CHAPTER II.
Hy
Cabanagh and Hy Drone anterior to the English Invasion of the Twelfth
Century.
THE ancient history
of Ireland has been the subject of much controversy. One class of
writers has ventured boldly to present us with the annals of the country
from a period as early as the year of the world, one thousand nine
hundred and seventy-eight, or about two thousand years before the birth
of Christ; while others maintain, that little credence is to be
"attached to the historic annals of Ireland until the arrival of St.
Patrick, in the fifth century of the Christian era.
The former, or Irish
party, tell us, that in the year A. M. 1978, Partholanus, a native of
Greece, settled in this island, of which he and his followers kept
possession three hundred years, when they were visited by a plague,
which destroyed the whole colony. Ireland is then said to have remained
destitute of inhabitants thirty years, till A. M. 2308, when Nemedius,
descended from a brother of Partholanus, arrived. In 2540, we are told,
the island was visited by a people called Tuatha de Danans, who
maintained their sway in it for the space of one hundred and
ninety-seven years, when the Milesians landed. These latter embarked at
Galicia, (A.M. 2737), in thirty ships, for Ireland. We are further
informed that of the race of Milesius, king of Spain, Ireland had one
hundred and eighteen monarchies in the time of St. Patrick, A.D. 432;
while fifty-one kings swayed the Irish sceptre from the days of Laogaire,
A.D. 428, to those of Roderick O'Connor, last Milesian monarch of the
island.
On the opposite side, the hardy Ledwich,
and others, have openly declared their disbelief in, what they term, the
monastic, fabulous legends of ancient Ireland; they deny the high
literary cultivation claimed for this kingdom by the aforementioned
authors, and even seem disposed to maintain that the Irish, previously
to their conversion to Christianity, were plunged in rude and savage
ignorance, equally devoid of learning and civilization. Truth, we think,
may lie between. To enter upon an investigation of the matter, would
occupy more space than could well be spared in this work, and, indeed,
would be foreign to its express object. Suffice it to say, that it
appears to us, that there exists abundant testimony from contemporary
writer, and others, (testimony credited by the acutest antiquaries), to
justify us in the conclusion, that ancient Ireland had much of social
cultivation and scholastic knowledge, though, perhaps, not in the high
degree represented. It is our immediate purpose to detail such
occurrences as relate to that part of the kingdom whose history and
antiquities we have undertaken to produce.
We have records of events and
circumstances, of a very early date, relating to the district which
forms the subject of this work. But we should first premise, as tending
to remove obscurity from, the subsequent narrative, that, on the death
of Milesius, above mentioned, the kingdom was divided between his sons
Heber and Heremon; the former choosing the southern half, the latter,
the northern. Besides the two just mentioned, Milesius had sons named,
as follows: Don, Aireach, Amhargin, In, Colpa, and Aranann; all of whom
joined Heber and Heremon is the invasion of Ireland, and among whom and
their descendants subdivisions of the country took place. The kingdom
was governed by four provincial kings, while the chief monarch had Meath
as his particular domain. Within the provinces were petty princes, who
exercised the rights of sovereignty over their own immediate people;
subject, however, to the control of the powers above them. In short, the
feudal system was that adopted and followed by the Irish. The crown was
elective; but none were eligible except members of the royal stock. —
The course of events now claims our attention.
We find that in A.M.2786, Conmaol, and
the son of Heber, by a victorious engagement, obtained the crown, and
governed the kingdom of Ireland thirty years. Continual warfare
subsisted between him and the family of Heremon, against whom he fought
not less than twenty-five battles, with uniform success. Among nine of
the actions enumerated is to be found that of Lochlein, otherwise
Leighlin.
In order to the due comprehension of the
facts and allusions to be found in a work of this nature, it is
indispensable that the reader should be reminded of all general
revolutions or remarkable departures from ancient custom. Some brief
notice of all such cases is necessary to illustrate the train of events.
With this view, we shall now mention, that it is stated, on the
authority of the Psalter of Cashel, that stone buildings were to be
found in Ireland as early as A. M. 3150. About a century afterwards, in
3261, fortifications were first constructed. These latter appear to have
been the origin of the raths, which subsequently became very numerous.
However early the knowledge of masonry
may have been, we are fully aware, that until a very recent period,
comparatively, it was applied solely to great military and
ecclesiastical structures; the dwellings of private individuals being
framed of wood. — Would that we could say anything in solution of that
knotty subject, the date and origin of the round towers of Ireland. Our
satisfaction in such case would be enhanced by the circumstance that one
of these singular structures stood within our county till about twenty
years since; when it fell, not before the devouring tooth of Time, but
under the devastating hand of man.
In the year of the world 3952, or
fifty-two years prior to the birth of Christ, the practice of burying
the dead in graves was first introduced into Ireland. Previously to the
time of Eochaidh, surnamed Aireamb, who in this year ascended the throne
of Ireland, the Milesians covered their dead with great heaps of stones
or clay. Aireamb, in the Irish language, signifies a grave, and was
conferred as a second name upon this prince, because he introduced the
more approved mode of burial, adherence to which has since subsisted,
A.D. 122. Cathaoir More, surnamed the
Great, descended from Heremon, succeeded to the monarchy of Ireland. He
bequeathed his kingdom of Leinster to his son Rosa Failge. From Fiachadh
Baiceada, one of the nine sons of the aforesaid Cathaoir, descended the
princely families of Mac Morrough Kavanagh, frequently kings of
Leinster, of O'Toole, some time monarchs of that province, of Byrne, in
Irish O'Broin, lords of Wicklow for a considerable period; likewise from
the same monarch sprung the noble families of Cinsealagh, of Ryan, in
Irish O'Riain, and in some chronicles of Ireland it is called
O'Maoilrian, of O'Duffy, Murphy, and others. Some further remarks on
this subject, by Doctor Keating, will be found in the Appendix. (2)
Con, called of the Hundred Battles,
ascended the throne of Ireland in the year 125, or as stated by others,
153. In his reign was confirmed, or instituted, a division of the
kingdom into two parts. The kingdom of Leinster extended from Inbher
Colpa, now called Drogheda, to the confluence of the Suir, Nore, and
Barrow. It consisted of thirty-one territories, nine hundred and thirty
towns or villages, and eleven thousand seven hundred and sixty
plough-lands. The royal palaces in Leinster, at the period, were those
of Dinrigh and the Naas. Keating (correcting Stanihurst) states that
Ouva Slaiiy, Deen-ree, or Dinrigh, was so called from Slany, one of the
kings of Leinster, and was situate on the western bank of the Barrow,
between Carlow and Leighlin; in which fortified palace he resided and
died. We are not aware that any traces of this structure now remain:
however, this cannot affect the credibility of its having once existed,
as we know that of fortresses inhabited in this county only two
centuries since, not a vestige is now to be seen. That of Clonmullen (of
which more anon) is an instance. It was perhaps at this period that the
principality of Hy Kinselagh was exactly defined; of which Hy Cabanagh
and Hy Drone formed the northern portion.
The country was reduced to great misery
in the two hundred and thirteenth year of the Christian era, by the
scarcity of provisions, and other distressing circumstances. The people
of Deicies, suffering under these calamities, consulted the most eminent
Druids as to the future hopes of the land; stating, that should their
prospects here be gloomy, they would remove to a more propitious region.
The priests exhorted them to remain, and apply to Eana Cinnsealach for
his daughter, Eithne, whose husband should prove most favourable to the
people of Deicies. Eana granted their request, and his daughter was
allied, by the people of Deicies, to Aongus, son of the king of Munster.
A considerable period afterwards, Eneas and this lady Eithne were slain
by the people of Leinster in the battle of Ceallosnadh, four miles
eastward of Laithglin, or Leighlin. — We cannot avoid here deploring the
melancholy recurrence of scenes of strife and bloodshed, commotion and
contention, by which the Irish annals are disfigured.
