A History of the Irish Nation, etc

Chapter I

— Our Language and Ancient Literature . . . . u History is not written now as it was in the time of Hume and Goldsmith — Effect of the development of the Science of Philology — The importance of the Irish Language was first recognised on the Con tinent of Europe — -Twofold importance of Language, considered Philologically — Paravey's Essay on the Unity of Language — Baron Humboldt's Neburdas Eutstchen der grammatischcn Formen — Herder's Nouvcaux Mem. de I Acadbnie Royale — O'Connell made Ireland known in Europe — Lloyd and Sir William Jones called the attention of Scholars to the Irish Language at the beginning of this century ■ — Balbi's Atlas Ethnographique du Globe — Dr. Prichard's Researches into the Physical History of Man kind — Cardinal Wiseman's Lectures on Science and Revealed Religion — Abel Remusat's Recherches sur les Langues Tartares — Prichard on The Eastern Origin of Celtic Nations — Zeuss's Grammatica Celtica placed the Irish Branch of the Celtic tongue on an assured basis of scientific value and importance — Comparative Philology of the Irish Language — Adolphe Pictet De FAffinite des Langues Celtique avec les Sanskrit, and Les Origines Indo-Europeenncs — Phonetic Changes — Grimm's Law. — Explanation of this Law — Of all the Aryan Dialects the Irish approaches nearest to the Sanskrit — Language and its Study, Whitney — Lectures on the Science of Language, Max Miiller — Aryan Origin of the Gaelic Race and Language, Rev. U. Burke — Rules for Aspirations and Ellipses in Irish— Importance of the Glosses found in Continental Manuscripts — The Formulae of Marcellus — Herr Mone, Die Gallische Sprache und ihre Branchbarleint fur die Geschichte — M. A. de Chevallet, Origine et Formation de la Langue Erancaise — The Irish had a Literature of their own before the advent of St. Patrick — The Lord's Prayer in Modern Irish.

Chapter II

— The Ethnology of the Irish Race 22 Herodotus the first Author who uses the word Kelt — Opinion of F. W. Newman — Zeuss on the Celtic Language — The Irish Tongue,\so altered in later ages, was once the Language of a considerable part of the Continent — Professor Blackie on the Aryan Tongue — Celtic Immigrations from the Hindu-koh Mountains, two thousand years before Christ — High and Low Aryan — The Pelasgians Low Aryan— All the Immigrants who settled in Erinn, in pre-Christian ages, spoke the same Lan guage — The Milesians, according to our Annals, brought the Mosaic Law into Erinn — Cain Breathach said to have been an Israelite — Fenius Farsaidh, from whom the Milesian Brothers are descended — Perfect Agreement between our Written and Oral Traditions — Example of this in the Historic Remains at Tallaght, near Dublin — The Fair and the Dark Races — Ancient Poems, in which the colour of hair is noted — Opinion of Dr. O'Sullivan — Gaedhelic character of the Language of Aquitaine — The brown type in Western Europe — The Fair of Carmen and the Book of Ballymote — The various lines of Pedigree.

The most perfect book of Irish Genealogies — Duald Mac Firbis — The Commencement of his Book of Genealogies — Ollamh Fodhla — Learned Men in the time of Conor Mac Nessa — Builders, and Kings, and Noble Chiefs — Appendix — Extract from Mr. Dalton's Essay ; his opinions not altogether reliable.

