Page:A Compendium of Irish Biography.djvu/366

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Mitchel'a most important works were : Life of Aodh O'Neill, Jail Journal, Last Con- quest of Ireland (Perhaps), an edition of MangarCs Poems, History of Ireland from the Treaty of Limerick, and Reply to the Fal- sification of History hy J. A. Froude. ' "^33 308

])£ocIiuda, or Carthage, Saint, was first Bishop of Lismore, to which see he was consecrated between 631 and 636. He had previously established the abbey of Rahan, in Offaly, which he governed forty years, and whence he was expelled, probably on account of his views in the Paschal controversy of the day. He died in 637, and the 14th of May is considered his festival. =34 =35 339

]V[olaisse, or Lasrean, Saint, of Devenish, an ecclesiastic of the 6th century, of whom little is known, although we often meet his name in church history. He was a native of Connaught, and is mentioned among the chief disciples of Finnan of Clonard. He ultimately retired to Deve- nish Island, in Lough Erne, where he erected a monastery, which for centuries continued to be a place of great resort. He died about 563, and his festival is cele- brated on 12th September. Another saint of the same name was founder, bishop, and ultimately patron saint of Leighlin. "' '^

Molesworth, Robert, Viscount Molesworth, son of an opulent mer- chant, was born in Dublin, December 1656. He was educated at Trinity College, and married a sister of the Earl of Bella- mont. In 1688 he espoused the cause of William of Orange, and was consequently attainted, and his estate sequestrated by James's Irish Parliament. He was, by William III., who had an especial esteem for him, created a Privy-Councillor ; and in 1692 was sent envoy to Denmark. After three years' residence, he became obnoxious to the King for "pretending to some privileges which by the custom of the Country are denied to everybody but the King ; as travelling the King's road, and hunting the King's game." ^ He retired to Flanders, where he wrote an Account of Denmark, in which he re- presented the government of that country in a very unfavourable light. It created great discussion, and drew forth several answers, the Danish envoy at St. James's presenting a memorial to William III. against it. In this work Molesworth showed himself the strenuous friend of civil and religious liberty, and the bitter opponent of the clergy. It secured him the friendship of Locke and Molyneux. He subsequently became a member both of the Irish and English Commons. In 17 13 he ■was removed from Anne's Council Board,

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for saying of the clergy, who had come with an address to the Lord-Lieutenant : " These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also." By George I. he was appointed to several offices of trust in Ireland, and in 17 16 was advanced to the peerage. He was an active member of the Eoyal Society, and it was said that "few men of his fortune and quality were more learned, or more highly esteemed by men of learning." 's* Locke styles him an " ingenious and extraordinary man." He died at Brackenstown, County of Dublin, 22nd May 1 725, aged 68, and was buried at Swords. [His son John, 2nd Viscount, filled several diplomatic offices on the Continent, and Richard, 3rd Viscount, a captain of horse, saved the life of the Duke of Marlborough atRamillies. His daughter (see MoNCK, Mary) was the author of several poetical pieces.] 37 54 196 216

Moling, or Daircliilla, Saint, one of the first Bishops of Ferns, who suc- ceeded in 632, was born in the County of Wexford. He was Abbot of Techmolin, (now called after him St. Mullin's), a monastery founded by himself on the banks of the Barrow ; he also spent many years at Glendalough. In 693 he induced Fin- achta. Monarch of Ireland, to remit the Borromean tribute. He died about 697, and was buried at Techmolin : the 17th June is considered his festival. A note appended by Harris to the notice of this saint is very widely applicable : " I must again warn the reader, that antient writers have often confounded the names of abbots and bishops, and that they are fre- quently taken for synonymous terms." ^39

Molloy, Charles, a lawyer of the Inner Temple, born in the King's County about 1640, was the author of a book which at one time bore a high reputation, De Jure Maritimo et Navali, published in London, in 1676. '* According to Mr. McCulloch, it " continued to be the best English book on maritime law down to the publication of the work of Lord Tenterden." He died in London in 1690. '* 339

Molloy, Charles, was born in Dublin early in the 1 8th century. He was educated at Trinity College, and was elected to a fellowship. Afterwards, proceeding to London, he entered at the Middle Temple, and wrote for such magazines as Fogs Journal and Common Sense. He married a rich heiress, and died i6th July 1767. " His political tracts evince powerful abili- ties, great depth of understanding, an ample command of language, and clear- ness of reason." His dramatic writings, some of which are enumerated in Harris's Ware, are now little known, "* '"s' 339