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diff --git a/27226-tei/27226-tei.tei b/27226-tei/27226-tei.tei new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a775367 --- /dev/null +++ b/27226-tei/27226-tei.tei @@ -0,0 +1,3612 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> + +<!DOCTYPE TEI.2 SYSTEM "http://www.gutenberg.org/tei/marcello/0.4/dtd/pgtei.dtd" [ + +<!ENTITY u5 "http://www.tei-c.org/Lite/"> + +]> + +<TEI.2 lang="en"> +<teiHeader> + <fileDesc> + <titleStmt> + <title>An Essay on the Antient and Modern State of Ireland</title> + <author><name reg="Brooke, Henry">Henry Brooke</name></author> + </titleStmt> + <editionStmt> + <edition n="1">Edition 1</edition> + </editionStmt> + <publicationStmt> + <publisher>Project Gutenberg</publisher> + <date>November 10, 2008</date> + <idno type="etext-no">27226</idno> + <availability> + <p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and + with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it + away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg + License online at www.gutenberg.org/license</p> + </availability> + </publicationStmt> + <sourceDesc> + <bibl> + Created electronically. + </bibl> + </sourceDesc> + </fileDesc> + <encodingDesc> + </encodingDesc> + <profileDesc> + <langUsage> + <language id="en"></language> + <language id="la"></language> + </langUsage> + </profileDesc> + <revisionDesc> + <change> + <date value="2008-11-10">November 10, 2008</date> + <respStmt> + <name> + Produced by Robert Cicconetti, David King, and the Online + Distributed Proofreading Team at <http://www.pgdp.net/>. + </name> + </respStmt> + <item>Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1</item> + </change> + </revisionDesc> +</teiHeader> + +<pgExtensions> + <pgStyleSheet> + .boxed { x-class: boxed } + .shaded { x-class: shaded } + .rules { x-class: rules; rules: all } + .indent { margin-left: 2 } + .bold { font-weight: bold } + .italic { font-style: italic } + .smallcaps { font-variant: small-caps } + .gesperrt { font-style: italic } + </pgStyleSheet> + + <pgCharMap formats="txt.iso-8859-1"> + <char id="U0x2014"> + <charName>mdash</charName> + <desc>EM DASH</desc> + <mapping>--</mapping> + </char> + <char id="U0x2003"> + <charName>emsp</charName> + <desc>EM SPACE</desc> + <mapping> </mapping> + </char> + <char id="U0x2026"> + <charName>hellip</charName> + <desc>HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS</desc> + <mapping>...</mapping> + </char> + </pgCharMap> +</pgExtensions> + +<text lang="en"> + <front> + <div> + <divGen type="pgheader" /> + </div> + <div> + <divGen type="encodingDesc" /> + </div> + + <div rend="page-break-before: always"> + <p rend="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center">An Essay On The</p> + <p rend="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center">Ancient and Modern State</p> + <p rend="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center">Of Ireland</p> + <p rend="font-size: large; text-align: center">With the Various Important Advantages</p> + <p rend="font-size: large; text-align: center">Thereunto Derived,</p> + <p rend="font-size: large; text-align: center">under the auspicious Reign of His most sacred Majesty</p> + <p rend="font-size: large; text-align: center">King GEORGE the Second.</p> + <p rend="font-size: large; text-align: center">Including a particular Account</p> + <p rend="font-size: large; text-align: center">of the great and glorious</p> + <p rend="font-size: large; text-align: center">St. Patrick</p> + <p rend="font-size: large; text-align: center">By</p> + <p rend="font-size: x-large; text-align: center">Henry Brooke</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">Dublin: Printed</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">London: Re-Printed</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">for R. Griffiths.</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">MDCCLX.</p> + </div> + <div rend="page-break-before: always"> + <head>Contents</head> + <divGen type="toc" /> + </div> + </front> +<body> + +<pb n='003'/><anchor id='Pg003'/> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head>Dedication.</head> + +<p> +TO +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='smallcaps'>Matthew M<hi rend="vertical-align: super">c</hi>. Namara</hi>, +</p> + +<p> +Of <hi rend='italic'>LIMERICK</hi>, Esq; +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='smallcaps'>Counsellor</hi> at LAW. +</p> + +<p> +Justly sensible, Sir, how +sincerely You have the Character +and Esteem of our Native +Country at Heart, I take Leave +to offer to Your Perusal, and +commend to Your favourable Acceptance, +the following Sheets. +</p> + +<p> +What gave them Rise, was my happening, +some Time since, to have fallen into +Company with two or three sprightly young +Gentlemen, then just returned from their +Continental Rambles,—who—altho' little +burthened with the Religion, Laws, Learning, +Policy, Customs, Habits, Manners, or +Languages of any, or the several Countries +they had scampered thro', affected, nevertheless, +an high Contempt for this,—their +Native. +</p> + +<pb n='004'/><anchor id='Pg004'/> + +<p> +I listened with silent Indignation, and +determined to contribute my Mite towards +giving such unattentive, uninformed +Youths, a more adequate Idea of this Kingdom, +under its ancient and under its present +happy Establishment. +</p> + +<p> +The common Accidents of Time must +lead them by better Authority to clearer +Knowledge: In the mean while, I profess +my Obligations to them, as they have given +me this Opportunity of declaring my Regard +to my Country in general, and the +particular Attachments that ever bind me, +in the strictest Sense of Fidelity and Esteem, +to a Friend so worthy as You have +been to, +</p> + +<p> +Sir,<lb/> +Your very obliged, and<lb/> +Most obedient Servant. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='005'/><anchor id='Pg005'/> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head>Essay.</head> + +<p> +In a Nation, where almost every +Gentleman is better acquainted, and +more conversant, with the Nature +and Circumstances of other Countries +than those of his own, the +Publication of such Hints as may somewhat +contribute to remove so odd an Inattention, and +induce those far better qualified to render a Subject +so interesting some Justice, will not, I +hope, be deemed an Impertinence; in one especially +who, by this Essay, however feeble, hath +nothing beside the Honour and Advantage of +<pb n='006'/><anchor id='Pg006'/> +<hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> in View, a Kingdom whereof he is, without +Vanity, proud of being a Native. +</p> + +<p> +As the Story of Savages and Barbarians can +contain nothing instructive, or entertaining, the +<hi rend='italic'>Antemilesian</hi> Inhabitants of this Land having +been mostly such, and all surviving Accounts +of them almost totally overcast with Fable, we +are therefore, in treating of the antient <hi rend='italic'>Scotia</hi>, or +modern <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, to refer principally to three +distinguished æras, whereof the <emph>first</emph> is, its +being peopled by an <hi rend='italic'>Iberian</hi> or <hi rend='italic'>Spanish</hi> +Colony: The <emph>second</emph>, truly glorious, the Arrival of St. +<hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi>, in his most salutary Mission: The <emph>third</emph> +and last, its Cession to <hi rend='italic'>Henry</hi> the Second, King +of <hi rend='italic'>England</hi>, (the first of the Royal Race of +<hi rend='italic'>Plantagenet</hi>) partly from a pretended Title of +<hi rend='italic'>Adrian</hi> the Fourth, Pope of <hi rend='italic'>Rome</hi>; partly +from the restless and insatiable Desires of <hi rend='italic'>Henry</hi>; +<emph>more</emph> from the manifold Infirmities of the then reigning +<hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi> Chiefs—but above all, from the peculiarly +adverse Fate of <hi rend='italic'>Roderick</hi>, the last of our +Kings. +</p> + +<p> +The assiduous, exact, and candid Author of the +<hi rend='italic'>Dissertations</hi>,<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Dublin</hi>, +1753, <hi rend='italic'>M. Reilly</hi>, Editor.</note> lately published, on the Origin, +Government, Letters, Sciences, Religion, +Manners and Customs of the antient Inhabitants +of this Country, hath put all those Matters in +so clear and happy, and, at the same Time, in so +strong a Light, by the Powers of various foreign +Testimonies, of undeniable Authenticity, +coincident with our own, that scarce any Thing +new can be offered on the same Subject. +</p> + +<p> +It may, however, in general be observed, +that <hi rend='italic'>Milesius</hi>, a <hi rend='italic'>Spanish</hi> Prince, so far +back as the Reign of <hi rend='italic'>Solomon</hi> (instigated by Necessity, +or induced by Ambition) with a considerable +<pb n='007'/><anchor id='Pg007'/> +Number of Associates and Followers, +landed from the Western Parts of <hi rend='italic'>Spain</hi>, on the +Southern Coasts of this Island, where it is probable +they met little, or but faint Opposition, +from wild and undisciplined Inhabitants. +</p> + +<p> +Those People, from their early Knowledge +of the <hi rend='italic'>Phœnician</hi> Arts and Letters, imported +such Rudiments of Government and Learning, +as those primitive Times admitted; a Truth +visible from the Similarity or rather Identity of +the <hi rend='italic'>Phœnician</hi> and <hi rend='italic'>Scotic</hi> Alphabet. +</p> + +<p> +This antient Colony quietly settled here, remote +from the Storms and Revolutions of the +greater World, and secured by Situation from +its hostile Incursions, there is no Doubt but the +Cultivation of Religion, Philosophy, Politicks, +Poetry, and Musick, became the chief Objects +of popular Study and Application: The Spirit +of Ambition in succeeding Ages, with its unhappy +concomitant Train of Sedition, Faction, +and Violence, the foreign Invasions, and often +the intestine Oppressions and Calamities, to +which our neighbouring Nations were subject, +calling forth the protective or conciliating Aids +of those ancient Heroes, made them great Masters +also in the Art military. +</p> + +<p> +The Pentarchy originally formed by those +<hi rend='italic'>Iberian</hi> or <hi rend='italic'>Celtic Spaniards</hi>, with a +popular Right of Election, was certainly a Kind of Government +extremely consistent with the Essence and +Genius of true Liberty, and a System derived +from the Patriarchs themselves. For when the +various Necessities of Society required a Subordination, +together with some stated Maxims to +go by, to avoid the confused and promiscuous +Intercourse in a State of Nature; then did the +People elect the most Virtuous and Wise, to lead +<pb n='008'/><anchor id='Pg008'/> +and conduct them in Times of War and Trouble; +to govern, inform, and protect them, in +milder and more auspicious Seasons. Then was +the Motto of the Crown, or of the chief Ensign +of Pre-eminence, <hi rend='italic'>Digniori detur</hi>, and so continued +till the Degeneracy of Time, and the +baneful Growth of Avarice and Pride, with the +feverish Lust of Power, perverted it to—<hi rend='italic'>Rapiat +Fortior</hi>! +</p> + +<p> +Such, thro' a long Succession of Ages, was +the Condition, and such at length the Fate of +this Kingdom, destroyed after a longer Continuance +than any other can boast, by the Abuse +of its own Powers; a sure Argument that all +created Beings, all sublunary Institutions, however +wisely composed, in the very Essence of +their Creation, and in the very Rudiments of +their Formation, comprehend, at the same Time, +the Seeds of Dissolution: Yet it is not more remarkable +than true, that in the most boisterous +Periods of this Kingdom's antient Establishment, +the Arts and Sciences, with the fundamental +Principles of Constitution, were preserved +and cherished with inviolable Assiduity. +The Priests, Philosophers, Advocates, Annalists, +Poets and Musicians, were obliged to preserve +Religion, political Wisdom, Law, History, <hi rend='italic'>&c.</hi> +hereditarily in their respective Tribes, and to +educate in these different Branches the Chiefs +and Nobles of the Land, for which they were +graciously maintained in secure and splendid +Tranquillity: Those Sages attended the National +Conventions, where all publick Acts were religiously +recorded, and all Abuses of Power and +Government retrenched or reformed; nor were +they permitted, except in Case of extraordinary +Necessity, or uncommon Merit, to deviate from +<pb n='009'/><anchor id='Pg009'/> +their proper and primitive Spheres of Action: +Since, where an harmonious Subordination of +Rank and Order hath not been duly preserved, +even in free Estates, Liberty itself (wisely attempered, +the greatest of all social Blessings) +hath often, from Abuse and Neglect, sickened +into Licentiousness, the immediate lewd Mother +of Anarchy! In the visible Creation, the direct +Result of infinite Wisdom, the lesser Planets do +not interfere with, much less shock or oppose +the Motions and Revolutions of the greater; +they constantly keep the Distances first prescribed +them, and all move regularly to their +respective Ends. The most verdant and fragrant +Meadows may, from the too frequent Irruption +of muddy Waters, degenerate into +noxious Marshes, if some Care was not taken +to divert those impure Gushings into their proper +Channels. Hence it may be inferred, that +laying open the most honorary, as well as important +and useful Professions of Society, to the +Intrusion, or rather pyratical Invasions, of the +Scum and Dregs of the People, cannot, however +varnished over with the fictitious Colourings +of pretended Liberty, consist with true Political +Wisdom. +</p> + +<p> +Those ancient <hi rend='italic'>Sophi</hi> and <hi rend='italic'>Literati</hi> enjoyed +their Places with the greater Security, that they +were uninvadable by the inferior Classes of Mankind; +with the greater Content and Chearfulness, +that much Esteem and Emolument were +connected with them: The Priest and Advocate +informed and directed the Conscience and Conduct; +the Historian and Annalist recorded the +Institutions; the Poet and Musician celebrated +and sung the Exploits of their Kings and Leaders: +No Wonder then this Kingdom should +<pb n='010'/><anchor id='Pg010'/> +have been revered at Home, and admired Abroad; +when Religion formed, Erudition nurtured, +Philosophy strengthened, History preserved, +Rhetorick adorned, Musick softened, +and Poesy refined, the National Wisdom and +Accomplishments; to all which was added, a +thorough Knowledge of Tactics, and great +Skill and Agility in all the athletick Arts, and +bodily Exercises. +</p> + +<p> +In the Versions of some original Codes exported +by our Countryman, the learned and +pious St. <hi rend='italic'>Fiechry</hi>, still extant in the +<hi rend='italic'>Navarre</hi> Library at <hi rend='italic'>Paris</hi>, the +Constitutional Wisdom of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> appears in a clear and happy +Light: Persons, Things, Actions, and Expressions, +were cautiously attended to, by the Laws; <emph>Persons</emph>, +in their Minority, Youth, and Manhood, +according to their different Ranks in the State, +so as by Care, Education, and Discipline, to +render them, some subservient, others useful, +some beneficial, and others ornamental thereunto. +<emph>Things</emph>, so carefully, as to prevent, by +prohibatory Laws, Wastes of whatsoever Kind, +and to ascertain to each Individual, as well as +Society, their proper and distinct Rights. <emph>Actions</emph>, +by directing those in general, and particular, +to the Honour of the Deity and Welfare +of the Community: <emph>Expression</emph>, by the penal +Interdiction of prophane Cursing and Swearing, +Obscenity, Scurrility, Calumny, and Detraction, +yet with a full Indulgence of proper Satire +against such as merited popular Reprehension, +or Contempt; the Satirist's Pen in those +Days being as much dreaded, or rather more +so, than the Magistrate's Rod, and consequently +as diligently avoided by a Demeanour absolutely +irreproachable. +</p> + +<pb n='011'/><anchor id='Pg011'/> + +<p> +It appeareth that, under the antient Government +of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, the Education of the landed +Gentry, when Luxury, with its wasteful Catalogue +of Vices, had not rendered Property so +mutable and wavering as in modern Ages, +was provided for; whether by the immediate +Care of Parents, or essential Attention of Guardians, +by the Laws of the Land; in order that +Gentlemen should, to the Antiquity of Birth +and Possession, add the important Dignity of +Learning, and social Refinement of Arts: Since +a Man at the Head of an original Estate, who +should want the necessary Cultivation of Letters, +was considered only as a Peasant in Disguise, +and not more respected than a Hewer of +Wood, or Drawer of Water. +</p> + +<p> +In these Writings of St. <hi rend='italic'>Fiechry</hi>, the legislative +Wisdom of <hi rend='italic'>Olam-Fodla</hi>; the philosophically-religious +Capacity of <hi rend='italic'>Cormac-O Quin</hi>, who, +from the pure Light of Nature, in a great Measure +defeated the absurd <hi rend='italic'>Polytheism</hi> of the +<hi rend='italic'>Druids</hi>; the consummate Integrity and Impartiality of +<hi rend='italic'>Federach</hi> the Just, and <hi rend='italic'>Moran</hi> his Chief +Justice; the Magnanimity of <hi rend='italic'>Con-Ked-Cathagh</hi>; the Conquests +of <hi rend='italic'>Kineth Mac Alpin</hi>; the long, glorious, +and peaceful Reign of <hi rend='italic'>Conary</hi> the Great, +<hi rend='italic'>coæval</hi> with the Birth of our Blessed Lord and +Saviour <hi rend='italic'>Jesus Christ</hi>, (undoubtedly the happiest, +brightest, and most blissful Period the World +ever saw;) are all displayed in a copious masterly +Style, yet with strict chronological Exactness. +</p> + +<p> +This learned St. <hi rend='italic'>Fiechry</hi> was Founder of the +University in <hi rend='italic'>Paris</hi>, in the Beginning of the +8th Century. The better to enable him to carry +on that noble Work, he obtained of <hi rend='italic'>Charles</hi> the +Great a Tax on all Wheel-Carriages, within +<pb n='012'/><anchor id='Pg012'/> +the Barriers of that City: Whence, a Hackney-Coach +is at this Day technically term'd <hi rend='italic'>Fiacre</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Charles</hi> the Great, in order to repair the cruel +and truly lamentable literary Dilapidations of +the ferocious North-men, invited Numbers of +the learned and pious <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi> to the Continent, +where he established and entertained them with +Dignity, Tenderness, and Respect. In a curious +Manuscript of <hi rend='italic'>Nicholaus Gurtlerus</hi>, (now +in the <hi rend='italic'>French</hi> King's <hi rend='italic'>Parisian</hi> Library) +Author of the <hi rend='italic'>Origines Mundi</hi>, where he alludes to these +Times, you find the following favourable, but true Account of +<hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>.—<foreign lang="la" +rend="font-style: italic">Temporibus illis, barbaris +Normannorum Cohortibus undequaque irrumpentibus, +Religio, Fides, Philosophia, Virtus, Hospitalitas, +Fortitudo, Castitas, necnon et Amœniores +omnium generum Artes, Hibernia solummodò natali, +veluti Solo, viguerunt</foreign>; little Wonder that +<hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> should have been esteemed the +<hi rend='italic'>Ierne</hi>, or sacred Isle of the <hi rend='italic'>Greeks</hi>, the +<hi rend='italic'>Insula Sanctorum</hi>, or Island of Saints of the +<hi rend='italic'>Romans</hi>.