a man of eminent learning and abilities, but of high Cal- vinistic principles, with which his composition was strongly tinctured. His formulary amounted to a hundred and four articles, consisting of several minute decisions, and laboured expositions of obscure doctrines. In some instances, it was directly contrary to the sentiments of the king, particularly in that article, which declared that the Lord's day was to be wholly dedicated to the service of God. It was, however, approved by the convention, and ratified by the deputy. The king, too, notwithstanding the diversity of their reli- gious sentiments, and attempts made to prejudice his ma- jesty against him, paid a suitable respect to his piety and learning by promoting him to the see of Meath. New plan. ^^^^ exertions of this monarch to introduce civilized in- tations. habitants into the north of Ireland gave great disgust to some of the old natives there, who despised the new settlers, as they could not claim the honour of being descended from Irish princes, and formed a i;ude scheme to destroy them ; but their designs were discovered, and the principals of the ol the conspiracy punished. This puny attempt, however, did not prevent the king from endeavouring to execute si- milar projects in other parts of the island. Sixty-six thou- HISTORY OF IRELANB 181 sand acres, between the rivers Avoca and Slaney, being ad- CHAP. judged to the crown, sixteen thousand five hundred of these were laid out for an English colony, and the rest for the A^^^' natives, on terras the same as in Ulster. In like manner, three hundred and eighty-five thousand acres, in the King's and Queen's counties, and in the counties of Leitrim, Long- ford, and Westmeath, were appointed for distribution. These were mostly granted to the natives by a permanent tenure, which tended to reconcile many of them to this new scheme of plantation ; but before the arrangement was completed a new governor was appointed. Sir Oliver Saint-John, in place of Chichester, who was created baron of Belfast. The administration of this governor excited great cla- Adminis- . , I -1 11 trationoi raour even among those who were hostile to each other, gaini John. Urged by his zeal against popery, which he had already displayed in parliament, he issued a proclamation com- manding the regular clergy of the catholic church to leave the kingdom. This seemingly severe injunction was in reality an act of indulgence to the poorer orders of that communion, who were oppressed by this useless tribe. He also required all the officers of justice py take the oath of supremacy, which was very galling to the citizens of Water- ford, who had obstinately persisted to chuse a succession of recusants for their chief magistrates. As they, of course, refused to take the oath, he issued a commission to seize the liberties and revenues of the city. This rigour afforded a pretence to the zealous partisans of Rome, in foreign coun- tries, to charge him with many acts of severity which he never committed. Beside the recusants, he made enemies to himself of a different complexion. Some members of the state having seized the church lands, and intending to keep possession of them by means of their great influence, he had the bold- ness to oppose their usurpation through mere pity for the distressed circumstances of the clergy. This attempt to deprive the courtiers of their unjust gain, excited their in- dignation, and induced them to join the popish party in censuring his conduct. Assailed from every quarter, and traduced to his sovereign, he was at length obliged to re- sign. But the king, having a just sense of his real merits 182 HISTORY OP IRELAND. VIII Presurap. tion of re cusants. Abuses, civil. ^^jfj^' conferred on him titles of nobility for both kingdoms, and ; appointed him lord-treasurer of Ireland. The removal of Saint- John was very grateful to the re-> 'cusants, who considered it as a sort of censure against him for his severity towards them. Hence they entertained hopes of greater indulgence, and depending on their sup- posed influence with government, on their union, their power, and property, began to assume high authority. They openly erected abbies, and even seized churches for their own worship. Government now began to be alarmed at their insolence, " especially when they discovered that a Romish hierarchy, with a regular subordination of orders, offices, and persons, was established through the kingdom by the papal power ; their jurisdiction exercised with as much regularity, and their decrees executed with as full authority, as if the sovereign pontiff were in actual posses- sion of the realm." It was naturally supposed, that persons so sincerely attached to their spiritual ruler were certainly discontented vvith a prot€stant government, especially at a time when religious opinions had such influence on men's conduct. Yet there were other causes of discontent of a more sub- stantial kind. In the scheme of plantation, however use- ful on the whole, many abuses were practised ; *^nd, by the iniquity of the commissioners appointed to distribute lands, the natives were frequently deprived of those possessions reserved for them by command of the king ; besides, a set of men termed discoverers, who obtained commissions of inquiry into defective titles, were guilty of similar, or even greater acts of injustice ; and the king himself gave great offence by his boundless prodigality to favourites, for which he was always remarkable. On Sir Arthur Chichester alone he conferred the whole territory of Innishowen, for- merly possessed by O'Dogherty. His government also was in many instances extremely oppressive ; the privy- council assumed a right of determining causes, which should have been submitted to courts of law, and exercised great severities in the castle chamber on witnesses and jurors, whose evidences or verdicts were disagreeable to the state. HISTORY OP IRELAND. 183 These grievances were augmented by the oppressions of C H A P. the soldiers, who were obhged, for want of pay, to levy their subsistence of the people. Yet, though they found it ne- Military. cessary to have recourse to that odious method to obtain support, there was at that time a very inadequate military force in the country,* and the finances of James prevented him from attending to the frequent remonstrances of Faulk- land, the deputy, for an increase. Though the military force was so ineffectual, and the Schemes of causes of iritation so numerous, no insurrection was at this vrtntageous time attempted, which clearly proves, that the island was on the completely conquered by Elizabeth, and also, notwithstand- ing their abuses, that there was niuch merit in the regula- tions of James. The new colonists from Britain, who were of course loyal, formed a sort of barrier against the disaffect- ed, and many of those natives, who had acquired permanent freeholds, and were freed by English law from slavish de- pendence on their chieftains, became too sensible of the su- perior advantage of their present situation to wish for a relapse into their former uncivilized mode of life. Industry began now to afford a suitable recompence to those who ap- plied to it, and the increase of commerce was perceived by customs being gradually augmented from fifty to nearly two thousand pounds a year. The general inclination that prevailed of peaceably sub- Some re mitting to the royal authority is evinced from the Showing ^1.^^*'°^"^ instance of forbearance exhibited by some of the native ^y his Irish. The lords and gentlemen of Connaught, and 'of the county of Clare, having surrendered their estates in the reign of Elizabeth, but neglected in general to comply with the mode required for having them conveyed to them a^ain, thought fit to do so in the thirteenth year of James, when their patents received the great seal. These were not, how- ever, enrolled in chancery, owing to the neglect of the offi- * The military establishment was reduced to thirteen hundred and fifty foot, and two hundred cavalry ; but itdil not in reality amount to so many, and even these fe^• were very little acquainted with their duty. Thei' cost to the iTown was fifty two thousand live hundred pounds a year, a sum ex- ceeding, by above sixteen thousand pounos, tho annual revenue of the k ng- dom. Yet, though their ccst wis so enormous, they were obliged to levy their subsistence of the people, whi28. Yet, notwithstanding this breach of promise, the contri- ^j^^,^ butions were regularly paid by all parties, for v/hich com- pliance the recusants took all the merit to themselves, and relying on this merit, and the mild disposition of the depu- ty, assumed high authority. They seized several churches for their service; celebrated their worship with pompous solemnity ; erected a college in the capital ; collected their secular and regular clergy from foreign countries, who were devoted to the supreme pontiff ; and, in many instances, exhibited an intemperate zeal that gave great offence to the protestants. Urged by their importunities, the deputy is- sued a proclamation, condemning the insolence of the ca- tholic clergy, and " commanding them, in his majesty's name, to forbear the exercise of their popish rites and cere- monies." This edict, which was intended to be only a ijiat- ter of form, gave great offence to the recusants, who com- plained of the burden they endured from the voluntary contribution. Hence the king thought it expedient, in or- der to appease their discontent, to accept five thousand pounds, instead of ten thousand, for each quarterly pay- ment, until the whole subsidy should be discharged. This slight disagreement caused lord Faulkland to be recalled, 1629. whose gentle disposition was not fitted to restrain the vio- lent temper of the different parties. In his room two lords- justices were appointed to execute the government, Adam lioftus, lord viscount Ely, and Richard Boyle, earl of Cork' 18d ntStOHY OF lIlELANtt, CHAp. IX Religious disturb- ance. Continu- ance of eubsidy. These were extremely averse to popery, the latter in par- ticular, who had established a colony of English protest- ' ants on his own lands. The lords-justices, in compliance with the prejudices they had entertained, without waiting for any instructions from England, attacked the recusants with great rigour, and threatened to inflict the penalty of the law on all who absented themselves from public worship. They were, however, soon informed that such severity was not accept- able to his majesty, which afforded cause of immoderate triumph to the recusants, who thought themselves the par- ticular favourites of the English government, and exhibited in a public manner the pompous ceremonies of their reli- gion. Accordingly, a fraternity of Carmelites, clad in the habits of their order, proceeded, in defiance of law, to cele- brate their religious rites before a great multitude in a very frequented part of Dublin, and some Jesuits and friars offi- ciating there, infused sedition by their sermons, as was their practice, into the popish inhabitants of the city.* Warrants were therefore issued for the apprehension of these Jesuits and friars, and the archbishop of Dublin, with the chief magistrate, led a body of troops to seize them, and disperse the meeting, but the friars and their congre- gation resisted them, and put them to flight. On the re- presentation of this incident to the English cabinet, fifteen religious houses were seized by their order, for the king's use, and the Romish college in the capital assigned to the university, by whom it was converted into a protestant se- minary. Yet the principal care of the English cabinet was the es- tablishment of a revenue for the maintenance of a military force competent for the support of the Irish government. At present, indeed, the apprehension of any danger from the disaffected was decreased by the termination of the war with France and Spain, excited by the caprice of the fa- vourite Buckmgham,and conducted with little credit. On various accounts, however, a moderate military force was still considered necessary, and as the time for the termina- SeeHaiTJs's Fiction Unmasked, in answer to Curry, p, 87. HISTORY OP IRELAND. 189 tion of the voluntary subsidy approaclied, it was thought CHAP, expedient to adopt some measures for its continuance. Ac- cordingly, lord viscount Wentworth, appointed lord-deputy, advised the king to threaten that, if it were not continued, he would abridge the graces he had promised, and strictly levy the fines for non-conformity. This threat had the 1632. desired effect. It was agreed, after some delay, that an additional subsidy of twenty thousand pounds should be granted for one year, and paid by quarterly assessments. Lord Wentworth being detained in England some time -wenu after his appointment, by the urgency of his affairs, it was worth at length thought expedient to send him to take on him in venior."' person the government of Ireland. This nobleman, who icss; is better known by the superior title of earl Strafford, possessed such a diversity of qualities as rendered him a fit subject both of panegyric to his friends, and of censure to his enemies. At the commencement of his political career, he joined the popular party in England, but as soon as he found it to suit his purpose deserted them, and became a strenuous adherent to the king. Suitable to his notions of prerogative, he considered Ireland to be a conquered kingdom, and therefore supposed that its inhabi- tants, of every description, had no claim to any political rights, but depended solely on the royal grace for those they were allowed to enjoy. At his first entrance on his government, he showed the jjjg ^^^.^^ opinion he had formed, for he only summoned a few of thegance. council, which was considered by the rest as an affront, and let these few remain some hours before he deigned to make his appearance. For this delay he made no apology, nor consulted them on the business for which they had been summoned, but just charged the judges to inform the peo- ple in the several circuits of the good disposition the king had towards those who would be liberal in their grants to bis majesty. At a second meeting, to which they were called in order to deliberate on a mode for the relief of the kine''s ne- Qessities, they seemed, as might be expected, rather reserved, and unwilling to have the contribution continued for another year ; but he told them plainly, that he had convened them, not from necessity, but to give them an opportunity to show- their loyalty, and that, at the peril of his head, he would 190 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, undertake to provide a maintenance for the king''s army* ^^: without their assistance. This bold language made them sufficiently compliant ; they agreed to offer a contribution for another year, according to his desire, and to petition the king to have a parliament soon convened. In these 'mea- sures, the whT)le body of the people also concurred, being influenced by their example. A parlia- 1'he inclination of the people, and the necessities of the Bient. king, rendered it expedient to call such an assembly, but his majesty had a great averson to it, and notwithstand- ing the urgency of the occasion, could only be reconciled to its meeting by his reliance on the dexterity of lord Wentworth, in managing the opposite parties with whom he had to deal. An equal number both of catholics and protestants he had contrived to get elected, and, b}' private- ly working upon the apprehensions of each, endeavoured to attach them to government. He told the former, that if they were not sufficiently liberal, the penal laws would be put in force, and the latter, that he would-be obliged by their parsimony to tolerate their opponents. Yet on every occasion he displayed a pride aud insolence that might seem unfit for accomplishing the purpose he intended. It bad been usual before parliament was summoned to convene and consult the lords of the pale on the time it should meet, and business that should be transacted, but this established custom was contemptuously neglected by the deputy ; and when the earl of Fingal, being deputed by these lords, ventured to put him in mind of it, he was se- verely rebuked for his assurance. When many of the mem- bers of the council, at their meeting before the session td consult on the causes and considerations, and bills to be transmitted, according to the law of Poynings, seemed dis- inclined to adopt the mode he had prescribed, he interrupt- ed the consultations by informing them, that their duty re- quired them to consider, not what pleased the people, but what might be agreeable to the king, as to induce him to call a parliament ; and assured them, in plain terms, that if sufficient supplies for his majesty's service should not be granted by parlia ment, he would put himself at the head of the army, and, by right of the royal prerogative, levy them HISTORY OP IRELAND. 191 from those who could best afford it, and wlio as yet had chap paid very little. Intimidated by his menace, the council ^^' submissively consented to all the measures he had proposed. When parliament met he addressed them in equally im- Servility of perious language. " You must not," he said to them, ^^''"""""^ " have any private meetings ; this in the king's name I must forbid, and am ordered to punish with a heavy hand." The event, howevei*, showed that he adopted the best mode to accomplish the end proposed, for the commons unani- mously voted very large supplies, which they left entirely to his disposal, and only petitioned that they might be ap- plied to certain purposes. Such was their compliance, and so humble their devotion to him, that when Sir Robert Talbot, in the ardour of debate, was be- trayed into some unguarded reflexions on his con- duct, he was instantly expelled, and committed to pri- son until he should implore pardon of the lord-deputy on his knees. Yet, as is usual with sycophants, they were extremely tyrannical over their inferiors, for when one of their members Avas affronted, they ordered the sheriff of Dublin to inflict corporal punishment on the offender. The lords indeed displayed a superior spirit. The Spirited youna; earl of Ormond, on entering the house refus-J^"",'"'^'^ •' => , ' , _ ® lords. ed to take off his sword in obedience to the general order of Wentworth, who thought it prudent not only to let him remain unpunished, but also to admit hnn into his favour. However, to make amends for this compliance, by means of the royal interposition, he obliged the young earl of Kildare to make an apology for his attempts to oppose hismeasures. Yet this was only a particular submission, and the lords on' the whole acted in such a manner as be- came persons of their eminent birth and station. They complained loudly of grievances, and insisted that the royal promise should be performed by the confirmation of the graces. They even proceeded to order the attorney-gene- ral to reduce into a legal form several acts on which they debatedjthat they might be transmitted to England. Against this measure the lord-deputy entered his forma: pro*:':,t, as being contrary to the law of Poynings, which gave xhc sole right of framing laws to the chief governor and council, to 192 HISTORY OF IRELAND. ^ ?v* ^ whom tl]e lords, by means of a remonstrance or petition, - micrht offer their advice on such occasions. i^W" The first session being completed which was appointed by the deputy for making a provison for the army and for the debts of the crown, the second was held in due time, which was designed for enacting laws and graces for the benefit of the subject : but when he had accomplished b^s main object, he began to shuffle, and make evasions. He even absolutely denied two of the most material graces, the one limiting the king's title to sixty years, the other allow- ing new patents to be passed for estates in Connaught, and the county of Clare. Yet several laws were made for the general improvement of the country, among which was one adopting the most valuable English statutes that were en- acted since the reign of Henry VII. Another act was pass- ed for preventing fraudulent modes of conveying property, by which titles became intricate, and heirs were deprived of their just inheritance, with several other disadvantages. As these modes were practised by the recusants with an intent to escape the law, the act gave great offence to them, but was agreeable to the rest of the people. In some instances where the opposition of these religionists prevented provi- sion being made by parliament for the public advantage, the deputy determined to stretch out the prerogative to suit the occasion, and supply the defficiency by an act of state. Yet his interest, with a petition from parliament, could not set a mint established in Ireland, for some reasons not well "understood. After an act of general pardon was pass- ed, a dissolution succeeded. Went- During the sitting of parliament, a convocation also met, teiiiion to which granted eight subsidies to the king, and solicited a thechurch. redress of grievances. The established clergy, by means of fraudulent practices in various forms, had been reduced to great poverty, and consequent coiTuption of morals, and vulgarity of behaviour, which caused an Irishman sarcasti- cally to observe, that the king's priests were as had as those of the pope. In order to correct these abuses, Wentworth exerted himself to provide churches, able ministers, and revenues for their support, by getting the usurped pro- perty restored to the ecclesiastical establishment. From HISTORY OP IRELAND. 193 Robert Boyle, earl of Cork, in other respects a man of li- C ha p. berality and public spirit, he compelled the restitution of tithes to the amount of two thousand a-year. This was ef- fected by means of the acts he had passed in the late par- liament, which not only required a restitution of churcli property, but prevented the repetition of such grievances in future. To the education of the Irish clergy he also afford- ed particular attention ; some disorders in the university he got regulated, and had a new code of laws first drawn up by the archbishop of Canterbury, who had done the same service for the seminary of Oxford. In order to make the Irish established church conformable to the English, he had the most acceptable canons of the latter substituted in place of the articles of Usher, which were thus tacitly abrogated. For the purposes of rectifying abuses in the ecclesiastical courts, and increasing the royal revenue, a high court of commission was established in Dublin, with the same uncon- stitutional powers as that of England. Wentworth now proceeded to acts very suitable to his 1635. own arbitrary disposition. In open violation of the royal ^j.^^^*^ J" promise, he resolved to put in execution the scheme of avemment. western plantation, by which the title of every estate in / Connaught was to be subverted. As the inhabitants of Leitrim had alreadv consented to the surrender of their lands, he proceeded to the county of Roscommon with a tribe of court lawyers, and the commissioners of plantations along with him. Having opened his commission, he sub- mitted the evidences for the king's title to a jury, composed of the principal men of the county, informing them, that the scheme was intended for the real advantage of their country, and that even if their verdict should be unfavour- able, the king's title to their lands would be established by another mode of proceeding. Intimidated by his menaces, and by the determined character of the man, the jury found a verdict for the king"'s title, as did also the counties of Mayo and Sligo, influenced by their example. The comi- ty of Galway, however, was not so compliant. The gentry there being encouraged by the earlof Clanricard, and sup- ported by their lawyers, who pleaded their cause boldly, got a verdict in opposition to the king's claims, which gave N 194 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP, such offence to the lord-deputy, that, in his rage, he laid a fifte of a thousand pounds on the sheriflp, and bound the obstinate jurors to answer for their crime in the castle cham- ber, where each of them was fined four thousand pounds, and sentenced to imprisonment until the fine was paid, and they made an acknowledojment of their offence in open courtj'upon their knees. Yet, though judgment was finally given in the king"'s favour, the scheme of a western planta« tion was, at length, totally abandoned, on account of the dangerous discontents it occasioned. The arbitrary disposition of the deputy being, in this in- stance, obliged to submit *to the public opinion, he could not be prevailed on, by the advice of some friends, to pur- sue more lenient measures, but was hurried on, by the vio- lence of his temper, to continue a rigorous exertion of his authority In particular, he exercised great severity on those individuals who were so unfortunate as to give him any offence. Sir Piers Crosby, a military officer of repute, a member of parliament, and of the privy council, on account of his opposing some measures of administration, was not only removed from the board, but tried by a court composed^ of the deputy "'s creatures, and fined in such excessive da- mages, that in order to save himself from ruin, he was obliged to make a most humiliating submission. The earl of Kildare was imprisoned for hesitating to submit his property to the sentence of the privy council. But lord Mountnorris was treated with still greater severity. Once in company, he happened to use an equivocal expression of the deputy, and some months after, was tried for the offence, before a court martial, where the deputy presided as general, and to whicli he was subject as a military officer. By this obsequious court he was unanimously condemned as a muti- neer, was sentenced to be imprisoned, rendered incapable of serving his majesty, and to be shot or beheaded at the pleasure of the lord-deputy. This last part of the sentence was not in- deed put in execution, for which the deputy took great me- rit to himself; but this noblemen, on a fictitious charge, was deprived of all his offices, and obliged to submit to a long confinement. He had the lord-chancellor, Loftus, suspend- I'd from his office, and put in prison, on the petty charge of HISTORY OF IRELAND. 195 not making a suitable settlement on liis married daughter, ^ "j^,^' with whom the deputy was supposed to have a criminal in- - tercourse. On such occasions, appeals were frequently made to the king, but the arbitrary Charles Avould give no satis- faction, and encouraged the deputy to pursue the same con- duct. Though individuals might suifer this severity from an Beneficial administration that disdained to adhere to the strict rules ^ ^'^^^ of law, yet the nation in general felt the good effects of a rigid and vigilant government. The revenue was consider- ably increased, not only by the improvements made in the usual rents, " but also by fees that were raised on renew- al of letters patent, and grants for plantations. Thus the O'Byrnes of Wicklow paid fifteen thousand pounds, and the company of London, the proprietors of Derry and Colerain, seventy thousand, in cases of this kind. The money thus obtained was carefully applied to the public service, and a sum reserved for emergencies. The army was well discip- lined, regularly paid, and preserved in good condition, was inoffensive to the peaceable subjects, and formidable to the enemies of government. The church had its income in- creased, and its ministers rendered more respectable. En- couraged by the strict execution of the English law, great Humbers applied themselves to pursuits of industry, and ob- tained a suitable recompence for their trouble. The bene- ficial effects were discovered by the increase of the value of lands, the extension of commerce, the augmentation of cus- toms, of goods exported, and of shipping to the amount of a hundred fold. Beside these advantages, the deputy used his influence to get oppressive duties abolished on the im- portation of coals and horses into Ireland, and the exporta- tion of live cattle. To his strenuous exertions was owing the establishment ofL'nen ma- the linen manufacture in Ulster, for which he is certainly '^"^*''^"'^'^' entitled to the gratitude of posterity. A woollen manu- facture, which was beginning to increase, he discouraged, not only to remove every obstacle to the staple commodity of England, but also to render this country dependent on the other for her clothing, which might prevent a separation. To make amends for this injustice he resolved to use every N 2 196 HISTORY OP IRELAND* ^ rx^ ^' 6"^6^vour to get tbe linen manufacture substituted in its place. Accordingly he had flax-seed brought from Holland, the soil here being in many parts suitable to it, weavers from France and the Low Countries, had looms fabricated, and several useful regulations adopted. He even embark- ed thirty thousand pounds of his own property in the trade. Such was the first establishment of that manufacture which in future times has proved the source of such affluence to Ireland. His attach- However desirous the deputy might be for the prosperi- ment to the ty of this country, the service of his royal master seemed °* the principal object of his care. Charles, by his zealous at- tempts to introduce the English liturgy into Scotland, hav- ing excited formidable commotions in that kingdom, requir- ed every assistance that his friends could afford him. Went- Avorth, in particular, exhibited unusual activity on this occa- sion. Being justly apprehensive of the attachment of theScot- tish settlers in Ulster to the solemn covenant of their country- men, he framed an oath of allegiance to be imposed on them, expressing their abhorrence of the insurgents conduct in Scot- land, and abjuring all covenants contrary to the tenor of their present obligation. All persons of every age, sex, and station, were required to take this oath, and those who refused it were severely fined and imprisoned. His zeal, however, was not confined to this object. He sent the king thirty thousand pounds from the Irish exchequer ; reinforced the army in Ireland with four hundred horse, sent five hundred men to England, under a brave officer named Willoughby, to gar- rison Carlisle ; supplied magazines with arms and ammuni- tion for ten thous-ind foot, and a thousand cavalry, defeated a plot for the delivery of the cast e or Carrickfergus to the insuro;ents of Scotland, and executed the chief assent of the conspiracy ; augmented the garrison, and ordered the main body of the forces to assemble at this place on account of its vicinity to Scotland. Created The insurgents of that kingdom, notwithstanding their earl of affected zeal for religion, exhibited in their conduct more worldly pohcy than the unhappy Charles. After the inju- dicious peace he had made with them, he disbaniled his forces, but they retained theirs, being resolved not to fulfil HISTORY OF IRELAND. 197 the terms of it, and when he was obliged again to engage CHAP, in war to repel their invasion, he found himself unable to . support it. In this critical situation he sent over to Ireland for Lord Wentworth to assist him with his advice. The deputy having instantly obeyed, was favourably received by his royal master, who created him earl of Strafford, a knight of the garter, and confirmed him in his situation by the more honourable title of lord-lieutenant. ^^*^' An Irish parliament, being summoned by his advice, had g^^^i^ym,, assembled two days before his return to Dublin, which ex-'oy Itv of hibited very splendid proofs of their loyalty. The commons, ^^^ '*"^^" though constituted of such opposite materials, voted four entire subsidies with unusual unanimity, expressing their highest encomium on his majesty for being so good as to give them so excellent a chief governor, and declaring their complete approbation of all his acts. Afterwards they agreed to afford two additional subsidies, if the Scottish war should require them, assuring his majesty that they were ready to support him with their persons and estates, with such like lavish expressions of their loyal attachment. The peers, being determined that the commons should not surpass them in zeal for their sovereign, published a declaration to the same effect. Encouraged by these liberal offers, Strafford issued orders Abatement, for the levy of a new army, but left the accomplisliment fflf the scheme to others, being obliged to repair himself to England, in order to assist his royal master. Accordino-ly, a body of eight thousand catholics were raised with oreat expedition, a topic for scandal to the rigid puritans, and put under the command of protesiant officers, to which was added a thousand protestant soldiers draited from the old army. The whole consisting of eight thousand infantry, and a thousand cavalry, in excellent order and fit for service, as- sembled at Carrickfergus. But after all the professions of zeal, the subsidies for the subsistence of tiiis army were very scantily afforded. Those who had offered to devote their lives and fortunes to the king, now formed a combination to prevent the payment of the supplies, (which had been voted vmanimously) under pretence, as it were, of having a new mode of taxation settled by tiie present parliament. The 198 HISTORY OP IRELAND, H A P. fervid zeal of the national representatives seemed very much abated, for which it is easy to account. Cause. On tlie renewal of hostilities with the Scottish covenanters, who had abohshed episcopacy by a general assembly^ Charles was obliged, in the distressed situation of his finan- ces, to convene an Enghsh parliament after an intermission of eleven years. From this assembly, however, he could ob_ tain no subsidy until the national grievances, should be pre- viously discussed, which irritated him so much that he rashly dissolved them in disgust. Having obtained a tem- porary subsistence for his troops from a convocation of the clergy, private loans, and other means-, he gave orders for them to march against the invaders, but the Scots, being sooner prepared for action, and passing into England, re- pulsed the advanced guai'd of the royal army at the river Tyne, whicli caused them to retreat in confusion into York-i shire. Unable to support his troops any longer by his own resources, he agreed to enter into a treaty with his re- volted subjects, and being involved in great difficulties, he was obliged again to summon an English parliament. This parliament, so famous for the singular events it occasioned, which is known in history by the name of the long parliamenty met in November 1640. In the house of commons now as- sembled were men of extensive design, uncommon sagacity and resolution, who resolved to abridge the unconstitutional power of the king, and commenced their attack by impeach- ing before the lords tlie earl of StraiFord for high treason, the monarch's prime favourite, and the principal adviser, as supposed, of the arbitrary measures he had pursued. While Charles was perplexed with the opposition he met with from the Scottish covenanters and the commons of England, the Irish parliament, after all their professions of zeal for his majesty, induced by the example set before them, began to waver in their attachment. Grievances were the principal topic of complaint with the English legislature, and the commons of Ireland now echoed the same clamour. They first complained of the oppressions endured from the ecclesiastical courts, and the demands of the established clergy, a complaint very natural for the majority, consisting of recusants and puritans, v.'ho, though hostile to each other. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 199 cordially agreed in their aversion to the established church. C HA P. They next complained of the burden of the assessments, _, which they themselves had voted, and by making alterations in the mode of raising the most of them, reduced them to a mere trifle, which provoked his majesty to order their reso- lution on this point to be torn out of the journals of the house. Regardless, however, of the royal displeasure, and encouraged by the increasing power of the English malcon- tents, they proceeded to other measures introductory to their intended attack on their viceroy, whom they had extolled "with such praises. A remonstraix'c, enumerating many causes of complaint. Attack on both real and fictitious, sustained by tlie people of Ireland during his administration, was abruptly presented to the commons, who voted in a tumultuous manner all the articles collectively to be grievances, without allowing a separate dis- cussion of each, They also petitioned Sir Christopher Wandesford, the lord-deputy, to admit a select committee o^ the commons to repair to England to lay their complaints before his majesty ; but without waiting for his answer they immediately chose this committee, consisting of papists and puritans, and while he was hesitating sent off their agents before them to London. The committee themselves fol- lowed soon after, and were received with particular favour by the popular party, who expected to derive considerable assistance from them m the designs they had formed ior the ■destruction of earl Strafford. By the influence of two lead- ing members, the English commons appointed also a com- mittee to inquire into the grievances of Ireland, to whom (and not to the king, as they were j^ub lid 1/ instructed), the . Irish agents communicated their remonstrance, which was presented to the house with a petition from several of the Irish commons. To the committee from Ireland, already mentioned, v/as annexed a deputation of Irish lords elected privately by a few nobles, which the English commons af- fected to regard as a committee of the Irish house of lords, and treated with the same favourable attention as the other one that was regularly appointed. The prosecution of the earl of Strafford, wdth the various Tarsons vexations of the Irish covernment, had such an effect, as is"'"^' ^^^' j;iipposed, on Wandesford, the deputy, as to occasion hisjustices. 200 HISTORY OF IRELAND. C H A P. death. On this event the king, by the advice of Strafford, '- appointed the earl of Ormond his successor, to which the Irish committee in London objected, as also to the appoint- ment of lord Dillon of Kilkenny-west, who was designed to be joined in commission, as a lord -justice, with Sir William Parsons, a strenuous adherent of the puritanic party. To tlieir objections the king unfortunately submitted, and hence the government of Ireland was abandoned to Sir William Parsons, and Sir John Borlace, two puritans of illiberal principles and narrow intellects. Compli. The concession of Charles to the demands of this cora- ChTrles. mittee did not stop here He consented to have the leaf restored which had been torn by his order from the commons journal, and to have all his correspondence with his minis- ters entered in the signet office, open to the inspection of every subject. When the committee found him so com- pliant, they at length presented to him their remonstrance in due form, but when Strafford solicited a commission of inquiry into each particular grievance distinctly, they slunk from the examination. Mean shift With the redress of former grievances, tlie Irish com- et com- nions, in the meeting of parliament after the prorogation, nions and ' '^ -^ . , . lords. was now not content, but, like those in England, applied for new regulations and securities, tending, in some cases, to advance their own power, and, in others, the public inte- rest. Being resolved on the destruction of Strafford, and, at the same time, apprehensive of the charge of inconsis- tency, after the high encomium they had lavished on him in the preamble to tlieir bill of subsidies, they had the assu- rance to declare solemnly, that this preamble had been sur- reptitiously inserted by Strafford or his agents, and had been permitted to remain, as if unnoticed, lest the rejection of the bill, and the consequent delay in raising of the subsi- dies, should have been distressing to his majest}-. The lords, possessed with the same spirit, made a similar protes- tation, and nominated the Irish nobles, tlien resident in London, a committee of their house. Yet, though they agreed with the commons in this point, on the whole, du- ring those critical times, they showed a more adequate re- gard for the constitution. HISTORY OF IRELAND. SOI To gain the favour of the ruling party in England, was chap. the particular study of the Irish commons, who impeached ' of high treason Sir Richard Bolton, the chancellor, SirVrosecu- Gerard Lowther, cliief-justice of the common pleas, Sirgj""^^^.^,^ George Radcliffe, and Dr Bramhal, bishop of Derry, friends. four friends of Strafford, in order to prevent them from giving evidence in favour of that devoted nobleman on his trial. But, after his attainder and death, the prosecution of these men being no longer necessary, was privately laid aside. Court favour was now directed in a different chan- nel, and to have suffered from his enmity, afforded a sure claim to reward. Hence, Sir Piers Crosby was restored to his place in council, and Archibald Adair, a Scotchman, late bishop of Killala, who had been deprived of that see for expressing his appiobation of the covenant, was recom- mended by the lords-justices to the see of Waterford. The execution of his chief favourite, earl Strafford, and Charles the continually-increasing power of the English commons, compliant, augmented still more the inclination of the unhappy Charles to make compliances. He consented that the re- monstrance of the Irish committee should be heard before the privy council, and to most of the articles of which they complained, he gave favourable answers. He agreed that those peers who held titles, without property, in Ireland, should be deprived of their votes in the Irish house of lords, unless tliey purchased estates in this kingdom within a li- mited time ; that all his subjects should bo allowed to re- pair to any part of his majesty ''s dominions without leave of their viceroy, or any other restraint ; that the chief-gover- nors and privy-council should be prohibited from deciding in cases of property, and from consulting letters-patent ; that monopolies in commerce should be revoked ; that tlie court of high commission should be suspended ; that the graces and the demands of the clergy should be referred to the lords-justices and council ; that the abuses of martial law and of quo-warrantos against boroughs should be re- formed ; and, that the preamble in the bill of subsidies en- comiastic of Strafford should be repealed. In a letter to the lords-justices he said it was his wish that his subjects in Ireland should enjoy the graces, and ordered bills to be 202 HISTORY Of IRELAND. CHAP, transmitted for the establishment of some of the most mate- IX. . rial. For all which kind expressions he received the thanks of both houses, who, at the same time, prayed that the pre&ent parliament should not be dissolved or prorogued until laws were prepared for the establishment of all his graces, and the redress of every grievance. To some ar- ticles, however, he expressed his dissent, and, in particular, refused to admit a repeal of any part of the law of Poyn- ings. Zeal of In the mean while, the Irish commons took the lead over for're-"^ the lords in their zeal for reformation. They resolved to forms. restrain the established clergy in many of their demands, and to add a number of statutes to the college of Dublin, which was thought necessary for the changes they intended to effect. They expressed themselves highly dissatisfied with the answer given by the judges to their questions re- specting the powers of the chief-governors, and in a very preci'sc and forcible manner asserted tlie rights of Irish sub- jects. These rights, liovvever, were now confirmed by the bills brought over by the two committees from London, by which his majesty's claim to the estates in Connaught was given up, the possessions of his subjects ensured, and every essential grievance redressed. Coalition Of these committees, the one from the commons was more "^^'""^""^ especially composed of recusants and puritans, the majority sants. of that assembly, who had formed a temporary coalition for the ostensible purpose of extorting concessions from the king in his present embarrassed -situation. Artifice of The puritans, however, were duped by the recusants, recusants. ^|^^ j^^^ ^^^ artifice, not only to get the Irish, but even the puritanic English parliament, to further their designs. In compliance with the urgent remonstrance of this parlia- ment, the king, having disbanded the catholic forces levied by Strafford for the invasion of Scotland, applied to the Spanish ambassador to have them transported to Spain for the use of the Spanish monarch, which he thought would be a useful mode to get rid of them. The terms were settled, and the ambassador, at a good deal of expense, had provided means for their conveyance abroad ; but it was prevented by the factious opposition both of the Irish and HISTORY OP IRELAND. English parliament, under the apprehension, as pretended, chap. of their being sent back with a hostile intent by the Spa- nish government, who, in reality, at the time were too much engaged in other affairs. Thus did the conspirators, who raised this clamour, effect their purpose by having these troops kept at home as ready instruments to assist them in their rebellious designs. In order to serve the same end, a report was raised by them, that some dependents of the deceased earl of Strafford, in revenge for his fall, had formed a plot for the destruc- tion of both houses of parliament, by an explosion of gun- powder. The members of their party affected to be firmly persuaded of it, and being in dread for their safety, as they declared, had a committee appointed, mostly of their own selection, to inspect the chambers of the castle. After they had accurately examined all the apartments adjacent to the place of parliamentary session, without the discovery of any suspicious appearance. Lord Macguire, the head of the committee, in the eagerness of his search, demanded an ad- mission to the king's magazines, which was peremptorily re- fused by Borlace, without having any suspicion of his real design. ^ 204* HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAPTER X. Severe treatment of the Irish — Their condition improved-— Their antipathy increased — Injlucnce of ecclesiastics — Cause for discontent — Schemes of insurrection — Leaders of the conspiracy — Their designs — Discovery of O'ConoIly — State of Dublin castle — Intelligence of rebellion in the north — Catholics of the pale suspected — Insurrection in Leinster —Success of northern rebels — Forged commission— Bold re- sistance—Cruel massacres— Acts of retaliation. CHAP. JThe regular course of my narrative now leads me to the ■ distressful rebellion of forty-one^ an impartial account of 1641. ^vhich it is so difficult for a native historian to afford. Four {severe treatment hundred and seventy years had now elapsed, since the first of the invasion of the English, who drove the Irish into their fast- nesses, and took possession of the open country. They did not, like the generous Romans, endeavour to civilize the people they conquered, by the introduction of useful arts and equal laws, of which they stood so much in need, but allowed them to continue for ages in the same barbarous condition they found them. They refused them the bene- fit of the English law, and left them to be ruled by their ancient Brehon institutions. So little were they regarded, that even putting one of them to death was not considered as a heinous crime, and of course was attended with a slight punishment. Hence, as they used no endeavours to re- form them, but treated them rather like brute beasts than human creatures, they met with such a return from them as might naturally be expected. They rushed out from their fastnesses, and took every opportunity to destroy their oppressors. As is usual with barbarians they exhibited great treachery in their conduct. Frequently would they make feigned submissions, confirmed by solemn oatlis, when they were overpowered by superior force, but adhered to them no longer than they could break through them with •**• HISTORY OF IRELAND. 205 safety. The oppressions they endured were not owing, as C HA P. remarked by Davies, to the Englisli government, for they ',... sincerely desired to promote the civilization and prosperity of Ireland, but to their own barons and rulers, who sent over bad intelligence to England against them. Of the English colonists, however, many relapsed into the barbar- ous manners of the native Irish, who were termed degene- rate English, and were particular objects of abhorrence to government. Towards reforming both these and the native Irish, at- Their con. tempts were made in the reign of Elizabeth, and some proved, others preceding, but more of this useful work was effected by James I, than for four hundred and forty years before. The whole country he alloAved the benefit of the EngUsIi law. He first introduced justices and sheriffs into the north, and established two new circuits in Connaught and Mun-||^ ster. The native Irish he brought out fi'om their fastness- es, and settled in the open country, where they might get a. knowledge of agriculture, from the English and Scottish colonists he had introduced. Hence, though the plantations in bome cases were oppressive, five hundred acres became now more valuable to the Irish, than five thousand before. Not only agriculture, but commerce was very much increas- ed, especially in the present reign, under the administration of Strafford, of whom so many complaints were made for arbitrary proceedings. By him industry and useful arts were encouraged, the shipping surprisingly augmented, ma- nufactures, particularly the linen, introduced, and by the late bills already noticed every essential grievance was re- dressed. The salutary effect of these benefits was exhibit- ed in the appearance of the country, which was adorned with public buildings, and displayed evident marks of pros- perity. Of all these improvements, as was natural after the ill treatment so long endured, the native Irish had not a suitable sense, and entertained a secret abhorrence of the new colonists. Their natural antipathy was also in a great degree aug- Their nnti- mentcd by the difference of religion. The profound igno-^^^ - ]"* ranco in which they were involved, caused tiieui to pay a su- perstitious obedience to the commands of their clergy, and 206 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP, rendered them incapable of examining into the rational doc- trines of the reformed faith. Besides, their prejudices ope- rated strongly against their receiving a religion offered to them by the English, whom they considered as their op- pressors. Hence so few of them were made converts, and the continuance of their bigotted attachment to popery. Some laws indeed were passed, compelling catholics to pay an outward observance to the protestant mode of worship, but these were seldom enforced, and they were allowed, though with some degree of privacy, the undisturbed exer- cise of their religion. Tiiey had their clergy of various descriptions and orders, archbishops, bishops, vicars-general, and the like, who exerted supreme authority over them, in their several jurisdictions, and they were surrounded with crowds of priests and Jesuits, who flocked over from foreign id^coim tries. They were also allowed to be sheriffs in coun- ties, to have a seat in parliament, and be magistrates in cor- porations, without taking the oath of supremacy. Infliieiice Still, however, as already noticed, a great degree of dis- of ecclesi- content prevailed among them, which was increased by the baneful influence of Irish ecclesiastics, who, being educated abroad, returned to their native land with high opinions of the supreme authority of the pope, and a bigotted abhorence of heresy. Accustomed also to the pomp with which the ordinances of their reli- gion were celebrated in catholic countries, tliey were dis- gusted with the privacy that they were obliged to observe in the exercise of their sacred functions. The scantiness of their pi-ecarious income, when compared to the ample reve- nues of foreign ecclesiastics, had a very sensible effect on them, and made them desirous of possessing the properties of the protestant clergy, which, however inconsiderable, might be increased by the despotic sway with which they ruled their superstitious adherents. Influenced by these motives, they not only increased the disaffection of the Irish exiles they found abroad, but also of the natives at home, both of whom were unfortunately too w'ell inclined to listen to bad advice. Yet it must be owned, after all the improvements pro- duced in the land, that there were some reasons afforded HISTORY OF IRELAND. 207 for increasing the discontents of tlie Irish, who were so CHAP. much prejudiced against the new colonists. In tlie planta- tations where they were settled many abuses and oj)prcs- Cause for sions certainly took place, which were occasioned by the ^^^""^^"''' commissioners and agents employed in the business ; an- cient proprietors were in many instances severely harassed, and even dispossessed by fictions of law, and the revival of obsolete claims of the crown ; the new settlers themselves gave great provocation, by representing to government all the natives of Ireland, whether of the original Irish or old English race, as dangerous and disaffected ; the adminis- tration of Strafford, though conducive to the general wel- fare, was rendered odious by excessive insolence and ri- gour; and the king himself excited much ill humour by his insincerity in eluding the confirmation of the graces. All these causes or pretences for discontent were aggravated by the malicious representations of the pestilent churchmen above mentioned. Schemes of insurrection, it appears, were long meditated Schemes ot before they were put in effect. So early as the year lOSl, '"^urrec- Heber MacMahon, a catholic ecclesiastic, informed lord Strafford, that it was intended that a general rebellion would burst out in Ireland with the assistance of foreign courts, which he himself was employed to procure. Straf- , ford, on receiving this intelligence, gave no alarm, but only used vigilance and precaution, either to prevent it, or resist it with success. Various other rumours of conspira- cies were afterwards propagated, without any consequences succeeding, which caused government to give them no at- tention. Hence, as they were lulled into a fatal security, the conspirators had convenient leisure to proceed gradual- ly with their schemes. The distraction in England, and the success of the covenanters in Scotland, who effected their religious and political purposes by having recourse to arms, gave them hopes of a favourable issue. At length their active exertions, particularly in foreign countries, be- gan to excite notice. Hence the English cabinet, who got the alarm from their ministers^ abroad, informed the Irish government of their apprehensions of a rebellion in Ireland, from the great numl>er of Iri&h priests going over to that 208 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, kingdom from Spain and other foreign countries. To this intelligence, however, the lords-justices, who wished rather to gain the favour of the parhament than the king, paid no attention, or took no consequent measures of precaution. The conspirators were of course allowed to bring their schemes to maturity without interruption. Leaders of The chief instigator of the plot was Roger Moore, a gen- the con- tleman of an ancient familv, which was once very powerful in L,eix, or the (Queens county, but was unjustly deprived of their possessions in the reign of Mary. To the external advantages of a graceful person, polished manners, and in- sinuating address, improved by travelling on the continent, he added the more solid excellence of judgment and pene- tration. Connected by intermarriages with some of the principal families of the old English settlers, he lived among them with great intimacy, but was particularly agreeable to the original Irish, who used to celebrate him in their songs, and with whom it was a common saying, that their de- pendence was on God, our lady, and Roger Moore, Ob- serving the possessions of his ancestors in the hands of strangers, he was pierced with deep resentment, which prin- cipally urged him to devise the dangerous scheme of a gene- ral insurrection. One of the first associates in his designs was Richard Plunket, a person of a respectable family, educated in Eng- land, advanced to military rank in Flanders, polite and plausible, but indigent, bigotted, and vain. Another was Connor Macguire, baron of Enniskillen, whose family estates were forfeited in the Tyrone rebellion, but restored partly to his grandfather, and devolved on him, by whom they were mostly dissipated in extravagance ; of course he was ready for any change, and was also proud, licentious, and of mean intellect. To these were annexed two confe- derates of singular fierceness, Hugh MacMahon, and Hugh Byrne, (whose father had been deprived of his estates by Parsons, the lord-justice), Sir James Dillon, of an honour- able English family of the pale, Philip Reily, with many others of less note. These conspirators soon after got a powerful accession to their cause in Sir Phelim O'Nial of Kinnard, in the county IliST'biiV OP IRELAND. 209 of Tyrone, wliose family, instead of being injured, had c ha. P. been particularly favoured by the English government ; but ^^J^— the) sense of gratitude had not such influence over him as national and religious zeal. In his youth he professed to be a protestant, and was educated in England at Lincoln"'s- inn ; but with all these advantages had a narrow intellect, and brutal disposition, which he showed by adopting the religion and manners of his clan, and consuming his estate in low sensual gratifications. From the death of the titular earl of Tyrone, an Irish exile in Spain, he derived great addi- tional consequence, as he thence became the ostensible head of that powerful sept, and a claimant to their princely domi- nions, which had been forfeited. In the same cause was associated his brother "l^urlough O^Nial, and also the offi- cers permitted to levy troops for the Spanish service, among whom was one Brian CNial, and Plunket, and Byrne, al- ready mentioned. It must here be owned that the furious declamations against popery, both of English and Scottish puritans, tended to increase the number and violence of the conspirators, who affected to dread a persecution from the mistaken zeal of these religionists. The troops levied for the Spanish service the contrivers Their de» of the plot detained in Ireland, and also enlisted others ®^"^* on that pretence, without authority, depending for the pay- ment of these, and all their men, on the rents of the king- dom, which they proposed to seize without respect of per- sons, and also on a supply of money from the pope. Tlie insurrection, which was to be a general one, it was intend- ed should take place at the approach of winter, when it would be difficult to send supplies from England, and for its commencement the fil\h of October was fixed. How- ever, as the time began to draw near, some unforeseen im- pediments fell in the way. In order to encourage the con- federates, Plunket had assured them of the co-operation of the catholics of tlie pale ; but being of less desperate for- tunes, 'and less hostile to the Enghsh government, they be- came cold in the cause as the danger began to approach, and declined to engage in the enterprise,expecting, by parliamen- tary exertions, to succeed in all their reasonable demands. Discouraged by this defection, some of the principal con- To/. /. o 210 HISTORY OF IRELAND. c HA P. spirator^ resolved to follow their example, of which, when - " ' - Moore was informed, lie rushed out from his retreat, (where he had coutinued some time employino; Macguife as his agent) and, ]|)y his arguments and fetndristrances,' confirrft- "" ed Sir Pheliin, Macguire, and Byrne, iii their former de- termmation. Th^ twenty-third of October was now appointed for the commencement of their operations, on which day Moo^e was to surprise, the, castle of Publin, assisted by Byrne, Macguire, and some others, who were to employ an equal number of men from Ulster in this, bold enterprise. By the former the greater gate, and by the latter the lesser one was to be forced, and after them great numbers were Id '^^ rush in. To prevent alarm they Mfere tb "pass for recruits for tlie Spanish service, and were to meet in Dublin on the market day, when little notice would be taken of theij: num- "" ber. On the ,same day that the attack was to be made on the castle, different leaders, by the dii-ection of Sir Phelim, were to seize the several fortresses in Ulster, and, on effect- ing this, they were to rnarcTi under his command to the capital, in' order to secure the possession of that important post. The completion of this business was to be a signal for the other provinces to join the confederacy. It was in- tended tha.t there should be as littje bloodshed as possible in effecting their designs, and that the Joyal gentry should be, confined as hostages. Some, indeed, had more sanguinary intentions, even the destruction of the British planters, and other protestanfs, which was recommended by many of the clerfjv at a meeting held at the abbey of Multifernam in Westmeath. , The designs of qthers extended no farther than to banishment, but all agreed that the catholic religion should be established, and tlieir prelates should sit in par- liament, and that, if even the authority of the kiuff should be admitted, the lords-justices should be of their persuasion. Yet it was resolved not to molest a^ ^rs^the Scottish set- tlers in Ulster, the strong adversaries of their faith," as their resistance, on account oi tneir numbers, and vicinity, to Scotland, might be attended, with great danger. ' ' "'> In the mean whilp, tlie lords-justices" continued in supine HISTORY OP IRELAND. 211 security. Not only was the intelligence from the British CHAP, cabinet disregarded by them, but also an express sent by Sir William Cole of Enniskillen, informing them of an un- usual ferment and frequent consultation among Sir Phelim O'Ni'al, lord Macguire, and their followers. Again that gen- tleman sent them, on the twenty-second of October, a full ac- count of the conspiracy, which was either intercepted or sup- pressed. Gn the'Sameday , Moore and most of the other leaders assfembled in the capital, and, though they found that only eighty of their number had arrived, they flattered them.- selves it would be completed before the time of action. But on this very evening, which preceded the day appointed for the attempt, a discovery of the plot was providentially ob- truded on the lords justices, who were so blind to the dan- ger with which they were surrounded. Owen O'Conolly, a servant of Sir John Clotworthy, a Discovery nativ6 Irishman, but bred a protestant, was considered byof^'ConoV Hugh MacMahon, one of the conspirators, as a fit person to promote their designs, on the supposition of his secret attachment to the religion of his ancestors, and his probable aversion to the English government, for despoiling his fa- mily of their lands by the system of plantation introduced. On that account, MacMahon, on the evening of the twenty- second of October, discovered to him the plot, exulting in the glorious attempt of the succeeding day, and en- larging, in full confidence, on the excellence of the cause, and fail* prospect of success. Having feigned a com- pliance with his design, O'Conolly continued sometime with Inm in a drunken carousal, and having left him with some difficulty, he rushed, in a state of intoxication, into the pre- sence? of Sir William Parson?, whom he informed of the plot just ready for explosion. The lord-justice, being pre- judiced against his appearance, dismissed him to make fur- ther discoveries, but, after his departure, became, on reflec- tion, more sensible of his danger, and gave orders to have the city and castle guarded, and his colleague summoned. Borlace, when he arrived, perceived the impropriety of dis- missing 0"'Conolly, and sent messengers in search of him, who found him in the hands of the city watch, by whom he was taken up in the streets on suspicion. Being now ^ o 2 212 HISTORY OF Ireland; CHAP, brought before the few members of the privy-council that were collected, he was allowed to take some repose, and then gave a clear and satisfactory information of the conspiracy. The council, on receiving this intelligence, instead of arrest- ing the conspirators without delay, gave no directions to that effect till five o''clock the next morning, when MacMahon and Macguire were seized, but Moore, Byrne, and the other leaders, being, from the measures taken, suspicious of a discovery, made their escape. After some hesitation, Mac- Mahon confessed before the council his being concerned in the plot, but boldly declared that the insurrection of that day was too mighty to be suppressed, and that his death would be severely revenged. Slate of Though the discovery of the plot prevented the castle Castle, froni being taken by surprise, it might still have been taken by storm, since the guard allowed for its protection was scandalously insufficient. This shewed great neglect in the lords-justices, considering the valuable deposit committed to their care, for in the castle, at that time, were lodged fifteen hundred barrels of gunpowder,with a suitable quantity of matches and bullets, arms for a thousand men, and th.rty- five pieces of cannon, with their full equipments. Yet all this important charge was guarded by eight infirm warders, and forty halberdeers, the usual attendants of the chief go- vernors on occasions of parade, which was the entire garri- son of the castle. The tlefence of it was now intrusted ta Sir Francis Willoughby, a spirited and experienced officer, who got the petty guard increased by enlisting some dis- banded soldiers, and making other exertions of that kind. The city v/as also eonimitted to his care. Intelll- On the morning after the discovery a proclamation wa* gence of issued by government, notifying that a dangerous conspiracy ihe iiortl). had been found out, and soon after intelligence arrived from the north of the rebellion having actually comnieiiced. Great consternation was now raised among the protestant inhabitants of the city, and many of the English residing there embarked for their native country, preferring the danger of encountering the tempestuous seas on shi})board, to meeting with the rebels on shore. In this state of alarm • the principal protestant merchants were prevailed on by Sir MISTORY OP IRELAND. 213 John Temple, master of the rolls, to deposit the provisions chap. they had in store, and other effects within the castle, on re- ' ceiving a promise of reimbursement for the losses they might sustain in the public service. This afforded a seasonable supply to tile army, which, in the present emergency, could not be otherwise obtained. Dispatches were now sent to several loyal persons in dif- Catholics ferent parts, to exert themselves in favour of eovernment"^^ P, , S . . suspected. in their respective places of residence, and particular di- rections were given to the sheriffs of the English pale to provide for the safety of that district, as suspicions were en- tertained of the great lords there, on account of their attach- ment to the catholic religion. Being thus called on, as they thought, to declare themselves, they appeared before the council, expressing their abhorrence of the rebellion, , and demanding arms and ammunition for their delence against the rebels. Only a few, however, were granted to those most exposed to danger, under pretence of their scarcity. Sensible of the suspicions entertamed of them, they seemed willing to find a cause of complaint against government, and expressed themselves dissatisfied with the words Irish papists in the proclamation, which might cast a I'etlection on their loyalty. In order to satisfy them in this point, a second explanatory proclamation was issued, ex- cluding them from all charge. Still the suspicions of go- vernment were not allayed, for some time after, on getting assurance of succour from the English parliament, they not only recalled the arms they had given them, but ordered, by proclamation, all persons, under pain of death, except the usual inhabitants of Dublin, to leave the city in twenty-four hours, and not approach within two miles of it. Hence the catholics of the pale, whatsoever were their real inclinations^ were certainly obliged either to pacify the rebels by contri- bution, or annex themselves to their party. The mode of sending dispatches to the loyal persons, lusunec tended for some time, to preserve the peace of Munster and -i^p '" Connaiight, but in Leinster, it had not the desired effect; for the O'Byrnes of Wicklow, who had been deprived of their estates by Parsons, rose up in arms, and uniting with the rebels of Wexford and Carlow, committed great depr^- • 2lii HISTORY OF IRELAND. c H A P. (lajJQ^s fpj. a, wide extent, and carried off great booty from the loyal inhabitants. In the continuance of their violen- ces^ they were encoui'aged by the daily information they re- ceived of the success of the insurrection in Ulster. Success of The northern conspirators, being punctual to their en- noithem gagenients, rose in rebellion in different quarters at the very time appointed. Sir Phelim CNial, the conductor of their .operations, having, on the twenty-second of October, got admission by treachery into the fortress of- Charlemont, took possession of it, and made a prisoner of lord Caulfield, the governor, an old officer, who Jived on terms of intioiacy with his Irish neighbours. He then flew to Dungannon, which he seized, while his associates made their attack on various, other gai'risons. So active were they in their operations that within eight days, they had almost entire possession of all the northern coun- ties, except Down and Armagh, of which they had only part, and had, also possession. of the counties of Leitrim and Longford. The towns of Derry, Colerain, Lisburn, Car- rickfergus, and Enniskillen, with some inferior fortresses, resisted with success their tumultuoi^s. attacks.. Enniskil- len ,was preserved by the exertions of Sir William Cole, al- ,-,,., ready noted for the information he aflfbrdcd the lords-jus- -I ,.tipes. In taking possession of the counties of Cavan and ,1, .teitrim some appeai'ance of legal form was preserved, for ,.,.,^he popish sheriffs summoned the people to arms, and de- manded the different towns and forts to be formally deliver- ed yp to them, t. The Enelish inhabitants in the districts above mentioned . ,, ba^-ing no apprehension of danger, neglected, on its appear- «n;ee, either to fly to places of strength, or to join tliemselves in bodies for mutual aid, but made feeble efforts singly to ; ..defend their own places, and hence many of them fell into . ,^Jie hapds of a ruthless enemy. Their possessions were then despoiled by crowds of plunderers, but so far the ori- ginal plan of the msurrectio.n was observed, for few were butchered in cold blood. They were either confined in I prisons in the dismal expectation of being daily put to death, . or were driven from their habitations naked and destitute, ♦ 'exposed to the rigour of an inclement season, fainting or This leader and his associates, however, were now and Bold re- HISTORY OF IRELAND. ^15 '; laying in the woods of coTd and! ti linger,' or crawling with C HA P. ^ ghastly looks of famine to some places of refuge. -. The leaders of the insurrection had recourse to different '^^J'S*^.'^ excuses tor ineir conduct, bome said tney had autliority sion. from the queen, who was a Roman catholic, and others made use of other pretences for their justification. Sir Phelim, ,. on seizing the fortress of Charlemont, said he had directions itom the English parliament for doing so, and afterwards ^ pretended to have a commission from the king, showing a piece of parchment with a great seal which he had torn from 'a patent he got in the castle of Charlemont Tthen staved in their successful career. When the Eaolish,sistance. who had iled to different forts, " recovered from their sur- ^, prise, they took measures for their defence, and collecting themselves in bodies, not only at Carrickfergus, which was their principal asylum' in Ulster, but in other places of strength, defeated the rebels ifi several skirmishes and as- saults, at Dromore, Enni'skillen, Castle Derrick in Tyrone, in different parts of Donegal, and other stations, and storm- , jed lord IVt^acGu tree's own castle in Fermanah. During the course of their bold exertions, tlieir spirits , were highly increased by the arrival of fifteen hundred sol- diers from Scotland, sent by the king for their aid, with \ ^^rms, ammunition, and mone^'. These were collected from , disbanded regiments, by the unfortunate monarctihmiself, who, on receiving in that country an account of the insur- , rection, applied to the Scottish parliament ,for assistance, which, with all their abhorrence of popery, they refused under various pretences to afford him. Thou^ii the rebelsmetwith the different repulses above no- ,;ticed,they''wei'e not discouraged by such partial defeats; and collecting themselves at Newry in a body of many tliousands under Sir Phelim, they resolved to make an attack on the im- Y portant post of Carrickfergus. But before they pi"oceeded to "the grand enterprise, they d[etermined attempting to get pos- session of the Scottish settlement of Lisburn, i'rom which they had been already repulsed, having soon abandoned the reso- lution of leaving the Scots unmolested. This town at the first assault was defended by seven hundred ill armed men, who 216 HISTpHV OF IRELAND. CHAP, repulsed two tliQusajid of the rebels, but previously to the second attempt got a reinforcement of nearly a thousand more under Sir Arthur Tyringham, who Avas assisted by Sir George Rawdon, a gallant officer, that arrived at the very mo- ment of danger. Against these Sir Phelim detached four thou- sand well appointed men, the first regularly formed body of insurgents, who made a furious attack on the tweijtyr eighth of November, and continued it with great obstinacy ; but their attack was sustained with cool intrepidity by the garrison, and repelled with such slaughter, that the rebels slain were equal to thrice the number of the troops that op- posed them. Frequently did the assailants pierce into the town, which they reduced to ashes, but were repulsed by the brave defenders in every attempt. Cruel Mas- By this defeat and disappointment, with some others of sacres. ^j^^ same kind, the savage breast of Sir Phelim being swell- ed into rage, urged him on to commit acts of treachery and horrid cruelty very shocking to relate. Sir Williani Brownlow surrendered Lurgan on condition of security to himself and the inhabitants in their persons and property, but the terms were basely violated ; all were instantly seiz- ed, and the whole town given up to plunder. Such acts of perfidy, however, were trivial, when compared to the cruel and barbarous deeds committed by orders of Sir Phelim. Transported into rage at every instance of ill success, he took a bloody revenge in return. On the repulse of his forces at the castle of Augher he gave orders to Mac Don- nel, his abominable agent, to massacre all the British pro- testants in three adjacent parishes. In consequence of the defeat at Lisburn lord Caulfield was murdered, and fifty othe^rs along with him, by the bloody poniards of the Irish. Their unh;;ppy prisoners, confined in different quarters, were now brought out under pretence of conducting them to the next English settlements, and were goaded on like ]t),easts by their merciless guards, who triumphed in their sufferings, and determined on the destruction of all those y/hp had not already sunk under their tortures. Sometimes they inclosed them in a house or castle, which they set on fire, regardless of their cries, and with savage joy exulted over them in the horrible agonies of death. At other times HISTORY OF IRELAND. 217 they plunged them into the first river they met on the way ; ^ ^J" ^' a hundred and ninety they^hurled from the bridge of Por- " ' . tadown. Irish ecclesiastics were seen present with them, encouraging the carnage ; and women, forgetful of the ten- derness of their sex, pursued the Enghsh with execrations, and embrued their hands in their blood. Even children, after the example set before them, in their feeble malice, lifted the dagger against the helpless prisoners.* Under the sacred name of religion were all these enormi- ties committed, and the horrid bigots, who thought them- selves the avengers of Heaven, considered the tortures they inflicted on their unhappy victims to be only the commence- ment of the eternal torments they were to endure for their heresy in another world. Those who escaped the fury of these fiends had their imaginations so much possessed with the shocking spectacles of butchery and tortures before their eyes, that they paid a willing attention to every wondrous story they heard. Hence every idle tale of miraculous es- capes from death, of miraculous judgments on murderers, of lakes and rivers of blood visibly perceived, of marks of slaughter not to be removed, of spirits chaunting hymns, of ghosts rising out of rivers shrieking out revenge, with such like fancies, was widely circulated, and implicitly believed. The horrid deeds already noted, which were represented Acts of re- in the most aggravating manner, excited an universal ab-^*^^'^^^""' horrence of the native Irish, and hence some acts of equal atrocity vvere committed by protestants by way of retaliation. The following instance is recorded. In the beginning of the succeeding year some Scottish soldiers of the garrison of Carrickfergus, inflamed by the dismal news conveyed to them, issued at night, it, is said, from their quarters, and massacred in their beds thirty Irish families in the small adjacent district of Island Magee, who were entirely inno- cent of the rebellion. * The jiarticular instances of the refinements in torture exercised on the unhappy protestants;, as mentioned by Sir John Temple, would be disgi;st- . ing to the reader, and niu-t therefore be omitted. It P'as comuioi;, he said, during the massacre, for the rebtls to make pareiit-- ; xecuie their chil- dren, children their jarents, wives their husbands, and husbardi their wives, in hopes of thus preserving their own lives by their compliances, but without eftect; 'for when they }iad done so, they were CQnstantly put to death. 218 HISTORY or IRELAND. CHATOER XI. Motives of the English par^iameiit-^Of the lords-justices— A parliament— Messsngers to the king arrested — Insolence of Moore — 'I^ugitives in Dublin — .Severities of Coote — Defeat of Julians- Town-bridge — -Defection of Pale — Extension of the rebellion — Siege of Drogheda—y-Pctty excursions — Siege of Drogheda raised — Vain repentance of the Pale — Selfish designs — •Application of torture — Battle of Kilvsh— Distress of the royal army —Scottish auxiliaries — Owen O'Neal — Foreign kipplics. CHAP. I'viMEDUTELY on receiving complete information of the XI. plot, the lords-justices sent a messenger to England with Motives ot ^^^^ intelligence to the earl of Leicester, the lord-lieutenant, the Ei!g- and another to the king at Edinburgh. His Majesty, be- ment. " ing unable to make any effecttial exertions himself by his prerogative, recommended the care of Ireland to the Eng- lish parliament. Gratified with the authority thus afforded them, this formidable body affected great zeal on the oc- casion, expressed their abhorrence of the Iri«h insurgents, and voted large sums of money and men for their suppres- sion. Under the same pretence they took arms from the royal stores, but in reality resolved to turn them against the king himself, and to employ all the other means of war- fare they obtained to the same purpose. It was not, there- fore, for their interest that the Irish rebellion, which afford- ed them such excuses, should be speedily suppressed. . «-;. The lords-justices they found very willing instruments in - "pf l^f pi'omoting their designs, especially as they also had reasons ces. for desiring a continuance of the rebellion. By this means tliey expected forfeitures, would increase, of which they hoped to get a large share. Parsons in particular had this object in view, as he was cunning and avaricious, and made use of his colleague as a tool for effecting his own purpose. They therefore threw in the way every possible impediment to prevent the speedy termination of the rebellion. Procla- mations, it is true, were issued by them, offering pardon to the rebels that should submit, ^ut these off'crs were clogged HISTORY OP IKELAND. 219 i ,^^h SO many exceptions and limitations,, ^s to be rendered C HA P. ineffectual.;,- Afterwards they got directions from the Eng- . - ^ lisli parliament to issue aiiqther proclamation in their name, ,.witli,9n pft'cr of pardon to the rebejs whOiSubpiitted \^i,t}iin a .certain time, but they did not think fit to comply, on . .Recount of the inefficiency, as they said, of their former pro- ^Iftm^tionsj [^ .^\ .The. Irisli parliament was to meet in November, but the I lords-justices, being fesolved that it should not assemble at the time appointed, bad it prorogued to the end of Febru- , , aiy. In this measure, however, they were opposed by cer- (j tain lawyers, whose opinion was supported by the, judges, ... .declaring, that if it did not assemble at the day fixed, it> was ^' actually dissolved. They therefore were obliged to retract their prorogvition, and allowed it to meet, but only for one fJay. ,^ ^. The assembly being accordingly convened, the houses^Vparlia- ; .proceeded to consider the state of the nation, and to frame "^'^"'* , , a protestation against the rebels; but they could not agree on the appellation that should be applied to the insurgents. Those whose estates were exposed to their depredations, or who were attached to them, would not consent that they should be called rebels, but proposed that they should ,..be styled discontented gentlemen. The piotestant party, .,J|iGwever, being spirited and powerful, rejected this proposal, and by their support the declaration of parliament was drawn up with sufficient force and precision. Some mem- bers were then nominated to hold a conference with the rebels in Ulster and other quarters, on tlie causes of their taking up arms, and to make a report on these matters to the king, the council, or the parliament. It being found impossible that" all these proceedings could be completed ui one day, a second \yas with difficulty allowed, but no en- treaties could prevail on the lords-justices ,to allow a lon.ger continuance, which afforded just cause of complaint to per- sons of every description. , , The lords and gentlemen who were averse to their con- Messengers duct, and sincerely desirous of peace, commissioned lord ^ ^ , "^ UiUon to carry over a memorial from them to the king, containing charges against the present lords-justices, and 220 HISTORY OF IRELAND. C HA P. recommending the oppointment of lord Ormond to the go- _ vernment, with other sahilary measures, which, they assur- ed his majesty, would effect the reduction of Ireland by means of the resources the country afforded. The justices, having got intelligence of their design, communicated it to their friends the leading members of the English commons, by whose orders lord Dillon and his companion, lord Taafe, were seized in their way to the king, their papers suppressed and themselves confined as long as it was thought necessary to defeat the purpose for which they were employed. Insolence Encouraged by the misconduct of the justices, which ex- of JVIoore. cited so much discontent, the rebels entertained high hopes of success. Hence when the parhamentary deputies waited on Roger Moore, who lay at Dundalk with a body of two thousand five hundred ill armed men under his command, he treated them with disdain, rejected all overtures for an accommodation, and tore in pieces, with affected indignation, the order of the two houses for accomplishing a treaty, on aiccount of the injurious manner in which it was expressed. He now exerted himself with great diligence to make the rebels adhere firmly to the genei"al cause. He dignified his followers with the name of the Catholic Army ; put them in mind of the virulence of the English parliament against popery ; advised them to suppress all national distinctions, and to rest the entire merits of their cause on their civil and religious rights as loyal subjects to the kmg. •'^"n'hf^ ^^^^ ^^^y of Dublin, at this time, exhibited a melancholy pictui'e of the wretched fugitives of every age and condi- tion, who sought shelter from their merciless enemies. Though numbers of these helpless creatures, who had es- caped the daggers of the assassins, being stript of their clothes, perished on the road of cold, fatigue, and hunger, yet a great many succeeded in gaining the metropoHs, the object of their desire ; but there, alas ! indifferent accom- modations were afforded to them. Hence so many of them died, that it was found necessary to take additional ground for their interment. ^verities The lords-justices, confining themselves in tlie capital, and providing troops for their own security, took but little care of other parts, which were, of course, exposed to the as- HISTORY OP IKELAND. 221 saults of the rebels, who drove the protestants from tlieir CHAP, possessions in the counties of Leitrim, Carlow, Wexford, ^ ' and Wicklow, and extended their i'avages even to the vici- nity of Dubhn. Provoked by these repeated insults, the lords-justices were at length obliged to exert themselves a little, and employed Sir Charles Coote in their service, an I experienced soldier, but insolent and cruel, and possessed of illiberal prejudices against the Irish, on account of the ravages made on his estates, which he had acquired by va- rious projects Being sent to repel some insurgents from the castle of Wicklow, which thev had invested, he com- pletely executed his commission, drove them to the moun- tains, but, in return for their d-epredations, conunitted such uidiscriminate slaughter in the town, as equalled in cruelty the barbarous deeds of the native Irish. Notwithstanding their defeats in Ulsterj the northern Defeat oJ rebels collected a considerable force and proceeded to form '7""^"'^'' the siege of Drogheda. Immediately on this movement bridge, being discovered, a small body of six hundred foot and fifty horse, composed chiefly of the despoiled English, and, of course, undisciplined, was detached from Dublin to rein- force the garrison ; but, within three miles of Drogheda, at Julian's-Town-bridge, it was attacked by three thousand five hundred rebels, and defeated. The loss, indeed, was insignificant, except of arms and ammunition, but the ef- fect produced was not inconsiderable, as it gave the rebels fresh spirit, and caused a great addition to their numbers, which were still more increased by whole companies and re- giments of the royal army deserting, and joining their standards. Consternation spread now through the English army, especially in the capital, which, with the castle, might have been easily taken, had the rebels marched thither without delay ; but they lost the opportunity by amusing themselves with investing the town of Drog-heda. In tlie mean while, the lords-justices recalled Sir Charles Coote from Wicklow, who forced his way through one thousand of the sept of CToole, tliat opposed him, and on his re- turn was created governor of Dublin, which he exerted himself to secure against every possible attempt. 