Page:Irish minstrelsy, vol 2 - Hardiman.djvu/168

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156
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through the forbidden building, with a Catholic, who he insisted should be covered, at the same time declaring his determination to punish any insolent bigot, who, for the future, should attempt to enforce the above humiliating mark of distinction . The spirited conduct of that gentleman, on this occasion, secured for him and his descendants the corporate influence in the town, and the parliamentary representation of the county; and even to this day it is remembered by the Catholics with feelings of gratitude.—The remainder of the Moslem article is inapplicable, for it was never necessary to enforce hospitality in Ireland, where even the poorest of the poor willingly share their little store with the travelling stranger and the distressed. But the tyranny exercised in this respect over such Catholics as were suffered to reside in corporate towns, is worthy of remark. They were almost exclusively forced, under the bilitting regulations, to entertain the military, and it may be added gratis, for the pretended remuneration allowed them, generally proved nominal.]

6th. "They shall not sell wine or any intoxicating liquor."—

7th. "They shall pay a capitation tax, of two dinars each, submit to an annual tribute, and become subjects of the caliph."

Comment on these last, and only remaining articles, is omitted, to introduce the concessions made by the Mahomedan Chief, in return for the above restrictions.—"The Christians shall be protected and secured both in their laws and fortunes; and their churches shall neither be pulled down or made use of by any but themselves."—In vain do we seek for concessions like these to the unfortunate Irish Catholics. Such lenity was too much for them even to expect at the hands of their fellow Christians, and they were content, if barely suffered to exist. May it not therefore be asserted, that the Moslem rulers of the seventh century, have been more observant of the