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THE GIFT OF

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'• >

GENERAL HISTORY

O P

IRELAND,

FROM THE

EARLIEST ACCOUNTS

T O T H E

CLOaE of the TWELFTH CENTURY,

VOLi IX.

i
i

GENERAL HISTORY

O F

I R E L A N D,

IH;9-M- Ttte — -;^-

EARLIEST ACCOUNTS

TO T HE

CLOSE of the TWELFTH CENTURY.

COLL fi^C TED FROM THB

MOST AUTHENTIC RECORDS.

I N W H I C H

New and -interefting Lights are thrown on the remote Hiftories of other

Nations as well as of both B R I T A I N S,

BY Mr. O' H A L L O R A N,

Author of an Introduction to the Hiftory and Antiquities of Iretand*

IN TWO VOLUMES,

V o L. n.

LONDON,

Printed for the AUTHOR, by A. Hamiltoii:

And fold by G. Robinsok, Pater-nofter-Row; J.Murray, N^ 3 2, Fleet-fiieet; J. Robsok^
New Bond-ftreet: and by Meif. Faulkner, HoeTi and Wilsonj ia Dablio,

MDCCLXXVia

(

THE

H I ST O R Y

O P

IRE L AND.

BOOK VIL

C H A p. I. r

Laagaire eJeSied emperor^^fuccefsfully invades Brit ain^^^at tacks the
Lagenians ; is defeated and taken prifoner^-^releafed on condi^
tions which he refufes to ob/erve^^new Jettlements of the Hebe^^
rians in Leinjler-^^of the religion of the Druids , and its effeSls
on the morals of the people — thefirjl introduSlion of Chriftianity
into Ireland^ not from Rome, but Afia or Africa — the flourijhing
Jlate of the Iri/h church before the landing of Patrick.

IMMEDIATELY after the interment of Daithi, the
eftates were convened to eleA a fucceflbr ; and Laogaire, foa
to the renowned hero Niall, and governor of Tara in his father's
reign, was unanimoufly called to the monarchy. Ad:ing under 428
the late emperor Daithi, the prefent prince, in conjun£l;ion with
the Saxons and Armoricaos, or maritime ftates of the continent-^
to wit, the people of Flanders, Picardy, Normandy, and Brit-
tany*— had the honour of difplaying the banners of Ireland, and
Vol. IL B , pro-

I
I

2 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. proclaiming liberty, even at the foot of the Alps ; and as ibon as
he had ft ttled the internal police ' of his country, he now prepared
for new expeditions, in concert with the ancient national
allies.
/ About this time Qodion was called to the government of GauL

I He was called Chevelu, as being the firft prince of the ancient

f race of kings, who for above four centuries^ wore his hair in long

rioglits round'the back**. For. iti is w^cthy noticef that tVe
Gauls under the Roman government, were obliged to have their
hair cut ihort, probably^ as a mark of fubjedion ; or perhaps be-^
caufe the Romans deemed it as a mark of effeminacy ; whereas>
the other- free- ftates, had** it flowing down the bSick in curls.
The Irifti in particular, as we have already obferved, were fo fond
of this ornament, that no foldier or officer durft appear without
it; nay, its lofs was a mark of thehigheft contempt, and an indigo
nity to be offered only to flaves. But to return from this digref-

430 fion : Laogaire with a potent army invades Britain, and again are
the walls and mounds of earth levelled to the ground, and again
they experience all the miferies.of a defencekft people, expofed .
to the outrages of a cruel and exalperated enemy T At length,
united by xlefpair, the Britons make head agairift thefe invadirs,
and gain fome advantages over their detached parties ; yet by a
large tribute only, are they enabled" to extricate themfelves, from .
thefe ufiieafonable vifitors for the prefent.

Fluflied by this fuccefs, the monarch riiifed new troops, deter-
mined to compel the Lagenians to pay their ufual tribute, which

431 it feems they had refufed ; but^Irlomhthan, the fonof Eana Cin-^
£elach, was too good a poirtician not to be fenfible', thit fueh re*
f ufal muft neceffarily draw on him the indignation of the monarch;
and therefore wifely prepared for. the worft. He applies to Na-i j

• Mczeray Hifloircdc France, t«n. i. p» roi

frafoicfi.

HISTORY OF IRELAND. .3

Jfraolchy the fon of Core, of the Eugcnian line, at this time king A.C
of Leath-Mogha, for his fupport; an4 enters into particular
treaty with Luig-Dealbhoidh, the fon of Cas, who was an ex-
cellent commander, and always kept a body of fele& troops in his
. pay. In the mean time Laogaire enters Leinfler ; but Criomh-
than avoided a general a£tion> till the arrival of his auxiliaries.
As foon as thefe joined him, he bid defiance to the monarch, and
by mutual agreement both armies met at Atha-Dara, in the coun«
ty of Kildare. The battle, as ufual on all thefe occafions, was
fierce and bloody, and well fought on both fides ; but the fuperior
difcipline of the Mamonians at length prevailed, and the Impe-
rialifts gave way on every fide. In this general rout Laogaire
was taken prifoner, and purchafed his liberty by fwearing to ex-
onerate the province of Leinfler, from all future demands of tri«
bute ; and which he did in the mod public manner, '' invoking
^< the fun, moon, and ftars,'' as witneflfes to this compad.

Criomhthan, as a reward for the great fervices olF Luig, gave
4um large eftates in Leinfter, which from his furname were
called the Dealbhnas. Delvin-more in Meath, was the patri*
mony of the O'Finallans, of this race, till difpofiefied by Hugo
de Lacy, in the latter end of the twelfth century, who conferred it
on Gilbert de Nugent, whofe pofterity became barons of Delvin,
and afterwards earls of Weft Meath, Delvin or DealbUna-heg,
. in the fame county, was the lordfhip of the O'Macl-Ghallains,
. x)f the line of Heber, Dealbhna-Tean-moi, was the property of the
O'Scoluighs, or Scullys ; and Dealbhna-Eathra, in the prefent
King's County, was the territory of O'Coghlin, or Mac Coghlaa,
(for I find it wrote in old MSS. both ways) and which lordihip, or
at leaft a confiderable part, is ftill preferved in that illuftrious
line. The prcfcBt O'Coghlin was a member in the laft par-
liament.

B 2 ^Scarce. •

4 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. Scarce had Laogaire recovered his liberty, when he exclaimed
and protefted againft all proceediDgs and promifes made during

' his captivity. The Druids abfolved htm from, his oath, and he
prepared again to aflertthe rights of his anceftors, by force of
arms, over the Lagenians. He like wife made fome frefli inva-
fions on South Britain ; but our hiftorians in this reign were
fo tiken up with religious affairs, that they have fearce attended to

" aiiy'othei' matters, leaving us in the dark, as to the events of thefe
laft' preparations. Indeed, the introdudion and eftablifliment of
Chriftianity, is' fo clofely connefted with ^thehiftory of the na-

* tlerfs in which it prevailed, that it neceffarily becomes a part of
fi/ch^^rks . The remarkable effedt it » hid on :the manners and

' purfiiits of the Irifli, deferves to-be partieularJy adverted to.

Never was afyftemof religion better calculated to ftir up the
foul to noble anions, than that which, prevailed among fl: the
Celtic and Scythian nations of Europe, previous to the introduce

'tion of Chriftianity. It feemed even to require Jonger and feverer
trials of probation, than the new DoiSrine; for though the
immortality of the foul was imiverfally believed by them, yet
they never allowed repofe to it. They taught that it muft pafs
from body to body, till by a feries of ages, and a^ftions of the
brighteft die, it became a pure emanation from the Deity, purged
from all terreftrial vices, and worthy to be returned from whence
it came. Was a man addiifited td gluttony, the foul after his de-
ceafe was judged to animate a hog, or fome fuch unclean crea-
ture. The vices in one animation, were punifhed after death,
by that foul's being tranfufed into fome^quadrupede moft remark-
able for fuch depravity. The fouls of the brave, the generous,
and the humane, after death, were revived in other bodies, ftill
more noble and pure ! In time they became pure aerial fpirits ;
and &om thence afcended to the Caelum iBmpyreum. Pytha-

* 8 goras

HISTORY OF iXELANDi 5

■

goras .* .boafted that tie remembered his animating the bodies of A.C*
Aethalides,. Euphorbus^ Hermotimu8> and Pyrrhus> and related
tthe different accidents that happened to him in each perfonage.
It is true, he tells us, the reafbn why he particularly poffefled this
power of recoUedion after deaths not granted to others, that
in the perfon of Aethalides^ who was fuppofed the fan of Mer-
cury, he begged of that god to be enabled to remember after
death, whatever paOfed in the different bodies he animated. Thus
Ovid relates the tale :

*• Morte carent animse : fempercjue, priore reli£ta
^ Sede,, novis domibus habitant, vivuntque receptse*
, " Jpfe ego {nam memini) Trojani tempore belli

•' Pa;athoide8 Euphorbns eram : cui pedtore quondam
, **. Sedit in Adverfo gravis hafta minoris Atrid®*
. '\ Cognpvi clypeum, laevae geftamina noftras
-". Nuper Abanteis, templo Junonis, in Argis/'

.. Nor. are we, even at this day^ deftitute of Druid tales to the
' I- ^ ' . *

fame import. Fiontan, fay our old legendary tales, came to Ire-
land before the flood, with his wifeCeafair. They (hared the
fame fate with the reft of the antediluvian world, except Noah
;^n^ his children. He animated a new body after the flood, and
. lived for a confiderable time. He related, that at the building the
•**^ arls;, he with his wife*s father Bith, applied to Noah, for room

for his family, but which was refufed him. They confulted an
oracle, and were advifed to build fuch a machine as Noah was
about ; to ftoreitwith provifions, and when the rain began to cover
the country, to enter it, and commit themfelves to the mercy of the
winds and waves — " incerti qu6 fata ferunt." They did fb» and

• Diogen. Laertius, lib% viii» f Meumorpb. lib. xv..

were

6 HISTORY OF IRELAND;

A*C. were thrown on the Irifli coafts. Here, after fome time, they aU
died J but Fiontan, like Pythagoras, being endowed with the
fpirit of recolledlion after death, on re-animating a new body,
related this wonderful tale, which is all the authority we have for
our antideluvian hiftory! However this tale proves fufficiently^
that the early Irifli Druids were well acquainted with the hiftory
of the Jews, long before the incarnatioa ; and that they wanted
neither boldnefs nor invention, where th« honour of their religion
or the antiquity of their country were the objeds. It. is recorded
in the Pfalterof Calhill, in the reign of Fiacha Muilleathan, that
the Druid Modharuith, (who, for finding out the- means of fup-
plying his army with water in a lime 6f great fcarcity, was granted
lands in the county of Cork, afterwards thelordfliips of O'Keefe,
and now called Roche's country , about A. C. 260) boafted to this
prince that lie remembered the reigns of nineteen monarchs of
Ireland. Capilte Mac Roan is faid to have lived (or rather to
have animated different bodies)- many hundred years before the
f days of St. Patrick, and to have given to this apoftle feveral cu-
rious anecdotes of the country, and of its ancient inhabitants and
religion, little known to the public. The dialogue between St.
Patrick and Oilin, ftill preferved, in which a minute relation is
given of the bloody battle of Gabhra, and of the heroes that fell
on both fidesi is another .proof of this. The author aflerted that
he waa Oifin, the eldeft fon of the famous Fion Mac Cumhal;
•though this battle was fought A. C. 296, at which time Oifin
muft have been advanced in years, his fon Ofgur being then ge-
neral of theFionne Eirion, or Leinfter cohorts !

But though the immortality and tranfmigration of the foul
were, as we have feen, conftantly inculcated by the Druids, yet
their doflrines and tenets were calculated, in general, rather to
inflame than fupprefs the paffionj. Thus, the love of glory, am-
'bition, and revenge were the chief themes of the bards and fena-

7 chies

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 7

diies. None were fpoke refpedfully of in our annals, or cele- A.C.
brated by the bards, but fuch as indulged thefe paffions to the
faigfaeft desgrec. Lucan •, who feemed well acquainted with their
tenets, telh us, that the chief cmployof the bards, was to cele-_
brate the atchieTements of thofe who fell in battle j and, to con-
' firm this, we have already obferved, that in the midft of flaughter
the bards attended the fight, to animate their patrons by their
▼erfe j to remind them of the atchievements of their anceftors,.
aod the difgrace they muft entail on their poftcrity, dould they,
£ill fliprt of fuch glorious patterns I Thus Lucau—

** Vos quoque qui fortes animas, belfoque peremptoa»

" Laudibus in longum vates, dtmittitis serum, '

•* Flurima fecuri fudiftia.carmina bardi.**

The Chriftian religion pointing the road to falvation, by. doc-
ttines totally oppofite to thefe of the Druids, we muft fuppofe
produced a.fenfible alteration, in the condud of its votaries ; and
it did fo. At a very early period was Chriftianity preached in
Ireland. The conAant enmity between this country and ancient
Rome, prevented any kind of friendly intercourfe. This doftrine
came not immediately from thence here, but from the churches -
c^Afiaj and this explains what TertuUian notes — '* Britan-
•« norummaccefla Romanu loca, Cltri/io verb fubdita.** Man-
fiietus, an Irifliman, the firfl bilhop and patron of Toul, and
canonized by Leo IX* is faid to havebeen a difciple of St. Peter f.
St. James, the fon of Zebedee, it is affirmed, alfo preached the
gofpel in treland %. To me it would feem that Manfuetus, and .
the other early Irifh Chriftians, were rather the difciples of St. .
John the evangelift j and I ground my opinion on what the Ve* ■

• Pharfal. lib. i. f Uffer, Primord. p. 747, 8. Bruodio. p. 879, &c.

nerable".

— \

A.C.

HISTORY OF iktL AllJ^D:

nerable Bede relates, with regard to! ffie faiii6\i9' cohtKJVerfy atejut
the celebration of Eafter *. He tells us, that ift dlffeAc* of
the Irifh time of celebrating this feaft, in oppofitfott tb tliat of
Rome, Colman, the Irifh bilhbp o^ Lindrsfirn, Itfion'g other
reafons declared—** that he had received it frdnti his fdre-fkthers,
•* who fent him to Northum^berland as their biftiop ;' and that it
** was the fame cuftom which St. John, Ch^ift's cff)etially be-
** loved difciple, with all the churches under him; obferved. In
the reign of Con, in the fecond century, Ireland feht forth the fa-
mous St. Cathaldiis f to preach the doftrine of Chrifl ; and he
became biChop and patron of Tarentum, in Italy. In fo flourifh-
ing a ftate was Chriftianity footi after, that in the next age,
Gormoc, as great a legiflator and as wife a prince as any nation
produced, became before his death a Chriftian, and died in that
faith, as we have obferved already ; fbon after which it is ex-
prefsly faid in the Catha-Gabhra, that the Irifh general Fion
went to Rome. In the next reign, we read of an Irifli bifhop's
fufFering martyrdom in Britain ; and it is evident by the poem of
Torna Eigis, chief bard to Niall the Grand, beginning with— •
*' Dail Catha, idir Core, and Niall," that he himfelf was aChrif-
tian ; and Colgan offers his reafons :]: for thinking his xnaller one
alfo.

* Hift. Ecclef. Brit. lib. iii. cap. 25. f Bruodia. p. 879. Viti St. CaJ
taldi, &c.

t Trias Tbaumat. p. 175, N. 28.

CHAP.

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

CHAP. II.

A.C.

Churches and fcho^U founded, and bijbofs efiablijhedy before the ar-
rival of Si. Patrick— Pope Celejiin fends Palladius to Ireland-^
a paffage in Profper on this embajjy^ explained and defended— is
fucceeded by St, Patricks—his manner of conducting the mifjion —
the number of hijbops covfetrated by him-, accounted for — is ap-
pointed oni^ of the committee to eKamine the national records— ^re-
marh upon it.

1 . t

TH E preceding ^hi»pt#r bw ikewn the floun&ing ftate of
ChriftianiJy ia fc^wd.l^eforeib^cjays of St. Patrick; and
if what is gettCTally t^eo for grjtfited be true, i. e. «• that the more
** polifliued Mitkw* VW^« thi* fpce^ier tbi* da^Srine fprcad itfelf
<« anwqg tbem"— we muft raot thU coimtry amongft the moft
civUized ftates of Europe i aod wbat <3anvbrcnfis meant as an in*
full, the higheft encomium on the people j for he upbraided
the archbifliop of CafbiU^ fw that, amongft the numbers of faints
and confeffors which Ireland boafted, they could not produce one
martyr ♦• But perfecution and death for religious tenets, was
never the praftice of truly pdiflMd. people^

The milfionaries in the fourth centufy, not only preached, but
founded churches, and opened colleges in Ireland* Amongft thefe
was the holy Dima, whofe name a church near Adare^ in this
county (Limeric) ftill bears. Heber, or Ibarus foon after founded
an academy, at a place called Beg-lire, in Leinfter, where, as
Ufher notes +, " he inftruded very great numbers of Irifli as

• Topogr. Hib. dift. iii. cap. 29.' t ^^^t. Prlmord. p. 801.
Vol. lU C • " well

10 HISTORY OF IRELAND,

A.C. w ^rell as foreigners in facred and polite letters.*' Colgan ;]; fays,
** that people from all parts crouded to his fchools, to be inftrudted
** in Chriilianity and letters." St. Albc, archbifhop of Munfter,
and his contemporary, Uflier tells us, after preaching through
the whole kingdom, founded his church and fchools at Emely.
St. Kieran and St, Declan, alfo preceded Patrick, and founded
churches ; and when this apoftle required their acknowleging
him as archbifliop of all Ireland, it produced fome diflenfions,
*« Ibarus particularly profefting againft giving the fupremacyand
** patronage of Ireland, to any one but a native."

The zeal and fuccefs of the Irifh miffionaries in Britain, and on
the continent, at this time, fuflSciently proved to the Roman pon-
tiff, in what a refpe£table ftate Chriilianity muft have been in
Ireland ; and though, as we have already obferved, this doftrine
was not introduced amongft us by 'Roman preachers, no more
than amongft the early Gauls (elfe why would thcfe laft, in
that terrible perfecution raifed againft thdm, in the latter end of the
fecond century, prefer their complaints and paint their diftreffes,
to their brethren in Afia and Phrygia, rather than to the faithful
in Rome *), yet they naturally i^iflied to eftablilh their au- -
thority here. To this end, in the year 43 1, and in the reign of,
the prefent emperor Loagaire, pope Celeftin fcnt Palladius,
archdeacon of the Roman church, as archbifliop and apoftle of
Ireland, with twelve Irifh miffionaries. This is affirmed by the
Venerable Bede t» who te^^ us* " ^^^' ^^ '^^ eighth year of the
*« reign of the emperor Theodo/ius^ Palladius wasfent by Celejiin^
** biftiop of the Roman church, to the Scots believing in Chrift,
*• to be their first Bisnap.** Profper §, treating of the miflioa
of Palladius, fays, " that he was ordained by pope Celejiin^ and

X Vita St. Abbani. • Flcury, JJift, Ecclcf. torn. i. p. 433, + Hift Ecclcf.
lib. i. cap. 13.
§ Chron. ad ann. 431.

HISTORY OF IRELAND. ii

** fent the first bishop, to the Scots believing in Chriji^^ The ^ ^•
jgreat primate tJiher, whofe zeal for his country was equal to his
erudition, contended that the word Primus, was foifted into later
copies of Profper; and his reafon for fuppofing this, was left
it might be thought, that there had not been Chriilians in Ireland
before this period, a point which he fttenuoufly contends for *.
That there were, cannot be controverted, and yet it does not never-
thelefs leflen the authorities of Bede and Profper. The political
enmity betwixt Rome and Ireland, cut off all communication be-
tween them. The Iriih received the faith from the early Afiatic,
or African churches; and Palladius was therefore the firft bifhop
fent from Rome, to eftablifli the Roman hierarchy here. This
becomes more clearly illuftrated, by what Profper fays afterwards,
i« fpeafcing of Celeftin— ** that having ordained a bifhop, for
** the Scots or Irifh; whilft he endeavoured to keep the Roman
•* ifland, i. e. Britain, Catholic, he made the barbarous ifland,
" i. e. Ireland, Chriftian." The evident fenfe of which is— that
whilft he attended to the care of Britain, which always acknow-
leged the power of Rome, he forgot not the fame zeal and con-
cern for Ireland, though it never admitted of Roman jurifdidion.
A confeffion highly honourable to this country, and a farther
evidence of the truth of our ancient hiftory.

His miffion was attended with no great fuccefs ; for we muft
fuppofe, by the oppofition given to St. Patrick's miniftry in the
beginning, that the Irifh were rery unwilling to acknowlege fpi-
ritual fupremacy in a people, whofe temporal power they fo man-
fully and fuccefsfully oppofed. His ftay was but of a few months
in Ireland, during which time he founded three new churches,
and then retired to Britain, where he died foon after.

• Prim. Ecclef. Brit. p. 798.

C 2 On

12 HISTORYOF IRELAND.

AC. On the report of his death at Rome, Celeftin looked out for a
fuccefTor, and none was judged fo proper for this arduous taik
as Patrick, who, as we noted in the life of Niall the Grand, had
been then taken amongH: other captivejs, and ibid as a flave in Ire-*
land» where he remained for feven yeara. After his redemptionf
he devoted himfelf to the church, and to the fublimeft fpiritual
eKercifes* His knowl^ge of the <:ouiitry and language, hi€ piety,
wifdonu and meeknefs ; but above all, his own feeming imme-
diate call from God, for this miflion^ confpired to mark him
out for this great undertaking. It is recorded id his life, and af-
firmed by himfelf, that after hk releafe from captivity^ and return
to his friends, often refieding on his future purfuits in life, in a
. vifioti, he &w a man coming to him from Ireland with letters, the
beginning of which was, vox Hibernigenfium i and that whilft
perufing it, he. heard the natives call to him for iafirudltion^
From this time forward he determined for the church, and ta
convert the Iri£h. His baptifmal name was Succath ; but at the
time of his ordination by St« Germain, it was changed to Ma«-
gonias. After his confecration, and to add greater weight and
dignity to his embafTy, Celeftin conferred on him the Patriciaa
order. This was an inftitution of Conftantine, the firft Chriftian
emperor, and more honourable than that of the ancient order ; aa
thefe Patricii ranked next to the emperors, or their declared fuc-
ceflbrs* To prove this, we find Charlemagne and other kings
of France to have retained the title of Roman. patricians, Patri-
cms was not the real name of our epoftle, though he afterwards
retained it, but the title conferred on him.

It is not my intent to give a minute account of the piety, zeaU
and wifdom of this great apoftle during his miifion. His life,
has been written, and his adions celebrated, by fo many different
pens, that the tadk fceme almoft naaeceflary, I fliall however

touch

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 13

touch upon fuch parts, as will tend to illuftrate the hiftory of the A.C.
country. When he landed in Ireland, he found the nation re-
plete with holy and learned preachers^ and their votaries pious
and obedient. It is very probable that Palladius prefumed too
much on his midSlion from Romey and wanted to extort a greater
reverence and obedience from the Irifli clergy, than they thought
him entitled to. Patrick conduced himfelf quite otherwife. He
rather gained on them by mildnefs than feverity ; and we feci
Ibarus^ who oppofed his authority moft, he infeniibly gained the
afcendaatpver, and brought him to be of his party. Having thus
eftabliflira his authority over the clergy, he conildered of the moft
eflpedlual methods of fpreading the new doctrine through the
wfacde kingdom* His principal aim was the converfion of the
nobility, in which purfuit he met with great fuccefs. After tra«
Tcrfing Leifikfter and Ulftcr for near two years, ev«ry where mak«
ing converts amongft the great, he determined to attend the na-
tional eftates, foon to meet at Tata. The eves of Bel, or May»
and of Samhuin, or November, were the two principal feftivals of
the Druids. At each feafon all culinary fires were extrnguifhed,.
and re-light by the facred fires, kept burning in the temples of
Uifneach and Flachta. It was deemed facrilege to have any fire
fightedon thofe days, but from thefe temples. Patrick neverthelefs
determined to break through this cuftom, and fap the very foun-
dation of Druidifm. On the eve of Bel, he had a very large fire-
kindled near the temple of Uifneach. The Druids and their vo-
taries beheld with horror this innovation, and preferred their pe •
tttion to the monarch. Next day Patrick was fummoned to ap^
pear before the cftates.

The ftate of Loagairc is on this oc^cafion compared to that of Ne-
buchadnez22rr on the plains of Dura. The apollle appeared, pro-
duced his credentials, and defended his doctrine with fuch forcible
arguments, that numbers were converted, and the emprefs of Lao-

6 gaire

14 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. gaire was of the number. This ftep of Patrick^s was certainly
a very bold one ; but I fgppofe he relied on his public charadler
of a Roman patrician, or on the number of friends he had
already gained in the council, for his protedion. He continued
for fome time after at Tara, in public difputations with the
Druids ; and the event proves, with great fuccefs. • From thence
he proceeded to Tailtean, where the chiefs of the nation aiTem-
bled every year, to attend the famous exhibitions ; and here
numbers were converted. In a word, fo great was the fuccefs of
this holy apoftle, that in a very few years the princes and chief
nobility of the kingdom acknowleged the dodlrinc of Chrift,
Not only this, but fo great was their zeal, and fo pure their in-
tentions, that they did not deem it fufficient to devote the tenth
part of their riches, their flocks, and their corn to God, but be-
llowed the tenth fon on the church ! Hence the amazing num-
ber of devout reclufes, and holy bifhops, of the pureft blood of
Ireland, whofe pedigrees have been preferved with great care ;
many of whom pafled over from time to time to Britain and to
the continent, to eftablifli the doftrine of Chrift by their pre-
cepts aad by their examples. It is recorded of Patrick, that
during his miflion in Ireland he confecrated no lefs than 365
bifhops, and ordained 3000 priefts, none of whom were re^
ceived, who had not given the cleareft evidences of an holy
and pious life and converfation.

This number of bifliops may furprife fome readers, and
therefore merits an elucidation. Amongft the other caufes of
Patrick's great influence on the people, one was, his attentioa
to avoid whatever could alarm the national pride, or alter the
eilablifhed police of the kingdom. As to the flrfl:, we find no
hint at a foreign fupremacy during the whole of his miffipn ;
nor any difputes whatever about the tonfure, and time of cele-
brating the feaft of Eafter ; though it is moji certain^ that before^

during^

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 15

during, and for two centuries offer his deaths the Irijh church ad-- A-^'
h^red moji JlriSily to the Afiatic churches in thefe modes of difci-
pline. The fame prudence governed hini with refpeS to the in-
ternal police of the kingdom ; and, provided religion was not
joiaterially hurt, he pafled over fmall things. In Ireland all
pofts of honour and profit were hereditary in families. The
priefthood amongft the Irifh, as with the Jews, was alfo heredi-
tary* Dignitaries amongft the Druids, and the lands to fupport
them, were the properties of certain families. Not only this,
but befides the prefent poffeflbr, a coadjutor, who was alfo to
fucceed him, was at the fame time pominated. Wherever the '
Chriftian bilhop was elefted to fucceed the Druid flamen, he ;
alfo had his affiftant and fuccefTor appointed. It was a wife mea«
fure, as on a demife the new paftor was well acquainted with
his flock, and with his own duty. He was called a Comharba,
or partner, in the church lands, and ranked as a bifhop. Of
this order of men, no lefs than four died in the fee of Ardmach
during the apoftleftiip of St. Patrick ; fo that he was himfell^the
firft and fifth archbi(hop of that didcefe. And when we refle£t on
the length of his miffion, being fixty«one years, and the number
of thefe titular bilhops which muft neceffarily be appointed, this
great creation of his will neither appear improbable or furprifing.
Though St: Patrick "had been preaching and converting fouls
in other parts of Ireland, fince the year 432, yet he came not to
Munfter till 448. Two reafons are to be afligned for this :
firft, the flourifhing ftate of Chriftianity in this province for a
confiderable time before this period ^ fecondly, fome prelimina-
ries were to be adjufted between him and St. Albe. At length
Aongus the king invited Patrick to his court ; and, to do him
the greater honour, attended by his nobility, his prelates, and
clergy, he met him at fome diftance from Cafliill. In his fuite
were St. Albe and St. Declan. A fynod was foon after called, at

which

i6 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. which the king prefidcd ; and it was decreed — ** that St. Albc
" fhould rank as a fecond Patrick, and patron and archbiftiop of
•* Munfter ; and that St. Declan fhould be called the Patrick of
•* the Deafies, and their chief bilhop. After this they bleffed
** the king ; and giving the kifs of peace, each returned to his
** particular charge */' Thus was this difficult affair of precc-
iiency fettled, in which Aongus, as king of Leath-Mogha, waa
deeply interefled. That the fupremacy of Ireland fhould be
iixed in Lcath-Cuin, was but juft, as the monarchs of Ireland
were of the Heremonian line ; and that the archbifhops of Mun*
fter fhould rank next to thefe of Ardmagh, is evident j for in the
. days of Patrick^ the arclxbifliap of Ardmagh was generally called
archbifhop of Leath-Cuin, or of Northern Ireland j and the
other archbifhop of Leath-Mogha, or Southern Ireland ; fo that
though we fhould admit Leinfler to be raifed to an arch*
bifhoprick by St. Patrick, yet it is evident that it muft rank after
Munftef) bccaufe Leinfter was always in the fouthern divifion of
Ireland, and in a great meafure dependant on it» as paying tri«
bute to Munfler. For the fame reafon Tuam was inferior to
Ardmagh. To give my opinion of this matter, the precedency
of the Iriftf archbifliops fhould be thus : Ardmagh has ever pre-
ferved to itfelf, and with the highefl juflice, the primacy of all
Ireland ; the archbifhop of Cafhill, or of Munfler, in flridlnefs
ihould rank next to him as primate of Ireland, on account of the
antiquity of that kingdom, and of its being pofTefTed by the
Heberian, or eldeft branch of the Milelian race; and that Lein-
fler was always looked upon as an appendix to it. Leinfter
ihould fill the next place on account of its riches, and of its
being ruled by Milefkn princes fame centuries earlier than Co*
naught. Under thefe archbifhops were no kfs than i oo bifhops,

• Hanmcr's Chronicle, page 35.

whofc

■MHHiHBB

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 17

whofe names are preferred in Colgan and Ward *. It is cer- A C.
tain that in thefe early days, bifliops were much more numer-
ous than fince. In the Council of Sardis, A. G. 374, it is de-
creed that no biftiop (hall be confecrated for a village where a
prefbyter fhall anfwer ; but a biftiop may be appointed over a
city, or to fu per intend many prelbyters*

Patrick having eftabliflied Chriftianity^ and his own fupre-
macy, on the moft folid bafis, nothing of moment was now done
without his approbation. He pven prefided a$ chief of the
clergy at a public examination of the national records ; though
it is doubted whether the monarch Laogaire was himfelf a
Chriftian. A committee^ confifting of threq Arch-Draids, three
chief antiquaries, and three chief bsrds, were appointed at Tara,
every third year, to examinethe national records, to expunge what
feemed improbable or doubtful, and to tranfciibe into the Seana-
chas-More, or Great Book of Antiquity, whatever feemed moft
worthy to be tranfmittcd to pofterity. On the prefent occ^on , -^
this convention was honoured with the prefence of the monarchy
and the kings of Munfter and Ulfter. The Hlhops, who now
(ucceeded the Druids, were Patrick Benin, and Cairnach ; and
the antiquarians Dubhthach, the monarch's prime Senacble $
Feargus, and Rofa. This remarkable examination of the i¥a<-
tional records by St. Patrick is placed in the Anaials of the Four
Matters, in the year of Chrift 438. But this cannot be 3 for
Benignus, one of the aififtant biAops at this meeting, was then
but a youth ; nor did the king of Munfter even receive baptifm
till the year 448. So that by placing it in the year 450, as I
have done, we fix it about the exad period.

We muft fuppofe, and it is aftirmed by the teftimony of con*
temporary and fucceeding writers, that in the prefent examina-

* Trias Tfaaumat. Vita Sanfti Rumoldi,' page 158, &c.

Vol. II. D tion.

i8 HISTORY OF IRELAND-

A.C. tion, the hiftory and antiquities of the country underwent a very
fevere fcrutiny , and this alone ftiould entitle them to forae de -
gree of refpedl, even though they had wanted collateral proofs ;
which, as we have fecn, is not the cafe. Such as I have deliver-
ed them, were they pafled and approved of by the prefent com-
mittee ; and could we fuppofe that they received any addition, it
muftbe, that of Patricias making Phaniusy the/on of Baath^ the
Jon of Magogi the fon of Japhet^ in order to reconcile our hifr
tory to that of Mofes. For our heathen anceftors preferved theip-
annals from the days of this Phaenius only; and fhould we
even fuppofe thefe predeceflbrs, which Patrick gave to him, to be
imaginary, yet it was one of thofe pious frauds, innocent in itt
felf, and which helped more to reconcile the public to the news
dodlrine, than to miflead them. As for thofe writers who would
make the fon of Phaenius and Mofes contemporaries^ it is cer«
tain they had no authority, from the prefent reform, for fuch
aflfertion. Had this been the cafe, Patrick's difciple and. firft bio-«
grapher Fiech, when he mentioned Pha&nius and Niulus, could
not fail of mentioning a circumftance fo flattering to the new
Chridians ; but though he had omitted it, his fcholiafi, who waa
a century later, certainly would not. But no fuch thing : thifr
great apoHle was too good a icholar, and too well verfed in
found chronology, to attempt fo glaring an anachronifm. Nay,,
though he had attempted it, the people were more knowings,
and better informed, than to admit it on his bare ipfe dixit..

» •

CHAP.

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 19

C H A ?• IIL

^he manner in which St. Patrick Jpread Chrijiianity over Ireland^^
/aid to have been thejirji introducer of letters there — this charge
refuted \ and the great antiquity of our alphabet proved^-^
origin of the celebration of Eajier-^the churches of Afia and
Ireland differed from Rome in their time of celebrating this
feaft — Collumbanus and Colman^ &c. zealous defenders of this
mode of difcipline — remarks on, and inferences drawn from,
thefe difputes.

BY the prudence, moderation, and good fenfe of the apoftle
of Ireland, was the whole kingdom brought to acknow-
lege the dodrine of Chrift j and this wonderful reform was con-
duded with fo much wifdom, that it produced not the lead dif-
turbance or confufion. The Druids and their votaries were un-
molefted ; and Chriftian bifliops were appointed to fucceed the
arch -flamens, by thofe families only, who, being converted, had
a right to fuch nominations. One thing more however Patrick
did : the univerfity of Tara, as being the refidence of the mo-
narchs, had, from time immemorial, a precedency over the other
univerfities of the kingdom ; and the Ollamhs or dodors of it
held a rank fuperior to them. Patrick having made Ardmagh
the primacy of all Ireland, and alfo founded here an univerfity,
was refolved that it (hould be the chief of all the Chriftian femi*
naries in the kingdom ; and which rank it glorioufly fupported
10 the diflblution of our monarchy \ having at one time^ no Icfs

D 2 a num-

20 HISTORY OFIR ELAND.

AC. a number than 7000 ftudents ! yet even thi6 we fee did not en-
croach upon the Druids, or their privileges.

I have not once hinted at any of the many wonderful mi-
racles attributed to this apoftle. If ancient fadls, fupported by the
fulleft evidence of hiftory, cannot ftand before modern critics,
what chance can ancient wonders have to gain credit, where
they .have nothing but a lively faith to fupport them ? My
opinion is, that, without recurring at all to miracles, the afto-
nifhing fuccefs of this apoftle may be accounted for from natu-
ral caufes. Preaching to a learned and poli(hed people a doc-
trine fo elevated and pure as that of Chrift ; a dodlrine which
taught its votaries to rule and govern their paffions, not the paf-
fions them, muft have had great weight.— The higheft perfedion
of former dofirines was — ne alterifeceris^ quod tibi fieri non vis^'^
but the new religion went further : it directed to forgive injuries,
to do good for evil ; nor let the fun go down on our wrath.
Such a dodrine preached, and by religious^ whofe lives and
examples added new luftre to it, needed neither miracles from
above, nor refiraining or penal laws on earth to fupport it !

Bollandus, Tellemont, and even Fleury, m his Ecclefiaftical
Hiftory, have alTerted that the Irifli were unacquainted with let-
ters till the days of St. Patrick ; nor fhould I attend much to
thefe remarks of foreign writers, who, having no opportunities
of confulting bur annals, might be well excufed for their mif-
takes, did I not fee the fame falfliood roundly aflerted by Eng-
lilh, and even fomc modern Irifli writers too.

To admit this is to annihilate all our pretenfions to hiftory and
antiquity ; but it will be hard to reconcile it to the Chriftiaa
preachers being at the fame time the founders of feminaries for
letters, and to this doctrine's blazing with fuch fuperior luftre
amongft us. Belldes, fince we had Chriftian teachers from the
firft century, who founded churches, and made converts, muft:

HISTORY OF IRELAND^ 21

we not fuppofe that they muft hare known the ufe of letters ? A,G.
we undoubtedly mufL But to bring it to a point. If Patrick *
introduced any letters into Ireland, they muft be the Roman al--
phabet. But will any one affirm that the Roman letters were
in the fame order or ftrudure of the Irifli ?. The Irifli alphaber
was arranged in an order peculiar to itfelf, beginning, with the
confonants. It confifted of but fevcnteen (though I think morc^
jijiftly but of fixteen, the F being an interpolation) letters ; but:
will any fcholar advance, that in the fifth century from Chriftr
the Roman alphabet contained no more ? Will he be fo hardy
as to fay, that even this number of letters (feventeen), were in •
the fame ftrudure with the Roman ones ? If he does, Julius
Csfar (hall be my witnefs of his deception ; for he tells us *,
that the Britifh and Gealifh letters, in his days» were like the *
Greek ; and fuch is the Irifli it this day ! Now if this letter
was not totally different in figure from the Roman, where is the
neceflity for this remark of Csefar's i But as a gentleman of ^
great eminence in the republic of letters, though he admits the.
Irilh to be as early ia the poffefiion of letters as any nation what-
ever, yet contends that Su Patrick abfolutely deftroyed their ^'
original letter, and in its place fubilituted the prefent one^ which .
he brought from Rome : it merits fome difcuffion, more from
the reputation of the author, than the folidity of his arguments.
He affirms, that Patrick gave them the fame number of Roman
letters which their ancient alphabet contained^ and fubjed to the
feme rules. We have feen the Greeks, by degrees, rejeft the
figns annexed to fome of their original Cadmean alphabet for .
new letters, and it was an ufeful alteration s the Saxons did the
fame, and fo did the northern nations of Europe, who, like them,
took their original alphabet from Ireland. But to fuppofe a
learned nation to fubftitute one alphabet for another, without

* Comment, lib. vi..
4 . any

« H I S T O R Y O F IR E L A N D.

A-C* any vifible advantages for the better, as in the prefent cafe, i«
abfurd. Befides, by the teftimony <tof Csfar, the Gaulifti and
Irifh letters mull differ from the Roman, as in efFe^ they did.
But what confufion muft notarife in the public records of the
^kingdom from fuch alteration f Would all the bifliops in Eng-
land prevail on the parliament to alter the prefent letter, with-
out fome uncommon advantages f In Ireland, by this hypothe-
fis, none was pretended; — the great influence, the veneration
for, and miracles of, St. Patrick, are held forthby our writers in
a moft confpicuous point of view ^ every thing relative to him
has been preferved with uncommon reverence ; the officers of his
houfhold, and even his meanefl: domeflics, are on record ;' and
yet not the fmalleft notice taken of this wonderful change,
except the crude aifertions of ill-informed foreigners ! It
is then an uncontrovertible fafl:, that our prefent letter is the
fame we had from the moft remote antiquity; the fame the early
Greeks adopted ; the fame the Gauls ufed in the days of Caefar ;
and what we find the oldeft MSS. in Europe are wrote in.

Thus it appears to demonftration, that in the days of St. Pa-
trick, firft, the order of the Irifti letters was different from that
of the Roman ; fecondly, that our alphabet had feven letters lefs
than theirs ; and, thirdly, that in ftrudure they differed totally
from the Roman ! It is indeed confeflTed, that, before the death
;of this apoftle, the Ghriftian bifhops, in imitation of the Ro-
mans, altered the old form of our alphabet, fuch as we have
exhibited in the fecond book of this hiftory ; and inftead of be-
ginning it with the confonants, like them commenced it with the
letter A ; and that in procefs of time, the whole nation adopted
t the fame mode. It is not improbable but that Patrick introduced

amongft us the Roman alphabet ; and that he gave copies of it
10 different churches, in order to celebrate the rites of the church

* Comment, lib. vi.

H I S T O 'R Y O F: IRELAND. 23.

m Latin ; but it may certainly with as much propriety be inferred, A.a
that becaufe the Jefuits in China made their converts, efpecially
the clergy, acquainted with the Roman alphabet, that the Chinefe
were totally illiterate before this period, as that the Irifti were fo,^
before the days of St. Patrick !

My account of this great apoftle fhall clofe with fome remarks,
on the celebration of Eafter; becaufe they are curious and hiftori-
cal, and difphy the genius of the people, the ftate of the Iriflv*
church at this time, and.for many centuries after, and the great
good fenfe and moderation of Patrick*

. We have already noticed, that the firft Iri(h converts were the \
difciples of St. John ; at leaft thst they received Chriftianity from \
the churches of Ada, and adopted their mode of tonfure, and^ \
time of holding the feftival of Eafler. The Jews had their Pafcha, [
or paflbver, to commemorate their being unhurt on the night that ^
the dejiroying angfls killed the firft-born of man and beaft through-
out the land of Egypt. . The apoftles, after the death of Chrift, '
judged that nothing could be more expreffive of our deliverance-
from fin, than the. inflitution of a fimilar feftival. The Jews
were commanded to celebrate their paflbver. the fourteenth day^
of the mootiy of the firji months which correfponded with our
March ; this being the time of the vernal equinox, when the fun
is in Aries, the days and nights of equal length, and the new
year beginning to fp.ring. They had put Chrift to death whilft
they were celebrating the feaft of the p^fchal lamb; and this
circumftance determined theChrilHans to celebrate theirs at the.
fame time. St. Peter, and St. Paul after quitting Paleftine,
judged that the keeping this feaft on the fourteenth day of the
firft moon, was jrathcr adopting the Jewifli, than forming a new
feftival J they therefore transferred it to the Sunday after, unlefs
that Sunday fell on the fourteenth. But ^t. John and the churches
of Afia and Africa, adhered to the firft inftitution. It was how-
ever

«4 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

AC. ever a matter of mere difcipline, ia which Chriftians might difFer
without (in or fchifm.

St. Pol year p, bifhop of Smyrna, and an immediate difciple to
St. John, came to Rome, A, C. 158, on purpofe to confer with
pope Anacetuson this fubje£t. He defended the Afiatic cuftom
on the authority of that faint ; and the pope defended the weft-
em church, on the general tradition from St. Peter and St. Paul.
But though they did nor agree in this matter, yet they remained
in peace and communion as before *• In the year 196 this quef-

i tion was agitated with great heat between^ pope Vidlor and the
Asiatics biihops. Several councils were held; and one by the
bifliops of Afia, at the requeftof this pope, at which Polycrates,
bifliop of Ephefus prefided. But the refult was, that they were
more unanimous in adhering to the original inftitution f . The

. Afiatics and all the churches deriving under them, continued this
prad]:ice of celebrating Eafter, till the y^ar 325, when the council
of Nice iflued a decree for obferving this feaft every where, on the
Sunday immediately following the vernal equinox ; and this
decree was enforced by command of th^ emperor Conftantine,
But notwithftanding all this, numbers in Afia, and the church of
Ireland, with all thefe deriving under it, as the Britons, the PiSfsy '
and Dal'Riada, adhered firmly to the difciplrne of St. J6hn in

. this point.

What Patrick's opinion on thi^ head was, does not appear.
We do not even find any mention of it during his miffion ; and
yet it is moft certain, that the Irifli did then obferve this feaft
after the Afiatic manner, and did treat the decifion* of Rome
on this point with great refpeft. Not only this, but fuch of them
as fpread Chriftianity, and founded churches in foreign countries,

iftrongly inculcated their mode of celebrating Eafter. Such was

* Fleury Hiftoirc Ecclef. torn. i. p. 375* t Ibid. torn. i. p* 518.

the

HISTORY OF IRELAND, 25

the great Columba, apoftle of the Pids, Columbanus, in France, -A.C.
St. Aidanus, Finian> Colman, &c. in Britain, &c. The Vene^
nerable Bede * though he praifes Columba, and his monks of
Huy, as well as his fucceflbrs to his own days, for their great
piety and virtue^ yet cenfures them for their obftinacy, in this
point of church difcipline. In France^ Columbanus, with all the
monks of his hoyfe, followed it. He was of the nobleft blood of
Ireland, and early dedicated to the fervice of God. Holy abbots
at that time, and for centuries after, ereded their retreats in the
moft fequeftered places, that nothing might difturb their prayers
and meditations. Scarce an iftand, or folitary fpot of ground in
Ireland, that fpiritual retreats were not already made to, and
churches and abbies ereded, the remains of mod of which are
yet vifible, exhibiting at once^ the wonderful piety of our ancejiors^
and the degeneracy of their fuccefjorsy at leaft of the prefent age.

Collumbanus f, with a number of difciples, retired to France,
and, in the year 590, founded, u/l the midft of a defert in Bur-
gundy, an abbey for himfelf and his followers ; but thefe became
fo numerous, that he was obliged to raife two others. The fame
of his piety, aufterity, charity, and miracles, drew after him num^
hers of followers; and this perhaps was the true reafon, that
perfecutions were raifed againfthim. He, with his monks j cele*
brated the feaft of Eafter, on the fourteenth day of the firfl moon,
without at the fame time pretending to ftretch this cuftom beyond 602
his own authority. The Gauls complain to Gregory the Great
of this fchifm. Several councils are called, and Columbanus. is
cited to appear before them. He appeals' to the pope, and, with
great learning, fenfe, and modefty, defends his opinioui and thofe

• Hift. £cclef. Brit. lib. iii. cap. 4.

t Flcury Hiil. Ecclef. torn. viii. p« i8> 19, 19 1^ &c«

Vol. II. E of

•> I
I

€9

26 HISTORY OF IRELAND,

^*C, of {113 country and anceftors^ on this head ; and at the fame time
writes to the Gaulifh bi(hq;>s afloaUed on this occafion.

He obferved^ that it was eftablilhed by St. John, Chrift's efpe-
cially beloved difciple, by St. Philip, and the churches of Afia;
that it was proved by the calculations of Anatolius» confirmed by
St. Jerome. That thofe of Vidorius (employed by Leo the
Greatj in the fifth century, to adjufl the lunations, and the exa<3:
time of the equinoxes) were vague and uncertain. He requefts
the holy fiither's decifions on this matter, but adds— *<' that who-
ever oppofes his authority to that of St. Jerome, will be re-
je&ed as an heretick, by the Wejiern Churchy i. e. the church
'* of Ireland !'' After all, he obferves to the bilhops aflembled —
^ If I am in ignorance, bear it with charity, fince I am not the
'^ author of this dlfcipline. Let me live in obicurity in this de-
'^ fert, near the remains of feventeen of our brethren already dead.
*• We whh to adhere to the cuftoms <^feur anceftors^ to our deaths.
^ You (bould rather confolc than diftrefe poor, aged, and affliQed
•* ftrangers. In a word, if it be the will of God, that you ihould
" expell me from this defcrt, to which I came from fo great a
•' diftance, for the love of Jcfus Chrift, I fiiall only fay with the
•* prophet. If I am the caufe of this ftorm, let it ceafe, by my
*« being thrown into the fea.'*

In the year 664, a council was held in Northumberland, to
withdraw tlie Saxons and Britons from this cuilom, which they
borrowed from the Irifli. St. Colman, at the head oi his Iri(h
clergy (as Columbanus did), defended this cuftom by the autho-
rity of St. John, and the churches of Afia; by the cakdations of
Anatolius, and by the pradice of his anceftors, blfhops and teach- ,
ers, who being pious ^ learned^ and godly menyJiriSily adhered to the
fame. In a word, finding the majority of voices againft him, ra-
ther than fwerve from the dlfcipline of his anqeftors, he refigned

8 Ui4

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 27

his bilhoprick^ and returned to Ireland, bringing with him si; ^'^^
number of Saxon monks, for whom he founded an abbey in aft
lilandy in the county of Mayo, which was in a moft ftouriihing
fiate in the daya of the Venerable Bede, and for centuries
after %.

From the remarkable attachipient of tbe Iriih to this cufl^Hn,
we have ftiil ftronger proofs of the unconuBon wifdom of Patricks
He probably endeavoured to reconeilie the Irifli clergy^ to the
pra^ice of the univerfal church ; and very likely laboured alfo,
to make them acknowlege the fepremacy of (lorne^ But heiaw
clearly by their firmnc^ in thefe Botatterst that &oujd he inUft
much on them, he would endapger hi^s own authority. Hia
filence on thefe points accounts for hi« journey to Rome> after .
his eftaibUfliment of ChrUtian^ty here* lie laid before the copk-
iiftoryt the dangers that he ap^Mrehend^dr from infixing on thefe
heads ; and we muft concludet \i^^ the pope's approbation pf hi$
con4ud > fiQce we iee» upon his return, that the pope preiented
him with a pallium^ and that he ob&rved the fame prudent filence
on thefe matters, that he did before.

I as freely cenfure my countrymen for their obftinacy on this
occftfion as any man can. We plainly fee, that the cuftom was
not peculiar to them ; and that they defended it from its anti«
quity, the pradice of many qff the difciples, the a4ithority of the
churches of Afia^ the agronomical calculations of AnatoUus, and
from its being the conjiani ufage qft/ieir ancefiors. They were the
laft to fubmit to the decifions of Rome on this head ; but they
fubmitted from convidion. Thefe points of the Irifh church
difcipline^ which, before me, no one has attempted to explain,
convey fadls of the utmoft confequence to Chriftianity. They
prove to demonflration, that the church of Chrift^ as eftabliihed

t Hid. Ecclef. lib. iii. eap. 25.

E 2 hj

28 HISTORY OF IRELAND;

A.C. \fY his difciples, immediately after his crucifixion, arid before they
tfifperfed themfelres into the different quarters of the globe, re-i
mained invariably the fame, in the different fucceeding ages ! We
hare feen in the fecond, third, and fourth centuries, no differences
v^hatever between the church of Rome and the Afiatic churches,
fare about difcipline ; and this was confined to the tonfure,
the celebrating of Eafler, The Irifh, from political intereft, and
their dread of a foreign yoke, were the eternal and avowed
enemies of Rome. This hatred was as confpicuous in the days of
Ghriftianity, as we have feen, as in thofe days of Paganifm ;
and it will not be now controverted, that they owed not the feeds
of Ghriftianity to Roman miffionaries. Yet— and indeed it is
wonderful to be told— we plainly fee, that in the fifth century,
in articles of faith, the churches of Rome and Ireland were in per«
fed unifon, though it was the firft time they met ! We fee the
feme miracutoua conformity— I think myfelf juftified in the ex*
pref&on — ki the beginning, and beyond the middle of thefeventh
century, when, for the fecond time, they met, and not in the mofl
friendly manner. The queftion about Eafler was agitated at this
time, both in England and France, with great warmth. The
Irifh are charged with perverfenefs and wilfull obftinacy, in this
matter g£ difcipline, but not the leaft hint at holding heterodox,
opinions, cither in themfelves or in their anceftors. " If it be
«* thought (fays St. ODlmanus, the Irifh bifhop of Northumber-
*•* land, in his defence of his country) that our moft reverend fa*-
" ther Colilmba, and his fuccefTors, virtuous and godly men, who
^^ kept Eafter after the fame manner, either believed, or lived
*' contrary to the fcripture j efpecially their piety being fo con-
*♦ fpicuous, that God confirmed it by miracles ||." From this
l^riod to the middle of the twelfth century, Rome and Ireland

11 Bede, Hifti Ecclef. lib.iii. cap. 2<.

bad

^ ^

HISTORY OF IRELAND* 29

had no conneftion or correfpondence ; and yet upon the landing A.C
of cardinal Papiron at that time, the moft exaA conformity in
faith and difcipline was founds between both churches ! Fads
highly meriting the attention of every refleding Chriftian. But
whilft I remark this correfpondence between the different churches
of the Chriilian worlds let me not be fuppofed to contend^ t^at
there never were heteredox opinions advanced and oppdfed to the
fentiments of the univerial church. Every age proved there were 1,
but then thefe vifionaries were but a feW| from whoCb enthufl-
afms the flock waa carefully guarded^

CHAP. nr.

Civil hiftory of Ireland refumed'^^Britain c$ntinues to be ravaged
by the Irijb^ who thereby make a diverjion in favour of the GauU
and Germans 9 engaged againji the Roman power on the conti^
nent^-^Vortigern eleSted chief of the Britons^ after they were de^
ferted by the Romans-^^calls in the aid of the Saxons ; who foon
make a treaty with the Irijh^ andeflablijk themjehes in Britain..

ABSORBED in ecclefiaftical hiftory and church difcipline,,
the civil hiftory of Ireland feemed for a good while forgot;
but thefe matters being now I hope fatisfaftorily elucidated, we
can with more pleafure return to our main purfuit. Notwith- 434-.
ftanding the rapid progrefs of Chriftianity, the luft of conqueft
did not totally fubfide. New troops, from time to time were

pouring

o HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. pourings into Britain* as well to fubdiic the country, as to make
a divcrfion in favour of the Gauls and Germans^ with whom our.
monarchs had been long in confeder^cj,. to limit the bounds and
Goaquefts of the Romans. At this time^.the fuperior abilities of
. Actius reftored in a good meafu£e» the Roman affairs in GauU
It was a moft algiming citcumftaiiice to Ireliimd. Three tiipet)
had the Romans been beaten out of Britain by the Irifli and their
Pi^ifh allies* ^ To pr ev^at anqther vifit,. they carted their ut-
moft efforts. So devoted to Rome were the Britons^ thibt upouj
theleaft appearance of domeilic tranquility^ their youth repaired
to the Roman ftandards in Gaul> at the fame time adding to their
power, and improving themfelves in military difcipline. The
Irifh councils had two objeds in view ; the caufing fuch a di«^
verfion in Britain, as would render them incapable of recruiting
the Roman armies, and» at the fame time, fending fuch a force to
the continent, as would, in conjundlion with their allies, afford
fufficient employment to the Romans there, without thinking
any farther of Britain. That their troops did really join Attila
againft Rome, Uiher I think clearly proves *.

How fuccefsful their irruptions into Britain were, need not be
told : fufiice It, that it gave rife to that remarkable Britilh addrefs
to Aetius in GauU •* We know not (iay they) which way to
** turn. The barbarians drive us to the fea« and the fea forcea
** us back to the barbarians, betyreen whom we have only the
«* choice of two deaths : cither to be fwallowed up by the waves,
•« or butchered by the fword f." But this general, fo far from
being able to afford them relief, fent them word, to make the
beft terms for theitafelves, for fo diffracted were his own affairs,
that they muff not expeft from him the fmalleft affiftance. Ta
this fituation, they, partly by money, and partly by the fword,

• Primord. Ecclcf. Brit. p. 406—1108. t IWd* Hb.'u cap, 13.

got

HISTORY OF IRELAND* 31

got rid for the prefent of thefe daring invaders. Actius, ftill en- A.C.
terprizing and perfevering, gained frelh advantages over the
Gauls, and a complete vidtory over Gondecaire.

The incurfions into South Britain again recommence, and num- 436
bers fly to Armoric Brittany, and the c6afts of Flanders. The
remainder in this extremity proceed to the eledion of a chief,
whofe authority in time of war (hould be abfolute. Vortigern
is chofexi to this high command. Some place his election in the
year 436 ; Rapin, in the year 445 ; I think it may be reafonably
fixed at 439* But be this matter as it may, his abilities as a ge- 43^
seral» were not equal to public expectations ; and if, from time
to time, he procured fome relaxations to his poor diftreiTed coun^
try from thefe cruel invaders, it was owing tnore to the force of
gold than iron. The people at length growing defperate, ex- 449
claim againfl his timidity; and, in this dilemma, he recommends
to them the calling in of the Saxons. Affifted \y thefe new
allies, the Britons fuccefsfully make head againft their opprefTors,
and by degrees clear the country of them. Need it be told, the
Saxon auxiliaries, feeing the effeminacy and cowardice of the
Britons, formed the defign of poflefling the whole country, and
certainly whh the advice and concurrence of the IriHi, as hiftory
proves.

Mindful of the clofe affinity between the two nations, and of
their anteflors having frequently in conjun&ion invaded Britain
when the Roman power was in its greateft fplcndor there, they ^^^
foon agreed to a private treaty *. This was mofi probably acce-
lerated by the defeat of Attila in Gaul, by Actius. The Irifh
wifely conftdered, by promoting this treaty with the Saxons, that
they laid the feeds for conftant diflTenfions jn Britain ; and fhould
the Romans again attempt to invade it, they added, by the fuccefs

* Bede,.Hifton Ecclef. lib. L cap. 15.

32 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. q{ the Saxons, a new and a more powerful barrier to their own
frontiers. For their conflant policy was, to keep the war out
of their own country as long as they could ; juftly concluding,
that the moment the Romans re-eftablifhed their power on the
continent, their whole force would fall heavy on them. Of
what importance the acquifuion of Ireland would be to them, is
evident by what Tacitus obferves of it : t/ia( by its Jituation it
would wonderfully facilitate the prefervation of their conquejls in
Spain and Gaul *.

By this treaty between the Scots or Irifh and the Saxons, and

the union of their armies, the poor Britons felt greater and

crueller mifery than they had ever experienced before ; and the

Saxons foon cut out for themfelves, by means of the Irifh, laft-

] iog fettlements in Britain. This accounts for and explains the

conftant prediledlion which the Irifh ever after had for the

I Saxons ; the care they took to reform their rude manners j to

I inftrudt them in the principles of Chriftianity, and in letters;

to ordain bifhops and priefts on purpofe for the Saxon miflion ;

^nd to found fchools and feminaries for them in different parts of

the kingdom ; all which the Venerable Bede, a Saxon born,

fully proclaims, by a variety of pafTages in his Ecclefiaftical

Hiflory of Britain.

After a glorious reign of thirty years, Laogaire was killed by
lightning. Contemporaries with this prince were> Blood, thefon
- of Cas, king of Leath-Mogha ; but he dying foon after, Aon-
gus, the fon of Nafraoich, of the Eugenian line, was eledfed ac-
cording to the rule of alternate fucceflion ; and Carthan-more
fucceeded his father Blood as king of North Munfler. Thefe two
lad princes were baptized by St. Patrick. Dungalach was king

• Vita Julii Agricolw.

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 33

ofConaught, Criomthan) the fon of £ana* ruled Leinfter, and ^C*
Mulreadhac Mimgdearg fucceeded to the Uogdom of Ulfter.

C H A P. V.

QilioIl*Molt deBed monarch-^ihe Druids re^iovidfrom the afem^,
bites of the Jiat'es^ and the Chrijiia^ bijb^ps^fucceed them — the
affmblln qfJ&mna and Cruaehan^ for the regulating trade and
commerce^ frequently called together^-^St . Patrick returns from
Rome-^hughaidb claims the monarchy^ and raifes an army to
depoje Oilioll^ who isflain in the battle of Qcha.

TH E eftates of Ireland are immediately convened at Tarai 458
to ele£t a fucccffor to Laogaire j and Oilioll Molt, the fori
of the hero Daithi,wa8, by a plurality of voices, declared and fa-
luted monarch. His queen was daughter to Aongus, king of
l,eath-Moghaj a circumftance which haftened his eledion. His
coufin Amalgaidh, wa& king of Conaught, and is celebrated for
his courage and fuccefs, - having triumphed in nine fea-fights,
and in as many engagemeiMs by land ; but fell himfelf in the
tenth battle *• The fame authority tells us, that Oilioll exaSed
the Leinfter tribut^, three times without a Cath, or battle;
owing chiefly to the influence of Aongus over that people.

He is highly praifed for his frequently aflembiing the national
,cfl:ates at Tara. Being himfelf a Chriflian^ and almoft aU the

* Lecan, Book u

Vol. II. F princes

34 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

AC. princes and nobility of the kingdpih, it was decreed » that at
thefe meetings for the future, the CHriitian bifliops fhould fill
the feata of the Druid flamens; and that three bifhops fhould
always compofe a part of the committee, for infpeding the dif-
ferent provincial hiftories, inftead of the three Arch-druids. For
this committee was appointed by the national afTembly every three
yearst and was heretofore compofed of three Arch-druids, three
of the imperial antiquarians, and three bards. The monarch or
his delegate always prefided at thefe meetings, which were held

in a hoafe ereded for that particular purpofe, Thefe meetings,
after the reception of Chriftianity, were more regularly convened
than before. By the wifdom of St, Patrick, we fee this change
in religion produced not the fmalleft convulfion or confufion in
the kingdom ; eviery engine of the ftate moving as uniformly, as if
no fuch alteration had ever happened. We fhould fuppofe that the
bifliops were particularly attentive to the national records j nay,
that could they have found any impofitions introduced into
them, or falfe chronology foifted up, they would be glad to de-
ted them, in order to throw 'an odium on the Druid order ;
but no fuch thing has ever appeared ! and this fmgle confi-*
deration I apprehend ought to have^ and no doubt it will have»
greater weight with the impartial public, than the crude conjec-
tures of faftidious moderns, too frequently oppofed to ancient
hiflory.

Befides the meetings of the eflates at Tara, the conventions of
Emania and Cruachan, were frequently affembled in this reign,
as they were in the days of.Tuathal, and other great princes. '
Thefe two laft Aonachs, or affcmblies, had for their objeds a
clofe infpedion into the flate of trade, commerce^ and mecha*
nic arts. They affembled by particular proclamation from the
monarch, and made their report of the commerce and manu*
fa£hires of the kingdom. Sixty of the befl informed in thefe

8 matter^

HISTORY OFIRELAN.D. 35

matters were ordered to difperfc thcmfelves into the different AC.
great cities and manufaduring towns, to fee if the exclufive pri-
vileges granted to them were in any manner abufed; tbenu^narch
or provincial kings defrauded in the duties impofed ; or if per-
fons not properly qualified were permitted to carry on trade or
manufadtUres, to the difhonour and . injury of the kingdom. In
all, or any of the above cafes» on making report to thefe conven<*
tions, whicl\,were adjourned from week to week, they had im-
'mediately full power granted them to prohibit unqualified perfons
from meddling in trade ; and to make what other reforms they
judged would heft promote the general good of the nation. Such
were the wife methods by which our great ancefiors pfcferved
' their country free, powerful, and independent, whilll they be-
held every other part of Europe reduced to the . greateH diflrefs
and confufion, owing to the want of found legiflation !

How differently have affairs been conduced in modern times !
Though there is not a nation at this day. in Europe that has not
judged the ftate of commerce and manufadures of the highefl:
' confequence ; though, to promote this great objed, Great Bri-
tain has her board of trade, founded indeed no earlier than the -
reign of Elizabeth ; though France, Spain, Holland, Germany,
Sweden, and Denmark, have their refpedive chambers of com-
merce; — even the Hanfe-towns, fuch as Hamburgh, Dantzic,
Bremen, &c. dircGt their fole attention to trade ; yet with all
thefe living examples^ no fuch inftitution prevails in modern Ire-
land ; and by this means our poor, in the moft fertile and bene-
ficent foil under the fun, are reduced to fuch wretchednefs as hu-
manity ought to blufli for !

We have noted, in the laft chapter, the alliance fornved between
the Irifh, Pids, and Saxons, to diftrefs the Britons. Thefe laft,
aided by their brethren in Brittany, and led on by Ambrofius
Aurelianus, the laft chief of the Roman blood, fays Venerable

F 2 Bede,

1
I

36 HIS TO ^Y OV IK ELAND;

AC. p^^ *^ i^^ many bloody encQuat^s with the Irifh and Pids inr
Britain f) being the allies of the SaKonfi ; but in ge&^ral to their
lofss M the event proved.

463 About this time St. Patrick returned to Ireland from Romcu
whither be vTent to give an account of his mi(rion> and where he
remained finoe the year 461. The pope» HiUriusi received him
in the moft ;iffedioQate mannert prdeotiog him with a palUutn*
and highly applauded every thing he had ; done : <mi his taking
ieav«j he gave. him many valuable prefeftt8> amongfl: others, fom^

464 church reli^jes j:. Aongus, king of Muafter» 4i^ ; and Eocha
Baildeargi^ of the Dai-Gas line, fucceeded him in that title, ac-
cordiag; to the law offucceflioin. Aaogus wa^ a prince of great
piety ahd learnings and a great patron of letter^« His £bn Feidh-'
lim wa&.kingof Defmdnd, or South Muoiler.

The attention and care taken by this monarch OlioU, to tvhat-
ever regarded the good of the nation, deiJerve highly to be ap-
plauded;. Wfaflft with a £oftering hand he encouraged trade and
manufaiflures, things of greater xiioment v^ore not lefs objeds
of his care. He kept up a large body of troops in Britain, in
fupport of his allies ; but the immature death of Aongus de-
prrved him of a powerful ally. This appeared clearly by tl^e
Lagenkns refufi ng to pay the famous Leinfter tribute, the caufe
t)f fb much blobdihed, and by their arming themfelves to oppofe
liis pretenfions by force. Battles wero bought with various fuc-
ceflfes i and it was fometimes paid, and at other times refufed,.
according as the force of arms prevaikd, and this for fome
. years* ...

TJie fon of the monarch Laogaire, the (on of the hero Nial]>.
whofe youth prevented him from appearing as candidate for the
monarchy on the death of his father> had now pafled the year

• Lib. 1. cap. 16. ^ KcatiDg*a Hiftory, page 2.

]: Vka Sexu Santi Patriclii page loi.

HISTOilYOF I R E L AND. rr

€^ plidliationi (tw^nty^five). He was: poiTfi^Aof the f^me-jg^eat A.C
, qUalificattons a^ his anc^i^ors; The lov^ ofdonvia'toi^ and. glory
. fired bb breaft ; and he refi>lved to ietze oq the moaarcby* or dje
in the attempt. He leagued with his coqfin Murtough, the Ton of
Earca ; with the king of Leinfter, the Irffli Dal-Riada, and other
princes ; and foon appeared at the head of a mod numerous and
powerful army. The monarch was not behind-hand with him
in his preparations.. I'^t was* then the cnftom in Ireland, as it
was at all other times* both before and after it, when a prince
was refolved to lay claim to the monarchy, and found himfelf
powerful enough to fupport his pretenfibns by the fword, to fend
his ambaflfadors, demanding a formal renunciation of thetrown,
or to put the merits to the iffue of a general battle j ort which
occafion the time and place of a£fcioh were agreed upon. Oilioll
fummoned all his friends and dependents \ and on the plains of
Ocha, in Meath, the two armies met. Dreadful was the con*
€ia:» and gfe^t ^e ^M^tfifix on both ftdes \ but Oilioll feeing the
fuqcefs leaning to tbfl fidft of bis ?i4yeriary, with a chofcn corps
tnlhed into tbe midft of tli» battle, to i^ngle qujt his competitor^
by whofe hand he fell in fingle combat. The carnage in this^ 478
engagement exceeded' by^r ^y |fe« Happened in *ny preceding
fcattle for many years, very ni*?iy ^f th^e ^ain being of the prime
aobiUty of the king4on]t. Qir-tlnis ^ccoiunt our Senachies began
to redcon a new a;rA froqa it, a^ was t^^eir cuftom from all un-
commonly refa«rk{^^ evj^ntst

.During tbw Spign UlA?r h^d tjye^ .ftjc;ceeding kings; the
aibt)YB Mwr«td^«c, .Qairel Co%racb,^ftnd Eodoa;, fon to Muirca4-
ha^. M^Rflier Had Apngus, of the Eugenian line^ for king ;
whilfl; Qw:!tbaq'> of the Dal- Gas race, ranked as king of North
Muniler. Qa the death of Aongus, Eocba, the fbn of Canthan^
was ikluted kipg of I^ath^Mogha, whilil Feidhlini> tfie fon:

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

AC. of Aongus, was king of South Munfter; Breafil Balach was
king of Leinfter ; and Dungalach, and after him> Eogan Bel,
were fucceffive kings of Conaiight.-^Leo the Great, Hilaritis,
and Simplicius, were popes.

C H A P. VL

Lughaidh rajfed to the empire'-^his tranfaSilon on taking pojjef-

^on of the throne — death of St. Patrick — invafion of Albany

by the fons of Ere, who ejiablifh a new monarchy in North

Britain-^account of the feminaries of learnings learned men^^

and religious foundations in Ireland^-^death of Lughaidh.

478 T UGHAIDH, the fon of Laogaire, the fon of Niall, the
JL-J fon of Eochaidh, of the royal line of Heremon, by gain-
ing the bloody battle of Ocha, gained the monarchy alfo, and
was accordingly faluted emperor.

His firfl; care was to reward his friends and aflbciates. Mor-
tough, the fon of Earea, who brought a large body . of troops
into the field to^Bght his battles, had a principal lead in his ad-
miniflxation. Thd fons of Luig, of the Dal- Gas line, and race
of Heber, got new acquiiitions by this revolution. • In the reign
of Laogaire we obferved that this Luig got feveral confiderable
lordfliips in Leinfter, which, from his furname, were called the
Dealbhnas. To thefe now were added Delvin Nugad, in the
county of Rofcommon ; Delvin Culfabhar, and Delvin Feadha,
in the county of Galway. The 0*Conrics of this race (fo called
from Conraoi, one of their anceftors), were proprietors of part of

this

HIStORY OF IRELAND.

this laa traa, till difpoffefled by the OTlaherties and O'Hallo-
rans, defcendants ofBrien, ekleft fon to Eochaidb, monarch of
Ireland in. the fourth century.

We find this prince to be deeply engaged in war, and to have
fought feveral bloody battles ; but though feveral Chriftian femi-
naries were founded during this century, and that the Druids
ftill exercifed great power, yet we are left fhamefully in the dark
with refpedt to the caufes of thefe bloody contefts j whilft reli-
gious tranfadkions, the ntimbers of faints, and pious foundations
are carefully attended to ! But the prefent monarch, if ever a
Chriftian, certainly apoftatized ; and this I think will explain
the ftiameful inattention to the political tranfadtions of his reiga.
We (hall reprefeat them in the beft manner we can.

It is recorded that he fought a moft bloody battle againft the
Lagenians at Cill Ofnach, in the county of Carlow, in which
Aongus, king of Mun(ler> fell : but this laft- is a miftake, as
he died Tome years earlieri as the Book of Lecaa teftifies ; it
.muft be therefore his fon Eocha, and he fought ip defence of the
Lagenians. A party war foon after broke out in Leinfler, in
which Fraoch) the fon of Fionachda^ fell by the fword of Oilioll,
the fon of Dunluing, who fucceeded him. Conaught was in-
vaded by the monarch, or rather by Mortough, who feemed ta
•projed thefe different wars, the better to pave the way to liis
own iadvancement. Three very bloody ba^ttles were fought here j
in the £rft fell £ogan-Bel> in the fecond his fon OilioH, and in
the laft his fucceflbr^ a very warlike prince, by name DuacK-
Teammaigh. Eochaidh, the fon of Cairbre, the fon of NialU
engaged the Lagenians in feveral battles.

In the midft of thefe bloody diftenfions died the great St. Pa-
trick,: apoftle of Ireland, in the 121ft year of his age, after go-
verning the Iriflx church with unexampled wifdom, piety, and
moderation, for fixty- one years. He died on the 1 7th of Macch^

A.C.

"»_'.' A" ^yn

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. in ^g^f which day is ftill held as his fcftival, aad was in-
terred in the city of Down ; where, under the fame mpnument,
were afterwards placed the bodies of St. Bridget and St. G)*"
lumba, as thefe verfes note :

*' Hi tres in Duno tumulo, fumulantur in uno,
" Brigida, Pafricius, atque Q)lumba pins."

This monument was conftantly vifrted, to the time of the Refer*

mation, by pious Chriftians froih different parts of Europe ; and

large prefents were made, and new decorations conftantly added

to it. The fam« of its riches infpired lord Grey, deputy of the

'Englijh Pale^ in the reign of Henry Vllf. to make an iocurfioii

into this country, in which this noUe remains of piety and an-

tiquity was defaced, and plundered of aH its moft valuable efFed^^

The cathedral of Kildare, wher« the foody of St. Conlaith was

interred, to whom and to St. Bridget fuperb monooienta were

raifed, highly ornamented with gold, fitter, and prectous ilpiaeS)

fuffered the fame fate, as did every otliet religious foundaiicO)

within ftretch of his (acrilegitms ^ower.

The minuteft circamftances relative to this gteat apo(tle,' afe

ftill prefer ved amongft us, even to his private oeconomy, and to

the officers of his houfhold. With the grcateft piety, modeitar

tion, and wifdom, he ftill prefervcd the archiepi(copal dignity

with great eclat. The names of his fecretary, the intetidaht •of

his houfhold, his librarian, the mafler of his war-drdbe, and of

*his ecclefiaftical drcfs, are preferved-; the hermits who eotertained

the poor, the phyficians of his liouflkold, and even the ladia

who fuperintended the lace and embroidery of the'facred \'eil-

ments, are handed down to us. Every -perfon who aded under

him was looked upon with an eye of refpc£t. Tlie names of

his
1

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 4^

hU charioteer, his page,, hia goldfmiths and jewellers, his ^^*
workers in iron and wood, and his chief mafons and archite^s,

* * ■

&c. are ftill an record * ! . f

In the year 498, exa^Iy twenty years after the bloody battle
of Ocha, is marked down as the period when the fix fons of Ere,
the fon of Eocha, called Muin-ramhar, or of the Fat Neck,, in-- ,
vaded Albany, repoffeffed themfelves qf the feats of their an-
ceftors, and eftabliflied a new monarchy in Nortl^i Britain. But.
as this regal fettlement did not commence till the beginning of
the next century, we (hall clofe this chapter and book with an ^
account of the feminaries of learning, the learned men, and re^
ligioiM foundations of Ireland in this age* . . ,

St. Ailbe founded fchools for inftrudion, as well as thc^
church, at Emily, in the county of Tipperary, about A. C, 416.
This fchool was in great efteem; and amongft other great lumi-
naries it produced were St. Colman and St. Molua ; this lafl;, fon.
-to Eocha, king of. Munfter, and w^o founded the church of
Killaloe, but more properly Kill-Molua, Kail being Irifli for a.
churclu The church and fchools of St. Declan were about the
fame time eredted in the Deafies in the county of Waterford.
St. Patrick held thefe two prelates in fuch high efteem, that he
calls the firft " the Patrick of Munfter j" the other ''the Patrick-
•* of the Deafies." St. Kieran's college was. opened at Sier-Kie-
ran, in the King's county ; and that of St. Ibar, in a fequeftered
ifland, in the county of Wexford^ To th^fe fchools, as Uflier f
and Colgan J affirm, numbers not only of natives, but even of
foreigners reforted, to be inftru£ted in religioA and letters. St.
Patrick himfelf founded the univerfity of Ardmagh, which pre-
ceded all others for extent, magnificence, and endowments; ^'^^

♦ Lecan, book i^ f Primord. Ecckf. Brit. p. 1062, 3»

t Colgan Vita St. Abban. &c.

Voj:. 11. G and

4^ rt I STORY O^' IRELAND.

• * •

A.C. ind Wd flia^ rtalbri4b!y (nppdtoi tfcdt to ev*ry 6pifdJpaI church hft
founded, h6 atiAe^ed a ftilrfloi for p»ulrfie (SdacatiOfl, a? hiS pre-
curfors did. It is v(rorth while to attend td the feaftii, 5vhy I'fiU-
gion ind IttterS ^ent hand iti band in Itrfcthd. By^e Irilh c6n-
ftitution, doSor* in fci^nde hbt only prtceded the nobility, but
. 'Wfere exetitpt froth, all tdmpdtal laws, and then perfons and pof-
feffiohl untfloliftdd ih ^arS. What gtHitt ftcurlty ttwld t?he
darly Chriftianfe have, to pf6«itilga;te their feligious tenets, than
the raiifiKoh bf pubUt fchooh ? we fee thefe fchools at this time
rfeforted to by foreigners as Well as natives j a demonftrative
prdofi that the crowds of ftrangers who flowed from all parts of
Europe to us, were not confined to the days of Chfiftianity
o'fifyt «!lfe wh&t ^odld hhrt brought thehi then here ?

Thefe precUrfors of Patrickj to wit, Ailbe, Declan, Kleran,
and IbaruSj we may fuppofe were eminent writers as well a*
preachers. Ailbe, Wrote ** a Rule fbr Monks." Dubthach,
arch-poet to the monarch Loagaire, was a man of great learning,
and an early cohVert tb Chtiftianity. His poetic talents, which
be before often etaployed iA praife of Bel, Crom, and other
heathen gods, he now converted to the adulation of the great
Creator, by whom only thefe planets aft Colgan affirms ♦ to
have had feveral works of this poet in his pofleffion.

St. Patrick himfelf was not le6 eminent for letters than for
preaching and inverting. He is faid to have been a matter of
the Irilh, Britifli, Gallic, and Latin tbbgues, and alfo of the
Greek. His writings are very toany"; they are too numerous to
be here inferted j but in Colgan you will find an ample detail of
them t« St. Fiech, bllhbp of Sleibhte, or the Mountains, in the
Queen's county, was a difciple of St. Patrick, and wrote his
life in Irilh metre, extant in the Trias Thaumat. Harris, attri-

• TriasThaum. p. 8. t K>id. p. ■214.

hutes

HI$TOiLy OF IfLJ^J^AND- 43

bt>te8 ^notjier wor^e: to him J. ^ Bifiin^ {i ^ifciple and ^ycccflbr, A C-
or rathfx PoJrfiarl^Jiar, to ^t. Patrick, y^rrote i^\$ lifjp; pfirtly in
Latin^ partly Iriflu T,his BiQin hjis been fuppofed to be the
author of the famous Leabhar na Guart^ or )Book of Rigjits, by
which the fubfidies paid to the ^injg^s of Ireland by their fubjedsi
were stated. ^ FxDr my part, I think it the work of difF/crent wri-
^rs^ and in di^erent a^ep. For in it^ w^ find amqn^ft the pi;ereats
whixSh tbe.kin^^ pf Mu^ijfter^ in their royal tour;5 through Ir^Is^n^^
offered at the different courts they vifited, that .^hey jprefe^tcd
the kings of Em^ania w],th fe>(ei\ty i^ee/ds, feventy fuits c^ armour,
and ei^ht corflets. Now it ha^ been already obferv/^d, tlji^t .this
royal fabrip was deftroyed in |he be^ini>ing of thefourjih cpntury^
and of courfe near a qentury earlier, thap the birth of this writer.
Agiiin, mention is mad^e in angther .pact ofthiswork* of the dyes
to be paid by the Danes to tbe iE;ings of ^jeinfter ; which proves,
tb'at this Jaft parj njuft h^ve he?n wrote fomp ages poftpripr to
tbe jprefent aera. It jsjiowever barely a yery aqcient, and upon
the whole a very well proferycd pjece of Jrilh anti(]^aity. St.
Mel, ^t. Xuman, and his nepjiew St. Patrick wrote alio, part
Latin, part Irifii, die life and mir^les of our great apoflle. From
thefe works Jocelync, t|ie n>onk (who was employed by the fa-
mous John de Courcey, in the twelfth. century, to write the. life
of thelrilh apoftle, and which lje,fini,(hed about A. C. 1 185) ac-
knowleges to have received gre^t lights pn this fubjefl: ♦. The
celebrated bifhop Sedulius flourifhed Jp this century, whofe
works, particulariy his hymns and faqred poems, have been muclv
admired. Harris is minuteinhis account of them f. Frideline.
an Iri(h prince, devoted liirafelf to a monaftic life;, and travelled
into Germany and France, where lie built many monafteries, and

t • Writers of Ireland, p, 6. • Viu fexta Su Patricii, p. 1 06.

t Writers of Irdandi p. 7.

^ I con*

41 HISTORY OF IRELANU

, • - « r

.» • • -

A.C, converted numbers to'Chriftianity. He* is faid to have pub-
lifhed ibme religious trads |. .The celebrated [St.. Cathaldus,
bifhop and patron of Tarentum, thd vsrriter of foipae remarkable
prophefiics/is placed by Harris in this century; but from the au*
thority of Mac Bruodin^s Book of Munfter, and that of the two
Moroni, both brothers and Tarentines born," I havp . already
jplaced him in the fecond century. St. Kieqan, firJd bifiiop pf
Duleck, viras chriftened* inftrudedi and educated by St. Patrick,
and wrote his life *.

Long before the arrival of St. Patrick, Clinffianrty was in a
imoft flourilhing condition in the province of Munf!er; fo
much foj that though he lajided in Ireland in 432, yet he did not
vifit this province till 44B. There he met St." Ailbc, their arch*
bifhop^ with feveral of his difciples, and found many chiirchea
and monafteries eredted. Thofe of jgreateff note were the abbies
of Inis-Catha, or Scattery, and Inis-Lua, ! both iflands in the
Shannon, and founded by St. Scnah, of Corea Bavifein. The
abbey of Muingarid, n^ar Limeric, being ereded in the fourth
century, as was another near AdarCy in the faid county>. xo, thi»
day called Ceil-Dimma, from Dimma^ a Chriftian prieft^ anid tO:
whofc care St- Declan was committed^ when a youth, for ipft^uc-
tion. St. Endeus, founded the monaflery of Aran^ called Axra
na Naoimh, or Aran of ^he Samts, on account of the amazing
number of faints wha lived and died in this famous^ retreat ; St^
Maidoc, another, at Difert Nairbre, in the county of Waterford%
The principal monafteries founded by our apoftle^ were thofe of.
Slane, Trion, and Domhnach-Phadraig, ia Meath ;. Killi-Aux:*
Ule, near Kildare; Finglas, near Dublin;. Aehad Abla, in the
county of Wexford ; Galen, in the county of Carlow ; Ardah,.
in the county of Longford ;, Inisbo Fion and Inis Cloghran,. ia

X Writers of Ireland^ p. g^ • Trias Tbattm. p. 217.

HISTORY OF IRELAND. -45

* * ■ ' * * _

tlic faid county ; Louth and Druim-inis-gluin, in the county of A.C,
Louth J St. Peter and Paul's abbey, at Ardmagh ; Saul and Nen-
drum abbies, in the county of Down; Rath-Muighe, in the
county of Antrim ; Coleraine abbey, in the county of Derry;
Louch-Dearg, in the county of Donnegal; Clogher, in the
county of Tirone; Inis Muigh-Samh, in the county of Fer-
managh; Cluan-Feis^ Tuam, and Kill-Chonal, in the county of
Galway; Inis-More, in the county of Rofcommon ; Druim-
Lias, in the county of Sligoe> &c.

The firft monaftery of females on record in Ireland, is that of
Kiil-Liadan, in the county of Carlow, founded by St. Kieran,
before the arrival of St. Patrick. St. Patrick, founded thofe of
CIuan-Bronach and Druimches, in the county of Longford ; of
Temple-Bride, and Temple na Fearta, or the Temple of Miracles, ,
in the county of Ardmagh ; the abbey of Lin, near Carrlckfergus ;
of Cluan-Dubhain, in the county of Tirone ; of Rofs-Oirther,
in the county of Fermanagh ; of Rofs-Benchoir, in the county
b£ Clare ; and Killaracht, in the county of Rofcommon ! Befides
thefe, St. Bridget founded her famous monaftery in Kildare, A.
C. 480, for which (he formed particular rules, and which wafr
the head of her order. Upon the whole, it is agreed on, by the
early writers of his life, that no lefs than 700 religious houfes
were built and confecrated during the miffion of this apoftle.
An amazing number truly at any time ; but more particularly,
when two out of the three monarchs of Ireland, who fucceeded
each other in this period, were unbelievers ! If any of them were
ever Chriftians — which 1 much doubt — they certainly apoftatized.
To this caufe, or their want of faith, the pious Chriftians charit-
ably refolved their violent deaths;. Laogaire and Lughaidh,.
being deftroyed by lightning.

There cannot, in my opinion, be a ftronger proof, of the civil-
ized ftate of the nation, than the adverting to thi§ circumftance..

Thefe

4«

303

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

Thefe early Chriftians were no doubt highly enineot for letter^
and greatly cultivated the fine arte j and thefe mooarchfii ejadued
vrlth a truly great and philoibphic fpirit» cooddering their reli-
gion as no way dangerous to the fiate, gave not the leafi check Xo
it. Like the emperors of C!hina in our da/s, and for above
a century pad, though greatly attached to the religion of their
anceftors, yet, far from prohibiting the preachers of Chrifiianlty
from ipreading their tenets through the empire* they panted
both liberty and protedion to the Jefuits and Dominiqans, not
•only to convert the people» but to crc6t churches for tJbe.u(e of
thefe votaries.

After a reign of twenty -£ve years, this pr ince> Lugbaidhj was
-killed by lightning. Eocha Baildear^, of the Dal --Gas liae^ coo*
tinued for fopie years king of Leath-Mogba> and Peidhlimj the
fon of Aongus, king of South Munfter. On 4ii9 deaths and
during the adminiftration of Lughaidh, Criomthan, the ion -of
Feidhlim, was fainted kingof Leath-Moghai aadCormoc Coicbio*
fucceeded his brother Eocha, in the (bvereignty of Thomond*
Two kings of Ulfter, Eocha, and Fergus. Three kings in Lein-
fter, Fraoch, the fon of Finachda and Oilioll, and llhuo the foos
of Dunluing. Three in Conaught^ Eogauy Bel, Oilioll, and
X>uach-Teanmaigh«

BOOK

-nr

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 47

A.C.

BOOK VIIL

CHAP- h

t>f the mmarch Mor toughs and his wars'^an Irijh government
ere^ed in jilBany^^nature of the conneElion between the IriJh
and Pi^s explained''^ the Jirft and fucceeding Irijhy who emi^
grated to Albany^ to their ereSling of a monarchy^ and re-'
ducing of the PiSfs^^^their fuccejfors hofe the arts and letters ^
which they foffeffed-^the ufe made of them ^ on their revival^ to
ejiablijh an high antiquity in Britain^ and the reafon.

MO R T O U G H, the fon of Muircadhach, the fon of 503
Eogan^ the fon of the hero NialU was unaniinoully falut-
ed monarch of Ireland. He is generally called the fon of £area» '
from his' mother's name) wha was the daughter of Loarn, of the
Dai-Riada race.

He is the firft Irilh monarch who lived and died in the Chrif-
tian faith; notwithllanding that mod of the provincial kings^
publicly profefled this do^rine, for above half a century earlier.
He is highly celebrated as well for his piety as his intrepidity.
His emprefs Sabina lead fo exemplary a lifci as to be ranked
amongft the faints of Ireland ♦. This prince met with great dif-
turbances in his reign. It is recorded that he fought no lefs than

♦ Aa. Sana. Hib. p. 679, 690. -

I fcventeen

48 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. feventeen bloody battles tv five of which were in the courfe of
one year J ! But, notwithftanding that this was an age in which
letters flouriflbed in an eminent degree amongft us, yet it is not
a little furprifing, that we find no accounts preferved of- the
caufe of thefe fatal diflenfions ; whilft pious foundations, and
genealogies of faints are recorded with a fcfupulous nicety. But, *
wrapt up in holy importance, our Chriftian fenachies, in all pro-
bability, thought nothing elfe worth recording.

We fhall now return to a mod remarkable aera, namely, the
eftablifhing a new monarchy in North Britain. We have already
obferved, that in the year 498, the fix fons of Ere, aided by the
monarch Lughaidh, invaded the modern Scotland. They were
called the two Larns, the two Aongufes, and the two Feargufes.
But as Irifli and North Britifli writers differ materially, with
refpec3: to the period when this regal government began, and
that volumes have been wrote on the fubjedt, to enable the reader
to form a clear judgment of the whole, it will be neceffary to
take a fliort retrofpedive view of the early flate of this country.

In the infancy of the Milefian government, we have feen the
rids eftabliflied in North Britain. We have there remarked the
uncommon wifdom of tieremon, when he vouchfafed his pro-
tedion to this people, in unalterably fixing them attached to the
Irifli m6narchy, by the fimple bonds of wedlock! a circumflance
which may furnifli fome hints to modern legiflators, to fecure
the fidelity of their colonies. But though from time to time, this
country was invaded from Ireland, yet it was rather to punifh
them, for their too great attachment to one party of the Irifli,
than from any fufpicions of their ever aiming to difturb, much
lefs overturn the Irifli conflitution. It was impoflible in the fre-
iquent contefts about the monarchy, but that they muft have a

t GraN Luc, p. 74, % Keauing, p. 2.

greater

£ ...-

HISTORYOF IRELAND- 49

greater defire to fupport the intereft of one party, than that of A.C.
another. The proximity of Ulfter, and their more frequent alli-
ances and intercourfes with the Irian race, than with the other
fepts of Ireland, attached them more ftrongly to them. For this
reaibni the other two houfes, particularly the Heberians, laboured
to leffen their power, as the fureft means of reducing the north-
ern line of Irifh. This I thought neceflary to remark, as all the
Irifh writers I have met with, regard thefe invafions of Albany
as fo many conquefis. Plain fenfe points out the faft, as I have
.noted; for had it been otherwife, tlicy would neceffarily form
alliances with the Britons, and other enemies of Ireland, and
either fhake off their dependence entirely, or become a real con-,
quered people } neither of which was the cafe. Their predelic-
tion for the lri(h, arofe from the ftrongeft ties. Their wives
being moftly Irifli, infufed this love into their hpfbands and chil-
dren. The next race caught the fame infedion from the fame
caufe ; and this caufe conftantly acting, the effect could not
ceafe. When the Romans over-ran all South Britain, they could
not (hake oflF this attachment df the Pids. Even their ihvafion
of Scotland produced no alteration in their fentiments, In the
days of Agricola, it is evident that the Romans meditated a de«
fcent on Ireland^ the great utility of detaching the Pids from
their connexions with the Irifh mud have firuck fo eminenta
commander as Agricola ; and I make no doubt but he laboured—^
though in vain—to bring over thefe people to the interefts of
Rome*

Thus we fee from very obvious caufes, that there was a con-
ftant intercourfe between the two people ; but the moment the
Romans entered Britain, their mutual interefts demanded the
ilrideft alliance. The Irifh, from this time forward, kept legions
in Britain, which, as the Romans did, they called after thecoun-
tryy Fine Albin. Their numbers by this means, in North Bri-

VoL. II. H tain.

5b HIST OR YOF IRELAND.

A.C. tain became confiderable ; but ftill without any fixt order or le-
giflation, till about the end of the reign of Conairethe Grand, or
the beginning of that of his fuccefibr Art. Carbre, the ion of this
J 93 Conaire, made a regular fettlememt in Ardgile, wfaofe pofterity
after him were called Dal-Reudini, as Bede * declares ; from his
furname Riada, or of the Long Arm, to which the word Dal>
which denotes a fepl dr family* wis added. Mac-.Con, who
fucceeded Art in the tnonafcfay of Ireland, had alfo a cooiiderable
property there, which his fon Fatha-Conan greatly enlarged.
From Mac«Ck)n, the houfe of Campbelli the Mac AlleAs^ &c. claim
their pedigree j and to this day the firft are called Siol Mhic-Cuin,
or the pofterity of Mac-Con. Aongus-Fer, grandfon to Carl;»*e<^
Riada, greatly enlarged his family pofleflioAs in Albany, and
from him the fhire d£ Aongus took its name. About the y«ar
331, the Collas, grandfonsto Carbre-Liffecaire^ fled to Scotland
• for rebellipon, and were gracioufly received by their uncle^ the
Pidifh king, who affigned them }ands> and at length procured
'^ their pardon. From thtfe the Mac Doanels of Scotland are de-r
icended ; and to them are thty indebted for their pofleflions, as
well there as in the ifled. Some time after, Maine, called Leamh-
na* (from a river of that name in the county of Kerry, near which
he Was narfed) the ion of Core, king of Munder, repaired to
^}bany, that th^trp of glory to the Iri£h qation, in thofe days of
herpifm 1 and afoer e^^iibiting prodigies of valour againfl the Ro-
inans, gained a priacipality there, from him called Leamhna, pro-
nounced Leavna. He got the title of Maor-More-Leamhna, or
the Great Steward of Leayna> M^^^f beip^ Irifh for. a fteward ;
from which title his . fucceflfors aQiim^d the name of Steward*
(iis brother Carbr^ called Cruithniach, or the Pi£t, gained alfo
large territories in North Britain. £rc, the fon of Eocha, the fon 01

* Hift. Ecclef. Brit, lib. i. cap. i.

6 the

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

the above Aoagus, ibjd defcendant of Carbre*»Riada» re*
paired to North Britain^ to po^efs himielf of the terri^-.
tories of his atxceftors there, foon after, i. e. about A. C. 440^
and died, acacordiag to Uihfi^i and the book of Lecan, A. 474.
His eldefl: fon Loarne, in 47^^ riiifed tjbe entire clfuoi of Dal-
Riada, aa well in Ireland a9 Brit4in> to f^ghf: the battles of Lugh*
aidht influenced IJiexetP hy hi* fon-in-law Mortough, then verjr .
young J by which timely affiftance Lughaidh gained the mo-
narchy. From this prince the country of Lorn took its name.
Indeed, the pbflefiions and pedigrees of the Albanian Scots, in
North Britain, are prefiirved with wohdei^l<accuracy, in cuY books
of antiquity. OThivegan in particular notes the fubdiviftons of
their families ^nd jpatrimonies, their different chiefs, their power
by fea and land, &:c.

From this accoun* it appears, that though the ppffeffions of the
Irifli in Albany were confiderable, yet jthat they were t^jere neither
a united or a powerful people . For ^he jgreat cHiefs,1)eing, fome
of the line of Heber, others of that of Heremon, or Ith, redcling
moftly in the mother country, and engaging in their different
famlly-difputes at home, attended not Sufficiently to their mutual
interefts in Albany. Mortough, fenfibljj of this, prevailed on h'ia .
uncles in 498 to return there, and Jicehgthen their family-intereft
as much as poffihlc;. Soon after he was called to the' Irifh mo-
narchy, he caufed Fergus, the youngeft brother, to be proclaimed
king of the Albanian Scots, or Irifh ; and to add greater folejotmity -
to his inauguration, he fent o^er the famous jnarble chair, pn
which the monarchs of Ireland were enthroned. This was the
firft prince of the Iriflx race, who was proclaimed or acknowleged
as a king, in Albany. He united the diflFerent jarring interefts of
the colonifts, compelling fiich as jefyfed to recognize his title',
to make their fubmiffions, and formed from this union a refpedE*
able power,, fubordinate bbweiFer to the mother country. His

H i fuc-

A.C

503

52 HISTORY OB IRELAND.

AC fucceflbrs, warlike and enterprifing princes, gradually extended
their frontiers, enabled fo to do by the conftant affiftance fent
them, from time to time, from Ireland, till at length in the ninth
century, Kenneth, the fon of Alpin, completely deftroyed the
Piailh empire, and inftead of king of the Albanian Scots, as his
anceftors were ftyled, he was faluted king of the Albanies, i. e. of
the Pifts and Scots. This explains the following lines of For-
dun on this event.—

" Primus in Albanis, fertur rcgnaffe Kenethus

*« Filius Alpini, praelia multa gerens.

<* Expulfis PiStis^ regnavit is oSo bis annis.''

Though to this time the Albanian Irifli had undoubtedly arts
and fciences amongft them ; yet, in the reign of his fucceflbr
Conftantine, the remains of the vanquiihed Pids inviting the
Danes to their affiftance, the whole country became foon one
fcene of defolation, from which fair fcience fled ! Ireland too
being about the fame time invaded, could not aflFord them thofe
fupplies {he formerly did. Add to this, that the Albanian Irifli
no longer paid tribute to the mother country, as we fliall note in
its place ; fo that what between their wars with the Danes, the
the Saxons, and Normans, hiftory and chronology became to-
tally loft there. Thefe events were not neverthelefs, nor "could
they in the nature of things, be totally forgot. The only piece
of Albanian Scottiflx antiquity extant, is a regal poem, much
like oursj.of GioUa Caomhain, in which is contained a lift of their
kings, beginning with Loarn, brother to Fergus, and ending
with Malcolm, the fon of Donchadh, confirmmg word for word
our accounts ♦. Add to this, that Scotland, strictly speak-
ing, comprehended only that part of North Britain poflefled by

* Trias Thaumat. fol. 115.

the

€€
CC
C(

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 53

the Scots or Irifli, This is acknowledged by all their writers. A.C.
To this purpofe Hume tells us — *' It is certain t/iat in very an--
cient language^ Scotland means only the country north of the
Firths of Clyde and Forth, I (hall not make a parade of lite-
rature to prove it, becaufe I do not find the point is difputed
" by the Scots themfelves *."

Jn the days of the Venerable Bede, who died A. 737,' and
conftantly refided at his monaftery at Weymouth, on the Pift-
i{h borders, we find the Albanian Scotch or Irifh diftinguiihed
from the other clans of Irifh, by the name of Dal-Reudini»
which he juftly explains into the pofterity of Riada. This
proves that they were even then looked upon as an Irifh colony
ONLY, not as a didindl and independent body of Irifh.

The Albanian Irifh, as I obferved, engaged in conftant wars
with diflFerent invaders, foon loft whatever arts they had been in
pofTeffion of. An event however pointed out to them the ne-
ceflity of hiftory and chronology, which they availed themfelves
of. The immature death of Margaret of Norway, in the de-
dine of the thirteenth century, leaving the kingdom of Scotland
expofed to the pretenfions of different competitors ; Eclward L
of England aflumed to himfelf the right of judge, affirming that
both Scotland and Wales were but fiefs to England ; for that
Brutus the Trojan, who fubdued all Britain, had three fons,
Laegrus, Camber, and Albandus, between whom he divided
his territories. To Laegrus he left Laegria, or England ; to
Camber, Cambria, or Wales ; and to Albanftus, Albany, fron\
him fo called ; but flill as fiefs from the eldeft fon. In 1301, a
memorial to this purpofe was delivered by his minifters to pope
Boniface VHI. but the Scots were determined not to be behind
hand with him in point of antiquity, or forfeit their title to in-

* Hiftory of England, voK IL page 258.

depen«

54 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. dependency for want of invention. Their countryman Hume^
treating of the aera in qiieftion, has thefe remarkable words :

' , I

If the Scots had before this period any real hiflory worthy of the
name^ except what they glean from fcattered paffages of the
Englifh hiftorians, thefe events, however minute, yet being

THE ONLY FOREIGN ONES OF THE NATION, might defcrVC

a place in it */* The Englifli memorial to this pope traces
their government to above 1 1 oo years before Chrift ; but the
Scots make theirs coeval with M^fes ! They affirmed that Eric,
the fon of Gathelus, who was contemporary with Mofes, failed
from Ireland to Albany, and there founded a monarchy, which
continued uninterrupted to that time ; and which, from thefe
two commanders, took the name of Eric-Gathel, or Ardgile !
Here we plainly fee a confufed memory of their original, much
like what we have remarked of the early Greeks, but replete
with abfardities and anachronifms. In 1320 another memorial
was addreflcd to John XXIL pope of Rome \ in this they af-
fure his holinefs that their Eric was the fan of Gathelus, and
Scota, queen of Egypt, who were contemporaries with Mofes.
But Scota, as we have feen, was the mother, not the wife, of
Gathelus ; and the fon of this laft w;as named Eafru, not Eric.
Nor was it for many generations after, that the fons of Milefius,
not Gathelus, landed in Ireland ; 1 800 years after which period,
not fooner, an Irifli colony formed a regal fettlement in Albapr.
Yet even at Rome we have reafoti to think that this pompous pa-
rade of antiquity met with fome cenfurc ; becaufe, in a very few
years after their fecond memorial, John Fordun, a Scotch prieft,
was empteyed to write a hiftory of Scotland ; and this is the firft
hiftorian their country produced. That this woric was under-
taken fooQ after, is manifeft ftom this, that he fpeaks of the

♦ Hiftory of E&gland, toI. II. page 255.

year

HISTORY OF IRELAND. S5

year 134.1 in it as a prefent one ; and that it was occadoned by ^*^
the ftridlures on their former aflertions muft be admitted, becaufe
he lops ofF at once from their antiquity above 1 5^0 years ; a great
falling oflF truly ! For inftead of making the father of Eric
coeval with Mofes^ he admits his reign to have commenced about
^30 years before Chrift! Need I dwell long on the fubfequent
forgeries of Boetius, Dempfter, &c. to fupport this imaginary
antiquity. Their affirming that the Scotia of Hegi(ippus> Clau-
dian, Marcellinusy Gildas, Bede, and other writers to the ele-
venth century, meant modern Scotland ; and becaufe it was
found that this Scotia was alfo the lerne of Orpheus, and the
Hibernia of Gsefar and Tacitus, they at once find this lernc to
be Strathern ; and inftead of a large and potent ifland, to be but
an obfcure part of Perthihire ! Such flagrant infults on truth,
hiftory, and reafon, roufed up the indignation of the moil paf-
five ; and White, Fitz-Simmons, Routh, Uflieri Ward, Lloyd,
Stillingfleet, 5cc« &c. ibon proved to all Europe the impofitions
ei thefe writers.