222 HISTORY OP IRELAND. Chap. The defeat of the royal army at Jullan's-Town-bridge, ■^^' with the misconduct of administration, obtained for the in- Deffcction siirgents the accession of the cathohcs of tlie pale, the most of tlxepale. j,gj;pg^f3^]g b^^jy ^f j|,at persuasion in Ireland. Deprived of their arms, and excluded frorn the metropolis by the lords-justices, they were obliged to Soothe the rebels by con-- tribution, and being o'ffended at the suspicions entertained of thtm, they paid a wilhng attention to the specious argu- ments offered by the rebels to seduce them. In order to determine' thenV to take arms, Roger Moore exerted him- self with great zeal, but applied particularly, with in- sinuating address, to lord Gormanstown, a nobleman of great power and influence. He represented the dan- ger to -v^'hich their civil and religious liberties were expo- sed, tlie obstinate determination of a puritanic faction to frustrate the gracious intentions of his majesty towards his Irish subjects ; the in'^eteracy they expressed against all ca- tholics ; the injurious exclusion of Irish students from the inns of court ; and invfeiglied against the ins'olence and ty- ranny of the lords-justicesj who exercised their power jast to effect their own emolument, and to gratify the passiohsof an English faction. These representations made an im- pression on the inhabitants of the pale, especially after the defeat above mentioned. Lord Gormanstown then issued an order to the sheriff of Meath to collect the inhabitants' of that county ; and accordingly, on the beginning of Decern- ''• ber, several lords, with about a thousand gentlemen, as- ''" sembled on an eminence called the Hill-of-Crofiy. Here they were met, as had been previously concerted, by Moore and other rebel leaders, accompanied by a detachment of their forces. The people of Meath advanced, andGormaii- stown, with great • solemnity^ demanded for what purpose they had entered the pale ih arms. IVloove replied that they had taken arms for the purpose of maintaining the king's prerogative, and asserting the freedom of their country. Being required again to declare, if these and no other wei'e his real motives, he continued to make th'e same assevera- tion of his sincerit3\ Gormanstown then with his party declared, that they would unite with them for so useful a HISTORY OF IRELAND. 223 purpose, and exert themselves against all those who re- c H A P. fuseil their aid to such a cause. ^^' . In consequL-nce of this confederacy the catholic lords de- termined to renounce tlie authority of government, but in order to justify their revolt it was thought necessary to transmit an apology to the king, and liaving done so, they proceeded to laise their forces. They did not, however, coalesce with the northern rebels,' who Were stained with such crimes, but were formed into a separate independent army, of wl)ich lord Gormanstovvn was declared com- mander-in-chief, and earl Fmgal general of horse. Their revolt the Ion is- justices affected to consider a matter of little moment ; but they, in order to make their justification more complete, beside the apology sent to the king, publislied a maTiife?t<^, expressing the grievances they endUr^d from the puritanic faction, declaring that they took arms merely for self-defence, and soliciting a speedy and effectual accommo- dation. The manifesto, being composed in a style of mo- deration and loyalty, and displaying the danger of utter extermination to which they were exposed on account of their religion, had a powerful effect on all the catholics of Ireland. Hence the flame of insurrection spread rapidly around. Extension All Connaught rose in rebellion except the county of Gral-°'^,. J^ way, which was with difficulty preventedby the exertions and influence of lord Clanricarde. In.Munster, the first symp- toms of commotion were some petty ravages and robberies, which were punished by the lord-president. Sir William Saint Leger, with barbarous severity, and without making atiy distinction between the innocent and guilty. Desirous no doubt of a pretence for ins.ui-rection, the ^chiefs of the disaffected made sti'ong remonstrances to him on the rigour of his executions ; but he received their remonstrances with contempt and disdain, declaring they were all rebels, and should be hanged. They therefore took up arms, offering- self-preservation as their plea, and proceeded to seize the different strong holds in the pfovi rice. The city of Kil kerjiny was taken by lord Mountgarret, and tvery place Oi strength in the county, and in the. counties of Waterford an^ Tipperary, in a few day,s fell iiitp the hands of the re- 224< HISTORY OP IRELAIVD. y CHAP. bels. The county of Clare was overrun by the O'Briens XT in defiance of their chief the earl of Thomond. The southern chieftains, having- thus becran the insurrec- tion, confined their hostilities, it must be owned, to open warfare, and used all their endeavours to prevent their sa- vage followers from committing acts of crnelty, or even plunder. But their generous exertions were not sufficient- ly successful, nor was it possible, on all occasions, to hinder the fanatic mob from slaughtering the unhappy heretics when they got them in their power. It must indeed be acknow- ledged, that great provocation was excited by the cruelties of the violent Saint Leger and his train, who, in the exer- cise of martial law, spared neither age, sex, nor condition ; nor could the indignation and remonstrances of his country- men restrain his excesses. Strenuous zeal he certaTnlv pos- sessed in a high degree, and, when the situation of the pro- vince was desperate, he derived material benefit from a spirit of discontent that happily arose among the leaders of the insurgents. Lord Viscount Roche and Fermoy, a noble- man of considerable power in the county of Cork, refused to be commanded by lord Mountgarret, insisting that his county should have a particular general. Offended at the indignity thus shewed him, Mountgarret retired in disgust to the countv of Kilkenny ; and the nobles of Munster, be- ing left to their own conduct, continued their dissensions, which afforded time to Saint Leger to collect and disciplin* his troops for the next campaign. «.„ „ n Durinff these transactions in Munster, the rebels in iJroghe- Ulster, and those of Leinster who joined them, were wholly * engaged in the siege of Drogheda. Tiiis town had been governed by Sir Faithful Fortescue, who resigned his situa- tion in disgust on being disappointed in receiving suitable supplies, and was succeeded by Sir Henry Tichburn, a more adventurous officer. He used every exertion in his power to strengthen the garrison, but it was still thought inadequate to defend the town against an army of twenty thousand men. Happily this army, having begun iheir en- terprise in a severe winter, were possessed neither of the skill nor means requisite for carrying on a regular siege at such a season. Destitute not only of artillery, ammunition. HISTORY OP lUELANb. 225 and other implements of war, but even of tents, they were chap. obliged to take shelter in the neighbouring villages, and; wait for any opportunity that chance might offer to sur- prise the town. Even this disposition was sufficient to re- duce the garrison to great distress, and caused many to de- sert. At length a small supply of victuals and ammunition, sent from Dublin, obtained an entrance, and Tichburne at the same time made exertions suitable to the difficulty of his situation. He was not only resolute in enduring hardship of every kind, but active in his skirmishes, and successful in his excursions for forage and provisions, which enabled him to maintain the town until a fresh supply of bread, and four companies of foot were sent to his relief. While he was thus actively engaged, the lords^justices Petty eii- were employed in an occupation more interesting to them'^"' than the relief of Drogheda, the conviction of the lords and gentlemen involved in the rebellion^ a measure previously necessary for the forfeiture of- their estates. While their thoughts were directed to this agreeable object, the arrival of Sir Simon Harcourt from England, with a regiment of eleven hundred men, induced them to exhibit somewhat more activity in their military operatious. Coote was sent to dispossess a party of rebels stationed in the village of Swords, and rigidly executed the commands he had received to pillage, burn, and destroy, laying waste the whole coun- try around. Ormond was dispatched with two thousand foot and three hundred horse in an expedition against the town of Naas, where the rebels of Kildare and the adjacent counties had collected their chief force. This service he effected, but executed his cruel orders less rigidly than CootCj and yet with such severity as caused lord Gormanstown to remonstrate to him by letter, threatening to retaliate on his wife and children. Ormond, in his reply, reproached him with his disloyalty, and, disregarding his threat, ased the following words, dictated by a true nobleness of mind. " My wife and children,"'' said he, " are in your power, should they receive any injury from men, I shall never revenge it on women and children, which would not only be base atid imchristian, but infinitely beneath the value at whicl) I rate mv wife and children.'" 226 HISTORY OF IRELAND, c H A P. Ormond was again commissioned to drive the rebels from , __a station called Kilslaghen, within seven miles of Dublin, His orders were to burn and destroy their haunts, and to kill all the inhabitants capable of bearing arms ; but he pro- ceeded with moderation. The army were certainly capable of more important services, as a second reinforcement of fif- teen hundred foot and four hundred horse had arrived from England ; but the government thought fit to employ the forces in such petty excursions as those above mentioned, instead of attempting to relieve the gallant garrison of Drog- hcda, surrounded with enemies, and exposed to the extre- mity both of toil and famine. Sieijeof Frequently were the lords-justices urged to make this at- Droghecla tempt, but refused their consent, under various pretences. Having, however, by laying waste all the country about Dublin, produced a dearth in the city, they were then obliged to send the soldiers out to seek for provisions on the enemy's quarters. Accordingly Ormond was commissioned to lead three thousand foot and five hundred horse on a ravaging expedition towards the Boyne, but received strict orders not to pass over that river. On getting intelligence of this movement. Sir Phelim resolved to raise the siege of Drogheda, for he had been repeatedly foiled in his attempt by the spirited exertions of Sir Henry Tichburne, and lost many of his men, and some of his best officers by the active sallies of the brave garrison. Having now raised the siege, he retreated with speed to the northern provinces, of which Ormond informed the lords-justices, urging them at the same time to get liberty to take advantage of the rebels' dis- may, and pursue them to Newry. This request was posi- tively denied by them, without giving any reason ; but it is well known it was from the apprehension that too speedy a termination of the rebellion might lessen the forfeitures they expected. On his arrival in Drogheda he got the officers of the garrison to join him in repeating the same request, but without effect. His operations being thus confined, the rebels recovered from their fright, and returned to invest Drogheda, but a considerable body of them was defeated at Atherdee by Tichburne, who got a reinforcement of five hundred men from Ormond, with the permission of the lords. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 237 justices, and pursued them to Dundalk. Repelling them C ha. i*. from this town, he was eager to prosecute his advantages, but . was prevented by being refused the necessary provisions by the lords-justices. The advantages so easily gained over the rebels, who Vain re- timidly fled at the first alarm of danger, afforded the gentle- Pj^^' ^^^^^ " men of the pale just reason to apprehend that no reliance could be placed on them as associates in the general cause. They therefore resolved to break off" the connection, and ac- cordingly applied to Ormond, on his march toDrogheda, so- liciting the protection of government. In consequence of this application Ormond desired instructions how to act towards those who offered to surrender. In return he got orders not to admit any of them into his presence, but have them all seized by the soldiers, and sent prisoners to Dublin. Hence many of respectable characters, who had entered into no armed association with the rebels, but had rather suffer- ed by their extortions, and had on different occasions pro- tected the English, were indiscriminately confined with the guilty, and denied all access to the lords-justices. Such severities were exercised in order to prevent others Sgiflg], and after it many of the privates enlisted in his army. -^^^^ Byron retired to Chester, and again received reinforcements, but nothing of moment was effected. Ormond was now appointed lord-lieutenant, and had aOrmond variety of difficulties to encounter in his new situation. The^^.^'jj^f^ ' Irish confederates did not in general strictly observe the ariftistice, but committed outrages in different parts, and some parties of them would not allow any armistice at all, nor obey the orders of the supreme council, until they were compelled by force. The subsidies they had promised were by no means punctually paid, which provoked the English soldiers to plunder. Between these and the Irish troops various disputes arose about quarters, to settle which, and to induce the confederates to observe their different engage- ments, caused the marquis much trouble. It was still more vexatious for him to find, aftpr the king had exposed him- self to odium by seeking their aid, that they refused, with all their pompous professions of loyalty, to send any troops to England to his assistance, while they allowed the emis- saries of France and Spain to raise levies for the services of their respective courts. The entreaties of Ormond had no effect on them, even at the time he urged them to save themselves from ruin by resisting their bitter enemies, the English puritans. They supposed it would be more for their advantage not to afford the king any effectual assist- ance, as his encreasing distresses, in that case, must oblige him to purchase their aid by more important concessions. Thus was Ormond embarrassed in the southern provinces. The cove* but in the north he had still greater difficulties to encounter. "^"'■* Munrde disclaimed the treaty, and insisted on continuing hostilities, in obedience to the orders he had received froni the Scottish parliament, who were attached to the king's enemies. In order to gain the aid and favour of that na- tion, a solemn league and covenant^ framed at Edinburgh by commissioners from the English parliament, was subscribed by that assembly, and by all their friends through Engr. land, in which they " engaged to defend one another against all opponents, and to endeavour to extirpate popery, pre- lacy, superstition, heresy, schism, and profaneness, and to maintain the rights and privileges of parliament, together Q 242 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, with the king's authority." The covenant was exactly •^^^' suitable to the sentiments of the Scottish troops in Ulster, who were very willing to sign it ; but to prevail on the Eng- lish officers to do so, who were generally attached to the royal cause, might be attended with some difficulty. In order to effect this, Owen O'Conolly, now become an adhe- 1644. rent of the English parliament, brought over letters from that body to the British colonels in Ulster, with promi:?es of their arrears being paid, and ample provision made for their future maintenance, on condition of their disclaiming the armistice, and taking the covenant. With this condi- tion the Scottish officers were of course ready to comply, but those of the English regiments began to hesitate. Or- mond now thought it necessary to interpose ;' he urged them strenuously to resist, and furnished the colonels with a pro- clamation issued by the Irish government against tlie cove- nant, which he advised them to read at the head of their regiments, but they refused to take an active part, and yet returned rather evasive answers to the agents of the Eng- lish parliament, from whom they expected some supplies. At this critical time, ten thousand pounds, with a sup- ply of clothing and provision, was sent to Munroe from Scotland for the use of his army, and at the same time ar- rived four ministers, of the Scottish church, appointed to exert themselves in favour of the covenant. These holy men were very strenuous in the business for which they were employed. They went from parish to parish through the counties of Down and Antrim, enforcing and tendering the covenant, which they declared as necessary for salvation as the sacrament itself. Such active zeal was attended with suitable success ; not only the Scottish troops, and the people from that country, but many of the English in Ul- ster, soldiers, officers, gentry, peasants, eagerly contended to assum.e an engagement so essential to their eternal wel- fare. Notwithstanding the menaces of government, and the opposition of some colonels, who read the proclamations against it at the head of their regiments, private men and subalterns secretly took it, and afterwards boldly avowed it. Even they, who had appeared attached to the royal cause, were caught by the popular infection, and those who refused to engage in this holy vow, were considered HISTORY OP IRELAND. 243 as impious wretches, undeserving of the rights of humanity, C HA P. or the common necessaries of life. ... Munroe at first affected great moderation, pretending to use no violence against those who refused to take the oath, and leaving them entirely to the ministers of the kirk to convince them by their pious exhortations ; but afterwards he threw off the mask, on receiving a commission from the English parliament, under their broad seal, empowering him to command all the forces of Ulster subject to their authority, both Scottish and English, and oppose all the enemies of the covenanters in open war. On hearing of this new autho- rity he had received, the royalists assembled at Belfast, in order to consult what answer they would give to his demand of obedience ; but during their consultation he came sud- denly on them, and surprised the town. Afterwards he inarched to Lisburn, but the English officers of the garri- son, being prepared to resist him, he was foiled in the at- tempt. A war seemed now on the point of commencing between the British forces in Ulster, but, on consideration, both parties found it would be for their mutual interest to enter into a compromise. Accordingly, it was agreed that the English should not be obliged to take any oath contrary to their consciences, until they represented their scruples to the English parliament ; that they should have the same benefit as the Scots of provisions and privi- leges, and should join them in carrying on the war against the Irish rebels, vmless they were prevented by the king's express order. Alarmed at this union of the British forces in Ulster, the confederate Irish at Kilkenny detached Castlehaven to the support of Owen O'Neal, and privately offered Ormond the command of their forces, as royalists, which they affected to consider themselves, at the same time requiring him to proclaim the Scots rebels for their scandalous breach of the armistice. These proposals Ormond could not with pro- priety accept, and yet was unwilling to offend the Irish, from whom he expected supplies, of which he stood in great need. In this dilemma he entered into a negociation with them to amuse them, pleading as his excuse for not decla- ring against the Scots, that in a point of such moment he must wait Ibr secret instructions from the king. In the Q 2 244 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, mean while he proposed that if the Irish afforded him pay =5=B==== and subsistence for six thousand foot and six hundred horse of the royal army, he would restrain the Scots within due bounds. In this negociation some time was spent, and while it was going on all apprehension of Munroe ceased ; for after attempting some hostilities to justify his declara- tions, he shrunk down into his usual inactivity, having neither the inclination nor ability to prosecute the war with vigour. Negocia- While the earl of Ormond was contending with a variety thTkhV- of difficulties, proceeding from the causes already mention-. 1544. ed, an Irish negociation of great importance was opened at Oxford. By the articles of cessation it had been agreed that the confederates should send agents to the king to treat about a final peace, on the accomplishment of which event Charles rested his liopes of a powerful reinforcement from Ireland. Accordingly, after much delay the agents appeared before the king at that city, on the twenty-third of March 1544, and made a formal notification of their terms. They insisted on the public establishment of the popish mode of worship in Ireland, on the reversal of all attainders and grants of land since the first year of Eliza- beth, with a variety of such exorbitant demands as requir- ed in reality the extinction of the English power in that kingdom. Of course the king and his ministers, however desirous of a final settlement, were obliged to declare, that they could bold no farther conference with them. They then proposed terms which they styled moderate and rea- sonable. Among these was the absolute freedom of their religion ; a free parliament, with a suspension of Poynings** law ; seminaries in Ireland for the education of catholic lawyers and clergy ; a release of debts, and a general act of oblivion, with an abolition of all acts and attainders against catholics since August 1641 ; a formal act to render the Irish parliament completely independent of the English one ; the exclusion from this parliament of every one who had not an estate and residence in Ireland. On receiving satisfaction in these points they offered to send ten thousand men to assist the king in suppressing the unnatural rebellion in England. HISTORY OP IRELAND. 245 Though many of their demands were inadmissible, yet chap. Charles stood so much in need of the assistance they offered, , that he consented to accept their memorial, as productive of a peace by mutual concessions. He considered, however, that the protestant party in Ireland should give their con- sent, and accordingly he directed the Irish privy-council to send over some persons of experience to assist in the treaty. In compliance with his desire they nominated archbishop Usher and eight others, out of whom the king selected four ; but the zealous protestants, being dissatisfied with this mode, held a meeting at the house of the earl of Kil- dare, and appointed a deputation of six persons, who arriv- ed at Oxford before the other, and presented their petition. The demands on their side were equally extravagant with those first offered by the commissioners from the confederate catholics. They required that the statutes against rucusants should be rigidly enforced, that the whole party should be disarmed, compelled to repair all damages sustained by pro- testants, punished for their offences without pardon or mitigation, that the forfeited estates should be taken into the king''s hands, and, after satisfaction made to those who claimed under former acts of parliament,- that the residue should be granted to British planters. On these terms they insisted, and refused in the smallest degree to recede from them, though it was impossible to execute them in the pre- sent circumstance of the country. When they had stated their terms, the commissioners from the Irish privy-council arrived, and expressed the highest disapprobation of the extravagance of the demands made by the others. Yet when they stated their own, they made proposals themselves that were utterly imprac-, ticable ; for instance, that the recusants should be all dis- armed, the penal statutes enforced, and the like. Thus, by the violence of tlie opposite parties, was the king disappointed of getting that treaty e4>mpleted, from wliich he had expectations of essential aid in the present critical situation of his affairs. The chief blame he ascribed to the puritans, for he entertained an extravagant opinion of the catholics"' zeal for his service, which was owing to the sug- gestions of the queen, who persuaded this unhappy prince 246 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, that, in the present conflict of parties, they were the only subjects on whose fidelity he could rely. He was therefore very condescending in his behaviour towards the agents of the confederate Irish, and made several concessions and conciliatory promises to them. Urged by his necessities, he pathetically advised them against delay in getting the treaty accomplished, assuring them that if his enemies suc- ceeded against him, they would easily extirpate both their nation and rehgion, for which they had such abhorrence. Soothed by his condescension, the agents owned with suit- able modesty, that his majesty could not, in their opinion, under the present circumstances, make any further con- cessions, and hoped that the general assembly, when inform- ed of his real situation, would moderate their demands, though they themselves had no authority to recede. Continued Charles being well assured that important concessions iii'ond. ^' i^^'Jst be granted to the confederate Irish before they would consent to take arms in his behalf, and being unacquainted with the terms that would be pleasing to his own party, resolved, in his perplexity, to shift the odium of negotiation from himself on the marquis of Ormond. He therefore sent him a commission to make a definitive peace witl) the catholics of Ireland on such conditions as he would judge agreeable to the public welfare. Involved in difficulties by this commission, the marquis found them still increased by the revolt of lord Inchiquinin Munster, who, taking offence at the king, joined the parliamentary party, and attacked the catholics in that province, but was opposed with success by lord Castlehaven, who shut him up in Cork, jg^^ During the continuance of these hostilities Ormond was involved in a long protracted negotiation with the Irish con- federates, in the management of which, very much against bis inclination, he was left entirely to the direction of his own judgment, without receiving any specific instructions from the king or his ministers. In September 1644 he met the commissioners of these confederates, in order to fix on a day for a regular meeting, but, by the violence of the commissioners, the meeting, was put off from time to time, until May 1645, without any prospect of a peace being con _ eluded. Charles in the mean while became more eager for >IISTORY OP IRELAND. 247 It than ever, as all hopes of accommodation with the parlia- ^ "j^^* ment had now vanished, and therefore he desired Ormond - to make peace with the Irish whatever it should cost, so that his protestant subjects should be secured, and the royal au- thority in Ireland preserved. At the same time he desired him not to divulge these instructions, unless urged by ne- cessity. Ormond was now more perplexed than ever, as the con- federates would expect greater concessions from a country- man than could with propriety be granted. He therefore petitioned to be removed from the government. Anxious to retain so faithful a servant, Charles endeavoured to recon- cile him to his situation, by conferring on him new favours, and by giving him additional authority. He also endfea- voured to soothe the opposite parties. He had the order an- nulled, made by Parsons, excluding recusants from parlia- ment. Sis being an encroachment on his prerogative, and to prevent the clamour of protestants at this measure, got a bill passed in Ireland remitting the protestant clejgy and laity all debts due the crown for four years part. Yet his endeavours to concilate the confederate catho- lics did not make them more ti-actable. Elated by their successes, and the hopes of important aid from abroad, they became luke-warm about the treaty. In order to shew their consequence in foreign countries, from whom they expected this aid, they sent fourteen hundred men to the service of France, and made levies for Spain at the very time that they denied Ormond's earnest request of two thousand men for the king''s assistance in Scotland. This reluctance shewed an unfavourable disposition in the general assembly of Kil- kenny, before whom the treaty was to be discussed. The assembly met for that purpose on the fifteenth of May 1645, and received Ormond's proposals with such apparent tem- per, that there seemed no obstacle to an accommodation ex- cept the penal laws. It was soon, however, discovered that it was made up of discordant materials. The moderate party were indeed sincerely desirous of an accommodation, but those of the contrary disposition, who were too numerous, were extremely averse to it. Among these the deputies of Twister were most strenuous in their opposition, for they 24S HISTORY or Ireland. CHAP, ^vere afraid, if it should take place, they would be depmed ■ " of tlie possessions and advantages they had acquired, and might be brought to punishment for their crimes. The violence of this party was increased by the flaming zeal of the clergy now sitting in convocation, who were also appre- hensive of losing the properties of the protestant ministers Avhich they had in their hands, and declaimed with great violence against every agreement that would diminish the power or splendour of the catholic establishment in Ireland, At this intemperance the general assembly affected to be displeased, declaring their proceedings to be seditious and treacherous, and yet acceded to their wishes, by refusing to allow the churches taken from the protestant clergy to be rettored to them. During the discussion of the several points proposed, an account arrived of the dreadful overthrow sustained by the king's army at Naseby, by the parliamentary forces under Cromwel and Fairfax. This news, instead of urging the confederates to an immediate accommodation, as their in- terests and the king's were so closely connected, caused them to rise still higher in their demands, on the supposition, that they could extort any concessions they pleased from the un- liappy monarch in his present distressed situation. Or- mond then stated to them briefly the sum of coneessions that the utmost extremity of distress could force from the king, among which was a repeal of the penal statutes against recusants. They found, however, tliathe was not confined to these, for the king''s cabinet, after his defeat at Naseby, having fallen into the hands of the victors, the several pa- pers contained in it were published, whence the confede- rates discovered Ormond's private instructions to conclude a peace whatever it may cosi^ and republished the letter with severe animadversions on his conduct. Their discussions were of course interrupted by this discovery, but another person soon arrived, after long expectation, who was better jirepared to gratify their wishes. Edward, earl of Glamorgan, son of the marquis of Worcester, a man of a sanguine temper, was strongly attached to the king, for whose service he had raised a body of troops, at his own and his father's expense. HISTORY OP IRELAND. 249 In return, lie was at present honoured Avith singular marks CHAP. of the royal favour, and had more splendid promises made ^^^' him. Though he was a vain man, and of a weak intellect, vet as he had an insinuating address, was a zealous catholic, and allied to some of the most powerful families in Ireland, he was considered by the king as a proper person to be sent to that country, to remove the obstacles that retarded th* aid from the confederate Irish, which he had so long desired. While he was preparing for his journey, he amused the king with high expectations. He promised to lead six thousand Irish forces into England in the month of June ; to reinforce them with four thousand royalists of Wales ; to block up Milford-haven with his transports ; to advance thirty thou- sand pounds, with a considerable quantity of arms, and to raise thirty thousand more. But he was detained too long ^ in England, to fulfil these vast engagements, and did not ar-« rive in Ireland till the end of July. Repairing to Kilkenny, with suitable recommendations, especially with one from Ormond, he met with a very fa- vourable reception from the confederates. He then produ- ced two commissions from the king, of nearly the same date, allowing him full power to regulate a treaty. From a no- bleman of their own religion, and nearly allied to themselves, possessed of such authority, the confederates had sanguine expectations, and were certainly not disappointed. The terms of the treaty did not require much discussion ; they were adjusted privately between the two parties, and it was concluded on the twenty-fifth of August. Glamorgan ex- erted himself to expedite the business, as he was eager to lead ten thousand Irish into England to restore the king's au- thority, which he thought he could do. By this treaty the Roman worship, and even the papal authority, was virtually established in Ireland, but the articles were to be kept se- cret until circumstances should allow their disclosure. Having now settled the matter privately with respect to religion, which was the cly^f point, the confederate's con- tinued to hold a public negotiation with Ormond. The ar- ticles of a civil nature were soon settled, but when they made their extravagant demands with respect to religion, Ormond refused to comply, which obliged them to recede, and con- 250 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, sent to more moderate concessions. They then proposed, _ _ that no clause in this treaty, should prcckide the catholics from such further graces, as the king might be pleased to grant, which was accepted, but of these graces they were already assured by their private agreement with Glamorgan. Ten thousand men were then ordered by a vote of the ge- neral assembly for the royal service, and the king every mo- ment expected their embarkation, but new difficulties arose to defeat the purposes of this unhappy prince. Suspended Previous to the arrival of Glamorgan, and during the bvRenunc-^^j^j^.gp of the negotiation with Ormond, a numerous party of the confederates, sensible of the necessity of supporting the king, had discovered a solicitude to restore the public peace, and were contented with a free enjoyment of their re- ligion without the splendour of a public establishment. The clergy, however, inveighed with acrimony against this deser- tion of the church, and their agents at Rome represented the danger which might thence accrue to the interests of their religion. In order to avert this danger Renunccini, the pope's nuncio, archbishop of Fermo, was directed to liasten to Ireland. This prelate was polite, agreeable and eloquent, regular and even austere in his mode of life, but at the same time passionate, ambitious and vain, distinguish- ed by an intemperate zeal for popery, and possessed with an opinion that he was destined by Providence for the conver- sion of the western islands from heresy. He was particularly instructed by the pope to unite the catholic bishops of Ire- land in a determined declaration of war, until their religion should be completely established, aud the government of the kingdom committed to a catholic lord-lieutenant. On his arrival in Ireland, he was treated with respect by government, in order to get his consent to the measures al- ready adopted. Without delay, he hastened to Kilkenny, and by the hands of Glamorgan received a very condescend- ing letter from the king. Glamorgan addressed himself to him with great deference, and explained the nature of his commission to treat with the Irish. Yet this singular at- tention shewn him. instead of mollifying, tended only to in- crease his obstinacy. He objected both to the public and private treaty ; to the articles of religion as being entirely HISTORY OP IRELAND. 251 insufficient, and strono-ly condemned the concealment of C H A P. ... . . X.II these, while thepohtical articles were published, with which ^ 1 foreigners of their persuasion would be justly offended. When he found his ar o;u men ts could not bring; over the su- preme council to his opinion, who were influenced by the more moderate catholics, he resolved to give them every opposition in his power. He induced eight Irish prelates, at a private meeting in Kilkenny, to join him in a protestation against the peace, and prevailed on Glamorgan, who had a profound respect for his spiritual authority, to sign another instru- ment, by way of appendage to his former treaty, engaging that the lord-lieutenant should be a catholic, that catholic bishops should sit in parliament, that the universities should be under their direction, and that the jurisdiction of the su- preme council should continue until all the private articles were ratified. The completion, however, of this scheme met with an interruption by an accidental discovery. Sir Charles Coote, a strenuous partisan of the English par-I^y papers liament, being commissioned by them to command in Con- naught, prevailed on a detachment of Mimroe"'s army to fol- low him, and with them he took possesion of the town of Sli- go. While the confederates and Ormond were both sending troops to resist him for violating the armistice, the catholic archbishop of Tuam, a warlike churchman, with what forces he could collect made a bold attack on the town, which he had nearly taken, but was at length repulsed and slain. In his baggage, picked up in the pursuit, was found a copy of Glamorgan''s private treaty with the confe- derates, a copy also of his commission, and of other papers relating to that transaction. These authentic papers were immediately sent to the English parliament, by whom they were published, and afforded cause of triumph to the king'^s enemies, who had still declared, that he designed to establish popery. His ministers, therefore, in Ireland, under the apprehension of his protestant subjects deserting him, were obliged to use every exertion to remove the imputation. Accordingly, lord Digby, one of his secretaries of state, who had been sent to Ireland as an assistant to Ormond, seized Glamor- gan in Dublin, on a charge of high treason, for presuming, 252 HISTORY OP IRfiLAND. C H A P. on a pretended authority from the king, to do that, to which, he declared, his majesty would not consent, if it were even to redeem his crown and save his family from destruction. On this charge he was committed to custody, and examined by a committee of the privy council, before whom he in- sisted on the authenticity of his commission, but candidly owned, thathe had received no specific instructions from the king, who was not bound to observe any articles he might disapprove, declaring, at the same time, that in the whole transaction he was actuated by a zeal for his majes- ty's interest, especially by an ardent desire for obtaining for him the Irish auxiliaries of which he stood so much in need. The general assembly of Kilkenny was at first highly offended at his confinement, but, on recollection, they per- ceived the severity was affected, and shown him with an in- tent to retain the attachment of the king's protestant sub- jects. In a few days they applied to Ormond for his re- lease, assuring him, that without it neither the troops could be sent to his majesty's aid, nor the treaty completed. This application had its due effect. The resentment of the gover- nor and council now subsided, and they liberated him on his giving security for his appearance when required, being w^ell satisfied, they said, that his proceedings were owing to an indiscreet zeal for his majesty's service. They then sent him to Kilkenny, with a commission to treat with the confederates, in particular to expedite the conclusion of the treaty with Ormond, which had been so long in agitation Accordingly the negociation was resumed between the mar* quis and their agents, Darcy and Browne ; but difficulties still occurred. Digby protested, with great vehemence, against the religious articles of Glamorgan's treatv, and the king publicly disclaimed his giving him authority to consent to these, allowing him only, he said, a commission to raise troops in Ireland. But in his private letters to this nobleman he aiknowledges the contrary, expressing his Toyal approbation of his conduct ; a duplicity that certainly did not redound to his honour. This opposition, either real or affected, give treat offence to the confederates, and tended to delay a linal settlement. HISTORY OP IRELANB. 253 The opposition, however, of the nuncio was more stre-C h AP. nuous and sincere ; he exerted himself to prevent any ac- * commodation, unless with such extravagant terms in favour Tnaty of his own religion as he had already proposed. He then ^^^^^^ ^"' produced the plan of a treaty perfectly suitable to his wishes, formed, he said, between the pope and the queen. Of this treaty he easily induced the most of the clergy to sign their acceptance, and proposed it in due form to the general assembly, as the joint production of the pope and the qvieen ; and stating, that he daily expected to receive the original from Rome. Yet his pompous proposal had not the desired effect ; the general assembly would not accept his treaty ; he prevailetl, indeed, on a few deputies, with Glamorgai^, now a zealous adherent, to sign a stipula- tion that no peace should be concluded before the first of May 1646. In the mean while a new general assembly was called, who did not think themselves bound to adhere to the agreement of a few members of a former one, and, proceeding to the business without delay, concluded the peace on the twenty-eight of March. By the terms of it the extravagant demands for an esta- isig. blishment of the catholic religion was not conceded, but a complete toleration ^ was afforded. The various articles, indeed, are too numerous to be distinctly specified, but a few may be noted. A new oath was to be substituted in place of the oath of supremacy ; all acts and attainders against catholics for five years past were to be annulled; they were allowed to keep their own estates now in their possession, and the Irish to hold the forts, towns, and dis- tricts within their quarters. In return, they engaged to transport ten thousand troops to England for the king's service in six weeks ; but, on failure of doing so, without a sufficient reason, the engagement on the pan of the king ■was to be void. Ormond now began to prepare for the embarkation of the first division of the Irish troops, but it was found that they had been delayed until the time of employing them with advantage was past. Chester, which they were in- tended to relieve, had now surrendered to the parliamentary forces, land the roysil cause became hopeless. 254- HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAPTER XIII Sad condition of Charles — Opposition to the treaty — Victors/ of Owen 0''Neal — Violence of the nuncio and clergy — Triumph of the nuncio—Siege of Dublin — Disunion of leaders — Ormojid^s negocialions — His treaty with parlia- ment — His departure — Diversity of schemes — Prestons defeat at Dungan-hill — Exertions of Inchiquin — His vie- lory at Knocknoness — Confederates in disorder — Joined by Inchiquin — Opposition of the nuncio — Catholics at war with each other — Ormondes return — His treaty concluded— His justification'— The prince proclaimed king — / he nun- cio's departure — Overtures of Ormond — Conduct of Rupert —It's effect — Dijffi.cullies of Ormond — His design on Dubm lin — His defeat at Rathmines. ■ - CHAP. The tide of success having turned to the contrary direction, XIII. ^]^Q unhappy Charles fled in disguise at the approach of Fair- Sad cmidi- fax with his victorious troops, and, on the fifth of May,dehver- pharles. ^ himself to the Scottish forces at Newark. In this deplorahle condition of the king the Irish auxiliaries could afford him no relief, and therefore it was proposed to Ormond by the confederates, that it would be expedient to employ their forces against Inchiquin and the adherents of the parliament in Munster, as it would serve the king better to clear Ireland of his enemies, than to make a desperate attempt to assis^ him in England. But Ormond refused to consent to this • measure until his treaty was published, and that of Gla- morgan suppressed. Tp this they were unwilling to agree ; but being apprehensive that Ormond would join the parlia- mentary party, they at length complied. While they were debating this business, Ormond received an order from the king to enter into no conditions with the Irish, by which the publication of the treaty was of course suspended. HISTORY OK IRELAND. 255 Tliey were, however, soon informed by a letter from the <'^^ A i*. prince of Wales, that the order was extorted from the cap- — tive monarch by force. The difficulty being now removed, the articles of the treaty were ratified by proclamation on the twenty-ninth of July. The treaty of peace, which, after such tedious negotia- ^''^'JJ'g ^J"". tjon, had been at length brought about, in no one particu- ty. lar was found to suit the purpose intended. It was delay- ed so long until the aid it was to afford the king in Eng- land could be of no avail; it was despised by the adherents of the covenant in Ulster, and of the English parliament in Munster, whose favourite plan was the extirpation of the Irish race and popery ; by many of the Irish race it was abhorred, who were eager for the extirpation of the Eng- lish colonists and heresy ; but above all others it was odious to the muncio, who aimed at the complete subjection of Ire- land to the papal see. Disappointed in his attempts on Preston''s army, who adhered to the confederates, he ap- plied to Owen O'Neal, and the Ulster forces, who were of- fended with the supreme council, and therefore they were easily prevailed on to declare against the peace. The zeal of O'Neal was increased by a large sum of money given him by the nuncio, and the promise of much more in future. The followers of this leader consisted mostly of barbarous victory" of rovers called creashls. whose depredations caused the council JA"'?" , is ^ r J 1 • *' -Neil}. of Kilkenny to oppose them by an armed force, and having collected of these, about the end of May, a body of five thousand foot and five hundred horse, he advanced towards Armagh. Apprehensive of an attack on some of the British garrisons, Munroe followed him with an army of six thou- sand infantry and eight hundred cavalry, under his com- mand. Arriving at Armagh at midnight he was informed that the Irish general lay seven miles off at the village of Benburb, posted between two hills, with a wood behind, and the river Black water on his right. At day-break he marched from Armagh, and crossing the river at a ford in view of O'Neal, advanced to attack him ; but this cautious general, amusing him with skirmishes during the day, de- ferred the battle till evening, when he saw the sun shine in the enemy's face. At this time Munroe, mistaking a de- tachment of the Irish for some succour he expected, was 256 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, confused at the disappointment, and being alarmed at the XII. reinforcement received by the enemy, he prepared to retreat. — ~~~~ Of this favourable moment, the Irish general took the ad- vantage, and instantly attacked the Scottish cavalry with great fury, which was broke by the sudden onset, and being driven back on the infantry, the whole was put to flight. In this defeat, three thousand of the Scottish army were slain, their artillery, most of their tents, baggage, and pro- visions taken, with the loss of only seventy on the side of the Irish. The only resistance they met was from an Eng- lish regiment commanded by lord Blaney, which main- tained their post, until almost all of them fell with their va- riant commander. Had the rest imitated their example, the victory would not have been so easily gained. His ar- my being increased to ten thousand by this success, O'Neal continued the pursuit of the routed foe, and threatened the reduction of the whole province ; but in the midst of his victorious career, he was stopped by a message from the nuncio, who called him into Leinster to oppose the peace. Violence Relying on such support, the adherents •( the nuncio be- of the mm- came confident, and prevented the proclamation of the peace clergy. ^'^ several parts. At Limerick the mayor and heralds, in attempting to execute their office, were attacked by a mob, headed by the clergy, and pounded, some mortally, and committed to prison for ten days. For this outrage the clergy got the nuncio's benediction. At a meeting of eccle- siastics in Waterford, which he summoned, excommunica- tion was denounced against all who promoted the treaty, and a new oath of association foniied, by which they bound themselves not to adhere to any peace but such as would be approved of by the Irish clergy convened in a general assembly. Submissive to their spiritual instructors, the ignorant multitude exclaimed against any peace but such as would be agreeable to the clergy, whose arrogance Avas increased by the supreme youncil attempting to soothe them, instead of enforcing their authority. Alarmed at the blind obe- dience of the mob, and of Owen O'Neal to the orders of the nuncio; at the ambiguity of Preston's conduct, parjt of whose army had already deserted to the clergy ; at the pro- gress of Inchiquin, with feis parliamentary forces, in Mun- HISTORY OP IRELAND. 257 ster, tlie council earnestly urged the lord-lieutenant to pro- c H a. P. ceed to Kilkenny to assist them in their endeavours to main- tain the treaty. Accordingly, he proceeded at the head of of two thousand men, of whom five hundred were cavalry, accompanied by the marquis of Clanricarde, and lord Dig- by, and on his arrival at Kilkenny was received with all, due respect, and apparent demonstrations of joy. But he soon perceived that his attempting to reconcile the refractory would be ineffectual, and besides got some news that alarm- ed him ; for he was informed that the nuncio had prevailed on Preston to join CNeal, and that, by his desire, both these generals were proceeding with their forces to intercept him on his return. This intelligence urged him to make his escape with all speed, which he effected, and by forced marches arrived at the capital. Such was the influence of the nuncio, who soon after, by Triumph his own authority, dissobed the constitution formed by the^.-^^ confederate catholics at Kilkenny. Entering the city in re- gal pomp, this powerful ecclesiastic committed to prison the members of the supreme council, with others who promoted the peace, and established a council, consisting of four bishops and eight laymen, nominated by himself. Of this council he became president, modelled the armies, appoint- ed the officers, and, in the fulness of his authority, deter- mined and commanded at his pleasure. Lord Muskerry he deposed and imprisoned, and in his place created his ob- sequious adherent, Glamorgan, general of Munster. He even promised him the lieutenancy of Ireland, as soon as Ormond should be driven from the capital, of which he was quite certain. In obedience to his orders, Preston and O'Neal proceed- Si*?fffo^ I'll- ■ ^ r- 1 • Txii-i Dublin, ed with their united forces to lay siege to JJublin, but a jealousy broke out between these generals. Preston thought the nuncio was partial to O'Neal, and the latter was offend- ed with the former, because the gentry of Leinster applied to Preston to protect them from the ravages of his troops. However, the united army continued their march towards the capital. In this city certainly sufficient zeal was dis- played, and every possible preparation made for a siege; but the lord-lieutenant was sensible of his inability to si»fi- R 25S HISTORY OP lUEtAViJ. CHAP, tain It, from the. want of supplies of every kind, of money, , " provisions, and ammunition. He bad already got twenty- three thousand pounds by a mortgage on his estates, which was expended in the public service, and had received two thousand more from his tenants at Kilkenny, which served just to purchase subsistence for a few days. In the mean v/hile the confederate generals advanced towards Dublin at the head of sixteen thousand foot and sixteen hundred liorse, and when they approached the capital they sent the marquis of Ormond their propositions, to which an imme- diate answer was required. They demanded that the exer- cise of the Romish religion should be as free and public in all the English garrisons as in Paris or Brussels, and that Dublin, Drogheda, Trim, Newry, Carlingfbrd, and other places in the English quarters should be garrisoned by ca- tholics. Though surrounded with difficulties, Ormond dis- dained to return an answer to such insolent proposals. Pie had just thirty barrels of gunpowder supplied him by a parliamentary ship, which might enable him to make some resistance. Sensible that he could place no reliance on the Irish generals, he resolved, as the last expedient, to apply to the English parliament for succours. After different proposals it was at length agreed that he should, for due considerations, resign his government and garrisons to com- missioners of the English parliament, and when this was settled, three thousand infantry, and three hundred cavalry, were ordered for the immediate relief of Dublin. Disunion ^^ ^'^^ mean while, the besieging armies approached and of leaders, took their stations around that city with a very formidable appearance. But the danger to be apprehended from them was greater in show than reality. The jealousy between the two generals still subsisted, which caused each to op- pose the other's plans, and their animosities were communi- cated to the officers of the respective armies, who expressed their abhorrence of each other in insulting language. One party was upbraided by their opponents with being northerns and barbarians, the other with being the descendants of Eng- lishmen, and threatened with total extirpation, when the dominion of Ireland should revert to its rightful possessors, the original Irish. Hence, instead of carrying on the siege HISTORY OP IRELAND. 259 in concert, they were ready to draw the sword against each CHAP* oilier. O'Neal affected to be apprehensive of some insidious designs from Preston, whom the nuncio, who was attached to the other, had resolved to take into custody, and was with difficulty prevented, Of these dissensions lord Digby attempted to take the advantage, and prevailed on Clanri- carde to go and lay certain proposals before the nuncio and council. These seemed very satisfactory to the moderate catholics, but were opposed by the nuncio. Of course a strong debate took place between them ; but in the midst of it an account came, that the parliamentary forces had land- ed in Dublin. On this they started from the council, O'Neal decamped in the night with his troops ; the supreme council hasted to Kilkenny, and the nuncio followed with all speed. Preston and his officers, indeed, kept their ground, continuing their negociations with Clanricarde. Ormond now had more leisure to treat with the commis- Ormond's sioncrs of the English parliament on the resignation of his tions. government ; but as he had some hopes of a successful issue with Preston, he objected to their terms as not being suffi- ciently precise, and could not consent to resign until he re- ceived the king's permission, and they received more speci- fic instructions from their employers. They offered him, it is true, if his estates did not produce so much, two thou- sand pounds a year of a pension, but he required an imme- diate supply of three thousand pounds for the maintenance of his men. Dissatisfied with his conditions, they re-embark- ed their troops, and carried them to Ulster. While he was discussing the different points with these, lie was also carrying on the negociation with Preston, to whom Clanricarde and Digby offered articles, to which Or- mond had strong objections ; as, for instance, that the penal laws should be repealed, the churches left in the possession of the catholics, until his majesty's pleasure should be known ; that he should obey all orders in their favour received from tlie queen or prince of Wales, or such as secretary Digby would declare to be the king's free will and pleasure ; that Preston's troops should be admitted into the king's garrisons; particularly into Dublin ; that Preston was to have from Or- mond the commission of lieutenant-general, under the n 2 260 MisTonv OF Ireland. c H A p. marquis of Clanricarde, who was to be commander in obipf of the cathoHc forces. Such terms had frequently been rejected by Ormond with disdain, but he was strongly urged by Clanricarde and Digby to adoj)t them, of whom the for- mer was an open, and the latter a concealed, catholic. Tired with their importunities, he was at length obliged to give nearly a full consent to the whole. Clanricarde and Preston now received their commissions, and tlie latter set off on his march to seize Kilkenny and Waterford, in which he was to be assisted by the chief-governor, who was to fol- low, and join him with all his forces. Preston, hov/ever, had not proceeded far in his march, till a messenger met him from the nuncio, ordering him to stop and disperse his army, or, if he disobeyed, denouncing ex- communication against him and all his followers. Terrified by this threat, the bigot instantly obeyed, and sent off a letter to Clanricarde, who proceeded with the lieutenant, renouncing his engagements on some frivolous pretences. Ormond, indeed, was not disappointed by his recantation, for he had no dependence on his adhering to his agree- ment, but he resolved to await the result of a general as- sembly at Kilkenny, which was soon to meet- At this as- sembly the interests of the nuncio and the clergy prevailed, and resolutions passed by which popery was completely established with extravagant privileges, and the treaty of peace declared void. __. ^ , All hopes from the Irish had now ceased, and how dis- His treaty r • , , ,..,.. %\ ill) par- agreeable soever it might be to his inclinations, Ormond hameni. |^,m,jj tiip^e was no other alternative for him but resignin"; his authority to the English parliament. Accordingly, with the concurrence of the privy council, and tiie Irish par- liament, a resolution was taken to that effect. The confe- derates, on hearing it, made new proposals, which still were inadmissible, and again they had an opportunity of pre- venting its taking place, when the queen sent Leyburn, her chaplain, under the name of Winter Grant, with direc- tions to use every endeavour to effect an accommodation, but, by the influence of the nuncio, their present demands were in substance the same as before. In the mean while, Ormond had the treaty concluded with the parliament, HISTORY OF IRELAND. 261 which was signed on the twenty-ninth of June. Four per- c ij^A p, sons of consequence, among whoiri was his second son, af-_ Xlll. terwards earl of Arran, were sent to England as hostages 1047. for the observance of his stipulations. He engaged that the king's garrisons, stores, and the like, should bo delivered to commissioners of parliament on the twenty-e'ghth of the next month, or sooner, if required, on their giving four days notice. On their part they engaged, among other conditions, that recusants, not guilty of rebellion, should be secure, during their good behaviour ; that those of Ormond's friends who chose might leave Ireland along with him ; that he should be protected himself in England, on his paying due obedience to the orders of parliament ; and, that they would pay him at present three thousand pounds, out of the sum, amounting, as they owned, to nearly fourteen thousand, laid out by him on the king's services, and would give se- curity for the remainder. Scarcely had the treaty been signed when the commis- His depar- sioners of parliament, by their own authority alone, forbade the liturgy, and commanded the directory to be used in all places of public worship within the city. In the suburbs, indeed, their inhibition was not so strictly enforced, as the established mode of worship was continued in the university. Their bigotry was almost as great as that of the confederate Irish, who would not tolerate the protestants in any places subject to their jurisdiction, and when they expected their dominion would extend over the whole kingdom, they dis- puted whether the king should be allowed one chapel in the capital. Such was the intolerance of those men, who made such. a clamour if the least restraint were put on themselves in the exercise of their own religion. From this violent zeal flowed, as will appear, the most of the cala- mities that both they and tlie loyal protestants sustained at that period. The most moderate of the catholics, and even Preston himself, began now to see their error in not mak- ing a compromise with Ormond, from whose departure they saw a dismal prospect before them, when the supreme power would be lodged in the hands of the parliamentary adhe- rents, their inveterate enemies. They, therefore, earnestly entreated him to continue in the kingdom, but their appli- 262 HISTORY OF jnELAND. CHAP. XIII. Diversi- ty of schemes. Preston's defeat at Dungan-" bill. cation was too late, and their sincerity very justly suspected. ; Urged by the parliamentary commissioners to deliver up the symbols of his authority, and seeing no use in continu- ing any longer in the country, after his open resignation, he embarked for England without delay, and landed at Bristol. On his departure colonel Michael Jones was appointed by the parliament governor of Dublin, and commander of their forces in Leinster. In opposition to him different armies were arranged, but, fortunately for him, the leaders were not united in the pursuit of the same object. Owen O'Neal and his barbarous followers, being averse both to the king and parliament, were devoted to the nuncio. The ca- tholic army in Leinster, under Preston, and of Munster, under lord Muskerry, (who had succeeded Glamorgan in the command) being sensible of their former errors, were anxious for Ormond's return, but hostile to the parliament. The Scots in Ulster being offended at some proceedings of the parliamentary party in England, were disaffected to their adherents here, but at the same time inveterate in their enmity to the Irish. Inchiquin, in Munster, was in- censed at some attempts of the parliament to remove him from his command at the time lord Lisle resided there, with a species of authority which they had conferred on him. Such was the state of confusion in which the country was involved by the contests of different armies, and the clash- ing pretensions of different leaders pursuing their own schemes. Assailed by so many enemies the parliamentary forces exerted themselves with an energy suitable to the perilous situation in which they were placed. Preston, advancing into the English quarters at the head of seven thousand foot and a thousand horse, reduced Naas and some other parts, and also gained some advantages over Jones, v>ho marched out to oppose him. Encouraged by this success, he laid siege to Trim, and, as Jones was proceeding to its relief, he turned suddenly about, and endeavoured by a ra- pid march to surprise Dublin in his absence ; but he could not effect his object, for his opponent, pursuing him with great ardour, overtook him, and, at a place called Dv:ngau- HISTORY OF IRELAND. 263 hill, the armies came to an engagement. By means of c H a P. gome reinforcements from Ulster the English troops were nearly equal to the Irish, and rushing on them with intrepidity, inflamed by fanatical abhorrence, though they observed neither ranks nor order, obtained a bloody vic- tory. Preston, having fled to Carlow with liis cavalry, stopped there to collect the shattered remains of his in- fantry, while Jones, unable to pursue for want of provi bions, returned with the arms, artillery, and baggage of the enemy, and also with a number of prisoners, of whom some were of high rank. Strange as it may seem, this signal defeat was agreeable to the nuncio and his partisans, as they apprehended, in case of Preston's success, the recall of Ormond, and the subversion of their fantastical projects. However, they found it necessary to summon O'Neal from Connaught to the defence of Leinster, to whom Preston, by an order of the supreme council, was obliged to resign the most of the forces he had remaining. On account of his defeat, the preservation of the Mun- ^xertions 1 • /• • 1 1 p °^ Inchi- ster army was an object or great importance : and therefore quin, lord Taafe, to whom Muskerry resigned the command, found it necessary to act with caution, and avoid a battle with Inchiquin. On the contrary, this general was obliged to exert himself, as well to procure subsistence for his army, as to allay the suspicions entertained of his fidelity to the English parliament. He therefore acted with vigour, over- ran extensive tracks of country, took several forts, among which was Cahlr, an ancient castle of great strength. Thus were ^le fertile plains of Tipperary laid open to his famish- ed troops. Ctrntinuinghis progress, without any opposi tion from Taafe, he advanced against the city of Cashel. On his approach, the inhabitants fled to their cathedral, seated on a rock, well fortified, and provided with a strong garrison. Inchiquin now offered to leave them unmolested on their advancing to him three thousand pounds, and a month's pay for his troops ; but this offer they imprudently rejected, and then he took the place by storm, with great slaughter both of citizens and soldiers. In this indiscriminate slaughter, twenty churchmen hap- 264 HISTORY OP IRELAND. C«A P. XIII. His victi). rv at Kiiockno- nesg. Confede- rates in disorder. pcned unfortunately to be slain, which raised the indigna- jtion of the nuncio and his clergy, who imputed the inacti- ■ vity of Tas.fe, and of course the success of the heretical troops, to some secret concert between the Irish generals and Inchiquin. Instigated by this charge, which resounded with loud clamour, Taafe was obliged to take the field in November, and Inchiquin, who had retired to winter quar- ters with great booty, on getting intelligence of his motions, drew out his troops to oppose him. At a place called Knocknoness, a l)attle was fouglit between them. The left wing, commanded by Taafe in person, was broke at the first charge, and, though he used every exertion, and even killed some of the fugitives with his own hand, he was un- able to stop their ilight. In the right wing more courage was displayed, for a body of Scottish Highlanders being posted there, supported by two regiments of cavalry, and commanded by Macdonnell, an officer famous in the Irish wars, under the name o? Kolkilto, or the loft-handed, fought with great fury. As soon as they had discharged their muskets, they threw them on the ground, according to their usual mode, and rushing on the foe with their shields and broad swords, drove them confusedly from the field of battle with slaughter, seizing their artillery and baggage. At this critical conjuncture Inchiquin returned, after dispers- ing the left wing of the Irish, and having routed their ca- valry, surrounded the Highlanders themselves, by the fall of Kolkitto, now left without a leader. Yet they obstinately maintained their ground until seven hundred of them were killed, and the remnant laid down their arms and accepted quarter. In this battle above three thousand Iri^i, the flower of the Munsterarmy, were slain, and, to render Inchi- quin's victory more complete, he got possession ot six thou- sand small arms, all the enemy's artillery and baggage, the generafs tent and cabinet, with thirty-eight standards and colours. In this desperate situation of their aifairs, the more mo- derate catholics became sensible of their error in attending to the violent councils of the nuncio. Therefore, in spite of his opposition, a new general assembly, at the instance of lord Muskerry nnd his associates, declared almost unani- HISTORY OP IRELAND. 265 mously for peace. It was accordingly resolved that agents chap. should be sent to France, to the queen and prince of Wales, ^^^^- to make a new attempt, by their means, to effect a treaty "~~""~~" with the king. Against this measure the nuncio contended with great clamour, urging them to apply to the pope for aid, and so far succeeded as to get a resolution passed that agents should be sent to Spain and Rome as well as to France. At the same time, both he and his clergy declar- ed, that it was their determined resolution never to allow the armies and forts of the confederates to be delivered into the hands of heretics They also insisted on seeing the in- structions of the agents destined for France, and of model- lino- them according to their will. To this insolent demand a due submission was apparently paid : but lord Muskerry and Geoffrey Browne, deputed to France, in conjunction with the marquis of Antrim, who was not in tiieir secrets, privately resolved not to attend to the nuncio's instruc- tions. xVccordingly, on their arrival in France, they had a pri- vate meeting with the queen and prince, to whom they pro- duced their secret instructions, declaring the stedf'ast loyalty of them and their party, in spite of those who were attempt- ing to introduce a foreign jurisdiction, and earnestly en- treated, that the prince would come over to Ireland, and put himself at the head of the king\ loyal subjects. After- wards they had their public audience before Antrim, where they exhibited the instructions dictated by the clergy, to which a general answer was graciously returned, that a per- son would be speedily sent to Ireland, empowered to grant the confederates every grace consistent with the king's ho- nour and interest to afford. This person, they were after- wards assured privately, would be the marquis of Ormond, who was then in France along with the queen and prince. On effecti^ig; this busmess the agents returned to Ireland. During these negociations in France, the supreme conn- joined ^y oil was deeply impressed with the present dangerous situa- liuhiquin. tion of the catholic confederacy, whose armies had been almost totally destroyed by two successive defeats. Their resources were exhausted, and they were every day desert- ed by numbers of their adherents, who purchased protec- 266 HISTORY OI' IRELAND. CHAP, ^'o" from the parliamentary forces by grievous compositions. ^^i^' It therefore seemed absolutely necessary for them to effect a cessation with some of their enemies : and very fortunate- ly lord Inchiquin was not averse to an accommodation. Im- mediately after his victory at Knocknoness, he had shewn some disaffection to the parliament on account of the dis- tresses to which his army, by their neglect, had been re- duced. Still he continued his operations against the Irish, but at the same time held a correspondence with the marquis of Ormond, urging him to return to Ireland, and unite with him against the governor of Dublin and his party. Not only with Ormond did he hold a communication, but also with the confederate catholics, and accordingly Taafe and Preston joined him in a solemn obligation to support the king's riglits, and obey his lord-lieutenant. The ar^ mistice, however,- that he was thus concerting with the ca- tholics, was not completely settled until he was obliged pre- maturely to declare himself. His conduct having raised suspicions of his designs among some English officers of his army, they contrived to defeat them by resolving to seize Cork and Youghall ; but having discovered their plan, he put them in confinement, and thus was obliged to avow his revolt. Opposition Thib event was very disagreeable to the nuncio, as the jiuacfo. armistice it occasioned was averse to the visionary scheme he had-devised of subjecting Ireland to the pope's temporal sway. He therefore opposed it with all his power, and hav- ing assembled a number of bishops at his house, he caused them to protest against it ; but his opposition did not avail, as it was confirmed by the supreme council, who had no>v recovered their liberty. Enraged at their determination, he had the clergy's protest affixed to the dooi'S of the cathe- dral of Kilkenny, and when it was contemptuously torn down he thundered excommunication against all those who favoured the armistice, and denounced an interdict on all places in which it should be maintained ; but the ecclesias- tical thunders, so often hurled by this prelate on frivolous occasions, began by frequent use to lose their force. Against his violent censures the supreme council made a formal ap- peal to the pope, iu which they were supported by twa HISTORY OP IRELAND. *"' archbishops, twelve bishops, with all the secular clergy of *^^j^^ '* their dioceses and by numbers of the most moderate of the - several religious orders, Jesuits, Carmelites, Augustinians, Franciscans and Dominicans, who were scattered in abun- dance over the land. Though the power of the nuncio was evidently on the *^**'^''j':^ ^^ . war wit I decline, yet ?he was still supported by no inconsiderable each other. party both of clergy and laity ; of the former by those who expected preferment from his favour, and of the latter by those who were eager for changes and commotions. All those of that description flocked to O'Neal, the nuncio's strenuous supporter, who solemnly denounced war against the supreme council and their adherents, though he had formerly sworn to obey their orders : but the absolution of the nuncio overcame all his scruples. His former friends took measures to resist him, and he made a truce with the Scots, which allowed him more liberty to apply his forces against his other apponents. Thus were the catholics at war with each otlier. Preston and Glanri- carde laid seige to Athlone possessed by some partisans of the nuncio, and O'Neal hastened to its relief, but it was taken before his arrival, and the nuncio obliged to retreat to Galway, Here he attempted to convene his clergy m or- der to confirm his censures, but Clanricarde prevented their assembling and obliged the town not only to pay a large sum of money, but also to proclaim the armistice, and re- nounce the nuncio and his adherents. This strenuous ecclesiastic was, however, still undismay- ed. When he could not collect his clergy, he issued com- minations in his own name, declaring all those who favour- ed the truce to be guilty of a mortal sin : and yet at the time he was railing against treaties with heretics, he allow- ed O'Neal to make overtures to Jones, the parliamentary general, for an accommodation, who was a greater heretic than any of those to whom he objected. The offer was ac- cepted, and accordingly permission was given to O'Neal to march through Leinster without interruption. Disappoint- ed in his attempt to relieve Athlone, he now formed a bold design to surprise Kilkenny, which was to be betrayed to him by an ecclesiastic, and make prisoners of the whole su prcme council ; but his disorderly troops delaying on tlie 263 HISTORY OF IREMNtf. CHAP, march for plunder, Incliiquin with his forces got there be- • fore him for their protection. This general, having receiv- some reinforcements from Preston, O'Neal proposed an ac- commodation, offering to leave Minister unmolested if his operations in the other provinces were not opposed, but Inchiquin, witiiout attending to his proposal, endeavoured to bring him to an engagement, wliich the other avoided, and after several skirmishes returned in disappointment to Ulster. The marquis of Antrim made also an attempt to oppose the cessation, and with similar success. Disappointed of the lieutenancy, for which he had applied, he revolted from the royal interest, and for the support of his party led over to Ireland a body of Scottish Highlanders, to which he joined some Irish troops he got at Wexford. With these he made a formidable appearance, and caused some alarm, but being suddenly attacked by the confederates, he was defeated, and his brave Highlanders destroyed. Yet his vanity was not abated by this defeat, for he made vaunting promises to Jones of important services to be performed against the royalists by his influence in Ulster, which induced that ge- neral to promise him support, and 0''NeaI even consented to serve under him ; but he soon discovered his insignifi- cance, and resumed the command which he had rashly con- ferred on him. Provoked at the outrages of CNeal, but especially at his connexion with Jones, so repugnant both to piety and re- ligion, a general assembly convened at Kilkenny, declared him a traitor by proclamation. They also renewed their appeal to Rome against the nuncio, who had given them just offence by stopping their messenger to the pope, and seizing his papers. His adherents in the county of Galway, and all catholics, were forbidden, by severe penalties, to hold any correspondence with him, and in a letter addres- sed to him from the chairman of the assembly he was ad- monished to leave the kingdom, and prepare to answer the charges that would be laid against him before the supreme pontiff. Orniond's ^" ^u^h a situation of affairs the marquis of Ormond ar ] retiiri,. rived at Cork from France, having been obliged to make HISTORY OF IRELANU 269 his escape from England, and was received, on his arri- chap. val, by Inchiquin with tiiat respect due to the king''s lord- ' lieutenant. Being disappointed of tlie supplies he expect- ed w France, he was obliged to conceal his poverty, and endeavour, by magnificent promises to conciliate the protestant army in Munster. The confederate catholics he also endeavoured to soothe by similar means, but had not authority to enter into a treaty with them, till he received instructions from the king; these, however, were sent to him privately, though his majesty at the same tnne made declarations of a contrary tendency to the parliamentary commissioners at Newport. On the authority of these in- structions, together with the powers granted him by the queen and prince, he proceeded to treat with the general assembly of Kilkenny, for the purpose of uniting the loyal catholics and protestants in one common cause. With their commissioners he at first conferred for some time at his own house in Carrick, fourteen miles from the town, but for the sake of dispatch was prevailed oij to repair to his castle in Kilkenny, and on his arrival was conducted with great jxjmp to his residence. There lie was surrounded by his own guards, and treated witli all due honour; but while he was employed in negotiation, he was obliged to repair to Cork to suppress a mutiny that broke out in lord Inchiquin's ar- my. Of this army several officers, being inclined to make their peace with the ruling power in England, sent propo- sals to the Englisi) parliament, offering to prevail on their troops, discontented for want of pay, to force their way ei- ther to Jones in Dublin, or their new ally Owen 0''Neal in Ulster. This dangerous spirit Ormond and Inchiquin en- deavoured to allay, and their personal exertions were sy them, denouncing, at the same time, a solemn sentence of rxcommunication against all those who should adhere to HISTORY OP lUELAND. 287 tlie lord-lieutenant, or give him subsidy, contribution, or C H A P. * XIV. obedience. __! Such were the violent proceedings of these bigotted eccle- siastics at the very time the parliamentary forces, in their career of success, were advanciing under Ireton and sir Charles Coote, by different routes towards Athlone. Hence the Irish were apprehensive of losing the whole western province, and Clanricarde, at the instance of Ormond, marched to oppose the enemy ; but the sentence of excom- munication, published at the head of his army, discharged his troops from their obedience to government; nor could the urgent entreaties of the commissioners of trust, of the catholic nobility, and of other moderate persons of the same party, prevail on the assembled bishops to revoke it ; but only to suspend it during the attempt to relieve Athlone. Thus it appears, that the imminent danger both of their cause and their country could hardly induce these zealous churchmen to relax from their violence ; but this violence was at present inflamed by a particular incident which af- forded some plausible pretence to their proceedings. Among the other concessions of Charles to please the Scots, he made a public declaration " acknowledging that the mis- " fortunes of his father had arisen from his having sinfully " married into an idolatrous family ; expressing his abhor- " rence of the peace with the Irish Roman catholics, form- " ed by his father, and ratified by himself, and asserting it " to be void, as it was made with bloody and idolatrous re- s' bels." By this hypocritical declaration of the king was abolish- His em- ed, in a great deoree, any little influence that Ormond raio-ht^^''^."^'™ / o a ^ J ^ ^ & in disgust. still have retained over the catholics. Deprived of their confidence he had no one with whom he might consult in his critical situation, at least of his own persuasion, for not a protestant was allowed to be about him but the cap- tain of his guard. He endeavoured to persuade the catho- lics that this declaration was extorted from the king, which his majesty acknowledged to him in a private letter, and professed his own positive determination of still maintain- ing the peace. He applied to the commissioners of trust that they might prevail on the congregation of prelates to 288 HISTORRY OF IRELANU. CHAP, revoke their declaration against him, but their attempt _3^£^j__ proved fruitless, for they were still inexorable Perceiving then that his presence could be of no more benefit to the royal cause, he resolved to leave the kingdom, and declar- ing his intention to the commissioners of trust, they impor- tuned him to wait the result of a new general assembly, Avhich he did, but found them humbly submissive to the ecclesiastic authority. Hence, as all his efforts could not induce the catholics to adopt more moderate councils, he was confirmed in his determination. Having therefore ap- pointed Clanricarde his deputy, with discretionary power to acceptor decline the office, as he might think fit, he emi barked at Gal way, and, after a disagreeable voyage, arrived 1650. in France. Clanri- Though Clanricarde, from his experience of the treat- carde Ins j^q^^ which Ormond was accustomed to receive, might have deputy. _ . , . been deterred from accepting the government, yet from his zeal for the royal interest, which might be thus promoted, he consented to accept it, provided that he was assured of due obedience. In their profession of paying him this obe- dience, the general assembly were more explicit than the clergy, who made use of equivocal expressions, with which he thought it prudent to acquiesce, artd therefore declared his acceptance of the government. Satisfac' The Irish catholics had now a governor of their own re- tory to the hgion, and also had their forces quite purified from heresy catholics. . . . *" by the dispersion of the protestant royalists, some of whom had engaged in the service of the parliament, and others had retired to foreign countries, among whom was lord In- chiquin, and several protestant officers who had embarked with Ormond. Their forces, of course, were, as might be supposed, actuated by the same zeal, and though dispersed in different quarters, were, if collected, by no means incon- siderable. Besides, their spirits were raised by some checks sustained by the enemy. Sir Charles Coote had been dis- appointed in his attempt on Athlone, and Ireton was re- fused admission into Limerick, on the approach of Castle- haven with timely aid. He was therefore obliged to retire, as he could not undertake a siejje at such a season. Hence all Connaught, with a considerable part of Munster, and also Limerick, Galway, and Sligo, were still in the posses HISTORY OP IRELAND. 289 slon of the Irish, wlio miglit still be enabled to carry on the chap. war with some prospect of success. This favourable prospect was, however, clouded by the Biorotiy of baneful influence of the clergy, who disseminated the noxious clergj. principles that had formerly been infused into them by the nuncio. In tiieir conduct, indeed, they exhibited great du- plicity and even inconsistency, but still had the af^complish- ment of their own ends in view. Hence, when Ireton sent agents to the general assembly, for an accommodation, they all clamoured for a treaty with him, and even French, the titular bishop of Ferns, a zealous partizan of the nuncio ; but when several of the nobility and other leading members of the assembly opposed them, they relaxed from their pro- position, being apprehensive, lest the best informed of the laity might at length become sensible of their tyranny. They even assumed the semblance of strenuous loyalty, and denounced excommunication against every one who would not obey the proclamation of the deputy, forbidding all intercourse with the enemy. Yet, at the same time, they entertained a secret abhorrence for him on account of his loyalty and attachment to Ormond, and had private consultations in order to resist his measures, indulging themselves v'ith the vain hope of havimij the papal power, and of course their own absolute authority, established in Ireland, by the intervention of some foreign prince. The foreign prince, on whom they chiefly depended Negocia- to get that favourite end accomplished, was the duke of ^jjgjj„l,gof Lorrain, who had agreed, during the government of Or-Lonain. niond, to advance twenty-four thousand pounds for the royal cause on getting possession of Duncannon fort for his se- curity ; but on account of the intervention of many dif- ficulties, especially the danger of the fort being besieged, the treaty was broke off. Afterwards an attempt was made to renew it by lord Taafe, who arrived at Brussels with au- thority from the duke of York, offering any place in the kingdom as security for the sums that should be advanced. I-orrain gave him a favourable reception, especially as he was employed by the Irish Roman catholics, in whose cause he wished to exert himself, that he might thus gain the good opinion of the pope, for which, at that time, he had ^ T 290 HISTORY OF IRELAND. ^ yt"^ ^'an urgent occasion ; for having married a second wife while ' - his first was alive, he was desirous to persuade his holiness to pronounce his first marriage void, and to declare the child- ren of his second legitimate. He therefore received Taafe witli particular attention, expressed an ardent zeal for the catholic cause in Ireland, and furnished him with five thou- sand pounds to purchase arms and ammunition. He even promised more effectual aid, but expressed a desire of be- ing allowed more extensive authority in Ireland than Taafe considered himself commissioned to grant, who advised him to send over a more particular envoy to settle that point. Accordinglv, he sent over an abbe to Ireland on that busi- ness, who applied to Clanricarde, but as the marquis did not wish to be concerned in it himself, he appointed a com- mittee, composed of bishops, nobility, and gentry, to take the abbe's proposals into consideration. The proposals offered by this envoy, in due form, were, that if his master advanced money sufficient- for defraying the expense of the war, and took such steps as were neces- sary for the defence of the Irish nation, he shou Id get cer- tain towns put into his hands for his security, that he should, saving the rights of his majesty and his subjects, be declared protectLU' royal of Ireland, with extensive civil powers, having absolute command over the military force of the kingdom, and should require that submissive duty be constantly paid to the apostolic see. These humiliating proposals the committee pretended to discuss with due attention, but scorned to communicate with the deputy on the business, and even excluded the more moderate and loyal of their number, admitting others more suitable to their wishes. Regardless, then, of the in- structions they had received, and of the purpose for which they were appointed, they gave their full consent to the degrading terms of the abbe, to which they were urged by the bishops, who insisted they should accept them. But Clanricarde, considering them inconsistent with the king's prerogative, declared them to be inadmissible, and express- ed himself higlily offended with the abbe for presuming to make proposals so injurious to the honour of his royal mas- ter. The abbe, then, in order to reconcile him, consented HISTORY OF IRELAND. 