Page:Chronicle of the law officers of Ireland.djvu/301



For centuries after Strongbow's descent, Dublin did not exceed in size the modern town of Wexford: the other sea ports of the kingdom in the hands of the invading colonists existed on a similar scale. The entire sea coast of the kingdom was not in their occupation. Even in 1533, the sept of O'Bymes submitted (by an indented treaty of allegiance with Henry VIII.) to the condition of subjects, and surrendered to that Prince the town and castle of Wicklow. But the Irish Cabinet from habitual self-interest counteracted the intended integrity of their sovereign; a descendible security to landed property was withheld, and no protection given to active industry by legal freedom; practices such as these, were finally completed by territorial confiscation and personal plunder. This league continued during the reigns of the Tudor line; for the interior part of Wicklow did not become shire-ground until the accession of James I.