CHAP.

56 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C.

CHAP. 11.

^he fame fubjeSi continued — a new fyftem of Scottijh hi/lory and
antiquity — Mac Pherfons OJfian replete with anachronifms^
and the pains taken to impofe it on the world for a genuine per--
formance — Dr. Mac Pherfons Differt at ions— Ireland the an^
cient country of the Albanian Scots ; and thefe laji and the
Picis always confidered as different nations.

IT is a remark of the learned Dr. Johnfons *, that ^' a Scotch-
" man mull be a very fturdy moralift indeed, who does not love
" Scotland better than truth.^^ In no inilances can this aflertion
be fuller proved, than in their labours to gain an high antiquity
in Britain. Their imaginary hiftory being expofed ; their gene-
rals, faints^ and literati reclaimed ; and the con verfion of coun-
tries, and many pious and literary foundations on the continent
being acknowledged to be the works of the only people then
known as Scots in Europe, i. e. the Irifli, their inventive facul-
ties foon planned a new mode of antiquity. The Pids, it is
agreed upon all fides, were early inhabitants of Britain. To
make thefe and the Scots one people, would at once fecure to
them a remote antiquity, and deftroy all thefr conneiSUons with
Ireland. What availed it to them, that in fo abfurd an attempt
they went retrograde to every evidence of Albanian, IriOi, Bri-
tifli, and even Roman hiftory ? The objed was, the honour of
the North Britons, and truth itfelf muft give way to' this ! To
this glorious undertaking their different writers are called out ;
for,

** Graeculus cfuriens ad c^lum jufferis, ibit !"

• Tour through Scotland.

The

HISTORY O ¥ 1 R E L A N D. 57

The attack commenced by the publifhing of different detach- A.C,
ed pieces,, under the title of FragmenU of Highland Poetry.
Never did time feem fo favourable for the advancement of their
caufe! The great check to all their former attempts — Irish
History— -feemed now totally forgot. The principal nobility
and gentry of Ireland, fincef the Revolution, with the hLftory
negle&ed the common intereft of their country. The moft vio-
lent outrages o6Fered to truth and this lovely ifland, w^ere unno-
ticed ; and writers of all denominations, domeftic as well as fo-
reign, feemed to have a charte blanche for every thing faid or
done. Thefe Fragmenta were fucceeded by r^ular epic poems,
publiflied under the aufpices of Lord Bute, and countenanced by
the whole Scottifh nation. The main defign of thefe and of the
Notes, for which they were intended, Vraa to prove die Scots and
Pids but one people ; though diftinguilhed by different names,
and fpeaking different languages ; that they were the aborigines
of Britain, who, giving way to new invaders, retired more nor«>
therly ; that here ere<3ing a new monarchy, and encreaiing in
power, they fent colonies to Ireland, by whom the country was
in time conquered. The curious reader will probably demand
what farther proofs were offered in fupport of this curious hy-
pothefis ? The immaculate James N^ Pherfon, and his wof«
thy fellow labourer the pious Do&or, (who only could deter«
mine diis queftion) tell ns vomb f they were totally illiterate,
(notwithftanding the pains of Dempfter and others to prove the
contrary); and from Irilh and Saxon ecdefiaftics they firft
learned that they were but a colony from Ireland ; which from
the authority of Bede, and their great veneration for thefe holy
priefts, they then firft adopted. Thefe poems were fucceeded by
Critical Dijfertations m the Poems of Offian, in which every
nerve is ftretched to prove them authentic. But that the remark
of Dr. Johofon (hould be verified in every fcnfe, foon after ap-

VoL. II. I peared ,

St HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A*C- peared the public aflSrmations of different Pidlifli gentry ; one in
fupport of one part ; a fecond, of another ; and fo on of the reft ;
by which means the whole of James Mac Pherfon^s poems were
declared to be the genuine and pure produdlions of Offian !

No doubt too much pains could not be taken to eftablifh their
antiquity, and depreciate the annals of Ireland} fo hoftile.to Cale-
donian vanity. It is but commoa4iiftice to declare, that all that
could be done was done on ttis occafion ; and that Jemmy Mac
Pherfon might cry out with ^ileas ; ■

t€ '■ ■ ■ ■ fi Pergama dextrsl

•* Defehdi poffent, etiam hac defenfa fuiffent !^*

< ■

But though a Scot, for the honour of his country, might well con*
ceiye that regular, epic poems, compofed by an ignorant bard»
might be preferved by tradition ofify for 1 500 years ; though the
bard of one family could recite but a* certain part of them ; a
fecond btrd) aiiother ; and that it appears that a great number of
thefe were confulted ;'^in fhort, that Mac Pherfon went from
bard to bard, to colledt from each his portion of this mighty
whole ; which parts he threw into the fame exaft order in which
they were delivered by OiEah himfelf— yet others, no fo clofely
interefied in theic fuccefs, might douU their authenticity. But
to attempt eftablifhing a hew fyftem of hiftory, in oppofition to
all antiquity, on the authority of thefe poems> after fo many
former unfuccefsful attempts^ |)rociaiim8 highly the modefty of
the author and of his afibciates. It is no wonder that the North
Britons fhould eternally rail at IriOi hiftory : it has been a con«
ftant obftacle to their vifionary fcheme;, and^ in all appearance
will ever continue fo to be ; — thus in the prefent poem, Oflian
has with wonderful judgment fynchronized Cucullin, Connal
Cearoacb, Mbrni, his fon Gall^ his own grscndfather Cumhal,

aad

HISTORY OF IRELAND* f9

and his father Flon, with the Danes; tliough the two firft were A.C,
contemporaries with Caefar ; though Morni figured in the firft
century ; and that Cumhal fell by the fword of GoU, in the next
age ! Though Fion and himfelf lived in the third century, and
that the Danes were not heard of till the ninth I But what of
all this ? the author, endued with fecond Jight^ could cafily pry
kito- futurity. He was a Pythagorean, and of courfe could tell
^hathodies the ftjuls of ancient heroes would reanimatCj and
probably what prodigies of valour they would perform! Mac
Pherfon has declared this a genuine poem; and my Lord Kaims*
ds zedlouily .contends for its authenticity as Blair, or any
other of the coalition. However he repeatedly attributes its
prefer vation to nothing lefs than a miracle I a miracle then let it
be. But, inftcad of flying to 'Scandinavia, as the poem was con-
fefledly w!*ote in Trifh; that Ireland was the fbene of aftion ;
and that by Caledonian accounts the Iriih were defcended from
themV hirfLOfd Kaims cpnfulted Irifh hiffory, to illuftrate this
poerti, as iie ccrtaiirfy ought. Be would perhaps be better enabled
to forni his judgmenrj for all the above heroes Were the real
fons of Ireland ; and their anceftiy, exploits, and the different
pe/iods ^n which they fiouriihed^ are, as well known at this day,
as any feints in ancient hiftory^ Even in the twelfth ceijtury,
€&mWenff8 ref|iar£s how foil the common people were here of
ftieiriabtilous .i^oiies^of Fion MacGuaaiiat, ^or.;Fingal, of Oiifiot
and Ofcar, &'6. »\ .-v:i , • .; .! .

'^JlJuC notwithftandiag all the human endeavours of the Caledo^
ilktia/ siided hy the fupehxatural ^interpofitiqn of Lord Kaims.
thbfe preciDub {i^aems'hftve by no meajls anfwered the propofed
defig;n ; yet the perfeverihg fons oiimpofiiion could not think of
relinquiihing the caufe* John Mac Pherfon, D, D. miniiler of

... * » '

' • mawryof Man, vol. II. § 7.
:u : . -^ * I 2 Slate

6o HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A»C. Slate in tfa€ ifle of Sky, devoted the kifure of fome years from.
the care of fouh, tothat of his country. His works were pob«
lifhed in London in 1757- He took up this fubje& mi a more
entenfive plan than his friend James* In vain has he laboured^
f animated more by his iove of Scotland than of truth J by fpecious
arguments, by fophiftry, by falfe quotattonSi by mifreprefenta-^
tions of faQst and by a fmattering in the £rfe, (a kind of
Patois Irifli)^ to invalidate the force of Ici(h hiftory, and to
prove that the Pidt and Scots were really one people* But, as I
have already ejcamined this curious work, I muft refer fuch as
think the fuhjed^s VTorth enquiry, to that criticifm for further in-*
formation:*'. Too many props no doubt could not be demanded
to fapport fo tottefing a flvudufe ; and Jemmy Mac Phoffon fal«
lied foi'th once more, armed with his Murus Aheneus, in de*
fence of his darling hiftorical hypothefis. If we are aftoniihed
at the eafy confidence with which he mifquotes authors, and
mifreprefenta fx£ts, iinde thea fo full^y proved, that he himfelf
has been obliged to ackoowledge botbf;. we are not W^ fo, ta
fee him in this fame work, fintrodu&ian t9 the Hiftory cf Greatt
Britain and Ireland)^ fairly givie up hk bekv^d Oi^ii,, aplH
withftanding the labours of Mr. Blair, the declarations of the
Highland chiefii, a»d the miraculous interpofition of Lord Kaima
HI its iHaivoQr ; ftffj iiyahe, page- 1510 c ♦f In the pi«fttttjfti|l!p qf
<^ the argumentr thwe Is no need of hia (Offiait'6) affiftAn<^:; : t^
** fabric we have raifed^ needs no collateral proofs J\ :|.

This (hon iketdi of the different 6p2i§iota on Gal4dooi»9: }p^*
tory, I thought proper t(v lay before the, public Many i^olum^^

have been wrote, and mu&h more leaf^mng^difpkyediOocdi^ ^ttbh
ytOi than it merited. That the Scots o£ Aibairpr werQ;origM|ftU.yj

* Introduction to Irifli Hiflory, part III. cap. tHi.

+ Whitaker's Hiflory^ the BriUHi9«-<-«-^Appq;id]ar to the Introda&ioo t« Irifli
Hiftory.

a colony

HISTORY OF IRELAND, 6t

a colony from Irelaad* the proximity of their couiitry, theif Ian- A.C.
guage^ their furnamesj and even their own confefliony declares.
For a Highlander to this day, in the Erfe^ calls himfelf an Al^
banian Scot ; and it cannot be denied but that the only name in
Latin for a North Briton is Scoto-J9ritanns ; expreffions which
evidently point them not the original iflue of the country^ but
derived- fro(n fotne other Scots;, and where cain we find thef^
but in ItelMid I . That -Fergoa was their firfi acknowledged ki;ig>
and began his i^ign A« 503, all.our hiildrians declare j and
though his brother Loarn was. prc4)ably. poffefied of as* Auch
power there; yet 4o 'Fergus only wia the inaoguratrng chaljr firf^
giveft; ^ ^hefe^iB a^ very fvaluidJae^old MS.' quoted, fay the learaed
Uflx^^^sindiDtkni loiih xHiic^nLcis^i fyi>K;hrohi:^tbg tkc proving
oial kmgs.w&ds, th«jtc£pfeaiM=nrof»x:9ha.of ttdift (aic&py.'^j^
which I have in my po&ifikkh), dil ^\^ lSetg\<s i^, declared jhQ
firft king of the Albanian Scots, and to be contemporary with
the priffent monarch. Upon the whole, that the Scots of North
Britain were colonies from Ireland, and a people totally different
from the Pids, will jiq| I b^^eve^be Hpwn^oubted j that by the
wifdom o£ the monarch Mortough, they were firft united under
one head>.aU.our antiquities declare ; s^ndfo far frombeiog, knowi^
as a. diftinct l^ody of Scots, even in the eighth century, the
Venerable Bede then callea them Dal-^Reudini, juft as other tribes

' - •!>. ..^j.* «• 4,v« ...a* ', ^^ a ^^ 1 '.y„, t 1 ,1 J ^

were diftinguifl^ed . at home, into DaUFiatbachr DaUGas, ^c. ^
front the names of their firft loilnders. Thi^ prince Mortough,
in^the twenty-fourth year of his reign,, loft his life at an enter-
tainment at Mullacfi-Oeatach,\hear the Boy ne; t'he houfe being •
intendpnally fe^

\ Aodh Cabtnh, the fon. of Connal, . the '{on of ^ocha^alideargV
a pal-Gas, was king of Munfter. The. ^Falter of Cafliill giVcs^
a^arge account of'this prince. It ^ ^J^ea^% that Aodh-Dubh, . the

* Ion

6i H I S T D IL Y- a F I R E 1 A N D..

^^ foa of Criomhthan, lift king of Munfter, would not confeftt.tp
his invdlure, till he delivered to him hofi^ges^ to fecvre his own
fucceffion, or that of his fons, after the.dcceafe of this Aodh, This
was agreed to ; and Breanuin, abbot of Clonferti and Mac Xieniny
hi$ 'chief poet, the father! x>f St. G)lman, were delivered up as
fureties to Aodh'-Dnbh, for the performing this covenant. This
laft AodH, or Hugh, of the Euge^anlinei .waskingQ/^I^frnQody
or South. Munilen. Fergus and&anaU or Scanlaa» hi$ brothers,
fucceeded hi'm in this title,, according to the Pfalter of QiUhiU, and
Bdok *of SjrnchronifmB ; fo that he died: before his..xi4me; fake
Aodh-Caomfa*. Feargus, continued king of Ulfter^ arid Ulan,
kii^g of Leitifier, whojwas fucceeded by Cormoc^ the foa of
OiliolK: Du^chy ia ConaUgkc, and after him Eocha*. Feargus,'
after him hisi brothbr^ AdiigUB, and^fbn Domhangard, aremarked
a& kitigs of North Bpitaib, of the Iriih race*^ ^

:'; ). ill", "',

• ■ I

I , . T ' ' f •«

^ 1

'\r

C'H A P. ' ni* ;

Tuathal Maolgqrbh^ chofen monarch' of Ireland— is a^ajirtafed^'^
I) ear mod eleSled [to the J hr one — inquiry into the origin of the'
ceremoTiy oj anointing Jhemonar ens at their inaugurdiion-^'and

\.ireTand's ctalm of precedency before any other nation o^ Europe'. '/

^UATHAL Maolgarbh, the fon of Cormoc-CaocW ' tl»^'

X fon of Carb.re, fon to the.liero Niall,^ (as.ha^ been pro^^
nofticf^l;ed by St. I^atrick, even when. in his mothers wcimpj was

eleded monarch. Barring the lives of faints, and foundations pf
churches, we find in this reign alfo a great inattention to public
528 and political events. We read indeed of a fierce war carried on '

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 65

oy Earca/the fdn of Oilibll-Molt (from whom the tribe of Fir- A.C,
'earca) and the Lagenians, and of a general engagement enfuing ,
at Tortan, in which this prince loft his. life ; but are totally ig-
•ridrarit-as .to the caufe of it. Feargus and Domhnal, fons to the
decebfed monarch, wageciiajfo war with the Conacians ; a battle
was fought, in. which the Conaqians were defeated, and their
king was ffairi. But what gave rife to this war, muft remain for

•ever a'fecfct. '* ^ .

The deceafed BnJ5 of Conaught had ia fon, called Ceallach ;
but h^ having devoted, himfelf to a monaftic life, the friends of
Guare, the fon of Colman, caufed him to be pfoclaimed king of
that province^ In moft countries, and on moft occafions, there
are feldom wanting fadlious and feditious people/ ready tofijfh in
troubled water,' and Engage in'any defpei*ate enterprize, to- pro-
mote their private 4\itercfts: though Ceallach had long before the
prefent event, folemnly renounced the world, yet partizans were
not wanting to ftimulate him to quit his monaftery, and pro«
claim his pretenfions to the throne. To gratify their follicita^
tions, and his own ambition, he pi^ivately quits his cloifter, and;
at the head of a confiderable party, proclaims his right to the
crown. Byt the holy abbot Qaran, (who fhould by no means
be confounded with St. Ciaran, of Saigir, a precurfor to St. Pa-
trick) hearing of this great defedlion in a fubjeft of his houfe,
pronounced a iblemnmaledidlion on him, if he did not imme-
diately return to.his cell, and make public reparation for the
profaning the clerical habit. The poor affrighted monk imme-
diately -re tires to his monaftery, proftrates himlelf at the feet of
the faint, acknpwleges; his crimes in the moft huhiiliating man-
ner, and earneftly intreats pardon and abfoliilion. We'are told,
that Ciaran vouchfafed him his benedi^ion ; but at the fame time
aflured him, that aViolent death CQuld only expiate his crime. It
would not, we niay fuppofe, require any great gift in prophecy to
• ^ foretel,

6^. HISTORY OF IRELAND.

AC. foretd, that the life of a perfon vlho once proclaimi hispreten*
lions to a throtiet efpecially if well founded^ is an objed of great
confequeace to his competitor. Guar e (though in a monaftery)
deemed the crown tottering oa his beadj whilft hia rival lived ;
and found means^ even in that facred place» to have him made
away with ; and thus the prophecy was probably proclaimed after
the fa£t was committed. After a reign of eleven years^Tuathal was
afTailinated by the fofler-brother of his fucceflfor^ to pave hia
way to the throne ; but the regicide fufFered the puni(hment due
to fo atrocious a crime^ being immediately cut to pieces by the
monarch's guards .

On the death of Aodh-Caomht which happened in this reign*
FinghiUf the fonof Aodh-Dubh, an Eugenian, and anceftor to the
O'SuUivans, by the law of alternate fuccefHon was proclaimed
kiag of Munfter and -, Forranan* a Dai-Gas, king of Thomond«
Finghin, was a prince of uncommon intrepidity, as terrible in
wars as aimable in times of peace* To the gallantry of the foldier,
lie added the politenefs of the courtier, and was particubrly at-
tentive .to the fair ; all which are comprifcd in the following
beautiful lines in the Pfalter of Caflbill ;

** Finghin, bugh garg, ba gniomhach,
*\ Bobaoith, ba gaoth, ba brioghach;
" Bo min, ba miochair re mnaibh j
•* Bo tru«ih a geath dha CongmaiK"

Deman, fbn of Carril, fucceeded to the crown of Ulfter j OilioII*
and after him Guare, kings of Ck)naught ; G>rinoc, king of
Leinfter ; and Comhghall, the fon of Domhangard, was king of

the Albanian Scots.

Boniface II. John II. Agapctus, Silverius, and Vigilius, were
fucceilive popes of Rome m this reign. Juftixuaui continued em-

7 pcror

■ - ^

H r.S T O R Y OF I R ¥ L A N ^iv 65

{yerof ofiioe Eaft, .Childibtet* kiog of France;! and a grqat part of A.C.
of South Britain Ws now pofi^lTcdbf the SaKdns. ^

Dearmod> the fon of Fergus-Kerbhiebl, the foni or indeed I 53(8
think mdre pfoperly the .grandfoai of ConaH, fon to the herd
NialU wsts pfodaifned mooafch.. Adamiianus calU htiq— -^VKin^
** of all the Stots ohiained by God*8 appointment/\ '* Totius
^* Scotiac regnator Dfeo authore ordinatus eft *." /Tnd as thi«
holy abbot of Huy flourifhfid in the next century, it merits fome
attention. ' In thi prefent reign, and for a century preceding it^
Chriftianity was in the mbft fiouriihing condition in Ireland.
They had, aa we have feen, receirod this ,do&vii»^ftom the.Afi*
aticft. Thefe laft, in many inftaikces, a4hei'ed ihore iXofe^y <q the
}ewi(h cuftoms than the Roman Chriftiafis didt Thg^glu from
Conftantine the Great's time, Roni^ had inany Qiriftian emperor »»
yet the firft inftance on record,* of. aChriftiaa prince's receiving
the crown by the haiids df a bifliO|> ai|d.the ehrifoiv Oif ^e Jew
i(h prmces were inaugurated by the hands of the high prieil}| is
that of Juftiniao^ who was crowned empergr of the Eaft by the
patriarch of ConftaAtinpple^f • The ftp^y of the inauguration of
Qbvib^' kiqg of FraRce, in the preceding century, and of the,
holy oil feot from hpavf^ip to St. Remy: fi?r that purpofe, haY<^
been lorig finee.jiaftly exploded. Pepin,, of the Carlovingian
race» is the firft prince . in; France, at wbo£b coronation un£tioa
was ufed^ As our countryman Virgilius, was at this time ia
France, and in grea;t friendftiip v^ith Pepln> it may perhaps ac«
count for its origin there.

As then the ufe of the chrifin was fo. much more early intro-

, J, - • * •

duced into the churches of Afia,. than into that of Rome, we may

- ♦■ . ...» J ^ /

reafonably prefume that the monarchs of Ireland, where Chrif-
tianity was fo highly cultivated, would not want a ceremony

♦ Vita St. Columb. lib* i. cap, 36. \ Seldtn'a TiUct df Honour, p. j 10.

Vol. 1L K deemed

€€

66 H I S T 6 R Y: O F I R E L A N D.

A.C. deemed foeffentialto-fovercignty; arid that at their coronations
they were anointed ; at leiift that this Dearmod was. And thia
will explain the remarkable words of Adamnanus. But we have
fomething more than bare prefumption for what has been ad-*^^
ranced. For in the reign of Aodh, and not very many year&
from the period in queftion, Adamnanus tells us i^ ^^ that by dt-^
*' red^ion of an angeU Columba was charged to confecrate Aidan»
king of the Irifh, or Scots' of Albany. That he had a book
containing the form of ordination^ which he direded Columba.
" to read, and alfo a bottle (I fuppofe of holy oil). That he ap-
peared to the faint three fucceeding nights in. the fame manner;
after which Columba proceeded to the ifle of Huy, fent for
" Aldan, the fon of Guaran, cmfetrated him king ; and^ in the
** wordi cf conjecration^ foretold the flour iffiing ftate of his fuc-
•* teflbrs; whilft ihey continued friends to the family of Columba;:
♦* after which laying his hand on the head of Aidan he bkfled •
** him.** ' Jn my opinion a much ftrongcr teftimony cannot be
demanded, of the conrecrating our Chriftian monarchs than this.
If to a petty prince- of the royal line of Ireland, and a tributary to;
our monarchs as Aidan wa«, confecration was deemed' neceflkry »
and by the* hands of Cotumba too, who, as Bede obferves,
though himfelf but an abbot, yet preceded all the bifliops of»
Albany, it muft certainly folfow, that it was ufed by our provin-
cial kings, bat efpecially by our monarchs. Nay from the words*
of Adamnanus, we may pronounce that coafecrating our hkn
narchs was before that time in ufe. Crowns of gold and Icep-
ters (other enfigns of royahy) were ufed by our princes and
princcfles long before this period; nor did" our monarchs appear*
in public, without thefe. enfigns of royalty.

• Vita Stt Coliimb. lib. iij. cap. 5.

About^

* ft ^

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 67

About thirty years before the ^^Chriftian aera, VFhen Maud, A;C.
queeii of Conaiight, invaded Ulfter, (he appeared amOngft her
troops in her chariot, with a crown of gold on her hesid *• In
the fecond century, the A (ion or crown of the empreftf of Cathoirej^
More, was ftolen at Tara. Should any now 4oubt the exigence
of fuch crowns, I am to inform the reader, that no left tftfan three
fuch have been -found in bogs in this century^ Two to n>y
awn knowlege, and both fold in this city : the firlV^und in die
Bog of Culleii in 1 74^4, in theiiouhtyof -Tipperaty; theojheil
in'fix years a;fteri at Cathir Mechitj near Newc&'f^e; in this cJWnty,.
in none of which was the crofs foutid, and all were formed like
the clofe crowns of the eaftern princes "f . ^ -

The original meaning of ^he word Fteperatdi: or Emperor,' de^
noted no more than a gehetal> or the co^diaikl^i^ of aln army ;
and if Caefar and the other emperors i^et^ined k, it was not bui?
they knew and thought the name of King- cbore holiouFable;^
but they declined affuming it, as it was a title cklious to the Rb^
man people J. in the Eaftern empife, where niotairiiby w^s
highly reverenced, the ruler of extetifive kin^oms Wks (tyldd^
king of kings. Whetr Artaxerxcs, king of Perfia, enjoinsthe^
reftitution of the temple to the Tcw«, be -difeft^ his'idAiiiiffi6n*
ihus-^^* /irfax^rxes, iing vf ktngs'i to Ezra thefrtejli" and
Cyrus is called '(366<n\£vc i3«<r/Xijii^,' i;b/ king of kings.^'* The title'
of Ard-Righ,' or-chief king, coriftaiitly uted by all' our moharcW^,

imports exadly the fame, and proves how weH their pre-emi-
nence was diftinguifhed; '^ *; -''' ' " '! '^ • ' •
It is a matter uhiverfally agreed on, that prin^ces fliould .rank, ^
not according to ^the extenfiveriefs t>f their ftates,^ biit to tlie ati- ^
tiquiVy of their countries. Thus, in the tonteft in Eutiari fo^

• Tain boGotJ^ne. " -'• f Hihft^s'AhtSqtiiiEics, vol. ii. p. 95.

t Titles of Honour, *p. 1 15 &<:.• "-.^. *-.i»'i .^ .. . , v -. 1

\ J K 2 pre-

Xf% m ST a R Y Q F IRELAND;

AC, pnci^tmff even in heaven, between ^ercules and £(culd^ua»
Jupiter ^judges it to £fi:ulapiu8) ^ havixi^died fixd. Cor^ider--
ed OQ tbts^grQund^ Ireland il^ould hfve the precedence, of every
other taalioa i^ ^mciept Europe : f^rft^^becauic ^ i^be mofl aixcient
kingdom i fccQhdly,. becaufe, it has been goyer^ by a regular
hereditary linp of gri^ces (orie inft^nce only excepted,) for above
44f)0<yeara; tbirdly>.itd iponarch$ m^y tr^ly rankas emperorst
bcang! the ibteriirigfi^ of king? i andi fomrjl^ly^j itvwa.tbia only
kk(g£lom ip SdWpfS vtli\9h ffffiS^^ itf iQdepe^ldculQ^, when ther
tpQ. w0ve mS4\^ by Rpine... .. Add- to t})is» the cxtpaj^vfinek; o£
beft dom.ijaipo JL hfA Brit aim , the, adjacent iJUfy and,. part of the
continent <t for a confideral^e ^t/me confefllng her fway. To this-
l^.iji^ 9A<^x^o^ ^^9IQ9^ qvi4^ce ii) i\xysif)X\ ofr the r^akaad
(Ji^^ty of. ir«lft|t4>; "WBely,, CeJ^ftiaV; creating, her great, apoflle,
%Patxkian.i fpr,4 title it uQ4puht(^jy Mras^ noti a. nami^ ; ;. and a.
tflie vi^htcb pr$€jQ4fd. ^1], o^^era bpt tl^at of emporors and whicht

, :U nikw(JT|)^sj5pnf€fffi4/tk^fv-Mif- Sfldenj in* hi^ H^itlts of Honour^,
ffearq|?, vpucfefeliBa . 4Ry npt^ce; of ■ Ireland,, ejtcqpf when, he' can?
ibfiw.>ilis %xp2f, infcjrio^ity. Not. contjftnt to ni^ke it^ kiijgs. fub-i
f^vi^nt^^thpfe ofc^t^l^nd, h^ even, aiTerta that they paid ho-
iftage to lords of Engliih creation I However, the learned, of
£aj9R^:have |>y np me^ns; confid^re^ this, kingdom in fo h^i-
li^Wfr^c ^ligHF/i; ^f nflar. 200 yeafs4a^er than tbc-^period he points
out fpr ttys eppch^^. t^ie an^ba|fado|rs of E^ngland owed their rank ;
and precedency in the Council of Conftance to the title. which,
the popfiS: coqf ej;red on, their fpyereigns as lord^s of Ireland. As
reprefeQta^iyeg of the kic^g of E^gla^d,. tbeyr would not be al- .
lowed to tal^e place or. ran^as^ tbeambailadQrs of a.NAxioN; .
the advocates of France infifting, that, as being conquered by the
Romans* again fubdued by tl^jSi^ions, whQ.,were tributaries to
the German empire, and never goyerijied by native fovcreigne,

they

mSTORY OF IRELANJCX ^7

they ibould take gUce as a^ brdodi of tlie empire o&ljr» ikA as n^ ^^

^^^ nation I. *• J^or, (added they) it is evide|»t from Albert iw
*^ jMagnus and Barth.. GlaiwiUe» that the world is divided into'
^^ three part^t Europe, Afiai and Africa, (fof AiAerica was not
^* then dlicoveredj y Europe w^^s divided into four empires^ the
** Roman>. the Conil^ntinopolican, the Irifliy and the Spaniih.^
But the EngUfli advocates^ admitting the force of thefe atlegai**
tions, claimed their precedency from Henry's betng^inoonck of
Ireland only ^ and. it was. accordingly granted^ *.

CHAR IV.

J^af^ai corivaus the eftatei M Tora^^^if^n cp dmaugh^ Byr'
tiie Jom-if Mortough'^B'atik heimeen the Eugenians and Clan
BfeogaH'^'-another meeting of the ejlatei at Tar a ; fatal effeSls
ijfa private quarrel there^^Dearmd makes nvdr upon the king
of Conaught ; defeats him^ and impofes a humiliating ceremony ^
0n/ mkkiAg ptaee-'^haraSler of Dear mod — deatfi of hit fon-^
great peftilence in his reign-^Dearmodisflain by the king ofUlJier.

TH£ firft ad of Dearmod's adminiftration, was the conven* $yf
angi the eftatfes at Tara^ where the laws were revifed ;
fome reje^d, dl^era amended, and new ones added : the na-
tional 'hiftor2:^as alfadofely infpe£ted into. Soon after Fergus
and Daniel^ the fons of the deceafed monarch Mortough, again
invaded Conaught ;. engaged in battle with OiliolU a prince of 540
that icountry, in ^hich a&ion that 'prince and his brother felU
and their army fuffered a complete defeat. From this» and
mimbef kfs ^ other inftances in this biftory^ it appears evident

^ Ada Qmt Conft. See alfo an EnglMh tranllailoiii toL II. page 4a> &c.

I that

^ irrS TORY OF IRELAND.

AX!, ithat the fiibordinate princes of Ireland made war upon leach otHcr
^thoiit confultiog the monarch; that his pow^r'was great!/
Umited ; and that he took not a general active part, but when
applied to by the national voice ; or that ah aggrieved ptiiitc,
pFeferriajg the way of negociation to that of arms, applied to'
Htm for his interpofition. In this cafe he fummoned the flates ;
the affair was laid before them, and which ever party proved re-
ftaSory, was compelled by force of arms to fubmit ; each prince
being then obliged to furaifli a ^certain number of troops to the*
54« monarch* to enforce the national decree. The next year a bloody
battle was fought in the county of Cork, between the Euge-
mans and Clana Breegan, with/great flaoghter on both fides ;
for it was but too common for different petty ftates to determine
by a general engagement, difputes^ often in themfelv^ triflingr
The day of battle was appointed, perhaps at the diftante of fix,
nine, or twelve months; in the mean time the parties on both
fides met, and tranfaded bufinefs in the mofl amicable manner;
and the honour of the day was all the vi<flor required,
549 In the year ^49 Dearmod fummonfes the national eilates to
meet him at Tara. What the particular object gf this congrefs
was, we are not told, but the fatal effeds of a private quarrt 1
there, is handed down to us, Cuornane Mac Aodh had in fome
private difpute killed another gentleman, who like him was a
Brughadh, or rcprefentative for a borough. To raife up the hand
to ftrike, muchlefe to kill any perfon at Tara, duiijig the fef-
fions, was from the car lie :^ period decreed to be puniihed bV
death, even out of the power of the monarch to pardon; nor •
was there to this time a fingle inftanceof the infra(3ion of this
law. A moft ufcful law it furcly was, efpecially aniotig^ft a*
proud, warlike, and independent people, Cuornane, fenfible of
his crime, and his danger, immediately flies to Feargus and. Da-
niel, princes of great power, the fons of Mortough. But thefe

princes.

HISTORY. OF IRELAND. 71

princes^ however well inclined, faw it vain to attempt to ihcU A.C*
ter him ; and therefore difpatched him to their coufin» the great
Columba, imploring his protedion> and that he might afford
him an afylum in his monaftery But a natiqnaL outrage o£ this
kind was not to go unpuni(hed> and Dearmod had the murderer
feized and put to deaths notwithftanding the entreaties of the bro-
thers, and the eccIeQaftical privileges claimed by the faints

No people are 6> dangerous, to offend as^ churchmen* Se* S43
queftered fpointhe world, having- no. other employments but
their breviaries and conventual duties, they ha've greater
time for recoUedionj and brood over injuries^ if not endued
with uncommon grace» Columba deemed the violating hia afy*
lum the caufe of God*. High in bloody and greatly r^verenced^
he could not brook thi&.infult«. He thereforeapplies to his re-
lations, the northern Clana NeilU and Fergus and Domhnal, at
the head of a. mighty army, bid defiance ta the monarch. A*
mod bloody battle is fought at Cuildreimhne ; the imperiat
army, is defeated with great daughter ; with difficulty the mo«
ctarch himfelf efcapes with life ; and more of the credit of thia^
vi^ory is. attributed to the prayers of the faint, than the courage*
of the foldiery I

* •

Scarce had > the monarch recruited the lofs of this battlei when*
we. find himjavolved with Guare, king of Conaught, a prince*
whofe uncommon liberality, munificence, and courage, arehigh<->
ly celebrated in, our annals. The caufe of this- war isfaid, in*
ipme chronicles^ to proceed. £irom GuarC/S taking fiom a fequef*.
tcred religious a.,cpw, which was her only-fupport. She prefers
her, petition to the monarch, who immediately takes fire at the«
Qutr^ge. An a^rtion fo. ridiculous, carries with ir its own re--
fixtation. The. event of this waj proves fufficiently that its?
caufe was. an objedl of much greater confequence — the not* pay--
ipgjthe prpvincial tribute, or. acknowledging. Dcacmod as mo..

7^ HISTORY aF IRELAND.

A.G. narch. To enforce both he raifes a fKKent army, and nfardiet
along the (ide of the Shannon, we (houM fuppofe to a little above
Killaloe^ ^aufe the hoiy Comin, who about this time founded
the churches and tower at Inis-Ccaltfa^ on the Shannon, la*
boured as mediator between thefe princes. The endeavours
of Comin to prevent this war were friiitlefs ; and^s Guare re-
jcded all his remonftrances, he predided to him that his army-
would be defeated. The imperialifts plunge mto the Shannon,
horfe and foot^ and gain the oppofitc Ihore in fpite of all the
efforts of the Conacians ; and now engaging them on a greater
equality, they were foon compelled to give way on every fide^
Though their retreat was precipitate, yet -they formed again the
following day; but, confidering the inequality of the conteft,-
and dreading to make his country the fcene of war, Guare, by
advice of his council, furrenders himfelf to the mercy of the
monarch. The ceremony on this occaQon is fingular, and de-^
feryes to be tranfmitted to pofterity, as I take it for granted to
be what was ufually pradifed on rebellious chiefs ; becaufe the
intrepidity of; Guare, and the acknowleged bravery and hmna^
Qity of the monarch, leaves us no room to think that the laflT
would commit, or his antagonifl: fubmit to, too degrading a fub-
miflion. But be this as it may, Guare approaches the monarch's
tent, and falling on his knees, prefent-s to him his fword, ac-
knowleging his fcrimes, and begging forgivenefs. The mo-'
narch rifes, draws it, and comiAands him to lie on his back ; lie
then places one foot on his breaft, and the point of his fword
between his teeth ; on which the other in this pofture acknow-
leges his difloyalty, and fwears fidelity and obedience during the
refidutf of his life. This ceremony performed, he was elegantly
entertained j and the clofeft amity fubfifted between thefe princes
ever after. Far from injuring a poor helplefs woman, the hofpi-
tality, humanity, and charity of Guare are proclaimed, and the

fafts

HISTORY OF IRELAND^ ^z

fads attefted in the fulleft manner ; as well as the great encou- ^-C-
ragement he vouchfafed to men of letters. Like a fecond Titu8>
he thought thi^ Any laji^ which did not aflFord him an opportunity
of difplaying fome of thofe virtues ; and as the fulled proof of
his munificence and liberality, to be more generous fhan Guare^
became a common proverb in Irilh to exprefs a prodigy !

Guare, now reconciled to the monarch, thought the opportu-
nity favourable to recover from North Munfter a confiderable
trad of territory, fevered from the province of Conaught by the
brave Luigh Laimh-Dearg,^ in the fourth century., Finghin, of
the Eugenian line, did not long enjoy the throne of Munfter.
On his deceafe, Dioma, great- grandfon toCarthan, a Dal-Gaiss 54^
fhould have fucceeded to that crown ; but it feems he had not
arrived at the age required by the laws to govern, and was there-
fore laid afide for the prefent, and Failbhe-Flan, brother to the
deceafed, was declared his fuccefTor. This was certainly contrary
to the will of their common anceftor Oilliol ; however the nor-
thern line gained confiderable advantages by this conceffion ; for
the archbifhop and clergy of Munfter feafonably interpofing their
good offices, it was agreed, that as foon as Dioma was of the age
of twenty-five, he fhould be aflbciated with Failbhe in the com-
mand of the whole province. But the territories of North Mun-
fter, from Sliabh-Dala, in Oflbry, to the weft of Ireland, on both
fides the Shannon; and from Sliabh-Eibhline, Cafliil, Cnoc-
Aine, and the river Feil, its fouthern limits, to Galway, and the
ifles of Arran, were to acknowledge no fuperior, or pay chief
rents to any other but their native princes. Befides this exemp-
tion, the Eugenians were for ever to renounce any pretences to
tribute, or fword-land, over thefe fepts of the race of Ith ; and
even of the Eugenian line, which the anceftbrs of Dioma had
formerly beftowed lands on, in Defraond, or South Munfter.
Thefe were to be paid in to the kings of Thomond i and as an

Vol. II • L invafioa

74 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. invafion was expeded from Conaught, Failbhe alfo engaged to
^^^ aflift the Thomoni^^ns with all his power. I know that it is af-
ferted hy Keating, and ev^n In. the Imc tranflation of the Booi of
Munjler, tliat Dioma wa» abfolute king of Munfter when Guare
invaded Thomond ; and of courfe that Failbhe muft have died :
yet in my copy of this work it is positively ajferted that Failbhe,
in conjundion with Dioma, fuccefsfully attacked the Conaciaos .
at Carn-Fearadhe, or Cnoc-Aine, in the county of Limerick,
That the army of Guare confifted of three very large and power^
Jul legions ; (by thefe expreffions we fhould infer that each Cath,
or legion, exceeded the ufual number of 3000 ;) that very few
efcaped the battle ; and that amongft the flain were fix princes of
Conaught. It is probable that foon after this battle Failbhe might
have died, and Dioma continue king of Munfter.

This monarch is highly praifed for his great attention to ftridx
juftice, and for fupporting the laws of his country. His piety
and munificence are not lefs celebrated ; nor would he fuffer the ^
fmalleft a£t of oppreffion to go unpunifhed i of this we are fur-
nifhed with a melancholy inftance in the death of his own fon.
BreafaU his eldeft fon, had prepared a moft magnificent enter-
tainment at his palace at Kells, to which the monarch and the
principal chiefs of his court were invited. No expence was
fpared on this occafion ; a beef of uncommon fatnefs, amongft
other things, was wanting ; amongft bis numerous herds none
was found in the order his purveyors could wiih : a reclufe in
the neighbourhood had one exceedingly large and fat ; fhe was
applied to on this occafion, but fhe could not be prevailed ypoa
to fell it ; fhe even refufed in exchange feven cows and a bulU
expeding no doubt ftill greater offers* Finding her fo very un-
reafonable, BreafaPs people drove the beaft oflF the land without
any ceremony, and dreflfed it for the entertainment. In the
height of their mirth, when their retinue had withdrawn, this

wretched

I
k.

HISTORY OF. IRELAND- ys

wretched woman forced herfelf into the royal prefence ; exclaim- A.C.
ed againft the young prince's injuftice, and deplored her own
defencelefs fituation in the moft pathetic terms. The monarch,
flxocked at the recital, without vouchfafhig to hear the defence
of his fon> ordered him to be inilantly put to death. But in his
cooler moments, and better informed, refleding on what he had
done, he grew melancholy, and had recourfe to St. Columba for
advice: the faint recommended him to confefs himfelf to St.
Beacon, a celebrated penitentiary of Mufkery, in Munfter, and
to fubmit to whatever penance he would impofe.

The reign of this prince wa^ marked by a moft dreadful
peftilence, which overfpread the kingdom ; and from which the
religious^ fequeftered ia thdr cloifiers^ trere &ot exempt It is re-
markable: that the plague prevailbd) much ^but the fame time in
Gaul and Italy; and it is. from a remarkable expreffion of this
plague in Jornandes^ that VoiGas has fixed the time of his pub«
liihirig his works to 552.. He at length ftU by the fword^of
Aodhr^Dubh Mac Suine^ king'of Ulfter, and Was interred inrthe
church ofi Cluan Mac Noife^ which he himfblf ha<l founded^ after
a reign of twenty years.

Contemporaries. with this prince, in Miinfter, were Fxnghin*
and-Failbhe, of the Eugenian line ; and Forhanan and Dioma, of '
the Dai-Gas race; Guare a(nd Feargus MacRoffa, in ConaugHt;
Carbre, fon to Cormac, in Leinfter ; and Betan, and after him
Dimhan, kings of Ulfter. Comhghall continued king^ of the
Albanian Scots, or Iriih> and was fucceeded by his brothef
Gabhran.

L 2 CHAP.

76 H I S T O R Y O F I R E L A N D.

A.C.

CHAP. V.

Fergus: and Daniel monarc^S""-^ Eochaidh and Ba(kdarh^oJ

Ainmheric^^of Baodan—^is defeated in battle ^ and JHes for «*

fuge to St. CoJumba — an account of this^ famous a^ofik of the*

PiSis — of the monarch Aodh^^the ^arliammt ofDrom^hette"'^
the objeSls of its deliberations^

559 T? E R G U S and Daniel, tKe gallant fons of the monarcfe
X^ Mor tough) were next called to the throne^ Enterprifingi;^
and warlike, they commenced, their reign with, the invafion ofi
Leinfter, to enforce the payment of their famous tribute. The:
Lagenians and they engaged, in battle on^. the borders of the.
Liffey^ in which the provincials were defeated with great ilaugh^
ter.. Some, time after thefe princea departed this, life, but: whe-
ther by the fword or not is uncertain. They were peaceably.;

560 fueceeded by Eochaidh, the fon of the above Daniel, who ajQTo-*-
ciated his uncle Baodan with him in the command. of the em^*
pire. In this reign CairbrerCrom, the fon of Criomthan, of the?
Eugenian line, was a prince of great power in Munften He.en-^
gaged in the battle of Fdmhin. with Cblman, the fon of Dear •r^
mod, and g?ive him a complete overthrow* He it was, fays thev
Pfalter of Cafliill, who founded the bifhoprick of Cloynefor St^
0)lman. Cronan, prince of Kienachta, on fome private quarreU
attacked the troops of the aflociated monarchs, and gained a (ig* -
nal vidory, thefe princes themfelves being amongft the flain.

5^2 Ainmheric, fon to Seadhna, the fon of Feargus, the fon of
Conall-Gulban, fon to the hero Niall, was the next monarch.
He is celebrated as a prince of great learning ; but neverthelefs

fell

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 77

fell in battle by the fword of Fergus Mac Neill, who joined his A.c.
competitor and fucceflbr.

Baodan, the fon of Nineadhadh> fon of Feargns, and coufin**
germafi to the deceafed; was alfo his fucceflbr. Being defeated
in battle in the firft year of his reign, and clofely purfued, he 566
applied to St. Coliimba, who was his relation, rcquefting an afy-
liim in his monaftery, which he granted ; but his eneniies> re«
gardlefs of this facred retreat, had him dragged out and murder-
ed. . Columba, enraged at this profanation, incited his relations
and, the whole northern Hi-Neill race to revenge this outrage.
A bloody battle was fought againft Colman, the fon of Dear-
mod ;, with what fuccefs we a!re not told, but we muft fUppofe
to the difadvantage ^f the latter, fihce he did not gain the mo*
narchy, , which was the great objeft of his purfuits. The vio-
tence of :Columba's temper involved his country in great diftrefs,
about three years before the prefcnt period. Cornhghall, the re-
nowncd'abb'ot of Benchoir, of the royal line of Ir, had fome
difpute with Coltimba> of what nature we are not told j but hif-*
tory.ftems to point out this lift thie aggreflbr 2 he calls his bre*
thren and kindred: to hid afliftance ; the Dal-Araidhe rife in de-
fence of Cornhghallj a bloody battle is fought, hauch blood fpilt,
but which fide prevailed we are not lold.: As this Columba cuts
a confpicuous figure in our hiftory, and that, next to St. Patrick,-
he was the greateft apoftle on this fide of the Alps, we judge a
more particular account of him neceflary; .

He was the fon of Feidhlim, the fon of Feargus, the fon of
Conall-Gulban (from whom to this day the country is called
Tir-Conall), fon to the hero NialU Great cbntroverfies have
arifen as to the time of his birth, and when he firft landed in
Britain. Without entering deep into them, both J think can be
eafily cleared by [attending to acknowleged fads. . He died at
ttie age. of. feventy-fcven, and remained . thirty- three years in

Britain,}

73 HISTORY OF IRELAND,

A.C. Britain. It was not in the reign, of D^armocJ he went there, aa
mod of our annalifts aflert, but in the third yoar of the reign of
Aodh, i. e. A. C. 569* For the caufc of it is agreed upon on
alj hands to be this : — the quantity of innocent blood he caufed
to be Ihed in the above battles, gave great fcandal to the chijrch
and kingdom, A fynod of the clergy met to excommunicate
him ; and St. Molaife particularly exclaimed againil him. Co^
lumba became convinced ; and whatever other penance was en-
joyed w,e are not told, but one article was, that he was to quit
Ireland, never to fee it^ more : froRX this it is evident his banifhment
muft have happened after . the murder of Baodan, not before ;
and as Colgan's calculations {hew *, it muft have beeq in the
year 5-69, to correfpond with 602, and of courfe that he was
born A. C. 525*

His firft education was in the North, under St. Fridian, of the
Dal-Fiatach race, afterwards bifhop of Lucca in Italy. From
this he was removed to the fchool of St. Finutn, at Clonard, near
the Boyne, fo renowned for its erudition, that no lefs than 3000
fcholars have been reckoned in it at one time, as Colgan and
Ulher, &c. atteft. Here he acquired a complete knowledge of the
learned languages, and ftudied divinity and the fcriptures with
great devotion ; foon after which he embraced the monaftic order»
and was held in great reverence. It is probable, that his zeal
for the honour and ictimunities of the church was what hurried
him into thofe extravagancies, fo fatal to his country; but his
public reprehenfioQ, and his penitentiary exile, do great honour

;to the clerical order of thofe days. On his arrival in Albany,
Conall, king of the Dal-Riada (not Brudeus, the Pi(ft, withBede)
beftowcd on him the ifle of Huy. Here he eftabli(hcd his chief
monaftery ; and from thcace, with his followers he entered the

.country of the Pidits, ind by. his preaching, his precepts, and ex«

• Triat Thaumat. f. 485.

4 ample.

HISTORY O F I R E L A N D. 79

ample, converted the whole country, fo as to die with the glorious A.C.
title of Apojlle of the PiSts.

Aodh, or Hugh, the fon of Ainmher, was called fo the throne. 567
His reign is celebrated for a grand national aflembly, fummoned
to meet not at Tara the ufual place, but at Drom-Chette, in Ulfter.
As foon as St. Columba was ordained, he applied to theprefent :
monarch, who was of his own blood, and then a prince in Ulfter,
who beftowed on him lands, on which he built a monaftery, fa*
mous in his own days, and for centuries after, for the number
and learning of its monks., Harris *, I know not why, from its ,
Iriffi name of Djaire CoUum Chille, or Columba's grove, will :
have it be Durrogh, in the King's county'; contrary to the decla-
ration of Adamnanus, and other early writers ; for it was at a
later period that he founded the monaftery of Durrogh.. Add .
to this, that the pofleffions of this Aodh were centered in Ulfter,
not in Leinfter* This prince was a zealous partizan of Columba, .
and fupported. him on all occafions. However,, his repeated
violences (for the two firft of which, I fuppofe he made fome
public penance) could not proted him from the cenfures of the
clergy; who, on the laft occafion, and even in the prcfent mo* ^
narchy, denounced excommunication on him, if he did not quit
the kingdom. His fubmiffion, his refignation, and making atone-
ment by the moft exemplary life, for his former offences, prov-
ed the fmcerity of his repentance, and extorted from his preceptor
St. Finian, the following faying — ** that his example ought to ,
** carry as many fouls to heaven, as his wars had plunged into -
•^hell t."

In the beginning of this reign, Colman-Beg, the fon of Dear-
mod, raifed a fecond army, determined to difpute the monarchy .

• Writers of Ireland, p. 17.

t Vita St. Fijiiani,. U(her, Primocd, Ecclcf, Brit. &c. .

with -.

8o HISTORY OF IRELAND,

AC; with Aodh. The two armies met at Ballach-DathI ; the day w»
difputed with great obftinacjr. At length Aodh and Colman met,
and fought hand to hand j but the death of the latter foon decided
the conteft, and with him fell 5000 of his be ft troops.

In 574, according to the Ulfter Annals, Aidanus, the fon of
Gabhran, was confecrated king of the Albanian Scots, in the
ifle of Huy, by St. Columba. Though the reign of the prince
Aodh was long, yet we are furniflied with no material political
events, till his aflembling the national eftates at Drom-Chette ;
and even then, though this parliament continued its fe£Gon for
fourteen months^ yet the objects of its deliberations, as' handed
down to us, feem tooTmall for iiich a period. We will then
fuppofe that a. revifion of the national hifiory and laws, and a
retrofpeftion into the ftate of arts, manufactures, and commerce,
as ufual, employed the greateft attention of ihe menibers, Thefe
being the great and known bufinefs of our parliamentSi it was
fiippofed -unneceflary to mention them — but befides thefe, Aodh
had two other obje^s of great confequence in view : the reform-
ing the abufes in the fchools, and the compelling the tributary
princes of Albany to pay their accuftomed ftipends, which had
been for fome time neglefted. Notices were fent to the differ-
ent princes of Ireland,. to Albany, .to the Hebrides, and to the
588 Ifle of Man. The affembly was very numerous and brilliant.
The names of the chiefs who attended it are yet on record;;
amongft others was king Aidan, in behalf of the Albanian Scots .;
and Columba, as reprefentative of their clergy.

Columba was attended by twenty bifliops, forty priefts, and
fifty. deacons. As it may feem ftrange to fee an abbot orily^
waited upon by fuch a nuniber t)f dignitaries, the Venerahlc
:Bede vvill explain it, by informing us, that Cdlumba and his fuc-
xelTors to his own days, though but priefts, ftUl governed the

hier-

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

hierarchy of North Britain *. But as part of the penance im- ^•^*
pofed on Columba on quitting Ireland^ was never more to fee the
country, he evaded this by having his eyes bound up from the
time he left Scotland till he returned. The nature of the firft
queftion propounded by the monarch to the parliament, has been
by no means rightly explained by modern writers — fome remains
of thefe fchools have fubfifted even to the days of our fathers ;
and it was not the uTe, but the abufe of them} that was com-
plained of.

C H A P. VI.

Prhileges of 'the Irljh literati^ and their abufe in fome injiances-^
the Albanian Scots declared an independent people — the death
of the monarch Aodh^ and the archiepifcopal fee of Lein^
fter transferred from Kildare to Ferns— flourijhing Jlate of
letters — of St. Bridget^ patronefs of Leinjier — the number of
academies^ holy men, and pious foundations.

FROM the ^arlieft periods, the literati in Ireland, as in
Gaul t» enjoyed uncommon privileges ; their perfons being
facred) their poffeflions in all revolutions undifturbed, and their
ftudents and followers exempt from all taxations and military
laws. We fee, in Cacfar's time, the GauIs complain of the abufes
of this privilege j and it has been the cafe in Ireland, in many
inflances belide the prefent. The Irifh colleges, which were in-
ilitutcd for the inftrufting in the fine arts the princes, the nobles,
and the gentry, received alfo a certain number of Undents, who

• Hift. EcclcC Brit; Ub. iii. cap, 4.

Vol. IL M

t Comment. Csef. lib. vi.

were

82 H I S T O R Y O F T R E L A N D-

A.C. were devoted to the ftudies of divinity, hiftory, genealogy, andi
poetry (for this laft was a particular and a laborious ftudy, on
account of the various kinds of metre, and the rules to be follow-
ed in each fpecies, examples of which may be feen in 0*Molloy's
Irifh Grammar, in Llhuid, but efpecially in colonel Vallancey's.)
The immunities enjoyed by thefe ftudents, made numbers of
idlers refort to thefe colleges; too lazy to work, and too proud .
to beg, they found this medium to gratify both. Thefe fchools.
were open from Michaelmas to March. In thefe days of fplen*
dour they were always founded in fequeftered places, furrounded-
by woods of oak ; and this explains what Lucan fays f :

• ** — — Nemora alta, rcmotis
*' Incolitis lucis/*

. Even in ancient Athens the fame cuftom was phferved ; hence the:
faying.

** —Inter filvas academi, quaerere verum.

>»

The light of the day was fhut out of thefe fchools, and ' they,
always (ludied by candle«^light. From May to Michaelmas> they^
abfented themfelves from college; the young nobility and gentry
retiring to their friends, and the regiftered ftudents, like the mi*
litary, being quartered on the country. The number of idlers^ .
who claimed the protedion of thefe colleges^ became a real
burthen to the nation. For want of hands, manufadures were
crampt, and agriculture injured. Thefe poor indigent wretches,
not content to lead a life of contemptible ofcitancy, but having
a knack at rhiming, they frequently perverted it to fatire ; ab-
ufing whoever did not {hew them refped enough, or refufed

grati-'

W^m^mmmm^^m

H I S t O R t O F I R E L A N to. 83

gratifying their demands : for no nation of the world were fonder A,G,
of praife, or dreaded fatire naore than the Iriih. To contine (h$
ftudents in each college to a certain number, and to reflrain the
infolence of thefe hangers-on, not to fupprefs the colleges of th*
bards, much lefs bani(h them the kingdom, were what the mo***
narch recommended to his parliament. For the regiftered bards
were fworn to employ their mufes to no other purpofes, but the
glory of God, the honour of their country, of its heroes, of its
females, and of their own chiefs. For the time to come, the mo^
narch^s chief bard was to be Prejident of all the poQtic colleges in
the kingdom ; had power to appoint infpedors to examine the
ftate of the different fchools, and make what reforms he judged
neceffary, to enforce this reftraining aft. But his fecond pro-
pofal, namely, the paying of tribute, was ftiffly oppofed by Col-
lumba, and king Aldan.

Befides a certain yearly tribute in money (but how much we
are not told), Albany, the Hebrides, and Man, were obliged, in all
foreign invafions, to fend to the monarch ihips and troops ; fo that
.it is more than probable, that if Aodh had met with the fame fuc*
cefs in his fecond demand that he did in the firft, the confequence
would be an invafion of the coafts of Britain or Gaul. The
great power of the Dal-Riada, as well in Ireland as in Albany^
and the influence of Columba, had greater weight with this aflemb-
ly, in this inftance, than the remonftrances of the monarch, or the
dictates of found policy. The Albanian Septs were declared,
tnftead ef fubjeds and tributaries, the aiTociates and friends of
Ireland, and were exempt from all taxation whatever, excepting
only in cafes of murder, and devaftations committed by the Irifh
Dal-Riada, when they agreed to pay their proportion of the Eric,
or retribution, to be raifed on thefe occafions — but thefe Irifli
Dal-Riada were not to be charged with any Eric, to be paid by
their Albanian brethren.— Thus ended this famous affembiy of

M 2 Drom*

«4 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

AC.

Drom-Chette, and by their decifion was the Irifli monarchy
ever after confined to the prccinQs of its own ifland.

59<^ Soon after the diflblution of this parliament, whofe refolves
were fo pernicious to the kingdom, (and which proved the free-
nefs of their debates, and how circumfcribed the power of the
monarchs were), we read that Conall, eldeft fon to Aodh, in-
vaded the territories of Colman-Rimhidh ; but . in the end his
army was defeated, and himfelf was numbered amongft the flain".
In the year 594, Aodh raifed a great army, which he commanded
in perfon, and with which he invaded Lcinfter, in order to com-
pel the Lagenians to pay their tribute, the fatal caufe of fuch tor-
rents of blood. In the battle, however, that enfued at Dunbolg,
his troops were cut to pieces, he himfelf falling in fingle combat,
by the hands of Brand ubh, king of that province. Soon after
this, at a fynod of the clergy of Leinfter, in which Brandubh
prefided, it was agreed to transfer the archbiftioprick of that pro-
vince from Kildare to Ferns, in reverence to St. Maidog ♦.
^ In Munfter, Dioma reigned long, and was fucceeded by Col-
gain, the fon of Failbhe, an Eugenian. In Ulfter, Daigha,
the fon of Carril, and Aodh-Dubh, the fon of Suine, governed :
Cblman-More, fon to Carbre; and Aodh, fon to Colman, ruled
Leinfter : and Maolchothach, and Aodh-Abhrath, were kings
of Conaught, In Albany, Conall, the fon ofComhghalj and
Aidan, fon to Gabhran, fucceeded each other.

595 Aodh, called Slaine, as it was crofling the river of that name
that his mother took her labour, fucceeded to the throne. He
was the fon of the monarch Dearmod, the foa of Feargus, the for>
of Conall J and he affociated with him in the empire Colman-
Rimhidh, grandfon to the monarch Murtough, who defeated the
imperial troops in the bloody battle of Sleamhna, and with his

• Primord. Ecclcf. Brit. p. 864, 965.

I owa

HISTORYOF IRELAND. 85

own hand flew Conall, fon to the laft monarch. In this reign St. A.C.
Auguftin landed in Kent, in order to the converfion of the Sax-
on race, being fent by pope Gregory f. In the year 596. Suine, *
the fon of Colman, fell by the fword of this Aodh, according to
the Four Matters ; and in 600, he himfelf met the fame fate, by
the hand of Conall, fon to Colman, as did his affociate by that

of Lochan.

As to the ftate of religion and letters in this century in Ireland,

hear the teftimony of Camden, an author who cannot be fufpedk-
ed of partiality to us — ** The Iriffi fcholars of St. Patrick profited
** fo notably in Chriftianity, that, in the fucceeding age, Ireland
" was termed SanSlorum Patria. Their monks fo greatly ex-
•* celled in learning and piety, that they fent whole flocks ofmoft
'* holy men into all parts of Europe, who were the firft founders
** of Lietixeu abbey, inBurgundyj of the abbey Bobie, inltaly;
*' of Wirtzburgh, in Franconia; St. Gall, in Switzerland; and of
" Malmfbury^ Lindisfarran, and many other monafteries in Bri-
" tain. For from thence came Caslius Sedulius, a prieft,.
** Columba, Columbanus, Colman, Aidan, Gallus, &c. J'*

Amongftthe eminent perfons of this age, St. Brigdet, of Kil-
dare, merits the firft place, for her high reputation, exemplary
life, and numerous pious foundations. She was the daughter of
Dubhtach, a Leinfter captain, and early devoted herfelf to a mo->
nattic life. Her charities were diffufive and boundlefs, and could
only be equalled by her piety and aufterity. She was born A. C
453 ; and in 4^7^ received the veil from thcrhanda of St. Mac
Calle. From this time to her death, which happened in 523, ihe
daily made new advances in every kind of fpiiitual exercife, and
died in the higheft reputation for fandity. She was not only
canonized afcer her deaths but declared the perpetual Patranefs

t Hift. EcUcf. Brit. 1ft. 1. cap. 23, &c. X Hibcni.

86 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. of Leinjiery even in her life-time ; for we read in her life, that
Oilioll the fon of Dunluing, then king of Leinfteri being at-
tacked by a very large body of the imperialifts, called upon St^
Bridget, which fo animated his troops^ that he gained a ^complete
vidlory over his antagonift. Her feftival-is celebrated with great
devotion on the firft of.February. How much more fo in former
times, may becollecfled from the following ancient diftich^

** Brigida virgo potens^ Februi,fibi, prima calendas
" Scotorum miro pofcit,celebratafervore."

The fame of her fandity foon fpread over Europe, and at
Seville in Spain, at Lifbon, Placentia in Italy, at Tours, Befan-
fon, Namur, Cologn, and even in London, churches were dedi-
cated to her : in fome of thefe places, her reliques have been pre-
ferved J and in all, her feftival celebrated on the firft of February *•
In the diocefes of Tuam, Alfin, Kildare, Dublin, and Lifmore
, only, Colgan reckons about fixty churches and monafteries de-
dicated to her name.

Many works are attributed to St. Bridget by foreign writers ;
but the following flie certainly wrote— ift. Rules for the Nuns
of her own Foundation ; 2d. an Epiftle to St. Aid, the fon of
Delghil J 3d. a Poem to St. Patrick; and 4th the Quiver of Divine
Love; or, of Pious Defi res. Thefe three laft works, in the Irifh
language, were in the pofleffion of the learned Colgan, as he

affirms f.

Every religious foundation in Ireland, in thefe days, included

a fchooU or indeed rather academy. Such was the fchool of

St. Fridian, in which Columba received his firft education ; of

iCluan-Fois, founded by St. Jarlath, where St.Brenden, of Cluan-

* Trias Thaum. p. 624. t Ibid. f. 6io.

Feart,

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

Feart, was educated, &c. St. Fachanus, founded an academy at
Rofs, in the county of Cork, in this century, which foon grew
to be a large city; and which is ranked by Ware as one of the
principal academies of this age. He was a titular faint to the
G*'Drifcols, O'Learies, &c. But the univerfity of Clonard, next
to that of Benchor,.wa8 the moft celebrated : in it, under St. Fi^
nian, were no lefs a number than 3*000 fcholars at one time.
Among ft the multitudes of Finian*s fcholars, are reckoned the
twelve apoftles of Ireland, fo called for their piety and learning;,
to wit, the two Columbas, the two Keirans, two Brendens, Comh-
gil,. Cannechus, Ruadanus, Nennidh> Mobhas, and Molaife.
The number of religious only, in the monaftery of Benchor^
founded by Sl ComhgiU, in . this century is aftonifhing. The .
great St. Bernard, a writer of the twelfth century, and too warm ^
an advocate for papal authority to be an admSf cr of the Irifti of
thefe days, iKall be my authority on this occafion *. He affirms, .
' that in the fixth century,' under Su Comhgill, 6r Congell, as he-
cklls him, the monajiery of Benchore was a moji. noble one 9 contain^
ing many^ thou/and monksy and iff elf the chief of many monajieries.
So fruitful (fays he) was it of holy men^ and multiplying fo greatly
to the Lordf that Luanus alone ^ a fubjeEl of this houfe^ founded no ,
lefs than 1 00 monajieries. This I mention f (continues he) that
the reader may form an idea of the number of religious in thefe
days in Ireland. The zeal and piety of thefe holy monks, he
tells us, w^&not confined to Ireland, but, like an inundation, their r
faints fpread piety and virtue over all Europe I

St. Brogan, wrote the life of St. Bridget, in Iriih verfe, about >
three years after her death ; and which life Colgan gives us en-
tire, with a literal Latin tranflation f*

A.C

• Divi Bernardi Opera, p. 1934*

t Tria$.Thaum. Us\S^ &c.

Nennidby^

88 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

^•^' Nennidh, is faid to be a writer of Latin hymns and other works.
He was a difciple of St. Finian ; and afterwards founded himfelf
an academy and monaftery at Loch-Erne.

St. Dermod, wrote a litany in elegant Irifti metre *, in my pof-
feflion, fays Colgan. Geman, a poet, wrote a copy of verfes in
praife of the great Finian.

St. Cogitofus, contemporary with St. Bridget, but who fur-
vived her for many years, wrote her life in Latin, extant in the
Trias Thaumaturga. He was himfelf a monk, (fuppofed of
Kildare), becaufe he defcribes that town and church minutely.
The work he addrefles to the monks his brethren. Amergin, the
fon of Amalgaid, chief poet to the monarch Dearmod, wrote a
book of etymologies, or an explanation of the topographical
names of countries and territories in Ireland. This work the
learned Lynch f quotes as authority againft Cambrenfis, and as
an authority then fubfifting. Probably from it, Mac Eagan
might have enlarged his Labhar-Breac.

That the fcholiaft on St. Fiech's life flourifhed in this century,
cannot be doubted, from his calling Armoric Brittany, by the
names of Letania, and Letavia; names, which in the firft book
of this work, I have Ihe wn it was then known by.

To St. Brenden, of Clonfert, many works are attributed by
Bale I and St. Brenden, of Birr, Berchanus, and Dallanus, wrote
diflPercnt works in praife of St. Columba. This laft wrote alfo
another work yet extant, and in high efteem, called Amhra
CollumChille, or the Vifionof St. Columba.

Ruadan, one of the famous twelve Irifli difciples of this age,
wrote a Latin treatlfe, contra Dearmod regem ; I fuppofe in de-
fence of St. Columba. He alfo wrote De mirabili Fontium in

• Aft. S. Hib. p. 5a. t Grat, Luc. p. 132.

Hiber-

HISTORY OF IRELAND. S9

Tlibernia Natura. The work? wrote by Columba himfelf are A.C.
stoo numerous to be here recited > but they are to be found in the.
Trias Thaumaturg. p. 47 1 • St. Cannic» to whom the cathedral
:^f Kilkenny is dedicated^ wrote the life of Columba.

CHAP. VII.

^he Jidte of arts and fciencesy in thefe ages^ much mon refpeBable
than has been fuppofed—the archbijhopricks of Leinjler and
Conaught founded in this century^^remarkablefynod of the clergy
at Clonard'-^many jiew bijhopricks ereSied — an account offome
abbies^ particularly of Benchoir, &c. and the manner in which
the religious employed their time.

TH E learned Dr. Warner clofes the feventh book of his
Hiftory of Ireland with an account of Irifli writers i^ and
though he advances, that the learning of thefe days was not very
great) yet, fuch as it was, he confefles, that it flourifhed with
greateft fplendor in Ireland, and from thence was communicated
to other countries. But though I am happy in acknowleging
the candour and abilities of this gentlemaut yet I can by no
means agree with him in fentiment on this occafion.

From the lift of Irifli writings of this age, it is but too true,
that moft of their works fe&m eoiifined to' litanies and lives of
faints. Yet one point (hey h^d in view, fthdindeedttbe moft im- )
portant, namely, mending the hean, and calling forth from their r
receftes, philanthropifm, charity, hofpitality, and a thorough con-
tempt of richeiV the 'moment -they became diverted from their
proper channel* But befides this, the learning of theie times was
- VoL.lI. N by

9d HISTORY OF IRELAND.

AC by ho means contemptible. The lri(h profeflbrs were complete

ihaftcrs of what are called the learned languages, i. e. Greek and
Latin, and opened fchdol8> as well in BHtain as in Ireland, fof
thefe ftudies. That they were highly* (killed in illvinity and
church hiftory in this age, I have but to refer to Fleury^s ac-
count of our Columbanus, &c, * That they were alfo eminent
in aftronomy) his defence of the calculations of Anatolius, and of
the Afiatic cuftom of celebrating the ftafts of Eafter, proves. To
this let me add, the arguments after this, offered by Colman, as
recited by Bede t on this fubjed, and a work publiflxed alfo by
him in its fupport. Where but in Ireland, where he was born
and educated, could Virgilius have learned the doctrine of thean-
tipodes, and the fphericity of thf earth ? thefe fure are incon-
teflible proofs, that to a knowlege of the Greek and Latin, of
divinity and church hiftory, the Irifli profeflfors of thofe days
added mathematics, aftronomy, and philofophy • That poetry was
particularly cultivated in our fchools, and claffical poetry too, I
have but to refer to the writings of the famous Sedulius ; and to
the confeffion of AHelm, a writer of the feventh century, who
was a pupil of our famous Maildulph, and the fir ft Saxon who
attempted to write Latin vcrfe. Where he acquired this know-
lege, the following lines of his, quoted by Camden, will tell :(:. .

'* Pt'imus ego in patriam mecum, modo vita fuperfit,
•* ^onij rediens^ deducam verticf mufam/'

In no country of the world, was hiftory, both natural § and
ctviU better cultivated than in Ireland; and their chronology is
more exad than that of any other nation.

• Ecdefiaftical Hiftory, toI. viii. f Hift. ficdef. Brit lib. xiiii. cHf. if.
% Brittimtt. wider Wtttihirc. § laooilvCUofi to hUk Hifiory, p. H. c. is.

That

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 91

Tl)at not only the fciences, but even the ^ne arts^ fiouri(hed A.C,
amongft us, in an eminent degree, in thefe early days, when the
reft of Europe was involved in ignorance and barbarity, we have
yet fome proofs. As to fculpture, witnefs the poem of Torna
Eigis, preOdent of the Irilh poets in the fourth century, in which
he enumerates the names of the different Iri(h monarchs, interred
at Cruachan, and defcribes the marble bufts of fbme of them *•
In the life of St. Bridget, %rote by her contemporary Cogitolus,
he informs us from hi^ own knowledge, that in the cathedral of
Kildare, on the right and left (ides of the great altar, were placed
the bodies of Bridget and Conlaith in monuments highly finifhed,
and ornamented with gold, filver, and precious ftones ; and over
which crowns of gold and fiiver were fufpended f . From his
defcription of this church we plainly fee a tafte for architecture ;
and he particularly mentions many pieces of painting in it. To
this let me add, what Cambrenfis himfelf confeffes to have ex-
amined with a(lotiifliment — nanielyv that amongft other reliques
and curiofities of the church of Kildare, he was fhewn ** a Con^
** cor dance of the Four Gojpelsy 6y St. Hieronimus^ wfoteby,or for
** the ufe of St. Brigdet* The margin was ornamented with
** myftic pidures^ moft' wonderfully and aniittitingly finifhed.
<« The writing, but particularly the capital letters^, fo highly or*
" namented) that (fays he) neither the pencil of art Apelles^ nor the
** chifelofa hyfiffm^ exr^r formed the like^ In a word^ theyfeetn
*' toha^e been executed bjfjbmething more thahn mortal hand V* You
find in ipany difmantled 'Churehes; even at this day; wheti* care-
fully examined, remains of andent frrfto- paintings ; and to go
no farther than Ad&re, in this coUhty, yoU there behold many
figures, and feme hCAds ' wdl ddne. Thole of St. Patrick/ St.
Brtdgeti and St« Golumbayare very confpitnious^.

* KeatiBg^i^ i.VaUasOiryVGnuntap, &c. f Vita fecunda St. Bffgid. c. 35,36.

N 2 'As

9&
A.C.

\
I

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

.'As to the ancient Irifli nwfic, it is confeffed to be originaP;;
and in what. remains of it ai this day, there is found a wonder-
ful foftnefs and pleafmg harmony. The abbey of Benchoir gof
its name from the melody of its pfalmiib j and when, in the next,
century, the abbey of Niville, in France^ was founded, the wife-
of Pepin fent to Ireland for dodors to infiru<^ in church difcipline,^
and for muficians and choiriilers for the church mufic. Cam^

•

brenfis, who vifited Irelandtwice, firft with Henry II. and after-
wards with his fon Joha; and who, from the Nation he enjoy 6d> we -
mud conclude was acquainted with the befLnwfio in Britain andi
Gaul in hi^ days, yet declares, the Irifli mufic the moft pleafmg,.
and its matters the firft performers in the world*. Mn Warton.-
produces his authorities for affirming, that fo late as the eleventh.'
century, " the Welfli bards- received their inftrAidions in Ireland,.
" and brought with them to Wales divers cunning mufidans, who «»
*' devifed in a manner all the inftrumental mufic that is nowufed>
•« there, as appeareth, as well- by the books written: of the fame, .
" as alfo by the names of the tunes, and meafures ufed amongft
** thepi to this, day f." This laft relation, furniflies a refiedlion
greatly in our favour, on the fubjeft in h^d ; namely, the great'
fuperiority in compofition and execution of the Irifli' over the
Welflit For, . as.. Cambrenfis was- himfelf a. Welfliman. born, -
and alfo bifliop of St. David's^ their mufic, adopted to the Irifli-
fcale a century earlier, muft he well known to him — yet we fee-
the powera of harmony foftened even his prejudiced tmnd^ . and ia
thia inflancehe has done us ample juflice..

In thia century we find two more archbiflioiMriclto ereded in/
Ireland. That of Leinfter, affixed to the church of Kildare, in»
honourof St* Bridget; except it may be fuppofcd,that.St. Ficch*
was appointed to that honour by St. Patrick himfelf; and that it:

f Topogr. c xi«
4

t Hiftory of EngHOi Poetry, diflcrt.1^

was.

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 93

was only transferred from Sleibhte, iii reverence to Bridget, which A.C,
think was not the cafe ; becaufe in the days of St. Patrick, Ire*
land ft ill prefer ved its' ancient dividons of Leath-Mogha, and
LeathCuin; fo that neither JLeinfter or Conaught were ftridly
deemed diftindl kingdoms . Kildare, we .may then fuppofe, was
now for the firft time declared a metropolitan, and Gonlaeth, the
firft archbifliop of Leinfter. About the fame time, (i. c, the be-
ginning of this century) St. Jarlath was confecrated archbifhop
of Gonaught. Palliums ,St. Patrick certainly brought from
Rome on his fecond vifit there j but thefe muft have been for the-
archbifhops of Leath-Cuiui and Leatb-Mogha only ; fo that the*
firft archbi (hops of Gonaught and Leinfter, though confecrated^.
liad^ not palliums. We are indeed told,' that in the year ^
595, and' foon after the bloody battle of Dun-bolg, Bran«*
dubh, king of Leinfter, fummoned a folemn meeting of^e
clergy of that province^ at which he prefided. In.this fynod it
was unanimoufly decreed to transfer- the archbiflioprick of Lein«-
fterfrom Rildare toFerns^, in honour of Sti Maidoeg, who was
accordingly confecrated arckbijhop^ fays Hanmer (Chronicle, p. 64.);
and which city^ to the* reign of Henry II. was the capital of.;
Leinfter. This proves the regularity obferved in the proceedings .
of the Iriflt clergy. Many other fynods of our clergy are noticed r
in this century ; but one amongft thefe fhould not be.omitted> as .
it reflefks the highcft honour on this body of men.

In the year 569, and immediately after the third bloody battle^ .
which the violence of Columba^s temper involved his country
in, a fynod of the clergy met at Cionard, to deliberate on the
public penance and puniflxment neeeftary to be infiided.oa this
monk, for his repeated outrages. Some were for excommuni* ^
eating him ; but, on his fubmiflion, and promife of obedience, he :
was by public decree of the clergy prefent, baniihed the kingdom,
never more to behold it again ; and it was declared, that he never,
could hope for falvatioo, till by hisaufteritiesi bis preaching, and>

his .

9+ HISTORY O F I R E L A N a

A C. his prayers, he had converted as many fouls to God, as his vio-
lent temper had hurried to immature death ; and thus was the
converfion of the Pifts projeded, and happily completed by this
great apoftle

Several new bifhopricks were founded in this century ; as that
of Clonard, by St. Finian, that celebrated philofopher, who was of
the line of Ir, and titular patron of the Magenifes. Clon-
maonois^ by St. Kieran, of the fept of the Arads. Cleu*
De, or the Valiey of God, as it was firft called, afterwards
Glen-da-loch, or the Vale of two Lakes, was founded by St.
Coemhene, or . Ceivin, and to whom the church of that
name in the Liberty of Dublin is dedicated. He is the patron
faint of the O'Byrnes, and O'Tooles. St. Edan, or Maidoc, a
defcendaot of Colla, called Uas, or the Ngble, monarch of Ire-
land, and the titular faint of the O'Cinellachs, &;c. founded the
biflioprkk of Ferns, afterwards, in honour to him, eredledinto an
archbiihoprick. St. Brenden, of the houfe of Ir, and the patron
faint of the O'Connors Kerry, ereded at Hi Ferte, or the Terri-
tory of Miracles^ commonly called Ardfert, or Ardart, a fee. His
fucceflbrs were fgrnfctimcs called bifhops of Kerry, The remains
of churches, abbies, and religioua houfee, wi^^ infcriptions, re-
markable tombs, &C. at this day fufficiently proclaim its ancient
magnificence. An anahorite tower of 1 20 feet high, the fineft
in Ireland, and Aanding near the cathedral, fell down in the year
1771 ; and as, in all human probability, it fell never to rife again !
I leave this memorial of it : of this noble city, the ancient capital
of Kerry, no other monuments but the above remain, except its
being theieat of the'eark of Glendor, an andent family of this
county. I have taken no fmall trouble to afcertaia when Limerio
v^as ere£ted into a bi(hoprick; and, though out of its place, I here
obferve, that it was foon after the arrival of St. Patrick* a proof
of the great antiquity of this city. Its founder wm St. Manchin ;
but of this name Colgan* notes eight different falnta> whofe «ras
a are

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 95

are yfery uncertain *. However, by the book of Lecan, I find, A.C
that our Manchin, xn^as the fon of Seadhna, the Ton of Gas, the Ton
of Conall, of the Dai-Gas race, and nephew to Blod, king of
Thomond, in the days of Sit. Patrick. He was firfl: abbot of
Muimgharid, near Limeric ; and» for his great piety and learnings,
ordered by St« Patrick to the inftrudion of his new converts in
Conaughtf« From this he became firft bi(hop and patron of
Limeric.

Aongus Mac Nife, founded, a little before his death, the (§t aC
Cbnnor.

In the beginning of this oetitufy, Cork was ereded into a
bilhoprick, by St. Bar, or Finfaar, i. e. Bar the White, as he i%
cafled; and here I find a great anachronifm in Harris. He
makes him floutiCh in the fisventh century 4^, whilft he admits him
to be preceptor to the famous St. Colmaui of Cloyne, who was
one of the aflbciates of St. Maidoeg, founder of the fee of Ferns,
and who died, according to Oblgan, in the year 600 1 He firft
founded here an academy, which, on acoount of the number of
Undents, fobn raifed it to a confiderable city, of which he was
confecrated the firft biftiop § and patron*

St. Colman, the fon of Lenia, the fon of Gancon (for there were
many other faints of this name) , deicended from the famous Lugha-
Lagha, brother to Oliol], king of Mutiifter, founded the bilhop*
rick of Cloyne.

Gdman, the ion Duach, and dilef of all the numerous faints
ci the race of the Hy-Fiacres, or of the O'Douds, O'Shaghbeffies,
O'Heynes, OKillhellles, &c. founded the biihoprick of Ceill
Mac Duach, k> called from his father.

• Aft. Sanft. Hib. p. ^jjt, f Vita facta St. Patricii, c. 59.

t Vol. i. p. 556. i Ada SuiGt. Hib. p. 607.

the

$6 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. The great Finiaa of Clonard, founded the bifhoprkk rf
Achonry, which he beftowed on his pupil Nathi ^. The O^/Hara*
were the patrons of it.

The abbies and monalleries founded in this century are
aftonifliingly numerous, and proclaim the piety and liberality of
the people. St. Coiumba, the patron of the 0*Donnells> founded
no lefs a number than loo churches and religious houfes. St.
Luanus founded as many, as St. Bernard notes ; but the abbey of
Benchoir, thelargeft, it may be ^id the mother, of all theabbiea
in Europe, exceeded every other for the number and piety of it«
monks. St. ComhgilU of the houfe of Ir, and the patron faint
of the Mac Genifes, Mac Gartam, &c. founded this great mo-
naftery, in whofe days, as St. Bernard notec^^^ were no lefs^ a
xumb^r than 3000 monks, fo difpofed, that the choir was con-
ftantly full of religious, chanting hymns to the Creator, as well
by night as by day ; hence it got the name of Benchoir, or the
harmonious^choir. Nothing could exceed the regularity of thefe
monks. The times of recefs^from prayer, refrefliment, and na-
tural reft, -were devoted to tillage and other ufeful employments
(for they lived only by the produdls of nature, and the labour of

their own hands.) St. Brenden, the fon of Finlogha, and firft
bifliop of Ardfert, founded fo many monafteries in different parts
of Ire^nd, that he is faid to, have. predded over no lefs than 3000
monks :t,all of whom fupported themfelves by their own labour*.
Nay, in the monaftery of Muingharid, near Limeric, (anciently
called the city of Deochain-aiFain), were formerly 1500 monks;
500 of whicl^ were devoted to preaching and inftru£tion; 500
.more fo divided, as to have a perpetual full choir, both day apd;

• A£la San£b. Htb. p. 396. c. xxti. + Vite St. Malach, p. 1934.*

1 Ulher.'Friin; Ecclcf. firic.>9io, &c.

night;

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

night ; and the remainder being old, gave themfelves up entirely A«C»
to fpiritual exercifes. Mainchen, the founder of this monaftery^,
as well as of the fee of Limfitic, and Molua^ who ere&ed Rillaloe
into a biihoprick^ being of the royal blood of North Munfter, are
the chief titulary faints of this fept. Thefe we have given as a
fpecimen only, of the. numerous pious foundations of this cen-^
tury ; to which we ihall add, that many of them were in the
jnofl fequeftered, and lead cultivated parts of the kingdom ; and.
that through the labour of thefe holy monksi^wereibefe.waAes^
recUimed^ aad made profitable groand»:t.

» **^? ♦ • •» <-• •»

Vol. n

B O O &

^8 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C.

B O O K IX.

e. H A p. t

defeats^is Jlain by tdaokobba-Gf earache nvha fucceedthim--^
Buibhre-M^an raijed to the monarchy'^Jlain in battle^ and fuc*
ceeded by Daniel i who engages and defeats Canallp king of
Ulfter'-^marches into Meathy to attack the defcendantsofNiall:
the Grande noho implore the aid. of St. Fechin-^a panic feizes^
his army 9 and he is obliged to make fubmiffion to the offended,
monk'^eath of Danlei^^Conal-Ciaon made emperor ^ mho.ajo^
ciates his brother Ceallach in the government^'-^Dearmod anil
Blathmac eleSted monarchsr^a great plague in Ireland^

4oo A O D H, called Uariodhnach, (on account of an acute pains
JlJl in his fide, which feized him periodically), thefon (though,

. to correfpond with found chronology, I think more juftly the-
grandfon) of the monarch. Daniel, the fon of Mortoughj the foiL
of Muireadhach, the foa of Eogan, ion to the hero Niall, of the
Heremonian race, was elected monarch : though infirm, and fub-
je£t to great bodily complaints, yet neither the vigour of his
mind, nor the activity of his body, were impaired by them; for,,
trufting to his bad flate of healthy Aongus, the fbn of the lafb
Colman, conjured up a flrong party againft the reigning prince^
A moft bloody battle was fought, called Cath-Odhbha, in which:
Colman and his chief aflfociate Conall, fon to Aodh Slaine, were

^'numbered amongflthe dead« This great defeat did aotintimi*

4 date

H I S T O R Y O F Ik E L A N D. 9^

iJale the enemies of Aodh. Maolcobha, called Clearach, (I Aip- A.C.
pofc from being originally intended for the church), appeared at
the head of a more formidable army. The imperial troops met
them on the plains of Da Fearta. The battle was well fought, and
t:ontinued for a long-time doubtful. The competitors at length
met i Aodh fell by the fword of his antagonif);, and fo cat his way
to the throne^ after a reign of feven years.

Maolcobha, was the Ion of Aodh, the fon of Ainmeric^ of the 60&
race of Niall the Grand. At the end of three years, fome chro-
nicles aflert, that he fell in battle by the fword of his fucceHor ;
but the mod probable account is, that he peaceably refigned
the crown, and eaded his days in the fervice of the church *•

Sulbhre-Mean, the ion of Fiachra, the fon of Muftough, of 6i«
t>f ttie ili-Ncill /race, was ele<3:dd xn^onarch, whofe queen was
^ughter to the prince of Dartri, of the Oirgillians^ (for there
was another territory of the fame name inConaught.) Daniel,
brother to the abdicated monarchy made feveral attempts on the
the crown, but in his laft was fucceisful. For having leagued
amongfl others with Seangal, (called Seith-Leathan^ or of the
Broad Shield), king of Ulfter, hefent his fon Conall, at the head
of fix CathaS) or legions (18,000 men), to his afliftance. With
thefe and other chofen troops, he engaged the imperial army, in
the bloody battle of Traighbrene, and gained a complete vlftory^
Suibhre falling by the fword of Daniel, after a reign of thirteen
years.

Daniel, brother to Maolcobha, was proclaimed monarch. He 623
is highly celebrated-in our annals for his great piety, charity, and
mortifications. We however find that his old aiTociate Conall, as
foon as he fucceeded his father In the kingdom of Ulfter, pro-
claimed war againfl him; and at the head of a large army, was

* Viu (rptima Columbae, lib. 1. cap. 56.

O a ad-

100 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

AC. advancing towards Tara. At Maigh-rath, the two armies met
and engaged. The Ultonians were put to the rout, and amongft
the flain, was the gallant Conall himfelf. This monarch is ce-
lebrated for many other vidories over his enemies, as well as for
his ilrid juftice.

In the partition of the large domains of Niall the Grande be-i
tween his children, as we obferved in his life, the fouthern line
by degrees encroached upon the territory of Tara, the Menfal
lands^ annexed to the monarchy. To reftore thefe to the crown
(finding negotiation ufelefs) Daniel raifed a formidable army,
which, from the purpofe for which it was intended, was called
Sloigh-an*mheich, or the army for partition j with it he marched
into Meath. Thefons.of Aodh-Slaine. the chiefs of the fouthern
Hi-Nialls, in vain oppofed him with. troops,, inferior in number
and difcipline. In this diftrefs, they applied to St. Fechin, a de-
fcendant of their own houfe, regueffing his prayers and interpofi*
tion with the monarch in their behalf. We are told, in the life
of this holy ab^bot, tliat Daniel rejedled his mediation, on which
he was threatened with x3ivine vengeance *. He defpifed thefe
threats ; and the night following an uncommon fall of fnow
difpirited his foldiera, who fuperftitioufly concluded, that this
(which no doubt proceeded from a natural caufe) was a mark of
divine wrath, for rejeding the offers of fo great a faint as Fechin.
An aurora borealis, that followed this, convinced the cmprefs,
and the weak and timid, that this war was an unrighteous one.
The panic runs through his camp : the monarch finds that he
muft make peace, or carry on a war without troops. Articles were
foon agreed upon between the contending parties ; but it wad not
lb eafy to be reconciled to the monk. The difrefpeft (hewn, not
10 himfelf, but to the charadcr he reprefented, demanded the

^ Aft. Sand. Hib. p. 137. cap. 34, 35.

moft

■ •

HISTORY OF I R ELAND. lor

tnoft ample atonement ; and we are told. with aftoniflvment, that ^^"
this great prince was obliged, in the prefence of both armies, to
proftrate himfelf before the faint, who w/M wonderful humility^
trod upon his neck — fulfilling thus the text of Scripture,. ''Super.
*' afpidem & bafilifcum ambulabis, &c.**

From the uncommon piety and aufterity of Fechin, I am read^
to believe, that in thus infulting majefty, he really thought that
he was advancing the caufe of God and of religion \ and had the
church feemed any way interefted in this war, foirie allowance
might be made for an over-heated zeal ; hut as this was not the
cafe, we muft only hope, that fome uncommon intemperance of
the monarch (and it would he h^rd to fay what it could be) made
itneceffary, 'We are furnifhed with no other accounts of him,
except his fending miffionaries to Britain ; but that for the laft
eighteen months of his reign, he was confined to his bed ; which
time he fpent moftly in prayer and pious meditations, receiving .
the facramept every Sunday. At length a period was put to his
fuflFerings on the laft day of January 639. • , -

Conall, called Claon, or the Subtile, the fon of Maolcobha, was %or%
faluted emperor. He aiTociated with him, in the government^ >
his brother Ceallach. At this time a war broke out between the
fouthern Hi-Nialk, and the Eoganachts of JVIunfter. The caufe
waa this : Carthagh, of the Irian line, and. race of O'Connor
Kerry (who afterwards founded, or at leaft encreafed the fame .
of the univerfity of Lifmore) went on a pilgrimage to the borders
of Meath, and there founded a religious houfe. The piety, au- •
fterity, and induftry of thefe monks, acquired them gfeat vene-
ration amongft the adjoining inhabitants. ^ but the heads of a
neighbouring conveut, jealous of their growing reputation, and
looking on Carthagh as a foreign intruder, applied to Daniel and
Blathmac, princes of this territory, to expel them their convent.

This

102 HIS T OH T OP lUELANB.

r ■ • ' .

A _I-M_i • • .»

A.C. This violation of hofpit^Uty and infult to Carthagh, was higlily
refented by the Mamonians. They raifcd a confiderable force;
a great battle was fought at Garn-Gonuil, in which Cuan, the fon
of Amhalghadh, king of Munfter, Cuan, of the race of Finighin^
or O'SuUivan,. and the prince of Ui-Liathan, in the county £)f
Cork, fell on the (ide of the Mamonians^ and their army was put
•to flight.

FJulhed by the fame of this important vidory, tlie brothers
formed the refolution of difpofleiCng the reigning manarchs.
An accident accelerated the accomplilhment of their views ; for
Ceallach being unfortunately drowned in the Boyne» they raifed
a very large army; and in .the battle, that enfued, the im-
perialids were defeated, and Conall was numbered amongft
the flain

^i^ Dearmod, called Ruaidhnlgh, or the Charital)le*, and his bro-
ther Blathmac, the fons of Aodh Slaine, the fon of Dearmod, &c.
were eleded monarchs. In their Teign, an invafion was made

46i from Britain. A battle was fought at Pan&i, in whi<:h the in-
vader, with thirty of his principal officers, and almoft the whole

662 of his army, were put to the fword. Scarce was the nation re-
covered from this invafion, when we read of a dreadful plague
breaking out, which fwept off numbers of the inhabitants, and
from which, even the reigning monarchs did not efcape. It is
called in our MSS. an Bhuidhe-Chonuil, or the yellow plague, as
thofe attacked with it, appeared immediately as if jaundifed*
The Venerable Bede takes notice of this plague; but by him it
would feem to have reached Ireland from Britain. By our ac-
counts, it raged here for fome time before the Britains catehed
the infeAion ^.

X Hift. Ecdef. Brit. lib. in. cap. 27.

Coa-

H I S T O R. T p ]? 1 R E I. A N C. 103

« ■* .A A " »

Contemporary provincial kings with the preceding monarcl^s, A.C
from Aodh-Slaine, according to the Book of Synchronifms^ and ^
to the Pfaker of Calhill, were the following— In Munfter, Eear-
domhnach, or Ferdinand, the Ton of Dioma> was chief king; and «
Amhalgadh) of the -Eugenian line, king of South Mun(ler« His
£>n Cuan, fucceeded as king of Leath-Moghay and fell in the bat-
tie of Cam Conuil. AimJieadha, grandfon to Dioma, fucceeded

Cuan ia the province of Munfter^ according, to the law of alter-

* ** *

nate fucceifion.

In Ulfter^ Fiachna^ Congall-Caoch^ fon of Seanlan, and Do-
nacha, fon to Fiachna^ fucceflivply reigned. Ronan, fon to Col-
man, Ciriomhthaa of Cualagne^ fon to Aodh^Ceaf^ and Felan,
grandfon to Olman, rul^d Leinfter; whilft Uatach,. fon of
' Aodh, Golman^ fon^ to Cobthach, and Raghimach, fon to Uatach,
' ialternattly governed Gonaught. . In 8oQtla[nc|j:£Q$)ia(.cal.le^ JBuie,.
dr tht^ Yellow, the fott- of Aidan, his ibnCbpa^bif ;Fearcla^d»
fim t&Gonadh, and Dbnald^Breac^. tiie>fon/9^ S^^a^ti^ji^iei. j^g«^
'^bflffivelyreignedi^: ■*-'*'.-» i. ^t-.i; -f: .- ..'";%'' r-..

-<. . .J. r-' ^

• 4

t- «

« ,

G H A. p;.

•«n

104
A.C.

H I S r O R t Oi IRELAND,

• X • I

CHAP. II.

, • . . ...

Se^chnafach ralfed to we monarchy-^TJIJier invaded by the PiSlsy

who are repulfed^death of Seachnafach^ who is fucceeded by his

' brother'^he PiSls again invade VlJler-^^Fiontichta attacks the

monarcfiy whom he kiKs in ,battle^ and is Jaluted emperor^^^

Lfoir^feach Jucceeds hini'^^and is likewife Jlain in battle^

. ' ' , ^ ' . 1: . ' * '

669 QEACHPNASACH, the foa of Blathmac, peaceably fuc-
' ^3 ceedftd to the monardiy. The Scotch, or Iriih colony ia
' the HighfctndB, had greatly extended their frontiers lince the
reign of Aldaoi being enabled to do Xo^ by tbe ppwerful affiflance
given them by their relations, the Dal-Riada pf .Ulftcr. Ta be-
revenged on them for this, and the better to weaken the Caledo-
nian Irifh, the Pidis with a powerful army invaded Ulfter, where
they were gallantly oppoied by the Ultonians. A bloody battle
was fought^ called the battle of Feirt, in which, after a terrible
carnage on both fides, the remains of the Pi£ti(h army were
obliged to retreat. Some time after 1 Seachnaiach, fell by the
fword, and was fucceeded by his brother*

Ceanfoaladh, fon to Blathmac, ruled Ireland four years. Ia
6y^ the fecond year of his reign, the Fids again invaded Ulfler^
fpreading defolation every where ; and amongft other inftancea
of facrilegious barbarity, they deftroyed the noble monaftery of
Benchoir, and put to the fword, or difperfed, above 1000 monka
i there refiding ! His fucceflbr, adive and enterprifing, raifed a
great army, in order to dethrone the monarch. By mutual con-

fenk

> ■ " ' ""^^^^^^^MiMinimPnp^ivqaHBavvapsVHHVlVHBlHHHHHHHHHSHiPV^i^

H I S T O R Y O F I R E L A N D. 105

fent the time and place of aAion was appointed. The two armies A.C
met : the Daughter was dreadful on both fides ; but the death of
of Ceanfoaladhy by the hand of his rival, foon determined the
conteft.

Fionachta> called Fleadhach, or the G)nviYial» the fon of Don- 678
chada, the fon of Aodh-Slaine* 3^as faluted emperor. Though
his reign was long, yet confidering an age of erudition like that9
the tranfad^iions of it are not fo minutely detailed as we could wifh.
The firft adt of it, however, was an invafion of Leinfter, to en-
force the payment of their ancient tribute. The Lagenians ac-*
cording to their ufual manner, oppofed it fword in hand. A
great battle was fought near Kells, in which thefe provincials were
defeated with great flaughter. St. Moling was at this time
archbifliop of Ferns, or Leinfter, a prelate of noble blood, and
highly revered for his fan£tity. At the head of his clergy he
advances to meet the vigors. The clergy and the literati were
ever fure of refpeft and protedion from all parties. The mo-
narch refpeflfully receives this venerable cohort. Moling, with
great force and dignity deplores the diftrefles and hardfhips his
country had fufFered, and the torrents of blood that had been fpilt
ffom time to time, for about fix centuries, to enforce the payment
of a tribute, in itfelf both unjuft and oppreffive. That its con-
tinuance was in manifefl: contradiction to the exprefs words of
>God, which fays, that the fins of the parents fhall not be punifh-
ed beyond the third and fourth generation. The monarch being
naturally pious and juft, was fenfibly touched with the many
miferies the Lagenians fufFered on this account, and therefore
folemnly exonerated them from any farther demand of this iniqui*
tious tribute. After this, it is mentioned, that Fionachta, was
inclined to retire from the world, and take upon him the monadic
habit ; but was in this ftrongly oppofed by his friends, who
found out a medium to indulge his pious inclinations, and at the
Vol. II. P fame

io6 H i S T O R t OV IRELAND.

A.C. fametime preferve the crown on his head, by having him entered
of a religious fraternity.

682 To this moderation it vs, that we may impute the many in-
vafions of Ireland in this reign. For a large body of Britons or
WeKh landed in an hoftile manner, burning and deftroying the
country, not even fparing churches or monafieries, which they
proftrated and defpoiled of then: riches and ornaments, and timely
retreated to their fhips with their booty. Soon after this, i. e.
A. C. 6B4, the Northumbriao Saxons, led on by their general
Birtus, with unrelenting cruelty, fpread defol^tion through the
countiry, not even fparing the churches, *^ of that inoffenfive
«^ and moft friendly people to the Saxon ra^e'^-^-^as Bede exprefles-
it *. However, at Raihmorc, a period was put to their fkcrile-
gious rapacity ; being, after mBc|i bloo^ljied, put to the rout, and
obliged to fly the kingdom. Spon oflsr {his defeat of the Sax-
ons, and in the fame year, (fay the Annals of the Four Mafters}t.
Adamnanu^ was fent ambaOfador to Egfrid, the king, to demand »
in the name of the monarch, f^tisfa^ion for this outrage, which
was immediately granted. Bede mentions this embafTy to Das*
Adamnanus. After a difturbed reign of twenty years, Fionachta
fell in battle, on the fourteenth of November, which day the
Irifh church held as a feftival, in honour of him. In this reign
(fays Adamnanus), a dreadful plaguy raged over Gaul, Italy,,
Britain, and Ireland.

698 Loingfeach, the fon of Aongus, the fbn of Aodh, couiin-
german to the deceafed, was eledled monarch. The beginning
of his reign was marked with a frefh invafion of the WeKh and
Pi£ks united, who miferably wafted the northern parts of the
kingdom. Soon after this, a contagious diforder raged amongft
the horned cattle, fo as to deftroy moft of them through theking* '

* Hift. Ecclef. Brit. lib. iv. cap. 26.

dom.

H I 6 T OR Y O F I R E 1 A N D. 107

dom, by which the public werq reduced to great ftraits. This A.C.
infedlion continued for three years. A. C. 704, the Welfh and
Fids, again united, made a frelh incurfion into Ulfter, the better

to diftrefs the Irifh colony in North Britain. The UltonianSj on
their guard, by fo many repeated depredations, had their niiUtary
fo pofted on the fea coafts, as to be foon united upon every emer«
gency. On the prefefit occafion, they fell upon thefe foreigners^
made a miferabie flaughter of them, fo that very few returned
back. Adamuanus, the celebrated mpnk of Huy, convinced of
the erroneous time of celebrating of Eafter at this time^ returned
to Ireland, and contributed largely to the reformation ^ of his
couQtrym:en ia this matter of church-difcipline. During thefe
accumulated diftreiTea, the fpirit of ambition was not idle. Con-
gaU a branch of the royal line, formed a deep and formidable
league againft the monarch j having, befides the partizans of his
own houiie, engaged ia his caufc Ccallagh, the warlike )?:ing of
Conaught. With a well appointed army he attacked the impe-
rialifts at Gormin, and gained over them a complete vidlory,
Loingfeach himfelf bein^ among the flain.

Ainleadh reigned long king of Munfter, and w?s iiicceeded la
that title by Eidirfcoil, the fon of Maolmhuadh, an Eugenian.
Maokobha, the fon of Fiachna, his fon Blathmac, Congal, Fer-
gus, the fon of Aidan, and Beg-Bairche, the fon of Blathmac,
fucceeded each other in the kingdom of Ulfter. Bran Mac
Conall, Ceallach, fon of Gerrthige, Muroh^, .fon tp pran, and
Muireadhach his fon, governed Leinftcr ; whilil Loingfeach and
Guare, fons of Col man, Cinfoala, the fon of Colgan, Doncha,
fon to Maoldubh, and Ceallach, the fon of Jlaghallach, ruled
Conaught in fucceffion.

? t CHAP.

io8 H I S T R Y O F I R E L A N^ D;^

A.C.

CHAP. III.