—Would to +Heaven our Countrymen had, upon all considerable +Occasions, recollected those deserved Encomiums, +thereby to approve them worthy their +applauded Origin, and native Soil! +</p> + +<p> +We now proceed to consider <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> in her +happiest and brightest View, after the Admission +and Propagation of Christianity. It is certain +there were many Christians in <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, before +the Arrival of <hi rend='italic'>Palladius</hi> in 431, or of St. +<hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi> the Year following: St. <hi rend='italic'>Kieran</hi>, +St. <hi rend='italic'>Ailbe</hi>, St. <hi rend='italic'>Declan</hi>, and St. +<hi rend='italic'>Ibar</hi>, whom <hi rend='italic'>Ussher</hi> calls the +Precursors, or Forerunners of St. <hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi>, are +pregnant Proofs of this; they were of the Birth of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, +from whence they travelled to <hi rend='italic'>Rome</hi>, +in Search of Education and Learning, where +<pb n='013'/><anchor id='Pg013'/> +they lived some Years, were ordained, and returned +Home about the Year 402. +</p> + +<p> +It seems that those early Preachers confined +their Labours to particular Places, in which they +had considerable Success, but fell very short of +converting the Body of the Nation: However, +they sowed the Seed which St. <hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi> came +after to water: And it is certain that St. <hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi> +was so well satisfied with the Progress they +made, in their particular Districts in <hi rend='italic'>Munster</hi>, +that this was the last Province in <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> he +thought proper to visit. That there were many +Christians in <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, at this Period, seems to +be confirmed by <hi rend='italic'>Prosper</hi>, who, in giving an +Account of the Mission of <hi rend='italic'>Palladius</hi>, says, that +he was ordained by Pope <hi rend='italic'>Celestin</hi>, and sent the +first Bishop to the <hi rend='italic'>Scots</hi> believing in Christ. +This Passage can mean nothing else, but that +<hi rend='italic'>Palladius</hi>, born in Britain, was sent to the Scots +[i.e. the <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi>] who had already formed Churches +under <hi rend='italic'>Kieran</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Ailbe</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Declan</hi> and <hi rend='italic'>Ibar</hi>; and so +the Bishop of St. <hi rend='italic'>Asaph</hi> expounds it. This then +was the next Attempt that was made for the Conversion of the +<hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi>: <hi rend='italic'>Palladius</hi> engaged in a +more ample and extensive Design than his Predecessors, +yet he failed in the Execution of it, +stay'd but a short Time in <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, and did little +worth remembring; he converted, however, a +few, and is said to have founded three Churches; +but he had neither Courage to withstand the +Fierceness of the heathen <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi>, nor Abilities, +for Want of the Language, proper for the +Work. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Nathi</hi>, the Son of <hi rend='italic'>Garcon</hi>, an +<hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi> Prince, opposed his preaching; upon which +<hi rend='italic'>Palladius</hi> left the Kingdom, and died in the Land of the +<hi rend='italic'>Picts</hi>, on the 15th of <hi rend='italic'>December</hi>, 431. +This +<pb n='014'/><anchor id='Pg014'/> +glorious Work was reserved for St. <hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi>, to +whose holy Life, divine Mission, and extraordinary +Success, I refer the Reader. This great +Apostle of the <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi> founded and built the Cathedral +Church of <hi rend='italic'>Ardmagh</hi>, about the Year +444, or 45, which, from that early Period to +this, hath continued the Metropolitan Church +of all <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>. So that 1194 Years passed away +from the Founding of the City of <hi rend='italic'>Rome</hi>, to that +of <hi rend='italic'>Ardmagh</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +The various and most signal Blessings derived +to this Nation, from the salutary Mission of this +illustrious Saint, require, in Gratitude, our +giving the Reader yet a further Account of the +Author of such Happiness and Glory to <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +He was born in the extreme Bounds of <hi rend='italic'>Britain</hi>, +(in that Part thereof which is now comprehended +within the Limits of the modern +<hi rend='italic'>Scotland</hi>) at a Village called <hi rend='italic'>Banaven</hi>, +in the Territory of <hi rend='italic'>Tabernia</hi>, (as he himself saith in +his Confession) in <hi rend='italic'>Vico Banaven Taberniæ</hi>, &c. +He tells us that he was born of a good Family. +<foreign lang="la" rend="font-style:italic">Ingennuus fui secundum Carnem.</foreign> +His Father was <hi rend='italic'>Calphurnius</hi>, a Deacon, who was the Son +of <hi rend='italic'>Potitus</hi>, a Priest; from whence may be +clearly inferred that the Clergy were not restrained +from Matrimony in that Age. He was +just advanced into his sixteenth Year, when he +was taken Captive, the Manner of which is thus +related by St. <hi rend='italic'>Evin</hi> and others: His Father, +Mother, Brother, and five Sisters, undertook a +Voyage to <hi rend='italic'>Aremorick Gaul</hi>, (now called <hi rend='italic'>Bass +Bretagne</hi>) to visit the Relations of his Mother <hi rend='italic'>Couchessa</hi>. +It happened about this Time, that the +seven Sons of <hi rend='italic'>Factmude</hi>, a <hi rend='italic'>British</hi> +Prince, were banished, and took to the Sea; that, making +an Inroad into <hi rend='italic'>Aremorick Gaul</hi>, they took +<hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi> +<pb n='015'/><anchor id='Pg015'/> +and his Sister, <hi rend='italic'>Lupita</hi>, (some say <hi rend='italic'>Tigrida</hi> +also) Prisoners. They brought their Captives to the North of +<hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, and sold <hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi> to +<hi rend='italic'>Milcho Mac Huanan</hi>, a Prince of <hi rend='italic'>Dalaradia</hi>: +Others tell the Story in a different Manner, and +with a stronger Degree of Probability. That the <hi rend='italic'>Romans</hi> +having deserted <hi rend='italic'>Britain</hi>, to preserve +their own Country from the barbarous Incursions +of the <hi rend='italic'>Northern Hive</hi>, the <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi> made +frequent Conquests, in <hi rend='italic'>North Britain</hi> especially, whence +returning victorious, in one of those Expeditions +among others brought <hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi> Captive. But in +this they all agree, and he himself confirms it, +that he continued Prisoner in <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> six Years; +he was sold to <hi rend='italic'>Milcho</hi> and his three Brothers, +which gave Occasion of his changing his Name into <hi rend='italic'>Cathraigh</hi>, +or rather <hi rend='italic'>Ceathir-Tigh</hi>, because +he served four Masters; <hi rend='italic'>Ceathir</hi> signifying four, +and <hi rend='italic'>Tigh</hi> a House or Family. <hi rend='italic'>Milcho</hi> +observing the Care and Diligence of his new Servant, +bought out the Shares of his Brothers, and made +him his own Property. He sent him to feed his Hogs on +<hi rend='italic'>Sliev-Mis</hi>. And St. <hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi> himself +tells us his Behaviour in this Office. +</p> + +<p> +<q>My constant Business was to feed the Hogs. +I was frequent in Prayer; the Love and Fear +of God more and more inflamed my Heart; +my Faith was enlarged, and my Spirit augmented, +so that I said an hundred Prayers by +Day, and almost as many by Night. I arose +before Day to my Prayers, in the Snow, in the +Frost, and in the Rain, and yet I received no +Damage; nor was I affected with Slothfulness; +for then the Spirit of God was warm within +me.</q> It was here he perfected himself in the +<hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi> Language, the wonderful Providence of +God visibly appearing in this Instance of his +<pb n='016'/><anchor id='Pg016'/> +Captivity, that he should have the Opportunity +in his tender Years of becoming well acquainted +with the Language, Manners, and Dispositions +of that People, to whom he was intended as a +future Apostle. He continued six whole Years +in Servitude, and in the seventh was released. +There seems to have been a Law in <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> for +this Purpose, agreeable to the Institution of +<hi rend='italic'>Moses</hi>, that a Servant should be released the +seventh Year. +</p> + +<p> +Having parted from his Master, after a great +Variety of Distresses, he at length arrived to his +Parents, who received him with extraordinary +Joy; with these he remained two Years, and +probably would much longer, had he not by a +Vision been quickened to a more active and glorious +Life. In this he thought he saw a Man +coming to him from <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, whose Name was +<hi rend='italic'>Victoricus</hi>, with a great Number of Letters; that +he gave him one of them to read, in the Beginning +of which were contained these Words, <hi rend='italic'>Vox-Hiberionacum</hi>, +the Voice of the <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi>: While +he was reading this Letter, he thought the same +Moment, that he heard the Voice of the Inhabitants +who lived near the Wood of <hi rend='italic'>Foclut</hi>, in +the Barony of <hi rend='italic'>Tyr-Awley</hi>, and County of +<hi rend='italic'>Mayo</hi>, hard by the Western Sea, crying to him with an +audible and distinct Voice, <q>We intreat thee, +holy Youth, to come and walk among us.</q> He +was greatly amazed at this Vision, and awoke; +it animated him, however, to his future Studies +and heavenly Progress; so far even, that he +tells us himself, he thanked God, that after many +Years he had dealt with the <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi>, according to +their crying out. +</p> + +<p> +These early Scenes of this great Saint's Life, +should, among many others, serve as lessons of +<pb n='017'/><anchor id='Pg017'/> +Charity, Consideration, and Humility, to the +Rich, the Great, the Proud, and the Wanton; +who may recollect that, altho' he was well born, +he was nevertheless, in the most vigorous Season +of Life, a Slave and a Swine-Herd: Happy, +though wretched Servitude! In which, his leisure +Hours, mostly employed in Christian Confidence +and Prayer, made him so signally the +Favourite of Heaven, that from those cloudy +Dawnings, he in Process of Time became a +learned Doctor, a sanctified Missioner, a venerable +Prelate, an eminent Primate, a national Apostle, +and the bright Instructor of Kings! Such were +the fruitful Rewards of uninterrupted unshaken +Devotion, Piety, and Zeal! From this Time +he formed the steady Resolution of converting +the <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi>; and, the better to accomplish the heavenly +Task, he undertook a laborious Journey +to foreign Countries, to enrich his Mind with +Learning and Experience. +</p> + +<p> +He continued abroad thirty-five Years, pursuing +his Studies under the Direction principally +of his Mother's Uncle, St. <hi rend='italic'>Martin</hi>, Bishop of +<hi rend='italic'>Tours</hi>, who had ordained him Deacon; and after +his Death, partly with St. <hi rend='italic'>German</hi>, Bishop of +<hi rend='italic'>Auxerre</hi>, (who ordained him a Priest, and called +his Name <hi rend='italic'>Magonius</hi>, which was the third Name +he was known by,) partly among a Colony of <hi rend='italic'>Hermits</hi> and +<hi rend='italic'>Monks</hi>, in some Islands of the <hi rend='italic'>Tuscan</hi> +Sea; and he employed a good Part of the +Time in the City of <hi rend='italic'>Rome</hi>, among the Canons +Regular of the <hi rend='italic'>Lateran</hi> Church: At length, +having his Soul thoroughly tempered with +religious Virtue, enlightened with the true +Evangelical Faith, and his Understanding enlarged +by the most profitable and edifying +Studies, he arrived in <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> about the 60th +<pb n='018'/><anchor id='Pg018'/> +Year of his Age; and in the Year of our Lord +432, landed in the County of <hi rend='italic'>Wicklow</hi>, where +he began his Ministry, by the Conversion of +<hi rend='italic'>Sinel</hi>, a great Man in that Country, the Grandson +of <hi rend='italic'>Finchad</hi>, who ought to be remembered, +as he was the first Fruits of St. <hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi>'s Mission +in <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>; he was the 8th in lineal Descent from +<hi rend='italic'>Cormac</hi>, King of <hi rend='italic'>Leinster</hi>, and came +afterwards to be enumerated among the Saints of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +From this Country he sailed to an Island on +the Coast of the County of <hi rend='italic'>Dublin</hi>, called after +him <hi rend='italic'>Inis Phadring</hi>, and by the <hi rend='italic'>English</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Holm Patrick</hi> at this Day, where he and his faithful +Companions rested after their Fatigues. From +<hi rend='italic'>Inis Phadring</hi>, he sailed Northward to that Part +of <hi rend='italic'>Ulster</hi> called <hi rend='italic'>Ulidia</hi>, and put in at +<hi rend='italic'>Inbherslaying</hi> Bay. When he and his Fellow Labourers +landed, <hi rend='italic'>Dichu</hi>, the Son of <hi rend='italic'>Trichem</hi>, Lord +of the County, being informed that they were Pirates, +came out with armed Men in order to +kill them: But being struck with the venerable +Appearance of St. <hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi>, he gave him Audience, +and listened attentively to the Word of +Life preached by him; he changed his wicked +Purpose, believed, and was baptized, and brought +over all his Family to the Faith: It is further +observed of him, that he was the first Person in +<hi rend='italic'>Ulster</hi>, who embraced Christianity. He dedicated +the Land whereon his Conversion was +wrought to the Service of God, where a Church +was erected, changed after to an eminent Monastery. +He travelled hence by Land to <hi rend='italic'>Clunebois</hi> +in <hi rend='italic'>Dalaradia</hi>, to endeavour the Conversion +of his old Master <hi rend='italic'>Milcho</hi>, whose Service he had +left thirty-eight Years before; but this obstinate +Prince, hearing of the great Success of St. <hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi>'s +preaching, and ashamed to be persuaded +<pb n='019'/><anchor id='Pg019'/> +in his old Age, to forsake the Religion of his +Ancestors, (by one especially who had been his +Servant, in a most inferior Station,) made a +funeral Pile of his House and Goods, and by +the Instigation of the Enemy of Mankind, +burned himself therein: Thus ended <hi rend='italic'>Milcho McHuanan</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +Hence St. <hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi> returned to <hi rend='italic'>Inis</hi>, the +Habitation of <hi rend='italic'>Dichu</hi>, and in his Journey converted +great Numbers to the true Faith of <hi rend='italic'>Christ</hi>. +In some time, he took his Leave of <hi rend='italic'>Dichu</hi>, and +bent his course Southward by Sea, keeping the +Coast on his Right-hand, and arrived at Port +<hi rend='italic'>Colbdi</hi>, where he landed, and committed the +Care of his Vessel to his Nephew <hi rend='italic'>Luman</hi>, +desiring him to wait for him there forty Days, +while he and his Disciples were travelling in the +inner Parts of the Country to preach the Gospel. +His Intention in this Journey was, to celebrate the Festival of +<hi rend='italic'>Easter</hi> in the Plains of <hi rend='italic'>Bregia</hi>, and +to be in the Neighbourhood of the Great Triennial +Convention at <hi rend='italic'>Tarah</hi>, which at this Season +was held by King <hi rend='italic'>Leogair</hi>, and all his Tributary Princes, +Nobles, <hi rend='italic'>Druids</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Annalists</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>and Fileas</hi>. +St. <hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi> wisely foreseeing that whatever Impressions +he should make on this august Assembly +must have an Influence on the whole Kingdom, +and therefore, being supported with invincible +Christian Fortitude, resolved not to be +absent from a Place where his Presence was so +conducive to the Ends of his Holy Ministry. +</p> + +<p> +Never did the Spirit of popular Freedom +exert itself more powerfully or harmoniously, +than in those truly parliamentary Triennial Conventions +of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, where the supreme Monarch, +the Provincial Kings, the feudatory Lords, +the Nobles, landed Men, <hi rend='italic'>Druids</hi>, &c. by the +<pb n='020'/><anchor id='Pg020'/> +unbiased Suffrages of the People, convened for +the Peace, good Government and Security of +each particular Province, as well as those of the +whole Kingdom. Many Centuries had this +wise Constitution subsisted here, before our +Neighbours, even of <hi rend='italic'>South Britain</hi>, knew any +thing relative to Houses, or Raiment; it being +notorious that so late as the Arrival of <hi rend='italic'>Julius +Cæsar</hi> among them, they painted their Bodies, +to render them terrible, and lived in the open +Fields. It is really somewhat surprzing that +People so near in Situation, should differ so +essentially in Disposition, as the Inhabitants of +those Islands have in all Ages; Hospitality having +been the distinguishing Attribute of the <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi>, and it's +opposite Defect, that of the <hi rend='italic'>Britons</hi>; +the Account given of them by <hi rend='italic'>Horace</hi> 1700 and odd Years ago, +<foreign lang="la" rend='font-style: italic'>Visam Britannes Hospitibus feros</foreign>, +being as literally applicable to them at this Day, +where the Force of Education doth not operate +to mitigate their natural Ferocity. +</p> + +<p> +But to return: St. <hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi> in his Way to +<hi rend='italic'>Tarah</hi>, took up his Lodgings at the House of the +hospitable <hi rend='italic'>Sesgnen</hi> in <hi rend='italic'>Meath</hi>, who kindly +received and welcomed him. St. <hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi> preach'd Christ +and his Gospel to him; he believed, and was +baptized with his whole Family. +</p> + +<p> +From the House of <hi rend='italic'>Sesgnen</hi>, he moved Westward, +and arrived on <hi rend='italic'>Easter Eve</hi> at +<hi rend='italic'>Fierta-fir-feic</hi>, on the Northern Banks of the River +<hi rend='italic'>Boyne</hi>, where he rested, resolving there to prepare for the next +Day's Solemnity. It was penal for any Person +at the Time of the Celebration of this solemn +Convention at <hi rend='italic'>Tarah</hi>, to kindle a Fire in the +Province, before the King's Bonfire first appeared. +I am of Opinion this was a religious Ceremony, +as the chief Deity of the ancient Inhabitants, +<pb n='021'/><anchor id='Pg021'/> +in exterior Worship especially, was <hi rend='italic'>Bel</hi>, +or <hi rend='italic'>Belus</hi>; whence <hi rend='italic'>Apollo</hi> or +<hi rend='italic'>Ap-haul</hi>, the Son of the Sun, whom they emblematically worshipped, +by those fiery Offerings; whence the first Day of +<hi rend='italic'>May</hi>, peculiarly dedicated to this <hi rend='italic'>Bel</hi>, +is even now in <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi>, called +<hi rend='italic'>Lha-Bel-Thinih</hi>, and probably from the same Source may be +derived the Custom of lighting up Bonfires, and Sops, on the +Eve of the 24th Day of <hi rend='italic'>June</hi>. St. +<hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi> however, either not knowing or not minding this +Ceremony, lighted up a Fire before his Booth, +which altho' eight Miles distant from <hi rend='italic'>Tarah</hi>, +was very visible. It was seen with Astonishment +from Court, and the <hi rend='italic'>Druids</hi> informed the King, +that if he did not immediately extinguish the +Fire, he who kindled it, and his Successors, +should for ever hold the Principality of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>; +which hath hitherto turned out a true Prediction +of those Heathen Priests, in a Primatial and +Spiritual Principality. +</p> + +<p> +The King dispatched Messengers to bring +<hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi> before him, and gave his positive Orders, +that nobody should presume to rise out of his +Seat, or pay him the least Honour: But <hi rend='italic'>Ere</hi>, +the Son of <hi rend='italic'>Dego</hi>, ventured to disobey this Command; +he arose, and offered the Holy Father his +Seat. St. <hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi> preached to him and converted +him. He became a Person of eminent Sanctity, +and after some Time was consecrated by