Irish Protestantism and persecution went hand in hand; and while Grey, Carew, and Mountjoy were burning and devastating in Munster, Leinster, and Ulster, the zealous propagandists of the new religion were labouring to extend their creed by means of torture and cruelty. Many Catholic bishops and priests were put to death, during Lord Grey's administration, for exercising their spiritual functions; some were hanged and quartered; others were beaten about the head with stones, till their brains gushed out; others were murdered in cold blood, sometimes at the very altar; others had their bowels torn open, their nails and fingers torn off, and were thus painfully destroyed by slow torture, their remains being afterwards treated with the most revolting indignity.+ The most common method, however, of executing the sentence of the law upon these Catholic recusants was as follows:-They were first hanged up, and then cut down alive; they were next dismembered, ripped up, and had their bowels burned before their faces; after which, they were beheaded and quartered; the whole process lasting above half an hour, during which the unfortunate victims remained conscious and writhing under the agonies inflicted on them by their Protestant persecutors. And thus did the emissaries of the reformed religion in Ireland endeavour to show forth the efficiency of physical torture as a means of converting sinners, together with the beauty of state-church bigotry, and the righteousness of orthodox hatred.

While the Catholic clergy were thus treated, the Protestants who had been created teachers of the state-religion by act of parliament, were notoriously profligate, lewd, simoniacal, slothful, and intemperate, even according to the testimony of English Protestant writers themselves. They were the refuse of the English church --we had almost said, of England,—of whom nothing else could be

"In this reign," says Dr. Curry, "among many other Roman Catholic priests and bishops, there were put to death, for the exercise of their function in Ireland, Glaby O'Boyle, abbot of Boyle of the diocese of Elphin, and Owen O'Mulkeren, abbot of the monastery of the Holy Trinity in that diocese, hanged and quartered by Lord Gray in 1580; John Stephens, priest, for that he said mass to Teague M'Hugh, was hanged and quartered by the Lord Burroughs in 1597; Thady O'Boyle, guardian of the monastery of Donegal, was slain by the English in his own monastery; six friars were slain in the monastery of Moynihigan; John O'Calyhor and Bryan O'Trevor, of the order of St. Bernard, were slain in their own monastery, de Santa Maria, in Ulster; as also Felimy O'Hara, a lay brother; so was Eneas Penny, parish priest of Killagh, slain at the altar in his parish church there; Cahall M'Goran, Rory O'Donnellan, Peter O'Quillan, Patrick O'Kenna, George Power, vice-general of the diocese of Ossory, Andrew Stretch of Limerick, Bryan O'Muirihirtagh, vicar-general of the diocese of Clonfert, Dorohow O Molony of Thomond, John Kelly of Louth, Stephen Patrick of Annaly, John Pillis, friar, Rory M Henlea, Tirrilagh M'Inisky, a lay brother. All those that come after Eneas Penny, together with Walter Farnan, priest, died in the Castle of Dublin, either through hard usage and restraint, or the violence of torture."-CURRY'S HISTORICAL REVIEW, eh. ii.

+ See MILNER'S LETTERS TO A PREBENDARY; CURRY'S HISTORICAL REVIEW OF THE CIVIL WARS OF IRELAND; BOURLE'S HIBERNIA DOMINICANA; CAREW'S HIBERA PACATA, &c. Milner mentions the case of F. O'Hurle, Catholic Archbishop of Cashel, who was horribly tortured, by the orders of Sir William Drury, in 1573. On falling into the hands of this sanguinary governor, the unfortunate archbishop "was first tortured by his legs being immersed in jack-boots filled with quick-lime, water, &c., until they were burnt to the bone, in order to force him to take the oath of supremacy; and then, with other circumstances of barbarity, executed on the gallows."