Chapter III

— Of the Authenticity of the Manuscripts relating to the pre- Christian History of Ireland ... . SI Opinion of the, eminent Irish Scholar, Eugene O'Curry — The English Settlers thought no scorn too great for Irish Records — The Irish Druids possessed Books before the time of St. Patrick — The Irish were great Patrons of Literature ; and the Anglo-Norman Nobles who settled in Ireland — • b VI CONTENTS. PAGE Whence the Materials for Early History are derived— The Lost Books and those which still remain — The Cuilmenn; the Saltair of Tara ; the Cin Droma Snechta ; the Saltair of Cashel— The Books that remain :— the Annals of Tighernach; the Annals of Ulster; the Annals of Innisfallen ; the Chronicum Scotorum; &c, &c. — Description of the Books; their value and importance — Poem of "the Site of Tara — Cuam O'Lochain — Important Collection of Irish Manuscripts in Trinity College, Dublin — Clonmacnois, home of the Annalist, Tighernach — Literary fame of the Monks of Clonmac nois — Monasterboice — Erinn, correct form of — Gilla Caemhain, contemporary with Flann and Tighernach — Michael O'Clery and the Trias Thaumaturgus— The Four Masters ; importance of this work — Kilnasaggert Pillar Stone— Valuable Manuscripts still preserved — The Story of the Tain, pro bably written about a.d. 600, by St. Ciaran of Clonmacnois; the Manuscript was preserved for hundreds of years at Clonmacnois — Ailill and Meav or Mab— The Heroes of the Tain [Tale] — The Fight of Ferdiad — Description of an Ancient Friendship — The Heroes, Ferdiad and Cuchulaind — The Story of the Tain, as condensed by O'Curry.

Chapter IV

— The Brehon Laws . S7 The Brehon Laws are the Oldest Code in Europe — English Law introduced in the reign of Henry II. — Laws concerning Religion, and Laws of Contract — The Account of the Brehon Code, as given by the Four Masters — The Gain Phadruig, or Patrick's Law — The origin of the Seanchus Mor — The occasion of its being compiled — The authorship of the Seanchus AIor—^-The compilers of the Seanchus Mor — The Irish Saints who assisted at the compilation of the Seanchus Mor — St. Benignus and St. Cairnech — The place where the Seanchus Mor was compiled — Ancient MSS. treating of this subject — The Cause of the Poem — Sir Henry Maine on the Seanchus Mor. Traces of Jewish Law — Coin cidences between Irish and Hindoo Law — The Law of Succession — Persian Customs — The L_w of Fosterage — The Money Value of Cattle — Dr. Ferguson on the Brehon Laws — The Tribal System — St. Baoithin's Poem — Professor O'Sullivan on the Descent of Property amongst the Ancient Irish — The Rights of Women protected by Irish Law — Irish Folklore — Eastern Customs — Origin of our Wakes — The Irish not Superstitious — Professor O'Looney on Sun Worship — Cairns' Essay on Druidism — Value of O'Curry's opinions on this subject — Druidism and Incantations as practised by the different tribes who settled in Ireland — The Poem of Befinn, the Fair Woman — Spenser, Campion, Sir James Ware, Sir John Davis, and others, on Irish Law.

Chapter V

— The Pre-Christian Colonization of Ireland i39 Legend of Immigrations before the Flood — Death of Partholan's People by ""[ague — O'Clery's Book of Invasions — The Books of Ballymote and Lecain — The third taking of Ireland^The Fir bolgs — They divide the Island into five Provinces — The Conflict at Tor Conainn — The Firbolgs erected the great Fortresses of Dun Conor and Dun Ængus — The two Champions, Sreng and Breas — Description of their armour — Value and importance of this description, as giving a correct account of the Weapons then in use in Ireland — The "crushers of bones," and the "breakers of shields" Nuadha "of the silver hand" — Skill of Irish artificers in Pre-Christian times — Spears and Axes. The '• Curved Blade " — The second Battle of Mugh Tuireadh — The work of the Gold-smith and the Silver-smith — Balor "of the evil eye" — How he was slain — Skill in throwing at a mark Curious description of a Sling-stone — Keating's authority verified — Traditions of Spanish Colonization — The earliest references to Ireland by foreign Writers.

