No More Learning

D. 1603.
with their people and property, to war against As Niall Garv O’Donnell, letter came from Niall Garv and the English, and they did not Dublin him, requesting him appear before stop until they arrived in the Rosses, and in the the lord justice and the council, receive Patent
for Tirconnell, reward for his services, and aid the crown; however neglected that affair, that what did was Kilmacrennan, and
islands; they were not long there when they were
plundered by Niall and his brethren, who took
Cathbar Oge, and kept him a prisoner. The peo
ple of Rory O’Donnell proceeded into Tircon sent for O’Firghil, the coarb Columkille, and nell, with their property, cattle, and great
wealth, the first month spring, and Rory
himself, with his party and forces Irish and English, along with captain Guest, previous his
was nominated the O’Donnell, without the per mission the king's representative, the
people having departed from the west, proceeded
take revenge and satisfaction O’Rourke, the general sir Henry Docwra, although was
namely, Bryan Oge, for his insult and dishonour, friendly, and great service him before that which had contemplation for some time time. Rory O’Donnell happened then
before that; that they plundered and laid waste Dublin, and having been summoned before the
Brefney, both crops and corn, and perty they laid hold for the most into the recesses and fastnesses
their pro them fled the territory;
lord justice, and the council, they sent letters and written despatches with him Henry Docwra,
commanding him take Niall Garv prisoner, and
speedily strike the former treaty with Tyrone,” and
despatched horseman Godolphin, commanding him hasten
the coming O'Neill. Godolphin rode from Charlemont, and
met O’Neill nine o'clock the morning the 29th Togher,
about five miles beyond Dungannon, and having produced his
Protection, which was shortly after delivered into his own hands,
O'Neill, along with Moore, Godolphin, and guard horse, where they arrived June, but their progress through the
rode Mellifont, where they arrived the 30th March, the afternoon; and the following day O'Neill made his formal sub mission writing the lord deputy, the terms which are given
country, the mob and many women flung stones O’Neill, and reviled him for the loss of their relatives who had been slain the
Irish wars. O'Neill was honourably received court by king James, but his return Ireland September, was escorted through England troops horse, protect him from the violence the mob. After his return lived peaceably Dun gannon till the year 1607, when, charge conspiracy against the state, and his friend Rory, Roderick O'Donnell, who had
Morrison. The vain-glorious Mountjoy, give himself the greater honour this transaction, states that O'Neill went on his
knees for more than tent submission;
there ask pardon
hour his chamber door, making peni absurd falsehood, for O'Neill did not come
favour, but merely make formal sub
mission, having taken good care have his terms granted and
confirmed him before came, for he was too keen otherwise
official account the queen's death, and the accession James This was the first time O'Neill heard the queen's death, and presence the council Dublin Castle, burst into tears, moved with indignation and regret that had been deceived into
lo
been created earl and having retired related. sketch
Tyrconnell, were forced fly from Ireland,
have trusted himself the power the treacherous Mountjoy,
Rome, they both died there hereafter the character and personal appearance
who had short time before offered for his head reward of Hugh O'Neill, earl Tyrone, has been given page 629 the thousand pounds. On the 3rd April, Mountjoy, accompanied notes. After the flight the earls, their extensive possessions, by O'Neill, rode Drogheda, and from thence Dublin the together with the lands all the other chiefs Ulster, were con 4th; the 5th, ship arrived there which sir Henry Danvers fiscated and transferred British settlers; and thus terininated brought letters from the lords the council England, with the
council. When the lord justice and the council received intelligence that, they were incensed
against Niall, nor was yet much esteemed by
few people were slain between them, including
Owen, the son Ferdorcha O'Gallagher, and arrived Derry, and the governor sent some Torlogh, the son Mac Loghlin, who fell each the commanders and captains Derry. (There other that occasion. party the English short blank here the Annals, but appears were left garrison Dromahaire, for the pur that refers only Niall Garv having been at pose devastating the country about them, and tacked and taken prisoner). Tuathal Mac-an O'Rourke was obliged remain with small force Deaganaigh O'Gallagher; Hugh Buighe, the son
the woods, the remote glens, and on the John Oge, and Felim, the son John Oge, islands the lakes his country, from that forth. with several others, were taken prisoners that
treaty with O'Neill, lest should break off hearing the queen's death; and Morrison says “for those reasons he resolved
having sent some captains along with him, Rory
premature submission, for had he held out till after the queen's death, could have protracted the war, and made far more favour able terms for himself and the other chiefs. O'Neill made new
submission king James, and sent letters the king Spain, recalling his son Henry from that country. He then returned Tyrone, and peaceably took possession his ancient seat Dun gannon, from whence, the latter end May, 1603, he was sum moned Dublin Mountjoy, accompany him England,
the power the renowned race the O'Neills and O'Donnells, for many ages princes Tyrone and Tirconnell, and after the O'Neills and their ancestors had ruled for more than thousand years kings Ulster.
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REIGN OF JAMES I. 713
occasion; Niall made his escape shortly after that, until the person who had committed the slaying, and he and his brethren, with their people, retired namely Donal, the son Con, should given into the woods of Ceannmaghair. for his release; Niall and Donal went the word
Manus Oge O'Sruithein was slain at that time protection before the governor, and Hugh Buighe by Donal, the son of Con O’Donnell, in revenge of was set liberty, and Donal was retained. Niall his brother, who had been formerly slain by him, O’Donnell afterwards proceeded England ask namely Calvach, the son of Con, and it were better forgiveness for his crimes, and obtain the reward for him he had not committed that act, for many his support, services, and aid the crown evils happened them, as the result of Rory O’Don England, from king James. Rory O’Donnell went nell, and the Irish who were joined with him, England for the same purpose, although the together with the captains who came with him services both the crown were not equal, and the country, and also captain Guest, who was each them was putting forward his claim Tir along with him Connaught, were commanded connell, that was then the king and the coun
pursuit Niall, his brethren, and people, appointed Rory O’Donnell earl over Tirconnell, prey and plunder them; this accordingly did, and assigned his own estate Niall, viz. from directed, that the smallest head cattle was Leachta-Siubhaine westward, far the Seasgan not left with Niall's people; and they carried off Lubanach, both sides the river Finn (about Lifford, Donegal), and they both returned Ire land peace and good terms, after they had
many thousand cattle with them, and great num
bers those who were plundered there, died
cold and famine. Rory divided the preys, and
gave their proportions the gentlemen who pro
ceeded his force. Hugh Buighe, the son Con,
was wounded his ankle, and he was sent be
cured into Cranmog-na-n Duine, the Tuatha
Ros-Guill precisely (Roscuill, near Sheep Haven, Torlogh O’Brien, died the month December.
Donegal); the same Hugh was taken prisoner the English, and was brought Derry, and the governor declared would not set him liberty
An excessive famine took place throughout Ire land”.
his contests with the Irish, took Galway and Mayo prey
4,000 cows, and slew 140 the people. 1588, Hugh Roe Mac Mahon, lord Monaghan, had give the lord deputy Fitz william bribe 600 cows get possession his own lands, but
was soon after hanged by Fitzwilliam and about the same time, Maguire, lord Fermanagh, had give Fitzwilliam bribe 300 cows have his country free from sheriff. 1600 and 1601, sir Henry Docwra, governor Derry, repeatedly plundered and ravaged Derry and Donegal, massacred the inhabitants, de stroyed the crops, and carried off upwards 3,000 cows. 1600, Carew, president Munster, plundered and laid waste various
parts that province. 1601, sir Charles Wilmot ravaged Kerry, and one occasion took prey 4,000 cows from Iveragh,
Depredations and Famine. —The Annalists mention dire ful famine this year; and accounts immense depredations, well many massacres committed by the English forces during the reign Elizabeth, and
Ireland consequence
corn, and cattle, are given
shed's Chronicles, Cox's Hibernia Anglicana, Pacata Hibernia, Leland, &c. , from which works the following particulars have been collected. 1563, the lord deputy, Thomas Ratcliffe, earl Sussex, the war with Shane O'Neill, entered Tyrone and took prey 600 kine, and another occasion Sussex seized the im mense prey 3,300 kine, and 1,500 garrons (horses) and mares, which divided amongst his soldiers, according Cox, and then returned Drogheda. 1567, the lord deputy Fitzwil liam, according Cox, plundered O'Neill's country, and took prey 2,000 cows, and 500 garrons. 1580, the lord deputy, sir William Pelham, marched with his forces attack the earl Desmond, and carried off from Clanawliffe, Cork, prey 2,000 kine and many sheep, and soon after took another great
the great famine which prevailed the wars, and the destruction crops,
Fynes Morrison's Ireland, Holin
prey
the earl
earl
Kerry, they drove the whole country before them, and took the enormous prey 8,000 cows, besides many garrons, sheep, &c. , and slew many people. At this time the deputy, lord Arthur Grey, plundered and laid waste various parts the country, and Leland says that all persons, both English and Irish race, sent complaints England his barbarity, saying would leave
nothing for the queen reign over Ireland, but “carcasses and ashes. ” 1586, Richard Bingham, governor Connaught,
Castlemaine Kerry. 1580 also, according Cox, Ormond marched with the queen's forces against the
Desmond, and about Dingle, Tralee, and other parts
thus been reconciled.
