when the great revolution, brought about by the Milefian adventure. took effect, in the year of the world 2934. It is by all accounts agreed, that the Milefians came from Spain, and, having vanquished the Danonians, affumed the government... which they adminiftered for the space of 2187 years, during the reiga of 166 kings, till the year of Chrift 1172, when the Irish fubmitted Henry II. King of Englar. During this long period feveral memerable events happened, which shall be mentioned in as short a method as is poffible. A. D. 432. St PATRICK preached the gospel in Ireland; and having converted most part of the nation to Chriftianity, died in 493. Attempts were made thirty years before this by four holy men, Kierat Ailbe, Declan, and Ibar, for the converfion of the Irith, and not without confiderable fuccefs; but the bringing over the princes and the baig of the people to the faith, was referved for St Patrick. Bede gives an account, "That in the year 684, Egfred, King of "Northumberland fent an army into Ireland, under the conduct of ha "General Bertfrid, who miferably ravaged that inoffenfive nation, "which had always maintained a most close and friendly intercount with the English, not fparing either churches or monafteries, which people had offered no offence. The Irish, recovered out of their firk "furprife, and invoking the divine aid, affembled their forces, and "defended themselves fo well, that Bertfrid was obliged to return home "with difgrace, and a shattered army." Hiftorians are filent as to the caufe of this invaf.on; but it was probably occafioned by the Irith ving fhelter and protection to Alfred, natural fon to King Ofway, who was father to Egfrid, and whom Ofway had made King of Deira in his own lifetime, to the prejudice of Egfrid, and fo feparated the kingdoms of Deira and Bernicia, which before were united. The Deirians, by the infligation of Egfrid, revolted from Alfred; who was obliged to fly to Ireland for protection, and wait for a favourable opportunity to recover the kingdom. A. D. 795. A more cruel enemy than Egfrid invaded Ireland, namely, the Danes and Norwegians, under the name of Oftmen, who, by various battles and fuccelles, fixed themselves in feveral parts of that country, which they domineered over till the arrival of the Engia, during the space of 377 years. A. D. 964. About this year, Edgar, King of England, fubdued a great part of Ireland, with its moft noble city of Dublin, as is fad in the preamble of a charter afcribed to him; which nevertheless is look ed upon by fome writers as a forgery of the monks. 4. D. 1014. Was fought the bloody and memorable battle of Clontarfe, near Dublin, on the 23d of April, between Bryan Boro, King of Ireland, and Sitrick the Dane, King of Dublin; in which King Bryan obtained the victory; though he, his fon, and grandion, a great number of his grandees, and 7000, fome fay 11,000 foldiers, fell in the battle. 7, King of Man, fubdued Dublin, and in the prefence of his ambaffadors, to fignify his fubjection to him. The Irish received this news with great indignation; but the King confidered better, and told the ambaffadors, he would not only carry, but also eat his fhoes, rather than King Magnus fhould lay wafte one province in Ireland; fo he complied with the order, and honourably entertaining the ambaffadors, fent them back with many prefents to their mafter, with whom he made a league. The ambafladors returning, gave their mafter an account of the fituation, pleafantnefs, fertility, and healthfulnefs of the air of Ireland. Magnus hearing this, turned his thoughts wholly upon the conqueft of that country; to which end he fitted out a fleet, and went before, with fixteen fhips, to take a view of the island; but having unwarily landed, he was furrounded by the Irith, and cut off, with most of those who attended him." A. D. 1110. About this year, Gille Bishop of Limerick, and the 'ope's legate, introduced the Roman liturgy and form of public ferice into the church of Ireland; which was feconded by Malachy, Archhop of Armagh, who was alfo the Pope's legate fome years after; nd in 1171 was perfected by another legate, Chriftian, Bishop of Lifnore, in a fynod held at Cafhell; which the year following was conirmed by K. Henry II.; fo late was it before the Popish ufe of chauntng mafs was fettled in this kingdom. A. D. 1155. At this time the foundation was laid for reducing Ireand to the obedience of the crown of England, which in the event took lace, though not immediately, to the infinite happinefs of that counry, by civilizing the inhabitants thereof, and reclaiming them from a tate of barbaritin and contempt, to the flourishing and reformed conition they now are in. It will be, therefore, neceflary to profecure this fubject more fully than the design of a concife brevity can well admit of. About Michaelmas, King Henry of England held a great council of his peers at Winchelter, with whom he confulted about conquering Irehad, not only on account of the piracies and outrages the Irith daily committed against his fubjects, and the cruelties they exercifed on thofe who fell under their power, whom they bought and fold as flaves, and ued a Turkish tyranny over their perfons, but principally as frequent aids were fent against him from thence in his wars with France. This project, though then laid afide, yet it advanced fo far, that the King feat an amballador to Pope Adrian; who