The Milesian taking of Ireland Traditions of the Tuatha De Dananns — Supposed to linger on in Ireland as Fairies or Spirits — The Ogham Craove Foem from the Book of Ballymote— The Battle of Taillten — Ancient Flint Axe — Difficulties of all Ancient Chronology— The Books of Genealogies and Pedigrees. How the Pedigrees were collected and written — History taught and preserved in verse.

Chapter VI

— Finn Mac Cumhaill and the Fenians— The Military Schools of Ancient Erinn— Oisin and Early Romantic History . 170 The only full details of Finn Mac Cumhaill and the Fenian Heroes given % the Rev. G. Keatin" a Catholic Priest, who wrote during the times of the Penal Laws — Explanation of the name Fenian — The Fenians addicted to the Chase — Employed in enforcing right and preventing wrong The Cooking places of the Fianna — Their strict Military Organization — The place allotted to them at Tara ; the Site can still be traced — Saint Patrick and the Fenians— The Poem on Crede', Daughter of Cairbre1, King of Kerry — Curious description of Household Furniture and other matters The Cuckoo sings for Crede— Existence of a Line of Learned Men in Erinn from the time of the Milesians CONTENTS. VII PAGE — A regular system of Education— List of Irish Writers in the Book of Ballymote — Oisin and Fergus, .the sons of Finn Mac Cumhaill — -A Poem of Pre-Christian times on the Death of Nial; its undoubted Antiquity — Poem on the Death of King Dathi fr"om the Yellow Book of Lee ain — The Account of the Expedition of Murchitach of the Leathern Cloaks by another Bard — Evidences of pre-Christian Literature — Curious note on a curious book, from the Ulster Archæological Journal for 1834 — Ogham Writing — Opinion of Professor Westwood — Historical Evidences of its great Antiquity — The opinions of the present Writer confirmed by two eminent Antiquarians — Opinion of Dr. Ferguson—Important Extracts from our Annqls on this subject.

Chapter VII

— From Eremon to the Christian Era . 199 The difficulties of early Chronology — Brief details from the time of Eremon to that of Ugaine" Mor— The King of Ireland and the whole of the West of Europe — Tighearnmas is said to have introduced the Worship of Idols — Gold Mines and Gold Ornaments — The Plain of Adoration — Silver Shields made at Airget-Ros — Institution of the Triennial Assemblies at Tara — " The Man of the Red-ringed hands" — Ollamh Fodhla, cf furious valour- The first heroic King that instituted the Feast of Teamair [Tara] — The era of Authentic History— The History of the Exile, a romantic historical tale — The Court of Da Derga — The famous Fort of Aengus, Aranmore — Description of "Costume from very ancient and valuable Manuscripts— Description of Arms from the same — Eochaidh Feidhlech, famous for fighting — He divided Ireland into five Provinces, and appointed a provincial King over each — The Fir.-t Year of the age of Christ — The Britons took refuge in Ireland from the tyranny of the Romans — The Irish ports better known to Merchants at that period than the English ports — The Revolt of the Attacotti — The Revolt was carried out with consummate prudence and skill — Flight of the Wives of the Irish Kings — The Attacotti elect Cairbre Cinn-Cait as their leader — His reign was not prosperous — He is succeeded by his son Morann, of the famous collar of gold — Another revolt of the Attacotti — The Daughters of Tuathal.

The Boromean Tribute — The five ancient Irish roads — King Cormac's famous decision — Finn Mac Cumhaill — The death of Dathi — Appendix to Chapter VII. — Valuable Chronology from .Cambrensis Eversus.