St. +<hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi>, Bishop of <hi rend='italic'>Slain</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +The Day following, when St. <hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi> and two +of his Disciples appeared unexpectedly at Court, +and preached to the King and his Nobles, <hi rend='italic'>Dubtach</hi>, +the King's Poet Laureat, payed Honour +and Respect to the Saint, and was converted +by his Preaching. <hi rend='italic'>Fiech</hi>, a young Poet, who +was under the Tuition of <hi rend='italic'>Dubtach</hi>, was also converted, +<pb n='022'/><anchor id='Pg022'/> +and afterwards made Bishop of <hi rend='italic'>Sletty</hi>, +and is said to have been the Author of a celebrated +Poem, composed in Praise of St. <hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi>. +<hi rend='italic'>Anselm</hi>, Arch-Bishop of <hi rend='italic'>Canterbury</hi>, +relates the Conversion of <hi rend='italic'>Tingar</hi>, the Son of +<hi rend='italic'>Clito</hi>, (one of the Nobles in this Assembly,) in the same Manner. +The Queen also, and many others of the +Court, became Christians; and altho' the King +held out for a long Time with great Obstinacy, +yet at last he submitted to be baptized. St. <hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi> +is said here to have wrought many Miracles: +There could not truly, even according to +the Purposes of human Wisdom, have happened +a more solemn or weighty Occasion, for God +Almighty's supporting this Holy Preacher by +Miracles, than when the collective Body of the +whole Nation was assembled together; from +whose Report and Conviction, the Influences of +his blessed Works and Doctrine must of Course +spread through the whole Kingdom. +</p> + +<p> +His Conduct and Proceedings here, with a +particular Detail of the Miracles wrought by +him, may be had at large in the History of his +Life, published by <hi rend='italic'>John Colgan</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +From <hi rend='italic'>Tarah</hi>, the Saint proceeded next to +<hi rend='italic'>Talten</hi>, not far from thence, at the Season of the +Royal Diversions: Here he preached to <hi rend='italic'>Cairbre</hi>, +and <hi rend='italic'>Conall</hi>, the two Brothers of King +<hi rend='italic'>Leogin</hi>; the former received him with great Indignity, +and perversely shut his Ears against his Doctrine; +but <hi rend='italic'>Conall</hi> believed, and was baptized, and gave +St. <hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi> a Place to build a Church on. +</p> + +<p> +This <hi rend='italic'>Conall</hi> was Great-Grand-Father to +<hi rend='italic'>Columb-Kill</hi>. He spent the Remainder of this Year +in <hi rend='italic'>Meath</hi> and <hi rend='italic'>Louth</hi>, and the Districts +adjoining, preaching, and converting great Numbers +of People. The <hi rend='italic'>Taltenian</hi> Sports above-mentioned, +<pb n='023'/><anchor id='Pg023'/> +have been much celebrated by the <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi> +Historians, and Antiquaries. They were a kind +of warlike Exercises, somewhat resembling the +<hi rend='italic'>Olympick</hi> Games, consisting of Racing, Tilts, +Tournaments, Wrestling, Leaping, Vaulting, +and all other manly and martial Exercises, +which gave Rise to the many hyperbolical +Tales, formerly related of those <hi rend='italic'>Taltenian</hi> Sports. +They were exhibited every Year at <hi rend='italic'>Talten</hi>, a +Mountain in <hi rend='italic'>Meath</hi>, for fifteen Days before, +and fifteen Days after the First of <hi rend='italic'>August</hi>. Their +first Institution is ascribed to <hi rend='italic'>Lughaid-lam-fadha</hi>, +the twelfth King of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, who began his +Reign <hi rend='italic'>A. M.</hi> 2764 (a sufficient Proof of +<hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>'s Antiquity as a Kingdom). They were +ordained by <hi rend='italic'>Lughaid</hi>, in Gratitude to the Memory +of <hi rend='italic'>Tailte</hi>, the Daughter of <hi rend='italic'>Magh-More</hi>, +(a Prince of some Part of <hi rend='italic'>Spain</hi>) who having been married +to <hi rend='italic'>Eochaid</hi>, King of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, took the +same <hi rend='italic'>Lughaid</hi> under her Protection, and had the Care +of his Education in his Minority. From this +Princess both the Sports, and the Place where +they were celebrated, took their Names: From <hi rend='italic'>Lughaid</hi>, the +First of <hi rend='italic'>August</hi> was called <hi rend='italic'>Lugnasa</hi>, +or the Memory of <hi rend='italic'>Lughaid</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Nasa</hi> signifying +Memory, in the <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi> Language. +</p> + +<p> +In the Year of the World 2700, <hi rend='italic'>Gideon</hi> then +reigning fourth Judge of the <hi rend='italic'>Hebrews</hi>, appear'd +many Heroes, as <hi rend='italic'>Hercules</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Orpheus</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Castor</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Pollux</hi>, +the <hi rend='italic'>Argonauts</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Jason</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Laomedon</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Thesæus</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Dedalus</hi>, &c. The <hi rend='italic'>Amazones</hi>, +Heroines of <hi rend='italic'>Scythic</hi> +Extraction, having lost their Husbands in +Battle, took up Arms themselves, with a manly +Spirit of Resentment, and (inspired with Love +of their deceased Husbands, and Grief for so +great and irretrievable a Loss!) subdued <hi rend='italic'>Asia</hi>, +and built <hi rend='italic'>Ephesus</hi>. <hi rend='italic'>Hercules</hi> and +<hi rend='italic'>Thesæus</hi> waged +<pb n='024'/><anchor id='Pg024'/> +War against those Heroines, and defeated them, +more to the Glory of the Vanquished than their +own, those Matrons having defended themselves +with surprizing Resolution. They cut off the +Guards set over them, and escaped the Severity +and Pride of their Conquerors. <hi rend='italic'>Hercules</hi>, in +Honour of such extraordinary heroick Females, +instituted the <hi rend='italic'>Olympick</hi> Games; as likewise did +<hi rend='italic'>Thesæus</hi>, the <hi rend='italic'>Isthmian</hi>, in the Year of +the World, about 2700, the <hi rend='italic'>Taltenian</hi> Sports, the very same +with the <hi rend='italic'>Olympick</hi>, brought sixty-four Years after +from <hi rend='italic'>Spain</hi> into <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, by +<hi rend='italic'>Tailte</hi>, and her Followers. +Now this <hi rend='italic'>Tailte</hi>, Queen of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, was +the Grand-daughter of an <hi rend='italic'>Amazone</hi> Princess, +those immortal Females having, with their Progeny, +Friends and Followers, to avoid the ruinous +Hostilities of <hi rend='italic'>Hercules</hi> and <hi rend='italic'>Thesæus</hi>, +sought Shelter in <hi rend='italic'>Spain</hi>, whither they imported the +Learning of <hi rend='italic'>Trismegistus</hi>, the Grandson of +<hi rend='italic'>Mercury</hi>, and Glory of <hi rend='italic'>Ægypt</hi>, together +with all the literary Arts derived into <hi rend='italic'>Greece</hi>, from +<hi rend='italic'>Phœnicia</hi>, by <hi rend='italic'>Cadmus</hi>, the Brother +of <hi rend='italic'>Europa</hi>, about the Year of the World 2530, +<hi rend='italic'>Othoniel</hi> then reigning the first Judge of the +<hi rend='italic'>Hebrews</hi>. The Posterity of this ancient and illustrious Colony, +about the Year of the World 3000, (<hi rend='italic'>Solomon</hi> then +reigning with great Splendour, third King of +the <hi rend='italic'>Hebrews</hi>) settled in this Kingdom, as before +observed: So that, by an impartial Estimate of +Dates, Periods, and Facts, our Origin is well +ascertained, our early Possession of Letters, wise +Policy, and the politer Arts, proved, and the +Remark of an <hi rend='italic'>Italian</hi> Monk in the 7th Century, +from the University of <hi rend='italic'>Mongret</hi>, in an Epistle +to his Correspondent at <hi rend='italic'>Rome</hi>, justified, +<foreign lang="la" rend='font-style: italic'>Nil mirum +Populum hunc Celtico Scythicum è præclarâ +Amazonidum stirpê oriundum, verâ Religionê et +<pb n='025'/><anchor id='Pg025'/> +incorruptâ Fide illuminatum, sapientia Doctrina +optimisque Morbidus ornatum, viros fortes et Fæminas +castas plerumque procreare</foreign>. A Rescript of +this Original Epistle still extant, in the <hi rend='italic'>Vatican</hi> +Library, some Years ago in the Hands of Father +Don <hi rend='italic'>Levy</hi>, may therefore, I believe, be +found in the College of <hi rend='italic'>Lombard</hi> at <hi rend='italic'>Paris</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +In this shining Period were Cathedrals and +Churches erected, Universities founded and +established, Colleges, Seminaries and Schools +propagated in many Parts of this Kingdom, +which, at the same Time, became a peaceful +and hospitable Retreat to religious and learned +Men, disturbed on the Continent of <hi rend='italic'>Europe</hi>, by +the frequent Invasions, and cruel Hostilities of +the North-men, whose Piracies and Barbarity, +even <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> could not always escape! For, +from the Time of <hi rend='italic'>Artigrius</hi>, Archbishop of +<hi rend='italic'>Ardmagh</hi> in 822, for near 200 Years the cruel +<hi rend='italic'>Danes</hi> miserably ravaged this Kingdom, destroying, +by Fire and Sword, every Establishment, +as well of Piety as Learning, (to both which, +and to all religious Maxims of civilized Society, +they had been avowed implacable Enemies) till +they were themselves, in 1014, totally defeated +at <hi rend='italic'>Clontarf</hi>, by the invincible Arms of the Great +Monarch, <hi rend='italic'>Bryan Borou</hi>, from whom descended +a Race conspicuous for exemplary Prelates, heroick +Leaders, and steady Patriots. +</p> + +<p> +The learned Author of the <hi rend='italic'>Dissertations</hi> before-mentioned, +charges this Hero with a Violation +of the Constitution of his Country: Yet the +Violation seems of far earlier Date, when the +supreme Monarchy was, by the <hi rend='italic'>Hugonian</hi> Law, +inalienably united to one Family, whose Sovereignty, +however founded originally, whether +by Birth, or Election, was essential to the public +<pb n='026'/><anchor id='Pg026'/> +Welfare: For we must allow that the Preservation +of the People is the principal Law to which all others are subordinate. +<foreign lang="la" rend='font-style: italic'>Salus Populi +suprema Lex</foreign>; and equally, that not only the +Necessities, but the Safety also of the People, at +that Time of Danger and Distraction, eagerly +called forth the Conduct and Valour, the protective +and restorative Abilities of that great and +virtuous Man, of whom a faithful Historian, +in his Detail of the Battle of <hi rend='italic'>Clontarf</hi>, says; +<foreign lang="la" rend='font-style: italic'>Integrâ prius adept a Victoriâ rebus +humanis eodem Diê excessit vir Bellô ac Pacê summus, Justitiæ, +Religionis, Literarum, Cultor eximius, et cum Carolo +Magno utique comparandus</foreign>. +</p> + +<p> +In the 239th Page of the <hi rend='italic'>Dissertations</hi>, the excellent +Author expresseth himself as follows: +</p> + +<p> +<q>I now proceed to give some Account of the +second Royal House of <hi rend='italic'>Scots</hi>, the oldest of the +<hi rend='italic'>Milesian</hi> Race, and the Posterity of +<hi rend='italic'>Eber</hi>.</q> This +Race then being avowed the oldest, in Respect +of Primogeniture, must, of Course, have been +prior in Point of Dignity and Sway, or at least, +equally entitled to the Election of the People +to such Ranks; were not those by violent Measures +annexed to the <hi rend='italic'>Heremonian</hi> Line: Yet, however +this might have been, certain it is, that no +Houses that we read of, ancient or modern, +have produced a greater Number of truly heroick +Princes, or of longer Continuance, than +those of the North and South <hi rend='italic'>Hy-Nial</hi>; from +whom also issued many noble Families of real +Worth, and equal Renown. With <hi rend='italic'>Bryan</hi>, the +happy Genius of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, in a great Measure, +expired: For the cruel <hi rend='italic'>Danes</hi> had, for near 200 +Years before, so wofully overturned the Universities +of <hi rend='italic'>Ardmagh</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Dondaleith-Glass</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Mongret</hi>, and <hi rend='italic'>Lismore</hi>, with all +other Seminaries of Piety +<pb n='027'/><anchor id='Pg027'/> +and Learning, (the only genuine Sources of national +Greatness, Concord, good Discipline, and +Happiness) had obliged, in the 8th Century, +so many learned Men to seek that Shelter and +Security on the Continent, which the barbarous +Hostilities, and impious Manners of those Northerns, +denied them at Home; had made such +frequent lamentable Breaches in the antient, wise +Constitution of the Kingdom; had, by the fatal +Example of their profligate dissolute Lives, so +vitiated the national Morality; and finally, had +left behind them so many noxious Seeds of Faction +and Anarchy, as, in less than two Centuries, +gave up a Kingdom, of above 2000 Years +Establishment, the unaccountable Prey of a +few adventurous <hi rend='italic'>Normans</hi>! +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Patrick</hi> governed the See of <hi rend='italic'>Dublin</hi> about +ten Years, and, in a Voyage to <hi rend='italic'>England</hi>, perished +by Shipwreck, in the <hi rend='italic'>British</hi> Sea, on the +16th of <hi rend='italic'>October</hi>, 1084; having been sent to +<hi rend='italic'>Lanfranc</hi>, Archbishop of <hi rend='italic'>Canterbury</hi>, +by King <hi rend='italic'>Tirdelvac</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Donat</hi>, or <hi rend='italic'>Dongus O'Haingly</hi>, having spent +some Time in the Study of useful Learning in +<hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, went over into <hi rend='italic'>England</hi>, +and became a Benedictine Monk at <hi rend='italic'>Canterbury</hi>. He was afterwards, +(by the Consent of King <hi rend='italic'>Tirdelvac</hi>, and +the Clergy of <hi rend='italic'>Dublin</hi>) consecrated, +<hi rend='italic'>A. D.</hi> 1085, in the Cathedral of +<hi rend='italic'>Canterbury</hi>, by the before-mentioned +<hi rend='italic'>Lanfranc</hi>, to whom he made the following +Profession of Obedience: +</p> + +<p> +<q>I, <hi rend='italic'>Donat</hi>, Bishop of the See of +<hi rend='italic'>Dublin</hi> in <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, do promise +Canonical Obedience to you, <hi rend='italic'>O' Lanfranc</hi>, Archbishop of the +holy Church of <hi rend='italic'>Canterbury</hi>, and to your Successors.</q> +</p> + +<p> +It is evident that the Title of the Kings of +<hi rend='italic'>England</hi> to this Kingdom, by Papal Donation, +<pb n='028'/><anchor id='Pg028'/> +or Appointment, was very insufficient, if not +absolutely trifling: Nor could a Right of Conquest +be urged in any Period of the Reign of +<hi rend='italic'>Henry</hi> the Second, or his Descendants. But +the Great and Royal Families of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, long +the Prey of Faction, deliberately preferred a +limitted and stipulated Submission to foreign +Authority, to the various Evils arising from +intestine Feuds and Animosities; and this, had +the wise Conditions thereof been constantly attended +to, with mutual Observance, had been +a sound Title, well and judiciously founded. +</p> + +<p> +True it is, that after the Surrender of the +Crown by King <hi rend='italic'>John</hi> to the See of <hi rend='italic'>Rome</hi>, +the Pope exerted some temporal Authority in this +Kingdom, instanced in his having created <hi rend='italic'>Mc. +Con More Mc. Namaras</hi><note place='foot'>This <hi rend='italic'>Mac Con More +Macnamara</hi>, Duke of <hi rend='italic'>Klan Cullane</hi>, +founded, erected, and amply endowed the beautiful Abbey +of <hi rend='italic'>Quin</hi>; as did other Chieftains of his Name and Family, +several Parochial Churches, with a great Number of magnificent +Castles.</note> Duke of <hi rend='italic'>Klan Cullane</hi>, +a Man of great Valour and Piety, supported by +ample Possessions in the Baronies of <hi rend='italic'>Tulla</hi> and +<hi rend='italic'>Bunratty</hi>, in the County of <hi rend='italic'>Clare</hi>; +which extensive Districts entirely belonged to that ancient, +hospitable, martial, and religious Race, +of which <hi rend='italic'>Mc. Con More</hi> was Chief: The <hi rend='italic'>Mc. +Namaras</hi>, more or less, have in all Ages made, +and still continue to make, a distinguished Figure, +as well in the Field, as in the learned Professions; +and were formerly so warlike a People, +that of themselves they formed an heroic Cavalry, +justly stiled the <hi rend='italic'>Phalanx</hi> of that Part of +<hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> wherein they resided. +</p> + +<p> +How our Neighbours came to call us <hi rend='italic'>waild +Ayrish</hi>, I am a Loss to conjecture; it being evident +<pb n='029'/><anchor id='Pg029'/> +we have been a thousand Years, at least, +in Possession of Letters, Laws, and Civility, +before the Arrival of <hi rend='italic'>Julius Cæsar</hi> +in <hi rend='italic'>Britain</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +I am equally at a Loss to know why a Man +should become a standing Jest for his Ignorance +in an alien Tongue, almost the constant Fate of +our Countrymen in <hi rend='italic'>Britain</hi>, where, whoever is +not smartly expert in the <hi rend='italic'>English</hi> Language, is +immediately denominated a <hi rend='italic'>Teague</hi>, a +<hi rend='italic'>Paddy</hi>, or I know not what, in the Stile of Derision: At +the same Time that the most awkward-tongued +<hi rend='italic'>Irishman</hi> in <hi rend='italic'>London</hi> speaks +<hi rend='italic'>English</hi> with far more +Propriety, and a better Accent, than the smartest +<hi rend='italic'>British Petit Maitre</hi> in <hi rend='italic'>Paris</hi> doth +<hi rend='italic'>French</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +Some dramatick Scriblers, (probably of our +own degenerate Growth) the better to qualify +them for eleemosinary Dinners, gave Rise to this +impertinent Treatment of a Nation, which, from +the concurrent Testimonies of all the Dispassionate +and Learned, can, in Reality, be as little the +Object of Scurrility, as any other. +</p> + +<p> +Why should even poor <hi rend='italic'>Teague</hi> prove so constant +a Butt, to Farce-wrights, and Hackney +Laughers; when, upon Examination, he is, by +a thousand Degrees, preferable to the <hi rend='italic'>British</hi> +Hobbinol, or <hi rend='italic'>French</hi> Gregoire? For +<hi rend='italic'>Teague</hi> is +a very Pattern of Hospitality; so much so, that +if a Gentleman should happen to miss his Road, +and be nessitated to seek the Shelter of <hi rend='italic'>Teague</hi>'s +Cabbin, or Hut, was poor <hi rend='italic'>Teague</hi> trusting to +two Sheep for his worldly Subsistance, he would +kill one, and sell the other, at the next Village +or Inn, for the better Entertainment of his +Guest, and think himself happy in such an +Occasion of approving his Generosity and Respect: +He would the next Morning abandon his +Spade, and chearfully trot ten Miles to shew +<pb n='030'/><anchor id='Pg030'/> +such bewilder'd Gentleman the right Road. He +is naturally civil, generous, and hospitable, (for +scarce a Night passeth that poor Travellers are +not entertained in his Cottage,) extremely respectful +to his Superiors, and to his Lord and +Master faithful to Death. The military Annals +of <hi rend='italic'>Europe</hi> proclaim his Capacity and Taste for +Fighting; then if you should take this identical +<hi rend='italic'>Teague</hi>'s infant Son, and give him a regular +liberal Education, it is one hundred to one, +but he turns out a Gentleman of Merit, Learning, +Worth, and Politeness; whereas it would +certainly require more than <hi rend='italic'>Herculean</hi> +Labour to chissel a <hi rend='italic'>French Paisan</hi>, a primitive +<hi rend='italic'>Westmoreland</hi>, or <hi rend='italic'>Devonshire</hi> Boor, +not only into the Form of an elegant, but even into that +of a sociable Creature. +</p> + +<p> +The Insignificancy of those Jesters and Spatterers, +will more clearly appear, if we look +back to the wise, free, and truly parliamentary +Constitution of this Kingdom; if we recollect +the vast Length of its Duration, as a free and +independant State; the military Prowess of its +Inhabitants in all Ages; their victorious Conflicts +with the <hi rend='italic'>Romans</hi>, and with the <hi rend='italic'>French</hi> +under <hi rend='italic'>Henry</hi> the Vth, and the Black +<hi rend='italic'>Prince</hi>; their having founded a Monarchy in +<hi rend='italic'>North Britain</hi>, whence, by a Right of Descent, in Addition to +every other, his present Majesty, (whom God +long preserve,) by the special Providence and +infinite Mercy of Heaven, ruleth over us: If +we consider the Number of our Universities, +Colleges, and Academies, religious Monasteries +and pious Seminaries, resorted to from all +civilized Parts of <hi rend='italic'>Europe</hi>, our Metropolitical +and Diocesan Cathedrals; on such impartial Review, +surely, the foregoing Tribe of Sneerers +<pb n='031'/><anchor id='Pg031'/> +and Flouters must dwindle into deserved Contempt. +</p> + +<p> +I shall close this feeble Attempt on the antient +State of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, with the Description thereof +by <hi rend='italic'>Donat</hi>, Bishop of <hi rend='italic'>Fesulæ</hi>, near +<hi rend='italic'>Florence</hi>, in the 7th or 8th Century; referring, at the same +Time, to the most authentick <hi rend='italic'>British</hi> Antiquaries, +<hi rend='italic'>Campden</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Giraldus Cambrensis</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Buchanan</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Ware</hi>, &c. for +Confirmation of what hath been previously observed on the same Subject. +</p> + +<lg> +<l><foreign lang="la" rend="font-style: italic">Finibus Occiduis describitur +optima Tellus,</foreign></l> +<l><foreign lang="la" rend="font-style: italic">Nomine et Antiquis +<hi rend='smallcaps'>Scotia</hi> scripta Libris——</foreign></l> +<l><foreign lang="la" rend="font-style: italic">Insula dives Opum, Gemmarum, +Vestis et Auri,</foreign></l> +<l><foreign lang="la" rend="font-style: italic">Commoda Corporibus, Aere sole +Solo;</foreign></l> +<l><foreign lang="la" rend="font-style: italic">Melle fluit pulchris et +lacteis <hi rend='smallcaps'>Scotia</hi> Campis</foreign></l> +<l><foreign lang="la" rend="font-style: italic">Vestibus atque Armis, +frugibus, arte viris.