Had it been possible to kill the Irish Nation, it had long since ceased to exist. But the transmitted qualities of her glorious children, who were giants in intellect, virtue, and arms for 1500 years before Alfred the Saxon sent the youth of his country to Ireland in search of knowledge with which to civilize his people,—the legends, songs, and dim traditions of this glorious era, and the irrepressible piety, sparkling wit, and dauntless courage of her people, have at last brought her forth like. Lazarus from the tomb. True, the garb of the prison or the cerements of the grave may be hanging upon her, but "loose her and let her go" is the wise policy of those in whose hands are her present destinies.
A nation with such a strange history must have some great work yet to do in the world. Except the Jews, no people has so suffered without dying.
The History of Ireland is the most interesting of records, and the least known. The Publishers of this edition of D'Arcy McGee's excellent and impartial work take advantage of the awakening interest in Irish literature to present to the public a book of high-class history, as cheap as largely circulating romance. A sale as large as that of a popular romance is, therefore, necessary to pay the speculation. That sale the Publishers expect. Indeed, as truth is often stranger than fiction, so Irish history is more romantic than romance. How Queen Scota unfurled the Sacred Banner. How Brian and Malachy contended for empire. How the "Pirate of the North" scourged the Irish coast. The glories of Tara and the piety of Columba. The cowardice of James and the courage of Sarsfield. How Dathi, the fearless, sounded the Irish war-cry in far Alpine passes, and how the Geraldine forayed Leinster. The deeds of O'Neil and O'Donnell. The march of Cromwell, the destroying angel. Ireland's sun sinking in dim eclipse. The dark night of woe in Erin for a hundred years. '83—'98—'48—'68. Ireland's sun rising in glory. Surely the Youth of Ireland will find in their country's records romance enough!
The English and Scotch are well read in the histories of their country. The Irish are, unfortunately, not so; and yet, what is English or Scottish history to compare with Irish? Ireland was a land of saints and scholars when Britons were painted savages. Wise and noble laws, based upon the spirit of Christianity, were administered in Erin, and valuable books were written ere the Britons were as far advanced in civilization as the Blackfeet Indians. In morals and intellect, in Christianity and civilization, in arms, art, and science, Ireland shone like a star among the nations when darkness enshrouded the world. And she nobly sustained civilization and religion by her missionaries and scholars. The libraries and archives of Europe contain the records of their piety and learning. Indeed the echoes have scarcely yet ceased to sound upon our ears, of the mighty march of her armed children over the war-fields of Europe, during that terrible time when England's cruel law, intended to destroy the spirit of a martial race, precipitated an armed torrent of nearly 500,000 of the flower of the Irish youth into foreign service. Irish steel glittered in the front rank of the most desperate conflicts, and more than once the ranks of England went down before "the Exiles," in just punishment for her terrible penal code which excluded the Irish soldier from his country's service.
It was the Author's wish to educate his countrymen in their national records. If by issuing a cheap edition the present Publishers carry out to any extent that wish, it will be to them a source of satisfaction.
It is impossible to conclude this Preface without an expression of regret at the dark and terrible fate which overtook the high-minded, patriotic, and distinguished Irishman, Thomas D'Arcy McGee. He was a man who loved his country well; and when the contemptible squabbles and paltry dissensions of the present have passed away, his name will be a hallowed memory, like that of Emmet or Fitzgerald, to inspire men with high, ideals of patriotism and devotion.
CAMERON & FERGUSON.
[Note: From 1857 until his death, McGee was active in Canadian politics. A gifted speaker and strong supporter of Confederation, he is regarded as one of Canada's fathers of Confederation. On April 7, 1868, after attending a late-night session in the House of Commons, he was shot and killed as he returned to his rooming house on Sparks Street in Ottawa. It is generally believed that McGee was the victim of a Fenian plot. Patrick James Whelan was convicted and hanged for the crime, however the evidence implicating him was later seen to be suspect.]