291 to advance, on the security of Limerick and Gal way, twenty chap. thousand pounds, inckiding the five thousand ah'eady at- " ' ' forded, and to refer all articles, respecting the authority ■which the duke should possess in Ireland, to be adjusted by a treaty at Brussels. Accordingly, Sir Nicholas Plun- ket and Geoffrey Browne, in conjunction with lord Taafe, who was still abroad, were appointed deputies by Clanri- carde to treat with the duke of Lorrain. The clergy, and those connected with them, considering it necessary for them also to interfere, gave tbeir authority on the occasion to French, the turbulent bishop of Ferns, who had been previously sent to the duke on their business, and was then present with him. On the arrival of the two deputies, they found that lord Taafe had gone to Paris to consult with the queen and lord- lieutenant, and of course were exposed to the dangerous in- fluence of the zealot French, who talked in an enthusias- tic strain of the piety of the nuncio, railed against all those who opposed his excommunication, which he declared was confirmed in heaven, and its opposers forsaken of God, and given up to Satan ; expressed his abhorrence of the deputy, a man excommunicated for his iniquities,and rendered odious to God Almighty, who never would prosper any treaty fram- ed under his direction. Prevailed on by this hypocritical cant, especially on account of the supposed sanctity of his character, Plunket and Browne disclaimed the deputy's com- mission, and signed a treaty with the duke, by which he was in reality invested with the entire sovereignty of the king- dom, under the title of Protector Royal. But the treaty was never confirmed; Clanricarde sent a formal protest against it, and the designs of Lorrain, whatever they were, thus terminated in disappointment. Durino; its discussion the Irish clergv were elevated with extravagent notion3,and exhibited to themselves the glorious prospect of a triumphant church restored to its pristine splendour under the protection of a catholic prince. Their zealous agent, the bishop of Ferns, was peculiarly active in promoting their schemes. He prevailed on Plunket, the greatest bigot of the deputies, to sign a petition to the pope, in the fiarae of the Irish nation, professing an entire sub- T 2 292 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, mission to the holy see, and imploring absolution from the " nuncio's censures. Browne indeed refused, and Taafe''s name was put down in his absence. Such were the means to which the clergy had recourse to accomplish their favour- ite purposes ; and, in the expectation of the high power they were to attain, they had formed schemes for exercising their authority with great rigour, issuing excommunications in abundance, and preparing to usurp the entire government of the kingdom ; but their airy propects were soon dissipa- ted by the successful progress of the parliamentary forces. Ireton, having made suitable preparations during the winter, resolved to commence hostilities early in the spring, and, according to his directions, sir Charles Coote invested Athlone, which being taken, though Clanricarde made some shew of opposition, Coote marched into Connaught with the intent of attacking Galway, and of proceeding thence to forward the operations of Ireton against Lime- rick. While Coote was thus engaged, Ireton himself, being not discouraged at the failure of the first attempt, led ]fis forces into Munster, and bavin"; defeated the different parties that opposed him, laid siege to that city. Limerick On his approach Clanricarde offered to shut himself up ^ ^"* in it with a body of forces, and share its fate, but the citi- zens rejected his proposals ; and would only receive a ^Q\f soldiers of their own choice, which they placed under the command of Hugh O'Neal, who had gained so much ho- nour by the spirited defence of Clonmell. On the present occasion he displayed equal courage, and though lord Mus- kerry, who advanced with considerable force to the relief of Limerick, was defeated on his march, he was not discourag- ed by this misfortune, but determined to persevere in its defence. His exertions were attended with considerable success, and by his resolute sallies great numbers of the be- siegers were slain. At length the disaffection of some of the inhabitants overcame all his efforts. Having tumultuously asseinbled, they insisted on treating with the enemy, and seizing the cannon, they turned them on the garrison, who were of course obliged to surrender. Twenty-four persons were excepted from mercy and exe- cuted. Among these were O'Brien, the popish prelate of HISTORY OF IK ELAN I). 293 Emly, Wolfe tlie friar, who luad excluded the marquis of ^^^ **• Ormond from Limerick, and Geoffery Browne, who wasseiz- ■ ed on liis return from Brussels, where he had gone on aSe^'i''^ • 11 I- "' Ireton. mission certainly very odious to the republicans. Berore his judges he pleaded, that he should not be excepted from mercy, as he was engaged in the same cause as the repub- licans themselves, the defence of the religion and liberty of his country. But this reasonable argument had no effect. O'Neal, the brave defender of the city, was also found guilty, but, at the intercession of some officers, his life was spared. Ireion was resolved to reduce Gal way, but having caught His death. the epidemic distemper so prevalent in the country, he died before he could effect it. In tlie command of tlie English forces he was succeeded by Ludlow, whom Cromwell wish- ed to have removed from England, as he considered his presence there unsuitable to the accomplishment of his schemes. This o;eneral, beino; determined to exert himself in the situation in which he was placed, previous to the time of opening the campaign, gave orders forbidding all persons to assist the enemy with provisions, and enjoinmg every one not to depart from his quarters 4 he also issued a pro- clamation excluding from mercy all those who had deserted the English, and joined with the catholics. The severity of these public declarations had a sensible effect on the Irish, who resolved to make a general submission, but they were informed that no terms for a general accommodation would be accepted, though individuals, who would lay down their arms should be treated with indulgence. In this consternation, Preston, the governor of Galway, Galway ta- made his escape over sea, and tiie town, without regard to . the authority of Clanricarde, who was present there, being destitute of the means of defence, surrendered to sir Charles Goote. Other towns of an inferior kind, were even more easily reduced. Many soldiers submitted to Ludlow on being permitted to transport themselves to the continent, and enter into the service of some prince in alliance with England, and others, who were natives of some station, laid down their arms on being suffered to retain their personal fortune, and such a portion of their real estate as those in similar cases would be allowed to possess. 294 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP. Such terms might have been obtained by all the Irish, _1___ but those of Connauffht and Ulster determined to make Sulmiission another effort, to which they were urged by Clanricarde, caicle. wlio, being joined by some Ulster forces, took the castles of Ballyshannon and Donegal ; but these places were soon re- taken, and twelve hundred of his men were compelled to surrender. The remainder of his forces were afterwards dispersed, and he himself was obliged to take shelter in a fortress. Being now in continual danger of his life from the treachery of his followers, he resolved to submit, and having previously received the king''s consent, he left this country, with the permission of the English parliament, ac- companied by a number of his adherents, who chose to par- take of his fortunes. He retired into England, where he died in 1G.57, with the character of having, in times of diffi- culty and danger, supported with fidelity the cause he had espoused. Schemes of The principal opponents of the English parliament being Cromwell. j^Q^y subdued, that assembly took measures for the final set- tlement of Ireland. The appointment of Ludlow being only of a temporary nature, the parliament had determined to send Lambert over as successor to Ireton ; but Cromwell having contrived that he should be denied the title of lord- lieutenant, as being inconsistent with the simplicity of a re- public, he refused, as the other suspected, to accept the bare office of commander of the forces, wiiich, according to CromwelTs wishes, was conferred on his son-in-law Fleet- wood, who had married Ireton's widow, and was of course sincerely devoted to him. Trials and As he had no employment, on his arrival, in his military executions, capacity, he set about directing the management of civil af- fairs, and had others joined with him in that office, under the title of commissioners of parliament. High courts of justice were now erected in the several provinces, in order to try those who had murdered the English, and also those who had only assisted in the war. The former were to be deprived both of life and property, the latter were to forfeit two thirds of their estate, and be banished from the country. In Connaught, Lord Mayo, and in Munster, Colonel Wil- liam Bagnel, were condemned to death, though the evi- HISTORY OP IRELAND. 295 dence was not sufficiently correct; but Lord Muskerry ^as chap. honourably acquitted. Some who had made their escape __2ii___ Avere particularly excluded from pardon both with respect to life and estate, among whom was the marquis of Ormond, lord Inchiquin, Bramhill, the protestant bishop of Derry, and the carl of Roscommon. Of the lower orders not more than two hundred were executed both in Leinster and the southern and western provinces together, which was owing to the number of barbarous insurgents, who, during the years of hostilities, had been either cut off, died of famine or plague, or escaped into foreign countries. In Ulster, the scene of such shocking cruelties, not one was capitally convicted but Phelim 0''Neal. From the arrival of Owen, this barbarous chieftain had rather acted an inferior part, but after his death, during the administration of Clanricarde, when other commanders of more ability had been gradually removed, he began to dis- tinguish himself in affording some aid to the marquis, but was compelled by repeated defeats to take shelter in a re- tired island. Hence he was dragged to justice by lord Caul- field, whose father, after having seized by treachery his per- son and castle of Charlemont. he had caused to be murdered. On his trial, he acknowledged the foi-gery of the pretended commission from the late king for beginning the insurrec- tion, and though he was offered to be restored to his estate and liberty if he could produce material proof for its reality, he still persevered in declaring it to be a deception. The same offer was repeated to him at his execution, but without effect. Lord Macguire, and Hugh Macmahon, two of the ori- ginal conspirators, had been executed in England in 1645. The former pleaded his privilege, asserting he ought to be tried in Ireland by his peers, but this objection, after seri- ous consideration, was overruled by the court, whose opi- nion was confirmed by the decision of both houses of the Eng- lish parliament. The commissioners, already noted, having declared byRobelliou proclamation that the rebellion was subdued, and the war ^"^^^'■'"' concluded, the inhabitants were encouraged to pursue their industry without any apprehension, and the people of Eng- 296 HISTORY OF IRBLAND. CHAP, laild were permitted to transport grain and cattle, free from r^ •.. duty, to supply the immediate necessities of the country, exhausted by a tedious war, Dis''"^^! f I'orfeited lands were to be allowed the soldiers, and the Weitures.^'^^venturers, who had advanced sums for the suppression of the rebellion ; but the soldiers, who had served from the arrival of Cromwell, were to be principally considered, and to others little or no satisfaction was to be afforded. A portion of church lands was assigned to the university ; but the rest of these, and of other forfeited lands not yet ap- propriated, were left to be distributed at the discretion of parliament. In order to prevent future litigation, courts were established at Dublin and Athlone to settle all disputes within a limited time. The province of Connaught and county of Clare were reserved for the Irish, who were to get, in return for their former possessions, allotments of land there; that being cut off from conniiunication by the Shannon, and restrained by Englisli garrisons, they might be prevented from corrupting and disturbing the other settlers. An English act of parliament was passed, confirming the above mode of arrangement, but for many sufficient reasons, it was, in many cases, not rigidly en- forced. Cromwell During these transactions in Ireland, Cromwell, having brought his schemes of ambition to maturity, introduced soldiers into the House of Commons of England, and by military force turned out the members of that parliament, whose opposition to royal authority had excited such notice through all Europe. In their place he collected a parcel of fanatics from the three kingdoms, of whose ridiculous acts he became so much ashamed, that he at last obliged them to pronounce their own diss(»lution. The military having now the sole power, he v.as declared, by a -council of officers, protector of the three kingdoms. Fleetwood, his son-in-law, exerted himself to get him proclaimed pro- tector in Ireland ; and having called the commissioners together, with some principal officers, for that purpose, met with such a strenuous opposition, that his proposal was only carried by a majority of one. By the instniment of govern- ment, which was drawn up by Cromv/ell and his friends, it HISTORY OP IRELANO. 297 was required, that a parliament should be summoned for C II A P. the three kingdoms, consistiuo- ot" nunibers from each, who " -L_ were to be chosen apparently by a free election. Ot these it was appointed that Ireland siiould send thirty ; but though the people seemed to have liberty of choice, tlie members elected here were entirely in the interest of go- vernment. AVhen this parliament met, and showed a spi- rit of opposition, Cromwell took an eiiectual metliod to suppress it, by clapj)ing a guard of solaiers at the door, to prevent the refractory members to enter. The difficulty with wiiich a majority could be obtained Svmptoins among the commissioners to declare !iim protector having °^ '^"*^".^'' excited a disgust in him, he put an end to their authority, and appointed Fleetwood lord-deputy for tiiree years. To him he assigned a new council, affording them all very use- ful directions for the government of the country, and ad- vising tliem, with pious zeal, to " suppress idolatry, po- pery, superstition, and proianeness." The sanctity of his professions, though so suitable to their ancient habits, was not sufficient to reconcile many of his old friends, especial- ly the violent republicans, to his conduct. Among tiiese Ludlow distinguished himself by exciting disaffection among the mUitary, who were then ready to attend to him, being disappointed by the delay they met with in obtaining the portions of land that were j)romised them. To such a height did their disaffection extend, that a detachment mu- tinied when ordered over to England to support the pro- tector against the royalists, declaring that they might be employed against their best friends. Ludlow being consi- dered the principal malcontent, his motions were narrowly watched, and in order to diminish his influence, his regi- ment was disbanded. On account of such opposition to his measures, Crom- Avell sent Henry, his second son, over to Ireland, and iiav- Henry ing employed him at first in a military capacity, afterwards |^^^""y^^'^ appointed him lord-deputy in the place of Fleetwood. Be- fore this time lie had already resided a short while here, when he discovered the excellent qualities he possessed, which induced his father to send him over a second time with more authority, in the supposition that his presence 293 HISTORY OF IRELA\D. CHAP, would be useful to conciliate the affections of the people of XI V. '— Ireland. lei' t a!l'^^^" " In his expectation, it appears, he was not disappointed ; nistration. for the administration of Henry was mild, just, and bene- volent, and tended to reconcile to the usurpation many of those who were particularly averse to it, and even the ori- ginal Irish themselves. Towards these the protector had of late shown some indulgence, by directing that the orders of the late pai'liament and council for transplanting the Irish into Connaught should not be very strictly enforced. The attachment of the people to his government, ownig to the conciliatory disposition of his son, was eminently dis- played in the following instance. When his own regiment, in a petition to him, publicly declared their dissatisfaction, addresses were transmitted to him from the army and the inhabitants of every county in Ireland, expressing their re- solution of adhering to the protector against all those whose particular animosities might excite them to embroil the country again. Such zealous attachment must seem asto- nishing, especially when the wretched state of the country is considered, exhausted with war and pestilence, and op- pressed with the grievous taxes which Cromwell was obliged to raise, not only to defray the public expense, but also to enable him to reward his adherents. Deatli of During his short usurpation, by his magnanimity and Cromwell, discernment, the affairs of Britain, both at home and abroad, were conducted with remarkable success. But he found, by woful experience, that the attainment of the highest object of ambition, when procured by iniquitous means, cannot secure human happiness. Amidst the splendid honours he possessed, the terrors of a guilty con- science, and the continual dread of assassination, clouded his gay prospects, embittered all his pleasures, and hur- Scpt 3 ^^^^ '^"" ^° ^^^^ grave. He died of a tertian ague in the 1658. fifty-ninth year of his age. jj^^ So firmly was his authority established, that his son called. Richard succeeded quietly to his situation, and confirmed his brother in the government of Ireland ; but he soon shrunk from a charge for which his slender abilities were unfit. The office of protector was now abolished, Crom- well's parliament dissolved by military power, and the old HISTORY OF IRELAND. 299 rump parliament restored. The parliamentary commis- CHAP. sioners of Ireland were also restored, and the command of " the army there committed to Ludlow, a zealous and active partisan. Henry Cromwell was of course recalled, who had acted with great prudence in the critical situation in which he was placed ; for though he had exerted himself with vigour in his brother's support, he, at the same time, took suitable measures to preserve the public peace. He retired with great complacency from power, which he had used with so little regard to his private interest, that he had not reserved for himself so much money as would bear his expenses to England. Ludlow, who succeeded to the command of the forces, Jlepublle- being a strenuous adherent of the rump parliament, sent**"^^' ^*" troops over to England, to support tiiem against some at- tempts of the royalists, but colonel Lambert, another of their partisans, being offended at this parliament for as- suming, as he supposed, too great authority, formed schemes against them among the officers of his brigade. When their schemes were completed they sent them a peti- tion, very modestly requesting them to relinquish their au- thority, which was opposed by a counter-petition from the officers of Ireland, effected by the interest of Ludlow, who set out for England to support the measures of his party, leaving colonel John Jones, a zealous republican, in the command of the army. But his presence was ineffectual, , as the interposition of a military force prevented the as- sembling of the rump parliament. These disputes of the republican party among them-Praceed- selves tended to increase the hopes that the royalists enter-|."^^j?.^ tained of the king's sudden restoration, which they began to conceive from the time that Richard Cromwell had ab- dicated his authority. Their schemes, which were conduct- ed with great secrecy and profound dissimulation, were also extended to Ireland, where they were adopted by a considerable number of protestants, by the inhabitants of the English race, and the more moderate of the confederate Irish. Many, indeed, joined them through disgust, being offended at the severity with which they were treated by the commissioners, who dismissed a number of officers on 300 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CH A P. the supposition of their being hostile to their party. A- _ — -•_ monn; i])c;se were lord Broffhill and sir Charles Coote. Broghill, who was a friend to Charles I, being trepanned by Cromwell, became active in his support ; but perceiving, from the anarchy and sudden revolution of power prevalent in England after his death, that the restoration of the king would be the consequence, he resolved to secure his share of the merit in lime. Accordingly, he endeavoured secretly to bring over to his designs his olfiicers, friends, and de- pendents, and also sir Charles Coote, who had already • shewn an aversion both to the faction of the rump par- liament and the army. Perceiving the approaching ruin of his party, he found it for his interest to accede to the proposals of Broghill, which he did with great ardour, dis- playing, like new converts, an intemperate zeal on the oc- casion. Other officers of considerable consequence followed his example, among whom were lord Montgomery and sir Theophilus Jones, and having assembled at Dublin, under pretence of petitioning government, made a sudden attack on the castle, of which they possessed themselves, and ar- rested John Jones with some of his active partisans. In the mean while, sir Charles Coote, impatient to show his zeal, surprised Galvvay and Athlone, and other royalists took possession of Youghall, Clonmel, Carlow, Limerick, and Drogheda. All these, after the example of their friends in England, declared for a free parliament, the real tendency of which language was then generally understood. A council of officers now assumed the government of Ire- land, and summoned a convention of estates, who express- ed their abhorrence of the late king's murder, and having secured the army by providing for the payment of their ar- rears and future maintenance, declared also for a free parlia- ment. Ludlow having arrived at this time in the port of Dublin, the council of officers attempted to seize him, but he made his escape to Duncannon, whence he sent letters to tlie officers of the several garrisons, for the purpose of con- firming them in their attachment to his cause; but he was soon after recalled to England. cinrles II These movements. seemed tending towards the restoration yruLlaimeii. of Charles, who had already been informed of the favourable HISTORY OF IRELAND. 301 appearances in Ireland, and had received an invitation chap. to come thither from lord Broghill, and strong assurances XIV. of support from sir Charles Coote. But as the proceedings — — ^— of iVIonk, from which high expectations were entertained, must have a powerlul effect on England, and as this country must follow the example of the other, on that account it was judged expedient by the king's council, that he should not remove from his present position until the issue of English affairs should be discovered. His majesty, however, made some general professions of principle at Breda, to which, by the advice of Monk, he had retired from the Spanish terri- tories. With these general declarations the majority of the convention and council of officers expressed themselves sa- tisfied, being urged to this decision by Coote, who persuad- ed them to submit all their interests implicitly to the king. Broghill indeed advised more caution, but the opinion of the other prevailed. Charles was now proclaimed with every demonstration of joy through all the great towns of Ireland, and by a vote of the convention a present of twenty thou- sand pounds was ordered to his majesty, four thousand to the duke of York, and two thousand to the duke of Glou- cester. 302 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAPTER XV. Violences of the Irish — Restrictions — Claimants — Royal declara~ Hon — A parliament — Act of settlement — Ormond lord-lieutenant — Discontents among dissenters — Episcopacy restored — Conspi^ racy suppressed — Bill of explanation— Passed — English act re- specting Irish cattle — Ormond's regard to useful iiistitutions — Intrigues agaimt him — succeeded by Berkley — Disputes among the catholics — Partiality of Berkley — Charles attached to po- pery — Suspicion of the protestants — Essex lord-lieutenant — Address of the English parliament — Its effects on Charles — Essex removed — Ormond restored — Popish plot — Attempts against Ormond — Arbitrary measures of Charles — His death. C H A P. The restoration of Charles II. afforded abundant cause both _ of hope and fear to the several inhabitants of Ireland, who 1660. wiixe so much divided among themselves. Those who had ofThe"^*^ been deprived of their lands conceived hopes of having them Irish. restored to them, and those who had not yet got a reward for their services expected now to receive it ; while those who had obtained lands by forfeiture were apprehensive of los- ing them, and those who had so far escaped punishment for their crimes were afraid of its overtaking them at last- Hence the several parties viewed each other with peculiar aversion, jealousy, and distrust. But of all others the na- tive Irish exhibited on this occasion the most impatience. Many of those whom Cromwell had declared innocent of the rebellion, and yet were ejected from iheir estates, and obliged to accept of inadequate portions of land in Con- naught, or the county of Clare, exulting in the extinction of that fanatical tyranny by which they were oppressed, and confident of the support of the present government, without waiting for the king's being proclaimed, or the slow proce- dure of law, took possession of their former properties, ex- pelling the new intruders. Restric- These violent deeds were very suitable to the inclinations tiwjis. of tjjg jjj^^y settlers, who took occasion to represent them in HISTORY OF lUELAND. '303 England as the primary acts of a new rebellion, well know- CHAP. in ff that every rumour to the dtsadvantase of the native ' Irish was received in that country with avidity. Hence orders were sent to put in force the rigid ordinances lately made against the Irish Roman catholics. They were not allowed to pass from one province to another in their ordinary business, and in many other respects were liable to very severe restrictions. The king, on his arrival, at the instigation of the English parliament, was obliged to publish a proclamation against Irish rebels, and in fa- vour of the adventurers and soldiers who had possession of their properties. Yet he frequently showed kindness to the Irish catholics, when he was allowed to follow the bent of his inclinations, and in some cases, on their solicitation, afforded them letters to put them in possession of their for- mer estates. In the present situation of the country, he was indeed Claimants, distracted with a variety of claims, which it was at length found impossible for him to satisfy in their full extent. On account of the late rebellion, there were certainly a great many forfeitures of lands ; but a considerable quantity had been distributed among Cromweirs soldiers, the generality of whom, as they had arms in their hands, it was not thought prudent to dispossess, and large grants had been made to the duke of York and general INIonk. Hence the remain- ing portion designed for distribution was not so great as might be expected. The different claimants either for re- ward, restitution, or settlement in their present possessions were as follow : 1. The adventurers who had advanced their money for the suppression of the rebellion, on the promise of restitution from the forfeited lands. 2. The protestant Irish army who had returned to their duty, and concurred in the restoration. 3. The protestant Irish offi- cers, who had served the king before 1049, called usually the forty-nine officers, to whom Cromwell had refused any arrears, on account of their attachment to the royal cause. 4. The confederate Irish, with whom the king had made peace in 1648. 5. Those of them who had showed great loyalty and affection to him during his exile. 6. The innocent papists, who had been compelled to take small 304 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CH A P. portions of land in Connaught or the county of Clare, in ^^'^- return for their properties. Roval cle- -A scheme of i-estitution to the meritorious Irisli, after the felaratioii. estabhslunent of the adventurers and soldiers in their pos- session, was proposed to his majesty by some courtiers, which he thought fit to adopt, and accordingly published a declaration for the settlement of Ireland, containing the mode by winch the claimants were to get restitution, and the terms on which it was to be given. This declaration he sent over to Ireland, addressed to the lords-justices, to have it executed. These were sir Maurice Eustace, lord- chancellor, lord Broghill, now earl of Orrery, and sir Charles Coote, now carl of Montrath, who were appointed to that office in the absence of Monk, lord-lieutenant, who had been created duke of Albemarle. This declaraiion, liowever, d'd not satisfy the expectation of everv party concerned ; but the loyal ofificers, who had been denied their arrears by Cromwell, and the Irish who pleaded their innocence, particularly complained ; the for- mer of a very inadequate provision, the latter both of the injustice of being kept out of their lands until those to whom they were granted should be indemnified, and also of the rigid severity of the qualifications necessary to prove their innocence ; for if one of them had ever lived in the .„«^ quarters of the rebels he was considered as guilty. A pallia- An Irish parliament, which was much desired in the pre- '*^'^"^' sent situation of aftairs, was now convened, and as the ad- venturers and soldiers kept possession of their properties in tlie boroughs, no catholics were returned. Indeed, an at- tempt was made to exclude them in future from the house, as a resolution was passed requiring each member to take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, and a similar attempt was made in the house of lords, by a resolution that each member should receive the sacrament from the protestant primate's own hand. But government refused to give their approbation to the measure. Act of set- J the parliament thus constituted, after much discussion tlemeut. ' ... Iiiii2.. and delav, the heads of a bill of settlement was formed, suitable to the king's declaration, and presented to the lords in order to be transmitted to England. Hither each house HISTORY OF IRELANn. 305 sent their agents, as did also the Irish catholics and adven- ch \p, turers. The latter took a very effectual method to gain ^^- friends to their cause, for they sent over a considerable sum of money to be distributed among those who could support their interest; but the Irish had neither money nor friends, and besides were looked on with horror by the English na- tion, who considered them all, without distinction, as guilty 6f rebellion and massacre. However, the duke of Ormond (though catholic historians deny the fact) was sincerely in- clined to serve them ; but their agents made their applica- tion to the duke of York's favourite, colonel Richard Tal- bot, one of their own persuasion, and brother to an Irish Jesuit. Hence, instead of modestly owning their faults, ac- cording to Ormond's advice, they boldly pleaded their me- rits, boasting of their own and their ancestor's loyalty, with as much confidence as if there had never been a rebellion in Ireland. This caused their adversaries, who were very numerous, to find proof, among other offences, of their forming; a design to cast off all obedience to the crpwn of England. Accordingly, they produced to the commit- tee for Irish affairs, an original paper from the supreme council of Ireland, offering the kingdom of Ireland to the pope, or, if he declined it, to any other catholic prince. This paper was signed by sir Nicholas Plun- ket, a noted partisan of the nuncio, whom the Irish had the indiscretion to employ as an agent on the pre- sent occasion, which gave such offence at the English court that no more attention would be paid to their com- plaints. This indiscretion afforded the king an excuse for neglecting their interest somewhat in the formation of the bill of settlement, which, indeed, he would have been obliged to do at any rate, in order to please the English parliament. The bill was now finished and transmitted to Ireland, where it was soon after passed by the two houses. During the discussion of this business the duke of Or-Qnnond mond was appointed lord-lieutenant, he having, as well aslortl lieuie- lord Inchiquin, been previously restored to his Irish estates by the English parliament. From the Irish parliament he received a present of thirty thousand pounds, and his son, lord Ossory, was called by writ to the house of lords of Ireland. After long expectation the duke arrived in this V 306 HISTORY OP IRELAND. * ^ XV ^* ^®""*^'y '^^^^ great pomp, and gave the royal assent to tlie -■ ' - act of settlement, and to one laying a tax on hearths and cliimnies. The execution of the act of settlement was entrusted to English commissioners, disengaged from all interests in Ireland, who were on that account more likely to be im- partial, and their impartiality, indeed, is owned by the catholic historians. They sat in Dublin to receive claims and hear proofs of innocency ; and in the first three months, notwithstanding the rigorous qualifications required, one hundred and sixty eight of the Irish were declared inno- cent, and only nineteen criminal. The former, by a clause in the act, were to be immediately restored to their estates, without any restitution being made to their present pos- sessors. Such decisions gave great offence not only to the adventurers and soldiers actually dispossessed, but also to others, who were apprehensive of it. The soldiers, in par- ticular, were inclined tobedissatisfiedj being mostly repub- licans, and removed from the army on that account by the present government. They therefore became even more averse to it, and by their exertions served to augment the number and power of the discontented. Episcopacy The peevishness of this party was also increased by the restor . episcopal clergy being restored to all their tithes and glebes, which took place soon after the king's accession, and the presbyterian ministers, to whom they were attached, being deprived of those they had possessed. Hence a scheme of insurrection was forming here, in conjunction with the dis- affected in England, in which several of the dissenting teachers were engaged. Conspiracy This spirit of dissatisfaction was heightened by the Irish suppressed. gQjj^^^Qjjg^ who countenanced complaints against the com- missioners of claims, and offered a petition to the lord-lieu- tenant and council, desiring that they would direct these commissioners, as they were empowered by the act, to de- termine all claims after a manner they proposed, which- would certainly be favourable to the protestants, but very detrimental to the catholics. This petition being discoun- tenanced b)^ government, they made use of angry language on the occasion, which, by the exertions of Ormond, thejf HISTORY OP IRELAND. 307 tliought fit to retract, but passed aa address to him, repre- chap. senting the danger arising from the confluence of popish ^^' priests, friars, and Jesuits, and recommending bills for the purpose of enforcing the oaths of supremacy, and banishing all popish ecclesiastics from the kingdom. Such expres- sions tended to encourage the conspirators in their designs, which were not confined to the capital, but extended to different parts of the kingdom, and especially to the north- ern province, where arms and ammunition were prepared, and disbanded soldiers engaged. Their plot was, however, discovered to Ormond at the very beginning, who took measures to prevent its execution ; and, on the very eve before the day on which they intended to surprise the castle jggg of Dublin, twenty^five of the principals were seized. Yet the situation of government was such, that they did not think it prudent to treat these delinquents with severity, and of course the most of them were pardoned. The act of settlement, it now appeared, was in many re- Bill of ex- spects inadequate for the purpose for which it was intend- p'anation. ed, and therefore the commissioners could not proceed in the execution of it in its present form. An explanatory bill had been transmitted to England by the commons, but rejected by the king, who gave orders to have a new one formed by the lord-lieutenant and privy-council. His com- mands were obeyed, and the bill sent over to England, where the agents from the several parties again met, and discussed the business with great eagerness before the coun- cil. The principal point of dispute was about the clauses to be inserted in the new bill, which afforded abundant subject for memorials, proposals, objections, and complaints. In the midst of these disputes, Ormond was called over to England, in hopes that his influence would tend to abate the violence of contending parties. But his presence had not the desired effect : argument, reason or respect for superiors could not overcome their eagerness for their own private interests. At length when they were all quite wearied with contention, and seemed willing to relax somewhat of their respective pretensions, in order to obtain some stability, it was proposed by the agents of the Irish catholics,that the adventurers and soldiers should 308 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP, resign one-third of their lands. The proposal was accepted by the several agents, and on this principle the bill of expla- nation was framed and presented to the privy council. 1665. In this new bill it was declared, that the protestants in the first place were to be settled, and any ambiguity inter- preted in the sense most favourable to their interests. It was also declared, that all the Irish, whose claims had not been already settled, should be deemed disqualified, on this principle, that those who were innocent would first offer their case for examination, and that the guilty would be tardy in coming forward. The commissioners had declared six hundred innocent, who were of course to be immediate- ly restored to their possessions ; but the remainder of these imhappy people, amounting to more than three thousand persons, were to get no further hearing, being condemned without a fair and equal trial, which is usually granted to the worst malefactors. Ormond, in order to remedy this grievance, had some time before proposed that the lord-lieutenant and six of the privy council should be empowered to nominate as innocent such other persons as they knew from constant experience to be loyal, but his proposal was rejected by the English council. By the present bill only twenty persons were to be restored to their estates, who were to be nominated by him, and in- deed no one seemed fitter to make the selection, since, in the business of the settlement, he had shown a disregard to his own private interest by discharging himself the debts and mortgages on his estate, in order to facilitate an accom- modation, though these were contracted in the public ser- vice, and granted to him by the act of settlement. Yet his memory is still defamed with vague and unmerited obloquy by the catholic historians. raised. Having, on his return to Ireland, brought over with him the explanatory bill, he found, that though it was consider- ed grievous by the native Irish, it was by no means satis- factory to the commons, who were not satisfied with the pro- vision it afforded for themselves and their friends. He therefore found it necessary to exert himself to secure a majority? which he attempted by filling up the vacant places with the friends of government ; but he thought on a surer ISTORY OF IRELAND. 309 method to effect this, by working on the fears of the com-C HAP. . XV mous. Accordingly, on the first day of the session he pro- . , T .__-j^— duced to them a letter from the king, animadverting severe- October 26, ly on their conduct with respect to the late conspiracy. Ap- prehensive of a dissolution, by which another parliament might be called less friendly to their interests, they became more compliant, and expelled seven of their members on a charge of being concerned in the plot. Hence they afford- ed a favourable attention to the explanatory bill, which pas- sed unanimously. For the execution of it five commissioners were appointed, who, in difficult cases, were to resort to the lord-lieutenant and council. These cases were so nume- rous, and the applications to the state so frequent, that it took up many years before the business was finally settled. Scarcely had Ireland got respite fi"om commotion wheUjggg the English parliament took measures to deprive it of that English act repose which it had but a short time enjoyed. The I'ents j^yj^j^'^H^ in England having considerably decreased, owing to the number of industrious puritans who had been driven by per- secution to Holland and America, to the interruption of the trade with Spain, and the ruinous commerce carried on with France, with other causes, it was ascribed by some persons of consequence, who were desirous of embarrassing Ormond, to the importation of Irish cattle into England. The idea was eagerly caught by the English parliament, which, in 1663, passed an act forbidding the importation ot fat cattle from Ireland after the first day of July every year. With this slight restraint, however, they were not satisfied, for, in the year 1665, a bill was introduced for the purpose of perpetually prohibiting the importation of all cattle of every description from Ireland. In opposition to this bill it was argued, that it would not only be destructive to that country, but also injurious to England, which disposed of its manufactures in Ireland, in return for the provisions it received, that the prohibition of these to England would cause a rise in the price of manufactures there, and render the Irish unable to pay taxes for the support of the army and government. But these and such like other arguments liad no effect on the commons, who Avere entirely actuated by prejudice, and declared in the preamble to the bill, that 310 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, the importation df Irish cattle was a nuisance, in order to prevent the king from exercising his prerogative in favour of the Irish subject, being well assured of his majesty's aversion to the measure. The bill passed the commons by a small majority, but its progress through the house of lords was stopped by a prorogation. However, the discussion of it was renewed there at the next meeting, being urged on, for their own interested mo- tives, by the English Cabal. Buckingham, the chief of them, in the eagerness of debate, declared, ' that none would op- pose the bill but such as had Irish estates or Irish under- standing.'' Enraged at this national reflection. Lord Ossory, he gallant son of the duke of Ormond, sent him a challenge, which he did not think fit to accept, but made a complaint to the house of lords, who ordered Ossory to the tower, where he was confined two days. After having expunged the word nuisance from the preamble of the bill, the lords were obliged to restore it, in order to please the commons, . to which the king himself, for the same reason, gave his ap- probation. The bill liaving passed, got the royal assent, which was given with great reluctance, and the prohibitory laws had at present a very pernicious effect on the country. Ormond's With an intent to diminish this effect, the chief-governor regai-a to tumed his thoughts towards the encouraeement of manu- useful in- . -,*'.. 1 , • , , 1 -n 1 giitutiuiiE. factuves, mtroducmg into the kingdom several persons skilled in the manufacture of woollens, and fixed an establishment of this sort at Clonmel, and Carrick on Suir, a town belonging to himself. Nor was his benevolent attention confined to this fabric. In imitation of lord Strafford, in the most ho- nourable part of his conduct, he particularly exerted himself to promote the linen manufacture. He sent to Holland to obtain information with respect to the proper mode of con- ducting it, and had a number of faniilies brought over from France, Germany, and elsewhere, by whose example and in Ptruction the people might get a more perfect knowledge of it. For the advancement of literature and religion he also showed similar solicitude, by endeavouring to effect the promotion of the native clergy of the established church, be- ing sensible that if they had equal learning and piety with HISTORY OF IRELANn. '311 foreio-ners they were not only better entitled to a preference, c HA P. but, from their knowledge of the country, more capable of " ' doing good. And in order to render them qualified for such preferments, he paid particular attention to the uni- versity of Dublin, which lie found in great disorder after the public commotions, and entrusted the regulation of it to Dr. Jeremiah Taylor, the pious and learned bishop of Down. Though the interests of Ireland employed his chief care, yet his solicitude was sometimes extended beyond the con- fines of this country. He exerted himself to raise a contri- bution for the relief of the unhappy people wlio had suffer- ed by the fire of London, and his laudable endeavours were attended with success. A subscription was opened for that benevolent purpose, by means of which thirty tliousand beeves were sent over. Of this disinterested act of kindness his enemies in England, liowever, gave a malignant inter- pretation. The chief study of these was to secure to themselves the Xntrimies sole power, and being envious of the authority he possessed, iffainst tliey laboured incessantly to effect his disgrace. His friend the chancellor had ah-eady fallen, and Buckingham, the prime minister, and head of the Cabal, was eager to complete his triumph by having Ormond removed from his posts of steward of the household and lord-lieutenant of Ireland. With this intent he brought an accusation against him, con- sisting of several articles, the principal of which were, that he tried the mutineers at Carrickfergus by martial law in time of peace, and that he quartered soldiers on the subject contrary to act of parliament. In 166G, the garrison of Carrickfergus rose up in muti^ ny, and seized the town- For the suppression of tiiis mu- tiny Ormond exerted himself with vigour ; he sent his son, lord Arran, against them by sea, and proceeded himself by land with the few forces he could depend on. After some resistance, the mutineers surrendered, and nine of them were executed by martial law- Thus was the tranquillity of the kingdom preserved. Yet of this a formal charge was made, as also of his quartering soldiers on the people for the safety gf his government, according to the usual prac- 312 HISTORY OP IRELAND. € H A P. tice of Ills predecessors, because it was found out to be con- . trary to an obscure and obsolete act of Henry VI. Succeeded Ormond, being resolved to refute the charges in person, ^'wcnt over to England, leaving his government to the care of his gallant son lord Ossory. On his arrival he found that the Cabal had used violent efforts to dism-ace him, though Buckingham, the principal, made him fair profes- sions. It was also attempted to possess the king with an opinion that he had mismanaged the revenue, which would be very offensive to his majesty in his present necessities; but after a long inquiry it appeared there was no ground for accusation. Though Charles did not certainly pos- sess a suitable gratitude for his faithful services, yet, for shame's sake, he thought fit to observe the appear- ance, of attachment to him, and even promise him pro- tection ; but the power of the Cabal was not to be re- sisted ; he wa^ therefore at length obliged to discover him- self, and consent to his removal. Lord Robarts was ap- pointed his successor, a nobleman of a sullen temper, and stiff and solemn deportment, wliich rendered him disgusting to the Irish subjects, accustomed to the affable and concihat- ing manners of the duke of Ormond. Besides, he was ra- ther averse to popery, which was now beginning to be con- sidered a great fault. Being therefore unfit for effecting the designs of the Cabal, ho was recalled, and succeeded by lord Berkley, a creature of Buckingham. 1670. This nobleman, being appointed chief-governor by the atnon"^^th P^'P^^^^ interest, was soon after followed by the most factious catholics, adherents of that religion. Their influence was soon dis- covered by the partiality he displayed towards the party of catholics who professed the most profound submission to the supereminent authority of the pope These were the strenuous partisans of the nuncio, who, by their violence, prevented an union with the loyal protestants, and thus brought down a severe chastisement, not only on themselves, but on the rest of their persuasion in Ireland. At the re» storation, some of the Irish prelates and clergy, sensible that the severities they endured during the usurpation were prin- cipally derived from this cause, presented a remonstrance to Charles, ac knowledgmg him to be supreme and lawful sove- HISTORY OP IRELAND. 313 reign of Ireland, disclaiming all right in the pope or any CHAP, foreign power to interfere with his authority, or exempt his ^^' , subjects from allegiance and submission in temporal matters, and expressing their resolution to discover all conspiracies they may find out against his person and government. This remonstrance gave great offence to the faction above mentioned, who used every means in their power to render the persons concerned in it odious. Hence the Irish catho- lics were divided into two parties, called Remonstrants and Anti-remonstrants, tlie one moderate, and the other violent in their principles. Though the pope did not openly inter- fere with his authority to condemn the remonstrance, which disavowed his temporal power, yet he allowed his inferior agents to censure it in his name, who declared that it would do more mischief to the church tlian any persecution it had suffered from the heretics. In order to produce some set- tlement in the business, government permitted a synod of the Roman catholic clergy to convene in Dublin in June 1666 ; but the Anti-remonstrants would consent to no terms of accommodation, and the meeting only tended to inflame the passions of the opposite parties aganist each other. On the arrival of lord Berkley, the Anti-remonstrants Partiality exercised great severity over their opponents,depriving them,"^ Berkley. by the pope's authority, of their cures and stations, denoun- cing excommunications against them, and thus obliging them either to submit, or fly to foreign countries, where they might be burned as heretics for denying the pope's power in temporal affairs. A strenuous partisan of these persecutors was Peter Talbot, an Irish Jesuit, brother to Richard Buckingham's favourite, who was created by the pope arch- bishop of Dublin. This zealous ecclesiastic, presuming on his interest at the English court, appeared at the council in Dublin, in the habit of his order, and proposing to celebrate mass in Dublin with extraordinary splendour, he borrowed of the furniture of the castle, some hangings and plate from the secretary to the lord-lieutenant, who, it is said, told him, that he hoped high mass would soon be celebrated at Christ's church. This haughty prelate, as might be supposed, dis- played great insolence in his conduct towards the Remon- strants, of which they made a complaint to Berkley, setting 314 HISTORY OF IRELAND. ^ XV ^' ^^^^^^ ^^^ disloyal and dangerous opinions entertained by - him and his partisans, but strange as it may seem, with all their principles of loyalty, they got no satisfaction, but were rather treated with contempt by the governor. Charles at- Such partiality was contrary to his public instructions, tached to i^-, iiii- •• ^ t«, pcpery. "^^ ^^ ^^'^^ supposed he had private nistructions oi a difte- rent tendency ; the king having before his accession become a convert to popery, with all the notions of the pope's au- thority entertained in foreign countries. In consequence of the royal attachment to this persuasion, catholics were per- mitted to take out commissions for the peace, and admitted into corporations. In Dublin, after tedious and violent con- tests, a popish common council was established, and some popish aldermen elected in room of protestant ones, who were displaced. Colonel Talbot, brother to the Jesuit, already mentioned, who was in high favour at the English court, having received a commission from the Irish catholics, went over to Eng- land, and made a formal complaint to the king and council of the act of settlement, by which many of the Irish were unjustly deprived of their lands, entreating, that the grants of any more lands in that country should be suspended, until some impartial persons were appointed to hear and report grievances. This application was very agreeable to the wishes of the English ministry, who had different com- mittees appointed to examine into the business, which took up a considerable time. pf'the'n-o- "^^ ^^^^ mean while a great alarm was excited among the testants. adventurers, soldiers, and others, who had gained by the act of settlement. These sent over counter-petitions solicit- ing the continuance of the act, and their cause was sup- ported by the people of England, who were highly offended at the open encouragement given by government to the IJoman catholic religion. Essex ^ \oiid clamour was now raised, and the ministry, per- tenant. ceiving that they had been too precipitate in discovering ^^'^- their designs, began to assume a different tone. They afr fected to be displeased with lord Berkley's conduct, and disr missed him from his ofhce of lord-lieutenant, in which he ■^as succeeded by the earl of Essex. HISTORY OF ITIELAND. 315 With this sligiit expression of displeasure the English CHAP, parliament was not satisfied ; but offered petitions to the ^ ! , king respecting Ireland, requesting he would maintain the Address of acts of settlement and explanation, and recal the late com- jj^j, narlia- mission of inquiry ; that he would give orders for the banish- ment- ment from Ireland of popish priests of different descriptions, for the dissolution of convents and scmmaries, the dismis- sion of papists from several offices they now held, the dis- couragement of popery, and support of the protestant interest. Accordingly, the commission of inquiry was superseded, Its effect and the king expressed his determinati<-'n to maintain the°' ^ ' acts of settlement. The council of Dublin, on a complaint made by the ejected aldermen, declared their removal to be illegal, and ordered them to be restored. Such altercations, and the various difficulties attending the Essex re- €xecution of the acts of settlement, with other causes of a '""ved. public nature, afforded great uneasiness to the chief-gover- nor, who was a man of real integrity, and openly expressed himself dissatisfied with the deficiencies of revenue occa- sioned by the king's private grants, and with the general management of the business. With great difficulty he had some measures adopted for the more effectual security of the public money. But his rigid integrity was offensive both to the king and his brother, who wished to get monev by clandestine means, of which he disapproved, and openly declared he would not obey the royal orders, if contrary to law. On that account he was removed from his government. In the appointment of a successor some delay took place, Ormond but at length this successor, to the general surprise, was declared to be the duke of Ormond. This nobleman, being obnoxious to the ministers, was treated by the king with great coldness, though he went every day to court, which he thought his duty. His appointment, on the present occasion, to the lieutenancy of Ireland, was owing, it is sup- posed, to the interference of the duke of York, who was anxious to prevent the duke of Monmouth, the king's na- tural son, from attaining that situation. During his former government he had inconsiderately submitted to the king's applying the public money to private uses, which caused a deficiency in the revenue; but before 316 HISTOUY OF IRELAM> CHAP, his departure from England he laid down rules to prevent such abuses In futui'e. On his arrival he endeavoured to put these rules in practice, and exerted himself with great diligence in the public service. In particular he endeavour- ed to make the army respectable, and had some useful modes adopted for the defence of the kingdom. Such re- gulations, however, could not be rendered effectual without supplies, and therefore, in order to get these afforded, and various public grievances redressed, he found it necessary to convene a pai'liament. Popish But while lie was thus engaged in devising plans for the ^ °^' public benefit, he received an account from England of the popish plot, to which he was obliged to pay suitable atten- tion, and thus all his measures were interrupted. This supposed plot raised great alarm in England, and when he was told that it extended to Ireland, and that persons were hired to assassinate himself, he seemed to pay every cre- dit to the story. At the time the protestants of Ireland entertained such apprehensions of the secret designs of the Roman catholics, it would have been considered treasonable in one of his situation to express the least doubt of the reality of this terrible plot. Therefore, in consequence of particular instructions from the English government, he seized first Peter Talbot, titular archbishop of Dublin, then afflicted with a dangerous distemper, accused of being an active conspirator ; afterwards he seized his brother Richard, and lord Mountgarret, then eighty years of age, bed-ridden, and in a state of dotage, and also this noble- man''s son. He also got orders requiring popish ecclesiastics to leave the kingdom, catholic seminaries to be suppressed, and the Irish of that persuasion to deliver up their arms in twenty days. To these orders he paid due attention, and ex- erted himself to preserve the public peace, yet applied as little rigour as possible, being firm yet moderate in the discharge of his duty. For the suppresion of certain disturbers called tories, who issued from their fastnesses, and harassed the peaceable in- habitants, he indeed took severe measures, which could be only justified by necessity. As they were usually concealed by their relations, and sometimes by the catholic priests, who still exercised their functions in several places, he pub- HISTORY OP IRELAND. 317 Ilslied a proclamation, ordering that the near relations of CHAP, known tories should be confined, until the criminals be ■ either killed, or brought to justice, and also, that if any murder or robbery be committed in the neigbourhood of a popish priest, and the guilty be not brought to punishment within fourteen days, the priest himself, at the expiration of that time, should be taken and. transported. Yet, while the dread of the popish plot prevailed, whicli Attempts was the means of shedding so much blood, he was accused Qj.',j,qjjj_ by violent partisans of not being sufficiently zealous in sup- port of the protestant cause. By some of these he was ad- vised to take all Irish chieftains prisoners, who had lost their estates, and to expel Irish papists from corporate towns, a measure which had formerly been put in force ; but the English inhabitants of these towns, finding their presence necessary, petitioned for their return. AVith this advice he of course did not strictly comply, tliough he took great pre- cautions with respect to the admission of Irish catholics in- to forts. His not complying afforded a pretence for accusa- tions against him, which were brought into the English house of lords by lord Shaftsbury, but the charge was re- pelled by his gallant son lord Ossory, and the king refused to attend to any application for his removal. Yet his enemies were not discouraged by their want of success on the present occasion, and frequently renewed their charges against him of remissness in his government, and especially on the death of his gallant son lord Ossory, which caused such general grief. The king, however, continued steady in his attachment. On the supposition of a popish plot were founded all these'charges of remissness, but it Avas at length discovered, after very severe scrutiny, that there was no popish plot in Ireland, and that its existence in England, where so much blood had been shed on its account, was very doubtful. Hence the minds of men in Ireland became composed, trade and industry increased, and the country assumed a tranquil appearance. In this situation of affairs Ormond conceived he might leave it a while with safety ; and having committed the government to earl Arran be repaired to England 318 HISTORY OP IRELAND. X H A P. During his continuance there many events of a very dis- . agreeable nature took place. Great offence was given to Arbitrary the protestant and patriotic party in that country by tlie of Charles, arbitrary measures of the king and duke of York, and their apprehensions were excited by the prospect of a popish suc- cessor to the crown. Hence the introduction of the bill of exchision into the house of commons, which caused Charles, after the dissolution of several parliaments, to assvmie the final determination of ruling for the future without the con- trol of that assembly. By this open violence to the consti- tution popular discontent was excited, and a scheme of in- surrection was fornied by those who were most sincerely attached to the cause of liberty. Its discovery brought the amiable lord Russell to the scaffold, and also Algernon Sid- ney, though no legal evidence could be produced for his conviction. Such was the base compliance of those unfor- tunate times By this victory over the popular party the power of the crown was increased, and Charles, indulging himself in indolent security, committed the management of public affairs to the duke of York, who proceeded boldly in the execution of arbitrary measures. Yet these measures were agreeable to persons of a certain description, for many addresses of approbation were presented to government by the tories and the catholics, who were their abettors. His death. In the present situation of affairs, the duke of Ormond returned to Ireland, having given offence to the king and duke of York, by his refusing to countenance their schemes in favour of the catholic religion in this country. There- fore, soon after his arrival, he received a letter from the king, declaring his majesty ""s intention of removing him from his office, and substituting in his room the earl of Rochester, " on account of the almost sreneral alterations that were to " be made, both in the civil and military parts of the go- *' vernment." He was determined, however, to curtail the power of this earl in many essential points, as Richard Talbot, the well-known advocate for popery, was ap- pointed lieutenant-general, with authority to model the army at his pleasure, even to tlie very appointment of the lowest officer. This caused the earl of Rochester to express some reluctance to assume the government HISTORY OP IRELAND. 819 Under such restraints, which produced some fluctua- chap. tion in the king's council; but, in the mean time, the king was carried off by a sudden disorder, in the fifty-fifth year Feb. 6, of his age, leaving behind him a character which reflects no honour on his memory ; for his conduct as a man was inju- rious to the interests of moraUty, and as a prince it was liostile to the constitution of his country. CHAPTER XVt Fair professicns of James II — Militia disarmed — Protest- ants alarmed — Violent proceedings of Tyrconnel — His ar- rangements — Corporations new modelled — Attempts on tht university — Partial promotions — The effect — Protestants in xlespair — Application to ^l-e prince of Orange — Dread of massacre — Derry secured- — Resistance extended — Treachery of Hamilton — Of Tyrconnel — Retreat of protestants to Derry — Arrival of James in Ireland — Derry his first ob- ject — Dastardly conduct of Lundy — George Walker — Siege of Derry — Distresses — Apathy of Kirk — Cruel expedient of Rosen — Relief of Derry — Enniskilleners — Batilt of Newtown Butler, The duke of York, of course, succeeded to the throne, un-C HAP. der the title of James II. Though the late king had rather " ' _ concealed his attachment to popery, the present one with 1C85. more candour had constantly avowed it, and for fourteen r-'"^.P^^"r. years it was the study of the two royal brothers to establish James II. a popish interest in Ireland. Yet James thought it neces- sary to have recourse to some duplicity until he was firmly seated on the throne, and, therefore, immediately on his bro- ther's death, he declared to the council, and afterwards to parliament, " that he would preserve the government In " church and state, and the rights and liberties of the na- •' tion." He soon, however, discovered his real intentions ; for, the second Sunday after his accession, he went openly to mass, with all the insignia of royalty. He also sent an 320 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP, agent to Rome, with due submissions to the pope, in order . ^ to open a way for admitting England again into the bosom of the cathoUc church. Recollecting the opposition he met with in the late reign from the duke of Ormond, he took the first opportunity of shewing his hostility to him ; for, imme- diately on his accession, he sent him orders to resign his go- vernment of Ireland to two lords-justices. From the aspect of public affairs in this country, the protestants were filled with apprehensions, and in proportion as they were depress- ed, the catholics were elated, and inspired with extravagant expectations. Every day were numbers of the popish gentry seen crowding in triumph to the capital. In the appointment of the lords-justices, however, no cause of alarm was afforded to protestants. The persons chosen were Boyle, primate and chancellor, and Forbes, carl of Granard, who seemed desirous in a temperate man- ner to promote the intei'ests of their own religion, and se- cure the tranquillity of the country. Yet their situation was by no means agreeable. Granard, in particular, was so much perplexed by the insolence of the catholics, the terrors of the protestants, and the clamours of all parties, that he expressed a desire to be removed from his office. But James did not seem willing to comply with his request, as he con- sidered his services necessary at present, and therefore he sent him a letter, written with his own hand, assuring him that nothing should be done in Ireland prejudicial to the protestant interest. With these assurances, the lords-jus- tices laboured to allay the fears of the protestants, and with due effect ; for when an attempt was made in England and Scotland, by Monmouth and his followers, to disturb the government of James, the public peace was still preserved in Ireland. Of this attempt the protestants here expressed their abhorrence, and such was the loyalty of the Irish forces, composed of protestants, that they marched with ala- crity to the north, in order to pass over to Scotland, if ne- cessary, to oppose the adherents of Argyle. Militia The power of James being increased by the suppression disarmed, ^f Moimiouth''s rebellion, which had been rashly under- taken, and feebly executed, he thought it no longer neces- sary to delay the execution of the measures which he had HISTORY or IRELAND. 321 devised. Unrler the pretence of the contagion of the rebel- c HAP, lion being widely diffused, he gave orders to the lords-jus- ^^J- tices to deprive the militia of their arms, and deposit them ~~~~~" in the king's stores. Tiie militia had been formed by the duke of Orm'ond, and consisting entirely of protestants bred up with a horror for Irish catholics, received the order with consternation, as they expected then to be exposed defenceless to their fury. They were, however, obliged to submit without delay, as the catholics, now become inso- lent through success, threatened with the vengeance of go- vernment any who were tardy in their compliance. Though the justices had the orders strictly enforced for Protest- disarming the militia, yet it was thought expedient that a ants alarm. lord-iieutenant should be appointed, who would have more authority to put the king's designs in execution For this office lord Clarendon, the king's brother-in-law, was se- lected, as lord Rochester, his other brother-in-law, who liad been formerly appointed, was now advanced to the of- fice of lord-high-treasurer of England. Clarendon, liaving come over v/ithout delay, found the country in great con- fusion. On the militia being disarmed, the savage banditti, called tories, issued out from their haunts, and distressed the English protestants, while the Irish were left unmolest- ed, and would not exert themselves to suppress these ra- vagers, as they were in reality their own friends and kins- men. The grievance was so great that Clarendon got au- thority to restore some arms to those who were supposed fit to be entrusted, and were exposed to depredation, but he was very cautious and tardy in exercising the power allow- ed him. Not only were the protestant subjects exposed to the robbery above-mentioned, but also to the malignant designs of spies and informers, a set of miscreants still more detestable, who were continually striving to catch at even a shadow of information against them. The princi- pal charge was expressions against the king when he was duke of York. Thus were persons the most innocent ac- cused, and sometimes imprisoned, and harassed with Con- tinual apprehensions of a troublesome prosecution, arising from revenge and perjury. Daily was Clarendon teazed vvitli informations of this kind ; but, though he saw through X 322 HISTORY or irelAnd. CHAP, their malice and falsehood, he was obliged to afford theui _^LL-_ attention, as he well knew the prej\idi ces the king enter tained against his pi'otestant subjects of Ireland. Encouraged by the king's prepossessions in their favour, tlie Irish catholics were so bold as to prepare a petition, de- manding a tfeneral reversion of the outlawries occasioned by the rebelhon of 1641. Though the case of some indi- viduals might certainly have merited attention, yet, if the petition were granted in its fullest extent, the subversion of all establishment of property would naturally have suc- ceeded. But the Irish had no moderation in their demands : and their gentry, flushed with expectations, crowded to the court of England, where they met with a favourable recep- tion. The seals of Ireland were now taken from Boyle, and given to sir Charles Porter, a man of distressed cir- cumstances, and of course dependent on the crown. Three protestant judges were removed, whose places were sup- plied by catholics, and some lawyers of that persuasion were admitted to the council. On such occasions the oath of supremacy was dispensed with, according to orders receiv- ed. The catholic ecclesiastical dignitaries officiated now in the habits of their respective orders, and the revenues of the see of Ca&hel and other vacant sees were reserved for the maintenance of Romish bishops. The protestant clergy were forbidden to touch on controversial points in their dis- courses, and, should any one presume to glance at the cor- ruptions of popery, he was marked as disaffected and sedi- tious. y. , While protestants had such reason for alarm, their ap- ])r(iceed- prehensions were increased by the arrival of Richard Tal- iiigsot fy-j^j^j^ above-mentioned, who had been created earl of Tyr- connel. During his stay in England he had been concerned in effecting the several changes, civil and eccle- siastical, that had taken place there, and brought over with him to Ireland a commission, giving him authority, inde- pendent of the lord-lieutenant, to command and regulate the army. He also had orders for the admission of Roman catholics to the freedom of corporations, and the offices of slieriffs and justices of the peace. On his arrival he exer cised his authority with rigour, and, in fact, in his official HISTORY OF IRELAND. 323 conduct he realized all the apprehensions entertained of c H A p. him by his opponenLs. He dismissed from the army four ^^^' thousand protestant soldiers, and three hundred officers, many of whom had purchased their commissions. The soldiers he stripped even to their clothes, and left them thus in a destitute state ; but the officers went over to the prince of Orange, with whom they returned to their own country at the revolution. His natural violence was increased by the extravagant adulations of the popish party, who hailed liim as their patron and protector. He railed against the act of settlement, and condemned the proceedings of the Irish' administration, offering daily insults to Clarendon. Against his violence and presumption Clarendon complain- ed both to the king and Sunderland, the prime minister, but without effect. At length Tyrconnel went over to Eng- land, and brought formal charges of misconduct against the lord-lieutenant, who made a cleAr and satisfactory defence ; but being considered an unfit instrument for executing the wild projects of a bigotted and deluded sovereign, he was removed from his office. Several lords were proposed and rejected by the king, but at last Tyrconne! himself was appointed, by the interest of Sunderland, chief governor of Ireland, with the inferior title of lord-deputy, having engaged to pay that minister an annual pension from his Irish government for the recommendation. Lord Clarendon, havina; resigned the sword of state to „• . , His this popish deputy, embarked at Dublin, attended by fifteen arran^e- hundred protestant families of that city, who abandoned a""^"'^' kingdom devoted to the violence of a popish administration. Sir Charles Porter, who had not proved so pliant as was ex- pected, but acted towards all parties with equity and im- partiality, was displaced from his office of chancellor, and succeeded by sir Charles Fitton, who had been convicted of forgery, but had now retrieved his character in the eyes of the king, by becoming a convert to his religion. Sir William Domville, the attorney-general, a protestant long- distinguished for loyalty and abilities, was removed, and one Nagle, a popish lawyer of some acuteness, substituted in his room. There were now only three protestant judges in Ireland, who were supposed to be sufficiently compliant. X 2 324 HISTORY OF IRELAND. C H A P. Xhe changes m the civil and military departments continued 1 daily, and almost the whole army of Ireland was formed of Irish catholics. 1687. The admission of these into the corporations, during the tions new administration ot Clarendon, proceeded rather slowly, but modelled, it was resolved to adopt a more compendious mode, that til us full power might be given to this party to model the parliaments at their pleasure. Tyrconnel began with the city of Dublin, of whom he demanded a surrender of their charter to the king. They refused, and transmitted a peti- tion to his majesty, setting forth their loyalty, and humbly bego-ing not to be deprived of their privileges. But their application was ineffectual. A quo etjarranio was immediate- ly issued, and by means of court influence a judgment was hastily passed against their cliarter. Many other corpora- tions were dissolved by the same mode ; and some were in- duced to surrender their charters by flattery, or intimida- tion, without any legal process, which proved of no service to those who tried it, as the popish judges constantly de^ cided in favour of the court. New charters were no^y granted, and the corporations filled up with a large majority of catholic voters. Popish sheriffs, whose services were useful for effecting the same purposes, were appointed for the several counties, and in all Ireland there was only one protestanl sheriff, who was put in through mistake. . . The commencement of such measures in Ireland, and the on the uni- attacks on the learned bodies in England, had naturally ex- versjt/. ^jj.gj some apprehensions in the university of Dublin, the only protestant seminary in the kingdom. But these appre- hensions were still increased by the appointment of Tyr- connel to the government. In their consternation they re- .solved to convert their plate into money, and had it put on board a vessel in order to get it sold in England, but it was seized in the port of Dublin by order of Tyrconnel, and could not have been preserved from his rapacity without the kind interfertnce of Nagle, who was happily possessed of more moderation. The king indeed had formed a design on the privileges of that learned body. During the administration of Clarendon, a mandate was sent to them from the king, directing them to admit one HISTORY OP IRELAND. 325 Green, a Roman catliolic, to a professorship of the Irisli CHAP. language, with all its emoluments and ari'ears of salary. * . But it was found that there was no establishment there for such a professorship, and Green of course was disappointed. The king, however, did not stop here. After the arrival of Tyrconnel, he sent another mandate directing one Doyle to be admitted to a fellowship without taking any oath but the oath of a fellow; but the oath of a fellow included the oath of supremacy, which Doyle refused to take, and thus the university got rid of a man both ignorant and profligate, but who made amends for all defects by becoming a con- vert to popery. Tyrconnel was so enraged at the disap- pointment, that he stopped a pension of four hundred pounds a-year allowed the university from the exchequer. Into the several public offices persons were introduced Partial pro- equally unfit for their respective stations, but were suppos- ed to possess every merit on account of their attachment to the king's religion. So little regard was paid to character, that a man was appointed a chief magistrate in a northern citv, who had been condemned to the g-allows for his crimes. The popish sheriffs were now found on trial ignorant and brutal, the judges shamefully partial, the military officers; insolent and barbarous. Hence broils were constantly raised, and murders and robberies committed with impuni- ty. Outlawries were daily reversed, and the sons of rebels and murderers became the particular favourites of govern- ments. Low fellows, being raised to high stations, and having no means of supporting their rank, frequently took goods by force from industrious tradesmen who could get no redress. Hence the credit of merchants was destroyed, trade per- The effect. petually decayed, and numbers of artisans were either re- duced to beggary, or driven to other countries for subsist- ence. On all these accounts a very sensible decrease of the Irish revenue took place, which excited great alarm among the English ministers, who naturally attributed it to the misconduct of Tyrconnel. He therefore found it necessary to go over to England to justify himself, and leaving the government in the hands of chancellor Fitton and lord Clanricarde, he embarked for that country. Without de- 32G HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, lay he proceeded to Chester, accompanied by Rice, chief- . "^ baron of the exchc qiier, wlio made such plausible represen- tations of the state of Ireland to the king, that he was or- dered again to his government, where lie continued to pro- ceed with his usual violence. Protestants The catholic party was now completely triumphant, and ill despair, pyotestants had before them a dismal prospect of suffering oppression increased by insolence, and sustaining injuries without redress. The English interest, which princes and statesmen Iiad laboured to establish in Ireland, was dis- couraged, depressed, and threatened with total extirpation. But nevv^ changes and commotions were approaching. The tyranny and obstinate bigotry of the king, encouraged by insidious counsellors, his disregard to the religious opinions of the English people, and their indignation, on being de- prived of their just privileges, with the strong sense of li- berty universally diffused among them, all tended to produce an important revolution, by which the civil and religious rights of the British subject were distinctly ascertained. 1(188. Dissatisfied with the condition in which they were A|>p'.ica- placed, the friends of civil liberty in England applied to prince of Wiiliam, prince of Orange, son-in-law of James, as the Orange, only person fit to afford them deliverance fi-om the tyranny that impended. Their proposals were favourably received by William, who engaged to afford them his powerful aid towards effecting the great object at which they aimed ; but still his proceedings were carried on with such secrecy, that James, for some time, had no suspicions of his designs. At length Tyrconnel got some notice of it from Amster- dam, and communicated the intelligence to the king, who treated it with derision, as did also Sunderland, the prime miiiister. But 'the infatuated monarch was soon awakened to a sense of his danger, and on the first assurance of inva- ,sion directed Tyrconnel to send him four thousand troops from Ireland. The Irish catholics also affected to despise the attempt of the prince of Orange ; but when they heard of his landing in England, of his advancing towards the capital, and of James being deserted by his subjects, their insolence was of course abated. Tyrconnel himself then descended to flatter the protestants, boasting of his equal HISTORY OF IRELAND. 327 and impartial government, but at the same time used every C H A P. endeavour to raise soldiers, in which he was seconded by " . the popish clergy, who enjoined tlie people to take up arms in this time of danger. Hence an armed rabble started up in all quarters, calling themselves the king"'s friends, and supported themselves by open depredations. Being resist- ed in their violent attempt by the Enghsh inhabitants, the whole country was soon in a state of disturbance. In the midst of this anarchy lord Alexander, of tiie coun-J),.g3^]Qf ty of Down, received a letter from a person unknown, set- massacre, ting forth, that the Irish catholics were to rise up to mur- der the protestants of every age and sex, on Sunday, the ninth of December. The same intelligence was conveyed to some other gentlemen of the northern province, and the news received implicit credit from those who had a horror of Irish barbarity, and were accustomed Irom their youtii to listen to hideous stories of the rebell.on and massacre of forty-one. The alarm produced by these letters was very general among tlie protestants through every part of the kingdom. The capital in particular became a scene of up- roar and confusion. In some places the dreadful intelli- gence was not received till the very day stated to be that appointed for the massacre. Terrified by the news, the people started suddenly from their devotions, and fled in astonishment, being joined by many others seized with the same panic. Some rushed with trepidation to the sea-coast, and got their escape made out of the country, while others sought shelter in walled towns and protestant settlements, leaving their habitations and effects to the mercy of Irish * plunderers. In the northern province, wjiere the protest- ants were most numerous, they collected the arms still left among them, being resolved to stand on their defence. The town of Derry or Londonderry, as it is now called, Deny afforded the fugitive protestants the most shelter of any '-' other in this province. Seated on tlie left of Louo-h-Fovle it had a communication by a ferry with the county from which it took its name. It was surrounded by a strong Avail, strengthened by bastions, but was not capable of maintaining the siege of a regular army. On the first a- larm of the invasion of England by the prince of Orano-e, .se- ured. 328 HISTORY OF IRELAND. C H A P. Tyrconnel recalled the garrison of Dublin, but being soon _ sensible of his error of leaving it to the government of the citizens, he detached the earl of Antrim's regiment, con- sisting of twelve hundred men, all papists, to take up their quarters in this town. Having arrived on their march at Limavaddy, within twelve miles of Derry, precisely at the time when the inhabitants received the information of the intended massacre, the proprietor of the village, George Philips, instantly sent a message to Derry, giving a terrible description of them, and advising the inhabitants not to re- ceive them. The messenger found the people already armed by the general reports of danger, and irresolute what course to pursue. Some were for resistance, others for submission, and in the midst of their perturbation and discordant councils the catholic regiment approached, and an advanced party appeared within three hundred yards of the Ferry-gate, At this critical moment nine spirited young men of the populace, drew their swords, as it were by a sudden impulse, raised the draw-bridge, and locked the Ferry-gate. Joined by numbers of their own rank, they secured the other gates, and assembling in the great square, seized the magazine. Soon they were countenanced by men of better rank, and at length the body of the inha- bitants caught the same spii'it, and declared for a bold de- fence. Their numbers increasing every day by a conflux from the surrounding districts. Philips of Limavaddy was chosen their governor, and Cairns, the most considerable of their party, was commissioned to solicit succours from the prince of Orange. At the same time the magistrates and graver citizens, considering it necessary in their pre- sent situation to endeavour to conciliate government, ad- dressed themselves to Tyrconnel, through lord ]\fountjoy, stating their inability to restrain the populace, apprehensive of massacre, and declaring their resolution to confine them- selves to self-defence, without violationg their allegiance. Tyrconnel now perceived, when it was too late, the error he had committed in withdrawing the garrison from Derry, and endeavouring to correct it, dispatched lord Mountjoy, and Luiidy, his lieutenant colo!iel, with six companies, to reduce the city. Mountjoy, being a protestant lord, was HISTORY OF IRELAND. 