Chapter VIII

— St. Patrick 240 How Ireland was first Christianized — Pagan Rome used providentially to promote the Faith — Ths Mission of St. Palladius — Innocent I. claims authority to found Churches and condemn Heresy — Disputes concerning St. Patrick's Birthplace — Ireland receives the Faith generously — Victoricus — St. Patrick's Vision — His Roman Mission clearly proved — Subterfuges of those who deny it — Ancient Lives of the Saint — St. Patrick's Canons — His Devotion and Submission to the Holy See — St. Patrick visits Tara — Easter Sunday — St. Patrick's Hymn — Dubtach salutes him — He overthrows the idols at Magh Slecht — The Princesses Ethnea and Fethlimia — Their Conversion — Baptism of Aengus — St. Patrick travels through Ireland — His success in Munster — He blesses the whole country from Cnoc-Patrick — The first Irish Martyr — St. Patrick's Death — Pagan Prophecies— Conor Mac Nessa — Death of King Laeghaire — The Church did not and does not countenance Pagan Superstition — Oilioll Molt — Death of King Aengus — Foundation of the Kingdom of Scotland — St. Brigid — Shrines of the Three Saints— St. Patrick's Prayer for Ireland, and its Fulfilment.

Chapter IX

— Tara— Irish Architecture and Art 267 Royal Seats in Ancient Ireland— Poetical Description of Tara— The Cursing of Tara — Ancient Description of Tara — Cuan O'Lochain on Tara or Temur — Keating on Tara — Description -of the Feast of Tara or Teamair — The Ancient Architecture of Ireland — Church Bells — Different Opinions — Prison Fortresses — Dr. Petrie's Opinion on the Round Towers— Another Opinion — The Towers of Kildare and Timahoe — Cromlechs, Cairns, and Monumental Remains — Cromlech in the Phœnix Park — Illustrations of Antiquities — Ancient Gold Head-dress — The Ancient Architecture of Ireland — The great House of Tara — The Senior of the Buildings of Erinn — Sweet was the Music of the Sons of Usnach — Rather Misfortune than Dishonour — What the Sons of Usnach did — The Lions of the Hill are gone — The Time of keeping Easter CONTENTS. 1 PACE

Chapter X

— Irish Saints and the Irish abroad, in the Sixth and Seventh Centuries . . . ... 299 St. Ita, St. Brendan, and St. Jarlath— St. Brendan's famous Voyage— Legend of St. Brendan on the Continent — St. Brendan's Voyage. — Maelsuthain and the Students — Ancient Records — Bishop Carthach— St. Carthage the Elder— On the Duties of a Priest— St. Cummain Foda— St. Cummain's Penitential — St. Adamnan — St. Columba and St. Columbanus — St. Columbanus — St. Gall, Sr, Fiacre, and St. Fursey — Irish Missionary Saints — Aengus the Culdee— The Poetry of the Culdees — Irish Schools and Scholars— St. Patrick and St. Finbar— Miraculous Tower of the Saints— St. Brandon— The Swamp of Cork— Death of St. Finbar— St. Finbar's Virtues— Ancient Lives of St. Finbar— Coleman O'Cluasiaghe— St. Molagga— Cork University — St. Fachnan — Annals of " Ross of the Pilgrims " — Monastery of Bangor — Early Monastic Rules — St. Cairthage, or Mochuda— St. Senan — The Pious Cannera of Bantry — St. Colman of Cloyne— The Fame of Irish Saints — St. Cataldus and St. Gallus — The Exertions of the Irish Saints — The Boromean Tribute — Breasal's Address to Finn Mac Cumhaill — Battle of Cnamhros — Feud between Caibre and Mogh Corb — Find ing of an Irish Manuscript in Germany — Irish Manuscripts — Irish Caligraphy — Irish Orthography.