Niall Garv, the son Rory, son Eigneachan,
son Eigneachan, son Neachtan, son Tor logh the Wine O’Donnell, died.
Conor, son Donogh, son Murrogh, son
and the same year sir Samuel Bagnall took prey
with horses and sheep, from Muskerry Cork.
sir Arthur Chichester, governor Carrickfergus, plundered and
laid waste the counties Down and Antrim, destroyed the crops, and carried off the cattle. 1601, sir Francis Barkley took prey 3,000 cows Longford, and the same year plundered
the counties Cavan and Fermanagh, and carried off 2,000 cows, 200 garrons and many sheep. the years 1600, 160], and 1602, an
account has been given the expeditions the lord deputy Mountjoy, Leinster and Ulster, and the immense depredations and destruction property. 1600, Mountjoy plundered and laid waste Wicklow, Kildare, Carlow, King's, and Queen's coun ties, and Morrison says, that that harvest destroyed more than ten thousand pounds worth corn, carried off prey 4,000 cows, 700 garrons, and many sheep, and massacred the inha bitants; and, the same time, sir Oliver Lambert committed great devastations there, and carried off 1,000 cows, and 500 gar
2,000 cows,
1600 and 1601,
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71. 4 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1604.
A. D. 1604. was the death him who departed there, for O'Rourke, i. e. Bryan Oge, son of Bryan-na was the maintaining pillar and supporting prop
Murtha, son of Bryan Ballach, son of Owen, died
in Galley (in the barony of Iraghticonor, in Kerry),
on the 28th of January, and was buried at the mo nastery of Ros Iriala (Mucrus Abbey, at Killarney,
in Kerry), with the Franciscan friars. Mournful
rons. In 1601 and 1602, Mountjoy laid waste all Ulster; Mor rison says, “We marched into Ferney, the country of Mac Mahon, and there we burned the houses, and spoiled the goods of the in habitants;” and again, “We resolved to draw towards Monaghan, and spoil the corn of that country, being of exceeding quantity;” on another occasion he says, “We burned a town in O’Kane's country, together with many women and children in and killed also kernes and churls. ” Tyrone, Mountjoy burned and laid waste the country, and Morrison says, “our men cut down the corn with their swords, according our fashion. ” 1601, according the Pacata, sir Francis Barkley, with troops from Askeaton, proceeded Mac Auliffe's country Cork, and took from thence 1,000 cows, and 200 garrons, with much sheep and other spoils, and 1602, sir Charles Wilmot sent troop plun der Dunkerron, and other parts Kerry, and they drove off the immense prey 2,000 cows, 4,000 sheep, and 1,000 garrons.
Holinshed's Chronicles, (vol. page 427 430), are related many
plunders and massacres the English forces, during the war
Munster. On one occasion, says, “they drove the whole
country before them Ventry Kerry, and took the cattle the number 8,000 kine, besides horses, sheep, goats, &c. , and
all such people they met they did without mercy put the sword these means the whole country, having cattle nor kine left, they were driven such extremities, that for want victuals they were either die and perish famine, die under the sword. ” He relates several other depredations com mitted the soldiers, and says that one day they killed 400
the people the Slievelogher mountains and woods Kerry, and that they spared neither man, woman, nor child. Holinshed (B. 459), describes the effects the war Munster, fol lows: “And for the great companies soldiers, galloglasses, kerne, and common people, who followed this rebellion, the numbers
the tribe Hugh Fionn; was tower battle
cattle, well stored with fish, and now become waste and barren, cattle, the air birds, the seas, though full fish, yet them yielding nothing finally, every
mortar with the sword, famine, and pestilence, altogether, submitted themselves the English government. ” Spenser his “View Ireland,” page 28, thus speaks the beauty and fertility the country this time, “And sure yet most beautiful and sweet country, any under heaven, being stored throughout with many goodly rivers, replenished with all sorts fish most abundantly, sprinkled with many very sweet islands and goodly lakes, like little inland seas, that will carry even ships upon their waters, adorned with goodly woods even fit for building
sundry other good commodities, yielding fruits, the pastures
way the curse God was great, and the land barren, both man and beast, that whosoever did travel from the one end the other all Munster, even from Waterford the head Smer wick, which about six scores miles, would not meet with any man, woman, child, saving towns and cities, nor yet see any beast, but the very wolves, the foxes, and other like ravening
beasts, and many them lay dead, being famished, and the resi due gone elsewhere. ” Spenser his “View Ireland,” page 166,
speaking the effects the war Munster says, For, not withstanding that the same was most rich and plentiful country,
full corn and cattle, that you would have thought they should have been able stand long, yet ere one year and half, they were brought such wretchedness, that any stony heart would
some princes
have rued the same. Out every corner the woods and
glynns they came, creeping forth upon their hands, for their legs
could not bear them they looked like anatomies death they are not seen any part Europe; the rich fishings, and spake like ghosts crying out their graves; they did eat the wild fowl all kinds and lastly, the bodies and minds the dead carrions, happy where they could find them, yea, and one people, endued with extraordinary abilities nature. ”
bravery, and the guiding star conflict the Hy Briunians;
man, who did not allow Brefney
encounter and valiant defending
endangered during his time; man calm reflection, au
another soon after, insomuch the very carcasses they spared not scrape out their graves; and they found plot water cresses shamrocks, there they flocked feast for the time, yet not able long continue there withal; that short space there were none almost left, and most populous and plentiful country suddenly left void man and beast. ” Spenser the poet was Munster many years, and the last time was there was
the year 1597, was eye witness some the horrors he describes. Fynes Morrison, who accompanied Mountjoy
Ulster 1602, relates many horrible instances famine that province; amongst others gives account some persons
Newry who made fires the fields, and driven by direful hunger, devoured some young children. He relates many other dreadful cases famine, and says, “And spectacle was more frequent the ditches towns, and especially wasted countries, than
see multitudes these poor people dead, with their mouths all coloured green by eating nettles, docks, and all things they could
rend up above ground. ” Mountjoy, letter the lords the council England, says, “from O’Kane's country northward Tyrone, we have left mone give opposition, nor late have seen any but dead carcasses, merely starved for want meat;” and again says, when Tyrone, “O'Hagan protested unto us, that betweenTullaghoge and Toome, there lay unburied thou sand dead, and since our first drawing this year Blackwater, there were above three thousand starred Tyrone. ” (Morrison,
pp. 200, 283, 284). Cox, speaking the year 1602, says that the famine the siege Jerusalem, when taken by the Romans, was not greater than that Ireland this time. Le land, (B. chap. 3), says these wars Munster, “The
them are infinite whose blood the earth drank up, and whose carcasses the heasts the field, and the ravening fowls the air, did consume and devour. After this followed extreme famine, and such whom the sword did not destroy, the same did consume and eat out; for they were not only driven eat horses, dogs, and dead carrions, but also did devour the carcasses dead men. ” Again says, “the land itself, which before those wars was populous, well inhabited, and rich all the good blessings God, being plenteous corn, full
southern province seemed
within the cities, exhibited
lation. ” Sir John Davis,
under the command lord Mountjoy, broke, and absolutely sub dued all the lords and chieftains the Irish, and degenerate rebellious English, whereupon the multitude being beat were
totally depopulated, and except hideous scene famine and deso his Tracts, page 58, says, “The army,
houses and ships, commodiously, that
the world had them, they would soon hope
seas, and ere long all the world; also full
and havens, opening upon England, inviting come unto them see what excellent commodities that country can afford, besides the soil itself most fertile, yield all kind fruit that shall committed thereunto; and lastly, the heavens most mild and temperate. ” Sir John Davis, attorney-general Ireland, the reign James says, “I have visited all the provinces that kingdom, sundry journeys and circuits; wherein have observed the good temperature the air, the fruitfulness the soil, the pleasant and commodious seats for habitation, the safe and large ports and havens lying open for traffic into all the west parts the world, the long inlets many navigable rivers, and
many great lakes and fresh ponds within the land, the like
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and prudence, of any that lived of his tribe for a
long time.
