kings, and people, to their assumed supremacy in the temporal concerns of the world. The reigning pope cotemporary with Henry was Adrian IV. He was an Englishman, and therefore more blameable in prostituting his spiritual authority to the wicked purpose of assissting the ambition of his own sovereign. In resorting to the power of the pope on this occasion, Henry chose for his agent John Salisbury, his chaplain, who acted with all the zeal and liligence of a dependent looking for ward to the favours of his employer. He represented to Adrian that the inhabitants of Ireland were sunk into the most wretched and abject state of corruption in morals and in religion; that Henry, zealous for the honour and enlargement of God's kingdom, had conceived the pious design of erecting it in that unhappy country, and as ready to devote himself and all his powers to this meritorious service; imploring the benediction of the pontiff, and requesting his permission and authority to enter Ireland to reduce the disobedient and corrupt, to eradicate all sin and wickedness, to instruct the ignorant, and spread the blessed influence of the Gospel in its purity and perfection; promising at the same time to pay a yearly tribute to St. Peter from the land thus to be reduced to his obedience, and that of the holy see. It is not possible in the present enlightened times to reflect seriously upon such a tissue of profane hypocrisy without the utmost horror. Henry did not foresee all the effects of such an application to the pope; while the more sagacious and politic Adrian secretly exulted in a measure which so unequivocally recognisedi is authority, and favoured his impious and enormous claims. A correspondence had been opened be ween the Irish ecclesiastics and the church of Rome Rome about four years before the accession of Henry to the English throne, and the preeminence of Rome was formally acknowledged. Adrian, therefore, eagerly embraced this opportunity of extending the papal dominion in Ireland, as well as conciliating the friendship of Henry; and a bull was framed immediately, fully conformable to the wishes and purposes of that king. This bull, which remains a striking memorial of the profligacy and impiety of papal usurpation, contains, among other blasphemous instructions, the following:-- We, therefore, with that grace and acceptance suited to your pious and laudable design, and favourably assenting to your petition, do hold it good and acceptable, that for extending the borders of the church, restraining the progress of vice, for the correction of manners, the planting of virtue, and the increase of religion, you enter this island, and execute therein whatever shall pertain to the honour of God and welfare of the land; and that the people of this land receive you honourably, and reverence you as their lord: the rights of their churches still remaining sacred and inviolable, and saving to St. Peter the annual pension of one penny from every house." This bull was presented to Henry with a ring, the token of his investiture as rightful sovereign of Ireland. At the period, however, when this bull was dated, Henry was engaged in repressing the insurrection of his brother Geoffry, and in supporting his own claims to Anjou. He had also a sufficient employment for his abilities in regulating his own affairs in England. The unsettled state of Wales, and the long and painful contest which Henry maintained against Thomas Becket and the church, were additional motives to induce the ambitious monarch monarch to suspend the execution of nis designs against Ireland; which would probably never have been put in execution, had not accident, or rather the factions and competition of an unorganised people, opened a way for the English arms to penetrate into and subdue their distracted country. Henry, though invested with papal authority for the purpose, would perhaps never have invaded Ireland, had not the intestine broils of the Irish princes, or kings, as they were termed, severed those resources which ought to have been united for defence, and driven Dermod to invite that in terference of a foreign power, which ever is and must be fatal to the liberties and independence of a nation. Such was the situation of Ireland, and such was the position of Henry, when Dermod proffered at the feet of the English monarch to hold his dominions in vassalage of him, and a knowledge him his liege lord, if by his means he should himself be reinstated in them. This flat. tering petition awakened the slumbering hopes Henry, and revived the flattering ideas which he had formerly conceived, of conquering Ireland His own immediate affairs were, however, stil much perplexed. Becket had then recently atre ed him a further proof of his violence and cha nacy, while the insurrection of his subjects in the provinces of France, secretly fomented by Locs engaged him incessantly in war and negotiation. was, therefore, his obvious policy to act as he di and to receive the proffered allegiance of the Iris prince in a gracious manner, to give him every couragement and assurance short of his person appearance in his cause, and to grant him tha letters of license and credence to his subjectsi agland, who might be willing to adventure or a T expedition against Ireland under the banners of king Dermod. The fugitive prince, highly elated by his reception, repaired from Aquitaine to England, and upon his arrival at Bristol made public the letters of Henry, repeated his piteous story, and lavished promises upon all who would aid the friend and vassal of their sovereign. The cause or the character of Dermod must, doubtless, have obtained a bad report in England; or such was the spirit of enterprise and adventure in these days, the days of the crusades, that but for such a reason, it may be presumed, multitudes would have flocked to his standard; whereas not one individual was found to listen to his flattering promises, or to take arms in his cause. A month elapsed without any prospect of obtaining succours, and Dermod began to abandon all hopes of restoration, when he was persuaded to address himself to Richard earl of Pembroke, surnamed Strongbow on account of his skill in archery. Richard was distinguished by his military genius as much as by his station and alliances: he was attended by a powerful train of followers, whose affection he had gained by his courtesy and geneosity; but being estranged from the royal favour, nd retired and unemployed, his fortune dissiated, his distresses urgent, and his prospects dloomy, he was pointed out to Dermod as likely o comply with his overtures, and the Irish prince ccordingly pressed him with the most urgent soliitations. He even engaged to give him his daugher Eva in marriage, and to make him heir to his ingdom, though sensible that by the antient cusms of his country he had no power to nominate is heirs. Richard was overcome by these seduing offers, and agreed to assist Dermod with a considerable considerable force in the ensuing spring, provided he could obtain the king's particular license and approbation. Elevated by the success of this negotiation, De mod conceived that he had already most effecti provided for his restoration, and proceeded to David's in South Wales, intending to retum p vately to Ireland. In Wales he added to his adie rents Robert Fitz-Stephen, an active, brave, skilful soldier, who covenanted to engage, all his followers, in the service of Dermod, wi on his part, promised to cede to Fitz-Stephen Maurice Fitzgerald the entire dominion of the to of Wexford, with a large adjoining territory, soon as he should be reinstated in his rights. S was the origin of an invasion which in the est proved of so great importance. A criminal despised fugitive, driven from his province by tion and revenge, obtained in this manner assistance of a few adventurers in Wales, v youthful valour, or their ruined fortune, led to for advantageous settlements in Ireland. It mean time Dermod embarked in disguise for land, where he landed in safety, and, through the quarters of his enemies, sper winter in the monastery at Ferns which hel self had founded. Here he occupied him preparations for the intended invasion in the ing spring, when the promised succours we be sent from England. They did arrive, and various turns of fortune Dermod was reinsta his antient rights. The British forces employed in this expe have been variously stated; but the largest r named is three thousand, including the adl of Dermod, who joined them after their la |