CHAPTER XL

— The Danes in Ireland 357 Saxon Invasion of Ireland — A Famine and Storms — First Danish Invasion — Cruelties of the Danes — The Black and White Gentiles — King Cormac Mac Cullinan — Rock of Cashel — Death of Cormac — Danish Invasion — Curious Prophecies — Prophecy of St. Bercan — Further Ravages by the Danes — Early Literary Compositions — The Danes Settle in Cork — Excesses of the Danes — Invasion of Meath and Ossory — Extracts from the Annals — The Danes at Limerick — Treachery of Sitric — The Battle of Dundalk — Supposed Conversion of the Danes — Brian Boroimhe and the Dalcassians — Murder of Mahoun — The Gospel of Barri — Elegy of Brian Boroimhe — Brian avenges the Death of Mahoun — Banishment of the Danes from Erin — Brian's Challenge to Maelmuadh — Malachy IL, Nominal King of Ireland — Capture of Maelmordha — Brian deposes Malachy — Gormflaith is "grim " against Brian — Maelmordha's Revolt against Brian — Preparations for Battle — Battle of the Fishing Weir of Clontarf — Death of Murrough — Death of Brian — Dalcassian Bravery and Death of Malachy — Danish Armour and Brian's Troops — Raids on Cork — Miracle by St. Ciaran.

Chapter XII

— Ecclesiastical Affairs in Ireland— State of Ireland before the English Invasion ....... 401 Distinguished Irish Scholars and Religious — Domestic Feuds — O'Brien's Illness caused by Fright — Pestilence and Severe Winters — Contentions between the Northerners and Southerners — Mur tough's Circuit of Ireland — The Danes attempt an Invasion — An Irish King sent to the Isle of Man — Destruction of Kincora — St. Celsus makes Peace — The Synod of Fidh Aengussa — Subjects considered by the Synod : (1) The Regulation of the Number of Dioceses, (2) The Sacrament of Matrimony, (3) The Consecration of Bishops, (4) Ceremonies at Baptism — St. Malachy, Bishop of Down — His Death — The Traitor Dermod Mac Murrough — Synods held at Mellifont Abbey, Trim, and Roscom mon — St. Laurence O'Toole — Treachery and Death of O'Loughlin — Appendix — The Praise of Ireland sung by a Saxon Prince — Hospitality of the Irish towards the Anglo-Saxons — King Alfred recalled from Ireland — Ireland the Resort of Pilgrims — Cormac Founds a Monastery in Cork — St. Christian, Abbot of the Irish Monastery at Ratisbon — Extract from the Chronicle at Ratisbon — Zeal of Irish Kings and Irish Ecclesiastics.

Chapter XIII

— The Norman Invasion of Ireland . ,. .. ; 425 Importance of this Subject — The way in which it has been treated by English Writers— An English Writer of the Twelth Century, and an English Writer of the Nineteenth Century — Giraldus de Barry or Cambrensis — His Calumnies on the Irish — His Rule of Writing, simply everything Irish bad everything English good — His own Family History most Discreditable — Mr. Froude's Theory of Right : Brute Force to rule the World — He describes the Normans as occupied in incessant fighting, and yet Ireland was peaceful — His difficulty — He finds the Irish built Churches and sounded Monasteries though they were, according to him, a "Mob of Armed Savages" — Quotations from English Authori ties as to the Character of the Normans — Freeman on the Normans — Did Henry II. obtain a Granr of Ireland by Papal Bull ? — Opinions of Dr. Lynch and Dr. Lingard— Character of Henry II.

Social Condition of the Irish previous to the Norman Conquest — Erin of the Hundred Greens F "Ten Relations of the Irish previous to the Anglo-Norman Invasion— Character of some of .„e Norman CONTENTS. IX page Nobles as given by Mr. Freeman — How the Normans first came to Desmond MacMurrough How Norman Nobles found refuge in Ireland— Inauguration of the Norman Invasion of Ireland — Character and Treachery of Desmond MacMurrough — Arrival of the Anglo-Normans— Strongbow's Character — Effect of " Hammering Celtic Heads "—The Desmonds and the Battle of Callan — The Normans themselves admit their treachery to the Irish— Their notoriously bad treatment of each other.