*

made but Irish parsons. They went to Ireland for gain, for tithes, for plunder; caring nothing for the souls of the flock, and watching over them rather with the care of the wolf than that of the shepherd. The Irish church was, in fact, henceforward looked upon as a mere refuge for hungry adventurers from England, who, born within. the atmosphere of gentility, were too idle to work, but were not beneath extracting from the hard earnings of the poor the means of profligate luxury and riotous extravagance. What was the consequence? That the great body of the Irish people, in whose eyes Protestantism had become identified with every thing that was odious and intolerable, clung to their ancient faith, and to the native pastors who had been faithful to them for centuries; while they despised the English interlopers as upstarts and intruders, and hated them as bigotted persecutors and oppressors.

Such was the reign of "good Queen Bess" in Ireland-one of the darkest and bloodiest passages to be found in history. In her time, almost the entire country was reduced to the condition of a desert, and at least half the entire population perished by famine or the sword. Nearly forty rebellions occurred during the half century that she occupied the throne,-many of which rebellions were stirred up and fomented merely for purposes of rapine, confiscation, and plunder. Famine and pestilence were then openly advocated as the only pacificators of Ireland, by one who is known in England as the most elegant and graceful of her early poets. In Irish minds, however, Edmund Spenser is associated, not with the Faery Queen, but with the royal vixen of England, of whose cruelty and ambition he was found the unscrupulous advocate. Sir Walter Raleigh‡ too, the chivalrous and polite, is known to Ireland only as the

* SPENSER, in his VIEW OF THE STATE OF IRELAND, which is written in the form of a dialogue between Eudoxus and Irenæus, attributes the chief evils of Ireland to the religion of the Irish people. "They be all papists (says he) by profession." These are represented by Irenæus to be ignorant of the grounds of their faith. Eudoxus inquires, why not instruct them? To this Irenæus observes, that "this needeth quiet times," and "that it is ill time to preach among swords." "Eudoxus: But is there no law or ordinance to meet this mischief? Irenæus: Yes, it seems it hath; for there is a statute there enacted in Ireland, which seems to have been grounded on a good meaning: that whatsoever Englishman of good conversation and sufficiency shall be brought unto any of the bishops, and nominated unto any living within their diocese that is perfectly free, that he shall (without contradiction) be admitted thereunto, before any Irish. Eudoxus: This surely is a very good law." This "very good law" is but an instance of the system then, as now, pursued towards the Irish people. The case, at the present day, remains as it was then. "Whatsoever Englishman" presents himself, is still almost certain to be preferred" before the Irish."

+TAYLOR'S Civil Wars of Ireland, vol. i., p. 232.

Sir Walter Raleigh was the first who introduced the potatoe into Ireland, which he did upon his Cork estate. Opinion is divided as to whether this was a blessing or a curse to Ireland. Most probably, like almost every thing else introduced from the same quarter, it was the latter. Cobbett was strongly of opinion that the cultivation of the potatoe was the curse of Ireland; and the author of the "Landlord's Suggestions for Checking the Repeal Agitation," says "I sincerely believe that of all Sir Walter Raleigh's cruelties committed in Ireland, the planting of the potatoe on his Cork estate was the most cruel. It taught the landlord how cheaply poor Paddy could be supported; and, giving him this root for his labour, they have ever since taken all the rest in rent."-It is, however, looking only at the surface of things to attribute all, or even a large portion, of the miseries of Ireland to this cause. The evil lies much deeper, as will be made evident enough hereafter.

instrument of ruthless tyranny and barbarity. Elizabeth's entire reign, indeed, was a continued series of disgusting cruelties and crimes. Famine and devastation were the "good queen's" handmaidens; the rack, the gibbet, and the dungeon, her Protestant missionaries. And thus, at last, was Ireland "pacified"; and, after a contest of 440 years, brought under the dominion of the crown of England. The cost to Elizabeth was most serious. More than £3,000,000 sterling was expended on the conquest, with an incalculable number of her bravest soldiers. And after all, as the Queen was assured by her own servants, "little was left in Ireland for her majesty to reign over, but CARCASSES and ASHES"!

