What effect the labours of these pious and learned men produced on the character of the great mass of the people, we are not informed ; but it is probable that the political state of the country would most thoroughly counteract their most zealous and judicious efforts to enlighten and civilize the inhabitants, (if they were made,) and would keep them down, at least to the level of that intellectual and moral state, in which the great mass of all the nations of Europe at this period existed.
Respecting the political state of Ireland at this time, our information, where it is accurate, is general ; for we must carefully separate the fulness and minuteness of the ro mantic history of this country, from the brief and naked circumstances of its authentic history. Tnat it was divid ed among several independent chieftains, or princes, there can be no doubt ; but the number of these is uncertain, and probably varied at different times. Whenever any of these princes gained a great accession to his territories, he as sumed to himself the title of King of Ireland, but the title never was supported by the pow er, and generally continued for a very short time. There were several subordinate lords under each of the chief princes ; in the principality of Munster alone there were eighteen ; under these again there were other chieftains. But the power of the superior lord over his feudatories was very precarious, depending more on his ability to enforce it, than on any sense of duty or strong attachment.
Notwithstanding this form of government (if such it can be called) contained within itself the seeds of disunion and warfare, and thus presented a strung temptation, and a fa vourable opportunity to foreign invaders, yet Ireland seems to have enjoyed comparative peace and prosperity till near the end of the seventh century. At this time, A. D. 684, it was invaded by order of Egfrid, King of Nor thumberland, and its lands, churches, and monasteries were laid waste. This invasion was soon followed by another, still more dreadful and destructit e ; for, towards the close of the ninth, or beginning of the tenth centiny, the north ern barbarians, called by the Irish Duff-galls and Fin-galls, black and white foreigners, the °sullen of the English, who came from Norway and Denton' k, ir,i dad Irel o.d with a considerable force. One of their most celebrated leaders was Turgcsius, a man who, to all the ferocity and barbarism of the times, his country, and the life he led, seems to have united a considerable degree of actie ny and vigour of mind. The era of his landing in Ireland is not
accurately known ; but it took place either in the beginning or middle oldie ninth century.. I lis success seems to have been very great, and for thirty years he retained the power and the dominion which he had forcibly acquired. At the end of this period lie was seized and put to death by the Irish King of Meath, in what manner is not accurately re corded, and his countrymen were compelled to retire to the sea coast.
The Norwegians, however, having experienced the faci lity of the invasion of Ireland, soon re-appeared on its coasts; not indeed as enemies, but under the pretence of commerce. Their chiefs were three brothers, who pos sessed so much precaution and adroitness, that, without the aid of force, they obtained possession of Dublin, Water ford, and Limerick, at this time the most important and po pulous cities in Ireland. Thus fixed firmly in different parts of the country, they were ready to take advantage ol the domestic quarrels of the Irish ; and by these they pro fited so touch, that they soon extended their possession,. far beyond the lands immediately adjacent to these cities For nearly 300 years, that is, from the death of Turgc sius to the landing of the English, the Irish annals are filled with uninteresting details of the wars between the natives and the Ostmen. In those wars the latter generally prov ed successful ; and the Ostmen, who were settled at Dub lin, increasing in strength by their victories over the Irish, as well as by accessions of force front their own country men, found themselves so secure in their conquests, that they even ventured, and were able to carry on, a piratical warfare against the Welsh. In one of these plundering invasions of Wales, they laid waste the city of St. David's, and carried off the riches of the shrine of that saint.
These invasions appear to have afforded a pretext to Henry II. to attempt the conquest ol Ireland. In the year 1155, this monarch summoned a council at Winchester, to consult about the expediency of such a measure, having the year before obtained from the Pope a bull to authorise his attempt, whenever a favourable opportunity should be afforded. It is probable that the state of Ireland, almost al ways distracted, and weakened by domestic broils, would have afforded this opportunity in a very short time after the bull was granted, but Henry's affairs in France did not permit hint to attend to the conquest of Ireland till some years afterwards.