Niall, of the Nine Hostages, succeeded
to the throne of Ireland, A.D. 375. He was descended from Heremon, and
reigned twenty-seven years. During his government, a very singular
occurrence took place within the district on whose history we are
engaged. We shall relate it with as much brevity as may be consistent
with a due regard to perspicuity.
It seems that the ambitious feelings of
Eochaidh, son of Eana Cinselach, prompted him to reside at Tara, as
monarch of the kingdom, in express opposition to the command of Niall,
the rightful sovereign. The former was reprimanded for his unjustifiable
conduct by a Druid of eminence, which caused him to withdraw from Tara
and relinquish his pretensions to the crown. Niall immediately
established himself in the royal palace, to which he had a legitimate
right, and ultimately, Eochaidh was obliged to fly to Scotland.
Previously, however, to his forced departure, an untoward event
happened, which further incensed the sovereign against him. Having
visited the house of Laidhgin, the son of Bairceadha, a Druid in great
favour with the king of Ireland, he met with some reproaches from him,
whereupon he attacked Laidhgin and killed him on the spot. The father
was greatly enraged at this deed, and hastened to lay his case before
Niall, who engaged to revenge the death of Laidhgin on the prince and
people of Leinster.
Niall expeditiously prepared an army,
and, in pursuance of his promise, ravaged Leinster and much distressed
its inhabitants. The Druid, pitying the innocent, who thus suffered for
the guilty, proposed to check all hostilities provided Eochaidh were
delivered into his hands. The people, reduced to the last extremity,
reluctantly acceded to the proposal and placed the: prince at the
disposal of his enraged foe. The Druid resolving to Wreak ample revenge
on his prisoner, caused him to be chained to a large upright stone,'
with the view of exposing him to all the pains of a lingering death. The
unfortunate prince was compelled to maintain one position, with his back
to the stone, and subject to the galling weight of' the iron chain; but
after some time, the Druid resolved on depriving him of existence by a
more summary process. For this purpose, be ordered nine soldiers to
attack him; not being' without a well-grounded apprehension that
Eochaidh, being possessed of great bravery and strength, would make
formidable resistance. Nor was he mistaken. Rendered desperate by the
approach of his executioners, the prince made a super-human effort to
obtain his liberty, in which he succeeded by forcing one of the rivets
of the chain by which he was confined. He immediately attacked the
soldiers, possessed himself of arms, slew some of them, and finally
effected his escape to Scotland, as already noticed. Doctor Keating
states, that the stone to which Eochaidb was chained, might be seen in
his time, "on the west side of the Slainey, between Cill Brighde and
Tullach O'Feidhlin." This is not correct, as the stone lies south of
Tullach O'Feidhlin, or Tullow, and not between it and Cill Brighde or
Celbridge. A full description of is may be found in a subsequent
chapter.
We have now arrived at the era of a most
important event in the history of this country; one which must
materially affect the best interests of the people of any period or
nation. We allude to the revolution in religion which occurred in the
fifth century in Ireland. The system which previously prevailed was that
of the Druids, the chief feature of it being, a belief in the
immortality and transmigration of the soul, after the notions of
Pythagoras. They conceived, that on death the immortal spirit passed
from the defunct to a living being, and was thus continued for a series
of ages, till it became sufficiently purified to return to the great
source from whence it emanated. It was further understood, that the
transmigration look place among beings of like qualities; thus the soul
of the noble, brave, or generous, preserved a strict consistency of
habitation, as did that of those characterised by opposite qualities of
a vicious nature. This system, however, though apparently calculated to
regulate the passions, did not produce that result; for, the admiration
of ambition, the love of glory, and thirst for revenge were frequent
themes of the bards and annalists, who were among the officials or
dispensators of this religion. Those who failed to indulge in these
passions could hope for no eulogium from the bards, no flattering notice
from the annalist of the country. The consequence was such as might be
expected; scenes of strife, of contention, and of bloodshed.
A new scene, however, opened upon
Ireland by the introduction of Christianity; a religion inculcating
tenets the very reverse of those of -the system which it supplanted.
Patience, forbearance, forgiveness of injuries, contempt of this world,
were the principles now inculcated; and the alteration effected was very
considerable. It could not be expected that the passions inherent in
human nature, passions which were fostered by the Druid system, would be
eradicated by the mild doctrines of Christianity. They might however be
checked or softened; and such was the result, though not in so great a
degree as might be desired by the humane or patriotic. Jarring
interests, the love of power, the soarings of ambition, continued to
prevail. The philosopher must ever regret the result thus produced in
early days, while he cannot shut his eyes to the fact, that even our own
times present a very indifferent exemplification of the behests of the
religion of Christ. Human nature, indeed, seems to be pretty much the
same in all days and in all countries; modified, (too slightly,
however), by varieties of religion. Similar passions and similar effects
are observable whether we peruse the history of the Jews, the Persians,
the Greeks, the Romans, the Mahometans, or of the modern Europeans. It
can therefore hardly be matter of wonder that the heathen Irish and
their Christian successors should not afford any remarkable contrast in
the materials presented to the historian of their common country.
Some historians assert that the
Christian religion found footing here immediately after the preaching of
the apostles. They say further, that missionaries not only preached, but
founded churches here in the fourth century. It was, however, reserved
to the fifth to become the era of any great or universal reception of
Christianity in Ireland. We are told by the venerable Bede, that "in the
eighth year of the reign of the emperor Theodosius, (A.D.431), Palladius
was sent by Celestine, bishop of the Roman church, to the Scots (Irish)
believing in Christ, to be their first bishop."He was attended by twelve
Irish missionaries, but his success was small, and after a sojourn of
the brief space of three months, he retired to Britain, where he died.
Celestine lost no time in looking for a successor, when the merits of
Patrick pointed him out as a person highly eligible to the office of
missionary to the Irish. When he reached the scene of his future
labours, (in 432), he found that the number of Christian teachers and
disciples was considerable. He conciliated them by the mildness of his
deportment, and had great success in making converts among the princes,
nobility, and chief persons, to whom his attention was first directed;
most of whom in a few years he reckoned as members of his flock. He
seems to have first visited Meath, (which comprehended Westmeath and the
present Meath), and having made satisfactory progress there, traversed
successively the present county of Wicklow, Maghliffe now called
Kildare, Leix, a part of the Queen's county, and thence to the house of
his friend the poet Dubtach, who resided in Hy-Kinsellagh, otherwise the
present county of Carlow.
Anxious to increase the number of his
missionaries, St. Patrick asked Dubtach if there was any individual in
the district suited to the office. The latter replied that he had a
disciple named Fiech, whom he thought highly qualified for the
appointment. Fiech was already a convert to Christianity, (A.D. 444),
and St. Patrick feeling satisfied of his fitness for the clerical
profession, supplied him with the means of prosecuting his studies, in
which he made rapid progress. He became a bishop, after the lapse of
some time, and was the first Leinster man raised to the dignity. Some
say that Fiech superintended a monastery, called Domnaclr- Fiech, stated
to be situated on the east of the Barrow, county of Carlow. St. Patrick,
we are told, met with zealous assistance from Crimthan, son of Enda
Kinsellagh, king of Hy Kinsellagh, who, although opposed to Fiech, is
classed among the most pious princes of his time, and stated to have
been the founder of many churches. To Ossory, the apostle of Ireland
next directed his steps, which being beyond our limits cannot be here
alluded to more particularly. St. Patrick died on the seventeenth day of
March, A.D. 493, aged 121 years, having governed the Irish church during
the latter half of a very active and laborious life.
Camden bears testimony to the great
progress of the Irish in literature during the fifth century.