</foreign></l> +<l><foreign lang="la" rend="font-style: italic">Ursorum Rabies, nulla est ibi; +sæva Leonum</foreign></l> +<l><foreign lang="la" rend="font-style: italic">Semina, nec unquam +<hi rend='smallcaps'>Scotica</hi> Terra tulit</foreign></l> +<l><foreign lang="la" rend="font-style: italic">Nulla Venena nocent, nec +Serpens serpit in Herbâ,</foreign></l> +<l><foreign lang="la" rend="font-style: italic">Nec conquesta canit +Garula Rana Lacu;</foreign></l> +<l><foreign lang="la" rend="font-style: italic">In qua +<hi rend='smallcaps'>Scotorum</hi> Gentes habitare merentur</foreign></l> +<l><foreign lang="la" rend="font-style: italic">Inclita Gens Hominum +Milite, Pace, Fide.</foreign></l> +</lg> + +<p> +Thus Englished by the Ingenius and Reverend +Mr. <hi rend='italic'>Dunkin</hi>: +</p> + +<lg> +<l><q rend="pre">Far Westward, lies an Isle of antient Fame,</q></l> +<l>By Nature bless'd, and <hi rend='smallcaps'>Scotia</hi> is her Name;</l> +<l>Enroll'd in Books: Exhaustless is her Store</l> +<l>Of veiny Silver, and of Golden Ore:</l> +<l>Her fruitful Soil for ever teams with Wealth,</l> +<l>With Gems her Waters, and her Air with Health:</l> +<l>Her verdant Fields with Milk and Honey flow;</l> +<l>Her woolly Fleeces vie with Virgin Snow:</l> +<pb n='032'/><anchor id='Pg032'/> +<l>Her waving Furrows float with bearded Corn,</l> +<l>And Arms and Arts her envy'd Sons adorn.</l> +<l>No savage Bear, with lawless Fury, roves;</l> +<l>No rav'nous Lion, thro' her peaceful Groves;</l> +<l>No Poison there infects; no scaly Snake</l> +<l>Creeps thro' the Grass, nor Frog annoys the Lake:</l> +<l>An Island worthy of its pious Race,</l> +<l><q rend="post">In War triumphant, and unmatch'd in Peace.</q></l> +</lg> + +<p> +This <hi rend='italic'>Donat</hi>, Bishop of <hi rend='italic'>Fesula</hi>, was an +<hi rend='italic'>Irishman</hi>, of the antient and hospitable Family, afterwards +<hi rend='italic'>O Hogan</hi>; a Family which held ample and +fair Possessions in the Province of <hi rend='italic'>Munster</hi>, and +which, in former Times, adorned the See of +<hi rend='italic'>Killaloe</hi>, with four very learned and exemplary +Prelates; namely, with <hi rend='italic'>Matthew O Hogan</hi>, who +succeeded to this Bishoprick, in the Reign of +<hi rend='italic'>Henry</hi> the IIId, and in the Year of our Lord +1267; and who, having much enlarged his Diocese, +and done many signal Acts of popular Charity, +died in the Year, 1281, and was buried +in <hi rend='italic'>Limerick</hi>, in a Convent of <hi rend='italic'>Dominican</hi> +Friars. To this Bishop succeeded <hi rend='italic'>Maurice O Hogan</hi>, +who governed this See with peculiar Zeal and +Charity, upwards of sixteen Years, and died in +1298, or the Year following, and was buried +in his own Church. <hi rend='italic'>Thomas O Hogan</hi>, Canon +of <hi rend='italic'>Killaloe</hi>, was consecrated in 1343, and died +on the 30th of <hi rend='italic'>October</hi>, 1354; five Days after +which, he was buried among his worthy Ancestors +at <hi rend='italic'>Nenagh</hi>; as may be seen in the Annals +of that Place. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Richard O Hogan</hi> succeeded to the See of +<hi rend='italic'>Killaloe</hi>, in 1525, and was in 1539 translated to +<hi rend='italic'>Clon Mac Nois</hi>: He was a Prelate of great +<pb n='033'/><anchor id='Pg033'/> +Learning and Capacity, in all spiritual and ecclesiastical +Matters. +</p> + +<p> +This antient Family is, at this Time, represented +by <hi rend='italic'>Edmund O Hogan</hi>, Esq; High Sheriff +of the County of <hi rend='italic'>Clare</hi>, a Gentleman, who, +by the whole Tenor of his Life, hath proved +Generosity of Heart, Charity, and Hospitality, +to be Qualities inherent. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Dermod Mac Murchad</hi>, sovereign Prince of +<hi rend='italic'>Hy-Kinsellagh</hi>, banished by <hi rend='italic'>Roderick O +Connor</hi>, King of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, for his various and high State +Crimes, sought Sanctuary and Redress in the +Court of <hi rend='italic'>England</hi>; where, in the Absence of +<hi rend='italic'>Henry</hi>, then in <hi rend='italic'>Normandy</hi>, diverse +adventurous <hi rend='italic'>Normans</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Flemings</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Saxons</hi>, and old <hi rend='italic'>Britons</hi>, (being +themselves unsettled, and unestablished) acceded +to the Fate and Fortunes of <hi rend='italic'>Dermod</hi>, under +the Conduct of <hi rend='italic'>Strongbow</hi>, Earl of +<hi rend='italic'>Pembroke</hi>; whose casual Success in +<hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, against <hi rend='italic'>Roderick</hi> +(owing <emph>more</emph> to the general Defection, at that +fatal Period, of the <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi> Chiefs against their +lawful Sovereign, than to any <emph>superior Valour</emph> or +Address of those Adventurers) induced <hi rend='italic'>Henry</hi> to +a deliberate and grand Invasion of a Kingdom, +to which he could lay no Claim on the Score of +Nature, Reason, or Right, and whither his +pretended Mission, on the Score of collecting +St. <hi rend='italic'>Peter</hi>'s Dues, (which St. <hi rend='italic'>Peter</hi> +himself never once thought of, or imagined) was as <emph>ridiculous</emph> +as <emph>groundless</emph>. The <hi rend='italic'>Summa Dies</hi>, however, arrived: +and the People of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, wearied out +with intestine Strife, acknowledged <hi rend='italic'>Henry</hi> for +their Sovereign Lord; and a grand Charter of +Rights and Covenants, mutual Protection and +Allegiance, was entered into, anteriorly to that +of <hi rend='italic'>England</hi>. How well this Charter was <emph>observed</emph> +on the <emph>protective</emph> Side, the absolute Anarchy of +<pb n='034'/><anchor id='Pg034'/> +near four Centuries, from its original Date and +Perfection, to the Reign of Queen <hi rend='italic'>Elizabeth</hi>, +demonstrates: A whole Nation, that sought +Protection, and that <emph>agreed</emph> for quiet, regular, +and lawful Government, upon rationable Terms, +deprived of the Power of ordaining Laws for +its own Security and Well-being, and precluded +(all to four or five great and favourite Families) +from the Benefits and Advantages accruing from +those of that Kingdom, to which it had voluntarily +united itself; exposed, through such a +Length of Time, to arbitary Depredations, and +unpunished, unredressed, uncensured Rapine, +<hi rend='italic'>Quis talia sando temperet a Lachrymis</hi>! +</p> + +<p> +King <hi rend='italic'>Henry</hi> called back into <hi rend='italic'>England</hi>, +to lay the Storms raised by his rebellious Sons, with +whom and <hi rend='italic'>Thomas Becket</hi>, Archbishop of +<hi rend='italic'>Canterbury</hi>, +he was so constantly embroiled to the +End of his Life, that he could little attend to +the Settlement of the Affairs of this new acquired +Sovereignty. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Richard</hi> the First, his immediate Successor, +called away to the Holy Wars against the <hi rend='italic'>Saracens</hi>, +had as little Leisure as his Predecessor to +promote the Quiet, or Happiness of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +From the usurped Authority of King <hi rend='italic'>John</hi>, a +continued Series of Papal Animosity, Bloodshed, +Calamities and Piracies, closed at last by +Poison; little beside political Disasters of all +Sorts, could be expected. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Henry</hi> the Third, through a Reign of Fifty-six +Years, was continually involved in Troubles +and Hostilities, with his inflexible <hi rend='italic'>English</hi> Barons. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Edward</hi> the First, a great and warlike Prince, +was, throughout his whole Reign, engaged in +the Reduction of the <hi rend='italic'>Welch</hi> and <hi rend='italic'>Scots</hi>, +and so +<pb n='035'/><anchor id='Pg035'/> +intent thereon, that he could turn his Thoughts +to no other Object. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Edward</hi> the Second, indeed, sent +<hi rend='italic'>Gaveston</hi> hither, +more to screen him from the implacable +Resentments of the stubborn <hi rend='italic'>English</hi> Nobility, +than to render any good Offices to the Inhabitants +of this Country; who, indiscriminately, +(<hi rend='italic'>Strongbownians</hi> as well as <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi>) +felt the Severity of that insolent Favourite's Measures. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Richard</hi> the Second visited this Kingdom in +Person, with the good Intentions of establishing +Peace, Order, and Harmony, in a valuable but +long neglected Estate: Yet his own adverse +Fate, conspiring with that of this Land, called +him back, before he could carry his favourable +Resolutions into Execution, to defend his <hi rend='italic'>English</hi> +Dominions from the hostile Attacks of <hi rend='italic'>Henry</hi>, +Earl of <hi rend='italic'>Hereford</hi>, who, with the Duke of +<hi rend='italic'>Norfolk</hi>, Son to <hi rend='italic'>John</hi> of +<hi rend='italic'>Gaunt</hi>, had some Years before +been banished by <hi rend='italic'>Richard</hi>, to prevent a +personal Combat: This King, worthy more +propitious Stars, long agitated and afflicted by +the Turbulence and irreconcilable Obstinacy of +his <hi rend='italic'>British</hi> Subjects, perished at last under the +impious Hands of Sir <hi rend='italic'>Pierce</hi> of <hi rend='italic'>Exton</hi>, +who, at the Head of eight barbarous armed Assassins, +rushed into his Chamber, and murdered him. +</p> + +<p> +The Reign of <hi rend='italic'>Henry</hi> the Fourth was short, +tumultuous, and bloody; Deluges of noble Blood +having been shed by the bare Hands of the +common Executioner, to confirm a Throne acquired +by abominable Crimes, and Violence! +And no sooner had these dreadful Storms begun +to abate, than <hi rend='italic'>Henry</hi> was forced to depart from +a Scene he had more adorned, (for he was, +without Question, a great and valiant Man) +<pb n='036'/><anchor id='Pg036'/> +had not his Ambition blindly hurried him beyond +the Bounds of Justice and Nature. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Henry</hi> the Fifth, his Son and Successor, and +truly Inheritor of his Ambition and warlike +Genius, imagining himself aggrieved by the +<hi rend='italic'>Salique Law</hi>, which excluded his Great Great-Grandmother, +<hi rend='italic'>Isabel</hi>, from the Monarchy of +<hi rend='italic'>France</hi>, turned his elevated Thoughts intirely +to the Conquest of that Kingdom: Wherein, +by his own vast Merit in martial Affairs, and +the Co-operation of the Queen of <hi rend='italic'>France</hi>, (Consort +of <hi rend='italic'>Charles</hi> the Sixth, then frantick,) and that +of the Duke of <hi rend='italic'>Burgundy</hi>, a great and powerful +Prince, he so far succeeded, as, after his Marriage +with <hi rend='italic'>Catharine de Valois</hi>, Daughter of +<hi rend='italic'>Charles</hi> the Sixth, to be crowned, and acknowledged +King of <hi rend='italic'>France</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +To this great and victorious Monarch succeeded +<hi rend='italic'>Henry</hi> the Sixth, who, through a long, +various, and constantly clouded Reign, seemed +the very Play of Fortune! This Day a King, +the next a Prisoner! One Day acknowleged by +his Parliament, the next attainted! One Day a +Conqueror, and the next a Captive! +</p> + +<p> +Fierce, frequent, and bloody, were the Conflicts +between the Houses of <hi rend='italic'>York</hi> and <hi rend='italic'>Lancaster</hi>, +the <hi rend='italic'>White</hi> and <hi rend='italic'>Red Roses</hi>; the former +endeavouring to recover its Loss, the latter to maintain +its usurped Authority. In this dreadful Quarrel +perished two hundred thousand of private Soldiers; +ten thousand of the Nobility, Gentry, +and Persons of Distinction; three Kings; and, +at last, the entire Race of <hi rend='italic'>Plantagenet</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Edward</hi> the Fourth soon fell, by his natural +Intemperance, or rather by the insatiable Cruelty +of <hi rend='italic'>Gloucester</hi>; who had already sacrificed his +Brother <hi rend='italic'>Clarence</hi>, to pave his Way to the Throne. +<pb n='037'/><anchor id='Pg037'/> +Nor better fared it with <hi rend='italic'>Edward</hi> the Fifth, who, +by all the Arts of Seduction and Delusion, +which his unnatural Uncle and Guardian, +<hi rend='italic'>Richard</hi>, practised on the Fears and Weakness +of the Queen Dowager; was, with his Brother +the Duke of <hi rend='italic'>York</hi>, conveyed with great Pomp +to the Tower; where the bloody Tyrant, aided +by the Duke of <hi rend='italic'>Buckingham</hi>, soon sacrificed +those young, innocent and hopeful Princes to +his wicked and boundless Ambition. But he +soon after lost his own flagitious Life, and a +most cruelly-acquired Crown, on the Plains of +<hi rend='italic'>Bosworth</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +To him succeeded <hi rend='italic'>Henry</hi> the Seventh, and the +first of the Race of <hi rend='italic'>Tudor</hi>, a great, wise and +valiant Prince, but rather too much inclined to +Rigour, and Avarice; Imperfections which extremely +blemished his other great Qualities. +</p> + +<p> +In the tenth Year of this Reign, the Parliamentary +Constitution of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> received a +deeper Stab than had ever before, or since, been +inflicted thereon, by a Statute Law, commonly +called <hi rend='italic'>Poynin</hi>'s Act; by which a new, and, till +that wretched Period, an unheard of Order, was +added to the three established Ranks of the +State. By this Law, the <hi rend='italic'>English</hi> Privy-Council +may impose a <hi rend='italic'>Negative</hi> on the <emph>free</emph> and +<emph>unanimous</emph> Parliamentary Ordinances of the representative +Body of the Kingdom of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>; a manifest +Injury to the Authority and Dignity of Parliament; +and an equal Diminution of the Royal +Prerogative, that only should include, and +should alone exert, a Power so important. +</p> + +<p> +In Times dark, tumultuated and dangerous, +no Wonder extraordinary Laws should pass: +<hi rend='italic'>Desperate Diseases</hi> require <hi rend='italic'>desperate +Remedies</hi>: But when the <hi rend='italic'>Fever</hi> is removed, it certainly is a +<pb n='038'/><anchor id='Pg038'/> +horrid Management to leave the blistering +Plaister <emph>still sticking</emph> to the <emph>recovered</emph> Patient's +Back. +</p> + +<p> +The Distempers of this Nation were heavy, +complicated and chronic; and finally curable, +only by the salutary all-healing Hands of our +present King, and present Parliament. +</p> + +<p> +To <hi rend='italic'>Henry</hi> the Seventh succeeded <hi rend='italic'>Henry</hi> the +Eighth, as consummate a Tyrant, in every +Sense, as ever swayed the <hi rend='italic'>British</hi>, or any other +Sceptre; whose whole Life was so continued a +Scene of wanton Dissipation, Lust, Cruelty, +Rapine, Bloodshed and Sacrilege, that it must +have been a peculiar Happiness, to any Part of +his Dominions, to have been <emph>neglected</emph> or <emph>forgotten</emph> +by him: Nor could the two succeeding +Reigns of <hi rend='italic'>Edward</hi> the Sixth, and Queen +<hi rend='italic'>Mary</hi>, +short, various, cloudy, and vastly agitated on +the Score of Religion, (which, in those two +Reigns, took Faces almost diametrically opposite,) +afford this Kingdom much reflected +Sunshine. +</p> + +<p> +To those ensued that of Queen <hi rend='italic'>Elizabeth</hi>, a +Princess of powerful Abilities, who, truly intent +on the Peace and Welfare of her Subjects, +caused her Laws to operate, and Justice to circulate +in this Kingdom, abandoned, as hath +been observed, to a State almost of Anarchy, +thro' a dismal Series of seventeen Reigns: But +the Reformation in Religion, which she established +in <hi rend='italic'>England</hi>, and introduced in <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, +much obviated her Purposes for the latter Kingdom: +For, the <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi>, more tenacious of their +Altars, than of their Fire-places, could not +easily reconcile themselves to the Exchange of a +Religion they deemed a <emph>new one</emph>, for <emph>that</emph> they +had been in Possession of from the fourth, to +<pb n='039'/><anchor id='Pg039'/> +the fifteenth Century: Which produced a rebellious +Defection, in a few of the principal +Chieftains of this Land, and gave Occasion to +the greedy Provincial Precedents, of trumping +up <emph>imaginary Rebellions</emph>, to pave the Way to <emph>real +Forfeitures</emph>; thereby to aggrandize their own +Houses; what some of them effectually accomplished, +to the Ruin and Extirpation of +many honest Families. +</p> + +<p> +This great and illustrious Princess, (whose +Reign had remained untarnished, had it not +been for the Death of the ill-fated Queen of +<hi rend='italic'>Scotland</hi>) was succeeded by <hi rend='italic'>James</hi> the +Sixth of <hi rend='italic'>Scotland</hi>, and the first of the +<hi rend='italic'>Stuart</hi> Race that governed <hi rend='italic'>England</hi>: From +this Prince, descended of <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi> Kings, the People of +<hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> might have expected many Favours and Immunities; +wherein, however, they were miserably disappointed: +Which, with a Train of other Hardships +and antiparental Severities, (particularly +his alienating, at <emph>one Stroke</emph>, six of the best +Counties in the Kingdom, on the <emph>procured</emph> Testimony +of an obscure wretched Individual, one +<hi rend='italic'>Teige Lenane</hi>,) is too sufficient and too lasting a +Proof of: <hi rend='italic'>Heu! tot Conquesta Annorum, hauserit +una Dies!