For some time, the Bards endeavour'd to maintain their influence, but the principal King of the island, and some others of the great men, being converted to the true religion, and Saint Patrick establishing his ecclesiastical residence at Ardmacha (now Armagh) Christianity at length obtained the ascendency. *

The Christian religion, so excellent in its principles, and so benignant in its doctrines, instead of bringing the glad tidings of peace and good will to men, unhappily for the cause of virtue in general, seems rather to have been the source of strife, hatred, and persecution. -But History shews us, that this was the work of selfish and designing men, who perverted religion from its original intention, in order to gratify their avarice or ambition-The establishment of Christianity, therefore, it appears, did not better the condition of the Irish. The order of Priests, under a new name, were as fond of power and emoluments as the order of Druids; and petty wars and clannish broils continued to divide the people, and to weaken the country as formerly-when, about the end

herefies of Pelagius and Arius; he converted the Ifle of Man, where he founded a Bishoprick, and returned to Armagh in 448, and fhortly after he completed the converfion of all Ireland. He clofed a long and laborious life, in the 120th year of his age, at Saul Abbey, on the 17th of March 493, and was buried in the fame grave with St. Bridget and St. Columb-Great disputes however have arisen concerning the place of his burial, the Scotch affirming that he was interred in the cathedral of Glasgow. His genuine works were collected and published by Sir James Ware in the year 1656.

We have a curious anecdote upon the authority of Sir Edw. Coke: "that at a general fynod of all the clergy of Ireland, the Priests were allowed to bave wives!" As the Irish have always been famous for their attachment to the fair fex, it is probable the good Saint could not effect his conversion of the people without this indulgence.

History has not told us, what were the profits of the fee of Armagh in the early days of Christianity-At prefent, its honours and emoluments are far beyond any thing in the conception of the original Twelve.-The Archbishop of Armagh, like his Grace of Canterbury, takes place next to the Royal Family, preceding all the temporal Peers; he is at the head of the established Hierarchy, with a vaft influence and patronage both in Church and State; he is lodged in a superb palace, and fays his prayers, occafionally, in a lofty, highly decorated Cathedral, amidst a numerous retinue of inferior clergy, quiriflers, and other officers. The fee of Armagh is always filled by an Englishman, generally of noble defcent; the prefent Prelate is of the Bute family, with a revenue of from 14 to 16,000 pounds per annum.

It was faid by a celebrated Traveller," that if St. Peter was to vifit modern Rome, he would not know his own religion." If St. Patrick was permitted to have a peep at the prefent Archbishop of Armagh celebrating Church fervice amidst all his ecclefiaftical grandeur, he would be aftonished at its wonderful improvements, and, no doubt, admire the splendor of a State Religion!

end of the eighth century, Ireland was invaded by the Danes, or Normans. Against this enemy the Irish contended for a number of years, till 845, when Turgesius the Dane was proclaimed King of all Ireland.

But no sooner did Turgesius get all the power into his own hands, than, as usual, he abused it, and became a tyrant. The Irish rebelled against their oppressors, and massacred a great number of the Danes; but these occasionally receiving reinforcements, the war continued with alternate success, when the country was invaded by Magnus King of Norway. Both parties uniting against this new invader, Magnus was defeated and driven from Ireland.

After this event, several Monarchs, it is said, arose in Ireland, who deserved the name of King by their good conduct. These were Malachy I. and II. and Brian Boromy. This latter Monarch is celebrated above all for his wisdom and bravery ;* and Ireland, for a time, was prosperous and happy; when, in the year 1014, at the famous battle of Clontarf, he defeated the Danes, but lost his life in the 88th year of his age.

After Brian's death, Ireland again became the prey of party feuds, arising from the intrigues and ambition of the provincial Chiefs. These destructive contentions lasted for many years, until an event took place, that forms an important æra in the history of Ireland, and for which we have something like authentic recordsThis was the invasion of Ireland by the English. The first adventurers were two private gentlemen, named FitzStephens and Fitzgerald. They crossed the sea from Wales with about 300 men in the year 1171; and they were soon followed by Earl Strongbow with 1200 more. -Their pretext for coming into Ireland should first be explained.

In the destructive contentions of the Irish Chiefs, O'Dermot, O'Connor, O'Nial, O'Rourk, &c. each claimed the ascendancy. Not content with defeating O'Rourk in battle, O'Dermot carried off his wife, a woman of singular beauty, for whom he had conceived a violent passion. A junction of parties having at length taken place, and chastity, even in those rude times, being

Brian's wisdom is evident, from the praises beftowed upon him by the Clergy, to whom he was prudently attentive and generous.

ing considered as a virtue, O'Dermot was defeated, deposed, and forced to leave the island. He landed in

England, and solicited the assistance of Henry II. to recover his dominion, which, when effected, he meanly offered to acknowledge Henry as his liege Lord. The English King, glad of such an invitation, dispatched the before-mentioned party to the aid of his new ally; and, in the year 1172, Henry in person, with a considerable army, landed at Waterford.

The rape of Helen, and the destruction of Troy, have conferred immortality on the Grecian bard. The siege of Troy, it is said, lasted ten years-but the infidelity of O'Rourk's wife hath caused Ireland to groan under innumerable evils for more than six hundred

years!