It is well worthy of notice, in this
place, that archbishop Usher shows, from the writings of ancient authors
of this and other countries, that the doctrines taught by St. Patrick
differed very trivially from those now inculcated by Protestant
churches, while they vary materially from the tenets of the church of
Rome at the present day. Harris gives a summary of Usher's work on this
important subject. To enter here upon any theological controversy, would
be opposed to propriety and our own inclination.
A.D. 450. About this time, a noble
monastery was founded in the territory of Idrone, now a barony in this
county. The founder is said to have been St. Fortchearn, who was smith
to St. Patrick. The monastery was called Kilfortchearn. No trace of it
now remains. Among the monasteries founded by St. Patrick was that of
Galen, in the district now styled the county of Carlow. Brewer and
others state, that an abbey was erected by St. Kieran near Carlow about
634; the former tells us, that it stood upon the ground now occupied by
the feat called Viewmount, and that three towers of the abbey were
standing about seventy years since. He further informs us, that at the
period of the suppression of religious houses, it was granted to the
earl of Thomond. This may be very correct, but it is certainly not borne
out in all its parts by Ware, one of the highest authorities. He states
St. Kieran's abbey to have been situate in the King's county, and not
the county of Carlow.
However, we are not prepared to contradict
Brewer's representation as to the ruins of an abbey being in existence
at the time and place he mentions; particularly as O'Halloran states, in
express terms, that, "the first' monastery of females on record in
Ireland is that of Kill-Liadan, in the county of Carlow, founded by St.
Kieran, before the arrival of St. Patrick." If before the arrival of St.
Patrick, Mr. Guthrie must have made a mistake of at least two centuries,
as to the date of the foundation of this structure. Lanigan agrees with
O'Halloran in some particulars; but he says, that there can be no doubt
St. Kieran, of Saigir, as he calls him, belonged to the sixth century,
and became first bishop of Ossory about A.D. 538. He further informs us,
that St. Kieran established a nunnery in the neighbourhood, (a rather
vague phrase), "for his mother Liadania and some pious virgins her
companions, whence the name Kill-Iadbun which the church obtained." He
died on the 5th of March, a day on which, we are assured, his memory has
been particularly revered in the diocese of Ossory. Such are the
materials we have been enabled to collect on the subject of this abbey;
a house which existed we have little doubt, but the period of whose
establishment remains matter of conjecture.
A.D. 587. This year Hugh Slaine seized
upon the government. He was born on the banks of the Slaney, and thus
obtained his name.
The seventh century seems to have been a
period at which the religious zeal of the Irish had arrived at a very
high pitch; churches, abbeys, and other religious structures accordingly
multiplied, and, were we to judge by this circumstance alone, we should
say that Ireland well merited the title of "the island of saints." And
yet this would be, on a full view of the matter, an unjust judgment; as
a brief notice of the civil events of the country will amply show.
A.D. 600, Aodh was elected monarch of
Ireland. During his reign, two "bloody battles" were fought, in the last
of which he was killed, which concluded a reign of but seven years.
Maolco-bha succeeded, and as some state, fell, at the end of three
years, by the sword of his successor, Suibhre-Mean, who was elected in
610. Daniel, brother of Maolcobha, in a "bloody battle" for the crown,
was victorious, and slew Suibhre, whom he succeeded, A.D. 623. There was
no bloodshed during the reign of Daniel, which probably arose from the
circumstance that for eighteen months of his reign he was confined to
his bed. Conall succeeded. "A great battle" was fought during his reign,
followed by another in which Conall was slain. Dearmod and Blathmac
succeeded as monarchs. An invasion was made from Britain, when the
invader and almost the whole of his army were "put to the sword."
Seachnasach succeeded, A.D. 669. The Picts invaded Ulster, when a
"bloody battle" was fought, and they were expelled. Seachnasach fell by
the sword, and was succeeded by his brother, Ceanfoaladh. His successor
determined to dethrone him. Two armies met; "the slaughter was dreadful
on both sides." Ceanfoaladh was killed by his opponent, which ended the
contest.
Accordingly, in 678, Fionaghta was proclaimed king. He fought
"a great battle," near Kells with the people of Leinster, and finally
fell in action after a turbulent reign of twenty years, which brings us
to the conclusion of the seventh century. This outline, (which, by the
way, includes very nearly all of which general history informs us),
speaks so completely for itself as, to the state of Ireland at the
period, that to dwell a moment on the matter would be equally unpleasant
and superfluous.
The reflecting mind cannot fail to
observe the striking analogy between those times and the present. Now,
as then, while one part of the population is busily engaged in the
erection of chapels, monasteries, and nunneries, another is freely
indulging in bloodshed and spoliation. A state of things, which is about
to induce a suspension (we hope a temporary one) of the constitution in
Ireland.
The history of our county during the
seventh century has some interest. In A. D. 610, St. Gobban founded a
celebrated abbey at Old Leighlin. This year, "the blessed Moel Patrick
and Munganus, the blessed Anachorite, "suffered martyrdom at the same
place.
About the year 630, a synod of the
clergy was held in St. Gobban's abbey at Old Leighlin, to debate on the
proper time for the celebration of Easter. Some discrepancy had arisen
between the Irish and the Roman calculation on the subject, and Pope
Honorius the first, desirous of bringing the clergy of this country into
an uniformity of discipline with his own, had addressed the Irish by
letter on the subject. He exhorted them "to reflect, how few they were
in number compared to the rest of the world, and that they, who were
placed in the extreme bounds of the earth, should not consider
themselves as wiser than all the ancient and modern churches of Christ;
and that they should not presume to celebrate a different Easter from
the rest of the churches, contrary to the paschal calculation and
synodal decrees of the whole world." This document evinces, pretty
clearly, the tone of authority assumed by the bishop of Rome, at a very
early period; and must, assuredly, strike all, as containing an
unjustifiable degree of arrogance, coming, as it did, from a person who
had no earthly or heavenly authority, whatever, to dictate to the Irish
people on either spiritual or temporal affairs. This was the view taken,
at least in effect, by many of the Irish, clergy, as will be seen in the
sequel. It will be proper here to furnish some account of the nature of
the question which had arisen as to the celebration of Easter. The Irish
church, we learn, had from its original formation adopted a cycle of
eighty-four years, and its paschal computation was the same as the
British church when Augustin was in Britain. It was different from the
Alexandrian method and nearly agreed with the old one of the Romans,
Owing to the inaccuracy of the cycle of eighty-four years which
prevailed at Rome, an egregious error had fallen into the Roman mode of
calculating the days of the month.
In the early part of the fifth century,
it had increased to a miscalculation of two days. The first day being
termed the third and the fourteenth the sixteenth. Sulpicius Severus
corrected this error by naming the latter the fourteenth; which reformed
cycle and its rules, St. Patrick brought to Ireland, where it was
observed till the arrival of the Roman missionaries in Britain, who
considered the celebration of Easter by the Britons and Irish a heresy.
Some authorities state, that the Irish merely adhered to the custom of
their ancestors, in this matter, and that they had derived their rule
from the Eastern churches. However, many parts of the couth of Ireland
had altered their time of celebrating Easter to that of the Church of
Rome, while the rest of the kingdom adhered to the ancient traditions on
the subject. Matters were in this position when the letter of Pope
Honorius arrived, A. D. 630. A synod was convened, in pursuance of this
letter, and the wishes of several of the clergy, at St. Gobban's abbey
of Old Leighlin (anciently called Lethglin, or Whitefield), which was
attended by the heads of most of the religious houses then existing in
Ireland. St. Laserian, who, it is supposed, was the bearer of the letter
of Honorius, advocated the system of Rome, and was vehemently opposed by
St. Fintan Munnu of Taghmon. The majority of the higher clergy seemed in
favour of the view taken by Laserian, but, it is stated, that an
individual, perhaps St. Fintan, here interfered and by intrigue rendered
of no effect what had been already arranged.