Chapter XIV

— Arrival of Henry II. in Ireland 483 Arrival of Henry II. — Some of the Native Princes pay him Homage — His Character — Dublin in the time of Henry II.'— His Winter Palace— Norman Luxuries— King Henry holds a Court— Adrian's Bull — Temporal Power of the Popes in the Middle Ages — Conduct of the Clergy — Irish Property given to English Settles — Henry II. returns to England — The Account Cambrensis gives of the Injuries done to Ireland "by his Countrymen— Raymond, Montmarisco, and Strongbow — The latter is defeated — He recalls Raymond from Wales— Treaty between Roderic and Henry — St. Connor MacConcoille — Death of Strongbow— His seal still in existence — FitzAldelm appointed Viceroy — De Courcy in Ulster — Arrival of Cardinal Vivian — Henry II. confers the Title of King of Ireland on his son John — Irish Bishops at the Council of Lateran — Death of St. Laurence O'Toole — Henry's Rapacity — John Comyn appointed Archbishop of Dublin — John's Visit to Ireland— Insolence ot his Courtiers — De Lacy's Death- — Dealh of Henry II. — Accession of Richard I. — An English Arch bishop tries to obtain Justice for Ireland — John succeeds to the Crown — Cathal Crovderg — Massacres in Connaught — De Courcy's Disgrace and .Down'all — His Death.

Chapter XV

— The Norman Kings in Ireland 513 Quarrels of the English Barons — The Interdict — John crushes and starves an Archdeacon to Death ■ — King John's Visit to Ireland — He starves the Wife and Son of Earl de Braose to D^ath — Henry de Londres — The poet O'Daly — Obituaries of Good Men — Henry III.— Regulations about the Viceroy — The Scorch Villain — Scandalous Conduct of the Viceroys — Three Claimants for Con naught — Death of Hugh Crovderg— Felim O'Connor — Henry's Foreign Advisers — Plots against the Earl of Pembroke — He is wounded treacherously — His Pious Death— Misfortunes of the Early Settlers— De Mj^risco's Son is hanged for High Treason, and he dies miserably in Exile — The Age was not all Evil — Good Men in the World and in the Cloister— Religious Houses and their Founders — The Augustinians and Cistercians — Franciscans and Dominicans — Their close Friendship — Dominican Houses — St. Saviour's, Dublin — The Black Abbey, Kilkenny — Franciscan Houses — Youghal — Kilkenny— Multifarnham — Timoleague — Donegal — Carmelite Convents and Friars — Rising of the Connaught Men — A plunderer of the English — Battle of Downpatrick — The Mac- Carthys defeat the Geraldines at Kenmare — War between De Burgo and FitzGerald.

Chapter XVI

— Two Centuries of Anglo-Norman Government of Ireland 54: Reign of Edward I. — Social State of Ireland — English Treachery — Irish Chieftains set at Variance — The Irish are refused the Benefit of English Law — Feuds between the Cusacks and the Barretts — Death of Boy O'Neill — The Burkes and the Geraldines — Quarrel between FitzGerald and De Vesci ■ — Possessions obtained by Force or Fraud — Why the Celt was not Loyal — The Governors and the Governed — Royal Cities and their Charters — Dublin Castle, its Officers, Law Courts— A Law Court in the Fourteenth Century — Irish Soldiers help the English King — A Murder for which Justice is refused — Exactions of the Nobles — Invasion of Bruce — Remonstrance to the Pope — The Scotch Armies withdrawn from Ireland.

Chapter XVII

— The Anglo-Norman Nobles ; '. 567 The Butlers — Quarrels of the Anglo-Norman Nobles — Treachery and its Consequences — The Burkes proclaim themselves Irish — Opposition Parliaments — The Statute of Kilkenny and its Effects — Mis takes of English Writers — Social Life in Ireland described by a French Knight — " Banishment" to Ireland — Richard II. visits Ireland — The Indomitable MacMuorrugh — Anglo-Norman rule in Ireland — Power of the Desmonds — A Viceroy's Difficulties — Kerry Sheriffs and their Defalcations — Duties and Emoluments of Sheriffs — The King's Customs in Kerry — Maurice FitzThomas created Earl of Dessemound— Rise of the great Family of Desmond— Their Disloyalty — Parliament dealing with Ab senteeism — Feuds between the English — The Geraldines — Mysterious End of the Earl Gerald — The State of Kerry — Irish Independence — Treacherous Execution of Desmond — Munster Invaded.

