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loh O'Brien, Melrony O'Carol, &c. &c. who collected the greatest army that had been in Ireland since the conquest. They fought a bloody and hard contested battle with the Lord Deputy Kildare, at Knocklow, in Connaught.

In Henry VIII's reign, before the reformation, the English were defeated at Monetrar, by an army under the command of the Earl of Desmond's son, Tirlagh O'Brien, and M'William, (Ann. 1510.)

In the year 1513, M'William took the Castle of Dunluse, and we read that "the Irish met with very little opposition this winter they ravaged the country as they pleased, but that they paid dear for it next Spring."

In 1514, we find the Deputy attacking the Irish chieftains, O'Moore and O'Reyly.

In 1516, the Deputy slew Shane O'Tuathal, besieged Lemevan Castle, took Clonmel, invaded Ulster, took the Castle of Dundrum, conquered Fylemy M'Gennis, and (as it was technically terined in those days) preyed Tyrone. The

citizens of Dublin were likewise defeated in Imale.

In 1519, Con. O'Nial invaded Meath. In 1521, we find mention of the Byrnes being in rebellion..

The same year a confederate army of the O'Mordris, O'Connors, and O'Carrols, defeated the English.

In 1523, the Earl of Desmond, meditating a rebellion, applied to the French King for assistance.

In 1523, O'Nial was in rebellion.

In 1528, we find the English power so reduced, that they paid tribute (called black rents) to the Irish chieftains, for protection. O'Connor invaded even the Pale; the Lord Deputy was too weak to revenge the injury, but withheld O'Connor's pension; O'Connor, in return, took the Deputy prisoner.

In 1529, Kildare, by means of his daughter, Lady Slane, raised a great confederacy among the Irish chieftains.

In the same year, a negociation between the Emperor Charles V. and the Earl of Desmond, only proved ineffectual by the Earl's death.

Fresh insurrections of the O"Tuathals, O'Connors, and O'Carrols succeeded, and were closed by the great rebellion of Lord Thomas Fitzgerald; which brings us to the period of the reformation.

Here then we present a considerable difficulty to our opponents, who have attributed all the succeeding rebellions solely to the antipathy of Catholics to a Protesant government; for they are bound to shew that the causes which produced these rebellions, previous to the reformation, ceased to operate, before they can reasonably assign the whole effect of succeeding rebellions to the influence of religion. Unless they can plainly make this appear, they must have grossly exaggerated the supposed influence of religion in producing these un→ fortunate events; and it is even very possible that this influence, which they attribute to religion, did not at the time exist.

Now, we maintain this is the very fact; that the influence of the Roman Catholic religion in producing insurrections, has been without measure exaggerated; that it had no such influence until long after the reforma

tion; and that when it did acquire that influence, it was because it was persecuted, and not because it wished to persecute.

To place this in a clearer light, we will examine the relation which the Catholic religion had with events in Ireland from the period immediately before the reformation, to the great rebellion in the reign of Chas.I; we will endeavour to shew how little connection it had with rebellions, until its animosity was awakened by the intemperate and injurious conduct of the Protestants, and to draw from numerous and striking facts, a fresh proof (if fresh proofs are wanting) that humanity, justice, toleration, and gentleness, are the wisest means which a government can use in correcting the religious errors of its subjects.

PRIOR to the Reformation in Ireland, the Roman Catholic religion, stimulated neither by scepticism, contradiction, nor persecution, had long ceased to have any influence on political events. It was regarded by the mass of the people with a

stupid acquiescence approaching to indifference. The clergy, like all long established clergy, neglected their duties, and so far from inspiring the enthusiastic attachment which they now do, were considered as an oppressive incumbrance. We have the authority of Archbishop Brown for stating, that their ignorance was extreme; and that they were frequently incapable of performing the common offices of religion.

If we except the excommunication of the adherents of Warbeck and Simnel by the Pope, we meet with no instance of the political influence of the Roman Catholic religion immediately before the Refor

mation.

Indeed, so complete seems to have been its insignificance, that Sir James Ware, though the most indefatigable of antiquaries, and possessed of every facility of research, could not ascertain accurately the names of bishops before this period.

For instance, "One Thomas was consecrated Bishop of Down and Connor. (Ann. 1456.)

"One Thady was advanced to these Sees. (1469.)

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