IRELAND. 



obtained Tome tniall fcttlements ; and at lenfrth Turgefuis, 

 a warlike Norwegian, in 815, landed with a powerful 

 armament, and committed every kind of outrage. Having 

 reduced tlie inhabitants to llavery, after a rcfidence of 30 

 years, he was proclaimed monarch of the kingdom ; but 

 at length Melachlin, prince of Meath, contrived to fei/.e 

 uptm the tyrant in a time of apparent peace, and the Danes, 

 •furprifed by a fudJcn iiifurredion, were maffacrcd or dif- 

 perfed. A new colony, however, arrived, and were allowed 

 •to fettle in fome maritime towns. Thefc gradually 

 ilrengthened themfelves, and maintained their independence, 

 though frequently engaged in wars with the Iri(h princes, 

 and repeatedly overcome in battle. The nioft celebrated 

 of thefe engagements was at Clontarf, near Dublin, in 1012, 

 when the Irifli were fucccfsfnl, but loft their monarch, 

 ■Brian Boiromhe, at the age of 8S, and his fon Morchard. 

 After this event Ireland continued to be diftracted by civil 

 wars, and the funation of the people was as wretched as 

 ■can almolt: be conceived ; fo that the ifiand was rendered an 

 cafy prey to any daring invader. 



It has been alreatly noticed that the clergy of Ireland 

 vci-e of the Culdec fed, by which the Romaii pontiff was 

 not acknowledged. This is indeed matter of controverfy ; 