</hi> The Possession of at least twenty +Centuries, of the great and good, the heroic +and hospitable <hi rend='italic'>O Neils</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>O Donnels</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Mac Guires</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Mac Gennises</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>O Reillys</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>O Cahanes</hi>, &c. ravished +away to gratify hungry Favourites, and indigent +Relatives! the six Counties, however, as the +Law Term has it, <hi rend='italic'>escheated</hi>. Had the +<hi rend='italic'>Highlands</hi> of <hi rend='italic'>Scotland</hi>, at that unhappy +Period, been more populated, probably six or eight Counties <emph>more</emph> +had been procured to <hi rend='italic'>escheat</hi>, and there had been +<hi rend='italic'>a braa Clutch of bonny Traitors</hi>; the +<hi rend='italic'>O Connors</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Mac Carthys</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>O Briens</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>O Donnels</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>O Hares</hi>, +<pb n='040'/><anchor id='Pg040'/> +<hi rend='italic'>O Malones</hi>, &c. had been <emph>all</emph> in the +<emph>same Bottom</emph> with the Families above mentioned; especially, +as they could not, according to <hi rend='italic'>James</hi> the First's +own Phrase, <hi rend='italic'>look to the Pope, and row with +him</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +To <hi rend='italic'>James</hi> the 6th of <hi rend='italic'>Scotland</hi>, and first +of <hi rend='italic'>England</hi>, succeeded <hi rend='italic'>Charles</hi> the First; +who, notwithstanding his eminent Possession of all the +Virtues that adorn and illustrate human Nature, +could neither divert the adverse Fate of Subjects, +or prevent his own. +</p> + +<p> +The Disseisin of many honest Families in the +County of <hi rend='italic'>Kilkenny</hi>, and elsewhere, by the Earl +of <hi rend='italic'>Strafford</hi>, on stale Pretences of <hi rend='italic'>Non +Performance of Covenants</hi> on their Part; his Attempt of +confiscating twenty-five Parts in thirty of the +whole Province of <hi rend='italic'>Connaught</hi>, on a Claim of +Descent, dormant 300 Years, and <emph>originally ill +founded</emph>, with the arbitrary Steps by him taken to +the Accomplishment of this wasteful Purpose; +too clearly proved that Nobleman a second +<hi rend='italic'>Verres</hi>. The cruel and intoxicated Administration +of the Rump Parliament; the insolent, licentious, +and riotous Controul of the military +<hi rend='italic'>Independents</hi>; the abject Tyranny of <hi rend='italic'>Oliver +Cromwell</hi>, who prostrated Constitution, Church +and State, will always be recollected with the +Contempt, Horror, and Detestation of every +good Subject. +</p> + +<p> +The Calamities from 1641, to the happy Restoration +of King <hi rend='italic'>Charles</hi> the Second, in 1660, +being common to all good Subjects, were the +more tolerable, <foreign lang="la" rend='font-style: italic'>ferre quam sortem +patiuntur omnes, nemo recusat</foreign>: But now or never, surely, might +his ever loyal, ever faithful <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi> Subjects have, +with the most reasonable Assurance, hoped, if +not for publick and lasting Rewards, the common +<pb n='041'/><anchor id='Pg041'/> +Wages of uncommon Fidelity; at least, +for a Restitution of what had been their own, +through Ages immemorial. +</p> + +<p> +Will late Posterity <emph>believe</emph>, that, in Favour of +mercenary Adventurers, who advanced Money +to provide for a desperate regicide Army; in +Favour of the Officers of this same Army, whom +their Ringleader <hi rend='italic'>Cromwell</hi>, seared as his Conscience +was, indulged with no more than <emph>temporary</emph> +Grants of the Estates belonging to the +King's most faithful Subjects: Will Posterity, +I say, believe, that, in special Favour of such +Men, those <emph>identical Subjects</emph>, the bravest Advocates, +as well as the most affectionate undeviating +Friends of the Monarchy and Constitution, +were <emph>for ever</emph> deprived of their Properties! To +remunerate the <emph>others</emph>, the most <emph>inveterate</emph> and +<emph>implacable</emph> Enemies of <hi rend='smallcaps'>EITHER</hi>! <emph>Doing +Good for Evil</emph> is a Divine Precept, and certainly includes +a most sublime Moral; but <emph>rendering Evil for +Good</emph>, is such a Principle as must carry Horror +with it, among savage Nations! +</p> + +<p> +The King of <hi rend='italic'>France</hi>'s immediate Letter, on +this Subject, to King <hi rend='italic'>Charles</hi> the Second, as it +reflects Honour on the Memory of those illustrious +Sufferers, I therefore take Leave to transcribe +in this Place. +</p> + +<milestone unit="tb" rend="stars: 5"/> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>His Most Christian Majesty's Letter to the King of +<hi rend='italic'>Great Britain</hi>, in Favour of the <hi rend='italic'>Roman +Catholicks</hi> of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>.</hi> +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<q>Most High, Most Excellent, and Most +Potent Prince, our dear and well-beloved Brother +and Cousin! At the same Time that we +have been told of your Majesty's great Goodness +towards your Subjects, and the Precedent +<pb n='042'/><anchor id='Pg042'/> +you have given of an extraordinary Clemency, +in granting them your general Amnesty +(some few only excepted, of those +whom the Blood of their King, and that of +his People, cry aloud to Heaven for Revenge +against). We could not but let your Majesty +know, that we were extremely surprized to +hear, that the <hi rend='italic'>Catholicks</hi> of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> +were <emph>excluded</emph> from that Act of Oblivion, and, by +that Means, put into the Number of the <emph>most +criminal</emph>! This News has so much the more +excited our Compassion towards them, that +we have been informed, that, in <emph>all the +Changes</emph> which have hitherto happened in your +Dominions, and in the almost general <emph>Defection +of</emph> your Subjects, <emph>none</emph> stood <emph>more constant</emph> +to their lawful Sovereign, even in the greatest +Streights, than the <hi rend='italic'>Catholicks</hi>: So that, if +they are now branded for their Religion, it +may be said, for their Honour, that, in +Times past, none could be found <emph>readier</emph>, or +more <emph>cheerfully disposed</emph>, than <emph>they</emph>, to serve +and assist their Prince; and that with so +much <emph>Ardour</emph>, that their Zeal then for the +Royal Family was reckoned a certain Mark +of their true Religion. It is for that Reason +that we now become their Intercessors to you: +For, otherwise, had they <emph>failed</emph> in the Fidelity +they owe you, instead of interceding for +them, we would join with you in using them +with all imaginable Rigour; and it would +never come into our Thoughts to concern +ourselves, as we do, for the <hi rend='italic'>Catholicks</hi> of +<hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>; though we <emph>were obliged to it</emph>, by the last +Treaty of Peace made with the Marquess of +<hi rend='italic'>Ormond</hi>, and which was granted them by our +Mediation. And, as we are well assured, +<pb n='043'/><anchor id='Pg043'/> +that, since the Conclusion of that Peace, they +have done Nothing which can be called a +<emph>Failure of their Duty to you</emph>, we find ourselves +under so much the greater Obligation to conjure +you, to make good that Treaty to them, +in that they <emph>religiously</emph> observed it on <emph>their</emph> +Side, in all its Parts: And to beseech you +not to suffer, that either the Hatred, which +an immoderate Zeal swells some bigotted Sectaries +with, nor the unlucky Spoils of these +poor People, render criminal or miserable the +<emph>most faithful</emph> of your Subjects; to whom their +lawful King, as you are, is not <emph>the less dear</emph>, +nor <emph>less respected</emph>, because of a <emph>different Belief</emph> +from <emph>theirs</emph>. We propose Nothing to ourselves +in this, nor ask any Thing, but what +we daily <emph>practise</emph> (as you may know) towards +those of our Subjects who are of the <emph>reformed +Religion</emph>. And, as we have commanded the +Sieur Marquis <hi rend='italic'>de Rouvigny</hi> to explain our +Sentiments more amply on this Subject to +you, be pleased to give him a favourable Audience: +And, above all Things, be perswaded, +that, in this Affair, we have no less your +own <emph>true Interest</emph> in View, than what <emph>natural +Reason</emph> and <emph>Equity</emph> requires; and that our sincere +Friendship for you is the principal Motive +of this Request. Dated at <hi rend='italic'>Paris</hi>, the 7th +of <hi rend='italic'>September</hi>, 1660.</q> +</quote> + +<p> +The <emph>good</emph> King <hi rend='italic'>Charles</hi>, regardless of this important +Solicitation, unattentive to the plain Suggestions +of <emph>common Right</emph>, and unaccountably +forgetful of all their <emph>past signal Services</emph> and inviolate +Zeal; observed indeed that those faithful +<hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi> Subjects had no Stock; consequently, that +dispossessing the Adherents of <hi rend='italic'>Oliver</hi>, who, with +<pb n='044'/><anchor id='Pg044'/> +the Land, had pirated the national Stock, would +cause much Confusion. As for the <emph>former</emph>, he +hoped some Settlement might in Time be found +for them; (in Truth, I believe, for aught his +Majesty in Reality concerned himself, this might +have been in <hi rend='italic'>Terra Australis Incognita</hi>). Their +Want of Stock is the less to be admired at, it +being well known, that, with their Pay in foreign +Service, chiefly expended to contribute all +in their Power to the <hi rend='italic'>Royal Support</hi>, they even +went so far as to sell their Plate, and valuable +Moveables, to answer the same <emph>generous Purpose</emph>: +But, when every known Acre in the Kingdom, +that could be disposed of, was given away +by Wholesale to the Duke of <hi rend='italic'>York</hi>, the Heir-apparent +of the Crown, (partial Distribution!) +to new-fangled Favourites, and the staunch old +Enemies of Church and Crown; it was hoped +some Lands might be <emph>yet</emph> discovered, to satisfy +and compensate those <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi> Worthies, who had +Nothing left for their Support, beside an inalienable +Sense of Honour and Loyalty, and a Character +of invincible Fidelity (which all Nations +admired and applauded). No such Discovery, +however, was made, nor any relative to the +<hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi>, under that Administration, but what +tended to convince them, by the famous Act +of Settlement, <hi rend='italic'>&c.</hi> of the extraordinary severe +Peculiarity of their Fate! Yet, ordained to +shew Posterity unprecedented Specimens of Loyalty +and Zeal, they still adhered, with inflexible +Constancy, to the Fortunes of King <hi rend='italic'>James</hi> the +Second, not mindful of their Injuries by <hi rend='italic'>James</hi> +the First, their unexampled Sufferings by the +excessive harsh Measures of King <hi rend='italic'>Charles</hi> the +First, his Ministers, and Deputies, or their unheard-of +Treatment (I won't say <emph>Wrongs</emph>, it +<pb n='045'/><anchor id='Pg045'/> +being a Maxim the King of <hi rend='italic'>England</hi> can do none) +by King <hi rend='italic'>Charles</hi> II. Little Wonder, a House, +constantly sapping it's own best Pillars, should +at length fall. +</p> + +<p> +King <hi rend='italic'>James</hi> the Second, constrained to abdicate +the Throne of <hi rend='italic'>England</hi>, endeavoured the +Preservation of this his Kingdom of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, +where his faithful Subjects, (a Remnant of the +various and manifold Wastes of foregoing +Reigns) considering the thousand Disadvantages +they laboured under, made <emph>such a Stand</emph> as later +Ages will look up to with Astonishment! A +Parcel of Men, congregated in the utmost Hurry +and Confusion, undisciplin'd, unarm'd, uncloathed, +unpaid! Yet did those very Men, +animated by the Example of their heroick Leaders, +(I mean their immediate Lords and Countrymen) +on the Plains of <hi rend='italic'>Aughrim</hi>, convince +the best veteran Army that Day in <hi rend='italic'>Europe</hi>, superior +in Numbers, excellently provided for in +every Respect, and conducted by a Prince of +singular Valour and Address, that <hi rend='italic'>Irishmen</hi> were +deserving of more auspicious Stars. +</p> + +<p> +Never was a more gallant Defence than they, +after this, made in <hi rend='italic'>Limerick</hi>; where, although +abandoned by the Prince, (whose Cause they +had so remarkably espoused) and his auxiliary +<hi rend='italic'>French</hi>, they obtained an honourable +<hi rend='smallcaps'>Capitulation</hi> from those in Commission under King +<hi rend='italic'>William</hi> the Third, whose strict <emph>Observance</emph> +thereof, to the End of his glorious Life, reflects, +among many other his great Atchievements, +deserved Honour on his Memory. +</p> + +<p> +The distinguished Figure made by those +Noblemen and Gentlemen, who, regardless of +<emph>Property</emph> or <emph>Ease</emph>, followed the Destiny of that +hard-fated Prince, King <hi rend='italic'>James</hi> the Second, +<pb n='046'/><anchor id='Pg046'/> +(namely, the Lords <hi rend='italic'>Mount-Cashel</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Tyrconnel</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Clare</hi> and <hi rend='italic'>Lucan</hi>, the +<hi rend='italic'>Dillons</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Nugents</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Rooths</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Burkes</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Lees</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Fitz-Geralds</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Cooks</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Lacys</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Browns</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Wogans</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Baggots</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Sheridans</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Creaghs</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Plunkets</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Barnewals</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Neagles</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Lallys</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Mac Carthys</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Mac +Donnels</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Mac Guires</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Mac Namarras</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Mac Mahons</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Mac Gennis's</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>O Neils</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>O Connors</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>O Donnels</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>O Briens</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>O Dwyers</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>O Shaghnussys</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>O Mahonys</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>O Sullivans</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>O Kellys</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>O Ferralls</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>O Reillys</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>O Haras</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>O Hogans</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>O Byrnes</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>O Daes</hi>, &c. +&c. &c. the military Annals of <hi rend='italic'>Germany</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>France</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Spain</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Flanders</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Italy</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Naples</hi>, and +<hi rend='italic'>Russia</hi>), must bear ample and authentic Testimony +of, to future Ages. +</p> + +<p> +Those were they, of whom Dr. <hi rend='italic'>Mac en Crow</hi> +gives the following concise, but just and happy +Character. +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<foreign lang="la" rend='font-style: italic'>Genus acre Bello, Studiis Genus acre +Minervæ, Devotumque mori pro Rege, Fidêque tuendis.</foreign> +</quote> + +<p> +Among those who followed the Fortunes of King +<hi rend='italic'>James</hi> the Second, were Sir <hi rend='italic'>Richard Neagle</hi>, +his Attorney-General, and Dr. <hi rend='italic'>Moore</hi>, Provost +of <hi rend='italic'>Trinity-college</hi>, near <hi rend='italic'>Dublin</hi>; two +Gentlemen very justly distinguished in their respective +Spheres; the former, a Gentleman of unshaken +Integrity, and great Capacity in the Profession +of the Laws; the latter, of exemplary Piety, +universal Learning, and fine Accomplishments. +<hi rend='italic'>Louis</hi> the Fourteenth, then King of <hi rend='italic'>France</hi>, +protected those worthy deserving Men, with singular +Tenderness and Attention; and was instructed +and guided solely by Dr. <hi rend='italic'>Moore</hi>, in the restoring, +establishing, and modelling the University +of <hi rend='italic'>Paris</hi>, at that gloomy Period! quite +buried in perplexed, unintelligible, peripatetic +<pb n='047'/><anchor id='Pg047'/> +Philosophy, and disfigured with romantic Legends, +and Gothic Jingle! But, at the Doctor's +Appearance, Entities, Quiddities, Sympathies, +Antipathies, occult Qualities, substantial +Forms, metaphysical Degrees, Categories, and +all this unideal wordy Stuff, vanished; and +were succeeded by a clear, concise Method of +Reasoning, and sound, useful, and experimental +Philosophy. <hi rend='italic'>Greek</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Hebrew</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Syriac</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Chaldaic</hi>, +and <hi rend='italic'>Arabic</hi>, were Languages <emph>untaught</emph>, +<emph>unknown</emph>, in the University of <hi rend='italic'>Paris</hi>, before Dr. +<hi rend='italic'>Moore</hi>; for whom particularly, <hi rend='italic'>Louis</hi> the +Fourteenth founded, established, and endowed the Royal +College, now called <hi rend='italic'>College du Cambray</hi>: And +how well our Doctor succeeded therein, may be +inferred from the Character and Writings of +his Pupils and Hearers, <hi rend='italic'>Boileau</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Fontinelle</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Poréc</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Montesquieu</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Fleuri</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Lauguet</hi>, with many +others, and <hi rend='italic'>Rollin</hi>, his peculiar Favourite and +immediate Successor, <hi rend='italic'>all</hi> great Genius's, applauded +Writers, and celebrated Wits. So +that, as <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> had the Honour of founding, it +had also that of restoring and reviving the great +University of <hi rend='italic'>Paris</hi>, in the Persons of two of +its learned Natives. +</p> + +<p> +The Reign of her Majesty Queen <hi rend='italic'>Anne</hi> (glorious +to her Arms, under the Conduct of <hi rend='italic'>John</hi>, +Duke of <hi rend='italic'>Marlborough</hi>, and her other Generals, +and justly distinguished by the Number of great +Genius's and Wits, who enlightened that Period) +was in this Kingdom chiefly employed in +<emph>additional</emph> Acts against the further Growth of +Popery: And many there were, who deemed it +an unparallel'd Severity in her Majesty, to give +her Royal Assent to them particular Laws; by +which the <hi rend='italic'>Roman Catholicks</hi> of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> +(already ruined by their inimitable Allegiance to her +<pb n='048'/><anchor id='Pg048'/> +Royal Father, Uncle, and Grandfather) were +<emph>precluded</emph> from availing themselves, by a tolerable +easy Lease, of any Part or Parcel of these Estates, +forfeited by their Ancestors, thro' their +unremitting Endeavours, to support and maintain +that Stem, of which she was herself an immediate +Branch. +</p> + +<p> +So late even as this Reign, the whole Kingdom +of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> was a desolate diffusive Scene of +total Decay! covered with all the ghastly Symptoms +of the Consumption of Centuries! But, +at length, on the happy Accession of his late +Majesty of glorious Memory, the blissful Morning +of Peace and Concord began its auspicious +Dawn! Yet, as Time, publick Spirit, Patriotism +(in its highest Conception) and unwearied +Diligence, were all collectively essential to the +giving Life, Vigour, and Activity, to national +Industry and Improvement, so very long in a +melancholy State of Languor and Oppression: +Not before the present truly glorious Reign, did +<hi rend='italic'>Hibernia</hi> tune her old Harp, now newly strung +to universal Harmony and Elegance, and rear +her awful Head from the stupid dismal Dozes +of Ages; where comes the literal Application +of my third Motto, <hi rend='smallcaps'>Renascimur</hi>. +</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<foreign lang="la" rend='font-style: italic'>Hinc priscæ redeunt Artes, felicibus inde +Ingeniis aperitur iter, despectaque Musæ +Colla levant.