CONTENTS
| [BOOK I.] |
| [CHAPTER I.—The First Inhabitants] |
| [CHAPTER II.—The First Ages] |
| [CHAPTER III.—Christianity Preached at Tara—The Result] |
| [CHAPTER IV.—The Constitution, and how the Kings kept it] |
| [CHAPTER V.—Reign of Hugh II.—The Irish Colony in Scotland obtains
its Independence] |
| [CHAPTER VI.—Kings of the Seventh Century] |
| [CHAPTER VII.—Kings of the Eighth Century] |
[CHAPTER VIII.—What the Irish Schools and Saints did in the Three First
Christian Centuries]
|
| [BOOK II.] |
| [CHAPTER I.—The Danish Invasion] |
| [CHAPTER II.—Kings of the Ninth Century (Continued)—Nial
III.—Malachy I.—Hugh VII] |
| [CHAPTER III.—Reign of Flan "of the Shannon" (A.D. 879 to 916)] |
| [CHAPTER IV.—Kings of the Tenth Century—Nial IV.—Donogh
II.—Congal III.—Donald IV] |
| [CHAPTER V.—Reign of Malachy II. and Rivalry of Brian] |
| [CHAPTER VI.—Brian, Ard-Righ—Battle of Clontarf] |
| [CHAPTER VII.—Effects of the Rivalry of Brian and Malachy on the Ancient
Constitution] |
[CHAPTER VIII.—Latter Days of the Northmen in Ireland]
|
| [BOOK III.] |
| [CHAPTER I.—The Fortunes of the Family of Brian] |
| [CHAPTER II.—The Contest between the North and South—Rise of the
Family of O'Conor] |
| [CHAPTER III.—Thorlogh More O'Conor—Murkertach of
Aileach—Accession of Roderick O'Conor] |
| [CHAPTER IV.—State of Religion and Learning among the Irish previous to
the Anglo-Norman Invasion] |
| [CHAPTER V.—Social Condition of the Irish previous to the Norman Invasion] |
[CHAPTER VI.—Foreign Relations of the Irish previous to the Anglo-Norman
Invasion]
|
| [BOOK IV.] |
| [CHAPTER I.—Dermid McMurrogh's Negotiations and Success—The First
Expedition of the Normans into Ireland] |
| [CHAPTER II.—The Arms, Armour and Tactics of the Normans and Irish] |
| [CHAPTER III.—The First Campaign of Earl Richard—Siege of
Dublin—Death of King Dermid McMurrogh] |
| [CHAPTER IV.—Second Campaign of Earl Richard—Henry II. in Ireland] |
| [CHAPTER V.—From the Return of Henry II. to England till the Death of Earl
Richard and his principal Companions] |
| [CHAPTER VI.—The Last Years of the Ard-Righ, Roderick O'Conor] |
| [CHAPTER VII.—Assassination of Hugh de Lacy—John "Lackland" in
Ireland—Various Expeditions of John de Courcy—Death of Conor
Moinmoy, and Rise of Cathal, "the Red-Handed" O'Conor—Close of the Career
of De Courcy and De Burgh] |
| [CHAPTER VIII.—Events of the Thirteenth Century—The Normans in
Connaught] |
| [CHAPTER IX.—Events of the Thirteenth Century—The Normans in Munster
and Leinster] |
| [CHAPTER X.—Events of the Thirteenth Century—The Normans in Meath
and Ulster] |
| [CHAPTER XI.—Retrospect of the Norman Period in Ireland—A Glance at
the Military Tactics of the Times—No Conquest of the Country in the
Thirteenth Century] |
[CHAPTER XII.—State of Society and Learning in Ireland during the Norman
Period]
|
| [BOOK V.] |
| [CHAPTER I.—The Rise of "the Red Earl"—Relations of Ireland and
Scotland] |
| [CHAPTER II.—The Northern Irish enter into Alliance with King Robert
Bruce—Arrival and First Campaign of Edward Bruce] |
| [CHAPTER III.—Bruce's Second Campaign and Coronation at Dundalk—The
Rising in Connaught—Battle of Athenry—Robert Bruce in Ireland] |
[CHAPTER IV.—Battle of Faughard and Death of King Edward
Bruce—Consequences of his Invasion—Extinction of the Earldom of
Ulster—Irish Opinion of Edward Bruce]
|
| [BOOK VI.] |
| [CHAPTER I.—Civil War in England—Its Effects on the
Anglo-Irish—The Knights of St. John—General Desire of the
Anglo-Irish to Naturalize themselves among the Native Population—A Policy
of Non-Intercourse between the Races Resolved on in England] |
| [CHAPTER II.—Lionel, Duke of Clarence, Lord Lieutenant—The Penal
Code of Race—"The Statute of Kilkenny," and some of its Consequences] |
| [CHAPTER III.—Art McMurrogh, Lord of Leinster—First Expedition of