A. D. 1605.
Sir Arthur Chichester, lord justice of Ireland,
and the earl of Tyrone, namely, Hugh, the son of
Ferdorcha, came to Strabane, and O’Neill was de
manding a portion of the estate which Niall O’Don
nell had obtained from the king, viz. , the Moen
tacht; Niall brought before the lord justice the securities which he had for the Moentacht in suc
cession, from his ancestors, and besides, the charts which Manus O’Donnell exacted from O’Neill,
Torlogh, died Druim-Arc, near the town
O'Boyle, on the 3rd May, and was buried Donegal.
Maguire, i. e. Cuchonacht, and Donogh, the son Mahon, son the bishop O’Brien, brought
ship with them Ireland, and they entered the harbour Suiligh (Lough Swilly, Donegal).
They took with them from Ireland the earl O’Neill, namely Hugh, the son Ferdorcha, and the earl O’Donnell, i. e. Rory, the son Hugh, son Manus, together with great number the nobles
the province Ulster. The persons who ac companied O'Neill were the countess, namely Ca therine, the daughter Magennis, her three sons, Hugh the baron, John, and Bryan; Art Oge, the son Cormac, son the baron; Ferdorcha, son
Con, the son O’Neitl; Hugh Oge, the son Bryan, son Art O’Neill, along with great num
man who experienced defending his patri mony against his brother O’Rourke, Bryan Oge; man who was not expected would have
much trouble and injury
the mother
O'Boyle,
that Teige.
A. D. 1606.
A. D. 1607. Teige Oge, the son
Teige, son
A. D. 1607.
The Flight and Death the Earls. -The circumstances
connected with these events are given by Cox, Leland, Mac Geoghegan, Curry, Taaffe, and various other historians. Cox,
REIGN OF JAMES I. 715
namely, Con Bacach, for the release of Henry, the
son of John, who was in imprisonment with
O’Donnell, i. e. Manus, until he got those charts for
his release, and the lord justice, Arthur, having ber his faithful friends. Those who accompa
understood the arguments both parties, ad judged the Moentacht Niall, and said thatO’Neill could not right claim the land, for the title be
nied the earl O’Donnel were Cathbar his brother,
with his sister Nuala, and Hugh, son the earl, who wanted three weeks being year old; Rose, daughter O’Dogherty, the wife Cathbar, with her son Hugh, aged two years
came long extinct, had they were both obliged
O’Rourke, Teige Bryan-na-Murtha, son Owen, lord Brefney,
exceeded sixty years,and abide that decision.
the Wine, the son Bryan Ballach, son
died his bed, but rather should fall sword spear; man who encountered hard contested conflicts, and many perilous hazards, maintain ing the inheritance his patrimony, and becoming
successor his father, until length God granted him lordship; died, and was buried with due honours the monastery St. Francis Car rickpatrick (at Dromahaire, Leitrim). Mary Burgh, daughter the earl Clanrickard, was
and quarter; his Donal; Naghtan,
brother's son, Donal Oge, son
the son Calvach, son
O’Donnell, together with great number his
faithful friends; was on the festival the Cross harvest (14th September), they embarked
the ship. That was distinguished company for one
ship, for most certain that the sea has not borne nor the wind wafted from Ireland the latter times
party any one ship more eminent, illustrious, and noble than they were, point genealogy,
more distinguished for great deeds, renown, feats arms, and valorous achievements; and would that God had granted them remain their patrimonies, until their youths should arrive
the age manhood Woe the heart that
meditated woe the mind that planned woe
the council that determined the project which
caused the party who went that voyage de
part, while they had prospect the end their lives returning safe their hereditary estates,
patrimonial inheritance! "
his Hiberma Anglicana, relates the matter thus:—“On the 7th May, 1607, letter directed William Usher, clerk the council, was dropped the council chamber Dublin Castle,
which discovered conspiracy the earls Tyrone and Tircon
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716 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1608.
A. D. 1608. the governor abused him in language, with scorn
Grievous dissensions and strife arose between
the governor, who was in Derry Columkille, name castigation, so that he preferred death to life, ra ly, sir George Pawlett, and O’Dogherty, i. e. ther than endure the insult and dishonour he re Cahir, the son of John Oge; it was not only that ceived, and he would not delay or put off being
from arrest, but were ordered to appear on the following day. In
the meantime, says Mac Geoghegan, some false friends in the
council advised them privately to consult for their safety, on
which, fearing that hired witnesses would be produced against
them, and their lives endangered, they fled from Ireland, as above
recorded in the Annals. Some of the O’Neills, O'Donnells,
O'Kanes, and other chiefs, were executed in Dublin, and others
were imprisoned in the tower of London. The baron of Delvin
wards pardoned. The earls O'Neill and O’Donnell, with some other chiefs, set sail for France and landed in Normandy, on which, according to Mac Geoghegan, the English ambassador at
nell, Maguire, O'Cahan, the lord of Delvin, and almost all the Irish of Ulster, to surprise the castle of Dublin, and murder the
lord deputy and council, and set up for themselves. ” “They had sent,” says Cox, “a baron to the arch-dukes to solicit assistance, and probably had employed somebody else to Spain; but as soon
as they had notice that their plot was discovered, the earls of Tyrone and Tirconnell, and the lord Maguire fled heyond seas to
get Spanish aid, and the rest did shift for themselves as well as they could, but some were taken and executed. ” In Curry's
was imprisoned in Dublin Castle, but he made his escape and fled to O'Reilly's castle of Cloughoughter in Cavan, but was after
“Civil Wars,” (chap. 5), the following account of the affair is
given from a work by Doctor Carleton, bishop of Chichester,
wherein it is stated, that George Montgomery, bishop of Derry,
having attempted to recover certain church lands belonging to his
see, which it is said were held by O'Neill, the bishop by some the court of king Henry the IV. , demanded they should be sur means obtained the assistance of ty'Cahamor O’Kane, as a witness
for the recovery of the said lands. O'Cahan was brought for that purpose before the council in Dublin. O'Neill was likewise sum moned to appear in Dublin regarding the suit, but having, it is
said, entered into a plot against the state some time before, he was afraid that O'Cahan, who knew of the conspiracy, had revealed it to the government, on which O'Neill and his confederates fled out of Ireland; but Curry altogether disbelieves the existence of this pretended conspiracy, and says, “the accounts were framed to give some colour of right to public acts of slander, oppression, and rapine. ” In the Preface to Borlase’s “Rebellion of 1641,” refer ence is made to this matter by Henry Jones, bishop of Meath, who states, that in the year 1607 there was “a providential dis covery of another rebellion in Ireland, the lord Chichester being deputy; the discoverer not being willing to appear, a letter from him, not subscribed, was superscribed to sir William Usher, clerk of the council, and dropped in the council chamber, then held in the castle of Dublin, in which was mentioned a design for seizing the castle and murdering the deputy, with a general revolt, and dependance on Spanish forces, and this also for religion. ” This letter was dropped in the council chamber on the 19th of May, and its contents are given in Lodge's Peerage, on the Nugents, earls of Westineath. In the work called “Anderson's Royal Genealogies,” (page 786), another account is given of this affair, in which the contrivance of the plot is attributed to Robert Cecil, earl of Salisbury, the secretary of state in England. Anderson says, “artful Cecil employed one St. Lawrence to entrap the earls of Tyrone and Tirconnell, the lord of Delvin, and other Irish chiefs, into a sham plot which had no evidence but his ; but those chiefs being informed that witnesses were to be hired against them, foolishly fled from Dublin, and so taking guilt upon them they were declared rebels; and six entire counties in Ulster were at once forfeited to the crown, which was what their enemieswanted. ” Mac Geoghegan gives the same account, and considers the whole business to have been planned by the secretary Cecil, who he says, employed for that purpose Christopher St. Lawrence, baron of
