Giraldus Cambrensis, The Conquest of Ireland

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36 Giraldus Cambrensis
they,�all�became�vassals�to�the�king�of�England.�Indeed,�there�was�scarcely�any�one�of�name�or�rank�in�the
island,�who�did�not,�either�in�person�or�otherwise,�pay�to�the�king�s�majesty�the�homage�due�from�a�liege-
man�to�his�lord.
Then�was�fulfilled�that�ancient�and�well-known�prophecy�of�Merlinus�Ambrosius�(I�do�not�vouch�for
its� authenticity):��The� sixth� shall� overthrow� the� walls� of� Ireland;�� and� another� prediction� of� the� same
prophet.��The�five�portions�shall�be�reduced�to�one.�
The�feast�of�Christmas�drawing�near,�very�many�of�the�princes�of�the�land�repaired�to�Dublin�to�visit
the�king�s�court,�and�were�much�astonished�at�the�sumptuousness�of�his�entertainments�and�the�splendour
of�his�household;�and�having�places�assigned�them�at�the�tables�in�the�hall,63�by�the�king�s�command,�they
learnt�to�eat�cranes�which�were�served�up,�a�food�they�before�loathed.�It�was�at�this�time�that�the�archers
laid� violent� hands� on� the� trees� planted� by� the� hands� of� the� saints� in� old� times� round� the� cemetery� at
Finglass,�and�were�carried�off�by�a�new�sort�of�pestilence,�as�I�have�related�in�my�Topography.64
Chapter�XXXIII:�The�synod�of�Cashel.
The� king� having� now� silenced� all� opposition� by� his� presence,� and� the� island� enjoying� peace� and
tranquillity,� he� was� the� more� inflamed� with� zeal� to� advance� the� honour� of� the� church� of� God� and� the
christian� religion� in� those� parts,� for� which� purpose� he� � convoked� a� synod� of� the� clergy� of� the� whole� of
Ireland�at�Cashel.�At�this�synod�enquiry�was�publicly�made�into�the�enormous�offences�and�foul�lives�of
the�people�of�that�land;�which�having�been�recounted�and�carefully�reduced�to�writing�under�the�seal�of�the
bishop�of�Lismore,�who,�as�the�Pope�s�legate,�presided�at�the�synod,�many�godly�constitutions,�which�are
yet� extant,� were� made� with� regard� to� contracting� marriages,� the� payment� of� tithes,� the� reverence� due� to
churches,�and�the�duty�of�frequenting�them.�These�constitutions�the�king�promulgated,�being�very�desirous
of� bringing� the� church� of� Ireland� in� all� respects� into� conformity� with� the� English� church;� and� I� have
considered�it�not�out�of�place�to�insert�them�here,�verbatim,�as�they�were�published.
Chapter�XXXIV:�The�constitutions�of�the�synod�of�Cashel.
In�the�year�of�our�Lord�1172,�being�the�first�year�in�which�the�most�illustrious�Henry,�king�of�England
and�conqueror�of�Ireland,�obtained�the�dominion�of�that�island;�Christian,�bishop�of�Lismore�and�legate�of
the� apostolical� see,� Donatus,� archbishop� of� Cashel,� Laurence,� archbishop� of� Dublin,� and� Catholicus,
archbishop� of� Tuam,� with� their� suffragans� and� fellow-bishops,� together� with� the� abbots,� archdeacons,
priors,� and� deans,� and� many� other� Irish� prelates,� assembled� by� the� conqueror�s� command� at� the� city� of
Cashel,�and�there�held�a�synod�concerning�the�well-being�of�the�Church�and�the�reformation�thereof.
At� this� synod� were� present,� on� the� king�s� behalf,� the� venerable� Ralph,� abbot� of� Buildewas,� Ralph,
archdeacon� of� Llandaff,� Nicholas� the� chaplain,� and� other� clerks,� having� the� commission� of� our� lord� the
king.�The�decrees�of�the�synod�were�subscribed�by�the�prelates,�and�confirmed�by�the�royal�authority;�as
follows.
First.�It�is�decreed�that�all�the�faithful�throughout�Ireland�shall�eschew�concubinage�with�their�cousins
and�kinsfolk,�and�contract�and�adhere�to�lawful�marriages.
Second.�That�children�be�catechised�outside�the�church�doors,�and�infants�baptized�at�the�consecrated
fonts�in�the�baptisteries�of�the�churches.
Third.�That�all�good�Christians�do�pay�the�tithes�of�beasts,�corn,�and�other�produce,�to�the�church�of
the�parish�in�which�they�live
63
�It�is�said�that�the�king�received�the�homage�of�the�Irish�princes�in�a�hall�constructed�of�wicker�work,�after�the�fashion�of
the�country.�Hoveden�says�that�it�was�a�royal�palace�constructed�for�the�occasion,�with�wonderful�skill,�of�peeled�osiers.�Henry
remained�in�Dublin�from�the�feast�of�St.�Martin,�11th�November,�to�the�beginning�of�Lent.
64
�See�the�Topog.,�D.�ii.�c.�54.
The Conquest of Ireland 37
Fourth.�That�all�the�lands�and�possessions�of�the�church�be�entirely�free�from�all�exactions�of�secular
men;�and�especially,�that�neither�the�petty�kings�(reguli),�nor�earls,�or�other�great�men�in�Ireland,�nor�their
sons,� nor� any� of� their� household,� shall� exact� provisions� and� lodgings� on� any� ecclesiastical� territories,� as [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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