It was not long before Henry contrived to obtain possession of a considerable portion of the eastern part of the country. The Irish Chieftans, for some time, were pleased with having a powerful Prince among them; he gave them entertainments, flattered their vanity, and even gave them the title of King. Henry and his immediate successors called themselves only the Lords of Ireland. The despotic Henry VIII. was the first who assumed the Regal title.

Well satisfied with his expedition, after establishing his power and influence over a great part of the country, Henry left Ireland after a residence of only five months. -Such was the first settlement of the English in Ireland, which they sometimes called a conquest, an acquisition, or an alliance, as their power or their weakness happened to preponderate.

Henry's immediate successors did not pursue the design of conquering Ireland. Satisfied with having their power introduced into the island, and recognized in certain districts and portions of it, they made no attempt

to

• The wild Irish do not differ, in this refpect, from the enlightened Eu ropeans of the prefent day.-Flatter a man's vanity, put on his fhoulder a ribbon, clap on his breaft a gilt ftar, and give him a title, and what may you not make of the great baby?

Behold the child!

Pleas'd with a rattle, tickled with a ftraw;

Some livelier play-thing gives his youth delight,

A little louder, but as empty quite;

Stuck o'er with titles, and hung round with strings,
Scarfs, garters, gold, amufe his riper years;

And beads and pray'r-books are the toys of age!

to extend it farther.
The colony was left to thrive by
its own resources, and the occasional accession of new
settlers. The colony did not, for a long time, much
extend beyond its original limits; rather the reverse.-
The land occupied by the English Colony (or The Eng-
lish Pale, as it was then called) reached only a few miles
around Dublin, in the time of Edward III. that is, 150
years after the first settling of the colony.

This narrowing of the English Pale arose from two causes-First, from the hostilities committed by the settlers against the districts by which they were surrounded, and from which arose a general alarm, and a powerful confederacy against them.-Secondly, the successors to the first English settlers, who became possessed of lands in the interior of the country, had gradually renounced their dependance on the primary settlement; and, in process of time, had adopted the laws, the dress, and even the language of the natives.

These English families, now transformed into Irish inhabitants, were moreover particularly inclined to oppose the extension of the Pale and English law. They held their lands by the Brehon or Irish law, which totally differed from the English law. And in order to secure themselves still farther, and more completely to disclaim any connection with the English, they even assumed Irish surnames, such as Mac-Yorice, Mac-Morice, MacGibbon, &c.

Owing to these circumstances, a new class of inhabi tants arose in Ireland, distinct from both the English and Irish. It was formed of those English families who had, from time to time, renounced subjection to the English government. The English called them The Degenerate English; they formed numerous tribes and clans, and were formidable enemies of the English colony.

At length, in the 36st year of Edward III. A.D. 1361, a new expedition was projected to Ireland. Lionel Duke of Clarence, the King's second son, was the leader of the enterprize. He had married the only daughter of Bourke the Red Earl, and claimed all his lands in Ireland as her dower; but an Irish clan of the name of MacWilliams had taken possession of the lands. The Duke's expedition therefore was both to recover his lands, and to punish the degenerate English; but as he brought with

him but a small force, and received no support in the country, he was obliged to relinquish his enterprize.But before he left Ireland, he held a parliament in Kilkenny, in the character of Lord Deputy, and got a law passed, known by the name of The Statute of Kilkenny.

This statute shews, that oppressive laws are an old evil in Ireland. It recites," that the English of the realm of Ireland were become mere Irish in their language, names, dress, &c. had rejected the English laws, and submitted to those of the Irish, with whom they had united in marriage, to the ruin of the English interest. It is therefore enacted, that marrying and gossipping among the Irish shall be punished as high treason; to use an Irish name, to speak the Irish language, to ride without a saddle, or entertain any Irish bard or minstrel, rhymer or news-teller, &c. his lands shall be forfeited."

An expedition to Ireland was undertaken by Richard II. who landed in Ireland with a considerable army. As Richard was desirous of exhibiting his greatness to the Irish Chiefs, so they were willing to shew their consequence; they flocked toRichard's court from all quarters; no less than 75 independent Chiefs were entertained, and four of the principal, O'Nial, O'Connor, O'Brien, and Mac-Murchad, had the honour to sit at the King's own table, clothed in robes of state; some of them were even knighted!-Yet, after all this parade, Richard was obliged to leave the country without enlarging the Pale.

After this no expedition was attempted against Ireland for more than a century, during which there was almost a continual warfare between the English Pale and the natives. The colony however continued still to exist; it defended itself by making alliances sometimes with one Chief, and sometimes with another; occasionally acting with vigour, and then forgetting the statute of Kilkenny as circumstances made it necessary.

The inhabitants of Ireland may now be classed as follows:-1. The native Irish. 2. The degenerate English. 3. The English subjects of blood, possessed of property, and sometimes attending their parliament. 4. The English subjects of birth, who composed the government of the colony, and were assisted by England.

Such was the situation of affairs in Ireland at the accession of Henry VIII. A. D. 1509, and at this time the

Pale