State of learning in Ireland^ and of the churchy-account ofilluf^
trious men and eminent writers^ their worksy and religious foun-^
dations — and of the part jhey took in the conver^n of the Saxr-
ons to^ Chrijiianity ^

TH E illufinous men> and eminent writers of this age are
very j}^mxerous. St. Evinus^ abbot of Roftnic-Treon^
near the Barrow, which was founded by Si. Abbanus, wrote the
fife of St. Patrick} part Latin and part Irifli, which work is quoted
by Jocelyne the monk *. Coljgan publifhed'it entirCj under the
title of the feventh life of St. Patrick f , He wrote alfo the life
of St. G>emghil in Latih» in which may be traced the original of
priories, and how they became fubordinate to abbies ; for in it;
he tells us, *' that after the foundation of Benchoir, by St.
<< Coemhgir, the fubjeds of his order multiplied fo faft, that he
*' found his monaftery could not contain thenr. He was there-
•' fore neceflitated to build numbers of houfts, not only in Ulfter^
" but in moft other parts of Ireland J.'* St. Moliia, called the
Leaper, a difcipTe of Coemhgih and abbot of Cluan^Feart, in
Ophaly, wrote a Rule for his Monks^ in Latin; a copy of
which was prefented to pope Gregory I. by St. Dagan, about
A. C. 596 ; who publicly declared it a mod excellent perform*

• Vita fezta St. Patricii, cap. 186. f Trias Thaumat; p. 117, 170, &c.

X A£t. SanA» Hib. p. 192.

ance.

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 109

ancc, dircdling the road to heaven, and therefore fent him his A.C*
prayers and his bleffing •. Such the exemplary lives and writ-
ings of the Irifti of thefe days ! Munu, of the Northern Hi-Neils,
the founder of an abbey near Wexford, from him called Teagh-
Munu, was an abbot of great erudition, but moil zealoufly at-
tached to the Afiatic time of celebrating Ealler. Pope Honorius
addreiTed a letter to the biihops, to the priefts, and to the dodors
and abbots of Ireland, exhorting them to a conformity with the
univerfal church, in this cuftom of church-difcipline -f*. A fynod
of the clergy was held at Legh-Lene, called the White Plain,
near the river Barrow, on this occaGon. St. Lafrian^ appointed
legate by pope Honorius, appeared to defend the Roman cuftom^
and which I find, by the annals of this fynod, called. (he new or--
\ \ dinance, whilft Munu warmly fupported the^/^taHliw But after
V^ much altercation, the veneration Munu wa^ held in for his fanC'-
t-ity by this afTembly, prevented them from coming into any re-
Solutions OH this point; fo the fynod broke up. He wrote the
Ads of St. Columba> and a.Treatife da Pafcate. He died foon
after, i. e. A. 634 $•

St. Dagan, bifiiop of Achad-Dagan, was a prelate of great,
piety, but enthufiaftically attached to ihco/J mode of celebrating
of Eafter. He^ it was, that prefented to pope, Gregory, St. Mo-^
lua's " rules for his monks;" and was an. adlve partizan of.
Munu in the debates at Legh-Lene. So attached to the old di?-
fcipUne was he, that in^ vifit he made to Lawrence.archbifhop .
of Canterbury, and the fucceffor of St. Auftin,^ finding him to
adhere to Rome in her time of Eafter, he?refufed, not only to eat
at one table, but even in the fame houfe with. him §• He wrote, ,
according to Bale, Ad Britannorum Ecclefias, lib.i.

•- Dc B'ritan. Ecclef. Primord, p. 920. t Hift. Ecclef. Brit. lib. li. cap. i<fi.

X Pritn. Ecclef. Brit. p. 934, 937. Hanmcr's Ch^oniclc^p. 62.
§ Bedc, H. B. lib. ii, cap. 4.

no HISTORY OlF IRELAND,

AC. St. Columbanus, of a noble Familjr in Leinfter, after paflitog
part of his youth at the public fchools, was committed to the care
of the holy Senellus, a man deeply vetfed in fcripture ; and fo
much did he profit by his inftruftions, that before he arrived at
the age of maturity, he wrote "In Pfalterium Cbmmentar. lib. i/*
Under the great St. Goemghil, he embraced the monaftic habit,
and was highly rfevcred for his piety and learning. From Ben-
choir, with the pfermfflion of his Kbperiori he removed to Bur-
rgundy in 5!} 9, where, in a fequeftered wood, he founded the abbey
♦ of Luxieu. In this pilgrimage he was attended by St. Deicol,
St. Gall, and tten other holy reclufcs. He was afterwards joined
by many others. The fubjefts of liis houfe encreafing very fafl,
be was obliged to ereft two others, fubjeft to the firft^as it *was
:to Benchoir. Notwithftctndtng his mortifications, failing* and
humble mianner of living, (being fupported, as were his brethren,
by the labour of his own hands), yet his great (anility .procured
him numbers of eniemies. He was accufed by the bilQiops of
.Gaul, of celebrating the feaft of Eafter contrary to the time fixed
on by the univerfal church. Pope Gregory had a council of
bi(hops aflTembled on this occafion ; and his defence was learned
andmafteriy. In-fine, he quitted OaiU, though prcffed by Clotaire
to remain there ; and was moft honourably received by the king
of the Lombards. In his journey he (laid fome time in Germany;
where, fays Capgrave f, he erefted monafteries, into which, to
this day, none but Iri&men are admitted. At Bobio, near Na-
ples, he founded a noble abbey, which he lived to govern but one
year, having quitted this Hfc for a better Nov. 21ft. 615. He
was author of >inany pious and learned works, befnles the
.'foregoing ; as, Regula Coenobialis Fratrum, being daily regula-
.tions for the prayers and mortifications of his monks. Sermones,

i- Hanmer*6 Chrop. p. 57.

five

H I S T O R Y O F TR E L A N D. iii

ilVe Inj[lru£tione$ varia^. De Pasnitentiarum Menfura taxandi. A.c«
De oGto vitiis primcipalibus. Contra Arianos. Some other
works of piety and morality he alfo publifhed ; but what raifed.
againil him the moft formidable enemies in GauU was his book
Adverfus Theadoricuin Regem Adulterum. His elogy cannot
be better pronounced, than by noting the many eminent men ^
who wrote his life ; as, firfl:, Jonas the abbot, his countryman ]
and difciple, who undertook it foon after his death, at the pub-
lic requefty at a time when the fame of his piety, learningi and *
miracles were well known and acknowledged. Capgi'aYe^ Bale, -
Surius, Baronius, Lippelo, Stainhurft, Fleming, Colgan, &c.
&c. have been alfo his biographers. For the difciplesof St. Colum-
banus, andtheiir foundations, 4ee Fleury's Ecclefiaftical Hiftoryt ^
ToL VIIL page a66*

St* Murus, lineally defcended from Nial the Grapd> by hig -
fon Eugene> and of courfe of the houfe of Tiroqe, or O'Neal,,
floijriflied in this century. He founded the abbey of Fatheta, ,
i^ear D^erry, which ranked for many centuries as a rpy al one ;
and was himfelf the great patron faint of the houfe of O'Neal.
TAss abbey t formerly fo nobly endowed, was in later times con-
verted to a.pari(h church, but fiill retaining his iiame, as ite ^
patron. Amongft the many worjcs of this abbey, was prefervcd -
even to our times the A£ts of St. Columba, the apoille of the
Pifts, wrote by our faint *. A moft ancient Chronicle qf Irifh v
Antiquities, highly efteemed» was another work of his. The -
fiafFof St. Mucus, covered with gold^ and ornamented wjth pre-
cious ftones, is faid to be flill preferved by the family of the
O^Neals. To fwear Dar an Bhacuil-Mura^ or^ By the Staff of
St. Muray was the moft f^cred oath that could be tendered to

• Aft. Sanft. Hib. page 587.

4 any

,,z HISTORY OF IRELAND-

A.C. any of this great fcpt. His fcftival is ftill celebrated at Fathea

oa the 1 2th of March.

St. Gall, one of the difciples of Columbanus, and of the fame
blood, was left behind him in Germany, to fuperintend his pious
foundations there. So highly revered was lie for his fandity,
that, though a ftranger, ^hen the bifhoprick of Conftance be-
came vacant, Gonzo, prince of that country, wrote to him; re-
quefting he would attend a fynod of the bifliops and clergy, af-
fembled for the purpofe of filling up that vacancy. St. Gall,
attended by two fubjeds of his houfe, prefented himfelf to the
affembly ; who unanimoufly agreed to confer this great charge
on him, whofe learning, humility, and piety beamed forth fo
confpicuofly ! But nothing coilld difcngage him from his fe-
queftered life ; and being then requefted to recommend them
•an h61y pslftor, he named John, one of his attendants, who was
accordingly confecrated biihop of Conftance, After this he was
called upon by his countrymen in Burgundy, to take on him
the fuperintendance of the abbey of Luxieu, which he alfo de-
clined. He died A. C. 635. Though he chofe forhis retreat a
narrow cell, in the midft of a wood, and fupported himfelf by
the labour of his own hands, yet fo great veneration was his me-
mory held in, that people flocked to dwell round a place
inhabited by fo holy a reclufe ; it by degrees encreafed fo, as to
become a confiderabk city. A noble abbey was there founded,
and both are called, from their patron, St. Gall. This abbot is
a prince of the empire. The life of St. Gall has been wrote by
Strabus, Notkerus, &c. He puWiflxed a Sermon^ which he
preached on the confecration of his difciple John, as bifliop of
Conftance, fome Epiftles, and a Pfalter, called after his name.

Jonas, at the requeft of many holy monks, and for the edifi-
jcation of pofterity, wrote the Life of his maftcr Columbanus ;

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 113

he wrote alfo Vitam Attala Monachi, lib. I. Vitam Euftachii AC.
Abbatis^ lib. L & Vitam Bertolfi Abbatis; thefe three were
difciples and fucceflfors to Columbanus ; Attala and Bertolf in
the abbey of Bobio, near Naples ; and Euftache in that of
Luxieu, to 'whom our Jonas fucceeded.

Ultan, bifhop of Ardbraccan, wrote the Life and Miracles of
St. Bridget. This work was publiflied in the beginning of the
laft century, by Stephen White, a moll learned Jefuit and an-
tiquarian, and from this copied by Colgan *; he alfo wrote a
Life of St. Patrick.

Though St. Aufiia is reputed the patron faint of England,
and the converter of the Anglo-Saxons, yet, as Rapin confefles f,
the honour of this (hould by no means be afcribed to him alone ;
to the monks of Ireland, much more than to St. Auftin, (hould
this great work be afcribed. No one is fuller and clearer on this
head than the Venerable Bede. Soon after the reftoration of
Ofwald to the kingdom of Northumberland, fays Bede, he ap-
plied to the peers of Scotland or Ireland for fome learned pre-
late to inftruft his people in Chriftianity $, Aidan, an Irifli
monk, of the race of Amhalgadh, king of Conaught, and of
the abbey of Huy, was pitched upon for this miifion j which,
fays he, he executed with unremitting zeal and piety. This
apoftle of Northumberland, after converting that people, and
governing their church for about feventeen years, died the 3 1 ft
of Auguft, 651, on which day his feftival is kept. He wrote
Commentaria in Sacras Scripturas, lib. I. Homil. & Concion.

lib. L

On the death of Aidan, Ofwin requeued from the Irifli nation
a fuccelTor, to govern and direct his bifhoprick j and Finan, of the

• Trias Thaumat. 527. 542. t Hift. of England, foK edit. p. 79*

J Hift. Ecclcf. Brit. lib. iii. cap. 3. 5, &c.

VPL, IL . CL ' J"^"^

IT4 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C* line of Ir, not his inferior in zeal, piety, and ertiiditlou, wafe con-^
fecrated for this million *. About this time the difpotes aboitC
Eafter were carried to a great height: an Irifli prleft, iTvho
from his zeal for conformity with Rome, was called by hi^
countrymen Romanus, had public conferences with bifhop
Finari on this head ; but though he could make no imprefiion
on him ^fays Bede), yet others were reformed. But this differ-
ence did not abate the zeal of Finan. In the city of Admurum "f
he baptized Penda^ king of the Marfhes, with the knights and
peers that waited on him, and their fervants.' He fcnt four
monks to preach and convert the reft of this people ; and con-
TCfted and baptized the king of the Eaft Saxons and his fubjeds*
He governed the church of Northumberland teft years, and died
A. C. 66i. He wrote in defence of the ancient time of celebrat-*
ing Eafter, Pro Vetcri Pafchatb Ritu, lib: I.

St. Fiacre, infpired with the epidemic zeal of his countrymen:^
retired to France j and in a wood, in the diocefe of Mcaux, built
a monaftery, which be dedicated to the BlefTed Virgin. He
died the 19th of Auguft^ 662 ; and his fcftival is obferved oa
that day by an office of nine leflTons, as may be feen in moift of
the Breviaries of France %. He publifhed, fays Dempfter, Ad
Syram Sororem, de Monaftic« Vitae Laude, lib. I. Monf. Bireal^
(fays Harris) one of the French king's preachers, pronounced
the eulogium of St. Fiacre, which is printed amongft the fele^
panegyrics of that celebrated orator §.

St. Furfey, patron of the church of Peronne, in Picardy, i*
faid to have wrote a Prophecy, and fomc Hymns.

St. Aileran, called An-Teagnaidh, or the Wife, was a fuc*
ceflbr' to the great St. Finianus, in the univerfity of Clonard^

* Htft. Ecclef. lib. iii. cap. 25. f Ibid. cap. 21, 22.

t Hift. d'Irelande, tome i» p. 345. { Wriuraof Ireland, voL ii. page 34.

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 115

He wrote the Life of St. Bridget ; which made a fubfequent ano- AC.
nymous writer on the fame fubjeA introduce his work thus :

*' Scripferunt multi, virtutes virginis Almae,
*• U/tanus doStor J atque Aieranius ovans*."

He was 4illb the author of a Life of St. Patrick, publifhed by
Colgan entire f , as well aS that of the famous St. Fechin of Foure,
fo inimicaji to the monarch Daniel ; but his mofl; celebrated work
was publiihed in 1667, by Th, Sirin* an Iriflx Francifcan of Lou-
vaine, and the editor of Ward's Vita Santi Rumoldi. It was
tranfcribed £rom a MS. in the abbey of St. Gall, in Switzerland ;
the title he gave it was Ailerani Scoto-Hiberni, cognomento
Sapientis, Interpretatio Myftica Progenitorum D.' Jefu Chrifti.
He is the patron faint of the O'Flahcfties and O'Hallorans, &c.
He died, accordiog to the Ulftcr Annals, A, C. 665, and his
feflival is celebrated the iitb of AuguH:.

St, Cumin, of Cpnnor, wrote (fays Colgan, Ad. Sancfl. Hib.
p. 5, n. 7.) a Treat ife on the iingular Virtues of the Saints
oflrelaod.

Cumian, called the White, of the houfe of O'Donnell, was
abbot of the monaftery of Huy. The difputes about the time of
celebrating Eafter were at this time carried to a great height
in Britain and Ireland. The fbuthern Irifh had already adopted
the Roman time ; whilft their northern brethren were inflexibly
refolvcd to adhere to the cuftom of their anceftors J. Cumian
retired from the world for an entire year, to read and confider
(as he himfelf obferves) whatever had been advanced on this
fubjefl: by Hebrews, Egyptians, Greeks, and Latins, A fynod
he fays was called at Lene; and pious divines were fent to

• Prim. Eccl. Brit. p. 1067. f Vita quarta Patricli,

X Hift. Eoclef. Brit. lib. iii. cap. 3.

Q a Rome,

j!6 HISTORYOF I RE LAND.

A.C. Rome, to fee if what report faid was true ; i. e. that all other
Chriftians. but thofe of Britain^ Ireland, and Albany, celebrated
Eafter at the fame time. On their return, after an abfence of
three years, they confirmed this account, with this addition, that
in celebrating this feftival, the Irifli differed from them an entire
month. But the monks of his houfe highly refented this defec-
tion of Cumian from the ufage of his anceftors, and treated him
as an heretic *.

St. Colman fucceeded Finian in the government of the churcBt
of Northumberland. In the fynod called there A. 664, to deter^
mine this famous Eafter conteft, and in his relation of which
Bede is fo particular, Colman defended the ancient cuftom ; but
the plurality of voices being againft him, rather than fubmit, he
threw up his bifhoprick, and retired to Ireland ; here he wrote
Pro Sociis Quartodecimanis, lib. 1.

Three brothers, the one a bifhop, the fecond a lawyer, and the
third an antiquarian, formed from the different laws a number of
decifions, which were fo highly revered, as to get the title of
Bratha-Neamhadh, or Heavenly Judgments.

Cionfaola, of the houfe of Ir, was a celebrated antiquarian; he
wrote the Voyages of the Gadelians, from their firft Departure
from Phoenicia, to their landing in Ireland, and fome other
pieces of antiquities, yet preferved.

St. Maildulph, from whom Malmlbury took its name, wrote
De Pafchae Obfervat. lib. I. Regulas Artium diverf. lib. L De
Difciplin. Natur.

• UOicr SyUog. Epift. Hib. Ep» xi. Harris's Wrkcn of Ireland, page 37.

CHAP.

HISTORY OFIRELAND. 117

CHAP. IV.

Continuation of the ecclefiajiical hijiory and Jlate of learning in
Ireland'-^ Mezerafs tejiimony of the great improvements made
in the manners of the people^ and the cultivation of the lands
in GauU hy the Irijb mij/tonaries-^faints of Ireland ranked in
three clajfes — enumeration of Irijh faint s^-^affinity of the Cel^
tic and Irijh languages injianced in an ancient copy of the Pater--
Nofier in thofe tongues.

EARLY in this century Dromore was eredled into a bi-
fhoprick by St. Colman, but not he of Lindisfarren.
Some time after Raphoe was raifed to a fee, and St. Eunanus
was its firft bifhop. St. Laferian, who had fo notably exerted
himfelf in the famous fynod of Legh-Lene, about the Eafter
controverfy, was confecrated its firft bifhop. St. Carthagh, of
the line of Ir, and houfe of O'Connor Kerry, being expelled his
abbey of Ratheny, in Meath, as already related, returned to
Munfter with his monks, and found a generous protedor in the
prince of the Deafies (the anceftor of the O'Felans), who af-
figned him the city of Lifmore, and a track of land, to fupporthis
monaftery. Here he ere&ed an univerfity, whofe fame and glory
extended to diftant regions, and foon filled it with learned men,
from different parts of Europe. In confequence of this, it was
fome time after dignified with the title of an epifcopal fee, and
St. Carthagh was its firft biihop. fiy St. Fachanus was Kilfeno-*

ragh

ii8 HISTORY OF IRELAND,

A.C. ragh ereded into a biQioprick, and he was its firft paflor and
patron. Another Fachanus founded the biihoprick of Rofs ; of
whofe family were no lefs than twenty -feven fucceeding bi(hops,
according to the Leabhar-Lecan. .

The abbieS) and other pious and munificent foundations of this
age, feem to have exceeded the former ones. They are too nu-
merous to be recited particularly in a work like this : one parti*
cular however is worthy recording, namely, that as Ireland was
now the only country in Europe in which arts and fciences blazecl
in their full luftre, it became not only the common afylum of
learned men from all parts, but fuch as chofe to excel in letters
flocked here from diftant countries, to become the pupils of our
regents and doflors—

** Exemplo patrum, commotus amore legendi,
** Ivit ad Hibernos, fophia mirabili claros !

It was not enough that Ireland became fo renowned for the
piety and erudition of her fons amongft the neighbouring dates,
as by common ccnfent and pre-eminence to obtain the glorious
title of Li/u/a SanSiorum & DoSiorum, but her princes and great
men founded the numerous univerfities of the kingdom on fo
generous and extenfive plans, that not only the foreign ftudents
were found in cloaths, diet, and lodgings, but even with books
\thenfo fcarce an article) gratis ! Bede *, amongft the ancient
Saxons, and • Camden f, Spencer J, Hanmer f , Llhuid §,
Rowland |], &c. all of later times, agree that here the Faxons
Rocked in flioals to be inftruded in religion and letters.

How much foreigners from other parts of Europe availed
thcmfelves of this unexampled liberality of the Irifli nation,

♦ Bcdc Hift. Ecclef. Brit. lib. iii. -aap. 27. 'f Briranriia.

X Dialogues. S Chronicle. § Archseologia. | Mona Antiqua.

I without

H I S T O R Y O B I R E L A N D. uj

without producing farther authorities, may be colle^cd from A.C,
the following lines on the univerfity of Lifmore, taken from
the firft book of the Cataldiad, or Life of St. Cataldus, bifliop of
Tarentum in Italy, of Irilh birth ♦, wrote by Bonaventura Moro-
nu^ a Tarentine born.

• " Undique convenient proceres j quoa dulce trahebat
'• Pifcendi ftudiuna, major num cognita virtus,
" An laudata foret. Celeres vaftiffima Rheni
^^ Jam vada Teutonic!, jam deferuere Sicambri :
*• Mittit ab extremo gelidos Aquilone Boemos^
*• Albis & Averni coeunt, Batavique frequentes,
*' Et quicunque colunt alia fub rupe Gebenas.

*' Non omnes profpedat Arar^ Rhodanique fluenta
*^ Helvetios : multos defiderat ultima Thule.
^^Certatim hi properant, diverfo tramite ad urbem
•* Lifmoriam, juvenis primos ubi tranfigit annos.'*

Nay, fo unlverfally known was the fame of our univerfities in
thofe days, that when a man of learning in Britain, or on the
continent, was miffing, the common adage vfU'-^Amandatus eji
ad dtfciplinam in Hibernid '

But this munificent liberality was not confined to (Indents ; .
the j^ious and audere Chriftians of other nations, who repaired
to Ireland for their improvement in divinity and afcetic exercifes^
experienced the fame generous reception, not only from different
parts of Britain, Gaul, Germany, and Italy, but even from
Greece and iEgypt, did holy monks repair to us, where they
lived in learned eafe, and died honoured and revered. The

• Uflcr. Flimord. p. 755, &c.

reader

120 HISTORY OF IRELAND*

A.C. reader will form fome idea of their number and confequence,
from an abftrad I have already given from a litany of the
holy Aongus, a writer of the ninth century, who, on account
of his empldyment of claffing and writing the lives of the Irifli
faints, was called Hagiographus *. Nay, fo much fuperior to
their neighbours did the Irifli then deem themfelves, that in the
Life of St. Chilian, the apoftle of Franconia, we are told St.
Fiacre, on meeting him in Gaul, thus addrefled him : •* Quid
^* te, chariflime f rater, ad has barbaras gentes deduxit ?'

Not content with this, numbers of our faints, of the pureft
blood, and mod exalted fentiments, became voluntary pilgrims,
and, like the Jefuits in later days, devoted their lives to the re-
forming and converting different nations. They fought not for
gold or filver, honour or command ; all thefe they had early at
home facrificed to the fervice of God. Their cells they built in
woods and fequeftered places, and lived by the labour of their
own hands only. From thefe they entered the cities and great
towns, preaching, and converting the people as much by theit
examples as precepts. The hiftoriographer Mezeray mentions
with aftoni(hment the numbers of Irifli, who, from thence and
from Britain, entered Gaul, to inftruiS and convert that people*
Amongft thefe were Colombanus, Euftachius, Gall, Manfuetus,
Furfeus, Fridolinus, Fiacre, &c. &c. He highly extols their
piety and learning, and proclaims the new face the country took
by the Tery labour of their hands. Hear his own words : *' It
*' muft be acknowledged that thefe crowds of holy men were
** highly ufeful to France, confidered merely in a temporal
•* light. For the long incurfions of the barbarians having quite
^* xi^folated the country, it was ftill in many places covered
^* with woods and thickets, and the low grounds with marflics*

• Introduflion te Irifli Hiftory, p. 175. + Vita St. Rumoldi, p. 270.

♦« Thefe

HIST QR.y :OF iIR EL A N D. 121

•* tliiEjfc pkm^ reiigioiuf, wbb deroted tliemfelves to the fervic€ of ^.C.
*f. .GQ4#.iw)tloa li&K^' indolence ; laboured with their own hanids,
«f t<? grijb up, tfe WclaJtn, ta ti|l, to pjai»t;^>aiid to builds— not fo much
*< :f0r tiiffl»fely68, who Utiid with 'great frugality^ but:td^ed and'
*'.chetiih the 'pocfrf; iofolnoch,- that uncultivated and " frightful
'$.^fafl«,footi became -agreeaUe and fruitful dweUings. Thehea-
*f veni (eemedtoikvour the-foii, redaimed knd cultivated by haxids
•^jfoimreand'difioiBrtifted. lihail fay nothing of their having pre-
**fir^ielmoft all that remains ^thth^ory ofthtje times f /*' What
8 pifiture of. real piety ! . The 'frightful vWaftes of Italy and Ger-
many wjere alike reclaimed, and the peopfo inftrudled in religion,
frugality, and induftry ! Amongft the Irifli apoftle^ of Italy, '
w6re Galaldus, Donatus, Ccftuhittimfis, FrigldiamiB, &c. andin
Qef many, ; were St-Call, tridoUnu*, • Deicola, K iliarti 'Fintan,
Albcrttis, Rupeitos, &c. in Arnittitio Brittany, Geldafiud, Bri**
ochiM, '&5c» Folianus was martyred in Fiandei»8i where a monaftery
was built and dedicated to his name. Fridegond, converted the
pedpleJof Antwerp, where; to this iday, hfs taemory'is greatly r^-'
vered.. Authbert, bifliop of Gambray, ctmvertetf Hantionia, and
is ftyled the apoflle of Flanders. Rumoldus, archbiihop of DuT>:
lin, is the patron of Mechlin. Columba is the apoftle of Scot-
land j arid it heedsriot to be recapituiated.'how much South Bri-
tain was indebted to.bs fbr religion- fof-arts, and foi^'tetters.
'. llbe flourilhing. flateof the- IrMh cKiirdb -fna'y be colleded' frbtn
the very old litanies, yet prif^ftrvisa "« ' ^Their faints were divided
i«to three diftin«a claflesfthe firft were called the Moft Holy •*
this comprehendiH St. Patrick, and 35obi'<h6p8 of liis ordination*.
In the ftcand.-clafi5,..4w.4hc.'.-Mol'e HbPy;-'^rV36opne/ts'a*nd
holy dodore of the. chUrch^ ^biit very ' few ■btftid^ij': - Thfe thYrd,
or Holy Order, jwas comi»fcd4hi«fly of \i6\y monies and anchoi

+ Hiftoire de la Francr; iqm.-i.'p/i T?. ' ' '■* Vita ii. Rumold. p. 204, &c

^^^- ". . Jl rites.

104

ni9TQKY OF IKItAKlX

A.C« fitea. Theielmiktlldrcdiiib woDdiibd^dc^ tMng

on an antidelDTnm diet,, and mkkia|r ^^ ^ pMt o£ rtnif vowa^ to
reclaim ancl cuftiviate diefe deferyi ildt fW ditfbh oim> but
the eiiK>tument of the poor f^ Fitia >tlifi it'tt/thfiit i«e trd in^
dbbted for' ib many araunoiis adjdcont 1bor cM: a^biei and mo^
naileries ; for** the graoxtif 'odrigtmlly mAe and barrctr ^ntr
claimed by no one } and when the fucoeffors to t&efts abbieay begail
to relax from the feverity of their firft inftkntiont they gate mpf
the reclaimed land for the u& of the poor of the place, l^us the
reader ^ill perceive What Unexampled piety pervaded the different
orders ia the Iriih hierarchy ! So amazingly great vrere the nnm-^
here of our faints, that, in the iflands' of ' Ar%ibr ioflanie^ their
conflux was fo rapid, that in the old Ktaaiot^ lAer tilVokii^. thir
the prtpcipals of theoii it coodudeff whh^^^a&didl tfaeothecf
^^ ;&ints here deceaied, whofe <uimh«rs are fb greats as to be k&owir
«< to the living God only." Succeeding writers were obliged t(r
ctafs thefe faints according to their names. Theite wete four
Colgas, ten of the name of Gd^n,. t>!ralve Dioh«Ils» twelve
Maidocs, twelve Adrands, thirteen^ Camans, tbirttea Dimms»
fourteen Breodens, fourteen Finiansi fourteen RonanR, fifteen
Conalls, fifteen Dermods, fifteen Lugadsj fixteen Laflar a?, fevea^
teen Serrani, eighteen Ernini, eighteen Folbei^ eighteen Cominei,.
nineteen Foilani, nineteen Sullani, twenty Kiehmi, twenty
Ultani, twenty^two GUiani, twenty-three Aidi, ^enty-four
Columbse, twenty-four Brigidds> twenty-five Senant, twenty-
eight Aidani, thirty Cronani, thirty-feven Moluani^ forty-three
Lafream, thirty-four Mochumii, fifty- eight Mochuani, ififty^
five Fintan>» fixty Cormocs, and two hundred GoImanK

We muft fuppofe, that in a country^ wldch was for &»me ages^
the center of arts and ictenccs, to which not only the youth

i Friav«d.£€cicf«Brie.p.5i],.&c«

fi:onk

HI«.TORY>OF IHELAND. *t^

&<ax tieiglikcttttiQgt at vmU al diftaot natioas^ itiHrto^fibr in* A*^«^
ftriK£]kiM»» bttt the mone tfoligbtoiedL for edification; -iwhofe fonst
not coqj^i/Kted wbl> affbrdiog an .afytom to tfaefe ftrangers at
boin^.geoeroufl7!bravcd th« dangers of winds and wave8,andinore
mercilefft barb^riand* to (pr^adrdigi^in and Iqttars farimd wide—
wefmi(l» Ifay» fttgpole tbat tbeir laqgqagQalfo bcc»i»e pretty noi*
yerial.. Sbpuld wc doubt tbis, there are prooft that it did. For
the Venerable Bede tells us *t that wben our bi(h^ Atdan, waa
fQfit tp conrect the Nortbuinbriaasf being ignorant of the Saiton
^ongifiU be {ice^chQd apd inilru^pd in tbie In(h l^guage« lyhich
l^ng Qfwin f xplf^i^d fo jcb?, people. .Nuoibecs of aionks \yere
i(i bi$ retinve^ whp» we muft fupptpfe^ ufod ik> other tongue ; nay,
thfffe it rnonf than .prefumptioti for advancing, ihat thirty yjeart
aitcr, bia fqecejOTort in Britaifi qi^de vkk of tbe &m^ language ;
for in thp fiMnoi^ fy^o^ affemble# |to dtterojine the true fjkv^ of
holdix^ thp Easier feftii^l* ai^d if hifth was coqipf>red of dif erpot
M^oaib ^ r^ th#^ :l>Uli,op»Cn4d^ was uppoioted tatecpret^r
b<$tw$pa t^ In<h hUko9:Oo\mmuhh Ukr^yj md th^ie people f.
From !(]»efe,ac^o«l49«4;f4l^ in Bj?»uixi» )m; qoay iafer, th^t tibey
wefp.^9^i.oiithe^co|»ttxwot,^l^4 to4ook puiibc faitUfiilm-
tecpr^r;8 beiv^a t^tn^k, »fi^ {Iw ptPplef Xbw betog; the . OAfe,
^epriiyiBrf m^ pbrift^n dodrinv ki JthelrlO^ ia 9ll pfsobabilitj,
became pretty muv^rial .09 the coui^eftt ; and this will at oQce
^pteiftj^^e Celtic Pa^Mxpftcr,. a^id ^ a farther additioaal proof
of ikp JrflJth qf pur rw9r4» at ,jIm8 period-
.. The. learned Cfr. JRfi5!jPii094,:ahwt the heginoipgpf theprefeat.
ewfavf* a fellow t»f (he iiiKiy6ri)ty ©f Dublin, .was profoundly
fk^]^ in ;t]|^ aaiifuitiei .^ hi« ^^enotry. Uhuid :{: had* before-

R 2 < him.

»24 HIST Ol^mi a F) liR. JE L A N DI

^•C. htm» deiooflftnted that the Irlfli ianl^ge ^vv^sithe true glolftry
to- the obfcure word^ and names in tb? CSeltic, as handed, dawn to
us hj Pezron, Menage, &c. and the do^or luckily met with d
very ancient^ Celtic Pater-fiojieriy^hich hi fouo&.tb be purelHflij
and which he judged to be d^e highest proof bf dtir feaf ly acquaint-
ance with letters §. This l^W^^er -Has been repUbliflied by Mr,
O^Connor J, Dr. Warner IT, and Lord Lyttelton ♦ j and it is of-
fered ^s a proof of a general Celtic language^ -

Nothing appears to me more repugnii(nt td^fioth reafon and hif«
tory than the general received opinion of aA univehrfal tohgue*
Mofes, one of the earlieft hiftorians in the world, is as full on
this point as poIRble. Cacfar tells us f, that in hie days, there
were three diflPerent languages fpoke in Gaul -, and Bede aiBrms^
that the languages of Britain, in his time, were the Britifh, Saxon,
Irifli, and Pidifli. To this let me add,* that Wen adniittirig an
early and univerlal Celtic, '^t how far dWs the prayer in quef-
tion, being found to be pure Irifli, prove this ? The Irilh are, be-
yond controverfy, a Scythian, not a Celtic colony ; the defcend-
ants of Magog, not of Gomer. Theii: languages theref<M'e were
immediateiy ifter the general difj^yerBbn of mankind diflPerent.
The remarks of Llhuid>' and the piU^r in queftion, prove evi«
dently what hiftory has advanced, and ho more j namely, that
the early Irifh often inftruded, both in Britain, Gaul, and Ger-
many, in their native tongue ; and that numbers, particularly
amongft the literati, preferved thefe prayers, and handed them
down to their fucceflbrs. This is the evident indu^ion from
Ihe premifes ; and it ia remarkable enough, that in all the ra-
vages and revolutions of fubfequent times, fo fingular a piece of

§ IntroduAion to the Hiftory of Ireland. | Dtflertatioois on Irilh Hiftory^

i Hift. of Ireland, tqL i. * Life of Henry n. f D« Scllo Gallx<. lib. i. cap* u

1 an-

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

antiquity, and fo honourable a teftimony of the truth of IriCh
hiftory, (hould be preferved to this day ! Here follows this
ancient prayer, and the fame in Irifh.

125

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

Tbe fuppofed CELTIC or Con-
tinental one*

I. Our narme ata ar neamb ?
2* Beanie a tanim.

3* Go diga do riogda.

4* Go denta du hoil air talm, in

marte ar' neamb ?
5« Tabuar. deim a niugh ar naran

limb* ali.
6* Agus mai duine ar fiach amhail '

pear marmhid ar fiacha.

J. Na leig fin ambaribh ach fiiof

fa fbin on ole.
8. Or fletla rioghta, comtha^ agus

gloir go iibbri^—Amem

I R I S H.

i« Ar' nathoir ata ar' neamh,

2. Beannathair a thainim ^or naomh

thar hainim)

3. Tigiodh do riogbacht,

4. Deantar do hoil air an talamb,

mar do nither air neamb :
5* Ar n'naran laetheamhuil, tabhar

dhuim aniudh.
6. Ahgus maith dhuiii ar bhfiacba, mar

maithmid-ne dar^ feitheamh*

nuibh fein«
7« Agus 'na leig inn a geathugbadh

ad faor inn o ole.
8« Oir is leat-fein a rioghaet, agus

an cbumbacht, agus an gloir

go fiomiidbe<»->Amen«

CHAP.

tt6

A.C.

HISTGllY OF IRfiLANTD.

c; H A P. V^

Conghal, fon of Fergus eleBed monarch of Irelani^^fucceeded bf
Fearghal^^who attempts to ixa£l tribute from the Lagenians ;
andisflain in the buttle ef Almhuin^^Bogartach raifed to the
monarchy-^fucceeded by Cionaoth — Flabhertach% njoko refignt
the throne^ and retires to a monajlery^ucceeded by Aodh^
' OU/m — afynodat Tird^^las^-^battle of Athfeanuigh.

yo6 f^ O N G H A L, the fon of Fergus, of the race of Omall-
V^ G^lban, «nd line of Hereqion, wjis proclaimed monarch*
Ii« ia ifCf rcfcatf 4 ^7 X^JJ^^ * as a warlike prince^ and at tbe Ame
time a cruel one« Kieiiiag tells us» that he was a great perfe-
tvtiw of the ttergy*; kcms^r;; it w pmtty Mmarkdjle^ that th^
Reimriogra of Oiplla Mpduda, proclaims him a moft beneficent
prince^ iii wl^ofeadg^iniftration there was neither battle or con-
teftf and ti^t lu^idied m peace> after a reign of feven years. This
laft writer died about A. C. 1 148.

713 Feargbal» the fon of Maolduin^ fon to Maolfithrich, fon to
Aodh-Uariodhnach» of the Heremonians, fucceeded to the crown.
In the beginning of his reign, the WelCh and Pids in conjunc*
tioU) invaded the northern parts of Ireland^ committing great out-
rages ; the Ultonians, however, foon collected a good body of
troops, and fought for, and- overtook the enemy : a moft bloody
engagement enfUed, in which for fome hours its fuccefs feemed
uncertain ; at length thefe aliens gave way, after the lofs of almoft

•► —

• Cambr. Everf. p. 77.

'4he

HISTORT or IRELAND. 127

(ihe whole ^ their army. Thi«, l»y our Wiitcrs, is called the battle A.C.
c£ Clodv-Mioauire. ^

Fi'an this period to the battle o€ Almhuin, we meet with no-
thing kUerefling. Fionacbtai^ in the laft century, by the CKhor-
talioQS of St. MoUngI, bad exempted the Lageniane from the pay-*
meat of any farther tribute. The prcfent prince was, however,
reiblved to enforce it^ for which purpofe at» the head of 2 1,000
eholbn troops, he invaded Leinfter. Murrough, king of Leiofter,
aflembled what troops the fuddenefs of the notice could afford
him. They amounted to no more than 9006 ftrong. With
thefe he engaged the imperialifts at Almbuin, and gained a com-
plete v^iOory^ notwitfaftanding the gteat difproportion of troop9«
Oor writers slttribute this great fuccefe to the execrations of an
hermit, who had been ill treated by feme of Fearghal's people^
dnd to their plundering the church of GiUin of its plate. It is
certain, that tlie invaders were feized with^ an timifual panic, a^
die very firil dnfet ; ^bich I am readier to attributef to the ex-
. bortatioQs (tf this hermit9 in upbraiding Fearghal and his peopler.
Sot WantoAly breaking th^ovgh the folemn engagement made by
Eionachta, for htmfelf, and for his fuccefibrs, no more to invade
Leinfter on th^s (core. In this battle, befides many thoufand
men, there fell the monarch himfelf, with 160 feled knights.

Fogartach, diefcended firom Aodh-Slsune, was the next mo-
tiiarch 1 but who fell in the battle ^ of Beilge^ by the fword of his
fbcceflbn

Gonaotb, the fba of Jorgalaigh, of the fame houfe, afcended the 704
the throne. A formidable competitor foon . aroie : the armiea .
met at Drum^Curan ; in this, battle the troops of Ci6naoth re-
eeived a complete overthrow, and he himfelf was amongft the *
flain.

Flabhertach, the fon of Loingfeadi, of the houfe of Aodh-Ainm *
llCiiC) biecajnc monarchy Aodh-Roin, king of Ulfter, opprefled

2u greatly;

723,

128 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C greatly the clergy of tbat province. Some of hia followera had

727 taken confecrated vefTels out of many of the churches { and Con*
gus, primate of Ireland> and confeflbr to Aodh^Ollan^ ftimulated
this prince, by a poem he addrefled to him, to avenge the caufe
of the church. He accordingly invaded Ulfier. The ar-
mies met at Muirtheimhne, in thecounty of Lowth, and Aodh«
Roin*s troops were defeated, a^d himfelf flain. After a reign of
feven years, Flabhertach refigned the throne, and retired to Ard«
mach, devoting the remainder of his life to the fervice of G6d.r
He died A. C. 760, in great reputation for fandtty. ' /

73i^ Aodh-OUan, fon to the monarch Fearghal, was called to the
throne . He was remarkably attached to the church and clergy.
The dues, called in other parts of Europe St Peter's pence,
were here paid to the fee of Arm^ch annually. Thefe payments
had not of late years been fo regular as before. A iynod o£

736 the clergy was called together at Tirdaglas, in Ormond, at whicb
the monarch preHded. It was alfo boooured by the prefenee of
Cathal, king of Munfter, and many other princes ; and a decree
pafled for the more regular colledion of this tribute for the future.

^.3 Soon after, a fierce war broke out between the Mamonians and.
the king of Leinfler ; (but we find no mention made of the.'
^aufe.) A bloody battle was the confequence, which by> muttial:
confcnt was fought at Ballach-Feile, in Oflbry, in which the king
of Munfler was viCtor. The monarch fome time after d^claredr
war againftthe Lagenians, and entered that province wijth a well
appointed army. Aodh Mac Colgan oppofed him with his pro«

74» vincials. A battle was* fought, great intrepidity difplayed, and
very much blood fpilt. The Lagenians were at length obliged to-
• give way, with the lofs of their king, the choiceft of their knights
and nobility, arid 9000 of their beft troops ! Nor was th^
daughter amongftlhe vidlOrs, muchlefs. Amongftthofe of greateft
note, were Aodh, the fOb of Mortougfa, general to the monarch ;

and

HISTORY OF IRELAND, la^

and this laft alfo was daogercmflf woundetd. This bldody en- A..C.
gagement is called the battle of Athfeanuigh. Soon after thia>
his fucceCTor began to form a dangerous league a^ainft Che reign* ,
iog monarch. He appeared ^t length at the head of a powerful *^
army, and publickly announced his pretenfions to the throne. By .
mutual agreement a battle was fought near Kells, in Meath, in
which the imperialifts were defeated, and Aodh was numbered
aipongft theflain. Pity it as, that We arefumiflied with no other 743
particulars of this reign, becaufe we h$ye reafon to think it was a
very intereftihg period ^ as all Duf ' an'nalifls begin a new asra .
from his death.

Daniel II L the fon of Murtough, the eleventh in defcent frqm
Niall the Grand, afcended the throne. In his reign the Pids in-
vaded Leinfter, but were defeated by thefe laft, in the battle of
Rath-Bedthach; in which engagement* amongft other perfons of
note Cathafacfa, their general, the fon of OilioJIa, king of the
Pi£ts, was^ ilain. The Mamonians fome yme after declared war
againft thitLagenians. A battle attended with unufual carnage
was fougff, at a place (Called Tabur-fionn, or the White Spring, .
but whidh it is faitd, with the road and lake adjoining, were co*

loured jt;ith'the blood of the flam. Hence this memorable fieht

T- ft ^

has bqfn^alled Cath-BeallachrCro, or the battle of the Bloody
Path. flFlFh^ nxQoarch feems to have been a tame and ina(3;ive
fpeftat5r of th'^e bloody fcenes ; and given up to a religious
turn, attended more to litanies and proceffions than to feats of
arms. After a rule of twenty years, he made a pilgrimage to the
abbey of Huy, where he ended his days, with great piety and re-
fignation. -

* Niall II. fon to the monarch Fearghal, was elciSled emperor, -g

He was called FraiFach^or of the Showers; becaufe it is faid, that

in his reign there were three preternatural falls from the fky;

one feemingly of blood, at Magh-Laighion j another of honey,

Vol. II. S at

J30 H IS T O R Y O F I R E L A N D,

A.C* at Fothan-beg ; and the third of filTer» it Fotban*more« As thefe
are fioted in the Book of Reigns, and in the annals of Tigernach,
a writer of the eleventh centuryj I thought it my duty to men-
tion themt fea\4ng to the reader's judgmant the degree of credit he
thinks they merit. Certain it is, that Mac Curtin ^, who is not
above forty years dead, declares, thai bits of fine fihrer 'called
twelve-grain pennys, were then in being, and fuppofed to be part
of this money — but, Qredat qui vult, . - \

Very many uncommon phasnomena feemed to predi^the ap- .
proaching miferiesof Ireland. In the^relgo of AodK-Slaine, the
appearance of fleets' and armies were feen in the ikies ; in thofe
of his fucceflbr, a monftrous ferpent feemed to float in theain
The fall of blood in the prefent times feemed to announce their
nearer approach. This was followed by dreadful earthquakes in
diflFerent parts of the kingdom j afid to thefe fucceeded fo fevere

770 a famine, as to carry oflF numbers of the inhabitants. The good
monarch fhocked at 4uch accumulated miferies, refigned the
crown, and retired to the abbey of Huy ; where, after eight years
fpent in remarkable piety and aufterity, he refigned this life for
abetter, and was interred there, in the fame vault with his pre-
deceffor. The covering ftone of this vault is yet preferved, with
the following infcription on it—" Tumulus regum tlibernia.''

On the refignation of Niall, the eftates proceeded to a new
ele£tion, when Donochad, the fon of the monarch Daniel, was
called to the crown, Notwithftanding that he reigned twenty-
feven years; yet, during this uncommonly long period, we are
furnifhed with no remarkable events whatever. Bruodinus notest

797 that in his adminiftration died St. Sedulius, bifhop of* Dubliui
St. Colchus, called the Wife, and others ; and all our annalifts are
in unifon, as to his exemplary piety and juftice.

* Hiftory of Irdand, p. 1 70.

The

HISTORY OF IRELAND. jji

The learned Dr. Warner on this occafipn, deplores the great A.C»
deftru6:k>n of our annals ; and his indudien from it is fenfibie
and judicioua* *Mn fo long a reign (the prefent one) fays he,
^^ it is impoilible but that many things muft have occurred both
. «* in church and ftate, that were worthy of a place in the hiftory
*' of thefe tioiies. The want of thefe materials is itfelf a convinc-
** ing proofy that we have little more than annals and regidersi
^* of the fucceiiion and genealogies of their kingSj extracted from
/^ the hiftories that were depoiited in their archives ; andthat

^^ thefe valuable originals^ 'were deHroyed at different times, in
^f the rage of plunder by their enemies. At the fame timet it
^< muft be obferved, that this is fo far from being an objection to
^' the genuinenefs of what remains, that it rather demonflrates how
*^ fcrupulous fucceeding hiftorians were of adding a 'fyllable of
'< their own, where fo much room was left for invention and im*-
«* pofition/* .

In the reign of this prince, and year 790, the North Britiih
writers affirm, that the Jb/emn and indijfoluble alliance between
France and their kings commenced. Mezeray mentions this al-
liance *, but as a fad afferted by thefe peqple only. He fays,
that Charlemagne, fent 4000 men to their affiftance, and that in
return, they ient Claude Gement and Alcuin to France, who
opened public fchools there, which were the origin of the uni-^-
verfity of Paris. This relation is, taken originally from Boetius^
whofe veracity as an hiftorian,^ has long fince been thus fung, by
the celebrated antiquary Leland f*

** HeBoris hiftorici, tot quot mendacia fcripfit>
" Si vis ut numercm, leftor amice tibi :
" Me jubeas tiizxnjlu^us numerate marinos,.
•* Et liguidi Jlellas enumerare poll r^

* Hiftotre de Fratocc) tome i. p. \6i, + Hiftor. Scot. lib. x.

S a^ H^dor

13a HISTORY OF IRELAND.

^ ^* Hedor fays, that Achaius, king of the Scots, on this occafion
fent his brother WilKam as his ambaflfador to France, in whofe
retinue were Clement, John, Raban, and Alcuin ;- that the two
laft returned home, the others remaining in France. Not to ad-
vert towhatha8beenlongfinceDEMONSTRATEDbyUflitr,Routh,
Ward, and others, i. e. that North Britain was not datled Scot-*
land for thne centuries after the period in quejiion ; that is, till
the Dal-Riada, or Irifli colony in the Highlands, had totally fub-
verted the Pidifh government, and firmly eftablifhed their domi-
nion over all North Britain ; and, of courfe, being at this time
but a fmall body of people, pent up in the narrow precinds of
Argyle, .they could be but little known as a diftindl people in-
habiting Britain, Not to advert to all this, I fay, the very
tale carries its own refutation. For, firft, the name of William
was not ufed either in Ireland, or amongft their colonifts in Bri-
tain, for fome centuries after the period in queftion \ therefore^
as O'Flaherty.obferves, WiUiam was an Eutopian prince. Alcui-
nus was a Britifh Saxon, invited to France by Charlemagne,
(who met him at Pavia in 780) and there refiding before the
year 788*; but fo far from returning to Scotland, it appears
that he died at Tours, A. 804. Raban was a German, abbot of
Fulda, and archbifliop of^ Mentz, who never quitted the con-
tinent, and died A, 856 ; and Clement and John were Scots of
Ireland, the only country then*, and for above three centuries
after, known by that name.

The fame of Charlemagne indeed, extended to diftant climes,
fays his fecretary and biographer, Eginhard f* '' Alfonfus, king
** of Galicia, addrefled letters to him, in which he defired to be
" numbered amongft his vaflals. The kings of Scotland or Ire-
*' land tafted fo much of his munificence, as to call themfelves

• Ufhcr Syllog Epift, Hibern. p. 61. f Viu Car. Magni.

•*hl5

HISTORY OB IRELAND. 153

^' his vaflals. There yet remain their letters (fays he) to this -^C'
*• effeA. The Saracens of Spain and Africa, courted his alliance.
•* Aaron, king of Perfia, the haughtieft prince on earth, fent a
•* a moft fuperb embafly to him." Now, as Irifhmen had a
principal hand in converting the French natron ; and that our
famous Virgilius, was in great favour with Pepin, father to
Charlemagne, it is highly probable, that in thefe mutual and
friendly communications, the Irifh princes might, at his requeft,
fend learned men to form fchools there on the plan of ours, m
in eflFeft we (hall Ihew they did.

CHAP. VL

jiccount of eminent men^ and their works^-^Adamnanus^ abbot of
Huyy attempts a reform in the difcipline of the church of Ire ^
land — Virgil arrives in France^ on his way to the Holy - land i
is 4:arejfed by Pepin^ and becomes his confejfor-^has a difpute with
the bijhop of Mentz i and the pope ^ on an appeal^ decides infa--
vour of Virgil.

A DAMN ANUS, of the race of Conor- Gulban, and houfe
of O'Donnell, a perfon of uncommon virtue, learning,
and piety, was eledled abbot of Huy, A. 679. He was fent
twice ambaflador to Britain, as he himfelf declares ^; in 684, to
demand fatisfadion for the invafion of Ireland, and reftitution
for the outrages then committed j in 687, he went a fecond time.
The caufe of this fecond embafly is not known. Bede tells us
limply tf ^^^ t^is abbot of Huy, was fent ambaflador by the
princes of Ireland to king Alfred ; where remaining for a time,

* Viu St. Columbse, lib. ii. cap. 46. f Hift* Ecclef. Brit. lib.T. cap, i6. 22.

and

f34 HISTORY OFIRELAND.

A.C. and being ftrongly admoni(bed by perfons of great piety and
learning, particularly the abbot CaelfriduSy to adhere to the cuf*
toms of the univerfal church, in oppofition to thofe of his an*

* ceftorsy he adopted this mode^ and, on his return to Huy, la«
boured to convince his monks of their erroc, but in vain. From
thence he failed to Ulfter, and reclaimed this people in thefe
points of church difcipline ; for the fouthern parts had long be-
• fore this conformed to the practice of the univerfal church. His
fuccefs at home, made him return back to his monaflery, but he
could not prevail upon his fubjedls to alter their ancient mode*
He died according to the Four Mafters, September 23d, 703, in
his feventy-feventh year.

He wrote the life of St. Columba in three books, publifhed
entire by Colgan *• Alfo, the Life of St. Bathild, the wife of
ClQvis IL She was an Engliih Saxon, of great beauty, furprifed
very young by pirates^ and fold as a flave in France. She was
at length married to Clovis ; and during her widowhood go-
verned with great prudence. She invited numbers of holy
monks (particularly from Ireland) to her courts and died in a
convent about 684. This work it is faid is yet extant, in the
Benedidine convent of the city of Metz, in Lorrain. He pub-
lifhed likewife a description of the Holy Land, which he dedicated
to king Alfred, by whofe bounty fays Bede» many copies of it
were made out, and given to different people. Befides thefe, fomc
^£pifiles, and a book dePafchatelegitimo^ faid to be wrote after
his conformation, are attributed to him.

Colman^ called the Scribe of Armagh^ wrote the Life of St.
Patrick. St. Coman, biihop of Rofcpmmon, wrote a Rule for
Monks. He died in 746, fay the Annals of Ulfler ; and we find
his rules foon after adopted by mofl: of the monks in Conaught.

• Vita quarta St. Cglumbac.
I Albuin,

(
I

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 135

Albuin, called apoftle of Tburingia, it is faid, wrote a work A.C*
for the ufe cff this people.

. Giaran, abbot of Bealag-duin, Ermedach, bifliop of Clogher,
and Cbllait, a prieft of Druim-Roilgeach, according to Ufher,
were different writers of the Life of St. Patrick.

Virgil, animated with a defire of vifiting the Holy Land, and
feeing thefe places defcribed by his relation Adamnanus, quitted
bis native country (Ireland), accompanied by feven biflxops. The
abje£k ftate of Chriftianity in Gaul, and the great reformations
there necefiary, determined him to remain amongft them for a
time. He was in the higheft confidence with Pepin (and for
.fome time his confeffor), fhen nominally^ but Maire of the palace }
fc/ that it was in the reign of Childeric, he arrived in France, as
I $nd, from the earlieft accounts of him ^. He remained two
years at the court of Pepin, when he fent him on the miflion to
Bavaria. Here, with unremitting zeal, he laboured for the con-
verfion of fouls ; and Boniface, bifhop Mentz, intending to re-
oaptize fuch as had received this facrament by the hands of an
Ignorant prieft, who had pronounced the formula in bad Latin,
he oppofed, being fupported by Sidonius, the archbifhop : he
infifted, that the facrament of baptifm was conferred by virtue of
the miniftry more than by the words, provided the prieft was
properly ordained, and that he adminiftered it in the name of
the Trinity. An appeal was made to pope Zachary, who de-
terminedf it in favour of Virgil. He addreffed on this occafion,
" An Eptftle to Zachary^ the Roman Pontiff^ This decifion
happened in the year 747.

This triumph of Virgil was highly refented by Boniface, who
was greatly in favour with this pope. He complained to Kim,

* Vita St. Ramoldi paffim, Fleury Hift. Ecclef. torn, ix, p. 306/7, 8> 9.

- that

136 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A'C. that Virgil boafted that he was to be nominated to the firft of
the four fees that fell in Bavaria ; and he charged him with
dodrines repugnant to Chriftianity j particularly in publijhing^
** that there was another worlds another fun and moon ; that this
•* world was fphericaly injiead of being fiat^ and that we had our
•'^ antipodes?^ The pope in his anfwer direfts^ that, if thcfe
fads be proved before a council, Virgil is to be degraded. He
alfo obferves, that he had wrote to the duke of Bavaria, to fend
him to Rome to be examined by himfelf ; and that he wrote to
Virgil himfelf on this head. It appears however, that he was
neither degraded or fent to Rome; but that he was made. firft
rp6tor of St. Stephen's abbey, and afterwards bifliop of Saltf-
burg ; and Zachary was himfelf fufpeflied of favouring Virgil's
opinion as to the plurality of worlds. In 75 r, Pepin was eleded^
and afterwards confecrated with holy oil, king of France \ and
as this is the firft inftance of the ufe of the undlion in France,
according to the mode of the kings of Ifrael, I ftrongly fufped
that Virgil, who was a great divine, and a prelate of univerfal
erudition, firft fuggefted this thought, to take off the odium of
ufurpation, and make the title of king in his family be more re-
verenced. The reader has already feen the reafons I have .offered,
for its early introdudion into Ireland ; and if he will recollect
them, he will be able to judge with more precifion, of the reafon-
ablenefs of the prefent fuppofition.

St. Colga wrote Oratio Colga Sandi, which father Colgan
poffeffed ; and tells us, it is a fmall colledlion of the moft ardent
prayers, in the manner of litanies.

Aongus, the famous hagiographer, of the royal line of Ir,
flouriflied in this century. An account of his life and writings
may be feen in the Ada Sand. Hib. p. 579, &c.

Dicu'l,

••.

HISTORYOF IRELAND. 1^7

Dicuil, is faid by Harris * to have wrote a Treatife of the A-Q*
Survey of the Provinces of the Earth, according to the authority
of theperfons commiffioned by Theodofius the emperor to mea*
fure the fame j and that this treatife is yet extant in MS.

CHAP. VII.

Account of eminent men eontinued-^Pepin^ king of France obtains
mijjipnaries from Ireland, to convert the Frieflanders to Chrif-
tianity — the revival of literature in Europe more probably
to be afcribed to the Irijh, than the Arabians^'— the Jirji univer^
fities of Europe ejlablijhed by Ifijhmen ; and the form of pajfing
the degree of doSlor^ derived from the Irijh — of knighthood^ and
the ejiimation it was held in by the Irijh^— enquiry into the origin
of the feudal law and cujloms^^allodial tenure ^-^ knights fer*
vice — titles of honour^ duke ^ earU and bar on^ of IriJh origin.

TH E Venerable Bede confeffcs t# that at the requeft of
Of;vald, St, Aidan, vrith other priefls^ were fent from
Ireland to the converfion of his people. Ofwald himfelf, with
his brothers fled thither, in the reign of the monarch Daniel » a^
whofe court they were educated, and converted to Chriftianity ;
and to him after his reftoration, A« C. 634^ did Ofwald apply for
miffionaries, for the converfion and inftrudion of his people. In
like manner I fuppofe Pepin, Maire of the palace^ the grand t
father of Pepin, the firft king of France of the Carlovingian
race, and who was zealous in the caufe of Chriftianity — as indeed

were his fucceffors — ^applied to the monarch Fionachta A. C.

690, for miffionaries to convert the people of Frifeland, whofe

• Writers of Ireland, p. 55. ^ Hift. Ecclef. Brit. lib. iii. cap. 3.

Vol. II. T country

138 rtlSTORY OF IRELAND.

^•C- country he had juft reduced. But be this as it may, certain it id,
that Ecbert, an holy Saxon prieft, then refiding in Ireland, pre-
pared, with many others, for this miffion from hence ; but ob-
ftacles arifmg, he fent to Willibrord, his countryman, educated
and living in Ireland, with twelve difciples, to the converfion of
thefe people *. They waited fays he on Pepin, who gracioufly
received them, ^nd direded every favour and proteftion to be
{hewn them. That all thefe were educated, and refided for
many years in Ireland, Bede, their contemporary, declares; from
whence they failed diredly for Gaul. The famous Alcuin, hia
countryman, and preceptor to Charlemagne f, confeifes all this ;
and even begins his fecond book thus .

^^ Vencrat de occidois quidam, dc finibus orbis

*• Vir, virtute potcns, divino plenus amore ;

** Ore faga^c, et ntente vigil, et fervidus aflu.

^ Ad te, temporibus Peppinu Francia falix,

<^ Quem tibi jam genuit faecunda Britannia mater,

** Dodtaque nutrivit iludiis, fed Hibernia facris^

« Noinrine Wiflbrordus/*— —

Should it be a&ed why thefe were pitched upon by the Irifh mo-
narch for this miffioa ? Bede wilP inform you, that it was, be-
eaufe they were themfelvea of the Saxon race, and very probably
tmderftood the language. To this let me add, that at an earlier
date, (i. e. A. C. 653), Orimoald, Maire of the palace, ientDa-*
gobert, fon to Sigebert' IH. ta Ireland, in order to become a re-
ligious, where he remained for twenty years \.

• Hift. EccleCi Brit. lib. v. cap. 10, 11. \\tl Vka cjiis.

X Mcacray Hift. de Frantre, torn. i. p.. 96. Flcury's Hift. Ecclcf.

Ifup«

HISTORY OF IRELAND* 139

I fuppofe that king Pepiii in like manner applied to the monarch A.C,
Daniel IIL for a new recruit of miffionaries to farther the fame
good end ; who fent the famous Virgil, and his affociates. We
have already feen Eginhard aicknowleg^ the friendly intercourfes
between our princes and Charlemagiae : and at his requeft it was,
that Claude Clement, and John Scot, furnamed Albin, repaired
to Paris. Their is an cpiftle of Alcuin to Colga or Colcua, re- -
gent of the fchool of Clonard, which Uftier itrai>fcribed from the
Cotton library *r It is thus addreflfipd: ^^j^^m4^o mgifiro &
^^fio paireCx^lcuo.^^ From this ctpiftlfiii.ilt would appear, that
Alcuin was a pupil of ColCuo ; that he kept up ;a correfpondence
with him, and acquainted him from time to tim^ of the moft ma-
terial tr^nfadliona of the French church ^od ftate, ..This letter was
accompanied with prefeots of money frosi Charlemaga,e, and
from Alcuin hkafelff to be diftributed ja fcHne bosHrents in Irp«
land, toprayfor thcfuooeft ofihispwoce,

As this ktter was wrote before the year 79 Pi and that it is
evident fremi it, that other letters had paflfed between thei^ of aa
earlier date, we inay prefume that Clement a^d Albio, tjie fovind-
ers of the «niyerfities t>f Paris and Pavia, vifited France at the
requeft of Charlemagne, for this particular purpa/e^ not diat they
came unfent*for, as has been generaUy imagined. This ^ill cul-
turally account for the honourable reception he gave them, and
for his immediately affigoiftg to diem, the iUfFsr^c^t eittes in
which thefe great fchooJs were to be founded.

When the . reader recolleds the^ iiouriflung -ilate of arts and
fciences amoogft us, for fome centuries preceding the prefent xtz^
when he eonfiders from the Pater-nofter already. exhititeid, that 1
our language became a -kind of urm)erjal one among th$ Ik^ra^ti

of the continenti and now beholds univerfi ties founded jby Inikr .

♦

••Sylloge Epift. Veter. Hibern.

Ts met).

ijo filSTORYOF IRELAND.

AC./ men, under the patronage of Charlemagne himfelf; will he any"
I longer attribute to the Arabians, the revival of letters in Europe ?
J Thefe people were, from religious and political principles, the
avowed enemies of Chriftendom, and fought by the fword to ex-
tend their power, and eftablifti their religion, not to plant the
feeds of piety, peace, and learning. Befides, the fafts we have
alTerted, are admitted by all the early writers ; and to add fl ill
greater force this, has not Mezeray :^, and the beft informed
French antiquaries acknowleged, that to our, monks they are
indebted for what remains of their early hiftory ? Are there any
fuch teftimonies in favour of the Arabians ?

' It may appear to the prefent age a thing of little confequence^

to whom their anceftors were indebted for the revival of letters ;
and were I not fatisfied that this knowlege would help greatly
to elucidate and explain many things hitherto little underftood»
I (hould not be fo detailed on this fubjedi. As then the revival
of letters in Britain and on the continent, were the a£ts of Irifh-
men, we fhould fuppofe that their hiftory and legiflation ought
to throw more lights on thefe matters, than thoie of any other
nation ; and the fad is^ that they do fo. — And firft, the very
form of paffing dodors in different fciences, and the diplomas
granted in confequence, prove the fountain from whence thefe
cuftoms originated.

We have the copy of a diploma for a doAorfhip in phyfick
and philofophy *, at Rome, in which, amongft other infignia
of this oflSce, we read, that " a Biretrum was placed on his
** headi and a ring on his finger J^ Now the word Biretrum is not
Latin (notwithftanding that the cap of a cardinal has no other
name) but a manifeft Irifli word latinized. It was the cap worn
by our ancient dolors in different fciences, and is to this day
called by us a Birede, from Bar, a man of letters, and Eadach,

t HifL dc Fiance, torn. i. p. 161.. ♦ Sddcn'i Titles of Honour, p. 332.

4 aco*»

. H I S T O R Y O F IRELAND. 141

a. covering. By the famous fumptuary law, called Illbreachta, A.C.

or the Law of Colours, pafled about A. M. 2815, doftors had

the privilege of wearing fix diflFerent colours in their garmenta,

being one more than the equeftrian order (whom they preceded),

befides a Birede for the head. About the year of the world 3075,

a farther regulation of the literati was jnade, A few years earlier

it was decreed, that knights, befides^i;^ colours in their garments,

fhouid alfo be diflinguifhed by a Torques, or chain of gold, round

the neck ; and it was now enacted, that, befides garments of Jix

colours, and the Birede, dodors fhouid wear gold rings on the

finger. From this cuftom, the prince in whofe reign this law

pafled, was called Aldergoid, or the Decreer of Gold Rings, Be-

iides, the Biretrum and the ring, we read, foon after the revival

of letters on the continent, that dodors difputed with knights

for precedency ; and, to compofe this llrife, many were knighted ;

but others refufing this mark of degradation, as they thought it,

preferved their rank, and were called Milites Clerici. As then

the firft univerfities in Europe, were regulated and eftabliiQied by

Iriflimeih behold how eafily the clew to thefe cufloms is found

out, and how fatisfadorily the whole is explained ! Colleges of

poets were early eftabliihed in Germany ; and the arch-poet pre-

fided over this order of men t« On paffing dodors, they were

fworn to avoid fatire, mifraprefentation, or whatever could refled

on the emperor, or on their country. In Ireland, fuch colleges

were eftabliflied from the beginning of our monarchy; and does

not the abufe which this order of men amongft us fometimes made

of their power, prove the neceffity of this regulation ? More

than twice were fevere decrees pafled againft them; and in the ~

yearof Chrifl: 588, it was decreed, that the monarch's chief bard

t Seldcn's Titlet of Honour, p. 333, 4, 5, 6, 7, &c.

(hould.

142 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A*^- fhould, for the time to come, be prefident of the poets, haw '
power, to reform their colleges, and punifll, or otherwife expel
the order, fuch as defcended to fatire and mifreprefentation !

About the time that univerfities were cftabliftied on the conti-
nent, we read that orders of knighthood were alfo founded in
different places. It is confcfled, that this cuftom, did not origi-
nate from the eqxieftrian order of ancient Rome ; and though
the contrary had been affertcd, yet it could be eafily refuted ;
for we know, that fuch an order fubfifted in GauF long before
they had any contieftions with 'Rome. They are mentioned by
Caefar, by Tacitus, and by Livy, &c. Above three centuries
before Chrift, Manlius, a noble Roman, got the title of Tor-
quatus, (and which continued in his family), for baving killed in •
a finglc duel, a Gaulifli knight, whofe Torques, or chain of
gold, he ever after wore. Had the Torques been a Roman
badge^ the title would be abfurd.

That the deftruftion of annals and early records on the con-
tinent, and the total abolition of all ancient cuftoms amongft
them by the Romans, (hould leave no traces of this order of men,
fo renowned for their bravery and virtue, is not furprifing ; nor
that the revival of this, amongft other remote cufloms, in days of
freedom, (hould be placed as the very time of their inftitution.
Deprived of every clue to the hiftory of remoter times, what had
writers, but conjeAure to offer ? The hiftory of Ireland, the
' only country in Europe which had preferved its independency,
in thefe ages of tyranny and oppreffion, however, we fee, difpels
the clouds^ and, inftead of conjei^ure, proves to a certainty, the
very great antiquity of the equeftrian order amongft the Celts !

After the revival of chivalry on the continent, we behold em-
perors and kings deem knighthood, a new acceffion'of honour ;
and at this day, there is no prince in Europe who is not knighted.

S We

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 143

We fee it fo revered ia ancient Ireland, that no^prince could be- AC.
come a candidate for the monarchy, who had not received the
Gragh* Gaifche, or order of chivalry ; and to prove this, we have
but to remind our readers, that in the fourth century, an Irifh
prince, who had pofleffed bimfelf of the palace of Tara, in order
to ftrengthen his claim to the monarchy, was obliged to quit it»
as unquali6ed, having never been knighted!

If from this, we carry our ^^nquiries into the origin of thefe
ufages and laws, called feudal, what new lights will not our hif^
tory throw on them ? As they regarded tenures of every kind ;
and that the firft a£t of pofleilion, from the prince to the peafant,
confided in turning up fome ground, t^ey were in general deno-
minated feudal lawsy from the Iriih word Fod, a clod of earth
turned up, and Dlighcj a law ; hence the Latin Fodio, to dig,
and Feudum, a fee or tenure* Thefe tenures acquired different
names, according to the manner they were held in. The moft
lionourable tenure was called Allodial, as being held from the*
moft remote antiquity. The learned Dr. Robertfon * derives it
from A a and Lot, German words, which import, land got by
cafting lots ; but this gives no idea of Allodiai property. It was
by this kind of tenure, that the right of governing was confined
to the blood royal in every country in ancient Europe : it was
by it, that ofilicea were heieditary in certain families^ as n^arlhals,
treafurers of countries, commanders of horfe and foot^ &c. and
it explains, why thefe offices ftill continued in families, notwith-
ftanding any aft of rebellbn of the prefent proprietor* For
being but. tenant for life, and the poft cledive by the family or
fept, any overt- ad of the prefent poflfeffor, could only affed him-
felf. When a moft iniquitious enquiry commenced in Ireland^,

* Life of Charles V. p. 225. hiQx edit

144 HI STORY OF IRELAND.

A<C. in the reign of Elizabeth, by what right many of the moH: noble
families in the kingdom, held their ranks and fortunes ? they
anfwered, by the mod indifputable ; by a right as ancient as the
monarchy itfelf : a right which, till then, was never called in
queftion, by allodial tenure. However, fome confented, and
others were obliged to make a furrender of their hereditary rights.
She and her pious minifters garbled them out in what manner
they liked beft. In thefe partitions the good queen did not for-
get herfelf ; and her worthy minifters followed the royal ex-
ample. Sir John Davis's letter, in the reign of James I. fhews
more of this *. This word, like the other, is derived, not from
the German, but the Irifli word Allod, old.

Knights fervice, called by our lawyers Fearan Cloim, or fword
land, was another kind of tenure, different from allodial.
This laft was from the original partition of countries; but fword
land was allotted to foreigners, called in, in times pofterior to this.
This tenure we have inftances of from remote antiquity. In the
latter end of the fecond century, almoft all Leinfter was over-
run by the Mamonians. In this diftrefs Cucorb, applies to
Eochaidh, brother to the monarch Can, and to Laighfeach, an
intrepid hero. By their means, the Mamonians were defeated,
and on Eochaidh he beftowed fword lands, in ^he county of
Wexford ; and on Laigfeach, the country from him called Lais,
When the monarch Cormoc, in the third century, engaged the
grandfon of Oilioll, king ofMunfter, in his intereft; he gave to
him, and to his~ officers, large grants of land in Leinfter and
Conaiight, which were held by military tenure; and part of
which, the iffue of thefe heroes poffefs at this day; as O'Connor-
Cianachti, O'Hara, O'Gara, O'Coghlin, &c. In the fourth ccn-

* Letter to the Earl of Salifbury.

tury.

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 145

tury, the attempts of the Conacians, to add the prefent county A.C.
of Clare to their province were fo frequent and fo bold, that
Lugha, king of Leath-Mogha, made Fearan-Cliomh, of the whole
county, from the borders of Gal way, to Loops-Head. Thcfe
few inftances will prove — firft, the great antiquity of the feudal
fyftem, in oppofition to modern aflertions; fecondly, that allo-
dial property was a branch of this fyftem, and never fluftuating ; '
and thirdly, that it was not a barbarous fyftem fuggefted by ne-
ceffity, after the deftruSion of Rome — for by it property was
better fecured than by the Roman code — fee the revolutions in
ancient Rome — behold emperors elected often from the dregs of
the people ; depofed and murdered at pleafure, and new ones
chofen, according to the power of faction and caprice! Doe*. the
feudal fyftem exhibit fuch outrages ; or does it aff^ord inftances
offuch revolutit>ns? It does not. The fupreme command was
confined to the blood royal, and all fubordinate ftations were the
honours and properties of particular families.

But befides thefe, there was a part of this code, which gave
frngular privileges. By it, the pofleflbts of certain lands were
exempt from every mark of tribute or vafTalage, which was not
the cafe with allodial proprietors ; fince the hereditary titles of
mar(hal, ftandard-bearer, generals of horfe and foot, &c. point
out their diff'erent employs in the ftate. We may form fome
idea of the confequence of this tenure, by the will of Cathoir-
More, in the fecond century ; who, after bequeathing to his fon
Ceatach certain lands, concludes, as a remark of the great wifdom
of this prince — '^ that to feparate him from his brothers, would
** be a grievous lofs to them, though it were even on (Saor
*' Forba) free lands.'* Eftates on the continent defcended to, and
were divided amongft the male line only^ in exclufion of the fe-
VoL, II. U male.

146 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. male. This law was called Gavel-kind, from the Irifti , Gavel,
land, and Cinne, a family ; and inftead of receiving, the hufband
always fettled a dowry on the wife. She, neverthelefs, brought
•with her a confiderable ftock of cattle, according to her rank.
In Ireland this was called Callp an Spre, or the marriage cattle.
The cuftom was here, that every friend, relation, and follower
of the family, brought his prefent to the bride. This rule is yet
obferved in many places, and exadlly accords with the rules of
the old Franks and Germans.

Amongfl: the old Britons, Gauls, and Germans, all crimes, not
even murder excepted, were punifhed by mul£t:, and this was
fettled according to the rank and dignity of the deceafed. At all
timesjje^iij to the laft century, this law, which was called Eric,
prevailed in Ireland. When the State in Dublin requefted that
Mac Guire would permit them, to fend a fherifF into his country
(Fermanagh), he refufed, till they firft fettled his Eric ; by which
means, in cafe he fliould be cut oflF by his people, he (hould
know what fine he was to raife on his fubjedts for the offence.

Freemen who held land under allodial proprietors, were called
Arimani, from the Iri(h Araimh, to plow ; and by the tenure of
foccage, rent was paid in corn, from Soc, a plough-fliare. The
word Dux, Mr. Llhuid thinks derived from the Iriih Tus, a be-
ginning : it alfo fignifies noble ; hence the Irifh Tuifeach, a
chieftain or leader. In like manner the word Earl feems derived
from the Irilh Earlar, noble, generous ; and with us, Ear-Fhla-
thas, fignifies an ariftocracy. A Baron, perhaps from Bar, power;
hence Rug fe an Bar, he carried the fway* A Marflial, from
Meirge, a ftandard ; and Slua, an army.

From what has been faid, I think it muft be admitted, that
our hiftory is the true clue~indeed the only one— to the an-
cient

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 147

ancient laws and cuftoms of Europe ; and whoever will ftudy it A*^*
xlofeljr, and compare it with what has been advanced by Craigs ^y
Montefquieu f, Robertfon :j:, Dr. O'SulIivan §, &c. will throw
this great defideratum to the hiftory of Europe, in the cleared
light. Confult alfo Blackftone's Commentaries, vol. IL

• De Jure Feudal! apud Scotosr + L'Efprit des Loix,

t Hill, of Charles V. booki. § Lcflurcs on the Feudal Laws.

U 2 BOOK.

148 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C.

BOOK X.

CHAP. I-

Reign of Aodh VI. and Jirjl appearance of the northern

pirates'^not Danes, JiriBly Jpeaking^ but an ajfemhlage of dif^

ferent nations — their incurjions not caufed by a redundance of

inhabitants — ajfociate to preferve their religion and liberties^^

the monarch invades Leinjiery and exonerates the clergy from

their attendance on the army — ravages of the Danes — king of

Munjier demands tribute from Thomond^ but relinquijhes this

claim — the Danes defeated near Waterford^^return in greater
numbers.

797 AODH VI. called Oirdnidhe, the fon of Niall-Frlafach^
Jr\. was faluted monarch. About this time the annals of
Ulfter notice an invafion of the ifle of Rechrin, to the north of
the county of Antrim, and of its being plundered by pirates ;
and thefe the learned Ufher * obferves, were the firft Danifli
invaders.

As thefe people were, for above two centuries, highly formi-
dable, not only to Ireland, but to all Europe, fome rational
attempt to inveftigate the caufe of their repeated depredations,
may not be unacceptable to philofogbic enquirers. It is generally

• Brit. Ecclef. Prim. p. 958, 117a.

8 agreed^

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 149

agreed, that thefe pirates were a motley aggregate of Livonians, A, a
Saxons, Frifians, Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes, whofe re-
fidence on the coafls of the German fea and the Baltic, made
them naturally fond of that element. The various names by
which our writers have diftinguilhed them, plainly prove them
to have been of different nations. One tribe of them were
called Leth-Manni ; and thefe archbifhop Ufher and O'Conry *
judge were Livonians, whofe province is called Letlen, and by ,
geographers Letta ; hence Leth-Manni, or the people of Letta..
Others were called Fionne Gail and Dubh-Gail, or White and
Blacjk Strangers, from the colours of their hair. The firft were,
to all ajppearance, the Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians, who are
generally fair-haired ; and the others, Germans. A territory near
Dublin, yet retains the name of Fin-gall ; and Dunegal, is pro-
bably a corruption of Dubh-Gail, or the country of the Black
Strangers. But the moft general names they are, amongft us,
diftinguifhed by, are Dubh-Loch-Lannice and Fionn-Loch-Lan-^
nice ; the word Loch-Lonnach fignifies powerful at fea, and the
adjedives Dubh, or black, and Fionn, or white, were added
to denote their differentcountries by their hair. We alfo, feme-
times, find them called Danair-Fonh and Dan-Fhir; but I be-
lieve, thefe were rather words of reproach than an implicatioa
of the country from whence they came, becaufe they are rarely
met with ; and Irifli writers were not fond of reproachful epi-
thets to their enemies. They were called Dan-Fhir^ I conjec-
ture, from Dana, bold, impetuous, oppreffive, and Fear, a
man ; hence Dan-Fhir, or Dan-Airimh, oppreffive men. But
nothing can more fully prove the exadtnefs of our hiftorians, ia
their diftinftions of thefe people, than when the black Loch-

* Laws of Taiufiry illuftrated, p. 489.

Lanaica

ICO HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A-C, Lannics invaded Leinfter in 851, they attacked and difpofleffed
the white Loch-Lannics of theirterritories about Dublin,

If ancient hiflorians are fometimes cenfurable for too eafy a
credence of improbable relations, and for mixing fable with hif-
tory, what fhall we fay to modern writers, who oppofe their own
aflumptions to both ? It muft.be confefled that, with refpeft to
the depredations of the northern pirates, we have little of certainty
to explain to us the caufe why, for about two centuries, the Euro-
pean feas fhould be covered with lawlefs pirates, and different na-
tions feel the force of their power ; and why thefe diflFerent de-
predations fhould begin almoft everywhere about the fame time,
and ceafe at nearly an equal period ! Semblance of truth too
often precludes truth ; and fuperficial readers fometimes embrace
the Ihadow for the fubftance.

The caufe of the fudden burfting forth of fuch numerous
northern hives, at this time, has been attributed to a fuper-
abundance of inhabitants. The North, fay lazy fpeculatifts, has
been always a country the mofi prolific : it is the officina & va*«
gina gentium ! From it nations have been over-run from
time to time, and hardy warriors have acquired, in other
countries, thofe fettlements, which the too great population of
their own refufed them. But, however plaufible this appears,
like many oihtv refined theories of modern hiftorians, it is but a
bare afiumption. Every evidence that can be demanded, proves
that, at all periods, population has been greater in fouthern
than northern climates. The great quantity of unreclaimed
ground^ even to this day, in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, (hews
thefe countries were never overftockcd with inhabitants. . Whole
trads covered with wood, and the amazing quantities of it ex-
ported, particularly from Norway, prove the thinnefs of its in-
habitants. What are Copenhagen, Stockholm, or Drontheim,
compared, for extent or inhabitants, to London, Paris, or Dub-
lin ?

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 151

lin ? Or what the inhabitants of Europe to thofe'of Afia ? Popu- A.C.
lation, to a certainty, is much greater in warm than cold cli-
mates ; but were we to grant the reverfe to be the cafe, why
confine this amazing conflux of people to particular periods ?
Nature is uniform in all her effe£ts ; and the fame caufe that
produced a plethora of inhabitants at one particular period,
fhould, whilft exifting, at every other. Was the inundations
of Europeans into Afia in the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth
centuries, ever attributed to a redundancy of inhabitants ; not«
withftanding the Afiatics might well fuppofe it, from feeing, at
diflFerent times, fuch aftoni£Ring armies cover their countries ?
Were the different migrations to the Eaft and Weft Indies, and
the vaft continent of America, for two centuries part, re-
folved into an overilock of inhabitants in Europe ? If they
were not, why (hould we vapidly aflSgn this as a caufe in the
prefent inilance ?

We have . already noted how anxious Charlemagne, Pepin,
and their predeceffors were, to convert the northern nations «of
Germany ; and the a£tive part which the Iriflhi miflionaries took .
in this great work. In all appearance, policy united with reli-
gion in thefe purfuits ; as every convert they made, was a new ^
fubje<a acquired. Thefe Gernian nations, who fo manfully de-
fended their liberties, plainly faw, that the reKgion of their in-
vaders was as inimical to them as their fwords, and began to formf
a general confederacy againft both* Driven into a narrower com-
pafs they became more compadJ: and numerous, and their religion
and their liberties, being equally the objeds of the conquerors
they confederated to defend both *. Not numerous enough to
face their enemies by land, and being powerful at fea, they de-

• Both Pcpin and Charlemagne formed holy confederacies to convert thefe peo-
ple by fighting as well as praying i and where is the abfurdicy to fuppofe thefe unite
to oppofe both i

termined

152 HISTORY OP IRELAND/

A.C. termined to make diverfioas this way. Very probably neceflity
firft drove them to try the expedient, and unexpefled faccefs
increafed their confidence. The hiftoriaa Mezeray t attribmcs
the depredations of thefe northern nations to their love of liberty,
and their deteftation of thofe priefts and religious who had de-
ftroyed their gods and their altars ; hence, fays he, their grcateft
cruelty was exercifed on monks and monafteries. For this rea-
ion it is, that they are frequently ftyled in our annals Dubh-
Geinte^ or Black Infidels, and Fionn-Geiote, or White Infidels.
And as a farther proof of this, it appears, that as chriftianity
began to fpread amongft them, this rage of invafion began gra-
dually to fubfide. What avails it tlxat the ads of nations and
communities are the refult of fome general principles, if the bif-
torian, whofe duty it is, will not be at the trouble of exploring
them ?

In the year 798, and fecond year of the reign of Aodh, the
weft of Munftcr was invaded by a large body of the white Loch-
Lannics, or Danes, who, for fome time, ravaged the coafts, de-
ftroying churches and monafteries, and putting to the fword all
the clergy they found. Art, or Airtre, the fon of Cathal, was
at this time king of Munftcr, who, haftily colleding the forces
next to hand, engaged thefe foreigners in a pitched battle, de-
feated them, and, but for the night's coming on, would have
cut oft^ their retreat to their fliips, which the remains of them
with difticulty reached.

A. 799, the monarch raifed a great army, with which he in-
vadedthe province of Leinfter, to enforce the payment' of the
Tuathalian tribute. It feems that the royal army was always
attended by the archbifhop of Ardmach, and his fuffragan bifliops.
Conmac was at this time the fucceffbr of St. Patrick, i. e. the

t Hiil. dc France, torn. i. p. 165.

primate.

HISTORY OF IRELAND^ 15%

primate, and complained and remonflxated to the monarchf at ^^^*
the head of his clergy, how improper and indecent it was to
fee the minifters of peace, upon all occafions, witnefTes t6 the
horrors of warand-defolation; and praying, for himfelf and for
his fucceflbrs, a difpenfation from fo unclerical a duty. The*
abbot Fothadius, who, on account of his great knowledge in the
canon laws, was called. De Canonibus, was appealed to on this
occafion. He drew up his opinion in writing, which he en«
titled Opufculum pro Cleri Defenfione & Immunitate, and pre-
fented it to the monarch. In this be proved, that the clergy
ought for ever to be exempted from this duty; ^nd it was de*-.
creed fo ♦•

Six years after the firft defeat of the Danes in Munfter (i, e.
A, 804.) fay our annals, and when Feidhligi^^.Jthe Eugenian
line, was king of Munfter, a fecoiid«<feet . of . Danes landed on
thefe coafts, burning and deftroying whatever "flood before them,
but particularly the churches and clergy. Feidhliin; colleSed a * »
confiderable body of troops, and attacked thefe barbariansi who,
after a long and bloody confii£fc, gave way on every fide, ^nd
were purfued Xo their fhips with great flaughter f . , .

Soon after this we read of an invafion of; Ulfter by thef^ bar*
barians, and of the uncommon cruelties they exercifed there.
They plundered the famous abbey of Benchoir of all its riches,
carrying with them the rich ihrihe of St, Comhail, and putting
to the fword the abbot with nine hundred monks ! Muireadach,
king of UlAer, attacked thefe incendiaries with great refoli^-
tion, and after the lofs of tweWe hundred of their beft troops,
the reft fled to their fliips.

Feidhlim, the Munfter King, being, for the prefent, rid of 805
the Danes, by advice of his minifters, was refolved to compel the

• Aa. Sana. Hib. p. 581. 583. f Cogadh-Gail, re Gaoidhcalaibh.

. Vol. II. X people

1^4:' n-t at & R,Y' OF IRELAND.

A:*Ci. p(?bpf6 6f North* IVfunfter rapa^ ta the- l:ing& cff CafheU

Tbgiwgr6atef ^eight to negociation, heraifcd a confiderablc
army, With which he fallowed his ambafladors. The Dalgais,
artbiiifhed .lt the novelty bf the dcmatid, baldly anfwered, that
they never woirTd pay it ; that tltey had been, and their anceftor^,
at ttif timds exempt from taixe^ of every kind ; that their poffeffions,
pafrrfeiilai-ly the county of Clare, were FearAan forgahhala nft
claidhifHh (ancient conqucft of the fword) ; and as it had been
hitheftci piseferved free, in fpite of the power of Conaught, they
wciiild feke €ar« to tranfmit it fo to their pofterity *. The bifhops
of Limeftoj Kilkloe^ and Inis^Catha, foftoied tbia anfwer, by
remarking to the ambafladcMrs of Feidhlim, that, fince the fourth
ceittuiry^ l^y common ccmfent, the territory of Thomood was
dedared ^wohi-^ikid^^^is^, of courfe, the people free fronsb
ev«fy tribute, Whilft they ^^fefervcd this, barrier to Munfter. But^
befidts tliiSr Lachtna, the ibn of Core, fbn to Aniuain (who
thin gotertied the province) repaired to the camp cf Feidhlim^
reftte£inttng to him the injuftice of his proceedings ; that his>
fainily bad bden long def>f ived of their right of alternate fuccef-
fion to the crown of Munftefi according to the will of their com^
mob aiiceftor Oitliol ; and, that now, mftead of railing them to
their former rank, they wanted ta make them their tributaries,.
Feidhlim and his chiefs were fenfible of the juftnefi of Lachtoa^s
remarks, wbieh became of more weight oh finding that the Dalgaf-
fians were coUe<f^tng their troops from all qtiarters. Laehtna paid
him homage as King of Munfter, and was fplendidly entertained
by hhn, Feidhlim relinquished, in the moft fblemn manner^
all claims on the Dalgais y and this invafion, in the beginning £d
lor midable> ended in amity and fefiivity«.

I4eabluu:-Muim&eatt^

FeidhKm

« I S T O R V pf J R E L A NJP. 15^

Feidhlim, foon after, embracing a monaftic life, Olchubhar, A.C,
the foil of Ceaaaodba, an Eugenian, fucceeded hiin, la whofe
reign the Danes made a freih invafioYi into Munfler, committing
vncomoion crueltie^^ particularly on the churches and clergy.
They landed at Waterford, and fire and fword markedi every
where, the footfteps of thefe inhuman wretches. The city of 812
Lifmore was burnt to the ground, and its uniVerfity, then fo re-
nowned in Europe, deftroyed, with its valuable library !
churches were every where proftrated ; and wherever they found
any clergy, they werefure to put them to the fword. Olchu-
bhar, king of Munfter, attacked thefe aliens in the country of
the Deafies, and, after a moft bloody battle, gained a complete
vidlory over them f- Twelve hundred Panes were killed in the
field with two of their chiefs, Tom^* and Eric, and numbers
fell in the purfuit. But the lofs of the Mamonians was very,
confiderable ; amongft others, Olchubhar himfelf, with many
nobles of prime note, fell that day. To this defeat, I believe it '
IS, that Eginhard alludes, when he tells us, in his annals^ under
the year 812, *' that the Danes landed an army in Ireland, which
" was defeated, and put to a (hameful flight, by the Irifli *•"

Notwithftanding thefe defeats, the 'reports made by the fugi- 815
.lives to their countrymen, of the wealth of Ireland, thefplendor,
magnificence, and number of its churches and monafieries, and
the fertility of the foil, encouraged others to make new attempts,
and to endeavour at fome fettlement in the kingdom. A confi*
derable fleet appeared off^ Kerry head, and plundered and de-
ftroyed the monaftery of Skelig Mhichel. They then landed on
the continent, and laid wafte the country as far as Loch-Lene,
or Killarney. Here they were boldly attacked and defeated,
leaving behind them a confiderable part of their booty.

t Toruighcaa Cealacban Cfcaifcl. • An. Franc. Contr.

X 2 A frcfh

t56 ♦HISTORY OF IRELAND.

^•C- A frcfh force appeared foon after ia^ the Shannon, and the
noble churches of Scattery, or Ini8->Catha^ were plundered, the
clergy put to the fword, and the rich monument of St. Sennan
defaced. Their troops fuddenly landed, at different times, on
both fides the Shannon, and Cbrcabaifcan, and Tradeuighe on
the north, and Ui. Connal Gabhra on the fouth fide, with all the
churches, were laid in aflies. A large party of thefe incendi-
aries were, however, overtaken at Seannued near Glin, and put
to the fword. But though it appears, that wherever the Irifh and
thefe foreigners met, the latter were, in general, defeated, yet
the country was deftroyed beforehand by reafon of their com-
manding the fea» and being at all times able to land where leaft
cxpedted. Though the ravages of thefe Danes were alone as
much affliaions as could !)e well borne, yet the very elements
feemed to confpire to the ruin of this afflidted kingdom. On the
northern fide of the Shannon, in the month of March follow-
8i6 ing, fuch violent and uncommon claps of thunder and light-
ning burft forth, that above a thoufand people were deftroyed by
it ; at the fame time the fea broke down the banks with great
violence, and laid a confiderable part of the country under water.
Of the monarch Aodb we are furniflied with no accounts till
that of his death, which happened in the twenty- fourth year
of his reign, and in the battle of Defearta, by the O^nacians.

C H A P*

HISTORY OF IRELAND, 157

A.C.

CHAP. n.

Hhe reign of Connor'^attle of Druim^Conla^^frejh devajiatians
of the Danes J and death of the monarch— -of NiaU^IIL and the
landing of Tur gejius'-'^mifer able Jlate of Munjier^ and antiquity
of its cities^^LeinJier over^run, and the reduBion of the king^
dam projeBed— 'death of Niall — of Malachie I. convention of the
efates of Leth-Cuin, and feveral defeats of the DaneSf but
triumph at length.

CONNOR, fon to the monarch Donochada, now. filled the ffzt
throne. The Gailiongachs, leaguing with the Danes^
this prince attacked, on the plains of Tailtean in Meath, and de«
feated them with great daughter. The Danes had already over-
run a great part of Leinfter and Connaught. The Lagenians, 3^^
headed by their prince Lorcan, the fon of Ceallach, colleded a
confiderable force, and attacked thefe foreigners at Druim-Conla;
The adlion was very bloody, and, for a long time, doubtfuK
Fortune, at length, declared in favour of the aliens, and, for
the firft time, were the Irifti defeated with very great flaughterr
This year the clergy of Conaught agreed to pay Patrick's pence
to the fee of Ardmach.

A body of Danes landed fuddenly near Cork, fet fire to the ^^^
town and church of St. Finbar ; but the people, recovering from
their furprize, attacked and defeated them with confiderable
flaughter. A large body of Danes landed at Inbher-Chin-Tra- g^^
gha, or Newry, committing dreadful cruelties. They, for the
firfE time, attacked Ardmach^ and fet fire to the churches^ and

xiniverfity^

\»

158 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. univerfity, plundering them of all their plate attd riches. The
monaftery of Benchior again felt the fury of thefe fiends, and
feveral parts of Conaught were laid wafte by them. The mo-
narch, either unable to unite the nation in a body againft thefe
invaders, or, perhaps, perreiviAg the iitipradticability of it, as
their attacks were fo fudden, fo unexpeded, and diftant, we are
told, died with grief, and Was fucceeded by

83^ . Niall III. called Caille, the fon of Aodh VI. The year 836
was remarkable for the arrival of Turgedus in Ireland. Moft of
our writers place it earlier by twenty years ; but this would be
giving to this tyrant an unreafonable leogth of years, and mak-
ing him play the fool, as we ihali fee, at a time when fuch va-
garies mud have long left him ; add to this, that his feizing on
Ardmach (which he did foon after his arrival), and expelling St.
Ferraoan, the clergy* and all the fludents, is placed in the year
8 39. This prinee Turgefius, with a fleet of an one hundred and
twenty {hips, tnade two defcents in Ireland. One fleet of fifty
ihips entered the river Boyne, and landed near Drogheda ; the
other in Dublin. Encouraged by £0 confiderable a reinforcement,
and fenfible of the utility of having one common chief, all the
foreigners in the kingdom (though of difi^erent nations) agreed
to acknowlege and aft under the command of Turgefius as fuch,
and to endeavour to conquer and ftttle in a country, which their
firft intentions were only to plunder and diftrefs.

Already had Munfter fuffered unheard-of afflidions. The
northern and fouthern Mamonians, or the Eoganachts and Dal-
gais, had not been well united. Thefe laft, conftantly in arms
to defend their frontiers from the Conacians, .could not enforce
their right of alternate fuccefGon to the crown of Munfter, and
were, in a manner, excluded by the Eoganachts ; and the writer
of the adions of Ceallachan Caifil, now before me, complains,
that ia all the mi(eries of thefe days, the monarchs, and province

I of

HI STORY OF IRELAND. 159

• ♦

of Leth-Cirin, never afforded them the fmalleft faccours. f hus A.C.
divided ynongft themfelves, and unfupported by the other pro-
vinces, the Danes, whereVer they landed, had nothing to fear
but from the military, and people of that quarter ofily. Their
fleet a fecond time failed up the Shannon, and deftroyed a moft
fpacious monaftcry near Carrig a Foile, the remains of which, at
this day, proclaims, in part, its former extent and grandeur.
All the other religious houfes, on both fides the riVer, fufFered
the fame fate. They landed a confiderable body of troops near
Limeric, furprifed, and fet on fire the ancient city of Deochain-
AfTain, and with it the noble college of Muingharid, with the
monaftery, and other religious houfes^ having firfl plundered
them of their richeft eflfeflis* Soon after this they pofleffed them-
felves of Limeric» We are not told how, nor the exa£t time, ^
but the Ulfter Annals, under the year 843, mention St. Ferra*
nan's being taken prifoner at Cluan Chomharda, and, with his
family and the ornaments and reliques of his churches, conveyed
by water to their fleet at Limeric. From this we mutt fuppofe them
in pofleflion of it before that period. And here let me for
once obferve, en paffhnt^ the manifefl abfurdities of foreign
writers, in aflferting that Limeric, Cork, Waterford, and moft
of our fea-port towns, were built by thefe mercilefs barbarians.
Limeric was fa noted for its commerce, from the earlieft ages>
that it was never mentioned by our ancient writers without the
epithet Long annexed to it. When Ceallachan-Caifil attacked
and expelled the Danes from thence, we then find him call it
Luimneach na Luingas, or Limeric of the Ships or Fleets. We
fee St. Munchin, its firft bilhop, in the days of St. Patrick ; and
Cork was foon after ereded into a bifhoprick, &c. It need not
be told, that, before the council of Nice, it was decreed^ that
bifhops ihould never be ordained but toprefide over large cities,.

-^^

4:1 ' . i

i6o HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. or - confiderable trads of land» where numbers of inferior
clergy were.

The Mamonians mufl: have received fome. confiderable checks
in this lad invafion^ becaufe I find it mentioned, that after Ail*
ghenaniking of CaChell's deceafe, (and he ruled Munfter but feven
years)) Maolgula, who was his fucceflbr, was killed in battle by
the Loch-Lonnachs.

TurgefiuSf as we fee, having now the command of thefe aliens,
wherever difpcrfed through the kingdom, with great wifdom
availed himfelf of this power ; and his different detached parties
were every where in adion, whilft he poffefled himfelf of Dro-
gheda, and another party of Dublin. And now was the whole
country one . fcene of ruin and defolation ! Churches and mo-
naileries, religious and laics, nobles and peafants, without dlfcri*
ihination, fuffered the utmoft cruelty of fword and fire ! Maigh-
Breagh, and Maigh-Liffe, which, before this, exhibited fuch fcenes
of opulence, fplendor, hofpitality, and piety, became nowdeftitute
of inhabitants, cities, ot houfes ; and the country, inftead of
being covered with flocks and corn, was replete with barbarians,
who were a difhonour to humanity ! In this general conflagra-
tion and carnage, churches of the greateft fame were particular
objedls to fatiate the vengeance and rapacity of thefe infidels.
They plundered and burned the noble abbey and churches of
Kildare, taking with them the rich (brines of St. Bridget and St.
Conlaeth. The city of Fearna-Maidog, or Ferns, then the ca-
pital of Leinfter, they laid in afhes ; having firft plundered the
archiepifcopal church of St. Maidog of all its riches, They
ereded forts and caftles, in thefe now defolate places ; fo that
whoever ventured to return to their old habitations, muft do it on
terms of fubmiflion to them. In vain did the Irifli oppofe them
manfully every were i and wherever they engaged them, in ge-
neral defeated them. Our annals are minute enough in their
" accounts

HISTORY OF I R EL AN D. i6i

accounts of thefe different encounters, (for battles they could not AC.
be called), and note in what place three, in another five, and fix
hundred of thefe people were cut off. It is evident by their
numbers and the power they infadt acquired, that, upon the whole,
the Danes were fuccefsful. This was not enough ; the interior
parts of the country had been hitherto free from their incur fions;
and poured forth new men, to defend thofe parts neareft theiiu
Turgefius, in imitation of the Irifli, having penetrated far into
the country, caufed light barks to be built, and the interior parts
of the Shannon, and other rivers and lakes, were foon filled with
enemies, who, by fudden landings, laid the country every where
wafte. The profpe£t of. a complete reduSion of the kingdom
animated thefe people to make new efforts. Turgefius fent to
his friends for a frefh reinforcement of troops. Early in 839, a
fleet of Danifli (hips appeared on the coafts of Ulfter, and landed
a large body of troops near Dundalk; and after laying wafte the
country, took Ardmagh* fword in hand, and fet fire to all its
fumptuous churches, colleges, and publick edifices. As had been
already done in the South, they built veffels ; and Loch-Neach
and Loch-Erne, were covered with fmall craft : from vvhich they
fuddenly landed, fpreading ruin and defolation over all the adja<*
cent country, and particularly deftroying churches and monaf-

•teries.