——</foreign> +</quote> + +<p> +Having travelled through a tedious Night, +thick-set with Horrors of various Hues! and +thus come to the End of a painful Journey; +give me Leave, kind Reader, to indulge awhile +with admiring the beautiful Variety of Objects, +which now surround me, to the serene Delight +<pb n='049'/><anchor id='Pg049'/> +of the Mind, and refined Gratification of Sense; +before I attempt that Display of them to which +I have no Occasion of professing my Inequality. +</p> + +<p> +In this Reign, and not before, our Linen +Manufacture, in many Respects one of the most +profitable Branches of our national Commerce, +received all the Encouragement from Royal +Bounty, and Parliamentary Sanction, that could +be reasonably hoped for. +</p> + +<p> +Persons of the highest Rank, Dignity, and +Fortune, were appointed <hi rend='italic'>Trustees</hi> for the Propagation, +Encouragement, and Diffusion, of this +beneficial Trade, throughout the respective Provinces. +</p> + +<p> +The <hi rend='italic'>Linen-Hall</hi> was erected in <hi rend='italic'>Dublin</hi>, under +as just and nice Regulations as any commercial +House in <hi rend='italic'>Europe</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +The North of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> began to wear an Aspect +entirely new; and, from being (through +Want of Industry, Business, and Tillage) the +almost exhausted Nursery of our <hi rend='italic'>American</hi> Plantations, +soon became a populous Scene of Improvement, +Traffic, Wealth, and Plenty; and +is, at this Day, a well-planted District, considerable +for Numbers of well-affected, useful, +and industrious Subjects. +</p> + +<p> +Now arose, now shone forth, the ever Honourable +<hi rend='smallcaps'>Dublin Society</hi>; a Society equalled +by none. It is true, we read of Patriarchs, Philosophers, +Warriors, Orators, and Poets; of +Senates, Parliaments, Councils, <hi rend='italic'>&c.</hi> but we no +where, abstracted from our own Country, meet +a Set of pious Patriots, from their <emph>private +Funds</emph>, adorning their Country in general, in +every Degree and Branch of Industry, and Improvement; +and, inspired with Sentiments truly +public and social, munificently rewarding their +<pb n='050'/><anchor id='Pg050'/> +Countrymen, of whatsoever Denomination, without +Favour or Distinction; for meliorating their +proper Estates, or Farms; for excelling in any +Production of Nature, or Art; for any Discovery, +or Invention, useful to Mankind: A Set +of <emph>truly honourable</emph>, and <emph>generous</emph> Personages, instructing +their Countrymen with clear, yet philosophical +Precepts, encouraging them by their +Example, and rewarding them from their inexhaustible +Bounty! <emph>Such</emph>, and <emph>such unrivalled</emph>, +is the <hi rend='smallcaps'>Illustrious Dublin Society</hi>! What +Pity, the ample Distributions, and instructive +Writings of this learned and munificent Body, are not regularly published, +in <hi rend='italic'>Latin</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>English</hi>, +and <hi rend='italic'>French</hi>, for the peculiar Honour of this +Nation, the Edification of Posterity, and as a +bright Pattern of Imitation to all other civiliz'd +Countries! +</p> + +<p> +Now likewise appeared the <hi rend='italic'>Philharmonic Society</hi>, +that, (from a few Gentlemen, who used +<emph>occasionally</emph> to meet, in order to while away an +Hour with a gentle Tune, and chearful Glass) +grew into an harmonious Body, not alone for +the Improvement of the charming Art of Music, +but for the <emph>effectual Relief</emph> also of successive +Thousands, from Misery, Famine, and Confinement: +<foreign lang="la" rend='font-style: italic'>Concordiâ res parvæ crescunt</foreign>. +<hi rend='smallcaps'>Orpheus</hi>, +we are told, built the Walls of <hi rend='italic'>Thebes</hi>, +by the irresistible Powers of Harmony: Be this +true or fabulous; how many Iron Gates have +we not seen open, to the persuasive Charities of +this tuneful Society! how many gloomy Cells +vacated by their Charms! This elegant Society, +by moderate Loans, Interest-free to the industrious +Poor, prevents many such from getting +into the Distress of Prisons, or following offensive +Courses; and, by enabling them to obtain +<pb n='051'/><anchor id='Pg051'/> +an honest Livelihood, rendereth them useful +Members to the Community: So that, of this +Society, it might have been justly said, +</p> + +<lg> +<l><foreign lang="la" rend='font-style: italic'>Omne tulit Punctum quæ miscuit +utile dulci.</foreign></l> +</lg> + +<p> +In this happy Reign was incorporated, under +the protective Sanction of Royal Bounty, a +Society, truly Christian, for the pious Establishment +of <hi rend='italic'>Protestant</hi> <hi rend='smallcaps'>Charter-Schools</hi> +throughout the Kingdom: An Institution far +more productive of national Morality, and Reformation, +than excommunicative Discipline, or +restrictive penal Statutes; since Persuasion and +Rewards have ever been, and must ever continue +to be, more consistent with the meek and benevolent +Temper of true Christianity, more effectual, +Apostolic, and Catholic, than <emph>Punishments</emph>, +<emph>Persecution</emph>, or <emph>Sequestrations</emph>. +</p> + +<p> +In this Reign shines out a Christian Divine, +who, in the inestimable individual Dr. <hi rend='italic'>Madden</hi>, +collects <emph>a whole Society of Patriots</emph>; a venerable +Man, not alone the Guide of his particular +Congregation, but a pure, also clear and lasting +Light of Perfection, and noble Imitation, to +his Countrymen in general. +</p> + +<lg> +<l>On <hi rend='italic'>Madden</hi>, kindred Angels smile!</l> +<l>Bright Mirrour to his native Isle!</l> +<l>To whom old Age shall say, and Youth,</l> +<l>With grateful and prophetic Truth,</l> +</lg> + +<p> +<foreign lang="la" rend='font-style: italic'>Semper Honos, Nomenq; tuum, Laudesq; +manebunt.</foreign> +</p> + +<p> +St. <hi rend='italic'>Patrick's</hi> Hospital, for the Reception of +Lunaticks and Ideots, a lasting Monument of +the late Dean <hi rend='italic'>Swift's</hi> Charity, as are his various +<pb n='052'/><anchor id='Pg052'/> +Writings, of his great Genius and Wit: <hi rend='italic'>Mercer's</hi> +charitable Hospitable in <hi rend='italic'>Stephen-street</hi>: The +noble Hospital for the Relief of poor Lying-inn-Women, +of the Projection of our late excellent +Countryman, Dr. <hi rend='italic'>Bartholomew Mosse</hi>; +by which a great Number of Women and Children +are preserved from miserable and untimely +Ends: The <hi rend='italic'>Charitable Infirmary</hi> on the +<hi rend='italic'>Inns-Quay</hi>: The New Hospital for <hi rend='italic'>Incurables</hi>, +on <hi rend='italic'>Lazer's-Hill</hi>: +St. <hi rend='italic'>Nicholas's</hi> Hospital, in <hi rend='italic'>Francis-street</hi>: +The <hi rend='italic'>Meath</hi> Hospital, in <hi rend='italic'>Skinner's Alley</hi>: +The <hi rend='italic'>Lock</hi> Hospital, in <hi rend='italic'>George's-Lane</hi>, +for hapless Women and Children, tainted with the Venereal +Infection: And the Charitable Hospital in <hi rend='italic'>King-street, +Oxmantown</hi>, are all the humane and pious +Growth of this transcendent Reign. +</p> + +<p> +Those Hospitals are duly and regularly attended, +by the most eminent Physicians, and +skilful Surgeons, without Fee or Reward: So +that, from this obvious Consideration, the frequent +and large Collections in our Churches, for +the comfortable Support, and Christian Education, +of indigent Boys; the stated Distributions +of our Chief Magistrates, to the Helpless and +Needy; and, in Truth, from the general Disposition +of its worthy Inhabitants; we may, +without any Risque of incurring the least Censure +of Adulation, or Vanity, pronounce <hi rend='smallcaps'>Dublin</hi> +as charitable a Metropolis as any in the known +World. In the beautiful new Garden, plann'd +by Dr. <hi rend='italic'>Mosse</hi>, breathing in all the natural Fragrance +of the Spring, adorned with all the Elegancies +of Art, all the Splendor of Illumination, +and inspired with the most soothing +Charms of delightful Harmony; to behold +Crowds of young Ladies, in the full Glow of +Beauty, and Bloom of Youth, finely habited, +<pb n='053'/><anchor id='Pg053'/> +and elegantly decorated in the Manufactures of +our own Country, (and finished in the most exquisite +Taste, by our own Artizans); to behold +them, I say, converting their very Amusements +and Recreations to the heavenly Purposes of relieving +the Distressed, must, to every thinking +<hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi> Spectator, afford a Prospect of the utmost +rational Joy! +</p> + +<p> +As all Men, who render their Country distinguished +Honour, or singular Service, deserve, +therefore, lasting Monuments of public grateful +Acknowledgment to their Memories; it is +hoped that, in this Respect, Dr. <hi rend='italic'>Mosse</hi> will not +be forgotten by those who are evidently fond of +encouraging and rewarding public Zeal: +</p> + +<lg> +<l>Eternal Joys to <hi rend='italic'>Mosse</hi> kind Heaven give,</l> +<l>By whom, on Earth, so many Thousands live!</l> +</lg> + +<p> +The <hi rend='italic'>Marine Society</hi>, of recent Institution also, +disposeth many poor young Men into a Condition +of acquiring an honest, and praise-worthy +Livelihood, and of becoming useful Members +of the Community; by serving on Board of his +Majesty's Fleets in War-time, and serving our +Merchants in Times of Peace; and, in this +double Capacity, of contributing to the general +Welfare of their Mother-Country, to which +they may otherwise prove a Burden. +</p> + +<p> +Our publick Entertainments of various Kinds +are, for the most Part, conducted with strict +Propriety, and real Politeness; those especially +of the Theatre, which should, by no Means, +pass for Matter of slight or casual Consideration; +seeing the <hi rend='italic'>Romans</hi>, the greatest of all People, +esteemed the Theatre worthy the Attention of +particular Laws, <hi rend='italic'>Roscia Lex Theatralis</hi>, &c. Mr. +<pb n='054'/><anchor id='Pg054'/> +<hi rend='italic'>Sheridan</hi>'s general Merit as a <hi rend='italic'>Player</hi> +stands confessed; but as a <hi rend='italic'>Manager</hi>, that Gentleman's falling +frequently under the heavy Displeasure of +the Public, (whether from an haughty Distaste +to his Profession, or indulged Arrogance of +Temper) with his violent Introduction of anti-dramatick +Rope and Wire-dancing, Tumbling, +and Fire-eating, to the visible Degradation of a +liberal Stage, whereon nothing mean, shocking, +or monstrous, should ever appear; he hath not +succeeded so well: Then, his Scheme of uniting +an Academy, for the sober regular Education +of Youth, with a publick Theatre, seemed +rather the feverish Delusion of a distempered +Brain, and heated Imagination, than the cool +deliberate Result of rational Judgment; from +which fermented Source, also seem'd directly to +flow his avowed Concern for the <emph>long lost Art of +Oratory</emph> among us: Had Mr. <hi rend='italic'>Sheridan</hi> attended +to the Debates of our High Court of Parliament; +been frequent in our different Churches, +and at the Bars of our Courts of Judicature; +and had, in this Case, formed a comparative +Judgment, from the Writings of <hi rend='italic'>Demosthenes</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Plato</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Isocrates</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Cicero</hi>, and <hi rend='italic'>Pliny</hi> the Younger; +from the Rules and Precepts of <hi rend='italic'>Aristotle</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Longinus</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Horace</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Quinctilian</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Scaliger</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Rapin</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Porée</hi>, +and <hi rend='italic'>Rollin</hi>; he had been <emph>then</emph> convinced how +little Occasion there was for his <emph>lamenting</emph> the +<emph>Loss</emph> of an Art in this Kingdom, which breathes +there in full Maturity of all it's persuasive +Charms. This his dogmatical Assertion of the +<emph>long-lost Art of Oratory</emph>, his wild <emph>Academical</emph> Projects, +with the foregoing theatrical Inconsistencies, +too much subject that Gentleman to the +Character given, by the <hi rend='italic'>Roman</hi> Satirist, of an +assuming sharp-set <hi rend='italic'>Greekling</hi>: +</p> + +<pb n='055'/><anchor id='Pg055'/> + +<quote rend="display"> +<hi rend='italic'>Gramaticus, Rhetor, Geometres, Pictor, Aliptes, +Augur, Scœnobates, Medicus, Magus, omnia novit.</hi> +</quote> + +<p> +Upon the Whole, I will readily grant Mr. +<hi rend='italic'>Sheridan</hi> a <hi rend='italic'>Roscius</hi>, if the Name can sooth +him; a <emph>Critic</emph>; nay, an <emph>Orator</emph>; but I shall be bold +to assert, that we have many, very many, in +this Kingdom, of far greater Powers than that +Gentleman, whereof some of his Orations, <emph>so +called</emph>, are incontrovertible Testimonies. +</p> + +<p> +This Kingdom hath of late Years exhibited +as justly celebrated Male and Female Players, +as any other; evinced in the Characters of +Messieurs <hi rend='italic'>Quin</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Ryan</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Delane</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Sheridan</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Barry</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Mossop</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Dexter</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Sparks</hi>, Mrs. +<hi rend='italic'>Woffington</hi>, the +inimitable Mrs. <hi rend='italic'>Fitz-Henry</hi>, and several others, +of either Sex. +</p> + +<p> +Mr. <hi rend='italic'>Barry</hi>'s Capacity, as a Manager, appeareth +equal to his eminently-affecting Powers +in Tragedy, (so generally known, and so unexceptionably +confessed) from the magnificent +Theatre, erected by that Gentleman, with amazing +Expedition, in Grandeur, Convenience, +and Elegance, preferable to any in <hi rend='italic'>London</hi>, or +<hi rend='italic'>Paris</hi>: From the obliging Decency the respective +Performances thereof are conducted with, and +evidently from the surpassing theatrical Abilities +of the Company, that, with the most engaging +Variety, entertains the Publick in <hi rend='italic'>Crow-street</hi> +Play-house. I have sometimes seen, and have +been as often delighted, with Performances of +the Gentlemen just mentioned, as with those of +the admired Mr. <hi rend='italic'>Garrick</hi>, and the famous Messieurs +<hi rend='italic'>Dufrésne</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Gossin</hi>, and +<hi rend='italic'>Quinault</hi>; and, if I +may take Leave to declare my Opinion, am +therein clear that Mr. <hi rend='italic'>Barry</hi>, in the exquisitely +<pb n='056'/><anchor id='Pg056'/> +pathetick Strokes of deep Tragedy, touches the +Soul with as much delicate Sensibility, and, in +the irrefrainable Sallies of the more boisterous +Passions, soars with as majestick Wings, as any +one of them, I will not say higher. To behold +Mr. <hi rend='italic'>Barry</hi>, sublimely struggling in a Storm of +Adversity, with the sudden Shocks, and unexpected +Blows of Fortune; <emph>then</emph>, (when all human +Efforts must yield to inevitable Necessity) +sinking in the irretrievable Plunge of Sorrow +and Calamities, with that calm Resignation ever +attendant on true Heroism; must convince any +judicious Spectator of his being born a Tragedian. +I must here declare, that what I have +advanced on this Subject neither ariseth from +Prepossession on one Side, or Prejudice on the +other; having no Manner of Connection, nay, +not even a personal Acquaintance, with Mr. +<hi rend='italic'>Barry</hi>; nor any Objection to Mr. <hi rend='italic'>Sheridan</hi>, +but such as must naturally issue from my just Resentment +against any Individual, of whatsoever +Rank, Character, or Denomination, who should +prove so ignorant, and yet so hardy, as to declare +<hi rend='italic'>Elocution lost</hi> in our native Country; an illiberal +Censure, which, if true, had necessarily wrapped +our High Court of Parliament, the whole Body +of our Clergy, our University, Bench and Bar, +in Shades that, I am certain, had been never +dispell'd by the Approach of Light, so dim and +glimmering as that Gentleman's. +</p> + +<p> +Let us now take a summary View of the Inhabitants +of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, in their respective Ranks: +And to begin with the Peers: Are they not such +Personages, as, by their Munificence, Affability +of Manners, Easiness of Comportment, +Propriety of Appearance, and Generosity in +dealing, reflect true Honour on Nobility; and, +<pb n='057'/><anchor id='Pg057'/> +Reality, derive their superior Rank, as much +from the Pre-eminence of their Virtues, as from +the constitutional Dignity of their Titles? +</p> + +<p> +The Encrease of our People, Wealth, Commerce, +Industry, Arts, Inventions; the extraordinary +additional Number, in this happy +Reign, of our beautiful Seats, elegant Improvements, +useful and ornamental Plantations, extensive +Inclosures, excellent high Roads, (formerly +almost impassable,) with the visible Reformation +in national Harmony, and Allegiance, +will best suggest an Idea of the Honourable the +House of Commons of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, composed of +such candid Spirits, as, neither the Smiles or +Frowns of superior Influence, popular Views, +or private Connections, can bend from the various +essential Duties due to their King, their +Country, and themselves; constant in their +Attendance; careful in their Protection; and +zealous in their Promotion of publick Felicity; +not more extensive in their noble Projects, for +this great Purpose, than expeditious in carrying +those into Execution. +</p> + +<p> +Our Constitution, partly of <hi rend='italic'>Gothic</hi>, partly of +<hi rend='italic'>Norman</hi> Institution, (the first High Court of +Parliament on the present Establishment, having +been ordained in the Reign of <hi rend='italic'>Henry</hi> the First, +Son of <hi rend='italic'>William</hi> the Conquerer) avoiding the +turbulent Licentiousness of a <hi rend='italic'>Democracy</hi>, the +factious domineering Temper of <hi rend='italic'>Aristocracy</hi>, and +the variable oppressive Sway of <hi rend='italic'>Arbitrary Monarchy</hi>; +but including, by an harmonious Assemblage, +the essential Virtues of those different +Systems of Government; is unquestionably the +<emph>best digested</emph> and <emph>wisest</emph> in the known World: +Under which, the King and the Nobles, with +the Commons, <emph>unite</emph>, to extend the Commerce, +<pb n='058'/><anchor id='Pg058'/> +promote the Happiness, guard over the Safety, +preserve the Lives, defend the Characters, support +the Liberties, and protect the Property of +the People. Bless'd Constitution! O! may it +ever flourish! under whose mild and preservative +Influence, a few only feel Restraint; except +from the Commission of private Evil, or +social Injury. +</p> + +<p> +I have said a <emph>Few only</emph>; because there are some +among us, who, on the Score of Religion, are +secluded from permanent Property: And even +Those, it is hoped, will, in Consideration of the +invariable Tenor of their humble and pacific +Conduct, from the Capitulation of <hi rend='italic'>Limerick</hi>, to +this Day; and from their unanimous and chearful +Obedience to our Civil Government, e're +long obtain some Mitigation of their Affairs; +such the benevolent Temper and Disposition of +the present incomparable Reign! Some late +excellent<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Seasonable Thoughts</hi>, &c. +published by <hi rend='italic'>George Faulkner</hi>; <hi rend='italic'>the Case of +the Roman Catholics</hi>, and <hi rend='italic'>the Principles of the +Roman Catholics</hi>, the two last published by <hi rend='italic'>P. Lord</hi>, in +<hi rend='italic'>Cook-street, Dublin</hi>.