CHAPTER III

THE ABSORPTION OF THE NORMANS (A.D. 1315-1417) (FROM THE BRUCE INVASION TO THE DEATH OF ART MAC MURROUGH)

SECTION I. THE BRUCE INVASION

Gaelic Kings and Tradition in Scotland. The line of Scottish Kings which descended from the Gaels of Dal Riada (page 49) had ended with the death of Alexander III in 1286. Gaelic in race, the Kings of Scotland had, for two centuries, ceased to be Gaelic in character. The marriage of Malcolm “ Ceann Mór " to a Saxon princess in the twelfth century, and the subsequent settlement in Scotland of Norman families -like the Bruces, Stewarts and Balliols-had changed the nature of the Scottish Court. It was by the practically independent rulers of Argyll and "The Isles " that the Gaelic tradition in Scotland was now carried on. These-Mac Donalds and others-the Gaelicised descendants of the Norse Somerled (Somairle or "Sorley,") who had founded (1150) the "Lordship of the Isles," now occupied the Scottish territories of Dal Riada.

The Scots Preserve their Independence.-When, owing to the death of Alexander III, a dispute took place as to the succession to his throne, the matter was referred to Edward I of England. He agreed to arbitrate, and decided in favour of John Baliol, one of the claimants. But Edward also put forward a claim of supremacy over Scotland,* based upon acts of homage paid by previous Scottish Kings to Kings of England, which were, however, paid in respect only of English lands owned by the Scottish Kings. Baliol and the Scottish Norman nobility weakly submitted, but the Scottish people rose under William Wallace, and for eight years fought until Wallace was captured and executed (1305). Next year, however, Robert Bruce, another claimant, was crowned King in opposition to the claims of Edward, and after a desperate struggle, in which he was aided by Irish from the north, he secured the independence of Scotland at the victory of Bannock Burn (1314).

"Remonstrance" of Domhnall O'Neill.-The Irish had naturally taken a keen interest in the struggle of their neighbours and kinsmen *He had annexed Wales to England in 1283.

in Scotland. Their own condition is well set out in a Remonstrance which was sent to the Pope about this time by Domhnall O'Neill, King of Aileach. After pointing out that Henry II, by false representations, had procured authority from the Pope to claim dominion over Ireland, the document goes on to show that the conditions under which this authority had been secured had been violated and that not reforms but disorder and vice were the results. Enumerating the various atrocities that had been committed, such as those by De Bermingham and De Clare, it states that the Irish had been driven from the fertile lands, and that the invaders denied the right of any Irishman to live in his own country. Even their clergy, it went on, were treated with contumely and were denied admission into monasteries and abbeys that had been built and endowed by their own people. Treaties were made only to be broken, the murderers of Irishmen went unpunished, the goods of Irishmen might be plundered with impunity, and they were given no redress by law. The Irish, however, were determined to preserve their lives and liberties against "those cruel tyrants, usurpers of our just properties, and murderers of our persons to whom they had

themselves by any oath of allegiance."

never bound

Invitation to Edward Bruce.-Domhnall O'Neill, the signatory to this " Remonstrance," was the son of Brian of Down, who had been acknowledged as Ard Rí at the conference of Caol Uisge. Despite the gloomy tone in which he writes, the Irish had, for some time past, been fairly successful in checking the progress of the invaders. Domhnall had himself contributed to this result. But he saw that the rivalries and jealousies of the Irish chiefs were so strong that unity under a native leader seemed to be hopeless. Himself the heir of the greatest traditions in Ireland, and occupying the strongest position in the island, he patriotically determined to waive his own claims, and to endeavour to secure under a stranger king that national unity which a native chief could not secure. The "Remonstrance "+ therefore proceeded to say that the Irish had invited Edward Bruce, descendant from our most noble ancestors," to reign over them.