Thefe fcencs of devaftation, the monarch we muft fuppofe
laboured to redrefs ; but the attacks were fo frequent, fo unex-
pe^ed, and fo general, that it would be hard to. find a remedy
for all. He engaged them "however in two different places, and
defeated them both times with confiderable flaughter. He la-
boured now to unite the jarring interefts of the kingdom. To
this purpofe he made a royal tour into Leinfter, but was ua- ^
fortunately drowned in the river Caillen, (and this in attempt-
ing to rtlieve a gentleman of his train, who, in trying whether it
Vol. II. Y was

i62 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. was fordable^ was wafhed off his h(^re)i to the uofpeakable Io6.
of his country^

In the difordered ilate iii which the kingdom muft have been
left by the premature death of Niall, we caanot fuppofe that the
eledion of a fucceiTor was fo folemii and magnificent^ aa upon former
occafioas— indeed it would be hard to think, how the national ra<-
prefentatives could fafely meet, to proceed to fuch eiedion^-^yet
Bs he is placed next in the regal lift^ we muft fuppofe (hat Maol-
feachlin, otherwife Malachie^ the fon of Maolruana, and brother to

848 the monarch Connor, was immediately nominated monarch of
Ireland. He is called in the regal lift Flaith na Feine go Fior*
BhUadhy or Prince of the truly Conquering Legions. Soon after
his acceflion to the throne^ he fummpned the ftates of Leatb*
Cuin, {{. e^ q€ Conaught, Ulfter, and Meath), to meet at Ard«
mach, (which had been recovered from the Danes), to deliberate
on the ftate of the nation. There appeared^ befides the monarch
and his fuite, Madaghan, king of Ulfter, Flaithri, king of Con*
aught, with their nobility ; and Diermod, fucceflbr to St. Patrick,
with his clergy, and thoTe of Meath, opened the conyention by a
folemn high mafs. From their effeds only, are we enabled to
determine what were the refolves of this auguft affembly ; and
thefe it appears were^ to attack the Danes in all quarters, at neady
the fame time. The monarch himfelf, at the head of a choiea
band, defeated a large body of tbem in Meath, with the lofs of
700 of their heft troops left dead on the field of battle. The
brave Dalgais cut to pieces fererat hundreds pf them at Ard-
Brcacan, about the fame time ; and the people of Tyrconnel
gave a fignal overthrow to a large body of them near Eafruadh*
The fame fuccefs attended the people of Cianachta j and at Loch«
Gobhair, they loft feveral hundreds more.- . The monarch fijon
after, in conjundion with the Lageniapa, gave tbem battle at
Glas Glean, and j 700 of tbem with SazoUv ^ commander of

ipecial

H I S T O H Y O F I R £ L A N D. 163

fpecial note, fell ib the engagemeiit* But thefe fuccdflfes were A.C.
bttt tranfitory ; and the Danes had refburcesi whielt the Irifli had
not. Befidea the numbers of them conftantly crowding from
Aat own barren fbil, by the^r fuperiority, both in Britain and
France, they could recri:^ more ex|>editioufiy upon emergenciety
than to wait for new fuceouri from the Bafltic Accordingly^
in a little time the power of Turgdius, was more abfolute thait
ever ; and he availed himfelf of thia power, by impofing the fe-^
vereft hardfhipSi and taking the moft effediual methods to deprefa
the fpirit and deftroy the power of the Iri^j that barbarous and
uncultivated cruelty could fuggeft. '

CHAP. HI,

Tyrant^ exercifediy ^ftrgefius'^-^afe of the Moors of Granada and
Huguenots of France after their reduStion^ very different from '
jfhat of the Catholics of Ireland^uftified for taking up hrms on
SEVOLUTioN principles-^unj^recedented refraining laws pajffed
againft them^ and the eonfequences of them.

^^ H £ forces' of Tttrgefiite, mtmcroos and well a]^QinCe<}, by
the fpoila of Ireland, and edier adjacent coantrieay in theit
tarn took the lead of die Irifli^ and tiiumj^bed every were. Tht
wUis of the conquerors became laws to the ^ranquiflied, attd theft
were of die moft oppreffive imture. Every di£b*i<fifc in the land^ \
in which an ki& Taoifeach or lord redded, was obliged to enter*
tain a Daaiih chief, to whom he was to fubmit, and from whom
lie wasto Kcdvc wden for the governing his people ; forth^

Y a laft

•x»

■

i64 HISTORY OF IRELAND.-

AC. laft would receive no commands, but direftly from their own
chiefs. This preferved the appearance of freedom amongft the
people, and at the fame time rivetted their chains more ftrongly.
Every town, befides its old magiftrates, was fuperintended by a
captain with his company 5 every village had a ferj^nt; and in
every farm-houfe in the country^ was a foldier lodged. All thefc ^
the people were obliged to fopporrt. Had this fupport been fuch
as they could aflFord;it would be fome alleviation to their miferies;
but this was not the cafe. Nothing the gentleman^ the citizen,
or the farmer poffeiTed, could hefafely call his own. The cattle,
the corn, and provifions were at the difpofaf of the rapacious
foldiery. The citizen and the farmer dared not fit down to
their meals, in their own habitations, nor partake of the fruits
of their induflry, till thefe banditti were firft fatisfied. All
orders in the flate were laid afide ; and the different coloured
garments, by which the nobility, the literati, and the military
were diftinguiflied, were forbid on fevere penalties. Univerfities
and fchools were filled with foldiers, churches and monafteries
with heathen priefts, and fuch of the clergy and the literati its
efc^ped the fvvord, . fled to deferts and wilderneffes, where many

perifhed through want and cold ! Religion and letters were in-«

" • • • •

terdidted ; the nobility and gentry were forbid the ufe o£ arms ;
and the very ladies, of the education proper for their rank and
ftate ! This was not enough : the mafter of every houfe in the
land, was obliged to pay annually to Turgefiusls receivers an
ounce of gold; and this was !exa^d with fuch rigour and
cruelty, that fuch as could hot comply, were td forfeit the lofs of
, / tlieir hofe, or. become -llfcves ! hence this ux. .was called Air|;id-
\ Srone, cfr nofe- money. Such were the t^rms of peace, which the
haughty Dane offer-ecj the Irifli ;. and thefe they .thpughtr wert
bettex; than ^a tQt^l.extirpatiop, which muft have,fdllpwed thejr
yefuf^U. Thus, though Malachie was the ,ijott>inal mo(i9rch of

Ire-

HISTORY OF r R EL A N »• aSs

Ireland, amongfthis countrymen for many years, yet Turgefius A.C.
was in faS thi diSiator. The colouring in this pkaure of national
diftrefs is very far. from being heightened, and'is ftrfeftly confon-
ant to the records of thofe days. But if we refled on the char
.^a<ftcriftic barbarity of this motleys aggregate of diflFercht nations,
enemies to the religion and to the liberties of Europe ; and at
the fame time confider, that their tenures in diflFerent e^JUntfieii
were by the fword only, we will be-lefs Airprifed at theiftvage
'*ruelty, with which they fupporte4»every wh'ere their dbmimoh.
Should we be able- to produce, eveb iti the prefeht enlightened
age, not the lawlefs ^^/^^j of fivage banditti, 'but the cool and
deliberate afts of national affetiiblics, iti their efFe6J:« as bppfcffive
as thofe already recited, and ftill kfi defenjibk\ as being cbntrary
to the faith of treaties and olP nations'/ whltt will thtfputAidcthhik;
of the " framers ieind enforcers 6f thenl ?• and- yet-^lamehtably to
be told— fuch is the cafe of Ireland at this very day 1

The Spaniards have been feverely animadverted on, for their •
banifhing the Moors their territories; and France' has been
'highly ciiifured' for th^ revocation df the W/^ of Ndntz: Yit^t^
lA a ^blitifcal lights nothing can be ofFrfr^* in vindication of either
'a9!5 but conudered in a moral one, much may be faid to ext^
nuate the chaise of mjuftice in both inftances.

-With ref^eft to the Moors, their anceftors weri' Afrfcans,
enemies to Europe, by religion and by pririciple : thdy not only
'fceTf>t Spaiti u rider galling fetters for Tome centuries, but'ibvaded

France,' and intended every where to eftablifli the crefcent^ at

• ' ' * » - • . ,

the experici of the crofs. They were expelled France; and at
length fubdiied in Spain, by the'uiiioti-of*th€?'hbnfes of Caftite
atld Arragoln ; and now completely c6ti4uered, th'fey were, by the

law of arras, fe< the mercy of their ^n^jreies.*'' In fouild polk:y> *^hfe

* » • •■ , • » .

moment they were deprived of power, fhat moment fliould they
ceafe to be regarded with an inimical eye/ and wife legiflators

would

tU HISTORY OF IRELANIX

<AX. would coofider cmUfy how heft they could make fo oo^Cidcnhh
aa aooeffioQ of n^vr fubje^a ufefiil to the flate. The wifdom of
3fi»iii£b cott»&l» oa thia ^cttfioa may be Arr^^gitf 4i b»t not their

Aif to Ac treataieoJ: cf the reformed in FrMoe ; it i$ evideiiti
£r0M luftorf » that the ooocelfiona made to them, were extorted
hf tforee «ad violeaae* They leagued with Eogkod and Ger-
mw^ ; pofleSed ihemfdvos of £everal cities, ^nd hid defiance. t»
tiieif aamral foTeretgn$. By the nullum T^MBVB$£t — eivt«
in Eaglatid a law 6f the land^-^it is acknowledisedt that qo leogsth
;0f time or ^oflSsflioo^ no prefeription whatevert can depriye the
cnMm of It refiimption of her natural rights. It ihouki £aUow
then* that gf acea extorted by force aod reheltioa, ia more fettle4
iimtt ma/ be les^ recalled. But let me not be fuppoled to
lie ml advocate lor any violence whatevtt*, offered to people oa
account of religioua principles* My Ibul abhors the thought t
luidr I think every man fliould be permitted to adore the Deity
la what form he judges hefty wJUf^ his religious tenets are neithar
itfj§Mfi<lus t$ thefiate^ ^r ia individuais. With avowed priociplfs
of rmiverfiU t^ieratwn^ I wiflir mot to offend any party of men j
«i4if I have hinted at the above fads» it is» that the reader may
plainly fee* in how different a light the hardfiilps impofed on thfs
Iiiiih Catholics Aould be confidcred from thoie inflidled on the
Mqocs^ Granada, or the Proteflants of France.

The only vsw-al light, in which the Revolution of 1688 can he
^oofidered^ in order to be juftified* is^ by admitting, wha| the
«hNV^ of England formerly denied^ and what numbers of its
4}ci|g]r 4cny «t ll^is day^. e. '^ Thatrwheoever the ruling prince
<' f«ijfeit^> hia«erou8^n oath, that moment die fubjeAs become
^^Abfiitrad fiKMA their anegianaei? and to give to this pc^itioo
itSffuiUfiKC^f we«mnifaallgTant what this Revolution fufficieotly
pcwKibiivue* *^ That wy tafi»dioa of this oath» onthepast <^

••the

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 167

^* the foverign, is a full acqultal of every tie of allegiance on A.Cij
«« on thofe of the fubjca.'* Still the Irifh could not be juftified
in l>eing evbgi passive, in this extraordinary Revolution* They
as well as the Engliih, fwore allegiance to James : if he tramf^ed
on the laws and liberties of the Utteri the former had no charge
of this kind to make. On the contrary^ principles of gratitudie^
as well as of duty, called upon them to defend and fupport his
fight to the kingdom of Ireland* I fay of gratitude, becauic it
is evident, from the moment he came to the crown, that he bad
determined fo repeal the aB of Jettlementy and to reftore to the
Iri(h, thofe eftates and honours, which both he and they thought
that zSi had moft unjuftly deprived them of^ This ih not the
place to enter into the nature of the laft Irifli war : it is fufficient
for our purpofe to obferve^ that it was termiiuited by the famoua
capitulation of Limeric, agreed on the third, and %iied the
thirteenth of Odober 1691, confirmed by the then lords joftices
inbehalf of king William, and, after this, recogniied by this prince
in the moft ample manner.

By this peace, the ]ri(h Catholics continued poSeiTed of their
eftates and properties, and the fall exercife of their religion^ ^udi
as they enjoyed in the days of Qiarles IL on taking new oatha
of allegiance to the preient government ; and the merchant^ th^
artizan, and the agrarian, had every aflfurance of fupport and
protedion. Such Irifli as thought they could not in honour and
conictence transfer their allegiance to the new government, were
at liberty to depart the kingdom, and carry with them their money,
jewels, and ether valuable eiFeds, (William obliging himielf to
fupply them^ at his own expence> with feventy tranfports) ; and
no lefs than 20,000 embraced this alternative 1 By the vohistary
emigration of inch a number of bold and rieftk& ^itittt aa
ample field was 4jk>w opened to i eftore tp the peaceaUe fim (^
Ireland^ that eafe and tranquility, which cruel intefline wan for

6 above

i68 H i S T-aR Y» O F IR ELAN D.

A.C. above five centuries had deprived them and their anceftors of ;
but that happy day wad &\\l very TemotfC !

The fame zeal for religion, which, animated the reformed to
take up arms againft James^ and to expell him and his pofterity9
feemeds now that they were poflefled of national power, to abforb
every other public confi deration; and to it, arts, manufaduresi
commerce, tillage, and whatever clfe is deemed to create national
wealth and felicity, were facrificed! For inftead of conciliatory
ads, inftead of ads of.general oblivion^ indead of labouring to
make the horrpts of war be forgot in the happinefs of peace
and plenty, the fucceeding IriOi parliaments feemed to direct all
their views to convert .and reform their new fubjeds, by penal
lawsy and to make wilful! obflinate recufants, feel the utmoft
force of them ! Thefc lawa were not fimply confined to the no-
bility and gentcy, hut> with wonderful Impartiality and perfpicu-r
ity, materially affedled every order of men.

Roman Catholics were forbid, by fevere penalties^ to fend their
children abroad for education, whilft at the fame time, perfons of
that perfuafion were difqualified from inflrudting them at home !
Papifis were declared incapable of purchafing eftates ; and the
eftates of Papifis were decreed, to defcend in Gavel- kind, ad in^
finitum I but if the eldeft, or any other fon reformed, he became
heir at law ! That the children of Papifts fhould be under no
kind pf dread or redraint of their parents ; whoever chofe to be«
come Proteftants, was allowed by the court of Chancery, a ftipen4
equal to the father's fortune during his life, and the ipberitance on
his deceafe, how difiblute and abandoned foever he might be !
Papifis were rendered incap^^ble of inheriting by will, defcent, or
otherwife, any eftate of Proteftant relations, unlefs they reformed
within the courfe of fix months : they could not lend money on
mortgages; and they were forbid even to wear that common
mark of gentility, a fword,

Belides

HISTORY OF I R E L /

Befidea theft and many other ads, levelled chi
tbolic n0biUt7 «jp4 gPAtry, others were calculi
farmer, the paerchant, and tfie mechaaic. Ai
Clariag.Roman': Catholics incapable of taking ]
houfeft> for a l4ng:pr .term than thirty-one years
there was a cUufe . of the moft perniciQUS tendi
duftrious farmeri fuid tlu;ough him to, the kin
For, it was not enough) that by cjrci^pfcribing t!
tenures, the interefl of the land-holder was, at b<
precauous, and his induceqientsto improvq, but 1
he was obliged to pay ftto-thirdt ef the improvet
Jitck . land, etherwi/i it ■ became the property ofifk
idifioiverer. Fapifta were.&rbidto refide in Lim
(then 'great commercial cities); except JiOiermcn
nor even thete, if they paid: a.;gp«ate<.reut than i
year each, for his holdiogs^v^ayi pgpifli artifas
incapable of taking more (hsin twd apprentices.
. Whatever wife and {uaA8iintene8.iwiti«;Pfdpotf(
many other' aAs lofpaij^ianieati £qilidl}r>'Dew and
yetthefaAis, tllattbey<liakro b^ pn^itdlmbf
laiiiities, as well to the^pati6natla^;:S8'to the \
teedialely ^Se&eA bytfaan, nas tbey contriWtei
^avds the f«m;«3i&^,.oif lfae.CaUiolul/natiye&;i' the
Yhem opQu to ever^ 'fceneikif'difttdat.powfiyya
lenn well be fii^pt^ed. iBy^thcirbffe^.lthAi bo
became diflblved, ai«I ihtf'pi'abdrof &faiires. deflt
were deprived of Rewarding' their dutifiil^oi- puntil
thildreiV ! ' ^4ie4adgdbal iniaiinedtwitU pd^u^at^,
iind difeOVefttv i %he la«tyera vereOe^f iiit^eft<
Che fpirtt/forcci iindiiieaailtgvf^hcfitiaiftsv'tordKii
^d the eoturts had Itnle oihw' bbfinefs/lbut.i
The a£fc coofiaihg ^ptfts to le^cfr iof /^rty-bne

Vol. II. Z

170 H I S TORY 0;B' I R fe LA N D.

A.C. ticularl)^ chitting them tofnty io the'ianidhr4'fuU t^^ thirds (f4he
profit rent, was ane of the moft oppreffiiw and in^pikous ttiat
ever was diftated ! The reader Will eftfiiy perceive that the other
third vrzis fcarce fuflSeient to ^ay fhe expence of ^'filiage, muoh
iefs to- yield a profit rent to the fanner. -If he took a leafe
•bdowlhisvateation, after building' ^«a^ imprbvifig) for three of
four years, ' ^e was fare to be difpoflefled. The difteefs <and ruin
brought on families, and on the kingdom, hy it, are not to i>i
t5cpfeflfed'. ' The xrountry- 'became 4efolate, country towiM
idwmdRed intb Wretched cottages, af&d theie iboA liurakiered into
(fluft for wantof tra^ and cmploytocnt! - \

Still the cities caatinued opulent by their conmerce* aiad . tibc
<he large exports, -pajrticiilfjriy <)f-waotleii good^/ gave .emplo^r
to Chou^ds. * Thteir^tUatS^iis^d'df^tti»£ftaoc6s:.T^
4E>vti^l6efked th^ fho^ ii^\^'^ery> o^mpfOtf'pedfofUt^f^^
€oi^d'%y /tf^ to tilfie m«^r6 (hdti two ^iies of iiid eaciy Verf
foon after the Rev6krt}c]^£i aiT^iSpafied; ditedtiiiigtJnoihdlHfigs ta
^% ffOBolA ^ty to >e .pat^ for all Iriir ibproHuL-cloafths exporjed*
i6A one fliilimg iti the^podiid'pa aanawgoQ(b ! Tiiia.imts Jsc*
t«»dle(iv fanae^ -tiisei^afiief^ ibyJaiecbi^ larhscl^' oS^iTtged Xh9
Tuer^haMt to pay four Ihilltiqgs 'ia i^ier (poiiiid sxt hroad-<:^6th8^
-and tw^ thiltin^^^ ift the -^mmid aon . naatoir |[pMds' ihifipfld' for
^forieigc^^markeis^ A'l^d&llowed, torifictingibe- expovtatioOi o^
JMiobU(iv^lotl»: to four (p|>udKla..iiiKn«hul0: the; le^^ Sfifff

tbillii^s^woviih to tlie: Taylors .of evdiy cfliip, zs^- no - mdfe h ABii
this was foon after clofedrby a tobd pvohibitmci j. !

The government of «drpbtaie faufrns fabg^.tr'aotfffred to aew
^ftndsy tlieir rulers, tbe bsttct to ittgititmtfe^tJidnri^es . frijtl^ ^»^
tngiher.'.pcmdn, ;&B©wW'.)flie.;«9c«i|^.: oCllitJi^iftefPCrPliWfi?
•gi-flcd iD'fidy lihdixi >tIveJ^t9Mrffi«w^td]||wi •^^. ftftajf^ p^j,
foripeinniffiikL'tafolIo^liKidd !» ffkcrir I1Mi(it8.i:itM«t>cl)^o..;nap.U;^
" Aflwetft yccM ohUgfd ln^p); ^SftVjT ifilH Mi'l pT^tfffdSe ,tp |^«

ilI.S.TTOBLY OP rREL'ANBl

171

title them to purfue their different callings 5 nay, the very jour- ^^

neymen were compelled to pay thefe impofitionsi and thefe, in

too many inftances, were extorted with unheard of cruelty. I

(hall not dwell upon thfife fa(3;sr;: they have been proved before

the Houfe of Commons ; they have been declared unlawful ;

and, notwithftanding the reiterated endeavours of heads of citie^

and corporate towns for fome years paft, they have riot been

able to gain, for thefe ads of monopoly and bppeflion, the

force of law. Thus a profound and uhdifturbed peace of eigfefy-

fix years, has proved, to a latge majority of the natives of this

kingdom, a period of mod: unheard-of afllidions ; and laws^

opetating againft htdufiry^ artSi eMafcttnctSi ha^t had the Utmofi

fuceefs. Th« poor of Ireland, one of tfie moft lovdy- irtd fmi^-

fal iflanditn tKd -mi^M,- a^e, at t%is day, Hit mi)ft<^retcfadd'atf^

bppreffed .fet of mxjttjfti ^k-fah&^t feiifced on, and W «e tlid

fatf natibri in Eiifope'ifa txifU tdriinieitef in* Wters ! Fn Vaitt dd

•* IrirEffB %<xtn oi libeHt'y " cry out agiinft the baniiO^ini; the

Moors from Spain, an4 ekelatm at the revocation of the edi^ ^

NaWti. it hid fteen in'Hippy rf^cuttttfewce ^ Che* MA fcsk*

fh^-b«M oifi^ed, Hlfe'lghe Mbbi^^ to- fcfl! ^eifellttte^- jui(f

qnit the- kiogtfbrii;- tfiey ttten ■v^ould Ife able to cany ptir-*

pertf withthetfr j hut the/wiii/''Awi'<fctyrifted- nmltitutfe* c(f thiav

and confideraW6 fknnRis ' fboti- - rfodldetfed a^ay.— The kw4 of

France operated, ndt on the propertied, hot' the refigroft off Ihtf

Huguenots r thefe of Irteki^ uhhip^Jfy roifttartc a^inff'bbttt ! •

,The bad policy in enading thefe laws> is no# ackrfcr^llAlgelf

by men of fehfe atid caAdof , and: fortte faint mfuecefifid atimtpts

have been latiely made t* repeal, or rather m'rtigatc afew of tb^mV

but no notice is taken of their irqulfice, or how ruinbus they'

have been In their coitfiq^tfiKes - boA to Brhfaiif and Irtlanff ;

being the efficient caufe of no left dran four hundred! antf fifty

thoufand Iriih rnlifiing themlelTefr under the banners of France

from the year 1691 to the year 17459 inclufive!

Z 2 CHAP.

iyt HISTORY OP IRELAND.

A.C.

CHAP, m

The Danes JliU triumphant^'Tur^eJhis demands the daughter of
Matachiefor a miJirefs—^Mahuihie conjpires to circumvent hiaty
and refiore liberty to his couniry-^Thg Danes every where fuB^

m 9

dued^^MiJlake of Keating, and Angular charaSler ofMalaihie*

TH £ oppreffions the Iriih nation laboured 'under, conti*
tinued during almoft the entire of Malachie's reign ; and»
for a p^iod of thirteen year8> we read of no generoua effort made
by thi$ prince to refiore peace and liberty to his country^ except
the few, attempts made in the firft year of his adminiftrajtion*
The events however, proveSf that, far from wanting abilities^
genius, or courage^ he was, in the main> as great a ftatefmaor
4pd gjcneral as any nation produced ; but the nerves,^ by which
0nly thesis late;pt virtues.cpuld be caljod . forth, ha{d[ npt yet fuf-
fere4 the fmallefi vibration. Neither th.e love ofglory^ or of
his country, were tl^e prj^dopioant pafiions^ of . Malacbie, as is
evident by his abjed paffiveneis , fpr £b many years ^ but the
me^ure.of the iniquities of Turgefiusjr and., of his barbarous
hofts» were now filled^ and the vengeanjce of an affliiAed people
was to be iatisfiefL I •

Turg^fius, accuflomed to the moft paflive obedience, and
wantonly indulging every hwlefs paflion, had feen the lovely
Melcha^ daughter to the monarch, and was refolved to enjpy
her* He found means to make hia defires known to her, but
they were rejcfted with difdain. He applies to the father, and
probably with an intent to make her his wife, thereby to give

. fome

H I S T O R Y O F IRELAND. 173

fome appearance of juftice to the entailing the fupreme command A.C.
of Ireland in his family ; but this laft is a mere furmife of
mine» unfiipported hy any authority. That he requefted the
father's intereft to procure him the daughter is certain ; and now
it was that thefe pailions^ which the love of his country^ could
not infpire^ blazed forth ; and, in the infults offered to his* name
and family, Malachie wept over the diftreiTes of his country, and
fought to remedy them, lu order to gain time» he requefted
of Turgefius two days to prepare his daughter for this facrifice ;
and^ in return for this condefcenfion, he engaged that fhe fhould
be attended hy fifteen of the fineft virgins in. Meath (for thijs
tyrant's refidence was near Tara), in order to be difpofed off
among his principal favourites. The Dane agreeing to this^
Malachie became more compofed, and, we are told, * propofed
to him the folk) wing queftion, probably to determine his own
future condudt : •* What (fays he) fhall we. do to clear the
y country effedually of a parcel of foreign birds, lately come^
*«^ among us, who are of a moft peftiferous nature?" The
tyrant, not aware of the tendency of the queftion^ anfwered'.
If they build nefts, you can never hope to root them out
without, defiroying thefe nefts every where." This plainly
pointed out to Malachie that, in his meditating fcheme of ruin«-
ingtheDane», to enfure . fuccefs. he muft ^deftroy their caftks
and ftrong holds alfow

Malachie, immediately after this, retires to. his palace, to con*-
fidejc more at kifurc the condu<a he fhould purfue. To facrifice
his daughter to an heatheaDane, the tyrant and ufiirper of his
country ! his foul recoiled at the thought ! The fhortnefs of
the time, and the numbers of DaniOi.enemies, and fpies in every
APok in.the kingdom, could, not (hake him from his purpofe#,

' • • •

* Caonbrenf. Topogr. Hibern. Dift: 3.'c. 42.

With

,74 HISrOKY OF fKELAN».

A.G With wonderful fecrecy he had procMrtd fifteen beardlcfs ydtift|j
men, but with hearts burning to avenge thcf caufe of their coun*
try; and thefe were to be attired in fetttak habits, with each a
dirk concealed, to attend the princeft of Ireland to the c^ftfe of
Turgefius. He, at the fame time, called together a fe^<5fhife
moft faithful adherents and opened to them his' int^ntiori**. ' tx^
prelTes were alfo fent, with the greateft privacy, from prince to
prince, and from chief to chief, exhorthig them to foil every
where on the perfidious Danes I as exp6ditlotfffy as poffibfe, oh
the day marked down, by which means they would be difoMcd
irom affbrding relief to each other. Dtiring th^fe preparafiptts
the thoughts of love only filled the breaft of the amorous Thine.
He prepared a moft fumptuous banquet, to which he krvited
his chief favourites, to celebrate the reception of his mSftrcfs
with greater fplendor. The evening of the fatal day approaches ;
the princefs, with her attendants, advance towards the cattle of
Turgefius, and the father, with i, throbbing heart, anxious for
the iflue of thefe great events, prepares, with his forces^ fe-
cretly and fpeedily to follow. The dire'Sions given to the young
men were, the moment they perceived the Dane advancing to-
wards the princefs, they were to feize and manacle, but by no
means to kill him. A fign, agreed on, was thein to be gi'ven^
the gates to be burft open, and Malachie, and his party without,
were to force in and put the garrifon to the fwdrd, Turgefiui
'Only excepted j all which were executed with as much courage
and exafknefs as they were planned with fecrecy and wifdom.
Matachie, now in pofieflion of the tyrant, had him led in fetters
in the midft of his troops, the better to encourage his coun-
trymen and intimidate the Danes, who, without head or hearts,
fall every where an eafy prey to the enraged Irilh. In a fhorl
time the kingdom became clear of their hofiile troops, either
Jailing in battle or efcaping by their (hips, and an armed Dane

was

Hl^lTORYOF IRELAND. lys

^as not to be fqsn ia the land ! Liberty became proclain>ed, the re- A.C
mains of the clergy and the literati came forth from their lurking
I^acesbMnd many of thQie who fled to France returned. Churches
and o^Qafteries were re-coafecrated, colleges and univeriities
2^\n openedi and fuch works as could be gleaned, or had
efc^pi^ tb( Dwiih confla|;rations9 were carefully colledled.
T^e g^ry oi MaUchie* and th^ greatnefs of his exploits, were
the i^iepies of the feoachims and bards, and the kingdom re-
edioe<J tl^e fquQic).

Tj'he fojrejg^ers hjping thys fubdued, and their caftles and
AiTp^g h^old^ every where pr.oftrated^ a national afTembly of the
cftaAes was convened at Ratb*Apdh, or the Palace of Hugfa^ in
"VVeft ^atjx^ That no privsLte animofities fliould obftrudl the 863
public concerns, thedergy, who attended this aflembly, took
<;are fif^Gk tx> reconcile the difputes between the different great
Ql^els» The^aiib'of the rej^ain.s of thefe aliens, who efcaped
tbe^rftfury of.th^ earagedlriHi, was taken into conflderation :
ib^y were Aii|l QumeirpU6> and at the mercy of their enemies,
j^ott^od policy fucceedcd rage; and it was evident that they might
bf cofiverted, with eve*, to ufeful fubje^ts of the ftate, pofleffinjg
(bme arts, and not totally unacquainted with trade. It was,
however, decreed that Turgefius fhould be put to death; and
^ w^ done in thf mod public ipanner, being thrown into Loch^
^^l^,, bpund hand and foot, in the prefence of his*' furvi ving
couAU'y^Pftea aufl thoufands c^* other fpedtators. This public .
i^ff i^t being ODier., a ^^n^ral amnedy pafled^ by which the
ca{)tiy$ Da^es becang^e^ eK^anj^pated, and liberty was granted..
thftOfttolive in the. maritioAe tpwns, and piirfue commerce and
»a^tt&ajWF^ ^^^^^ certain regulatipi^s. . What other ufeful
aAs wprf paffed iflifeia aflepibly, we are not told; and, it is fur-t
prifing, that the ftate of their navy, and the rieeefiity of keep-
ing up a «MkW6r?bifi i3»««f >^ did Jiot thep occur to them* It is.

176 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. however, highly probable that it did, though no knowlege of
it has come to us.

Internal peace and order being happily rcftored by one of the
moft fudden, violent, and fuccefsful revolutions that hiftory can.
produce; the next care of Malachie was to announce this glorious -
event to his foreign allies. We are particularly told, that, by. his
ambaffadors tp Charles the Bald, king of France,he fent rtcbpre^^
fents— probably fome of the fpoils of the Danes—* and a reqtieft
to grant to him, and to his retinue, iafe-guards through France,*
in his paflage to Rome, where he Intended going on a pilgrim ->
age, to return God thanks for the happy delivery of his country
from foreign tyranny j but a natural death, foon after, pre-
vented the execution of his pious intentions, and he was interredf
with ^reat funeral pomp, at Chean-Mac*Nois.

We are furprifed to read in Keating, and pther hiftorianSf
that, after this dedrudion df the Danes, and the proflratton of
all their caftles and forts, which Malachie gave a particular
charge to fee ei^ecuted, that he was again obliged to make war
on them ; and particularly for their putting to death Maolguala,
king of Munfter J but this proceeds frofai ' not properly advert-
ing to dates, for this prince fell in the beginning of Malachie's
reign ; nor was there, for fome years after, any of thefe people
capable of^inoleiling the public tranquillity. The glory which
this pdnce acquired in the decline of life, (hews how little we can
depend upon the general tenor of condud in kings, to.deter->
ipine their real abilities. We fee him, m the beginning of his
^dminiftration, exert hiqifelf with adivity in the caufe of his
country; but frefli enemies conftantly pouring in, jb harrafled
his troops, and difpirited himfelf, that, like the prefent king of
Poland, he judged the very Jhadow of monarchy^ though at the

1 • * 1

Ware*i Antiquities, chap. xxiv. from the Chronicles of HorinSiid]r«

ruin

HISTORY OF I R E L A RD. 177

ruin of his country 9 waa preferable to a defperate exertion of A.C.
power to recover the whole or peri(h in the attempt. For thir-
teen years timidy paffive counfels determined hift condaft;^
and we ihould know little of his real charader^ or amazing abi-
litiesy had not the fpring to thefe paffions been happily put in
motion. No meafures of prudence were now regarded. The
DaneS) pofiefled of all the ftrong holds in the kingdom^ powerful
at fea ; refources eafy to be procured from Britain and Armoric
Gaul in cafe of neceifity, difperfed over every part of the land, .
and commanding every where.— Yet all thefe dangers appeared
as nothing in his eyes ; the moment the honour of his family was
attacked/ and he projeded, and fucceeded, in one of the boldefl;
. enterprizeS) that human genius could imagine^ to preferve his
daughter; whilft, with half this vigour, and not half the dan-*
ger, he might have, long before that, deilroyed them» had he
been as adive in the caufe of his country !

C H A P. V.

Of Aodh Vn. and the artifices of the Danes to gain a new footing
in Iretand'^become again , terrible to the natives — reign of
Flanf and his invafion of South Munfier ^--^fingularreafonfor
entering North Munfier^ and his defeat thsre — the Danes
avail themfelves of thefe intefiine broils — of Cormoc king of
Munfier — caufe of his invading Leinfter — his will — defeat
nnd death in the battle of Maigh-Ailbe.

AO D H, or Hugh VII. the fon of Niall-Caille, fucceeded 864
to the monarchy. Though the Danes, as a military peo*
pie, were expelled the kingdom, yet the fertility of the foil and
Vol. II. A a beauty

178 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A»C. beauty of the country, but mofe» its immenfe riches^ were coa<-
tinual ftimulants to them to pant for a re-pofleffioii of it. To
(ttempt thiS) by force, they £iw impradkable ; as, by the con*
ventioa at R ath- Aodh» all parts of the kingdom had confeder-
ated to oppofe tfaefe foreign invafions* After much confultations»
the following projed> fays Cambreniis, was agreed to. Three
brothersi Amelanus^ Sitaracus, and Ivorus> commanders of
great abilities, fitted out a confiderable fleet, confifling of mer-
chandife, but in which large quantities of arms were concealed ;
and the better to deceive the vigilance of the Irifli, they were
divided into three Iquadrons. One failed up the Shannon, to dif-

•

pofe of their goods at Ltmeric, commanded by Ivorus. He
waited upon Lacbtna, king of North Munfter, preiented him
with fome rare curiofities, requefttng his' permiflion to fettle in
that city, with his people^ in the way of traffic, and promifing
extraordinary duties for this liberty. In like manner Amelamis
was permitted to fettle in Dublin, by the king of Leinfter ; and
Sitaracus, inWaterford, by the prince of the Deafies. Cam-
brends and the Polychronicon affirm, that by thefe three leaders
were thefe cities for the firft time built ; but the reader cannot
forget that they were cities of note long before Chriftianity, and
that the trade of Dublin, in particular, was fo great in thefe
early days, thatamoftbloody war broke out, in the decline of
the fecoad century, between the monarch Con and the king of
Munfter, to deter mine to whom the duties upon exports and im-
ports, in that city, fliould be paid. Add to this, that St. Pa->
trick celebrates it for its great trade, riches, and fplendor ; and,
as to Waterford, the name of it, in Irifh, fufficiently declares its
ancient commerce, being called Port-Lairge, or the harbour in
form of a thigh ; fo that if it had not been noted for trade, it
would not have got the name of Fort.

Theft

HISTORY OF IRELAND*

Thefe chiefs now laid therafelves out to pay their court to
the diflferent princes in whofe territories they had got footing.
They entered into thdr interefts, foothed their paffions, and
engaged to fupport their different claims. It muft* be confeiTed
that the Irifh have a greater milkinefs of temper than any other
nation; and Englifh writers, and Englifli governors, whilft
they have been plundering them of their property, and forming
the moft iniquitous fchemes againft them, abundantly acknow-
lege how much gentle words could pacify them. "iJVe muft not
then be furprifed that the Danifh intrigues proved fo fuccefsfuL
As the faft friends and allies of thefe Irifli princes, they were
permitted to purchafe land, and ere£t caftles and ftrong holds for
their fecurity ; and by this means, and the acceffion of frefib
forces, under the difguife of merchants and travellers, they be-
came very formidable friends in a (hort time. Thus Amelanus,
or (as he is called in our annals) Amhlaoibh, uniting with the
Iiagenians, attacked the forces of Connor, the fon ofDonough,
governor of Meath, and defeated them at Clonaird. Amongfl:
the flain was this Connor, who fell by the fword of Humphry,
a Danifh prince. Encouraged by this fuccefs, and joined by
frefh forces, Amelanus, the fpring .following, makes a fudden
incurfion into Ulfter, furprifes Ardmach, and, after plundering
the churches and facred places of their riches, fet fire to them,
putting, at the fame time, to the fword above a thoufand people,
clergy and laity. The monarch haflily coUeded a body of men,
and came up with the incendiaries, and their Irifh allies, at
Lough-Foil, in the county of Donegal. The adion was long
and fevere, but vidory at length declared in favour of Aodfi,
•Of the Danes only, twelve hundred were flain in the field, with
forty officers of note : how many of their allies fell on that day
is not faid. Encouraged by this fuccefs, the monarch attacks
their caftles and garrifons, recovering a conflderable part of the

A a 2 booty

179

A.C.

866

867

868

i8o HISTORYOF IRELAND.

A C. booty they had taken. Among other exploits, he fet fire to the
the caftle of Quan-Dalcham, near Dublin, and put the gar-
rifon, and numbers of their beft commanders, then fhut up
there, to the fword. To revenge thefe affronts Amelanus, foon

869 after, laid an ambufcade, and furprifed, and put to the fword,
or made prifoners, sibove two thoufand Irifh. £nc$^aged by
this fuccefs, Amelanus, with his Iri£h aflbciates, takes the field ;
but Aodh, at the head of one thoufand cavaliers, and as many
foot, mounted on the troop-horfes, for the greater expedition,
attacked their army fo courageoufly and fe^fonably, that, of above
five thoufand men, of which it was compofed, few efcaped the
flaughtcn Soon after Amelanus, and hie brother Ivorus, col-
ledled their beft troops, and haftened to the affiftance of Hin-
guar and Hubba, their allies, then hard preffed by the Welih.
For it was a policy fuccefsfully pradifed by this people, when
they found themfelves too clofely prefled in different places^ to
give up one or two, for a time, in order to be more fuccefsful
in a third ; and, when they had eftablilhed their power in the
laft place, to return with greater forces to the former. The
hiftories of France and England, as well as Ireland, fufficiently
prove this, and will clearly explain why they fo fpeedily re*
cruited their forces, and triumphed over troops which, a little
before, they retreated from. Their fuccefs in Wales was fo
great, in this laft expedition, that Roger, the fon of Moirman,
king of the Britons, fled to Ireland for refuge, and was moft
honourably entertained by the monarch.

For the remainder of this reign we read of no farther hoftile at-
tempts of the Danes ; and in this time many churches and public
edifices were re-built and re-*edified. Among others, Ardmach,
Kildare, Skelig St. Michael, in the county of Kerry, &c. re-
fumed their former fplendor ; but the Danifh depredations on
the Engliih and Scottiih coafts were fo great, that the rich fhrine

HISTORY OF IRELAND; i8i

of St. Columba was, for its greater fecurity, in 875, conveyed ^-^^
to Ireland) from the Ifle of Huy. The monarch at length de*
parted this life in peace, the 20th of November 879, with the
charader of a good prince, a good foldier, and a good chriftian.
Flan-Sionna, fon of the intrepid Malachie, was called to
the throne. His reign commenced with a Aidden invafion of 879
Munfter, in which he carried every thing before him. Cean-
faola, (not Maolguala^ with Keating), was at this time king of 881 :
Munfter, and at the fame time abbot of Emely ; and we cannot
be furprifed at the fuccefs of the monarch againftfuch an enemy*
We are told in the Pfalter of Cafhill, that the monarch beeame
fo elated at this fuccefs, that one dayj in the prefence of his ge-^' j
nerals and his court, he declared that he would enter hoftilely into
any territory in Ireland, and that with as much fafetyj and as
little fear of an enemy,[as if he had been on a royal tour i and, in
confequence of this confidence, he announced his intentions of
amufing himfelf at chefs on his march home. Mac Lonnan, the
chief hardy who thought it his duty to cheek fuch vain faliies^
tnfwered, that if he went into the Dai-Gas territories, or thofe
of Thomond, in the fame manner, and offered fuch marks of
contempt to that intrepid race, he would foon fee the difference *
between invading the territories of ia warrior and of a priefti
Bnraged at this tart remark. Flan ordered the tents to be im-*
mediately flruck, and diretfled his march towards Thomond ;
but Lorcan, king of that country, alarmed at the invafion of
South Munfter, had already collected his forces, apprehenfive of
fuch a vifit. As foon as he had croffed the Shannon, and ad*
vanced fome miles into the country, he pitched his, tents, and '
ordered the chefs-tables to be produced, that himfelf and his chief
commanders might fit down to play. Lorcan, was a prince of.
uncommon intrepidity, and befides poffeffed of great abilities for:
the field or the cabinet ; and deemed this mark of contempt a.

4 greatcrr

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. greater indignity than the iavafioa itfelf. Scarce had Flan and
his officers begua their games, when the Dalgais broke into their
' campj overturned the tables, and called the monarch to another
party. Both armies immediately engagpd with great fury, and
night only eaded the conteft for the prefent. The battle was re«
newed next morning with the rifing fun> and continued till nighu
It was a point of honour that gave rife to the whole difpute ;
and this only coijild end with the deftrudlion of one party or the
oth^9 foe neither would retreat. It ended indeed the evening
gf the tihird day» but with the deftru&ion of almoft the entire of
the imperial army ; and Flati himfelf was obliged to fend thig
very Mac Loonan to Lorcao, to beg a fafe guard for himfelf and
the remai(i4er of ^his Mattered forces, which was immediately
granted. This'hattle» and the confequences of it, proclaim but
too much the natural difpofitions of the Irlfh toxontention ; and
how ready they wpre, on the mofl .trifling oqcafions^ to tulh wan^
tonly into battle* It however proves that their very manper of
giving offeoic^ had fomething ia it noble and manly. In 8S8»
Ceat^f^a, king pf Munfter died> and was fucceoded by Donogh^
the fon of Du^bh^Dabborean^ of the iame £ugenian ftock.

The DaooSf from their fucceiTea in Britain and GauU werft
enabled, to reinforce their garrifons ip Ireland ; and they availed
thepifelves.of the fupinenefs of their enemies ; for in 883, they
invaded Leiofter, and plundered many rich churches and abbie;,
particuUrlythofeof Kildare and tbe.Naas> returning to Dublin,
loaded with fpoils, and 280 captives, amQngft whom was §uine,
the fon of Duibh-Dabhorean, prior of Kildaret and other eccle*
iiaftics of prime quality, who were ranfomeii at a very great ex*
p«iiQe. In 885* the mooArcb Fian attacked Dublin, but his army
^vias d^fea^dj 4ind amongft t;l>e 0ain was Largifius, biihop of
Kildarc. The death of this prelate ihews, that the or^ipance ^f
Aodh VL difpeniing prelates from attending- the roy^larmiy, w^s

I not

HISTORY OF IRELAND. ij|

not perpetual. In. 890s the Danes made a fuddea iacurfioo into ^p*
Ulfler^ plundering the churches <^ Ardmach, and returning with
aa immenfe booty, and Or vaft number of captive*. They at the
fame time eftablKhed a colony at Loch -Foil ; and the lake was

covered with their floops and boats, from which they at times,
ibrely diflrefled the adjacent parts. The monarch enraged ^t
thefe repeated depredations, and particularly for their again plun-
dering Kildare, the Naai» Ciuaaaard^ &c. engaged fhea in a 89%
moft bloody battle, remarkable only for its earnage# without anj
vifible advantages to either party; The pext year gave rife to a
frelh engagement, in which the monarch kept tb^ &9li% but hia
lo(s waa very confiderabie. In S93, the D^nea about Loch^FoiU
coUeQed a confidrable force and plunder ed> Ar^m^^tk t a^d the
year after, notwithftanding the diftrelTeB of the klng^iffm^ tnl|ea4
of convening the national eAafies, andrenewing the general con-
federacy of Rath-Aodh, we fmd Flail colLeding a mighty army, 894
again to invade Munfter ; but what the fiiccefa of this fecobd ex^
epditioo waa, we are nor told» ^

Our annals are filent as to other publkk events, till the year
902, when Cormoc, the fon of CutHenan, was proclaimed kin^
of Munfter, 00 ;he death of Donogh. He was at the fame time
archbiihop of Cafliill or Munfter, and thus united the r^al and
pontiifical dignities. .However, there was nothing tagulsLV in this
in Ireland^ any more than in otker countriei jp for two of his
predeceflbrs, and of the fame Ettgeaian line, to wit, Otcliubbar,
and Ceao-Foala, were abbots of Emdy, whilft kings of Munfter ;
and Muredach, the fon of Bran, contemporary with Ccan-Foala,
was at the fame time abbot of Kildare, and king of Leinfter.
Not to mention facred hiftory, where we find many Jewifc
princes high-priefts, Mabomet, and many of his foccefTora,
under the title of caliphs^ ruled both in fpirit«ials and temporals.
The reign of the immaculate Cromwell and his pious hofts will

not

i84 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. not be fooh forgot. He was at the fame time protedor and high-
prieft, and his officers aded as jufticeS) clerg^rmen, and foldier^ '
occafionally ; fo that his adminiftration might be called the
church militant. Thus Anius in Virgil :

** Rex Aniusi rex idem homlnum^ Phoebiq^e sacerdos !"

Some time after Cormoc was proclaimed king of Munfter, he
paid a vifit to Lorcan, king of Thomond. This prince, not
content to puni(h Flan for his invafion of his territories, by de*
feating his army, fitted a large fleet of floops and fmall craft on
the Shannon, from which he made fudden incurfiohs on both
fides that river, returning home with confiderable booty, both
from Meath and Conaught. Cormoc and his retinue were en*-
tertained by this prince, with all the expenfive profufion of Irifli
banquets, and returned to Caihili with hodages from eleven out
of twelve of the counties of which Thomond was then compofed.

903 The next year Lorcan returned Cormoc's vifit, and was affigned
the northern half of the palace of Cafliill, for himfclf and his
retinue ; but thefe vifits were fomething more than ceremony.
Domhhal, the fon of Cathil, and king of Conaught, was collcding
a large army to invade Thomond ; and it was neceflfary to be pre-

904 pared for thia event. The invafion took place, but with little
90s fuccefs. The nejtt^ear Flan again entered Munfter, and pene-
trated with his forces as far as Limeric ; but was obliged to re-

^06 treat. Lorcan uriitiag bis forces with thofe of Cormoc, compofed
a very confiderable army, and with it they invaded Meath. The .
roonaroh met them on the plains of Maigh-Lena, fo memorable
for the bloody engagement between the njonarch Con, and Eogan,
king of Munfter, in the fecond century. The battle foon com-
anenced, and Flan and his army were defeated

Cormoc^

HISTORY OF IRELAND. rSg

Cormoc id reprefented by our hiAorians as a prince of exem^ A.C*
plary piety, juftice, and learning. The caufes generally ai&gxied
for his invading Leiniler, and in which attempt he loft his life» by
no means juAifies this chara^n It is faid he undertook this '

war^ to reclaim the tribute paid to Munfter, from the days of
Conaire the Great, by the Lagenians. for the murder of his £st-
ther, but which had not been demanded for near two centuries .
paft; and therefore, by difufe, was in a manner abolilhed. The
BuEt was not fo } and that valuable tra£ki the book oi Lecaa>
proves it.

In the begionii^ of the e^htli century were fix brothers, ^1
the deiceiwlaatfi of the Egonachts of South Munfter^ men of un-
feigned piety, and who had dedicated themfelves to monaftic;
lives» Eminos, one of them, had obtained from the Lagentana
a track of gronad^ near the river Barrow, oa which he ere&ed ^
Sdoaaftery^ endowed with particular privileges. By the religious
vows of his order, they were to taflse neither meat or^ butter, and
Qo Leinfter fubjeifis were to be received into this houfe, except
i|pproved of ^by the abbot. The fame of this monaftery^ and
the great aufterity of its monks, drew numbers of people to it,
^ that it became in fome time a confiderable city. It was called
Ilos-Glas, and as the abbey was compoied entirely. of Munftec
mep, the word Muimneach, was added to it. It was nam^d
alfo from this Eminus, or Evinus« Monader Evin, and which
name it goes by to this day. CSearbhuil, king of Leinfter, had
taken poiTefnon of this houie, for the vds of 4us own people, and
the exiled monks applied to Cormoc. It was a religious difpute^
and he entered into it with alacrity. His confident and firft mi-
nifter, was<the abbot of Inis-Catha, or Scattery, of the fame blood
yrith hisf^elij but violent and pofitive. in ^xs temper. He xepre*
Rented it as the. caufe of God,^uid of f;eligioaf and oojthinjg. but a
Vol. II. ' * B b ^ ^ moft

i86 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

^'^' inoft exemplary punifliment could atone for this facrilege. The
monarch interferes, and the king of Leinfter fends ambafladors,
and offers his fon as an hoftage to reftore all matters to their
priftine order. This propofal^ though it fatisfied G)rmoc, could
not appeafe the abbot. In flxort, he fo worked on the temper of
the king, that an invafion: of Leinfter was refolved on ; and in
which we find the two Munfters engaged ! For he fent for
Lorcan, king of Thomond, and declared in the prcfence of his
council, that he fhould in juftice, and agreeable to the will of
their common anceftor Oilioll, fucceed him as king of Leath-
Mbgha. Whilft the army was cblle£king and preparing for this
expedition, he feemed to have a prefcience of his own death. He
made his laft will, and prepared for a fpeedy diflblution. This
will is yet extant, both in profe and verfe. In the laft, his moft
coftly iacred veftments, he bequeaths to the abbot of Jnis-Catha;
his clock, which called him to his devotions, to the nunnery on
the river Fergus ; his royal robes, embroidered with gold, and fet
with coftly jewels, were to be depofited in the monaftery of Rofcrea,
to the care of the order of St. Cronan ; his |irmour and coat of mail,
he bequeathed to the king of Ulfter ; his gold chain to St. Mu-
chuda I the reft of his wardrobe to Mac Gleinin ; and his
PSALTER, which he faithfully tranfcribed from ancient records,
he ordered to be depofited at Caihel, as a monument to future
ages. He left gold and filver chalices, veftments, and prefents
of gold and filver, to the principal churches of the kingdom.

The Mnnfter army at length entered Leinfter in three divifions.
The firft was commanded by the abbot oi Inis-Catha, and the
prince of Offory; the fecond by Cormoc himfelf; and the third
by the prrnce of the Deafies. The Lagenians were not behind
hand in their preparations, yet ftill made one effort more to peace.
It wa^the cuftom on thefe occafions^to fend heralds to announce

the

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 187

the time and place of adion ; and in return to the challenge of A.C.
0>rmoC| the Lagenians again fued for peacey which the principal
officers thought equitablcy but which the councils of the abbot
Flabhertach over-ruled. The battle that enfued was fatal to
the Mamonians ; and it is agreed ouy that neither their officers
or foldiers entered into it with fpirit. But had thej confideredi
that though this war was not to their liking, yet ftill when the
battle commenced, that on their own bravery their fafety de-
pended, their defeat would not be (o confiderable, nor their lofs fb
great as it was*. This bloody battle was fought in the barony of 909
Idrone, in the county of Carlow, and from the place is called the
battle of Belach-»Muga» or of Magh-Ailbe. It is faid, that as
foou as the fignal for engaging was thrown out, that Ceilliochar,
one of Cormoc's leaders, who commanded a body of horfe, rode
through the ranks, and called aloud to his men to retreat : that
the war was a Wanton one y a war of priefts ; and to them it
ihould be left to decide it. On this he clapped fpurs to his horfe
and quitted the field, followed by many of his people, which
greatly difpirited others. The engagement however continued
with great obftinacy for^many hours, not with (landing that the
monarch fought on the Leinfter fide ; but the Mamonians at
length fuflFered a mod comple defeat ; 6000 of their braveft ve-
teransj with numbers of officers, befides Cormoc himfelf, fell that
day, with many princes and nobles. Amongft thefe were OTelan,
prince of the Deafies, in the county of Waterford ; O'Keefe,
prince of Fermoigh ; OXiathan, prince of that territory, now
called Barry more; O'Shaghneflyj prince of Aidhne, now called
Killtartan, in the county of Galway, (then in exile) ; Mac Ennery,
prince of Ui-Connell, or Upper Connells, in the county of Lime*
ric; O'Sullivan, prince of Dunkerman, in the county of Kerry;
Madigan, brother to Donogh, late king of Munfter } Fitz Patrick,

B b a prince

i88 HISTORY O F I R E L A N D.

A.C. prince of Oflbry, and many others* To account ia fome mea-
fure fbr the numbers of prime quality that fell in this battle on
the fide of Munfter, it is to be noticed^ that thta EminuSt vniB
deemed the chief faint and protestor of the Eogonachts. So nwch
(o, that his. confecrated belU which was called Bernan-Emhtii,
was what was fwore upon in folemn trial8> by all this tribe^ and
always depofited with the Mac Egan's hereditary chief jniUcefr of
South Munfter. The bell of St, Sennanus (or fpmc other for it),
is ftill religioufly preferved in the Weft of the county of Clare ;
and to fwear by it falfly, at this day, it ia agreed upon by the com*
mon people^ would be immediately foUowed by convulfions and
death. If thefe are a£ts of fuperftition, the fenfible reader will
however ag^ee with me, that they are arts innocent in themfelves^
calculated for the beft purpofea^ and for the meridian in which
they prevail. After the battle, the body of Cormoc was fearched
for ^ and his head, taken off, was prefented by fome ibldiers to
the monarch Flan, in hopes of a great reward ; but this generous
{>Fince upbraided them for their cruelty » ordered them out of
his prefence ; and it is faid even kifled the head> lamenting the
lofs of ib wife a prince, and fo religious'a prelate. He then dt*
reded the body to be fought for, and ordered both to be delivered
to M onach, the confefTor of Cormoc> to be interred with fuitable
honours, where his will had appointed.

Amongft the prifoners of note taken in the above battle, wai^
Flabhertach, the caufe of all this dreadful carnage. It is highly hof>
nourable to the ancient clergy of Ireland, that, though they had
fome hot-headed priefts amongft them, who were the caufe of much,
blood being fpilt, as St. Columba in the fixth» and the abbot of
Inis-Catha in this century, who were both of the blood royal ;
yet far from being countenanced in thefe hoftile deeds, (though
both contended for the privileges of the church), we find them
ft puniftxed

li I '3 T O R Y ' O I? I R E L A N ^D. 189

puniflied by the' clergy. The firft was banifhed to Scotland, and A.C.
this laft imprifoned for two years, and then ordered to a fevere
penance in his monaffery of Scattefy. Dubhlaftna fucceeded
to the throne of Munfter and reigned fix years.

Afier a long reign of thirty-fix years and fome months, Flan-
Sionna departed this life, the 8th of June, 916. Whatever his
abilities might be, his aftions displayed little of magnanimity or
found policy. A fmall exertion of either, confidering the length
of his adminif|ration, would have elffedttially freed his country
froih thefe vile incendiaries the Danes, and faved the nation from
new fcenes of cruelty and barbarity.

« ■ «

C H A P, VI.

State of litters in the tenth age^^Ckment and Albmjirji * regemfr
• ef the unwerfities iff Paris andP^n m ■■ a mifuierf M* Fleury's
^orr^edt and a father acwunt rf Clement-j^if Dungaly Do^
natusf Moengal^ Feidhlimr 4he abbot Patrick-^Hfthi eelebrated
^€Otus^ and fome account qfJiis works'-^a different perfon fram
John Scotui, pro/^Jir at Ok/ord^-^ Ornu/fhtij^ ^ Bao^^re^
maris efn theere&ion offcJmls in France^-^ecay^opIHJbhoJpi^
table hotifes there.

IT IS argeed on^ that the firft univerfities founded on the coo--:
tinent, were thofe of Paris and Tavia, and that Claude Qe*
ment was regent of the firft, and Albin of the other, \^ho wore
hoth Scots. They got the title of univerfities, to diftingufflithem
from fchools i as in the firft, profefibrs were appointed to inftrud
in. every fcience, whereas ia fchools, particular branches of lite-
rature

190 HISTORYOFIRELAND.

AJC. riture on/ywcrt tatight; as philofophy in onei divinity in an-
other/ and fo on. From the name of Scots given to Clement
andAlbin> former North Britifh writers have vainly claimed
them as their countrymen ; but nothing is more clear than that
they were Scots of Ireland, which was the only country known
by that name, from the third to the eleventh century, as the
learned Ufher, and all our hiftorians and antiquaries^ have
proved. I have faid, former North Briti(h writers have at-
tempted to make them citizens of Caledonia, becaufe the prefent
race feem in unifon that their anceftors were totally illiterate^ fo
that the fa£t does not now admit of litigation ; but to fuch as
may entertain the leaft ^oubt of this matter, I muft refer them
to authorities that cannot be controverted :|:.

Someepiftles of Al bin are yet extant, and the works of Qe-
ment were fo many, and fo erudite, that a learned writer of the
fourteenth century affirmed, " That by the works of Clement,
** an Iri(hman, the French might be compared to the Athenians
*f. and Romans ♦»".

Flcury t» makes of Claude Clement two diftind people.
The firft^ he faysi was a Spaniard^ and bilhop of Turin, the
laft an Infh Scot, the fucceflbr to Alcuin in tlje fchoojs of the
palace of Charlemagne. Howeyer, all ancient writers agree
that, not the fchools of the palace, but the univerfity of Paris
was founded by Clement, and this before Alcuin pi}t his foot
- into that capital. Some affirm that he was, after this^ confe-
crated biOiop of Auxerre ; but this is a manifeft anachronifm,
aa Claude of Auxerre flouriflied much earlier. The great pro-
>

' I Htbern. Eefurgens. ASt. Sand. Hib. p. 696. Prim. EccIeC Brit. Lynches
Letter, at the end of Ogygia vindicated. Harris's Iri(h Writers, p. 54, &c.

^ Bebenburgius de Zelo Veter. Princip. German*

t Hift. Ecd. vol; z. p. a8.

bability

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 191

bability is, that he was made bifliop of Turin, as, under that A-C
title, he became fo noted for his writings; and of courfe, fup*
preffing his firname, he might be eafily taken for a diflFerent per-
fon. M. Fleury acknowleges, that Clement was regent of the
fchool, and that Claude ledured in divinity there, and was, after
this, bifliop of Turin : but the fad is, that the regent was alfb
profeflbr of divinity, and of courfe bifhop of Turin ; and that
this was the cafe, we fee, by the works, which M. Fleury
attributes to this writer, appearing to be the very fame which
Colgan, Uflier, Harris, &c. give toClaude Clement J.

The great erudition of ' Clement, his expofitions of many
books of the Old and New Teftament, and his talents, as a
preacher, determined Louis, the fucceflbr of Charlemagne^
to have him confecrated bifhop of Turin, in which diocefe
many abufes fiad arifeni The Greek church had been long iii-
Tided about the queftion ofimagiSy and our new. bifhop proved
himfelf a violent Iconoclaft. It appears that, in his diocefe^ great
abufes had been committed through the extreme ignqrance of the

jpeopleatid clergy, infomuch that thefeimages,wJkicbwere ialendcd
to excite devotion, and a lively imitation of the fanAity of tbpfe
they reprefente'd, rather increafed the fuperflition xA the people!
He endeavoured to reclaim them by preaching and exhortations^i
but his zeal carried him fo far as to break and deflroy .moft - of
thefe images, and even remove the erodes from fbveral churchesi
He defended thefe outrages by feveral learned wvitings, and wal
anfwered by fome, but' by none in fo maflerly z: manner
by a countryman of his own-^Dungal, a- celebrated tbeolo*
gian, who was one of thefe clergy who l\appily efcaped the.firlt
Danifh profcription, fled to France, a)idbecame/a monkofSc
Denis, near Paris;' He* wrote .a^trftWife Pfo Cuku SacrituA
Imagifium, &c. in. which be diftinguifhed between the ufe and

t« - .. ^ k.A > I <

t Hift. Ecel. vol. x. p. 345.

abtt&

it}i HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. abtifeof knagesv conformable to the do&rines of the church;
and accufed Claude of his intemperate abuie of images, of rer
viving the herefies of Eunomius and Vigilance. This work he
dedicated to the emperors Louis and Loihaire. Fleury^ tells us
be was a foreigner,, without afcertaining his country ; but bad
vfc no otber proofB (^it but his name, it would fufficientlj point
out his country f*

Donat was orie of the numbers who fled from Ireland, to avoid
4he butcheiry c£ the Danes, ia this age, atul retired to an her-
mitage in Tnfcany , from; whence he was called to the bi/hopric of
Fidble^ Some works are attributed to him ; * but ^ Latin Defcrip-
(ion of Irdand, bdginniog with '' Finxbus Occ)dius defbribitur
•« Optima Tcllos/' it was agreed, on was wrote by him. Col-
.^n proibifed topublifli his life* m his Lift of Iri^i Saints^ fpr
<he month of -OEkober ; but ^f t^i^ great work^ l\ia Trias Thaur
faaatufga, ahdXivesiof Sainta ifii the firft thjfce montd^sonly, have
appearedr

Moenga), called by die Latins Mtrcdlus, was. an Ii;iik mpnk
i)f'«fes& order of :Si:< 0>hiiiibanus» who' efci^d the fury of , the
Danes, With^ bi& uncle bifl&op Marcus/ :Returning from Rpmet
W canne to the abbey of St» GaU» to vi/it Grimoald, abbot of
thdtmoiiaikry^witk. others, his. qountrymen, there refiding.
He was requefted to remain ther« ^nd fiiperintend the fchools of
that houfe, . to srhiefa thfe chUdren of tl^e priujces and nobility^
from a grjeat diftaaoe, were ient fpr education* He wrote HorfuL
in Le&. E^atigti wbicln work i^ 1^14 to be; yet e^ftont.

Peidlemid^-Mao-GrigbnthaOj who had refigned the crpwn of
Miinfler, in this century, for amonafHc life, is faid^ in his re-
trtitt to faarvQr.wxote fotae jtrfbd&> as well h^floj;ical.asdeyotiV>naIs
but both the \Vorks and their ve^y t\l^, are loft*

• Hift Ecclcf. vol. i. p. 2S1- t Aft. Sanft'. Hlb. p. ^56, 457* ' ^

. t Patrick,

HISTORY DF IRELAND. 193

Patrick, abbot of Ardmigb, wrote a Bocfk of Hmilies and AC.
Letters to the Irijh Nation. He retired to Britain from the Da-
ni(b fury* and died in the abl^ey of Grlaftonbury : his feaft is
celebrated on the 24th of Auguft ; and from the name many have
iatiferted that it was not this Patrick^ but the celebrated apoRle of
Ireland, that was interred in that famous abbey* Ufher gives a
lai^ge account of this matter ^.

The celebrated Scotus, called John Erigena, efcaped the Da-
nifii perfeoution in 846, and fled to Frabce, with other religiou*.
His great erudition, his aiiiduity and penetrating genius, fo far
gained the affeAion of Charles the Bald, then king of France,
that he lodged him in hts palace, and even made him eat at the
fame table with himfelf '\^ At the requeil of this monarch he
tranflated, fr^m the original Greek, into Latin, the Works of St.
Denis ; and through his inflttence was he prevailed upon, by
Hincmarius, archbiihop of Rheims> and Pardulus, bilhop of
Laon, to undertake the defence of the church againft the attacks
of the Predefiinarians^ This work is addreflfed to thefe prelates,
in which he acknowleges the great honour done him iti deigning
him worthy fo great a talk. Qgeftions concerning graet, pre^
dejiination, and abftraded fubjedls of this kind, often bewilder
the imagination, and are perpetual fources of fcepticifm. He
profeiTed to follow clofely the do&rine of St. Auguftine ; but this
work was condemned in the third council of Valence, as Was,
in later rimes, a fimilar work wrote by Janfenius^ bi(hop of
Ypres; though^ like our Scotus» he alfo pretended the authority
of Auguftine for what he advanced ! Soon after the appearance
of this work of Scotus^ we find it Warmly attacked by Pruden-
tius, bilhop of Troyes ; the, church of Lyons alfo employed
the deacon Florus, a celebrated theologian, to* refute it; and

♦ Primord* p. %o, &c. t Hift. Ecclcf. tom. x. p. 440-

Vol. IL Co many

194 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. many others entered into the controverfy* In their anfwert
they charge Scotus with the dodrines of Pelagius ; and it would
feem, by them, as if his writings were not only condemned, but
he himfelfconfinedfor publilhing them.

The controverfy of the eucharift became a new fubje^l of dif-
pute amongft thefe fubtle theologians ; and Charles, who knew
nothing of the matter, was frequently^appealed to, on both fides.
Hincmarius and Scotus were, however, his oracles j to them
he moftly appealed, and, at this time, Scotus was particularly
confulted by him ♦• This would feem to refute the infinuation
of his being confined ; but, be that as it may, the treatife he
wrote on this fubjed met as many opponents as the former, and
was, atlaft, condemned in the council at Verceil, A. 1050.
Even his tranflation of Dionyfius's works were not well received,
particularly at Rome. We are told, that Pope Nicholas wrote
to Charles about this tranflation, complaining that the author,
though a man of great erudition, was fufpefted of not beingortho-
dox ; and, therefore, that the book (hould have been firft fent to
him, for his approbation, before it was publiflied f. So many,
and fuch powerful enemies, united agalnft a fingle man, and a
ftranger, made Charles apprehend for his fafety, and he recom-
mended to him to return to his native country, efpecially, as by
the late'deftrudipn of the Danes, religion and liberty were again
eftablifhed there. Scotus returned to Ireland in 864, and died
there in 874. Some writers fuppofe our John the fame who was
invited by king Alfred to fuperintend the fchools'at Oxford; but
Fleury tells us, that this laft was a Saxon born, but educated in
France, and by no means to be confounded with John Scotus j:.
The writings of this great man were very numerous ; and we

* Dupin's Ecclef. Hiftory, tent. 9.

t Spotrwood'6 Church Hiftory. Harris's Writers of Ireland.

t Hift. Ecclef. Ub. liv. feft. 8.

fup-

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 195

(upp<^e his afloaifliing erudition^ abilities, and high favour A,C.
with Charles the Bald, made him be treated with much greater
feverity, by his contemporaries, than he deferved. He was not
only a complete mafter of the Greek add Latin, but alfo of the
oriental languages ; and this circumftance alone, proves the flou*
rifhing ftate of letters in Ireland in thefe days. How diftin-
gui(hed a figure our literati cut in France at this time, may be
coUe^d from what Eric of Auxerre, in his letter to Charles the
Bald, fays— *« Why do I fpeak of Ireland ? (fays he) That
*^ whole nation, almoft defpifing the dangers of the fea, refort
<< to our coafts with a numerous train of philofophers, of whom,
*^ the moft celebrated, quitting their native foil, account them-
♦• felves happy, under your proteAion, as fervants of the wife
" Solomon/' And, in another place» he tells us, •• That Charles
** drew Greeks and Irifli, with flocks of philofophers, for the
" inftrudion of his people/*

Ornulphus and Buo direded their courfe from Ireland to Ice-
land, to propagate .Chri(lianity» with other monks in their reti-*
nue. They were of the order of St* Columba, and ereded a
monaftery in the town of EQnberg. They converted the na-
tives, and are elleemed the apoftles of Iceland, as Angrim Jonas,
in his hiftory of that country, declares *. Buo is faid to have
wrote Homil. ad Iflandos, lib. i.

Early in this century we read of numbers of public fchools
being eftabliflied in France; and the great advantages ari/ing
from them wcrcfovifible, that, in the councif of Langres, held
A. 1^59, the princes and the bifliops are exhorted to ered, ia
convenient places, fchools, as well for improvement in the
learned languages, as for the better underftanding the Scriptures,
When the reader recolle<fis that, from the firft introdudion of .

• Aa. 8an£V. Hib. p. 256.

C c 2 Chrif^

rf)6 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

• A.C Chriftiaoity into Ireland the miflicmaries. opened fchools to in-
ttrviGt in religion and letters, and that the number and fame of
thefe fchools encreafed as their doArine fpread i when he alfo

^ calls to mind the numbers of holy doftors, who. afterwards
quitted this country to reform the neighbouring fliates, and
cfpccially in the prefent century, he will be apt to conclude
that the French (as did before them the BrHons^ and Saxonff)
not only adopted our mode of propagating Chriftianity, but
employed alfo our doctors to eftablifh it. Hence the crouds
of our philofophers and dodlors pouring into France, as noted
by Eric, are accounted for. Indeed, the intercourfe between
both countries, from a remote date, fecm^ to have been very
confidcrable. When the abbey of Nivelle whs founded in
favour of St; Gertrude, daughter to the illuftrious Pepin, maire
of the palace to Dagobert and Sigebcrt the third, in the fcventh
century, her mother, whilft flie fcnt to Rome for reliques, and
copies of the Lives of Saints, fent, at the fame time, to Ireland
for lettered men to in(!ruA her community, and for muficians
and chanters to teach them pfalm-finging, Amongft the firfl:
were St. Foillan, St. Ultan, &c. and fhe ereOed for them a
monaftery, at rather an houfe of hofpitality, for the reception
and entertainment of pious, and other Irifli, travelling that way,
at Fofle, near the abbey of Nivelle ♦. Many others were
ereded through France, by pious Irilhmen, for the fame pur-
pofe; and in the council of Meaux, held in 845, amongft other
a£ts, they dire£t, " That complaint ihall be made to the king,
« of the ruin of hofpitable houfes, but particularly of thofe of
^^ the Irifli nation, founded by charitable natives of that country.
" Not only (fay they) have thefe intruders refufed to receive or
" entertain fuch as prefent themfelves for relief, but they have

* Fleurj, Hift. Ecclef. tonu viii. p. 421*

<* even

^^ even ejeded thefe religiousi whofe duty it was to relieve the
<< iicki the diftrefled, and the ftranger */' The ere£tion of thofe
houfes is furely an incontrovertible proof of the clofe correfpon-
dence between thp Aations* a^d of t)xfi nun;i))(:rs o^ Jrifli thereto
reforting from titaeto time.^^

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BO O K XI.

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CHAP. I.

Of the monarch l^ially with a retrofpeSiive view oflrijh affair s^^a
frejb invqfion of the Danes — battle of Ceannfuad'-^a more fatal
one near Dublin^ in which the monarch fell— fiorm of Ardmagh-^
Donachad eleSed monarch ; engages and defeats the Danes-^^re--
view of the affairs of Munjler invaded from Conaught-^^Lorcan
fucceeds to the crown of Munfer^-^battle of Rofcrea^ and defeat
cfthe Danes.

I A L L IV. called GIun^Duibh, or of the Black Knee» Ton
to the monarch Aodh» was fucceflbr to Flan. The very-
bad policy purfued by his predeceflbr, who, during his long reign,
inftead of uniting all parts of the kingdom ^ againft the common
^i6 enemy, ftudied only how to diftrefs the other provinces, and par-
ticularly Leath-Mogha, gave the Danes full leifure to eftablifh
their power, which they promoted with lefs fufpicion, by en-
gaging in the interefls of the different competitors. Cormoc,
king of Munller, mifled by weakheads, contributed not a little
to ijncreaie dieir influence in that province. Lorcan, of the Dal-
gais line, notwithflanding Cormoc's declaration, was, we fee^
excluded the crowii of Munfter, akid even after the death of

Dmbh.

H I S TO R Y O F I RK L A ND. 199

Dubhladna^ Flabhertach, abbot of Inis-Citha, was appointed to A*^*
that honourf to his prejudice ; fo that thefe two great houfes loOt
that mutual confideQce, fo neceffary to make them refpedable.
Such was the (ituatioa of the kingdom at this time., . Ptivate ani-

mofities direded public counfels ; the national chiefs were more

• • • •

jealous of each other, than "of the common enemy j and the
Danes availed themfelves of thefe unhappy feuds. The times
feemed favourable to reduce the kingdom once more to their ooe-
dience; and they waited only for reinforcements to throw off
rhe mafk entirely. A part of theft arrived, in Ulfter, committing 9»7
every where their ufual depredations* The moqarch, at the head
of a confiderable army, foon came up with ,them. Both parties
prepared for battle; but the fortune of the day at length. de-
clared in favour of the Iriffu The foreigners were defeated witt
great flaughter-j but the vidlors purchafed the day very dearly,
moil of their principal officers and beft foldiecs having fallen ia
the combat. The next year a frefh party of Danes entered the gi$
harbour of Dublin, and landing their troops, were joined by
numbers of their countrymen, fo , as to form a vi^ry confiderable
body, with which they invaded the province of Leinfter ; leaving
everywhere marks of their ferocity and cruelty. Lorcan, the
ion of Felan, king of that province, colledled his troops from all
quarters to oppofe theip. A bloody battle was fought on the,
plains of Ceannfuad, in which the Lagenians were defeated with,
great carnage ; and amongft their flain were many princes and
nobles of prime quality. Animated by this fuccefs, they fend,
for freffi forces, to make a complete conqueft of the kingdom*
In 919% 21 conliderable fleet appeared in the harl^ur of Dublin^
commanded by Godfrey, the fon of Jomhair ; to the fuperior ca-
pacity of this laft general, were the Danes indebted for their late
victory } and now both armies uniting, Dublin was attacked

with

200

A'C.

919

H I S T O H ,Y OF . I.R E L A N D..

with incredible fury, and^ after a gallant refiflance, taken (wq^J^
in hand, and the garrifonput to the fword.

All Lcth-Cuin became alar;med at, thefe uncommon fucceflca of
an cnem)^j who they> before' this, feldom, engaged without^ cer-
tainty pf yiilory. The imperial ftandard was fet up, and to it
troops repaired from all quarters^ A v^ry confid^rable army v^as
(oon formed ; and it was judged proper to attack the enemy, be*
fqrf th^» poflefled themfelves of other, flfong holds. The two
wmies me.t near Dublin, on the i6thof 0<?ober, and the engage-
mept foon commenced. Never was|;reater intrepidity diiplay^d^
tJEian was by both armies.. > The fight continued for many hours ;
but the Irifh at length gave way on every fide. In vain were
they called l)y their leaders* to return, to 'the charge : unable to
rflllft the number and impetbofity of tlie enemy, they betook
tT^emfelyes to a {hameful flight, in ftead of a regular retreat. The
fnDnarch determined not to furvive the difgrace, and, v^ith a chofcn
band, conlifiing of the prime knights and nobility of the king*
doint ruihed into tlie thickeffi part of thfe.Danifh battle, where he
aftd his whole party were cut off ; but by no inglorious wounds I
With Niall. fell .tfciat day Aodh, ting ofUlfter, Connor, fon of
Flan, and prince of Tara, the princes of Orgial, Breagh, with
many other pritices arid nobles ; and from this we may judge
How great the lofs in jgeneral mull be. This battle though fought
io Jate in the feafon, did not prevent the enterprifing jfomhair
froin improving his advantages; whilft he laid the adjacent coun-
try in ruin and afhes, he detached his fon Godfrey, with a con-
fiderable body of forces, to make an irruption into Ulfter,./in re*
venge for the defeat he received there in the year 91 7 ; and in
the midclle of November, he took Armagh fword in hand, put-
ting the garrifbn to the fword ; " but /paring the churches^ the

*! cUrgy^ and the injirm^^ fay the Annals of th« Four Mafters.

• • ».

* Donachad

» ■

I
\

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 201

JDon&chad II. fon of the monarch Flan, was eleded nux- ^.C.
narch, and began his reign with fome eclat. He coliefted the 920
ihattered forces of Leth-Cuin, which he cofiiiderably reinforced
by frefh troops, and led them forth, without lofs of time, againft
the Danes. Thefelaft, accuftomed of late to vidory, did not de-
cline the combat ; they even marched into Meath^ to meet the
enemy* The engagement was defperate and bloody ; but, not-
withftanding the great abilities of Jomhair as a general, feconded
by the" valour and difciplineof his troops, they were at length
obliged to give way on every fide j and the flaughter in the field,
and in the purfuit, was iincred jbly <great. Our annalifts note, th^t
their lofs in this battle amply compeufated for. that of the Iri&,
the preceding year. Donac^ad, detached flying parties to cut
off the enemies retreat, and deftroyed all their garrifons a^d (irong
holds ; fo that nothing remained to tkem in Leinfter ao^ Meath,
but the city of Dubltn, w&ich was toa well fortified^ and had too
formidable a garri^fbn for Donachad to fxt down before it.

Munfter was iHll divided about the fucteflion to that crown.
The pofterity of Cormoc-^CaSf had been long deprived of their
right of alternate fucce^on ; and engaged in protg^iAg their
frontiers from the Conacian invaders, they wanted' that power,
fo neceffary to fupport bright amdngft princes; The great abilities
of Lorcan, as a general and .a Aatefman, and the length of his
reign, gave new force and vigour to the territory of North Mun-
fter. The king of Conaqght prepared again to invade that pro-
vince, both by land and fea. A party of his men landed near *
Loch-Derg, and furprifed the fort, which defended the palace of
Lorcan, put the garrifon to the fword, and plundered and fet fire 934
to the palace; but were difappointed of their principal objed,
which was, the capture of the prince himfelf, who happily aC that
time was engaged elfewhere^ They now formally demand of
Lorcan hoftages, as vaflal to the king of Conaught, or to^fur-
VoL. II. D d • render

202 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. render to them to that part of North Munfter included ia the-
prefent county of Clare. To fo infolcnt a meflage he returned
a proper anfwer, and ordered the beacons to be lighted up, which
was notice to the whole province, immediately to repair to him,
with horfes and arms. It is curious, even at this day, to obferve
the judgment with which thefe beacons were placed. I have ex-
amined feveral of thefe eminea/:e8, and am therefore a judge of
the matter. Not only through the whole county of Clare, were
forts fo difpofed, that in two hours the entire county could re-
ceive the alarm, whether the attempts were made by fea or land,
or both ; but in Lower Ormond, fiations were fo judicially placed,
that the lead attempts, or preparations towards the Shannon fide
were quickly made known. By thefe means Lorcan foon col-
lected a confiderable force— for the whole province took fire at
the attempt on his perfen-— not fatisfied with repelling the in-

' vaders, and defeating them both by land and fea, he, in his turn,
entered Conaught, carrying fire and fword through . a great part
of the province, returning home loaded with fpoils and glory *.
Flabhertach, the abbot of Inis*Catha, who from a penitentiary,
was called to fucceed Dubhlachtna, in the throne of Munfter,
dying after a reign of twenty- fix years, Lorcan, though grealy
advanced in years, infifted on the right of fucceifion in his houfe,
941 and marched towards Cafhell with a confidernble army, (where

' the eftates were aflembling to choofe a fucceflbr}^ the better to
fupport his claim. This ultima ratio gave uncommon weight to
his negotiations, and he was proclaimed king of Leath-Mogha,.
an honour which his anceftors had been long deprive of. The
Rev. Mr. 0*Conry f, poflefied with the modern fpirit of fcepti-
cifm, will not allow to the Eugenian line, the number of kings
which antiquity has attributed to them. To prove this in part,

• Leabbar Muimhcan. f Tbc Law of Taniftry illufttatcd, p. 471.

4 " , he

HISTORY OF I IL E L A N b;^ 203

he affirms, that from the death of Cormoc, the fbn of Cuillenan, A.C»-
to that of Ccallachan, who in truth fucceeded Lorcan, but one
Eugenian ruled M unfter^ namely, Flabhertach^ and him he places '
after Lorcan. The fafl: however is, that, Dubhlachtna and Flab-
hertach, botk Eugenians, preceded Lorcan j and that the reign of
this laft as king of Munfter, was but eighteen months. How-
ever, even in this fhort time, an event happened, which added
greatly to his former laurels.

A great annual fair was held at Rofcrea, on the feftival of St.
Peter and- Paul, but which continued for fourteen days. As this
was nearly in the center of the kingdom, ^nerchants reforted to
it, not only from different parts of Ireland, but from foreign
countries, to difpofe of their wares ; for the country wais even
then by the mercantile world, called — " Infula dives opum,gem- -
*' marum, veftis, &<iuri !*' Xlie Danes of Limeric and Con- 94^
aught had formed a bold fcheme, to furprize the merchants at
this fair, where they expedled immenfe treafures. Olfinn, chief
of the Conacian Danes, conduced this enterprize, and marched .
his men in detached parties tO the borders of the Shannon, where
they were to meet at an appointed day, the forces from and about
Limeric. As they took diflFerent routes, an3 no very confiderable
bodies appeared together, their intentions were more fecret, and
lefs alarming. But no fooner did they appear on the fide of the
Shannon, but notice was given by lighting fires at the different
ftations in Lower Ormond, by which the country became alarmed.
They plunged into their barks as foon as poffible ; and of this,
and of their landing in Ormond, which was efFedled in little
more than two hours, notice was alfo given. From the place
of their landing, the objedl of their deftination became fufpeiled,
and foon known. As every thing depended upon expedition, they
formed and marched off, as faft as they landed. The foldiers
who guarded the approaches to the fair aflembled, and were joined

D d 2 by

ao4 HIStTORY OF IRELAND-

A.C by the inerchAnts, their clerks aod numbers of gentlemen soA
others^ aflbmbled from all quarters on fuch occafions. On con«
fultation, it; was refolvod^ not to remove the £bop8» the ftageai the
warehouf^s, or mercbandi&aj, but let tbem remain whpre ere£fced;
by which means thefe people, more immediately intei^ftedy would
acquit themfelves the better. It was alfo agreed on, to march
out and meet the enemy, not wait to be attacked by them. Thele
refolves infpired the people with conBdence ; for troops advanc-
ing to the charge, muft colledt more refolution (if they acquit
themfi^lves well)) than thefe who wait to be attacked. As foon
as the Danes appeared, they gave them no time to form, but
aflailed them on every fide, with fuch firmnefs and refolution,
(neither of which was expected), that they were very foon broke ;
and in this battle, and in the purfuit that followed, above 4000
Danes were flain, with moft of their principal officers, amongft
whom was Olfinn himfelf.

Abqut this time Donochad invaded the province of Gonaught ;
a battle was fought near Athluan, or Athlone, in which the im-
perialiils were defeated, and obliged tq retire. As this was the
time in which the celebrated Ceaiiachan fiqurifiied, we fhall be*
ftow a particular chapter on it.

CHAP,

HISTORY OF I R E L A N a 205

A.C.

CHAP; U.

Conteji between Cineidi and Ceallachan for the crown ofMunJler-^
Cineidi relinquishes his claim to CealUchan^'^manner of proclaim-' '
tng him-^a confederacy formed againjl Cineidi — he unites with
Ceallachan againfi the common enemy — battie and defeat of the
Danes near Limeric-^again at Cork^ with the taking of Cajhell
and Waterford-r^bad policy of the Irijh^ with regard to thefefo'-
reigners^^delibrations of the parliament of Munfier^ at CafhelL

ON the doceafe of Lorcan, many candidates appeared for 94^
the crown of Munfter; but they were foon reduced to
two ; Cineidi) fon to the intrepid Lorcan, and Ceallachan^ the fon
of Buadhchain. Cineidi marched into the coimty of Cork, to
foUicit the fuffragea of different princes. Ceallachan was pro«
ceeding on the fame bufinefs. Both parties met, an engagement
cnfiied, in which Ceallachan's party were defeated, and 300 of
his own followers^ befidea many others, were left dead. This
Cineidi, as the Book of Munfter obferves, was a prince of great
intrepidity, and every way worthy the royal dock from whence
he fprang. By this little elTay, the Eoganachts were not fo for-
ward in their fupport of Ceallachan ; and it was imagined the
majority of voices would be againft him, on the day of eledion,
notwithftanding that the Eoganachts reckoned feventeen coun-
ties, whilft in North Munfter wetc only twelve. The mother of
this prince being a lady of great fpirit, and apprehenfive that
her fon would be excluded the throne, waited upon Cineidi in
perfon^ to remonftrate on the violence and injuftice of his pro-
ceedings*

2o6 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A*C/ ccedings. ** She reminded him of the will of their great anceftor
V Olioll-Ollum : that by it, the crown was to ^o alternately,
** between the pofterity of Fiacha-Muilleathan, and Cormoc-Cas ;
^ and that as his father was the laft king of Munfter, it was un-
** juft in him to attempt to fucceed to that crown.'* In vain he
urged, " that his anceftors for fome generations, were deprived
*' of that right, by the defendants of Fiacha -, and that this was
" a fufficient juftification of his proceedings." She did not pre-
tend to fupport the ufurpations of her houfe, but dwelt much on
the prefent a£t of injuftice ; employed the rhetoric of tears, and
concluded her fpeech thus. ^* Cuimhnigh a Cineidi-Cas : dail
*' Fiacha is Cormoc-Cais ; gur fhagfad in Muimhin da roin ;
^* go ceart idir agcomhchloin." i.e. ** Remember gallant Ci-
•* neidi, the agreement between Fiacha and Cormoc ; they di-
** vided Munfter in two partitions, and decreed it ihould be go-
" verned alternately, by the iflue of each houfe.'* So bold and
animating a fpeech; the majefty and dignit^^ with which it was
delivered ; a fine woman pleading the caufe of juilice ; and a
tender and afflided mother, the defence of a fon, unmanned the
whole affembly ! The gallant Cineidi, was the firft to acknow-
lege the power of female eloquence; and what the forces of half
Ireland united, with difficulty would effed, the tears of a woman
performed ! Cineidi gave up his claim to the foyereignty of
Munfter, and his competitor was unanimoufly appointed to that
high ftation.

In the hiftory of the renowned hero Ceallachan, now before
me *, is related, the manner of his inauguration, which as it is
curious, I (hall literally tranflate. «' The princes and nobles of

Munfter, (fays my author), waited on Ceallachan at Cafliell.

Each -put his hands between thofe of the prince j the royal

• Toruigheacht Ceallachan Caifil.

** diadem

€€
£1

HISTORY OFIRELAND. 207

** was placed on his head ; it was then announced to the people— A.CL
" that Ceallachan, the fon of Buadhchainj^the fon of Lachtna^
•* the fon of Airtghoile, the fon of Sneadhafa, the fon of Don-
*' ghoile, the fon of Daolgufa, the fon of Nadfraoich, the fon of
'* Colgan, the fon of Failbhe-Flan, the fon of Aodha-Dubh, the
** fon of Criomhthan, the fon o£ Feidhlim, the fon of Aongus, the
*« fon of Core, the fon of Luigheach, the fon of OlioU Flan -Beg,
** the fon of Fiacha-Muilleathan, the fon of Eogan-More, the
** fon of Oliol-OUum, (and fo on to Phaenius), was fovereign
^^ prince and ruler of Leath-Mogha; and the royal fhout declared
" the public approbation."

Soon after this, the Book of Munfter tells, that a moft formi-
dable confederacy was formed againft the generous Cineidi^ the
fon of Lorcan, king of North Munfter, It reckons the confe-
derates in the following manner : Corcam-Ruadh, Dealbhna,
Meath, the Mufcrys, Eile, the Eoganachts, with Ceallachan, at
their head^ and Conaught ! Such formidable enemies, and fur-
rounding his dominions on every fide, feemed formed with in-
tent to annihilate the power of North Munfter ; and there is
reafon to think> that Ceallachan, atid the Eoganachts, were the
very foul of this great confederacy. The intrepid Cineidi, like •
the prefent king of Pruftia, far from being intimidated, prepared •
valiantly to oppofe his enemies on every fide. He called together
his brave Dalgais ; thefe were his hereditary troops, the moft
warlike and beft difciplined in Ireland. In all attacks they were
the van, and formed the rear on a retreat. Their banner was the
bloody hand, and the motto, ^' the firft in the attack, and the laft
** in the retreat." He caufed the beacons to be lighted up, and ;
every man fit to bear arms, prepared to attend his ftandard. The
particulars of this war we are not told j but that it foon terr
minated in an honourable peace ; but one of the conditions of
it (we muft fuppofe), was, that Cineidi, delivered up his fon

Duin-

io8 H I S T O R Y O F IRELAND.

* • .

A-C. Dumcachan as an hoftage to Ccallacban, becaufe we find this
young prince conftantljr after in his court.

By this peace the two Munfters became united, and of courfe
formidable to their enemies. A£tuated by public principleSf
Ceallachan and Cineidi every where attacked the common ene-
my. In fourteen diflFerent battles, fays the Book of Munfter^
did Cineidi engage and defeat the Danes, fo as to clear his do-
minions of them. But the ** WARS OF Ceallachan Caisil,"

943 are mt)re minute in the exploits of this laft hero. He called his
chiefe together, and exhorted them to arm every where againft
the Danes ; and Limeric was pitched upon as their firfl attack.
A thoufand fioganachts, or hereditary troops of South Munfter
(a tooft feled body), with many others of lefs note, headed by
Ceallachan, under whom were the young Duineachan, O^SulU-
van, O'Ketfe, O'Rierdan, O'Leahan, Aodh Mac Cuillcnan,
and other great chiefs, marched to this aflault. Heralds Were
fent, requiring the Danes to furrender the city, and give up hof-
tages for their future behaviour, or prepare to defend them*
felves ; but the Danes returned for anfwer, " That far from
** waiting to be attacked, they would march out of the city and
" give them battle." They marched out in four divifions, four
hundred feled men, moftly armed with coats of mail, in each
diviiion, befides light armed troops ; and at Sain* Aingil, called
now Singleland, was the battle fought.

O'SuUivan, who aCted as general under Ceallachan, addrefled
his men in a moft animating fpeech, which was anfwered by
the Ihouts and clafliing of the fwords and fhields of the foldier y.
The fight began, we are told, by the difcharge of ftones from
the flings of the light-armed troops, by the difcharge of arrows,
by fpears, and by lances. The heavy-armed troops now engage,
bread to breaft, and long and dreadful is the conflidt. The Da*
nUh commanders leave nothing unefTayed to give flrmnefs to
6 their

HISTORY Of TRELANR 209

their troops ; and the greateft efforts of their antagonifts make A.C.
little impreflion on them. Ceallachan^ at lengthy fingled out
Amhlaobhj or Aulavus^ the Danifh commander^ and^ with one
ilroke of his fword, fplit his fcull through his helmet, and he
immediately fell dead at his feet. In like manner O'Sullivaa
engaged Moran, who is called '* Son to the king of Denmark,"
and cut off his head, by a well pointed blow, between the hel-
met and breaft-plate. O'Keefe run Magnus, who is called
** The ftandard bearer/' through the body, and after a gallant
defence, Lochluin^ called Na-Ureach, or of the Spoils, received
his death by the hands of 0*Rierdan, The Danes now gave
way on every fide, and are fo hotly purfued, that the Irifli enter
the city with the fugitives, putting to the fword all the foreigners
they meet, as well in the (Ireets as in the caftles and lofty
towers. But inltead of keeping poffeffion of the town, we find
Ceallachan content with exading large contributions from the
inhabitants, part of which was paid down in gold and mer-
chandize, and hoftages taken for the fecurity of the remainder.

Next morning the army marched off for Cork with the utmoft
fecrecy and expedition ; for, it feems, the Danes were fo power-
ful there as to exa£k hoftages from the Eoganachts, and, among
thefe, was a natural fon of Ceallachan's. Prudence, therefore,
demanded this precaution, left the Danes might (hip them off
for the continent. They appeared before Cork in the afternoon
of the next day, horfe and foot, and immediately fummoned
the town ; but thefe, flighting the fummons, the fignal for at-
tack was dire Aly given ; the walls were fcaled, the Danes de-
feated, and the prifoners reftored to liberty. From thence they
proceeded for CaftielK On their march an ambufcade was laid
for them, but three hundred Danes were cut to pieces in the
attempt, as were five hundred more foon after. At CaQiell
Ceallachan prefented O'Keefe with a hundrea helmets, a hun-
Vol. II. E e dred

2IO mSTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. dred fwords, a hundred fhields, a hundred horfes, and, a ^un*
dred flares.. From Calhell the arniy marched^ to Watetford, thd
very day that Sitric, his ^/vife, and^ fan^ly landed. therCf Vfxtk
•feven fhips. The citizens, hearing the; jr?U?id progrefs of the
Irifli, and the many defeats which their countryipen rqceived,
inflead of marching out to attack the enemy ^ (hut the gates
and manned the walls. But their caution availed not ; for whilft
on one fide the gates were attempted to be broke open, others
mounted the walls, which fo difmayed them, that th^y loft all
courage, and the town was fpeedily takeij with confiderable
flaughter. But Sitric, and many of their principal Danes, efcaped
to their (hips, and failed for Dublin* After this, parties were
fcnt to punifli different Irilh chiefs who meanly fupported thcfc
barbarians^ Large fums were extorted from them, and they^
were obliged to fepd hoftages to Ceallachan for their future good^
behaviour.

Thus was all Munfter, i^ the fpace of a few weeks, delivered;
from the tyranny of thefe wretches, by the vigor aod intrepidity
of Ceallachan and Cineidi ; but there feems to have been a great
defeat in the policy of thgfe princes ; for, though it is evident,
that far from meaning to exterminate thefe ftrangers, the great
obje£l of Irifti counfels,. from the firft of thefe troubles, was to
reduce them to obedienpe, and make them ufeful to the nation
by arts and commerce, yet they always overlpoked the true me-
thod of b/ingihg them to this. They left them in pofieffion,
(or, at leaft. the ruling part) of moft of their fea-ports, by which
means, on future occafions, they were enabled to create frefli
troubles- Had they, indeed, fiiflFercdthem to remain in their
cities for the fole purpofe of trade, and conferred the government
of them on magiftrates of their own appointment, all the cala^
mities, or at lead a confiderable part of what fell on the nation,
might have been avoided. But this, we fee, i^ras not the cafe ;

and

•

lilSTORY OF IRELAND. 2U

inH the only way to account for this great overfight is, to con-^ A-C.
ftfs what was really the truth. The Irlfli, though they knew [
the value of trade, and highly encouraged and protefted it, yet ,
deemed it diflionoiirable. Enthufiaftically fond of arms and of
letters, they looked upon other avocations with , contempt. ,
Hence we have feen the amazing numbers of the firft nobUity \
who devoted themfelves to the church, and to .different learned
profeffioris, as law, phyfic, poetry, hiftory, riiufic, and genea-
logy : and .thefe profeflbrs even ranked^ before the military*
Commerce and manufa(Sures were moftly carried on, before the "
arrival of the Danes, By the Belgae arid Damnonii. The trading
cities were moftly Han/e towns ; the monarch, and provincial
kings were paid certain fubfidies from them in money, wines,
and merchandize, every firft of May and November. They had
a police of their own ; and we may fafely affirm, that the ancient
citizens leagued with the new comers, whofe chief power de-
pended on their (hips. £ven at this day Ceanuighe, which is
the Iriih ^Dr a merchant, conveys with it a contemptible idea;
and from the old law word Cain, tribute, is the word Ceanuighe
derived •

Upon reftoring peace and tranquillity to Munfter, a.Feis, oi*
parliament^ was fummoried by Ceallachan to meet at Cafhell^
where were afiembled the chiefs of the feventeen counties of
South Munfter ; and Cineidi, with the twelve princes of North
Munfter, OTelan, prince of the Deafies, and others. At this
convention Cineidi was declared Tanaifte, or fucceflbr to the
crown of Munfter, and received the ufual prefents, and Tuaraf-
dal, or pay, annexed to that rank *. Reforms were made (but

• This was ten gold cups, thirty gold hilled fwords, thifty horfcs, ten coa^s of
mail, and two embroidered cloaks j and to be continued annually, till he fucceeded
to the crown of Munfter.

E e 2 what

2i2 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. what, we are not told) in the goverment of cities ; and the cafe
of the people of OfTory came next under conlideration. It ap-
peared from the regifters that, for one hundred and forty-one
years (fays my copy), that is, from the firft coming of the Danes^
the Oflbrians had with-held their ufual tribute to the kings of
Munfter f, Ambafladors were immediately fent to make a formal
demand of this tribute, and, in cafe of refufal, to denounce war
agai nil them. But the prince of OfTory, aided by the Lage-
riians, refufed to comply with this demand. His territories
were foon invaded ; and he was obliged to fubmit, and to fend
his fan as an hoftage for his future good behaviour.

CHAP. IIL

The Danes form a deep-laid con/piracy j under the pretence bfmar^
riage^ to get Ceallachan into their hands ^ and fucceed— the terms
on "which they propofe to releafe him^ and his own private injiruc^
tions to his minijiers—the Mamonians raife a large army, and Jit
out a powerful navy, to redeem CeaHachan-^Ardmagh taken by
aJault^^Naval engagement offDundaJk, the prodigies of valour
performed by the Irijh, and releafe of Ceallachan— triumphant
return to Munjler.

943 T TPON the arrival of Sitric in Dublin, he called together

V^ an aflembly of the principal Danes, in' order to confult

upon the means of recovering their loft power in Munfter, or,

t Thi8 ((ays mi^author) was three hundred fcarlet cloaks, five hundred hories,
and their contingent of troops when called on,

HISTORY OF IRELAND. aM

flt Icaft, of prefemng what remained to them in the other pro* A.C.
vtnces. His wife was an Irifli princefsy fo that he preferved, by
her family, feme native weight in Leath*Cuin. Munfter, as
has been often before noted» was, to all intents and purpofes»
totally independent of, and owed no obedience whatever to
Leath-Cuin, or the n;ionarchs of the Heremonian line. This k
is proper to repeat, becaufe it has been affirmed that Ceallachan's
refuting to pay the ufiial tribute to Donachad, was the reafon
that he countenanced Sitric in a confpiracy againft Munfter, the
particulars of which we are now to relate*

The Danes had been too long in the kingdom not to be ac^
quainted with the particular interefts of its different chiefs. It
was by entering into their views, that they gradually gained a
new afcendancy after their firft expulfion by Malachie. This
knowlege they now, with profound policy, availed themfelves
of. They artfully reprefented to the monarch, that, by the late
fuccefs of Munfter, its princes acquired new power, and might,
as they formerly did, difpute the monarchy with the Heremo-
nians, and fo bring all Leath-Cuin under their fubjedion; that
they themfelves had formed a fcheme, by which that province
would be foon reduced ; that, provided they had no interruption
to their defigns, they would, in a fliort time, have Ceallachan
and Dunchnain at their mercy^ and of courfe all Munfter in their
power J and that whatever dominion they^might acquire by this
means, they would hold under Donachad and his pofterity only.
By this artful reprefentation, and fpeaking to the paflions and
the feeming interefts of the Heremonians, they not only dif-
armed their jealoufies of themfelves, but made them view the
fuccefles of the Mamonians in a formidable light.

Secure of one party, they now proceed in their attack upon
Ceallachan. AmbafTadors were fent to Cafhell in the names of
Sitric and his brothers. Tor and Magnus, and of the fons of the

king

ai4 HI S T O R Y O F I R E L A N D.

A.e. kiflg of Fuarloohloe {f tludk Norway) and FiontecWdn, c* Dfen^
xnarit, and their adherents, requetliog a lafting peace and amity
with Munfter ; engaging for theitifelves, and for their poftcrity,
to relinquifh all claims or pretencea Whatever on any of the cities
and fea^ports of that province, and to pay themfelvesthe cxpfences
of the late W4r. They \*cre then dlreded, if they found this
propofal favourably heard, to infinuatit the wifhes of Sitfic, to
cement this friendfliip more clofely, by marrying his fifter, the
lovely and actcdniplifiied Beibhion, to Cedllachan. That by this
union he could have nothing to fear frcan Leath-Cdin, ad Sitric
would always affift him with money, arms, and fliipping;
Geallachan, at the fame time, engaging to deftnd him againft
all attacks df the monarth ; andthus^ their mutiial power and in-
dependency wpuld be fupported. Never was negociation more
plaufible, nor more artfully managed ! Geallachan afl^mbled his
council ; the diiFertnt propofals were feparately* examirifed, and
they appeared fo advantageous to both parties, that the leafl
doubt of their fincerity could not be harboured. It wa^S evident
that Sitric and his pafrty could riot eiift in' Lcath-Cuih without
fupport ; and CeaUachan, dreaiiing the titlioA of that patty
againft Munfter, was glad of fo powerful an ally in their own
dominions. Thefe agreements were formally ratified on both
parts, and CeaMachan prepared for Dublin, to meet his intended
bi'ide, with all the fplendor and magnificence which the ancient
Irifh were fofond of. .He propofed to march his army to Kil-
dare, there to wait his return, to attend his bride to Gafbell ; but
this was oppofed by Cineidi, and by O'Keefe, his general, who faid
they could by no means agree to leave the country defendslefs ;
but by keeping the troops at Gafhell they would be ready to
allift him in cafe of any unforefcen accident.
g^^ At the head of the young princes and nobles of Munfter,
namely, of Dunchuain the fon of^Cineidi, of Aodh the fon of

OTelan,

y^lBT O KY] Q Ft I- R; E: L A. H P. it 51

O'FeUi^i prippe of tl»c Peftfie#, o{ Ag^guAi tbfi-ypoBg priooe of : A.C.
Oflpry, with the fons qf .O'Keefe, 0/SulUvaii>.Q,'Coniior*Kfrry^
O^Drifcol, O'Moriarty, O'Rtisrjd^n,. apfi.tfeg Qthp€ youag cbifift <rf
the twentyroine coiinties o^ bojh Mun^rs^ skPjihUgPftfdof Qffijt- •
riaaSy gallantly aftired^ di^ Cealla^han gfoceedr o^. bid ivity id
Dublin, attended by the Daniih a^ba^dors: an^ their retiauc*
Sp unnatural and fo unexpe£bed a unioa aftqn(^q4 ^h^ pttbiic ; .
and nothing was fpoke of, but the preparatjoas ap4 cx;p^qcea
oyer all Munfter« to rcceiye their king axi4 his. q^eon with joy.
and fplendor. The real intentions of Siti^iq, were fo impcae**
trabJe— moft probably, he refer ved thcip to himfelf-mth^t it. was
not. till the morning of the arrival of Ceallacli^R in Publin^ ^
that he. apuouoced his deijg^n? to hia. wife^ wbo^had oft^ her
fore exprefled her aftoniihment at this fudden union between her .
hufbar^d ai^d his^morts^l enemy. Sure of his pr^y, be now told .
her in confidence, that nothing was further froxa his mind, than ,
the giving his fifter to the king of Munfter. That it was a train
h^had laid, to get him and Dqnchnain into hisband^, with all
the youijg nobility, of Munfter, wbpnj,he intended Shipping off for
Denmark, or other wife deftroying them, if the repoffeilion of all the ^
ftrong holds he had been deprived of,, were not reftored to him, ;
with a proper Eric, or ranfom, for every Dane who fell in the
late war. The blacknefs and perfidy of the a£t, and probably
fome affedion for her native country, whofe liberty flie faw would
be endangered by it, determined her to convey immediately a
private account to Ceallachan, of the intentions of her hufband.

