"Therefore, on account of all those injuries, and a thousand others, which human wit cannot easily comprehend; and on account of the kings of England, and their wicked ministers, who, instead of governing us, as they are bound to do, with justice and moderation, have wickedly endeavoured to exterminate us off the face of the earth; and to shake off entirely their detestable yoke, and recover our native liberties, which we lost by their means, we are forced to carry on an exterminating war; chusing in defence of our lives and liberties, rather to rise, like men, and expose our persons bravely to all the dangers of war, than any longer to bear, like women, their atrocious and detestable injuries. And in order to obtain our interest the more speedily and consistently, we invite the gallant Edward Bruce, to whom, being descended from our most noble ancestors, we transfer, as we justly may, our own right of royal dominion, unanimously declaring him our king, by common consent, who in our opinion, and in the opinion of most men, is as just, prudent, and pious, as he is powerful and courageous: who will do justice to all classes of people, and restore to the church those properties, of which it has been so damnably and so inhumanly despoiled," &c.

On receipt of this spirited pathetic remonstrance, the Pope, though solicited by the court of London, to issue an excommunication against the Irish and Scotch, thought proper to send a copy of it to Edward II., accompanied with

the following exhortations to attend to the grievances stated therein, and correct them.

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Pope John, the servant of the servants of God, to the illustrious Edward, king of England, health and eternal benediction,

"MOST beloved son, we bear a paternal love for the encrease and prosperity of your highness, while we invite you, with earnest exhortation, to attend to those things which are pleasing to the just judge of your kingdom, and that would be productive of the peace of your lands and subjects, and worthy of your sense and honor. For which reason you ought to receive our advice with a devout mind, and yield yourself flexible and ready to put them in execution. Behold, my son, we have received letters, addressed to us long ago, by the magnats and people of Ireland, to the address of our beloved sons Anselm, cardinal presbyter of the SS. Marcelline and Peter, and Luke, cardinal deacon, of the title of St. Mary, of Broadstreet, nuncios of the apostolic see, and by them transmitted to us, inclosed in their own letters. In the sayings of which, among other things, we have seen a document, stating, that whereas Pope Adrian, our predecessor of happy memory, had granted the dominion of Ireland to Henry II., your progenitor of illustrious memory, by apostolic letters, containing a certain modification and limits; that the said king and his successors, kings of England, to this time, have not obeserved this modification, nor

these limits, but, on the contrary, transgressing them, have oppressed the Irish with unheard-of grievances of insupportable servitude, and superfluous afflictions; nor was there hitherto any who would redress those grievances, or punish those crimes. No one was moved with a pious compassion for the destruction of these people; although they often had recourse to you, and the loud cry of the oppressed sometimes rung in your ears.

"On these accounts, unable any longer to bear such tyranny, they were compelled to withdraw from your dominion, and to call another to rule them.

"These allegations, my dear son, if founded on truth, are so much the more distressing to our feelings, the more intensely we wish all sorts of prosperity to you. You ought sedulously to attend to those things, and to put in speedy execution such measures, as may be pleasing to your Creator; and solicitously to avoid all things by which God himself, the Lord of vengeance, might be provoked against you, who does not neglect the groans of those unjustly oppressed, who is known to have rejected his chosen people for their injustice, and made a transfer of empires. What we the more ardently wish for you is, to pay attention, in these times of revolution, to every means that may conciliate the affections of the people, and avoid every thing that may cause disaffection. Now, as it is your interest to prevent the evils that these troubles may cause, so it is most expedient not to neglect the begin

nings, lest the evil encreasing daily, the necessary remedy might come too late. Every thing well considered, we exhort, by these presents, your majesty, that by maturity of council, and prudence of consideration of your statesmen, you should provide a correction and reformation of these abuses and grievances, by such decent ways and means as you may be able to devise; that so you may be able to oppose these dangerous beginnings, and please him, by whom you reign, and plant yourself solidly among them; that so no one may have any cause of complaint against you; and that the Irish, led by sounder counsel, may obey you as their lord: or if, which God forbid, they should continue in their foolish rebellion, they would make their own cause appear unjust, and leave you excused before God and

man.

"That you may be the more fully informed of the aforesaid grievances and complaints, on which the Irish rest their cause, we send you the aforesaid letters, addressed to the aforesaid cardinals, with a copy of the letters, by which our fore-mentioned predecessor, Pope Adrian, granted the land of Ireland to the said Henry, king of England. Given at the Vatican," &c.

In round terms he asserts the claims of English kings on Ireland; "that if the Irish persevered in their foolish rebellion, they would excuse him before God and man, and condemn their own cause." I see no reason for these bold assertions, but the following iniquitous grant

made by Pope Adrian IV., and confirmed by his successors, until the schism of Henry VIII.

"Adrian the bishop, the servant of the servants

of God, to his most dear son in Christ, the noble king of England, sendeth greeting and apostolic benediction.

"Your magnificence hath been very careful and studious how you might enlarge the church of God here on earth, and encrease the number of saints and elect in heaven, in that as a good catholic king, you have and do by all means labour and travel to enlarge and encrease God's church, by teaching the ignorant people the true and Christian religion, and in abolishing and rooting up the weeds of sin and wickedness. And wherein you have, and do crave, for your better furtherance, the help of the apostolic see (wherein more speedily and discreetly you proceed) the better success, we hope, God will send; for all they, which of a fervent zeal and love in religion, do begin and enterprize any such thing, shall no doubt in the end have a good and prosperous success. And as for Ireland, and all other islands where Christ is known and the Christian religion received, it is out of all doubt, and your excellency well knoweth, they do all appertain and belong to the right of St. Peter, and of the church of Rome; and we are so much the more ready, desirous, and willing, to sow the acceptable seed of God's word, because we know the same in the latter day will be most severely re