As a final remedy, it was proposed that
a deputation should be sent to Rome, in order, by personal inquiry and
observation, to ascertain the general opinion on this important
question. On arrival at the ancient city, the deputies beheld people
from many countries manifesting an approval of the Roman system ; and,
at the end of three years, they returned to Ireland, when they declared,
that the rite sanctioned by Pope Honorius was that universally received.
On the arrival of this information, the
new system met with no further opposition in the southern division of
Ireland, which included Munster and the greatest part of Leinster and
Connaught.
Some Account of the persons, who took a
leading part in the adjustment of the question, will be appropriate in
this place, particularly as they were connected in other ways with the
history of our district.
And first of St. Laserian, called
otherwise Molissa. He was, it is stated, son of Cairel, a nobleman of
Ulster, and of Gemma, daughter of Aidan, king of the British Scots. The
time of his birth remains unknown; and of the early part of his life we
have little or no account. One writer places him as a disciple of St.
Fintan Munnu, while another says he was scholar to an abbot Murin. When
arrived at maturity, he travelled to Rome, where he sojourned fourteen
years. There, we learn, he was ordained priest by Gregory the Great, and
shortly afterwards returned to Ireland. About the year 630, he again
visited Rome, probably as head of the deputation, sent by the chiefs of
the southern clergy after the synod of Leighlin, when Pope Honorius I.
consecrated him bishop. Subsequently to his return to Ireland, A.D.
fi.32, he succeeded St. Gobban as
abbot of Old Leighlin, and founded a bishopric there.* A town of
considerable extent was soon raised on the spot. Previously to his
death, which occurred on the 18th of April, 639, .f. he was a chief
instrument in finally settling the question of Easter, in the south of
Ireland. He was buried in the cathedral, which he himself had caused to
be erected.
Fintan Munnu or Munna, the chief
opponent of Laserian, belonged to the Niall family, and was son of
Tulcan and Feidelmia.It seems probable that he was a native of the north
of Ireland. It is stated, that he was first placed at the school of
Bangor under St. Comgall, and to have subsequently studied in the school
of Kilmore Deathril, governed by Columbkill before his departure from
Ireland. He afterwards went as a disciple to Hy, from whence he returned
to Ireland in 597. It is very probable, that soon after his arrival he
founded the monastery called after his name Teachmunnu, the house of
Munnu, now Taghmon, in the county of Wexford. He is stated to have
founded other monasteries. His death took place shortly after the
controversy at Old Leighlin, before which he gave in his concurrence to
the prevailing opinions on the subject. St. Fintan died on the 21st of
October, 635.
Cumian or Cumene the white, abbot of Hy,
was born in the territory of Tyrconnel, now the county of Donegal, and
traced his descent to the princes of that country. On the occasion of
the great question as to the celebration of Easter, Cumian continued for
a time neuter in the dispute, until he had first made himself accurately
acquainted with all the bearings of the case. After a year's
investigation, he was one of those who persuaded the bishops and abbots
to assemble a synod at Leighlin, in order to decide the point. He
favoured the Roman system, for which he was violently reproved by the
monks of Hy, as a deserter from the tradiditions of his ancestors, and a
heretic. He wrote thus to Segenius on the subject :
"I beseech you consider this carefully, that
you may pardon we, or that either in words or writing you may inform my
understanding by mare cogent reasons, if you have: them, to embrace the
other side of the question, and I will thankfully receive them as I have
done this. But if you have no such reason to offer, be silent, and do
not call us heretics." Archbishop
Usher published a work of his on the paschal controversy, which
is considered a learned performance. He afterwards governed the abbey of
Hy twelve years, where his learning and sanctity were held in such high
esteem, that the furious indignation of the monks soon faded away. He
died according to Usher in 668.
In the year 632, St. Moling or Mullin
founded a monastery at Aghacainid, since called Teighmolin or St.
Mullin's house, and now bearing the name of St. Mullin's. Archdall fixes
the time of the erection of this structure as above, while others say,
it was about the middle of the seventh century. The discrepancy here is
but small. St. Moling is said to have been otherwise called Dayrchell.
He was a native of Hy Kinsellagh, and seventh in descent from a brother
of Crimthan-cas, the first king of Leinster who received the Christian
faith. He governed his monastery many years, sojourning occasionally at
Glendalough, until 691, when he was consecrated bishop of Ferns. He was
styled archbishop of Ferns, as the right of precedency which king
Brandulh had obtained for that see still continued in force. He
succeeded in inducing Finnacta, monarch of Ireland, to remit the heavy
tribute of oxen, with which the province of Leinster had been burdened
for a considerable time. It is said, that St. Moling made some
remarkable prophecies relative to the kings and affaire of Ireland. He
died on the 17th of June, 697, and was buried in his own monastery. St.
Moling has been esteemed one of the principle saints of Leinster.
In the year 639, St. Gobban, founder of
the abbey of Old Leighlin, departed this life; and the same year the
abbot Delasse McWinge of that abbey died.
St. Dagan was a warm partizan of St.
Fintan at the debate' touching Easter. Bede alludes to him, and Bale
says, that he wrote, "Ad Britannorum Ecclesias, lib. i."
An abbey was founded at a place called
Achadfinglass or Achadarglass, near Leighlin, on the east of the river
Barrow, in the district of Idrone; but the date of its erection is not
clearly defined. Archdall says, that St. Fintan was one of its abbots
and that he died on the 17th of February, before the sixth century. Now
it is to be regretted, that the learned writer was not more precise, as
there were several saints named Fintan; one of whom was engaged, as has
been just noticed, in the controversy respecting the celebration of
Easter. From other accounts we learn, that St. Fintan of Clonenagh, in
the present Queen's county, died on the 17th of February; but he
departed this life about the end of the sixth century. There is still
some probability, that he in the person alluded to by Archdall, not only
from the concurrence of the day of decease, but from the general
admission that he had occasional intercourse with the abbey of
Achadfinglass. Archdall adds, that St. Aid was also abbot here, but the
date is doubtful. His festival has been held on the 11th of April.
A brief notice of the life of St. Fintan
of Clonenagh will be apposite in this place. He was born near Ross in
the kingdom of Leinster, and was son of Gabhen and Findath, both
Christians.We are told, that on the eighth day after his birth he was
baptized. Of the year of his birth we are ignorant; but there can be no
doubt it occurred a few years subsequently to the year 520. He was
educated by the clergy of his neighbourhood, and afterwards placed
himself under the guidance of St. Columbe, under whom he continued until
the saint recommended him to establish himself at Clonenagh. He there
(though still a young man,) laid the foundation of a monastery, about
A.D. 548. The establishment soon gained
great celebrity, under his guidance, and numbers from all
parts of the kingdom became members of St. Fintan's abbey. The)
discipline, fasting, and other particulars, were, we are informed,
exceedingly severe. Brandish, a holy bishop from Hy Kinsellagh, is
represented among the persons desirous of admission to the house of
Clonenagh. For this purpose he waited upon Fintan at the abbey of
Achadfinglass, where he was sojourning; when the latter recommended him
to remain at the abbey in which they then were, where the discipline did
not partake of so much austerity as at Clonenagh. Brandubh followed the
recommendation of Fintan on this matter. f It is said, that this saint
not only prophesied, but worked miracles ; but the degree of credence
given to this part of the account, will depend on the quantum of faith
professed by the individual. He died on the 17th of February, as before
stated, but the year is not mentioned.
A.D. 725. St. Mauchin of Lethglen or
Leighlin, died this year; and in 767, the abbot Ernagh M'Ehyn, of the
same place, departed this life.