This prince, who was preparing with great magnificejjce to
enter the city of Dublin, received, this notice at.Cill-Mhoghnion,
vulgarly called Killmainhim. He communicated its contents to
his attendants, and afked their opinions. They agreed to retire
as faft as poffible ; but Sitric was too profound a politician, to
leave much to chance. He ordered, the night before, troops to

^ file

2i6 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. file off filently^ and line the hedges on both fides the road, fo at
to prevent the pofiibility of an efcape, in cafe Ceallachan ihould
penetrate his defigns ; and in the morning, by way of doing him
greater honour, a body of horfe were to uflier him into town.
The troops feeing Ceallachan and his party turning their backs
on Dublin, quitted their recefTeSy in order to oppofe them ; but
feveral of them were cut to pieces, and they would have made
good their retreat, but for the horfe, who being near at hand^ and
hearing the ihouts> fpurred on, and foon came up with this hand-
ful of heroes, contending with hundreds !

On fight of the horfe, thefe young nobles formed a refolution
worthy of their birth and valor. They requefted Ceallachan and
Dunchuain, to retire as faft as poffible, whilft they fold their lives
as dear as they could for their country's fafety. But courage was
vainly oppofed to numbers ; and though the enemy fell in heaps
on every fide, yet the ftrength of thefe young combatants, was
foon exhaufted, and they themfelves received from others^ that
death which they had fo liberally beftowed. Ceallachan and
Dunchuain, finding all hopes of liberty lofl:, determined to fell
their lives dearly j but the Danes had it in charge to take thena
alive, which they at length effeded- Sitric received them with
ali the cruelty of an infulting tyrant, and had even the heads of
their young nobility e^cpofed in their prefence ; upbraiding them
with all the Danifh blood they had fpilt, and vowing that they
Ihould never return to Munfter, till all the cities were reftored to
him, and a proper Eric paid, for every Dane who fell fince the
taking of Limeric.

The news of the capture of the king of Munfter, and of the
deftrudion of all the young nobility in his train, filled that whole
people with horror and confternation j fince there was fcarce a
great houfe in the province, that had not loft a fon or a brother.
With this melancholy account came the Danifh propofals, from

which

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 217

iprfaich thej Would net recede; but Ceallachan feat private in- A.C*
flrudtions to Cineidi, by no me^ns to hcarkea to them, but to
arm all Munfler) aod purfue the Danea to Ardmach, where they
iQtenddd to remove him. At the fame time he recommended to
him^ to colle£fc all the naval power^ to proceed toDundalk, where
the Daniih fleet then lay, and which he apprehended was to carry
him to Denmark. ***Should thefe mancauvres (faid he)^ prove
'^ unfuccefsfal, have no further regard to our fituations, but pur-
5^ foe the barbarous Danes. Aflume the crown of Munfter, which
** your virtues fo juftly entitle yon to» and take ample revenge
** on the kings of Tara and Leinfter for their bafc treachery.'*

On confultation» it was agreed to purfue the advice of Ceal*
lachan. Expreffes were lent to coUedl the troops, and for thefe
chiefs whofe duty it was to be always ready with their {hips, to
attend the calls of their country^ to proceed to fea by that day
week for Dundalk ; which day was alfo marked out for the march
of the land forces. At the appointed day, appeared 2000 of the
Dalgais^ completely armed with helmets^ coat^ of mail« broad
fwords, and fhields, headed by Coogalach, Cofgfach, and Lon^
gargan^ the brothers of Cineidi. Three tboufand EngenianSt
armed in like manner^ arranged themielves under the flandard
of (yKeefe, who was appointed commander in chief. _ Another
body from Hi-ConnuiU Hi-Carbre^ Hi-Caille, and Hi*Liathaa
appeared. Thefe were joined by a large body of volunteers ; fo
that the army confifted of four Catha, or 12,000 men, befidea
archers, {lingers, and other light-armed troops. On a review of
the troops, Cineidi firft addreflfed himfelf to his brothers and the
brave Dalgais ; reminded them of the exploits oftheiranceftors, the
caufe in which they were embarked, and the perfidious enemy with
•which they were to engage ; and charged them to return with vic-
tory or die glorioufly. O'Keefe, and his intrepid Eugcnians, he alfo
harrangued. It is all in verfe, animating, noblcj and poetic ! It

Vol. II. F f may

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

* A.C. may not be here amifs to inform the reader, that the Irifh princes
and nobility were early inftruO:ed in hiftory and poetry, as well
as in feats of arms ; and that a thorough knowlege of both, were
abfolutely neceflfary in all publick ftations. Every man's rank
was thus known, and the degree of attention neceflfary to be
paid to him. Public difcourfes of every kind were concluded^ and
often recapitulated, in verfe ; and this will explain why all our
MSS. contain profe and verfe; and the meaning of the adage
amongft antiquarians— *• jLtf^i no litir coithighua^^^vok ot
^* verfe proves'' — that is, that the poetic part is as authentic as
the mere literal.

The number of fhips in this expedition are particularly fpeci-
fied. O'Drifcol, O'Cobhtach, and O'Flan, armed and manned
ten fhips each ; Corca-Duibhne, in the county of Kerry, the prin«
cipality of OTailbhe, or O'Falvy, who was hereditary admiral of
South Munfter, equipped thirty £hips ; O'Cbnnor-Kerry, twenty
(hips ; from G>rcomruadh and Burrin, in the county of Clare,
twenty (hips ; and from Corca-Bhaifcin, twenty fhips ; in all 120
fail. For it is to be noticed, that there was at this time thirteen
fea- ports in South, and but five in North Munfter. Thefe fhips
well manned and appointed, and commanded by their different
chiefs, rendevouzed at Beal*Atha-Laighean,on the day appointed,
and immediately proceeded to fea.

In the march of the army, they were joined by 1000 GonacianSt
the pofterity of Teige, the fon of Cian, the fon of Oliol-Ollum,
who got large eftates in Leinfter and Conaught, in the third cen-
tury. At the head of thefe were O'Hara, O'Gara, O'Connor,
from this Cian, called Cianachta, &c. and foon after by 500 foot
completely armed, from the Del vins, headed by O'Coghlin, OTen«
nellan, &c. being the pofterity of Luigh-Dealboaodh. Thefe
chiefs informed O'Keefe, that as being themfelves.of the line of
Heber, they thought they were bound in honour to engage in

this

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 216

this caufe^ and therefore voluntarily offered their fcrvice, which A.C.
he gladly excepted, applauding their gcnerofity and bravery^^and
that of their ance(lors> in an extempore poem. It is to be noticed,
that 700 years had now elapfed^ fince the anceftors of the
Gaileangas> or firft body of thefe auxiliaries, gained eftates in
Conaught and Leinfter ; and above 500 fince thofe of the Del* .
vins got acquifittons in Leinfter and Meath; yet we fee how well
preferved the memory of their anceftry was, by all parties !

The army, in high fpirits, foon reached Ardmach ; but in their
march through Tir Connell, fome excefles were committed, which
that prince complained of; but getting no redrefs, and unable to
oppofe force to force, through vexation he fent a private exprefs
to Sitric at Ardmach, that the whole power of Munfter would
be immediately on his back. On receipt of this intelligence, he
quitted the town with his army and prifoners, to proceed for Dun-
dalk, where his (hips lay, leaving a flrong garriibn behind him,
to delay as much as poflible the Munfter troops. Immediately
on their arrival, O'Keefe took a view of the city, and proceeded
to form the attack. To the Dalgailians, and the troops from Del-
vin and Conaught, he affigned the weftern fide of Ardmach ; to
thefe of Hi-Connuil and Hi-Carbre, or of Upper Connellac and
Kerry, in the county of Limeric» and of Hi-Liathan, or Barry-
more, in the county of Cork, &c. the attack of the old town.
The troops from the Deafies, or county of Waterford, were to
form the fouthern attack ; and the Eoganachts, with himfelf at
their head, were to make their approaches at the eaft fide of the
city. All thefe attacks were to commence at precifely the fame
time. The troops took their different ftations; the fignal was
given, and the projedion of large ftones from the machines, and
arrows from the archers, were for a time fo conftant and thicks
that the air was almoft darkened. Scaling ladders were fixt againft
the walls } thie foldiers afcended them with loud ihouts, and death

F f a ftalked

220 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. ftalked round on every fide ! Part of the troops gained the tops
of the walls, and the firft Iriih ftandard that was planted, was
the DalgafGan, The Danes every where defended themfelves
with uncommon bravery and defperacy, as they had every thing
to apprehend from the enraged affailants. At length they gave
way, but not till late in the evening did the Irifli get poifeffioa
of the town. But the general, apprehenfivc that in the darknefs
of the nighty (hould the fight and purfuit continue longer, the
troops advancing from different quarters, might through miftake
engage each other, gave orders, that none fhouM ftir from their
ftations, but remain under arms all night, and to take care that
none ihould be fuffered to quit the town.

In the morning early they Heard with aftonifliment, that Sitric
had been informed of their intentions, by the prince of Tir Gonnd^
and had marched off for Dundalk, with his prifoners. After
burying the dead, which it appears were very confiderable, (500
of the Eoganachts only being amongft the flain), they proceeded
for Dundalk, or Dun-Dealgan, the ancient refidence of the fa-
mous hero Cucullin, Here they found that Sitric with all hisr
forces had embarked, and the fleet lay in the bay ready for fea,
O'Keefe fent off a flag of truce, to demand of Sitric, the bodies of
Ceallachan andDunchuain, at the fame time upbraiding him, with
his breach of publick faith. But the Dane returned for aniwer,
" that the prifoners fliould not be reftored, till an Eric was firft
•• paid for the Danes, who fell in fifteen different battles with
** Ceallachan and his forces ;" and at the fame time he ordered
Ceallachan, to be bound to the round-top of his own fhtp, which
was the largeft in the fleet, anfd)dn*eaed that Dunchuain, who was
in that of the king of Norwap, fliould be ferved in like manner,
ia view of the whole Munfter army.

But if the rage and grief of the Irifli were extreme at this in-
felt offered ta their princes and to the nation, in their fight, but

out

HISTORY OF IRELAND. sai

dut of their power to revenge ; what muft not have been their AC,
joy . on view of the Munfter fleet, now in fight, and with oars and
fails filling up the . bay ? When they beheld diftindlly the ad-
miral's flagt and to a certainty knew the di£Ferent fquadrona of
which the fleet was cpmpofcd, by their enfigns^.they exprefied
their fatisfadion by loud and repeated ihouis^ which were re-
turned by the navy; and now both parties prepared for aiflipo^
O'Failbhe drew up his fhips in an extended line, but fo as to leave
room enough for the {hips to work and fight, but not to let the
Danes efcape them. Both parties were refolved oa vi^ory or
death J and with cool determination approach each other. O'Drif-
ccl, O^Cobhtach, and O 'Flan, who lead the van, began. the attack
on that of the enemy, by (bowers of arrows, of ilones dajrted
from machines and flings, and of lances. But thefe mifiive weap;*
OQS dealt death too flowly for the enraged Irifli. The fhips (lill
approached nearer, and they were dire^d to grapple the enemy
MBd board them* It appears that heavy^armed troops were dif-"
pttkd through Iboth ^eets, and thefe fought hand to hand> and
breaft to breaft. The Irifli admiral now approached the central
divifion under Sitric { whilft t)ie diftant war was conduded as
above. O'Failbhe grappled the Danifli admiral, the red: of his
fquadron did the like to others, and all leapt into the enemies
ihips ! The North Munfler divifioa attacked the Danes, com*
manded by the princes of Norway and Denmark, 'and boarded
them alio. Never was greater intrepidity dlfplayed than by both
parties, qn this dreadful occs^on. The Dani(h fleet was much
better manned than the Iriih ; and this fuperiority made the coa^
Aid long doubtful. The Iriih admiral advanced, at the head of
a StlcQ: pe^rty, w^th a fword (nj each hand, determined to reflore
Ceallachaa to his liberty, or die in the attem.pt* . Sit^ic a,Qd hi|
bands refolutely expedl the attack. Courage, ftrength, and ex*
perience were oppofed to each other ; but the Danes were at
6 length

2^2 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

^'^* length beat from the main deck, and Ceallachan relieved.
OTailbhe, gave him one of his fword«, and defired him to take
poffcffion of his fliip, and (hew himfelf to the fleet, whilft he re-
turned to the charge. The liberty of their prince gave new fpirits
to the Irifli, and they every where preffed the enemy clofer. The
'gallant O'Failbhe now renewed the fight with redoubled vigor; but
Sitric, who knew how much depended on his own (hip, gallantly
oppofed him, and he at length fell, pierced by a thoufand
bounds ! His head was immediately difplayed on Sitric's mail-
head, and this fight gave frefli courage to the Danes. But Fin-
gal, fecond in command, vowed ample revenge on Sitric. He
reanimates his wounded and difpirited aObciates, and conjures
them to make one generous attempt more, in the caufe of their
country. They catch the facred flame, and bravely fecond their
gallant commander. The fight was now more defperate^ than e v^r ,
not only in this, but in every (hip of the Danes; and we are
particularly told, that the difi^ererit combatants fought almoft knte
deep in blood. Fingal and Sitric at length clbfed'l furrounded
by crouds of Danes, Fingal faw his death certain, but determined
to die glorioufly. By a fudden efibrt he grafped Sitric in his
arms, and hurled his enemy with himfelf into the unfathomable
deep ! the like did Connal and Seagha, the anceftors of O'Connor
Corcumruadh, and O'Loghlin, who engaged with the (hips com-
manded by Tor and Magnus, brothers to Sitric, and reduced to
the fame extremity with Fingal ; like him, they grafped thefe
different chiefs in their arms, and with them ruihed into eternity !
O^Connor-Kerry, and his divifion met the fame oppofitidn ; and
he in particular after muck carnage, attacked hand to hand the
Danifh commander, whofe head he cut off; and whilft he was
expofing it to his men> he met the fame fate from another

Dane I

After

HISTORY OF IRELAND; 423

After performing every duty which could be expeded from A.C
experienced commander s^ and gallant foldiers and feamen, the
aliens began at length to lofe their courage, at fuch unexampled
inftances of heroifm. and perfeverance ; whilft their antagonifta
more eagerly fought for death, provided they could drag fome
Danifh antagontil to eternity with him ! In 91 word, the Danifb
fleet were all taken or deflroyed ; and of that numerous hoft,
which in the morning exhibited fo glorious a fights not a Jingle
man remained alive at night ! Hiftory cannot produce another
inftance of fo well fought a battle, or fo dreadful a carnage I Of
all the Irifh chiefs that engaged that day, not one efcaped death ;
the like of all the captains, and very few of the foldiers or failors,
who were not killed or wounded ! The enemies fliips being every
where taken or deftroyed. Ceallachan and Dunchuain landed ;
and the fight of thefe princes, with the glory of the well purchafed
day, fooa made the army forget all the loOTes attending it. The
bards, as ufual, congratulated them in adulatory odes ; and -
the ihouts of the foldiery proclaimed their joy and appror
bation !

Ceallachan gave orders to fet fire to fuch of the enemies fhipst
as were totally difabled; and after diftributing their fpoils amoogft
the troops, he detached a confiderable.body of men to punifli the
prince of Tir Connell for his perfidy, with orders to join him ia
Meath. He at the faqot^ time, fent heralds tp the monarch Do-
nachad, upbraiding him with his bafenefs, and informing him9

that he would be foon at Tara, to lay wafte his country, if he
was notable to fight him. The monarch declined the challenge,
and Ceallachan raifed heavy contributions on the country, with
which and many hoftages, he returned triumphant to Ca(heli«

As the MS. which details the wars of this prince, is more mi«
nute in relating the mamier of engagements both by feaand land,

than

S24 HISTORY OFIRELA N D.

A.C. than any other I have met with, I have here given the fubftance
of it entire. By it, it appears, that foldiers armed at all points^
fought as well on fhip-board as on (hore : and that the diftant
war, in both inftances, conGfted in hurling of ftones, and the dif-
charge of arrows and lances. The prdjedion of ftones from flings,
fcems to have been, the firft mlfEve weapon that was ufed ; and
Pliny attributes its invention to the Phcenicians. In the armies
of Ifrael were flingers of ftones;- by this art David killed Go-
liah * ; and amongft thofe who came to his aftiftance afterwards,
were men, ** wha could ufe both the right hand and the hft^ in
*^ hurling Jiones'\r^ In the army of the children of Benjamin,
were 700 chofen men, left-handed—" Every one could fling
•* ftones, at an hair breadth and not mifs J." The Gauls fuc-
tefsfuHy ufed them in their wars with the Romans § ; and thefe
ia ft afterwards employed the Balearians, or inhabitant$ of Ma-
jorca and Minorca, in their armies for this purpofe. In Ireland
men were particularly trained to this exercife i and were fo ex-
pert at it, as to be certain of hitting any object within its reach^
By it, Connor, king of Ulfter, near the birth of Chrift, had bis
Ikull fradtured, and fome years after the famous Meibh, queea of
Conaught, received her death. Befidcs ftones, the Irifli flingers
ufed-acompofition of quick-lime, coarfe gravel, brick-doft and
blood, which they worked into a mafs, and of this formed balls
t)f difierent fizes for their Cran-Tubals, or flings*

.• I- Samuel, cbap. xvii. vcr, 494 t i Chronicles, chap. xii. vcr. 2%

J Judges, chap. xx% vcr. 16. § Caefar dc Bcllo Gal. lib, ii. cap. 7.

CHAP.

HISTORY OF IRELAND. a*j

C Q A P. IV.

Death of the monarch Donochad^ andeleStion of Congalach^^deJeaTs

the Danes in two pitched hattles-^ftate of Munjier and death of

Cealiachan'-^objeSiions to his hijiory anfwered^-^fucceeded by

Feargradh'^htjiory and exploits of Mahon% king ofThomond^^

fucceeds to the crown of Munjier^ and defeats the different leagues

formed againjl him^ but is^ at length treacheroujly Jlain.

TH E fpirit of Ceallachan and of Cineidi feems to have
been caught by fome northern princes ; and Mac Neill
fitted out a fleet on Loch-Neagh, with which he attacked and
deftroyed that of the Danes^ and killed 1 200 of their men. In
like manner the CEonacians encountered the Danes on Lough*^ ^ .^
Oirbhfion, who had long diftrefled the adjoining inhabitants ;
funk or burned all their veflids» and put to the fword every man
of them. This year died fuddenly Donachad the monvch^ after
a reign of twenty-five y^ars ; during which long period, be dif-
played no great talents or patriotifm. Had he, after the rapid
fucceflfes of Ceallachan, leagued with this prince, or even, as he
did in Ldith-Mogha, humbled their power in Leth-Cuin, in all
appearance, the remains of thefe people, from inveterate enemies,
might be converted to ufeful fubjeds. But he envied thefe ex-
ploits, which he ought (o have imitated ; and, like modern pa-^
triots, would rather fee the nation totally deftroyed, than refcued
from its dangers by any other hands but his own !

Vol. II. G g Con-

±t& K^fS TORY O 5 IR-ELA N IX

A'C* Congalach, the fon of Maoilmhitbe, fixth in defcent from

945 Aodh-Slaine, of the Heremonian line, was proclaimed monarch.
This was an active and enterprifmg prince, and a determined
er^emy to the Danes. On fome depredations of thefe pirates,
Congalach declared war againft, and lead forth an army to chaf-

9^6 tife them. The Danes withdrew their diftant garrifons, and
waited tTie motions ef the monarch. The armies engaged near
Dublin, and' in the battle were A'ain 4000 of the Danes ; and fo
hotly were the fugitives parfued, that the vi(!lors entered the city
with them, and put the garrifon to the fword. It does not appear
that Congalach left troops in that city, to.fecure it? pofleffion to-
himfelf ; and therefore Blacar the Dane, entered it the nextyear,
and fortified it ftronger than it had been before. They at the
&me time collided a confiderable fovc^, ta carry oa theh ufua^

947 depridfttJons ; but were: attacked bf the impierialifls nean Slane,
wli€f«- 4 600^-of their beft' troops ftH, with tfeefr generlil BFacarl
&ddfvey fu£ceededBlac2lr irk the comiaaiidof tiie Danes, a]iid,ijn<r
^ patient to refuge* tbe tnatiy 'ifofeaCB- wiikii.U«>^councr7man bad'
I lacdy faSerodyhe coUefted troops, from aiiqdartjers, aoud auxili-^
aries from Drilain and Gaul ; and at tlie head! of a. larger force
thdD-hiiid>eMPappear«d before of t)idib aUttiis; ^er centered into

949 action, laykig vra(te the country for near tl^irty miles > round
Dubhn^ v^ithr fword and (ire, and plonderin^ tbe. chttrches, moi^
nafieriea^y aTxd ottier bouibsi, of whatever wa&moft vahiable^ la theie
return, loaded with fpoils, they were ov^rtalcen by the imperial-.
iAs, at a pldce called Muinhrocai\^ in Nikatb, where, after a moft
bbody conteft, they receii;ied a* ^omplete oveirthrow, having had
HO lefs a nomber than 7000 killed,, befidee abqve 1 ooo prifoners !
^Qt this Tidory was dearly pur cfaaied,^ for the Iriifa fuflFered con-
fiderably ; and amongft the flain was Roderic O'Cannanan,
prince of Tyr Connell, Righ-Damhna, or declared fucceflbr to the
monarch, and general of the imperial army.

2 In

H I S T O R Y O F IRELAND. 227

. In the mean time the Danes got to a great head in Munfter, A.C.
'having received confiderable fupplies from the Bahic. They far^
tified Lfm eric hy new v^orks, and made Scattery a place of arms.
'Cork and Waterford received alfo great recruits of men alnd^
arms, but the]f aded fo circumfpedlty during the reigns of Ceal-
lachan and Gineidi^^hat their real power was neither koown nor

fufpeded. c * ...

In the latter end of the year 950, died thegallant Cinetdi, king

<)f Thomond, without enjoying the crown of ^11 Munfter, which

his virtues and intrepidity fo juftly entitled him to. He was fuc-

cceded by his fon Lachtna; and the fame year Dunchuain and

-Eichtihiar nr fanTof Cinddr , were ilain by the troops of Congalach. 95 r

as they were gallantly oppofing their paflage into Thomond. In

95^, died Ceallachan-Cafil, king of Murt^fter, ^s is exprefsly

mentioned in his life and exploits^ an epitome of which I haveat-

ready given. And here lit me aflvert to the objedtions made by

tlfe traiiflitor df the'Book of Mnn^er, to flic account which Keat*'-

4ng-give8 cff ^this prince * ; becanfe it appears th&t Gineidi and

Ocalhtchan iwere early at variance, he -/n^/«r^x, that they could

not ^afterwards becom'e' fViends, and that Cincidi iwould never

/fiilfer^s fon Dunchuain io>accoin party iliis prince -to i^ubUn,

*dr''^3fiillachah enthiR-Cinctdi with <hfe ^overiwnent^f Munfter

^rn^His *bfence. 'And as Sitric, is laid by^Kcktingj t6M>e the fon

* * *

i:^f Turgefius the tyrant, who wasdcftfroyeffby MaFachie the ma*
natch, neaCr a cfentury fetHtet, his fiRer BelBWon, *{&y% %he trani^
htor), muft haveprcfe^ved her beauty to ftworfdetfiil old age to
'match - Ce^Qachan. For thde recifons, ke treals 'tbe nuion -of
-€e*llachan and-'Cineiai, ftoii'the 'expfloi*f8 «tt*ib«ted-to*he Mamo-
nilns, imrdeeming-thc fiVft, its were- ftfbles ; «id is very fcvferfe
in his animadverfions on this reverend writer. That princes at

• Ww$i6frrioiftry;i5uBf3t^3,,p,.4.58, *c. ..

G g 2 variance

^' r.

228 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A C. variance may be reconciled, and afterwards become warm friends,
cannot be doubted ; and though the authority from which I have
faithfully extraded the exploits of Ccallachan, exprefsly fays, that
\.Sitric, was the fon of Turgefius, yet it does not affirm, that this
Turgefius was the tyrant above alluded to. Turgefius, like Si*.
trie, ivorus. Avlavus, &c. was a name peculiar to thefe foreigners.
We read of many Sitricfes, Ivorufes, &c. in our annals, and why
iiot many Turgefiufes. Thus, though this Sitric is faid to be the
fon of Turgefius, yet it is not a confequence, that he mu/l be fon
to that Turgefius drowned in Loch-Ainin. Befides, our hiftory
menti^s him, with his chiefs and family, to have been then cu,t
off; fo that there could be no authority whatever, for.even f appofing
it. Thus his proofs, when examined, appear, like mod modern
attacks upon ancient hiftory, but merely prefumptive. But had
this gentleman perufed the work relative to this prince, he would
be convinced, from its ftyle and language, not only that it wajs
,genutnef but wrote immediately after the tranfadions therein re-
corded. From this hero Ceallachan, his pofterity affumed the
name of O'Ceallachan, and prefer ved a confiderable part of their
ancient property, even to the days of Cromwell. This tyrant
obliged them, as he did many other great families, inftead of their
ample fortunes at home, to exchange them for fmaller ones in
other counties. It was a policy he adopted in too many infiances,
in order to weaken ancient family-interefts, to tranfplant people
.from one county to another ; and then it was, that the chief of
,this princely line, was removed from the county of Cork into the
county of Clare, where his pofterity have ftill an ample property.
,The prefent O'Ceallaghan, a youth of great hopes, is now en his
travels ; and, from hiscondud and pruaence, his friends form great
expedations.

^jx On the death of Ceallachan, Feargradh, the fon of Ailgenaa,
an Ettgenian, was proclaimed king of Munftcr, in preference to

Lacbtna,

HISTORY OF IRELAND- 229

•Lachtna, who fhould certainly in juftice have fucceedcd Ceal- '^*^-
lachan ; but I fuppofe the incurfions of the Danes into his
territories, (who now were poflefled, not only of Limeric, but of
all tbeifiands in the Shannon to it), difabied him from fupporting
"his right by arms. Lachtna hoy?ever had war5 on his hands^-;
and in the third year of his reign, the Book' of Miinfter tells us,
he fell in battle by the hands of O'FIin and O'Cearny.

Mahon, brother tb Lachtna, was his Uicceflbr in the kingdom 9S+^
of North Munftcr, a prince of^ uncommon bravery and condudt.;
and fuch aaone was highly ncceflaryi>a6 the Danes had already
poffefled itxeft of the ftrong holds in the province, froni which
they made fudden and dreadful incurfions. Mahon, for a time
aififted by his brethren^ particularly his brother Brien, unable to
face them in the field, carried oh a kind of piartizan*war againft
•them, watching opportunities of furpriftng ; and cutting oflF their
diflFerent fcouting: and detached parties, the.fucccfs of which gave
. new fpiritsto.lu8.people»fQ .that, ia fppae time his forces became
Gonfiderable and refpedable.

. TheLagenians, Danes, and Normans, of Ulfter andXeinfter, ^^
entered into, a confederecy againft Congaladi. He raifed an
army to oppofe them ;. but fell in the adion that enfued near 957
Ardmach, as the Annals of. the. Fqur MaQerp not^

His fucceffor was Domhnal O'Neil, the Ton of Murtough, the
fon of the monarch Neill-Gldndubh. Soon after his inauguration,
Daniel, fon to the deceafed monarch Conigalach, leagued with the
Danes and Lagenians, and, at the head of a potefit army, avowed
]iis preteafioaa to the throner of Tara, The monarch prepared
to meet him ; and at Cill-Mona a moft Ijloody battle was fought, g^g
in which Argal, fon to the king of Ulfter ^ the young prince of
Oirgial, and other perfons of prime quality fell, and with them
^ hopes of the fon of Congalach. The Conacians had not fent
hoftages to the monarch, oor yet recognifed his title. To puniih

them

•23b TAA & T- O R T or IRELAND.

•^.C. ^jbom For thisncgledl^rtd difi^fpefl:, he invaded that province,
raifed contributions on the countryj, and brought hoftagcs to Tara,
Yrdm the different fiPee ftates.

The aftive ^nd.mtcrprifing Umg, of North ^Munfter, with his
brother Btien, were perpetually in arms againft the Danes, coij^
ftantly harrafflng thkm ; but, ^t the fon^e <ime, never attackic^
theiji but where they had the fid vantage offituation; fo that far
from repeating their deprddations on the ^public, they durft not
:now venture from their ftrong hoW^; but in large* bodrcj.
Alarmed at 'i:he fuccefs of Mobon in thw kind:of,parti2an-war,
the Danes of CorJcy Waterfofd, cfnd LimeriQ, agreed to.Tarfe .^
body of mea, to crufli for ever [this rifing fpirit. Three thou-
fand picked men were raifed ifcir ikhis pntpoky comsvanded .by
Muiris, tht^f'df fhfe Datxes ofiiLimcric, liriderwhom wcr^ foftr
f 59 ^(!>ionfefe Of great qnfiiilitafy ejqpdieiicey a»d other officer^ of appro^
^e(J^2|tlo«r. Mihon's -troops, in*^flying:pafrtiies, confiantly hoveriti
Tound'them,-intheir march #rGim X>a{heIl«toX.imeric^:fometTmes
ikirmi(hing in front, fometimes iti the ^rear, or -wiierev^eitithey
«fcmnd the Teaft-^ad vantage! At 4erf|fth'ftt^lohDid,:k noted pafs,
^they attacked thent'With fdch'fpfrit^afid4mpetUQfity,'and\stithiudi
*V?ffMie ?idvinftage;*hat the^frdrit ranks fell; m 'Ujpion'^i^€ertter,ia"nd
all was foon in eotafuiion. ')n vain* did ^AseuixihicfecKert All Uieir
coui^a^an^^'flviU/tkid dppbfe {beMfeives^vtb ^e grasctcfl; i dangers
^*o reattittift^ aiheofii^wps. Tv^o ^tboufeiid/cf xtea-^weteTout-J^
d^?ee^6'«)A'^s^at?;:>Wkh'«b^irJ8lfn cifflcdBB,;4Ud

mte ^^eniiiria%i^^ai(^TOf is^HAifftric, ivhfthw^ltoy M^it-& adoieiy
^^nd .eztgerty ^{Hirftied,- fhat-*h« vii§k>t»8^enter«d:%b* wwrn wiftfi<jheai,
•-^p^ttiftg ^to'^he fw.ard all^'opptoi^ents, breakitig downidbe^Jiwraiis
•h^•fev1?fil^aeM,-aAd■'ftttirtgfir8'to•al^the gite«otf"the^^ • .1

"fMi^ViAor/'havhig fiiiiiferdiind cnkrg<d"«rhe bott«d«B5(S« vAf
'Mal\mi*s teiWdfrefs ? h'e-thtought'flie oppbf t\inity»ftvbuf able»totbe
'avenged* on Wtoi €tiriActaft^/'"T%¥f3-teftat«iaysi(fcten^ithe.'iai:*- j
* ' fent

H ,1] & T Q R- Y PiV ']F ft E L A N p. 2p

,fenjt :?qv.uty. of Cl«9. as»:pact.of their ^ dominions, {thxwgh in the A.C.
pxigin^J parVtipn 9f lf)?la,SMd> .between Heber and |^«eflG^on,, a^
well as in thefubfequent one, between Eogh^in-MpF€>,and.th€;n»Or
•narchfp9p> it v^a|4et€rfpiae4,:tb^: it.belopgedtq I^s*)th-Mogha,
qr fbnthera Ireland),, and n>^de. feveral unfuccefeftil att^iPiBte to
recoveri^ during the lai;e jJcppejErof diftr^ft of that people. Ma-
hpiji harVing m^<^?i.f '^W? ^'^^\^ th^^^D^^fls^ cplleftec} ,a^ Ci?.r 960
jCiH'rtJasy, ai^ ^he. places, ^djac^at; to KiUaloe,. s^. largf nunpiber o|f
49QB?. ai>4 flat-hpttoqicd boats, in vsfhich, he cmb^rkecj with a
feleii: number of h,h brave Dalgais, on the Sh^aon, making
defcent8 on different places on^b^e ConajUght coaftspj and ^faifing
-cpn^riUi^tiofls.. ey^ry, .w[|^ere, till: he ^ent beyoj|4p Loghf\Righr.
Herehetiaft^^d.l^i&.whcJe force,. ajidjn^airGhi^d far ii;>tQth^ Goun^
tffy-. Eearga^^, . the fqn of Ruarci narrowly watched hi* n^otions^
aud , near the banks of a river which runs into th^t lake, Feargal
with his whole force atta^f ke4 .M^hon ; but the Dalgais (Ca^far
li^e),^ un^cq^a^inlied with fear, reb^ived th^m with ^hfiVS ¥^oated
iirnxnefcaftd intrepidity ji ap<i,,;after :a. very blopdy cpnti^ft, put
tbec(i to a (hameful flight. This wap fo precipitate, tbat-Fear-
gal himfelf plungedinto the river, and iujhis hurryjtud .confufioa
threw awfiy the ihield, which Mahon got, and was ever after
carefully prefer ved by the pof^erity of this princei and ufed ipi
all fucceediqg wars witb the:CQnaciaAa. To lo|if an4*s ft^ield pr
arms in battle, much lefs to throw them away, was d^ec^ed, not
only in Ireland, but amongft- the ancient Celts, the grcatefl re**
proach, as Tacitus obferves ; and Horace himfelf s^rlqipwlegc^
by his ** relida non bene parmula,'* how difhonpi^aWe it was
fven ina^pcient Rome. This tranfadtion^ and the lofs of Fergal's
(hield are preferved in a well pointed poeovin the Book of Mun-
fter. The late tranflator of this work fay§, that, the ixivafion of
Cpnaught was by land j but aot to advert to the improbability of

. Mahon'$

■ ■ ■ I

232 HISTORY O t IRELAND.

A.C. Mahon's beittg able, at this time, to raife forces enough for fb
great an undertaking, the Book of Munfter affures us that it was
an aquatic expedition.

960 Feargradh, king of Munfter, being cut off, Mahon claimed
the crown as his right, according to the law of alternate fuccef-
fion } and the better to fupport his claim, marclied a refpedable
army to Cafhell. This gave fuch weight to his folicitations^ that
he was eledled king by a confiderable majority, and was confe*
crated by the archbifliop of Cafliell or Munfter. But nothing
could be more difagreeable to the foreigners than this dignity
conferred on their mortal enemy. The Danes of Cork, Wa-
terford, Limeric, and Dublin, formed an alliance for their
mutual defence ; and moft likely were privately encouraged, if
not fupported, by fome of the Eugenians. This they kept

962' fecret till fufficient provifion was made for carrying on the war;
this being eflFeded, the troops from the different quarters ren-
devouzed at nearly a central place — I fuppofe about Thurles,
fmce the march of the confederates combined was towards Li-
ineric, by the way of Cafliell.— Their leaders, fays the book
of Munfter, were Corran, chief of the Danes of Leinfter, Mag-
nus of Limeric, Toralp and Sithmoll. Mahon waited for them
at thepafsof Sulchoid. The Danifli horfe, who came to re-
con noitre liis fituation, were briftily attacked by the Irifli ca-
valry, commanded by his brother Brien, and very roughly
handled* This brought on a general engagement, in which
the Danes were defeated with very great flaughter. This bat-
tle is faid, in the Chronicon Scotcrum, to have been fought An.
968. after this, it is faid, that he defeated the Martini of Mun* j

ftcr in a general engagement.
5^ This fame year Murrough, king of Leinfter, leagued with
the Danes, and committed great depredations in Meath; but the

monarch

■«

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

monarch attacked them with fuch vigour and fpirit, that their
army was cut to pieces or difperfed.

The Eugeuians, who had fo long governed Munftert but
particularly Maolmuadh, the fon of. Brain, could not bear to
fee Mahon fo ftronglyri vetted in the throne of that province.
He leagued with the common enemy, but Mahon defeated their
whole combined forces in two different battles. Maolmuadh,
defpairing to fucceed by open force, had recourfe to
treachery; The biihop of Gdrk, and other clergy of Munfter,
interpofing their good offices^ it was agreed that both princes
thould meet, with afew friends on each fide, in order .to fettle

•

their differences amicably. The houfe ipf O'Donovan, chief of
Carbre-Aobhdhda or Kenry, in the county of Linieric, was the
appointed place of meeting ; and thither Mahon repaired with
x>nJy twelf e noblemen and their fuite in his train. In the in-
terim Maolmuadh tampered with the infamous O'Doncj^vaim,
^nd he was bafe enough to promife to fecure the body of his
prince. The fon of Brain, attended with a flrong party of horfe,
at feme diflance, and the gallant Mahon was carried off to
the county of Cork, and bafely murdered at a^ place called
Leach t-MathuiUf near Macroon, in that county. By this . infi^
dious adion Maolmuadh was proclaimed king of Munfier,

964

965

' *

I «

« •

« *

Vol. U.

H h

CHAP.

«34

A.C.

HISTORY tV IRELAND.

« •

C M A P. V.

JSjfilcry and e^pfuti ^f Brunt till crowtud king tf Mu^r^^djfj^f^
. f^ tkt^ Danes of hus^atAa and other ifiands qftht Shannon^
toka^ cimrckes andimonajkmes he ioufed to he reiuUt and re*
edyiedi^'^^her refdrw$s of Brien-^^'annju/ revenues of the MunJ^
iings^ and the fti^endi paid by them to their tributaries^^re^
vlev of the nmKtary power (f Mmfter—ftate of Leinfter and
Vifierp and Jkath of the monarch Domnald,

965 TJRrfeN; the fon of Cincidi, fiiccecded his brother Jn the
JL^ crown of North Munftcr ; and, after fecuring internal
peace and good order, his next objeds were to be revenged on
the betrayer and the murderer of his brother. But though alt
our writers agree as to the great exploits of this immortal prince,
yet they arc by no means in unifon as lo the length of his reign.
Keating) M^urtin, and others^ reckon fifty-fix years from his
being called to the erowh of North Muhfter to his death ; and
Bruodinus makes it flitl more. The Chronicon Scotorum re*
duces it to thirty-eight years, in which opinion is the tranfla*
tor of the Book of Munfter. The firft writers confound thefe
anions which he performed under his brother, with his own
exploits when king of Thomond, and (b extend his reign as
much beyond the true time as others unreafonably contrad it.
The Leabhar Oirisy or Chronicle of the O* Maolconneries^ which ia
an exprefs relation of the wars of this prince from his firffi en-
thronement to his deaths clearly affirms that the whole of his.
reign was forty- nine years; the firft thirty-feven of which he

8 was

HISTORYOr IRELAND tog

-was king of Munfter^ and fiom tliat time, to Ins deathi was A*K-
monarch of Ireland. He was born in the year 9269 and fell ill
the battle of Guan-Tarbh^ A. C 1014; from which it .muft
follow^ that he commenced hi^ feign A. C. 965, in the thirty-
ninth year of his age. But as I would wi(h to bring the exploits
of this great hero into as clear and comprehend ve a light as I
could) in hopes fome future biographer may enterntae his ow*
name in tranfmitting to pdjfterity his great exploits) I fliall cb^
ferve, for more accuracy, that of this fortyniine years he wa%,
for the two firft, 'but king of Thomond, Maolmuadh bebg
then king of Munfter ; that the ten fucceeding ones he was king
of Munfter; Was twenty-live yiears following kji^g of Leath-
"Mogha ; and the remaining tweWci monarch of kdand.

0*Donovan was too well acc^ainted with the fpirit and refo-
lutioajDf Bn€tk, not to apprehend every thing from him, and
therefore took into his pay, befides his own troops, fifteen hun^
dred heavy*armed Danes, commanded by Aviavus, a foldier of
great experience. Brien, as was expededi in the fpringof9669
entered his territories, and was oppofed by the combined force&%
A battle was fought with fuch fury and obftinacy, that not only
O^Donovan and Aviavus, but their entire party fell by the
Tword ! Brien then fent an herald to Maolmuadh, denouncing
war againft him, and acquainting him that he would invade his
territories early the next year. Such was the ^ftabli/hed cuftora
of thofe days.

At the head of an army, more refpeffcable for courage and dif^ 967
cipline than for numbers, Brien enters into adion. Maolmuadh,
befides his provincials, had colleded a large body of Danes,
and by mutual confent a battle was fought at Beallaoh^Lachta,

in which Brien was agsun vi^iorious. In this bloody engage-

• • •

ment Morroogh, ciaeflE fen of Brien, by More, idaugfater .to
0*Hinc, prince of Jobh-Fiacre-Aidhne, in Conaught, H^ade his

H h a firft

iy6 H IS T O R Y. a F IRELAND.

^•C. grfl; campaign, aad though but thirteen years old, engaged
hand-to-hand with Maolmuadh, and flew thia murtherer of his
uncle ! This vi<flory was doubly glorious for Brien ; he avenged
by it the blood of his brother, and fecured to himfelf the crown

968 of the two Munflers. After his coronation at Cafhell, v?hlcti
was performed early next year, he returned to his palace at Cinn-
Corradk ; and now, having leifure and time, he began to con*
fider the fituation of his fubjedls nearer home. The Danes ftil]
po0eflred all the iflands on the Shannon from Limeric to the fea ;
and tvhilft thiey mDnopolized all the trade of that city, thecoun*
try,' on. both fides, were grievoufly infefted, by fudden landings,

gSg fi^om th'ofe iflands, Brien prepared a large number of fliiips and
fiat-bottomed boats, and at the head of twelve hundred brave Dal--
gais he landed at Inis-Catha, or Scattery. In this ifland St.
SQoanus founded an epifcopal fee in the fifth century. In it were
no Itfs than eleven churches for the ufe of his monks, befides a
jfine anchorite tower yet ftanding. A fuperb monument was
eredled to his memory, and was refortcd to by pious perfons
from the moft diftant, parts; .butit^is. very, remarkable, that lio
women were permitted to l%ndon itfromits firfl: foundation to
the coming of the Danes. This rich and lovely little ifland
thefe barbarians had long poflefled) and were determined to pre-
ferve. The landing of Brien in his flat boats were fupported
by his fliips, frcvp which.^hey 4ifcbarged fhowers of Aones. and
arrows. The Danes, however, prepared to give them, a warm
reception* but were foon routed with the lofs of eieht hundred
of their heft men. After the re-confecration of the churche5»
Brien returned folemn thanks to God, who ha^ enabled * him to
reftore them to his glory. From Scattery JBrien embarked troops
who poflefled themfelves of all the. other iflands. The churches
and monafteries were repaired, the clergy ^i;cftorcd,^and Schools
again opened for inflruAibn in piety and letters. After this he

laid

970

HISTORY OF I R E L A N ]t). 237

laid (lege to Limeric^ and, on its Airrender, he difplaced* the \C.
Daniih magiftrated, appointing others in their (lead. ^

Having fubdued the Danes, and red.oFed* peac^ to MuQiler,
his next care was to give vigor to the laws^ and fee juftice an4
fubordination again e;ftabli|hed. The ruined churches and mo--
nafleries were rebuilt or repaired, and the bi(hops and clergy
reftored to their livings. At his own expence. he rebuilt. the. ca-
thedral of Killaloe, the chuj-ch a^d (leeplepf Tuaim-Grein, aHj^
the churches on Scattery, InisrCealtrach> an4 other, iilands on
the Shannon. He repaired and re-edified all the palaces or
royal houfes in Munfter, which were thirteen in number. But,
left the reader might be furprifejd at this great number, I am to
inform him that, by th^ e(labU(hed. laws: of the lan4i among
.Other tequifites for royalty^ as being of the bloQd royat,; apd.' of
'the fiqueftriam. or^er, the candidate muft ^Ifo be poflfefled of three
royal houfesj the better to fupport the regal ftate. The public
broads, in times of anarchy and confufion, had been negle^qd
land torn up, and bridges apd caufeways defto^yed. >AH the(e
.he cauifid to be repaired, and the forts aqd ftrongholdafbciigth-
ened bjr new works. He fummoned a Feis or parliambit at
'Ga(hell9 in which many new and ufeful ordinances^ paiTed. The
lands which had been unlawfully, ufurped by the Danes were
reftored to the iiTue of the original proprietors ; .and for fiich^s
clear titles could not%be made out, they were fold, ind the ^mo-
ney converted to the eftabli(bment of univertities and public liof-
*pkals> Such foreigners as did-^not openly^profefa'ChriiUamty,
were allowed twelve months time to difpofis^ of their e(Fe£ls. aiid
quit the kingddin. The records 'of Mutifter -wwe ^fefUlljt ejt-
amined, arid. Mew copies diftributed' to the 'differcflr^JlfenfciW^.
'Houfes of h'o(i>itarrty (;of which ho Iffe a numbeV-thari ci'giitWh
hundred belonged to the two Munfter^) weW^ribuiltj ^nA ^-tKe
'lands^ originally appropriated to them- reft<^d.<^^BVkW« himiieli^,
'' ' with

a^ H I S T O R V ID |f 1 R E L A N ©.

▲.C. with a magnifieence truly royal, lived in the palace of his ancef-

tors at Cean-Corradb^ The reader will be enabled to form fome

idea of this from ^e annual revenues of the Munfler kings,

"which, aetdrdin^ t* the Leahhar na Cleart, or Book of Rights,

■agtfeedt6f>y<heftatles*of Ifelandaflembled atf Tara^ A. 450, in

the prefetace df St Patrick, aiid diiawn up by his di(cipl6 St Bea*

fian, or Bisnigmis, confifled iii fix thou&nd two hundred and

ft>rty bullocks, fix thouftnd ^Ws, four thbufand flieep, five

thou(knd hogs, five d^i^fiind <iommon, one hundred green,

and forty fcarlet cloaks, four hundr^ and twenty tons of iron ;

and the annual revenues of the city df Limeric only were three

hundred land fixty-five tons of claret, be^des fpices, clottis, and

filks t l*his work, now before me, mentions fbe proportions

whidh tl^ different territories or counties of Munfter piid of thn

great revenue. Befides •this, «adi -cbidf was to have a certain

number of light or heavy-armed troops, ready to attend the

prince's fummons ) and the maritime places a certain number of

jhtps iteady for fta. The nuu^er 4)f thefe hft, in the reign of

Cealhickan Ve tiave feen> werea bunfdrad and twenty ^ps, of

which ibuth Munfter produced ^gfaty. Had Coik, Kinikle,

Waterfof d, Youghal, and Limeric, &c. been then poiTefled by

this prince, as they were by his enemies, the reader may well

fuppofe how much more numerous they muft have been.

This work mentions, with great accuracy, the annuat prefenta
maide My ^^^ kings of Munfler, to the different ftates or terrico*
ries, in return for the troops andfhips they were. J:.o keep in fM-*
dinefs when- called for- They are very confi^erable both ioigold,
iiker, horiibs, and arms, and.befpeaktbe fplendor and riches qf
the kingdom. The prinee df Cabhraa or O^Ibry received ^^*
oually ten horfes, ten fwords, ten ihiclds, two fnits - of armour,
4md two cloaks with gold clafps and rich embroidery. When n
Pal^Cai&aa was eleAed king of Muafler, he . prefeo^d to the

chief

HISTORY OF I R E I- A N D. 239

chief of the Eoganachts, ten men and tea women fiaveS) ten A.C.
gold pMps, and ten horfes with gold bitSt and in full furniture*
The prince of Ara (a, diftri(5t of the county of Tipperary,
bordering on the Shannon, oppofite Killaloe) received fix gold-
hilted fworda, fix ffaidds of curious workmanfhip^ and fix fcar«
)ett cloal^s* O'Fogerty* prince of Eile, in the faid county, wa^
prefented with eight coats of mail, eight ihields, eight fword$t
ei|;ht horfes, and eight cups. O^Ryan^ chief of Unaithne (the
country about TuUa 'm that county )i) received fix iljtields, fix
fwords richly mounted, and fix horfeg with gc^d bits and com*
plete furniture. To 0'Felan» chief of the DealSes^ in the county,
of Waterford> eight (hipSs eight men and eight women flaves^
eight coats o*f mail, eight (hidds, eight fwords, and eight horfes
were given* The chief of Kenry had feven flaves, feven free-
men# feven fwords, and feven cups» Ma^ Ennery and O'Shee-
kan, chiefs of Conal Cabhra^ or Upper Connello, received ten
£0v^ord«» ^en (hields, ten horfeg, and ten cups, and the honour
offutii^ at the king's table at CaAiel). O^ColUnH and O'Ki-
Qealf , chiefs of Lower ConneBo in the oounty of I^imeric, re-
ceived the like. Thechief of Aine-diachaU, in the faid county*
or O'Ciarwic, eight fwofds, «ight horfes, eight cups, two fuits
«f armow, and two ekttks* 'O'Keefe and O'Dugan, chiefs of
GleanjGwhain agtid Feamtyghje^ itt. the county, of Gork^ were
each ftrefeated with feven hdrlet, £raen ihields, and feven m^^
The chief of AQ|>h-Liathan,. or Barrymore, in the faid county,
who waa OLehane, was fent a fword- and fliield of the king'a
own wearing, an horfe in full furniture, and an embroidered,
cloak. To* OTHn, chief ef Mu%ry, one of the king's fwords>
one of hiA hOries in full furniture, and an hound. To O'Ma*
honyrFionn, chief of Rathlean, tea horfes, ten ihields, ten.
fcarlet cloaks, and ten coats of mail. To O'Drifcol, chief of
Dairinne, or Car bery, feven (hips, £even fiiita of armour, feveiji

horfesy

240 HISTORY OF I k'E L A ND^

A.C, horfcs, fcvea fwords, and feven cups/ To 0*Drifcol-OgCt
chief of Leim-Con, all ia the faid county, the fame. O'Do-
noghue, chief of Loch-Lcin, or Killarney, in the county of
•Kerry, received the (dime Tuara/c/al, or military- ftipend, With

O'DrffcoK 0«hea, chief of Iveragh, OTailbhe, Ibrd of Corl

• • •

caduibhne, O'Gonnell, 0*Moriarty, and other great lords of
that county, received (imilarprefents.

The number of troops which each chief was obliged to Aip-
port, is not mentioned, fo that the 'mftftary ftate of Mtinfte?
inuflf only be guefled at. ' They held by di fferent tenures. The
above, andothetsin their line^ vftrt allodial proprietors. Each
held an hereditary employ in the ftate, and of courfe kept in
pay a certain number of troops. Thofe who were of the blood
Yoyal neither paid tribute or received fubfidics, yet fupported a
Handing fdrce.; and thofe who held by Fearan-Cloidhemh; or
fword-land, a^ almoft the entire county of Clare, Ormond, and
the borders of the county of Limeric, ^c; muft neceflitriJy keep
np a more cenfiderable force, being exempt frofn every other
ktiid of tribute* Upon the WhoTe, the following' calculations
may be fafely admitted. The naval force of Munfter, when
its chief cities were held in obedience^ may be eftimated at three
ht:indred fhips. This may be fafely inferred, becaufe we have'
. fccn Oalla^han's fleet; wh4h they were poffefled by the enemy,
confifted of a- hundred and twenty faiL We can^ by no means
foppofe them to be any thing equal to fucfa (hips of war as we
fee now.' £ven thirty years ago, feventy gun Ihips were not
much larger than fifty gun ihips now.

, The landforocB of Munfter— by thefe I mean the cavalry and
ztk^ tieavy^rmfed infantry only, not the dingers and light-armed
tf oops-^it may he affirmed with confidence, confifted of ten Ca-
tha, legions, or 30,000 men. Each legion had 500 horfe ; fo
tbat the two Muftfters when united, could bring into the field on

a fiiort

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 1241

a fliort notice, a regular force of 25,000 foot, and 5000 horfe, A.C,
well armed and well difciplined, and with little or no expence
to the ftate. Thus the revenues of the crown were very great ;
efpecially when it is confidered, that in this eftimate, we
have not noticed any duties paid by foreign fhips^, or the reve-
nues arifing from the many rich mines that were worked, or from
the mines of amethyfls and topazes, for which the kingdom was
then fo noted as to be called—** Infula dives opum^ gemmarum^
«* veftis, & auri !'* From this flight fketch, the reader may .
form an idea of the power and fplendor of Brien. But this was
not all : to avoid all occafion of difpute amongft an haughty and
warlike people, Brien revived the law called Illbfeachta, by which
people's rank were known by their drefs ; and the law which re-
garded rank and precedence was again put in force. So exadt
was his police, that it (lands on record, that a beautiful virgin
travelled from one extremity of the province to another, with a
gold ring on the top of a white wand, without receiving the leaft
injury or moleflation ! probably Brien himfelf might have direded
the experiment to be made.

if ncouraged by the example of Brien, Donald, king of Ulfler,
attacked and defeated the Danes in many battles ; and to be re-
venged on the Lagenians who openly affifted them, he marched q^j
his army into Leinfter, committing great depredations on that
people, and on their aflbciates. Soon after this Keating tells U8,
that Cionnath O'Hartegan, primate of Ardmach, op^ily affifted
the Danes of Dublin, by which means Ugairc, prince of Leia<-
fter was taken prifoner. I have examined the catalogue of arch-
bifliops, not only of Ardmach, but of Dublin, &c. and cannot
find one prelate of or like the name, in that century ; fb that he
muft be fome clergyman of inferior degree, if we admit the fa(fb»
But let him be taken how he may, it appears, that after hisr re-
leafe he raifed a large body of troops, and engaged the Danes of
Vol. \l. I i Dublin,

242 HISTORY O 1 IRELAND.

AC. Dublin, ifi which adion his army was <kfeated» and he himfelf
was in the number of' the flain. The monarch Domnald, tired
of the pageantry bf royalty, quitted the throne of Tara, and re-
tired to Ardmach, where he died fome time after^ in great repute
for piety aftd fanility.

CHAP. VI.

Malachie ele&ed m^narclu (tnd triumphs over the Danes^^a confe-^
• deracy formed cgainfi the * king of Munjler^ which he difperfes^

and is fainted king of Leaifi^Mogha'^^tht- difUnSlions between
a king of^homond^ a kingtf Munjier\ andh fvereign ofLeath^
Mogha**^wars between . Malachie and Brien — revenue paid by
Leinjier to the king of Leath-Mogha — battle of Glean- Mamha-^
fiates of Ireland propofe to depvfe Malachie-^^he gets time to pre^^
pare for his defence — is difappointed^ and is granted further
tirtie-^furreriders the diadem to Brien-^prefents received onfuch
occafons.

980 f^^^ ^^ dedication of Domnald, the eftates of Leth -Cuin, chofe
V^ for his ftuxeiTor' Maladiie II. the fon of Domnald, prince
of MeatH, the fon of the monarch Donachad^ fon to Flan Sionna,
•&C. The Danes had about this time invaded Meath with a
powerful' armyi^ *cxercifing their wonted cruelties, but particularly
plunderitig and fetting fire ,to dnrrches and monafteries. Mala-
chie coUedol the forces of Meath,. and gave them battle. This
xr called the fightof Tam^And^t moll bloody one it was ; for in
it fell 5000 Danes and their aflboiates^ with Regnald, the fon of

1 Aomhlabhy

HISTORY OF I R EL A N IX 243

AomSlabh^ their geoeral» «ia4 mpi^of t]pteir beft offi^ejra.. Aft^ A.C.
this he kid the diiktiQi of 'FiQgaI»>n.ear'Pubttio wafte ; ao4 having •
thus cut ofF their fiipptiesj he-kti fntgQ'jarDxMin \tC6^, io oonr 981
jun^ion with' Donocha^^ .prince. KsfMfler^ The third day a
general aHault was given; the gates v^ere attatJked> the walls
fcaled».aod» after a hhodj (iontdk^iSiclHmih eo^gm l^ore torn
dowa, andlrifli ones put in their 'plaqes F Though taken byajBaiilt^
yet Malachie a^d with great ooi^on i: in it r^tiQ itakn 7' captives
\of prinne quality; JEinjsuigft others^ JQoaihoALkjng of Leiiiflert
aad O'Neily prince of Tironp> &c« >To have all tbefe prifooers
re<)x>red to their. Ube£t)V'h6fav;dJkbeviiv>e3 aad/effe£ls:()f thfi.ci«
tizens. :

But though Malachie was triumphant over the Danes, yet he
regarded with a jealous eye the great power of Brien. It was an
hereditary quarrel i and his grandfather Donachad^ as we have
feen, encouraged the defigiSB of Sitric againft Munfter, feeming
thereby better pleafed to have that rich province poffeffed by the
barbarians, than by the ancient proprietors. The knowlege of
this I fuppofe determined OTelan, princ©of the Dcafies/toform
a powerful oobfederacy againft Brien* In it were joinod the
king of Leinfter, the ptince of Offory, and tjie Danes of Corkv
Waterford, and Leinfter, At the head of thefe allies O'Felan
marched towards Cork, fpoiling the country as he advanced ; but
en the approach of Brieo, he retreated precipitately towards Wa^
terford; thither Brien followed him by: forced marches. I^ar
that city the armies engaged; but, after a gallant refiftance,.the
tonfederates were broke, and. fled with great precipitation. The
troops of Brien entered Waterford vsrith the fugitives, putting
numbers to the fword, and fetting fire to the city. From Water-
ford, Brien marched to Offory, where he received the fubmiifion
of hoftages from Fitzpatrick, chitf of that territory. From thence
he proceeded to Ferns, where the king jof Leinfter paid him ho«

I i 2 • xnage,

*.-

24+ H I S T O R Y O F I R E L A N IX

AC liiage, as king of Leath-Mogha, and delivered hoftages for his

^ future good behaviour. Brien marched to Cork^ whofe citizens

he xbaftifed for their rebetlioDt altered its magiftratea, raifed heavy

fines on the old ones^ and carried away hoftages for their future

good behaviour. ^

As I have diftinguiihed Brien in his regal capacity as king of
Thomond, king of Munfter^ and king of Leath<-Moghai it is ne-
i:eflary to obferveV that as king of Thomond, his power was con-
fined to the pre&nt counties of ClarCf LimeriC) Tipperary,
^ and a part of the prefent Leinfter ; that as king of Munfter, he
commanded the whole province ; and as king of Leath^Mogha,
or fouthern Ireland) the king of Leinfter was his vaflal.

98a ^ Malachie, envious of the fuccefs of Brien, invaded Munftert
and returned to Tara loaded with fpoils and captives. The next
year he took into his pay, a body of Danes, and was joined by
fome Conacians. They laid wafte a good part of Leinfter and

983 the Deafies. Domnald Cloan, king of Leinfter, engaged them
in battle, but was defeated with great lofs. Enraged at thefe de-
predations, Brien made great preparations by land and water to
invade Meath and Conaught. He drew together a very great
number c^ ihalk)ps> and flat-bottomed boats, in which he
embarked a feled body of troops on the Shannon, at Loch-Derg»
who were to fail up that river, as far as Loch-Righ, and lay the
country dn both fides under contributions. At the fame time he
marchedf a powerful army into Meath. Malachie faw he had in
Brien too powerful a prince, and too able a general to contend
witbi ; and therefore made with him a fpeedy peace. By it, he
was to make reftitutidn for the outrages committed by the late
tnvafions of Munfter, and reftore all the prifoners he had taken^
Brien alio returned fuch as fell into his hands ; and they mutu-
. ally agreed to fupport each other ; that is, that if any of the pro-
of Leath Guin, «efafed paying their fubfides to the mo-

narchi,*

HISTORY GF IRELAND- 245

narcht Bricn was to affift him; and fhould the provinces of Leath- A.C.
Mogha in like manner become refra£kory, he was to receive fimi-
lar help from the monarch. The tranflator of the Book of Mun-
fier» mentions the prefent invafion as intended againft the Lage- ^
nians. 1 however adhere clofely to the Leabhar-Oiris, which
mentions its deAination to be againft Meath and Conaught ; and
adds, that in the incurfion of the Mamonians into Conaught
from Athlone, they defeated the Conacians, commanded by
Maurice O'Connor their king* who fell in this battle.

We have fecn the revenues of Brien, as king of Munfter, ta
which we (hall add, that as king of Leath- Mogha, they became
more confiderable ; the Leinfter tribute, coniifting of 300 gold
handled fwords, 300 cows with braf» yokes, 300 fteeds, and 30a
purple cloaks.

The Lagenians ill bore this galling tribute impofed on them *
by Brien, and therefore confederated with the Danes of Dublin ; gg^
invited into their fervice many foreij^ners, and bid defiance to -
this prince. At the head of a powerful army he invaded Lein*
ften A bloody battle waa fought at Glean-Madhma^ in which
Brien was as ufual vidorious. He purfued the Danes to Dublin ;
and they faved the city by compofitioi^. . How much we are :
not told ; but that Brien received a great quantity of gold^ filver,
rich Glk&f and manufadures. . Grat. Luc. p. 79, attributes this
defeat to Malachie, the monarch ; and the tranflator of the Book
of Munfter, to him and Brien united. The Leabhar-Oiris» de«
clares it- the ad of the Mamonians only. The Danes waited a
favourable opportunity to recover their diftreiTed affairs ; and .
this offered foon after ; for having received fome confiderable
fuppliesfrom Normandy, from Britain > and Denmark, they again -
rebelled againft Brien, and were again defeated by this.vidlorious
prince. Amongft their flain were Harold) fon of Amhlaobh^ -

and

246 HISTORY OFIRELAND.

A,C. and Cafolus* called Cloidheamh, or of the Sword, prince of
Denmark.

Brien wad for ever in arms againft thefe foreigners ; twenty-
five pitx:hed balilles^ fays my author, did he engage them and their
Irilh afibciates rn, and^idiory ever attended bis flandard. . PJe not
ohly reduced them from a ftate of independency, to ab folate fubjec-
tion in Leath Moghat but affiHed tbe-Conacians againd them> by
whofe means 4000 Danes fell in the battle of Succa. The great
power, magnahimity, juftice, and patriojtifm of this prince, con*
trailed with the paffive temporifing fpirit of Malacnie, who, after
the firft five years of his reign, funk into indolence and apathy,
made a ftrong impreifion oa the chiefs of the kingdom. With
fuch a prince as Brien at the head of the nation, they hoped the
whole people would feel thefe bleffings of peace and fubordination,

i#oo which at prefent #ere confined to Leath-iMogha- In a conven-
tion of the different ftates of Conaught and MuuRer, it was
agreed to requeft Brien to affume the monarchy, and they en-
gaged to fupport him to the utmoft. Deputies were then fent
from both dates to inform Malachie, that as he neither exerted him-
felf like a prince in defence of his country, nor yet proteded his
fubjedts — the ends for which he was eleded monarch—they
judged him no longer worthy to fill the throne of Tara, and de-
fired he would relinquifli the crown to one more worthy of it.
This kindof language from the eleftors of Ireland, was notun-
ufual. In the reign of Con of the Hundred Battles, the ftates
convened at Tara, before the battle of Cnucha, addreifed him
ttius — ** Refign,Oking, the throne of Tara to fome prince more
*' worthy, fince you do not protect your fubjeds from the in-
** curfionsof Cumhal, -and the children of Cathoir-More *.'*

* Catha-Cnucba.

Malachie

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 247

Malachie heard the propofal with furprizie and indignation, and A.C
declared, as he lived, he would die monarch of Ireland. But
Brien, who we muft fuppofe the very foul of the intended revo-
lution, was too fenfible a politician not to expert fuch an anfwer^
and to be prepared againft it. At the head of an army of 20,000
veterans, befides a good body of Daniih cuiraffiers, (who from
rebels he reduced to good fubjeds), Brien marched toTara. Ma-
lachie was again required to refign the throne ; but his ambaiTa*
dors reprefented to Brien, that their mafter would by no meand
confent to the propofal ; that it is true he was at prefent deftitut«
of troops, but if Brien would allow him a month to collefl: them,
he would then give him battle, or if not in a condition to opp6fe
him, he would furrender the regalia into his hands. At the
fame time he requefted, that his army might not not be fufFered
to commit any excefs on the country. Thefe terms ^Brlen agreed
to. Malachie fent cxpreffes to all the princes of Leth-Cuin, re-
quiring of them as their chief, and con}uring them as their friend,
to repair to Tara with their forces, to oppofe the ambitious de-
figns of Brien. He (hewed them, that in manfully fupporting
him, they defended their own caufe, and that of the entire line of
Heremon, now ready to be cruflied by the Heberians. But whe-
ther through want of opinion of his capacity, or reverence for
glorious deeds performed by Brien, or a dread of his power, they
all declined meddling In his affairs. He then fummoned the
Clan Colman, (fo called from Colman-More), or fouthern Hi-
Nialls ; but they fmgly were unable to oppofe the power of
Munfter. Malachie, thus deftitute of all fupport, on the day ap-
pointed, at the head of 1200 horfe, waited on Brien, at his camp
near Tara, with the crown on his head, the fceptre in his hand,
and all the regalia. Being introduced to Brien, who wa« fur-
rounded by a great affemblage of his princes and chief nobility,
gallantly attired, he thus addreffed, fays the Bruodin Chronicle —

8 (the

248 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

^•C' (the Bruodins were the hereditary hiftorians of North Munfter — )
the king of Leath- Mogha : '* Through the defedlion of my fub-
'* jeds, and the inability of my friends, I find myfelf, great princey
** unable with arms to oppofe your pretenfions to the monarchy.
** I fujrender to you this fceptre (prefenting it), and this crown,
>* (taking it off his head), which my anceftors of the royal line
** of Heremon for fo many generations bore, and which I have
" now for above twenty years wore. They are the rewards of
«« your virtues, and I fubmit." Here he ftopt ftiort : the inward
conflid was too vifible, not fenfibly to affe£t the fpedators -, and
3rien with great humanity approached the diftreflTed prince, and
embracing him faid — '* Sincey mod ferene monarch, you have not
*' only offered the crown, but furrendered yourfelf into our handsi
^ without demanding hoflages for your fafe return, or making
y any (Upulations whatever, it would ill become us not to re-
^' ward fuch confidence with equal generofity. Take back thefe
*< trappings of royalty. I confent that you fhould retain the
•* crown of Ireland in your hands, for twelve months more
«• from this day* This will afford you opportunities of (hewing
*' your virtues equal to fo great a dignity, and of fupportingyour
*' title by the fword ; but fhould you in the end, find yourfelf
^* unable to oppofe our pretenfions, I fhall then expedl your peace-
** able furrender of the monarchy." So faying, the conference ended*
Brien broke up his camp, difmiffed his auxiliaries, and returned
to Cean-Corradh, at the head of his intrepid Dalgais.

Malachie employed the time granted to him, in the befl man-
ner he could, to raife up a fpirit againfl Brien. He fent ambaffa*
dors to Conaught, to Ulfler, to Orgial, and to every territory
within the diftrid of Leth-Cuin. Hugh O'Neill, who was the
mofl powerful chief in Ulfter, he employed all his rhetoric to en-
gage in his intereft ! The abbot of Benchoir remonflrated to him
on behalf of the monarchy that if he did not powerfully exert

himfelf

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 949

himfelf on the prefent occafion, he (acriBced for ever the power A.C.
of the Hercmonians. That the monarchy had been for fome
centuries confined to their houfes— i. e. the northern and fouth-
cm Hi'Nialls— and that by preventing the prefent revolution,
the crown might revert to him, or to his pofterity. But O'Neill,
for a general anfwer to all thefe follicitations, obferved, ** that
** when the crown of Tara was poffefled by his anceftors of the
** houfe of Tirone, they bravely defended it againft all claimants;
** thatBrien was a prince, whofe virtues, bravery, arid patriotifm,'
^< merited the applaufe of all good mea ; and that he could not
*< think of unfheathinghis fword againft the gallant tribe of Dal-
•* gais, who he fo highly efteemed.-' It was of the laft confe-'
quence to the monarch, to make O'Neill of his party ; as his ex-
ample would greatly influence the other princes of Leth-Cuin ;
and not willing to confide the method he propofed to gain him
over to any one, he in perfon vifited the king of Ulfter, in hopes
his own prefence would have greater influence. Hugh Teemed
unmoved by all his follicitations. At length Malachie propofed
to him, a formal furrender of the throne of Tara, provided he
united with him, to give battle to the troops of Munfter. Oa
this, a provincial Feis, or parliament, was aflfembled to confider of
thefe propofals ; but after maturely weighing every thing for
and againft them, they were unanimoufly rejedled, fo formidable
did the power of Brien appear to them. It was however propofed
to Malachie, that if he furrendered to them half the domain of
*Tara and of Mcath, which they contended, by the will of their
common anceftor Neill the Grand, was their property, they would
then unite heart and hand in his caufe. Thefe terms feemed to '
Malachie fo exorbitant, that he quitted the court of Ulfter, with-
out coming to any refolution. Much time had been ^ent in thefe
different negotiations ; and Malachie informed Brien exactly of
Vol. II. K k his

250. HISTORY OF IRELAND.

AC* his fituatioD) and propofed^ tliat if he ceded to him the
peaceable pofleilion of Tara and Meath, he would ao further at-
tempt to oppofe him. To this Brien coiifented, more' froni prin*'
ciples of generofity and compaflion, and to avoid the eflFufion
of Chriftian blood> than through any doubt of his owo power
' and influence.

•001 At the time appointed Brien appeared on the plains of Tara,
at the head of his invincible legions ; aitd then and there, in the
prefeace of the princes and chiefs of the land, Malachie made a
formal furrender o£ the crown and regalia Qf Ireland to him, at
the fame time paying him iKu^age as hisi vaflTah Brien then dif«
mifled him, with large prefents to him, aod to his retinue. The
cuftom of making prefents when different competitors appeared
candidates for the monarchy, was always obferved in Irdand.
It was the mark of foverei^ty in the monarch, and of ac«
quiefcence to his power in the others. It was a Tuaraidal, or
wages received, and an acknowlegemeat of fuperior fway. Core,
king of Munfter, received prefents from his competitor NeiJI the
Grand, in the fourth coQtury, and thereby gave up his preten-
fions to the monarchy. In the year 1260, tired wijeh the cirud-
ties and outrages committed by the foreigners, the chiefs of the
Ir-ifh at length faw the nece/Cty of forming a general confederacy,
and reiloring the conftitutioa to its original ftate, by ele^fting
among themfelves a monarch. A meeting was held at a place
called Caoluifge, on the borders of the river Erne, in Ulfter.
The candidates were O'Brien, of Thomond, and O'Neill, of
Tirone. O'Brien, who was an excellent commander, and who
fome time before this, defeated the Engliih and their Irifli ajSbciates>
in a general battle near Limeric, imagining that the majority of
voices was in his favour, fent to O'NeiU 100 beautiful fieeds^
with gold bits, and in fuU fumikw^e^ by way of fubiidy ; but his

com-

H I S T O R Y O. F I R E L A N D. 851

competitoft perfuaded that he was eleded, returned the prqfent, A*^*
and with them fent aoo horfes to O'Brien, with rich gifca to his
eourtierfty none of which were received, fiy this means the afr
fembly broke, tip, without forming any general refolves; and
thus were the public at large left expofed to the outrages, an4
bafe machinations of thcfe pretended reformers *, through the
ambition of the two chiefs^ neither of whom could be prevailed
upon to acknowlege the fuperiority of the other.

CHAP. VIL

The conduS of Brien and Malachie^ in the preceding revolution
juJiified'^Brien receives hofiages from tht different princes of
Ireland^ and is crowned at Tara^-^holds an affembly of the na^
tional ejiates^^furnames ejlahlijhed^ with obfervations on them-^

his attention tojufiice^ and to the rejioration of religion and let^
ters—his exchequer revenues as monarchy and improvements at
Cincoradh^ with the etiquette of his court.

IN perufing the above extraordinary revolution, it is neceflary
to guard the reader agaihft mifconceptions. Though he will
be apt to conlider Brien as an ufurper, yet will he deem his con-
dud, in general, great and noble. Malachie may alio be probably
cenfuredt for carrying his hatred to Brien fo far, as even to oflFer
a furrender of the crown to another prince, provided he could be
difappointed, and this» after granting him a farther time of
twelve months to try to eftablifh his affairs ! If we judge of the

• Gsitbrcim Thoirdhealbhaicc*

K k 2 co&du£l;

252 HISTORYOF IRELAND,

A.C. condudl of the Irifh on this occafion, by what is generally pur-*
fued in other nations^ in (imilar circumftances, or by the general
line of politics^ we ihall think Brien's behaviour, with his enemy
in his power, to be rather romantic than prudent ; but the Irifh
feemed of a different caji from the neighbouring fiates, and to
view obje^ through mediums peculiar to themfelves ; fo true is
that charadler of the nation, given many centuries earlier— •^^ /»-
** clyta gens hominum^ milite^ pace^ fide /.'*

That Brien fhould form the refolution to dethrone Malachie,
had nothing of novelty in it : too many fimilar inilances have
occurred in the courfe of this hiftory ; and, provided the claim-
ant was of the royal line of Milefius^ had received the order of
chivalry^ 2sAzo\jX^Jhew three royal feats in his family y\x\^ fuc-
cefs was not deemed an ufurpation. In all our hiftory a fingle
inftance only occurs of ufurpation, and this marked down fo^
namely, that of Carbre, called Cin-Ceat in the firft century,
who got himfelf proclaimed monarch though a Danaan ! Cer-
tain it is, that the throne of Tara had been pofleffed by the
Heremonian line for fome centuries, in exclufion to the other
royal houfes, particularly that of Heber, eldeft fon to Milefius.
But their antiquarians contended that—**' it was not feniority^
" but intrepidity^ not a vain claim^ but the power offupporting
•' //, that gave afolid titled* according to a ftanza of one of their
moft celebrated bards and advocates ;

Sinfireacht ni ghabhan Ccart
A ttir do ghabhtar le neart :
Calmacht no bhfear is Ceart an.
Sin iinfireacht fhear nanbhan.

But in the cafe of Brien there was not only feniority (being de*
fcended from Heber) but power to fupport it; and thus much to
obviate the charge of ufurpation agalnft this prince. As to the

notice

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 253

notice and time given to Malachie to colled his forces, it was A.C.
the conftant practice in Ireland from all antiquity. Did a prince
attempt any other mode, he would not only be abandoned by his
own party, but he would be held forth as a mirrror of bafenefs
to lateft pofterity. In the beginning of the third century, when
Mac Con denounced war againfl the monarch Art, this laft de-
manded twelve months time to prepare for the battle ; but Mac
Con's ambafladors fhewing the impoflibility of granting fo long
a time, as their mailer's army was moftly compofed of foreign
mercenaries, hired for a certain time only, this plea was ad-
mitted by Art's minifters, and the battle fought much fooner/
Had his army been natives he could not refufe the demand*
The fame mode was obferved in every other revolution ; heralds
were conftantly fent, and the day of adion was mutually agreed
on. Thus, the time granted to Malachie was not, we fee, a
fingie cafe, nor the ufe he made of it to be cenfured.

Brien now received hoftages from Malachie, as furetles for his looi
peaceable behaviour. He alfa demanded frefli ones from the
king and princes of Leinfler, and the Danes of Dublin. He
marched his army to Athlone, requiring the king and princes of
Conaught to meet him there, by a certaiq day, to render him
homage as monarch of Ireland, and to give fureties for their
dutiful demeanor. From thence he proceeded to Ulfter, where
like ceremonies were performed, and hoftages put into his hands.
Marianus, the fucceflbr of St. Patrick, at the head of his clergy,
jpaid his duty to Brien. He received the holy communion at his
hands, and made an offering on the altar of the great church of
an ingot of gold of twenty ounces. He »alfo made large pre-
fents to ornament the cathedral of Ardmagh, at the requeft of
Marianus, and declared his intentions of being there interred.
He returned to Tara, where, in the prefencc of the princes aiid
chief nobility of the land, he was folemnly anointed and crowned

«5*

A.C.

(

II IS TORY OF IRELAND.

by the archbi(hop of Ca{hell ; and it was then announced to the
people, *' thatBrien, the fon of Cineidi, the ion of Lorcan, and
** fo on to MilefiuB, was monarch of Ireland ;*' which was con*
firmed by their giving what is called, The Royal Shout.

After his coronation, fays the Bruodin Chronicky a Fw, or
national aflembly, was convened at Tara, where many new and
wholefome laws and regulations were made, the national hiftory
revifed, and a decree was paffed, by which great families ftiould,
for the future, be diftinguiihed by certain furndmcs to avoid
confufion* But thefe were not to be arbitrarily impofed as ia
other countries. Each chief was to be called after fome certain
anceftor, whofe particular virtues would always remind him of
hid origin. This cuflom had been introduced into Munfter in
the days of Ceallachan, and into other provinces, bjut it was
confined to a very few families; from the prefent reign it came
into general ufe. Thus the fucceflbrs of the prefent priace«
from him, aflumed the name of O'Brien, or the descendants of
Brien. The ifTue of his brother Mahon were called Mac Ma*
hon. The O'Neils were fo called from Neill the Grand, or of
the Nine Hoflages; and fo on of other families. The adjbnda
O' or Mac, which imported the fon^ or the defcendant» were
prefixed to each name. The chief, of each family was diftia«<^
guiihed from its brapches, by preferving the furname only^ as
O'Brien, O'Neil, Mac Carthy, &c. whilft to all the reft the
chriftian name was addedJ Thefe titles were fo highly efteemed
in Ireland, that when it was known to a certainty, in the reign of
Henry the eighth, that O'Brien had rejeded his for the more
degrading one of earl of Thomond, the chiefs of hia own blood
fet fire to his noble manfion at Cluanroad, near Ennis^ and
would have confumed him in the flames but from the timely in«
terpofition of Mac Clanchy, chief juftice of North Munfltr.
John O'Neill in the reign of Elizabeth^ returned the patent of

6 earl

HISTORY OF IRELAND- 2^5

carl of Tyrofje, granted to his father, and complained of the ^^*
difhononr he affixed to his blood in accepting of it- He alfo bit--
terly reproached Mac Carthie for accepting of the title of earl of
Clancarthy. In fhorty the Irifli chiefs regarded thefe titles of
nobility as degradations ; and this is the reafon why, in the
Irifh peerage^ fo few Milefians are to be found. Certain it is,
that the few Irifli who have ftill preferved their family honours,
ihould, injuftice, take precedence of the prefent nobility of Eu-
rope, as being allodial^ or titles from the moft remote antiquity, ^
vwhereas thefe laftare atbeft but of modern date.

Having wifely regulated the national fyftem, Brien diflblved
the affembly, and fent ambafladors (fays the Bruodin Chronicle)
to the different princes of Europe, announcing his election to
the Iriih monarchy. With thefe embaffies were font prefents of
fine bor&s, wolf-dogs, and hawks, &c. His next care was to
fee the laws every where executed with ftridnefs and impar«
tiality, and the money appropriated to public ufes, juftly applied.
It was aftoniihing to fee what a new face the whole kingdom
ailumed, in a ihort time, through his care and attention. The
cities,, from a ruined fiate, became more ample and fplendid;
the churches, monafteries, and public hofpitals were repaired or
rebuUt with additk)nal. majefty ; and piety, peace, and plenty
ipread far and wide ! The edid, which he publiihed when king
of Muiskfter, againft the heathen pgnes, h^d fa vHible an tSt€t
on the conduft and morals of that barbarous people, that it
became nowofttional; and this» with the exhortations and ex-
amtfdes of the clergy, wonderfully facilitated the converfion and
civilization of fliem.

: We h^ve abeady obierved th^ fplendor and dignky with which
he fupported the charaiSsr of kiii>g <£ Leat-h- M9g&a ; the title of
nicmar<^ of Ireland wae a new aecellionof po^er, and an additional
increafe o£ revenue ; a«d thefe were but frelh incitements to hof«

pitality

T#-

456 HISTORYOF IRELAND.

A.C, pitality and philanthrophifm. As monarch of Ireland the fol-
lowing were the ^annual contributions from the provinces of
Leth-Cuin, for the fupport of his dignity : from Conaught he
received eight hundred fat oxen, a thoufand wethers, eight
hundred pigs, and four hundred pieces of cloth. From Tyrone,
in Ulfter, three hundred oxen, five hundred flieep, one hun-
dred and feventy fwine, one hundred and fifty pieces of cloth,
aVid three hundred tons of iron. From Tyrconnel, fix hundred
beeves, five hundred (heep, four hundred fwine, a hundred
tons of iron, and three hundred pieces of cloth. From the
Clana-Ruighruidhe, or poftcrity of Ir, in Ulfter, eight hundred
oxen, fixty fix wethers, and a hundred and fifty pieces of
' cloth. From Leinfter, as monarch, two hundred oxen, eight
hundred wethers,' a hundred pigs, two hundred pieces of clothe
and five hundred and fifty tons of Jron. The Ofibrians paid a
hundred and fixty buUocks^^^wo hundced wethers, a hundred
pigs, and fifty tons of iron. The dty of Dublin, with the ports
of Wexford and Drogheda, &c. paid three hundred and fixty-
five tons of French, and two hundred and fixty- eight tons of
Spani(h wine, befides money and other duties, the quantities of
which are not expreflfed. From this relation it will appear, that
the EXCHEQUER revcuues of the monarch Brien were equal to
thofe of any prince at this day in Europe (being appropriated to
the fplendor of the diadem only), and his expences were propor-
tioned to them. The regal feat of Gean-Corradh, about a mile
beyond Killaloe, being very old, he pulled down, and converted to
kitchens and offices, and at a place, fome diflance from it, called
to this day Ball^Boirhumhe, or the Habitation 6f Boirhumhe
(i. e. the Raifer of Tributes, the epithet of this prin(^)rhe ereded
a noble banqueting houfe. From the kitchens were two long
galleries, or corridors^ parallel to each, carried acrofs a flat, to
this banqueting*houfe« ^An hundred fervants were every day,

•KrS.TD:B.y. QB LR ELANDS

at dinner and fupper> arranged in each of thefe galleries. The
bufinefs of one fet was to pafs from hand to hand, from the
kitchens, the different difhes for the entertainment ; and of the
others^ with equal cderity, to retura them. From Ball-Boir-
umhe, a wooden bridge was carried acrofs the Shannon for the
convenience of this houfe (the ftone one, lower down, being
ftrongly fortified, as is evident at this day) ; and oppofite to iff
were his wine cellars. The plac)? yet bears the name of Cloch-na-
Fhionne, or the wine ffione, or^ building.

Here did this monarch entertain-thi? princes and nobles of the
nation in regular rotation, witn a fplendor and politenefb lin-
known for at leafHwo centuries. So exaft was the etiquette of
his court, that the rank,^ flation, and places of his diflFerent vifi-
tors were afcertained, fo tha€?no confiifion or difpute could arife
on account of precedency.. He faw^ both the inconvenience and
the impropriety of any prince's followers appearing at his 'court
in arms ; and it was a rule he eflablifhed, that none but his brave
Dalgais, or body-guards, ihould be permitted to carry arms HC
Ball-Boirumhe. Befides his^drmy, he encreafed his navy c6n-
fiderably ; amongft the reft he built three ihips of enormous
iize, much like thofe carracks which appeared fb formidable in
later times. We may judge of their ftrength and force by his
fon Donough, with a fingle fhip of this ftrudure, attackingt
finking, or defboying fourteen of the enemies fhips, asthe An-
nals of Inis -Fallen, under the year 1056, note!

Vol, II.

CHAP.

358 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

CHAP- vin.

T^he king of Lei^fler offended at the court fifBrien% returns homt
in difguji^ and confederates with the Danes^nvades Meath^'^
Brien pitches his camp near Kilmainhim^ and lays Leinfter un^
der contribution^-^returns to Munjier for the winter— ^great
preparations for the enfuing campaign— hi lift of fome of the
principal chiefs who attended thejlandard of Brien^— ^number of

. foreigners in the Leinfter army—^ifpofitions for hattle^—an ac^
count of the battle of Cluantarff-^defeat of the Danes and death
of Brien^^detail ofthejlain on both Jides-^chara3e^ of Brien
Boirumhe.

FO R more than ten years had the kingdom enjoyed a moft
profound and undifturbed peace ; and, during that period)
IN NO INSTANCE) wcrc thclaws of the land violated. An inci-
dent, in itfelf of the moft trifling nature, however, fbon de-
ftroyed this fo long wiflied-for happinefs, and left the kingdom
once more a prey to fadion and party.

Among the many royal vifitors at Ball-Boirumhe, was Maol«
mordha Mac Murroch, king of Leinfter. Between this prince,
and Morrogh, eldeft fon to Brien, the Tanaifte, or heir apparent
to the crown of Munfter, no real friendship fubfifted. Morrogh
always deemed him a bafe enemy to his country, and the con-
fiant aflfociate and protedor of the heathen Danes. He had more
than once publicly attacked his abilities as a general ; and to his
ill condud); he attributed the defeat he himfelf had given to the
Lagenians and Danes in the battle of Glcan-Mamha. Where

ill

HISTORY OF IRELAND. XS9

ill blood has long fubfifted, the flighteft innuendo will often ^ C.
throw it into a flame. Among the amufemenft of the Irifli chefs
and back-gammon were favourite games. Morrogh engaged
one day at a party at chefs, Maolmordha looking on, advifed
his antagonift to a movement, which loft Morrogh the game.
He tartly remarked, ** That if Maolmordha fiaJ given as good
'* advice at the battle of Glean^Mamha^ the Danes would not have
«« received fo capital an overthrow^^ This was touching him in
the moft tender point ; he felt the utmoft force of it, and fpi--
ritedly anfwered^ *' ^hat he hoped his next advice to them would
•• he attended with better fuccefsJ^ Laws of hofpitality and po-
litenefs prevented Morrogh from noticing this threat. MaoU
mordha haftily retired to his apartment, and early nebct mornings-
without any kind of ceremony, departed from Ball«*Boirumhe
for his own territories. He calls together his council, and re-
lates the behaviour of Morrogh. He recapitulates all the hard*
{hips his country and his aifociates fuffered by the power of
Brien^ and his fpeech breathes nothing but war and revenge.
The chiefs of the Danes of Leinfter are invited to a conference,
and a league is formed, by which they engage to affift him, with
all their power, to reduce Munften Emiflaries are feat to Den*
mark and Norway. The Danes of Normandy, Britain, and
the ifles, joyfully enter into the confederacy, pleafed at the
profpe£t of once more gaining poflfeiBons in this land flowing
with milk and honey.

Whilft Maolmordha was waiting for the arrival of his foreign
auxiliaries, in order to inure his troops to a£tion, it was judged ad-
vifable to make an incurfion into Meath, by way of commencing
the war* With a body of troops, Danes and Lagenians, he pe-
netrated into Meathf as far as Tearman-Feichin ; and on his
retreat deftroyed the country, and carried off an immenfe booty.
To be revenged for this affront, Malachie fent his fon Flan, with

L 1 2 a good

260 HISTORY OF I R E L A N D.

A.C. a good body of tro6p8» into Fiog'aUand thti environs of Dublin;
but Sitric^ the fon of Amhlaoibh^ laid an ambufcade^ In which
they were feverely handled, and among the (lain was Flail hink-
felf* with fereral officers of prime quality. Malachie, on this
defeat, waited in perfon on Brien at fiaU*Boirumhe» complained
of the injuries he had received from the Ltgenians and Danes,
and claimed fupport from Brien as his chkf. Brien, and his fcrti
Morrogh, enter Leinfler with a powerful army, to chaftife that
people for invading Meath, and difturbing the public tranquility.
Finding no army in Leinfter able to oppoib them, they fixed
their head quarters on the plains near Dublin, from whence
parties were fent out, different ways, miferably wafting the
country, and enriching the camp with their fpoils« By way of
making a diveriion a fleet of Danes was equipped at Dublin^ in
which a large body of troops were embarked, who entered the
harbour of Cork, and furprifed and plundered that citjr ; but
before they could regain their i!hij>s the greateft part of them
were cut off withfome of their heft officers.

Near four months was Dublin blockaded, and the province of
Leinfter laid under heavy contributions by the imperial army>
till the approach of winter obliged them to retire into winter
quarters. Both parties, during this recefs, prepare to renew
the war with more violence than ever. Troops are pouring
into the different ports of Leinfter from Denmark, Sweden,
Norway, Normandy, Britain, the Orkneys, and every other
northern fettleinent. Maolmordha is alfo indefatigable, not only
in raifing new levies, but in labouring to detach different princes
from the intereftof their country. Neverwere fuch efforts made
by the Danes as upon this occaiion ; the beft men were every
where pitched upon for this fervice, and the moft experienced
officers fought for» Among others, Brodar and Aifgiodal, two

X^^nifh

HISTORY DP IRELAND. 261

DanUh princes^ landed at the head of twa thoufaod choice A.C4
troopSt armed from head to foot !

Thefe UQCommon preparations of the enemy were not tin*
known to Brien and to his council ; and they were the ilrongeft ar«
guments to determine the Irifli to make their utmoft efforts to
render them abortiy. To £hew the worlds that Brien wifhed
not that his race and name ihould furvive the liberties of their
country, there attended his ilandard, (of his own family), his five
fons, and bis grandfon, his fifteen nephews^ and the whole tribe
of Dalgais, with all the chiefs of North Munfier. The people of
South Munfter were equally confpicuous in the caofe of liberty,
not one prince ahfenting himfe^ en this trying occajum. Catlial,
tl^e fon of Conchabhar» or Connor, (from whence O'Ginnor),
king of Conaught, attended by 0*Heine, prince of Aidhne,
0*KclIy, prince of Hi-Maine, OTlaherty, prince of Weft Con-
^ught, Mac Dermod, prince of Maigh*Lurg, and many other
great chiefs and their followers, with all their pofterity of Luig^
Dealbha, both in Conaught and Leiniler, joined the imperial ftand-
ard. The great ftewards of Leamhna or Lenox, and of Mar,
with many other Albanian chiefs, repaired to the army of Brien«
Hugh O^Neill ma<k an offer of his troops, and his fervice to at<*
tend the imperial ftandard ; but Brien politely declined the offer %
He had not forgot the former negotiation between Malachie and
him ; andlhe condu^ of Malachie afterwards, juilified how well
founded his fufpicion and jealoufy of both thefe princes were.

At the head of 30,000 chofen men, highly appointed, Brien
marched into Lei after, about the beginning of April 1014, in
three divifions, and was joined by Malachie, king of Meath. He .

encamped, as he had done the year before, near Killmainhim ; and. ^
after both armies viewing each other for fome days, it was agreed
to determine the fate of Ireland by a general battle, on the plains
of Cluamarfiv Early on the 23d of April, being Good*Friday^

the

26i HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. the Danes appeared^ formed in three feparate bodies for battle ;
and by their difpofitions Brien regulated his own. The anxili*
aries from Sweden and Denmark confiding of 12,000 men^
amongft whom 2000 were heavy-armed, commanded by Brodar
and Airgiodalj formed the right divifion ; the left, of nearly an
equal number commanded by Sitric, confiftedf)f the Danes of Ire*
land, and their neighbouring aiTociates; and the center, compofed
of the flower of Leinfter, under the direi^ion of Maolmordha,
who adled as general in chief, formed the enemies difpofition of
battle. It was judged, that by placing the troops in this manner^
under their own leaders, that it would raife a fpirit of generous
emulation amongft them, and that they would vie with each
other in feats of bravery.

The right wing of the imperial army, was compofed of the
houjhold troops^ filled up by the prime nobility of Munfter ; the
invincible tribe of Dalgais, with all the princes of Brien's blood,
were alfo in this divifion, and Malachie, with the forces of Meath.
This was to be commanded by Morrogh and Sitric, prince of
Ulfter. In the left wing> commanded by the king of Conaught^
all the Conacian troops were placed ; but as it did not form fo ex-
tended a line as the enemies, feveral detachments were added to it,
fromthe troops of Arra,Coonach, Mufcry, and Corca-Baifgne. The
troops of South Munfter, under their different chiefs, with thefe
of the Deafies, formed the central divifion, commanded by Cian^
the fon of Maolmuadh. Brien rode through the ranks with a
crucifix in one hand, and his drawn fword in the other. He ex«
horted them as he pafifed along, ^^ to do their duty as foldiers and
•' Chriftians, in the caufe of their religion and their country. He
** reminded them of all the diftrefles their anceftors were reduced
*^ to, by the perfidious and fanguinary Danes, ftrangers to reli«-
*' gion and humanity ! That thefe their, fucceflfors waited im-
^* patiently to renew the fame fcenes of devaftation and cruelty,

" and.

H I ST O R Y O F IR EL A N D. 263

«^ and, by way of anticipation, (fays he), they have fixed on the A.C*
«< very day on which Chrift was crucified, to defl;roy the country
** of his greatefl: votaries ; but that God, whofe caufe you are to
•* fight this day, will be prefent with you, and deliver his enemies
•* into your hands." So faying, he proceeded towards the center
to lead on his troops to adion ; but the chiefs of the army witb
one voice requefted he would retire from the field of battle, on
account of his great age, and leave to the gallant Morrogh the
chief command.

At eight in the morning the fignal for flaughter was given.
The Dalgais, with the whole right wing marched to attack, fword
in hand, the Danes commanded by Brodar and Aifglodal; but
an uncommon ad of cowardice or treachery had like to have,
deftroyed the whole imperial army : for at thia very critical mi-^
nute, Malachie, with his Meathians, retired fuddenly from the
field, leaving the reft of this body expofed to a far fuperior num-
ber of enemies. But Morrogh, with great prefence of mind cried^^
out to his brave Dalgais, <« that this was the time to diftinguifh
«* themfelves, as they alone would have the unrivalled glory of
<« cutting off that formidable body of the enemy." And now,
whilft clofe engaged with battle-ax, fword, and dagger on the
right, the left, under the command of the king of Conaught, haftea
to engage the Danes of Leinfter and their infular levies, whilft
the troops of South Munfter attack the apoftate Maolmordha, and
his degenerate Lagenians ! Never was greater intrepidity, per-
feverance, or animofity, difplayed in any battle than in this ; aa
every thing depended on open force and courage. The fituation.
of the ground admitted of no ambufcades, and none were ufed*
They fought man to man, and breaft to breaft, and the vigors
in one rank, fell vidims in the next. The officers and generals
on both fides, performed prodigies of valour. Morrogh, his
fcn Turlogh, his brethren and kinfmen flew from place to place ;.

and.

2&4 H I S T O R Y O F I R E L A N &•

/t.C. tind every where left the fanguinary traces of their courage and
of their fortitude ! The flaughter committed by Morrogh, deter-
mined Carolus and Conmaol, two Danes of diftinSion, to attack
in conjundion this prince, and they both fell by his fword ! It
was obferved, that he, with other chiefs, had retired from the
battle more than twice ; and after each return, feemed to be pof--
feffed of redoubled force. It was to flack their thirft, and cool
their hands, fwelled with the ufe of the fword and battle-ax, in
an adjoining brook, over which a fmall guard was placed, and
this the Danes foon deftroyed. On rejoining his troops the laft
time, Sitric Mac Lodair, with a body of Danes, was making a
frefli attack on the Dalgais, and him Morrogh fingled out, and
with a blow of his battle-ax divided his body in two, through
his armour ! The other Irifli commanders in like manner di-
ftinguiflied themfelves, though their exploits are not fo particu-
larly narrated .; and it would feem from the number of prime
quality that fell on both fides, that befides its being a general
battle, the chiefs every where fingled out each other to fingle
combat. The courage of the Irifli was not to be fubdued : till
near four o'clock in the afternoon, did the iflue of the day re-
main doubtful ; and then it was, that they made fo general an
attack on enemy, that its force was not to be refitted. Deftitutc
of leaders, and of courfe of order, the Danes gave way on every
fide. Morrogh at this time, through the uncommon ufe and ex-
ertion of his fword-arm, had both hand and arm fo fwelled and
pained, as to be unable to lift them up. In this condition he was
attacked fword in hand, by Henry, the fon of Eibhroic, a Da-
nifti prince; but Morrogh clofing in upon him, feized him with
the left hand, fhook him out of his coat of mail, and proflrating
him, pierced his body with his fword, by fixing its pummel on
his breaft, and prefling the weight of his body on it. In this
dying fijtuation of Henry, he neverthelefs feized the dagger

2 which

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 265

\7hich hungby Morrogh's fide, and with it gave him, at the iame A.C.
inftant, a mortal wound ! The Dane expired on the fpot; but
Morroch lived till next morning, etnploying the intermediate
time in adts of piety and devotion; in making, fays my MSS. a
general confeffion, receiving the euchatift, and ^ing as an hero
and a Chriftian ftiould die !

The confufion became general through the Danilh army, and
they fled on every fide. Corcoran, one of the monarches aid du
camps, feeing the ftandard of Morrogh ftruck, (for this notified the
death of the chief), and in the general deroute unable to diftin-
guifh friend from foe, concluded that the imperial army 'was de-
feated. Me haftily entered the tent of Brien, who was on his
knees before a crucifix, and requefted he would immediately
mount his horfe and efcape, for that all was loft. " Do you, fays
*^ this hero, and my other attendants, (rifing up), fly. It was
*^ to conquer or die I came here, and my enemies fhall not boaft
*« the killing of me, by inglorious wounds !" So faying, he feized
his fword and' battle-ax, his conftant companions in war, and re-
folutely waited the event. In this general confufion, Brodar,
and a few of his followers, entered the royal tent. 'He was armed
from head to foot ; and yet the gallant old chief pierced his body
through his coat of mail ! Two more of his attendants met the
fame fate ; and Brien received his death by a fourth !

The intrepid Sitric, prince of Ulftcr, the faithful companion of
Brien in all his wars, was witnefs to the death of Morrogh, and
revenged it by that of Plait, a Daniflx knight of great intrepidity,
and by numbers of others of lefs note. Eagerly purfuing Bro-
dar and his party, he faw them enter the tent of Brien, and cut
to pieces the remains of them. But when he beheld the aged mo-
narch extended on the ground, his grief was extreme. He threw
himfelf on the dead body ; the many wounds he had received in
Vol. II. Mm the

266 HISTORY OF IRELAND^.

A.C. the battle burft forth afrefli ; he refufed every kind of affiftance,
and expired in the arms of his friend and faithful ally I Thefe
particulars of the death of Brien, taken from the Leabhar-Oiris,
I thought would not be unacceptable to the reader, more efpecially
as I find no two nK)dern writers In accord, as to the manner of
his diflblution.

• From the acrimony and length of this battle, we may conclude
few prifoners were taken, and none certainly were ! Death or
an efcape, was all the Danes had for it ; and they were eagerly
purfued to their fhips, and to the very gates of Dublin. From
the vaft number of chiefs who fell, we may form fome idea of
the carnage on both fides. On the imperial fide were flain the
monarch himfelf, his fon and general Morrogh, with two of his
brothers, and his grandfon Turloch, who, though but fifteen years
old, performed prodigies of valour that day ! His nephew Co-
nning, Sitric, prince of Ulfter, Mothla, prince of the Deafies^
Eocha, chief of the O'Seanlans, Neal 0*Cuin, and Cudula Mac
Ceinidi, his chief favourites, received the fame fate. The chiefs
ofCorca Baifgin, of Fermoigh, of Coonach, of Kerry Luachra,
of Loch-Lene, &c. fell alfo in this battle ;^ as did of the Conaught
princes, O'Kelly, chief of Hi-Maine, O'Heyne, and many others.
The great ftewards of Lenox and Mar, with other brave Alba-
nians, the defendants of Core, king of Munfter, died in the
fame caufe, Befides thefe princes, and vaft numbers of lefs note^
the Bruodin Chronicle, and other indifputable records, efteem the
lofs of Irifli, horfe and foot, that day at 7000.