Edward Bruce Lands.-Edward Bruce, to whom the Irish chiefs thus "transferred their own right of royal dominion," was the brother of the victorious King Robert of Scotland. Brave and resolute, but reckless and imprudent, he had shared the toils and glories of his brother. Accepting the invitation, Edward Bruce landed either at Larne or at the Glendun river on 25th May, 1315. Joined by O'Neill and other Irish chiefs, and also by many of the descendants of De Courcey's early settlers. *He styles himself (in Latin) “King of Ultonia' and rightful heir to all Ireland."

↑ It was written, probably, while Bruce was in Ireland.

he drove his opponents out of all the north, except the castle of Carrickfergus, marched south, and captured Dundalk and Ardee. At the same time, in another direction, O'Donnell sacked Sligo.

Battle of Connor.-The Red Earl of Ulster was, as we have seen, the real leader of the Normans in Ireland at the time. To meet this attack on his own territory of Ulster, he summoned all his forces in Connacht, and both Normans and Irish-the latter led by Felim O'Connor, King of Connacht-assembled at Athlone. Near Drogheda the Earl met another army coming from Dublin under Sir Edmond Butler, the Lord Deputy. The haughty Earl ordered the King's representative to guard Meath and Leinster, and led his own army against Bruce. The latter retreated to the north, and eventually retired west of the Bann, while De Burgh remained on the eastern bank. Felim O'Connor being compelled to withdraw his forces to combat a rival in Connacht, the Red Earl drew back from the river. But he was followed by Bruce, who utterly defeated him at Connor (near Ballymena) (10th September, 1315). Some remnants of his forces fled to Carrickfergus; the rest found their way back to Connacht.

Bruce Crowned.-Bruce soon followed up his victory, and marched for the Midlands by Kells and Granard to Loch Seudy (in the modern Co. Westmeath), where he spent Christmas. At Kells he had defeated Sir Roger Mortimer, who claimed by right of his wife, a grand-daughter of the younger Hugh de Lacy, part of the lands of Meath. Some of the De Lacys-the descendants probably of the first De Lacy's marriage with Rose O'Connor-were in Mortimer's army. But they resented his claims, took no part in the battle, and now openly joined Bruce. The latter opened the New Year by marching into Leinster by Naas and Kildare. At Ardscull he defeated Butler and other Leinster nobles, and afterwards captured the important centre of Castledermot. Retracing his steps, he returned to Dundalk, where he was solemnly crowned King of Ireland (1st May, 1316). The summer and autumn of 1316 he passed in desultory fighting in the north, and in the siege and ultimate capture of Carrickfergus Castle.

Rising of the Leinster Clans.-Bruce's march through Leinster had broken the Norman grip on the plains lying between the Liffey and the Barrow (page 126), and these were now assailed by the Irish. On one side the O'Moores, and on the other the Mac Murroughs swept down on the lands from which they had been driven. Similarly, the O'Byrnes and O'Tooles assailed the coast on the other side of the mountains, and took Arklow, Newcastle and Bray. The Lord Deputy was forced to leave Bruce unmolested while he quelled this attack on the vital communications * He was descended, through the Marshalls, from Strongbow and Eva.

of Leinster. He checked the rally for a time, but a movement had commenced which was to continue for long afterwards.

Battle of Athenry.-Felim O'Connor had left De Burgh on the Bann in order to oppose the attempt of Rory O'Connor of the "Clann Murtough" (page 138) to supersede him. Rory had distinguished himself by capturing many Norman castles, and had been inaugurated King with the support of most of the chiefs of Connacht. Even Mulroney Mac Dermott, chief of Magh Luirg, who had placed Felim on the throne (page 138) went over to Rory for a time. He soon returned to Felim, however, and the two defeated and slew Rory. Felim and his lieutenant immediately declared against De Burgh and the Normans, and drove them out of Luighne (page 138). Declaring his intention of driving the Normans out of Connacht, Felim was joined by all the chiefs of Connacht, by O'Brien of Thomond, and by O Maolachlan and other chiefs of Meath. The defeated Red Earl was now old and without vigour. But his brother, William De Burgh, and Richard De Bermingham, gathered the Norman forces at Athenry. There they were attacked by the Irish. In the fiercest and most disastrous battle fought in Connacht since the coming of the Normans, the Irish were utterly defeated. Felim was slain, and with him fell most of the chiefs of Connacht, and many of those of Meath and Thomond (roth August, 1316). Mac Dermott survived the battle, and became the most influential of the Irish of Connacht.

