Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 12.djvu/225

 again with the title of 'The Catholic Eirenicon, in friendly response to Dr. Pusey,' Lond., 1865, 8vo. On perusing the work Dr. Leland, the historian, is said to have declared that if such were the principles of catholics no government had any right to quarrel with them. Charles Butler, who reprints it (Memoirs of the English Catholics, ed. 1822, iii. 493), declares it to be a clear and accurate exposition of the catholic creed on some of its most important principles, and Dr. Oliver calls it a 'concise but luminous treatise ' (Catholic Religion in Cornwall, p. 509). Bishop Milner, however, asserted in an official charge to his clergy in 1813 that it 'is not an accurate exposition of Roman catholic principles, and still less the faith of catholics ' (Supplementary Memoirs, pp. 264-78). In consequence of some exceptions taken against the accuracy of the ' Propositions' which form the heading of 'The Faith of Catholics' by the Rev. Joseph Berington and Dr. John Kirk, the latter reprinted Corker's treatise in 1815 (Rambler, ix. 248;, Bibl. Dict, of the English Catholics, i. 570, 571). 3. 'A Remonstrance of Piety and Innocence; containing the last Devotions and Protestations of several Roman Catholicks, condemned and executed on account of the Plot,' Lond., 1683, 12mo. 4. 'A Sermon on the Blessed Eucharist,' Lond., 1695, 12mo. 5. 'Correspondence with Oliver Plunket, Archbishop of Armagh;' manuscripts formerly in the possession of the Rev. Charles Dodd, who, in his 'Church History,' ii. 514-19, has printed some letters from Corker, giving an account of Plunket's life. 6. 'Queries to Dr. Sacheverell from North Britain' (anon.), no place or date, 4to; probably printed in 1710. 7. 'A Rational Account given by a Young Gentleman to his Uncle of the Motives and Reasons why he is become a Roman Catholick, and why he declines any farther disputes or contests about Matters of Religion' (anon.), s. 1. aut an. 4to, pp. 8 (, Bibl. Dict, of the English Catholics, i. p. xx).

[Authorities cited above; also Hist. MSS. Comm. 3rd Rep. 233, 236, 261, 7th Rep. 474, 744; Snow's Benedictine Necrology, 88; Dodd's Church Hist. iii. 488 ; Luttrell's Relation of State Affairs, i. 18, 32, 430, 474, 475, 477; Howell's State Trials, vii. 591; Letters of Rachel, Lady Russell, ed. 1853, i. 237; Macaulay's Hist. of England, ed. 1858, ii. 497, 498.]  CORMAC MAC ART, also known as and  (d. 260), grandson of Conn of the Hundred Battles [q. v.], became king of Ireland, according to Tigernach, in 218; reigned till 254, when he abdicated in favour of his son, Cairbre Liffeachair, and died in 260. He appears first in history in connection with the death of Lugaid Mac Con, king of Ireland, who is said to have been slain at his instigation, when distributing gold and silver to the learned. The next occupant of the throne, according to the ‘Annals of the Four Masters,’ was Fergus dubhdeadach, ‘of the black teeth,’ an Ulidian or native of Uladh. Cormac, to avenge an insult received from him, made an alliance with Tadg, son of Cian, on condition that Tadg should receive a grant of land in Breagh or East Meath. Fergus, attacked by their united armies, was defeated, and he and his two brothers were slain in the battle of Crinna, a place on the river Boyne near Stackallen Bridge. The stipulated reward was duly paid, and the posterity of Tadg dwelling there were afterwards known as the Cianachta of Breagh. All rivals being now removed, Cormac succeeded to the throne. His reign, like that of all Irish kings of the period, was a constant succession of wars with chieftains who were supposed to be under his sway. His chief opponents appear to have been the people of Uladh, a district corresponding with the counties of Down and Antrim, whose king Fergus he had slain. More than once he was driven from his kingdom, and sailed away with his fleet, remaining on one occasion three years in exile, during which he visited Scotland, and according to the ‘Four Masters’ became king there; at another time he expelled the Ulidians, and drove them to the Isle of Man. ‘His reign was rendered illustrious by his victories over the Ulidians and the success which attended his arms in Albany. At this period it probably was that Cairbre Riada and his adherents obtained a footing in those parts of Erin and Albany which afterwards bore his name’.

A romantic incident in his life is connected with these expeditions. One of the captives carried off from Scotland was Ciarnuit, daughter of the king of the Picts, said to have been the handsomest woman of her time. Cormac hearing of her beauty took her to his house, but his wife, moved by jealousy, insisted that the bondmaid should be under her orders, and imposed on her the task of grinding a large quantity of corn every day with a handmill or quern. After some time Cormac, learning from her that she was no longer able to perform the task, and being greatly attached to her, sent over the sea to Scotland for a millwright, who erected a water-mill at Tara. This was the first mill erected in Ireland. Its situation is known, and local tradition preserved the memory of its origin in the time of Dr. Petrie. 