Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1897.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XVIII, Issue 4220, 18 June 1897, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1897.

The nature of Knglish rule in Ireland in the old days stands revealed in the volume just issued THE OLD DAYS by the Historical IX litMAXD. Manuscripts Commission. This volume ia devoted to the acts of the Irish Privy Council from 1556 to 1571, a document that, after remaining unknown to historical students for two centuries, was bought in ] 850 by the late Mr Charles Haliday, and has since his death been presented to the Royal Irish Academy. >^ir John T Gilbert points out in his introduction some of the notable features oi this important State paper. There are projects for a University at Dublin and for a free school at Gahvay, troubles with Irish chiefs, and compacts in which some of

them promise to be faithful subjects of

the Crown. These documents are in Latin., and there ia evidence to bhow that the Irish leaders, whilst familiar with Latin, were una.cquain'ed with

English. It is said that the Bishop of Clonfert, who was uncle to th« Earl &f Clanrioarde, us well as the Earl's brothers and other .yonticinen of high position, could neither speak nor understand t&ii English language;. Atypical document here printed is that in which Con O'Brien renounces his family name and promises to be known only as Earl \ of Thoriiond, The savage character of the age is illustrated in the measures

'.gainst rebel. The "penalty of hanging was incurred by persons travelling by night unless they were accompanied by sotuo honest men in English npparol." The Lords of the ! Oouticil ofr«ri.*d a thousand pounds for the body of Shane O'NkiU, a thousand marks for hin liead, and Ove hundred pounds to anyone who, by direct or indirect means killed him, though the assassin v brought neither (he head nor the body.*' O;JVeill v/ns slain by his bitter enemies the Macdonnels, but the reward was duly paid to the Governor of Qarriekfergus^ » bj whose 4evii;jE>t^ ?

tragedy waa practised." A still earlier proclamation offend a hundred pounds for the head of Donagh O'Uonnor. The Archb s-hop of Dublin and the Bishop of Heath "did forbear to assent to this," lest they should incur the " danger of irregularity" in being concerned in what " touched the life of man," but no such scruple waa felt about placing; a price on the head of the Karl of Tyrone Perhaps the i.-ccleaiastics were judiciously absent from the meeting of the Council, when the murderous proclamation was adopted.