Richard II. of England to Ireland] |
| [CHAPTER IV.—Subsequent Proceedings of Richard II.—Lieutenancy and
Death of the Earl of March—Second Expedition of Richard against Art
McMurrogh—Change of Dynasty in England] |
| [CHAPTER V.—Parties within "the Pale"—Battles of Kilmainham and
Killucan—Sir John Talbot's Lord Lieutenancy] |
| [CHAPTER VI.—Acts of the Native Princes—Subdivision of Tribes and
Territories—Anglo-Irish Towns under Native Protection—Attempt of
Thaddeus O'Brien, Prince of Thomond, to Restore the Monarchy—Relations of
the Races in the Fifteenth Century] |
| [CHAPTER VII.—Continued Division and Decline of "the English
Interest"—Richard, Duke of York, Lord Lieutenant—Civil War again in
England—Execution of the Earl of Desmond—Ascendancy of the
Kildare Geraldines] |
| [CHAPTER VIII.—The Age and Rule of Gerald, Eighth Earl of
Kildare—The Tide begins to turn for the English Interest—The
Yorkist Pretenders, Simnel and Warbeck—Poyning's Parliament—Battles
of Knockdoe and Monabraher] |
| [CHAPTER IX.—State of Irish and Anglo—Irish Society during the
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries] |
[CHAPTER X.—State of Religion and Learning during the Fourteenth and
Fifteenth Centuries]
|
| [BOOK VII.] |
| [CHAPTER I.—Irish Policy of Henry the Eighth during the Lifetime of
Cardinal Wolsey] |
| [CHAPTER II.—The Insurrection of Silken Thomas—The Geraldine
League—Administration of Lord Leonard Gray] |
| [CHAPTER III.—Sir Anthony St. Leger, Lord Deputy—Negotiations of
the Irish Chiefs with James the Fifth of Scotland—First Attempts to
Introduce the Protestant Reformation—Opposition of the
Clergy—Parliament of 1541—The Protectors of the Clergy
Excluded—State of the Country—The Crowns United-Henry the Eighth
Proclaimed at London and Dublin] |
[CHAPTER IV.—Adhesion of O'Neil, O'Donnell, and O'Brien—A new
Anglo-Irish Peerage—New Relations of Lord and Tenant—Bishops
appointed by the Crown—Retrospect]
|
| [BOOK VIII.] |
| [CHAPTER I.—Events of the Reign of Edward Sixth] |
| [CHAPTER II.—Events of the Reign of Philip and Mary] |
| [CHAPTER III.—Accession of Queen Elizabeth—Parliament of
1560—The Act of Uniformity—Career and Death of John O'Neil "the
Proud"] |
| [CHAPTER IV.—Sir Henry Sidney's Deputyship—Parliament of
1569—The Second "Geraldine League"—Sir James Fitzmaurice] |
| [CHAPTER V.—The "Undertakers" in Ulster and Leinster—Defeat and
Death of Sir James Fitzmaurice] |
| [CHAPTER VI.—Sequel of the Second Geraldine League—Plantation of
Munster—Early Career of Hugh O'Neil, Earl of Tyrone—Parliament of
1585] |
| [CHAPTER VII.—Battle of Glenmalure—Sir John Perrott's
Administration—The Spanish Armada—Lord Deputy
Fitzwilliam—Escape of Hugh Roe O'Donnell from Dublin Castle—The
Ulster Confederacy formed] |
| [CHAPTER VIII.—The Ulster Confederacy—Feagh Mac Hugh
O'Byrne—Campaign of 1595—Negotiations, English and
Spanish—Battle of the Yellow Ford—Its Consequences] |
| [CHAPTER IX.—Essex's Campaign of 1599—Battle of the Curlieu
Mountains—O'Neil's Negotiations with Spain—Mountjoy Lord Deputy] |
| [CHAPTER X.—Mountjoy's Administration—Operations in Ulster and
Munster—Carew's "Wit and Cunning"—Landing of Spaniards in the
South—Battle of Kinsale—Death of O'Donnell in Spain] |
| [CHAPTER XI.—The Conquest of Munster—Death of Elizabeth, and
Submission of O'Neil—"The Articles of Mellifont"] |
[CHAPTER XII.—State of Religion and Learning during the Reign of Elizabeth]
|
| [BOOK IX.] |
| [CHAPTER I.—James I.—Flight of the Earls—Confiscation of
Ulster—Penal Laws—Parliamentary Opposition] |
| [CHAPTER II.—Last years of James—Confiscation of the Midland
Counties—Accession of Charles I.—Grievances and
"Graces"—Administration of Lord Strafford] |
| [CHAPTER III.—Lord Stafford's Impeachment and Execution—Parliament