Howth, who, “to entrap the leaders of the Catholics, invited them to a secret conference;” he further states, that the earls O’Neill and O'Donnell, with Richard Nugent, baron of Delvin, and other Catholics of distinction, attended this meeting, at which St. Law rence made them swear not to divulge what he would communicate and informed them, “that the court of England had determined to eradicate the Catholic religion out of Ireland, and force them to be come Protestants;” he then advised them to stand in their defence, but afterwards, says Mac Geoghegan, accused them to the king of having formed secret designs against the state, and O'Neill and others being summoned before the council, and finding themselves unexpectedly confronted by St. Lawrence, acknowledged they attended the meeting, but repelled the calumny of having entered
into any treasonable plot against the state; and no evidence having been produced against them, they were allowed to depart free
rendered as rebels to king James, but Henry refused the request with scorn, as an act beneath the dignity of a king. The earls next proceeded to Flanders, where they were well received by the archduke Albert, who then governed the Low Countries; and they lastly retired to Rome, where they were kindly and honour ably received by Pope Paul V. , who, together with the king of Spain, granted pensions for their support. Most of those illus trious exiles died soon after; Constantine Maguire died at Geneva in the same year, while preparing to go to Spain; the earl O'Don nell died at Rome in 1608, as recorded in the Annals, not in 1617, as stated by several writers; and his brother Cathbar died at Rome in the same year, and also Hugh O'Neill, baron of Dungan non, son of Hugh, the earl. The heroic Hugh O'Neill himself, the last representative of the ancient kings of Ulster, died at Rome in the year 1616, old, blind, and broken down by many misfortunes; his son Henry, who was in the Spanish service, was assassinated a few years afterwards at Brussels. The princes and chiefs of Tyrone and Tirconnell who died at Rome, were buried on St. Peter's Hill, in the Franciscan church of Monte Aureo, according to De Burgo, who gives the Latin inscription on their monument in the supplement to his Hibernia Dominicana. In O’Reilly's Irish Writers, at A. D. 1600, and in these Annals at the year 1608, an account is given of Owen Roe Mac Ward, who was chief bard to the O’Donnells, and accompanied the earls in their exile to Rome. He wrote a beautiful elegiac poem on the death of the princes of Tyrone and Tirconnell, in which he addresses Nuala, the sister of the earl Roderic O’Donnell, and he pathetical ly representsher as weeping alone over the graves of the princes on St. Peter's Hill. This poem, translated from the Irish, has beenad mirably versified by Clarence Mangan, of which the following verses afford a favorable specimen. There are allusions in it to the great victories gained over the English by the O’Neills and O’Donnells in the North, and which have been recorded in these Annals, as the battles of Athbuidhe or the Yellow Ford, of Ballaghmoyre or the Moyry Pass, of Ashanee or Ballyshannon, of Mullaghbrack, of the Curlew Mountains, &c. ; and the poem concludes with an allusion to the blood of Conn, meaning the O'Neills and O'Don nells, one of whose ancestors was Conn of the Hundred Battles, a celebrated king of Ireland, in the second century.
“O woman of the piercing wail,
Who mournest o'er yon mound of clay,
With sigh and groan;
Would God thou wert among the Gael !
Thou wouldst not then from day to day Weep thus alone.
'Twere long before, around a grave, In green Tirconnell, one could find
This loneliness;
Near where Beann-Boirche’s banners wave,
Such grief as thine could ne'er have pined Companionless.
and contempt, but also inflicted on him a personal
REIGN OF JAMES I. 717 revenged, but became so filled with anger and and mad; so that what he did was, to advise with
fury, that it was a wonder he did not go distracted
“Beside the wave, in Donegal,
In Antrim's glens, or fair Dromore, Or Killilee;
Or where the sunny waters fall, At Assaroe, near Erna's shore,
This could not be.
On Derry's plains—in rich Drumclieff,
Throughout Armagh the Great, renowned In olden years,
No day could pass but Woman's grief Would rain upon the burial-ground
Fresh floods of tears :
“O no —from Shannon, Boyne and Suir, From high Dunluce's castle walls,
From Lisadill,
Would flock alike both rich and poor,
One wail would rise from Cruachan's halls
To Tara's Hill ;
And some would come from Barrow-side,
And many a maid would leave her home On Leitrim's plains,
And by melodious Banna's tide,
And by the Mourne and Erne, to come,
And swell thy strains!
“Two princes of the line of Conn Sleep in their cells of clay beside
O'Donnell Roe :
Three royal youths, alas! are gone,
Who lived for Erin's weal, but died For Erin's woe
Ah! could the men of Ireland read
The names these noteless burial-stones
Display to view,
Their wounded hearts afresh would bleed,
Their tears gush forth again, their groans Resound anew '
“The youths whose relics moulder here
Were sprung from Hugh, high Prince and Lord
Of Aileach's lands; “Thy noble brothers, justly dear,
Thy nephew, long to be deplored
By Ulster's bands.
Their's were not souls wherein dull Time
Could domicile Decay, or house Decrepitude
They passed from earth ere Manhood's prime, Ere years had power to dim their brows
“And who can marvel o'er thy grief,
Or who can blame thy flowing tears
That knows their source 2 O'Donnell, Dunnasava's chief,
Cut off amid his vernal years, Lies here a corse
Beside his brother Cathbar, whom Tirconnell of the Helmets mourns
In deep despair—
For valour, truth, and comely bloom, For all that greatens and adorns,
A peerless pair.
“O, had these twain, and he, the third,
The lord of Mourne, O'Niall's son, Their mate in death—
A prince in look, in deed, and word—
Had these three heroes yielded on The field their breath.
his faithful friends how he should be avenged for
O, had they fallen on Crimthan's plain, There would not be a town or clan
From shore to sea,
But would with shrieks bewail the slain,
Or chant aloud the exulting rann (verse) Of Jubilee!
“When high the shout of battle rose,
On fields where Freedom's torch still burned
Through Erin's gloom, If one, if barely one of those
Were slain, all Ulster would have mourned The hero's doom
If at Athbuighe, where hosts of brave Ulidian horsemen sank beneath
The shock of spears,
Young Hugh O'Neill had found a grave,
Long must the North have wept his death, With heart-wrung tears :
“If on the day of Ballaghmoyre,
The lord of Mourne had met, thus young
A warrior's fate,
In vain would such as thou desire
To mourn alone the champion sprung From Niall the Great :
No marvel this— for the dead, Heaped the field, pile over pile,
At Mullaghbrack,
Were scarce Eric for his head,
Or chill their blood.
“O, had the fierce Dalcassian swarm, That bloody night Fergus' banks
But slain our Chief,
When rose his camp wild alarm,
How would the triumph his ranks Be dashed with grief:
How would the troops Murbach mourn, the Curlew Mountains' day,
Which England rued,
Some Saxon hand had left them lorn, By shedding there amid the fray, Their Prince's blood
“Red would have been our warriors’ eyes Had Roderick found Sligo's field
gory grave;
No Northern chief would soon arise, sage guide, strong shield,
So swift save.
Long would Leith-Cuinn have wept, Hugh Had met the death he oft had dealt
Among the foe;
But, had our Roderick fallen too, All Erin must, alas! have felt
The deadly blow
“If
Death had stayed his footsteps while On Victory's track.
the day the Saxon host
Were forced fly—a day great
For Ashanee—
The chief had been untimely lost,
Our conquering troops would moderate
Their mirthful glee.
There would not lack Lifford's day,
From Galway, from the glens
From Limerick's towers, marshalled file, long array,
Of mourners bedev the soil
With tears showers.
Boyle,
!
if
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7 18 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1608.
the insult he had received. The unanimous reso Hugh Duff O’Donnell, and many others were lution they came to in the first place was, on the slain besides; captain Henry Vaughan, and the
3rd of May, that he should invite captain Hart, wife the bishop the town, were taken who was in Culmore, a place which lay on the prisoners; they afterwards plundered and burned
banks of Lough Foyle, on the north side of the the town, and they carried off much booty from Derry we have mentioned, and he kept him pri Alas! although was not disreputable for the soner until he obtained the fort for his release. He noble chief take revenge for his dishonour, nu
then immediately proceeded, at the dawn of day,
to Derry, and fiercely attacked the people of the town by surprise; the governor was killed by Eochy, son of Niall, son of Gerald O’Dogherty, and lieutenant Corbie by John, son of Hugh, son
“What do Isay * Ah, woe is me! Already we bewail in vain
merous and inexpressible were the evils which
sprung and became permanently established the entire province Ulster, through that insurrection,
which arose against the laws the king, for from that resulted his death, the 18th July fol
chief residence O’Dogherty, near Lough Swilly.