TheReformation from Popery" was also "completed" in Elizabeth's reign. The history of this movement in Ireland is, throughout, one of merciless persecution, of wholesale spoliation, and of murderous cruelty. The instruments by which it was accomplished were, despotic monarchs, unprincipled ministers, a rapacious aristocracy, and venal and slavish parliaments. It sprung from brutal passion, was nurtured in selfish and corrupt policy, and was consummated in bloodshed and horrid crime. "The work," observes a contemporary, "which had been begun by Henry, the murderer of his wives, was continued by Somerset, the murderer of his brother, and completed by Elizabeth, the murderer of her 'guest." Such was the "Reformation," and such were its instruments; and the consequences which flowed from it, at least to Ireland, were of a kindred character for centuries to come.

CHAPTER XII.

James I.-Commences his reign as a persecutor-Abolition of the old Irish lawsInvented plots and conspiracies-the Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnel accused— Their immense estates in Ulster confiscated, and planted with English and Scotch settlers-An Irish Parliament assembled to sanction the robbery-A stroke of arbitrary power-James's defence of packed Parliaments—the venal Parliament assembled Fight for the speakership-Division of the confiscated Lands-the London companies-Organized system of confiscation-Its success-Proposed confiscation of the province of Connaught—Death of James-Religious History of this reign-Persecutions of the catholics-Their continued hostility to protestantism-Condition of the people.

It was reserved for James I., the Prince of royal pedants, to continue the system of confiscation and extermination which Queen Elizabeth had prosecuted with such vigour during her reign. From the fact that James's mother, the beautiful but unfortunate Mary

One of the most odious and barbarous cruelties of this period (which we find we have omitted to mention in the proper place) was the cold-blooded massacre perpetrated at Mulloghmaston, or as it is now abbreviated, Mullghmast, in the 19th year of Elizabeth's reign. On that occasion, some hundreds of the most peaceable of the Irish gentry, chiefly belonging to the septs of O'More and O'Connor, were invited there under the protection of the government, and were

of Scotland, had died a martyr to the catholic faith, having been beheaded by the connivance, if not at the express command, of her rival the "good Queen Bess," the Irish Catholics now hoped for toleration and protection in the enjoyment of their worship, at the hands of the new monarch. But they hoped in vain. James commenced and closed his reign as an inveterate hater of "papists." One of his first acts was to proclaim a general gaol delivery, except to murderers and papists; and he pledged himself never to grant any toleration to the catholics, entailing a curse on his posterity if they failed to follow in his steps. Those of the Irish catholics, therefore, who, in the towns of Munster and Leinster, had incautiously proceeded to exercise their worship in public, were soon undeceived in their hopes of the new monarch. An army under Mountjoy was immediately marched against them, for the purpose of repressing all demonstrations of attachment to the ancient faith. Waterford, Clonmel, and Cashel, at once yielded; and Cork, after a short siege, also surrendered, where several of the leaders in the demonstration were put to death, and all was quiet again. And thus, says Sir John Davies, describing the condition of Ireland on the ascension of King James," the multitude being brayed, as it were, in a mortar, with sword, famine, and pestilence together, submitted themselves to the English government, received the laws, and magistrates, and most gladly embraced the King's pardon and peace in all parts of the realm, with demonstrations of joy and comfort." What the "joy and comfort" was, our readers may judge from what follows.