granted him a bull, that by his authority and affent he might reduce Ireland, for the increase of the Christian religion, the correcting the evil manners of the people, and propagating virtue among them. The Pope pretended by his bull, that all Chriftian iflands belonged to the fee of Rome; which, how firm foever, was of infinite advantage in thofe times of dark igrance, and unbounded fuperftition. The bull was foon after carried over to Ireland, and publicly read in a fynod at Waterford. The King, on account of his embroiled affairs in France, as well as the ficulty of the enterprife, was prevailed on to poftpone the defign till a more favourable opportunity, which in a few years after prefented itelf. For, 4.D. 1168. Dermod Mac-Murrough, King of Leinster, having, from fir advancement to the crown, been a great opprefior of his nobi: cruel tyrant over his other fubjects, had now, by his power, forced forced feveral of the neighbouring princes, namely, O-Neil, O-Mein lin, and O-Carrol, to give him hoftages; and, debauching the wate O-Roirk, King of Brefiny, carried her away, by her own confent. : the abfence of her husband. O-Roirk made fuit to Roderick O-Contz King of Ireland, for aid to revenge this outrage; who promised b fuccour; and immediately difpatched couriers to the Kings of Odors and Meath, and to Mac-Turkill, the Danish petty King of Dublin; who a though vaffals and tributaries to Dermod, were readily prevailed on " revenge their own wrongs; and most of his other fubjects deferted hag Dermod. 影 Thus forfaken, he abandoned his country, and, with fixty fervants in his retinue, repaired to King Henry II. then in Aquitain, at war wek the French King, and, in a molt fuppliant manner, implored hit Though Henry could not affift him in perfon, yet taking his cuth r vaffalage and allegiance, he gave him credentials to all his fubje English, Norman, Welch, and Scots, importing a free licence to a him in the recovery of his kingdom. Dermod paffed to Brittol, where he caused Henry's letters to be publifhed, as well as his own overtures of entertainment, to all who would aflift him. His chief dependence was upon Earl Strongbow, a nobleman of great abilities and power; but, by his profufion, obnoxious to his creditors beyond measure; and from thence most ready to embrace all motions that promifed any meas of extricating him from his difficulties. Him Dermod engaged by pr mifing him his daughter Eva in marriage, and the revertion of the kingdom of Leinfter after his death. In his journey to St David's a Wales, he contracted for the affiftance of Robert Fitz-Stephens I Maurice Fitz-Gerald, by promiting them in fee the town of Wexford, and the two adjoining cantreds. From St David's he failed to Ireland, and wintered at Ferns in private among the clergy, impatiently waiting the arrival of his new confederates. A. D. 1169. In May, Fitz-Stephens, accompanied by Meiler Fi Henry, Meiler Fitz-David, Maurice de Prindergaft, Hervey of M Maurice, and others, to the number of thirty knights, fixty in Jack", or light coats of mail, and about 300 archers and footmen, landed ne Wexford, and gave notice of their arrival to Dermod, who, with n natural fon Donald, and 500 men, immediately repaired to them; r the next day they affaulted Wexford, which in four days furrender.c upon conditions; and the townimen gave hottages and oaths for the future allegiance. Maurice Fitz-Gerald arrived foon after with fren recruits; and Dermod, according to ttipulation, granted Wexford d two cantreds to him and Fitz-Stephens, and two cantreds more, litz between Wexford and Waterford, to Hervey of Mount Maurice; an thefe three fettled the first English colony on thefe lands, which has continued in the barony of Forth to this day. From thence they marched against Donald Prince of Offory, twice chaftifed him, plundered the country of O-Phelan about Naas, a fubmiflion. Soon afte Ireland, with nine or who landed near Wa that city, though wit A. D. 1170. In A at the head of 15 or 1 ed by two Danith mag Str . rought O-Tool, and others, to landed near Waterford, by affault on the 23d of that month, with great flaughter. Dermod, and the first adventurers, joining Strongbow at Waterford, the marriage between him and King Dermod's daughter was folemnized, and he reversion of the kingdom of Leinfter affured to him after the King's death. Animated with thefe fucceffes, Dermod perfuaded his new allies to urn their arms against Dublin; alledging, that the reducing that important place would lay the foundation for the conqueft of the whole ingdom. While preparations were making for this enterprise, Rodeick King of Ireland had raised an army of 30,000 horfe and foot, reolving to impede the march of the confederates against Dublin. He encamped with the main body of his forces at Clondalkin, four miles from Dublin, and guarded all the paffes through the mountains with trong detachments. King Dermod laid the difficulties of the attempt before his confederates; but they were of opinion, that to draw back would give fuch a reputation to the arms of Roderick, as would be litthe fhort of a foil, and therefore refolved to proceed. Miles de Cogan, an officer of great valour, marched in the van, fupported by Donald Kavenagh, natural fon to King Dermod, and a strong body of Irifh; Reymond-le-Grofs led the battle with a regiment of 800 English, fuftained by King Dermod, and 1000 Irish; and the