On the fide of the enemy there fell Maolmordha^ the caufe of
all this bloody with the princes of Hi-Failge, or O'Faly, of Magh-
Liffe, and almoft all the other chiefs of Leinfter, who attended
his fiandard, vnih 3000 of their braveft troops. Their right
wing was compofed of the new Danes,^ and the firmefl; troops

7 they

ISTORY OF IRELAND. 267

they had. Thefe fuffered amazingly by the Dalgais. Their ^ ^'
principal oflScers were cut ofF to a man, with 7000 common fol-
diers ! Of the left wing, befides mod of their officers of note
were flain in the field 4000 men, making in all 14000. This,
though an amazing flaughter, confidering the numbers who en-
gaged, yet I am fatisfied, by no means includes the entire of the
enemy, who were flain in the battle and in the purfuit ; and for
this reafon : with Brien fell that day, the vitals of the Irifh con-
ftitution. Almoft all the (nccccding rulers vicre never acinow--
legedhj our own annalifts as monarchs, in the full meaning of the
word. They were rather chiefs of different parties j the nation
was quite difunited ; and if the Danifh lofs had not bjeen much
greater at this time, from the attempts they formerly made, we
may prefume, that they would not totally relinquifh an objefit,
which had for above two centuries, coft them fo much blood and
treafure. But the fad is, that their power was totally broke at this
time. The furviving foreigners took an eternal farewel of the
country ; and the Irifli Danes were content to become obedient to,
and crouch under that government, which they fo often laboured
to undermine and deftroy.

Thus fell the immortal Brien, in the ^eighty- eighth year of his
age, the mofl uniformly perfect chara(9:er that hiftory can pro-
duce. If we confider him in his military capacity, we fhould
fuppofe, that the ftudy of arms fuperfedcd every other objed:. In
twenty^five different rencounters, and twenty-nine pitched bat-
tles, did he engage his Danifh and other enemies, and vidory
always attended his ftandard ! By his condud, prudence, and bra*
Tery, he raifed his country, from a flate of the mofl: abjed flavery,
to the highefl; pinnacle of glory ! His fuperior genius and fuc-
cefs in war, did not make him fond of it ; and he preferred the
way of uegotiatioa to arms, where it was admiffible—witnefs

M m 2 bis

26S HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. his relinquifliing Meath to Malachie, on his refigning the mo*
narchy. As a ilatefman and as a legiflator, his talents were not
lefs confpicuous. Whatever he recovered by the fword, lie pre-
ferved by the prudence of his counfels, and the tnildnefs of his
adminiitration. The whole tenor of his life proclaims, that the
only objects of his purfuits, were to reftore to his country its
ancient laws and liberties. Munfter had been long unacquainted
with thebleffings of peace^ till he became its king ; and when he^
became monarch, all Ireland partook of this happinefs. The
wonderful abilities of Brien made him fliine in every depart-
ment of the ftate. He faw with his own eyes every defeft in the
political machine ; and his own genius found out the remedies.
He gave vigour and force to the laws, and the fons of rapine and
plunder inftantly difappeared I He re-efiabli(hed religion and
letters, and was the firft Irifh prince who laboured to reform
and convert his Danifli fubje<3:s. If he was terrible to his enemies
in the field, he was mild and merciful to them in the cabinet t
and during his whole reign, a fingle aft of cruelty or injuftice
cannot be laid to his charge. His great attention to every de-
partment in the exalted ftation he filled, did not make him for-
get his duty as a Chriftian, No one was more conftant and fer-
vent in their devotions than he, infomuch, that by moft of our
writers he has 1)een deemed a faint, by fome a martyr. He was
eafy of aQcefs, and courteous and polite to all. Whilfl: he lived at
Ball-Boirumhe, with all the magnificence and profufion of Iriffi
hofpitality, it was tempered with that decorum and eafe, that the
dignity of the prince was never loft in the chearful afi^ability of
the coniipanion. In fhort, as a foldier, a ftatefman, a legiflator,
a Chriftian, and a fcholar, he had not a fuperior ; and if any thing
can blazon his chara^tf higher, it muft be his manner of dying.
At the age of eighty-eight, when the vital forces fenfibly decay ;

when

HISTORY OFIRELAND. 269

when the languid motion of the blood mechanically afFeds the A,C.
heart and fpirits, and naturally brings on dejedtiorjs ; at a time
when Biriea himfelf was rcquefted to retire to his tent from the
horrors of the day, and leave the condudl of the battle to his fon—
at this time, and under thefe circumflances^ he was told, that all
was loft, and was himfelf requefted to fly ! Then it was, that
the hero and the monarch blazed forth in their utmoft luftre 1
•' Do you (fays he), and my other attendants fly. It was to con-
'* quer or die I came here ; and my enemies fhall not boaft the
*' killing me by inglorious wounds !" This was clofing the
fcene with true dignity !

His body, after embalming according to his will, was conveyed
to Ardmach. Firft, the clergy of Swords in folemn proceffion,
brought it to the great abbey ; from thence the next morning,
the bifliops and clergy of Damh-Hag, or Duleek, condu(3:ed it
the church of St. Cianaa. Here the clergy of Lughmhaigh, at-
tended the corpfe to their own monaftery. The archbifhop of
Ardmach, with his fufFragans and clergy, received the body at
Lughmhaigh, from whence it was conveyed to their cathedraU
For twelve days and nights, fays my MS. was it watched by the
clergy, during which time there was a continued fcene of prayera
and devotions ; and then it was interred with great funeral pomp,
at the north fide of the altar of the great church. The bodies
of Morrogh and Sitric, with the hearts of Conning, and OTelan,
prince of the Deafies, at their own requefts, were depofited in the
fouth ifle of that church ; whilft his grandfon Turloch, and moft .
of the other chiefs, were interred at the monaftery of Kill-
mainhim.

CHAP.

27© HISTORY OF IRELAND^

A.C. *•

CHAP. IX.

JVriters of the tenth century'^St. Cormocy an^ account of his fa*
mous ivorky called the Pfalter of Cajhill — a detail of other emi'^
nent men, with the lijl of the works of fome of them.

THOUGH the tenth century has been, by almoft univcrfal
confent, called the dark and Aerile age, on account of the
abjed flate of letters, and the few men of eminence it produced,
occafioncd by the depredations of the northern nations; yet even
at this very period we find, befides the hereditary antiquarians,
poets, and hiftorians, Ireland dill produce men of uncommon
erudition and abilitiea. Amongft thefe St. Q)rmoc merits the
firft place, on account of his exalted (lation, and pre-eminence in
letters. This great king and holy bifhop, had employed the .
leifure time of many years in revifing and correding his native
hiftory, and which he lived to complete, as may be feen by his
will, which we have already given. It is not a general hiftory of
Ireland, as fome have, fuppofed ; it is more properly the hiftory
of the pofterity of Heber, or of the Munfter line of kings. It
begins with the creation, the fall of man, and the anti-diluviaa
world ; and in the chronology he feems to adhere to the Septua-
agint account. Phsenius, the great anceftor of the Gatheliau
tace, he declares to be the ion of Baath, the Ton of Magog,
the Ton of Japhet» the foa of Noah. He relates the dereli£tion of
J^gYft, by Niulus, the fon of Phaenius, and the voyages and

juivea-

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 271

adventures of his pofterity, to their fettling in Ireland. . From A.C

this period to his own days, he confines his enquiries to the ex-
ploits of his own anceftors of the line of Heber; fo that with
great propriety he ftiles it the Pfalter of Cafliill, or Book of
Munfter. Befidesthis moft valuable record, he alfo wrote Sean-
afan Cormoc, or Cormoc's Gloflary of obfoletc words ; and this
work, with feveral later editions^ was published at Louvain,
early in the laft century, by O'Clery.

Sealbhach, fecretary to king Cormoc, wrote a genealogy of the
faints of Ireland, beginning with — Naomh Seanchas, Naomh,
Innfe-Fail — or the facred genealogy of the Irilh faints *•

Probus flourilhed in this century ; and at the requeft of Pau*
linus (as he himfelf declares in the concluQon), he wrote, in
Latin, the Life and Miracles of St. Patrick in two books ; which
work Colgan gives entire, under the title of the Fifth Life of St.
Patrick f.

Archbi(hop Foranan, renowned for learning and piety, with
twelve holy affociates, retired from the fury of the Danes to
Flanders, where he founded a monaftery on the borders of
the Maeze, and reftored the afcetic difcipline to its primitive
vigour J.

St. Cadroe, educated in the univerfity of Ardmagh, became fo
celebrated for his univerfal erudition, as to be deemed amongft
the moft learned of his country. He vifited Britain and Gaul,
and fucceeded Foranan in his monaftery, and in his zeal and piety.
His life is given by Colgan.

In this age Flan, the celebrated fcribe and chronographer,
flouriflied, as the Annals of the Four Mafters declare; as alfo
an anonymous writer, who continued the Pfalter of Ca(hill> or

• Ada. Saaa. Hib. p. S- t It»d- P* 105, 152, &c.

. t Trias Thjiumat. p. S«*

Book

272 HISTORY OF I R E L A N D^

A.C. Book of Munfler, to the reign of Mahoa, king of Munfter ; an
authentic copy of which, in nay pofleffion, hsfi been highly yfe-
ful to the prefent work.

In the tenth century may be alfo placed, th€ anonymous wri-
ter of the Life of Ceallachan-Caifil. This work i^ much to be
valued, not only account of the lights it throws on the period and
tranfadions of which it fpeaks, but alfo becaufe it details in a
full manner, the modes of attack in thofe days, with refpefl: to
the befieging of towns, and to general engagements, whether by
land or by water.

St. Malbrigid, Mac Dornan, who is in our annals ftiled fuc-
celTor to St. Patrick, St. Columba, and St. Adamnanus, head of
the religious of all Ireland, and of the greateft part of Europe,
flouriflied in this century. Rumold, bifliop of Clqanard, Main-
chas, abbot of Benchoir, Carpre the anchorite, the abbots Pau-»
linus, Colman, and Cormoc, with Jofeph, who from a reclufe
was raifed to the fee of Ardmagh, are all highly celebrated in the
Annals of the Four Matters, for their religion and learning.

St. Columbanus, abbot and anchorite, in the middle of this
century, retired to Flanders ; and it is faid to be the firft who in-
troduced amongft that people, this fpecies of mortification *.
After exhorting and preaching with uncommon zeal and devo-
tion, he retired to a cemetery in the church of St. Bavo, in Ghent,
in which he continued to His death, which happened in about
two years after his retreat, i. e. A. 959. He is ftill invoked in
times of public calamity, 4s one of the patrons of that city.

• Vita St. CoIumUni, f, a.

EO O I^

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

B O Q K xir

^ c H A p. I.

Ih natwnal advantages madi of the late great wBorj^retreat of
the Munfier and Lemfterforces^^-^ian ajfumes the title of king
ofMunfitr^ and demands ktffli^ges from thejhrn ofBrien^ which
art refufed^H:hara8ter of Cian-"'^ pretenfions oppofed by
DonAnal^'^etreat of the troops of North Munfter^^^the prince
afOffory demands hojiages of them ^ and is refufed^^he Munfter
troops prepare for battle^ and arejomed by their Jick and wounded
•^the Offorians generoujly rtfufe to attack them — battle of
Maigh-GmtRdhe-

AFTER fo decifivCf though dear bought a vi^ory^ as the
battled C3iiantarflF» we fliould naturally fuppofi that
the firft objeds of the colkqutrors would be to proceed to the
dediofi of an emperor^ and the forming fuch a new code of
laws at would fecutc to the kingdom that internal peace and fe-
curity frUfih it flood in fuch need of. But no fuch thing ! That
great £mi1, which animated this whole party, fled to heaven ;
and charaAers fo great, and fo elevated^ are not the produd of^
every age t The king of Conaught» apprehenfive of domeftic
troubles, haitily retired to his own territories, and the Munfter
army* under the ccnkmand o£ its diflFerent cbiefst followed the
Vol. IL N a example.

273

a.74 HIST a R Y F I R EL A N D,

A.G. example. But fcarce had thefe laft clofed the march of the firft
day^ when aid difputes and diftia&ions arofe> and having now
no other enemies to fear> they begaa to look for new ones among
themfelves.

Cian^ the fon of Maolmuadhy chief of the Sept of the O^
Mahonies, thought that his^ power and blood juftty entitled him
to the fucceifion to the crown of Muafter. He fent a formal
^mbafly^ on the next morning, being the 26th of ApriU to
Teige and Donogh^ the furviving fons of Brien, informing
them of his intentions^ bf b^lng prodaimed king of Mtinfter>
and requefting from them the fame aid and affiflance he had
afforded to their father, at the fame time requiring their fub^
miilion as their chief, and hoflages for their future good beha-»
yiour. To (often thefe demands, it was reprefented to* them,
that by the will of their common anceflor, 01ioll-011um|. the
gbvernmentjof Munfterwas to pafs alternately from the hpufe
of Eogan to that of Cormoc ; that their father being of the latter
houfe, and laft king of Munfter^ the choice of a fucceiXbr necef-
ikrily fell upon the.Eogana^ts ; and, therefore, befides the tiea
of afEnity — he being married to their fifter — thofe of jftrift juf-
tice ftrongly pleaded in his behalf. However furprifed and
ihocked at this meflage, as the brothers neceflarily muft be, ^et
they returned a refolute and fpirited anfwer. As to the Aibmi&
fion and aid which Cian boafted of afFordiqg their fathej*, -thej
©bfervedt. " That it was not voluntary, but exafled by the fword»..
*' That the wilL of OlioU had long fmcc been brokea through^,
«^ and rendered nugatory by the pofterity of £ogaB|^ . who,
** had lUucped to themfelves, io: too many inilanoea, the^ right.
« of goveniing, Munfter* That their father, 5riea, by force ofT
^' arms, had obliged them to- recognize his tltlc> and that, by:.

die fame means, they would preferve^ this raok^ and: tranfmit..

it tO: their pofterity*. It ia tnue,. added they» wc are not.fo.

«* pumetoua.

ffC

HISTORY DT IRELAND- 275

« iramcrous nor Ibwcll pwpared fWba^^^ having loft ^^

•* mbft of our brethren and friendft in the late engagement ; but
^^ we have htarts tinacquainted v^kh fear, and the God of armies
•* will iuptjort tifr in thifc day of trial/*

But; whilft with finttnefs- the fohs of Brien prepare for the
«vehtii fo^nd poUcy pointed oiit to them the means of weakening
their^enemy. Cian, It muft be confe(Kid» was a prince of great
bravery apdwifdom. In the life of his father he was delivered
up; as an hoftaige, to Brien ; his gallantry and engaging beha-
viour had fo far ^deared him to that. chiefs that he gave him
his daughter Saobh> or Sabina, to wife. He conftantly at-
tended Brien in all his wars» fought by his fide> and (hared in
his dangers and in his glory. No one feemed more worthy the
crown of Munfter, or monarchy of Ireland^ than Cian ; and
had fate fo decreed it^ in all appearance Ireland would not have
felt thefe calamities which (he has fo long endured. The troops
of South Munfter, in the battle of CluantarfF, had not fuffered
near fo much as their brethren of North Munfter. Thefe laft
had to engage vvith the flower of the Danrfii troops, above two
thftufand of whom were completely armed ; and they were befides
deferted by Malachie and his forces of Meath. The remains of their
forces, after the battle did not amount to quite two thoufand men,
out of which twelve hundred only were able to bear arms, the reft
being defperately wounded in different parts ; whereas the troops
6f South Munfler were infinitely fuperior^ and befides> had
not near fo xAany wounded. Cian, alone, was at the head of
three' thoufand men I butDomhnal, the fon of Dubhdabhoran,^
and chiief of the 0*Donachoes, commanded a very refpedable
body of troops independent of Cian. To him the brothers fent
an e:icpref8, aiiiiouncing the intentions of Cian, and requefting
his aid. If the aiabitioQ ci Domhnal was rouzed by the attempts

N n 2 of

%^b HISTORY OFIRELAND.

A.C. of Cian, his pride was equdly wouodcd lo think he wooM ctrry
them into execution without confulting him»

He immediately proceeded to the teat of the fim of Mairfmn-
adh, and found all his men bufied io prefviag thtmfdTCi foi
battle. He demanded the caufe^ and Ciaat without any re(erve»
difclofed it to him. After ibme expoftttlationsy DiMnhnajU tn a
few wordsy informed him^ '' That in his jun^oa with the im«
^^ perial army, he had not the moft diftant idea of promottDg
<^ Cian to the fovereignty of Munfter in cafe of a vafCancy ; and
^< that he now folemnly protcfted againft hia prodeedings.''
Cian fiercely anfwered, ^' That he never once thought of aiking
<< either his advice or affiftance cm the occafion.'* On this
Domhnal and his army feparated from that of Cian, and formed
a diftind camp. The brothers. Well apprifed 6f thefe divifio&s^
knew that Cian was too great a politician to think of attacking;
them, circumftanced as he now was» and^ therefore, after ftand^
, ing for fome time under arms, ordered a retreat^ direding th«
fick and the baggage to be placed in the front of their little army*
Gan,. and his party^ proceeded, at the fame time, to Ibh-»
Eachach in Carbery^ the place of his refidence^ as did Doodhnal
to Kerry, but by different routes.

But the fons of Brien were decreed to fuffer ftill more mortify^^
iog trials before they reached the roanflon of their anceftora«
As foon as they approached the borders of Oflbry^ Fitz*Patric^'
ehiaf of that territory, • fent ambafladorst requiring ho(iagM for
the good behaviour of their troops, and alfo for their peaceable
^meanoiir Ut the time to come^ £nraged at fo i nfdkafe a de^
mand, and from a conftant tributary to the t r^wn f^ Mtit^'r.
they returned for anfwer, <* That th«y were 'aAooiflied at the-
** prcfumption of tfas prince of Oflbiy^ ia Ai/na% lo itsA t^mr
** fiich a meflage; and though dieir .tro^.^cfu^'gljeilfly din£*.
** nilhed, yet they had (till fufficieoit to puniOi a daftardly chief»

a «* like

H I 8 T O R Y O F IRELAND. i^j

^ likehim, wlio meanly availed himfelf of his prefent feeming AC.
♦^ fupeiiority." Nothing can prove more ftrongly, how delii-
five and tranfitory human honours and applaufe are^ than the
prefent fituation of thefe princes contrafted with the rank they
held a few days earlier ! There we behold them courted and ca-
reffed^ honoured and feared, by the army and by the whole
kingdom ! Here, their weight and power being greatly dimi-
nifhed— -for refpe£t and adulation feem to adhere to ftations, not
to perfons— ^hefe honours are turned to infults, and this Ap-
plaufe to contempt! What availed it tothefons of the immortal
Brien, that their father, their brothers, their nephew, their
kinfmen, and almoft the entire tribe of Dalgais, fell a facrifice
to'the glory and independence of their country; and that their
prefent fituation entitled them to every honour that could be con«
ferred oii men ! Thefe great fer vices, we fee, are almoft inflantly
^got, and theif prefent confequence was only rated according
to their prefent power ! • . . .

The ambaflfadors of Fitz^Patrte, fenfible of the great fuperio*
i4ty of his army (being joined by a body of Lagenians) and
iforefeeii^g the deftrudion of the remains of the brave Dalgais if
« bMtle ifaould enfue, conjure the brothers to make ibme fmall
tiofteefficms to their mailer, and not to difmifa them with an an*
imtt io iU adapted to their prefent ikuation* ^^ At what period *
<^ 6f time (replied the intrepid Donogfa) did any one of my'
^\ acic^ftor^ do homage, or deliver faoftages, ta an Oflbrian >
^ That the pofterity of Eogan fhould fometimes .make fucfa
^ demands is not furprifing, being the iflbe of die ^Ideft fonii
•« of our great anceftor; but is there in hiftory a tidgle kflance,
<^ 1>efides the prefent, of the chief of Offory's daring to demand
*^ hoftigcs from the pofterity of Olioll-Olhim ?" So fayiig he
difattffed the ambafladors, and began^ to prepare for the eac--
ygt^Q^ engagement.'
" A body

€4
41

273 HISTORY O F I R E L A N IX

^^' A body of two hundred men were direfled to efcort tTi«
the wounded and the baggage to an adjoining fort ; but as foon
as the purport of Fitzpatric's mefTage became known, a general
rage and indignation feized on the whole army. The wounded
called out to be led to battle. They conjured their brethren not
to defert them, but as they had hitherto lived, fo they hoped
they would now fufFer them to die by their fides* They ap-
plied to Donogh and to Teige ; and, as a farther inducement,
obfervcd to them, ** That by permitting them to (land to their
arms, their fellow-foldiers would fight with more intrepidity,
and would never think of giving way* Let (lakes (fay they)
^^ be fluck in the ground, and fuffer each of us, tied to, and
** fupported by one of thefe (lakes, to be placed in his rank,
<^ by the fide of a found man ; our front will be more exteaded,
<^ and wc (ball, by this means, be enabled to ufe our arms*"
Their importunities, and thefe reafons, made a drong impref-,
fion on the brothers, and between feven and eight hundred
wounded men, pale, emaciated, and fupported as above, ap-
peared mixed with the foremoft of the troops. Never was fuch
another^ght exhibited ! The 0(rorians marched to the attack,
with full aflurance of vidory ; but when they regarded the (itua-^:
tion of almoft half of the enemy they were to attack, pity and,
admiration fucceeded to rage and refentment I In vain Fitzpatric
called them forth to the battle ; in vain he urged that fo decifiva
an opportunity, as the prefent, would never offer again, and*
that, by lofing it, the whole power of Munfter would foon bd>
on their backs.— His reafons were of no weight ; and his allies
abfoluteIy~refufed to engage with the troops of North Munfter
in their prefent fituatioa. The fons of Birien, feeing this defec«>
tion, prepared for a retreat ; but the prince of 0(rory, fays my •
MS. with a feled body of followers, conftantly hovered round .
this body of men, perpetually harrafling, but never daring to

come

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

379

come to an engagement with them. Bj this means they loft a ^^
hundred and fifty of their wounded, and many others were cut
oflFin the retreat. After this the remains of thefe heroes reached
Ball-Boirumhe without any further moleflation.

We ohferved that Cian and Domhnal feparated on their re-
turn to Munfler. Cian had not yet loft fight of the crown of
that proYince ; and the firft objedt of his refentment, after hia
«rrivaU was the fon of ^ Dubhdabhoran* He fent heraldsi de-
bouncing war, and challenging him to battle, in ten days, on
the plains of Magh-Guillidhe. Both parties met, and the en»
gagement was long and bloody. The party of Cian was, at
length, defeated with great carnage, and among the flain were
this prince, his two brothers, and three of his fons> '* Thus.
^< fell (fays the Leabhar Oiris) the intrepid Cian, as gallant andi

generous a prince as th houfeofHchr ever produced.^^

e B A P-

tU HISTORY OF IRELAND^

A.C.

CHAP. 11-

Mt^afhie again falutti monarch jby the Ckm^dman^ but not

. eh^ed iy thenatknal efiatis-^Bigh^go-fireafabhrap its in^^art^-^
MalashUs relnarkah/f Mcount ff thf battle of Chtantarff"^ \

, tdhs Dublin fy ajfauit-'^>'<ivil commotiom if
jfter-^Malachk rt^nts his former conduB^ and devotes the re^

: mmudtr of his Ife to aSs of piety and charity^^contentions in
Jtfimfter'^hi Beremonusns appoint a. proteBor^^^emarhs on this

; fitU^^Donogh O^Brien ov&'-runs Leinftor^ Meath, and Con^^
aught^^his ijfue^'^ is defeated by his Nephew Turlogh, re/igns
the crown^ and retires to Rome^—the Powers, Plunkets^ and
Eujiaces of the race of O' Brien^^the pretences of Rome to the
command of Ireland enquired into and refuted^

MALACHIE^ it is (kid^ was proclaimed monarchy by the
national eftates^ immediately after the death of Brien.
The fad was not certainly fo ; for we have feen the chiefs of
Munfter and Coaaught return to their different countries the
fecond day after the battle of QuantarE Had their fufirages
been demanded in fayour of a fucceflbr^ I take it for granted
that Malachie would be the laft man in the. world on whom they

would beftow. it. He had been formally depoled in looi, and

* ...

reiigned the crown ^iome time after. During the glorious
reign of Brien* in no one inftance was he intitled to the confi«
4epQ8 of ths public. Wfe have feen the late Danifh war to com«
mence with an incurfion into Meath^ and Malachiei in perfbut
claim the protedion of the monarch as his chief; yet in the d&»

cifiye

HISTO RY OF IRELAND. 281

clfi^e battle that followed^ the year after, forgetful of his alle- AC.
gianceto his foveceign, of the duty he owed his country, of his
own honour, andof the juft revenge which the death of his fon
and the deftrudlion of his territories demanded — on the infant
of trial he bafely deferted his flation, and by this defefiion
hazarded the eternal ruin of his country ! Was fuch a charader
the objea of national eftecm,? The truth of the matter is-?-Ma-
lachies feeing no formidable .competitors, and being at the head
of a good army, in the center of his relations, the Clan-Colman,
or fouthern Hi-Niall race» he convened an aff^mbly of the
eftates of Meath, in the middle of May, i o 1 4, by whom he
was faluted-king of Tara and monarch of Ireland ; ^ndt in this
inftance, gave the example to future powerful princes to afTume
the title, and, in part, the power of monarchs, without a pre^
vious general eledion ; fuch, in fad, were almoft all the fqc-
ceeding rulers of Ireland I Thefe princes have been very properly
ftigmatizedbyour fcnachies, r/]f//^^^yr^^^^rtf, or kings by
force or violence, in oppofition to thofe legally eleded, who
they have called lain-righe, or kings, in the complete fenfc
of the word.

In this convention^ we are fold by Mac Liagh, hiftorian to
Brien Boirumhe, and it is alfo recorded in the Leabhar dins,
that the eftates of Meath requeiled of Malachie fome account of
the late battle of CluantarfiF, of which fo piuch had been faid,
and that he anfwered them thus— V It is impoffible for me to
<« relate the particulars of this battle, nor do I Relieve could any
^< one lefs than an angel from heaven. I retired, with the
*^ troops under my command, to an eminence, jfeparated from
^\ the combatants by a field and a ditch only. The appearance
^< of the men, the glittering of fwords> fpears, and battle<-
^* axes, and the brightnefa of their ai;inour, ^ exjiibited at once
<< a glorious and an awful fight 1 The engagement foon coni*
, VoL» II. O o '• mencecJ,

282 HISTORY OF IRELAND;

A.C. «' menced, and, in lefs than half an hour, it was- impoffiblc to
'' diftinguilh the combatants from each other; even a father or
** or a brother could not be known, except by his voice, fo
" clofely were they mingled together, and fo covered with
** blood, darting forth from different parts of the body, and
^* fcattered on every fide by the wind, which was then (harp
** and ,high. Separated as we were from them, the fpears^
«* fwords, and battle-axes of our men were fo entangled, by
** the quantity of blood and clotted hair flying from the field of
*« battle, that with conftaat difficulty and labour only were they
** able to difengage them and to keep their ranks ; nor was it for
** fome time after that their arms recovered their former tuftre;
** The Icenes of carnage, which fpread far and wide, were ter-
'* rible beyond defer iption — fo much fo, that the very fight of
i ** them, to us fpedators, appeared infinitely more diftrefling
•* and terrifying than they could poffibty be to the parties en*-
** gaged* JFrom fiin-rife ta the evening did the battfc continue^
<* with fuch unremitting flaughter, that the returning tide was
<• ilained red i'*^

This, it muft be confeffed, if not the defcription of a battFe,
is, at leaffi a lively one of its melancholy effeds.

As fbon as Malachie found himfelf in the peaceable pofleifioa
of a crown which he fo ill merited, in order to ingratiate him-
felf with the public, and to endeavour to remove part of the ill
impreffion conceived againft him, in conjun£tion with his ally
Aodh 0*Neill, he ted a powerful army* againft Dublin, which,
he took by aflfault, and, after plundering the city, he fet it oil
fire in difi^erent places, in order effcdually to deftroy that un-
grateful and irreclaimable fet of traitor?, the remains of the
Danes. Such of theffe, ' ho wever, as efcapcd the fword, had
their revenge, by plundering and deftroying the adjacent counr
try, and putting to the fword the peacable inhabitants^

HISTORY OF IRELAND. aSj

We have, in the laft chapter^ noticed the death of the gallant AC.
Cianand the defeat of his .army. Mahon, his furviving fom '
fled from the rage of the conquerors to the court of his uncles^
Donogh and Tiege. To reinftate him in the dominions of hU
anceftorSj thejr marched a confiderable army into Defmond,
which foon engaged with that commanded by the fon of Dubh«
d^bhoran. In this battle the latter was defeated ; and* among
theflain, was his fon Cathal, and others of prime quality. Br
this vidory the fons of Brien fecured a powerful ally in their
nepl^ew, and obliged his antagonift to deliver up hoftages to them,
and thus regained the fovereignty of all Munfter. But rara con^
cordia fratrum I this acquifition of power was a fourc^ pf frefh
commotions. Tiege, as elder brother, infifted that he ought
,fingly to reign ; but Donogh, who was an able politician, and,
befides/ poffefled of infatiable ambition, would by no means
admit of the arguments of his brother. Both parties had (as
ufual) recourfe to arms : a pitched battle was fought, in which
the prince of Aradh, of Ui-Cairbre, and other great chiefs,
wereflain, with little vifible advantage to either party. During
thefe inteftine commotions the Ton of Dubhdabhoran was not
idle. He artfully recovered his hoftages, and, at the fame time,
made a fudden and unexpeded incur fion into Carbery. Every
thing gave way to his fuperior power, and, with his own hand,
he flew young Mahon in revenge for the death of his fon Cathal.

Domhnal prepared, with a conflderable army, to invade
Thomond, and this circumftance had a fpeedier efl^ed to unite
the fons of Brien than all the remonftrances of the clergy, who,
to do them juflice, were, on all occafions the minifters of
peace. They became reconciled, and, uniting their armies,
wait€id at Limeric the approach of the enemy. By mutual agree-
ment a battle was fought, in which great bravery was cfifplay ed,
and of courfe much blood fpilt. At length the Eoganachts

O o z gave

284 HISTORY OF IRELAND-

A-C* jgave way on every fide ; but not till they faw their chief and
almoft all their principal officers fall !

Malachi having reduced the Danes^ marched an army inta
licinfterj in order to chaftife fuch chiefs of that country, as had
not paid him proper homage i and after his return/ in conjunct

i€i6 tion with O'Neill, he invaded Conaught, returning with prifoners
and hoftages by the way of Kildare. Some petty princes of
Ulfter he alfo chaftifed, and obliged them to give hoftages for
their future obedience.

10 1 7 Donagan, a Leinfter prince, with many other chiefs, were cut
off at an entertainment, by the prince of Offory ; and foon after>
to punifh this prince for fb infamous an a^:, Malachie entered
his territories, laying wafte the country with fire and fword, put-
ting him to death with other confpirators, and leading to Tara a
large number of prifoners.

1018 During thefe various intefiine broils, the Danes, colleded from
different parts, had again takenf poffeffion of Dublin. It is cer-
tainly very furprifing, and not eafily to be accounted for, that in
all the various defeats the Danes received, their enemies never
once thought, (except in the 'days of Malachie I.), to proftrate

' the walls of their cities and ftrong holds. They contented them-
felves with plundering and fetting fire to their houfes, after
forcing their cities, and raifing contributions only. By this
means, and that of their extenfive and lucrative trade, and the
fupplies of foreigners, they foon became enabled, on ever occafion,
to. create frcfli difturbances, and feldom wanted the inclinations
JD19 and opportunities of doing fo. Thus Sitric, the Danifli governor
of Dublin, on fome difpute, had the eyes of Brien, fon toMaol-
mordha, that degenerate king of Leinfter, ftruck out ; but his
fucceffo9||ook ample revenge on that infidious crew, and fo ef-
fectually humbled them, that they never after were able to

emerge

— y ^.

HISTORY OF IRELANJX 285

^i&ere;e from that contempt and obfcurity^ which their crimes A.C.

■ « •

and repeated a^s of rebellion had fo long merited. .

Malachie now greatly advanced in years, faw, and blamed too
\hXc his pad coildud. To regain the monarchy, he facri^ced his
:l§Ht;h, his honour, and whatever elfe was dear to' man; and he
new was convinced, that he wanted the abilities requifite for fo
great a charge. The power of the common enemy, it ,is true,
was annihilated ;. but he had neither force nor^ refolution, to
break through party, fad^ion, and inteftine broils, wjtb which
the kingdom was oKr-run^ As fome atonement for thefe defeds,
he dedrcateji the remaiader of his life to ails of pletyand devo-
tion. He founded St. Mary's abbey, in Dublin j rebuilt and
repaired fuch churches, monaft^ries, and colleges, as hM through

^time, Qcgleft^pr the ravages of war, fallen into decay; and he « ^
-^- made foundations in different colleges .in the kingdom, for the
^intain^nc^ and education of 300 poor (Indents. In his laft

* iUnefe'he >\^as attended by the archbifhop of Ardmach, with the
abbots^.of Ionia and Sagllire,^ and died September 2d, 1022, in

' the: fevcnty-th^rd year of his age, after a reign of eight years,
three months, and twe^vc/days. Malachie was the only monarch,
of Ireland, who^urvived the lofs of the diadem ; and the firft, who

.a«aia refumed that jtitle, vrithgut a regular and formal eledion. '
On the death of Malachie, none feemed to have better preten- 102a-

-fioi^ to the fupremc command of Ireland than the fans of Brien ;

;but unnatural jealoufiqs and diffenfions amongft themfelvesy.de*
prived the nation of fo wiihed for a blefliag. We have feen them,

.after the defeat of Domhnal, turn their arms againft each other ;

.*a4 nOT^t^nftcadipf .uqitiipg in the fame caufe, tl^ey proceed to
fimilar exceffes. Tiege was the elder brolher, and great refjpedt

:jm% always paid to feniority. Donogh at bed faw. that he could
be but fecond in command, whilft Tiege lived; and therefore .

;eflS?^ed by treachery, what he could not by force. He fent for

the

286 HISTORY OF I R E L A 'N t).

A.C. the chief of Elle, in Ormond, tvho was particularly attached to
him, and by large prefents, and a promife of making Saof-

'023 Fearan, or a palatinate, of his country, he engaged him to fur-
j)rize his brother tlie following night, and carry him oflF prifoner
to Ormond, where lie was cut ofFfoon after. Though Donogh
afFeftcd great furprize at the fudden difappearance of Tiegej yet
both his -hypocrify and treachery were quickly feen into ; for
Toon after his nephew Turlogh fled from Munfter to Fcrceall, the
f^t of his uncle, where he was honourably^ received. It is to be
noticed that Tiege, had married Mor, the daughter of O'Molloi^,
or Maolmoadh, prince of this territory, now known by the name
•of the King's County.

The Heremonians became alarmed at the rifing ftate of Mui!-»
fter ; but not able to agree among themfelves, as to a fucceflbr to
Malachie, Cuan O'Lochain, was by them appointed proteflior of
the monarchy. This, to many antiquarians, feemed a new and
unheard-of employment; however, in the fourth century, we
find the monarch Criomhthan appoint his coufin ConaH pro«
tedlor of Ireland during hrs abfence. In tlhe will of Niall the
Grand, he exprefsly declares his Ton Maine, Ard Comairce Eirin
Uile, or chief protedor of all Ireland, during his abfence j and I
ihave met with many inftances in old MSS. of the title of go-
•vernor of Tara, which implies the fame thing, as it was the
Toiown refidence of the Iri(h monarchs. To have a perfon ap-
pointed, in cafes of vacancies to an ele^ve monarchy, in whom
the executive power Ihould be lodged during the tiedion, is a
meafure which no wife government could want ; and Ais feems
one of the laft efforts, to bring back the cpnftitution to its origi-
nat ftatejw

This meafure, and fome troubles in Munfter, fufpended for u
time the ambitious views of Domhnal ; but Cuan dyw^ in the

fecond

( • 1 r ,

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 287

fecond' year of his adminiflration^ his fucceiTor Corcoran, feemed^ A*^
pofTefled of little or no power. In 1027, ikys my MSS* * Do-
nogh, at the head of a mighty army, invaded Meath, where he
received hoftages from the Clan Colman. From thence he.
marched to Dublin, and fat before that city for fome days, till he
received the homage of that people, and large contributions..
From Dublin- he returned through Leinfter, compelling both thefe
and* the Oflbrians to give him tribute, and Securities for their fu^
ture peaceable demeanour, aod arrived at CeanCorradh, loadea
with fpoils ^nd' glory^

The ne»t year Donogh entered' into Conaught, receiving the 102S
homages add" the tributes ufually paid to monarchs. Though he
had hot been called* to that honour, i)or even: fummoned the
eftates for that purpofe. On a complaint that the .prince of
<!)flbry had killed his own brother, Dondgh. again marched intq
his country, and raifed heavy contributions on the people.

' He now commanded, hot only in the. two Munfters, but alfb
m Leinfter, Cbnaught, and'Meath^ an^ yet/'vin&^pji^ot find, that. Jbie
iadbpted any meafilres tahavehimfclflegfrUy^eol^^iBit^^^
However, the eftatesof- I^»thi-M6gba::wrere.cdi>)ir^edfatX3a(hel^
where feveral^wholfome regulations were made, an|d fcvere laws 1030
pafTed againft robbers, murderers, and profaners of the Sabbatbt -
'At no onetime fihce the days^of SL'Paiticki (fayojir annaliflst]^.
were fo many wife ihfllitiitiohs framed.

Donogh by his firft-^ife had eleiven fona, two of whoxxvpnly
left male iflTiie, namely^Lorcai^and Morrogh. HisTecond wife».
1)y whom he had a fon named Dornhn^U was named Driel la,
daughter to the gredt earV Godwin-, and f^ftcr 40 Harold, ^ter-
wards king of Englsrfi*-$i« Itt 4050, lay ottf.a|i9#|ft Harold fl^ed , , .

*- Leabbar.Oigs, &c. fcc . r, f Ant«l. .rnDis:Falcn8. Tigcraacb, &c.
^/^ t Brwdin," &c, «-.....

foe

■

288 H I 'S T 6 -^ Y O' F I TL E 1L A NlQ**

AC. for proteftion to hiB br6ther-ia-IaWi By wh6m hfc.was honour ^^

lo^j ably received. He afterwards- fuppUed him wirti a large. fleet,
and a confiderable body of land fbrcesi with which he made a
fuccefsful landing in Britain *.

The great power of Donogh wia the fource of much difcon-i
tent to the pfoVinces he had over-tub. A powerful league waa
fbrmed'Sgainft hirti. His nephew Turlogh, who had already ac**
. quirid great fame, the kings of Oonaught and Leinflcr agnee4
to fupply #ith a J)Owirful army, in order to recdvef his inherit-,
ance. This had the appearance of juftice, and they kncfw he ha4
a confiderable party t<J fuppof t him. At the hfcad of thcfetroopa^

1054 he invaded Munfter,and gained maiiy advantaged dveiv Donogh.
In 105?, Turlogh, at the head of his aiiei&e, gained a complete
vidfcory ; .but in order to lefTen the number of his enemiesy Do^
fac^^^agr-ecd the next fpring, to 'e»cherate ibe/Conacians of aU
claim to tfibiite, pt^ovidcd they wouW ^withdraw their ^raops. In
1 060, he made the fanie conceffipns to thef pfeopk of Leinfter j but
thfe'pkrty of Tiiilogh^v^ais now too £&6rig in Mmifter^ohe iajured
t)y ' ilKefe ckfc^ions, 'Donogh made obe: efforJl} flaore to expel his
«ephcw <he prdtittcc. 'He collededall his foi^^j and, at the fopjt

*b63 of Ardagh mottatain, engaged the army of Turlagh^ and received
a complete overthrow. Thefe repeated defeats^ his advanced
'a^e, the %aurder of his bvother,; and . the injuries be did his. uq^
phew, began to opprefs him. ReKgioe js theooly rdburce.for
the guilty , arid fdr thte unfiwtmifttei »n4 this pcjinted putto Do-
tiogh to make all the atonement he cOu}d. To his nephew he
peaceably furrendered the crown of Munfter; and, as fome exp
piationfor fratricide, he went oaa; pilgrimage to- Rome, wlierp

1064 hc^ titolt on him a religious hahit, iothf? nfconaftery of St. Stephen,

• Bakcr'a Chronicle, Rapin, ToL i. p. 1^3.

HISTORY OF IRELAND^ 289

In which he remaiaed to his death, which happened fome years A.C,
after, in the eighty-eighth year of his age.

The Bruodiix "Chronicle aflGirms — and tradition has it — that
from this prince Donogh three, noble families are defcende^i
fuppofed to be of foreign extradion ; namely, the Powers, the
PlunJcetSj and the'Euftaccs. Dr. Keating, miftaking the relationt
denies the hGt. For he fuppofes, that it had been aflerted that
Donogh, after his arrival at Rome, had this iflue ; a thing he
juftly ohfcrves, io^^joffible in hif adv^ijpccd ftageof life. It was
by the pr>»cefe Driella be had a fon nailed Domhnal, ** a re-
** uowned hefo^ fay o^c biftorijjfi^, bat of wholje poiierity we
** have no p^rfedt accounts/* But it is reafonable to fuppofe,
thaf: as a ^adet, on the ne^reaX of his father^ he ijepalred to Britain^
where his pofterity might aflume thofe different names y and as
the Bruodins were the acknowleged hereditary hirtorians of the
O Briens, great cfcdit is due to their r^lation^, efpedally in the
article of genealogy. It has been aflerted, that on Donogh 's
derelidlion of Ireland, he carried with him the crown, which he
laid at the feet of the then pope, Alexander II. and this is of-
fered as one proof, , that the donatian of Adrian IV. was valid.
But admitting that he furrendered his crown to the fee of Rome,
it is evident that it could not be the imperial crown, becaufe he
was neither eleded nor crowned monarch. It could not be the
crowu of Leath-Mogha, as from unerring records it appears,
that he peaceably furrendered that to his nephew ! But let us
for once fuppofe, what was not the cafe ; namely, that Donogh
made a formal tender of the crown of Ireland to this pope ;
could he or his fucceflfors, from this donation, found any kind
of claim, whatever to the fovereignty of Ireland ? Could an exile,
an ufurper, as he undoubtedly was, transfer to any other a power,
Vol. II. P p which

290 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. which he had already furrendered to the legal proprietor ? But
for argument fake^ let us admit him to be acknowleged as mo-
narch in the fuUeft fenfe of the word, and that in this charader
he made a formal furrender of his crown and dignity to this pope,
or to any other prince— ftill, by the laws of Ireland, the moment
of his death put a 'period to his delegation. X>{ the truth of
this we are furnifhed with a proofs fo late as the reign of
Elizabeth.

John O'Neill was queftioned, for refufing the title of earl of
Tirone, granted to his father and his fucceflbrs ; and he anfwer-
ed, " that no aft of his father, except confirmed by the eftates of
** Ulfter, could be binding on his fucceflbrs. That the title of
'* O'Neill was to him fuperior to any other, and that only he
♦* would take *."

* Camden Annal. Rer. Aiigl. & Hib. Regn. Eliz. p. 78.

CHAP,

HIST OR Y O F I R E L A N D. 291

AX.

CHAP. III.

Of Dermodf nominal monarchy and his exploit s^'^ Turlogh 11.
monarch— ^receives hojlages from different provinces^ but is de^
feated in Uljler^^appoints his f on governor of Dublin^ and pre-'
vents commotions in Conaught—'his tranfaSlions with fome Ulfter
princes— ^eath and charaSler—^Mortoghy king of Leath^Mogha^ .
affumes the title of monarch — receives the fubmijjions offomepro*
vinces — wars with Uljler — badconduSi of his brother— ^are recon-^
died — a continuation of his wars— a reconciliation between him and
the Vltonians— further accounts of the exploits of Mortogh—dedi^
cates the city ofCaJhellto the church-^ death of this prince ^ and
his great antagoniji Domhnal, prince of T*yrconneL

SINCE the death of Brien Boirumhe^ we have feen how
flagrantly the conflitution was violated ! No convention of
the eftates at Tara, no eledion of a monarchy no generous at*
tempt whatever, to reftore dignity and weight to the national
laws ! Malachie was contented to be declared monarch by the
eftates of Meath only; and Donogh, confcious of his crimes^
dared not to meet a national aflembly. By this means every
feudatory prince formed on independent intereft, and it was not
his wifli to be eclipfed by another. In this confuftoo, and to
preferve a conQfteficy in the hiftory, the antiquarians have con*
ildered the prince of the greateft power, as the nominal monarch
of the day. In this light fome have viewed Dermod, king of
Leinfter *, becaufe, in conjundion with the king of Conaught,

* Grat. Luc. p. 81. Ogygia, p. 437^

P p 2 he

29* H I S T O R Y O F IRELAND.

AC. he reduced the power of Munfler, and obliged Donogh to re-
1064 linquifli that crown to the lawful heir. He after this affifted ia
crufliing a rebellion, raifed by Murchad, the fon of Donogh,
He compelled the king of Conaught to give him hoftages j and
the people of Meath and Dublin paid him tribute. The continue
ator of the Annals of Tigernach affirms, that the Welfti and the
Hebrides, were his tributaries alfo. In the beginning of February
1072, he again entered Meath, but was defeated on the 7th of
of faid month by Connor, the fon of Malachie, king of that pro^
vince, with great flaughter^ in the bloody battle of Odhbha, he
himfelf being amongfl the (lain.

Though Turlogh, the fon of Tiege, fon to the immortal Brien,
has been placed as nominal monarch, after his uncle ; yet, as it
appears evidently, that to the king of Leinfler he owed his ele--
vation, and that, during his reign, this prince's power and military
glory far eclipfed that of Turlogh, I have placed him next ia
order to Donogh. But on his death, in 1072, Turlogh certainly
was the moft potent prince in Ireland, and had the faireft claim to.
that title.
1072 From this time we date Turlogh, Righ go Freafabhra, or no*-
minal monarch of Ireland ; and this will reconcile the accounts
of antiquarians, witli refpeft to the length of his reign ; fome
jpaking it twenty*-two years, others allowing him but fourteen *•
For thofe who have placed him in the white list, immediately
on the refignation of his uncle, are right in allowing him a reign
of twenty-two years ; but thofe who have arranged him after
the above Dermod, cannot be cenfured for cutting oflF eight
years from this period. The firflf public ad of Turlogh,. was to
to raife the power of Munfter, with which he marched into Lein-
fter, receiving homage, and takipg hoftages from the different

♦ Grat* Luc, p^Sa.

; princes

HISTORY O F 1 R E L A N D. 293

princes and chrefs. His army halted at Kilmainhim, and here «
the Dani(h chiefs and magiftrates waited upon him in form ; and
. as the other tributary princes did they kneeled, and each put his
.hands into thofe of Turlogh, which implied^ that their power
was for the future to be employed by him. After this he entered 1073;
the city with great fplendor ; the gates being thrown open, the
keys were prefented to him, and he was acknowleged as their fo-^
vereign. He confirmed the former governor and magiftrates in
their diflperent pofts; and from thence proceded to Meath, to
receive hoftages and punifh Murrogh O'Mealfachlin, for the in-
human murder of his brother Connor, king of that territory.
After this, he returned to his palace of Cin-Corradh, where he
was received as king of Leath-Mogha, in the moft extenfive
meaning of the word*

In 1075, he marched an army into Coriaught, and received
homage and hoilages from Roderic O'Connor, king of the pro-*
vince, from O'Rourk, prince of Breffni, from OJ^eily, O'Kelly,
Mac Oermod, and others* From thence he proceded to Ulfter
on the fame errand ; but his troops were fcverely handled by the^
Ultonians. However, under (landing that Godfrey, governor of
Dublin, gave early, intelligence to the king of Ulfter of his de-
figns, and even privately affifted him ; on his return he baniflied
him the kingdom, and appointed his own fon Mortogh, governor
of Dublin, and the territory of Fingal, in his ftead. TheCona-
dans, encouraged by the checks which Turlogh received in Ulfter,
were preparing to fliake off the yoke ; but he receiving timely in- 1076*
formation of it, fuddcnly invaded that province, furprifed, and
made a prifoner of king Roderic, who on the moft folemn affur-
ances, and the receiving of frefli hoftages for his future good
behaviour, he releafod fron\ his captivity.

In 1079, Dunlcvy, king of Uladh, applied to Turlogh for 107^,
fuccours,.to rein ftate him in his dominions, from which he had

294 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. been expelled. He fupplied him with a good body of men, by
vrhofe affiftancc the malcontents were defeated. This fame year
he fent his fon Dermod into Wales, with a powerful navy, who
laid wade the country, and returned with confiderable fpoils.
O'Mealfachlini attended by thearchbifliop of Cafhell, in 1080,
waited on Turlogh, at his palace in Limeric, (fince then a rao-
naftery, and now the cathedral church), and got his pardon for
the murder of his brother, and was received into favour. In
1082, Dunlevy, king of Uladh, with his'^principal nobility waited,
on Turlogh in Limeric, to thank him for the recovery of his do-
minions, and to do him homage as his chief. Turlogh difmifled
them with great marks of royal munificence ; there being diftri-
buted amongft them, by his orders, a thoufand cows, a hundred
and twenty cloaks of diflferent colours, according to the quality
of the people, forty ounces of gold, with fwords and bucklers,
^c. In 1084, being on a royal tour, 0*Rourk made a fudden
irruption into Thomond, burned and plundered Killaloe, Tuam-
Greine, SeariflF, and Magh-Neo, (then flourifliing cities on the
banks of the Shannon, now fcarce retaining the traces of vil-
lages !) and returned to BrefFni loaded with fpoils ; but Turlogh
had his revenge, for the forces of O'Rourk were cut off and
himfelf flain, foon after, by the troops of Munfter.

This generous and intrepid prince had long laboured under a
chronic diforder, which at length deprived him of life at Cin-Cor-
radh, in the feventy-feventh year of his age, in the month of July,
and year after Chrift io86. He has been placed high in the lift of
fame by our writers, not fo much for his fuccefs and intrepidity
in war, (in which he appears to have been very fucccfsful), as
for hisjuftice,his humanity, his piety^ and love of his country.
His coufin Murchad, in the fecond year of his reign, raifed a for-
midable rebellion in Thomond, which, with great lofs of blood
only was fuppreffed, and he obliged to take refuge in Conaught.
1 In

t
#

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 295

In fome years after he returned, and was the caufc of frefli out* ^.C.
rages, yet the only punifhment infliSed by Turlogh, was to
afllgn him ample pofTeflions in Cuonagh and Aharia, in the
county of Limeric, which his pofterity enjoyed for many gene-
rations. He ihewed the fame humanity to other delinquents,
and framed a fet of laws^ much wanting and highly applauded
in thefedays. The fame of the fplendor, power, and juftice o£
this prince, was not confined to Ireland. St. Lanfranc, arch«
bifliop of Canterbury, addrefled a letter ** To the magnificent
** Turlogh, king of Ireland;" in which he praifes God for his
blefTmgs to the Irifli nation, in granting them a prince of his*
piety, moderation, add equity, to rule them ♦.

Turlogh had by his queen Saibh, daughter to the king of Def-.
mond, four fons; Ticge, who died foon after his father at Cin-
Corradh ; Mortogh, who was his immediate fuccefibr ; Dermody
who fucceeded him ; and Donogh, flain in Meath.

Immediately after the death of Turlogh, his foa Mortogh was
proclaimed king of Leath-Mogha, and is ranked next among jhe
monarchs of Ireland. But to infure his power, we find the firft. loSfr
public ads of his reign, were to banifli his brother Demaodt and
to lead an army into Leinfter, to receive the homage of that peo-
ple. Godfrey, the former governor of Dublin, in whofe place
Mortogh had been placed by his father, had. refumed the com*
mand of that city in his abfence ; but hearing he was fo near,
again fled beyond fea, and Mortogh appointed his el4e(l fon>
Domhnal, to that charge.

Having thus gained the fovereignty of Leinfter and Meath, he
entered U liter in an hoftile manner, and compelled the petty chiefs
to pay him tribute ; but Domhnal, prince of Tyrconnel, being 1087
« a warlike and enterpriiing prince, embraced this opportunity, to

* UiTer. Epift. Hib« Syllog. Ep. xxvil.

caufe

296 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. caufe a diverfiion in Munfter, being invited fo to do by Dermodt
brother to Mortogh. His army proceded through Conaught,
which country paid him homage. The palace of Cin-Corradh
he laid in aflies ; and amongft his prifoaers, were 150 of Mor-
togh's houfhold troops, with three of their principal commanders ;
namely, the fons of O'Kennedy, O'Hogan, and OXinihe. Li-
meric underwent the fame fate with Cin-Corradh, as did other

1089 towns of lefs note ; and Dofaihnal returned to (Jlfier, loaded with
trophies and fpoils.

If laying wade a country, and impoTerifliing its miferable,
though innocent inhabitants, may be called fatisfadlion, Mor*
togh had this ; for he forcibly entered Ulfier, laying waile the
country, deftroying its towns, and lerelling the palace of Aghle
with the duft. His brother Dermod was a very for midable ene*

X090 my, on account of the party he had in Munfter. We fee. the
third of ambition and retenge fuperfede every other confideration
in him ; and with aftoni(hment we behold this prince mean
enough to accept the command of the Conaught nirry^ and faafe
enough to convert that force to the ruin of his own counU'y.
For with it he fcoured the coafts of Munfter, making fudden
landings in different places, and plundering the country. Some
time after , the archbifiiops of Armagh and Munfter, with feverai

TO$3 other dignitaries, tnterpofed their good offices, by Which means
the brothers became reconciled. Mortogh pafled a general a^
of amncfty for aH paft offenfes whatever ; and Dermed felemnly
fwore in the prefence of the clergy, " by thejiaff of St. Patrick^
** and by alt the holy relics of Ireland^* to behave as a dutiful
brother and fubjcft, for the remainder of his life. In 1094, Mor-
togh again invaded Leinfter and Meath ; defeated t&e forces cf
O'Connor Failge, or FaKa, and made him prifoner. -He after
this attacked the Meathians, and flew Donald O'Maolfeachlin,

2 king

Ir'

HISTORY OFIRELAND. 297

' lang of Tara, Whofe territorJIs he afterwards divided between his A.C.
two brothers.

Next year he encamped in the center of Conaught for above 1095
two months ; and the Shannon was covered by his fleets, with
which he fubjeded all the neighbouring flates ; but Domhnal was
his moft formidable enemy, yet moftly on the defend ve. Though
Mortogh had three feveral times invaded Ulfler ; and though
with a numerous and well appointed navy^ his land operations
were always feconded, yet the advantages he gained were very
inadequate to his lofles and expences. Frequently the clergy in-
terpofed their good offices, and ftrove to reconcile thefe contend-
ing chiefs ; but their amity was neither lading nor fincere. In
1099, with a mighty army Mortogh invaded Ulfter, and was met 109^
bn the plains of Muirthelmhne, in the county of Down, (fo me-
morable for the defeat and death of the famous Cucullin, fome
time before the incarnation) by Domhnal, with the whole power
of Ulfter. The armies on both fides were arranged, waiting for
the fignal to engage ; when, happily, the fuccefTors of St. Patrick
and St, Ailbe, (i. e, the archbiihops of Ardmagh and Caflxell),
with feveral other dignitaries, threw themfelves between them,
and by their exhortations, their prjiyers, and their entreaties, a
folid and lafting peace wasi made. By tl]is peace, Domhnal was
acknowleged as king of Leth-Cuin, fays Giolla-Moduda, a cele-
"brated -antiquarian, and contemporary; and Mortogh, king of
Leath-Mogha ; but to me it is clear, that this laft referved to
'himfelf the nominal title of Ard-Righ, pr monarch. By his bra-
very, conduct:, and prudence, Mortogh became highly eftceined
by the neighbouring fiates, who fent ambafladors to congratulate
him on his vidlories. St. Anfelra, fucceflbr to Lanfranc, in the
fee of Canterbury, fome time after his confecration, addrefled his
letter •* To Mortogh, the magnificent king of Ireland,*' in which
Vol. 1L Q^q he

^g% HISTORY OF IRELAND,

AC. he paya high compliments to his pruoence, fortitude, and juftice *r
Some time after, the eflates of Man, and the adjacent ides, fent
ambafladors to this prince, requeuing he would grant them an
able and prudent governor to rule them, till their king came of
age f. In the faid chronicle it is alferted, that Magnus, king
of Norway and Man, fome time after, fervt ambafladors to Mor*
togh^ requiring, as a mark of vaflfalagei that he (hould publickly
on Chriftmas-day» carry his (hoes on his (houldcrs, which the
other meanly complied with, rather than expofe his country to
frefli infults ; and yet neverthelefs Magnus, with a mighty fleet,
invaded the country^ being allured fo to do, from the report of
its great fertility and riches. But Dr. Warner, (as would every
other man of fenfe), thinks it impoffible, that a prince of Mor-
togh^s high blood, could ever be brought to fubmit to fuch mean-*
nefs ; and the Bruodin Chronicle puts it beyond quellion. For
that valuable record tells us, that a Danifh prince did fend fuch
a meflage to Mortogh, who ordered, in the prefence of his court,
their ears to be cut off, and to inform their roafter, that fuch was
his anfwer to fo infolent a demand. Th^ barbarian, highly in-
cenfed, prepared with a large fleet and a confiderable body of
land forces to invade Ireland ; but Mortogh being informed of
the place of their intended defcent, waited with a feled body
of troops, which foon attacked, cut to pieces, or otherwifc dif-
perfed this formidable banditti |. This happened in the year

IIOI.

After this reconciliation and the above defeat, thefe rival princes
lived in peace and harmony, and feemed greatly ftruck with the
ravages and diftrefles their wild ambition had involved the nation

• Uflier. Epift. Hibern. Syilog. Ep. xsxn. t Camden Brit. fab. fin.

t Dc Regibtti Hibern. p. 933.

in.

HISTORYOFIRELANa 2^9

in. Both became great penitentg, and laboured by adis of piety A.C
and charity^ to obliterate their former crimes. In 110I9 Mor*
togh convened the eftates of Munfter at CafhelU with all the
biOiopsof Leath-Mogha; and he there, with thvir consent^
alienated for ever that city from the crown of M under, dedicating
it to God> to St. Patrick, and St. Ailbe, and affixing it to the
diocefe of Cafliell. Mortogh being in a declining ftate of healthf
in 1 1 16 folemaly renounced the crown of Munfler, in favour of
his brother Dermod, and retired to the monaftery of St. Carthagh
at Lifmore, where he lived with great piety and aufterity, and
died the 3d of March 1 1 19, and was buried with great funeral
pomp at Killaloe. In like manner, feme time before his death,
Domhnal entered the monaftery of St. Columba at Derry, where
he died A, ii2i| in his feventy- third year. Colgan gives him
a very high charadler, both for the graces of his mind and body,
as well as for his juftice, liberality, and humanity.— Mortogh had
three fons — Domhnal, who he appointed governor of Dublin,
and who in 1 1 18 embraced a monadic life ; Mahon, who was
anceftor to the Mac Mahons of Corca^Bhaiforgin j and Kennedy,
of whom no further mention is made.

Q^q 2 C H A K

300

A.C.

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

CHAP. IV.

Council of Fiadh- Mngufa^Jiate of the church of Ireland^ its pri^
vileges^ and the great power of its metropolitans — reformations
wanting in it — the fir fl infiance fince the days of Patrick, of a
legate^ with powers from Romcy prefiding at a council of Irijh
bijioops — adts of this council y with a remarkable prayer — writers
of the eleventh century.

WE have given a remarkable Jnftancc of the piety and mu-
nificence of Mortogh, in his prevailing on the eftates
of Munfter to unite with htm in conveying for ever to the
church of Cafhell that ancient city, the royal refidence of the
Munfter kings for fo many centuries, and which was fo called
from Cios-Ol, the place of tribute^ as here the regal revenues
were paid in, every May and November. . Befides this, in 1 1 1 8,
Mortogh by his royal proclamation convened a fynod of the
clergy, to meet atFiadh--£ngufa, or Aongus*s Grove, inMcath.
In this fynod, which continued by adjournment for fome years,
many ufeful reforms were made in the church of Ireland, For
firft, it is certain, that bifhops were multiplied amongft us at the
will of the metropolitan, and often without any fixt places bf
refidence ; fecondly, the power of nominating bifhops to certain
diocefes, was referved to certain royal and noble families in the
different parts of the kingdom, and to them only; thirdly,
though the church of Ireland, was in exadl conformity with that
of Rome, in the doctrines of faith, and fubmitted to her decifions

HIST'OtR'Y of IRELAND. 301

ia maay inftances of difcipline, »s.ia the tonfure, tbe celebrating A C«
of Eafter, &c. yet it does not appear, that the popes ever enjoyed
any dired): power or authority whatever over that church. We
have feen briefs and letters direded to the Irifh bifliops \ but I
cannot find^ that they deemed themfelves fchifmatics, when they
thought fit to refufe the decifions of Rome, as they did for more
than two centuries with refpedt to the feaft of Eafter ; fourthly,
in fome inftances bifhops had been married men j but no proofs
W'hatever can be produced that the popes nominated to biOiop-
ricks amongft us ; and fifthly, it appears evidently, that the Irilh
bifhops enjoyed no exclufive privileges whatever ; though
Columba formerly ftrongly contended for the church's being an
afylum. On the contrary, the Irifh clergy were fubjeft to tem-
poral laws, and temporal taxations. They were obliged in per-
fon to attend the royal ilandard ; and I take it for granted,
that, as foedal lords, they were obliged to bring a certain quota of
troops into the field alfo. Yet, with all this, in no part of the
world were the clergy more refpedted ; but to the exemplary lives
they lead, they owed this. Synods and councils they held from
time to time, to correct abufes in the church, but the archbifliop
of Ardmagh conilantly prefided as patriarch, and their decifions
were for near two centuries received in England, and until the
twelfth century in Scotland.

Such in miniature was the ftate of the Irifh church and its
privileges, which I have with no fmall labour and reading ex-
tradled from our moft authentic records, ecclefiaftical as well as
civil ; and which I judged highly neceffary to^be laid before the
reader, the better to underftand the fubfequent parts of our hif-
tory. From this account it will appear, that reformations were
wanting in ecclefiadical difcipline.

The Irifli archbifhops, particularly him of Ardmagh, from the
days of St* Patrick, affumed a power of confecrating bifliops, not

4 only

302 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. dnljr for Ireland, but for the neighbouring ftates. TheVener-
able Bede, in different parts of his Ecclefiaftical Hiflory of Bri«
tain, is as clear in this as words can exprefs it, with refped: to
the Saxons. It is alfo evident that they confecrated bifhops for
the miffions in France, Germany, &c. and in Scotland, till the
end of the twelfth century, the Irifli confecration only was
known. By this power they increafed the nun^ber of bilhops
at home at pleafurej but whatever neceflity there might be
for it formerly, it now became a burthen to the flate, and de«-
manded an abridgment. It was alfo ufeful to religion and good
difcipline, that the right of nominating to bifliopricks (hould be
altered, fince, by the mode inufe, the hierarchy was moflly con-
fined to certain fepts in the diflFerent parts of the kingdom, and
the refpedl due to religion feemed to require a relaxation of the
temporal laws with refpcd tothe clergy. Celfus, or Celeftin, was,
at this time, the fucccffor to St. Patrick, a prelate of great eru*
dition," of unfeigned piety, and of a moft exemplary life» Mad
Jofa O'Duncen was archbifliop of Munfter, of a moft edifying
life and converfation ; and almoft all the bi(h6ps were highly
eminent for their fandtity and learning.

Under fuch a prince as Mortogh, and influenced by fuch
prelates as the above, great matters were cxpeded, and much
good was done. Pope Pafcal II. had frequently importuned
Mortogh to call a nationall council ; and he appointed Gilbert of
Limeric, his legate, to prdfide in It. It is the firft inftance we
read of, fmce the days of St. Patrick, of a legate from Rome
prefiding over a council of Irifli bifliops ; and this, with the
prefence of the monarch and chiefs of the land, brought a great
conflux of the clergy. At this council were aflembled no lefs a
number than fifty bilhops, fifteen mitred abbots, three hundred
and fixty priefts, and near three thoufand regulars. As mat-
ters of much importance were to be here dcbiUed^ great caution,

tirne^

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 303

time, and delibcrsition were neceffary. From ancient writers • •
calling the place of meeting fometimes Fiadh-JEngufa^ at other
times Uifneach, and Rath-Brefail, later ones have imagined
that there were three difFerent councils, and called at different
places ; but a knowlegc of ancient topography will explain this.

Uifneach was in the center of Meath, and here, in the days of
Druidifm, was'the grand temple of Bel. It was ereded in the
middle of a large grove, as all Druid houfes were : this grove
was called Fiadh-JEngufa, and a fort adjoining it, called Rath-
Brefail. In this place the monarch, the princes, and the clergy
met; and, amongft other regulations, the following were una-
nimoufly agreed and fubfcribed to. — i. The clergy were, for
the future, to be exempt from public taxations and temporal
laws ; and, whatever they contributed towards the fupport of
the ftale, was to be by way of free gift. 2. The archbifliops
refigned the right they derived from St. Magoiiius, the patri-
cian, or (as he is generally called) St. Patrick, of confecrating
bifliops at pleafure. 3. The number of bifhops in Ireland, for
the time to come, was to be limited to twenty- eight, but without
encroaching on the- rights and privileges of the prefent biihops.
Of thefe twelve were to be under the fee of Leth-Cuin or Ard-
magh, twelve under that of Leath-M ogha or Cafheil, and two
in Meath ; thefe lad at the appointment of the monarch. 4.
The rights in fpirituals, over all Ireland, was confirmed to the
fee of Leth-Cuin, and the archbifliop of Gifhell prefided over
Leath^Mogha. A furvey of the church-lands was taken ; and
and the lands and extent of jurifdidion of the future bifhopt
was fettled with great precifion. We find no mention made of
the archbifliops of Leinfter or Conaught in this celebrated council.

After fubfcribing to thefe, and many other regulations of
lefs confequence, the following prayer was added—** The blefT-
f ^ iDg of the Almifhty^ and of St. Peter^ and St. Patrick, and

«• of

304 H^ I S T O R. Y OF I R E L A N D*

A.C. n of tj^^ reprefentcr of St. Peter's £bcceflbr, the legate Giplla
*^ Afpuig, bifliop of Lomeneach^ of Ccallachf St. Patrick's
*• fucceffor, of Maol-Jofa Mac Aiamhire, archbilhop of Leath-
'^ Mogha, and of all the biihops, nobles^ and clergy in this
** holjr fynod of Rath-Brefail, aflembled, light upon, . and re-
*' main with all who fliall approve, ratify^ and obferve thefc
** ordinances."

^ O^Maolconry was a celebrated ^poet and antiquarian of the
eleventh century. We have yet preferved a chronological poem
of his, beginning with th? monarch Logaire, A.. C. 428, and
ending in the year 1014.

An anonymous writer of the hiftory of the archbifhops of
Muttfter, and church of Cafliell, is placed by Colgan in this
century, as it is brought down no lower than the year 1017*.

The author of the Anala^ ar Chogaibh Eirion, who I take
for granted to be the famous antiquarian Mac Liag, lived alfo in
the eleventh age ; becaufe he clofes his work with the abdica-
tion of Doaogh, A. C. 1064; and yet, as hiftoriogr^pher to
the immortdl JBrien, we flxould be apt to conclude that he could
ttot live fo long ; and that the continuation of this work, after
the death of Brien, mufl: be by fome other hand.

Dubdaleth, archbilhop of Ardmagh, wrote the annals of
Ireland to 1021 ; as alfo the hiftory of his predeceflbrs in that
fee to his own times f.

The celebrated Mariamis Scotus floin'iQied in this century^ and
was as eminent for his uncommon aufterity and piety, as
for his great erudition andknowlege of the facred writings. Of
all his numerous ^wocfcs, his Chronicon Univerfale holds the
the firft place in public dlim»tion» Sigebert, of Gcm^blours,
fays of himj, " That, without coraparifon, he was the moft

• Aa. San£l. Hib. p. 5. c. iv. f Trias Thaumat. p. 298, col. ii.

X "Writers of Ireland, fol. 66. ^ .

•* learned

*' learned man of his age ; an excelleht hiftorian, % famous ^'C-
^' mathematician^ and a folid divine.'* The writer of a Qiro-
nicle^ in the Cotton Library, carried from the incarnation to
the year 1181, under the year 1028^ fs^ys, *^ This year Ma*
*' rianus Scotus, the Irifh chronographer, was born, who wrote
** the Chronicle of Chronicles f,'' Walfli feems guilty of a great
anachronifm in deckritig the prefetit Matianus tb be the preceip*
tor to AdHan IV. fbr in 1052 he embraced the monaftit life,
and in 1 056 retired to Get-many, Where he lived nidftly? recltife
to his deatA, which happened in i696 ; whereat Adrian wks ad-
vanced to the papacy in 1 154, fixty-eighf years after the death
of Marianus * 1

Gllda Ck>amhain is placed by moil writers in thef prefent age j
but, I think, with great impropriety ; for he brings his hif-
tory no further than the reign of Loagaire, which work Gilda
. Moduda reftuned, and carried on to the death of Malachie IL

Tigernach O^Braoin, fucceflbr to St. Ciaran, or abbot of
Cluan-Mac-Noia, and who died in the year 10S8, wrote a chro-
nicle from the eatlieft period, which he brought down to his
own times. This work is highly efteemed ; and an anonymous
writer has carried ir on to the feventeebth century.-

Maol Jofk OTBrblchain, i rtligious of gfeat fet)Ulatibft for
{andlty and letters, is faid to be the author of many visilaable
pieces ; but their titles are not fpecified. The Annals of Du*
negal declare him to be among' the firft dbdors and. writers of
Ireland.

Errard, fecretary to Malachie, king of Meath, is faid^ by Col-
gantohave been a profound antiquariutl, and thef author of
fome antiquities ; and Maol-Jofa O'Stuir^ is mentioned aB an
excellent philofoj^her, and to have Wrote fome physical trads.

t De Britaa. Ecdell Prim. p. 735. * ProfpeA of IreTand, p. 448.

Vol. ir. R r CHAP.

3o6 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C.

CHAP. V.

Turlogh nominal monarch — charaSler of Connor O' Brien'—'toars
ofthefe princes— ^ffembly of Tailtean — Turlogh invades Munjier
byfea and land^Connor unites his brothers, and, in his turn,
invades Conaught'---^re turns the next year^ and brings immenfe
fpoilsfrom TJlJler and Conaught'^^death andcharaSier of Connor
O'Brien — Turlogh O'Brien proclaimed king of Munjier — policy
of Turlogh^ the monarchy in dividing Munjier— invades that
province^ and is defeated — returns the next year-^-Jatal battle of
Mon^Moir — Turlogh refigns the crown of Munjier^ and retires to
the North'^'is rejiored to his crown by the ' king of Ulfter^^edth
and character of Turlogh O^Connor — a moral reJleSHon.

TURLOGH, t^ie fon of Rodcric O'Connor, king of Con-
aught, is placed next on the lift as nominal monarch of
Ireland. Sir James Ware, and others ♦, think, that the fac-
tious parties in the land were fo counterpoifed, that, for feven-
XI 19 teen years after the death of Morrogh, no prince was powerful
enough to aflume this title ; yet it was agreed that Turlogh was
fo faluted (at leaft by his own fdbjeds) immediately after Mor*
rogh.

He was fon to Roderic, king of Conaught, and twenty- third
in defcent from Eochaidh Moighmheodin, monarch of Ireland
in the fourth century, and the firft of this branch of the Here-
monian line, who, iq that long interval, from kings of Con-

• Ogygia, p, 439.

aught

g9m\

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 307

aught had aflTumed the title of monarch. In times of fadion ^'^•
and turbulence, like the prefent^ where the eftates were not con-
trened to proceed to a regular eledion, or the parliament of
Tara aflembled to corred: national abufes, every thing was de-
termined by the fword. Connor O'Brien, called Slaparfalach,
or of the Spattered Robe, the fon of Dermod, laft king of Leath-
Mogha, and nephew to Mortogh the Great, fucceeded his father
A. D. 1 1 20, and pofieiTed all thofe qualifications which are
generally fuppofed to con dilute the hero. He was as ambitious
for obtaining the monarchy as Turlogh, and as little fcrupulous
as to the ways of attaining it. Turlogh may be with propriety
flyled king of Leth-Cuin, as he was the moft powerful chief in
that diftrid, and, for the fame reafon, may Connor be called
king of Leath-Mbgha.

Two powerful princes^ of oppofite interefts, muft neceflarily
become enemies^ and fuch were there thefe. Dermod, the father
of Connor, fome time before his death, invaded Conaught, and
laid the country under military execution ; and this compliment
Turlogh returned the fecond year of Connor's reign, by marching 1121
his army to Ca(hell and Lifmore, &c. and forely diftrefling the
people ; but the Mamonians attacked them on their retreat»
near Ardfinan, difperfing their army with great daughter of
very many of its chiefs/ among whom were O'Hcyne, OTla-
herty, O'Lorcan, &c. However, early in November, we find
Turlogh enter Muniler at the head of a more powerful army
than the laft. He remained encamped near Birr till the end of
the January following. But though his troops remained in-
a£tive, yet was not he nor. his minifters. During this interval

. he was labouring to difunite the Eugenians from the' Dalgais,
by reprefenting how long their family had been deprived of

. their right of fucceffion to the Munfter crown. A hint of this
kind was enough to blow up the coals of .diflenfion. Ponogh

R r 2 Mac

8o8 HJfiTOUY OF TflXLAND.

A.c, Mac Qutby^ f^^ ot\u» jEu^ientMi priycM, imflpkCflifitAlf -cnteied

tribe of JPalgaiSf OGnneded aad^noHed, were ftill «i Sorouikkle
hoilf I and ievea. among the£% putici smift be &rfiied. Wbea
Cooaor was prodaioied 'Mug (^Lcath-Mogba, bisseKt brother^
Turlogb^ was declarod king of Tkomood. Tlie king of CSoo-
angbtf f[Hiited up Ti«ge Qle O^Brien^ a yauoger bfotber»
•who feiaediOip him tgr iurprifC) had him ccmTei^d M> the Ob-
AUgltf caiap* aod theceupon uTiaiped hisaklf At title of king
•of TIiqsioimL Tbui did Turlogh O^Coonor^ Vf hia negocia-
tiotts, wkhout the lofs of a man^ more cffirdhiaHy 4liflffef8 his
antagomft than he would haw Asne hf fenxal battles. The
Dalgab were thy thia jneaosdinrided, and -by ippporting Doaogh
Mac Cartby againft bis elder brother Cbraux^ be ibfwed
£inilar diflenficMfts among nhe Eugemaaa.

1I2X Haffiog cot out work enough for the Mamoaiaaa at home, in
ahe mkldie of £ebraary ke decamped fipom 'Birr, and obliged
the LageoiatM, Meatbiaas, and people of Dublin, to deliver up
hoftages to hhn. After this he made great pvqjMiratioQSt^ both
by fea^ind land, to inrade Ulfter, and objfige that gallant moeof

VX23 people toacknowlege his fway* In the fpring of the following
year he catered jljbat promice, at the head of a gallant and well
appointed army, wboTe operatbns were feconded by a il^et of
« bundled and ninety i|»ips» With thele he defeated the different
armies and navies that CTery where oppo(ed him. He fpoiled
TiT'-One and T«-»Connel, and compelled the chiefs of thefe
two great houfts, and thofe of Dal«Airidhe, &c. to fubmit to
his power and ackaowlege lus fway. . .

»-6 |n July, '1 126, the great aflfembly at Tailtean, in Meatb, waa

opened fior the firft time for near a century. It generally lafied

a month, beginning fifteen days before the firft of Auguft, and

iMding theififteemb-of that month, in thia meeting hor£e«racea,

I charioteering.

Hi 8 T O R Y 01? t R E L AN©. , 309
chanotaerine, -touraaments» and-fisats of ame, hurling, and all ^'^

the gymnaftic exercifca^ were e}dlibit«cl with great fpkndor.
DayB .were fet Bpai^t for thefe .Afferent amuiements ; f ewards
were itppointed for the y\&ox% ; and thefe fportB were referted
•to from different parts of Earqpe. From Tailte^ daugliter to
Maghmor, a Spanifh prince, were, they oaHedy by Lnghaidh,
monarch of Ireland, who, to her memory, and in gratitude for
tdie care flie took in his education, inftituted them ; and from
$his prmee the month of Auguft was called Lvghnas, {Lunas)
irom which the Enghfli adqpted the naaae of Lammtfa for the
iifft of Aiiguft.

In the year 1 1 27 Tmlogh coUeded ^A the ^pcwer of Ijeth-Cutn ^ , „
«oiatl upon Munfter. He ^oiSed the Shannon at Alfhlone, and
marched^ without the leaft interruption, as^ar as Cork. At the
the fame time his navy, confiftmg of anhundrcSland ^fty ihips,
wwre directed to ravage <he coafts to draw off ifhe attention of
tlie enemy. Here he was joined by Dcmogh Mac Carthy, and
other Eugenian Princes, and ^n depofed Cormoc, the elder
brot^r, and caufed Donogh to be proclaimed king of Defmond.
Thus Turlogh made Ticge O'Bf icn king of Thomood, and
Donogh Mac Carthy king of Soutfc Munfter, or Dcfinond ; by
which means the power of Connor, king of the entire province^
was much ftreightened. But Connor, having reconciled hia
contending brothers, and ftrengthcned his own intereft, marched g
his army into Defmond, where 0*Suilivan, 0*Donoghoe, O*
Mahony, O'Keefe, O'Moriarty, CFelan, and other Eugenian
chiefs, with Acir forces, joined him. In the interim Cormoc
had retired to the monaftery of Lifmore, from which he was
drawn forth, and a fecond tiiiie faluted king qf Defmond,
whilft D6nogh and his party were banifhed to Conaught. To
avenge this infult Turlogh dhreAed bis navy to fcour the coafts

(Jf

310 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C- of Munfter ; in which expedition they did great mifchief to the
poor expofed borderers and to the country.

Connor having folidly eftabli(hed his authority at home, com-
pelled the Lagenians to return to their duty» and being once
more adual king of Leath-Mogha, with a mighty army he in-
vaded Co naught. Near Athlone he was oppofed by the colleded

1 1 32 forces of Turlogh. A bloody engagement enfued, in which the
Conacians were routed with confiderable daughter. Among the
flain were OTlaherty> and many other perfons of prime .quality;
at the fame time his fleet from Cinqoradh fcoured the adjoining
coafts, and committed great depredations, whllfl, with another
from Cork, he plundered the fea coafts of Conaught.

'^33 The next year he again invaded Conaught, defeated the forces
of Turlogh, and flew Cathal O^Connor, prefumptive heir to the
crown, O'Floin, and other chiefs of eminence.. In 1 134 he attacked
Mac Murcha, king of Leinfter, who favoured the patty of his an-
tagonifl, and gave a moft complete defeat to his army. He now

1134 marched his viAorious troops into* Conaught^ and determined
to fubdue Turlogh or perifli in the attempt ; but the archbifliop
and clergy of Conaught interpoflng their good offices, a peace
was concluded, by which Connor was acknowleged as king of
Leath-Mogha, and Turlogh king of Leth-Cuin, and (I fup*
pofe) with the title of monarch, fiut Connor, we find, did
not, as ufual, difmifs his auxiliaries. He marched, at their
head, into Ulfter, carrying on a war rather of depredation
than conqueft. The people of Tyrone, in this confternation,
had their plate and treafures depoflted in the church of Derry,
and other facred edifices, as places of the greatefl fafety ; and
thefe Connor caufed to be feized. In like manner the treafures
of Tyrconnel, lodged in the cathedral of Raphoe, &c. were
carried ofi^. In Meath he committed the fame facrilegpus ex-
cefles, poflfeffing himfelf of all the treafures of the province,

laid

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 311

laid up in the church of Clonard ; then crofling the Shannon^ A.C.
conveyed to Cin-Corradh whatever he found of public property,
in the abbies of Conga, Eithne, Rofcommon, &c. We ihall
pafs by other incidents of lefs moment to his death, which hap-*
pened in November 11 42, to which time he preferved all the 1142
rights and powers, which had ever been annexed to the fovereignty
of Leath-Mogha, and thofe in as ample a manner as had been
pofleffed by any of his anceflors« He was interred in the cathe-
dral of Killaloe^

Connor was a prince of invincible courage and a gr^at politi-
cian, which made him always find certain refources, when his
affairs Teemed moft defperate. He had been alfo celebrated for
iiis munificence, Uis hofpitality, and piety. He was fo fond of
building and improving, that he got the furname of Ca-
tharach, or of the Cities, on account of the many he founded
and improved ; like wife that of Slaparfalach, or of the Dirty
Robe, as his attention to thefe works was fo great, as often
to have his robes fpattered with the mortar. He is faid to
have been the founder of many churches and monafteries,
but I cannot find their particular names fpeciiied* It is much
more probable, that he rather repaired and reftored fuch as
had fallen to ruin. His piety and munificence in thefe articles,
were not entirely domeftic 5 fince it is ackno^/^leged, in the chro-
nicle of the Trifh abbey pf St. Peter's, at Ratifbon, that he it was
who reftored and repaired this abbey from its foundation ; and
to prove in how mafterly a manner it was done, it is added—
*' The erefting fo fpacious a cloifter, of fuch famous workman-
•* fliip, abounding with ftately turrets, walls, pillars, and vaults,
fo expeditioufly conftrudked, muft be wholly attributed to the
immenfe fums of money and riches furniflied for that pious
end by the king of Ireland, and by other princes of that na-
" tion *.'• Befides this, we find that Connor fent a great num-

• Chron. Monaft. St. Jacob! RatUbob.

> " bcr

31* H I S t O R Y O F I R E 1 A N D.

A.C. ber of noble knights; and otfifer pei^ns^ of quality tb* tlic
Holy Land. They were charged (fays* the above Chronicle), wittt
many rich prefcnts to the emperor Eotfaaritis^ towards defraying^
the expences of the croifades, and they were dh'eded to %hr

under hi^ banners.

1 142 Turlogh, the brother of Connor, wasr proclaimed by the cftates
king of Munfter, immediately after hii? deaths according to the
law of taniftry, by which the uncle or ntxt in b|ood^ to the de-
ceafedy of the greatefl: experience and abilities^ was de&e^ in
preference tb the heir apparent; and' Mortogh, thefon of Con*
nor, fucceeded hi^ uncle, as: king of Thomond. His mother was
Saibh, daughter to O'MfeaUbachlin, kingof Tara.

1 143 Soon after 'furtogh's atoceflion' to the- throne of Munfhfr, he
made a fuccefsful ir)-uption into Conaughr; but the next year his

1 144 own territories were invaded' by Dbnogh IVTac Carthy. Frotii
thence he entered the Dfeafied, where he was feized on by 0*Fla-
nagan, and fent under a flrong guard to Turlogh, who had him
conveyed to the ftrbng fortl'efs of Loch-Goir , in the county of
Limeric, where he foon after ended his days. The great' policy
of Turlogh the monarch confifted* in creating divi (ions ambngft
the Mamonians. He reprefented to the Eugenians, that for near
two centuries, Were they and their anceftors deprived of the right
of fucceffioii tb the crown of Munftcr ; and how mean they
mud appear in public eftimation for fo long and fo tamely fub-
mitting to fuch injuftice. This was what Simulated them in the
reign of Connor, to oppofe him in many inflances. Turlogh, fen-
fible of all this, judged that the fureft means of fupporting.his axL-

thority, was to humble the king of Conaught, by which means the
Eugenians would be lefs fond of (hewing their hoilile intentions.
With a large army Turlogh, in conjundion with his nephew

1145 Morrogh, invaded Conaught, A bloody battle was fought, in
which the Conacians were worded, Roderic OTlaherty, and

other

JV ■

HISTORY O F I R E L A N D. 313

other perfons of note were flain ; and O'Kelly, chief of Hy- A.C.
Maine, with many others were made prifoners. Dermod, the .
ion of Cormoc, late king of Defmond, with mod of the Euge«
nians, were refolved to fupport his claim to the crown of Mun-
iler^ and the monarch Turlogh determined to affifl them with
all his power.

' At the head of the forces of Conaught and Breffni, Turlogh 1150
marched into Defmond^ where he was joined by the Eugenians.
At the foot of Sliabh-Mis, in Kerry, were the combined forces
attacked by thft king of Muiifter, who, after a gallant refinance
ind the lof^ of much blood, obliged them to make a precipitate
retreat. Dermod however colleftcd his fcattered forces, and hav-
ing received coniiderable reinforcements, this fame year entered
the county of Limeric, and received a complete defeat, his en-
tire army being cut oflF or difperfed. Dermod, by his ambafladors,
reprefented to the monarch the diftreflfed fiturfrlbn of his aflFairs, 115*
and daimed a more powerful fupport, than he had yet received.
A council was called, and it was refolved to dethrone the king of

Munfter, coft what it would. He fends expreffes to Leinfter,
to Meath, to BreflFni, and to all his tributaries^ to attend his ftand-
ard early in March ; but whilft thefe formidable preparations
were making, his fon and heir young Roderic, at the heid of a
chofen party, fuddcnly entered Thomond, and, amongft other
exceffes, furprifed, plundered, and fct fire to the palace of Ciiir
cora, ^* the moji Jlately royal edifice in Irelandy'^ fays Tigernach's
continuator. Encouraged by this fuccefs, the imperial army
marched into Munfter, headed by the monarch in perfon, -under
whom were Mac Murcha, king qf Leinfter; O'M^alfachlin, king
of Meath, CRuark, and O'Beilis, princes of Breffni, and many
other chiefs. Dermod Mac Carthy and the 'Eugenians, timmedi^
ately pour in to his afliftance, and the ftate of the Muofter army
fcems very precarious. The mght before the Woody battle of
Vol. IL S a Monmoir,

:,^ HISTORY OF IRELAN-P.

A.C Monmoir, the imperial army had encamped on tbje fide of tha;

Black Water, whilft their opponents, headed by Turlogh and his

gallant nephew, were lodged about Cork. Early next morning

tliefe laft Aiarched to Glean-Mahair, and at Monoioir the two

armies engaged. The imperial troops, as may well be fuppofed,

were much more numerous than their adverfaries ;. yet» amongft,

thefe laft were three Dalgafian brigades, or 9000 men^ whofc

intrepidity and fortitude could be depended on. The engagemi^nt

as ufual began with the projedtioa of Aotiti from flings, with

the difcharge of arrows, of iances, &c. Soon they came to clofe»

when the fword, the battle-*ax, and dagger, expofed a new fi:en^

of carnage ! In battles like this, ftrength and numbers muft

ever prevail. After a long and bloody conflif):, the Mamonians

began to give way on cvntj fide : it was refolved to found a re-

treat; and the Dalgais, whdfe jArovinc^ it was to lead on to the

battle, always claltned the honour of covering the retreat. The

£(M of the gallant Connor, at the head of his brave aiTociatesy op-

pofes their impenetrable column to every attack of the enpmy»

Unacquainted with fear, they could not thiqk of retiring, and

they icorned to afk for quarter. Turlogh, by this means, and the

Mattered remains of his forces, gained time enough to reach Li*

mericy^t with an almoft irreparable lofs to North Munfler.

Vor to effeft this, the generous Morjogh and almoft the entire of

his corps fell in their ranks ; and it may be faid, that the Dalgais

never e£Fe£tually recovered the lofs of that day !

The day after this decifive battle, the monarch marches, to Li-
meric; but Turlogh not choofing to (land a fiege, fubmits to the
conqueror, does him homage, puts hoftages' into his hands, pro-
cures his own liberty by paying down 200 ounces of pure gold>
with many other valuable prefents, and furrenders up his crown.
Hereupon Tiege-Gle was pfodaimed king of Thomond, and
Dermod Mac Carthy king of Defmond ; each to be fupreme in

4 hit

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 315

Bii own territories) and no farther. Tnrlogh) now an exile^ retired A.C.
to the court of Tirone, O'Neill, prince of that territory, received nja
him with fingular honours; a league is formed between the
princes of Uliler, jealous of the overgrown power of the monarchy
and they determine to, reftore the es^ile. The troops of Tirone»
Tyrconnel, Oirgial, &c. aflemble ; and in their march through
M eath, are attacked by thofe of the monarch *, who, after a bloody
conteft, they defeat with great fiaughter of men, befides nine
princes left dead on the field of battle 1 After this> Turlogh is
reinftated in his kingdom, and the eyes c^Tiege-Gle put out^
who retired to the abbey of Lifmore^ where he died in great re«
^ pute for fandlity, in 1 1 54. This fuccefs of the enterprifing prince
of Uliler, encouraged him to make further attempts to reArain
the power of Turlogh O'Connor. He invaded hid territories by
land, and with his navy, composed of his own &'ips, with others 1153
that he had taken into his fervice, from North Britain and the
Orkneys, he fcoured the Conaught feas, and at length compelled
him to pirt hoflages into his hands, as fureties for his peaceable
demeanor for fhe future. The remainder of the reign of Tur-

logh he fpent mbilly in ads of piety and devotion, and died the
I jth of June i J56, in the fiiity-eighth year of his age. By bis
will he ordered that his body ihould be depofited in the church
of St. Ciaran, at CluanMac Noife, clofe to the great altar.

» #

The actions of this reign have been very fuperficially narrated
by Keating and Bruodinus. Grat, Luc. is more detailed, bi)t
without attending to dates, &c. The Scoto-Chronicon, the
Annals df Ttgernach, of Innia-Falen, and the tranflation of the
Book of MunfteV, have, howtever, enabled me to throw the whole
into a clear point of view. From the whoie, it ^ppeai^^ eviderr^,
that Turlogh was nolpnly ft great general* but a profound poli-
..tician, who.fuccftfsfully employed tSiefi dftiereajt tfiler>!ts,jaccording
to eadgencies/ That he pro(e(3!ed tiad^ and .m%Q.ufa(fliU'$^ ^yfl;

S s 2 be

3i6 HISTORY OF t R E L A ISJ d;

A.C. be prefumed, from his rebuilding catifeys arid fepairing tKe
public roads. He threw two fpacious bridges over the Shannon ;
cti6 at Athlone, the other at Ath-Crochta, and one acrofs the.
river Suick. He repaired the cathedral of Tuam, erected there^
a fpacious hofpital, and founded and endowed with great fplen*:
dor a priory in that city, under the invocation of St. John the
Baptift. He augmented the funds of the abbey of Rofcommon,
and founded a new profeflTorfliip of divinity in th€ univerfity of
Ardmagh. He diredted the hoft to be carried with great folem-
nity, attended by many religious, through the kingdom, and after-
wards to be depofited in the abbey of Rofcommoa, in a taber-
nacle of ineftimable value. He prefented to the cathedral of
Cluan Mac Noife, a number of filver crofles, fome curious gold
chalices and goblets, and eredled there a mint. By will he di-
reSed, that all the valuable furniture of his palace, his veflels of
gold and filver, his diamonds and precious ftones, the horfes and
cattle of his domain, his mufical inftruments, and five hundred
and forty ounces of pure gold, with forty marks of filver, fhould
be diftributed amongft the clergy and churches, and he noted
down the proportions to each. Befides, he diredled that his
horfe and arms, with his quiver and arrows, fliould be depofited
at Quan Mac Noife, on account of his Angular reverence for St.
Ciaran.

Thus died the great Turlogh O'Connor, in the higheft eftima-
tion for piety I But fay, ye cafuifts, did he, or his formidable
rival Connor O'Brien, really merit this epithet, fo liberally be-
fiowed on both ? Will the ereding a few churches and monaf-
teries, atone for the immature death of thoufands, and the ruin
of as many more ? Were the objeds of thefe contending princes
to eftablifh peace and fubordination, and reftore to their country
its ancient conftitution ? If thefe were not their views, as we
know they were not, then muft there be fomething extremly

defec«

HISTORYOF IRELAND. 317

dcfedive in the .heads and hearts, and in the education of both ! A-^-
What avails it, that the Chriftian fyfteoi exhibits the moil exalted
notions of morality, that human nature can conceive, if mankind
are not the better for it ? The fame crimes, the fame thirft of
ambition and of empire, that have hurried men to thegreateft ex-
cefles in days of heathenifm, are exhibited in every region and
every age of Chriftianity fince the incarnation ! Turenne in one
morning, had twenty-five villages and two cities of the Palati-
nate fet fire to, and confumed to afhes, and yet was deemed a
prince of great pi«ty and humanity ! It. is faid of the great duke
of Berwick, that he heard two mafies every morning ; and yet, .
after his devotions, we fee he could fit down with great compofure
to calculate the numbers of lives fuch an attack, or fuch a fiege
would coft him I It may be alledged, that Turenne and Berwick
were but fiabje(fi8, bound implicitly to obey the orders of their
prince. This may be a good argument in the Mahometan fyftem,
which enjoins the moft fervile obedience to the commands of
their emperors, but not in the Chriftian, which admits of a free
will. But whil ft. Alexanders and Caefars, the devaftators of coun-
tries, and pcrverters of conftitutions, are exhibited as models for
princes ; whil ft hiftorians feem to dwell with pleafure on fieges
and battles, ftate convulfions, and ftate revolutions, and flur over
the blejQSngs of peace, it cannot be otherwife ! How much more,
enlivening would the defcription of a royal progreffion be, la.
which virtue is called forth from modeft . obfcurity, ihduftry,
cherifhed and rewarded, arts and fciences. protc^ed^ and peace,
and plenty fmiling over the land !

C H A p;

3i8 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C.

CHAP. VI.

Mdrngh ^ffumes the title of Monarch^''^ppofed Jy OXonnof'^fatts
in theiuttle ef Litterluin^-^ate of the Irifh church^^St. Ber^
fiaris charges agaitift this thurch and clergy^ candidly examined
and refuted'^necefjity tf circumfcrihing its power s^^councU of
Kdls-^four archbifbops preferUed mth palls^ with a lift of their
fuffragans.

MO R T O G H O^Niall, the fon of Niall, tlie fon of Loch^
lia, of the royal blood of Tirone, of the pofterity* of Niall

*^S6 the Gran4i and houfe of Heremon, was faluted by his fadion
long before the death of Turlogh, monarch of Ireland i and this
circumftance will reconcile what has been affirmed, that the fa-
mous council of Kells was held in his reign. Soon after the in->
terment of Turlogh O'Connor, we read of Mortogh*s triumph-
antly marching , his army through different territories^ and re-
ceiving the fubmiffions of their feveral chiefs. So expeditious
was he, that after over-running Ulfter, Meath, and Leinfter, we
find him early in the year 1157^ encamped before Limeric, where
the princes of both Munfters, and people of that city delivered
him hollages, and did him homage.

> '57 The young king of CbnaugEt, Roderic, far from fubmiaing
to his authority, or confeffing his fway, bid defiance to his power;
and invading Tirone both by fea and land, defolaled the whoU
country, particularly Inis-Eoghain, with all its coflly buildings

1 1 58 a&d «l9gaat improvements. The next year Roderic invaded

Leinfter

HIST^ORT OF IRELAND. 3»9

Lciaflter and M«4th, and obliged both territories to deUver up ^^^^
hoftages to him. Howwcc, after much blood being fpilt, ia the
year 1 1629 a peace was concluded between thefe princes, hy
which Roderic* 00 delivering of • hoflsiges^ to Mor togh, got the
peaceable poflei&oa of Conaug^tt with fovereignty oyer half the
principality of Meath, which power he ceded to Dermod
O'MealfachUn^ its natural chief) for aa hundred ounces of pure
gold. MortJgh, though in the main of a very religious caft,
yet was violent and impetuous in his temper^ Eochaidh, prince
of Uiida, and his i)eighbour» bad refufed te pay tribute ; and ia
revenge Mortogh entered his territory with an armed hoft, com^
mitting great depredations, and carrying off inany of his vafials.
Through the mediation of the archbi(hopof Ardmagh^ and prince
of OirgiaU a peace was concluded, and Eochaidh received into
grace and favour. The prelate and prince were guarantees of this tL\6$,
peace; and the reconciled chiefs folemniy fwore before the great
altar of Ardmagh, ** By the holy ftaflF of St. Patrick, and by the
** relics of Ireland/' faithfully to obfcrve all the articles of it ;
yet the very next year (for what retfbn we are not told) he
caufed Eochaidh to be ieized, and his eyes put out, and his three
chief confidents to be put to death. The prince of Oirgial highlf*
enraged at fo flagrant a violation of public faith, and at the in«
jury offered to himfelf, who pledged hioifeif to Eochaidh on the
part of the monarch, at the head of 9000 veterans fuddenly
r«fhed into Tirone, laid wade the country, and attacked the
troopfi hadily colleded to oppo(e him. In this engagement^
which our annalifh call the battle of litterimn^ the monarch's*
army was cut to pieces, and he was himfelf found buried imder
heaps of his enemies. '* Thus fell, fay our writeriB, the generous
^ Mortogh,* the mofl intrepid and gallant hero of his day, the or**
^* nament of his country, the thunder-bolt of war, and theHedor

320 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C i* of Wcftcrn Europe ! He was viftor in every battle he fought
'^ except this ; but, forgetting his folemn vows^ he fell a facri-
** ficetojuftice/*

As it is univerfally agreed upon, that it was in the reign of
Mortogh that the famous council of Kells, in Meath, washeld^
in which cardinal Paparo prefided on behalf of pope Eugene IIL
•afnd in which he diftributed palliums tathe IrijQi archbifhops, the
ftate of <tbe Xrifli chiKch, fince the laft general council of Uif*
neach, merits our attention.

In that council great advances were made by the clergy, and
by the national dates, towards acknowleging the abfolute fu*
premacy of Rome ia fpirituals . The archbiihops gave up the
power which their pvedeceiTorS) fince the days of Patrick,
enjoyed and exercifed, of creating bifhops at will : the biihops
agreed to a redudion of their number, and the monarch and
eftates exonerated the clergy, for the time to come, from temporal
laws and.temporal taxations ! Stili more was to be done before
the power of Rome was completely eftablifhed, DiflFerent great
families, having the power of prefentation to bifliopricks, de-
pcrivedthe popes of the full exercife of the power of making the
bilhopS) for the future, to depend immediately upon themfelves.

As this was an affair of the utmofl confcquence to Rome, no
wonder all the artillery of her advocates, both at home and
abroad, (hould be employed to deftroy fo great an obftable to
her ambitious and interelled views. From this caufe, fays St.
Bernard *, ** arofe that univerfal diflblutiou of ecclefiaftical dif-
^*.cipline, that difregard of cenfure, and decay of religion, over
•' all Ireland!" The holy primate Celfus feemed fo fenfible of
this, that, dying, he fent the ftaff of St. Patrick to St. Mala-
ehie, declaring him his fucceflbr in the fee of Ardmagh ; and he

• Opera, p. 1937.

conjured^

HISTORY OF IREL-AND, 321

Hoftjured, by letters and meflages to Mortogh the monarch, and ^.C.
to Domhnal, king of Leth-Guin, that thejr would ufc their in-
fluence and authority to confirm his nomination. ** For (fays
" St. Bernard) a moft pernicious cuftom had been eftabliQicd, by
^* the diabolical ambition of fome men in power, of getting
" poffefRon of the feat of St. Patrick by hereditary fucceffion ;
** nor would they permit any to beeleded biftiops who were not
«* of their own fept and family ; for fifteen biftiops, of the fame
••• blood, liad fucceffively governed this church." The abbot
had, with much more intemperance^ than Chriftan charityt
already given a moft horrid account of the :ftate of religion in
Ireland ; and to this hereditary fucceffion of bifhops be attri*
.buted kll thefe diforders; but he confeffes f that, in the early
days of Chriftianity, Ireland abounded with moft holy sfnd edi-
fying ecclefiaftics ; and yet nothing is more certain than that
ecclefiaftical dignities were hereditary in families, all over the
kingdom at that time, and from that period down to his days ! /;

From this cuftom he alfo dates anotlier flagrant abufe : '^ Hence ^

•* (fays he) a pradice became eftabliflied, unheard-of fince the ^

*• promulgation of Chriftianity, of multiplying- biftiops at the ' I

«* pleafure of the metropolitan.** And yet this alfo was practif-
ed by St. Patrick and by his fucceflbrs, to the great advantage and
increafe of Chriftianity, as Bede and almoft all other early ecclefiaf-
tical writers acknowlege ! Patrick confecrated himfelf no lefs a
number than three hundred and fixty biftiops in his life-time ; and
his fucceflbrs not only confecrated their domeftic biftiops^ but
alfo dignitaries for the Britifti, Gallic, and German miftions I
Thus it appears, contrary to the aflertion of the abbot of Clare-
valle, that, in the days of the higheft fplendor of the Iri(h
church, in thofe days when, by univerfal confent, the country

t Opera, p. 1937.