Mac Geoghe gan says the castle was commanded monk, who, not having sufficient force defend and not wishing subject O'Dogher ty's lady, who was Mary Preston, daughter lord Gormanstown,
the dangers siege, surrendered the castle condition that the garrison should spared, but Wingfield put most then
the sword, and sent O'Dogherty's wife her brother. O'Dogh
erty had various encounters with the English forces, and main tained his ground for about three months Donegal the lord
Their fatal fall !
And Erin, once the Great and Free,
Now vainly mourns her breakless chain,
And iron thrall !
Then, daughter of O'Donnell dry
Thine overflowing eyes, and turn Thy heart aside;
For Adam's race is born to die, And sternly the sepulchral urn
Mocks human pride :
“Look not, nor sigh for earthly throne, Nor place thy trust in arm of clay—
But on thy knees Uplift thy soul to God alone,
For all things go their destined way As He decrees.
Embrace the faithful Crucifix,
And seek the path of pain and prayer
Thy Saviour trod; Nor let thy spirit intermix
With earthly hope and worldly care Its groans to God.
“And thou, O mighty Lord ' whose ways Are far above our feeble minds
To understand,
Sustain us in these doleful days,
And render light the chain that binds Our fallen land
Look down upon our dreary state,
And through the ages that may still Roll sadly on,
Watch thou o'er hapless Erin's fate, And shield at least from darker ill
The blood of Conn
being powerful part the kingdom, excepting only Con naught, where their chief strength was yet little feared, the English-Irish had sound hearts the State. ” Thus, after continued contest and fierce wars for 430 years, from the time Strongbow, comprising the period from 1170 1600, the reduction
Ireland was ultimately effected and with the heroic struggles Hugh O'Neill, and Red Hugh O'Donnell, terminated the power the Irish princes and chiefs, not only Ulster, but all the
other provinces, for afterwards, with the exception the great confederacy 1641, the Milesian Irish made national move ment recover their independence.
-
May, 1608, sir Cahir O'Dogherty, lord Inisowen, young
man great spirit and valour, then only the 21st year his
age, raised insurrection against the English Ulster, being un
able tolerate the insolence and tyranny sir George Paulett,
governor Derry. O'Dogherty and his forces having surprised
Derry, they slew Paulett and most the garrison, and burned North, and over all Ireland, continued still absolute subjection,
the town; he also took the fort Culmore, near Derry, from cap tain Hart, where found pieces cannon, and gave the com
mand the fortress valiant chief, Felim Mac Davett. O'Dogherty ravaged the settlements the English various parts
Derry, Donegal, and Tyrone, and defeated their forces seve ral engagements. Marshal Wingfield and sir Oliver Lambert marched against him with 4000 men, and having advanced Cul more, Mac Davett, unable defend the place against great force, set fire the fortress, and sailed off with his men towards Derry, carrying away some the cannon, and throwing the rest into the sea. Wingfield then advanced against Burt Castle, the
500 marks for his head, and Doune, near Kilmacren English soldier, who took deliberate aim him, recognising the warlike chief amidst his men, from his waving plume and lofty stature. The extensive estates O’Dogherty were confiscated, and transferred Chi chester, ancestor the earls Donegal. After the flight and at
tainder the earls, their extensive possessionsbecameforfeited the crown, and not only the lands the earls, but those all the Irish chiefs and proprietors Ulster were confiscated. The te nants, and people Irish descent, were deprived their lands, and the Swordsmen, according Pynmar, “were transported into the waste lands Connaught and Munster, where they were dispersed, and not planted together one place;” some the Irish chiefs got regrants from the crown small portions their own hereditary lands. Six entire counties Ulster, namely, Ar magh, Tyrone, Derry, Donegal, Fermanagh, and Cavan, were con fiscated, and, the project called the Plantation of Ulster, carried into effect king James, from 1607 1612, the exten sive territories held for many ages by the O'Neills, O'Donnells, O'Dogherties, O'Kanes, Maguires, O'Reillys, and many other chiefs mentioned the course these Annals, the ancient pos sessors Ulster, were transferred colonies British settlers,
which transactions accounts are given Pynnar's Survey, pub lished Harris's Hibernica, and the Tracts sir John Da vis. These settlers were called Planters and Undertakers, and came chiefly from Scotland. Fynes Morrison, who was Ireland
the time the lord deputy Mountjoy, having visited the coun try the year 1613, says, “At this time found the state Ire land much changed, for, the flight the earls Tyrone and Tirconnell, with some chiefs countries the North, and the suppression and death sir Cahir O'Dogherty, their confederate
deputy Chichester offered sir Cahir being encamped
reward the Rock
nan, was shot dead with
musketball,
making new troubles, all the North was possessedby new colo nies English, but especially Scots. The mere Irish the
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exhibited; many the nobles and chiefs the
province, too numerous mentioned, were also
put death. was account this insurrec tion, and the flight the earls we have mentioned,
without fraud, without deception, without treachery without the slaying relative, but was elected
the presence the men Ulster, successor his brother Hugh; learned, well-featured, cheer ful, high-spirited, and rapid-marching warrior; man superior wisdom and personal figure, and
them died. Niall Garv O’Donnell, with his brethren and his son Naghtan, were taken priso ners, about the festival John this year, after they were accused being league with O’Dogh erty; they were afterwards conveyed Dublin, from whence Niall and Naghtan were sent the tower London, after Niall had been freed from death the decision the law, and they remained imprisoned the Tower till the end their lives; Hugh and Donal were set liberty from their im prisonment afterwards, the following year.
The earl Tirconnell, Rory, the son Hugh, son Manus, son Hugh Duv, son Hugh Roe O’Donnell, died Rome the 28th
July, and was buried the monastery St. Francis, the hill which Peter the Apostle was crucified, after mourning his faults and imper fections, after approved confession and repen tance his sins and transgressions, after receiving
the body and blood Christ the hands
the learned ecclesiastical psalmodists Rome. Mournful was the short career and the untimely loss him who departed, for was brave, de fending, triumphant, valorous, and warlike man; often had been engaged the pass danger,
defence his faith and patrimony, aiding his brother, Hugh Roe, before himself assumed the lordship Tirconnell; was bountiful lord, bestowing great presents and good hospitality, whom the inheritance of his ancestors did not seem
too much for his liberality and entertainments; aman who did not give his mind thoughts worldly substance, riches, but rather subdue and expel both noble and ignoble according their deserts.
Cathbar, son Hugh, son Manus (O’Don nell), the most distinguished and famous for magnanimity and heroism, and for entertainments and hospitality, any lord's son the island Heremon (Ireland); the regeneration Cuan, son
Cailchin lord Fermoy who lived the 7th century), and Guaire, son Colman king
Connaught the 7th century), generosity and hospitality, man from whom person ever re turned with refusal, died Rome, on the 17th
September, and was buried along with his bro ther the earl.
Hugh O’Neill, the son Hugh, son Ferdor cha, baron Dungannon, heir the earl O’Neill, the only hope the Tyronians succeed his fa ther, should he survive him, died, and was buried
the same place with his mother's brethren, namely, the earl O’Donnell and Cathbar.
A. D. 1609.
Cathbar Oge, the son Cathbar, son Manus,
son Hugh Duv O’Donnell, was put death
Dublin the English, the 18th July. would not be dishonour the tribe Comall,
REIGN OF JAMES I.
719
Cuchonacht Oge, son Cucho Cuchonacht, son Cuchonacht,
and was quartered between Derry and Culmore,
and his head was sent Dublin publickly Fermanagh, person who obtained lordship
lowing, by the chief marshal of Ireland, Robert Wincwel (Wingfield), and by Oliver Lambert,
Maguire,
that their inheritance, their estates, their landed
properties, their fortresses, and strongholds, their
delightful prosperous harbours, and their fish-a-
bounding bays, were taken from the Irish the
province Ulster, and were transferred their
presence foreigners, and they were expelled and
banished into various strange countries, where most was buried the forementioned place (Geneva).
macht Oge, son
son Bryan, son Philip, son Thomas, lord
other good qualifications, died Geneva, Italy, the 12th August.
