A special residence was erected for the court on part of the ground now occupied by the southern side of Dame-street.  The whole extent of Dublin at that time was, in length, from Corn Market to the Lower Castle Yard; and in breadth, from the Liffey, then covering Essex-street, to Little Sheep-street, now Ship-street, where a part of the town wall is yet standing.[286] The only edifices in existence on the southern side of Dame-street, even at the commencement of the seventeenth century, were the Church of St. Andrew and the King’s Mills.[287] College-green was then quite in the country, and was known as the village of Le Hogges, a name that is apparently derived from the Teutonic word Hoge, which signifies a small hill or sepulchral mound.  Here there was a nunnery called St. Mary le Hogges, which had been erected or endowed not many years before Henry’s arrival, and a place called Hoggen’s Butt, where the citizens exercised themselves in archery.  Here, during the winter of 1171, the Celt, the Saxon, and the Norman, may have engaged in peaceful contests and pleasant trials of skill.

Henry’s “winter palace” was extemporized with some artistic taste.  It was formed of polished osiers.  Preparations had been made on an extensive scale for the luxuries of the table—­a matter in which the Normans had greatly the advantage of either Celt or Saxon.  The use of crane’s flesh was introduced into Ireland for the first time, as well as that of herons, peacocks,[288] swans, and wild geese.  Almonds had been supplied already by royal order in great abundance; wine was purchased in Waterford, even now famous for its trade with Spain in that commodity.  Nor had the King’s physician forgotten the King’s health; for we find a special entry amongst the royal disbursements of the sum of L10 7s., paid to Josephus Medicus for spices and electuaries.  Yet Henri-curt-mantel[289] was careful of his physical well-being, and partook but sparingly of these luxuries.  Fearing his tendency to corpulency, he threw the short cloak of his native Anjou round him at an earlier hour in the morning than suited the tastes of his courtiers, and took exercise either on horseback or on foot, keeping in constant motion all day.

When the Christmas festivities had passed, Henry turned his attention to business, if, indeed, the same festivities had not also been a part of his diplomatic plans, for he was not deficient in kingcraft.  In a synod at Cashel he attempted to settle ecclesiastical affairs.  In a Curia Regis, held at Lismore, he imagined he had arranged temporal affairs.  These are subjects which demand our best consideration.  It is an historical fact, that the Popes claimed and exercised great temporal power in the middle ages; it is admitted also that they used this power in the main for the general good;[290] and that, as monks and friars were the preservers of literature, so popes and bishops were the protectors of the rights of nations, as far