of 1639-'41—The Insurrection of 1641—The Irish Abroad] |
| [CHAPTER IV.—The Insurrection of 1641] |
| [CHAPTER V.—The Catholic Confederation—Its Civil Government and
Military Establishment] |
| [CHAPTER VI.—The Confederate War—Campaign of 1643—The
Cessation] |
| [CHAPTER VII.—The Cessation and its Consequences] |
| [CHAPTER VIII.—Glamorgan's Treaty—The New Nuncio
Rinuccini—O'Neil's Position—The Battle of Benburb] |
| [CHAPTER IX.—From the Battle of Benburb till the Landing of Cromwell at
Dublin] |
| [CHAPTER X.—Cromwell's Campaign—1649-1650] |
| [CHAPTER XI.—Close of the Confederate War] |
[CHAPTER XII.—Ireland under the Protectorate—Administration of
Henry Cromwell—Death of Oliver]
|
| [BOOK X.] |
| [CHAPTER I.—Reign of Charles II.] |
| [CHAPTER II.—Reign of Charles II. (Concluded)] |
| [CHAPTER III.—The State of Religion and Learning in Ireland during the
Seventeenth Century] |
| [CHAPTER IV.—Accession of James II.—Tyrconnell's Administration] |
| [CHAPTER V.—King James to Ireland—Irish Parliament of 1689] |
| [CHAPTER VI.—The Revolutionary War—Campaign of 1639—Sieges of
Derry and Enniskillen] |
| [CHAPTER VII.—The Revolutionary War—Campaign of 1690—Battle
of the Boyne—Its Consequences—the Sieges of Athlone and Limerick] |
| [CHAPTER VIII.—The Winter of 1690-91] |
| [CHAPTER IX.—The Revolutionary War—Campaign of 1691—Battle of
Aughrim—Capitulation of Limerick] |
| [CHAPTER X.—Reign of King William] |
| [CHAPTER XI.—Reign of Queen Anne] |
[CHAPTER XII.—The Irish Soldiers Abroad, during the Reigns of William and
Anne]
|
| [BOOK XI.] |
| [CHAPTER I.—Accession of George I.—Swift's Leadership] |
| [CHAPTER II.—Reign of George II.—Growth of Public Spirit—The
"Patriot" Party—Lord Chesterfield's Administration] |
| [CHAPTER III.—The Last Jacobite Movement—The Irish Soldiers
Abroad—French Expedition under Thurot, or O'Farrell] |
| [CHAPTER IV.—Reign of George II. (Concluded)—Malone's Leadership] |
| [CHAPTER V.—Accession of George III.—Flood's
Leadership—Octennial Parliaments Established] |
| [CHAPTER VI.—Flood's Leadership—State of the Country between 1760
and 1776] |
| [CHAPTER VII.—Grattan's Leadership—"Free Trade" and the Volunteers] |
| [CHAPTER VIII.—Grattan's Leadership—Legislative and Judicial
Independence Established] |
| [CHAPTER IX.—The Era of Independence—First Period] |
| [CHAPTER X.—The Era of Independence—Second Period] |
| [CHAPTER XI.—The Era of Independence—Third Period—Catholic
Relief Bill of 1793] |
| [CHAPTER XII.—The Era of Independence—Effects of the French
Revolution in Ireland—Secession of Grattan, Curran, and their Friends,
from Parliament, in 1797] |
| [CHAPTER XIII.—The United Irishmen] |
| [CHAPTER XIV.—Negotiations with France and Holland—The Three
Expeditions Negotiated by Tone and Lewines] |
| [CHAPTER XV.—The Insurrection of 1798] |
| [CHAPTER XVI.—The Insurrection of 1798—The Wexford Insurrection] |
| [CHAPTER XVII.—The Insurrection elsewhere—Fate of the Leading United
Irishmen] |
| [CHAPTER XVIII.—Administration of Lord Cornwallis—Before the Union] |
[CHAPTER XIX.—Last Session of the Irish Parliament—The Legislative
Union of Great Britain and Ireland]
|
| [BOOK XII.] |
| [CHAPTER I.—After the Union—Death of Lord Clare—Robert
Emmet's Emeute] |
| [CHAPTER II.—Administration of Lord Hardwick (1801 to 1806), and of the
Duke of Bedford (1806 to 1808)] |
| [CHAPTER III.—Administration of the Duke of Richmond (1807 to 1813)] |
| [CHAPTER IV.—O'Connell's Leadership—1813 to 1821] |
| [CHAPTER V.—Retrospect of the State of Religion and Learning during the
Reign of George III] |
| [CHAPTER VI.—The Irish Abroad, during the Reign of George III] |
| [CHAPTER VII.—O'Connell's Leadership—The Catholic
Association—1821 to 1825] |
| [CHAPTER VIII.—O'Connell's Leadership—The Clare
Election—Emancipation of the Catholics] |