329 I himself highly acceptable to the people, and, after various CHAP. conferences, was at length admitted on conditions Tiiese " Avere, that a free pardon should be granted within fifteen days ; that, in the mean time, two companies only should be quartered in the city ; that one half at least of the forces af- terwards admitted should be protestants ; that, until the pardon was received, the citizens should keep guard ; and that all who thought fit sliould be at liberty to remove. Mountjov was now considered as a friend, and arms and ammunition were procured by his orders. The example of Derry excited a spirit of generous emu- Resistance lation among the northern protestants. Enniskillen, in the ^'"^^ county of Fermanagh, refused admittance to two companies of Tyrconnel's popish army. In Down, Donegal, Tyrone, Armagh, and Monaghan, parties arose, under the direction of their respective leaders, united for self-defence, and for the support of the protestant religion. County councils were nominated, and a general council to meet at Hillsborough, invested with the power of appointing officers, and directing the operations of the associates. In the mean while Tyi'connel, who continued in the ca- Treachery pital, was so much terrified at the success of the prince of Orange in England, and at the spii'it of resistance arising in Ireland, that he had some intentions of abandoning the kingdom in despair. But this prince was too much engaged in England to take the advantage of his trepidation, and therefore could only make an attempt to tamper with him. For this purpose he was recommended to employ Richard Hamilton, a catholic general, who had been sent over to Eno- : land on the first rumour of an invasion, and was then in some degree in his custody. Being considered as a man of ho- nour, as he had served with repute in the French army, the prince acceded to his proposal of going over to Ireland, and pi'evailing on his friend the deputy to resign the go- vernment. On this errand he was allowed to set out, but on his arrival in Dublin, instead of executing the commis- sion he had undertaken, he advised Tyrconnel to maintain his station, assuring him that the affairs of England began to assume an aspect favourable to James, and that nothing was wanting but the firmness of his friends to reinstate him. of Hamil- ton. 330 msTORV OF irelanb. CHAP. His advice was followed by the deputy, who employed him '_in his military capacity in Ireland. or Tvr- This governor, liowever, found it still expedient to dis- tomie . semble, and therefore assured the protestant lords of his readiness to submit to the prince of Orange. By his plau- sible professions of attachment, he so much Imposed on lord Mountjoy, that he persuaded him to repair to James, in company with chief-baron Rice, a violent papist, in order to represent to the king the weak stale of Ireland, and the ne- cessity of his yielding to the times at present, instead of ex- asperating his English subjects by a vain attempt to con- quer England with Irish forces. Mountjoy, after some stipulations with Tyrconnel in favour of the protestants, departed ; but on his arrival at Paris he was committed to the Bastile, while llice employed himself in soliciting suc- cours for the service of James. In the mean while Tyr- connel, having gradually discovered himself, at length be- came outrageous, and utterly denied the stipulations which he had made with Mountjoy. He raised new catholic re- giments, wrested from the protestants, in all places subject to his power, the fire-arms still remaining in their hands, seized their horses, insulted their persons, and plundered their houses. Temple, son of sir William, at whose in- stance Hamilton had been sent over to Ireland, was so much distressed at the unhappy issue of his advice, that, in the bitterness of his anguish, he put an end to his own life. Ketreat of These violent proceedings of the deputy were not, how- to Derrv/ ^ver, sufficient to suppress the exertions of the protestants in different quarters. In some parts of Ulster they had the courage to proclaim William and Mary ; and in the town of Newry a number of them assembled in mifitary array. Against these a body of troops were dispatched under gene- ral Hamilton, at whose approach they retired before superior numbers, but wei'e overtaken at Dromore, and defeated with considerable loss. By this defeat they seemed entirely dis- persed, but a good nun)ber of them were afterwards collect- ed by some spirited leaders. Of these some retired to Cole ■ rain, which they fortified, and others retreated to Ennis- killeii. Eord Blaney, proceeding with a body of protest- ants to the relief of those in Colerain, was attacked in his HISTORY OP IRELAND. 331 march by the garrison of Charlemont and Mountjoy, whom c H A y. he defeated with great slaughter. Coleram was some time ^^^- after assauked by the Irish ; but being not considered te- nable, it was deserted by the garrison who made good their retreat. The only place of refuge in the more iiortlieni parts to the -fugitive protestants was Londonderry, wliicli has been rendered celebrated by the noble defence made by its garrison and citizens, who exhibited such courage, pa- tience, and perseverance in the common cause as have trans- mitted their memory with admiration to future ages. When James found himselt deprived of his dominions, he Arrival of threw himself on the mercy of Lewis, by whom he was j^'^i^^^j^ Icindly received, and discovering but little sensibility at the loss of his crown, he was involved in exercises of abject su- perstition. His principal occupation was holding conferences on the mysteries of religion with the Jesuits, into whose or- der he had been initiated. Having roused himself at last^ he applied to Lewis for aid to restore him to his dominions, and, after vexatious delays, succeeded in obtaining his re- quest. On the twelfth of March this unhappy monarch em- 1689. barked at Brest, with an army of twelve liundred of his na- tive subjects, and one hundred French officers, attended by fourteen ships of war, six frigates and three fire-ships. The wiiole armament having arrived at Kinsale, a landing was effected on the twenty-second without opposition. Imme- diately he procee; ed to Dublin, and made iiis public entry, nuiidiit the acclamations of the inhabitants, being met at the castle gate by a solemn procession of popish ecclesiastics, secular and regvilar, in their proper habits, bearing the host* which the king publicly adored with great ft^rvency. Addresses were instantly presented to him from ail orders of the people. To each he returned a gracious and conci- liating answer, but his iairest declarations were received with coldness and suspicion by the protestants, when all the remaining persons of that persuasion were removed from the council, and their places supplied by others of difi'erent principles. He now issued five proclamations. In the first he ordered his subjects of every persuasion to unite against the prince of Orange, and all protestants who had abandon- ed the kingdom to return and accept his protection ; in the 332 HISTORY OP IRELANTf). CHAP, second he made some attempts to suppress robbery, and ._!__,! commanded all catholics, not of his army, to lay up their arms in their several abodes ; in the tlnrd he invited the country to carry provisions to his troops; in the fourth he raised the value of money, and in the fifth summoned a par- liament to meet in Dublin on the seventh of May. Derry his -After these formal acts of royalty he proceeded with his firstobject.jnilitary operations. The first object of his attention was Derry, where he supposed he would meet with the most re- sistance, and towards this city he led his army in person. Dastanlh' After the departure of lord Mountjoy the government of conduct ot jj^jg 5,^^poi-tant place had been committed to colonel Lundy, a man who affected a great attachment to the protestant cause, and excessive indignation at the tyrannical proceedings of Tyrconnel. However, on several accounts he was suspected of partiality to James ; yet so great was the prince of Orange's embarrassment that he was obliged to trust and employ liim. At the time the citizens were very suspicious of his designs, and were rather in a desponding situation, their spirits were somewhat raised by the return of their agent from London, with assura nces from the prince of Orange that preparations were made for the relief and protection of Ireland. Anmiated by this information they now prepared for a vigorous defence, and even Lundy himself seemed to have caught the general enthusiasm, declaring that he was resolved to march against the enemy= In compliance with this supposed resolution he stationed his forces at certain points within a few miles of Derry, with the seeming intent of opposing the progress of James, but on his approach he shamefully deserted his position, and sheltered himself with- in the city, shutting the gates against many others who souoht for the same refuge. At this time two English regiments arrived in LoughFoyle, the colonels of which had orders to put themselves under the command of Lundy, who directed them to come on shore themselves with some of their officers, leaving their troops on board, in order to consult on the measures necessary to be adopted in the present emergency. A council of war was now held, and, agreeably to Lundy''s representations, it was deter- muied, thatthe town was not tenable, that the principal officers fchould privately withdraw from the city, and leave the citi- HISTORY OF IRELAND 333 zens to make the best possible terms with the enemy. These ^xv^T* resolutions being communicated to the town council, it was there also resolved to offer terms of capitulation to James, who slowly advanced towards the town. Wlien the people were informed of these proceedings, they immediately exclaimed against the governor, the council, and every suspected officer, crying aloud for vengeance against their betrayers. In the violence of resentment they slew one officer as he was hastening to make his escape, and wounded another. During this state of confusion Murray, a brave and popular captain, arrived at the head of a rein- forcement, and though commanded by Lundy to retire, he insisted on entering the town, where he was received with acclamations. He now inveighed against the base purpose of surrendering to a perfidious enemy, and endeavoured to excite Lundy to a sense of duty, but without effect. On the people he had more influence, who, being roused by his exhortations, rushed to the walls, pointed the caniwn, and fired on James and his advanced party as they approached to take possession of the town. Reflecting on their perilous situation, they implored the officers of the two regiments not to desert them in their extremity ; but, deaf to the calls of honour, they refused, and went oft' to England, accom- panied by some otiier officers of similar spirit with them- selves. Lundy having resigned, the command of the town was offered to Murray, who modestly declined the honour. On which the people chose two new governors, a major Baker, and the revered George Walker, by whom they were formed into two regiments, amounting to seven thousand and twenty-men, exclusive of their commanders. The reverend George Walker, whose bold exertions on George this perilous occasion have gained him such renown, was rec- '^'''*^*'- tor of a parish in the county of Tyrone. At this time of dan- ger and turbulence, when the assistance of every man became necessary, he valiantly stepped forward in the defence of law, liberty and religion. He raised a regiment, of which he took the command, and exerted himself with strenuous zeal in support of the cause in which he was engaged. He flew from post to post, conferring with the leaders, and urging them to resist with vigour the partisans of James. On tlie 334 HISTORY OP IRELANB. CHAP. king''s approach towards Derry, he hastened to the town, ^. - endeavoured to rouse Lundy, entreating him to give the enemy battle before their whole strength was collected Lundy affected some vigour, and made the puny effort at resistance already mentioned. Assisted by the counsels of this valiant ecclesiastic, the people proceeded to take such measures as the present exi- gence required. The timid they allowed liberty to depart without molestation. On this occasion a number left the place, among whom was Lundy, who, in order to avoid pub- lic insult, put on a disguise, and stole off with a load on his back. Those who remained were actuated by a bold spirit, but were totally unacquainted with the art of war. The fortifications of the town were weak ; not more than twenty guns were fit for service, nor had they one engineer to di- rect their operations. On the contrary, James was provid- ed with all the necessary implements for a siege, and had under his command twenty thousand regular troops, who were naturally excited by his presence to the most ardent exertions. Sieore of With sucli an array, and so well provided, on the eighteenth of April, he encamped under the walls of Derry. In making a resistance to so formidable a force, the inhabi- tants proceeded with cool intrepidity. All matters were conducted within the town with the greatest regularity and composure ; each regiment, each company, had its particular station. Eighteen clergymen of the established church, and seven dissenting ministers cheerfully shared the labours and dangers of the siege, and assembling the people every day alternately in the cathedral, by the iervour of their devo- tions, and energy of tlieir exhortations, inspired their hear- ers with enthusiastic ardour. Influenced l)y motives of re- ligion, and with passions inflamed by pious zeal, the inha- bitants made an obstinate defence. For eleven days James continued his assault, but without effect. At length, im- patient of disappointment, after his strenuous exertions spent in vain, he left the camp and returned to Dublin, without performing any exploit worthy of notice. Distresses. Alter his departure, the garrison still continued to defeat all the attempts of the besiegers, and to harass them by HISTORY OP IRELAND. 335 successful sallies; but at length they were assailed by pesti-C H A P« lence, and threatened with famine ; opponents too powerful ^^- for human courage and skill to repel. — — — In tlie midst of their present sufferings and apprel'ensions, Apathy of thirty ships sent from England for their relief, containing ^"^'^'' troops, arms, ammunition and provisions, undei' the com- mand of general Kirk, appeared in Lough Foyle ; but Kirk was a man, as he had already shewn, of a heart too insensi- ble of human misery to make any hazardous attempt in their favour. Afermed at the exaggerated accounts he re- ceived of the enemy's force, he returned no cheerful answer to the signals of the besieged, which induced the enemy, who at first were terrified at his appearance, to make pre- parations to oppose his passage. At each side of the lake, where it grew narrow towards the town, they placed their batteries and troops, and from the two opposite forts stretch- ed a boom across the water, formed of strong timber^ joined by iron chains, and strengthened by thick cables. On this Kirk set sail, and carried his vessels round to Lough Swilly, whence he sent the inhabitants of Derry some soothing intel- ligence, and general promises of aid, but at the same time advised them to husband their provisions, from which ad- vice they drew a melancholy presage of their future suffer- ings. The various distresses they apprehended began now to Cmel ex- assail them. Every day were numbers carried off by disease, P^ei'.ient of among whom was Baker, one of their governors, and the wretched survivors were scarce able from want and fatigue to support their arms. Yet they determined to persevere, and death was threatened to any one who would even talk of surrendering. Enraged at their obstinacy, Marslial Ro- sen, who was sent to command the besieging army, informed the garrison, that if the town was not surrendered on tlie first of July, all those of their party to a wide extent around should be driven under the walls. But this menace having not prevailed, he took care to put it in execution at t])e time appointed. On the second of July, the protestants of the surrouuvling country, of every age and sex, were collected and driven by liis soldiers under the walls of Derry. At this sad spectacle, tiie garrison was transported to fury ; and 336 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, yet numbers of the wretched sufferers, thus driven to perish ■- under their walls, implored them not to consider their dis- tress, but bravely to defend themselves against the implaca- ble foe. During three days and nights tliey remained un- der the walls, without meat, drink, fire, or shelter, where many hundreds of them perished, and at last they were allowed to depart by the express order of James. But those who died were the most ibrtunate ; the rest not only contracted dis- eases that embittered their days, and hastened their death, but on their return saw their houses reduced to ashes, of which the smoke was not yet extinguished, and found that their cattle, furniture, and provisions were carried off. The dismal sight they viewed with silent sadness ; and envied their companions who were at rest from their miseries. Relief of In the mean while, the distresses of the intrepid garrison ^'^^^' of Derry had risen to excess. Every miserable resource for food began to fail, and even the most wretclied means of subsistence could not be procured for more than two days. In this melancholy state the famished throng listened to the consolatory exhortations of Walker, who assured them from the pulpit, that the Almighty would send them a speedy de- liverance Kirk, whose inhumanity was even exceeded by the French general, being at length seized with some com- punction, and apprehensive of blame if the town was taken^ resolved to make a bold effort to relieve it. Two ships, la- den with provisions, and convoyed by a frigate, advancing, on the thirtieth of July, in view both of the garrison and besiegers, were assailed by the cannon and musketry of the enemy, whose fire they returned with equal spirit. The foremost of the victuallers, sailing on the tide with a steady gale, struck forcibly against the boom, and broke it, but rebouncbng with violence ran aground. On this the enemy exulting with acclamations, proposed to board lier, while the garrison on the crowded walls, the anxious spectators of the event, became stupified with despair. By the recoil- ing of the cannon, however, with the aid of the flowing tide, the vessel soon got off, and passing the boom was fol- lowed by the others, and effected the relief of the town. On the next day the enemy raised the siege, which had con- tinued for nearly four months, and a free communication HISTORY OF IRELAND. , 337 being afforded, every proteslant had an ardent desire to see C H A p. that brave garrison, whose ghastly visages exhibited their sufferings, and whose numbers were diminished from above seven thousand to nearly four thousand men The enemy's loss was greater, amounting to eight thousand, and the remnant retired with disgrace to Strabane, being galled in tlieir retreat by the famished garrison, who hardly took time to take a little food. Durino; the whole course of the siesje of Dcrry James's i? • , •, o _ » J -li-nniskil- army had been considerably embarrassed in their operations ipuers. by the protestants of Enniskillen, who, having chosen Gus- tavus Hamifton governor of their town, proclaimed Wil- liam and Mary as the sovereigns of Ireland. Lord Gal- way, having marched to reduce them, invested Crom Castle, their frontier garrison, seated on Lough-Erne, but finding it impossible to bring up his artillery he fashioned out of tin the resemblance of two pieces of cannon, which he drew formally along with eight horses, and with these he threaten- ed to batter the castle. But the garrison, despising his threats, and reinforced from Enniskillen, drove iiis party from their trenches, and returning in triumph with consi- derable booty, exhibited the counterfeit cannon as trophies of their victory. Such successes as these raised the spirits of the northern protestants, whose force was increased, but they had neither arms nor ammunition until they were sup- plied by Kirk after his arrival at Lough -Swilly. Being now considered very formidable, James prepared three armies to proceed against them at once from different quarters : one under Sarsfield, another under Fitzjames, duke of Berwick, and a third under Macarthy, all leaders of high repute. By this great superiority of force they could have been easily crushed, but their ignorance of the danger proved the means of their deliverance. As they were acquainted only with the movement of Sarsfield's army, which came from Connaught, they marched rapidly against them, and attacking them by surprise in their camp, routed them with great slaughter. In their attempt against the duke of Berwick they were not attended with such suc- cess. As he approached Enniskillen some companies sent to seize an advantageous post in his way, having rashly Y 338 HISTORY OF IRELAND. eHAP. proceeded beyond the bounds prescribed, were surprised ^ and cut to pieces. But Hamilton, the'governor of the town. advancing to meet him, he retired. Battle of The army under Macarthy now came forward, and in- Ne-wton. vested Crom-Casde, to the rehef of which an officer was Butler. J- 1 1 1 1 . , . . , dispatched ; but as the enemy marched against him with a ■very superior force, he found it necessary to retreat. Being pursued, a skirmish ensued, which was the prelude to a ge- neral action that took place near Newton-Butler, be- tween both armies, the one commanded by Macarthy, the other by Wolsley, one of Kirk^'s officers. Though the north- erns were inferior in numbers, they made amends for this defect by their valour and determined abhorrence of the enemy, which excited them to the most strenuous exertions. Macarthy''s army was defeated with great slaughter : two thousand were slain in the field, and six hundred were forc- ed to plunge into Lough-Erne, where they perished. Ma- carthy and many other officers were taken prisoners ; but quarter was refused to the common soldiers. The news of this victory was communicated to James's army, as they re- tired from Derry, and no doubt tended to hasten their flight. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 339 CHAPTER XVIL James assembles a parliament — Its acts — His arbitrary mea- sures — Attack on the universiti/ — Persecution of jyrotes- tants continued — Levies raised for Ireland — Schomberg takes Carrickfergus — Encamps at Dundalk — Distress of his army — Discontents in England — William lands — His march — His danger — Battle of the Boyne — James'' s flight •^William proceeds to Dublin — Renews his operations — Foiled at Limerick^ leaves Ireland — Expedition of Marl- borough — French recalled — Disorders in the country — Dis- appoinlment of the Irish — Ginckle's operations — Attack on Athlone — Success — Retreat of Saint-Ruth — His position —Battle of Aghrim — Ginckle advances— Invests Limerick on all sides — Capitulation — Articles. »Vhile James's troops were^employed with so little success CHAP. in the north, he himself returned to Dublin, and assembled _-^y^* his parliament in all the pomp of sovereignty. In the up-" iJ^g. per house only seven or ei^ht protestant lords attended, J^'"^,^'*^ \ , . , , , fc> r 'semblesa but the popish lords were numerous, as severa were present parliamen^ who had been lately created, and otliers,whose outlawries had been reversed. In the lower house there were only six pro- testant members, the rest being entirely composed of Tyr- connePs creatures. In his speech the king made specious professions, declaring his grateful sense of the loyalty of his Irish subjects, and the regard he had for the rights of property and conscience. A bill was now introduced, ac- knowledging the king"'3 title, and expressing an abhorrence of the prince of Orange, and his usurpation. James then published a declaration of a similar tendency with his speech, setting forth his resolution to protect the properties, privi- leges and religion of his protestant subjects; but whatever might be his inclinations, he had not liberty to act accord- ing lo his wish, being subject to the controul of opposite factions. The French ambassador affected to take the lead y2 340 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, in Ills councils, and James was servilely submissive. All "^ military promotions were conferred on Frenchmen, which afforded just cause of complaint to his Irish adherents. In parliament, however, the latter took care to provide for their ov.n interests, without a.uy regard to the difficulties with which their unfortunate monarch was embarrassed. Its acts. I'hey tumultuously passed a bill for repealing the acts of settlement, to wliich tlie king gave his consent, being urged by those by whose advice he was governed, and thus w^as rendered still more odious to the people of England. An ad- dress was presented to him against this bill by the persons who had purchased under the authority of those acts, but he gave them no satisfactory reply, and when some peers proposed to enter their protest, he observed, that protests were usual only in rebellious times. In the preamble of the bill the Irish were exculpated from the crime of rebellion in the year 1641, and by a clause of it the estates of all persons dwelling in the British islands were forfeited, and vested in the king, who did not acknowledge James as sovereign, or who had aided, or corresponded with his ene- mies from the first of August 1688. In consequence of this act almost every protestant of Ireland, who could write, and of course correspond with his friends, was to be depriv- ed of his estate. Another act was passed equal in iniquity to the prescrip- tions in the corrupted age of Rome, by which all absentees attached to the prince of Orange were attainted of high treason, and condemned to suffer the pains of death and forfeiture, unless they surrendered within a certain period assigned. By this act nearly two thousand five hundred persons of different ages, sexes and conditions, were made liable to punishment, many of them, as owned, " on com- mon fame," and by the terms of it even the king himself could not pardon them after the first of November. Be- sides, this proclamation was not published, at least in the visual manner, until after that time, which makes the iniqui- ty still more excessive. Among the other acts passed in this assembly was one declaring, that the parliament of England could not bind Ireland, and prohibiting the transmission of all writs of HISTORY OP IRELAND. 341 error and appeal to the English courts ; one for liberty of C H A P. conscience, a specious title ; another allowing the Romish . " clergy all tithes and ecclesiastical dues payable by those of their own communion. In a few instances James shewed a regard for the opinion of the people of England, for he opposed a bill for the repeal of Poynings''s law, and refused his consent to the establishment of inns of court in Ireland for the education of young lawyers, which the Irish catholics liad long anxiously desired. This parliament granted James a monthly subsidy of His arbi- twelve thousand pounds, to be levied from lands, but he"^"^^ "^^^' .1^ ' . . . ' sures. thought fit, by virtue of his prerogative, to issue a procla- mation imposing'a tax to the same amount on chattels; and when some of his council ventured to remonstrate against this arbitary measure, he said, " if I cannot do this, I can do nothing."" He had recourse to another method of gaining supplies, which was even more abominable and iniquitous. One Moore having, by virtue of a patent of the late king, a right of copper coinage in Ireland, James seized his imple- ments, and established a mint himself in Dublin and Lime- rick. To these places were carried brass and copper of the basest quality, old cannon, broken bells, and the like, and from every pound weight of such materials, valued at four pence, pieces were coined and circulated, to which was affixed the nominal value of five pounds. James now issued a proclamation making those pieces current in all payments between him and his subjects, except in the duties on the exportation of foreign goods, money lent on trust, or due by mortgages, bills or bonds, promising, at the same time, that when the money should be decried, he would receive it in all payments between him and his subjects, or make full compensation in gold or silver. But people had reason to doubt his adherence to his promise ; for the original restric- tions were removed ; the nominal value of the base coin was raised by subsequent proclamations, and orders were issued that it should be received in all kinds of payments. His soldiers were now paid in it, who forced it on the pro- testants with great rigour. As brass and copper became scarce, it was found necessary to make use of tin and 342 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP, pewter, and by these means James was enabled to fleece his a.=s= subjects. His acts of injustice were indeed most flagrant, for old debts of one thousand pounds were discharged by pieces of base metal, in reality not worth more than thirty shillings. As the protestants were obnoxious to the present govern- ment, the circulation of this base coin was peculiarly distress- ing to them. When they attempted to get rid of it by purchasing the staple commodity of the kingdom, the king fixed a value on these commodities, and demanding them at this value, paid the owners in the base coin, and then, like another trader, exported the goods to France for profit. But should the protestants attempt to purchase corn or other provisions with this base coin, they were treated even more severely ; for the articles they purchased were seized for the king's use, and the proprietors imprisoned, as men engaged in a scheiue of supplying the enemy with food. Thus were the most inoffensive actions of the protestants ascribed to bad motives. Attack oil I" the midst of the dangers with which James was the uni- threatened, and the opposition he experienced, he was still resigned to the direction of the catholic clergy, and adopted all their measures for the extension of popery. Thus he liad the protestant school of Kilkenny, of which the duke of Orniond was the founder, converted, by a new charter, mto a popish seminary. He also sent a mandamus to the university of Dublin, requiring that Green, who had for- merly been disappointed of a professorship, should be elect- ed a senior fellow. With this demand the society refused to comply, pleading their cause before Nagle, the attorney- general, and urging, beside the religious scruples they en- tertained, both the incapacity of Green, and the false allega- tion of his petition. But argument had little effect over prejudice ; the issue of this unequal contest was speedy and decisive. In a few days the fellows and scholars were forcibly ejected by James's soldiers, the private property of individuals, the communion plate, library, and furniture of the community, were all seized, their chapel was con- verted into a magazine, and their chambers into prisons. By the intercession of the bishop of Meatl), the members of HISTORY OF IRELAND. 343 the university were allowed their personal liberty, on con- CHAP. dition that three should not meet together on pain of death. ^ On his arrival in Dublin, soon after his landing, the king promised this university, in answer to an address, the sup- port and even enlargement of its privileges, which promise lie thus basely violated. At the same time he promised to the protestant clergy of the established church protection and redress, but also violated his engagement to them. The unhappy persons of that description experienced Persecu- now the effect of his prejudice. Being only entitled by a '"^"^"jgj^Jg late act to claim tithe from the few people of their own continued, persuasion, they could not on that account get even a sub- sistence ; while the Romish clergy had an ample support, both as their hearers were more numerous, and as they, presuming on their interest with government, exacted tithe from persons of every persuasion. Besides, by the autho- rity of the magistrates, they seized several churches for their own use, both in the country and the capital. Of this outrage the protestants complained to James, who pub- lished a proclamation, requiring them to be restored, as he had promised to protect the protestants ; but the priests, be- ing sensible of their induence over him, paid no attention to his demands. With such restraints as these, however, the ruling party were not content ; for a proclamation was issued, prohibiting protestants to attend any churches except those situated in their respective parishes. By this order numbers were entirely deprived of the benefit of public worship, since, in many parts, there was only one church for two or three parishes. The protestants, as is usual in times of oppression, crowded, with fervent zeal, to their places of devotion ; for religion, in such times, is the only consolation to the afflicted ; but of this consolation their enemies endeavoured to deprive them. At last they pro- ceeded to an entire prohibition, for an order was issued by the governor of Dublin, that no more than five protestants should meet together, even in churches, on pain of death. Not only of spiriiual comfort, but even of temporal sub- sistence, tlioy attempted to deprive the unhappy protestants at that time, for soldiers were placed at every bake-house 344 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, of the capital, preventing any of their persuasion to ap« pre ^^'"' -roach.* Levies The continuance of an administration so tyrannical was Ireland °^ chiefly owing to the factions and discontents in England, so vexatious to AVilHam, to the deficiency of money, and also of arms, which were to be brought from Holland, those in the Tower having been embezzled. In the mean while, the neglect of Ireland became a subject of popular com- plaint, and at length it was determined to send a body of forces to that country. As it was judged inexpedient to trust the fidelity of the troops who had served under James, it was resolved that new levies should be raised, and these were soon completed, but among them there were mixed some battalions of foreigners. The levies raised ft)r the service of this kingdom consisted of eighteen regiments of foot, and five of horse; but both officers and men were in- experienced in war. The chief co'^mand was assigned to the duke of Schomberg, a leader of distinguished reputa- tion, who, after long detention, set sail from Chester, on the twelfth of August, with about ten thousand of his forces, and part of the artillery. On the next day he ar- rived in the bay of Carrickfergus, and landed near Bangor in the county of Down. Schomberg Immediately on his appearance, the neighbouring places, ^f'tf* " possessed by Irish garrisons, were abandoned, and the seve- ral troops retired to Carrickfergus. Schomberg now marched to attack this town, which was a strong post, but the garrison, instead of endeavouring to defend themselves, beoan to parley. They demanded liberty to send to king James for succours, or for his permission to surrender; but their offer was rejected, and the siege carried on in form, while the town was battered by the armed vessels from the sea. However, after the hostilities of some days, and a disagi'eement about tlie terms, Schomberg, being anxious to prevent delay, at a season so advanced, at last allowed them to march out with their arms and sonje baggage, and to be conveyed to the next Irish garrison. This indul- gence aflbrded cause of complaint to his soldiers, who seem- * These, and other acts of opjiression of James and his minislers, are ffivtn oil the authority of Archbishop Kii;g, who was then dean of Saiut i'Aliick's. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 345 ed inclined to prevent the fulfilment of the terms. The chap. Ulster Scots, in particular, enraged at the cruelties com- XV ll. mitted by the catholic troopsj proceeded to acts of violence against the garrison, but were restrained from murder by the seasonable interposition of the general. Schomberg, being joined at this place by some more of Encamps the troops from England, by the forces which Kirk had j^^^^ brought over to Ireland, and by the brave protestants of Enniskillen, was enabled to advance. The artillery horses being still detained at Chester, he ordered the train and other necessaries to be conveyed by the fleet to Car- lingford, while his army proceeded through a desolated country, which was at first abandoned by the protestant, and now by the catholic inhabitants, who fled with their cattle and effects. The enemy, retiring before him, burn- ed the town of Newry in their retreat, and set fire to Carling- ford, which caused him to send forward a trumpet, threat- ening to give no quarter if such barbarities were continued. Hence they abandoned Dundalk without doing any injury to that town ; towards which he approached, and encamped, at a mile distance from it, in a tolerably strong but damp situation. His advance caused such terror to the catholic army posted at Drogheda, consisting of nine thousand men, that they resolved to quit their present situation, but were diverted from their inglorious resolution by the exertions of Tyrconnel, who repaired to them, and assured them of an immediate reinforcement of twenty thousand men. This reinforcement having soon after arrived, Schom« berg thought it prudent to stop in his present situation, as the country before him was plain and open, where he might be surrounded by the superior number of James"'s army, and cut off from all communication with his ships and northern friends. In this resolution he was confirmed by the siiips not having arrived at Carlingford with the artillery and provisions expected, and by his army, which consisted of raw recruits, not inured to fatigue, being worn out with tedious marches la a rigorous season. Several of them sunk under the severities they endured, and many lay lan- guishing on the roads. Marshal Kosen, on being informed that Schomberg had 34G HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP, halted, drew his forces towards Dundalk, and the latter for- -^^^^ tified his camp against an attack. But his position being Distress Jf Confined and vmwholsome, and his soldiers, without suffi- his army, cient food, fuel, or covering, exposed to damps and wintry showers, began very soon to be seized with sickness, which continued to increase, as the surgeons were unable to coun- teract it, being only supplied with medicines fit lor wounds. The sickness was also aggravated by a pestilential disease, communicated from, the garrison of Derry, which broke out in the camp. While they were thus afflicted, the enemy, ■who were encamped on the adjoining hills, and had the benefit of the open country, were in a great degree exempt fi'om such distress, of which they seemed inclined to take the advantage, and made some movements, as it were, to storm Schomberg's camp on different sides. James himself now joined them, and drawing out his army in battle array, with the royal standard displayed, made a show of such an intention. Schomberg then made suitable preparations for his defence; but James, after this empty parade, drew off his forces to Ardee. At this time a conspiracy was disco- vered for betraying Schomberg''s camp, formed by sonve French papists, for which the principals were executed, and the rest were disarmed and sent off" to Holland. The situation of this general was now become very critical, for the distresses of his army had risen to a j^reat height. The fleet, indeed, which had arrived at the place appointed, furnished some provisions, but this supply was not suffi- cient to remove the settled contajjion, which carried off numbers of officers and men every day. The army accused the general of indifference to their calamities, and the ene- my insulted over their miseries, imputing them to the ven- geance of Heaven inflicted on them for their heresy. In the end, however, they were exposed to simiiar calamities themselves, and their numbers were greatly diminished by disease. When the season of the year approached, each army pre- pared to retire into waiter quarters. Tlie English camp now exhibited a sad picture of human misery. The sick, wiicn they were to be removed, set up loud cries and lamen- tations, from the apprehension of the still greater sufferings HISTORY OP IRELAND. 347 they were going to endure ; and, alas ! tliey had too much CHAP. reason for their apprehensions. Waggons being provided . to convey them to Belfast, some died at the first attempt to remove them, and others were soon killed by the jolting of the waggons, whose bodies were strewed along the road. Many, in the extremity of their torments, adjured those around them to put them to death. The general, though eighty years of age, was indefatigable in his exertions to alleviate their miseries. Eight thousand of his men lost their lives by disease from the time they first entered the camp. The ill success of this expedition caused loud complaints Discon- among the people of England, who had high expectations^ ' "j^mj^ from the talents of Schomberg, and a contempt for the ene- mies opposed to him. It afforded triumph for the factious part of the nation, and especially of the commons, where the opposite parties concurred in their endeavours to embarrass the administration. In the midst of their inquiries the commons were informed by George Walker (who, for liis services at Derry, had received in London high compli- ments and rev^^ards) that the disappointment arose from the neglect of one Shales, a purveyor of the army, in not pro- viding Schomberg with artdlery horses, carriages, bread, fo- rage, and medicines, for which he was ordered into custody. The opposition to William in the commons was not con- fined to the disaffected, to those who attempted to prevent his obtaining the sovereignty, but even the very men who plac- ed him on the throne, counteracted his endeavours to pro- mote the public good. Though possessed of rigid integrity and an ardent zeal for the liberties of mankind, he was constitutionally cold and distant in his manners, which pre- vented his being so popular in England as might be expect- ed by one, who, at a critical conjuncture, stood forward to defend the violated rights of the people. The commons made a great clamour about Shales, and remonstrated with violence against miscarriages in the army, the fleet, and in Ireland, requiring that public affairs should be entrusted to persons, in whom the nation would have greater confi- <]ence than in those who had the management of them at present. The king used every exertion to soothe them, but 348 HISTORY OP IRELAND. €H A P.with Itttle effect. At length he declared his resolution of XVII. undertaking the war of Ireland in person. 1690. The first report of his design gave encouragement to the English army in Ulster. Schomberg having retired to win- ter quarters, with about half the number of men he had brought into Ireland, exerted himself with great industry to retrieve his misfortune. He used every means in his power of restoring to health the diseased soldiers, and his endeavours were happily attended with success. He sent to England for recruits to fill up the place of those who had perished, and by the co-operation of government re- ceived a considerable reinforcement of Danes, under the command of the prince of Wirtemberg. In the mean while liis troops obtained various successes over the enemy. The Enniskilleners, in particular, continued to distinguish them- selves. During the time of his encampment in Dundalk, he had allowed them to make irregular excursions, and in one of these a thousand of them routed the enemy, on their march to Sligo, with a great superiority of forces. The same number, at this time, defeated four thousand, under the duke of Berwick, at Cavan. These hardy soldiers, who escaped the ravages of disease, the general engaged in bold enterprises, and employed his other troops, when they re- covered, in furnishing the frontier towns with stores. James himself also displayed a suitable energy on this occasion, and was equally assiduous in forming magazines, and pre- paring for the ensuing campaign. The formidable ap- pearance of the enemy, with the apprehension of their re- ceiving still more assistance from England, obliged him to apply to France for a reinforcement. Accordingly Lewis sent him five thousand soldiers, under the command of Count Lauzun, to whom he gave in exchange an equal number of his own subjects, on whose exertions alone he found he could not rely for the recovery of his kingdom. On the return of spring, as soon as his forces were fit for action, Schomberg, without delay, commenced his operations. The fort of Charlemont he had before considered so strong and so well provided that he did not venture to attack it. However, he now resolved to make a trial, and accordingly detafhed Caillemote, a spirited French officer, against it, with a body of troops. The governor was sir Taig O'Re- HISTORY OP IRELAND. 349 gan, a brave Irish officer, who defended himself a consider- CHAP, able time with success ; but being closely invested, and de- xvii. prived of all supplies, he was at length, for want of provi- sions, obliged to surrender. In the mean time, several new regiments of English, Williain Dutch, and others, arrived in the northern province, and **" *' assurance was given the army, that William himself would soon follow. Accordingly, he landed at Carrickfergus, on the fourteenth of June, and was received with transports of joy by the friends of liberty and the protestant religion. He was accompanied by prince George of Denmark, the duke of Ormond, and several other persons of distinction. Being determined on a vigorous prosecution of the war. His march, he advanced to Lisburn and Hillsborough, where he com- menced the first exercise of his civil authority, by conferring a pension of twelve hundred pounds a-year on the dissent- ing ministers of Ulster, Avho had disj>!ayed great zeal in his cause. His forces from several quarters met him at Lough- brickland, where he reviewed tiiem with minute attention, and advanced with an army of thirty-six thousand well ap- pointed men, with an intent to decide the fate of Ireland. To supply their necessities was more the object of his care than to provide luxuries for himself. When an order for wine for his own table was produced to him to be signed, he exclaimed that his men should be first served, " let them not want" said he, " I shall drink water."" On the march he was sometimes in the van, sometimes in the rear, viewing the country as he proceeded, to perceive where they might be best accommodated, and in every respect was peculiarly attentive to their condition. As he advanced towards Dundalk James's army retreated beyond the river Boyne, and encamped on its bank near Drogheda. Here they were joined by the king himself, who had now under his command about thirty-three thou- sand men. His troops were inferior to the English in -num- bers and discipline, though not in courage, as appeared on trial. Some of his officers, in hopes of a more favourably turn of aifairs in England, thinking it would be lor his ad- vantage to protract the war, advised hau to strengthen his garrisons, and retire with a few chosen bands behind the 3ii0 HISTORY OF IRELAND. His dan- ger. CHAF. Shannon, where he might carry on a defensive warfare* '■■ which would gradually waste the enemy, but he would not consent, and determined to risk a general engagement on the spot. Such a decisive measure was exactly suitable to the inte- rest and wishes of William, who, on the last day of June, moved with his army towards the Boyne, On the opposite bank the Irish army was encamped, of which William took a view from an adjacent hill. On their right lay Dro- gheda, which they had occupied with a garrison, on their left a difficult morass, which communicated by a narrow pass with the bridge of Slain, situated three miles higher up the river ; on their front was the Boyne, with rugged banks, defended by some pieces of artillery, and furnished with huts and hedges where infantry might lie in security ; on their rear lay the village of Donore, and three miles farther off the narrow pass of Duleek. William, being anxious to get a nearer view of their po- sition, advanced within musket shot of a ford opposite to a village called Old-bridge, where he was discovered by the enemy, who brought down unnoticed two field-pieces, and fired at him. By the first discharge a man and two liorses were killed beside him, and by the second the king himself was slightly wounded, the ball grazing his right shoulder. This William treated as a trifle, but it occasioned great anxiety to his attendants, who gathered round him in con- fusion, and the report of his death flew rapidly to Dublin, and even to Paris, where it was celebrated with bonfires and illuminations. The king rode through the ranks by torch light, in order to afford the most perfect assurance of his safety. About nine at night he called a council of war, to whom he communicated his intention of passing the river next morning in front of the enemy, from which Schomberg, with a caution natural to his years, endeavoured to dissuade l)im; but when he could not prevail, he insisted that a part of the army should be immediately detached to secure the bridge of Slain, so as to flank the enemy, and cut off" their retreat by the pass of Duleek. This measure, however, was not taken. Offended at the indifference with which his HISTORY OP IRELAND. 351 council was received, Scliomberff retired in disffust, and chap. "VVIF when he got the order of battle in his tent, he observed that _— — it was the first that was ever sent him. As the final orders were, that the English army should Battle of cross the Boyne next day in three different places to attack. ^'^^^"'^"®* the enemy, early in the morning of that day, being the first of July, the right wing, with count Schombcrg, the duke's son, commanding the cavalry, and general Douglas the in- fantry, proceeded rapidly up the river, which they crossed at a ford above Slain-bridge, before the large detachments sent to oppose them could reach the place. A regiment of dragoons stationed there they soon repelled, and pro- ceeded down the river through very difficult ground, espe- cially for horse, with such boldness as astonished the ene- my opposed to them, who instantly gave way. When it was supposed that the right wing had made good its passage, the infantry in the centre, under the com- mand of duke Schomborg, was put in motion. The Dutch guards first entered the river on the right, opposite to the village of Old-bridge, and then the French protestants,* Brandenburghers and Faiglish, at their several passes to the left, plunged in with alacrity, while the water in some places rose to their breasts, which obliged the infantry to support their arms over their heads. The Dutch, having gained the opposite bank, formed gradually, and drove the Irish from their posts. Advancing forward they were at- tacked by a larger body, whom they repulsed, but the ene- my still increasing, some English and French Huguenots, who had by this time passed the river, came up to tlieir support, having repelled the Irish infantry, led on by gene- ral Hamilton, who attempted to oppose their passage. His cavalry, however, were more spirited and successful, for • The author's grandfather was one of these, and was wounded al this battle ; he was also at the battle ot Aghrim. *' With deep regret he left fair Gallia's land, Forc'd from her plains by Lewis' stern command, Join'd great prince William on Batavia's shore. At Boyne's fam'd waters heard the cannon roar. Bled to support true freedom's equal laws, And pure religion's venerable cause." 352 HISTORY OF IRELAND. C H A P. having attacked a body of Danes on the bank, they drove ■ " them back into the river, and, on their return, fell furiously on the Huguenots, vphohad no pikes to sustain their shock, the bayonet being not in use, and were instantly broken. At this time duke Schomberg rushed through the river, and putting himself at the head of the Huguenots, who were de- prived of their brave leader Caillemote, reduced them to order. The Irish cavalry who had broken them, were af- terwards in a great part destroyed by the Dutch and Eng- lish, and the remainder, in their return to join their main body, being allowed to pass by the Huguenots through mis- take, wounded Schomberg in the head, and were carrying him off along with them, when he was killed, in the con- fusion, by a shot from his own men. At the same time also was killed Walker of Londonderry, the valiant eecle- siastic, whose passion for military glory had impelled him to this engagement. The centre being thus engaged for about an hour, the firing ceased on both sides for a short time, and at length the Irish, who had rather retreated, advanced in regular order to make a bold attack on their opponents. At this time William, who commanded the left wing, composed of the Dutch, Danish, and English cavalry, having passed the river with some difficulty, came rapidly forward to the en- gagement. The Irish perceiving him coming boldly on, with his sword drawn, at the head of the squadron, and being apprehensive that he intended to charge them in flank, retired to Donore, where James had taken his stand. But facing about with great spirit, they attacked the Eng- lish cavalry with such fury, that they were forced to give way with the king at their head. The battle v/as, however^ maintained on both sides with equal ardour, and with a variety of success. In every part of it where danger was most imminent, king W^illiam was constantly present, and thus gave double vigour to his soldiers. The presence and exertions of such a prince had at length its due effect. The Irish infantry were finally repulsed ; and Hamilton, mak- ing a desperate effort to recover the day at the head of the cavalry, was routed and brought prisoner to William, who gently rebuked him for his former treachery. HISTORY OP IRELAND. 353 The army of James now ceased to make resistance, and ^ ^Jtj^' were severely galled in their retreat by William''s right ' ■- wing, who pursued them almost to the pass of'Duleek. \t tiiis time count Lauzun rode up to James, who still con- tinued at Donore, and advised him to retreat immediately as he was in danger of being surrounded. He then march ed to Duleek at the head of Sarsfield's regiment, and was followed by his army, that poured through the pass, annoy- ed by a party of English dragoons. When they reached the open ground, they drew up, and firing on their pursuers made a regular retreat. Their loss in this engagement was computed at fifteen hundred, that of William''s army scarcely amounted to one-third of this number. By this battle the contest for the crown was finally decid- '^.^"i^s's ed. James, having arrived in Dublin in great disorder, " assembled the popish magistrates and council without delay. He now made complaints of the treatment he had received. In England, he said, his army had deserted him, and in Ireland they had meanly fled from the enemy. Therefoie, he told them, that nothing now remained but that both he and they should shift for themselves. Though obliged to yield to superior power, he assured tlLcm, he would never cease to labour for their deliverence ; but, as too much blood had been already shed, and Providence seemed to have declared against him, he advised them to liberate their prisoners, and submit to the prince of Orange, who was merciful. His ungracious reflections on the courage of the Irish troops provoked the officers to make a comparison between his conduct and that of king William, verv mucli to his disadvantage. While William, said they, sliared the danger of his army, he stood at a secure distance, an idle spectator of a contest, in which the Irish troops, though not animated by his presence, maintained his cause with such valour as he could not mipeach. " Exchange kings," exclaimed the officers, " and we will fight the battle over again." Their indignation was also mcreased at the shame- ful manner he deserted them ; for he fled to Waterfbrd in all speed, breaking down the bridges to prevent pursuit, and embarked for France. 354 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP. Drogheda having surrendered to William, he proceeded — TL-,". ' slowly towards Dublin, and encamped at Finglass, within William two miles of that city. The peace of the capital had been tu Dublin. pi*eservcd with difficulty by a protestant officer named Fitz- gerald, to whom some troops were sent by William for that purpose. His majesty, having entered the city, repaired to the cathedral of Saint Patrick to offer up his thanks to God for his victory, and immediately returned to his camp. He now published a proclamation, offering pardon to all his opponents of the lower order, on their surrendering their arms, but excluding from the benefit of it those of a higher station. The exception was dictated by his interested ad- visers, who were eager to get forfeitures, and hence com- missioners were appointed for securing lands of this descrip- tion, who executed their authority without either shame or equity. Of course the gentry, who adhered to James, had no resource left them but obstinately continuing the war, and the common people, by the constant violation of the protections tiiey had received, were obliged to take up arms again for their own security, and range themselves under their old leaders. Kenewshis Resuming his operations, William thought fit to divide operations, j^jg forces. He detached general Douglas to Athlone, to- wards which the Irish army had retired, and advanced himself southward along the coast, that he might preserve a communication with his fleet. AVexford iiow declared for him, and Waterford and the fort of Duncannon surrendered. Of Clonmel, which was abandoned by the Irish, he took possession with his troops. At this tmie he was so much alarmed with reports of a conspiracy in England, and with the intelligence of the English fleet being defeated off Beachy-Head, that he made preparations to go off without delay, but having afterwards received more favourable ac- counts, he resolved to continue his operations somewhat longer in Ireland. Douglas, proceeding in the mean time in Jiis expedition to Athlone, marched as thi-ough an enemy's country; his men plundered and even murdered with impunity, in de- fiance of tlie royal proclamation, and 'the open orders of their general. As lie advanced, considerable bodies of the HISTORY OF IRELAND. 355 Irish peasantry came successively forward, claiming the chap. benefit of king William's declaration; but they were coa- stantly deceived, for after getting promises of protection, they were exposed to the mercy of the military. With an army so much detested, Douglas having arrived at Athlone, sent a summons for a surrender, but tlie governor, Grace, a brave old officer, in a rage at their violences, fired a pistol at the messenger, saying, " these are my terms."" — . Grace, considering it indefensible, burned tiiat part of Athlone called English-town, situated on the eastern bank of the Shannon, and broke down an arch of the stone bridge built across the river. Havins: raised works and mounted two batteries, he annoyed Douglas with these, and with the cannon of the castle, while his guns had but little effec on the enemy. Foiled in his endeavours, Douglas decamped at midnight, and, in dread of being pursued, proceeded by secret marches to join the royal army. The protestant in- habitants near the town, who had declared for him on his approach, having, through necessity, left their houses and harvests, accompanied him in his retreat, and the scanty pittance of provisions they brought along with them was devoured by his soldiers. Having effected his escape, he found the king advancing towards Limerick, the principal seat of the Irish force. This city consisted, like Athlone, of the English and Irish towns, the former of which was placed in an island sur- rounded by the Shannon, and was connected with the other by a bridge. Its fortifications, which were strong before, had been lately improved by additional outworks, constructed under the direction of French engineers. The garrison consisted of fourteen regiments of foot, exclusive of horse and dragoons ; at a small distance lay the remainder of the Irish army, now recovered from their consternation, with the French auxiliaries, amountuig to many thousands, William, whose forces were reduced to twenty thousand, p^jl^, being deceived by wrong intelligence, and depending on a Limerick, continuance of his success, advanced with sanguine expcc- leaves Iia- tations to the city on the 9th of August. A sunnnons being sent to the governor, M, Boilcau, that officer replied, " that he thought the best way to gain the prince of Orange's good z 2 ' 356 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP opinion, was by a vigorous defence of the fortress committed ^^^^- to his care." The siege now commenced, but WilHam could not make a suitable impression on the enemy's works for want of his heavy artillery, which was then on the road from Dublin. Of this Sarsfield, the Irish general, being in- formed, crossed the Shannon at Killaloe, twelve miles from Limerick, and, proceeding by secret paths, intercepted the train, cut the detachment to pieces, and destroyed the ar- tillery, carriages, waggons, and ammunition. This disaster produced great consternation in the English camp, but Wil- liam bore it with due composure, and other cannon being obtained with some difficulty, the operations, which had been suspended, were renewed. A breach at length being made of twelve yards in breadth, the king ordered a general assault. On this five hundred grenadiers leaped over the trenches, drove the enemy from the counterscarp, in the midst of a terrible fire, passed through the breach, and many of them even into the town ; but the enemy, who had been taken by surprise, returned to the attack with great valour, the verv women rushing forward and encouraging them, repulsed the assailants, many of whom were killed and wounded, defended the breach against all who came to their aid, and maintained the conflict for three hours, until William, after the loss of twelve hundred men, ordered a retreat. Discouraged by this attempt, and impeded in his operations by the weather, he raised the siege in two days. His army having retreated to Clonmel, he appointed lords- justices, and embarked at Duncannon fort for England, on the 5th of September, leaving the command of his forces to count Solmes and general Ginckle. Expedi- Soon after his arrival in England, an expedition, to which tioii of he had previously given his consent, set out from that coun- roii'h. try for the reduction of Cork and Kinsale, which afforded the Irish so convenient a communication with France. The command of this expedition was entrusted to John Churchill, .« earl of Marlborough, afterwards the famous duke of Marlborough, who set out from Portsmouth with a body ^ of fi^e thousand men, and landed near Cork, with little opposition, on the twenty-first of September. Soon after he was joined by nine hundred cavalry and four thousand in- fantry under the prince of Wirtembcrg, detached from the HISTORY OF IRELAND. 357 English army in Ireland. Marlborough, having already chap. made some successful approaches towards the city, whicii is ^^^^^- seated on marshy islands in the river Les, found himself somewhat impeded by the pretensions of tlie prince of Wir- temberg, who insisted, on account of his superior rank, to have the chief command, which he refused to grant, as he was only a leader of auxiliaries. It was at length settled that they should have it alternately, but a bread] being made, and the governor having parleyed, they began again to disagree. Marlborough insisted that the garrison should surrender prisoners of war, Wirtemberg that the terras should be more favourable. While they were thus disput- ing, the marsh, through which the assailants were to ad- vance to the breach, was covered with the tide, and the go- vernor, seeing the danger elapsed for the present, broke off the conference. The generals, being provoked at this col- lusion, saw the folly of their disputes, and the fire beino- renewed, the breach was enlarged, on which the Dutch and English bravely passed over the river, wading up to the shoulders, exposed to the enemy's fire, and were on the point of taking the place by storm when the garrison sur- rendered as prisoners of war. On this last bold attack the duke of Grafton lost his life, who had volunteered on the occasion, the most respected of the sons of Charles the second. A summons was immediately sent to Kinsale, whicli gave such offence to the governor that he threatened to kill the messenger. Considering the town untenable, he set it on fire, and divided the garrison between two forts the old and new. The first was taken by storm after an obsti- nate resistance, in which the governor and half the garrison were slain. The second was much stronger and of course gave a suitable confidence to the governor, who replied to the summons sent him, " that it would be time enough to talk of that business a month hence." The fort, of course, was immediately assailed, and the attack continued for ten days, at the end of which preparations were made for a ge- neral assault, when the garrison thought fit to capitulate. I3elays being considered dangerous at that critical time, they were allowed terms more favourable than were granted to Cork. They marched out with arms and baggage, and 358 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, were conducted to Limerick. Having eiFected the object of ^^^^ his enterprise in twenty-three days, the earl of Marlborough returned to Enorland, and received a suitable acknowledg- ment of his merits from the king. The people also rejoiced at the splendid success of their native general, which was afterwards succeeded by such glorious exploits. French re At this time the native Irish were deprived of very ma- called, terial aid, for, soon after the retreat of William from Lime- rick, Lewis recalled the greater number of his troops. Dur- ing their continuance here perpetual animosities prevailed between them and the Irish, who were now left under the command of the brave and popular Sarsfield, their native chief. The command of the English army in this country, by the departure of count Solmes, was of course committed to the able hands of general Ginckle. Disorders Having: removed his troops to winter quarters, they were inthecoun- „ , , . • • p i r j try. not allowed even then to continue m quiet, tor the hardy Irish, braving the asperity of the season, surprised and slaughtered them in small parties wherever they could find them. A banditti of these called Happarees, who were very numerous, were guilty of shocking excesses ; they burned villages, butchered the inhabitants, and particularly the English soldiers, when they could get them in their power. Their routes were scarce otherwise to be traced than by the fires they lighted up in the country, and the cries of the miserable inhabitants they destroyed. During all seasons of the year were their violences committed, and the Eng- lish troops were harassed in fruitless attempts to suppress them. The protestant inhabitants were, however, the principal sufferers ; for they were not only plundered by the catholic enemy, but also by the foreign soldiers in Wil- lianfs service, who, in their predatory excursions, made little difference between them and the native Irish, In this charge, however, the Dutch troops are not included, as they were quiet and inoffensive. General Ginckle used every endeavour to restrain the ravages of the military, but with little eff'ect, as did also king William himself, during his residence here, and in his attempts of this kind made divers examples of great seve- rity. Government also exerted themselves to check the va- HISTORY OF IRELAND. 359 rious disorders of the country, and to abate the violent CHAP, animosities that raged between opposite parties. For this " salutary purpose the courts of law were iurnished with judges; civil officers for the several counties were appointed, and a regular militia was established : the commission of forfeitures, which caused so much discontent, was super- seded, and proclamations were issued forbidding quarrels, and all acts of licentious excess : but to these only the loyal part of the community paid attention. Ginckle indeed gave an advice, which, if followed, might have tended to recon- cile the disaffected, for he recommended a proclamation to be issued offering pardon to repenting rebels, but that use- ful measure was prevented by the private interest of indi- viduals. Tliis general, as soon as the season allowed him, march- 1691. ed against a considerable body of the enemy, who had oc- cupied a pass near Ballymore, situate between Mullingar and Athlone, with an intent to make an attack on the Eng- lish garrison of Mullingar. The pass they fortified with pa- lisadoes, but fortified it in such a nuumer as to turn the palisadoes towards themselves whicli tended to secure in- stead of repelling the assailants. Being driven irom the ground, they fled, but rallied again at a place called the Moat of Grenoge, where they gave battle, but ^vere defeated, and fled in consternation to Athlone, tlie gates of which, through terror, were shut against them. Many of them then took refuge in the bogs, and many perished in the river. In this defeat they lost three hundred n^en, five hundred horses, a quantity of arms and their baggage. Though this action seemed of little consequence, it had still a very beneficial effect, for it tended to frustrate the designs of the Irish against the English garrisons, to damp their ardour, and produce confusion in their councils. At present, in another instance, their expectations were ^^^^PP^j"*^ disappointed. Having sent Tyrconnel to France to solicit Irish, succours, he returned with only some clothing, and the sum oi eight thousand pounds, which was quite inadequate for the payment of the arrears due to the soldiery, and though distributed among them as a donation, did not serve to allay their discontents. Tyrconnel himself was no lono-er a fa- 360 HISTORY OF IRELAND. *'xvMi*' vourite either with king James or the Irish people. The ■ former deprived him of" the administration of civil affairs, and the latter began to suspect his zeal for their cause. Even before he went to France, he became an advocate for moderate measures, and now very prudently advised his associates to save the remains of the nation by submitting to the new government. Hence he was reviled as a traitor by those officers who declared for war through vain expec- tation 3 of a rebellion in Britain, and copious supplies from France. French officers, indeed, arrived successively with assurance of such supplies, and at last Saint-Ruth came with a commission of commander-in-chief from king James, whom his majesty selected for that office, on account of his bigotted zeal in persecuting the French protestants. This prefe- rence was considered as an indignity by Sarsfield, who had the best claim to that honour, nor did the title of the earl of Lucan conferred on him console him for the disappoint- ment. The French general having brought with him no great supplies, resolved on a defensive system ; and having strengthened the posts on the western side of the Shannon, took his station with the main army behind Athlone. Ginckle's Ginckle having received reinforcements and very urgent operations. ^j.jgj,g from William, resolved to act on the offensive, though his army was still inferior in numbers to that of Saint-Ruth ; but he relied on the superior spirit of the sol- diers and experience of the officers, among whom were some of distinguished reputation. Being at length supplied with provisions and other necessaries, he determined to open the campaign with an attack on the fort of Ballymore, in the county of Westmeath, fortified with great care, in which the Irish had placed a garrison of a thousand men. This he took in one day, and thus a way was opened for him to Athlone. Attack on On the eighteenth day of June he advanced with a party Athlone. of horse within a few miles of it, and from an eminence 1691. surveyed the town, and the situation of the Irish army, which lay encamped on a neck of land between two bogs, at a distance of two miles from the Shannon. On the twen- ty-first his army advanced towards the walls of the English town, which had been repaired since the former attack, as HISTORY OF IRELAND. 361 also the bridge. In tliese a breach was made with a battery ^" ^^• often guns, and the place stormed by his troops, who pur- siied the discomfited enemy along the bridge, where many of them in the confusion fell over the battlements, and were lost in the river, and many were crushed to death. U this time the arch of the bridge next the Irish town of Athlone was again broken, before the remciinder could get over, who were of course exposed to destruction. So far the assailants were successful, but they had still the chief difficulties to encounter. They could not, of course, get over the broken arch ; and though there was a ford, it was deep, narrow, and stony. At another place to- wards Lanesborough, a bridge of pontoons might be pla- ced, and Ginckle had a design of crossing there ; but the enemy discovered his design, and guarded the pass. He now had no means of forcing his way but by the bridge, and here, while the batteries played incessantly to protect the workmen, he raised a wooden work for the purpose of throwing planks over the broken arch. The scheme was nearly completed, when a sergeant and ten men in armour rushed from the Irish town to destroy the work, but they were all slain. Another party made the same desperate at- tempt, and succeeded ; they cast the beams and planks in- to the river, and two of them surviving, returned in tri- umph. Ginckle, however, was not to be diverted from his object ; he renewed his efforts, and at length placed a close gallery over the broken arch. He now resolved to pass over here, and in two other places at the same time, and distributed money among his soldiers to animate them in so dangerous an attempt. The enemy made suitable pre- parations to oppose him, but at this time some of their grenades set fire to the gallery and consumed it. The at- tack, of course, was countermanded, and Saint-Ruth, in his excess of joy on the occasion, gave an entertainment to ladies and gentlemen in his camp. Ginckle now called a council of war, to wliom he discovered the various difficulties with which he was sur- rounded, and expressed an inclination to retreat. This re- solution was opposed by the duke of Wirtemberg, and other general officers, who contended that no great ex- 362 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP XVII. Success. ploit could be achieved without hazard, and declared, all of them, for passing the ford in the face of the enemy, except general Mackay, the conqueror of James's adherents in Scotland. Ginckle, well pleased with the opposition he had received, acceded to their opinion, being confirmed in his present resolution by the correspon- dent ardour he observed among his soldiers, whose resent- ment was excited by the taunting language of the Irish, exclaiming all night to them across the river, " that they had ill-earned the money distributed yesterday by their officers.'* The ford through wliich they were to proceed was only wide enough for twenty men to march abreast, its bottom was rocky, the stream very rapid, apd rising in the shal- lowest part nearly breast high. On the opposite bank was raised a bastion to defentl the pass. The command of the passage, in tlie rotation of duty, devolved on Mackay, but on account of his difference of opinion, Ginckle committed it to Talmash, at which the other being offended, he was obliged to resign the post, and acted as a volunteer on the occasion. Six o'clock in the morning, the usual hour of relieving guard, was the time fixed on for the attempt, as a double guard might then appear without suspicion, and on ringing the church bell, the appointed signal, a detachment of grenadiers, supported by a large body of infantry, two thousand in all, entered the river by twenties, to the asto- nishment of the Irish, who opened all their forts and bat- teries to oppose them. Encouraged by the presence of dis- tinguished leaders,* who partook of the danger, the detach- ment advanced gradually through the ford, in the face of a terrible fire, and having at length foixed their way, and gained the opposite bank, the rest of the troops soon follow- ed on pontoons, and planks thrown across the broken arch. The Irish fled in consternation, and in half an hour from the first movement, the English army were in possession of the town. Ret F When Saint-Ruth was informed by Sarsfield that the St.-Ruth enemy were passing the ford, he exclaimed, that they dare • Mackay waded by the side of his men, and Wirtemberff, having his horse shot under him, was conveyed through the river on the shoulders ol' his grenadiers. UI8T0RY OP IRELAND. 3GS not make the attempt, while he and his army were so near,*^ ^ A P. to wliich the other replied, that <' he would find English - couryge would attempt any thing," and pressed for imme- diate aid. An altercation having thus commenced, in the mean while a messenirer arrived with the news that the ene- my were in possession of the town. Saint- Ruth then made some endeavours to dislodge them, but when he found his own cannon from the walls turned against him, lie was obliged to retreat. The garrison of the castle now surrender- ed, consisting of five hundred men, and, during the siege, the Irish lost twelve hundred more. Ginckle, on this success, being desirous of ending the war without any further bloodshed, at length issued his majesty's proclamation of pardon, which had been so long detained by the interested motives of individuals ; but of which the lords-justices themselves now saw the propriety, for, in two days after, they issued a formal one of their own, offering a pardon to all oflBcers and men who should submit to king William, with a suitable recompense for their horse, accoutrements, and the like. Beside pardon, a reward was also promised to governors who should surrender tiieir forts, and officers who should bring over their men, with a free exercise of religion secured in such a manner as the parliament of Ireland should determine. Of this procla- mation many, it is true, availed themselves, and sued for protection, but the liberality of these offers came too late to have a general effect. Saint- Ruth exerted himself to prevent his soldiers taking the advantage of it, and lest any should chano;e their sentiments, resolved to act no longer on the defensive, but to bring the fortune of himself and his adherents to the issue of a decisive battle. To this also he was urged by a desire to retrieve the disgrace he had sustained at Athlone by his neglect. Accordingly, he collected forces from different garrisons, and his army being thus increased, concurred with the determination of their general. Having taken great care in the choice of a position, heHisposi- encaraped with twenty-five thousand men on the heights of*^°"' Kilcommeden, within a mile of the village of Aghrim, in the county of Galway. Along his front extended a bog 364 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, nearly a mile broad, with only two passes, one on each side, .by which an enemy could approach ; one on the right through a range of hills, opening into a wider ground ; another on the left occupied by the old castle of Aghrim, and by entrenchments filled with soldiers. The space be- tween these passes was intersected with hedges and ditches communicating with each other, and lined with musketeers. Such was his excellent position, with twenty-five thou- sand men under his command, but he could not take the full advantage of his situation and numbers, for want of a sufficient quantity of cannon. Against him Ginckle ad- vanced with only eighteen thousand men, which he had with difficulty collected by draining the garrisons of more troops than could be well spared. By these two armies was the fate of Ireland to be decided, and the minds of all men, with a diversity of hopes and expectations, were anxiously fixed on the event. Saint Ruth from his hei";hts had a full view of the Eng;- lish army approaching, and made suitable dispositions to resist their attack. He exerted himself on the occasion as an able commander. Riding to every squadron and batta- lion, he urged them, by the most powerful motives, to a strenuous support of the just cause in which they were en- gaged. The harangue he made to his troops was such as might be supposed to have the most effect on persons of their rude minds and peculiar prejudices. " He told them how *' successful he had been in suppressing heresy in France, " and of the numbers of deluded souls he had thus brought " over into the bosom of the church ; that for this reason " his master had made choice of him, above all others, toes- " tablish the true catholic church of Irelandon such a founda- " tion as would not leave it in the power of either hell or he- " retics to disturb. He reminded the Irish officers, that now " was the time for them to fight for their honours, their li_ " berties, and estates ; and assured them all, of every station, " that their strenuous exertions in the present contest would " not only obtain for them the love and gratitude of James, " their pious king, and the protection of I^ewis the great, " but a i-eward superior to any in the power of an earthly " potentate to bestow, for the church would pray for them, HISTORY OF IRELAND. 365 " and saints and angels would carry their souls to heaven ; ^^^^^* " that the enemies of so good a cause were just objects oi , ■■ " the divine resentment, and therefore he directed them to " give quarter to none, but especially not to spare any " of the French lieretics in the prince of Orange"'s army.'* He then sent the priests among them to inspire them with the same sentiments, who made them swear on the sacrament not to desert their colours. Ginckle, being resolved to attack them in their present Battle of advantageous position, which he had carefully inspected, j^j^ ^2* was prepared for the contest on the twelfth day of July, but 16,91. as there was a thick fog in the morning, he could not begin his march until noon, when he advanced with as much re- gularity as the nature of the ground would admit. His first object was to force the pass to the right of the enemy, in which he employed Danes, supported afterwards by English dragoons, and several other detachments, who met with a most determined opposition as they pressed forward, but after an obstinate contest of an hour, with a diversity of success, it was at last effected, and the English gained a position beyond the bog. On this the wliole of their left wing, at five o''clock in the evening, by the advice of Mac- kay, advanced through the pass, and attacked the right of the Irish with great violence, who firmly sustained them, defending their ditches with obstinacy, supported by their cavalry, nor gave way till the muskets of the different com- batants closed with each other ; retiring then by their lines of communication, they flanked the assailants, and charged them with double fury. The engagement having thus con- tinued for an hour and a half, Saint-Ruth, as it was fore- seen by Mackay, at length found it necessary to draw a considerable part of his cavalry from his left to support his right wing. His left being thus weakened, it was resolved by Mackay to force a way by the pass at Aghrim castle, and while the English cavalry on the right were in motion to make the attempt, orders were given to several regiments in the centre to march through the bog, and post them- selves on the lowest ditches, until the horse should gain the pass, and wheel from the right to support them. In obedience to these orders, the infantry entered the 306 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, bog, plunging to the middle in mire and water, and having floundered on with difficulty, at last reached the other side, where they were assftiled with a close fire from the ditches and hedges. Undismayed by this assault, they pressed for- ward, the enemy retiring before them through design, and forgetting, in the ardour of combat, the orders they had re- ceived, they pursued almost to the main body of the Irish. Thus separated from their companions, the enemy took the advantage of them, and pouring down on tliem, both horse and foot, assailed them at once in front and flank, drove them fi'om the ground with great slaughter, even into the bog, taking many prisoners, some of whom were of high note. On this success Saint-Ruth, in the extacy of joy, exclaimed, " now Fil drive the English to the very walls of " Dublin." Scarcely had he thus spoke, when he took notice of the great exertions made by his opponents to support tlieir friends in disorder ; the English cavalry, in particular, he observed, with Talmash at their head, rushing with sui-pris- ing ardour close by the walls of the castle, in the midst of all the fire, and' forcing their way through a narrow pass. Astonished at their intrepidity, he said to his officers, «' What do the English mean .P" " To force their way to *' our left," they replied. " Thev are brave fellows," said he, " 'tis a pity they were so much exposed." Rouvigni, Talmasli, and Mackay, now pressed forward from the riglit, though resisted with great bravery, and by their approach gave such spirit to the infantry in the centre, that they rallied, advanced, and regained their former ground. The two divisions of the English, both from right and left, having overcome every opposition, seemed gradually verging towards each other, and Saint-Ruth, seeing thedanger of their iiinction, resolved to use every effort to prevent it. According- ly he rode down the hill at the head of a body of horse to fall tm the English cavalry, but at this critical time he was kill- ed by a cannon-ball. His troops were then put in confusion, and as Sarsfield, on account of the altercation that prevail- ed between them, was unacquainted with the order of bat- tle, he was of course una!)!e to support the disposition he had made. The English, taking the advantage of this dis- HISTORY OF IREriAND. 