386 A. D. 848. Fighting clergy, a mischievous Unhappy effects of the Danish wars [BOOK III. In the account above given of Olchobair, we may observe one miserable effect of the Danish calamities upon the Irish Church, which was, result of the that in the troubles of those times the clergy Danish wars were often led to take up arms in self defence, and even to become so familiarised to the use of them as to forget altogether, it would seem, the peaceful character of their own holy calling, and be entirely possessed with the spirit of the warriors of this world. Of this unhappy result of the wars of Ireland, many remarkable instances are to be met with in the history of the country.* Here also may be noted another unfortunate consequence of the same wars upon our countrymen of that period. The Irish were much dice of their addicted, as we have seen, to travelling and labouring in foreign countries, and their labours were for the most part highly acceptable to those on whom they were bestowed. But the number of bishops and priests who took shelter abroad from the Danish troubles increased to such a degree, that their officious activity became offensive to some who were dissatisfied with the irregularity of their ministrations in a sphere of The number of travelling Irish in creases, to the preju welcome abroad. *The fighting clergy were not peculiar to Ireland. England was perhaps even more distinguished in the Danish and early Norman times, for her military ecclesiastics. Some of her prelates in those days were great warriors, and built and fortified an enormous number of castles.-See more of this in Churton's Early English Church, chap. xv. pp. 288-9, CH. I.] on the clergy of the Irish Church. 337 This A. D. 813. labour not properly belonging to them. sufficiently appears from two ecclesiastical canons passed in synods of the Church, held, one of them in France, the other in England, at the period of which we now speak. gainst cer bishops. The first of these canons is that of the Coun- Canon of cil of Chalons sur Saone, held in A.D. 813, to the Chalons afollowing effect*- "There are in certain places, tain Irish Scots, [i. e. Irishmen,] who say that they are bishops; and ordain many careless persons to be Presbyters and Deacons without the license of their superiors. Whose ordination, because it has fallen for the most part into the Simonian heresy, and is subject to many errors, we have with one consent deemed right to be regarded by all men as altogether void." "It seems," says Dr. Lanigan," that some of those emigrant bishops made use of their spiritual power as a means of livelihood. The practice of raising persons to the episcopacy without being attached to fixed sees had been carried so far in Ireland, that it is not to be wondered at that some of them might have made a trade of their rank.”† canon of English The other canon above mentioned is one passed Calchythe by the English Synod of Calchythe, the language against the of which is as follows,-"Let none of the Scottish A.D. 816. *Concil. Labbe, et Coss. tom. vii. c. 1281. See Papers on the Amelioration of Ireland, by the Hon. and Rev. A. P. Perceval, B.C.L., &c. No. III. p. 4. +Ec. Hist. iii. 275. Irish clergy 388 The Danes renew their invasions [Book III. A. D. 816. [i. e. Irish] race, be allowed to usurp the holy Remark on ministry in any one's diocese, nor let them be these canons allowed to touch anything belonging to holy The Danes the death of orders, nor let it be allowed to receive from them in baptism, or in the celebration of masses, nor even that they should give the Eucharist to the people, because we know not whence, or by whom they are ordained."* From these canons a learned modern writer derives an argument against the opinion which supposes the Irish Church to have had its origin or orders from Rome; for says he, "If Rome in the ninth century, [or the French and English clergy in communion with Rome,] knew not whence or from whom the Irish had their orders, it is clear beyond dispute, that they did not come from Rome." The Romish historian of the Irish Church however, thinks it probable that the canon of Calchythe may have referred to some priests who in their flight from Ireland neglected to bring with them testimonials of their ordination.‡ But to return to the Danes, we find that the return after defeat of Turgesius and his followers was very Turgesius, far indeed from restoring peace and order to Ireland; for in the very next year 849, the Northmen returned again with a powerful fleet A.D. 849. * SS. Concil. ut sup. col. 1486. See Mr. Perceval's pamphlet above quoted. CH. I.] after the Death of Turgesius. 389 and renewed the war; in which they were still A. D. 849. much assisted by the quarrels of the Irish among themselves. In 851, the city of Dublin, which was already in possession of a description of Northmen called Fingals or White foreigners, was attacked by a fresh tribe called Dubh-gals or Black foreigners, who made a great havoc of the Fingals, and plundered the city. And on Easter Sunday in the following year 852 they entered Armagh and laid it waste.* In the next year 853, the Norwegian prince Amlave, (whose name is also written Olave or Auliffe,) accompanied by his two brothers, Sitric and Ivar, came to Ireland, and being placed at the head of all the Northmen in the country, exacted contributions from the Irish. Amlave took possession of Dublin, which had however been in the hands of the Northmen apparently since the year 838. It had been previously an obscure place, but was probably much enlarged by Amlave. Ivar in like manner occupied Limerick and enlarged it, and Sitric built Waterford.† The possession of these important maritime places must have added greatly to the strength The Danish of the Danish armament in Ireland. power in Ireland de But it is not our purpose to follow out in clines towdetail all the proceedings connected with these ards the struggles. Suffice it to say, that the remainder 9th century. close of the * ib. p. 277. VOL. II. ib. p. 326. B 390 State of Learning in Ireland in the Danish times. [Book III. A. D. 853. of this century was occupied with incessant wars and confusion, accompanied with much bloodshed on all sides, and slaughter of thousands in various parts of the country. But the general result was that towards the close of the period referred to, the power of the invaders had been much weakened, and was still gradually diminishing.* religion Irish at this time. CHAP. II. STATE OF LEARNING IN IRELAND IN THE DANISH TIMES-OF Condition of AND now it is time to inquire what had become, learning and during these disasters, of the learning and schools among the of ancient Ireland. With the exception of Armagh and Hy, they suffered, it seems, after the time of Turgesius, much less injury than might have been expected from the fury of wars : and we find mention still made of various persons who flourished in the different religious establishments, under the several names of bishops, abbots, anchorets,† scribes or copyists, *ib. p. 347. The remains of some of the forts built in Ireland by the Danes at this time, are still to be seen through the country, among the number of what are called Danish raths. But many of the forts so called are not Danish. ti.e. Persons of superior sanctity--Lan. iii. 381. |