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1323. duction of the original bull. This they conceived the most plausible pretext for resisting the unconstitu tional exercise of papal power to tax or appropriate the property of the kingdom. They had twice be

Edward II. the best legislator to Ireland.

Edward II.

disposed to

fore resisted these exactions *.

The misfortunes and tragical end of Edward II. having taken place in England, we cannot properly introduce them into the history of that part of his dominions, which took no share in them. Ireland owes more to this King's efforts to improve their country by legislation, than to those of any of his predecessors. The salutary statutes and ordinances made by this monarch at different periods are stated at large by Riley and Prynnet; the latter of whom ushers in those passed in the seventeenth year of his reign, at Nottingham, "for the better government of Ireland, and preventing corruptions and abuses in his officers there, to his own or his subjects' injury or oppression," with this observation; a notable precedent worthy imitation in all ages and places throughout the King's dominions.

A strong tide of adverse fortune ran against this favourably monarch. He had probably received favourable imIreland. pressions of Ireland from the reports of his favourite Gavaston; and, in the pressure of his misfortunes in

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* It cannot escape the reader's observation, that the modern Irish Roman catholic clergy has upon oath renounced and disclaimed all temporal power in the Pope.

† Ril. Pl. Parl. App. and Prynne's Anim. p. 264.

England, he is reported to have seriously attempted 1327. to throw himself into the arms of his Irish subjects. Amongst the charges against this unfortunate prince, his enemies most unwarrantably laid at his door the loss of his Irish dominions.

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1327.

Rapid suc

The Reign of Edward III.

EDWARD III. upon the resignation of his unfortunate father, was proclaimed king, in the sixteenth year of cession of his age. A regency of twelve governors was placed impolitic. over him, but they were merely nominal; and Isabella,

governors

Internal insubordina

country.

the queen mother, with her favourite Mortimer, exer-
cised the power of the realm. Upon a general review
of this King's reign, which continued fifty years, seven
months, and twenty-seven days, the observation re-
curs, which has before been made upon the rapid suc-
cession of governors intrusted with the administration
of Irish affairs; a system, which must essentially have
defeated the effects of sound policy upon an unsettled
and naturally turbulent government.
There were,

during this reign, no fewer than forty-three changes
of governors; thus none had the fair opportunity of
correcting the errors of his predecessor, or reaping
the fruits of his own harvest, however perfect the seed
and the preparation of the soil for its rendering fruit in
due season.

The whole of our third Edward's reign was an untion of the interrupted tissue of the defection and reduction, conciliation and relapse, punishment and revenge of different chieftains both English and Irish. They indiscriminately affected sovereignty, prosecuted and defended their private claims by force of arms, concluded

and followed up alliances among themselves like inde- 1327. pendent potentates, although they all affected to treat the British monarch as the common sovereign paramount. The particulars of this general insubordination would disclose little of the political relations of the two kingdoms. The English and Irish historians are often at variance in detailing the successes and effects of these domestic contests. The sole instruction to be drawn from the history of these unsettled times will be from the acts of state, which solemn record places out of uncertainty or doubt. They display a real anxiety in the British monarch to promote the happiness and welfare of his Irish subjects, and the fatal counteraction of the personal benevolence of the King by the corrupt government of deputies and their clerks.

The English nation considered the disgrace and misfortunes of the late reign of Edward II. as far as they concerned England, to have been cured by the vigor and glory of his successor. As to Ireland, the general effects of the reigns of father and son were not so different. The final subjugation and amelioration of the Irish people by legislation, appears to have been the common object of Edward II. and Edward III.; yet the latter, with all the power, which he acquired and preserved over his turbulent barons and English subjects during his long and prosperous reign, appears to have advanced the English interest in Ireland very little beyond what he found it on the resignation of his unfortunate father.

Reigns of and Edward different as

Edward II.

III. not very

to Ireland.

In the first year of this King's reign the Lord Arnold Two parliaPower, Lord Morris Fitz-Thomas, the Lord Morris Kilkenny

ments at

and Dublin,

1327. Butler and their confederates were in open war. fare: whereupon the Earl of Kildare, then lord justice of Ireland, and others of the King's council summoned them to appear at a parliament at Kilkenny, where the Lord Morris Butler and Morris Fitz-Thomas demanded the King's charter of peace of the King's council, which took till Easter to advise thereon. In the second year of Edward the Third, there was a parliament at Dublin, at which the Earl of Ulster and all the nobles of Ireland were present, and at which some of the Irish petitioned the King for a general statute, that all Irishmen might use the laws of England, without purchasing particular charters to enable them; which petition was remitted to the next parliament.

Parliament of Dublin.

The most

solemn parliament

that had

In the year 1329, the nobles of Ireland came to the parliament at Dublin, where a peace was renewed between the Earl of Ulster, the Lord Morris Fitz-Thomas, and others; and these lords, with the King's council ordained, that "the King's peace should be fully kept, so that every nobleman and chieftain should keep in his own sept, retinue, and servants."

In the next year a parliament was holden at Kilkenny, at which was expelled Briene O'Briene out of Urkuffs.

In 1831, Anthony, Lord Lucy, justice of Ireland, convened a parliament at Dublin, which several of the been con- old lords did not attend; whereupon he removed to Kilkenny, proroguing the parliament to a more distant day, Here Lord Thomas Fitz-Thomas and others,

vened in

Ireland.

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