An attempt was made, early in this reign, to abolish entirely the ancient system of Irish jurisdiction, and substitute the English laws in its place. Circuits were established, and itinerant judges appointed; the customs of tanistry and gavel kind were declared illegal; and the tenures of land were appointed to be modelled after the English fashion. Had the object of these measures been, to establish security of property, order, and good government, the results might have been of incalculable benefit to Ireland. But the real object being, as soon afterwards appeared, the wholesale confiscation of Irish property, the results were only increased insecurity, and more general and deep-rooted hatred of the English government. At the same time, the penal laws, enacted in the

brutally murdered to a man. "The English," says Dr. Curry, in his literal translation from the Irish annals of Queen Elizabeth's reign, "published a proclamation, inviting all the wellaffected Irish to an interview on the Rathmore, at Mulloghmaston; engaging at the same time for their security, and that no evil was intended. In consequence of this engagement, the well-affected came to the Rathmore aforesaid; and soon after they were assembled, they found themselves surrounded by three or four lines of English and Irish horse and foot, completely accoutred, by whom they were ungenerously attacked, and cut to pieces, and not a single man escaped." Another barbarous act committed in this reign was that of Walter Devereux, Earl of Essex, who, on the conclusion of a peace, invited Bryan O'Neill of Claneboy, with a great number of his relations, to an entertainment, and after three days feasting, they were attacked by the armed followers of Essex, and brutally put to death, men, women and children. O'Neill himself, with his brother and wife, were sent to Dublin, where they were cut in quarters. -See CURRY'S HISTORICAL REVIEW, pp. 10, 11, 12.

reign of Elizabeth, were revived in all their original harshness. Sir Arthur Chichester, the new lord-lieutenant, a man cruel and avaricious in his character, and eager to amass wealth and possessions, no matter in what manner, willingly seconded all the designs of the persecuting monarch. The catholic chapels were shut up; and the most wanton oppressions and extortions were resorted to, such as fine, imprisonment, and deprivation of office, for enforcing attendance on the protestant service. To put an end to all doubts, also, as to James's being favourable to religious toleration, he issued a proclamation giving due notice to all concerned of his thoroughly intolerant disposition and character. This singular proclamation commences thus:-" Whereas, his Majesty is informed that his subjects of Ireland have been deceived by a false report that his Majesty was disposed to allow them liberty of conscience, and the free choice of a religion: he hereby declares to his beloved subjects of Ireland, that he will NOT admit of any such liberty of conscience as they were made to expect by such report," &c., &c. And then the proclamation goes on to order the expulsion of the catholic bishops, jesuits, and all other ministers of the catholic worship, and to prohibit altogether the exercise of the Catholic religion. At the same time, sham "Popish plots" and "conspiracies" were hatched, and the pretext thus afforded for putting down by force and persecution the adherents of the Catholic religion both in England and Ireland.

The celebrated Gunpowder Plot, a thing of perplexity and obscurity down to the present day, occurred about this period; and whether real or invented, it certainly proved a God-send to the confiscators and exterminators in Ireland. Among the parties charged with the projected crime, were the Irish catholic lords, prominent among whom were the Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnel. Without any proofs of their guilt, an accusation was brought against these lords, the meaning of which they well knew. Conscious that their properties were marked for confiscation by a government which was ready to adopt every expedient to increase its power and at the same time break the spirit of the Irish people, they took to flight, when their immense estates in Ulster were immediately seized upon by the harpies of the crown. Sir Cahir O'Doherty, a northern chieftain, took up arms to resist the government, but he

See HIBERNIA DOMINICANA, p. 619. Also LELAND, v. ii, p. 421.

All catholics were obliged to assist at the protestant church service every Sunday and holiday; and thus they, who had been called "imps of Anti-christ, &c." for listening to a Latin mass which they did not understand, were now forced to listen to an English liturgy, which they, being Irish, understood quite as little. By a refinement of cruelty, too, Roman catholics of condition were appointed by the state, under the name of Inquisitors, to watch, and inform against those of their own communion who did not frequent the protestant churches on the day appointed; and if, through any scruple or pride of conscience, they neglected or refused this degrading duty, they were heavily fined, and condemned to a long imprisonment.

"Where's your religion, and be dd to you?" says a pious gentleman in one of Cumberland's plays; and much in the same sort of edifying style was the reformed religion first insinuated into the hearts of the Irish.-MOORE'S MEMOIRS OF CAPTAIN ROCK.