 but it feems indubitable that they were very irregular, and 

 that it was an objed with the pope to bring them to obe- 

 dience. The pontificate, however, by the intcrelled zeal 

 of its numerous and aClive emiffarics, at length contrived to 

 txtend its influence even to tliis remote ifiand, alarmed the 

 Irifti clergy with fears of the irregularity of their ecclefiafli- 

 cal conftitution, and perfuaded them to fubmit to a reform, 

 modelled and diiSated by Rome Cardinal Papire, or 

 Papefon, came to Ireland as legate in 1148 ; and in 1 151, 

 or 1152, fummoiied a council, which was attended by about 

 3000 ecclefiaftics, and four palls were folemnly received 

 -from the pope by the prelates of Armagh, Dublin, Cafbfl, 

 and Tuam. At the fame time, it is faid that the celebration 

 ■of Eafter was adjnfled according to tlie Romilh decifions, 

 ■the celibacy of the clergy was enforced, and the pre-eminence 

 of Rome formally acknowledged. V/hether Adrian, at that 

 time pope, did !.:>t think this'fnbmifiion of the Irilb clergy 

 fufSclently eitablilhed, or, as an Englifliman, was willing 

 to gratify the Engliib monarch, though at the expence of 

 his newly-acquired dependents, he ilfued a bull in IT^J 

 conformable to the wifhes and purpofes of Henry, who, at 

 -the very commencement of his reign, meditated the fubjuga- 

 tion of Ireland, and fent his chaplain to fohcit the pope's 

 countenance. For fuch an invafion no jull pretence could be 

 afllgncd. Ireland was entirely independent ; and, though 

 ■affiiiance had been afforded in a former reign to the fons of 

 Harold, yet there had been for many years notliing which 

 ■could be reckoned holiile. It was afferted, indeed, that 

 Engliftimen liad bcc-n fold as flaves in Irelaird ; but thi5 was 

 -a crime in whicii both nations were equally involved, and 

 ■which, therefore, could not be urged to jullify fuch an at- 

 tempt. The depravity and barbarifm ot the Iriih were, 

 bowever, iniiJ.l.'d on ; the honour of God was to be promoted 

 ■ty their fubjugjticn ; and the pope was to receive the tribute 

 -of St. Peter's pence as the reward of his compliance. A 

 liull was accordingly ifi'ued, which, as Leiand obferves, af- 

 fords a flaocking inilance of the profligacy and impiety of 

 yapal nfurpatioii. Much has been faid of the depraved ftate 

 of the Irifii at this period ; but tiie accounts proceed fiojii 

 ■a very fufpicions fourc, thofe whufc objeft it was to de- 

 fend tlie proceeding.'; of the Englilli monarch ; and it may 

 he quefiioned whether tUcy were really vvorle than their 

 jieqgbbnurs, or fo b:«l as thofe who have thus ftigmatifed 

 (tcnu Cut 14'hijtcvcr their inoral defcds might be, their 



political ones were very great ; tliey were truly a divided 

 people. A monarch, little more than titular, depending on 

 his own abilities and vigour for power and influence, was 

 haralfed by faftion, and oppofedby powerful rivals ; whilil a 

 number of provincial chieftains, who afTumcd the title and the 

 rights of royalty, paid a precarious tribute to their fuperior, 

 and united, if they were difpofed to unite with him, as allies 

 rather than fubjetls. This was in a great degree the ftate 

 of France and fome other countries ; but in Ireland the 

 monarchical dignity was not hereditary, and was the fubjeft 

 of frequent difpute. Favourable as fuch a ftate was to the 

 wiflies of Henry, yet it was' long before he could avail 

 himfelf of the bull he had received. In France and England 

 he found full employment for many years ; and fcarcely had 

 he fecured his dominions before he was involved in that conteft 

 with Bccket, which kept him in a continual ftate of agitation, 

 The circumllance which led to the accompliftiment of his 

 defign, was the expuliion of Dermod, king of Leinfter, from 

 his dominions, and that prince's taking refuge in England. 

 Dermod, a man of a turbulent and oppreffive fpirit, had, by 

 his conduct, provoked the vengeance of Roderic O'Connor, 

 the monarch of Ireland, v.hilll his own immediaie depend- 

 ants deferted him in the hour of his diftrefs. Ht; applied to 

 Henry for aiTulance to recover his dominions ; but, whether 

 from the perplexity of his own affairs, or, as fir John Davics 

 fuppofes, a wifli to avoid the expence, this monarch did not 

 undertake the caufe, but gave licenfe, by liis letters patent, 

 that fuch of his fubjecls might pafs over into Ireland as would 

 at their own charge become adventurers in that enterprile. 

 Notwithftanding this permiffion, he did not for fome months 

 fucceed in obtaining fuccour ; but at length he prevailed 

 on Richard, carl of Pembroke, generally called Strongbow, 

 to efpoufe his caufe, promiling him his daughter Eva in 

 marriage, and with her the inheritance of his kingdom. And 

 on his return to Ireland, to prepare fcir Strongbow's arrival, 

 he engaged two Welfti leaders, Fitztlephen and Fitzgerald, 

 with their followers, on the condition of ceding to them the 

 town of Wexford, with a large adjoining territory, as foon, 

 as by tiieir afiiftance, he could be re-inftated in his rights. 

 The invafion of Ireland was therefore the atl of private 

 adventurers. Fif/.ftephen and Fitzgerald firft broke the ice 

 with a party of 390 men in 1 170. The earl Strongbow lol- 

 lowed them with i 200 more ; and their good fuccefs on the 

 fca coafts of Leinfter and Munfter drew over the king in 

 perfon, who landed at Wa"erford in 1172, with joo knightj 

 and about 4000 foldiers. Strongbow immediately furrendercd 

 to him the city of Watcrford, and did homage to him for 

 the principality of Leinfter, which he claimed in right of 

 his wife, the daiigluer of Dermod, whofe deatli had taken 

 place in the prccc-uing year. The neighbouring Iriih princes 

 in like manner fubmitted, and acknowi-jd.ed his authority ; 

 and even Roderic, after fome delay, thought it more pru- 

 dent to follow their example. Henry aflTumcd the title of 

 lord of Ireland, but his authority was very weak ; and, 

 within live months after his arrival, he departed out of 

 Ireland without ftriking one blow, or building one c aftle, or 

 planting line garrifon among the Irilh. Such was the con- 

 queft of Ireland by Henry II ; which, as it was un'iuitifiable, 

 fo was it inefficient. As fir .Iuh;i Davis obferves,"" though 

 king Henry II. had the title of fiivereign and lord over the 

 Irilh, yet did lie not put thole things in execution v/hich 

 are the true marks of Sovereignty. For, to give laws unto 

 a people ; to inftitute magillrates and officers over them ; 

 to puniih and pardon malefactors ; to have the fole autho- 

 rity of making war and peace, and the Lke, are true 

 marks of fovereignty, which ki".g Henry II. had not in 

 the Irilli couutnes : but the Iriih lo.ds did ftill retain a!l 