367 CHAP. order, pressed forward, drove the enemy back to their camp, xvil. and thence put them to flight. Their victory was now com- ==ii== plete, but it was sullied by their barbarity, for in this bat- tle, and a bloody pursuit of three miles, seven thousand of the Irish were slain, and only four hundred and fifty taken prisoners. Of the English seven hundred were killed and a thousand wounded. All night the victors lay on their arms amid heaps of their slaughtered foes, and after a few days of refreshment marched to attack Galway, which made a vio- lent resistance for some days, and then surrendered, on re- ceiving favourable terms. The garrison were permitted to retire to Limerick, and the inhabitants were not only par- doned, but allowed to enjoy their former estates and privi- leges. Ginckle now proceeded towards Limerick, the last re- vances. fuge oi the discontented Irish, but being still desirous of preventing the further effusion of blood, he renewed his proclamation of pardon to " repenting rebels.'' Of this proclamation, however, but few of the Irish took the advan- tage, as the generality had the confidence of being again able to try their fortune in the field. In Limerick, though the garrison seemed determined to defend the place, there ■was a diversity of opinion on this point. The Irish, who ad- hered to the French, were for fighting to the last, while others thought their country would be preserved by sub- mitting, and these two parties contended with each other with an acrimony increased by their misfortunes. Tyrcon- rel, who had some time been an advocate for moderate measures, and was on that account rendered odious to the generality of the Irish, died of vexation. The three Irish lords-justices, who now assumed the government in the name of James, declared for submission. On the contrary, Sarsfield, who was brave, violent, and enterprising, was averse to all accommodation, and the French generals, ex- pecting succours from abroad, declared for war. Invests In the mean wiiile, Ginckle, being warned by the dis-,„j j^jj^jj^^ appointment in the late attempt, proceeded towards Lime- rick with every possible precaution. He had the passes of the Shannon secured by armed vessels, and his artillery 368 HISTORY OF 1RELA1!TD. CHAP. r>i)n'1'K'ed with a powerful escort. Having taken the seve- ^^^^' ral forts in his way, he arrived at Limerick on the twenty- fifth of August. He commenced his operations by direct- ing his cannon from different batteries against the town, but found that nothing could be effected unless the enemy's intercourse with the county of Clare, from which they re- ceived supplies, could be cut off. This intercourse was carried on by means of a bridge called Thomond-bridge, of which it became necessary for Ginckle to get the command. For this purpose he resolved to make a lodgment, if possible, beyond the nver, and in order to conceal his design, he made a show of raising the siege, dismounting the batteries he had erected, which lulled the Irish into security, who raised loud shouts of joy on the occasion ; but, during the darkness of the night, he set about placing a bridge of tin boats across the river, and had it nearly completed before morning. By means of this a considerable body of troops was conveyed to an island, whence there was a ford to the main land of Clare, over which the English passed in the face of four regiments of Irish dragoons, appointed to guard the pass, who made a feeble resistance. The troops that had thus crossed the Shannon, being not found sufficient to effect the purpose intended, a larger body, under Ginckle himself, proceeded across on the twenty-second of Septem- ber, and, after a sharp contest, forced their way to the works that protected Thomond-bridge. Orders being given to storm the works, the grenadiers, supported by two regi- ments, rushed boldly forward through a tremendous fire both of great and small arms, forced the Irish from their position, with all the reinforcements the}' received, and at last routed them entirely. At this time a French major, who commanded the post, apprehensive lest the English might enter with the fugitives, ordered the draw-bridge to be raised, and thus exposed his men to the fury of the ene- my. Unhappily, before this fury could be stayed, six hun- dred Irish were slain on the bridge, whose carcases filled it to the very battlements, and one hundred and fifty were drowned in the river. The lives of only one hundred and twenty were preserved, who were made prisoners. Thus, at last, by such efforts was the city completely surrounded. HlSTOnY OF IRELAND. 369 The next day, being the twenty-third of September, the ^^vij^* garrison, aft;r firing some hours from the batteries, at length beat a parley. A truce of three days was granted, Jr^P''"^*^" during which an exchange of prisoners took, place, when it appeared, that those in the town experienced cruel treat- ment, while humane attention was shewn to those in the Enghsh camp. On the third day terms of capitulation were offered to Ginckle, which he considered inadmissible, and of course prepared to renew the siege. He was then desired to propose such terms as he would grant, on which he made very liberal offers, that were accepted. The concessions, being reduced to regular form, were signed, on the third of October, by the lords-justices, who had come down for that purpose, by general Ginckle, and some other English ge- nerals. The articles of Limerick, by which that city and all-^^icles. other posts possessed by the adherents of James in Ireland, were delivered up to the new government, contained the fol- lowing concessions. It was agreed, that the Irish Roman catholics should be allowed such liberty in the exercise of their religion as they obtained in the reign of Charles II, and that their majesties, when a parliament could be con- vened, would procure them some further securities in this point ; that they should be exempt from all suits at law for any acts committed by them during the course of the war ; that they should enjoy their estates, and pursue their em- ployments freely, as in the reign of the same Charles ; that their gentry should be allowed the use of arms, and that no oath should be required of any except the oath of alle- giance. Aft 370 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAPTER XVIII. Treatment received from Britain — Dispute with the viceroy — A parliament — WooUe7i manufacture destroyed — Vindication of Molyneux — British act on Irish forfeitures — Death of William — Succession of Anne — Whig and Tory — A parlia- ment — Sacramental test — Penal statutes — Party proceedings — -George I. attached to the whigs — Zealous loyalty of par- liament — British act to hind Ireland — Dire effect — Patriotic efforts of Swift — Wood's halfpence — Death of George I. — Agency of primate Boulter — Catholics deprived of the elec- tive franchise — A dearth — Emigrations — Cartaret succeeded hy Dorset — A cabinet question lost — Tithe agistment — Go- vernment of Devonshire — War with Spain and France — Rebellion in Scotland — Chesterfield lord-lieutenant — His ex- cellent administration — Succeeded by Harrington — Conduct of primate Stone — Charles Lucas. CHAP. As Ireland enjoyed repose for above a century from the ^ ^^^' cessation of the late war, it affords, during that time, but Treatment scanty materials for history, which is usually engaged in re- received Jating; the troubles and miseries of mankind. Of course, irom Bri- . '^ . . . . tain. during the continuance of tranquillity, the proceedings of its own parliament, with the treatment received from Eng- land, will supply the principal subject for a concise narra- tive. The exertions of Britons for the attainment of civil liberty, have been indeed conspicuous in all ages ; but they usually desired, as has been too often the case in the world, to confine the privileges they acquired to themselves. Of this numerous instances have been already afforded in their illiberal conduct towards Ireland ; but their severity was augmented by their late success, which gave more stability to their power. The glorious revolution of 1688, which established such an excellent system of civil freedom in * We are nowdeprived of the aid of Dr Leland, whose rigid im- partiality, acute discernment, and laborious investigation, render him a useful guide to every Irish historian. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 371 England, did not in the same degree extend its benign in- C H a P. "V \7 T I T fluence to Ireland. Though the Irish protestants were the principal means of securing that island for the British crown, yet they, as well as the catholics, were treated as a conquered people by the English parliament. The public disturbances in the country had hitherto afforded that legis- lature an excuse for the interposition of its authority, but on the present return of tranquillity it was found expedient that a local assembly should take place. After an intermission of twenty-six years, except the par-D;gpute tial meeting under James, a parliament was at length con- w.'t^'i ^^^ . . viccrov* vened in Ireland by lord Sidney, the lord-lieutenant, for the purpose of granting money to the crown. The com- mons showed a sincere desire to supply the public exigen- cies, for which they voted seventy thousand pounds, but soon disputed with the lord-lieutenant with respect to the mode. Among the bills returned from England, certified according to Poynirigs"* law, two happened to be money bills, and one of tliese was rejected by the commons, because it did not originate with themselves, which they declared to be their right. The other was passed merely on account of the urgency of the case. Sydney soon after prorogued the parliament, and in his speech accused the commons of invading the royal prerogative. On this they asked leave to send commissioners to state their case to the king and queen ; to which he replied, " that they might go to Eng- *' land to beg their majesty ""s pardon for their seditious and " riotous assembly." He then entered his protest against their supposed right of originating money bills, and got the opinion of the judges in hi^ favour, who declared that the conduct of the commons was contrary to Poynings"" law The parliament was afterwards dissolved without doing any more business, though some very important bills were pro- posed for the redress of grievances. Sidney being recalled, lord Capel was appointed lord-de- 1593 puty, on account of the inclination he shewed to avoid the observation of the articles of Limerick. These were cer- tainly considered grievous by the protestants, as, amon other reasons, they were thence prevented from reclaiming the property of which they had been plundered by the ca A a ? 372 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, tholics. Yet, beside the obligation of observing a solemn -^ engagement, tliey were at the time very advantageous, as which. by the arrival of the have continued some time 1695. A parlia- /cent. "Woollen manufac- ture de- stroyed. they put an end to a war, French reinforcements, might longer. In a parliament convened by this governor, the proceed- ings of Jaraes''s parliament were annulled ; the act of settle- ment explained and confirmed, and also the articles of Li- merick confirmed, but modified in such a manner as to lessen the security of the persons concerned. In this there was certainly some double-dealing : but some additional penal statutes against catholics shewed the disposition of the go- vernment more plainly, and were directly contrary to the ar- ticles above mentioned. Sir Charles Porter, the chancellor, a man of integrity, was a strenuous advocate for a strict ob- servance of them, which caused the opposite party to make an attempt to impeach him, but without effect, for when heard in his own defence before the commons, he was ho- nourably acquitted. The parliament of England, however, would not allow a local assembly the sole power of legislation, for, immediate- ly on the restoration of tranquillity, they proceeded to make laws for Ireland. Among these there was one for the abro- gation of the oath of supremacy, and the substitution of other oaths, by which the catholics were virtually excluded from both houses of parliament. By an act of the British legislature the proceedings of James's parliament in Ire- land were annulled previous to their abrogation by the Irish parliament. Their influence over king William was un- liappily exerted for the destruction of the woollen manu- facture of Ireland, and accordingly the king required the Irish parliament to pass laws for the encouragement of the hempen and linen, and discouragement of the woollen ma- nufacture. In compliance with this requisition an act was passed, in 1698, imposing such additional duties on the exportation of woollens, except frizes, as amounted nearly to a prohibition ; but the British parliament, being not content with this restraint, passed severe prohibitory laws preventing the exportation from Ireland of all sorts of woollens. The persons accused of a breach of this law HISTORY OF IRELAND. ?73 were liable to be brouo;bt over to Encfland, and tried there CHAP. • • • "Will by a foreign jury, contrary to the spirit of the English con- _^ stitution. Thus was the Irish woollen manufacture destroyed, which was then in a prosperous state, considering the si- tuation of the country, and, if allowed to extend, might have been the means of civilizing the south of Ireland, which, for ages, has been the scene of disturbance. In about six years after some encouragement, it is true, was given to the linen manufacture, but it was only adapted for a particular part of the country. Such was the baneful effect of foreign interference, but the privileges of the Irish parliament were now vindicated by a patriotic senator, William Molyneux, member for the university, in a book entitled, * Th& Case of Irelandts being Bou?id hy Ads of Parliament in England, Stated.'' The au- thority of this parliament, he combats by arguments princi- pally derived from historical facts, which tended to prove that Ireland was completely independent of England. Such pretensions gave great offence to the English commons, who passed a censure on the book, and also presented an address to his majesty on the occasion, stating their right to bind Ireland. Accordingly the book, by orders of the English government, received the honour of being burned by the hands of the common hangman. The English commons took every opportunity of dis- Irtish act, 1 • , ■ 1 • T 1 J 1 I • • r 1700. on playing their authority over Ireland, and their interference ii-jsh f^j. on another occasion in this point gave great uneasiness to^^'tures, the king. His majesty, on account of the insufficiency of parliamentary supplies, being unable to reward the services of his dependants, was obliged to make seventy-six grants of the forfieted estates in Ireland for that purpose. This act of prerogative gave great offence to the English com- mons, who accused the king unjustly with a breach of pro- mise for not leaving the forfeitures to the disposal of parlia- ment for the discharge of public debts. They then passed an act for appointing seven commissioners to inquire into the value of the confiscated lands, and the reason of their being alienated from the public. Of these commissioners three were disposed to act with moderation, the rest with vio- 374> HISTORY OP IRELAND. c H A P.lence, being guided in their inquiries more bv resentment —L to the king, than regard to the interests of their country. Their partiahty was very pleasing to the commons, who magnified their services, and declared, that their report only was worthy of confidence. A bill for the resumption of the granted lands, as being public property, now passed tlirough the lower house, in the upper one it met with great opposition, but was at length carried, and the king gave it his reluctant assent, expressing much dissatisfaction on the occasion. During the preparation and progress of this bill, an uni- versal alarm was excited among the persons concerned. Not only the grantees were to be deprived of a reward for their services, but thousands of others whose subsistence depend- ed on their grants were in danger of being ruined ; bar- gains and settlements of various kinds and of long con- tinuance were to become void. Such considerations had but little effect on the commons, who declared by a vote, previous to their passing the bill, that no petitions should be received against it. However, they afterwards seemed to relax a little, for a number of trustees were named in the , bill, in whom were vested all the confiscated estates, that some justice might be done to the several persons likely to be injured. These trustees came over, and entered on their business, but their conduct gave universal dissatisfaction ; they were charged with injustice, venality, and corruption. Notwithstanding the prohibition of the commons, petitions poured into both houses against the trustees and the bill itself, but they were voted to be scandalous and false. With respect to the value of the lands, the commissioners and trustees differed very much in their report ; the former made them wortli a million and a half, the latter not more than a third part of that sum. Death of The violence done to the kinff''s feelings by this last act ra. QjQfjg ^ deep impression on his spirits. Indeed, his sensibili- ty from constant irritation had become greatly increased, and by the loss of his amiable queen, who died in 1694, he was deprived of a kind assistant to alleviate his care. For some time past his health and constitution had gradually declin- ed, but his dissolution, which took place in 1701, was acce*. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 375 lerated by a fall from his horse, by which his collar-bone Chap. was fractured. xyiu._ King William was a prince possessed of true greatness of mind, the defender of political liberty, and patron of uni- versal tolex'ation. His rival James, supported by the king of France, and too many of the English people, was still de- vising schemes for depriving him of his throne, but their schemes were continually defeated, and their hopes finally crushed, in 1692, by the important victory gained over the French fleet off La Hogue. Placed at the head of a great confederacy, for the purpose of restraining the inordi- nate ambition of Lewis, he at length succeeded in effecting his object, and then concluded a general peace in 1699. Few monarchs are more respectable in history, and few have contributed more to the service of mankind in general, and of their subjects in particular, yet very few have met with such factious opposition from those who reaped the benefit of their labovirs. He was succeeded by Anne, princess of Denmark, daugh- 1701. ter of James II. who had sacrificed her filial affection, Succession either to her desire of pleasing the people of England, or her attachment to the protestant religion. She was a well inclined princess, but rather weak, and of course liable to be guided by favourites, and subject to the control of faction. The two leading parties in England were called whigs whig and and tories The former in politics were zealous advocates tory. for liberty ; in religion inclined to the principles of the dis- senters, and of course possessed with an abhorrence of po- pery. The latter were attached to the slavish doctrine of non-resistance, and affected a strenuous zeal for the esta- blished church, which they considered to be in more danger from dissenters than papists. The queen in the first part of her reign was subject to the whigs, and in the second to the tories, and of course her proceedings bore a diffei'ent complexion at these several periods. The duke of Ormond having succeeded lord Rochester A parlu in the government of Ireland, convened a parliament in 1703. A supply of a hundred and fifty thousand pounds was voted for this apd the following year, and after this 376 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, useful grant for the public service, the parliament set forth ^ • a statement of grievances to the queen. Among these were the unconstitutional interference of a foreign legislature, the corrupt conduct of the trustees of forfeited estates, the se- vere restrictions of commerce, the unfrequent meetings of parliament, with some otiiers of less magnitude, but little attention was afforded to their complaint. They however proceeded to rectify such public abuses as were subject to their authority, and, in particular, abolished useless pensions to the amount of sixteen thousand pounds a-year, an in- stance of patriotism seldom imitated by their successors. They also shewed their regard to the protestant interest, by passing an act similar to the one in England, for settling the succession to the crown in the house of Hanover. Sacramen- By the tenor of these proceedings, it appeared that the tal test. whigs, who had extended qver to Ireland, were the prevail- ing party in parliament. Their influence was also in a high degree displayed in a bill which passed the commons lo pre- vent the farther growth of popery, in which several addi- tional severities were enacted against the catholics. The abhorrence entertained by the whigs for people of their persuasion, was not only on account of their religious but political principles, as they were all Jacobites, and of course the higliest species of tories. At the very time the bill was passing the house, the queen, who was in close alliance with the emperor of Germany, had requested from him some in- dulgence to his protestant subjects. Her ministry were therefore very unwilling that a persecuting law should pass at such a time, but dared not openly reject it, through fear of offending the powerful party that espoused it. In their delicate situation, they had therefore recourse to a subter- fuge, by adding a clause to it which they expected would cause the protestant dissenters to oppose it with effect. This clause, according to the tenor of the English test act, de- clared all persons in Ireland incapable of holding any em- plovment under the crown, or of being magistrates in any city, who did not receive the sacrament in the manner pre- scribed by the established church. Government, however, were disappointed in the expectations they formed of the dissenters, for they made no opposition to the bill, in hppe HISTORY OF Ireland; 377 of the clause being soon repealed. The catholics, as was chap. natural, employed council to plead against it at the bar of ^^^^^- the house of lords and commons, but without effect, for the bill passed, and the clause so obnoxious to the dissenters called the sacramental test^ to their great disappointment, was allowed to continue in it after their repeated application for its repeal. This bill was certainly a gross violation of the articles of Penal sta- Limerick. The justification offered for passing it was the " ^^' resentment the parliament entertained against the catholics for their intolerant spirit, so often displayed, and their ap- prehensions of a pretender to the throne, lately arisen, a violent bigot to that persuasion, who might get assistance from the catholics, if they had any power, which they were apt to abuse to the worst purposes. A few salutary restric- tions, however, might have been sufficient to prevent the operation of this dangerous spirit, without a terrible code, which served only to confirm bigotry, and debase tiie hu- man intellect. The penal statutes of this reign, contained in the present bill and others, were indeed a disgrace to a protestant legislature, professing liberality, and affecting to condemn popery for its intollerant spirit. The articles were numerous and severe, but a few of the most prominent may suit the purpose of the present sketch. Catholics were disqualified for serving as members of par- liament, and curtailed in their privilege of votuig at elec- tions. They were forbidden to hold offices civU or mili- tary ; to take leases longer than thirty-one years. The estates of those dying intestate were to be divided among their sons equally, or, if they had no sons, among their daughters, by which it was intended to break the power of the distin- guished families. If the son of a catholic became a pro- testant, he was then heir at law, and the father had no longer power to load his estate with any incumbrance. The severity of fathers to any of their children, who changed their religion, served as an excuse for that clause. Catholics were prevented from educating their children at home, and of course the bigotry of those sent abroad for tliat purpose , was increased, and their inveteracy to the English govern- Kieut. They were not allowed a horse worth five pounds; 37S HISTORY OF IRELAND. 6 H A P. but die generosity of protestants, in most cases of extreme -^^^^^' severity, prevented the strict execution of the penal code. During the life of king William, who was conspicuous for his liherality, no such bills would have obtained the royal assent ; but the salutary effects of his lenity to the catholics did not prevent their being brought forward in the present reign. Party pro- 'Jt' be principles of the parties of whigs and tories, who ceedings. contended so violently with each other in this reign, have been already mentioned. The tories in their zeal for the established church, used to cry out that the church was in danger, for which a censure was passed against them, by the house of commons. The established clergy then, who Avere generally considered as tories, found it necessary to express in convocation, their gratitude for the benefits de- rived from king William, and their zeal for the protestant succession as settled by law. The clergy in the university, indeed, showed their attachment to the revolution, as they expelled one of their members, Edward Forbes, for casting aspersions on the memory of king William. Their couduct on this occasion was so agreeable to parliament that they applied to the queen, in 1709, for five thousand pounds for building a library, and their application was favourably re- ceived by her majesty. The viceroy, through whom their address was transmitted, was the earl of Wharton, successor to the earl of Pembroke, a whig in profession^ but a deist in reality, and, as was natural, a man of profligate morals. Being sent to Ireland to repair his shattered fortune, he scraped up in three years forty-five thousand pounds. Towards the end of queen Ann's reign the clergy more openly professed their principles, which they could with safety, as the government were now tories. The lords were of the same principles, but the commons were still attached to the whigs. In 1713 the commons addressed the queen for the removal of sir Constantine Phipps, the chancellor, an active tory ; but the lords passed contrary resolutions, in which they were backed by the clergy. The whigs and tories had also violent disputes in Dublin about the choice of a lord major, in which government took an active part. During the former part of her reign, when the queen was under the direction of the whigs, she entered into a con- HISTORY or IRELAND. f'ederacy against France with the German emperor and the CHAP. Dutch republic, to prevent tlie French monarch's grandson from being estabhshed king of Spain. The war that now took place was remarkable for the glorious and important victories gained over the French by the duke of Marlborough at the liead of the confederate army. But when her majesty"'s couiKiils became directed by the tories, and Marlborough was dismissed, they concluded, in 1712, a peace with the French monarch, on terms less unfavourable than those he had before solicited in vain. Her father, the late king James, having died in France in 1700, left his pretensions to the British crown to his son, who was thence called the pretender, and also styled the Chevalier de Saint George. The queen's last ministry seemed desirous of his success, and certainly left Ireland open to his attempts, for when a bill of attainder against him was brought into the Irish parliament, they prevented its passing by a prorogation. They had also a great part of the army in Ireland disbanded, at the very time his par- tisans were openly reci'uiting in the same country lor his service. But their schemes, whatever they were, were cut short by the queen's death, which took place on the tirst of August 1714. Her capacity was rather limited, but her intentions were virtuous, and her attachment to the church of England sincere. During her whole reign, whether subject to the whigs or tories, she enjoyed an unbounded popularity, and with justice got the title of the good queen Ann. In 1706 she accomplished the union of Scotland with England, which has turned out of such advantage to both countries. George, elector of Hanover, as already settled by act of 1714- parliament, was proclaimed king without opposition, being j,^a(^,jjej to now in the fifty-fifth year of his age. On his arrival he ^^e whigs, showed a visible attachment to the whigs, and aversion to the tories, whom he removed from all power. Offended at the severity with which they were treated, and the partiali- ty shown their opponents, the tories annexed themselves to the party of the pretender, whose adherents, being then in- creased, raised a rebellion in Scotland and the north of England towards the end of 1715, but their attempt was 380 HISTORY OF 1UELAN». C H A P. not attended with tlie effect they desired, for in the latter country they were surrounded and taken prisoners, and in the former they fought a battle with dubious success. In a few weeks after the pretender landed himself in Scotland for the purpose of encouraging his partisans, but after dis- playing great bigotry and little prudence he was obliged to make his escape. On the suppression of the rebellion many of its leaders were executed, and the new line of monarchs firmly seated on the British throne. Zealous While Britain was thus involved in confusion, an unin- loyalty of terrupted tranquillity prevailed in Ireland. The parlia- l«r lament^gj^j. convened in November 1715 by the lords-justices, the duke of Grafton and the earl of Galway, commenced tlieir proceedings with a zealous display of their loyalty. They passed bills for recognizing the king's title, for the security of his person and government, for setting a price on the pretender's head, and for attainting the duke of Ormond, who had been treated with great rigour by the British par- liament for co-operating with the queen's last ministry. They granted the supplies without opposition ; they obliged all those of the tory party who had addressed the late queen in favour of sir Constantine Phipps to beg pardon for their offence on their knees. They requested the king by a pub- lic address to remove from his council and service the earl of Anglesey for advising Ii«r late majesty to disband the army, and prorogue the parliament, and passed another address to the lords-justices recommending the corporation of Dublin to the king for the public virtue and faithful ser- vices of the aldermen and sheriffs at the late election of a lord mayor. The proceedings of pailiament clearly show that they were influenced by the spirit of the whigs, who, from the accession of his present majesty, were entrusted with the exclusive administration of public affairs both in England and Ireland. This assembly in all their addresses and re- solutions made use of very violent expressions against pa- pists, and particularly popish priests and friars, who were the supposed objects of their dread and abhorrence. The Irish catliolics, however, continued peaceable in their con-^ tiuct, restrained by the penal laws, and the remembrance of HISTORY OF IRELAND. 381 the disappointment they had endured. So little expecta- chap. tion had the Jacobites from their assistance, that the duke _1 of Ormond, in his rash attempt in 1718, to invade, at the head of a Spanish fleet and army, some part of king George's dominions, in support of the pretender, had no intention to proceed to Ireland, where the catholics, and particularly liis own tenantry, were so numerous. The object of his des- tination was Scotland, where men of influence and resolu- tion were attached to the house of Stuart, and extremely averse to the new government ; but his schemes, to which he was urged by the violence of his ememies, were happily frustrated by a storm. The zeal, however, of the present parliament, in opposi- Eriiisli act tion to popery, and in favour of the government, did not 5" ^" '^' prevent the British legislature from continuing its encroach- ments. Having already taken notice of some attempts of this kind dui-ing the reign of William, it may be necessary also to give a slioht sketch of some others during; the late reign, previous to the account of the direct measures in the present one. In 1702, during the recess of the Irish pai'- liament, the earl and countess of Meath were, by an appeal to the English peers, dispossessed of some lands which an Irish covirt of law had decreed to be their property. In 1703 the Irish lords, in consequence of such interference, passed a resolution declaring the judgment of their house to be final, and expressing severe censures against any that should oppose it. The bishop of Derry, having claimed some lands of his see from the London society, obtained judgment in his favour on a trial before the Irish peers, but the English lords, on an appeal from the society, in 1708, gave a contrary judgment. The English act of parliament, passed in 1714, to prevent the growth of schism^ declared that this lav/ included Ireland as fully as any part of Eng- land. In the present reign, however, they proceeded di- rectly to the point, which was occasioned by the following circumstance. Maurice Annesley, in a suit with Hester Sherlock for an estate, got a decree in his favour by the court of exchequer; but, on an appeal to the Irish lords, the decree was reversed, which caused a second appeaLto be made to the British lords, by whom it was confirmed, and 382 HISTORY OF IRELAXB. C Ha p. an order given to put Annesley in possession of his estate. " The sheriff, being commanded to that effect by an injunc- tion from the court of exchequer, refused to obey, for which he was severely fined by the barons of the exche- quer ; stating his case in a petition to the Irish lords his con duct was approved, his fines annulled, and the barons of the exchequer taken into custody. The Irish lords then had a memorial declaring their rights presented to the king, which was read before the British peers, but only made them more confirmed in their opinion, for they passed resolutions commending the conduct of the barons of the Irish exche- quer, and supplicating his majesty to confer some mark of favour on them for the sufferings they had endured. Tliey then brought in a bill, which was passed, with some oppo- sition, through both houses, entitled an act ^br the betterse- curing the dependence of Ireland on the crown of Great Britain The bill divested the Irish house of lords of the right of ju dicature on appeals, and declared that the British parliament hdi(\ full power and aicihoriti/ to make laws to bind the people of Ireland. Thus were their different encroachments con- cluded by a positive statute, depriving, by iniquitous power, this kingdom of its riaj:lits. Dire effect 'Xhe Irish parliament and nation were now in a degrad- ing state of subjection, and the people were wretchedly poor, being precluded from the benefits of industry by re- strictinfj laws. So insignificant was the king-dom consider- ed by the English government, that the viceroy Avould only deign to come over for a short time once in two years, leav- ing the management of affairs to lords-justices, chosen from the principal state officers of the country, whose chief busi- ness was to combine such a body of the aristocracy as would be sufficient to effect the plans of the British cabinet. In both kingdoms the whlgs had the ascendency. Hence dis- senters were the favourites, and catholics the objects of aver- sion. Party was the principal consideration, and the pros- perity of the country was little regarded. Patriotic The old tories now, through hatred of their opponents, efforts of , ' , r- 1 r .1 .-^ i S'.viit in conjunction with some real triends of the nation s wel- fare, formed a party termed patriots, to oppose the mi- nistry. At the head of this party was Dr Swift, thecelc- HISTORY OF IRELAND. 383 brated dean of St. Patrick's, whose admirable writings give ^^^^J*- a sad picture of national distress. In one of these, publish- ' ed in 1720, he recommends the universal use of Irish ma- nufacture, for which Waters, its printer, was arrested and brouglit to trial, when Whitshed, the chief-justice, solemn- ly declared, that the author's design was to bring the pre- tender into the country. Nine times he remanded the jury, until at last they were obliged, through weariness, to give what is called a special verdict, by which the matter was left to the mercy of the judge ; but it was not thought pru- dent to proceed any farther in the business. A favourite opportunity some time after occurred for an eminent dis- play of the author's talents. As copper money was very scarce in Ireland, and no j^24.. liberty allowed, after frequent solicitation, to establish a Wood's mint in the country, it was at last thought expedient, in ' '^ order to supply the deficiency, to grant a royal patent to William Wood, an Englishman, for coining halfpence and farthings for circulation in that kingdom, to the amount of a hundred and eight thousand pounds. This was repre- sented as an odious job by Swift, the virulent enemy of the present government, who exposed it with all the acrimony of wit, in the pamphlets published under the title of the Drapier's Letters. It Avas asserted that the coin was so de- ficient in weight, and its metal of such inferior quality, that the amount of a shilling was not really worth more than a penny: that Wood might pour into the kingdom a greater quantity than he was authorized to do by his pa- tent : that foreigners counterfeiting the stamp might inun- date the country with base coin : that at last, when the whole sunk in exchange to its real value, as would certainly be the case, the entire loss must fall on the people of Ire- land. Such writings had the effect desired. Addresses to his majesty against the patent were voted by the Irish par- liament, and most of the cities. The grand jury of the county of Dublin presented, as enemies to the country, all Avho should attempt to circulate the coin ; and it was gene- rally decried by the gentlemen at the several quarter-sessions. On the contrary, the English privy council set forth, that his majesty's predecessors had always exercised the prei'o- 384 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAF. gative of granting patents similar to that granted to Wil* • liarn Wood ; that the patent had been granted with the approbation of sir Isaac Newton, who had been consulted in every particular ; that he and other officers of the mint, who made the assay of Wood''s halfpence, found he had complied with the terms of the patent, that liis currency exceeded in quality and quantity, as tliey declared, all the copper money which had been coined tor Ireland in the reigns of Charles II, James 11, and William and Mary. Swift labours hard in his answer ; but supereminent wit and humour made amends for any deficiency of argument. After Wood had coined halfpence to the amount of forty thousand pounds, the patent was recalled in the succeeding year, and thus the ferment was allayed. One of the Dra- pier's letters, asserting the rights of Ireland, was considered so seditious by government, that a proclamation was issued by the lord-lieutenant, lord Cartaret, offering for the dis- covery of the author a reward of three hundred pounds. No discovery, however, was made, and a prosecution com- menced against the printer was equally ineffectual, for the grand jury would not find the bill. Death of Little else worthy of notice, relating to Ireland, took Gorge!, place during the remainder of this reign. The king died on the eleventh of June 1727, on his way to Hanover, for which he entertained a parental regard. In his manners he was grave and formal, having ascended the throne at an advanced period of his life. He was by no means inatten- tive to business ; but being obliged, from his peculiar si- tuation, to throw himself into the hands of party, he found it convenient, from the easmess of his temper, to accede to some measures of their dictating, which may be supposed to be contrary both to his own judgment and benevolent inclinations. 1727. ^" ^^'s demise, liis son, the prince of Wales, ascended Agency of the throne in the forty-fifth year pf his age, under the title Boulter, of George II, No alteration now took place either with re- spect to men and measures ; sir Robert Walpole continued prime minister of England, and lord Cartaret lord-lieutenant of Ireland. The government, however, of the latter country, from the year 1624 to 1742, was principally directed by HISTORY OF IRELAND. 385 EouUor, the primate, whos:? cliief object, as .appears by bis CHAP. letters, was to maintain an Enf^Iisli interest^ for the purpose of effecting the designs of the Brilisli cabinet. He was, Iiowevcr, a man possessed of manv private virtues, and was remarkable for liis charities, and liberal encouragement of useful institutions. h new parliament being now convened, an act was passed Caihollcs for rogulatinii^ ])arliamentarv elections, in wliich a clause ^''^i'"y'^''*' . . . the cle'? was inserted, by way of amendment, entirely depriving the tivefran- catholics of the elective franchise, a liberty they had enjoyed, ''''^^^* with some rcstrictiosis, before. For the first time since the revolution, thev Iiad, at the commencement of the present reign, ventured to approach with an address to the nev* sovereign, which was presented to the lords-justices, ac- comjmnied by an humble request, tiiat it should be trans- mitted to his majest}'. Their reception, however, was not very gracious, nor is it even now well known wlielher their address was transmitted or suppressed. It was supposed their interference, even in that instance, in political affairs, gave offence to the ruling party, and was tlic means of their l)cing deprived of the elective francliise, as Boulter was iip- jn'chensive, that if they acted at all in that way, their ex- ertions would be against his interest. The party of the patriots, he thought, might thus be increased, who were the objects of his jealousy. Unhappily, at this period, more attention was paid to a dearth, party motives than to the national welfare. In IT^iS, and 1729, on account of the general discouragement of industry, a scarcity of corn took place, which amounted to nearly a famine in Ulster. About this time commenced the emigra-T-. • Emigra- tions to America from Ulster, occasioned by restricted com-tions. merce and high rents, whence, even then, as mentioned by Boulter, three thousand people, and all of them protestants, were aimually drained. At length the attention of parliament was attracted bycnrtamt these affairs. In the sessions which ended in May 172S.fi"^ceeded by Dorset* and April 1730, laws were passed for the encouragement of agriculture, tiic linen manufacture, and the better employ- ment of the poor. Such laws were rendered more advan- tageous by his mtijestv''s remitting, v.ith great liberality, his it b 380 HISTORY OV IRELAND. C H A P. hereditary duties on wool and yarn exported to England. Resolutions were passed by the commons to prevent the in- terference of noblemen in parliamentary elections, and also to prevent the reversal of outlawries for the two last rebel- lions, occasioned by the application of the earl of Clanri- carde to be restored to the estates of his family, as he had conformed to the established religion in the reign of Anne, and taken his seat in the house of peers. It was judged unfair, that people who had purchased estates under par- liamentary sanction, should be thus deprived, of their pro- perties. All the public bills that had now passed the two nouses, were sanctioned into laws by the royal assent ; of which the parliament took notice in their address to the chief governor, with this significant observation, that it was a happiness peculiar to this session. In 1731 was termi- nated the government of lord Cartaret, an elegant scholar and able politician, tliough in early life, and also very ho- nourably distinguished for the attention he paid to the in- terests of the country under his care. He was succeeded by the duke of Dorset. iT3l. During the administration of this nobleman, the patriotic A caiunet pg^^.j_y^ ^f whom Boulter was so jealous, acquired a consider- lost. able degree of power. In the year 1715, apprehensions beinii entertained of the Pretender, the Irish house of com- mons passed a vote of credit to government, which laid the foundation of our national debt. For discharging the inte- rest and the principal of tliis debt, a fund was provided by the conunons, which the friends of government, during the last administration, attempted to liave granted to the king, his heirs and successors for ever, still subject to be redeemed by parliament ; but they could not carry their point in the liouse, as it was considered more constitutional that it should be only granted from session to session. A motion was now made, that it should be vested in the crown for twenty years, but it was lost by a majority of one. The ' cr.stino" vote was given by colonel Tottenham, member for Ptoss, in the county of Wexford, who rode to Dublin in a luirry on that occasion. ' ■ • A gi'eat majority of the house being composed of men of Vmded property, it was natural they should be desirous to HISTORY OF IRELAND. 3S7 shift from themselves the blame of any unfavourable inci- CH aP. dent that mi^ht occur. Accordingly they ascribed the emi- ' grations to America, whidi wci-e caused by exorbitant rents, lithe not to these, but to the uni-casonable demands of the clergy."" "^ '""^ " Tithe agistment, which was tliat of dry cattle, they sup- posed to be particularly obnoxious, and afiected to consider the claim for it as new and uirfounded, though all suits lor it in the courts of law had been constantly determined in favour of the clergy. Some petitions presented against it by the graziers were very favourably received, and resolu- tions passed disapproving of the demand, " as it would im- pair the protestant interest, and cause popery and infidelity to prevail." This had the desired effect, for from that time no person attempted to recover it by law. Thus were ali restraints removed from grazing, to the discouragement of agriculture, from which the clergy, in order to procure sub- sistence, were obliged to exact their dues with more care. Hence the complaint of tithes in the south of Ireland, which for many years has afforded a pretence for disturbance. The duke of Dorset was succeeded, in 1737, by the ,„„^ T • 1 1 • • 1737. duke of Devonshire, whose Irish administration was the 1745. longest and most quiet of any that occurred since the acces- ^"^^'"'l' sion of the house of Hanover. His style of living was most DevoK- magnificent, in which, as also in constructing works of pub-®^''^" lie utility, he spent his private income. A wharf built in the port of Dublin at his expense still retains his name, for it is called " Devonshire wharf." As few events worthy of notice occurred during his long administration, it may be only necessary to mention an attempt made by lord Clan- carty, similar to the one already made by lord Clanricarde, and with similar success. Having obtained the consent of the British cabinet, that a bill should be brought into the Irish parliament, for the purpose of restoring him to his es- tates, forfeited by his adherence to James in 1688, and sup- posed to be worth sixty thousand pounds a-year, he of course resolved to make the trial. But his expectations were disappointed by the strenuous resolutions of the Irish commons, and an address to the king passed in 1739, set- ting forth, that any attempts to disturb tlie protestant pur- chasers of estates tbrfoited by rebellion, would be of dange-? B b 2 388 HISTORY OK IRELAND. CHAP reus consequence to his majesty ""s person and gL»vernment. However averse they were to the catholic rehgion, they did "~~~~~" not wish to part with the cathohc lands. War with In the very year in which this address was passed, the i'ra'ice!" English minister was forced into a Mar with Spain, by a factious opposition in the British parliament. In Febru- ary 1742 he resigned his high situation, as the majority of the liouse of commons turned against him, and was ap- pointed earl of Oxford. Sir Robert Walpole, it must be owned, was an able and honest minister, but obliged, by the violence of an unprincipled party, to make use of cor- ruption for the purpose of effecting those measures, that were in reality conducive to the public welfare. This party, having now got into power, opposed, with a shameless in- consistency, all those popular bills for which they were so clamorous before, and pursued a conduct exactly similar to that for which they had condemned their predecessors, with such affected zeal for the public interests. France having soon taken part with Spain in the prosecution of the war, it turned out rather unfavourable for England. ., ^"^^V Tiiis country was however alarmed by a rebellion in ill Scotland Scotland, occasioned by tlie landing of Charles Edward Stuart, son of the Pretender. Being joined by most of the Highland chiefs with their va3sals,and proclaiming his father, the old Chevalier, king in Edinburgh and some other towns, the spirits of him and his party were raised by a victory over the English army at Prestonpans. Assuming now all the pomp of majesty, he continued some time in Edin- burgh displaying his empty parade, and by this delay gave the English government time to take effectual measures to oppose his progress. At length he marched into Eng- land, and proceeding through Manchester and Derby came Avlthin a hundred miles of the capital ; but he found it ne- cessary to stop Oil af;count of the spirited associations form- ed against him, and retired to Scotland, where he gained a second victory over the English army at Falkirk. Here, however, his success was terminated, and the decisive bat- tle of Culloden put a final end to his hopes. On his landing, the English cabinet appointed a noble- XKa-.i to tlie government of Ireland, wiio was well qualified HISTORY OF IRELAND* 389 to preserve tlie peace of the country. This nobleman was CHAP the celebrated earl of Chesterfield, whose Irish administra- ' tion exhibits his character for political rectitude and ability Chesier- in the most favourable point of view. The high office to j^^^.^ "ug^^g. which he was selected he refused to accept unless on condi-nant. tion that he should be freed from all restraint, and full li- berty allowed him to act as he should think fit in the pre- sent exigency. On meeting the parliament he told them he made no professions, well knowing how customary it was to forget them, and desired them to judge of him hy his actions. He began by endeavouring by lenient measures to recon- His excel- cile the catholics, who had been morosely treated, and af-'^;^^ '*'^.""" forded them the free exercise of their religion. The illibe- ral accusations brought against them, founded on mere sus- picion, he disregarded, and received all rumours of plots and insurrections with contempt. When his vice-treasurer assured him one morning in a fright that all Connaught was lip, he looked at his watch, and observed, " it was time for them to get up, for it was now nine o'clock."'"' From the tenor of his government, he knew he gave no cause for dis- content, and therefore gave no credit to its existence, hav- ing full confidence in the peaceable disposition of the people. Instead of raising new regiments .or demanding troops from Britain, he sent four battalions to reinforce the royal army of Scotland, supplying their place with additional compa- nies annexed to the regiments already on the establishment. He also encouraged volunteer associations for national de- fence, without augmenting the public expenditure, the influence of the crowMi, his own patronage, or private emo- ment. Relying for the support of his administration on the integrity of his measures, he abstained from the pernicious custom of gaining partisans by reversionary grants. The supply he asked was very moderate, was collected with care, and managed with such economy, that after the uses for which it was appointed were effected, a part of it remained, which was applied to the improvement of the harbour of Cork. Such excellent conduct gained him the esteem of all parties and persuasions. The effect was visible in the condition of thecountrv, for v/!iilc a violent rebellion rageci 390 HISTORY OF IRELAND, CHAP, in Scotland, a profound tranquillity prevailed in Ireland, !_ but as soon as this rebellion was suppressed by the battleof Culloden, which took place on the sixteenth of April 1746, the earl of Ciiestcrfield was recalled. In nine days alter that event he left the country. He was extorted by their necessities from the British cabinet, and as soon as the ne- cessity ceased, was removed. Such were the maxims by which Ireland unhappily has been too often ruled. The people parted with their amiable chief governor with deep regret, and as a mark of their gratitude erected, at the pub- lic expense, his bust in the castle of Dublin, by'^ji 11^ ^^'^^ succeeded by the earl of Harrington, who did rington. not immediately come over, but left the government of the kingdom to lords-justices. The contest between the Eng- lish and Irish interest, which was suspended during the short administration of Chesterfield, was now renewed, and the chief management of the former, which was transferred from Boulter to primate Hoadley, devolved, in 1747, on primate Stone, who was promoted from the see of Derry. Condictof This prelate, like too many churchmen, was of a haugli- Stone. ty imperious temper, regardless of his pastoral duties, ami entirely devoted to politics. He scrupled at no means for the accomplishment of his favourite ends of gaining adhe- rents, whom he treated with great hospitality, and, in the season of festivity, supplied, it is said, with indulgent fe- males for their amusement. His vices were severely exposed by his opponents, who even accused him of ait abominable gratification. For this there was no positive proof, but it was difficult to account for his parlialities in any other man- ner. In a country of catholics it was certainly injurious to the proteslant religion to put such a man at the head of the church, but in the disposal of Ecclesiastical preferments the interests of religion are seldom considered. His chief op- ponent, as leader of the patriotic or Irish interest, was Henry Boyle, speaker of the house of commons, who was afterwards created earl of Shannon. This party also re- ceived very considerable aid from an extraordinary indivi- dual. Charles Charles Lucas, an apothecary from Cork, having settled in Dublin, was admitted into the common council of that HISTORY OF IRELAND. 391 city. From this body, by means of innovations made in CHAP "VVITT the charters of corporate towns in the reign of Charles II. _ the power of chusing their own magistrates was taken, and placed in the board of aldermen, subject to the controul of the chief-governor and privy council. Lucas, anxious for the rights of his fellow-citizens, but unable to oppose a po- sitive law, by a laborious investigation of records, at length discovered that, in other respects, encroachments had been made on their privileges without legal sanction. In 2741 he published his discoveries with suitable observations, •which raised a furious contest between the aldermen and commons. Eeinn; encouraged to offer himself as a candi- date to re])resent the city in parliament, his publications were of course multiplied, in which he did not confine him- self to the rights of the citizens of Dublin, but set forth those of t!ie people of Ireland as a separate kingdom. By these, and a memorial to the lord-lieutenant, sufficiently re- spectful, but firm, such alarm was given to the adherents of administration, that they resolved to crush him by the hand of power. For this purpose certain passages most obnoxious to the state were selected from his publications, and made the subject of a charge, which was brought against him before parliament. Hence a majority of the commons, whose right he had endeavoured to vindicate, in- stead of protecting him for his exertions in their behalf, voted him an enemy to his country, and addressed the lord- \ lieutenant to order him to be prosecuted by his majesty ""s attorney-general. To shelter himself from the impending stornij he was obliged to leave the kingdom, but afterwards returned, on a change of circumstances in his favour, and at length obtained the honour of representing the city of Dublin in parliament. His subsequent conduct was suit- able to his original profession, for he continued an incoi-- ruptible patriot till the day of his death. 392 iiisroRY 01' iuelanu. CHAPTEU XIX. Peace restored — Di'spute ahonl previous consent — Jlode df reconcilia'ion — Spirited resolutions — National poverti/ — A mob War tvilh France — Chief invasion prevented — Descent of Thurot — Death of George II — Declara- tion of George III — Peace — While Boi/s — Hearts of Oak — Compliance of parliament — Townshend chief-governor— Octennial bill — His new si/stcm — His success completed — Hearts of Steel. 'JThe peace of Aix-la-CIiapelle was certainly very grateful XIX ^" ^^'^' English nation, especially as the terms of it were r: ^— . — _ mnrp favourable than might be expected from the numerous Peace re- ^^sf'^^ts ^'^^^ ^^^^ allies had sustained. I'liese defeats Avere stored. the natural consequence of the great diversity of talents subsisting between the two opposite commanders, marshal Saxe and the duke of Cumberland. In discussing the terms of peace, the original cause of the war, the right claimed by the Spaniards of searching vessels adjacent to their American possessions, was never once considered. On such frivolous pretences are wars too often undertaken. 1749. The trade oi Ireland having considerably increased aftei' this treaty, a large sum of money remained in the treasury alter the necessary expenses of government were defrayed. A competent part of this sum, which consisted of the sur- plus of the hereditary revenue and additional taxes, was applied by act of parliament towards the payment of the national debt. Though this act was returned from Eng- land without alteration, and passed into a law, yet the courtiers began to consider that the previous consent of tlie king was necess.rV for the application of the money, and their opinions on this subject had some time after their due operation. The duke of Dorset, having returned this year to the q;overnment of Ireland, in his speech from the throne ob- served^ that ' the king would graciously consent to the ap- msTony of Ireland. 393 plication of a part of the money then remaining in tlie C ii a P, treasury towards tiie farther reduction of the national debt."" . A bill to that effect was now sent over to England by the 1751. commons, in which the word consent was not mentioned, but jj^,y^.'"p^g^ it was inserted by the British cabinet, and the bill thus vious con- altered was passed on its return by the Irish parliament'' without opposition. In 1753 tiie patriotic party being bet- ter prepared, the affair took a contrary turn ; for a bill of tlie Same nature, and witii the same alterations as tiie for- mer one, was on its retiu'n rejected in the commons by a majority of five ; a victory over the court which was celebrat- ed in the country by public rejocings. Government, being- irritated at the disappointment, took a successful mode of retaliation, for, out of nearly three hundred and sixteen thousand pounds lying in the treasury, only seventy-seven thousand five hundred were applied towards the reduction of the national debt, and the rest was carried over to Eng- land by king's letter, instead of being expended in the country for works of national advantage. It was allowed however, by all parties, tliat the crovvu had full power dispose at pleasure of that portion of the sum above men- tioned lying in the treasury, which was taken from the hereditary revenue. The opposition given tlic administration on this occasion was very highly resented. Those having places un- der government, who supported the popular cause, were mostly displaced, and if a few were retained, it was contrary to the urgent desire of the primate. The conduct of this ambitious churchman, and of lord George Sackville, the chief-governor''s son, an insolent assuming young man, gave very general oflfence. Discontents increased, and the mob of Dublin exhibited their resentment in such a terrific manner, tiiat the viceroy, alarmed for his safety, made his escape from the kingdom with all convenient speed. He was succeeded by the marquis of Hartington, after- 1755. wards created duke of Devonshire, under whom an effectual J^I^'^lf. "^i/e- ^1 J 1 •, , . ^ • conciliation. method was taken to reconcue tlie popular party. Prmiate Stone was removed from the privy council ; Eoyle, the great leader of the opposition, was created earl of Shannon, with a pension of two thousand a-year ; John Ponsonlw, son of 33 HISTORY OP IRELANB. C H A P. the earl of Bcsborougb, was appointed speaker in his room ; ^ ^ several others of the same faction were advanced to lucrative employments, and most of those who had been removed from their places for favouring the popular cause, were honourably restored. Such methods Vere sufficient to soften the most obdurate patriotism. The men of influence in the house of commons took an. other mode of converting this influence to their own private advantage. When they could not lay their hands on the surplus in the treasury, they took effectual means to pre- vent the existence of such a surplus at all. They procured various grants of the national money, ostensibly for public,- but in reality for private uses, and contended with each other in gelling the disposal of these grants. On such oc- casions they showed such eagerness in snapping at the emo- luments, that tliey were styled the scrambling committee. As it was impossible for government to satisfy all the aristocracy, those neglected exhibited at first a strenuous zeal for the in- terests of the country, and some of them, who had boroughs, brouglit able speakers into parliament to support the ojv- position. Government, however, took care to attach to the party the generality of the great proprietors of boroughs, who made a bargain to procure a majority for their mea- sures in parliament, on condition of certain royal favours being left to their disposal, in order to make their followers dependent on them. Such great persons were termed un~ dertakers, and tlie influence of the crown was in reality m their hands. Two of these with an Englishman, who was either the primate or lord chancellor, executed the office of lords-justices, in the absence of the viceroy, who only resided in Ireland one winter in two years at the time the parlia- ment was sitting. The success of such management was evidently displayed the next year. A bill was introduced requiring each member of the house of commons accepting any pension or place of profit from the crown to vacate their seats, but after some progress it was rejected by a consider- able majority. 1757. Under the administration of the duke of Bedford, wha succeeded to the government of Ireland this year, the house of commons proved themselves to retain some portion of HISTORY OP IRELAND. 395 their pristine spirit. Kesolutions were passed by them, dis-c jj ^ p^ approving of the improper grant of pensions on the civil XIX. estabUshment, many of which were given to persons not^pi,.;jg,} residing in the country ; and by another vote, the members, ''e=*o^i^*i™s. with the speaker at their head, waited on tlie lord-heute- nant with a request that he would lay their resolutions be- fore the king. The answer returned was, " tliat the mat- ter contained in these resolutions was of so high a nature, that he could not suddenly determine whether the trans- mitting of them to his majesty would be proper." The popular party, being dissatisfied with this answer, proposed an adjournment till a more satisfactory one should be re- ceived, which, after a warm debate, was carried by a ma- jority of twenty one. On this decision the lord-lieutenant informed the house, by a message, that its resolutions should be immediately forwarded to the king ; a concession so agreeable to the commons that they voted unanimously the bill of supplies, and proceeded to other business. How- ever, their spirit seemed to evaporate by this sudden gust of patriotism, for the resolutions concerning pensions were not effectually pursued. The augmentation of revenue already noted was not xr.. owing to the increase of national riches, but to the importa- poverty, tion of foreign luxuries, and hence a deceitful show of wealth was exhibited at the time the counti-y in reality became poorer. This is evident by the treasury being full at the time public credit was low, which was shown by the failure of some principal banks. A more serious cala- mity took place in 1757, for a famine raged in many parts of Ireland, and especially in Ulster, owing to the neglect of encouragement to agriculture. At present twenty thousand pounds were issued from the treasury for the relief of the poor, and the year after a bill was passed granting botmties on the land-carriage of corn and flour to the capital. This bill, which was afterwards amended, was the first of the corn laws by which agricidture has been so much improved. Grants of money were afforded by parliament with suffi- cient liberality for national purposes, such as for canals, harbours, and other public works. Such giants were ex- tremely necessary in a country so deficient in capital, and 396 HISTOIIY OF jriSi;At>JJ>. CHAP, would have been serviceable to tlie public if the works were , " " ' . faithfully executed, which seldom was tlie case. To tire university of Dublin at this time thirty tliousund pounds was granted in two successive sessions, of which indeed, a proper use was made, for it was carefully applied to en- larging that seminary. Kolh the Englisii government and the Irish parliament formed very erroneous ideas of the national wealth, and hence military expenses and pensions were originated, and a new national debt established, the origin of the funded stock of Ireland. In one year (1759) votes of credit were given for four hundi-ed and fifty thou- sand pounds, and by the supply of this loan the banks were so drained that tlu'ee of the principal ones in Dublin stop- ped payment, which caused the interference of parliament in their behalf. A mob. Discontent being novv very prevalent, the effect, indeed, of national poverty, the acts of government were on that account interpreted in the most unfavourable sense. This was very evident on a particular occasion. A body of catholics of the mercantile class in the city of Dublin, hav- ing, through tlic medium of the speaker, transmitted a loyal address to the lord-lieutenant, which was very gra- ciously received, a number of others of a similar nature was then poured into the castle from different parts of the kingdom. The encouragement given to those people, who laboured under such political disabilities, was ascribed by some designing persons to a scheme formed by government for effecting a union, to which, it was said, they were anxious to o-et the catholics to consent. An universal alarm was now raised of the parliament being taken away, and Ireland being subjected to the same taxes as England. Sept. 1759, Hence an immense mob rose in Dublin, forced their way into the house of lords, clapt an old woman on the throne, searched, fortunately in vain, for the journals to burn them, obliged all the members of either house they could find to swear not to consent to an union, or vote against the interests of Ireland. Coaches were now destroyed , Jiorses killed, and a gibbet erected for one gentleman who providentially escaped. The garrison was put under arms niSTORY OF IRELAND. 397 to overawe the rioters, but at night tl.ey spontaneously dis- ^ ^ \ ^*' per seel, ' - To the catliolics, as a distinct body of people, no blame War with of this riot can be ascribed, from which they were virtually exempted by the viceroy, as his gracious answer to their very first address was posterior to the ilisturbance. Their warm professions of h)yaltv was seasonable at this time, when a formidable invasion was tlireatened from France, between which country and Kngland a war had commenced in 1755, occasioned by the encroachments of the former on the Iviglioh colonies in North America. The grand em- l)arkation designed against Ireland was to be made from Vannes in Lower Rritanny, to cover which a fleet was fit- ted out at Brest under the command of M, de Cojiflans. A small squadron of five frigates was also equipped at Dunkirk, intended for making ^a descent on the north coast of Ireland, which might serve to divert the attention of the country from the great object. This squadron was commanded by an enterprizing adventurer, called Thurot, ■who, in the course of the preceding year, had signalized Iiis courage and conduct in a large privateer called the Belleisle, wliich had scoured the north seas. Thurot's name became a terror to tlie merchants of Great Britain ; for his valour was not more remarkable in battle, than his dexterity in eluding the British cruizers. It must also be owned to his honour, that this bold mariner, though destitute of the advantage of birth and education, was greatly distinguished by his generosity and compassion to those who had the misfortune to fall into his hands. His merit, of course, entitled him to a much more honourable rank in the service* of his country^than that he formerly possessed. Of this merit the court of Versailles at last became sensible, and entrusted him with the command of the small squadron at Dunkirk alread)^ mentioned. The British government being informed of these prepa- 17^9. rations, took such measures to defeat the intended invasion as must have conveyed a very high idea of the power of Great Britain, especially when it was considered, that at this very time they carried on most vigorous and important 398 HISTORY OF IRELAND. c u A P. operations of war in Germany, America, and the East and XIX. i^Vest Indies. Chief in- The fleet under Conflans was blocked up in Brest hnr- vasion pre-^ l^om- jjy j{jg British admiral, Sir Edward Hawke, but bois- veuted. •' . . . . . , . terous winds having driven the British fleet off their station in the month of November, Conflans embraced the opportu- nity, and sailed with twenty-one large ships and four fri- gates. Sir Edward pursuing on the twentieth with rather a superior force, on the same day came up with the French fleet near Belleisle on the coast of Bretagne, when a des- perate conflict look place, aggravated by the horrors of a storm, and rocks and shoals, which happily terminated in favour of the British fleet. Thus was the projected inva- sion prevented, and the naval power of France so disabled as to be unflt to undertake any object of moment during the continuance of the war. Dlscent of The fate of Thurot"'s small squadron is now to be related. Thurot. Blockaded in Dunkirk, by the British force under com- modore Boys they happened to get their escape made in October 1759, and Boys being unable to pursue on account of a scarcity in his fleet, was obliged to put into Leith in Scotland to procure'provisions. Thurot, in the mean while, bcinp" driven by contrary winds to Gottenburg in Sweden, and tlience to Bergen in Norway, at last came in sight of the northern coast of Ireland at the end of January 1760, He now attempted to make a descent near Derry, but was prevented by tempestuous weather, by which two of his ves- sels were seperated from the rest, and were scattered diffei; rent ways. Pressed by famine, his oflScers urged him to re- turn to France ; but he refused, declaring he would not do so without having first made some effort for the service of his country. He now proceeded with the three vessels re- maining to the island of Isla, near Scotland, where they got some little refreshment, for which they paid a fair price. Thence he sailed for Cari'ickfergus, and on the twenty-first of February landed six hundred men about two miles from the town. At this time four new raised companies of soldiers were stationed in the town, commanded by lieutenant-colone JenningSj who, on the first account received of the hostile HISTORY OF IRELAND. 399 squadron, sent out a reconnoitring party, and oi'dered tlie C H A P. French prisoners confined in Carrickfergus to be removed _" to Belfast. The officer commanding this party, having placed his men on an eminence to observe tljc enemy, Avith orders to use every efibrt to retard their approach, returned to communicate the necessary information to his superiors. In the mean while the fire commenced between the recon- noitring party and the French, of whom several were killed, and general Clobert, their commanding officer, wounded. This accident threw them into confusion and for some time retarded their approach. On recovering from tlieir confu- sion they repelled their opponents, and proceeded towards the town, the entrances of which were defended with singu- lar bravery by the garrison, who were obliged at last, from a failure of ammunition, to take shelter in the castle.* When their ammunition was entirely expended, they repulsed the enemy's assault on the castle with sticks and stones, even a.ftcr the gates had been forced ; but the fortress being quite untenable, a capitulation was found necessary. It was granted that the garrison should not be sent prisoners to France, but be ransomed by an equal number of French prisoners being sent thither from Great Britain or Ireland, tiiat neither the castle should be demolished, nor the town of Carrickfergus plundci'cd or burned, on the French ves- sels being supplied v.ith provisions. In this affair only three of his Britannic majesty"'s troops were slain, but of the French near aluuidred, among whom were four officers. It may be supposed that many others were wounded, be- side, general Cloberts their commander. On hearing of the landing of the enemy the people from different parts of the country, having formed themselves into volunteer corps. Hocked to Belfast to oppose them, but being unacquainted with discipline, and numbers of them unprovided with arms, tlieir services would have been but of little use. However, the account of their approach, and of the defeat of Conflans, which Thurot received at the * At the time of tlie conflict in 'tiie streets, a child happened to run plavfully between tlie fire of the contending parties, which a French sol- dier observing carried tea place of safety, and returning to his comi-a- nions renewed the combat. 400 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP, same time, obliged him to rc-cmbark with precipitation on ^—L^Z-L. the twenty-sixth of February, having laid Carrickfergiis under a moderate contribution. Prevented by adverse windis from returning by the north of Ireland he was compelled to make the attempt of a passage through the channel ; but ho was soon stoppe i in his course. Commodore Elliot, in a frigate of thirty-two guns, vmh two others of the same size, undef- tiie command of captains Clement and Logic, a squadron inferior to Thurot's in number of guns and men, but better found, overtook him on the twenty-eighth, near the Isle of Man. An engagement now commenced, which continued, for an hour and a half, until the three French frii>ates were taken, having lost above three hundred men killed and wounded, and the Enghsii only forty. In this action fell the brave and generous Tiuirot himself, whose death was Inipented by his enemies. The captured vessels were brought into Ramsey bay. Such was the fate of the only armament that had for a series of years effected a land- ing of hostile troops in Ireland. The Irish house of com- mons voted their thanks tocolonelJennings, and commend- ed the zeal of the inhabitants of the counties of Down, Antrim and Armagh, and of the city of Londonderry. iToO. I'l the midst of a series of victories, which attended bis Beathof arijis in different parts of the globe, George II. died on tlie twenty-fifth of October, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. He was a prince of plain, sound understanding, though not of brilliant talents, of a passionate temper, of personal intrepidity, and in his general conduct guided by honest in- tentions. He discovered a strong prediliction for his native country, and paid a steady attention to the political interests of tlie Germannic body, to which he made the interests of the British empiretoo often subservient. Though liis partia- lities in this point, and his frequent visits to Hanover, afforded some cause of complaint, 3'et agriculture, com- merce, and manufactures, were, by prudent regulations, con- siderably increased in England, during his reign. Being in sonie degree obligedto part with a minister, in whom he plac- ed the utmost confidence, he never shewed area! attachment to any other. Yet, in the choice of his last minister, Wil- HISTORY OP IRELAND. 401 Ham Pitt, under whom such brilliant exploits were P^'*"^J?jd^' formed, he was certainly very fortunate, as his popularity, _____ whicli was always great, was thus much increased. The chief defect of his reign was, that he paid little or no regard to English literature, having never attained a sufficient knowledge of the languaffe. He was succeeded by his grandson George III, son ofDeclara- the late prince of Wales, who declared, in his first speech ^^^^^^g to the British parliament, " that, being born in the country, HI- he gloried in the name of Briton, that it would be his pecu- liar happiness to promote the welHire, and maintain the civil and religious rights of his loving subjects, and that, as the best means to draw down the divine favour on his reign, he was determined to encourage the practice of true religion and virtue."" Such pious sentiments reflect an ho- nour on regal dignity that neither external pomp nor splendid success can bestow. The success attending the British arms, at the accession Peace. of the present king, was, indeed, very conspicuous. He ■was fortunate in ascending the throne at the time the fame of British valour resounded in every quarter of tlie globe. In 1762, he declared war against Spain, but, in 17t>3, con- cluded a general peace on very honourable terms. The extensive provinces of Canada, East and West Florida, and a part of Lousiana in North America, were now con- firmed to Great Britain, with the islands of Granada, St. Vincent, Dominica, and Tobago, in the West Indies. Previous to this event, William Pitt had been removed from the ministry, and a secret influence established, that counteracted the authority of the ostensible ministers. In the administration of the earl of Halifax, who was white, appointed to the government of Ireland in 1762, the first ^"J^* rising of the White-boys took place in the southern parts of the kingdom. It was asserted then, that they were urged on by the French and Spanish emissaries, but it seems more probable, that distress was the real cause of the disturbance. By the abolishment of the woollen manu- facture in that quarter, there was, of course, less employ- ment for the people, but even this little was diminished of late by the diminution of tillage, as more land than usual c c 402 HlSTOllY OF IRELAND. CHAP, was laid out in grazing, owing to the articles of pasturage •^^ giving a greater price, ocoasioned by a disorder in cattle that had prevailed over Germany, and at length extended to England. This was certainly an inducement for con- verting great quantities of land from tillage to pasture, and this inducement was increased by the vote of the house of commons against tithe agistment. These lands, being set to wealthy graziers, great numbers of labouring peasants were thus not only deprived of their habitations, but even of work. Idleness, of course, was productive of vice and disorder. Still, however, several small farms were set to cotters at rack-rents, and the landlords, in order to lighten their burdens, allowed commonage to their tenants, by way of recompense. Afterwards, in despite of their solemn en- gagements, they enclosed these commons, and thus depriv- ed their poor tenants of the only means of rendering their bargains tolei*able. Provoked thus to resentment, and joined by many idlers naturally inclined to disturbance, these unhappy people assembled at night in great numbers in order to obtain a redress of grievances They began with demolishing the fences of commons, and thence were at first called Levellers ; but afterwards got the name of White-boys, from their wearing white shirts over their clothes. When their asso- ciations were regularly formed they bound themselves to one another by mutual oaths, seized horses and arms, and pro- ceeded to a systematic execution of their designs. They houghed cattle, and committed acts of cruelty on persons considered obnoxious to them, particularly on tithe-proc- tors, who were the objects of their abhorrence. The land- lords and graziers, by false representations, very artfully excited their resentment against persons of that descrip- tion, exerting themselves to shift the odium of oppression from themselves on the established clergy, who were in many cases deprived of their pittance. These disturbers were no doubt vexed that their small spots should be sub- ject to tithe, while the wide-extended fields of the graziers were exempt. Hence titlie-proctors, who were represented as the chief instruments in this supposed oppression, were exposed to their fury. The persons on whom they exercised IlISTORV OF IRELAND. 403 tlieir cruelties tliey placed (ui liorscb.:ck quite naked, on ac H A P. saddle covered with tlie skins of iicdi;,c-ho(2;s, and drove " ' _ them on in that state ; or they buried them U|. to the chin in holes lined with thorns, wliich they trode close to their bodies, and left them thus for many houis. The royal troops were soon brought against these distur- bers, and exerted themselves to suppress them with a suit- able effect. Many suffered death by sentence of the law, and many more would have shared the same fate, if the judges had not been very scrupulous in weighing evidence, and displayed extraordinary lenity on the occasion. But it has been observed, that the White-boys were encouraged by this mistaken lenity to persevere in their enormities.* As the persons guilty of the nocturnal excesses above mentioned were all catholics, it was thence suspected that a popish plot was formed, in which they were engaged for overturning the British government in Ireland, massacring all the protestants, and introducing the pretender, prince Charles, by the aid of the arms of France and Spain, then at war with Great Britain. Though several oaths-|- were produced nearly to this effect, charging some of the catholic clergy, but especially Dr Butler, the titular archbishop of Cashel, as promoting the plot, yet it does not appear that such a charge was openly confirmed before a court of justice. In parliament a motion was made, that after an inquiry ni- io the cause of the commotion, a full report should be given, but the motion was rejected, which was rather unfortunate, for if the real disorder was known a remedy might be ap- plied. Soon after an insurrection took place in Ulster among i763. protestants, whose loyalty was unimpeached, but in cause, "^ ^ " duration, and violence, it was very different from the first one. According to act of parliament public roads were at that time made and repaired in Ireland by the compulsory labour of the people Every housekeeper who had no horse, was obliged to work at them himself six days each year, but if he had a horse both himself and his horse for that time. Complaints were then made by the poor that • Musgrave, vol. i, page 39. •}• Musgrave, appendix No. 1, &c. c C 2 404 HISTORY OF IRELAND. C H A P.rnany of those roads were intended for the convenience of XIX. individuals, not for the pubhc advantage, and being par- ticularly provoked at a job of this sort in the county of Ar- magh, the people of the parish rose up and declared they would work no more at roads of this kind. Their example was soon followed by the whole county, as also by Tyrone, Derry, and Fermanagh. As a mark of distinction they put oaken boughs in their hats, and thence styled themselves Hearts of Oak. They assembled only during the day, and marchmg openly in large bodies forced all the^ met to take an oath " to be true to the king and the Hearts of Oak,'" but committed no murder, seized no plunder, nor used scarce any personal violence. When they got somewhat strong they did not confine themselves to their original o-rievances, but resolved to make a general reform. Ac- cordingly they administrated oaths to the established clergy to demand only a certain proportion of tithe, and were pro- ceeding to prescribe rules with respect to rents, turf-bogs, and the like, but were prevented from putting their various regulations in force by the arrival of several bodies of the military, who soon reduced them to order. Happily in this affair only two or three lives were lost, and no property in- jured. In the next session of parliament the original cause of the insurrection was removed, for the old road act was repealed, and a new one made, by which the necessary pur- pose was to be effected by an equal tax both on the lands of the poor and the rich. Cotnpli- This parliament, which had been summoned by the pre- uarlla" ent ^^"^ '^"^g» ^'^^ former one being dissolved, exhibited a very zealous attachment to their new sovereign. On the com- mencement of the war with Spain, they gaVe a vote of credit for five hundred thousand pounds, and granted a supply for an addition to the troops. They also requested, by an address to the King, that the lord-lieutenant's salary should be augmented to sixteen thousand pounds a-year. In every respect they shewed themselves courtly and compliant. Even after the termination of the war, they gave their coun- tenance to an increase of the public expenses, of which, however, many of themselves reaped the advantage, for a mode was now adopted of securing a majority in parliament HISTORY OP IRELAND. 