Shrinkage Of the Pale

Meanwhile the ” little place,” as the Pale was now called, continued to shrink and decay. The unfortunate inhabitants were oppressed as much by the exactions of the lords as by the raids of the clans. ” Coyne and livery ” was still imposed upon them despite frequent laws against it, and the King’s own Deputy set the example.

In 1416, they petitioned the King to pity his ” poor lieges who are environed on all sideswith English rebels and Irish enemies.” Four years later they begged him to obtain the aid of the Pope on their behalf.

While the farmers were spoiled by ” coyne and livery ” the townspeople were impoverished by the anti-Irish enactments which • prohibited them from trading with the Irish. Many fled to England ; others affiliated themselves to neighbouring chiefs and lords. In 1422, Dunlavin, Trim, Collon and Dundalk indicate the borders of the Pale.

Forty years later a dyke was built between Tallaght and Saggart, and at other places, to keep out the enemy. In 1515 a report to the English Government states that the English rule extended only over one-half f the five counties of Oriel, Meath, Dublin, Kildare, and Wexford, and even in those the greater part of the population was native Irish.

The rest of the country was ruled by ” Irish enemies ” and ” degenerate English.” In 533 a report of Archbishop Allen says that the Pale, where alone English language, dress and customs were used, was only twenty miles long.
Black Rents – Nor was it by any strength of its own that this ” little place ” was enabled to exist. Its military establishment consisted of only eighty archers and forty ” spears ” until the voluntary ” Brotherhood of St. George ” increased it by 200 men.

It existed only by the sufferance of the neighbouring chiefs, which was purchased by the annual subsidies called ” black rents.” This tribute was paid by every county of the Pale (except Dublin), and even by the great walled towns. Louth paid it to O’Neill, Meath and Kildare to O’Connor of Ui Failghe.

Amongst the towns, it was levied on Wexford by Mac Murrough, on Dundalk by O’Neill, on Cork by Mac Carthy, and on Limerick by O’Brien. The Government in Dublin paid Mac Murrough an annual stipend to secure the roads to the south.

Content with these annual tributes [which bear a striking resemblance to those paid to the over-Kings of old the chiefs who lay around the Pale suffered it to continue, and ignored the possibilities that lurked within its dilapidated borders.