Vol. IL T t got

3?2 HISTORY OF IRELAND;

A.C. got the title of Infula San^orum, the liierarchy wa(B Act bsAj
hereditary in families, but the fucceiTors of St. Patrick and Sfc»
Ailbe, confecrated bifhops at pleafure ! If then, from the fifth
-to the ninth and tefnth centuries^ when the piety, learnings and
zeiil of the Irifli natibn were fb briiverfally admitted, thefe cu£*
•toms of her churchy far from injuring, highly ferved tlve caufe
of religion ; how account for their producing fo contrary
«n effeS in the twelfth ? Nor was there then ^^ /Aaf um*oer/a/
^' d^oii^ttbn dficcUJiaJiiiaUybtplizz'' in tne IriOi chifrch-, vthioh
^. Bernard affirmed j. fince, -in the enormous volume of Vft
work?, now before tie, of -which the life of St. Malachle is a
part, he acknowfeges, that through the recommendation of hfe
preceptor Imarius, St. Gelaiiu^ brdained Malachie dedccn an4
prieft, *' thodgh he had riot then arrived at the exraft ige pre-
** fcribcfd by the canons, which were then JiriStty obferved^^
that is, twenty-five yeiirs for deacons, and thirty for priefls
orders! For Gelafios himfelf was of the hereditary line of the
fucceiTors of St, Patrick, as was Malachie alfo.

But as this work of St, Bernard's is the grand refervoir from
vfhich all fucceeding defamers of the irifli church and nation
have drawn their authorities and arguments, it neceffarily de«
mands a more critical examination. . St. Magonius, the patri*
cian, was endowed with uncommon privileges, by pope Ce-
leftiuy on his miflion to the Irifh nation, all which he exercifed
in the fulleft manner. After remaining twenty-nine years,
preaching and converting the nation^ he returned to Rome
early in the year 46 1 , to give an account of his miflion to Leo
the Grand, then pope, who received him with diflinguiOied
honours. He remained in Rome near two years, and then re-
turned to Ireland, where he continued till his death. Benignus,
and his fucceflbrs in the fee of Armagh, even in the life- time of

' St. Patrick, exercifed thefe privileges, which feemed peculiar to

the

HISTPRY OrF IR EL A t^ {^.

IrlCh cbuiH:h ; and Patrick biiaielf frequeatl]^ convened fyqo^
and couftcil?) 9X whiab he prefided «8 lpga,te)^ to direA t^e af£ai|i;9
pf the church. Iti3 not particularly. faid» but I think it mull}
be adipittedj that the powers originally granted to St. Patrijck^^
were, on hi» return to l^ome, confirmed to hi^ (ucceflfors ;i
becauf^ we fee them exercifed even in hW own life-time (and he
lived to 493) without the leaft reftraint ; and had they b^en irre^*
gular or ufurped he certainly woul J l^rl^jd theip^ Thus the un«
limited powers of the Iriih archbiflxops were powers they dft^
rived from Rome* and which they employed for the adva];ice«
m«^t of religion only. It is cen^in, npw.th^it all J^nope bo-r
came Chril^iaos^ that this power was top greats and feei^ed to^
ocUpibi in fome meafurcy that of Rome. The IriQi clergy-
were admonifhed on this head ; and we fee, that thirty-^inck
years before St. Bernard wrote the life gf St Malacjbie (i, e. A,
1 i'l I ), they, in full convocation, refigned it, though he adds it
40 the other charges againfi the nation /. We fee alfo, in that
famous council, that they agreed to leflcn the numb^ei: of Irifli.
bi(hops; and St. Malachie himfelf, in 1139, made a furr^nder
•of all the other exclufive privileges of tlje Iriih church to Inno-
cent II. " who was io pleafed, that, after appoiiiting him legate^
«* he placed the mitre that was on his own head, on the head
«« of Malachie, gave him the dole and manipule which he ufcd
«* himfelf at the altar, and giving him the kifs of peace, h^ 6\{'^,
" mifl(?d him with his benedi^ion." St. Malachie, on lii$ re-
turn to Ireland, called fynods in different parts of the kingdom ;
«* and every where, f^ys St. Bernard *, were his counfels and in-
" jiru&ions received , andjubmitied to, as if they had come direStly
•^ from heaven P* Thefe furejy are not marks of a barbarous,
pepple, ChriAi»A9 only in name ! Thus, we fee, at the very

* Divi Bernardi Opera, p. 1944.

T t 2

time

324 H I S T O R Y O F I R E L A N D.

A.C. time Bernard was employed in writing the prefent work, that
Ireland acknowleged the fupremacy of Rome ; but tbt popes,
though they got the power of approving of future Irifli bifliop&y
had not yet that of nominating them ! This was the grand defide*
ratum, and the want of this the fource— " of that univerfal
^* diflblution of church difcipline, and that decay of religion
•* over all Ireland,'* which has been fo confidently affirmed,
though by no means proved. Had the Irifli ecclefiaftics, like
the Saxons in the reign of Alfred, been fo totally ignorant as
not to underfland the Latin ' tongue, or could it be recorded of
them, as we find it In a council held at Oxford, A. 1222, where
the *• archdeacons- are direded to take care that the clergy (halt
'^ rightly pronounce the Formulary of Baptifm, and the wordft-
** of the c6nfecration in the Canon of the Mafs,'* there might
be fdmc, pretence fof fo feverie a charge I

As to the hereditary epifcopal right, it is to be noticed, that,
i& Ireland, aU pofts and public employments whatever, were*
confined' to certain fepts. When Chriftianity fuperfeded Druid-
ifm, thofe great families, who founded bifliopricks, referved the
power of nominating to them to their own blood. Perfons were
fet apart for the clerical fundion, but none were nominated or
ordained who had not given the cleared proofs of pious and
irreproachable lives. Hence the remarkable piety and humility
of the Irifli ecclefiaftics^ proved in every period of our hiftory.
We have but two iriftances where the impetuofity of our ecclefi-
aftics hurried the nation to war, and, both were in defence of
clerical power ; and yet, in both inftances, were their proceed-'
ings condemned and thcmfelves cenfured, though both of the
blood royal, namely, St. Columba in the fixth, and the abbot'
of iniS^Catha, in the- ten^h age! But we have thoufands of:
inftances where they have been indefatigable in their endeavours
to reflore peace and concord between the princes of the land !

■ a As

HISTORY OF iRELANfD. 325

A a to our princes* certain it is, that they were proud^ haughty* ^'^*
an4 ambitiousi fond of war, and ready to decide every conteft by
the fword. But, amidfl all thefe excefTes and ravages, 1 chal-

lenge any nation under the ftm to produce fo few injiances of pro--
fcriptions or deliberate cruelties But to return from St, Bernard.
The privileges exercifed by the Irifh church were, it muft bt
eonfefled> too great, and, held longer, might endanger a fchifm.
It was a wife meafure to reduce them i but we fee it was unjuft
to fuppofe them ufurped, or that " an univerfal diifolution of
«* church difcipline'* was the confequence: it was not; and the
moment the churches of Rome and Ireland became united, proved*
it, fince all the difference found between them was, that the-
Irifi) nation paid thtfe /mail dues ^ called Peter^s-pence, to the fee of
Ardmagh^ nvhich the refi of Europe paid to Rome ! The bifliops,
in full convocation in 1 1 1 1,. furrendered up to Rome the rights
which they till then enjoyed ; and great pains were every day
taken to leflTen the other privileges of the Irifh churdi. What:
then remained for Malachie to do^ but, as the fuccefibr of St.
Patrick, to make a formal furrender of his fee to Rome in his^
on name, and in the names of his fuccefibrs ? But it required no
fmall difficulty to perfuade thefe princes and chiefs, who hitherto^
indudied to biAopricfcs, to refign fo great a power; This it was-
that {Innocent required of Malachie; for this purpofe heap-
pointed him hh legate ; and to promote it, did he affemble fcr^
many fynods in the different parts of the kingdom. Early im
the year 1 148 a finifhing hand was put to the great work of re*
formation; for at a council then held at Holm-Patrick, com-
pofSed of Gelafius, fucceffor to St. Patrick, and fifteen biffaops,,
with two hundred priefts, many abbots and others, and in which:
St. Mala*chie, as legate, prefided, it was agreed to fend him agatnt
to Rome, with full powers to compofeall differences between the*
church and the. Irifh. nation; buthedied atClarevalle in his vr^y-

to*

•

3,^6 HISTORY OF IRELAND. '

^^* to Romew Immediately after, through the intereft of St- Ber-
nard, Chriftian I. abbot of MeUefont, and who had refided fome

time at Clarevalle, was appointed legate, and foon after bifiiop
ofLifmore. In 1 1 50 he repaired to Rome with freih authority
from the princes and clergy, on the fame bufinefs ; and the fol-
lowing year he was difpatched, in company with cardinal Paparo,
but they did not arrive till early in the year 1152.

A council was then held at Kells, in which the legate prefidcd,
and which, befides the prelates and principal clergy, was alfo ho-
noured by the prefence of Mortogh O'Neill (who, it appears,
even at this time, was ranked as monarch), with feveral other
princes ^nd nobles. Many ufeful regulations took place : among
the refti the flate of the hierarchy was taken into confideration.
In the general council of Uifneach the number of Iri{h biihops
were reduced to twenty^-eight, under two metropolitans. The
inftru£tioQ6 to cardinal Paparo were, to have the church under
the government of four archbifhopa, namely, Ardmagh, Cafliell,
Tuam, and Dublin ; but we find that it met with great bppofi^
tbn in the council. It was ohferved, that the mod general divl-
fion of Ireland was that of LeathrMogha and Leth-Cuin : that
in the days of St. Patrick it was fo, for which reafon he himfelf
ordainied St. Ailbe archbifliop of Munfter. Itistrue^ that after-
wards St Jarlath had afiumed the title of archbifliop of Conaught,
and St. Conlaeth,-of Leinfter; buttliey were not regularly con-
fecrated or generally acknowledged. • That, in the council of
Uifneach, two archbiihops only were appointed, and under them
a certain number. of bifhops; but if the pcefent regulation took
place, thefemuft neceffarily be deprived of fome of their fuffra-
gans, or a new creation of bifliops muft take place. But the car-
dinal obferved, that C onaught and Leinfter were always parti-
cular kingdoms, and therefore entitled to thofe marks of diftinc-
tion J but that the archbiihops of Ulftcr and Munfter Ihould not

I imagine

H I S T O R Y O F IRELAND. 327

imagine that he iBtended to etK«)ach upon their right*, or leffen A.C,
the number of their fuflfragand> he would, by Virtue of the apof-
tolic power, appoint particular bifhops as faffragan» to the new
metropolitans* He was pofitive^ though we are unacquainted
with Ae reafon, ami it did not become new fubje^ls to 4ifobe)r
the papal authority* The following, tafcea froa an oi^d^Mt ka^

man provincial^ was the r^.strcni then recdtcd ^nd aid^pted. '

Under thft archbiihop of Ardmagh, primate of all Ireland,
were twelve fufFragans ; namely Meath, Down, Clocher, Con--
nor Ardadid, Raphoe, Rathlure, Duleek» Derry, Dromore,
BrefFni, and Clanmacnois. Under the archbifliop of Munfter
or Cafhell twelve ; to wit, the bifhops of Killaloe, Limerick,
Inis-Catha, Killfenuragh, Emily, Rofcrea, Waterford, Lif-
more, Cloyne, Cork, Kofs, "and Ardfert. The archbifliop of
G3naught had nine fufFragans, who were the bishops of Cilmac
Duach, of Mayo, of Eriachdun, of Inis-Cattra, RofcoiHon, Clon-
fert, Achonry, Killalalla, and Elphin ; and under the metropoli*
tan of Leinfter, were the bifliops of Glendaloch, Ferns, Oflbry
Leighlin, and Kildare. In all thirty-eight bifliops : and becaufe
it was known that the archbifliops of Conaught and Leinfler had
no certain fixt feats, it was decreed that Dublin fliould be the
future refidence of the metropolitans of Leinfler, and Tuam of
thofe of Conaught. Some regulations were made in this coun<-
cil with regard to marriages ; but this mud certainly regard the
clergy, becaufe, in no other country, was the purity of blood
more carefully attended to, as all pofts of honour were here-
ditary, After this cardinal Paparo prefented palliums to the four
archbifliops in great pomp and form ; and remained, fays M*
Fleury ♦, in Ireland till the fiafter of 1 153*

* Hill. Ecclef. torn. xiv. p. 685.

From

32S H I S T O R Y O F I R E L A N D.

M.C. From this time, to the arrival of the Engliih, provincial
fynods, or general councils, were frequently held, for reftoring
ecclefiaftical difcipline ; among other regulations, to fhew how
folicitous they were for a firm union with Rome, it was decreed
that none fhould keep divinity fchools, for the future, but iuch as
had taken pttt their dodors degrees in the .uniYerfity of Ard-
xnagh, as here the reformation firft began.

CHAP. VII.

Roderic 0^ Connor receives the fubrntfjions of Munjier^ Leinfiert and
Meath^^prepares to invade Uljier^'^diverted by the complaints
of O^Ruark — his let ter-'^gr ants troop Sy and appoints him general
again/l Leinjler — Mac Murchad flies to Rngland'-^Roderic in^
vadesVlfterbyfeaandlandf and fucceeds^-^fejions of the eftates
of Leth^Cuin — Mac Murchad applies to Henry 11. and is per^
mitted to raife troops^ but with no fuccefs — leagues with Strong*
bow and Fitx^Stephens — returns to Ireland^— fubmits to the mo^
narchy and makes peace with O'Ruark — the indiredl ufe made by
him of this peace.

ii66 /^ N the death of Mortogh, Roderic O'Connor, fon to Tur-
V^ logh th« Great, affumed the title, and was faluted mo-
narch of Ireland by his fadlion. Soon after this he colleaed his
troops, and called his tributaries to his ftandard j and at the
head of a refpedtable army invaded Tyrconnel, which he fub*
dued, and had hoftages put into his hands. On his return he
was joined by O'Ruark and O'Reity, princes of Breffni, and
0*Mealfachlin, king of Meath, and with his combined forces

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 389

fee proceeded to Dublin, where he was moft honourably received A.C%
and entertained. Here the Dublinians rendered him homage as

* monarch of Ireland, and they received from him a prefent of
4000 oxen. From hence he marched to Drogheda, and took
hoftages from O'Cearbhoil, prince of Oirgialj who alfo did him
homage ; that is, on his bended knees put his hands clofed into thofe

- of Roderic ; and as a mark of his being a vaflal, the monarch or^
dered him a Ti/^r^T/Z^i?/, or fubfidy of 2000 bullocks. In the
interim Mac Murchad, king of Leinfter» made an incurfion into
Meath, for which infolencehe was feverely puniChed by Roderic.
For he haflily marched into Leinfter, attacked and defeated his
troops, and obliged him to fubmit, and give fureties for his good
behaviour, and greatly abridged his power. The prince of
Oflbry acknowleged his fway, and received the ufual prefents of
a vafTal ; from thence he marched into Munfter, received hoftages
from Defmond and Thomond, and then returned to Conaught
with great glory and triumph.*" i

In the fpring of 1 1 67, he was nxaking great preparations b6th 1167
by fea and land to reduce Tirone, and oblige the chief of the
northern Hi-Neills to fubmit to him ; but an extraordinary ac«-
cident retarded for fome time the execution of this enterprize.
The king of Leinfter had long conceived a violent afFeAion for
Dearbhorgil, daiighter to the king of Meath ; and though (he had
been for fome time married to O'Ruark, prince of BreflFni, yet
could it not reftrain his defires. They carried on a private cor*
refpondence, and (he informed him, that O'Ruark intended foon
to go on pilgrimage, (an ad of piety frequent in thofe days)« and
conjured him to embrace that opportunity of conveying her from
a hufband fhe detefted, to a lover ihe addred. Blinded by li<»
centious defire, Mac Murchad too pundually obeyed the fummons,

' and had the lady conveyed to his capital of Ferns. An outrage

of this kind, fo new and fo unheard of, aftoniihed every one; but

Vol, II. U u the

€€
€€

330 HISTORYOF IRELAND.

^•^* the feelings of the injured huiband, will be beft exprefTed by the
letter which he addreffed to king Roderic on this fubje^ *•

^* O'Ruark^ to Roderic the monarch, health.
" Though I am fenfible (moft illuftrious prince), that human
adverfities ihould be always fupported with firmnefs and equa-
nimity; and that a virtuous man ought not to diftrefs or afflifb
** himfelf, on account of the levity and inconftancy of an im-
prudent female ; yet, as this moft horrible crime (of which I
9m fully fatisfiedjy muft have reached your ears, before the re-
*^ ceipt of i9y letters ; and as it is a crime hitherto jb unheard of,
as far as I can recolledl, as never to be attempted againft any king
of Ireland; feverity impels me to feek juftice, whilft charity
** admoniflies mq to fprgivc the injury. If you confider only the
^^ difhonour, that I confefs is mine alone : if you refled on th6
^^ caufe, it is common to us both ! For what confidence can we
place in our fubjedls, who are bound unto us by royal autho-
rity, if this lafcivious adulterer, or rather deftroyer of chaftity,
fhall efcape unpunifhed, after the comniiflion of fo flagitious a

crime ? The outrages of princes fo publicly and notorioufly

" com-

* OHorcius, Rothefrico monarcliOi S.
Etfi-non flrni nefcito (illuftrilBme princepa^, hamaiioi cafiis eqvo femp«r antmo
frendos, & bbntinis effcy vinotb preftantia excellentis, ob meretricis inconftantiam
mataUlitalcmqae neo effeminari ; tamen cum atrociflimuin hoc crimen, quod ad
te, certo fcio» prius omnium rumore, quam meis literia allatum eft, ita fit baflenus
in audltum, ut ante hunc diem, non fit, noftra memoria, contra ullom (quod fciam)
Hibernicutt rfcgem fufceptum ; feveritas me jtibet, jnftitise concederc quod caritas
monet, vlndlfb reculare. Si dedectts fp^dea hoc ad me onum, £iteor-pertiDeti fi
cauflam confideret^ en tibi meeum eft communis. Qualcm enim, in noftris homi-
nibus, nobis regia dominatione deyin£kls, fpem coUocabimus, fi mulierofus hie
Mafchus, ac potius pudicitiae expugnator, tanti fceleris impunitatem fuerit confe->
ctttus ? Qtcippe, inidta prindpium ftagUia (qui ta omni&m octUis habitant) per^

nicioiam

€€
€€
4i

H I S T Q R Y O F IRELAND, 331

^* committed, if not correfted, become precedents of pernicious ^'^^
" example to the people. In a word, you are thoroughly con- .
•• vinced of my affedion and attachment to you* You behold
•* me wounded with the (hafts of fortune, affeded by numberlefs
•* inconyenienciee, and forely diftrefTed with the greateft afflic*^
<< tions ! It only remains for me to requeft, as I am entirely de«
•• voted to you, that you will, not only with your counfels affift,
" but with your arms revenge thefe injuries which torment and
•* diftradt me. This when you will, and as you will, I not
'* only demand, but require at your hands— farewel."

On receipt of the exprefs the monarch held a council ; and the
refult was, that Mac Murchad was unworthy to govern, and
therefore mud be depofed and banifhed. He immediately detached
a body of his troops, and fent with them orders to the king of
Meath, and to the people of Dublin and Ofibry, to join O^Ruark,
whpm he nominated general in this expedition. Mac Murchad
endeavoured to oppofe their pafTage into Leinfter; but on
this bccafion found himfelf deferted by the nobility, the military,
and even by bis principal favourites and dependents, fo .horrible
did the crime he was charged with, appear in their eyes ! Thus
circumftanced, he retired to Ferns, and not daring to ftand a fiege
he fled from thence, and had himfelf and about fixty perfons in
his fuite (fays his fecretary 0*Regan), conveyed to Briftol: The
cattle of Ferns foon furrendered, his country was divided between

nicioTam imitationem exempli populo prodere confaefcunt. In fumma meam ergt •
te voluiuatem iaiia^explotatum habes. Vides.me fartunce teli« fauciatun, mazimia
Incommodis ad fe^um, fummis diffi<^Itatibu6 adfli£luinJ Reliquum eft cum totus
antmo & ftudio fim tous, ut injurias, quibus laceror, tarn confilio togatus, quam
auxilio armatos perfequaris. 'Hoc cum velis, & ut Teli8, non folum a te poflulo,
verum ctiam flagtto. -Vale*

U U 2 the

33a HISTORY OF I R E L A N D^

A.C. the prlace of Offory, and Murcha, a prince of his blood j and
feventeen hoftages were brought to the monarch-.

Publick j.uftice being thus rendered to the prince of BrefFnij the
monarch prepared with a royal army to invade Tirone, whilfl
with a fleet of a hundred and ninety (hips he fcoured the feas,.
cutoff their fuppliea from North Britain^ and affifted the opera-
tions of the army. At the head of thUteen legions, or 39,000.
foot, and feven legions, or 14,000 horfe, he marched into Ulftcr,,
fays Lucius * ;. nor fhall we be furprifed at fo great a. force, whea;
we confider, that it was to a£l againft the greateft chief in Ulfter;.
and that Roderic had under him 0*Brien and Mac Carthy, king&.
of the two. Munfters, O'Mealfachlin, king of Meath, O'Reily
and O'Ruark kings of the two Breffnia, the princes of Oirgial,
Ulida, and of Leinfter, &c. The troops from the fleet landed at Derry.
to attack it, whilil with, the land forces he penetrated into Tir-
one. In vain did O'Neill attempt to oppofe their paflage, and
try by furprife to attack the imperial camp at night. Through,
treachery or the darknefs of the night, his troops marching difr-
fcrent ways, fell upon each other ; nor was the miftakedifcovered.
till much blood was fpilt. Thus circumftanced, he judged it better
to fubmk, than to fee bis country laid wafte and himfelf depofed. .
He fcnt hia ambafladors to Roderic, propofed to pay him homage,
and to deliver into his hands hoftages for his loyalty, for the. time,
to come. The terms were accepted : in the prcfence. of the other,
princes and nobles, O'Neill uncovered and kneeling, placed his,
hands clofed between thofe of the monarch, which implied fur-
rendering his power into his hands, and was immediately after,
received into grace and favour. After this Roderic difmifled his
auxiliaries with rich prefents, and returned to Conaught, attended'

♦ Cambrcnf. Evcrf. p. 8S..

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 3^33

by the kings of the two Munfters, whom he royally entertainedi A.C.
and on their departure prefented them with gifts of great value»
particularly a fword of exquifite wprkmanfhip to O'Brien, and
a curious goblet of pure gold to Mac Carthy.

In this fame year it was *, that Roderic fent forth notices, for 1167
a general convention of the eftates, fnot of all Ireland^ but of
Lethf'Cuia), to meet at Athboy, in Meath, called Ath-Buie-
Flada^ as it was here that the famous temple of Flada> facred to.
Samhuin^ or the moon, was ereded in the days of Druidifm.
This Feis, befides the monarch in perfon, was honoured with the
prefencc of O'Mealfachlin king pf Nieafli, O'Ruark and O'Reily,
princes of the Bre6fnis, 0*Dunlevy king of Ulida, O'Felan.
prin6e of the Deafies, &c« Befides thefei St. Gelafius the pri-^
mate, St. Laurence O'Toole archbiiho|t of Dublin, Caeda
O'Dubthig archbifliop of Tuam, with *great number of bifhops,
abbots, and inferior clergy, attended this convention alfo. In
this Feis ((ays my authority), many wholfome laws and regu-
lations took place, as well for the government of the church as the
ftate. How long this feiiions held, i^ not faid i but that it broke
up the fame year, and that no lefs a number than 2 3,000 horfd
attended it, are pofitively affirmed.
In the beginning of this year Morrogh O'Brien, king of Tho- ,j5j
mond, was killed by the people of Defmond (fays Lucius), who
paid an Eric of three thoufand one hundred and twenty beeves ;
but the Miinfter Annals affirm; that he fell by the hands of his
own coufin Connor, grandfonto the famous Connor na Catharach;
lieverthelefs Domhnal, brother to the deceafed, fucceeded him*
Soon, after, the people of Dealbhna attacked OTennelan their
aatural lord^ and put him and his adherents to the fword. The.

* Triafi Tbaumatt p. 310, &c#

V 7 people

334 H I S T O R Y. Q F I R E L A N a

A.C, people of Meathj who joined ia this infurredbn, were fined eight
hundred bullocks, and tho£e of Dealbhna feverely fined, but how
much is not faid. Early this year the great fair of Tailtean was
proclaimed, and held the ufual time, (i. q. fro^ the i6th of Julyi
'to the 15th of the following Auguft), with great fplendor and
folemnity.

Weobferved of Mac Murchads that, deferted anddetefted by
every one, he fled to England, hoping, that in a ftrange country,

/ where his tyranny and crimes were not f6 well known, he might
procure friends and followers to ailiil him* After remaining fome
time at Briftol, he proceeded to Normandy, ta claim the protedioa
of Henry king of England. Henry gave him i favourable re-
ception, heard his tale, but excufed himfelf from at prefent en-
gaging in his caufe. Mac Murchad requefled at leafl his per-
miifion, to convey to Ireland fuch volunteers as he could procure
in England, which Henry agreed to, and fent with him the foU
lowing proclamation : ,

^* Henry, kipg of England, duke of Normandy and Acquitain,
'* earl of Anjou, &c. unto all his fubjei^s, Englifli, Nor-
^< mans, Welih/ and Scots, and to all nations and people,
*' being his fubjeds, greeting.

** Whereas Dermod, king of Leinfter, moft wrongfully (as he
** informeth), baniflied out of his own county, hath craved our
** aid ; therefore, forafmuch as we have received him into our
** protedlion, grace, and. favour, whoever within our realms,
^* fubjed unto our command, will aid and help himi whom we
<• have embraced as our trufty friend, for the recovery of his
•• land, let him be affured of our graceand favour/'

Mac

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

Mac Murchad, by found of trumpet had this proclamation fre-
quently read in Briilol, and fomc adjoining cities. He offered
great rewards in money and lands to fuch as would enlifl under
his banners ; but his fuccefs was not great. After a month's flay
at Briftol he retired to Wales, tte applied to Richard eatl of
Strigul, commonly called Strongbow, a powerful and popular
chief in Wales. He made him conGderable offers to attach him
to his fervice. He went fb far as at lafl to promife him his
daughter im marriage, and the reverfion of his kingdom, after
his death, if by his means, and thofe of his friends and affociates,
he (hould be reftored to hVs dominions. So t(Bm|iting an offer
could not be refifled. Strongbow immediately entered deep into
all the fchemes of the exile. The treaty was iigned aiid fworn
to on both (ides ; and Mac Murchad bound himfelf by oath, to
give him, at a proper time, his daughter in marriage, and to fettle
the reveriion of his kingdom on him ; though this lafl: he knew '
was contrary to the fundamentals of the conftitution, for the
right of eledlion was veiled in the chiefs of the country, and
none could be put in nomination for the crown of Leinfter, wha
were not of the line of Cathoir the Great !

Earl Richard, now entirely devoted to Mac Murchad, advifed
htm by all means to gain to his interett Robert Fitz- Stephens, a^
nobleman of great intereft, but who had been for three years con«.
fined by Rice ap Grtffen, prince of SoiAh Wales. MacMurchad^
waited on this prince, and not only prociired bis enlargement,,
but liberty to tranfport himfelf 2fnd his friends and followers to
Ireland. To him, and to his half- brother Maurice Fitz-Gerald»
he promifed to give up the town of Wexford, with. two oantreds
of land adjoining, on condition of their fupport and affiflance ;
and now he fet fail for Ireland^ with aa^maoy volixotoers as^ he

z. €OUld>.

335

AC.

1168

336 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

^•^* could coUeft. He privately advertifed^fome of his moft faithful
adherents of his landing with fome forces, which were foon to be
followed by more confiderable fuccours, and he conjured them to
repair to his fiandard. Thofe who firft joined him, laboured of
courfe to engage as many as they could in the fame caufe ; and
Mac Murchad found himfelf powerful enough to be acknow-
leged, at lead in his hereditary territories. His mortal enemy
O'Ruark, had foon notice of this, and advertifed th^ monarchy
who fent.him troops, with orders to purfue and reduce him. Mac
Murchad, diffident of his own fubjeds, and fenfiblehow unequal
the conteft muft be, betweeahis few auxiliaries and his opponents,
had recourfe to negotiation. He made the moft abjaft offers of fub*
miffion to the monarch, and conjured him to interpofe his good o£^
ficeSfto bring about a reconciliation betweenhim andO Ruark, whom
heconfefiedhehad greatly injured. That he wasftill making expia-
tions for the horrid crime he had committed, as the unhappy lady
long had been amongfl; the holy nuns of St. Bridget at Kildare ;
and he hoped that he would not drive an unfortunate prince to
indigence and defpair, but allow him fome fmall portion of the
poflfeffions of his anceftors, to fupport the remains of a miferable
life. His reprefeatations were favourably heard; he was
allowed ten cantreds of the lands of Hi-Cinfellag (Wexford) ; he
paid homage and delivered up feven hoilages to the monarch ;
and he gave to O'Ruark j, hundred ounces of pure gold, as an
Eric for the injury he did him.

Having thus artfully gained a folid fettlement at home, Mac
Murchad. forgetful of his oath and his hoftages, fent his confident
and fecretary O'Regan privately to Wales, to remind his friends
of their promifes and engagements, and that he was ready to re«

ceive them with open arms« As the feafon was now far ad*

vanced

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 337

vanced, he advifed them to fend a few troops by different ways ; A.C.
but to be ready by fpring, with what forces they could colledl>
to land on the Leinfter coafts, where he would be ready to receive
and fupport them with a good body of troops. O'Regan was
alfo inftruded to procure as many recruits as he could^ and for
this purpofe to fpare neither money nor promifes to allure the
people to his flandard.

Vol. IL X * BOOK

338 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C.

BOOK XIII.

CHAP. I.

Landing of the Weljh adventurers^ and junSiion with the army of
Mac Murchadr—ajfault Wexford three different times and are
repulfed^-^delivered up by compofition—Mac Murchad invades
and lays wajie the principality of Offory — the monarchy alarmed at
hisfuccefs^ direSis htm to ceafe further hojiilities^ and difmifs his
auxiliaries^^fhrough the intercejjion of the Leinjier clergy Mac
Murchad agrees to afrejhpeace, and breaks through every ar-^
tide of it"— enters into treaty with the king of Thomond — New
Spain difcovered'— landing of Strongbow^ and capture 4f Waters-
ford — they march to Dublin— ^Dublin furprifedj and the maf-
facre of its inhabitants— remarks on thisfuccefs, and on the coun^
cil of Ardmagh.

1169 TTTHILST Mac Murchad was preparing to aflert his
V V right to the kingdom of Leinfter, his foreign alTociates
were equally active in his caufe. In May, f 1699 Fitz-Stephens,
Fitz- Gerald, Barry, Hervey, &c. landed near Wexford with
thirty knights, fixty efquires, and three hundred archers/ and
thefe were next day joined hy Maurice Prendergaft, at the head
of ten knights and two hundred archers. By letters, dated May
III 1169, they advifed Mac Murchad of their fafe arrivali and

. waited

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 339

waited his orders as to their proceedings. He immediately fent ^^'
his natural fon Donald, at the head of five hundred horfe^ to
join them, whilil, at the head of his infantry, he followed.
He received them with every expreffion of joy, and they im-
mediately concerted their plan of operations. Wexford being
neareft to them, and a port of confequence, it was refolved
to attack. The garrifon (confidering the abje6t ftate of Mac
Murchad's affairs, and how univerfally detefted he was) imagined
they were ftrong enough to difperfe, in the field, this troop of
invaders, and marched fome diftance from the town to give them
battle ; but when they beheld a regular and well difciplined body
of men, horfe and foot, exceeding three thoufand, they re-
treated, burning all the villages and houfes contiguous to the
town, making clofe the gates, and manning the walls. This
retreat of the Irifh infpired their antagonifts with frefh courage,
and orders were inftantly given to make a general aflault on the
town. But, notwithftanding ** the founding of trumpets^ the
** neighing of their barbed horfes^ their Jhining armour^ and regu^
*^ lar difcipline^^ which Cambrenfis, Campion, Stainhurft«
Hanmer^ and later writers affirm, were new and terrifying
fpe^acles to the natives, we find, by the refiftance they made,
that prudence more than fear determined their retreat. Fitz-
Stephens and Barry led on the troops to the afifault. They foon
filled the ditches, and fixed their ladders againft the walls and
turrets ; but the Irifh, regardlefs of *• their jhining armour and
** their regular difcipliney^ every where received them with their
accuflomed courage. Their knights were hurled headlong from
the walls^ their ladders were broke, and after the lofs of many
gallant foldiers they founded a retreat. This repulfe greatly
depreiTed the fpirits of the invaders \ and Fitz-Stephens, apprc-
henfive that his followers would defert him, inftantly, at the
head of a feled body of friends, with great refolution and pre-

X X 2 fence

AC feoce of mind, fet firg to all the'fhips In the harbour, to {htvr

• n • .

Iv3 rpen that they had no alternatives for the future but vidory
or death. For three fucceeding days (fays Campion) did they
renew the afl^ult, and with no better fuccefs. .At length the
bifhop and clergy of Wexford, to prevent the further eflFufion of
Chriflian blood, exerted their utnioil influence to bring about a
reconciliation between the contending parties. After many mcf-
fages backwards and forwards, Mac Murchad agreed to accept
the fubnjiffions of the citizens : they renewed their oaths of
fidelity, and put into his hands four of their principal burgefles as
hortages for their future good behaviour. Mac Murchad, ac-
cording tp treaty, made ov^r the lordfiiip of this cit^, and liber-
ties, to Fitjs- Stephens and Fitz-Gerald/

The reduGion of Wexford,, and the report of the numbers of
foreigners who came to the aid of Mac Murchad (which^ as .
ufual in fimilar cafes, was greatly exaggerated), encreaied his
reputation, and made numbers of the Lagenians re/ort to his
ftandard# though much againft their inclinations, for few princes
were mj^re detelled. His army being confiderably increafed^
he thought it high^time to be revenged on Fitz- Patrick, piince of
Ofibry* on whom part of his terricpries had been bellowed by
the monarcli. He imparted his refolutions to the foreigners^
who readily agreed to the propofal, ftimulated thereto by the
hopes. of plunder. He coUeded all his forces, with a confider-
able body from Wexford, at the head o£ whom he entered the .
territories of, Oflbry. Domnal, chief of that territory,'^ had-
fortified all the paflages into it ; fo that, after three days con^ .
ftant fkirmlfhing, the Lagenians. made no fort of impreffiom;
This fuccefs determined the OfTorians to quit their, entrench**
ments and attack the. enemy in the opea field ; but» . much in-
ferior in number, they were obliged to retire, and Mic Mur«<
diad gaye full liberty to hi^ troops to burn> pluader> and de«

ftroy

HISTORY OF IViii^ATSi b! - J4I

.ftfoy the open country without mercy ! He then returned to A,C.
Ferns, loaded with the fpoils and treafures of Oflbry. The glory »
of this vidory Englifh writers, with their accuftomed vanity,
attribute to their countrymen, though not the tenth part of Mac
Murchad's army ! The Englifh cavalry are alfo highly extolled,
though five Ihips only wafted a/l their forces to Ireland, ia
which there was not a Jingle* horfe ; though all the writers agree,
that the fon of the king of Leinfter immediately joined them, at
the head of five hundred cavaliers, which was all the horfe ia
the army ! Nay, of fo little confequence were they in the main,
that, though it appears that immediately after this defeat of the
Offorians, Prendergaft joined the prince of Oflbry, the fworn
enemy to Mac Murchad, with about half the Welfli adventurers,
(for not one Englifhman was of the party) yet it produced no
alteration for the better or the worfe.in his affairs !

Thus did Mac Murchad, by uncommon fortitude and invin-
cible perfeverance, notwithflanding his accumulated crimes,
repoflfefe himfelf of all the dominions of his anceflors ! Revolu-
tions of this kind, wehavefeeh, were frequent in Ireland, but
never on fo flagrant an pccafioa as the prefent. He had already
made his peace with O^Ruark, and the repofTefDon of his coun-
try was an affair in which the public at large were not interefled.
Princes were frequently depdfed, or their power circumfcribed,
according as they ftbod attached to the monarch foi-' the time
being, and this without any public convulfions. Such was. the
light in which the prefent^ revolution was confidered ; but to
Roderic,* and to his party only^ it became ' an alarming affair. If
Mac Miif chad held his kingdom of Leinfler without doing
homage for it, his own poweri as monarch, muft bdcome pre-
carious. Add to this, that Donald O'Brien ; fon-in-law to Mac
Murchad, being now king of TThoniond and Ormond, that is^
ofNorth and £aft Muafter^ Roderic dreaded his power and fiif-

peded

34« HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. ^eGttd his fidelity. By difperfing the forces of the Lagenians,
or compelling Mac Murchad to confefs his fway, he difldpated
all apprehenfions of a confederacy againft himi which might end
in his depofition.

Roderic fummoned a meeting of all his friends and tributa-
riesy to take their advice on the prefent ticklilh fituation of his
affairs. The refult was, that meffengers fhould be fent to Fitz-
Stephens, and his followers, to demand ** by what right or au-
" thprity they prefumed hoftilely to ii\vade and difplay their ban-
^^ ners in this land ? and ordering them immediately to quit the
^^ country) or expert to be treated as pirates and robbers who
*^ had taken up arms without the fandion of their lawful
** fovereign." As their (hips had been burned, he alfo offered
them £hips and money to tranfport themfelves : but thefe adven-
turers were between two rocks^ Sylla and Charibdis. Fitz-Ste-
phensy their chief, had been taken out of prifon^ after a con-
finement of three years, at the earned requeft of Mac Murchad
and the bifhop of St. David's, on condition of quitting the king-
. dom ; and we muft fuppofe that his followers were not in a
much more refpedable fituation. That they were all perfons
of defperate fortunes is univerfally admitted ; and that they
were men of the mofl: diflblute morals, rapacious, blood-thirfty,
and cruel, the whole tenor of their lives, from their firft
landing in Ireland to their different deaths, fufficiently proclaim !
Outcafts of their gwn country, what other would wi(h to receive
them ? Was it a virtuous attachment to the intereft of Mac Mur-
chad, or their o^n defperate fituations, that made them rejed
offers fo full of humanity ? Any one can anfwer the queftion.
A caufe like Mac Murchad's was worthy fuch fupporters:
JimileJimUu

But whilft thefe orders were given to the ambjaffadors of Ro«
derici others were given to his troops^ and to his confederates,

HISTORY OF IRELAN1>. '343

to affemble without delay to add greater weight to this negocia- AC,
tion. The.anfwer was fuch as was expeded ; but it acquitted
the monarch, in the eyes of the public, from the confequences
that might be fuppofed to attend fuch refufal. At the head of
twenty thoufand men, horfe and foot, highly appointed, Ro-
deric entered Leinfter ; but the rebels, unable to face fuch an
army, retired from poft to poft until they reached the faftneffes
of the country about Ferns, which they ftrongly fortified, hoping
to protradl the war till they received new fuccours from their
friends in Wales. But Roderic, refolving to finifli the cam-
paign as foon as poffible, divided his army into different detach-
ments, appointed the troops who were to attack the different
polls, and thofe who were to fupport them ; and, addreffing
them in an animating fpeech, he ordered them to march on to
vidlory; but (in an unlucky hour for this devoted kingdom !)
the clergy of Leinfter, affembledin a body, prefented themfelves
before the monarch, and conjured him, in the mod pathetic
terms, to avoid the efFufion of Chriftian blood ! Mac Murchad
was at his mercy ; and all he could require by a vidlory ihould
be granted without ftriking a blow. Thus, firft at Wexford,
and again near Ferns, was Mac Murchad and his afTociates pre-
ferved from inevitable ruin, through the interpofition of the
Jri{h clergy ! The credulous monarch became again a dupe to
the fincerity of his own heart > apd the perjured Mac Murchad
gained a further length of days to complete the ruin of his coun-
try ! Through the mediation of the clergy a peace was concluded
on the following terms : 1 ft. Mac Murchad was to poffefs the
country of Hi-Cinfellagh, or Wexford, with the title of king of
Leinfter. 2d. He was to do homage to the monarch for this
territory, as holding it in vaflalage under him. 3d. He was to
difmifs all the foreigners, with proper rewards for their trouble,
and never admit any more of them into his country. All this

H was

^44- H^ S T p R y OF I R p LAND.

A*9' was ratifif 4 %■ O^tk before the great altar of the churcii of Sl
Maidog at Fera^i aa4 be ideUvered 'his bale, fon Art into the
hands of Roderic . as a furthfer fccurity.-r^This pronre^ upon what
light grouods ihefe WriterjS go, \^ho affirm, that with the mef-
feogers fent! to Fitz-Stephens by Roderic, he ient others to Mac
^urchadj requiring his immediate fubmiilion and the difmif&on
of the foreigners; (ince we fee that he thought himfelf now
happy to compound for fuch a facrifice. But the Lagenian meant
as litt}e fecurity in this as he did in his former treaty. The
truth iS| he w&s fo\univerfally deteded by his own people, that
he apprehended falling a facrifice to their refentment the moment
his foreign fatellites quitted him, and was therefore determined
to flick to them to the laft.

The credulous monarch, relyiag on the faith of this treatyt
folemnly guarantied by the clergy of Leinfter, difmiffcd his aux-
iliaries and retired to his own domain, whilH: Mac Murchad,
under various pretences, delayed the time of fulfilling his en-
gagements. It was the interefl of the foreigners to appear
ufeful and neceffary to him, to their counfels he adhered ; and
what confirmed him the more was the arrival of Maurice Fitz-
Gerald, at Wexford, with ten knights, thirty efquires, and an
hundred archers, at this critical time. With this addition to his
army Dermod fuddenly appeared before Dublin, laying wafle
the country all around. The cjtizens, to get rid of fo trouble-
fome a guefl, agreed to give him hoflages, and a confiderable
fum of money, which lafl was the fole object of this expedition.

Domhnal Mor O'Brien, king of Thomond, beheld with
fecret pleafure the errors committed by Roderic. He was fon-
in-law to Mac Murchad, and fecretly encouraged his defedion.
He was in hopes to extend his power, and that of hi^ houfe, at
the expence of the monarch, and he entered into a private treaty
with Dermod, by which they engaged to fupport each other,

6 The

HISTORY OF IRELAND; 345

Th« feafon was now far fpent, and Mac Murchad fent preffing A C.
letters tp Strongbow to join him, with all his forces, early next
year. This year Maidoc, or Maidog, third fon to Owen Gwin-
eth, prince of North Wales, by an Irifli princefs, finding his
country in great commotions, and his brothers engaged in civil*
wars againd each other, retired to his maternal patrimony of
Clochran, inConaught; and being a prince of great experience
in maritime aflFairs, he fitted out a number of (hips, with which
he failed from Ireland (fay my authorities, Clin and Stow) fo far
north as to difcover lands till then unknown ; and thefe regions,
in the opinion of the antiquarian Humphrey Lloyd, and others,
muft have been part of New Spain ; if fo, Irifh and Welflimcn
may claim the honour of this difcovery prior to Columbus or
Americus Vefpufius.

The winter was fpent in negociations and fecret preparations,
the effeds of which appeared early in thefummer -, for the king
of Thomond openly difclaimed all allegiance to the monarchy u^^
and fet his power at defiance. Roderic invaded Thomond, and
Donald claimed aid from Mac Murchad, who £ent him a good
body of troops, Iri(h and Englilh, under the command of Fitz-Ste*
phens ; and this was the firft footing of the foreigners in this fer-
tile province. Many fharp and bloody encounters enfued, with
various fuccefs ; but Roderic, called away by more preiling en-
gagements, was obliged to relinquiih this objed for the prefent.

Strongbow, during the winter, was very adlive in raif-
ing troops for his intended expedition ; but fenfible how highly
enraged Henry II. was with Fitz-Stephens and his party, for
prefuming to enter into the fervice of the king of Leinfter, with-
out his particular licence^ he laboured to procure his permiffiofi
to ferve in the fame caufe. He applied to the king fevei:al time8»
who, tired with his importunities, contemptuoufly anfwered at
laft—^^ That he might go as far as his feet could carry him ;
Vol. II. Y y nay.

346 HISTORYOFIRELAND.

A.C* <* nay, if he would get Dedalus's wings^ as far as he could flie/*
Equivocal and infulcing as this anfwer was, Strongbow took it
for a permifEon ; but he firft fent Raymond Le Grofs, with tea
knights and about a hundred archers, as his vanguard^ to aa-
nounce to Dermod when he himfelf intended to land, that he
might be ready to fupport him. This fmall body of men landed
about four miles from Waterford, and immediately took poffef-
fion of an old negleded fortrefs, which they repaired, and then
Tallied out on the great objed of plunder. They coUe&ed a large
quantity of horned cattle, which they obliged the countrymen
to drive before them ; but OTelan, O'Ryan, and fome of the
burgeffes of Waterford, tumultuoufly afTembled to re-take the
cattle and chaftife thefe bold invaders. With great difficulty,
and fome lofs, the cattle, and part of the guard, gained the for-
trefs ; but the remainder were in a fair way of being cut ofF>
which O 'Raymond perceiving, with great refolution he fallied
forth, and flew, with his own hand O'Ryan^ and his aflbciates
many more. The lofs of one of their chiefs deranged the Irifii
for awhile; and in this fiate of irrefolution, Raymond, with
uncommon prefence of mind, ordered the cattle, with fword
and pike, to be drove againft th&enemy, whiUl his troops fol*
lowed. It was a critical moment to fave his party from deflruc-
tion, and he availed himfelf of it: the woimded beafts ruKhed
with great fury through the midft of their ranks, and all was
confufion. Raymond, and his troops, gave them no 'time ta
form or rally, and, after a great carnage, took feventy pri-
foners, with which they marched back in triumph to their fortrefs.
But beeaufe Engli(hmen, when they commit a£ls ' of cruelty,
choofe to. do them deliberately, Gambrenfis^ &c. telkus, that Ray*-
mond called acouncil of war to determine on the fate of thefe prl-
foners; and it was agreed that they fliould firft have their limbs,
broke^ and then be all precipitated into the fea.^ which was in*-

ftantly

HISTORY O F I-R E L A N D. 546

ftantly after executed, and this for attempting to regain their
properties from the hands of lawlefs banditti ! Immediately after
this inhuman and bloody facrifice, Raymond was joined by a
body of Irifhand Englifli of Mac Murchad's fa^ion.

We are told, that whilft Strongbow was preparing to embark
his me|i at Milford, Henry fent an exprefs, commanding him,
on pain of his allegiance and life, to difmifs his troops, and re-
turn to court to give an account of himfelf ; but he had gone too
far, and the tenor of the melTage itfelf feemed too * menacing to
abide its confequences. Strongbow, Uierefore, weighed anchor,
and, in a few hours after, landed in the bay of Waterford,
on the a 3d of Auguft, at the head of two hundred knights
and one thoufand two hundred foot foldiers, well appointed.
Here he was joined by Mac Murchad, Fitz-Stephens, Fitz-Ge-
rald, and Raymobd, with their forces, who attended hisarrivaU
A council of war was held, and, as it was of the utmoft con*
iequence to pofiefs themfelves of Waterford, as well for the fkcip-
lity of receiying fuccours from South Wales, as for their owa
fecurity in cafe of a future defeat, the difpofitions were made to
aflfault it next day, without waiting the tedious fbrm of a (lege,
which their critical fituation would by no means permit. The
combined forces advanced to the aflault with great intrepidity,
and were as bravely received by the befieged, who, after a
bloody co6fli(ft, obliged them to found a retreat. Next day they
reneweij'the attack, in different places, with frefli forces but
fucceeded in none ! Raymond, who commanded as general in
this fiege, became very doubtful of the event. He carefully
furveyed all the walls and approaches to the town : he noticed
an houfe projeding from the walls, the beams of the floors of
which were lodged in them, and wooden pofts fixed in the
ground, outfide the walls, to fupport this airy manfion. Si«
lently, in the night, he had thefe fupporters knpgked off, and,

Y y 2 as

348 HISTORY OFI R;E LAND.

A.C. as he expe£led, down fell the houfe, and, with its weight, a
part of the wall. A confiderable breach being thus iuddenly
made, in ruftied a body of troops, prepared for the purpofe,
who, traverfmg the walls, put to the fword all they met ; and
then, proceeding to the gates, threw them open for the admif-
(ion of their companions. The city was foon one fcene of car-
nage, and the licentious and diflblute foreigners, glutted them-
felves with every fpecies of cruelty, and partly fatiated their
avarice with the plunder of that commercial city.

The relentlefs Mac Murchad, callous to the feelings of huma-
nity, and, as if to add infults to the diftrelTes of the furviving
citizens, fent exprefs to Ferns for his daughter Aofe, whom he
immediately after married there to Strongbow, and then had
him faluted Righ-Damhna, or prefumptive heir to the crown of
Leinfter. But love fpeedily gave way to ambition, and the tak-
ing of Dublin (with Waterford and Wexford already in their
pofTeflion) mud give to Mac Murchad the abfolute command of
a confiderable part of the kingdom. They immediately began to
prepare the* army for the march, of which the monarch was well
apprized, and which called him from his attacks on Thomond.
He caufed all the pafTes and defiles, in the road towards Dublin,
to be fortified and manned, and the road itfelf to be broke up in
feveral places to retard the march of the enemy, whilft he at-
tended with a refpedable army to hang over their march, or
give them battle, as he judged mod proper. But the confede-
rates evaded all thefe toils, by taking another and a lefs fre*
quented route ; and croffing the mountains of Glendeloch, got
the ftart of the royal army, and entrenched themfelves near the
walls of Dublin, at a time that they thought them many milea
from it. The objed for wTiich this army was raifed being thua
defeated, the different chiefs demanded their difmiffion of the

2 monarchy

HISTORYOF IRELAND. 349

monarch, which he was obliged to grant, and fo leave Dublia A.C.
expofed to all the horrors of war and defolation.

The citizens, who had cxpefted the attack, took every pru-
dent precaution to defend themfelves ; and Mac Murchad and
Strongbow, who, by the obftinate defence of Wexford and
Waterford, judged that the taking of Dublin muft coft much
blood, wiflxed to be in pofleflion of it on eafier terms. O'Re-
gan, in the name of his mafter, fummoned the citizens to fur-
render, and promifed to prefefve their immunities, and pafs a

general a6t of oblivion for all paft offences. St. Laurence O'

•» _

Toole, their archbifhop, defirous to avoid the effufion of blood,
exerted his influence to prevail on the burghers to enter into a
treaty. A deputation of the citizens, with this moft venerable
prelate at their head, waited on Mac Murchad at the head quar-
ters. Numberlefs difficulties were flarted to protract figning the
capitulation, whilft Raymond le Grofs, and Miles Cogan, were
carefully examining the walls of the city, to find out the moft

. likely place of afTaulting it with fuccefs ; who, as Cambrenfis
cxprefTes it—" were more earneft to fight under the ban-
" ner$ of Mars in the field, than fit in the fenate with Jupiter
** in council." Whilft the deputies were amufed in the camp,
and the burghers, unguarded, impatiently waited their return,
the two generals led their troops to the loweft and leaft defenfi-
ble part of the walls, the furamits of which a few gained, and
thefe were followed by numbers. Notice was given to the
camp of their fuccefs, the gates were forced open, and in lefs
than two hours the city was one fcene of blood. The cruelty of
of the foldiery could not be reftrained ; houfes were plundered
and fired, the citizens butchered in cold blood, and matrons and

' virgins violated in the fight of their expiring hufbands and
fathers ! In the height of this carnage and conflagration, Mac
Murchad and Strongbow entered the city in triumph, to enjoy»

with

349 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. with their own eyes, the bloody effeds of their hellifh m'achina-
tions ; and, as a reward to Cogan, for the unfoldier-like part
he adted in this mod perfidious plot, they created him, on the
fpot, governor of Dublin, and to the foldiers they gave the pil-
lage of the town! The 21ft of September, 1170, was the day
of this tremendous maflacre. In a few days after Dermod and
Strongbow invaded Meath, and burned, defpoiled, and wafted
the country without mercy. Roderic, rouzed from his lethargy,
fent a mefTage to Dermod, menacing the death of his fon if he
did not immediately withdraw his troops, and atone to O'Ruark
for the devaftations and murders committed in his country j but
to this he returned a moft infolent anfwer, and, far from avow-
ing himfelf his liegeman, he declared he would not lay down
his arms till he made all Ireland acknowlege his fway, and him
In particular. Roderic, enraged, had the head of young Art,
and two more of Dermod's hoftages, cut off, and declared war
againft him.

The perfidy, cruelty, and butchery of Mac Murchad and his
foreign aiTociates, aftonifhed and terrified the whole kingdom.
The reader has feen the manner in which the Irifii carried on
their doiiiefiic wars. Every thing was managed above board ;
armies met on a day appointed, and, by mutual confent, battles
were fought. Treaties of peace were moft religioufly obfcrved ;
conquefts were never followed by cruelties and butcheries ; and
properties were conftantly preferved in families ! How could
fuch a people — indeed any people — guard againft an enemy de-
void of every principle of honour or humanity — who the moft
facrcd ties of religion could not reftrain ? Such were their pre-
fent ones ; and- Cambrenfis, Stainhurft, Campion, Hanmer,
dec. their own hiftorians, are my evidences. No wonder then
if the aftoniflied clergy fliould aflcmble in council, as they did
this winter, under the prefidency of St. Gelafius the primate, to

explore

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

explore the caufe of fuch dreadful maflacres pradifed by one fet
of Chrifttans againft another ! They concluded them to be per-
mitted by the will of heaven^ for their Jiill countenancing an
unnatural traffick with England, which confided in purchafing
their children arid relations as flaves I — For they were already in
perfeA accord with Rome in every point of drfcipline. They
requeiled of Roderic to abolifli this cuflomy and to emancipate
thefe Englifh flaves ! and this public a£t proves at once the
piety and fimplicity of the clergy, and the general innocence
of manners and piety of the people* which Bede, on a fimilar oc«
cafion in his own daysj acknowledged !

CHAP. IL

Henry J by proclamation^ recalls his fubjeSls from Ireland ^-^ the
Jituation which thisy and the death of Mac Murchad^ reduces
them to— offer a formal furrender of their conquefis to Henry ^
which he refufes— Dublin bejieged by Roderic-^the garrifon offer
tafubmit and furrender^-^their fropofals rejeSled'—furprize the
€amp of the monarch and dijperfe his troops— 'the fiege of Dublin
raifed—^Henry receives the fuhmiffon of Strongbow, and invades
Ireland— the princes of Leath'^Mogha fubmit to hinp^^remarks ^
on the parade ofEngliJb writers^

WHILST Dermodjt and his aObciates, thus carried every
thing with an high hand, the fame of their exploitta
was wafted to Aquitainj and Henry, with indignation and jea-
loufy heard, that, not content with his kingdom o£ Leinfter,
Mjic Murchad laid puhlk claim to the monarchy of Ireland, andf

1171

,r2 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

. *

A.C. his fubjcvft Strongbow was declared prefumptive heir to the crown

of Leinfter! He quickly forefaw that their fuccefs would en-

danger the peace of his own dominions, and by throwing the

war into Wales the Welch might again become an independent

people, and proclaim the found of liberty through the reft of

Briton. A proclamation was therefore immediately iflued forth

in the following words> and fept to Ireland.

" Henry, king of England^ duke of Normandy, and Aqui-
*' tain, &c.

" We forbid and inhibit, that» from henceforth, no fliip from
^' any place of our dominions, ihall traffic or pafs into Ireland ;
and likewife charge, that all our fubjeds, on their duty and
allegiance, which are there commorant, (hall return from
thence into England, before Eafter next following, upon paia
of forfeiture of all their lands, and the perfons fo difobeying

^' to be banifhed our land and exiled for ever.

It may be eafily conceived what a mortifying and unexpe<^ed
blow this muft prove to the ambitious expectations of Strong-
bow and his partifans ; but their fituation became prefently
more critical and alarming, when they heard of the ficknefs and
1 171 death of their protedlor Mac Murchad in his capital of Ferns.
This execrable wretch died a fhocking fpedacle to infatiable and
vicious ambition. His body became covered with foetid fores;
he was attacked with the morbus pedicularis ; and he died in the
greateft mifery, without friends, pity, or fpiritual comfort!
This was attended with flill worfe confequcnces, for it detached
Donal O'Brien from this intereft, who prefently made peace with
the monarch, and moft of the Lagenians themfelves followed
the example : however, fome fepts of them adhered clofely to the
intereft of Strongbow*

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 353

In this diftreffed fituation S^ongbow called together his moft AC.
faithful friends, who refolved on the only expedient which found
fenfe could dilate. Raymond le Grofs was diipatched with ihe
following letter to Henry.

*' Moft puiflant Prince, and my dread Sovereign.

'^ I came into this land wijth your majefty's leave and favour
** (as far as I remember), to aid your fervant DermodMac Mur-
*^ chad. What I have won was with the fword ; .what is giveft
" me, I give you. I am yours» life and living/' > ^

He prefented this letter to Henry, ftiM in Aquitain, but was re-
ceived with marksof high difpleafure ; and, after a long attendance,
was obliged to return to Ireland without any anfwer. This irre-
folution of Henry's is afcribed to the murder of the archbifliop
of Canterbury about this time ; gs if the great objed of acquiring
one of the finefl: iilands in the world, was to give way to the
confequences attending the death of a prelate, whofe life had been
long devoted to deftrw^ion ! It is an abfurdity to fuppofe it ;
and Henry's behaviour (hewed how little he attended to the con->
fequences of it. Henry's irrefolution proceeded from a more
important confideration ; to accept the offers of Strongbow was
to involve himfelf in a war with Ireland, the iflfue of which might
be uncertain, efpecially now that he was fo deeply engaged with
Rome. When he had procured the bull of Adrian IV. in i j 56,
his mother charged him to avoid all altercations with Ireland,
and he had not forgot this inhibition. The time allowed by his
proclamation had now elapfed ; Strongbow^ and his adherents,
were profcribed in Britain, and their avarice and cruelty made
them univerfally detefted in Ireland. Roderic once more ap-
peared in arms j he fummoned all his friends and allies to his
ftandard^ and he refolved to get rid of this fet of banditti. Thirty
(hips of war had, for fome time, guarded the bay of Dublin,
Vo]L. IL it z to

554 H I S TO RY OF IRELAND.

A.C to prevent any fuccours being rccieived by the garrifon, and, at
the head of a large army, Roderic appeared on the plains of
Dublin. The garrifon were not in the meantime idle; they
called in all their put- pofts, and they drained their other garrifons
to ftrengthcn that of Dublin. Donal Cavenagh, &c. at the head
of a feled body of Irilhi after encountering a variety of dangers,
threw himfelf and his men into that city alfo ; fo that Strong-
bow, Fitz- Gerald, Raymond, Prendergaft, the Cogans, with
their heft men at arms, were there aflembled.

Roderic, at length, inverted it in form. The difpofition of
his troops fhewed him well v.erfed in the art of war ; and if his
vigilance had been equal to his abilities, he would have got a
fpeedy riddance of the foreigners. The head quarters were
iixed at Caftle Knoc, three miles to the weft of Dublin, O*
Ruark and O'Cearuibhil, were pofted at CluantarflFto the north
of the LiflFe, whilft O'Ccvcnagh, /ucceflbr to Mac Murchad in
the kingdom of Leinfter, with his Lagenians, occupied the op-
pofite ihore, and O'Brien, and his Mamonians, entrenched
themfelves at Kilmainhim. By this difpofition, aided by the
fliips in the harbour, they were cut off from all relief, they pro-
pofed taking it by famine ; and the blockade continued two
months. In this diftreffed fituation Strongbow called a council
of war to deliberate on what fhould be done, and it was unani-
moufly agreed to make a formal furrender to Roderic of all their
caftles and ftrong holds ; to render him homage as their lawful fo-
vcreign, and to hold them for the future under him as his vaflals.
They requefted of St. Laurence OToole to carry thefe propofals
to the monarch, and to intercede for them. The holy prelate
accepted the commiffion ; they were formally deliberated on, and
they were found inadmifilble. Another prince of the blood of
Gathoir-Mor had been eleded king of Leinfter; and thefe chiefs,
whofc tcrritoriea had been unlawfully ufurped,now reclaimed them.i

Thr

HISTORY OFIRELAND. 35c

The only terms that would be granted to the foreigners were, A.CX
that, upon condition that they would peaceably furrendcr the
city of Dublin, with the ports of Waterford, Wexford, and
their other ftrong holds, by days afligned for each, they fhould
then be provided with tranfports to convey them and their effeds
back to Wales without the leaft hurt or injury ; but if thefc
terms, fo reafonable and equitable, were not agreed to, then
they would fpeedily prepare for a general aflault, and put the
garrifon to the fword. The archbiihop returned with this an-
fwer, and, very probably, his own importunities made it fo
favourable. But, alas ! What availed thefe conceflions to the
befieged ! They had been already proclaimed traitors in Britain ;
their natural fovereign reje&ed the offers they made him, and
gave them up as a people devoted to certain deflrudion. In fo
deplorable a (ituation they took a refolution worthy gallant men,
who had no alternatives but vidory or certain ruin. They una*
nimoufly agreed to make a defperate fally, and to fall upon the.
monarch's own quarters, which, they had reafon to think, were
but carelefsl)^ guarded, efpecially while this negociation . was
carrying on. The archbiihop wa&in their hands ; and while
the troops without, and he within, thought they were deliberate*
ing on this meflage, they were every where arming for the
fortie. Before day- light they attacked the monarch's quarters,
but certainly with a much larger force than their vs^riters fet
forth. The out-guards, fupine and carelefs, were eafily maf-
tered. They threw themfelves into the camp, and every thing
was foon in confufion. The befiegers concluded that they had
received a large fupply from England/and their fiirprize and fear
made them magnify the danger. Roderic hinpifelf, we are told,
was at this time preparing for a bath; and, fo hot was the
alarm, that he efcaped half-drefled, and thus fet the example
to his followers. The vidorious Britons nretreated to the city,

Z z a loadcA

356 HIS TORY OF IRELAND.

-^•^' laadcB with fpoils and gloiy ; atid the Irifti princes, in imita-*
• tioh of their chief, broke up their camps and marched back to
their different territories ! Thus the defperate ftate of Strongbow's^
affairs, and the ineyitable ruia. which feemed to await him dnd
his followers, were the very means of his wonderful . fdccefs !'
Could he have been afTured of ah aiyiiifn in Britainr^ he ^ould'
have thought hi mfcif happy to reach thlither, but, cut off from
fuch refource, he formed the generous refolution to conquer
or die*

The kingdom was onoe more broke into faflions : theirrfefo*
lute and temporiling fpirit of Roderic loft him the confidence of
the nation^ and Donal O'Brien again renounced his authority,
and entered into a freflx treaty with his brother-in-law Strotig-
bow. Still we cannot doubt but Strongbbw would be gldd td b^
received into the monarch's favour, and render^itti homage for
his territory ; and it is a moft reaibnable prefumption to fuppofe
that he made new overtures on this head. He could not hope
. to remain independent ; and the probability is, that he would
rather hoM his dominions by Iri(h tenure, than p\it liimfelf into
thb power of Henry, whoiei dominion he dreaded, and whofe
hatredtO him he was well apprized oF; but Roderic poflefied
all the pride and haughtinefs of an Iri(h monarch, without that
determined fpirit fo neceflary to fuppott them*

J 172 Henry heard with amazement the new change in Strongbow's
affairs; he blamed his own timidity for not accepting, the tender
he made, and the former apprehenfiohs of his mother he faw
were imaginary. He repaired to BHtain, and made large levies
to invade Ireland. He fent over for Strongbow, received him ■
gracioufly. (fay the Chronicles of North and South Wales), re-
ftored him to his eftates in England and Normandy, and declared
him fteward of Ireland. Whatever might be his inward diflike
to Strongbow, it was his intereft to footh and flatter him, and it

8 was.

H I S T O R Y O F IRELAND- 357

was equally the other's to feem perfuaded of his good intentions. A.C.
Thus reciprocal interefts, without love or fincerity, brought •
about a firm coalition between Henry and Strongbow ! Their
conferences ran on the reduction of Ireland ; and, from what
Strongbow had already eflfeded, Henry could not doubt but his
expedition muft be crowned with glory. By treaty Henry was
to be put in poffeflion of Dublin, Waterford, and all the mari-
time towns which Strongbow held, and he was guarantied the
peaceable tenure of the reft of his territories.

But whilft Henry was preparing, during the whole fummer,.
for his Irifh expedition, with aftonifliment we behold no attempts
whatever to oppofe his landing, or even to retake any of thofe
cities, fo neceflary for the fecurity of his fleet and army, except
an unfuccefsful attack made by O'Ruark on the city of Dub-
lin ! But how could it be otherwife ? Roderic had let flip feveral
opportunities of annihilating his enemies, and every new accef-
fioft of power to them was a frefli fotPrce of reproach to him,.
Under a prince, who had loft the confidence of his people, no^
vigorous meafure cQuld be adopted ; and thofe from whom the
nation might hope for proteftion publickly betrayed its caufe !
The two Munfters, after renouncing the authority of Roderic,
entered into treaty with Strongbow 5 and the event would feem
to prove, privately encouraged the invafion of Henry, fince we
behold Mac Carthy and O'Brien the two firft to render homage
to him immediately after his landing !

Every thing being at length prepared, Henry, with a fleet
of four hundred fhips (fay fome ; with others, but of two hun-
dred and forty), weighed anchor from Milford Haven with a
fair wind, and in a few hours entered the harbour of Water-
ford, Oftober the i8th, 1 172. His whole force confifted of but
four hundred knights and four thoufand men at arms. On hia
landing Strongbow, kneeling, prefented him the keys of that

cityi.

3s8 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A*C. citjr, and putting his hands clofed into thofe of Henry, did him
homage for his kingdom of Leinfter. The very next day Dermod
Mac Carthy prefcnted him the keys of his capital city of Cprk,
and rendered him homage as monarch of Ireland. After a few
days repofe Henry marched his army to Lifmore^ where he
refted two days, and from thence proceeded to Cafhell, at which
city he was waited upon by Donal O'Brien, prince of Thomond,
\^o tendered to Henry the keys of his capital of Limeric, and
did him homage as his fovereign ; and his example was foon
after followed by Fitz- Patrick, prince of Oflbry, O'Felan chief
of the Deafies, and other princes. When Henry arrived at
Caihelh he there produced the bull of Adrian IV. confirmed by
his fucceflbr Alexander HI. by which the fovereignty of Ireland
was transferred from its natural princes to this llranger. At his
defire a fynod of the clergy was immediately fummoned to meet
there* and deliberate on the admiflibility of the bull, in which
Chriftian hifliop of Lifmore, as legate, wastoprefide; but, in
the next chapter, we (hall give an account of this bull, and the
refult of the council held thereon. In the mean time it may
not beamifs to advert to the vain and ridiculous parade of £ng-*
liih writers, and their Irifh aflfociates, with refpe£t to this prince.
We are told that his army proceeded in flow and folemn marches
through the country, in order to firike the rude inhabitants with
the fplendor and magnificence of their procei&on; and we have
been already entertained with the terror which the appearance of
Fitz-Stephen6, and his armed forces, impreffed on the natives,
who had nev^r beheld the like! Aflertions of this kind, indeed,
might appear plaufible had this people dwelt on the other fide
the Atlantic ; but when a brave and poliflied people were the
fubjedls, the futility of the aflertion diverts our thoughts from
choler to contempt ! The reader has been already fufficiently
acquainted with the diftinguifhed figure which the Iriih nation

cut

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 359

cut In arts and arms. He has heard how remarkably attentive AC.
thejr were to the article of their armour j that their corflets
and head-pieces were ornamented with gold ; that the handks
of their fwords were of the fame metal, and the ihields of the
knights, and of the nobility, weremoftly of pure gold orfilver!.
He has been informed that their heavy-armed infantry were
cafed in armour from head to foot; and he muft be convineed,
that the equeftrian orders among the Celtas of Europe origi--
nated from hence ! Yet, in oppofition to fuch ftubborn fads,
Britilh writers have never once blulhed for impofing fuch falflioods
Europe ! It were even an abfurdity to fuppofe — though we*
wanted thefe evidences — that a rich and commercial nation, con-
ilantlyinarms againft each other, ihould want fuch neceflary-
appendages. Did they not wage conftant war with- the Danes.
for more than two centuries, and (what is more than can be r
faid for either England or France) never laid down their arms,
till they expelled them: the kingdom ? And, had they no other
opportunities, mufl we not fuppofe that they would borrow
from them the ufe of fo obvious a protedion ? They contributed:
largely, by their blood and treafures, to the conquefl: of the*
Holy Land ; and the noble endowments for the knights Hofpi-»
tallers by Turlogh O'Connor, Connor O'Brien, and other Irifh.
princes (the vifible remains of many of which proclaim the mag-
nificence and piety of thefe days) fufficiently prove thii. Muft
not thefe knights and adventurers to the Holy Land have learned'
the ufe of armour, fhouldwe fuppofe it unknown befoire? And
could the fight of a few needy Welflimen, of defperate lives and:
fortunes, ftrike the lri(h with terror and amazement f or could;
the parade of an army of four or five thoufand men be fuch a no-
velty to them, who frequently faw their own prinpes, in all the
|omp of royalty, at the head of thirty or forty thoufand ?. Invefr

tigaiionfc

360 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

AC. ligations of this kind arc part of the province of hiilorf, and the
candid and generous Britons of modern days will, I flatter my-
felf, be pleajfed to fee proper juftice done to a nation with whom
they are fo clofely linked by affinity and intereft.

CHAP. III.

Synod of Cajhell — the bulls of Adrian and Alexander — complained
of by Irijh writers^ and fuppofed fpurious — real bulls — the rea^
fons that indeed Adrian to grant a bull to Henry — why it lay
concealed for Jixteen years^^lr eland facrificed to unite Alexander
and Henry-^the conduct of Alexander not to be jujiified — Cam^
* •^brenjiss account of the a5ts of the council of CaJ}:iel expofed-^
accept of the bulls — the letter of O'Ruark^ for Jiyle^ language ^
andfentimentf infinitely fuperior to what is contained in thofe
bulist

TH £ fynod of Cafliell was fplendid and numerous. Be*
fides the legate, there appeared the archbifhops of Mun-
fter, LeinQer, and Conaught, with their fufFragans, many
mitred abbots and inferior clergy. The bull of Adrian IV. was
then produced ; of which here follows a copy :

** Adrian bifliop, fervant of the fervants of God, to his deareft
** fon in Chrift, the illuftrious king of England, greeting,
*' and apoftolical braedidion.

*' Full laudably and profitably hath your magnificence con-
** ceived the defign of propagating your glorious renown on
** earth, and completing your reward of eternal happinefs in
" heaven ; whilft, as a catholic prince, you are intent on en-
larging

HISTORYOF IRELANB. 361

•^ larging the borderja of the church, teaching the truth of the ^*^*
<« Chriftian faith to the ignorant and ^ rude, extirpating the
** roots of vice from the field of the Lord ; and for the more
«* convenient execution of this purpofe, requiring the ccunfel
** and favour of the apoftolic fee: in which, the maturer your
" deliberation, and the greater the difcretion of your procedure>
" by fo much the happier we truft will be your prpgrefs with
<^ the afli (lance of the Lord ; as all things are ufed to come to a
** profperous end and iffue, which take their beginning from
•« the ardor of faith and the love of religion.

^^ There is, indeed, no doubt but that Ireland, and all the
<* iflands on which Chrift, the fun of righteoufnefo^ hath flione,
** and which have received the dodirine of the Chriftian faiths
♦' do belong to thejurifdidlionof St. Peter and the holy Roman
'* church, as your excellency alfo doth acknowlege; and there-
*' fore we are the more folicitous to propagate the tighteous
<' plantation of faith in this land, and the branch acceptable to
^« God, as we have the fecret convi&ion of confcience that
" this is more efpecially our bounden duty. You then, my dear
<< fon in Chrift, have fignified to us your defire to enter into
<* the iQand of Ireland, in order to reduce the people to obedi-«
^' ence unto the laws, and to extirpate the plants of vice; and
** that you are willing to pay from each a yearly penfion of one
<* penny to St. Peter, and that you will preferve the rights of the
*« churches of this land whole and inviolale. We, therefore,
<< with that grace and acceptance fuited to your pious and laud-«
"*' able defign, and favourably aflenting to your petition, do hold
** it good and acceptable, that, for extending the borders of the
•^ church, reftraining the progrefs of vice, for the correftion-of
"<* manners, the planting of virtue, and the encreafe of religion,
** you enter this ifland, and execute therein whatever (hall per-
^^ tain to the honour of God and welfare of the land ) and that
Vol. U. a a a the

362 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. «« the people of this land receive you honourably, and reverence
*' you as their lord, the rights of their churches ftill remaining^
«* facred and inviolate, and faving to St. Peter the annual pen-
'* fion of one penny from every houfe.

^' If then you be refolved to carry the defign you have con-
«» ceivedinto eflFedual executionf ftudy to form this nation to
*^ virtue and manners^ and labour by yourfelf, and others you
«' fhall judge meet for this work,- in faith, word, and life, that
•• the church may be there adorned, that the religion of the
*• Chriftian faith may be planted and grow up, and that alJ
" things pertaining ta the honour of God, and falvation of
" fouls be fo ordered, that you may be entitled to the fulnefs of
** heavenly reward fronvGod, and obtain a glorious renown on .
" earth through all ages. Given at Rome in the year of falva-*
" tion'ii66.'*

Next was read the bull of his fucceflor, Alexander Ill.'con-* •
firming the above donation of Adrian, to the following effefl:: .

" Alexander^ biflbop, fervant of the fervants of God, to his"
** moft dear fon in Chrift, the illuftrious king of England;
" health and apoftolical benediction,

** Forafmuch as thefe things which have been on good rea-
*' fons granted by our predeceflbrs, deferve to be confirmed in
" the folleft manner ; and confidering the grant of the dominion
«* of the realih of Ireland by the venerable pope Adrian, we,"
•' purfuing his footfteps, do ratify and confirm the fame (referv-
*• ing to St. Peter, and to the holy Roman church, as well irr
'* England as in Ireland, the yearly penfion of one penny from
" every houfe), provided that the abominations of the land
" being removed, that barbarous people, Chriflians only in
•* name, may, by your means, be reformed, and their lives and
<« converfation mended, fo that their difordered church beings

" thus

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 363

*♦ thus reduced to regular difcipline, that nation may, with the ^C.
'^ name of Chriftians, be fo In a6land deed. Given at Rome in
** the year of fal vation 1172."

Our writers complain loudly of the injuftice and want of foun-
dation in the charges exhibited in the above bulls ; they men-
tion the flourifliing ftate of religion and letters in this very age,
in which no lefs than three of our prelates were afterwards ca*-
lionized by Rome, namely, Celfus and Malachie, fucceflbrs in
the fee of Ardmagh, and St. Laurence O'Toole, archbifliopof
Dublin. They recite with thefe the names of a Ghriftian, a
Gelalius, a Malchus, a Maurice, &c. &c. prelates of moft ex^
alted virtue and learning.— It had been better for the nation that
they could have mentioned a Brien, a Cineidi, a Ceallachan, &c/
who, with the fword, would at once cut through the fafcination !
In their zeal for the honour of the church they contend, that be*
caufe thefe bulls were unjuft, that they were therefore forged;
as if popes, in their temporal capacities, were exempt from hu-
man depravities ; and, as if afts of injuflice exercifed by them
affefted the religion, not the perfons !

We have every reafon to think them genuine. They were
publifhed, in the life-time of Alexander, by Cambrenfis, who,
though in moft inflances, a taan as devoid of truth and candour
as any that ever took up the pen, yet would notprefume, on the
prefent occafion, topublifh abulias Alexander's, if he was not
well authorifed fo to do { and the authenticity of this confirms
that of the other. Add to this, that the efFeds they produced
OH the prefent affembly, and, through their influence, on the na-
tion, is a proof, not to be controverted, of their reality. How
much it reftrained the hands of the Irilh, not only upon this,
but upon future occkfions, we may infer from the following re-* |
markable words in a memorial from O'Neill, king of Ulfter, pre-
fented in 1330, to John the twCnty-fecond pope of Rome, in the

A a a 2 name

364 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. namedf the Irifh nation — " During the courfc of fomany agc^
*♦ (3000 years) our fovereigns prefer ved the independency of thei^
** country ; attacked more than once by foreign powers, they
** wanted neither force nor courage to repel the bold invaders ;
** but that which they dared to do againft force, they could not
" againfi the Jimple ' decree of one of your predecejcrs. Adrian, '
&c *•

The validity of thefe bulls I think cannot be doubted : it only-
remains to know how they were procured, and why bulls granted
at fuch diftances from each other, afid for the fame purpofe». •
ihoukl appear at one and the fame time? This inveftigation
. will be at the fame time a refutation of the arguments offered
againft them. Adrian was by birth an £nglifhman» the fpurious*
offspring of a prieft ; deferted by his father, be repaired to Paris>^
and was there inftruded in philofophy and divinity, by Maria—
nus O'Gormon, prpfeflfor of the feven liberal fcieaces (fo he is
ftyled)^ as he himfelf acknowleges t- ^n 1154, lie was raifed.
to the pontificate J and fome time after Henrjr^I. was proclaimed
king of England, he fent a formal embafl(y to congratulate the
new pope on his elevation^ This mark of attention in Henry,
was highly pleaiing to Adrian^ A ftriA friendibip arofe be*
tween them, and this encouraged the young king, whofe ambi •
tion was boundlefs, to requeft a grant of the kingdom of Ireland,
from the pope. It was a flattering circumilance to him as pon*-
tiff, as it was acknowleging the power affumed by the fee of
Rome, of 4ifpofing of kingdoms and empires. He by this
means gratified the defi re of aggrandizing his native country, add-
ed a frefh accefEon of wealth and power to Rome, and rendered
a mighty prince one of her tributaries. Such were the reafons^
that prevailed on Adrian, to grant the kingdom of Ireland to*

• Scou Chronicon, vol.;Il. p. 9^8, &c» f Grat. Luc, p. i64*

7 ' Henry.

H I S T O R Y O F I R E L A N D. 365

Henrjr. Whether he had a power to make this donation, and A.C.
y if he had, whether it was juft fo to do, were obje£ls which never

once employed hit thoughts. That it lay concealed for iixteen
years is granted, during which time every adion of Henry *s life
fhewed how little difpofed he was to be thought a champion of
the church, and of courfc what little reliance he had on the force
of this bull. We have fcen Mac Murchad apply to him in 1 1 68,
"•arid it is afl5rmed, that he oflFered to hold the kingdom of Lein**
Iter under him, provided he aflifted in re-eftabli(hing him on that
throne. In 1171, Strongbow and bis followers made a formal
furrender of it to him, which he abfolutely refufed ; but, fay the
panygerifts of this prince, it was becaufe that they had prefumed
to invade a country, which he intended to conquer ! Was evelr
a more weak and ridiculous reafon ftarted ? But if he not only
rejeded this offer of his own fubjedls in 1171, but even pro-»
fcribed them;, how account for his gladly accepting it in 11 72,
and receiving them back to grace and favour ? Is it, that thefe
gentlemen fuppofe : their readers void of fenfe and refledion,
when they prefume to advance fuch abfuf dities ; or that time
gives a fan£tion to ill founded afferti^ns ?

The truth of the matter is : Ireland, though divided into
fadtions, and, as we have feen, not governed by monarchs legally
chofen for above a hundred and fifty years, yet ftill appeared
formidable and refpeftabic in the eyes of Europe. They revered
the nation, who not only preferved her independency in the height
of Roman defpotifm, but continued to break the fhackles with
which flie fettered the reft of Europe ; they admired her noble '
and fuccefsful efforts againft the Danes, to the total expulfion
of that people ; and they could not forget that to the piety and
learning of her fons, they were indebted for the revival of letters*
It was not want of inclination but a dread of the power that was
to oppofe himy that made Henry fo backward to engage in the

caufe

366 HISTORY OF I R E L A N D^

A.C. caufe of Mac Murchad, and afterwards of Strongbow* Btit
\vhen he beheld this lad, contrary to all expedations, by his va-
lour, not only able to extricate himfelf from the dangers ^vith
which he was environed, but alfo to re-eftablifli himfelf in his
kingdom of Lcinfter, he became convinced that he counted more
on the power of the Irifh than he ought. The fame reafons that
made him for fo many years a perfecutor of the church and the
clergy (interest), now pointed out to him a contrary courfe.
He- had completed the rupture with Rome, by the murder of
the famous Thomas a Becket, archbiQiop of Canterbury, who fell
by the hands of his affaffins at the very altar, the 29th of Decem-
ber 1 1 70. His name was execrated over all Europe ; at Rome
it was dangerous to mention it. He was to have been excommu-
nicated there on Holy Thurlday 1171, but that his deputies
BOLDLY SWORE, that the murder of Thomas was without his
participation, which fufpended it for a time ; but his territories
on the continent remained under- in terdifl:, and the excommuni-
tion of the Englifli bifhops in full force ; and yet at this time and
under thefe difficulties, fome have afferted that Alexander con-
firmed the donation of Adrian in confequence of a requeft from
the Irifli clergy** ! Early in the year 1 172, Henry repaired to
England, to be nearer at hand to attend the affairs of Ireland,
which now feemed to demand his more particular notice. Here
he received advice, that the legates from Rome had arrived in
Normandy to hear his defence, and in confequence of it, either
to exculpate or excommunicate him for the murder of Thomas
• a Becket. How much this new apoftle of Ireland regarded in his
heart thefe anathema, •may be colleded from this anfwer to a
couple of cardinals, who two years before his had threatened
him with a fimilar compliment—** By the eyes of God (his

• Flcury Hift. Ecclef. torn, xv, f. 323.

commoa

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 367

*• common oath, fays he) I neither regard you or your excom- AC,
'^ munications, any more than I do an egg !" But it was his
prefent intereft to be on good terms with the pope, as he hoped
by getting his confirmation of Adrian's bull of donation, to make
the redudion of Ireland— now open to himr— on eafier terms.
He therefore repaired to Normandy to meet the legates; but
though he affefted to dcfpife the cenfures of the church, yet he.
feemed to pay greater regard to an oath than the reverend advo-
cates he fent to Rome, who there fwore in his name^ (and as if
by his directions, though it appears they had none from him),
that he was innocent of the death of Thomas. The legates de-
manded his own oath, as a confirmation of what they had depofed,'
and which was the condition on which the excommunication was*
delayed ; but this he not only refufed to comply with, but abruptly
quitted the aflembly. He had two years before this, declared, not
only his contempt of Rome, but obliged his Englifh fubje^Sis of all
ages to renounce their obedience to her 5 and the legates did hot
wi(htopuQi him to greater extremities. They fent a meflage to
Henry, by the biflibps.of Lizieux and Salifbury, and the arch-
deacon of Poitiers, his particular cohfidents, by^ whom he was
prevailed upon to give another meeting to the legates- Here he
not only took the oath required of him, but freely fubfcribed to
/ every article they thought fit to impofe upon him, to the great
aftonifhment of every body, but the few who were in the fecret.
I do fuppofe, (and I think the event makes it certain)^ that the
real caufe of this wonderful reformation^ was, a promife, in cafe
of his compliance, of haTing the btiU of Adrian confirmed, but
othcrwife to have it reverfed,and fo unite all Ireland againft him.
—In the September following, four months after this agreement,
Henry attended the council of Avranches, where he renewed all his
oaths ; and then, I take for granted, and there, he was prefented ^
with Alexander's bull. For it is- agreed on all hands, that the
y . union-

1x72

363 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. union between the pope and the king happened this year ; and it
is alfo as certaini that it was theOdober following that he landed
in Ireland ; and, in all appearance, it was thewaiting for this buH,
(which bore the date of 1172), that made his departure for that
afland fo late in the feafon, from which he did not return till the
fpring of 1 173. Thus, attending to dates and circumflancest
renders all thefe affairs, fo feemingly intricate and difficult, quite
clear. It explains the reafons that made Henry fo cautious of
meddling in Iriih affairs, till he found Strongbow firmly eftabliihed
there ; it accounts for the fudden alteration of his condud to this
nobleman, as well as to Alexander's legates ; and it at the fame
time removes all the obje&ions of Irifli writers, to the validity
of this and the former bull ; for can any thing appear more ab-
furd, than to fuppofe that ETenry, under the fandion of Rome,
would attempt to invade Ireland^ whilft her thunder was ready to
be launched againftjhimfelf ? That he fhould conquer under her
aufpices abroad, whilft ihe was juft ready to ftrip him of his own
dominions at home ?

But, to every man of principle, the condud of Alexander and
of his minifters, viewed in the moft favourable light, muft appear
hypocritical and abominabletothelaft degree! Letus fuppofehim to
have an abfolute dominion over Ireland, and that the natives were
the very people he hasdefcribed them to be ; was Henry, a prince no-^
torioufly devoid of religion, a perfecutorof the church and clergy,
cruel and vindidivein his public charader, and diffolute in pri^-
vate life ; was this prince, furrounded with fatellites, a proper
pcrfon to fend, to reform the church and people of Ireland ? But,
if Alexander and his predeceffors had not t>he fmalleft /hadow of
right whatever,, to the dominions of Ireland, as they moft cer-
tainly had not ; and if the people were the very reverfe of what
he paints them, as they moft affuredly were; what can be offered
in defence of the conduft of thiB EatAer of the ChriJUan world ?

But

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 36^

But to return to the council of Ca(hel, of whofe ads I can 'A,CX
trace no accounts, but fuch as are delivered by CambrenfiSf who
tells US, that, after accepting of the bulls, they proceeded to the re-
formations fo much wanted — *• Which were to make them Chrift-
** ians in efFefl: as well as in name, and which were to bring back
•* their church from diforder and anarchy, to regular dif-
.** cipline." — iThis reform is redilced to eight articles ; the firft
enjoins, that the people fhall not marry with their cldfe kindred.

2. The children £h?ill be.catechifedoiitfide the church-door, and

' • . , •»

infants baptized at the font. 3. The laity fhall pay tithes* 4.

The ppffeffiona o^ the church fhall be free from temporal exao-

tionsr 5. The clergy to be e^xempt from firic/ or retribution, on ac-

count of murder^ or other briraes cbminitted'hy their relations. 6.

Directs the manner of, difpofing by will of the effedis ofadying

.man. 7. Enjoins burial to the. dead. And the 8th diredts, that

diving feryice fhould be for the future performed in Ireland, in

^, every- particular according to the Ehgljflj church ; . ** fof it is meet

/^^nd juft, y2ryi the immaculate Geraldy that as If eland hath'' by

f s^ Providence received a lord and king from England,; fo fhe may

«< receive from the fame a better form of livipg ! For to his royal

. r gr^ndcjar are both the cKurch and. re^lm. of Ireland indebted

. 1* foc.whatever they have ^itnerto obtained, either of *the benefit

r ** 'Pf si^^f or 'the encreafe of religion ; fince iDefdre' ^is 'coming

•* into Ireland, evils of various kinds had, from ol^ times, gra*

*' du?^lly* pverfpread the land^ which by his ppwer and good-

!«« aef^ve aow^bpliflied," '.".''' '^

• , Of th,?f^: wonderful reforipafions of l^tjntj^^' Jhrthe benefit

** pfp(0^^* offd.the ejifireaje qf.'re1m<m\''*. th^ reader wilfeaffly

perceive^ that the two firft articles jare merely for parage ; as to the
• third, which enjoing tithes, I am to remark, that that fo exaift -

370 HISTORY 6t IkELAND.

A.C. cora and cattle^ but even devoted the tenth child to the fervice of
God ! As to the fourth aad fifth articles, which exonerate the
church and clergy from temporal laws, we have feen them the
firft things agreed to ia the council of Uifneach» fixty-one years
beCore the convening of this council of Cafhell ! As to the fixth,
or power of difpofing of efFedls 5 thecuftom of making wills was
pradifed in Ireland long before the introdu&ion of Chriflianity, and
W£(s always continued ; Vemarkable inftances of which we have
exhibited in both periods. As to the feventh article, which re«-
gards the.burial of the dead, it was a folemnity in all ages, even
to my own mtmory religioufly attended to in Ireland. As in the
days of Druidifm, fo in thofe of Chriftiahity, people were fet
apart, whofe duty it was, in a foft but melancholy tone, to recite
the pedigree> virtuQus adions, noble exploits, and liberal endow-
ments of the deceafed, in a fpecies of verfe called Caoine. The
funeral was magnificent, and the attendants numerous ; for all
the family, friends, and connexions of the deceafed failed not io
appear. From the whole it is evident, that whatever were the
refolves of this council, or whatever reforms they made, could
not be tbefe recited by Cambrenfis, thefe are certainly the pro-
dud of his own fertile brain ; for it qiuft appear highly ridicu«
lous, to behold a number of learned and grave divines, meet to
form articles for church government, which had been long before
agreed and fubfcribed to I But Gerald wanted fome pretence to
juftify the bulls of Adrian and Alexander, and bis mafter*s
ufurpation. That the clergy aflembled, accepted thefe bulls, is
what I am ready to belike ; and this is all that Henry wiflied
or cared for. Cambrenfis tells us, St. Gelafius, archbifhop
of Ardmagh, did^not attend this meeting, being indifpofed ; but
our own annals affirm» that at this time lie convened an aflembly
of the clergy of Leth--Cuin, in which he prefided under the auf-
picet of Rodcric^ and probubly (as Dr. Leland obferves), in oppo-

fitioa

HISTORY OF IHELAND. 371

(ition to that of Henry. ' So that, . upon the whole, it appears A C.
cfidentf thM Henry did not acquire, tat this time, the abfolute
^▼eminent of Ireland, as his flatterers have vainly aflertedy
'but the fovereignty of Leatfa-Moghai or fouthern Ireland only.

I have, in Chapter VIII. of the preceding Book, given the
letter of O'Ruark to the monarch, complaining of, and demand^
ing juftice for the violation of his wife— ^the fource of ^ the prc'^
fent revolution)— -in the original Latin, with a tranflation; and
I (hall cloie this chapter with the bulls of Adrian and Alexander
in their native Latin coverings. The difference in civilizatioQ
and in the cultivation of the fine arts between Rome and Ire-
land, at this time, cannot furely be exhibited in livelier colours
than by comparing the ftyle, feotiment, and language, in the
letter of this Iriih prince, with thofe in the bulls of thefe
pontiffs.

^* Adrianus epifcopus, fervus fervorum Dei, chariffimo in
'* Chriilo filio illuilri Anglorum regi, falutem 8c apollo^
** licam beacdiftionem.

*^ Laudabiliter et /atis fruduos^ de gloriofo nomine propa*

** gando in terris, et eterns felicitatis prasmio cumulando in
y cadis tua ma^nificentia cogitat, dum ad dilatandos ecclefias
^^ ^ermines, ad declarandum indodis, et rudibus populis Chrif*
'^ tian« fidei veritatem et vitiorum plantaria de agro dominico
^* extirpanda, ficut catholicus princeps intendis, et ad id conve*
'* nientius exequendttm, confilium apoftolica fedis exigis, et
'* favorem, in quo fado quanto altiore confilip, et majori difcre**
'^ tione procedis, tanto in eo felicicrem progreflum xt (prm^
'^ ftante domino) confidimus habiturum, eo quod ad bouum
^ exitum Temper et finem iblent attingere,- quas dg ardore fidei
et religionis amore principium acceperunt. Sane Hiberniam
et omnes infulas, qui fol juftitias Chriftus illuxit, et quas do-

B b b 2 *^ cumenta

»_• — ■ — 1-^

372 H I ST^AJr.O.F IViJRhA^ Pi .

A.Ci f« camenta fidei ChriJQtiaa^ .of pprugi^t, »d ji^ ^ati Ppt% flt{(g^f(^
'< fantfte Rotnanx eccleftK -j(t[ttpd. tUft: ^l&ain, JiobttiUs, .r(^(tg9
'.^ nofcit) nom eft dubium pcrtlnoj^e;, ^146.-^0(0 la fm lihwfi^f
^' plantatiooein fidelem, qt germen gjWt^ Dea i^iferipvi^
•^'quanto id a nobis iiiterno* ejijamine diftn*3iu» ^pfpicimus
** exigcndum fignijScalli quideqni nobis (fiU in Chriftp ^barif&fne)
^ te Hibernian infuUra^ - 4d ful^d^ndMPpt Uli^m pap\ilui^ legir
f' bus^ et Vittorujn. plantaiTia itfde exUrpapdji^.veUe i(^c^%&» et
*f de fingulis domibas annaam ufiius-d^i^ariij beato Pctrp yellc
V folvere peQiionem, et jura ecclefiarmm illiii8 t?rpse illibatat «t
*^ Integra confervai'e : ixos {taque pi«9^ ft lau4i>b|le d^fidef Hhu
f< tmim cum:, favore C0pgriio , fyic^fuf^s, et p^titioni^ tuap
^ 'benignum xin(>endentQ9, aflQpnfu^; g|atum «t accepti^m ba)>e-
*' mus, ut (pro dilatahdis ecclefias terminisi pro vitiorum rp^
** ftringendo decurfu, pro corrigendis moribus, et virtutibus
** ir^ferendis, pro religionis Chriftianae augmento) infuJam i^lam
** ingrediaris et quas ad honorem Dei, et falutem illius terr©
" /jped:ayerint exequaris; et illius terras populus honorxBce tc
^ recipiat, et ficut dominum veneretur ; jure nimirum ecclefi-
•* arum illibato, et integro permanente, et falva beato Petro,
. ^^ it facrofanda Romana ecclefia de fingulis domibus annua
*^ unius denarii penfione. Si ergo quod concepifti animo^
•• eflFeau duxeris profequente complendum, ftude gentem ilikm
^< bonis moribus informare $ et agas {tam per te quam per illos
quos ad hoc fide> verbo et vita idoneos efle perfpexeris) ut
decoretur ibi ecclefia, pkhtetur et crefcat fidel Chriftianaa
** rcHgio, et ad honorem Dei et falutem pcrtinet animariim,
*^ per tc aliter • ordiheritur ut-a Deo fempiternae mercedis cu-
** mulum confequt mercarisj et in terris gloriofum nomen
^ valeas in fsculis obtinere» Datum Romae, anno falutis 1156.^

^ Alexaodet

•c

HISTORY OF IHELANIX

37^

** Alexander epifcopus, fervus fervorum Dei^ charifiGiino in A.C-
'^ Chrifto filio, illuftri Anglorum rege, falutem et apofto*
** licam benedi£tionem.

^< Quoniam ea quse a prasdeceflbribus noftris rationabillter in-
** dulta nofcuntor, perpetua merentur ftabilitatefir mari; venerabi-
^ Hs Adrian! paps .veftjig^i$,inh^rente8| noftrique defidA^iii fxuduopi
^^ attendenj^s conceifipQ^op^ e^f4em ^ f^ PJibernici regni do-^
'5/ micHo vobis' ioldullp (^iyaJj^to Petro et Jacra faoift^ iR^am^nse.
*5 ecclefiae, ficut in Anglii fie etiam in Hibernia^ de ilngftlis
*' domibifs annua unius deqacii pepfione) ratam habemuS|\et
** confirmamust ti\x9i^fim„eIemiMtis UKrtXi ipfius fpurcitiv^ bar^
** bar4i natio^ qua Chr^no cenfftur nomine^ vefirA inddgmtid
^ moruffi inJuat vent^atem^ et reda&a in Jormam, ha^f^V^ i^
•* formifinium illorum ecclefid^ gfns ea ptr vos Chriftiana prqfef^
*• Jionis nomen cum effe&u de cetero confifuatur^ Datum ^om^s^.
•* an. fal. w^z^

C H AFl

^^ HISTORYOE IRELAND.

A.C.

C H A P. IV.

■ ' \

Henry ac&nowUgtd as fwereign of Leath^'M$gha—'Leth-Ciim ftitl
an independent kingdom-'^lienry neither tmquerM- Ireland nor
eftahlijbed a ntw code of laws thert'-^fome fmilariiy between the
Irijh revolution in iiyZf and the Englijb one in ibS^i-^Eng-
lyh and IriJh accounts of the peace at Windfor in 1 175— ^r^d/x
Jrombothf that foreinla'ms were not aftefUpttd to he introduced
-^feverai proof s of the inftncerity of early Englijh writers — real
force and extent ofPoynmg^s famous refiraining law^-^ntcejity of
recurring to thi ancient cemJHtution in enq^uiries of this kind^^
extent of the Englijb mode of legijlation to the reign of James L

HENRY II. by the public fubmiflioos of the princes of
Muofter^ Leinfter, OflTory, and the Deafies, through the
influence of the Irifh clergy^ became fovereign of Leath-M ogha ;
dill Roderic^ and the province of Ulfier, made no kind of ad-
vances towards an union with him. We are^ however, told,
that Henry fent Hugh de Lacy and William Fitz-Aldeim, as his
ambafladorsi to Roderic, who then lay encamped, with his army,
on the banks of the Shannon, ready tp oppole any attempts on
his territories, that a peace was concluded on, and that Roderic
did him homage by proxy, fwore allegiance, and put hoftages
into his hands. There is not the leaft record of Irifh hiftory to
countenance this affertion 1 and his condud the next year (par-
ticularly in defeating Strongbow, and cutting oflF one thoufand
eight hundred of his heft troops) and even until the peace folemnly
made at Windfor in iiJSf prove he made ao fuch fubmiflion.
4 Though

HISTORY OF IRELANP.

Though at the head of a royal army, and fupported by
Munfter and Leinfter, yet Henry made no hoftile attempts
whatever to extend his power over the other provinces of Ire*
land ! Stilly by the modeft Gerald, is he (lyled conqueror oflre^
land, and in this he is followed by all fubfequent writers ; but
the tandid reader will fee with how little juflice ! We are alfa
told, that, with their fubmiffion, the Iri(h furrendered their
laws and cuftoms, and agreed to be governed by thofe of Eng«-
land.-~But what has been left unfaid that fallhood» malice, or
ignorance could fuggeft? — Were we to fuppofe the Iri(h
deftitute of any rational mode of legiflation (as from the btrfla of
Adrian and Alexander might juftly be inferred), fuch alteration
might be neceflary, and feemed a part of the conditions oa
which tbefe bulls were granted i but if a reverence for 0ri£t ju{^
tice, and an amenablenefs to the laws,*be proofs of found legif-
lation—- as they furely are— then were their own modfis of judi>-
cature founded upbn principles of the ftrideft equity. The bad
condu^of Henry himfelf, and of thofe he left behind himtt
could i'mprefs no advantageous ideas in them of the fuperiorex>>
cellence of the Englifli laws. So late as the days of Henry VllL
baron Finglas confefles ^, ^* That the Englifli ftatutes^ pafled m

^^ Ireland^ are not obierved eight days after pafling theme;
^* whereas thofe laws and ftatutes, made by the Irifli on their
<^ hills, they keep firm and ftable^ without breaking through
" them for any favour or reward l^ Nay,fo diflbluteand immo»-
ral were the condudi of moft of thefe ikraogerst that we find
fynods aflembled in the Irifh countries^ and ordinances pafiedi
to cut off every kind of connedion with their Englifh neigt^
faourS) left thdr examples could corrupt the morals* of the poo-»

Z7S

* Sreittte^flrckiid,.

37*

U 1 S TO R V O F r R E L A N IK

j3i ! ' Th«lr f apttdty,V and vtant of princapie, were fo. notorious,
tRat'tbet became redi«j^ to «» Irifli proverb^*- '.