</note> +Pamphlets, wherein these Gentlemen's +political Principles are fully and clearly explained, +shew of what signal Advantage it had been +to the Numbers, Industry, Health, Wealth, +and Beauty of this Kingdom, to indulge them +a Property, even in our uncultivated Mountains, +dreary Wastes, and noxious Marshes: +Which Measure, should it appear in a true Light +to our worthy Representatives, we may in a +few Years more, hope to see <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> one of the +most beautiful, best-improved, best-conditioned +Islands in the Universe. Our Bench is adorned +with Honourable Personages, conspicuous for +Learning, Integrity, Humanity, and Impartiality; +<pb n='059'/><anchor id='Pg059'/> +of whom, it may be boldly affirmed, +and with the strictest Truth, that they are not +Favourers of Persons. The present Lord Chief +Justice of the <hi rend='italic'>King-Bench</hi>, the late Master of +the Rolls, and Chancellor of the Exchequer, +Natives of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, formed a Triumvirate, whose +Learning, Worth, and distinguished Abilities, +had rendered them eminently respectable in the +brightest Æras, either of the <hi rend='italic'>Roman</hi> Commonwealth, +or Empire. +</p> + +<p> +Our Attorney and Solicitor General, our Serjeants +at Law, and King's Council, with many +eminent Barristers, and a Set of learned eloquent +young Gentlemen, all shining out together; +such as <hi rend='italic'>Tully</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Hortensius</hi>, and +<hi rend='italic'>Pliny</hi>, had with +fond Tenderness cherished and with pleasing +Pride, avowed for their Pupils; form as distinguished +a Body of Advocates and Orators, as +adorn any Courts of Judicature in <hi rend='italic'>Europe</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +In the Diocese of <hi rend='italic'>Dublin</hi> existeth a truly +pious Society for the Relief and Support of the +Widows and Children of the inferior Clergy +thereof. It is, indeed, surprizing in a Kingdom, +such (thank Heaven) as <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> is, that +the Example of this charitable Society, hath +not been <emph>universally</emph> followed. It hath often +affected me to the Quick, to have seen a learned +Divine, after a tedious and painful Free-School +Institution, and expensive University Education, +struggling, upon a poor Pension or Salary of +<emph>Forty</emph> Pounds a Year, to maintain an honest +Gentlewoman, Children, and Servants, (and +really with some Decency of Hospitality) sedulously +discharging, at the same Time, the different +Duties of the pastoral Function; when a +<emph>foreign Fidler</emph> shall run away with tripple that +Sum, or more, for one Night's Performance. +<pb n='060'/><anchor id='Pg060'/> +I would by no Means be understood to derogate +from the Merits of fine Performers in the different +Parts of Musick, or endeavour to diminish +their reasonable Perquisites: But, surely, +such Men and such Things are not to be thought +of, in Competition with those, who, by Teaching +and Preaching, refine our Morals, instruct +our Understandings, inform our Lives, and enlighten +our Souls with the celestial Spirit of the +Christian Faith; and thereby happily lead us, +through this transient and precarious State, to +eternal Tranquilly and Bliss. I am not a +Preacher; but thus far shall venture: As the +Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom, +our generally following the heavenly Example +of this venerable Society, must be a great Test +as well of the one, as the other. If the Bishops, +the temporal Lords, and great estated Men of +each Diocese, would but graciously lead the +Way, it is not unlikely they had been attended +by Crowds of zealous Followers: And, in Fact, +a <emph>small</emph> Matter <emph>annually set apart</emph>, from even the +superfluous Outgoings of the Wealthy and +Opulent, of different Ranks, would very happily +answer the generous noble End of preserving, +from an anxious State of particular Dependance, +Numbers of virtuous, well-educated +Gentlewomen, and their Children, from the various +Miseries, which the untimely Death of a +Father, and narrow Circumstances, but too frequently +expose them to; an End so every Way +worthy the natural Disposition, the benevolent +Temper, the inherent Hospitality, and the essentially-charitable +Character of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +Our <hi rend='italic'>Protestant</hi> Brethren, the <hi rend='italic'>Dissenters</hi>, +by a prudent and pious Regulation of secreting one +Pound a Year, each parochial Minister, for this +<pb n='061'/><anchor id='Pg061'/> +religiously humane Purpose, have constantly a +Fund sufficient to allow the Relict of each +Clergyman twenty Pounds a Year, (which preserves +her from the Miseries of Want and Dependance) +and have, at some Periods, where-with +to set their Children up, in an honest and +creditable Way of living. As we are emulously +fond of adopting the Wisdom and Virtues of +each Christian Sect and Society, it is fervently +hoped we will also this tender and pious Scheme; +a Scheme so comprehensive of true Charity, and +so productive of social and happy Effects! How +difficult is it for Minds, crowded with Cares, +and beset with the pressing Calls of Family-preservation, +to attend, with due Composure and +Inclination, to the various indispensible Duties +of the pastoral Office? But how chearfully would +those Reverend Gentlemen proceed in their +divine Mission, when, by some visible Provision +for the proper Objects of their present Cares and +future Concern, they should, in a great Measure, +be released from domestick Anxiety, from +gloomy Apprehensions, and alarming Prospects, +into the temporal Futurity of those, for whom +they must be necessarily affected with the most +tender Feelings! +</p> + +<p> +The most convincing and decisive Method of +adjudging Causes, being by a comprehensive +View and critical Examination of their Effects; +of Streams, by a nice Scrutiny and Investigation +of their Sources; hence may we, from the +shining Characters, and extensive Abilities of +our Divines and Barristers, frame a just Idea of +the University of <hi rend='italic'>Dublin</hi>, which, for Compass +and Extent of the Sciences, Variety of elegant +Arts, found Erudition, and polite Literature +therein taught, in the most regular and perspicuous +<pb n='062'/><anchor id='Pg062'/> +Methods, is equalled by few, excelled by +none. +</p> + +<p> +The Students are carefully instructed in the +more refined Parts of classical Learning; oriental, +antient, and modern Languages; Criticism, +sacred and profane History, Oratory, Logick, +Ethicks, and Metaphysicks; in natural and experimental +Philosophy; Anatomy, Botany and +Chymistry; the mathematicks, in Theory and +Practice; Civil and Canon Laws; Theology, +Controversy, and Ecclesiastical History: So +that, with a good Capacity, and regular Application, +one may depart this University, as +completely and happily instituted for the honorary +Professions of Life, as may be reasonably +expected from any Nursery of Learning extant. +The obtaining a Fellowship in this University, +is a demonstrative Test of comprehensive native +Talents, thorough intellectual Cultivation, +deep and various learned Acquirements. +</p> + +<p> +The <hi rend='italic'>Newtonian</hi> Philosophy, the excellent +<hi rend='italic'>Boyle</hi>'s experimental Philosophy, and Mr. +<hi rend='italic'>Locke</hi>'s Metaphysicks, +prevail much in the College of <hi rend='italic'>Dublin</hi>: +Which, for Extent, Convenience, Magnificence, +and a most sumptuous elegant Library, +exceeds any one College in <hi rend='italic'>Europe</hi>. The beautiful +Parks belonging to it, seem actually, on a +serene Evening, the delightful Vale of <hi rend='italic'>Tempe</hi>, +or enchanting Recesses of <hi rend='italic'>Parnassus</hi>, inhabited +by all the Muses, all the Graces, with their +charming Train. +</p> + +<p> +The Trade of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, however in former +Times miserably restrained and limited, hath in +this happy Reign received considerable Enlargements; +such as, the opening several Wooll-Ports; +the Bounty on <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi> Linens, now our +staple Commodity, imported into <hi rend='italic'>Great-Britain</hi>; +<pb n='063'/><anchor id='Pg063'/> +and the Immunity lately granted of importing +thither Beef, Butter, Tallow, Candles, Pork, +Hides, live Cattle, <hi rend='italic'>&c.</hi> a Privilege that, in its +Consequences, must prove of signal Advantage +to both Nations; to <emph>this</emph> especially, as we shall +hereby be enabled, upon any occasional Exigency, +to supply our protecting Friends, and proportionably +stint the Hands of our Enemies, +who, (by the Profusion of Wines and spirituous +Liquors, annually exported from <hi rend='italic'>France</hi> to +Ireland, in Exchange for our Beef, Butter, <hi rend='italic'>&c.</hi> +to pass over the Gluts of Teas and Spirits, <hi rend='italic'>&c.</hi> +smuggled thence by the <emph>western</emph> Runners) have +constantly the Balance on their Side. Our Exports, +with those already mentioned, consist in +a few Cheeses, Salmon and Kelp: But, as our +Linens are, without Question, become the vital +Spring of <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi> Commerce, it is Matter of great +Concern and equal Surprize, that the other Provinces +do not more <emph>universally</emph> and <emph>effectually</emph> follow +the lucrative Example of the <hi rend='italic'>North</hi>! since, +it is evident, nothing but <emph>equal Industry</emph> can be +wanting to render them <emph>equally flourishing</emph>, The +Over-growth of Graziers and Stockmasters, is +the strongest Indication that can be of national +Waste and Decay, in respect of Inhabitants. +What could a Foreigner, travelling among us, +particularly in the <emph>western</emph> Counties, some Summers +past, judge of our national Wisdom and +Oeconomy? Would he not start even at our +Humanity, on seeing the best arable Grounds +in the Kingdom, in immense Tracts, wantonly +enjoyed by the Cattle of a few petulant Individuals; +and at the same Juncture, our high +Ways and Streets crowded with Shoals of mendicant +fellow-creatures! reduced, through Want +of proper Sustenance, to the utmost Distress? +<pb n='064'/><anchor id='Pg064'/> +Would not a <hi rend='italic'>Frenchman</hi> for Example, give a +Shrug extraordinary, at finding, in every little +Inn, <hi rend='italic'>Bourdeaux</hi> Claret and <hi rend='italic'>Nantz</hi> Brandy, +though, in all Likelihood, not a Morsel of <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi> +Bread? +</p> + +<p> +It is much to be hoped, That, when the Spirit +of Tillage should become more general and +active, our Farmers more attentive to the +Growth of the best Kinds of Grain, and our +Brewers, more attentive to the Rules and Precepts +for that Purpose laid down by the Honourable +the <hi rend='smallcaps'>Dublin Society</hi>; we shall have +little or no Occasion for that Inundation of <hi rend='italic'>London +Porter</hi>; (an heavy, cloudy, intoxicating, +ill-flavoured Liquor) that annually overflows +this City and other Parts of the Kingdom; as, +in the above Case, we may have a sufficient +Plenty and Variety of Malt Liquors, our own +native Produce, far better than any imported; +and, in Case of a Redundancy of Grain, (a +Matter not very likely to happen) may, with +moderate Care, have Spirituous Liquors of far +a more wholesome Nature, exquisite Taste, and +delicate Flavour, than those imported at an extraordinary +Expence; and but too often adulterated, +in the first Concoction. +</p> + +<p> +We have, in several Parts of this Kingdom, +(in the Province of <hi rend='italic'>Munster</hi> especially) a recy, +spirituous, fine-flavoured Cyder, very little, if +at all, inferior to the best imported White +Wines; and a moderate Plenty of grateful +Honey-Liquors, which, with our prime Beef, +Mutton, Pork, Veal, Lamb, Variety of Fowls, +tame and wild; red and fallow Deer; Hares, +Rabbits, Pidgeons, Pheasants, Grouse; and +Partridge; wild Duck, Plover, Snipe, <hi rend='italic'>&c.</hi> +Lake, River, Shell and Sea Fish, of all Kinds; +<pb n='065'/><anchor id='Pg065'/> +the Produce of the Garden, (Horticulture having +of late Years so vastly improved among us, +that we now have many curious Plants, Fruits, +and Flowers, not only not <emph>known</emph>, but never +even <emph>heard of</emph>, in former Times) and <emph>all</emph> in such +Plenty and Perfection, as demonstrate <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> +happier than most other Countries, in regard +of the Necessaries and even of the Delicacies of +Life; to which may be added, the great Number +of our beautiful Lakes, noble Rivers, pure +Fountains, limpid Streams, and Health-restoring +mineral Wells.<note place='foot'>To all the above Productions of +<hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, may be justly +added, our inestimable Fisheries, and plentiful Mines, which, +under due national Encouragement, would raise immense +Treasures.</note> In this Country are bred +valuable Horses, for the Draught, Road, and +Chace; and for the Course, as high-formed +ones, as in any Part of <hi rend='italic'>Europe</hi>; and large horned +Cattle, and Sheep in Abundance. +</p> + +<p> +It must afford real Satisfaction to consider the +universal and visible Reformation in the Lives +and Morals even of our common People, clearly +evinced in this, that (thank Heaven) fewer +legal Punishments succeed an entire Circuit, in our +happy Days, than did a single Assize in former +Reigns: And, without Question, this Reformation +must still rise higher, in Proportion to the +Lenity of our worthy Legislature, and wise Indulgence +of our landed Men, who must certainly +find it more conducive to the Welfare of the +State, and to their own Strength, Honour, and +Interest, to have their Estates farmed and inhabited +by a great Number of honest, laborious +improving Families, than wasted by a few Purse-proud +Bullock-Brokers, who rarely allow the +wretched Herd of an hundred, as much Ground +<pb n='066'/><anchor id='Pg066'/> +for his own and poor Family's Support, as is +equal to that of two Bullocks. +</p> + +<p> +Suppose a Gentleman was to let two thousand +Acres of arable Ground to farm; were it not +demonstrably more conducive to all the foregoing +Motives, to dispose of these to twenty honest, +industrious Families, at an hundred Acres each, +than to any one Beau-Grazier whatever? From +the twenty Tenures, the Landlord may, in any +national Shock, raise a considerable Number of +effective Hands, and zealous Hearts, for the +Service of the Crown, or Defence of his Country; +and reap many signal Advantages to the +public and private Concernments of Life, not +possibly derivable from the anti-social Monopolizers +and Forestallers of Farms; who ever fondly +attribute their Growth to their own Sagacity +and Cleverness, without any the least Gratitude +or Obligation to the Land-owner. These Sentiments, +it is hoped, will every Day gain more +and more Consideration with our wise and beneficent +Legislature, Nobility and Gentry. +</p> + +<p> +Many intelligent Persons, of all Ranks, complain +much of the Want of some Establishment +in the Way of a national Bank, to secure popular +Credit, and the Kingdom from the various +alarming Shocks it is so frequently incident to, +on Account of the Failure of particular Banks. +</p> + +<p> +The Nobility and Gentry of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, are +Loyalists and Patriots by Principle and Education: +They are brave, without Arrogance; gay, +without Levity; polite, without Affectation; +charitable, without Ostentation; religious, without +Formality; affable, without Meanness; +generous, without View; and hospitable, without +Reserve: In their Converse, easy; in their +Dealings just; placable in their Resentments, in +<pb n='067'/><anchor id='Pg067'/> +their Friendship steady:—They have neither +the volatile Airyness of the <hi rend='italic'>Frenchman</hi>, the stated +Gravity of the <hi rend='italic'>Spaniard</hi>; the supicious Jealousy +of the <hi rend='italic'>Italian</hi>; the forbidding Haughtiness of +the <hi rend='italic'>German</hi>; the saturnine Gloominess of the +<hi rend='italic'>Flandrican</hi>, nor the sordid Parsimony of the +<hi rend='italic'>Dutchman</hi>: In short, they are neither whimsical, +splenetic, sullen or capricious:—And, as for +Cunning, Craft, or Dissimulation, these are such +sorry Guests as never found Shelter in the generous +Breast of an <hi rend='italic'>Irish</hi> Noble or Gentleman; so +that, if we consider this Country, with regard +to its military Fame, constitutional Wisdom, +Learning, Arts, Improvements, and natural +Advantages; and above all, the benevolent +Temper, charitable and hospitable Disposition +of its Inhabitants; it is true, we may find many +of more popular Bustle and Eclat, more extensive +Commerce, greater Opulence and Pomp; +but none of more general, solid, and intrinsick +Worth, than <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +I shall conclude with the following Proposition +to any one, who may arrogate to himself +Praise or Wit, by ridiculing <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>. +</p> + +<lg> +<l><foreign lang="la" rend='font-style: italic'>Si quid Novisti rectius +istis—</foreign></l> +<l><foreign lang="la" rend='font-style: italic'>Candidus imperti; Si non, his utere +mecum.</foreign></l> +</lg> + +</div> + +<pb n='068'/><anchor id='Pg068'/> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc"/> +<index index="pdf"/> +<head>The Farmer's Case Of The Roman-Catholics Of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>.</head> + +<p> +In a <hi rend='smallcaps'>Letter</hi> from a <hi rend='smallcaps'>Member</hi> of the +<hi rend='smallcaps'>Protestant Church</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='smallcaps'>Dear Sir</hi>, +</p> + +<p> +I think myself indebted to any Occasion +that restores you to a Friend, +whom I feared you had long forgotten. +But I confess, at the same +Time, that the Pleasure of hearing +from you, after a Silence of Several Years, is, +in some Measure, damped by the Censure that +seems to constitute the chief Intent of your +Letter. +</p> + +<pb n='069'/><anchor id='Pg069'/> + +<p> +You tell me that you lately happened upon +some Papers that were entitled The FARMER's +LETTERS, <hi rend='italic'>&c.