James, the son Eiver, son Cu-uladh Mac Mahon (of Monaghan), died the same day, and
Niall (the Tirconnallians), that good appointed the government over them, succeeded the lordship, respect his nobleness blood, high-spiritedness, power, va
lour, prudence, protection, prowess, and the con
the son man had
ducting
Bryan-na-Samhtach, son Art,son Bryan-na
those who were sent under his command.
Muicheirge (O'Rourke), was slain the English. Mac Ward, Owen, the son Geoffrey, son Owen, son Geoffrey, chief professor O’Don
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720 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1610–16.
nell in poetry, a learned and intelligent man, who kept a house of general hospitality, died at an ad vanced age, after the victory of repentance.
A. D. 1610.
A. D. 1611.
Conor O'Duvaney, bishop of Down and Con
nor, who was first a friar of the order of St. Fran
cis, of the convent of Donegal, and was afterwards
elected to this bishoprick, for his superior merits,
was taken prisoner by the English, and he remain
ed for a long time with them, in bondage and
punishment; and they offered him much wealth
and presents, if he would conform to their tenets, father, till the year which the celebrated Parli
but he rejected that offer, for he preferred to aban don the transitory good for an everlasting kingdom. God released him on that occasion from the Eng lish, but he was taken again, and put to death; and Arthur Chichester was lord justice Ire land that time; was first beheaded, then quartered and cut pieces, Dublin, the 1st
ament was held Dublin, 1584, and who had been created earl Tyrone that Parliament, and had been afterwards nominated O’Neill, died
advanced age, after having fulfilled his time and
him without fear, and moreover said, that was
not meet that illustrious bishop should with out priest accompany him; that fulfilled, for he endured and suffered the same treatment
inflicted himself, for sake the kingdom heaven, for his soul.
Niall O'Boyle, bishop Rath-both (Raphoe, Donegal), died Glen-Eidhnighe, the 6th
February, and was buried Iniskeel (in the ba rony Boylagh, county Donegal).
A. D. 1616.
O'Neill, i. e. Hugh, the son Ferdorcha, son
Con Bacach, son Con, son Henry, son Owen, who had been baron from the death his
the 20th July, after
day February. There was not Christian the his sins, and after gaining the victory over the
them should have one his members, and not his members
only, but they had supplied themselves with quan tities fine linens receive his blood them,
that might not lost, they were confident that was one the holy martyrs the Trinity.
Giolla-Patrick O'Luchairen, eminent priest, was along with the bishop that time; when the
English decreed that they should both put death, the bishop dreaded that might dis mayed and terrified beholding the dreadful usage that would inflicted his own body, his presence, that therefore requested the executioners put the priest death before him self; the priest said that need not dread
him that account, and that would follow
career with pre-eminence, and excellence; where
power, prudence, honour, died was Rome, approved repentance
world and the devil; although died far distant from Armagh, the burial place his ancestors,
was manifestation that God was pleased with his life, for the place which God granted him
buried, was not worse, viz. , Rome, the capital the Christians; the person who then departed
was powerful mighty lord, subtle, acute, and profound intellect and mind, warlike, valiant, predatory and enterprising lord, defence his religion and patrimony, against his enemies; pious, charitable lord, meekness and mildness towards his friends, but fierce and stern his enemies, until brought them under controul and subjection his authority; lord who did not covet possess the lands property any others, but was content with what his ancestors inherited originally; lord possessing the power and praise-worthy fame prince, who did not suffer robbery, insubordination, plunder vi olence, animosity treachery, prevail during his government, but kept within the bounds
the law, was becoming prince. END OF THE ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS.
land Ireland, whose heart did not shudder
the dreadful martyrdom which the pure and en lightened divine, and the experienced and truly
humble, upright man, suffered and endured for
the benefit his soul; every one who were that time the city lated each another see which
the Christians Dublin, emu
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As a favourable opportunity did not occur of giving the following important documents, at the periods to
which they refer, they are inserted here:
and every island upon which Christ the sun justice hath shone, and which has received the principles the Christian faith, belong right St. Peter, and the holy Roman church, (which thy
majesty likewise admits), from whence the more fully implant
King Henry
count of this document is given by the various Irish historians, mity should
The Bull of
Pope
Adrian IV. to
II. —An ac
which we, after
particularly in Mac Geoghegan's Ireland, and Lanigan's Ecclesias tical History. Pope Adrian IV. , by name Nicholas Breakspeare, was by birth an Englishman; he was a monk of St. Albans, and was elected Pope in 1154, and died in 1159. Being a personal friend of King Henry II. , of England, it is said he was influenced to grant him a Bull, conferring on him the sovereignty of Ireland; and it is stated in Hanmer's Chronicle (p. 215), that king Henry sent a monk named John of Salisbury, and others, as a deputation to Rome, to solicit this Bull from Adrian, who granted it in the year 1155, at which time Henry meditated an invasion of Ireland. But king Henry postponed this object, and it is stated by Mac Geoghegan, that the empress Matilda, the king's mother, was opposed to the publication of the Bull, and the invasion of Ireland. King Henry came to Ireland in 1171, and returned to England in
A P P E N D I X.
the French edition Mac Geoghegan, and English, the death, the year 1325, recorded these Annals. O'Neill,
edition Duffy, Dublin, which the Bull Adrian trans and other Irish princes this time invited over Edward Bruce,
lated as follows: brother the renowned king Robert Bruce, and his arrival “Adrian, bishop and servant the servants God, his most 1315, with army Scots, was crowned king Ireland
Rome O'Neill, Lanigan (vol.
erroneously stated There passage
the Christian faith, truths and doctrine, rooting the
seeds vice from the land the Lord and perform this more
efficaciously, thou seekest the counsel and protection the apos
tolical see, which undertaking, the more exalted thy design will
be, united with prudence, the more propitious, we trust, will
thy progress under benign Providence, since happy issue and sages have not been correctly translated before, but are rectified,
and successfully employed thought and intention, propagate glorious name upon earth, and lay up heaven the rewards
happy eternity, extending the boundaries the church, and making known nations which are uninstructed, and still ignorant
strance, dated from Dungannon, was sent 1316, the reign Edward II. , shewn 163), and not the reign Edward III. ,
end are always the result ardour faith, and love
what has been undertaken from an religion.
doubted, that the kingdom Ireland,
by literal translation the present article; mentioned the
letter, that Ireland was uninhabited the arrival the Milesians, but this must mistake, being contrary the ancient History
“It not indeed
faith, that seed which acceptable God, and
minute investigation, consider that confor the more rigidly required. Thou, dearest
son Christ, hast likewise signified us, that for the purpose subjecting the people Ireland laws, and eradicating vice from amongst them, thou art desirous entering that island; and also
paying for each house annual tribute one penny St. Peter; and preserving the privileges churches, pure and undefiled. We, therefore, with approving and favorable views, commend thy pious and laudable desire, and aid thy underta king we give thy petition our grateful and willing consent, that for the extending the boundaries the church, the restraining the prevalence vice, the improvement morals, the implanting virtue, and propagation the Christian religion, thou enter that island, and pursue those things which shall tend the honour God and salvation his people and that they may receive thee with honour, and revere thee their lord the privilege their churches continuing pure and unrestrained, and the annual tribute
one penny from each house remaining secure St. Peter, and the holy Roman Church. thou therefore deem what thou hast projected mind, possible completed, study instil good morals into that people, and act that thou thyself, and such persons thou wilt judge competent from their faith, words, and
them the seed
1172; and Adrian's grant of Ireland to him, was confirmed by a
Bull, or Brief of Pope Alexander III. , in 1172, according to
Lanigan. Keating states that Adrian's Bull was published at
Waterford, in a meeting of bishops and clergy, before this time;
and, according to other accounts, the Bull was produced in 1172,
by king Henry, at the council of bishops and clergy which he had
convened at Cashel; but Lanigan correctly states, that the Bulls actions, instrumental advancing the honour the Irish church, of Adrian and Alexander were, for the first time, publicly read at
Waterford, the year 1175, meeting bishops and clergy
convened for that purpose, by Nicholas, prior Wallingford, who
had been sent with these documents, from England, accompanied
by William Fitz Adelm Burgo, afterwards lord deputy Ire Given Rome, &c. &c. &c. ” land. Thus appears the Bull Adrian was kept private, and
not published, 'till 20 years after had been received king Henry. The Bull Adrian represented forgery Mac
Geoghegan, and Cambrensis Eversus, these writers being opinion that was fabricated facilitate the conquest Ireland, the English but Lanigan, who considered the best authority
on the subject, maintains that absolutely anthentic docu ment. The Bulls Adrian and Alexander are given Latin,
dear son Christ, the illustrious king England, greeting, Dundalk, the Irish princes and chiefs considering had fair
health, and apostolical benediction. claim the crown this kingdom, the ancient Scottish kings, “Thy greatness, becoming Catholick prince, laudably and the House Bruce, were Milesian descent. This remon
propagate and promote religion, and the faith Christ, advance
thereby the honour God, and salvation souls, that thou mayest merit an everlasting reward happiness hereafter, and establish
earth name glory, which shall last for ages come.
