Part 31 (2/2)
[Ill.u.s.tration: CARRICKFERGUS.]
FOOTNOTES:
[337] _Crime_.--We really must enter a protest against the way in which Irish history is written by some English historians. In Wright's _History of Ireland_ we find the following gratuitous a.s.sertion offered to excuse De Clare's crime: ”Such a refinement of cruelty _must_ have arisen from a suspicion of treachery, or from some other grievous offence with which we are not acquainted.” If all the dark deeds of history are to be accounted for in this way, we may bid farewell to historical justice. And yet this work, which is written in the most prejudiced manner, has had a far larger circulation in Ireland than Mr.
Haverty's truthful and well-written history. When Irishmen support such works, they must not blame their neighbours across the Channel for accepting them as truthful histories.
[338] _Shooting_.--Four Masters, vol. iii. p. 435. These champions appear to have been very famous. They are mentioned in the Annals of Ulster and in the Annals of Clonmacnois, with special commendations for their skill. The following year O'Dowda was killed by Adam Cusack. It is hoped that he is not the same person as ”the Cusack” whom he had a.s.sisted just before.
[339] _Horses_.--As votaries of the turf maybe interested in knowing the appellations of equine favourites in the thirteenth century, we subjoin a sample of their names: Lynst, Jourdan, Feraunt de Trim, Blanchard de Londres, Connetable, Obin the Black, &c.
[340] _Progress_.--The following pa.s.sage is taken from a work published a few years ago. It is not a work of any importance, but it had some circulation in its day; and like many other works then published, was calculated to do immense mischief, by quoting the false statements of Cambrensis as authority, and by giving grotesque sketches of Irish character, which were equally untrue. The writer says: ”They [the Irish chieftains] opposed the introduction of English law, because they had a direct interest in encouraging murder and theft.” The fact was, as we have shown, that the Irish did their best to obtain the benefit of English law; but the English n.o.bles who ruled Ireland would not permit it, unquestionably ”because _they_ had a direct interest encouraging murder and theft.”
[341] _Calculating_.--We derived the word from _calculus_, a white stone, the Romans having used small white stones for arithmetical purposes. Probably they taught this custom to the aboriginal English, whose descendants retained it long after.
[342] _Notched_.--Quite as primitive an arrangement as the _quipus_, and yet used in a condition of society called civilized.
[343] _Salary_.--The value may be estimated by the current price of provisions: cows from 5s. to 13s. 4d. each; heifers, 3s. 4d. to 5s.; sheep, 8d. to 1s.; ordinary horses, 13s. 4d. to 40s.; pigs, 1s. 6d. to 2s.; salmon, 6d. each; wheat, corn, and malt varied with the produce of the season. Most of the details given above have been taken from Mr.
Gilbert's _Viceroys_.
[344] _Carbury_.--Extensive ruins still mark the site.
[345] _Oppression_.--The original Latin is preserved by Fordun.
Translations may be found in the Abbe MacGeoghegan's _History of Ireland_, p. 323, and in Plowden's _Historical Review_. We append one clause, in which these writers complain of the corruption of manners produced by intercourse with the English settlers: ”Quod sancta et columbina ejus simplicitas, ex eorum cohabitatione et exemplo reprobo, in serpentinam calliditatem mirabiliter est mutata.”
[346] _Effect_.--See Theiner, _Vet. Man. Hiber. et Scot._ p. 188, for the efforts made by the Holy See to procure peace. The Pope's letter to Edward III. will be found at p. 206. It is dated _Avinione, iii. Kal.
Junii, Pontificatus nostri anno secundo._
[347] _Prisoners_.--Gilbert's _Viceroys_, p. 138.
[348] _Subject.--History of Dundalk_, pp. 46-58.
CHAPTER XXII.
The Butlers--Quarrels of the Anglo-Norman n.o.bles--Treachery and its Consequences--The Burkes proclaim themselves Irish--Opposition Parliaments--The Statute of Kilkenny and its Effects--Mistakes of English Writers--Social Life in Ireland described by a French Knight--”Banishment” to Ireland--Richard II. visits Ireland.
[A.D. 1326-1402.]
Richard de Burgo, the Red Earl, died in 1326. He took leave of the n.o.bles after a magnificent banquet at Kilkenny. When he had resigned his possessions to his grandson, William, he retired into the Monastery of Atha.s.sel, where he expired soon after. In the same year Edward II.
attempted to take refuge in Ireland, from the vengeance of his people and his false Queen, the ”she-wolf of France.” He failed in his attempt, and was murdered soon after--A.D. 1327.
The Butler family now appear prominently in Irish history for the first time. It would appear from Carte[349] that the name was originally Walter, Butler being an addition distinctive of office. The family was established in Ireland by Theobald Walter (Gaultier), an Anglo-Norman of high rank, who received extensive grants of land from Henry II., together with the hereditary office of ”Pincerna,” Boteler, or Butler, in Ireland, to the Kings of England. In this capacity he and his successors were to attend these monarchs at their coronation, and present them, with the first cup of wine. In return they obtained many privileges. On account of the quarrels between this family and the De Burgos, De Berminghams, Le Poers, and the southern Geraldines, royal letters were issued, commanding them, under pain of forfeiture, to desist from warring on each other. The result was a meeting of the factious peers in Dublin, at which they engaged to keep the ”King's peace.” On the following day they were entertained by the Earl of Ulster; the next day, at St. Patrick's, by Maurice FitzThomas; and the third day by the Viceroy and his fellow Knights Hospitallers, who had succeeded the Templars at Kilmainham. The Earldoms of Ormonde[350] and Desmond were now created. The heads of these families long occupied an important place in Irish affairs. Butler died on his return from a pilgrimage to Compostella, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Jacques--”a liberal, friendly, pleasant, and stately youth”--who was married this year to King Edward's cousin, Eleanor, daughter of the Earl of Ess.e.x. The Desmond peerage was created in 1329, when the County Palatine[351] of Kerry was given to that family.
The quarrels of these n.o.bles seemed to have originated, or rather to have culminated, in an insulting speech made by Poer to FitzGerald, whom he designated a ”rhymer.” The ”King's peace” did not last long; and in 1330 the Lord Justice was obliged to imprison both Desmond and Ulster, that being the only method in which they could be ”bound over to keep the peace.” The following year Sir Anthony de Lucy was sent to Ireland, as he had a reputation for summary justice. He summoned a Parliament in Dublin; but as the barons did not condescend to attend, he adjourned it to Kilkenny. This arrangement also failed to procure their presence. He seized Desmond, who had been placed in the care of the Sheriff of Limerick, and conveyed him to Dublin Castle. Several other n.o.bles were arrested at the same time. Sir William Bermingham was confined with his son in the Keep of Dublin Castle, which still bears his name. He was hanged there soon after. De Lucy was recalled to England, probably in consequence of the indignation which was excited by this execution.[352]
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