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Neimheadh, what?

Moore's ac
count of the
Synod of
Kells re-

ferred to.

Note concerning the

the assem

bly was

held.

Neimheadh is explained by O'Brien "glebeland," quasi neamh-iath, holy or consecrated land, (iath, land.)

On the subject of this article Mr. Moore observes, that besides the distribution of the palliums, &c., the chief affairs that appear to have occupied the Synod of Kells were some enactments against simony and usury, as well as against the prevalence of marriage and concubinage among the clergy, &c. See Art. LXXVI.

inf.

An anonymous writer, (quoted by Ware, place where Lan. iv. 141, 2,) in giving the transactions of the Synod of Kells, asserts that it was held at "Mell," (vid. p. 532 sup. not.) which may have been a mistake of the transcriber; but which seems to have been the cause that led some to suppose that the synod was held at Mellifont, as they understood Mell to mean. Kells was how

ever certainly the place. "Yet it may be," says Lanigan, "that after Cardinal Paparo's departure some of the bishops assembled again at Mellifont, under the presidency of Christian, who was then apostolic legate; and thus perhaps we may account for the singular statement of the Annals of Innisfallen at A.D. 1152, that the synod was held at Drogheda, or as some have said, ad monasterium pontanense, inasmuch as

Mellifont, being not far from Drogheda, might have been called its monastery."

rangements

fensive to

Ireland.

The old book of Flan Mac Eogan says that The ar"it was in violation of the rights of the clergy at Kells of Patrick and Columbkille that the pallium was partly of given to the church of Dublin, or even to that the native of Tuam." ."* This word "even" seems to imply, people of "although the latter dignity being situated among the Irish, the injury was in this case qualified, at least in appearance, by the honour done to a native see; while in the case of Dublin there was a pure exaltation of foreign, at the expense of 'mere Irish' influence."

No. XI.

BULL OF POPE ADRIAN IV. TO KING HENRY II. OF ENGLAND, GRANT-
ING HIM LIBERTY TO TAKE POSSESSION OF IRELAND, &c.

"Adrian, bishop, servant of the servants of God, to Pope Adrian our wellbeloved son in Christ the illustrious king of the salutes English, health and apostolical benediction.

Henry II. ciously:

"Your Highness is contemplating the laudable and very graprofitable work of gaining a glorious fame on earth, and augmenting the recompense of bliss that awaits you in congratuheaven, by turning your thoughts, in the proper spirit lates him on of a Catholic prince, to the object of widening the boun- his pious agdaries of the Church, explaining the true Christian faith Ireland:

• O'Conor, Rer. Hib. Prol. ii. p. 159; Reeves, Ant. of Down, &c. 141.

gressions on

expresses

his interest

in the success of the

to those ignorant and uncivilized tribes, and exterminating the nurseries of vices from the Lord's inheritance. In which matter, observing as we do, the maturity of deliberation, and soundness of judgment, exhibited in your mode of proceeding, we cannot but hope that proportionate success will, with the divine permission, attend your exertions.

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Certainly there is no doubt, but that Ireland and all the islands upon which Christ the Sun of Righteousness hath shined, and which have received instruction in the expedition: Christian faith, do belong of right to St. Peter and the Holy Roman Church, as your grace also admits. For which reason we are the more disposed to introduce into them a faithful plantation, and to engraft among them a stock acceptable in the sight of God, in proportion as we are convinced from conscientious motives, that such efforts are made incumbent on us by the urgent claims of duty.

recites the conditions on which

the bargain of Ireland was to be concluded between

them:

gives his full sanc

tion to the Invasion:

You have signified to us, son well-beloved in Christ, your desire to enter the island of Ireland, in order to bring that people into subjection to laws, and to exterminate the nurseries of vices from the country; and that you are willing to pay to St. Peter an annual tribute of one penny for every house there, and to preserve the ecclesiastical rights of that land uninjured and invio

late.

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We therefore, meeting your pious and laudable desire with the favour which it deserves, and graciously acceding to your petition, express our will and pleasure, that in order to widen the bounds of the Church, to check the spread of vice, to reform the state of morals, and promote the inculcation of virtuous dispositions, you shall enter that island, and execute therein what shall be for the honour of God and the welfare of the country. And let the people of that land receive you in honourable style, and respect you as their lord: provided always

cludes with

some de

tions.

that ecclesiastical rights be uninjured and inviolate, and the annual payment of one penny for every house be secured for St. Peter and the Holy Roman Church. "If then you shall be minded to carry into execution and conthe plan which you have devised in your mind, use your endeavour diligently to improve that nation by the in- vout-soundculcation of good morals; and exert yourself, both per- ing exhortasonally, and by means of such agents as you employ, (whose faith, life, and conversation you shall have found suitable for such an undertaking,) that the Church may be adorned there, that the religious influence of the Christian faith may be planted and grow there; and that all that pertains to the honour of God and the salvation of souls may by you be ordered in such a way, as that you may be counted worthy to obtain from God a higher degree of recompense in eternity, and at the same time succeed in gaining upon earth a name of glory throughout all generations."

bull rashly

Lynch, (the author of the work flippantly en- The authentitled Cambrensis eversus) and Mac Geoghegan ticity of this were indiscreet enough to attempt to prove this questioned bull a forgery, and that Adrian could never have by some. sent forth such a monstrous document. Such speculations have not however met with much countenance from any of the more judicious and well-informed writers of the Church of Rome. A complete exposure of their absurdity may be seen in Lanigan, iv. 164-166.

According to an old Irish tradition preserved Curious in the Leabhar Breac, (an interesting compila- Irish tradition of the 15th century, from documents of relative to

tradition

&c.

the Bull of greater antiquity,) the sale of Ireland by the Adrian IV., pope to the kings of England was brought about, partly at least, under the influence of revenge, for injuries inflicted on a papal officer by the Irish, worried, as it would seem, to resistance by his extortions. lows:

Note on the statement

The account is as fol

"O'Annoc and O'Chelchin of Cill Mor, O'Sluaisti from Cuil O'Sluaisti,* O'Glesain. These were they who stole the horses, and the mules, and the asses, of the Cardinal who came from Rome to the land of Erin to instruct it, in the time of Domhnall Mor O'Brian, king of Munster. And it was on that account the Cowarba [i, e. successor] of Peter sold the rent and right of Erin to the Saxons; and that is the right and title which the Saxons follow on the Gaedhil [i. e. the Irish] at this day; for it was to the Cowarba of Peter, to Rome, used to go the rent and tribute of Erin until then."†

This evidently refers to the visit of Cardinal here quoted. Paparo to Ireland, and the Bull of Adrian IV. granted three years subsequently to that event. But the name Domhnall seems to have been inserted by mistake for that of his predecessor Turlogh, who reigned from 1142 to 1164 or later, and was succeeded by the famous Donald

• Now Cooloslushty, a townland in the parish of Tulla, barony of Upper Tulla, County Clare.

Leabhar Breac, fol. 51 b. (now fol. 41 b.) See also Professor O'Donovan's valuable and learned Irish Grammar, p. 359, which first drew my attention to the curious passage above given.

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