The civil history of Ireland during the
eighth century is extremely meagre. The usual course of commotion,
dissension' and carnage seems to have prevailed; and the general
historian has little more than the melancholy task of detailing scenes
and occurrences which afford small instruction, and can never be
productive, of satisfaction. But alas the history of mankind is little
more than a black record of rivalry, malignity, devastation and blood.
It appears that about A.D. 722, a war broke out between the monarch of
Ireland and the people of Leinster. An engagement was the consequence,
when the monarch, one hundred and sixty select knights, and many
thousand men were slain. In 738, another rupture occurred in Ireland, of
which the cause is not stated. However, a "bloody battle" ensued, in
which the people of Munster vanquished their opponent, the king of
Leinster. Three years afterwards, the king of Ireland declared war
against the people of Leinster. A battle followed, when the king of
Leinster, the choicest of his knights and nobility, together with nine
thousand of his best troops, were slain.
In 743, a battle was fought between the
monarch of Ireland and the king of Leinster. About the same time an
engagement occurred between the people of Munster and those of Leinster,
in which the carnage was great, and a lake adjoining the field of battle
coloured with the blood.
At the conclusion of this century, an
unfortunate event occurred, which was attended with evil consequences of
long continuance to unhappy Ireland.
This was the invasion of the Danes and Norwegians, who, under the name
of Ostmen, first invaded this island, anno 795. These ferocious people
were mere pirates, who infested many of the northern nations of Europe
at this period, and continued a deadly scourge to the Irish for a space
of not less than three hundred and seventy-seven years, when the English
finally ejected them from this island. We shall have frequent cause to
notice their proceedings.
It is stated, that about the early part
of the eighth century, Pepin, ancestor to the French king of that name,
applied to the monarch of Ireland for missionaries to convert the people
of Ireland; and Mr. O'Halloran* is of opinion, that the revival of
literature in Europe is more properly to be ascribed to the Irish, than
to the Arabians. He stated that universities were founded by Irishmen,
under the patronage of Charlemagne, who flourished about anno. 800.
Regarding the arts and sciences, his account is quite as flattering. It
only remains for us to express our regret, that literature and science
had not their usual genial influence, and that they failed in softening
the manners, allaying the commotions, or checking the turbulence of the
ancient Irish.
A.D. 836. This year one of the most
formidable of the Danish leaders, named Turgesius, landed in Ireland.
Leinster and most part of the remainder of the kingdom was ravaged by
this furious leader and his attendant savages. The picture drawn of the
misery, to which he reduced the Irish, is dreadful in the extreme. He
placed a governor in every cantred** of land, and a captain in every
territory of the kingdom. He selected an abbot for every church and
monastery, fixed a petty officer in every village, and billeted one of
his inferior followers in every house in the kingdom.
A heavy tribute was likewise enforced on
the subjugated Irish; every householder was obliged, under severe
penalties, to pay one ounce of gold annually. The Danes were imbued with
the true Gothic hatred of literature, and, therefore, resolved to
suppress all colleges and schools in the island; the Irish were not
permitted to have their children taught any portion of scholastic
knowledge and they destroyed all the books which came into their
possession. The Church were closed
** A cantred contained thirty-two
townlands.
All poets & historians and professors of
fee liberal arts and sciences, or musicians, were banished, imprisoned*
Boned, or forced into concealment. Nor did these men hesitate to plunder
the churches and monasteries, the plate and other valuables of which
they appropriated to their own use. At length, after a blighting sway of
thirty years, Turgesius was taken prisoner by Malachie, monarch of
Ireland, and put to death.* Thus the unfortunate Irish obtained an
interval of peace, soon, however, to be ruffled, by renewed efforts of
their implacable tormentors, the Danes, to regain their power and
possessions in the island.
Archdall states, that another abbot
named Mauchin died in 863 at Old Leighlin; but, very probably, this is a
person (of the same name) who was, according to Ware Bishop of Leighlin,
and died in 865. We have no record of the bishops from Laserian to this
period. In the year 864, the Danes pillaged Achadfinglass, then a rich
abbey, the foundation of which has already been noticed; Dungall, abbot
of Old Leighlin, died in 876.
In the year 908 was
distinguished by a battle between the King of Munster and the people of
Leinster; the scene of which lay within the present county of Carlow. In
901, Cermac Mac Curllenan was called to the throne of Munater. During
his reign, we are told; the island remained in tranquillity, and began
to recover from the dismal effects of internal discard and foreign
invasion.
Agriculture
received merited attention. The churches and other religious houses
underwent repair or were rebuilt; most of them having experienced the
sacrilegious devastations of the marauding Danes. Learning again raised
its venerable head, seminaries were re-opened ; and the reign of Cormac
might have continued many years, with gkiry to himself and advantage to
his subjects, had not evil counsel led him into a war little
justifiable, it would seem, in itself, and fatal in its consequences to
the king of Munster. The pretence for the declaration of hostilities
appears to have been, the revival of an old claim for tribute to which
the people of Leinster formerly submitted, but which had not been
demanded for nearly
two centuries past. O'Halloran, however, on the authority of the book of
Lecan, states this account to be incorrect, and that the real cause
arose out of the forcible seizure of a monastery situate
at Monaster Evin, by Cearbhuil, the king of Leinster, on which the
expelled monks solicited the aid of Cormac, in order to obtain a
restoration of their establishment.
Be this as it may, we are
assured, that the enterprise was not in accordance with the personal
wishes of the king. In compliance, however, with the advice of his
council, and particularly that of the Abbot of Inis Catha, or Scattery,
he resolved to prosecute the war, for which purpose a numerous army was
forthwith called into action. He advanced towards Leinster, but before
passing the boundaries of that territory, be despatched a herald to the
king to demand a yearly tribute, or hostages for the same. The king and
nobility of Leinster proposed a treaty, in order to the satisfactory
adjustment of the quarrel. Cormac had every disposition to act amicably,
but the unrelenting abbot was not to be so easily appeased; his
influence predominated. The king gave orders to his army to march, A.D.
908.
They entered the country of the enemy, and reached the bridge of
Leithglin, otherwise Leighlin, Bridge spare horses and baggage were, we
are told, sent on before, and a portion of the clergy waited at this
bridge, till Cormac with his people reached them. From hence they
marched, with great pomp and circumstance, to a place called Mach Ailbe
or Moyalbe, where they encamped and entrenched themselves, expecting the
enemy. When the engagement approached, the king of Munster formed his
men into order of battle, and in three divisions; the king of Ossory and
the abbot Ma Jonmuinein commanded the first; Cormac, himself, commanded
the second, and the third was confided to the direction of an
experienced leader Mac Mothly, king of the Deicies. The adverse parties
agreed, it is said, to fight the battle in the plains of Mach Ailbe,
where the army of Munster lay encamped. These latter, however, began to
lose confidence before the engagement, from accounts received of the
great superiority in numbers, as well as discipline, of their opponents.
The onset of the Leinster men decided
the fate of the day. It was irresistible. The Munster troops fled almost
immediately, when the havoc among them became dreadful. Cormac, himself,
many princes and nobles, numbers of officers, together with six thousand
of their choicest troops, were reckoned among the slain.
Thus ended the career of Cormac Mac
Cuillenan, who, from the accounts that have reached us, certainly
deserved a better fate. "He was," says Ware, " knowing in the Irish
antiquities, and writ the history called Psalter Cashel." We have made
enquiry for the precise situation of the place called Moyalbe or Mach
Ailbe, but the name seems to have become obsolete. O'Halloran and
Lanigan state, that perhaps it was at Beallach Mughna (now Ballymoon)
that this battle was fought ; but it seems somewhat uncertain at which
of the two places this remarkable event took place. No material
uncertainty exists, however, as to the situation ; both positions
mentioned, being within the same district and at a short distance from
each other.