405 by dividing places and pensions among the members and CH^AT. their friends. Already the annual amount of pensions had i-isen to eighty thousand pounds. An expenditure so great for such a purpose afforded subject for declamation to the patriots, among whom Dr Lucas was the most conspicuous, having been recalled from exile, aud returned for the city of Dublin in tiie new parliament. The chief object of the patriots was to effectuate a change in the poHtical constitu- tion, and a great obstacle was removed by the death of pri- mate Stone in 1764, the zealous supporter of the English interest in parliament. Such were the views of the patriots, but the English go-Townshend vernmen thad views of a different kind, which they were ';5jf f^^°' equally anxious to get effected. They formed a design to break down the Irish aristocracy, by whom was engrossed the sole authority in the land. A few of these, who were often very capricious, undertook the management of parliament, and in return claimed a right to give away all places, pen- sions, and preferments, according to their wilL From them the majority of the lord-justices were selected, and as the lord-lieutenant only resided in the country six months in two years, he could not be supposed sufficiently ac- quainted with the several parties to manage them with effect. It was therefore determined that in future he . should be constantly resident, that being qualiiied to to transact business himself he might recover the patronage of which he had been so long deprived. For this purpose, after a speedy succession of chief-governors, lord Towns- itst. bend was appointed lord-lieutenant of Ireland in 1767. He was a nobleman of high convivial quaUties, which suit- ed the peculiar habits of the country, humorous, agree- able, and remarkable for his nocturnal revels and bon mots. Sport seemed to be his chief employment, and business but a secondary consideration. Conceiving it suitable to his designs to acquire some little popularity, he gave his coun- tenance to a public measure that had been long anxiously desired by the nation. As Irish parliaments, which at first were annual, extend- Octernial ed afterwards their duration for the space of the king's life, wuless disolved by royal prerogative, it was a favourite ob- 406 UlSTORV OP IRELAND. CHAP, ject with the patriots that they should become septennial, •^^ like those of Great Britain. Several atteni))ts were made by llie patriots, with Dr Lucas at their head, to effect this, but without success, which caused public discontent to be expressed in different resolutions and addresses. At length* in order to accede, as it were, to the popular opinion, heads of a bill for the limitation of parliament to seven years were, in 1768, certified by the chief-governor and privy-council, on the supposition that it would, as usual, be suppressed in England. This was not the case at present, but it was re- turned by the British privy-council, with the word eight sub- stituted in place of seven years, in hopes that, on account of this alteration, it would be rejected by the Irish com- mons. In this instance, however, they were not so squea- mish ; the objection was overlooked, and the bill was car_ - ried by the tide of popularity through both houses. The lord-lieutenant, when going to give the royal assent, was drawn in his carriage by the populace from the castle to the parliament-house, and great joy was expressed in all parts of the kingdom. His new In consequence of this bill, the present parliament was dissolved, and a new one called to meet in sixteen months. This unusual time was allowed that the viceroy might have full leisure to use every attempt to effect the purpose for which he was sent. Accordingly, he set to work to tamper with the new members, but found it difficult to detach the subalterns from the powerful leaders with whom they had been so long connected. Their attachment could be only dissolved by more copious streams of munificence, and hence places and pensions were dispensed with a lavish hand. The success was indeed considerable, though not complete i but the expense was enormous. Those thus deprived of influence attempted to persuade the people that the loss they had sustained was a national grievance, and hence po- litical questions were discussed with great acrimony in the newspapers. 1769. 'The new parliament met in October 1769, and an inci- dent soon took place, which showed that the viceroy had not as yet brought his plan to full maturity. Though it was required by Poynings' law that bills should originate with HISTORY OF IRELAND. 407 the Irish privy-council, yet it was a custom, tliat some ^'^'^j^ ^r"^ ^' especially money bills, originated in parliament, and thence - were sent to the Irish privy-council in order to be transmitted to England. At present a money bill, which did not origin- ate in the commons, returned from England, but it was re- jected after the first reading. On this occasion some place- men and pensioners joined the patriots, having made a bar- gain to have liberty to oppose the court in some questions of great importance. The viceroy, being incensed at this defeat, attempted to enter his protest in the journals of the commons, but was prevented. The lords he found more compliant, and entered his protest in their journals, though opposed by five members, who protested against his claim. In another question concerning privileges he was defeated by the commons, which caused him to prorogue the parlia- ment after a session of only two months continuance. A space of fourteen months now intervened till the next ^''^'''^- Its Slice ?.^s meeting took place, which was held in February 1771. Ofcompleted. this intermediate time it appeared his excellency had taken the advantage, as he had secured by his exertions a majority for the court. The commons, after the censure they had received from the viceroy, passed an address to the king^ expressing their humble thanks to his majesty for his con- tinuance of lord Townshend in the government ; but the speaker, John Ponsonby, rather tlian convey such thanks, resigned his place with great spirit, and was succeeded by Edmund Sexton Perry, who had formerly been a great pa- triot, but though converted to be a courtier, was still consi- dered to be a man of integrit)'. In this and the following session, the patriots made several attempts to resist the tor- rent, but were borne down by the force of numbers, and, in the midst of their unavailing struggles, they were deprived, in 1771, of their incorruptible leader Dr Lucas, a man re- spected even by those he opposed, whose mild constitutional conduct might serve as an example to patriots in succeeding days. In the next year, 1772, lord '^I'ownshend resigned bis government, after having succeeded in establishing a a preponderancy of English interest, by the means already mentioned He told the parliament in his last speech, that *' he endeavoured on every occasion to promote the public 408 HISTORY OF IRELAND. I C H A P. " service, and expressed his acknowledgment for f/te very .^^^- <« honourable manner they declared their entire approbatiqii *' of his conduct," 7 71-1773. During the active administration of this nobleman, another Hearts of insurrection took place in Ulster, which had a more durable effect than the last. On the expiration of the leases of an estate in the county of Antrim, belonging to the marquis of Donegal, who was then an absentee, it was proposed, that none of it would be set to any except to those who could pay large fines, with high fees to the agent. As numbers of the old tenants were unable to comply with these terms, their lands were set to others, who, in return for their fines and fees, demanded such rents as the old occupiers could not pay, and of course they were dispossessed of their lands. Being thus deprived of subsistence, and rendered desperate, they rose up at night to seek for redress ; they maimed the cattle of those who had taken their lands, committed othei* outrages, and to show thoir firmness of resolution, they styled themselves Hearts of Steel. One of their number being taken prisoner, and confined in Belfast on a charge of felony, tliey marched to rescue him, being joined by many thousand peasants not connected with them, and the pri- soner, at the advice of a respectable physician, was deliver- ed up to them by the officers of the guard, to prevent the effusion of blood. Such compliance gave them confidence, and numbers of discontented peasants in the neighbouring counties caught the same spirit, and assumed the same name. They admi- nistered oaths, seized arms, and, like the Hearts of Oaky became general reformers, but were guilty of more excesses, and even of violent acts of inhumanity. Some were taken and tried at Carrickfergus, but acquitted by the supposed partiahty or terror of the witnesses and jury. The legisla- ture then interfered, and by an act of parliament they were ordered to be tried in counties difterent from those in which the excesses were committed. In consequence of this act, some were carried to Dublin, and put to trial ; but so strong were the prejudices entertained against this law, that no jury of that city would find them guilty. Soon after the ob- noxious act Avas repealed, and the conduct of the insurgents HISTORY OF IRELAND. ^'09 being now viewed in its just light, some of tliem were tried CHA^P^ in their several counties, condemned and executed. By ... ^ ^ such examples, with suitable exertions of the military, the insurrection was totally quelled, but the general discontent was so great, that in a short time many thousand protest- ants emigrated to America, carrying along with them a very strong dislike to the British government, which had after- wards its due effect. CHAPTER XX. Indolence of Harcourt — Dejickncy of revenue — American war — Its baneful effect on Ireland — Petitions against Irish trade — Removal of Harcourt — Indulgence to catholics-— Commercial restrictions — National distress — Non-impor- tation agreement — Dread of invasion — Volunteers — Par- triotic measures of parliament — Repeal of restrictive laws— ' Demand of an independent legislature — Zeal of parliament abated — Resolutions of volunteers — Meeting of delegates at Dungannon — Their resolutions — Disregarded by par- liament — Adopted by the nation — Change of ministry — Message of Portland — Address of Graltan — Favourite objects allowed — Reward to Graltan — Jealousy of Flood— His doubts on simple repeal — Change of public opinion — Renunciation of right — Knights of Saint Patrick — Attempt at a Genevan settlement. The new system in Ireland being establislied by the energy /^ « * « and perseverance of lord Townshend, his successor lord Har- XX. court had but ^ew difficulties to encounter. Of an amiable "-7r"r~ character, and easy disposition, he had no other ambition Indolence than to yield a submissive obedience to the directions of his °^ ~:?^' '' court. employers. The labour of office and burthen of respon- sibility he threw on his secretary, and seemed to give himself so little concern with politics that he allowed nearly a year to elapse before he called a parliament. This parlia- 410 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, ment he found sufficiently compliant and liberal, yet the .speaker, in a speech to his excellency before the house of lords, expressed the public inability to submit to additional taxation, on account of the commercial restrictions by which tlie country was oppressed During the present govern- ment an affectation appeared of correcting some abuses of the last administration. Hence the insurgent act was re- pealed, and the board of excise ot their creation abolished, by which some saving was effected. An absentee tax was offered, but rejected by the influence of those who were particularly interested to oppose it. Ceficiencv The increase of revenue whicii it would have afforded of revenue, yy^g ^^q doubt some inducement to adminstration to give their countenance to the measure. For such an increase there was certainly at that time a great occasion as well in Great Britain as in Ireland. The injudicious mode adopted both by George I. and II. in expending the public money i« foreign subsidies, ill managed wars, and parliamentary corruption, had a very sensible effect oJi the finances of the country. Bv these means the national debt of Great Bri- tain, which had commenced in the reign of king William, at the end of the reign of George II, amounted to a hun- dred million. After the peace which look place during the present reign no suitable mode was adopted for lessening the public expense, as the useful endeavours of the ostensi- ble mmisters were counteracted by the baneful influence of favourites, whose own aggrandizement was the principal ob- ject of their consideration. American As these men, during the peace, could not find sufficient war. excuse for laying additional taxes on England, they turned their eyes towards British America, which might afford, they supposed, a suitable supply. The late war having been undertaken in defence of that country, it was supposed that it ought to bear its share of the public burden which had been thus produced- Hence the stamp act of 1765, by which the British parliament endeavoured to lay a tax on the American colonies, but they resisted, denying the right of taxation in a foreign legislature, and destroyed the stamps as soon as they landed from Europe. Their ojiposition caused the obnoxious act to be repealed in tiie succeeding year, but the British parliament still adhered to the resolu- HISTORY OP IRELAND. 411 lion, either by external or internal taxation, to draw a re- CH ap, venue from those colonies. A great part of the British ^ " '— nation was induced to give their support to the measure, from tlie vain hope that by such a revenue their own taxes at home would be diminished. At length a tax of three- pence a pound on tea produced, in 1775, a civil war in America. This war, which proved so detrimental to Great Britain, its baneful extended also its baneful influence to Ireland, The Ame-jj.gj^,j^|" rican market for Irish linens, which had been hitherto very considerable, was now very much restrained, and the ex- port of provisions prevented by an embargo, an act of pre- rogative alone, which was laid on under pretence of depriv- ing the rebellious colonies of subsistence, but in reality for the purpose of enabling the British contractors to fulfil their engagements. Thus the usual supply of" money from a abroad was precluded, while its efHux out of the kingdom was increased by augmented remittances for the pay of Irish troops employed in foreign countries, and the interest of a rising national debt, the creditors of which resided mostly in England. A part of this debt had been raised in 1773, by a scheme of annuity called Tonline^ of which the sur- vivors were to enjoy the benefit. The country being thus exhausted of money, its trade of course declined, the price of its internal products fell to a low rate, the usual rents and taxes could not be paid, the distressed manufacturers were supported by public charity, and government was un- able to afford any aid, as the revenue failed in every branch, and they were obliged to supply the defect by new loans at an exorbitant interest. An inclination to alleviate the distresses of Ireland seem-p .... ed prevalent in the British house of commons, and accor- against dingly, on the motion of earl Nugent, in April 1778, rQso-^"**'''''^'^^* lutions were passed there to the following effect, that the Irish should be permitted to export directly to the foreign plantations of Great Britain, wool and woollen manufac- tures only excepted, all sorts of merchandise, the produce of the British i.slands, and foreign goods legally imported and certified, and should be permitted to export glass to any place except Great Britain, as also to import directly. 412 HISTORY OP IRELAND, CHAP, XX. Kemoval of Har- court. Indul- gence to calhulics. Comtner- cial restric. tions. except tobacco, the products of those plantations. 'These .resolutions raised a great alarm among the mercantile people of Great Britain, who, being selfish and illiberal, sent petitions to parliament, and instructions to their repre- sentatives to oppose the extension of the Irish trade. The towns of Liverpool, Manchester, and Glasgow, distinguish- ed themselves on this occasion ; and the representations had such influence on the majority of the members, that they ultimately rejected the bills founded on their own previous resolutions, allowing Ireland some trivial concessions un- worthy of notice. The desire of affording a connected narrative prevented an earlier notice being taken of other events. In 1776» the first octennial parliament was dissolved, having exhi- bited some symptoms of an independent spirit, which raised suspicions in government. This was shown in the com- plaint, made through the speaker, of commercial restric- tions, in the rejection of two money bills altered by the British cabinet, and in the apathy with which the courtiers repelled the representations of national grievance made by the patriots in their speeches. The new parliament, which continued the same speaker, did not meet to transact busi- ness till October 1777, beinoj under the influence of a new lord-lieutenant, lord Buckinghamshire, lord Harcourt hav- ing been removed for not carrying on with suitable energy the business assigned him by the government of Great Bri- tain. Among the first acts of this parliament worthy of notice, was one introduced by Luke Gardner, in 1778, and passed with some difficulty, in favour of the Irish catholics. By this act they were enabled to take a lease for nine hundred and ninety-nine years, and were freed from a vexatious law by which a son might force a settlement from his father, by conforming to the protestant religion. Such an act was demanded from the liberality of the legislature, but the Isopeless state of the country i-equired measures of more es- sential benefit than mere acts of religious toleration. From a period so remote as the reign of Edward III. British laws were enacted favourable to the trade of Ire- land, and even in her treaties with foreign princes, England HISTORY OF IRELAND. 413 paid attention to the commercial interests of this country. C HA P. Hence, though great obstacles were occasioned by insurrec- -■ tions, her situation gradually improved, her exports, cus- toms and shipping increased, new manufactures were esta- blished, and lands became more valuable. In the reign of Charles I. she had arrived at the height of her prosperity, at the very time it was interrupted by the unhappy rebel- lion which then took place. In the beginning of the suc- ceeding reign, the British restrictive laws commenced. By these Ireland was prevented from sending her beef or live cattle to England, an advantage she had long enjoyed ; pre- vented also from exporting her commodities to the American colonics, or importing the goods of those colonies without first unloading them in England or Wales. By the char- ters granted to trading companies she had been entirely ex- cluded from Asia, and by commercial restrictions was se- verely cramped in her trade with every country in Europe. Towards the end of the reign of king William, the expor- tation of the Iris!) woollen manufacture was prevented by an absolute prohibition, nor was such encoui'agement af- forded to the linen manufacture, as to make amends for the loss. These restrictive laws had their gradual and de- structive effect, and the poverty of the country was aug- mented by the great expense of the late war, and by an op- pressive peace establishment which ensued. Pensions now increased to an extravagant amount,* the revenue declined, and a national debt was contracted far exceeding that dis- charged, in 1754, by a delusive prosperity already noted. To these permanent disadvantages was added the particular disti'ess occasioned by the present war with the colonists. The refusal of the British legislature to repeal the re- j.^q strictive laws so injurious to the Irish trade, excited a gene- National ral discontent through the kingdom. The cause of its po- ^^^'^''^^^ verty was sufficiently evident, when it was found that the sums remitted hence to Great Britain for rents, interest of money, pensions, salaries, and profits of office, amounted, for a series of years, to twice as much as Ireland gained from her entire commerce with all the countries with which she had any intercourse. From the failure of the public * The pension list greatly exceeded all the other charges of the civil list. 414 mSTORV OF IRELAND. ^^^^- revenue, tlio laws for the raising of a militia could not be executed, and his majesty's ministers were not only obliged to pay from the British exchequer the troops of the Irish establishment sent on foreign service in 1775, but also to remit from the same fund fifty thousand pounds to Ireland, to complete the sum necessary for the payment of the fcAV forces allowed to remain in the country. poitation ""^^ ^^^ present exigency, meetings were held at Dublin agreement, and Waterford, to devise some mode of relief, and resolu- tions were entered into, which were afterwards generally adopted throughout the kingdom, not to export from Great Britain any articles, capable of being provided by in- dustry at home, until the unreasonable restrictions were re- moved from the Irish commerce. Thus was employment afforded to the wretched manufacturers maintained by pub- lic charity, and Great Britain given to know the loss she might suffer by a continuance of her unjust conduct to- wards Ireland. But the injuries of this unhappy country were now expressed in a language so forcible as to demand a more serious attention i'rom the sister kingdom. Dread of The American colonies, in their struggle with Great Bri- tain, being joined, in the year 1778, by the formidable power of France, Ireland of course from that time became exposed to more imminent danger. Even previously to this great accession to their force, the American privateers used to take trading vessels close to the coast of Ireland, which was not 'sufficiently protected by the British navy, but now when France had taken part, and was at war with Great Britain, an invasion from that country was very justly apprehended. The few troops left in Ireland were utterly inadequate to its defence, and his majesty's ministers avowed their inability to afford protection. The answer of the viceroy to a memorial from the mayor of Belfast re- questing a garrison, was an open confession of the weakness of government. He declared that half a troop of dismount- ed horse, and half a company of invalids, was all the force that could be spared. This candid acknowledgment gave rise to an institution, one of the most glorious recorded in the annals of the world. V - „. ,c Some of the inhabitants of Belfast, a town always remark- s' ^uitiieers - ' j HISTORY OF IRELAND. 415 able for its public spirit, on perceiving themselves thus left c jj ^ y, to their own resources, entered into armed associations for XX^ defence against the foreign enemy. A few small hands of a similar kind had been previously estabhshed in the county of Wexford, to suppress the nocturnal violence of the White-boys, who had, in 1775, extended their inroads into that part of Leinster. On this model was formed the sys- tem ot volunteering, when the danger of invasion excited great alarm. From Belfast was diffused the same spirit through different parts of the kingdom, and in a short time volunteer companies arose in various places, who chose their own officers, purchased their own arms aud uniform, and, Avith the assistance of persons properly qualified, assembled regularly at parade to acquire a knowledge of the military art. Such was the origin of the volunteers of Ireland, a patriotic band which conferred such eminent services on their oppressed country. Every day brought a new accession to their strength. Men of the first consequence in the kingdom were proud of being enrolled in their number, and many persons of independent fortune considered it an honour to appear in their ranks. Even persons in the most straitened circum- stances cheerfully submitted to many privations, in order to afford the expense and time necessary to clothe them- selves, and to learn the use of arms. Though subject to no coiitroul but inclination, they were perfectly obedient to discipline, and were remarkable for their sobriety and de- cent demeanour ; they restrained the irregular, suppressed disorders, and carefully maintained the due execution of the laws. Their conduct was so unexceptionable, and the in- stitution itself so expedient, that government at first lent them their countenance, giving orders to have sixteen thou- sand muskets delivered to the volunteers for the defence of their country. In 1 779 Spain having joined the hostile confederacy, the combined fleet, under the count D'Orvil- liers, consisting of sixty-five ships of the line, with a mul- titude of smaller vessels, in August of that year, entered the British Channel, and insulted the English coasts with im- punity. At that awful time Ireland was prevented from invasion, with all its dismal effects, by her volunteers, whose 410 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. XX. Patriotic measures of parlia- ment. Repeal of restrictive Jaw. number now amounted to forty thousand. Thus, by their _ exertions was the country preserved from a foreign foe, and its internal tranquility maintained, as at no other time the laws were so strictly enforced and obeyed. Though this armed body of citizens had not as yet pub- licly expressed their sentiments on the state of the country, yet, these sentiments, being the same with those of the whole nation, were universally known, and had a suitable effect on the Irish parliament, which met on the twelfth of October. Immediately an interesting debate took place in the commons, in which the distresses of Ireland were placed in a striking point of view, and the necessity urged of adopting, without delay, some effectual mode for ob- taining relief. k\. length, on the motion of the prime- sergeant, Hussev Burgh, a man of real patriotism, and per-, suasive eloquence, it was unanimously resolved, that the following words should be inserted in their address to the king, " we beg leave, however, humbly to represent to your *' majesty, that it is not by temporary expedients, but by a ** free trade alone, that this nation is now to be saved from " impending ruin." This address was carried by the spea'.er, in great state, to the lord-lieutenant, between ranks of the Dublin volunteers, commanded by the duke of Leinster, in their arms and uniform, who lined the streets on both sides from the parliament-house to the castle. To all the volunteers the thanks of both lords an4 commons were voted for their spirited exertions in the time of need in defence of their country. Both houses seemed now animated by a patriotic zeal, and the commons, appre- hensive that if the money bills were passed for the usual time, or two years, a redress of grievances might be neglected, being urged by the public voice, granted the supplies for only six months. They also pointed out the nature of the commercial privileges which they expected should be conferred, and declared that the granting of new taxes would at this time be inexpedient. The declaration of the Irish parliament, the short money bill, the non-importation agreement, and the spirited de- terminations of the volunteers, had their due effect on the government and people of England. Accordingly, the HISTORY OF IRELAND: 417 prime-minister lord North, in the montli of November of C H^P- the present year, laid before the British commons his pro- _ " ^ ' . positions for restoring freedom to the Irish commerce. On this occasion he displayed great liberality and knowledge of the subject, and gave an interesting history of the com- mercial restrictions of which Ireland so much complained. The object of his propositions was to repeal the laws pro- hibiting the exportation of Irish woollen or other manufac- tures to foreign places, and to permit Ireland to trade with tlie British settlements in America, the West Indies, and the coast of Africa, subject to such regulations and restric- tions as should be imposed by the Irish parliament. No opposition was given on moving these propositions, and bills exactly conformable to them were introduced and pass- ^ ed into laws. The account of these concessions diffused great joy 1780. , I T 1 1 1 1 • • 1 Demand of througli Ireland, but this joy was only temporary, as a ge-aninde- neral distrust prevailed of the Enghsh parliament, and an pendent . o «. letiislaturs* opinion daily gained ground, that the free trade allowed would be always precarious, unless the legislature of the country was entirely independent of that of Great Britain. This opinion began to be expressed in such a manner as to excite more serious attention. In the begining of the year 1780 the volunteers entered on the plan of general organiza- tion ; they appointed reviews for the ensuing summer, and chose their exercising officers and reviewing generals. Hence a foundation was laid for producing an union of sentiment among them. They now ventured openly to declare thpijf opinions on public affairs, aud the newspapers teemed with resolutions of the diff'erent corps, all to the same effect, *' That Ireland was an independent kingdom, and entitled " to all the rights and privileges of a free constitution, that " no power on earth but the king, lords, and commons of •' Ireland, could make laws to bind them, and that they " were ready with their lives and fortunes to resist the usur- *' pations and encroachments of any foreign legislature.*" The American war, with the cause and various events of it, contributed to give them boldness to publish such a de- claration. Such opinions were expressed by public assemblies of » d 418 HISTOUY OF IRELAND. CHAP, every description and were re-echoed by the patriotic nienr- --^__L_ bers of the house of commons. In April, Henry Grattan, miliament^ senator distinguished for his eloquence, and respected abated. for his patriotism, made a moticm in the house, that no power on earlh, save the kiiig^ loi'ds, and commoJis of Ire- land^ has a 7'ight to make laws for Ireland. A very in- teresting debate now succeeded, wjiich lasted till six o'clock in the morning, when the motion was withdrawn, on the well grounded assurance, that a ministerial majority stood engaged to reject it. Through gratitude for com- mercial indulgencies, the commons voted the supplies for eighteen months longer, and made provision for borrowing bix hundred and ten thousand pounds, and for allowing an increase of revenue to the amount of a hundred and fifty thousand pounds a-year. With this liberality the people were not offended, but they had other reasons to be dissatis- fied witl) the parliament. Beside their strenuous opposition to the motion of Henry Grattan, they showed a disposition to giva up their own privileges to the will of the minister, 'ihe Irish army had ])een hitherto regulated by an English act of parliament, but, in compliance with the general opinion, a mutiny bill was introduced into our own parliament, and passed, which, on being transmitted to England, was altered in the British cabinet, and made perpetual. Hence this bill, wiiich made the array independent of parliament, was different from that of England, which was only for a limited time, and was more suitable to the spirit ot a free constitution. To this bill, thus altered, the Irish parliament tamely submitted, and passed it into a law. They also submitted to a sugar bill, altered by the same cabinet in such a manner as to be injurious to the commercial rights of Ireland. These ob- noxious bills they passed, and rejected two very much de- sired by the people, one for the modification of Poynings' law, which had now become injurious to civil liberty, and another for having the judges made independent of the crown. The session was prolonged till September, and, previous to its conclusion, the lord-lieutenant was addressed in a very adulatory style by the commons, to which he made a suitable return in his speech to both houses, extolling HISTOUY OV IRELAND. 419 them foi- their patriotic virtue, and for the attention they c H A P. paid to the interests of" the country. The people, however, did not entertain so favourable aniiesolu- opinion of their conchict, and many resolutions of disappro-^^""® . I . . ' - ' ' volunteersf bation were published, especially by the volunteers corps, either separately or collectively at their reviews during the summer. At these reviews they discovered as much know- ledge of military disciphne as could be expected from per- sons of their description, and both on their way, and at the places w-here they were reviewed, they were entertained at free quarters by the people, who were sensible of their me- rits, and delighted with the novelty of their appearance. The volunteers having arrived at their present degree of ^.j-gj force under the administration of tiie earl of Buckingham- shire, it Avas imagined by the British cabinet that he had too passively permitted their increase, and therefore !ie was removed from the government at the end of the year 1780. He was succeeded by the earl of Carlisle, who, it was ex- pected, would be able to check the dangerous spirit that prevailed. In this, however, the government were disap- pointed, as the armed societies continued to increase, and in the year 1781 amounted to fifty thousand men, formed into regiments, and improved in tactics by reviews. At one of these was collected at Belfast, a body of five thousand four hundred men, furnished with a train of thirteen pieces of artillery. In their resolutions on these occasions, and addresses to their reviewing-generals, an ardent zeal for liber- ty was displayed, and discontent expressed at the corruption of parliament and measures of government. However, oa a trying emergency, they showed their attachment, by offer- ing their services to the new viceroy in August 1781, when the hostile fleet was in the channel, and an invasion from France and Spain apprehended. Still they never lost sight of the great object that had successively risen to their view, a free commerce, and, as a security for it, a free parliament. They all, indeed, seemed animated by the same spirit, but on an important occasion, attended with remarkable effects, the officers of the southern battalion of the Armagh regi- ment, commanded by the earl of Charlemont, happened to take the lead. At a meeting of these, on the twenty- u d 2 420 HISTORY OF IRELAXD. CHAP, ^iglith of December 1781, resolutions in the usual lone were XX. voted unanimously, and published in the newspapers, call- ing on all the volunteer associations in Ulster to send dele- gates to Dungannon, a central town, on the fifteenth of February, 178;i, to deliberate on the present state of public affairs. Meeting of These resolutions excited very extraordinary sensations delegates \i^ every part of the kinj-dom. Government, in particular, atDungan- , , , i . i , , ■ Don. took, the alarm, and exerted themselves to prevent the in- tended meeting of delegates, but without effect. Even the best friends of the object were apprehensive of its conse- quences, and among these was the earl of Charlemont him. self, who, as the time approached, began to wish it had not been called. This amiable and truly patriotic nobleman, being now unable to prevent it, digested resolutions and proceedings for this formidable assembly, with the assist- ance, among other friends, of the two great orators of the commons, Henry Flood and Henry Grattan, who co-ope- rated in their endeavours to serve their country. When the fifteenth of February arrived, the representatives of a hundred and forty tiiree companies met at Dungannon. Their reso- The resolutions voted on this occasion, to some of which luiions. there were a few dissenting voices, expressed their disap- probation of any body of men, making laws to bind Ire- land, except the king, lords, and commons of this kingdom ; of the powers exercised by the English and Irish privy council, under pretence of Poynings'' law ; of a mutiny bill not limited in duration ; and of the judges not being inde- pendent of the crown. A resolution was also voted, with only two dissenting voices, declaring their consent to the relaxation of the penal laws, against Roman catholics, for which a bill was at that time pending. They appointed a mode of communication M'ith the other volunteers of the kingdom, in order that the general opinion should be com- bined, and voted a very spirited address to the minority of both houses of parliament, in which the following remark- able sentence was introduced, " we know our duty to our " sovereign, and are loyal ; we know our duty to ourselves, " and are resolved to be frpe.*' The moderate conduct of the delegates on this occasion, HISTORY OF IRELAND. 421 obtained for them great applause, and disappointed tlie ex- C Ha P. pectations of government, who hoped tliat their violence — " ' . . would defeat their object. Already had both houses ofi^i^'''^g'ii''i- parliament voted their thanks to the volunteers, and at the^amenu beginning of the present sessions, which commenced in Oc- tober 1781, these thanks were repeated on account of their spirited offer of service, when an invasion was apprehended in the summer. Yet the Dungannon resolutions seemed to liave no influence on the parhament, who continued steady in their support of the ministry. Hence the several con- stitutional questions, of which these resolutions took notice, being again discussed before that assembly, the minister, as usual, obtained a complete victory. In a debate, on one of these occasions, a member in the service of government, who filled a high department in the law, in a speech on the acts imposed on Ireland by England, boldly asserted, " that *' power constituted right." Also a motion was rejected, de- claring, that the commons were the representatives of the people, from which might be inferred, that they considered their connexion with their constituents dissolved. Such a shameful disregard to the national will excited ^'lop'^ed a general discontent, as well against government, as the re-^ion. presentatives in parliament, and the people, considering themselves deserted by these, looked only to the volunteers for redress. The resolutions of Dungannon were adopted by the volunteers of every province throughout the kmg- dom, as was publicly signified in the newspapers, and those who had been friends to government, or hitherto lukewarm in the cause, being borne down by the torrent, stood bold- ly forward as zealous champions for the constitutional rio-hts of their country. Not only by volunteer corps, were such patriotic sentiments expressed, but by counties, grand ju- ries, cities, towns, corporations, parishes, all ranks and de- grees of men, who openly declared, that they would obey no laws but such as were enacted by the king, lords, and commons of Ireland. A more universal concurrence of opinion in favour of liberty, is not to be found in the his- tory of any nation of the world. The attainment of the object of their desire was, however, accelerated by another cause. 422 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. The powerful aid of" France proved of singular advan- ^ tage to the American colonists, in tlieir contest with the Change of motlier country, and the capture of lord Cornwallis by the minisirv. combined armies, in 1781, secured the independence of America. This decided success effected at length tlie re- moval of the British ministry, who resigned their situations in 1782, after having, by their rash councils, deprived Great Britain of its flourishing colonies, sacrificed the lives of a hundred thousand loyal subjects, and added at least a hun- dred million to the national debt of England. They were succeeded by men of more liberal principles, at the head of whom was placed the marquis of llockinghara, a noble- man of more political integrity than is usually found in modern times. As successor to lord Carlisle, the duke of Portland was appointed lord-lieutenant of Ireland. Messajjeof This nobleman arrived in Ireland in April 1782, and PortlanJ gg^^ ^fter sent the following message to parliament, " that *' his majesty being concerned to find, that discontents and " jealousies prevailed among his loyal subjects of Ireland, " upon matters of great weight and importance, recommended *' it to parliament to take the same into their serious consi- " deration, in order to come to such a final adjustment, as " would afford mutual satisfaction to his kingdoms of Great " Britain and Ireland." Henry Grattan now rose to move an address to the kin*?, GraUan *^ similar to one which he had before proposed in vain. In liis prefatory speech, he pronounced a just eulogy on the volunteers, and boldly asserted the constitutional rights of his country. The address expressed the unshaken attach- ment of the commons to his majesty's person and govern- ment, and their sense of his paternal care on the present occasion ; declared that the crown of Ireland was an imperial crown, inseparably annexed to the crown of Great Britain ; but that the kingdom of Ireland was a distinct kingdom, with a parliament of her own, and that no body of men, nor any other parliament, was competent to make laws to bind this nation, except the king, lords, and commons of Ireland ; expressed their dissatisfaction with the British act, lor the hclUr securivg the dependence of Jrelnnd, with Poyn- ing s'law in its present form, and with the perpetual mu- HISTORY OF IRELAND. 423 tiny bill ; assured his majesty of the high respect they en- CH A F. tertainecl for the British character, of the confident hope __ ^ ' . they had of sharing with England in her freedom, by their being determined to share al.so her fate, and to stand and fall with the British liation. In the present instance, a surprising versatility of prin- ciple was exhibited by the majority of the house of com- mons. Though they had constantly opposed the patriots, in their endeavours to attain constitutional liberty, yet on a change of administration, they all at once became converts to their opinions, and found out at last, that the preserva- vatioa of the country depended on the system of the pa- triots being carried into effect. Accordingly, the resolu- tion for an address passed unanimously. On this occasion, liowever, the ministerial members of independent fortune laboured hard to clear themselves from the charge of incon- sistency, and endeavoured to show how incapable tliey were of being influenced in their parliamentary conduct by place or emolument. John Hely Hutcheson, secretary of state, and provost of Trinity college,* who delivered the message from the duke of Portland, made a splendid eulogium on Grattan, whom he knew to be a favourite of the present ad- ministration, declaring, that he would be considered by posterity to have redeemed the liberties of his country. His speech seemed to glow with patriotic fire, as did that of John Fitzgibbon, the prime sergeant, both of whom defied any one to prove that they ever asserted the supre- macy of the British parliament, though they acknowledged they voted with ministers against the declaration of rights, en account of the impropriety of moving it at the time, a pretence usually offered by such people to justify their con- duct. The viceroy soon after informed both houses that the Favourite British legislature had concurred in a resolution to remove °J^'^''' ^'■* . . . . taiiud. the causes of their discontent, and that his majesty was graciously disposed to give the royal assent to acts intended to afford them satisfaction. Of course the following con- * This gentleman w.as fortunate in olitaining for liis servit-es to govern- ment, beside the iliilerent valuable places conlentd on himself, lueratlv»f eraulovments for several- of his I'amilv. 421< HISTORY OF inELAND. CHAP, stitutional acts were passed: one for preventing the privy - " "*" ■ councils to alter Irish bills, another for the limitation of the law against mutiny to two years, a third for the right of habeas corjius, and a fourth for the independence of the judges. The British parliament also agreed to repeal the obnoxious act passed in the sixth of George I. claiming a right to bind Ireland, and depriving the Irish house of lords of a supreme judicial power in their om'u country. Ireland appeared to be completely emancipated, and to have obtained a constitution equal to that of her great sister is- land so renowned for her liberty. Heward to In gratitude for the excellent favours conferred, the com- Grattan. j^opg^ on the motion of Grattan, voted a hundred thousand pounds for the purpose of raising twenty thousand seamen ibr the Brldsh navy. They also, on the motion of Beau- champ Bagenal, voted fifty thousand pounds as a present to Grattan himself for his strenuous endeavours towards the accomplishment of the great political blessing attained. Complimentary addresses now poured on Mr Grattan from all quarters, extolling him for his eminent services, and at this time he was»certainly an object both of admiration and envy. Government would have conferred on him any office, however lucrative, that he would please to accept, but he disdained to take any emolument, save the reward offered to him by a grateful country. .Tealousy ai '^'^^^ patriotic exertions of his rival orator, Henry Flood, Flood. obtained a very different reward. Immediately on his standing forward, during the late administration, in sup- support of the constitutional rights of his country, he was deprived of his place of vice-treasurer, which he had held for seven years, the most lucrative office in the power of the Irish government to bestow. Offended at the loss he had sustained, the vote of the commons in gratitude to Mr Grattan raised a jealousy in his breast, which certainly tar- nished his most patriotic efforts. This jealousy was soon shown by one of his friends in the house of commons giving notice, that he would move for his restoration to' the oflicc of which he had been deprived, not thnt he should get any pecuniary reward, as he knew he was above receiving any alms from his country. HISTORY OF IRELANn. 425 However, the material differeuce of opinion between C ^^^^* Grattan and Flood arose from the nature of the security - / ' which the country had obtained bv the En who hired news-writers to abuse him in the CHAP. pubUc papers. In the Vohmteer^'s Journal, that gentleman, _" ^ '._, who was a real friend to his country, was exhibited in a picture hanging on a gallows, and all that low scurrility was applied to him, which dulness, excited by malice, is ac- customed to substitute in the place of true wit and genuine satire. The printer, one Carey, who afterwards went to America, was summoned before the house of commons, and ordered to be confined in Newgate. While he was in the custody of the deputy-serjeant at arms, he grossly abus- ed that officer, calling him a rascal, and the tool of a venal parliament. His journal, during his confinement, was as violent as ever. One day a letter of his to his paragraph- writer was intercepted, in which he said, " that persecution " was often the lot of those who laboured in the best of " causes, and begged he would insert in the next journal a " whole column of nervous paragraphs.'''^ On account of the odium thus excited against him, Mr ^ Foster found it expedient to apply for a body of soldiers to guard his house, and attend him to parliament. Enraged at these public defamers, he had a bill passed for securing the liberty/ of the press, which required all printers and pro- prietors of newspapers to give in their names to the stamp- office upon oath, and also enacted, that any one carrying about a hand-bill unstamped, containing a libel, and refus- ing to tell the printer's name, should, if convicted, be con- fined three months in jail. On the fourteenth of May it got the royal assent, when parliament was prorogued, and Carey, of course, dismissed. This bill, which at first was much more severe, but after- 1784. wards moulded into its present form, was still considered as^'°^^"^^ a restriction on the liberty of the press It therefore con- tributed, with the loss of protecting duties, to enrage the Liberty-mob of Dublin, sharpened by hunger, and pushed on by factious demagogues. These desperadoes, about the beginning of May, began to exercise their violences on the peaceable inhabitants. Many of those who sold English goods, and the generality of the poor tailors, who were so unfortunate as to work them, were dragged by these ruffians *rom their families into the Liberty, stripped stark naked 43S HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, there, and tarred and feathered after the American mode. —^-^-^^^ This was rather the shghtest punishment, for not a few were ducked in the canal until they were ahiiost dead, and some were really put to death. Such acts were continued with greater or less violence until about the end of Septem- ber, though some of the rioters were now and then appre- hended and punished. Once, while one of them was whip- ped through the town, the mob threw stones at the guard, who fired on them in their own defence, and killed some of • them. Quarrels, indeed, had frequently taken place between the mob of Dublin and the garrison, and hence arose a savage custom of houghinff soldiers, which had increased so much that it was found necessary to pass an act for levying a maintenance, during life, on the citizens of Dublin for every soldier thus disabled. In the mean while various resolutions were published by volunteer corps, and others, expressing their disapprobation " of public measures. In some the want of protecting duties, in others Foster's bill, and the refusal of a more equal re- presentation, were the chief subjects of complaint. The people, by constant practice, had got, as it were, a knack at forming resolutions and addresses, that were often publish- ed on trivial occasions, and, of course, became insignificant by their frequency. The least real or apparent grievance readily produced a brood of these, as the people were proli- fic in productions of this kind, being fond of displaying their imaginary authority, at least upon paper. Call of Yet there was no public meeting that made such a noise congress. ^^ ^^^^ ^j^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^- ^^^ Aggregate Body of Dublin, con- vened by the sheriffs on the seventh of June. A series of resolutions were then voted, asserting the right of the people to a frequent election and free representation, com- plaining of oppressive bills passed last sessions, with other grievances, and recommending " the extension of the right "of suffrage to their Roman catholic brethren, still pre- " serving the present protestant government of the country, " as a measure fraught with the happiest consequences, and " highly conducive to civil liberty." A committee was then chosen to prepare an address to the people, and a petitioa to the king, which were to be laid before another meeting HISTORY OF IRELAND, 439 appointed for the twenty-first of the same month. At thisCH AP. meeting James Napper Tandy, foreman of the committees — who had already distinguished himself by his zeal, read to the assembly the address and petition, which were approved. The former recommended, that five persons should be elect- ed fi'om each county, city, and great town in the kingdom, to meet in Dublin, in national congress, (an invidious word) on the twenty-fifth day of October ; the latter stated the different objects of their complaint, requesting a redress, and insinuated a desire that his majesty would dissolve the parliament. When this petition was presented to the lord-lieutenant, in order to be transmitted to the king, he promised a com- pliance with their request, but declared liis resolution of con- veying, at the same time, " his entire disapprobation of it, " as tending to weaken the authority of the laws and par- " liament of Ireland." Petitions of the same tendency from other places were also voted, especially one from Belfast, « which vtry modestly requested his majesty to dissolve the present parhament, and summon a new one, according to such a plan as the national congress should digest. This petition being transmitted to Pitt, the minister, for presen- tation to the throne, he observed in reply, " that he still *' continued a zealous friend to a reform in parliament, but *' on grounds very different from those adopted in their " petition, and that he considered what was there proposed " as tending to produce still greater evils than any of those " which the friends of reform were desirous to remedy." Exertions were, however, made in the mean time to effect ^t^gj^ptj, the object of the aggregate meeting. In particular, James 5° prevent Napper Tandy, at the desire of the meeting, wrote circular letters to the several sheriffs of every county, and the chief magistrates of every city or large town to convene the people for the purpose of choosing delegates to congress. A few of them consented, but the generality refused, being intimidat- ed by the threats of the attorney-general Fitzgibbon, who assured them by letter, that he would prosecute any sheriff or other magistrate who would call, or preside at, a public meeting convened on such a business. Accordingly he pro. ceeded to file informations in the court of Kind's Bench 4iW HISTORY OF IIIEL.WD. / CHAP, against magistrates who had presided at such meetings, par- - " " ' ticularly against the high-sheriff of the county of Dubhn, who was deprived of his office, fined, and confined in New- gate for a week. His punishment would have been much more severe, had he not behaved very submissively, plead- ing ignorance, and begging pardon for the offence he had committed. Proceedings of a similar kind were taken against the printers of newspapers who had published the obnoxious resolutions of such assemblies. Yet the legality of these proceedings in the court of King''s Bench was very much questioned, and became afterwards the subject of strict in- vestigation in parliament. Notwithstanding the obstructions thus occasioned, many of the great towns and some of the counties, met of them- selves. The ichvn of Belfast chose the patriotic bishop of Derry as one of its delegates, but his lordship declined ac- cepting of its delegation, offering, as an excuse, that he must ' wait till the town of Londonderry held its meeting, as he must give it the preference, should it resolve to choose him. Accordingly it met and chose him a delegate, on which he consented to attend ; but, when the time came, he made some apology, and did not go. The bishop's falling off at this critical juncture was not owing to the proposal of ex- tending the right of voting to catholics, which was a fa- vourite object of his, but to a message he received from the prime minister, warning him to keep from the intended meeting, or to abide the consequence. It must, however, have been owned, even by those who disapproved of the political opinions of this prelate, that he was entitled to high commendation for his rare and disinterested disposal of ec- clesiastical preferments. Divevsjiy rpj,g extension of the elective franchise to catholics was ot opinions. -I'll f r 1 a measure tor which the generality or protestants at that time were not prepared. Hence the proposal of the aggre- gate meeting, already mentioned, tended to pioduce dis- union, especially among the volunteers, which certainly was very agreeable to government. The volunteer corps of Ulster, in their address to the earl of Charlemont, their general, at their review in July, expressed their " satisfac- " tion at the decay of those prejudices which had so long HISTORY OF IRELAND. Ul " involved the nation in feud and disunion; a disunion CHAP, XXI " which, by limiting the rights of suffrage, had, in a great " degree, fostered the aristocratic tyranny, the source of " every grievance." In his reply, the earl professed himself " free from every illiberal prejudice against the catholicss " but could not refrain from the most ardent [entreaties to " the armed association to desist from a pursuit which " would fatally impede the prosecution of their favourite *' purpose." Of the propriety of his conduct on this occa- sion a diversity of opinions was entertained according to the habitsand prejudices of particular people. The Irish bri- gade, a regiment of volunteers composed almost entirely of catholics, expressed themselves dissatisfied with him, and, on tlie contrary, he received the thanks of the corporation of the city ot Dublin. Such was the contrariety of opinions by the unexpected Meeting of proposal of the aggregate meeting. The national congress, '^""^'^^ however, which it had appointed, assembled in Dublin on the twenty-fifth of October ; but as it was far from being complete in point of number, after a session of three days it adjourned to the twentieth of January, having passed reso- lutions similar to those of the aggregate meeting, and an ad- dress to the several counties and towns not represented at this assembly, requesting them to send delegates to the next. The second meeting of congress, on the twentieth of Janu- ary 1785, was much more numerous, consisting of above two hundred members, the representatives of twenty-seven coun- ties, and of most of the considerable towns. The proceed- ings appear to have been of the same nature with those be- fore adopted ; but on the proposed application to the house of commons, it was agreed to confine themselves to the most general terms, leaving the mode of redress as open as possi- ble to the legislature. The business of congress being thus quietly settled, it is ^ ^^^^' , .° ^ , ^ ,. V 1- Coniiner- necessary to take notice ot tue proceedings or parliament, cia' propo- which also met on the twentieth of January. The lord-lieu- '^i^i*^"^- tenant in his speech informed them, it was his Majesty's wish, that they should frame a plan for finally adjusting the trade and commerce of Great Britain and Ireland^ in 442 History or Ireland. CHAP, which the interests of both countries should be equally con- ^^'^^ suited. This was agreeable to an address to the kin£ on the same subject at the close of the last sessions, in order that some amends should be made for the loss of protecting duties. Accordingly, Mr Secretary Orde, on the seventh of February, proposed ten propositions, transmitted from the prime minister of England, on the commerce of the two countries, with a very liberal speech, setting forth the ho- nesty of his intentions, and the pains he had taken to meet the wishes of the people of Ireland. The purport of these propositions, which were afterwards made eleven, seemed on the whole to be, that England and Ireland should be placed on an equal footing with respect to trade and corA- merce, and that they should mutually give each other the preference. They therefore seemed to be just and equit- able, and, notwithstanding some objections, passed both houses with great applause. They were then returned to England for the discussion of the British legislature, whose concurrence would have established a commercial treaty, highly beneficial to Ireland, with ultimately at least equal advantage to Great Britain, but the blind and malignant spirit of commercial jealousy soon raised an alarm. Petitions from every part of England poured into parlia- ment against the whole system, witnesses were examined at the bar of the house, and lawyers employed to speak against it. The chief argument used was, that Ireland, by her in- feriority of taxation, and consequent cheapness of labour, might be able to undersell England in her ow markets ; but it was not consid&red, as proved by experience, first, that scarcity of fuel, the want of capital, of skill, and indus- try, more than counterbalanced that supposed advantage ; and, secondly, that parliament would take care to lay on taxes in proportion to the increased ability of the country. Of this an instance was given this very session ; for imme- diately on the propositions being passed, before their fate in England could be known, the chancellor of the exche- quer brought forward new taxes to the amount of a hun- dred and forty thousand pounds a-year, upon the score of the great commercial benefits which the country was on the point of obtaining. HISTORY OF IRELAND, 443 The expectations, however, entertained of these benefits CHAP» • • XXI were unhappily disappointed,^ for the prime minister, Pitt, . importuned by the numerous petitions, and thwarted in his Uberal intentions by his great opponent Fox, was obliged to new modeHhe whole plan. Hence tlie eleven original propositions were multiplied to twenty, which bore but lit- tle resemblance to the others, for instead of the system of reciprocal advantage, these propositions, by the alterations and amendments of the British lords and commons, seemed to offer but little more to Ireland than an equality of taxes, an equality of burthens. T.he fourth proposition set forth that the British parliament should bind Ireland, as the par- liament of this country was only allowed to register the acts of the other with respect to commerce. The propositions were therefore, when made known, received with universal abhorrence, and petitions were presented to parliament against them from every quarter of the kingdom. The Irish secretary Orde, could not, therefore, with any face pro- pose them to the house of commons, but on the twelfth of August brought in a bill founded on them, which, he sup- posed, would be more palatable. His motion, however, met with a most strenuous opposition, and after a vehement contest, which continued till nine in the morning, was car- ried, in a very full house, only by a majority of nineteen.* Discouraged by this small majority in the first stage of the business, the secretary, on the fifteenth, having moved the reading and printing of the bill, announced his deter- mination to proceed no farther with it on the present ses- sion, and to leave it to be revived or neglected by the pub- lic. Such was the failure of a plan, which vas never after renewed in the parliament of either kingdom, and the popular joy at the event was dis-played by general illumi- nations. Resolutions were now renewed not to import English manufactures, and the attempts of the populace to enfore them occasioned some tumults and alarms. Previous to the prorogation of parliament, which took place in Sep- tember, the speaker, Edmund Sexton Perry, resigned from the infirmities of age, and was succeeded by John Foster, * Ayes 127..-Noes ICS. 444 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP the chancellor of the Exchequer, who was elected by the iinr-. ^^^' . nimous vote of the house. 1786. The session of the next year, 1786, was cliiefly remark- able for passing an act for the establishment of a police in the city of Dublin, in the place of its former watch. As a heavy tax was now imposed on the metropolis for tlie main- / tenance of public officers appointed by the crown, whose influence in the corporation was thus augmented, it natu- rally gave the citizens great oifence. Apprehensive of its consequence, they exerted themselves against it, during its progress through the house, and hence unavailing opposition was made to it by the patriots. The disturbances that bad lately taken place in the city formed a pretence for passing this obnoxious act. Right boys Disturbances of a different kind arose in the south this year. The persons engaged in them styled themselves Right-boys, and resembled their predecessors the Wliite- boys in everv thing but the name. Their designs were to rob the established clergy of their incomes,to which they were excited by some persons legally informed. Such men sug- gested to the farmers to enter into a combination, under the sanction of an oath, neither to take their tithes, nor as- assist any clergyman to draw them. For this pur- pose the form of a summons according to law was supplied,, of which many thousand copies were printed in Cork, and afterwards distributed through all Munster. But the in- surrection began in the county of Kerry, where the people collected in catholic chapels, and took an oath to obey the orders of captain Right, and to fleece the clergy. They engaged that a great number should summon each clergy- man to draw their tithe on the same day, and to allow no proctors, 'i'hey published, indeed, a tithing table at a very low rate, according to which they promised to pay, but they did not adhere to it. The insurrection extended from the county of Kerry to the county of Cork, and other counties in IMunster, and the insurgents would march in bodies of some thousands, without arms, administering their oaths of obe- dience to captain Right, and giving out their laws. Those who did not obey were punished with the same savage cruelty, that the White-boys inflicted on those vv^ho gave them offence. Many of the country clergy in the diocese HISTORY OF inELAND. 445 of Cork, and of Cloyne, in dread of their lives, took refuge CHAP, in the city of Cork, and left their parishes and their tithes ^^^ exposed to the insurgents. In their designs, they were se- cretly encouraged by some gentlemen of landed property, in hopes of getting their estates exont rated from tithes, and therefore, as long as their schemes were confined to curtail- ing the clerical revenue, notwithstanding the cruelties they committed, little or no opposition was given to them, but ■when they proceeded to limit the rents of lands, raise the price of labour, and oppose the collection of hearth-money, a loud clamour of insurrection was excited, and it was then deemed expedient to resist their designs. Accordingly, in the beginning of the following year, an 1787, act of parliament was passed, for preventing tumultuous as- semblies and illegal combination. On this occasion, the at- torney-general, John Fitzgibbon, who had made an accu- rate inquiry into the affair, exonerated the clergy from the blame of extortion, declaring, that, instead of the tenth, their legal demand, hardly any of them received the twen- tieth ; that of course the insurrection was not owing to them, but to the landlords, who ground the peasants to powder by enormous rents, charging them six pounds an acre for theit land, and obliging them to work lor them for five-pence a-day, by which they were unable not only to pay the cler- gy their due, but even to get food and raiment for them- selves, and that some landlords had incited their tenants to rob the clergy of their tithes, not for the purpose of allevi- ating their own distresses, but with a view ot adding the va- lue of these tithes to the merciless rack-rents already im- posed. It appeared, indeed, on the present occasion, that the generality of magistrates had been criminally neglectful of their duty. In October of this year, on his return from a tour to the Death of south of Ireland, died the duke of Rutland, of a feverish ^^"^'^'^• complaint, occasioned by intemperance. His many amiable and social qualities caused his death to be universally re- gretted, though the expenses of government had been pro- digiously increased during his administration. His successor, earl Temple, now marquis of Buckingham, Discovery who met the Irish parliament in January 1788, immediate-''* ^J?"'J^ ,Jy on his arrival proceeded to the examination of the abuses ingham. 4't6 UlSTOllY OF IRELAND. CHAP, in the various offices of the castle, which he had been pre- ' ■_ vented from completing by his sudden removal. The sys- tem of peculation was now found to be enormous; military stores were openly embezzled ; arms, condemned as useless, were carried away through one gate of the castle, and brought back through another, as if newly purchased. The same fraudulent plan was pursued in other departments. Hence clerks in subordinate offices, with the nominal sala- ries of a hundred a-year, were enabled to live in a splendid style. Their accounts being severely investigated by the viceroy, the fraud was detected, and a demand made of im- mediate payment, which threw the defaulters into such a panic, that some of them fled the kingdom, some by en- ^ treaties and promises eluded the blow, and some had re- course to the horrible expedient of suicide. At this point the marquis was obliged to stop in his plan of reformation and economy, having no authority to extend it to useless places and pensions, that unfortunately were found necessary for the purpose of securing a majority in parliament for the court, the great object of a chief govern- or, which could not be attained, such was the corruption of the legislature, even in matters of undoubted utility, with- out a profuse donation of the public money. 1789. The corrupt disposition of the Irish parliament was, un- Disputes jgj. ^|jg present government, eminently displayed in a par- tegeBc;'. ticalar instance. A disorder, Avhich attacked the king in summer, having terminated, in November 1788, in a men- tal derangement, his majesty was of course incapable of per- forming the various functions of sovereignty. In that case, as was natural, the prince of Wales was appointed regent, but under severe restrictions imposed on him by the British parliament at the instance of the prime minister. It was of course expected by the British cabinet, that the Irish par- liament, which met on the fifth of February 1789, would follow the example, by imposing on his Royal Highness the same restrictions, and this the viceroy used every exertion to accomplish. In his endeavours, however, he failed, fo many placemen and pensioners in the Irish parliament, ex- pecting that the opposite party both in England and Ire- land would now rise into power, thought it prudent to make HISTORY GF IRELAND. 447 their peace with them by deserting their present employers, C H A P, whose interest they saw expiring. Accordingly, they join- " ed the patriotic phalanx of Grattan, and an address was voted bv the commons, offering the prince of Wales the re- . gency of Ireland without restrictions. In this address the Jords concurred, but as the viceroy refused to transmit it, commissioners from both houses were appointed for the pur- pose of presenting ii to his Hoyal Highness. In the meanwhile, Mr Grattan took the advantage of the Inconsist- majority, which adhered to him, to propose bills of a patrio-^"^jj tic complexion, which were carried, especially one for pre-meiit. venting revenue officers from voting at elections. But this patriotic fever was of short duration. An account arriving of an unexpected change for the better having taken place in the king''s health, many of the new converts began to re- pent of their rash conduct. Soon after his majesty's health was completely re-established, and it was settled that the present government in both kingdoms should continue- Then, strange as it may seem, on the twentieth of April, the committal of the bill above mentioned was rejected by that house, of which a great majority had voted for its in- troduction. The other patriotic bills shared the same fate. The placemen and pensioners, who thus displayed the sin- cerity of their repentance, were allowed to continue in their .situations ; but a few, who were more obstinate, v/ere dis- missed. On the contrary, some were promoted for their ri- gid adherence to government in the season of trial. Among these, was John Fitzgibbon the attorney-general, who was appointed lord-chancellor, being the first Irishman entrust- ed with that office by the English cabinet. His subsequent conduct justified the choice that was made, for he applied himself with such indefatigable industry to his duty, as to expedite the decision of causes in his court, that had been many years undetermined, and made it a rule, that none should afterwards continue undecided for a longer time than was absolutely required by the necessary forms of law. In this instance certainly an essential service was effected. However, great discontent was occasioned by the profuse expenditure of the public money. In the administration of the duke of Rutland, the expenses of the Irish government 448 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, had prodigiously increased, so much so, that the pensions thpn amounted to nearly a hundred thousand pounds a-year, exckisive of those paid in the mihtary department, the charges under the head of incidents in the civil establish- ment, and the additional salaries of sinecure places, both of which were in reality pensions. Yet the duke was so agree- able and amiable in his manners and private conduct, as to procure for himself, with all the expenses of his govern- ment, a considerable degree of public favour. Extrava- I" ^^^is particular, the marquis of Buckingham was not ^ance of go fortunate. He was reserved and haughty in his deport- haui. ment, which did not suit the frank and open turn of the Irish people. Besides, they were greatly disappointed in the expectations they had formed of his public conduct. He set out with some acts of economy which were certainly laudable, and gave a favourable omen of his future adminis- tration. But he stopped at the point of reform in the offices of the castle, and afterwards pursued with perseverance the established system of governing by pecuniary influence. He was so lavish of the public money for the purpose of procuring votes in parliament, that, beside the creation of new places, he added thirteen thousand pounds a-year to the pension list. Hence a strenuous opposition to his mea- sures Avas made by the patriots in the house. For a while it was attended with success, but the restoration of the king's health soon brought back the deserters, and secured him a sufficient majority. During the season of their de- sertion, a vote of censure was passed against him by the house for refusing to transmit the address to the prince of Wales, and hence a mutual distrust arose which was never afterwards removed. The patriotic party in parliament, in order to render their opposition more strong and systematic, formed an assembly termed the Whig-club, similar to one of the same name in London. In their meetings their plans of attack on the minister were arranged ; and the particular post to each member assigned ; but it was not confined to members of parliament, and persons were admitted into it who were af- terwards charged, on good grounds, with treason and sedi- tion. Their declared objects, which repeatedly became HISTORY OF IRELAND. 449 matter for parliamentary discussion, were bills for limitation CHAF. of pensions and places, a bill of responsibility, requring the acts of the executive .government to be signed by certain officers resident in Ireland, who should be responsible for these acts with their lives and fortunes ; a bill for disquali- fying the officers of revenue to vote in the election of mem- bers of parliament, a repeal of the police bill of Dublin, together with a total demolition of the new charges created by the marquis. Disgusted with his loss of popularity, the marquis retired 1790, from a country, where his situation was so disagreeable, in „ l'''^^- Same uiea- June 1789, leaving the government in the hands of the two gures pur- lords-justices, the lord chancellor, and the speaker of the^^'^'^* commons. His successor, the earl of Westmoreland, who did not arrive till the beginning of the succeeding year, met the parliament on the twentieth of January 1790. The same system of influence was continued by government, . and the same strenuous opposition by the patriotic party in the commons. At the head of this party stood the eloquent Mr Grattan, who made many a severe philippic against the corruptions of administration. In particular, he charged them with the sale of peerages, and of applying the money thus acquired in the purchase of seats for their adherents in the house of commons. This unconstitutional act, which tliey did not venture to disavow, could only be justified by the supposed necessity for having a majority in parliament to do the king's business, which, on account of the depra- vity of human nature, could be secured no other way than by emolument. In April the parliament was dissolved ; the new one met in July, and Foster, the late speaker, being re-elected, it was prorogued in fourteen days after. It met again for the dispatch of^ business in January 1791, and during this session, its proceedings differed very little from those of the one previous to the dissolution : but the pa- triots seemed rather to have lost than acquired strength by the new election. The affairs of Ireland assumed, however, a new com- 1795, plexion from the revolution of France, which took place on Celebra- the fourteenth ot July 1789. Ihis event, the most extra- French re- ordinary recorded in the political annals of the world, which "^"'^'''"''■• K f 450 HISTORY OF IRELAND. C H A P. at first seemed so favourable, and afterwards proved so de- ^^^' trimental to liberty, and so destructive to tbe buman race, was viewed by tbe generality of tbe people of Ireland witb very strong sensations of joy. Meetings were beld to cele- brate it in different places, particularly in tbe town of Bel- fast, wbich took tbe lead on tbis occasion. On tbe four- teentb of July 1791, the inhabitants of tbattown and neigb- hourbood met to celebrate the anniversary of tbe Frencb revolution, when all tbe armed corps of volunteers attended, and fired several feus-de-joie ; many striking emblems, in allusion to tbe revolution of 16S8, were displayed, to mark their horror of despotism and arbitrary power, and a most sympathetic address was sent from tbis assembly to tbe society of tbe friends of tbe constitution at Bourdeaux, to which a suitable answer was returned. On the fourteentli of July 1792, tbe commemoration was again celebrated at tbe same toAvn, witb great pomp and splendour, and, on that occasion, several emblematic figures and representations were exhibited, drawn along by horses, witb appropriate inscriptions, expressive of the liberty obtained by France, and tbe slavery to wbich Ireland was still subject. When tbe procession was over, tbe volunteers, and many of the inhabitants of the town, assembled in tbe Linen-hall, and entered upon the discussion of politics. Tbe principal topics bandied at this meeting were parliamentary reform and catholic emancipation, which were now connected to- gether. In favour of these they entered into strong lesolu- tions, and voted an address to tbe national assembly of France, and another to the people of Ireland. UuiteJ A plan of an association, under the name of United Irrsh- men, for tbe attainment of these ends, was printed in Belfast in tbe June of 1791, and, in tbe following November, this new society was accordingly instituted in Dublin, for the purpose of forming, as they declared, " an union of Irish- *' men of every religious persuasion, in order to obtain a ** complete reform of tbe legislature, founded on tbe prin- '' ciples of civil, political, and religious liberty." Conform- ably to this idea, every person, on bis adra;ssi;»i as a mem- ber, pronounced and subscribed a test, soitinnly promising, HISTORY OF IRELAND. 451 in the awful presence of God, to use his exertions for the C H A P. promotion of that scheme. Whatever may have been the sentiments of the generahty National of the persons thus associated, some of them appear to have entertained the dangerous project, which was not communi. cated to the rest, of overturning the present government and erecting a system of democracy in its place. This, of course, was to be effected by force of arms, and, in order to provide the means of executing their designs, an institution was formed in Dubhn, and also in Cork, of national guards, whose uniform was green^ the national colour, and their buttons engraved with a harp under a cap of liberty, in- stead of a crown. The twenty ninth of December 1792 was the day appointed for the general muster in Dublin, and all the volunteer companies of the city were invited to attend on the occasion, in order to celebrate the triumph of liberty in France. From the very beginning the British court appear to have been highly dissatisfied with the restraints imposed on the regal authority in that kingdom, and with the in- temperate joy expressed on that account by some British subjects. The generality of the people of England were not, however, attached to French principles, and many in- clined to them were converted by the parliamentary speeches and pamphlet of the famous Edmund Burke. To this pamphlet several answers were published, but particularly one of a violent democratic cast, by the republican Thomas Paine, styled Rights of Man. By these means the power of the English government was rather increased than dimi- nished through dread of revolution, and precautionary modes, as the suspension of the act of Habeas Corpus, were adopted, by which several persons were confined through suspicion. The inflammatory writings of Paine and others had, how- ever, more effect in Ii'eland, a soil more fitted for their re- ception. In this country, on account of the greater discon- tent of the people, government had always recourse to more arbitrary measures than in England. Hence, so early as the year 1789, some severities were exercised beyond the due limits of the law, particularly ^a^s, or warrants, were Ff9 452 IIISTOiiY OF iUELANJ). XXI issued by judges against persons charged with libels, de- - " ' manding such excessive bail, that those persons, through inability to obtain it, were long confined in prison. This punishment was inflicted particularly on John Magee, printer of the Dublin Evening Post, who was arrested by a warrant issued by lord ClonmeJ, chief-justice of the King's Bench, and his lordship's conduct on this occasion was af- . terwards approved by a majority in parliament. jiressiou. During the process of the French revolution, government found it requisite to increase their vigilance, and hence the formation, professed and peculiar habits of the national guards, above mentioned, were viewed by them with sus- picious eyes. They therefore determined not only to sup- press them, but all armed associations not sanctioned by their authority, and accordingly, on the day immediately preceding the intended muster, a proclamation was issued by the lord-lieutenant and council, absolutely interdicting all seditious assemblies, and commanding the magistrates, it" necessary, to disperse them by military force. This menace, with the array of the garrison, caused the national guards to put off their meeting, and the much-talked of muster never took place. Maivfesto 'pjjg society of United Irishmen, being foiled in this at- Iiishmeti. tempt, determined still to persevere, and accordingly, on the fourteenth of the succeeding month, tiiey published a manifesto or counter-proclamation, exhorting the volunteers to resume their arms for the maintenance, as before, of pub- lic tranquillity, in opposition both to foreign and domestic foes, and recommending the protestants of Ireland to chuse delegates for provincial assemblies, preparatory to a general convention, by which a common cause might be formed with the catholics, and thus " universal emancipation, and " representive legislature," the great objects of their desires, be obtained. In this address they style the ministry " tlie " faction or gang which misrepresents the king to the " people ;" and observe of the army, " that they once were *' citizens, that seduction made them soldiers, but nature " made them men !" For the publication of this libel Archibald Hamilton Rowan, the secretary of the United Irishmen on that occasion, a gentleman of respectable family ^flSTOKY OF ir.ELAND. 453 and fortune, of amiable manners and cliaractcr, but of. a too CHAP. • XXI facile disposition, was afterwards prosecuted and convicted. ' — A secret committee for the management of the politicaj Catholic „,-,., , ,. , , „ , , ,. connuitlce. concerns or tlie Irish catljo!;cs, elected from the several dio- ceses of the kingdom, and parishes of the metropolis, had subsisted in Dublin since the year 1757. In a meeting of this body in February 1791 a petition to parliament was proposed, but some respectable catholics, through dread of being suspected of revolutionary designs, declined to concur in this measure. Sixty-four of these, including the lords Kenmare and Fingal, having formally seceded from the rest, presented, in the month of November, an address to the lord-lieutenant, expressive of the respectful submission of themselves and the catholic body to government, and of tlieir resignation to its wisdom and humanity. In tile session of parliament, which commenced in Janu- 1792. ary 1792, some new indulgences had been granted to the catholics, such as admission to the practice of the law, in- termarriage with protestants, and full liberty of education ; but with tliese partial concessions the majority of the catho- lic committee were not satisfied, and, in opposition to the party seceding, persevered in their pursuit of a redress of grievances. In order to lay before government the sense of the whole catholic body collectively, they fixed on the fa- shionable plan of a convention, composed of delegates from the several towns and counties, who were to be elected by persons deputed, two from each parish. The committe also thought it expedient to publish a solemn disavowal of some dangerous tenets commonly supposed to be entertained by them. They denied that princes excommunicated by the pope may be murdered or deposed ; that men may be mur- dered for being heretics ; that actions, immoral in their own nature can be justified under pretence of being com- mitted for the good of the church ; that no faith should be kept with heretics, or that oaths made to persons of that de- scription are less binding than those made to catholics^ They also declared, that, in their opinion, no power could absolve them from jLheir oaths of allegiance, or from any just oaths or contracts ; that the pope \vas not infallible, and liad 110 temporal jurisdiction within this realm ; and that sins 454 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CH A.P. could not be forgiven by either pope or priest without sin- -^^^- cere repentance. Finally, they solemnly renounced all claims of forfeited lands, and all designs of subverting the present ecclesiastical establishment. Such public declarations were necessary in their present situation, to refute the charges of their enemies, and confirm the attachment of their friends, who were chiefly among the dissenters, and society of United Irishmen. Many protest- ants, however, suspecting the sincerity of their declarations, apprehensive of their intemperate zeal, or for various other reasons, were unwilling to allow them any share of political power. Hence resolutions hostile to their claims were voted by grand juries, the assembled freeholders in counties, and the corporations of Dublin. These resolutions also con- demned their plan of convention as seditious. Conventioo The convention, however, being elected in the manner appointed, met in Dublin, on the 3d of December 1792, in TaylorVl'.all, in Back-lane, and hence was called in de- rision the Back-lane parliament. Some splendid samples of oralorv were now exhibited, and a petition voted to the king, stating the grievances, patience, and long- tried loyalty of the Irish catholics. In this petition they dwelt princi- pallv on their deprivation of the elective franchise, which they style their " prime and heavy grievance, the cause and " bitter aggravation of all their calamities." Five deputies were appointed to present this petition to his majesty, who set out without delay on their important mission. Having prefered the short seas, they reached Belfast on the twelfth of December, where they were received with great honours, ibr immediately on their arrival, at nine o'clock in the morning, many respectable protestant inhabitants waited on them, and breakfasted with them at the inn, and on their departure the populace, urged by their superiors, took the horses from their carriage, and dragged them over the long bridge of that town, shouting out with loud huzzas. " Suc- -" cess attend you, union, equal laws, down with the ascen- " dency." riectfv' l*ro'jeeding to London through Scotland, they were, on francluie the sfccond of January 1793, introduced by secretary Dun- obtained. (3j^g jQ |.j^g king, who received their petition in a very graci<» HISTORY OP IRELAND. 