</hi> which were imputed to me +as the Author. And, after some Compliments +on Spirit, and Genius, and so forth, in order to +palliate, as I suppose, what you purpose to administer, +you charge me, by Implication, with +Crimes, whose smallest Tendency I should abhor +in myself, as in any Man breathing. +</p> + +<p> +You say, favourably enough for your own +Disposition, that you have long looked on the +<hi rend='italic'>Roman-Catholics</hi> of these Kingdoms as a discountenanced +and pitiable People. That you +would choose to allow to others the same Latitude +of Conscience that you like for yourself. +That it is not a Part of Humanity to break a +Reed already bruised. That such a Treatment +would be blameable respecting any Individual; +how much more so, in Prejudice of a whole +People. That those Papers are pointed with a +Keenness of Enmity, for which the Talents, +which you are pleased to ascribe, cannot sufficiently +apologize. And, that you did not think +me capable of exasperating Government and +Power against a Set of Men who were already +under the Displeasure and Depression of the +Law. +</p> + +<p> +These, my dear Friend, are home and heavy +Accusations, however tempered by Expressions +of Kindness and Affection from the Man whom +I sincerely love and respect. +</p> + +<p> +But, if I know any-thing of myself, the Quality, +called Ill-nature, is not my Characteristic. +I would not exchange one Grain of Good-heart +for all the Wit of a <hi rend='italic'>C----d</hi> or Comprehension +of a <hi rend='italic'>P--tt</hi>, independent of their Virtue. +And I may say, with great Truth, that an Excess +<pb n='070'/><anchor id='Pg070'/> +of Humanity hath occasioned all the Misfortunes +and Distresses of my Life. +</p> + +<p> +I most solemnly assure you, that when I wrote +those Letters I was in perfect Love and Charity +with every <hi rend='italic'>Roman Catholic</hi> in the Kingdom of +<hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>. I knew that they were a depressed People. +I had long pitied them as such. I was +sensible that the Laws, under which they suffered, +had been enacted by our Ancestors, when +the Impressions of Hostility were fresh and +warm, and when Passion, if I may venture to +say so, co-operated, in some Measure, with +Utility and Reason. I will go a Step further. +I thought those Laws not severe enough to suppress +them as Enemies, nor yet sufficiently favourable +to attach them to us as Friends. They +were not so cruel as, wholly, to serve for quelling; +and yet they had a Poignancy that might +tend to provoke. And all this I imputed to the +Resentment that was blended with the Humanity +of our Ancestors. Their Humanity left to Papists +a Power of hurting, while their Resentment +abridged the Inducements that might engage +them to serve us. +</p> + +<p> +Believe me, Sir, I never was of a cruel or +persecuting Disposition. I was grieved to see +the Discouragements under which the <hi rend='italic'>Roman +Catholics</hi> of this Kingdom laboured, but these +very Discouragements made me fear them the +more. +</p> + +<p> +Previous to the Letters, which you censure so +warmly, a dangerous Rebellion had broken out +in <hi rend='italic'>Scotland</hi>, in consequence of a <hi rend='italic'>French</hi> +Invasion, that was headed by a Popish Pretender to the +Throne. Be pleased to remember, (if it is not +too mortifying a Recollection for a free-born +<hi rend='italic'>Briton</hi>) the Pannic into which all <hi rend='italic'>England</hi> +was +<pb n='071'/><anchor id='Pg071'/> +struck by a few <hi rend='italic'>Scotch</hi> Vassals, undisciplined, and +unactuated by any Motive of Liberty or Virtue, +save the Virtue of being attached to their +<hi rend='italic'>Laird</hi> or their <hi rend='italic'>Leader</hi>. Millions of +<hi rend='italic'>English</hi>, at +that Time, sunk in the Down of a long Peace, +and enervated by ministerial Corruption and Venality, +feared that a Handful of <hi rend='italic'>Highlanders</hi> +would win their Way to <hi rend='italic'>London</hi>, and, at one +Stroke, put a Period to the boasted Strength and +Grandeur of the <hi rend='italic'>British</hi> Constitution. +</p> + +<p> +I was astonished at the Apprehensions that +<hi rend='italic'>England</hi> was under from so contemptible an Armament. +But I deemed the Case of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi> to +be highly alarming. The <hi rend='italic'>Roman-Catholics</hi>, at +that Time, outnumbered us Five to One. They +were disarmed, it is true, but I was not equally +sure that they had Reason to be reconciled. As +they were not admitted to realize their Fortune, +it consisted of ready Money, and that gave +ready Power. As they were not permitted to +purchase, or accept a Tenure of any valuable +Length, Loyalty, perhaps, might induce them +to fight for their King; but where was the Stake +to impel them to fight for a Country in which +they had no <hi rend='italic'>Inheritance</hi>? Without an Interest +in Lands, they had little to lose by any Change +of Estate. Without a Loan lodged with Government, +they had the less to lose by a Change of +Constitution. +</p> + +<p> +I cannot conceive how <hi rend='italic'>Religion</hi>, or mere Difference +of Opinion, should prove a real Cause +of Quarrel among Men; though it often serves +as a <hi rend='italic'>Word of War</hi>, or a <hi rend='italic'>Term</hi> whereby to give +Notice for Onset. On the contrary, I had observed +that wherever People are united by <hi rend='italic'>Interest</hi>, +though of a thousand opposite Sects, Persuasions +<pb n='072'/><anchor id='Pg072'/> +and Professions, they never fail to join +in the Maintenance and Defence of <emph>common +Rights</emph>. +</p> + +<p> +I, therefore, did not fear the <hi rend='italic'>Roman Catholics</hi>, +as having a different <hi rend='italic'>Religion</hi>, but as having +an <hi rend='italic'>Interest</hi> that was different from the Interest +of <hi rend='italic'>Protestants</hi>. Were they a Compound of all +the Follies, Absurdities, and Contradictions that +ever were generated by Monster-bearing Superstition, +had their Interest bound them to us, I +should not have feared their <hi rend='italic'>Fealty</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +But this was not the Case. The <hi rend='italic'>French</hi> Invasion +of <hi rend='italic'>Great Britain</hi> was headed by a Person +who was, by Birth, Education, Principle, and +Interest, an Enemy to the Freedom and Rights +of a Constitution that was established on the Dispossession +of his Ancestors; and he was, consequently, +an Enemy to the general Change of +Privilege and Property, that ensued on the said +Establishment. The said Change, as we all +know, was to the Disadvantage of <hi rend='italic'>Roman Catholics</hi>. +Had the Invader prevailed, a Change +would again have ensued, in their Favour. +Men naturally with Success to an Event from +whence they propose Benefit; and it is as natural +for them to act conformable to those Wishes. +</p> + +<p> +Had <hi rend='italic'>Roman Catholics</hi> been possessed of an unrestrained +Property, along with the other Liberties, +Blessings, and Enjoyments, which they +derived, in common with us, from the Establishment +at the Revolution, no spiritual or +temporal Power on Earth could have tempted +them to permit, much less to wish, a Change +of a Constitution whose Equal they could not +find upon Earth. +</p> + +<p> +But as this was very far from being the Fact, +I feared that <hi rend='italic'>Interest</hi> might prove an Incentive +<pb n='073'/><anchor id='Pg073'/> +to <emph>Desire</emph>; and Desire equally prove an Incentive +to <emph>Action</emph>; and, I am not ashamed to confess, +that my Expectations were greatly, though happily, +disappointed, by the Steadiness of their +peaceful and loyal Demeanour on that trying +Occasion. +</p> + +<p> +Believe me, my Friend, at the Time that I +wrote those Papers, which have given you so +much Offence, I looked upon the <hi rend='italic'>Papists</hi> of this +Kingdom, by the Patronage of <hi rend='italic'>France</hi> and +<hi rend='italic'>Spain</hi>, by their Numbers, by their Wealth, and by +their Union with each other, to be vastly superior +to <hi rend='italic'>Irish Protestants</hi>, in Power; and my Spirit +of Opposition rose, in Proportion to my Idea +of their Ability. But neither then, before, nor +since, did I ever mean to excite any Action, or +Intention, against the Weak, or the Oppressed, +the Fallen, or the Afflicted. +</p> + +<p> +When <hi rend='italic'>Brutus</hi> unsheathed the reluctant Sword +of Freedom against his Friend, Humanity must +suppose that his Heart was wrung with Compunction, +while his Country enjoined and impelled +the Blow. +</p> + +<p> +But further, Sir, there is a very wide Difference +between a <hi rend='italic'>Popish Regency</hi> and a <hi rend='italic'>Popish +People</hi>. The whole Intent and Virulence, as +you call it, of my Papers, is pointed and levelled +against the <emph>One</emph>, but not a Syllable uttered, +from End to End, against the <emph>Other</emph>. A <hi rend='italic'>Popish +Regency</hi>, in Temporals alike as in Spirituals, I +held to be, by Principle, an arbitrary and oppressive +Government; but I held a <hi rend='italic'>Popish People</hi> +to be, of all People, the most amenable and +submissive to Rulers, whatever the Form or +Nature of that State may be, under which they +shall happen to be subjected. And, on this +very Account, I dreaded them the more, should +<pb n='074'/><anchor id='Pg074'/> +they become passive Instruments in the Hand of +a Papal Dictator. +</p> + +<p> +To apply a sure Test to the Propriety, or Impropriety, +of my Apprehensions, at the Period +when I wrote the <hi rend='italic'>Farmer's Letters</hi>, let us suppose +that no one of the Penal Laws, which +were instituted during the Reign of her Majesty +Queen <hi rend='italic'>Anne</hi>, had yet passed into Form, +but that Matters had remained in the same Situation, +in which the <hi rend='italic'>Monarch</hi>, of <hi rend='italic'>humane</hi>, as well +as <hi rend='italic'>glorious Memory</hi>, had left this unhappy People. +Well, what would have been the Consequence? +Would <hi rend='italic'>Papists</hi>, in that Case, have +been less amenable to the Government, by +which they had been favoured, supported, and +cherished? Would they have been the forwarder +to bring Damage and Destruction on a Country, +because their own Interest was connected +therewith, and the Fortunes of their Posterity +deposited therein? Would they have been the +readier to attempt the Overthrow of our beneficent +Constitution, because they enjoyed the Privileges +and Advantages thereof? No, Sir, no. +The Absurdity of the Supposition is inclusive of +the Answer. Had this been the Case, the <hi rend='italic'>Farmer's +Letters</hi> would not have existed to have +caused the Renewal of our Acquaintance. +</p> + +<p> +I have read and noted many Instances, in free +States and Commonwealths, where <hi rend='italic'>Liberty</hi>, when +fermented into <hi rend='italic'>Licentiousness</hi>, hath occasioned +many partial Struggles for Power, many Broils +and Factions, and much Disturbance to the +Community. But very few are the Instances of +the Insurrection of any People, who have not +been goaded thereto by Severity and Oppression. +The inoffensive Stag grows formidable when <hi rend='italic'>at +<pb n='075'/><anchor id='Pg075'/> +Bay</hi>. The Worm turneth not, till it receiveth +a Crush. +</p> + +<p> +I forget the Book, though I remember the +Passage, where a Prince demanded of his favourite +Minister, what he should do with a +Number of the Commons and Nobility, whom +he had suppressed and taken Captive in the Act +of Rebellion? The Minister answered, <hi rend='italic'>Put +them, and their Adherents, instantly to Death</hi>. No, +replied the Prince, that were an Act of such +Bloodshed and Barbarity, as neither Fear nor +Revenge shall persuade me to perpetrate. <hi rend='italic'>Then, +grant them all free Pardon</hi>, rejoined the Minister. +How! said the Prince, must Rebellion +go altogether unpunished? There is no Medium +that can assure your Safety, answered the +Minister; you must either pull this Party wholly +up by the Root, so as to leave no Fibre from +whence future Enmity may grow; or else, you +must change that Enmity into Friendship, by +binding their Gratitude to your Person and Interest, +with the kindliest of all Connections, +that of your Goodness and Favour. <hi rend='italic'>A partial +Punishment will be too little for your Safety; a partial +Pardon will not be enough.</hi> You must either +wholly annihilate their Power, by their <hi rend='italic'>Death</hi>; +or derive Strength to yourself, from that Power, +by their <hi rend='italic'>Friendship</hi>. +</p> + +<p> +By disarming our Enemies, the utmost we +can hope, is, to render them impotent. The +Diminution of <emph>their</emph> Power adds nothing to our +<emph>own</emph>. Repentance is never so permanent or sincere, +as when preceded by Pardon; and Favour +is, as the polar Attraction, to Inclination. Is +there a Man whose Love and Gratitude you +desire to engage? Common Sense will direct +you to do him a Benefit. Would you bind him +<pb n='076'/><anchor id='Pg076'/> +to your Service with Hoops of Steel? You +must make it his Interest, as well as his Duty, +to befriend you. +</p> + +<p> +It is, by no means, my Intention to arraign +either the Wisdom or good Policy of our Forefathers. +But all Men are, in some Degree, +fallible, as well in the congregate, as in the individual; +and the Shrewd may err as much, +by over-reaching their Aim, as the Ignorant, +by falling short, or deviating from it. +</p> + +<p> +But, had a hundred <hi rend='italic'>Pitts</hi>, and a hundred +<hi rend='italic'>Cecils</hi>, composed the Senate of our Ancestors, at +the Time that those <hi rend='italic'>Penal Laws</hi> were enacted; +had those Laws been ever so wise and so just, +so wholesome and necessary, and well suited to +the Season; is that a Reason that they should +<emph>continue so</emph> to the End of Time? In a World +where nothing is permanent; where Modes, +Manners, Principles, and Practice are at a Flux; +where Life is uncertain, and all it contains +changeable; Nature and Reason will conform to +Situation and Circumstance; and where <hi rend='italic'>Causes</hi> +have ceased, in any Degree, the <hi rend='italic'>Consequences</hi> +ought to cease in the same Proportion. +</p> + +<p> +It is not now with <hi rend='italic'>Rome</hi> as it was in the Days +when Princes held her Steed, and Emperors +her Stirrup. The Kings of the Earth have, +pretty clearly, resumed her Usurpations and +Acquisitions of temporal Dominion. It is not +now, as it was when she cried Peace! and it became +Peace; or when the Breath of her Mandate +kindled the Nations to Battle. Even his +<hi rend='italic'>Holiness</hi> is, now, but a poor limited Prince, pent +up within his little <hi rend='italic'>Italian</hi> Demesne. If some few +still acknowledge to hold of his Authority, it +is a Homage of Words, and not of Facts; +they will not acknowledge to hold of his Power. +<pb n='077'/><anchor id='Pg077'/> +He is restored to the quiet and unenvied Possession +of all the Lordship and Interest he can acquire +in Heaven. But the Sceptre, even of his +spiritual Dominion upon Earth, is, of late, as +I take it, most wonderfully shortened. +</p> + +<p> +Matters are much altered with the ecclesiastical +World, even since I wrote the Letters that +have roused your Spleen. Whether it be through +a Decline of the <hi rend='italic'>Romish</hi> Religion, in particular; +or, possibly, through a Decline of all Religion, +in general; the pontifical and episcopal Dictatorship +and Authority are wofully fallen, from the +Chair of Infallibility, where they had been seated +by Opinion. The Sons of the most bigotted +Ancestors do now perceive, that Piety and Immorality +are not rightly consistent. And even +the vulgar and ignorant, among the <hi rend='italic'>Roman</hi> Laity, +would grumble at departing from an Inch +of their Property, though the Priest should +advise, and the Pope, himself, should enjoin +it. +</p> + +<p> +But, Sir, if the Change of Times, and Principles, +Situation, and Circumstances; if the +Change of every Cause that produced those +penal Laws, have not availed for a Change of +<hi rend='italic'>Consequences</hi>; for some Mitigation or Abatement +of their Rigour, toward these my unhappy Brethren, +the <hi rend='italic'>Roman Catholics of Ireland</hi>: If no +Argument, I say, that is taken from Changes, +may avail for the Purpose, I will take one from +Permanence and Duration itself, that shall strike +Light and Conviction to the Eye of every Beholder; +that Power may <emph>gainsay</emph>, but cannot +<emph>refute</emph>; that Malevolence may <emph>dispute</emph>, but never +can <emph>answer</emph>. +</p> + +<p> +About six Generations have now passed away, +according to the Rates of Purchase and Estimate +<pb n='078'/><anchor id='Pg078'/> +of the Life of Man, since these People have offended +in Word or in Deed. No Riotings have +been heard in their Houses, no Complainings +in their Streets; they have been silent and harmless +as Sheep before their Sheerers. Our Parties, +Factions, and Insurrections, as they are merrily +stiled in <hi rend='italic'>England</hi>, have been all among ourselves; +this People were neither Actors nor +Partakers therein. They have offered themselves +to our Fleets, and to our Armies; to tend our +Persons, to till our Grounds, to hew our Wood, +and to draw our Water. Where we admit them +to fight for us, they have ever proved valiant; +where we admit them to serve us, they are found +loving, observant, and faithful. Temptations +have come to their Doors and called them forth; +the Contagion of Rebellion hath broken out +among their Neighbours; they have yet remained +quiet, and continued untainted; still +loyal to their Sovereign, amenable to Government, +and submissive to Law, through a long +and trying Succession of about seventy Years, +they have scarce appeared to repine in the midst +of their Calamities. +</p> + +<p> +When I look back on the querulous and restless +Nature of Man: When I trace the human +Propensities through the Records of Ages and +Nations: In all the Histories of those States +who had least Cause of Complaint: Throughout +the Commonwealths of <hi rend='italic'>Asia Minor</hi>, the +<hi rend='italic'>Archipelago</hi>, the <hi rend='italic'>Grecian Continent</hi>, +<hi rend='italic'>Italy</hi>, the Islands +of the <hi rend='italic'>Mediterranean</hi>, &c. where the RIGHTS +OF NATURE, under Forms of various Institution, +were ASSERTED BY LIBERTY AND +GUARDED BY LAW: Where the ASSURANCE +OF PROPERTY gave most REASON +FOR CONTENT: I can find but few +<pb n='079'/><anchor id='Pg079'/> +Instances of any People who, through such a +Length of Time, have continued firm and unshaken, +in an uninterrupted Loyalty and Submission +to Government. +</p> + +<p> +What then, do we look for further? What +Proofs do ye yet require, of Peacefulness and +Attachment at the Hands of these our Brethren? +Is no Period to be put to their State +of Probation? Must they <emph>for ever</emph> keep out +upon <emph>Quarantine</emph>, without Harbour or Hopes +of Rest or Reconciliation? That were hard, +indeed. +</p> + +<p> +If it is Revenge that we seek, they have, +already, suffered enough, not for their own +Faults, but for the Hostility of their Forefathers. +If we seek our Safety, alone; let us chace <emph>them, +at once, from Country and Community</emph>; or put +an <emph>End to our domestic Fears</emph>, by giving them +Cause to defend us. +</p> + +<p> +Indeed, Sir, neither common Sense, nor Sense +of any Kind, can possibly suppose, That Acts +of Kindness which have been, from the Beginning +of the World, the Cement of Friendship +to all other People, should prove the reverse to +these People alone. +</p> + +<p> +Had they been to us, as the Swallow, in Autumn, +who forsakes all Connections on the Approach +of Inclemency, I should never have +pleaded for any Confidence in them. But a People, +who, through a Winter of seventy Years +Continuance, have never failed, or forsaken, or +given us Cause of Offence, surely merit some +Consideration, some grateful and chearing Ray +to warm them to a Sense that <hi rend='italic'>Protestants</hi> are not, +by Choice, of a cruel, unforgiving, and malevolent +Nature. +</p> + +<pb n='080'/><anchor id='Pg080'/> + +<p> +Lastly, Sir, as I know you to be a Gentleman +of a communicative Disposition, and that you +were, formerly, fond of exhibiting the Sentiments +of some of your Friends; should you +impart this Letter to any of your popish Acquaintance, +I doubt they might be apt to give +me more Thanks than I am conscious I deserve. +It is, therefore, but commonly honest, to advertise +you, and them, that while I write in the +Favour of <hi rend='italic'>Papists</hi>, the Interest of +<hi rend='italic'>Protestants</hi> is +never out of my Eye. +</p> + +<p> +When I thought your Favourites most formidable, +I shewed I did not fear them; and +now, that I think them impotent, let them not +think I flatter. +</p> + +<p> +What I have hitherto hinted is but a narrow +opening to the Concerns and Interests of an +unhappy Country, whereof I have the Misfortune +to be a helpless, though loving, Member. +To promote the Advantage of <hi rend='italic'>Ireland</hi>, in any +respect, would be, to me, the cardinal Point +of the whole Compass of my Ambition; and +a subsequent Letter may shew how far my Observations +relate to the Decline, or Prosperity, of +my Country, whenever you confer the Pleasure +of an Answer on, +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Dear</hi> SIR,<lb/> +<hi rend='italic'>Your truly affectionate</hi>, &c. +</p> + +</div> + +</body> +<back rend="page-break-before: right"> + <div id="footnotes"> + <index index="toc" /> + <index index="pdf" /> + <head>Footnotes</head> + <divGen type="footnotes"/> + </div> + <div rend="page-break-before: right"> + <divGen type="pgfooter" /> + </div> +</back> +</text> +</TEI.2> |