We are informed that the conduct of the
abbot of Inis Catha greatly incensed the clergy of Leinster, who
attributed to him the war and bloodshed which had occurred. He had been
taken prisoner at the engagement, and so long as the king of Leinster
lived was kept in close confinement, but on his decease Inis Catha was
enlarged. The monarch of Ireland, Flann Siona, espoused the cause of the
king of Leinster on the late occasion.
The early part of the tenth century was
not a period of union or happiness in Ireland; private feuds and public
contentions being then rife in this devoted land. Instead of combining,
in order to present a compact front and concentration of purpose to the
common enemy, the Danes, the Irish people seemed resolved to follow the
dictates of their selfish passions. Devoid of patriotic feeling, and
reckless of consequences, they appear to have been more bent upon mutual
sacrifice, than opposition to the ruthless invaders of the land. The
natural result followed. The Danes continued their system of plunder,
and Leighlin was among the place which, in 916, was visited by the
marauders.
A.D. 933. This year Moylmartin O'Skellan,
the divinity lecturer of the abbey of Old Leighlin, paid the great debt
of nature.
Condla Mac Dunecan, bishop of Leighlin,
died in 913. He is called, in the Irish annals, prince, as well as
bishop, of Leighlin. In 951, the church of St. Mullins was plundered by
the Danes. Daniel, bishop of Leighlin,' died in 969. Leighlin was
plundered by the people of Ossory, in 978, and again in 982.
The year 1002 was distinguished by being
that on which, by the concurrent testimony of all historians, one of the
most able and excellent of monarchs ascended the throne of Ireland.
Brien Boroimhe, or Boru, (of the line of Heber), in this year was justly
raised from the rank of provincial king of Munster to the higher one of
sovereign of the island. To one who anxiously desires to present a
favourable picture of the country of his ancestors, who would fain
represent it to the present and future times in a creditable light, but,
who will not deviate from strict truth in his narrative, an opportunity,
such as the present, of noticing in favourable terms the conduct of an
Irish monarch, is as an oasis in the desert, a spring-well in the waste.
Unlike other leaders, who, so far from opposing the freebooting Danes,
absolutely formed alliances with them, Brien employed all his energies
to bring them into subjection; and his efforts were crowned with
deserved success. Brien was, however, eventually slain in a great
engagement with these people, at Clontarf, near Dublin, on the 23d of
April, 1014, aged according to Ware 74, or, as stated by O'Flaherty, 80
years.
(O'Halloran says Brien was born in 926. If this be correct, be
must have been 88 when he fell. O'Halloran, however, agrees with Ware
and O'Flaherty as to the time of his death).
It
was in this reign, that surnames were extensively introduced among the
Irish. Brien perceived the
confusion which arose from the indefinite nature of the former
designations, and, in order to remedy the evil, passed a decree, that
all the great families should follow the name of some distinguished
ancestor, having O, or Mac prefixed; which would shew them to be
descended from the person whose name they bore, as O'Brien, the son or
descendant of Brien. This salutary custom had previously been partially
in use, but under the auspices of Boru, it became general in the island.
it was not until about the same period, that surnames appeared in
France, England, and Scotland. It should also be observed, that under
the paternal care of Brien Boru, the cities, towns, churches, and all
public institution!; revived from the abasement and decay into which
they were sunk by previous commotion and neglect. Piety and peace,
plenty and prosperity, we are told, abounded throughout the land. Even
the savage Danes became so much reformed by the moral as well as
physical treatment of Brien, combined with the exhortations of the
clergy, that much progress was made towards their final conversion to
Christianity. With the death of Brien, however, the country seemed to
relapse into its former miserable state of turbulence and disorder.
In the year 1017, Donagan, king of
Leinster, with many of his principal nobility, were barbarously
murdered, at an entertainment, in the palace of Teige O'Ryan, king of
Ondroua, by Donogh MacGiolla Patrick, prince of Ossory. Malachie, the
monarch of. Ireland, justly desirous of punishing so atrocious an act,
entered the territory of Patrick, whom he slew, with several of his
abettors, and then retired to Tara, bringing with him many prisoners.
Cleiric O'Muinic, bishop of Leighlin,
died in 1048. In 1060, the cathedral was totally consumed by fire. We
may fairly infer, from the frequent occurrence' of the destruction of
buildings by fire, that previously to the arrival of the English, most
of the edifices of the country were constructed of wood. Cox says, in
express terms: "The first pile of lime and stone that ever was in
Ireland was the castle of Tuam, built anno 1161, by Roderic O'Connor,
the monarch." Were this the fact, we could have no doubt, that the
cathedral of Leighlin, a century previously to 1161, must have been
constructed of wood; but the statement of Cox proves too much, as the
mere mention of the round towers will amply manifest. We have, in short,
abundant evidence, that stone buildings did exist in Ireland, anterior
to 1161; but they were comparatively few in number.
About A.D. 1060, the priory of St.
Stephen, at Leighlin, was founded or endowed by Burchard, (the son of
Gurmund), a Danish commander. The lands of this priory were afterwards
annexed to the deanery. Burchard was buried in the choir of the
cathedral, under a marble monument, on which was placed his statue, and
underneath this inscription:"
- Hie
jacet humatus, dux fundator Leniae .
- En Gormondi Burchardus,
vir gratus ecclesise."
No appearance of either tomb or
inscription is now discoverable. They might have been destroyed at the
period of the fire just noticed.
Felix was prior of St. Stephen's, but
the precise time cannot be ascertained. A. D. 1113. Condla O'Flain,
bishop of Leighlin, died this year. A.D. 1115. A general convention of
the clergy was summoned this year, by Giolla Easbuig, bishop of
Limerick; who then held the appointment of legate, and presided over the
assembly. Among other things, it was ordained, that the southern half of
the island, called Leath Modha, should have twelve episcopal sees, and
that the like number should be constituted in Leath Cuinn, or the
northern division. The province 'of Leinster was divided into five
bishoprics, viz.: Kilcullen, Laighlin or Leighlin, Kildare, Glendalough,
and Wexford, otherwise named Fearna.
Arcbdall states, that in the year 1138,
the abbey of St. Mullina was destroyed; I presume by fire. The
Augustinians obtained a settlement here, and erected a house, the
remains of which, we are told, continued at the end of the last century.
A.D. 1144. Died, Sluagad O'Catan, bishop
of Leighlin. About the year 1151, an abbey was founded at a place called
Athaddy, within our county, for nuns of the order of St. Augusta, by
Dermod, the son of Murchad, king of Leinster. He appointed it to be a
cell to the nunnery of St. Mary de Hoggis, in the city of Dublin. A.D.
1152. Dungal O'Cellaic, otherwise
O'Caollaighe, bishop of Leighlin, died. The same year, on the 9th of
March, a synod met at Kells, in Meath, convened by cardinal Paparo. The
names of the prelates who attended this meeting, are handed down to us
in the following order: the bishop of Lismore, pope's legate; the
primate of Ireland, archbishop of Tuam, bishop of Dublin, bishop of
Glendalough, Dungall O'Caollaigh, bishop of Leighlin, who died shortly
afterwards, as is above noticed. Judging from the high place on the
list, and the precedence given to Leighlin over many others, it is
clear, that its rank was great among the Irish sees. The chief business
of the synod seems to have been, the creation of two additional
archbishoprics; Ulster and Munster only, having heretofore possessed
them. The instructions of cardinal Paparo from the pope, were to this
effect; but, we learn that the proposition met great opposition from the
existing archbishops, who apprehended a diminution of their privileges
and authority. Their efforts, however, proved vain, and the four
archdioceses, Armagh, Dublin, Cashel and Tuam, with their respective
suffragans, were established. Among the decrees of this council, was one
in condemnation of usury ; and the cardinal commanded, in virtue of
apostolically authority, that tithes should be rendered to the clergy.