Appendix — The Gentle Normans — The Irish Forbidden to Purchase Land — The "Discovery" Act — An Appeal to Honest Englishmen — Appeal to Pope John XXII. — Irish Customs Prohibited, CONTENTS. X PAGE 627

Chapter XVIII

— Our Illustrations A few remarks on True Patriotism— Pillar Stones— The Pillar Stone of Kilna-Saggart— Round Towers— The Round Tower of Ardmore— Siege of this Round Tower— A Memorable Passage in Irish History— Flint Stones and Implements— Military Architecture— Forts— Rare Irish Art— The Kilkenny Brooch— Ancient View of Youghall— Ogham-Inscribed Pillar Stones— Old Thomond Bridge, Limerick— The Butter Slip, Kilkenny— Curious Social History of an Irish Family— An Adventure with the Moors— Clonmacnois— Poem on the Shrine of St. Manchan— Its Rare Beauty and Artistic Skill — A Costly and Matchless Shrine.

Chapter XIX

— The Desmonds and the Butlers, and the Lords of Kildare 657 The English Settlers ordered to remain in Ireland— Character of a New Governor of Ireland- James le Botiller, Viceroy— Another Legislation against Absentees — De Mortimer and the Cleigy of Ulster— The Statute of Kilkenny — The Plague in Munster — Death of De Courcy— Alliances of English Lords and Irish— State of Cork— Perkin Warbeck— The Mayor of Cork Executed— " The Decay of Ireland" — Neither the Geraldines of Leinster or Munster, or the Eutlers will deny the King's Laws— It was dangerous to depopu'ate the realm of England even to get rid of the troublesome Irish — An Irish Bishop buried in Piedmont — A Viceroy's Difficulties — The Houses of York and Lancaster — The Colony almo=t Bankrupt — Literary Ladies in Ireland — A Congress of Literati — The Duke of York is made Viceroy — Affection of the Irish for him — Popularity of the Yorkists In Ireland — A Book given for a Ransom — Desolating Effects of the Wars of the Roses- Accession of Henry VII. — Insurrection of the Yorkists — Simnel is crowned in Dublin — Warbeck's Insurrection — Poyning's Parliament — Poyning's Law and its Effects — The Earl of Kildare accused of Treason— His Defence and Pardon — His Quick-witted Speeches — He is acquitted honourably — His Letter to the Gherardini — Ariosto.

Chapter XX

— The Era of Religious Oppression 699 The Reign of Henry VIII. — The Three Eras in Irish History : Military Violence, Legal Iniquity, and Religious Oppression — The Earl of Kildare — Report on the State of Ireland — The Insurrection of Silken Thomas — His Execution with his five Uncles— First Attempt to Introduce the Reformation in Ireland — Real Cause of the English Schism — The King acts as Head of the Church— The New Religion enacted by Law, and enforced by the Sword — How the Act was opposed by the Clergy, and how the Clergy were disposed of — Dr. Browne's Letter to Henry — The Era of Religious Persecution, — Massacre of a Prelate, Priest, and Friars — Wholesale Plunder of Religious Propeity — Creation of the Earls of Thomond and Clanrickarde — How the King procured Money — Prayers in English — Opposition of Dr. Dowdall — Accession of Queen Mary — Joy of the Irish — The Catholic Service restored Publicly — Accession of Queen Elizabeth— Shane O'Neill obtains his Dominions — Parliament assembled — Unfair Dealing — Martyrs in the Reign of Elizabeth — The Protestant Archbishop advises Persecution — Cruelties enacted by English Officers — Shane O'Neill— rThe Deputy tries to get him Poisoned or Assassinated with the Queen's Concurrence— His Visit to England — He refuses to Dress in the English Fashion — The Desmonds — A Romantic Episode — Fall of the Desmond Family — History of the Spanish Landing and Capture of the Fort-del-Ore, from Original Documents — Refutal of Mr. Froude's False Statements.