rear was brought up by 3000 English, headed by the Earl Strongbow, and fupported by a trong regiment of Irifh. Their orderly march fo appalled the enemy, that they gave way without making any oppofition; and the King of Ireland diffolved his army, and returned home. Dublin was fummoned, and thirty hostages demanded for the better affurance of King Dermod. Mac-Turkill, petty king thereof, fearing the iffue of the fiege, was ready to fubmit to the terms; but the citizens difagreeing in the choice of the hoftages, the time allotted for the treaty expired; of which Miles de Cogan took advantage, and, without command from Dermod or the Earl, made himself mafter of the city with great flaughter, and the foldiers got rich pillage: but Mack-Turkill, and many of the Oftmen citizens, efcaped by means of their fhipping in the harbour. The fame day, being the 21ft of September 1170, King Dermod and the Earl made their entry into Dublin, wherein they found great abundance of provifions. Dermod returned to Ferns; and the Earl, about Michaelmas, marched to Waterford with a party of his forces, leaving Dublin under the command of Miles de Cogan, who may be truly called the firft Englith governor' of it. A. D. 1171. King Dermod died at Ferns in May, and most of the Irith nobility forfook the Earl, except Donald Kavenagh, and two or three others. In the mean time the news of thefe fucceffes had reached the ears of King Henry, who was jealous of Strongbow, and thought himself robbed of the glory of fo great a conquest. He therefore not only confiscated all the Earl's eitate, though he had acted in this matter by his verbal licence, but by proclamation prohibited a!! his fubjects from importing provifions or flores into Ireland, and commanded fuch of them as were already in that kingdom to return home by a certain day. This ftep, and the news that King Roderick had levied an army with an intent to befiege Dublin, brought the Ear to defend the town, and to confult means to appeafe the King's a derick invested the city with an army of 60,000 men, which y B b but J but weakly provided with men or victuals, the ftores taken within a city being much confumed. However, they bore the fiege for tw months; but then, all neceffaries failing, and no hopes of relief ira abroad, Strongbow was advised in council to treat with Roderick, a that he fhould offer to fubmit himself unto him, to become his man and to hold Leinster of him as a feudatory province. But Roderi knowing the difficulties the garrifon laboured under, infifted upon mac more exorbitant terms, and therefore willed the ambassador to acquas the Earl, that unless he furrendered into his hands, not only Dasia but Waterford and Wexford, with all his caftles, and returned here.. with his English forces, that he would without delay give the anal, 3and made no doubt of carrying the city by form. Thefe high demands were of too hard digestion for foldiers accuton ed to conqueft; and, by the advice of Miles de Cogan, they revived upon a fudden fally, which they made with 600 inen. The east were fo furprised that they fled before them; 1500 fell in the or et and many prifoners were made, and the city was relieved in its greateft extremity; fuch great ftores of corn, meal, and pork, being in the enemy's camp, as were fufficient to victual the garrison for a year. The Earl failed to England to appease the King, to vh hi offered all the acquifitions he had made either by the word or MEATriage; and it was agreed, that he fhould recognise the King as ho fovereign lord, fhould furrender to him the city of Dublin, with the adjacent cantreds, the maritime towns of Leinster, the city of Water ford, and all castles, and thould acknowledge to hold the remainder cí the King and his heirs. Mac Turkill took advantage of the Earl's abfence, and a "gå in the harbour of Dublin with a fleet of 60 fail, and 10,000 finery levied in the Isle of Man, the Orcades, and Norway, full of hepato recover his former grandeur. He hoped to furprife the city, cam it by a fudden alfault. But his life paid for this raih attempt; azd mot of his party were either flaughtered, or disperfed into the county. where, being odious to the natives for their former crueldes, they were flain in great numbers. Thus ended the power of the Olmen in Du blin, who never after made any effort to recover their former polies Many of them had before incorporated with the Irish; and now, V.“ on this grea revolution, fuch as remained in the city or neighbourhood became quiet fubjects to the Englih, and by degrees gres cac people with them. 4. D. 1172. While thefe things were doing, King Henry was preparing for a voyage into Ireland; where he arrived, near Waterford, with a fleet of 240 hips, on the 18th of October, attended by F.-* Strongbow, Willion Fitz-Adelm, Humphrey de Bolun, Hugh de L cy, Robert Fitz-Bernard, and many other grandees; buides 400 knights, or hen at arms, and 4000 toldiers well appointed. The t. ? action he did upon hi, landing was, to receive the investiture of the car of Waterford, and the homage of Earl Strongbow for the kingdoer og Leinster, the inheritance of which was granted to him by the Ag who placed Robert Fitz-Bernard in the government of Waterfa and from thence marched to Dublin, which Strongbow delivered up to him, and the King committed the government thereof to run de Lacy. From Dublin his Majely marched into Munfter, and in his journey |