English swarm of adventurers treated the settlers of Irish birth with the most mortifying contempt and injustice. Sir John Talbot who encouraged this insidious and absurd policy, departed from the Irish administration with general execrations. His extortions, exactions, and oppression, were balanced against his efforts to repel the common enemy of the pale, or to restore the latter to peace and tranquillity. He was succeeded by Ormond, who being well disposed to redress the grievances of the pale, was popular among the English. A subsidy was granted, amounting to one thousand marks, accompanied as usual with a representation of grievances. The petition to the king was sent forward, and the archbishop of Armagh, and sir Christopher Preston were appointed agents to present it. This petition is a distressing picture of the injustice and extortion suffered by the inhabitants of the pale. They say between the terror of the common enemy, the native Irish, and the rapacious monopoly of the English viceroys and ministers, they passed a life of perpetual misery and torture. They impeached Stanley and sir John Talbot. They pray that the chancellor Merbury may be cited before the throne, to answer for his insolent refusal to affix the seal to their petition. They complain in strong and emphatic language, that such a scene of various iniquities would be thus discovered, as were utterly abhorrent to the equity of the throne, and utterly intolerable to the subject. The effects of this petition were the removal of the odious chancellor, and the continuance of Ormond in the government, which gave general satisfaction by the mild

ness and kindness of his administration.

In this reign we find the odious passions of jealousy and rivalship, infecting and influencing the conduct of the higher order of the clergy of the pale. We see them bringing their disputes before the parliament, and charging each other with the most detestable crimes. An English bishop of Lismore accusing O'Hedian of Cashel of the most scan

1

dalous offences. These ecclesiastical contentions did not meet any very great countenance from the parliament.

The common enemy, as the native Irish were called, were always engaged in their contests for precedence and leadership among their respective septs. If a particular sept were in danger of total annihilation, and, as other annalists express it, "for the sake of the Irish language," the neighbouring septs assembled to rescue their countrymen, and thus avenge the insult offered to Irish independence. The situation of Ireland, and her chieftains, at this period may be fairly illustrated by the species of affection which we sometimes see between some men and their wives. Though some husbands correct their wives rather severely, they see no reason why a stranger should presume to indulge in the same liberty; and the Irish chieftains who frequently waged most merciless wars with each other, were indignant that the English colony should presume to follow their example.

THE

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

Henry VI.

A. D. 1420.

THE infancy of this monarch when he came to the throne, little contributed to the reformation of Ireland. The anarchy of English factions, the want of vigor in the Irish administration, left the colony exposed to the furious and jealous passions of its inhabitants, as well as to the unresisted incursions of the native Irish. Deputies were sent from England, who either incurred the contempt or hatred of the men they were to govern. The most disgraceful and infamous charges were brought against the viceroy, and solemn inquiries held before the parliament to prove their veracity. We see the country invaded with impunity by the Scotch, where they are retained and encouraged by the Irish chieftains, who gladly assist them in ravaging the English settlement. The administration of the earl of Ormond rescued the colony in a great degree from the imminent danger into which it was thrown by the imbecile conduct of former governors; he abolished in 1425, the yearly tribute of black rent, paid by the colony to the Irish chieftains. The same historian who relates the triumphs of Ormond over the Irish, in the next page cites a petition of the Irish

parliament, representing to the king that all the Irish enemies and English rebels are sworn to put his loyal people of the colony under tribute to them; and that no part of Ireland remained unconquered by the Irish, but the county of Dublin. Mr. Leland observes, for the honour of the colony, that the object of so humiliating a representation on the part of the Irish parliament, was for no other purpose than to gain supplies from England. The rapid declension of the English interests, suggested the necessity of enforcing the statutes against marrying, or fostering, or trafficking with the Irish.

The leading families of the old English settlers complain of the incapacity of the persons appointed to the viceregency of Ireland. They pray to be considered and treated as Englishmen, agreeably to their rightful claims, and the express stipulation of their ancestors. Hence the jealousies and animosities between Ormond, (the only nobleman of Irish birth in whom the crown confided,) and the earls of Kildare and Desmond. The power of Desmond was so formidable, that he was able by his remove from the government of Ireland the popular earl of Ormond, whose sentiments, Mr. says, were liberal, whose manners were polished, and for the purity and mildness of whose administration the most honorable testimonies were given, obliged to yield to the confederated power of his enemies, and Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury, was sent into Ireland to take the reins of government.

influence to

Leland

He was

Talbot came attended with a troop of 700 chosen men, and the Irish again rose in arms to oppose the new viceroy, aided by the Butlers, and the Berminghams, and the Mac Williams of Clanrickard. The Irish chieftains were reduced, and the most obnoxious among them, particularly of the sept of Bermingham, seized, condemned, and exe

cuted.

A parliament was summoned by Talbot, in the year 1447, which again made it penal to conform to the

S

Irish fashion of the hair and the beard. It was forbidden to use gold trappings, horse furniture or gilded harness, except by knights and prelates.

The administration of Richard, duke of York, of which we are now about to give an account, demonstrates, if examples were wanting, how easy it is to govern Irishmen by the simple and unsophisticated principles of justice, kindness, and humanity; how productive that policy is which is guarded by a fair and impartial spirit, and how prolific to the rulers is the gratitude of a people who enjoy equal protection, equal law, and equal privileges. We have here a proof how a conciliating and equitable disposition can tranquillize a distracted state, and how impotent are the efforts of violence and of tyranny, compared with the soothing voice of parental government, which extends equal protection to all, and impartially shelters under its wings the subjects who submit to it.

The scene we are now about to describe, cheers and animates the historian. It gives him hope that the prospect is brightening, and that the cloud which so long mildewed the fairest blossoms of his country, will soon be dispelled; that the native energies of Ireland are about to enjoy the sunshine of a pure and equitable government, which will enrich the hand that confers the benefit. The duke of York, valiant, prudent, and temperate, was compelled, by the jealousy of the rival faction of Lancaster, to administer the affairs of Ireland. It would perhaps be an act of injustice to the memory of that excellent personage, to insinuate that the peculiar situation in which he stood, as the presumptive heir of the British crown, influenced his conduct as viceroy of Ireland; or that the kind and conciliating system on which he acted in the latter country, was prompted by the artifices of policy, and not by the dictates of an honest and manly understanding. Our experience of English government naturally inclines us to doubt the sincerity of Richard; but the mild and