CHAPTER XXL

— The Reformation— its Causes and Effects 767 Necessity of writing on this subject in detail — How Luther became a Protestant — Henry called Defender of the Faith — Henry VIII. did not believe Protestant Doctrine — Henry's Hypocrisy — His Treatment of his Wives — Character of Pope Clement — Henry's Love Letters— -Some unfit for Publi cation — Anne Boleyn died a Catholic — Character of Jane Seymour — Christening of the Princess Elizabeth. APPENDIX— The New Religion.

CHAPTER XXIL

— Unsuccessful Efforts to Introduce the Reformation into Ireland under Elizabeth ..... 79S Accession of Mary — Reign of Elizabeth— Persecution of Catholics — A Parliament is Assembled — National Opposition to the Reformation — Martyrs in the Reign of Elizabeth — Cruelties enacted by English Officers — Shane O'Neill — Shane is killed treacherously— Bishop Ross confined in the To —State of the Protestant Church — The " Ruffianly" Boys of Cork — A Romance of Irish Hist- CONTENTS. XI PAGE Florence MacCarthy Reagh— Marriage of Lady Ellen and Florence MacCarthy— They are Separated and Imprisoned — Escape of Lady Ellen from Cork — The Sugane Earl— Gap of the Feathers— Policy of Florence MacCarthy — John Annyas— Carew's Treachery — Rumours of a Spanish Invasion The Siege of Kinsale — Surrender of Don Juan — A theft " handsomely done " — Defence of Dunboy — Siege of Dunboy Castle — The Castle taken — Tiege's virtuous indignation— MacCarthy More a " Jugling Traytor."

Appendix— Teaching of the Protestant Reformers—" Liberty of Conscience " — Protestant Authorities on the Reformation— The Thirty-Nine Articles of the Protestant Church- Depravity of Elizabeth's Court — Wickedness caused by the Reformation— Frequent Changes in Reli gious Belief— Sacrifice of the Mass — Edward VI. Reforms the Reformers — The Different Versions of the Prayer Book— A "Directory " Issued for Public Worship — Causes of the Persecution in Ireland —Disestablishment of the Protestant Church— Divisions at the Present Day— Tomb of Father Matthew, Cork.

CHAPTER XXIII.

— The Plantation of Connaught 839 O'Neill shows Symptoms of Disaffection — Treacherous Capture of O'Donnell — Injustice to Tenants — O'Donnell attempts to Escape — O'Neill's Marriage with Mabel Bagnal — O'Donnell Escapes from Dublin Castle — Causes of Discontent — Cruel Massacre of Three Priests — Tortures and Death inflicted in Dublin on Bishop O'Hurley — O'Neill's Insurrection — His Interview with Essex — He marches to the South — His Fatal Reverse at Kinsale — The Siege of Dunboy — O'Neill's Submission — Founda tion of Trinity College, Dublin, on the Site and with the Funds of a Catholic Abbey — Accession of King James — Joy of the Irish Catholics — Their Disappointment — Bishops, Priests, and Laity imprisoned for the Faith — Paul V. encourages the Catholics to Constancy — Plot to entrap O'Neill and O'Donnell — Flight of the Earls — Ulster is left to the Mercy of the English Nation — The Plantation commences — Chichester's Parliament, and how he obtained Members — Death of James I., and Accession of Charles — The Hopes of the Catholics are raised again — They offer a large sum of ■^loney to obtain "Graces" — It is accepted, and the "Graces" are treacherously refused — The Plantation of Connaught — How Obedience was enforced and Resistance punished— Conspiracy to seize Dublin — Sir Phelim O'Neill — Massacre of Island Magee.