A.D. 1158. This year, Donat succeeded to
the see of Leighlin; as appears from the foundation charter of canons of
the blessed Virgin at Ferns; he being a subscribing witness to that
document. Donat rebuilt the cathedral, which had been destroyed by fire.
He died at Leighlin in 1185, and was buried in the church of that place.
A considerable space of time intervenes between the period of his death
and the mention of the next bishop. Either the see remained vacant, or
the name of its occupant has eluded research.
In the year 1166, Roderic O'Connor last
Milesian monarch of Ireland, ascended the throne. During his eventful
reign, the English power first became established in the island, the
Danes were expelled, and the dominion of the native princes was reduced
to a state of great insecurity, to be followed, in time, by complete
annihilation.
It appears, that Dermot Mac Morrough,
king of Leinster, the chief agent in effectuating this important
revolution, was a man, on whose conduct no great share of commendation
can be 'bestowed. The immediate cause of his disasters, as stated by
some, was at unlawful passion which he entertained for Dearbhorgil,
daughter to the king of Meath, and espoused to O'Rourke, prince of
Breffny. A private correspondence subsisted between Dermot and the lady,
who encouraged him so far, as to intimate, in express terms, her wish,
that he should avail himself of the convenient absence of her husband,
in order to secure the possession of her person. As might be expected,
Mac Morrough instantly complied, and had the object of his irregular
passion carried to the castle of Ferns. We further learn, that, on the
discovery of the calamity which had befallen him, O'Rourke communicated
a statement of the affair to Roderick O'Connor, who resolved on
affording him instant aid in an expedition against the king of Leinster.
The forces of Roderic marched into the district of Hy Kinsellagh. Mac
Morrough attempted to oppose their progress, but without success; he
retired to his castle of Ferns and shortly afterwards was obliged to fly
to England, A.D. 1167. We are informed, that at this important crisis,
Mac Morrough found himself deserted by the nobility and military, so
shocked were they at his conversation with the wife of O'Rourke.
We,
however, may very fairly, and far more rationally, conclude, that
motives of political hatred and private pique were the true causes of
this signal defalcation of the people of Mac Morrough; and, indeed, of
the invasion of the Irish princes. For, we find that Dermot had been
heretofore a formidable personage in Ireland. He invaded O'Neill and the
king of Meath, compelling them to give hostages; and O'Carroll, another
prince, had been necessitated to place his son in Dermot's hands as a
pledge for his good behaviour. This selfsame king of Meath and O'Carroll
were among the foremost in the subsequent crusade against Dermot; and
all men can judge, how far we are justified in the inference, that these
personages were spurred on chiefly by a desire of revenge for public
humiliations of no ordinary nature. Then, as regards the desertion of
Mac Morrough by his subject; a far more reasonable ground for this
conduct, than that already assigned, may be gathered from the fact, that
he had been an oppressor of his people, and a cruel tyrant over his
nobility, who very naturally felt no great zeal in his service. These
seem to be the unquestionable motives, by which the princes of Ireland
and tin- people of Leinster were actuated on this momentous occasion;
and we can only express our regret, that O'Halloran, should have so far
distorted the truth, as to place the matter in a very incorrect, though
perhaps a more creditable light. Besides, he is not borne out in his
representation by the general standard of morals in ancient Ireland ;
for, independently of other matters, it is well known, that illegitimate
birth was considered so venial, that persons thus situated enjoyed
nearly all the prerogatives and advantage of legitimacy; as O'Halloran
himself and many others testify.
The designs of Henry II king of England,
upon the kingdom of Ireland, had been entertained at a much earlier
period than that of which we are now treating. The dissensions by which
the kingdom was torn asunder, the propinquity of its situation, and the
superior skill in arms of his followers, presented Ireland to him as an
easy conquest. The more urgent affairs of England and France had,
however, hitherto caused a postponement of his intentions, but now the
opportunity seemed so inviting as to become irresistible. He had been
further furnished with the authority of the church fop this expedition,
as may be collected from the following
BULL
OF POPE ADRIAN IV,"
ADRIAN the bishop, the servant of
the servants of God, to his most dear son in Christ, the noble king of
England, sendeth greeting, and apostolic benediction : Your magnificence
hath been very careful and studious how you might enlarge the church of
God here on earth, and increase the number of his saints and elect in
heaven ; in that, as a good catholic king, you have and do, by all
means, labour and travail to enlarge and increase God's .church, by
teaching the ignorant people the true and Christian religion, and in
abolishing and rooting up the weeds of sin and wickedness. And wherein
you have, and do crave, for your better furtherance, the help of the
apostolic see, wherein more speedily and discreetly you proceed, the
better success, we hope, God will send, for all they which of a fervent
zeal and love in religion do begin and enterprise any such thing, shall,
no doubt, in the end, have a good and prosperous success. And as for
Ireland, and all other islands where Christ is known, and the Christian
religion received, it is out of all doubt, and your Excellency well
knoweth, they do all appertain and belong to the right of St. Peter, and
of the church of Rome, and we are so much the more ready, desirous and
willing to sow the acceptable seed of God's word, because we know the
same in the latter day will be most severely required at our hands,
You have (our well-beloved son in
Christ) advertised and signified unto us, that you will enter into the
land and realm of Ireland; to the end to bring them to obedience unto
law, and under your subjection, and to root out from among them their
foul sins and wickedness; as also to yield and pay yearly out of every
house, a yearly pension of one penny to St. Peter, and besides, also
will defend and keep the rites of these churches whole and inviolate. We
therefore, well allowing and favouring this your godly disposition, and
'commendable affection, do accept, ratify and assent unto this your
petition; and do grant, that you (for the dilating of God's church, the
punishment of sin, the reforming of manners, planting of virtue, and the
increasing of Christian religion) do enter to possess that land, and
there to execute according to your wisdom, whatsoever shall be for the
honour of God, and the safety of the realm. And further, also, we do
strictly charge and require, that all the people of that land do with
all humbleness, dutifulness and honour, receive and accept you as their
liege lord and sovereign, reserving and excepting the right of holy
church to be inviolably preserved; as also the yearly pension of
Peter-pence, out of every house; which we require to be truly answered
to St. Peter and the church of Rome. If therefore you do mind to bring
your godly purpose to effect, endeavour to travail to reform the people
to some better order and trade of life, and that also by yourself, and
by such others as you shall think meet, true ^and honest in their life,
manners and conversation, to the 'end the church of God may be
beautified, the true Christian religion sowed and planted, and all other
things done, that by any means shall or may be to God's honour, and
salvation of men, souls, whereby you may in the end receive of God's
hands the reward of everlasting life ; and also, in the mean time, and
in this life, carry a glorious fame, and an honourable report among all
nations."
This document was issued A.D. 1156;
there are two points in it worthy of particular notice. The first is,
the characteristic assumption of authority manifested by pope Adrian, in
bestowing a country upon Henry II., which was not his to bestow, and to
the possession of which, he had not even a shadow of right. The second
remarkable feature, consists in the care with which his holiness
reserved to himself the tribute unjustifiably called “Peter- pence," but
which, most assuredly, St. Peter, himself, had he been alive, would
never have extorted. A worldly spirit had, however, long previously
crept into the church, and was fast advancing, in the twelfth century,
to that high pitch which it afterwards attained. Of the existence of
this spirit, the bull of Pope Adrian contains abundant internal
evidence.
The proceedings of the king of Leinster,
being intimately connected with the history of our district, it is
proper that we should trace them with somewhat of minuteness.
On his journey to the court of the king
of England, Dermot was attended by a suite of sixty faithful adherents;
all of whom arrived safely in Bristol, where the royal stranger was
hospitably entertained by Robert Fitz-harding, at St. Austin's abbey.