Letters King Donal O'Neill, and Pope John XXII. -In the Scotic Chronicle John Fordun, which was written the
14th century, there given, Latin, long letter which was sent
Donald, complaining the English
Donal O’Neill, king Ulster, Pope John XXII. , his Holiness the excessive tyranny exercised Ireland. This was the Donal O'Neill, prince
the year 1319, mentioned the Four Masters,
Tyrone, who,
have been twice deposed the power the English, and whose
Mac Geoghegan and many other writers.
the letter, which states that the Milesians came from Spain
3500 years before that time; but this appears mistake some transcriber, and should 2,500, 2,300 years, which was
about the period that had elapsed since the arrival the Milesians Ireland, the time Donal O'Neill. These and other pas
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722 APPENDIX.
of Ireland, and may therefore be omitted. It is mentioned in the remonstrance, that the English were not punished for killing any
of the Irish, which agrees with the statements of sir John Davis, who says, in his Tracts, that in the eye of the law it was considered no crime to kill a mere Irishman, even in time of peace, the Irish being reputed aliens and enemies. Curry, in his “Civil Wars,” confirms this statement, and it appears that a person of Eng lish descent was only punished by paying a fine of one mark, or I3s. 4d. , for killing any of the mere Irish. Pope John, moved by the remonstrance of O'Neill, and the grievances of the Irish, ad dressed a letter to king Edward II. , exhorting him to check the tyranny exercised against the people of Ireland, in consequence of which, the Pontiff says, they were constrained to throw off Edward's dominion, and appoint another king to rule over them, thus alluding to Edward Bruce. The remonstrance of O'Neill, and the Pope's letter to king Edward, are given in Latin, in the French edition of Mac Geoghegan, and are translated as follows:
Letter of O'Neill. —“To our Most Holy Father the Lord John, by the Grace of God Sovereign Pontiff, we his faithful children in Christ, Donald O'Neill, king of Ulster, and by hereditary right
lawful heir to the throne of Ireland; as also the Nobles and great men of this kingdom, with the Irish people, humbly recommend and devoutly cast themselves at his feet,” &c.
“From the sharp and venomous calumnies, and false and unjust
representations made against us, and the defenders of our rights,
by the English, your mind may have been excited against us, a
thing to be much deplored, and influenced by such falsehoods and
misrepresentations, which you might receive as undoubted truth,
you might visit us with your displeasure: We have therefore re
solved to inform you of our origin, and the state of our country, if
country it can be now called, and of the cruel injuries inflicted on
us, and our ancestors, by some of the kings of England, and their
iniquitous ministers, and even by the English barons born in Ire
land, cruelties inhumanly commenced, and continued to the present
time; and our loud cries having reached your ears in these com
munications, you may proceed to examine, and be enabled to per
ceive, on which side the complaints are founded in truth ; and
therefore that, heing diligently and fully informed, in such manner
as the real state of the matter requires, the severity of your judg
ment shall fall on the guilty party, and punish the delinquents. Be
it therefore known to you, most Holy Father, that from the time
when our forefathers, who were Spaniards, namely, the three sons
of Milesius, or Micelius, directed by Providence, came with a fleet
of 30 ships from Cantabria, a country of Spain on the banks of the
river Hiberus (the Ebro), from which we have received our name,
into Ibernia, 2,500 years and upwards have elapsed; and descended
from them, without any admixture of foreign blood, 136 kings
have reigned over the monarchy of Ireland, to the time of king
Leogarius, from whom I, the aforesaid Donald, am descended in a
direct line. It was in his days that our chief apostle and patron
St. Patrick, sent by your predecessor Celestine, through the in Peter the Apostle. As this promise, he, well his afore spiration of the Holy Ghost, in the year of the Incarnation 435,
most efficaciously taught our fathers the truth of the Catholic faith. From the time of his mission, and the reception of the faith under humble obedience to the Church of Rome, 61 kings of the same race, unconnected with any foreign blood, excellently in structed in the faith of Christ, and abounding in works of charity, recognising no superior in temporal matters, have likewise ruled to the year 1170, in uninterrupted succession. And it was these (kings) and not the English, or people of any other nation, who amply endowed the Church of Ireland with lands, extensive pos sessions, and many privileges, of which lands and privileges it has, by the English in modern times, been damnably despoiled. After our kings for so long a time had strenuously defended by their own valour, against the tyrants and kings of many foreign countries, the inheritance granted them by God, and always preserving their native liberty, at length Pope Adrian your predecessor, an Eng lishman, not only by birth, but in heart and disposition, in the year of our Lord 1170, from the false and most iniquitous suggestion of Henry, king of England, under, and perhaps by whom, the holy Thomas of Canterbury, in the same year, was put to death, for his uprightness and defence of the Church, did as you know transfer the sovereignty of our kingdom, under some certain form of words, to the said king, whom rather, for the forementioned crime, he
should have deprived of his own kingdom. The judgment of the Pontiff being thus, alas! blinded by his English prejudice, regard
said successors and their iniquitous ministers, the deceitful English, paying regard the interests Ireland, and totally violating the terms the grant, studiously and intentionally have accom plished the very reverse all these conditions, for the rights the church have been much restricted, contracted, and cur tailed them, that some cathedral churches have been, open force, robbed half their lands and possessions, and deprived them almost every ecclesiastical privilege. The bishops and prelates are indiscriminately cited, arrested, seized, and incarce rated the officials the king England Ireland, and having suffered such frequent and grievous injuries this kind, they are oppressed with such servile fear, that they have not dared communicate those grievances your Holiness; and since they themselves are shamefully silent, we have resolved say more on this subject. Besides they (the English), have instructed the Irish people, whom they undertook reform morals, and subject the laws, that their honest and dove-like simplicity manners, from intercourse with them, and from their evil example,
wonderfully changed into serpent-like cunning. They have likewise deprived our written laws, under which we had, for the most part, been hitherto governed, and every other law, ex cept such could not wrested from us, instituting, extermi nate our nation, the worst, most infamous, and unjust laws their own, few which, for example sake, are here inserted
“1st. the court the king England Ireland, the fol
less of every right, he did thus in fact unworthily confer on him our kingdom, thereby depriving us of our regal honours, and delivered
us up, having committed no crime, and without any rational cause, to be torn as with the teeth of the most cruel wild beasts, and such of us as escape from the fangs of those deceitful foxes and ravenous wolves, lacerated and half devoured, only fall with greater misfor tune into an abyss of intolerable slavery. From the first time the English came, by virtue of the donation before-mentioned, they, under a certain exterior appearance of piety and religious zeal, ne fariously entered the boundaries of our kingdom, and with all their might, and every possible perfidy, endeavoured entirely and radi
cally to extirpate our nation. By foul and fraudulent cunning they prevailed so much against us, that without the authority of any superior, they violently expelled us from our spacious habita tions and paternal inheritance, and forced us to for refuge the mountains, woods, marshes, and barren wastes, and even into the caverns the rocks, and inhabit them for long time like wild beasts, for the safety our lives. Even these recesses they incessantly attack us, and endeavour by every means force
from them, and arrogantly usurp every place that affords
asylum, mendaciously asserting, through the most blind and inso
lent folly, that we are not entitled any free place habitation Ireland, but that this country entirely and full right belongs themselves. From these, and many other the like causes, be
tween and them have arisen implacable enmities, and perpetual
wars; from which have followed mutual massacres, incessant de predations, continued rapine, frauds and perfidy too frequent and
detestable; but alas! from the defect authority, we fail
power correction and due reform. From this state things, the Irish clergy and people have been grievously endangered for many years, not only transitory and temporal matters, but too frequently, from these misfortunes, endangeredthe safety their
souls. We hold undoubted truth, that consequence the aforesaid false suggestion, and donation (of Ireland) which fol lowed there fell from that time the present, both nations, more than fifty thousand men the sword, besides those destroy
by afflictions, captivity, and famine. These few statements respecting the general origin our progenitors, and the miserable
state which the Roman pontiff has placed us, suffice for the pre sent time. Know, most holy Father, that Henry King England,
whom was granted enter Ireland the manner which has been already stated, also the four kings his successors, have
clearly transgressed the limits the concession made him the papal Bull under certain conditions, from the Bull itself
evidently apparent.
that Bull, that
Church, preserve
under subjection
implant virtues and eradicate the roots vice, and pay yearly tribute one penny from each house (called Peter's pence), St.