455 uus manner. The condition of his catholic subjects his ma- CHAP. • XXI jesty recommended to the Irish parliament, which met on the tenth of January, and accoi'dingly an act for their relief was passed in that session, to which, it seems, xnany even of those who voted for it, were averse. By this act catholics obtained the great object of their desire, the elective fran- chise, and were placed nearly in the same political situation with protestants, except that they were still excluded from a seat in parliament, and the privy council, from the office of sheriff, and some other offices under the crown, about thirty in number, specified in the act, and that their clergy were to be supported solely by their own voluntary contribu- tions. Towards defraying the expense of effecting this de- sired object, nearly six thousand pounds were raised from the catholic body, of which above two thousand three hun- • dred was received for his services by the son of the famous Edmund Burke, who had acted as their agent. Some other popular bills, for which the patriots had long Popular contended in vain, were, with the concurrence of adminis- tration, also passed this session. These were, a place bill, a pension bill, and responsibility bill. By the place bill it was enacted, that all who should hold places under go- vernment, created after the date of the bill, or other places specified, particularly those of officers of the revenue, whose duty required their absence from the metropolis, should be excluded from a seat in the house of commons. By the pension bill it was enacted, that all who should hold pen- sions for years, or during the king's pleasure, should be also excluded. By this bill, the annual sum of pensions, which then amounted to nearly a hundred and twenty thousand pounds, was reduced to eighty thousand. The responsibility bill declared, that no warrant from the king, for the disposal of public money, was legal without the sig- nature, and consequent responsibility to parliament, of the proper officers in the Irish administration. By this bill the hereditary revenue was given up, and, like the additional supply, voted annually. A few more populai bills were also passed, by which a trade to India was permitted under spe- cified restrictions, encouragement given for the improvement 450 HISTORY OP IRELAND. ^XXI^ of barren land, and an explanation afforded respecting th( .power of juries in case of libel. £"3" '^^^ ministry having thus, by their conciliatory conduct, convention mollified the opposition, got two bills of a coercive nature ^'^'- passed with little difficulty. These were termed the gun- powder bill, and the convention bill. One was intended to prevent gunpowder, arms, and ammunition, from being im- ported, removed, or kept witiiout license ; the other to pre- vent the appointment of conventions or other unlawful as- semblies, under pretence of preparing or presenting public petitions, or other addresses, to his majesty or parliament. By the latter was defeated the project formed by the United Irishmen, of having a national convention held at Athlone in September, or some other time of that year, arwith Measures of precaution as well as of conciliation were judged necessary by government, in the present conjunctui-e. Enraged at the countenance given by the national conven- tion of France, to the democratic societies both of England and Ireland, and at the cruel death of the unhappy Lewis XVI, they dismissed the ambassador of the French repub- lic with disdain, and of course caused that state to declare war against Great Britain. Thus was completed that im- mense confederacy, of potentates combined for the purpose of crushing French power and French principles, which produced the very contrary effect. At the very commence- ment of the war, commercial credit received such a shock, that the bank of Ireland found it necessary to advance, on the security of parliament, two hundred thousand pounds, to be distributed, at five percent, interest, among some mer- cantile houses, who had sufficient property, but could not convert their goods into money to answer their immediate demands. Militia bill In the present session was passed a bill, for raising by ballot a militia of sixteen thousand men, whose time of ser- vice was to be four years. By the mode of compulsory re- cruiting, each person of whatever station on whom the lot fell was obliged either to serve, to find a substitute at a rreat expense, or pay a heavy fine, and therefore it was considered a great grievance, especially as the people were not accustomed to it before. To alleviate the burthen by HISTORY OF IRKLAND. 457 dividing it, subscriptions of money for raising recruits werec H a P. generally adopted, and insurance offices were established to ^^^- indemnify individuals for a stated sum. Thus for a time a heavy tax Avas imposed on peasants, and others of small means and large families. Recruits could have been got with more ease, if the common people had a perfect reliance on the faith of government ; but this really was not the case, owing to a particular circumstance. A regiment termed tlie green linnets^ which had been enlisted during the Ame- rican Y.ar, on the express promise of not being obliged to serve out of Ireland, was, notwithstanding, carried to Ame- rica, in breach of a solemn compact. Hence the people were apprehensive that the militia would be treated in the same manner. Thus were discontents occasioned, and riots produced in completing the militia, which cost the lives of some persons, both soldiers and insurgents. Insurgents styled Defenders, who vvere unconnected with Defender? the business of militia, had prevailed for some years pre-*^'^' ceding, and having of late risen to such a height as to at- tract the attention of parliament, a secret committee of the lords, appointed early in the present session, made a report of their violences, as well as of the proceedings of th.e United Irishmen. The Defenders succeeded the White-boys, but Avere not like them confined to a particular quarter. They arose, indeed, in the county of Armagh, it is supposed, from the following cause. At a horse-race, at a place called Drurabee, near Hamilton's Bawn, about the year 1784-, there happened to be a quarrel between some catholics and protestants of the established church. The former being supplied with arms, overcame their opponents and drove them off the course. Enraged at their defeat, the protest- ants of the lower order began to take arms from the catho- lics, which they had shown peculiar eagerness to collect, and were well supplied with muskets, swoi-ds, and pistols. The latter being resolved to prevent them, if possible, styled themselves Defenders,* and the former assumed the title of Peep'of' day-boys, as they broke into the houses of their anta- gonists in search of arms at a very early hour in the morning. * The above intelligence was attained by an accurate inquirv on the spot. CHAP. XXI. 1794. 45S HISTORY OP IRELAND. On this occasion, they used also to insult the people, and burE their furniture. The Defenders, who were all bound by the same oath, seemed to have been regularly organized in the year 1789, and to have been prepared either for defence or assault. Some contests, accompanied with bloodshed, now took place between parties of these hostile religionists, and some murders were perpetrated with premeditated de- sign, particularly by the Defenders, who appear to be of a more sanguinary cast. In the year 1791, they committed a most atrocious act at Forkhill, in the county of Armagh, where a protcstant schoolmaster, named Barclay, with his wife and brother-in-law, were mutilated in a shocking man- ner, of which a minute recital would be very offensive. Though the Defenders had been frequently checked, they had long become private aggressors, and, at the time the committee of lords made their report, had extended their associations through the counties of Louth, Meath, Cavan, Monaghan, and the adjacent parts. Assembling in large bodies at night to learn the use of arms, they went through their military evolutions under their captains, the most in- famous individuals of the community, and under the spe- cious name of Defenders committed all sorts of crimes. Their usual practice was to break open the houses of pro- testants, seize their arms at first, then their money and other valuable effects, murder loyal inhabitants, especially the established clergy, as the Rev. Mr Knipe and the Rev. Mr Butler, chaplain to the Bishop of Meath. In time they spread, with a uniformity of design and similarity of oaths, to the most remote counties, where Peep-of-day-boys had certainly never existed, such as Kerry, Wexford, Lime- rick, &c. In many parts the country gentlemen were oblig- ed to leave their houses, or keep soldiers in them, and build up their windows, leaving only a kind of port holes there, like fortifications prepared against the attack of the enemy. The eventful session of 1793, in which the bill so much desired by the catholics, and other conciliating acts were passed, but which did not sufficiently tend to conciliate the people, or stop the violencies of the Defenders, was conclud- ed on the sixteenth of August. At the commencement of the stssion in January of the succeeding year, the lord-Heute- HISTORY OF laELANB. 459 nant in his speech expressed his satisfaction at the success of C HAP. his majesty's arms, and of those of his alhes over the French, ' who had declared war against Great Britain without provo- cation, and were endeavouring to involve every government in Eui'ope in a general scene of confusion and anarchy. During the present session was renewed, by William ^"®"P*' Brabazon Ponsonby, a bill, which had been presented in the last one, for obtaining a more equal repi'esentation of the people in parliament, but it was now rejected by a great majority. Of late, however, the people did not, as former- ly, by petitions and addresses support the minority in par- liament in the promotion of this plan For this change of sentiment three reasons can be assigned. 1. On account of tlie admission of the catholics to the elective franchise, the adherents of protestant ascendency became averse to the suppression of the boroughs, which they considered as a barrier against the encroachment of those religionists. 2. By the dread of revolutionary prniciples emanating from France, where they had produced such a terrible effects, many became less ardent in their zeal for political innova- tion, and others more strenuous in their determination to resist every attempt of this kind. 3. The scheme of univer- sal suffrage and armual parliaments, adopted by the society of United Irishmen, had rendered the idea of reform un- palatable to many friends of genuine liberty, and the glar- ing defects and absurdities of this scheme were exposed with great eloquence by the patriotic Henry Grattan him- self, in the house of commons. Some of the leading: members of the society above ^®**'°"^. *= . . . , . persons ob- nientioned were about this time stopped in their cereer Hged to flj,' by the interposition of government. Archibald Hamil- ton Rowan, being tried for circulating the manifesto already noted, was found guilty of publishing a sedi- tious libel, sentenced to be imprisoned for two years, pay a fine of five hundred pounds, and give large security for his future good behaviour. A charge was afterwards brought against him of being engaged in a treasonable cor- respondence with the French government, but before brought to trial on this charge, he effected his escape out of prison, and fled to the continent. Thither also fled James 4-60 HISTORY OF IRELAND. ^ ^^^' Napper Tandy of Dublin, tlic famous agitator of democra- ■ cv> who had given bail to stand his trial at Dnndalk, and Tlieobald Wolfe Tone, a lawyer of talents, the principal framer of the society of United Irishmen. Rowan was sup- posed to be implicated in the treasonable correspondence with one William Jackson, an English clergyman of the established church, who was tried next year and found guilty, but expired at the bar of the court of a dose of poi- son, taken to avoid the shame of a public execution. 1795 Some months before his trial, earl Fitzwilham, who had Fitzwil- ioined the British administration, in his zeal against Jiam vice- •' • i i t jroy. the French republic, was appointed lord-lieutenant of Ireland. On his arrival, in the beginning of January 1795, he commenced the exercise of his authority by re- moving from their places, with suitable compensations, such servants of government as, he thouglit, were averse to his plan, especially the right honourable John Beresford, first commissioner of the revenue. His plan may be de- duced from his speech delivered to the parliament, which met on the twenty-second of January. In his speech, after recommending suitable supplies for the war, he mentioned the state of education, and the advantages arising from the protestant charter-schools, a usual topic in such speeches, but observed that these advantages were ' partial, and that other considerations connected with this important subject were necessary ; that in the present crisis it would be wise to derive profit from the united strength and zeal of every description of his majesty's subjects, and that his majesty would cheerfully concur in every measure tending to that salutary purpose. The address to the king was moved by Henry Grattan, who, though he had not accepted a place, was allowed to be the confidential minister of lord Fitzwil- liam. In his speech on that occasion he took notice, among other points, of his majesty's recommending national har- mony, " and settling the troubled waters, in which the bark ** of the country had been long shattered under various false *' pilots for ages of insane persecution, and impious theo- Disappoint- From the complexion of their speeches it is evident that removaL ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ intention of the Irish government to countenance the repeal of all remaining disqualifications affecting the HISTORY OF IRELAND. 461 catholics, and petitions from that body to that effect -were chap. presented to parhanient from almost every part of the king- ^ ' dom. Accordingly, a bill was introduced by Henry Grat- tan, conformable to these petitions, winch was received with only three dissentient voices. Such was the state of the business; but before the affair could be brought to a deci- sion, the British cabinet had determined to recal lord Fitzwilliam. As soon as the rumour of this determination was spread abroad, the cathohcs of Dublin, having assem- bled in their chapel of Francis-street, deputed three of their body with a petition to the king, to deprecate the measure. The deputies were graciously received by their sovereign on the thirteenth of March, but no answer was given them, and on the twenty-fifth of the same month earl Fitzwilliam embarked for England. The city, on his de- parture, exhibited a mournful aspect, and his carriage was drawn by respectable citizens to the place of embarkation. Great expectations were formed of this nobleman, the owner of a large estate in Ireland, and, from the popularity of his character, the extraordinary supply of one million, seven hundred thousand pounds was voted without oppo- sition. In a correspondence with the earl of Carlisle on this subject, published in his own vindication, he asserted, that the lieutenancy of Ireland was conferred on him with- out restrictions, and that he had full liberty to take all suitable means for attaching the great body of the peo- ple to the British government, and that ministry had in particular consented to grant catholic emancipation. Hence he complained of being deceived by them, a charge which they denied, but they would not allow a parliamen- tary investigation. Yet, suppose that all he asserts in this correspondence was literally true, and that he took the lieu- tenancy of Ireland with full liberty to grant catholic eman- cipation, it appears, from his own communications with the cabinet ministers, after his accession to the government, that they had abundant reason to change their opinion on this point. In these communications he declares, '< that *' the danger of delay in granting the Roman catholic claims, *' was great and imminent, that to resist it wholly would im- 462 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. " ply the certainty of the most alarming consequences;— ^^^' " that he trembled about the catholics, and that he had " great fear of keeping them quiet for the session."* From these representations it would be inferred, that they were very ungrateful for the important concessions lately afforded them, and desirous of an excuse for insurrection. The af- fairs of Ireland, indeed, from the departure of this noble- man, took a new and alarming turn. • See Letters from a veneruted nobleman, and Essay on the Political cir. cu?mta7ices oj'lrclandt by A. £nox, Es^. HISTORY OF IRELANOv 463 CHAPTER XXII. Commencement of Camden's government — Catholic college — New system of United Irishmen — Insjirrection act — ViO' lences of Orangemen—Armed yeomanry — Leaders of the union apply to France — Invasion attempted at their desire — • Theirneglect of Munster — Their chief attention to Ulster — Violent acts of their adherents there — Severe measures of government — Their success at the present — Mode used to seduce other parts — Declaration of Orangemen — Husseys pastoral letter — Adverse to scheme of union — Organization of United Irishmen — Their military arrangement — Parlia- mentary proceedings-— Attempts against mviislers— Sedi- tious newspapers suppressed — Hand-bills, c^c. substituted — Intercourse with France continued — Invasion prevented— Emissaries to France arrested — Members of Irish Direc- tory'— Discovery of Reynolds — Arrest of chief conspirators — Discovery of Armstrong — Violences of the United Irish — Arms demanded by the military — Their punishments of various kinds — Arrest of lord Edward Fitzgerald — Of others involved in the same charge — Time for insurrection appointed. The administration of earl Camden, tlie successor of the C IJ A P. popular earl Fitzwilliam, had a very ominous commence- ^^ ment. On the thirty- first of March, the day he was sworn 1795. into office, the lord primate, and the lord chancellor F'tz-^^""^^'"^"^^ gibbon, on their return from the castle, were assaulted by Camden's a mob, wlio threw stones at their carriages, and pursued the §^°'^^^"^* chancellor to his house in Ely-place, to which he got his es- cape made with a wound on the head. This nobleman was particularly obnoxious, on account ^^^jj^jlc of his strenuous opposition to complete catiiohc emancipa- college, tion, of which the ambitious part of tliat communion had 464 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, XXII. New sys- tem of United Irishmen. an ardent desire. The bill in favour of this measure, in- troduced during the late government, was brought forward "again, under different auspices, on the fourth of May, and after a violent debate, protracted till near eleven o''clock the next morning, it was rejected by a great majority.* How- ever, in compliance with a memorial of the preceding year from the catholic prelates to the earl of Westmoreland, a bill was passed this session for the establishment of a catho- lic college, for educating for the Romish priesthood such young men of Ireland as had resorted for that object to foreign universities, but were deprived of the usual benefits, by the disordered state of the continent. Accordingly, a college was founded at Maynooth for the purpose above mentioned, which has been very liberally endowed by go- vernment, -j* and previous to its establishment, catholics got permission to study in the protestant university of Dublin. Such indulgences, however, were not satisfactory to the people of that persuasion. The recal of the popular no- bleman, which was succeeded by addresses and violent speeches, and the fate of the bill so anxiously desired, pro- duced a general discontent. Defenders now assumed a more menacing aspect ; they daily increased in number, and extended even to the capital. In their associations, how- ever, men only of low rank were eugaged ; but the society of United Irishmen, began at this time to form a new sys- tem, planned with deep design, for combining Defenders, and all other malcontents, of every religion, in a grand con- spiracy against the existing government. From the very beginning, the leading members of this society had probably a scheme of this kind in their heads, but the chief object of the generality was a parliamentary reform, beyond which their wishes did not seem to extend. Tiieir idea of reform was indeed immoderate and fantastic, and condemned by the whig-club, but it was innoxious, when compared to the present scheme for overturning the constitution. After the recul of earl Fitzwilliam, the frame of the society of United • For rejecting 185— Against 84 — 101. -|- Nearly forty thousand pounds was grauteJ at its first establishment, and every successive session a rej^ular cliarga of eiyiit thousand, wai brought before parliament for its annual sujiport. HISTORY OF IRELANtt. 465 Irishmen underwent a material alteration. At first the plan C HA V XXII. of the association was public, but now became secret, and each member, on his admission, now took a solemn obliga- tion, on no account to discover on any member of the so- ciety, for any act or expression of his suitable to the design of the institution. This was called the oath of secrecy. Though reform in parliament was still the avowed object, yet in the test, as now altered, the word parliament was en- tirely omitted, the sentence being as follows, " I will also *' persevere in my endeavours to obtain an equal, full, and *' adequate representation of all the people of Ireland." This ambiguity of language was made use of, that reform- ers, by this disguise, might be induced to unite with repub- licans. At that time, the latter had hopes of success from the assistance of the French, with whom revolution was more an object than reform. In the session, which terminated in June, the Dublin police-act was repealed, which had caused such discontent 'in the metropolis. Discontent and disaffection unfortu- nately became very general, and as the existing laws were supposed insufficient to suppress the Defenders, a violent expedient was adopted, which could be only justified by the absolute necessity of the case. In the western counties where lord Carhampton commanded in a military station, the magistrates would assemble at his requisition, and hav- ing examined into the charges against persons confined in jail, on the accusation of being Defenders, they would order those of them who appeared most guilty to be sent to serve on board his majesty's navy, and these orders his lordship would take care to execute. His conduct in this instance, was as much applauded by government as condemned by the opposition, and a subsequent bill of indemnity secured the magistrates from danger. In the next session of parliament, which met in January 1796, an act was passed giving the magistrates by law thatinsurrec authority which some of them had previously assumed. ^^'^"'*'^^* This act was termed the Insurrection ad, and enacted, that on the petition of seven magistrates of a county assembled at a session of the peace, the chief governor and council might proclaim that county, or any district of it, in a state eg 466 HISTORY OF IRELAND. G H A P. of disturbance, and give the magistrates authority to search XXII. }jo„sgs for arms, and to treat as culprits all persons who should, witliout sufficient excuse, be discovered absent from their houses at unseasonable hours ; the magistrates had also authority to seize all persons who could not give a sa- tisfactory account of themselves, and if they could not get bail at assizes, to send them on board the fleet. It also en- acted, that administering unlawful oaths of a treasonable nature was a capital offence, and that in case a witness was murdered, his written testimony should be competent to go as evidence to the jury. This latter clause was absolutely necessary, as witnesses were frequently murdered previous to trials. In October (for the parliament met in that month for a few days) the act of habeas corpus was suspended by the legislature, and hence government got authority to con- fine in jail persons obnoxious or suspected, without cause assigned, or appointed time of trial. Violences While government was taking these measures for their ^jgjj^^"^^' security against the designs of the disaffected, who were united for their ruin, a body of men joined themselves to- gether of a very different description, whose professed object was to give them support. But the assistance afforded, at least at their commencement, by those supposed friends, was such as could not gain the approbation of any well regulat- ed government, and certainly tended to increase disaffec- tion among the catholics. The hostile contests, occasioned by religious animosity, between the Peep'of-daij-hoys and Defenders in the county of Armagh, having continued for many years, at length, in 1795, the Peep-of-day-hoys were joined by some other protestanfs, who formed themselves into an association under the title of Orangemen. Their name they took from king William, prince of Orange, who had rescued the protestants of Ireland from persecution, and afforded them a political superiority in the country. The Defenders and Orangemen, as they were called, having recourse to arms, had various rencounters, and though the former were more numerous, the latter generally gained the victory, which was owing to their being better acquaint- ed with discipline, as many of them had formerly been vo- lunteers. At a place called the Diamond, which lies be* HISTORY OF IRELAND. 467 tween Richhill and Portadown, they had a pitched battle C HA P* in which a few Orangemen defended themselves with great ^ spirit against a large body of Defenders, of whom some were killed. Mutual animosity being thus increased, the Orange- men began to search at night the houses of their opponents more strictly for arms and ammunition, with which, in great quantities, they had been clandestinely supplied from Dublin and other parts. When they found them conceal- ed they demolished both them and the furniture, for which violent transgression some of them were hanged. But even with this enormity they were not content, for they posted up papers at night on the houses of their adversaries, or- dering them to go to hell or Connaught, and threatening se- vere punishment on their disobedience, which they took care to inflict. Hence some hundreds of catholic families, it is said fourteen hundred, were forcibly expelled from their houses, and obliged to take shelter in that province or other parts. This terrible persecution was publicly condemned by the governor of the county, and some others of fortune and consequence, but in his laudable exertions he was not sufficiently seconded by some magistrates of inferior station.* Such acts of atrocity, though disgraceful to the persons con- cerned, reflect no imputation on the Orange societies after- wards formed by persons of respectable character, who bound themselves under an obligation to support the con- stitution, which the United Irishmen had previously en- gaged to destroy. The existence of one society afforded, of course, a sufficient excuse for the formation of the other to coiiteract its bad effect. An association, however, of more exsensive utility had '^''™^'^ y^®* manrv. its commencement in the year 1796. At that time govern- ment began to embody an armed yeomanry, which might make a material addition to the troops of the line and mili- tia, and afford the government more strength to resist both foreign and domestic foes. Hence great opposition was * Mr Plowrlen asserts, in his Historical Reviezo of the Slate. of Ireland, " that not a single magistrate in the county of Armagh had been stricken off the commission, though many were believerl to have encouraged these outrages." This really is not true. One maoistrate in that county was not only stripped of his commission, but fined and confined for his partiali' ty to these disturbers. «g2 468 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, given by disloyal people to their formation. The com- XXII. panics of yeomen generally consisted of fifty men, and were at first mostly cavalry, owing to the apprehension of govern- ment, who did not wish to entrust arms with even the lower order of protestants, lest they might become a dan- gerous engine in the hands of designing men, and begin to dictate like the old volunteers. The cavalry, who were supplied Avith a sword, and only one pistol, were found, on trial, not sufficiently efficacious, on account of the face of the country being uneven, thick set with hills, and intersect- ed with numerous ditches. Hence infantry were afterwards more usually ibrmed, and the yeomanry, which, in the course of six months, amounted to thirty-seven thousand men, and were still increasing, proved themselves, by their courage, loyalty and activity, in times of extreme peril, well worthy of the confidenct reposed in them. I^eaders of During these preparations the leaders of the society of the union Ufji^gj Irishmen were by no means inactive. In the sum- apply to . •' France. mer of 1795 they dispatched, on a treasonable mission, one Edward John Lewins, as a special messenger to the Execu- tive Directory of the French republic, soliciting their assis- tance towards separating this country from the British ge- vernment. For this proposal, it is supposed, the Directory were prepared by Counsellor Tone, then resident in France. In January 1796, the messenger returned with a favourable answer, and, in the summer of that year, the plan of inva- sion was settled at an interview which took place near the French frontier between Lord Edward Eitzgerald, Arthur O'Connor, and general Hoche. Accordingly, the French government began, without delay, to make preparations for tliis intended invasion, and these preparations, during the autumn of that year, were familiarly mentioned both in Great Britain and Ireland. Yet the British cabinet, either doubting or disregarding the intelligence, took not suitable measures for defence. Invasion The armament consisted of twenty five ships of the line attempted (including seven composing the squadron of admiral Richery, sire. who was to join with all speed) fifteen stout frigates, beside sloops and transports, containing an army of twenty-five thousand men. Admiral Bouvet was commander in chief HISTORY OP IRELAND. 469 of the fleet, and general Hoche of the land forces, whose CHAP. military abilities were hardly inferior to those of Buonaparte ^ himself. Delayed by various causes the fleet did not sail till the sixteenth of December, and, on going out of Brest, some of the largest ships struck, during a fog, upon the rocks at the mouth of the harbour, by which accident seve- ral were lost, and others rendered unfit for service. On the next day the armament was dispersed by a tempest, which continued to blow with more or less violence during the whole time of the expedition. On the twenty-fourth ad- miral Bouvet anchored in Bantry Bay with seventeen ves- sels, of which ten were of the line, and sent a boat to the shore with a reconnoitering party, who were immediately made prisoners by the peasants. The French officers were eager to land with the troops already arrived, but the ad- miral, deterred by the hostile aspect of the country, would not consent till the general should join them, who was aboard a frigate, which had been separated by the storm from this part of the fleet. After waiting for some davs the admiral returned to Brest, as did also ail tiie divisions of the scattered navy, with the loss of only two ships of the line and three frigates. Of the former one foundered at sea, and the other was driven on shore in France ; of the latter two foundered, and the other was taken by the English. During sixteen days the Irish coast lay exposed to a hostile Their ne . force, which clearly proves that the irresistible fleet of Bri-?!^'^^ "^ tain IS not a suthcient safeguard agamst invasion. Their landing was providentially prevented by the violence of the elements, but had it taken place, very disastrous conse- quences might have ensued. The army appointed to op- pose them was in a disorderly state, partly disaffected, and, it is said, but ill provided, especially with cannon. Their march towards the south in the very depth of winter was extremely severe, but their toil and sufferings were in some degree abated by the active assistance of the peasantry, who vied M'ith each other in clearing the roads of the snow, and affording them such comforts as their scanty means would allow. Hence it appears, that the leaders of the United Irishmen had not prepared them to second the invasion, which really was the case, occasioned by two contradictory 470 HISTORY OF IRELAND. C H A P- pieces of intelligence received from the French government,. " In November they got a message assuring them of the im- mediate sailing of the fleet, but in a few days after the mes- senger''s departure they received a letter, which they con- sidered as authentic, representing the proposed expedition as deferred until the spring of the next year. By this mis- take the people of the south being left to their own choice, at this critical juncture, were loyal, to which indeed they were urged by a very seasonable pastoral letter from Dr Moylan, the catholic bishop of Cork, Th^ir chief Among the people of the north more care was taken by attention to the United Irishmen to propagate their principles, and to these they*applied at first, as they were more fitted to receive them, being dissenters, or connected with them, of a demo- cratic cast, accustomed to free inquiry and political discus- sion. The town of Belfast, in which the United Irishmen took their rise, abounded, in particular, with people of that sort, fiery zealots who diffused the flame of disaffection over the whole province of Ulster. As a suitable vehicle for their principles they made use of the Northern Star, a news- paper jHiblishcd in that town under the direction of Robert and William Simms, and Samuel Nelson, sen of a dissent- ing minister. These were merchants, who had been toler- ably successful in business, and it too often happens that persons of that description, from managing their mercantile affairs with skill, conceive a high opinion of their capacity for legislation, and consider themselves capable of conduct- ing the complicated machine of government. By the inflam- matory publications of the Northern Star the people were roused into a kind of political frenzy, and entertained an ab- horrence against government, whom they were taught to look on as there oppressors. Though in reality they were little op- pressed with taxes, and enjoyed freedom of commerce and con- stitution, yet they could not be convinced of this, being led astray by the fallacious arguments and wild declamation of that seditious paper, which assured them that they were in sla- very and misery, and urged them to rise up against their tyrants, and shake off their chains. Hence the design of insurrection was daily increasing, and suitable modes were adopted to prepare for it. In tlie beginning of November HISTORY OF IRELAND. 471 1796, ten barrels of gunpowder were stolen out of the rojal chap. stores in Belfast. _^^^^ By such preparations for disturbance the public discontent 1797 •was displayed, and at the end of the present, and through ^^^["^"j'^j^^jj, a great part of the next year, the province of Ulster was inadherenis a very unsettled state. Parties of insurgents used to roam ^^^^' at night, and seize the arms of those whom they regarded as adherents to government. In daylight lai*ger bodies used to assemble either to attend funerals, or, under pretence of attending them, when an empty coffin would be carried along. On these occasions they would say they were going to buiy Beiti/ Bigotrj/, by which was meant that papists and presbyterians, having buried their ancient animosities', now coalesced against government. Large bodies used also to meet to dig the potatoes, and reap the corn of their ad- herents, especially of the United Irishmen confined in jail. At their meetings of this kind they sometimes marched with music, as if in military array, and it was thought that, the real object of such meetings was to train men to repair with promptitude to places of public assembly, to give con- fidence to their own party, and to intimidate their oppo- nents. Beside digging the potatoes and reaping the corn of their friends confined in jail, subscriptions were X'aised to support them and their families, to bribe witnesses on trials, and fee eminent lawyers. Numerous agents at- tended at the assizes, to assist the attornies, at the trials, among whom were discovered some dissenting ministers, who seemed very busily engaged. Terror was also employ- ed to frustrate the operations of the law. Various modes of persecution were put in practice, and in some instances even assassination was made use of. Magistrates, witnesses, and jurors, have been murdered lor doing their duty. The fate of the Rev. Doctor Hamilton, late fellow of Trinity College, the ingenious author of letters on the coast of Antrim, excited much sympathy. Having retired on a living in the county of Donegal, he exerted himself as a jnagistrate against the United Irishmen, and of course was marked down as an enemy. The time they chose to execute their vengeance was wlien he liapj)ened, in March 1797, to be on a visit with his college friend, Dr.Waller, at Sharon, in the same county. A party of them attacked the house at 4T2 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, night, and fired into the windows, by which Mrs Waller was shot. They then demanded Doctor Hamilton, with terrible threats if he was not produced, and therefore the servants, in dread of their lives, were obliged to drag him out of a cellar where he was concealed, and deliver hina to the armed ruffans, who murdered him, and mangled his body with many wounds. The terror struck by examples of this sort had the due effect on magistrates, witnesses, and jurors ; and hence many United Irishmen, whose guilt was apparent, were ac- quitted at the assizes, on which public bonfires were dis- played to celebrate the victory. Severe Government now found it necessary to have recourse to measures of gtj.Qjjg measures. Many persons in good circumstances {govern- *p . ^ .' ... ment. were imprisoned on secret information or suspicion, without being brought to trial, of which the issue might be well known. Several districts in the north were proclaimed, and some of the lower sort of people were sent on board the royal navy. General Lake, who had the chief military command in the northern province, got authority, in the beginning of March 1797, to use the troops according to his discretion, for the prevention of disturbance. Soon after he issued a proclamation commanding that a general surrender of arms should be made,* and promising that rewards should be given to informers, and inviolable secrecy preserved. The troops had orders to seai'ch all suspected places, to prevent all unlawful assemblies, especially after a certain hour of the night, and to seize at such a time all persons found abroad without authority, who were liable to punishment. To ef- fect this purpose they were skilfully disposed, and about this time, two committees of United Irishmen were arrested in Belfast, in full consultation, and their papers seized, which were immediately laid before a secret committee of th house of commons. Yet these measures were found inadequate to the end proposed, and therefore the ciiief go- vernor issued a proclamation, on the seventeenth of May, declaring the civil power inefficacious, and giving express orders to the mihtary officers to use their utmost exertions for the suppression of treason, at the same time offering pardon to all those who had entered into unlawlul engage- ments, on their surrendering to magistrates in a month, HISTORY OP IRELAND. 473 taking the oaUi of allegiance, and giving bail, if required, ^^^j^* fov their good behaviour in future. From tliis pardon, -—^jj-s^ however, were excepted persons guilty of some specifled crimes. Soon after the proclamaiion the military officers got orders from earl Carhampton, the commander-in-chief, to act of themselves without waiting for any authority from the civil power. In their search for arms through Ulster, the military were active and successful, many fire-arms and pikes being given up, and yet the people took every method to conceal them and deny them, and endeavoured to satisfy the soldiers by offering the worst arms, that thus they might retain the best for their own purposes. When the military supposed the arms in possession of individuals were not given up, they would burn or plunder the houses and effects of those who would not produce them, or force a discovery by the picket or other modes of torture. The smiths accused of making pikes they punished in particular with great seve- rity. They also wrecked the houses or shops of persons strongly suspected, and sometimes, to the terror of the af. frighted fainilies, committed these shocking acts of violence in the dead liour of the night. In the town of Belfast much destruction of property v/as tlius occasioned. The punish- ment, it is true, usually fell on the guilty, who were suffi- ciently numerous there, but some loyal people also suffered through misconception. The printing office, and printing materials belonging to the Northern Star, were demolished by the military, who thus took an effectual mode to prevent that paper from disseminating disaffection for the future. A fencible regiment of Welch cavalry, called the Ancient Bri- tons, was eminently remarkable for a strict execution of the rigid orders received, which caused them to be so much marked by the rebels, that in the course of the rebellion hardly one of them escaped. Government at this time had got certain intelligence of a plan of insurrection being fully matured, and therefore thought a severe military execution the best mode to break down the rebellion, before the day appointed for the general rising should arrive. Their exertions in this point were, at least for the pre- sent, attended with success. So many of the efficient mem- 471' HISTORY OF IRELAND. C II A P. bers of the society of United Irislimen were by acts of rigour forced into prison or exile, or terrified into inaction, that Theisuc-the whole system was disorsanized, and the intended rebel- ress at Ihe^. in the streets, and early in that night Samuel Nelson, the principal conductor of the Northern Star, was seized by the gailor of Newgate, in the act of reconnoitering that prison, with an intent to attack it. Though the city was preserved from disturbance by the Commence- measures already taken, yet so deeply laid, and so widely feijeiiion. extended was the plan of the rebellion, that all the exertions of government could not prevent insurrection in different other parts. The peasants around the city rose up on the night of the twenty-third, the time appointed, and began their operations. The mail-coaches they destroyed in their progress from Dublin, at a small distance from the city, that thus their confederates in other parts might get notice of hostilities having commenced. Though only arnied with clumsy pikes, and some guns in bad order, they attempced, by a similarity of attacks, to surprise the vaiious it iitary posts in that quarter, and to prevent some intei i^i jaccours from reaching the metropolis. In that night, aiiilthv follow- ing day, several skirmishes took plrce with Smaii parties of the royal troops, and several towns were attackeu rear the seat of government. In the generality of these skirmishes tne royal troops were successful. The most considerable military station assailed by the Attack of insurgents at the very commtncement of the rebellion was Naas, a town in the county of Kildare, fifteen miles from Dublin, where there was a garrison of three hundred of the Armagh militia, under lord Gosfcrd, with some detach- ments of cavalry. On ths twenty-third, two anonymoiiii. letters were received, one by his lovJ.ship, the other by lieutenant-colonel Acheson, informing them that the town would be attacked that night by a large body of insurgents. In consequence of this inlbrniation the guards were doubled, and every measure necessary for defence was adopted. As the garrison continued unmolested till two o''clock in the morning of the twenty-fourth, many officers had gone to bed, supposing the information received to be groundless ; but at half past two a dragoon from an out-post came in with intelligence that a large body of rebels were moving 492 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP towards the town. On this the drums beat to arras, and the XXIII. troops proceeded to the posts already appouited. In a short "' ' time about a thousand rebels, under one Michael Reynolds, entered the town by different ways,many proceeding through the houses and narrow lanes into the streets, and penetrated almost to the gaol, where they made a violent attack, but were repulsed by the military. The attack was renewed by them again in various directions, but being unable to make any impression on the troops, they fled on all'sides. and were pursued with slaughter by the cavalry. Of the king's troops two officers and some privates Avere slain ; of the rebels thirty were found dead in the streets, and about a hundred killed in the fields or roads in the pursuit. A few were taken pri- soners and immediately hanged, of whom three were dis- tinguished with green cockades. Of Kilcul -"^^ seven o'clock in the morning of the same day the town len. of Kilcullen, in the neighbourhood, was attacked by three hundred rebels, against whom a body of cavalry made three previous charges without success; and with very consider- able loss, for two captains and thirty privates were killed or severely wounded by the pikes of the enemy. Yet in a few minutes after, these victorious pikemen were totally routed by twenty-two infantry of the Suffolk fencibles, led on by general Dundas, who had unfortunately ordered the cavalry to charge before the infantry came up. The effect shows how unfit cavalry are to attack men in battle array armed Avith pikes. At Dunboyne and Barretstown, the rebels were successful in surprising small escorts of the mihtary ; they were also unhappily successful in another place, of which a particular account is requisite. Prosperous is a small town in the county of Kildare, in- Surpnse of , , ^ ^ ^ ,. Prosperous, tended for a seat of cotton manufactures, distant seventeen miles from Dublin, On the Sunday previous to the rebel- lion. Captain Swaine having arrived there with a detach- ment of the city of Cork militia, immediately repaired to the chapel, where he exhorted the people to surrender their ai'ms, as did also successively father Higgens the priest, and doctor Esmond, a Roman catholic gentleman of fami- ly and fortune. These exhortations having not the de- sired effect. Captain Swaine did some injury to the pro- perty of persons who were known to be disaffected, and to HISTORY OF in ELAND. 493 Irave concealed arms in their possession. Yet, after all, only c H A P. two or three pikes and firelocks were given up. On the XXIII. twenty-third, however, the priest and the doctor assured the captain that the people were become repentant, and that they would have brought in their arms during the night but that they were afrj^id of the sentinels. Many of them also gave evident tokens of repentance, by surrendering to captain Swaine, and expressing their deep contrition for having engaged in the conspiracy of the United Irish. The captain, therefore, at the desire of the professional gentle- men, ordered the sentinels not to challenge the people, an order that proved fatal to the garrison. At one oYlock in the morning of the twenty -fourth, a body of rebels, of whom many had given false tokens of repen- tance, conducted by the treacherous doctor Esmond him- self, who was first lieutenant of a yeomanry corps, attack- ed the small garrison by surprise, killed the sentinels, rush- ed into the barrack, and when a bold resistance v/as made by the soldiers just roused from sleep, set the barrack on fire, and then received on their pikes any soldiers that es- caped from the flames. Thus, twenty-eight of ti.e Cork militia were destroyed, with their commander, captain Swaine, who was murdered in his bed. Nine men also of the Ancient Britons, a Welch regiment of cavalry, were butchered in the houses where they had been billeted, and five were made prisoners. On tranfixing the soldiers with pikes, as they were bolting out of the flames, the rebels gave a horrible yell, and the women, who accompanied them in great numbers, would exult with savage joy on the occasion, shouting out, Down with the Orangemen, down with the heretics. This shows the turn the rebellion had taken even at the very commencement. Accordingly they murdered, in a barbarous manner, two proteslant gentlemen of the names of Stamers and Brewer, the latter usefully engaged in the cotton manufacture, and an old man who had been a sergeant in the king's army. The rest of the protestant inhabitants would, in all probability, have been also murder- ed, had not the rebels been terrified at the approach of some yeomen cavalry, and a part of the Armagh militia, in pur- suit of some insurgents, whom they had repulsed in their attack at Cloine, a place three miles from Prosperous. 494 HISTORY OK IRELAND. ^XXuf '^'^^ terrified loyalists now, men, women and children, r-. , ... having abandoned their possessions, flocked towards Naas, S'^atholic ''^^ '1 place of safety, as did also the troops who retreated Teoinaniy.ftom the inferior posts. Among these was the Clains yec man cavalry, commanded by captain Griffith, of which doctor Esmond was first iieutcnan*. On the morning of the twenty-fourth this troop amved at Naas, having been previously joined by Doctor Esmond, fully dressed and ac- coutred, and seemingly unconscious of the affair of Pros- perous. But the captain, who had got information of his guilt, had him arrested and sent to Dublin, where he was some time after found guilty by a court-martial and hang- ed on Carlisle-bridge. It appears from undoubted autho- rity that, in the course of the rebellion, a great part of the catholic yeomanry, probably the majority of them, as well in the county of Kiidare, as in the adjacent coun- ties, broke through their solemn engagements and joined tlie rebels, or at least were connected with the society of the United Irishmen. Their names and numbers have been particulcu iy stated, and no contradiction has been attempted by even their most sanguine abetters.* g As soon as it appeared that hostilities had openly com- Proclama- menced against government, the lord-lieutenant issued a pro- tions. clamation on the twenty-fourth of May, giving notice, that orders were conveyed to all his majjesty's general officers in Irelantl, to punish, according to martial law, by death or other- wise, all persons acting or assisting in the rebellion ; and gene- ral Lake, successor of Abercrombie, who had resigned, issued another, setting forth his determination to exert, in the most summary manner, the powers with which he was entrusted. These discretionary powers, committed to the military, they had unfortunately too many opportunities to exercise. Cii-Ioiv.° ^^^^ attack on the town ofCarlow was succeeded by some incidents of this kind, of which it may be necessary to take notice. The garrison, which consisted of four hundred and fifty men, under colonel Mahon of the ninth dragoons, hav ing got intelligence of the intended attack of the rebels, made suitable preparations for resistance. The plan of the rebels was, that different parties should assail tlie town from " See IMiisgrai'e, passim. Mr Gordon 'cautiously conceals lliis fact; but he takes every opportunity to aggravate all the faults of tbe" royal troojis. UfSTORY OF IREtAND. 495 different quarters at once, but this plan was not executed C H A p. in concert, so that only one column, consistmg of about fif-______!^ teen hundred men, which had assembled in front of Sir Ed- ward Crosbie's house, a mile and a half distant, made the attempt on the twenty-fourth of May, at two o''clock in the morning. Rushing in confusion with vain confidence, and giving a barbarous yell, as they proceeded into TuUow- street, and a shout that the town was their own^ they receiv- ed there so destructive a fire from the garrison, that they re- coiled and attempted a retreat ; but finding their flight in- tercepted, they took refuge in the houses which were immediately set on fire, and then numbers, on bolting out, were put to death by the military, and others consumed iu the flames. Of the rest, who took different routes, some were shot by the loyal inhabitants from their windows, ajid others pursued and killed by the soldiers and yeomanry, so that the streets, the roads, and fields contiguous to the town, were strewed with cart-ases, which were so nunienms that evening and the entire of the next day was taken up in burying t!iem About four hundred of these unfortu- nate wretches thus lost their lives, while not one of the loyalists was even wounded. Executions now commenced, which were, alas ! too nume-Executioa rous at this dismal period. In a short time two hundred"^ sir Ed- 111 It 1 1 1- -Ward Cros- were put to death by martial law, and among the earliest oibie. these victims was sir Edward Crosbie, before whose house the rebel column had assembled previous to their attack on Carlow, which had a suspicious appearance, though he did not proceed along with them. He was a gentleman of an amiable dispoMtiou, but being accustomed to express great pity for the distresses of the Irish peasantry, and to declare himself a zealous advocate for a parliamentary reform, he was on that account considered by the zealous loyalists as a republican.* In fact, his general conduct served to strengthen such a suspicion, which tended to prejudice the military officers against him. He was tried for being a United Irishman, and, of course some what implicated in the rebellion, but the mode of conducting the trial was certainly * Sir Tlichanl Miisj^rave, in his tbini edition, acknowledges candicUf that he was mistaken with respect to his principle?. 496 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, iniquitous. Catholic prisoners, as we are told,* wore com- ^ ^ pelled by torture to give evidence against him, and loyal protestants who came forward as witnesses in his favour were prevented by the bayonets of the military from entering the court. His conviction, of course, soon took place, and the execution of the sentence was equally precipitate. He was hanged at an unusual hour, and his head was cut off and fixed on a pike. The only excuse for those concern- ed in this unhappy affair is, that, in the rage of a rebellion, they were hurried to violent acts by passion and prejudice, without having leisure to examine deliberately the grounds for the malicious stories they heard. Vari us ^" ^^^^ same morning of the attack on Carlow, another operations, was made on Hacketstonn Avith the same success. About two hundre'd of the rebels were killed, while hardly one of the loyalists was wounded. Such exertions were made to resist them on the southern side of Dublin, where they were most numerous, and on the northern, the same energy was displayed by the loyal troops. A large body of rebels having assembled on the hill of Tara, in the county of INleath, they were attacked on the twen- ty-sixth by a detachment of the Rea fencibles and yeo- manry, amounting to four hundred men, and completely routed, with the loss of three hundred and fifty of them found dead in the field of battle, together with their leader, dressed in his uniform. Of the victorious party nine were killed and sixteen wounded. On this occasion, as well as on every other during the rebellion, Lord Fingal's troop of yeomenry cavalry distinguished themselves by their strenu- ous defence of the king and constitution, r h ff "r Thus, on the northern side, a communication was open- at the ed with the capital, which was rather in a state of blockade. Curragh. ^ service of a similar kind on the western side was effected by sir James Duff, who marched rapidly from Limerick to Kildare with a body of six hundred men. As he was pass- ing through the Curragh, the famous race course, on the " Tlie proceedings are detailed in a pamphlet sfvlctl, «' A Narrative of tlie a| jirfchensiun, trial, ar.d extculitn of sir lidwi.iu "W iJijum Crttbie, baronet." HISTORY OP IRELAND. 497 twenty-ninth, he perceived a body of rebels in a DanishCHAP. fort, who had assembled for the professed purpose of sur- _ rendering, according to an agreement with general Dundas, who had previously accepted, by authority, the submission of a large party, after his defeat of the insurgents at Kil- cullcn. Sir James^ being apprized of their intention, hav- ing disposed his army in order of battle, sent a serjeant and twelve men, desiring them to surrender their arms quietly; but one of them having fired his musket, which was consi- dered as an act of hostility, the whole body was attacked and routed, and pursued with great slaughter by a company of cavalry called Lord JocelyrCs fox-hunttrs. About two hundred insurgents were thus slain, and many more would Iiave shared the same fate, had not the military been stop- ped by an express from general Dundas. Oa this occasion Mr Williamson, a clergyman of the established church, was on the point of being put to death through mistake. Hav- ing fallen into the hands of the rebels, and being preserved by the humanity of a catholic priest, the soldiery supposed, as liis life was spared, that he himself was a rebel, and were proceeding instantly to hang him, when they were, in a cri- tical moment, prevented by the interference of his brother- in-law, colonel Sankey. General Dundas, indeed, exerted himself, to his eternal honour, to suppress the rebellion with as little bloodshed as possible, and to bring the unfortunate insurgents to a sense of their error, rather by persuasion than by arms. But the humanity of this general, so conspicuous at this calamitous period, was frequently imposed on by the duplicity of the rebels, for many of them who had, on professing their sub- mission, received his protection, instantly abused the indul- gence allowed them, and joining the other insurgents with- out delay, were afterwards found among the slain, with his protection in their pockets. At the time different bodies of insurgents were malting Hostilities attacks in the places above mentioned, other parties of them in AVick- made attempts of a similar nature in the county of Wick- low. On the morning of the twenty-lburth of May, a body of about four or five hundred rebels attacked the town ot Stratford on Slaney, near Baltinglass, but were assailed &\\ \ i 499 HISTORY OF lUELAND. CHAT, different sides by a few of the Antrim militia, ninth dra- ^^iiL, goons, and yeomanry, and comple:ely routed, with the loss of a hundred slain. Early in the morning, on the twenty- ninth, the town of Newtown Mount-Kennedy was suddenly attacked by about a thousand rebels, who were opposed by the small garrison, consisting of a hundred and forty of the Antrim militia, Ancient Britons, and yeomanry, by whom a spirited resistance was made, though forty of the latter had got their arms but the day before. After repelling firmly the first onset, which was very violent, they obliged them to fly, and many were killed in the pursuit, which con- tinued for some hours. In their flight the rebels dropped some hundreds of pikes to facilitate their escape. In this engagement a captain of the Ancient Britons was killed, two lieutenants of the yeomanry and several privates wounded. Tiie county of Wicklow, previous to the introduction of the prmciples of the United Irishmen, was remarkably peaceable and amenable to the laws, which were strictly executed by means of the gentlemen of landed property re- siding on their estates. The condition of the farmers was comfortable, and the labourers, from the accommodation they received at a small rate, appeared satisfied with their situation. Tithes were not complained of as a grievance, and religious animosities between papists and protestants seemed extinct. The Defenders could never obtain a per- manent footing in that county, nor could the United Irish- men, with all their efforts, induce the people to engage in their rebellious designs till they prevailed on the popish priests, in the year 1796, to lend their spiritual aid for that purpose. Hence a visible alteration took place in the man- ners of the people ; hence a spirit of disaffection spread rapidly over the county, which the strenuous exertions of the resident magistrates could not suppress, till it at last burst out in the rebellious acts already noted. Kniissaries The present rebellion, it appears, was hatched by the of disallec.pj.ggijyt_gi.jans in the north, especially by those in the town of Belfast. In the original designs of the United Irishmen the catholics had certainly no concern ; and when these designs were at length brought to some maturity. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 499 and a directory appointed, in this directory there was only CHAP. one catholic, Dr M'Nevin, who declared positively against XXIII. the establishment of even his own religion. As for the other members of the directory, whatsoever their professions might be, they may be supposed to have had the same re- ligious principles as the French republicans, the objects of their admiration. The United Irishmen, being sensible of their inability to accomplish their purpose, without the co- operation of the catholics, resolved to bring them over to their side, by touching them on that point in which they were most tender. They continually alarmed them with ap- prehensions of persecution on account of their religion. Hence they sent emissaries through every part of the coun- try, assuring them, that the Orangemen had formed a plot to rise up at night, and murder them in their beds. These emissaries passed also through the counties of Wicklow, Kildare, Wexford, and the adjacent counties, where no Orangemen existed, and where the name was hardly known. In many places the catholics, deceived by this false rumour, left their houses at night through terror, and lay in the fields. The design of spreading it was to give them an ab- liorrence of government, who were supposed to favour the Orangemen, and to have employed them for their destruc- tion. Such schemes would have been ineffectual without theAppUca. influence of the priests, who, it is to be supposed, were pre-^i"."s t<* vailed on with little difficulty to lend their powerful aid in exciting disaffection. This was owned by the principal conspirators, in their confession before the secret com- mittee of the house of lords; for they acknowledged that the catholic priests promoted the cause of the union with discreet zeal. In Leinster, and indeed in all the other pro- vinces, except in Ulster, the insurgents were in general ca- tholics, and it was observed, that, before they rose in rebel- lion, they were accustomed to go oitener than usual to con- fession, and seemed always ready to take the oath of alle- giance when offered to them, to which they were openly urged by their priests, who used frequently to whisper to them on such occasions. When the rebellion commenced in Leinster, their virulent animosity, so long restrained, i i 2 , 500 HISTORY OP rn ELAND. G H A P. burst out, like a stream long pent, with excessive violence, XXII r. against the protestants, whom they denominated all Orange- men, though there were few or none there, in order to af- ford some excuse for their cruel massacres and other atro- cious acts. Thus the rebellion, which was caused by poli- tical motives in Uslter, turned out to be entirely religious in Leingter. It must, however, be owned, that the catholic gentry and merchants were in general loyal, and that many priests were not implicated in the plot.* Persecu- As soon as the rebellion burst out, roving parties of the tionot pro-j^,p|^p|j, sp,.gad themselves over the country, and murdered testants. '^ , . ' . the protestants in the county of Dublin, Meath, Kildare, and the adjacent counties of Leinster. In the village of Rathangan, in the county of Kildare, nineteen protestants were murdered. Some women also shared the same fate, as Mrs Manders and her two sisters ; though the rebels did not generally put women to death. The circumstances of barbarity with which these massacres were attended, the sufferings of the unhappy victims, the tortures inflicted, and the cruel insults of their savage murderers, would shock the feelingsof the reader minutely to relate. Beside the injury committed on their persons, the property of protestants was destroyed ; their houses were burned in the same dis- trict, especially all near the roads on which the rebels pass- ed ; so that the country appeared in flames for a wide ex- tent. They burned the charter-school of Castlecarberry iu tlie county of Kildare, which, of course, was a particular object of their abhorrence. The protestant clergy of that county were obliged to fly from their houses, and fortunate- ly effected their escape. Such were the cruelties inflicted, and such the sufferings endured, but a more horrid scene is yet to be exhibited. Stateof the I" "^ P^^'^ *^^ Leinster did the inhabitants enjoy so equal county of a portion of social happiness as the county of Wexford. Agriculture was in a flourishing state, and was very much served by a sea coast of a remarkable extent, affording " At this time a very loyal address, containing excellent advice, was published by many of the catholic nobility, gentry, and clergy, *' to the de- luded people of their persuasion, aiow in rtbellion agaiuels now proceeded to put their designs into execution, for they took post that night on the eminence of Three Rocks, a ridge of a mountain lying on the road between Duncannon fort and Wexford, and two miles and a half distant from that town. Early in that morning a reinforcement of two hundred men of the Donegal militia, under colonel Maxwell, had arrived at Waterford from Duncannon fort, and on a re_ quest being speedilj' conveyed for an additional reinforce, ment, an answer was returned by general Fawcet, the com. mander of the fort, that he would, that very evening, march HISTORY OF IRELAND. 509 himself with tlie thirteenth regiment, four companies of the C H A r. Meath militia, and a party of artillery with two howitzers. '- This intelligence raised the spirits of the garrison and loyal- ists of Wexford, but a sad disappointment occured. Gene- ral Fawcet, according to promise, marched with his whole force from the fort, but having stopped at Tagmon that night, seven miles from Wexford, he sent forward a detach- ment of eighty-eight men, including eighteen of the artillery, with the howitzers, under the command of captain Adams of the Meath militia. Unfortunately the detachment on the thirtieth, at the dawn of day, was intercepted, under Three Rocks, by the rebel army, the howitzers taken, and almost the whole party slain. On hearing of this disaster general Fawcet retreated precipitately to Duncannon. About the very hour it took place, colonel Maxwell of the Donegal militia, commander <^ the garrison of Wexford, had taken post with all the force he could spare on the wind- mill hill above the town, in order, on the arrival of general Fawcet, to co-operate with him against the rebels. But he was soon informed of the disaster, by two officers who had escaped the slaughter, and then he boldly marched forward, with an intent to retake the howitzers, and meet general Fawcet on his march, having no suspicion of his retreat. On being disappointed in his expectations he was obliged ti) return to Wexford, having lost colonel Watson by a shot Jrom the outposts of the rebels, an ofllicer of distinguished valour and skill. Confusion and dismay now prevailed among the loyalists Evacuated in the town, surrounded as they were by enemies, some of^^ ^^^ whom had early that i^iorning set the beauliful wooden bridge over the river Slaney on fire, but it was extinguish- ed without much injury. On the return of the military a council of war was held, and a resolution formed, of iiinnc- diately evacuating the town. Harvey then, at the request of the officers, wrote a letter to tlie rebels entreating them to act with humanity. This letter, two gentlemen of the name of Richards, belonging to a corps of yeomanry, undertook to delivei', a dangerous task, and to announce to the insur- gents the surrender of the town. Scarcely had these der puties set out on their mission when the military, some yed* rebels 510 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP, manry excepted, left the town in a disorderljt manner^ witii '.. out even waiting in many cases for the regular orders of their officers. Their departure was so speedy afnd unex- pected, that the whole garrison was gone away before the inhabitants had any knowledge of their design. Hence many were left to the mercy of the rebels, as were also a few of the armed yeomanry, who would have accompanied the troops in their retreat to Duncannon. Their course to- wards this fort, distant seventeen miles from Wexford, was very disorderly, and distinguished by the burning of houses and shooting of unarmed peasants, a practice tao frequent with some of the soldiery, but of which the yeomanry on that occasion were not guilty. Possessed ^^^^ deputies above mentioned reached the rebels in by the safety, and their chiefs consented that the lives and proper- ties of the townsmen should be protected, provided that the arms and ammunition were delivered into their hands. A leader having come with this proposal, he found the town abandoned by the troops, and no stores of that kind remain- ing, of which, when the rebels were informed they were ex- cited to fury, and were eager for massacre and conflagration, but were at present dissuaded by their chiefs. Apprehensive of their immediate approach, a number of fugitives, in hopes of making their escape, got on board some vessels in the harbour, in which they were admitted at a great expense, and the few yeomanry remaining put off sheir uniform in a hurry, and threw their arms and ammunition into the water, or ran for boats to be conveyed away. Immediately the insurgents poured over the wooden bridge in thousands in- to the town, shouting and exulting at their success, and ex- hibiting all the marks of extravagant joy. They first pro- ceeded to the jail, released all the prisoners, and insisted that Harvey should be their commander. All the houses in the town, not deserted by the inhabitants, were now deco- rated with green boughs, and other symbols of insurgency. The doors were generally thrown open, and refreshment offered to the rebels, which prevented a greater injury being received ; for the houses of all those who did not make such offers were plundered, as were also the houses of all loyal protestants, whether absent or present. Those who had HISTORY OP IRELAND. 511 hoped to make their escape by sea were in general disap- ^^^J"* pointed, as the vessels in the harbour containing them, on ■ receiving an order from the rebels, returned all to the shore, except two, and landed their unhappy prisoners again, after the exhorbltant fare they had paid. Such were the transactions in the southern part of the Froceed- county. In the northern, about Gorey, even before anyj^^^^^^ rebels appeared in arms, great trepidation prevailed among the loyalists, who, in the morning of the twenty-eighth of May, fled in a body, men, women, and children, to Arklow, where they met with but a cold reception. A great quantity of goods left behind in Gorey by the protestants of the town, and fugitives, presented a tempting object for depre- dation, and while the decent catholics continued within tlieir liouses, an army of women assembled for that purpose, but suddenly dispersed on receiving the groundless infor- mation of a Welsh regim.ent of cavalry approaching. Find- ing that no rebels had yet entered the town, the greater number of the protestants returned to Gorey in three days, but on the first of June they were in danger of being sur- prised, for a body of a thousand rebels, on their march to. wards the town, were defeated at four miles distance by a small band of yeomen and militia, under the command of lieutenant Elliot of the Antrim regiment. A short respite was thus afforded. On the very same day a body of four thousand rebels, led Attack of on by several chiefs, among whom father Kern, a priest of?*'^*''°^^'"' extraordinary stature and ferocity, was most conspicuous, proceeded from Vinegar-hill up the river Slaney, along both its banks, towards the village of Newtownbarry, the object of their attack, situate on the western side, and distant tea miles from Enniscorthy. The garrison, including yeomen and volunteers, consisted of about five hundred men, under the command of colonel Lestrange of the King's county militia, of whom there were three hundred. In opposition to the earnest remonstrance of the yeomen officers, the colo- nel ordered the troops to abandon the town, and immedi^ ately the rebels rushed in, but not without some resistance from a few determined loyalists who still remained, and fired at them from some houses. To the assistance of these 512 HISTORY OF IREIiAND. Scxtf I *^^ garrison soon returned, at the solicitations of Heutenant- . n' . colonel Westenra, who thousht the flight ino;lorious, and assailed the rebels unprepared, engaged in plunder, confus- ed and intoxicated, and routed them with great slaughter. About four hundred were killed, among whom were found two priests dressed in their vestments. Had the rebels suc- ceeded they would have opened a way for themselves into the county of Cailuw, and thus extended the rebellion. Battle of The possession of Gorey, however, in the north of the Uough. county of Wextbrd, was one of their principal objects, as they might thus force a passage to the capital, where great numbers, well supplied with arms and ammunition, were just ready to join them. Being disappointed in their first attempt on Gorey by a party of the Antrim militia, they resolved to make a second, and with this intent a very large body, under the command of a priest called Philip Roche, took possession of the hill of Corrigrua, seven miles from that town. Against these were sent an army of fifteen hundred men under general Loftus and colonel Walpole, who arrived at Gorey on tlie third of June, and of course raised the spirits of the dejected loyalists of the place. On the next day these leaders marched with two divisions by two parellel roads, with an intent to co-operate with troops from other quarters, in an attack on the post of Corrigrua ; but father Roche, being informed of their design, quitted his post, and pi'oceediiig with his whole force, about fifteen thousand men, directly towards Gorey, met half way colonel Walpole's division alone. Walpole was a man possessed of little military skill, confident and vain-glorious, and unwill- ing to take any advice. Hence he marched in seeming se^ curity, without scouts or flanking parties, and knew no- thing ot the enemy till they appeared within a few yards distance, at a place called Tubberneering, near the church of Clough. At once his troops were assailed from both sides of the road by a tremendous fire, and he himself, be- ing a fair mark, mounted on a fine grey charger, and in full uniform, was in a few minutes shot through the head. Immediately the whole detachment was routed, and pur- sued to Gorey, through which they passed in confusion, being galled by the fire from some houses possessed by re- HISTOllY OF IRELAND. 513 bels, and hence retreated to Arklow, having lost about forty c H A P' by this defeat, with all their artillery, being three pieces of XXIII. cannon. To this same town the unfortunate loyalists of Gorey, who thought themselves perfectly secure a few hours before, set out in trepidation with the routed army, leaving all their effects behind. General Loftus, who marched by the other parallel road, Retreat of hearinsf, durino; the enoraa;ement, the noise of battle, '^'''^ '^^■'^^ troops* detached seventy men of the Antrim militia by a cross road to Wal pole's aid, but these were almost all either kil- led or taken. Ignorant of that officer's fate, the general, who could not get his cannon across the fields, continued his march along the road till he arrived, by a circuitous rout, at the field of battle, where he found Walpole's body, witli others of his men, lying naked. He then followed toward Gorey the rebel army, which took a position on a hill over the town, and fired at him with the cannon they had taken. Perceiving, on observation, that he could neither attack their post, nor pass by it to Arklow, with any probability of suc- cess, he retreated to Carnew, and thence to Tullow in the county of Carlow, leaving a large tract of country at the mercy of the rebels. Harvey, being appointed generalissimo on the surrender of Wexford, the rebel forces of that quarter were divided into two main bodies^ one of which directed its course west- ward to Gorey, and was enabled to effect its object ; the other, under the command of Harvey himself, proceeded north- ward in order to attempt the conquest of New Ross. This town is situated on a large navigable river, formed by the i unction of the Nore and Barrow, whose streams unite about a mile above it. The rebels, at the very commencement of the issurrection, saw the advantage of possessing it, as they might thus have an open communication with the counties of Waterford and Kilkenny, where many thou- sands were ready to rise at their first appearance among them. It was therefore strenuously urged by a rebel chief to take possession of it on the twenty-ninth of May, when that could have been effected without opposition, but it was recommended by another to defer that object till the pri- soners in Wexford were released, and very fortunately his 'itk 514< HlSTOaV OF IRELAND. Chap, advice was followed. As soon as this was accomplished, the ■' body under Harvey marched towards Ross, and encamped on Carrickburn-mountain, within six miles of that town. On perceiving this movement of the rebels, a large detach- ment of the royal troops was immediately placed in Ross, and a seasonable reinforcement was added on the fourth of June, by which the whole garrison amounted to twelve hun- dred men. Battle of On the evening of the same day the rebel army advanced from Carrickburn to Corbet-hill, within a mile of that town, towards which there is a gradual descent all the way. On their march they stopped at a ehapel where mass was said by different priests, who thus lent the sanctity of religion to the support of the pious cause they had espoused. Early in the morning of the fifth, the day designed for the attack, a flag of truce was sent by Harvey to the commander of the garrison requiring the surrender of the town ; but the person who carried it, called Furlong, was shot by a sen- tinel of one of the out-posts, an act of which the propriety has been questioned. At five o'clock in the morning a body of about five thousand rebels advanced towards the town, some armed with muskets, the rest with pikes, having a few pieces of cannon, and as they moved on, a number of priests dressed in their vestments, and with crucifixes in their hands, went through the ranks, and, by their animating harangues, roused them to an enthusiastic ardour for com- bat. Urged on by such motives, and inflamed by intoxi- cation, a large column of rebels assailed with fury the dif- ferent out-posts of the royal army at the end of the town, and repelled them with great ease. Encouraged by this success, and joined by many others equally fierce and vio- lent, they continued the assault, attacked the main body, forced back the cavalry with slaughter on the infantry, seiz- ed the artillery, and drove the troops to the bridge and the opposite side of the river. Having now got possession of a part of the town, they stopped a while for plunder, which increased their intoxication, and gave respite from attack to some other columns of the king's army. In the difficulty of his situation generalJohnson, the commander of this anny, an officer of true courage and military skill, exerted him- HISTORY OF IRELAND. 515 self with great energy, pointed cannon at the several ^^'^^^^^j ^^^11* and saw them served with effect, gave his orders with cool- ness, directed every movement, was present himself every where, and rallied the discomfited troops. On this trying occasion he derived peculiar aid from the exertions of a towns- man named M'Cormick,who had formerly served in the army, and was very striking in his appearance, as he was a man of a lofty stature, and had a brazen helmet on his head. Dur- ing the engagement he was very active, ran from place to place, and brought back to the charge, along with Johnson, the troops that had fled over the river ; who recovered their post, and drove the rebels out of the town, where the sub- urbs were in flames, set on fire by their adherents. Ral ; lied by their chiefs, the rebels returned with fury to the as- sault, and regained the same ground. Again were they repelled, and again were they rallied, but at last they were finally repulsed, at two o''clock in the afternoon, after an engagement of nine hours' continuance. It was supposed that not more than one half of the re- bels descended from the hill where they were encamped, but those who engaged were remarkable for their intrepidi- ty and enthusiasm, so much so, that when whole ranks of them fell, others would immediately supply their place, and court their fate by rushing on the royal troops. Hence a great number were slain, it is thought nearly two thousand, and of his majesty's army about three hundred. On the very first attack fell lord Mountjoy,* colonel of the Dublin militia, a nobleman of a cultivated mind. In their flight the rebels left their cannon behind them, one of which, dur- ing the engagement, was managed, through compulsion, by an ar^ llery man of the royal army, a prisoner, who was shot for aiming too hiffh. On the same day of this battle, an atrocious act was jy, committed, probably the most atrocious of those for which of ScuIU- this unhappy period was distinguished. Though many "°S^^' helpless protestants were put to death by roving parties of It is remarkable of Lord Montjoy, and Lord O'Neill, who both fell inthis rebellion of 1798, that when they were both commoners, the former introduced, and the latter seconded the first bill for the relief ot the Roman (.•atholics. Kk2 "516 HISTORY OF IRELAND, ^oan ^^^^ rebels, yet a greater number were taken and put in con- - ■ finement for future purposes. Above two Imndred of these, men, women and children were confined in a barn at Scul- labogue, within half a mile of Carrickburn-mountain, on which the rebels had their encampment. On their march towards New Ross, the prisoners were left under a guard of three hundred men, commanded by one John Murphy, a rebel captain, and during the late engagement, when the rebels began to give way, an express was sent to the lea- der to put the protestant prisoners to death. Such an or- der he resisted twice, but being informed the third time that a priest positively directed him to do it, his scruples were then evcrcome, and the inferior rebels, on hearing ok' such a sanction, became outrageous, and began to pull off' their clothes the better to be prepared for the bloody deed. Thirty-seven protestants were now shot or piked without side the barn, and the rest, an hundred and eighty- four in number, were crammed into it, and the barn being set on fire by bundles of sti'aw, they were all burned alive. The sight of the carcases the next day was very disgusting to the feelings of those who beheld the horrid scene. In this atrocious deed, or others of the same kind, no ca- tholic gentleman, merchant, or person of liberal education Avas at all concerned. ]'riests indeed are accused, and one in particular is mentioned, as " a chief instigator of tliis ho- rible deed.*'*'* But the scholastic learning they acquired, and the company they kept at the foreign universities, instead of removing, tended rather to confirm and increase their prejudices. . . Struck with horror at this atrocious act, and having lost Inflctivity , ... . of rebels, his authority on account of his religion, Harvey i-esigned his command, and retired to AVexford. On the day after the battle the rebels resumed tjjeir former post on Carrick- mountain, where they continued two days, and thence re- moved to a hill called Slyeeve-Keelter, rising over the river Ross, formed by the united streams of the Nore and Bar- row. Of this hill, which is situated below the town of Ross, they took possession, with an intent to intercept the navi- cration between that town, Duncannon and Waterford. la " Gordon's History of the rebellion, second edition, page 1 IG. HISTORY OF IRELAND. M order to prevent them from accomplishing their design, gun- CHAP. boats were placed on the river, and with these they had dif- ^^^^^- ferent engagements, but without success. They, however, succeeded in capturing some small vessels, and on one of tliese a packet was taken by Avhichthey got some knowledge of the state of the kingdom. Here they chose, in place of Harvey, by a tumultucus->eIection, father Philip Roche, their commander in chief, the priest who gained the vic- tory near Clough, remarkable for his lofty stature and boisterous manners, and, on that account, with the in- fluence derived from his office, not ill adapted to govern the disorderly bands over whom he was placed. Their present position they left in three days, and then occupied Lacken- hill, near Ross, whence a detachment was sent to the town of Borris, in the county of Carlow, in order to seize arms and ammunition, but they were repulsed by the garrison with loss, in the contest, however, a grest part of that hand- some little town was burned. Except this fruitless attempt, the rebels lay here quite inactive, and negligent of their safety, indulging themselves with the liquors and cattle they could procure. Their associates at Gorey continued for some time equal- ly inactive, and their inactivity was very fortunate in the event. After the defeat of the detachment under Walpole, and the retreat of Loftus, instead of pursuing their victory, they wasted their time inhuming Garnew, trying prisoners for being Orangemen, and plundering houses. At length they roused themselves from their indolence, and assem- bling at Gorey on the ninth of June, marched northward in order to form a junction with a body of insurgents in the county of Wicklow, for the purpose of attacking Arklow. Had they arrived there on the fifth, after the retreat of the garrison, who deserted it with precipitation on hearino- of the defeat of Walpole, they could have taken it without opposition, and might then have effected their design of marching to Didjlin, in which city and the vicinity many thousands were ready to join them. But the garrison, beino* favoured by their delay, in the mean while returned, some Dther troops followed, and at a very critical period, the very day of the attack, the Durham fenciblcs arrived under the 518 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CHAP. XXI II. Bat Lie ot Arklovr. command of colonel Skerret, an excellent officer, being con- veyed in carragies to avoid fatigue. By this reinforcement the garrison of Arklow was in- creased to sixteen hundred men, but the rebel army Ow the march against it amounted to twenty seven thousand, of %vhom five thousand were armed with guns, the rest with pikes. Due notice being given of their .approach, the royal troops were drawn up in lines to receive them, with artillery in front, and by this able arrangement of the commander, general Needhara, three sides of the town were defended by the mili- tary, and the fourth by the river Ovaca. At four o'clock in the afternoon of the ninth of June, the rebels, having extended themselves into a kind of irregular line of great depth, began the attack. A large column, advancing rapidly by the sea-shore, entered that pai't of the town called the Fishery, consisting of thatched cabins, which they set on fire, repelling a guard of yeomen-cavalry post- ed there, who fled with precipitation. They, however, met with a firm resistance from a body of military placed at the extremity of the Fishery, by whom they were at length repulsed with great loss. During the continuance of this contest the principal attack was made at the other end of the town against the Durham fencibles, whose line extended across the fields, in front of the barrack, to the road leading from Gorey. At first the rebels poured their fire on the military from behind hedges, but being enticed from their cover by the address of colonel Skerret, they made an open attack on his men. Thrice did they rush impetuously forward almost to the very mouths of the cannon, but were repulsed at each attempt with great slaughter. They also made use of some cannon of their own, but they were not level it'd with effect, as they were wrought by some artillery- men that had been taken prisoners. The attack at this part of the town M^as conducted by Michael Murphy, the priest, wiio used every method he could devise to work on the superstitious credulity of his followers. When they wou! being joined by some loyalists, took refuge in four houses? and for about three hours, kept up a constant fire on the rebels with great effect. In the mean while, the town was set on fire, and at length sir Charles Asgil, having arrived with nine hundred men, by a few rounds of grapesaot^ dislodged the rebels from the town. They then retreated into a wood, pursued by sir Charles, who raked it with his cannon. This general, however, thought it expedient to retire to Kilkenny, taking with him the numerous protes- tants of Castlecomer and the neighbourhood, who fled for their lives, leaving their effects as a prey to the rebels. These, having lost about a hundred in the action, took pos- session of the town, which they plundered, burning the re- maining houses of protestants, and massacring such as un- fortunately fell into their hands. Disappointed, however, in their hopes of raising an in sur. Death of rection in these parts, of which the spirit had now evaporat- ^^^J^^'^ ed, diminished by desertion to between four and five thou- sand, and deficient in ammunition, they resolved to return through Scollagh to their own county. Accordingly, they set out on their retreat without delay, but they were not allowed to escape without a contest. On the morning of the twenty-sixth of June, they were assailed on three sides at once, at a place called Kilcomny, by seventeen hundred men under general Asgil, and major Mathews, whom they resisted for an hour, but then gave way, and fled with such celerity, that they regained the gap with little loss, except their plunder and cannon, consisting of ten light pieces. They now forced their way through the pass, repelling some troops placed there to oppose them, and directed their march towards the mountains of Wicklow, reduced still more by desertion, and deprived of their leader father John, who was taken after the battle, and hanged at Tullow. 