After a brief stay there, he embarked for Aquitain, where Henry then
sojourned.
He appeared in the presence of his
majesty (A.D. 1168) in humble attire, suited to his present fortunes;
and falling at the king's feet, made an eloquent representation of his
case. He depicted the malice of the neighbouring Irish princes, the
treachery of his pretended friends, and the rebellion of his subjects in
glowing terms ; he declared, that the fame of Henry's magnificence and
generosity had been his inducement to call on him for assistance; and
concluded, by reminding his majesty, that the highest merit of an
earthly potentate, consists in a disposition to relieve the distressed
and support the defenceless. The king, however, being engaged in affairs
of importance, could not aid him personally: but, moved to compassion by
the forcible appeal of Dermot, (and perhaps having ulterior views in
contemplation,) he made him large presents, and presented him with the
following letter patent, having first taken his oath of allegiance:
Henry king of England, duke of Normandy
and Aquitain, earl of Anjou, &c. Unto all his subjects, English,
Normans, Welsh, and Scots, and all nations and people, being his
subjects, greeting.
Whereas Dermot, prince of Leinster, most
wrongfully (as heinformeth) banished out of his own country, hath craved
our aid; therefore, forasmuch as we have received him into our
protection, grace and favour, who so 2ever within our realm, subject to
our commands, will aid and help him (whom we have embraced as our trusty
friend) for the recovery of his land, let him be assured of our favour
and licence in that behalf."
Highly gratified at the result of his
interview, McMorrough repaired to Bristol, where he published the king's
letter repeatedly, and made liberal offers of remuneration to all who
would espouse his cause at the present juncture. The person who seemed
most forward to assist him, and upon whom his chief reliance was placed,
was Richard, earl of Chepstow, surnamed Strongbow, a nobleman of
considerable influence in Wales, but of shattered fortune. He obtained
the additional name of Strongbow, from his great bodily power, which
enabled him to draw a bow of more than ordinary strength; his arms were
so long that, in an upright position, the palm of his hands reached to
his knees. This enterprising earl engaged to bring Dermot succour early
in the following spring, provided he could obtain the particular
permission of his sovereign to embark in the expedition. On the other
hand, MacMorrough promised Stronghow the hand of his daughter Eva,
together with the kingdom of Leinster, on his decease
Further to forward the object of his
visit to Britain, Dermot next proceeded to St. David's, in Wales, where
he prevailed upon Rhees, the prince of that country, to liberate Robert
Fitz-Stephen who was then his prisoner, and who was afterwards to prove
a leader in the conquest of Ireland. The bishop of St. David's had
succeeded in inducing this knight, and Maurice Fitz-Gerald, to espouse
the cause of the king of Leinster; who promised them in return, a grant
in fee, of Wexford and two cantreds of land adjoining. Having thus
completed his arrangements, having secured the desired aid, he departed
for Ireland, in August, 1168, landed at Glascarrig, and thence proceeded
to Ferns. Here he was cordially received by the clergy, to whom he gave
a flattering account of his mission, and of the power, number, and
valour of his newly acquired allies. Dermot preserved strict privacy at
Ferns during the winter; a course, which the state of his affairs
rendered imperative.
Matters were now prepared to effect that
invasion, which the miserable state of affairs in Ireland had long
provoked, but which was now about being carried into execution. Writers,
of all creeds and parties, deplore the distracted condition of the
island, for a considerable time previously, and the utter recklessness
with which its princes sacrificed the public good to their own selfish
purposes. But now, to use the words of C. O'Conor," the measure of their
iniquity was full," and for the important consequences, they themselves,
and they only, are responsible at the bar of posterity.
We shall conclude this chapter, by some
brief notice of the laws, learning, customs, and other matters in the
economy of the ancient Irish.
A great reformation, we learn, took
place in the laws of Ireland under the auspices of Feidhlimidh, of the
line of Heremon, monarch of Ireland, A. D. 141.- The principle feature
of his improvements was the abolition of the laws of Farc, or Fines, and
in its place the substitution of the lex talionis. The punishment of
crime by pecuniary mulct was totally abrogated. It was ordained, that
murder should be punished with death; and the minor offences of maiming,
became punishable by like treatment of the perpetrator.
Thus was the law of retaliation
substituted for one whose deficiency in efficacy had been amply proved.
Others of their laws, however, do not merit equal commendation; that of
tanistry for instance.
This system had the effect of conferring
the inheritance of families on the strongest member of them. For though
there appeared to be a protection of the rights of seniority, yet they
were little consulted; superiority in mental or bodily qualities
generally substantiating a claim, without regard to the age of the
individual. This circumstance led to general rivalries, and, sometimes,
to the most disastrous consequences in families. From rendering
succession uncertain and possession precarious, improvement was checked
and peace was destroyed. This law was subsequently abolished by judgment
in the Irish court of King's Bench, at Hilary term, in the third year of
the reign of king James I. Gavel-kind was equally objectionable. It
ordained that when an individual died, his whole effects should be
ascertained, and divided among the members of his family. The
distribution was effected by the chief of the house, who admitted
illegitimate males, but excluded daughters and wives. This law also
impeded the improvement of the country, and checked industry in
individuals. It was abolished at the same time and place. The Brehons,
or judges, of the ancient Irish, held their office by descent, or
inheritance; in which respect, historians, physicians, bards, and
harpers, were similarly circumstanced. This rule was assuredly not
judicious; inasmuch as talent is not hereditary, and, therefore, the
majority must have been very incompetent to the performance of the
duties annexed to their station.
With regard to learning and mental
cultivation, it is undeniable, that much existed among the Milesian
Irish. From its insulated situation, Ireland seemed a place where the
learned might retire, to pursue in peace their studies and researches;
and, accordingly, we find that many individuals from Britain and the
continent of Europe, repaired to this island to cultivate the ample
fields of literature. It is stated, that there were not less than seven
thousand students at Armagh at one time. Ledwich, himself, admits that
much learning existed in Ireland during the middle ages. Quite clear,
however, it is, that the learning of ancient Ireland was chiefly
confined to ecclesiastic; the majority of the laity being quite as
ignorant here, as in any of the surrounding nations.
Dress. — The clothing of the male part
of the population, consisted of a mantle and a kind of trowsers or
pantaloons, which fitted close, and had stockings appended to them. That
of the females was a mantle and petticoat. Both had thin pumps; the man
wore a small cap and the woman a. kerchief on her head. “Their shifts,"
says Sir Richard Cox, "were dyed in saffron to save washing, and
contained thirteen or fourteen yards of cloth, so that a law was made
against that extravagancy. It must be a matter of regret to all, that a
slovenly neglect of neatness is yet too observable among the peasantry
of Ireland; and, that they present, in this particular, a lamentable
inferiority to the natives of Great Britain.
It is worthy of notice, that orders of
knighthood were introduced at a very early period into this country.
There were five classes of knights; the first of which was the
Niagh-Nase, or knights of the golden collar. This order was confined to
members of the royal family, none having a claim to the crown who had
not been invested with it. The knights of Ulster, or of the Red Branch,
took the second rank; and the members of the Munster order came next.
Leinster and Connaught followed in order of precedence. The Irish
knights were superior in rank to all other classes, except the members
of the blood-royal or doctors in the different sciences; the privileges
of which latter were very great. A regular course of education and
preparatory discipline, was, we are informed, appointed for the
aspirants to the honour of knighthood; and a highly polished picture is
drawn of the dignity and splendour of the order; but it would much
enhance the satisfaction of the inquirer on this subject, could he
discover somewhat more of practical proof, that Ireland anciently
enjoyed the blessings of peace, civilization, and refinement.
("Spelling are as seen in the book")
CHAPTER III
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