Anglo-Normans arrive., Henry II. The Pale.

**Chapter I.

**1172-1275.

The Anglo-Normans settle in Ireland - Council at Cashel - Henry II. acknowledged Sovereign of Ireland - How he became popular - Government of Ireland - The Pale - Reign of Henry III. - Castle of Dublin - Mode of calling Parliaments - Absent Members fined - Anecdote of the Bishop of Emly - Magna Charta granted - Irish to have benefit of English Law.

When, in A.D. 1172, Dermot MacMorrough who was expelled from his kingdom of Leinster for the abduction of the wife of Tiernan O’Rourke, sought the aid of Henry II. to restore him to his kingdom, he found that monarch was himself expelled, and obliged to fly to France, on account of the recent assassination of Thomas a Becket, slain on the altar of the Cathedral of Canterbury, at the instigation, as it was generally supposed, of the English King.

At length Dermot found Henry, who, unable to help, sent him to a nobleman. From the offer Dermot made and promised what he knew Strongbow needed, spoil and deeds of arms. Dermot found the Earl of Pembroke willing, and satisfied with the offer of making the earl his heir, and giving him his daughter in marriage.

Strongbow lost no time in collecting a force, which, led by his friends, Raymond le Gros, Miles de Cogan, and others, made good their hold on Ireland. Henry himself followed in October 1172, and received the submission of the clergy and chiefs of Ireland at a council held at Cashel, presided over by Christian, Bishop of Lismore, the Pope’s legate in Ireland. This caused a belief that another council was held at Lismore; but when the great assembly of the prelates and Irish chiefs met at Cashel, then a more considerable place than Lismore, I think all affairs, ecclesiastical and civil, were regulated there. The authority of the King of England was thus acknowledged.

Henry remained in Ireland, having caused a temporary palace to be built in Dublin during the winter, and as he soon found the best mode of making him self popular with the Irish chiefs was by lavish hospitality, gave grand banquets, which were well attended by Irish as well as English. A century later, when an English lord was selected as viceroy, he asked a friend well acquainted with Ireland how he could make his way with the natives. The advice was, “Keep a good cook.” This plan made Henry so popular, his departure from Dublin was much regretted.

Before he left Ireland, Henry also, by statute, provided that Ireland was left to be governed by a viceroy and council, and in the event of any viceroy or chief governor vacating office by death or otherwise, the principal nobles and officials of Anglo-Norman colony were empowered to elect a successor to exercise full viceregal power and authority until the king’s instructions had been received. The state officials were - Lord Marshal, Lord Constable, Seneschal, Chief Butler, and Royal Standard - bearer. The Capitalis Justiciarius was required to give hostages for his fidelity, and* *directed to take the advice of the lords of the colony as Privy Councillors. [Lives of the Lord Chancellors of Ireland.].

At first only the English colonists, and such of the native Irish as dwelt within the four obedient shires, namely, Dublin, Louth, Meath and Kildare, which formed the Pale, were regarded as subjects entitled to the protection of English law; all others were styled and regarded as “Irish enemies.” In the process of time, however, by special grants, some of the native septs were permitted to have the benefit of English laws - the O’Neals of Ulster, O’MacLouglin of Munster, O’Conors of Connaught, O’Brien’s of Thomond, and MacMorroughs of Leinster.

In the reign of King John, it seems a write ordered that the benefits of English law should be conferred on the Irish generally. A chancellor was appointed in the third year of the reign of Henry III, A.D. 1219. He wwas the highest legal functionary of the realm, Keeper of the Great Seal, and Speaker of the House of Lords.

The Court of Justice sat first in the Castle of Dublin, which included the palace of the viceroy, a fortress for the defence of the city, the Courts of Justice for the adjudication of suits and the trials of offenders, and a chapel with two chaplains, a hall for the Privy Council and Parliaments; but the early Parliaments had no fixed place of assembling. They sometimes sat in Christ Church, Dublin, at the city of Kilkenny, or at Drogheda. They were held by commission from the King of England, who certified to the viceroy the occasion on which he desired the attendance of members. The summons was by writs directed to the sheriffs of counties, issued by the viceroy and council, requiring those summoned to treat of things proposed by them. The Irish Parliament consisted of the king, represented by his viceroy, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, the former including abbots and priors. The members of the House of Commons were knights of shires, citizens, and burgesses. Abbots, priors, and proctors sat in the 15th century, the latter not taking part in the debates, but rendering advice if called on.

Absentees, who did not obey the summons to attend Parliament, were fined. In the ninth year of the reign of Edward III., the Bishop of Emly was fined for non-attendance. On the Memorandum Roll it is set forth that on the Vigil of the Nativity, as the bishop was riding to the church, his palfrey stumbled and threw him to the earth, whereby he was grievously wounded, and three of his ribs were broken in consequence; inconsequence, during the whole session, he lay so sick that his life was despaired of, and without peril of his body he could not approach Parliament. His petition was favourably considered by the king, who, in consideration of the bishop’s injury, ordered the fine to be remitted.

During the reign of Henry III. (1219) considerable benefits were conferred on the colonists, as well also on the natives of Ireland. Magna Charta, the great charter granted by John at the command of the lords of England, was granted to Ireland and also the benefit of the laws of England to the natives of Ireland.

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