5556 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CHAP. On their return, they found that their associates, of whom , ^^^^- different parties had united, were jepulsed in an attack on Attack oi Hacketstown, in the county of Wicklow, on the twenty- towii.^*^^' ^^^'^' These, being above ten thousand men, under the command of Garret Byrne and five other leaders, early in the morning of that day, proceeded to attack that post; and the garrison, consisting of a hundred and seventy, mostly yeomen, under lieutenant Gardner, of the Antrim militia, perceiving their approach, marched boldly out to meet them. But after an exchange of some shots, they found it expe- dient to retreat, the cavalry entirely from the scene of action, and the infantry, amounting only to a hundred and twenty, into the barrack. The rebels pursued, and entering the town, set it on fire. One house only escaped, that flanked the barrack, defended by the reverend James M'Ghee, and nine other protestants. From this house, and from the walls of the barrack, lined by the garrison, the rebels re- ceived a most destructive fire, that for nine hours defeated all their efforts. At length they desisted and retreated to Blessington, having lost about three hundred men. Of the royalists, ten were killed and twenty wounded, and the rest, having no shelter in the town, which was burned, retreated to Tullow. Sail defeat The body of rebels above mentioned, who had disturbed ellis" ^' ^^^^ county of Kilkenny, on hearing, upon their return to the Wicklow mountains, of the unsuccessful attempt on Hacketstown, resolved, in despair of any success in that quarter, to proceed again to the county of Wexford. Ac- cordingly they set out, being joined by many others of the Wicklow insurgents under Garret Byrne, and the whole united body marched forward with the design of surprising the garrison of Carnew. General Needham, being inform- ed of their design, detached, on the thirtieth of June, a strong body of infantry, and about two hundred cavalry, from his camp at Gorey to intercept them. For some rea- son, however, for which it is difficult to account, the infan- try were recalled, and the cavalry, rushing rashly forward by themselves, came up with the insurgents on the road to Carnew. They then attacked them with violence, and the rebels retreating, and leaping ov^r the ditches into the fields HISTORY OF IRELAND. 537 in ortlor to escape ; at length, at a place called Ballyellis, liaving posted themselves behind the hedges and Avails on both sides the way, poured a terrible iire on the cavahT, who were greatly confounded, and pushed rapidly forward towards Carnew. Unfortunately, in their flight, they were retarded by cars lying accidentally on the road, belonging to the rebels, who fired on them in security, and thus, with- out wounding one of tlieir opponents, filty-five of the de- tachment were slain. The slaughter would have been even more considerable, as the rear was surrounded, had not a body of vecmen infantry, who happened to be near them, eome s}X)ntaneou5ly to their relief. The cavalry who escap- ed, proceeding with all speed to Carnew, informed the gar- rison of their danger, who had just time to retire into a malt- house, from which they repelled the assailants. Pursued by a body of yeomen, the insurgents were"'"^*'^'^''^ J / J ^ o insurgents obliged to change their course, and, on the second of July, continued, took post on Ballyraheen-hill, between Tinnehely and Car- new. In this advantageous position, they were unadvisedly attacked, and rushing from the high ground, tiiey in an in- stant routed the assailants, of whom two officers and ten privates were killed. On this repulse, sixty of the yeomen took refuge in tlie house of captain Chamney, at the foot of the hill, one of the officers slain, where for fourteen hours they sustained the assaults of the enemy, who frequently attempted, in vain, to set the house on fire. They, how- ever, set on fire the adjacent house of Henry Morton, a loyal gentleman, which proved injurious to themselves, as, by tlie light of the flames, the yeoinen were enabled to aim at tlicm during the night. In this attack they lost above a hundred men. The insurgents now divided themselves into two bodies, "^^.^"^'^P*' . ^ . . ration. one of which directed its course to the county of Kildare, the other to the county of Wexford. The latter being ob- served, on the fourth of July, to take their position at a place called White-heaps, at the foot of Croghan mountain, an attempt was made on the fifth, by three armies fnnn Gorey, Carnew, and Arklow, to surround them, but taking the advantage of a thick fog, they succeeded in making their escape. Pursued and harassed by the cavalry, thev were S38 HISTORY OP IRELAND. e H A P. at length obliged to stand, and came to an engagement at , ' a place called BallyguUin, near Gorey. In this action, they made violent onsets on the cavalry, and frequently attempt- ed to take the artillery, rushing forward with singular m- trepidity. At length, on the arrival of the main body, under sir James Duff, they fled in various directions with their usual celerity, but with what loss it is not easily ascer- tained, the accounts are so different. They had agreed to assemble again on the hill of Corrigrua, but annoyed in their retreat by another body of troops from Ferns, hunted on all sides, and unable to maintain any post, they found any further resistance ineffectual, and disperted to their se- veral places of abode. Thus terminated the war in the county of Wexford, but some insurgents of this county con- tinued their hostilities in other parts. These having united with others of the county of Kil- dare, who had hitherto eluded the king^s troops, the whole body, amounting at least to three thousand men, marched with the design of passing the Boyne at Clonard, w order to raise an insurrection in the western parts of the kingdom. The small garrison placed there they supposed they could easily repel, which might naturally be expected, as it con- sisted only of twenty-seven yeomen, under lieutenant Tyrrel. But, strange as it may seem, this heroic band, from a fortified house, and a turret in a garden, command- ing the road, which was at last set on fire, repelled the va- rious attacks of such superior numbers even for six hours, until some troops arrived from Kinnegad and MuUingar to their aid. Thus were frustrated the designs of the rebels, who lost in this attack above a hundred killed and many wounded. Their final By this repulse, a final separation was produced between dispersion, those of Wexford and Kildare, who had, on a previous dis- pute, nearly turned their arms against each other. The Wexford insurgents, however, who were of a more despe- rate turn, resolved still to pursue their scheme of bold ad- venture. Accordingly, though reduced to fifteen hundred men, they proceeded with celerity through different coun- ties, skirmishing with the royal troops, who were stationed on every side to intercept them. Having plundered a vil- HISTORY OP IRELAND. 539 lage in the county of Kildare, they carried off the plunder C HA P. into the county of M^ath, but being attacked by a body of _; ^ . the king''s army, they were obliged to leave it behind them, and fly off with precipitation. Disappointed of receiving reinforcements in this county, which had been lately dis- turbed, they passed the Boyne, near Duleek, and advanced rapidly into the county of Louth. Between this river and Ardee, they were assailed on the fourteenth by two divisions of cavalry, whom tiiey repelled with great firmness, until the infantry and artillery arrived, and being then over- powered, they broke and fled into a bog. A party now took tiie road to Ardee and dispersed, but the main body liaving repassed the Boyne, proceeded with their usual ce- lerity towards the metropolis, and had advanced as far as Ballyboghill, near Swords, in the county of Dublin, when they were overtaken by captain Gordon of the Dumfries light dragoons, who had closely pursued them, and appre- hensive of being surrounded by detachments from different quarters, they fled, with some loss, and finally dispersed, seeking by devious routes their various homes or places of concealment. In the course of their excursions they murdered many ffolt anS protestants, of which a particular account is given, and after |^'*'^^'^^* their dispersion, and the suppression of the rebellion, a des- perate banditti, under leaders called Holt and Hacket, took refuge in the Wicklow mountains, whence they would issue and commit numerous massacres, burn, plunder, and destroy, and retreat to their fastnesses before troops could arrive to intercept them. Holt was a protestant, but his followers were catholics, and the persons murdered were protestants, which was sometimes retaliated, probably on strong suspicion, on the catholics in the neighbourhood of the places where the enormities were committed. For some time their crimes were perpetrated with impunity, but being perpetually harassed, and having no shelter in the moun- tains in winter, they gradually diminished. At length Hacket was killed by a brave young gentleman, whose house he attacked, and Holt surrendered to government for trans- portation, on which their followers were entirely dispersed. The counties of Wicklow, Wexford, and the neighbour- 540 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CH A P.ing parts were now in a most wretched state. In the open -' ' ..'- country, houses of various descriptions were destroyed, many towns burned or wrecked entirely, and others partly, exhi- biting a dismal appearance. Great part of the damage was committed by the soldiery, who too often plundered without distinction of loyalist or insurgent. For deeds of this sort the Hessians were particularly distinguised, and for other acts of inhumanity, having frequently put loyalists to death, who made their escape from the rebels. On the contrary, the Highlanders were remarkable for their orderly conduct and integrity, not even accepting a drink ofbutter-milk with- out payment. Military depredation, however, ceased after the appointment of general Skerret to the command of that district, who caused strict discipline to be observed. Though })lunderers of this kind were thus prevented, many others of a different description were scattered over the country, and it is supposed that the Romanists, who were now un- armed, suffered somewhat from the protestants of the lower order, who thought they had a right to make reprisals on them for their atrocities during the rebellion. Generally through reiig-ious motives these ati-ocities were committed by the Komanists, in the course of the rebellion, but in some cases they might have been occasioned by revenge for the vio- Jences of the military, who are accused of frequently put- ting people to death, on mere suspicion, without form of trial. This might naturally be expected from t!)em, with iheir passions inflamed at the ferocious acts of the rebels. They are also accused of a wanton gratification of their lusts, while the rebels, it is said, respected the chastity of the fair sex, though they had, as captives, many handsome young women in their power. This forbearance, however, is to be ascribed, in some degree, to their having along with them a great many women of their own party, who, at such a time of dissolution of law, were less scrupulous of their favours. Obssrva- jj appears that none of the insurgents were supplied with cannon, except those of Wexford and Ulster, and the for- mer had not any after tiie battle of Kilcomny. For want of these, the rebels were unable to force the barracks of Hacketstown, though they had such great superiority of lions. HISTORY Of IRELAND. 5^1 numbers. In ammunition they were also very deficient, CHAP, and were frequently obliged to use, as a substitute for leaden balls, small round stones, and hardened balls of clay. A great part of their gunpowder was of an inferior quality, for being made by pounding the materials in small mortars, it would only explode when it was fresh, and even then with little force. In the beginning of the rebellion, they aimed so high as generally to miss their enemy, but towards the end of it, being taught by experience, they levelled lower, and with more fatal effect. Their pikes were their most dangerous instruments, in particular for cavalry, and some- times they rushed forward with these, and seized the ar- tillery of their opponents. High hills, they chose for their stations, which were styled camps, though destitute of tents, except a few for their chiefs. The multitude remained in the open air, both sexes promis- cuously, with very little covering, but tiiere was that sum- mer a very unusual continuance of dry and warm weather, which each party considered as a favour of Providence con- ferred on themselves. In such weather, had they continued long in one place, tlie offals of the cattle, coarsely slaughter- ed, which were scattered over the ground, might have pro- duced a plague. In the county of Cork there was, during the rebellion, a partial insurrection, which was soon sup- pressed. Soon after the royal troops took possession of Wexford, Trials and court-martials were established there for the trial of prison- ^^^'^"^'°"*'* ers. In these trials, no sanguinary disposition was dis- played by the military, as at that time, and for two years afterwards, only sixty-six persons were put to death for re- bellion, in a town the scene of such murders, and the capi- tal of a county where such horrid cruelties had been com- mitted. Priest Philip Roche, the commander in chief, was found guilty. He was a man naturally of a military turn ; his manners were boisterous, but he was not destitute of hu- manity, as by his interference, some loyalists were preserved from his sanguinary adherents. Along with him was exe-- cuted captain Mathew Keogh, a protestant, who liad for- merly been an officer in the royal service ; he made an ex- cellent defence, and the officers were very desirous he should 542 HISTORY OP IRELAND."* CHAP, escape, but among his papers, as general Lake observed, „■ there were found sufficient indications of his guilt. With these were executed three others. Beauchamp Bagnal Harvey, and Cornelius Grogan, both protestants, suffered together. The latter was possessed of an estate of eight thousand pounds a-year, with much ac- cumulated wealth besides. He was old and infirm ; but be- ing made a commissary by the insurgents, he had not reso- lution enough to reject the office, and also exerted himself in his employment by seizing the provisions of different per- sons in his vicinity. Harvey, by his own acknowledgment, had for three years before embraced the system of the Unit- ed Irishmen. From his situation of commander-in-chief, he was, however, removed, and succeeded by father Philip Roche, on whom the office was conferred by his bigotted ad- herents. Finding he could not obtain pardon, he fled to the Saltee islands, and was taken in a cave along with John Henry Colclough. The latter was a catholic, a man of li- berality and benevolence. He was executed at Wexford, as were also two other catholic leaders, Esmond Kyan, and John Kelly, men of courage and humanity, who pleaded, on their trial, that they had exerted themselves to save the lives of loyalists. But such pleas were unhappily not ad- mitted, as their success in these instances showed they pos- sessed authority- It is a pity such persons should suffer, while the sanguinary Thomas Dixon succeeded in making bis escape. Different loaders were executed in other places, among whom was Anthony Perry, a protestant of a good estate, who, having joined the United Irishmen, was treated ■with severity by the army, which urged him, it is said, to throw himself finally into the arms of the rebels. He was taken in making his escape after the battle of Hacketstown, and hanged at Edinderry, in the Kings's county. Trials and executions had early commenced in the metro- polis. Among those executed were Henry and John Sheares, whose sanguinary proclamation has been already noticed, John MacCan, who had been secretary to the provincial committee of Leinster, and Michael William Byrne, dele- gate from the county committee of Wicklow. Durmg the whole of the rebellion, the city of Dublin was mSTORV OP IRELAND. S43 preserved from disturbance, partly by the mode of circum- C H a p. vallation already mentioned, but more especially by the . ,^ ^ _!, strenuous exertions of its own citizens, formed into yeoman- Departure ry corps, whose services, at this important period, entitled them to the gratitude of their country. Towards the for- mation and discipline of this useful body of men, the lord- lieutenant had applied particular attention, and by his coun- tenance and support they arose to their present degree of perfection. Grateful for the encouragement they had re- ceived, the yeomanry corps of Dublin attended him to the water-side, when he departed from the government of the country. In the present perilous condition of the kingdom, the Succession English cabinet thought it expedient, that a viceroy should °^^i'.'™' be appointed possessed of both civil and military talents, which he would have immediate occasion to exercise. Of his ability in both these points, earl Cornwallis had already given sufficient proof, and therefore he was sent over in the capacity both of lord- lieutenant, and commander-in-chief. He entered Dublin on the twentieth of June, at the time the fury of the rebellion had abated. At first no alteration took place in the trials and execu- Act oF am. tions that had commenced, but in the beginning of July a ^ proclamation was issued, allowing his majesty ""s generals to give protection to such insurgents as, being simply guilty of rebellion, should surrender their arms, abjure all luilawful engagements, and take the oath of allegiance to the king. Afterwards an act of amnesty was passed in favour of all engaged in the rebellion, who had not been leaders, had not committed manslaughter, except in the heat of battle, and should comply with the conditions above mentioned. From the benefit of this act were excluded James Napper Tandy, and about thirty more, mostly fugitives in France. The chief conspirators, being state prisoners, and amount- Capitula- ing to seventv pe'-sons, made proposals to government to^,}j|"f°j.^jj. give all the information in their power both of the internal spirators. transactions of the United Irishmen, and of those with fo* reign states, without implicating any individual in their dis- covery, on condition of their being allowed to leave the king- dom. They also proposed to emigrate to some country, to 644 HISTORY OF irela:«u. C H A p. be agreed on by both parties, and to give security not to XXIV. p^gg Jj^jq ^|jg territories of any state at war with Great Bri- tain, nor return to Ireland witiiout the permission of go- vernment. In this capitulation, they insisted that Ohver Bond, though under sentence of death, should be in- cluded. A mutual agreement was now made, and in consequence, several of the principals, particularly CConnor, Emmett, MacNevin, and Nelson, being examined on oath before a secret committee of both houses of parliament, gave very curious details of the conspiracy. In the report of the committee published by order of government, a mass of in- formation is contained, developing the various designs and exertions of the conspirators. Fifteen of the principal of these were, however, detained in prison (though treated with great indulgence), during the continuance of the war with France, occasioned, it is said, by some fresh attempts they had made to excite the people to insurrection. Of this ca- pitulation, poor Bond unhappily obtained no benefit, as he died in a few days after in prison of an apoplexy. He was a man, with all his errors, of great generosity and liberality, attached to the society of men of literature, who partook, among others, of his unbounded hospitality, and sincerely esteemed him for his many amiable qualities, though they disapproved of the political opinions he had adopted. Se- duced by the fascinating French principles, which proved so destructive to true liberty, and to the happiness of man- kind, he was carried away by the current of the times, and no doubt imagined, like many others of the same society, that his schemes, if effected, would prove of advantage to liis country. Regula- From tbe capitulation above mentioned, and his differ- Cornwallis ^"' other acts, the present viceroy discovered a conciliating spirit, superior to the influence of faction, which tended to correct the violence of the prevalent party. He exerted the civil and military authority, with which he was invested, to mitigate the effects of sanguinary prosecutions, and accord- ingly gave orders, that the sentence of each court-martial should remain suspended, until, by an inspection of its mi- nutes, he could form an opinion of its justice. A measure HISTORY OF IIIELAND. 545 {lictdtetl by humanity, by which, no doubt, several lives CHAP, were preserved. The general officers employed under him, " especially in the county of Wexford, wlicre the trials by court-martial principal!}^ took place, were guided, it is owned, by a similar spirit, and if some of the gentlemen of the county exhibited a contrary disposition, this was naturally to be expected from those who had suffered either in their persons, their properties, or connexions, by the horrid enor- mities committed. Beside the mode of conciliation al- ready adopted, marquis Cornwallis was endeavouring to provide against every emei'gency, by a plan he had devised of making such an arrangement of troops that he might be able to call out, on the shortest notice, a respectable force, in any quarter of the kingdom it might be required. This plan, after many unavoidable delays, was just ready for exe- cution when an account came of an invasion from France. On the twenty- second of August, a French squadron of Invasion aC three frigates with troops came to anchor in the bay of Kil- lala, in the county of Mayo, having sailed from Rochelle in the beginning of the month, and escaped from our blockad- ing fleet in the night. From whatever cause occasioned, it was fortunate for the country that their arrival was delayed so long. Their commander-in-chief was general Humbert, who, according to the mode prevalent among the French republicans, was raised gradually from the ranks to his pre- sent station, having distinguished himself by his strenuous resistance to the insurgents of La Vendee. His troops were landed without delay, consisting of eleven hundred men, of whom seventy were officers, and marched towards the town of Killala, where the garrison was only fifty in number, both yeomen and fenciblesof the Prince of Wales's regiment. These made an attempt to oppose the entrance of the French vanguard, but were soon put to flight, leaving two of their party dead, and twenty prisoners, among whom were two officers. The bishop of Killala, being the principal person of the place, the French general, with a party of his men marched into the yard of his castle, and demanded to see him, on which his lordship made his appearance, and having fortunately a knowledge of the French language, was en- abled to converse with him. He told the bishop, tliat the u m 546 HISTORY OP IRELAND, CHAP, obiect of this invasion was to rescue Ireland from the tv- XXIV .... . ranny of England, and to give iier a Iree constiturion un- der the protection of France, which, lie expected, would be accomplished in a month, as another powerful armament would soon arrive from France to second his operations. He also said, that the bishop need be under no apprehen- sion for himself or his people, as they would be treated with due respect, and that nothing sliould be taken by the French troops but what was absolutely necessary for their support, a promise that was religiously observed. French Perceiving the necessity of expedition in his present si- the'^ea- tuation, the general next day sent forward a detachment to- santry, wards Ballina, a small town seven miles to the south of Killala, of which they got possession on the evening of the twenty-fourth, after a skirmish with a picket-guard, in which a clergyman was killed, who bad volunteered on the occasion, the reverend George Fortescue, rector of Ballina, and ne- phew to lord Clermont. Having made the bishop'^s castle their head-quarters, the French placed over the gate a green flag, Avith the inscription Erin go Bragh, in order to entice the common people to join them. These at first seemed a little tardy, but when they perceived the French active in their exertions, and determined to advance, many Inmdreds of them repaired to their standard, and received with eager- ness the arms and uniforms sent to them from France. Com- plete clothing, with arms, was given to about a thousand, who first offered, and part clothing, with arms, to a great HiaTiy more.; of the latter above five thousand stand were delivered. In fact almost the entire population of the coun- try rose up in rebellion, and joined the invaders, thougli no previous provocation had been given them ; and of all these there were only two protestants, drunken sots of Kil- lala, who afterwards submitted to the ceremony of being baptized over again by a priest. Several of such pubKc teachers, it is owned by one of their own persuasion,* join- ed the invaders, whose example had no doubt a suitable influence on the common people. When these offered their services they used to declare, " that they were come to take • Plowden's Review of Ireland, vol. ii. page 799. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 547 " arms for France and the Blessed Virgin." This, they ^^JL^ thought, would ingratiate them with the Frencli ; but it had;;! ],,^,.,^^^ ratlier a contrary effect, for they observed, that they had just driven the Pope out of Italy, but did not expect to see him so soon in Ireland, Indeed their commander seemed greatly disappointed, that no protestants joined them, as he had a quite different expectation from the flattering reports that were given by the leaders of the United Irishmen to the French directory. He told the bishop at their first in- terview, that he intended to establish a directory in Con- naught, and observed, that a person of his intelligence and consequence would be very fit to be at the head of it, but his lordship declined that honour. As they brought no money along with them, which they expected, they said, in the next armament that would come, he gave each person an order on this future directory for payment, in return for the articles they took from him. On the twenty-fifth of August he set out on his opera- Character tions, taking with him eight hundred men, and leaving two° ^"^" hundred in Killala with six officers. He was a man in the full vigour of life, prompt in decision, and quick in execu- tion, of a fierce demeanour, the effect of art, in order to ex- tort obedience by terror, but of a disposition superior to his appearance. On the whole, he was an excellent officer, though he was so illiterate as to be scarcely able to write his own name, having risen from the ranks, as already men- tioned. His men were in genei*al low in stature, their com- plexion pale and sallow, occasioned by excessive hardships, to which they were inured by time. One half of them had served in Italy under Bonaparte ; the rest were of the army of the Rhine, where they had suffered such distresses as might well account for their looks.* In these soldiers were combined activity, temperance, patience to a surpris- ing degree, with the most exact obedience to discipline. They seemed content to live on potatoes or bread, to drink water, make the stones of the street their bed, and to sleep in their clothes, with no other cover but the canopy of heaven. * They use;1, they said, to di^ a hole there under the snow to sleep in. M m 2 548 HISTORY OP inELAXI?. CHAP. On the twenty-sixth their commander left BalHna, bein2:» "VVTV .... ' accompanied, besides his own eiglit hundred men, by about- fifteen hundred rebels, whom he had now furnished with arms and clothing. His design was to proceed without de- lay to attack the forces at Castlebar, the principal town in the county, satisfied that a sudden impressionj before a great number of troops were collected, would tend to in- crease his adherents. Exertions In the mean while government were exerting themselves xa^t. to make suitable preparations to resist the invaders. Though the military arrangements of the viceroy were not complet- ed, yet a force more than sufficient in appearance was as- sembled, with due expectation, at the point of attack. Ge- neral Hutcheson, proceeding from Galway witli all haste, arrived at Castlebar on the tv/enty-fifth, where he was join- ed by general Lake, the chief commander in the west. The usual way to this town froiu Ballina was by Foxford, where a force was stationed under brigadier-general Taylor, to observe the movements of the French. But Humbert took another way through the mountains, where it was supposed an army could not march, and which, of course, was unsus- pected. By this one he could bring with him no other ar- tillery than two small curricle guns, and one of these had its carriage broken on the rough road, which caused hira much delay to repair. Battle of -^^ seven o^clock in the morning of the twenty-seventli, Castlebar, he arrived within two miles of Castlebar, with his eight hundred men, fatigued with their difficult march, and with want of sleep, accompanied by his adherents, who could be of no use to him m battle. The military, who had previ- ous notice of his approach, were advantageously posted to receive him, being about three thousand men, fresh and vi- gorous, with fourteen pieces of artillery. By the fire of these cannon, which were well served, the ranks of the enemy were cut down in many places, and the French leaders, on that account, and on peixeivingthe formidable force oppos- ed to them, had no other expectation, than being obliged immediately to surrender. Determined, however, on exer- tion, while any hope remained, they ordered their men to file to right and left, and advancing in small bodies under HISTOUY OF IRELA^TK.. 549 cover of the smoke, to assail the foe in flank. At this in-C J* ^ P. stant, the royal army, being seize ' with a strange panic, broke on all sides, and fled in confusion through the town, on the road to Tuam, leaving their artillery and ammuni- tion to the enemy, nor could the efforts of their officers pre- vail on them to rally. They continued their flight to Tuam, which is nearly forty English miles from the field of battle, and, after a short refreshment, were proceeding towards Athlone, distant above forty miles more, when they were stopped by the arrival of the viceroy in that town. In this disgraceful engagement fifty-three of the roval troops were killed, thirty-four wounded, and two hundred and seventy were prisoners or missing. Tiie greater part of the latter, being soldiers of the Longford and Kilkenny militia, were found to have deserted to the enemy. The loss of the French in killed and wounded was equal to that of our troops. A few that were too eager in the pursuit were cut down by Lord Roden''s cavalry. ' Lord Cornwallis, considering that the invading ^orce, ^^^^^^^ ^ though small, was not to be despised in the present disposi-edbv Corn- tion of the country, resolved to exert himself with vigilance"^ ^^' «nd caution at this| critical |uj)cture. Though he heard, befoi'e his arrival at Athlone, of the victory gained by the French, he found it necessary to continue there for a day or two, and proceeding thence witli his army, he arrived at Hol- lymount on the fourth of September, distant fourteen miles from Castlebar, to which place he was preparing to march to attack the French, when he was informed that they had abandoned that post, and directed their course to Foxford. He then thought it expedient to march himself in a paral- lel direction with the enemy, and appointed others to fol- low them. After the victory of the French at Castlebar, a great ^, .. « many more of the Irish peasantry flocked to their standard, Humbert, for whom, however, they had but few arms, their stock be- ing already exhausted. From such an accession of a rude rabble to their force they derived but litvle aid, and being disappointed in this particular, and also in the expected reinforcements from France, they began to suspect, notwith- standing their late success, that they had been sent on a 550 HISTORY OF IRELAND. CH A P. desperate errand, to annoy, not to conquer the enemies of _ " • their country. They resolved, however, to exert themselves with energy as long as they were able ; and Humbert accord- ingly, having ordered the troops left at Killala to repair to the main bod}', commenced a rapid march, early in the mor- i>ing of the fourth of September, from Castlebar, through Foxford, towards Sligo. In the meanwhile he was close- ly observed by different bodies of the royal troops, whose leaders strictly obeyed the instructions given them by the viceroy. Colonel Crawford with one body, supported by another under general Lake, hung upon the rear of the French ; and general Moore, witli a third, observed their motions at a greater distance ; while Cornwallis, with the chief army, moved from HoUymount, through Clare and Ballyhaunis, toward Carrick-on-Shannon, proceeding ia nearly a parallel direction, and intending to regulate his subsequent motions by those of the enemy. Battle of Pursued by such forces from behind, the French leader CoJoonj, found himself also opposed in front by an army under colo- nel Vercker of the city of Limerick militia, who had march- ed from Sligo with three hundred and thirty men, and two curricle guns. By this officer the hostile troops were met on the fifth of September, after they had passed the town of Coloony, in their way to Sligo, and an engagement took place in which the commander of each army was under a mistake, that tended ultimately to the advantage of the roy- al cause. The colonel, supposing himself contending with only the van-guard of the French, pressed with eagerness for the victory before the main body should arrive to its re- lief, and Humbert, conceiving the colonel's force to be the van-guard of a great army, attempted only to repulse, but not to surround him. After an unequal contest of about an hour, in which Vereker distinguished himself for his mi- litary spirit and skill, which was afterwards acknowledged by his opponent,; he was obliged to retreat, with the loss of his artillery, to Sligo, and afterwards retired with his little army to Ballyshannon. Humbert's On account of this spirited opposition from an inferior r(f' t d ^'^*'^^> Humbert thought it expedient, as is supposed, to re- linquish his design on Sligo, and therefore directed his HISTORY OK ini'LAND. 551 march by Drilmmaliair toward Manorliamilton^ in thecoun- CHAP ty of Leitrim. Eager to get forward v/ith all expedition, l^e _^^2__" left behind liim on the road three six-pounders dismounted, and threw five otlier pieces of artillery over tlie bridge at Drummahair, On approaching Maiioriiamikon he sudden- ly wheeled to tlie riglit, taking a southerly dn'ection by Drumkerin, in order, as it was imagined, to make an at- tempt to reach Granard in the county of Longford, where an insurrection had taken place. In his enileavours to ef- fect this, and.during all his march, he goi every possible assistance from the Iris!i peasantry, who not only supplied him with provisions in abundance, but aLo with horses to carry any of his soldiers tliat were fatigued. On the seventh his rear-guard had a skirmish with the advanced guard of Crawford, in which he had the advantage. At Ballintra he crossed the Shannon, and halting some hours in the night at Cloone, he arrived at Ballynamuck on the eighth of Sep- tember, so closely pursued, with all the advantages he posses- sed, that his rear guard had been unable to break the bridge at Ballintra to impede the march of the troops that follow- ed him. In the mean while the viceroy, with the grand army, having crossed the same river at Carrick-on-Shannon, marched before him by Mohill to Saint Johnstown in the county of Longford, in order to intercept him in front in the way to Grauard. By this movement he was reduced to such a situation, that, if he should proceed, he must inevit- ably be surrounded by nearly thirty thousand men, com- manded by a distinguished leader. In his present hopeless situation, Himibert thought it would Surrendry be for his credit to make some snow of resistance, and there- ^'^ BaUvna. fore drew out his forces in a regular order of battle. (Craw- ford now advanced and attacked the rearguard, amountmo- to about two hundred, who numediately laid down their arms. On this Lord Roilen proceeded with a few dragoons within the iines of the rest of tlie enemy, in order, as he expected, to receive their surrender, but Humbert, still continuing to make a sliow ol resistance, surrounded them and made them prisoners. He then detended himself for about half an hour, but surrendered when he saw the main body under general Lake approach. His Iroop;; 552 HISTORY OF IRELAND. Insurrec- tion at •Granard. CHAP, were found, after surrendrv, to consist of seven liundred and forty-eight privates, and ninety-six officers, whose number he had augmented by promotions. Hence it appears, that he had lost from his first landing in Ire- land two hundred and forty-six men. His Irish adhe- rents, amounting to fifteen hundred, v,ho liad accompanied him to this fatal field, being excluded from quarter, were pursued with slaughter, and about five hundred of them put to death. The insurrection near Granard, which Humbert intend- ed to second, but from Avhich he was prevented by the ar- rangements of the viceroy, took place while the French were on their march from Castlebar. Their design was to make a powerful diversion in favour of the enemy, or even to af- ford them a commodious post, whence thoy might derect their operations against the metropolis. In order to ac- commplish their purpose, they had appointed to rise around <3rranard, to seize that post, and proceed thence with aug- mented force to attack the town of Cavan, where stores of arms and ammuirition were deposited. Accordingly, the in- surgents, consisting mostly of people from Westmeath, made an attempt to surprise Granard on the fifth of September, but were prevented by the seasonable arrival of captain Cottingham, a yeoman officer, who had made a rapid march from Cavan for that purpose, and with two hundred yeo- men, advantageously posted, repelled, with considerable slaughter, an ill-armed mob of above two thousand rebels. On the sixth, the principal body, after they had plundered a charitable foundation called Wilson's liospital, proceeded to attack a party of yeomen and Argyll fencibles, posted under lord Longford, near the village of Bunbrusna, but with no better success, and by their defeat this petty insur- rection was suppressed. Contests in ^}^^ rebels in the county of Mayo, who had risen up to Majo. assist the invaders, were more obstinate in their resistance. On the twelfth of September, before they heard of the sur- render of the French army, a large body of them made an attack on the town of Castlebar, occupied by the royal troops, and were with difficulty repulsed by captain Ur- quhart of the Frazer fencibles. After Humbert had with- HISTORY OF MtELAN'D. 553 ilrawn his troops from Killala, as already mentioned, he left CHAP, only three officers there, and one at Ballina, to command the _Jl^l__l, insurjrents who formed tlie orarrisons of those towns. On the twelfth, these officers got intelligence of the fate of their army at Ballynamuck, but concealed it from the rebels, who were at length informed of it by some of their own par- ty, who had escaped from the slaughter. Yet, strange as it may seem, fifteen days had elapsed after the event, before any part of the royal troops arrived in the neighbourhood of Killala. On the twenty-second of September, a body of these attacked the garrison of Ballina, under the command of a French officer called True, who fled with his party to Killala, the only post remaining in the hands of the insur- gents. To this town, they were followed on the succeeding day by general French with his army, who was urged by the bishop to hasten his march from Castlebar, apprehen- sive for his own and his family's safety, from the increasing fury of the rebels. Tlie town of Killala was now on the point of being as-j^j^^j.^ sailed, on one side by this army, and on another by an ar-stomied. ray consisting mostly of the Kerry militia, under Colonel Crosbie, and Maurice Fitzgerald, the knight of Kerry, who arrived as soon as the other one, though they had a league farther to max'ch. The two columns advancing to the at- tack of the town, amounted to twelve hundred men, and were furnished with five pieces of artillery. Tlie rebels were inferior in force, being not more than nine hundred, and yet they reholved to make a resistance. Accordingly, they posted themselves on a rising ground close to the town, on both sides of the road leading to Ballina, behind two stone walls, from which thev could take a deliberate aim at the assailants. They tlius fired on them as they passed, but with all the advantages they possessed, killed only one man, and wounded another, their shots flying over their heads. Hence it appears, that they had derived but little benefit from the drillinp- of the French officers, and that they were more vuitractable than their fellow-insurgents of Wexford, wlio were soon taught to take a fatal aim. Foi'ced from their ill- defended post by a flanking fire, they took to flight, and being pursued through the town by the cavalry, 554 HISTORY OP IRELAND. CH A P. they were met at the otlier side by the Kerry militia, and ^ " . • assailed by the cannon shot, as they ran to the shore. Ex- posed thus to death in every direction, about four hundred of them were slain. Such severities were naturally inflicted on those who had joined the foreign enemy, but in some cases the military were so much agitated and confused as not to make a dis- tinction between the innocent and the guilty. One very distressing instance occurred at this time. The protestants of a village called Carrowcarden being made prisoners by a party of insurgents, and found with them by a body of the military, under lord Portarlington, on their march from Shgo to Killala, were unfortunately put to death. On this unhappy occasion, the military no doubt laboured under a mistake ; but it was found, that when they came to Killala, they plundered both loyalists and disaffected alike, and in tlieir rapacity differed in no respect from the rebels, except that they seized upon property with less ceremony and ex- cuse,* Of these acts, the prince of Wales's fencibles were free, but the conduct of the generality was so glaring, that the lord-lieutenant, as soon as the country was reduced to quiet, sent two commissioners to Killala, to ascertain the da- mages done by the king's troops, and consequently all au- thenticated claims were discharged in fuU^ in Marcii follow- ing, by an order on the national bank. Previous For thirty-two days was the town of Killala in possession tran>aciions^^^l^g French and rebels, and since the former had beenor- dered away on the first of September, no Frenchmen were left there, except three officers called Charost, Boudet, and Ponson. The situation of these officers was indeed very critical, and they exerted themselves in such a manner, as entitled them to high commendation. On the first entry of the French into the bishop's palace, one of their officers gave the table-spoons, and other articles lying there, into the charge of the butler, and they took care, as much as in their power, that private property should be preserved safe. However, having brought no money along with them, they of course demanded regular contributions, for the payment * Narrative Of the Biihop of Killala. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 555 of which, they at first gave orders on tlie Irisli Directory, C HAP. that was to be soon established ; but in a few days they quit ^ playing that farce. From tiiis plan of public pillage adopt- ed by the French, little injury Avas sustained, in comparison of that occasioned by the private pillage of the Irish pea- santry who joined them. Of this the protestants, or loyal- ists, in the county of Mayo, who suffered from their rapa- city, had the unhappy experience. As long as the French troops continued in Killala, their rapacity was curbed, at least in some degree, but when these were called ofi'to join their countrymen on the first of Sep- tember, they were then under less restraint The three French officers left behind exerted themselves, indeed, as much as in their power, to protect the protestants, as did also an Irish catholic named O'Donnel, who had joined the invading army, and their exertions were no doubt in many instances attended vvitli success. By directions of the French, the country was divided into departments, and over each of these was placed an officer with a guard for the preservation of the peace, who were all catholics ; for the Irish,peasantry, though solicited hy the French officers, would not allow a single protestant to carry arms. The catholics selected as officers of the guard, were generally persons the most decent in ciiaracter and circumstances, of whom some were not con- sidered, by accepting that employment, to have taken up arms against the goverment. Yet all these precautions were too of- ten ineffectual ; for every night the guards admitted their re- bel friends to plunder the protestants, and not a day passed but some of these unhappy people came with complaints to Charost, t!»e French commanding officer at Killala, of the de- predations they had suffered, though they had protections from him, which they returned, as being of no service. Shocked at the frequent repetition of such acts, he would often whisper to the bishop, " that no consideration should " prevail on him again to trust himself to such a horde of " savages as the Iri&h"".* Many a night's sleep was lost by these generous French officers in their endeavours to pro- tect the protestants, which might be successful in some de- * Narrative, p. 183. 65ii HIbTOUY OP IRELANB. G H A r. gree in the neighbourhood of Killala, but not at all in the ^ • distant parts of tlie county. The rebels imagined, that the property of the protestants belonged entirely to them, and accordii)gly a priest asked the' commanding officer for the bishop''s library, but he told him that the bishop^s library was as much his property now as before. At first the rebels were content with depredations, but when they heard of the surrendry of the French at Bally- namuck, instead of being more tame, they became more fierce and desperate, and with more tlian usual violence cried out for vengeance on the protestants. They insisted on their being put in confinement, and kept as hostages to suffer by retaliation for the insurgents hanged by the king"*s troops ; but that fatal measure was prevented by the address of the bishop. . He proposed that a clergyman of the established church, Coniiauglit dean Thompson, a loyalist, and Iloger Macguire, a rebel ""^ ^'"'o"^" chieftain, should "o to Castlcbar with a flag of truce, and tiaiv. . ^ . , *^ . carry a letter from him to general French, the commanding officer of the royal troops there, expressing the desire of the protestants at Ivillala, that no cause should be given, from the treatment of the prisoners at Castlebar, to provoke re- prisals. Accordingly they set out and returned on the evening of the twenty-first of September, havmg obtained the object of their journey. The dean happily got an op- portunity of a little private conversation with the general, who sent a letter suitable to his wish to the bishop " assur- " ing him that his prisoners were and should be treated with " all possible tenderness and humanity."" This letter being publicly read to the multitude, and left in their hands, serv- ed to suspend their violent resolution until the protestants were freed from danger by the arrival of the royal army on the twenty-third. It Avas indeed a fortunate circumstance, and much to the honour of Connaught, " that not a drop " of blood was shed by the rebels of that province except " in the field of battle."" This was certainly in a great de- gree owing to the example and exertions of the French, who had a powerful influence over those that rose up to support them, but this influence must have been weaker in the places HISTORY OP iaELANI>. 557 more remote from tlieir presence, and here the rebels were CHAP, of -course more left to the bent of their natural inclinations.* J U The three generous French officers, wlio exerted them- InJul- 1 1 • • 1 1- (• 1 . . yence to selves so strennousljm preserving the hvesor the protestants,v,v,3nj,lj ^f, were treated with the respect aud attention to wliich they&eva. were entitled. They were allowed to wear tiieir swords, forwarded to London, and supplied with what money they wanted for their draft on Niou, the commissary of French prisoners. On their arrival at that city they were ordered to be set at liberty, and sent home without excliange, which was not accepted. Treatment very different awaited their Irish adherents* gxecu- Trials and executions commenced, of course; and amongtions. the numbers of chiefs and inferior insurgents put to death, two Irishmen suffered that came over with the invading army, Mathew Tone and Bartholomew Teeling, whose fate was much lamented, as they joined the Frcncr. officers in their active exertions to preserve the lives and properties of the protestants. Roger Macguire, who went on the embassy to Castlebar, was with difficulty saved from death, and, after long imprisonment, was transported to Botany-bay. Another Irishman, with a French commission in hisjyj- .f pocket, made a new attempt at this time to excite distur- of Tandy, bance. This was the noted James Napper Tandy, who came in a brig from France, that landed him, with the rest of its crew, on the little island of Kutland, near the north- west coast of Donegal, on the sixteenth of Sf^pte»nl;er. Im- mediately on their landing they distributed their manifes- tos, in which Tandy was particulaily active, yvho bor;^ the title ot general of briij^ade in the French service. Infoiaied, however, of the surrendry of Humbert's little army, ^^nd imable to excite any insurrection by tlieir manifestos, they soon re- embarked, and abandoned the shores of Ireland. Tandy was afterwards arrested at Hamburgh by some Bri- tish agents, supported by the nifluence of the emperor of Russia. He was tried at Lifford, at the spring assizes for • That no murders were commiUed by ihe rebels in Connau^hl was owin-> .' o ■ ■" ' '- deinned, it was tliouoht fit, as he had been arrested on a neutral territory, t'o allow him to emigrate to France, where he died in a short time after. Thus, by the bustle made about him, he was raised to a degree of consequence, which he would not have otherwise attained. A second The declaration of the French at Kilhila, that a much invasion Jarger armament was to follow theirs, turned out to be the prevented. „ r^,, . ... , . , •, , , , fact, lins principal armament, winch was delayed by want of money, at length made its appearance, on the eleventh of October, near the coast of Donegal, consisting of one &hip of the line, named the Hoche, and eight frigates, with four or five thousand soldiers. Being discovered, they were pursued by the British squadron, under Sir John Borlace Warren, overtaken the next day, and forced to an engage- ment. Compelled by necessity, they made a desperate re- sistance, but were at length completely defeated. The Hoche was captured, and the frigates attempted to escape, but six were taken in the chace. Death of Aboard the former was found Mathew Tone's brother, TLeoLaia Theobald Wolfe Tone, a lawyer of talents^ who distinguisb- Tone. cd himself by his activity in promoting the designs of the United Irishmen, and, at the very commencement of the scheme, wrote a very able pamphlet in its defence. He was tried by a court-martial in Dublin, and on his trial neither pretended to deny the charge against him, nor even to ex- cuse his political conduct, but rested his defence on his being a denizen of France, and an officer in the service of that country. Being condemned, he requested to be shot as a soldier, not hanged as a felon, and on the refusal of this request, he cut his own throat in the prison. The operation being not completely performed, he lingered for some time, and at length died of his wound on the nineteenth of No- vember. AUiid at- The French government continued still to make their at- tempt at tempts upon Ireland, to which tliev had been so stronoly invasion. i , , • . . / . i- i " urged by the traitorous society in the country. Accordingly, a third squadron of three frigates, with two thousand men for land service, destined to co-operate with the others, an- chored in the bay of Killala on the twenty-seventh of Oc- HISTORY OP IRELAND. 559 tober ; but on the appearance of some hostile ships, they CHAP. set sail with all speed, and got lionie in safety. --^.___lj. This was their last attempt to further the rebellion, which Rebellion was at lengtli completely crushed, though the spirit of dis_pj_ affection still continued. The prevalence of this unhappy spirit is evident from the commotion excited by the landing of a few Frenchmen, their continuance so long in hostile ar- ray, and their march of a hundred and fifty English miles tluough the kingdom, in defiance of an lumdred thousand royal troops'of various descriptions, commanded by a viceroy of great military talents. Immediatclv on their surrender, he thought it expedient, from the rebellious disposition of the country, to return without delay to the metropolis, to prevent insurrection in that quarter, which accounts for the long time taken by the troops in bringing relief to the loyal- ists of Killala. To alleviate the distresses of persons of that description, Compensa- both government and parliament sb,owed at this time a very ^'"'^ ^" f".'" laudable desire. Soon after the commencement of the re-alists? bellion, the sum of a hundred thousand pounds was voted by the House of Commons, for the immediate relief of such refugees as should appear distitute of the means of subsist- ence. For the distribution of this sum very respectable commissioners were appointed, who would not allow any claimant to receive more than fifty pounds. After this temporary relief was afforded, government extended their views still farther in the same line, and accordingly an act of parliament was passed for the compensation of suffering loyalists. By tiiisact suitable modes were adopted to })revent imposition as much as possible, though it might in some cases have still taken place. The various claims amounted on the whole to the sum of Amount of a million and twenty-three thousand pounds, of wliich five J^^**"^ '^'"" hundred and fifteen thousand was sought by individuals in the county of Wexford. Tlic loss of above a million was sustained by persons excluded by their conduct from com- pensation, who of course sent no estimate. So that the entire loss of all parties might have amounted to nearly tliree millions. 660 MISTORY OV IRELANB. CHAP. Xo tlie destruction of property must be added the loss o? '..lives, the suspension of industry, the obstruction of com- Oiher ef. merce, the interruption of credit in pecuniary transactions, rebellion. ^ii^U above all, the depravation of morals. Men devoid oi' principle had then a full opportunity of gratifying their vicious inclinations ; the worst passions of human nature liad then an open field for exercise. Murder, assassi nation , a delight in human misery, was, alas ! too prevalent ; men's feelings, by the scenes of torture daily exhibited, became at length obtuse and callous. By rapine and perjury, espe- cially in claims for losses, some gained more than they ever were worth, while others of tender consciences got a very inadequate compensation. Beside the injuries suffered by individuals, the public finances of the country were materially affected by the rebellion. In two years after its suppression the funded debt of Ireland was increased above twenty millions. It may not be inapt to conclude this account with an observation already made, but naturally suggested by the occasion, that for all the calamities of various kinds with which this unhappy rebellion has been attended, the instigators and abetters of it are accountable in the sight of God and man. Under pretence of seeking a reform in parliament, an ob- ject so eagerly desired for many years, was the society of United Irishmen at first establislied, but the leaders of this society soon quitted their original design, and for the sake of some speculative advantages, or througii motives of ambi- tion, formed the scheme of rebellion, of which the sad effects have been already delineated. Yet a reform in parliament, however desirable for England, was considered by some temperate persons, attached to the real interests of their country, by no means adapted for Ireland, on account of the diversity of its condition with respect to religious sects* Persons of that description began at length, on mature re- flection, to think, that the best change that could take place^ for the purpose of combining the strength of the sistes islands, so necessary in their perilous situation, would bej however grating to national vanity, the establishment of a legislative union of Great Britain and Ireland. HISTORY OF IRELAND. 5G1 Though government was extremely desirous of effecting C HA P that great object, yet they did not think it advisable to take , " " .the nation by surprise, and accordingly, on the suppression ^'^^® ""'""• of the rebellion, a pamphlet was published by the under secretary, Edward Cooke, styled " Arguments for .and *' against a union between Great Britain and Ireland con- ** sidered " Thus was the question fairly introduced to pub- lie discussion, and as government, it was supposed, by this means, declared their sentiments in favour of the measure, a vehement controversy was excited, in the course of which, beside the newspaper essays, no less than thirty pamphlets were issued from the Irish press before the end of Decem- ber 1798, Counties, cities, towns declared their sentiments on the subject ; generally against the union, but the city of Dublin, as was natural, was particularly averse to it, appre- hensive of the injury th.at would be sustained from the ces- sation of such a concourse of people as attended the sitting of parliament. The lawyers were also generally of the same opinion, and at a public meeting a resolution was carried by a great majority condemning it as " a dangerous innova- " tion." In forming their opinion, however, private in- terest might have had some influence, as many of them got into the Irish House of Commons, and brought themselves into notice by their activity in political contests ; but of such an opportunity thoy would be deprived by the removal of the parliament to England, on account of their necessary attendance in the Irish courts. Of all other public bodies, however, the proceedings of 1^^- the Irish parliament are entitled to the chief attention. Having met on the twenty-second of January 1790, the viceroy in his speech brought the subject of union refi-ular- ly before them, by recommending to their particular consi- deration the most effectual means of " consolidatino- into *' one firm and lasting fabric the strength, the power, and '_« the resources of the British empire." In the house of lords the address approving of the measure of union was carried by a great majority ; but in the commons it was opposed with acrimony and violence, and even menaces of armed re- sistance. During tlie course of the session the subject was discussed in different ways, but, though the unionists were N n 562 HISTORY OF IRKLAND, CHAP, foiled in some questions, yet as the session advanced they bad XXIV. rather a majority. It was not attempted, however, to bring the business to a final discussion at that time. In the mean- while government exerted themselves with great activity, and tampered with members of parliament, applying their all-powerful influence to induce them to support their fa- vourite object. Some violent opposers, who could not con- sistently vote for it, were j^revailed oJi to resign their seats, that others more pliable might be elected in their room. Hence may be accounted for the question of union obtain- ing a small majority towards the end of the session. Those who were induced to resign their seats usually accepted a petty place called the escheatorship of Muniter, by which their seats became vacant. The Dublin mob, during the debates on the union, insulted the members who supported it, and attacked their houses, calling them enemies to their country. In the British house of parliament th^ same sub- ject was also introduced, but the scheme proposed met with less opposition than in Ireland, and a series of resolutions were passed recommending a complete union. Not only during the session, but after its conclusion, was the influence of government applied in procuring friends to support this measure, for which the public money was la. vishly distributed at the time, and engagements were also made, both civil, ecclesiastical and military. Hence tJieir success in making proselytes. The enemies of the union were also as active as possible, but they were not supplied with the same powerful means. 1800. At the meeting of the Irish parliament in January 1800 it was shown which party had applied their time to most advantage, for a motion hostile to the union was rejected by a majority of forty two. Various otherjpetitions were now presented to the house, the generality, as usual, against, the union, though a few were in its favour, of which the one from the town of Gal way was most remarkable for the strong arguments it contained. Of the supporters of the union the most conspicuous was the lord chancellor, John Fitzgibbon, earl of Clare, and of the opposers the right honourable John Foster, speaker of the house of commons. The celebrated Henry Grattan, who had some time seced- HISTORY OP IRKLAND. 563 were at one time a hundred and sixteen placemen and pen- CHAP, ed, got a seat in the house in order to oppose it. Both ^ '. among tliose wjio opposed, and those who supported the union, were to be found honest men, friends to their coun- tr}', but the motives of the generahty of those who opposed it vvas a desire to retain or possess a monopoly of power. It may be now necessary to give in a few words the principal arguments that were used either for or against this measure. Those who argued against the union observed, that Ire- land would thus be degraded from its dignity, and deprived of its independent legislature, which it acquired, after such glorious struggles, by the settlement of 1782 ; that a local parlijjment, best acquainted with the habits, prejudices, and dispositions of their fellow-subjects, would be better capable of promoting their interests than a foreign legislature, un- acquainted with the state of the people, and too distant to receive information ; that the Irisii members of the impe- rial parliament, like the present Scottish members, would become tools of administration ; that absentees would be greatly increased, and of course the drain of money out of the country ; that whatever concessions should be granted for such sacrifices might not be durable, as the compact of union might be cancelled by means of the great majority of English members in the imperial parliament. In answer to these arguments the friends of union ob- served, that this boasted independence was rather nominal than real, for though Ireland, by the settlement of 1782, , got its parliament independent, yet it could seldom or never exercise it, at least with safety, for when there are two seemingly independent legislatures under the same crown, that of the great country must rule, and the other must fol- low ; or if there should be a disagreement, as in the case of the regency, there is a danger of the feeble connection be- tween the two kingdoms being brok^ asunder, and the fatal effects of disunion have been recently exhibited in the seve- ral countries by means of it deprived of their liberties; that the English parliament would not be so illiberal as not to attend to the information given by the Irish members re- specting their country ; that the Irish members in the im- perial parliament could not be more subservient to govern- jnent than the local parliaiflpnt had been, in wliich tliere 564 HISTORY OF IRELAND. XXIV^* sioners ; that though absentees might be increased, this dis- - nrivnnfflnrp would be coiinterbalancefl by the increase of trade, and the stabihty Ireland would acquire by a close connec- tion with the sister country ; that commercial jealousies, the principal impediment of Ireland's prosperity, would be re- moved ; that the claims of the catholics would be more candidly disscussed than in a local parliament, where pre- judices are more prevalent; and that the honour of the British parliament had been proved by its conduct towards Scotland, which derived such essential advantage from the union. TJje ai-guments in favour of this measure, when support- ed by the influence of government, had the desired effect, and the bill of union was carried in the commons by a ma- jority of sixty,* and without a division in the lords. On the first of August it received the royal assent, which had been previously afforded to a bill of a similar kind in the British parliament. As by the act of union the legislatures of Gi'eat Britain and Ireland were incorporated, so was also the church of the latter with that of England or South Britain. By the arrangement made according to the wealth and population of the sister islands, one hundred commoners was adjudged an adequate representation of the people of Ireland in the imperial parliament, two for each county, two for each of the cities of Dublin and Cork, one for the univcrsit}', and one for each of the thirty-one most considerable cities and towns. To each of the owners of the disfranchised boroughs the sum of fifteen thousand pounds was alloted as a com- pensation, and the public money assigned entirely to this purpose amounted to twelve hundred and sixty thousand pounds. Twenty-eight lords temporal, elected for life, was the number appointed to represent the Irish peerage, and four prelates, taking their places by rotation, to represent the clergy. The first day of January ISOl, being the first day of the nineteenth century, was the time fixed for the act of union to take effect, by means of which the two king- doms should coalesce into one. As one country was quite superior to the other in trade, and of course in ability to pay taxes, it was determined by • Aves 160— Noes 100—60. HlSTOnV OF IRELAND. 565 the articles of union, that the revenue to be levied should ^J^^S' be fixed at the proportion of fifteen for Great Britain, and ■' " "^ - two for Ireland, during the twenty years next ensuing, and that at the expiration of that period, the imperial parliament should be allowed to modify that proportion on the same principle. With respect to commerce it was determined, on the whole, that the two countries should be on an equal footing, as proposed in the original connnercial propositions of 1785, and that they should mutually give each ether the preference. Notwithstanding the settlement of the union. Ireland hasj>gn,aits still a viceroy and separate exchequer.* Her agriculture on it. and trade have since considerably increased, and the com- mercial jealousies of the English have been partly removed. Her revenue has also increased, and national debt to a great degree, occasioned by a war of unusual durability and ex- pense. Many of the disadvantages apprehended from the union did not in reality take place, and even Dublin has not been affected as much as might be supposed, by being deprived of the concourse of people that were usually at- tracted by parliament. As the union, however useful on the whole, might tend to lessen the consequence of some great Irish families, who were in the habit of obtaining, by their influence in their own country, posts of honour and profit for themselves and their dependents, it is no wonder if some of these were so averse to the measure as to reject with disdain all the over- tures made by government to overcome their hostility. Others, indeed, on weighing the case maturely, became more flexible, but it was no doubt for valuable considerations, either emolument actually obtained, or the solemn promise on the first opportunity. Hence the appointment of union judges, as they were called, union generals and colonels, union bishops and deans, &c. &c. In the church especially, engagements were made that could not be fulfilled for some years. In compliapce with these engagements, the Irish episcopal bench has been dignified by eminent persons of high titles, most of whom were honourable and reverend previous to their ap})ointment, and some even lords by " The English and Irish exchcnuers hare lately, for very essential rea- sons, been fomiallv luiilal. 566 HISTORY OF IRELAND. € H A P. courtesy. Very different in station from the humble iiistruc- , ^^'^^' tors employed at the first introduction of the gospel ! In this point some persons were mistaken, who thought, that, after the union took place, " there would be more in- *' stances than ever of Englishmen being preferred to natives *' of superior merit, in the disposal of ecclesiastical bene- *' fices.'"'* However, this has not turned out to be entirely the case, for, after the establishment of this measure, the preference has been given to Irishmen, but those Irishmen, it is true, were of a particular description. It will be found, that even after the engagements made at the union were sup- posed to be fulfilled, the same mode was continued of con- ferring the Irish ecclesiastical preferments, almost exclusive- ly, on the younger sons of the Irish nobility and gentry, who certainly, from their habits of life, are not inclined to the grave study of divinity, or literary pursuits. But the Irish government find it more for their advantage to attach to their side men of fortune, than men of literature, f- They have con- ferred, it is true, episcopal dignities or deaneries on a few fa- vourite fellows of the university, for they supposed all lite^ rary merit to be confined within the walls of the college, but this was only a partial encouragement ; and it will Ge found that the few works published by those learned per- sons, are not usually written in a style that would attract the generality of readers. Literature. With works of literature Ireland certainly does not abound, for book-making is a trade not followed in this country ; but it has been observed, that hardly any one ventures to write a book here without having at least some pretensions to make the attempt, which is not the case in England, where so many hundreds mistake their capacities in this point. From the criticisms of the Reviewers, it appears, that immense quantities of literary trash, both in poetry and prose, but especially in the former, are issued every year from the British press. Still we must acknowledge, that many excellent books are at present published in Great " Gordon's History of the Rebellion, p. 353. •j- The Englishmen, who bad been promoted to Irish bishopricks, on account of being tutors to the English nobility, as was formerly the case, were found in several instances to afford due encouragement to literary merit among the Irish clergy. But the system is now changed. HISTOllY OP IRELAND. 567 Britain, where the taste for composition is more chaste than chap. in Ireland. The Irish style is indeed not so simple as the ^Xl^' ^- English, and is too often interlarded with false ornament ; — — — but the orators at the public meetings are most extravagant in this instance, and by this extravagance they unhappily attain their object, so corrupt is the public taste ; for the more their spieeches abound with similes, metaphors, tropes, and figures, however absurd and inconsistent, they are the more applauded by their audience — '* For rhetoric he could not ope '• His moutb, but out there flew a trope." Plain argument, and the simple language of nature, is con- sidered as a common attainment, and disregarded by those declaimers, who are carried away by flights of imagination, and constantly aiming at the sublime and beautiful. The excessive fondness for figurative language, which in fact is the language of barbarians, prevails too much at the Irish bar, and even infects some of the Irish orators in the im- perial parliam.ent. In talent and industry the Irish are certainly not inferior to their neighbours, and no doubt many of them would exert themselves to attain perfection in literature, if they found it for their advantage. But in reality no encouragement is given to domestic literature, not only by the government, but even by the people themselves. For unhappily a pre- judice prevails among them against every production of their own country, and if any Irishman of talents attain celebrity by his publications, he must have acquired it in England, and not at home. In fact the people have no opinion of their own in matters of literatui-e, and in this point are en- tirely directed by the prevalent taste of England and Scot- land, which of late has been found out, in many cases, to be capricious and depraved. Any work of fashion in those countries; though its fame be ever so undeserved, of course meets a ready reception in Ireland. If the rage of the day in Great Britain be for wild stories taken from the German language, for poetic translations from the Italian or Spanish, for old tales in rude rhyme of fierce warriors and hapless lovers, of steel-clad knights and barons bold, the infection is easily spread through Ireland. The Irish public admire. 568 HloTORV OP lUKLAND. CHAP, applaud, and purchase. It is true a violent party work • published here, especially if fraught with religious animosi- ty, may acquire a temporary sale, which is a melancholy exception. But lest a native historian may seem to be in- tluenced by disappointed expectations, it may be more can- did to conclude with the observations of a liberal English- man on the same subject. " The University, the lloyal Irish Academy, and the " Dubhn Society, which is an excellent national establish- " ment for the general encouragement of science, being in ••' this metropolis, it might be expected, that it is here we *' should find a considerable number of literary men ; but " this is not the case. In England, Scotland and France *' science and literature elevate men of the humblest birth *' to respect and attention. In Ireland the custom is dif- " fercnt ; there a man of talent, however exalted his genius, " or extensive his learning, is neither sought after nor es- ** teemed. As a candidate for public favour he will never " succeed against the trifler of upper life, whose productions *' are puffed into notice by the partial breath of titled friend- " ship. Fashion bears sovereign sway, to which the whole ** Irisii nation bow — A desire to produce a reformation of " the obstacles to national improvement obliges me to state, " that the Irish are illiberally jealous of rising merit among '< themselves. They encourage not the youth of genius, " whose talents, if fostered and protected, might be the <' source of improvement to their countr}'. A young Irish- " man of ability must seek his reward in England, the «« chillinsr breath of neglect will blast his buds at home.""* * "Wakefield's Statistical and Political Account of Ireland. Vol. ji. page 766. THE END* INDEX. A Act, British, to bind Ifeland, 382. Acts, constitutional, 424. Aghrim, battle of, S65, 366. Agistment, tithe of, prohibited, 387. Antrim, marquis of, defeated by the Confederates, 268, Arklow, battle of, 518. Armoric of St. Lawrence, his heroic band, 50. B Ballynahinch, battle of, 533. Ballynamuck, surrendry of the French at, 551 Bards, Irish, 5. Baromean tribute, 7- Black rent, 87. Borlace, sir John, lord-justice, 200. Boyne, battle of, 350, 351. Brehons, Irish judges, 3. ' Brian Beromy, 15. Browne, his mission to convert the Irish, 112. Bruce, Edward, his invasion, 68 ; defeat and death, 72^ c Carew, sir George, his exertions, l6l, l62. Celtae, the original inhabitants, 1. Cheisterfield, his administration, 389* Clanricard chief-governor, 288. Cogan, Milo de, his spirited conduct, 31 ^ his attempt on Con- naught, 44 ; his death, 46. Coinage, base, of James II, 341. Convention of Kilkenny, 233, 234; national, 431. Coote, sir Charles, his severities, 221 ; his death, 229. Second sir Charles, his operations, 285, 293 ; his conversion, 300. Cornwallis, chief-governor, 543 ; his regulations, 544. Corporations new modelled, 324. Courcey, John de, his exploits in Ulster, 43 i appointed chief- governor, 48 ; his disgrace, 53. Cromwell, Oliver, his acts, 277, 284. Cromwell, Henry, 297, 298. 570 INDEX. D Danes invade Ireland, 13. Debt, national, established, 396. Defenders, 457. Dermod MacMurchad, his conduct, 20 ; joined by adventurers, 23 ; his acts, 26. Derry, description of, 327; defence of, 328, 332, S35 ; relief of, 336. Desmond, earl of, affects independence, 87 ; defeated by the Irish, 90; executed, 91. Desmond, earl of, his unhappy end, 136. Dowdal, George, his zeal for popery, lip, 122. Druids, 2. Dungannon, resolutions at, 420. Dwellings of ancient Irish, 4. E Edmond, doctor, 492, 494-. English, degenerate, 72. Enniskilleners, operations of, 3S7, 838, 348. Essex, earl of, lord-lieutenant, 152; his misconduct, 153, 154; reception by the queen, 1 55. F Fedlim, prince of Connaught, 60, 6l ; treachery and death, 69, 70. FitzandelnVs vicious government, 43. Fitzgerald, Maurice, lands, 25; rescues De Lacy, 38. Fitzgerald, lord Thomas, his rebellion, 106, 108. Fitzgerald, lord Edward, 482, 487. Fitzgibbon, John, 447. Fitzhenry, Meyler, chief-governor, SI ; reduces De Burgo, 52 ; his successful administration, 53. Fitzstephen, Robert, lands in Ireland, 23, takes Wexford, 24 ; his misfortunes, 46. Fitzvvilliam, sir William, his administration, 141, 142. Fitzwilliajn, earl, 460. Flood, Henry, his parliamentary transactions, 425, 432. Food of ancient Irish, 5. Foster, John, 436. Frajjchise, elective, obtained by catholics, 455. G Ginckle, his operations, 360, 368. Glamorgan, earl of, his negotiation, 249. Government, the ancient form of, 2, 3. Graces of Charles I, 186. Grattan, Henry, his motions, 418, 422. Grey, Lord Leonard, his acts, 106; defeats O'Nial, 114; his uahappj' fate, 1 15. Grey, Lord Arthur, his severe acts, 1S5, 136. INDEX. 661 H Hamilton, Richard, his treachery, 329- Henry II, 18; lands in Ireland, 34. Henry VIII, his religious innovations abhorred by the Irish, 112. Humbert, French general, 5i7. I— J James II, his arrival, 331 ; operations, &c. 332, S34< ; acts, 339, 34-3 ; his flight, 353. Inchiquin, lord, his revolt, 246 ; his exertions, 263, 264; ; his se« cond revolt, 266. John, prince, his adherents insult the Irish, 47. , king, his expedition, 54. Jones, colonel Michael, defeats Preston, 262. Irish, refused the benefit of the English laws, 65. Insurrection on that account, and barbarity, 75. Ireton's operations, 284, 292 ; his death, 293. K Kildare, Gerald, earl of, lord-deputy, 92; attached to the house' of York, 93 ; supports the imposture of Lambert Simnel, ib. ; removed, 94; restored, 100; defeats Clanricard, 101; revival of English power, ib. Kildare, young Gerald, his vanity, 105. Kilkenny, statute of, 80. Killala, invasion at, 545 ; transactions at, 553f 556. L Lacey, Hugh de, his administration, 45 ; assassination, 4Si Lavs^s, ancient Irish, 3, 4. Limerick, articles of, 369. Linen manufacture, 195. Literature, 566. Liturgy, new, 11 9- Lorraine, duke of, his negoeiation with the Irish, 289, 290; 291. Lucas, Charles, 391. M MacArthy, 61, 62. MacMurchad opposes Richard II with success, 84, 8S. Marlborough, earl of, his expedition, 355. Marshall, Richard earl, his resistance to Henry III, 58 ; his mur- der, 59- Massacres of 1641, 2l6, 217 ; of Scullabogue, 516; Vinegar Hill, 520; Wexford, 523. Militia bill, 456. Militia, protestant, disarmed, 321. Molyneux, William, his book, 373. Moore, Roger, chef instigator of the rebellion, 208, S7S INDEX. Mountjoy, earl of, his successful operations, 158, 159 ; his vic- tory at Kinsale, 16'5. Mountmorris, treatment of, 194. Munroe, Robert, with a Scottish array, 230 ; his defeat, 256. Murphy, father John, commencement of bis operations, 604? ; O Oak, hearts of, 403, 404. O'Connolly, his discovery of the conspiracy, 211. O'Connor, Roderic, monarch of Ireland, 21 ; invests Dublin, 30 ; his defeat 31 ; his submission, 41 ; his death, 49. O'Connor, Arthur, 482- Octennial bill, 406. O'Donnel, his acts, 145, 146 ; joins the Spaniards, l64 ; escapes to Spain, l65; bill of attainder against him, 179. O'Neal, John, invades Tyrconnel, 124; defeated, 125; his violences continued, 128; assassination, 129. O'Neal, Hugh, 292. O'Neal, Owen, 231, 255. O'Neal, sir Phelim, 209, 214, 295. Orangemen, 466, 467- Ormond, earl of, executed, 90. Ormond, his operations, 225, 229 ; created marquis, 235 ; his negociations, 241, 269 ; disputes with the clergy, 285, &c. his resignation, 320. O'Tool, Lawrence, his patriotic acts, 28, 30. P Palatinates, 75. Pale, catholics of, their defection, 200. Parliament, first Irish, 65; first national, 177; instance of its corruption, 446, 447. Parsons, sir William, lord-justice, 200, 239. Patrick, saint, JO. Penal code, relaxation of, 4J2. Perrot, sir John, his vigorous proceedings as president of Munster, 130; his new government, 136, 137 ; opposition to him, 138. Plantations in Ulster by James I, 174, 175, 176; in other parts, 181. Portland, duke of, his message, 442. Poynings, sir Edward, lord-deputy, 98* Prqtestants, persecution of, 340, 343. Raymond, his exploits, 39, 40, 42. Rebellion, designs of leaders, 209, 210 ; commencement of, 2 12, 214 ; in 1798, commencement of, 491 ; effects of, 559, 560, Reformation, 110. Remonstrance of loyal catholics, 312, INDEX. 573 Rcnuncini, his intemperate zeal, 250, 271. Revolution, French;, celebration of it in Ireland, 450. Reynolds, discovery of, 483. Richard II, his first expedition to Ireland, 83 ; his second, 84. Right-boys, 444, Rosen, his cruel expedient, 335. Ross, battle of, 514. Rupert, prince, his conduct, 272. S Saintfield, battle of, 531. Saint Ruth, acts of, 363, 365 ; his death, 366. Sarsfiekl, success of, 356. Schomberg,duke, his progress, 344, 345 ; distress of his army,346. Settlement, explanatory act of, 307, 308. Sheares, Henry and John, 485, 488. Simnel, Lambert, his imposture, 93. Statutes, penal, 377. Steel, hearts of, 408, 409. Stoke, battle of, 95. Strongbow lands, 27; takes Waterford by storm, also Dublin, 28 ; chief-governor, 3Q ; death, 42. Spanish invasion, 163. Swift, dean, 383. T Thurot, his descent, SQS. Tichburne, sir Henry, his defence of Drogheda, 224. Townshend's administration, 405, 407. Tryconnel, earl of, 322 ; his acts, 323, 325, 330. Tyrone, his schemes, 144, 145 ; his acts, 146, 148 ; defeats the royalists, 151 ; his mtei-view with Essex, 154; joins the Spa- niards, l64 ; his defeat, l65 ; real submission, 167; flight to Spain, 173; bill ot attainder against him, 179. U— V Union, 561; remarks on, 565. United Irishmen, formation of society, 450 ; apply to France, 468, 480 ; violent acts, 471 ; organization, 477. University of Dublin, 143 ; designs against it, 325 ; open attack on it, 342, 343. Volunte«rs, 415, 417, 419. w Walter, reverend George, 333. Warbeck, Perkin, his scheme, 96. Warren, sir John Borlace, defeats a French squadron, 558. Wentworth's administration, 189, 197 ; attack on him, 199. iT4< INDEX. White-boys, 401, 403. William III, operations of, .350, 356. Wood's half-pence, 383, 384-. Woollen manufacture destroyed, gS*". Y Yeomenry, 467, 468. York, duke of, lord-lieutenant of Ireland, 88; his cordial recep- tion after his defeat in England^ 89, ^r Tt^. c.- Date Due 1 DEC 2 2QQ7 (^ r BOSTON COLLEGE 3 9031 01212062 2 205075 Boston College Library Chestnut Hill 67. Mass. Books make kept for two weeks unless a shorter time is specified. Two cents a day is charged for each 2-week book kept overtime; 25 cents a day for each overnight book. If you cannot find what you want, inquire at the delivery desk for assistance.