took the alarm. They dreaded to see the great rival of their sainted doctor, Thomas, rank with him in the schools. They remembered, with bitter resentment, the victory he gained over them, in the famous dispute about the immaculate conception; and they moved heaven and earth to avert his canonization. They dug up his grave, in Cologne, opened his coffin, attested on oath before the college, that they found him turned therein, lacerated by the nails, and with an appearance of having bit his arm. This put an end to the process; and John Dun, the Irish Scot, remains excluded from the catalogue of saints. The title to all the printed copies of his works, taken from his own manuscript, ought to silence the contest between three nations about his birth, "Johannes Dun, Scotus Hibernus."

Edward II. the second son of the deceased king, succeeded to the throne, and shortly after married Isabelle, daughter of Philip le Bel, of France. He recalled his favourite, Gaveston, whom his father had banished the kingdom. This nobleman had so far gained on the king's affection, that he disposed of all favours and graces, which drew upon him the envy and hatred of the English nobility, who threatened to oppose his coronation, if he did not expel his favourite from the kingdom. The weak king consented; but, in order to soften the disgrace, sent him to Ireland, invested with the royal authority, where he suppressed some revolts, and laboured effectually to secure the possessions of

the settlers in Leinster. The king, unable to bear the absence of his favourite, and flattering himself that time and distance had cooled the hatred of his enemies, recalled him from the government of the Pale, and sent Sir John Wogan to replace him. To establish his credit the more effectually, he had him married to the daughter of the earl of Gloucester. This alliance with one of the first families in the kingdom, served but to encrease the detestation of his enemies. Another incident decided his fall. At the tournaments of Wallingford, he bore away the prize from all the English lords who durst contend with him. Not satisfied with this triumph of his address and courage, he humbled their pride still more by piquing sallies of wit and raillery, than by his victory in feats of arms. They all conspired against him, made lively remonstrances to the king, intimating, that nothing short of the sacrifice of his favourite could appease their resentments. Gaveston, yielding to the storm, passed over to France; but the desire of seeing again his dear master, dragged him into England once more, at the risk of his life. There he remained some time incog. To secrete him from the fury of his enemies, the king assigned, for residence, the castle of Scarborough, as a secure asylum; but he was soon besieged there, by a revolted nobility, and obliged to capitulate, on condition of saving his life. This treaty was not long kept. The earl of Warwick dragged him from his keepers, and cut off his head, without form of law, notwithstanding the reiterated en

treaties of the king. Such was the end of Gaveston, one of the handsomest and most accomplished men of his age, native of Gascony. Royal favour has often proved a dangerous honor.

During the feeble administration of deputy Wogan, a contention between the prelates of Armagh and Dublin, whether their croziers should be borne before them, in certain districts, erect or depressed, was treated as an important state affair. The contest occasioned some bloodshed; and the king's mediation was necessary, to settle the controversy.

The great lords, taking advantage of despised government, carried on their wars without fear or controul. The bulk of their forces, always composed of old natives, were the victims of the folly or madness of their leaders. The earl of Ulster marched into Thomond, with all the pride of an independent sovereign, to assert some pretended rights with the sword; but was there humbled by a signal defeat. He was made prisoner, with several of his most distinguished adherents, and obliged to submit to such terms as his conquerors imposed. The accommodation was cemented by the marriage of Maurice and Thomas Fitz-John, the heads of the houses of Desmond and Kildare, to two daughters of the earl of Ulster.

This union between these powerful families seemed to promise some tranquillity, when new enemies were invited by the tyranny of the settlers, exercised over the ancient inhabitants. The

successful resistance of Scotland to the encroachments of England, was a grateful hearing to the distressed Milesians, who always regarded the Scots as kinsmen. Their many gallant exploits under Wallace, barbarously murdered by the English, and under young Bruce, the son of him who disdained the proffer of the crown on conditions dishonourable to his country, became the theme of Irish bards, rousing their countrymen to honor and glory. The news of the ever memorable and decisive victory of Bannockburn; where 30,000 brave Scots, under the command of the gallant Bruce, routed 100,000 English, commanded by the king in person, filled their Irish kinsmen with rapture. Mortified by galling yoke, which, for want of union or concert, they were unable to shake off, they adopted, in all appearance, a very prudent resolution. As the provincial kings were too proud to bear a native superior, they could feel no humiliation in a young hero, of their own race, brother to the victorious king of Scotland, monarch of Ireland. As the northern chieftains lay most convenient for Scotland, they first sent ambassadors to Robert Bruce, then marching with his victorious forces through the north of England. They painted to him, in glowing colours, the unparallelled calamities inflicted on their country by insolent oppressive invaders. That they wanted but such a leader to rescue their whole nation from present distress and impending ruin. That they did not consider it a foreign yoke, to receive a Sovereign from the Scots, descended from the

same stock as themselves; one who had courage to defend them, and equity to rule with justice. That the alliance of the two kingdoms would be of the utmost utility to each, whether in a commercial or political point of view; and that their united strength would form an impregnable rampart against the ambition of English kings. Robert Bruce was well pleased with the proffer. He was aware of the great supply of men and provisions, furnished by Ireland to Edward in his war against Scotland; and was too keen-sighted not to perceive the vast advantages of such an alliance, if the Irish nation, so long torn by intestine divisions, making havoc of each other in every corner of the kingdom, could be brought to support an efficient executive in the monarch. If the monarchy was held on the same precarious footing as heretofore, without revenue or forces, the alliance would rather be burdensome than beneficial to Scotland. On assurances given, that the monarchy would be supported with their lives and fortunes, and O'Neil, the only Irish prince entitled to the throne, setting the example, the Scottish king accepted the proposals. He urged his brother Edward, a valiant and aspiring youth, to accept the proffered diadem; assuring him of such effectual support, as would enable him, with the assistance of his new subjects, to bear down all opposition. The heroic youth naturally embraced the offer with ardor; the chiefs of Ulster were assured of his speedy arrival with a considerable force; and the news was received with joy throughout the pro