Threat to Dublin.-Edward Bruce had remained comparatively inactive in the north while the clans of Connacht and Leinster were thus fighting. The harvest of 1315 had failed, and provisions were scarce until that of 1316 was gathered in. At the end of the year Robert Bruce crossed to Ireland, and the brothers opened a vigorous campaign early in the following year. They led their army straight on Dublin, capturing Castleknock and encamping on Kilmainham Green. The citizens made a desperate effort. The suburbs on the west of the city, and on the north of the Liffey, were destroyed, and the materials of St. Saviour's and St. Thomas' Abbey were used to strengthen the city walls. The aged Earl of Ulster, who was suspected because his daughter was married to Robert Bruce, was seized in St. Mary's Abbey and put in prison. The resolution of the citizens probably saved the Norman power from extinction. The Bruces withdrew from the city, marched up the Liffey, and took the road round the mountains to the south.

The Bruces in Munster. The army of the Bruces now penetrated Munster and laid siege to Limerick. But Munster did not rise. O'Brien of Thomond indeed joined him, but few of the other chiefs came in while another O'Brien-Muirkertach-even joined the Lord Deputy. Not

only famine but pestilence raged in the land. The war had been carried on by both sides in a most destructive manner. The Pope had declared against the invaders.* The Bruces had failed to win the confidence of the Irish, and the neglect to support the clans who fought in the previous year was resented. Sir Roger Mortimer,† now Lord Deputy, gathered a large army of the Fitz-Geralds, Butlers, Poers, and other Leinster nobles at Kilkenny, and threatened to cut off the Bruces. The latter retreated, and made their way through the Midlands and back to Dundalk, without interference (May, 1317). Robert Bruce soon afterwards returned to Scotland.

Death of Edward Bruce.-The harvest of 1317 also proved a failure, and the scarcity that followed prevented hostilities until that of 1318 was collected. Then a large army marched from Dublin under John De Bermingham, brother of the victor of Athenry. Edward Bruce, then at Dundalk, was weaker in numbers, but expected early help from his brother, and O'Neill advised him to avoid a battle. The impetuous Bruce refused to retreat, and O'Neill and the Irish are said to have withdrawn. The two armies met at Faughart to the north of Dundalk, where Bruce was decisively beaten and slain (14th October, 1318).

The Annalists on Bruce.-During the three years and a half of the Bruce invasion the sufferings of the Irish people were much greater even than before. The war had been a devastating one, and it had been accompanied by bad harvests, famine, and plague. Whether or not there were other reasons-either personal or national-for animosity it is difficult to say. But it is certain that the Irish annalists are all bitterly hostile to Bruce. The "Four Masters" in recording his death, say "no achievement had been performed in Ireland for a long time before, from which greater benefit had accrued to the country than from this "; while the "Annals of Clonmacnoise say there was not a better deed

done since the creation of the world and the banishment of the Fomorians." The memory of those years of war was evidently a bitter one; although it is scarcely generous to lay the blame upon the stranger who had been invited to accept the Crown of Ireland.

SECTION II. THE RETURN OF THE CLANS

Effects of the Invasion.-The failure of the Bruce invasion did not check the recovery of the Irish, which had already begun. On the contrary, the recovery became more pronounced and the clans stronger. The devastation of war, famine, and pestilence had brought the whole *It was probably in reply to this that Domhnall O'Neill's "Remonstrance" was drawn up.

He was afterwards instrumental in the deposition and murder of Edward II nd was subsequently hung at Tyburn.