Nadin common re fear-galda : ma nir ni lairde dRuIt. .
Eeidh choidhe ar tidh do mbeatta : commoa an fhir galdariotl

^teifrii^ ^^< To form no connedions with an EAglifhman, le:^;
^« you forely repent for his friendihi^ is fraAid anid deceit 4'*

Tha'e is not then in hiftory a fa£t more certain, or better au*

theatkated^ than this*—** TAat tAe Irijh^ received no laws ixuhat^

"^ eoerfrom Hintyorfirmi any of his fuecejIf^Ps kings ofEnglqi^

i^ Airr ^x»ri cun^ntiy gavdr'nedby the ancient fmdal lav)s ^qf;,irer

^^ l&nd\titt the reign jofJamesV^ . And this, at once, pH^s [the

•Yatan^'bf Henqr's real poweir out ofidobbt, ThrojLight(|ie^jpifl^

•ence'oftbe IrijOsi ckrgy^ direided fo by thefe bulls, the Iri(h of

Leadi^Mogha paid Heafy the fame homage they would to a nja-

^nal fover^n* i.it wasbocittkiag of England, bvttas^.jch^

43£Itdahd,. tjky r^ard^ iilnx. i^a fuch be could not Airely

«4l)tet {fade eftablifhed laws, ifirhibh he was f^rorn to fupportrj aofl

•pCDfieiffc. He did n(M: attempt to alter them, nor did any: of his

.fuccef^ora to the above time ; and thea^ B7 consentt of thp

/PEOPLi? AT LAtiac, did the kingdom form for them&^^^es ^

(inodeof ^orernment funilar to that of England* . ^ \ r

\ Certain it is, that Htfnry introduced the Engli(l) jfprm of go-

Terment among' his oWa followers, wh^^h was adofi4:ed by* fome

and rejbdsd by othorB, $nd finally confined to what was calLsd

'th^ Bede^ which did iM>t iiomprehepd rthe twentieth ^part x)f tl^e

kiAgdofti* Notconly ithe old^ hut the new Iriflt, adh«r^ - tq. the

cid c^nftitutiohihjevery.other patrt of the kingdom. To pffer

-|if<SDfs-'bf this "would be idlev bidsAife the v^cy \^yf$y paiTed fro>fa

time to time, in the little fenahs of the Pale\ fufficiently acknow-

lege this. That thefe "andeht iaWs^ Vvere founded upon the

• fttjdeft equity, we may conclude from the charaders given by

'8 the

rtlSTORY OF IRELAND. 377

thefirji Englijh judges (who went circuits into Irifli counties) of A.C.
the natives. Sir John Davis, attorney-^general *♦ tells usy from
his own knowlege, ^' That there is no nation under the fun that
^< love equal and indiflFerent juftice better than the Irifli, or will
•* reft better fatisfied with the execution thereof, although. it be
^* againft themfelves !" This honourable teftimony was given
immediately after a fifteen years bloody war, carried on with
uncommon cruelty, by the troops of Elizabeth : and lord Coke,
about this time, treating of the laws of Ireland, has the foU
lowing remarkable words ; ** For I have been informed by many
*« of them that have had judicial places there^ and partly of mins
•* own knowlege, that there is no nation of the Chriftian world
** that are greater lovers of juftice than they are, which virtue
" muft, of neceffity, be accompanied by many others ! f'* •

How then can writers affirm that Henry made fherifFs and
judges itinerant, with other minifters of juftice and officers of
ftate, according to the laws of England ? If he made them^
nothing is more certain than that they were appointments un-
known or unattended to by the Irifli, not only during his reign
but for four hundred years after ! The (hortnefs of his time in
Ireland is alfo regretted, as it thereby prevented him from com-
pleting the refonhs he intended. We find, however, that his
ftay was near fix months, during which time nothing remark-
able happened, except the acknowleging of him as king of
Leath-Mogha, and a fatal plague which followed foon after,
by which thoufands periflied ! It is through aflertions, vague and
ill-founded as the above, unfupported by truth or hiftorical fa£ts,
that Englilh writers of later date, even to the prefent times,
have conftantly deemed Ireland a kingdom fubordinate to Britain,
and even bound by her a£ls^ when Ireland is exprefsly men-

* Hiftory of Ireland. t Coke's Inftitutes, chap. Ixxvi.

Vol. if, C c c tioned.

37>

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. tiofiect^. It is from the fame muddy fource affirmed^ tkat tK«
iriih folemoly fworc, at the council jof Lifmore» held by Henry,
to receive and obey the laws of England. Now nothing is more
certain, than that no council was afiembled at Lifmore by this
prince. The miftake arofe firom the bifbop of Lifmore's pre-
£ding as legate in the council of CaCbel ; and the afler tion, from
Cambrenlis, telling us, that at this council the Irijh clergy agreed
to have ^ for the future^ the rites of their church in exoB conformity
with thofe (fthe Britijb.

There is ibmething fimilar in the nature of this Iri& reToIu«>
tion in 1 172, and the Engliih one in i688. In both cafes reli-
gion was made the preteoce, and many of the clergy exerted
themiielyes to bring about the changes that followed. Both
princes were foreigners, and thought their pious pisintbrest-^
£D INTENTIONS uot the worfe for being fupported by the fword.
William, and fbme <^ his minifters, looked upon his poiTeffing
the crown of England to be by the right of conqueft ; nay, they
boldly afierted it ! Henry s minifters and panegyrifts affirmed the
fame with refpedfc to Ireland, and yet with infinitely tefs appear-
ance of reafon. The kingdom of Englandj at once^ confefled
the fevereignty of William ; but half Ireland only acknowleged
the power of Henry. William's terms were with the people at
large, Ifenry-s with the feudatory princes, who ftill prefervcd
their power over their iubje^s. In 1175 P^^cc was concluded
between Rodericks minifters on the one fide (to wit, Catholicus,
archbi(hop of Tuam, St. Lawrence OToole, ar'chbifhop of Dub-
lin, the abbot of St. Brandon, and dodor Laurence, chaplain and
chancellor to the king of Conaught), and thofe of Henry on the
the other at Windfor. The terms of this peace and concord,, as
delivered by Britiih writers, prove that there was neither a con-

t Blackftone^s Commentaries, vol. i. p. 99, too, &c.

queft

- ^

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 379

queft or an alteration of the laws even pretended to by Henry or A.C
his miniftere. The whole is comprifed in four articlesj by the
preliminary to which, and by the peace itfelf^ it will plainly .
appear to be a compadt between two princes, without any terms
or conditions for the fubje£l: whatever. It runs thus :

** Hifi.^eft finis et concordia quae fada fuit apud Windfore in
'^ oflabis San£ti Michaelis, anno gratiae 11759 inter dominum
** regem Angliae Henricum II. et Rodericum regem Conaciae, per
*' Catholicum Tuamenfem archiepifcopum) et abbatem C. San£ti

Brandani^ et Magiftrum Laurentium cancellarium regis Co«

** naci*."

By the firft article, on Rodericks agreeing to do homage to
Henry — (which, if he did, it muft be certainly by proxy )— and
to pay him a certain tribute, he was to poffefs bis kingdom of
Conaught in as full and ample a manner as before Henry's eh«
tering that kingdom. By the fecond article Henry engages to
fupport and defend the king of Conaught, in his territories, with
all his force and power in Ireland, provided he pays to Henry
every tenth merchantable hide through the kingdom. The third
excepts from this condition all fuch domains as are poffeiTed by
Henry himfelf and by his barons ; as Dublin with its liberties^
Meath, with all its domains^ in as full a manner as it was pof-
feflfed by O'Mealfachlin, or thofe deriving under hini ; Wexford,
with all Leinfter \ Waterford, with all its domain, as far as Dun-
garvan, which, with its territority, is alfo to be excluded from
this taxation. 4. Such Irifh as fled from the lands, held by the
Engllfh barons, may return in peace on paying the above tri*^
bute, OT fuch other fervices as they were anciently accuftomed to
perform for their tenures, at the option of their lords : ihould
they prove refradtory, on complaint of fuch lords, Roderic was
to compell them; and they were to fupply Henry with 'hawks

and hounds annually.

C.c c 2 From

38o HISTORY OF IRELAND,

^•C» From the terms of this peace, as delivered by Englifli writers^
I think it is evident that Henry did not even pretend to im-
pofe Englifli lawrs on the people, though the tenor of the bulls,
6n whofe authority he gained his prefent footing in Ireland,
feemed to require fome alterations of this kind. On the
contrary, this peace feemed no more than fuch as would
pafs between princes upon an equality, if we exclude the
performing homage required of Roderic, which, for my own
part, I am fatisfied'was neither done nor required of him. As
to every thing elfe, Roderic agrees to pay a certain fubfidy to
Henry for fupporting him againft any adventitious enemies that
may arife ; and, in return, Roderic engages to defend and pro-
tect his barons and dependents in their new acquifitions. We
do not find by this treaty that even thefe parts of Ireland, which
acknowleged Henry for their fovereign, had the leaft idea of
Englifli tenure. Such of the people as fled from the tyranny of
the new-comers, are required to re- occupy their lands according
to the ancient modus. The di(lin£tion is, as clear and precife
as poflible, this : Henry, as fovereign of Leath-Mogha, engages
to fupport and defend Roderic in the fovereignty of Leth-Cuin ;
and as this compadt is of greater confequence to Roderic than
to Henry, he agrees to pay to Henry, over and above the troops
he may occafipnally want, a certain fubfidy, fuch as we fee
happens every day between princes independent of each other.
This will appear more evident from the Irifli account of this
tranfadion, fimple, plain, and unadorned with turgid words ;
and which Gratianus Lucius delivers fcom our annals without
the fmalleft hint at tribute or homage—** Catholicus O'Dubhthy
" returned from England, with peace agreed to on thefe condi-
tions, with the king of England, that Roderic fliould be ki?jg
of the 7r^— (probably this implied no command over the

new

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 381

comers)—** and that the provinces ihould be governed by their A.C.
** kings as ufual, but fubjedl to chiefry to Roderic." This in
eflFeft is the fame with the Englifli account, but that no mention
is made either of homage or tribute, and I do believe none were.
We find Englifli writers of thefe days fo fliamefully tripping, on
every other occafion, that we are juftitied in doubting them on
this. Cambrenfis has given us, as ails of the council of Cafliell,
articles agreed and fubfcribed to above half a century earlier, in
the raoft ample manner, in the prefence not only of the clergy,
but of the monarch and provincial kings ; which is what cannot be
iaid to this council of CaQiell. Another explains the caufe of the
pretended canon of this council, relative to baptifm* by affirming
— <* That it was the cuftom in Ireland, that on the birth of a
child, his father or any other perfon plunged him three times
in water, but if rich, he was waflied in milk, and thefe liquors
after this ablution, were thrown into the fink ; to prevent which
' profanation, the council made this decree for baptizing in the
* church." But who could fuppofe that this ablution of new-
born infants implied the facrament of baptifm ? though it is
affirmed by a reverend divine, Benedidt abbot of Peterborough !
Are not all new-born infants firft waftied and cleanfed before
they are drefled ? and yet it is thus, this profound theologian ex-
plains the meaning of this imaginary canon of Gerald ! Bap-
tifm is acknowleged as a facrament by all fe<as and denominations
of Chriftians j and yet a nation, whofe piety, zeal, and learning
were confefled by all Europe, a nation from whom the very an*
ceftors of thefe new reformers, received the doctrines of Chrift, are
declared ignorant of the firll principles of Chriftianity ! Nor are
their writers entitled to better credit, when they confidently tell us —
«' That the Irifli were not governed by written laws, but by tra-
*' dition and barbarous cufloms !'* They were always governed
by written laws ; and a body of men in every age, from the re-

xnoteft

3*2 HISTORY OF IREJLAND.

A.C moteft antiquity, even to the decline of the laft century, were fet
apart for this ihidy.. Their books were numerous, and we have
ftill preferved codes of laws, wrote before the Chriftian arra ! Are
the ignorance of thefe writers of fuch fa<9:s any extenuation of
the crime of impofition on the public ? With ()ill greater confi-
dence and certainty they affirm, that Henry introduced the En«
glifh laws into Ireland, which the Irijhfwore to obferve\ that he
eftabliihed iheriflFs in counties, judges, &c. If the authority of
writers from age to age, from that epocha to this day, can add
weight and certainty to thefe falfe aflertions, nothing is clearer
than that this new code of foreign laws was then agreed, fub*
fcribed, and fworn to by the Irifh. But if notorious falfhoodsof
600 years (landing, are not lefs true this day than the day of their
promulgation, it mud neceflarily follow, that the prefent affertions
are entitled to no more credit now than when fir ft publifhed.
Not only the old but the new Irifh, (the Pale excepted) were go-
Terned by the ancient laws of the country, from the days of Henry,
tothofe of James I. inclufive. Henry, if you will, made fherifFs,
judges, &c. to govern Ireland after the Iinglifli modus; and the
popes at this day, confecrate bifhops todiocefesjin which they have
neither power nor fubjeds. In this light I (hall have no objedion
to Henry's making fheriffs for every county in the kingdom, con-
vening of parliaments, fending judges itinerant on circuit, &c.
but that they aflTumedany a<as of power out of the circuits of the
Pale is what cannot be credited. Nor was it for a confiderable
time after his deceafe, that even in this diflriA, the Englifh laws
were regularly adopted, and even after they were, there are not
wanting evidences to prove, that the Irifh within this Pale, might
choofe to embrace or rejeil them.
I From thefe irrefragable fads it muft follow, that the famous
\ ftatute of Sir Edward Poyning, (giving' to it the utmofl force and
{)0wer that its warmefl advocates can wiih), is a law which no

I fophryifl

HISTORY OP IRELAND.

fophiiby can make to extend beyond the limits to which it V9U
originally caniined. Could the province of Munller9a confiderable
part of Leinftety and the entire provinces of Goaaught and Ulfter,
become fubjed ta a law^ they knew nothing of, never were^on-
fulted about, nor in thefvaming of which were ever reprefenied i
The laws of the Pale, from the days of Henry III. to more than
a century after the death of Poyning, are acknowleged as full as
words can make them» to be a£ts binding this little diJiriH^ a no
IT ONLY ! With as much propriety and juftice might it be pre-
tended^ in a century or two hence, that a law now pafled in Genoa
or Florence, is then to bind all Italy> as, that this law of Poyning
ihould now bind all Ireland. But I have dilated fo largely on this,
in the third part of my Introdu£kioB to Irifh hiflory, and brought
the proofs fo home, that to it I muft refer thoTe, who wi£h to be
more fully informed in this matter.

It was from an ignorance of the ancient hiflory of Ireland, fronir
want of proper enquiry into the nature of the revolution in 1 1 72,
and for want of knowlege of the force and extent of the Engli(h
mode of legiflation, from the time of its firft introdu£tion into a

CORNER OF THE KINGDOM tO ItS UNIVEKSAL ACCEPTATION in

the reign of James I. that made the writings that were pubiifhed
from time to time againft this famous a£t, appear To extremely
defedivc and nugatory. They began their enquiries where they
ihould end them. Shamefully inattentive themielves to the an-
cient hi ftory of their country, and not difpofed to encourage thofe
whofe genius and inclinations would naturally lead them to ex-*
plore fo untrodden a paflage, and fo long negle^ed a fubjed,
they have taken for granted whatever early Englifib writers have
BOLDLY advanced on the fubje<ft, and by this means have left
their country expofed to general contempt, and themfelves unable
to defend its caufe ! For, nothing is more certain than this ;
tJkat all the effects attending the intrufion of Henry into the go«

vernment

383
AC.

3^4 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. vcrntnent of Ireland, nvere^ the total cejfation of the monarchical
power in the' native princes. The order of fucceffion was broke
in upon, in the perfon of Brien-Borumhe^ and the cuftom of ob«
trading into the monarchy without a previous election began
with his fuccefTor Malachie. This laft rank, or fomething nearly
approaching to it, was what Henry afpired to. From this time
down to the acceffion of James I. the power of the provincial
kings continued. Certain, it is, that during this period, the Irifh
of Englifli extra(fHon,extended their power and acquifitionsjin the
different provinces, by alliances, by intrigues^ and by dint of the
fw6rd; but it was as Irifti feodatory chiefs only, obeying no com-
mands, or acknowleging no laws but the ancient ones of their
^ country. All thefe fads are evident even in the reign of Eliza-
beth ; and if there are fome inftances of particular chiefs fur-
rendering their allodial tenures to this princefs and to her father,
is it not clear by the grants given again by them of thefe very te-
nures, that it was only altering the nature of them ? In thefirft
inftance they held by the laws of their country, and were not
Kable to fuffer lofs of life or property, by any overtad againft the
power of England or the Pale. In the fccond, they became fub-
jefts, or'more properly fpeaking, vaffals to the crown of England,
and thereby became amenable to her laws. I have examined many
of thefe grants ; fome I have now before me; particularly one of
* my much efteemed friend Sir John O'Flaherty. His great an-
ceftor Sir Murrogh O'Flaherty, called in this patent Sir Murrogh -
ni Doe O'Flaherty— agrees to furrender his title of OTlaherty,
and chiefry over certain diftridts ; his right of prcfentation to liv-
ings, and all other his powers as a Taoifcach, or Irifh chief, to
queen Elizabeth, under certain conditions ; and fhe, by her de*
puty Sir John Perrot, agrees to confirm him in his tenures, and
moft of his former powers, he acknowleging to hold them under

thct

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 385

the crown. This charter of agreement was figned the 12th of ^^*
January 1 588, and in the thirtieth year of her reign.

CHAR V.

Containing dn alphabetical lift of ancient Irijh territories^ and by
what Mikjian familie s j^jfejfed^ both before and after the inva-^
fon of Henry 11.

AGHNENURE, bordering on . Lough-Corrib» in the
county of Gal way^ the regal refidence of the O'Flaherties,
kings of Jar-Conaught; the extenfive remains of which at this
day, proclaiming its ancient ftateand magnificence. My efteemed
friend Sir John O'Flaherty, is the prefent chief of this illuftrious

houfe.
Aharloe, in the county of Limeric, the eftate of a branch of

the O'Briens.

Aidhne, or Ibh-Fiacharch-Aidhne, in the county of Galwayt
the lordftiip of O'Heyne,

Aine-CIiach, in the county of Limeric, the lordfhip of 0*Kir*-
wick.

Aos.Greine, extending from Cnoc-Greine, to near Limeric>
was the patrimony of O'Connel, and Caftl€-G)nnel his chief re-
fidence.

Aradh-CHach, in the county of Tipperary, near Killaloe, th6

effate of Mac O'Brien-Arad. Its firft proprietor was Ctoonnegan,

of the Ernian race,

Ardach, in Carbury, in the county of Cork, the lordfliip of

OTlin, called OTlinardah. ' . ' . '

Ardah, eaft of Calhell, in the county of Tippferary, the lord-

Ihip of O'Dea.

Vol, IL D d d Ardes,

I
«

3«6 HISTORYOF IRELAND.

A.C, Ardes, in the county of Down, belonging to a branch of the
O'Neills.

Ardmir, the lordfiiip of O'Dogherty.

Areghaile, or Anally, in the county of Longford, the territory
of CTFerral, called alfo Conmhaichne.

Aron, in Carbry, the eftate of O'Baire.

Bally-Hallinan, in the county of Limerici the ancient eflate of
O'Hallinan ; but in later times of the Mac Sheetries.

Bally-Shehan, in the county of Tipperary, poifefled by a branch
of the O'Briens.

Beara, in the county of Cork, now divided into the baronies of
Beare and Bantry, poffefled by the O'Sullivans and O'Drifcols.
The chief of the O'SuUivans, which is the prefent count of Beer-
liaven in Spain, was called O'Sullivan-Beare.

Breafal-Macha, in the county of Ardmagh, the eftates of
OTOonncgan, O'Lavargan, and O'Eidi.

Bregmuin, now called the barony of Braony, in Weft Meath,
the territory of 0*Braoin, or O'Byrne.

Breifne, comprehended a large tra£t of country, and was divid-
ed into Eaft and Weft Breifne. Eaft Breifne, or the prefent
county of Cavan, was the principality of O'Reily. The prefent
O'Reily, or chief of this illuftrious fept, is captain-general of
Andaluda, and infpedor-general of the Spanifh infantry*

Weft Breifne^ comprehended the prefent county of Leitrim,
and was the principality of O'Ruark. Thefe -territories were
called Breifne-O'Riely, and Breifne-O'Ruark.

Brurigh, a royal manfion in the county of Limeric, the feat of
0*Donovan, chief of Kenry.

Burrin, or eaftern Corcamruadh, a barony in the county of
Clare, the principality of 0*Loghlin.

Cahir, in the county of Tipperary, the eftate of OXonargan.

Carbre-^

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 387

Cairbre-Aodhbh^, now called Kenry»iQ the county ofLimeriCy ^*^'
the ancient eftates of 0*Donovan) 0'CIereine» and O'Flanerjr.

Cairbreacha» called anciently Corca*-Luidhej ftretching from
Bantry to Crookhaven, and the river Kinmare* was the territory
of the Ithian race^ or Irifh Brigantes. O'Drifcol was the chief,
and O'Baire, 0*Cobhthig, OXeary, O'Henegan, O'Flin, OTit-
rilly, O'Dead, and 0*Hea, &cc. were feodatary lords of this
diftriet.

Caliain, in the county of Clare, the territory of O'Hehir.

Callain» in the county of Kilkenny ^ the eftate of O'Glohernyi
and O'Ceally.

Carran-Fearaidhe, or Cnoc- Aine, in the county of Limeric, the

eftate of O'Grady . This ancient race continue ftill a numerous

and refpedlable family in this county ; and the prefent countefs

of Ilchefter is daughter to Standifh O'Grady, Efq. of Capercullan,

than whom a more refpe^able character cannot any where be

found.

Carrig a Foile, in the county of Kerry, the principality of

O'Connor Kerry.

Ceil-Tanan, in the county of Clare, the eftate of O'Mollony.

Cian-Cora, the royal feat of North Munfter, on the borders of
the Shannon.

Cianachta, in the county of Derry, the territory of 0*Connor-
Cianachta, and of O'Cahan. ^

Cineal-Amhailge, a large tra£t inUlfter, the patrimony of
O'Millane and O'Murcha.

Cineal-Aodha, in the county of Gal way, the territory of
O'Shaghnefly.

Cineal-Aodha, in the county of Cork, the principality of
O'Mahony.

Cineal-Conail, or Tyrconel, the principality of O'Donnel.

D d d 2 Caneal-

^88 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

AC. / Oncal-'Enda, in Mcath, the cftate of CBrginan-

Cineal-Fcaradcach, in Ulfter, the lor^fliip of 0*Maol Patricfc.
Oiixeal-^Fermaic* ia ThoisK>dd, the eftate of O'Dae*
GneaKFiachrai county of We A Meath, the principality of Mac--

Geoghagan.

Cineal-Luchain, in the county of Lehrim) the eftate of Mac

Durchuighe, or Darae.

Cineal-Mbinne, in Tyrconnel, belonging to a branch of the

O'Donnells.

Cineal-Mbracuidhe, in Tyrconnel, the eftate of O'Brodie and
O'Mulfavil.

Cineal-Neanga, in ancient Oirgial, the eftates of O^Goran^
OTinfchan, and O'Breiflan.

Cineal-Neanga^ in Meath, the country of Mac Ruark.

Cineal*Neni, in the county of Tyrone, the eftate of O'Ncny.

Cineal-Noangura, in Meath, the territory of O'Heacha.

Glan-Aodh-Buidhe, North, in the county pf Antrim, held by
theO*Neill8.

Clan-Aodh-Buidhe, or Qanaboy, South, in the county of
Down poflefled by a branch of the 0*NeiIls.

Clan-Breafail, in Conaught, the eftate of O'Donnellan.

Clan-Breaffil, in the county of Ardmagh, the lordfhipof Mac
Cahan, or Kane.

Clan-Colman, in Meath, the principality of O'Malochlin.

Clan*Derla> in the county of Clare, the ancient territory of
Mac Mahon.

Clan-Feargal, comprehended twenty-four town -lands, fituated
ontheeaft of Loch-Corb, in which the city of Gal way nowftands,
was the territory of O'Halloran, of the Hy-Brune race, and line
of Heremon. Aileran, furhamed An Teagna, or the Wife, re-
gent of the univerfity of Clonard, in the fcventh century, and one

HISTORY OF t REX AND. . 389

of Sc Patrick*8 biogr aphcw, aijd St. Finbara, firft biQiop and A.C*
founder of the cathedral of Cork, were of this fept ; as alfo Wil-
liam Hal loran, better known by the na^ie of William Ocham, or
Ogham» (on account of his profound knowlege in the ancient
hierographic charai^er of die Iriih^ ) He was ftyled prince of the
Nominals» taught in the univerlity of Oxford^ in the beginning
of the fourteenth century, and was the great opponent, of the ce-
lebrated Scotus in that univerfity. From the houfe of Clan-Ftar-
gal, is the prefent writer defcended*

Clan-Malugra, or Glanmalier, part in the King's, and part in
the Queen's county, the lord(hip of O'Dempfey.

Cleanagh, in the county of Clare, the property of Mac Mahon^

Cleir, or cape Clear, in Carbury, the manfion of O'Drifcoll-
mor.

Cluan Mac Diarmada, in the county^ of Qace^ the eiftAlje. of .the
Mac Cknchysr hereditaiy lords jnfticea of Tb^mond^ ..

Clin-Uadach, in Conaught, the.eftate of OTallon,

Cb'flte-^Maibineacha, near Mitchd VTown, in the county of
CkMrk^ the cftaie of a branch of the O'Cafeya.

Coflal-Gabhra, or Ibh^ConaltGabbria,^ the prefent baronies of
Conxiello, in the county of Limeric, the ancient territory of
O'Conneli but afterwards we find it pctfeffed by the G'Kine^liesi
and O'CutleanSy^ <» Collins..

Conal-Murtheimhne, or the prefent county of Lowthy other-
wife Machaire-Chonal, was fo called ftom the renowned Conal-
Ccarna:ch,.maftcr of the knighta of Ulfter, a little before the in-
carnation. The MacGennifes are the priiy^ipal-reprefentatives of
•this illuftrious houfe in Ulfter.

Conmaicne, in the county of Leitritff, the patrimony of the

Mac Ranclls.

Gonr '

390 HISTORY QI IRELAND*

A C

• * Cdnmaicne-Cuile-Toia, or the barony of Kilmain, in the county
Mayo, the lordftiip of OTalcairn.

Conmaicne-Dunmore, in the county of Galway, the eftate of
O^Siodhlan.

Conmaicnc-Mara, in the county of Galway, was the country of
the O'Ceilies.

Conmaicne^Moiren, otherwife Analy, in the county of Long-
ford, the territory of OTerral.

Conuil-Jachtarach, or lower Conella, in the county of Limeric,
bcfides the O'Cinealies, and O'Ciollins, we find the O'Sheehans
had lordfhips there.

. Conuil-Uachtarach, or upper Conella, the lordfhip of Mac
Ennerie. >

Corafin, a territory in the county of Clare, the eftate of O*
Quin -and O^HeflFeman.

Coran, in the county of Sligoe, the eftate of Mac Donough,
of the Heremonian line.

Corca-Bhaifgin, now the barony of Moiarta, in the county of
Clare, the ancient territory of O'Baifein and O'Donal, but for
fome centuries paft the eftate of the Mac Mahons of Thomond.

Corca-Dulbhne, and Aobh«>Rathach, in the weft of Kerry, the
lordftiips of OTalvie, and O'Shea,

Corca-Eachlan, in the county of Rofcommon, the eftates of
O'Hanly, and O'Brenan.

Corca-Luidhe. See Cairbreacha*

Corcamruadh, a principality in the county of Clare, the terri-^
tory of 0*Connor- Corcamruadh, of the Irian race.

Corcard, in the county of Longford, the eftates of O'Mulfinny,
O^Curgavan, O'Efely, O'Slaman, and O'Skully.

Corcraidhe, in the county of Meath, the eftate of O'Higin.

Cof-

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 391

Cbfmach, in the county of Limeric, belonging to a branch of ^-C*
the.O^Briens.

Crioch-Cairbre, or Siol-Muireadha, the territory of 0*Q)n-
nor^Sligo,

Crioch-Cnobhadba, in Meath, the lordfhip of O'Dubhan, or
O'Duan.

Cribch-Ciialan, in the county of Wicklow, the property of
O'Kelly of the Lagenian race.

Crioch-Cuire, or the country of Core, the ancient name of
Burren and Corcamruadh in the county of Clare, fo called from
Core of the Irian line, who there ruled before the incarnation.

Crioch-Feidhlim, in the county of Wexford, the lordfhip of
O'Murphy, .

Crioch-na-Ceadach, in Meath, the partimony of OTallon.
Crioch-o-Mbairce, bbrdering on the King's County and counts
of Kildare, the ancient eftate of Mac Gorman.

Crioch-ut-Maine, in the Queen's County, the eftate of O'
Cowley. ,

Cuallachda, in the county of Clare, the patrimony of O*
Dubhgin, or Dugin.

Cuircnc, a territory in Weft Meath, the lordfhip of O'Tolarg.
Culrelamhain, in Meath, (he eftate of O'Murray.
Dairbre, in the county of Kerry, thtf eftate of O'Shea.
Dal«Araidhe, a confiderable territory in Ulfter, including
almoft the entire county of Down, and a confiderable part of
the county of Antrim. It was the territory of the Clana Ruigh-
ruidhe, or line of Ir, after the ruin of Emania, and fo called
from Fiacha Araidhe. The Magenifes, G'Dunlevys, O'Loihg-
fidhs, O'Mathgamhnaidhs or Smiths, Mac Cartans, Mac
Bhairds or Wards, the O'Maol Creabhs or Ovaghs, &c. were
the proprietors of this country.

Dalr-

392

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A.C. Dal'Fia(bach) focalled from Fiathach-Finn,- monarch of Ire-
land in the third century, was a territory bordering on Loch-
Ern?, iah$Lbited by the pofterity of this prince.

Dal-Riada, a large territory in Ulfter, in the poiTeilioa of
Cair-^Hre RiadaV who firft formed as Iri(h colony in Scotland.

Darach, in Thomond, the patrimony of Mac DonneU de^
fcendcd from Brian-Boirumhe..

Darinne. See Cairbreacha.

, D;artraidhe, in the county of Rofcommon, the country of '
OTittp Mac Flancha, and a branch of the O'Carrols.

Diartraidhe, in the county pf Sligoe^ the eftate of Mac Lanchy,

Dartraidhe, in the county of Monaghan, the principal feat
of MacMahon, chief of that country,

Dealbhna, or P^lvip. There were feven diftrids of this name,
all origioatiog frotix LuighrDealbha, who, at the head of his
fix fons and his forces^ marched into Meath ai)d Conaughti
where he gained thefe pof{efliea#» which . ftill go by .the name
of the Delvins.

D^lbhim-Scg* i& Meath, was the territory of 0*MaolchaiUn«

Dealbhna-Cual-Feabhar, in the fame, and Dealbhna-No^dhats
in the county of Rofcommon, were. alf(? Fearau- Cloidhimh, or
Sword-Lands, acquired by Dealbha and his pofterity;

DealbhiPA-Eathra^ in tile King's County, is ftUl the lordflbip

of O'Coghlin, . ^

Dealbhjaa-Fea4h, m tlw county of Galway, theeHgte of ^^ac,

Conroi.

Dealbhna-Mor, in Meath, was the lordfliip of 0*tenellan,

wboi bcittgdiipoffeffe^ in the decline of the twelfth century
by Hugo de Lacy, it was granted to.the Nugents, who were

created lords of Delvium

Dealbhna-Tan-Moi, in Meath, the patrimony of O'SculIy.

8 Deaf*

L^^

<^ *

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 393

Deafmuinliain, Defmond, or South Munftcr, was princi- ^^*
pally inhabited by the Eoganachts^ or pofterity of Eoghaia-
More, bytheClana Ith, or Irifli Brigantes, by fome of the ifluc
of Deagha, and fome branches of the line- of Ir.

Deifebh, or the Deifies, divided into North and South Deifies-
OTelan and O'Brie, of the Heremonian line, were chief princes
of the Deifies, under whom were many fubordinate lords,

Difeart-ui-Deagha, in the county of Clare, theeftate of 0*Dae.

Domhnac-Mor-ui-Healuigh, in Mufcry, in the county of
Cork, the cftate of O'Healy.

DuflFerin, in the county of Down, a part of Mac Artin*s
country.

Duhallo, in the county of Cork, the eftate of Mac Donough,
a branch of the Mac Carthies.

Eile-ui-Chearabhail, in Ormond, or Eaft Munfter, the prin-
cipality of O'Carrol.

Eile-ui-Fhogerta, in the county of Tipperary, the ancient
territory of 0*Fogerty. My worthy friend, Dr. OTogerty, the
prefent reprefentative of this great houfe, ftill pofTefTes a re-
fpe£table part of the domains of his anceftors.

Emhain-Macha, or Emania, near Ardmagh, the royal refi-
dence the kings of Ulfter of the Irian race.

Eoganacht was a name given to principalities pofleflfed by the
immediate iflfue of Eoghan-Mor and his pofterity : as,

Eoganacht-Aine-Cliach, in the county of Limeric, the lordfhip
of O'Kerwic.

Eoganacht-Cafhel, extended from Cafhell to Clonmel; its
principal chief was Mac Carthy, head of the Eugenian line.

Eoganacht- Gleanamhain, in the county of Cork, was the
liordfliip of O'Keefe.

Vol, II. E c e Eoganacht-

394 HISTORY O F I R E L A N D.

A.C Eoganacht-Locha-Lein, or KiHarney, in the comity of Kerry,
was the lordlhip of O'Donoghoe, and port of thk territory iat
ftill poffefled by that princely race.

Eoganacht-Graffan, in thejcounty of Tipperary, the lordfliip^
of O' Sullivan; and their principal feat was at Cnoc Graffan on
the banks of the Shure,

Eoganacht-Raith-Lean, in the county of Cork, was the terri-
tory 0*Mahony Fionn.

Faith-ui'Halluran, extending from Tulk to near Clare in^
Thomond, the eftate of O'Halloran of the Hebercan race,

Fanait, in the county of Tyrconnel, the patrimony of a

branch of the Mac Sweenies.

Fearan-SaingiU called Single-Land, but more properly the

Land of the Holy Angel, near Limeric, the ancient eftate of
the O^Conuins or Cuneens.

Fearcail, in Meath, the principality of O'Molk^. ,

fearmoighe, iathecouutyof Aatrtm^ theeflates of O'Garau
and O^Tierny.

Fearmoighe-Fcne, in the county of Cork, theancieac terri-
tory of O'Dugan and O'Cofcraig, but encroached upon in the
ninth century by their too powerful neighbour 0'Kee£Fe ; they,.
in their turn, were difpoffeflcd by the Roche^^ who were after^
wards created viicouBts <^ Fermoy*

FeartuUach, in the county of Meath, the eftate of O^Dooley..

Permjtnagh county, the lordihip of Macguire.

Fionn-Ruis, in Tyrconnel, the eftates of O'Foranan and
OCarnahaa.

Fogjiarta, in Leinfter, the country of the O'Nualans.

Gabhran, or Goran, in the county of Kilkenny, the eftatee of
O'Shillilan and O'Gudhthin, or Getin.

Callinga-Beg, a diftria: in Meatb, the eilate of O'Henefly.

4 GalHiiga-

# •

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 395

Gallinga-MoTi now the barony of Galen, the lordlhij^ of >^-^-^
O'Hara,

I find mention made in the Xeabhar-Lecan» and other MSSf
of many other GallingaSi but cannot afcertain their ancient
proprietors. All thefe territories were fo called from Cor-
moc Gallengach, great grandfon to OlliolOlom, by whom
they were conquered in the third century.
Glan-Omra, in the county of Cork, the ancient patrimony
of the Mac Auliffs.

Gleanamhain, O'Keeffe's country. See Eoganacht Glean-
amhain.

Glean*Fleifg, in the county of Kerry, the lordfliip of O'Do*^
noghoe-Glean-Flcifg.

Gleaa-Malier, in the county of Kildare, the iordfhip of O' i

Dempfy.

Gort-Innfe-Giiare, in the county of Gal way, the manfion o£

O'Shagnailie.

Graffan, or Cnoc-GreflFan, in the county of Tipperary, one
of the royal palaces of Munfter in early days,, afterwards the
particular manfion of O'SuUivaa.

Ibh-Bruia, the name of many ancient territories in Conau^ht,
fo called as being inhabited by the pofterity of Brian, fon of
Eocha-Moivone, monarch of Ireland in the fourth century, as
other territories there got the name of Ibh-Fiacharach, as being
pofleiFed by the iffue of his brother Fiachara.

Ibh-Cinfelach, in the county of Wexford, the ancient prin-
cipality of Mac Murcha, or O'Cavenagh, king of Leinfter ; in
later periods they were tranfpjanted to the barony of Idrone in
the county of Carlow. The prefent O'Cavenagh refides at Bo*
rafs in faid county.

Ibh-Cinfelach, in the county of Wexford, the feat of 0*Kin*
felagh.

E e e a Ibh*

396 HISTORYOF IRELAND.

Ibh-Diarmada, in Conaught, the eftate of O'Concanan.
Ibh-Eachach, in the county of Cork, the property of the O*
Mahonys.

Ibh-Failge, a very ancient territory, ftretching into the county
of Kildare and into a part of the King and Queen's county,
was the principality of Rofa-Failge, eldcft fon to Cathoir-Mor,
monarch of Ireland in the fecond century." His particular man-
iion was in the county of Kildare, and from him is it yet called
the Barony of OflFaly, The reprefentative of this princely race
was O'Connor Failge, or Paly. O'Dempfy and O'Dun, &c.
were lords in this country* The prefent count OTalia, captain-
general of the coaft of Grenada, in Spain, is, I take it for
granted, the chief of this firft branch of the royal line of Leinfter.

Ibh-Fiarach, in the county of Gal way, included the the terri-
tories of O'Heyne and O'Shagnafly,

Ibh-Fiarach, now called Tuam-ui-Mheara, in the county of
Tipperary, the lordfliip of O'Mara. The prefent chief of that
ancient houfe is not inferior to any of his anceflors in hofpitality
and the focial virtues.

Ibh-Kerin, or Ikerin, in Upper Ormond, the O^Meaghirs
country.

Ibh-Laoghaire, in the county of Cork, OXcary's country.

Ibh-Laoghaire, in Mcath, the eftate of O'Cindealvin, or Cin-
dellan.

Ibh-Liathan, now called Barry more, in the county of Cork,
the country of O'Lehan or OXine*

Ibh-Mac-Cuille, or Imokilly, in the county of Cork, for-
merly poflefled by the O'Ceilies, O^Madre, O'Glaffin, O'Cia-
ran, and O'Bregan.
Jbh-Maile, in the county of Mayo, 0*Mailly*8 country.

Ibh-

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 397

Ibh-MainCj in the county of Gal way, and part of the county A C.
of Rofcommon, the country of O'Kelly and his fubordinatcs*
0*Kclly was hereditary treafurer of Conaught*

Ibh-Maoile, in the county of Wicklow, the O'TooIes country,
Ibh-Oneach, a large territory in the county of Rofcommon^
the principalities of O'Connor- Don and O'Connor-Roe, the
lineal defcendants of Roderic O'Connor laft monarch of Ireland,
and which great families (lill fubfift^ and have preferved fome
remnants of the extenfive domains of their ancellors.

Ibh-Neill-Deifgeart, or Southern O'Neills, comprehended all
Meath and the adjoining places, which were bequeathed by the
will of Niall the Grand to four of his fonS) and in this name is
included all the branches of his family there reiiding.

Ibh-Neill-Tuafgeart, or Northern O'Neill, included Tyrone,
Tyrconnel, and all thofe other territcx'ies beftowed by the above
monarch on the reft of his children, and in this name is comi^
prehended the pofterity of this prince in the North*

Ibh-Regan, in the Queen's County, the lordfhip of O'Regan,
but fince poflefTed by the O'Duns,

Ibh-Seratha, in the county of Kerry, the territory of O'Falvie,
hereditary admiral of South Munfter.

Ibh-Tuirtre, in Meath, the patrimony of the O'Donnellans.

Inis-Eoghain, in the county of Donegal, the lordihip of O*

Doherty.

Irris-Domhain, in the county of Mayo, the great hpufe of the
Conaught knights of the Damnonian or Danaan race.

Iveach, in the county of Down, the lordfliip of the Magenifci.

Laoifeach, in the Queen's County, the Lordihip of O'Moora,
or More : O'Moore, of Ballyna, in the county of Kildare, is
the chief of this great houfe.

Loch-Lein, or Killarney, the lordfhip of O'Donoghoe.

Luin-Con, in the Weft of Carbury, the territory of O'Drifcol-

Oge.

Magh-

398 HISTORY O ? IRELAND.

AX. Magh-Breagba, now called FingiiU near Dublin. Who

«were its ancient proprietors I cannot learn. The Danes very

« early made a folid fettlement there ; and from them the Iriih

gave it the name of Fiaga]^ or the <x)iintry of the White

Strangers.

Magh-GiilUn, in the county of Galway, O'Flaherty's country.

Magh-'Druchtani in the Queen's County, belonging to a
branch of the O'Kellys.

Magh-Gaibhle» in the county of Kildare, poflefTed by a
^branch of the O'Ceilies.

Magh-Ithe, in the county of Derry, the country of the O'
«Boyles, O'MaolbriaiTals, the O'Quins, and Grannies.

Magh-Leamhna, in the county of Antrim^ the eftate of the
Mac Lanes, or Maclins^ O^Commins, &c.

Magh-LifFe, the plains of Dublin, the ancient territory of
^tbe O'CuUins, the O'Bracfaanes, and other tribes.

Magh-Lurg, in the county of Rofcommon, the Mac Der-
-mods country. Mac Dermod was hereditary mar(bal of Co-
naught ; and the prefent chief of this princely line is Mac Der«>
•mod, of Coolaviuj in the county of Sligoe.

Magh-Muirtheimhne, in the county of Lowth, famous for
the defeat and death of CucuUin, captain of the Ulfter knights^
before the incarnation.

Maon-Maigh, now called Qanrichardf in the county of Gal-
way, the ancient patrimony of the O'Mulallies or Lallys^ «ind
of the O 'Nachtans .

Monaghan county, the pricipality of Mac Mahon.
' Muiceadhai in the county of Limeric^ the lordfliip of Mac
Enery. The remains of a large monaftery, and other public
buildings* at Caftle-Town-Mac-Enery, yet befpeak the piety
and fplendor of this family, of which there are fcarce any remains
at this day.

Muin-

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 399

Muintir-Gilgaio, the eftlarte of O'Quin, ta the county of ^.a
Longford*

Muintir-Tir-Conlachta (I fuppofe the prefent Tuam-Oreine)
in the county of Clare, the ancient lordfhip of O'Grada, or O'
Grady.

Muifcridhe-na-tri-Magh, now the half barony of Orrery, in.
the county of Cork, the country of the O'Cuillenans and O*
Donegans.

Muifcridh' Jarrar-Feimhin, near Emly, in the county of Tip«»
perary, the eftate of O'Carthy.,

Muifcridh*Luachra, near KilmalloC) in the county of Limeric,, .
die eftate of O'Hea*

Muifcridh^^Miotane, in the county of Cork, the territories
of OTlain and O'MaolfaviL

Muifcridh-Tire, the ancient name of Lower Ormond, the
early property of the O'Donegans of the Ernan race ; fince then .
poffefTed by Mac 0*Brien of Arradh, O^Keanedy, O'Don- .
nellan, &c.

Murtha-Imhanachan, an ancient territory in Conaught^ the:
lord(hip of O'Beirne.

Nas, or Nas-Laighean, (fo called, as being the place of
meeting of the eftates of Leinfler, now the Naas, in the county
of Kildare) the refidence of the Mac Murroughs, or O'Cavc-
naghs.

Oghbhadh^ in- the county of Meath, the eftate of a branch of
the O'Heas.

Orgial, comprehended the prefent counties of Lowth, Ard->
magh, and Monaghan, conquered by the three CoUas, in the be-'
ginning of the fourth century.

Ownond, or EaftMunfter, the principality of O'Carrol.

OflScuidhe^-

400 HISTORY qV IRELAND.

A-C. Oflfuidhc, or Offorj^ now in Leinfter* was the principality of
Fltz-Patrick, O'Carrol, 0*Delany, O'Doncha, O'Niachal, or
Nihil, and many other ancient fepts.

Ouen-ui^Clearna, now Six- Mile-Bridge, in the county of Clare^
the eftate of O'Kearncy,

Pobul ui-Brien, now a barony in the county of Limeric, the
country of a branch of the O'Brien family.

Pobul-ui-Ceallachan, is the name of a territory in the county
of Corkf extending from Mallow weftward, on both fides the
Black* Water, the ancient principality of O'Ceallachan. The fa-
mily were tranfplanted to Ceil-Chorney, in the county of Clare,
by Cromwell, which eftate is ftill preferred entire.

Pobul- ui-Healuighe, in Mufkry, in the county of Cork, the
patrimony of the O'Healies.

RafFan, the feat of O'Sullivan. See Gra£Pan.

Rath-Conan, in the county of Limeric, the eftate of O'Cafey.
Theprefent Speaker of the Houfe of Commons, and reprefenta-
tive for the city of Limeric, enjoys a part of this eftate, in right
of his great grand -mother, the heirefsof O'Cafey.

Rinilough, in the county of Wicklow, poflefled by a branch of
the O'Byrnes.

Rinn-Mhuintir-Bhaire, an head- land in Carbury, the ancient
refidenceof the 0*Baires.

Roule. See Dal-Riada.

Sathni, in Meath, the eftate of O'Cafey.

.SUan-Machadh, the O'Maddins country, in the county of
Galway.

Siol- Murrey, near Sligoe, O'Connor-Sligoe's country,

Sliabh-Scot, in the county of Clare, the eftate of the Mac Bru-
odin s hereditary hiftorians of North Munfter.

Tanaifte,

mmm^mm

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 401

Tanaifte, (ignifies the next in command, and prefumptive heir
to a principality or lord(hip.

Teabhtha, or TaafFel> an extenfive territory in Meatb* the
principality of Maine, fourth fon of Niall the Grand, whofe de*
fcendants were the O'Sheenachs or Foxes, Mac Aolys, OBraoins,
O'Quins^ 0^DaUe9» O'Caharn or Kerin, O'Murrigao^ 0'Haga»
&c.

Tir-Amhalgaid, in the county of Mayo, O^Hara's country.

Tir-Connel, in XJlftcr, the principality of O'Donnel.

Tirone, the principality of O'Neill.

TirtuathaU the eftate of Mac Mapus.

Traidaire, or Tradraighe^ now a barony in the county of Clare,
before the incarnation the refidence o£ the Clana-Deagha, or
Munfter knight«, from Daire, the fon of Deagha, fo called^ and
whiph words import tAe warriors of Paire. From this Daire,
came the word Ridire, or Ridare, to fignify a knight, from Righ,
or Ri, the fore-arm, to which the name Daire was annexed.
They wer/e difpoffisflrfd of tbi$ territory in the th^rd century by
Cormoc-Cas, king of Leath-Mogha. It became by fucceiEpo the
property! of Lttjgh-J^vqiuj,, 9c^ piore properly Lpyi^^ ,^q^lled
Dealbha, the fon of Cas, the fon of Ck)n'ali"Eachluathj in the
Courth century, ^ .which he refigncd- to his daughter Aoife,.and,to
her pofterity ; whilft he, at the head of his fix fons, and a ft^cSt
body .l>f troops marched in^ XeinA^r, wherp he acquired lareepof-
feifiopiS, w^>ph fwMn hw w.e^ caHAd th D^albhnas, ibme of
which are continued in his pofterity to this day. *My honoured
friend Sir Lucius O'Brien, is the prefent chief of Tradaire.

Triocha-cead an-Chala, the eftate of O^Ceadfa, or Coffie.
Triocha cead-o-Claifin, the barony of Tulla, in the county of
Clare, the eftate of Mac Namara, hereditary lord marflial of
Thomond. The prefent reprefentative of this noble houfe, is a
member of the Iriflx Parliament.

Vol. II. F f f Triocha-

402 HISTORY OFIRELAND.

Triocha-cead-CIadhac, in Fermanagh, the eftate of the Mac
Kennas.

Tuam-ui-Mhara, in the county of Tipperary, the lordihip of
O'Mara.

Tuath-Muimhaint North Munfler, or Thomond, extended
from the ifles of Aran to Sliabh^Eibhline, near CaflielU to Car-
,xan-Fearaidh, or Cnoc-Aine, in the county of Li meric ; and from
Luin na-Con, or Loops-Head, to Sliabh-Dala, in OflTory; but
in later ages it was circumfcribed to the prefent county of Clare,
of which the O'Briens are hereditary princes. The prefent earl
of Inchiquin, is chief of this branch of the royal line of Hcber,
eldeft fon to Milefius» Mile-Efpaine, or the Hero of Spain.

Tuatha-da-Danann, the Damnonii, or fourth colony of Irifh«

Tulachog, in Ulfter, the eftate of O'Hagan, and O'Gormleys.

Tullichrien, in the county of Clare, the eftate of O'Gorman.
My efteemed friend the Chevalier O'Gorman, is chief of this an«
cient hoiife.

Tullallaithne, in the county of Tipperary, the eftate ofO'Ryan,
or O'Mul-Ryan.

Turtra, in Oirgial, poffeffed by the O'Donnellans, O'FIins, and
G'Heires.

Uaithhe,iii the county of Limeric, the eftate of O'Dinnahan^
or Dinan.

Ulla, now the county of Down, the principality of Magennis.

Ulladh^ the province of Ulfteri fo called from the great 011amh«
Fodhla.

CHAP.

CHAP. VI-

ObjeSiions to the authenticity of Milefian pedigrees an/wered-^ALh
defcended from three fons of Milejius^ and from his uncle
Ith^^differentfepts of the fame name-^names of the Eoganachts^
of the line of Heber^^the Ithian race-^Degaids ofMunJler and
Irians'—the iffue qfCormoc andCian^ of the line of Heber^^the
race oflr^^the Heremonians ofLeinJier^ and the other fepts efia^
blijked t her e-^t he families of Meath^-^Hi^Bruins and Hi-Fia^
cres of Conaught^-^families ofXJlJler^ of the Collas^ &c.

m ■ ,

TH E ancient Egyptians were all deemed' noble, and fo
were the ancient Irith, and certainly with the greateftjufr
tice^ both deriving their origins from the pureft fountains. But
it may be objected to the Milefian Iriih, that they all trace their
genealogies to royal blood, which as it appears (viewed ia the
mod favourable light), a little paradoxical, it requires to be ad-
▼erted to.

Certain it is, that on the MileHans firft landing in Ireland, the
country was thickly inhabited, and that all their own foldiers and
men at arms, could not poflibly be from the fame flock with them,
any more than the original natives. All this is granted, and yet, it
will not in the lead invalidate thefe truth of this genealogies. The
duty of the hereditary antiquarians, poets, and hiftorians, from

the earlieft antiquity, even to the decline of the laft century, was
to tranfmit from age to age, with the greateft precifion and per-
fpicuity, the genealogies, the exploits, and thepofTeflions of the

Fff2 dif.

404 HISTORY 6F,IRELA^Ma

different families of the kingdom^ from the royal flock of Mile-
fiusy and thefe only. Jf any branches of thefe families went to de*
cay, or were no longer able to fupport their rank in the ftate, the
genealogiils and hidorians ceafed purfuing them. No further
account was given of them, as if they had left no ifTue ; fo that
fuch natives and foreigners as fuppofe from our genealogies, that
the entire kingdom were tlie iflue of the fons of Milefius, are. not
at all juftified In thtir fuppofitions by the hiftory of the country.
The monarchs and provincial kings were eleded from certain
families of the blood royal, who had preferred power and poflef-
jGons fufficlent to fupport and juftify their claims. Tfce collateral
branches of thefe families, applied to the profe(fiont>f arms, to the
church, or to the ftudy of different branches of the fciences, which
were all deemed noble. The genealogies of all thefe were moft
carefully preferved, and of courfe it will naturally explain and
tlearly juftify the clailms of all the Milefian famihes, in tracing
their antejftry to Milefiust to Gatheiu8» and to Phasnius — thus
Donatus UifaEOp of )£tefolH near Florence, in his poem on Ireland*
of otie thoufand ono hundred years ftandingi treata the matter
tti hand :

In qua Scotorum gentes habitare merentur :
Inclyta gens hotninum !'^

Of all the ions af Milefius, as well naturaU ^ thofe born in
wedlock, the iffue of three only are preferved in our annals, with
'thofe of his uncle Itb^ who are called the Clana-Breogaa, or Brr-
gantes. Thefe three fons of Milefius are Heber> his firft begot*
ten, born m, Egypt ; Ir, and Herenwn, whofe mother was Scota^
daughter to the king of Egypt. The line of Heber begins with
the three fons of Oilioll-Ollum, namely, Eogan-Mor, Cormac-Cas,
adfid Ciaa. The pofterity of the two firft are from thefe anceftors

^ diilior^

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 405

* #

t diftitigtiidiod into Eagnnkchis^ and Dal^Gas. About the middle
tif the tenth cratnr^^ furnamcff became firfl introduced into Mun-

- Aer, and in the beginning of the next age, becarae-adopted al] over
the Jdagdom/ But when furnames cuac into general ufe, care
was taken that they ffaould not be arbitrarily affumed. Every fa«
mlij was to add to his Chrlftian namci the namie of fome parti-
cular, anoeftor, renowned for his fuperior briiveryy virtuey or
iandicy. . To this was to be prefixed the trords O, or Mac, which
figaified the fon or iflfue of that perfon^* To i41u(lrate this by a few
ibftaoces^ Che O'firtens w<^re fo callpd) lis being the de/cendants^
of the fcnow&ed Brieu-Boirumh^ ( the O'Neilk, from Niall, the
hero of the . Nine Hoftages ; O'Ceallachao^, from Ceallachan-
CafheU; the O'SulUranSt fron^ a renowned anceftorfo called,
and fo of the other names *. The furname with the adjunct O,.
or Mac, was what was afliuned by the chief of each naine. He
was faluted or addrefled by no other title*. O^Bricn, Mac Carthy,
or O'NialU imported the chief of Thodtaiond, of Definond, or Ty-
rone. To the branches the Chriftian name was added. It was
the cuftom adopted from the earlieft times ;. it is the mode ob-

- ferved by well-bred men at this day !

But though I iiave noticed, that the furnames of MileOan fa^
milies were taken from foine remarkable anceftor ; yet it is ne-
ceflary to ob&rve, that gentlemen of the fame name are by ao*
means to be taken as if defcended from the fame ftock and blood;, -
and this remark will at the &me time prove the extreme care and
accuracy of our ancient genealogies. For in(lance)though O'Con-
nor is a general name dirough the kingdom, and was formerly
infinitely more fo, yet we are not to fuppofethat they are all from
the fame root« The different feptaofthe O'Connors of Conaught^
as O'Connor- Don, O'Connor-Roei O 'Connor- Sligoe, &c. are I

* Imr<xlu€lioD to IriOi Hiltorj^, p. i88«.

4o6 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

' of the fame ftock, being'all defceaded from Brien, . eldeft (on to
£ochaidh, monarch of Ireland in the fourth century. O'Connor-
Fali, chief of the O'Connors of Leinfter, is defcended from Roflk-
Failge, or Fall, elded fon to Cathoir the Grand, monarch of Ire-
land in the fecond century. The O'Connors of Ulftcr, areof.tlie
houfe of Heber, and fprung from Cian, fon to OiHioU king of
Munfler, in faid century ; and the O'Connors of Kerry^ and ail
South Munfterj as well as thofe of Corcomruadh and Thomondy
are of the royal line of Ir ; the Mac Mahons and Mac Donnels
of Uliler and Thomond, are of different iepts, and fo are the
0*Carrols. The fame remark vrill hold good, with refpefl to
many other great names ; yet the names of O'Brien, Mac Na-
mara, O'Grady, and others of North Munfter, as well aa the en-^
tire flock oi the Eoganachts of South Munfter, wherever difperfed,
^re of the fame blood.

The poflerityof Eogan-Mor, eldeft fon of OilHol, of the line
of Hcber, (the ancient inhabitants of Defmond), are^ firft Mac
Carthy-Mor, or the Great, with the different branches of that
came, proceeding from this great fource. The G'SuUivans,
O'Ceallachans, O'Keefes, O'Donoghocs, O'Mahonies, O'Dono-
vans, O'Connells, Mac Killecoddy, O'Kerwics, O'Riardcn, Mac
. Finighins or Fannins, OTogherty, Mac Auliffs, OTinigin,
O'Moriarty, O'Houregan, O'Cuillane or Collins, O'Hehir,
O'Mechan, Mac Elligod, O'Davoran, Mac Arteri or Arthur,
<yLechan or Line, OTreafagha or Tracy, O'Ledeen, O'Gar-
van, MaCrath, O'Kinealy, O'CIerein, OTlanery, O'Anamach-
da, O'Daly : the ancient Stuarts of Lenox and Man in Scotland,
and their pofterity are of the race of Heber. O'Crowley-Lugha,
fon of ith, uncle to Mijefms, had fettlements afiigned to him and
to his followers, in the prefent county of Cork,im mediately after
the redudtion of Ireland, and which from this prince were called
Corca-Luighe. From him are defcended, firft, 0*Drifcol-Mor,

with

H I ST O R Y :F I RE L A N D. 307

^ith the diflFerent branches <5f his name^ and from thefe 0'Le4ry^
O'Cobhthig, O'Baire, OTlin, O'Hincgan, O'Hea, O'Dead,
O'Fin, Mac Crochan* Mac Amalgid^. O'Kearnan, O'Cormac,
Mac Crath, O'Dooly, O'Enrichty, O'Rothlan or Rowland,
CySungin, O'Kerwic, O'Fineen, O^Hallioan, with the tweaty-
>,,^^^feven bilhops of Rof8, and many faints; The diikeft of Argyle,.
niereditary lords judicee of Scotland^ with all theCampbelU.of that
county, the Mac Aliens and f other noble fepts of; North Britain »
are the ifTue of Mac Coh^ of the line of Ith/aod monarch of Ire-
land in the commencement of the third century. It is to be no*-
ttced^ that.the people of Gorca-Luighe, and tn&edthe mofl: parts^
of Munfter, were Chriftians, long before the arrival of St. Pa**^.
trick. '•'!'.'•' ' /

About a century before Chriii, Munfter received a new colony
in the. Clana-Deaghay called fometimes Degaidsi from, this
Deaghar^s alfo Emaiiui of Muniler> froni their firfl: fettlement
about Loch*Erne» in the North.. They were the iflue of the
monarch Aongus-IIL (See voK i. p. 16&) of the liner of Here-
mon ; and from this houfe proceeded fbme kings of Mun-
fter £iderfgoil, Conaire I. and Conaire 11. monarchs of Ireland,,
with the royalline of Scotland, from 'Fergus to his prefent ma«
jefty. This family were the reftorers of military difcipline^ and
of the equeftrian order of Munfter* Of this great houfe, the
following families in Munfter aire defcenxled OTalvie, O'Shea,
O'ConneUO'Cuillenan, O'Donnegan, OTlin, chief of Muifcridh,
Miotane, O'MaoIfavil, O'Cronacan, O'Samplin, fprobably Suple>
an ancient family in Kerry )4 O'Mael-Ceallig, O'Conaire, O'Fith-
illy, O'Cuire, O'Lochin, O'Conuing, O'Corcoran, O'Cineth,
O'Robartaig, OTergts, and O'Buchan. The O^Dwyers,
O'Brenans, and O'Ryans, of the line of Heremon, became alfo
denizens of Munfter, as did the OTelans^ defcended from Fiacha-

Sttidhe^

V-

4o8 H I S T O R Y O F I R E D AN D. :

Suidhe, 0*Scaalatii 0'Camoge,'D*Heneffyt O'Eagan^ &c. of*
this race.

Beiidei thefei Ciar» one of the three fon^ of Fergus, grandfo^
to Ruighridhe the Great) of the line of Ir^ monarch of Ireland^l
gained poffeflionsin Kerry, from him fo called. From him are>
defcended, firft, OXonnor-Kerry, chief of this braach of the.
Irian line; and from him fprung the O'Dugains^ O'Conwajt^
O'CathiU which are the chief JViileiian families in South Mvuxftcr*.

Thomond, or North MunAer, was the inheritance of Goimacr.:
C»» referving the principality of Ormood^ ^r Baft Mimfteri, - to
hi^ brother Cian ; &uc flie fovereignty^was confitied tnitbCibQtifias*
of Bogan and ConacmAj^ ^ : i ^.r.i . ...r . . .

From Cormac are defcended, firft, O'Brien) chief of Thomobd»
MacMafaoQ, lordof <i!orca«^Bhaiig&n9 Mac Kamara, marfhdvof
Thomond. Mac Clancy, h/wedkary chie&jUftide^ Mac Bruodini
hdroditary hiftbrian^ O^Hidcey, and O'Nokn, the hearedttary mf*.
dical tribe> Mac Curcins^« hereditary bards,: i^c. ..Bofidei ^s^:
hereditary >>fficer8, the followrpgi noble fihiiliea «e deriy «d iSr^^
this great ibtBxe: JCyiDcajQfirfxbvG'Quin, Mae Emmy, O'Cr^dy*
O'Heffernan, O'Kennedy, O'Hogjm, O'Sheofaan, O'NeachtaOf
0*Hea, O'Huriy, O'Mollawny, O'Bolan, O'Cafie, Q'Hannsg^
ban, O'Spelan, Q'CogUin^ <j)Tuamy, 0!Lonargan, 0*CeaMa^
ctian, C Ahere, M« Crath, O'Shanahan, O'Healy, O'JVfornmy^
O'Mara, O'Hennghta, O'Loiiifigh or Linch, O'Sea^a .or
Sexton, O'Honccn, O'Cormocan, O.'Riady, 0'HaIloran,.0*Ceai^
in, O'Mulequiny, CHeaphy, O'Hartigan, O'GiolI^Iaiacittaor;
Lyfaghts, Mapc Donnel, O'Clonladini ' O' Regan, Arturagin: or
Arthur, O'Kearny, O'Coning or Cuneeb, O'Liddy, O^Hin-^
nigan, Mac Gonry, O'firody, O'CoQgladi^ O'Minape, Q'Mar-
chahan, 0*Duhig, O'Nunan^ C^Cdllopy.

From Cian» third ion of OillioJ, are fprung, £rfl, "O'Caroidi^
pricioe of Eile, and chief of Ormond ; 0*Meaghir; O'Riardan,
' O'Corcran,

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 409

O'Corcran, Mac Keogh, OTlanagan, O'Dulhonty, a branch of ^ ^'
the O'Cafiea, O'Connor Cianachta, O'Hara, O'Gary, &c. To
thefc fepts we are to add the pofterity of Core, brother to Ciar,
of the royal line of Ir, who acquired a large territory in Thomond,
before the incarnation, from him called Corcamruadh, Eaft and
Weft^ now the baronies of Corcamruadh and Burren. The an-
cient chief of Corcamruadh of this line, was O'Connor ; and of
Burren was O'Loghlin, from whom O'Brock, O'Cafie, O'Turny,
Mac Anifter or Neftor^ O'Marchahan, and O'Tyn, aredefcended.
Corca-Bhaifgin, was the principality of Cairbre-Bhaifgin, of the
pofterity of Conaire the Grand, and Ernain race. This terri-
tory, bordering on the Shannon, in the county of Clare, though
confined, yet was powerful in commerce, in riches, and inha-
bitants. No lefs than fix faints are recorded to have proceeded
from this houfe, among whom was the great St. Senanus^
founder of the churches of Inis-Catha or Scattery, on the Shan-
non, as well as of the anchorite tower, yet ftanding, in which
he finifhed his days ;' yet air the records that remain of this houfe
are, that O'Baifcln and O'Donnel were its chief reprefentatives
in later days I The O'Gormans, of the Lagenian race, have
long flouriflied in Thomond.

The houfe of Ir, by right of feniority, demands the fecond
place, though the Heremonians were undoubtedly the moft
powerful. From Ruighridhe, the grand monarch of.Ireland^
before the Incarnation, they are generally called Clana-Ruigh-
ridhe. -We have feen the dominions of this great houfe reduced
to very confined limits, after the deftruAion of Emania, by the
three CoUas, arid of confequence their pofterity not over numer-
ous : yet, at this day, fome of therii make a diftinguifhed figure.
The chief reprefentative of this houfe is Mac Gennis or Mac
Aengus, as is O'Moora df the Craobh-Ruadh, (though, I
think, more properly Crobh-Ruadh, or of the Red or Bloody
Vol. II. G g g Hand)

410 HISTORY oF IRELAND.

A .C Hand) or hereditary knights of Ulfter of the Irian line. From
thefe the Mac Gabhnions or Smiths, O'Garveys, O'Dunlevy^
O'Heochagan, O'Lavery, 0*Loinfy, O'Hanby, O'Neachach,
Mac Cartin, O'Morna, O'Curry, O'Coltrain, Mac Gillaf ivig^
Mac-an-Bhaird or Ward, OXawler, Mac GilHgan, O'Marehar
han, O'Tierny, O'Conway, O'Gafie, O'Brofnahan, O'Harri-
gan, O'HuUachan, O'Duan, G'Maning, Mac Gilmer, O'
Kenny, O^Carrolan, O'Ketherny, O'Scanlan, the O^Connors
of Kerry and Thomond, O'Loghlin, the O'Ferrals of Analy,
the Mac Rannels, Sec.

The other Milefians of Leinfter, Ulfter, and Conaught, are
moftly of the line of Hercmon, but fo early feparated from each
other, that they may be regarded as different houfes. The line
of Leinftcr begins with Joughaine, the great monarch of Ireland,
fome centuries before Chrift, whofe royal refidence was at Rath*
Joughaine, now called Jiggin*s-Town, near the Naas, the ancient
capital of Leinfter, and from his two fons. Loaghaire (Lcary)
from^whom Dun-Leary, near Dublin, was the fource of the
Milefians of Leinfter ; as was iis brother Cobh-Thaig, of tho&
of the reft of Leth-Cuin. 1 find O'Baifcin, O'Dwyer, O'Ryan,
O'Garchin, Fitz-Patrick, and O'Brenan, to carry their pedi-
grees higher than Cathoir-Mor, from whon> the other great fami-
lies t:laim their defcents. This prince Cathoir had thirty fons,
ten of which left iffue. From Rofia-Failge, his eldeft, pro-
ceeded, firft, O'Connor Faly, O'Dun, O'Dcmpfy, O'Regan,
O'Colgan, O'Mulchiaran, O'Bearra, 0*Harti,^ O'Cullin, O^
AUilan, O'Fin, 0*Maine, O'Flaherty, aDondon, OToranan,
O'Hencfly, O'Ullachan, G'Dugan, and O'Murrigin. From
Daire, his fecond fon, fprung O'Mooney, O'Gorman, O'Me-^
Ian, O'Feall, O'Brenan, 0*MalIone, O'Minchan, O'Maoning,
O'Comain, O'Guban, and OTollachty* From Criomthan, the
people of a diftf i^ in Leinfter, whofe names I know not, were

called*

HISTORY OF IRELAND. 411

called. From BreaiTal-Enachlas, the fourth fon, fprung O'Di- A.C.
.colo, O'Feardig, O'Cunitig, 0*^Eogan, O'Cruchta, &c. From
Eochaidh-Timine, came O'Hanragan^ O'Birne, and O'Coplig,
&c From OliolUCctach, fixth fon, the O'Fallons of Crioch-
Cetach^ O'Cronan, and O'Cathill, &c. are defcended. From
Fergus-Lufcan came the OXofcans, O'Colman, 0*Ena, O'Sinig,
OXallain. O'Duban, O'NowIan, OTily, O'Ciarmac, O'Ge-
ran, O'Cillint &c« Deremafach gave life to the O'Derema-
fachs, O'Cuanda^ O'Uica, &cc. The ifibe of Aongus is thrown •
into .that of RoiTa, by whom he was fupporteds but from the
loins of Fiacha, the youngeft ion, fprung moil of the fucceeding
kings of Leinfter. The chief reprefentative of this houfe is Mac
Murrough or O'Cavenagh, O'Murphy, O'Byrne, O'Toole,
O'Maol-Ryan, O'Cinfelagh, O'Dowling, O'Maoldun or Muilin^
O'Dufiy. Befides thefe, LeinAer received into its boibm the iflfue
of other ftates : for^ in the reign of Feidhlim, the legiflator, the
Mamonians had over-run all Leinfler. In this diftrefs Cuchorb
applied to Eochaid-Fionn, the fon of Feidhlim, who, with his
preceptor Laoigheafach^ of the line of Ir, marched into Leinfier
at the head of tweqty-one thoufand men, and cleared the country
pf thefe invacfers. To reward thefe auxiliaries Cuchorb befiowed
on EQcha the Fothards in Leinfter, from a furname of his fo
called ; and on Laoigheafaehi the country after him known by
the name of Leis, or the prefent Queen'? County. From Fo-r
chaidh are defcended the O'Maoltollas, O'Mingan,. OXochin,
O'Cainoge, O'Comain, OXuineachs> O'Meathiis, O'Dermod,
O'Meragin, &c. From Laoigheafach came O'Moora, O'Bro*
cain, O'Cormac, the Clan Flanegan, Clan Ei]ge» &c. OfTory,
though placed in Leinfter, was always tributary to Munfter,
and fometimes deemed a part of it. It was governed by its owi)
princes of the line of Heremon, and Fitz- Patrick was its chief.
From him proceeded O'Dclany, O'Niachol, O'Carin, O'Fenan,

G g g 2 &c.

4i« HISTORY OF IRELAND.

•A-^* &c. Bcfides thefc, the O'Coghlins and 0*Fenellans, Sec. of the
line of Heber, and the OTerrals and Mac Rannels of the Irian
race, acquired confiderable lordihips in Leinfier.

Meath, formed into a fifth province by Tuathal, in the fecond
century, for the better fupport of the monarchy, and which
was called, •* T/ie menjal territory of the monarchs of Ireland ^"^
comprehended the prefent counties of Eaft and Weft Meath, the
counties of Kildare and Dublin, with other adjoining territories;
The poftcfity of Cobhthaigh became here a numerous and pow-
erful race. We may judge of thdr confequenceby Eochaidh^
Fionn, brother to the monarch Con, being able to raife twenty-
onetKoufand fighting men to afiift the Lagenians^ though
himfelf but a prince in Meath, and poflefled of but a fmall
territory. But how great and popular foever they were,
the prefent race of Meathians draw their pedigrees from the foui*
fons of Niall the Grand, fettled here in the fourth century, but
who were lineally defcended from the fame ftock. The names
of thefe four fons were, i • Loaghaire> 2. Conall-Criomthan,
3. Fiacha, and 4. Maine. The pofterity of thefe princes were
diftinguiflied from the iffue of their brethren fettled in tJlfter,
by the name of the Southern Hi^Nialls, Clan Colman, &c.
From the eldeft of thefe fons, the country called Jbh-Laog-
haire, took -its name. His chief reprefentative was O'Cin-
dcalbhin orKehdellan: O'Cuah or Quan, O'Conrich, OTu-
char, O'Licane, OTallon, O'Leochal, &c. are from this branch.
From Conall Criomthan are the O'Maloghlin, or Mealfachlins,
kings of Meath ; on the arrival of the Englifti O'Dooly, O*
Flanagan, with their dependents, whofe names I cannot trace.
The iffue of Fiacha are, O'MolIoy prince of Fearcale, Mac
Geoghegan, Mac Culliti, O'Higgin, Mac Ruark, O'Folarg,
&c. The pofterity of Maine are, O'Sheenach of Fox, Mac
Awly, O Daly, GBrien, O'Quin, O'Hagan, ORopan, O'Do-
Btllan, O'Medog, O'Cithernig, O'Cathlin or Callin, O'Mul-

conry.

H I S T O R Y O F I R E L A N D. 413

conry, OTagan, O'Murray, O'Madegan, O'Dignan, O'Cerin, AC.
O'Celachan, O'Sligan, Omiel, O^Mulciaran, &c. Befide$
thefe, O'Kelly, O'Comgallach, O'Rury, O'Mulcahill, Mac
Connin, Mac Carrigan, O'ScuUy, O'Curry, Mac Gilla-Comogt
OTDonog, O'Murchertach, were dynafts of this country* of the
Heremonian line.

The Conaught race of Milefians, of the royal houfe of Hc«-
mon, claim their pedigree from the fame fource with thofc of
Meath, through Muiredhach^ called Tireach, or the Patriot,
the fon of Fiachadh^ the fon of Cairbrci the foa of Cormac, &cc.
This Muiredhach was king of Conaught before he fucceeded
his father iil the monarchy^ and was Aicceeded by his fon Eocha.
When this lad became monaech, he left his domains in Con*
aught to his four fons by his firft wife. Of thefe two only left
ilTue, Brian and Fiachra. From Brian his defcendants are ge*
nerally called Hi-Bmini and thofe of his brother Hi -Fiacre.
From Brian fprung firft, O'Connor-Don, with the different
branches of- this name, O'Reily, 0*Ruark, . O'Flaherty, Mac
Dermod, Mac Donough, O'Halloran^ O'Maily, OTlanegad,
OTlin, O'Hanly, Mac Manus, Mac Brady, OTailon, Mac
Kernan, O Doncllan, O'Garvey, O'Byrne, O'Mallone, O'Mael-
3renan^ O'MuUally or Lally, O'Crcane, O'Galvey or Gall-.
way, Mac Tigernan or Ternan, Mac Brenan, Mac Teigo,
O'Cro.wley, O'Concanon, O'Finncgan, O'Murry, O'Callinan,
OXine, OFin, O'Cnamhin or Neven, O'Canavan, O'Domhr
lin or Doolin, O'Breflin, Mac Aodh or Hugh, Mac Eagan,
O'Mahidy, O'Curria. O'MaoJmorra, O'Carthy, O'Moran, O*
Gahan, O'Maooy, OTinachty, Mac Dorchey or Darcey, Mac
Clancy, 0*Hea, O'Cearnachin, O'Dearmady, 0'Gk>rman, O'
Mitrigan, Mac Shanally. From Fiachra are defcended 0*Heyne,
prince of Jbh-Fiachra Aoidhne, O'Shagnefly, O'Dowd, O'KiIrr
MIy, C'Ccarig, O'Clcry, O'Ccmog, O'CafFy, O'Crocan, O;

FaKy,

405

A.C.

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

t^ahy, O'Keady, O'Comain, 3cc- fheO'Haras^ O'Gara, Mac
Conry, with their dependants, of the line of Heber, formerly
had, and dill poffefs large domains in Conaught, bcfides many
great fepte of the Danaan race.

, The northern line of Heremon are the offspring of Eogan and
Conal-Gulban, fons of Niall the Grand, and of the three Col-
Tas of the fame blood.

From Eogan are defcended O'Neill, with the different branches
of his name, always kings of Tyrone, and fometimes monarchs
of Ireland. Even in the reign of Elizabeth, O'Neill was obeyed
as monarch, by his own fa<flion, in every part o( the kingdom.
From O'Neill proceeded the Mac Sweneys, O'Gormly, O'Cahan
or Kane, O'Heafy, O'Craibh or Creagh, O'Mulligan called

• Molineux, O'Mulvihil, Mac Loughlin, O'Donnolly, O'Cath-
vil or Cauldfield, Mac Kllkelly, O'Duan, O'Horan, Mac
Gnaire, O'Hegarty, O'Dubhderma, O'Dunegan, Mac Rury,

-O'Kelly, O'Maol.BrcaflTal, O'Hamilly, O'Murcha, O'Maol-
Fogarty, O'Daly. From Conall-Gulban, whofe fucceflbrs were
kings of Tyrconnel, and fometimes monarchs, are fprung, firft,
O'Donncl, chief of this great houfe j and from him O'Do-
gh^rty, O'Gallachar, O'Buidhil or Boyle, Clan Dala, O'Hea,
O'Maolmony, Mac Lonfechan, O'Mulligin, O'Brclan, O'Kear-
nachan, O'Dalachan, &c.

Fiacha, monarch of Ireland, in the decline of the third, and
beginning of the fourth century, had a brother called Eochaid*
Doimhlin. This Eochaidh had three foas, famous in our hif-
tpry by the names of the three Collas. Whilft Muireadhach,
fon to Fiacha, led an army into Munfter, the Collas avail them«»
felves of his abfence, attack their uncle, whofe troops they de-
feat, and he himfelf is left on the plains among the dead. Here-
upon the eldeft CoUa fucceeds, but the ufurper is defeated, and
the brothers flee to Scotland. In time they are received into fa-
vour,

W^m^^^'i'^mmmmmmm^^K^m^mm

HISTORY OFIRELAND^ 415

vour, and a bodjof mea is given to them,, with which they In- A.C.
vadeUlfterj and conquer a large territor)^, which, ironi them^
ia called Oirgiall, comprehending the prefent countries of Lowth^
Ardmaghi and Monaghan. Here their pofterity remain ed, and
many of them yetTetaia a part of their ancient domains.

From Colla-Hnais, or the noble, are defcended the prefent earl
of Antrim, and all the Mac Donnels of Scotland and Ireland,
the Mac Dougals or Doyles, the Mac Rories, lords of the He-
bridest Mac Cartan/ 0*Daire, O'Geran, Mac Solliv or Sally,
Clan Cerin, &c.

From Colla-Mcan I find the O'Cearuibhils or O'Carrolst
ibmetimes called kings of Oirgial, are defcended, as alfo tho
Mac Sheekies, Clan Duncha, &c» From Colla^da-Crioch arc
fprung the Mac Mahons, princes of Monaghan, Mac Guire^
chief of Fermanagh, Mac Manna, O'Hanlon, O'Nolan, Mac
Connel, Mac Cineth or Mac Kenzie, OTlanagan, O'Rudagan,
OXorcan^ O'Danbig, Mac Naghtin, Mac Cormoc, O'Davin,
Mac Felan, &:c. befides the O'Kellies, O'Maddins, Mac Eagan,
&c. of Conaught. O'Henrighty, O'Behellan, O'Cofgrive,
CGarvey, O'Lonagan, O'Coltrain, O'Hamby, and O'Morna,
are reckoned up by O'Dugan as chiefs of OirgiaL

Of the Dal-Fiatachs of Ulfler I can give no account, and very
little of the Dalriada.

From thefe^ and many other families now extinct, are the
ancient and (by the maternal line) a/moji all the modern Irijh^
through the kingdom^ defcended. United thus in blood, and hav-
ing, in fadt, but one common intereft (the good of their country)
to purfue,' is it not afloniOiing that the lead difunion ihould fub- .
fift among them ? What would become of Britain, at this day,
were the remains of the ancient Britons, the Saxons, Danea
Normans, Flemings, and Dutch, to regard themfelves as dif-
tind colonies, interelled only in the profperity of their particu-

2 lar

4i6 HISTORY OF IRELAND.

A,C. lar fepts ? What wduld be the flate of France^ Spain, Germanyi
and, in (hort, of the whole continent of Europe, were they to
siGt on principles fo contraded, fo impoliticaU fo fubverfive of
public good i To affirm that the Hiftory of Ireland, from the
time that Henry IL was proclaimed king of 4>ath-Mogha» to
this day, is not a continuation of the paft, would be as abfurd
as to fay, that the Hiftory of England, fince the Revolution,
has no kind of relation to antecedent fafts ! I have laboured,
with unremitting zeal, to lay before my countrymen the hiftory
of their anceftors, from the moft remote antiquity, to that
period. I have neither exaggerated their virtues nor glofted
over their vices. The Irifli, of modern days, have now an op-
portunity of renewing their acquaintance with their great — their
long negleded anceftors — and I am perfuaded, that neither they,
nor their country, will be the worfe for this information.

I N I S.

y*^

*****

*'*^***

— s»

■M«

•

■WHM

mmmm

~~r^-

ABBIES and religious houfes, an accmint of fome^
^^ AcadfmUs and fchools, numerous and fplendid,
AJamnanus^ his writingSt
^^Am and Alexander^ bulls againft Ireland,

—■■'■■ proved to be genuiney
remarks on thenit

Page
90—118

360
365

■ ■ ■ ■ the great difference in ftylc and fentiment

between them, and the Letter of (yRuark» - 371

JK4m^ his zeal in converting the Britifh Sazons» - 113

jtileroHf thefage, his writings, • - . n^

jUbofr;^ an accajpit of the Infli or Scottiih fettlement there, its rife

andprogrefs/ - - - ^8— *6o

■ diltinguiihed intoTidifli and Scottiih, * - . 5^* 53

Albe^ archbiihop and patron of Munfter, founds the Ice of

Emly before the arrival of Patrick, - lo. 41 -^^^

^iixaniier III/ and Adrian IV« their condud nqt to be juftified, 366

AUoHal property, a branch of the feudal fyftem, • ^ 143"~"I45

Mpbabet^ the Iriih, its antiquity, and not taken from the Latin, 20—23
Annual revenues of the Munfter kings, - • 238

• ■« ■ fubfiriies paid by fhem^to the fubordinate iftates, 238—^40

^^^2^5 of Ireland, their ori^nal precedence, « 16

the number of their luffiragans in early days, - jhid#

» : * • ... ^ . m ^ the twelfth age, . 327

Vou II. • H h h Arcbbijhoprick^'

INDEX.

Page
Atchmfboprict of Leinfter, transferred ta Feriw^ - 84

^^j^/!>, crefted into an univerfity by Patrick, • • 19

- the reitilt of a council held there, • - ^40

•Jimmm

Arts and Sciencesi^ their true Hate in Ireland in the early ftges, '89—- 92
■ the unconuiion protection afforded to them, 1 1 8^ 1 19

;ii^^/ctM* African. miiffioM %xQi introducers of CkriAiamty into ^
Ireland,. - - • - 7» ^*

—- — — — . cuftom of celebrating Eafter, ftridly adhered

toy, - - - -^ • 23—2^

AiufttHy the monk, not io fuccefsful in converting the Saxons

as^ wece the Iriilv - - • • I13

• « ■

ft.

jB^im> theconfeqBencesofhis death, * » ^^
Baptifmj Benedid of Peterborough's account of the Irifh mode, 381

Bar^ or Fin-Bar, founds the cathedral of Cork, • ' 9S

^atles^ with what weapons, fought by fea and land, • 223,224.

a^xi^ ef Magh- Albci -* - - ^ iZ6,lcc.

of Dublin^. ^ * * • 200-

pf Rofcrea,^ • - . ' - •* aM

of Limeric,. , - ♦ • • 20*

of Cluantarf!^ - - - - . -^ %6i% &ci

^encharezhhty^ fome accounts of^ ^ - 87. 96. loS

St. Bemar^i<:^xA3LT» (xitfie IniL church. esutmined^ - 3:2(>r^ 28
fiirftrum^ the term e3q>lftined», • « .. i^q

Slathmac^ a dreadful plaj^ie in his reifi;n> - -> %oz

Srien-Soirumbe^ hisJite,. exploits, and glorious death, 234—269

-f- Si. Brigidy oi Kildare,, patronefs of Leinfter^ ' ^ •- 85, ^6u

JBrigMtes, riie nanies>of their principal pollerity m Ireltod and Al-
bany,. - , ♦- ♦ ^ ' - 4p(5»
"Britain^ ittiradedbjF Lo«gaire„ - * -^ a
the Lriih made a diTerfion dxer^iii jfaTdur of the Gauls and'
' Germans,. . — .• - 29^
TlieSaziWS 'Called iirthere,^ ^pd league witkihe Infii,, 3%

GmMptttdmeny of the AtKt of letteirs m^ Ireland;. ^ 8^

C^4 dedicated to God and' St. Patrick,. « » 2^

^Mks, fome account of the penal Uws^ ^inft Hxtm, and dieir per-

mciouse&fis^ r r *" ^5^— 7<-

£ X.

tr»

Page
ddtdchf the monk, attempts the fovereigntjr ti Coiiatighty and is

aflaffinated, • • * r 6)

CeaUacban^ proclaimed king of Munfter, and the manner, 206, 207
I his exploits againft againft the Danes, • 2o8-r-2 12

■ the manner of his captivity, •• - 213—216

the taking of Ardmagh, and fea^fight near Dundalk,

217 — }23

14—17
300,321^32^

I2|^|2»

374> *75» ?7$
205, 206

175

267, 268, 20^

3H
202

by which he regained his liberty,
Cdefiifff fends PalladiUs to Ireland,
O/r/^ Pater«noiler explained, • •. .

Chrifm^ its early introdudion into Ireland, .
Cbrtftianity,' the 0ate of k, before the arrival of Patrick,
i ' ■■ I its flouriihing condition in his days^
iChurthtSj. founded in earlier times, • 'i

'CImreb pf Ireland, its uncommon privileges, «

L ' ^ 1 ■ ' ' I •■ its flouriihing condition,

fUan demands thecrow^ of Munfter, and its ifTue,
0peidi relinquiihes hi ^ preccniions to the Munfter crown,
PbaraSer^ the Angular one of Malachie L

-» of Brien Boirumhe,

- of Turlaglt O'Brien , - -

M. of Connor O'Brien,
of 'Turlogh O'Connor, with a moral refledioo,

mmmm

M-

Clare county, made Fearan-Cliomh, pr Sword-Lan^,
» ■ ^ ' ftationsjudiciouily placed there and in Ormond,

CUmenty founds tjieiunivierfity of Paris, and miftakes of Fleury cor-

. rc£bed,- » • • . 189-^192

CW/«f, wfay.caUediGfaevelu, *' - - . . S

Qonariy the fynod of, ^ -• * - • 93

Colunfihf apditle of fhePids, fomeaccoynt of, -^ 77, 78. 8o. 93

Columianus, his defence of the eaftern celebration of Eafter,

ibme account of his life and writings,

t^^

iSmffgilj founds the abb^y of Benchpre^

JOMaugkU 'its firft archhifliop,

CpTpiaCy king and archbilhop of Mupfter, . - *

x\»^ f iQUtcc of t^e war in wlitch he feU, Jiis will, fee.

Council of Fiadh-Oengufa, and ftate of the Irilhi church,

— of Kells, and the reforms made there,

'- of Ardmagh,

- ^5

no. Ill

87-9^

9^
l8|

185—188

300

320

349

Criomibf^j, gr^gts ccrritoril^s to Luigh-pealbha, frpm )itm called the
/ ^ . ' Delvins, - ' . . 3, ^

Crowns of goldj cpaftanrly wore in public by our princesj 66, 67

H n h 2 * Cruackan

-f

1 N O E X

Page
Cruachan aflcmbly, regarded trade and mMufaftures only, • -34, 3 j
Cumian, hiarefearch^s on the true time of celebrating of i^er, 1 1 5

Dalgas, deferted by Malachie at the the battle of Cluantarff, 26$

*-- their lofs in this battle^ and uncommon fprtitude in their

refreat, - - - - 275—^79

— — — led on all attacks^ and covered the retreat, - 314

-^ the names of their pollerity, - - 408

DaneSf the true caufe of their invafions and depredations affigned,

148— .152
——- their tyranny under Turgefius, - - 160— "165

-—- are cut off by Malachie, - - - J73"^i7<^

- the means by which they acquired freftpower, 177, 178

*- their final ruin in the battle of Cluantarfi, - - 261

Degaidsj of Munfter, the names of their principal pofterity, 405

DagoHy the bifhop, fome account of, - • 109

Daniely the monarch, invades Meath, and his army breaks up through
fuperftition, with tlte penance impofed on him by St*
Fechin," - - - - - • - 99— lo-i

Dermody the monarch, receives the chrifm at his coronation, 65

Donogb O'Brien, by the death of his brother, becomes king of Leath-

Mogha, ... - 285

!■■* ■ a powerful league formed ag^inft him ; furrenders the king-
dom, and rctiresto Rome, - • • 287, 28S
■ ■■ ■ is faid to have prefented his crown to Alexander II. and the

confequences of this fuppofed funender, - 289, 290

Dowrty the monuments of St. ratrick, St. Brigid, and Columba,

effaced, - - - - 40

Vrom-Cbette^ the account of a famous feffion held there, 80—84

JDruiJs, their religion and rites, an account of, *• 4*-*7

J ■ declared incapable of fuperintending the national records, 34
DubliHf its capture, &c. by Cogan, ... 3^^^

Dundalk^ the relation of a celebrated fea-*fight near it, 221, 222, 223

Eafier^ an account of this feftival, and of the differences between

Rome and the churches of Afia thereon, • 231 24

■ ■ • the Irilh zealous defenders of the Afiatic dUciplinCi 24 — 29

Ejnania

f' N I> B »

Page
Bmanla ftflcmbty, for the extenfion of commerce, with a remark^ 34
EoganachtSy the names of their principal poikrity> - 406

£rr, his fons invade Albanj> • « - 41

tnuuns. See Degmds.

'£vi«itf, aft account of, ! * V • 285, i8£

£;n:ir^fiy^reveauesof the monarchs from. Leth-Cuto^ • 25$

of the kings of Munfter, - • 283

EcckfiafiicSj how the ancient Irifli employed their. time,. * 120, I2t
EngUfh laws, their force and extent in Ireland to the reign of

Jame^L • • . . ^ - jgo — j8^

'mmm^^^ WHters, thclr unjufttfiable vanity in treating of the exploits. .

of their countrymen -there, - 339* 34 ^* 3 5 ^

I their iafiocerity and miireprefentations,. 374*37^>377- 331-^383

Sf.FachMf founds the umverfity of Rofs, * • 87

Fearghalj defeated in the battle of Almhuin, * - x^

FeargalMBc Ruarc'»ihield, ^referved as a trophy by the Dalgas, 23 1
Fechitii, his condi^ towards the monarch Disiniel, -' 100, 10 s

Feis-Tamrach, Patrick prefides over the literati there, - 17

■ '■ ^— ' confequences of a orivate (|tiarrel! duringits feffion, ' 70
Perns, the fee of Lefnfier transferred to it; •- " « 84

fkudaDzws, new li^ts throwi^ on them^ * HS'^H?

5i*FTacn^ patron wMeaux,. his writings,.. - ' ' • .114

St. Finian, lucceeds Aidan in the church of Northumberland, j 13,

FUmacbtu, exonerates the Laeenians from their tribute, - 105

FlanSuma^ a fingular reafon tor his invading North Munfter, 181,182
Fonts of Munfler^ aa account of,. * » • 240^

Si. Oall^ his Dk)u$foumIations,^&c. • • . -~^ i^ra*

fiauls, the Icifn invade Britain, tp cauffe a diverfibn in their favour, 29,&c;.
Gtftt/and Germany,- Irifhbifhops, &c. confecrated for thefe mimdnr,

30i,302.3T»
Gilbert^ the firft Roman legate in Ireland, . ' • - 30a

Guaire^ defeatedby Dermod,^ and his fingular fubmiffion,. 71, 72, 73. K

M-Brmnsi^

jf j^ t' 3ft

^Br^m and Hi-f'iacres, the names of their priQcipal poilerUf » . 41 }
floiry II. permits Mac Mufehad to ratfe troops \ti Britain^ ^ • 2^4
> ■ fi applied to by- Strongbow for permiffion to. enter onto ^. .
.: ferviceof thekmg of Leiofter, and. bU r^markiable an*

> fvrer, -t .- ^ . . - / 3459 &jBv«

> ' * by proclamation^ recalls his fubje&s from Ire1a44f ' 35 1» &c«

•^-^ Stfongbbw's letter to him^ • -; . r 3^

——pfepaifw to invade- Ireland, , - - - 356

Adtiap>9n<l Alexander's hulls of donaiioii l^i^tini :Wi(C]^.j£*.

marks, - . - - . 360, &c.

acknowledged fovereign of Lesith-Mogha^ - - 374

did not alter the laws or conftitution, - 3^5, &c.

the natpre of the peace between O'Connor and ham, 278-r'282

JUoly and relmous (the) of the 'fifth century, and ^ ft ate of the Jrifli '

chorch^ • ? '^ -^ - •-. '39 — '^

' ' "-.of thejixth age, . . ;;. - ' '^ ;.,. ; 85— 97

- of thc'ieventhj , • , i .'' .' ro8 — 125

of ihc eighth, :../.•" r .' '- ' 133'— H7

r^ — df the ninth, .; . , . . \ - . . * ^igpL-j^^

— of the tenth,' *. ' • . 270, 47/, 27!

of the eleventh,. - ,,. - - 304,305

is, acufiow|iieljuioa.pf£ngliihone^^ ' . '• • ' 339- 34«

JarJatby firft archbiihop of Conaucht, = - '93

Iharus^ refufes to acknowlege the luj^remacy of Patrick, • 9, 10
ir, the names of his princijgal pofterity, . , • - , . ^-. . . 4.X0^4ii
/rj/fc literati, their great prxvilcgj?s,'^ - ' - \ ^8r, 8?

tie great protcdion they afFprde^ to Mette^s, i t S^ j 1 9^^ i «o

miffionaries plant religion' and tetters throvTgll moft parts of ^
^uippe, , • . * * '" .»*-''. . iT'l

«-*-«- faints clatted and numbered, - . * 122

-^-•^ language, prefunied weH known on fhe contifienl:, 12^4, 125

Ireland, its antiquity and pre-eminence over the other ftates of

Europe, proved, - - - - 58, 69

^ the chrifm early introduced there, • - '6y, 66

•

u: N 1 n: E. i.

Page
MA^iiit taasaia of hk ptineqnd poAeiity ia Ifdaadaod Albany,

406, 407

JS3^g;&//<-J^r^> or l^rctF^-iapds, its great aittiQtH% 7 (4^^

I]tf^^r^> invades Hritain— taken priibnerliy die Lageniairt^ and re«

covers Jii$ UBerty. on terms. hfe refufes comply with, 1, 2, 3:

~- again ' invades Britain — ^ the Saxons called over, and

les^ue with the Iriih, ^, * ' 29—32

letters p error in foppofingthe kiih ta haV6 talcen theirs from' Rome,

20, &C*.

*«—---^ their flouriihrng fiate, ' ' - ' • ; ir»

Lughmdb^ Wars againft Ollto^ ind defeats hHn> • 37

LetnfteTf the names of its cEi^ families,. « - 410, 41 r

Xi^^^ nniverfity, founded by St. Carthage"^ - 117^—120

Lar^n^ king of Muniler^ his exploits^ » « ^ toi— 204,

jk£if Murc&ad, cairies off the wil& of CyRnarl:, who applies to

the ^monarch for redrefs,. * - 3^^ 33^

— ■ — requefts the protedkm of Henry IL and enOert : into

' treaty with JStron^Dow, ^- 334>335»33^'

his proceedings^ and tbofe oiF hit followers, 336*^5^

MdgoniuSy .("^^ Patrick) the name ^f the apoftle of Ireland,. i z

■ * the hiftory ot this apoftle to his death,. « • i'2'-*45;

MahoHy king of Munfter, his niftory and exploits^ • 229— -233
Mcdacbie I. convenes the efiates at Ardtaagh, - ^ 162*

■ oppreffion of the nation during jpart of his reign, 1^63, 164, 165

M confpirf s td^ deftroy thel^aoes, and the eaufe^ 174^ ^ 759 ^ 7^

U. prochtimtd monarchy * • « 242.

the eflbtes agree to-depofe him, and. appoint Briea his foe-

ceflbr, - - . • , ' • . • - 246*

offers to Ititrender the crown, bift is ailbwed a tonger time^

2479&C.
noakea a fsnnal forrender of it txvBneo^ ^ ^ 2 job

Malacbie

-t

1.:: N : Di E : x-:

Page

Maladie and Brfen's cohdaft bn:tfais trjrihg occafion joftified, x$ip^z$t,

^ again faluted monarch by the Clan-Colman, • 280

, ■ ■— his relation of the battle of Glnantarff, - 281

, ^ ^ . . hisexploitSy pious. foundations, and death, 283—285

ASl5w?/wor^ji{»,1thc caufeK>f his inviting over the i)anes> ' ^58^259

•— : falls in the battle of CluantarfF, - - 267

MtrianuSf the famous chronologift, fome account of, - 304

Mezera/% account of the Irifli miffionaries id Gaul, - 1 20, 1 2r

Afr/r(^/7a»i. of Ireland, their great privileges, - 39^*3^*

Mm-Moir. the bloody battle of» ' - . - - 3»4

Mrrogh O'BrieD, his exploits and death at the battle of Cluantarff,

263, 264
Morioghj the eftabUihment of an Iriih colony in Albany in his reign,

and the hiftory of that tranfaftibn, - * 47 — 6%

- Q'Brien, his reign and exploits, ... 295 — 299

O'Neill, his reign and exploits, - 318—328

Mrij^^r,. the revenues of its kings, . . ,. - 238
.--,'(i^bfidies gaid^by its, kings to thfe fubbrdittate ftatcs, 238, 239,

Si.Murus^ patron faint of the OWeilU, ' ^' - - in

MuJU of the Irilh, fome account of, • - 92

« •

. )

KtaUll. wimy T^rtfy^iOrXVi his reign of the calamities awaiting the

natien, -- - ' * . "9» 13°

in. the IJaodiog, ai¥d adions of Turgcfius in his reign, 158, lyq,

100
IV. an account of the Danes to his death* - 198 — zoo

OlioU'Mob^ the reforms in his reigp, &c. - . 31—38

Orgialj the names of its principal fepts in Ireland and Albany, ' ._ 4CI6
Offian^ the tendency, of the poem$ attribute to him, a«nd its'r^fyta-

tion, -' - - . ' - . - y6 — 66

0/<^rj^ the tributes of its Minxes to iheMiinfterkin^^^ . ^ ^ ,212,

— fubfidies of the Munfter kings to its chiefs, - ^ 283

OJtarians^ confederate againft Brieni and '^c defeated, -'243^
.... Offhry,

• t

I N D E XJ

Page

Ojforyy Its prince 4lemflnds boftages from the fons of Brien,
and the unexampled behaviour of thefe princes and
the brave Dalgas on this occafion, - 276—279

invaded by Mac Murchad, - - - 340

- the names of its principal families, • * - 411

PalloMuSy fent by Celeftin to the Irifli nation, • - 10

Patrick, not the name, but the title of the apoftle of Ireland, ra

n* his hiftory to his death, - / • - 1 2—46

Jpi^i, always regarded as a people diftin&from the Scots, 52, 53

Poynings^ law x)f parliament, not a national law, but confined to

a fmall diftrift, not a tenth part of the kingdom, 332, 383
Pro/f^or of Ireland, an account of this title, - * 286

RatiJhoH, the Irilh abbey of, reftored to its original fplendor by Con-
nor O'Brien, • - ,. • jii
Raymond le Grofs, lands In Ireland, . • . • ^^5
— > his manner of taking Waterford, - 347, 348
■ his treacherous capture of Dublin, and tht

carnage that followed, • • - - ' 349, 350

Roderic 0*Connor, aflumes the title of monarch, • 328, 329

'■ s O'Ruark's letter to him, and its clicks, 330, 331,

33^
— '■ invades. Ulfter, and fummonfes a convention of

the eftatcsjof Leth^uin, . - - J32* 333*

beiieges Dublin, is furprifed in his camp.

and his army break up, - • 353'~*35^

concludes a peace with Henry, and the na*

ture of this peace explained, - • - S78«— 384

Revolution, in 'Ireland, iii ii72, and in England 1688, com-
pared, -...•. ,- ^ 278
Rom, not the introducer of Chriftianky into Ireland, - 7, 8

Palladjus the firft tnifEonary fent from Rome, and the

ohjecftfons of Uiher removed, * - - 10,11

— — appoints Magonius, the patrician, his fucceflbr, " ^ 12

Vol. lU Iii Ron9e,

A«

I N D E X,

Page
Rome and Irelaiid*, not in accord in fome matters of difcipline,

with rcflcdions, - - - - 24 — 28

Saints of Ireland, their numbers, '- - 121,122-

■ of the fifth age. See Holy and Religious Men.
Scotland^ or Albanjr, account of the different Irifh fettlers there

to the reign of Mortogh, - - 49, 50, 51

_ : I Hiftory of this Irifh colony, and the objedtions to it

^ removed, - . - - 5I_.(J|,

Scots of North Britain, who attended the ftandard of Brien, 261

Spdin^ New, faid to be difcovered, - - 343

StrongboWj aiTociates with Mac Murchad for the recovery of his king-
dom of Leinflcr, - • - 335

■ applies to Henry for permifEon to attend the Irifh war, i
and his remarkable anfwer, - - 34^;

— — lands in Ireland, and pofTeffes himfelf of Waterford, 346,347

*— .— — marries the princefs of Leinfler, and marches to Dublin,

3485 349» 35^
I his diflrefied fituation by the death of Mac Murchad, and

fiege of Dublin, offers to fubmit to the monarch, &c.

^ 35^—355
■ received into grace by Henry, who invades Ireland;

and pofTefTes himfelf of the fovereignty of Leath-Mogha,

356—350
^orf of Clonard, • - • - 93

— — of Logh-Lene, - - 109 115

of Northumberland, - - * - 1 1 5

ofTirdaglas, - - - - • 128

Turhgh O'Brien, nominal monarch, his life and exploits, 292, 293,

294*295
.— «— — O'Brien, proclaimed king of Munfter, - 3^2—315

■ O'Connor, nominal monarch, bis life, exploits, death,

and charafter, • - • . 30^ — ^317

.-•^

N D

Page
Pbrtigerttf elcQ:cd commander of the Britons, and the Saxons

called in, - • - - 31, oz

ffexfordf its (iege and furrender,
fy-aierfordf its iiege and capture,

339> 340
347. 348

BND OF THE SECOND VOLUME.

•\

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Full text of "A general history of Ireland, from the earliest accounts to the close of the twelfth century, collected from the most authentic records. In which new and interesting lights are thrown on the remote histories of other nations as well as of both Britains"

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