For the said Henry promised, specified would extend the boundaries the Irish rights whole and undefiled, bring the people
the laws, and instruct them good morals,
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APPENDIX. 723
lowing laws are strictly observed. It is permitted to every man,
who is not Irish, for any action whatever, to go to law with any Irishman, while every Irishman, layman or ecclesiastic, prelates alone excepted, is prohibited from going to law with any English man for any cause.
“2nd. often occurs, any Englishman perfidiously and falsely kills Irishman, however noble and innocent may be, whether ecclesiastic layman, regular secular, even were he
Irish prelate, who had been slain, punishment correction inflicted the said court such nefarious murderer; nay, the contrary, the more worthy and distinguished among his
countrymen the person slain has been, much more the assassin honoured and rewarded the English, not only by the common people, but even the ecclesiastics and English bishops; and
chiefly those persons whom incumbent, virtue
their office, inflict due correction and proper punishment such malefactors.
“3rd. Every Irishwoman, whether noble otherwise, who
married any Englishman, is, after the death her husband, en tirely deprived the third part his lands and possessions, for that reason alone her being Irish.
“4th. The English, when they can by violence overcome an Irishman, they means permit that the Irish, such cases, should make any wills, testamentary arrangement, dispose their property any manner, but seize all their effects, and ap propriate them their own use, thus depriving the church rights, and, their assumed authority, violently reducing
free from time immemorial, the condition slaves.
“5th. By the common consent the king England,
some English bishops, the chief whom, the archbishop
Armagh, (Roland Jorse), man little prudence and learning, certain iniquitous law was lately passed, the city St. Kenicus (Kilkenny), Ireland, the following absurd form “It ordained, that all the religious orders resident the terri tory peaceful possession the English, prohibited from re ceiving into their order, religious community, any persons but those the English nation, and they act otherwise, our lord the king shall arrest all persons, both parties, who have contemned his command and the founders and patrons those institutions, shall have power seize upon persons either party, who act opposition and disobedience this ordinance. Agreed com mon consent amongst the English throughout Ireland. ” But even before this statute was enacted, well since, the Friars Preachers (Dominicans), the Minors (Franciscans), the Monks (Be nedictines and Cistercians), the Canons (Augustinians, &c. ) and all the other English religious orders, observed the spirit with sufficient strictness, and received only persons their own country, though the monasteries for Monks and Canons, from which, modern times, the Irish are excluded them, were founded for persons every country. Virtues were implanted amongst us, and the seeds vice eradicated, but they have sown their vices amongst us, and completely obliterated our virtues. ”
There are some passages O'Neill's letter not mentioned
Mac Geoghegan, given Moore's History
Ireland (vol.
they allege, be
race and language,
them, by direct tenure from the crown, der save the further effusion blood, plan proposed, the king himself, for
even agreeing, or submit any friendly fair division the lands
people, we send you, enclosed, the letters they have sent the above named cardinals, with copy the Bull which our predeces sor Adrian, happy memory, hath sent the illustrious Henry, king England, concerning the act conferring him the king dom Ireland. Given,” &c.
between them and their adversaries. To this proposition, for warded England two years before, answer had beenreturned, wherefore, they say, “let one feel surprised we now endeavour
work out our own deliverance, and defend we can our rights
well
76), follows: “From total dissimilarity,
tween the English and themselves, not only
but also every other respect, dissimilarity greater, they de
clare, than word pen can adequately describe, there appeared
longer the slightest hope that they could ever live peaceably toge
ther. So great was the lust and pride governing the one
side, and such the resolution the other cast off the intolera
ble yoke, that they never yet had been, never this life
would there peace truce between the nations. That they government and that fulfilling the duties lord and master themselves had already sent letters the king and council, you may afford subject for complaint, which means the through the hands John Hotham, now bishop Ely, repre Irish, guided by wise administration, may obey you lord senting the wrongs and outrages they had long suffered from
the English, and proposing settlement by which all such lands
were known rightfully theirs, should secured future
Ireland; they, (which heaven forbid), continue rebellion which they describe before God and man innocent, that re bellion may deemed unjust. order, therefore, that your majesty may become acquainted with the grievances the Irish
and liberties against the harsh and cruel tyrants who would destroy
the Pope, “that, for the their object, they have Carrick, Edward Bruce, lord descended from the same ancestors themselves, and have made over him, by Letters Patent, all the rights which they
they themselves, lawful heirs the kingdom, respectively possess, thereby constituting him king and lord Ireland. ”
Letter of Pope John. —“John the bishop, servant the ser vants God, his most dear son Christ, Edward, the illus trious king England, health and eternal benediction:
“Our unceasing entreaties you, dearest son, maintain peace
your kingdom, justice your decisions, the blessings tran quility amongst your subjects, and lastly, omit nothing which can contribute your happiness and glory, proceed from the pater nal solicitude which we bear towards your majesty: you ought, therefore, devote yourself altogether these objects, and prove yourself eager and willing promote them. We have long time since received from the princes and people Ireland, letters addressed our well beloved Anselmus, priest the chapel SS. Marcellus and Peter, Lucas, dean St. Mary, the car dinals and nuncios the holy see, and through them, letters en veloped with their own, addressed us. These we have read, and among other things which they contain, have particularly noted, that predecessor, pope Adrian, happy memory, hath given your illustrious progenitor, Henry II, king England, the kingdom
Ireland, specified his apostolical letters him. To the ob
ject these letters neither Henry nor his successors have paid re gard, but passing the bounds that were prescribed them, have,
without cause provocation, heaped upon the Irish the most un heard miseries and persecution, and have, during long period,
imposed upon them yoke slavery which cannot borne. None have dared stem the persecutions which have been practised against the Irish, nor has any person been found willing remedy the cause them not one, say, has been moved, through holy compassion for their sufferings, although frequent appeals have been made your goodness their behalf, and the strong cries
the oppressed have reached the ears your majesty. Thus longer able endure such tyranny, the unhappy Irish have been constrained withdraw themselves from your dominion, and seek another rule over them your stead. these things founded truth, they are direct opposition our regards and consideration for your felicity. Our advice therefore, that your majesty will not lose sight this important matter, and that you will carry into speedy effect the commands your Creator, order avoid that which must draw down the ven geance God upon you. The groans and sorrows the afflicted have been heard the Omnipotent, who can, the holy Scrip tures attest, change and transfer kingdoms others, has abandoned his chosen people punishment for the crimes they had committed. Our most ardent wish that your majesty omit nothing, particularly during these revolutions, conciliate by your goodness the hearts the faithful Irish, and avoid every thing that can tend estrange them, from you. As there fore, important your interest obviate the misfortunes which these troubles are capable producing they should not neglected the beginning, lest the evil increase degrees, and the necessary remedies applied too late: and having considered the matter maturely, we herein exhort your majesty, that you remove the cause these misfortunes, and arrest, by honourable measures, their cause and consequences, that you may render him from whom you hold your crown, propitious your views and
them. ” conclusion, they announce speedy and more effectual attainment called their aid the illustrious earl
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At A. D. 1171, p. 5, note 26, instead of “baronies of Burren and Corcomroe, in Galway,” read “baronies of Burren and Cor comroe, in Clare. ”
At A. D. 1400, p. 194, note 1, instead of “Thomas Butler, prior of Kilmainham, son of the duke of Ormond,” read “son of the earl of Ormond. ”
“seventeen hundred of the English were slain. ”
At A. D. 1178, p. 12, second column, seven lines from the bot
tom, after the words, “four hundred and fifty” omit the note of admiration. -
At A. D. 1197, p. 26, instead of “O'Flaherty, tanist of Tir owen,” read “O'Laverty,” as also at p. 38, and other places where O'Flaherty of Tyrone is mentioned. -
At A. D. 1215, p.